Thursday, June 30, 2005
My friend and comrade-in-arms DATU_B and his wife are leaving for The Wild West tomorrow. He left me one last parting gift (since he can't have it on the campus in which they'll reside) - a Cold Steel two-handed machete!
From the Cold Steel website:
In a self defense emergency, the Two Handed Machete will also double as a highly effective sword. It's light enough to be swung with either one or both hands and delivers enough cutting power to lop off heads and dismember limbs.
All for the low, low price of $16.99 (USD).
That's why it sits right next to the bed... ;)
From the makers of the soundtrack to The Virgin Suicides. I'm ashamed to admit that I've never heard it, nor seen the movie, but that'll change. Ambient/electronic music with a bit of soul. Who'da thunk? It's the Moogs and Korg MS20s that did it. Throw in a trumpet like they did on the track "Ce Matin La," and how could I help but be their newest b!+ch?
(**That's not Chicago-, Sons-, Lamm-, or Champlin-related)
You scored as Mushrooms. Shrooms! You're still goin for one of the most natural drugs. You'd like to visit a whole other world, and see things you've never seen before. Fucking trippy. |
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What's your ideal drug? created with QuizFarm.com |
Tuesday, June 28, 2005
Lately, when I'm asked that question, I've been responding with "Been better, been worse."
Things to B!+ch About
So, enjoy the space (Thanks, Blogger!). Imagine drawing in it, writing comments, or otherwise making it useful.
UPDATE: One less thing to b!+ch about - Blogger fixed the problem, although it means that my use of the new picture feature won't be as smooth as some others. But, I know enough CSS that it doesn't matter, so there.
Things to B!+ch About
- My work schedule which is prohibiting me from seeing DATU_B and his wife before they move out west. Sure, I could have hung out with them last night, but I would've been horrible company what with my sleep cycle totally skewed.
- Sifting through Ithaca job prospects that didn't seem as plentiful as they did when I was searching this time last year. Then worrying about the logistics of it all. So far, I haven't found a job prospect that seems worth taking a chunk out of the minimal amount of time we've got left in A-Town to go up there and interview. Then again, what else is there for it aside from waiting until I get there which is only a viable solution if E gets that job at Cornell? GRR!
Blogger's new damn code that pushes my byline past my sidebar. It's in the <$BloggerItemBody$> tag which generates a CSS "clear" code at the top and bottom of each individual post, so there's jack all I can do about it. They're aware of the problem and are working to fix it, but I've got a feeling I'm going to end up having to switch templates, which would be a pain in the damn arse.- Today, I left the power cords for my laptop at the house, so I'm on batteries that will only be good for another hour or so. I'll be at work by then, anyway.
- In the late afternoon, it is literally hot enough to fry our brains, nevermind a dog's, in our apartment. This makes catching up on much-needed sleep rather difficult.
- A last-minute entry here.
- That, and the fact that the accomplishments on that list are definitely things to feel good about.
- I managed to tackle the infamous "Pile" of clothes in the corner of our bedroom. It almost looks respectable now.
- Tonight, when I get home, I get to spend some time with the wife and watch the second episode of 30 Days.
UPDATE: One less thing to b!+ch about - Blogger fixed the problem, although it means that my use of the new picture feature won't be as smooth as some others. But, I know enough CSS that it doesn't matter, so there.
Sunday, June 26, 2005
I threw up this old picture just to see if Blogger's new picture feature worked. Apparently there are still bugs if the file's close to a meg or so. I'm sure they'll work it out eventually.
Oh, for the curious, this is a shot of me taking a video clip into a mirror of DATU_B demonstrating a dumog (Filipino grappling) move.
And, yes, I know these entries must've looked wierd for the past day or so. Blogger has apparently inserted code in each post, probably for some formatting reason. But, it's screwing with my vibe and they have been notified.
I'm tired from an early shift at the Diamond Mines, and I've even got to go back at 3 am. So, what else is there for it besides coffee, blogging, and raving about TV that, not having cable, I would have no access to without a... connection...?
