News
Reviews
Articles
Surveillance
Song Of The Day: Volume V
Meant to put this up after President Obama was beamed into the universe, but seeing as we've still got his four years to look forward to, there's still loads of time to enjoy TV On The Radio's Golden Age.
#chimp71
#Music
#PromoPromo
#SongoftheDay
26th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Jet Pack Man!
at last, been waiting for my jet pack for ages
25th Nov 2008 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Steet View Fun
Plenty of fun spotted in Google's Streetview so far, particularly along Sampsonia Way in Pittsburgh, who may have had a tip about the cars coming their way.
25th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Heroes: For Saps and Dipshits?
Heroes creator Tim Kring doesn't seem to think too much of his fans (or be thinking that far ahead as far as where the show is heading...)
25th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Dude Pics
Great book of photos up from the Iron Man set, over at the ever-entertaining website of Jeff Bridges. Don't miss the video clips of Bridges and Colin Farrell rocking out on the set of Crazy Heart either.
25th Nov 2008 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
YouTuuuuube
YouTube seems to have gone widescreen, perhaps in an attempt to keep up with Vimeo.
25th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
NASA Launch
Pitchfork have got details of a comprehensive Chimp-friendly guest list lining up for NASA's Spacious Thoughts project*: Tom Waits, David Byrne, M.I.A., Karen O, Chuck D, Ghostface Killah, the RZA, Method Man, the late Ol' Dirty Bastard, KRS-One, Kool Keith, E-40, John Frusciante, George Clinton, Del the Funky Homosapien, the Cool Kids, Seu Jorge, Gift of Gab and Lovefoxxx. And that man Shepherd Fairey is on board for the first video... Stream the Kool Keith/Tom Waits double-act here
*that's NASA as in Sam "Squeak E. Clean" Spiegel and Ze "DJ Zegon" Gonzales. Not the space station dudes. that really would be awesome.
25th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Search
iZagat
The indispensable Zagat restaurant guide has finally popped up for the iPhone. The £5.99 app provides all the 2009 results, in the same manner as their Blackberry-centric version, Zagat To Go. It also uses the GPS of the phone to hook you up with the nearest listed restaurants, hotel and bars - with results you can order by rating, type, cost etc.
Get it here.
While the service has had a mobile phone version of their website for a while (zagat.mobi), for that you still have to be a website subscriber, which is a $25 annual subscription.
It's also worth getting the free Open Table app, which allows you to make restaurant bookings over the air, and ties in with the Zagat app.
AppleInsider has a more detailed write up of both apps.
24th Nov 2008 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Playing With Spoons
Sure, the whole Obama thing was so 2 weeks ago, but Spoon have compiled a great collection of YouTube clips from 16 states around the US all celebrating the historic victory. Play them all at once and it turns into an impressive sound piece that really captures the euphoria.
24th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
GWiki
Not sure what I'm thinking about Google's new wikiable search results. Why would I want to adjust the search results to give me the answer I want - as if I knew the answer, I wouldn't be searching in the first place? Time will tell, but I assume it's all part of another massive data-collecting exercise.
24th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Trailer Park: The Wrestler
Looks like over-rated director Darren Aronofsky might finally be justifying his reputation. Trailer up for Mickey Rourke comeback match The Wrestler.
24th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
There's Matthew Herbert And There's Links
After a great show at the Royal Festival Hall last night, here's a couple of Herbert related links: some playlist tips over at Clash magazine with a handy download of Micachu, Alice And The Cool Dudes, Kwes, Finn Peters, Lime Headed Dog and Rowdysuperst*r; a Guardian piece from Matt explaining the thinking behind the new album There's You And There's Me; and an interview at Pitchfork
22nd Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Song Of The Day: Volume V
For some reason we forgot to put this "future classic" on the SOTDVV list - so here it is: Catfish Haven's Set In Stone. Lucky it's lasted this long and still sounds like a party you'd like to walk into... love the dudes dancing in time in the background of this shoddy phone footage.
22nd Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Skate or die: Lance Mountain
Another one of the Bones Brigade, Lance Mountain has been skating as a pro since 1981, when he signed for Variflex. He was a dominant force in the 80's on Powell Peralta - just check him ruling the pool in the clip above (whizz past the jumpy video at the start). Hand plants, big airs and slides - plus the odd Gay Twist now and then.
