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October 12, 2009 10:02 AM PDT

The 404 443: Where what's done is done, the future is now

by Justin Yu
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Look closely at this still from "Paranormal Activity"

(Credit: Scene-Stealers)

Wilson and I both saw that new movie "Paranormal Activity" over the weekend, and although it's being touted as the new Exorcist, we both think it's more like an uncreative, boring version of The Blair Witch Project. Lots of build-up and suspense for a pretty vanilla ending, but I'm not sure what we expected out of a $10K movie. Maybe we've all just been completely spoiled by blockbusters like Roland Emmerch's upcoming disaster movie, 2012. Jeff's not a huge fan, per usual, but watch this insane clip and TRY NOT TO PANIC.

We've seen and played with our fair share of ridiculous iPhone apps before, but the new Puff! app is the latest Japanese game that might raise some flags...amongst other things. Dancing the line between SFW and not, the program allows you to literally blow up the skirts of women, a la Marilyn Monroe. The app uses the iPhone's microphone to sense the virtual gust of wind that "gives the onscreen character a brief moment of embarrassment."

Speaking of inappropriate things, Marge Simpson just scored the cover of Playboy Magazine. In what seems like the worst business plan ever, the November version of the popular men's magazine will feature a 3-page pictorial with "implied nudity..." we're not even sure what that means, but we can't imagine hordes of teenagers flocking to the nearest liquor store to pick up this issue. Besides, we would rather see Lois Griffin on the cover...no offense, Margie.


EPISODE 43

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Justin Yu covers desktop computers, printers, and peripherals for CNET. When he's not scouring eBay for useless ephemera or eating hot dogs for breakfast, he spends his time making fun of Internet culture every morning on The 404 podcast. E-mail Justin.
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by Clankypants October 12, 2009 2:09 PM PDT
It's not the end of the Mayan calendar. It's when their long-count calendar rolls over.

It's the same thing that our calendar did at the year 999. It rolled over to 1000.

If you believe the earth will end in 2012, then you must also believe is began in 3114 BC, which was the beginning of the long-count. Even evangelical creationists give it an extra thousand years. :P
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by fleurya October 12, 2009 4:46 PM PDT
Honestly, that preview made want to avoid seeing that movie. Not only the Lethal Weapon ripoff, but also the entire over-the-top, last-second moment after moment that's been overdone in too many movies. Only this one scene surpassed all of those movies by about 10 fold! I mean, they're in a plane taking off with the ground sinking under them, but they can't manage to do better than skim the surface for a couple of minutes? Give me a break! It's this kind of mindless action sequence after sequence with no real story that is killing film as we knew it.
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About The 404 Podcast

A pop-cult fix for a generation that grew up playing Nintendo and watching Saturday morning cartoons, the 404 podcast, with hosts Jeff Bakalar, Wilson Tang, and Justin Yu, gives you the latest news in gadgets, social media, video games, and movies with snarky commentary and the occasional tasteless joke.

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Wilson G. Tang Wilson Tang is an associate producer for CNET TV. He's a part-time artist and filmmaker and has written and directed several films. He likes long walks on the beach and girls.
Jeff Bakalar Jeff Bakalar is an editor for CNET Reviews, getting all the dirt on the gaming industry. After spending a few years in the world of film production, he has settled down and currently lives in New Jersey. He's an avid writer, gamer, and full-time pessimist.
Justin Yu Justin Yu can be found tinkering with printers and other peripherals for CNET, when he's not adjusting his headphones, riding his bike, or eating hot dogs for breakfast.
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