Doing the tour of the talk shows, flogging his book, God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, Hitchens shows Hannity to be a fool.
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Christopher Hitchens v. Sean Hannity
Doing the tour of the talk shows, flogging his book, God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything, Hitchens shows Hannity to be a fool.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Episode 006
This is Episode 006 of our podcast, titled "We are All Fucking Immigrants"
Play in Mp3 Format
You can download this episode.
(Right Click > Save As)
This weeks interview is with Melanie the Library.
Born and raised in Alberta, Melanie obtained a Bachelors Degree at the University of Calgary in Philosophy. She then proceeded to obtain a Masters in Library Sciences at McGill University in Montreal. Currently Melanie is working as a consultant for an information technology firm in the Ottawa-Gatineau area. There she works with a diverse set of clients, helping them with their information organization need. Apparently, not everything is sorted by the Dewey Decimal system, or so she says.
Melanie doesn't have a blog or website for us to link to yet, so we will display this XKCD comic about librarians instead.
The following list of links are our works-cited or additional reading related to this episode.
- The Onion:Immigration: The Human Cost
- Calque on Wiktionary
- Blag Hag: Review of The Professor And the Dominatrix
- Law is Cool: The Honorable Jason "Pork chop" Kenney Blames the Immigrants
- YouTube: Republican's "Diversity" Convention
- YouTube profile: JasonKenneyMP
- Law Is Cool: Defunct Reform Party's Immigration Platform
- Enough of the Multiculturalism, Bring on the Melting Pot
- Joe.My.Blog:XenoPhoboQuotable - Rep. Betty Brown
- The Onion: Most Popular U.S. Baby Names
- Cyberpresse: De nouvelles obligations pour les immigrants >> [ENGLISH]
- Immigrer:Un nouveau contrat d’intégration pour les immigrants>>[ENGLISH]
- Canoe: Un «contrat» pour les immigrants>>[ENGLISH]
- Straight.com: Stephen Harper's Hidden Agenda
- Family Guy Quotes: We've been Cancelled
- [Petition]: Tell Parliament to Restore the CBC via rabble.ca
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Most Popular US Baby Names as Presented by the Onion
I mentioned this in Episode 6: We're all fucking immigrants. Well Mostly as a counter to the xenophobic screed of Texas State Representative Betty-I Can’t think of an Ad Hominem Right Now–Brown:
"Rather than everyone here having to learn Chinese — I understand it’s a rather difficult language — do you think that it would behoove you and your citizens to adopt a name that we could deal with more readily here. Can’t you see that this is something that would make it a lot easier for you and the people who are poll workers if you could adopt a name just for identification purposes that’s easier for Americans to deal with?” - Texas state Rep. Betty Brown, speaking to a member of the Organization Of Chinese-Americans. She refuses to apologize.
When I read that quote posted in Joe.My.God, I was reminded THE ONION "content node" which you see to above. Having lived and worked in Asia, I can attest that the adoption of insipid “English” names for the simplicity of dealing with the West is really, really common. It appears the fact that Chinese-Americans would have the gall to retain some of their ethnicity and heritage with Chinese surnames clearly bothers the fuck out of Representative Betty-I Can’t think of an Ad Hominem Right Now–Brown.
How dare they?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Works Cited Page "Episode 5: Resurrection?"
The Problem with Magical Thinking:
The Rapture, currently sitting at 6.6/10 on IMDB and 72% on Rotten Tomatoes is surprisingly relevant. Maybe Mimi Rogers’ best performance? Some of the more interesting lines follow.
Angie: Have you heard the word of God? It's the greatest gift of all time. You have to trust completely in God. He'll forgive you of all your sins.
Sharon: Who forgives God?
Randy: Sharon, it's just a drug. You're in pain. Instead of doing heroin, you're doing God.
[last lines]
Sharon: Forever.
There is a fair film review by Don Willmott here at Filmcritic.com.
