We Like It

Flak Radio co-hosts James Norton and Taylor Carik make their first radio appearance KFAI's "Art Matters," hosted by Marya Morstad.

As Flak contributor Aemilia Scott writes on the Huffington Post, Ahmadinejad's visit to Columbia University — and the right-wing reaction to it — illustrates the challenge of holding on to the true meaning of "freedom."

Flak's managing editor attends an event for single public radio fans despite not actually listening to public radio; Flak's editor interviews the founder of the intensely passionate food journal The Art of Eating.

The Center For Media and Democracy is sponsoring what may be one of the most interesting political discussions of the year in Chicago on August 5th: anti-war military veterans talking to online activists about how the two groups can join forces.

"The most awesome thing ever done in music history." Behold the power of extra virgin olive oil, pitch bending, and nerds.

VH1 presents a high-level throwdown on all things musical, televised and cinematic.

Film Editor Sean Weitner has co-created a new movie trivia-driven boardgame; check it out, and play it online.

Flak Photo is this year's "Best Kept Secret" among photo blogs. Hopefully, of course, it won't stay secret for too much longer.

Flak's editor scores an interview with the creator of Achewood over on Salon.com.

Flak's fearless managing editor chats with the author of Ten Days in the Hills.

Chad Vader, Day Shift Manager

Coming to you via the Internet and Madison's Willy St. Co-Op: The comedy stylings of grocery store manager Chad Vader, Darth Vader's less charismatic brother.

Road Food Rocker

Flak editor James Norton's audio interview with Alex Kapranos, frontman for the somewhat well-known rock band Franz Ferdinand. Read Jim's review of Sound Bites on Flak, then listen to the audio incarnation over at chow.com.

Read in the Face

Flak contributor Claire Zulkey, writing for Radar, presents a scorchingly entertaining reading list of goofy books by good (or at least well-known) authors. From Caspar Weinberger and Bill O'Reilly's ill-starred ventures into fiction to Annie Proulx's guide to making the best apple cider, this list is a romp.

OH THE BEEMANITY: Part 2

A short collection of the funniest scenes from Wicker Man, including one very horrifying one of cultists mis-BEE-having.

OH THE BEEMANITY

Never before has killing bees with a firepit and inflammable liquids been quite so awe-inspiring.

Freakin' incredible Origami

If you thought folding paper into wacky shapes was for nerds, THINK AGAIN. This stuff has badditude!!!

CultureCloud

A new networking site that's driven more by intelligent discourse than cleavage-baring .jpgs. It's so counterintuitive it might... just... work! And Flaksters J. Daniel Janzen, James Norton and Bob Cook are all part of the conversation.

Pam vs. Karen

Two of Flak's smartest (and most fetching!) bloggers are throwin' down, and you're invited. The beef at hand: the tussle between The Office's Pam and Karen over the affections of Jim. Are you on Team Pam? Or Team Karen? Let Claire and Lindsay make their cases, and then cast your vote by buying a T-shirt.

Surveillance Means Security

Micah Ian Wright, of the Propaganda Remix Project, has hit the bookstores with a new book of World War II propaganda posters remixed for our terrifying modern era. And it even features an introduction by Flak's editor, James Norton.

The Finest Baby Halloween Costume in History

If you don't have a baby already, just seeing this costume will cause you to crank one out.

Emperor Palpatine and Darth Vader chat on the phone

Robot Chicken presents a frank phone call between the most powerful man in the galaxy and lovable, oversized underling.

John Stossel Getting Hit by a Wrestler

An oldie but a goodie. Pretty much exactly what the title says it is, and guaranteed to brighten your day.

The Ministry of Homeland Security blog

Micah Ian Wright, of the Propaganda Remix Project, has launched a new blog in support of his upcoming book, Surveillance Means Security! Wright takes classic World War II propaganda posters and, using an often subtle form of Photoshop jujitsu, reworks them into acidic commentary about Bush, Cheney, and friends.

Shivs as art

Who knew that the most efficient way to dispatch a prison stool pigeon could be beautiful?

The video for OK Go's "Here it Goes Again"

If Spike Jonze didn't actually choreograph and direct this video, he's going to be wicked jealous. Low tech. High concept. Beautiful execution.

Coup de Boulle

We like the hell out of this Zidane-themed French-language head-butt-themed bit of pop ephemera.

Devil's Pie, by Rhymefest

Listen the hell out of this Strokes-sampling stone-cold excellent pile of rhymes. And then go buy Blue Collar.

How to Create a Liberal Bestseller

The publisher of Glenn Greenwald's book, "How Would a Patriot Act?" explains the awesome but poorly understood power of the blogosphere to sell books.

