.:DataWhat?:.

Funniest thing of the day!

I dunno if you saw "Shining" (the re-engineering of the trailer for 'The Shining' that made it seem more Cameron Crowe than Steven King) but some joker has turned Sleepless in Seattle into a horror film, with hilarious results.
Jeez, Meg Ryan, take it easy!

::

Two Great Comic Strip Related Sites:

This guy's page lets you randomly generate three Garfield panels
which are often funnier than whatever the original strip was:



----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Comic Strip Doctor points out the obvious flaws
of terrible comic strips and adjusts them to be funnier:



::

Sco-Jo ranks #28 in AskMen's Top 99 Most Desirable Women, up from #84 last year.
My question is, who are these other 27 imposters? Marissa Miller? Jennifer Hawkins? Amerie? ???
Image mosaic of all 99 at JustJared...if you can figure out who all of 'em are.

::

Cool rooms and hallways painted with optical illusions on the walls and ceilings so that if you stand in one place it all comes together.
Remind me not to take acid there.

::


disturbing Shirley Temple screen grab

::

Google buying Napster according to the Post? No according to Google.
Google told Times Online today: "No, we have no plans at this time to develop a music store, or to compete with existing online and offline music retailers." It added: "Most of the details included on 'music results' pages are links to third-party information and sites. "

No foolin?

::

Go shopping at the Unclaimed Baggage Center, where airline luggage goes to die.
Hmmm...a book on falconry...now there's something I could use...and Falconing season is coming up...

::

Good 'Germany's Funniest Home Videos'-stylee collection of water-related bloopers.
The "Extreme Elegant" one on the diving board, and when the kid tries to throw the cat into the swimming pool.

::

Collection of terrible video game covers


::

Thanks Lee
Thanks Alec...great site by the way.
Thanks Gerard
Thanks Paul
Thanks BoingBoing
Thanks Metafilter


Comments: 0

Man oh man, a total classic from Tosborn that I forgot about until today: Tokyo Breakfast is like this weird Japanese cross between The Osbournes and Friends, where a Japanese family speaks English and calling each other "Nigga" and using all of this crazy hip-hop slang, but it also seems as though they don't really understand what they're talking about.
The grandpa is my favorite.

::

Collection of old print ads for food with really weird looking people:


...and what the hell is she spreading on that bread? Hormel chili?

::

Jack White and Brendan Benson's side project The Raconteurs has a DOS-based website that must be seen to be believed.
Two audio clips available. Sounds angular and guitarry. More like Brendan Benson's stuff (which is A-OK by me).

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A quandry: It is against my religion to give any innerweb energy to Kevin Federline (even if James Lipton is reading his lyrics) However! it is my sworn duty to keep the Peanut Butter Jelly Time song in the public consciousness. Therefore, I present this pretty funny video of K-Fed giving a sneak peek in the studio to his new song, with the "Peanut Butter Jelly Time" song mixed in over top of it. Enjoy.
And godspeed you dancing banana.

::

CAMBRIDGE, England (AP) -- A museum visitor shattered three Qing dynasty Chinese vases when he tripped on his shoelace, stumbled down a stairway and brought the vases crashing to the floor, officials said Monday.
As soon as I see the security cam footage, you will see the security cam footage.

::

We hate it when our friends become successful artists:


J. Layne


M. Goodale

::

Midgets in a breakdancing competition? Ok.
They're like lowercase b-boys.

::

Trailer for The Notorious Bettie Page is online.
Quicktime 7 is required.

::

Holy mackerel! Look how cute Lisa Loeb's butt is! I never woulda thought she had such a small butt!
And is that that fucker Isaac Mizrahi in the background?

::

Chewbacca has a blog: http://huuuuuurrnnnnnnnnnnn.blogspot.com/
Content is a little predictable, but the images are worth visiting.

::



::

Thanks BoingBoing
Thanks Steve
Thanks Justin
Thanks GoldenFiddle
Thanks Katy
Thanks Rob


Comments: 0

Worth1000 has a pretty entertaining photoshop contest
where people take famous photos and slap in new technology.



iPods, cell phones and Einstein not allowed.

