"Run a web search on the phrase "American Dream" sometime. You'll get nine million hits, and 95% of them are for real estate. Three percent are for strippers."


courtesy: davidruffinbbfaq.ourfamily.com/leon.jpg

Posted by William @ 5/07/2009 12:39:00 AM
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"I ****ed a mermaid!"




So, since around Thanksgiving, I've been stockpiling a shitload of mp3 albums I've come across in my blog travels. Half the stuff I'd never even care about were it not free. I'm finding some pretty good gems out there, but there are also quite a few misses. Man can't live by song parodies and Watchmen reviews alone, so I figured I'd share some of these finds with you. Today's target is Soul, the latest album from Seal. Released in time for the Christmas rush, Soul is 12 tracks of Seal paying homage to the soul stars of yesteryear. The joke's on the listener, though, as we find out that Seal's got NO SOUL. Yeah, I couldn't believe it either. I mean, the thing just should have been better. It's produced by David Foster, for God's sake! That guy shits Top 40 Adult Contemporary gold. He's the Timbaland of the former yuppie set. Yet, even he couldn't save this train wreck of a tribute album. Plainly put, Soul seems more like it was rushed together to fulfill a contractual obligation than a display of any real effort on Seal's part. You know you're in a bad situation when you find yourself thinking, "Michael Bolton would've been so much better on this CD". Yup, it's like that. Anyway, I figured I should probably take you on a track-by-track exploration of its few hits and more numerous misses.

Posted by William @ 3/29/2009 08:54:00 PM
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"Who Watches the Watchmen?"

Apparently, I do, as well as thousands of other folks this weekend. What did I think of the movie? Well, in order to fully understand my stance on the movie, let's first discuss my views on the comic.

In terms of the graphic novel, Time magazine (parent company: Time-Warner, also parent to Watchmen publisher, DC Comics) lists Watchmen amongst the "100 Greatest Novels of All Time". I feel that the good folks over at Time clearly haven't read many novels. If anything, they read a bunch of random novels, stopped at 100, and said, "Well, there's our list". That's the only explanation. Watchmen is one of the most overrated, most pretentious comic events of the last 30 years. It ushered in an age of "grim and gritty" storytelling that the industry has yet to shake. I don't blame Alan Moore, as the story is fine on its own - I blame the legion of creators who kept going back to the well on it. I have more of a problem with the "phenomenon" than the actual book.

Now, don't get me wrong: the storytelling in the pre-Watchmen era was nothing to write home about, but it was simple escapist fantasy of good vs. evil. That dichotomy might be unrealistic, but so's the idea of a radiation overdose producing anything other than terminal cancer. The "darkening effect" was gradual, but it has reached almost all corners of the industry by now, making books more mature than they necessarily need to be. For example, Spider-Man's #2 villain (depending on when/who you ask), Venom, used to constantly pursue him, yelling, "Spider-Man, I want to eat your brain!" We didn't know why he was so obsessed with brain-eating (he was an alien, so maybe human brain was a delicacy), but all we had to know was that Spidey better hightail it 'cause that motherfucker's coming after his brain! Nowadays, it's all "Spider-Man, I want to rape your wife and fuck up your 401K!" Watchmen is the creepy old guy in the windowless van who scared kids away from comics. Sure, adults still buy the things, but kids don't go anywhere near them. Alan Moore has realized the effect that the story had on the industry, and he has stated that he regrets that people saw the need to copycat what he had done. If anything, he wanted to show that the medium could be used in new ways, but he didn't expect the work to generate this pall over every 4-color wonder being published by the majors.

I also feel that Watchmen, like the Beatles, gains a lot of weight from the era in which it was produced (We'll table that Beatles discussion for another time...). I'm only 27 years old, so I can admit that I didn't read it when it was originally published. For those fanboys who remember cracking open the latest issue as the credits rolled on the latest episode of The A-Team, I salute you. You actually lived in the Cold War era, and knew what it was like to live day-to-day, wondering if "the Reds" were gonna launch the bomb at any given moment. I read this book in post-9/11 world, so I couldn't relate to a lot of the political climate. After all, my first trip away from home was Russia, so I've always thought of them as friends. Naive, I know, but that was brought into my "Watchmen Experience". Sure, we're scared of terrorists, but nothing on a serious nuclear level in recent years. Anyway, I'm a comic fanboy, so when they make movies about our heroes, I must attend. I just needed to describe the attitude that I took with me into the theater.

