"Yes sir, anything for her."

Herbert and Zelmyra Fisher were married on May 13, 1924.  That's 85 years.  Today they're answering relationship questions via twitter @longestmarried.

I say if anyone is qualified to dispense advice, it would be these lovely people.

I think I have something in my eye ...

via Neatorama

Married 84 years, and still loving | herbert, zelmyra, children - Local - Sun Journal



photo by DL Anderson

Garrison Dean choo-choo-chooses you

The surest way to a nerd's heart is through their fandom.

To Get No Valentines . . . Would Be A Disaster!!! - io9

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

via Jezebel

#Supernatural 5.14: My Bloody Valentine

It's a cross over event, as Sam and Dean must stop Jeremy Piven - made murderous by mercury poisoning - from terrorizing a small Pennsylvania mining town.  In 3D!!  Written by the always twisted and entertaining Ben Edlund.

This is the last new episode until March 25.  Yes, it's another Hellatus.  At least this will give me a chance to finally get caught up on Dollhouse recaps.

Promos and clips, after the jump, but first!

Season 5 debuts this week in the UK, and Living TV is knocking it out with the viral marketing campaign.  Tip o'the hat to @SuperWiki for the heads up.  To wit:



image: Ivan Sazykin

The network has also positioned emergency holy water and rock salt stations throughout London.  In case of demons, break glass.  In theory.  Please do not take that as an endorsement for anarchy.  I'm hoping my friend Candy Buffet will be able to send me an eye witness report on these bits of awesomeness.

photo by nyaubaby

UPDATE!

Not content to sit back while all Hell breaks lose, Living TV has also sent teams out into the streets to protect an unsuspecting populace.

Take a page CW.  THIS is how you do a marketing campaign.





Supernatural airs Thursday at 9:00 pm EST on the CW.

It's just snowverkill

During the brief respite between the snowmageddon and the current snowfecta, the United States Park Police made an aerial assessment of the snow's impact on the DC area.

United States Park Police Rescue Technician/Paramedic Sergeant Klebaner (Aviation Section) photographed some of the patrol areas when United States Park Police Helicopter Eagle 1 made these flights on Sunday February 7, 2010.

Some of the scenes you will see are the Potomac River Gorge and Great Falls, Georgetown in Washington, DC, Washington’s Reagan National Airport, the Jefferson Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, Mount Vernon, the Lincoln Memorial, the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the approach to the United States Park Police Aviation hanger in Anacostia Park, United States Park Police Eagle 1 at the hanger, and a beautiful red fox running across the snow on Haines Point.

Visit the Park Police's web site to check out the views.  Tip o'the hat to Snowpocalypse on FB.

The game's out there, and it's play or get played. That simple.

New Orleans is getting the David "The Wire" Simon treatment.  That being said:

Simon cautions that Treme will not be The Wire: New Orleans. Its seasons will not be loosely divided by subject, and the show will provide a smaller, more intimate focus on people picking up the pieces without much help. Simon went to one of the first post-Katrina second-line parades, and witnessed unbridled resiliency and a longing for home; many attendees drove in for the day from wherever they sought refuge from the storm. “The band started up and people were crying. It was like they realized, ‘Oh shit, this is what I’ve been away from,’“ he says. “They had come to do a four-hour second line, and then they got back in their cars to drive back to Baton Rouge or Atlanta or Houston.”

The chronological series will explore life in New Orleans starting three months after Katrina devastated the city.   Treme is named after, but not based in, the city’s most historically significant and musically influential neighborhood.  Through the eyes of the people that live within its signature milieu of parades, jazz funerals, brass bands, Mardi Gras Indian tribes, bars and restaurants, the show will trace the city’s collective efforts to get back on its feet. “You’re going to watch the city being rebuilt, or not being rebuilt, year by year,” Simon says. “The whole thing is thematic to what New Orleans is, to what it represents in the American psyche. It’s an affirmation of why cities matter.”

