Wednesday, October 29, 2008

JibJab

Many probably saw the JibJab video from four years ago. I just saw this election's video today and share it with you now (you'll have to click the link my friends).

JibJab's "Time For Some Campaigning" (Set to Bob Dylan's famous song, "The Times They Are A Changin'" in case anyone is interested). Enjoy.

Also, 20/20 ran an excellent piece that covers so much of what is gong on and wrong with our nation at the moment. I will only post the first part of it on here, but if you desire to see the rest, just follow the YouTube links after it finishes.

Monday, October 27, 2008

The Office - Crime Aid

Here is the first deleted scene:

Here is the second (and I hope you like fox meat):

Update: And now the third clip of deleted scenes.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Whose Line Is It Anyway???

It has been a long, long time since I have watched this show, but I stumbled upon this clip and it is awesome.

The Second Amendment

I had a thought that some of you have already heard me share. It has recently dawned on me why it is so important to maintain the 2nd Amendment right to bear arms (which for me includes being able to own your own weapon and even being able to carry it). I used to understand it only as a safeguard against crime and violence in our communities. This election has really opened my eyes though, to how far some people would want to take the role of big government, and frankly that concerns me. The right to bear arms is not just about keeping burglars or assailants from attacking our homes, it is also a check and a balance against our government itself. In fact, it is one of the only checks and balances that directly protects the people of this nation from our government ever growing too powerful (i.e. a dictatorship, communism, etc.).
There are many who feel that our nation would be safer if we were to ban guns, and perhaps we would see less gun-related violence. However, it should be remembered that not only has violent crime existed in human history--long before the gun was invented and brought on the scene--but the fact is, if someone wants to hurt you, they will find a way. Taking away guns from the masses will eventually only take guns away from those who wouldn't use them illegally. Those who would use them illegally will.
I'll end by reiterating what was already said: taking away guns won't stop violent crimes; those that want to hurt others will still exist in this world. Taking away guns really means that the people no longer have a safeguard against government (because you KNOW that no government is going to give up its guns). I support the 2nd Amendment, because I support our Constitution's system of checks and balances against our government ever becoming too powerful for us people to control. Sadly, I fear that we are already to that point anyway, and it makes it that much more important for us to not surrender those rights that would protect us from that sad end to our liberties. That is all.

Monday, October 20, 2008

Troubled Times


Given the current state of our economy and the troubled times that seem to be looming ahead, I thought we could all use some inspiration. Let us not bow our heads and go softly into the night; let us save money on clothing by using our hair as a substitute.

Friday, October 17, 2008

The Office: "Baby Shower" Deleted Scenes

I may just make this a weekly thing friends of forest fires. Each week's episode tends to have three clips of deleted scenes and I will post them as they are released. So if you only see one or two on here, check back later 'cause I will just update this same post with the clips. Questions?

I skipped the 2nd clip of deleted scenes due to its somewhat graphic nature, but here is the third one. I am sad they took it out, because as funny as it was to see Dwight try to destroy the baby carriage, this would have made that whole scene 10x funnier.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Such Humble Beginnings

This is an older clip from Andy Samberg and Bill Hader's first year on SNL. Wanna know how out of touch I had gotten with said show? I had no clue that Horatio Sans was ever in the Weekend Update crew. Ah well.

The Onion

First, watch this video that explains the process that Disney Child Star Creation Labs goes through to create their stars (and thank you Stooph for posting this on your blog for me to find and steal and exploit on my own):

Disney Lab Unveils Its Latest Line Of Genetically Engineered Child Stars
Now, I gotta say that The Onion is one brilliant little site. I hardly ever check it, but when I do it is always so clever and generally quite funny. It is kind of sad that I far prefer fake news to the real stuff. Ah well.

Monday, October 13, 2008

Papa's World 2.0


Now that we have breached that milestone of 200 posts (201 baby), I thought we'd start off this new era of blogging with an excellent quote from Benjamin Franklin.