What Flaksters (and many others) read on the beach

Flak writers including Claire Zulkey, David Barringer and James Norton are among the many literary beach-bums to contribute to Coudal's collection of Field-Tested Books.

At only $6 a pop, it's a summer's worth of meta-reading that's perfect for the train, plane, automobile — or your final destination, wherever that may be.

James Norton in The Christian Science Monitor

Flak editor James Norton hits the CS Monitor Op/Ed page with an opinion piece that digs into the roots of American values — and how those values are utterly unconsistent with what's going on in Guantánamo Bay.

The Cruzin' Cooler

Just in time for summer: a beer cooler you can ride around on like a goddamned scooter. "Cruzin Cooler combines two basic necessities of life, the ability to have cold food or a beverage handy along with the means to get somewhere, without walking."

America: We're gettin' fit... together!

Not Your Soldier

And now for something a little bit different: a miltary anti-recruitment campaign. Activism, hip-hop and respectably well-done Flash animation, together at last.

New books by Andy Behrens and James Norton

It's publication day for two different Flaksters, and we couldn't be prouder.

Sports writer and editor Andy Behrens has written "All the Way," a comedy of misguided hormones and hilarious detours, wherein a nice boy goes the distance for sex, but might find that something even better lives a little closer to home.

Editor James Norton has written "Saving General Washington: The Right Wing Assault on America's Founding Principles," wherein a nice general goes the distance to establish an enlightened republic, but finds that 200+ years later, the halfwit son of former president has screwed everything up.

Both are available on Amazon and at your friendly local bookseller.

The principles behind Steve Almond's resignation from Boston College

The author of "My Life in Heavy Metal" has gone beyond talking the talk and has most profoundly walked the walk.

Nikolai Volkoff for Baltimore County House of Delegates

In its seven years as a functioning publication, Flak Magazine has never endorsed a candidate for the 7th district of the Baltimore County House of Delegates. We've always viewed our reputation as a non-partisan source of Baltimore County-related news as too important to jeopardize.

That all changes today. Former pro-wrestler Nikolai Volkoff has jumped into the race, and Flak Magazine is proud to support him and his pile-driving legacy.

PimpStar wheels

Let the ad copy speak for itself, then watch them in action on the site's promo movie:

"The PimpStar is a huge leap forward in the evolution of the wheel. With the PimpStar's built-in full color LED lights, microprocessor and wireless modem, you can display virtually any image, including text, graphics, logos, and even digital photos!"

Forget an evolution of the wheel — PimpStar has reinvented it! Starting at $12,500 (including a set of four Pirelli tires), they're a bargain at twice the price!

The Elegant Vulgarity of Don Hertzfeldt

Can't Stop the Bleeding's Celebrity Panelist Podcasts

Mr. T on National Weather Service revolution

The Japanese Tradition

The Chronic-les of Narnia

Daily Scribble nominated

My Robot Humps

Interview with the author of "Devil's Game"

Fine Words Butter No Parsnips

The Deadly Threat of Turkey Friers

Carlton Draught's Big Ad

When Zach Met Maria

Mr. T: Treat Your Mom Right

Bob Cook on MSNBC

The White Sox: Go Ahead, Ignore Us

This dancing Spider-Man .gif

Holy crap — check it out.

Bob Cook on MSNBC

Sugar Bush Squirrel

The Pinback "Fortress" video

The Andy Ross comedy juggernaut

ASU's promotional video

The must-see romantic comedy of the year

The Zombie Pub Crawl

Speech Bubble Stickers

What happens when a stickerpunk puts up blank speech bubbles on NYC-area billboards and kiosks? Michief happens, that's what.

On an unrelated note: Give generously to Habitat for Humanity as they work to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina.

The American Red Cross

The Red Cross is working hard to help the many victims of Hurricane Katrina. Please visit their site and offer a donation.

R. Kelly at the VMAs

This sublimely multi-layered performance will make you laugh — it will make you cry — and most of all, it will make you think.

Death by Caffeine

How much of your favorite caffeinated drink would it take to kill you? This handy website has the answer.

An antique poem about farting

"Given its status within parliamentary and legal circles, the notes concentrate on identifying members of parliament to whom the poem refers."

Magical Trevor

Synth pop, Flash animation, and cows. If this is bad, we don't want to know what "good" actually is.

Tales of the City

Flakster James Norton writes about "street" fiction in his debut story for Salon.com.

The 50 Essential Songs of Canadian Music

Sure, Canada has that free health care, legal marijuana and gay marriage, but can you trust a country that votes "If I Had a $1000000" by Barenaked Ladies as its second-best song of all time? Give the CBC listeners credit, though, for leaving out Celine Dion.

