2009年1月2日星期五
2008年12月20日星期六
10 Feel-Good Movies for the Holidays
For some reason, the studios like to push out some major bummers this time of year. Don’t they know how stressful the holidays are? Check out these movies and give your tear ducts a break
1. Laugh: Young Frankenstein
This Mel Brooks classic isn’t quite as naughty as some of his other comedies (Blazing Saddles isn’t quite Christmas Eve fare), but it’s just as funny. From Gene Wilder’s wild-eyed Frankenstein, to Marty Feldman’s pop-eyed Igor, a tap-dance routine with the homemade monster - pop it into the DVD player and giggle.
2. Renew Your Faith in Humanity: To Kill a Mockingbird
Gregory Peck’s role as Atticus Finch solidified his status as one of the greats. As a small-town Southern lawyer who represents a man accused of rape because of his race, Peck’s Finch teaches his fellow townspeople, his daughter Scout, and plenty of movie-watchers all about the basic goodness of humanity.
Babe Courtesy of Universal Home Entertainment
3. Get the Warm Fuzzies: Babe
This little piggy avoids going to market by learning how to herd sheep with help from a canine pal and a gentle farmer. The animals are cute without being cloying - the sheep explain they’ll be herded if the dogs are nice - and James Cromwell is perfect as the thoughtful and king Farmer Arthur Hoggett. Make it a double-feature with Babe: Pig in the City, too.
4. Feel Good About Folks: The Visitor
The always-charming Richard Jenkins plays Walter Vale, a lonely, widowed professor who visits NYC for work, only to discover a couple living in his apartment, much to everyone’s surprise. After things are cleared up - Tarek and Zainab were the victims of real-estate fraud - Walter lets them stay. In return, Tarek teaches Walter to drum and takes him to drum circles in the park. Walter’s life is changed by their connection, and is moved to take action when Tarek gets in hot water with the Immigration Department.
Andrew Lincoln in Love Actually Courtesy of Universal Home Entertainment
5. Snuggle Up: Love Actually
This rom-com features a galaxy of stars like Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Keira Knightley, Colin Firth, and more couples whose stories overlap in this Christmas tale. Spanning ages, races, and occupations, Love Actually is a funny film about love of all kinds - between married people, single people, school kids, and even parents and children.
6. Sing and Dance: Hairspray
Pick up the original Hairspray for a bouffant-filled good time. Ricki Lake’s Tracy Turnblad is a “pleasantly plump” gal who tries to fit in… and then decides to scrap it and do what she wants instead. She ends up involved in the fight for racial equality when she is befriended by some of the black kids at school, who also help her learn the dance moves she needs to realize her dream of getting on the local teen dance show. Plus, the soundtrack rocks and pine plays her mom!
7. Escape: Roman Holiday
You can’t go wrong with Audrey Hepburn or Gregory Peck, so when they get together in this rom-com as Princess Ann and Joe Bradley, they’re unstoppable. Her sparkling eyes and warm humor easily wins over Joe as they go on adventures around Rome on his Vespa and smooch it up around the city.
Po and Master Shifu in Kung Fu Panda Courtesy of DreamWorks
8. Hiya!: Kung Fu Panda
As Jack Black has proclaimed over and again, he is Po, the chubby clumsy panda who dreams of being a kung fu master instead of working in his dad’s noodle shop. When he gets his chance, he gets his fuzzy butt kicked on the regs by Master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman) and the rest of his kung fu heroes, the Furious Five. By the time he gets the hang of this kung fu business, his “bodacity” is in full effect. Get it on Blu-ray if you have the means so you can enjoy the close-ups of Po’s cute button nose.
9. Travel Through Time: The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai
This cult favorite has it all - interstellar travel, mad scientists, aliens, pretty ladies, rock music, crazy gadgets, a guy named New Jersey, and so much more. Goofy fun led by the most multitalented guy in the cosmos, Buckaroo Banzai!
10. Revel in the Absurd: Anchorman
Will Ferrell’s pompous, mustached Ron Burgundy is a putz and a misogynist who tries to match wits with his beautiful new co-anchor, Veronica Corningstone, but fails miserably (while falling in love). Anchorman is worth it for the one-liners alone - you can buy t-shirts that say “I Love Lamp,” for the love of all that’s holy. And there are unicorns.
