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The Embittered Dads At ONE DIRECTION Concerts

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Please Dear God, Kill ME Now

Dads tend to be the pushover in the parenting structure, so every day millions of kids, knowing full well that Mom will say no, will go ask Dad for permission to do something stupid or dangerous and, because he is not paying attention, he will always say yes. 

This is why we like Dad more than Mom.

And because Mom knows this, she will seek her revenge upon her life partner by forcing him to take their child/children and ALL their friends to various Boy Band concerts where she knows damn well that he will spend the next several hours hoping that someone will kill him as punishment for being such a softie.

And this is why, when we get older, we like Mom more than Dad (her evil is simply impressive).

But while we may mock the fact that there are dads sitting at these concerts while prerecorded music swell all around them and tween/teen boys and girls scream loud enough to burst their eardrums, perhaps we should also celebrate these embittered men as well.

After-all, these Dads might be experiencing a punishment that no man should ever have to go through, but they are doing it for their stupid, stupid children who actually believe "bands" like One Direction have merit, and they should get some serious "Good Parenting" points for doing something that matters.

And, because the Internet is a big place, there is obviously an imgur site that is collecting photos of these Dads who attend One Direction concerts and publishing them for the masses. 

So congrats Dads! You are now going to become famous for your suffering and your awesomeness. Which will no doubt make your wife seek out alternative punishments if you continuously tell Junior that he can do whatever the hell he wants to do.

After the break are some more pics of dads that clearly show how horrible life can be at a One Direction concert.

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Here's That ELYSIUM/BEHIND THE CANDELABRA You've Been Waiting For

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There are times when you wish a Mash-Up was made into a real movie. 

This is one of those times.

Video after the break.

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TRUE BLOOD: "Life Matters" S6E9 (review)

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By Caitlyn Thompson
I can’t remember the last time I saw such an excellent episode of True Blood. 

It had everything. Graphic gore, snark, hilarity, genuinely emotionally charged scenes and heroes!

Everything was right. And because I’m so happy about it, I want to be super complimentary – such a rare opportunity lately!


Life Matters involves two events that are spliced together. We got to see Eric freeing the vampires and the locals of Bon Temps say their goodbyes at Terry’s funeral.

First I will focus on Terry’s memorial. Beautifully done. Respectful.


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GOT A MINUTE? Then Watch Speedrun: The Big Lebowski. It's All the Movie's Plot Points In Just 60-Seconds

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Sometimes you just want to kill of a minute or two of your day doing something enjoyable so that you can feel somewhat alive.

Now, you can use that minute to watch a cat video on YouTube or maybe pick at the dried scab on your arm, but perhaps it might be more productive to watch one of your favorite movies (say, The Big Lebowski for instance) in animated form that hits all the major plot points and nothing more.

Of course, I don't know if you would actually enjoy doing this, I'm only guessing here, you are a stranger to me and you may very well prefer to pick at dried blood in order re-open old wounds, and if you are, in that case, carry on.

But if you are tempted to view the animated video of The Big Lebowski that I mentioned before, it is yours for the watching after the break.

You know, picking scabs is kinda gross and a bit freakish, so maybe you should stop it and watch the video as well.

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More Than Just Batman and Superman—The Justice League as DC’s Premier Team

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In light of last month’s major announcement that DC’s two most recognizable properties, Batman and Superman, were going to be sharing the same movie screen in 2015, it’s easy to forget that the Justice League is more than just those two heroes.

Much like Marvel’s Avengers, the Justice League has had on its roster pretty much every hero in their respective universe at one moment or another, even if only for a few pages as part of a plot device, and while the current incarnation naturally has Batman and Superman front and center, that duo is just one part of the whole keeping the DCU safe from the forces of evil.

Well, when they’re not all beating the crap out of one another which, really, happens more than it should.

Like so.

Over the course of this brand spanking new column, we’re going to get familiar with the Justice League through the years, through all of the different incarnations—yes, even the Detroit era, I’m sure—and through all of the reboots the DCU has gone through from Crisis on Infinite Earths to Flashpoint.

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If You Like To Be Tied To A Tardis and Whipped With A Towel (From Hitchhikers Guide) Than You Might Be Interested In Attending THE GEEKY KINK EVENT in Piscataway, NJ Nov 1-3rd

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If you are single (or, even in a couple) and attend a Comi-Con, there's a good chance you will be looking to hook up with a like-minded geek during your weekend away from home. There's nothing to be ashamed of, the pheromones in a convention hall are extremely intoxicating and I too have fallen for its powerful call to sexy-time (albeit, it was with my hubby and not with someone dressed as Mal from Firefly sadly).

