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Do Yourself A Favor And Watch GWAR's 1990 Appearance On 'The Joan Rivers Show'

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If you ever catch yourself despairing over the state of the internet, remember that someone, somewhere took the time to upload this interview Joan Rivers did with GWAR in 1990, and you'll feel better.

This clip doesn't make the news of GWAR frontman Dave Brockie's passing any less sad, but it does remind us that the world is a wonderfully weird place.

Bonus: Check out this gallery of "Nice Folks With GWAR!" from the "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon" archives.

Via Reddit

Gyrating Animatronic Doll Is The Future ... Of Your Nightmares (VIDEO)

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You can dance if you want to, you can leave your friends behind. Seriously, leave your friends behind when you check out this animatronic doll because she's horrifying.

That may be the point behind this creepy humanoid. She's an art installation by Jordan Wolfson, on display from March 6 to April 19 at the David Zwirner Art Gallery in New York City.

The unnamed doll can move her hips, legs, head and arms in creepy human fashion, and best worst of all, she can follow your gaze with her eyes using motion sensor technology. In the video above she can be seen, connected to the mirror in front of her by a metal pole. She dances and moves her entire body -- including her fingers -- and then looks directly at the camera.

Don't stare too long. She can see into your soul.



i09 found an old interview with Wolfson, who briefly described the piece:

"I don't want to tell you this work is about women," said artist Jordan Wolfson over the phone, "because I don't think that's true." Wolfson, a 33-year-old artist who works in video, performance, and sculpture, was on a lunch break at a special effects studio in Los Angeles where he was developing his latest work, an animatronic sculptural woman that will be on display at David Zwirner gallery, engaging with visitors one-on-one beginning March 6.

Despite his statement, the doll is the result of an attempt, "in a way," to explore the gaze, a concept with psychoanalytical roots that is most associated with the feminist notion of gender power imbalance that occurs in film, renaissance painting, and other media when viewers are asked to identify with the male perspective, and hence the objectification of women.


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According To Science, Thor's Hammer Would Destroy The Earth

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Thor's hammer is clearly one of the coolest superhero weapons of all time, but what if it's actually too good to be true?

Many Marvel fans incorrectly believe that Thor's hammer, Mjölnir, was forged from a dying star. Now, this isn't true (it was forged within a dying star), but what if it were? Is it even possible? Lucky for us, YouTuber Vsauce3 is doing the math and answering the important questions.

It's easy to assume that anything and everything can make sense with a bit of movie magic. Pause your suspension of disbelief for just a second, though, and consider the following: According to science, numbers and calculations, if Thor's hammer were indeed made up of the stuff of dying stars, it would weigh 4.6 trillion metric tons, and a single blow to the ground would essentially have the same impact as the meteor that killed the dinosaurs.

According to Marvel, Thor's hammer actually only weighs 42.3 pounds. That is far less than 4.6 trillion metric tons, but it's about the weight of a kindergarten/elementary school child, and that's still pretty heavy. (Apparently, Chris Hemsworth's muscles weren't just for show.)

Mind feeling blown? Watch the video above to get the full explanation.

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This Teacher In Brooklyn Can't See His Students

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Jimmy Palmaro is walking from his home in Brooklyn, N.Y., to the Colony South Brooklyn Houses -- a not-for-profit which offers humanitarian services -- where he volunteers by teaching an after-school program. As he approaches the building, a young girl comes over, takes his hand and leads him inside where he'll delve into algebra or poetry or whatever is on today's lesson plan. He relies on her guidance now -- not his memory of the building's layout nor the white cane he holds in his other hand. "Mr. P," as he's better known, has to trust his students. Because he can't see anything. He's been blind for the past eight years.

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Palmaro, 57, was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, or RP, when he was 25 years old. For the next 24 years, he steadily lost his vision. He eventually left his post office job of 20 years, no longer able to read and sort mail. But when he talks about this time in his life, he does so nonchalantly, almost shrugging off his ability to see.

