I’m not sure how long this has been going on, but CNN.com now has a satire article on their front page every day.
I love The Onion, but I don’t think their fake news belongs on a legitimate news site, even if it is marked as “Satire”.

Is this worse than the other stuff that passes for news (Lindsay, Paris) these days?

I’ve noticed that different people watch movies in different ways, and with different attitudes. In the spirit of oversimplification, here are some handy stereotypes I came up with:

The Tourist
Just along for the ride. The tourist views a movie with little in the way of preconceived notions or expectations, and takes the movie as it comes. The tourist is rarely disappointed in a movie, but at the same time never gets the same emotional experience from a really good movie as other types.

The Cynic
Looking for imperfections at every moment, the cynic is very hard to please. The irony of the cynic is in his ability to overlook fictionalizations in the big picture while picking out unrealistic details with extreme precision. The cynic is most pleased with a movie that has no holes.

The Detective
This is a person who’s main goal is to guess what will happen next. The detective looks for significance behind every line of dialog and every turn of plot. The detective’s favorite movie is one that is not easy to solve.

I suppose that most people are some combination of these types. I myself tend to be a tourist. I’m just coming to the realization now though, that to get the most out of watching a movie, I should adjust my attitude going into it for whatever type of movie it is. For Transformers I should be a tourist; for The Bourne Ultimatum I should be a detective; and for whatever the Wayans brothers do next, I should be a cynic.

Do you adjust your attitude going into a movie based on what kind of movie it’s going to be? Also, What are some other movie watching attitudes and what does a person’s movie watching style say about their life living style?

I’ve been hearing this phrase more and more lately, and it’s really been getting on my nerves. It is what it is is the most meaningless 5 word sentence I can imagine.

Perhaps I’m a little behind on this issue. According to Urban Dictionary, this phrase was voted the #1 cliché of 2004. Apparently, it’s supposed to mean something to the effect of “The situation is not good, but we’ll just accept it and move on.” It’s really an expression of regret thinly veiled as acceptance. People say something is what it is when they want to avoid saying anything at all.

I suppose the phrase is what it is though, so maybe I should quit complaining.

Someone should start an organization specializing in the opposite of terrorist attacks.

Unexpected, well-coordinated, massive and sudden changes of peoples lives for the better.

These acts would require funding, they would be possibly illegal, but not unethical. Altruist attacks, like terrorist attacks, would have to be planned carefully and secretly. The ‘victims’ would be random (in the right place at the right time), and the act unprecedented.

There are lots of people out there who are the scheming type; Pranksters, Con Artists, even Mass Farters.
It seems that often it is the challenge of the scheme that is attractive, not the outcome. Why don’t these people use their skills for good instead of evil?

Terrorism is most often committed as a means of manipulation; fear is a powerful motivator. But is not also reward? People could change the world by encouraging other people to do things based on the fact that if they do, something great could happen to them.

There could be videotaped messages with low production values and poor lighting. The mastermind of the act, face covered for anonymity, could boast about the great success of the attack.

“So many people were made happy today. Hundreds of lives will be better and thousands will live in hope for years to come.” The mastermind would say.

“I warn you this is only the beginning. If you continue to be peaceful and loving toward your neighbor, these deeds will continue. If you continue to be be selfless, caring and compassionate, the pleasure will rain upon you with ever growing ferocity and frequency. But if you change your ways, the attacks will end. Your lives will return to normal, and we will leave you be.”

The movement would have to start with small helpful pranks. Things that only cause minor conveniences and small amounts of joy. Eventually, creative thinkers, madmen with lots to give would come up with new schemes and plans that would rock the world with decency and kindness.

The best things in life are free. Unfortunately you have to wait in very long lines to get them.

This idea has been stewing in my head for a while.

It is the perfect mix of fun kids movie and creepy-as-all-get-out horror.

I can see it now…

A young girl on a long journey learns the value of true friendship and the importance of a place to call home. From the creator of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory comes an adventure over the rainbow:

-OR-

From the mind that brought us Edward Scissorhands, A Nightmare Before Christmas, Sleepy Hollow and Big Fish comes a tale so terrifying, it’ll leave you wanting to be no place but home:

The Wizard of Oz.

Starring:
Christina Ricci as Dorothy.
Johnny Depp as the Tin Man.
Adrian Brody as the Scarecrow.
Joaquin Phoenix as the Cowardly Lion.
and Helena Bonham-Carter as the Wicked Witch of the West.

Secretwalltattoos.com will make you look behind the pictures in every hotel room you stay in ever again.
Is it vandalism if no one will ever see it?

     

Random:

1. Burrito Project — Host a burrito making party with your friends, then hit the streets feeding the hungry and homeless.

Design and Stuff:

1. Mathieu Badimon is writing some pretty amazing flash effects.
2. IKEA Hacker has some cool idea for making custom furniture out of leftover parts from IKEA.

Well. It’s that time of year again (fashionably late)*.

I’ve decided that this year I will post my new years resolutions here.

Why? Because a little accountability never hurt anyone.

For the sake of actually being able to do it, I’m going to keep it simple. Here are three things I’d like to do better in 2007:

1. Read.

My goal is to read 10 books cover to cover before 2008. This is actually a bigger ambition than it seems. I loved to read as a child, but the habit faded somewhere around 6th grade. I want to start again. Laura and I were talking about resolutions, and she thought 10 would be quite the challenge for me. (She’s right, but I’m up for a challenge!)

2. Get in Shape.

Ah, the grandfather of all new years resolutions. My goal is to work out for at least 30 minutes at least twice a week.

3. Create more.

I’m fortunate to have a job where I can do what I love. However any design work for clients other than myself will always give me less than 100% creative control. I would like to draw, paint, design and write more.

*. Procrastinate less.

Procrastination is on the rise. This one is kind of a catalyst for the rest of my resolutions, and I suppose it will be hard to measure, but it can’t hurt to write it down.

Feel free to leave comments every now and then with encouragement, reminders or tips. I’ll post again after the first of next year with a look back on how I did.