"An informed voter is a voter whose vote doesn't count any more than the vote of a complete idiot." - Benjamin Franklin.

I challenge each of us to find our political nemesis--the idiot whose vote cancels out our own--and somehow breed with them. What would happen? it is worth finding out. (Just kidding Sierra, I shan't breed with anyone and don't think that this means you can either).

The Big 200!

That is right folks, this is my 200th post on this blog. Considering I've had it up for over 4 years now, that doesn't seem very impressive, but hey... I'm working on it. To celebrate, what do you say we toke a trip to the roller coaster park, get some free balloons, and listen to They Might Be Giants' "Older?" Yeah! That sounds like a birthday celebration to me! (This video was made by a man named Shamus Young, whose blog I regularly read--he made the Lord of the Rings web-comic I so love. So thank you, Shamus).

Friday, October 10, 2008

Bless The Office

I have heard some critiques of this season of The Office (two episodes in, it seems a little early to think you can accurately describe any sort of "trend" into anything doesn't it?), how it feels more like a sitcom and Michael's acting is different and what not. People are lame. Watch these deleted scenes and tell me that they are not as hilarious as anything else the show has ever done. While I will admit that last night's episode wasn't the funniest I've ever seen, at not point did I feel dissatisfied with it; it was a story mover to help build for future conflicts between Michael and Holly from what I could tell, and therefore it was important. Anyway, these deleted scenes are fantastic. Oh, and in case you haven't heard of it yet, Matt tuned me in to a blog that should satisfy all of your extra-curricular The Office needs. The Office Tally. Go check it out. Seriously.

Update: Here is the second clip of deleted scenes, or Deleted Scenes 2.0. They can't be held responsible for what the first Deleted Scenes did.

Additional Update: The third clip of deleted scenes.

Thursday, October 09, 2008

LARP

I would imagine that LARPing is not new to you, but just in case...
Here are some great videos I found!
This first video is about 4 1/2 minutes long and is a montage of some great footage of people LARPing. It is appropriately titled: "LARP Sadness." Amen.

Next up is a 5 1/2 minute film of a battle against a... DRAGON! My favorite parts are the random car that drives by in the background (I can't even imagine what would go through my mind if I were driving along, only to look over and see people dressed as wizards and dwarfs, running around a big dragon), the dude that gets taken out by the dragon's arm (and it looks like he really gets taken out by it), and the water or "acid?" that gets shot out of the dragon's mouth. Such realism. Plus, it is great how little is happening in it (everyone is just running around, but no one is fighting). It is called the "Wayfinder Dragon Battle" and is some sort of Finale? I don't get that.

Last up, an old favorite of mine. The classic "Magic Missile" video. If you do nothing else, make sure to watch this 30 second video with sound. You will not be disappointed.

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

LOTR On The BBC

I had no clue that they had done a radio version of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (the books). For an excellent write-up of similarities/differences of the books, radio version, and Peter Jackson's films: go here. I think I would really enjoy listening to those. Maybe the library will have it in stock.

Now to wax political again. I invite you to watch this video (which is obviously one side's take on the Freddie Mac/Fannie Mae issue). It is showing many Democrats in Congress defending both FM's back in 2004, when many Republicans in Congress were seeking for regulations to be placed on both FM's. Biased? Sure. I'm sure that it is not showing the whole story and I am sure that if the Democrats tried, they could put together a video showing the Republicans in a bad light too. It is still interesting, though to see Frank Raines (I believe that he is Obama's Economic adviser) defend the FM's. Anyway, you can judge for yourself if there is any value here.

Monday, October 06, 2008

The Return Of SNL To Greatness?