"What was I gonna do? Wish it had happened to somebody else?" Palmaro says. "It happens. People go blind."

Twelve years ago, Palmaro pursued his true passion: teaching. For years already, he'd been tutoring his two children and their friends after school. He knew he belonged in a classroom, so he volunteered to help elementary and junior high students after school.

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When Mr. P's class is in session, students have to read him the question before he can help them figure out an answer. Palmaro says this works to their advantage.

"They have to make the connection. They have to engage. They have to do the work," he says.

Last August, photographer Phyllis Dooney witnessed Mr. P in action, while visiting the Colony South Brooklyn Houses to work on its website. After class, she walked up to Palmaro and asked if he'd let her tell his story through photographs. He said yes, and for the next six months, Dooney, 40, visited Palmaro at home, walked to and from school with him and sat in on class. She watched him help his students and his students help him. When she was finished photographing, Dooney decided pictures were not enough. So she put Dooney's voice over the images. The result is the video above -- a three-minute visually told story about a teacher who can't see. The irony isn't lost on Palmaro.

"We're an odd couple," he once said to Dooney as they walked down the streets of Park Slope. "You're always looking, and I'm always listening."

Of course, Palmaro cannot see the final product, but he knows what it looks like. His wife and son describe the photographs to him. He often tells Dooney which ones he loves the most.

"I can't see the photos," Palermo says, "but I can paint the pictures with my brain."

His teaching goes beyond numbers and letters and memorized facts. His blindness, he says, is a lesson plan in itself.

"I tell my students, 'Don't let your limitations define you. Don't be shortsighted,'" Palermo says. He laughs at his own pun. "I've gained things through my blindness that are not limitations."

People -- current and former students, parents, new and old friends -- emerge when he walks to and from school. Some just say hello, some offer to help him cross the street. Some thank him. He never misses a beat.

"I'm so inspired by how Jimmy lives in the present," Dooney says. "You can miss so many details when you're walking through life, but he is aware of everything around him. The happiness he gets from that is such a beautiful thing."

Tyler Glenn Gay: Neon Trees Singer Comes Out

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The following article is provided by Rolling Stone.

Tyler Glenn — lead singer for Provo, Utah New Wave-pop quartet Neon Trees and a Mormon his entire life — reveals he is gay in the new issue of Rolling Stone (on stands Friday, March 28th). "I've always felt like I'm an open book, and yet obviously I haven't been completely," he tells RS' Caryn Ganz. But he is now: Glenn speaks candidly about his first gay experiences, his band's reaction to his coming out and his complicated relationship with his conservative religion in our new story.

LINK: 18 Musicians Who Have Opened Up About Their Sexuality

Glenn says he's known he was gay since he was a young child, but kept his sexuality a secret — until now. "I had my crushes on guys throughout high school, but it was never an overwhelming thing until my twenties," he admits. "Then I'd be dating girls and in love with my straight friend and it was the worst feeling in the world." (Read the full feature on RollingStone.com tomorrow, March 25th).

LINK: The 10 Dumbest Things Ever Said About Same-Sex Marriage

"We were always taught, and I hate this word, 'tolerance,'" he says, regarding his church's stance on homosexuality, which is notoriously fraught. "The only time that felt different was when the Prop 8 thing came up," he says, referring to when the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints spent an estimated $22 million fighting same-sex marriage in California in 2008.

LINK: The Hidden War Against Gay Teens

Glenn started to tell close friends and family members his big news in October 2013, as he was finishing up writing songs for Neon Trees' upcoming third LP, Pop Psychology, many of which address his years in the closet. Today, he's inspired by the variety of men and women from all corners of pop culture who have been coming out publically, especially athletes facing high stakes.

LINK: Ellen Page Comes Out as Gay: Read Her Inspiring Speech

"I really love all of the sports figures that are coming out recently," he says. "I appreciated Michael Sam was like, 'I want to be able to go to the movies and hold hands with my boyfriend.' Even hearing him say 'boyfriend,' I was just like, that's cool."

