tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42819238496242285922024-02-19T07:44:31.489-05:00Darkheart's BlogNews, politics, and fantasies about driving to ClevelandAudley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-41616429028636502482013-05-04T07:39:00.001-04:002013-05-04T07:41:17.134-04:00NOT THE PEAS!<p dir=ltr>At first, DarkBaby seemed to be confused by the peas.<br>
Then she learned their true evilness.</p>
<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCuDGf_PQHQLwMHBFMnolsFwFzziIXnIyGrXC-OXsZaKXAcqiZWdF9q2eONgfyckrjnf0tq2a_1kt6LGBnWRR9aV8FSrev4B_EbTV_QgPW519o37dcZA7Sn_-B8hx9X-T8yniqwXWywHc/s1600/IMG_20130503_174428_711.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpCuDGf_PQHQLwMHBFMnolsFwFzziIXnIyGrXC-OXsZaKXAcqiZWdF9q2eONgfyckrjnf0tq2a_1kt6LGBnWRR9aV8FSrev4B_EbTV_QgPW519o37dcZA7Sn_-B8hx9X-T8yniqwXWywHc/s640/IMG_20130503_174428_711.jpg' /> </a> </div><div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1ycEeQoJc-9DWTZKUtnqnAlTx_aZQvdgYP6pp648jwx_u_HrjSHbJRdmDBEdWvTZy0fMBh0X19qfPXTqm6q-n0KMoi6Nlabv8xAt_fvNcYfWHbzdgjmyL1yOxMr6k51h4ZPETOLL1qId/s1600/IMG_20130503_174942_987.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ1ycEeQoJc-9DWTZKUtnqnAlTx_aZQvdgYP6pp648jwx_u_HrjSHbJRdmDBEdWvTZy0fMBh0X19qfPXTqm6q-n0KMoi6Nlabv8xAt_fvNcYfWHbzdgjmyL1yOxMr6k51h4ZPETOLL1qId/s640/IMG_20130503_174942_987.jpg' /> </a> </div>Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-7631279760541832662013-04-19T15:17:00.001-04:002013-04-19T15:17:33.417-04:00Monster rattle!<div class='separator' style='clear: both; text-align: center;'> <a href='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHfExvMMiHAG2Rym3paCNStbSFI93PJgURxrcfhs-zoWKFSiSDg9OlqUCLRYCVPLUPZYyHVnhCmc_YpjrKVtckOsVmLZSoPWe-RhntYxeWSWhIcrHUkPFFKCHq0BBTJnjGW9zKUFc5nKP/s1600/IMG_20130419_151632_850.jpg' imageanchor='1' style='margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;'> <img border='0' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJHfExvMMiHAG2Rym3paCNStbSFI93PJgURxrcfhs-zoWKFSiSDg9OlqUCLRYCVPLUPZYyHVnhCmc_YpjrKVtckOsVmLZSoPWe-RhntYxeWSWhIcrHUkPFFKCHq0BBTJnjGW9zKUFc5nKP/s640/IMG_20130419_151632_850.jpg' /> </a> </div>Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-31148037120006445682013-03-26T11:29:00.000-04:002013-03-26T11:29:17.102-04:00Babies and Prop 8Sorry, all. It has been busy busy busy here-- between preparing for the upcoming holidays and soothing a teething baby, I haven't had a ton of time to update as often as I'd like.<br /><br />First off: THE DARKLING ROLLED OVER TODAY!<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmaOIJa6duRaG3Op0VbMSQIDjsitkdvCW9ShTbjOQE1wMKeAaAH7RZNeq5VKjMNgMlKcrhkC26s3SJpf1rpJHysMtoBOs2AThSGQlO1IsxStsJwW4zOLcKKAh-7t7PSGMGyUXC-FiVtdP/s1600/IMG_20130326_100218_126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmaOIJa6duRaG3Op0VbMSQIDjsitkdvCW9ShTbjOQE1wMKeAaAH7RZNeq5VKjMNgMlKcrhkC26s3SJpf1rpJHysMtoBOs2AThSGQlO1IsxStsJwW4zOLcKKAh-7t7PSGMGyUXC-FiVtdP/s1600/IMG_20130326_100218_126.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
You see that toy that's smooshed under her? She rolled over so that she could grab it. She couldn't figure out how to get it out from underneath of her though, poor baby.<br />
<br />
Anyway, starting today, SCOTUS is hearing arguments regarding Prop 8. What has amazed me the most about this are all of the people who have filed briefs or spoken out in support of marriage equality-- everyone from kids whose families are impacted, to the <a href="http://www.advocate.com/politics/marriage-equality/2013/03/21/american-academy-pediatrics-backs-marriage-equality-best">American Academy of Pediatrics</a>, to <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-kluwe/an-open-letter-to-emmett-burns_b_1866216.html">freaking </a><a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/football/ravens-ayanbadejo-stoked-gay-marriage-maryland-article-1.1198270">football</a> <a href="http://www.towleroad.com/2013/03/nfl-linebacker-scott-fujita-i-support-marriage-equality-for-so-many-reasons.html">players</a>. If I weren't so bummed about how absolutely godawful the current makeup of the Supreme Court is, I'd say that the overturn of Prop 8 is in the bag.<br />
<br />
But, you know, the argument that "only straight couples can <i>make</i> children"†, might be Constitutionally persuasive. *eyeroll*<br />
<br />
