- Go to "wikipedia." Hit “random” or click http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random The first random wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.
- Go to "Random quotations" or click http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3
The last four or five words of the very last quote of the page is the title of your first album. - Go to flickr and click on “explore the last seven days” or click http://www.flickr.com/explore/interesting/7days Third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.
- Use photoshop or similar to put it all together.
Monday, February 23, 2009
A Better Blog Game...
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Terry Pratchett Receives OBE Becoming Sir Terry Pratchett
In 2007 Sir Terry was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease and has since campaigned to raise awareness of the condition. Here's a short video with Sir Terry:
And here's his Discworld books with links if you never had the pleasure of checking them out. One of the few authors who make laugh out loud funny books. Well worth your time.
Your Favourite Movies (and other things) Backwards
"If you watch Heroes backwards you realise that it's been getting progressively better over time."
"If you watch the original Superman backwards, Superman was kind of dick."
"If you watch the entire series backwards, George Lucas develops into a brilliant writer."
"If you watch Fight Club backwards, it's about a terrorist schizophrenic getting his life back together and going to rehab"
"If you play Super Mario Bros backwards, you'll find that Mario is a true philanthropist and animal lover, throwing coins into the air and saving turtles. And he leaves that bitch the princess right at the beginning."
Friday, February 20, 2009
Dr Who and Star Wars Imperial March on Tesla Coils
Ani DeFranco
Maybe I'll make this a Friday thing? So, don't know if I mentioned it last weekend, but I went on a Tori Amos kick on Last.FM last weekend. Today it's been Ani DeFranco. Yes, I know she's militant, but nothing makes a woman more attractive in my eyes then talent. What? No one will put out your music Ani? Screw 'em. She started Righteous Records in 1989 (later renamed the very cool Righteous Babe Records). She's produced 20+ albums since.
Here's Ani doing one of her earliest hits like last year at The Forum. Here's Both Hands:
Thursday, February 19, 2009
The Horsemen Trailer aka Zhang Ziyi Pr0n
Interesting Bits XIII or The Mostly Clip One
Movie Bits
Well, four new Watchmen clips have hit the interwebs this week (along with three new Wolverine trailers) confirming my thoughts that we will be able to see at least 20 minutes of the most popular movies on the webs before the come out in theatres. Legally I mean, heh. True, it'll be one minute at a time, but what do you want for free? I really cannot wait for the 6th of March to get here. My sister's even taking off of work early to go see it with me.
Anyways, here's "Warning You First," when Dan comes to Adrian to tell him about Rorschach's theories:
Cool Bits
Okay, this lil girl is just cool as hell. She looks somewhere in the range of 15-18, but she can play the hell outta the violin. Rocking out in her room to a Black Eyed Peas song I don't even like. Give it a watch...I know you'll be impressed. (Cheers to Calvin's Canadian Cave of Cool for unearthing this gem.)
From Funnyordie.com comes, "The Uncler." Every wonder how different Micky (terribly sorry you lost your chihuahua, Loki, Mickey.) Rourke's movie The Wrestler would have been starring Uncle Sam? With all of the beatings America's taken in the past 8 years (economy, Gitmo, ect) Uncle Sam is down, but he isn't out. Take a watch, co-starring Alyssa Milano as Uncle Sam's stripper girlfriend.
TV Bits (or Catch-Up on BSG)
This was at Spoiler TV my favourite place for TV previews and gossip. It has a brief synopsis of Battlestar Galactica up to this point and an interview with Kate Vernon on her playing the 5th and final cylon. I've loved Kate Vernon since I first saw her on The Kindred. The so-so version of White Wolf Pub. Vampire: The Masquerade.
Here's Tricia Helfer on The Jimmy Kimmel Show. I realise she's Carla now on Burn Notice, but she'll always be Caprica 6 in my heart. The character is just so erotic and alluring for me. Even knowing she may kill you at any moment.
