Forces of Geek: we like pop culture: 12/1/11

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Forces of Geek: BEST OF 2011

And so, it's time to bust out a new calendar and reflect back on the year that was in pop culture.

We reached out and asked FOG!'s contributors past, present and future and a few dear friends what made the year quite so memorable for them.

And so, it's time to bust out a new calendar and reflect back on the year that was in pop culture.

We reached out and asked FOG!'s contributors past, present and future and a few dear friends what made the year quite so memorable for them.

Stefan Blitz
Editor-in-Chief, FOG!

Best Movies: Drive, Win Win, Source Code, Limitless, The Descendants, Captain America, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men: First Class, Moneyball, Cedar Rapids, Drive Angry, Attack The Block, Hanna, Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol, Hugo, The Muppets, Green Hornet, Fast Five
Best TV Shows: Homeland, The Walking Dead, Fringe, Community, Batman: The Brave & The Bold, Louie, Justified, Modern Family, Dexter, Luther, Strike Back and I still haven't watched American Horror Story, Game of Thrones or Boardwalk Empire.
Best Books (fiction): The President's Vampire by Christopher Farnsworth, Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
Best Books (non-fiction): Black and Blue: the Redd Foxx Story by Michael Starr, I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of the Music Video Revolution by Craig Marks and Rob Tannenbaum, The Extraordinary Catalog of Peculiar Inventions: The Curious World of the Demoulin Brothers and Their Fraternal Lodge Prank Machines by Julia Suits, Mail-Order Mysteries: Real Stuff from Old Comic Book Ads! by Kirk Demarais
Best Video Game: Words With Friends
Best Song: Martin Solveig "Hello" (feat. Dragonette)
Best Album: Adelle 21
Best Comic Books / Graphic Novels: Batman, Inc., Action Comics, Batman (new 52), Ultimate Comics Spider-Man, Wolverine And The X-Men, Swamp Thing, Animal Man, Witch Doctor, Daredevil, Thor by Walter Simonson Omnibus by Walter Simonson, X-Statix Omnibus by Peter Milligan, Michael Allred and Others, Batman: The Black Glove by Scott Snyder, Jock and Francisco Francavilla
Best Blu-ray/DVD Release: Complete Star Wars Saga out of obligation; Blow Out Criterion out of pure magic
Thing that disappointed you most in 2011? Losing my Dad in February.
Thing that you're most looking forward to in 2012? Looking forward to a better year, starting with lots of forthcoming FOG! announcements including FOG! Publishing's official launch, and continuing to evolve the site and work with some of the smartest, funniest writers in the world. Plus the releases of Prometheus, Dark Knight Rises, Amazing Spider-Man, The Avengers, and Django Unchained. Also, it looks like Katy Perry is single and an emotional wreck. As am I. Call me.

Elizabeth Young
FOG! Managing Editor/columnist

Best Movies: It's a weird combination but the two flicks I had no intention of enjoying blew me away: Bridesmaids and Hannah. Easily the best movies of the year.
Best TV Show: Community, hands down.
Best Book (fiction): Mrs. Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Best Book (non-fiction): Zeitoun by Dave Eggers
Best Video Games: Portal 2, Uncharted 3, Batman: Arkham City
Best Song: I Wanna Meet Dave Grohl – Wavves
Best Album: Join Us – They Might Be Giants
Thing that excited you most in 2011? That I survived another year without alcohol poisoning.
Thing that disappointed you most in 2011? That Ryan Gosling didn't take me up on my offer of "having a good time"
Thing that you're most looking forward to in 2012?: My first book, The Blank Generation, will be released in January as an Indie Author title. Buy it bitches...oh, and the next installment of Wet Moon Vol. 6 by Ross Campbell

CONSIDER THIS AN EARLY NEW YEAR'S EVE GIFT

Every year should end with something as awesome as Star Trek figures getting their groove on.

May the end of your 2011 be as sweet.

See you in 2012.

What Would ARCHER Do On New Year's Eve?

More What Would Archer Do? after the jump!

One of the things that I have on my Bucket List is to watch Great White Sharks swim around the coast of South Africa while I am ensconced safely in a cage underwater.

If I was a braver person, I would even try to swim with them before they ripped my head off.

But let's move on to the following video from National Geographic (or as they are known by their hipper name: NatGeo) showing one of my beloved Great Whites getting murdered by a Killer Whale during a thrill kill.

The asshole whale was playing for a crowd of whale-watchers when the Great White was just passing through, not bothering anyone, and then WHAM! it was destroyed by Orca and devoured.