†Certain restrictions apply.Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-6670531435749059682013-03-22T23:11:00.002-04:002013-03-22T23:36:06.034-04:00She thinks she's people<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vTKqQO_4twhzsfp1pB1PIDLx-FYECoXq9Ds3lCMLKUNEh7RWikzE2cRipXm0UpbaXKyHZ1H6bNtFKp7fnkx4a-Qrt74rnSPlLGSboW9rT1AKgfWCDz4X5a0aEZe6-UhO653q28V5gFsh/s1600/IMG_20130322_225909_441-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9vTKqQO_4twhzsfp1pB1PIDLx-FYECoXq9Ds3lCMLKUNEh7RWikzE2cRipXm0UpbaXKyHZ1H6bNtFKp7fnkx4a-Qrt74rnSPlLGSboW9rT1AKgfWCDz4X5a0aEZe6-UhO653q28V5gFsh/s400/IMG_20130322_225909_441-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
That's my Maggie, sitting like a person.<br />
<br />
Edited to add more Maggie ridonkulousness.<br /><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1OuH8OApf8wPUa4mGOrI4cNLEFPYFbzy8RSwjq5QQJLngjR1CjKrFp7NsYrLfMb0MyePpsyNdwuMiS7kPJpgkWKnO_SNVmuV2bybK0R9RlzLS8IpJfG05fXwY3RUWiVKnna9GeWv_O7A/s1600/maggie+enchilada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1OuH8OApf8wPUa4mGOrI4cNLEFPYFbzy8RSwjq5QQJLngjR1CjKrFp7NsYrLfMb0MyePpsyNdwuMiS7kPJpgkWKnO_SNVmuV2bybK0R9RlzLS8IpJfG05fXwY3RUWiVKnna9GeWv_O7A/s400/maggie+enchilada.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />And that's my Maggie, wondering why the hell <i>she</i> didn't get an enchilada.Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-49264751658297654052013-03-22T23:08:00.002-04:002013-03-22T23:08:57.004-04:00Jesus Christ. Just give ND to CanadaI expect you all have heard the news out of North Dakota, yes? In case you haven't, I'll give you a hint: it rhymes with <i>petal fersonhood</i>.<br />
<br />
That's right, ladies and germs! Both houses of the ND lege have voted to give embryos <i>from the moment of conception</i> full rights under the Constitution. So, yeah. No abortion, many types of birth control would be illegal, no IVF treatments, and doctors would be held criminally responsible for causing harm to an embryo or fetus. I expect this means that if a pregnant woman in ND is diagnosed with cancer, her oncologists would legally have to refuse to treat her until after she gave birth (or miscarried). <br />
<br />
Now for the maybe-kinda-sorta-keepyerfingerscrossed good news: In order to be added to the state constitution, the bill goes before the voters in November. This is kind of good because no other fetal personhood ballot initiative has survived, but on the other hand we are talking about the dumbasses that voted for the hacks that wrote (and passed) the bill in the first place. Hey, North Dakotans! Why do you keep voting for such vile human beings?<br />
<br />
Also, wow, way to guarantee that the state gets sued, Republicans. Let me guess... you probably don't have money to fix roads or fund public schools, but you sure as shit have the funds to defend a clearly unconstitutional law in court. Seriously fucked priorities.<br />
<br />
(<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/22/north-dakota-personhood_n_2934503.html?utm_hp_ref=politics">HuffPo</a>)Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-8070836911084013712013-03-20T22:55:00.000-04:002013-03-20T22:55:34.320-04:0010 years onLast Friday I was downtown running errands. On the street corner in front of city hall, I saw four middle aged people holding signs and bundled up as if it was below freezing (it was in the high 30s. Balmy!). I couldn't read their signs from where I was parked, but the first thing that came to mind was that they were pro-life protesters. But no, the Planned Parenthood is like four blocks from where they were standing. <br /><br />
<i>Oh my god. Antiwar protesters!</i> I drove past them and, yup, one lady had a "Librarians for peace" sign.<br />
<br />
Ten years ago-- actually more than that now, since they were out there during the lead up-- a small group of people started protesting the Iraq war. Every Friday afternoon, a half dozen people would make their voices heard on an empty street corner in a dying city.<br />
<br />
That takes some strength. One has to wonder how many times they were spat upon or sworn at or called traitors. Ten years ago, it was all <b><span style="color: red;">RAH RAH!</span><span style="color: blue;"> USA USA USA!</span> <span style="color: red;">LET'S KICK SOME BROWN PEOPLE ASS!</span></b> and to quietly object was brave.<br />
