B-Side acquired by Stella Artois

If you're reading this it's almost certainly because you're interested in the film industry – in particular film festivals – and you clicked on a Twitter link with the headline above. I'm not even going to pretend that it's anything but a lame April Fool's Day gag, and one that I thought of in the evening hours of the day in question, so you may even be reading this on April 2nd.

However, if you do know anything about film festivals, you probably also know about the ridiculously ubiquitous alcohol sponsorship that Stella provides to film festivals large and small. Heck, they're even sending some lucky schmuck to Cannes. So you probably appreciate the inside-baseball nature of the joke, and you probably recognized it instantly as a put-on – though you might have hesitated just a second. If Stella really wanted to own the film festival market, wouldn't taking over Festival Genius be a pretty good way to start?

I'm sorry I don't have any actual news regarding the future of Festival Genius just yet, but be patient. There should be something soon. Until then, please enjoy being Rickrolled.

Taiwan's NMA News breaks down the Conan/Leno drama

Even though it's in a language I don't speak, this is the best explanation of the NBC situation I've yet to see.

(tip o' the hat to @hyams and @jmerriman)

Al Yankovic. Once again my hero.

Grammar, people!

Ihnatko's handy tips for solar panels for peanuts.

It reminds me of those "Get rich quick with your own home business!" things that used to be advertised in magazines. You'd send in your $10 and get a sheet of paper saying "Take out an ad in a magazine advertising a get-rich-quick home business. Fill incoming orders with photocopies of this same sheet of paper.

via blogs.suntimes.com

Andy Ihnatko (by way of Roger Ebert) expresses his outrage at overpriced instructions for solar-powering your home. I need to think up one of these get-rich-quick schemes. Anyone wanna buy instructions on how to make a cult movie?

Posted via web from Blue Glow

Avoid the Star Wars Holiday Special

In case you've never encountered it: the Stomp Tokyo review of The Star Wars Holiday Special, complete with photo gallery.

TED talk: Motivation and incentives. Dan Pink on what science knows and what business does

Yet another insanely great talk from TED. A must-watch for just about anyone who solves problems creatively in their work.

Do You Wanna Date My Avatar?

Felicia Day doesn't need my help getting attention, but I'm embedding anyway.

2012: Disasterrific!

Best movie trailer. Ever.



For those interested, the significance of the year 2012 is that it is the grossly oversimplified interpretation of the end of the Mayan calendar.

Ghostbusters 1954 trailer

"Basil Rathbone must be giving a party."

Michael Bay. Eating a Bowl of Cereal. In HD.

Twitter in plain English

So when your grandma asks you "What's Twitter?" you'll know how to explain it to her.

How to Make a Baby

Yup, yup, that's exactly how it works.

Have you ever wanted superpowers?

Pulp Fiction as re-enacted by kids.

Brilliant.

Sarah Silverman's Farewell to Bush

Sarah Palin Jack o'Lantern

GJ Echternkamp just makes me love him some more with his latest creation.

What Oscar the Grouch likes about public television

From the 1988 pledge drive season.

How to Be the Perfect Girlfriend

How To Be The Perfect Girlfriend

Where has VideoJug been all my life?

Retarded Policeman #14 - Bribes

He's got a pager!

Ode to (Musical, Sarcastic, Ultraviolent) Joy

My wife Christina and I have an ongoing conversation about the Muppets. We're watching a lot of Sesame Street these days (during our 2 year-old daughter's asthma nebulizer sessions) and we've noticed that the Muppets on Sesame Street aren't as funny as they used to be -- at least not in that sarcastic, subversive way. I still think Sesame Street is a great show, but its creators have moved in a fuzzier, gentler direction than in the early days. (Just watch the classic "Subway" musical number for proof of that -- can you imagine these lyrics being approved for broadcast today?) There are still some great bits being done: witness the new Feist video on the upcoming season of Sesame Street -- you might recognize the tune.



Fortunately, it seems the subversive spirit at Henson Studios hasn't died -- it's gone a bit more underground and is leaking its way out any way it can. In particular it has found a home on YouTube. Great new bits like the one below have been showing up on everyone's favorite video service and they make good use of the staples that have made the Muppets so entertaining over the years: music, sarcasm, and slapstick violence. Perhaps it's a viral campaign for the upcoming Muppet movie? Is it just a way for the Muppeteers to let out some old-school wackiness? I don't care. Just keep 'em coming.