Oh sure, it was great for the witnesses to see but who is going to explain natural selection to the wife of the Great White who is now going to have to get a second job just to support the family?

Whale on shark violence is getting out of hand people and justice must be handed out!

(I think I miss Law & Order a bit too much)

Anyway, the video of the evil whale is after the break.

"Not the brandy, you dope!"

This movie was the last collaboration between two men who left a mark on American cinema that reverberates even to this day.

Donovan’s Reef is a 1963 romcom has a 60% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where 73% of the audience report liking it.

Why Bother?

"What started it was this knothead tried to push a hootchie-cootchie dancer off on me in Panama!"

Over 35 years, John Wayne appeared in twenty-four of John Ford’s films, and three TV episodes. John Ford even gave him the nickname “Duke.” They changed American cinema forever, and, by the time that they made Donovan’s Reef, they knew exactly how to work together.

Lee Marvin was no stranger to either of them, having played the bad guy in The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance.

In addition, the movie stars Jack Warden, Cesar Romero (three years before he became the Joker), and Dorothy Lamour; shows off John Ford’s yacht, the Araner; and features gorgeous Hawaiian scenery.

My favorite part of the Oscars is the "Dead Movie People" part where you can judge a person's likability by how many Hollywood people clap when their head shot is projected on the screen while John Williams-type orchestra music plays in the background.

It's morbid I know, but part of me enjoys seeing it because I'd like to think that my death would bring a huge round of applause (but probably for different reasons other than honoring my memory) one day.

And in that same vein of remembrance, TV.com has put together a video of all the television shows that humanity has lost this year due to bad ratings or a simple lack of vision from a TV exec.

I will admit that I almost cried during some of the show montage because I'm a sap, but I will reserve most of my tears when the bastards cancel Community.

Video after the break.

Lana is haunted by what appears to be the ghost of a childhood friend that died in a tragic accident.

Seriously, can this chick have any more drama in her life?

Paging Dr. Phil!

Why You No Believe?

Yesterday FOG posted about the death of Tarzan sidekick Cheetah who, according to the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary where he had lived since the 1960s, died at the age of 80 from kidney failure.

Unfortunately for anyone who thought that the story was an interesting tidbit about an animal actor from the 1930s who retired to Florida and lived the life of a stereotypical old person, they are now going to have to spend the next few days being media-blasted by claims that "Cheetah" was a fake and that there is no way a chimpanzee can live to be 80 years-old.

With no way to prove the actual identity of "Cheetah" (the Sanctuary claims that a fire in 1995 destroyed documentation on various chimps) the accusations are becoming quite nasty and it won't belong before lawsuits are being filed.

But here's my question to the people involved: Does it really matter?

Anne Hathaway is talking about the Caped Crusader's latest adventure The Dark Knight Rises and what her character Selina Kyle, or Catwoman, has to do with it all.

In an interview with The L.A. Times, Hathaway talked about working with director Christopher Nolan, the costume, and her old timey inspiration behind how to play the role. There is a scene given that has some spoilers in it, so hit the jump to keep reading.

I think it’s safe to say that comic book fans have been treated to quite the year.

Great writing, awesome artwork, Earth shattering events, the growth of digital distribution, elevated comic book sales and a new universe have paved the way to infinity and beyond.

The questions you have to ask yourself is: what were the best events in Comics?

NBC may have passed on BSG reunion 17th Precinct from Ron Moore, but now you can watch the entire pilot right here.

The supernatural police procedural happens in a similar looking San Francisco with some key differences that you will see. Starring Jamie Bamber and Tricia Helfer, this is what NBC passed on to get shows like Grimm, Smash, and Awake.

They also decided to pick up the now-cancelled shows Prime Suspect and The Playboy Club. Watch it after the break.

This trailer for John Carter is for Japan and comes with a special message straight from the director.

Andrew Stanton gives some notes about the movie and what it will be like for the potential Japanese audience. His film, based on the stories of Edgar Rice Burroughs, show a world on mars with strange beasts and aliens and I'm sure you've already seen the trailer before.

Take a look at this new stuff right after the break and listen to Stanton's introduction. I don't know about you guys but I think this might actually be an OK movie. What do you think?

Watch This ALIEN Trailer Done In PROMETHEUS Style

Some people on the internet are quite talented. Take a look at this trailer for the film Alien that's done in the style of the new movie Prometheus.

