September 23rd, 2008 §
As though King Thor was watching… coincidence that I just mentioned my disregard? Or perhaps a sign? Anyway, send this off to the Westword before the DNC and suddenly it appears today on the site.
Obi Best
Capades
Social Science
02:00-02:45 of “Nothing Can Come Between Us”: When I first saw this cover and name, I was really, really hoping that it was going to be a sort of Star Wars meets Feist sort of thing. Unfortunately, it’s just a Feist meets Feist kind of deal. I mean, she didn’t invent it, but Apple sure blew it away. Too bad: “1-2-3-4, Obi-Wan and Yoda score, 5-6-7-8, Darth Vader learns to enunciate” would have been sweet.
Bart Millard
Hymned Again
Simpleville Music
00:00-00:45 of “I Saw the Light”: What the hell kind of good Christian family gives their child a name like Bart Millard? Listen, I know we have a friend in Jesus and all, so can’t you ask him to time travel back to the moment you popped out of yer mama and give you a name change? Maybe switch up your label’s name while you’re at it, too. I mean, “simple” means a couple of different things.
MORE
via [Westword.com]
September 22nd, 2008 §
I have been gone a long time, searching and hunting for the mystic ruin of Cappa Dioso. I lost it while cooking up my recipe for Dragon-Sauce. But regardless, I’ve decided to check in to show you ways that they are lying, and that I am right.
In Thoronia, people who wear glasses will not be mocked by physics. If you do not wear glasses you may not understand — if you do, take them off and look in the mirror. Put your face really close to the mirror. Why are things in the background still blurry? You are one inch away from them, but the distance is still unseeable. Why is that? What magic powers do a mirror hold that makes your eyesight unable to control the distance? Magic or mockery? In Thoronia, when a near-blind man looks in a mirror they can see as far as the mirror can see.
September 16th, 2008 §
It’s been snot-wipingly busy here in Thoronia, as the sole provider of funds has been busy fundraising and attending the university. Of course, the university is being attended in order to expand the histories of Thoronia, but for now we’ll just name drop a few interesting things we’ve spotted about the web or on the shelves.
- *If you don’t already know, David Foster Wallace took his own life last week. He was an amazingly astute and unbelievably talented writer — one whom unwittingly contributed to the Thoronian histories in more ways than one. Although much of his work is amazing, my personal favorite is “Host,” a non-fiction article published in the Atlantic three years ago. The online version does it no justice, but I can’t give you all a copy of it in print.
- *Speaking of snot-wiping, a member of Thoronia has started working on an article looking at Super Mario Bros. 3, and I don’t mean just looking — it’s deep analysis of Super Mario Bros. 3 using Freud, uncanny and Oedipus Rex.
- *Speaking of absurdness, curious as to what is being read in Thoronia right now? Here’s the what hit the chopping block pre-August 25th:
- Sarah Vowell — The Partly Cloudy Patriot
- David Foster Wallace — The Broom of the System
- David Mitchell — Ghostwritten
- Haruki Murakami — What I Talk About When I Talk About Running
- *And here is what I got slammed with post August 25th:
- Meredith Brosnan — Mr. Dynamite
- Renee Gladman — Juice
- Patrik Ourednik — Europena
- Adolfo Casares — Invention of Moral
- Anchor Book of New American Short Stories
- Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism
- Feminist Theory Reader: Local and Global Perspectives
- *On a completely unrelated note, NHL 09 is by far the best sports game ever to grace a console system — better than 94, better than Tecmo Bowl, better than Mutant League.
- *If you’ve ever played Portal, the highly addictive, interesting, amazing, talked about, awesome, sweet ass, puzzle 3D game, than you’ll likely appreciate this video, which sets the amazing end credits song to some typographical fun.
- *I’ve been trying my best to give the most talked about game of the last 5 years a real play through, but Spore seems to me like a remarkably ambitious, creative effort that went bad. It’s one of the most boring games I’ve ever played — web browser flash games have more depth. However, the actual game, what it does, what it accomplishes, and what happens when you stick with it is remarkable — I mean, if you’re into that whole creationist evolution theory (we here in Thoronia know that the Good King Thor created all). I’ll probably hit it up again come my next three day weekend, but for now, I’ll sit awkwardly in disappointment, thinking that perhaps I just didn’t “get it.”
- *Speaking of King Thor, the Republic of Thoronia Band just got a date to play a show. Mark November 7th on your calenders, take the night off work and come on down for some Friday Night Fun at the hi-dive with The Republic of Thoronia Band, Franklin’s Mint and Sunburned Hand of Man. Show starts at 9:00 sharp kids (if you haven’t been to a show at the hi-dive recently, let me tell you, they’ve whipped it into shape, when it says the show starts at 9:00, the show starts at 9:00), and the RoTB will be kicking it off and getting it started!
- *In case anyone was wondering, here are my picks for holiday games of the year: Dead Space, Far Cry 2, Fallout 3, Prince of Persia and Little Big Planet.
September 4th, 2008 §
That’s right folks, tomorrow is the big day! Are you ready for this? The first annual Republic of Thoronia Artifacts Exhibit is here! Can’t decide you want to come to see an art show in the Good King Thor’s honor? Well, much like church, we will have tons of free schwag for those who come early! Glow in the dark t-shirts! CDs! Books! Guaranteed excitement! Beer! Wine! See!
Republic of Thoronia Schwag!
If that’s not enough than there will be art too! Brent Neustifter’s monster! Brandon Knapp’s shield! Mojiferous’ Smoking KT/Jesus! Bryan Danknich’s animals! Cameron Munier’s Constitution! MORE! MORE! MORE!
Wonder what other people are saying? How about the Westword!?!
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Of Gods and Men
Published on September 04, 2008
It’s not every day that I can talk to a god — even a made-up one. But the Republic of Thoronia is a strange and ironic place. Here’s what I’m sure I know: King Thor chills in a scarf, old sneakers and boxers. He carries around a tote bag filled with important stuff that fell out of his head. Beyond that, I’m at a loss.
Tonight at 7 p.m. at the Skinny Squirrel, 3047 Larimer Street, The Republic of Thoronia Artifact Exhibit is a chance to learn all there is to know about this, er, alternate (read: fictional) history. “Everything is going to be explained better than it has been,” says Thoronian deity King Thor. “There’s going to be a history chart graphing histories — the present histories that we know and this alternative history that could have been.” Other “artifacts” include a suit of armor, paintings, dolls and a mustache chart.Admission is free. For more information, e-mail republicofthoronia@gmail.com or go to http://blog.mcbya.net.
Fri., Sept. 5, 2008
Via [Westword.com]
August 5th, 2008 §
Hello All,
This letter is to officially and honestly announce the Republic of Thoronia Artifacts Exhibit, which will be taking place on September 5th at the Skinny Squirrel Gallery (3047 Larimer St., Denver, Colorado). The exhibit will feature a variety of pieces from collector’s from around the world, with pieces raging in size and scope from booklets to armor, dolls to paintings. Officially licensed exhibitor’s include: Bryan Danknich, Mojiferous J. Colossus, Brandon Knapp and Brent Neustifter, with unofficial applicant’s still waiting approval. The Exhibit will help to found the History of Thoronia in the minds and souls of Denverite’s as well as continue the always running teachings of the Good King Thor. Please feel free to submit your applications for your admissions to this website, and be sure to bring your friends.
