Thursday, July 9, 2015

Cool Shit 7/9

The Spoils Before Dying is the followup to The Spoils of Babylon, a spoof miniseries on IFC. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm not going to be able to easily explain it to you, so go to the link.

Seven Days in Hell, Andy Samberg's new comedy mocumentary about the longest game played at Wimbledon. The sport of tennis is ripe to mock, I just they could have done it slightly better by simply following Samberg's character throughout a tournament, instead of framing it within one match.

Get to know what a bottle episode is on a television series, and how to do one right:



New trailer for the Spielberg/Coen Brothers mashup Bridge of Spies. Seems like there is A LOT going on in this movie. Also, the title stinks.



Quantum physics is pretty impossible to slog through, unless your a quantum physics scientist. And even then it's not the simplest thing. But here are six basic principles to at least get you started on the trail toward a basic understanding of it all.

Ever wonder about the nutritional value of prison food?


Wednesday, July 8, 2015

Cool Shit 7/8

So Hannibal was cancelled, and while there were some early reports of it possibly getting picked up somewhere else, that somewhere else will not include Amazon nor Netflix. So what are the other options?

So this wingsuit flight is completely insane:



Extreme body modification is getting more and more technical as we plunge into the future. 

Time lapse of a super cell thunderstorm in South Dakota...



News of a Han Solo standalone "origin" film is bittersweet for me; obviously I love the character, but not sure I want to know his back story.

Back when ESPN was stretching for programming, swamp buggy racing was on. So I've seen this, multiple times, and appreciate the level of entertainment that comes with it.

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Cool Shit 7/7

This is most likely how the machine uprising starts, born out of the hubris of humans challenging each other with slave robots in a fighting pit. The science-fiction novel writes itself.

Enjoy a 6,000 FPS video of a 143 MPH serve:



I was always a Paul guy. I felt like he got shortchanged (as much as that's possible within the Beatles) because few gave him credit for being the force that held the Beatles together as long as they were together. In fact, most of what he says in this interview, I agree with. I just wish he didn't actually come out and say it, since it seems as though he's bothered enough by it that he has to let people know about dirty laundry and petty squabbled that happened over 50 years ago.

Travel a lot but don't have access to wi-fi in airports? Try these simple tricks.

I haven't tried Apple Music yet, but everything I've read so far has made it seem somewhat confusing. Therefore, these tips should help users out.

Didn't Barbarella already answer this?

My dad once told me, as we were sitting and watching Wimbledon coverage on HBO back in the day, after I suggested I would like to go to Wimbledon some day, that "you'd have a better chance getting in as a player than as a spectator." While I doubt that's really true, the allure and prestige of the tournament sometimes makes it feel that way. This article does little to change that perception.


Monday, July 6, 2015

Cool Shit 7/6

"Every" time traveling movie, ranked.

This past weekend was the Nathan's hot dog eating contest. You may have heard there was an upset. But that's not really important. What is important is the brilliance behind the introductions to the challengers.

The definition of classic rock, and why it might mean it's dwindling.

A deep dive into Sam Peckinpah's Straw Dogs and what it meant for his career.

I guess this theory would explain Batman within the comic book universe.

As the Grateful Dead wind it down, let's take a look back at their innovative "Wall of Sound."

What your body goes through in a routine day...




Thursday, July 2, 2015

Cool Shit 7/2

Disney owning the Star Wars universe gives us the potential to have films about all sorts of stuff based in that reality. Here are a few ideas of what would be cool. What are yours?

Sometimes the idea of living off the grid in a commune sounds intriguing to me, but then I realize I would be living with a bunch of people that were REALLY into living on a commune. Anyway, here are some pictures of a commune.

There's a new Terminator movie coming out. And it basically resets everything that happened in the other Terminator movies. Or something. Take a look at all the killer robots from the series...



Beats 1, the "radio" station that comes with Apple Music went live the other day.

A game from the dark web that no one seems to know much about: Sad Satan.

Home of the planet's unofficial "worst weather" tag? A mountain in New Hampshire.


Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Cool Shit 7/1

It's July - enjoy some of the new and interesting shows that will be coming out this month.

A sushi chef reviews store-bought sushi, with mildly surprising results...



The X-Files is coming back next year so there's some excitement around the show right now. Here are the 10 episodes Chris Carter says are essential.

A look at some of the first impressions of the new Apple Music service.

Chasing  the totality of a solar eclipse.

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Cool Shit 6/30

Celebrity athletic sporting events are my kryptonite. I get mad when it's not taken seriously, or when they award bases for comedic sake. Here's hoping Dirk runs a tight ship with his celebrity baseball game.

Federer is probably the greatest tennis player ever. I have a soft spot for Laver because he won two grandslams seven years apart (among other achievements) but in the modern era what Federer has been able to do is amazing. His longetivity alone puts him above most. And now, as his career is (seemingly) winding down, it's interesting to take a look back and see what he's accomplished.

A little late but RIP Chris Squire, the longtime bassist for Yes.

Diving for sea urchins. A lucrative business if you live near a place that has sea urchins aplenty...



Going into this, I wondered why it would have been cut. After watching it, I get it:



It's never good when the term "World War III" is bandied about as a potential.

A review for the new Terminator movie that seems, uh...well I don't even know.

Monday, June 29, 2015

Cool Shit 6/29

Water-tasting competition. I fell like I could be a judge comparing waters.

