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May 24, 2007

"PLANET UNICORN" HEY!

"Planet Unicorn" is a funny online animated comedy series. It is so ... well, you just have to see it and complete the sentence yourself.

Domo arigato to Kate L. for the tip!

Posted by Supercore at 01:28 AM

May 22, 2007

Star Wars Holiday

This Friday marks the 30th anniversary of the ground-breaking (if overrated) science-fiction blockbuster "Star Wars." May 25th is 30 years exactly since the first theatrical release of George Lucas's series of movies playing out the epic saga of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vadar, Yoda, and several generations Jedi knights in their war pitting "the force" and "the dark side." From Thursday through the weekend, a massive convention for "Star Wars" fans will be held in Los Angeles to celebrate the landmark film. May the force be with them.

Posted by Supercore at 07:45 AM

May 14, 2007

Shilpa Shetty Film Premieres in London

From low-brow to high-brow, from Celebrity Big Brother to independent cinema, from launching a curry house chain to launching a perfume, 31-year-old Bollywood movie star Shilpa Shetty has transformed her new global fame swiftly and shrewdly. This weeked witnessed the premiere of new Indian film, "Life in a Metro," in which Shetty plays a neglected homemaker in contemporary India. The movie is a chance for Shetty to showcase her legitimate acting talents to a wider audience. Depending on the film's success and Shetty's performance, Shilpa will either have a long, acclaimed cinematic acting career ahead of her in the West, or she will be best know for running a chain of curry houses.

Photo by Bahl Sonu / SantaBanta.com. Used under Creative Commons license.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:37 PM

May 11, 2007

Video: The Amazing "Automatic Graffiti Robot"!

Love it, mate. Freaking love it! Freaking brilliant! Now we know what we want for our birthday this year!

Posted by Supercore at 10:55 PM

May 10, 2007

Video: London Graffiti Writer in Action!

Caught on tape: Some graf-writing on a train in London. Sick, mate.

Posted by Supercore at 11:01 PM

May 09, 2007

Video: Graffiti Writers Flash-Tag a Subway Train

This looks a little too staged, a little too easy, but it's pretty cool nonetheless. And the speed and coordination with which this group of taggers throw up these massive pieces of graffiti on the train (while it's still in the station, mind you) is like a carefully choreographed ballet. Impressive, in spite of it being total vandalism.

Posted by Supercore at 11:07 PM

May 08, 2007

Video: Paris Hilton Sentenced to 45 Days in Jail ...

The serious and sober Reuters filed this television news report on Paris Hilton receiving a jail sentence of 45 days.

Posted by Supercore at 10:40 PM

May 03, 2007

Shilpa Shetty Plans a Chain of Curry Houses

"Controversial" Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty is taking advantage of her sudden global fame to start a restaurant chain. Since she garnered worldwide attention as a result of winning "Big Brother" UK (and the racial-abuse scandal that preceded it) and her public kiss of American film star Richard Gere in India, Shetty is under a bigger media glare than ever. She's tasty fodder for the tabloids, taking a lesson from the Paris Hilton playbook on va-jay-jay exposure. And she's the subject of a criminal inquiry in India for her snog with Gere. So what does a transglobal Indian movie star do? Open a chain of curry houses, naturally. The flagship "Shilpa Shetty Dining Hall" restraurant will open in central London, we presume, later this year. Curry, like Shilpa Shetty herself at the moment, is hot!

Photo by Bahl Sonu / SantaBanta.com. Used under Creative Commons license.

Posted by Supercore at 11:19 PM

May 02, 2007

An Interview with Bjork

The Icelandic songstress Bjork gives an interview to the New York Times about her new album. Bjork is a fascinating artist, but her recent output, including the new album "Volta" haven't been received by her fans or public as positively as her body fo work from the 1990's. We've seen a Bjork a few times, once playing a live a set on stage at the Fuji Rock Festival in Tokyo way back in 1998 -- her performance was stellar. (We also ran into her in a cafe in NYC a couple of years ago, but that's another story.) Can a musician who's CDs leave listeners scratching their heads redeem themselves as live performers? Yes, it's possible.

Posted by Supercore at 12:23 AM

April 30, 2007

Juicy Celebrity Gossip Links ...

Courtney Love to Sell Late Nirvana Singer Kurt Cobain's Pajamas ...
Lindsay Lohan Addicted to "Shopping and Sex" ...
Prince Allegedly Humiliates Paris Hilton at Las Vegas Concert ...
Britney Spears Wears See-Through Outfit ...
K-Fed Allegedly Drove Britney Spears to Brink of Suicide ...
Former "Posh Spice" Victoria Beckham and Her Nipples Hit LA with See-Through Top ...
Alec Baldwin Rumored to Write Book Bashing Ex-Wife Kim Basinger ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:21 PM

April 27, 2007

Video: New GEICO Caveman at Airport Commercial ...

Unlike the previous GEICO Caveman commercial set at an airport, this one is only a 15-second spot instead of a 30-second. Still, it's a nice little "sequel."

Posted by Supercore at 01:42 AM

April 26, 2007

Video: The Trailer for Aqua Teen Hunger Force Movie "Colon" ...

We freaking love this television show. And now there's a movie! Woo-hoo!

Posted by Supercore at 01:55 AM

April 25, 2007

Spiderman 3 May Be the Most Expensive Movie Ever Made

The latest installment of diretcor Sam Raimi's Spidey movie franchise, Spiderman 3, is set to open the summer season and it's already being called the most expensive movie production ever. This is in part thanks to Amy Pascal, the fiscally-loose studio head at Sony Pictures who also is a genuine, passionate film buff. According to Kim Masters' article in Radar Magazine, it may also be due to Pascal's incredible track record of greenlighting one box office mega-success after another in her time at Sony. But when one considers that the success of a movie like Spiderman 3 is as close to a sure thing as film can be in the extremely risky business that is Hollywood, $300 million (or even half a billion, as Spidey 3 is rumored to have cost) seems like a shrewd investment given the recent global box-office take of similar films and Spidey's predecessors, Spiderman 1 and 2.

Posted by Supercore at 12:30 AM

April 24, 2007

Video: "Rehab" by Amy Winehouse ...

We can't get enough of this song right now. Amy Winehouse definitely has that special sumthin' sumthin'. What a voice!

Posted by Supercore at 01:48 AM

April 20, 2007

Sport: An Rare, Incredible Goal by Lionel Messi of Spanish Soccer Team Barcelona FC ...

Posted by Supercore at 01:39 AM

April 19, 2007

Video: The "Unboxing" of a Sony PlayStation 3 Ordered Directly From Amazon Japan ...

Posted by Supercore at 11:37 PM

April 18, 2007

Celebrity Gossip Linkage to Get Ya' Through the Week, Kidzzz ...

Lindsay Lohan Talks About Rehab ... Says She's Not "An Addict" ...
Paris Hilton Violates Her Probation ...
Britney Spears Fires Her Manager, Faces Possible Lawsuit ...
Britney Spears Blames Paris Hilton for Recent Downward Spiral ...
Sanjaya Malakar Gets Voted Off American Idol ... There is a God After All ...
Baby Phat Queen Kimora Lee Simmons to Get Her Own Reality TV Show ...

Posted by Supercore at 11:45 PM

April 12, 2007

Kurt Vonnegut, RIP

Sad to hear that novelist Kurt Vonnegut has died. Vonnegut's dark, satirical stories are among our favorite works of modern fiction. His stories were comic and at time absurdist and employed uconventional storytelling that was fresh, original and -- most of all -- a riveting pleasure. After we read our first Vonnegut book, a dog-eared paperback edition of "Breakfast of Champions," we devoured several more of his works in quick succession and became hooked on Kurt. Literature aside, Vonnegut was a pleasure to see and hear speak, as well. Learning about the artist behind the art often adds another dimension to our experience with their work. Vonnegut's humanism in the face of a crazy world, will be missed. Kurt Vonnegut, 1922 - 2007. RIP.

Posted by Supercore at 11:46 PM

April 11, 2007

DNA Proves Larry Birkhead is Father of Late Anna Nicole Smith's Baby

Eventually, science was going to resolve the media-genic high-drama of figuring out who the freaking hell was the biological father of the recently deceased Anna Nicole Smith's daughter. The DA tests show photographer Larry Birkhead to be the father. That it even had to come to this makes Anna Nicole Smoth's life seem even lamer and more tragic. But with so much money at stake, it was inevitable that lawsuits would be involved and ultimately the courts would lead to testing. The episode suggests that Anna Nicole was havig a hell of a lot of unprotected sex with a lot of fellas at some point in the last couple of years of her pathetic life. It also suggest that Anna icole herself may never have known or was never quite sure of who the real biological father of her daughter was.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:15 PM

April 06, 2007

Video: Real-Life Spoof of Grand Theft Auto IV Trailer

This is a bit rough around the edges, but it's a pretty damn good spoof of the new Grand Theft Auto IV trailer. The creator used live-action footage culled and edited from various existing video clips posted to YouTube in order to make the spoof. Full marks, dude!

