{"@attributes":{"version":"2.0"},"channel":{"title":"It's never enough until your heart stops beating","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/","description":"It's never enough until your heart stops beating - LiveJournal.com","lastBuildDate":"Sat, 18 Jun 2011 08:58:39 GMT","generator":"LiveJournal \/ LiveJournal.com","copyright":"NOINDEX","image":{"url":"https:\/\/l-userpic.livejournal.com\/113333819\/563964","title":"It's never enough until your heart stops beating","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/","width":"100","height":"100"},"item":[{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/349209.html","pubDate":"Sat, 18 Jun 2011 08:58:39 GMT","title":"Writer's Block: Band on the run","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/349209.html","description":"<lj-template name=\"qotd\" lang=\"en_GB\"><br \/><br \/>I am too damn lazy to pick out my favourite Beatles song at this hour but I must say, I have fond childhood memories of this song because it was part of the manufacturer-provided \"look how awesome your Sony product is\" Betamax tape for our Betamax player back when I was a kid.  It was played in our house a lot when I was a kid.<br \/><br \/><lj-embed id=\"29\" \/>","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/349209.html?view=comments#comments","category":"writer's block"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/348908.html","pubDate":"Thu, 05 May 2011 06:13:27 GMT","title":"Nonfiction as of May 2011","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/348908.html","description":"With school over, I figured I should start reading nonfiction books to make up for the inevitable \"You are not learning anything\" vacuum in my brain.  Not that I've been reading nonstop nonfiction; I try to alternate between a bit of fiction, and a bit of nonfiction.  Since LJ is dead anyway, I might as well exercise whatever writing skills I have that survived graduate school in writing new entries; it's like firing bullets into an empty field.    <br \/><br \/>So here is what I plan to do: Every so often I will try to write about the nonfiction books I have been reading.  These won't be \"fresh on the mind\" reviews; the furthest I'll go back is look them up on my reader history on the library's website (if the library I borrowed from has the feature) or look them up on Amazon for linking purposes.  If I don't even remember reading the book, then I won't bother writing about it.  <br \/><br \/>In this edition:<br \/><ul><br \/><li>Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan by Jake Adelstein<br \/><li>Dewey's Nine Lives: The Legacy of the Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions by Vicki Myron, with Bret Witter<br \/><li>The Magnetic North: Notes from the Arctic Circle by Sara Wheeler<br \/><li>Dirty Sexy Politics by Meghan McCain<br \/><\/ul><br \/><br \/><br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Tokyo-Vice-American-Reporter-Vintage\/dp\/0307475298\/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1304569703&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Tokyo Vice: An American Reporter on the Police Beat in Japan<\/a> <br \/>by Jake Adelstein<br \/><br \/>This book doesn't get into how the author even ended up studying and working in Japan (although it is referenced on the Amazon blurbs).  He writes about the process of becoming a reporter for the Yomiuri Shimbun, the corporate culture, and how you work your way through the ranks.  The intro \"teaser\" chapter was of Adelstein receiving death threats should he go ahead with publishing a story involving Yakuza.  Most of the corporate culture quirks mentioned in the book would be no surprise to any idiot who minored in Japanese Studies in college (like me!), but sadly it would provide evidence for the \"bad\" things you've heard about Japanese corporate culture, such as with how they treat women and foreigners, etc.  Eventually Adelstein made his way to reporting about the red light district in Tokyo, which was quite an educational read.  From that point he ended up involved in campaigning against human trafficking in Japan, so you're left thinking, oh, that's nice, he's not just another white dude turned English teacher who married and had hapa babies.  Overall the author's writing style makes it easy to read through some notably difficult topics.  If the author publishes another book (likely to focus on his work regarding human trafficking), I'd read it.