The Lottery, circa 1999

I have this memory from high school. It was English class, I'm pretty sure it was my sophomore year. We had just read "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson- I think anyone who has ever taken an English Literature class knows the one I'm talking about. A town gathers in a yearly ritual, one who's form and purpose has been mostly forgotten. Each family draws lots, and one family draws the piece of paper marked with a black spot. That family draws again amongst themselves- even little Davy. And then Mrs Hutchinson, matriarch of her family, screams that "It isn't fair, it isn't right," as her village, her friends, her family, take up rocks to stone her to death.

Pink: an essay on masculinity, feminism, and putting my money where my mouth is.

This isn't the blog post that I had set out to write this week, but sometimes that's how things go. So instead of of finishing the thing I started about the Conscious Discipline system and how kids are like super villains, I'm writing about pink instead. No, not the Aerosmith song. No, not the punk rocker either. Pink pink. Like the color.

Birdemic 2: In Which I Continue Doing This To Myself

My last post was about the first Birdemic film, and why it was so awful that it made me question whether there is anything good in the world and if free will is just an illusion. So is there any reason to watch Birdemic: Shockingly Terrible? Only one- Birdemic 2: The Resurrection gets a LOT funnier if you've seen the first one. The bad effects, the characters defending themselves with hangers, the bird calls that defy any known ornithology- it's all back, and they've doubled down.

Birdemic: Shock and Terror

I watched the Birdemic series for Bad Movie Monday the last two weeks, and... good grief, where do I even begin describing these movies. Well, I suppose I start at the beginning with Birdemic: Shock and Terror. What is there to say about the film? Not much, actually. Certainly nothing good.

2014-04-20 Easter Bunnies

Somebody was waiting for me when I got home! I haven't found any candy or eggs yet, they must have hidden them really well...

Announcing Project 52

One of my New Year's Resolutions this year was to start writing again. I enjoy sharing my ideas, and once I get the flow started I find writing to be a lot of fun. But, as is probably apparent from the date on the last post, updates haven't been happening for awhile. I know, a resolution that hasn't been kept. You're all shocked and appalled, I'm sure.

So!

A new project, one inspired in part by my friend Gabriel's "Project 157". Project 157 is 157 short stories, each 157 words long. But he's a better writer than I am, and my goal is just to start writing on a regular basis again, so I am instead proud to announce "Project 52"- 52 posts (one a week) of at least 52 words. What will they be? Who knows! Reviews of places I've been, random musings, maybe just 10 bad jokes in a row. All I can guarantee is they'll be 52 words long (or more) and they'll be posted here every week.


Stay tuned, folks.

2014-04-19 Tuttle Creek Lake

2014-04-12 Konza Prairie

2014-03-29 Sunset Zoo

Yes, this is a picture of a chimpanzee wearing a t-shirt. Nia the chimpanzee (age 5) was given it as enrichment, and put it on (and later took it off) by herself. Once she's taught the rest how to master our clothing technology, who knows what will be next. Planet of the Apes is coming, folks, and it's adorable.
 

2014-03-22 Sunset Zoo

2014-03-17 Sunset Zoo

2014-03-01 Omaha Zoo

2014-01-20 Sunset Zoo

2014-01-19 Sunset Zoo

Rising Up to the Challenge of His Rival: an interview with local star Jake Lindsey

MMA wrestling is not something I've watched much of before going to see Jake "The Librarian" Lindsey fight. I had seen the TV bouts and reality shows out to make the next star and failed to see the appeal to it, although not being a sports fan might have had something to do with that as well. But as the fights went on and each round was announced by pictures of the fighters accompanied by flashing lights and the roar of the crowd, in some strange way I began to see the appeal of it. There was something about these matches that reckoned back to the gladiators of Rome, and I could barely help being swept up by it. Was I not entertained?

The Hulk is a Terrible Role Model

One of the things I love about working with kids is that they love super heroes as much as I do. Occasionally one of the kids will bring up their favorite super/team/villian and I can actually have a discussion about it with them, or reciprocate by telling them my own favorite super hero.

Varsity Donuts: Aggieville's Sweet Success Story

There have been a lot of “Varsitys” in Aggieville – a drug store, a theater, and even dances used this collegiate term in their names. So when Diane Meredith and David Sauter of Dusty Bookshelf, Thread, and Acme Gift, Kevin Peirce of Bluestem Bistro, and their friends and co-workers Jeremy Corn, Tanner Pieschl, and Leah Hyman set out to open a donut shop, they decided to name it Varsity because it captures the university spirit of Manhattan and is an homage to historic Aggieville businesses.

Sometimes We Laugh With Him

I was watching my roommate play Batman: Arkham Asylum recently when he reached a cut scene where Batman enters an elevator to go to the next area. The Joker (voiced by Mark Hamil) immediately starts mocking this obviously terrible choice as Batman is now confined to a metal box over which the Joker has control, causing him to declare, "What say I just blow the brakes and drop you like a sack of puppies!" Laughing out loud at this I commented on how horrible this analogy is, to which my roommate responded "Yeah... but you laughed." He has a point.

Tab Creations: Manhattan's Locally Raised Gaming Company

Manhattan is the origin place of Tab Creations, the creators of the Saga Machine table top role playing game. Tab Creations started years ago as a group of friends making comics, and in high school they started to create their own pen and paper RPG. Despite several of them moving away from Kansas they've continued creating and growing since then, with the Saga Machine system and its related settings being their most recent line of games.