Shanks and Praise

I think Gooderson says it all right, all right, all right ...

Adam Kimmel presents: Claremont HD from adam kimmel on Vimeo.(Thanks Andy)

JOHN OATES - LIFETIME 'STACHE ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
John Oates is the granddaddy of moustachioed rockers. Yeah, it's not really rock he plays, but no one has dedicated as much of his life to the ’stache as John Oates. For nearly 20 years he risked ridicule and the ire of Daryl Hall to keep his lip covered. No one with a 'stache has sat at the top of the pop charts as long as Oates (he and Hall are the most successful duo in history; check out their recently released Live at the Troubadour to see why). Even though he recently shaved it, Oates still has a phantom one: for us it’s always there, even when it's not there.

I dont know where Im going
But, I sure know where Ive been
Hanging on the promises
In songs of yesterday
An Ive made up my mind,
I aint wasting no more time
But, here I go again
Here I go again

via YouTube

Youtuber mikehoye got off the subway at Bloor and Yonge one night in October and this is what he saw.

via Flickr

This will be a lot less funny if (when) this guy turns out to be a serial killer. For bonus creepy, check his profile.

via MSNBC

"Meh," the expression of indifference made popular by a 2001 episode of The Simpsons, gained a place in the Collins English Dictionary. Publisher HarperCollins announced Monday that the word have been chosen from terms suggested by the public for inclusion in the dictionary's 30th anniversary edition. We here at Shanks and Praise are not sure which is stranger, that "meh," the apathetic anti-rallying cry mustered the enthusiasm needed to win a popular vote, or that it beat out "huggles," the happy hybrid of hug and snuggles also under consideration by Collins. Its a sad sign of the times my friends. I, for one, am all about the huggles.

via Gawker

Consider this a message to my mellow in the front seat: Rumor has it that The Roots will be retiring from touring in order to become the house band when Jimmy Fallon takes over Conan O'Brien's late night show next year.

W . . . T . . . F?

Black Thought my ass.
Check "Proceed" and "Mellow My Man" from their debut album "do you want more?!!!??!" to see why we used to like The Roots before they decided to become background noise to nightly douchebaggery.

via Boing boing

via LA Times

Paula Goodspeed, a self-described fan of Paula Abdul, was found dead in her car outside of the the “American Idol” judge's Sherman Oaks home. Ms. Goodspeed’s car was reportedly decorated with a photo of Abdul hanging from the rear-view mirror. Her personalized license plate reportedly read “ABL LV,” which has been said to stand for Abdul Love.

"Ms. Goodspeed's mother had gone to [the sheriff's department] to report her daughter missing and advised them that she might be suicidal," Los Angeles Police Capt. James Miller reportedly told People. Officials "determined that Ms. Goodspeed may be up in the vicinity by Paula Abdul's house. Our officers discovered her vehicle parked on the street and found her inside. She was unresponsive to officers."

Authorities say her death may have been due to drug overdose, but tests still have to be performed.

Another theory: Ms. Goodspeed was a seriously deranged person who was exploited by her hero for the summer viewing pleasure of millions of Fox viewers, like you. But that's just a theory I'm working on.

via WOW Report

Under cover of night, a vandal in a small Nebraska town has been leaving Vaseline impressions of his naked ass on store windows and other surfaces. "This is the weirdest case I've ever seen," said police Chief Ben McBride.

via LA Times

73 year old, Ken Mink, is a full-time student at Roane State (Tenn.) Community College and and member of the school's basketball team. Monday night, Mink played 10 minutes and scored two points - on free throws - in Roane State's 93042 victory over King College's junior varsity team.

"I found myself on the free-throw line 52 years after my last college game," Mink told the Associated Press. "I said, 'Just relax and shoot it like you know how to all day long.' I just floated the shots in there. I'm in the books now. I can relax a little bit."

Mink last played college basketball 52 years ago at Lees College in Jackson, Ky. He lost his spot on the team and was expelled after someone soaped the basketball coach's office. Mink still insists he didn't do it.

Shanks and praise: President Obama

Dom was in an elevator today and heard some muzak that reminded him of a time when all it took was a DeLorean and a flux capacitor to make some rock n roll history. I'm trying to get a copy of the Huey Lewis Behind the Music, not paying any money for it, but will share some shanks and praise.

Every Halloween we gives Shanks and Praise to all the Elvis sighting across this great land, and occasionally, from France. Share your faves with Dom and Huck, bonus points if you make it into the shot. We'll be giving away a prize (likely a haiku) to our favorites.

Elvis has manmel-toe.

Move over Ozzie, the best new hotness for your pre-Halloween ritual is brought to you by the JSBX. That's what she said ...

