"Blog" Advent Calendar for Dec. 10, 2009

What will it be?

Dan Brown UFO News Flash

"Blog" Buddy Dan Brown, whom you may remember from the time he ate Jack In the Box with Elliott Gould, sends news of a UFO over Norway: Look.

McNeil Did It

Look, McNeil made an iconic photograph with his camera phone:

"Blog" Advent Calendar for Dec. 9, 2009

If you can't remember how the "blog" advent calendar works, "click" here. If you just want to dive right in and reveal today's mysterious surprise, "click" here. It might be anything on the whole "internet"!

"Blog" Advent Calendar for Dec. 8, 2009

It will be what? Let's find out.

"Blog" Advent Calendar for Dec. 7, 2009

Every day you open the special "door" and find something new!

"Blog" Advent Calendar for Dec. 6, 2009

Welcome to your "blog" advent calendar. No telling what today's exciting surprise will be!

Occasionally Beautiful Music

Hey! I just got my copy of the new Oxford American music issue, and what to my wondering eyes should appear but the fact that I have now made Bob Hope references in every single one of my columns for the Oxford American, that's right, all two of them. What does Bob Hope have to do with "the South" you might ask? I HAVE NO IDEA! And come to think of it, I have mentioned him in the Oxford American before I began my tenure as columnist. If I have my way, the Oxford American will stop focusing on "the South" and start focusing on the more pressing matter of Bob Hope. All Bob Hope all the time! The thing that excites me most about the issue is that "Blog" Buddy Kelly Hogan finally gets her due! There is an article about Kelly by Mark Winegardner and a recording by her on the one of the included CDs. The article includes a great quotation by Andy Hopkins: "It's more glorious to witness people with a crappy van and falling-apart instruments make occasionally beautiful music." Pardon my French!

"Blog" Advent Calendar for Dec. 5, 2009

Every day you just have no idea what might be the next thing on the "blog" advent calendar.

The World's Icy Bottom

"The Sounds and Visions of the World's Icy Bottom" is a headline from the arts section of today's New York Times. Why does it make me laugh every time I read it? Maybe because I'm an idiot!

"Blog" Advent Calendar for Dec. 4, 2009

Today's advent calendar treat is something that Michael Kupperman brought to the world's attention through twitter. If you would like to enjoy your surprise, "click" here.

"Blog" Advent Calendar for Dec. 3, 2009

You know what the "blog" advent calendar is and how to use it. "Click" here.

Dreams of Nuts

Reports the NBIL: "Last night I dreamed that I picked up a copy of the Oxford American music edition and was extremely pleased to find that, in addition to the customary CD, there was a pack of 25 assorted music related bumper stickers and a tin of mixed nuts the size of a snare drum included with the magazine." Analysts of the "blog," of whom there are none, will note that this is the second time (in recorded history, anyway) that the NBIL has dreamt of nuts. (Note: as a contributor to the new music issue, I should let you know that it comes with no bumper stickers or nuts... but it DOES come with two CDs.)

"Blog" Advent Calendar for Dec. 2, 2009

Each new day brings another entry in the third annual "blog" advent calendar. Simply "click" on the "link" to "open" the "door" and "reveal" today's "surprise."

UFO Report

Finally! Some UFO news hits the New York Times again. I am sure you will agree it is about time. According to the story, an upcoming ballot proposal in Denver, Colorado, will take a decisive step toward creating an "Extraterrestrial Commission" to facilitate healthy relationships between earthlings and outer space people. The sponsor of the proposed legislation saw "a mysterious green ball of light above Denver the night Michael Jackson died," reports the New York Times. (Note: I am not suggesting that Yanni is an extraterrestrial. He just happens to be the subject of today's "random picture.")

"Blog" Advent Calendar for Dec. 1, 2009

It's December! And you know what that means: time once again for that popular brainchild of Dr. "M.," the "blog" advent calendar. Have you forgotten the history and purpose of the "blog" advent calendar? Then "click" here for details. If you are already a devotee of the "blog" advent calendar, however, and are confident that you understand how it works, simply "click" here to let the fun begin.

The Percentages

Remember how I told you that "Blog" Buddy Jason Polan is drawing every person in New York City? Well, now Jason reckons that he has reached one tenth of one percent of his goal. That's right, he has drawn 0.1% of the people in New York City! Check out his drawing schedule for tomorrow ("click" here) so you can be one of the people he immortalizes at his celebratory event marking this historic milestone! Attention Megan Abbott and Amanda Stern... has Jason Polan drawn you yet? Get cracking! (Our randomly selected picture for today seems to be Leonard Maltin. I am not implying that he lives in New York City. It's random.)

You Wouldn't Understand

I wish I could tell you about the movie I COME IN PEACE but it would just sound like I was making fun of it. You wouldn't understand! Like, Brian Benben is the smart alecky FBI agent who is teamed up with down-to-earth cop Dolph Lundgren. And then Brian Benben goes over to Dolph Lundgren's apartment and Dolph Lundgren is like, "Would you like some wine?" And Brian Benben is totally blown away by Dolph Lundgren's sophistication, which he (Brian Benben) has misjudged. Okay, that's just a taste. I will think for a while and decide if you deserve some more. No random picture will do. Here is a still from I COME IN PEACE.

Tantalizing Monograph Reference

As you know, I alert you whenever the New York Times mentions Jerry Lewis. Consider yourself alerted. Today's Jerry reference comes to us courtesy of the reliable Dave Kehr, and includes a tantalizing comment about "Chris Fujiwara’s excellent monograph on Mr. Lewis, which comes out this week from the University of Illinois Press." (I feel I should explain today's randomly selected picture, which is, of course, Mr. Ward pretending to enjoy the Foster Brooks robot at the MGM Grand, before that robot was literally thrown out with the trash.)

Sizzling Celebrity Gossip!

Ed Helms enjoys flying those remote control model airplanes! At least that's what I understood him to say as I creepily eavesdropped on him last night. I was sitting at the bar of the Miller Union restaurant in Atlanta, and Mr. Helms (of the TV program THE OFFICE) was standing behind me. You can get this kind of sizzling celebrity gossip only right here at the "blog"! You know what the best kind of celebrity gossip is? Sizzling.