Things You Should Be... Friday!

Hey everyone! It's a lovely not-hotter-than-balls day here in Upstate New York! Woo woo! It's been a while since the last "Things You Should Be...", so here are a few of my favorite things you should be taking advantage of this Summer...

Things You Should Be Listening To...

S.I.R. (SModcast Internet Radio)- From the people who brought you "Tell Em' Steve Dave" and "Plus One", there is now a newfangled way to listen! Kevin Smith (and the rest of the SModcast crew) have launched their own radio station! You can listen through your computer, or through the Stitcher App on your phone. Oh, and don't worry if you miss anything, you can still get it through iTunes as well!

Peter Fox- Stadtaffe- Peter Fox is an amazing musician from Berlin. The album has so many awesome songs on it, and they're best listened to during the summertime. The album is in German, but who cares? It's fantastic! Below is the video for "Alles Neu", which is one of mine, and The Editor's favorite Summer songs. Enjoy!






Things You Should Be Watching...

Sports Show With Norm MacDonald- When it comes down to it, who DOESN'T love Norm MacDonald? This show is amazing. It's inappropriate, sexist, and full of some of the most awkward moments on television, but that is why it is SO worth watching! It's like watching a train wreck, but if you are a fan of Norm's humor, you'll get it :-)

Sports Show with Norm Macdonald	Tuesdays, 10:30/9:30c
Michael Jordan's Hitler Mustache
www.comedycentral.com
Sports Show Norm Macdonald #SportsShow

The NHL Hockey Finals- The Boston Bruins vs. The Vancouver Canucks! It's America vs. Canada! I'm completely torn on this one. It would be great to see the Canucks win, since Canada hasn't won Lord Stanley's Cup since 1993, but the Bruins are my second favorite team (after the Red Wings, of course)! The series is now tied 2-2, and the boys are duking it out at 8 PM. Definitely worth the watch.

That's right Canada, Jim, me, and The Editor ALL got to see the cup before you...

Things You Should Be Reading...

Axe Cop- Written by a 5 year old, illustrated by his 29 year old brother. This is a monthly comic put out by Dark Horse, but a lot of the content found in the comic can be found HERE on the Axe Cop website. I dare you NOT to laugh.

The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charrlaine Harris- I know I already hit on this a few weeks ago, but the series is sooooo good! It's the book series that "True Blood" was based on, and the best Summer read you'll ever have. I promise!

The Southern Vampire Mysteries and why I Love Them

Hey everyone! I hope you had a great holiday weekend! I know I did. Sorry for the lack of posting, but I had a ton to do this weekend, including; bridal showers, car washing, thank you note writing, lawn mowing,  UFC watching... You know, important stuff...

Last week, I purchased the newest book in the Southern Vampire Mysteries book series, "Dead Reckoning". The rest of you may know this series as "The Sookie Stackhouse books" AKA the books the TV show TrueBlood are based on. The series is by far the best series I've ever read, and I highly recommend it to anyone out there who is looking for a fun Summer read.

I began reading the series before TrueBlood was picked up as a show. I've always liked vampire stories, and this one doesn't disappoint. The thing I like about HBO doing the show, is that the show and the book series are different enough to throw off people who read the books. The story lines are similar, but characters and events are changed, so that if you've read the series, you won't know all of the outcomes.

I love the series because it's unlike a lot of other supernatural book series out there. The books main character, Sookie, could not be more different than her angsty, teenage counterpart, Bella Swan of "Twilight". Sookie is a waitress, who has had her own hardships in life, and is not about to let a man, or a vampire tell her what to do. You don't see Sookie begging to become a vampire, or only limiting herself to one guy. She's a self-sufficient, no bullshit kind of gal, and I love that about her.

Also, unlike it's teenage counterparts of "Twilight" and "The Vampire Diaries", you don't get that totally creeped out feeling when you're reading it. Like "um, this vampire is 150 years old, and openly hitting on a 17 year old....". Sookie is 25 when the series begins, and although the vampire who are trying to court her are quite a bit older, the creep factor is much lower, especially since she's out of high school and can legally vote.

The author of the series, Charlaine Harris, is an amazing writer with an amazing sense of humor. There are so many different types of "supes" in the world that she has created (which I won't get into, because I don't want to spoil anything for people watching the show). At one point while reading thee books, I almost though to myself "Oh shit, Charlaine, you've jumped the shark on this one", but she manages to pull it back in, and make it all make sense.