<br \/><br \/>You should read this book if:<br \/><ul><br \/><li>You always wanted to learn more about the Yakuza and how people actually get to report about them without getting killed<br \/><li>You always wanted to learn more about the newspaper industry (or print media in general) in Japan<br \/><li>You always wanted to learn about the red light district in Japan and how the hell they make money off things like soaplands<br \/><\/ul><br \/><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Deweys-Nine-Lives-Small-Town-Inspired\/dp\/0525951865\/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1304569902&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Dewey's Nine Lives: The Legacy of the Small-Town Library Cat Who Inspired Millions<\/a> <br \/>by Vicki Myron, with Bret Witter <br \/><br \/>This book is a follow-up to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Dewey-Small-Town-Library-Touched-World\/dp\/0446407429\/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1304570983&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Dewey: The Small-Town Library Cat Who Touched the World<\/a> by the same authors.  The original Dewey book generated so much reader feedback (more cat stories) that the authors felt compelled to publish a follow-up.  Each chapter features a different cat & human story.  Some stories are more fascinating than others.  I liked this book, and the original Dewey book, because I can only love cats when they don't have their dander to activate my allergies.  <br \/><br \/>You should read this book if:<br \/><ul><br \/><li>You like stories about people and their pets<br \/><li>You like stories about pet rescues (specifically cats)<br \/><li>You like cats<br \/><li>You are a crazy cat person<br \/><li>You are on your way to becoming a crazy cat person.<br \/><\/ul><br \/><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Magnetic-North-Notes-Arctic-Circle\/dp\/0374200130\/ref=pd_sim_b_1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">The Magnetic North: Notes from the Arctic Circle<\/a><br \/>by Sara Wheeler <br \/><br \/>I had previously read <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Terra-Incognita-Antarctica-Sara-Wheeler\/dp\/0375753389\/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&amp;ie=UTF8&amp;qid=1304570420&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Terra Incognita: Travels in Antarctica<\/a>.  I thought that since I really enjoyed the author's book about Antarctica, I would surely enjoy her book about the Arctic Circle.  The result?  No... not so much.  <br \/><br \/>Terra Incognita had the appeal of covering the topic closest to exploring new worlds without having to go off planet (that, or deep sea exploration).  Magnetic North has chapters on multiple countries that have territories within the Arctic Circle and instead of exploration and scientific discovery (as was the case in Terra Incognita), the common thread in Magnetic North is that outsiders came to the Arctic Circle, screwed up the lives of the indigenous people there, are exploiting the Arctic Circle's natural resources (oil) and are also dumping radioactive waste in the Arctic Circle (well, just the Russians).  It's depressing.  <br \/><br \/>Another issue I have with Magnetic North is that while it also has historical segments like Terra Incognita, I felt that it was incorporated into Terra Incognita's material more efficiently.  Magnetic North had me wondering if an editor ever saw the book before it was published.  <br \/><br \/>Read Terra Incognita; skip The Magnetic North unless you are an Arctic Circle fanatic and\/or enjoy reading stories about Arctic expeditions gone bad as characterised by shoe-eating for survival or worse.<br \/><br \/><hr><br \/><br \/><a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Dirty-Sexy-Politics-Meghan-McCain\/dp\/1401323774\/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&amp;s=books&amp;qid=1304570486&amp;sr=1-1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Dirty Sexy Politics<\/a> by Meghan McCain <br \/><br \/>YES I READ A BOOK BY A REPUBLICAN OH LORD WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME <br \/><br \/>Several months ago, I saw Meghan McCain brave an appearance on The Daily Show in order to promote this book.  Jon Stewart showed no mercy and Meghan McCain definitely had an above average giggle rate for a Daily Show guest, but she handled it pretty well, considering she's neither a politician nor some \"celebrity\".  