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Water and food in TV and movies
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Jan 31, 2017
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Maybe it's a product of the type of entertainment I enjoy, but I feel like there's a common thread in a lot of TV shows and movies consisting of a character or group of characters walking or hiking from one geographic location to another in search of something, be it freedom or safety or revenge or whatever. One element that's nearly always missing is the issue of normal human sustenance. I realize this is a boring topic, which is why an entertainment medium would simply gloss over it. But honestly, if you go hiking in the woods for a couple hours without water, you'll be thirsty as hell. If you think you can hike overnight without food or water, you're an idiot. "Oh I'll just find water along the way." No you won't. You'll get a bacterial infection and shit your brains out. The simple act of surviving in the most mild of wildernesses isn't rocket science, but it does require water, food, and shelter, something that's clearly missing from a lot of storytelling. #entertainment
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HP vs. LOTR
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Feb 18, 2015
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I started reading the Lord of the Rings a few weeks ago, and I immediately noticed several similarities to the Harry Potter books. In both stories, the main character, seemingly setting out on his own before being joined by his helpful friends, goes on a quest to destroy an object containing the soul of the antagonist referred to as the Dark Lord. This main character has interactions with wizards, trolls, and elves, has to avoid undead dark creatures who bring cold sadness to everyone they meet, and receives a nearly mortal wound that somehow connects him telepathically to the antagonist. I'm no literary critic, but these things were obvious even to me. #entertainment
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Scientifically Accurate animations
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Jul 29, 2014
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Fox made an animated series of videos called Scientifically Accurate that portray common cartoons and video game characters in a more scientific way. For example, Spongebob would have no organs and wouldn't move, and Sonic the Hedgehog would eat things and rub the scent on himself. Equal parts informative and terrifying. #entertainment
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Very Short Introductions
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Jul 15, 2014
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Very Short Introductions is a series of books on various topics that cover just enough to provide some good information without overwhelming the reader or getting too in-depth. They're all about 150-200 pages, and they're written by different authors so the "voice" isn't always the same. I've read several of them and like them a lot. #entertainment
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Yuengling on Mad Men
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Jul 9, 2012
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A few months ago, an episode of Mad Men included a scene with a bottle of Yuengling beer with a period-accurate label, similar to this:
I love the little details on that show. #entertainment
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Worst top ten
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Jul 9, 2012
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[Watching TV with some friends; NFL Network is playing a top ten countdown of the Top Ten Jersey Numbers.]
Friend 1: "Who watches stupid stuff like this?"
Friend 2: "Let's just watch until the next number so we can confirm it's stupid." #entertainment
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Frozen Planet
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May 1, 2012
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When I'm sitting on my couch watching TV on a Friday night, I don't flip through channels, see a nature documentary, and think, "Ooh, this seems interesting and educational." But I accidentally caught a few seconds of Frozen Planet and got hooked. Well done, Discovery Channel and BBC. #entertainment
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Good literature
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Dec 6, 2011
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I was criticized recently for reading things by J. K. Rowling and Dan Brown because they're not "good literature." This criticism came from a literature major, who believed the plots created by authors like this are too simple and contrived. I fully agree, which is exactly why I read books like this. When I read, I'm not looking for a challenge. I don't judge the story arc or character development. I don't give a crap about that stuff. I read for the same reason I do many things: For entertainment. Books with simple, contrived plot lines fill that need with surprising ease. Screw good literature. Give me entertainment. #entertainment
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Liquid Gold
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Aug 31, 2011
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From a review of the book Liquid Gold: Logically, we should recycle our urine to capture its many nutrients for growing new food. Whoa, whoa, whoa. First, I don't personally believe that's a logical thought. Or at least it doesn't flow (pardon the expression) naturally from my logic. Second, I honestly wasn't aware urine contained nutrients. Third, I've definitely never considered using urine to grow food. So pretty much that whole statement was mind-blowing. #entertainment
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More war coverage
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Aug 22, 2011
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From Foreign Policy (via Marginal Revolution):In fact, the last decade has seen fewer war deaths than any decade in the past 100 years, based on data compiled by researchers Bethany Lacina and Nils Petter Gleditsch of the Peace Research Institute Oslo.
If the world feels like a more violent place than it actually is, that's because there's more information about wars -- not more wars themselves. Once-remote battles and war crimes now regularly make it onto our TV and computer screens, and in more or less real time. Ignorance is bliss. #entertainment
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