Happy New Year from wax|wendy

tip o'the hat to Tubular!

If you're planning to brave the cold and crowds of Times Square, a bit of advice. Do not step to Kathy Griffin.

British Friday Observed - Slingers edition

This started making the rounds of the intertubes several weeks ago. The fabulous @mixiemoxie sent me the link, and my reaction was "What is this?? Want moar, moar, MOAR!!!"

Warren Ellis put it best - it's Ocean's Eleven in space with Sean Pertwee grandly standing in for Frank Sinatra.

With any luck, I'll get my wish. According to creator/writer Mike Sizemore, they hope to start shooting the pilot in 2010. Hurry. All my other shows are leaving me. Help me, Sizemore. You're my only hope.

via @sizemore and io9

#musicmonday: Goldfish "Fort Knox"

Why don't you go where fashion sits

Scone FAIL
I do love a good cream tea. It's just so civilized and dainty. My friend JL and I have a standing date every holiday season for tea at the TJ. In all the years that we've been sipping Earl Gray and nibbling on crustless sandwiches, I never gave much thought to the proprieties of scone preparation. But I was naive. Apparently there are two schools of thought, and Londoner Hollie Newton decided to put the matter to an expert. I think we can consider the question settled:

... we at The Ritz London would prefer to encourage the "jam then cream" option as this is the traditional method of preparing scones. In actual fact, you could even add that butter should first be applied before adding jam and cream, although this is reserved for the more indulgent tea taker.

Butter makes everything better. Clearly.

via Hollie Newton

And on earth, a chance for peace

Not to mention good will for the crabs. And dirt. So much love for this vid. The animation is wonderful, and I really want to live in this little girl's head.

Give a Chance 4 Peace (8mins) from T'chaka Sikelianos on Vimeo. (via 29-95)

ReadyMade.com has an interview with Portland based animator T'chaka Sikelianos where he talks about the creation of the video, from the free style imaginings of his amazing niece Aurora, to the execution and rendering of the animated elements.

Also, someone needs to please pony up some funding for the feature he's working on, "It’s kinda of a similar to Blade crossed with Buffy told in the language of Kung Fu." All kinds of YES to this.

There's something rather impressive about Miss Aurora's delivery. I picture her standing at a window, rallying the masses.

And the bells were ringing out on Christmas Day

Happy Christmas!

Lights, please ...

Here we come a caroling!

Way to reinforce gender roles, Fisher Price

Me and my hot pink tool belt have a bone to pick with you.

Toon Tuesday: A Wish For Wings that Work

"There is an art, or, rather, a knack to flying. The knack lies in learning how to throw yourself at the ground and miss."

Crisss-musss. CRISSSS-MUSSSS!

Tip o'the hat to Ken!

#musicmonday: SNL Christmas Song

SNL Christmas Song | Movies & TV | SPIKE.com

You Monday morning moment of last minute Christmas ideas

via Eat Me Daily

So, have you seen Avatar yet?

Oh yes, I have seen the blue people.



The Public Explains The Plot Of James Cameron's Avatar - Avatar - io9

I'm A Snowflake On The Wind

Joel Watson / HijiNKS Ensue

It's British Friday! It's British Friday!

Coming Attractions - Gladiator: Men in Tights

*meh*



Throw in some Bryan Adams or, even better, Roger "King of the Road" Miller, and you might have me, Ridley.





via Jezebel

Totally geektastic gift ideas for the fanboy or nerdgirl in your life

Vampire Taxonomy by io9 associate editor Meredith Woerner. Because nothing says wonderful counselor quite like a pop culture guide book to the blood sucking undead.

Turn your yard into a wretched hive of scum and villainy with the Garden Jawa ... or there'll be hell to pay.

Presented without comment, because what can be said? Except maybe YES! TO! THIS!!

Back in the day when MTV played videos and I was walking 20 miles to school in the snow, they also featured some very cool animation. The Maxx: The Complete Series is now available for pre order at Amazon, and according to the site, will be released on the 17th.










These are a little pricey, but you know your lady deserves to announce to the world that she's a Wonder Woman.

My, what a cunning hat!

With this tattoo (print t-shirt), I thee wed.

