Burpin’ and gurpin’

Those who are products of the 1980s will recall “Transformers the Movie” as an emotional tour de force that involved entire planets being consumed by the pesky Unicron, with tears shed at Optimus Prime’s death but somehow no bullshit teenage romance, and a Weird Al song also. The film taught many truths about this human life (imparted by giant warlike robots no less) but the one that really hit me was when Soundwave, Starscream and the Constructicons had gathered after some time apart and were trying to chop it up over a few energon cubes like it was the old days… but their stilted conversation and uncomfortable silences said it all: times had changed and the Decepticons, like all of us, were holding too tightly to something that had long since transformed. Or maybe it was the world that had transformed around them? Or maybe Unicron ate everything. My memory is not what it used to be but I believe the movie won a thousand Oscars.

Now, I don’t know enough about Flip or the various personalities involved to try and cast Ewan Bowman or Jeremy Fox or Geoff Rowley as the hometown-bound friend who can’t, won’t, let go of the past. Maybe it’s none of them, but more so than the labored claymation and boring little kids and brow-furrowing musical choices this is what sort of ends up sinking the “Extremely Sorry” vid for me, the fact that it walks and talks like “Sorry 3” when pivotal dudes have moved on and the planet has gotten a half-decade older. Respect is due the three musketeers and their one-for-allness after so many years, and both Glifberg and Penny do deliver to a far greater extent than they’re generally getting credit for out there in internetland, but we’re left with a bloated production that’s generally treading the same water as five years ago, except with more skippable parts, a heavier weight to bear and yeah, that music.*

(We would like to here make a semi-major detour and get into Luan de Oliveira’s section for a minute, which is actually kind of hot and offers one of the few reasons for optimism re: this next generation of multinational young Flippurs, alongside Nordberg. His switch frontside heelflip means business and if he can keep away from those humdrum switch boardslide to TKTKTK ledge combos he will do well – fast skating, decently built lines and an eye for tricks that are hard and look cool, for instance the very first ledge jam.)

Not sure if it was the best-best, but for sure the most interesting part in this Flip video is Shane Cross, he of the headbands and Hawaiian shirts, whose posthumous part gets some heavy stylizing and ghostly effects that harken back to Arto Saari’s Penny dream sequence in the first Flip video – another one of those Bones Brigade type of moments. It might be reaching to interpret the edit here as an indication of where they hoped Shane Cross might’ve taken things eventually, but the tricks are intense – the side view of the nosegrind makes all the difference and the execution generally is top notch. To me the effects didn’t detract from the skating so much as broaden the universe of the sort of things we might be able to see when putting in a new DVD, quite a bit different than a lot of what’s come before and heavy skating to boot. The biggest bummer is that Shane Cross has gone, and the Flip dudes did right by him with this part, but it’s too bad they didn’t save a few more of the genius pills for the rest of the video.

*The editors of Boil the ocean will ride for the Pink Panther song, however

For me, there's truly NO PLACE like Paris. Its street life and energy is infectious -- and I got to travel there via the "big screen" earlier this week by catching "Paris" at a Chicago cinema.

I love this statue, which stands majestically in Place de la République, one of the most famous and busiest squares in Paris. This 19th century statue stands as a monument to the history of the French Republic.

I’m not usually a big moviegoer, but I am a sucker for a good foreign-language film. Yes, I’m a bit of a snob – I feel a bit smarter sitting and watching some artsy independent film rather than, say, “The Transformers” (not that there’s anything wrong with that if you liked it!). But since I don’t get overseas nearly as often as I’d like, I figure forking over $10 or $11 for a two-hour onscreen journey into another culture is a fair price to pay.

