Friday Fiction: Mad Scientists or Experimental Fiction by Alex Snider

I write this lazily and as someone who isn't even sure she likes experimental fiction. Sure my favourite novel is on this list; Pale Fire, a novel which I will probably read a dozen or so times throughout my life (WHERE DID YOU LEAVE THE CROWN JEWELS, CHARLES??!). But aside from that the only other I've read is To the Lighthouse (and parts of Infinite Jest, which I started at quite possibly the worst time in a person's life to read about suicidal people). I am reading a Calvino right now, although not the one listed (If On a Winter's Night, a Traveler) and I am really digging it. And oddly enough, some of my favourite music is pretty experimental (Johnny Greenwood, Man Man, Einstürzende Neubauten). Same goes for movies and TV and visual art; I love it when creators messes with form and challenges expectations. 

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The Walking Dead: We Hardly Knew Thee, Characters Whose Names I Don't Know by Alex Snider

What is that old Chekhov adage? That if a barn is introduced at the beginning of the season, full of zombies, that barn will burn down at the end of the season, full of zombies? Well, so much for the watch-system they had going last week: a massive herd, which was somehow explained in the cold open managed to have lumbered from Atlanta all the way through the enchanted forest (and the forcefield moat of quicksand!) and come up on the magical farm of unlimited electricity and hot water and food to dole out misery. Surprisingly Glenn and Daryl: Tracker Xtreme, were also in the woods and completely missed all signs of the horde. Even little Carl, who somehow sensed Shane's zombie-ness before he stood up last week, raising the gun seemingly at his own pops, didn't hear or see the thousands of walkers until they were literally meters away. 

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5 Band Names Inspired By Rob Ford's Maniacal March 22 by Alex Snider

Could Rob Ford be a band-name-creating savant? I think maybe? Just today in his three sputtering TTC rages he came up with five reaaaaally convincing rock monikers. TO musicians take note:

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The Walking Dead: And That's Why You Don't Wander in Fields at Night, Alone by Alex Snider

*Spoilers ahead*

It seems that Rick et al. got a visit from J Walter Weatherman and he taught them a valuable lesson about the zombie apocalypse using Dale. Unfortunately Dale was sacrificed in said lesson and was eviscerated by a walker before being shot in the head but the others sure learned a lesson! THERE BE ZOMBIES. Next thing you know, there are watches being set up, proper watches not just Andrea looking for an excuse to stroke her gun; everyone is moving into Hershel's magically-fortified farm house; and there are even patrols going around the farm borders. Of course the goons were there mostly to overkill the zombies, as if they had personally just killed the person voted least popular in the group (and I'm including Jimmy). This is such a dire situation for our hapless group of unlikeable survivors that even T-Dog was given lines! Plural! And bantery lines at that! Sheeeeeee-iiiit (I've been watching a lot of The Wire)! That was the most shocking part of this episode and I'm including both the death of Shane and the revelation that all dogs go to heaven dead folk come back as zombies.

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Way to Plant, Ann by Alex Snider

I went to Allan Gardens yesterday. Is there a better way to spend a grey, drizzly morning than in a century old greenhouse? It's good for the soul, rejuvenation and what not. 

These are the photos I took: 

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Doris and Mona and the Case of the Doppelgängers by Alex and Allison

Doris and Mona is a segment brought to you by Alex and her friend Allison and accessories and props from the store they work at. These are the displays they make, and these are their stories. 

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Thoughts on Kony 2012 and White Saviours vs. Allies by Alex Snider

I watched the Kony 2012 video this morning and I have to say the White saviour, colonial overtones made me extremely uncomfortable. Not to mention the lack of any consultation or even reference to any of the Ugandan groups who have been actively fighting against Kony for years. Even the way Invisible Children denies granting the two (!) Ugandan politicians further identification in the video. What party are they from? What role in government do they play? Why was there no mention of the president? Or of any other adult Ugandans? Why weren't Ugandans given the opportunity to speak for themselves? Why were they instead treated as props for the self-aggrandizing filmmaker and his friends? Merely showing images of nameless mutilated children, flashing them before the audience's eyes reduces and erases the children's humanity. This type of stomach-turning pity-porn is no way to bring attention to a cause. This is no way to treat those you wish to help. 

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Spank Rock featuring Santigold: 'Car Song' Posted by Alex Snider

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What's Next? by Alex Snider

If American women are denied insurance to cover contraception, what's next? 

If women are called sluts and prostitutes for using birth control, what's next?

If women are forced to undergo transvaginal ultrasounds before they can have a legal abortion, what's next?

If women face criminal investigations into their miscarriages, what's next?

If fetus' are granted more rights than the women carrying them, what's next?

If women are arrested for peacefully protesting laws that challenge their right to bodily autonomy, what's next?

If single mothers are targeted by legislation that deems their situation "a contributing factor to child abuse and neglect", what's next?

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The Walking Dead: How Many Women Does it Take to do Laundry During the Zombie Apocalypse? by Alex Snider

Sweet sweater, dude, wonder what detergent
 he used to use?Those colours are vibrant. 

Well, that was unpleasant. I literally grimaced the entire episode. I couldn't even properly enjoy Shane and Rick punching each other. All the yelling and Rick and Shane fighting over who protects Lori and boy-sheriff better is just so damn exhausting. Especially when it's the same fight week in and week out. Everybody is still alive so just fucking relax, find something new to fight about, like Lori did this week.

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Doris and Mona Set Sail by Alex and Allison

Doris and Mona is a segment brought to you by Alex and her friend Allison and accessories and props from the store they work at. These are the displays they make, and these are their stories. 

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