To be fair the new Prometheus trailer actually takes a few notes from the original Alien trailer. Things like the evolving text to reveal the title and the screamy sounds that are used in the soundtrack. It makes sense since they are related. Watch the other trailers after the jump.

Precious director Lee Daniels returns with The Paperboy based on the book by Pete Dexter. Starring Matthew McConaughey, Zac Efron, John Cusack and Nicole Kidman

The film follows Ward James(McConaughey), a journalist, and his brother Jack (Efron), as they investigate the possible wrongful conviction of a death row inmate (Cusack). Jack winds up falling for the convict's love interest (Kidman).

ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER Will Star in BLACK SANDS

Schwarzenegger is coming back to movies and he will be starring in Black Sands.

According to TheArnoldFans.com, the legendary actor will soon be in Belen, New Mexico to start production on the new project. After finishing up work on his current project Last Stand he will be returning to the desert on April 1st.

In Dark Sands, Schwarzenegger will play the role of an immortal or as he puts it "I'm a kind of angel." Sadly he also noted that he "can not currently say more about this film."

The action sci-fi/fantasy will be directed by Scott Waugh and Mike McCoy. As of right now, this is Schwarzenegger's only acting commitment. In the movie he will "raging war against weapons dealers as an immortal instrument of death." ArnoldFans calls it a cross between Constantine and Commando.

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Check Out Bad Robot's Movie FX App

J.J Abrams' Bad Robot has released a new iPhone App that lets users add awesome effects to their movies.

While it is free, it only comes with two effects that include Missile Attack and Car Smash. There are also separate effects packages that include two effects each that cost a buck.

It's a very simple app, all you do is fire it up, choose an effect, shoot some footage and select when you want the effect to start. It takes a few seconds to process the footage and then you have an awesome clip you can use in iMovie and be the next J.J Abrams. Or maybe it's more Michael Bay

Each effect looks really good and comes with nice sound, it's fun to play around with, see some samples after the break.

I'm white and with that come certain stereotypes and cliches that are well, sadly true. The first being that in the early days of rap white people were horrible at it (and to some extent we still are). So horrible that anytime I heard a white dude rhyming lyrics on television or in commercials, I felt deeply ashamed for myself and the rest of my people.

To counteract this shame and sorrow, I turned to black culture to satisfy my need to hear poetry broken apart in intense and beautiful ways (I will always give credit to Eazy-E's album Eazy-Duz-It as a contributing factor to my life-long love of rap) and, like being wrapped up in a comforting and warm blanket, black rap artists allowed me to move past the incredible embarrassment of watching a white man rap in a safe and secure way.

That is until I stumbled across the following video from the television show Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future (which ran from 1987-88 on syndication) which describes the show via Rap.

And now I'm back to feeling horrible inside, so thanks bad Sci-Fi television show for reminding me of how bad white people are at rhyming.

Video after the break.

The following video showcases the dancing style known as Bonebreaking or Flexing which consists of dance moves that contort one's body into looking as if you are triple jointed or rather that you have no bones in your body.

It is a feat that I can only accomplish once I have had a few doses of Nyquil.

And while it may look strange (and yes, it almost reminds one of the Silent Hill nurses hence, the apocalpse remark in the headline) and a bit scary (thanks to the gas masks that the dancers are wearing) I'm sure that once you get the hang of it you will be extremely popular at your family's next Bar Mitzvah.

Or, they may call 911 thinking you are having some sort of seizure...which is far more likely.

Dance video after the break.

Burn away some silly political material and you’re left with the meat of this film— a former British Prime Minister finds herself haunted by a ghost.

This peek at the later years of Margaret Thatcher blurs the line in a mirthful way between living and dead, objective reality and the spectral.

We’re invited to ponder universal questions such as whether we’ll see ghosts if we make it to our 80s—and will our ghosts be as puckish as Mrs. Thatcher’s translucent visitor.

Meryl Streep portrays the Prime Minister with dignity and discretion, walking a fine line between compassion for a great woman in decline and the comedic possibilities of an old kook who sees ghosts.

Cheetah, the1930's chimpanzee sidekick to actors Johnny Weissmuller and Maureen O’Sullivan in the Tarzan movies, passed away from kidney failure at the age of 80.

After entertaining millions of people in Tarzan The Ape Man (1932) and Tarzan And His Mate (1934), Cheetah retired to the Suncoast Primate Sanctuary in Palm Harbor in the 1960s and spent his golden years enjoying his family and friends.