So, Watchmen's a movie now, huh? Well, it's more like the world's longest music video. Don't get me wrong - it's beautiful and stylistic, but it's shallow and lacks feeling. It vacillates between wanting to be some hippies' art school film project about the dangers of nuclear war and a really bad Cinemax soft-core porn movie where they forgot to put in the sex scenes (for the first hour and 45 minutes, that is). I figure they probably didn't want to muddy up the thing with "household names", but I couldn't care less about that cast comprised mostly of nobody actors. For example, Malin Ackerman's wooden performance just drives home the Cinemax comparison, and the only thing her sweet ass brings to the movie is, well, her sweet ass. And what's the deal with her posing? Every time she's onscreen, she strikes a pose, like her exposure to comics is from reading nothing but books "drawn" by Greg Land. At ease, princess - you're in an alley, not the top of Mount Rushmore.

One thing that's apparent from the beginning is the violence. You know, I hate to sound all "Joe Lieberman", but the violence in this movie did absolutely nothing for me. I am, by no means, conservative in my lust for cinematic violence. I love explosions and the like so much I secretly dream that Michael Bay's my real daddy. That said, I'm so sick of movies where it's clear that the director majored in Matrix 101. The whole "slow it down and then speed it up" fight scene is fast becoming the most tired technique of the genre. Plus, explain this to me: The Comedian has no powers, so I don't care how intense this fight is, how the fuck is he punching through marble?! There was not a single fight scene where I thought, "Wow, that was kickass!" Instead, there was a lot of "That was stiff and remiscent of Charlie's Angels". All of the fights were played out like choreographed dances, where it appeared that the actors were counting off in their heads. Even the mega "Crime Alley Gang Fight" with Nite Owl and Silk Spectre failed to stun me. How the hell is this bookworm breaking that thug's arm like that? Who the fuck is this guy? Where did that come from?

My second problem was that the movie failed to ever bring me into the world it was attempting to establish. There are too many variables I'm forced to deal with. Why is it that whenever they have on their costumes, it just seems like one really long Halloween party that won't end? Maybe that was the point in the story, but Watchmen points out just how stupid people look when they dress up in an attempt to fight crime. These people look like idiots! You get a hint of that when the original Nite Owl is talking about how the old cops just decided to dress up and fight the crazy criminals who'd decided to dress up. They felt stupid doing it, but I feel that this is the first comic movie where, intentionally or perhaps not, that same stupidity and shame is felt by the audience. I mean, I feel it had to be intentional, seeing as how Ozymandias had the Schumacher Nipples on his costume.

Also, what was up with the music? A movie like this is begging for a score, by a professional like Hans Zimmer. If not him, at least Harry Gregson-Williams. Instead, they took the Wonder Years approach, digging up any "snapshot in time" song that you'd find on a Time-Life infomercial. Oh, there's Time-Warner again. Do I smell synergy/product placement? Seriously, the only cute hat-tip, musically, was the Muzak version of "Everybody Wants To Rule the World playing as Lee Iacocca and the rest of the auto industry fatcats get their asses handed to them by Adrian Veidt.

Where I will give them credit, as far as the setting, is that they faithfully captured the shittiness of 1980s NYC. Since the Disneyfication of Times Square, I think many have forgotten how dangerous that place used to be. These days, thanks to Sex and the City and "Must-See TV", New York is all shopping and cocktails. Not so in the '80s. Back then, you were always around the corner from a potential Beat It reenactment, only those fuckers weren't interested in dancing with their wrists tied together. New York City is currently enjoying the "Metropolis phase" of its existence after surviving its "Gotham phase" of the '80s. Also, while not a scene featuring the aforementioned danger, the most "1985" scene of the whole movie was the date between Nite Owl and Silk Spectre - his Clark Griswold-meets-Egon Spengler portrayal was spot on for any movie of that era. How could you not love, yet at the same time feel sorry for, that guy?

While we're talking about how "1985" the movie was or wasn't, let's get this out of the way. ***SPOILER ALERT***

Anybody who's seen an action movie from the 1980's knows that the White guy with the nondescript European accent is ALWAYS the villain. I mean, DAMN! Sure, most fanboys have read the book and knew the villain going in, but the '80s villain characteristics they gave Ozymandias in the movie aren't necessarily expressed in the book. It's like they got hamfisted with it. They should've just called this Super Die Hard.


