Our Exciting Modern World

Liz: Warren Ellis and his minions are discussing this right now: Fly Clear: Clear Registered Travelers Fly Through Airport Security

Asa: Are they discussing the social stratification this causes? Man, it is so exciting that at the turn of every century America descends into robber baron class strata. The 2050s are going to be such a delightful period of middle-class prosperity!

Liz: And cultural conformity! Whooo!

Labels: not quite like the west wing

posted by Liz  # 11:57 AM 0 Comments

• • • • • • • • • •

Big Kid Literature

First, my Golden Compass Daemon (I will never stop saying "DAY-mon," no matter how many times website guy pronounces it as "DEE-mon") is the delightful Apollonius:



Also, thanks to the release of the spanking hot new trailer, and walks accompanied by the Order of the Phoenix audiobook (among other things), I'm in a bit of a Harry Potter mindspace. But while I am looking forward to seeing Daniel Yates work his stuff on the big screen, and while I am looking forward to all the kerfuffle surrounding Book 7, I don't consider myself a huge fan of the series. Certainly, I know folks who are much bigger. But my ability to absorb vast amounts of information about media means that I sound like a much bigger dork on the subject than I actually am. But it's not like I've pre-ordered my copy of Deathly Hallows or anything. Because I haven't.

Well. Yet.

Labels: books, harry potter, media matters

posted by Liz  # 11:52 PM 0 Comments

• • • • • • • • • •

Vocabulary!

Callipygian (adj.): Having beautifully proportioned buttocks.

I love words, sometimes.

posted by Liz  # 5:22 PM 4 Comments

• • • • • • • • • •

House Charity Tees

There is something about these House Charity Tees that just seems wrong. Maybe it's the implied association between mental illness and the catch phrase? Maybe.

posted by Liz  # 2:17 PM 0 Comments

• • • • • • • • • •

Did you know?

Some delightful news tidbits for your working day:

Jericho's Only Black Man In Kansas is British!

Kryptonite is real!

EDITED TO ADD: Life-supporting planet a new Earth!

And most importantly: Snickers is not for pussies.


A GOOD DAY FOR SCIENCE AND MEDIA. A VERY GOOD DAY.

Labels: media matters, science nonfiction

posted by Liz  # 1:27 PM 0 Comments

• • • • • • • • • •

Yet another blog to make time to read

The Comics Curmudgeon

posted by Liz  # 12:46 PM 3 Comments

• • • • • • • • • •

For future parsing

A transcript of a talk Paul Abbott (Clocking Off, State of Play) gave, on writing British television:

The commonest excuse for drama being bland or inoffensive or just crap is that the audience can't assimilate complex storytelling. This is just patronising. Audiences today can handle as much as you can throw at them.

He then cites Lost as a paragon of good storytelling. Oh, 2004. Weren't you precious.

Placeholder note: I finished the second series of Life on Mars this weekend. It was't a fantastic ending -- but it was the perfect one.

Labels: great britain, teacher mother secret lover, tv:life on mars

posted by Liz  # 11:44 AM 0 Comments

• • • • • • • • • •

KITTEN CONFIDENTIAL

This is my proposed title for what would be THE GREATEST PIECE OF MEDIA OF ALL TIME.

Let us be really clear. KITTEN CONFIDENTIAL. I see it as a cross-platform interactive experience.

You interact with KITTENS, y'see.

More genius ideas coming to you soon.

posted by Liz  # 8:37 AM 0 Comments

• • • • • • • • • •

Apologies and penance

So over the next week, there will be yet more blog silence, for which I apologize in advance; I'm going to be working hardcore on writing, though, so trust that the energy is going to a good place.

So while I'm being quiet, please enjoy The Eye of Argon by Jim Theis. It is what it is. Bask in it.

posted by Liz  # 5:43 PM 0 Comments

• • • • • • • • • •

Act 1, Scene 1 of PRISON BREAK Season 3

Spoilers for the season two finale below...

LINCOLN: Michael! I've broken into Panama Prison... Wow, Panama Prison sucks, huh? Anyways, I've broken in with a plan to escape tattooed on my body! We'll be out in hours!

MICHAEL: Thank you, big brother. Now we are truly even. So lemme see the plan.

LINCOLN: Sure.

Lincoln removes his shirt. This takes exactly half a second, because he only needs to unbutton a single button.

Michael blinks.

MICHAEL: Wow, Linc. That's... Well, this is great. This plan looks good. You've laid everything out clearly.

LINCOLN: Really? Thanks. It was my first plan for prison breaking, you know, and you set a pretty high standard.

MICHAEL: That's nice of you to say.

LINCOLN: I mean, it's not as complex as what you did-

MICHAEL: Yeah, about that. You notice how my tattoo just looks like a big fancy tattoo? With all the clues intricately hidden in the design.

LINCOLN: Sure.

MICHAEL: Well, the problem I'm seeing here is that a key part of your plan involves keeping the guards from finding out anything.

LINCOLN: Yeah...

MICHAEL: But I'm thinking that the guards might notice the part on your back here that says "Plan for Breaking Out of Panama Prison."

LINCOLN: But it's in English. They won't be able to read it.

MICHAEL: You didn't notice that, oddly, everyone we've met in Panama speaks English?

LINCOLN: Oh. Yeah. That could be a problem.

MICHAEL: Yeah.

LINCOLN: And tattoos are...

MICHAEL: Permanent.

LINCOLN: Yeah.

MICHAEL: On the plus side, putting "Don't get ass-raped" right above your tailbone was a smart move.

LINCOLN: It says "Don't"?

MICHAEL: It wasn't supposed to?

LINCOLN: Um.

Labels: teacher mother secret lover

posted by Liz  # 11:49 PM 0 Comments

• • • • • • • • • •

It's Time to Save The World (Ask Me How!)

Sunday morning, Aimee and I were walking down Santa Monica Boulevard, hunting and gathering breakfast for the menfolk laying about the living room, when I saw a poster taped to a street light. Clearly the work of an industrious street team, high-quality 11x17 poster board with a delicious matte finish. And in big letters, against that distinctive Heroes ellipse: "It's Time to Save the World."

I was able to snag the poster easily, excited about the prospect of putting it up at home. As I carried it down the street, though, people kept stopping us to ask what the hell the poster was for. So I told them, about this show on NBC on Monday nights, about people with superpowers. I told them it was pretty good. They walked away informed.

In short, the posters weren't doing much on their own. But combined with me, they were viral marketing gold. Please note, network television, that my time is available for your promotional needs. All I need is a new pair of Chucks and a case of diet Coke. Oh, and money.

Since Sunday, every (and I mean EVERY) West Hollywood bus stop is now adorned by these Heroes posters, and knowing that they'll be sticking around for a few weeks is awesome. There is nothing more inspiring than finishing up a late night run with a slap against the poster. Nothing.

Except, of course, for doing sit-ups while watching the Rocky Balboa "Hurting Bombs" training montage. I might have done that last night too. And it might have been AMAZING.

Labels: teacher mother secret lover

posted by Liz  # 3:57 PM 0 Comments

• • • • • • • • • •