Just in case you missed Tricia in Playboy a few years ago, here she is in a few shots:
Weird Bits
So, werewolf's are among us, right? I mean Kelley Armstrong, Patricia Briggs, or Carrie Vaughn could tell us this, but have you ever wanted to see one of their young? Found on Boing Boing is the Infant Lycanthrope Dissection Kit. "Alex CF, a creator of "zoological sculpture" made this infant lycanthrope dissection kit on a commission for a Swiss magician."
Also on Boing Boing, and I gotta get me one of these since I've had 25+ of them on my knees. "Becky Stern says: I'm using the image data from my knee MRI to embroider pictures. I've just finished the first of many." I'm sure there's enough knee people out there by this moment in time that they'd have no problem knowing what it was.
Funny Bits
I apologise if your humour doesn't sync with mine, but I laughed at this. From the same people who sang, "Hold Me Closer Tony Danza," is, "Obama's Elf."
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Day 3 "Legends"
I reckon between this and all the new bits of Watchmen appearing, we may get to see half the movies before we "see" them.
Monday, February 16, 2009
X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Day 2
X-Men Origins: Wolverine TV Spot
Important! Please Read....
Join The New Zealand Internet Blackout to protest against the Guilt Upon Accusation law 'Section 92A' that calls for internet disconnection based on accusations of copyright infringement without a trial and without any evidence held up to court scrutiny. This is due to come into effect on February 28th unless immediate action is taken by the National Party.
Join thousands of New Zealanders already against this law by blacking out your Facebook photo, your websites, your Myspace pages, your Twitter account, in protest against this unjust new law that may come into effect on February 28.
Just use this image (Right-click, Save-As) with the text:
(your name) is blacked out: Stand up against "Guilt Upon Accusation" for New Zealand http://creativefreedom.org.nz/blackout.html
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Interesting Bits XII
But, I was one of the ones who dug it. (Along with this guy @IO9.) Where was I? Oh yeah, twisty labyrinth (are labyrinth's twisty by definition?). Anyhoo, from Dollhouse to Doll Posse to Tori Amos.
Tori is one of those women who their very presence on this planet makes me happy. I got to see her first in '94 for her Under the Pink tour. I've spent money to see her 9 times since. The only person I've ever seen look sexual with a piano (Bosendorfer, always Bosendorfer).
Which (kinda sorta brings us back) to her release from 2007, American Doll Posse. Great music (Although my favourite remains the '96 release Boys for Pele), especially since it's 17 years since her first, Little Earthquakes. Here's a clip from ADP, Big Wheel. (Favourite bit? "Yes, I am an M.I.L.F. Don't you forget")
Your Blog and You. A Users Guide
The Electronic Frontier Foundation has revamped their legal guide for bloggers. Letting us know what is legal in this ever expanding (contracting? Fuck you Diane Feinstein for trying to kill net-neutrality) interweb frontier.
"The difference between you and the reporter at your local newspaper is that in many cases, you may not have the benefit of training or resources to help you determine whether what you're doing is legal. And on top of that, sometimes knowing the law doesn't help - in many cases it was written for traditional journalists, and the courts haven't yet decided how it applies to bloggers.
But here's the important part: None of this should stop you from blogging. Freedom of speech is the foundation of a functioning democracy, and Internet bullies shouldn't use the law to stifle legitimate free expression. That's why EFF created this guide, compiling a number of FAQs designed to help you understand your rights and, if necessary, defend your freedom."
A new dating service went live as of Valentine's Day. Why is this better than Eharmony and Match.com? It's called Till-Death-Do-Us-Part.com and it's goal is to connect people with terminal illnesses.
"Till-Death-Do-Us-Part.com is profoundly different from other dating sites. We're dealing with people who know they are facing imminent death. They are aware that their days are numbered and they know, more or less, how long they have to live. This service does not require members to answer the frivolous questionnaires other dating sites provide, although they can if they want to. We are not interested, as we are sure our clients are not either, in the inane, trivial and essentially meaningless come-ons and delusional fantasies of finding the perfect mate. We assume our members don't care if someone's eyes are blue or green, whether they wear glasses or not. According to Marketing Director Joseph DiAngelo, "This site is designed to cut through the superficiality and embrace issues we think are most meaningful -- the desire and need for understanding, compassion, empathy and comfort between human beings facing their greatest challenge."
