The Nukezilla Sunday Supplement – July 31st 2011

Every Sunday we’re going to post links to articles we think are interesting from the last week. Sundays are usually very quiet around here, so this seems like the best day to do it. We’re going to link to articles on range of subjects, including videogames, technology, movies, geek culture and much, much more.

Videogames

Please keep being stupid – Sexy Videogame Land. An interetsing article that argues that for videogame violence to be ok, it must exist in a silly, funny world. Beating up prostitutes in Vice City is ok because the game doesn’t try to be too serious.

Internet

Is anyone there? – The New York Times. “When people don’t answer my e-mails, I always think maybe something tragic happened,” said John Leguizamo, the writer and performer, whose first marriage ended when his wife asked him by e-mail for a divorce. “Like maybe they got hit by a meteorite.”

I’m a social media rockstar – Slackatory. A very funny article: “Being a social media rock star usually means staying late. Even on days when I don’t need to stay late, I’ll just do it anyway because other people are staying late. That’s just kind of how it is around here. If a coworker leaves before 9pm, the other coworkers will say something like, “Hey! I guess so-and-so’s only putting in a half day today!” Then we all laugh and joke about how worthless that person is and how he/she should be fired. Minutes later, the rest of us leave simultaneously.”

Culture

What We Talk About When We Talk About Hipsters – The L Magazine. This is an article about something you probably haven’t heard of, defending a term you’re too mainstream to understand. No put some large framed glasses on and start reading.

Politics & Media

Hack Work – The New Yorker. The New Yorker offers up its take on the phone hacking scandal, offering a very nice American perspective, summarising the issues and coming to some interesting conclusion.

Decline and fall of the American empire – The Guardian. ”The economic powerhouse of the 20th century emerged stronger from the Depression. But faced with cultural decay, structural weaknesses and reliance on finance, can the US do it again?”

Comedy

WARNING: LOUD AUTOPLAY VIDEO. A very funny Englishman in New York – The Guardian. This is a nice interview with John Oliver, the English commedian who work’s the the “chief British correspondant” for the Daily Show. He also makes the *hilarious* Bugle podcasts, which you should totally listen to.