Lord of the Rings Drinking Game!

I find the only way to tolerate Sam and Frodo (if I don't fast forward through them) is to drink.  Now you don't have to watch LOTR alone!  It'll be enjoyable with friends!  Okay, you can still watch it alone and play this, but it probably won't be as fun, and I think people would worry about your addictions.  Click after the jump to see how to play!

Saul Zaentz Company Orders Extra Douche on Their Hobbit Deal

One of the production companies that bought the rights to Tolkien's franchise Saul Zaentz Company (SZC) have declared war on Earth.  As part of their contractual agreements, they own all property for goods and merchandise relating to The Hobbit.  Granted, New Line got anal about it with artists who weren't on commission by them when the first movie came out.  Dozens of artists, like Cincinnati-based Mike Makras (now retired), were sued or sent legal notices to cease and desist production art relating to Tolkien's world middle-earth.  Now, upon production of The Hobbit, the concern is again raised when SZC struck an all-time high of strict policies concerning their rights to The Hobbit materials.  Read on after the jump for more details and how small businesses are in danger from them.

Sway the right way

Although I am a follower of popular music, sometimes I am not on the ball. This is probably because I listen to top 40 radio stations that claim to be "family-friendly" (they tend to not play the same songs 50 times a day). As a result, I often miss hearing hit singles that everyone else knows about.

As you might have guessed, the stations I listen to do not play songs by the musical group The Pussycat Dolls, so imagine my surprise when I learned today that the group covered the song "Sway" for a film back in 2004. The song was originally made popular by Dean Martin back in 1954.

This bit of information on its own is not upsetting to me. Artists record covers, it happens, especially with classic standard songs such as "Sway." What upsets me is the fact that today I discovered that apparently several newlyweds are using the Pussycat Dolls version as their first dance song.

Seriously? The Pussycat Dolls version? Okay, I know that not everyone is a fan of Dean Martin and might want a more modern sound for their first dance. And one could argue that the PCD version isn't SO different. The melody has not been compromised at all, but it still upsets me. What this says to me is that the couple wasn't aware of the song before the PCD recorded it. And that breaks my heart.

I still prefer Dean's version (or Michael Bublé's or Peter Cincotti's). But listen to the tracks below and decide for yourself.

Sway (Quien Sera) (1997 Digital Remaster) - Dean Martin

Sway - Pussycat Dolls