Doctor Who - "The Parting of the Ways" had its weak points, but it was brilliant overall. One thing about the British - when they revive an institution, they don't mind latching onto the coattails of another one. As the credits rolled, the first card read:
30 Days - I'm, uh, "preparing" to watch the second episode. As long as you can't remember that this show isn't really meant to be hard-core sociological research, then you can enjoy it. You'll definitely like the first episode if you liked Super Size Me at all. The first episode saw Morgan Spurlock and his fiance' Alex attempt to live off of minimum wage in Columbus, OH. I recognized 3/4 of the location shots. As I said, you can't confuse this show with research, but here you have an macro example of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, which Wikipedia says is "sometimes explained by claiming that the measurement of position necessarily disturbs a particle's momentum." In other words, observing a phenomenon affects the phenomenon. Case in point, following a small, blond, semi-attractive woman with a camera crew as she walks safely from The Bottoms to Downtown Columbus at 5 a.m. isn't necessarily the most accurate portrayal of what would happen had that crew not been there.
Global Frequency - Even Who didn't keep me this rivetted. It's based on Warren Ellis's graphic novel series (which I've recently read) about Miranda Zero and her network of 1,001 spies, experts, and ordinary people called The Global Frequency who protects us from things that the average person doesn't see or understand.
It wasn't picked up by the WB, and although I would drink this show up every week, I'm not surprised. If I wasn't a TV/culture/comic book nerd, I'm not sure I'd like it. I can hear the unwashed saying stuff like "The just ripped off X-Files, Mission Impossible, and every other brains-and-brawn, sci-fi, Matrix-leather, conspiracy, "The truth will freak you out" property that ever was." Producer John Rogers said it best:
Doctor Who - "The Parting of the Ways" had its weak points, but it was brilliant overall. One thing about the British - when they revive an institution, they don't mind latching onto the coattails of another one. As the credits rolled, the first card read:
And, no, I honestly don't believe it will be one iota as cheesy as it must sound. That isn't to say that the series didn't have its weak points, but "cheese" didn't even enter into the equation.DOCTOR WHO
will return in
THE CHRISTMAS INVASION
30 Days - I'm, uh, "preparing" to watch the second episode. As long as you can't remember that this show isn't really meant to be hard-core sociological research, then you can enjoy it. You'll definitely like the first episode if you liked Super Size Me at all. The first episode saw Morgan Spurlock and his fiance' Alex attempt to live off of minimum wage in Columbus, OH. I recognized 3/4 of the location shots. As I said, you can't confuse this show with research, but here you have an macro example of the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, which Wikipedia says is "sometimes explained by claiming that the measurement of position necessarily disturbs a particle's momentum." In other words, observing a phenomenon affects the phenomenon. Case in point, following a small, blond, semi-attractive woman with a camera crew as she walks safely from The Bottoms to Downtown Columbus at 5 a.m. isn't necessarily the most accurate portrayal of what would happen had that crew not been there.
Global Frequency - Even Who didn't keep me this rivetted. It's based on Warren Ellis's graphic novel series (which I've recently read) about Miranda Zero and her network of 1,001 spies, experts, and ordinary people called The Global Frequency who protects us from things that the average person doesn't see or understand.
It wasn't picked up by the WB, and although I would drink this show up every week, I'm not surprised. If I wasn't a TV/culture/comic book nerd, I'm not sure I'd like it. I can hear the unwashed saying stuff like "The just ripped off X-Files, Mission Impossible, and every other brains-and-brawn, sci-fi, Matrix-leather, conspiracy, "The truth will freak you out" property that ever was." Producer John Rogers said it best:
Also, in completely honest retrospect, what the hell was I thinking? It's a show about how the institutions around us have failed us, and we live in a world of chaos and death, held back only by borderline sociopaths. The HAPPY ending is our hero shoots an innocent man in the face. Oh yeah, slot us right in after Gilmore Girls.Not the show people would necessarily like watching (or being watched) in this age of "The government is Right, and knows what's best for you." That being said, how many shows that hasn't had even a millisecond of airtime, and never will, generate so much buzz?
Thursday, June 23, 2005
How about some more long overdue pictures of the ol' Road Trip?
Most of day four was spent in the City of Rochester, about two hours away from Elmira, where The Wife had "that interview that didn't turn out so well." It wasn't like she fell apart, or anything like that. Just that the face-to-face details about the gig were vastly different from what was discussed via emails and the phone interview.