::

Check out this video of Van Halen performing "Dance the Night Away" from 1979.
Jezus Cripes, that band was good. Michael Anthony was the best backup vocalist since The Supremes.

::

A cringeworthy video of two dungeonmasters who have found true fulfillment as PLPs (Platonic Life Partners).
"When you can bend the very walls of reality with the power of your imagination...that's a gift to be respected...and feared."

::

Very nice ultimate frisbee commercial.
You can tell they're not faking it, unlike the Benetton people in that Michelob Ultra commercial were.

::

Nice quick SNL skit regarding sexual harassment in the workplace.
Not as funny as this sexual harassment PSA from last year, but still funny.

::

PJ often accuses me of rigging stuff up, and I can't say that she's wrong.
Therefore, it pains me to admit I never woulda thought this up.


::

Thanks Chris
Thanks Goody
Thanks PJ


Comments: 0

And hilarity enters the building...

A buddy of mine sent this to me as a gif.
Apparently it originated(?) at YTMND

::

Good News Everyone! Futurama's coming back as four feature-length, straight-to-DVD movies.
"This is like that drug trip I saw in a movie...when I was on a drug trip." - Fry

::

101 Dumbest Moments in Business 2005:

Two Faves

44. In July, Burger King launches an ad campaign for its new Chicken Fries featuring a faux heavy-metal band called CoqRoq. Coqroq.com initially features photos of female fans captioned "Groupies love the Coq." After the captions are removed, Burger King spokeswoman Edna Johnson tells Advertising Age that they were written and assigned randomly by computer software that has since been disabled.

56. A Qantas Airways baggage handler is suspended after he's caught opening a passenger's luggage, discovering a camel costume, donning the head, and driving around the tarmac on a baggage cart at Sydney Airport. The incident is reported by the costume's owner, who spies the culprit through the window of the terminal.
::

::

Chuck Norris Update:

Young Chuck Norris from SNL.
Which reminds me of that video by Dennis Madalone: America We Stand As One

Some new Chuck Norris Facts

When Chuck Norris sends in his taxes, he sends blank forms and includes only a picture of himself, crouched and ready to attack. Chuck Norris has not had to pay taxes ever.

Chuck Norris built a time machine and went back in time to stop the JFK assassination. As Oswald shot, Chuck met all three bullets with his beard, deflecting them. JFK's head exploded out of sheer amazement.

A blind man once stepped on Chuck Norris' shoe. Chuck replied, "Don't you know who I am? I'm Chuck Norris!" The mere mention of his name cured this man blindness. Sadly the first, last, and only thing this man ever saw, was a fatal roundhouse delivered by Chuck Norris.

::

This guy on Maury is so glad he is not a babydaddy he does a little dance.
For some reason, the woman seems less pleased.

::

Wal-Mart has some new promotion that I don't care about, but check out the weird-ass disclaimer that follows it:

Introducing Soundcheck, presented by Gillette Fusion. This original performance series is exclusively for Wal-Mart and Walmart.com customers. It's a great way to hear new and emerging musical artists on-screen in an intimate studio performance. Just head over to your local Wal-Mart store and check it out on either the HDTV wall in the Electronics department or on Wal-Mart TV. You can also stay right where you are and watch it here at Walmart.com.

Important Wal-Mart Disclaimer: Product information is provided by the supplier or manufacturer of the product and should not be construed as medical advice. Wal-Mart does not sponsor, recommend or endorse any third party, product, service or information provided on this site.

::

A risque commercial for getting your eyesight checked.
I'd vote mostly NSFW. Not all the way, but mostly.

::

Thanks Chris
Thanks Steven
Thanks Jeremy
Thanks Paul
Thanks Exquisite Dead Guy
Thanks David
Thanks Steve


Comments: 0

If you are white, you loved Lazy Sunday (the SNL skit with the rapping and hilarity). Now here's Lazy Monday.
If it's Monday, shouldn't those kids be in school?

