Cool Shit 3/18

With the NCAA College Basketball tournament starting soon, you will see a plethora of bracket style tournaments popping up all over in the next few days. And while I normally think the gimmick has been slightly overplayed, I feel this one with Star Wars characters is mildly interesting. At first glance, it's hard to not predict Han Solo and Boba Fett facing off in the finals, but then there are some factors that could ruin it. This genuinely has the potential for upsets, something other pop culture bracket tournaments don't have. I feel I could write another 2,000 words on this, but will stop here.

Even famous authors get rejected.

The good, the bad and ugly of films at SXSW this year.

Was the Death Star's destruction cause by rebels? Or was there something more going on? If you've seen Loose Change, this is definitely for you.



This is an interesting article on the potential of a beer monopoly coming, and what it would do to prices on a global and national scale.

Sometimes tagging with graffiti isn't just about gangs; sometimes it can be quite literary.

Cool Shit 3/13

Couldn't get to SXSW? Here's a guide to track much of it down from the comfort of your home.

When I started this blog, I swore that I would immediately link to any article with the title, "Ukrainian Attack Dolphins on the Loose." My work here is done.

A movie about a traveling salesman. A traveling salesman is a person who goes on the road and sells things door to door. It's a dying art, which makes this movie interesting. Also, this may be the greatest traveling salesman ever. How can I say that? Because he sells bronze baby shoes. To people door to door. In 2013.



Check out what your neighbors are searching for when they search for porn.

Are you a twist tie person or a plastic clip person? Apparently your answer influences the 10.6 BILLION dollar bread bag closing industry.

Cool Shit 3/11

A lot of people today will probably be talking about how great Saturday Night Live was this week, with guest host Justin Timberlake. While the show had its moments, I don't believe it deserves the hype I've been seeing it get on the Internet. Too many of the jokes relied on nostalgia and not actual humor, (the 5 Timers Club just rolled out cameos, and other than Martin Short, no one seemed like they wanted to be there; the "Veganville" sketch is a rehash of the same sketch Timberlake always does when he's on and is getting old, also Bobby Moynahan was not a great foil) while the original sketches did not seemed to be fleshed out whatsoever.

I understand that anticipation establishes excitement which leads to people maybe wanting to have enjoyed something more than actually enjoying it. I think that's what happened with this SNL episode. I think Timberlake is a very talented host and I enjoyed him on his earlier episodes. I just wish instead of falling back on the characters he's successfully done in the past, he (and the rest of the SNL crew) pushed to find new and interesting sketches/characters.

Have you really dived into the sordid mess that used to be NBC's sitcom Up All Night?

Things you never knew about Pink Floyd's classic album Dark Side of the Moon. Or, if you're a crazy fan of that album, maybe you do know these things.

A deeper look into Disney's acquisition of LucasFilm.

The latest update with what's going on with Arrested Development.

If you're a woman, and use a computer, I would probably skip this story about hackers.

SXSW is currently happening. And that means music. Lots and lots of music. Download it all here.

Links of Interest 3/18

Haven't signed up for the FREE Popcorn Trick March Madness Tournament with REAL PRIZES? Well, that's just stupid. Go Here to do so. Password: Popcorn

12 things you shouldn't eat.

The church's sex abuse problems? It was Satan!

Tina Fey on Tina Fey.

Here are 10 more bands you should check out at SXSW this year.

The oldest trees on the planet.

By now, I'm sure you've seen Lady GaGa's video, Telephone. But do you know what it means? (via kottke)

So...what does a year old Happy Meal look like?

Ladies, please be aware of the East Coast rapist.

A topic everyone should be comfortable with - prostitution in churches.

Are these 10 ideas good for the next 10 years?

Links of Interest 3/16

Karl Rove's new memoir might not be correctly labeled as "non-fiction."

Want to be the next Howard Stern? Make sure you have the right equipment.

SXSW is a great place to keep up to date with new bands. Here are 10 you should keep your eye on.

Those Jason Bourne movies might not be as fictitious as you think.

Find out what will be streaming soon on Netflix.

Directors talk about their favorite movie scenes. (via kottke)

Found out your the last person on Earth? You have more responsibility than you think.

There are so many places I want to travel to around the world. This is one of them.

What do you think the most dangerous drugs are?

Feeling ripped off? Don't worry, it's probably true.

Links of Interest 3/15

Say what you want about the NCAA college basketball tournament and its selection process, it's still one of the most entertaining things out there in sports.

There's something hypnotic about watching QVC.

Female anthems that at second look don't do as much for feminism as the auteur intended them to do.

Old time sex ed videos. I wonder what current pieces of educational materials/pop culture future generations will laugh at? Or are we so self ironic that it's now impossible to do that?

Athletes in movies. I think my favorite athlete cameo came from Wade Boggs in Cheers.

Some movie science debunked. So we really never will be able to clone dinosaurs. This is bullshit!

When I read Chevy Chase had the option of being in Steely Dan I had to link to this.

How do you get your band to stand out at SXSW? Name it something ridiculous.

Henry Rollins always seems to have something interesting to say.

The perfect car. Apparently, it's not a myth.

My Jam of the Indeterminate Time Period: Black Kids "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You"

I'll try and do this every week (nothing resembling a guarantee about that). I'll briefly highlight a new (or maybe not-so-new) song that is currently infesting my brain. More often than not, it'll be something that caught my ear via Sirius. I want feedback, but I'll probably ignore it if it's not positive. Feel free to turn me on (dead man) to some other good Jams of Your Indeterminate Time Period.

My first entry is the Black Kids awesomely titled "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You".



I'm not going to sit here cross-legged and tell you that this is the most original, genre-shattering, era-defining masterpiece. It's not. It's basically Robert Smith fronting The Go! Team (the lead singer may even be Smith's illegitimate mixed-race son). You could do a lot worse Frankensteining bands together, though. It has a great flow and is catchy as hell (likely to be a recurring theme).

The lyrics depict a story as old as time. Guy loves girl. Girl has jerk boyfriend. Guy employs sympathetic female backup singers to count to 4 in between his complaints. Guy won't teach jerk boyfriend to dance because "He's got two left feet and he bites my moves." Guy gets girl, but wonders how he compares to the jerk boyfriend. Just like in West Side Story.

I do deduct points for yet another "Black Plural Objects"/"Descriptive Phrase Kids" approach to band-naming. With a modicum of searching my brain and the Internets, here are a *lot* of other new-ish bands that follow this hackneyed pattern:

1. Black Lips
2. Black Keys
3. Black Dice
4. Black Ghosts
5. Black Diamond Heavies
6. Black Hollies
7. Cold War Kids
8. Cool Kids
9. No Kids

This needs to stop. Now.

I'm willing to be the bigger man, and sublimate my loathing for their unorigiinal name in exchange for singing along to the chorus. Also, I think liking a band named "Black Kids" makes you less racist.

N-Joi yourself.

While you're listening, check out this article from The Morning News where the author listened to 1 song by 763 SXSW bands and wrote a 6-word review for each.

The official video (eh):


A live version:


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