<br />
Was? Still is. Every time I've brought up withdrawing our tropps completely, I've been shouted down. <i>It's impossible! It will create a vacuum! We need to finish what we started!</i><br />
<br />
You're telling me that the best military in the world can't figure this out?<br />You're telling me that that no one expected that the death of Saddam Hussein would create instability?<br />You're telling me that the people who instigated this war actually had and endgame in mind?<br />
<br />
Honestly, I don't know if the war protestors have been out there every Friday for the past ten years or if they've been reinvigorated by the anniversary. I'm going to check out that street corner this Friday-- maybe if they're out there, I'll join them. Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-19281992448188888432013-03-19T23:12:00.001-04:002013-03-19T23:13:07.949-04:00And now... SteubenvilleThere's no way to gracefully segue from babies to the horribleness of the news lately, so I'm not even going to try.<br />
I wish I could say that I had some deep insight about Steubenville, but right now all I've got is rage. Rage for Jane Doe, rage towards the boys who raped her, rage at the media who are still pushing the myth that drunkenness=consent. Rage that people are harassing her over Twitter. Rage that there's so much more sympathy for the boys who attacked her than the victim herself. She's just a drunken slut, why does she matter?<br />
<br />
It has occurred to me that if those kids robbed a liquor store instead of raping their classmate, there would be none of this "but they had so much potential!" bullshit going on. They'd be convicted with no second thoughts and no one on cable news talking about how sad their situation is.<br />
<br />
And they say there's no rape culture. *spits!*<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-23324091003685677692013-03-19T22:50:00.000-04:002013-03-19T22:50:19.938-04:00Bad blogger! Bad!I said I'd post something on Saturday and somehow it's Tuesday and where the hell did the time go? Obviously I'm not doing too hot on the whole "keeping promises" thing.<br />
<br />
It's been a tough... <i>counts on fingers</i>... four days. Not in any Major Drama or Real World Consequences kind of way, the little one is just teething. I've learned that this sucks up 100% of my time, since I have to be standing upright and bouncing to soothe her.<br />
<br />
Anyway, since you all are awesome and still reading my shit, here's a picture of the babe:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oTcHdwbqaVWzxK5hkyDZJAiBULJwWkMV3vCzO_qitoOjKBZl-aE282RwjjsT4fruliK7QN5X-CdNLNcxpgUgjZZXw9-ZqNgW31enWpgkV0K4MpLCOv8jUIA-10miyslODWaYqEwpV3Za/s1600/IMG_20130319_160403_714.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4oTcHdwbqaVWzxK5hkyDZJAiBULJwWkMV3vCzO_qitoOjKBZl-aE282RwjjsT4fruliK7QN5X-CdNLNcxpgUgjZZXw9-ZqNgW31enWpgkV0K4MpLCOv8jUIA-10miyslODWaYqEwpV3Za/s320/IMG_20130319_160403_714.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swimming in a sea of elephants</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
OH MY GOD, HOW DID I SQUEEZE OUT SUCH CUTENESS?Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-83493196213044944852013-03-16T09:50:00.001-04:002013-03-16T21:12:57.921-04:00Apologies for Friday<div dir="ltr">
Sorry about not posting yesterday. The little one is getting tooth number two in and she was miserable. I'll try to get something up by tonight.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLReeLBFFEhfRHooW0r0GF-s5BEt30nEuRY3NSHeESieCcCzYJbK2GM7FzDqE7VK7m5to1QTcNhihAQAg3ddPP8QgutYDJ3VbAjFjxy7wxigN9p7gwgYXo5Zj7fb-Kr9HJZP7FIk31XDi/s1600/IMG_20130315_104925_873.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpLReeLBFFEhfRHooW0r0GF-s5BEt30nEuRY3NSHeESieCcCzYJbK2GM7FzDqE7VK7m5to1QTcNhihAQAg3ddPP8QgutYDJ3VbAjFjxy7wxigN9p7gwgYXo5Zj7fb-Kr9HJZP7FIk31XDi/s400/IMG_20130315_104925_873.jpg" width="400" /> </a> </div>
Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-10514408628025865022013-03-14T22:36:00.004-04:002013-03-15T15:09:55.508-04:00It's no useThere's been another mass shooting, this time in New York. Dude sets fire to his apartment, shoots up a barber shop, shoots up a Jiffy Lube, has an 18 hour standoff with police/FBI, shoots a police dog, and finally the cops kill him (duh).<br />
