"Better to be interested than interesting."

Dale Carnegie

...

I don't understand how astronomers are able to give a fuck about anything in their daily lives. If I had to think about stuff like this all day I'd start drinking as soon as I got in my car to go home and quickly end up in prison. I almost dropped out of school once because I couldn't stop thinking about how the sun was eventually going to consume the earth and how everything was pointless. Then I got over it.

When trying to conceive of the utter abyss of space I think everyone is either drawn towards the Lovecraft view of it and despair at our insignificance or the Sagan view of it and get excited about our uniqueness. Shut up Liam.

Post-Apocalyptic Screen Grabs #6Terminator SalvationCause: Skynet becoming self-aware

L.A. and the Hollywood Sign:





The Griffith Observatory:



Small band of resistance fighters in New York City (note D train):



San Francisco:

I Want a Dog So Bad

Saw one of these at a bar and thought I was losing my shit, then was delighted (it's the 1930s version of the Puppy Bowl!):

3D YouTube

YouTube recently launched a 3D channel. I was going to use this opportunity to brag about how many pairs of 3D glasses I have but then realized you can select how you want to view them. Truth be told, the cross-eyed version looks better than the red and blue glasses version (although it will give you an eyeball hangover).

This one (of the Roosevelt Island tram) is my favorite so far. I recommend watching it full screen with your lights off.

Shfuck 2

I've been accused of being too positive but when it comes to the prospects of ever managing to score Tom Waits tickets I'm downright despairing. So for me, listening to his live albums are understandably both wonderful and bittersweet. His new album includes a bonus disc of his between song banter-stories that I'm happy to report are all new, with no overlap of my forthcoming Tom Waits Comedy Album I've been compiling from other live shows for a while now. Check his out:


Tom Waits - Tom Tales
[right-click to download]

Just for fun I just want to toss in a few interview snippets:

PLAYBOY: While you may strive for musical crudity, lyrically you’re quite sophisticated-interior rhymes, classical allusions and your hallmark, a great ear for the vernacular. In a sense, you’re the William Safire of street patois, rescuing such phrases as walking Spanish–inebriated saunter–and even coining some pretty good lingo of your own, such as rain dogs: stray people who, like animals after a shower, can’t find their markings and wander aimlessly. What are some of your other favorite bits of slang, phrases you’d like to see get more everyday use?

WAITS: For starters, I’d like to see the term wooden kimono return to the lexicon. Means coffin. Think it originated in New Orleans, but I’m not certain. Another one I like is wolf tickets, which means bad news, as in someone who is bad news or generally insubordinate. In a sentence, you’d say, “Don’t fuck with me, I’m passing out wolf tickets.” Think it’s either Baltimore Negro or turn-of-the-century railroadese.

PITCHFORK: Are there any new artists or people performing right now that you're excited about?

WAITS: Missy Elliott. I'm crazy about her. She did some video where she's on the beach doing the jerk in a wife beater. She's out of her mind. She's so natural. It's like she's always been around. Chamillionaire. I listen to a lot of stuff that my kids listen to. You know, Jay-Z, the Beastie Boys, all that. Most of the stuff that dominates the household is not stuff I'd necessarily listen to, but now I put on what the kids put on.

Shfuck

Given a little more time I could have done this. In the meantime check out my previous post-apocalyptic posts.



PS: Now in theaters, 2012, Zombieland and The Road.

See also: