in my fucking opinion

Hide Your Children It's....Adam And Eve??

2010-10-31T14:38:00.000-07:00

Mr. White
Well my favorite time of year is right around the corner so this last post for the week is dedicated to Halloween. Over the years I've been a number of strange things from a mummy made from torn bed sheets to Max Headrum. But I think that perhaps my shining moment was when I dressed up as a dead boyscout.

It's strange that on the one day of the year when we are given license to be a kid again and dress up as anything we want people will most often opt for the typical slutty witch/guy dressed as a beer can. I mean what says Halloween better than those two things right?

Instead of being creative like Mr. Black who recently fashioned his own costume based on the game Brutal Legend, people choose the less traditional approach ala the fags bellow.

Now I must admit (before Mr. Black points it out) that I have not always been creative myself. Last year I was Shaggy from Scooby Doo but that was more for my son and a lack of time than anything else. And I'm not saying you have to spend hours making your own costume because it's Halloween, it's supposed to be fun. However it wouldn't hurt to at least dress for the occasion. I can at least argue that Shaggy's profession is solving "spooky" mysteries that sometimes involve the classic monsters associated with Halloween right? Yeah OK so that's a stretch but you get my point. So I guess what I'm saying is that if you have to be a beer can then make it a scary beer can....no that still doesn't work... I'll tell you what, if you can't think of anything to be this year then I'll make a list of all the scary things I can think of to get you started.

01. Joseph Smith (who's scarier than the founder of the Mormon church?)

02. An iligal alien. (Aliens are always good for a scare) Just learn how to say, "I've come for your job" in Spanish.

03. Steve Jobs (Anyone seen dressed as Steve Jobs must be shot on site, you have my permission).

04. This guy:

05. Or even a Jesus clown....fucks me up just thinking about it.

So before you walk out that door sunday night and head for your slut-fest keger, consider what I said and have a happy Halloween you fucking beer can you.

-----------
Mr. Black
I guess what I'm more disappointed about is that most people aren't anything remotely scary for Halloween anymore. Everyone is a Disney character or something even worse like these people:
Really? This is what Halloween has come to? What every happened to Zombies, the Wolfman, Dracula? Things with fangs, blood, and gore? Isn't that what Halloween is about? Dressing up as something scary, or at least in the remote vicinity? I know my Brutal Legend costume maybe not be monstrous in anyway, but there are demons, monsters, blood and fire in the game so I would consider that in the remote vicinity.

It seems to me that if Halloween was about the crap pictured then every Halloween tv channels would be playing crap like Van Wilder, Harold and Kumar, or Beerfest. And if you're the kind of person who thinks it's your only chance to dress up during the year, it's not. You can have a costume party anytime, so that's when you break out your Human Pizza costume, not on Halloween.

So if you dressed up like something like these two, fuck you. I hope your key for a dick gets caught in a bus door while you're waddling your drunk ass home and you get dragged about 100 feet or as long as it takes to scrape the retard out of you.

What Kind Of Sick Fucks Are We

2010-10-27T20:36:00.000-07:00

Mr. White
If you ask Mr. Black what kind of movie recommendations I ask for he might tell you something like "Dark and fucked up". Unless of course I'm in need of something to watch with the wife in which case the answer would be "Rainbows and ice cream".

Lately I just prefer the disturbing over things like comedy or even action films. Films like Downloading Nancy about a woman who hires someone to kill her. Sounds like a pretty generic synopsis but it goes a little deeper than that and you get a movie about one incredible fucked up woman. I loved it.

But why are we as humans, who's basic needs in life requires well being to thrive, so drawn to blood and guts, destruction and not-so-happy-endings? Why do we seek to scare the shit out of ourselves? What is it about seeing the suffering of others that makes for a cozy evening on the couch?

Now I know that when we watch things that depict violence it's easy to partition our minds by acknowledging the fact that it's not real. But what is that special ingredient we find so tasty that we'd rather watch two people in a sex act involving blindfolds and mouse traps? Granted these things aren't for everyone (see Mormons) but for a large number of us it's downright delightful.

Perhaps I'm just out of my field here as I've only recently become so attracted to these themes so I may be best to consult an expert. So what's your take on this Mr. Black?

-------
Mr. Black
I've covered some of this in a previous post, but I'll delve further. First of all, not everyone likes stuff that is dark or disturbing. I doubt it's the vast majority of society. For myself, it's kind of a psychological game of how far I can take myself. I like watching movies, playing games, or reading books that evoke emotion, but a variety of ones: happiness, sadness, fear, disgust. As to why I'm drawn to the darker things? I couldn't tell you, maybe it's something that I'm born with or the fact that my dad let me watch horror films at a very young age, so it's just something I'm accustomed to. I don't know.

I would argue however, that this in no way is a vicarious experience. Hell, I don't even want to kill pedestrians in Grand Theft Auto. While that is even further removed away from reality than something like a movie, with a game I'm the direct cause of my actions, while in a film or book I'm merely an observer. Fuck, I don't even kill bugs.

As for you Mr. White, it's probably a combination of my taste rubbing off on you or some weird emotional state you're in due to some sort of situation, or maybe you're just broadening your horizons. I for one know, it doesn't make someone sick to watch those things. Maybe if you're jerking off to it....you're not doing that right Mr. White?

Anyway, it's just like anything else. Some people like romance, some people like horror, some people like drama. I just think "dark" is another genre that for some reason people can be drawn to, whether it's a morbid curiosity to see the darker side of creativity and possible truth that resides in society every day or just trying to evoke the entire emotional spectrum.

That'll be $150 Mr White. You can pay my receptionist on the way out.

Review: Super Meat Boy

2010-10-24T14:18:00.000-07:00

Mr. Black
Xbox Live Arcade has put indie game developers back on the map. Having a 10 million dollar budget for a game doesn't necessarily mean it's going to be good. In fact, it seems that the indie game developers are doing much more with very little cash and giving the big publishers a run for their money. Recently we've seen games like Limbo, Comic Jumper, Braid, and Shadow Complex set a precedence for what is possible on the Xbox Live Arcade platform as well as open up a market for people who want to develop games but not necessarily work with a team of 100+ people where their creative freedom is replaced by mainstream market statistics.

Super Meat Boy is another one of those great games that would never see the light of day or get good distribution if it wasn't for the indie game movement. I haven't finished the game, only completely two of the chapters, but I feel that I've delved into it enough to see what it has to offer in terms of gameplay.

