Signs of the Apocalypse... or not.

I think of myself as someone who is technically inclined. Microsoft Office is a cinch. I can navigate through photoshop with relative ease. I even know what those little dials do on the top of sound boards/mixers and how microphones work. But, I had a brief Oh-My-God-I'm-Getting-Old moment when I realized that I have no idea how an RSS feed works. It's been around a while now and I should, at the very least, have some clue as to it's uses and related programs. But no.

Have the relative ease of Facebook, Twitter and all Apple products taken away the need to be technically proficient?

I know some may think this is ridiculous, but this brief lapse in clarity and confidence will no doubt lead me to start reading ludicrous amounts of articles online about various things that I don't really need to know about to avoid any future old-timey debacles.

The Walking Dead!

I am very happy today. This is why...

Robert Kirkman's acclaimed comic The Walking Dead had a chance of being adapted into a television series by none other than the incredible Frank Darabont (The Mist, Shawshank Redemption, etc, etc.), but negotiations were still underway in August. No longer, however- Variety is now reporting that AMC has greenlit the project!

Not only did Darabont write the show but he's on board to direct the pilot. What did we do to deserve this goodness? He will execute produce the show along with Gale Anne Hurd of Valhalla Motion Pictures and David Alpert of Circle of Confusion.

Working with people like Frank Darabont and Gale Anne Hurd is the right way in for us to deliver a project of distinction in this genre," AMC president Charlie Collier said.

You're damn right it is!

The Walking Dead is a series that started off pretty fantastically but then got bogged down by the fifth or sixth trade and never fully recovered. In its its beginnings however it told some of the best zombie-related stories you could find. Following a former cop as he struggles to reunite with his family and keep a small band of survivors safe, this could make for some truly compelling television. It's still amazing to think that one day soon we'll be able to sit down once a week and see something new from Darabont.

AMC has also approved a show called The Killing, which is based on a Danish TV series (Forbrydelsen). It's a crime drama about a female investigator who "cares more for the dead than the living". AMC is sure set to get darker soon...

From CHUD.com

Tim's Best of 2009 Magic Music Mix

Well, what better way to ring the blog into the New Year with my favorite songs of 2009. Sure, it's a little heavy in Minnesota hip hop and has it's fair share of songs that everyone else liked this year, but I don't think that should be deterrent. Sometimes those songs are popular for a reason. The reason being that they're just really good songs. Every year I read that "[Insert Year Here] was a terrible year in music." This is rarely true. I had a playlist of almost 40 songs that I thought were worthy of the mix, but narrowed it down to 20. That's a lot of music for a mix CD, I know. But, why not cram as much awesome onto one CD as possible. Without any further ado, here is Tim's Best of 2009 Magic Music Mix.

1. "11th Dimension" - Julian Casablancas

2. "1901" - Phoenix

3. "Sleepyhead" - Passion Pit

4. "Fresh Air" - Brother Ali

5. "Tema do Canibal" - BK-One

6. "Warm Heart of Africa" - The Very Best

7. "Ain't No Rest For The Wicked" - Cage The Elephant

8. "Daylight" - Matt and Kim

9. "Percussion Gun" - White Rabbits

10. "Smile" - Eyedea & Abilities

11. "Zero" - Yeah Yeah Yeahs

12. "Purexed" - P.O.S.

13. "Animal" - Miike Snow

14. "Dominoes" - The Big Pink

15. "All In" - Grouch & Eligh (Ft. Gift Of Gab and Pigeon John)

16. "Raindrops" - Basement Jaxx

17. "Stillness is the Move" - Dirty Projectors

18. "40 Day Dream" - Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

19. "Laughing With" - Regina Spektor

20. "Aeon" - Antony & the Johnsons

CDs available upon request. BAM! Hello, 2010.

Survivors and the Zombies They've Survived

Please check out the new Survivors of the Undead Plague website. The new audio clip is tops.

October brings another round of head-smashing, zombie improv as Damian, Troy and myself join Creature Feature at the Brave New Workshop in Uptown, MPLS in a double-bill of epically scary proportions. Check it.

It's gonna get ugly... in an awesome way.

I Cannot Escape Renee Zellweger. She Is Everywhere.

I cannot escape Renee Zellweger. Today alone, I came across two more things on which she is peeing. I mean... I'll give her props for Bridget Jones' Diary and Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason as she is cast well as a funny looking woman, but everything else? Blech!

I've also realized the first time I didn't like her in a movie. It was Me, Myself and Irene. I really enjoyed that movie... except her.

Here is a horror movie she is doing. At least she is frightened in this movie. That brings me great joy.
http://www.filmshaft.com/thrilling-trailer-for-case-39/

This will be the last entry on Renee Zellweger. Though I thoroughly dislike her, I try not to be mean-spirited. I think I've reached the point where I say to myself, "If you have nothing good to say, don't say anything at all."

But, if she ends up in a movie that I'm genuinely excited about, I will be forced to complain again. If she touches any zombie-related films, I will eat her brains.

Renee Zellweger Sucks and District 9 Does Not

You've probably heard the buzz about the new sci-fi thriller District 9. You've heard that it is a social commentary on apartheid, aptly set in Johannesburg, South Africa. You've heard that they didn't spend hundreds of millions of dollars like most summer blockbusters. You've heard it's good. Right? Did you hear that it's good? Beacuse it is good. I usually wouldn't blog about a movie I saw unless it really struck a chord and this one does. So did New In Town. But, New in Town struck the wrong chord and I fucking hate Renee Zellweger.

But, I digress. District 9 started well and ended well. The special effects were top notch and I found myself invested in the characters very early on. There have been a rash of great movies this summer and more are set to be released soon (i.e. Inglorious Basterds), but I certainly recommend District 9 for everyone. There is a bit of gore, but it certainly doesn't overshadow the story.

Tonight: Donny Dirk's Zombie Den.

A Zombie Den? Yes, please.

Most people know I love everything zombie. With that being said, I am excited to share my knowledge of a new bar in Minneapolis that is zombie-themed. It is Donny Dirk's Zombie Den. Now, you might be hesitant to visit just such a place because of the threat zombies pose, however, do not let this deter you. The zombie apocalypse has yet to arrive, so in the mean time, enjoy this fancy new bar in North Minneapolis (NoMi).

With bartenders decked out in "Shaun of the Dead" threads and waitresses wearing long black gowns, I am giddy with excitement. As I am sure there are themed drinks and kitsch, I will surely post again to tell of my travels to this undead pub from the same lass who brought you Psycho Suzi's in NordEast. Who's going with me?