So I was gone all weekend taking a break from the internets and thought I might recap stuff that I missed in my absence and some stuff you might have missed:

• ElfQuest Fan Film & SDCC 2011 Panel Info
• Dexter Morgan Meets Casey Anthony
• SDCC 2011: Details for MTV’s “Death Valley” Panel
• LEGO Artist Orion Pax
• The Mortal Kombat: Legacy Finale is Coming!
• SDCC 2011: Hasbro’s Exclusive Premium Ultimate Optimus Prime
• Portal 2 Fan Music Video
• How Creatives Landed a Job with a Twitter Hack
• Star Wars Meets The Twilight Zone
• Breaking Bad Season 4 Trailer (Extended)

With all of the Dexter jokes on Twitter over the Casey Anthony case, it was only a matter of time until someone made a video version of it:

Today is the beginning of our Play for Japan Black Ops World Record Marathon featuring Treyarch’s Josh Olin (aka JD_2020) and Fidget from the Frag Dolls on MachinimaLive.com!

As we give away prizes and raise money for Japan, Josh and Fidget are also attempting to break a world record for “Longest First Person Shooter Marathon.” Our goal is 50 hours. Yes, that’s right. 50 hours straight. No sleep.

• Click here for the Facebook invite
• Click here to donate money for Japan
• To view the stream, visit http://www.MachinimaLive.com!

Due to minor IP issues, it looks like after I leave the office today, I will be going straight home to host a lobby for both JD_2020 and Fidget to join in together, as well as a few others, and be playing along with them (from home) until the wee hours of tomorrow morning.

Sleep is for the weak, right?

We’re happy to announce that Machinima Live will be hosting a live-streamed charity event to raise funds for continued relief efforts in Japan. Fidget Frag Doll of Ubisoft and Treyarch community manager Josh “JD_2020” Olin will attempt a world record non-stop Call of Duty: Black Ops marathon for Play for Japan!

All proceeds from this event will benefit the American Red Cross relief efforts in Japan, which are still in full effect today. While the tragic disaster may seem like “old news” to some, there are still those in dire need, so we’re asking for your help.

When & Where:
The marathon will begin Friday, May 20th at 12:00 noon PST. It will run for as long as Fidget and JD_2020 can last. The current record is 48 hours. They are hoping to play for 50 hours, non-stop!

The live stream will be broadcast on Machinima Live at http://machinimalive.com/

Watch And Win Prizes:
We will be giving away various Black Ops / Frag Dolls / Machinima related prizes all throughout the marathon, but you’ll have to tune-in to find out how to win! Spoiler Alert: donating to the cause will increase your odds drastically of winning a prize!

Where To Donate:
All donations for this event should be made here: http://bit.ly/Play4Japan – This is our official account, and will be where we draw winners from. So if you want better chances at winning awesome prizes and swag, you’ll want to make sure you donate there.

World Record Attempt:
Yes, this will be a world record attempt… For legal reasons we can’t say which world record outlet, but it’s a *pretty* big one . We’ll be collecting data and staffing witnesses to submit all appropriate evidence to hopefully secure the world record for “Longest First Person Shooter Marathon.”

The rules, in a nutshell, are: Must play a single, non-stop session of gaming, with the following exceptions: 10 minute “rest periods” are accrued for every 1 hour of consecutive gaming. These rest periods can be “banked” to take a longer break, such as a 60 minute break, as long as you play for 6 hours consecutively. Load screens and lobby intermissions do not count against your record, so long as no further human interaction is required to get the round to start.

Do Not Try This At Home:
We are professional insomniacs! Please do not attempt this marathon at home. Your participation in the event is not requested. Please donate at http://bit.ly/Play4Japan if you feel obliged to contirubte. Every little bit helps!

Follow Us!
@FidgetFD, @JD_2020, and @Machinima_com on Twitter!

Thanks, and we’ll see you all on the stream!

At this point, is there anything Westboro WON’T protest?

Gainesville, FL – Just when you thought you heard it all with Reality TV stars vying for a chance at running the US, seemingly wholesome punk/pop/ska band LESS THAN JAKE were on the receiving end of picket signs and protests from the Westboro Baptist Church during their show last weekend in Pensacola, FL. Asked why he thinks his band would be targeted by the controversial religious group, drummer Vinnie Fiorello replied, “I have no idea. I mean, let’s face the facts: Less Than Jake doesn’t exactly send parents running for cover. The fact that we do have a certain amount of obscenity and are fairly liberal could and obviously did ruffle some Christian feathers.”

Faced with slightly more than a dozen picketers with “signs that talked about whore mongering, adultery, sin,” Vinnie was a bit perplexed by the reaction. “It had to be a slow night at the bible study last night… Or they heard the truth that we are a traveling band who love Satan but hate guns,” he told AltPress.com. He added, “I find it silly… Grouping us with (recent targets, like Lady Gaga, fallen soldiers, Justin Bieber) is like comparing apples to oranges. Pop punk with a penchant for up stroke guitar and using the word ‘f*ck’ while drinking high-powered alcohol is not anywhere close to the headline grabbers on that list.”