Posted by Supercore at 11:10 PM

April 05, 2007

Video: Grand Theft Auto IV Trailer

The trailer for the new "Grand Theft Auto IV" to be released by Rockstar Games in October 2007. "GTA IV" will be set in New York City (though it won't be called New York City in the game itself).

Posted by Supercore at 11:54 PM

April 04, 2007

Grand Theft Auto IV Announced, Trailer Released ...

Few things get us as excited as the announcement by games producer Rockstar Games regarding the next installment in the Grand Theft Auto series. "Grand Theft Auto IV" is on its way, kidzzz -- and that promises mo' better GTA to get you through the day. The new title will be rolled out October 16, 2007. When Rockstar make this announcement a couple of days ago, it also released a trailer for "GTA IV."

The game series has evolved dramatically through the "GTA III" phase, which saw the release of the original GTA III (aka, Liberty City), Vice City and finally the epic San Andreas editions. Between Liberty City and San Andreas, the game has grown and improved tremendously.

Meanwhile the evolution of the new crop of higher-performance gaming platforms, from the Microsoft XBox 360 to the new Sony PlayStation 3, have upped the potential for bigger, richer, faster games with even better graphics. It's only fitting that the Rockstar team would revisit Liberty City and develop the game environment to a larger scale and on a more fully visually realized level.

The word is that the Liberty City of "GTA IV" will be a more detailed and realistic carbon copy of New York City (albeit four of its five boroughs plus Jersey) in every way except the actual names. And this time around the main character will be an Eastern European immigrant. Can't fucking wait for this release, dude.

Posted by Supercore at 11:25 PM

April 03, 2007

Sanjaya Malakar and Howard Stern and the Sabotaging of American Idol

The curious success and popularity of American Idol contestant Sanjaya Malakar is the subject of much discussion among fans and non-fans of the Fox talent show. As has been observed, Malakar is far from the top class of singing talent to appear on American Idol. His voice is not stellar, and he botches lyrics to his songs. But the American Idol-viewing and -voting public have rallied behind Malakar and made him their own, pushing him upward and onward week after week to the finalists stage of the competition in spite of his shortcoming as a peformer. Simon Cowell, the notoriously blunt Brit, who is the show's producer and sits on the judges panel, has spoken his mind and acknowledged that he is powerless to stop the Malakar phenomenon. So why has a semi-talent like Malakar as far as he has?

Posted by Supercore at 09:28 PM

April 02, 2007

Celebrity Gossip Linkage to Kick Off the Week ...

Anna Nicole Smith's Partner Howard Stern Gives Up Effort to Stop DNA Paternity Test ...
Creator of Life-Size , Naked Choclate Jesus Looks for New Home for His Confection ...
Usher to Get Married to Long-Time Girlfriend ...
Black Eye Peas Singer Fergie Reveals Lesbian Past ...
Sanjaya Markala and the American Idol Scandal in the Making ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:16 PM

March 31, 2007

U.K. Doesn't Like Snoop Dogg

Poor Snoop Dogg can't enter the United Kingdom to save his life. The hip-hop icon was again denied a visa to enter and perform in the U.K. and has had to cancel scheduled concert performances in the country with Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. The rap stars are currently on a joint European tour that's already proven costly due to the enormous entourage expenses alone. Snoop Dogg's trouble with immigration authorities in the U.K. date back to a few years ago when members of his group were involved in a brawl at a British airport.

Posted by Supercore at 12:01 PM

March 28, 2007

Giant Madonna in H&M Mural in New York

From the Global Graphica file ... there's a bunch recent photos of a new, massive mural being painted in Soho, New York City, that features Madonna in an ad for the H&M clothing store chain.

Posted by Supercore at 12:40 PM

March 26, 2007

Naomi Campbell's Be-All-End-All Fabulousness

In her week of community service, sweeping floors in her own glamorous style at the Department of Sanitation in New York City, supermodel
Naomi Campbell proves she is the living embodiment of the fashion world that made her rich and famous. Campbell was sentenced to community service by the court as punishment for an assault on her maid -- the supermodel threw her cell phone at the maid in a fit of rage.

Posted by Supercore at 09:49 PM

March 25, 2007

Mouth-Watering Celebrity Gossip News Linkage ...

Autopsy Results for Annna Nicole Smith to be Released ...
Report of Prince Harry Drunkenly Assaulting Photographer Outside London Club ...
Snoop Dogg and P. Diddy's European Tour Losing Money Due to Costs of Rappers' Massive Entourages ...
Mel Gibson Blasts Expletive at University Professor Regarding Film "Apocalypto" ...
Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan Have Another Bitch-Slappy Face-Off ...
Amy Winehouse Champions Fellow Rehabbber Lindsay Lohan ...
Is Paris Hilton's Boyfriend Stavros Niarchos Cheating on the Hotel Heiress?
Britney Spears Out of Rehab ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 09:01 PM

March 18, 2007

Celebrity Gossip Round-Up ...

Black Eyed Peas Singer Fergie Kicked Off U.K. Plane for Being Too Drunk ...
Anna Nicole Smith's List of Prescribed Drigs Revealed ...
Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie are Freinds Again ... Ahh ...
Britney Spears on Coca-Cola-Guzzling Binge in Rehab ...
Lindsay Lohan Out of Rehab and Back on NYC Party Circuit ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 05:50 AM

March 15, 2007

"Among The Thugs"

We've just finished reading "Among The Thugs," Bill Buford's remarkable and page-turning book about crowd violence during the dark days of English and European football/soccer hooliganism in the 1980's. The book is a work of non-fiction, but reads like a highly personal piece of well-researched first-person journalism.

Buford befriended some of the most notorious of the hardcore members of the various team "firms," including that of the Manchester United football club. The author witnessed countless acts of crowd violence at soccer matches across the U.K. and Europe while living in London in the late 1970s and through the '80s . Buford was himself beaten severely by Italian police when thousands of English supporters went on a rampage outside a World Cup match in 1990. The book is a meditation on the nature of crowds, psychology and culture. It's absolutely fascinating, yet disturbing.

"Among The Thugs" was written and published in the early '90s at a time when English football hooliganism inside the top-league stadiums was gradually being eradicated following the Hillsborough disaster in which 96 people were killed in the standing-area terrace of a stadium.

Since then, police crackdowns on violent football fans, better surveillance and policing, the introduction all-seating areas and the removal of all-standing terraces in British stadiums, among other things, has all but extinguished crowd violence at matches and made attending games in the U.K. now a far safer experience than it was when Buford wrote "Among The Thugs."

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:37 PM

March 14, 2007

Appetizing Celebrity Gossip Linkage for the Mid-Week ...

Angelina Jolie Adopts Another Kid, This Time From Orphanage in Vietnam
Paris Hilton Puts her Nipples in Public View Yet Again
Britney Spears in Rehab Romance Fling
Photographer Larry Birkhead Demands DNA Test to Determine Father of Anna Nicole Smith's Daughter ...
Donald Trump and Rosie O'Donnell Ward Words Heats Up Again ...
Jessica Simpson and John Mayer Have Romantic Italian Vacation

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:32 PM

March 13, 2007

The Designs of Thomas Heatherwick

The work of British designer Thomas Heatherwick relies heavily on engineering and sculptural aesthetics. Heatherwick's creations - a seaside cafe, a canal bridge, and landscape pieces - are mainly works of architecture, but ones sometimes mistaken for art, and there's an argument that some of it is. Sitooterie II (pictured above) is a mysterious and striking object that sits in the English countryside like a giant alien landmark.

Posted by Supercore at 07:44 AM

Quentin Tarantino Reflects on How He Became a Success in Hollywood

That gabby, energetic and most animated of filmmakers Quentin Tarantino has written an article for the Timnes of London newspaper about his experience in the movie business. The piece is part of the Times's "Iconoclast" series, wherein celebrities guest write a column for the paper. Tarantino talks about what it means to him to be a film director working inside and out of the Hollywood studio system and how to deal with careerist studio heads when fighting to make your movie your way. Tarantino also talks about which movies he was most passionate about and what they mean to him. Interestingly enough, QT calls himself an "amateur." This is a must read for aspiring filmmakers or anyboody who loves the director's work.

Posted by Supercore at 12:28 AM

March 12, 2007

Sweet 'n Savory Celebrity Gossip Linkage ...

The "300" Rakes in $70 Million at Opening Weekend Box office -- That's a helluva lot of souvlaki ...
Did Paris Hilton Get a Boob job?
Hilary Duff Dumps More Hate on Paris Hilton ...
Joes Simpson Says Daughters Jessica and Ashlee Will Never "End up in Rehab" ... Oh, Really?
Madonna to Appear on Nip/Tuck
The Rehab Diary of Britney Spears

Posted by Thurston Ali at 07:44 AM

March 07, 2007

And Speaking of Naomi Campbell ....

The ex-supermodel has said that she will never have plastic surgery, unless she was disfigured in a "bad accident." Who gives shit? Well, actually, we do enough for a brief comment anyway...

Naomi Campbell is now 36 years old. That's not even within the "coveted" 18-34 years-old target marketing demographic that advertising wankers are always babbling on about. And Campbell hardly trades in the kind of runway and photo work she used. She is becoming increasingly irrelevant as a media and fashion commodity.

But it doesn't matter -- she looks fucking great! She shouldn't being even thinking about whether or not she needs plastic surgery. Her looks are fine as they are, especially for her age. It's Campbell's personality that needs plastic surgery, not her face and body. She's got to do something about that wicked temper of hers.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:03 PM

March 06, 2007

Naomi Campbell Punished for Cell Phone-Throwin' Rage

Notoriously tempermental super model (or should we say "ex-super model"?) Naomi Campbell has been punished for throwing a cell phone at her maid. To pay for her crime, Campbell will be doing a stint of community service, mopping up floors at a New York City Sanitation Department warehouse on the Lower East Side. (Welcome to hood, Naomi!) One piece of advice, Ms. Campbell: Leave your cell phone at home.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 07:05 AM

March 04, 2007

Rosemary Goes to The Mall

Video and installation artist Rosemary Williams says she had an anxiety attack the first time she visited the famously gargantuan Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota. As an art project and means to deal with her personal mall-shopping issues, Williams created the "Wall of the Mall," an installation made of shopping bags from store in the MOA. She also a produced a podcast series documenting the project, to which the Rosemary Goes to the Mall website is devoted.
The weekly Consumed column by Rob Walker in this week's Sunday new York Times Magazine explores William's project and the phenomenon of the Mall of America as a place that has transcended being just a place to buy stuff to being a tourist attraction in and of itself, comeplte with souvenirs shops and t-shirts.

Posted by Supercore at 01:38 PM

March 02, 2007

GEICO Caveman Golfing with Phil Sims

It looks like the GEICO caveman may be crossing over from a car-insurance commercial icon to a fully realized character fit for long-form television programming. That's if this clip of the GEICO caveman playing golf with NFL icon Phil Sims is anything to go by. In this nearly four-minute sketch, the caveman goes 18 holes with the former Giants star. If the caveman seemed overly sensitive and ornery in the GEICO ads, he's even more so here. In fact, he comes across in this video as an obnoxious, iritable douche-bag. He's freaking hilarious. The caveman should have his own show on Comedy Central. It could a late-night talk-fest hosted by the caveman that would air right after the Colbert Report. And the whole thing would be sponsored by GEICO, of course. A higher quality QuickTime version of the clip is here.

Posted by Supercore at 11:00 PM

March 01, 2007

GEICO Caveman Saga Continues ....

This recent 30-second ad by GEICO featuring the ever-annoyed Caveman has actually already been running for a while, but we're including here along with some posts of the other latest ads. It's not the best nor our favorite of the Caveman spots so far, but it's still amusing work. Whether it's effective advertising or not, the jury may still be out.

Posted by Supercore at 11:43 PM

February 19, 2007

Speed Racer Intro

Speaking of the Toyota "Speed Racer" homage on this past weekend's New York Time Magazine cover, here's a video of the intro to the American version of the Japanese anime series.

Posted by Supercore at 11:08 PM

New York Times Mag's "Speed Racer" Cover

Yesterday's New York Times Magazine ran a massive article on Japanese automaking giant Toyota and how the company has surprassed General Motors as the world's largest producer of cars. The magazine's cover touted the feature with an eye-catching piece of illustration. The cover art shows a salaryman in white suit posing in front of a recent model Toyota. The pose and composition of the image is a direct reference to the iconic still frame shown in the intro of every episode of television anime classic "Speed Racer," known in Japanese as Mach Go Go Go.

Posted by Supercore at 10:49 PM

February 18, 2007

Delectable Celebrity Gossip Linkage for Your Utlra Awesome President's Day Weekend ...

Actor Hugh Grant Splits with Girlfriend Jemima Khan
Anna Nicole Smith is Embalmed
Qantas Hostess Admits to Sex with Actor Ralph Fiennes in Airplane Toilet
Hip-Hop Raptress Foxy Brown Arrested for Assault in Florida
Paris Hilton Bored at Vienna Opera
Nicky Hilton Sued Over Her Hotel Project Fiasco
Recap of the Recent Developments in the Britney Spears Train Wreck

Posted by Thurston Ali at 12:24 PM

February 17, 2007

Video: Britney Spears with Shaved Head

Oh, yeah, people, this is television "news." Oy vay!

Posted by Thurston Ali at 04:05 PM

Britney Spears Shaves Head ...

The news that Britney Spears has shaved her head was totally unexpected. The media and those people close to Britney have been suggesting that the pop singer is in the middle of a massive mental implosion, the high-voltage nervous breakdown that many have sensed was coming. Who's to blame for hurtling Ms. Spears towards a perceived meltdown? Paris Hilton? K-Fed? The paparazzi? Oh, the gossip rags are going to have a field day. Between Anna Nicole Smith and Britney, the celebrity-obsessed press is already having a great 2007!

Posted by Thurston Ali at 10:40 AM

February 16, 2007

Going to the Archive: Top 6 Fave Hip Hop Artist Names ...

1. Chamillionaire - If Donald Trump where a a chameleon and a rapper, he would be called "Chamillionaire."
2. Lil' Scrappy - Who knew? Scooby Doo's little nephew likes to get jiggy with it.
3. Common - Being extraordinary is so overrated.
4. Ghostface Killah - Ghost face, poker face--it's all the same when you're a "killah."
5. Chingy - Cuz it's right thurrr!
"
6. Ol' Dirty Bastard - What can ya' say? ... The name speaks for itself. RIP, ODB. Peace!

Posted by Supercore at 07:23 AM

February 15, 2007

"Do Your Own Adventure!" with Sue Teller

This subtly sponsored viral video from Mountain Dew ("Promotional consideration provided by ..." ) is a riot. "Do Your Own Adventure!" with Sue Teller is a fake cable-access-styled show in which octagenarian Sue Teller teaches viewers how to do various youth-oriented DIY projects like spraying graffiti and mixing records. In this episode Teller shows us how to mash up tunes like a professional hip-hop DJ, complete with two turntables and a drum machine. Holla' at ya' girl!

Domo arigato to Jess E. for the tip!

Posted by Supercore at 11:09 PM

February 14, 2007

Video: Anti-Advertising by Graffiti Research Lab

Posted this on sister site Global Graphica ...

The folks at the ever ingenious and creative Graffiti Research Lab have made a clip of their recent anti-advertising campaign. The guerilla effort exploits video panels that display commercials outside subway entrances around New York City. The point is that the thousands of marketing messages we are exposed to on a daily basis is the true graf problem urban dwellers face.

Posted by Supercore at 11:59 PM

February 12, 2007

"Save Boston" Game Lets Players Smoke Out the Aqua Teen Hunger Force Lite-Brite Mooninites

Somebody has developed a quickie Flash game on the Web making fun of Boston and Bostonians and the whole recent brouhaha over the guerilla ad campaign involving LED light boards to promote the television show "Aqua Teen Hunger Force." The light boards were mistaken for bombs, and the security response to the supposed terror threat cost the city millions of dollars. Anyway, the silly game is called "Save Boston." It's a whack-a-mole type of amusement that will provide minutes of senseless entertainment on your PC when you should be working.

Posted by Supercore at 11:59 PM

Ooh, It's Really Bad: Vanilla Ice Does Rap Promotion for Turbo Tax Online

Oh, boy, this really stinks. Though to be fair to D-lister Vanilla Ice, his flow actually isn't half bad. No, seriously, he can rap. But dropping rhymes on video for an online TurboTax promo based on the concept of user-generated content really begs the question -- How low can a washed-up, late-80's one-hit-wonder fake white rapper go? Appearing on the Surreal Life is bad enough. But this? C'mon.

