Jon Stewart is the Anti-Christ!

You realize I’m kidding, of course. The headline was intended to grab your attention. (And did it do its job or what?)

Anyway, the headline serves the dual purpose of catching your attention and illustrating Stewart’s point in this segment from his show, The Blogs Must Be Crazy. (I’d embed the video, but the damn thing wouldn’t cooperate, so just click on the link.)

I’m telling you there’s some serious smackdown action going on between Stewart and Rachel Maddow. Not sure I can bear to watch all the eviscerating.

Blogging’s for Old Farts? Say What??

Well, this article made me feel old. It says young people are turning away from blogging, in favor of Facebook and Twitter.

It’s got a lot of statistics that ostensibly support this. I say ostensibly, mainly because I hate statistics. They put me to sleep. So I’ll take their word for it when they say blogging has become more of a pasttime for–ahem–people over a certain age than it is for the young.

There could be a lot of reasons for this. Blogging is being used with greater frequency (kind of like Twitter) for business networking and promotional purposes. I’m assuming fewer young people than old fogies more mature folks use social media this way.

Another possible factor is the sheer number of blogs out there. Starting yet another blog may seem a trifle redundant.

Frankly, I’m not sure I buy the idea that Facebook and Twitter are a substitute for blogging. Brevity may be the soul of wit, but there are some things you simply can’t say in 140 characters or less.

OMFG, I'm on Twitter.

If anything, Facebook and Twitter have encouraged me to blog more often. But then, I’m old.

It’s 15 Years Later, But ‘Calvin and Hobbes’ is Still Awesome

February 1 marked the 15 year anniversary of the final appearance of “Calvin and Hobbes” in the comics page. In observance of the occasion, The Cleveland Plain Dealer ran an interview with the (in their words) “reclusive artist” Bill Watterson.

It’s a fun interview, even if it’s not as much fun as reading the strips themselves, including these rarities.

Blog of Note: Marissa’s Big Adventure

Okay, this is a blog everyone needs to check out as soon as possible. Why? Well, in part, because it’s written by the blogger who once wrote the third funniest blog of all time (that I happen to know about).

However, sadly for the world (but good for her), Marissa no longer writes her incredibly funny posts in The Anti DC about what a sh*thole dull and lifeless place DC is, full of rude people who also happen to be overbearing douche bags and dullards of all persuasions.

Ah, but now she blogs in South America! ¡Hurray! (Is there no Spanish equivalent to “Hurray”? Babelfish doesn’t think so, apparently.)

Be sure to check out Marissa’s sampling of Chilean cuisine, including her vlog about her love of empanadas and conjugating Spanish verbs.

Not to mention this . . . thing . . .

Um, is that green stuff avocado or old mayo?

Mmm. Yummy. Could use more mayo, but what couldn’t? Anyway, she can tell you more about this sumptuous looking meal right here.

Oh, yeah, and she also hiked the Inca Trail and vlogged about that. Pretty cool, even if she got sick and her lips turned a bit too blue for comfort. But she lived through it and that’s what counts, right?

Speaking of which, Marissa’s had many opportunities to climb great mountains. And vomit on them. Repeatedly. (And lived to vlog about that, too.)

Apart from her sheer fortitude, her guts and her awesome sense of humor, I really admire Marissa for just chucking it all and taking this adventure. And blogging about it all for our enjoyment and amazement.

And what a lucky person she is, because despite all her trials and turmoils (including a big dust-up with Fed Ex and customs over a package delivery), somehow it just all works out for Marissa.

Oh, and did I mention she’s writing a novel? Go, Marissa! You go, girl! Er, what I mean is: ¡Usted va, muchacha! (I guess that’s right.)

Tough Times for Toyota

Yes, this past week has been a rough one for Toyota. There’s no question about it. Made me a bit sad, actually, as I’ve come to think of Toyota as one of the most dependable cars on the market.

Needless to say, the first big blow to Toyota was the news of the recall over the gas pedal problems. (Well, maybe the second after the floor mat debacle.) That in itself floored me (ack! really bad and probably tasteless pun there). Then, it got worse.

Apparently, an ABC investigation on the matter had a substantial impact upon Toyota. What more could befall my favorite carmaker? What more could possibly happen?

A congressional investigation, that’s what. Good Lord! Things are looking dire for Toyota. How could this happen?

Excessively rapid growth has been alleged to be the culprit. So, let’s see, this is all supposed to have happened because Toyota tried to expand too fast?