Bob Cook on Jewsrock.org

Oy gevalt, what a tuml! Jews may rock, but do they have to be so loud? Some of us are trying to play mahjong here, so make with the clicks, already.

Banksy Goes to Palestine

British graffiti artist Banksy tackles the ultimate wall: the Israeli security barrier.

Orbitz Billiards

What's that? You thought Orbitz mini-golf was a massive time sink? You don't know massive time sinks until you've played Orbitz 8-ball.

The O Factor

Long overdue — a systematic analysis of Owen Wilson's writerly side, and his contribution to the Wes Anderson phenomenon.

If World War II Was Fought in a Chatroom

Roosevelt: im gonna attack the axis k?
benny-tow: with what? ur wheelchair?
benny-tow: lol did u mess up ur legs AND ur head?
Hitler[AoE]: ROFLMAO
T0J0: lol o no america im comin 4 u
Roosevelt: wtf! thats bullsh1t u fags im gunna kick ur asses
T0JO: not without ur harbors u wont! lol
Roosevelt: u little biotch ill get u

Pulp Fiction in 30 Seconds

A 30-second recapitulation of Pulp Fiction, using Flash animation. As re-enacted by bunnies.

Larry King's Lost USA TODAY Columns

I don't care what anybody says, stoplights are a good idea... Whatever happened to the Somali warlords?... My favorite card suit?: Clubs!

Deutschland's Iron Lady

Clay Risen rocks Slate with a profile of Angela Merkel, Germany's "eiserne Mädchen" ("Iron Lady").

Negativland's 1st Amendment Salute

Celebrate freedom of expression with this classic profanity-laced sound collage and hilarious a capella parody of "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For."

Tom Cruise Kills Oprah

Hard to get any clearer than that. [Note: a 4 meg .mov file.]

Tornado on the Remote Keyboard

An Eastern European woman and her synth keyboard make sweet musical love to one another. Must be seen to be believed.

Guess-The-Google

Guess the Google keyword that results in twenty random images. Feel free to e-mail hopelessly addicted Flak editors for our high scores.

celebrities eating dot com

If you liked the subtle comedy of Fat Chicks in Party Hats, you'll adore celebrities eating. Make sure you check out Keanu Reeves doing the opposite of eating!

Star Wars III: The Lost Hope trailer

Timely it is. Funny it is. Click on it you shall.

GI Joe Public Service Announcements

Redubbed for your amusement. You'll want to check out "The Gay One" and "Fire Alarm #2." Knowing is half the battle.

Andy Behrens Talks Baseball

Flak's own Andy Behrens talks up the White Sox and sizes up the 2005 baseball season over on ESPN.com.

Get Perpendicular

Best. Animated. Product. Launch. Ever.

Johnny Red by David Barringer

Eight years in the making, Flak contributor David Barringer's novel is available for pre-order. It's an epic and tragicomic love story. (About a rooster and a hen.)

Letters from New Orleans

New York Times Magazine columnist and Flak Print contributor Rob Walker goes indie with "Letters from New Orleans," put out by Garrett County Press.

Stuck in Rehab With Pat O'Brien: The Blog

Get the inside scoop on sportscaster Pat O'Brien's rehab experience with this amazing new "weblog."

Saved By the Bell Quote of the Day

Flak cartoonist Steve Carey, creator of Poppycock Circus, brings on the hardest hitting "Saved By the Bell" archive to ever hit the web.

Take a taste.

Jessie: Haven't you ever heard of the women's movement?

Slater: Sure, put on somethin' cute and move it into the kitchen.

Batman's Boner

Back in the day, milk came in glass bottles, rock and roll was the cutting edge, and a "boner" was just a mistake.

On a more originally creative note, there's a special rewrite of Superman that also demands attention.

The Zip Decoder

A shockingly entertaining deconstruction of the US zipcode system, rendered with elegant, vivid graphics.

The View From Everest

Panoramic. Spectacular. Awesome, in an Old Testament kind of way.

Off the Road

Two Brits plan to roadtrip across America breaking the country's stupidest laws. What would Kerouac say?

Bob Newhart For The New Millenium, Take 2

Paris Hilton, talkin' dirty. In .gif format. We love it.

The Case Against Grammys for Ray Charles

By awarding Ray Charles makeup awards 40 years too late at the expense of the likes of Kanye West, the Recording Academy practically ensures it'll continue adding to an already-long list of deserving artists who failed to receive high-profile Grammys during their creative heydays. (Charles, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix top the list of noteworthy shouldas, says the Los Angeles Times' Robert Hilburn.)

Dog Judo

Two dogs with British accents doing judo moves on one another. It sounds funny; it's also funnier than it sounds. Weirdly subtle.

