Comments for The Mad Aardvark http://madaardvark.wordpress.com Critical commentary on culture... Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:14:26 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on UFO vs. Windmill: CNN’s expert reporting strikes again by wormwood http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/ufo-vs-windmill-cnns-expert-reporting-strikes-again/#comment-140 wormwood Mon, 02 Nov 2009 04:14:26 +0000 http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/2009/01/15/ufo-vs-windmill-cnns-expert-reporting-strikes-again/#comment-140 sorry buddy for placing that comment. I got permission from the poster, laura, to place her topic on my forum. But my site was deleted a couple of months ago so that topic doesnt exist any more. sorry buddy for placing that comment. I got permission from the poster, laura, to place her topic on my forum. But my site was deleted a couple of months ago so that topic doesnt exist any more.

]]> Comment on Alien Artists by Marcus Patman http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/2009/06/04/alien-artists/#comment-139 Marcus Patman Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:11:11 +0000 http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/?p=102#comment-139 There has been some amazing crop circles "crop up" this summer. Check out my crop circles page at http://h20healer.com/cropcircles to see what I'm talking about. Great time to be alive! There has been some amazing crop circles “crop up” this summer. Check out my crop circles page at http://h20healer.com/cropcircles to see what I’m talking about. Great time to be alive!

]]> Comment on Anime Continues to Blow, Despite Poorly Argued Comments! by Hikori http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/2009/06/09/anime-continues-to-blow-despite-poorly-argued-comments/#comment-138 Hikori Sun, 11 Oct 2009 03:18:48 +0000 http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/?p=107#comment-138 Alright, before I post, I felt it nice to add that despite using the name "Hikori" I'm not some random weaboo, and I'm not going to defend anime at all during this post. Yes, to some degree, that does make some level of sense, however, about your anime characters not looking japanese, that is false. Anime characters have been known to look chinese and japanese, and korean. It's the STEREOTYPE anime characters who look like your claim states. (sorry for being unable to reference this) But it doesn't matter, since most anime is drawn in korea, not japan, and koreans don't like japanese for the most part. (side note that you don't have to even read: Hikori actually comes from the japanese for hickory. Due to my love of smoked salmon, it became a nickname in my japanese class. the nickname stuck, so i write it as hikori... not that you care, but if you've taken the time to read this then it's not my fault) And most of japan doesn't even like anime. Alright, before I post, I felt it nice to add that despite using the name “Hikori” I’m not some random weaboo, and I’m not going to defend anime at all during this post.

Yes, to some degree, that does make some level of sense, however, about your anime characters not looking japanese, that is false.

Anime characters have been known to look chinese and japanese, and korean. It’s the STEREOTYPE anime characters who look like your claim states. (sorry for being unable to reference this)

But it doesn’t matter, since most anime is drawn in korea, not japan, and koreans don’t like japanese for the most part.

(side note that you don’t have to even read: Hikori actually comes from the japanese for hickory. Due to my love of smoked salmon, it became a nickname in my japanese class. the nickname stuck, so i write it as hikori… not that you care, but if you’ve taken the time to read this then it’s not my fault)

And most of japan doesn’t even like anime.

]]> Comment on The Motion Picture of Dorian Gray by Wrayth http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/the-motion-picture-of-dorian-gray/#comment-137 Wrayth Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:16:58 +0000 http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/?p=118#comment-137 I've read the book (a while ago now) and have just recently watched the film. 1. Basil and Lord Henry are TWO characters. No merging. And the role of Basil is more like the first edition of Oscars Book (1890 version).....ummm you'll have to see the film, i dont want to spoil it now. 2. The Painting features a major part in the film. The mirror reflection thing was just **SPOILER** near the end of the film, more his re-emerging conscience acting up. 3. "His curse extended from a pledge that he made himself, based on the unpracticed philosophy of Lord Henry and a painting created by Basil Hallward, followed by the choices that Gray made after being linked to the painting as he was." is more how the movie plays out, although Lord Henry is slightly blamed. The onus is on Dorian though. He made the choice. At least thats how I saw it. A warning though, the end deviates slightly from the book. As a film it was very enjoyable, and i hope you have fun watching it, and dont take it too seriously. I look forward to hearing your views once you have seen it! :) All the Best, I’ve read the book (a while ago now) and have just recently watched the film.

1. Basil and Lord Henry are TWO characters. No merging. And the role of Basil is more like the first edition of Oscars Book (1890 version)…..ummm you’ll have to see the film, i dont want to spoil it now.

2. The Painting features a major part in the film. The mirror reflection thing was just **SPOILER** near the end of the film, more his re-emerging conscience acting up.

3. “His curse extended from a pledge that he made himself, based on the unpracticed philosophy of Lord Henry and a painting created by Basil Hallward, followed by the choices that Gray made after being linked to the painting as he was.” is more how the movie plays out, although Lord Henry is slightly blamed. The onus is on Dorian though. He made the choice. At least thats how I saw it.

A warning though, the end deviates slightly from the book. As a film it was very enjoyable, and i hope you have fun watching it, and dont take it too seriously. I look forward to hearing your views once you have seen it! :)

All the Best,

]]> Comment on Ghost Stories and the Waking Dream by organictriffidfarm http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/2009/10/03/ghost-stories-and-the-waking-dream/#comment-136 organictriffidfarm Mon, 05 Oct 2009 04:23:25 +0000 http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/?p=198#comment-136 I've never experienced sleep paralysis myself, but in Japan it's quite a frequent phenomenon called kanashibari. There was also an story on TAL a few years back that tied Victorian hauntings to leaking gas valves in the house. Interesting post. I’ve never experienced sleep paralysis myself, but in Japan it’s quite a frequent phenomenon called kanashibari. There was also an story on TAL a few years back that tied Victorian hauntings to leaking gas valves in the house. Interesting post.

