I went with the 30GB model with video. Oh yes. Oh yes. It is never easy for me to lay down that many frogskins in one sitting, but this thing is so cool, I'm managing. The video is working for me; I'm not using it for much more than the occasional podcast (Homestar Runner, Ask A Ninja), although I did download the pilot for Psych, which iTunes is offering for free.

Did I mention that it is shiny? It is shiny. (Although for some reason, the guys at Best Buy were under the impression that it couldn't be used as a portable hard drive, which I have since disproven.)

I am going to buy an iPod.

Yes. I fear the time has come. My trusty Jukebox is stumbling at the moment. Who could blame it, really? I've had the thing for three years and have dropped it more times than I care to count. It's amazing that it still works at all.

But it's time. The screws are falling out (a common complaint with this model, I'm told). The audio is messed up--I have to wiggle the headphone jack around to hear both channels. And last night, I got a "Firmware Problem" message. Tried updating the firmware. Tried reloading the OS. Eventually, I had to format the thing.

So. An iPod. Yes. It'll be nice to have something that works with iTunes. The question is, do I spend $200 on a 2GB with no video, or $300 on a 30GB with video?

Someday, I will use this space for something other than pimping my audio drama work. But not today. Today, I inform you that Batman: The Ace of Detectives, Episode 6, is now available, with me doing the producering. Do the clicky, whydon'tcha.

Yes, I break my silence only to whore out those productions in which my voice can be heard. In the new episode of Defiant, I give some what for to those guys with the phasers. Also new is the first episode of Dixie Sternberg & Brassy Batallion, in which I am actually somewhat helpful to the forces of good for a change. Go and listen, and your life will be changed, a tiny, tiny bit.

Episode 5 of Batman: The Ace of Detectives is out today. This is vital, for I am the director of this opus. Yes, I sat in front of the cruel screen and edited together voice, music and sound effects! Go and click on that thing, for it was made with love.

The trailer for Ratatouille, the next Pixar film. It's co-directed by Brad Bird, who directed The Incredibles and The Iron Giant, and I'm pretty sure he can heal the sick with his touch as well. Also, I do believe that's Patton Oswalt doing the voice of the main character, which was surprising, to say the least...

The Chinatown Death Cloud Peril sounds rather interesting. Walter Gibson, creator of The Shadow, and Lester Dent, creator of Doc Savage, team up to solve pulpy goodness. As has been remarked, I am curious about mysteries that star real people, and this is certainly as intriguing as any of them. Besides, how can you not love a book that features Chester Himes as a supporting character?

The new episode of Superman: The Last Son of Krypton is up, featuring my own self as a terribly vexing fellow who causes a spot of bother. Go now and fill your earspace with the majesty of it all.

By the way, I never mentioned it, but you can also hear me in the first episode of Darker Projects' new show, The Byron Chronicles. Dig on it.

...it's the Hudson Hawk again. According to CHUD, these are the special features...

- Audio commentary from Director Michael Lehmann
- 2 featurettes (My Journey To Minerva and The Story of Hudson Hawk)
- Some deleted scenes
- Music Video - "Hudson Hawk Theme" by Dr. John
- Hudson Hawk Trivia Track
- Trailers

Which is worse? The fact that there is going to be a special 15th Anniversary Edition of Hudson Hawk, or the fact that I am going to buy it?

Not to worry. A few weeks later, I will redeem myself by purchasing A Fish Called Wanda: Deluxe 2-Disc Edition. Balance. It's all about balance.

This list of franchise-reviving prequels from Fametracker would be a little funnier if two of them weren't actually in the works.

Death Defying Acts, in which Guy Pearce plays Harry Houdini (?!) and Catherine Zeta-Jones plays a psychic with whom he has an affair (?!?). Wha huh? Doesn't really jibe with what we know of the man himself; There's evidence that he had an affair with Charmain London, wife of Jack London, but that same evidence presents him as guilt-ridden over it and eventually backing out of the relationship.

Also, Star Wars: Original Recipe hits DVD. I am not upset at the double-dipping, because I didn't buy it in its updated form. Cheapness pays off once again. You've got to admit, though, the tone of the press release is slightly condescending:

See the title crawl to Star Wars before it was known as Episode IV; see the pioneering, if dated, motion control model work on the attack on the Death Star; groove to Lapti Nek or the Ewok Celebration song like you did when you were a kid; and yes, see Han Solo shoot first.