Knowing how passionate I am about overseas travel, friends and colleagues constantly quiz me: “So where’s your next foreign trip? I know you’re on your way somewhere.” For the first time in a long time, I’m staying put—mostly because I’m out of vacation time and am forcing myself to stick to a serious budget (for reasons I will share in this blog before too long, I hope). But that doesn’t mean I’m willing to give up globetrotting. Instead, I’m doing it right here in Chicago—no passport, visas or trips to O’Hare International Airport required—and am traveling by way of the big screen. 

Just this week, I checked out “Paris,” a lovely, wonderfully written film starring Juliette Binoche that was shot—of course—in Paris, my absolute FAVORITE city in the entire world and the one place I’d happily live if told I could never go anywhere else for the rest of my life.

For me, this was two hours of latte-sipping bliss, watching the film’s characters stroll the city’s picturesque streets; hang out in its cafés, stand in its apartments and gaze down at the beautifully laid out streets below. The film showed the interconnectedness of a wide range of Parisians (and Africans across the sea), making clear that sometimes “real life” is more dramatic than anything we can imagine. Of course, the film made me long desperately for Paris, to buy some extra American Airlines frequent-flyer miles to top off my account so I can fly there later this year.

But in lieu of dashing off to O’Hare to catch a flight after the film, I treated myself—as I often do when I go to see a French-themed film—to an early dinner at La Creperie, a cozy bistro-like hideaway just across the street from the Landmark Century Centre Cinema. A favorite spot of mine that’s been owned for nearly 40 years by a French-American couple, it gives me a way to extend my would-be French experience for another hour or two, complete with a great glass of vin blanc and an incredible savory crepe of chicken, goat cheese and tomatoes.

No matter where you live, you can travel the globe without going far from home. If you don’t live in a big metropolis with great artsy movie houses like the previously mentioned Landmark Century Centre Cinema or Facets Multimedia on Chicago’s North Side, or the Gene Siskel Film Center in downtown Chicago, you can still rent foreign films from Netflix or Blockbuster, literally bringing the world to your door. (But if you DO live in the Windy City, the Chicago International Film Festival plays on through Oct. 22, allowing moviegoers to feast on films from Argentina to Kazakhstan to Uruguay and tons of places in-between.)

And that’s a whole lot cheaper than an airline ticket somewhere around the world, even if it’s not quite the same (or as much fun) as being there.

SAMANTHA is an accomplished performing ASCAP writer, who’s original songs and stellar vocals can currently be heard on such hit TV shows as the CW’s “Gossip Girl,” “Life Is Wild,” also MTV’s “Laguna Beach,” “Punked,” “My Super Sweet Sixteen” and ABC’s “10 Things I Hate About You.” Sam has also written, sung and placed original songs for the Warner Telepictures and ABC film and television library’s with her song “See You Never” released March 2009 on the new WB Telepictures Music  (Volume 1) “Think Inside The Box.” Sam has also leant her versatile vocals to Sony Playstation and Electronic Arts huge hits “God of War,” “Twisted Metal Black,” “Wild Arm’s 3,” and “Everything Or Nothing” and has the distinction of being invited to join the Esteemed Leonard Cohen circle, embarking on an exciting project as one of his two backup vocalists for a project in late 2006. A powerhouse singer, writer and live performer, currently residing in Nashville TN, Sam continues to grow and explore her georgous sonic landscape on her brand new self titlted  Pop/Electronica CD that has just  been licensed in it’s entirety to MTV. Add accomplished Voice-Over Artist with an international following for her nominated animation work as the lead on the smash cartoon series “JEM AND THE HOLOGRAMS” guest staring roles on “THE TRANSFORMERS” and her work as the British voice of a young Peter Pan’s mother in Steven Spielberg’s feature film “HOOK” Sam looks forward to continuing to lend her Vocal, Voice-Over and Song-Writing prowess to many more exciting projects to come. Be sure to catch Samantha Saturday, October 17 at the 2009 Comic and Horror Festival in Nashville, TN. For some TRULY OUTRAGEOUS info on Samantha, be sure to visit: http://www.samanthanewark.com.

