Impotent Rage

I’ve become very disappointed in all of us.

Earlier this week, groups of peaceful protestors around the country were removed from their protest spaces. I may not have fully understood what their final goal was; but they clearly had the right to express it where they were. In a paraphrased and more classic vernacular; I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.

Then yesterday I received word about and did some research on some legislation being heard by the senate and congress. Known as the Protect IP Address Act andthe Stop Online Piracy Act, these bill would give the government the power to censor entire websites in much the way or China and Iran. And these are being voted on in the most powerful legislative bodies in the ‘land of the free. It’s a joke so funny I forgot to laugh and instead began screaming at the top of my lungs.

The worst part is, there is no outrage. People should be burning effigies of these asshole lawmakers who think they know what parts of the internet are ‘acceptable’.
And I’m mad at myself for being too apathtic to fight (yet).

Rock on
Rob

The most wonderful time of the year

Halloween is my favorite holiday.  It appeals to the weirdo in me.  Dress up however you like, and people give you candy for it.  Pure genius.

So it goes without saying that I start October already looking forward to the last day.  This will be a month or horror movies, discussing costumes with friends, and more candy.

I’m still deciding what I’ll be this year.  I’m leaning towards Deadpool or Jean Luc Picard.

Rock on,
Rob

Friends and Movies

Just got back from a weekend trip out to visit Willis and Shannon. They moved to Port Henry for work and have been lonely. So Friday I threw Seth and Jen in my car and we drove out to the middle of nowhere adjacent to Lake Champlain.

A good time was had by all. Seth and I have a very productive brainstorm on the way up. I have some more tabletop games in the works. Once there it was beer, games and netflix. I pretty much ate nothing but pizza and wings; and drank nothing besides coffee (AM) or alcohol (PM). Seth and I played far too much Settlers of Catan, and Shannon and I bonded over beer pong. I let Willis get in a few free slaps throughout the weekend to tide him over. When it starts snowing the ability to visit will be greatly hindered, so I don’t know if I’ll see him again until spring.

I somehow came back with much more stuff than I left with. Willis gave me a box of CDs he didn’t want, a walking stick, and all the leftover snacks and beer.

Also, posting late to highly recommend ‘Contagion’, which I saw last weekend. It’s a slower movie, but the cast, direction and score are excellent. It is still exciting, moving and extremely realistic. It won my vote for ‘Best movie of 2011′ even so late in the game. Go see it. More movies should be that good and not the same cookie-cutter nonsense we normally get in media.

Rock on
Rob

Night Owl

Woke up at 4am, been churning out chores and tasks since. Why I was wide awake at 4am is a mystery. I seem to have made the best of it.

Added some links to other writers and artists in the appropriate sections. New unmedicated posted. Inked a few FLotW for later this month, trying to stay ahead and get some plotlines going.

Lots more to do still. But for now, it feels like nap time.

Rock on,
Rob

Ren Faire

I had a great weekend. I hope you did too.

Went to the Ren Faire on Saturday. A day full of good food, great performers and spending too much money. I added to my kilt accessories with a good belt and sporran (which I want to wear everyday, its very handy). We had a big group go in several cars, so for much of the day we split up into smaller groups to make getting around easier. But even with no cell reception we ended up coming together at the end. Everything went better than expected.
Today I spent the day with my friends Seth and Willis and their significant others (I don’t know how they would feel about their names being in the blog, so that’s why they are not). Willis recently moved further upstate, so this was his first visit down since then. We had brunch, playtested a board game I’m designing, drank beers and watched cartoons.
All in all, a great weekend. My batteries are recharged and I’m ready to get back to work and tackle some new projects.

Rock on,
Rob

New Toy

For my birthday I picked myself up a tablet. One of the Acer Iconias. I hadn’t had the chance to really get into the android system before this.
I have to admit, I like it more than I thought I would. I wasn’t so impressed with the previous tablets on the market back when it was resistant touchscreen and android 2.0. But this little thing has quickly become a mainstay in the pack of ‘things I need when I leave the house’.
I thought I had more to say about it. But it all just sounds like bragging. First world problems, amiright?

Rock on,
Rob

Vacation’s End

After spending the last week on the sand beaches of North Carolina with most of my family, you’d think I would have resisted the notion of going back to the grind of work, then work under the guise of art with sleep in between.
But as luck would have it, the trip worked exactly how it was intended. My batteries are recharged and I have begun tackling tasks I had been too exhausted from a life recently become more hectic and stressful (but still fulfilling). I feel good, happy, content even.
So I urge you good people to find a beach and remain there a while. So that you might come back fresh and reach once more for those things just outside your grasp.

Rock on,
Rob

Really Listen

I’ve noticed that whoever reviews the songs that play in retail environments doesn’t do a great job of making sure the content is in line with the target atmosphere they are trying to create. So, if I may, I’m going to ruin some music for you.

Plain White T’s – Hey There Delilah
I bet you thought this was a sweet love song about a long distance relationship, didn’t you? But it isn’t.
You see, this gentleman wasn’t dating Delilah, he was stalking her. So instead of feeling warm and fuzzy inside maybe you should shudder at the prospect that somewhere out there is a young woman who checks to make sure her restraining order is still enforceable whenever this song comes on.

Also a song about stalking: The Police – Every Breathe You Take

Panic! At the Disco – Nine in the Afternoon
It’s about cocaine, alright? Cocaine. He’s singing about cocaine. Listen again. Then think hard about the fact that this song made the cut of a Kidz Bop album.

Maroon 5 – She Will be Loved
Take away the high pitch and the flowery language and this song boils down to “Imma fuck that bitch”

Seal – Kiss from a Rose
Man, musicians seem to love cocaine. So many songs written about it. I hope this doesn’t taint your memory of that Jr. High dance where you totally accidentally touched that chicks boob with your wrist while slow dancing to this song. Seal wasn’t trying to help you awkwardly round the bases, he just wanted us to know how much he loved his blow.

Happy nightmares kid,
Rob

Camping

One of the things I missed when I was city-living was camping. The people there don’t even understand it! They’re scared of spiders and snakes and can’t give up the creature comforts for a shared experience. I tried several times to convince my friends down there to try it. No luck.

But I was able to finally go camping again this past weekend (kinda). Some friends and I were discussing the issue and tried in vain to secure campgrounds. Sadly, due to the holiday, they were all booked. Not ones to be dissuaded we decided to throw some tents up in a friends backyard and build a fire that would last all weekend.

It was a rousing success. Drinking around a large fire, swimming, talking to good friends, stargazing, getting eaten alive by bugs despite several types and layers of bug-spray, going to sleep at dawn and waking up 2 hours later because it gets so hot in the tents.

I had a lot of fun. And if any of my friends from the city come up this summer, I’m taking them camping!

Rock on,
Rob

Cars

One of the biggest adjustments I’ve made in moving from NYC back upstate is the need for a car. Back in NYC I was vehemently against the idea of a car. The road’s were a mess in both infrastructure and who you were sharing them with, the bridges tolls were all insanely priced and public transport could get me virtually everywhere.

Not so in the great north. Right away I knew I’d need a car; my mind reeled with all the additional tasks that would require. Financing, insurance, gas to name a few.

But having been here for about a month with a car, I almost can’t imagine going back to the way things were. My little Versa is great on gas and gives me both the ability to get to work and the freedom to go out and see my friends whenever our schedules allow.

Is there a moral to this story? Probably not. But it’s my story.

Rock on,
Rob