Escapism: Rationalized

This is something that I’ve always had a hard time understanding about myself: that somehow the ability to care for our own world can come in second to imagined worlds.  It’s not that hunger, poverty, oppression, exploitation, and conflict don’t bother me, they very much do, but if I’m honest, I might have gotten just as worked up about the Weinstein brothers trying to remove the soul of Fanboys.  So, I have a lot of respect for folks who care very deeply about real world issues and are advocates for change (my wife, for instance; Joel Daniel Harris too).  That’s all not to say I don’t do my part, I do, but if you look at where the majority of my time and energy go, it ends up going to escapism.

The Clone Wars

So, just this morning I finished the final of 22 episodes of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and I have to say, overall I’m pretty impressed.  In the interest of sharing my thoughts and hearing from you, here’s my rundown as stolen from Toshi Station’s clever format:

Artificially Lower Prices?

So, my good buddy Joel Harris sent me this video and it’s a fairly decent spoof of Star Wars.  So, enjoy it and then we’ll come back and discuss it afterwards.

Podcasts I Listen To

As one of those fools clinging to a daily hour commute (total, not each way), I found myself quickly tiring of music every day and decided I needed something else to pass the time.  That was just under 3 years ago and that was perfect timing to be part of the podcast boom.  For those not in the know, a podcast is a piece of audio that’s sent out over the Internet and downloaded to a computer or MP3 player (such as an iPod).  It’s basically the audio version of user-created content on the internet.  Categories range far and wide, as does quality and scope and duration and frequency.  I love the idea of podcasts.  I tend to go through a lot of information on the internet (and by information I mean stupid videos) and podcasts save me a lot of time of tracking down research as I can just let it come to me as I drive or walk the dog or do the dishes or take a shower or whatever it is I’m doing.  So, it’s a beautiful thing and I want to plug the podcasts I listen to and give some feedback.  These are all created by folks who want to share what they know and mostly non-profit.  So, they’re labors of love and I think that’s something great that the Internet can give us.

Inaugural Ennui

Inauguration Day 2009 had the dubious distinction of being the new Valentines Day for the unmarried and undating; you know, the day that you hope passes quietly and quickly and leaves you pretty much the heck alone.  However, mother nature had other plans and the great blizzard of aught nine that gripped Charlotte in its icy (it wasn’t icy), snowy (it was hardly snowy) fist meant that Lisa was home and the Inauguration was on TV.  I did my best to avoid it (I even cleaned) but did have to listen to a little bit of it while I opened my can of chicken noodle soup with a P-38 (props if you know what that is–it’s part of my war on convenience now).  The funny thing is that I was met with some surprise last week when I confessed I didn’t care about the Inauguration.  And I was surprised that many people cared.  Lest I be labeled as being something I’m not, let me first explain to you why the heck I just don’t care about the Inauguration of our new President Barack Obama.

Year in Review: Games

It’s time for the last one, finally!  I’ll admit, these YIRs have gotten to be a bit of a bore, probably won’t do as many next year.  Anyways, this one is short.  So, here we go, my favorite games, all played in 2008.