New DVDs, and some good ones on the line-up for today, including Superhero flicks and romantic comedies for dudes. Really.

As always, Dr. Videoport Jones is here to assist.

For a while now I've been pondering some sort of Monday blog that looks at a few events or news that broke over the weekend. Sure, we'd all like to say we're just as plugged in on Saturday and Sunday as we are the rest of the week, but the fact is - weekends are for relaxin'.

So maybe The Monday Fix will become a permanent staple.

Luckily Sen. John McCain came through and agreed to appear at tonight's presidential debate, thus avoiding the ruination of thousands of debate parties tonight.
The Republican presidential candidate changed his mind, thus all the planning, all the the Barachos (Democrat themed nachos) and Raisin McCain cakes won't go to waste.

What could have been a disastrous start to the weekend looks - for now - to be in the clear.

Remember, people, Parties First.

In case you were wondering, Republican Presidential candidate McCain's campaign suspension has apparentlyset off a "suspension" fire on the Interwebs.

So in light of the situation, I am suspending the blog, but asking The Scanner to continue in my absence.

Sarah Jessica Parker, George Clooney, and the always hilarious Simon Pegg? No, it is not the movie of a lifetime, it's some of the top names in this week's review of new DVDs.

As always, Dr. Videoport Jones is here for consulting purposes.

Let us begin.

Some things you just can't make up. On the same day the country is trying to figure out what a $700 billion bailout of troubled banks means, we've also got this:

"Treasury Launches Multi-Media Campaign to Help Young Adults Control Their Credit."

Oh sweet Internets, you'll never let us down. You're like the cow that never runs out of milk. Really, really bizarre, sometimes unfortunate, milk.

Uh...that means it's time for The Scanner!

Let's hop right into the fray this week. New DVD releases have hit the shelves, and our resident expert, Videoport Jones says there are some real stinkers this week.

Typically the only Mainers who get national exposure for their viral videos are the guys over at Eepybird.com whenever they roll out a wacky new experiment.

But over this last weekend, it wasn't a couple of guys in lab coats and some exploding Diet Coke - it was a local TV anchor and a presidential candidate.

It's not technically fall, but this city is giving off some early signs. At least two home grown festivals in Portland this weekend and a Homecoming dance. On top of that you could probably throw in the anticipation over Matt "Who Me?" Cassel taking command of the Patriots this weekend against Brett "Yes Me" Favre and the Jets.

Festivals, homecoming and football? Sounds like fall to me.

A few days ago on the blog - the "This Week in Bacon" edition to be exact - I made mention that things have been picking up around the NXT Desk and that I was going to be working on some projects.

Well I guess this is as good a time as any to say it: I'm getting into politics.

Deep below a picturesque village on the Swiss/French boarder, scientists are toying with the very bits that may have started life in the universe.

Scientist! Toying! Universe! Doesn't anyone else see what this means?

SUPER SCIENCE!

Things have been picking up around the NXT Desk in the last week and we're getting involved in a few projects and new endeavors. But that's a post for a different time. Long story short, we'll need to keep today's blog short and on point.

And what better motivation than bacon?

It's not just another Tuesday new DVD chat with Videoport Jones, because today it's time to talk Fey. As in Tina.

Sure we've got some other new releases - including one of my favorite shows, "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" - but really, it's Fey time.

I think I'm pretty typical of people my age in that I've got an online presence that doesn't take too much digging to find. I'm on the usual collection of social networking sites - MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter among others.

And like most folks I hopped on the social networking train with the same general concept most people have - staying "connected."

But what does that really mean?

The landscape is changing, my friends. Summer is turning into a rainy fall (much like a rainy spring) and meanwhile, in Portland, smokers are once again getting pushed around. (Luckily all those cigarettes leaves them winded in a fight) Sure you'll still be able to smoke after 10 p.m., but what will you do before then, nic fiends? What indeed.

We're back at full strength here on the NXT Desk, and we've got the Scanner all fired up and ready for another week's worth of fabulous Internet treasures.

Why is it that we keep talking about the fate of newspapers in this blog? Specifically, the fate of this newspaper?

I'm supposed to be talking about "the young people" and music and art and technology and bacon - Oh the bacon! - not newspapers.

But if you think about it, technology and "the young people" are tied to the future of newspapers.

One of the great pains of going to college (aside from saying good-bye to your parents, obviously) is that first sucker punch from buying textbooks. Unless you're rolling onto campus with some serious savings or a high limit credit card, that first textbook receipt is enough to make you double over in pain.

And the worst part? Even the used textbooks are costly. You feel like there's nothing you can do about it.

I'm back in the reins at the NXT Desk and have a lot of messages to get through and fires to put out (or start - Like the saying goes, sometimes the best offense is a good fire.)

But since it's Tuesday, it's time to check in on this week's new DVD releases with Videoport Jones.