<br />
I would say something pithy about how this entire shitshow only happened because Myers had access to guns. But you know what? The fucking gun nuts won't listen. They won't listen and people die.<br />
<br />
Fuck it and fuck them.<br />
<br />
(<a href="http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/03/herkimer_shootings_day_2_heres.html">Syracuse.com</a>)Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-13730660794878695562013-03-13T15:53:00.001-04:002013-03-13T15:53:32.029-04:00Anti-popeA new pope has been selected. I guess Catholics can sleep easy tonight knowing that they've replaced a former Nazi with a former <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jorge_Bergoglio">supporter of the junta in Argentina</a>.<br />
<br />
Unless, of course, they believe that Pope Francis I has no claim to the "throne of Saint Peter" (since Ratzinger is still alive and wouldn't step down to Cardinal), making him an anti-pope. Come on, schism! Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-26758432174741917802013-03-12T17:00:00.001-04:002013-03-13T16:12:14.310-04:00Costco, HuffPo, it's like a terrible Dr Seuss rhymeGod, I hate HuffPo. In <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/12/costco-profit_n_2859250.html?ir=Politics&ncid=edlinkusaolp00000009">an article</a> about Costco's profits:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Less than a week after Costco CEO Craig Jelinek spoke out in favor of
raising the minimum wage, the big-box retailer’s earnings showed that
paying workers a living wage doesn’t always hurt business.</blockquote>
For fuck's sake. A living wage does not hurt business. In fact, it ultimately benefits the economy to have a large pool of citizens with disposable incomes. Here's Audley's patented E-Z Krash Kourse in Economics:<br />
<br />
<i>In order to sell your shit, people need to have money to spend. If they can't afford to pay rent on their shitty, minimum wage salary, they ain't gonna buy your shit. </i><br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Some analysts <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/business/yourmoney/17costco.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0" target="_hplink">have complained in the past</a> that Costco’s worker-friendly policies aren’t so friendly to shareholders. If <a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324735304578355833310183530.html?mod=WSJ_business_whatsNews" target="_hplink">Tuesday’s results</a> are any indication, those concerns may be exaggerated.</blockquote>
Here is a picture of the smallest violin, playing the saddest song just for the poor, under appreciated shareholders → <a href="http://i.imgur.com/lzgzt.gif">·</a><br />
<br />
The link included in the quote leads to a New York Time Business article featuring one of those complaining analysts:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Costco's average pay, for example, is $17 an hour, 42 percent higher
than its fiercest rival, Sam's Club. And Costco's health plan makes
those at many other retailers look Scroogish. One analyst, Bill Dreher
of <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/redirect/marketwatch/redirect.ctx?MW=http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/nyt-com/html-companyprofile.asp&symb=DB" title="Deutsche Bank">Deutsche Bank</a>, complained last year that at Costco "it's better to be an employee or a customer than a shareholder." </blockquote>
What the ever-lovin' hell? I understand fucking over employees-- it the way Americans do business-- but to complain that your <i>customers </i>are being treated too well is incredible. How in the hell do you expect the company to turn a profit unless customers are satisfied, dumbass?<br />
<br />
Gah. Trust HuffPo to take a topic that <i>should</i> be good news and turn it into, well, a Huffington Post article.Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-71937082665846722222013-03-11T22:17:00.000-04:002013-03-11T22:17:52.686-04:00Ladies! Have I got a tablet for you!Ladies! Is your Galaxy Tab just too masculine? Is your plain ol' iPad not fierce enough for you? Does your Surface leave your fuzzy pink lady brains in a tizzy?<br />
<br />
Well, have I got a tablet for you!<br />
<br />
