I know it's been forever since I blogged, but I've been sick and the semester just ended -- so get off my back!

Isn't this picture cool? It comes to us from the sand sculpture archive of Grow-A-Brain. There's lots of cool pix and links to loads more. (I would have used the Simpsons sand sculpture, but they look freakish and scary. The transition to 3D just didn't work there.)

Life and Media

I finally got over that gruesome head cold. There's nothing like being sick for three weeks to make a person appreciate being well. I intend to celebrate by playing video games all day. (I also have to buy a blue pen so I may sign all these letters to parents for the new students second semester.)

Went to see The Last King of Scotland last night, the new film where Forest Whitaker masterfully takes on the role of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. The movie was good enough; Whitaker simply makes the film. (If he loses Best Actor to Leo DiCap or Will "Parents Just Don't Understand" Smith I will break something.)

The problem with Last King is the problem with nearly every movie about Africa -- it's mostly about a white guy. Hollywood simply cannot allow itself to make a movie about Africa without showing it through the eyes of a white person who goes there with kind, noble intentions. God forbid we should have actual Africans as the focus. (As Diane pointed out, thank heaven for Hotel Rwanda.)

Found out the new 100 Bullets collection is out; I'm halfway through it now. It's still good, but I'm having trouble staying interested in all the machinations of The Trust. The characters aren't so sharply drawn anymore, and the shifting narrative blurs with the natural but around-the-bush dialogue to keep things pretty confusing. (Especially since it's been a while since I read the others.) But it's one of those things that I want to keep at until the end. Hopefully it'll wrap up soon.

Finally -- check out Diane on the "Your Five Words" video from the National Conference for Media Reform. You'll also see most of her coworkers at the Center for Media & Democracy.

TimeWaster™

The Wonder Rake 5000 picks up leaves, pine cones, and .. lots of other things. Best MadTV sketch ever. (Though I remember Garrett was quite fond of Steven Seagal's Letterbox 2000.)

Today I'm listening to: KRS One!