There are currently eleven books in the series (with at LEAST two more to go), and I highly suggest them to anyone who is looking for something to take on vacation, or just read at the office this Summer. I managed to get through the most recent book in less than three days, because it's just that hard to put down. Oh, and if you haven't gotten on the TrueBlood TV show wagon, it's a MUST.

Things You Should be... Friday!

Things You Should be Listening to...


The Adam Carolla Podcast- Adam Carolla, of "Loveline" and "The Man Show" fame has his own podcast, and it's awesome. It's a daily show and every day he has a different guest. Jerry O'Connell, Dr. Drew and Brett Ratner to name a few. Adam and his staff will keep you laughing every day.

Things You Should be Watching...


Dexter- The Editor and I just finished up the series up to the current season, and it was awesome. He's the most lovable serial-killer ever. Dexter is a forensic scientist for the Miami police department, and because of things that happened to him as a child, he is now on a mission to kill bad guys. The story discusses his struggle to keep a "real life" while hiding who he really is. The show is filled with twists and turns, and guest stars like Jimmy Smits and Julia Stiles.

Things You Should be Reading...


Air- Air is a fantastic limited series comic written by G. Willow Wilson and drawn by M.K. Perkins. The story is about an acrophobic flight attendant who is conned into transporting blueprints for a terrorist attack. The story then takes a weird turn as you're trying to figure out who it is that conned her. The story drifts into fantasy and sci-fi elements with the use of teleportation and featuring characters such as Amelia Earhart and Quetzacoatl. It's an amazing, fun to read thriller that won't leave you disappointed. 

Things You Should be... Friday!

Things You Should be Listening to...


Puck Nuts- This is yet another podcast in the SModcast podcast universe. It's Brian John, Brian Quinn (sometimes) and Walt Flannagan from Tell Em' Steve Dave, as well as computer nerd Ming Chen and The Stash's illustrious Sunday Jeff. Originally, the podcast was made so that the boys would have a place to talk all things New Jersey Devils, but the show quickly morphed into a sports-talk show of sorts (thanks to the Devil's having a sub-par season). I'm not even the biggest sports fan there is, but if you ever wanted to become a little bit more knowledgeable about hockey and football, and you want to laugh while doing it, I suggest this podcast. It won't let you down!

Things You Should be Watching...

Top Gear UK- Okay, so I guess that today's post contains a lot of "guy stuff", however, as a girl, I very much enjoy these things too! Top Gear is a fantastic talk-show type car show that airs weekly on the BBC, and BBC America. The shows hosts, Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May take you a a series of weekly adventures in this one hour show. They travel all around Europe, and hold friendly competitions, whether it be whose car will die first, or which luxury car is the fastest. They also have regular weekly segments like, the news and "Celebrities Driving the Reasonably Priced Car". If you're even a teensy bit of a car enthusiast I suggest you watch. These blokes will keep you rolling with laughter!

Things You Should be Reading...


Fables- I don't have any idea why I've waited this long to post about Fables. It's easily my favorite comic out there. When I explain the premises of the comic, it sounds ridiculous, but it's filled with more heart than any other book I've read. Okay, close your eyes and imagine every character from every fairy tale you can. Now take those characters, move the human ones to NYC, and move the animals to a farm. That's Fables. The Fables are forced from their homelands by a violent adversary, and the story revolves around defeating the adversary. It is a fantastic tale that now has well over 100 issues. The series has even spawned a number of spin-offs such as "Jack of Fables" and "Cinderella: To Fabletown, with Love". The writing, paired with some of the most amazing artwork I've ever seen will leave you wanting more.

Things You Should be... Friday!

Things You Should be Listening to...

DJ McFly- Okay, so this came to me in a weird way.... DJ McFly and I share a mutual friend, the mutual friend told me about him, I checked out some of his music, and it's AWESOME. All my derby girls are back in full swing work-out mode, so the past few music suggestions have been mash-ups, because it helps get the blood flowing. This week is no different. If you happen to like Girl Talk or DJ Fergie Ferg from last week, you MUST give DJ McFly a listen. His website is http://dublejmedia.com/, and you can find out more about him, as well as download some of his funky-fresh tracks! Sidenote: if you need a kick-ass wedding DJ, who is capable of doing mash-ups, you might want to give him a shout.






Things You Should be Watching...