Source: Deadline

BLEED BASTARD: The Gort Predator Review

The first review I wrote for this column was of NECA’s 7” scale classic predator figure. And now NECA has introduced into their line the biggest scale predator produced yet, a ¼ scale Gort predator.

The Gort predator wears a mask that was a rejected design from the original Predator film, which you can see below. The mask design was saved and later used in Predator 2, belonging to one of the “Lost Predators”.

Justin Bieber will be starring in Mark Wahlberg's upcoming basketball themed drama.

In an interview with MTV, Wahlberg said his reason for casting Bieber was "intuition" adding "I'm pretty intuitive." Very little is still known about the movie other than Wahlberg will be playing an "old guy" role next to Bieber's young guy.

The nerd comedy Big Bang Theory gets ready to start up again with its 100th episode. But what will happen in that episode?

According to THR, the monumental episode will be a look at the the relationship between Penny and Leonard and is said to include a look at future in "a very unique way." The episode will air on January 19th.

The National Film Registry is adding 25 movies from 1912-1994 to its growing collection of movies that are considered cinematic treasures.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, The Library of Congress announced on Wednesday to add films like Forrest Gump, Bambi, and Silence of the Lambs. The movies added this year brings the list to 575 titles that will be carefully preserved.

The selection of films were finalized by the Librarian after reviewing the 2,228 films that were nominated this year and conferring with Library film curators and the members of the National Film Preservation Board.

Yesterday Stan Lee turned 89 years old and we here at FOG! would like to give our sincerest Hip, Hip, Hooray to a legend of a man who has not even slowed down one bit (even though we ourselves could use a nap).

So Happy Birthday Stan, may the next 89 years be as creatively full and interesting as the first 89.

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

THE FLAMING LIPS COVER I Am the Walrus...Enjoy

The first time I ever heard of the band The Flaming Lips I thought the name referred to a horrible sexually transmitted disease (I was often scared of this considering I spent the 90s in a haze of high slutitude). Then I heard the Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots album and fell in love quite soundly (and yes, I did start listening to them in 1993 with their only so-called hit She Don't Use Jelly but it was merely a crush at that point, not true love) and realized that regardless of their STD-sounding name, I was going to allow them to enter my soul bare-back style.

And now they are covering The Beatles song I Am the Walrus in their own unique way which sounds raw and beautiful and well, I guess my love for The Flaming Lips is similar to herpes in that it will never go away, but thank Jeebus, because with a band this good, who wants to be sore-free?

Video after the break

Good Afternoon Canucks!

The following video stars beloved CBC Hockey commentator Don Cherry doing what he does best (which is emphasizing his hockey-talking points by looking as though he is playing the piano on his desk..you crazy Canadians).

Now I know it's almost sacrilegious to mess with anything hockey related but trust me, the following video is hilarious and I'm guessing that it will be appreciated by all Cherry fans.

And if it isn't, well I'd just like you to know that as an American I am dangerously violent and there is no access to quality free health-care here so unless you want to rumble and then pay a horrendously large deductible at the hospital I suggest you let this faux pas slide.

Video after the break.

THE HUNGER GAMES MOVIE TRAILER RE-IMAGINED IN LEGOS

One of these days someone is going to have to make an entire LEGO-style movie otherwise I'm going to blow my brains out in disappointment.

I'm serious.

Smallville: Random, Awesome and WTF?! - S2E20: Witness

Another kid from Home Improvement shows up as a supervillain, as the boy formerly known as Brad Taylor huffs Kryptonite dust to play baseball and rob trucks.

Tim and Jill really were crappy parents.

Try less power, more parental supervision, guys…

Just a few thoughts

on a few films

that few flocked to...

THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO

Never underestimate the illiteracy rate in this country. One of the biggest selling books of all time got its uber-awesome Fincher adaptation and more people rolled Arthur Conan Doyle in his grave for a second time, animated chipmunks work unexplainable charm the third time and Tom Cruise in an impossibly plausible mission for a fourth time. Perhaps nobody wanted the FEEL BAD CHRISTMAS MOVIE OF THE YEAR actually at Christmas. It's a shame, because this is his best film since Zodiac and hopefully spans two more dark tales of Millennium.

The Wachowskis Cloud Atlas now has some concept art of a future version of the city of Seoul in the year 2144.

The adaptation of David Mitchell's time travel novel just recently went into production with a high profile cast, two separate filming crews, and a challenging storyline.

With one team directed by Tom Tykwer and the other by the Wachowskis, the film has cast members playing multiple parts in multiple time periods. Check out the other image right after the break

Dan Aykroyd is set to star in the political comedy Dog Fight alongside Will Ferrell and Zach Galifiankis.

