[A bit to tide you over for the main course. See Ben & Skin's Hot Potato Salads column here.]

Bonus Topic: Turning into my dad

Ben: The other day I yelled and raised my fist at a car that drove down our street a little too fast. My dad would have been so proud. As further tribute, I plan on mowing our lawn in black socks and loafers until further notice. Man, we're getting old up in this piece. Almost too old to casually use "up in the piece" during conversation.

Skin: At least you're turning into someone who had it together. I'm turning into Jon from the soon-to-be-or-maybe-it-already-is defunct Jon and Kate Plus 8. I'm an irresponsible no-talent hack desperately seeking fame and attention. On Halloween, someone knocked on the door of the house we were at and asked if we were missing a little one. Just as I looked up from the live chat I was hosting at the site hey.hot.intern.I.bet.I.could.advance.your.career.com, I saw my kid running barefoot down the middle of the street. It was humiliating ... that I have yet to parlay my appearances in that Web chat into anything worth mentioning.

Ben: Interestingly, you sound nothing like the numerous oil paintings I've seen of your father. Based on your testimony here today, you appear to be turning into a male version of Britney Spears. Are you wearing leather pants right now? If so, how leather?

Skin: Fine Corinthian, Ben. Fine Corinthian. I must've bought a discount Bible, because the entire book of Corinthians is missing from mine. I find it odd that Khan had the exact same hair as Joe Avezzano. And as we all know, Spell Check hates Joe Avezzano.

Posted by Rob Clark at 3:41 PM | Permalink Comments (0) | Leave comment

There was what seemed to be a real trailer for this film floating on the Innanets for weeks. It was cool to get a peek at the wondrous world that director James Cameron had created for Avatar, but there wasn't much story line to be gleaned from it. At last, a true trailer has emerged and fills in the blanks of the old clip.

A distant planet holds a mother lode of a precious and pricey resource, but the only problem with mining it is that a native race lives on the land above it. Aussie actor Sam Worthington plays Jake, a soldier who takes the form of one of the natives in order to infiltrate it and, presumably, destroy it from within and allow the precious resource to be reached. Along the way, however, Jake-as-the-native falls for a female warrior and begins to have second thoughts about eliminating the natives.

The movie, to be released in IMAX 3D, has breathtaking CGI scenery and lush cinematography and special effects. I hope Cameron, who also wrote the movie, makes the natives compelling enough to root for, because otherwise I don't know that I'd be enraptured watching these aliens defend themselves and Jake fall for the lady native. After Titanic, however, I have no problem putting my trust in Cameron.


Release date: Dec. 18

Chance of box office success: Phenomenal. It is, after all, James Cameron's first foray into drama since Titanic. Although it will face stiff holiday competition from the also-debuting Nine, Rob Marshall's first musical since a mildly successful little film called Chicago. I still predict that Cameron's CGI-heavy adventure drama will prevail over Marshall's dancing divas.

Should you see it?: Chances are you will. Why not make an afternoon of it and see it with Nine?

Posted by Farah Fleurima at 1:43 PM | Permalink Comments (0) | Leave comment

Future-thinking Dallas rap duo Damaged Good$ sends out a link to its new single "Dopest/Flyest" today. Listen and download here. The song, a smooth-as-buttah love note featuring Johnny Moog, will be on the forthcoming free (!!!) album, $pread Luv Not Germ$. Think of the record as a progressive release, with a new song coming out each month to coincide with a local charity event hosted by Damaged Good$. A brilliant and generous move, especially since we're kicking off the holiday season.

Posted by Hunter Hauk at 11:26 AM | Permalink Comments (0) | Leave comment

The long-running Aussie rockers in AC/DC are making their second Dallas stop this year. This time, they're doing all acoustic ballads. Kidding. Shriek like Brian Johnson for "You Shook Me All Night Long," "Back in Black," "Highway to Hell" and the rest of their memorable hits. 8 p.m. American Airlines Center, 2500 Victory Ave. $89.50. ticketmaster.com.

Pelican, Black Cobra and Struck By Lightning perform at 8 p.m. Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave. $12 and $16. granadatheater.com.

It's '80s Dance Party night with DJ Leeds at Rubber Gloves, 411 E. Sycamore, Denton. Doors at 10 p.m. Free. rubberglovesdentontx.com.

Tommy C Productions presents Detour Mondays at Mick's Bar. Each week features a different guest DJ who spins dance and hip-hop. 6 p.m. 2825 Greenville Ave. No cover. 214-827-0039. myspace.com/micksbar.

Schwa, Fugita 5, Hot Flash and Big J supply the music at Cool Out Mondays. Happy hour specials all night. 10 p.m. The Cavern, 1914 Greenville Ave. Free. thecaverndallas.com.

Local band Mi Son, Mi Son, Mi Son plays Cuban, percussion-heavy music, and starts a weekly series at 10 p.m. Dan's Silverleaf, 103 Industrial St., Denton. 10 p.m. Free. 940-320-2000 or danssilverleaf.com.

Posted by Rob Clark at 8:11 AM | Permalink Comments (0) | Leave comment