Comments for Fascination Place http://www.fascinationplace.org Michael Rawdon's webjournal Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:34:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Comment on Before Watchmen by Subrata Sircar http://www.fascinationplace.org/2012/02/01/before-watchmen/comment-page-1/#comment-66804 Subrata Sircar Wed, 01 Feb 2012 21:34:49 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=6189#comment-66804 I saw the ads and was nonplussed. A sequel, on the other hand - especially one written by authors I like - would have me far more intrigued. I saw the ads and was nonplussed. A sequel, on the other hand – especially one written by authors I like – would have me far more intrigued.

]]> Comment on State of the Newton by Mom http://www.fascinationplace.org/2012/01/10/state-of-the-newton/comment-page-1/#comment-66712 Mom Wed, 11 Jan 2012 15:18:01 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=6140#comment-66712 Cats really live in the present and all you can do for them is to make their present as pleasant as possible. Cats really live in the present and all you can do for them is to make their present as pleasant as possible.

]]> Comment on State of the Newton by Nadyne Richmond http://www.fascinationplace.org/2012/01/10/state-of-the-newton/comment-page-1/#comment-66710 Nadyne Richmond Wed, 11 Jan 2012 01:23:32 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=6140#comment-66710 I know exactly what you mean. Tipsy is the same age, and he's slowing down too. He's napping more, and he's lost some weight, and he isn't always happy taking his pills. I'm so grateful that he's in such good condition now, but I know that he can't live forever. I know exactly what you mean. Tipsy is the same age, and he’s slowing down too. He’s napping more, and he’s lost some weight, and he isn’t always happy taking his pills. I’m so grateful that he’s in such good condition now, but I know that he can’t live forever.

]]> Comment on State of the Newton by Katy http://www.fascinationplace.org/2012/01/10/state-of-the-newton/comment-page-1/#comment-66709 Katy Wed, 11 Jan 2012 00:40:32 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=6140#comment-66709 We are also preparing for the worst with Eartha, though she's not 18! She'll be 16 in March, she also lost a lot of weight at one point and is on meds, and she has recently slowed down a lot and sleeps almost all the time. And she can't stand the cold. Poor kitty. She has lived in four states and eight homes... We are also preparing for the worst with Eartha, though she’s not 18! She’ll be 16 in March, she also lost a lot of weight at one point and is on meds, and she has recently slowed down a lot and sleeps almost all the time. And she can’t stand the cold. Poor kitty. She has lived in four states and eight homes…

]]> Comment on Webcomics I Read (2011 edition) by SS Myra (NSFW) – Every Tuesday - Jan10,2012 Imagination http://www.fascinationplace.org/2011/12/29/webcomics-i-read-2011-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-66707 SS Myra (NSFW) – Every Tuesday - Jan10,2012 Imagination Tue, 10 Jan 2012 08:02:44 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=6056#comment-66707 [...] for the plug from Michael Rawdon, “covertly pornographic,” I like that. └ Tags: Bran, Fred, [...] [...] for the plug from Michael Rawdon, “covertly pornographic,” I like that. └ Tags: Bran, Fred, [...]

]]> Comment on Alien by Subrata Sircar http://www.fascinationplace.org/2012/01/07/alien/comment-page-1/#comment-66705 Subrata Sircar Sun, 08 Jan 2012 01:36:57 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=6134#comment-66705 Alien is a classic haunted-house movie but much better done (as you note). John Scalzi recently opined that Ripley might be the best female character in science-fiction films. Aliens is a monster/action movie but also quite well done. The fact that both of these movies spend a fair bit of time on Ripley as a character and not a plot device is probably not coincidental. Alien is a classic haunted-house movie but much better done (as you note). John Scalzi recently opined that Ripley might be the best female character in science-fiction films.

Aliens is a monster/action movie but also quite well done. The fact that both of these movies spend a fair bit of time on Ripley as a character and not a plot device is probably not coincidental.