But at the Geeky Kink Event, they have eschewed the typical panels and autograph sessions and simply turned it into what we nerds have always dreamed of, a place where one can join a Qudditch team, join a Cuddle Puddle, attend a kinkier version of MST3K and, later, play Strip Twister with people dressed like Pokemon. 

Flier from the 2011 Event

Yep, it will be exactly like that dream you had after gorging on Doritos Locos Tacos.

There are also going to be tons of Vendors for all your Alchemy/Steampunk needs, A pillow fort located in The Dungeon (which is exactly what you think it is) and workshops galore where you can learn to be one sexy geek.

Registration and tickets are available HERE if you're interesting in attending.

Who knows, I might be there as well, although I'll probably be too hopped up on Mead and/or Butterbeer to be much of a participant.

The Maestro Strikes Back: The Best of JOHN WILLIAMS

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Nuggets of news about pre-production of the new Star Wars trilogy continue to tiptoe in at the crawling pace of a bantha with an ingrown talon, and speculation is still rampant about the cast of characters and the overall plot arc.

But one of the most crucial elements of the Star Wars saga is officially locked in for the new movie — Lucasfilm has confirmed composer John Williams will return to score J.J. Abrams’ Star Wars: Episode VII, and this is most definitely music to my ears.


Some Geeksites go further and mention Williams is committed to score the ENTIRE new trilogy, and even though the subsequent Episode VIII and Episode IX are at least 5-6 years away, the imminent return of the maestro in 2015 is cause for a major celebration.

We’ll all have to wait nearly two more years to hear what he’s conjured for Episode VII. In the meantime, here is a rundown of some of my favorite Williams scores, listed in no particular order. Inevitably, there’s a whole lot of Spielberg and Lucas in the mix, but Williams has also left his distinctive mark on the works of other filmmakers. 

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Cosmic Treadmill: THE NEED FOR SPEED

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This is the first installment of my new regular comics feature here on Forces of Geek.

The comic book industry can be tough to keep up with, like a treadmill someone else is controlling from a back room somewhere.

Cosmic Treadmill may keep you up-to-date with news about exciting creator switches, new book announcements, company wide events or the coolest Kickstarter announcements.  Sometimes, the treadmill might go back in time to look at master works of the past (ahem, Jack Kirby or Wally Wood for instance!), back issue bin finds and also reviews of Comic Con trade paperback finds from the weird to the wonderful and the bizarre. There is no place on Earth and Time where this may not go. We will stretch across the universe and cross-time alternate universes while our little legs keep pumping along.

We hope you can keep up!

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ATTENTION: There Are Now Grapes Sharing Our Planet That Taste Exactly Like Cotton Candy...Life, As We Know It, Is About To Change Forever

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The Grapery is a company that has obviously employed Dark Wizards who delve into the blackest of magic in order to conjure up a marriage between nature's most succulent fruit ball and spun-fucking-sugar.

Yes, we are talking about Cotton Candy Grapes.

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Boston Cinegeeks! We're Giving Away Passes To YOU'RE NEXT!

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One of the smartest and most terrifying films in years, YOU'RE NEXT reinvents the genre by putting a fresh twist on home-invasion horror. When a gang of masked, ax-wielding murderers descend upon the Davison family reunion, the hapless victims seem trapped...until an unlikely guest of the family proves to be the most talented killer of all.
And we're giving away passes to Forces of Geek readers to see the film on Wednesday, August 21st at 7:00PM at the AMC Boston Common!

For the chance to receive a pass for two to the screening please click HERE!

Just a reminder that tickets are oversold and you should plan on getting there early.  Passes and admittance are on a first come first served basis.

YOU'RE NEXTis in theaters on August 23rd!        

For more details visit www.yourenextfilm.com

FEEL OLD YET? 'Mystery Science Theater 3000': 25th Anniversary Edition Arrives on DVD!

Contest! Win a THE WORLD'S END Prize Package!

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A signature brew of camaraderie, knockabout humor, excessive quaffing, questionable life choices, hand-to-hand combat, and explosive surprises, The World’s End reteams director Edgar Wright with actors Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, following their hits Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Hot Fuzz (2007).

The tale of The World’s End begins on June 22nd, 1990. In their suburban U.K. town of Newton Haven, five boys in the prime of their teenage youth celebrate the end of school by attempting an epic pub crawl together. Despite their enthusiasm and the downing of a slew of pints of beer, they fall short of seeing their quest through, to the last pub on their list, The World’s End.

