If you’re going to criticize your competition using cultural “icons”, is it a good idea to use cultural “icons” which haven’t had any real cultural clout in two years? “Straight Talk Express” becomes “Desperate, Clueless Shortbus”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHXYsw_ZDXg

Want to know how to do it right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPPLSHKH0h4

Why I don’t go to cons:

From WIRED:
What are you most excited about seeing at Comic-Con?
Seeing hot chicks in spandex.
Day job: I’m a facilities manager in the motion-picture industry.
Dream job: Musician
Describe your costume and how you made it:
I’m wearing a really gay, royal blue, spandex rocker costume that is a combo of wrestling and music. I [...]

If I was forced to estimate the number of times I’ve listened to A Guy Called Gerald’s “Voodoo Ray”, I’d probably come up with a number in the eleventy-billion region. The number of times I’ve been able to sit still while listening to “Voodoo Ray” is exactly zero.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6FmoY0A_lfk

In a rare show of consensus, practically all Consumerist commenters agree: talking on your cellphone while dealing with retail staff is unacceptably douchey behaviour and we applaud the Subway sandwich outlet which posted the above sign. Consumerist commenter flamewars are expected to resume with the very next post.
And, elsewhere…

(courtesy FailBlog)

(unCuil)

High school completion rates for Alberta — the richest province in Canada, by far — drop to less than 68%.
Comments on the The Globe and Mail’s story are running at, by my approximation, 75% defending this appalling figure. And, usually, to a frighteningly retarded and strenuous degree.
Further to #2, above, here’s my absolute favourite comment:
Some [...]

From the always-aweseome Tuckova comes news of another, long-overdue collaboration (and tour!) from the architects of my favourite album of all time, My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, and I’m so excited I could plotz. Whatever you do, don’t tell the government:
Brian Eno and I recently finished our first collaboration in about 30 years. [...]

We have come to the conclusion that at no age are children harmed by seeing the photos of aborted children. It is their parents’ reactions to the posters and answers to their questions that affect them. When parents become visibly agitated, yell, swear, make threats, or try to give them pro-abortion rhetoric, young children are [...]

Before the Lightning, Toronto, 28 July 2008

Toronto’s Hanlan’s Point, 27 July 2008

Liquor Control Board of Ontario, Manulife Centre
26 July 2008