Whether or not Less Than Jake belong on that list of WBC targets is rather debatable, but it’s still baffling to Vinnie exactly why. “It’s really a nonevent, but it did happen,” he concludes. “They have a right to say what’s within their rights… as long as I’m allowed to create whatever art I want to.”

Less Than Jake recently re-released expanded versions of 1996′s Losing Streak and 1998′s Hello Rockview on their own label Sleep It Off and are gearing up for some major announcements shortly. The band just wrapped up a handful of Florida dates and are preparing for the entire Vans Warped Tour this Summer.

www.lessthanjake.com
www.facebook.com/lessthanjake
www.twitter.com/lessthanjake

So recently, this Political Science major decided that it was a GREAT idea to make a racist rant and put it on YouTube. The original video has been taken down, but of course, with the powers of the interwebs, people have been re-posting it.

Now I could go on this whole tangent about this chick about her stupidity, she sucks, yadda yadda… but everyone else on the web have already done so. Besides, I’m sure she’s still being harassed (online AND in real life) over it. That’s torture enough.

*Note: If you’ve been living under a rock and don’t know what I’m talking about, watch this first… Otherwise you’re not going to get it.

Anyway. I’m just amused by all of the comedic response videos that have been popping up. Here are a few of my favorite ones:

David So-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOGpGoEMu2s

KimmyJ-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qg90UotVDg

Peter Chao-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixEiGYBQLSA

Enjoy the hilarity at stupidity.

Here’s what you might have missed last week:
• Why is He Singing?!
• I fell in love with this little toad.
• Shared an interesting article: Do You Take Your Job Personally?
• Help Haiti via Bungie.
• Posted a ridiculous video of the Electrolightz boys going stir crazy in the studio.
• Posted the God of War III trailer.
• Also posted the Mass Effect 2 launch trailer.
• Jersey Shore Gets Some New Members.
• Pee-Wee Herman on Conan.

Bungie has asked gamers to step up and “Be a Hero” in efforts to help those in Haiti.

Currently in the Bungie store, you can find special edition Superintendent tees. 100% of proceeds will go towards Haiti through the American Red Cross.

In addition to the special t-shirts, Bungie is also offering to send all proceeds from the rest of their own [Bungie] merchandise in their store to the American Red Cross until the end of February.

Another way you can help with Bungie is by playing Halo 3/ODST between now and tomorrow at midnight. (No, really). Here are the instructions from Bungie on how that works exactly:

We are rallying our fan community to show their support by playing Halo 3 or ODST online next Wednesday or Thursday while wearing a special emblem signifying your commitment to the cause. For every thousand heroes that participate, we will make a $100 donation on behalf of Bungie and our fan community to the Red Cross for Haiti relief efforts, up to a maximum of $77,000. All you have to do is don a special emblem and play a game online and know that you’ve done a small part to help those in need.

Please mark your calendars and help spread the word!

Here are the specifics:

1. Round up all of your friends and hop online with Halo 3 or ODST any time next from 00:01AM PST Wednesday, 1/20, through 23:59PM PST Thursday 1/21.

2. Edit your appearance settings so your character is wearing the RED HEART emblem.
a. Press START
b. Select “SETTINGS” / “APPEARANCE”
c. Select “EMBLEM”
d. Select “Hearts” ICON, “Circle” BACKGROUND
e. Back out to the APPEARANCES menu and select “COLORS”
f. Set “EMBLEM PRIMARY” to RED (or MAROON / BRICK / ROSE depending on which game you’re playing!)
g. Set “EMBLEM SECONDARY” to WHITE

3. Once your emblem is set, play! This can be a custom game or a matchmaking game, just make sure it’s played online, on Xbox LIVE, or we can’t track it.

If you keep playing more games through midnight on Thursday, KEEP THE HEART EMBLEM ENABLED or you may not get counted.

But wait, there’s more! We want to see your screenshots and hear the stories about your experiences. Take screenshots from your games and tag them on Bungie.net with “HERO” so we can capture the moment. We’ll go through and find screens we like and send some of you the special “Be a Hero!” Superintendent t-shirts we’re offering at the Bungie Store as a small token of our gratitude for your support.

For further information on how to help outside of Bungie’s efforts, visit www.charitynavigator.org.

I received an interesting little article in my Inbox this morning that pretty much hit some of the beliefs in my own work so I thought I would share:

Do You Take Your Job Personally?
By Cory Treffiletti

Do you take your job personally?

Many people will tell you that your personal and professional lives should be kept apart and that happiness in one should not necessarily be related to the other. But in today’s world I find this impossible, because the two are inevitably intertwined.

Technology blurs the line between your day job and your night life, but I also feel that a sense of responsibility and a desire to succeed in the eyes of those around you are driving factors as well, and that it’s not really a bad thing!