Twenty-odd years later, “the five musketeers” have each left their hometown and are now husbands, fathers, men with careers – with the flashing-red-light exception of their voluble onetime ringleader, Gary King (Simon Pegg), who is now a 40-year-old man trapped at the cigarette end of his teens. The irrepressible Gary, keenly aware of his estrangement from his onetime closest friend Andy (Nick Frost), becomes hellbent on trying “The Golden Mile” drinking marathon again. He convinces Andy, Steven (Paddy Considine), Oliver (Martin Freeman), and Peter (Eddie Marsan) to stage an encore, and one Friday afternoon they are all reunited. Gary is in his element: the mandate is one night, five guys, twelve pubs – imbibing at least one pint apiece at each establishment. Arriving in Newton Haven, they re-encounter Oliver’s sister Sam (Rosamund Pike), for whom Gary and Steven each still carry a torch.

As the gang attempts along the way to reconcile their past and present, an increasingly insane and dangerous series of encounters with old haunts and acquaintances makes them realize that the real struggle is for the future, not just theirs but humankind’s. Reaching The World’s End is the least of their worries…
And we're giving away an awesome prize package, courtesy of our friends at Focus Features.


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THE COMIC LIST: Releases For 8/14/13

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After the jump check out a list of which which comics, graphic novels, toys and other pop-culture merchandise will arrive at your local comic shop via Diamond Comics Distributors.   Please check with your retailer for availability.

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Jacques Tardi Discusses 'THE EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF ADELE BLANC-SEC'

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Born in 1946, the son of a career soldier, Jacques Tardi spent his early years in post-war Germany, then studied at art school in Lyon and Paris. In 1969, he started working on the weekly magazine Pilote. In 1976, Casterman published the first Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle Blanc-Sec, whose immediate success continued through to the ninth album published in 2007. Tardi also gave a face to Nestor Burma, Léo Malet's famous detective hero, in comic book adaptations of novels such as Brouillard au Pont de Tolbiac and The Bloody Streets of Paris.

A multi-faceted graphic artist, Tardi fulfilled one of his biggest dreams in 1988 when he illustrated with around 600 superb black-and-white drawings Céline's powerful Journey to the End of the Night. The book was a considerable success and Tardi went on to illustrate two other works by Céline, Cannon-fodder (1989) and Death on the Installment Plan (1991).

In 1993, he published C'était la guerre des tranchées, the culmination of several years' research to denounce the absurdity and horror of the First World War, in which his grandfather had fought. Le Cri du people, adapted from a novel by Jean Vautrin, was first released in October 2001 and became a magnificent four-part series about the Paris commune, a subject that fascinates the artist.

More recently, Tardi has revisited the First World War in Putain de guerre! in collaboration with Verney, and has illustrated the albums 1968-2008 n'effacez pas nos traces and Des Lendemains qui saignent by protest singer Dominique Grange.

His originality, remarkable career, and the consistent quality of his work make Tardi a major figure today on the European comic book scene. Among other awards, he won the Grand Prix de la Ville d'Angoulême in 1985.

This interview was prepared for the marketing of director Luc Besson's adaptation of The Extraordinary Adventures of Adèle-Blanc-Sec, available today on Blu-ray and DVD from Shout! Factory.

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RUUUUN!! What Do You Get When You Ask 100 Animator Friends To Work On A Project With You? Watch And Find Out

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BingTangHuLuer is the project director behind this short film experiment where 100 of his creative friends got together, via the Internet, to create something deliciously spastic done in a myriad of animation styles.

The only criteria driving the piece? Running.

Simple? Yes but the result is sort of incredible...two minutes of highly intense animation followed by eleven minutes of credits featuring EVERYBODY who worked on the short with a screen shot of what they each did.

If you work in the field, this is some seriously high praise.

So watch the ENTIRE thing, because sometimes the little cogs that keep the animation machine going are the most important people on the creative team and are very much deserving of being thanked profusely.

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The Legacy of 'BREAKING BAD': Costume Design

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Seemingly every aspect of Breaking Bad has been praised: the acting, the writing, the direction, the character development, etc. But all great TV shows receive these accolades.

Just saying Breaking Bad does the basic components of storytelling quite well doesn’t really single out just why the show is so great — what it is uniquely doing that no other show is.

For me, what separates it from all other TV shows are the costumes.


