Maybe not my best work (several flubs in there, if you know the script), but fun to perform. This was for a women’s ministry dinner.

P.S. This was my first (and hopefully last) time in baseball pants.

Hey, Hollywood. Trint, here. Long time no see. Seriously, and it’s your own darn fault. This has been the summer of 3D and I’m sick of it. You forced me to watch Toy Story 3 in those stupid, uncomfortable, plastic glasses and I survived it, only because it was an incredible movie (and it helped hide the fact that I was blubbering like a baby by the end of the show). But the 3D requirement is getting old fast and I have reached the point of staying home rather than put up with it.

Reason 3D sucks #1: It’s old news.

I’m willing to wager that every human being who’s seen more than two movies in their life can close their eyes and picture a scene of a theater full of people wearing those old, red/green, cardboard, 3D glasses… in the early 1950’s!! 3D hasn’t been “shocking” since The Attack of the Mutant Atomic Killer Ants. So why, in the name of all that is entertaining, is 3D such a big deal now? It’s the freaking twenty-first century, people!!

Reason 3D sucks #2: It doesn’t really enhance the movie.

Unless you enjoy spending two hours pretending that monsters are lunging out at you when they’re not (ala The Attack of the Mutant Atomic Killer Ants), 3D just doesn’t really do much to enhance the story telling that is motion pictures. The horribly lopsided battle between Pixar and every other animation studio in the world bears this out year after year: Technology alone does not sell tickets. It’s the story, stupid. (With the obvious exception of Avatar, which made more money than the GDP of half the globe with an extremely tired, old, tree-hugger tale and I can only chalk that up to media hype.)

Reason 3D sucks #3: It makes some people sick.

Literally. 3D works by fooling your brain into believing that your two eyes are seeing different pictures. But not everyone’s eyes see the same. Not everyone’s eyes are spaced the same. Not everyone’s brain uses both eyes equally. My wife, Tammy, was born with a lazy eye which was surgically corrected when she was an adult. As such, her brain uses her eyes much differently than most people, and 3D movies giver her vertigo and headaches. And that, quite simply, spells “movie ruined” for both of us.

Reason 3D sucks #4: Inflated ticket prices.

I’ve been looking forward to seeing Despicable Me. I really like Steve Carell. I really really like animated movies. But when I pulled up the Movie Tavern schedule and saw that A) it was only offered in 3D (so Tammy would get sick), and B) the tickets were $11 each (while 2D shows sell for $8), I decided to wait for Netflix and watch it in my home theater, essentially for free, with no screaming kids and as much popcorn as I want at a 95% discount off of theater snack prices. Does anyone really think this business model can possibly succeed? Cuz, frankly, the word is out: jacking prices and releasing in 3D only is going to fail.

And to that, Hollywood, I say, “Good riddance!”

Legos…

Light sabers…

Awesome. That is all.

On July 27th, 1940, “A Wild Hare” hit theaters, marking the first appearance of Bugs Bunny. It also refined the character of Elmer Fudd from the earlier “Egghead” character.

Elmer’s nose is oddly reddish brown and Bugs’ head is quite different, but they’re characters are unmistakable. The cartoon is (supposedly) crammed full of 1940 pop culture references that made it a huge hit. It was nominated for an Oscar along side the first ever Tom and Jerry cartoon, but lost to a completely forgettable animated short, “The Milky Way”. (So much for the Oscars knowing anything about anything!)

Surely the latest sign of the coming apocalypse is this:

WILLIE NELSON HAS CUT HIS HAIR!!!

Yes, really! Those trademark red braids are GONE! See for yourself: Clicky clicky.

These are strange days, children. Strange days.

Once in a while, Dilbert reminds me to be grateful for what I have. I have a great job and a pretty darned good boss. And I’m thankful to God above that I don’t have a boss like Dilbert’s Point-Haired Boss.

Some people call it stupidity. I like to call it cleverness.
– The Pointy-Haired Boss

I absolutely love funny, well done, just-for-the-web advertising (a.k.a. viral ads). There is a whole series on YouTube for the Toyota Sienna minivan. If you’ve got some time, check out the whole series here. If you don’t, allow me to share a few of my favorites.

The Swagger Wagon

Bonding Time – I don’t know why but this one makes me think of RandyPants.

Mommy’s Rest – If you snore (like me), this one will hit home for sure.

Now, ask yourself. Does viral advertising work? Well, what are the chances that I would be pimping a minivan on my blog if it weren’t for these awesome videos? Two words: Ze-Ro.

It’s time for another Work From Home Friday video! YAAAAY!

You know what it’s like. It’s happened to all of us. You get that song stuck in your head and you just can’t shake it. Until…

This is my first “HD” video, at least according to YouTube. If you click through to the YouTube page, you can select 720p (HD) on the bottom right of the player and watch it in supper high clarity.  Plus, you may notice a significant addition to this Friday’s video. Tammy!! Yes, she’s home!!! More details in the next post.

You have the coolest mom. She smells like Miracle Whip.
– Joseph Gribble

This week’s white board quip is inspired by NetFlix! Yes, odd. I know. But I just found the first TWELVE seasons of King of the Hill are now available for instant viewing on NetFlix. Twelve seasons!! Now, my DVR has been dutifully recording KotH episodes much faster than I can view them. (Up to four a day!) But the DVR isn’t real good at reading my mind. You see, it tends to record every episode, whether I’ve seen it before or not. In fact, it records episodes that I’ve watched on that same DVR and then erased. And the DVR has no control over the episodes that are broadcast. They tend to show up in no particular order, all twelve seasons, mixed together and some episodes never seem to surface. Now, with NetFlix, I can (and I assure I will) watch every episode, in order, from Genesis to Revelation, so to speak.

Next, NetFlix sent me an email today to let me know they have the technology (“We can rebuild him!” … sorry) to turn my Wii system into a NetFlix instant viewer! That’s right. They’re sending me a free CD which will install their instant player on my Wii. I’ll be able to watch any instant view content from NetFlix, via the intertoobs and my Wii, right on my living room TV. ROXORZ!!1!

Neal McDonough is my new favorite actor. The name may not ring a bell. It didn’t with me at first. But google him, you’ll recognize his face.

McDonough was fired by ABC after only 3 days of filming on a new series called “Scoundrels” because he refused to do a sex scene. And it’s not like ABC didn’t already know how he felt. He had already refused to do sex scenes in several previous roles (including ABC’s Desperate Housewives).

So, when ABC tried to bully him, he called their bluff. Fire me! And they did. Jerks.

According to Deadline Hollywood:

McDonough was sacked because of his refusal to do some heated love scenes with … Virginia Madsen. The reason? He’s a family man and a Catholic, and he’s always made it clear that he won’t do sex scenes. And ABC knew that. Because he also didn’t get into action with Nicolette Sheridan on the network’s Desperate Housewives.

Seriously, Neal. You rock, man.