Cool Shit 2/6

After reading this rather enjoyable article about the cast of Police Academy and where they are now, I learned of what may be considered the greatest production to come out of Hollywood to date: Lavalantula. I can only hope it comes close to the brilliance of Shatner in Kingdom of the Spiders...



(I hate when science fiction becomes science fact. Also, there is no bad line in that trailer)

Bonus! William Shatner discusses his role in Kingdom of the Spiders! Don't you dare think I didn't watch all 16 minutes of this!)



Ok, I'm back. Those 16 minutes might be the best 16 minutes I've spent all week. Come for the time  Shatner indirectly insults every woman cast in this movie; stay for when he gets into eating rats. I think he also might suggest that there is going to be an evolution of super-intelligent spiders in the near future. Of course I'm bummed the sequel wasn't made, since it sounded batshit insane.

Grammy post for today: who should win/who will win? 

More Serial news, this time from some of the teachers who knew both Adnan, Hae, Jay and Stephanie. Though not revelatory, it is interesting to hear from people who knew the principles involved in the case.

Here's a nice, fun read from a congressperson about the current state of Congress, and just how little we can probably do to fix it. Though the author closes with a sense of optimism, I think that has more to do with the issue that he or she has to be optimistic, since they are so close to the situation, while the general public has already spoken (see approval ratings for Congress).

It has amazed me that of late, I have heard musicians strike out at streaming sites (spotify, Pandora, profit for themselves, as they have done within the industry, since the beginning of the industry.etc.) for not paying them appropriate shares of money; A. I always felt that this system was too new to immediately criticize as not getting it right, and B. let's not forget that record labels are going to manipulate the system as much as possible to turn a profit for themselves.

Hey, remember Beanie Babies? What the hell what were we all thinking?

Thinking about walking across that thinly iced pond? Maybe read this before you do, to be prepared just in case.

Links of Interest 2/23

A book looks back at the riot grrrl.

Losing sleep not knowing who Jay Leno is going to open up his new old show with in the first week? Wonder no more.

But wait...will Shatner play the dad or the son?

Sometimes, outakes albums aren't just released because of contractual obligation. Sometimes, they're even good.

Some famous authors offer their 10 writing rules.

If you were an alien, and really interested in the Olympics, this would be your vantage point.

A look at the numbers behind creating the Academy Awards.

I don't understand the problem with Waldi. Who doesn't like rainbow daschunds?

The Proust questionnaire with Martin Scorsese.

I know you might not believe this, but apparently it was rather difficult to make Raging Bull.

You know those round brown things you occasionally get from people after buying things? Well, they're being redesigned!

Links of Interest 2/4

A pro and con look at Twitter.

A look at how conspiracy theories can negatively affect how people think. Or so they would have you believe.

Salt is ok; it's the sodium that will get you.

A new We Are the World gathering for Haiti relief.

I added this review for Kingdom of the Spiders simply because I love this movie.

So what does a military MRE really taste like?

Some of the science in Lost explained. Well, at least an attempt to explain it.

Awesome trick shots in sports.

Just in case you happen to fall out of an airplane.

We like to help people out here at the Popcorn Trick. So, just in case you suddenly come into a large sum of money that you'd like to keep quiet, why not set up an offshore bank account?

Links of Interest 12/18

2009 is so over. Here’s a list of music artists you should be checking out in 2010.

The physics of space battles.

Ad agencies make the best Christmas cards.

Think being a mascot is easy?

Sportswriter Dan LeBatard interviews Luther “Luke Skywalker” Campbell about his involvement with the University of Miami football team back in the late 80s/early 90s. This will always be one of my favorite bizarre stories. How a rapper can get such access to a collegiate sports program.

2010 is shaping up to be a (minorly) historic year.

William Shatner interviews are always fun.

A Sherlock Holmes expert takes on Robert Downey Jr.’s portrayal of the icon. The biggest surprise of the article? That there’s a Sherlock Holmes expert.

Secret British sex clubs? Yay! In the late 18th and 19th century? Boo.

The LA Times takes the controversial stance that reality television is bad for society.

Links of Interest 8/11

Manhattan before it was Manhattan.

Wow was DaVinci pro war.

You know, if Ann Coulter refers to you as a “crank,” it might be time for some life changes.

These all look absolutely delicious and almost worth the ensuing heart attack they will give you.

The counterfeiting program of North Korea.

A profile of actress Leslie Mann.

The allure of the vintage pop culture phone.

Interview with Jon Hamm.

What’s William Shatner up to these days? (Plus, any thing to give me a reason to put that Rocketman video up, I'm doing it)

The inspiration behind Inglourious Basterds?

Links of Interest 4/10

A list of 30 controversial album covers. Be warned, they’re controversial for a reason.

A list of awesome things Shatner has done. #1 is obvious.

Big fan of the painting The Last Supper? Then you’ll enjoy this post looking at all the parodies and imitations of it.

You know you were an awesome literary figure when they interview one of your editors. And it’s not even a book editor. Among the revelations? David Foster Wallace wrote a lot.

An interesting court case about an alleged Nazi guard.

Sometimes public health campaigns can go wrong. Horribly, horribly wrong.

A list of racist commercials. I have a slight problem with the list in that they include parody ads. Do one or the other – not both. Mixing the two muddles the point you were trying to make, and smacks of laziness.

Another music finder. Just type the song in and find it. I’ve spent a couple minutes with it, and it seems pretty cool. Right now it’s just in a beta stage. A lot like seeqpod.

I’m a sucker for cool photography. These photos are both cool and funny.

I’m also a sucker for the mystique of Area 51. This article tracks down 5 people who were on the inside.

The Good...the Bad...the Beautiful #23

THE GOOD:



I'm disgusted with myself that I only learned of this brilliant video a short while ago. I'm pretty sure words can't explain how awesome this is - you just have to watch it.

Bad and Beautiful on the flip side...


THE BAD:



I love the man, and I love the fact that he does these impressions, but stilll...yeesh.

THE BEAUTIFUL:



Who doesn't love dominoes? Especially when you can set 'em up and knock 'em down?

The Good...the Bad...the Beautiful #22

THE GOOD:



Like Cousteau can find a dry spot in the ocean.

Bad and Beautiful on the flip side...


THE BAD:



Thank God I wasn't there for this.

THE BEAUTIFUL:



If you don't think this is beautiful, you're sick in the head.

Links of Interest 6/10

So many unanswered questions in this video...where are they? Who thought it was a good idea to have a panoramic mountain shot behind them? Why is Kirk Cameron hanging on every word? Are we really supposed to believe a banana is the ultimate proof of God's existence? Guess these two are really going to be ticked off when bananas leave this mortal coil in the next 20 years or so, as they're becoming extinct. What God would forsake us of bananas?

William Shatner is a complex man. Seriously. I know people love to poke fun of him (myself included, and it's easy - here's an example) but shouldn't we also respect him as an artist? You have to give him this - he takes chances and doesn't care about the consequences.

You hate to see this, but with video games moving into the homes within the last 20 years, there's simply no reason to go to an arcade. Although, there is something to be said walking into a random arcade, and scoping out the game scene, debating which machine to put your quarter into. That sense of random variety is slowly disappearing in our society, and I think we're worse off for it. Our customizable, on demand world breeds a stronger sense of entitlement, which only makes us more selfish and petulant. And so concludes my "old guy on a porch rant."

Now this is how you get some cool publicity.

I'm a sucker for cool photography. By clicking on this link, I'll know you are too.