]]> Comment on Alien by Dad http://www.fascinationplace.org/2012/01/07/alien/comment-page-1/#comment-66704 Dad Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:25:54 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=6134#comment-66704 "Nostromo" is, of course, the title of a novel by Joseph Conrad, one which I read in Spanish (it's a long story). The main and titular character is believed to be incorruptible but through disillusionment is corrupted. The movie certainly deals with corruption in several ways. Would an android science officer be considered incorruptible? I enjoyed this movie more on a second viewing, which I find is often true of movies which are durably good. “Nostromo” is, of course, the title of a novel by Joseph Conrad, one which I read in Spanish (it’s a long story). The main and titular character is believed to be incorruptible but through disillusionment is corrupted. The movie certainly deals with corruption in several ways. Would an android science officer be considered incorruptible? I enjoyed this movie more on a second viewing, which I find is often true of movies which are durably good.

]]> Comment on Alien by Mark Bessey http://www.fascinationplace.org/2012/01/07/alien/comment-page-1/#comment-66703 Mark Bessey Sat, 07 Jan 2012 19:10:06 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=6134#comment-66703 I think the things you like about Alien are just those things that make it a good film, and by extension, a good horror film. The horror genre by its nature attracts a lot of bad projects. The conventional wisdom is that you can just gut someone on screen and "the kids'll love it". The success of films like the Final Destination series would seem to indicate that that's not entirely inaccurate. I think that really scary movies rely more on building dread than they do on simply presenting shocking imagery. That;s why Alien is a much more effective horror film than Event Horizon, though they're very similar in many ways. I think the things you like about Alien are just those things that make it a good film, and by extension, a good horror film.

The horror genre by its nature attracts a lot of bad projects. The conventional wisdom is that you can just gut someone on screen and “the kids’ll love it”. The success of films like the Final Destination series would seem to indicate that that’s not entirely inaccurate.

I think that really scary movies rely more on building dread than they do on simply presenting shocking imagery. That;s why Alien is a much more effective horror film than Event Horizon, though they’re very similar in many ways.

]]> Comment on Why I Don’t Like Stanley Kubrick’s Films by Subrata Sircar http://www.fascinationplace.org/2012/01/06/why-i-dont-like-stanley-kubricks-films/comment-page-1/#comment-66697 Subrata Sircar Fri, 06 Jan 2012 18:32:22 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=6108#comment-66697 Huh. I found Dr. Strangelove very funny and disturbingly insightful; think A Clockwork Orange is quite horrifying; and like 2001 more than 2010. I agree none of the characters are deep, but for me that wasn't a handicap: they were deep enough to make it clear what they were representing. 2001 is a movie where the emotionless antagonist (HAL) is more human than the protagonists because that's the conflict that drives the story. Alex in ACO is amoral, conscienceless - inhuman, really - and in the end is victimized by being cast down into humanity. And so on. Maybe it's that none of the stories are about persons, they're about people (collectively), and what humanity is like. Huh. I found Dr. Strangelove very funny and disturbingly insightful; think A Clockwork Orange is quite horrifying; and like 2001 more than 2010. I agree none of the characters are deep, but for me that wasn’t a handicap: they were deep enough to make it clear what they were representing. 2001 is a movie where the emotionless antagonist (HAL) is more human than the protagonists because that’s the conflict that drives the story. Alex in ACO is amoral, conscienceless – inhuman, really – and in the end is victimized by being cast down into humanity. And so on.

Maybe it’s that none of the stories are about persons, they’re about people (collectively), and what humanity is like.

]]> Comment on Looking Back at 2011 by Mom http://www.fascinationplace.org/2012/01/02/looking-back-at-2011/comment-page-1/#comment-66674 Mom Tue, 03 Jan 2012 15:07:00 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=6098#comment-66674 That's life, ups and downs and you got through all of it. Happy New Year. That’s life, ups and downs and you got through all of it. Happy New Year.