Remember this little one?
Well, he had lunch with her and her mother before E's interview at a place where I had a pepperoni and egg sandwich for the first time. It was also the first time I ever saw one of these roving billboard thingys (sorry I only caught the tail end of it).
Afterward, E went off to her interview and I got taken on a quick tour of Rochester. I saw a million and one things, not the least of which was the corporate HQ for Kodak. My favorites were the School of the Arts and High Falls.
I'll post about the rest of the day later. Got stuff to do right now.
Most of day four was spent in the City of Rochester, about two hours away from Elmira, where The Wife had "that interview that didn't turn out so well." It wasn't like she fell apart, or anything like that. Just that the face-to-face details about the gig were vastly different from what was discussed via emails and the phone interview.
Remember this little one?
Well, he had lunch with her and her mother before E's interview at a place where I had a pepperoni and egg sandwich for the first time. It was also the first time I ever saw one of these roving billboard thingys (sorry I only caught the tail end of it).
Afterward, E went off to her interview and I got taken on a quick tour of Rochester. I saw a million and one things, not the least of which was the corporate HQ for Kodak. My favorites were the School of the Arts and High Falls.
I'll post about the rest of the day later. Got stuff to do right now.
| You scored as Nipples. You're secretly kinky aren't you? I like you already. Don't let anyone onto your dirty side--it's more fun that way. |
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What Piercing Are You? created with QuizFarm.com |
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
Probably my most important one...
UPDATE: Wanna see something funny? I've been searching the internet for legit, thought out arguments in support of the cuts, and I came across this: A message board user on Storm Front's website who actually disagrees with PBS funding cuts! Now, I have no idea about this person's views on racial issues, but in any case, it was one of the last things I'd expect to come out of there.
Hi,I read about this on Mushtaq Ali's blog over a week ago, but had no idea it was this close.
You know that email petition that keeps circulating about how Congress is slashing funding for NPR and PBS? Well, now it's actually true. (Really. Check at the bottom if you don't believe me.)
Sign the petition telling Congress to save NPR and PBS:
http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/
The House of Representatives is about to vote on whether to slash funding for NPR and PBS, starting with "Sesame Street," "Reading Rainbow" and other commercial-free children's shows. If approved, this would be the most severe cut in the history of public broadcasting, threatening to pull the plug on Big Bird, Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch.
The cuts would eliminate more than $200 million for NPR, PBS and local stations immediately, with more cuts likely in the future. The loss could kill beloved children's shows like "Clifford the Big Red Dog," "Arthur," and "Postcards from Buster." Rural stations and those serving low-income communities might not survive. Other stations would have to increase corporate sponsorships.
The House will vote on the cuts as soon as Tuesday. Can you help us reach 1 million signatures calling on Congress to save NPR and PBS?
http://www.moveon.org/publicbroadcasting/
Thanks!
P.S. Read the New York Times story on the threat to NPR and PBS at:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=753
UPDATE: Wanna see something funny? I've been searching the internet for legit, thought out arguments in support of the cuts, and I came across this: A message board user on Storm Front's website who actually disagrees with PBS funding cuts! Now, I have no idea about this person's views on racial issues, but in any case, it was one of the last things I'd expect to come out of there.
Sunday, June 19, 2005
As promised...
Here are some of the friends we had to say goodbye to near the end of our weekend at the campground where we "roughed it" - before our on-site showers. These aren't half of them, though, or even a representative sampling, but that's ok.
The little lady next to the wife belongs to two of her closest NY friends. The last time we saw her was two years ago, and I swear she seemed so tiny that I could've held her in my cupped hands. How's that for cute?
After all of that, we made our way back to the Mom-in-Law's, and finally had time to have dinner at one of two restaurants: Pietro's last year or Beijing Garden this year. We always make this a treat for MOMMA_ZOO. That's her and the Wife toasting. The last picture is now a tradition - the faux "plastered at the restaurant" shot of the Wife.
Another tradition when we visit Elmira is the visit to Harris Hill where all the gliders are (because that's what Elmira is known for besides the various historical figures and celebrities, like Samuel Clemens, who've spent more than ten minutes in the town). Still, it's pretty scenic and we got to see a nice sunset.