The Wrap reports that the actor will have some role in the film though it is not quite clear what it will be. Aykroyd will produce along with the two other stars and Adam McKay while Jay Roach is set to direct the film.

Watch The Latest THE HOBBIT Production Video

Perhaps you've been following along with the production blog of The Hobbit, Watch the latest entry to the series right here.

This latest video shows Peter Jackson walking us around Hobbiton and moving an entire set and crew for the film. Elijah Wood also makes a quick appearance in his Frodo garb. Oh, I'm talking too much, just watch it already.

The other four videos are right after the break, and are definitely worth your time, if you like Hobbits.

Argo is a political thriller, and serves as Ben Affleck's third directorial feature following Gone, Baby, Gone and The Town. Affleck also stars and the photo above is a first look at him in character.

The Hollywood Reporter says Argo "centers around a CIA plot to free hostages taken by the Iranian government in 1979. Affleck will play the specialist who created a plan to free six Americans trapped in Tehran when it was being attacked by Iranian militants.

The movie is set for a September 14, 2012 release and also stars a winning lineup including Alan Arkin, Bryan Cranston and John Goodman. Affleck will be producing the film along with George Clooney and Grant Heslov

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

TRANSFORMERS: DARK OF THE MOON Gets New Edition

Although Transformers: Dark of The Moon has already arrived on Blu-ray in a bare-bones version, this edition coming January 31st is the must have!

And if that's not enough giant robot madness to whet your palate, there's also a massive 7 disc collection encompassing the Transformers movie trilogy.

In other words, a whole lot of that Michael Bay magic.

Full press release after the jump.

Previously Unseen Footage of LEDGER in THE DARK KNIGHT Surfaces

Via Kevin Smith

Watch The Premiere Episode of Showtime's HOUSE OF LIES

Here's a first look at House of Lies, a scathing, Corporate America-skewering comedy about a self-loathing management consultant (Academy Award® nominee Don Cheadle) from a top tier firm who is never above using any means (or anyone) necessary to get his way with and for his clients. Kristen Bell also stars.

Series premieres Sunday, January 8th at 10PM ET/PT.

For more details, visit the Official Site or Facebook Page.

THIS IS WHY HUMANITY SUCKS BALLS

Sometimes it's hard to justify our continued survival on this planet when I see something like the following commercial airing late at night.

You see, we, as a species, seem to enjoy destroying one another physically, emotionally and financially as if it were a sport but for whatever reason we will come together as one perfect unit to enjoy A GIANT FUCKING DOUGHNUT because the novelty of it makes us feel good inside.

Oh sure, after the doughnut is finished we will go back to making sure the other guy pays for seeing us in a vulnerable frosting-like state, but while we are shoving cake into our gaping maws we are all one.

We really are horrible things...

Commercial for gluttons after the break.

I have to go on record right here, right now in saying that I believe in the possibility of ghosts and the supernatural.

I’ve always been interested in horror movies and the paranormal.

I had a Ouija Board growing up I swore was real because, really, if I were to become a ghost, my fond memories of playing Monopoly and Battleship would totally make me want to make my presence known through a mass marketed Parker Brothers board game.

“Uh, Spirit? You’re pointing to my crotch…”

So when I saw commercials for American Horror Story on FX, I was more than intrigued.

It had been so long since I’d seen a good genre show like that done right.

Years back, CBS had Harper’s Island, which had a slasher flick/murder mystery motif, that ultimately fell flat and wound up canceling a few episodes, though it fared better than ABC’s Happy Town which I’m pretty sure was canned during the opening credits.

Sam Neill was caught wondering why the hell he thought Happy Town would be a good idea.

But this looked like it could be legit, so when it debuted in October, I was all set to watch.

That first episode, however, just didn’t do it for me.

I have a feeling that the following short film is just a taste of what Hollywood will do with this premise once it gets its filthy hands on it.

I mean, if they are going to allow twenty thousand films about a dog playing high school basketball (because there is no rule saying they can't...whatever) then a canine Robocop rip-off is certainy do-able.

In fact, if this isn't in theaters by next year then I'm pretty certain that the Mayan Prophecy is for real and we are all going to die.

Short film after the break.

I pity the fool who don't wear a rain jacket in Florida

Henry DiCarlo, KTLA Weatherman, woke up on Friday morning thinking that he was finally going to be taken seriously as a journalist. The powers that be sent him out to do a "real" interview for the "Toys for Tots" drive and Henry was ecatatic (I'm guessing that it was always his dream to interview people dropping off crappy gifts to disadantaged children).