And finally, the gift that keeps on giving with cold sweats, nightmares, and the feeling that you'll never be able to claw your way out of the uncanny valley.

For a mere $223,000 US - or 20.1 million yen - you can say goodbye to your mental well being, and hello to your creepy robotic doppelganger. Orders will be accepted between January 1 and 3, and only two will be made. For now ...

Of course there's nothing wrong with the tried and true Starbucks gift card. IT'S A FRAP!

#musicmonday: Carol of the Muppets

#musicmonday: Bent "Cylons in Love"

By you command ..

Your Monday morning moment of welcoming your new robot overlords

British Friday - Top Gear edition

Who looks at a Mini and thinks, "That could be a little more sonic?".

1 Man, 9,000 Albums - Album Odyssey: An introduction

My friend Andrew is a man blessed with music. Through vocation and avocation he's amassed a collection of 9,000 albums. They occupy their own room in his home.

Andrew is also blessed with a loving and patient wife.

He's embarking on a project to listen to them all, start to finish, from A to Zed. Or in this case, from Kinny Abair to ZZ Top.

The hope is not to review these albums, per se, but to try and recall the context of their arrival in my life, a perhaps boring tale that might include music venues and record stores that have come and gone over the past 10 or so years. There will be something reviewish in there, perhaps a touch of biography, but also some preservation of a world of music consumption that might be dead when my kid pays for her first download.

It's going to be a fun trip. Check 29-95.com for Part 1 and future updates, or jump on the bandwagon via Twitter @andrewdansby.

Album Odyssey: An introduction | Houston Music | 29-95.com

Album Odyssey Part 1: Kinny Abair-ABBA | Houston Music | 29-95.com

55 days - 1320 hours - 79198 minutes

55 days? Owww ... but I want it now!





Tip o'the hat to Tubular!

Toon Tuesday: The Venture Brothers

I have got to start watching this show.



via io9

#musicmonday: Willie Nelson "Hands on the Wheel"

Your Monday morning moment of "Hey, Jerry!"

Tip o'the hat to T!

It's a Stampede! Link Roundup - 12/6

Sorry Jacob. TEAM EDWARD!

WaPo or The Onion? It gets harder and harder to tell.

This is actually pretty cool. The fact that I read it on GOOP makes me want to punch myself in the face.

Zahi Hawass has today denounced his own wife as a 'liar' and a 'friend of the chaos god Seth', following her claim last week to have discovered the couple's briefly-misplaced television remote control.

While not as delicious as popcorn, this photo strip garland can be left up year round.

Never Give a Gorilla a Flower. Not the kids book you think it is.



Who knew Topanga would grow up to be both awesome and hilarious? Also awesome and hilarious? Miss Sasha Fierce herself.



via FourFour with a tip o'the hat to @bobbyhank

#musicmonday: The Muppets "Bohemian Rhapsody"

Tip o'the hat to @ActuallyNPH

Your Monday morning moment of Zen

Tip o'the hat to T!

It's a Stampede! Link Roundup - 11/29

F@#! these rings are expensive, but Gods D@#! do I want them! Tip o'the hat to Daddy Likey.

New Orleans is getting the David Simon / Wire treatment.

I'll be wearing these when the Old Ones rise. Hail Cthulu!

OPRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Have you ever looked at a super hero and thought, "Yeah, he could be a little more beardy"? Artist Vanja Mrgan did.

There are many copies. And they're delicious.

Death comes shining a thousand bright colors

#musicmonday: Waxing Poetics "Baby Jane" + "Where Your Name Is"

God damn I loved this band back in the day. I miss the Boathouse.





Most of the music I listened to in high school (and a lot of what I still love) was either thanks to my friend Brian L. or Carol Taylor at WNOR.

Your Monday morning moment of slo-mo

Honey, if we can't kill people, what's the point in being a vampire?

EDWARD? Hmm?



Gods, where is Buffy when we need her?



Winchesters? Anybody?



Keep your mitts off Boone though. Takes note, Cullens. Have some fun already. You're vampires.

tv - damon and vicki dance scene | izlesene.com

Seriously, you need to get out more. And I'm not talking about waiting for a summer storm to blow through so you can play baseball. Or sparkle.