Bananaphone!

Ringringringringringringring BANANA PHONE!

Flak's Very Own in the NY Times

Read Clay Risen's critique of the debate surrounding the rebuilding of Ground Zero. And remember: You knew him when.

District Court of Delaware "Hot Topics" page

Someone was paid to design this actual US government webpage. It was updated as recently as this month — not 1998, as it would initially appear.

The Suicide Bomber VW ad

The outrageous TV spot that Volkswagon never authorized. Or did they?

The Hall of Douchebags

Wickedly funny band photos, by the hundred. Prepare to lose 15 minutes of your life.

Gallagher gets no props

Legendary prop comic Gallagher gives the most bitter interview in comedy history. Gallagher on David Letterman: "He told me that he was going to be a talk-show host. What I never got was that he was never funny enough to be a guest, so how does he become the host? But that's America for you. America wants the mediocre. It doesn't want the heroic or the moral."

Rock, Paper, Saddam

Can anyone defeat Saddam Hussein's fiercesome Tiger Hand? When the former dictator of Iraq plays "rock, paper, scissors," he plays to win.

James Norton on The Al Franken Show

Flak editor James Norton chats about this week's Weekly Shredder with Al Franken and Katherine Lanpher. It's roughly halfway (about 90 minutes) into the clip, which you can get as a lower or high-quality mp3.

Halo & Sprocket: Welcome to Humanity

One of the best sitcoms in any medium, Kerry Callen puts an average young woman, an angel on leave from heaven and an earnest robot under one roof, giving us simple, instant-classic comedy with a twist of philosophy. Two stories, "Half Wits" and "Aw Heck," are available for your immediate online perusal; the trade paperback "Welcome to Humanity" is in stores now.

Flak Magazine: The Interview

A lovely (and lengthy) interview with Flak editors Eric Wittmershaus and James Norton by Mary Gustafson, of Knot Magazine fame.

A Boy and His Boner

You read about Boston's naughty statues on Flak. Now check out the country's newest controversial monument in the Riverfront Times of St. Louis. What the hell is it about sculptors, anyway?

Your Civic Doody

Finally a comedy blog that's political. Or a politics blog that's comical. Either way, check it out daily to keep up with our brave new American world.

The KSTP Al Qaqaa Videotape

As revealed by Daily Kos: A video from an embedded local news crew that deflates Bush campaign claims that it was the UN — and not the US — that left the Qaqaa ammo dump unguarded and ripe for looting.

Enjoy the Draft

American politics marches still further into postmodernism as BlogPac.org, a collective of left-wing bloggers that operates entirely online, launches Enjoy the Draft, an Onion-style satire that incorporates links to authentic news stories and collects donations to fund the group's activism. It's funny, it's scary; will this new breed of comic agitprop actually be effective in motivating the young voters it targets? We'll soon find out.

Mr. Stewart Goes to Washington

By now, Jon Stewart's brilliant Crossfire appearance has become the stuff of legend. He excoriated the show and others like it for their low journalistic standards. Told to quit lecturing and "be funny," he refused to be their monkey. He called Tucker Carlson a dick on live TV. Want to relive the magic? Missed it the first time? Click and enjoy.

Railbird

Flak Books editor Jessica Chapel is now additionally poised to keep you up-to-date on all your horseracing news and gossip. Railbird is gritty enough for the expert, but lucid enough to hook total greenhorns.

Tattoos of Web comics

You know a medium has become serious when people are implanting its icons beneath their skin, with permanent ink. Brought to you by the ever-awesome artist of Flak's own Dinosaur Comics.

The Japanese beatbox version of Smells Like Teen Spirit

Absolutely must be heard to be believed. Strike that; absolutely must be heard, period. Brought to you by Dokaka, a featured performer on Björk's latest release, Medúlla.

White House West

Slate calls it the funniest anti-Bush ad of all time. It's definitely up there.

Slam Bush

Chuck D. and friends are bringing the noise in a concerted effort to stop George W. Bush from snatching another term in office. MCs and slam poets will battle it out, competing for prizes, registering voters, and burning Bush. Check out the battle nearest you.

Athens' Beach Bums

What do you get when you combine the world's premiere athletes, the only website with more traffic than MSN and an elite corps of photojournalists? Ass, tits, ass, ass, ass, tits and ass in profile, girl-on-girl action and — what's this? Oh yeah — more ass. Yahoo's Most Emailed Photos, always an invaluable source of 1,000-word essays on the interests of the Internet's hoi polloi, honors the Olympics by taking what it has always done best and doing it better.