As skating evolved into a street sport, Mountain moved with the times, setting up the influential company The Firm, responsible for signing maybe prominent skaters, including last week's Bob Burnquist. Lance has also starred in many notable skate films, including the Mike Watt soundtracked/narrated skate parody The Parallel in Girl's Goldfish video. No YouTube for that one, but skip along to 13:05mins here for this great little film.
Mountain was also the host of the excellent video magazine 411, which started in the 90's and was ahead of the curve in terms of multimedia programming - first on VHS tape, before graduating to DVD then the internet.
The Firm had their own cool videos too, so I've included a clip from Can't Stop below, entitled The Dream.
Bonus Fact: He invented the fingerboard, which grew legs (or wheels) of it's own and turned into one of the dumbest things you ever heard of. Also worth noting is his awesome name...
21st Nov 2008 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Pirate Hunt
Modern day pirate hunt on Current TV - bit giddy, but interesting stuff...
21st Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Where You At?
You probably don't want to delve to deeply into the potential invasion-of-privacy issues, but recent developments are now allowing browsers to access your position, much like a GPS enabled phone browser - meaning websites such as Last Minute's Radar can provide you with location-centric data.
Google's Gears is one way of enabling such services, recent builds of Firefox include similar tech.
21st Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Met Maps
The Metropolitan Police have a useful Google Map illustrating crimes in your area. 3 crimes in my sub-ward in September, nothing too serious.
Over and out.
21st Nov 2008 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Max Tundra's Soup Factory
Glad to see the elves in Max Tundra's soup factory are beavering away to Led Zep (what? no Slagsmålsklubben?). Our kind of office...
21st Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
GnRSpace
It doesn't get more official than this.... Chinese Democracy is due in stores shortly, but you can listen to the album in full over at the bands myspace page.
20th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
AV v GNR
Great review of Chinese Democracy over at the Onion's AV Club from Chuck Closterman.
20th Nov 2008 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Kayakitty Yak
The Chimpomatic XXXtreme sports crew will be getting the lifejackets out after seeing this...
20th Nov 2008 - 4 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Soderberg vs Jackman vs Pollard
Variety has Steven Soderbergh's next film down as a 3D rock-opera version of Cleopatra, starring Hugh Jackman as Anthony .....and with music from Guided By Voices. Crazy, but possibly true.
Meanwhile, Pollard has refocused again - this time under the moniker of the Boston Spaceships.
20th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Life Begins At 40?
Not quite, apparently. It seems more likely to be all downhill from 39...
20th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Promo Promo: Wild Beasts
Check out this mind bending post-Seven Nation Army video for Wild Beasts' Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants.
19th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Arrrrrrr
What's life like for the Jolly Somali Rogers?
And here's a map to tell you which waters to avoid.
19th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Format 22
YouTube is quietly testing a further improved format, according to The Times. We tipped you off to Format 18 a while back, but now they've bumped it up even further with Format 22. I'm guessing that the same trick (add&fmt=22 to the URL) will work nicely, although the original video will need to have been uploaded in a suitable resolution. Try the sample clip in fullscreen.
19th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Chinese Democracy Preorder
Still can't quite believe it's really ever going to come out - but you can preorder Chinese Democracy from Axl 'N Roses. Or try out the single.
19th Nov 2008 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
How Lightsabers Work
...I didn't realise they were adjustable. You never see anyone using a half length lightsaber.
19th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Foal Up
Sub Pop's Foals have just found out that they have the daunting task of following Men Called Him Mister on to the Madrid stage later this month.
18th Nov 2008 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Official Photographer
Being Barack Obama's official photographer seems like a full-time job.
18th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Outside It's 80's America
After visiting Joshua Tree a couple of weeks back, I have been inevitably listening to The Joshua Tree. Still a great album of course, and also the first album I can remember people markedly anticipating. When it finally arrived it was bigger than imaginable, catapulting the Irish punkers into the big time, as they assumed the mantle of 'God's Cowboys'.
Old Grey Whistle Test aired this documentary about the band, which captures America nicely, and features the band shooting in downtown LA, getting fitted for cowboy hats and being generally moody.
18th Nov 2008 - 2 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Project Pinewood
Coming soon to a backlot near you: Project Pinewood a new concept in live/work/film movies set in New York/Paris/Venice all-round living...
18th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Speak Into The Microphone Squidbrain!
Google's new voice-enabled search App should have hit the iTunes store by the time you read this. Versions for other platforms coming soon.
18th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Trailer Park: Keep Trekkin'
New trailer up for JJ's upcoming Star Trek re-boot. Never been a big fan, but I'm keeping an open mind.