Posted by Supercore at 11:59 PM

Sweet 'n Sour Celebrity Gossip Linkage ...

Anna Nicole Smith Was Planning a Wedding
John Mayer Replies in Japanese When Asked About Jessica Simpson
Ex-Britney Spears Boyfriend Iassac Cohen Kisses and Tells
Paris Hilton's Gal Pal Kim Kardashian to Sue Over Her Sex Tape
Paris Hilton Demands $500K to Appear on British Talk Show
Lindsay Lohan "Loves" Life in Rehab
Mandy Moore Self-Conscious Doing Partial-Nude Scenes
David Beckham's Bodyguards Denied Visas for USA
Kate Moss and Babyshambles Singer Pete Doherty Have Split Up Again, Maybe

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:38 PM

Going to the Archive: Our Top 6 Favorite Late Night Movie Reruns on IFC...

1. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels - Bloody hell! The British underworld doesn't mess around when it comes to illegal poker games and a half-million pounds worth of illicit herb. Did we mention the copious gunplay? Well, this flick's got that, too. It's bloody, violent AND funny, like Pulp Fiction, but with bad teeth, cockney rhyming slang and a cameo by Sting.
2. The Limey - So, your a 50-something British ex-con just released from prison and you're angry as hell. What are ya' gonna do? You're getting on a plane to L.A. where you will unleash a shitstorm of violence and psychological terror on the dude that double-crossed you years ago.
3. The Anniversary Party - A suprisingly accurate portrayal of Los Angeles' flaky thirty-something entertainment- media- arts-cognoscenti types as they wrestle with dropping ecstasy, barking dogs and hillside home ownership.
4. La Femme Nikita - A sexy, slightly unstable woman works as an assasin for the French government. Sweet!
5. Barton Fink - Dude, this is what happens to New York writers in L.A. when they don't get enough sex.
6. Hedwig and the Angry Inch - This movie ROCKS! Hell hath no fury like a partially trans-gendered woman scorned.

Posted by Supercore at 11:26 PM

February 10, 2007

Crazy Delicious Celebrity Gossip for Your Crazy Delicious Weekend ...

Anna Nicole Smith Paternity Suite Gets Even More Complicated - 3 Men Claim to Be Father of Her Daughter
Sacha Baron Cohen Will Make Borat Movie Sequel?
Gus Van Sant Sentenced for DUI
American Idol Contestant Akron Watson Kicked Off Show
Paris Hilton Buys Edible Bikini for Valentine's Day
Kim Kardashian Sex Tape Revealed
Nicole Richie "Afraid of Prison"
Lindsay Lohan Buys Marilyn Monroe's Apartment

Posted by Thurston Ali at 10:31 AM

Anna Nicole Smith's Last Days Spent in Drunken Haze

According to witness reports late Friday night, as autopsy results were being released, Anna Nicole Smith was drinking heavily in the days and even hours before her death, so much so that she needed help to walk and was slurring her speech. She made repeated visits to the bar at the hotel where she died and, according to a bartender there, was "tossing back double shots."

Posted by Thurston Ali at 10:23 AM

February 09, 2007

The Shocking, Mysterious Death of Anna Nicole Smith

This is a shocker. We're no fans of Anna Nicole Smith and deplore much of what she represents, but her sudden death in a Florida hotel room is tragic and sad. The latest reports suggest drug use on Smith's part may have been the cause of death. Like or loathe here, Anna Nicole was an icon.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 08:45 AM

The Turnstyles "Photomentary" Work of Bill Sullivan

Among the art projects of photographer Bill Sullivan is one in which he snaps images of people faced with the same physical obstacle, in this case the turnstyles of the New York City subway system. Sullivan secretly took 87 pictures of people, each just at that moment when walking through the exit gates. The result is a series of exhibitions and installations of the images in galleries, as well as on the Web, where you can view all of the
subway turnstyle photos via a cool horizontal-scroll widget.

Domo arigato to Jess E. for the tip.

Posted by Supercore at 08:06 AM

February 06, 2007

Guerilla Ad Agency "Miami" of Sweden

In the week after a guerilla marketing agency launched an under-the-radar marketing campaign that turned into a massive bomb scare, we've come across a small guerilla marketing agency in Sweden that is starting to explode onto the ad scene and get on the radar. The company has a most intriguing name. The firm is called Miami, as in the Florida city, except that Miami the agency is in Sweden, as in Scandanavian country known for Absolut vodka, IKEA furniture, and the birthplace of the Volvo. Anyhoo, Miami has a cool -- if kind of dorky -- and unconventionally simple and unintuitive website that shows some of its work.

Posted by Supercore at 10:18 PM

February 05, 2007

Monday Gossip Linkage ... Yum Yum!

Paris Hilton Shuts Down Website Selling Her Personal Info and Junk
Actor Ryan O'Neal Arrested After Allegedly Assaulting Son, Shooting Gun
Newsweek Contemplates the Influence of Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan and Britney Spears on Girls
Beyonce Knowles Voted Most-Desirable Fantasy Girlfriend in Ask.com Poll
Chinese Actress Gong Li Rated More Desirable Than Zhang Ziyi in Ask.com Poll
Kevin "K-Fed" Federline Says He's Sorry About Ad to Food Workers

Compiled by Thurston Ali

Posted by Supercore at 08:30 AM

February 02, 2007

Video of the Making of Those "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" LED Ads

Here's an excellent video clip showing how those those "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" LED Ads, which caused the bomb scare in Boston earlier this week, were produced and installed.

Posted by Supercore at 01:05 PM

Geniuses Behind "Aqua Teen Hunger Force" LED Ads Give Surreal Press Conference ...

The avant-garde artists and guerilla marketers who were arrested after installing myseterious LED ads for Cartoon Network's "Aqua Teen Hunger Force," give a surreal, ridiculous press conference upon emerging from jail. It's pure theater when a couple of guys tell -- with the straightest of faces -- a throng of reporters that they will answers only questions pertaining to "haircuts in the 70's."

Posted by Supercore at 12:49 PM

Fresh Super Awesomely Delicious Celebrity Gossip Linkage for Your Friday Reading Pleasure ...

"Girls Gone Wild" Impressario Joe Francis Claims Paris Hilton is Better in the Sack Than Linday Lohan, Tara Reid and Kimberly Stewart!
Lindsay Lohan Text Messages Pal from Rehab to Say She WANTS burgers and sex.
Miss USA Confesses to Cocaine Use ... Uh, yeah, no kidding!
Jessica Simpson Botches Lyrics to Boyfriend John Mayer's Song at Concert
Nicole Richie May Go to Jail
Mandy Moore Afraid of Dating
Rosie O' Donnell Rants Get Reviewed

Posted by Thurston Ali at 08:29 AM

January 22, 2007

Cool New Volkswagen German VW Phaeton Commercial

Who knew hand-shadow puppetry could be so modern? Super liquid-awesomely cool. Whatever you may think of the Volkswagen cars (or how well-made or not the cars actually are), the coomercials of VW have always been a cut above.

Posted by Supercore at 12:42 AM

January 18, 2007

Lindsay, Lindsay, Lindsay!!!

Wow! Like this is a shocker. Everybody could see this coming from a million light years away. Yup, kidzzz, Actress, singer, celebutante Lindsay Lohan has official checked into rehab for alcoholism in West hollywood. Looks like Paris Hilton has lost one of her best frenemies of all time. Now, if only there was a rehab program available for pop singers who like to party pantyless and flash their va-jay-jay all about town (yes, we mean you, Britney Spears!).

Posted by Thurston Ali at 09:44 AM

January 17, 2007

In Japan: Graffiti and Street Art in Osaka ...

Over on the Global Graphica website, we've got a whole bunch of new images showing graf, street art and mor from Osaka, Japan. The graf in the picture above is in a fenced-off area in the Kita-Horie neighborhood of Osaka. (Photo Courtesy of Global Graphica / Ivan Corsa Photo. All rights reserved.)

Posted by Supercore at 04:04 AM

In Japan: Flipping Through Recent Issue of "Studio Voice" ...

Studio Voice is a Japanese magazine devoted to design and style. The monthly mag is a must-read for Japanese designers and has something of a cult readership among global design creatives working in advertising, interactive media, the graphic arts and fashion. Though we can't read all the Japanese articles, flipping through the pages and absorbing the gorgeous graphics and layouts is enough to tell us Studio Voice is quality.

Posted by Supercore at 03:55 AM

January 16, 2007

In Japan: Another TV Commercial with Tommy Lee Jones Selling Boss Can Coffee ...

Respek!

