Articles, observations, and fictions by Sam Girdich: history & philosophy buff, pop culture fan, aging (sigh) martial artist, husband/parent, and proud owner of a pleasantly odd mind.
Sunday, May 1, 2016
Geek Moms and Geek Dads
Hi Everyone!
I want to pass along two intertwined blog sites I stumbled across that have been spreading Geek Goodness to Geek Moms and Geek Dads for almost ten years.
And
They offer news, reviews, and up to date information on subjects that make a Geek's heart beat. Check them out if they are new to you.
Be seeing you,
Sam
I want to pass along two intertwined blog sites I stumbled across that have been spreading Geek Goodness to Geek Moms and Geek Dads for almost ten years.
And
They offer news, reviews, and up to date information on subjects that make a Geek's heart beat. Check them out if they are new to you.
Be seeing you,
Sam
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Saturday, April 30, 2016
WORDS HAVE MEANING
My thanks to the History Channel for reminding me of a short but immensely important point I've been wanting to make. You see, April 29, 1945 was the day The U.S. Army liberated the first concentration camp established by the Nazi regime.
For more information visit on this date please visit The History Channel.com. Seriously, you need to know this stuff. You (and I) need to know lots more stuff.
Back to my point. The next time you want to call someone you don't like a 'Nazi', please remember the real meaning of that word and don't. Call them an asshole or douche hat or a hundred other more accurate, more descriptive words. Become a Poet of Vulgarities if you must, but please avoid the words with human blood on them. 'Nazi' is thrown around so often and easily in our society (especially in politics) that I fear we are watering down the true horror and history of its meaning.
Words have meaning. They have a definition and a history. They influence your thoughts and your ideas. Treat them accordingly.
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Friday, April 22, 2016
Of what weight is a piece of infinity?
It occurred to me recently to question how long it would
take to relay or teach just the last one hundred years of history. Obviously,
the amount of detail in the telling would be the driving force, so if I set the
Detail Dial to everything that has
happened in the last one hundred years, then the first glance answer is one hundred
years. Like re-watching a movie, right? Hit rewind and play. A century long
Netflix and chill evening. Sorry, but no.
The answer is actually forever.
It would take until the End of Time to relay everything that has happened in
just the last one hundred years.
First, you must recount the daily life of every human living
within that time frame. The estimated human population in 1950 alone was
2,516,000,000 according to my in-depth three second Google search. We’re
pushing 7,400,000,000 now, minimum. So, take every human on the planet from January
1st, 1916 to January 1st, 2016 and start recounting his
or hers every thought and deed. When you’re done that, then you can start recounting
the actions of the trillions and trillions of non-humans roaming the planet. Animal life, microbial life, plant life
and all the little buggers that don’t want to fit into any category. From
Kingdom to Species up and down the chart. And then, once you’re done that, you
can start on all the inorganic matter
in constant flux. Start with water, then perhaps move to, oh, the movement of
the continents. Then head to the moon and the planets and the rest of the
Universe when you get done counting water molecules. Here’s where I hope you’re
recognizing The Infinite Within The Finite
paradox and how YOU are part of it. So, before you read any more of this piece,
sit back and enjoy your multilayered slice of infinity. Think about the infinite
aspect of existence and what it means to your very finite time as a living
human.
The above is part of how I view existence, and part of why I
find the study of history worthy of my time. When you have an infinite well to
draw from, you never fear losing the “Oh wow!” or “Why didn’t I know that!”
moments. Those wonderful instants when the thrill of discovery makes you
remember the world is really an amazing place that shouldn’t be taken for
granted.
Therefore, moving forward I’m going to make a concentrated
effort to share stories of our fellow humans (my apologies if you are not
human) who favored me with an “Oh wow!” moment. Please don’t assume you’ll find
the usual suspects of culture shaking creators, politicians, or explorers. Some
may take the stage from time to time in forms you may not expect, but I’m
generally more interested in the people who don’t make the history books.
People who, in hindsight, changed the world in some way by simply living their
lives.
Who knows? Maybe the future will look back and discover you
are one of those people.
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| Mind=Blown. My thanks to the creator of this meme, whomever you are. |
Thursday, April 21, 2016
Farewell, Prince
Sleep well, Prince. Thank you for all the time, hard work, love, and enjoyment you poured into your music. Sign 'O' The Times has always been my favorite album of yours so I hope others will enjoy this tale of a young girl who walked to the beat of her own drum.
Time and life is short, my friends. Make both WORTH SOMETHING.
Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Holy LEGO, Batman!
Just take my money right now.
Like, right now.
