Further to my previous report below ‘tradigital – battle of the music and film networks’ about increasing competion between online music and tv channels; as new music platform entrants continue to explore alternative revenue models, pumping valuable lifeblood back in to the music industry, today sees the launch of a campaign by Sky to promote the Beta version of its new music portal Sky Songs.

Sky Songs currently offers two subscription packages. £6.49 enables unlimited streaming of of 4 million songs high quality (!) mp3’s and either 1 album, or 10 songs of chopise per month.

£7.99 buys users unlimited streaming of 4 million songs plus 1 album 0r 15 songs.

Tracks are avalable through partner  EMI, Sony, Universal and Warner, and the music is all unlocked and compatible with most players including Apple platforms and devices.

This is competetive subscription pricing offering a better deal than Spotify but it also limits users initial access and trial of music as this is only accesible on subscription, something Spotify offers free of charge. That said, I do not belive Spotify will be able to convert free users to subscribers with their current approach – there simply is not enough value or enhancement in the offer.

Va prezentam un alt site al SC SF STORE EXIM SRL, Saibe . ro (www.saibe.ro).
Nu uitati ca la Store gasiti o gama larga de organe de asamblare (piulite, saibe, suruburi etc) si intotdeauna veti avea de unde alege!
Va asteptam pe http://www.storeinc.ro – siteul principal.

Va prezentam un alt site al SC SF STORE EXIM SRL, Piulita . ro (www.piulita.ro).
Nu uitati ca la Store gasiti o gama larga de organe de asamblare (piulite, saibe, suruburi etc) si intotdeauna veti avea de unde alege!
Va asteptam pe http://www.storeinc.ro – siteul principal.

StarTech.com Standard Universal Server Rack Cabinet Shelf (Black) (CABSHELF) Review

Check Price Now!

StarTech.com Standard Universal Server Rack Cabinet Shelf (Black) (CABSHELF) Feature

• Sold Individually

StarTech.com Standard Universal Server Rack Cabinet Shelf (Black) (CABSHELF) Overview

This universal Server Rack Cabinet Shelf is a standard fixed shelf for 19in rail width racks.ce and are customizable to meet their individual needs. StarTech.com’s DuraRak line is a complete solution to efficiently organize your mission critical computer hardware. The CABSHELF is a standard fixed shelf for 19″ rail width racks.

StarTech.com Standard Universal Server Rack Cabinet Shelf (Black) (CABSHELF) Specifications

StarTech CABSHELF

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 26, 2009 02:50:35

32inch lcd hdtv

Navgear ME201133 Universal Dashboard Mount for Portable GPS Units Review

Check Price Now!

I purchased this for my Tom Tom One, because its stock suction cup wasn’t sticking to my windshield anymore. I couldn’t buy a replacement, since suction cups on the windshield are now illegal in MN. It seemed little light at 2 lbs, but it stays in place like it’s glued down. I’m what some consider at Type-A driver, and I haven’t had any problems with it moving. My dash is relatively flat, so your mileage may vary. I would recommend this to anyone who wants or needs an alternative to a windshield-mounted suction cup.

Navgear ME201133 Universal Dashboard Mount for Portable GPS Units Feature

• Securely holds GPS systems, cell phones, satellite radios, and PDAs to vehicle dash
• Works with any section cup mount bracket
• Weighted, anti-skid bottom
• Flexible to fit any dash

Navgear ME201133 Universal Dashboard Mount for Portable GPS Units Overview

Securely holds GPS systems, cellular phones, satellite radios & PDAs to vehicle’s dash Works with any suction cup mount bracket Weighted, anti-skid bottom Flexible to fit any dash

Navgear ME201133 Universal Dashboard Mount for Portable GPS Units Specifications

NAVGEAR ME201133

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Nov 26, 2009 00:31:27

Navgear GPS Mount – Joyce E. Lipkin –
This product is fabulous. I purchased one for my car and my son’s car. I also recommended this product to my other son, who agrees that it really does the job.
Very Good Product – L. Mammoser – EDMONDS, WASHINGTON United States
Great for using your GPS and not having to attach it to the windshield where criminals look for the telltale suction cup mark. I wouldn’t be without this mount when using my GPS.

32inch lcd hdtv

via Associated Press:

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama’s top aides met frequently with lobbyists and health care industry heavyweights as his administration pieced together a national health care overhaul, according to White House visitor records obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press.

The records disclose visits by a broad cross-section of the people most involved in the health care debate, weighted heavily toward those who want to overhaul the system.