1. Who inspired you to become a performer? When I was a little kid living in South Africa, I was introduced to this child star from Scotland named Lena Zavaroni. I knew from the tips of my toes and all of my being that I wanted to sing and have a career in show business. She was a huge inspiration and the idea of following in her footsteps lit me up from the inside.

2. Who is the one person you haven’t worked with that you would like to? I would love to do guest vocals on a Massive Attack album and maybe something live with them too. It would be so amazing to work with those guys.

3. Do you have any strange or unusual talent that no one knows about? I can sing the names of all 50 states in alphabetical order.

4. What is the weirdest thing you’ve read about yourself and where did you read it? At school someone slipped a note in my locker and told me I had a big ass and then put hearts and kisses. I guess it was a compliment, but I never knew who wrote it and if they were being mean or liked me. Nothing weird has been written that I know about in the press so far.

5. Favorite website? I’m kind of addicted to Facebook right now and I love to Google random stuff.

6. Favorite musician/singer? For me, Annie Lennox, Cyndi Lauper, and k.d. Lang are three of m y favorite singers and performers. I’m a fan of so many different genre’s of music. The CD’s that happen to be in my car right now are Lady Gaga, Goldfrapp, & Madonna. I have a super long list of musicians I’m a fan of on my Myspace page from The Raconteurs to Ricky Lee Jones to Nine Inch Nails.

7. Favorite TV Show Theme Song? The “Jem” theme song of course

8. Favorite kind of shoes? I’m all about the high heels, if I could get away with wearing them to work out in I would. I love the whole platform look that is in right now, much easier to last in and I LOVE, LOVE BOOTS!!!!

9. Favorite pastime? I’m a bonafied porch monkey, any excuse to hang out with people I love and sit on the back deck with some red wine or a chocolate martini. I also love those days when it’s raining and you have no place in particular that you have to be and you can just sit in bed with the window open a little and hear the rain and watch a marathon of “Law & Order: SVU” or “America’s Next Top Model.”

10. Superman or Wonder Woman? Wonder Woman, I’m all about girl power.

Revoltech Series No. 046 The Transformers "Starscream"
Plamo Shop
Tel: 086-311-5568
Email: plamoshop@hotmail.com
Website: http://plamoshop.wordpress.com

Revoltech Series No.047 The Transformers "HotRodimus"
Plamo Shop
Tel: 086-311-5568
Email: plamoshop@hotmail.com
Website: http://plamoshop.wordpress.com

Îmi plac foarte mult băieţii de la Linkin Park. Ultimul album a fost genial, din punctul meu de vedere. Cât despre videoclipuri, întotdeauna au fost originali la acest capitol.

De curând băieţii au lansat un nou videoclip la piesa ‘New Divide’.

Videoclipul îl puteţi urmări aici

Jon Stewart’s Rick Santelli/CNBC skewer job was good. But Stephen Colbert’s spoof of FOX News whackadoo Glenn Beck’s nightmare scenario generator was positively epic.

Click here to watch, and be sure to watch both segments. I was already rolling on the floor laughing a few minutes in. And then we got this line, from a retired Army Colonel no less.

We would never shoot nuclear weapons at Decepticons.

I immediately ran to the bedroom, put on my Decepticon pajamas, and danced around the house in a state of glee.

You disappoint me again, Starscream. OK, not really. You’re the best.

A revista britânica Empire, especializada em cinema, e o jornal norte-americano USA Today mostraram nesta semana novas imagens de “Transformers: A Vingança dos Derrotados”, sequência do filme baseado nos quadrinhos dos veículos-robôs.

O novo longa terá a direção de Michael Bay, o mesmo do primeiro filme. A dupla protagonista Shia LaBeouf e Megan Fox estará de volta. No elenco ainda estarão Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, John Turturro, Isabel Lucas e Rainn Wilson. A estreia está prevista para 29 de junho deste ano.