::



::

Dave Below revisited the classic Onion article "Affluent White Man Enjoys, Causes The Blues" after looking at Jerry Bruckheimer's iTunes playlist.
"This song takes me to another place." (Sting's 'Desert Rose')

::

The woman with the beaded sweaters from this Sunday's post has inspired has inspired a band and a MySpace page.
Jeez, those pants...

::

Impeach Boosh?
Ok.

::


How to build a noble space helmet for your cat.

::

A man and a woman are sitting next to each other at a bar, both getting drunk. The man turns to the woman and asks her why she's so down.

"My husband just left me. He said I'm too kinky in bed," she replied.

"What a coincidence! My wife just left me," said the man. "She told me that I was too kinky for her, too!"

The two talk a little while longer, and finding that they have so much in common they decide to go back to the woman's house to have kinky sex.

When they get to her house she turns to the man and says, "Give me ten minutes, I want to slip into something more comfortable." She goes into the bathroom and changes into a full leather, jet black dominatrix outfit.

However, as she's coming out of her bathroom, the man is putting on his coat and walking out the door.

"What happened?", she said. "I thought you wanted to have kinky sex?"

He looks at her and says, "Well, I just screwed your dog and shit in your purse. I'm done."

::

If you are a Goth chick who is interested in dating a terrifying man who wears Kabuki makeup and knee-length dresses and drives the occasional forklift, then Cryptie may be just the man you're looking for.
If so, please never contact me.

::

OMG! Finally!!1!!1!



The Condiment Packet Museum

::

Thanks Exquisite Dead Guy
Thanks Dusty
Thanks Miss Mapping
Thanks BoingBoing
Thanks David
Thanks Steve
Thanks Matt


Comments: 0

Hmmm...Walken for President or Zod 2008?
Can we get these two guys on the same ticket please? Please do yourself a favor and check out Zod's Kid's Page.

::

Make your own Simpson



::

Mary says: "My birthday is in June and I like turtlenecks."
Whereas I am a fan of gold lamé pants.

::

A Note from Ben Gibbard from The Postal Service:

It has recently come to our attention that Apple Computers' new television commercial for the Intel chip features a shot-for-shot recreation of our video for 'Such Great Heights' made by the same filmmakers responsible for the original. We did not approve this commercialization and are extremely disappointed with both parties that this was executed without our consultation or consent. 01/19/06

::

The Rhino Records store in L.A. is closing.
"It was the hip shop on the Westside -- one of the few places you could buy that hot import album or that cool local punk 45. There, music obsessives gathered to buy their records, socialize and, frequently, argue with the store's highly opinionated clerks. In a gambit worthy of "High Fidelity," Rhino for many years maintained a "Worst Customers List," posted prominently behind the counter; the more obstreperous patrons were duly namechecked there."

::



::

Thanks Goody
Thanks David
Thanks Steve
Thanks Mary


Comments: 0

Let me just say that Muzak has a pretty whip-ass office:




Lee and I got done with our meetings today and the last question we asked was "Where can you get some good pork bar-b-que around here?" (we are in Charlote North Carolina), so we ended up going to Mac's, an old converted garage that catered to a biker crowd. I had a "Lil' Pig" pulled pork sandwich with cole slaw already on it, and a side of baked beans flavored with sausage. Needless to say, this flight should be a lot of fun for the people around me.

Anyway, Lee and I were a little nervous about trying to get into this lunch before we had to be at the airport, so Steven said "We need a funnel to get that BBQ into our mouths faster" at which point we came up with the phrase "Pork Battering Ram" which had us in (borderline terrifying) post-meeting hysterics for about eleven minutes.


P.S. I highly recommend listening to The Fluoride Program's new album "Roadside Flowers" in an airport. It is somehow appropriately anticipatory and world-weary. There is no need. To be afraid.

Comments: 0

Burninating Three Candles.


Trogdor's third birthday
Tribute complete with Trogdor license plates and Cheetos shaped like the dragon-man himself.

::

Goofy Ann Arbor kids = Beer Pong champs.
Like you need an excuse to drink beer.

::

Frequent DataWhat contributor Dan Trenz supplied the music for this Portuguese site.
I can't quite translate it, but I'm pretty sure they sell people into white slavery. Nice music though.