LINK: 5 Reasons Same-Sex Marriage is Sweeping the Nation

Read the full story for reaction from Glenn's Neon Trees bandmates and his mother, plus Glenn's take on straight artists acting as the gay community's spokespeople and his explanation of the events that led to his big coming out.

Naked Man Strikes Goddess Pose In Front Of Botticelli Painting (PHOTOS)

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Museum-goers were treated to a shocking display at Florence's Uffizi Gallery on Saturday when a visitor stripped naked before Sandro Botticelli's "Birth of Venus."

As the naked man faced the Botticelli painting, he struck the same pose as the goddess depicted in the 15th-century work. He then scattered rose petals around him and took a knee in front of the famous artwork, according to local reports.

Visitors to the Italian museum captured photos of the scene, which may be best described as an unexpected piece of performance art. It wasn't long before the images were widely shared on social media.

(Story continues below)

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Museum workers who spoke to La Repubblica described the incident as peaceful. The man, identified only as a 25-year-old Spanish tourist, was eventually torn away from the Botticelli painting by police. As he was taken into custody, the Spaniard reportedly shouted "freedom, freedom!"

He was later charged with indecent exposure, La Nazione reports.

Inside The Surprisingly Brutal World Of The New Yorker Cartoon

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Everybody knows that the New Yorker is just as famous for its legendary—and often legendarily inscrutable—cartoons as it is for its journalism. On Sunday, "60 Minutes" looked at the process that goes into selecting the drawings for each issue. Let's just say you'd better have a thick skin if you want to submit a cartoon to the New Yorker.

The show filmed cartoon editor Bob Mankoff welcoming artist after artist into his lair and, one by one, bluntly rejecting their work in front of them.

"We're not that impressed," he tells one person.

Morley Safer talked to some cartoonists, who told him you just have to get used to the constant, never-ending churn of rejection. One artist, David Sipress, had his drawings rejected for 25 years before he was successful.

"We all probably do probably 700 or 800 cartoons a year," he said. "We're lucky if we sell 30 cartoons a year."

Josh Hutcherson Gives Valuable Advice To His Younger Self

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If you had the opportunity to give advice to your younger self, what would it be?

Well, you may get some ideas from Josh Hutcherson.

After 21 years of experiences, the "Hunger Games" actor imparts his wisdom on us and it's the perfect reminder to stay true to ourselves.

1. Do things because you want to do them. "I was bullied, especially when I first said I wanted to be an actor, kids thought I was weird."

2. Be motivated by passion, not fear. "I want to drive forward with what I want to be doing next."

3. Heartbreak doesn't mean failure. "It's a learning process."

4. Good friends are worth the wait. "Once you get to that place where you find people you connect with -- it's so much better."

5. It's a great thing to be different. "The difference is what leads to greatness."

Watch the video above for more of Hutcherson's advice.

h/t BuzzFeed

'Avengers: Age Of Ultron' Set Photos Show First Look At Elizabeth Olsen, Aaron Taylor-Johnson

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Joss Whedon's "The Avengers: Age of Ultron" hit Aosta, Italy on Monday for a day of filming that included the franchise's two newest characters: Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver. The twins, played by Elizabeth Olsen and Aaron Taylor-Johnson, will help Marvel usher its Cinematic Universe into the age of the extraordinary, as both possess enhanced powers. (They're mutants, but that term is tied up with 20th Century Fox, which owns the rights to Marvel's X-Men films.) Check out Olsen and Taylor-Johnson on set below. "Marvel's The Avengers: Age of Ultron" is out in theaters on May 1, 2015.

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'Hercules' Trailer: The Rock Is Hercules

Pharaoh Amenhotep III Statues Unveiled In Luxor After Centuries 'Scattered In Fields' (PHOTOS)

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Pharaoh Amenhotep III already towers over Egypt's temple city of Luxor, immortalized in 16-foot high twin statues that guard the entrance to his funerary temple.