“Синовете на Кибертрон”(Sons of Cybertron) -

или религията която изповядвали Аутоботите:

Те обожествявали Primus и вярвали,че той единствен бил техният Създател, че именно той избрал Кибертрон като бойно поле срещу Unicron.Също така вярвали, че всички Mechanoids (Механоиди – друго название за трансформери) трябвало да стоят на Кибертон и да пазят своя “Спящ Създател” – Primus .Ценили живота и смятали, че всяко живо същество е достойно да съществува.Посочили Primus като „Последния Пазач – Последния Аутобот”.Основните закони и принципи включвали:

Равенство между всички мислещи същества.

Използване на военна сила, само когато всички мирни начини не успеят да разрешат конфликта

Целта не оправдава средствата.

За тях фразата „Докъто всичко стане едно цяло” означавало, че накрая всички деца на Primus ще се обединят.

„Върховните Войни”(The ultimate warriors)

Или религията която изповядвали Десептиконите:

Те също обожествявали Primus и вярвали,че той е техният СъздателТе мислели,че най-добрият начин да защитят Primus бил като водят битка с Unicron и го отдалечат от Primus.За тях Кибертрон трябвало да бъде столицата на обширната империя, която смятали да създадат и използвайки всички средства в Галактиката за да победят Unicron.Също посочили Primus като „Последният пазач – Върховният войн”Основните закони включвали:

Езотерично войнско общество(най-силния да ръководи)

Ориентация към целта ( целта оправдава средствата)

Вярвали че всички други раси трябвало да бъдат покорени, за да бъдат използвани – били разглеждани като ресурси като средства за дадена цел.

За тях фразата „Докъто всичко стане едно цяло” означава, че всичко ще съществува под властта на Империята на Десептиконите.

Душите на Кибертрон (Souls of Cybertron)

Религия на роботите и от двете групи:

Те също обожествявали Primus и вярвали, че той е техният създател.Техните вярвания се ориентирали някъде по средата: смятали, че Десептиконите трябва да водят битките, докато Автоботите, се занимават с поддръжката, снабдяването и поправките и в същото време охраняват Primus.Те са неутрални по време на Гражданските войни на Кибертрон.Ксенофоби са (т.е. не обичат извънземните, нещо като националисти или шовинисти) и смятали, че роботите не трябва да се забъркват с извънземни раси. Наричали Primus – Последния пазач, „ Душата на Кибертрон. Повечето последователи на този култ, са избити в Третата Велика Война на Кибертрон, а оцелелите се присъединяват или към Автоботите или към Десептиконите. Други се скриват. Тяхната основна философия е , че дори в най – сплотените групи съществува разделение. Фразата – „Докъто всичко стане едно цяло”(“Till all are one”) означава, че това ще е краят на разделението на роботите.

„Носителите на Празнотата”(Bearers of the Void)

Това е култът на тези които обожествяват Unicron

За тях единственият Бог е Unicron, смятат, че Primus е мъртъв.

Въпреки, че и Автоботите и Десептиконите усилено предприемат отбранителни действия срещу Unicron, последователите на този култ, правят всичко възможно да възпрепятстват техните усилия. Култът поставя свои шпиони навсякъде в другите култове и организации., за да поражда недоверие и размирици. Основна тяхна цел е да предизвиква още по голямо напрежение и неразбирателство между Автоботите и Десептиконите.

Постоянно организира опити за убийството на Носителя на Матрицата (Лидера на Автоботите). Те са единствените, които знаят истинското име на Unicron (другите го наричат просто „Носителя на хаоса” – “Chaos Bringer” „богът на тъмнината” „богът на празнотата” и т.н). Ако някой разкрие тяхната организация или се присъединява към тях или бива убит от „носителите” (bearers). Основните им учения включват:

Unicron ще победи.

Вселената ще бъде погълната (от Unicron).

Матрицата, не е искрата на Primus, а оръжие създадено от онези, които се страхуват от Unicron, за да го унищожат.