Another good one from, "Not coming to a theater [sic] near you":
The Rapture:
This, do know, is but one of the film’s revelations, and analogizes the film with other depictions of verified paranoia (They Live, The Matrix, Terminator), but unlike these thematic similarities, religion is The Rapture’s blatant agent of faith (it is much more ambiguous in the aforementioned films), which the film is designed ingeniously to question. Late in the film, in sudden and intense anguish, Sharon fires the remaining rounds in a revolver directly into the air; the gesture illustrates the film’s angered and unsatisfied interrogation. The film culminates in the word “Forever,” and ends with a tragic image of permanence, followed by a silent credits scroll. [ Italics mine].
News story links:
Mom's plea deal includes 'resurrection clause'
Mother Starves Son for Resurrection Experiment
"'Child-witches' of Nigeria seek refuge"
Mary is a pretty five-year-old girl with big brown eyes and a father who kicked her out onto the streets in one of the most dangerous parts of the world. Her crime: the local priest had denounced her as a witch and blamed her "evil powers" for causing her mother's death.
This Week In Holy Crimes
James Lunney, Asshat:
James Lunney v. Evolution
Nanaimo Daily News
You can send your thanks here to Mr. Lunney's very own website. Tell him what a bang-up job he's doing and his views clearly reflect the mores and values of Canada.
Comics:
Via the BBC: the Death of Dave Arneson (see also the BBC on the death of Gary Gygax).
The Order of the Stick (episode 644)
XKCD (episdoe 202)
Liō by Mark Tatulli
The discussion I had with Mr. Tatulli regarding a recent, less than stellar, issue of Liō follows. I titled it, "Thank-you for using the macron, it's just cooler that way." The link above is to the issue of Liō discussed. It was weak and kinda gay. It bugged me because I love the comic and felt something needed to be said. So I found myself an email address and sent it out to the creator and writer of Liō. And this is what I wrote:
Dear Mr. Tatulli,
Thank-you for the creation of such a wonderful surrealist, minimalist comic strip in Liō. I have heard that it has some detractors they are clearly unable to appreciate subtle, smart humour and whimsy.
I think very highly of Liō. It is my current favourite comic and I consider it in the company of other great comics like the also brilliant webcomic XKCD. And the successor to the narrative of the weird lives of a little boys as depicted in the long retired Calvin and Hobbes.
I love the surreality; love the giant squid; love the sweet creepiness of Liō himself; and his healthy relationship with his father (the instance when his father renamed his lunch items was touching). I like allusions to the world and the magical realist and science fiction plots.
So When I read the most recent issue I was just disappointed. A lame gay joke. A limp wristed, light-in-the-loafers robot singing showtunes. You can do so much better.
Sincerely a fan,
Brendan
He replied. Like hours later. I was quite surprised.
Thanks for the feedback, Brendan...
The joke to which you refer has nothing to do with "gay"...it has everything to do with showtunes. I happen to love showtunes and that is primarily the only thing I sing when it comes to karaoke night. But I always get the same reaction...much rolling of eyes and people staring dumbly with a look that says, "is he serious?"
So you see the joke is about the social-stigma attached to showtunes, and how strange it would be for LIO, who know doubt expected this robot to start marauding, to suddenly break out in "If Ever I would Leave You" from CAMELOT.
Thanks for writing!
MT
I see his point, but my critique still stands and here's why:
In sci-fi all robots are male as evidenced by the way female robots are males with breasts (and sometimes hair and/or girl colours and/or big eyes and/or curves...). The splayed fingers, tilted wrist, raised foot are the stereotypes of drag when done by a male. Because, Tatulli is working with a visual medium he must chose everything that goes into every panel. Relying on stereotypes as conventions work because they convey heavy messages with simplicity. let me use an example that is relevant and possible in the weird and wonderful world of Liō: Liō finds a giant sized mixing bowel full of what looks like meringue or whipped cream. He jumps in, has some fun and climbs out. Because of his weird cow-licked hair, he comes out covered in white, with a conical shapped head and two blinking eyes. Not a good choice of image--although entirely plausible within context--just not a good choice because of the offensive ideas that such an image would carry with it.