Flaksters everywhere

In addition to being Flak's opinion section editor, Clay Risen is a regular contributor to the Morning News. Earlier this week, he took down a recent travel piece in the New York Review of Books that seems only to be interested in reinforcing negative stereotypes of the South. Meanwhile, sports section co-editor Andy Behrens revisited the Chicago White Sox's infamous "Disco Demolition Night" in this piece on ESPN.com.

The End of Knotmag

Actually, we distinctly dislike the shuttering of Knot Magazine, but we very much like editor Jennie Dorris and her classy salute to one of the sweetest magazines on the Web. Au revoir, comrades.

Diablog

Flak co-editor James Norton is debating former Reagan speechwriter Peter Robinson every night of the Democratic National Convention. Check out Tuesday's debate, and tune in Wednesday and Thursday to watch them battle it out in real time.

Andy Behrens on ESPN.com

Andy Behrens, one of Flak's assistant editors, kicks off ESPN.com's Page 3 series on sports and music with an article about "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at Wrigley Field. Journey is featured prominently. Mike Ditka is mentioned. What's not to like?

The Wit and Wisdom of Martin Van Buren

Forget Atrios, turn off your Daily Kos and tell Wonkette I don't want her MTV. The political blog of the 2004 election is kickin' it extremely old school — The Wit and Wisdom of Martin Van Buren. Amazingly, our eighth president can wonder not only about the political changes since his time, but also whatever happened to Kool Moe Dee.

Light Up The Sky

Milton Glaser, the designer who gave us the "I heart NY" campaign has proposed that New Yorkers welcome the GOP in August with a nonviolent after-hours light display.

To protest Vietnam, pacifists turned on their headlights when driving during the daytime. There's a similarly unintended irony that such an energy-intensive method be used to protest an administration some say is run by corrupt energy executives.

And could it could trigger another East Coast blackout?

What the heck? Every little bit helps.

The Environmental Working Group's Searchable Product Guide

Ever wondered why your favorite toothpaste tastes so good and works so well? Look it up in the Environmental Working Group's Seachable Product Guide. Once you read about the eight different ways it is killing you as it whitens, you will no longer give a shit.

Go look and see if your favorite lip balm is giving you cancer. (It totally is.)

The Undead Zone

Slate's done it yet again with this crisp, fascinating analysis of the aesthetics of artificial life. A very good reading of Masahiro Mori's "Uncanny Valley" theory, which explains why things that look too much like us tend to make us very uncomfortable indeed.

The Quest for the Rest

What happens when you take the music of The Polyphonic Spree and mix it up with an incredibly talented graphic designer? You get The Quest for the Rest, a clever little game that's as mesmerizing as it is aesthetically pleasing.

Peruse this, if you've got time

Cleave. Sanction. Inflammable. Peruse. As any casual student of the English language knows, words can mean many different things. A World Wide Words article takes a look at a small class of words with seemingly contradictory definitions.

"The Plausibles: The Problems of Make-Believe in the Age of Reason"

Starting off as an apologia for Brian De Palma's "anarchic behavior" in making movies like Femme Fatale, Peter Gelderblom's essay neatly dissects the phenomenon of the Plausibles, those viewers who have "robbed the filmmaker of his poetic licence and have pushed the artform in a corner where suspension of disbelief, a mere storytelling tool, seems to have become the highest obtainable goal for a filmmaker to achieve." Alighting on topics including Hitchcock, Middle-Earth, Chuck Jones, Dogme 95, Fargo, Noel Carroll and "CSI," Gelderblom makes the case that "yeah, right" are the two dirtiest words in the moviegoer's vocabulary. One of those things we wish we'd written.

Poppycock Circus "Fat Cat" shirts

"Fat Cat brand Monocles" shirts are here, and they're ready for wearing. They're an ideal gift for the yachtsman, sportsman and industrialist in your family. Get 'em while they're droll and wry.

Petition to save "Home Movies"

One of the keenest, most inspired, more delightfully deadpan shows on television is facing the axe. Read the review, remember your favorite moments from the show, and sign the petition. Fight... the power.

Bob Cook on the Radio

The Chicago Headline Club has nominated Flak columnist Bob Cook's National Public Radio commentaries for a Peter Lisagor Award for exemplary journalism. This is a serious award presented by a serious club, and we're thrilled for Bob. The honor is richly deserved.

And no, Bob is not related to this Lisagor character in any way. His witty sports commentary on NPR is simply that good. Links to his nominated pieces, which are often based on his work for Flak, can be found on the Kick Out the Sports archive page. Congratulations Bob!"

The Brick

Flak contributor and indie avenger James Stegall is building a reputation in the world of fiction with "The Brick," his first novel. It's also So New Media's first full-length book, so give it a look and share the love.