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Turn Your OBSESSION With FACEBOOK Into A PSYCHOSIS with Fliike, A Gadget That Will Always Let You Know How Many Likes Your Cat Pictures Are Getting...Every Minute of the Day

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I know several people for whom Facebook is their own personal popularity contest. Be it the over sharing, the HUNDREDS of baby and/or cat pictures or merely posting "Bad Day :( " in order to garner sympathy from people they haven't physically spoke to for ten years, these are the people who are in desperate need for a product that will kick up their obsession with status updates into the mentally unstable territory.

And lucky for them the Fliike, by Smiirl is available.

Basically, it is a counter which reflects how many people "Like" you by flipping over automated numbers a'la Lost (are we still allowed to make Lost references? How many years off the air is too long? I'm still making Head of the Class comments so perhaps I'm not the best judge of this) after it's been connected to Wi-Fi and then synced to your Facebook account.

Granted, it's purpose is really for businesses to keep track of traffic for their FB page, but let's not pigeonhole this invention, I had one of my friends get up in the middle of THE AVENGERS to go outside the theater to check whether or not people liked a meme she posted, so I'm guessing this would be a good gift that would keep her away from me for long stretches of time so as I don't have to deal with her.

The cost of being unable to leave your home because you can't stop watching the numbers flip over is around $400 ($390, to be exact).

But I suspect that is a pittance to those people who are still upset that only 3 people bothered to "Like" their status update concerning their pap smear.

Technology....whatever.

Source: Uncrate

THAT TIME OF THE WEEK: NEW ON BLU/DVD 8/6/13 & 8/13/13!

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Two weeks of titles for you!  Disney Classics!  Cult Classics!  Hollywood Blockbusters!  Indie Films!  TV Shows!  Muppets!  One of the most (wrongfully) maligned films of all time, Ishtar and one of the best movies I've seen all year, Mud.

Fire up that queue and prep that shopping cart.  It's that time of the week.


Mud

Lionsgate / Released 8/6/13
Mud is a timeless adventure about two boys, Ellis and his best friend Neckbone, who find a mysterious man named Mud (Matthew McConaughey) hiding out on a deserted island in the Mississippi. Mud tells the boys fantastic stories about his life, including how he killed a man in Texas and that vengeful bounty hunters are coming to get him. He says he is planning to meet and escape with the love of his life, Juniper (Reese Witherspoon), who is waiting for him in town. Skeptical but intrigued, Ellis and Neckbone agree to help him. But it isn't long until Mud's tall tales come to life, and their small town is besieged by bounty hunters out for blood. Extras include featurettes and commentary.

Last Word: A truly wonderful movie, Mud is unquestionably one of the best films of 2013. Like so many films that depict the difficult period between childhood and adulthood, Mud never treats it's characters without respect and honesty. The entire cast is wonderful and the magic of this touching film will stay with you long after the credits roll. Highest recommendation.

The Sapphires

Anchor Bay / Released 8/6/13
Four smart, gutsy young women become unlikely stars in the most unlikely of places, with the most unlikely of allies, in The Sapphires. Set in 1968, the film follows Gail (Deborah Mailman), Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell), Julie (Jessica Mauboy) and Kay (Shari Sebbens) as they seize a risky, but irresistible, chance to launch a professional career singing for U.S. troops in Vietnam. Under the tutelage of an R&B-loving Irish musician, Dave Lovelace (Chris O'Dowd), the girls transform themselves into a sizzling soul act and set out to make a name for themselves hundreds of miles from home. Inspired by a true story, The Sapphires is a celebration of music, family and self-discovery.  Extras include featurettes and interviews.

Last Word:  A familiar story and definitely clichéd, but nonetheless disarming,  The Sapphires begins as several Aboriginal girls are discovered by the drunken, soul-music-loving, Dave Lovelace, played wonderfully by Chris O'Dowd. He books the group’s first real gig and from there acts as the girls’ unexpected musical guide and mentor across Vietnam. Everyone is thrust into a mature world they have not been exposed to and must shield one another from the external dangers while sanely managing their personal drama.

The group is comprised of three sisters and their cousin: the “mama bear” Gail (Deborah Mailman), her rambunctious younger sister Cynthia (Miranda Tapsell), their youngest sister who carries the group with her mind blowing voice, Julie (Jessica Mauboy), and their cousin, Kay (Shari Sebbens) who is reluctantly chosen to be the fourth member. Each woman is unique and has memorable onscreen presence. It could have been quite a cheesy dynamic but the family history and local discrimination they face is genuine and relatable.

