December 2007
Tips for Cleaning a Glossy-Screen Monitor... →
If you’ve received a new laptop or LCD monitor recently (or might get one later this week), there’s a good chance you received a “glossy” or “anti-reflective” screen with it—and a better chance…
Get Advice on Knife Sharpening [Knives] →
Getting your stone and steel ready for a big carving job? Need to figure out how, exactly, you use a stone and steel? The Knife Sharpening Tips blog is relatively new, but already has a good number…
Two years ago on Lifehacker, you got some ...... →
Two years ago on Lifehacker, you got some New Years Resolutions inspiration.
What are you making for Christmas? →
Filed under: Holidays, Christmas
My family is rather traditional when it comes to holiday dinners. We usually have turkey, bread stuffing, mashed potatoes, carrots, squash, turnip, and cranberry sauce for dinner, and then a giant table filled with cookies, pies, brownies, nuts, and cheeses for later. This year we’re trying to do things a little bit differently. We’re still doing...
Cookie-a-Day: Rosemary shortbread →
Filed under: Recipes, Spices, Sugar, Christmas
I first spotted this recipe on Tastespotting and knew instantly that it had my name written all over it. I am a sucker for baked goods that incorporate herbs and so this one called to me (I also have a recipe for Lemon Basil cookies that I want to try). I made some adjustments to the recipe. It didn’t come together easily, so I added several...
Handle Sore Muscles [How To] →
Do you work out hard and suffer in the aftermath? Sometimes the pain can be unbearable. Care Fair recommends that you avoid working out so hard so that you’re not in excruciating pain. Moderate…
Teach Your Chid About Business [Education] →
In a constantly-changing society, new technologies exist today that haven’t existed yesterday. Blogger Wendy Piersall says that the best way to move forward and prepare our children is to educate…
Teach Your Child About Business [Education] →
In a constantly-changing society, new technologies exist today that haven’t existed yesterday. Blogger Wendy Piersall says that the best way to move forward and prepare our children is to educate…
Give a Great Last-Minute Gift [Holidays] →
Still don’t know what to get that special someone for the holidays? In an attempt to save time (and keep within your budget), Kiplinger suggests that you use the Internet to comparison shop and look…
Cinematical Seven: Christmas Movies that Demand... →
Filed under: Classics, Comedy, Drama, Fandom, Home Entertainment, Cinematical Seven, Lists, 12 Days of Cinematicalmas
Wonderful as the classic family Christmas movies can be, the overwhelming sugary sweetness in most of them can be a little off-putting to adult audiences. I know my friends tend to gravitate more towards the R-rated fare — Die Hard, Bad Santa,The Ref, etc. Lord knows...
The Rules of Photography Composition [Video... →
If you’ve just scored a brand new camera for the holidays and want to take some brilliant shots, Videojug has an excellent five-step walkthrough of the important elements of photography composition. …
Retro Cinema: Reindeer Games →
Filed under: Action, Comedy, Thrillers, Fandom, Home Entertainment, 12 Days of Cinematicalmas, Retro Cinema
Who is Charlize Theron to know which of her movies are good or not? During a recent interview in Esquire magazine, the actress had the following to say about Reindeer Games, one of her early films: “That was a bad, bad, bad movie. But even though the movie might suck, I got to work...
Get Better at Office Politics [How To] →
Like it or not, office politics are almost impossible to avoid. Even those that try to completely avoid the political scene often get caught in the tangle. Stop running and learn how to leverage the…
Jeffrey Blitz Returns to Documentary with Lottery... →
Filed under: Documentary, Independent, Michael Moore, Cinematical Indie
Jeffrey Blitz had enormous success with his debut film Spellbound. It is the 14th highest grossing documentary (better than it sounds; it made more than $7 million worldwide, while most docs never break $1 million), it was nominated for an Academy Award and it has lasting acclaim (it’s #4 on IDA’s list of all-time...