IKEA Walkthrough v2.3.1

The Morning News sends its Non-Expert to IKEA, who reports back with a pitch-perfect parody of video game walkthroughs. If you're in that Venn intersection of readers who gets IKEA jokes and online-video- game-walkthrough jokes, all I should have to say is: "You start this world armed only with a UNIVERSAL FURNITURE-ASSEMBLY ALLEN WRENCH. This is the weakest weapon in IKEA: You will have to hit a person 16 times with it to kill them."

Mr. Picasso Head

This devastatingly elegant Flash application will have you instantly deluded into feeling like an artist. One of the Web's most gorgeous little sandboxes.

Pop Culture Magazine

The competition keeps getting younger. Pop Culture Magazine has been kicking out content since November 2003; check out its crazy NYC/ 20something/ humorous/ hipster/ drinking-oriented material.

Facsimilation Magazine

What's amusing, rendered using HTML, and features Ben Brown? You're right if you said Über, but Facsimilation Magazine is newer.

Life as a Loser

Will Leitch of The Black Table has a book out; as Gandalf might say, before slipping off a bridge into the depths of Moria: "Buy, you fools!"

The Airspeed of an Unladen Swallow

Covers both African and European.

Guitarded

Finally: Downloadable files of people using their mouths to make cool guitar noises.

Harmar Superstar for Vladivar Vodka

Three ads, all funny. Naturally, you'll want to go to the "not allowed anywhere near a TV" version first.

I Love Six Months Ago

A VHS-1-style tribute to the trends and moments that defined our six months ago.

Girls! Girls! Girls!

Even men enjoy the literary humor of Flak writer Claire Zulkey. Her new So New Media book is incoming and ready for pre-order. Do it!

Engrish captions for The Two Towers

An Asian bootleg of the second "Lord of the Rings" movie brings treasure to its viewers... comedic treasure!

Bitterwaitress.com

Bitter waitrons dish the nasty dirt on all your best-loved and most-loathed celebrities. Many entries are buffed with the ring of truth!

Law & Order: Artistic Intent

Fan art comes in three flavors: scary bad, scary scary and scary good. The visual art is sharp enough, but the nontraditional stuff is real genius, actually challenging the way you think about the show. Our favorite is the coloring book.

Bob Cook on NPR

Flak's in-house sports guru's got a regular gig. Give his stuff a listen.

meomore #1

The debut of "a screen magazine to jolt your mind" features original art and crisp, short writing. Claire Zulkey, James Norton and James Stegall are in the crowded house.

Confessions of a Car Salesman

A journalist goes undercover — way undercover — and goes to work for the dealership. Remember: coffee's for closers.

Sellouts we'd like to see

Flak's Bob Cook rocks Dezmin with a bit of the old ha-ha.

Another Roadside Attraction

Flak's own Clay Risen dissects the rationale behind Washington's new free commuter daily.

Defeat the Right in Three Minutes

Misguided? Perhaps. Impossible? Likely. But it's an interesting read.

The music industry's trade organization seems to be making life difficult for everyone. Here's how to find out if you're giving them your money.

Topic Magazine

One of Britain's freshest new magazines is going global. Have a look.

The Prime Number Shitting Bear

Yeah, this one is pretty much self-explanatory.

Online typing test

Curious about your words-per-minute rate? The Web can help.

A history of bizarre mascot incidents

Can't get enough of that poor battered sausage? You'll dig this timeline of mascot abuse.

Flying Solo

Eric Gillin recalls being 23, and watching the snow fall on his mother's casket.

Wal-Mart blackballs Redbook

How the Laura Bush of glossies got on a corporate giant's bad side.

Monkey Goes Ape in Pizzeria

This is what America's all about. Happy Fourth of July, everyone.

Zombo.com

Welcome to Zombocom.

Coudal Partners — Summer Reading 2003

Claire Zulkey and James Norton join a throng of writers for a guide to the summer's best literary — and literal — vacation getaways.

Japanese fashion cats

Ohmygod... this is the cutest thing — ever! Warning: Absolutely lethal to cat haters.

Ronald McDonald: The profile

Concealed weapons. Secret training camps. Regulated hugging. This in-depth Wall Street Journal look at the McDonald's clown has it all.

The odd machinations of justice

This man will loose his medical license and get three years in prison for defrauding the state of New York to the tune of $1 million. He performed unneeded eye surgeries on mentally ill patients and in some cases charged the state for services never rendered.

This man sucked some little boys' toes. He faces up to 300 years in prison, and could be eligible for parole in either 15 years or 45 years. We don't really "like" either practice, but the disparity in sentences is, shall we say, notable.

