The Rudest (and Funniest) Bomb Movie Review You'll Ever See: PIXELS

I've never heard of MovieBob, but I'm a brand new, instant fan. It's like someone took The Rude Pundit, crossed him with Lewis Black, hopped up the result on energy shots and gave him the task of reviewing a shitty movie. It's spectacular, and from the looks of things, more entertaining than the movie by a long shot. But be warned: it's profane. In a good way, but your boss (or your spouse or your mom) might night think so.

You've been warned.
 

Atari Files for Bankruptcy

I love this picture. I'm sure there are full grown adults who have
no idea what it is. Image from source, HuffPo.

Again? I know that Atari has been owned by many different companies (it was Warner Brothers at one time), and gone through huge ups and downs. But I really didn't know "Atari" was still a stand-alone company. This is like me thinking that Conrad Bain, Jack Klugman and Charles Durning were long dead, and not just recently so. What has happened to my pop culture knowledge? Man, it sucks getting old!

[Excerpt]

Atari's U.S. Operations File For Bankruptcy

Video game maker Atari's U.S. operations have filed for bankruptcy protection in an effort to separate from their French parent company. In a statement, Atari says the move is necessary to secure investments it needs to grow in mobile and digital gaming. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Blast from the Past: All I Want for Christmas (in the 70s!)

This week's Blast from the Past features all those things kids wanted in the 1970s. The oh-so-cool things we saw in the J C Penney catalog, or on TV on Saturday mornings. The things that--if we were lucky enough to get them--we played with a few times then forgot about, then sold at a yard sale later! But they were so enticing. Kids today probably would look at most of this stuff and go, really? But we were easier to please. . .

The Snoopy Snow Cone Machine is the only one I never had, though I believe the Gnip Gnop, Operation, Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots and the Easy Bake Oven were all trash picked or second hand. The rest had a legit place in our rec room. The Lite Brite infuriated my mother, who kept finding the pegs in the shag carpeting (usually with her feet or the vacuum cleaner). Spirograph fascination was very short-lived, as was our Slinky love. SSP Smash Up Derby was fun on Christmas day, forgotten thereafter. Operation and Connect Four aren't half as much fun as they looked, and Skittle Pool was just a variation on all of the other Skittles (there were several). Of all of these, the Atari VCS (2600) was the one with the most hours of obsessiveness. I think we played ours for four or five years.

And that will do it for this week's installment. I hope Santa brings you all the toys you really want (even if they end up stuffed in a closet by New Year's). Meanwhile, have a great last week before Christmas, everybody!

News of the Weird: Death by Xbox

Wow. I have to say, I had no idea that a 20-year-old could die by sitting in one position for 12 hours. I didn't really know anyone could. I live in Las Vegas, home of the penny-slot grannies. They park there for days. Not to mention the 450-pound buffet warriors who go everywhere in their Hoveround.  But I've got to say, I'm doing the math of how many hours I sit here doing this blog thingie!

[Excerpt]

Chris Staniforth Dies From Blood Clot After 12-Hour Xbox Marathons 

In the latest example of "everything in moderation," too much Xbox-playing may have led to a young British man's death. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Frivolity Break: Pac-Man vs. Mario

Fun!

John McCain's Totally Tubular Video Game

Do you like politics? Are you a John McCain fan? And do you like cutting-edge video games? Well, my friend, you're in luck! John McCain has appropriated the white hot video game Space Invaders. The aliens have been reappropriated into piggy banks, the space ship is now a barrel of pork, and instead of a gun, you have a John McCain for President sign. Um, OK. I guess that's why it's called Pork Invaders. I'd guess they're going to get a few visitors that were expecting something else. . .

Anyway, while the piggies try to poop on you, you try to blast them with VETO power! It's a little slow (like McCain), and the sign makes a pretty big target for the piggy poop. But you don't have to take my word for it. You can play it right here, right now!

Careful not to get "Atari Thumb."