My Favourite Things: Janurary 2012

NOTE: This article was originally posted by me on ASiteCalledFRED.com

Hello and welcome to the first MFT of 2012. I hope to start the year as I mean to go on; with lots of fun things from across the interwebs and such!

For those reading this column for the first time, this is a place where I essentially show you some of the things I've enjoyed (often but not always online) in the past month. They may not have necessarily been created in January but I've enjoyed them during that time.

Now lets get to it.

1) Address Is Approximate

This neat animation was made by Tom Jenkins and I'll let him explain the story in his own words "A lonely desk toy longs for escape from the dark confines of the office, so he takes a cross country road trip to the Pacific Coast in the only way he can – using a toy car and Google Maps Street View."

It's a very clever little piece and it has surprisingly a lot of heart. Check it out.

Video Challenge - Week 3: Your Personality In Person And Online

Weekend Justice #145: Will Somebody Save Somebody?

After missing last week because of... sleep. I make a magical return to Weekend Justice! I'm all about returns this week.

This episode stars myself, Jon, Serv, Rox, Widge, and Scott. I arrive slightly late to the party but by the end... oh man do I kill that party.

Among our subjects this week:

• Oscar mayhem!
• Saint Liam
• Aaron vs. the World re: The Muppets
• Widge vs. the World re: Braveheart
• Everyone vs. Terry Malick
• Everyone vs. The Lord of the Rings. Sorta.
• Taxidermied babies!
• I Don't Know Why We're Talking About "I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant"
• Ireland. Really tiny.
• Star Trek: The Next Generation, introduced to the next generation
• Boardwalk Empire...quickly

To listen to the show CLICK HERE or to download directly CLICK HERE

CABIN FEVER #104: The Answer Is Always Penis

I feel like I owe an explanation...
I recorded what was to be my last Cabin Fever episode (#100) in September 2010. I had decided to quit the show a couple months beforehand when I found the time dedicated to the show became too much and I felt I needed to stretch myself a little bit by trying some things on my own.

I don't regret that decision in any way. I've had an amazing time in the year I've been away from the show and I genuinely believe being free of the commitment to record Cabin Fever has enabled that to happen. Brian was to keep recording episodes without me, with what was to be a new line-up for the show. He made three in the end and lost his momentum. Why he hasn't recorded in a year is a blog post for him to write, I guess.

Approximately in November last year, myself and Brian talked about possibly reforming the show. I had felt that the break had done me good but when the possibility of recording via Skype arose (which would make recording every week infinitely easier and less of a time drain for me) I got a little excited at the prospect of chatting with Brian once again to try and make people laugh. I had missed the rapport we have.

This week we took the plunge and recorded our first episode together in 16 months. I'm very happy to be back doing this show with my friend and hopefully our listeners will be too.

SO ON THAT NOTE: to listen to us make dick jokes CLICK HERE or to download the podcast directly CLICK HERE.

Tease Me, Baby! - The Pirates! Band of Misfits

NOTE: This article was originally posted by me on TheWebsiteOfDOOM.com

Aardman Animations are akin to Pixar, in my eyes, for the level of quality output they provide. From Wallace & Gromit's many adventures to Chicken Run and more, you can always rely on them to give us an enjoyable movie.

This movie, which judging by how it's titled could be the first of many, has an all-star cast to make any film jealous. Hugh Grant, Brendan Gleeson, Salma Hayek, Brian Blessed, Martin Freeman, David Tennant, Imelda Staunton, the list goes on and on and on.

And the animation? Woah, moma! Seriously, I'm very excited about this. Just watch below and you'll see why.

Tease Me, Baby! - Snow White And The Huntsman

NOTE: This article was originally posted by me on The Website of Doom.com

We're being treated to two Snow White movies this year. Both are trying different takes to the Walt Disney style story made oh so famous. I think both are fully sans-dwarves as well. Size-ist Hollywood strikes again.

This seems to have a great cast; Charlize Theron, Chris Hemsworth, that chick from Twilight that nobody likes, all good box-office fodder right there. And the story could be fun, ramping up the fairy-tale for a slightly older audience. Everything you need for a hit, right?

Well, we've seen this sort of thing fail on it's ass in the past. The Brothers Grimm, anyone? And I know I keep harping on about this but with such a big budget movie line-up this year it's going to be difficult to get bums on seats unless you get some good reviews from the critics.

