Both images from Conservation International. “Why here’s the fellow. Wiry, fast, firm proud buttocks, reminds me of me.” – C.M. Burns Deep in the jungle primeval in Colombia, a couple of new species were discovered, a frog and two toads, to be precise. One of them, pictured above of the genus Rhinella, was dubbed, in an excellent publicity ploy, the “Mr. Burns” toad. Unlike that “Homer Simpson gene” from a few months ago, these scientists have a Simpsons alum to back up their gimmick. Here’s Dr. Robin Moore: "As for the new beaked toad, it is easily one of the…
Tag: Dog of Death
Reading Digest: Powers of 10 Edition
“Just think what we can buy with that money: history books that know how the Korean War came out, math books that don’t have that base six crap in them, and a state of the art detention hall where children are held in place with magnets.” – Principal Skinner For whatever reason there were a lot of lists of ten this week, which gives me the perfect excuse to link to the classic “Powers of 10” science video. We’ve also got lots of excellent usage, a giant donut I assume was a movie tie in, a technical discussion that cites…
It Could (But Won’t) Happen to You
“In fact, every copy of Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” has been checked out from the Springfield Public Library. Of course the book does not contain any hints on how to win the lottery, it is rather a chilling tale of conformity gone mad.” – Kent Brockman We have an entire week to pick apart this pedestrian and lifeless Zombie Simpsons outing. There are plenty of recycled jokes, gaping plot contradictions, and labored set pieces with which to play. (When winning the lottery is the most relatable thing that happens there is little hope for anything but fail.) For right now…
Synergy Enjoys the Nostalgia Firehose
“What’s the matter boy? Don’t you know me? I’m your buddy! I love you boy.” – Bart Simpson It’s always heartwarming to see a lapdog and its owner reconciled, especially when the rekindled love comes about because they remembered the good times. This week’s IGN review was a fawning love letter, not so much for any of this episode’s original content but just because Zombie Simpsons opened the nostalgia valve all the way. As Dave said in our chat, the Plow King was “fan service” and, lo and behold, the mere appearance of the Plow King, however jokeless it may…
Saturday Morning Cartoons
Of all the many things that limit commercially supported television programs, the need to cram the story into a defined schedule, complete with rigidly timed advertising breaks, may be the most restrictive. It’s not easy to tell a story in a such a specific amount of time, much less with the need for a small cliffhanger every six to eight minutes. Naturally The Simpsons always handled this with aplomb and one of the cleverest instances of it comes from Season 3’s “Dog of Death”. Just after the family’s lottery hopes are dashed, and they are put through the cruel wringer…
Quote of the Day
“Now here’s a film that will turn you into a vicious, soulless killer. Enjoy.” – C.M. Burns Season 21 starts tonight, find your happy place and remember: there are still good and decent things in the world, just not on FOX Sundays at 8.
Quote of the Day
“Hey Homer, what’d you do, get a haircut or something?” – Lenny “Look closer, Lenny.” – Gold Homer “Oh, I know what it is. You’re the biggest man in the world now, and you’re covered in gold.” – Lenny “Fourteen karat gold!” – Gold Homer
Friday Link Dump – Canine Surgery Edition
“I love animals; I’ve spent my life saving them and they can’t thank me. Well, the parrots can, but anyway let’s see what’s wrong with this little fella.” – Springfield Veterinarian Our first item this week is a dog that needed emergency surgery because of Simpsons merchandise. Given the sheer amount and amazing variety of stuff that’s been produced over the years (and the years still to come), anthropologists working a thousand years from now may conclude that this “The Simpsons” was a religious cult based around icon worship. Also, we’ve got some more about the stamps (which came out…
Friday Link Dump – Not About Stamps Edition
“Well, he’s got all the money in the world but there’s one thing he can’t buy.” – Homer Simpson “What’s that?” – Marge Simpson “. . . A dinosaur!” – Homer Simpson By avoiding anything and everything that had to do with the Simpsons stamps this week I got a pretty motley group, from triceratops to transvestism. New Fossil Discovery in Montana’s Homer Site – More news from our favorite Triceratops dig, apparently juveniles lived in groups. No word on whether or not the mother was a put upon housewife. Kids, writing should never be a punishment – A…