ex#09-2

Thanks to Jeff Mach for catching a spam post, I've bah-leeted and ban-hammered. For the Comm's continued awareness, this is what I write (it varies each time, but the gist is the same) in reply to spam before deleting the post:

"Hi, this community as the name implies, is solely for the promotion of SteamPunk (events, sales, etc) in our area. While we're glad to have locals ply their wares here, you'll have to show me that this is at all relevant before I'd allow it here. I've deleted, flagged, and banned as per the community info, please avoid such things in the future. Thanks."

Your friendly neighborhood mods try to keep this stuff under wraps, but it ain't easy bein' green.

And now another topic: please voice your opinions on the below:


A NYSteam Facebook group (I'd request all posts be placed on BOTH sites, but I know lots of people only use one or the other and I suppose I'll move into the 21st century, kicking and screaming ;) )

An NYSteam Website that people can submit events to and promote them on! Maybe with dedicated Steam blogs or some such...

A SteamPunk movie night hosted at someone's place, just a nice, informal gathering involving popcorn and silly movies!

Something else?

Words. Wow they have power. So very, very much power. Because we attach ideas, concepts, meaning to them. We build our vague and liquid thoughts a nice tank with words. And often, choosing our words carefully can mean the difference between a friendly sentence, and a cruel remark.

So I was interested when I saw a Farcebook Group that focuses on getting people to stop using the word "Retard" and derivatives of that. I understand where it comes from. I get the feeling of being upset. And I would like to point out how incredibly blind it is to the situation of language.

It is the modern equivalent of something we started doing long ago, and as time doesn't change what something is, it's no more or less right now than then. What do I mean?

Well, "Dumb", for example, refers to a person who cannot speak. It also means "Stupid". Both mean something other than how we use them now, have been for a while. They didn't start meaning those things, but they do now. "Lame" is much the same thing. These, too, are words focused on some disability, some perceived failing which we use in a derogatory manner.

So I put this forth: Stop using the words "Dumb", "Lame", and "Stupid", and I'll consider this little movement something other than "Retarded".*


*I don't actually use this word, it sounds ugly and is imprecise. I tend to not use "Dumb" often as I have the same issues. "Stupid" and "Lame" are staples of my speech as they can be much more accurately applied to the things which I use them for. I have been reconsidering "Lame" for some time now.

1. I'll respond with something random about you.

2. I'll tell you which song or movie you remind me of.

3. I'll pick a flavor of jello to wrestle you in.

4. I'll say something that only makes sense to you and me.

5. I'll tell you my first memory of you.

6. I'll tell you what animal you remind me of.

7. I'll ask you something I've always wondered about you.

8. I'll tell you my favorite thing about you.

9. I'll tell you my least favorite thing about you.

10. If you play, you MUST post this on yours.

11. Your gay if you do this

12. No seriously.


Yeah, see? SRSLY.

There is apparently still controversy over the Flu vaccine.

Fine. Go ahead and do whatever. i don't care. But I got a chance to have the shot, and I'm still breathing. And y'know what else? Vaccines have saved many more millions of lives than we can ever hope to guess at. My generation is old enugh to have heard of these things in stories, but never dealt with them, but Polio and Small Pox did a number on this earth, and a simple vaccine made by men who barely understood the incredibly intricate details of what they were doing, fought these diseases to a stand-still, or eradication, in first-world nations.

Diseases mutate at a rate beyond comprehension, and we -eliminated- one. I would argue there was no greater medical triumph in all our history.

And it was a vaccine.

Get real facts, not rumor mongering and fear. They do NOT put bloody formaldahyde in shots. USE YOUR HEAD!

The left, panic-mongering media fills your brains with lies that you don't seem to notice, though you pick up on the right-wing bullshit fast enough.

THINK, people. THINK. You are more likely to die, struck by lightning, than from a flue shot. You're sure as hell more likely to die in (or under) a car or subway train. You are more likely to be /knifed to death/ in a bodega than you are to die from complications with a goddamn flu shot.

FUCK. Brains. Use them. It's not that hard.

