GEEK BLING!!!

Ran across the above Doctor Who 'Tomb of the Cybermen' Promo Pin rooting around online a few weeks ago and went ahead and nabbed it. It'll (fix up) look sharp on my new Spiewak winter jacket I purchased a while back.

Still working on my official return to the Blogosphere, but I may post a few updates here prior...just to help shake the rust off. Stay tuned!

THE HIATUS IS NEARLY OVER!!!

Greetings, true believers! Rumours of my (blog's) death have been greatly exaggerated...okay, maybe slightly exaggerated. I know it's been a while, but the itch to impose my stupid opinions on the internets seems to be coming back slowly. It's either that or a new found peanut allergy.

Anyhow, this post serves as notice that i've gone back into the lab to re-create my e-presence and whip up another plan for world domination. To note, said research has included the prospect of killing off AMBFAD and letting a NEW blog rise from it's ashes.

Whatever the case, STAY TUNED TO THIS SPACE FOR DETAILS! THE FUTURE OF USELESS POP-CULTURE IS COMING SOON!

Oi! Where Does the TIME Go?!

Wow. I knew it had been a while since i'd updated the blog...but not that long. It's not without good reason though, I FOUND NEW EMPLOYMENT!

Honestly, i'm still a little unsure when i'll get back to posting more robust dollops of useless pap. I've got a lot to focus on over the next few months, but i'll try and get back to it as soon as I can. I'm sure I won't be able to keep my opinions to myself for too long...so keep checking back, kids. BE WELL!

School's Out for Summer...

Well, for the boys it is...the Mrs. isn't out for break until tomorrow. I'll be taking the Aquamen to a new batch of swimming lessons starting this morning and then, perhaps, some Happy Meals. Exciting, huh?

A Brief Programming Note...

Hey kids, i've hit a great string of job interviews as of late and really haven't had time and/or felt like updating things here. When things get back to normal, i'll (hopefully) be able to bring the noise.

Please check back later and thanks for checking in at all!

NO STUFF TODAY...

...way too busy w/ getting our carpet cleaned (amongst other stuff). More later, promise!

JAY BENNETT 1963-2009

Your amazing talents will be missed, but you'll live on forever in some of my favorite music ever recorded. R.I.P. and all my prayers to Jay's family and friends.

Saturday Bonus Track...

I've been revisiting some of the semi-disposable punk-pop (or is it pop-punk?) I have enjoyed as a 'guilty pleasure' over the years. Perfect example: Sugarcult.

Y'know what...life is too short not to enjoy fun music. So, enjoy 'Stuck in America'.

No Such Thing as a 3-Day Weekend...

...when you're unemployed. Heh.

That said, everybody have a great holiday weekend and, please, don't forget to say thanks for all the Veterans who've given their lives to keep this country safe. Thanks!

For Kids of ALL Ages...

Both the boys and I have recently been enjoying DC's 'Tiny Titans'. Kind of an Elementary-school version of the Teen Titans, it's a really fun take on the 'DC Universe' that you can enjoy with your kids. The 'Dynamic Duo' kept getting into my Wizard magazines to further quench their growing thirst for Superhero knowledge and, quite frankly, some of the stuff within is just a little too graphic for them to be taking in right now. Well, at least that's what Wonder Woman (AKA Mommy) thought.

So, I started grabbing a couple of back-issues of the 'Tiny Titans' and the recent 'Super Friends' comic based on the toyline. They are both kid-friendly as all get out, but the latter is rife w/ a lampooning of the actual characters I can appreciate as well. I mean, where else can you see Darkseid as the school lunchlady? Plus, the art by Chicago's-own Art Baltazar is really fun to take in. Highly recommend whether you have kids or not.

Back in the Saddle Again...

I have another job interview this afternoon, so no good stuff today. As always...fingers crossed.

'He Was a Bad Dancer'...

...'til he learned to shimmy.'

Wow, were The Connells one of the most underrated bands EVER or what?

To Boldly Go, Where No Trek Flick Has Gone Before...

As I said on Friday, I caught that new 'Star Trek' flick and thought i'd step up w/ a tad meatier review today. I've never been a 'Trekkie' by any means...watched the original series here and there as a kid...caught the first 2-3 films and really only liked 'Wrath of Khan'...caught an occasional episode of 'New Generation'...and then completely lost interest as the whole property became diluted by all the spin-offs. Leave it to J.J. Abrams to not only capture my interest again, but make a total geek over it.

This film successfully captures a lot of the best elements of the original TV series and infuses it w/ a more modern, more action-packed attitude. Don't take that the wrong way...there is plenty of substance here. 'Star Trek' just leans a little more on the fiction than the science and it works. I would have felt dirty watching it had it just been a sexier, younger version of the property and, while it definitely is both sexier and younger looking, felt pretty satisfied they blended it w/ an engaging story as well.

The flick is a fun twist on the origin story of the crew of the Enterprise. Via the plot device of time-traveled altered realities, the film really becomes a true re-boot and a fresh one at that. Abrams dipped into the old Trek mythos where appropriate, but never really panders to it either. As with the original, the relationship between Kirk and Spock is the foundation for the rest of the story and both Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto did a great job in making that happen. Actually, Quinto completely nailed the whole Spock thing and the rest of the casting worked well to boot.

Bottom line, a whole mess of fun and i'm thinking it is going to be pretty hard for any other flick to come close to beating it this Summer. I'm already stoked about the potential for a sequel and the film has only been out for a few weeks. Whether your a sci-fi nerd like myself or not, you'll enjoy this...or may I choke on a Tribble.

Saturday Bonus Track...

I have absolutely fallen in love w/ this song (and the album it came from) all over again.

Soul Asylum in 1988, performing 'Sometime to Return' on what may have been MTV's 120 Minutes or some other short-lived variety show from when that channel was still cool.

Sorry Kids...

A lot of good traction w/ some possible job leads, had some beers w/ a friend yesterday afternoon and went and saw that new 'Star Trek' flick this afternoon. Review forthcoming on the latter, but suffice to say...PHENOMENAL.

Live Long. Prosper. Have a Great Weekend!

WILCO (THE STREAM)!

Well, no need to be all clandestine about things...check out Wilco (The Stream) at Wilco 'The Album'. Thanks, Wilcoworld!

It's the Little Things...

...that make me happy as of late. Things like my kids being in a good mood this morning, the LOST season finale tonight and (best of all) a new Wilco album.

More on the last one coming soon.

Oh, Why the Hell Not...

The tune they play every time the Hawks score a goal (and in Amstel beer ads)...'Chelsea Dagger' from The Fratellis.

Best use of a U.K. rock song at an American sporting event since Gary Glitter's 'Rock 'N' Roll Part II'.

HOLY CRAP...GO HAWKS!

The youngsters on the Chicago Blackhawks, are advancing to the NHL Western Conference finals for the first time since 1995 after beating the Canucks 7-5 in one crazy-ass third period of hockey!

Who'da thunk it'd be hockey i'd be getting excited about this Summer? GO HAWKS!

Hooray! 'Primeval' Season 3!

I was watching 'Doctor Who' on BBC America last night and saw that Season 3 of 'Primeval' starts this Saturday, 16-May! Like I said earlier, while not as good the good Doctor...it's still a really fun show. It'll be perfect for some Summer UK Sci-Fi escapism and I highly suggest you give it a try.

Also saw that 'Torchwood: Children of Earth' will air in July! Going to be some good stuff to catch this Summer!