The feet, from left to right, are the Ma's, the Wife's, and mine.
Here are some of the friends we had to say goodbye to near the end of our weekend at the campground where we "roughed it" - before our on-site showers. These aren't half of them, though, or even a representative sampling, but that's ok.
The little lady next to the wife belongs to two of her closest NY friends. The last time we saw her was two years ago, and I swear she seemed so tiny that I could've held her in my cupped hands. How's that for cute?
After all of that, we made our way back to the Mom-in-Law's, and finally had time to have dinner at one of two restaurants: Pietro's last year or Beijing Garden this year. We always make this a treat for MOMMA_ZOO. That's her and the Wife toasting. The last picture is now a tradition - the faux "plastered at the restaurant" shot of the Wife.
Another tradition when we visit Elmira is the visit to Harris Hill where all the gliders are (because that's what Elmira is known for besides the various historical figures and celebrities, like Samuel Clemens, who've spent more than ten minutes in the town). Still, it's pretty scenic and we got to see a nice sunset.
The feet, from left to right, are the Ma's, the Wife's, and mine.
Saturday, June 18, 2005
This is off the Eskrima Digest:
The Jedi ArtsBWAHHHHH-hahahahahahaha...
One of the most popular aspects of the "Star Wars" films are the exciting light-saber duels and swordsmanship (Lucas is an admitted fan of old Samurai films) and martial arts style fighting (which of course originates from the East). As a former student of "Eskrima Serrada" (Stick and Blade fighting developed by Muslims of the Philippines) myself, I see a lot of similarities in the fast-moving and short-range
fighting I studied for about a year and a half, and the "invented" art of the Jedi masters.
When Anakin fights Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) at the beginning of the last "Star Wars" film, at end of the fight, Anakin applies a disarm and cut that is a technique from Eskrima to Count Dooku's arm. Going back into history, the technical differences between the Japanese/Chinese arts and the Muslim arts of Southeast Asia regions of
Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia: The Muslim arts of "Pentjak Silat" and Eskrima are based on paying attention to the Limb of the attacker and not an immediate strike to the attacker's head or torso.
...
[Name deleted - there might be some who won't be able to resist the temptation to track him down and laugh incessantly, as I did] is an architectural designer (and Star Wars fan). He lives in San Jose, California.
Well, it's far from a done deal, but E felt her phone interview with Cornell went extremely well. She won't know for awhile because the folks in the ESL department will be "out of the office" until July 5. Now, this postion has been posted since late May and they presumeably wanted someone hired before August 1st (because of various orientations that are scheduled around then). I could be wrong, but my feeling is this: they already had someone who they were willing to settle for until getting E's CV and that of one other person who was to be phone interviewed right after E. I think the fact that Cornell is considering her this late in the game is a good sign.
One recent development that would be icing on the cake as far as a move to Ithaca was posted by Guru Mushtaq Ali. Since he re-plugged my blog recently, I now have the ideal opportunity to re-plug The Traceless Warrior.
Guru Mushtaq is the senior instructor of Silat Zulfakari, which is based on Cimande, in which I've dabbled in the Fight Club. It's based in CA, but apparently Guru is setting up shop in Upstate NY, as well. Regardless of what happens with the interview, E and I are planning to go to NY, so I will be taking him up on his training invitation sooner or later.
DATU_B - Ha ha! Just kidding ;). Hey, give me a year and maybe we'll play fimbo vs. shillelagh.
One recent development that would be icing on the cake as far as a move to Ithaca was posted by Guru Mushtaq Ali. Since he re-plugged my blog recently, I now have the ideal opportunity to re-plug The Traceless Warrior.
Guru Mushtaq is the senior instructor of Silat Zulfakari, which is based on Cimande, in which I've dabbled in the Fight Club. It's based in CA, but apparently Guru is setting up shop in Upstate NY, as well. Regardless of what happens with the interview, E and I are planning to go to NY, so I will be taking him up on his training invitation sooner or later.
DATU_B - Ha ha! Just kidding ;). Hey, give me a year and maybe we'll play fimbo vs. shillelagh.
For someone who doesn't have cable, I'm sure seeing a whole lot of stuff. Gotta love DVDs, torrent sites, and the old fashioned cinema.
