Whiz of the Web: Friday Fried Onions

A steaming hot pile of our favorite things from around the internets.

Scareware

CES 2008 is a few days away, but the announcements and rumors are already pouring out. Netflix is partnering with LG to create a set-top box through which they'll be able to deliver movies and other programming directly to your TV (via Sarah). Meanwhile, rumor is that Microsoft will have a big Xbox-related announcement that might also have something to do with Netflix.

How about a class where your purpose is to become internet famous, and your grade is determined by a computer program? Only in New York. (Via Sarah)

Speaking of craziness in New York, some dude dropped his iPhone onto the subway tracks there and actually jumped down to get it back. He managed to climb back up unscathed with his precious device in hand. (Via Jill)

Guinness is releasing a video game-themed version of their famous record book entitled Guinness World Records: Gamer's Edition on February 8th. To celebrate the release of the book, they'll be hosting the "Guinness World Record Guitar Hero Marathon Relay," an attempt to break records by gathering people from all over the world to play a cooperative marathon of Guitar Hero III songs.

Let's take a look at the latest rumors and updates on upcoming comic book films. First of all, according to Anne Thompson at Variety it's highly unlikely that Bryan Singer will be directing the next Superman movie, or that the guy playing Superman in Justice League will be Brandon Routh; he'll most likely be replaced by a different, younger actor. And speaking of Justice League, she says that film probably won't be shot until after the strike is over. Meanwhile, Warner Bros. is so happy with Christopher Nolan's work on Dark Knight that they already want him back for a third Batman movie. Shortly after this Thompson's article came out, Latino Review followed it up with news, supposedly from a source at DC, that "Brandon Routh will be replaced in the stand-alone sequel by whomever is cast as Superman in the upcoming Justice League of America movie." Meanwhile, on the other side of the aisle, Jon Favreau says Marvel is waiting to do an Avengers film until they've got standalone films out about each of the major characters in the super group. Favreau also says he's hoping to be the guy to direct said Avengers movie.

Supposedly author Richard Matheson has signed off on sequel rights for I Am Legend. Which, if you've seen the movie or read the book, sounds pretty insane. But we all know those guys at Hollywood can figure out a way to make a sequel to anything. Apparently there's also already talk about making a third Lost Boys movie.

Heh. Download Squad has a clever and simple way to get around being locked out of the internet on a Windows XP machine.

Office 2003 with Service Pack 3 blocks access to pre-Office '97 file formats "because they are less secure. They may pose a risk to you." Wow, way to trash your own products, Microsoft!

The first teaser trailer for J.J. Abrams' upcoming Star Trek film will be attached to the Abrams-produced Cloverfield, which comes out on January 18th.

Microsoft is apologizing for the recent intermittent Xbox Live issues by offering all users of the service a free Xbox Live Arcade game. Which hopefully you'll be able to play at some point...

The February issue of Official Xbox Magazine will have three "completely exclusive" songs for Rock Band. We've never heard of any of the songs or the bands, but hey, they're exclusive!

Charitable organization Sense About Science has published a report on celebrities endorsing "scientific mumbo jumbo" that is of debatable merit, and one of the things they target are celebrities like Nicole Kidman and Patrick Stewart claiming in commercials that the DS game Brain Age 2 is good for your brain.