6 posts tagged “holidays”
So,I've been meaning to post about this book for awhile, but the Fourth of July seems like the perfect opportunity to finally go for it, given the central commentary Little Brother makes about our country's conflicting obsessions with freedom and security. I don't say this lightly, but this is a book that everyone should pick up and read as a primer on current technologies, considerations of the predicted evolutions of "The War on Terror", and just as an entertaining story to boot.
In near-future San Francisco, Marcus Yallow and some of his friends get hauled in by the Department of Homeland Security for being at the wrong place and the wrong time when a terrorist attack destroys a bridge. Though not guilty of the terrorist attack, Marcus's interest in technology and cryptography makes him a primary suspect, which leads to harsh "questioning" by his captors. After he his finally released, he decides to turn the tables on the paranoid police state crackdown of his hometown by creating a stealth network, which ultimately propels the plot to an inevitable confrontation between the forces of security and the forces of privacy.
This is Orwell's 1984 for the next generation (as is obvious by the allusion in the title). Like its predecessor, Little Brother raises troubling questions about a government gone too far, which ultimately feels familiar to any modern American. If you're looking to do something really patriotic this Independence Day, it might be worth putting down the sparkler for a moment and picking up a copy of this book, even if only for future insight into the complicated times in which we all live now.
But if you aren't afraid yet, you should be. For, L and I will soon unleash our greatest weapon of doom upon the hapless citizenry of the world. Prepare yourself, if you can, for... LOLBILBOZ:
Had a great day off from from work yesterday, lighting up Independence Day with Anthony, Matt, Anica and some pandas. (I'm still pretty clueless why they refer to themselves as pandas, since Anthony or Matt haven't enlightened me yet. Unless it's one of those secret society things?)
We kicked the good times off with Anthony and Matt inviting L and I to see Transformers with them. (I was originally planning on holding off and seeing it with my brother when he got back from Wisconsin, but I figured I might as well as go while the going was good.) I wasn't expecting a whole lot from a movie based on a two-decade-old toy franchise, but it was surprisingly well-done. (Quite a bit better than TMNT, for sure.) Even with all the blatant product placement (I choose you, Mountain Dew bot!) and frickin' awesome special effects, that managed to squeeze in a workable plot.
Following the movie, we nabbed dinner out and then adjourned back to our place for various geeky activities. Anthony and I tested out the limitations of Pokemon Battle Revolution on the Wii (and I must admit that it is far better for multiplayer than it's weak single player mode). L also showed off TEH OVERLORD. We wrapped the whole holiday off by watching and roasting the late Dungeons and Dragons animated series. (We all pretty much agreed that Uni is the most annoying cartoon character ever.)
On a different note, my birthday's coming into view next week and I'll tell you all what I'd like to see for it: more blogging from my neighbors. What's up with the lame ghost town that Vox has become? Are you all too busy having fun without me to stop and blog about it once in awhile? I feel awfully self-conscious shouting into the tubes of the Internets all by my lonesome. So please start sharing those fun summer stories and anecdotes that I know you've all been holding back on!
On the first day of Giftmas, my true dOrange group gave to me:
- Poker and Popcorn Tin (courtesy of Ernie in our second annual white elephant gift exchange).
- Okami video game and an accompanying Play-friggin'-station 2 from the ever-awesome Anthony. Way to rock L's and my world, my friend.
- Your Whole Family Is Made Out Of Meat: The Best of Dinosaur Comics book. Claws-down, the most sexy, exciting gift I got a week early. ("I guess there is a lesson here for us all.")
- Trace Memory video game for the DS.
- Veronica Mars soundtrack.
- "Guns don't kill people. Magic Missiles kill people." t-shirt. My newest, coolest and geekiest apparel.
- I (Heart) Huckabees DVD. ("How am I not myself?")
- Green fleece jacket, which I look super great in.
- Official ACI purple fleece jacket (courtesy of Drew in our family white elephant gift exchange). Go Yotes!
- Tsuro board game (courtesy of my Dad and Femie in our family white elephant gift exchange). This was actually L's pick, but since we're married, we get to share!
- Cold, hard cash from my Dad and Femie. (They know just what to get newlyweds!) My parents are pretty darn awesome and I love them.
- Warm, black pajama pants. My legs shall be frozen no longer!
- Old Navy and EB Games gift cards (from L's mom); Fred Meyer gift card (from Andy); and Record Exchange gift card (from L's Drew). I smell a shopping trip coming on.
- Picnic basket.
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Cryptonomicon book. Looks like a very meaty, man-sized read!
- Mickey and Minnie cheesy Christmas ornament for the newly married couple.
All in all, it was really rockin' Giftmas this year, not merely because of the super fine gifts, but mostly because of the fabulous times with friends and family. What an awesome end to an awesome year! Here's to hoping that 2007 will be even more crazy delicious!
What are you thankful for?
I am thankful for another four-day weekend and break from the chaos of work (even though I love it). And I am again thankful for two Thanksgiving dinners this year (one on Thursday, fasting on Friday, and then again on Saturday). I am thankful (as always) for my family and my friends (you all rock!). I am thankful for reading, gaming, natural 20s, Nintendo DS parties and dOrange. I am thankful for my awesome wifey wife. I am thankful for a warm apartment, good food, and a comfortable place to sleep.
I am thankful.
Arr! It be International Talk Like A Pirate Day, me maties! So be pourin' yourself a mug of grog, shining your hook and putting the landlubbers in their place by speakin' like a pirate all day long.
Arr and if you be wantin' to pick up another pirate, feast your eyes on the Pirate Pickup lines. Be warned seadogs, they aren't for the faint of heart!
Arr! I be looking forward to all the reports of how you seadogs celebrate this auspicious day! Aye aye!
