The following was taken from Olivia Munn's Blog
Oh, Kanye. I’m glad you were a jerk. Cause these make me happy.
-Olivia Munn
- Mood:
amused - Music:Jay-Z - D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)
Check me out in the new Podcast recorded live. We talk about Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino, and ramble on about James Cameron's Avatar and more. My 3rd editing job. Hours were poured into the prodcution of this episode. Thank you so very, very much
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small}
fancyfembot for the opportunity!!!SPOILERS are in full effect as per usual.
Sci-Fi Party Line Episode #31
Show Voicemail: 773-336-2686 scifipartyline.com, @SciFiPartyLine, Facebook: Sci-Fi Party Line
fancyfembot.com,
fancyfembot, @fancyfembotAlso featuring guests: Ryan @Oddernod and featuring newbie Dena @andromeda0604.
WεSCO Productions ©2009
- Location:Nazi occupied France
- Mood:
tired - Music:George Baker Selection
Check me out in the new Podcast recorded live. We talk about Ponyo, Hayao Miyazaki, & the Red Digital Cinema Camera. It was loads of fun as usual and this was my 2nd oppotunity to edit & produce! Thank you so very, very much
fancyfembot!!!Spoilers are fairly light this episode.
Sci-Fi Party Line Episode #30
Show Voicemail: 773-336-2686 scifipartyline.com, @SciFiPartyLine, Facebook: Sci-Fi Party Line, fancyfembot.com,
fancyfembot, @fancyfembotalso featuring guests: Carl @robotcast from Robotcast.com; and Will @LW_Will.
WεSCO Productions ©2009
- Mood: exhausted
- Music:Joe Hisaishi
Blue
February 14, 2001 - August 21, 2009
RIP
He was the best pet I ever had. In a way he was the only pet I ever had. Blue was such a good boy. He was so very loyal. I never loved any animal so much - Not even close! I miss him so much already.
I'll never forget, we totally got Blue on a whim. We were passing by the corner of Culebra Rd & 36th St. There he was in a cardboard box full of puppies. I believe he was the only 1 that was mostly black. As a puppy he lived with us in what was then my 1st apartment. I remember he was so little and he had that puppy breath. He was so cute. But then he grew and grew and wouldn't stop growing. I had no idea he was going to get as big as he did, especially at his prime.
I have many memories of Blue, there are too many to count. Blue was with me during this last third of my life thus far. There were some ups during this time, but there were also many downs. But Blue was always my steadfast companion. Even when long periods went by without me getting to see him, he would always recognize me right away as his original master. He was a crazy dog always so full of life. He escaped from the back yard so many times. There were so many times I thought he might get run over by a car.
Blue lived in Hondo for a very short time, but eventually he got loose 1 night while I was at work. I was told he was running loose somewhere out there in the dark. My job let me off for a couple hours to go find Blue. As soon as I arrived in Hondo I just got out of my truck and whistled. Blue ran straight to me from out of the dark.
Blue was always a wild one. Around 2007-08 I started watching the Dog Whisperer regularly on the National Geographic Channel. It didn't take me long to pick up on Cesar Milan's techniques. Blue was never properly trained before, but I tried Cesar's techniques and they were effective almost right away. Apparently you can teach an old dog new tricks.
The last time I saw Blue was Wednesday the 19th. I was just passing through. I didn't really pay him much mind. Now I really wish I did. I had no idea his time was near. Sure he was 8 and a half years old now, but in my mind I figured he'd make it to at least 12. But Blue would never become a geriatric dog. That was his way of cheating old age I guess. He was always an "intense" dog so I suppose he could never slow down.
Me and Blue went on so many walks together, but now it seems the one before me will be the longest without my buddy by my side.
The picture above was taken about 2 weeks ago. It was just about his last.
I'll never forget, we totally got Blue on a whim. We were passing by the corner of Culebra Rd & 36th St. There he was in a cardboard box full of puppies. I believe he was the only 1 that was mostly black. As a puppy he lived with us in what was then my 1st apartment. I remember he was so little and he had that puppy breath. He was so cute. But then he grew and grew and wouldn't stop growing. I had no idea he was going to get as big as he did, especially at his prime.
I have many memories of Blue, there are too many to count. Blue was with me during this last third of my life thus far. There were some ups during this time, but there were also many downs. But Blue was always my steadfast companion. Even when long periods went by without me getting to see him, he would always recognize me right away as his original master. He was a crazy dog always so full of life. He escaped from the back yard so many times. There were so many times I thought he might get run over by a car.