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Chinese kids loooove the Backstreet Boys.
...and basketball jerseys apparently.

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More Lonely Planet white-boy hip-hop: The Stork Patrol.
Clever and non-threatening.

::

Ask A Ninja a question and he will reply with a hy-larious answer.
I want to be a Ninja. The motorcycle, not the assassin. I want to be a motorcycle.

::

Much like the Wendy's burger-making rap we all laughed at, here is Don't Copy That Floppy
An anti-piracy PSA from the dawn of time.

::

It can be no coincidence that Apple's recent ad totally uses the same storyboards as The Postal Service's video for "Such Great Heights"...Proof/pudding here.
Now those damnedable blogs will do that "viral" thing and pass it all around the universe...Oop! Damn It! Now I'm guilty as all hell!

::

Thanks Steve
Thanks Sleepy B.
Thanks Exquisite Dead Guy
Thanks Steven


Comments: 0

Here are a bunch of hi-res photos of Scarlett Johansson from the Golden Globes.


Ohhhh Doctor!

Plus: Here is film footage of Sco-Jo getting her boob grabbed by Isaac Mizrahi.


Oh to be a gay man in Hollywood that night...

Also also, apparently I don't need TV anymore because at YouTube they have all of her sketches from last week's Saturday Night Live.
Does Lorne Michaels know about this? Seriously, how long until that site is sued into non-existance?


Swear to God, last Scarlett reference (of the day):
Johansson Regrets Wardrobe Malfunction
Blonde bombshell Scarlett Johansson is furious with herself for letting vanity come before fashion sense at last year's Golden Globe awards, after bursting out of her dress. The curvy Lost In Translation star was so eager to have a knockout figure-hugging dress for the red carpet appearance she ignored designer Roland Mouret's advice and demanded the gown be made a little closer-fitting. Johansson recalls, "I kept saying: 'I want it to be tighter!' And he replied: 'I'm telling you, you're not going to be able to sit down.'" And the actress immediately regretted her decision when, on getting into her car, the zip broke open and she was forced to take emergency measures with a needle and thread. She says, "I presented my award and had to go straight home to be cut out of the dress. It was a disaster."


::

More works of Art:

Terrific gallery of High-speed photos taken just as things are exploding or being shot.
Bang! Sploosh!

Really beautiful paintings by Chris Turnham.
The first four 2D images are part of a series that depict scenes from Decemberists songs.

Vivid and striking Wallpapers.
They must be a typeface company 'cause there are some cool-ass fonts in there.

Clockr is a clock function that uses Flickr images for each of the numbers.
Computers can do that?

::

This is a strange site that is trying to get people to donate money so that more episodes of Firefly can be filmed.
No word yet on any sort of legitimacy or whether or not Joss Whedon actually wants to make more episodes of Firefly.

::

A2P.C.: Trying to find out the days that they do curbside pickup for Christmas Trees took me forever on the City of Ann Arbor website, until I realized that I should have been Googling for "Holiday Evergreen Trees"...Jesus Christ, people, can't we even call Christmas Trees Christmas Trees anymore?
Ann Arbor is overrated.

::

Aw...who was I kiddin?


::

Thanks Perry
Thanks Skyler
Thanks Goody
Thanks Metafilter
Thanks Chris
Thanks BoingBoing
Thanks for everything ScarlettJohansson.Org


Comments: 0

     
The crowd settles in

     
Cute cowgirls and the brotherhood of the traveling pants

     
I am clearly besmirked by Angie's necklace.

     
Derek puts up with Brian...Brian puts up with me.

     
Steve Brings the rock...this guy brings the pants

     
Steve & Dmitri roll their own...Derek & Kyle are high on life

          
Superfan............................................................Superdrunk......................................................................Superpants

::

Thanks Everybody.


Comments: 0

Terrific Flickr set of photos of people seing goatse for the first time.

This is my favorite because you can see she is
going "EwwwEwwwEwww" and flapping her arms.


if you don't know what Goatse is, don't Google it.
Just imagine the grossest thing a person can do to their body,
then imagine showing that photo to as many people as you can.

