Question of the Day

We've done this one before, but not for ages... What's your favorite silly question game to play with friends?

Iain and I, and many of our friends, are big fans of "How Much Would Someone Have to Pay You To...?" (which I'm guessing is self-explanatory), "Would You Rather...?" (in which two hilariously heinous options are posed for selection and explanation of one's choice, the latter being the fun part), and the always-popular "Who Would Win in a Fight?"

Last time we played, Kenny Blogginz asked me, "Who would win in a fight: Gandalf or Robocop?"

I replied, "Obviously, Gandalf. Insects can wreak havoc with machinery, and he would recruit kamikaze moths to fuck Robocop's shit up. He could win via mothstrike from the other side of the world."

KBlogz told me that he has asked many, many people that question, and many have chosen Gandalf, ultimately indefensibly, but that mine was the most creative strategy and defense of my choice that he'd heard. I naturally beamed with the pride of the impossibly nerdy.

News from Shakes Manor

This weekend, while Kenny Blogginz was over and we were looking for a suitably terrible film for all of us to enjoy, Iain was scrolling through Netflix and put on a mystery film while I was out of the room, which I was to identify upon my return.

Within 10 seconds, I'd guessed it was a Nicolas Cage film.

Iain and KBlogz were impressed. "How'd you get it so fast?!" Iain exclaimed.

I shrugged. "Basic math: Jewel-encrusted book + fingerless gloves."


"She's a black magic woman!"

News from Shakes Manor

Sitting in the living room after tea, talking about what would happen if one of the enormous origin stars a billion times bigger than our sun exploded right now (like ya do)...

Iain: [Offers a really detailed and interesting thought that I'm going to reductively paraphrase as: "The gamma ray burst would destroy all life on Earth."]

Me: Wait a minute—wouldn't it just turn us all into hulks?

Iain: *makes :-| face*

Top Chef: Texas Open Thread

The cast of Top Chef: Texas flaunt their toque blanche for the cameras.
Someone was eliminated! Someone won a prize! There was cooking and shopping and judging. Most importantly: there was judging. Because that's how the chefjudicators send cheftestants home. By judging!

Spoilers below. Discuss!

(See also.)

Great News!

If we remember the year 2011 for nothing else, let us remember that it was the year we first heard about the MTV casting call for a show that's "like Jersey Shore, but with nerds." Because: A) That is obviously going to be a very good show; and B) We're all going to be on it!

(No it isn't. No we're not.)


The Deezen Shore

HOBBIT TRAILER!!!

Old Bilbo (Ian Holm) says in voiceover: [scenes of Hobbiton] My dear Frodo, you asked me once if I had told you everything there was to know about my adventures. [scene of Old Bilbo at his writing desk] While I can honestly say I have told you the truth, I may not have told you all of it.

Cut to Gandalf (Ian McKellan) talking to Young Bilbo, played by Martin Freeman (!!!YAY!!! I AM STILL SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS CASTING! !!!YAY!!!): Bilbo Baggins, I'm looking for someone to share in an adventure.

Bilbo in voiceover: [scenes of Bilbo doing Hobbity things] I can't just go running off into the blue. I am a Baggins of Bag End!

Cut to Gandolf showing up at Bilbo's front door to make introductions of the company of dwarves, ending with Thorin. (THORIN!!!)

Singing: Misty Mountains. OMG SQUEE!!! Caverns old. HOLY SHIT!!!

As the dwarves chant, we get montagery: Gandalf looking anxious, Bilbo finding Sting, Gandalf talking to Galadriel, caverns, rocks, a journey, pipes. Thorin tells Gandalf: "I cannot guarantee his safety, nor will I be responsible for his fate." Mountains, journey, swelling music, horses, suspenders, fights. Gandalf tells Bilbo he cannot promise that he'll come back. "And if you do, you will not be the same."

The One Ring. It's in Gollum's cave. "My name is Bilbo Baggins," says Bilbo. "Bagginses," hisses Gollum. "What is a Bagginses, precioussssssss?"

Coming to a theater near you in ONE YEAR!

[Via Peter Jackson.]