Free Bundle of GTD Articles Written By David Allen... →
David Allen has a zipped archive of 17 articles available to download for free at the David Allen Company online store. Whether you’re a die-hard GTDer or just use certain portions of the…
Beat Writer's Block with Email Drafts [Email] →
If you’re constantly nagged by writer’s block or struggle to find the motivation to start your work, the LifeClever weblog has a tip to help you get started. Instead of launching an imposing behemoth…
Hollywood Studios Size Up Superbowl Ads →
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Fandom, Movie Marketing, Comic/Superhero/Geek, Remakes and Sequels, Trailers and Clips
Following a lackluster showing at the 2007 Superbowl, the major Hollywood studios are gearing up for a major presence at the 2008 Superbowl early next year. Variety reports that Paramount, Sony, New Line, Disney, Universal, Warner Bros. and Fox have all bought air time during...
Cookies, Christmas, and Cooking A Goose: The... →
Filed under: Newspapers, On the Blogs, in sixty seconds
A big selection of cookie and candy recipes for the holidays. I’m not much of a seafood fan, but I do love scallops. Want to cook a goose this Christmas? It’s easier than you think. A look back at some of the best cookbooks released in 2007.
Globe food photographer Beatrice Peltre won an award from the Well-Fed Network for...
Would You Pay More For These Movies? →
Filed under: Comedy, Drama, Foreign Language, Independent, Thrillers, Exhibition, Movie Marketing, Cinematical Indie
As a follow-up to the recent news that Korean filmmakers want local audiences to pay higher ticket prices, I took a look at what’s currently playing in cinemas there. Of last weekend’s box office top 10, three are from the US (I Am Legend, August Rush, Hairspray), one is...
Jessica Simpson's 'Blonde Ambition' is a Blonde... →
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, Box Office, Fandom, Newsstand
Remember that Jessica Simpson film called Blonde Ambition that was supposed to be going straight to DVD after everyone involved pretty much agreed that it sucked, and wasn’t worth a theatrical release? Well, according to Slashfilm, Blonde Ambition was given a theatrical release this weekend on 8 screens in...
Battle Lines Drawn Over Whether WGA Should Target... →
Filed under: Awards, Deals, Celebrities and Controversy, Politics, Oscar Watch
I haven’t been following the strike issue nearly as close as I’d like, but I’m starting to get increasingly interested as it looks like there’s less and less chance of a deal being cut to spare the Golden Globes and Academy Awards from the wrath of the writers. David Poland’s blog is the...
The Exhibitionist: Five Worst Theatrical... →
Filed under: Fandom, Exhibition
It’s only been three months since I began this column on theater exhibition and movie going, but already I’ve covered all kinds of experiences, both good and bad. And now I’d like to recap the year, concentrating on that quarter year in which The Exhibitionist existed, in order to present you with the best and the worst theatrical experiences I...
Avoid a Cold During the Winter Season [Health] →
Still healthy this winter season? Keep it that way. The That’s Fit weblog recommends ways to avoid catching a cold. Don’t touch your face with your hands and wash them often. Stay away from…
Cinematical Seven: Dysfunctional Families →
Filed under: Cinematical Seven, Lists, 12 Days of Cinematicalmas
Most of us are probably painfully aware of the stress of the holidays when it comes to familial relationships. Films about families tell the one story that practically anyone can relate to. So in the spirit of feeling better about ourselves I’ve compiled a list of some of the most dysfunctional families in film. Maybe after...
Turn Your Hard Drive into a Storage Case [Weekend... →
Do you have a spare hard drive collecting dust? Make a storage device for your spare screws and jumpers by removing the guts of the hard drive and by adding two small hinges. Hide your valuables…
Live a Happier Life [Self Improvement] →
Have you ever been sad over mistakes of the past? Sure, we all have. Have you ever looked around at your environment and thought about effectuating change within it? If not, perhaps you should,…
Retro Cinema: Christmas in Connecticut →
Filed under: Classics, Home Entertainment, 12 Days of Cinematicalmas, Cinematical Indie, Retro Cinema
One of the perennial favorites for TV broadcast at this time of year is the 1945 film Christmas in Connecticut, starring Barbara Stanwyck. I sat down for the first time in years to watch the entire movie, and gave it my full attention in a way that I never did while I was wrapping presents or...