The Rundown
The premise is simple and hails back to the 8-bit story lines of yore. You play Meat Boy who's girlfriend, Bandage Girl, get's kidnapped by the evil Dr. Fetus. You get thrown into a realm of eight chapters each housing 20 levels plus their dark level counterparts (twisted and harder versions), warp zones, and even "glitch" zones all to rescue your girl. So in all the game has 300+ levels so you'll be playing this one awhile.

Gameplay
The gameplay here is fairly straightforward. You can jump, launch of of walls, and have a variant speed jump. The control response is very tight so you never feel like you're being cheated by the mechanics. The levels are fast and frantic, it's all about speed and timing. You'll be launching off walls, avoiding giant buzz-saws, lava pits, spikes, and anything else you'd expect would turn you into a bloody pile of meat. Each level has it's own par time which you can try to attain to get an A+ rating which I'm sure aids in unlocking achievements. You also collect bandages along the way which help you unlock other characters (from other indie games such as Braid, Gish, and Castle Crashers) with different abilities all extending the gameplay and how you choose to approach each level.

Is it Worth Buying?
Without a doubt. It's on sale this month for 800 MS points, which is $10. After that it goes up to $15, but even then it's well worth the price. I've already put at least 4 hours into it and I've barely scratched the surface, so it probably holds more value than many full retail games you'll find at $60. The art direction is great and is very reminiscent of the old 8-bit and 16-bit games, but it doesn't merely copy, it is an homage, bringing graphical techniques not possible back then and also utilizing other modern gameplay elements.

Everything about this game is great. The music, the art, the gameplay. I can't remember the last time I've been so into a game and looking forward to the next chance I get to play it. The levels are short and sweet, so if you die it never feels to frustrating to having start over and you have unlimited lives so don't sweat it if you die 100 times to complete a particular level. Time trials, and a ton of meaningful unlockables will have you playing this for months to come.

Go buy it.

5/5

Nanowrimo: Rude Awakening

2010-10-21T22:55:00.000-07:00

Mr. White
Well I thought that since I'm doing the who novel writing thing I would share some of my thoughts how it's going.

First off let me just say that this whole experience has obliterated any preconceived ideas I had about writing a book. I'm really good when It comes to developing ideas and believe me I have a vault of them to keep me going for years. But good ideas don't cut it, they don't fill in all the necessary details that get you from point A to point B. There's so much more to writing a novel then just coming up with interesting plots that I didn't even think about until I took this project on.

Character development is crucial for telling a good story. If you don't care about the characters then you don't have anything worth reading. This sounds like common sense but for some reason I didn't get that before. I always figured the key was finding a good story. Now I'm not saying that the plot doesn't matter but when weighed against everything else its almost an after thought.

Not only did I not focus enough on building an interesting main character but I failed to see other pieces of the puzzle that would move the story along. Things like motivation, pacing, and so on. It's one thing to come up with something and write a few pages about it but to actually stretch that idea out to fit an entire fifty thousand word novel is a monumental task to say the least.

Now I know the whole point about this project is to not over-think it. And that's another thing, holding back the criticism is for me one of the most challenging things to accomplish. Exercising restraint feels strange to me because I'm such a perfectionist that everything I do had to be just right. You almost have to not care about whether or not your story end up being crap. I guess at the end of the day it's all about the experience and what you take with you. I'm only on week two and have a long way to go but I'm hoping when it's all said and done I can at least walk away knowing I gave it my best shot.

Exposure: Clint Mansell

2010-10-20T22:16:00.000-07:00

Mr. Black
If you don't know who this guy is, go buy some of his music now. In the last few years he has become my favorite film score composer. Why you ask? Well he can't be compared to anyone else really. Where old dudes like John Williams and James Horner are doing it old school theatrical style, Mansell augments the film rather than overshadowing it. His scores are probably the single best thing to come out of the film industry in years.

Specifically, he's more of a minimalist when it comes to music busting out his arsenal of cellos, piano, guitar, and even electronic bleeps to audibly shape the film. He's probably more similar to Trent Reznor in musical style than any of the forefathers of cinematic scoring. That's not to say he's incapable of creating booming, epic soundscapes, it's just that he's a much more forward-thinking and modern composer in my opinion. He exists in the negative space of film, intertwining the sounds with the visuals rather than overshadowing it as most composers do. Don't get my wrong, Williams, Horner, and even good old Poledouris (who's Conan OST ROCKS) are good and have their place, but Mansell is on the forefront of where musical scoring should be going.

After hearing his soundtracks for The Fountain, Requiem for a Dream, and his latest, Moon, other film scores almost seem cartoonish to me now. And as films continue blazing down the realism trail, his music is really the only kind that augments it. Moody, ambient, atmospheric. While Mansell has scored more mainstream films like Sahara, Trust the Man, and Smokin' Aces his true works of art lie in the smaller films: The Fountain, Requiem for a Dream, Moon, and The Wrestler.

I urge anyone out there who is a lover of music in general to support this guy, he is definitely a small minority in the population of film composers and there needs to be more like him.

--------

Mr. White
What I really like about Mansell is his almost rock approach to film scoring. This is probably attributed to his days as lead singer and guitarest for the British band Pop Will Eat itself along with lending backup vocals on the 1999 Nine Inch Nails album The Fragile.

While I do enjoy the epic melodies of John Williams there's just something refreshing about Mansell that never gets old. He captures the epic quality well but in a different way. Rather than, as Mr. Black put it, overshadow, Mansell's music peaks it's head out then disappears into dark ambient delight. It builds and falls perfectly more like an extension of the films rather than a competing element. I'm very excited to see what he does on the new Darren Aronofsky film Black Swan.

Nano Whato?

2010-10-19T21:36:00.000-07:00

Mr. White

Well November 1st is fast approaching and once again aspiring writers everywhere will band together to do the unthinkable. Write a novel in only one month, yep that's 30 days.

National Novel Writing Month or Nanowrimo is the brainchild of Chris Baty who came up with the idea in 1999. The idea is simple, write a novel in thirty days to reach a word count of fifty thousand and without editing yourself.

Sounds ambitious right? Well I'm on week two of my own novel and I can tell you it's no IMFO post. Every night I reach my daily word count of 1,667 it's like a celebration and I can't believe another day is in the bag.

Now I know I shouldn't be writing yet but I've opted out of entering the contest. I decided I couldn't wait any longer and dove straight in. I can honestly say that for someone who has been talking about writing a novel for years now, this strict schedule has worked wonders for me.