So. Geocities. Dying. Wow. It's like when Hometown went away. Nothing is really being lost, this service was irrelevant and generally irritating pretty much from the moment it was created until forever after. But it's weird to see it die. XKCD commemorated this in possibly the best and strangest way.

Apparently some people think that housing is a right. It is not. You can argue all you like, but you are insisting that people who bought things to make money get the rules changed on them to be "humane" and that the rich support the poor, just cause. I hear no mention of requirements for this, no mention of ensuring that people aren't leeching off the land. And most certainly no mention of paying the owners of these properties for the profits and capital they will be having taken from them.

I'll make myself plain: I hate dolists. I will not aide nor abet dolists in any way I have a say in. I will not be swayed unless you can give me good goddamn reason to be.

"Don't go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first."

Who else will be attending The Way Station on Halloween? When will you be going? Should we agree to meet up onthe way? Just show up? It starts at 4pm, according to the flier I noted, but I was planning on arriving around 7:30pm. Anyone else? Basically, just wondering what everyone's plans were.

And should a news station's political leaning matter to the president?

There's apparently some confusion about this.

Let me lay it on the line fore people who are confused.

It. Doesn't. Matter.

The government is not to treat anyone's freedom of speech, no matter how douche-baggery it might seem, differently. Period.

-PERIOD.- I don't care if there are people on Fox news saying Obama is the spawn of Satan himself and that Hitler was a saint who would have smote such an evil man as Obama.

That's their right. Their insane, off-the-edge-of-the-right-wing right, but their right nonetheless. By treating the media as an opponent,in any way, any political party is being pretty damn stupid. If, let's take this further, they were to, officially, as a part of the government, discriminate in any way against a news organization based on political, religious, or social leanings, they are guilty of violating the first and most sacred Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; that which is the foundation of our country.

Further, it doesn't matter if it's news or entertainment, a line some people want to draw. That line does not and cannot exist or it becomes very dangerous, murky water. The same rights afforded to the despised Fox network give the beloved Daily Show its rights. Tread on this, and you risk everything. Double standards are not stable, and rarely break in the favor of the people.

However, so long as they treat them equally, I am fine with the White House bad-mouthing any news group.

If you've seen this link, you know I'll be at The Way Station on Halloween night. It will be fun, so you should come as well (I don't know if they card or not, I'll be asking). It runs from 4pm to 2am, so plenty of time to be there, I'll probably get there around 7:30pm. I know, early. I don't do fashionably late ;)

HOEVER, the night before, I'm going to be out as well–Devil's night at OTTO'S SHRUNKEN HEAD. And, unless you're under 21, there is NO REASON NOT TO GO TO A 5$ EVENT. SRSLY. FREE hard cider! FREE cupcakes! FREE hot chicks (if they dig you. If not, FREE EYECANDY!).
There will be three bands through the night. Saints of pain open at ten, and they are some HARDCORE SHIT. If you like your music heavy, you should not miss this. If you do, more's the pity. I first saw them at Otto's and they were fucking GREAT. I was an instant fan, no lies. I swear I will have their soul-I mean, 'CD'. Hate in the Box follows at eleven. "Candy Coated Razor Rock" really is the only way to describe my favorite local band. Like Queen Adreena on a hard mix of speed and pixy stix, HITB grabs you by the neck, slaps your ass, and tells you to like it. And you -do-.

I've not heard The Bambi Killers, who close of the live show at 12, but from their name I'm already intrigued, and from their photos on Farcebook, these girls look batshit, 700mph insane. I can get behind that.

And if you DON'T know, because you aren't coming to the lives enough, HITB finished/released their newest album (Under the Ice) a couple months ago and I've been chewing on it since. If MP3's could wear out, I'd have had to re-reip this CD twice. It's addictive.

Their sound is developing into a more mature direction. Still ballistically balanced between completely crazy and finely psychotic the music feels better produced, better laid. The audio is cleaner and the sound is meaner. What more could you want? Oh, a better review? Fine, damn you.

And stop rhyming?

Fine :P

The tracks share a lot of the signatures I expect with HITB, driving drums, a dominant keyboard, and Blight's distinctive voice are still there. But the balance is better. The instruments don't try to overpower each other. The guitar is more integrated this time around and the vocals never are threatened with being drowned out. The biggest technical change does seem to be the production value.

