In the midst of the ongoing Tom Cruise publicity machine/Scientology blitzkrieg, I find myself looking foward less and less to War of the Worlds. I find that my perception of Cruise as a very vocal proponent of Scientology is colouring how I view his work as an actor. (And yes, in the past I have enjoyed his work in a number of his films. He is not the great actor of his generation, but he is effective and enjoyable as a leading man.) But should my personal opinions about his beliefs affect how I experience his work?

It is similar to my experience with Ender’s Game and Orson Scott Card. Ender’s Game was one of my favourite sci-fi books from my teenage years and won both the Hugo and Nebula awards. However, in the past number of years, I have read a number of articles written by him which alter my opinion of him — including his articles denouncing homosexuality and his recent article reacting to the riots in response to the Newsweek article on Guantanamo Bay.

I’m not advocating that Cruise and Card shouldn’t express their views publicly. Go for it. Shout it from the rooftops. I’ll lend you a megaphone.

But I have the equal right to disagree with their message and avoid supporting their views.

But does this mean that their message is connected to and should overlay their artsitic works? Or should we be able to separate our perceptions of an artist’s work from their personal beliefs? Does partaking in their work mean you are tacitly supporting their beliefs?

I don’t know.

I’ll most likely go see War of the Worlds. But I’m not looking forward to it as much as I was before.

And I haven’t re-read Ender’s Game in years.

• Pitchforkmedia: “Nike Campaign ‘Borrows’ Album Art”

But Nike is smart enough to know better, right? They must have asked permission. We spoke to a representative from Dischord Records, Minor Threat’s label, if Nike had asked to borrow these images. They said the following: “No, they stole it and we’re not happy about it. Nike is a giant corporation which is attempting to manipulate the alternative skate culture to create an even wider demand for their already ubiquitous brand. Nike represents just about the antithesis of what Dischord stands for and it makes me sick to my stomach to think they are using this explicit imagery to fool kids into thinking that the general ethos of this label, and Minor Threat in particular, can somehow be linked to Nike’s mission. It’s disgusting.”

I just can’t get my head around the decision-making process behind this choice:

“Hey! Let’s use cover art from a classic hardcore album to promote our skateboard tour! No, don’t ask for permission — by stealing, we’ll be even cooler! Kids like stealing!”

Even the whole “no-press-is-bad-press” line doesn’t hold water on this one.

(Then again, the whole “no-press-is-bad-press” theory is taking a bit of a beating, thanks to Señor Shiny Teeth.)

UPDATE: So, there has been more discussion in the blogosphere about this issue — Kottke has parked his tent in the “obviously an homage” camp, while others seem to be taking him to task for his devil-may-care response.

However, Nike seems to have surprisingly taken the high road and issued a classy and heartfelt apology.

So there we are.

This weekend was hot. It was a weekend for lounging around, having a beer, and — upon discovering that even the act of raising the beer to your lips is causing far too much body heat — going somewhere with freaking air-conditioning. For example, a movie theatre. Or a mall. Or a dentist’s office. (I’m not being picky at this point.)

But alas, it was not to be. It was In-Law Day at the homestead on Saturday, so prolonged activity in the record-breaking heat was the order of the day.

And, afterwards, it seems like heatstroke was the order of the evening.

I don’t know what it is — I can play Ultimate for two days straight in the sweltering August sun, but an hour around that grill on Saturday knocked me flat. Took out a whole night of studying for a midterm too.

Oh yeah. I have a midterm today. Conveniently wiped that from my short-term memory.

There’s nothing quite like being in your 30s and telling people, “I have a midterm on Monday.” Their response, “Oh, are you working towards a Master’s?”

Nope, your humble blogmaster extraordinaire is working towards a Bachelor of Computer Science.

Which, in his esteemed opinion, may be of more use than his BA in Acting.

As he works with computers.

And does not act.

…

Hmmm… I seem to have developed the power to lose my focus preternaturally swiftly… I must find a way to harness this power… but only for good, never for– oh look, a penny!

• McSweeney’s: “How to Beat Off Invaders From Space; or, What to Do When the Aliens Come”

And thusly, to all of you who mocked me for playing playing Ultimate all these years and referring to it as “geek disc” — I’m looking at you, Rummie — I quote:

Anyway, remember that if science has proven anything it’s that all corporeal beings are subject to one of four forces. Those forces are a metal softball bat, a pitchfork, a bucket of boiling water, and a Frisbee with razorblades taped to the edges.

Who’ll be ready for the aliens now, bee-yatch?

So, it’s Friday, it’s supposed to be 34° celsius here tomorrow, and the in-laws are coming over for a BBQ. Thusly, beer shall be had by all.

So in anticpation, I offer this handy tip to chill your beer faster:

1. Get a bucket or bucket-like substitute.
2. Fill bucket with water.
3. Add ice.
4. Throw in a handful of salt.
5. Stir.
6. Add beer.
7. Wait.

Conclusion: Quickly chilled beer!

* Warning! Do not add the beer before the salt. Your guests will not appreciate a rim of salt encrusting their beverages. Unless they’re freaks. Or are drinking margaritas. And if they are, why are they chilling it with the beer? Does the crushed ice in the margarita not cool it enough for them? Are they greedy or something? Get your own ice/water/salt buckets, jerks!