The ePad Femme was designed for the on-the-go, cosmo swilling, shoe shopping stereotype! You see, it comes preloaded with a ton of useful apps for today's modern woman: recipes! Shopping! Yoga! Clothing! Don't worry your pretty little head about downloading anything else, Eurostar (the makers of ePad Femme) have already figured you all out!<br />
<br />
Hell, I might even get rid of my clunky old laptop and my smartphone in favor of an ePad Femme. They are both so drab and black. Ew! Not like the ePad* Femme which is (reported to be) a pleasant shade of pink. And I just don't know how I've managed to handle using two different operating systems (Android Jellybean and Windows 8), since I'm obviously not smart enough to figure out either one. I sure am glad that someone has come along to remind me that I'm not supposed to be able to use common gadgets; I obviously need the dumbed down version because I am of the weaker sex.<br />
<br />
Eurostar can SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY! now.<br />
<br />
*I can't say that enough. ePad, ePad, ePad, ePad, ePad, ePad, ePad, ePad, ePad, ePad! It sounds like a brand of robot maxi-pads. <br />
<br />
(<a href="http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2013/03/finally-a-tablet-simple-enough-for-a-woman-to-use-sarcasm/">Ars Technica</a>)Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-13631380515921344922013-03-11T18:29:00.002-04:002013-03-11T22:27:56.494-04:00"Citadel"While reading another article on Ars Technica*, I came across: <a href="http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2013/03/mass-effect-3-citadel-dlc-is-4gb-of-gooey-cheesy-fan-service/"><i>Mass Effect 3</i> "Citadel" DLC is 4GB of gooey, cheesy fan service</a>.<br />
<br />
Ho<br />
Lee<br />
Shit.<br />
<br />
(Possible minor spoilers after the jump.)<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Something you all should know about me: I generally don't give a flaming rat's ass about DLC. The only exception to that is "The Big MT" for <i>Fallout: New Vegas</i> because Rusty Venture and walking eyes. What <i>Venture Bros.</i> fan could resist? (Which explains why I'm a few days late in jumping on this bandwagon.)<br />
<br />
<br />
Another thing... I didn't hate the ending to <i>Mass Effect 3</i>. Don't get me wrong, I didn't love it, especially considering that the "bad" ending was essentially a <i>Cowboy Bebop</i> rip-off:<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/B8UmkraTYkQ" width="560"></iframe><br />
(Episode 13, "Jupiter Jazz, Part 2"-- relevant bit starts around 9:14)<br />
<br />
But on the other hand, I've been playing games long enough to remember the days of "Congratulations! You won!", so I'll take what I can get.<br />
<br />
Anyway, before I get too far into a tangent, that ↑ is why I haven't downloaded any of the DLC for <i>ME3</i>. I finished the series and as much as I loved it, I was done with it. Time to move along and find something else to <strike>obsess over</strike>play†. I didn't care about the extra missions or the improved ending or whatever.<br />
<br />
But now, Ars Technica comes along and tells me this:<br />
<blockquote>
The "Citadel" DLC contains an interesting mission as its base, but its true purpose is to provide Commander Shepard and the <i>Normandy</i>
crew with a giant apartment on the Citadel in which to throw the mother
of all parties (I am not being metaphorical here). The DLC is a big,
wet, sloppy three-hour fan-service kiss... and as everyone's favorite
Turian once said, "I'm OK with that. "</blockquote>
<br />
<br />
I'm only a teeny weeny bit excited to download this. Only a little <span style="font-size: xx-small;">tiny tiny</span> bit.<br />
<br />
As much as Bioware has pissed off their fans, I appreciate shit like this. I really like that they know we're all a bunch of goofballs that fell in love with the crew of the Normandy and all we want to do is party down like it's 1999.<br />
<br />
*Which I will hash out later today.<br />
†And, yes, I've been pretty happy with the games I've played since then... but the only thing coming to mind is <i>Assassin's Creed 3</i>. Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-78948115060323374502013-03-10T19:06:00.000-04:002013-03-10T19:06:56.046-04:00Music Sunday!I just got around to finally watching David Fincher's <i>The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo</i> last night.<br />
