Some kink in the link

Keith, Minnesota — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 12:15:15 GMT

"which resembled something out of Jules Verne by way of Huck Finn, manned by cast members from “Jackass.”" That's fantastic!

I would say he got off pretty easy on the whole, and he's probably lucky he wasn't in Boston.

Some kink in the link

drew, kc — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:02:59 GMT

It looks like that vader helmet site you linked is using those photos without permission. You can see the original photos along with some video and other info here:
http://starwarsblog.wordpress.com/2007/05/24/taking-a-tour-of-the-vader-project/

Some kink in the link

Will Femia — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 14:25:00 GMT

Thanks Drew, I hate when that happens. I switched them out.

Some kink in the link

Michael "I'm the guy from Halifax, Canada" [Last Name Deleted] — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 16:39:35 GMT

I am sometimes surprised by what you link to, Will. Usually not in a "Why the F is he giving this person attention" sort of way (though there have been times like that; the site about the girl promising to commit suicide at a certain date/time for example), but usually in a "Wow, I didn't realize that this was that big of a hit online" sort of way.
I was really surprised to see “The Perry Bible Fellowship” on your blog (he's got some pretty "out there" strips, which I thought were a little too weird for main stream) and I was very surprised to see you link to Yahtzee at Zero Punctuation (which is part of Escapist Magazine; Yahtzee's personal page is fullyramblomatic.com, which is also pretty good) since I definitely didn’t think a small video game review site in Australia would be getting any degree of notice elsewhere.
Personally, I love Yahtzee’s reviews. They are funny and fast and he usually has a few good points about the game as well. And you’re right, I thought he hated that game too, right up until near the end when he tells you to buy the game. Note about his fast talking: Apparently it was unintentional. The first couple he did were really fast (probably due to being nervous); people thought it was intentional; now it is.

I’m also surprised by your linking to the Shriiimping site, though that is mostly due to the NSFW message you wrote (“Contains boobies”; I lol’d on that one). Question for your female readers: Does a NSFW message like “Contains boobies” offend you (as in, Will should have written something like “Contains Sexual Content” instead) or does it make you want to buy a shirt with that as a logo?
Personally, if I was a girl, I would love a shirt that said “NSFW: Contains boobies”, though that might just be because I am a guy. (I used to take the warning labels off some foods and put them on my pants; “Warning: May contain Nuts” ….I wonder if this comment is still going to make it on your site now.)

Some kink in the link

Norma, Los Angeles, CA — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 17:17:28 GMT

I love ImprovEverywhere. I get a kick out of their quirky stunts, but I think this littel league one was the best! I know these kids will never forget this game. It was sweet to see these kids feel like big league stars!

Some kink in the link

Joe Vaquera, San Antonio, Texas — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:10:42 GMT

The "prank" with the band was Improv Everywhere and it was called "Best Gig Ever". It backfired a bit, as when the band pranked found out they were being made fun of on the internet it raised all sorts of high-school outcast issues. They saw it as just another example of the cool kids picking on the artsy geeks. "This American Life" did a great piece about it on their Showtime show.

Some kink in the link

Michael T, Hollywood, CA — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:44:29 GMT

The Darth Vader Project is pretty old news, actually...I saw it at "Star Wars Celebration IV" last year at the L.A. Convention Center (I believe that was the exhibit's debut). Some of the designs are very interesting...the Statue Of Liberty Vader was a pretty damned good comment on America's current image in the rest of the world, I think.

LOVE the Tiger tank. I just wish the guy could have included what the effects of the shooting of the (air) gun looks like in the video. And the guy who built the home-made sub is totally a victim of post-911 paranoia and double standards for corporations, as Hamacher-Schlemmer used to feature in their catalogs a working one-man electric submarine for somewhere in the neighborhood of $100,000.00, if memory serves. What do you think the chances are that Homeland Security has paid them a visit lately? Personally, I'm betting on somewhere between slim and none. Of course, it's totally different when someone actually makes a buck off of das boot...

Some kink in the link

Norma, Los Angeles, CA — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 18:56:36 GMT

For Michael: No, NSFW messages don't offend me. I have a sense of humor and can laugh at those types of things. I actually have 2 NSFW shirts that always crack my friends up. One says: "Please look at my chest when I'm talking to you" and the other one "Instant slut, just add alcohol". (Now my comment may not post)

I do only where these around my friends and not really out, like shopping or anything. Even though I can laugh about it, it may not portray the best image out.

Some kink in the link

Tracie, Jackson, TN — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:02:02 GMT

Yup, Improv Everywhere had the Best Gig Ever. That was cool. Seems like they're getting more cooperation from people these days. That's good, it means the "pranks" can only be better.