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Sco-Jo on Letterman.
I think I saw her wearing that dress at my junior prom.

::

Jesus e-mailed me to show me this post on his site What Would Jesus Blog?
Looks like he would blog about users on Amazon giving terrible reviews to great albums. He picked out some of the highlights.

::

This is a joke, but funny:

iPod whiplash There's a Crazy Apple rumor about a new class action lawsuit against Apple, claiming (with tongue firmly in cheek) that severe contrasts in music styles found in iPod shuffle playlists are causing whiplash in iPod users, once again proving the need for intelligent automatic playlist generation to eliminate the shock that can happen when shuffle play puts Rammstein right after Norah Jones.

Other weird iTunes news:
I guess that iTunes version 6.0.2 offers some kind of "Mini Store" option that recommends other purchases by the same artist. I guess some peopel are cheesed off that Apple may be recording what people are listening to. BoingBoing covers it well.

::

This chick has a funny boyfriend, so she writes down everything he says.

Prelude to an asskicking.
boyfriend: Come here Mustard.
me: Why are you calling me mustard?
boyfriend: You said last night that I could.
me: No I didn't.
boyfriend: Yes you did. Think back, Mustard.

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Chuck Norris responds on the "Random Facts" that are appearing on the internet. He's a good sport:
"Some are funny. Some are pretty far out. Being more a student of the Wild West than the wild world of the Internet, I'm not quite sure what to make of it."

::

This only sorta works, but it's fun: Draw a picture and Flickr tries to find pictures that look like it.

My Helen Frankenthaler ripoff                                  the Flickr result


Color is an important key.

::

Thanks Lee
Thanks Metafilter
Thanks Jesus
Thanks Double Viking


Comments: 0

My Last Show In Porchsleeper Is This Saturday

Hope to see you there.

::

Another rap video from the same dudes that did "The Chronic-What-Cles of Narnia" for SNL. This one's called "Bing Bong Bros." and is all about looking at stuff.
and showing people stuff.

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Remember Tom Green? Now he's back, and in Rap form.
Hmmm...now I'm wondering if that testicular cancer he had might have left him voluntarily...

::

Uh... if Jonathan Rhys-Meyers ends up dead, I was with you, right?
Right?

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Donkey needed for art film in Atlanta.
"We're shooting a bestiality donkey sex video and we need one more to star in the film. Guys need not apply. Girls need not apply either. What we're looking for is the donkey. We need a sex crazed, boner popping donkey for this donkey sex video. Serious inquiries only. No pic (of the donkey) = No reply."

::

Pretty hilarious rotating avatar that changes every time you hit refresh.
Occasionally minorly NSFW.

::

Larry David Speaks For A Whole Lotta Dudes:

SOMEBODY had to write this, and it might as well be me. I haven’t seen “Brokeback Mountain,” nor do I have any intention of seeing it. In fact, cowboys would have to lasso me, drag me into the theater and tie me to the seat, and even then I would make every effort to close my eyes and cover my ears.

And I love gay people. Hey, I’ve got gay acquaintances. Good acquaintances, who know they can call me anytime if they had my phone number. I’m for gay marriage, gay divorce, gay this and gay that. I just don’t want to watch two straight men, alone on the prairie, fall in love and kiss and hug and hold hands and whatnot. That’s all.

We were talking about this last night at band practice, and I came to the conclusion that I would not be interested in watching a guy and a girl fall in love on a prairie, and would only be marginally interested in watching two girls fall in love in cowboy outfits, so I really have no desire to see Brokeback Mountain.

As Brian so aptly put it "I'm not against gays, I'm against love."

::

Verdi Different:


uh...anybody else remember when Charlotte Church used to be that sweet little girl who sang opera?

No? Ok.

::

The best viral videos of 2005 in case you missed 'em.
Shining, God Warrior, "Boom Goes the Dynamite" guy, Leeroy Jenkins, America We Stand as One, "George Bush Does Not Care About Black People" so sayeth Kanye...It's all there.

