rox: Zombies on Your Lawn -- Live!

The theme song for PopCap's "Plants vs Zombies" game is cute. The live version of the song is even cuter. Performed by the composer and singer, Laura Shigihara.

The original game trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N1_0SUGlDQ&feature=related

Live from Laura's living room:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OqpMFsnN7hM&feature=player_embedded

PS the game is really fun, too.

Also, check out Laura's Blog: http://shigi.wordpress.com

Rox

rox: Dinosaur Comics!

www.qwantz.com

Consistently hilarious. Plus cool shirts.

Rox

sux: apps that change your emoticons

You know what really cheeses me off? When software changes your perfectly legitimate emoticon into something else. Like, when an IM window changes your :) into a dorky yellow circle thing. Or when Word changes it to a slightly less dorky but still annoying white circle thing.

Hey software guys, here's a thought. When I type :) I don't want a WalMart face in there. I WANT A COLON AND A PARENTHESES.

I can just imagine how they dreamed this up. They're sitting in the boardroom, and someone's grandpa says "What's the deal with those weird punctuation marks in there? Is that some kind of code?" Then when they find out they're all, "Oh that's cute." But after a few minutes, it's, "Ugh, I don't like turning my head sideways. Plus it doesn't even really look like a smiley face. I know! Let's replace all these tasteful and meaningful emotes with some stupid childish drawing! Hey! We might even be able to market these things!"

I especially hate the little tongue guy. You know, the one that replaces this :P with a drooling doofus. It doesn't look anything like what it's replacing. That particular change actually REMOVES the emotive element for me. It makes me feel stupid for even looking at it.

In summary: Emoticons used to be a way of communicating basic emotions in an otherwise sterile environment. They were clever and inventive. They had a meaning all their own, and they were ours. But now that's gone. Now it's all just candy and technicolor noise.

Thanks a lot, gramps.

rox: A quoi ca sert l'amour

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

Don't let the simplified line-drawing style fool you -- this is a high-quality piece of work. The story's also a satisfying mix of simple and complex. I especially like the way he portrays the girl's impulsiveness.

Rox

sux: lazy pet owners

Daddy? Why is that sign there?

Oh that? That's because some people are stupid, sweetie. Really stupid.

Yeah. And they stink cuz they leave pooHEY look out for that.... !

ARG

rox: Allie Brosh's blog

Hyperbole and a Half

She's crazy, insightful, and unafraid to expose her flaws to the world. Which flaws are the same as ours. I can totally picture myself in her shoes, if I was a wack OCD/ADHD paranoid girl with dreams of fame and fortune instead of a wack ADHD/assburgers dude with dreams of fame and fortune. Plus her MS Paint drawings are endearing and surprisingly meaningful.

Although I'm still wondering how she makes MS Paint drawings on a Mac.

Rox