The New Republic

Forget Inglourious Basterds. Quentin Tarantino's most mind-bending onscreen offering of the year has to be this Japanese ad for what appears to be a dog-shaped cell-phone speaker, in which the director converses with an (actual) talking dog, declares "I am Tara!" in what even my ear can detect is atrocious Japanese, and busts out some non-Kill-Bill-worthy kung fu moves. The clip below includes both a short and a longer version of the ad:  READ MORE >>

Sarah Palin and Michele Bachmann are set to meet for the first time tonight* and, with apologies to the latter, I think we all know who's The Kurgan in this scenario and who's the nameless immortal extra about to have her head cut off.  READ MORE >>

The Washington Area Film Critics Association (WAFCA) conducted our end-of-the-year awards balloting over the weekend, and the big winner was Up in the Air, which took Best Film, Best Actor (George Clooney), and Best Adapted Screenplay. An Education did well, too, with Carey Mulligan taking Best Actress. READ MORE >>

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The fashion's industry's escalating feminization of masculinity is usually Michelle's beat, but this morning I encountered an example of truly remarkable proportions (a pun, as you'll see). I don't typically read men's magazines, but the fellow next to me on the Metro had one open and I could not help but notice a particularly aggressive full-page ad for the "Shock Jock Extreme," with "Frontal Enhancing Technology." The accompanying photo was of a surly-looking young man in his underwear, his hands taped like a boxer's. READ MORE >>

Roger Friedman reports: Soon, everyone —I mean, everyone — will be able to bet on the boxoffice, and make or lose lots of money on the outcome. READ MORE >>

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A landmark cinematic event in 280 words, or one for every $500, 000 of weekend box office:   Senior year. How’d you get so old so fast? Oh, good. Cullen’s here. I’m 109. Maybe I shouldn’t be dating such an old man. Bella. Jacob. Hello, biceps. I’m just filling out. The Volturi are a very old, very powerful family. Don’t hate the truck. Ow, paper cut. READ MORE >>

Ever on the lookout for ways to shrink the party’s tent still further, a few of the masterminds at the Republican National Committee are pushing a resolution to establish an ideological purity test for prospective GOP candidates. Those who fail on three or more of the following ten criteria would be deemed ineligible for RNC funding and endorsement: READ MORE >>

Nate Silver makes the sharp observation that all the public hand-wringing by red state Democrats about how they won't vote for the health care reform bill in its current form may not do them much good with their voters: READ MORE >>