On Sunday, archeologists in the famed southern city unveiled two more giant statues of the ancient Egyptian king. They were discovered and excavated from the temple area last year, according to UPI, and now the team of archeologists has completed the painstaking work to reverse centuries of damage.

“The statues had lain in pieces for centuries in the fields, damaged by destructive forces of nature like earthquake, and later by irrigation water, salt, encroachment and vandalism," Hourig Sourouzian, the German-Armenian archaeologist heading the restoration project, told Agence France Presse.

One of the statues, which depicts Pharaoh Amenhotep III seated with hands on his knees, reaches 11.5 meters high and weighs a colossal 250 tons. The ancient king's wife, Tiye, is depicted beside his right leg. The second statue shows Pharaoh Amenhotep III standing.

The red quartzite statues have been resurrected where archeologists believe they originally stood, by the ruins of Amenhotep III's funerary temple, AFP reported. According to CNN, the temple was likely erected during the Pharaoh's reign, between 1390 and 1353 B.C.

Amenhotep III presided over a period of unprecedented wealth and power for the Egyptian kingdom, and used his diplomatic prowess to stave off rival powers, PBS explains. His wife Tiye, who appears in the newly unveiled statue, was a strong character from a humble background, and the Pharaoh regarded her as a near-equal, according to historians.

Earlier this month, archeologists discovered a 14-meter statue of Tiye and Amenhotep III's daughter Iset at the same site, AFP reported. The princess' statue was engraved with her name and titles, including "Love of her father."

Look below for pictures of the two statues and other artifacts unveiled by archeologists in Luxor on Sunday.

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A picture taken on March 23, 2014 shows a newly-displayed statue of Pharaoh Amenhotep III and his wife Tiye in Egypt's temple city of Luxor. (KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)



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A picture taken on March 23, 2014 shows newly displayed statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III in Egypt's temple city of Luxor. (KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)



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German archaeologist Hourig Sourouzian (C), who heads the project to conserve the Amenhotep III temple, stands next to a newly-displayed alabaster head from an Amenhotep III statue in Egypt's temple city of Luxor on March 23, 2014. (KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)



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Tourists and journalists walk past a newly-displayed statue of Pharaoh Amenhotep III in Egypt's temple city of Luxor on March 23, 2014. (KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)



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Egyptian archaeological workers stand next to a newly-displayed statue of pharaoh Amenhotep III in Egypt's temple city of Luxor on March 23, 2014. (KHALED DESOUKI/AFP/Getty Images)

'Game Of Thrones' Gets An Auto-Tuned Music Tribute Remix

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Anticipation is building for the Season 4 debut of HBO's "Game of Thrones," which airs in just less than two weeks. While we unfortunately can't fast-forward time, we can offer up to all fans of the show this wonderful music tribute remix from musician John D. Boswell (aka melodysheep) titled "The Dragons Daughter" above.

Click play to listen, and hopefully it will help tide you over until the new season starts.

Fabulous Vintage Photos Remind Us Why We'll Mourn The Loss Of One Of NYC's Most Iconic Venues

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Roseland Ballroom is set to officially shutter April 7, closing the door on one of New York City's most legendary venues for nightlife, music, and much, much more.

Since its 1919 debut as a ballroom dancing hall, Roseland has gone on to offer a rich variety of music and entertainment throughout the decades, showcasing everything from jitterbug marathons in its earliest days to big-name concerts with the likes of Beyoncé on the bill. The historic venue, which first opened around the corner and then moved to its current location on 52nd Street in 1958, has also played host to flashy movie premieres and sex-themed fetes.

While owner Larry Ginsberg has kept relatively quiet on why the venue is closing, rumors have it that Roseland may be taking the depressing path of other iconic New York locations that have given way for luxury -- this time, a 59-story apartment building complete with an outdoor pool and a rooftop terrace.

