Wednesday, December 26, 2007
kulture kast 30 — Christmas Recovery and Listener Feedback
Get comfy kids, because this one is running long. We're off to a rocky start as we compare notes about our family Christmas visits. But then we welcome new listener Brian and get down to business. We're talking about the joys of retail, cabana boys, Journeyman, BSG Razor, pr0n, how very NOT weird Susan Z is, odd presents, and summer sausage. Plus, we have voicemail and blog comments. Also, we're thinking about giving you guys your very own fan numbers (yes, we are totally stealing this idea from J.C. Hutchins), so speak up and be counted! Last but not least, Susan Z would like to clarify that she loves her sister very much and in fact, relies on her sister's extensive knowledge of the proper way to do just about everything.
Promo: Space Casey
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Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Kulture Kast 29 — Eight In The Ticker
We begin the show on a high note, what with having to start over on the recording twice. This week, we're talking about Susan Z's stint doing the intro for 7th Son (trivial knowledge and Google-Fu FTW), plans for a Podcaster Smackdown, Nathan Fillion and Vaseline and/or Crisco, Balticon, retail during the holidays, the Z axiom of douchebaggery, the Cohen Brothers movies, No Country For Old Men, the sacred ground that was the X-Files, why does your hair have to be that color? and some other deep-seated questions…
Promo: Nocturnal by Scott Sigler
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Kulture Kast 28 — Saving Throw vs. Serious
We've got big news about Christiana Ellis — she signed a book contract for Nina Kimberly The Merciless and you heard it here first, folks! Biscuit adds to the English vocabulary in much the same way that Shakespeare did. We talk about some of the latest developments in the WGA strike and online resources like United Hollywood and Fans4Writers. We totally gank The Geek Fu Morning Show's famous vamping (thank you, Mur and Jason!) more than once in the show. Shamelessly. Another serious note? Henry Kravis as the focus of The War On Greed.
Ready for some silliness? So were we. While the podcast Will Write For Wine has grown-up stuff like writing improv exercises, the best part is listening to Lani Diane Rich and Samantha Graves read wine labels and make stellar recommendations like The Pursuit of Excellence: Ferrets. Amazon.co.uk has delightful and absurd reviews for Tuscan Whole Milk, 1 Gallon, 128 fl oz, and Bic Crystal ballpoint pen, medium point, black, EACH — take the time to explore these, kids, and you won't be disappointed. Paul S. Fischer of The ADD Cast twittered a link to a holiday video called IN UR MANGER KILLING UR SAVIOR.
Lastly, another reminder of the Discovery documentary series The Rise of the Videogame, which unfortunately leads to both of us bitching about how young geeks today have no understanding of their geek roots.
Promo: Space Casey
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Thursday, December 6, 2007
Kulture Kast 27 — Heroes and Journeyman
Hang on kids, we're gonna get spoilerific on your asses. If you haven't watched the latest episodes of Heroes and Journeyman, you might as well stop right now. When it comes to Heroes, Susan Z and Biscuit disagree on just about every point, yet manage to find some common ground. With Journeyman, it's pretty much a lovefest. If you haven't been watching this show, you have something to look forward to if the WGA strike continues into the new year. There's a brief mention of the smart and sexy fun that is Burn Notice (alas, it will be quite some time before there is new Burn Notice content). Also, we drop some hints about upcoming episodes.
Agree? Disagree? Hit us with some feedback here, at moc.liamg|tsak.erutluk#moc.liamg|tsak.erutluk, or on our lovely voicemail at 1-206-888-2229
Promo: Playing for Keeps
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Kulture Kast 26 — Showing The Love
We're talking about Space Casey from Christiana Ellis, Grant Baciocco of Throwing Toasters, Susan Z's college Shakespeare paper on A Midsummer Night's Dream (aka issue #19 of The Sandman), paintings of big-eyed kids, Tin Man on Sci Fi, The Rise of the Video Game on Discovery Channel, Laurell K. Hamilton's obssession with boring sex, standard porn formulas, Clive Barker, the horror of fame, Paparazzi, and pie.
Promo: Space Casey
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Monday, November 26, 2007
Is It The Future Yet?
So I've been looking at dedicated ebook readers, and I've come up with a few things that seem like good features. Using eInk and/or ePaper? Good. Screen size that corresponds to the size of either a paperback or a hardcover book? Also good. Ability to read PDFs and .txt formats in addition to HTML? Again with the good. Screen that is also a touch screen, so that you can make notes or draw or fill in crossword puzzles in electronically-distributed newspapers? So good it hurts.
Unfortunately, the ebook reader that fits that last feature is BY FAR the most expensive dedicated reader. The iLiad by iRex is everything I want in an ebook reader. It's also $699. Ouch! And the Amazon Kindle fails to overwhelm, on a couple of levels. Bear in mind, too, that I haven't held either of these devices in my grubby little paws, and there is a lot to be said about the user experience. And honestly, until they make them waterproof so that I can take them in the bath, well, the price tag is pretty much a moot point.