Blue lived in Hondo for a very short time, but eventually he got loose 1 night while I was at work. I was told he was running loose somewhere out there in the dark. My job let me off for a couple hours to go find Blue. As soon as I arrived in Hondo I just got out of my truck and whistled. Blue ran straight to me from out of the dark.
Blue was always a wild one. Around 2007-08 I started watching the Dog Whisperer regularly on the National Geographic Channel. It didn't take me long to pick up on Cesar Milan's techniques. Blue was never properly trained before, but I tried Cesar's techniques and they were effective almost right away. Apparently you can teach an old dog new tricks.
The last time I saw Blue was Wednesday the 19th. I was just passing through. I didn't really pay him much mind. Now I really wish I did. I had no idea his time was near. Sure he was 8 and a half years old now, but in my mind I figured he'd make it to at least 12. But Blue would never become a geriatric dog. That was his way of cheating old age I guess. He was always an "intense" dog so I suppose he could never slow down.
Me and Blue went on so many walks together, but now it seems the one before me will be the longest without my buddy by my side.
The picture above was taken about 2 weeks ago. It was just about his last.
- Mood:
sad - Music:Pink Floyd - Wish you were Here
Check me out in the new Podcast recorded live. We talk about the new movie G.I. Joe & District 9. It was loads of fun as usual and this time I actually got to make my editing debut! This is actually the 1st podcast episode I have ever produced. Thank you so very, very much
fancyfembot!!!Warning: These podcasts are NOT spoiler free!!!
Sci-Fi Party Line Episode #29
scifipartyline.com, fancyfembot.com,
fancyfembot @fancyfembotalso featuring guests: Carl @robotcast from Robotcast.com; and Will @LW_Will.
WεSCO Productions ©2009
- Mood:
accomplished - Music:Coraline soundtrack
Doctor Who: Podshock / Gallifreyan Embassy webpage entry
Doctor Who: Podshock
AFTERSHOCK 20090813
Running Time: 0:19:55
Join us for our next SL meet up, The War Games recap, 4th anniversary for the podcast, new podcast swag. Doctor Who: Podshock 159 is coming soon!
Hosted by Louis Trapani, with E.A. Escamilla (AKA Bullitt33).
Brought to you by the Gallifreyan Embassy and is an Art Trap Production.
- Subscribe via iTunes
- Support the show, make a donation
Please note, this Aftershock episode is only available as a plain MP3 file.
- Doctor Who: Podshock - AFTERSHOCK 20090813 (MP3 format, 9.3 MB)
- Mood: accomplished
- Music:Pink Floyd - Wish you were Here
Sunday, August 2nd I took my dogs for a walk:
Blue
I have 2 dogs. Both are American pitbull terrier mixes. Blue I've had since he was a puppy is now 8 yrs old (which astonishes me when I think about it). He's a burly fellow & always been overly full of energy. Although sadly he's past his prime.
Leche, sometimes called Lechita, I barely found the evening of July 25th. I happened upon her at my job & it was apparent she was extremely malnourished however very full of life. She's a puppy of less than a year however probably 85% grown by now.
Perhaps weekly I like to take the dogs with me for my usual 4 mile walk around the neighborhood. During the 1st 20 minutes of our walk we encountered 2 pretty crazy stray pitbulls. 2 males, the shorter had that bred & cropped ear look straight out of a rap video.
Crop-eared pit-wuss!
(not actual pic, but close)
The other, more aggressive 1 had a face more reminiscent of a boxer. Come to think about it (and after looking at various dog breed pics online), the more aggressive dog could have been some derivative of a boxer. They harassed my dogs for a good 10 minutes, but didn't make any direct contact. Eventually they moved on.
Alpha pit/boxer had face & ears more like dog on left w/color & dock tail of right + uglier
We continued the rest of my usual path. Along the way we even came across some cows:
Moo along, these aren't the bovine we're looking for.
About an hour later we were on the final leg of our walk... And here come those 2 pitbulls again.
2 miles into the 4 mile walk Blue was already pretty tired and downright knackered, and now we were in mile 4 by the time the other dogs showed up again. The pits must have sensed this because they were much more aggressive now. Well I should say that the boxer looking dog was more aggressive as cropped ears was merely his minion. I can't tell you for how many minutes this antagonizing lasted. My dogs were whipped into a frenzy throughout it all. Blue is always very ready & willing to pick a fight with any dog; At 1 point he even mounted 1 of the other dogs until I pulled him off. Finally things took a turn for the worst. Not sure which, but I think cropped ears clawed Leche right above her nose. Before that point she was growling and barking, but now she was yelping and crying and all together flipping out.