But before Roseland takes its final bow with seven Lady Gaga shows kicking off this Friday, HuffPost takes a look back at the storied institution below:

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Due to the falling of some participants the Roseland ballroom owners called a halt to this novel contest after four hours. Photo shows two of the dancers after tumble, as other contestants merrily dance on. (Photo by NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)


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Bandleader Benny Goodman performs with his orchestra while playing the clarinet at the original Roseland Ballroom in New York City in 1938. (AP Photo)


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Band vocalist Frank Sinatra broadcasting with the Harry James Orchestra, August 1940, at the original Roseland Ballroom in New York City. (AP Photo)


1941

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Couples dancing to the Dolly Dawn band at the original Roseland Ballroom, New York, New York, 1941. (Photo by Irving Kaufman/Underwood Archives/Getty Images)


1957

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Comedian Red Buttons (center) dances with Pat Georgewale and Jon Carroll at the Armed Forces Ball at the original Roseland. (Photo by Ed Peters/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images)


1967

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Louis Armstrong attends Musician's Relief Fund Benefit Gala on October 30, 1967 at Roseland Ballroom in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)


1972

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American author Truman Capote and an unidentified woman attend the Phoenix House benefit nostalgia party at Roseland Ballroom, New York City, June 5, 1972. (Photo by Tim Boxer/Getty Images)


1974

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Harry James dishes it out as he performs at the Newport Jazz festival in New York's Roseland ballroom on Monday, July 1, 1974. This was James' first appearance at the festival which was attended by some 1,500 persons. (AP Photo)


1973

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Alice Cooper and Alexis Smith during Golden, Olden Days of Burlexque Phoenix House Benefit at Roseland in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage)


1978

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Grace Jones performs live on stage, dressed in a Cat Suit at The Roseland Ballroom in 1978 (Richard E. Aaron/Redferns/Getty Images)


1979

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John Warner and Elizabeth Taylor during Floating Hospital Benefit & Salute to Liz Taylor Warner at Roseland in New York City, NY, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage)


1991

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Singer Madonna and boyfriend Tony Ward attend the Love Ball 2 Gala to Benefit the Design Industries Foundation for AIDS (DIFFA) on May 22, 1991 at Roseland Ballroom in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)


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British band EMF performing at the Roseland Ballroom, New York City, on November 26, 1991. The band's debut single, 'Unbelievable,' topped the charts in many countries around the world, reaching the number one in the USA in July 1991. (Photo by Dario Mitidieri/Getty Images)


1992

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The Beastie Boys perform at Roseland in New York City on November 7, 1992. L-R Adam Yauch, Adam Horvitz, Mike Diamond. (Photo by Ebet Roberts/Redferns)


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Bjork at the Roseland in New York City, New York (Photo by Steve Eichner/WireImage)



1993

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Kurt Cobain performing live onstage with Nirvana at Roseland Ballroom (Photo by George De Sota)


2006

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Singer Beck performs onstage at the mtvU Woodie Awards 2006 at the Roseland Ballroom October 25, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Bryan Bedder/Getty Images)


2014

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Singer-songwriter Lorde performs on stage at Roseland Ballroom on March 10, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)

Artist Turns Babies' Head-Shaping Helmets Into Impressive Works Of Art

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Paula Strawn paints for a living, but she doesn't need an easel or paper -- the California woman decorates corrective helmets for infants with beautiful, customized designs.

Flat-head syndrome is a common condition in which infants' heads appear flat. It's treatable, and now, thanks to Strawn, can be fashionable!

It started out as a favor for a friend, Kathy, whose granddaughter wore a corrective helmet. "Kathy said 'please paint this ugly thing!' and I did," Strawn explained to The Huffington Post in an email. When the baby's doctor saw Strawn's creation, he urged her to put business cards and fliers in his office.

Now, 12 years later, Strawn runs Lazardo Art, painting helmets for babies across the United States based on parents' requests. She has lost count of how many she's made, but believes it's somewhere above 1,300.

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Strawn explained that people sometimes get uncomfortable when they see a baby in a helmet and avoid eye contact. But when the babies wear their spruced-up helmets, that all changes. "Often, it creates an opportunity to have a conversation and explain what the helmet is for and that it is not a scary situation," she said.