***END SPOILER***

Oh, and remember back when I mentioned the whole soft-core of Cinemaxian proportions? Yeah, well, at about the 1 HR, 45-minute mark, we're treated to the most uncomfortable soft-core sex scene between a guy I'd never want to see naked and a chick whose acting career is only going to be sustained by her showing off that ass every chance she gets. My God, was that some bad sex! Where the Hell did that even come from?! Yes, the act is in the book, but what was that? I swear, this thing made Emmanuelle in Space look like goddamn Citizen Kane!

OK, Will, so what did you like? I've got to say, huge blue penis aside, I most enjoyed the Dr. Manhattan story. From his detachment from humanity to his origin story to his self-imposed exile in space, I could've watched a whole movie about only him and been fine. Sure, the CG was hokey at times, and there was a LOT of blue penis (shit, if I had those powers, I wouldn't wear pants either. I just got nuked for my country. You're gonna look at this Smurf dong and like it!), but his tragic story was the most human element of the whole movie. He also looks better when you consider that everyone around him sucks more than he does. He supposedly lacks humanity, while the rest of the Watchmen take theirs for granted. Ozymandias is above everyone. Rorschach's unwashed, killing child molesters and biting bullies. Silk Spectre is a hanger-on, while Nite Owl was always too scared to live - his fear kept him boring. Don't get me started on The Comedian... Maybe Dr. Manhattan's the Data of the story, but he's probably the most blameless character in the whole thing. For most of the movie, that is. Then you get to the ending.

Oh, the ending. I was fine with how they did it. That whole squid ending in the comic never made much sense to me, and this ending was probably just as believable as that was. I was just glad that the thing was over. My friend, Jay, once said that the projects that he writes are those where the asshole always wins in the end. His reasoning is that if you're smarter and want it more, there's no reason that evil can't triumph over good. With that in mind, Watchmen is his kind of movie. Again, this isn't a criticism of the story, per se. It had its time and its place. As I've said before, I'm fine with the Watchmen Story, I just have a problem with the Watchmen Legacy. Just as many comic creators took the worst parts from the story and used them in their own attempts to "modernize" some Golden Age hero, Zack Snyder took all of the worst aspects of the action movie genre in an attempt to film what was never meant to be filmed. To keep with the '80s theme, in the words of the immortal Hall & Oates, "I can't go for that".

Posted by William @ 3/08/2009 07:30:00 PM
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"Gib mir nocht zeit..."

Dear Mom,
I hate it here at Camp Teeheehaha. I wish you were here. Or at least, I wish you could kiss me thru the phone or something. I'm a big boy, and I know I need to pull it together. It just feels like I've been here forever!

It rained yesterday, and I got caught in it without my umbrella.

My bunkmate, Teddy, just came down with Stanky Leg, and the nurse thinks he should be sent home. I feel bad for the guy 'cause all he wants to do is just dance. They think he got it from jumping out the windows or something.

Then, there's crazy Amy from the cabin across the lake. She's crazy, mom! This morning, we woke up to find that she'd spraypainted "My Life Would Suck Without You" on the wall of our cabin! Crazy! Everybody tells me that I'm being heartless, and that everyone needs a second chance. I told Tom, our counselor, "You gotta let me know if you see Amy, OK?!" All the other kids seem to think this is some kinda of funny love story. I swear this place is a circus! Then, Amy's bunkmate, Katy, keeps leaving me notes saying things like, "I'm Yours". All the older guys are calling me a "womanizer", whatever that is.

Next Saturday is the Let It Rock and Roll dance, and I know Teddy's gonna hate to miss that. All of the single ladies are supposed to ask the guys, buy you know how yucky I think girls are. It can't be all bad, though, as I hear there's gonna be a Sundae Bar with, like, 12 kinds of ice cream, and you can get whatever you like! It's gonna be awesome!

While Teddy was with the nurse, I opened a letter from his girlfriend. You know, she's older, and sometimes she writes really funny stuff in the letters. One time, she wrote 3 pages about how she's "untouched", and how she wanted Teddy to change that, whatever that means. This week, though, there was nothing juicy. Just a whole bunch of junk about how her dad is sober now. He checked into rehab or something. Good for him, I guess.

I just got back from a pretty intense game of Red Light/Green Light, so I'm kinda beat. I just wanted you to know that I'm thinking of you. I'm not mad or anything. Sometimes I just really miss you. I'm sorry, Mom - I hate this part. I know you've got to live your life, and I'll be back home before I know it. I can't wait to see you next Sunday for Parent Day!

