16 posts
Maxwell JoslynThis is a parody of "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea", the best-known song by 90s group Neutral Milk Hotel (NMH), feted for their otherworldly sound and surreal lyrics. I apologize to Jeff Mangum, Scott Spillane, Jeremy Barnes, and Julian Koster for perpetrating the following verses.
As always, I encourage you to sing along. A glossary follows.
This was commissioned by the Fruit Art Project, a group which develops creative projects that incorporate the history and geography of fruit cultivation. When I learned that wild bananas were originally tiny brown nothings, and that the wealth of modern cultivars are the result of intensive human breeding, I imagined what that breeding process would have looked like if it had taken place all at once, under the control of a 21st-century organization.
I no longer live in Portland, but I know many people there. This was written to bolster the spirits of three good friends who informed me they'd be participating in the ongoing courthouse protests.
This is a naughty parody of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps", a Beatles classic from the White Album.
I've struck a deal with Doctor Boctor, a Bay Area musician and producer, to turn my "Hallelujah" parody "Huge Katana" into a real recording!
Watch this space for news -- and more original content!
This is a translation of an image, seen on Twitter, about the current state of the Three Gorges Dam. I've done my best to preserve the news voice, and to ensure the accuracy of all technical terms related to flood control.
On July 18th, Xinhua News reported that, as a result of heavy rainfall, on the 17th the "second 2020 Yangtze flood" began in the upper reaches of the Yangtze.
Today's reading: articles, mostly literary criticism, written by the one and only Gwern Branwen.
A parody mash-up/crossover for the ages: combine the American cartoon King of the Hill with Yan Lianke's tragic novel Dream of Ding Village.
As with Slaughterhouse-Five, I dug this out of the box housing my high-school bookshelf to reread it with the benefit of--eep!--an additional ~decade of life experience.
William Mandella, the main character of the book, experiences total and utter alienation from the rest of the human race after spending hundreds of years traveling at light speed while only aging a few years. He was born in the 1990s, but ends the book living in the 3000s as one of just a dozen remaining 'original' humans.
Reread. Worth every second, as a plea for all people to be competent, self-reliant, and willing to live and let live.
by
Darth Drongo's creator describes him as follows:
- Forehead tat displays drongish deference to his fav classical Terran musician
- Signature shutter-monocle is attributed abilities ranging from farsight to nigh-omniscience. DD just Likes the Look
- Effortlessly mastered Forms I-VII in the womb, abandoned his lightsaber by age 12, now simply spams Lemonberry Lightning at all problems
- Consumes only the finest Twi’lek brews (and bitches)
- Often goes a-Sithin’ in standard Jedi Knight robe to achieve maximal chaos/comfort despite the contradiction. Absolutes mean nothing to this Sith
- Founder of galactically-recognized 00F brand apparel, well-known for being mandatory everyday wear in one star sector and banned in another, with the resultant 00Fer wars entirely masterminded by yours truly
Reread. The first time was in high school, but I didn't pay it enough attention at that time. [Response in progress]
I'm attending two events today: one professional, one personal.
In the afternoon is "Digital Sources for Chinese Studies" (or "Chinese History" -- sources conflict), put on by UCI's Long US-China Institute and Yale University's Council on East Asian Studies.
In the evening is another week of Homebrew Website Club West Coast.
Mote is successful because the authors have written science-fiction analogues to things they understand from the real world. [Response in progress]