Some kink in the link

Randall K, St. Louis MO — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:37:46 GMT

Not sure if you noticed, but the Reverse Cowgirl quotes "Clicked" in her most recent entry.

Some kink in the link

CindyW, Redmond WA — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 19:52:08 GMT

MichaelfromHalifax, I think the reason that Yahtzee's reviews are getting so much attention is because gaming-news television show has been playing some of them. XPlay (on G4) shows them excerpted (and edited). I know that's why my husband and I now visit Zero Punctuation regularly. :)

Some kink in the link

Michelle, Auburn, AL — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 20:23:00 GMT

Michael from Halifax - Will's wording on the NSFW Note made me laugh, too - not offended at all. But sorry, I wouldn't wear a shirt with that as a logo...

Some kink in the link

JE, Detroit — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 21:18:00 GMT

Michael, I'm a woman, and I'll take a shot at answering your question. Disclaimer: This is my own opinion, and I don't speak for anyone but myself. (I shouldn't have to say that, but I'm heading off any possible comments toward me saying, "Shut up! I'm a woman and I totally disagree with you!").

For me, when someone refers to a woman's breasts as "boobies", my feeling about it really depends on how I feel about the person saying it and the context in which they're saying it. I've been reading Will's blog for a few years now, and I don't have any feeling that he is sexist or in any way disrespectful to women. When Will uses that word I chuckle to myself, because I think he's being lighthearted and casual, and I think of him as someone who's not a prudish stick-in-the-mud. I find that refreshing, because too many people are in fact prudish sticks-in-the-mud.

Many people clutch their pearls at the very mention of words like boobies, which I've never understood. I guess Will understands that some people are mature adults who won't faint at his language, and he doesn't "prude up" to cater to the pearl-clutchers and their Victorian sensibilities.

It doesn't make me want to wear a t-shirt with that logo, though. I do recognize that many people in this country wouldn't appreciate being subjected to that kind of message while they're trying to get some shopping done at the grocery store, and I don't think I should subject them to it.

On an unrelated note: Will, I REALLY wish that your comment system supported HTML tags.

Some kink in the link

Amanda — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 14:48:43 GMT

Huh, it's funny that everyone's concerned about how the NSFW comment would offend people but not the whole Shriiimping on Women. I think we're objectified enough without being used for sexy billboards for graffiti artists. I have a daughter and I'm putting that on list with things I aspire to keep her from doing: 1. being on the pole, 2. graffiti canvas...

Some kink in the link

Will Femia — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:10:00 GMT

For the record, my "contains boobies" remark was meant to mock the idea of "not safe" content.

NSFW! Not safe! Unsafe! Danger!

What is this great danger that imperils your safety? Why it's the image of a woman's bare breast! Oh Nos!
Of all the things I could find on the Internet that could pose some danger to you just by looking at them, a bare breast would not even crack the top thousand.

Obviously I'm being more literal than "NSFW" actually means, but still I scoff a little when I make that note for something that is probably the most safe thing nature produces outside of a kangaroo pouch.

It never really occurred to me that using slang would be offensive. I meant it to be disarming.

Some kink in the link

Nick, Morristown NJ — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 18:39:03 GMT

I read the post on The Charlie Daniels Band site. I have to say that I think Mr. Daniels has either never seen the game Guitar Hero III or has no sense of fun what so ever. The point of the game is to beat "Lou" in a duel, just like the story in his song. Yes you may lose a few times before winning, but I think hes over reacting. I thought the way the storyline was done was pretty good for a game strictly about playing tunes.

Everyone who has ever been in a band has known the slick talking manager, or club owner who you often find yourself saying, that guy is the Devil. Its more commentary on the music industry than anything Mr. Daniels may feel is being implied.

Some kink in the link

Robbi, Boston — Sat, 12 Apr 2008 14:18:36 GMT

I am a woman and Will's "NSFW (contains boobies)" statement doesn't offend me at all. In fact, it made me laugh out loud. I admit I might think differently about using "boobies" from someone else, but I know that Will never intentionally offends anyone, and he's very SFW. :)

Some kink in the link

Rob, Long Island, NY — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 20:21:43 GMT

I def agree with you in the fact that seeing boobies poses no danger. the fact people freak out about stupid stuff like is one of the things that drives me nuts about this country. however, some of us, myself included, have no desire to ever see boobies real or fake. they are impossible to get away from. so that is why i appreciate your warnings. 99% of the time the NSFW stuff is girl related and not what i wanna stare at.

as for the bar code things...i think the idea is so cool and it is so odd that stuff like that takes forever to catch on in the US. they have had it for a while in asia and in europe. the main reason being we are behind in cellphone technology. doesnt make sense