Would you be interested in a documentary about Taxi Driver?

A deep dive into Blazing Saddles, and why it resonates.

Pizza and the New York subway. They go hand in hand.

An asteroid of significant size would be cataclysmic to our species. And yet our plan in case we ever found one (or for finding one) is inept. We're playing a dangerous space lottery that, while the odds might be stacked in our favor, are not insignificant. Oh well.

Want to get yourself immersed into the cyberpunk genre? Here's a great place to start.

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Cool Shit 6/18

A cool island off the Isle of Wight where you can play Laser Tag. Among other things. No Man's Land.

Finally! The US is going to have to answer to Russia about how they faked the moon landing.

David Simon is working on a 70s porn series.

Apparently the internet isn't invincible, and someone could take it down if they set their mind to it. And probably had a lot of money...



Another mixed review of the new season of True Detective.

Driving Route 50, the Loneliest Road in America.

Deutschland 83, a new series on Sundance about the Cold War, entirely in German. Sounds right up my alley.

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

Cool Shit 6/16

So Game of Thrones is over for this year. What can you watch now? Try these alternatives.

Beck has a new single out and it's certainly more funky than his previous album:



Full trailer for the Ferrell/Wiig Lifetime movie: A Deadly Adoption. Wow.



Speaking with the guys who made HBO's The Jinx: The Robert Durst story.

Oh you people who are dismayed about the recent Game of Thrones ending, despair not! There are clues out there to suggest all is not what it seems. (And honestly, if the end stays the end (trying to remain spoiler free here) then it's just shoddy storytelling with the whole series, creating plot points just to deceive the viewer and not to advance or remain true to the story. And that would be a shame.)

Monday, June 15, 2015

Cool Shit 6/15

You wish you were as cool as Michael Winslow doing Led Zeppelin's Whole Lotta' Love:



There are a lot of things going on in this article about a rogue star traveling through our solar system, one being that it happened 70,000 years ago. It's amazing how the universe makes past events so significant to our present circumstances.

Speaking of a lot of things going on, there really is a lot we don't know about the world we live in.

Enhance your music listening experience with these programs.

Reviews for True Detective Season 2 are coming and the results are...mixed.

For serious Gin & Tonic drinkers.

Tent City. Not sure why there needed to be an eviction of people not bothering people and simply trying to get on with life the only way they knew possible at that moment.

Friday, June 12, 2015

Cool Shit 6/12

A list of some of the longest movies ever made.

Who better to tell you how to rob a bank than a bank robber.

We're not that far away from a crackdown on the additives used for junk food. Mark my words.

Apparently this is real: Will Ferrell and Kristen Wiig have made a Lifetime movie...



Catching up with the creator of True Detective.

In honor of Jurassic World opening tonight, let's take a look back at the works of Michael Crichton.

Haven't seen this documentary yet, but the concept of scientific spin doctors - people who can make things sound better or worse from you using evidence, is intriguing.


Thursday, June 11, 2015

Cool Shit 6/11

New James Bond trailer/teaser whatever they call it for Spectre...



Crystal Pepsi is rumored to be making a comeback and I don't understand the world anymore.

The scientific reason Sriracha sauce tastes so good, in cute, animated video form:



If you're old enough to remember Columbia House, you'll enjoy this interview with some of the people who worked there.

White dots on the dwarf planet Ceres...we keep getting closer to them but still have no idea what they are.

While I love Jurassic Park (the original that kicked of the dinosaur craze), I can admit its faults...it's schmaltzy in parts (the kids act too adorable/cartoonish too often), and it carries the Spielberg sheen throughout. But there is no way I believe Cameron would have made it better. So I can only imagine this article was written to create a fictitious uproar on the internet.

Vegetables. They're good for you so you should eat them. Here are some ways to possibly make them enjoyable.

Wednesday, June 10, 2015

Cool Shit 6/10

Best "museum" in the United States?



I'm not saying our bizarre fascination with stuffing different things into the crust of a pizza will be our society's downfall, but I have think it at least puts us down that specific path.

Get to know YOUR Seal Team 6.

I guess we will have to continue to make Jurassic Park movies in a desperate attempt to stave on science's crazy drive to recreate dinosaurs.

Whether you have Amazon Prime or are thinking about getting it, this will give you an idea of what you'll enjoy, or what you're missing.

Sounds like this army doctor knows how to party!

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

Cool Shit 6/9

So you know: what it's like to be struck by lightning.

The idea of creating a pizza box that can also be as a movie projector is cool, though I'm not sure the practicality/reality will translate into that many more people ordering Pizza Hut. Honestly, I didn't even know Pizza Hut delivered.

If you're looking to kill some time, you could do worse than perusing the top 50 articles at McSweeney's.

Where have all the hitchhikers gone?

New Spielberg movie, Bridge of Spies. Looks decent...



An early review of Apple Music - the new streaming service they announced yesterday.

I've never had a frappucino nor know what goes into one. But apparently Starbucks is introducing 6 new flavors of them to be voted on for a winner to be offered at their stores. Here's what they taste like.

New trailer for The Martian. I read the book and it will be a much better movie (the book read like a screenplay).




Monday, June 8, 2015

Cool Shit 6/8

Oh boy. Trailer for Everest, which is based on the book Into Thin Air. Even with the "Hollywoodzation" it looks harrowing...



Bizarre promotional items from popular movies.

If you're into murder mysteries, this list of movies is for you.