Tell me a better goal? Not just for people who don't know how to strike up a conversation with the object of their desire, but people who know their time is short and want to spend it with someone special. I haven't a clue as to whether it will work or not, but I do wish them all the best.
You Are What You Eat
Following on the heels of the salmonella scare with peanuts came this Op-Ed piece from the NY Times telling us the facts of what is actually allowed in the food we consume. I warn you if you haven't eaten as of yet today:
"In its (falsely) reassuringly subtitled booklet “The Food Defect Action Levels: Levels of Natural or Unavoidable Defects in Foods That Present No Health Hazards for Humans,” the F.D.A.’s Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition establishes acceptable levels of such “defects” for a range of foods products, from allspice to peanut butter.
Among the booklet’s list of allowable defects are “insect filth,” “rodent filth” (both hair and excreta pellets), “mold,” “insects,” “mammalian excreta,” “rot,” “insects and larvae” (which is to say, maggots), “insects and mites,” “insects and insect eggs,” “drosophila fly,” “sand and grit,” “parasites,” “mildew” and “foreign matter” (which includes “objectionable” items like “sticks, stones, burlap bagging, cigarette butts, etc.”).
Tomato juice, for example, may average “10 or more fly eggs per 100 grams [the equivalent of a small juice glass] or five or more fly eggs and one or more maggots.” Tomato paste and other pizza sauces are allowed a denser infestation — 30 or more fly eggs per 100 grams or 15 or more fly eggs and one or more maggots per 100 grams."
And with that, tomato juice is now off the grocery list until I forget about this.
What Most Reminded Me of The Sandman Today
Apparently falling asleep in public in Japan is kosher with most Japanese. From Danny Choo who blogs about his life in Japan.
These pics remind me of a Neil Gaiman comic come to life. Things have gone terribly wrong in the Dreaming, and people are beginning to fall asleep where they stand through out the world. Check out the entire link for all the fotos.
Geek Apparel
Inspired by Star Trek: The Next Generation comes this corset. Or as I like to think of it, What I really wanted to see Counselor Troi in during the show. It can be found at Etsy.
Funny Bits
You know I generally try and end this on a funny note. Thank you BBC for giving me one. Apparently London's been having a bit of snow. They set up a camera outside the steps of Paddington Station...just to watch people fall. Only the link, but well worth clicking as long as you just think humour and not stuff like, "I hope he didn't hurt himself." Sorta like Jackass for the BBC.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Watchmen-Tales of the Black Freighter
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Interesting Bits XI
Women I Love to Love
Tonight is the premier of Joss Whedon's Dollhouse. If a resume including: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel & Firefly on TV and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Alien Resurrection & Serenity in movies weren't enough for you...ummm..it's got Eliza Dushku in the lead roll.
As my favourite Slayer on BtVS I've watched almost everything Eliza has been in from Bring it On to bad The New Guy to the worse Tru Calling. She's lovely and has a real je ne sais quoi.
I'm troubled that the show is going to be on Fox (I know I'm not the only one who's still bitter about what they did to Firefly) rather then Sci Fi (where it would be given a proper chance), but hope springs eternal when it come to Whedon projects for me. Make sure and check out the pilot tonight at 9 eastern 8 central. If you wish to peruse her entire body of work the Internet Movie Database is always the best place to start.
For some of my favourite galleries with Eliza Dushku please check: here, here, or here.
Heidi (Mrs. Seal aka Ms. Auf Weider Zane) Klum is in this month's GQ from Germany.
Not bad for a 35 year old mother of two, huh?
Also, Megan Fox came to some child's house for the Make-A-Wish Foundation to play video games. I commend the child's choice, but I probably would've picked a hula hoop game or something that involved strenuous movements on Wii.
Lastly, how did I miss this promo shot for the new season of Battlestar Galactica? Katee Sackhoff is just fun to look at for me.