Heroes bad/good guy Sylar is certainly fitting the part as the young Spock.
Check out some alternative Enterprise pics here.
17th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Home of the Hamburger
What's a trip to the US without an extensive testing of the beloved Hamburger? Long derided in the UK, there's much more to it than a limp Big Mac or a soggy Whopper.
Fatburger
Part-owned by Magic Johnson, the Las Vegas branch was seemingly staffed by middle-aged ex-cons trying to make a clean start. Cooked to order makes all the difference with fast food, and that was the USP here.
Verdict: Fresh and juicy, plus good chili. 8/10
Johhny Rockets
Only founded in 1986, this retro styled chain is perhaps a little more about style that food, but still serves a good, fresh burger. I went for the double-decker Rocket Double, with Chili Fries. We passed up the original Melrose location, but managed a lunch in the branch down at The Grove.
Verdict: Pretty good.... 7/10
In-n-out Burger
A firm favourite in California, this chain now includes over 150 branches. We made the effort track down the North Hollywood branch, near that little shit Larry's house - and the crowd was extensive. The plain and simple menu stands on it's own, but for those in the know there are double the options thanks, to the no-so-secret menu (1,2). I went Animal style.
Verdict: Far and away the best, and ridiculously cheap ($1.65 for a Whopper sized burger!). Throw in the secret menu and it's an unbeatable 10/10
P.S. LA is also the home of Hugh Hefner. We bumped into him too.
Other recommendations? Drop a line in the comments. Islands was on my hit list, but I ran out of time.
17th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
New Skins innit
New cast for Skins S3 after their Logan's Run-style cull. Back on E4 early 2009.
17th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Astral Projection
see comments for another satisfied customer from the recent Van Morrison plays Astral Weeks sessions at the Hollywood Bowl...
17th Nov 2008 - 1 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Ape Shall Not Remake Apes
Rumors swirling of another Planet of the Apes reboot doing the rounds in Hollywood - this time focusing on the origin of the rise of the Apes, as previously told in Conquest of the Planet of the Apes.
17th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
140 Years Of Watching The Skies
nice UFO gallery in the Telegraph. In unrelated news, the X Files movie is out on DVD
16th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Tall And Tanned...
thanks to our HK correspondent J Lawless for this tropical video
15th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Maiden on Mitchell
Iron Maiden's Nicko McBrain on today's Today talking about Mitch Mitchell and the lost art of the drum solo - ffwd to the last ten minutes or so...
15th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Skate or die: Bob Burnquist
It's more dare-devil stunts this week with Brazilian vert king Bob Burnquist. Burquist is famous for a number of firsts in skateboarding, but most notably he pretty much championed switch skating (that's facing the reverse of your usual stance, sports fans) so then I guess every trick he pulled off after that he became the first to do it in switch. He was also first to pull off the loop-the loop both in a pipe and and a specially designed ramp. He then went on to open up the top of this loop and was the first to land the trick clearing the gap at the top. As if this wasn't enough he assembled one of the biggest run-up ramps and successfully popped a 50-50 grind into the Grand Canyon (below), sadly Homer Simpson had already completed this trick over the Springfield Gorge, even if it was by accident.
14th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Xmas Kick-backs
Why not throw a few bucks Chimpomatic's way this Christmas, by doing your Amazon shopping through our affiliate store. It's the Amazon you know and love and it's all shipped as usually, we just get a slice of the pie.
Spread the word and tell your friends - because a Chimp is for life, not just for Christmas.
14th Nov 2008 - 3 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
New Frusciante
His new website may not have broken the story, but RHCP guitar hero John Frusciante finally has a new album scheduled - because frankly, he's dropped his game since his multi-album high of 2005.
Born again legend Johnny Marr takes a guest spot, alongside Flea, The Sonus Quartet and the New Dimension Singers.
The Empyrean is due on January 20th on Record Collection.
Check out Frusciante's website for some guitar-playing tips.
14th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
Trailer Park: New Watchmen Trailer
Yahoo have got the latest Watchmen promo.
14th Nov 2008 - 3 comments - Add Comment - Tweet
Google Flu Surveillance
Google's even winning on flu surveillance
13th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet
RIP Mitch Mitchell
Mitch Mitchell, the great drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience has died. Always loved his ability to get as many rolls in a song as possible...
13th Nov 2008 - Add Comment - Tweet