]]> Comment on The Motion Picture of Dorian Gray by madaardvark http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/the-motion-picture-of-dorian-gray/#comment-135 madaardvark Fri, 25 Sep 2009 03:36:37 +0000 http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/?p=118#comment-135 I have not seen the movie yet. We're still waiting for an American theater release. As soon as I have the opportunity, I will see this film, though. I have not seen the movie yet. We’re still waiting for an American theater release. As soon as I have the opportunity, I will see this film, though.

]]> Comment on The Motion Picture of Dorian Gray by secretiveagent http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/the-motion-picture-of-dorian-gray/#comment-134 secretiveagent Thu, 24 Sep 2009 22:31:29 +0000 http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/?p=118#comment-134 Hi, MadAardvark. Just wondered if you've seen the film yet? I'd be interested to know what you thought. I must confess that I came to the film from a position of ignorance, having not read the book, but I think that the trailer did not do the film justice. Certainly the picture itself did play a very important role in the film, and there was no doubt in my mind that Gray sealed his own fate. I was transfixed by the story, however, and will certainly be reading the novel very soon! Hi, MadAardvark. Just wondered if you’ve seen the film yet? I’d be interested to know what you thought. I must confess that I came to the film from a position of ignorance, having not read the book, but I think that the trailer did not do the film justice. Certainly the picture itself did play a very important role in the film, and there was no doubt in my mind that Gray sealed his own fate.

I was transfixed by the story, however, and will certainly be reading the novel very soon!

]]> Comment on Community Review by madaardvark http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/community-review/#comment-133 madaardvark Sat, 19 Sep 2009 04:42:54 +0000 http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/?p=164#comment-133 Either way, I think it was ignorance based on establishing a show that could run for four years, without explicitly stating that they had a 'five year mission...' and ruining future credibility. Of course, this is based on their quick glossing without explanation, which goes back to feeding the public misinformation, so making the jump to misinformation about the length of a community college degree isn't that severe. That being said, I completed my AA in 3 years because of the poor quality of academic advisory during my tenure at a community college. I lacked one required class that was only offered two semesters from my expected graduation, so I had to experience 8 more courses just so I could avoid losing financial aid during that time. Me and financial aid have never, ever, gotten along... Either way, I think it was ignorance based on establishing a show that could run for four years, without explicitly stating that they had a ‘five year mission…’ and ruining future credibility. Of course, this is based on their quick glossing without explanation, which goes back to feeding the public misinformation, so making the jump to misinformation about the length of a community college degree isn’t that severe.

That being said, I completed my AA in 3 years because of the poor quality of academic advisory during my tenure at a community college. I lacked one required class that was only offered two semesters from my expected graduation, so I had to experience 8 more courses just so I could avoid losing financial aid during that time.

Me and financial aid have never, ever, gotten along…

]]> Comment on Community Review by endlessslug http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/2009/09/18/community-review/#comment-132 endlessslug Sat, 19 Sep 2009 03:47:58 +0000 http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/?p=164#comment-132 I was weird about that 4-year comment as well. I'm not sure if that's poor research or whether they were working with a generalization though. At the college I just quit from, the average student spent 11 semesters, which is about four years. Mostly, this time is due to taking only part-time classes and working as most community college students do. Full-time, most AA degrees can be completed in two or less years. -endless slug I was weird about that 4-year comment as well. I’m not sure if that’s poor research or whether they were working with a generalization though. At the college I just quit from, the average student spent 11 semesters, which is about four years. Mostly, this time is due to taking only part-time classes and working as most community college students do. Full-time, most AA degrees can be completed in two or less years.

-endless slug

]]> Comment on The Motion Picture of Dorian Gray by madaardvark http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/2009/07/30/the-motion-picture-of-dorian-gray/#comment-131 madaardvark Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:50:30 +0000 http://madaardvark.wordpress.com/?p=118#comment-131 These are valid and excellent points. Actually, my point isn't that the movie is going to be a colossal failure, or be completely worthless, based on these things I noticed. It was more of an observation about what these changes suggest in a postmodern reinterpretation of the novel, which only reflects the poor state of affairs that art and literature have fallen to in recent years. Most contemporary art and literature focus on personal experiences that are wholly unapproachable by anyone who does not share those experiences. The movie, then, supports this by shifting the focus from the painting (general art for the masses) to mirror reflections that only Gray can see (specific art for the individual). Regardless if the painting is there or not, that shift in focus is definitely there. I am curious to see the movie, despite my reservations, because that could be totally intentional on the part of the film makers - but I kind of doubt it. Or - and this is another doubt - I could be completely misunderstanding what I see based on movie trailers designed to bring in mass audiences (not the first time this happened - I thought <em>Jerry Maguire</em> was going to be a movie about football based on the trailers I saw). These are valid and excellent points. Actually, my point isn’t that the movie is going to be a colossal failure, or be completely worthless, based on these things I noticed. It was more of an observation about what these changes suggest in a postmodern reinterpretation of the novel, which only reflects the poor state of affairs that art and literature have fallen to in recent years. Most contemporary art and literature focus on personal experiences that are wholly unapproachable by anyone who does not share those experiences. The movie, then, supports this by shifting the focus from the painting (general art for the masses) to mirror reflections that only Gray can see (specific art for the individual). Regardless if the painting is there or not, that shift in focus is definitely there. I am curious to see the movie, despite my reservations, because that could be totally intentional on the part of the film makers – but I kind of doubt it. Or – and this is another doubt – I could be completely misunderstanding what I see based on movie trailers designed to bring in mass audiences (not the first time this happened – I thought Jerry Maguire was going to be a movie about football based on the trailers I saw).

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