New Shiny Object

Dr. Seuss Does Star Wars

2011-03-25T14:53:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

A wonderful web artist, Adam Watson, has decided to see if he could sketch Dr. Seuss' version of Star Wars. It is a fantastic collection of little drawings. The one of Yoda rhyming about being 900 years old would make for a great birthday card.

Adam Watson Cartoonist

Batman's "ODD"yssey

2011-03-21T07:56:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

I'm not sure if you partake in comic book reading much, but Neal Adams has just given you a reason to start. The website Comics Alliance has developed an explanation (as much as is possible) of the totally crazy Batman Odyssey comic series. Their breakdown of the story Bruce Wayne tells to someone about the time he told a story to Robin about a story that he also was in that shows him narrating a story is amazing. This comic reads like nonsensical hilarity in these reviewers' hands.

THE INSANITY OF BATMAN ODYSSEY

The Picture of Politeness

2011-03-17T11:51:00.001-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

If I had lived during the Victorian period I know some things for certain: I'd be a great dresser but I'd have terrible manners when it came to visiting bathrooms on trains. It's good to know one's strengths. Play this game that Leslie emailed to us to see if you'd survive Victorian manner politics.

THE VICTORIAN PERIOD GAME

TGIRitchie

2011-03-04T11:53:00.000-08:00

Attention, Scientists of Earth

2011-03-01T16:39:00.000-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

I have stumbled across what may be the best website on the entire 'net. Not only does the brave Trey Hamburger have much to say about ghosts, aliens and alien ghosts, but also he calls Toys R Us out of the goodness of his heart and demands they stop selling Ouija boards because they are killing people.

GHOSTS/ALIENS

Anything Can Be a Musical

2011-02-28T07:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

Singer/Songwriters Jon and Al have a website that collects all of their amazing musical parodies of action and thriller classics like "Silence of the Lambs" and "Predator." Didn't realize that Predator would make an awesome musical? Prepare to be stunned.

IF IT BLEEDS WE CAN KILL IT

TGI Duelists

2011-02-25T09:10:00.000-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

There can never be too much referencing or parodies of The Princess Bride. Someone has gone to the great trouble of replacing the swords in the cliff top duel with, well, what Anakin would call "laser swords." Enjoy!

THE CHATTY DUELISTS

I'm finished!

2011-02-24T09:17:00.000-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

This is a video of the 16-bit game of "There Will Be Blood" that Leslie emailed me. Watching Daniel Day Lewis' rampage in fast motion is probably better than ever playing the game myself. Enjoy!

Super There Will Be Blood from Tomfoolery Pictures on Vimeo.

Bad bad reviews

2011-02-23T12:24:00.000-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

Have you yet discovered the hilariously unhelpful movie reviews on This Is Not Helping? My favorite may be the person who described the film SAVED as "sac-religious."

THIS IS NOT HELPFUL MOVIE REVIEWS

Sophisticated Procrastination

2011-02-22T11:40:00.001-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

When F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote "The Great Gatsby" you know he would greatly have preferred the 8-bit medium to bring people into the world of his opus. His original intent certainly would have had Nick throwing his fedora like a boomerang.

THE GREAT GATSBY GAME

Crossover Procrastination

2010-04-28T10:09:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

I know you love the Mario Bros games as much as I do. Someone's gone to the trouble of bringing Mario a few new friends to the original game. I will never get any work done ever again.

PLAY MARIO AS MEGA MAN!

Disturbingly postable

2010-03-25T14:54:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

Do you like Winnie the Pooh? Do you like Xenomorphs? How about a combination of the two, with a little Predator cameo to boot?

This storybook crossover is just one of many disturbingly entertaining cartoons on the Godxillary site. (Yes, this picture is of Tigger operating a powerloader)

ALIEN VS POOH

A bit of whimsy for your day.

2010-03-05T12:53:00.000-08:00

Un tour de Manège from Les Manèges on Vimeo.

Dear Meredith:

For this Friday, enjoy this charming little animation!

Almost as good as his beer can chicken.

2010-03-02T15:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

Christopher Walken may be a tad creepy, but he is amazing and a god amongst men. Here, he performs Lady Gaga's "Poker Face." Enough said.