Catfish- This is a great documentary I just watched. It starts out with a photographer in NYC whose brother is making a documentary about him and his friendship with a 9 year old artist. He gets involved with the whole family, and starts a relationship with the girl's older sister (who is a decade older, so it's not pervy or anything) then there is a a pretty big twist. It's a film shows that no matter how much you think you might know someone, there is a big chance that you may have no clue who that person REALLY is, especially when you've made those connections over the internet. I am a documentary nerd.

Things You Should be Reading...

Y the Last Man- I just got Miss Reading Rambo in this one. It's an amazing story of the last man on earth. Yorick Brown was just another 20 something guy trying to find his way in the world, until he woke up one day and found that he, and his pet monkey, Ampersand, were the last two males on earth. It's a really interesting way of looking at a post-male society. It's not all "peace and love" like us ladies like to preach about "if we were in charge". It shows the dark side of feminism, and the obstacles that have to be overcome to live in a world without men, and how to keep Yoricks identity hidden from anyone who would want to harm him. Originally a 60 issue comic book series, this comic has been collected and consolidated into 10 graphic novels. It's a definite "must" for non-capes loving comic readers.

Things You Should be... Friday

Things You Should be Listening to...


Masharoni and Cheese by DJ Fergie Ferg- DJ Fergie Ferg is an up and coming DJ who is just about as much fun as Girl Talk. So if you like music catered for ADD, I highly suggest you download the album. (Psssssst... you can download it for free here.)

Things You Should be Watching...

Planet Earth- Yeah, I know, its been around for a while.... Last night I popped in the Blu Ray of it though, and fell in love with all over again. If you don't know what Planet Earth is, its a documentary that the BBS did a few years ago. Armed with high-def cameras, these film makers went to some of the most amazing places in the world, and got some unbelievable footage. It's completely riveting, especially in HD.

Things You Should be Reading...

Superman: Earth One by J. Michael Straczynski- I will be giving you all a full review of this book most likely over the weekend. It's one of the best graphic novels I've read in a long time. It's pretty much a retelling of Superman's origin story. Straczynski, along with artist Shane Davis, create a very cool, very grown up version of the early Superman. You'll love the story and the art.

Holy Cow! Evan T. Reads Books Without Pictures?!?

Let me start out by letting you know my attention span boarders on the ADD level. So to have something hold my attention for the time it takes to read an honest to goodness novel and said novel doesn't involve Star Wars, that's saying something. Now think about this: I have read ten of The Dresden Files books. Freakin' ten. And I have loved them all. Loved them like a red head who enjoys Iron Man, flea markets and liberal amounts of BBC America. Which is to say a a lot. (Side note: If anyone reading this is, in fact, a red head who enjoys Iron Man, flea markets and BBC America please contact Carly) I have decided to throw out a review of the first book, Storm Front by Jim Butcher.

Harry Dresden (Full name? Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, natch) is the only wizard in the phone book in Chicago. He works as a private investigator, often for the Chicago Police Department. But this book starts like all great hard boiled p.i stories: with a beautiful dame walking through Harry's office door. He takes the case but before he can start properly on the case he's called by friend and frequent employer Karrin Murphy of the C.P.D. There's been a double murder and the police need Harry's help. One of the victims works for the local madam Bianca, who just happens to be a vampire. The other? Employed by Chicago's most powerful gangster: "Gentleman" Johnny Marcone.

That's the setup and it keeps on going from there. It's a fantastic and surprisingly quick read. Jim Butcher has a style that is both easy to follow and spectacularly entertaining. Butcher is especially good at the action sequences, both of the mundane and magic variety.

This is the story that sets up the rest of the series. Many of the mainstays of the Dresden novels are introduced here but nothing feels like a forced learning that is only there to build upon in later adventures. I really cannot recommend the book enough. I have actually purchased a copy for Carlz. Whether she reads it or not is another thing. I got this book from a friend and felt like it was my duty to pass it on. Which I did, to my sister and mother who are both deeply ingrained in the series.

Also of note it the fact that Harry Dresden has crossed over into other medias. There is a roleplaying game which I have yet to encounter but would happily gobble up. There is also a trade paperback of Storm Front. For those of you who fear the written word sans pictures (No judgment) then go try these babies and see if they inspire you to try the original material. Lastly there was a short lived television series on the Sci Fi channel (It was before the Scyfy change). While the series itself was entertaining and fun I would recommend trying the novels or comics before jumping into that series. Try the novel and if you are lazy or cheap let me know. I am always happy to lend out my copy to bring another member into the Dresden fold.


