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July 16, 2007

HBO + Pablo Escobar

I haven't had a chance to see HBO's series Entourage, but the buzz around one episode has just crossed my browser window. A fictional character is scheduled to appear in a fictional film about the life of Pablo Escobar. HBO has has extended the fiction and has created a promotional website for the fictional film, complete with glowing reviews from journalists and critics. Several fan and media blogs have picked up on the trailer and are begging for the fictional movie to become an actual one. I'm not ready to see a Pablo Escobar bio-pic. I'm afraid it will glamorize and glorify one of the most insidiously corrupting influences in Colombian history. At the risk of further aggrandizing, I repeat the pings below.

I watched the trailer, I didn't think it was all that good. I'm not sure what the fuss is all about.

Posted by SWEAT at 05:50 PM

July 10, 2007

Who will we invade next?

Wired magazine has posted a tantalizing puzzle. The solution is to be posted wednesday. The Danger Room blog is taking a look at the invasion plan that is transforming the armed forces of the US. The big reveal will be which single nation is compelling enough to cause a major reorganization of the defensive forces of the worlds remaining superpower. It caught my attention because Colombia is on the list. So too is Venezuela. I have family in both places. Can you guess which country we will invade next to ensure Pax Americana?

Posted by SWEAT at 07:49 AM

July 09, 2007

SWEAT in LA Times

Ana Gorman of the L.A. Times has written a story about the growing canon of games about immigration. Crosser, La Migra, and Squeezed feature prominently in this well researched article. So too does SWEAT collaborator Francisco Ortega for his board games on the theme. Ms. Gorman has done an impressive job of interviewing advocacy groups who have authored games, policy research centers, and funding organizations — as well as crazy artists and designers who thought games of this sort should exist.

Posted by SWEAT at 09:31 PM

July 05, 2007

King of the Hill

Mark Francis located today's entry for me, which is cool in its ironic weirdness:

‘"Grand Theft Arlen” written by Sanjay Shah"
Episode KH-1108
Original Airdate: 4/29/07

Hank is horrified that Bobby is playing video games in P.E. instead of training for the Presidential Fitness Test. When Hank confronts Principal Moss, he meets the hipster gamers who have set up the alternative P.E. to test out their new games. Intrigued by Hank and his propane world, the gamers bother him with endless questions. When Hank discovers these guys have turned his life into a video game very similar to Grand Theft Auto but revolving around propane, he is furious. Unfortunately for Hank, Strickland wants him to play the game to get information so he can sue for video game royalties. As Hank becomes more involved with the game, he pays less attention to Bobby and helping him train for the fitness test. Peggy discovers Hank’s addiction to the game and when she is unsuccessful at having him quit cold turkey, she goes to the gamers for help. The gamers give Peggy the secret codes to being indestructible and end the game. Bobby doesn’t pass his fitness test but Hank is happy he did so much better than the other video game kids.’

Posted by SWEAT at 09:37 AM