Have a safe and prosperous New Year in 2008 from Old Man Musings!

Have fun, life’s a game we play (albeit a very important one). Thanks to all you readers out there in Internet-land! Try to keep up with this Old Man in 2008.

Old Man Musings wants to wish you and yours a happy and joyful Xmas and a Happy New Year! Be safe and have fun! Enjoy it now because a whole new year of craziness is coming and of course you know that each new year feels shorter than the last.

Happy Festivus! It’s that time of year again to gather your family around the Festivus dinner table and tell them all the ways they have disappointed you over the last year. Plus, no Festivus would be complete without an aluminum pole. No more of the Xmas tinsel to distract you. I just don’t think I’m ready for the Feats of Strength this year.

Don’t forget this holiday treat: A Christmas Story. You can catch 24 hours of this holiday classic, starting Christmas Eve on TBS. If you haven’t seen this holiday favorite yet, be sure to grab your family and watch it on the tube together.

Randy: Meatloaf, smeatloaf, double-beatloaf. I hate meatloaf.

There’s just so much to enjoy about this movie. All those wonderful short storied subplots like the Bumpuses’ hound dogs and Ralphie’s dad winning the “Major Award”, make the movie great throughout. There’s usually a subplot or two that you can relate to the most, which makes watching the movie all that much more enjoyable. I mean what kid hasn’t whined about something on their dinner plate and proceeded to hide it in their mashed potatoes? What is your favorite part of the movie?

With lots of students finishing up school finals, it’s time to give your brain a break from all that studying. Sit back and enjoy the mind-warping artwork of French designer Christophe Huet and his photoshopped creations. On some of his artwork he’s shared step-by-step of how he created it, so you can give it a try too.

(via Designverb)

Question: I wonder if MODOK ever had this problem?

These Marvel guys look tough! They were just released from Upper Deck SubCasts polyresin figures: Wolverine and Ghost Rider! I like the design of these better than the previous release of Spider-Man and Iron Man. Just more to add to your Xmas list.

It’s time for a Xmas treat from the ever talented Gabe Swarr. It’s a rare, holiday comic he created a few years ago and this is only the first part! Plus if you act now you’ll also see a genuine Gabe Swarr Xmas card, which is a joy to behold. Make sure that you put this on the top of your Xmas list, check it twice and be ready for part 2.

Thanks Gabe!

Update (12/24/07): Here’s Big Pants Mouse Holiday Special (Part 2).

I finally got the Lapinator portable insulated laptop desk that keeps your lap cool and your laptop cooler! It wonderfully fits my 13″ Apple MacBook with room to spare.

Before I got my Lapinator, I felt like a Jerk putting a thick book in my lap to support my toasty laptop. As you can imagine, all the heat from the MacBook just went through the heavy book. I had to find a more comfortable solution and something that didn’t cook/crush my special purpose. (Future generations depend on me.)

Luckily I found the Lapinator! It is light and makes it quite comfortable to sit lazily for hours with my Macbook in my lap. The padded grooves under the Lapinator, that help the airflow, are also really supportive. When I get up from my comfy chair, I just rest the Lapinator straddling the arm of my recliner and it’s really stable. The Lapinator also fits snuggly into my Jansport backpack.

With my new Lapinator, I know good things are gonna start happening to me now.

Be comfortable with your very own Lapinator

After the craziness of the season is over and 2008 begins, don’t forget about your chance to see Stan “The Man” Lee. “Under The Influence: A Tribute to Stan Lee” show at Gallery 1998 in Los Angeles, CA. Opening night on Jan. 8, 2008 from 7-11 PM!

Gallery 1988 and Golden Apple Comics will present “Under The Influence: A Tribute To Stan Lee,” an epic art show featuring almost 100 artists paying homage to comic book legend Stan Lee by painting his creations and tales in their own styles. The show runs from Jan 8th - Feb 1st, 2008. Mr Stan Lee will be in attendance at the opening reception!

It will be a night to remember for any comic fanboy. It will be Marvel-ous!

Grab your cool Mr Toast vinyl toy now, before the holidays. I recently got mine in the mail, and he looks superb. His arms and legs pivot around while the white base display helps show him off. Mine still has that new vinyl scent to him too. Check out Dan Goodsell’s site for details on how you can order your very own Mr Toast vinyl toy.

I’m sure this could have made a better Halloween post, but here goes. What’s more memorable than the iconic boxes of popular breakfast cereals? What if those cereal boxes had doppelgangers? If they do, you’ll be sure to find it at Cereal Killers. It’s just one gruesome cereal redo after another. I especially enjoy the one pictured above by Chris Savino. It features a Jack the Ripper like cereal killer, Ripper Jacks.

Tis the season to be touched by His Noodly Appendage. Show your festiveness and send a FSM eCard. Don’t forget to pay homage to His Pastafarian ways this year.

It looks like our friend Kazu Kibuishi’s latest graphic novel, Amulet Book One: The Stonekeeper, is now available in stores and on Amazon. This makes a great holiday gift for comic-lovers of all ages; whether you’re young or young at heart.

After the tragic death of their father, Emily and Navin move with their mother to the home of her deceased great-grandfather, but the strange house proves to be dangerous. Before long, a sinister creature lures the kids’ mom through a door in the basement. Em and Navin, desperate not to lose her, follow her into an underground world inhabited by demons, robots, and talking animals.

Eventually, they enlist the help of a small mechanical rabbit named Miskit. Together with Miskit, they face the most terrifying monster of all, and Em finally has the chance to save someone she loves.

Amulet Book One: The Stonekeeper

If you swapped Edward Furlong with Leonardo DiCaprio and vice versa in each of their movies, would you be able to see the difference? I’m not a fan of either actor, but the roles they play are quite similar. Of course I could be wrong cause I really didn’t do any research. I’m busy preparing for the holiday craziness, so there’s only just so much time I can spend thinking about either of those guys.

Please excuse the time between posts as the holidays fly headlong towards us. (I’ve walked this Earth for many years and time does pass faster each year.) I hope you all are doing well and this post greets you with good times. If you get a chance, leave a comment and let me know how you’re doing here at the end of 2007. I might be busy, but I like to hear from all of you.

It’s almost time for some Mr Toast vinyl toy fun from our good friend Dan Goodsell. These look sweet! And don’t forget his Etsy Store, where you’ll find all things Mr Toast. (It’s always nice to receive a Mr Toast plush as a gift.)