However, despite what he says his intention was ---satirizing the contempt people have for show tunes--- what he has created is easily read as being satirizing flaming homosexuals. I love a good gay joke, this wasn't a good gay joke.
I always suspected that Liō, being one of the freaks, would either be homophobic (conflicts between various factions of losers and outcasts can be vicious) or hang out with the gay kids (it can also bring solidarity). Panel by panel we see the following: Gay robot. Cause of gayness the wrong software (what does that imply?). Angry kid (Why is he angry?). Mocking Radio Shack employees (such things still exist?), having played a gay joke on the weird kid. Nice.
The Rapture, currently sitting at 6.6/10 on IMDB and 72% on Rotten Tomatoes is surprisingly relevant. Maybe Mimi Rogers’ best performance? Some of the more interesting lines follow.
Angie: Have you heard the word of God? It's the greatest gift of all time. You have to trust completely in God. He'll forgive you of all your sins.
Sharon: Who forgives God?
Randy: Sharon, it's just a drug. You're in pain. Instead of doing heroin, you're doing God.
[last lines]
Sharon: Forever.
There is a fair film review by Don Willmott here at Filmcritic.com.
Another good one from, "Not coming to a theater [sic] near you":
The Rapture:
This, do know, is but one of the film’s revelations, and analogizes the film with other depictions of verified paranoia (They Live, The Matrix, Terminator), but unlike these thematic similarities, religion is The Rapture’s blatant agent of faith (it is much more ambiguous in the aforementioned films), which the film is designed ingeniously to question. Late in the film, in sudden and intense anguish, Sharon fires the remaining rounds in a revolver directly into the air; the gesture illustrates the film’s angered and unsatisfied interrogation. The film culminates in the word “Forever,” and ends with a tragic image of permanence, followed by a silent credits scroll. [ Italics mine].
News story links:
Mom's plea deal includes 'resurrection clause'
Mother Starves Son for Resurrection Experiment
"'Child-witches' of Nigeria seek refuge"
Mary is a pretty five-year-old girl with big brown eyes and a father who kicked her out onto the streets in one of the most dangerous parts of the world. Her crime: the local priest had denounced her as a witch and blamed her "evil powers" for causing her mother's death.
This Week In Holy Crimes
James Lunney, Asshat:
James Lunney v. Evolution
Nanaimo Daily News
You can send your thanks here to Mr. Lunney's very own website. Tell him what a bang-up job he's doing and his views clearly reflect the mores and values of Canada.
Comics:
Via the BBC: the Death of Dave Arneson (see also the BBC on the death of Gary Gygax).
The Order of the Stick (episode 644)
XKCD (episdoe 202)
Liō by Mark Tatulli
The discussion I had with Mr. Tatulli regarding a recent, less than stellar, issue of Liō follows. I titled it, "Thank-you for using the macron, it's just cooler that way." The link above is to the issue of Liō discussed. It was weak and kinda gay. It bugged me because I love the comic and felt something needed to be said. So I found myself an email address and sent it out to the creator and writer of Liō. And this is what I wrote:
Dear Mr. Tatulli,
Thank-you for the creation of such a wonderful surrealist, minimalist comic strip in Liō. I have heard that it has some detractors they are clearly unable to appreciate subtle, smart humour and whimsy.
I think very highly of Liō. It is my current favourite comic and I consider it in the company of other great comics like the also brilliant webcomic XKCD. And the successor to the narrative of the weird lives of a little boys as depicted in the long retired Calvin and Hobbes.
I love the surreality; love the giant squid; love the sweet creepiness of Liō himself; and his healthy relationship with his father (the instance when his father renamed his lunch items was touching). I like allusions to the world and the magical realist and science fiction plots.
So When I read the most recent issue I was just disappointed. A lame gay joke. A limp wristed, light-in-the-loafers robot singing showtunes. You can do so much better.
Sincerely a fan,
Brendan
He replied. Like hours later. I was quite surprised.
Thanks for the feedback, Brendan...