Tracking your fitness with that Fitbit you got for Memorial Day? How many steps should you really be getting?

A person tries some self-experimentations with mixed results.

New trailer for season 2 of True Detective. I think the biggest shift we, as an audience are going to have to deal with is the that the first season seemed so claustrophobic, following the story of two detectives. Already in season 2 the expanse seems wider, and therefore different. Not bad, just different. Of course that won't stop the collective maw of the internet to compare and proclaim season 2 to be inferior (see example of Season 2 of the Wire when it first came out. Had Twitter been around we wouldn't have gotten a season 3):





Friday, June 5, 2015

Cool Shit 6/5

The third season of Hannibal started last night. I really hope you're watching it. It's the best show on network television right now. Operatic, thematic and all together such a different vibe than the rest of television. Yesterday, I lamented about not wasting my time on creative types that take a risk (suggesting I wouldn't be able to watch Sense8), but I ask you all to take some time to visit with Hannibal. It's definitely worth the time. (How it's made it to season 3 is also simply astounding since shows like this usually get cancelled after 4 episodes.

Teaser for Sharknado III. I guess if we keep watching them, they'll keep making them?



This is some cool Jaws 40th Anniversary art.

Take this audio test to see if you can tell which track has the highest audio quality.

Long ago, Werner Herzog made the decision to walk from Munich to Paris to see a dying French cinema legend. Because of course he did. This is the article finally republished.

Gear you probably need to stay alive should you find yourself out in the wild.

Looking for a summer jam that isn't teenie or going to be on your local pop music station? Here you go!

And if you're not going to click on that link, just immediately jam out to this one from it. It's simply the best one:



A great "art exhibit" if you will - take the lovely/gross 80s Garbage Pail kids, and put the "Where are they now" lens on them. Icky and brilliant.

This seems kind of cool. A blood test that will reveal the viruses you've been exposed to throughout your life.


Thursday, June 4, 2015

Cool Shit 6/4

Everyone and their mother has a podcast these days - so why not at least get the right equipment and make yours stand out form a quality standpoint?

For deep-analysis-on-film fans, this video takes a look at Christopher Nolan's Interstellar, and tries to ferret out the meaning and symbolism within it.



So the reason that Susan was killed off was because... she was a pain to work with? I can imagine this being the case with the cast of Seinfeld, but I'm not sure we, the audience needed to hear about it.

A real life Tony Stark... well minus all the Avengers stuff. Maybe. I don't really know.

The first real review for Sense8, and it's as bad as you probably thought. Which stinks, because the article also delves into the idea that television is ripe for reinventing, and in a way Sense8 pushes the boundaries. I'd love to have loved it and supported an original idea, but there's too much good television out there that it's hard to waste time on something like this.

Another creative visionary (Neal Stephenson) that probably needs an editor, or at least someone to focus him a little more. Here's a look (much more positive) at his book Seveneves.

Educate yourself on port wine.

Information we can all use: how to choose the fastest checkout line in the store.

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

Cool Shit 6/3

Seems like this video of top 10 laser gun battles has some loose criteria, and then they barely stay within that criteria. Oh well. Maybe I'm just mad that they didn't call out the battle from Ice Pirates.



So Indiana Jones probably isn't the prototypical archaeologist, but there are some similarities with these guys.

There will be more Arrested Development. While the last season was pretty inconsistent, this is still good news.

Is anyone really excited about the Wachowski's Netflix series Sense8? If you are, here's a deep dive into it.

A look at submarine terms, for the next time you watch Das Boot (the director's cut of course).


Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Cool Shit 6/2

Not sure how many out there are real Faith No More fans, but if you are, this treasure trove of rarities from their career is going to be right up your alley.

With a recent, 95% failure rate of detecting weapons or bombs, I'm really not sure why the TSA even exists anymore.

The movie San Andreas, about a monster earthquake on the west coast of the United States came out last weekend. And if you can believe it, some of the science in it isn't so accurate.

The best guest sit-ins with the Grateful Dead, in honor of their shows coming up this summer.

Will Apple's new streaming music service be announced next week?

So this is happening, in December... A Very Murray Christmas:



What is it? I have no idea, but Sophia Coppola is also involved.

Roger Moore speaking about James Bond.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Cool Shit 6/1

So when you die, weird things happen to your body.

Just in case - how to break out of zip ties:

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/what-happens-when-you-die?adbpr=25087685&adbid=604735322316931072&adbpl=tw&cid=social_20150530_46677146

Oh hamburger. You are so delicious. But how did you get that way?

With these last few days of Spring still upon us, enjoy a reading of Walt Whitman's poetry read by James Earl Jones:



It's the 40th anniversary of Jaws, and the movie still resonates throughout our culture. 

Want to stay anonymous online? Take a look at these helpful tips.

Friday, May 29, 2015

Cool Shit 5/29

What keeps Bill Gates up at night. It's obvious he's put a lot of time into this. So maybe start washing your hands more everyone?



40th Anniversary of Jaws means it's getting a limited re-release. No idea why it's limited. This thing should go out wide!

Lego X-Files!

Fantasy beer league. It's a little confusing to me (though the article plainly states how simple it is), because I don't understand the idea of the draft. Why not just bring beers you think will win the matchup each month? That way there's at least an element of surprise for everyone.