Now I'm obviously not one of those influencial critics. I'm more one of those "haha, he said number 2" sort of online writers. So lets just take a look at the trailer and see what we think.

Video Challenge - Week 2: Your Dreams, Aspirations, Career Goals, etc.

Look What Arrived In The Post...

To listen to that chat CLICK HERE.

Video Challenge - Week 1: Introduce Yourself

Weekend Justice #143: So You Think You Can Prance

Weekend Justice, a podcast that knows it's limits but decides to record 4 hours anyway.

This week stars myself, Widge, Jon, Leigh, Rox, Scott and Rob. Some of the things we discuss are:

• Atlanta, peaches and beer
• Widge vs. Skype
• Dogs and food
• Book recommendations for Aaron!
• Xbox talk
• Running vs. body parts
• Deodorizing testicles
• Crazy walkin' bitch!
• Jon's pre-run routine
• The secret of Gu
• Sherlock discussion (spoilers)
• A Dangerous Viggo Method
• Rox at 4am
• Van Halen
• Losing audience

To listen CLICK HERE or to download directly CLICK HERE.

Audiophilia: My 2011 Hitlist

NOTE: This article was originally posted by me on The Website of DOOM

Rather than try and name all the best albums that came out last year, I thought I'd try something a little more personal. I think my list of albums would suck anyway because, as a whole, I found 2011 a little disappointing musically. I suppose everyone is allowed an off year.

So here are my notable music thingys, kind of a list but not quite, of 2011!

Suprise Hit Of The Year:
Rizzle Kicks

This British rap duo broke out with their debut album Stero Typical in a big way. Their song "Down With The Trumpets" was one of those summer anthems that got my attention. They've been popping up everywhere since and have become the darlings of the UK music scene with their radio-friendly hip-hop and their infectious, youthful, fun.



The UK rap scene had been building momentum for a while but these are the first guys who I think could genuinely break America. They're definitely a very English entity but I'd be shocked if the rest of the world don't take to them. Don't beleive me? See what they do with "Fly Me To The Moon", live from someone's back garden.



And their ability to work with remixes doesn't end there. Rizzle Kicks' mixtape, which is free to download, features some great stuff. Making the likes of Lily Allen and Arctic Monkeys sound even better (or in the case of Allen, just sound good).

Weekend Justice #142: Sipping Something From the Haunted Coffee Pot

It's the first Weekend Justice of the year! Yes, we have returned to rock your socks off with geeky talk and euphemisms.

This week the group is made up of myself, Widge, Jon, Rox, Leigh, Scott and Rob. And some of our chat includes:

• How this podcast is like a mutated sexually transmitted disease
• Jon explains Big Lebowski
• Jon vs. Mission Impossible (SPOILERS)
• Rox vs. The Wicker Sequel
• Snoop Dogg vs. Martha Stewart vs. Christopher Lee
• Ancient Aliens
• American Horror Story
• The Doctor Who Xmas Special
• Rox vs. Tintin
• Scott's New Year's Eve Special
• Beardy Bum!
• Leigh is not a dwarf
• 2012 preview! (Sorta)
• The problem with Tarsem
• Walking Dead
• The problem with Prince Valiant
• Rob vs. It's a Wonderful Life

To listen to the show CLICK HERE or to download directly CLICK HERE.

Updaaaaaaate

I know, I know. After the rather hectic December updates it has become a little quiet around here. This is because, and often happens when, I have been very busy in my non-internet life. Getting work done to my short film and talking to people about another possible video project. So this is just a quick general update to try and fill the void in your lives.

I rarely post my DOOM poll over here anymore. I guess I think it's not worth a post of it's own. But if you want to take January's, CLICK HERE.

Yesterday I found a bunch of old photographs and got a giggle out of this one of me from 2006. I posted it on my Tumblr page and have been showing everyone. Yes, I was that skinny and no, I'm better now.

Cheekbones you could cut yourself with have also gone. Ah, those heady college years...

I recently found this documentary online too. It's all about Ireland's qualification for Euro 2012. It's a nice recap of the whole qualification road and I'd be lying if I said I didn't get a little choked up on a few occasions.


So that's everything I can think of for the time being. I hope this will keep you off my back for a little while ;)