The Nerdery is the personal web site of Christopher Bunn

Deuce

I know I've not had an update in some time. You'll get over it. Anywho, my cousin Jake turned two recently. And his parents, Nick and Marie, had a nice little party for him, as parents are want to do. The party was full of young 'uns, which is always fun. Especially when they're someone else's children. That way you can have fun playing around, but then when they get grumpy or need to be changed, you just hand them back to the owner. Just think, some day, I'll be a dad. It's scary, but it could be worse.

Negligence makes the heart grow fonder

I know, I know, it's taken me forever to get these photos online and to write a new post. Screw you too. Anywho, after much delay, I've got my photos from Shaun's BBQ online. Also, because I know sifting through my photo directories with no gallery is a bitch, and I don't have the motivation to get the gallery scripts coded yet, I'm suggestiong you use Opendirviewer. It's pretty easy to use, so feel free to explore all the photo directories, just try to ignore the sexy ads they employ (or get AdBlocker, like me).

I should probably point out that a bunch of those photos were taken by the neighborhood kids near Shaun's place, not a drunken me. It started out as showing a curious boy how a real camera works, but then all of his friends came out of the woodwork and wanted to take photos, too. Oh well.

I know TiVo wouldn't do this to me

I love the on-screen guide for Comcast Digital Cable. Except when it's wrong. I've mostly found it to be wrong with VH1, for whatever reason, which isn't too tragic, as the only show on that network that I frequently watch is Best Week Ever. I watched a few episodes of A2Z, though it was mostly because I happened to spot a college improv friend (and probably the funniest guy I've known), Joe Wengert talking about some celebrity. Johnny Depp, if I remember correctly.

But anyway, this time it was wrong about a movie. And it confused the hell out of me for a short while. The guide told me that I was watching Zatôichi, which I've wanted to see for some time. But, in fact, I was watching Zatôichi. Confused? Well, so was I when the main character didn't look anything like Takeshi Kitano (a.k.a. Beat Takeshi). For those who don't know, Takeshi is a director/writer/actor that's made some good movies like Brother and Sonatine. And I'm a fan. TV viewers may have also spotted him in Spike's Most Extreme Elimination Challenge, which is just a redubbed version of the Japanese show Takeshi's Castle.

The reason for all of this confusion is the plethora of Zatôichi films that have been made. In fact, the one that I watched was the twenty-sixth and final film about the legendary blind swordsman by Shintarô Katsu. Interestingly, Shintarô Katsu also did the triple threat of directing, writing and acting in the film. And it was pretty good to boot. That being said, I think I'll keep Takeshi's version in my Netflix queue.

He knows so much about these things

I like stumbling upon things. Which is just how I found a neat little film. Looking through the TV listings, I saw the Sundance Channel was playing somthing called This Charming Man. Thinking that this half-hour program might have something to do with The Smiths, I decided to watch.

Unfortunately, the program had nothing at all to do with the band. Fortunately, it was good. It's a short Danish comedy about a series of mix-ups. I thought it was quite funny and, well, charming. In fact, the film actually won an Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film. So do my bidding and go watch it.

And then they de-feathered Chief Skipping Deer

It's not just the white man that's keeping gay people down anymore. The Navajo Nation has also decided to ban gay marriage, because—I can only assume—they want to play the oppressor for once. When one of the most persecuted races of all time starts trampling on human rights, that's really saying something about the current state of affairs in the world.

Fine not the only thing found to be stiff

I think we can all appreciate the beauty of two women kissing. Well, except for a Stockholm restaurant owner who kicked a lesbian couple out of his establishment for sharing an embrace. Luckily, justice prevails in this case, and he's facing a fine of $7,100.

Perhaps more interesting is the name of the organization that represented the couple: HomO. Classy.

April Fools, bitches

I'm assuming it was pretty obvious, but yesterday's post was my lame attempt at an April Fools joke. I also changed the logo, which I've made available for those who didn't catch it.

But I'm not the only one. Maddox made a nice one, which I'm sure he'll link permanently at some point. And a few comic artists had some fun. I subscribe to Get Fuzzy and Pearls Before Swine via e-mail (because I'm cooler than you), so I noticed something was up. Apparently, Bill Amend was in on the joke as well. Good times.

Also, I was hoping when I read about the new leader of the World Bank that it would turn out to be some kind of grand-scale media hoax. No dice. Seriously, that's about as dumb as having someone with open contempt for the United Nations and who supports unilateral action be the United States' ambassador to the multinational organization. Oh wait.

My God is an awesome God

I'd like everyone to know that I've had a life-changing moment. Thanks in large part to the wonder that is Christian Rock. I was minding my own business when a coworker played a tape with some mind-blowing music. Probably the most influential of these songs was one by Jaci Velasquez. Take a look at the lyrics, and I think you'll be just as convinced.

'Cause I've learned in laughter or in pain
How to survive
I get on my knees
I get on my knees
There I am before the love
That changes me
See I don't know how
But there's power
When I'm on my knees
I can be in a crowd
Or by myself almost anywhere
When I feel there's a need

I think I'm going to spend a whole lot more time on my knees from now on. And I suggest that you all do the same. It can change your life!

I hear he now wants a DNR order

So it seems the Pope might be getting a PEG tube. I wonder if he has a living will. Not like it would matter, as any Catholic hospital would be required to tube him, since it's a "moral obligation" and all.

I've never really understood the obsession with the Pope. The man needs to die already. Seriously, people, he's about a year older than Jesus. It's not like there isn't a plentiful pool of geriatric bishops from which to elect a new figurehead. Let it go. Waving from a window is really getting old. Next he'll be opening for The Rolling Stones.

A homeroom sit-in

Yet another protest involving the Pledge of Allegiance is in the news, but it's not quite what you might expect. This one doesn't involve the 1954 addition of "under God", but rather the practice of many schools during Foreign Language Week to recite it in languages other than English. This is stupid for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it's just silly. Does it really matter what language is used? The feigned patriotism is still there. Secondly, and more importantly, there is no national language of The United States. Any attempt to legislate one would fail as it would violate the First Ammendment to the Constitution. But let's allow Patrick Linton, the 15-year-old idiot to speak for himself.

This is America, and we got soldiers at war. When you’re saying the Pledge in a different language which nobody understands, that’s not OK.

Oh, right, I forgot, there are soldiers fighting in another country, so somehow that makes it a terrible crime to say something in a language that you don't understand. I was wondering how the boy could be so dumb, until I read the remarks of his father, who said, "It’s like wearing a cross upside down in a church."

The whole time I read this, I couldn't help but think it felt like a piece by The Onion, but it seems real life is stranger than fiction.