I developed some sympathy for her when she mentioned how people on the campaign trail were coaching her on how to look less like a stripper, in spite of having a pregnant teenager on the campaign as well.  When I saw this on the shelf at the library, I figured, why not?<br \/><br \/>Given the book's rather low page count and eyestrain-friendly line spacing, this book could easily be at home in the Teen\/Young Adult sections of a library.  More than once, she mentions that she likes wearing dresses with tights or leggings and loves her UGG boots (yes, she mentions the specific brand).  For almost every key moment she mentions in the book she also recalls what outfit she had on, sometimes down to the designer; for example when she and her mother met Mrs. Bush and her daughter(s) she wore a Dianne von Furstenburg dress with Tory Burch shoes and oh god why do I remember this crap. *slams head on desk*<br \/><br \/>McCain mentions right off the bat that she is not a highly political person, which is no surprise to anyone who has seen her during the 2008 election coverage.  She complains that people call her a RINO---Republican in Name Only, even though the only political statements she made in the book center around \"being raised to appreciate freedom\".  Yes, she likes freedom, which covers having gay friends, supporting gay marriage, supporting contraception as a pro-choice strategy...I could totally see why they call her a RINO.  She expresses her disapproval of the current Republican \"groupthink\" which eschews freedom and discloses that she originally registered to vote Independent, since she became of voting age when Bush was president (...I don't blame her).  <br \/><br \/>Fun fact: After her father lost the election, she got out of a speeding ticket in Arizona by saying \"I'm sorry, my father just lost the presidential election.\"  She also played a lot of Rock Band.","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/348908.html?view=comments#comments","category":"books"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/347673.html","pubDate":"Mon, 14 Feb 2011 22:04:29 GMT","title":"Writer's Block: Hit the road, Cupid","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/347673.html","description":"<lj-template name=\"qotd\" lang=\"en_GB\"><br \/><br \/>I don't \"celebrate\" it, but I wouldn't eliminate it either because it provides an excellent outlet for lulz from all demographics, whether they \"celebrate\" it or not.<br \/><br \/>(Tomorrow: I'm going to buy chocolate as if I were preparing to meet with Dementors.)","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/347673.html?view=comments#comments","category":"writer's block"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/345571.html","pubDate":"Thu, 02 Sep 2010 04:50:03 GMT","title":"Your Moment of Zen","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/345571.html","description":"<lj-embed id=\"27\" \/>","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/345571.html?view=comments#comments","category":["holy shit a post that's not about grad s","geekery"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/345219.html","pubDate":"Thu, 26 Aug 2010 08:31:59 GMT","title":"What tinhat?","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/345219.html","description":"<lj-embed id=\"26\" \/><p>Oh, Robbie, why are you releasing another Greatest Hits collection?  Good thing I have my sources in Canadia... <\/p>","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/345219.html?view=comments#comments","category":"music"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/344634.html","pubDate":"Thu, 29 Jul 2010 06:36:19 GMT","title":"Yep, Glenn was NOT amused.","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/344634.html","description":"<a href=\"http:\/\/decibelmagazine.com\/Content.aspx?ncid=379542\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Danzig's Response to Henry & Glenn Forever: He is not amused, thank you very much.<\/a><br \/><br \/>If I knew about this before Comic-Con, I would've asked one of my peeps at Comic-Con to pick me up a copy of the <a href=\"http:\/\/iwilldestroyyounews.blogspot.com\/2010\/07\/final-blow.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">commemorative reaction comic<\/a> poster.  Oh well.<br \/><br \/>\"Has Glenn seen this?  Trust me, he would NOT be amused.\" As if anyone would have doubted Henry Rollins.  