Note from Carly: If you are going to Google this book, make sure you Google "Storm Front" and
NOT "Stormfront". "Storm Front" is a book, "Stormfront" is aparantly a neo-Nazi forum.

Things You Should Be... Friday

Things You Should Be Listening To...


Wiretap- Wiretap is a great show on the CBC. The host, Jonathan Goldstein is a self-proclaimed "humorist", meaning, if you're looking to be rolling on the floor laughing, you're in the wrong place. However, if you like sarcastic, self-deprecating humor, it's the perfect match for you!




Things You Should Be Watching...

Tosh.0- Tosh.0 is a clip show kind-of like "The Soup". Comedian Daniel Tosh takes the most popular viral videos and basically rips them a new one. This show also offers "web redemptions" to the most embarrassing viral videos out there, giving the people in the video a chance to redeem themselves. Fan-freaking-tastic! Below is my favorite clip from the show

Tosh.0	Tuesdays 10pm / 9c
Web Redemption - Crying Giants Fan
www.comedycentral.com
Tosh.0 Videos Daniel Tosh Web Redemption

FOOTBALL!- Again, I stress, if you are were not, or have not been in a fantasy football league, please be sure to do so at the end of next Summer when leagues are available. ESPECIALLY if you are a girl who HATES football. I only say this, because if football is important to your guy, you should try and embrace it, because lets face it, football is like, five months, and wouldn't you rather NOT be pissed at your guy for half a year? It's the last football weekend before the Super Bowl, so I suggest you pick your pony and put some money on that hoss! I mean, what fun is betting on the game, if you're not putting your money where your mouth is? ;-)


Things You Should Be Reading...


Angry Little Girls- You could get through this book in like, half hour. This book was loaned to me by Miss Reading Rambo, and I LOVED it. Below is the Amazon description:

Lee created Kim, the angry little Asian girl, for a brief cartoon that was a response to insulting Asian characters in other cartoons. In this collection of her weekly strip, she expands the idea to include a bunch of girls of different races. The book aims for wry humor and occasionally achieves it, as when Xyla, the gloomy girl, says, "The thought of suicide is what keeps me alive." But actual laughs are rare. Lee's minimal drawing style recalls Peanuts, Life in Hell and South Park, and she tries to emulate their tone. Like Peanuts, she gives her child characters adult neuroses, cynical worldviews and a touch of sadness. But her plain approach never reaches that strip's subtlety. Nor does her satire come close to Life in Hell, which at its best was relentless about the state of love, work and childhood in the modern world. Instead, we have a trifle that seems too timid to say much about anything, ironically packaged with a hard cover and heavy, full-color glossy pages.

If you enjoy this book, you should check out the sequel "Still Angry Little Girls".

Things You Should Be... Friday

Things You Should Be Listening to...

Antoine Dodson- Bed Intruder Song- Antoine Dodson was a normal guy, until someone tried to start raping everyone up in here! His infamous interview was remixed by Autotune the News, and the song has skyrocketed to the top 100 list on iTunes. Pretty impressive! Below are the links for both the original interview (for those of you like me who are waaaaay behind the times), as well as the song. You will NOT be able to get this out of your head. Just ask The Editor...






SModcast- I've been so busy pimping everything else on the SModcast network that I nearly forgot about the original that started it all! Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier bring you this smart and hilarious podcast on a weekly basis. The two catch you up on all of the ongoings in their lives, as well as create some pretty amazing characters. If you're a fan of Kevin's, I highly suggest this, and even if you're not a fan, you should give it a listen.

Things You Should Be Watching...

Fringe- I'm aware that I have already pimped this show here, maybe more than once, but it's only because it is honestly a GREAT show. I hear stupid things all the time like "But Caaaaarly, isn't it just like, an X-Files rip off? Blah, blah, blah...". Well, I don't know, because I was too young to enjoy "The X-Files" when it was on. However, I can tell you that The Editor is/was a huge X-Files fan, and he LOVES "Fringe". I'm pleading with you to watch it because the Fox network is doing what they are notorious for doing; moving awesome TV to Friday night. This sucks because Friday night is like the "kill spot" for TV. "Smallville" is sitting in a Friday night spot, in it's last season and the amazing "Terminator: The Sara Conner Chronicles" got moved to Friday night right before Fox pulled the plug on it. Let's not forget about "Firefly" either. If we can stay on top of this, and all pull our collective "nerd" together to watch, maybe, just maybe, we can save this show from being axed. Don't let "American Idol" win.

