shrift, do you get monthly free lunch or weekly?

Monthly. And often it's something kind of gross, but not today! I think I'm going back upstairs to see if I can snurch some leftovers for dinner, too.

From NPR Monitor Mix, where Brownstein continues her critique:

Part of me feels that Rock Band is yet another example of our culture's increased tolerance of phoniness, whether for the sake of simplicity or out of sheer denial. It's certainly easier to pretend to make art or to speak the truth than to actually do either.

I think my ish is that for many people who play RB or GH, they have no delusions that they are in a real band. I doubt that they think they are making art. They are playing a GAME. And the game is fun for them on its own merits.

Maybe people have been complaining because they can't find the drugs and sex-crazed groupies.

You've changed man, it used to be about the gameplay.

I think my ish is that for many people who play RB or GH, they have no delusions that they are in a real band. I doubt that they think they are making art. They are playing a GAME. And the game is fun for them on its own merits.

Like how people who play games where you're driving a car don't think they are actually going any where?

Did you read the Carrie Brownstein article in Slate about Rock Band? How GH and RB are nothing like being in a real rock band and are therefore inferior?

I didn't read it but I read our mutual GH-obsessed friend's take on it. And, yeah, it seems ridiculous.

It's certainly easier to pretend to make art or to speak the truth than to actually do either.

Nobody I know who is into GH or Rock Band think they are making 'art' with it! They are playing games! God that's pretentious.

What's funny is that friends of mine who are GREAT guitar players (the guitarist from my band, for example) are terrible GH players. The skills just don't really translate.

People who are good at it seem to be people who are good at video games!

Like how people who play games where you're driving a car don't think they are actually going any where?

HAHAHA

Aaaand I'm back to wanting to punch people in the face. Lunch glee was short-lived.

It's fun to translate the comments to other types of games.

Part of me feels that Oblivion is yet another example of our culture's increased tolerance of phoniness, whether for the sake of simplicity or out of sheer denial. It's certainly easier to pretend to chop up zombies or to dodge fireballs than to actually do either.

Well, yeah. I immediately thought of Grand Theft Auto. How many of those folks think they are actually stealing and driving a car?

shrift, there IS Glee in face punching.

there IS Glee in face punching.

Hell, yes.

I've heard that being a krav black belt doesn't help that much with Wii boxing, which must be frustrating.