Good old-fashioned journalism still matters

Football Gone Wild

A different kind of fantasy league. Score points every time your player gets fined, suspended, arrested or merely fumbles the ball!

Great Scenes in Rock and Roll History...

...as re-enacted by marshmallow peeps.

We Like the Moon

The Spongmonkeys bust out what may become one of the most confrontational protest anthems of our generation. While you're there, check out the not-entirely-safe for-work "Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues." It's performed by kittens.

The dullest blog in the world

Finally: A blog that's intentionally boring.

Weight Watchers recipe cards from 1974

Snappy writing and hideous, horrible recipes make these things a laff riot.

Haypenny: 10 Courageous Dolphin Stories

Haypenny goes all out to produce a heartbreaking work of staggering parody.

This hawk won't quit

The fabulous misadventures of the world's funniest bird. Plus: sex!

Plague Domes

Finally: Snowglobes containing each of the Old Testament plagues that afflicted Pharaoh and his people.

Trogdor: The Game

Hear the story of Trogdor, the dragon who burninates the peasants. Then get all fired up about his new arcade game.

Six Billion

A new online magazine of narrative journalism makes an auspicious and action-packed debut.

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

This 8-bit Nintendo rendition of a Daft Punk hit will make you jump out of your chair and dance like there's ass in your pants.

A Friend in the Neighborhood

The publisher of Found Magazine recalls hanging out with Mr. Rogers and says farewell to a man as warm as his image.

Blinktag

Blinktag — it's like Fark, except less crowded. For now.

The Ads of War

Martin "President Bartlet" Sheen squares off in a TV-hosted battle royale against Homeland Safety warden Tom Ridge. Slate's deconstruction is hot and on target.

Surfing Lake Superior

Oahu, Manhattan Beach — Duluth? An entertaining article from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune catches the wave of surfing a Great Lake so cold it numbs you even in the summertime. Lest we forget, the Trashmen, who gave us the classic "Surfin' Bird" were from Minnesota.

Outhouse racing

Build a privy, put it on skis, and what have you got? If you want to find out, zip over to Trenary, Mich., in the state's Upper Peninsula, Feb. 23 for the 9th Ever Outhouse Classic. It's not just a race, but a cry for help.

Dylan Graham at The Drawing Center

Flak cartoonist Dylan Graham will rock the crowd at NYC's Drawing Center this March 1. He'll read from his new children's book, "The Most Horrible Thing In The World."

Where's LaBeef?

Flak's own Yancey Strickler hits the pages of The Village Voice with a profile of collapse-rockers Calla.

Student Loans Are for Suckers

Acerbic cartoonist Ted Rall takes his vitriol into print with this blistering assault on the crippling effects of student loans.

Soapy Dick Pill

Flak contributors make nekkid debuts in this satirical humor assault launched by Black Table and Lost Brain.

Deep Fried vs. Colin Powell

One of the Web's wittiest comic strips goes after Powell's anti-Iraq laundry list with a vengeance.

A Week in the Middle East

Flak's editor-in-chief heads to the Middle East. Something to do with his "real job," he says. Despite this, we forge on while Jim enjoys delicious falafel and talks to the brother of a suicide bomber.

The Horgan family

"City of Crime"

A time capsule from a more innocent age, this East Coast whiteboy rap duet between Tom Hanks and Dan Ackroyd still rocks pretty hard. With echoes of "Walk This Way" and terrible, wonderful lyrics specific to 1987's Dragnet, this is a must-listen.

Monitoring pro-Bush letters

Does it seem the letters supporting Bush in your local paper seem a little too well-written? It's because they are. This is one website that is tracking how the Republican National Committee and others are planting pro-Bush letters under the guise of supposed real people — and what you can do about it.

Gil Thorp's abortion storyline

Where can you get the most reasoned abortion debate on the 30th anniversary of Roe v. Wade? In a comic strip featuring Coach Gil Thorp and the young athletes of Milford High, of course. Kidding aside, the strip does an excellent job of telling the story of a young athlete and his pregnant girlfriend without moralizing.

Predrag Drobnjak's website

Predrag "Peja" Drobnjak of the NBA's Seattle SuperSonics is a regular Yakov Smirnoff with the fractured English and twisted mind apparent on his personal site. Stay to correspond with his cat; come back to hear how he taunts opponents in a language he calls "Drobnsmack."

The war against movie critics

A film-industry broadside against movie critics gets deconstructed, turned on its head and kicked back out the door.

'cross'roads of the 1st amendment

James Norton mixes it up over on KnotMag with this bruiser of a commentary on the Supreme Court's cross-burning case.

Turkified American cinema

What happens when a group of Turks re-make classic episodes of "Star Trek"? For starters, you get someone making the Enterprise's whooshing door noises with his mouth.

