Been a long week here at the NXT desk. We kicked things off with all the Halo shenanigans (not to mention a late nighter at GameStop), shot the bull with Videoport Jones, and launched the podcast.

That makes for one tuckered out writer/bloggist/bacon aficionado.

Sorry, no Commenter of the Week this week, not enough comments, or coordination on my part. I pledge to do better in the future. I also pledge to have a High Life, some strips of thick cut bacon and a doughnut from Tony's Donut Shop this weekend. Maybe all at the same time...as "This is our country" plays in the background.

Uh, let's get on with the weekend rundown...

It's that magical time of the week friends, where all your dreams and online fancies are revealed. Avert your eyes if you are weak of heart...it is The Scanner.

Also, if you have not had a chance yet, make sure to check out the first NXT Podcast.

We here at NXT firmly believe in the adoption of advanced technologies and using them to our own nefarious ends. We're very much like a Bond villian in that regard. Let's hope we never get hold of that weather controlling device they have at the Gulf of Maine Institute, or Bowdoin's time machine.

And with that completely odd non-sequitur, readers, commentheads and innocent bystanders alike, behold, we have made a Podcast.

Enough with the Halo 3 news already, we get it.

Yes, we're moving on, gentle reader, to matters with significantly less galactic implications.

We're thinking local.

Sure the fall TV season is now upon us, not to mention the baseball playoffs, and we're still in the early stages of the NFL season.

But who needs that when you can buy (or rent) new DVDs?

Seriously, give the new TV season a few weeks ... you'll come back, trust us.

As always, no cynical look at the work of filmmakers would be complete without a Larry Bird-like assist from Videoport Jones!

You know the people who run out to be the First to have a new product, gadget or album?
I am not that guy.
It's not that I don't want things like the newest iPod, the newest Nintendo console, or to be the first to see the newest Harry Potter movie.

But I have to admit my curiosity got the best of me last night. How else could you explain why I gave up sitting on the couch, having a beer and watching Monday Night Football?

I spent a good portion of this morning trying to figure out how many blogs I was going to post today, a task made more difficult thanks to cold medication (thanks a lot fall, your creepy seesaw weather patterns are making me ill.).

In the end, I went for quality (in theory) over quantity. This is a long one, we got Halo 3, local music and youth radio on tap.

Well, as Kenny Loggins (and Michael McDonald) once said, "This Is It."
This, of course, being the end of summer. On Sunday it will officially be Autumn, which I am ok with.

I'll admit I'm a fan of fall - you're not sweating through your clothes, or obsessively bundling yourself up just to make it through the day. Plus there's college football, the NFL, baseball playoffs, fall TV, autumn beer, the list goes on.

Wow. I just went all PBS on you guys. Uh, let's get on to the Weekend...

The Commenter of the Week's been a great chance to showcase what other people are thinking and talking about, and luckily, the people who read this blog can type with reason and the caps lock off.

Which brings us to Patrick, our Commenter of the Week, who rightfully pointed out that International Talk Like A Pirate day is really eclipsing a more important holiday, "INTERNATIONAL CAPS LOCK DAY."

It's true.

But he also knocked one out of the park at the end of last week when he took notice of Mr. B. Nemitz's challenge to commenters on PressHerald.com.

Patrick's what you might call a reader, and he's been thinking about just what would happen to all the stuff (or some would say crap) we create, if we were no longer around...

Because the Internet demands it, because pop culture stops for no one...tt's time once again for The Scanner - where we promise to never try and steal back our memorabilia.

The Portland Chapter of the NAACP is holding a rally in Tommy's Park in the Old Port today in support of the Jena 6 starting at 5 p.m.

Fair warning and fair seas people ... it's the one day of the year when you can say the word wench at work and not get a call from HR. It's that time of year when scurvy is more than just a punchline.

I'm talking about that magical 24-hour period where people can come together under a skull and crossbones and partake in the parlance of piracy.