This situation  stinks. I realize that Allen Ginsburg's work can be provocative, but I don't think that means it should be simply eliminated from classrooms...high school classrooms. Firing a teacher for teaching something like this is extreme, and the censorship it indirectly supports should frighten us. Heaven forbid the concept of sexualized love (i guess because it was homosexual) is mentioned in an academic setting.

Looking at the state of television and what it takes to survive in a landscape that is never stable.

How we got the Honeycrisp apple.

Thursday, May 28, 2015

Cool Shit 5/28

You'd think some of these Marvel superheroes would have killed a bunch more people, but have to realize, at the end of the day, it's comic books we're talking about.

Another preview of the summer television season, although this one is extremely comprehensive.

And then here's an article predicting which five new fall shows are going to be hits. If I were a betting man, I'd bet against all five.

How did the empire construct a second Death Star so much quicker than the first? This gives some sound economic theory as to why, but I think another possibility is that they were being built concurrently - or more specifically the plan wasn't to rule the galaxy with one Death Star, but with many, and so the construction started with multiple projects.

Wow, watching this trailer for a David Foster Wallace movie, I'm not sure if I should be excited or offended by it. I can appreciate people wanting to bring this to the screen, but I'm not sure you can capture the complexities of the man in a simple two hour film.



Apparently breaking down a ship is extremely dangerous and expensive. So you take them to Bangladesh!

Aside from the melodramatic headline that David Duchovny "cried" when he read the latest X-Files script, there's some more information here about the show.

More Serial news - apparently they are currently producing two narratives, so there won't be as long a wait between season two and season 3.

Chuck Palahniuk on writing the Fight Club 2 comic book. I still think it's really not a good idea.

Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Cool Shit 5/27

I get that remakes are big business because it guarantees name recognition but seriously, this new version of Point Break obviously has no idea what made the original work. And that's a shame, because I do think a remake is possible, and I do think it could work with the extreme sports that they have shoehorned in here in order to attract a younger audience. As an aside, the guy playing Bodhi? That's just not going to work.



Drone footage from Antarctica:



On one hand, a live action Jonny Quest movie could be cool. On the other hand it's being helmed by Robert Rodriguez, which means it probably won't be. To cheer you up, read about my love for the show here.

What it takes to be a truck driver.

Read a firsthand account of the last Letterman show from one of the writers.

It used to be that summer was a wasteland for television, but that's not the case these days. The season is warming up with new shows.


Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Cool Shit 5/26

A trailer for the new season of Hannibal is out; please be aware that it contains spoilers based on last season's finale. Also be aware that the article, in describing the fact that the trailer has spoilers, seemingly spoils the show itself. It's kind of amazing actually.

A deeper look into Disney theme parks.

The 40th season of SNL is over. Here's a list of the best sketches from the year.

Planning a trip to a nude beach soon? Remember, there's an etiquette. Don't be the nude noob.

I feel like this interview with Art Garfunkel solidifies the idea that he is a tad bitter about his partner's success. I also enjoyed his Paul McCartney barb, and his suggestion that he would do a Simon & Garfunkel reunion tour. Something tells me Mr. Simon isn't going to be lunging for the phone to call him.

Creepy stories from mysterious islands.

While not exactly timely, these facts about Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade are at least interesting.

Thunderstorms seen from space:




Thursday, May 21, 2015

Cool Shit 5/21

David Simon is bringing another show to HBO this summer.

Wait, Bin Laden was a 9/11 truther? This changes everything!

Seriously though, there's been a bunch of recent Bin Laden news coming out, from the new idea that he wasn't killed the way the US Government told us he was, to the US Government releasing a bunch of information on him. Read up on that here.

So yeah, apparently Bjork threw together a surprise DJ gig at the Tri Angle Records 5th Anniversary party. Check out the setlist here, or trip your balls/boobs off with the set right here...



Almost paper-thin wallpaper television screens? Take my money!

More evidence that no one really knows how to tell the different between expensive and cheap wine...

Tomorrowland opens tomorrow. But you can read about the city that inspired it today.

Just remember, when at that voting booth, it's not always a simple question between Republican vs. Democrat. Meet Zoltan Istvan, he of the Transhumanist party.

Enjoy mountain climbing/hiking stories? I haven't read it all yet, but it has piqued my curiosity, so I share it with you.


Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Cool Shit 5/20

This article says there are nine questions you may be too afraid to ask about the Illuminati. But I might suggest every question you might ask about the organization that runs the world might invoke some level of fear.

Oh good, something called "Spider Rain" exists. And it's exactly what t sounds like.

Speaking of creepy things coming from the sky...what's with all the weird, mysterious noises?

I never wanted to have a remake of Point Break, and now this description of it only fuels my rage. I get that calling this a remake of the first will possibly get some fans of the original into the theater, but enough to make it financially successful? It sounds nothing like the original. And it also sounds stupid.

Lando making a comeback in the Star Wars universe?

Want to be a billionaire or something? Start with Bill Gates' summer reading list.

Late night innovation that began with David Letterman.

The potential ugliness of traveling faster than light.

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

Cool Shit 5/19

A look at some of vacation destinations around the world that may not live up to expectations.

Big news for all you Serial (and Adnan innocenters) fans.

An oral history of Industrial Light and Magic.

A great look at the art of the car chase in cinema.

So it seems the NY Post is now running Women's Health articles. Which is great especially since this one will tell you how to achieve a threesome.

I want to get my hands on secret cookies cooked by Spanish nuns!