"Oh, all right, let the baby have his original versions." Eh, whaddayagonnado.

Hey, how 'bout that Lost, huh?

A contest to win Unexpected Dreams, in which movie and TV stars sing lullabies. It's on iTunes as well. Jennifer Garner and Victor Garber both sing, and now I really wish they'd done a musical Alias episode...

Superman Returns. Long trailer.

Yeah.

Also: yeah.

But...you don't get to hear a lot out of Brandon Routh, do you?

I read the new Checkmate #1, and I really wish I had a scanner so you could get the visual.
( Mild, mild spoiler )

The latest episode of Superman: The Last Son of Krypton is available for download. So go. Download. We do so much for you and ask so little.

Why? Why can I not sleep past 5:30 am? Why is that?

I think I'm institutionalized. Not in the funny-jacket-with-long-sleeves way, the bathroom-break-boss way. My body refuses to believe that it can sleep. Maybe I feel I don't deserve it.

Anyway. rjwhite's mention that The President's Analyst is on DVD reminded me of a movie I saw not too long ago that I forgot to recommend. Based on an unfinished novel by Jack London, The Assassination Bureau stars Oliver Reed as the leader of the titular organization, which, of course, only whacks people who deserve to die. Diana Rigg is the reporter who takes out a contract on Reed, with Reed, challenging him to have himself assassinated. Reed delights in the opportunity to test the efficacy of his staff, and traipses around Europe cleaning up the deadwood. Naturally, there are wicked conspiracies. There are dirigibles. There is Telly Savalas. Mostly, there is Oliver Reed and Diana Rigg being completely awesome. (Reed was once up for the role of James Bond, and I'm telling you right now he would have kicked Connery's ass.) Also, for those of you who have a prurient nature, there is an extended sequence in which Miss Rigg is clad solely in a towel. I believe I moaned aloud.

Other stuff I saw lately what was interesting:

Stay. Very nice mindfuck movie. Much better than the ads made it appear.

A Sound of Thunder. Amazing in its badness. The only thing more terrifying than the sub-SciFi Channel special effects is Ben Kingsley's hairpiece, which makes him look like one of the aliens from This Island Earth. The only bright spot is the presence of Jemima Rooper, who the hip kids will recognize as Thelma The Overly Friendly Ghost in Hex. (Or possibly H3x.)

Moonlighting: Season 3. Man, was this show awesome. As you can tell by the new icon.

J.J. Abrams set to direct Star Trek movie. It's...it's about young Kirk and young Spock. It's Kirk Begins.

WHY. Just...why? Why do we need a Star Trek Babies movie? Why do we need any Star Trek movie, for that matter? Are your memories that short? Do you not remember Nemesis, you fools? It wasn't good.

I know. I know. J.J. Abrams is good. Chances are a film directed by him will be good. Believe me, he's the only reason I'll be going to see Mission: Impossible III in a couple of weeks. But...young Kirk, dude. They have to find a Shatner in his early 20s. Contemplate the horror.

Episode 3 of Wonder Woman: Champion of Themyscira is now available for your downloading pleasure, followed closely by your listening pleasure. There is danger and intrigue and at least one swordfight, and in my role of Dr. Psycho, I am quite snide indeed. Go and hear the joy.

My younger niece, Libby, made her dramatic debut this week in her kindergarten class's production of Peter and the Wolf. I didn't see it, but I hear good things about this staging. Anyway, the nieces are looking for Prokoviev's music, so I hunted down my old LP of PatW, as narrated by David Bowie. (This was odd in and of itself. I vividly remember this album being pressed on bright red vinyl, but when I found the record, the vinyl was green. Weird. Apparently this edition is pretty collectible, too.)

They were over for dinner last night, so I showed them the album. Lib took a look at the Thin White Duke on the cover and asked, "Is that what Sergei Prokoviev looked like when he was young?"

Pronounced Prokoviev correctly, too.

After what seems like months of WorkSleepWorkSleep, a lot of stuff is actually happening. I just made reservations for a friend's wedding. It's been about five years since I went to a wedding...