::

Thanks Matt
Thanks Rob
Thanks Goody
Thanks GoldenFiddle
Thanks Miss Mapping
Thanks DoubleViking


Comments: 0

I'm in Vegas for the next couple of days, so Blogging may be sporadic.
and probably sophomoric.


Comments: 0

Good Junk:

PJ
Best girl around, second year running.

Recording Porchsleeper's triumphant sophomore record with Jim Roll, Kristin VonBernthal and Dave Feeny.
A hell of a good time.

Teaching a class in The History of Rock and Roll from 1700-1954 at Scripps College in Claremont California.
Yes, you read that right, and let me tell you this, if you own a copy of Bill Haley & his Comets performing "Rock Around the Clock" take it out right now, turn your stereo up as loud as you can without going to jail, and crank that fucker out. Thinking about what popular musical culture must have been like in 1954, it sounds as thought the Devil himself is coming through your speakers. Happy Days my ass!

Teaching Daisy how to say "I Love You"
.:DataMutt:.

Porchsleeper destroying ourselves at the Motor City Music Conference.
"My memory declines sharply after Jack White bought me that shot of whiskey" - Steve Bekkala

Being on the Music and the Internet panel at MC2 with Ryan Sult, Uncle Grambo, Rob Theakston, and Sam Valenti.
Felt like I was bowling in the P.B.A. with the pros.

Slows Bar-B-Q in Detroit.
If Jesus ejaculated into your mouth, this is what it would taste like.

The Muggs and The Hard Lessons at the Blind Pig in July.
So much guitar...and Christ, was I drunk.

Flying to L.A. to see the press sereening of Serenity.
"I am a leaf on the guest list"

Backing Jim Roll on two songs at a 'Sleeper show.
"1955" and "15 Dollars and a Bottle of Wine" for those of you keeping score at home.

The Fluoride Program's immaculate four song set at the Blind Pig.
Sounded sooo good until that puft cacc of a sound guy pulled the plug at 12:45.

Zoe Rosalie Lopez.
Cute kid #2

Driving through the Desert between LA and Las Vegas listening to Mojave 3 and Mazzy Star records.
She Hangs Brightly.

Effing chillin' on the beach in Key Largo.
If I knew any Jimmy Buffett lyrics, I would insert them here.

MySpace
Specifically what it does for bands trying to really get started. Trading shows, hosting MP3s, offering a forum for comments, kudos and connections, and all of it free. Nice work Tom. I'll be your friend anytime.

Putting cole slaw on sandwiches.
It's like lettuce and mayo all rolled into one. Saves an entire step.

Getting a laptop
I honestly don't think I'll buy another desktop PC for the rest of my life. Blogging from the front porch on a summer evening is way too much fun.

Sco-Jo
Although it still astounds me that This photo from Cliff Watts' Esquire photo shoot has not surfaced.

Comedian Lynne Koplitz.
I got real sick at one point last winter, and I stumbled across this woman's Premium Blend episode on Comedy Central (semi-funny video clip available on this page). I dunno if it was the massive doses of NyQuill, or the late hour, but I thought she was really funny. Honest, insightful, clever, and really cute. I guess she just signed a deal with one half of Casey-Werner to develop a sitcom, so we'll see what happens in the '06.

Lost
I dunno if you've heard, but this show's really good.

Battlestar Galactica on Sci-Fi.
Well-written episodic science fiction with a decent budget? Sounds good.

Vogels Window Puzzles
There's a little locksmith's shop somehow clutching onto their real-estate in Downtown Ann Arbor, and they do these really cute Key and Lock inspired rebus puzzles in their front display window...like a photo of a Mill, plus a photo of a brick Wall, plus a Key (Mill-Wall-Key, gettit?). They're really cute, often head-scratchers, and a perfect example of an old-fashioned business using a quaint method to increase dwell time and awareness.

Grassroots shows being held at Madison House and Sara Golightly's unquenchable desire to get people involved in local music.
Nice work, dudes.

GMail
Works good. We'll see if the new Yahoo mail one-ups 'em as is rumored.

