Excerpts from Electric Degeneration, Degenerate Press' semi-weekly e-zine, free and ad-free. A full episode contains sections for music reviews, upcoming events, blasphemy, classifieds, and anything else we feel like saying. If you'd like to subscribe just contact us.
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5/4/2006
BLASPHEMY
If you don’t watch CSPAN or follow leftist news sites, you might not be aware
that Stephen Colbert ripped W. a new one at the press dinner, with W. sitting a
few feet away having to take it like a man:
www.salon.com/ent/video_dog/politics/2006/04/30/colbert_press/index.html
FILM FLAM
I skipped the drive in this week as I'd already seen Lucky Number Slevin and I
had some errands to run. However, I did catch a sneak preview of The Promise, a
Chinese film that lands somewhere between Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, Kung Fu
Hustle, and some of those big-budget Japanese samurai flicks with thousands of
soldiers in identical armor battling in sweeping valleys.
There are lots of pretty visuals, some natural, some CGI, some fine acting, and
a plot that seems like an ancient Greek tragedy revised by Shakespeare and
incorporated into ancient Chinese mythology. It's got romance and action enough
to suit pretty much any audience, if you can handle things like mythical
goddesses flying down to chat with children and a magic cloak that makes the
wearer immortal - as long as he never takes it off.
My only complaint is the few moments when the special effects aren't so special
and distract or even overwhelm the viewer. I don't need my kung fu fighters to
be able to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but apparently that's the
style of Chinese cinema since the invention of wire fu. CGI can take these ideas
much farther, but The Promise had moments where it didn't work, as if they'd
tried something a bit too ambitious (much like moments of Matrix 3.) These
moments may not distract or bother you as they did me, but either way it's a
fine film and should be seen on the big screen.
DIVORCE
1. n. A resumption of diplomatic relations and rectification of boundaries.
2. A huge blast that separates combatants and makes them fight at long range.
From The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce
I don't usually make this ezine about me. Sure, it is my voice and is chock full
of my opinions, but it's not about my life. However, things in my life are about
to change dramatically and rather than answer the same question a thousand times
I'd rather just make a mass announcement.
Degenerate SW and myself are parting ways.
Yes, we are still the best of friends. Yes, it is amicable, but no less
depressing. No, I don't want to go into detail.
Thanks to those who've sent kind words of support. And yes, there is something
you can do. It's funny that times have changed in American society. It used to
be that a couple would get married, move directly from their parents' houses
into their new home together and would need things like bedding, dishes,
appliances, etc.
But SW and I have been living together 6 years. If we'd gotten married we
wouldn't have known what to register for had someone insisted (at gunpoint) in
throwing us a shower. However, now that we're dividing up our household the idea
of a shower sounds pretty damn good. So if some generous soul out there wants to
donate a couch, microwave, bed, or regift some dishes, let us know. As soon as I
find a place to put stuff, we might take it off your hands.
Obviously, I'm in the market for an apartment. See the classifieds for details
on that.
And I may change this ezine, or create a blog, or pitch an article idea to the
Loafing, to cover the personal life of a single 30-something male in search of
distraction. If you're interested, let me know. It may help motivate me to
actually do it. It would be something entirely new for me, so the idea both
intrigues and intimidates.
Bachelor, n. A man whom women are still sampling.
From The Devil’s Dictionary by Ambrose Bierce
EAR PLUGS
Latest Loafing effort:
http://atlanta.creativeloafing.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A69770
You may notice some new section headers this week. The stuff about metro Atlanta
is in the Fallout section, while topics including political fallout are in the
Metropolis section. Why? ‘Cause they got a bunch of nutjobs running the joint,
that’s why! Hey, some of those nutjobs are my best friends. In fact, all of my
best friends are nutjobs, but only some of them run the Loafing. How do you
think I got the temp gig?!?
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