I snuck in (about as stealthily as a 6'3" man can) and caught the tail end of The League of Young Voter's local candidates debate last night over at the Community Television Network studios.

Sure you could save your money for the important things - rent, bacon, a topical cream for that rash - but why do that when there are new DVDs, CDs and videogames out?

If you're looking for irreverent, inappropriate and intelligent (I needed another "in_ word) insights on this week's new releases, you've come to the right place.

As always, riding shotgun on this adventure is film aficionado and boy-band retiree Videoport Jones!

On to the releases!

Writing a story about Maine's lack of Internet access seemed a little hypocritcal coming from one of the most well-connected places in the state. Though there may be some small pockets where reliable Internet is not available, if you want high-speed access, most likely you can get Verizon DSL or Time Warner cable Internet around here.

We're only a few weekends away from officially reaching fall. Not trying to make a point one way or the other ... just pointing it out. Of course in these cool autumn days nothing warms you up quite like a Portland Press Herald action fleece or baby goose down NXT vest.

No Commenter of the Week honors. I take full responsibility for this failure of character. Things have been busy at the NXT desk, hopefully we'll be back in business next week.

It's time for the Scanner - where all your YouTube shame finds new life as "educational videos."

We've got a lot to run through today, not just the typical crop of YouTubes, but also the results of the week-long 'mustache voting!

This one has to be quick friends. The demands of Lady Journalism are...demanding. Also, I am a little under the weather. Perhaps all this mustache growing is draining me.

If so, the only cure is red meat, cheap beer and a viewing of "Smokey and the Bandit" followed by "Over The Top."

Fresh plastic packaging and trite, spliced together kudos...it must be time for New DVD Tuesday!

That also means it's time for a visit with our good buddy the renowned film geek and threat to mediocre tastes, Videoport Jones!

Sometimes in the normal course of journalism, you need help. You need friends. You need people.

(No, I am not about to break into a rendition of People/Wind Beneath My Wings/Heartlight.)

Let's just jump into this and cut the chitchat. There's all sorts of fun stuff going on this weekend. So no matter if you're looking for inexpensive art, schlock and horror, good music or the chance to live out your Captain Jack Sparrow fantasies, then this is your chance.

Remember, voting is still open in The 'Stache is Right poll. The Bandit is in the lead but The Magnum and The Calrissian are closing fast. Still, I feel like I must find a way to redeem myself in the eyes of Mr. Goulet.

It was indeed another close race for the coveted Commenter of the Week title, all thanks to the heavy word-action after my mustache declaration.

In the end new commenter Elsa pulled away as the winner, largely on the strength of her Goulet love. She correctly pointed out that I neglected Mr. G in "The 'Stache is Right" poll, a sin that I will never live down.

But enough of that, let's listen to Elsa tell us why "Buy Local" isn't just another case of bumper sticker feel-goodery....

Things have really picked up on the local skateboarding front in the last few months.
It seems like the situation went really quickly from "the skate park has been leveled" to "we wholly support the idea of a new skate park in Portland."

Another Thursday, another edition of the Scanner, in which our heroes blunder through the underground tubes of the Interweb and its many alligators.

There comes a pivotal point in most guys' lives where they have to decide - what am I going to do about my facial hair?

This typically happens after the whole Peter Brady voice squeaking and "hair where there was no hair before" embarrassments.

When it comes down to it, you're a clean-shaven guy, beard guy, or goatee guy, right?

But whatever happened to mustache guy?

Today and tomorrow over at the Nickelodeon the 48 Hour Film Project is screening all the films made by teams from around the Portland area.

Welcome back from the long weekend, campers. I know if there's one thing that will dull the pain of returning to school/work, it's new DVDs!

Or bacon cheese fries. Whichever you like.

As always, Videoport Jones is riding shotgun on this express train of pop culture inside jokes and general geekery.

Think of it like Ebert and Roper - just with no one watching.