Besides, in a couple of years, I can see ebook readers converging with tablets to the point where they become something not unlike the padds in the Star Trek Universe. And when you get down to it, that's what I really want. Especially since I don't see a goddamn flying car in my near future.
[cross-posted from my personal journal](susanz)
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Kulture Kast 25 — Holidays are Hell
First of all, we were both wrong about which episode this is — it's episode 25. The podcast can rent a car! And possibly run for Congress (if only we can destroy all the photo evidence from Dragon*Con). We're talking about Thanksgiving insanity at Marketer Joseph's, Susan Z's experiments with radical honesty and super-sobriety, Nine Inch Noels, inappropriate gifts, the annoyance levels of MySpace and FaceBook, Susan Z's love of all things meta, Biscuit's inappropriate album gifts from his step-mother, and why Biscuit is so goddamn flinchy.
Happy Turkey Day, kids!
Not subscribed? Listen here.
Edited to add: The Steampunk-ish game that Biscuit mentioned was Hellgate London, which is a PC-based RPG along the lines of WoW. Looking at the site, it seems less Steampunk and more post-apocalyptic, but that's just my opinion. The tabletop RPG we talked about was Etherscope from Goodman Games, and it's a d20 adventure game with a hefty dose of Cyberpunk mixed in with the Steampunk.
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Kulture Kast 24 — WGA On Strike
The WGA strike has a big impact on the quality of this week's show, as we talk about the early show shutdowns like The Office and 30 Rock, Battlestar Galactica being pushed back to april, Jon Stewart offering to personally pay his writing staff's salary for two weeks (or did he?), the three categories of crushes for girls, and fictional crushes in general. We're also catching up on podcast novels like 7th Son, Nocturnal, and Playing for Keeps. Plus, as an added bonus, Susan Z over-shares about her relationship with her mother, while forgetting AGAIN to address Choochus's question about The Bus Stop (aka The California Hustle). Hoorays!
Promos: the second of J.C. Hutchins and Mur Lafferty's 7th Heaven promos, and the Playing for Keeps theme from Beatnik Turtle.
Leave us feedback, questions or dirty jokes on our voicemail. 206-888-2229
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Kulture Kast 23 — Command Line + Our Number 1 Fan = Good Times
Command Line and our number one fan Andrea are in the house. We're all over the map tonight, folks. New Media Douchebags, the Doppler Effect, the Jammie Thomas verdict, Zwack, the coolness of Matthew Wayne Selznick, the upcoming Zombie Apocalypse, and watch parts auctions on eBay.
Cross-promotional goodness from J.C. Hutchins and Mur Lafferty.
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Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Kulture Kast 22 —The Recovery
The 21st episode was a blast, and we are well on the road to recovery. Okay, the smoky bar gave Susan Z a sore throat that just won't quit, but other than that we are getting on nicely, thank you very much. We're nattering on about wine, the horror of wine coolers, selling plasma for beer and cigarette money, specs appeal, d2o's and how to cheat with d10's, Susan Z's utter lack of shame when it comes to The Bus Stop, The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Nixon = bad, and last but not least, Heroes and The Big Bang Theory.
Not that we condone any of this. But if you are going to do it anyway, we want you to do it properly.
Feedback? Suggestions? Dirty jokes? Call our voicemail at 206-888-222
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Kulture Kast 21 — Down At The Pub
We're getting our drink on at O'Malley's in order to celebrate our 21st episode. We've got voicemail from Andrea, Cmaaarrr, Chris the Fixed Kitty, and Command Line. It turns out that Death Cab For Cutie is a threat to national security, J.K. Rowling confirms that Dumbledore was gay and Will Shetterly is somewhat annoyed with the whole thing. The illustrious Ben Kay has an all-new bit of research concerning little-known profanities from Andrea Dworkin's Right Wing Women. We also have visits from Kath and Leslie, who came out to see the Kasters in their more natural habitat. And we owe big thanks to Cindy and the Zman, for their support, not to mention their volunteering for designated driver-dom. Thanks everybody!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Kulture Kast 20 —Special Editions and Other Random Variables
On this episode, we're talking about the upcoming 21st episode of the Kulture Kast, the digitally remastered special edition of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan that was recently shown at The Carolina Theatre as part of the Escapism Film Festival, MST3K, The Radio Adventures of Doctor Floyd, Throwing Toasters, 7th Son, ScottSigler.Com, TD0013 rocks, and we're making vague threats against J.C. Hutchins and Scott Sigler. Nothing that could be proved in court. i swear.
Also, gay and lesbian rights might be considered normal in the future, and Biscuit and i will have a party on that day, at my house. You're all invited!
And if all of that isn't enough, here's the podcasting kitty in her Intarwebs debut! Maxie Cat provides maximum catitude, because that's how she rolls.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
Kulture Kast 19 — Listener Feedback and Profanity Poetry
It's a listener feedback episode. We've got blog commentary and voicemails. Plus, we have an all-new profanity poetry piece from the illustrious Ben Kay, Profaninator at Large.page name
