Staff Picks Blog: The Bravo TV Network's Staff Picks Its Favorite Things

"Control" by Metro Station

May 13, 2008

The new season of Shear Genius is on its way (which reminds me … I really need a haircut). If you’ve seen the promos -- and we hope that you have -- then you’re probably wondering, “What’s the name... read more >>

File under: Leisure

no comments so far

Jukebox Dos and Don'ts

March 20, 2008

As a New Yorker, I love bars. In moderation, I think they are wonderful places, but, like most wonderful things, idiots tend to ruin them from time to time. There are many bar behaviors I find deplorable, but the... read more >>

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three comments so far

The Word "Peccadillo"

March 11, 2008

Once upon a time there was a President Clinton (Remember Bill?) and he had an affair with a woman named Monica. And although I hate to bring this up because frankly if I hear one more joke about the... read more >>

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no comments so far

Passing Strange

February 26, 2008

A new musical on Broadway that originated at the Public Theatre, but moved uptown to the Belasco theater. I'm not kidding - it's the best thing I've seen on Broadway, ever, in my entire life. I don't know what... read more >>

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no comments so far

El Ateneo

January 29, 2008

I absolutely love Barnes and Noble but I have to admit, BN has got nada on El Ateneo in Buenos Aires. This theatre-turned-bookstore is impressive with high ceilings, elegant drapes, and rows of DVDs and CDs, but what’s awesome... read more >>

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two comments so far

The TV Set DVD Extras

January 7, 2008

I'm a compulsive DVD watcher, and I mean compulsive. I will not return a rented DVD until I've watched all the special features. However, I usually draw the line at listening to the audio commentary, but because The TV... read more >>

File under: Leisure

no comments so far

Atonement

December 20, 2007

The seven-time Golden Globe nominee just hit theaters in NYC, and we're in love. Keira Knightly and James McAvoy are amazing in the movie, and it's beautiful to look at. The house it's shot at is even a star... read more >>

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no comments so far

Band of Horses

December 18, 2007

I have been listening to Band of Horses' Cease to Begin non-stop. Album highlights are "No One's Gonna Love You" and "The General Specific." You can check out the whole album on MySpace here. There's something sort of Perry... read more >>

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one comment so far

Enchanted

December 17, 2007

This past weekend I finally saw the new Disney film Enchanted. I had heard good things, especially about Amy Adams' performance, and had pretty high hopes for the film. Although my friends were ready to leave the theater after... read more >>

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no comments so far

What Would NPH Do?

December 12, 2007

OK, I know these posters have been up for awhile, but the " What Would NPH Do?" ad campaign for Harold and Kumar 2 is brilliant, and it brings a smile to my face every time I see Neil... read more >>

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no comments so far

BerkShares...The Other Money

November 21, 2007

Several weeks ago, I came across this awesome community that does amazing things with money. Forget the dollar, in Southern Berkshire County, Massachusetts, it’s all about BerkShares. The community is using their own printed note as a way of... read more >>

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no comments so far

Ideal Bite

November 21, 2007

A couple weeks ago, NBC Universal and Bravo celebrated Green Week, kicking off a lasting effort by our company to think and be more Green. A big part of the event were the Green tips you may have seen... read more >>

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one comment so far

MathCentre

November 20, 2007

I was a terrible student in high school, and regret never really paying attention in Algebra, because it actually is sorta fun. I recently stumbled across MathCentre, an online math tutoring center that lets you figure out all you... read more >>

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no comments so far

Sesame Street

September 11, 2007

Now that my oldest daughter is three, I've logged some serious hours on Sesame Street. And you know what? It is the best kid's show out there. By far. Sorry, Dora, but you really suck. Sesame Street is far... read more >>

File under: Leisure

two comments so far

Jott.com

August 28, 2007

Gone are the days of posting color-coded sticky notes on the refrigerator. It’s out with the old and in with the new when it comes to messaging. With Jott.com you can create to-do lists and reminders or send email... read more >>