It's hard to describe the emotions that go into this damn monster of a project. Some days I hate what I'm doing and others I love it. Some days I think "what the hell have I created"? and then others I say to myself "fuck it I don't care anymore". It's filled with the highs and lows of self defeat and momentary delusions of grandeur.

So far I have amassed a whopping 15,082 word count which is quite a feat for me. Will I hit the finish line with fifty thousand? I have no fucking clue. Will I come out of this a better writer? I hope so. But for now I'm hacking away every night in my bath robe...Oh yeah I forgot about that.

Chris Baty has also written a book to coincide with Nanowrimo called No plot? No problem. The book is basically an outline of all four weeks and what to expect each day. I'ts been very inspirational and full of great tips like coming up with a totem. Yeah, a totem. What you do is pick something like a hat or wig or anything you can wear to help you get in the mood. My totem is a grey bath robe or as Mr. Black likes to call it, my ghetto wizards robe. I gotta say it works and I wear it every night whether I'm hot or not.

And even our own resident Negative Nancy, Mr. Black is considering entering the contest November first. I hear he's thinking about doing an autobiography about his days as child sex slave in the North American Man/Boy Love Association.

So if you've always wanted to say you've written a novel the next time you find yourself at a drunken Christian 80s party, then head on over to Nanowrimo and sign up. I dare you.

------
Mr. Black
Yes, I entered the contest. I have jammed yet another venture into my bursting at the seams busy schedule. But that's the point. I read the book of which Mr. White speaks (weird, that was kind of Yoda-speak) and Baty not only encourages you, but gives you the tools to actually fit such a seemingly impossible task in, no matter your schedule.

As Mr. White states, the yearly contest begins November 1st, so I suggest you read the book now if you're interested, you can find it here. Mr. White has been diligently writing his own novel, that of which I've been reading as he goes. Be forewarned, don't criticize anything or he may lock you out of his Google doc, because well, that's how Mr. White is. You don't like my story? HAH! You're locked out! Na-nah-nah-nah!

Yes this is what I deal with sometimes.

In any case I'm trying to plan as little as possible with my story so as to let it write itself so to speak. Mr. White and I have tackled a novel-like project before entitled The Sleeper in which one of use writes a chapter or so, then the other takes over for his chapter. Rinse and repeat. We only knew the basic concept of the story and the character, but nothing of the plot. The interesting thing that happened is we would riff off of each other (where is this lingo coming from?!) which would keep us going, and driving the plot. We reached about 25,000 words and surprise surprise, it's been left on Mr. White's turn. Yes Mr. Procrastination himself. So as of now it's in limbo. Hopefully we can apply the Nanowrimo rules to The Sleeper someday and get the damn thing finished.

But that is another tale.

Movie Review: Blood Into Wine

2010-10-17T13:21:00.000-07:00

Mr. Black

I don't like wine, I have no interest in wine and the only reason I even entertained the idea of watching this is because it features Maynard James Keenan of Tool. He rarely does any public interviews so I thought it might be interesting regardless of the fact that it's about his venture into the wine business.

The documentary opens with a very unique title sequence featuring a twangy soundtrack and subtle motion graphic treatments which slightly distort the environment. This all faithfully sets the stage for what is to come. If you have seen Maynard in any video interviews you'll notice that every nook and cranny of the film isn't without his signature personality. He's a guy that has a very subtle sense of humor and usually when he says anything it holds weight. Almost as though if something isn't worth saying he doesn't seem to think it should be said.

The film covers everything from why he decided to move to Arizona of all places and start a wine business, to a brief history of wine and wine making, to interviews with his peers and friends and what they think about the whole idea of a rock star wanting to move to the desert and make wine. Patton Oswalt and Mila Jovovich are just two of his friends that show up in the documentary; the scene with Oswalt being one of the most memorable. And of course, what would be a documentary involving Keenan without talking about his bands Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer? It wouldn't be, so if you're a fan of any of those bands I'm sure you'll get something out of this.

The story further progresses with mostly interviews including his wine-making mentor, Eric Glomski, the quirky historian of Jerome, Arizona, and even the editor of Wine Spectator magazine; who shows up with a giant wine glass housed in a metal briefcase nonetheless. The entrepreneurial and musical aspects of the film interested me, and even the wine-making process despite my initial disinterest. I guess in that regard I came away with more of a respect for the process than anything. I still don't see myself giving wine a second chance.

Apart from the interesting characters and locations you'll see in this documentary, one of the stand out features was the color treatment, editing, and cinematography. It doesn't look like any documentary I've ever seen so that in itself is another plus, albeit maybe not as apparent to the casual viewer. It does help drive the story and give you something interesting to look at even if you may be slightly bored with say, the history of Jerome, Arizona.

That said, I can easily recommend this film to anyone who likes wine, likes Tool, or even wants to see how documentaries should be done. It's a landmark for the medium of the documentary which is usually littered with handheld consumer cameras and bad editing. Even if you want to see how tough it is to start something up like your own business, you'll find something here. It definitely presents the reality of how difficult it is to get something up and running to how long it takes most ventures to begin being profitable.

And just like Keenan concludes his live shows with an unexpected thought-provoking, and possibly motivational micro-speech, he does the same here. And this just further enforces the notion that this documentary isn't just about a rock star's journey into the wine business.

4/5

Netflix Movie Spelunker: Isolation

2010-10-14T23:04:00.000-07:00

Mr. Black
As you know I am a fan of horror, and because the modern version of it is generally lacking in quality, I'm always extremely happy when I find a good one. The film I bring you now is Isolation.

The Rundown
The genetic experimentation of cows on a small Irish farm. GONE WRONG! Yeah, yeah, sounds like an 80's b-movie reminiscent of Attack of the Killer Tomatoes right? Well it couldn't be further from the truth. Despite the weak and cliche premise, this movie is good. No giant cg monster, no explosions or even cheesy one-liners.

We follow the story of a lone Irish cow farmer who agrees to take some cash in exchange for some scientist to do genetic experiments on one of his cows to try and speed up their grown and increase fertility. And as you guessed it, mother nature strikes back. The remainder of the story takes place on a small isolated farm with a cast of only about five. Heavy Irish rain, soggy earth, and blood ensue.