I wonder if Hall & Oates know of the comic, where they are depicted as Satanists?<br \/><br \/>On a completely unrelated note, I have watched Generation Kill, thanks to <span  class=\"ljuser  i-ljuser  i-ljuser-type-P     \"  data-ljuser=\"penguinparity\" lj:user=\"penguinparity\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/penguinparity.livejournal.com\/profile\/\"  target=\"_self\"  class=\"i-ljuser-profile\" ><img  class=\"i-ljuser-userhead\"  src=\"https:\/\/l-stat.livejournal.net\/img\/userinfo_v8.png?v=17080&v=915\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/penguinparity.livejournal.com\/\" class=\"i-ljuser-username\"   target=\"_self\"   ><b>penguinparity<\/b><\/a><\/span>'s suggestion\/insistence\/coercion by lending me her bluray discs.  I was surprised I liked it, and I was even more surprised that I liked <a href=\"http:\/\/books.google.com\/books?id=Jl9KLjKtYYYC&amp;lpg=PP1&amp;ots=nCjSjr1JIa&amp;dq=one%20bullet%20away%20fick&amp;pg=PP1#v=onepage&amp;q&amp;f=false\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\"><i>One Bullet Away<\/i><\/a> by Nathaniel Fick (the one who isn't Stark Sands, herp derp).  I've thought about borrowing the Generation Kill book from the library, but I'm worried that combination might activate some weird government KoolAid in my brain... OR if I do complete the combo, it would make up for mainlining all of the Sookeh Stackhouse\/True Blood novels, which was my apology to the literary gods for having read Twilight.  Yeeeah, that makes perfect sense.<br \/><br \/>I should really read something more profound, like 2666 by Roberto Bola\u00f1o or read some more Umberto Eco, but the urge to do silly things during the summer months is hard to resist.","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/344634.html?view=comments#comments","category":["my sweet fascist","books","music"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/344105.html","pubDate":"Sat, 08 May 2010 10:53:58 GMT","title":"Daryl and John live next door. They are satanists.","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/344105.html","description":"I am torn between wanting to go from comics shop to comics shop looking for <a href=\"http:\/\/microcosmpublishing.com\/catalog\/zines\/3174\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">this comic book<\/a> (<a href=\"http:\/\/community.livejournal.com\/ohnotheydidnt\/46629183.html\" target=\"_blank\">found out about it on ONTD<\/a>) or just ordering it through the safe anonymity of the Internet.  Considering I don't really know any comics shops around here (at least one that doesn't have a considerable amount of stock that's not Marvel\/DC\/Image), I might go the Internet way.<br \/><br \/>Basically, yes, it's published RPF in graphic novel form and having it feature Rollins and Danzig made me LOL but what REALLY made me want it is how they've set it up with Hall & Oates as their evil next-door neighbours.  I mean, read this synopsis and just try to talk me out of getting this book:<br \/><blockquote><br \/>Starring super-notorious musclebound punk\/metaldudes Glenn Danzig and Henry Rollins (with a little help from super-notorious soft-rockdudes Hall and Oates) Henry & Glenn Forever is a love story to end all love stories! The premise of this Cantankerous Titles-released comic is explained at the front of the zine: \u201cHenry and Glenn are very good 'friends.' They are also 'room mates.' <b>Daryl and John live next door. They are satanists.\u201d What follows is ultra-metal violence and cryfest diary entries, cringing self-doubt and mega-hilarious emo-meltdowns.<\/b>  Who knew Danzig was such a vulnerable, self-conscious sweety-pie? Who knew Rollins was such a caring spouse? Who knew Hall and Oates were so infernally evil\u2014yet so considerate? Well, illustrating\/writing team Igloo Tornado (featuring super-awesome comixdude Tom Neely) did and they kicked down 64 fully-illustrated pages with it. Genius on all fronts. <b>Terrifyingly cute. Cutely terrifying. As the real-life Rollins says, quoted on the back cover, \u201cHas Glenn seen this? Trust me, he would not be impressed.\u201d <\/b><br \/><\/blockquote><br \/>(emphasis mine)<br \/><br \/>Man, I am so overdue for that Hall & Oates post I've been planning for a few months now.<br \/><br \/>In the meantime, enjoy this, erm, mashuparody.