I would kill for an In and Out near me.

2010-02-26T14:45:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

Stuck as you are at work, I know that sometimes you have questions about where to eat. Wonder no longer - use this handy-dandy flowchart to help you decide! Just make sure to order some fries for me.

Where should I eat, fast food edition

Would you see these movies if you knew what they were really about?

2010-02-23T14:41:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

Everything has two sides. Take a gander at this list of movie plot summaries, but told from a slightly different (yet equally truthful) point of view.

For example:
PRIDE AND PREJUDICE: Woman with gold-digging mother nags wealthy man into marriage.

Well, it is the truth.

Uncomfortable plot summaries

Awesome

2010-02-20T10:35:00.000-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

Consider yourself rolled.

CAD comics

Now, just add some butter...

2010-02-19T15:36:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

I don't know if you're as addicted to the Food Network as I am, but surely you've heard of Paula Deen. Now, imagine Paula Deen pole dancing. The resulting monologue would surely be awesome.

Pole dancing with Paula Deen, y'all!

Pew Pew Pew!

2010-02-18T10:29:00.000-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

Make a rocket-pack wearing squirrel shoot lasers on your computer screen!
...I can't tell if it does anything else...

SHOOT LASERS!

Almost as good as the reviews on "How to boil water" on Epicurious.

2010-02-16T15:33:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

No, I'm not suggesting that you go buy this hideous shirt. I am suggesting, however, that you read the THOUSAND+ AWESOME REVIEWS of this shirt.

The Mountain Three Wolf Moon Short Sleeve Tee

Bear-dorable

2010-02-15T09:29:00.000-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

I am currently bored. Therefore, I am going to look at adorable renderings of bears who are embodying pop culture references. I could click on this for hours...and just may do exactly that. (Thanks to Oscar for the find!)

Bears!

Bump bump bump!

2010-02-12T14:27:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

Don't bother looking for the rules for this game, because they're not posted on the website. You're supposed to figure it out for yourself. Perhaps infuriating at first, yes, but omfg, does this game quickly become addicting.

Gimme Friction Baby

Some days, I'd really like to bring back the written word.

2010-02-09T15:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

Email is great and all, but I do love hand-written notes. At this website, check out old mail from both famous and not-so-famous people - but all fascinating pieces of correspondence.

Letters of Note

Can one ever be too old for Sesame Street?

2010-02-05T12:21:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

Jake Gyllenhaal + Sesame Street = AWESOME.

Acronym Chicken Soup

2010-02-04T09:38:00.000-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

I don't know if I approve of this happy, fluffy, positive website, but who am I to decide? This is the polar opposite to FML, and it's called IMMD (It Made My Day). People write in talking about how something wonderful happened to make their day. Aw, shucks.

IMMD

Almost as good as Martha Stewart.

2010-02-02T15:04:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

I adore Pink Martini (the band, not the drink! But, hm, is it actually a drink?). I know the holidays are over, but watch the bandleader, Thomas Lauderdale, present some tips for setting a holiday table. You have to love someone who incorporates maracas into his decor. Useful for any time of year, I'd think.

The blood splats are a nice touch.

2010-01-29T15:08:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

Pretend you are a goose. Pretend you are a goose on a mission to fly over the world and collect other geese so that you can fly in V formation. But beware! Don't hit any manmade aircraft!

Don't blame me if you do nothing productive with the rest of your Friday.

Endless Migration

Next step: incorporate a free drink coupon.

2010-01-26T15:02:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

I've been doing a lot of flying lately, and yes, boarding passes are Such A Joke. They are often ugly, and worse - incomprehensible. Which is my boarding time and which is the time the flight actually takes off? What is my seat? Oh, the questions! Here, a graphic designer takes it upon himself to redesign the boarding pass.

Definitely make sure to click on the links to Dustin Curtis's experience. Totalyl worth reading, in part to see what a big effed up corporate mess American airlines are.

(image via)

Boarding pass/FAIL

Freudian analysis for the font set.

2010-01-22T11:53:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

I know, I love my fonts in a way that borders on total typogeekishness. But, have you ever stayed up late at night wondering what kind of font you were? Wonder no more!

I am perpetua titling light, in case you're interested, someone who prefers "shoe-d stability to barefoot liberty." Totally. Do you know the diseases you can get walking around barefoot?

(Note: the password is "character")

What type are you?

Random sampling of geek

2010-01-18T08:31:00.000-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

I believe you and I will have different reactions to a website known as Geekologie. I will laugh, and every so often say "Hmmm, that's kind of cool," while you will laugh loudly and long throughout. I have to say, one of my favorite blog posts is about the Mystery Science Theater 3000 vision glasses. This is a good site to occupy the mind when one should be doing other things.

GEEKOLOGIE

Craigslist being put to good use

2010-01-07T10:22:00.001-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

Why are assholes so hilarious? Dr. House, Barney Stinson, they're awesome!

As someone who pushes the buttons of people who advertise on Craigslist, this guy definitely fits in with the Dickbag Group, and we all get to enjoy the results.

EMAILS FROM AN ASSHOLE

This about sums it up

2010-01-04T10:52:00.000-08:00

Procrastination:

My last meal would definitely involve bacon in some form.

2009-12-23T14:10:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

Ten well-known chefs (including Mario Batali, Emeril Lagasse, and Nancy Silverton) were asked eight questions about food, including what their last meals would be and what their favorite kitchen gadgets are. One of my favorite answers has to be from Mario Batali. When asked what his last meal would be, he responded, "It would be a very long one: 753 courses consumed over 15 years, each with a different wine." That is certainly one way to extend life!

Eight questions with...

Stay away from my chimney

2009-12-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

I'm sure we've discussed the hilarious existence of "Hunky Santa" at the Beverly Center. But there is something far more important to dish about. And that is this awesome website that collects the scariest Santas on celluloid and junk drive. Check it out.

SKETCHY SANTAS

Crazy wine guy

2009-12-22T09:24:00.000-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

I refuse to buy any wine without seeing this man defile it online first. This wine critic is either drunk when doing his reviews, or has absolutely no sense of shame. Wine never sounded better than when this man tells you the nose of one of the glasses "kicks you in the face." It is entertaining to watch him try to come up with 'quirks' for his online vid persona. My favorite is when he throws a bunch of corks at the camera and exclaims "Sometimes I love to throw corks!"

WINE LIBRARY TV

I love receiving mail.

2009-12-21T16:02:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

This is an awesome idea, if just a wee bit creepy. (While I do love receiving mail, i don't like receiving mail from people I don't know.) Lenka Clayton and Michael Crowe took it upon themselves to send a handwritten letter to everyone first in a village in Ireland, than in a neighborhood of Pittsburgh, PA. If you follow the link, you can see all the mail they sent.

Mysterious letters

These pets are not LOL-ing.

2009-12-21T09:18:00.001-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

We love to laugh at the adorable pictures of animals on the web, but what if the animals are not laughing along with us? This website shows the inner turmoil of pets who have been forced into cute photos. Is it sick that it's even funnier when the pets are clearly unhappy?

PETS WHO WANT TO KILL THEMSELVES

I do like the Swedish meatballs too.

2009-12-18T14:57:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

I have to say, I do like Ikea, even though I am sick to death of those damn allen wrenches. In this nifty video, watch a Lack table get made.

Such style!

2009-12-16T14:54:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

There are way too many "blogs" based on reader-submitted pictures, but I have to say, I sort of enjoy this one.

My Parents Were Awesome

Meep meep!

2009-12-14T17:52:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

Okay, I thought that the Muppets doing "Bohemian Rhapsody" was pretty awesome, but it might be out-awesomed by Beaker performing "Ode to Joy."

The unfortunate thing is that this song gets terribly stuck in your head.

2009-12-11T14:48:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

The Muppets do "Bohemian Rhapsody". Words can't do it justice.

There isn't possibly enough time for all this procrastination, is there?

2009-12-09T16:35:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

Of course, our site isn't the only one that can help you procrastinate. Check out this list of other internet vices, and their quite humorous descriptions.

Internet vices

Inglourious Basterds indeed.

2009-12-07T14:30:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

This is nothing less than awesome. Watch Brad Pitt and Quentin Tarantino on a Japanese cooking show. Need anything more be said?

(From SeriousEats.)

Part 2

Part 3

Pretty pretty letters.

2009-12-04T15:25:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

I'm a sucker for creative lettering - if I can't actually produce it, at least I can admire it, right?

Friends of Type

PANCAKES!

2009-12-04T10:32:00.000-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

For some reason, I can only stomach waffles. But this collection of pancake photos is almost enough to make me a believer.

PANCAKES!
(found through Jezebel)

Watch Neo go!

2009-12-02T14:18:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

I mean, sometimes some people have just too much time on their hands - but then again, without them, who would recreate the bullet time dodge scene from The Matrix?

Does fine dining exist at Costco?

2009-12-01T17:38:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

I have a mad mad crush on Eric Ripert, the chef and co-owner of Le Bernardin in New York. Yes, I've featured him on this site before. But now he's on the small screen, with a cooking show, featuring Eric Ripert being inspired by nature and then cooking a dish based on this inspiration. In the link below, however, Alan Richman of GQ takes Eric Ripert to Costco (ie, NOT nature) to see his reaction.

Some choice quotations:

I am freaked out. Costco depresses me. I know everybody doesn’t have the same opportunities I do to visit farm stands and little markets, but I will fight to the end for inspirational shopping. Costco doesn’t even look like it belongs on our planet. It could be on the moon.

Alan asks me to push the cart, and I will not. Yes, I know I am being a spoiled brat, but for me it is an acceptance of the system. I do not want to be seen as somebody who supports this kind of store and this kind of system.

I just don't push shopping carts because I am lazy.

Avec Alan

Bart-crastination

2009-11-30T11:12:00.000-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

I don't recall if you are a SIMPSONS fan or not, but every episode always had a very entertaining bit with Bart writing a reference to something terrible he did on a chalkboard at school for punishment. Someone compiled the list!

(from Jezebel's post)

BART'S CHALKBOARD

It's quickly approaching...

2009-11-27T15:26:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

As this year starts to wind down, this means that... dum dum dum... next year is the year we turn (GASP!!!) 30. Here's what you can expect as you enter your 3rd decade - thankfully, I finished school. Just in time! But I'm not too sure about this installing storm windows bit..

What to expect: The third decade

Practice makes pretty.

2009-11-25T14:15:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

Is all this time typing on computers affecting your handwriting? Here are some handy pointers on how to make the hand-printed word more legible - just in time for all your holiday cards!

The Write Stuff

For your health!

2009-11-24T15:29:00.000-08:00

Dear Jennifer,

I know how much you like morbid online tests. This one is fantastic. You answer behavioral (and a few medical) questions and the "Life Calculator" will tell you how long you'll live.

TAKE THE CALCULATOR

Enjoy.

It's time to get away.

2009-11-23T14:05:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

Sometimes, I just want a weekend trip, but I don't know where to go or what to do - that's nearby, that is. Voila this handy website - choose where you live, how far you're willing to travel, and what kind of trip you want, and you'll get some recommendations. Unfortunately, it's currently only useful for those who live in big cities (aka, NOT ME), but here's hope that they add more cities soon.

Weekend Getaways

See the world from a different perspective

2009-11-19T14:52:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

This handy website converts pictures you've taken so that they look like photographs of miniature scale models. It's sort of awesome. The picture on top is one I took when in Porto, Portugal over the summer - and the one on the bottom is the tilt-shifted version.

Tilt Shift Maker

I really like the solution of only allowing orphans to enroll.

2009-11-16T14:57:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:

Oh, this made me laugh so hard. So far, I'm not finding it true, as my students seem to prefer to just not show up whenever assignments are due. Seriously.

The Dead Grandmother/Exam Syndrome and the Potential Downfall Of American Society

Work up a sweat!

2009-11-12T15:38:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:
It's so easy being sedentary, especially given that we largely have desk jobs. So I try to look for workout inspiration where I can. iTrain has a whole bunch of downloadable mp3s and podcasts by celebrity trainers. You can even train "with" Olympic gold medal winner Natalie Coughlin. While the majority of them are for a fee, there are some free ones online you can check out.

iTrain

Sparkly procrastination

2009-11-09T14:32:00.000-08:00

Dear Meredith:
Sorry for the prolonged absence! This being-a-professor thing is stupid. In addition to teaching, I'm still expected to write papers? What? I don't understand how I'm supposed to have time for all of this, especially when I spend an inordinate amount of time playing the below-linked game. I think it's the gems. You know how anything related to jewelry transfixes me, even if it's fake.

Shields of Gemland

If the internet went down...

2009-10-28T09:47:00.000-07:00

Cracked.com has a hilarious collection of photos for a recent contest they did asking for images to show what the world would be like if the Internet suddenly went away.

The number one winner is awesome.

THE WORLD OF TOMORROW

Wanna see my movie?

2009-09-22T08:31:00.000-07:00

If you're in Los Angeles, and you like to see horror/thriller/sci-fi/fantasy shorts - then please come see my film VOID! Tickets are now on sale for the festival premiere of the film at Screamfest LA.

Here's the link for TICKETS

And here's the trailer!

Chicken and the Egg Rap Battle

2009-09-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine is in a very hilarious show called "Lost Moon Radio" that has new material every three months, and plays on the second floor of an awesome little bar. One of the best sketches on the show was the Chicken v. Egg rap battle (in the style of "8 Mile")

For your listening pleasure, here is the sound file. It is awesome. (R rated, fyi)

Too delicious for its own good

2009-09-02T11:52:00.000-07:00

JENNIFER! CHECK OUT THIS SITE! BACON AS A BUSINESS CARD! Actually, it's more like jerky, but, hey, I'll take it. Thanks to Tom for the find.

MEAT BUSINESS CARDS

Are you a top 25 douche?

2009-08-27T12:15:00.000-07:00

GQ has done all the research to tell us the top 25 douchiest colleges in America.

I don't know if the fact that my school is number 11 is good, bad, or just plain douchey.
(Thanks to Patrick for the find)

TOP 25 DOUCHEY SCHOOLS

Now in 3-D!

2009-08-19T08:57:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

I hope you are enjoying Delaware immensely. Since there is little else to do there right now besides prepare for the big pumpkin toss (better start your pushups), I thought you might enjoy this.

The Atrox is a webcomic from a few friends of mine, and they have just recently begun crafting little figures and taking pictures rather than draw the comic. So now Atrox is in 3-D! It's a brave new world.

Since I know you are as much a fan of adorable violence as I am, I suggest you read the whole history (even the drawn stuff).

THE ATROX

Jim Henson continues to save the world

2009-08-13T08:11:00.000-07:00

Not only did he raise us, he's also bringing peace in the Middle East. This is a CNN article about new Sesame Street shows that are trying to teach children nonviolence, tolerance, and friendship. Get 'em when they're young, I say!

REACHING THE NEXT GENERATION

Why didn't I know about this before?

2009-08-04T11:24:00.000-07:00

Apparently, the TMNT movies were so popular (no surprise there!) that Barbara Walters did an interview with the Turtles when the second film came out. Pretty much makes my childhood complete.

Everyone loves a sequel

2009-07-29T11:14:00.000-07:00

The first book, "Pride and Prejudice and Zombies" is a national treasure.

Urban Legend spoilers!

2009-07-07T15:14:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

My friend Matt sent me this link to a hilarious page that has simple solutions for top ranking mysteries. A guaranteed time suck.

6 Famous Unsolved Mysteries

I think I miss the cat

2009-07-06T07:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

There is a website devoted to repurposing Garfield comic strips without Garfield in them. It's a bizarre combination of funny and...well...psychotic.

I always knew there was something wrong with Jon.

Garfield Minus Garfield

If FML is too hard core for you...

2009-07-03T10:42:00.001-07:00

Then MLIA (My Life is Average) ought to be a little more your speed. This is a take on the FML website, except it praises the mundane rather than the unfortunate.

MY LIFE IS AVERAGE

Another good one: Yoga = aerobics + 10 years - headbands.

2009-06-26T14:46:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

Along the lines of indexed, here's a website that cleverly uses simple math equations to illustrate non-math concepts.

New Math

Hospital food = airline food without all the plastic wrap?

2009-06-25T14:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

Hungry? You might not be, after looking at this compilation of hospital food from around the world.

Hospital food

Franken-bears.

2009-06-24T14:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

In case you're feeling a bit bored at the office today, and you have some gummi bears, check out this website. I have to say, I never got more complex than switching heads.

Gummy Bear Surgery

2009-06-23T14:05:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

You know how I feel about hipsters. Now, there's a whole SITE devoted to making fun of them. My life is complete. (Almost.)

Look at this fucking hipster

And that's what squashing a goombah looks like.

2009-06-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

I know how you love video games. You'll just love this flickr gallery depicting video game deaths.

8-Bit Fatalities

Dating is an ugly game.

2009-06-19T14:41:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

Is love indeed a battlefield? At the very least, it's sometimes a series of brutal and unfortunate encounters with others.

My Very Worst Date

New York paper airplane flight.

2009-06-18T14:38:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

There is something quite mesmerizing about watching this paper airplane sail out the window of a 31st story window in Manhattan.

Flying from Sam Fuller on Vimeo.

Fun with fractals.

2009-06-17T14:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

Click on the boxes. Watch them divide. It seems rather stupid at first, but then you find yourself clicking away, and 10 minutes later, and it doesn't seem that stupid after all.

Click bored

Keyboard Cat

2009-06-17T07:35:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

The MTV Movie Awards were awesome this year. However, I was not familiar with "Keyboard Cat". My friend, Matt, had to rectify this. Apparently Keyboard Cat will play people "offstage" at the end of clips. Here are his top favorite "Keyboard Cat" videos on youtube:

Create a little symphony at your desk.

2009-06-16T14:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

Despite the rather unfortunate name of this site, it's a clever little application where you draw lines, and when the balls fall on the lines, they make sounds.

BallDroppings

Darths and Droids

2009-06-16T07:32:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

My newest webcomic obsession is a fake Dungeons and Dragons quest through the Star Wars movies. The jokes are aplenty and well deserved. The best part is that this is the guy tells his story using screen captions from the movies. It is all too easy to find a screen caption of an actor looking goofy. Awesome.

Darths and Droids

Aliens may have needs too.

2009-06-15T14:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

Are you ever in a restaurant and confused by which is the sign for the women's restroom and which is for the men's? I don't know if there will be any confusion with these...

Unusual toilet signs

Too close to home?

2009-06-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

A friend in the entertainment industry forwarded this site along, but it appeals to many different groups. It's a horror stories collection from assistants. More than a few of these give me terrifying flashbacks. And yet I can't stop reading!

ASSISTANT HORROR STORIES

So, that's what Elijah Wood's been up to since Spiderman stopped filming.

2009-06-12T14:20:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

Enjoy this music video by Greg Laswell called "How the Day Sounds", filmed in Galco's, a soda shop located in Los Angeles. (Also, if this doesn't make you want soda, I don't know what will.)

Hilarious and dirrrrrrty webcomic

2009-06-12T07:44:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

The webcomic "Something Positive" is based in Boston - so I assume you already know of its existence? If not, prepare to fall in love with the potty-mouthed heroines.

SOMETHING POSITIVE

I think the advice would work for girls too.

2009-06-11T14:24:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

This is a compilation of bits of wisdom to be passed onto your unborn children. My favorite: "If you are tempted to wear a cowboy hat, resist."

1001 Rules for my Unborn Son

The Infamous Gazebo

2009-06-11T08:29:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

Okay, really this story is only infamous to D&D gamers, but it is still highly entertaining.

The background on Dungeons and Dragons role-playing games is that you wander around as a character who can only do certain things you have picked in advance (that awesome gladiator game you found and posted is very similar - where you only get so many points and you have to decide whether you want to pile your points up in your defense, your offense, etc.). Whenever the Dungeon Master (DM) describes your character meeting something, it's usually expected that you will have to fight it.

SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT GOES AWRY

Like Star Maps, but from the convenience of your home.

2009-06-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

Have you ever been watching a movie or something on TV and wanted to know where it was filmed? This handy website tells you where all those locations are.

Where It's At

Cheers!

2009-06-09T14:11:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

Skål is a Scandinavian toast. There is a very proper way to do it. From the French Culinary Institute, this series of pictures shows a variety of people skåling. Maybe we should have our own little photo session of us skåling sometime.

SKOAL!

Spam put to good use

2009-06-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

The subject lines of spam emails can be stunningly hilarious at times. One artist felt the same, and has created a website where he creates cartoons that match the subject of a spam email. The image shown to the left came from the subject line "Old Toy New Size".

SPAMUSEMENT!

I particularly like that she always wants pictures of animals doing violent things.

2009-06-08T14:06:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

In this charming, and unfortunately way-too-short blog, a child dictates what she wants her father to draw, he draws it, and then she shares her opinion. It is brilliant.

(Start at the bottom and work your way up.)

Tiny Art Director

(image from Tiny Art Director.)

Fan Trailer!

2009-06-08T12:18:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

Every so often, there is a fan-made trailer begging hollywood to step it up and deliver. This is one such well-edited plea for a Green Lantern film. Thanks to Ethan for the find!

There is always more online content to watch.

2009-06-05T14:03:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

Have you watched all the offerings on Hulu? Fed up with the lame-ass ABC website that continually freezes your computer? (Or is that only me?). Here's another site, via Sony, that, in their words, "distributes digital content including original short form series and full-length traditional programming from Sony Pictures’ vast library of television series and feature films."

Crackle

Crazy Japanese Commercial Countdown Happy Fun Time

2009-06-05T07:59:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

The Japanese are hilarious. Their commercials are a large part of why their culture is so very entertaining.

College Humor has collected some of the best of the worst for a crazy commercial countdown. Robocop attacking a family for their chicken strips is but one example. Thanks to Tom for the link!

Watch RoboCop Fried Chicken on CollegeHumor

CRAZY COMMERCIAL COUNTDOWN!

Sometimes, genius is creepy.

2009-06-04T13:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

If you were a guy, and wanted to sleep with your female friend who had a boyfriend, how would you go about doing it? Here is a solution. I don't know whether to be scared of the fella who wrote this, or slightly in awe at his genius. Perhaps a bit of both. I mean, he invokes time travel.

Batteries Feel Included: 309

Funny pictures

2009-06-04T09:09:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

Here is a website that has collected random amusing pictures from the interwebs. They are not cat-based, but are quite humorous regardless.

: )

ZENITH FUNNY PICTURES

Picture sleuth

2009-06-03T13:52:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

The premise is simple. First, find the clues. Next, use the clues to identify 50 films. Enjoy!

The Cryptic Canvas

For the MAC lovers

2009-06-03T08:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

Someday, I'll be able to afford a mac laptop. Until then, I remain a PC.

However, even as a PC, I can enjoy the egg on Microsoft's face in this short clip from the debut of Windows 98 on CNN.

PRESENTATION CRASH

Classic Violence continued...

2009-06-02T08:30:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

This was my favorite Nintendo game. Sure, Super Mario Bros was awesome, but Joust was the game that for a long time we didn't have at home, and so I was obsessed with playing whenever I could find it.

If you haven't ever played - the basic idea is to make your flying ostrich sit on the heads of the bad guys - and then eat their eggs.

...it's a strange concept. Interestingly, there is a script version that was going around town where death-row inmates were given the option of fighting for their freedom on the back of large ostriches (ostriches that exist because cows had become extinct) for the general amusement of the public. Entertainingly, the writer of that script sued "Death Race" for using a story line where death row inmates are given the option of racing for their freedom for the general amusement of the public. I can't imagine the death-row-gladiator idea really originated with the writer of JOUST.

JOUST!

Classic violence

2009-06-01T08:17:00.000-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

Now that you're back in LA - you'll need new games to play while watching TV while reading a magazine.

Here's an oldie and a greatie. Oddly, it is more difficult than I remember.

DUCK HUNT

Tweet soup for the soul

2009-05-28T09:41:00.001-07:00

Dear Jennifer,

This is a sweet little public blog where people list three experiences they have that they think everyone should have.
Scroll down the page for our friend, Kim's, entry.

SOUL PANCAKE

I mean, who doesn't love bacon?

2009-05-22T14:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Meredith:

I love bacon. You love bacon. We all love bacon. And so, you definitely need to visit this site devoted to all things bacon.

The Baconcyclopedia