  
Parks and Recreation- Parks and Recreation is an awesome show. People are always saying to me "But Caaaaaaarly, isn't it just like 'The Office'?". I suppose it is in that they are both filmed documentary style, and that you get the same douche chills with Amy Poehler's character that you do with Steve Carrell's character, but that's about it. Remember when "The Office" used to be good? Well, Parks and Rec will make you laugh just as hard as the "good" seasons of The Office did. Amy Poehler is a little annoying, but the supporting cast is absolutely amazing. Just check it out, you'll like it.

Things You Should Be Reading...

"My Boring Ass Life" by Kevin Smith- This amazing collection of Kevin's blog entries will keep you rolling with laughter. This very well written, well thought out book gives you a glimpse inside what it's like to be Kevin Smith. If you have a cross country flight, be sure to bring this with you!

Things You Should be Friday...

Things You Should Be Listening to...

Live From SModcastle: Crimson Magical Mages-- This is amazing. Jason Mewes and other people in the Kevin Smith universe play quite a lot of "Dungeons and Dragons". When Kev found out about this, he decided that he, Jason Mewes, producer Scott Mosier and friend/director Malcolm Ingram should create their own game like D&D. So "Crimson Magical Mages" was born. This hilarious podcast follows their game. It's totally raunchy, and amazingly hilarious.

Things You Should be Watching...

If you're a girl...


United States of Tara-- This show is great. It's very heartwarming and funny. The show follows Tara, a woman suffering from multiple personalities, and her family. It follows each family member, and shows how each member is coping with Tara's "problem". The bigger story involves Tara's past, and her trying to figure out what happened to her that triggered her disease. The show is certainly a dramedy and it proves that with a little bit of understanding that love can conquer all.

If you're a boy...


Sons of Anarchy-- Alright, I'll give it to The Editor and Evan on this one. They have been trying for MONTHS to get me to watch this, and now that I have finally had the time to sit down and watch, it's AMAZING. The show follows a biker gang in California. It highlights all their right and wrongdoings, and shows that more than anything, these people are not a gang, but family who would do just about anything to protect one and other. It's a super gritty show, but definitely worth the watch.

Things You Should be Reading...


The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo-- This is one of the most amazing series I have ever read. They're a little slow in the beginning, but the payoff is awesome. The books follow Lisbeth Salander as she hacks and investigates different crimes. The biggest catch? Lisbeth is not a cop, nor an investigator. She is the most badass chick you will ever read about. And if you're going to cheat and watch the movies, just make sure that you're watching the Swedish subtitled movie, instead of waiting for the American version. I have a sneaking suspicion that the American version is going to cut out some key plot points to make the film a little less disturbing...

Book Reviews with Evan T.

Hey all. I just got done reading a book called Death Troopers. It's about zombies. In the Star Wars universe. I am pretty sure that if they found a way to stick Iron Man in there then I my head would have exploded with awesome. Below will be a quick review and do be warned: Spoilers ahead.

The story is about the Imperial prison barge Purge and it's inmates and crew. They have have engine troubles (SHOCK) and their only chance lies within the star destroyer Vector which is conveniently derelict. A small group of the c.o.'s go on board to scavenge parts for their engines. They then find something aboard the star destroyer.
  
The novel is well written in the short chapter style by Joe Schreiber. It ends up being a little formulaic but is totally enjoyable. A few things I liked:

Zombies! - these zombies are different than the ones we are used to. The way they interact and attack is totally new and very interesting. Another novel, a prequel, will be coming out soon and I would like to see some of the origin of the virus.

Star Wars! - Yeah, I know there have been some dabblings in horror for the Star Wars universe but this one is fresh and I hope it is a sign of things to come.

Han and Chewie! - Yes, in the depths of the prison barge is the solitary section. And in that section? A wookie named Chewbacca and and a smuggler named Han Solo. Having established characters was a neat little cherry on top

Things I did not like:

Introducing new species - there are about five thousand species of aliens in the Star Wars universe. I felt like the new species introduced in this book is a little forced. Ha, "forced".

Von Longo's death - this is a major plot point that they never really addressed and it was hanging out there begging to be explored. Why leave it?

Story era setting - the whole time I was reading the book I was wondering what era it took place in. It might not be as big a concern for non-Star Wars geeks but I would have liked to know it while I was reading, not afterward when I read it online.

