The Literary Roundup

This summer has been a summer of reading for me. While I haven;t had that much free time lately I've still managed to pack my days with pages and pages of reading. I'd say a good 80-90% of my waking thoughts are turned towards literature. So, I thought it'd be interesting to bring just a few of the little, entertaining, and weird bits of writing or literature related things that I've been playing around with online.

Thou caluminous rampallian flap-dragon! Thou puking guts-griping blind-worm!
This is a really simple but fun page to play with. I found it completely on purpose (unlike most everything els) because I there are some situations where only the harsh and scornful words of the bard will do. I'm sure you've all been there. Its always seemed very important to me that when insulting someone to be smart about it. It isn't all that fun or impressive to just hurt someone's feelings because belittling someone else doesn't do anything to raise yourself up. Insulting a person is really more about proving not how dumb they are but how smart you are, how creative and witty you can be on the spot. With the Shakespearean Insulter you don't need to be either and you can still look smart... or at least well read. If anything no one will ever doubt again your nerdiness.

"The Book Really Focuses on Vietnam, For Some Reason"
You know what I always wanted more of as a child? Stories about creepy old guys and Vietnam. Something with a real David Lynch feel to it. Well, the infantile and juvenile youth of this country are going to be getting just that it. Meghan McCain, the daughter of Republican nominee John McCain, is writing a children's story about her father; and I'm sure it'll be accidently scary as hell. Imagine Strega Nona, but with more pandering, lying, and illusions to war.
(For an added creepy thrill check out Meghan's blog, McCainBlogette.com. Have you ever seen anything as unnatural looking as conservatives playing playing around and having fun? Me neither.)

Move Under Ground
This, like everything beatnik or Lovecraftian, is totally bat shit insane by the looks of it. "Jack Kerouac witnesses the rising of R'lyeh off the California coast. With Neal Cassady and William S. Burroughs, Jack takes to the road, crossing America to save the world from a Lovecraftian cult." See what I mean? Totally insane bat shit. I was pretty excited though when I found this because I'm reading Naked Lunch right now and I just finished some of H.P. Lovecraft's "better" works. I was also excited about finding this book not because I have any intention of reading it but because it supports my belief that Lovecraft fans are some of the best intentioned but worst endowed (of taste and talent) than any science fiction or horror fans you can find. And that's saying something. You can find the full ext here. I haven't read any of it, and I never will. Lovecraft and Burroughs reviews to follow.

I'm your pusher. But I don't mind. Here's some great lit. product.
Grammar
Irony
Shakespeare 1
Shakespeare 2

CM!

Alas, poor Yorick!

-posts of true substance to follow...I promises.
cml

Opposable Thumbs

Okay... this is late... really, really late, but it's finals week and, well... here you are.

Once again, I was in Comp and bored out of my mind. My Prof was going over something about the next essay or something, but I couldn't bring myself to pay attention. He constantly just rambles on about the same things, sort of like I do, I suppose, but I like to think I'm more interesting.

I saw the following on The Colbert Report a while ago, I have no idea when the episode aired because it was recorded on my DVR, but apparently Al Gore is cuter than Bitsy. War!

According to Washington Monthly, the SEC sucks. Of course, I always knew this about the SEC and the south in general, but it’s nice to be vindicated. Score one for the Midwest! Also, The M Zone on the awesome speed and competition of SEC football.

Knowing my readership, you've heard of Measure for Measure, but I certainly hadn't before I read the thing. It's not a bad play, I suppose, but not much really happens. Which is probably why no one has ever heard of the thing. It has something to do with the use and abuse of power, unjust laws, weak rulers and sex... I think. I'm honestly not all that sure. The dialog is pretty good, though.

In German the other week (as I'm now expanding this Comp Musings idea to include all of my classes) one of my fellow students said the most remarkable thing:

"I swear to God, I met a cat on Sunday that had opposable thumbs."

"I will kill you with my mind."