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no comments so far

Zoom Quilt

August 27, 2007

Who knew a quilt could be so fascinating? I'm not talking about grandma's quilt that's been stuffed in the back of the guestroom closet since last fall. I'm talking about Zoomquilt2, the latest imagery landscape designed by over thirty... read more >>

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no comments so far

Clarkandmichael.com

August 22, 2007

So, it's probably wrong to have a 19-year-old as your desktop image on your work computer, but if that 19-year-old is the ridiculously talented Michael Cera, I think that deserves a pass. I, like most of young and/or stoned... read more >>

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no comments so far

Rock Paper Scissors

August 21, 2007

Remember when you were a kid and the only way you could possibly get out of washing the dishes or taking little doggy out for his second afternoon walk was to go “hand-to-hand,” so to speak, with your sibling... read more >>

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no comments so far

Richard Serra

August 17, 2007

A sculpture is consistently thought of as a static thing; a half-monument of sorts, dedicated to posterity or, in certain cases, outright vanity. But a sculpture can be more -- a great deal more, in fact, if it’s been... read more >>

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no comments so far

Waterfall Hotel

August 13, 2007

If you want a hotel that has the usual amenities - pool, room service, bathroom – then continue to spend your days at the Whatchamacallit Inn. For those of you who want much more, Songjiang hotel in China is... read more >>

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no comments so far

Wee...Me

August 10, 2007

Haven’t you always wondered what you’d look like in cartoon form? Weeworld.com is my new favorite obsession, and I’m quickly getting all my friends hooked. You can design your very own “WeeMee”, or better yet, “Wee” your friends, family,... read more >>

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no comments so far

Little Big Game

August 10, 2007

You're not a real gamer until you've played this game. Media Molecule, also known as Mm, has come up with this fun and fascinating game called LittleBigPlanet. In this game, you are in control. You have the power to... read more >>

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no comments so far

Reality Dreams

August 2, 2007

For most, becoming a reality TV star is as close to impossible as winning the lottery. That's why there is Dreams N2 Reality, an interactive show and casting call that teaches reality fans the secrets to becoming a reality... read more >>

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no comments so far

Home Movie Day

August 1, 2007

Remember when mom and dad thought it was cute to video tape you as a child splashing around in the bath while rubber ducky floated in the background or opening up presents and you were more interested in the... read more >>

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no comments so far

Prison Thriller

July 20, 2007

When did being stuck in prison look so fun? Perhaps the next celebrity convict should request the CPDRC in the Philippines. This video is seriously too much for words! I love it. Ryan P... read more >>

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one comment so far

Harry Potter

July 13, 2007

I was one of the lucky few to attend an early screening of Harry Potter: The Order of the Phoenix and was amazed to discover that the 900+ page novel had been masterfully edited down to a thrilling 2... read more >>

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no comments so far

Y: The Last Man

July 2, 2007

Our mission in life is to prove that comic books aren't just for kids. There are plenty of examples to go by but perhaps the most fitting would be Brian K. Vaughan's brilliant ongoing graphic novel "Y: The Last... read more >>

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one comment so far

KEXP 90.3 Seattle

July 2, 2007

First of all let's stop pretending you actually do work at your office because you don't. You know it. I know it. So what better way to pass the time at a soul-sucking work space then music -- good... read more >>

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no comments so far

HopStop.com

July 2, 2007

I never can figure out which subway to take when I’m visiting New York. And when it comes to the T in Boston, I’m lost. HOP STOP is like Mapquest, but tells you which subway or bus to take.... read more >>

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no comments so far

Old Joy

June 21, 2007

I'd like to call some attention to a nice little movie called Old Joy . The film is the story of two old friends, Kurt (Will Oldham) and Mark (Daniel London), who reunite for a weekend camping trip in... read more >>

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no comments so far

"Moonlighting"

June 21, 2007

It’s hard to believe there was ever a time when Bruce Willis was not an action hero. As we brace ourselves for another summer of Bruce blowing things up and dodging bullets, I like to remember back to a... read more >>