<br \/><br \/><lj-embed id=\"21\" \/>","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/344105.html?view=comments#comments","category":["books","music"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/343941.html","pubDate":"Tue, 04 May 2010 04:31:24 GMT","title":"Hurra Torpedo!","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/343941.html","description":"There was a <a href=\"http:\/\/community.livejournal.com\/ohnotheydidnt\/46496980.html\" target=\"_blank\">post on ONTD Prime that featured the Glee cover for Total Eclipse of the Heart<\/a>.  I can tolerate it, but I had to chime in with my ALL-TIME FAVOURITE cover of Total Eclipse of the Heart, the version by The Dan Band:<br \/><lj-embed id=\"19\" \/><br \/><a name='cutid1-end'><\/a><br \/><br \/>Someone <a href=\"http:\/\/community.livejournal.com\/ohnotheydidnt\/46496980.html?thread=7688412884#t7688412884\" target=\"_blank\">responded<\/a> with a video by some Norwegian band named Hurra Tornado, where the instrumentation consisted of an electric guitar and pounding on household appliances.  (Video NSFW if your work does not approve of buttcracks and simulated intercourse with\/violence against household appliances.)<br \/><lj-embed id=\"20\" \/><br \/><br \/>My brain auto-corrected by sprinkling the song with profanities, Dan Band-style, but still, I've since gotten sucked in and watched their covers of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=MuZwnC9rB-A\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">All the Things She Said<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=vtBxDmQU0Ig\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Toxic<\/a>.  Those long Norwegian winters... they do weird yet awesome things to humans...","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/343941.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/343446.html","pubDate":"Tue, 06 Apr 2010 23:59:24 GMT","title":"How to Write a Nicholas Sparks Book\/Movie","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/343446.html","description":"<a href=\"http:\/\/www.cracked.com\/funny-4725-nicholas-sparks\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Nicholas Sparks stated that he has no contemporaries. No one else does what he does. He writes unpredictable love stories, not trashy run-of-the-mill romance novels like Shakespeare.<\/a><br \/><br \/>The huge image at the top of the article pretty much sums up everything.  Yeah, the link has \"SPOILERS\" but if you like Nicholas Sparks books\/movies, you shouldn't be clicking on that link anyway.  <br \/><br \/>I remember activating ninja mode whenever people started <s>talking<\/s>raving about The Notebook when it first came out.  I'm so meh about it.","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/343446.html?view=comments#comments","category":["wtf","books","argh"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/343072.html","pubDate":"Fri, 02 Apr 2010 06:48:41 GMT","title":"Dammit, children.  I am disappoint. :[","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/343072.html","description":"Someone posted this image on the recent <span  class=\"ljuser  i-ljuser  i-ljuser-type-C     \"  data-ljuser=\"ontd_startrek\" lj:user=\"ontd_startrek\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/ontd-startrek.livejournal.com\/profile\/\"  target=\"_self\"  class=\"i-ljuser-profile\" ><img  class=\"i-ljuser-userhead\"  src=\"https:\/\/l-stat.livejournal.net\/img\/community.png?v=556&v=915\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/ontd-startrek.livejournal.com\/\" class=\"i-ljuser-username\"   target=\"_self\"   ><b>ontd_startrek<\/b><\/a><\/span> Party Post:<br \/><img src=\"https:\/\/imgprx.livejournal.net\/cf3f7e35e21bb753e791e68143be7c8e607fd706e9a1d8eb5f4eac462a3a288e\/P2WlxyVijxKgh2tq_slQU0Mdsf-ah7h01hrQCaZagcnD-huals6oRxhyVkxgERQ_vFJS3iA:LKwH6CfAmhnXFQMaHg9Jag\" fetchpriority=\"high\"><br \/>Of course <a href=\"http:\/\/community.livejournal.com\/ontd_startrek\/1230898.html?thread=155190834&amp;style=mine#t155190834\" target=\"_blank\">someone asks for more info<\/a> about it because they don't entirely get it, but apparently, I don't entirely get it as well.  I know the words are from \"Always\" by Erasure, but <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=97qQi5_sNBQ\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Robot Unicorn Attack<\/a>?  Really?<br \/><br \/>I'm going to go back into my cave with all the other old people, and listen to Always until the rage fades.