New Orleans Gets Wired: David Simon Turns His Sights on the Big Easy :: TV :: Features :: Paste

Treme: 3 Things We Know About Our Favorite New Show - Treme - Jezebel

#musicmonday: Mama Cass Elliot "Make Your Own Kind Of Music"

Tip o'the hat to T!

Your Monday morning moment of digging out

So we got some snow this weekend. No one was spared ... not even the snowmen.


Snowpocalypse 2010 - Time Lapse - Extended Version from Peter Harsha on Vimeo.

via Snowpocalypse on FB

Are you ready for some football?

via Neatorama

It's a Stampede! Link Roundup - 2/7

It's been 15 years since we said goodbye to Calvin and Hobbes? *sigh*

Yeah, I don't really know what's going on here.  Selleck Waterfall Sandwich.

Via current ... with a tip o'the hat to @addled.

Slaughterhouse 90210 is the inspired marriage between random pop culture images, and literary quotes that seem to have been written just for them.  Behold:

“Flirting with madness was one thing; when madness started flirting back, it was time to call the whole thing off.” 

— Rohinton Mistry, A Fine Balance

via Neatorama

Ooh, shiny!  Quantum Mechanix is taking pre orders for this Serenity key chain.  You can't take my keys from me!

via io9













I have nothing but love for someone who can nerd out this hard over a piece of 6 second animation. Especially since he's not wrong.



via Neatorama

Raise a glass to the #snowmageddon

If you're anywhere on the East Coast right now, the only color you see is white. Blinding white. If your local liquor store is still open - mine is! - any one of these colorful cocktails is well worth the trek through the tundra for ingredients.

Personally, I've been enjoying the pale lavender deliciousness of the Aviation cocktail.  The creme de violette might be difficult to source - again, big ups to Pearson's - but it is essential.  It adds a floral hint that's a perfect balance to the nuttiness of the maraschino and the brightness of the lemon and gin.



tip o'the hat to punky and @bobbyhank!










photo by Flickr user jen_maiser

Vintage Violet Cocktails Make a Comeback | Food and Think | Smithsonian.com

Purple Haze: 2000s Archive : gourmet.com

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

#LOST Chat: LA X

After all the anticipation, last night's LOST premiere did not disappoint.  "It worked"!  Smokey!  Where's Christian! That actor returned!  And that one!  Juliet lives!  Oh, wait ... The Island is at the bottom of the ocean!  Alternate reality?  Lots of questions.

And how excited was I to finally see Doug the Extra's scene?  "Do you have anything to declare?  Only a murderer."  SQUEE!

We may not have answers yet, but the idle speculation and theory spinning is all part of the fun.  Come dive in with the first Tubular live chat of the season, today at 1:00 pm EST.

T has missed you too.





I know Benry, right?

LOST!LOST!LOST!LOST!LOST!LOST!

OH HAPPY DAY! IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE! LOST RETURNS, CALLOO CALLAY!!

I'll be wearing my muu-muu.  Will you be wearing yours?

Clips, links, and promos after the jump ---

#musicmonday: The Muppets two-fer

Therese at Tubular passed on the exciting news that Flight of the Conchords co-creator James Bobin has signed on to direct a new Muppets movie, from a script by Jason Segel and Nicholas Stoller.

This actually sounds like it has the potential to be a winner.  Inspired lunacy and crazed whimsy are both a hallmark of the original Muppet Movies and FotC.  I wonder if he'll tap Brett and Jemaine to write the music?


You can either tip your hat, or blame T when these get stuck in your head for the rest of the day.

Your Monday morning moment of #LOST!

36 hours! 36 hours!

It's been a long brutal hiatus, and it's easy to get ... well, you know.  Fortunately, Therese at Tubular has compiled all of the significant episodes and moments from Seasons 1 - 5 in the LOST Rewatch Lite.

And if you still have questions, she has answers.  Who's Christian?

