I bring this up because I watched Twilight; I was curious to see what it actually was. I’d heard critics from Vampirevangelists, and South Park… but it’s big enough I wanted to see for myself.

The entire time, I couldn’t get past the motivation for both characters. So, Edward WANTS this girl Belle. He constantly has this desire to drink her blood… Her scent is like his own “personal heroin.” He is the top predator of the world. He did not talk about love in the forest monologue. Admitting he has more than enough power to kill a human: stronger, faster, reads minds, sparkles (so pretty)…. he also says vampires are attractive to draw prey to them. Then he asks: “Are you afraid?”

Belle’s a fucking moron. So, everything she’s attracted to is an evolutionary adaptation to draw in prey. Hell yes you should be afraid. He didn’t say he loved you, he said he desires your scent, and constantly wants to drink your blood. In all likelihood, the reason you don’t feel afraid could be that he gives off an aura to make you let your guard down – that alone should scare the shit out of you if you have any rational thoughts.

Belle is too trusting. Edward: “I’m designed to kill you, I want to kill you, I will try not to, I will be strong”… Belle:”ok! I want to be with you always. You’re soooo cool!” And then they go off to meet the rest of the family. What a god-damned great idea. Though, I must say, for never having used the kitchen they were doing a remarkably fine job of cooking by watching a video (making what, 4 dishes at once?).

Let’s accept that this is the 1:1000 chance that this vampire truly is in love with this girl…. think about it. The problem with the vampire tradition is that at some point… you have to have an unnatural desire to make your prey into your sex toy. This takes playing with your food to a whole new level. Most vampire films gloss over this sundry detail, but the emo slanted focus highlights the fact that Edward is pro-bestiality.

I don’t want to get it on with a cow, sheep, fish, or anything I eat. I know some people might feel differently. That’s their business, but if we made a movie about it – I want some motivation and development to make me feel like it could happen to anyone. What draws Edward to play with his food in this way?

I would also like to point out that Edward is also a pedophile (or at least a dirty old man). Granted, his body may be 17. Edward is technically very old. I would not be surprised to find out in later books he establishes himself as a sex offender. Belle is ready to give herself up to him, but he’d better act fast her 18th birthday is likely right around the corner.

Twilight is not a good movie. There’s too much unresolved crazy. Granted I’ve not read – and don’t intend to read – the book.

As a final thought – to those pissed off about the vampires themselves – the movie departs from standard Vampire cannon: the sparkling, the “emo”-ness. So what? Elements from stories are re-appropriated all the time: it’s the storytelling version of natural selection. Get off it.

Just show me this, and maybe similar symbols for upcoming turns/landmarks

I view GPS Navigation more as a failure of interface rather than idea. I don’t have a problem getting lost. I choose to walk mapless for hours in non-english countries. I don’t need GPS to lead me through the minutia of a route that can be easily abstracted.

If I get in a car, I already have a general idea of where I’m going: direction, general idea of what interstates, etc. GPS Navigation gives you only the bare minimum amount of information. You are on Road X, turn in 5 miles onto Road Y. Unfortunately, this means every time the interstate merges or split I’m told to turn – when in fact I just keep going toward my destination.

All I really want on the highway is a list of the major roads coming up – such as a change of interstate. I want to know my route. I don’t need to be told every single time to turn left or stay right when the interstate splits. Just give me a big symbol to tell me what road I’m on and a list of upcoming roads.

Don’t get me wrong, the map is good when I’m just trying to get around a town I don’t know. I’m just frustrated at it on long trips to new locations – I have years of experience doing this.

The greatest downside of using GPS was that I wasn’t learning the route. Had the battery died, I could not have retraced my steps. I think this is due to the constant, last second, “turn right now,” miss the turn, “recalculating.”

There are more issues – such as selecting bad routes. I know it will because it does here at home. When I’m out in an unfamiliar city what choice do I have? I’m convinced the GPS forced me on a toll road when there were better alternatives.

No.

WordPress conveiniently provides a new blog with a first post. With all the douchy arrogance of any first poster, it’s lack of content has nothing to do with my blog. Worse still, it purports to be me! Isn’t this against the fundamental idea of a blog. This is my egocentric little world. I started this blog to publically share my own unique perspective with adoring crowds, and yet the first blog entry is a generic “Hello world!” message – with wordpress masquerading as me. It even has a comment, supposedly “Appoved.” Well, I do not approve.

Sure, I could edit it and avoid all off this criticism. I’m just not a fan of the principle. Wouldn’t it be more fitting to leave a note that says “Currently no posts availible” or “http://harshcritic.wordpress.com is in developement” until an author writes his/her first entry?

Or if you must provide a first post, make it more interesting. Make it relevant to what I named the blog. You know, like real spam comments. Take whatever content you can from the name of the blog, the user, a quick google search and use that to create a custom spam blog post for me. At least that might be entertaining. As of today’s google search, I’d be reading about Robert Novak – equally as relavant as the generic first post, but customized for me.

Lastly, wordpress, don’t sign your spam blog posts as if they were written by me. Take credit for your work.