]]> Comment on Doctor Who, Season Six by Michael Rawdon http://www.fascinationplace.org/2011/12/31/doctor-who-season-six/comment-page-1/#comment-66669 Michael Rawdon Sun, 01 Jan 2012 19:02:42 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=5983#comment-66669 I do like Matt Smith. I think he's better than David Tennant, although very similar in style. I think Smith's Doctor feels more genuine; Tennant's angsty moments always felt too calculated, like we weren't supposed to take them seriously. I still like Christopher Eccleston better than either of them, though! I do like Matt Smith. I think he’s better than David Tennant, although very similar in style. I think Smith’s Doctor feels more genuine; Tennant’s angsty moments always felt too calculated, like we weren’t supposed to take them seriously.

I still like Christopher Eccleston better than either of them, though!

]]> Comment on Doctor Who, Season Six by Dan Aharon http://www.fascinationplace.org/2011/12/31/doctor-who-season-six/comment-page-1/#comment-66668 Dan Aharon Sun, 01 Jan 2012 17:10:36 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=5983#comment-66668 Can we agree that regardless of the writing, Matt Smith remains a bang-on first-class Doctor? I recently read an article about the casting of Benedict Cumberbatch for the BBC's excellent Sherlock series, how Matt Smith (pre-DW) was considered first but rejected as "too barmy". Can we agree that regardless of the writing, Matt Smith remains a bang-on first-class Doctor? I recently read an article about the casting of Benedict Cumberbatch for the BBC’s excellent Sherlock series, how Matt Smith (pre-DW) was considered first but rejected as “too barmy”.

]]> Comment on Webcomics I Read (2011 edition) by Michael Rawdon http://www.fascinationplace.org/2011/12/29/webcomics-i-read-2011-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-66663 Michael Rawdon Fri, 30 Dec 2011 19:20:41 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=6056#comment-66663 Take a look at my <a href="http://www.fascinationplace.org/2009/08/28/webcomics-i-read/" rel="nofollow">2009</a> and <a href="http://www.fascinationplace.org/2010/09/28/more-webcomics-i-read/" rel="nofollow">2010</a> webcomic posts - I've been reading <b>XKCD</b> for years. The list above is just new stuff I started to read since the 2010 post, it's not everything I read. (Though I was surprised at how many strips I added.) I've also been reading via RSS feeds since Safari added RSS support (which was a long time ago). I'm amused that you're not into gaming comics, yet you read <b>Penny Arcade</b>, which is the Cadillac of hard-core gaming comics. I have marginal interest in computer games, so only 1 out of maybe 20 of its strips really hits the mark for me, and I sometimes wonder why I keep reading it. I've read both <b>Garfield Without Garfield</b> and <b>3eanuts</b> in the past and they entertained me for about a month, and then I got the joke and stopped. I've tried to get into <b>Hark! A Vagrant!</b> several times, and eventually concluded that it's not for me. Take a look at my 2009 and 2010 webcomic posts – I’ve been reading XKCD for years. The list above is just new stuff I started to read since the 2010 post, it’s not everything I read. (Though I was surprised at how many strips I added.)

I’ve also been reading via RSS feeds since Safari added RSS support (which was a long time ago).

I’m amused that you’re not into gaming comics, yet you read Penny Arcade, which is the Cadillac of hard-core gaming comics. I have marginal interest in computer games, so only 1 out of maybe 20 of its strips really hits the mark for me, and I sometimes wonder why I keep reading it.

I’ve read both Garfield Without Garfield and 3eanuts in the past and they entertained me for about a month, and then I got the joke and stopped.

I’ve tried to get into Hark! A Vagrant! several times, and eventually concluded that it’s not for me.