Is It Worth Watching?
Most definitely yes. If you're a horror fan like myself I can almost guarantee you'll enjoy it. Now don't get me wrong this isn't the greatest film nor is it going to be a classic, but everything it does, it does right and particularly well. As I mentioned there is no cg monster. And no the monster isn't a giant cow with sharp teeth. The execution of the creature(s), is done really well and not what one would expect from a monster movie. No wings or giant claws, or even tentacles for that matter. The shots you see of it are quick, sometimes out of focus, and close so it helps the believability. While watching it I felt a twinge of The Thing, which in my book is nothing but a good thing.

The isolated location and murky weather also immensely help the mood. My favorite kind of horror movies are on isolated locations with a small cast. That's what makes horror work for me most of the time, and it works here.

Don't let the synopsis fool you, this is a good one, I promise.

Ant-eaters, Turtlenecks, and Mushrooms (no this isn't a fairy tale)

2010-10-13T22:10:00.000-07:00

Mr. Black

The town I live in is very conducive to outside activities, particularly cycling. Moderate climates, clean air, and low traffic. I don't mind cyclists much, hell I even ride my bike to work every day, the entire 50 yards. But what really bugs the hell out of me is why these guys need to gear up in their power ranger cut-offs to go to work. Is wind resistance really a problem when you're not in a race? The man pictured right is what I'm talking about. This guy has more wind resistance naked than I do wearing a parachute.

Okay, to be fair, this is an over exaggeration, but it's the best picture I could find when Googling "fat cyclist" and "fat man riding a bike." Most guys riding to work on their bikes aren't quite this large, but are definitely wearing the same kind of outfit. The only other place you'd see a get-up like this is at one of Mr. White's butter wrestling matches, or perhaps a "can you guess if I'm circumcised or not" party.

Just to be clear, I understand the benefit of wearing one of the tightest outfits you can wear--without being accused of enjoying a tea bag (not the earl grey kind)--while in a cycling race. Less wind resistance, keeps you cool, I get it. But on your 15 minute commute to work? Really? I don't want to see an ant-eater unless I'm at the zoo.

All I ask is keep the spandex in the closet unless you're either in a race or training for one. Please, everyone will thank you. Except Mr. White, I hear he likes warm bags of tea in his dark mug, a turtle neck for those cold nights, and of course, mushrooms on his pizza.

-------------

Mr White.

I want to have a retort but I'm too confused.... What the hell are you talking about? Too much Louise has killed your brain cells.

------------

Mr. Black
Let me give you a few tips Mr. White. The period comes after "Mr" and it's LOUIE, not Louise. Maybe that's the problem, you think I'm watching some show about a woman named Louise. And perhaps Running Wilde has killed your punctuation.

------------

Mr. White

Shit I forgot about the invisible "E"... Touche you marvelous douche bag! It would seem the butter from my latest wrestling match has hindered my typing prowess.

And yes Running Wilde has killed my punctuation for how can I punctuate when I'm laughing so hard?

Goddamn it... and this happens after I give you shit for not editing yourself better. Touche indeed!

Night Of The Three Fag Grabs

2010-10-12T20:15:00.000-07:00

Mr. White
I'll right I'm calling myself out on this one so, Mr. Black, take a seat. I am a fat faggot. Not the limp wrist-want-to-tickle your thighs fat, I mean fat as in hide your baby.

My wife and I took a drive just now to get our son to sleep as we usually do. Well during this drive my fat faggot ass consumed three hamburgers. "Oh Mr. White, that's not so bad" you might say. Well I consumed three hamburgers from two different fast-food joints. Still think it's ok? Well, it was from McDonalds and Jack n the box. Here's the thing though...it was two different McDonalds.. Yeah...I made three separate stops...

And I don't know what the hell my problem is but every time I reached for the bag through my window I grabbed it like a fat faggot retard. I couldn't just grab it normally no, I had to reach for the first one like my arm was half the length it actually is and that I had a deformed talon. add a goofy leprechaun grin and you get me. The second bag at the second McDeath I cupped my hand like I was getting change. They had to put the bag in my cupped retard faggot hand. The third bag I tried to correct the situation and pinched the bag with my thumb and fore finger with my elbow higher than my actually faggot hand.

Now this isn't normal behavior but I guess my lust for grease took hold of my motor functions and I became Burger Boy the Sad.

So why didn't I just get three burgers at one stop? Well my wife has a mouth like a sailor and I told her that if she kept cussing that I get a burger for every word.

This is turning out to be a delicious yet dangerous relationship. I need to practice my technique for tomorrow.

Netflix Movie Spelunker: The Return

2010-10-11T22:45:00.000-07:00

Mr. Black
Another great watch instant film I saw recently is The Return. I'll start of by letting you know this is a foreign film, meaning you have to read it unless you speak Russian. So if that's a deal-breaker for you, then please, move on.

The Rundown
The father of two boys has been missing for 12 years, and unannounced he shows up at their home. The boys have no memory of him, so even the idea that he is their father is in question. He decides to take them on a fishing trip in the Russian countryside. Along the way we learn little pieces of the mysterious father, but with no real clear explanation. Throughout the piece, the father is mostly cold and any sort of bonding is through events of tough love.

Is It Worth Watching?
For me it's a five star film, easy. It is filled with mystery and dark themes which I'm a sucker for. Even after the film is over, you're still left guessing who the father was and what happened to him over the last 12 years. The cinematography here is great and showcases many of the beautiful landscapes that never see the light of day in a film set in Russia. If I could describe this move in one word it would be "haunting." Even today I find the film entering my brain for reanalysis. As for the resolution of the film, you can find many theories in the Netflix comments section or other places on the internet, but I strongly suggest you watch the film first.

Another fact that just helps promote this movie's dark overtones is that the oldest boy in the film drown a few years after it was released and at one of the locations in the film. It's deliberately paced and filled with questions, but those are two of it's greatest qualities.

Kids Draw The Darnedest Things

2010-10-10T22:32:00.000-07:00

Mr. White

It seems my three year old son has taken quite an interest in art. I'm amazed at how detailed his little people are whenever he puts crayon to paper. But I think his most recent piece deserves the most attention. Behold, his mighty fish. Yes that's right, I said fish you freaking perverts.

There's something strange in feeling a sense of pride in something so incredibly falic. And yet my son's little fish... elicits the biggest smile every time I look at it. God this just sounds more and more wrong with each word I type...

I can't wait to see what other animals he draws as i'm going to save them to show his wife someday and embarrass the shit out of him.

Family members should expect a very special holiday greeting from the Christmas fish this year.

----------
Mr. Black
Nah, too easy.