Interpersonal family hardships juxtaposed with world issues; the film depicted a microcosm of what the world was going through. The hardships of segregation and racism, a stolen generation, finding dreams and hoping for a happy ending in the midst of war. It was a lot of matter in one film, yet it never felt overloaded or dramatic.  While many issues presented in the film are controversial, the movie overall isn’t negative or judgmental. It isn’t a war epic nor is it rom-com. The Sapphires is satisfyingly unique. The film isn’t disingenuous with its presentation of aboriginal life or war and is genuinely fun and heartfelt.  The more profound ideas are somewhat subtle which means that The Sapphires never preaches. It relays a message, a story (and loosely, some history), lightheartedly and respectfully. We root for the girls, we sneer at the racist characters. The film is quickly paced with high-energy musical numbers that are appropriately flashy and wonderful. The singing is exquisite and the chemistry is tangible and fun. Have a good time at this show. And enjoy the unexpectedly outstanding solos by Chris O'Dowd. ( – Caitlyn Thompson)

The Muppet Movie: The Nearly 35th Anniversary Edition

Walt Disney Home Entertainment / 8/13/13
Celebrate The Nearly 35th Anniversary of the ultimate frogs-to-riches story with the one that started it all - The Muppet Movie. Laugh along with the mostly-true story of how the Muppets got their start, now for the first time ever in vibrant Blu-ray hi-def picture and sound. From the very first "plunk!" of Kermit's banjo playing "The Rainbow Connection" (Oscar nominee, Best Original Song, 1979), to they hysterical road trip that brings our fearless frog together with Fozzie, Gonzo, Animal, and most importantly of all, Miss Piggy, join the jam-packed heartwarming hilarity, outrageous antics and big-shot Hollywood cameos. Extras including an all-new Frog-E-Oke sing-along, test footage, Doc Hopper's commercial, trailers and a featurette.

Last Word:  It would be almost inconceivable to audiences who discovered The Muppets from last year's release what a force they were by the time that this film was released in 1979.  I was 8 years old and by then was part of the first generation of Sesame Street viewers and was familiar with the work of Jim Henson, Frank Oz and their talented collaborators from various television appearances as well as The Muppet Show.  The Muppets were part of that rare Seventies culture that insisted on both introducing young audiences to vaudeville-esque variety shows (where else would children be exposed to George Burns, Milton Berle, Pearl Bailey and Mummenschanz?)  but also to elements from the history of pop culture (including performing songs like Lydia, the Tattooed Lady popularized by Groucho Marx, 1931's Lady of Spain and 1927's Mississippi Mud).  By the time The Muppet Movie came out, Henson had perfected his material to appeal on two different levels (one for children, and a much more clever one for adults; which in no small part is why it's still so appealing today) and loaded the film with cameos of both popular actors, but also Hollywood legends (Mel Brooks, Orson Welles, Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Dom DeLuise, Elliott Gould, Madeline Kahn, Steve Martin, Richard Pryor, Telly Savalas as El Sleazo tough  and Paul Williams).  The Muppet Movie might be close to 35 years old, but it's as fresh and entertaining as ever.  Highest possible recommendation.

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CREATIVITY IS INTELLIGENCE HAVING FUN: But Turning Felled Wood Into A Skateboard Is Even More Fun

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I spend practically all my time online. It's not only a huge part of my job (searching for stories, emailing contacts, writing at 3am) but has also become a way of life that is slowly starting to make me realize that I am going to die in front of a computer screen one day (most likely while viewing porn) and poof, I will be over and done with.

But earlier this morning (again at the ungodly hour of 3am) I came across an interesting video about a brother design team from the Pacific Northwest, Backwood and Company, (where I grew up) who turned a felled tree into a skateboard and for whatever reason, my life kind of changed.

Now, I know that doesn't sound like it would be an epiphany-worthy moment but it did (and yes, I'm aware that the copious amount of coffee I drink during my bouts of insomnia could also have contributed to this religious-like experience) and it made me realize that sometimes you have to turn the computer off and do something physical in order to balance yourself out.

So, yeah, I'm going to attempt to make a fucking skateboard from a downed tree in my backyard and then ride it around my neighborhood where I fully expect to fall and break an arm.

And I'm betting that right before I do fall, I will at least have a moment of pure, ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED joy that didn't come from making my own Confession Bear meme.

Or maybe I'll just take a nap and let this whole Self-Aware Moment pass like a migraine.

Video after the break.

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WALTER WHITE Channels FRANK SINATRA In This "My Way" Mash-Up

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Is everyone tired of all the Breaking Bad hoopla yet?

No?

Well here's something that should help push you over the line...a spoken word performance of Frank Sinatra's My Way.

Yep, that should do it.

Video after the break.

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