All in all it's a neat bit and I am excited for Red Harvest, the prequel. Check it out if you get the chance or ask to borrow my copy.

Things You Should Be... Friday

Hello everyone! I'm back in action and full of turkey! Apologies for not posting yesterday, it was Thanksgiving, and I was with my crazy-awesome family. Today is going to be a "Start of the Season" post, so wake your ass up, and away we go!


Things You Should Be Listening To

Christmas Music!-- Obviously, since today IS the "official" start to the holiday season, why not throw on some Christmas music? I'm not talking about shitty old Christmas, I'm talking about something to put a little pep in your step! Download the album "Merry Mix-Mas", and I promise you will not be disappointed!




Things You Should Be Watching

Football!- The playoffs are almost here, and if you're a fantasy football freak like me, you know that this is the perfect time of year! There is more football than you can shake a stick at playing right now, so I suggest you eat waaaaay more than your stomach can hold, grab a beer, and curl up next to the fire with your loved ones, and watch your dad and your uncle argue over whether the Lions or the Bills are a better team. Correct answer? Lions. But I'm just a teensy bit biased ;-)

Christmas Movies!- Whether it's "Elf", "Scrooged", "Christmas Vacation", "Miracle on 34th Street" or my favorite, "It's A Wonderful Life", pop in a Christmas movie, and start feeling great about the holidays!


Things You Should Be Doing

Donating some time/items to charity- This is the time of year to really start thinking about others. Go through your closets, look for any old coats, jackets, mittens, hats or gloves to donate to local shelters or Goodwill. Drop off some food at a local food pantry. And if you're reeeeeally lazy, if you happen to pop into a Toys R' Us, or Dollar Tree, just pick up some sort of inexpensive toy to donate to Toys for Tots. That $6 Super Hero Squad three pack may not mean much to you, but it'll mean the world to some kid on Christmas morning.

Go shopping!- Obviously, it IS Black Friday today, and because of this, you should be spending money. I mean, what better way to say "What recession?" than spending all of that hard earned cash? And don't forget when you're out there fighting someone for a towel that is 10% off, that the amount of money you spend on a person is directly related to how much you care about them! ;-)

Things You Should be Friday

Things You Should Be Listening to...

M.I.A.- M.I.A. is a British rapper/producer/songwriter who is kind of euro-pop and very awesome. He best known song is probably "Paper Planes" which was featured in the movie "Slumdog Millionaire". A hot chick with a crazy sense of style, M.I.A's music is best listened to while playing the game "Zombie Apocalypse".



Bagged and Boarded- I'm telling you, if you're not on the SModcast podcast channel, you are missing out bigtime. Matt Coen and Brenden Creecy are the best dorks around. They talk about comics, movies and everything nerdy. They have guests like Taylor Negron, Guillermo Diaz and Alex Winter. Who are these people you ask? The kind that when you see who they are you go "Oooohhhhh... THAT guy.".

Things You Should be Watching...

Adventure Time with Finn and Jake- This TV show is downright ridiculous. It started out a few years ago on Nickelodeon as a 9 minute time filler, but had so many hits on youtube that Cartoon Network decided to pick it up. It is a crazy, technicolor explosion of awesomeness. You truly are missing out if you don't know what I'm talking about.






I've got no suggested reading for this week, as I have been out of my mind all week! However, I'm planning on doing some catching up this evening, so I'll be sure to have some recommended reads soon! Ta!

Things You Should be Friday

Things You Should Be Listening To...

Girl Talk- This is the most amazing thing you will ever listen to. Do you like music? If your answer is "yes", there is a 95% change you will love this. Gregg Michael Gillis is the real name of the Philadelphia born DJ that is "Girl Talk". The songs are all "mashups". If you are unfamiliar with a mashup, its basically where you take different songs and put them together. The beats match, and it sounds like the song was supposed to flow that way. This music is good to listen to in any scenario. I especially like it at the gym, because it helps the time go by really quickly. Having a party and you don't know what music to play? Girl Talk will save the day!




Jay and Silent Bob Get Old- Another gem from the SModcast network! Jay and Silent Bob Get Old is Jason Mewes and Kevin Smith's weekly podcast.  The podcast talks about upcoming projects and everyday life. The podcast was created to help with Mewes' drug addiction, and help him stay off drugs by being accountable for himself. It's inspiring and hillarious.