Book Review: The Haunting of Cambria by Richard Taylor

2010-10-08T08:00:00.000-07:00

Mr. Black

I didn't pick this book up for any reason other than it was about Cambria. A place I've been going to ever since I was a kid and now am lucky enough to only live about a half hour away from. I'd seen this cover in the windows of the various book stores that have lived and died in Cambria, but never thought much about it. Finally, my curiosity got the better of me and I decided to give it a try. It was relatively close to horror, so I figured what the hell.

The Rundown

Theo Parker has a pretty good life, making pretty good money. The only thing his life doesn't have is a woman to complete it. Enter Lily, the heir to the magazine empire where Theo works. Fast forward a bit and they decide to get married. Lily's dream has always been to move to Cambria and open up a bed and breakfast. Then just shortly after their brief honeymoon they get in a car accident. Theo finds himself slightly crippled, but alive, Lily dead.

Next we find Theo reluctantly taking over his ex-wife's dream of trying to make something out of the run down bed and breakfast. With the help of Eleanor, the property manager turned resident, they start. The only thing is, there is something haunting the premises.

Is it Worth Reading?

Once the "ghost" makes an appearance it's handled really well. The descriptions are great and the author conveys a sense of tension. The characters aren't anything you haven't seen before, especially the protagonist, Theo, who seems to be more of a testosterone-laden vessel for the author to live vicariously through.

The first half of the book maintains a good pace and remains interesting, but the reveal, while trying to be original seems as though it could have been handled in a more "creepy" way. I don't want to get too deep into the plot, this is a ghost story after all, right?

If you're a fan of ghost stories, hauntings, or Cambria you will probably like this book. The locales of Cambria are described in detail and if you've been there enough to be familiar with it, you can picture the characters walking down the streets, which in itself was fun for me. Without that element of nostalgia it doesn't bring much new to the classic ghost story, but that's not saying it's poorly written. Taylor's writing has a good rhythm and is able to easily bring you into his world. The characters, while not particularly engaging, aren't two dimensional either. This book is very middle-of-the-road for me personally.

That said, this would be a blast to read while staying in Cambria. It'll definitely make you wonder where the inspiration for Monroe House came from (I have a pretty good idea) and explore all Cambria has to offer, from it's unique restaurants, to it's historic cemeteries. If you do end up on highway 1 and find yourself passing through Cambria, just do me a favor and have a Monster Burger and Main Street Grill.

3/5

Running Wilde: Running from the funny

2010-10-06T19:56:00.000-07:00

Mr. Black

How do you make a television show not funny with Will Arnett, David Cross, and producer Mitchell Hurwitz? I would have thought it impossible, but apparently I was very very wrong. If you aren't aware of any of these people they are a small chunk of one of the best comedies to ever be on the air: Arrested Development. I can't say enough good things about that show, the cast, the writing, the originality. How could something like Running Wilde come out of that I have no idea.

The premise of Running Wilde is fairly typical: rich kid wants to get back childhood love, but they are from two completely different worlds, sound familiar? Will Arnett plays the typical rich guy who hasn't had to work a day in his life because of daddy's trust fund. Keri Russell plays the complete opposite: a woman living in South America trying to save a tribe from the greed of capitalist America. She ends up going to Arnett's fake humanitarian award ceremony for himself and with after a few stupid indians in a pool she decides to stay because her kid, Puddle, an ugly young boy played by Stefania Owen doesn't want to live in the jungle any more.

I think the only time I came close to laughing was when Fa'ad, Arnett's equally spoiled and equally rich neighbor shows up on a tiny horse. It happens fairly early in the pilot so I had high hopes. Unfortunately that's where it ends. You'll find no clever narrative, no great characterization by Arnett, and even David Cross's quirky performance comes off as forced an unoriginal.

There have only been two episodes aired, but the second episode being worse than the pilot usually isn't a good sign. I may stick around for a couple of more episodes, but I don't see this show going anywhere. It's a completely flat and typical comedy written for the retarded masses. The only thing I can believe is that Fox must have pushed Hurwitz in such a way as to write something that was trash.

I really wanted this show to be good and had nothing but high hopes for it. Maybe my expectations were too high, I'm not sure, but I doubt we'll see a second season of this unless it does a complete 180. Oh well, at least we have Hurwitz doing an Arrested Development movie.

Chalk It Up To Taste?

2010-10-05T23:06:00.000-07:00

Mr White.
Now the world don't move to the beat of just on drum. What might be right for you, may not be right for some.
You might think that Mr. Black and I always agree on things but you couldn't be further from the truth. And while I consider Mr. Black to be one of the smartest people I know It shocks me when I hear he likes shit like louise over great sitcoms like Running Wilde. Don't believe me? Here is a recent chat.

Mr. Black: I'm going to write one about how running wilde sucks
Second episode is not funny either
Mr. White: Don't take this the wrong way but you are an idiot
Mr. Black: Don't worry I can say the same for you
Mr. White: Nope
Mr. Black: Oh yes
And this little girl is ugly as shit
Mr. White: You are two for two now
Mr. Black:Makes the show even worse
Mr. White: you like the shitty louise and don't like running wild
Mr. Black: You like shitty running wilde and don't like the good louie
Mr. White: Your logic is worse than a christian
Mr. Black: I didn't even crack a smile on this new episode
Mr. White: You are a robot if you don't find out funny
Mr Black: I don't see how you could fuck this up
Mr. White: Watching now and laughing
Mr. Black: At what?
The ugly boy named puddle?
Mr. White: The great writing
Mr. Black: You're definitely not watching it
Mr. White: They are in the back of the suv
Mr. Black: So not funny
There is nothing clever about this show
Not smart at all
Mr. White: That's because watching Louise has made you stupid
so it's difficult to understand smart writing.

Now that I have the theme from Different Strokes in my head I leave you with this as I do the robot out of here.

Women, You Can't Live With Them.... But You Have To

2010-10-04T22:12:00.000-07:00

Mr white
I hate to state the obvious but women are fucking idiots sometimes. Women are like Christians, they say whatever they want, they do whatever they want and it's OK, because they're women. They get immunity every time and they get to make up their own rules as they go.

Lets take Mrs. White for example, here's a woman who actually gets mad at me when she's late for work because I didn't wake her ass up when "her" alarm goes off. Makes perfect sense right?

And then there are those wonderful moments that every man eagerly awaits when they say "why don't you talk me like that" after watching some sappy-ass romantic comedy.