Meanwhile, in Detroit, no doubt execs at the Big Three automakers are sitting back, rubbing their hands with glee. Surely, schadenfreude is running rampant among American auto manufacturers, who’ve suffered so by comparison with Toyota.

These, of course, would be the same automakers who’ve sought bailouts due to revenue losses caused mostly by their inability to make cars even half as reliable and fuel-efficient as their competition. They’ve also steadfastly fought new CAFE standards and other regulations to protect the environment (too expensive, they say). Yet, up until now, other car companies like Toyota have been kicking their asses on all this stuff. Only in recent years (and probably kicking and screaming all the way) have the Big Three automakers put any genuine effort into trying to come up with any real innovation in their new car models.

Um, conspiracy theories, anyone? I’m taking suggestions here.

ADDENDUM: It has come to my attention that Ford didn’t seek a government bailout, though it did try to get financial help in less direct ways. Just figured as long as I was seeking possible conspiracy theories, I should attempt to keep at least some of the record straight.

Blog of Note: The Heavy Metal Librarian

Now, The Heavy Metal Librarian blog is noteworthy for many reasons.

First, the blogger (Aaron the librarian in Maine) is the kind of guy who pulls no punches. He expresses his disdain for various right-wing and religious zealot assclowns in no uncertain terms.

Second, he is a “heavy metal” kind of guy. Pretty tight sh*t, right?

Third, he’s just f*cking funny. Really funny, as you’d know from reading this.

Fourth, Aaron’s a librarian and that’s always good for extra points.

Okay, so Aaron's a guy, not a girl. I still like the image. So there.

Finally, I submit this, his latest post about the upcoming State of the Union speech tonight and the response from that other party. I think that pretty much sums things up.

News Flash! DC Schools: The Food Sucks

Well, someone at Grist pulled the dubious honor of writing about the food served in the D.C. (that’s the Nation’s Capital we’re talking about, people) public schools. The results aren’t pretty.

According to this article (the latest in a series), most of the food being served children in D.C. schools is (shock of shock!) junk. We’re talking mainly foods processed to the point where you can barely recognize them as food and containing incredible amounts of sugar.

The article makes the following observation:

“Studies have found that meals sent from home are frequently inferior, nutritionally speaking, to food served in schools [talk about your understatements here]. But during my week as an observer in the kitchen at H.D. Cooke [Elementary School], I found there’s plenty of sugar in school food as well. School food providers know just as well as parents that a little sugar goes a long way towards enticing kids to eat what’s served.”

(*Sigh*) The news just goes downhill from there. So read the article, folks. Read it and weep.

Bicycle Tightropes? Look Out Below

Here’s an interesting new concept for those of you who like to bike instead of drive–bicycle tightropes suspended over the roads. Can you believe such a thing?

Well, it’s an actual idea (check out the conceptual drawings and blueprints). Apparently, what we’re talking about is a network of grooved rails built high above the roads. And it seems to be getting some serious notice. It won first place for the designer in the international Line of Site competition, reportedly the biggest architectural competition in the world.

I can see that there are advantages to this arrangement, such as fewer worries about traffic accidents. But how many of you are willing to (literally) hang in the balance like that?

Ahh . . . terra firma. (Image from http://www.estetica-design-forum.com)

All I can say is, it leaves little room for error. Any way to build it with a safety net?

Top Seven Famous Movie Moments That Were Improvised

I love movies and, even though I think great movies usually start with great scripts (I’m a writer, so I tend to think that way), an actor’s personal take on the character can be what turns a great script into a truly memorable movie.

For instance, take these examples of famous movie moments that were totally unscripted (with video clips of each one). I mean, who knew that bit there at the end of CASABLANCA wasn’t in the script? I sure didn’t. But that line, “Here’s lookin’ at you, kid,” will live forever.

"Here's lookin' at you, kid." (Image from http://billsmovieemporium.wordpress.com)

This is all to say that I totally give actors their due for breathing life into the characters that writers create. (And coming up with those awesome ad libs!)

Awesome Music Video!

I like to blog about stuff I think is cool here. And I just happened to learn today about this musician, Kanude, from a freelancers’ list I’m on. (Yeah, I’ve just signed up as a fan on Facebook.)

Anyway, I watched this video and not only loved the music, but thought the vid was incredibly creative.

The song is called “Find Your Way Home” and I think the vid conveys that message exceptionally well.