Things You Should be Watching...


The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret- This show is written, produced and created by David Cross (Tobias on Arrested Development). Todd Margaret is a temp who gets thrown into an international sales position for the energy drink company he works for. Todd has no experience, but everyone is expecting him to do a good job. Todd decides that he's going to lie to try and make things better, but things just keep getting sooooo much worse. Will Arnett plays the role of Cross' boss in the show. The trailer sums it up better :-)





Things You Should Be Reading...


Batgirl- The new volume is up to #15, and it is an amazing read. Anything that needs to be said about it, was said in Wednesday's post, so refer to Wednesday's post to learn more!

Things You Should Be... Friday... HALLOWEEN EDITION!

Things You Should Be Listening To...

The Halloween Party Station- on Pandora! This station will get you in the Halloween spirit in no time at all! It features such classics as; "Werewolves of London", "Ghost Busters", "Purple People Eater", and "Time Warp"! This station has everything! 

I was going to include a pic from the single "Werewolves of London", but this guy was just teh kewt.

Things You Should Be Watching...

Anything Halloweeney! Scary, suspenseful, eerie, creepy!  Some of my favorite movies include "Paranormal Activity", "30 Days of Night", "Candyman" and "Hocus Pocus" (which is not really scary, but the nostalgia factor is through the roof).  AMC is also running a scary movie countdown, which ends with the premiere of "The Walking Dead" which is already the best new show this season. Also, "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" is fantastic to carve pumpkins to. What can I say? I'm a softie at heart.





Things You Should Be Reading...

Anything Edgar Allen Poe or Anne Rice- Anything by these two authors are an automatic creep fest. Also, I'm not going to remind you again, you should be reading "The Walking Dead"....


Lenore, the Cute Little Dead Girl- Super creepy comic by Roman Dirge based on the Edgar Allen Poe poem "Lenore". It's adorable, and totally disgusting/creepy at the same time. HIGHLY recommended by Carly.

Things You Should Be Doing...

Carving pumpkins! Putting the finishing touches on your costume! Having a scary movie marathon! Going on haunted hayrides! Drinking hot apple cider! I shouldn't have to tell you this!

Anyway, happy almost Halloween y'all!

Things You Should Be... Friday

Things You Should Be Listening To...


The Limousines. Especially their super catchy song "Internet Killed the Video Star" off of the album 'Get Sharp'. This song will get stuck in your head all day, in a really, really good way. It features lyrics like "that drum machine ain't got no soul".



The Geek Show Podcast. This panel of 5 wild and crazy guys will give you a weekly rundown of everything geeky. They will also get drunk while doing it! The show is recorded in Salt Lake City, UT and the panel is made up of host Kerry Jackson, a morning show host for X96 in Salt Lake City; Shannon "Wildcard" Barnson, childrens educator and bartender; Jeff Vice, film critic; Scott Pierce, TV critic; and last but not least Leigh George Kade, super-crafting extraordinaire (Fun fact: Leigh and his lovely wife, Rachel, will be making the cake toppers for the my wedding). These guys along with Derek Hunter, Zach Schutt, and a variety of other regular guests will keep you laughing the entire time you're listening. They are a great group of guys who will teach you everything you need to know about comic books, "Star Wars", movies and TV. If you need something to listen to at work (or home) I highly suggest subscribing to the show on iTunes.

Things You Should Be Watching ...

The League- This is probably my favorite show on television right now. It's about a bunch of guys in a fantasy football league, and somehow FX manages to make it SO much funnier than it sounds. You'll love it, even if you're not in a fantasy league yourself, but you will understand more of the jokes if you are. The show has a lot of people you'll recognize, but might not yet know. Paul Scheer (Human Giant) and Nick Kroll (Get Him to the Greek) are the first two to come to mind. The show also brings in guest stars like Chad Ochocinco, Jeff Cribbs and Terell Suggs. If you don't know who these people are, chances are you're not in a fantasy football league. Or you don't have VH1.



Boardwalk Empire. This is an HBO series set Atlantic City during the prohibition area. It is a snapshot of the illegal transport of alcohol by politicians and gangsters. It stars Steve Buscemi.

Steve Buscemi busy being the most awesome person on the planet.

Things You Should Be Reading...


The Walking Dead- You only have 9 days to read this super-awesome zombie apocalypse story written by Robert Kirkman, before they premiere the show TV show on Halloween! If you have never heard of "The Walking Dead", you probably live in a cave, because it's everywhere right now. This is your reading assignment for the week. OR you can just watch the trailer below and get the jist of things.