The joke to which you refer has nothing to do with "gay"...it has everything to do with showtunes. I happen to love showtunes and that is primarily the only thing I sing when it comes to karaoke night. But I always get the same reaction...much rolling of eyes and people staring dumbly with a look that says, "is he serious?"
So you see the joke is about the social-stigma attached to showtunes, and how strange it would be for LIO, who know doubt expected this robot to start marauding, to suddenly break out in "If Ever I would Leave You" from CAMELOT.
Thanks for writing!
MT
I see his point, but my critique still stands and here's why:
In sci-fi all robots are male as evidenced by the way female robots are males with breasts (and sometimes hair and/or girl colours and/or big eyes and/or curves...). The splayed fingers, tilted wrist, raised foot are the stereotypes of drag when done by a male. Because, Tatulli is working with a visual medium he must chose everything that goes into every panel. Relying on stereotypes as conventions work because they convey heavy messages with simplicity. let me use an example that is relevant and possible in the weird and wonderful world of Liō: Liō finds a giant sized mixing bowel full of what looks like meringue or whipped cream. He jumps in, has some fun and climbs out. Because of his weird cow-licked hair, he comes out covered in white, with a conical shapped head and two blinking eyes. Not a good choice of image--although entirely plausible within context--just not a good choice because of the offensive ideas that such an image would carry with it.
However, despite what he says his intention was ---satirizing the contempt people have for show tunes--- what he has created is easily read as being satirizing flaming homosexuals. I love a good gay joke, this wasn't a good gay joke.
I always suspected that Liō, being one of the freaks, would either be homophobic (conflicts between various factions of losers and outcasts can be vicious) or hang out with the gay kids (it can also bring solidarity). Panel by panel we see the following: Gay robot. Cause of gayness the wrong software (what does that imply?). Angry kid (Why is he angry?). Mocking Radio Shack employees (such things still exist?), having played a gay joke on the weird kid. Nice.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Episode 004
Part 1
download mp3
Part 2
Interview with Jacob Romero of the band "Trips and Falls"
download mp3
Show Notes
Music by "Trips and Falls"
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Episode 003 Released
Related Links
- Rip! A Remix Manifesto - National Film Board
- A Short History of Progress - Google Books
- Collapse - Google Books
- Guns, Germs and Steel - Google Books
- Definition of : Ammoniacal - Merriam-Webster
- Ideas - CBC Podcast
- Detroit's Beutiful, Horribl Decline - Time
- BLH's Tour of Chaernobyl - GRcade
- After Bible Siezed, U.S. Group Refuses to Leave Chinese Airport - CNN
- Proposal at U.N. rights council to criminalize 'defamation of Islam' -UNWatch
- U.S. to Sign UN Gay Rights Declaration - Joe My God
- UN Peace Talks and Battlestar Galatica (goto March 17th) - UN
- Canada's science minister's evolution position worries scientists - Digital Journal
- Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity With New 'Intelligent Falling' Theory - The Onion
- Canadian Science Minister update: kinda. - Bad Astronomy
- I've got irony poisoning! - Science Blogs
- Global crisis 'to strike by 2030' - BBC
[DOWNLOAD]
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Episode 002 and 002a Released
Engineer here,
Episode 002
[DOWNLOAD]
Episode 002 part 2
I have finished editing episode 002 and the interview with our friend Amit. The interview is a separate file for time.
Also the interview has an ear-raping audio quality, I apologize for this and will make sure I use proper settings in the future.
Episode 002
[DOWNLOAD]
Episode 002 part 2
Show Links
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Episode #2 Delays
Engineer here,
Sorry for the Delay of Episode 2, but the interview was quite crackly and ugly. So I am attempting to clean it up as much as possible. Next time we will try to record to a mini disc player. USB headsets are really lame, especially Logitech brand ones. Also sometimes fooling around with aggregated devices in Mac OS can lead to poor audio quality.
Engineer out.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Episode 001 Uploaded
Engineer here!
We have finished authoring the first episode, of our podcast, so check it out! I am still working out kinks with the feed and website so hopefully everything runs smoothly. Please post any questions you may have here or on our pod bean page.
Here are the links to items that were mentioned in the show.
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