And don't you just love it when they play the feminist card but then say things like "because you have a dick" when you want to know why they can't lift more then five pounds.

Here's another thing, women fucking walk slow as shit and you want to know why? It's not because they aren't as fast as men, no, that would make too much sense. it's so they can yell at you when you walk faster. It's another of many lovely mind games women like to play.

Well at least you can get head from them right? No. Enough said about that...

I want to shit in the eyes of the douche-rocket who opened the car door for his bitch. Lucky me that Mrs. White was there to see it and I've been paying for it since. "Wow, what a nice boyfriend he is" she said, "That's because his balls our in her hands sweetie". She didn't like that answer.

But don't get me wrong, I love my wife... don't I? Of course I do and it's not just her though it feels wonderful to use her as an example.

Feels good to rant again.

-----------

Mr. Black

It's good to be Mr. Black.

IMFOGAME: Zombies!!!

2010-10-03T23:53:00.000-07:00

Mr. Black
Yes, indeed, it does deserve three exclamation points. What I am referring to is the board game Zombies!!! by Twilight Creations. And no this isn't Dungeons & Dragons.

A friend of mine at work suggested we get some people together for a bi-monthly game night. No, still not D&D. We've mostly played party games like Cranium or Apples to Apples, but eventually that got a little stale and repetitive. So I thought it might be a good idea to introduce something new to the mix. I stumbled upon Zombies!!! awhile back on Amazon.com looking for some new types of board games. The reviews seemed good, and it didn't seem overly complicated (translation: nerdy) for the ladies so I picked it up.

The object of the game is to get through the horde or zombies and to the helipad to win. It doesn't have a predefined game board so it's a new game every time. On every turn a player lays down a new tile (piece of the gameboard) so it starts out as one tile, then quickly grows after that. You'll need a large playing area for this game. You have event cards which you use to try to hinder other players' movement or actions, hopefully keeping them from reaching the helipad before you do. The catch is, the helipad is randomly shuffled the in the deck, so you never know when it will come up or where it will be placed until that player draws it from the deck.

Combat is relatively simple. A roll of a 4-6 on a 6-sided die kills a zombie, which you keep for the remainder of the game unless you die. I forgot to mention, killing 25 zombies also allows you to win the game. You have life tokens and bullets which can aid you in combat as well. You lose a life token when a zombie kills you (don't roll a 4-6) and you can use your bullets to add to your die roll, in case you don't hit 4-6.

That said, it's pretty simple and a different flavor than most typical party games. Just keep in mind, this game can run long, usually a minimum of 2 hours depending on how many players you have. There are around 9 expansion packs last time I checked, so this isn't a game you'll stop playing anytime soon.

Exposure: Joe Abercrombie

2010-09-30T17:52:00.000-07:00

Mr. Black

Instead of writing a formal review for his First Law trilogy, or for that matter his newest book, Best Served Cold, I'm going to tell you why Joe Abercrombie is the best thing to come to fantasy literature in a long time. Or at least tempt you to checking out some of his work.

Being an avid reader of fantasy for many years, I tend to get picky. Too many authors cover the same ground or have stereotypical characters with no depth. I know fantasy is filled with cliches and sometimes it's hard to avoid the typical "quest" format. I have no problem with the "Lord of the Rings" style narrative, as long as there is something worth reading somewhere in there. That could be clever plot devices, or as simple as character depth. The latter is what Abercrombie excels at.

In Abercrombie's fantasy world, you won't find wizards on every corner, elves, dwarves, or an in-depth explanation of how the system of magic works. What you will find is a gritty and realistic world filled with flawed characters. Hell, you may even feel sorry for the "bad guys" because even they have their own convincing motivation. That is why his writing is so compelling. Even though you can single out who the protagonists and antagonists are, Abercrombie doesn't feel the need to fill them with typical cliches. Everyone has depth to them, even the characters who die. You never feel like someone isn't give enough "screen-time" due to the fact that the author knew he would kill them off eventually anyway.

In a genre filled with long-winded, and politically-stuffed epics like the ones Martin and Jordan (RIP) produce, Abercrombie really is a welcomed addition. The reader never feels like he's trudging through unnecessary crap, but at the same time, you don't feel like you're reading some stale novelization of a D&D campaign setting.

I don't want to get into any of the plots or character, just present the reason why I think anyone who loves fantasy literature should check it out. I guarantee you'll have a good time.

For more information on Joe Abercrombie and to see when his next books are coming out, check out his at www.joeabercromibe.com

And the best thing is he only have four books out, so you won't have to read through 12 novels just to get up to speed like a lot of fantasy series out there.

Collective Soul + County Fair = Poop Town

2010-09-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

Mr White
Now just to clarify, I do like Collective Soul, I just don't like county fairs. I used to enjoy them when I was a kid and they weren't exclusively honkey-tonk-wonderlands. And where I live the honkeys are so hardcore they're in HD so they really stand the fuck out.

So imagine you're eating you're favorite burger, lets just say it's a Monster burger from Firestone. The meat is juicy and the cheese is nice and melted. The bun gives your lips a warm kiss as you molest....take your first bite.

And then BAM! you're surrounded by hundreds of steaming piles of shit with beer breath.

Somehow that burger just doesn't taste as good now, does it.

As if it wasn't bad enough that one of my favorite bands have reduced themselves to appearing at the white-trash-oasis known as the Kern County Fair but I had my three year old son in tow.

It was like a sad dream, kind of like the one I had where David Gahan was an obese Elvis impersonator and forgot half the words to Personal Jesus. You're own...Personal...dee doo. Sad...

But it was a free concert so I tried to make the best of it while I sat elbow to elbow with my friendly neighborhood over-the-hill-hicks. I think someone forgot to tell them it wasn't a Hank Williams tour.

I'm not even sure how Ed managed to stay so energetic considering the crowed was as animated as dry cow shit in a windless desert. But you gotta give him credit for at least trying.

The crowed did finally get going when the band broke out with Shine. Yessir them boys everwhere done busted out their air geetars and started a play'n. It was a site to behold as I sat like a sweaty fish packed in box of Marlboros with melted chocolate cheese-cake on a stick in one and trying to fight off a three year old with another. Meanwhile Mrs. white jamed away with the rest of them oblivious to my rising anger. I'm sure Mr. Black knows me well enough that this mental picture is as good as being there himself. Laugh it up ass-monkey.

So was the music good? well...it was loud...and I think Dean fell asleep a few times. But hey, did I mention it was free?