Peter Berg Lines Up Tom Cruise and 'Dune' →
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Thrillers, Remakes and Sequels
No, Tom Cruise won’t be starring in the new version of Frank Herbert’s Dune, but it sure does look like Peter Berg is going to be one busy director over the next few years. According to an informative report over at the MTV Movies Blog, we now know that Berg’s next projects are: 1. A spy thriller with Tom Cruise...
Photos from Gilliam's 'The Imaginarium of Dr... →
Filed under: Sci-Fi & Fantasy, DIY/Filmmaking, Movie Marketing, Images
So you might be wondering why I chose not to include the actual photos from the set of Terry Gilliam’s latest, The Imaginarium of Dr Parnassus. Well trust me, it’s in your own best interest if you are not a fan of spoilers. Just Jared has a few on-set photos of star Heath Ledger and they are pretty creepy, not...
Prevent Lost Luggage [How To] →
Traveling for the holidays? Make sure you don’t lose your luggage or break anything within. Instead, protect your bags by keeping them on your person at all times if possible. If you must check your…
Triple Your Productivity Tomorrow [Productivity] →
Productivity and lifestyle blogger, Scott Young, drastically boosts his productivity by scheduling “Project-Kill Days.” The night before a Project-Kill Day Scott makes sure to create a fixed to-do…
Jeffrey M. Anderson's 400 Screens, 400 Blows -... →
Filed under: Columns, 400 Screens, 400 Blows
In the spirit of the season and goodwill and whatnot, I thought I’d forgo griping about the sorry state of things this week and instead send out some love to the downtrodden, the small films of 2007 that were somehow overlooked, underrated or outright ignored in some way. Let’s start with the Russian film The Italian, released in January,...
Last-Minute Gift Ideas [Ask The Readers] →
For most online retailers the deadline for guaranteed pre-Christmas gift delivery passed days ago (December 18). The mall lines are growing longer and longer and a scant three shopping days stand…
Review: Flakes →
Filed under: Comedy, Drama, Independent, Romance, New Releases, Theatrical Reviews, Cinematical Indie
Student films must be graded on a curve, and Flakes is basically a student film. If you overlooked the fact that the three leads are all moderately high-profile actors, I’d estimate the budget to be less than twenty thousand dollars. Most of the action takes place in or around the titular...
Hack Google (Maps) URLs for Quick Searching [URL... →
Frequently using Google Maps for directions? Reader Pham writes in with a simple but interesting way to save time when looking up directions.Basically, the multi-step process of going to Google…
'In Bruges' Exclusive Clip -- Review →
Filed under: Fandom, Movie Marketing, Trailers and Clips
Focus Features has sent Cinematical a second exclusive clip from In Bruges (check out the first clip, titled Hideout, over here), which will enjoy its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival next month. Here’s a bit from the film’s official synopsis: “Bruges (pronounced “broozh”), the most well-preserved...
Is Brian Cox Returning as Stryker in 'Wolverine'? →
Filed under: Action, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Casting, Deals, RumorMonger, Celebrities and Controversy, Fandom, Remakes and Sequels
Yesterday afternoon I was thumbing through some Sundance e-mails when I came across an interview pitch for Brian Cox, known to one and all for his many acting roles including Stryker, nemesis of Wolverine in X2: X-Men United. For a while it’s been known that the...
Review: Steep →
Filed under: Documentary, Independent, Sports, Sony Classics, Theatrical Reviews, Cinematical Indie
Raising more questions than it wants to answer, Steep, which opens in New York, Los Angeles and selected wintery climes this weekend, provides picturesque, positive propaganda about “wild skiing” and other snowy “out of bounds” activities that go far beyond the strictures of...
Bring some pig candy to your next Christmas party →
Filed under: Parties, Hors D’oeuvres, Snacks, Pork, Holidays, Christmas
Sarah has already showed you chocolate chip cookies topped with bacon, so why not something called Pig Candy?
It comes from Bucky’s Barbecue and Bread, and they suggest that you serve it as an appetizer at your next Christmas party. Basically, it’s strips of bacon covered in dark brown sugar and cayenne,...
Looking Back On A Week When We Obsessively Looked... →
• 20,000 Googlers agree: The words “VH1’s 100 Greatest Songs Of The 90s” are the new “Zac Efron.”
• We felt a little ’90s emo, and then wondered if we could stretch that emo feeling out over two weeks.