Although it is acceptable to go to the pier, but only if you're on a dinner and/or recruiting run.



Modesty and the fact that my mother may be reading this preclude me from adding any The Hunger clips, but come on. Blood, sex, howler monkeys, Bauhaus, and David Bowie? Vampires were just cooler in the 80's.


And I may be Team Jacob, but don't think you're getting a pass either, dogboy. This is how you do werewolf.

British Friday - Kneel before Zod edition

via Nerd Boyfriend

#LOST or: I really should have flown Continental

The final celebrititastic, stalkerific installment of The Real LOST Experience or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Being a Fangirl is up at Tubular.

Crazy mad love to T for her terrific write ups!

And my thoughts on not being in the picture at the end of the post? To paraphrase Joey "The Lips" Fagan, sure I could have been there and met a cast member, but that would have been predictable.

This way, it's poetry.

Previously: Part of the first; Part of the second

You can find my full Hawaii photo set on flickr.

#Supernatural 5.10: Abandon All Hope ...

Zut alors! It's the last new episode of 2009! Sam, Dean, and Castiel square off against Lucifer. I doubt things go as planned, considering we're only at the midpoint of the season.

Written by Ben Edlund, directed by Phil Sgriccia.

If you're looking for a way to while away the next two months, catching up with all the Chicon reports is a good start. Maureen Ryan at the Chicago Tribune offers her take on the event, as well as interviews with Misha Collins and Jim Beaver.

Misha revealed the intriguing information that news footage exists of him and his University of Chicago roommates running around mostly naked on the coldest day on record. IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS HOLY WHY IS THIS NOT ON THE YOUTUBES ALREADY??? Really, fandom. I'm disappointed. I expected more from you.

The always awesome SuperWiki has the full roundup of reports, photos, and vids. So that should take care of 3 or 4 days.

I'm also planning to do a count down of the top 12 Supernatural moments for the recap on Tubular. What are your faves? Let me know in the comments here or over at the Chron.

And now, promos and clips below! EW's Ausiello also has an exclusive clip, but beware - headline is spoilery for character casting. But then, if you're watching it, you're probably not concerned about such things.

Supernatural returns on January 14, 2010. Stay strong, people.

IT BURNS! OH GOD, IT BURNS!!!!!

I'm a deeply indebted to @bobbyhank for alerting me to some exciting news - today is the 31st anniversary of the airing of one of the greatest achievements in teevee history. I can't believe I almost missed it!

To mark the day I'm reposting this entry from the 12/26/08 wax|wendy archives. Don't say I never gave you anything ...

********

When I was a kid, there were a few occasions when gifts would magically appear a few days after Christmas. One year, my mom forgot about a pair of earrings she'd gotten me. Another year, my brother really, really, really wanted a Colossal Fossil Fight. Mom couldn't find the game anywhere, and finally happened upon one, on sale, post-Christmas.

So she put it under my brother's bed, and told him she thought maybe Santa had come back with an extra present for him. Oh, the joy in our house that day! Oh, the hours of fun and entertainment we had!

The present I leave under your bed today? Yeah, it's nothing like that at all.

Behold! I give you ... The Star Wars Holiday Special ...



Under no circumstances should you try and watch this 2 hour abomination in one go. I barely made it through the list of guest stars, and that's only the first 2 1/2 minutes. Bea Arthur! Diahann Carroll! Art Carney! Harvey Korman! It's like an episode of the Love Boat up in here.

Enjoy!

Toon Tuesday: Superstitious Stimpy

It's Tuesday the 17th. That's bad juju, Ren!

#musicmonday: English Beat

Summer Song Favorites: 'Save It For Later' : NPR

Your Monday morning moment of Zen

credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/melita/ / CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The blue cave of Bisevo is not terribly easy to visit. First you must get yourself to the Croatian island of Vis, by ferry from the city of Split. Once there, travel by bus or motorbike to the other side of the island, the tiny fishing town of Komiza. There, hire a boat or tour to take you to the island of Bisevo, about an hour boat ride from Komiza. Then you will approach the cave via a small rubber raft, which is just small enough to enter the tiny cave entrance.

