Wow. This is a thing of great beauty. A giant 3D topographic wood map of Westeros, the world of Game of Thrones, by IMGURian @ARUNK55. It's 60"x35". Read the rest

• “Miss Piggy,” “Kermit The Frog,” and all your favorite Muppets will be there.

The beloved humans behind The Muppets are gathering for a special live internet broadcast today to honor the late Jim Henson, who died 30 years ago today. Read the rest

So real, I can smell it! Read the rest

IMGURian @zikikki1 does wonderful “nerdy crochet,” and this Doctor Who 'dalek' is a fantastic example of their work. Read the rest

“I'm my own best friend,” she says. Read the rest

The Ghanaian Pallbearer meme strikes again. Meet the Luxyboyz, a dance troupe from Taipei that incorporates hiphop and online pop culture stuff into their work. Read the rest

My kid enjoys this controller with the Nintendo Switch she has confiscated.

With the advent of Animal Crossing, the Nintendo Switch became sole property of my 13-year-old daughter. She immediately complained about the JoyCons and asked for this controller.

The BebonCool has dual shock and 6-axis gyro support, so it can be used in place of the Nintendo Pro controller. It also comes with a built in rechargeable battery that should out-last the battery in the Nintendo several times over.

She went with black and blue.

BEBONCOOL Wireless Controller for Nintendo Switch/Switch Lite, Switch Controller for Nintendo with Dual Shock, Motion Control for Nintendo Switch Controller via Amazon Read the rest

I have friends. They are all in my head. Read the rest

“They want us to where a face mask??? I DONT THANK SO.”

“I'm not gonna be ruled by common sense precautions to keep everyone safe and healthy!”

Brent Terhune does a very good Southern Redneck Guy Who Watches Fox News, and he's recently taken on the MAGA/White Nationalist/???? types gathering in weird astroturfy rallies around the U.S., which may or may not be funded by some political group or something. Read the rest

Fandango dang sure isn't selling movie theater tickets anymore. And Walmart appears to be easing out of the video-on-demand business, and into... something else. Read the rest

Youtuber Microsoft Sam saw something interesting.

I left the agency side of advertising over a decade ago because the creativity was smothering me. Read the rest

Actor Brian Dennehy, best known for his role in the movies 'Tommy Boy' and 'First Blood', has died.

He was 81.

The Golden Globe and Tony award winner's career spanned 50 years on stage and screen.

Above, one of the great scenes with Dennehy and Chris Farley in 'Tommy Boy.'

BREAKING: Brian Dennehy, "Tommy Boy" and "First Blood" star, dies at 81 https://t.co/jB9HNqq78E

— Variety (@Variety) April 16, 2020

Brian Dennehy Dies: Versatile Veteran Actor Was 81 https://t.co/mcG1ko9btR pic.twitter.com/gsfJYJdUYl

— Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) April 16, 2020

A few years ago, I talked to Brian Dennehy about some of his most memorable and beloved roles. He was a gentleman and a scholar. RIP. https://t.co/GayL0kQQBo

— Marah Eakin (@marahe) April 16, 2020

what woud Brian Dennehy do? pic.twitter.com/injnTuzTwF

— Dan Nathan (@RiskReversal) April 16, 2020

Brian Dennehy, a Tony-, Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actor, lover of Chicago theater, and the nation’s leading interpreter of the tragedies of Eugene O’Neill, died Wednesday in New Haven, Connecticut. He was 81. https://t.co/5w4us17qCn

— Chicago Tribune (@chicagotribune) April 16, 2020

Brian Dennehy was such a terrific, talented actor. I only met him once. I asked him to sign a SILVERADO cowboy hat they gave us at the premiere. I only had a ballpoint pen and it didn't register on the hat's surface. He said, "Well, at least it's not a check." R.I.P., sir. pic.twitter.com/wDe52cvGJC

— Charles de Lauzirika (@Lauzirika) April 16, 2020

Brian Dennehy was one of the greats. I was lucky to see him in Death of a Salesman on Broadway – such a wonderful performance.

Viral again this week is the casting wishlist for Star Trek: The Next Generation, which reveals that Denise Crosby was originally to be cast as Counselor Troi, not Lt. Tasha Yar, and Predator's Kevin Peter Hall was considered for both Lt. Cmdr. Data and Lt. Geordi LaForge.

Best of all, Bond and Alien legend Yaphet Kotto was close to being cast as captain Jean-Luc Picard, a part that ultimately went to Patrick Stewart. I've shooped how the big fella might have looked in the role: take me to that timeline!

From an interview:

You also turned down the role of Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation? I think I made some wrong decisions in my life, man. I should have done that but I walked away. When you’re making movies, you’d tend to say no to TV. It’s like when you’re in college and someone asks you to the high school dance. You say no.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LkCNJRfSZBU

What started out as some 'adults' looking for other 'adults' to play Fortnite with has turned into a fairly large and active community of age-appropriate Gen X video game enthusiasts.

Killer Queen Black, Pummel Party, World War Z, Fortnite and Overwatch are a few of the games I've enjoyed since the pandemic shut me in! Still largely focused on Fortnite, this group helped me build a gaming PC and pick a BBQ.

The people are nice. In almost 2 years of hanging out online with this ever-growing gang of senior players, I have never heard anyone be discouraging.

You can join the discord here. Chat at anyone with a FOF in their handle, they'll help you find the games you are looking for!

Fortnite over Forty Read the rest

A federal judge in New York on Tuesday denied a request that accused serial sexual abuser R. Kelly be released from jail, rejecting claims by his lawyers that he is at high risk of contracting COVID-19. Read the rest

This would be that thing.

Today's installment of the hottest thing on local TV: "What Day Is It?" by @fox8news in Cleveland pic.twitter.com/YfOxbxn9q5

— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) April 7, 2020

Read the rest

Here are two lists of e-books being made freely available on-line. Please add more in the comments!

PublicBooks.org's Public Books Database

This is a list of academic presses making their books and research freely available.

Jim C. Hines' list of Free and Legal Science Fiction and Fantasy

Hines has collected a list of authors providing their work online for free.

Naturally, your public library is a great resource and the Libby app is my best friend for e-books. We will also find that the public library gives incredible access to movies, music, and periodicals via the series of tubes we all know and love. Read the rest