当得知袭击布什的皮鞋是中国制造后(转载）
这必须转啊，太叮了~~
美 国总统布什12月14日突访伊拉克，并与伊拉克总理马利基签署了美国驻军协议和两国间战略框架协议。在布什同马利基联合举行的新闻发布会上，两位领导人刚 握完手，坐在台下第三排的巴格达迪亚电视台记者扎伊迪突然跳起，将自己脚上的两只鞋子脱下，连续向布什砸去，同时用阿拉伯语大喊，“这是临别之吻，你这禽 兽。这是孤儿寡妇以及在伊拉克丧生的人送给你的！”
扎伊迪用皮鞋袭击布什后，来自东方的中国人民对扎伊迪并不感冒，而是特别关注扎伊迪扔出去的那双皮鞋。中国网友们和各皮鞋研制专家根据扎伊迪袭击布什的现场视频，对扎伊迪那双皮鞋进行仔细分析验证，最后得出一致结论：袭击布什的皮鞋是由中国南方某皮鞋厂最新研制的萨姆Ⅷ“金弹”牌皮鞋。该结论经糊弄网记者伊妹儿女士率先披露后，全球媒体一片哗然。
——没脸社评论：布 什总统在即将卸任之际，终于在伊拉克发现了大规模杀伤性武器，不过令布什总统万万没有想到的，伊拉克如此高科技的生化武器，居然是在中国南方的一个小胡同 里研制出来的。不知道是否是聪明的伊拉克人早在美国发动攻击之前，就把武器研制中心转移到了中国，还是中国自行研发的先进武器，在伊拉克进行实验？
——露透射消息：恐怖主义已经渗透到了伊拉克的每一个角落，伊拉克人最有力的恐怖武器就是穿在脚上的萨姆Ⅷ“金弹”牌皮鞋。为了防止驻伊美英联军的遭到来自伊拉克人的袭击，美英联军要求伊拉克政府从即日起禁止伊拉克公民穿来自中国的萨姆Ⅷ“金弹”牌皮鞋，加强对伊拉克各个关口的检查，凡是穿萨姆Ⅷ“金弹”牌皮鞋的伊拉克人一律视为恐怖分子。
——俄榻社电讯：中国生产的高端武器萨姆Ⅷ“金弹”牌皮鞋在伊拉克一亮相就表现出了武器的高性能。这是人类高端武器迄今为止最近距离袭击美国总统，在这之前，没有哪一个国家曾做到，中国在武器研制上又迈出了一大步。国防部拟近日派出武器采购团赴中国洽谈采购萨姆Ⅷ“金弹”牌皮鞋和技术转让事宜。
——恒河浪潮社：孟买遭到恐怖袭击，军方截取可靠消息，北方的巴基扯蛋有直接卷入。军方近日大规模调集空军，部署战备，布什总统在伊拉克遭袭击后，军方立即放弃实施军事打击决定，因为担心北方的巴基扯蛋已经拥有来自中国的萨姆Ⅷ“金弹”牌皮鞋，如果巴基扯蛋使用萨姆Ⅷ“金弹”牌皮鞋，对于整个印度来说是毁灭性的。
——金太阳社：我们坚定的社会主义盟友，伟大的中国人民，拥有无穷无尽的智慧，萨姆Ⅷ“金弹”牌皮鞋让罪恶的美国人再一次领略社会主义的强大和威力！有了中国盟友的强大支持和社会主义阵营的一贯团结，我们永远是朝鲜半岛上不落的金太阳。为了表达对伟大的中国人民的祝贺，我国将举行为期十天的阿里郎大型歌舞表演。
——日人民报：我国成功研制出直接由人工发射的萨姆Ⅷ“金弹”导 弹，并且在伊拉克实验取得成功，这是全球第一个掌握该项技术的国家，中国的军事工业取得里程碑式的进步。这是我国最具代表性、最具影响力的国家级重大科研 实践活动，是中国人民攀登世界科技高峰的又一伟大壮举，全国人民应当以此激发爱国主义精神，积极投身到各项社会主义事业中去，为把祖国建设成为超一流的国 家而努力奋斗！
2008年12月10日星期三
Where The Hell is Matt?
Matt Harding is a 32-year-old video game designer who quit his job in 2003 to travel around Asia. Along the way, he recorded and posted a short video of himself doing an elbow-intensive jig in Hanoi. That clip got passed from one person to the next and eventually got the attention of Stride Gum, which decided to sponsor two more of his trips. In his latest video, Harding visits 42 countries over 14 months and invites the locals to join in the fun. That includes everyone from some Huli Wigmen in Papua New Guinea to a group of school kids in the Solomon Islands. The sheer silliness and joy of Harding's adventures will keep you smiling long after you've watched them — and give you a serious case of wanderlust.