Claw to the face
There I was trying to get my dogs through this rough patch. Every so slowly I was dragging them both onward.Suddenly I realized it felt like I was dragging dead weight with my right arm pulling the leash. I had dragged Blue about 6 feet on the pavement while his body was limp and he was basically unconscious. I didn't know what had happened. Had he received some sort of mortal blow unseen? My first fear was that he was dead. At this point the evil pits figuratively smelled blood and they were closing in. Now I really had no choice and I began to kick each pit bull in the face as they came forward. This would cause them to retreat for a few beats, but they'd quickly return for more. Eventually Blue came back to his senses. Apparently he had choked himself out from struggling against his own chain. He had strained so hard that he had cut himself or broken the skin along the underside of his thick neck.
All I could think at the time was how much I was in the middle of suck. I was basically trapped in a stale mate. Random cars drove by watching me deal with this ridiculous predicament. Finally a savior arrived. A nearby neighbor charged in with her dust mop shooing the attackers away. Soon her husband joined in with a golf club in hand. Finally I could take a break from all the madness. They kept the dogs at bay while we waited for the Bexar County Sheriff Department.
During the interim, man with golf club's daughter came to check on things. I recognized her from middle & high school. And then her husband came as well. I also recognized him from elementary thru high school. It took a good 20 minutes or so until the sheriffs arrived. I would have tried to leave, but the pits were blocking my way home. The whole time alpha pit was looking for more action, the older couple and now younger son keeping him and his friend at bay. 1 of the sheriffs took down my information and asked me a few questions until alpha pit starting coming in yet again. The sheriff told me I should take my dogs somewhere else. At that point he threw a rock at barking alpha pit, but that didn't dissuade it. Then the sheriff drew his gun, pointing it at the dog. I was just waiting for him to let loose a round, but it never happened. While the sheriff was dealing with alpha pit, the guy I recognized from school decided to adopt crop eared beta pit. Whatever. Although mostly bark than bite, I could see why someone might want to keep that dog for aesthetic reasons. I could care less at that point.
Lady w/the dust mop. Unfortunately you can't see the "wild" dogs
behind the black truck.
The sheriff was keeping the alpha pit at bay while waiting for animal control to show. The dog was still blocking my path home and I was getting extremely impatient having been stuck at that street corner for nearly an hour in total by that point. Luckily I finally remembered all the alternate routes around the neighborhood from my kid days. I then took my dogs home the "back" way.
Now that concludes my outrageous fiasco. I so wished I could have let Blue loose to fight perro y perro w/alpha pit, but I feared it would have been a fight to the death even w/with the winner being seriously injured or maimed. Both of my dogs seemed to quickly rebound & recover from the ordeal. Leche soon back to her chipper self. On our next outing, (just a few days before writing this) I was walking Leche around by herself and we encountered another ridiculous dog in an adjacent neighborhood. It was barking at us and getting very aggressive. I was like, "Oh no not again." But thankfully this maladjusted canine maintained his distance.
El Fin
Leche & Blue
- Mood:
blank - Music:Pink Floyd - Dogs
Check me out in the new Podcast recorded live. We talk about the new movie Harry Potter & The Half-Blood Prince. I had fun & it was very interesting recording alone with 2 women for the 1st time. Thank you so very, very much @fancyfembot!!!
Warning: These podcasts are NOT spoiler free!!!
Sci-Fi Party Line Episode #28
also featuring guest: Hanako (@hmrpotter)
hmrpotter 
scifipartyline.com, fancyfembot.com,
fancyfembot - Location:Hogwarts
- Mood:
pensive - Music:John Williams
Check me out in the new Podcast recorded live. We talk about the new movie Moon, which I liked very much. Later our conversation devolved into a discussion of the Syfy shows Warehouse 13 & Eureka. Two shows I never would have watched if not for the podcast. Regardless I had tons of fun bellyaching & I can't wait for the next episode. (Which will be Harry Potter 6!) Thank you so very, very much @fancyfembot!!!
Warning: these podcasts are NOT spoiler free!!!