The people who know me well know that I have a personal philosophy to take your job both seriously and personally. Most people take their jobs seriously, ensuring focus and the feelings of responsibility that enable you to do a good job. That’s different from taking your job personally, which means making sure that you treat every personal interaction and every deliverable as a means of creating an impression and improving u pon whatever relationships you may have, because these are all a reflection on you as a person.

As the hours grow longer and the separation blurs between your personal and professional lives, you’ll find that many of the same people exist in both spheres of influence, and their perception of you is based on their interaction with you in the work environment. The work that you do and the relationships you create at work are all part of who you are and the way you see the world.

Taking your job personally means a number of things, and there are some keystones to keep in mind when doing so. First of all, always put forth your best effort. A less than 100% effort typically results in a less than admirable output, and people notice. Second of all, always treat the person on the other end with respect; return emails and phone calls and give an explanation when one is requested. Try not to be curt or disrespectful; if something is going wrong, then be honest and upfront and explain the situation.

Thirdly, manage your time properly and try not to negatively affect other peoples’ schedules; recognize their hard work and the effort they put into managing a schedule as well. If you’re going to be late, let them know. If you’re going to change things up on short notice, try to be understanding of the impact. For the most part, try not to create problems for other people because you were unable to meet expectations. You don’t like it when these things happen to you, right?

The best overall guideline for taking your job personally is a simple one: try your best and pay it forward. If you can go that extra mile to get something completed and pay forward a little good karma, it can go a long way to making you valued, appreciated and recognized as a good person to do business with. If you are difficult to work with, people won’t want to work with you — which can carry over to your personal life as well, because rarely is a person difficult at work and easy outside of the office. These are personality, not professional, traits.

Your professional life is a significant part of your day and when it’s not going well, it can have a significant impact on your personal life — so how can you be expected to separate the two? More people get stressed out every day because of their jobs, and I’m no different (just ask my wife).

On the flip side, when things are going well, you gain a sense of accomplishment and peace and your career continues to grow. When you have positive interactions with people on a personal level, they are willing to go that extra mile for you. All of this comes more easily when you take your job personally, not just seriously.

So today, or whenever you feel the time is appropriate, be sure to sit back and take a look at yourself, your interactions and the way that you do business every day and ask yourself the question, “Do I take my job personally?” It might just help you get a little further, be a little happier and feel a little bit more complete!

And since I couldn’t think of a good thumbnail image to go with this article, enjoy this random cartoon from ahajokes.com:

Here’s an interesting interview Joe Quesada of Marvel Comics posted earlier today regarding the Disney/Marvel merger:

CUP O’ JOE is back with a very, very special Wednesday edition CUP O’ Q&A. Here, for the first time, Joe Quesada, Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics, answers questions posed by CBR News and CBR readers regarding the recently announced acquisition of Marvel Entertainment by The Walt Disney Company.

This will be Quesada’s exclusive, one and only interview on the matter for the next several months, until the SEC formalities are concluded and the Marvel-Disney deal is done, as detailed in the lengthy legal statements found at the bottom of this story…

Kiel Phegley: Well Joe, last Monday morning we all woke up to what is undoubtedly the biggest Marvel news to come along during your tenure as Editor-in-Chief and arguably the biggest piece of comics news in decades: Disney buying Marvel. Now, before we get into some of the details, I understand that there are some things you just can’t get into as a matter of legality, right? What exactly should fans know about what you and the rest of the Marvel staff are able to talk about and why?

Joe Quesada: Well, here’s the thing. As you guys at CBR and as fans that run into me at cons, panels or read this column know, I’m pretty open about stuff. I love showing our fans what’s behind the curtain even on days when the machinery isn’t working properly. While the Marvel Universe is a fictitious place, there is a very large part of it that’s actual flesh and blood and that part is composed of our fans, our creators, and the amazing people who work here. Together we make this universe work and all these things possible. That only works because Marvel fans are in the thick of it along with all of us. It’s something that Stan Lee started a long time ago and something that I’ve grown up with and is a big part of our DNA. We’ve always been about inclusion and that’s why loving Marvel is more than just about being a fan of what we do, it’s a lifestyle.

So because of that, here’s the skinny. This will be my one and only extended interview on the Marvel/Disney merger until the deal closes. Not because I can’t or don’t want to talk about it, but because until the deal is fully closed, there are legalities and protocols that have to be followed. But in the interests of letting you guys know what those things are and the machinery behind the curtain, let’s take a peek.

Right at this moment, Marvel shareholders still have to vote their approval on Disney’s offer. So, while we’ve made the big announcement, there are still a few more steps involved until it’s final and there are some laws and agreements that govern what I can discuss at this time. That’s really all there is to it, and I hope everyone understands that it’s nothing more than these are the legal rules we have to play by. Once the deal is closed I’ll be able to speak more about it, but for now I’ll answer what I can. All I ask is that if you can all be patient, there will be plenty of great stuff to talk about in the very near future.

Alright, Phegley, lets light this candle!

For the rest of the article, click here!

And if you missed my whole tangent on it, click here.