That is until he realized that he was only supposed to dress up like Santa, say a few words and then get back to reading the weather like a trained Muppet.

Boy, was he pissed.

And so, like any professional whose career requires him to be on camera at five in the morning, Henry acted like a bitch on the air.

And then the real journalists (and I'm using this term loosely) back at the station made fun of him.

Ahhh yes, journalism at its finest, I'm sure Edward R. Murrow would be so proud.

Video of the hissy fit after the break.

PUT ON YOUR GLOWSTICKS...This E.T. Theme Song Will Have You Wishing You Had Just Dropped Some E

The theme song to E.T. always lifts the spirits...but when it's in disco/electronica mode, well, let's just say that the space alien with the glowing red heart makes you want to get funky.

Take this version by the Future World Orchestra from 1983, if this doesn't make you want to feather your hair and shake your booty then you are probably dead inside.

Source: coilhouse

New Images From THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN

The Amazing Spider-Man is slowly getting closer to a release. To tide you over until that release, here are some brand new pictures.

Starring Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, the reboot of the franchise looks to bring in a younger audience with a new cast and different story. Check out the new pictures of the stars and a close look at Peter Parker's mechanical web shooters courtesy of the film's Facebook page.

Channing Tatum's story about male stripping, Magic Mike is in development now and here is the first official pictures from the set.

The movie is directed by Steven Soderbergh and stars Tatum along with Matthew McConaughey, Alex Pettyfer, Matt Bomer, Joe Mangianell, Olivia Munn, Riley Keough, Cody Horn, and Adam Rodriguex.

The story is based on Tatum's real life experiences and tells "the story of friendship set in the world of male strippers." Watch the trailer right after the break.

Jay Chandrasekhar's next comedy The Babymakers is coming soon and now there is a red-band trailer for the film.

The director of Super Troopers and Beerfest returns to make a movie about a young married couple that can't have a baby. After going through many different plans, they decide that their only option is to rob the sperm bank for a sample donated by Paul Schneider's character. Olivia Munn plays his wife. Watch the very NSFW trailer right after the break.

Wolf Pup Learns to Howl...What Do You Want From Me, News Is Light Because Of The Damn Holidays

Because everyone but me seems to be on some kind of vacation (assholes), I am forced to post the most random things this week due to a lack of interesting stories.

So the following video is a wolf pup hearing the sound of other wolves howling for the first time via a computer and it's reaction to it.

Yes, it's adorable and yes, it will make you smile but I'm still kind of pissed that you get to stay home and watch movies all day while I have to put on pants and talk to people outside of my house.

Now, if you excuse me, I will leave you with a video of supreme cuteness while I have to get ready to go to work.

I really do hate you.

Wolf pup after the break.

I've probably said this before but it bears repeating: If you were alive and conscious of cassette tapes in the 80s then you were probably the creator of a mixtape that explained, in musical detail, the very depth of your soul. And you conveyed these feelings by handing this tape to another person to listen to so that they would know exactly how very deep a human being you were.

A mixtape was more than simply two pieces of plastic squishing together a spool of magnetic media, it was my generation's Facebook, IM and texting all wrapped up in 90 mins of musical madness.

And sometimes I miss it.

Oh sure you can create a playlist on a flashdrive and hand over 1300 songs to someone you have a crush on but it's not the same. When you have an unlimited (well, close to it anyway) number of songs at your disposal instead of having to choose only 10 or so, you get sloppy with the message.

When you title a mixtape "Heartbreak" you know you are going have to choose the songs carefully because this is what you (or your former significant other) will be crying to in the dead of night.

And when you spend six hours listening to albums searching for deep cuts to impress a would be lover and then hand write liner notes on the cover of the cassette tape to explain why these song were chosen, well, that my friends, is worth a roll in the hay just for the effort.

Which is why the website Everyone's Mix Tape is kinda awesome. A virtual drag-and-drop mixtape creator that anyone can add to (via YouTube, Vimeo and Soundcloud) that will have you scrambling through decades of music to add the most perfect song to an already intense mixtape titled "Make-Out".

And the best part?

You can email it to that very special person you've been stalking for a month.

'Cause nothing will ever say "I Want You" more than a mixtape containing the following songs after the break.

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Saturday, December 31, 2011

Friday, December 30, 2011

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Monday, December 26, 2011