Love,
Will

P.S. Please send me the latest issue of Miss Independent. I've gotta see if she finally defeats The Fray. Thanks!

Posted by William @ 3/06/2009 07:59:00 AM
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"All of the boys and all of the girls are begging to if you seek Amy"


So, I had another post lined up, but I had to push it aside to let the world know about a show that they should be watching:





In case it's not apparent, this is gonna be a "comic post", so only about 2 of you reading are gonna understand it, but that doesn't mean that you shouldnt try. Now, back to the show.

So, Wolverine and the X-Men. I didn't want to believe it either. I'm going to go out on a limb, though, and say that it's probably the best cartoon of the past 12 years (NOTE: For those keeping score at home, I'm dating back to Batman Beyond. Ben10 isn't as consistent as it should be, while I never liked Justice League as much as people said I should have). It's even better than the original Fox Kids X-Men. Yeah, I said it.

To fully understand why it's so good, you have to understand the failings of past X-Men shows. The original cartoon pilot, Pryde of the X-Men, is almost perfect. It's a snapshot of the team of the time, but it also featured the "core" team, AKA everyone who starred in that kickass arcade game. The thing even had Dazzler! The only real error of that pilot was that they made Wolverine Australian. Other than that, it holds its own against any other cartoon of the time, and seems like it would have been pretty true to the source material. It's biggest "fail" was that the series was never produced. Oh, and they called him "Mag-NET-o" (without the long "e").

Next, we have the Fox Kids show. Yes, everyone knows it's awesome. Unfortunately, the same thing that was a boon for the Pryde show was a shortcoming for the FK show: the team is a snapshot of the team at the time. Most people would say that wasn't a bad thing. After all, the show debuted in 1992, around the time of the launch of "Adjectiveless" X-Men #1, which sold 1,000,000 copies. It's true: I have a retailer-only hologram to prove it. So, the franchise was clearly at the height of it's popularity. Not bad for a series that spent half of the Seventies reprinting older stories just to stay afloat.

Despite the "required" members, like Wolverine, Cyclops, and Storm, you also got the fan favorites, such as Gambit, Rogue, and Jubilee. It's funny to watch that thing now because the first question I ask myself is "Where the Hell is Jubilee these days?" Sure, I know the answer, but it just goes to show how dated that lineup is. The problem with the makeup of the team is that the show was really striving to adapt classic X-Men stories, such as the Bishop/Cable dynamic, The Dark Phoenix Saga, and even Days of Future Past, yet most of the team wasn't even present for most of those classic events. The Dream Team of 1992 hadn't been assembled at the time of the franchise's most iconic storylines. So, you were left with Gambit and Beast being shoehorned into roles that didn't fit. Or, you had Xavier and Jean around with nothing to do.

Xavier has 2 purposes in the X-Men franchise: he's the father figure, and he has a rich history with Magneto. When that gets stale, they make him disappear (as the team works best without a father figure), and he comes back with the ability to walk. That is, until the use of his legs is taken away. It's as cyclical as the seasons. Recently, in the comics, they've tried to come up with a 3rd purpose: Xavier's secretly an asshole, and his motives weren't purely on-the-level or altruistic back when he first created the team. It's not that far-fetched, but it's a bit "too little, too late". Nothing quite like "dancing between the raindrops of continuity" when storylines get a bit weak. So, he really shouldn't have been present for that show, as he also wasn't present for most of those important storylines. Jean shouldn't have been in that show either, if for no other reason than the fact that no one has known what to do with that character *since* the Dark Phoenix Saga. Whenever you have a reboot/reimagining of the X-Men, Jean is merely present as you wait for the inevitable appearance of the Phoenix. Once that's done, her usefulness is over. The show lasted 5 seasons (the last of which featured animation so poor it looked like someone's high school project), and is considered a classic. I'm not trying to take anything away from it, but Batman: The Animated Series is a classic. X-Men is like really good karaoke: it might be really good, but it still ain't the real thing.

