Sometimes blogs are useful for simply passing along something worthwhile. If you’re like me and enjoy dark humor, like The Onion, and can’t stand even the thought of Glenn Beck, then check out this video from Onion News Network.

— John Grooms

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Those animated maniacs in Dethklok play The Fillmore tonight (with Mastodon along for the ride). Here’s just a taste of the insanity that lies ahead:

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Have you cast your vote for mayor yet? Check out this video talking about the two candidates, John Lassiter and Anthony Foxx.

Nov. 3 is the last day to let your voice be heard. Vote early at one of these locations:

Board of Elections 741 Kenilworth Ave. – Charlotte
Beatties Ford Library 2412 Beatties Ford Rd. – Charlotte
CPCC 1325 E. 7th Street – Charlotte
Independence Regional Library 6015 Conference Dr. – Charlotte
Main Branch Library 310 N. Tryon St. – Charlotte
Morrison Regional Library 7015 Morrison Blvd. – Charlotte
North County Regional Library 16500 Holly Crest Ln. – Huntersville
Plaza-Midwood Library 1623 Central Ave. – Charlotte
South County Regional Library 5801 Rea Rd. – Charlotte
Steele Creek Library 13620 Steele Creek Road – Charlotte
University City Regional Library 301 E. W.T. Harris Blvd. – Charlotte
West Boulevard Library 2157 West Blvd. – Charlotte

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Windows 7 hit stores yesterday, and with it came a whopper of a promotion. Considering how obese Americans are, thankfully, this promotion is in Japan only.

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CL music contributor Mike McCray sat down with NASCAR driver Martin Truex Jr. before he jumped in the DJ Hero Chevy for the Bank of America 500 at Lowe’s Motor Speedway on Saturday. There was a free demo of the game, which drops Oct. 27, for fans as well as a DJ Hero showdown between Martin + Mike after their interview (Video tomorrow).

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Despite the title, you won’t find any Devo on Whip It’s soundtrack, but the Ramones and .38 Special both make vocal appearances in this film that marks the directorial debut of Drew Barrymore. If these bands made the journey from Drew’s iPod to the big screen, more power to them, as they’re certainly in tune with the rock & roll aesthetic on display throughout this rowdy, rebellious film. Read more.

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Before we get all entangled in politics and other “serious” news this week, take a moment to celebrate an important cultural anniversary. Forty years ago, the first episode of Monty Python’s Flying Circus first aired on the BBC.

Starring John Cleese, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones, Michael Palin and animator Terry Gilliam. The show’s influence was enormous — some critics have called Monty Python the Beatles of comedy — and changed the way comedy artists and other performers approach their audiences. Monty Python pioneered the practice of teams of entertainers writing and performing their own material, as well as the acknowledgment, even celebration, of life’s absurdities through sheer, unrestrained silliness and surreal situational comedy.

Boundary-pushers from the get-go, the group’s popularity grew slowly at first, but by the time their syndicated TV show ended in 1974, they were countercultural heroes of a sort, and phrases and skits from the show had become part of the cultural vernacular. Members of Monty Python went on to make films such as Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Life of Brian, inspired the hit Broadway musical Spamalot, and, in Gilliam’s case, became a respected film director. Graham Chapman died of cancer in 1989; during occasional reunions, the other members of the group often come on stage holding an urn that supposedly contains Chapman’s ashes. Rather than go on and on about these comedic and cultural heroes, here are two of their most famous TV sketches. Note: Monty Python has its own YouTube channel.

— John Grooms

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CL Music Editor Jeff Hahne chats with a couple members of the local band Heywire, who will be a part of a FREE event dubbed so cooly Project: Homebrew. This FREE event, to be held at Neighborhood Theatre on Oct. 1, is comprised of a panel discussing local music in Charlotte, as well as a concert of select artists from Jeff Hahne’s Homebrew Volume 3, a CD compilation of local music. And did we mention it’s FREE?

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