ForcedPerspective

What's my Theme?

I was quite fascinated by the assortment, cheapness, and eclecticity of the items sold by DealExtreme. My only guess is that it's the output from a particular industrial city in China.

Some highlights:
Digital Buddhist Jukebox in Tibetan (5 Songs) $4
The Poking Man Pen Stand $8.72
Piggy USB 2.0 Multi-Memory Card Reader $5.74
Islamic Qibla Al-KAAB Compass $3.81
Sitting Pose Corrector and Reminder Alarm $8.43
Electronic Breast Enhancer and Massager $13.01
USB Heated Gloves Set $9.44

Title of the Day

Today's title of the day is Cheetah Math: Learning About Division from Baby Cheetahs. Since, of course, cheetahs are the undisputed division kings of the jungle.

Your perp of the day

(courtesy Washington County Sheriff's Office)

You knew, in your heart of hearts

Finally right there, in black and white, how American International Pictures developed a film:

"We do our planning backwards: Get what sounds like a title that will arouse interest [Think: "Dragstrip Girl" and "Night of the Blood Beast"], then a monster or gimmick; then figure what our advertising is going to consist of.

"Then we bring in a writer to provide a script to fit the title and concept.

"Now we bring in the producer--though he may have been in during the writing of the script earlier. Four of our producers are also writers and one, [Roger] Corman is also a director."

Innocents Aboard Review

Innocents Aboard, Wolfe. Yes. It's Gene Wolfe, which is enough reason to read it. As with all collections of stories I've ever read, the quality is variable, but it's all Wolfe. The best writer I personally know once said something like “Gene Wolfe scares me.” What I would mean if I were to say that is that much of the time, I'm sure he's doing things that I'm not even aware of. Fortunately, comprehension is not a prerequisite for appreciation.

The Companions and The Margarets Review

The Companions and The Margarets, Tepper. Yes. I read these two books in rapid succession, the first Tepper I had read in a long time, and there's a reassuring consistency to her preaching. Since I am largely the choir, it doesn't grate as much as it might, and her writing is solid enough. I was interested to note that her craft is not entirely without seam, though the primary reason I first noted the most memorable seam was that she hung a lamp on it (and a somewhat humorous lamp, at that; due credit), and exposition is always tricky. I have opted to combine the reviews, because I have trouble keeping the books separate in my head. I was thinking maybe I'd say something like, “If you only want to read one, then choose—” but, really, I expect if you enjoy Tepper, you'll enjoy both. If you don't, you won't enjoy either.

Another one studies the dust

First, he went to the Canary Islands to gather more data, then he turned in his thesis, now he's passed the orals (category two, meaning he “must make a few amendments to his work in the coming weeks”). I expect we'll get one more news bump when he actually gets handed the sheepskin next Spring.

Purgatory Lost

I was looking for a good link to the Purgatory Correctional Facility in Utah so I could make a joke about how it was definitely not Hell, no matter what anyone said, when I came across the people headed for Purgatory: the booking info on everyone in Washington County, complete with offenses and mug shots!

merely a test

...a test of broadcasting from THE FUTURE!

The MURDER was oddly described!!!

As a follow-up to the LAT Homicide Blog, a few choice writerly touches from our friends at the Dog Trainer:
Of the homicide of John Rico, 30: "...Rico came back and allegedly choked one of the officers, an unnamed male officer whom officials did not name."
Of Isaias Vasquez Bazan, 32: "The neighbors wounded in the attack were listed by police as gang members. But Basan worked long hours, and had no tattoos."

Construction update

I found it interesting to run across what was going to be where the Bellevue DQ used to be, along with an earlier version of the current plan. I had also not heard about/noticed/remembered the danger on the site.

The Blog Said MURDER!

I wanted a much better murder-related title for this, but too bad for you. The LA Dog Trainer has a Homicide Blog! With associated Homicide Map! That's interactive! Never has horrible murder been so web 2.0.

Update: the Blog Said MURDER FROM A WHILE AGO! They also have a vintage crime blog, though the author seems to meander into non-crime topics, too.

A disturbing trend

It would be a shame to see text message voting banned here. On the other hand, everything I've seen indicates that US contest administrators are avoiding the abuses that caused it to be axed over there (and maybe the axing is Channel 4-specific).