She has created helmets with sports logos, hearts, flowers, cartoons and more. Sometimes she playfully adds the words "under construction" on them. Strawn told us she can't pick just one favorite.

"I can hardly call this work, "she wrote."I am paid to have fun."

See some of Strawn's designs below, and visit her Facebook page for more.



One Guy Singing 'The Rainbow Connection' In All The Muppet Voices Makes Our Day (VIDEO)

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In honor of "Muppets Most Wanted" hitting theaters, McGoiter performed "The Rainbow Connection," originally made famous by Kermit the Frog in "The Muppet Movie" in 1979. McGoiter decided to give the song a bit of a twist, however, by singing it in the voices of all the different characters.

Watch him go through the impressions and try to guess which muppet he is!

Chris Evans Is Still Retiring From Acting After Marvel Movies

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Chris Evans is pretty serious about his retirement from acting. Three weeks after telling Glamour that he would take "a little break from acting" when his Marvel commitments were completed, the "Captain America" star went a step further in an interview with Variety.

"If I'm acting at all, it’s going to be under Marvel contract, or I'm going to be directing," Evans told the magazine. "I can't see myself pursuing acting strictly outside of what I'm contractually obligated to do."

According to Variety, Evans signed a six-picture deal with Marvel before starring as Captain America in 2011's "Captain America: The First Avenger." Thus far, he's had a feature role in two other films for the studio ("Marvel's The Avengers" and "Captain America: The Winter Soldier," which is out on April 4), and will also star in "Marvel's The Avengers: Age of Ultron" in 2015 and "Captain America 3" in 2016. That leaves one last movie on the contract, which could be "Marvel's The Avengers 3" (presumably out in 2017 or later), unless Evans' brief cameo in "Thor: The Dark World" counts as part of the deal. If that's the case, he'll have fulfilled his Marvel commitment after the third "Captain America" film.

In place of acting, Evans plans to direct. He recently completed work on an indie film, "1:30 Train," with Alice Eve in a starring role, and hopes to direct more going forward.

“Without these [Marvel] movies, I wouldn't be directing,” he said to Variety. "They gave me enough overseas recognition to greenlight a movie. And if I'm speaking extremely candidly, it's going to continue to do that for as long as the Marvel contract runs."

For more on Evans, including why he doesn't get a cut of Marvel's merchandise revenue, head to Variety.

Why We Hate Hannah Horvath But Love Larry David

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Now that three seasons of “Girls” have passed, it’s safe to say that Hannah Horvath (Lena Dunham) is one of the most disliked characters on television, and that's including all the villains, anti-heroes and sociopaths. In the realm of scripted comedy there are few characters who evoke feelings of revulsion, and who also have as few redeeming qualities as Hannah. (Let’s just say, if you took BuzzFeed’s “Which ‘Girls’ Character Are You” quiz and got Hannah, you definitely weren’t bragging about your results.)

Narcissistic, selfish, insensitive, aggravatingly hypocritical -- Hannah has continually angered viewers and critics with her self-absorbed behavior since the first season of “Girls.” Hannah went so far as to admit that she isn’t really even interested in her friends’ matters, expecting them to drop everything to sympathize with her. Additionally, she’s proven to be nothing but self-involved in her relationship with Adam.

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While this season did give a few other characters moments to let their terribleness shine, Hannah continually found herself in situations where she became the most selfish and reprehensible character onscreen. Yet outside of the “Girls” world, and in the larger context of the TV universe, she is far from the first narcissist a television comedy has seen. We need only to look back a few years into HBO’s history to find the character who most resembles, and likely inspired, Hannah.

