Max Ernst

While I was never overweight, I did have a nasty habit of going through drive-throughs and getting fast food to 'fuel my study'. I also used to order meat-lover's pizza online and add extra meat. So yeah, it was a lifestyle change. But it forced me to actually learn how to cook properly, and I feel great. I don't miss meat at all. I am considering veganism for this year.

It has been two years since I gave up eating meat and I am a billion times healthier because of it. This isn't a a post to preach the benefits, ethical and physical, of being a vegetarian, but a quick note of encouragement to those that are considering a meatless diet. It is much easier than you think (I was a meat fiend, don't get me started), and the positives far outweigh the negatives. If you need any tips to get you started, please throw them my way, I will be happy to relate my short experience to you.

Just to give you an idea of the horseshit I have to put up with as an Australian: GTA V- pre-order for $108.00. You can get it at a better price if you look around, but that high price point very much exists.

I'm just going to chime in here and say that Kentucky Route Zero is my favourite game so far this year. I think someone might have mentioned it in the podcast, but you could take a screenshot anywhere in that game at random, and you would, without exception, have a beautifully framed illustration. I disagree that the story writing is pretentious, because I think if you really try to connect the dots in that game, the vague, affected dialogue of the character's totally makes sense. It is a game that refuses to spell things out for you, with slippery characters that resist interpretation. Unlike The Walking Dead, Heavy Rain, etc, the plot doesn't really branch. You simply choose how you are feeling, and what kind of person you were prior to the events of the game. It uses dialogue choices to create back-story in such a neat way, it creates a weird dynamic where you are keen to find new dialogue choices and explore the world so you can further craft your character's past. Also: Final note, 'pretentious' is word that is thrown around so hastily, without any real consideration of its meaning, that it lacks any sort of descriptive power in the larger discussion of games.

I'm currently writing a thesis, so it is one fun book, one hard critical theory book. As the thesis ramps up, fun book time diminishes, but I try to make time for it in some capacity. I will say that it is weird to spend hours writing and reading about the social aspects of environmental packaging, then flipping over to Sabbath's Theatre, where the main character jerks off on his dead lover's grave.

I just finished the first episode of Kentucky Route Zero, and I would have to say that this has been my favourite adventure game since The Dream Machine. It has such a striking art style, and such a wonderfully ambiguous plot. So great. You should all check it out. Don't be idiots. Play this game.

Nope, it's about how people's jealous cynicism is poisonous to those trying to rise above depression. Sorry! Just kidding. I am not sorry.

Big tip: I've heard from a credible source that if you don't watch HBO's Enlightened you are probably a big butt-crack and a loser. Good thing all of you watch and support Enlightened, huh? Please watch this show before it is cancelled. I love it too much for it to go away, it has so much life left.

I walked out of the second Lord of the Rings film and I don't think I have made a better decision in my life.

A lot of people use Audiobooks to read along with the actual text. That way, you feel the performance of the book's prose, but follow quite easily because you are still actively reading. I've only done it a couple of times, but a lot of people swear by it. Amazon are trying to sell it as 'immersion reading', but ignore that and just get whatever copy of the text you can find. Just worth trying so you don't feel like you wasted so much money.

Kind of disappointed that it isn't called Deus Ex: Human Stain, so I continue my trend of bringing up Philip Roth whenever I get the chance.

I don't think you should fault a film because of it's marketing department.

Whenever someone describes a film as 'challenging', I am all over that shit. Related: Someone described Begotten as difficult, so I was super curious to see it. They were not wrong, it is a completely unique viewing experience. But holy hell, it's incredible in its own way.

I couldn't disagree more! The dinosaurs were extremely important and had a very deliberate place in the story. Any more posts like that, and I am going to have to go down to the store and buy some ink for my WRONG stamp.

I just want to say that everyone who tried to tell me that Tree of Life is overwrought and pretentious is a huge idiot and I am currently writing to my member of congress to notify her on how dumb they are. Incredible, gorgeous movie that is carried by wonderful performances. The way it manages to create feeling, depth and empathy with each of the characters using so little dialogue is incredible. Also, whoever recommended that I watch Blue is a goddamn mastermind. Thank you, kind knight.

I just got around to playing Proteus, and it might have the most profound effect on me more than anything I have ever played. I just about went through every emotion, I was smiling, laughing, stunned, and at the end, crying. I'm getting shudders just thinking about it. To think that the game is completely sensory. It's astounding. For a game with no story, objectives or characters, it is the most powerful use of interactive space I have ever seen. I don't think I have ever had such a vivid video game memory as realising what was happening in the end, and thinking: I wish "walking games" was a real genre, and if becomes one, I will buy every one as daring as Proteus. Jesus christ I am still shaking. Also, I if you are going to play this, please make sure it is with the lights off and with headphones.

As someone who has read a bit of Philip Roth, and is currently reading Sabbath's Theater I can say without any hesitation that every criticism against the guy is pretty spot on. He is the centerpiece for the 'great male narcissist' school of authors, and if you are looking for an author that tries to empathize with characters directly out of his focused world view, you are looking at the wrong guy. Often (but not without exceptions), women are not portrayed fairly, everyone is wrong but the protagonist (i.e. Roth), and his humor is often marred by sentiment. This, from the chart you linked, sums it up well: However, he is really good at his craft. His prose is phenomenal, each sentences flows neatly into the next- his word choice is extensive and exact. More importantly, what I love about his writing is that every character is an exploration in the the mystery and humility of relationships. Not only does each character constantly inaccurately assess each other, but also themselves. The management of personalities, through lying, rationalizations and privacy, is what makes Roth's work so compelling. He sums it up so perfectly in American Pastoral: I would argue that to criticize Sabbath's Theater as being depraved is exactly the point. It's the exploration of the depraved. It is going to go to places you aren't comfortable. It is a book that tries to test you in a very particular way, to feel the worst in people and the reverberations of their selfishness. I agree with Jonathan Franzen, in that I feel that it is a very brave book. P.S. He is probably a jerk and he doesn't try very hard to disguise this in his works. P.S. I hate that James Franco is listed in this. I've read your work, I've seen your art, you seem like a swell guy, but acting is your craft and you might want to stick to that. P.P.S. Also, Alice Munroe is the greatest living writer. Sorry, dudes.

Also, to be clear, I loved the book. Blood Meridian is still my favourite McCarthy novel, but The Road is a close second. I just thought the end was a cop-out.

Everyone already owns Trine, Portal and Frozen Synapse, surely? These are just going to stay untouched in my inventory, gathering figurative dust forever, right?

Al Purdy was cool as heck: Bonus video of Purdy reading the poem to amazing visuals:

Does he drive two cars into a helicopter in the new movie?

Nope! I meant 'certain', but I got distracted. Good catch, sorry to disappoint.

In the new Die Hard does he drive a car into a helicopter, and if not were you able to get a ticket refund because of this oversight?

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Gravity's Rainbow is incredible. It is more difficult than '49, but the imagery and wit throughout the book is undeniable fantastic. '49 helps you understand Pynchon- follow his rhythms, understand his inferences - so it is helpful to read that first. Also, big parts of the book are about boners and that's the kind of literature I want to associate with.