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no comments so far

Half-Life

June 14, 2007

One of our writers, Aaron Krach, recently moved on to a new job, and it's about that time that we all told you about his book, "Half Life." We had a mini-book-club meeting about it today and agreed that... read more >>

File under: Leisure

two comments so far

Ozomatli

May 25, 2007

We are using a song called "Can't Stop" from Ozomatli's new album "Don't Mess With the Dragon" to launch the new season of "Top Chef Miami." The whole album is great but I especially love this song. It has... read more >>

File under: Leisure

one comment so far

Get Human

May 25, 2007

Like everyone else, I get tired of navigating the labrynthine structure of the automated voice system when I call for customer server for any company. I want to talk to a real live person but big companies make that... read more >>

File under: Leisure

no comments so far

Lost Men

May 18, 2007

Because he's my friend, author Brian Leung let me read his new book, "Lost Men," before it came out. And I was not supposed to talk it up (too much) until it became available. Well, I can't wait any... read more >>

File under: Leisure

no comments so far

Wet Pillows

May 11, 2007

Everyone needs to take a 5 min break when you are hard at work, cranking on a pressing deadline. I highly recommend keeping a small pillow near by, so you can catch a quick cat-nap in comfort and awake... read more >>

File under: Leisure

no comments so far

Drawing A Day

May 2, 2007

Tired of reading? Nahhh... couldn't be true! But for those (rare!) moments when words are too much, I look at pictures. Magazines, coffee table books, and this drawing blog. It's so simple I won't bother describing it with words.... read more >>

File under: Leisure

no comments so far

Grindhouse

April 18, 2007

Don't be afraid of the "double-feature" Grindhouse. Yes, the first part (Planet Terror by Robert Rodriguez) is silly and laugh-out-loud gross. But it's the second part (Death Proof by Quentin Tarantino) that is worth the price of admission. Tarantino... read more >>

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no comments so far

Rolling

March 2, 2007

This movie may be difficult to find but it's so worth it. In fact, Rolling did win the "Audience Award" for Best Feature at the San Francisco Independent Film Festival this year so I'm not alone when I say it's... read more >>

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no comments so far

Seatguru.com

February 20, 2007

I hate getting stuck in a n airplane seat that doesn't recline, or a window seat without a window. (It's happened!) This site gives the layout of of every airlines' plane. Plus, it marks seats as "good," "be aware"... read more >>

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one comment so far

Flightaware.com

February 20, 2007

Want to know if cousin Jimmy's plane has landed yet? Plug in the flight number and see a map on your computer showing you where -- exactly -- in the U.S. Jimmy (or Jane, Janis or Juliia) is, and... read more >>

File under: Leisure

no comments so far

Half Nelson

February 12, 2007

I was happy to see that Ryan Gosling got nominated for an Academy Award (Best Actor), but surprised to see that both the movie Half Nelson as well as the other leading actor, Shakira Epps, were snubbed from the... read more >>

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one comment so far

Michael Musto

January 25, 2007

Some people say he's the only reason to read The Village Voice. And while I'm not ready to go that far -- Jerry Salz is an awesome art critic -- Mr. Michael Musto is the voice of The Voice.... read more >>

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one comment so far

Children of Men

January 5, 2007

In all the end-of-the-year must-see movies I watched over the holidays ... Amen! I finally (finally!) found a movie that I actually liked, maybe even want to see again: Children of Men. Okay, I'll admit that I was drawn by... read more >>

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six comments so far

Cute Overload

January 2, 2007

We are ashamed to admit this, but we check in with cuteoverload.com every day. It's basically, yes, a collection of bunnies and kitties and puppies. And no matter how hard we try, we can't look away. We don't generally... read more >>

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twenty comments so far

The Velvet Store

December 13, 2006

Nothing screams 70's like velvet ... especially the kind you can put on your wall. Who wouldn't want a genuine black velvet painting of themselves as Elvis? Really. They paint you, or anyone you want as Elvis. Amazing. Although... read more >>

