Is it just me or is everything getting canceled this weekend? Living under the constant threat of snow can do that. But you know what cancellations mean? It means you get extra time with those you care about.

Like bacon.

Get an energy bar and a Red Bull, it's time for the weekly dose of all things tasty, techy and pop-culture-y (yes, that is not a word.).

Time for to fire up The Scanner.

There's been a bit of a dust-up in the local blog world this past week, specifically the arena of Portland food.

It appears the anonymous author of Portland Psst! has been unmasked!

Ooooh we got some juicy TMZ business right here in our backyard!

Someecards.com

Award season's in the rear view, but there are plenty of movies that'll never see a statuette of their own. The New Releases are on the shelves and Videooport Jones is here with a few thoughts.

Happy Monday America, NXT Radio is back and on the air. Lucky for you we have no zany morning crew (or is that cru?) with wacky sound effects, recycled jokes, ticket giveaways or annoying bits.

Annoying host? Well, sorry.

Looks like it's time for The Scanner - that weekly stroll through the Internet's bad part of town. Make sure to hold onto your purse, and don't talk to anyone.

Two interesting bits of cinema around town tonight, and no, they are not Oscar-related.

"Golly gee, look at the size of that sizzler Ted!"

Tuesdays mean new DVDs are hitting the shelves of electronics stores and your local video store. (Since few people still use video, is that ever going to be changed? Local DVD store?)

Videoport Jones is in the building and has been thinking hard about this week's new releases.

This Presidents' Day weekend, take time to stop and think about your favorite president. Is it Rutherford B. Hayes, William Howard "Party Boy" Taft, or Dwight "My way is the highway" Eisenhower?

Then again you could always attend a presidents' day party. You know the type, everyone dresses up as their favorite president, makes policy jokes and chases around first ladies.

Hail to the chief indeed.

Since this blog is supposed to provide a public service (it's either this or 90 days picking up garbage or slinging soup at a retirement home), we've got a few more things for those of you that love the heart-shaped holiday, and those of you that want to crush it underneath your boot.

Looking for that perfect last minute Valentine's Day gift?
TOO BAD. The Scanner does not care about your lack of planning or romantic love and laughs at you.

Oh Scanner, you're so scandalous.

When was the last time you went to the theater? When was the last time you wanted to go see a play, musical or opera?

There are a lot of entertainment options these days, some that don't even require you to leave your home.

But if it came down to seeing something at Cinemagic versus going over to the Portland Stage Company for their latest show, where would you go?

Quick note that came across the NXT desk we wanted to pass along.
Tonight over at the University of Southern Maine the Center for Sexualities and Gender Diversity is holding a discussion on race in the gay community.

USM is using Black History Months as a kickoff for what they hope is the first in a series of discussions this semester on the issue.

Tonight artist and activist Derek Jackson will be the speaker. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Woodbury Amphitheater on the Portland campus. It's free and open to the public. Stick around for more details.

Week after week Hollywood continues to pump out its hits and misses on DVD in hopes of making new money, or making lost money back.

Fortunately for you Videoport Jones is always here to tell you what to buy, what to rent, and what to avoid and avoid hard.

Was there something going on at Portland High School yesterday?
I drove past there and it looked like the entire city was trying to get in there.

Is there something political going on this weekend?

Like most folks down here at Press Herald Plaza and at news outlets around the state we've been getting flooded with news releases and updates from candidates and their emissaries.

Strangely enough all these dispatches seem to go right to my Spam folder.

Inclement weather will never cancel The Scanner. Nothing stops the Scanner, not even the cries of children and the promise of free samples.

Speaking of hangovers, I was up waaaay to late watching election coverage last night. I think I was memorized by CNN's giant iPod touch/interactive voting district map.

ANYWAY, since Super Tuesday pre-empted so many things, here's our weekly visit by Videoport Jones on this week's new DVD releases.

It's the biggest thing since the last biggest thing...which was probably the Super Bowl.

It's Super Tuesday and in states near and far from Maine primaries are taking place that will (in theory) determine who the presidential nominees are for the Democrats and the Republicans.

Lucky for you we here on the NXT desk have up–to–the–minute coverage of the campaigns that you likely won't find elsewhere.

Look, we all know that sometimes this blog isn't just fun, games and endless hours of bacon talk.

Sometimes it's about work.

Today the NXT desk is paging a few people for help on a few things we're working on.

There is nothing quite like the fear, tension and unease you feel when you're hosting a Super Bowl party and things go south for the home town team and you've got few fans for the opposing team in attendance.

I didn't know whether to hide the booze, knives and easily flammable furniture, or as a neutral party (Vikings Fan) appeal to reason.

Once again I have failed you as a blogger America.
OK, fail might be a strong word. More like "partially meets expectations."
ANYWAY, if this weekend blog is going to do any good it's got to get up sooner, and I know that.

But conditions down here at the NXT desk have been at threat level magenta. Once we get back down to goldenrod things should get back to normal.

On the plus side we've got our first new podcast of 2008.

For some reason this week's Scanner has more than a few food items. Further proof no one should blog while hungry.