The end is nigh!

If the behaviour of celebrities is any indication of where society is going, it's pretty safe to say we're well on our way to hell in a Prada handbag. In recent months we witnessed Mel and Micheal flush their careers down the proverbial toilet with vitriolic rants, but now the women in tinsel-town are definitely taking charge of the tabloids. In the last 2 weeks we have been witness to some pretty crazy shit:

It all started with our dearly departed drama darling Anna Nicole Smith, collapsing in a whirlwind of suicide speculation and custody cases (for both her baby and her body).

Then last week, as if on cue, everyone's favourite pussy-flashin' mouseketeer, Britney "Psycho" Spears, went absolutely ape-shit crazy and shaved her other extremity before allegedly attempting suicide (TWICE!) and attacking paparazzi with an umbrella.

Meanwhile, American Idol finalist Antonella Barba became the proverbial eye in a hurricane of controversy when someone started leaking raunchy photos (nsfw!) of the wannabe centerfold. Little girls' eyes are being shielded by parents from coast to coast as you read this!

I honestly don't know why this is all so fascinating to witness. We are obviously obsessed with self-destruction. The impulse to watch someone going down in flames is too primal to resist. Maybe it's a type of hard-wired survival instinct. Watch and learn. Of one thing I am certain: We're so doomed.

Media Gnosis

Since first learning of the Wilhelm Scream several years back, rarely a day goes by where I don't hear it in some movie, commercial, or video. Last week, in fact, I heard it no less than 7 times over the course of a single day. It's one of those amazing pieces of secret knowledge, hidden right in the open that once noticed is so obvious, so all pervasive it's almost shocking.

So that got me thinking: What else might be hidden right there in front of us, obscured only by the fact we haven't been paying attention? The answers are many, and include the cry of a certain red-tailed hawk, the thunderclap heard around the world, and the infamous FedEx arrow; but these are perhaps the most obvious ones.

Anyone know of any others?

Remember that scene from Pulp Fiction?

So what does Marsellus Wallace look like? This short animation piece illustrates the intonations and the drama of the scene simply through words. Surprisingly effective. Check it out here: Quicktime

Steve Jobs versus Bill Gates

Some giggles to be had.

Simpson's Movie - New Trailer out

For those waiting in great anticipation for the Simpson's Movie this summer - release date of July 2007, the animation team at Fox have released a NEW 2 min trailer. You can find it here. Enjoy!

One giant step for home entertainment?

As noted in this week's TWIT podcast, Toshiba released a prototype of a gaming and entertainment system with 360 degree wearable monitor. Wearable? Check it out yourself here at the Daily Mirror.

Probably would not be allowed to cross the street with this on in New York City (or Toronto)

Suzuki & TEA

"It's kind of a no-brainer that we need full public disclosure as to where and what the various contributors to the atmosphere are"

- David Suzuki

Like what Steve says

I know that it's becoming more and more popular to hate Macs and everything Apple-related, but you just gotta give props to Steve Jobs for his recent "thoughts on music" post. It's hard not to agree with the man. Maybe the answer is not to try selling music at all (it's technically not "sold" anyway, it's licensed, which is freakin' absurd) but to give it away for free and make money selling merchandise and concert tickets. Music, like software, and all intellectual property for that matter, will eventually be free. The sooner this happens, the sooner we'll all be free.