Well kids, that's all I've got for today! Have a great weekend, and I'll blog ya tomorrow!

Bi-weekly Comic Book Review Spectacular!

Most comic book nerds will tell you that Wednesdays are new comic book day, and they are completely right. However, I like to save money on my comics (in addition, there are really no good comic books shops in Albany), so I have them shipped to my house bi-weekly. It's actually pretty great since I'm insanely busy during the week. It's like a little mini Christmas a couple of times a month. Let's take a look at this week's order!

Fables Covers by James Jean- I have been waiting for this book for nearly two years. The first printing sold like hotcakes, and for a long time the only place you could find it was on eBay for a couple hundred dollars. Being the dork I am, I would love to have a first print of it, but a second print is just as good. James Jean one of my favorite artists on the planet. Fables is the best comic book I've ever read. The creative writing skills of Bill Willingham, with the artwork of James Jean, is a mix for some of the best imaginative experiences I've ever had. When I saw the "Covers" book in the box, I flipped through it, then held it like a baby and stroked it, and told it how much I love it. Seriously.

Awesome.

 Wizard of Oz Plush Dolls- Yup, I'm a girl. And as a girl, I like adorable things. I placed the order for these all the way back in February, and ever since then, every Friday I sit patiently by the front door waiting for the UPS man to bring them to me. They're finally here! And they're teh kewt. 

Ignore the Alice's for now, I don't have them.. yet...

 The Unwritten #18- From the first issue of Unwritten, I knew it was going to be something great. Here is the synopsis; Wilson Taylor was a famous author who wrote a series of childrens books and disappeared at the height of his success. The main character in his books was named "Tommy Taylor" after his son Tom. The books are about a wizard named "Tommy Taylor" who is a great wizard, and has wizarding friends and goes to a wizarding school, and has a nemesis (imagine Harry Potter). Meanwhile, the real Tom Taylor is a minor celebrity due to the success of his fathers books. Some of the fans actually think that he may be the real wizard, Tommy Taylor. The story follows Tom and his trials and tribulations, and figuring out what is reality and what is fantasy. 

Also featuring super cool artwork!

Grimm Fairy Tales #50 and 51-  Each issue of Grimm Fairy Tales has two parts: a frame story and a fairy tale. The frame story revolves around Sela, who has been given the ability to help people by showing them fairy tales with a lesson about their life. She struggles with the fact that people ignore her advice and ruin their lives anyway, and begins using her ability to dispense justice. Each comic has a version of a classic fairy tale, such as "The Little Mermaid" or "The Three Little Pigs". I chose this series for Russell H. to begin his foray into the world of comics. It has lots of chesty women, and is pretty violent, but is still a really cool story with really cool artwork. 

Chesty LaRue

iZombie- iZombie is a story about a gravedigger in Eugene, Oregon named Gwen. Her closest friend is a ghost named Ellie who died in the 1950's. Gwen is mostly undead. Not in the violent "All I want to do is eat your brains" sort of way, but in a way that she doesn't have to kill. Instead, Gwen uses her job as a gravedigger to eat freshly dead brains a couple of times a month. The biggest problem with that, is that she retains some of the victims memories, which makes for some pretty interesting run in's with the deceased person's family members. 

She's pretty hot for a dead girl.

Sweet Tooth #14- Sweet Tooth is my favorite new comic of the past year. It takes place in a post-apocalyptic society where human/animal hybrids exist, and people hunt them. Gus is a sweet 9 year old boy with antlers, a rare human/animal hybrid. He is raised in a very ignorant Christian household by his father, until his father passes away, leaving Gus all by himself. That is until Tommy Jepperd, a drifter, enters Gus' life.  The two are on the run from hunters and mad scientists who want to harm Gus. Tommy leads Gus to "The Preserve" where Gus finally meets other hybrids, and finally discovers the horrors of the hybrid species and why his father wanted to protect him from the others. Jeff Lemire offers a great story with very original artwork. Jeff is the one artist I was sad to see was not at the NYCC.

That's about all I've got this week. there will be Supergirl and The Walking Dead in two weeks, so we can talk about that when they get here! Tomorrow will be a segment I would like to call "Nerding 101". I'm still trying to put together a solid structure here, so bear with me for a couple more weeks! Hope you're all having a great weekend!