But that's not all that's kept HITB far away from the Sophomore Curse. The album cover art is perfect, and the lyrics keep HITB's style going and the songs all feel nicely bundled together. The album makes -sense-; it's not just random crap tossed together, it all works well. This was true of "Razorblade Fairy Tales" (their previous album) and it's true of ICE, without doubt.

The individual tracks are recognizable and find a place in your mind and dig in with all their claws. "eLECTRIC dOLLS" and "Pins + Needles" definitely see some of the highest rotation in my music collection. In fact, really, every song from HITB sees high rotation with me.

All that said, where HITB shines is their lives. With two albums under their belt, and many more to come, I'm sure, their lives are surprising, eclectic, and deranged. And you might just get a flash of someone's petty coat, or get to physically abuse a giant plush rabbit in bondage. You can't ask for more, because really, what the hell comes after that?

It's been a while because... erm...

WELL! On to the the reviews!

YU+ME

I think I've done this one before, but I don't care. Rosalarian has kept this comic fresh and interesting, experimenting and constantly shifting styles to suit the story. I can get behind that 100%. It doesn't hurt that it's a great story and that's it's pretty! The synopsis?

Our main character's life is crap. It's really crap. But she finds some people who love her for /her/. And... she falls in love. It's a typical high school romance, full of angst and confusion, but exacerbated by the act that Fiona (said heroine) falls in love with a girl.

Stop right there. -yes-, this is a gay comic. But stop thinking about that for a second and focus on the story. It's brilliant. I won't ruin the twists and turns, I'll just recommend you go straight to the first comic and start reading. My "Oh. I'm bi" thing didn't really hit me till a lot later, and by then it was actually much less drama-filled. It might help that people I know were relaxed about it and that I didn't care since it didn't change how I thought. It did explain my thing for David Boreanez (Angel from Buffy and, er... Angel.)

She also recently posted a great video:



Link for the embed challenged.

If an active text movie of the Black Knight scene from Holy Grail didn't convince you to click, DAMN YOU. (Kidding, but it's awesome. Read.)


Candi

This is the story of a girl. No, really, that's it. But it's quite fun, interesting, and rather honest. Candi is energetic, youthful, and refuses to be put down by life's tortures. Her joyous outlook on life is something even spiteful old bastards like me can enjoy. Hell, maybe I even need it. Maybe you do to. We need some happy in our lives.

Go, read.

Also: Flying Ferret. f'reals. Fav line (inre, art grades)? Substance my ass. It's about how well you can bullshit."


Explosm.net OR Cyandide and Happiness

Explosm is good, mean-spirited fun. No, seriously. Mean-spirited fun. They make jokes others won't for shock and lulz. I... I can't explain. Just click the link, read the comics (click the date) and watch the movies (Click the other link).

I can't explain except that Candi softens my heart so that Cyanide and Happiness can fill it with hate-juice xD

The above is my exact response to the below:

I'm going to be at The Waystation for Halloween, will anyone else be there?

I love how he just stands there, commenting. I'd have been all "I'm thrilled he's doing so wel–HELP ME YOU ASSHOLE."

xD

Interesting thought I had on the other post: Stubbornness vs. Rigor.

People say I'm stubborn. Not at all. I'm rigorous. So I lied. I am stubborn about being rigorous.

So.. what does that mean?

I hold ideas, I hold them firmly, like any stubborn person. But I hold mine in order to digest, analyze, dissect, and subject them to counter consideration. A stubborn person holds theirs in order to keep them from being changed. If I get enough evidence to change my ideas, I do so willingly. I'll even disregard entire concepts simply because nothing solidifies them for me.

But to many people I seem stubborn. I attach to ideas and don't seem to be shaken off my stance even as arguments are thrown at me. Because people don't realize that I won't change my mind because /you/ say so. I'll argue back. Every suspect must have a defense after all. I'll defend ideas I dislike if I can find basis to do so. All concepts must be assaulted AND defended. The fact that I can defend my ideas better than most can assail them because I've put more thought into them and am better at argumentation does not make me stubborn. It makes more /thorough/. And that's the other person's fault, not mine. If you can present irrefutable information, I value that more than you can imagine. Evidence and Proof are my saints, Reason and Objectivity my gods, and Ego and Doubt my soul.