Larry David played a version of himself in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” much like Lena Dunham, who plays an exaggerated and incredibly negative version of herself (and people she knows) in “Girls.” These two have much more in common than sharing a comedy series written and created by themselves on the same network. Larry (from here on out we’ll use “Larry” to refer to the character, and “David” to refer to the actor) is essentially the male version of Hannah: both ridiculously selfish, self-loathing, and navigating every aspect of life for his or her own benefit, while disregarding others along the way. It's also pretty (pretty, pretty, pretty) much known that everyone thinks Larry is a complete asshole.

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But likening these two characters has been done before; Rob Sheffield called Hannah the “sicko granddaughter of Larry David,” which is a pretty apt, and hilarious statement (although, to be fair, Larry is a bit more of a “sicko” than Hannah). Dunham has even cited “Curb” and David's “Seinfeld” as inspiration for “Girls,” and it’s clear to see the correlations. Yet there is something that many critics are missing when they relate Hannah to Larry because while both may seem alike on the surface, they actually evoke opposite reactions from audiences.

An important thing to note about “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is that it is told with straight humor: what Larry does, says and thinks, all of it -- no matter how horrible or shocking or crude -- is shown through a clear lens of comedy. When we watch “Curb” we expect to see Larry making an ass of himself and, most importantly, we expect to laugh. Yet “Girls” isn’t just a comedy. It has also dealt with some weighty topics (anxiety disorders, drug addiction, death). When we see Hannah act like a complete jerk, and usually in response to a serious subject, it’s not often laughable -- unless were laughing from an uncomfortable place. Take the most obvious similarity between Hannah and Larry: their reaction to death and behavior at funerals.

The Larry David Death Reaction

“The Smiley Face,” Episode 4 of Season 8 of “Curb Yout Enthusiasm,” captures Larry’s complete disregard for others in death and mourning. When his secretary Antoinette’s father is dying, Larry lets her leave work to be with him as he passes (sweet, huh?), but soon realizes he can’t function without a secretary. Unable to deal with the petty problems that consume his daily life (in this episode it’s a fight over a kitchen cabinet), Larry guilts Antoinette into coming back to work for just one day, the same day that her father ends up dying, while she’s at work.

First, he reveals his insensitive nature when he tells his current girlfriend about the death. She empathizes with Antoinette, sharing that her own father passed a couple years ago, but that's way too long ago for an apology. When she questions him for offering no condolences, Larry responds, "Don't you think the sorry window has closed on that?" If anything, Larry sticks to his sympathy expiration dates, like a true jerk. But this is funny, not a moment where we truly hate Larry for his heartlessness.



Later, Larry attends the funeral and approaches a crying Antoinette and her grieving mother with one thing in mind: when is she coming back to work? It’s no surprise that the always-selfish Larry is only thinking about himself when any normal person would put those concerns aside to show appropriate respect at a funeral.



For an instant, you feel a sense of disgust toward Larry for his rudeness, but the scene quickly turns comical as Antoinette’s mother responds with a solution. She immediately offers herself up as Larry’s temp assistant without recognizing his insolence. This moment could have painted Larry as a cruel jerk, but the mother’s reply quickly reminds us that “Curb” is a comedy where we jump between loving and hating the main character -- instead of just hating.

The Hannah Horvath Reaction To Death

Hannah tops all of her previous acts of sheer selfishness in the middle of Season 3 when her editor suddenly dies. Her first response is wondering what will happen with her ebook -- a reaction that appalls Adam. She can’t seem to get past the future of her career to feel even a morsel of sadness (big surprise). When Adam asks Hannah how she'd react if he died, she suggests, rather annoyed, that she'd be "extremely sad."

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But her true awful colors show when she attends her editor’s funeral and uses her time with his wife to her own advantage. Just like Larry in “Curb,” Hannah confronts the grieving widow to discuss her own needs, asking if she can connect her with another publisher. But unlike “Curb,” this “Girls” scene isn't laughed off like a silly joke, but ends with the wife feeling appropriately offended and disrespected.