Posted by Supercore at 03:45 AM

January 15, 2007

In Japan: Tommy Lee Jones Stars in Japanese Commercial for Boss Canned Coffee

Posted by Supercore at 03:42 AM

January 12, 2007

In Japan: Another Pocky Commercial Starring Yui Aragaki ...

Love the voiceover tag at the end -- "... it's thin, it's light ... Pocky!!!"

Posted by Supercore at 03:39 AM

January 11, 2007

In Japan: Loving Japanese TV Commercials ... Let's Eat Pocky!

Posted by Supercore at 03:33 AM

January 10, 2007

The Apple iPhone -- We Want One!

It's here .... it's finally here. Well, almost. The much talked- and speculated-about Apple iPhone was announced at MacWorld by Steve Jobs during his keynote speech. Wow! Wow! Wow! It's a stunner of design. The new phone will be like a video iPod, cell phone and small computer/PDA all rolled up into one. The first phone will be available from Cingular in June. Now, the question is how much of what we're being shown is a reality in terms of what will actually be a functional phone. And will it be buggy? Will it be durable? Nobody is getting a chance to give the device a full test battering yet. We'll have to wait and see. But for now ... yes, we're in love.

Posted by Supercore at 12:16 AM

January 06, 2007

In Japan: Late Nights with "Oden-kun"

"The Adventure of Oden-kun" is a childish anime series targeted toward adults watching late-night Japanese television. Even if you don't understand Japanese, the show is intriguing in its droll, surreal premise. In the cartoon, various ingredients -- tofu, eggs, radishes, and so on -- used in a tradional wintertime stew called oden come to life as anthropomorphic characters inhabiting an "oden world" and embarking on myriad mini adventures, kind of like the way Sponge Bob and his pals do in their fantastic undersea world. Except the ingredients in oden are food afterall and eventually will get eaten by customers. That's when things really get interesting.

Posted by Supercore at 09:09 AM

January 04, 2007

"Cocaine Rap" and The Rise of Young Jeezy and Clipse

In his recent New Yorker magazine article titled "Coke Is It," Sasha Frere-Jones puts in another stellar pop music piece. This time he looks at hip-hop artists Young Jeezy and the duo Clipse. Young Jeezy and Clipse repesent the epitome of so-called "cocaine rap," a style of hip-hop lyricism that's focused on the cocaine culture. Both artists claim real-life experience dealing coke. From the sounds of it, the Bolivian marching powder is still a big part of their lifestyles. According to Jones, while coke has always been around in the music business, it's now making something a comeback.

Posted by Supercore at 10:46 AM

January 03, 2007

Entertainment Breaking Taboos in Islamic Culture

A woman in Pakistan can't openly talk about sexual taboos on television for fear of being socially ostracized, but a man dressed as a woman talking openly about sexual taboos on Pakistani TV can. And he's very popular. That man is Ali Saleem, who under the pseudonym Begum Nawazish Ali interviews celebrities on his weekly show “Late Night Show With Begum Nawazish Ali." As the Times points out, the Ali's act and its popularity reflect "two Pakistans," one which is urban and the other rural; one that is more "Westernized" and one more fundamentally Islamic.

Posted by Supercore at 09:42 PM

December 23, 2006

The Nintendo Wii - A Deep, Detailed Look of How It Works

There's no denying what we would want as present this holiday season if there was such a thing as a Santa Claus. The Nintendo Wii, with its motion-sensor controller, is the most original and innovative videogame platform to emerge in practically a decade. It also -- and more importantly -- just looks like a helluva lot of fun. And really, really, really want one. (Even in spite of the nototious strap problem.) But how does it work? The Times gives us a detailed breakdown on the technology.

Posted by Supercore at 10:41 AM

December 19, 2006

MissBehave Magazine Rocks It!

Though we're probably not as a group part of the target demographic, MissBehave magazine has seriously left an impression on us. The new Brooklyn-based "girls" lifestyle mag reads and looks like an editorial DNA-mashup of Mass Appeal, Nylon, and Tokion, but with more of the streetyness and flava' of Mass Appeal. The magazine design is gorgeous, vibrant, fresh and sick. The second issue features the delicious British poptress Lily Allen on the cover and it's a prize. Check it. Rock it. Love it. Be it.

Posted by Supercore at 11:42 PM

December 14, 2006

The Last Stand of Street-Art Landmark 11 Spring Street

The building at 11 Spring Street in downtown New York City has been a landmark and mecca for ephemeral street art, attracting artists from around the world. The mysterious building, also known as the "Candle Building," appeared uninhabited for many years, during which time wheat-paste posters, installation art and graffiti went up, went down, got covered over or faded away in an ever-unfolding ebb and flow of street-level expression. The building was recently purchased by a group of developers who will turn the building into luxury condos. Sensitive to the artistic significance of the building, the new owners have worked with the global street-art massive to to organize one last exhibition of art on the exterior and interior of the building before the rennovation crew come and start re-developing the structure.

Posted by Supercore at 02:31 AM

December 13, 2006

The Year in Ideas

In our opinion, it's the most interesting and stimulating annual issue of any magazine in the English-publishing world. It's the New York Times Magazine "The Year in Ideas." Some of the many ideas explored in this issue that got our attention include "Trash-talk Exegesis," "Jujitsu Advertising," "Digital Maoism," and "For-Profit Philanthropy." Kudos, NYTM, for another great issue.

Posted by Supercore at 01:33 AM

"The Burg" - Indie Sitcom Extraordinaire

We've been finding lots of laughs from the independently produced Web-based sitcom "The Burg." The show follows the ups and downs of a group of roommates and friends who live in Williamsburg, the Brooklyn neighborhood that has in recent years become the young hipster-creative nerve center of New York City. "The Burg" takes a scathing comedic look at the stereotypical hipster types who inhabit the nabe - indie musicians, aspiring actresses, moronic trust-fund babies, bohemian political activists and out-of-place Wall Street frat-boy yuppie.

Posted by Supercore at 01:24 AM

December 12, 2006

Say Cheese, Nicole Richie!

Nicole, honey, damn you look hot even in a mug shot. Sorry to hear about being busted for driving under the influence by the CHiPs in Glendale, CA. But, hey, that's what happens when you take Vicodin on an empty stomach while (allegedly) high and/or intoxicated and then get behind the wheel. (Oops! Did we just say "empty stomach." We realize you have some weight "issues." Tsk tsk, our bad. You see, Nicole, that you hadn't eaten anything substantial in the previous 24 hours was just an assumption on our part.) But back to the matter at hand. You know what also happens when you drive while (allegedly) high and/or intoxicated? You drive onto the freeway in the wrong direction and get pulled over by an Erik Estrada wannabe. (Just kidding ... nobody wants to be Erik Estrada.) Anyhoo, maybe you need glasses? Still, we love ya' just the same as before, after all, you're the funny, "clever" one on the Simple Life, and you've a much more sophisticated and iconic style than that slut puppet Paris Hilton. So kick it to the curb, Nicole. You'll beat the DUI rap, even if it means 300 hours of community service (translation: 300 hours picking up litter with the hoi poloiin Griffith Park).

Posted by Thurston Ali at 01:59 AM

The GEICO Gecko Has a Blog!

Yes, the GEICO gecko lizard has his very own weblog. The site is tantalizingly titled "Gecko's Fun Stuff - Gecko's Blog." On the site, the iconic reptile (and car-insurance company mascot) writes about all manner of subjects related to saving 15 % on your car insurance, including the low-down on all the music used in the recent GEICO Caveman commercials. So if you've been wondering about things like what the jaunty electronic tune is in the Caveman "Airport" TV ad, here's where you can find out. (By the way, that tune is "Remind Me" by Norwegian group Royksopp.) By now, that an anthropomorphic, computer-animated spokes-lizard with a cockney accent would have a blog should not be surprising -- it really was inevitable, wasn't it? Next thing you know, the toenail on my left pinky toe is going to have its own blog.

Posted by Supercore at 01:57 AM

The 20 Most Overrated Movies of All Time?

Premiere magazine has the breakdown on the 20 films that they believe have had an overdose of praise and critical acclaim (in some case from Premiere mag itself). It seems like the idea for the list stemmed from an editorial staff quarrel over some of the so-called "greats" of cinema.

Posted by Robsam at 01:32 AM

December 08, 2006

Deluxe Dose of Celebrity Gossip Linkage ...

Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn Split Up! Vaughniston is Over! Vaughnifer Kaput!
Britney Spears Explains Her Panties-Less Party Streak
Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z Say They're NOT Getting Married This Weekend
Heather Mills "Humiliated" at U.K. Airport
Lindsay Lohan and Her Bizarre Crackberry Email Missive
Paris Hilton Denies Rumors of Sexcapade with Britney Spears
Jessica Simpson Blows Kennnedy Center Song Performance

Posted by Thurston Ali at 01:16 AM

Bookslut's Best Book Covers of 2006 List

We love great book covers. It's amazing sometimes just how effective a good book cover can be. When the jacket design can grab your attention from across a room and make you pick up a book, especially one that you eventually purchase, that's a testament to the power of design. Over at literary blog Bookslut, there's a list of the best book covers of 2006. There are a few books not included that we would have expected to have seen, but overall it's a pretty good list.

Posted by Supercore at 01:10 AM

Animation Created by Using Post-It Notes

Posted by Supercore at 12:59 AM

December 06, 2006

GEICO Caveman Actor Revealed

In case you wanted to know who the GEICO caveman is (and, really, who didn't?), well, brace yourself for this amazing piece of knowledge: the GEICO caveman is actor John Lehr. Wow! Uh, um, uh ... who is John Lehr? Yeah, we were wondering that, too. Lehr's list of acting credits appears short, though he recently landed a gig as a cast member of a new TBC television series called "10 Items or Less." So, now you know who the GEICO caveman is (at least one of them, anyway). Don't you feel better? Don't you feel like a whole new person? No? Nothing? Yeah, same here.

Posted by Supercore at 01:20 AM

December 05, 2006

More Yummy Celebrity Gossip Linkage ...

Rumor of Lindsay Lohan Attending AA Confirmed
No Jail for Babyshambles Frontman / Kate Moss Boy-Toy Pete Doherty, But Singer Fined for Drugs ... Again!!!
George Clooney's Pet Vietnamese Pot-Bellied Pig Dies ... Sniff, Sniff ...
Paris Hilton Bails on Billboard Music Awards Appearance

Tori Spelling to Write Memoir ... Yaaaaawn!

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:38 AM

December 01, 2006

What the Heck is Up with CNN's Lou Dobbs

In the New Yorker magazine this week, media critic Ken Auletta breaks down what's going on with opinionated CNN newsman Lou Dobbs and his recent streak of angry political editorials from the anchor desk. According to Auletta's immensely readable profile piece, Dobbs has gone from being a calm and cool-headed business news personality to a cranky populist, which has won him both critics and admirers.

Posted by Supercore at 02:47 AM

Lipsmack Ya'! Spicy Celebrity Gossip to Round Out the Week ... Oh, It's Been Too Long ...

Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson File for Divorce ...
... And Borat is To Blame for Kid Rock and Pamela's Split
... But Actually Kid Rock Was Fed Up with Pamela's Party-Girl Ways
... and Yet Borat's Cultural Icon Status Even Greater After Kid Rock-Pamela Divorce
Britney Spears on Panties-less Party Spree in L.A. and NYC ...
Paris Hilton and Britney Spears are New Best Party Pals ...
Lindsay Lohan Reportedly in Alcoholic Rehab ...
Jessica Simpson's Chewing Gum on Sale on eBay ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:29 AM

Clientcopia: Living the Painful Ad Agency Dream

For anybody who works with "clients" in the media or marketing and especially for anybody who works specifically in an ad agency and interactive advertising (like us), you'll want to check out the web site Clientcopia.com to relish in the anecdotes, gripes, tales and observations of that crazy dynamic that can be the client-creative relationship. We're living the dream, we tell you, and it's like pulling teeth. Fun stuff. (Domo arigato to Evan K. for the tip!)

Posted by Supercore at 02:22 AM

November 22, 2006

Video: Michael Richards' Awkward, Incoherent Apology on Letterman

Ok, he said he was sorry. He explained his actions. But what's with the long-winded incoherent , cringe-worthy and weird six-minute rhetorical exposition. Somebody needs therapy, ASAP.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 12:22 AM

If William Shakespeare Were Alive Today He'd Be A Hollywood Screenwriter ...

Imagine if William Shakespeare were alive today. Some observers think that the Bard would be working in Hollywood as a hot screenwriter and/or as a successful Broadway playwright earning a bundle on the royalties from his many plays. He'd also be making a bundle on the real estate market. His career would be on a level of either a Woody Allen or a Stephen King, either a favorite of high-brow and but small audiences in other cases or a mass-culture phenomenon, or maybe a mix of both. Though one "Hollywood insider" suggests that in today's Hollywood, Shakespeare would be "too talented to be successful."

Posted by Supercore at 12:19 AM

November 21, 2006

Video: "Kick, Push" by Lupe Fiasco

Lovin' the Lupe Fiasco CD "Lupe Fiasco's Food and Liquor," especially the tune "Kick, Push" and its music video. Rad skateboard moves, ill rhymes.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 03:02 AM

Video: OMG! Michael Richards of "Seinfeld" Kramer Fame Goes on a Racist Rant During Comedy Gig!

Ouch! Somebody's got some serious issues to work through. This is appalling and really bad. (Warning: Video is NOT SAFE FOR WORK!)

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:40 AM

OJ Book Launch and Fox News Interview "Killed"

The HarperCollins-published book "If I Did It" by O.J. Simpson and the planned Judith Regan intereview of him on Fox News have been scrapped due to the public and media backlash surrounding the launch and television event. It is generally believed by the American public (and the news media promulgates the view) that Simpson is guilty of the crime of murder, even though a trial jury acquitted him of the charges in the early 1990s. Over a decade after his infamous trial, Simpson's life has been ruined. The former actor and NFL star is an outcast who lives in the constant shadow of his notoriety. Still the public is fascinated, while disgusted and outraged, with Simpson and the case.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:13 AM

Ouch! New York Times Reviewer Dumps on the New Sony PlayStation 3 Big Time!

As the Sony PlayStation 3 went on sale in the United States last Friday and patient gamers finally got their hands on the much-anticipated and much-coveted gaming console, a New York Times journalist was busy wrapping up a week spent test-driving the PS3 for his technology review. After thirty hours of putting the new Sony platform through its paces, Times scribe Seth Shiesel penned his review, which appeared in today's edition of the Old Gray Lady. His verdict on the PS3 is pretty hurtful. To quote his article, "... it often feels as if the PlayStation 3 can’t walk and chew bubble gum at the same time." Ouch!

(Domo arigatoo to Jess for the tip.)

Posted by Supercore at 01:53 AM

November 20, 2006

Yummilicious Celebrity Gossip Linkage ...

TomKat Ceremoniously Get Married in Italian Castle ...
The Fashion Breakdown on Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' Wedding ...
Rapper The Game Arrested for Impersonation of Cop ...
Former SNL Cast Member Tina Fey Dishes on Paris Hilton ...
Paris Hilton Allegedly Called Jessica Simpson "Fat"
Lindsay Lohan "Snubs" Actress Keira Knightly at London Bash ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 01:41 AM

November 15, 2006

Tasty Celeb Gossip Linkage for the Mid-Week ...

Supermodel Naomi Campbell Tries to Plea-Bargain Her Way Out of Jail Sentence ...
Porn Producer Offered Alleged Sex Tape of Britney Spears and K-Fed ...
Tom Cruise Reportedly Too Fat to Fit INto His Wedding Suite ...
Nicole Richie Denies Talk of gastric-Bypass Surgery ...
Paris Hilton Goes Out on Date in London ...
The What Made Lindsay Lohan Call Paris Hilton the C-Word ...
The OC's Mischa Barton "Tired" of Being Skinny ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 11:59 PM

Yet Even More Fun with Japanese Mac Ads

Okay, okay, we admit it -- we can't get enough of these ads. It's interesting to compare the U.S. versions of the ads to the Japanese versions. Apple relies on the advertising agency TBWA/Chiat Day, and the concept for these TV ads campaigns were created out of the Los Angeles office (it handles all of the Apple work).

Posted by Supercore at 11:53 PM

More Fun Japanese Apple Mac vs. PC Commercials

This is one is the spot that talks about "cool apps" and how Macs have that easy-to-use iLife suite of software.

Posted by Supercore at 11:51 PM

Japanese Versions of Those Clever Apple Mac Vs. PC Television Commercials

Now this is what we call being in control of your brand. For the Japanese market, Apple Computer has rolled out a television ad campaign based on the same 30-second concept the company deployed in the U.S. Like the ads broadcast in America, the Japanese commercials (or "CM's," as our friends in the Tokyo ad world call them) feature two men chatting with each other in front of a white backdrop. One man is a stiff, buttoned-up, businessy salaryman who represents a PC (presumably a Windows-based machine). The other guy is a relaxed, casually hip and slightly smug twenty-something. The commercials are doppelgangers of the U.S. spots, except that the actors are Japanese and naturally speak in their native tongue. The music is the same, as are the themes -- how Macs are easy to use, relatively immune to viruses, and so on. Even if you don't understand Japanese, they're fun to watch.