A comedy skit show that has been around as long as SNL is bound to have some down years. After Will Ferrell left SNL, I figured that the show was lost for a while (and maybe it was... I didn't watch it for a bit and so I guess I don't know if it was really any good or not). Then they brough in some unusual choices (from my point of view): Kenan Thompson (of that old Nickelodeon comedy skit show that I never watched and thought sounded lame) and Andy Samberg (who got his start making really strange films and skits with his buddies from thelonelyisland.com). It was that same Andy (and his buddies that do a little bit of writing for the show now and are behind the SNL Digital Shorts) who got my attention to want to come back and give the show another try. When "Lazy Sunday" blew up, I think it caught everyone's attention. I have since begun watching little bits here and there and thank hulu.com tremendously for making it possible to see skits without having to stay up until 1:30 or 2:00 am to get my fix. The show has brought in some great cast members. Despite its heavy liberal leanings, I love Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers as the Weekend Update team. Andy Samberg, Bill Hader, Will Forte, and Fred Armisen are all very strong comedians and have impressed me tremendously. Most of all, and the biggest surprise to me, is that Kristen Wiig is outstanding. She has become that effortless comedian of the show, that will enhance any skit just by being in it. She doesn't have to try hard like so many other comedians do; she is just naturally hilarious.
Anyway, The season premiere was very disappointing (despite Tina Fey's very funny and now infamous portrayal of Sarah Palin), but the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th episodes completely made up for that. My faith in the show is easily being restored to where I now feel it is worth it to stay up to watch it again. It has been a long time since I felt that way.
First up, an O.J. Simpson trial jury selection skit:

Second, one of the best skits I've ever seen. Watch Kristen Wiig in action in the Lawrence Welk Show skit:

Friday, October 03, 2008

Two Random Thoughts

The first is Warren Buffet's plan (or at least a brief version of it) for how to save the economy.

The second is I just wanted to say thanks for the great blessing that is the Redneck. In our troubled times, there isn't hardly anyone to make fun of without being offensive. It's comforting to know that Rednecks are still safe.


Dracula Sequel?

ShockTillYouDrop.com is reporting that Bram Stoker's great-grandnephew (and blood descendant... ooooh... they used the word blood in the description of their relation which is what Dracula likes to eat cause he is a vampire and I'm sorry if I just ruined the story for anyone who hasn't read it yet), has compiled himself a sequel to Bram's Dracula. Apparently, there were lots of things that were cut from the first book or something like that, as well as some notes that his father had made. Thus, Dacre (which is a really creepy name in and of itself) compiled these notes and (I assume) filled in what was missing to make it a coherent story (with the help of a Dracula historian and documentarist named Ian Holt). This sounds very similar to what Christopher Tolkien has done with his father's notes from LOTR. It will be released in October of 2009.

One last tidbit, I guess originally it was to be called The Un-Dead, but they have since changed it to Dracula: The Un-Dead or something like that. I'm sure we'll learn more about this as we get closer to its release.

In other interesting and coincidentally related news, this week I (and a few others) watched the old 1931, black and white version of Dracula starring Bela Lugosi. I'm generally not a huge fan of old movies like that, but it was really cool to see how differently movies were made and what was considered scary back then. I think if a time machine allowed us to show one of the Saw movies to a 1931's audience, they would murder and eat each other before the movie ended because it would warp their freaking minds.

Thursday, October 02, 2008

Fringe Gets A Season


Comingsoon.net is reporting that J.J. Abrams' awesome new show, Fringe, was picked up by Fox for an additional 9 episodes (taking it to full season length). This is good news for fans of television, Abrams, Joshua Jackson, science, puppies, tentacles, forceps, bits of the flaky outer crust from Marie Calendars' delicious chicken pot pies, and teflon.

Wednesday, October 01, 2008

Dancing Just May Save The World

Perhaps this is not new to anyone, but it was to me. Matt Harding (a random human being/video game designer that has decided to travel the globe extensively, videotaping himself dancing foolishly in varied locations) seems like a cool guy to me. Big ups to Stride Gum for being willing to toss the necessary cash for travel expenses at him. Also, if you are interested, Jim Walsh from Minnpost.com helps explain how this thing got started and came to fruition. Things like this just make me happy.

Where the Hell is Matt? (2008) from Matthew Harding on Vimeo.