Would a visual aid help explain things?   John Cabrera is the awesome.

Maybe a nice interactive chart to help keep track of all the characters off-island connections?

scordit via io9

















UPDATED! The Sydney Airport scenes get the 24 real time treatment. Tip o'the hat to Melanie!



Fantastic LOST bunny poster above by Ty Mattson.  Check out his site Mattson | Creative for more designs.  Here's hoping he slaps a few of them on t shirts.

It's a Stampede! Link Roundup - 1/31

Andrew Dansby is listening his way through his entire 9,000 album musical catalog. So far, he's made it to Alabama.

Have you ever looked at your iPhone, and thought "well that could be a little more sonic"?  Bhautik Joshi shows you how to attach an SLR lens to your phone. There is not an app for that. via Laughing Squid

John K.  Twisted Genius.  Kind, decent guy.

At this rate, Crayola will have to start making crayons in a color spectrum that only birds can see.

Oh James Earl Jones.  You deserved better.

NOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!


via Neatorama

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

LOST returns on Tuesday edition!

I'm told Naveen Andrews smells really, really good.

Supernatural 5.12: Swap Meat

At long last we get a body swap episode, although sadly Sam and Dean don't switch with each other.  A spell goes awry, and Revenge of the Nerds gets to enjoy being built, hot, and freakishly tall while Sam is stuck reliving high school.

Written by Dabb and Loflin (again) and directed by Robert Singer.

It's too bad Jensen and Jared won't get a chance to play each other.  My TV boyfriend does a pretty good Sam ...






Possibly spoilery promos and clips after the jump ...

ONE WEEK! ONE WEEK! ONE WEEK! ONE WEEK!

I can't even stand it. Seriously.  For now, I will have to comfort myself by supping at the glowing buffet of promo clips and teasers that are making the rounds.














I want to have Christmas dinner with this family.  You know it's a hoot.  I love how everyone commits with such enthusiasm.  Well, except for the old guy in the kitchen.  He's not getting on the damn plane until he's damn good and ready.  He's eating a snack ovah heayah!

Tip o'the hat to T!



There's a lot going on in this clip, but if you're up for a spoiler, hit pause at the 15 second mark.  Mr. T approves.



Spain has been putting together some very interesting and provocative promos.  It's a vase!  No, it's a lady!  Wait, it's a vase again.

Perdidos [6ª Temporada] Anuncio2 Cuatro by ent18 via io9

#musicmonday: Barry White "I Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe"

Your Monday morning moment of Walken

British Friday - the melancholy Scot edition

#Supernatural 5.11: Sam, Interrupted

Oh, happy day!  The long dark tea time of our soul comes to a blessed end!  Supernatural returns!

The boys go undercover in a mental institution tonight.  It sounds a little "Folsom Prison Blues" to me,  but with the added twist that inner demons are bound to come out.  There's only so much group talk and art therapy a person can take before they break.

While I'm excited that #theboysareback, I'm a little concerned that this is going to turn into one big long chick flick moment of sharing and caring.  On the other hand, it would be nice to get a more satisfying resolution to Sam's betrayal and Dean's feelings about it than we did in "Fallen Idols".

Written by Dabb and Loflin - who are slowly beginning to grow on me - and directed by James L. Conway.

Probably spoilery promos and clips, after the jump ...

It's funny because it's true: #LOST!

Two weeks! Two weeks from today I will be in such a state of anticipation and excitement it will require a horse tranq to get through the day.

Why, you ask? Well, it's only the premiere of the first episode of the last season of the greatest show ever. What, you don't watch it? You gave up in Season 2? Okay, so here's what's been ... oh.  Oh, I see.

I see what the Onion News Network did there.


Final Season Of 'Lost' Promises To Make Fans More Annoying Than Ever

I'm sorry we make you feel bad about yourself.  And that we make you read 10,000 word diatribes about old episodes instead of recapping new shows.