The less said about X-Men: Evolution the better. Sure, I know there are people out there who like it, but I don't feel that it ever really grasped the notion of the X-Men. Sure, it had characters who looked like, and shared the names of, popular X-Men, but I didn't feel it ever really "got" it. Not that it didn't have it's high points. After all, it introduced Wolverine's "sister", X-23, and it put the creative team of Kyle/Yost on the map who now not only write for the comics, but also are behind the new show, Wolverine and the X-Men. Again, the main problem with Evolution is the cast. The whole "some X-Men are gonna be students while some are gonna be adults" doesn't work. Don't keep some X-Men as adults, while de-aging others. If you want that concept, make it The New Mutants, and have the few adult X-Men leading some younger kids at the academy. Plus, it was always weird to me that the show aired on a network owned by the competition (The WB, aka Warner Bros, the corporate parent of DC Comics). I almost felt like the show sucked out of spite, like notes and suggestions were coming down from the network just to screw it over.

Now, we have Wolverine and the X-Men on Nicktoons. When I first heard of this show, I thought it was a terrible idea, mainly because Wolverine is more overexposed than young starlets' panties over the past 5 years. Plus, I didn't like the concept: Wolverine leading the X-Men. You know, I'd be all about a cartoon just featuring Wolverine, where we learn about his past and he goes on solo adventures, kinda like his comic series. But the notion that Wolverine was going to lead the team just seemed like exploitation of a brand. It was the comic/cartoon equivalent of "David Ruffin and the Temptations" - we know you're the star, but you don't have to be so egomanical about it. It's clear that this was meant to position him for the theatrical release of X-Men Origins: Wolverine, so I kinda gave Marvel a pass. Then, I really thought about it, and it's not that far-fetched of an idea, especially if you've seen X2: X-Men United. In that movie, Wolverine proved himself an effective leader when he had to help those kids get away from Striker in the mansion. Sure, he's a reluctant leader, but he really steps up to the challenge when forced. Fortunately, this is the Wolverine that we see here. He's been given a mission that he doesn't want, but he realizes someone's gotta do it. For those who don't know the set-up for the series, here we go. If you look closely, you'll immediately realize why I love this concept now:

When the show begins, the team is already exhibiting classic behavior, doing their thing in the Danger Room. You've got your Colossus/Kitty dynamic, you've got the playfulness of Nightcrawler, and my personal fave, you've got the Scott/Jean/Logan love triangle. Plus, for an added bonus, it looks like Logan's finally winning that battle (I always felt Cyclops was too insecure for a relationship with Jean, especially when it's clear that she wants the bad boy. She may tell herself she needs the stable, predicatible guy, but she wants the rebel). Everything's going fine until the mansion is attacked by unseen forces that appear to be targeting telepaths. So, in a flash,Xavier and Jean disappear to parts unknown. Cut to one year later, Wolverine is roaming the country, trying to leave his past behind, when forces from Senator Kelly and the Mutant Registration Department drag him back into the game. He feels that the war between mutants and humans is brewing but the team has disbanded over the past year, and he's got no allies. He realizes he's got to get the band back together. After the pilot, each episode is pretty much consumed with the idea of him finding another former member of the team and convincing them to come back. It's odd to see him in the the recruitment role, but he handles it effectively. Plus, it doesn't hurt that most of them don't need much convincing : they had just figured the team was no more, so as they see signs that it's being reformed, they're usually more than willing to come back.

The strength of the show is the cast. If you look at the image above, the core team consists of Wolverine, Beast, Nightcrawler, Shadowcast, Storm, Cyclops, and Emma Frost. That's the beauty of it: it's hint of the old and a hint of the new. The Emma Frost addition to the team has been a pretty controversial aspect of the comics over the past few years, so it's such a bold move that they'd add that dynamic to this new show. Also, the characterization of some of the team members is so spot on for what they're trying to accomplish: it's a cross section of all of the working concepts from the various incarnations of the team. The character design of Toad, "double agent" Rogue, Logan winning Jean, and black Nick Fury are from the Ultimate Universe, brooding, unshaven Cyclops is from X-Men: The Last Stand, Wolverine's basic mood is from X2: X-Men United, and Xavier's primarily out of the picture, as he was for most of the good "616" storylines. Instead of trying to retell stories that have been told, retold, and retconned in the past, the show focuses on new stories that still capture the essence of the franchise. You still have Senator Kelly, Bolivar Trask, Magneto, and Sentinels, but you've also got the concept of the Registration Act thrown in for good measure.

