The Truth is Out There

Anyone have any questions? This stimulus has been bugging me and I've barely written about it. Lots 'o stuff going on about casinos and I just haven't kept up. Now's the chance to get me on record. Consider this an open thread.

Editor's Choice: Ryan, what are you watching on the telly these days?

(And, please, my fellow political geeks, make it to #1.)

Well, devoted fans accidental Google clickers, I've been binging on both corny & good sci fi this week. The TV's back on now that the excellent Battlestar Galactica's back on - and sci fi is like a drug; it's hard to get enough of it if you're taking any at all.

So, beyond the impeccable and as-good-as-ever BSG, I couldn't miss the mid-season premiere of Heroes "Volume 3," which is going all Guantanamo on us now. Actually, it's the most interesting story line since season 1, so I'm hoping for an improvement in quality over the past two story arcs. Though, in all honesty, I'll watch it regardless. Like I said, it's a drug - and having Peter Petrelli on screen for half the show certainly doesn't hurt.

Rounding out the Sci Fi Geekiness is Kyle XY. Please don't make fun of me! Yes, it's super corny and yes the story line's a bit stale (though still good) at this point, but this is a sci fi dramady that you can watch with your whole family - only I choose to watch it alone. Most of the episodes are online for free (legal - I swear), in case test tube babies who can reverse the polarity of water interest you. It's actually a really fun show, the only semi-decent sci fi one out there that'll make you laugh and has a rich story, so if you want some good old-fashioned sci-fi geekiness, give that one a try.

Ask Ryan Anything

Happy Friday.

Any questions?

Editor's Choice: The answer to "What is the best platform-adventure game of all time?" is below.



Donkey Kong Country 2:
Diddy's Kong Quest

The pinnacle of platform gaming - with the best VG soundtrack ever.

Ask Ryan Anything

It's been a while since I've done one of these...

Ask me anything. I shall answer, whether I know what I'm talking about or not...

Ask Ryan Anything: The Historical Revisionism Edition

I think Ask Ryan Anything, the popular series where people get to ask me whatever they want in the comment section, will be a standard Monday afternoon event. So look forward to continuing posts every Monday, as long as I keep getting lots of questions, as I did last week. Post questions on anything you want in the comments and I'll answer them. Warning: snarky questions merit snarky responses.

Today's mini comment to potentially kick off any discussion: I just got back from visiting the House of Seven Gables, a tour I hadn't done since elementary school. Particularly interesting is the hidden staircase and the story behind it. When I was a kid and went on a field trip to the home, we were told the secret stairs were a part of the underground railroad. Exciting, right? Well, not so much. Turns out the stair case was really added around 1910. No wonder the new curator discontinued any underground railroad talk. The home of former 17th Century wealthy shipping merchants and the setting of Nathaniel Hawthorne's famous book, where he visited as a child - who wouldn't want to spice that up?

Seriously, though, do we know anything about our past? Imagine - some tour guide 50 years ago probably told bored school kids about the underground railroad story, so they'd pay attention for 10 minutes, and now generations of people no doubt believe there were runaway slaves hiding in busy downtown Salem's most famous house. No one should be shocked: we also think Paul Revere warned us the British were coming and Americans were tiny, short shrimps back in the 1700 and 1800s because the ceilings were short. Conventional wisdom!

Ask Ryan Anything: Back by Popular Demand

(Bumped... people kept asking for Ask Ryan Anything... so they best be asking questions in the comments!)

A whole assortment of people have asked me in comments over the past few months "where's Ask Ryan Anything?" It's been gone for nearly a year - and people still remember it. So, have at it!

The rules: you can ask me anything in the comments and I'll give an answer. It can be related to politics, or not. Anything's fair game, though if it's incredibly snarky, my answer may be in kind.

Here's a little comment to kick this all off: All I can say about Obama is "I told you so." Hillary may not have been a great President, but she would have been a decent one. At the very least, she probably wouldn't have pissed on the constitution and denounced Wes Clark for doing a wonderfully fantastic deed in our efforts to crush McCain. Obama's actions in it all? Talk about grasping the jaws of defeat from victory. Also, he's now officially a wimp.