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no comments so far

Altman's MASH

November 22, 2006

My friend Toddy had a well-worn VHS copy of MASH. NOT the TV show, but the original film by Robert Altman. Prior to this, all I knew about MASH was that it was something to watch with my Dad... read more >>

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three comments so far

Heroes

November 20, 2006

I decided to watch the premiere of "Heroes" a few weeks ago on a whim because I liked the ads posted all around NYC. I've always been a fan of ensembles, and the cast looked huge. Now, I am desperately,... read more >>

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five comments so far

Mini-Helicopter

November 13, 2006

Wanna really bug your coworkers? Check this out. It's a tiny remote controlled helicopter designed for indoor use and it's called the Micro Mosquito. It's super nimble, and it looks like the insect its named for. It's the hottest thing... read more >>

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no comments so far

Nabaztag

November 9, 2006

It's not a bird or a plane... Nabaztag is a pet, radio, electronic gadget, Tamogatchi-thingy, message carrier, dancing toy and Tai-Chi master. Really. The little plastic thing looks like a rabbit but really its a technological wonder. You can... read more >>

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one comment so far

Celebrity Meltdowns

November 7, 2006

There's something fascinating about celebrity crazy moments. Now a new pop-up book has come out that taps into the humorous side of a public meltdown: The Pop-Up Book of Celebrity Meltdowns. Available on Amazon, and just released -- in... read more >>

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one comment so far

Bose Noise Cancellers

October 17, 2006

$300 is a lot to spend on a pair of earphones. Heck, it's a lot of dough to hand over for diamond ear rings, or a fancy-schmancy dinner for four -- two if it's in NYC. But these noise-cancelling earphones... read more >>

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three comments so far

Line Rider

October 9, 2006

Inspiration is the key to great design. It comes in waves with lots of down time. When I'm feeling blocked I find that certain simple, fun and even brainless things help clear my mind, release pressure and get my creative... read more >>

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no comments so far

Goodmagazine.com

October 9, 2006

This magazine is too good to read online. It costs $20 to subscribe but they donate the $20 bucks to any charity of your choice. So that's good. Amazing writers and a great (better than good) mission in the... read more >>

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one comment so far

Brickshelf.com

September 28, 2006

Wow, I had no idea that the world of Legos was this cool. I mean, I knew that you could make pixelated versions of Ronald McDonald or the White Stripes, but what you find here is much more. At... read more >>

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no comments so far

"The Departed"

September 25, 2006

I am still speechless after having the honor of attending a preview screening of this film. However, I will break my silence for the following brief statement. Note to the Academy : Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor... read more >>

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no comments so far

Comedy Short Cuts

September 21, 2006

Last night I attended NBC's First Annual Comedy Short Cuts Film Festival at Cinespace in Hollywood. They screened seven short films highlighting diversity, creativity & more importantly comedic talent. I have to say they were all strong in their... read more >>

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no comments so far

The Ghostbusters Map

September 19, 2006

One of the most entertaining websites I've spent hours wasting time on is The Google Ghostbusters Map. Whether you live in New York City, or are planning a visit -- this is the best kind of guide for a... read more >>

File under: Leisure

no comments so far

Slick Deals

September 19, 2006

A Roomba for $85? You know you're all over it. Everyone loves a slick deal, and what better way to spread the love than through the Internet? From digital cameras to DKNY, fellow e-citizens report on the best deals... read more >>

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no comments so far

Summer Mix iTunes

September 13, 2006

With the end of summer just around the corner, I thought it was high time to share a sampling of the music that I enjoyed during the summer of '06. Most of these tracks were released in the last... read more >>

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no comments so far

Little Miss Sunshine

August 30, 2006

Like The Sixth Sense and Garden State, this Sundance sensation continues to rescue audiences from a disappointing summer movie season. Look for this film to lead the race among Original Screenplay Nominations at next year's Oscars. And avoid spoilers... read more >>