Всички същества, които отказват да се кланят на Unicron, трябва да бъдат унищожени.

Автоботите и Десептиконите не трябва НИКОГА да се обединят.

Трябва да се направи всичко необходимо, за триумфа на Unicron.

Топ приоритетът е секретността, разкритието може да доведе до обединение на всички кибертронци, тогава ще последва наказание от Unicron.

Фразата – „Докъто всичко стане едно цяло” съответства на финалния триумф на Unicron , и ТОЙ погълна всичко, само неговите избранници остават да живеят.

„Evolutionaries”

„Не вярвайте нито на Primus нито на Unicron”

Тези вярват, че са произлезли от Не-живи машини и са се развили до Мислещи Механоиди. Някой се присъединили към Автоботите, заради морални и политически причини, за да спрат жестоките и убийствени завоевания на Десептиконите. Други се присъединили към Десептиконите, защото вярвали, че са превъплащение на Перфектното живо същество и имат своето рождено право да властват над всичко под тях. Някои следват и други секти. „Носителите на Празнотата” винаги убиват the „Evolutionaries” заради тяхното неверие. Фразата – „Докъто всичко стане едно цяло” за тях е политическо твърдение с различни значения.

Every year, I go crazy with anticipation for the annual Simpsons Halloween special. Even during the show’s down years, Treehouse of Horror inevitably produced some great moments. And when the show’s good (as it is again now), there’s potential for lasting greatness. When I heard that one of the three segments would revolve around The Transformers, I became exponentially more excited. My three favorite pastimes growing up were (and let’s face it, are) in no particular order, The Simpsons, The Transformers, and the Montreal Expos.

Upon first getting word that the Robotrickim and Shakranikim (Autobots and Decepticons, in Hebrew…you have no idea what a nerd I am) and company would join Bart, Homer and the family in some kind of spooky adventure, I told my buddy Jon: “If the Expos are somehow involved, that’s it, nothing will ever get better than that.” Ha-ha, right? What possible use could The Simpsons’ writers have for a team that’s been defunct for four years?

Cut to the opening of The Transformers segment, which was in fact the first of the episode. Bart is Christmas shopping for Lisa, and sees a store called “You Forgot-Me-Nots – The Last-Minute Gift Store”. Upon walking in, Bart discovers a 99-cent discount box. In it he finds the following items:

–Somber String, a take-off on Silly String featuring a picture of a kid hanging himself
–Jacks with no ball
–Slunky, a take-off on Slinky with the slogan “It Doesn’t Do Anything”

and…

A Montreal Expos jersey.

My jaw hit the floor. After the shock wore off, I paused my TiVo and did a mad, celebratory dash around the house, scaring the bejezus out of the poor cat.

In retrospect, I should have seen this coming. There’s a random scene in an episode a few years ago where Bart and Milhouse are playing sandlot baseball against each other, and they’re imagining themselves as major league ballplayers. Not Pedro Martinez or Ken Griffey Jr. or anyone famous, though.

Bart: “I’m Tomokazu Ohka of the Montreal Expos!”
Milhouse: “And I’m Esteban Yan of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays!”

There can be no doubt. One of the writers on The Simpsons is clearly one of the other 19 Expos fans still in existence (16 of the others are my friends, one is obviously me, and the last one is Brad Wilkerson’s dad). The clincher is the way Bart pronounces Montreal in the episode as “MUN-treal.” Only a Montrealer, or someone who’s a huge fan of the city and/or the team, pronounces it that way.

Given past precedent, then, logic would dictate that seeing a Montreal Expos jersey in a Simpsons episode about The Transformers is not, in fact, the most divine, most serendipitous moment in the history of mankind.

I prefer the alternate explanation: The gods have granted me the gift of comedy perfection, a moment that ties together the three great loves of my life. I will never know happiness the way I do right now.

(This just in: Wife just filed divorce papers. With prejudice.)