At a Texas Foundry, an Indifference to Life

The New York Times looks at a company that probably won't make the "Best Places to Work in 2002" list. Great reporting and some shocking photographs.

Moroccan pancakes

Get ready to be artificially m'semenated and learn about the exotic breakfast fare of Northern Africa. Flakster James Norton takes readers on a small, peculiar culinary safari.

A Trolley Grows in Brooklyn

A 10-minute QuickTime documentary by the Brooklyn Historic Rail Association on their efforts to bring trolley service back to Brooklyn.

Target's Phony Design Revolution

Slate Magazine uses a slide show and commentary to take dead aim at Philippe Starck, one of Target's populist designers.

The Caipirinha

One of 2002's most overexposed drinks, but there are still some who have not tasted its potent sweetness. The nation's best: Jolly Bob's Jerk Joint of Madison, Wis.

The Fishheads Page

A long time ago in Indianapolis, on a strange medium called "print," a core of Hoosiers including Flak's own Bob Cook emitted a 'zine called Fishheads. It was wildly popular during its 1993-96 run (really, it was!), even getting contributors like high-falutin' magazine conceptual illustrator Rob Day, who used Fishheads for illustrating such high-falutin' concepts as a cat turding on a litter box. Now a little piece of the zine is back as Fishheads fan Micah Finchum puts a few of the issues he happened to saveonto the web. By the way, when in Indy,visit Fishheads guiding lightMick McGrath at Bazbeaux Pizza's Broad Ripple location, which he manages.

Snow

Taken individually, a snowflake is a remarkable little atom of aesthetic perfection. But get several million of them to fall from the sky over a period of hours, and suddenly you're part of some intense, enormous natural fashion show, swallowed up by the pattern. You don't have to be religious to get carried away by the endless weaving waves of white.

It Happened One Night

You know how people are always all up in your face, all like: "Don't you think classic films have a lot more to offer than Hollywood blockbusters?" Well, it's true in this case. Clark Gable and Claudette Colbert are, by turns, hilarious and deeply endearing in this romantic romp.

The Movie Poop Scene Database

A lot of critics say Hollywood produces nothing but crap these days, and looking at the number of movies put on this site in merely two months, you'd have to agree. Poopreport.com's log of filmic fecal disposal is sure to delight all manner of toilet-humor lovers, pottymouths and coprophagists.

The Tenacity of the Cockroach

Just in time for Christmas, The Onion A.V. Club has put together a collection of conversations with entertainment outsiders and indie culture idols.

Flak all over

Bob Cook crops up on Nuvo with a story on the greatest compilation of shitty music ever assembled. Clay Risen looks at the evil side of Santa Claus, over on The Morning News. And James Norton makes us laugh — and, you know, think — over on Sweet Fancy Moses.

Hi-ho! Panasonic ad

The Japanese are back with more inexplicable Flash animation. Naked munchkins parade around, a dog gets hit with a rock, and more.

Upbeet

As James Brown used to say, Gimme a beet! Flak contributor Michael Penn spins the definitive story on the nation's only academic expert on the red, fleshy root.

Hi-ho! Panasonic ad

The Japanese are back with more inexplicable Flash animation. Naked munchkins parade around, a dog gets hit with a rock, and more.

Star Control 2

A free version of a computer-gaming classic. Source code provided by dedicated hackers.

the floor is made of lava

Those who groove on the sad melodic intellgence of They Might Be Giants and The Coctails should have a listen to this break-out underground hit. Start with the "shipwreck" mp3.

Headkicker II

Zorak and Brak, acclaimed stars of Adult Swim, mix it up in this terrific homage to 8-bit Nintendo games.

The Literary Saloon

A scrumptious daily weblog for literature addicts. Yum.

Hyde Park Review of Books

The fall 2002 incarnation of this excellent literary oasis is upon us. Flaksters Clay Risen, J. Daniel Janzen, and James Norton are in the mix.

Life as a Loser

This week, the indomitable Will Leitch flashes back to high school football tryouts, where he exercises and vomits.

A Japanese soy sauce commercial

This appears to be a condiment ad. Whatever it is, it's totally crazy-go-nuts.

Zulkey.com: Interview with James Norton

Love, writing, and Billy Ray Cyrus: One of Flak's editors spills it all.

Apple "Switch" Ad Parody

Gamers will dig this. Mac haters will dig this. Gamers who hate macs will go bananas.

Zulkey.com

Your one-stop headquarters for all Zulkey related needs, be they humorous or thoughtful.

Homestarrunner's Pumpakin Carve-nival

An online holiday special the likes of which you've never seen. And make sure to click on The King of Town after this Flash cartoon has wrapped up.