Sci-Fi Party Line Episode #26
also featuring guests: Ryan @Oddernod and Will @LW_Will.
scifipartyline.com, fancyfembot.com
- Mood: excited
- Music:Dark Side of the Moon
- Stargate SG-1
I started this trek back around May 2008 give or take. I figured hey, the show's already completed 10 seasons, I might as well see what all the fuss is about. Well fast forward to the present and I've barely begun season 6. It's been a looooong road just to get this far. The 1st season was amateur, but then there were some good moments. A few gem episodes tucked away here and there. I can't wait to be done though. I also can't wait to add a new shackle around my ankle in the form of Stargate: Atlantis. - The X-Files
Wow what a moster this show is (no pun intended). I think I watched 2 episodes of The X-Files on TV while the show was on the air. 1 episode was during the 1st season and the other was the series finale in 2002. Also, about 1 year ago I finally finished up watching the 1st season which I had already owned for a few years. Then I plunged into the Alien mythology episodes (only); And even then I still have a long a way to go! I anticipate I will have watched all of The X-Files by some time around 2019. - Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I started buying and watching Buffy when? About 2004 or so. And to this day I'm barely on season 5 episode 10 which I just finished watching this evening. Season 1 was a bit generic. Seasons 2 & 3 rocked in my opinion, but ugh, they just had to go to college in season 4 - Spare me! (College is never a good thing on television) Aside from 'Hush,' things have been "meh" ever since. I love you Joss, but man this is killing me! - Angel
See Buffy. - Scrubs
I just love, love, love this show. As far as sitcoms go anyway. But I never really watched seasons 2, 3, or much of 4. Why am I watching this on DVD considering everything else on my plate? Because one wants to laugh every now and then? IDK - Stanley Kubrck > The complete works
What can I say? The man's a bloody genius. I really need to write much more on the man and his works and his works in a future blog. While I've been aware of Kubrick and his work for many years now I only finally got "serious" about it since Blu-ray came out. Now I'm trying to gobble up all of this stuff out there. Everyone knows the popular ones, but in total he made 13 feature films & 3 short documentaries. I'm just plowing and plowing. - True Blood
Great, just when I thought I had enough to deal with I add another to the list. I'm barely on episode 4 at the moment. Yeah, I guess it's good. Something about vampires...
- Seinfeld
Yeah, I already watched most of the series in syndication during the 90s, but when I get bored of everything else I mentioned above and need to take a little time out, I just pop in some of the good stuff ;-)
- Red Dwarf
A little gem of a UK sci-fi/sitcom I had the pleasure to burn through in about 2 months (May - June of this year). That's right, I compressed 11 yrs, 8 seasons, and 52 episodes into 2 months. In addition, a Red Dwarf special just came out during spring of this year, but I'm saving that 1 for Blu-ray later this fall. [note: the impetus to watch this show came from all the banter of my twitter pals] - LOST
I guess I would remiss if I didn't mention this fine program as well. Although I've already watched the complete series run to date, I recently started re-watching LOST from the beginning with the previously belayed release of season 1 on Blu-ray recently. Got throught the entire 25 episode season in under a week, often watching 4 or 5 episodes per day. That was just plain insane and I don't really recommend it. It must be noted though that I had long forgotten how genuinely good the show was right from the start.
And btw, it's all well and good during the off season aka summertime, but it's all hell trying to keep up with stuff while greatness such as Lost, The Office, etc. are airing first-run episodes on live television.
- And next on deck is The Mighty Boosh
...
-EAE
- Music:Classical
Check me out in my debut in a Podcast recorded live. It was tons of fun & I can't wait for the next opportunity. Thank you so very, very much @fancyfembot!!!
Sci-Fi Party Line Episode #25
also featuring guests: Doug @geekacres from Geekacres.net; Ryan @Oddernod; Carl @robotcast from Robotcast.com
scifipartyline.com
- Mood: accomplished
Obviously I have not seen the film yet, but at this point I'm inclined to believe that this new Trek film will fit in snugly with canon albeit in a somewhat unique way.
Let me also start off by saying perhaps 10 months ago I agreed with everything you (@LouisTrapani) were saying to me on twitter earlier about 100%. And then about 2 months ago perhaps 75%. But more recently I've kinda convinced myself that is crazy Trekker/Trekkie Shatner TOS witdrawal syndrome talking. So at 1 point you and I were coming at this new beast from a common viewpoint/opinion.
10 months ago I was hoping everything would remain consistent to what has come before just as you stated (Enterprise design, et al). But I must admit after I saw that 1st preview preceding The Dark Knight, I was like Frak it, that (movie) just looks too cool, bring it on, I don't care if we're stepping away from canon anymore.