Monday, May 18, 2015

Cool Shit 5/18

For all you Beatles fans, some youtube videos have been released...

If you want to get into the mood for season 2 of True Detective, start out with some Ross MacDonald novels.

So Mark Danielewski has a new book out. If you're unfamiliar with his work that probably won't mean much. But if you are familiar with him, you know exactly what you're in for, which something different than simply reading a book. I can't tell you whether that's a good or bad thing.

This is a story of an old mansion in New York, turned into an artists' haven then being sold for a bazillion dollars. And now you have one chance to see it before it most likely turns into apartments.

Why not do a little body hacking and change your body? Everybody's doing it!

People are talking about Louis C.K.'s monologue from SNL the other night:




Friday, May 15, 2015

Cool Shit 5/15

Ranking the pop tarts.

New trailer for True Detective, Season 2:



This new SuperGirl series looks horrendous.



Seems like the new Mad Max movie is going to be good.

Read the story behind each of the Beatles' album covers. 

The conspiracy behind the NBA's first lottery draft. 

Want to save money online? These 10 websites are a great place to start.

It seems crazy to think about a spot in the ocean where countries basically crash their no longer needed spacecraft.

Thursday, May 14, 2015

Cool Shit 5/14

More drone footage...this of the city of Buenos Aires.



I don't know... Guillermo del Toro's name invokes such a reaction that I think collectively we get caught up in the moment whenever he releases something. So far this Crimson Peak trailer doesn't look at that much of everything people are purporting it to be.



Radiohead mixing their new album which means it could be out next year or tomorrow.

Interview with David Letterman.

Is Netflix going to bring back Top Gear?

Oh sure, you might think it's just open access to delicious icy treats, but driving an ice cream truck is so much more than that.

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Cool Shit 5/13

Are these the best cars used in great movie chases? Fuck, they're hardly the best movie chases.

What it's like to be a female truck driver

The ten most expensive paintings in history. Until tomorrow or something.

National Geographic photo contests are always interesting to look at.

When one multi-billionaire suggests another multi-billionaire has the potential to do something crazy, I get nervous. Because it seems to me the one multi-billionaire is just trying to get the attention away from his own crazy thing.

Top futurists predict the next ten years. Who knows if they took into account global domination by multi-billionaires. 

Get yourself ready for the new Mad Max movie.

Prometheus 2 sounds even stupider than ever, if that can be possible.

The Muppets have a new television show coming out in the fall...here's a trailer:




Monday, May 11, 2015

Cool Shit 5/11

In the sports journalism world, Bill Simmons leaving ESPN was big news on Friday. Here's a great summary of what most likely happened to cause the split.

I have to believe Glen Beck is simply an entertainer, creating bizarre yet entertaining performance art pieces. I refuse, for my sanity, to believe there are people who sincerely believe things like this:



If you're really into Aphex Twin music, this is for you.

Captain Kidd pirate treasure found?

It's college graduation speech season! What better way to kick it off than with these historic graduation speeches?

These "best" Whose Line Is It Anyway sketches are great, but can't truly be considered the best because none of the British shows are included. I implore you to head over to youtube and watch some of those - the American ones often immediately go for the gag, while the British ones build to the joke. It's fin to see the different nuances between the two. Also, there is no greater host than Clive.

Letterman's last days are upon us... you know, before he became the Carson for the X Generation, Letterman's late night show was just... weird. And different. And something that a lot of people were influenced by. And the feuds he created, or fueled are a little reminder of that weirdness.

It's always good when three influential groups of a creative endeavor can't seemingly agree on how to end that endeavor. Yay, Game of Thrones!

So, Lucas wanted to make episode 7 with a bunch of teenagers. You know, because he did so well with the prequels.


Friday, May 8, 2015

Cool Shit 5/8

It's television renew/cancellation season. See what's going to come back - and what isn't.

Seriously, a meteor could hit us RIGHT NOW and there's apparently nothing we could do about it.

The impact of humanity on the planet, in chart form. Warning, it gets depressing. Also, I doubt we will stop our current trending.

Science fiction writers predict our future. Not sure why they have any more credence than the rest of us, but whatever.

Cannes is happening and movies are getting buzz.

Sense8, the new Netflix series from the Wachowski siblings has a trailer. Frankly, this looks horrendous.




Thursday, May 7, 2015

Cool Shit 5/7

Amusement parks are always looking for ways to outdo competitors, and stretching the boundaries of roller coasters is an easy way to do that. Hershey Park now has what they're describing as a "Fun House Roller Coaster," which seems more like the acid trip from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. Take a look...



Relive the filth of the nineties through concert band shirts.

Now NASA is getting in on the Mars stuff. Of course I trust them a little more than the fly-by-night companies trying to get there.

Paul Feig, he of Freaks and Geeks fame, has a space comedy out you can watch on Yahoo.

Enjoy some of the Easter Eggs that were in Avengers: Age of Ultron:



Greatest news ever? Nick Arcade is trying to make a comeback. And they're doing it right by having Phil Moore involved!

The problems I have with some conspiracy theories is when, after the so called event comes around uneventfully, or doesn't even happen, the perpetrators of said conspiracy don't offer a mea culpa. I'd be much more open to at least listening if they had the dignity to at least admit occasionally they were wrong. So let's go out there - when Texas isn't taken over by the US Military during the Jade Helm Conspiracy, can we get an apology?