Now I Know Where all the Racoons Went...

I haven't seen a single Racoon or Skunk all summer long. Suddenly, it's all starting to make sense. Invasion of the Wild Turkeys! (Seriously, I've seen them in both Swampscott and Lynnfield.)

Consider this an open thread. Alternatively, feel free to "Ask Ryan Anything." (I haven't done that in forever!)

Ask Ryan Anything

Yesterday was that time of the week, but I totally forgot to open the floor to my readership. So, this week you get to ask anything on Tuesday. Lots of things to talk about, like the upcoming ConCon - and probably the one that will count. So, have ask at it!

PS: LeftAhead airs tonight at 7:30.

Ask Ryan Anything

Good morning folks - and boy is it an early one. I'm at Dunks at 4:50 am, a sure sign that finals are almost upon me. It's been a while since I did my last "Ask Ryan Anything," so I figure it's time for another Monday installment. I'm very busy today (2 papers and a final, even though technically finals don't start until Tuesday and boy do I feel like going to the dean over that!)... so, don't expect lots of blogs, but I will answer every question to the best of my ability.

Some good topics: To what degree of insane am I for doing another audition on Tuesday, so soon after my last show? What do I think of James Carroll's latest column? And what topics are going to come up on Tuesday's LeftAhead podcast?

There are a few things to chew at. Have at it.

Ryan Asks You Everything

Instead of my normal Ask Ryan Anything Monday session (although, I'll admit, I've forgotten to do it for the past 2 Mondays), I thought I'd reverse the situation and ask my readers everything.... err, well, a lot. I'm writing a paper for my civil rights class on the rise of netroots and its effects on today's civil rights movements and grassroots organization. I figured I'd post an open call for what everyone thinks about the rise of netroots, blogs and other technological aspects that have changed the landscape. What are your thoughts on "meta?" How do readers of this blog interact with netroots - just read blogs, donate online, get their news from alternative sources, write blogs? Is blogging journalism, activism? Something in between? How do you participate in the movement? What kind of specific things do you guys do - organize rallies online, regular meetings (like the Draft Gore or Drinking Liberally events), engage in conference calls, google groups? How do the netroots impact the issues you hold near and dear (and what are those issues)?

Anything you could think of would be fantastic to know. If you guys want to email me, it's at darth dot adams at gmail dot com (just change the "dot" to "." because spam is evil). If you just want to respond in comments, that's great too. Emailing me would allow some of you - if you chose - to reveal your identity. You don't have to reveal your identity, but an alias of some kind would be nice. I'd love whatever time anyone could give me - and would really appreciate it.

Thanks so much in advance. I hope I get lots of responses and will value each and every one of them. I'll also post my paper when it's done, since there'll be so much input from my readers. Thanks again,

Ryan

Ask Ryan Anything

It's that time of the week again. There are so many things I'd love to blog about, but don't have the time. There are other things I should be blogging about, but have yet to consider. Now's the opportunity to get me on the record about my thoughts on, well, anything. People could ask about my podcast, the controversial Out Magazine's decision to, well, out Anderson Cooper and Jodie Foster or Mitt's adventures in hunting - all two of them. It's an open game!

Ask Ryan Anything

Almost forgot! Last week's Ask Ryan Anything went pretty welll - and at least one person asked for it to become a regular thing - so it's Monday and that time of the week again - the time to ask me anything.

Lots have gone on this week, lots to ask me about. I had 2000+ hits just the other day. The Supreme Court had a huge decision, allowing the EPA to control carbon dioxide emissions like they would other climate pollutants. I have a new podcast - and there's been all sorts of stuff going on lately in hopefully repealing 1913. I even bought a new cd! So, if anybody's curious about my take, here's your chance to cause Ryan to write pages and pages of comments stump Ryan.

Ask Ryan Anything

Since it's a Monday and I need some mental stimulation, if anyone feels like picking my political mind, feel free. Consider this an open thread to ask me anything!