Disqus - Latest Comments for mark

Re: Video comments

mark — Wed, 14 May 2008 13:08:55 -0000

Sure, just send me a webcam in the mail....

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » June Reading/Watching Recap

mark — Thu, 27 Jul 2006 19:40:33 -0000

I guess I have no complaint since I now have a new book on my wishlist. I had stayed away from Lightness before now.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Veronica catch-up

mark — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 15:38:11 -0000

Actually, this is good for us senial "oldies" who got really confused during season 2. It was good to be refreshed.

Favorite line: "She is a computer whiz, and the "Q" to Veronica's "Bond." (Or the Marshall to her Sydney.)"

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Veronica catch-up

mark — Sun, 27 Aug 2006 15:38:41 -0000

Duh. I meant "senile."

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Eeeeee! (password - my church’s first pastor)

mark — Thu, 21 Sep 2006 19:08:18 -0000

"I tend to think of myself as independent enough not to need validation"

Right. Me neither. But other people don't cooperate. I'm constantly begging Jennifer to reaffirm my non-need for validation, but she rarely complies. It's hard to maintain independence without reinforcement from others. I don't know why they don't see how important it is to me.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » New look

mark — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 10:54:22 -0000

Xbox?

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » MMORPG Firefly

mark — Fri, 08 Dec 2006 13:00:24 -0000

segue: did you see the interview w/ J. Whedon at tvguide.com? I have it on my deli.cio.us sidebar.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Semester wind-down

mark — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 00:46:16 -0000

I'm not sure what the definitive work is, but Ronald Wallace's _Calvin, Geneva, and the Reformation_ wouldn't hurt.

The Arminian revolution in England partially used the propaganda device of associating Calvinism with Puritanism (which made the majority of calvinists feel pretty insulted at the time). I think by the time of George Herbert this association would have been taken for granted. So, I would think, the tendency would be to assume Geneva was the worst of Puritanism. Maybe.

Also, the wars of religion had made secularism quite appealing to some. So maybe they singled out Geneva as a counter-example, due to the theological controversies of the day. Of course, looking at it in its own historical context, I don't think Geneva was that much different then any other city-state in Western Europe, whether Protestant of Catholic.

I'm trying to get things done, but unless I can figure out some momentous advantage I'm going to have to use a web service that is less girly (at least, dairy cows seem girly to me). So, Jennifer might try Remember the Milk, but I'm going to stick with 30boxes.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » American Idol Top 10 Girls

mark — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:30:41 -0000

I'm glad you're enjoying the show, but why haven't you blogged about VM lately?

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » New Layout

mark — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 01:01:02 -0000

Looks great Jandy. I covet your skilz.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Voltaire on Homer

mark — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 10:02:52 -0000

I think you might be able to find somewhere on the web the Southern Presbyterian R. L. Dabney writing tracts against novels.

I think novels, as technological innovations (printing press, cheaper bookbinding, maybe) were viewed much the same way some Christians later reated to television.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » District B-13 Parkour video

mark — Sun, 08 Apr 2007 01:42:29 -0000

Wow. Was there a reason you chose that site and not youtube?

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Literary Criticism (rant warning)

mark — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 11:04:56 -0000

Hmmm.... Reading this, I kept wondering what Camille Paglia would say...

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » American Idol Top 6…Again - Bon Jovi

mark — Tue, 01 May 2007 21:04:02 -0000

Ugh. Bon Jovi makes me want to apologize to my parents for what they had to hear second-hand while I was growing up. At least they haven't done a Quiet Riot theme...

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » American Idol Top 6…Again - Bon Jovi

mark — Tue, 01 May 2007 22:45:02 -0000

Obviously, we wrote these comments independently of one another and in separate rooms. Jennifer didn't know I had written because the site didn't refresh until she posted.

:)

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Monday Music 7 May 2007 - Fabulist! and Rilo Kiley

mark — Tue, 08 May 2007 22:06:15 -0000

Earlier today I couldn't get Wires & Waves to play with any program. I tunes ignored it and realplayer and quicktime both said it was missing something.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Music Monday - 14 May 2007 - Brit Rock

mark — Mon, 14 May 2007 14:36:27 -0000

Re: Feeds, I can only get your first few words (I don't see any other option) so it is moot to tell about the links....

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Bradbury and Authorial Intent

mark — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 00:57:51 -0000

For the record, I didn't think the TV reference eliminated censorship. But, for example, the entire discussion of the presidential candidates was a scathing attack on TV and political campaigns that had little to do with censorship. And when the fire chief explains how censorship came to be, he makes it clear that there was a popular demand for it.

And who can forget the chase scene? Reality television and the OJ Simpson police chase all predicted decades earlier.

The message of Farenheit 451 is that mass media produces a market demand for censorship and spreads intolerance of eccentricities in society.

I read a blog entry but missed the full force of what Bradbury was trying to say. I gravitated toward the TV explanation because I had thought it before. People tend to see Farenheit 451 as a 1984 type novel when it is really more like Brave New World, if that makes any sense.

So I think you're right to deny Bradbury the authority he is arrogating to himself. The only time to look at authorial intent is when there is a legitimate ambiguity that can be settled that way. What the book means is determined by what the book says, not by what the author says. Words are used to bind people to certain things. If authorial intent determined meaning, then written words would be meaningless, binding no one.

Also, if I knew the answer on a test question, but accidently wrote the wrong answer, then I could say I got the answer right because my intention determines meaning.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Bradbury and Authorial Intent

mark — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 20:24:51 -0000

I got the test analogy from Professor John Frame in private e-correspondence. He now teaches at RTS Orlando

I think the problem for the authorities in Bradbury's novel is predictability and control. In a media-saturated culture people can be controlled. The censorship represents an attempt to make sure the influence of unconrollable people does not spread. Readers might want something more in debates than ugly and pretty candidates....