But look, really.  All the mysteries will be answered.  Darlton have even released some pretty telling spoiler info as a show of good faith.





Tip o'the hat to Kate and T for the Onion clip!

photo above courtesy ABC via JOpinionated

Dharma Muppets, Fake Spoilers And Israeli Trailers Ease The Wait For Lost Season Six - Lost - io9

#musicmonday: Billy Bragg "New England"

Your Monday morning moment of monkeys eating Jell-O

It's a Stampede! Link Roundup - 1/17

During the real Lost experience, we all came home with matching beach frocks.  The tags promised "one size fits all", and shockingly, they actually did.  Thus did we fellowship of four come to own matching sisterhood of the traveling muu-muus.

I think Nicki summed it up perfectly when she said "they look equally 'attractive' on all of us".

Will I be wearing mine come February 2?  Oh, yes.  I will be.

via Natalie Dee with a tip o'the hat to T!

I remember very little about Space: 1999 other than the fact that I loved it, and Maya was my favorite character.  I hesitate to revisit the show now on DVD.  I think we all know that's not going to end well.

Instead, I'll just enjoy fan Eric Bernard's re-imagined and recut videos he's calling Space: 2099.

Fan Reboot "Space 2099" via io9

Bless the Maker (of this font), and all his water.

Orthodox Herbertarian is a new font painstakingly traced from scans of the typeface that was used on the American Ace Editions (Published by The Berkley Publishing Group) of Dune and many other Frank Herbert books for around a decade, from the early 70s through to the early 80s.

The Sex Pistols’ “Never Mind the Bollocks” (1977) is closer to the second world war than it is to the present. The Beatles’ release of “Love Me Do” (1962) is closer to the first world war than to us.

Now get off my lawn!  And pull up your pants.

Hey,  remember that New Years resolution to start going to the gym and eating right?  Yeah, eff that noise.  Gourmet presents 68 years worth of their favorite cookie recipes.

via Dinosaurs and Robots

SyFy is planning an American version of the British series Being Human.  The one where a vampire, a werewolf, and a ghost walk into a flat and become roommates.

Normally I would roll my eyes at this news, or wonder why they don't just air the original, but I'm cautiously optimistic, given that Supernatural's Jeremy "Changing Channels / Supernatural Christmas" Carver is the co-writer.  So, yes to this!





Say what again.  SAY WHAT AGAIN.  via The Oatmeal



Adidas is pulling out all the stops to promote their new Star Wars inspired sneaks.  I know I shouldn't like this, what with the crass commercialism and all, but I'm not made of stone people!

Frankly, this is the shiz for reals.



via io9

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

Trust him.  He's the Doctor.

Happy Birthday NG!

Today marks the 121st 122nd anniversary of the founding of the National Geographic Society. Originally formed to "increase and diffuse geographic knowledge", the society has expanded its mission to include "promoting the conservation of the world's cultural, historical, and natural resources."

The first issue of the iconic magazine came out in October, 1888. What my friend Nicki likes to call "the company newsletter".

I'm amazed when any business or institution can survive to make the century mark and beyond.  Especially now ... this is not the shiniest time to be in print media.

So celebrate the Society's longevity by picking up this month's National Geographic magazine.  Where else can you get a bionic limb, frolic with a clown fish, and travel from the urban sophistication of Singapore to the rugged wild coast of the Hebrides?

If you enjoy those stories, and others in the January issue, think about subscribing.  Maybe get two.  Makes a great gift.  Really.  Please.

#Musicmonday: The Simpsons Mr. Plow remix

via LaughingSquid

Your Monday morning moment of DISASTER!

Huh. Well this changes everything. I may have to change my opinion on Avatar.  Oh Garrison Dean, you've done it again.



2010 IS ALREADY A DISASTER!!!! - Avatar - io9

It's a Stampede! Link Roundup - 1/10

Christmas is well past, but it will probably take me all year to make this. The greatest tree topper of ALL TIME full stop.  He knows if you've been bad or good, so DON'T BLINK for goodness sake!