<br \/><lj-embed id=\"18\" \/>","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/343072.html?view=comments#comments","category":["wtf","argh"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/342098.html","pubDate":"Tue, 09 Mar 2010 06:51:18 GMT","title":"WonderCon?","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/342098.html","description":"Kids, who's going to WonderCon?<br \/><br \/>For your time:<br \/><lj-embed id=\"17\" \/>","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/342098.html?view=comments#comments","category":["my sweet fascist","lolhayward"]},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/340064.html","pubDate":"Mon, 21 Dec 2009 04:01:19 GMT","title":"Christmas Songs","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/340064.html","description":"These may not be Christmas\/Holiday songs to you, but they are to me.  When I think of Christmas songs, these pop into my head, either to fill in quiet space or block out preexisting Christmas songs; quite useful when in a store.<br \/><br \/><lj-embed id=\"14\" \/><br \/><br \/><lj-embed id=\"15\" \/><br \/><br \/>A more traditional one: <br \/><lj-embed id=\"16\" \/>","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/340064.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/339964.html","pubDate":"Fri, 11 Dec 2009 08:44:04 GMT","title":"Rainy days and finals always get me down~","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/339964.html","description":"<img src=\"https:\/\/img.photobucket.com\/albums\/v495\/oberstein\/lulz\/zach_icecream_pug.gif\" alt=\"This image pretty much sums up how I feel right now.  Srsly.\" fetchpriority=\"high\">","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/339964.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/339478.html","pubDate":"Wed, 09 Dec 2009 08:55:52 GMT","title":"Google Wave for Hermits","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/339478.html","description":"Who has been living under a rock and has not yet received a Google Wave invite?<br \/><br \/>Leave me your email address in a comment and I will give you one.","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/339478.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/337452.html","pubDate":"Sat, 05 Sep 2009 12:39:28 GMT","title":"Like spotting a shiny, red, and angular unicorn!","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/337452.html","description":"I was driving the last 3 hours of the drive to La Mesa, therefore I am now too wired to sleep.  I love how wonderfully light traffic is through Southern California between 2-5 in the morning.  I can coast at 80 in the #2 lane and yet there's always someone going faster.  <br \/><br \/>Around Dana Point, this red NSX with xenon HID headlights and a chrome exhaust showed up.  It was beeeeaaaaaauuuuutiiiiifuuuul.  It stayed in the #3 lane while I stayed in the #2 lane behind it (at varying safe distances given speed\/slope\/the huge mass differences between our vehicles).  Unfortunately a CHP cruiser pulled in around the vista point north of Oceanside, which I blame for why the NSX hurriedly exited to the following rest stop.<br \/><br \/>I feel like going out for carne asada fries, but I don't want to have to wake people up again just so I can borrow a car\/someone can lock the door behind me.  Meh.","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/337452.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/336423.html","pubDate":"Thu, 02 Jul 2009 18:06:40 GMT","title":"How to know if you\u2019re reading a bad book","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/336423.html","description":"The full list can be found <a href=\"http:\/\/blogs.feministsf.net\/?p=1028\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">here<\/a>.<br \/><br \/>My favorite indicator is probably:<br \/><i>Do your characters experience instantaneous mind-blowing attraction that causes them to act in increasingly stupid ways so that the plot moves forward because only mind-numbing lust could possibly justify how ridiculously moronic the otherwise lethal\/professional\/intelligent characters are suddenly acting? If so, you might be reading a Bad Book.<\/i><br \/>*coughcoughTwicoughlightcoughcough*<br \/><br \/>This one comes in at a close second:<br \/><i>If your main characters spend a great deal of time early in the book thinking about their respective Frozen Insides and Hardened Hearts, then meet each other, and suddenly it\u2019s like someone put the microwave on thaw and Unchained Melody on the radio, you might be reading a Bad Book.