Politicians
A happy 200th birthday to our 16th President, Abraham Lincoln. The inventor of the emoticon. You only thought Lincoln was ahead of his time before this, but this document of a speech in 1862 has recently surfaced.
See the lil wink emoticon after his joke?
Greatest politician ever? Nikiski, Alaska has the awesome sense to have an assemblyman named…
I dunno about you, but this is easily one of the best things I’ve read this week, just for the name of the headline alone. “Superman Not Pleased With Borough Mayor.” All I can think about is heat-vision or a super-powered flick to the head (promptly causing said mayor to hit escape velocity).
Our Sad World
A recently un-ex-communicated Catholic Bishop has made headlines lately. And boy is he showing how grateful he is to the Pope for bringing him back into the fold. Bishop Richard Williamson has recently denied that the Holocaust ever took place. I shit you not. From Reuters:
"Bishop Richard Williamson is a member of the ultra- conservative Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX). In late January, Pope Benedict XVI decided to lift the excommunications of four members of the SSPX, Bishop Williamson among them. Just days prior to the retraction of his excommunication, Bishop Williamson said on Swedish television that he didn't believe the Holocaust took place and said that between 200,000 and 300,000 Jews died in Nazi concentration camps instead of the commonly accepted 6 million. The resulting scandal has led to doubts about Benedict's leadership of the Catholic Church, though Benedict last week demanded that Williamson recant his statements."
Check out an interview with the Bishop at Spiegel Online.It's shit like this (and the 500 year too late apology for the Inquisition) that makes me consider myself a recovering Catholic. Sorta like an alcoholic, just because you stop drinking doesn't mean you aren't an alcoholic. Just because I don't go to church anymore doesn't mean I don't want to. I was brought up in the church and childhood teachings (brainwashings) are the hardest to shake.
Also on the sad world front comes this lil jewel:
Sometimes I really doubt we'll make it as a species, but things like this give me hope...
Greatest Geek Samaritan
From Sir Steve's Guide:
"Josh "Tycho" Weisleberg has been part of the SirStevesGuide.com community for well over a decade, starting not long after I launched the site. Josh was first known for his newsletters regarding the world of Star Wars comics and books (as well as a die-hard toy collector and diorama builder) until an inherited kidney disorder put him in a coma for months and his longterm health took a sharp turn. So he put aside the newsletter to concentrate on dealing with his health, keeping active in the forums, and eventually even writing a book, while waiting on the donor list for a new kidney. It took the generosity of a fellow Star Wars fan, nearly 3 years, dialysis, and one disheartening false start, but as of February 3rd, 2009, his transplant was successful. The donor (or should I say hero) in this is Barry "bobafrett" Benecke. Barry gave the greatest gift one can give: life. Barry, a father, Star Wars collector, and member of the 501st Legion with several costumes, had never met Josh in person before but they were both active in the Forum. The need for donor kidneys is enormous in this country, there is a kidney waiting list of 90,000 people which had greatly limited Josh's chances, and when his health took a fast downturn in 2006, Barry felt compelled to help out a buddy in such dire need and offered to donate his own kidney, and it's simply amazing that everything worked out. I know there had been ups and downs, Barry had to undergo test after test to ensure that he was a good match, take time off from work, his family feared that he might not survive the kidney donation surgery, plus there were several trips from Barry's hometown of Chicago out to San Diego, all to help out a fellow Star Wars fan. Barry, you are truly a special person! "
A special thanks to Topless Robot for bringing this story to my attention. I truly needed it after those last two.
Talent
Having done a slew of book covers, Magic the Gathering cards and various other projects, Dan Dos Santos has truly outdone himself on the new Patricia Briggs, Mercy Thompson novel, Bone Crossed.
Please check out the review at Bitten by Books (cheap pop since I review for them as well and have reviews for her first three Mercy books forthcoming). The saying is, 'Never judge a book by it's cover,' but you can fore go that in this instance. Patty Briggs and Dan Dos Santos together make one excellent book.
