There are too many motherfucking snakes in this motherfucking car!

This cannot be mere coincidence. Evidently despondent over the too-long wait for the release of Snakes on a Plane, some prankster in Oregon put dozens and dozens of snakes in an old lady's car. They were just harmless garter snakes, but it's obvious where this is leading -- and Hollywood would be foolish not to totally steal back the stolen idea and get another sequel in the can. First, put garter snakes in an old lady's car and hope that she simply dies from shock. Then once everyone is lulled into complacency after being educated on the benignity of garter snakes, start dumping poisonous snakes in people's cars. Once completely terrified of both planes and cars, people will start taking the train, and volume four, Snakes on a Train, is ready for production. Then we'll be just one Frogs on a Boat screenplay away from an immortal franchise!

There are too many motherfucking mice on this motherfucking plane!

Life really does imitate art. We are only 37 days away from the opening of Samuel L. Jackson's Snakes on a Plane. Chances are you've heard of it, or read about it, or seen one of the hundreds of fan-generated trailers or t-shirts. And while snakes on a plane are definitely scary, they're no less dangerous than mice on a plane. Just based on this one real-life incident, the sequel practically writes itself. Mice can chew through insulation and wiring, potentially causing a fire, not to mention leaving droppings all over the place. How's this for horror: the oxygen mask pops down, and you find a dead mouse in it. Crash scene investigator Mel Burkhardt said, "The potential for the catastrophic mishap is there and if you have one mouse, you have two. (If) you have two, you have a family." Tell me that's not something the rodentologist in the movie would say!

Great news, everyone!

Funny how the internet works: whatever you're reading, you're just a few clicks away from something totally unrelated, but even more important. Case in point today, as I started with the Drudge report but after a few clicks I found the news that really made my day: Futurama will be coming back with four feature length movies! They will also be chopped up into half hour episodes that will air on Comedy Central sometime in 2008.

I really enjoyed this show (still do, on Adult Swim and DVD) and was quite disappointed when they cancelled it. What really appealed it to me, and what makes each episode hold up over several viewings, is that it is true to itself and the universe in which it takes place. A number of motifs and storylines reappear over the original run of the series, some simply for the sake of general silliness, and some that explain why things are the way they are. There are enough science related jokes to appeal to the nerd in me, but the major appeal is that Futurama can, in the span of just minutes, make you laugh out loud and then make you cry your eyes out. It truly was a shame the way Fox moved the show around, pre-empted it, and held some episodes for the summer. Kudos to those who realized that the show still has appeal and got back on board. Now, is there a chance we'll only have to wait a couple of years before someone brings back Arrested Development...?

It was so hot outside

It was a hot, humid night, and I was as sticky as melted caramel -- perfect conditions to spend the fourth of July with the Dave Matthews Band! I cruised down to Virginia Beach last night to check out the concert, and first I just have to point out that I am on some kind of sick streak in timing these things. Traffic was light, and I pulled into the parking lot shortly after 8:00. I bought a ticket from a group of women that just wanted to get rid of their extra (at my going rate of $30), went into the amphitheater and made a beeline for the bathroom. When I got out, the masses were rushing to the seats and the crowd was quite loud, and I found a spot on the lawn as the band was taking the stage and kicking into the opening notes of Everyday without a single wasted second.

The show was great through the first handful of songs, which included What Would You Say and Say Goodbye. There was the by now typical mid-show lull, when they played some newer stuff and songs that I just don't get into. It was easier to take this time because it was sandwiched by great jams on Crush and Jimi Thing. They only played one really new song, as in unreleased as of yet, Break Free, and I am really digging that tune! The main set ended with Louisiana Bayou, a good song that gets the full jam treatment live, but I was holding out for Tripping Billies, a song I haven't heard live for a few years now. After a solid Pig to open the encore, they predictably ended with Stay, but on this night they ruined that song for any future performances ever. As the song was ending, with the thousands of repetitions of "Don't it, make you wanna, stay," fireworks started going off right over the lawn! Not that they were necessarily timing it, but it was still cool to hear "Don't it," BOOM "make you wanna," BOOM "stay" as the song wound down. When it was over, Dave said "Thank you very much, good night. Enjoy the fireworks," and they continued for about ten minutes! The video screens showed American flags and Jimi Hendrix' version of The Star-Spangled Banner played over the PA. A very cool thing for the band to do for their fans.

Overall it was a good show and the band was clearly in a groove all night. Not among the best DMB shows I've seen but probably in the top third. It was a good time as always on the lawn and the energy was high throughout. Judging from the setlist, the jams, and the vibe of the evening I'd say the DMB concert experience is better now than it has been the last couple of years and I am quite interested in checking out the shows in Charlottesville in a couple of months.