"An old Irish legend tells of a farmer named Jack who tricked the Devil into climbing an apple tree, whereupon Jack quickly carved a cross in the bark, so that the Devil couldn't get down. Jack only let the Devil go when he agreed never to take his soul.

"Years later when Jack died, his life had been too sinful for Jack to go to heaven; however, since the Devil had promised not to take his soul Jack couldn't go to Hell, either.

"Left with nowhere to go and having no light by which to see, he asked the Devil for help. The Devil mockingly tossed Jack an ember from the flames of Hell which would never burn out. Jack carved a lantern out of one of his pumpkins, put the ember inside it so he could see as he endlessly wandered the Earth. He became known as "Jack of the Lantern", or Jack-o'-Lantern."

Leading folklore historians have long debated the original shapes carved into Jack's first lantern, though it it widely believed to have been either Elmo or Cookie Monster.

Spooky amounts of shanks and praise to makelessnoise, via flickr

Dom is a scratch golfer. Dom has seen a lot of crazy golf swings. Dom has a favorite. Wait for it. Gnarls has never hit a hole-in-one on the links.

Ever wonder what it would be like to Race in the Volvo Ocean Race, what, with all the scurvy, and pirates, and rum, and the poop deck. Apparently, it's a lot easier to play the game on the internets, but that's not to say you can't still have the rum, and the poop deck. There's a pretty slick game that will be taking up much of my blog time - via Volvo Ocean Race

Ben and Jerry's is giving away free ice cream, again. What ever happened to Hall and Oatmeal?

Tuesday, November 4, 2008, 5:00pm - 8:00pm, participating Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shops

I applaud the effort to create a Guitar Hero or Rock Band or Sims game with The Beatles. I'm a bit baffled by the press release:

"It's a new creative exploration of their music and a celebration of their legacy in a way that hasn't been done before." The developer added that it will be a "music-making game. ... There will be interactive performance of the music ... and stuff you haven't seen from us before."

Is this the inspiration for Eminem's comeback?

via Neatorama

Thailand, I think. Where the moustache is tiny squid roasts and the demon moustache is to be feared.

via Extra



Alex Baldwin on Letterman last night talks about the experience of meeting Gov. Sarah Palin.

As a love struck teenager, I once copied the lyrics of an entire Depeche Mode song onto a hand-made tee shirt as a gift for my highschool girlfriend. Yet, I am much more embarrassed that I just watched (actually twice) this video for "Reach Out" the new single off of Hilary Duff's "best of"(?) album. And . . . I didn't completely hate it. I even forgive that she repeatedly misquotes the Depeche Mode line that is the centerpiece of the song - it's actually "reach out and touch faith" - cause, you know, that's a common mistake.

I am so confused. But in defense of my heterosexuality (not that there is anything wrong with it) I offer the following:

1) Songwriter Martin Gore has explained that he was inspired to write the original "Personal Jesus" based on a book about Elvis Presley.

2) The late great Johnny Cash did a great cover of the song (and, he gets the lyrics right).

3) The original Depeche Mode video has an inexplicable dude ranch theme (ok . . . that's not helping).

Dom attended 3 of the 25 most expensive colleges for 2008-2009, based on total cost (tuition + room and board).

College | Total Cost
1. Sarah Lawrence College | $53,166
2. George Washington University | $50,312
3. New York University | $50,182
4. Georgetown University | $49,689
5. Connecticut College | $49,385
6. Bates College | $49,350
7. Johns Hopkins University | $49,278
8. Skidmore College | $49,266
9. Scripps College | $49,236
10. Middlebury College | $49,210
11. Carnegie Mellon University | $49,200
12. Boston College | $49,020
13. Wesleyan University | $49,000
14. Colgate University | $48,900
15. Claremont McKenna College | $48,755
16. Vassar College | $48,675
17. Haverford College | $48,625
18. University of Chicago | $48,588
19. Union College (NY) | $48,552
20. Colby College | $48,520
21. Mount Holyoke College | $48,500
22. Tufts University | $48,470
23. Bard College at Simon's Rock | $48,460
24. Franklin & Marshall College | $48,450
25. Bard College | $48,438

There's always next season.

via I have see the whole of the internet

via Gawker

Forget about the multi-million dollar infomercial Obama's campaign is simulcasting in prime time tonight on all four major networks. Instead, just read the Times' pre-screening review here (spoiler: it's got a lot of white people in it).





For real stomach-churning drama, tune in later tonight for Obama's appearance on the Daily Show. Got to admire the nerve of the guy risking a major gaff with Jon Stewart when sitting on a commanding lead on the eve of election. Perhaps even more insane? Obama's rumored November 1st appearance on Saturday Night Live (second item). Wtf?