Tardis_Tara, you are teh awesome, with a tip o'the hat to @bonniegrrl.

Still feeling crafty?  Want to tackle another Doctor Who project?   Dune_drd shows you how to make your own Ood snowglobe.

Are you in the market for new linens?  Have your dogs recently digested your high thread count sheets? Well, there's an app for that.

"Enough with the cheese.  Enough!  Stupid effing fishcakes.  I can't control the kittens.  Too many whiskers!   Too many whiskers!"

"Um" is never the answer.

Bless Google for preserving a mod'ren classic for the ages.  Bat Boy Lives!

You know what makes everything better?  Unicorns.

These are the kicks you've been looking for.

What are you kidding me?  How can you not have original artwork all over your house?  Look at dis one.  Look at dat one.

That last hour of flight doesn't have to be a misery of boredom, praying you can make it into the terminal before you wet yourself.  

Turn those lemons into 3 ounces or less of government approved lemonade that you must surrender to the flight attendant one hour prior to arrival with these  travel safe activities.

via Intelligent Travel

It's time for da Circulator!

I review it: Avatar

Oh, yes.  I have seen the blue people.

And fair play to James Cameron.  Avatar is visually stunning in a way words don't do justice.  He set out to create a fully realized, immersive world.  Mission accomplished.  The technology he spent so much time and money developing work flawlessly, translating the actors' performances in a way that felt true and realistic.  Even though Sigourney Weaver did fall a bit into the happy valley for me.

So it's a shame that all that beautiful technology was used to service a paint-by-numbers story.  Several times during the movie I found myself wishing that the script had the same heft as the visuals.  If you're going to create a totally new world, why not give it the totally new story it deserves?

Here now is my recipe for making your own Avatar:

1 page from Rousseau's noble savage

1 part Dances with Wolves

a soucon of Apocalypse Now

a dash of Sgt. Hartmann

A level boot full of evil army

The rave scene from Matrix 2

The "They'll never take our freedom" speech from Braveheart, liberally sprinkled with the "This is our independence day" speech from ID4

The Ewok dance party from Jedi

Cook at 1 billion degrees for 10 years

According to Wired, James Cameron started making movies because he wanted to be George Lucas.  I think he took away some of the wrong lessons from his Sith Lord.  At least he didn't Jar-Jar up the Na'vi, so thanks for that.

Here's hoping that Pixar can successfully hit the sweet spot between tech and story with their John Carter of Mars.

1 1/2 10-foot-tall blue kittehs out of 5.

And fair warning to you James Cameron.  If you run into TortieGirl in a dark alley, there's going to be some pointy reconing coming due.  You owe her $14 and 2 1/2 hours of her life back.

James Cameron’s New 3-D Epic Could Change Film Forever | Wired Magazine

Garrison Dean, I think I love you.  Garrison Dean Thinks You'll Care.: Buh. whu. um. siiigh. My Avatar review.

Avatar | Film | Review | The A.V. Club

Your Monday morning live action Starblazers

Please, please, please let this be released in the US. Also, I NEED one of those blazer jackets. Need it like I need air to breathe.




via io9

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

WE'RE COMING TO GET YOU BARBARA edition.



From Empire Magazine, via io9

#musicmonday: The Replacements

Happy birthday Paul Westerberg! I won't get old if you don't.

Be it resolved: H.Res 2010.01

On the advice of counsel, my usual New Year's resolution is to drink more champagne.  This year, I'm adding "read more books" to the list - despite what Gawker has to say on the topic.  And anyway, I've started a conversation with "I've been rereading Dune recently, and ..." so I'm not really concerned.

With so many titles floating around, it's hard to know where to start.  Fortunately, I have some guidance courtesy of io9 and the librarians of National Geographic.  Their lists, after the jump ...