Right now I'm downloading the final episode of the new Doctor Who, "Parting of the Ways." I'm trying so hard not to go ahead and read all the usual spoiler sites I go to. This is how remakes should be done. I'm feeling the same sort of fascination I felt with reading Geoff Johns' work - that is, until it got repetitive, out of control, and prolific in the same manner as a Biblical plague.
The Wife and I watched Batman Begins. What can I say? It delivered on everything it promised. The one and only thing that would have made the movie absolutely perfect for me was if Joe Chill said, "Ever dance with the devil by the pale moonlight?"
Last night, we finally got around to watching Outfoxed, the critique of Rupert Murdoch's FOX News Channel. It had its high points and I accept its theory wholeheartedly. But how does Robert Greenwald think he's going to exhort people to examine a propaganda machine by, essentially, becoming one?
For instance, I don't doubt that FNC used the phrase "flip flop" lots of times in reference to John Kerry over whatever span of time the filmmakers were monitoring. But, you could use the exact same monitoring on my speech over the course of the same amount of time. And, if you strung together all the times I ever said the word "fcuk," who wouldn't be convinced that I had the mouth of a sailor? I could take that sparring clip of DATU_B and me and cut it down to the two seconds that made me look like Tatang Illustrisimo.
In the end, all this does is preach to the converted. I didn't need this movie to prove that FOX News isn't anything close to "fair and balanced." Any random, thirty-minute viewing would do that. The presentation style and methodology was ingenious, but wasted. I would've remained riveted if the movie had stuck to the stories of former FNC employees whose claims were backed and verified. And, even in that regard, the movie gave me no reason whatsoever to accept anything their three anonymous sources had to say.
Anyone on the fence about FOX News with a critical eye - the very people to whom this type of film should be reaching out - is going to cast the same critical eye on this film, and that's not necessarily a good thing for Outfoxed.
Anyway, time to reflect on another urgent question: Just who is "Bad Wolf"? At this download rate, I probably won't find out until tomorrow :(.
Right now I'm downloading the final episode of the new Doctor Who, "Parting of the Ways." I'm trying so hard not to go ahead and read all the usual spoiler sites I go to. This is how remakes should be done. I'm feeling the same sort of fascination I felt with reading Geoff Johns' work - that is, until it got repetitive, out of control, and prolific in the same manner as a Biblical plague.
The Wife and I watched Batman Begins. What can I say? It delivered on everything it promised. The one and only thing that would have made the movie absolutely perfect for me was if Joe Chill said, "Ever dance with the devil by the pale moonlight?"
Last night, we finally got around to watching Outfoxed, the critique of Rupert Murdoch's FOX News Channel. It had its high points and I accept its theory wholeheartedly. But how does Robert Greenwald think he's going to exhort people to examine a propaganda machine by, essentially, becoming one?
For instance, I don't doubt that FNC used the phrase "flip flop" lots of times in reference to John Kerry over whatever span of time the filmmakers were monitoring. But, you could use the exact same monitoring on my speech over the course of the same amount of time. And, if you strung together all the times I ever said the word "fcuk," who wouldn't be convinced that I had the mouth of a sailor? I could take that sparring clip of DATU_B and me and cut it down to the two seconds that made me look like Tatang Illustrisimo.
In the end, all this does is preach to the converted. I didn't need this movie to prove that FOX News isn't anything close to "fair and balanced." Any random, thirty-minute viewing would do that. The presentation style and methodology was ingenious, but wasted. I would've remained riveted if the movie had stuck to the stories of former FNC employees whose claims were backed and verified. And, even in that regard, the movie gave me no reason whatsoever to accept anything their three anonymous sources had to say.
Anyone on the fence about FOX News with a critical eye - the very people to whom this type of film should be reaching out - is going to cast the same critical eye on this film, and that's not necessarily a good thing for Outfoxed.
Anyway, time to reflect on another urgent question: Just who is "Bad Wolf"? At this download rate, I probably won't find out until tomorrow :(.
