Max Ernst

Lou was cool. He organised a concert for dogs. He wrote an album with Metallica that was awful in every way an album can be bad. These are the worst things he did musically, and they are still kind of awesome just because they were conceived and then executed. Let's remember the good (weird) times: http://youtu.be/LIK2Mssh_NQ

"We have a new email from listener @dril"

Yes. It is very good, but some strange design choices. If you run too fast, Gordan's glasses can fall off his head and everything goes blurry until you pick them up. The helicopter ride hinted in Episode 2 is in real time, so make some tea or something because you basically watch Alyx read a magazine for 18 hours. There is an option to kill time by making small talk. One of the dialogue choices is "how is the family?", which makes her burst out in tears. You can repeat this dialogue option infinitely to maintain her state of despair. If you are at half your health, the game yells "HALF LIFE" in a Call of Duty style, guttural exclamation. Your gravity gun is replaced by a "Grabbity Gun", which 'grabs' objects around you, which doesn't seem that different from before. The Source 2 engine is very reflective, so you can see what Gordon looks like, which is weird because he is wearing a black-mesh do-rag. Was this explained in the previous games? The free-to-play model is not too intrusive. The in game store is well designed and there are some cool cosmetic items for Alyx to wear. Unfortunately, they are all the same Taz and Bugs t-shirts with different colours. You can also buy Yosemite Sam mudflaps for your vehicle. Gordon doesn't speak, but his grunts are still in the game, ala Link. What makes this decision weird is that he grunts in response to questions, so you basically grunt your way through some pretty emotional scenes. Combine is misspelled "Columbine" several times throughout the game. This should be patched out pretty soon. A lot of great licensed music in this game, although a bit too heavy on the Hootie and the Blowfish. Reminds me of Crazy Taxi with The Offspring. "That suit is so powerful I wouldn't be surprised if it were powered by Nvidia" is some terrible product placement. Come on, Valve. The hacking mini-game is essentially SkiFree, which is fun but makes no sense tonally. Also, even if you hack successfully, the monster still eats your snowboarder. As far as I can tell, there are multiple endings to this game but they are all the same variation of the same sequence of events through a different photoshop filter. One ending (the good ending, I think) is almost impossible to see because there are 20 to 30 lens-flares filling the screen. Super weird considering it takes place in an underground bunker.

Children's Hospital is continuing its incredible run. If you like funny things, you should watch that show. Due to some of the key people involved, the show is like Wet Hot American Summer in ten minute form. The talent that is involved in the show is incredible. Start at season 2, because season 1 is a little rough.

I'm re-reading As I Lay Dying because Nabokov said you don't really read a book until you have read it twice. He is right.

To clarify, I did not mean to imply that the lack of conversational tone was a fault of the podcast. It just makes it one type of podcast and not another. You seem to be a strong interviewer, and had a neat knack of pushing for clarification or explanation whenever something wasn't clear or warranted elaboration. You kept an audience in mind throughout, which is something a lot of interviewers/podcast hosts forget to do. That said, this is episode one! Sorry for deconstructing so early. Keep up the good work!

Somehow I managed to miss White Lung's records from last year. Rectifying it now. Here is a cool live performance: If you need a studio recording to convince you, here you go:

This podcast is my jam. I love hearing creative people talking to other creative people. This podcast is similar to WTF, but not quite as conversational. It is still very much an interviewer-interviewee dynamic as opposed to a back and forth. The stuff about how prior feelings toward a franchise was super interesting, such as Jake geeking out over Monkey Island and Sean explaining his feelings towards the Walking Dead comics. Also, I came at this as someone who doesn't know dick about programming. So all this insider-info stuff is really great to hear and I managed to follow the whole thing throughout.

This guy gets it. The game isn't dumb, it's cruel.

Feel vindicated for praising Alice Munro so much in this thread because she just won a goddamn Nobel. Good for her. Absolutely deserved.

I just got through my third run of Papers, Please. It is a very good game and also very important.

Pynchon is one of those writers that trains you to become a better reader. If you let it, everything clicks into place. It isn't like some other hard texts that are just hard and impenetrable.

We have lost him. He has fallen in his childhood and cannot get up.

I barely understand these things, but what are the chances that a game designed for the new consoles will be ported to both Windows and Linux? That is a big ask, right?

I don't like anybody in four hour blocks.

That is a cool idea. I will try it but I am not looking forward to the four hours of Ella Fitzgerald I haven't gotten around to listening to yet.

I just beat this game. As an indicator on how much I liked this game, here is a screenshot: Exciting things are happening on the internet and it doesn't cost a thing.

Are you the person that claimed that Gabe Newell hacked your Half Life 2 playthrough and used it for promotional materials? Was that you? Was. That. You?

I did not cry when my son was born. I did not cry when my father passed. Upon watching this, I am drowning in my own tears. Bravo.

Last post, cool rap:

In regards to my last post: The new mix is excellent. Vocals are more buried in the guitars, which gives everything more of a punch, as the guitar roars aren't overshadowed by Kurt's voice. There are a lot of cool little guitar parts that are re-introduced into the mix, so if you geek out on this record like I do, then there is a lot of new little things to hear. Very Ape doesn't sound flat and it sounds like it has a proper lead guitar. The bridge guitars in Francis Farmer kind of roars back and forth. Some drum sounds are turned up, others are turned down a little. Props to Albini for giving each sound a lot of space while still making the songs sound huge. If you like the production on The Jesus Lizard's Goat, you will like this record. But, they removed the cello sounds during the Dumb choruses. Almost unacceptable.

I just purchased the In Utero reissue because of the Steve Albini mix because Steve Albini is a cool guy who does good work. I do not regret this purchase.

You mean like this?

Jack: Hey guys, have you played this game? Sam: Yes, this game is thumbs up. Chas: When I play games, I have fun.

It is very much in the Vineland, Crying of Lot 49 area of "oh this is madness but I am following" and less Gravity's Rainbow and (although I haven't read it myself) Against the Day of "this is madness what is happening where am I and who is talking". Every line is packed with wit. It is tremendous task. This book could be reread dozens of times with increasing appreciation. It was also very respectful of Pynchon to give Vegeta his proper title.