But then 2 months ago, from all my ridiculous spoiler indulging, (I haven't spoiled myself full on, but perhaps more than I should have) I started to realize perhaps this movie is more in-line with establishment than I was led to believe??? And perhaps it's just my wishful thinking, but now I'm really starting to internalize this belief. Again, I wish I could go into the graphic novel prequel spoilers, etc. but I'd rather not before everyone out there who cares has actually had a chance to watch the movie.
Enterprise ship design:
Now maybe this is just me coming up with excuses, but dig this for a moment. Even though TOS is the grand daddy to rule them all. What if, let's say, they got it wrong? At least somewhat. What if that version of the Enterprise we see in TOS was simply the best representation they could come up with given the restrictions of the 1960s FX/budget, etc.? What if the newly portrayed enterprise is more true to 23rd century design???
I know, I know, I'm being daft, that's completely unfair to swoop in a la George Lucas and tinker so harshly with what was already established in the past. But I am willing to suspend my disbelief at this point. Only bc I think the producers/writers of this new film are really onto something here, I'm referring to the bigger picture, story-wise.
At first I was totally with you with respecting the past a la DS9's Trials & Tribble-ations. But I think J.J. Abrams is really taking a gutsy leap-of-faith here and in the end his gamble will pay off for the greater good in spades.
As far as alternate timelines, wibbly-wobbly, timey-wimey. This was bit more of a tougher pill for me to swallow and fully appreciate. Like I kinda already guessed in my mind how they would account for Nimoy's involvement, etc. in this new story, but I had the same questions as you: Why? Why go back to the past? What fun is it when we already know how it will turn out? Enterprise was already somewhat of a misstep in this direction, etc., etc. Then - just last night I read a partial (mostly non-spoiler) review of the movie by The Digital Bits editor Bill Hunt which after I thought about it, totally starting making sense once and for all. I mean, he was also a non-believer/skeptic of the re-envisioning route just as you and I were. But after seeing it he explained just how exciting this reboot of sorts could possibly be. I don't necessarily want to come out and explicitly say how he put it, but you can read for yourself if you choose (2nd half of his entry dated May 5th):
I didn't even fully grasp what he was saying the 1st time I read it, but the more I meditated on it the more and more it started to make sense to me. And now I think the whole concept was rather gutsy, but also rather brilliant. I think this movie will simply blow me and other Trekker's away, believers and non-believer's alike. And I think they are setting up for some super exciting sequels to come. Now I totally get what advantages the writers/producers have garnered by going back to the "beginning" of the original crew. It's a laundry list or reasons I've conjured up in my head already. But you know what? I have a feeling a lot of this will seem more apparent to both you and I once we have actually seen the film, so I shall save me even longer comments on the subject for afterward.
-EAE
- Mood:
anxious - Music:Star Trek by Michael Giacchino
Atari 800XL
NES
SNES
GameBoy
PlaystationDamn the Atari 800XL (very similar to the old Commodore 64) was an amazing device for a youngster to be messing around with in the late 80s. It was my introduction to programming in BASIC afmong many other things. I had a 5" floppy disc that contained 10 seconds of low quality .wav file-like audio of Van Halen's version of 'You Really Got Me' which mesmerized me to no end. How could a computer possibly play realistic sounding music?
Actually, before the Atari I had scored a device for $10 at a Garage Sale that came with 2 permanently attached paddles, ran off 4 AAs, and only played Pong & 3 more variations of it. Gosh I played the heck of of that thing prior to getting my 1st "real" system.
Prior to getting my Nintendo (NES) I had begged my parents for an Atari 7800. It seemed more reasonably/realistically priced at the time, but thank goodness my dad bought me the Nintendo instead.
COMMENTS:
Louis Trapani at 12:14am May 3
I also have the Atari XL, but I didn't include in my first 5 gaming system choices because even though I did have games for it, I don't consider it a "gaming system" - Now having said that, it would explain why there are some gaps spanning years in my choices because I was chiefly using computer platforms for gaming during those times.
E.A. Escamilla at 12:28am May 3
Ah ha! That's exactly why I thought your choices were rather intriguing -- because of the time gaps ;-)
Louis Trapani at 12:37am May 3
At a certain I had decided not to get any more game consoles and just get computer games. There are many advantages to games on the computer (various inputs via keyboard, mouse, joystick controller, etc., more powerful, higher definition graphics, and so on)… But then I changed my tune. There was a big drawback with computer games which is compatibility. Today's games may not run on tomorrow's computers, just as yesterday's games may not run today's computers (at least not very well). This was before emulation became more common on computers. But with computers always progressing with different processors, bit-structure, OS updates, graphic cards, etc.. and simply changing of platforms (going from one computer platform to another) meant games became more difficult to play after time goes on. Whereas with any game purchased for a console will always play on that said console (unless you perform some hacks to it perhaps).