Dancing 2008
Original Link: Where the hell is Matt?
Dancing 2008
Original Link: Where the hell is Matt?
2008年12月5日星期五
2008年12月4日星期四
Timeline of a Coffee Drinker--just for fun:)
I order large coffees, but stop drinking when the coffee gets too cold. There’s always a couple of ounces left in the cup, so I can’t just toss it into my wastebasket. I dread the long haul to the bathroom to properly dispose of the coffee remains. Hence you will usually find a tower of paper cups on my desk.
Original Link: Timeline of a Coffee Drinker
2008年12月3日星期三
Top 10 Searches for 2008--by Yahoo!
The singer’s steep trajectory to redemption restored her to the top of searches. Her year began with a police visit, hospital stay, and psych evaluation. She returned under her father’s shelter and, by summer, settled custody with her ex. Professionally, she guested on a sitcom, won thrice at the MTV Video Music Awards, broke records with “Womanizer,” relaunched her site, and released a documentary detailing her fall and comeback…by age 27.
A June explosion destroyed a World Wrestling Entertainment stage and “injured” chairman Vince McMahon, unleashing a sweaty soap opera of chaos that included his kids appealing for cooperation in difficult times. The stunt could’ve symbolized the sporting empire’s battles against the economy’s fall and mixed martial arts’ rise. WWE produced more events, video games, and movies to make up for fewer paying fans, and faithfuls kept track online to maintain its Top 2 status.
The Illinois junior senator faced two hard-fought contests and nearly won a third-although toppling Britney Spears wasn’t on his list. He entered 2008 as a relative newcomer on the national scene and ended the year as president-elect. His campaign defied political wisdom and made history at every turn. His Web strategy set the groundwork to make him the first wired president and, in an unprecedented Search surge, landed him at No. 3.
Before 2008, the singer/actress had been better known-and searched-by her Disney persona, Hannah Montana. She appeared on shows like “Idol Gives Back” as Cyrus, but true name recognition came with scandal: a Vanity Fair spread featuring the 15-year-old seemingly wrapped only in a bedsheet. Savvy Cyrus apologized, survived, and closed down Disneyland for a 16th birthday charity bash, and ended up at No. 4.
The multi-player role-playing game’s international popularity rests on its cheap access, ability to run on older computers, and compelling play. Its underground success has even led to a real black market, trading actual cash for RuneScape gold-and controversial restrictions to stop it. A new boss, graphics, and touted player-versus-player combat release signal the company’s power play to step up in the RPG battle…and take hold at No. 5.
Her movies fared none too well, following 2007 missteps that got her three Razzie Worst Actress nominations. Still, she earned Best Movie Actress at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards and No. 6 in searches, buoyed by her wedding and baby Honor Marie (who earned a reported $1.5 million in her OK! mag debut). The pregnant pause may have given her impetus to switch to more serious roles-something to watch for in 2009.
The manga. The game. The anime. Whatever form Naruto Uzumaki takes, the awkward but accomplished young graduate of the Ninja Academy remains the Web’s most popular fictional character in seventh place. His peers and enemies also command their own followings, but the complex tale of Naruto (whose name translates to “maelstrom”), the orphaned misfit who craves recognition, resonates with its generation of fans.
At No. 8, the actress made stumbling progress back from rehab, revolving-door relationships, and rejected roles. On the upside, she settled down (with a monogamous twist), blogged about politics, and recreated Marilyn Monroe’s photo shoot. On the downside, she got booted from “Ugly Betty” and as World Music Awards host. Lohan has had celebs testifying to her talent, but a true comeback may have to wait for 2009.
Leading power lists in Forbes and even Guinness World Records, the actress took her place among Hollywood’s elite. “Delicate” condition aside, she underscored her image as a tough-dame throwback with a 21st-century vibe. She earned box-office bucks as an assassin and cartoon tigress, Oscar cred in “Changeling,” and karma by donating her and Brad Pitt’s twins’ $14 mil pictorial payout to charity-moves that muscled her in at No. 9.
Judges kept declaring its 2008 singers their best ever, but while the Fox reality show ruled ratings, an audience decline since 2007 sent producers into a fit of self-examination. In a season beset with complaints, “Idol” had the last laugh with a smashing finale and iTunes recordbreaker. The show also got “cougar” into household vernacular, unlikely credit for exposing youth to the democratic process, and a top Search 10 nod once again.
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For some reason, the studios like to push out some major bummers this time of year. Don’t they know how stressful the holidays are? Check ou...