I am an agnostic that thinks in religious terms ;) I suppose, in that, I am stubborn. Perhaps even a zealot.

I think my zealous behavior is better than most.

Generally, I have no problem with dissent, as long as it's REASONING dissent. Disagree with me! I encourage it! I love when I find alternative thoughts and a game of devil's advocate is always interesting! HOWEVER, should you have some idea that has no reasoning, just blind acceptance, I will immediately lose interest in you. I won't dislike you (unless you try to convert me), but I won't likely give a damn about you either. It's, I will happily admit, a matter of ego. I value myself, I choose people to be close to that I can discuss things with in a rational manner. When you go on about things just being the way they are because they are, or conspiracy theories, or refusing to discuss logic, because you have your method and even when presented with an alternative you consider nothing else even in passing... I frankly have no time for that shit. Question the world and yourself or you are not going to hold the respect you would like from me.

Political views don't matter as long as you don't mindlessly spout rhetoric. I've found a lot of propaganda in my mind, but I try to look for evidence to confirm/deny it (and will usually publicly admit when I'm wrong on the same forum I was wrong on). I demand my friends be rationally discerning, or will disregard them.

Girls With Slingshots

Today's GWS is great. It's pretty much how I function. Much of how people dress and act is irrelevant to their actual realities. Hell, my apparent self varies every time I put on clothes because I have such random combinations of wear. Some days I look almost preppy, some days Goth-as-fuck, others I look like I'm late for a business meeting. On fun days you can't tell /what/ in the hell I am. But who I am is... rarely related to what I wear.

THAT said, I find that I am guilty of judging by appearance as well. Hipsters cause immediate disgust. I normally don't care what people look like, and how attractive/interesting they are has little bearing except whether or not I make first contact (I can't talk to EVERYONE). I don't shut people down on appearance alone.

But hipsters I react to negatively, regardless of anything else. I can warm to them, quickly if they say something that interests or impresses me, but they're already losing the moment I look at them.

And that isn't fair. It isn't rational, either. And that's more the issue.

I will attempt to be more rational about this. I don't have to be positively inclined, but I should disregard my dislike of their dress as I'm sure many more than I'd normally expect are actually quite interesting folks. That said, people in "scene" lose no matter what, because they care about a scene. Fuck that noise.

So, I publicly admit that I am not perfect in my rational thought patterns, but dammit, I try.

Goddamn hipsters making life harder ;)

...has pretty much submerged large chunks of Manila in the Philippines. More rain was dumped than in Katrina, the death toll is only rising, but is currently about 250. Many more are missing, many likely dead. Some houses cannot be seen.

BUT!

If you don't want to feel helpless about this, there are places HERE IN NYC and elsewhere that can help! Hell, it's in Queens.

Drop Off Donation Points

A Google Map for You. Can't Get Easier.

I'll be going by there sometime this week to dump some old tee-shirts. Not much, but every bit, eh? Maybe you've got some old clothes some rather soaked soul could use?

Also, feel free to repost this anywhere.

PIIIIIIIIIGGYYYYYYYYYYY PIGGY PIG PIG!
KaTAdams

Click to view my test results

I am tired of people bitching about what is good and bad steam punk, and what is and is not steampunk in general.

Folks... FOLKS...

It's dress-up make-believe silliness. Seriously? CHILL.

Do I think the community is "doing it wrong" in general and is mostly silly as hell? Oh, quite! But they're having fun and not hurting anyone, so go them. Really, it's not like they're telling me I am wrong and have to conform and anyone who does is a fucking idiot and I'll mock them at my leisure. Or not. Maybe I'll be too busy dressing how I want and having *FUN*.

-Best wishes
-Me

PS: Seriously, relax. You'll have more fun.

Dead Milkmen are awesome. Shut up. Also, listen to the intro to Bitchin' Camaro they did this time (It's a different talk in each time, which lends to the fan love of this song. Listen to his words though. he's RIGHT.