I am literally throwing cash at my monitor in the hopes tickets will fall out the other side.
On a side note, with a show of hands who also owns the 1966 Batman Movie?
Sweet...
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
GIMME A RED! (Jssica Jones reaction blog)
| "I sense I'm being watched." |
I just watched Marvel's Jessica Jones AKA 1000 Cuts and holy blood bath, Batman (vs. Superman I fear isn't going to be anywhere near as good as this but I still hold hope it will try). Just wow. Well done! to the writers, cast, and crew of the series. The series has been very good. I recommend it highly!
My one complaint? If another Marvel series on Netflix starts with the hero trying to prove a woman innocent of murder I may have to drag out my tinfoil hat and cry CONSPIRACY!
I try very hard to avoid spoilers when I catch up on shows. Afterward I jump into the minutia with an abandon matched only in the Abbey of Theleme.
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| Told you I was totally geeking right now. Yes, I actually read the source material by Rabelais. So there! |
So imagine my surprise when the character Will Simpson (played by Will Traval) is given Red, White, and Blue pills by the mysterious Dr. Kozlov after having a bomb go off in his face.
WHAT?!
Yes, I know the interwebs are full of sites explaining each character but having avoided them I was dumbstruck by what appears to be a reference to, or intro of, the Marvel character Nuke from Daredevil #232, which you see in my gentle hand in the photo above. Then in the episode I watched tonight he takes out his lighter and it has the markings we see on Nuke's face in the comics. In brief, he was a damaged product of a modern super soldier program. I don't want to say more in case someone reading this hasn't seen the show yet.
I have a few more episodes to go so I'm trying hard to keep my speculations in check, like when Trish pickpockets the bottle of Reds and she has that flash of consideration about what it might do for her own heroic aspirations.
I know I could be wrong. That's part of the fun, right? It's fun to think Will's character could be a catalyst for the Hell's Kitchen heroes coming together. Time will tell and perhaps it already has. I'll hopefull find out in the next few episodes.
SHHH!!!
No spoilers!
Sunday, March 6, 2016
The Election Rant Post I Should Just Cut-n-Paste Every Four Years
Ah, election time.
The season where we flex our ancient talent for creating
gods and monsters. Build them up with wants and wishes. Tear them down when their
need is done. Or simply dispel them when some clever mage on the “other side”
crafts a spell exposing the mere human hiding underneath. Not to worry. Plenty
more where that came from. Donate now! The Vatican thinks it knows a thing or
two about sinners and saints? Amateurs. If it’s for a good cause then normal
rules don’t apply. Heck, even abnormal rules don’t apply. It’s “us” versus “them”,
remember? This is WAR so don’t be so damn judgmental. Besides, plenty more where that came from. Not
to worry. Donate now! Remember what you are fighting for. Make it your life
until we tell you about the new thing we need to make the most important thing
which is WAY more important than the last three things that we told you were
the important thing to think about. I know it is confusing. It’s supposed to
be. We’re smarter than the “other side”. That’s why we’re here! We’ll let you
know what to remember and what to forget. Let us do the heavy lifting. You have
so much on your plate and here’s a list to constantly remind you. The best
minds, our minds, are working on solutions right now, but you have to donate! Without your help we can't take control and fix everything. Yes, get in control and fix you.
I know what that sounds like, but words don’t always mean what they
sound like. You know that, right? You’re smart enough to know that, right? I know it is confusing.
Not to worry. Plenty more ideas where those came from. Donate now!
Support your candidate of choice. It is for your own good.
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Monday, February 29, 2016
Those who do not learn from history are doomed to really screw it up.
(Image taken by me.)
The Revolution won't be starting in Saratoga.
I don't know when this blow to the fascist 'Private No Parking' sign was hoisted up the flag pole of freedom, but I salute the plucky spirit of our local rebel. Next time, though, please remember to research the source material. There's this thing called Google. And don't tag other people's stuff. Not cool. Just saying.
Snapping this pic did, however, make me remember two nods of my own to Alan Moore, including the Catholic revolutionary inspired character whom the comic world refers simply as V.
V for Ven-Stupid. Alan Moore in one line changed my younger self's view of anarchy by pointing out the difference between anarchy and chaos. It cannot be understated how much they are NOT the same. I cringe when I see the V mask worn by people who don't understand that, nor want to.
Watchmen and Reagan. Part Watchmen movie review and part history lesson staring Ronald Reagan in his final role.
There's so much political crap falling from the sky nowadays (from both sides) how could I NOT think about V for Vendetta or Watchmen, you know? If you've read the graphic novels you know what I mean.
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