I'm just relating the book, not agreeing with anything. I do sort of resonate with it. But I loved Atlas Shrugged, so what do I know?

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Maggie Gyllenhaal in The Dark Knight

mark — Sun, 17 Jun 2007 23:05:44 -0000

Well, how did I not know who MG is?

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Celebrate Barbara Stanwyck

mark — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 19:51:00 -0000

Had it since last week from Blockbuster.com, but have been putting it off.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Music Tuesday - Once Soundtrack

mark — Tue, 04 Sep 2007 15:08:59 -0000

Dead link alert: no "the" in front of "hornes."

We weren't able to stay interested in season 3 of DH, but we'll probably try again.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Google Reader Gets Search

mark — Thu, 06 Sep 2007 16:05:05 -0000

It wasn't until I read this on my feedreader that I looked up and saw the search engine.

This will be awesome!

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Top Five Reasons I Need an Xbox360 This Fall

mark — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:21:43 -0000

In other news, Calvin and Nevin have saved up enough between them to get an Xbox... The regular old kind, but it is a definite upgrade for us.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Fall TV Planning

mark — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 09:27:59 -0000

Plus, with this sort of move, it doesn't look like it is really trying to differentiate itself.

I wish they had bought the rights to the Blayde TV show and tamed it a bit (it was too R-rated IMO). That had a touch of originality.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Fall TV Planning

mark — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:20:18 -0000

FYI, he quit a few months later "for personal reasons." My guess is that traveling back in time when he stepped on the set didn't agree with him.

A thought for blog fodder some time. Are the major networks going to start trying to immitate the smaller scifi ideas that normally don't get much budget. I think Heroes was a financed version of several Xmen type shows. If we see something new "Nancy Drew" kind of show, we'll know something is up.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Top Five Reasons I Need an Xbox360 This Fall

mark — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 17:14:00 -0000

Here's a thought, if you need an excuse to procrastinate:

Why not do some nostalgia reviews for the Xbox? Maybe thinking about age appropriateness for eleven 9 and 8... (No GTA).

I have to say, if it wasn't for my Halo fascination, I wouldn't touch the Xbox 360. I was just told the Sony Playstation III involves free online multiplayer. That's a dealmaker in my book.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Paper-Writing Season = Time for a Layout Change!

mark — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 10:33:26 -0000

I just bought the graphic novel of the first five issues of season 8. I feel sorry for Nick Brendon never actually getting to act as the "Nick Fury" of the slayers.

What's the show with JW and ED?

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Time’s Richard Corliss on Critic’s Awards

mark — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 11:55:08 -0000

Well, in this post you do sound elitist. I think it is time you posted a video clip of some mindless eye-candy action scene again.... that would help.

:)

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Fox News on Mass Effect; or, Play the Darn Game!

mark — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:15:46 -0000

When I bought Unreal Championship for my kids on the Xbox, the cashier made a point of reminding me of the MA rating. (I actually think Unreal's taunting and gore are annoying. But I knew I could change all that by changing the settings). No one tried to hide the rating from me.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Fox News on Mass Effect; or, Play the Darn Game!

mark — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 10:28:18 -0000

Psychonauts? Work with old Xbox? Computer?

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Pop Candy Graphic Novels Crash Course

mark — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 22:46:03 -0000

I keep thinking about posting a guide to graphic novels. But it would just be a late-eighties nostalgia-romp. That is the main problem I have with buying comics or music or sci-fi books. I don't know what is good in this century (except for my favorite authors/singers/artists from the last one who still do good work) and so I am constantly tempted to buy stuff I liked when I was reading/listening more regularly. And that is just wrong.

Whedon's Frey and Season Eight (part 1) are good. But by now, that comes under the category of "favorites from the last century who still do good work."

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Pop Candy Graphic Novels Crash Course

mark — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 21:21:14 -0000

No. For some reason I'm hesitate to read Whedon in a franchise that I was once familiar with. (And in general I'm hesitating to read any story I was once familiar with).

In addition to being eighties, it would also be mostly a Frank Miller/Alan Moore praise song....

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Featured Video: Juli - Perfekte Welle

mark — Fri, 16 May 2008 15:57:37 -0000

Great song, but that chin/lip stud makes me want to unload both needlers. I just get hinky about that kind of thing.

Re: Jandy’s Meanderings » Featured Video: Juli - Perfekte Welle

mark — Fri, 16 May 2008 16:49:49 -0000

Well, maybe if she was using a firearm, I would see it. Note that I had no special negative reaction to the nose ring.

Re: Book Roundup for October

mark — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 23:58:03 -0000

I liked Donaldson in the eighties when I was a teenager. Both the era and my age have moved on and I'm not surprised you didn't like him.

I love Gene Wolfe but I couldn't figure out what he was doing with Wizard Night. I read both and they seemed more like an experiment than a story. Plus, I hate to sound prudish (even though that may be accurate) but the giants and their relationships to humans were just gross. I kept wondering, "Why even contrive such a thing?"

But give the Book of the LONG Sun a try before you give up on Gene Wolfe. I think you will find it quite compelling. Also, his novels, There Are Doors and Castleview have a completely different style. Reading them after his Sun and WK fiction is like moving from Narnia to a Mission Impossible movie, only with magic still involved.

Re: New Perspective on Paul

mark — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 15:28:05 -0000

I gave a specific example of what I think is Calvin misunderstanding Paul here.