Seems like the crew in Interstellar just had bad luck not running into an inhabitable planet out there. Stupid Matt Damon.

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Cool Shit 5/6

Grooveshark, a music service that was skating by on the fringes of legality, recently shut it self down. But as is the case with just about everything in an internet world, it is not dead.

Jimmy Fallon and Jack Black redid the song my mom and I danced to at my wedding? How can I not share?



I love stairs.

Amazon for stolen identities.

Oh good, a new Indiana Jones sequel is confirmed, being as the the last one was so good.

A chilling account of one man's descent into darkness at the Big Buck Hunter championship.

Let's just say when I explore attics, I don't find stuff like this.

Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Cool Shit 5/5

Blowing up a Lego Star Destroyer. Because we can:



The next Star Wars movie rumored to be in the pipeline? A Boba Fett origin story. Wonder how much of the clone stuff they will carry over from the prequel movies. Hopefully none if they want to make this thing any good.

Speaking of Star Wars, here are some photos that will only get you more excited for the next movie coming out.

This just in! Soda is really bad for you.

Just pointing a telescope into the dark regions of the universe will tell us so much.

So Avengers: Age of Ultron made a shit ton of money. But is it any good? Personally, I think it missed the mark. I thought Ultron was not nearly fleshed out enough (pun intended) wasting the likes of James Spader. I thought it was disjointed in a number of different ways that hurt the movie's logic (why would Ultron care again about the twins?). To me, it seemed the parts between the three battle scenes should have gone through another dozen rewrites. I thought the Hawkeye stuff was Whedon basically hooking him up after the short shrift he was given in the first one, a terrible reason in itself. And I feel that this is the movie that is going to start the talk about "superhero movie fatigue." I wish Whedon had spent more time with it, because as it stands right now, it was messy.

I can never get enough of these videos... natural waterslide:




Monday, May 4, 2015

Cool Shit 5/4

Need to get to sleep fast? Use science!

I've got to get more involved in the maple syrup black market.

Miles Davis seems like a interesting fellow. At least toward Steve Miller.

Everyone seems to be talking about these new Tesla batteries. Here's what you need to know.

A deeper look into what happened after the avalanche on Mt. Everest.

Best boxing movie? It's Diggstown. Hands down. Or maybe up, depending on your boxing ability.


Friday, May 1, 2015

Cool Shit 5/1

Another take on the 2015 Summer movie season.

What does it truly mean to be a human cannonball?

A Lego documentary that goes into why people like Legos so much. Because they're awesome I guess.

The reason the movie Cube worked was because of the innovation needed to make it due to a limited budget. The acting was by no means great, but you could forgive it based on the interesting premise. A remake would probably mean a bigger budget, but with that comes bigger expectations, and therefore more cooks in the kitchen. I don't have high hopes.

The Hubble Telescope is an incredible piece of technology, offering us a look out into the universe and beyond sometimes. But it is old, and probably won't last much longer. It's time for an upgrade.

For fans of Serial, a new podcast is coming that will explore true-life mysteries.

Ever wonder what a Flaming Moe really tastes like?


Thursday, April 30, 2015

Cool Shit 4/30

The new Mad Max movie is shaping up to be insane. Here's a look at some of the vehicles that will be blowing each other up in it.

A map of all the executions in United States since 1978. Just in case you're planning to move and have trouble with the law.

A deep dive into the uncertainty of the DC movie universe and how that might spell trouble for the studio (Warner Brothers). It's kinda amazing to me that people don't take enough time to really figure these things out, and it's really not all that difficult.

An off-the-grid houseboat farm in Canada? I'm in.

Whoa - a documentary on what the Earth's response would be if aliens were to land here. Of course I'm a little disappointed I wasn't contacted. I wrote up a comprehensive plan about what we should do back in 2008.

There's a whole generation out there that doesn't understand what David Letterman brought to late night television, and his influence on comedy. And now he's leaving us.


Wednesday, April 29, 2015

Cool Shit 4/29

In-depth article about Silk Road, the place on the internet to get drugs and assassins. And other cool stuff!

Neil deGrasse Tyson continues to provide intelligent thoughts and opinions on many different scientific topics. Here's proof.

Russian YouTube. It's like our YouTube but 100% more insane. And also more Russian.

I feel like fictional impregnable castles are written about simply to be stormed.

Want to be able to catch your friends in a lie? Use these helpful tips approved by the FBI!

DC Comics had a lot of movies in the pipelines over the years. They just never got made.

Having trouble figuring out which rappers your kids can listen to? This will help.

Tuesday, April 28, 2015

Cool Shit 4/28

Some behind the scene photos from Star Wars. The original Star Wars. Meaning New Hope Star Wars. Some of these you might be familiar with, but it's still cool to go back and look at how they made this movie.

A look at the good, bad and other at the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival.

Always good information to know in case you find yourself with a bunch of extra land: how to start your own country.

The history of the Joker through the comics and other mediums, as we're about to get another take on him from Jared Leto.

Anyone read the novel Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell novel? If you have, the story comes to television. Here's the trailer:



Enjoy a bunch of Gob Bluth's funnier moments on Arrested Development.

MP3 blogs still exist, and you can still get some crazy music from them.

Monday, April 27, 2015

Cool Shit 4/27

Television shows like the CSI's and Law & Orders' of the world have us believing forensic science is almost infallible. It's not. Not by a long shot.

Ah, New Coke. Where have you gone?

