Ahem....

Well, hello there. Long time, no see. I've been uninterested in blogging recently. No, no, it's not you. It's me. I'm just not ready to commit to a clear focus with my blog. This type of hodge podge makes for poor reading, in my opinion. And it's not fair to you, reader. You deserve much better. So I'm setting you free and I hope that one day you'll find a blogger that can give you what you need.

In the meantime, I shall continue in my search for the perfect escapism material. You should know that I've surrendered to the dumbing down of America. I'm proud to say that I may have lost 10 IQ points this year through my television intake alone. This is without the aid of liquor, people! It has been a while since I've catalogued my media intake, so here are my current guilty pleasures.

1. Digital Devil Saga 1 and 2 - Who can fight the lure of a woman whose demon form has fanged mouths on her breasts? Or a hero who doesn't speak? I love the strong, silent type. Seriously, this is a great RPG series with a convoluted story that would make the writers of the X-Files proud. It's also long, which is excellent since I've developed a genius plan that incorporates playing a game with my workout. I can run around for an hour, powering up, whilst on the elliptical. Keeps boredom at bay on both fronts! I'm so smart that I scare myself.

2. Lost - I know, I'm a bit slow on the uptake. The husband and I have decided to spend quality time together by watching Lost. Yeah, laugh all you want but you'll see what happens when you've been with your partner for 16 years. It's a great excuse for cuddling. We're about half-way through the first season and the show's lived up to the hype so far. But I have to wonder where all the ugly people went. How likely is it that a plan would have that many attractive people on it? Is that revealed in season two?

3. The Flavor of Love- Since Tyra turned into a psycho drama queen, and not in a good way, I have filled the void left from America's Top Model with The Flavor of Love. What can I say about The Flavor of Love except that its appeal is the lack of any redeeming qualities? A bunch of video vixens fighting for the love of that luscious piece of manmeat - Flava Flav - by frying him chicken and hanging out at a retirement community. And the winner of the competition gets to go on a date with him to Red Lobster. Red Lobster! Could television sink lower? I don't know, but I'm watching until it hits rock bottom. The cost of freedom is eternal vigilance.

Reading:
1. Dies the Fire, R.M. Stirling - post-apocalyptic fantasy novel about a world without electricity, and the Ren Faire geeks who rise to power in their respective tribes. I wouldn't recommend this book unless you think that the mock swordplay during Ren Faire tournies could conceivably be useful when End Times arrive.

Listening:
I've been revisiting Bauhaus and the Old 97's, but am enjoying newer bands like My Morning Jacket, Spoon, and the Kaiser Chiefs. I would say that the biggest disappointments this year were Sufjan Stevens and Death Cab for Cutie. Both were put into my "overly self-conscious and pretentious singer/songwriters with penchants for painfully unclever song titles." To wit, Stevens' Come On! Feel The Illinoise!: Part I: The World's Columbian Exposition/Part II: Carl Sandburg Visits Me In A Dream.

I mean, isn't it bad enough that you have vowed to make an album for each of the 50 states? Isn't that both overly ambitious and, well, a bit childish? I can appreciate wanting to be prolific, but with 22 songs on an album, I think perhaps you should embrace the idea of self-editing.

Speaking of self-editing, I must do the work they pay me for. Those bastards. Don't they know that I'm a goddamn genius? So, until the MacArthur Foundation chooses me, I must bow down to The Man. Back to the grind. Wish me luck.

posted by Zippy Buggleshorts @ Monday, January 30, 2006