Louis Trapani at 12:39am May 3
So at some point, I switched back to game consoles for gaming and kept computers for all my productivity work. Now I know if I invest $$ in a game title, it will always work for the console it was intended for (unless the console itself breaks).
I was not so concerned with compatibility issues, but I went through a phase (no doubt) where the types of games I wanted to play at the time happened to be computer games from around '92-'96 & '98-'01. But yes, by the time PS2 came around I was stuck on consoles for good (for playing games anyway). Also, for some reason in my older years I can only stand more "simplistic" games therefore many computer games are just too much of a headache for me nowadays. Actually, now that I think about it, how many times did I buy a computer game that ran like crap bc my system wasn't up to par? A console is so much easier even if inferior at times. I'm all about the K.I.S.S. rule!
E.A. Escamilla at 12:52am May 3
Speaking of video games, one of my very first was the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy text game. God I loved it and spent hours playing it. Less than a month ago I was searching for it online and found there are numerous places were you can play an exact replica of the game in a flash version. I tried it, the nostalgia fresh in my mind, but my-oh-my was it EXTREMELY DIFFICULT & FRUSTRATING. I just couldn't take it anymore. It was an era & state of mind long lost for me I guess???
Louis Trapani at 12:59am May 3
YES! I have the Infocom game for Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy as well. It was my fav on the Atari 800XL, and it had the best graphics (between the ears).
E.A. Escamilla at 1:01am May 3
Did yours come with all the cool SWAG & trinkets in the box? That was amazing! They don't do it like that anymore.
Louis Trapani at 1:03am May 3
Yes, it did! You got to a love a computer game that comes with belly button fluff (fuzz), peril-sensitive glasses, etc. I still have all that stuff somewhere.
Louis Trapani at 2:26am May 3
I remember I had gotten stuck in the HHGTTG Infocom game and gave up on it. Years later I was in lift in Manhattan and I don't know how it happen, but I found someone who gave me a clue on how to get passed where I was stuck. I am not sure if I ever made it to the end (I can't remember now).
E.A. Escamilla at 2:41am May 3
I can't tell you for how long I was stuck in the bar on Earth.
- Mood: nostalgic
- Music:Beastie Boys
If you know me then you know I love to watch movies. All kinds really, but primarily "good" movies.
On the theater front this is an extremely exciting time for me. The big 1 on my calendar is Star Trek and it’s right there on the horizon. I had known about his movie going back to perhaps 2006, but it wasn’t until the original teaser trailer debuted along with The Dark Knight did I start to get really excited. And this excitement has only continued to grow and build to an alarming crescendo the closer the day (May 7th) comes. I could go on and on about Trek, but I’ll save myself for after I see it next week.
My advance tickets for 2 showings of Star Trek & Wolverine
This Saturday I will see Wolverine. Although I rather liked the most recent trailer I saw, reviews have been quite dodgy. We shall see.
On the home front I have been on a mission to watch all of the movies nominated for 2008 best picture. So far I have already seen:
- The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
- Slumdog Millionaire
- Milk
- The Reader
Only Frost/Nixon remains.
The Reader I just watched yesterday. I went into watching the film unenthusiastically. The 1st 45 minutes or so didn’t help much either. If you go in knowing this is an “Oscar” movie the opening scenes reek of Oscar-worthy chicanery, so trite and so smug. I could only think, “Really? Is this really what I’m in for?” Oh, but nay! Later in the film they pull the rug from underneath you almost Atonement-like. Ahh these Oscar movie directors/screenwriters and their shenanigans. Once you get to the end (if you’ve been paying any attention at all) you pretty much get how/why this movie was nominated. And tossing in all the added context of the story and the metaphors & 20th century German archetypes the primary characters stand for – ok fine, you understand why this movie is worthy of the hype.
Currently I have begun sinking my teeth into the Korean neo-classic Oldboy [올드보이] (2003). My-oh-my have I heard a lot about how good this movie is. Well it has been #1 at the top of my Netflix queue ever since I joined back in March of last year. But I insisted on only wanting the Blu-ray version and due to its scarcity of availability it has taken until yesterday for me to finally receive it. Well I’ve been able to watch the 1st 20 minutes or so and thus far it has been quite enjoyable & captivating.