Posted by Supercore at 11:30 PM

November 12, 2006

Delectable Celebrity Gossip Linkage to Kick-Off the Week ...

BRITNEY SPEARS FOUND K-FED WITH OTHER WOMAN WEEKEND BEFORE DIVORCE
Charlie Sheen-ex Denise Richards Throws Laptop at 91-Year Old Lady ...
Oh, It's On Again: Lindsay Lohan Spits C-word About Paris Hilton ...
Madonna Disses Her Fellow Celebs ...
Snoop Dogg in Trouble with the Law Again ...
Nicole vs Nicole: Nicole Appleton Disses Nicole Richie for Being Too Skinny ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 03:34 PM

How "Snakes on a Plane" Ended Up Promoting It's Hype More Than the Movie

Last summer's most talked-about and anticipated movie was argubly "Snakes on a Plane," the campy action thriller starring Samuel L. Jackson and, er, lots and lots of slithering serpents and on a passenger jet. After all the buzz and hype about the movie, the film was widely released theatrically with a sense of cocksure inevitability in its own financial box office glory. But the film, while not a flop, was only moderately successful and failed to match its expectations. In the end, the marketing behind "Snakes on Plane" created too much buzz for its own good. "SOAP" was a case of movie hype "helping" the promoting the buzz machine (the blogosphere, media, etc.) more than the film itself.

Posted by Robsam at 02:41 PM

Will Ferrell is Just an Average Guy Who Just Happens to Be a Comedy Genius

The New Times Magazine has a long profile of Will Ferrell, detailing his career arc from his relatively normal youth in suburban Orange County, California through improv theater to Saturday Night Live and movie stardom. The verdict is that Ferrell is an average, normal guy without the cliche hang-ups and angst of your stereotypical funnyman.

Posted by Robsam at 02:27 PM

The Definition of "Shizzolator"

Just to make gosh-darn sure we're all on the same page with our use of Snoop Dogg-inspired hip-hop patois
here is the definition of "shizzolator," which may differ with some popular, generally accepted interpretations of the term's meaning.

Posted by Supercore at 02:23 PM

"60 Minutes" Journalist Ed Bradley, R.I.P.

Very sorry to hear that one of the greats of American television journalism has passed away. Ed bradley died at age 65 this past Thursday in New York City. Bradley was one of the core group of reporters, the so-called "I'm's," of the weekly CBS investigative news show "60 Minutes." Ed Bradley, R.I.P.

Posted by Supercore at 02:05 PM

November 11, 2006

Yet Another Cool Sony PlayStation 3 TV Commercial

This one is the "eggs" television spot for the soon-to-be-realeased (Nov. 17) Sony PlayStation 3, or PS3. Loving this ad campaign.

Posted by Supercore at 02:44 PM

November 10, 2006

Rubik's Cube Stars in Another Cool New Sony PlayStation 3 TV Ad

Here's another one of those cool new television commercials for the soon-to-be-released PlayStation3 game console. Like the baby-doll TV spot, this one is set in a stark-white, empty room. A Rubik's Cube levitates in the presence of a new PS3, which stands monolith-like and seems to be emanating some invisible, supernatural force that solves the Rubik's Cube puzzle. Cool.

Posted by Supercore at 02:34 AM

Sony's Creepy PlayStation 3 Baby-Doll Commercial

We find this new television commercial for the Sony PlayStation 3 a strangely compelling piece of advertising even though it's totally creepy. In the 30-second spot, a baby doll appears mesmerized and demonically possessed in the presence of a new Sony PlayStation 3 machine, while the new game platform starts to levitate. Word has it that Sony embedded some "clues" within the commercial for the hardcore gaming massive to discover when they watch the ad in frame-by-frame slow motion. (Arigato to Jess for the tip.)

Posted by Supercore at 02:21 AM

November 09, 2006

Video: Britney Spears Told K-Fed of Divorce By Text Message? Ouch!

That's right, kids. The latest word from the rumor monster is that Britney Spears broke the news of her divorce plans to Kevin "K-Fed" Federline via text message. Now that's class, kids, real class. But the real kicker is that the moment K-Fed received the news from Brtiney on his handheld might likely have been caught on tape (see above video clip) while he was being recorded for a Canadian TV program and reality show. K-Fed was "visibly shaken" when receiving a text message, then tore off his mic and disappeared for a half hour before resuming taping for the show. When he came back, he was reportedly upset. Aaaaawkwaaard!

Posted by Thurston Ali at 01:12 AM

The Music Used in That GEICO Caveman "Airport" TV Commercial is ...

We've been getting a surprising number of email inquires from the Massive asking if we know what song is used in that recent GEICO Caveman television commercial, the one where the Caveman is at the airport. The music is from a song called "Remind Me" by Royksopp, an indie electronic-pop duo from Norway. The song is on their 2002 CD titled "Melody AM." It's an excellent album from one of our favorite music artists of the moment. We highly recommend it.

Posted by Supercore at 12:01 AM

November 08, 2006

It's the End of Britney Spears and K-Fed As We Know It -- Britney Files For Divorce!

That's right, kids. Britney Spears and her husband of roughly two years, Kevin Federline (or "K-Fed") are getting a divorce. You'd have to be deaf, dumb and blind and holed up in a remote Himalayan mountain village not to have known this was coming. My, oh my, how times have changed -- and so very quickly, too -- since the day Spears and Federline announced their love to the world on their Web site. We remember thinking then about Federline what we still think now -- Eeeeewwww!!! His whole background reeked, but nothing more so than the fact that he left his then pregnant girlfriend (preggers with their second child) to be with Spears. He was a back-up dancer who could claim to have appeared in a Target television commercial in addition to have danced in Spears' performance troupe. As for Spears, well, in spite of whatever talents, real or otherwise, that she may possess, there's no denying that she is a pop star. But maybe we should re-phrase that -- she was a pop star. Since K-Fed entered her life, her singing career has mostly been non-existent, while her public image has imploded. She has become a celebrity joke. As a brand, she went the way of tabloid trash. But now she's making a comeback. After the recent birth of her second child with Federline, she's reportedly slimmed down, fit and ready to re-enter the spotlight with a new album. However much we can't stand her music, her persona or pretty much anything she stands for, we have to wish the girl luck. Britney, you go girl!

Posted by Thurston Ali at 03:42 AM

November 07, 2006

Video: The Workspace "Idea Catcher"

Love what Ethan, a copywriter in New York, has done to his workspace at an advertising agency. With a little help from some colleagues, he's created what has been dubbed the "Idea Catcher," a web of blue tape used to "snag" paper and objects of inspiration. Cool.

Posted by Supercore at 11:01 PM

Borat is Number One at the Box Office

Given the hype, the many funny, much talked-about television appearances and all the YouTube publicity is it really a surprise that the Borat movie came in with the biggest box office receipts of the past weekend? Well, actually, yes, it is a surprise. It's a surpise that this kind of film did this well of an opening weekend. That is to say, we expected the movie to have some degree of financial and critical success, but just not on this scale. On Sunday, we popped by our local movie theater in downtown New York City and saw that Borat had sold out at least a half-dozen screenings, while outside the cinema the lines trailed down the block. The film was produced for only $11 million, so the execs at Fox must be laughing all the way to the bank on this one because, like the Jackass movies, profit margins on low-production (non-"high-concept") movies productions like these are huge. Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen) most certainly will not "be execute" (sic) back in his country when Borat's theatrical run ends.

Posted by Robsam at 09:52 AM

November 06, 2006

Choice-Cuts Gossip Linkage to Start Off Your Work Week ...

Lindsay Lohan Allegedly Dating Son of Diana Ross ... Baby, baby, baby, baby don't ...
Paris Hilton Would Rather Eat Than Have Sex ...
Nicole Richie Supposedly Stops Rehab for Shopping Spree ...
George Clooney Has the Hots for Cat Deeley, Allegedly ...
Kanye West is a Sore Loser or Prankster at Euro Video Awards Show ...

Posted by Thurston Ali at 12:24 AM

November 04, 2006

Video: Stephen Wiltshire Draws Perfect Landscapes of Cities From Memory

Amazing. Fascinating. Unbelieveable, but true.

Posted by Robsam at 02:59 AM

November 02, 2006

Video: Borat Meets David Letterman

The Borat publicity juggernaut goes full throttle with yet another television appearance by Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen), this time on the Late Show with David Letterman. Good stuff.