• We lamented two hours spent watching Akon and friends dressed up like Super Mario Bros. 2 villains when we could have just been playing Super Mario Bros. 2....
This Week's Best Posts [Tgif] →
‘Tis the season to be jolly, and to spend more time with family and friends than in your feedreader. If Lifehacker’s unread post count threatens to take up too much holiday time, turn down the volume…
This week in Idolator's 2007 Top 40 List ...... →
This week in Idolator’s 2007 Top 40 List Of Awesomeness: Amerie, Swizz Beatz, Rihanna, Battles, Tracey Thorn, Lil’ Wayne, Nelly Furtado, T-Pain, M.I.A., and Bobby Valentino. Catch up before we hit the single digits next week! No. 1 will be revealed on Dec. 31, just in time for you to make a New Year’s Eve party mix CD. [Idolator’s 2007 Top 40 List Of Awesomeness]
Braid Take Us Right To The Cusp Of '90s Emo [The... →
If anyone’s still out there this late on this Friday night before a four-day holiday weekend, here’s that Braid-by-request installment in our “12 Days Of 90s Emo,” and obviously these Illinois fellows, who broke up on the eve of the decade ending (roughly right after this clip was filmed), are one of the key bands where you can now really see mod radio emo lurking under...
Light Up The Tree, Mister President (And Bring... →
The efforts of Clear Channel’s programmers have probably helped you already get sick of holiday music, but there are many fine celebratory songs that would never cross their airwaves out there. To help cut through the clutter we’ve asked Jon Solomon, whose 20th annual 24-Hour Holiday Radio Show on WPRB kicks off at 6 p.m. on Christmas Eve, to offer up some seasonal cheer in MP3 form....
Cinematical Seven: DVD Box Sets for the Film Buff... →
Filed under: Classics, Comedy, Drama, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, New Line, United Artists, DVD Reviews, Fandom, Home Entertainment, Cinematical Seven, Comic/Superhero/Geek, 12 Days of Cinematicalmas
‘Tis the season to get away from your family, bundle up with a gallon of moonshine (preferably one with “XXX” written on the label), and watch endless hours of movies! What follows is not...
Friday Night Double Feature: The TomKat Edition! →
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy, Fandom
While zipping through my RSS feeds this week, I found a blurb from In Style, via CNN. With the title “The world according to Katie Holmes,” I couldn’t resist. What followed was a word association game that shared her thoughts on a bunch of brief, personal topics like her work, marriage, fashion, and age. Between listing one of her...
Cookie-a-Day: Ghosts of cookies past →
Filed under: Recipes, Baking, Spices, Sugar, Holidays, Christmas
We’ve been baking cookies like crazy around these parts, all December long. I’m giving my rolling pin and baking sheets a break today and dipping into the archives to bring you some cookies from our archives. Looking for a recipe that will look gorgeous on your buffet? These Cranberry-Cherry Icebox Ribbons are...
Review: Sweeney Todd -- Kim's Take →
Filed under: Music & Musicals, New Releases, Paramount, Theatrical Reviews, Johnny Depp
As everyone’s been saying for months now, there are going to be two basic camps of people seeing (and talking about) Tim Burton’s screen adaptation of Sweeney Todd: those who’ve seen and love the musical on stage (and/or those who generally go into orgasms of ecstasy for Stephen Sondheim...
Trailer Park: Dashing Through the Snow →
Filed under: Fandom, Trailer Trash, Movie Marketing, Trailers and Clips
The holidays are inescapably upon us, so I find myself thinking of my weekly search for new trailers as a mad dash through the snowy New England countryside on a horse-drawn sleigh, searching for noteworthy previews, each providing a clue that leads me to the next. Granted, you won’t actually find movie trailers in the...
Retro Cinema: The Muppet Christmas Carol →
Filed under: Classics, Comedy, Disney, Family Films, 12 Days of Cinematicalmas, Religious, Retro Cinema
The Muppet Christmas Carol may be to the Muppets what Room Service is to the Marx Brothers. Neither is particularly good, especially in relation to the rest of the Muppet or Marx Brothers movies, but they can still be enjoyed immensely if you are a big enough fan of the Muppets or the Marxes....