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<br />
I'm so conflicted about Trent Reznor. One one hand, <i>Downward Spiral</i> will probably remain on my list of favorite albums, but on the other, every NiN project after <i>The Fragile</i> has suuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuucked. But on the other other hand, Reznor's soundtrack work has been amazing.<br />
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<br />
Ah, well. Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-18737570243839285542013-03-09T13:40:00.000-05:002013-03-09T14:45:28.115-05:00A virtual birthday card<a href="http://perrystreetpalace.com/2013/03/09/happy-birthday-pz-myers-2/">Happy birthday, PZ</a>!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.cryhavok.org/d/4260-1/Crocoduck+Approves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://images.cryhavok.org/d/4260-1/Crocoduck+Approves.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">of partying down!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I want to take this occasion to thank you for everything-- you helped me move past dictionary atheism and you helped me see how harmful religion truly is. Plus, I've learned some nifty biology along the way.<br />
<br />
I hope you have a wonderful birthday and many more to come!<br />
<br />
(<a href="http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2013/03/09/see-this-is-how-its-done/">Pharyngula</a>)Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-10018787691734315182013-03-08T15:18:00.001-05:002013-03-09T14:45:49.224-05:00Oh, ArkansasThe Arkansas legislature just passed a bill banning abortions after 12 weeks. Not only did they pass it, but the overrode Gov. Beebe's veto.<br />
<br />
I am ceased to be surprised by this kind of shit. But here's my question: Aren't Republicans the party of limited government and freedom and fiscal responsibility? Let's see...<br />
<ol>
<li>Limited government? Well, if doctors are to lose their licenses for performing abortions, it seems we'd need some investigators, huh? More bureaucracy!</li>
<li>Freedom? Unless I'm wrong, I thought the definition of freedom was along the lines of "the government won't restrict your actions". Now freedom means "the government will restrict harmless actions that it disagrees with"? How Orwellian.</li>
<li>Fiscal responsibility? Well, considering that this law is guaranteed to bring on a lawsuit, not so much.</li>
</ol>
<br />
How much longer are people going to buy the Republican's bullshit?<br />
<br />
(<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-21705086">BBC</a>)Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-25043053916053582942013-03-07T17:43:00.000-05:002013-03-09T14:46:17.826-05:00Caviar!Earlier today I clicked a link. Then another. And another. And down the rabbit hole I fell, until I found this article from last December: <a href="http://www.lifenews.com/2012/12/11/human-caviar-eating-human-embryos-as-a-new-delicacy/">Human Caviar, Eating Human Embryos as a New Delicacy?</a>.<br />
<br />
LOLWUT<br />
<br />
No surprise, it's from the anti-choice nutbars from <i>LifeNews.</i> Anyway, to cut a long story short:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Human caviar. A disgusting, repulsive and horrifying thought for pretty
much everyone. Why? Because the human embryo is a human organism, just
as we are, albeit very early in development.</blockquote>
Therefore, stem cell research for those dirty, filthy scientists. <br />
<br />
Seriously. Ignoring the fact that Iron Chef has never done a human embryo episode, no one is going to argue that a human embryo isn't <i>human</i>. I'm no scientist but I'm pretty sure that an important part of stem cell research is <i>human</i> stem cells.<i> </i>An embryo isn't a <i>person</i> you dumb fucks.<br />
<br />
Is it bad that I want eggs for dinner now?Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-73005523314310215962013-03-07T16:12:00.001-05:002013-03-09T15:25:01.841-05:00I'm trying!<div dir="ltr">
There are a couple of things that I want to write about today, but DarkBaby is having a tough time teething. I'll try to get something up tonight.</div>
Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-946558527933241392013-03-06T14:46:00.000-05:002013-03-09T14:46:53.574-05:00Yo, protohunter!You still reading? There's an <a href="http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2013/03/06/whats-jimmie-walkers-favorite-arthropod/">excellent post about trilobites</a> up at Pharyngula today. You might want to check it out.Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-92127603569139106182013-03-06T12:25:00.001-05:002013-03-09T14:47:28.556-05:00"Inspirational" quotesOne of the reasons why I hate facebook is because crap like this always ends up in my newsfeed:<br />
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Really? We're taking life coach advice from the likes of Henry Ford now? I have little patience for industrialists, let alone Nazi sympathizers, no matter how many pithy quotes that look good superimposed over an out-of-focus sunset they puked up over the course of their life.<br />
<br />
Also... this very well may have originally a Mark Twain quote. A quick Googling brings up both Ford and Twain as the author. Twain I can respect, even if this is something that belongs on a Hallmark birthday card. Ford, not so much.<br />
<br />
It could be worse. A few months ago, a friend posted "Nothing is so healing as the human touch", quoted from Bobby Fischer. Yes, <i>that</i> Bobby Fischer-- chess grandmaster and Holocaust denier. She took it down after a couple of us pointed out that Fischer was an terrible person.<br />
<br />
The moral of this story: Do your research, people. I don't want to see motivational quotes from known bigots every morning. Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-58863851687663591072013-03-05T22:30:00.000-05:002013-03-09T14:48:02.160-05:00A note to gun ownersThe government isn't "coming for your guns".<br />
You will not have to defend yourself from the US army.<br />
Your <strike>penis extension</strike> handgun wouldn't do jack shit against them, anyway. <br />
<br />
What is with people and their paranoid fantasies about overthrowing the government? I really want to blame it on the mythology of the American Revolution and the founding fathers-- the way to avoid paying your taxes is to create a militia and start a war, obvs. It worked in the 1700s, didn't it?Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-45718834984531419062013-03-05T18:54:00.001-05:002013-03-09T14:48:56.366-05:00Chavez is deadIn case you didn't hear, Hugo Chavez has died. I don't have much to say except this is going to be a tough transition for Venezuela.<br />
<br />
Here's hoping the the US doesn't decide to fuck around with Venezuela now. Because, you know, oil.Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-688804831165394912013-03-05T10:54:00.001-05:002013-03-09T14:49:06.599-05:00A favorTo whom it may concern: <br />
If I develop the habit of stating each post with "So..." you all have the permission to verbally smack the shit out of me.<br />
<br />
Thank you,<br />
ManagementAudley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4281923849624228592.post-46748544240959996152013-03-04T15:29:00.002-05:002013-03-09T14:49:28.414-05:00In which I complain about the state of health insurance in the USI got a funny letter in the mail the other day. You see, the company that handles the prescription coverage part of my health insurance is "urging" me to fill my "maintenance medications" though their home delivery pharmacy. By "urging" I mean "they will charge an additional 10% of the prescription's copay if I don't start ordering from their pharmacy by April".<br />
<br />
How the fuck is this legal? Jesus Christ, we have better consumer protections for <i>car insurance</i> than health insurance. It's quite the racket, isn't it?<i> Order directly from us or we will charge you more out-of-pocket every time you need to refill your prescriptions that keep you healthy!</i> The mafia should be proud.<br />
<br />
This is just one more reason to support single payer health insurance. Sure, its just a minor inconvenience for me-- I just have to call to make sure that they're not going to do something that is actually illegal, like charge a copay for my birth control-- but it could be a major issue for someone else. <br />
<br />
It's clear that private companies cannot be trusted not to fuck over consumers in any way that they can.Audley Z. Darkhearthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09836996700944896500noreply@blogger.com2