Posted by Robsam at 02:13 AM

October 31, 2006

Cool NYC Graffiti and Street Art

More cool New York City graf and street artistry from the Global Graphica file, including a new series of images documenting truck graf and fresh work at 11 Spring Street in downtown Manhattan. (Photo courtesy Ivan Corsa / Global Graphica)

Posted by Supercore at 03:14 AM

Yummy Gossip Linkage for the New Week

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe to Split!
Usher Ogling Lindsay Lohan's Breasts on SNL
NBC Drama "Studio 60" Might Get the Axe
Paris Hilton and Her Hot LAPD Halloween Costume
Bill Maher at Halloween Bash in Steve Irwin Stingray Get-Up

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:30 AM

Video: Borat Opening Sketch on "Saturday Night Live"

Live from New York ... Borat does SNL. Freaking hilarious, kidz!

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:22 AM

Toyota Scion Car Will Be Sold in Second Life

Fo' realzzz, yo ... Japanese carmaker Toyota will soon start to sell digital versions of its popular Scion cars in the online community Second Life (SL). The virtual version of hot box-shaped car will sell for $2.00. The plan to sell the cars in SL came as Toyota's ad agency developed its new marketing campaign for the car, which included advertising and giving away digital Scions in SL. The agency soon realized, however, that people in SL would actually pay to own virtual models. The rest is virtual marketing history.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:03 AM

October 29, 2006

Timeline of Madonna's Quest to Adopt African Baby

Just in case the controversy and ever-changing soap opera-like drama surrounding Madonna and her adoption of a Malawian baby was way too much to absor but simultaneously way too important to ignore, the BBC has a handy interactive, multimedia timeline delineating each micro-event in the ongoing Madonna African baby-adoption saga.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 04:04 AM

South Park Gets Hassled Over Steve Irwin Sketch

South Park has a habit of pissing someone off somewhere at least a couple of times a year. The latest criticism of the popular Comedy Central cartoon stems from "offensive" material in the most recent episode in which the late Australian croc hunter, Steve Irwin, is depicted with a stringray sticking out of his chest as he arrives at a party for the unliving thrown by Satan. Irwin then gets turned away from the Halloween party because -- even though he is dead -- he's not "in costume." Some dude from the organization Mediawatch called it "grossly insensitive." C'mooon, people -- South Park is comedy!

Posted by Thurston Ali at 03:51 AM

Tasty Weekend Celebrity Gossip Linkage ...

Nicole Richie Enters a "Clinic"
Actress Jessica Alba Getting Hot with Boy Toy in the Sea
Kate Moss Chugs Champagne in Her Underwear
Actress Tara Reid Talks About Her Breasts Issues
Ashlee Simpson Has a Bad Hair Day

Posted by Thurston Ali at 03:08 AM

October 26, 2006

The Style of 1993 Lives On in 2006

A New York Times Style Magazine article looks at style trends inspired by the fashions of 1993, when the grunge look emerged from the music underground of Seattle. We're not quite sure we see it. But some of the make-up (or, rather, the lack of make-up) and clothing of the grunge era have become a part of the contemporary style kit. We can't see flannel shirts coming back in a big way anytime soon, but Nirvana's "Nevermind" will always be a part of our MP3 collection.

Posted by Robsam at 11:53 PM

October 25, 2006

Video: Borat Interviewed by Chuck the Movie Guy

The Borat publicity juggernaut continues with this interview of Borat (as played by Sacha Baron Cohen) by Chuck the movie guy. Borat is a riot, as usual.

Posted by Robsam at 01:39 AM

October 24, 2006

Borat Invited to Visit Kazahkastan

In an ongoing campaign to diffuse what it sees the as the tainting of their nation's image at the hands of British actor-comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, the government of Kazakhstanhas now officially invited Cohen/Borat to visit the country. Borat, the fictional TV journalist from Kazakhstan as portrayed by Cohen, is an anti-semitic, sexist rube who the Kazakhstan government fears is making their country seem like a backward place full of similarly anti-semitic and sexist people. Whether Cohen/Borat will take up the invitation is yet to be seen.

Posted by Robsam at 09:59 PM

Paris Hilton Backlash Vol. 18: Nick Carter Calls Paris Drunken Prude with A Secret Teddy-Bear Stash

Former Backstreet Boy and idle, irrelevent celeb Nick Carter has spoken of that which happens in the grotto, so to speak. Or rather, he's kissing and telling, spilling the beans and dirty dishing on ex-girlfriend Paris Hilton. According to Carter, the Hilton Hotel heiress and celebutante was a herb-burning drunk whose prudish nature in the sack was only overcome with lots of pot and alcohol. Carter has reportedly said that Paris was so addicted to the wacky tobacky that in order to always have it available when traveling overseas, she would stash some in her teddy bear plush toy. And who said she as a total idiot? She may not have class, but she isn't completey stupid.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 09:04 PM

October 23, 2006

New GEICO "Talking Head" Caveman Commercial

The recent reappearance of the GEICO caveman in a new commercial (the caveman is gliding along an airport concourse on his way to catch a plane when he spots an insulting GEICO billboard) suggested that there were more 30-second TV spots to come as part of a new series of ads. The latest ad (see above) features the GEICO caveman as a guest on a very Fox News-like TV debate program, where the caveman is one of a pair of guest talking heads verbally tussling with each other and a news anchor. Funny stuff, as usual. Love the caveman.

Posted by Supercore at 11:54 PM

The Borat Movie Website Rocks

By now many of us know of Borat, the fictional TV journalist from Kazakhstan portayed by British actor-comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, and we are eagerly awaiting the soon to be theatrically released movie "Borat - Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan." The website for movie is a clever little dig at the government of Kazakhstan, which has publicly criticized Cohen for his character and the way it supposedly casts the Central Asian nation in a negative light. The movie's site is designed as the official Kazakhstan government's Ministry of Information website. This should really piss off Kazakhstan even more. Like the character Borat himself, the website is a phony. Upon casual inspection it's an obvious joke. As Borat would say, "Very nice! I like!"

Posted by Robsam at 07:43 PM

October 20, 2006

The Comedy of Demetri Martin Goes on the Road and the Web

Demetri Martin is one of the funniest young stand-up comedians in America today. He is truly an original comic. His style brings to mind the deadpan, clever one-liner observations of Steven Wright. You may have seen Martin's concert special on Comedy Central in the past year or caught him doing a segment on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart, where he is an occasional guest reporter and "expert." Though Martin has been playing clubs around the country, he's now on a proper comedy concert tour and has a promotional Web site called Clearification.com that has some of his short sketch comedy videos and audio clips of his routine. Great stuff.

(A big domo arigato to Sam. C for the tip.)

Posted by Supercore at 01:51 AM

There's a Blog About ... Tuna!

Seriously, folks, there's a blog about tuna ... ya' know ... the fish. Well, it's not so much about the fish in and of itself, that is, about the species, but rather about tuna as a food product, and specifically in it's canned form. Tunablog.com is a web site put together by the United States Tuna Foundation (naturally, that's the U.S.T.A. to you and us). The Tuna Blog title is qualified by the tagline "Everything You Need to Know About Canned Tuna in the U.S." We kid you not. (You can't make this stuff up!) Apparently, there's a lot one needs to know about tuna.

Posted by Supercore at 01:49 AM

The Thinking Behind a New Computerized Way to Predict Hit Movies and Hit Pop Music

There's an exhaustive and fascinating article in the New Yorker by Malcolm Gladwell (he of The Tipping Point fame) about efforts to predict which movies will be hits with audiences and which will be flops. A similar endeavor has been underway with predicting pop music hits using computer software programs developed by a couple of companies, one of them a New York City startup called Platinum Blue, which successfully predicted that Gnarls Barkley's hit single "Crazy" would be a major success. Can the same be done with movies.

Posted by Robsam at 01:48 AM

October 19, 2006

Jay Z Gets a Marketing Job for Beer Brand

That's right, homies. Jay Z is taking on another job title, but this time it's for a company of which he owns no part and it's not involved in music, fashion, basketball or vodka. Jay Z, a.k.a. Shaun Carter, is going into advertising and marketing. He's going to become is going to be "co-brand director" for the Budweiser Select beer line at Anheuser-Busch. The company is HQed in St. Louis, which is territory for rapper Nelly and Chingy, so one has to wonder if these guys will feel at all slighted by not being hooked up with one of the great, iconic brands of their hometown, especially 'cause they like it right thurrr.

Posted by Thurston Ali at 02:39 AM

October 18, 2006

... And the Project Runway 3 Finale Winner is ...

Jeffrey WINS!!! Woo-hoooooooo!!!

Posted by Supercore at 10:57 PM

The Project Runway Finale

It all comes down to four designers showing at Olympus Fashion Week at Bryant Park, New York City. Within the next 15 minutes we'll know who the