- Mood: excited
- Music:Beastie Boys
Seems to me there's 1 of four kind of people you could be and I'm the worst of the 4.
- stupid & successful
- stupid & unsuccessful
- smart & successful
- smart & unsuccessful
Can you figure out which category I would fit into?
3 out of the 4, you're basically alright no matter what? Or you're not alright, but you don't really know it or care anyway.
1 of the 4, you totally know you're screwed and you can't stop thinking about it all the time.
When is this movie I'm living in going to get to the major twist? When will the underdog turn into the alpha dog? When will I stop farting around philosophizing & writing blogs when I have a very important paper to be writing???
-EAE
- Mood:distracted
- Music:Neil Patrick Harris - A Man's Gotta Do
And the most recent elimination episode, WTH man!!! Lady GaGa!!!
I've kinda been digging her 1st two singles and music videos already. I'd also seen some of her live performances on YouTube with poor picture quality. But I had no idea how talented she was beyond singing and dancing. The playing the piano! At first I thought that was totally fake. And then I thought the whole song would be slow. And then when I realized she was actually doing her song Poker Face, (I didn't realize it at first), my goodness that was totally crazy in a good way. I can't remember way back in the day too well, but off the top of my head I think it's the best and/or stunning guest performance I've ever seen on American Idol before. I had to rewind the DVR to keep watching it over and over again. Then, when I was looking on iTunes I discovered you can download/buy the video of her just performing the song live on Idol. Cool.
It's weird because I have been reading reviews and reactions to her performance on line and it seems like people are totally split on it. Some people hated it like the plague and didn't get it at all, while other people were like me and thought it was pretty damn amazing. Based on that performance alone I would love to go to 1 of her concerts (did I just say that publicly?).
Geez and she does play the piano and write her own songs!? It's just something you wouldn't expect from someone who's entrenched in "Pop"py-ness.
-EAE
for some other opinions:
Lady Gaga Shows Her Flashiest 'Poker Face' On 'American Idol'
'Idol:' Going gaga
- Mood: impressed
- Music:Lady GaGa - Poker Face
burning_meadows asked me a question and this was the result:You see, it's sort of an emergency for me with school. I've needed a computer ever since my old one punked out summer of '07, but right now I desperately, desperately need 1 to help me finish a major assignment due in a couple weeks.
Very recently, some time after I got my iPhone, I finally got it in my mind that I want a Mac and/or Macbook in the future. This is kinda a big deal for me, almost akin to a religious conversion.
Ever since I learned how to probably use a computer in the 90's I was basically raised a heavily MS-DOS based PC user. I've always been an ardent PC supporter ever since. My oh my have I shirked, rolled my eyes, and turned the other way towards fancy pants looking Apple products.
But along came the iPod. And I had to get one of course. And I loved it. My how my 1st iPod helped me get so much back into music again like when I was younger. Because before iPods came out I became too lazy to keep track of and pop on CD's. Because I've always had a habit of constantly wanting to hear a different song on demand. And it was just too much trouble for me to be a disc jokey for myself in real life. So having the ADD that I do, my and iPods were a perfect fit. But I digress all over the place like I always do.
And then, geez, the iPhone. For a year I loathed this invention as well. I didn't want to have anything to do with it. But then the price came down so much and then 1 of my closest friends got 1 last Christmas. Once I actually put my hands on it I was so sold. The speed and with it surfs, etc. I still can't get over that. Such on upgrade over the crappy ass Blackberry Pearl I had before it.
So I decided, I want a Mac. Also because I used to edit home made music on my computer back in the day as well. But as I stated earlier, I need a computer right now, RIGHT NOW! And a Mac of any kind just ain't in my budget right now I don't think. So for now my compromise is just to get an HP or something to tide me over. Hopefully I'll be buying 1 Thursday or Friday.
- Mood: anxious
- Music:Casino Royale soundtrack - Vesper
I am an active member in this local Doctor Who group here in San Antonio called Doctor Who Fans Unite [http://www.
Phew, enough about that.
So this month, March 18th, was our groups 7th monthly show. Although I have been involved with this group since August of last year, because of my work schedule never before had I been able to attend 1 of our so-called Doctor Who Appreciation nights. Well tonight was my 1st.
Not known as the most sociable guy around, I helped man our little table. It was good times. You get those random folks you've never met before, and just by the virtue of you being there they just want to come up to you and talk about whatever random sci-fi under the sun. And these people have such enthusiasm, such passion. I find it subtly amazing at times.
On this particular night we happened to be watching the Doctor Who finale episodes Stolen Earth & Journey's End. It's probably just me, but these are not 2 of my favorite new series episodes. So actually I was rather disinterested and aloof during the actual show. But no matter, I suppose I do these things for the interaction, not to mention see the familiar regular faces.
Now I'm really looking forward to our next event coming to days from now, the BSG finale (also) at the Drafthouse...
- Mood: accomplished
- Music:Bach
On the other hand I really like talking to new people. Not necessarily all random comers, but certainly my mind deems "interesting." And that could almost be anyone, there seems to be little rhyme or reason as far as my brain is concerned.
I was having one of those spontaneous (chat) conversations with one of my relatively new twitter friends about 26 hrs ago. It had been a while since my last 1 and I was simply gushing; Total diarrhea of the fingers. What was it I was talking about? Or should I say, "incessantly babbling?" All I know is that suddenly the wheels in my head were a churning. Thoughts were flying in and out at a frightening pace. Why can't I duplicate that effect right now?
Who gives a blog anyway? God I hardly doubt anyone is reading this. Blogs are so passé. I mean everyone's got one. Many (blogs) no one should even care about? Most (blogs) are more for the person writing them than for the general public at large. It's certainly a way for most to stroke their own ego. At least those of us who are conscious & subconsciously self important.
Oh look, it's St. Patty's day. Why must this holy drinking day occur during Lent? But I digress.
So if anyone reads this, please do share with me your thoughts. Why do you blog (if you blog), and/or why do you read other people's blogs?
- Mood:
blah
Why can't every movie be this good as this $125 mil indie picture Watchmen?
Like ogres, Watchmen has layers. There's so much goodness for an obsessive movie watcher like me to peel away and enjoy later. As of right now I've only seen the movie once, but I can't wait to see it again. I purposely avoided reading the graphic novel before watching the film, but now I am avidly awaiting my copy in the mail, because now I feel the need to know all there is to know.
I do not know how the director was able to get away with making this movie the way he did. It's an action movie, but it's not. It's a superhero movie about superheroes who don't even have powers. Except this one guy, but he's so apathetic he couldn't be bothered much of the time. Snyder, the director was allowed a $100+ mil budget for a film that really might not appeal so much to mass audiences.
Watchmen simply ain't easy to digest. For someone like me, that's where the fun begins. For someone not like me, I guess that can just be plain annoying and unsatisfying. The epic story is like something taken out of Shakespeare. I suppose, like with Shakespeare one needs to come in with some prerequisite knowledge in order to fully appreciate the work. For instance here are somethings it might help to be familiar with going in:
- Reading of comic books in general and at least a basic familiarity with major comic book heros/franchises. (i.e. Superman, Batman, Hulk, Silver Surfer, Captain America, X-men, Fantastic Four, Avengers, & Justice League to name a few)
- Norman Rockwell paintings
- Noir films.
- General American history from 1940-1985 with and emphasis on politics.
- A little Shakespeare wouldn't hurt.
- I guess a familiarity with classic/cult movies in general. Off the top of my head I can remember an explicit reference to "The Warriors" & "Apocalypse Now." But I'm sure there were many, many more.
- Also it would help to be familiar with something like Kubric's "Dr. Strangelove."
The more you know about these kinds of scattered topics, the more able (or ready) you will be to fully appreciate this piece of work.
So here you have this big-budget movie for a thinking man. So much juicy goodness for someone to sink their teeth into and wrap there head around. I was saying the movie was Shakespeare like, but I was trying to think, would it be: a tragedy or a comedy? What's funny is that it could kind of be considered both. The whole plot is so complex, but yet on the other rather simple in the end. It keeps you guessing the whole way through, like whodunit? But while you're trying to untie that knot of mystery, you're being bombarded by the back stories of perhaps 6 different superheroes you wouldn't be familiar with going in (unless you have already read the source).
Whether you're able to keep up and pay attention to this movie or just find yourself perplexed and bored by the (at times) plodding pace, you must admit this movie is exceptionally well made. There are countless scenes, especially some of the countless flashbacks, that may only last for very few seconds, yet so much time and work went into creating them. And like the 300, when there are action/fight scenes, they really deliver in a very fresh and exhilarating style.
So you out there reading this. Take it or leave it: The greatest superhero movie of all time (to date)!!!
- Mood:
pleased
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