OX WHEN!?

2010-09-28T11:24:00.000-07:00

Mr. White
Well its' Wednesday again, a day that holds great significance for Mr. Black and I. Wednesday is the day of the double ox combo with cheese and no onions. I'm talking about the Golden Ox.

Excuse me as I pause in silent reverence to reflect on the goodness of the Ox........

Ok, that's good.

There's so much to say about this wonderful place that it's honestly hard to know where I should start...

Imagine a place when you walk through the door you're greeted by a short Ukrainian woman (I'm actually not sure on the details of her ethnicity but Ukrainian sounds good)

-------------

Mr. Black
...and receive your food in about the time that it takes you to walk the three feet to the pickup counter after getting your receipt, IF you need one, because the Ox Lady--the Ukranian(?) woman Mr. White referred to earlier in his post--will ask. We're not being derogatory when we refer to her as the Ox Lady, it's just that we have no idea what her name is and we've probably been eating there regularly for at least two years; although much less since I've left town.

She has no name tag and usually rolls into view as we approach the register. I guess she must see us through that one way mirror just to the left of the counter...who knows, she is but a mystery. But one thing is for sure, she knows how to make a fucking good burger.

Another thing about The Golden Ox is it's decor. There is no sort of theme, which I pointed out to Mr. White last month when we were there. You have this outdated wallpaper with framed mini posters of bad artwork and baskets hanging from every wall filled with dusty plastic flowers. One poster that I usually stare at over Mr. White's head that comes to mind is a painting with fireworks and I think some kind of boat or float with "New Orleans" filling the sky. You will not find any sort of gumbo in this place, but it doesn't matter because once you bite into a double ox combo with cheese and no onions you'll soon forget any artistic dilemma you had.

Review: Louie Season 1

2010-09-27T17:17:00.000-07:00

Mr. Black

Louis CK is my favorite comedian. Let's just put that out there. That said, this review could be a little biased, but I'll try to be as objective as I can. If you don't know who he is go check him out on youtube. And if you don't think a bag of dicks is funny, you're and idiot and should kill yourself.

So now that we have our little disclaimer up, as you would probably guess I was pretty stoked when I heard Louis CK was going to have a new show on FX. I knew he had previously done a more sitcom oriented show years ago, but from what I read, this one would be different. And it is.

You know a show is going to be great when the opening credits is the star aimlessly walking down a New York street only stopping to stuff his face with a slice. Yep, that's it, then he walks down some stairs to a comedy club. It's kind of like the awkward fat man's version of the Saturday Night Fever intro.

Each episode usually begins with Louis in a comedy club setting you up for the premise of that particular episode. I know this sounds a lot like Seinfeld, which I'm sure he's satirizing, but he's actually funny, and you don't have to worry about any synthesized bass lines punctuating a new scene.

The first thing I noticed is the way it's shot. Ever shot seems to have a fairly shallow depth of field, always having the actors in relatively tight quarters as opposed to staged wide shots. And as most modern tv shows, it has a more handheld feel than static camera work. This really gives a more personal feeling to the whole thing. It never feels cinematic or staged. It very much seems like he's being followed around by a camera, but never crossing the line of becoming too much like a documentary.

Ok, enough artsy bullshit. On to the funny.

Yes this show is funny. I find it hilarious. No it's not for everyone. Just like his comedy, it's mostly about fucked up and usually pathetic situations he finds himself in. But it's not all about the laughs. Many of these episodes almost feel autobiographical in nature, showing not only funny situations in his life, but ones that border on self-reflection and societal satire. The episodes range from zany--like the ones with Ricky Gervais--to uncomfortably personal--like the one with his friends (one being gay) around a poker table talking about the word "faggot."

That's why I wouldn't necessarily label this show pure comedy, and thats why I think I like it so much. It's really hard to pinpoint the genre. Sometimes you're laughing, and sometimes you generally feel sorry for the guy and wonder if his real life is this pathetic. That said, this show isn't perfect. Louis CK isn't the best actor at times, but maybe that's how he is in real life, I'm not sure, but it could interpreted as bad acting to some, Mr. White specifically. And some of the episodes seem like they could have explored the situation a bit more. But these are minor, minor complaints. This show tries something completely new which can be said for very few shows that I'm aware of. And honestly, the more I watch it, the more I see what trash fills the major network slots of NBC and ABC.

4.9999999/5

Exposure: Arunas Zilys

2010-09-26T14:40:00.000-07:00

Mr. White
When it comes to art I have pretty simple tastes. I don't care to get all philosophical about a piece and try to dissect it an attempt to figure out some deeper meaning. I just like the simple things. Use of color, use of negative space, and style.

"It's not an intellectual thing, art, it's an emotional thing. That's how art connects with people, it's its own language that speaks to the heart rather than the mind"
-Drew Struzan

Like a moth to a flame, I'm a sucker for simplicity.

That's probably why I love Arunas Zilys's paintings. They are simple yet elegant in a style I have never before seen.

Arunas Zilys is a Lithuanian painter in the style known as Mythic Surrealism. Yeah I know what you must be thinking "Mythic Surrealsim"? that sounds a bit made up. So I actually just called Artifacts Gallery who claims to be Arunas Zylis's publisher and judging from the huge void of information I garnered I'm led to believe the same thing.

I don't understand how someone of Arunas's talent could fly under the radar for so long. I mean where else could you find quirky long-faced-weirdos with hair that can rival Pipi Long Stocking on her best day? And aside from a David Lynch movie I challenge you to find one example of a man with a bush-like fro that you would want to hang on your wall such as Gatekeeper shown bellow.

I think it's a testament to Arunas's immense talent that he's able to depict such pleasingly strange themes and characters in an incredibly rich landscape of emotion that people will pay $995.00 to have in their home.

His use of color is amazingly vibrant in all the right places, stylistically lush and wonderfully odd in a very otherworldly sense.

I just wish more was known about this stoic little Lithuanian. He's said to be somewhat private so I guess the lack of information is due in part to his own wishes.

There isn't a whole lot more I can say about these paintings as I have the same emotional capacity to express myself as a five year old. Pretty colors, funny people, Bird!

I guess you really don't need someone like me to tell you why these paintings are so great (there I go again). All you have to do is look and let them speak for themselves.

So if you're ever in Cambria and want to see some of his work then I would suggest checking out Artifacts Gallery. Or do the easy thing and go to their website.