<\/i>","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/336423.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/336291.html","pubDate":"Wed, 24 Jun 2009 03:04:37 GMT","title":"Not a spoiler, but still amusing","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/336291.html","description":"On page 265 of \"<a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Let-Me-John-Ajvide-Lindqvist\/dp\/0312355289\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Let Me In<\/a>\" (the novel version of <a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt1139797\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">L\u00e5t den r\u00e4tte komma in\/Let the Right One In<\/a>), a group of kids on public transportation were singing \"Habba-Habba-soudd-soudd!\", otherwise known to geriatric anime fans as the song used in that old but awesome AMV, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=OIM2dV9R7fA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Jinnai and the Bugrom<\/a>.<br \/><br \/>I guess it makes sense, since the novel takes place during 1981 in Sweden, and the song was made by the two guys from ABBA after the group split up.","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/336291.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/335865.html","pubDate":"Thu, 04 Jun 2009 05:58:50 GMT","title":"Inappropriate topics at Teastation...","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/335865.html","description":"...seems to be one of my Special Skills, in addition to failing as a Token, hehehehehe.  (\"Is this for drinking or a fingerbowl?\"  \"I don't know!\")<br \/><br \/>It was good to get out and see <span  class=\"ljuser  i-ljuser  i-ljuser-deleted  i-ljuser-type-P     \"  data-ljuser=\"zeonchar\" lj:user=\"zeonchar\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/zeonchar.livejournal.com\/profile\/\"  target=\"_self\"  class=\"i-ljuser-profile\" ><img  class=\"i-ljuser-userhead\"  src=\"https:\/\/l-stat.livejournal.net\/img\/userinfo_v8.png?v=17080&v=915\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/zeonchar.livejournal.com\/\" class=\"i-ljuser-username\"   target=\"_self\"   ><b>zeonchar<\/b><\/a><\/span> (we are in the same city instead of switching up La Mesa and Hayward...again) and <span  class=\"ljuser  i-ljuser  i-ljuser-type-P     \"  data-ljuser=\"suedeheadspike\" lj:user=\"suedeheadspike\" ><a href=\"https:\/\/suedeheadspike.livejournal.com\/profile\/\"  target=\"_self\"  class=\"i-ljuser-profile\" ><img  class=\"i-ljuser-userhead\"  src=\"https:\/\/l-stat.livejournal.net\/img\/userinfo_v8.png?v=17080&v=915\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/suedeheadspike.livejournal.com\/\" class=\"i-ljuser-username\"   target=\"_self\"   ><b>suedeheadspike<\/b><\/a><\/span> (who I haven't seen since Not So Silent Night '08 because of my hermitness).  I also learned of a way to make a Bidoof useful: Turn it into a BIDOUCHE!","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/335865.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/333722.html","pubDate":"Thu, 19 Mar 2009 05:43:42 GMT","title":"Extreme Sheep LED Art","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/333722.html","description":"I have no words.<br \/><br \/><lj-embed id=\"13\" \/>","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/333722.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/332956.html","pubDate":"Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:43:48 GMT","title":"Scented candles on crack","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/332956.html","description":"For a mere $45, you could get a candle that smells like <a href=\"http:\/\/www.assouline.com\/gifts\/details.php?idproduct=485&amp;id_mere=3&amp;idcategory=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">old books<\/a>, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.assouline.com\/gifts\/details.php?idproduct=486&amp;id_mere=3&amp;idcategory=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">wooden shelves<\/a>, or if you're feeling upscale, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.assouline.com\/gifts\/details.php?idproduct=487&amp;id_mere=3&amp;idcategory=20\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">leather armchairs<\/a>.<br \/><br \/>Assouline, wtf?!","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/332956.