Don't blow Borack, please, please don't blow it.

Apparently Turtle really is banging Meadow ... you heard it here first.

Back in the day when commercials mattered, when visionaries like Don Draper sold products, not advertisings, all it took was a clever jingle to make us all believers. And, the guy who made "eye of the tiger" an everyman anthem.

Also via Web Zen

via Web Zen

Just because baseball can't be played in the rain, and all the players are overpaid, doesn't mean the good people at Taco Bell don't have your back. I'm making my run for the border to collect on my free taco tomorrow, get your groove on, and tell 'em Dom sent you.

via: funny beez

Shanks and Praise wants to here from you, Amorica, on your most hopped-up and exotic elixir for this Friday's frightfest. Dom gets nostalgic for festive libations, and reminds you that a pimp or ho costume is never a good choice. You stay classy, San Diego.

Pumpkin Martini

Start to finish: 5 minutes
Servings: 1

Ingredients:
Ice
1 ounce vodka, chilled
1 ounce vanilla liqueur
1 1/2 ounces orange juice
1 tablespoon pumpkin puree

Hopefully the unrated DVD will be a ball of laughs. Community commentary encouraged.

This Shanksgiving, I'm giving shanks and praise to and for the turducken. I have just ordered two turduckens for turkey day, one old school, and one stuffed with cheez whiz. Apparently it's illegal to deep fry these. Shanks to the original Herb's Specialty Meats.

via Neatorama

The World Wildlife Fund in France, in celebration of its 35th anniversary, is running a campaign to raise awareness for natural environmental preservation by parading 1,600 paper mache panda models across the country. The most recent exhibition was at Paris' Trocadero Esplanade. The giant panda is the symbol for the World Wildlife Fund and it is estimated that there are 1,600 pandas in the wild.

Shanks and praise: Neatorama

Via Cracked.com

Cracked ranks the world's most insane halloween costumes.

Shanks and praise: Cracked.com (thanks Andy)

Where have all the '90s grunge mushrooms gone?

Everyone has that dare to be great moment. I think mine is to become the first winner of Bravo's new P-Runs knock-off. I'm hitting the Plaxo hard, Christian, help me get fierce.

Free mimosas!

Dear Stifler's Mom,

I checked my Plaxo today, and you still have not accepted my invite. My computer was down yesterday, so just in case you accepted the invite yesterday, I'll resend it.

Longingly, Dom

Shanks and Praise to blog.doginagumboot.com

I'm not sure what went wrong with my computer yesterday. I'm back.

Hey Geaner, what was Deaner talking about?

via Boing Boing

Several students at Parkway West Middle School in suburban St. Louis are facing suspension for inventing "Hit A Jew Day," during which they smacked Jewish students. According the AP:

"District officials said Thursday they believed that fewer than 10 children of the district's 35 Jewish students were struck.

District spokesman Paul Tandy said that in most cases, the students were hit on the back of their shoulders but one student was slapped in the face.

It began with an unofficial "Spirit Week" among sixth-graders that started harmlessly enough with a "Hug a Friend Day." Then there was "High Five Day."

Soon, though, the days moved from friendly to silly [ed. note: silly?]. Next there was "Hit a Tall Person Day" and, finally, "Hit a Jew Day."

via Smoking Gun

via Photoshop Disasters

via Instructables

via Yahoo News

Online divorcee jailed after killing virtual hubby
By MARI YAMAGUCHI, Associated Press Writer – Thu Oct 23, 3:48 pm ET
TOKYO – A 43-year-old Japanese woman whose sudden divorce in a virtual game world made her so angry that she killed her online husband's digital persona has been arrested on suspicion of hacking, police said Thursday.
The woman, who is jailed on suspicion of illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data, used his identification and password to log onto popular interactive game "Maple Story" to carry out the virtual murder in mid-May, a police official in northern Sapporo said on condition of anonymity, citing department policy.
"I was suddenly divorced, without a word of warning. That made me so angry," the official quoted her as telling investigators and admitting the allegations.
The woman had not plotted any revenge in the real world, the official said.
She has not yet been formally charged, but if convicted could face a prison term of up to five years or a fine up to $5,000.

via Ayyyy!

via Pink is the New Blog (who totally stole the name I wanted for this blog)

Today Shanks and Praise was the target of a vicious distributed denial of service attack (my theory: those damn Scientologist). As a result, our servers were down all afternoon. Dom's been down in the basement bangin hard on the tops and sides of things, and it seems to have finally done the trick. So, sorry for the light traffic. I'm sure Dom will make up for it on the night shift with a double dose of inane stuff that makes no sense whatsoever.

-Huck