Flickr
Easy to use, great for hosting photos. Particularly their Interestingness function, and the Flickr Uploader tool.

Flying Spaghetti Monster taking the piss out of Intelligent Design.
Hey, if you're going to be teaching about an invisible man in the sky who watches everything we do, you might as well throw in a lesson or two about the flying spaghetti monster who created the universe and the obvious corrolation between the Earth's decreasing Pirate population affecting global temperature.

Playing Tetris on my cell phone.
That little Snake game is for pansies.

The new ways to discover music online (Pandora and Last.FM specifically).
Minor flaws aside, they both do a remarkably good job recommending and streaming new music free of charge. So long radio.

Tapestry
What a long strange trip it's been.


Blogs:

Send More Paramedics
If you have enjoyed .:DataWhat?:. at all this year, a large part of it was because of this Exquisite Dead Guy whom I've never met, but who sends me the truly hilarious shit you've been laughing at. His site gets a little Zombie-centric for my tastes, but he's been able to fuel my site with the goods on an almost daily basis. Matthew, I thank you.

Double Viking
Quite possibly the perfect mix of tech, inexplicably crazy links,cute girls, and nerd culture, it's like People Magazine mixed with Wired and Maxim. There's a bit of coprporate sheen to it, and I'm not a fan of the interstitial ads, but overall it's got the goods.

Golden Fiddle
There are 1.5 billion snarky pop culture blogs, but only Spencer does so much with simplicity and hilarious commentary. Pink is the new Blah.

and one more that I'd mention but she doesn't like all of the publicity.
She'll know what I'm talking about, though. Keep it up. - ZR


Music:

Josh Rouse -- Nashville
Sweet, sophisticated and tuneful.

The Decemberists -- Picaresque
Literate, Brilliant, and elaborate.

Nickel Creek -- Why Should the Fire Die?
Heartwrenching, mature, and fiery.

Bloc Party -- Silent Alarm
Raw, visceral and volatile

Rogue Wave -- Descended Like Vultures
Elaborate, rich, and harmony-laden

Sam Prekop -- Who's Your New Professor
Bright, intimate and sophisticated

Iron & Wine & Calexico -- In the Reins
Earthy, breathy and Southwestern

Great Lakes Myth Society -- Great Lakes Myth Society
Epic, complex, and beautiful

Max Richter -- The Blue Notebooks
Stoic, clinical, and brittle

Emiliana Torrini -- Fisherman's Woman
Sweet, child-like, and fragile.


Books:

Extremely loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer
After losing his father in the 9/11 attacks, 9yr old Oskar methodically (and therapeutically) combs New York City for a lock that matches a mysterious key left by his dad. Sweet, clever, and totally engrossing.

Eyeing the Flash: The Education of a Carnival Con Artist by Peter Fenton
The title neatly sums up the story. Carnies fleecin' the yokels in 1960's Detroit.

Finding Serenity: Anti-Heroes, Lost Shepherds and Space Hookers in Joss Whedon's Firefly
Nice essay by Jennifer Goltz about the music of Firefly in there.

The Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell
Cute, astute, and nerdy insights on how Joss Whedon should have been hired as Al Gore's speechwriter.

Summerland : A Novel by Michael Chabon
Like Harry Potter with baseball instead of Wizarding.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling
Like Michael Chabon's Summerland except with wizarding instead of baseball.

Prey and Airframe by Michael Crichton
Gimmicky and pulpy, but I couldn't wait to turn every page.


Hopes for 2006

Hopefully Tapestry really takes off and everybody can get the music they want delivered to them on a silver platter, just like Alfred the butler from Batman.

Hopefully Porchsleeper finds a new bass player who drinks too much, sings too quiet and dresses like an extra from Brokeback Mountain.

Hopefully all East Coast tours earn fame and fortune for driven art-rock bands.

Hopefully all expectant mothers will have healthy happy babies.

Hopefully this season of Battlestar Galactica is as good as last year.

Hopefully Joss Whedon finishes writing Wonder Woman.

Hopefully we finally get the last two rooms in our house painted.

Hopefully I can drink a little less but live just as much

Comments: 0