]]> Comment on Webcomics I Read (2011 edition) by Scott M http://www.fascinationplace.org/2011/12/29/webcomics-i-read-2011-edition/comment-page-1/#comment-66661 Scott M Fri, 30 Dec 2011 14:48:33 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=6056#comment-66661 Wow. I only read two of these, Kukuburi and Let's Be Friends Again. But, I am also not very interested in SF, RPG or gaming comics. I read Sinfest, Bad Machinery, Hark! A Vagrant!, Friends With Boys, 3eanuts, Garfield Minus Garfield, Penny Arcade and XKCD, plus some others here and there. I finally switched to reading primarily with RSS feeds this year so that changed my lineup a bit. I am frankly shocked that you don't read XKCD. Ramon Perez is a hell of an artist, you should check out his previous comic Butternut Squash if you haven't already. Wow. I only read two of these, Kukuburi and Let’s Be Friends Again. But, I am also not very interested in SF, RPG or gaming comics. I read Sinfest, Bad Machinery, Hark! A Vagrant!, Friends With Boys, 3eanuts, Garfield Minus Garfield, Penny Arcade and XKCD, plus some others here and there. I finally switched to reading primarily with RSS feeds this year so that changed my lineup a bit.

I am frankly shocked that you don’t read XKCD.

Ramon Perez is a hell of an artist, you should check out his previous comic Butternut Squash if you haven’t already.

]]> Comment on Back to the Gym by Danil http://www.fascinationplace.org/2011/11/15/back-to-the-gym/comment-page-1/#comment-66619 Danil Wed, 07 Dec 2011 04:16:28 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=5977#comment-66619 "But now I have an iPad, and I realized I could read books on that." *blink* *blink* That's kind of perfect, isn't it? I haven't been using my iPad frequently enough to make that connection on my own. “But now I have an iPad, and I realized I could read books on that.”

*blink* *blink*

That’s kind of perfect, isn’t it? I haven’t been using my iPad frequently enough to make that connection on my own.

]]> Comment on Thanksgiving Week Off by Mom http://www.fascinationplace.org/2011/11/27/thanksgiving-week-off/comment-page-1/#comment-66580 Mom Mon, 28 Nov 2011 14:52:21 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=6019#comment-66580 Glad you had a pleasant holiday. Glad you had a pleasant holiday.

]]> Comment on Anne Rice: Interview With the Vampire by Mom http://www.fascinationplace.org/2011/11/26/anne-rice-interview-with-the-vampire/comment-page-1/#comment-66577 Mom Sun, 27 Nov 2011 15:42:15 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=6000#comment-66577 I read all the Rice books when they came out. I think I stillhave most of them. Maybe I'l read them again. :-) I read all the Rice books when they came out. I think I stillhave most of them. Maybe I’l read them again. :-)

]]> Comment on Back to the Gym by JM http://www.fascinationplace.org/2011/11/15/back-to-the-gym/comment-page-1/#comment-66509 JM Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:22:15 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=5977#comment-66509 Curious to hear what you think about <i>Surface Detail</i> - haven't read that one yet. Really enjoyed <i>Transitions</i>, <i>Matter</i> as well. Curious to hear what you think about Surface Detail – haven’t read that one yet. Really enjoyed Transitions, Matter as well.

]]> Comment on Spacetrawler Reviews Chasm City by Spacetrawler - 11/09/11 The Detonator http://www.fascinationplace.org/2011/11/08/spacetrawler-reviews-chasm-city/comment-page-1/#comment-66478 Spacetrawler - 11/09/11 The Detonator Wed, 09 Nov 2011 05:01:15 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=5968#comment-66478 [...] for the kind words from Michael Rawdon. Tweet AKPC_IDS += "3804,"; └ Tags: Cornflower-94, [...] [...] for the kind words from Michael Rawdon. Tweet AKPC_IDS += "3804,"; └ Tags: Cornflower-94, [...]

]]> Comment on Selling My Townhouse by Subrata Sircar http://www.fascinationplace.org/2011/10/28/selling-my-townhouse/comment-page-1/#comment-66447 Subrata Sircar Sat, 29 Oct 2011 03:51:43 +0000 http://www.fascinationplace.org/?p=5925#comment-66447 Sounds like it all went smoothly. Enjoy your new home! Sounds like it all went smoothly. Enjoy your new home!

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