Thursday, June 16, 2005
I'll bring you Day Three in a day or so if I have the time. Meanwhile, you should check this out:
Nick Hornby on His New Novel, 'A Long Way Down'And this, only a couple of weeks after I purchased and made my way through most of Songbook, Hornby's collection of essays about pop music that's affected him. And, while I'm still quite content to live within my own (quite hypocritical) anti-pop snobbery, I can't argue with the following statement:
Fresh Air from WHYY, June 15, 2005 · The latest novel from best-selling English author Nick Hornby, A Long Way Down, focuses on a group of suicidal people who accidentally meet atop a tall building -- and how that meeting changes their fates. He also writes "Stuff I've Been Reading," a column for The Believer magazine. Many of Hornby's novels have been made into films, including About a Boy, High Fidelity and Fever Pitch.
You're either for music or you're against it, and being for it means embracing anyone who's any good.Can you?
We spent most of the next day at my mother-in-law's place. Small as it might be, I always feel at home there. Even moreso that I'm now displayed with the rest of their family...
After that, we went camping with some friends. This year's campsite had on-site everything, but E and I "roughed it" (i.e. slept in a tent and showered the next day).
It was a fun night afterward. Food, beer, swordplay -- the usual.
After that, we went camping with some friends. This year's campsite had on-site everything, but E and I "roughed it" (i.e. slept in a tent and showered the next day).
It was a fun night afterward. Food, beer, swordplay -- the usual.
Shots of the drive up to NY.
Sure, the natural scenery was nice, but sometimes, not as interesting. We caught more than one roadside oddities, not to mention some of the ones that were on the road itself.
E and I missed the I-71/OH-271 split and ended up going through downtown Cleveland, which wasn't so bad. We've got the Gund Arena, a railyard, and the infamous "Dead Man's Curve."
We didn't reach MOMMA_ZOO's place until well after sunset. E took this...
Sure, the natural scenery was nice, but sometimes, not as interesting. We caught more than one roadside oddities, not to mention some of the ones that were on the road itself.
E and I missed the I-71/OH-271 split and ended up going through downtown Cleveland, which wasn't so bad. We've got the Gund Arena, a railyard, and the infamous "Dead Man's Curve."
We didn't reach MOMMA_ZOO's place until well after sunset. E took this...
Today is the second of the first two days off that I've had in weeks after the manic pace of work, trapsing through upstate NY, and back to work. As I've said, we were with friends and family, and I got to hang out in a cool Rochester coffee shop after E's job interview. The pictures are on their way, especially since Flickr upped their limit to 200 photos.
The interview didn't pan out -- don't mention it to the Wife. BUT, she has a phone interview this Friday for what could be the position she's ideally suited for at Cornell University, one that requires someone exactly with E's background of linguistics AND film/video production. It's times like these that I can't help but believe in Karma. Plan A (and you can look through my blog entries from two years ago) was always Ithaca. It was just something about that place that captivated the both of us.
But I digress.
I'm in a state of near-Nirvana after a full body massage. My recovery just increased tenfold. By tomorrow, I should be back to my old self. I've got lots to rant about, so check back.
The interview didn't pan out -- don't mention it to the Wife. BUT, she has a phone interview this Friday for what could be the position she's ideally suited for at Cornell University, one that requires someone exactly with E's background of linguistics AND film/video production. It's times like these that I can't help but believe in Karma. Plan A (and you can look through my blog entries from two years ago) was always Ithaca. It was just something about that place that captivated the both of us.
But I digress.
I'm in a state of near-Nirvana after a full body massage. My recovery just increased tenfold. By tomorrow, I should be back to my old self. I've got lots to rant about, so check back.
And here, I thought it was my Filipino DNA that potentially gave me the ability to absorb several rounds of low caliber small arms fire before I got to you with my bolo knife...
 You are similar to Grigori Rasputin. Your hypnotic personality can seem to enslave some people, but don't be surprised if their friends or family get jealous and try to lessen your control. Make sure you keep a rabbit's foot or four leaf clover on hand, and avoid eating anything offered to you -- unless you *really* trust that person. |
Saturday, June 11, 2005
I'm still organizing thoughts and pictures for posting. I'm still exhausted, to boot, so bear with me. In the meantime, here's something I meant to put up before we left.
You will fear them!