Even if your favorite member isn't on the team, you still might see them: Gambit popped up in Episode 5 in what may have been his best onscreen characterization EVER (and a better accent than the 90s Gambit; thanks, Phil Lamarr!). Pixie and Sammy the Squidboy showed up in Episode 6, as Nightcrawler fought against Mojo's pirates. Angel is the team's money man, while Forge keeps the Blackbird running. We even saw Boom Boom, Dust, and Rockslide in the pilot, as Wolverine and Beast liberate the MRD cells. This show is great because it makes use of all of the toys in the frachise without being bogged down with the idea of "So, when should we bring in the Phoenix Saga?" Sure, they still have time to fall into that trap. After all, they've only aired 7 episodes in America, so I might be lamenting the show's downfall 2 seasons from now. At the moment, however, the show captures the strengths of the X-Men franchise, while also showcasing Wolverine as an effective leader, which is something that many fans haven't had the chance to fully embrace. Anyway, why are you even still reading this? Head over the Nicktoons.com, watch the episodes, and see for yourself.

Posted by William @ 3/02/2009 11:07:00 AM
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"Tell me how I'm s'posed to breathe with no air"

So, you say you want to be a country star, eh? But you just can't get that song out of your head and onto your guitar? Having trouble finding just the right words to get that shot at The Grand Ole Opry?

Well, the Stetson Institute of Country Western Linguistics, in association with the Faith Hill School of Crossover Studies, brings you the Country Music Theme Generator (patent pending). These organizations have analyzed Top 40 Country radio for the past 5 years, and have noticed certain trends. Choose one topic from the following list, or string together several, for a showstopping, whiskey-drenched CMA award winning hit:

-Drunken bad decision
-She left
-He left
-She'll Take You Back
-He'll Take You Back
-You Chose the other Chick, but You'll Want Me
-You Chose the other Guy, but You'll Want Me
-Someone gets to Heaven
-River/Lake/Muddy Baptism
-Drinking before Noon
-Excuses to Drink
-Dad dies
-Girl loses legs
-Crying Dad
-Ominous Traffic Light reference
-America
-Soldiers
-Freedom
-American Soldiers Fighting for Our Freedom
-Dead Soldiers
-Weddings
-Trucks
-Revenge
-Silly Youth
-Elderly Wisdom
-Old Regret
-Dad singing about daughter in mildly inappropriate way

This list is for anyone who likes their Rascals Flatt & their Travises Randy.

Hootie & the Blowfish frontman, Darius Rucker, followed this method, and his hit about leavin', regrettin', and whiskey, led him to become the first black person in 25 years to have a #1 country song! A black man at the top of the country charts! Pretty soon, they'll be in the White House!

Anyway, if you're ready to be a Nashville star, with a legion of fans shaking their honky tonk badonkadonks, this is the program for you.



*Special thanks go out to Toby Keith, Director of the United States Department of Retribution (itself, a division of the US Department of Homeland Security)

Posted by William @ 2/12/2009 03:53:00 PM
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"All eyes on me in the center of the ring just like a circus."

So, Marcus tells me I'm a shitty blogger these days, as love has kept me from the keyboard. If only the explanation were that simple. No, I've been away due to a cruel whore named Twitter.

I joined Twitter about 2 weeks ago, and I thought was awesome. Micro-blogging from anywhere, to mt legion of followers. Problem is that I don't exactly have a "legion" of fans. If ComScore monitored this site, I'm pretty sure that they'd find I have about 12 unique visitors. So, maybe Twitter wasn't the best idea for me.

Also, I'm a note taker in terms of blogging. Ideas come to me, I write them on the back of a random receipt, I flesh them out, and then write full-blown posts. Well, Twitter became my random receipt, so I wasted a lot of good ideas on a nonexistent audience, bringing me to my next point: being on Twitter is like being in a conversation where nobody is listening to you.

When you really break it down, Twitter is what you would have if you just built a website based on facebook statuses. As much as I love the facebook status experience, I don't like to think that I'm wasting my A material in the world of Twitter. For Twitter to be an engaging experience, it's only as enjoyable as your followers/followees.

The most prolific person I follow spends most of his time posting about a hipster scene that I don't understand, while I don't really have any fans. I'm starting to use Twitter to "test out material" for the general public. Plainly put, an attention whore like myself is presently getting nothing out of Twitter, and it's adversely affecting this blog.

Am I using Twitter effectively? Do I need more structure for this site? Maybe I do. I've been doing this for 5 years, and I never wanted to become one of those sites that does Album Review Tuesday. Then again, maybe that's what I have to do in order to be a "destination website". I just renewed this thing for another year, so maybe it's time for a new direction. I guess time will tell.

Posted by William @ 2/01/2009 08:49:00 PM
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