Returning from ‘08 is one of my favorites, You Look Nice Today: A Journal of Emotional Hygiene.  A hilarious and absurd bit of comedy from the brilliant minds of Merlin Mann, Scott Simpson, and Adam Lisagor, YLNT is an ever evolving hodgepodge of weirdness.  In one episode they’ll be developing a brand new dance move, and reminiscing about the poor fashion choices of their youth.  Well worth listening to. iTunes / RSS

Another one that’s withstood the test of time is This American Life, a creation of WBEZ Chicago, TAL has host Ira Glass and his team of producers, reporters, and creative people telling stories that make America great.  They run the gamut from funny and sincere, to poignant and thought-provoking, to heartbreakingly tragic or just plain outrageous.  Best of all, it’s entirely true. iTunes / RSS

TWIG a.k.a. This Week In Google is part of Leo Laporte’s “network” of webcasts and podcasts that discuss various aspects of tech in society.  Specifically hosts Leo Laporte, Jeff Jarvis, and Gina Trapani spend time digging up rumors, interviews, and insight into cloud technologies and news about the Big G.  A new add. iTunes / Site

Jordan, Jesse, Go! is a more subdued cousin to You Look Nice Today.  Hosted by Jordan “Boy Detective” Morris and Jesse “America’s Radio Sweetheart” Thorn, JJG! is a spiritual successor to their old college version of the very successful Sound of Young America.  Guests become entangled with Jordan and Jesse’s bizarre improvisations and their strong Internet community leads to call-ins describing ‘momentous occasions’ such as witnessing roller-blading goth kids, as well as special listener activities and projects. iTunes / RSS

I hope you’ve enjoyed, and I highly recommend giving each of these a chance, they’re well worth the time.  You may laugh or learn something new, and who couldn’t use more of both?

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In other computer-related news, I recently purchased the Fallout Collection from Good Old Games, an online distributor of old or out of publication games.  DRM-Free and packed with bonus extras, GOG.com manages to keep the price low and permits me to do whatever I want with the game; no tracking down patches, no dubious hacks to get it running.  A simple install and it’s up and running.  Fallout is a game I’ve been meaning to play with earnest for years now, but never sat down long enough to get into it.  The groundbreaking post-apocalyptic tale that set the standard for many post-apocalypses to come has an antiquated charm about it.  The controls are clunky and a bit obtuse, the inventory system is atrocious; and yet, I find myself enamored with the dilemma of choosing between carring that extra few clips of ammo or that spare shotgun.  Combat is slow going and enemy and ally AI aren’t the sharpest shivs on the cellblock, as likely to hit friendly targets as they are foes.  Altogether, though, the game is fun in spite of it’s dated controls and graphics.  Nothing is more satisfying that targeting an enemy’s eyes and blowing them to gooey, bloody chunks with a burst of semiautomatic pistol fire.

Familiar Faces

More Toys

Voices of Liberty, an a cappella singing group

Vintage Tin Toy from Japan's Toy Museum

Vintage Toy Airplane

Japanese Lantern at Japan Pavillion

You can find the rest at my flickr page.

More available on Flickr

First off, there’s the very short list a daily email service that brings to your inbox a variety of interesting articles and topics.  The subscriptions are broken down into several categories, such as the general Very Short List, a tech-centric one, VSL:Science, and a third tipping you off to stuff going on on the ‘net, VSL:Web.  There are also several more on the way from VSL, including specific emails on food, books, and even one for children.  It’s through one of VSL’s emails that I was introduced to my next subject. . .

Seventy-three years ago a young German man named Ernst Gombrich, a recent college graduate with little prospects, was challenged by a friend to write a history book for younger audiences.  Within six weeks Gombrich ferverently plotted out “A Little History of The World.”   The book became an immediate success, and as time has passed it’s been translated into twenty-four languages.   “A Little History” has only just been translated into English.  I’ve only a little ways into the book, containing only forty short chapters covering prehistory up to the last days of WWII, his style is both whimsical and informative.  The book reads as an entertaining story, without beating the reader over the head with names and dates, perfect for young people.

Finally, I was introduced to the band Mother Mother by a good friend. I’ve given their first album, “Touch Up,” a few listens and it’s good.  A somewhat obscure band from Canada, Mother Mother has a fun attitude and some strangely harmonious vocals. Their tracks have a solid energy overall, with only a few ‘misses’ in my opinion.  Their second album, “O My Heart” was released earlier this year.  Give’em a listen.

The plot revolves around a young girl staying at a hospital in the 1920′s after injuring her arm in a fall.  While there she meets a bedridden man by the name of Roy who begins to weave an amazing story of revenge, love, loss, and adventure for the young girl, beautifully brought to life within the girl’s mind’s eye.  During the telling of the tale it begins to take on a life of it’s own as both Roy and the young girl interject their own emotions and dreams into the story. As the film progresses you learn more and more of the little girl and Roy’s histories and how they came to the hospital, leading to stunning realization.

The movie is a feast for the eyes.  Stark, bold, and vivid colors and stunning vistas permeate the tale within the tale, contrasted by the subdued landscape of the hospital setting.  The story is at times tragic, uplifting, and touching.  The performances by Lee Pace (Roy) and the young girl (Catinca Untaru) are superb.

Check out the trailer, and let me know what you think.

Yes, my cockles.

You want to touch them, don’t you.

Most, if not nearly all, serve no purpose beyond cluttering up a profile with electronic junk. Super Walls and Bouncy Balls and Hot or Nots.

And then came Dungeons & Dragons: Tiny Adventures.

It’s a promotional thing Wizards of the Coast and Facebook have teamed up on. You pick a character and class, and you go out on solo adventures, killing monsters, completing quests, and (most importantly) gathering up a sweet arsenal of weapons and armor.

What’s this doing on a ‘social’ website?

By inviting your friends, they become adventurers as well. While they can’t help you directly with your quests, what they can do is grant you enhancement bonuses to your abilities, and even heal you.

If you’re looking for a fun little timesink or an amusing and nerdy distraction while at work, you might want to check it out.

Log in to Facebook and click here.