Happy Me Day

Happy birthday to me.
Happy Birthday to me!
Happy Birthday to mmmmeeEEEEEeeeEEEeeEeee...

(that's how well I sing in real life)

This year I found out that I share a birthday with Grace Helbig and I got some nifty gift cards -but- I got myself two things, which I thought I'd share:

1) The "A Bit of 'Fry & Laurie'" box set. Most of which - well, almost all of which, is, in fact, on YouTube (here). Then "Why?? get them?" you might ask. You might - and just that dramatically. It's not that I'm worried for Messrs. Fry and/or Laurie -'s financial well being (what is this? year 10 of QI, and about the same for House?) but it comes from the same urge, I suppose, that makes me want to give buskers a buck when I hear something I particularly like (at least in the 'ideal' - it's been ages since I've seen one in the wild and even if I did, I doubt I'd have any cash on me at the time... so it's all just academic, really, isn't it?)

Anyway- it's good. And if you don't want to drop a dollar in the hat - or more precisely, 54 at Amazon - then do check out the "duo" on YouTube.

(fig. 1 in which Emma Thompson doesn't play a significant role in this DVD set, thought it does include a Special Feature, in which she does play a part in several Cambridge Footlights Revue sketches (; the puppy is just cute))

2) And Music! The Scott Pilgrim soundtracks as well as the new Synthetica by Metric.
Samples:

a) "Threshold" by Sex Bob-Omb (Scott Pilgrim versus The World Original Motion Picture Soundrack)

And

b) "Youth Without Youth" by Metric (Synthetica)

And yes, Metric is on the Scott Pilgrim soundtrack - "Black Sheep" but in the movie it was Brie Larson singing as Envy Adams in the'meta-fictional band' "The Clash at Demonhead":

(VO in BILL HADER's voice): Bonus Round!

(HADER): Versus!

(sorry - couldn't resist)

When servers bite.

When racking stuff without help, always keep a firm grip on your equipment. Your shins will thank you.

Afters - the Sam Adams Octoberfest and the rib-eye from Chili's made everything better. Well... the Advil helped too.

AFP Live - on the Internet

This is just cut and pasted from the YouTube:

"MailChimp Presents: Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra Live from NYC

"JUST ANNOUNCED! Save the date: New Year's Eve with Amanda Palmer & The Grand Theft Orchestra Live in NYC - venue and details coming tomorrow at AmandaPalmer.net... "That's right, it's PARTY ON THE INTERNET time and you're all invited! Thanks to our friends at MailChimp, we're going to stream our concert in NYC on Tuesday, September 11 LIVE from Webster Hall on YouTube to celebrate the THEATRE IS EVIL album release and tour kickoff. You'll be able to tune in starting at 10pm EDT / 7pm PDT on YouTube.com/amandapalmer AND we're making a big (awesome) announcement that night, too! If you're coming to a show this fall, this'll be a good way to get extra excited for it as we'll be playing a bunch of the new songs and old favorites. There will be surprises, and it's going to be off the hook. 'Theatre Is Evil' and evil is EVERYWHERE on Tuesday - get it on AmandaPalmer.net at http://bit.ly/AFPshop."

 #happeningnow

DVD Trailers

You know- You Know- You KNOW... the DVD is good when the trailers are mandatory when you first pop the disc in. And it's Michael Freakin Moore.

ME3's New Extendo-cut Ending (Free) DLC

So... I got a email saying that "eavision" had just dropped a clip on YouTube. Among other things our friends at EA announced the re-cut/extra scenes added - well here it is in their own words:

The Mass Effect 3: Extended Cut DLC is a downloadable content pack that will expand upon the events at the end of Mass Effect 3. Through additional cinematic sequences and epilogue scenes, the Extended Cut will include deeper insight to Commander Shepard's journey based on player choices during the war against the Reapers.

(from EA, emphasis added, DLC launch date page here)

Really? You really think it's going to make this guy happy?

Whadda ya want? It's a meme.

Samsung delivers the Galaxy (boldly going... where no phone has gone before...?)

And I thought I was just getting a phone that I could finally play Words with Friends on.

...and Mille Bornes, of course.

While I'm here- so I went into my local @ and T store to get a cover for the thing (didn't want to scratch up the back with my keys or my pocket knife or anything). And I get there at lunch. Two people on two sets of customers (2 in the first, then 1 in the second set) and then one woman in the back flipping through a magazine. Okay. So I grab a cover and que to check out. And I start waiting. And Waiting. And waiting some more. And there's one guy - the greeter, I suppose, who is not doing much of anything. After a while, Magazine gets up from the bench at the back of the store and walks out. Finally when the cashier - excuse me - sales representative (or somesuch) finishes with her guy, she leaves me waiting at the counter while she walks the guy to the front of the store in order to open the door for him on his way out. But only after asking him "if he was pleased with his service today and if he was asked would he recommend them to his family and friends" or some damned thing. Now I could understand if the guy was infirm or looked like he would have trouble finding his way to - or some how opening the door - or finding Outside once said door was found and indeed open. But he wasn't. He was mid-thirties business casual guy - in short, he looked like he could hold down a day job with out drooling on himself too much. WTF AT&T? WTF?

And- I get the impression that that's not that unusual. I know someone that used to work for a cell carrier at a call center. They used to say that the people in the retail stores were generally considered to be complete idiots by the call center workers.

To be fair (he said grudgingly) I have find *the* guy to help before at the locations that I've had to take problems to. By my own limited experience, there seems to be only one person employed at any given location that is really helpful and competent - not a super-great average... but then I don't go very often (wonder why?) so my experience is limited and anecdotal. Caveat emptor you.

Drewford

It's been a while since last I posted. I've said it before and I'll say it again: I don't want to spend my time bitching about Internet content (I do enough of that on FB). Not exactly 'ranty', I know. But. I'd rather try to spend most of my time sharing wonderfulness - and only resort to the soapbox when I absolutely have to (or I just feel like it).

Today's Thing to Check Out is another webcomic - "Drewford". I've clipped a panel instead of posting a whole cartoon just to avoid that whole "The Oatmeal" theft scene. (Those Funnyjunk idiots are just that. But that's just my opinion - I could be wrong (to steal a line from the old Dennis Miller))

Go There Now!: http://drewfordcomic.com