Atlas Obscura via Neatorama

#LOST Friday observed, in which the quest continues

Therese at Tubular has Part the Second up of The Real Lost Experience or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Being a Fan Girl.

In this installment we go BAAAAAACK to the LOST beach, nearly get swept away by a rogue wave during a Sun moment, and partake of a local delicacy.

You know, I'm not really sure why the Losties are trying so hard to leave the Island. I mean, seriously? Why?

SAWYER'S TENT! SAWYER'S TENT!

Catherine is completely unfazed by the incoming wave. She is modeling H2T, and smizing behind her sunglasses.

Mmm ... shave ice. I could totally go for some shave ice right now. And a warm malasala. And some luau pork. Maybe a plate of garlic shrimp served up from a truck on the side of the road. Mmmm ...

Previously: Part One

It's #LOST Friday! It's #LOST Friday!

We interrupt your regularly scheduled feature to bring you ...

"Why yes, I did fly half-way around the world to stalk a TV show"

wax|wendy took it on the road to Oahu with Therese and Catherine from Tubular and Nicki from BabySteps. This time last week we were still basking in the glow of a 10-hour tour ( ... a 10-hour tour) while basking in the sun on Waikiki Beach. How could we have known then the mysteries and ear bugs that still awaited us ...

T has part of the first of our adventure up at Tubular - The Real LOST Experience or : How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Being a Fan Girl.

Further reports and more pics to come!

#Supernatural 5.09 - The Real Ghostbusters

Show rolls out more extra special meta-y goodness. Yay!

Super fan Becky uses Chuck's phone to trick Sam and Dean into attending a Supernatural fan convention, complete with fans dressed up as Sam and Dean. One of the activities is a live action role-playing game, but things quickly turn sour after a real ghost appears on the scene.

Jim Conway directed the episode with teleplay by Eric Kripke and story by Nancy Weiner.

Nancy Weiner also had the story credit on "Monster at the End of this Book". Well played, madam. Well played.

Toon Tuesday: The Zoot Cat

#musicmonday: dj lobsterdust

On paper, a mash up of Bob Marley and Iron Maiden sounds like an unholy hot mess.

But in practice? IT RAWKS!!!

A compilation album called The Number of the Da Boots is available for free download at dj lobsterdust's website (link below). Download note: it's a rar file, so you may need to right click and save to your desk top. Then use Winrar (or for Mac) to decompress the file.

01. Celebrity Murder Party (feat. Joanne Lunan) - Sympathy for the Soul of the Beast
02. Iron Maiden vs George Michael vs The Soupdragons vs The Rolling Stones vs King Curtis

03. Lobsterdust - Marley Maiden (from Exodus to Revelations)
Iron Maiden vs Bob Marley

04. Copycat - Numb World (A Copycat Mash)
Iron Maiden vs Pet Shop Boys

05. Celebrity Murder Party - This Brutal Oilslave
Nitro Deluxe vs Iron Maiden vs Future Sound of London vs Muslim Gauze vs Brian Eno and David Byrne vs Midnight Oil

06. Wax Audio - Maiden goes to Hollywood
Frankie goes to Hollywood vs Iron Maiden

07. The Illuminoids - 30 Running Adidas
Iron Maiden vs Run DMC vs Bow Wow Wow

08. DJ Schmolli - Deja Vu Vu
Beyonce vs Iron Maiden

11. Simon Iddol - Overkill of the beast
Piano Tribute to Iron Maiden vs Kosheen

Shhhh. DJ Morgoth - Iron Maiden
DJ Morgoth (karaoke) vs Bad News

dj lobsterdust: Bob Marley vs. Iron Maiden (The Number Of Da Boots)

Your Monday morning moment of Zen

via Neatorama

It's British Friday! It's British Friday!

via Nerd Boyfriend

Toon Tuesday: The Herculoids

#musicmonday: Yazoo "Only You"

Your Monday morning moment of Zen

tip o'the hat to @MarkCWarner

Happy Halloween : FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!

Well sure. Spare time + basic engineering skills = CANON!!