You might just find yourself staring in awe at the strange world of Arunas Silys.

Review: The Grand Design by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow

2010-09-23T22:34:00.000-07:00

Mr. Black
So here it, the explanation of life, everything, and how the universe doesn't need a creator. Well, sort of. Those are the arguments proposed by Stephen Hawking and Leonard Mlodinow in their new book, The Grand Design. I am by no means an expert on physics, but you don't need to be to understand the concepts of this book. It is written in layman's terms without all of the complicated mathematics of theoretical physics. That's not to say that some of the concepts didn't have me going back and rereading parts. In fact I feel like to get a much clearer grasp of what they're saying I need to read it again in it's entirety.

This is the book I've been waiting for, mostly anyway. Something that tries to formulate how everything began. While the concepts in this book seem logical, I feel, the authors aren't afraid to say that there is still much to do. The book uses M-theory, along with other Feynman models to explain how something can actually come from nothing. I know that that concept sounds unheard of to most people because our understanding is that everything must have a cause. Not so with the universe apparently. I won't get into the meat of all of the concepts covered in this book, but let's just say they pose a very intriguing argument.

Structurally, it presents the reader with a primer in the history of science, quantum physics, and other knowledge that culminates up to their final chapter which explains why the universe did not need a creator. That said, I wish I would have read a more introductory book on physics before attempting this. That's not saying this book is hard to follow, it just tends to cover many topics fairly quickly and may be difficult to digest for some unless it's very carefully read.

The book is short, just under 200 pages, so it's a quick read, but as stated before, you may want to take it a little slow unless you've read books on quantum physics and such. The length is a bit of a double-edged-sword. On one hand it's not intimidating, but on the other, I kind of wanted more. Maybe more examples or deeper explanation of their theory, but that in itself could have cut out a chunk of the mainstream audience; their target audience.

Anyone interested in science, space, or even how the universe came to be should check this out. It covers a lot of the newest ideas in science, but familiarizes the reader with older foundations. Humorous anecdotes are interspersed throughout keeping it ever from being dull or droning, and you can tell that Hawking and Mlodinow really love what they do and love bringing these complex concepts to the rest of the world much as Carl Sagan did.

4.5/5

Netflix Movie Spelunker: The House of the Devil

2010-09-22T22:11:00.000-07:00

Mr. Black

Today I bring you a little gem called The House of the Devil. Before I got any further, those of you who do not enjoy 80's horror, leave now, this is not for you.

Now, to the movie. The House of the Devil is a movie created in the spirit of old great 80's horror flicks. Something that is forever gone to cinema. Not because of the era, but because unfortunately people don't enjoy a good pulpy horror film anymore. Today we are treated the crap-filled "horror" films that only provide any sort of scare by their sharp sound effects.

Ti West, who wrote, directed and edited this movie did something I haven't seen before in film: completely recreating a film from another decade to the fucking T. From the title treatments to the color-correction, to the cinematography, to the set design it is a near-perfect recreation of an 80's horror film. From the moment of the opening credits hit you're whisked back to the early 80's and never feel like you're watching a movie created in 2009.

The Rundown

College girl needs money for apartment. College accepts a weird man's request to "babysit" his old mother in a spooky old house. Lunar eclipse. Satanic shit happens.

Why You Should Watch It

As I mentioned before if you aren't a horror movie fan you won't like this, but if you are you're in for a rare treat. By the end of the film you'll be grinning ear to ear in nostalgia. Not to say this film is only good for the sake of nostalgia. While this movie probably wouldn't be a classic if it was actually created in the 80's, it's still a really fun time and reminds me of what's missing in today's horror. The story unfolds at a very deliberate pace and tries to create a sense of atmosphere rather than punching your brain with tits and loud sounds like most of today's horror entries.

So go watch it, and don't forget to turn off the lights.

Stick this up your Moral Law, C.S. Lewis

2010-09-20T21:12:00.000-07:00

Mr. Black
This post is the love-child of an ongoing argument I'm having on Facebook right now, which is around 53 comments long and going. Whew! So here we go.

Many Christians invoke the Moral Law idea of C.S. Lewis as being proof that we were created by God and that "morality" is not objective. I'd agree with him on one part, that being that morality is not completely objective. You can see this by finding common moral views that span across many cultures; varying slightly of course. We wouldn't want to make this easy now, would we Lew? So because "God is written on our hearts" that is ultimate proof that we were created by God and is our prime element that separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom.

One example I hear is "rape happens in the animal kingdom all the time." Sure it does, and it happens with us as well, and we deem it immoral. But that argument assumes that all animals are cool with being raped. That is not the case. I've seen my own dog nearly get his face torn off trying to mount a bitch. So how do you explain that? According to C.S. Lewis anything moral only applies to humans. So why would this dog care if it was forcefully fucked? Was it deeming being raped immoral? Was she just not in the mood?

Let's take it a bit further. Many animals, males in particular, have methods of attracting a female mate. From colorful feathers, to an all out one on one battle. If rape was the primary method of reproduction in non-humans why would this exist? Why wouldn't every animal just force themselves on the female? Why go through this waste of time of trying to attract a mate and hope she picks you?

What's the difference between the fluffing of the tail feathers of a peacock to me wining and dining a woman to get her to bed with me? There isn't one. We are a more complex species therefore our methods are more complex (and expensive for that matter).

I also argue--you still hearing this Lew? I know that dirt can be a hell of a sound barrier--that any "moral" idea can be directly linked to primal instinct. All species have two hardwired instincts : survival and procreation. Murder doesn't exactly promote the survival of a species does it? Neither does rape, especially when you piss off her boyfriend and he comes to kill your ass. How does that help a species live in harmony and thrive?

Now with us crazy humans things get a little more granular, such as in Texas you can't have any butt sex, or in California you can't carry a handgun, but those are really pointless. They all stem from either a religious dogma (in the case of the buttsecks) or survival (carrying a handgun). Even procreation has laws in some places like China. In that case reproduction is affecting the survival of the species. I know that sounds like a paradox, but it basically means too much population is a bad thing when it comes to resources which in turn fucks a species in the butt (sorry Texas).

So there you go Lew.

-----

Addendum

Mr. Black

By some strange coincidence, the day after I wrote this I wanted to check out what Sam Harris had been up to. Turns out he's coming out with a book entitled The Moral Landscape: How Science Can Determine Moral Values. The video below is a short lecture he did at the TED conference and gives you a summary of the ideas presented in his book.