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/330579.html","pubDate":"Wed, 21 Jan 2009 09:58:24 GMT","title":"Ask a Conchord!","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/330579.html","description":"<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bust.com\/blog\/2009\/01\/16\/ask-a-conchord.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">No, seriously.<\/a>  It ends this Sunday:<br \/><i>Does your ideal man have a New Zealand accent, occasionally wear an eyepatch because David Bowie suggested it, answer to Hiphopopotamus, or call getting it on \u2018business time\u2019? Yeah, us too. Which is why we\u2019ve asked the world\u2019s most crush-worthiest duo, Flight of the Conchords, to kick down some knowledge in the love department. Whether you\u2019re a Breterosexual, a Jemainiac, or split your allegiance equally, our favorite funny folksters can no doubt offer nuggets of wisdom for all of your relationship woes. So ask a Conchord! Bret and Jemaine will be answering your questions about love in BUST\u2019s April\/May issue. Send your requests for advice to askaconchord@bust.com by Sunday, January 25. The doctors are in!<\/i><br \/><br \/>I am so buying that issue.","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/330579.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/328505.html","pubDate":"Wed, 17 Dec 2008 10:03:35 GMT","title":"Must not judge by cover...","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/328505.html","description":"The December issue of <i>american libraries<\/i>* came in the mail today.  Laura Bush is on the cover.  I feel kinda dirty holding this issue...<br \/><br \/><small>*The Magazine of the American Library Association<\/small>","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/328505.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/328412.html","pubDate":"Fri, 12 Dec 2008 10:20:28 GMT","title":"Not So Silent Night '08","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/328412.html","description":"I went with James, Jason and Tim to NSSN at Oakland\/Oracle Arena.  The acoustics of the place was pretty bad.  The ceiling is convex and has ridges, creating all sorts of funky echoing.  As a result, Franz sounded off and Death Cab sounded just plain awful.  By the end of Death Cab's set, Ben Gibbard just gave up trying to stay in tune.  Bloc Party sounded like their guitars were off the beat for some songs, it was echoing that much for certain frequencies.<br \/><br \/>After Death Cab's first song or so, Ben Gibbard told the crowd that crowd surfing in 2008 means \"You're a DICK!\"  Is it bad that my reaction was: Wait, how the hell can someone crowd surf to Death Cab?!  I don't think Death Cab was meant for arena shows.<br \/><br \/><br \/>Bloc Party's set list, from what I can remember and\/or ID:<br \/>- One Month Off<br \/>- Halo<br \/>- Hunting for Witches<br \/>- Signs (James, this is the one you liked but I couldn't remember the song title of)<br \/>- Song for Clay (Disappear Here)<br \/>- Banquet<br \/>- This Modern Love<br \/>- Flux<br \/>- Helicopter","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/328412.html?view=comments#comments","category":"concert"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/327682.html","pubDate":"Sat, 06 Dec 2008 21:36:16 GMT","title":"srs karaoke bsns, srsly","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/327682.html","description":"<a href=\"http:\/\/www.nydailynews.com\/news\/us_world\/2008\/12\/05\/2008-12-05_man_stabbed_to_death_for_refusing_to_tur.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">Man stabbed to death for refusing to turn over karaoke microphone<\/a><br \/><br \/>Oh man, why am I laughing. &gt;_&gt;;","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/327682.html?view=comments#comments"},{"guid":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/327095.html","pubDate":"Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:13:37 GMT","title":"How to tell if your cat is plotting to kill you.","author":"oberstein","link":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/327095.html","description":"<br \/><img src=\"https:\/\/imgprx.livejournal.net\/428c38d321b9f39c8a0f7cbcf5c99f9f03e92464517d3703ef97a4ce4cdb2ff5\/P2WlxyVijxKgh2tq_slQU0Mdsf-ah7h0yFmVCbFSm8Pc_RXVh9LrC0UrT1V-EAJyt1ZFkDLKLQlVGhAR:i_5REmbKHbz2otdqJ02Uww\" height=\"1600\" width=\"517\" alt=\"How to tell if your cat is plotting to kill you.\" fetchpriority=\"high\">","comments":"https:\/\/oberstein.livejournal.com\/327095.html?view=comments#comments"}]}}