Earthquake in Nepal caused massive avalanches at Mt. Everest, during the beginning of busy climbing season. See a firsthand account of what that means...



A look at a parent's virginal trip to Chuck E. Cheese.

No, I don't know what a rattlesnake rodeo is.

I'm not sure the music business is broken; rather it's broken probably for the record labels, but I don't feel too bad for them since they had a significant hand in making it the way it is now. I have to imagine there are business models that would work, I just am not sure people are willing to work within those boundaries yet.

Thursday, April 23, 2015

Cool Shit 4/23

The new Coen Brothers movie sounds... different.

Being on a recent Law & Order kick, I've been enjoying JK Simmons' work, so I'm happy to hear he's signed up for a new series.

A quick recap of the Avengers' universe leading up to the new movie:



Tomorrowland looks really cool and I am excited for it, but I'm still not crazy about the Ayn Rand, Atlas Shrugged vibe it seems to have. I'm hoping that's not prevalent in the story. Like really, really hoping. The story/plot has slowly been oozing out though, and so far, it's got the John Gault stink ever so slightly on it.

Taking a look at the National Rube Goldberg competition.

Quick, cool time lapse video of a volcano eruption in Chile:




Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Cool Shit 4/22

What it's like to play a character in the dramatic reenactments of television crime shows.

Today's Star Wars news...well this isn't really news, this is an example of just how much excitement and scrutiny this movie is currently going through: how fast is the speeder going in the beginning of the new trailer?

There's a meteor shower tonight. Here's the best way to enhance your viewing so you can see it.

Not sure if Tomorrowland is my most anticipated movie this summer, but it's close. It's one of those rare movies that is not a sequel or a remake. Here's a new trailer:



A different take on the Chernobyl disaster from a Youtuber.

When I was growing up, the rumor about the people selling magazines door to door was that they were part of some sort of religious, fanatical cult.

Tuesday, April 21, 2015

Cool Shit 4/21

Summer is coming, and that means blockbusters. Check out what you can expect in the theater this year.

I'm still not in love with the controlled raptors idea, but Jurassic World still looks like it's going to be pretty cool:



Have a pocket knife and nothing else to do? It's time to play some Mumbley Peg!



The sad story of Spalding Gray. His podcast would have been amazing.

What the body goes through when you run a marathon.

A supervoid in the middle of space. Well not the middle since technically space is infinite, but you get my point. Also, a supervoid?

Deconstructing JJ Abrams directorial style of the new Star Wars movie.

Monday, April 20, 2015

High Shit 4/20

A human powered amusement park...



Looking to stargaze? Check out these three places to maximize your experience.

Highway 93 out west will soon be no longer, and another part of our country's history will roll off into the desert.

Today's Star Wars news...thoughts on what could have possibly happened to that star destroyer in the new trailer... Boba Fett seemingly survived Return of the Jedi... the next Star Wars movie will be about stealing the Death Star's plans.

Any interest in the new Fantastic 4 trailer? Honestly it looks a little too teenish for me.



Not sure why this isn't a bigger story - meaning the BIGGEST story going right now. FBI basically has been lying when it comes to hair analysis. Awesome.

An oral history of the movie Airplane!


Friday, April 17, 2015

Cool Shit 4/17

Breaking down the latest Star Wars: The Force Awakens trailer that came out yesterday.

Ok, so here's the trailer if you just want to watch that. My thoughts? It looks like it has the imagery and adventure feel that the prequels didn't. The Hand reveal was chill inducing. There will always be the disappointment of the prequel trilogy with me, but dang it if this isn't getting me excited to revisit the Star Wars universe all over again...



So...David Hasselhoff has a new music video out...



Images that show just how insignificant we really are in the vastness of space.

More life hacks that will save you time in your life!

The hum, an alleged sound that pops up around the globe occasionally that baffles scientists and non-scientists alike. Until now. Maybe.

Care to watch a blurry, shaky bootlegged version of the Batman v. Superman trailer?



The 25 best Hall and Oates songs. I think I'd have to move "You Make My Dreams Come True" up a bit, but other than that, a solid list.

Thursday, April 16, 2015

Cool Shit 4/16

It kind of stinks when your big news about your show is about who is going to be killed off next. I feel like we've created an anticipation of who will die on the Walking Dead, rather than focus on why the show is good/bad.

Latest trailer for Mad Max coming out this summer - quite possibly my most anticipated movie. This trailer doesn't show much, but it does tentatively connect this movie to the old Mel Gibson ones.



An oral history of the Hubble telescope.

What Dunkin Donuts and Krispy Kreme don't want you to know: it IS possible to make donunts at doughnuts at home.

Big fans of David Fincher here at the Popcorn Trick. Which is why we like this look back at his career:



The good news: Planet Earth is getting a sequel, called Our Planet. The bad news: it's going to take about four years to make.

Have a Roku? Then you've got access to these awesome streaming channels.

Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Cool Shit 4/15

Stupid tax day...

It seems that even though NYC is a burgeoning metropolis, it still has its share of abandoned buildings and spaces.

The discovery of the Higgs Boson, and how that was then translated to music. Heavy metal guitar music.

A simple question with a not so simple answer: What exactly is a wormhole?

This is an early 90s promotional commercial for a company... See how long it takes you to figure out the company watching it blind. I'm pretty sure you'll be surprised.



The many contradictions of Howard Cosell. Ridiculous though it didn't go into his Battle of the Network Stars announcing.

