I am so over vampires

It’s a pity that not everybody agrees with me. Now vampire ridiculousness has infiltrated the world of knitting. I guess I should have known this was coming, what will all the Twilight groups on Ravelry. The sad thing is that I looked through the patterns, and a lot of them are really cute and have nothing to do with vampires! The taint of the Cullens is too strong for me to consider purchasing this, but I might borrow it from the library.

America: “It’s easier to deal in guns than in wine.”

My new favorite wine.

As somebody who just shipped a boatload of alcohol from California, the proposed legislation talked about in this article makes me very sad.

In Russia, you don’t look like Jared Leto; Jared Leto looks like you

This really talented Russian cosplay (just learned that word today; where have I been??) transformed herself into Jared Leto. It was the most uncomfortable six minutes since I…

…nevermind, that’s private.

The Internet, explained

XKCD, an entertaining and spot-on web comic has kindly deigned to explain online communities to those who may be out of the loop.

You’re welcome.

World’s Truest Venn Diagram

via LauraOlin

German, where have you been all my life?

I love language. I find it fascinating certain ideas are more easily expressed in one language than another. For example, there is no complete, direct English translation for the French phrase “l’esprit de l’escalier.” The phrase defines the act of thinking of a clever comeback when it’s too late to say it. You may be elsewhere, or maybe it’s just that too much time has passed. Whatever the reason, the phrase encompasses the regret one feels that this response was not thought of when it could have been employed.

German is another language that has given English these types of words: schadenfreude, zeitgeist, and my new favorite word ever, fremdschämen. This word means to be vicariously embarrassed for somebody else. I feel this all the time. It’s part of the reason that I gave up Ugly Betty in early season 3, and can’t watch sitcoms at all. I feel embarrassed for the characters on the show, and often the actors who portray them (I feel that 200 grand an episode is the least the producers can give them for having to play such stupid characters).

Oddly enough, I have a reality tv star to thank for bringing this word to my attention. Reality shows are another type of program that I usually avoid, unless they’re on HGTV or involve Tim Gunn. That means that I’ve never watched a single second of Keeping up with the Kardashians, although I’d have to be living under a rock not to know anything about these people. A Jezebel post entitled “Germans Outraged by Sexy Oktoberfest Outfits” featured a picture of Kim Kardashian in a sexy (but, dare I say it, not completely unadorable) dirndl.

Although it wasn’t linked to, the quotes used in that post came from this Wall Street Journal article. It quotes Ursula Fröhmer, a Munich tailor tailor who specializes in traditional folk costumes, who really doesn’t care for the modern spin that people are putting on tracht, traditional Bavarian clothing. She describes her reaction to these clothes in this manner:

“I’m overcome with fremdschämen, and I’m ashamed that I’m from Bavaria when I see things like that,” Ms. Fröhmer says.

Way harsh, Tai! Since I don’t have any historical connection to dirndls, I just appreciate when I see a cute one, nevermind that it may not be in keeping with tradition. I’m sad for Ms. Fröhmer that she has to watch her cultural costume become commercialized, but I’m happy that this occasion gave me a word for what I’ve been feeling pretty much all my life.

Is Wayne Brady gonna have to choke a bitch?

Wayne Brady holds a special place in my heart. He has been a part of some really funny pop culture moments, and seems to have an excellent sense of the ridiculous.

Here’s his epic Chapelle Show appearance:

And a recent Funny or Die skit that he did with Mike Tyson, where they did a frame by frame recreation of Bobby Brown’s 80s-licious video for “Every Little Step I Take.”

For comparison’s sake, here is the original Bobby Brown video:

Things like this are why I always smile when I think of Wayne Brady.

(Via New York Magazine)

Hot Guys Reading Books

Yes, please.

Every now and then, tumblr justifies its existence.

There’s some middle place between lashing and shrugging

The story of the Polish Neo-Nazi couple who learned that they were Jewish is really interesting to me. I wonder what it would be like to discover that you are the thing you hate. I applaud Ola and Pawel for turning their lives away from hated and crime, and think it’s fascinating that they now practice Orthodox Judaism. But some of the quotes that appear in this article about them make me uncomfortable.

“I’m not saying I don’t have regrets but it’s not something I walk around and lash myself over,” said Pawel. “I feel sorry for those that I beat up … but I don’t hold a grudge against myself. The people who I hurt can hold a grudge against me.”

And Ola said that while she wasn’t proud of her past, she wasn’t embarrassed either. Really? I could be embarrassed over it. They stopped being Neo-Nazis because they realized that they were Jewish, but they’re not embarrassed about the spewing hatred and beating up people part of the movement? Eh, these two seem like extremist joiners, so maybe they see any endeavor that advances their current belief system to be okay.

I’m going to watch the documentary when it airs, and maybe I’ll come away with a different understanding of this couple.

I feel like I’ve read every awful romance novel ever

But somehow I missed these doozies. Maybe it’s because I try to stay away from “the clinch,” but whatever it is, I’m thanking my lucky stars and adding these all to my Not To Be Read list.