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one comment so far

"Sexy Back" by Justin Timberlake

August 23, 2006

"Sexy Back" single by Justin Timberlake JT brings sexy back, four years later !!! with the soon to be released album FutureSex/LoveSounds. It was worth the wait! Don't wait until the 9/12 street date, hear it now here. --Valerie B.... read more >>

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Panther Video

August 23, 2006

Ever wonder what happened to that artsy kid you went to Junior High School with? The one who skipped gym class, wasn't popular, seemed really fascinating and always got into trouble? Well, here's mine. Charlie Salas, aka Panther, is... read more >>

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no comments so far

The Bubble Project

August 21, 2006

Next time an ad makes you cringe, channel your inner graffito and slap a Bubble on it. New Yorker Ji Lee hijacked ads all over town with 30,000 blank cartoon bubbles. In no time flat, people added their snarky... read more >>

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Elephants Elecam

August 4, 2006

It's 1,000 degrees. You're inside, enjoying air conditioning, but getting a little bit of cabin fever. What to surf? Check out these elephants, living on a rescue sanctuary in the United States. Who knew? Tons of African and Asian... read more >>

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Edmund White

July 28, 2006

“A Boy’s Own Story,” by Edmund White. When I was 13, I got it from the library, worked myself into a dither over the sex in chapter one, and hid it under my bed. I finally read it last year,... read more >>

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ELFV Fast Fast Fast

July 17, 2006

Bottom line: ELVFV is crazy-good. Visit the website to hear ELFVF (Electric Lights Flashing Very Fast). They're three guys (two Bravo-istos) whose music we all listen to all day long every day. It's rock-n-roll with a psychedelic kick. They've... read more >>

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Go Fug Yourself

June 27, 2006

Summed up in the site's tagline -- "fugly is the new pretty" -- this blog tracks each successive pinnacle of celebrity disregard for the basic tenets of taste and fashion. So much fun it should be illegal. -- Linda... read more >>

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Dead City

June 21, 2006

This critically-acclaimed new play is being buzzed about in Manhattan. If you live in or near NYC, you've got one more week to see it. So, what's it about? A modern-day retelling of "Ulysses," with a female protagonist. Samantha... read more >>

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Burning Habits

June 16, 2006

"Burning Habits" is thea-tah, dah-ling. You must go! And what is it? A five-episode, live soap opera about dead lesbian nuns, deaf hunchbacks and bisexual buddhist vampires in recovery. The wacky, cult hit just opened in NYC and is... read more >>

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Celebrity Baby Blog

June 15, 2006

Confession: this site is a little bit stalkerazzi. But, it's also great fun and the kids are so damn cute! Celebrity Baby Blog is a positive (positively fawning, actually) website devoted to celebrities and their children. And isn't breeding... read more >>

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Snakes on a Plane

June 12, 2006

Snakes on a Plane, starring Samuel L. Jackson, is causing unprecedented grassroots internet buzz. An additional five days of filming were recently shot to push the movie from PG-13 to an R-rating and keep the film in line with... read more >>

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Serious Fun

June 4, 2006

MUG Newsletter: A User’s Guide Manhattan User’s Guide is great website with a daily email that isn’t only for people who live in Manhattan. You never knew there was someone with such amazing and diverse and great taste -- who... read more >>

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Superheroes at War

June 4, 2006

The Marvel universe in chaos. read more >>

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TV Anywhere. Really!

June 4, 2006

LocationFree TV transmitter. read more >>

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Cartoon Goodness

June 4, 2006

Justice League Unlimited read more >>

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Not Your Average Film Review

June 4, 2006

Mr. Cranky's bomb-scale. read more >>

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The Dark Tower Series

June 4, 2006

The Dark Tower by Stephen King It's actually a seven-book series, but only one story. It is said that this is King's definitive work, and I agree. It took him over 30 years to write the books. And, you can... read more >>

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