The cannon is mostly used on weekends to attract people to Gill’s Farm Market on Route 209 in Hurley, but sometimes the guys get together at the 1,500-acre farm and blast it when nobody’s around. Just for fun.

They’ve shot pumpkins, scuba tanks and a basketball filled with corn and foam insulation. They once scattered some geese by accidentally shooting into the flock. Then there’s the time they shot a bowling ball more than a mile.

“The first time we shot a bowling ball, that’s was probably the worst thing we ever did,” Arold says. “It kept going and going and going.” -- via Neatorama

How did I not know that the World Championship Punkin Chunkin is right in my back yard? I am so going to Delaware next weekend ... Wait! What am I saying? I'm going to Hawaii next weekend! Good thing I remembered.

It's British Friday! It's British Friday!

via Nerd Boyfriend

#Supernatural 5.07: The Curious Case of Dean Winchester

Sam and Dean discover a witch is running a high-stakes poker game where the currency is life years vs. money.

Robert Singer directed the episode with teleplay by Sera Gamble and story by Sera Gamble and Jenny Klein.

Show got some love this week from the Examiner, who included Supernatural in their list of Top 5 Underdog Shows:

The Little Engine that Could:

Simply put, this show just rocks. It only averages between 2 and 3 million viewers each week, but it always manages to squeeze by. Now in its fifth season, this is the ultimate underdog show which has found a way to survive and keep going, despite the odds of changing networks, lack of press and mediocre numbers. If you can say one thing about this series, the fans are rabid, loyal and willing to put up a fight, and it has paid off. The show can go from frighteningly scary one minute and uproariously funny the next. Supernatural might just be the best show on television, and chances are you've never seen an episode.

And Misha sits down with Zap2It for a drink and a chat. He brings up his parents' po4n collection and slash fic. That crazy kid is made of the win.



Now, on to the clips!

Drag Racing, DC Style

Wheel! of! Lunch!

This site will change your life. Plug in your zip, spin the wheel, and Yahtze!

Sadly, if you land on 'SKIP LUNCH' you're right out of luck.

Wheel of Lunch

YOU OWE ME RESTITUTION!!

It's that time of year again. Hie yourselves to the pumpkin patch to await the rising! 8:00 pm Eastern on ABC



Tip o'the hat to Tubular!

No, we can't let it go. We're browncoats.

Well played, Castle. Mission accomplished. I might just have to start watching you.

I'm not going to lie. There may have been some squeeing during the first 30 seconds. The man is strapping on the holsters. I'm not made of stone.

UPDATE! According to the Captain himself, there's another piece of meta hiding in this scene:

@NathanFillion Look closely, when Mal comes out the door- under the gun, under the boat, just to the right. It's a nothin' part, till ya need one.



And for those of you in the not-Hulu enabled world. No one should be deprived of Nathan Fillion getting his Mal Reynolds on.



SWEET MOTHER OF GOD HE'S WEARING A LEATHER KILT!!!

Toon Tuesday: Boyhood Daze

#musicmonday: Jill Scott

Your Monday morning moment of avec fromage

via Eat Me Daily

And just because it's my favorite part of the movie

Worst comic book characters of all time

Coming from the author of Sandman, you can take his word for it.

Happy Halloween ... ASTRONAUT!!

credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/oskay/ / CC BY 2.0

The best holiday on the calendar is fast at hand. Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories has a veritable cornucopia of projects to keep you busy this weekend, and make sure you're well prepared for the coming candypocalypse. They've got it all - costumes, pumpkin hacks, decor, and food.

If your tastes run more to the lo-tech side, Pink Raygun has you covered with their pop culture jack o'lantern templates. I'm totes making a Metallicar this year. If you really want to make the children cry, check out their Pan's Labyrinth "Monster with Eyes in his Hands". *shudder*.

Yeah! The rock music plays!

Sam and Dean

Okay, seriously, what is going on here? Dean looks like himself, but why is the mom from Home Improvement riding shotgun? You Samgirls might be happier with the solo Sam template.

Sam Winchester (solo)

Hurley Pumpkins, dude. Pumpkins.

10 and the Tardis

Halloween Projects from Evil Mad Scientist Laboratories

Halloween Pumpkin Carving Templates - Pink Raygun.com