A mild look at celebrities performing stand up comedy. The results are about what you'd expect.


Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Cool Shit 4/14

So yeah, this Antman trailer looks good, but I think I have a fundamental problem with the concept of Antman (not the movie) in that while he obviously has a superpower, in a world of absolutely cosmic superpowers, being able to shrink and control ants just doesn't get the ol' engine running. Kinda seems he was last in line when they were handing out the powers. Still, the movie looks cool:



The 6 craziest bank heists in history. Eat your heart out Ocean's 11!

Did you ever notice that there was a lot of stuff that revolved around food on Seinfeld?

A few of the more dangerous (due to radiation and toxicity) areas around the world.

Excited for the new Avengers movie? Here's a bit of a tease as Hulk and Iron Man battle it out...



New Terminator has a new trailer, and it looks atrocious:






Monday, April 13, 2015

Cool Shit 4/13

Tired of dominating another round of Monopoly with your friends? Check out these advanced board games you can play.

Prometheus 2 may turn out to be a decent movie (I doubt it), but there's really no reason for a sequel like this to be made. The original was horrid. Terrible story, awful pacing and it really made no sense. Unless the sequel begins with an apology, I'm not going to go out of my way to see it. Especially with these alleged plot details.

Is this the group that controls matters for the world? I have no idea.

Trailer for HBO's latest, The Brink, a comedy about World War 3:



If you know where to look, you can get ahead with season 5 of Game of Thrones.

Take a sonic journey through the world of Billboard pop instrumentals.


Friday, April 10, 2015

Cool Shit 4/10

Would these be your 100 best films of the decade?

New trailer for True Detective: Season 2...



Mildly nervous about it, not because of the way it's shaping up, but because of the inevitable backlash that it isn't like the first season. Because I remember the tonal shift between seasons 1 & 2 of The Wire. Hoping they keep the sense of dread that was so captivating in the first season, but I also trust the people behind it to deliver something good.

And here's the trailer for the 3rd season of Orange is the New Black:



Never fully caught on to this one, but I know it has its fans. Hoping it can maintain its strength of its concept through another season.

Pacapong? Yes please.

The bowling alley at the southern most point in the world...

Game of Thrones returns this Sunday. Excited? Read this look at the upcoming season.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Cool Shit 4/9

Did you like the Serial podcast? Well, here's a new one called Undisclosed, which will tackle Adnan's case from a legal perspective.

What does it take to be comedian Hannibal Burress?

Navigating the murky depths of the Tokyo sex industry.

25 beers you should try. It seems a little random but hey, if you enjoy beer...

Seems like it's going to be about ten more years before we have an Independence Day-type situation.

Nora Dunn's experience with Saturday Night Live.

The things you should be nervous about when you fly.

A look at the best books of the decade.


Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Cool Shit 4/8

If you're into the Avengers, you might enjoy this short video about cool things you may not have noticed from the movies...



This kind of came out of left field - new Arrested Development episodes! While season 4 was uneven, I'm still excited with the news.

Regardless of who you vote for or what your political leanings might be, you want to believe your leaders are intelligent enough to get the job done. And then you head about memos like this. And you begin to wonder.

Don McLean's song American Pie has intrigued listeners for years, and now we finally might have the answers to some of the questions the lyrics pose.

Every death from Game of Thrones. Spoiler alert!



As a species, our writing skills suck, and are only trending downward. That makes copy editors so mad!

Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Cool Shit 4/7

Enjoy this map of the United States showing UFO activity. Shocked that the west seems like such a hotbed!

Guy in Alaska wants a view of the mountains but there are trees in the way. So he does what any sane person does...builds a house that is above them. But trees keep growing. So what does the guy do...?

I'm not sure which is more pathetic, that the FBI is only now just returning to enforcing their fitness exam for agents after 16 years, or how seemingly easy said fitness exam is.

The glamorous life of sugarbeet farming, and living the life of a vagabond.

Life as a gigolo. Rob Schneider lied to us!

A good old fashioned spy story.

A list of sitcoms that should be brought back. Basically I included this for the Get A Life shout out.

Monday, April 6, 2015

Cool Shit 4/6

Saturday Night Live documentary coming this summer.

George R R Martin is developing a new show for HBO called Captain Cosmos. You know, because he doesn't have enough on his plate already.

Mad men is back, and here are seven possible scenarios that could end the series.

Easter may be over, but that doesn't mean we'll stop looking for Easter eggs in movies!

While you've probably heard of some of these United States' National Parks, you might not have ever thought to visit them.

The debate about how to eat sushi will never end.

You can learn a lot about filmmaking from Steven Spielberg. Especially if you watch Jaws.




Friday, April 3, 2015

Cool Shit 4/3

Montauk, a supernatural series is coming to Netflix soon. And they're also thinking about bringing back Full House?

A look at some of the more interesting round flying machines humanity has created over the years.

Yesterday we brought news of Pac Man on Google Street Maps and some of the cooler maps to play. Today we bring you some of the more difficult maps to play.

Not sure how much credence I'd put into this article about Spielberg making a documentary about a "Russian UFO lake" but it's a cool story nonetheless.

How they make those ridiculous jelly bean flavors. Just in time for Easter!

So you want to know all the celebrities linked to Scientology. Well, here you go!

Everything you always wanted to know about Max Headroom.

Enjoy this lesson on how to write an opening for a film. Example? Seven: