Yesterday I discovered that the Michael Showalter Showalter on CollegeHumor.com is using a song I co-wrote (furious Don’t Know with The Devlicia Project) as their theme song! Michael Showalter was a member of the MTV sketch comedy show, The State. He played one of my favorite characters on the show (Doug - “I’m outta heeeerrre.”)

Movie reviews…

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull - this movie was complete crap. I will say it one more time… Shia LaBeouf is movie poison. I actually forgot he was in this film when I picked it up from the library. The unholy movie poison three - Hayden Christensen, Brendan Frasier, and Shia.  If they are in the cast - guaranteed crap.

• Swedish Furniture Name Generator - thanks Chris
• xkcd - converting to metric
• captcha poetry

Pictures from the Adventure Aquarium in Camden… if you can’t see the slideshow, click here…

And some videos…

Shark Petting

Bubs Pets a Shark

Bubs and Viv Pet Sea Cucumber, Starfish, Anemone

Hippos!

Vince, the Porcupine

In the Shark Tunnel

Dancing to some Run DMC

We read extra stories last night - Where the Wild Things Are, The Cat in the Hat, The Foot Book (which Viv read to us), Oh, The Places You’ll Go (an old gift from an ex-fiancee with a great message for my sensitive, worried, and busy boy), Gus and the Baby Ghost, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas, Santa Mouse, The Adventures of Super Phanatic, Ghosts in the Cellar, and Alistair’s Elephant.

• Worst Night Out Ever - thanks Justin
• Text-to-Movies
• Sam Jackson’s Lost Screen Test for Titanic - thanks Cathleen

Here are some additional shots (from Mom’s camera) from Viv’s choureg making the other day, plus a picture of Bubs and Viv with their Build-A-Bears they made yesterday with their Memom and Aunt Amy …if you can’t see the slideshow below, click here. And as you can see, the Eagles game may have been better received than I initially thought…

Movie reviews…

Ben Hur - I get it. I really do. This film won 11 Oscars, it is considered the best of the big epics of all time by many. My problem is that those moments in a film that make you cringe a little bit (Lando’s hand claps in Return of the Jedi’s final scene in the Ewok village (0:45 in that link… oh man), all the hobbit love in any of the LoTR trilogy, etc.) it just flat out kills a movie for me. The remainder of the film could be the most brilliant thing ever, but those scenes of flowery dialog or anacronistic action just leaves a horrible taste in my mouth. And that is my problem with this classic. I look at it from the perspective of a recording music in a studio. Sure you can leave some “warts” on the final product, but if you don’t fix the one flat note, the one misfretted chord, the one errant stick smack on the side of the tom - that’s all you will hear for the rest of your life.

My coworkers use of Urban Dictionary to disturb each other is wearing off on me and I don’t think it’s a good thing… something tells me Jennifer doesn’t know… and that is a good thing.

• Peen Park - thanks Chris
• Cephalerotica - NSFW, “honey… did you have a tentacle coming out of there before?” now that’s a  real octopussy.
• Hey, do you want to hear the most annoying sound in the world?
• Top 500 Worst Passwords of All Time

Email chain with Doug… it all starts with one friend trying to share some interesting lyrics and once an opening presents itself, it quick deteriorates into us being douchebags…

From: Douglas
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:18 PM
To: Van Kapeghian
Subject: cool lyrics

Like Moving Insects, A Withdrawal From Your Brain Savings Account

I have heard you have had a series of bad endings
I’m not a sleeping grave
I may not have an iron lung or a fast ride
But rest assured my time is great

———————–

From: Van Kapeghian [mailto:vank@furiousball.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:20 PM
To: Douglas
Subject: RE: cool lyrics

Hadn’t heard of these guys. Do they rock?

———————–

From: Douglas
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:23 PM
To: Van Kapeghian
Subject: RE: cool lyrics

Its a group that had 2 guys from Bionic Rhoda in it.  They were based in Philly but now defunct.  Will try you to burn some of their stuff.  They are mellow and a little unusual.  Lots of different instruments.  I really like them, but in all honesty, it may be more up my alley than yours.

———————–

From: Van Kapeghian [mailto:vank@furiousball.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:25 PM
To: Douglas
Subject: RE: cool lyrics

There’s vespas parked in your alley

———————–

From: Douglas
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:28 PM
To: Van Kapeghian
Subject: RE: cool lyrics

There’s gay bikers parked in yours.

———————–

From: Van Kapeghian [mailto:vank@furiousball.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:31 PM
To: Douglas
Subject: RE: cool lyrics

How long did you work on that zinger?

———————–

From: Douglas
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:33 PM
To: Van Kapeghian
Subject: RE: cool lyrics

According to the times indicated on our emails, approximately 3 minutes.

And by alley, I mean your ass.

———————–

From: Van Kapeghian [mailto:vank@furiousball.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:35 PM
To: Douglas
Subject: RE: cool lyrics

You got me there, mark that down on your Johnny Depp calendar.

———————–

From: Douglas
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:37 PM
To: Van Kapeghian
Subject: RE: cool lyrics

You mean the one I’m giving Vinjin for Christmas so he can have one just like his Dad’s.

———————–

From: Van Kapeghian [mailto:vank@furiousball.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:40 PM
To: Douglas
Subject: RE: cool lyrics

C’mon, the “I know you are but what am I” defense?

———————–

From: Douglas
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:43 PM
To: Van Kapeghian
Subject: RE: cool lyrics

That is hardly what I said.  It was so fucking clever I was laughing while I wrote it.  Check your Amazon recommendations, bish.

———————–

From: Van Kapeghian [mailto:vank@furiousball.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:50 PM
To: Douglas
Subject: RE: cool lyrics

———————–

From: Douglas
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 4:53 PM
To: Van Kapeghian
Subject: RE: cool lyrics

Funny stuff.  Is that you in the hat up in the corner there?  Looks like you with your power bottom, rough trade moustache.

———————–

From: Van Kapeghian [mailto:vank@furiousball.com]
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 5:02 PM
To: Douglas
Subject: RE: cool lyrics

I think this will clear it up for you…

———————–

From: Douglas
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2008 5:04 PM
To: Van Kapeghian
Subject: RE: cool lyrics

I look much hotter than you. Except, I don’t know, I think that picture makes me look a little gay.

Tomorrow will be the kids last day with me until spring. I’m doing my best not to focus on the inevitable suddenly too quiet home. Their last day will be fun, we’re going to the Adventure Aquarium to see our friend, Kristen (and yes, she works there!) swim with the sharks. Van and Viv met Kristen last summer and I’m sure they will get a kick out of seeing her in the tank with the big sharks.

• Umm… nice statue
• xkcd - I know you’re listening
• Wunder Boner
• Mix Man - very cool short film, thanks Mel

Viv has really been getting into reading, first thing she did in 2009… is look for something good to read. I’m very proud of that bookshelf. It’s filled with the decommissioned kids books from my library. The books are still in good shape, but after a while, they are retired and put on a free shelf by the exit. As part of my library visits, I always see if there’s something the kids will enjoy. I’ve accumulated a nice little collection for Van and Viv…

More of me being a pain…

And then I accuse my Swedish buddy, Lars of eating a golden retriever pizza… after of course, making yet another Swedish Chef reference…

And of course, my daily insinuation that Franki (Lee) is a hooker…

• Abandoned London
• Far side Reenactments
• iPhone Condom - thanks Chris