While both Hannah and Larry react similarly in many situations, it's hard to discern what exactly makes their likability differ. The writing of both “Girls” and “Curb” seem to condition the audience to respond to their characters differently: Larry, the funny asshole whose narcissism we judge but still enjoy; Hannah, the self-absorbed, impudent brat we can’t stand. You can find a million reasons to excuse or maybe even half-heartedly sympathize with Larry, but with each season of “Girls” it becomes harder to find reasons to defend Hannah in the slightest.

Do we dislike her so much because she’s a woman and in television we’re hardly used to watching female characters continually act so selfishly? Possibly. And perhaps this is Dunham attempting to bring attention to stereotypes and sexism on television. There's definitely a strong absence of hated average female characters on television (“average” as in non-villain and non-antihero), but there are plenty of men. Consider Louis C.K. on “Louie,” who can be gross and outrageously cynical, but is also incredibly funny. He could probably even walk by an ongoing funeral and piss on the church steps and we’d laugh, because we expect that from a guy like him.

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We praise male characters like Louie and Larry for being those unabashedly bold people who live out the darkest, most rebellious parts of ourselves. But when it comes to a young female, is similar bad behavior acceptable? Can women be self-centered jerks and can that be okay? The only other female television characters who somewhat exhibit these undesirable traits are the women of "Broad City," who are bringing stoner-loser females into the light for the first time on the small screen. Still, they're not awful like Hannah.

This isn't necessarily a defense of Hannah, or an attack on David and C.K.'s writing. They (Dunham included) are brilliant writers. It may simply be the context of the series. “Girls” tackles darker issues in a more serious manner than other comedies. Yet it can’t be denied that we respond to Hannah's disagreeable qualities more harshly than her male counterparts, and that may reveal something about our own prejudice and our inability to accept that women can have objectionable traits as well. Television needs more varied female characters. And let's stop making excuses for the men.

3D Animation Project Turns A Classroom Into Pure Chaos

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As many teachers can attest to, classrooms can occasionally be a bit chaotic. However, it probably never reaches quite the same level as depicted in this 3D animation project from production and multimedia group immortal-arts above.

Using a mixture of "Cinema4D, Octane Render, Photoshop, Aftereffects, Davinci Resolve, Cubase, iaSFX, VSL" the group was able to render a series of insanely realistic scenarios applied to a classroom environment titled "Crazy Furniture."

Watch what happens the laws of physics get thrown out the window in this wildly creative work. And if you'd like to see some earlier renderings of the classroom environment, you can check them out on the immortal-arts website here.

'Let's Be Cops' Trailer Let's Jake Johnson & Damon Wayans Jr. Be Movie Stars

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Here's our new favorite movie: "Let's Be Cops," a buddy comedy that let's "New Girl" pals Jake Johnson and Damon Wayans Jr. become movie stars. Directed by Luke Greenfield ("The Girl Next Door"), "Let's Be Cops" focuses on two friends who embrace their roles as fake police officers following a misunderstanding at a costume party masquerade ball. Jokes ensue. Fox has "Let's Be Cops" set for release on Aug. 13, so see you all then. Watch the red-band trailer below.

6 Fascinating Inscriptions That Offer A Glimpse Into The Lives Of Classic Authors

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A glimpse into the lives of classic authors, however brief, can be thrilling. We're wowed by photos of their writing desks, we analyze their sleeping habits, and we swoon over their love letters. Which is why a Sotheby's auction showcasing first editions of classic works -- including those inscribed with personal notes from their authors -- is enough to make us salivate.

The exhibition, A Modern Library: The Gordon Waldorf Collection, will take place on April 1, and features such gems as a first edition of William Faulkner's Light in August, inscribed to a childhood friend and estimated to go for somewhere between $40,000-$60,000 (!!!).

Probably the most fascinating item is a first edition of On the Road with an inscription in which Jack Kerouac admits that the book is based on his own life. It reads, "You will find a striking resemblance between Remi Boncoeur in Chapter Eleven and your good friend Henri Cru – As ‘Sal Paradise’ in this book I should know because I was there."

Check out these 6 fascinating inscriptions from classic authors:

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