Making Of
Concerning itself with the nitty gritty of the movie craft, Making Of's weirdly silent set visits to recent movies – including the Coen brothers' A Serious Man and Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr Fox – reveal the tedious reality of the process. Among trailers and clips are the much better video interviews with stars like Eric Bana and Ben Stiller, plus proper insight into the industry in a series of exchanges with costume designers, casting directors, screenwriters and stuntmen all discussing their work. The site, co-founded by Star Wars pin-up Natalie Portman, could do with an injection of humour to go with its access to the inner echelons of Hollywood. If only Dennis Pennis was still available.
Bad Menu
Who doesn't love a catastrophic spelling mishap? Especially if it involves an attempt to tease your taste buds but instead triggers your gag reflex. Taken from menus, billboards, ads and signs the world over the delights on offer include "Stuffed Eggplant with shrimp and crap filling" (yum), a family pizza that comes with a topping of "40 to 60cm of sheet metal" (mmm) and "roast lamp" (delicious). A common error appears to be in translating a menu – or maybe antipasto really is a "copulation of daily meats". But there can be few excuses for the American establishments whose "vegetarian option" is chicken or for the Lebanese restaurant that insists on hiring a "lesbian chef".
Blog Roll: Christmas
Pop noir, 8-bit, Swedish and choral covers of Wham's 80s classic.
Preserving vintage aluminium trees in all their tinselacious glory.
The magazine of Christian unrest including "Gadgets for God" and the 12 Days of Kitschmas.
Christmas tunes on YouTube, DIY decorations, album downloads and a 30ft spruce.
All you need to stage your own panto in the comfort of your own living room.
Links galore including novelty advent calendars, vintage adverts, kids books and festive playlists.
What we learned on the web this week
Rock's infamous "crotch moments"
Think before you text
The economics of pinball
Pop stars are getting younger
Who's the best boat captain
Superheroes who are arseholes
The worst portrayals of technology in film
How to make Googling safer for kids
Where Nicolas Cage's money went
Curb Your Enthusiasm's formula