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Thursday, August 27, 2009

Internet crack 

Flickchart is very addictive. It lets you rank your favorite movies by comparing them two randomly selected (I think) at a time, head to head. I'm currently borderline obsessed with trying to get Dr. No out of my top ten, but every time it comes up to rate, it's up against something like Freddy vs. Jason. (Which was fun in a crap sort of way, but let's not go overboard.)

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Certain celebrities can be hazardous to your (computer's) health 

Jessica Biel is the "most dangerous celebrity" in that her name is the online search topic most likely to lead you to a computer virus or spyware or other electronic malady.

Of note - coming in fourth, and first among male celebrties, in terms of cyber-risk - is none other than Tom Brady.

So take heed - being a fan of Tom Brady can be dangerous. I point this out because I care.

Also because I'm still bitter.

Mostly the latter.

Monday, August 24, 2009

How not to get into heaven... 

Try explaining this line to St. Peter -
"A Nebraska man who stole a painting of the Virgin Mary to finance an abortion for a teen he raped..."
Reached for comment, the devil said "Dude - pace yourself."

Awesome person of the day 

Former rap star Roxanne Shante gave up on hip-hop after just a couple albums, and as a young mother with no real way out, seemed destined for a particularly depressing episode of "Behind the Music." But, with a display of foresight that the former members of O-Town can only dream of, she recalled a clause put into her record contract that obligated the record company to fund her entire education bill.

$217,000 of Warner Brothers' money later, she is now Dr. Roxanne Shante, a therapist who funds scholarships for aspiring female rappers.

And, what the heck, let's listen to the song again...



Tip - Volokh


Update - Or not. Apparently the above story is true except for the part where she got a PhD and the part where the label paid for it. But the part where she had a hit song a while back? Totally true.

Saturday, August 22, 2009

Summer Slam predictions 

...because this is the sort of thing I can crap out in a hurry.

ECW Title Match - Christian (c) vs. William Regal

Who Should Win: Regal picking up Vladimir Koslov and Ezekiel Jackson as flunkies gives him momentum that should keep going with a win.
Who Will Win: Christian probably retains.
Will it Suck? This will not suck.

MVP vs. Jack Swagger
Who Should Win: MVP needs to move up to main event level.
Who Will Win: Toss-up. Probably Swagger.
Will it Suck? Also a toss-up. Could be really good, could be five minutes we'll never get back.

Kane vs. The Great Khali
Who Should Win: Kane.
Who Will Win: Khali is a big selling point overseas. He'll take it.
Will it Suck? And how.

Intercontinental Title Match - Rey Misterio (c) vs. Dolph Ziggler
Who Should Win: It's now or never for Ziggler.
Who Will Win: Ziggler.
Will it Suck? Misterio's been pretty awesome lately. If Ziggler can keep up, this should be pretty good.

Tag Team Title Match - Chris Jericho/Big Show (c) vs. Cryme Tyme (JTG/Shad Gaspard)
Who Should Win: Jericho & Show are great champs. It's too soon to end their run.
Who Will Win: Jericho & Show, but just barely.
Will It Suck? Jericho can do no wrong, and JTG at least can hold his own. This should be pretty good.

DX (Shawn Michaels/Triple H) vs. Legacy (Cody Rhodes/Ted DiBiase)
Who Should Win: Legacy.
Who Will Win: DX.
Will it Suck? If DX lets Legacy be competitive, it will be OK.

WWE Championship - Randy Orton (c) vs. John Cena
Who Should Win: Orton.
Who Will Win: Probably Cena, since the heel will probably win the other main event.
Will it Suck: Nothing you haven't seen a thousand times before, but it'll be pretty good.

World Title Match - Tables, Ladders, & Chairs - Jeff Hardy (c) vs. CM Punk
Who Should Win: Punk
Who Will Win: Punk.
Will it Suck? This should contend for Match of the Year.

Friday, August 21, 2009

Awesome crime report of the day 

Party crashers interrupt threeway - brawl erupts.

Was your night that cool?

Monday, August 17, 2009

Ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight? 

Former House Republican leader Tom DeLay is going to be on Dancing With the Stars. If you're a Democrat, this means that former UFC champion Chuck Liddell (this guy) is at most the second scariest person competing. (After Donny Osmond, of course.)

DeLay will probably be the first person out, though. I'll call Mya as the early favorite.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Nothing is more permanent than a temporary government program 

Interesting story from California, about the aftereffects of their recently signed budget deal.

California found themselves compelled to make various budget cuts, which not surprisingly, has upset more than a few people, ranging from well-intentioned folk who honestly believe in the value of the programs cut to tax leeches aghast at the prospect of having to secure real jobs based on their actual value to society. The response - they've sued. There are competing theories about whether the cuts are valid, but it's something that budget hawks and purported fiscal conservatives should probably take note of - getting your bill passed may only be the start of the battle, not the end. (Apparently "I won" only works some of the time. I suppose I could have a problem with this, but the lawyer in me does cheer up a little every time the rest of the country is reminded they need our permission to scratch their butts.)

Stil, this brings to mind a question that should be asked whenever anyone is proposing to create or substantially expand any government program - should we the people change our minds in the future about the merits of this idea, are we allowed to cut its funding, limit its benefits, or eliminate it entirely without the lawyers getting involved? Or are we committing right now to an eternal obligation immune to any changes in the political and fiscal reality?

I'm just saying - if Congress wants to waste $100 million or $100 billion or whatever one time on one bad idea - I won't be enthusiastic about it, but I wouldn't see the need to get too upset about it. Something that will never ever go away is probably something you may want to yell at your Congressman about.

Monday, August 10, 2009

The amazing part was people actually died... 

Saw G.I. Joe over the weekend. On the scale of movies made based on toy lines, actually better than the first Transformers, I think. The battles and effects were awesome, as was pretty much everything involving Snake Eyes and/or Storm Shadow. (Movie making tip - ass-kicking ninjas make everything better. Even Julie & Julia could have benefitted from this advice.)

There are annoying parts of the movie, especially if you read the comic or watched the TV show and come in familiar with the characters - the Baroness' back story being the greatest offender. (Surprisingly - Marlon Wayans is nowhere near as annoying as you think he'd be. My wife actually really liked him.) Also - to help with foreign box office, the Joes are not strictly a U.S. team - Hawk mentions early on that 23 nations are participants. My question is this - how did we get the rest of the world to call this multinational homage to diplomacy "G.I. Joe?" Still, nobody pretends the UN had anything to do with this - because that would have made the film unbelievable.

Good movie. Many things blow up. I smell Oscar.

Good summer movie.

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