Pop Culture in tiny, bite-sized portions

I'm so happy the New Pornographers finally released their latest album, Challengers. Its not as all-out-rock-out as either Electric Six or Twin Cinema, but at least on the first listen though i think it has potential to end up in the regular rotation of favorites. I know some people probably think Dan Bejar's song are over the top and a little circus-y, but i always look forward to his contributions the most. They usually end up being my favorite songs.


Has anyone seen Rocket Science yet? Living in Eau Claire sort of limits my access to new movies. I wonder if an independent movie theater would be successful here. It seems like it could be, with the university in town. The local megaplex is showing Superbad though, which stars my celebrity look-alike, and which Ebert gave 3 1/2 stars.


I just purchased a new game for my Wii called Trauma Center. I haven't played it yet but it sounds like a pretty entertaining new idea for a game. I'm a little worried that it might feel a little too real, and I will get grossed out and have to stop playing. We'll see what happens.

What does it all mean?

An online subscription to the OED costs a mere $275 per year. You could luck out with the word of the day.

From the good folks at Merriam-Webster:

rhet·o·ric
n.

1. 1. The art or study of using language effectively and persuasively.
   2. A treatise or book discussing this art.
2. Skill in using language effectively and persuasively.
3. 1. A style of speaking or writing, especially the language of a particular subject: fiery political rhetoric.
   2. Language that is elaborate, pretentious, insincere, or intellectually vacuous: His offers of compromise were mere rhetoric.
4. Verbal communication; discourse.

This word strikes me as being the evolutionary ancestor of "Flip-flopper" in politispeak. At least the dictionary definition has been adequately reworked to incorporate the emerged colloquial use. Of course, with the 4 accepted definitions above, rhetoric can basically mean whatever the hell you want it to mean.

You might point out that, on an elementary level, words are just abstract symbols for real-world observations. And as such their meanings are subjective by default. At the same time, its not unrealistic to argue that all of modern society is founded on the rather bizarre notion of object-i-fying certain of these abstract symbols in order to advance humankind. That is, the modern world relies upon the ability to take for granted the objective, concrete status of some here undefined 'fundamental' notions despite their inherent abstract, observational nature.

Where am i going with all this? The sub-prime mortgage crisis. Specifically, the way in which one can find an almost infinite number of explanations for what went/is going wrong. And not just from the guy who's always spouting off at the local pub. It seems every economist in the world has a different explanation for what is happening and why it is happening. They can't all be correct, and yet a number of conflicting opinions create rhetorically sound arguments.

Which is to say that anyone can be "right minded" about any issue if he or she can convince enough people to agree (And likewise may be "wrong minded" if enough people disagree). Which is to say that society is actually and fundamentally subjective after all. And those arbitrarily object-i-fied notions are not so agreed upon after all.

As the world and its human systems and processes become more and more complex, I'm afraid those looking for answers are bound to come up with nothing but more rhetoric.

I'm a BELIEVER

But I only buy it for the pictures.

Bravo is teasing us in the lead up to the next Season of Project Runway with Tim Gunn's Guide to Style. The first episode airs Thursday, Sept 6.

I found the link to this article on Towleroad -- are we all just sims? The first page you're like "ok this is interesting but way out there" and then you click to the second page and you're all like "wow this is totally blowing my mind."

I'll be chillin' in the Eau C this weekend. But fear not, it just so happens to be the weekend of the Chippewa Valley Gay Pride!

Annie Hall is from Chippewa Falls you know.

Yes, I was in California

And here's the proof.










More proof here or here.

Wisc-istory

For your reading enjoyment, from the trustworthy folks at wikipedia.


Taliesen

Feel the Burn

Even quitting smoking I'm nearly $3000 in the hole in just the first 7 months of the year. Thank you Quicken for showing me just how financially irresponsible i seem to be. I guess maybe i should put off buying this totally rad entry table/desk, or this bedding set, or this chair. Poor house, when will you ever be properly furnished?

Also, things keep breaking. The first thing to go was the stopper in the upstairs bathroom sink. I had to take it out after it got permanently stuck in the 'down' position. Next was the toilet handle in same bathroom. Yes, the toilet handle. One day it simply decided to snap right off in my hand. Then just before I left for California, the front door lock inconceivably got jammed. I hardly ever use this door (except once a week to pick up the Sunday paper), but i had to destroy the entire doorknob and lock just to get the damn thing open. Not to mention the top step to the basement which still needs to be re-carpeted after the whippet incident.

Upon returning from California, I opened the fridge to find an exploded carton of milk that had dripped its contents all over the inside of the door and onto the floor in front. There's nothing more fun than cleaning up congealed milk from your kitchen floor at 2:30 AM after a full day of traveling across the country.

But our store's official yearly review from our district manager is finally over. So at least there's that.

Slippery Slope

And Thusly, God created the YouTube in order that people might partake in it, and in order that whomever shall partake in it shall not be disheartened regarding his own abilities; but rather, he should take heed and knoweth that he is not, and willth never be, the most foolish of men in all the land (Psalms 3: 1-7).