News of the Weird
"HONG KONG (AFP) — A Hong Kong filmmaker aims to lure audiences back to the cinema with what what he says is the world's first 3D erotic movie, according to a newspaper report.3-D Porn?!? What I'm wondering is why no one has ever done this before? They would seem to go together like a hand in glove or a condom on a...well, you get the picture. Of course it brings up the question of how inadequate some men will feel when the lead actor's schlong isn't only larger then yours, but it coming straight for you!!!
Geek Apparel
I gotta have it. It's been a personal motto since I first learned it. "Oderint Dum Metuant" was basically the only good thing Emperor Caligula introduced to the world. Translated from the Latin, 'Let Them Hate, Provided They Fear.' Now it's on a shirt I must own from Jinx. Purveyors of fine geek apparel.
Funny Bits
Yet again, Robot Chicken out does itself. From an Italian opera written about Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. You're right, that alone is funny...this however takes it a step further.
Everyone try to have a safe, happy and loving Friday the 13th. Oh yeah, try to make the best out of Valentine's Day too ;)
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Blogroll Amnesty Day
Blue Gal suggests that we should post the link to a few of our favorite blogs, and post them so that others can read about them, become aware of them - and finally blogroll these newer and most recently discovered blogs.
Based on Blue Gal's expressed wishes, I have thus gone through a lengthy winnowing process of my own blogroll to find the very best blogs, and I present the following blogs for your consideration as part of the Blogroll Amnesty celebrations.
/Flim
Adventures in Nerdliness
Blue Gal
Boing Boing
Blog@Newsarama
Cap'n Dyke, Pirate Queen
Catch Up Lady
Chris's Invincible Super-Blog
Comics All Too Real
Comics Should Be Good!
Culture kills... wait, I mean cutlery
Electronic Cerebrectomy
Filling the Well - Carrie Vaughn
Geek Orthodox
Great White Snark
Has Boobs, Reads Comics
I Can Has Cheez Burger?
IO9
Jackie Kessler - Cat and Muse
Neil Gaiman
No Smoking in the Skull Cave
Occasional Superheroine
Planet Gallifrey
Robot 6
Rokk's Comic Book Revolution
Shakespeare's Sister
Sidhe Vicious Reviews
Superpowers That Be
The Ben Templesmith Blog Thing.
The Fabulous Lorraine and Fiends
The Huffington Post
Topless Robot
Warren Ellis
You Thought We Wouldn't Notice
Zaius Nation - Some apes are more equal than others
Zendulo's Vlog
Monday, February 2, 2009
Interesting Bits X
"Look, Mummy! The man put up a bunch of links on his blog. How original!"
TV
Still thinking that Lost might have a chance of eventually making sense? I may have found the brightest glimmer yet. Lost: A Theory of Time Travel has an amazingly thought out idea about what the hell's going on. The timeline starts in the 1800's! Well worth a read.
A someone at British school promoting it's Be Healthy Week thought it was a great idea to invite a pole dancer for the kids to learn from. From ABC News.
Movies
Perhaps someone finally told Mickey Rourke that if his is actually gunning for the Best Actor Oscar for The Wrestler appearing in Wrestlemania XXV isn't the way to go. Check out the hoopla at Defamer.com
Heh. Confused book store fans mob Michael Jackson mistaking him as Rorschach from Watchmen.
Comics
The most inappropriate out of context screencap. From Justice League.
Oh, and I found a new blog, Geek Orthodox. Okay, my favourite part are the posts of female comic con goers dressed as characters. Here's someone who I'm guessing is supposed to be Poison Ivy:
News of the Weird
I hear people (generally over 40) all the time lament the passing of actual newspapers. Here's an article I found stating: Printing the NYT Costs Twice As Much As Sending Every Subscriber A Free Kindle. But that would make too much sense, right?
This I found via Warren Ellis. There's a widespread movement in Russia to organize Orthodox-Christian churches in old railway cars:
Sure this one could be filed under Comics, but it's weird to me. I would've got it. Obama Disappointed Cabinent Failed To Understand His Reference to 'Savage Sword of Conan' #24
Can I just say on a personal note how nice it is to have a President who wants to keep his Blackberry so his daughters can always get a hold of him?