COOL SHIT 1/22

Some food trend predictions for 2015. I have no idea how you would even measure these, but hey if it sells magazines...

The scary world of e-readers and what the data companies are collecting about our reading habits tell publishers. Basically, that we're all stupid when it comes to reading.

So that's why I felt like having sex with that monster!

Dear George Lucas. I am sure it stings when someone who pays you four billion dollars for your ideas to make the next Star Wars. HOWEVER, given your track record, and those four billion dollars, I'm not really sure I can drum up that much sympathy for you.
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Sundance is coming up. Here are ten movies that are generating some pre-festival buzz.

Some FOX network programming news, including picking up Luther - the remake, which might just be impossible to pull off.

Now you can invest in the hunt for Bigfoot with the guy who tried to pull off a stuffed gorilla costume as Sasquatch. Seems like an investment no better or worse than half the NYSE offerings.

I don't necessarily believe the story here is that we're increasing the Turing Test to more accurately whether machines can think, I think it's that machines are already gaming people by being young foreign boys. We're not going to be destroyed by AI...we're going to be arrested in pedophilia stings.

Sleep. Why is it I hate to go to bed sometimes but absolutely hate getting up?

Cool Shit 3/28

I've mentioned the Barkley Ultramarathon before, but here's another take on it. I'd love to go and visit the starting point, if not actually sign up to run, but it seems basically impossible to find out where it is. Which of course is part of the allure for me.

Love Dick Cavett. So of course I'm going to link to an essay of his recalling his days as a writer for the Tonight Show. And then it also gives me an opportunity to link to Cavett youtube clips...



...and now I'm down the rabbit hole and will most likely spend the next 6 hours watching Dick Cavett clips on youtube - a phrase probably not uttered too many times throughout history.

Want to taste whiskey made from the original recipe of George Washington? Well, it's going to cost you $95. And it most likely will taste awful. Enjoy!

Game of Thrones season 3 starts up this Sunday. Get ready for it by purchasing some of this sweet schwag!

Some of the best hiking trails around the globe.

Ok, this is incredible. A transcript of a brainstorming session between Spielberg, Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan (screenwriter). Not only a look at how the movie became what it became, this is a fascinating look at how the creative process is a journey (cliche!) and takes more work than simply coming up with an idea and putting it on paper.

What Star Wars Might Have Been...

If you loved the original Star Wars, but thought the new trilogy, or "prequels" left little to be desired, you're probably a Gary Kurtz guy, even if you don't know who he is. You see, he was the guy that was Lucas' partner, way back when they were at USC, who helped dream up the Star Wars universe, and simply left when he felt it slipping away. Among the many revelations from this this interview he gave to the Los Angeles Times are:

• Han Solo was supposed to die in Return of the Jedi
• George Lucas was supposed to direct Apocalypse Now
• Star Wars was never supposed to be multiple movies

There's plenty more reason to read the article, especially if you're a Star Wars fan. And I'll leave you with this quote...

“I took a master class with Billy Wilder once and he said that in the first act of a story you put your character up in a tree and the second act you set the tree on fire and then in the third you get him down,” Kurtz said. “ ‘Empire’ was the tree on fire. The first movie was like a comic book, a fantasy, but ‘Empire’ felt darker and more compelling. It’s the one, for me, where everything went right. And it was my goodbye to a big part of my life.”

Links of Interest 2/9

Gil Scott Heron returns. And we should all be happy about that.

Heroes is still on? I was honestly surprised when I heard that news. Here's an interview with the creator, Tim Kring.

I sometimes wonder how George Lucas feels about the fans' constant trashing of his movies. And then I remember that he's a billionaire and probably doesn't care. Regardless, here's a movie about the obsession people have with the man.

I'm not gonna lie; I wish I could spin a pen on my hand.

If you only have limited time, here are the must sees of the Vancouver Olympics.

First, I hate that Esquire unironically uses the term "man code" in this "guide" to wooing your loved one with music on Valentine's Day. But I will give him a thumbs not just for the Fela Kuti shout out, but also the recognition that Fela Kuti can be clothes-taking-off music. I've been shouting that for years.

However, he commits the ultimate sin by namechecking D'Angelo as the "go to" when all else fails, without even casually mentioning Marvin Gaye. To me, this is offensive. I'm guessing D'Angelo would suggest Marvin Gaye if he were asked. Save for Here, My Dear, you can't go wrong with Marvin Gaye playing in your bedroom.

I will say this article has given me the idea to come up with a nice little setlist for Valentine's Day. Look for it in the coming days.

Seriously, I bowed out when the author started talking about meeting yourself after walking through a time travel gate.

Inside the campaigns, strategies and history of Oscar nominations.

Sure, there's some science in this article, but really it's just cool to look at lightning in slow motion.

I had no idea these two were married.