Two weeks ago, I held The Wife captive and forced her to watch the two Captain America made-for-TV movies from the 1970s. God, those things were beautiful. I miss those 70s TV production values from my childhood, when even the incidental music was done by at least a 10 piece band/orchestra.
Almost 10 years ago, I taped Sci-Fi Channel's "Fifth Annual Mighty Marvel Marathon" that consisted of these Captain America movies, Dr. Strange, and the two "Incredible Hulk" movies from the late 80s/early 90s.
Back in the 70s when Marvel Comics made their forays into live action, they would take liberties with their characters' histories, ostensibly to update them. So "Bruce Banner" became "David Banner." Dr. Strange had a perm and was a cad doctor with a heart of gold, letting old alcoholic ladies detox for a night in the psych ward. And, Captain America was a laid back beefcake of an ex-Marine who wanted nothing more than to "hang loose," travel America (i.e. up and down the West Coast. Remember when that and shots of horse farms were the images the media would pass off as "America"?) in his custom van, and sit on beaches sketching and painting. Yes, to be a muscle-headed Marine version of Bob Ross was his plan before he was convinced to be injected with his scientist-father's legacy, which was literally, "the ultimate steroid." Ah, bringing old concepts up to date. I suppose back then, steroids would make more sense to audiences than "Super Soldier Formula." Nowadays, audiences would wonder that if Cap was taking steroids, then what's that sticking out of his costume?
You will fear them!
Two weeks ago, I held The Wife captive and forced her to watch the two Captain America made-for-TV movies from the 1970s. God, those things were beautiful. I miss those 70s TV production values from my childhood, when even the incidental music was done by at least a 10 piece band/orchestra.
Almost 10 years ago, I taped Sci-Fi Channel's "Fifth Annual Mighty Marvel Marathon" that consisted of these Captain America movies, Dr. Strange, and the two "Incredible Hulk" movies from the late 80s/early 90s.
Back in the 70s when Marvel Comics made their forays into live action, they would take liberties with their characters' histories, ostensibly to update them. So "Bruce Banner" became "David Banner." Dr. Strange had a perm and was a cad doctor with a heart of gold, letting old alcoholic ladies detox for a night in the psych ward. And, Captain America was a laid back beefcake of an ex-Marine who wanted nothing more than to "hang loose," travel America (i.e. up and down the West Coast. Remember when that and shots of horse farms were the images the media would pass off as "America"?) in his custom van, and sit on beaches sketching and painting. Yes, to be a muscle-headed Marine version of Bob Ross was his plan before he was convinced to be injected with his scientist-father's legacy, which was literally, "the ultimate steroid." Ah, bringing old concepts up to date. I suppose back then, steroids would make more sense to audiences than "Super Soldier Formula." Nowadays, audiences would wonder that if Cap was taking steroids, then what's that sticking out of his costume?
Thursday, June 09, 2005
...is taking a break this week, while I recover from my Post Travel Stress Disorder ;).
I promise posts filled with BS, deep thoughts, and pictures soon.
Oh, and congratulate The Wife who graduates with her second Masters degree tomorrow! This brings the score to E: 2, Don: 0.5 :(.
I now return to overplaying the Sons of Champlin Secret CD and giving The Wife yet another reason to hate anything Chicago or Chicago-related.
I promise posts filled with BS, deep thoughts, and pictures soon.
Oh, and congratulate The Wife who graduates with her second Masters degree tomorrow! This brings the score to E: 2, Don: 0.5 :(.
I now return to overplaying the Sons of Champlin Secret CD and giving The Wife yet another reason to hate anything Chicago or Chicago-related.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
Run out right now and get the album Secret by the Sons of Champlin. Real music by real musicians with talent and experience. I got mine at Borders, so you can go there or the Sons' website.
You won't regret it.
You won't regret it.
Thursday, June 02, 2005
Appropos, since I loaded up a bunch of travelling music on my mp3 player...
What Audio Format are You?
See you in the funny papers!
What Audio Format are You?
See you in the funny papers!
Fight Club Tuesday
Well, the bruises on my right hand seem to be healing quite nicely. DATU_B and I spent some of last Tuesday's session sparring with WEKAF sticks. Here's a screen cap from video that DATU_J shot. I've got to find a host that I can stick video clips on.
I'm going to miss this Club...
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