The list includes George Halvorson, chairman and CEO of Kaiser Health Plans; Scott Serota, president and CEO of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association; Kenneth Kies, a Washington lobbyist who represents Blue Cross/Blue Shield, among other clients; Billy Tauzin, head of PhRMA, the drug industry lobby; Richard Umbdenstock, chief of the American Hospital Association, and numerous lobbyists.

The AP in early August asked the White House to produce records identifying communications that top Obama aides — including chief of staff Rahm Emanuel, senior advisers David Axelrod, Valerie Jarrett and Pete Rouse, and 18 others — had with outside interests on health care. The AP in late September narrowed its request to White House visitor records for those officials on the topic of health care.

www.idanraichelproject.com

Lyrics:

Shanim kulam borchim,
shanim kulam chozrim,
Rodfim achrei hashemesh,
Shvuim betoch ma’agalim,
kulam mesubachim,
Az mah at od cholemet,
Shanim hem mastirim,
shanim kulam yodim,
Even mitapechet,
Baleilot uvayamim kulam kvar medabrim,
Lama at od nisheret…

Adif larutz laeish,
lidrosh lo livakesh,
Mimah at mifachedet?
Ein ma lachsov shehu omer,
ein zman yafeh yoter,
Hevi et hayom…

Shanim hem shoalim,
shanim lo makshivim,
Somrim hakol babeten,
Ze mitztaver v’ze gover
v’ze basof gomer,
Al mah at medaberet,

Adif larutz laeish…

Yotzei sheat tamid shoteket
Aval bifnim ze bo’er v’nisraf hakol,
Kol hamilim she ne’almo
Timtze’i otan bachalomot shel acherim…

Shanim hem niftachim v’nisarim sgurim,
neachazim baruach,
Kol ason rodef acher,
ze ba ze medaber,
Chozrim l’petza hapatuach…

Adif larutz laeish…

Yotzei sheat tamid shoteket…

Shanim kulam borchim,
shanim kulam chozrim,
Rodfim achrei hashemesh.

Translation:

OTHER PEOPLE’S DREAMS

For years everyone flees,
for years everyone returns,
Chasing after the sun,
Prisoners inside cycles,
everyone is involved,
So what are you still dreaming of,
For years they all hide it,
for years they all know,
A stone is turned over,
In the nights and the days everyone is already talking,
Why do you still remain…

Better to run to the fire,
to demand rather than to beg,
From what are you scared?
There’s nothing to think about that he says,
there’s no time more beautiful,
Bring the day…

For years they ask,
for years they don’t listen,
Keeping everything in the stomach,
It piles up and it gets stronger
and in the end it finishes,
What are you talking about,

Better to run to the fire…

On the outside you are always quiet,
But inside it burns and consumes everything,
All the words that disappear
You will find them in the dreams of others…

For years they are opened yet remain closed up,
held by the wind,
Every tragedy chases differently,
it comes it speaks,
They return to the open wound…

Better to run to the fire…

On the outside you are always quiet…

For years everyone flees,
for years everyone returns,
Chasing after the sun.

Translation by Mark Hafter of Wilmette, Illinois, USA. www.hebrewsongs.com

Estaba echando la web@ en mi recorrido noticioso matutino y me encontré una nota donde reportan que Lola Cortes deja la academia.

La nota no decía nada interesante; sin embargo lo curioso apareció en los comentarios; ya que hay mucha gente que se dedica únicamente a señalar los errores ortográficos o gramaticales de las notas que se publican en este periódico en linea; sin embargo hay uno que otro despistado que también comete sus fails…. chequen:

y mas abajo, siguiendo con los comentarios de la misma nota:

Solo en Méjico   ……..              <—- Fué a propósito 

LONDON, November 20 – Total Immersion, global leaders in augmented reality (AR) marketing are helping to give music purchases a new edge with their latest campaign for Universal Music TV/All Around The World artists N-Dubz. The project is Total Immersion’s first campaign for the music industry as AR starts to take off as the cutting-edge consumer experience-based marketing tool.

Platinum-selling group N-Dubz’ forthcoming album ‘Against All Odds’ out on November 16, on Universal Music TV/All Around the World features an augmented reality performance by the band, triggered from data embedded within the album artwork. When held in front of a home webcam, the artwork shows 3-D images of the band chatting to the viewer before giving an impromptu performance of the hit new single ‘I Need You’, all within the palm of their hand.

Consumers can turn the sleeve artwork around to view the band from alternative angles. The band members move as fluidly as they would if they were physically standing on the piece of paper being held.

Total Immersion UK sales director, Myles Peyton, says: “Augmented reality is really starting to take off as a marketing platform. Modern consumers are constantly seeking the latest brand experience and we believe the application of our groundbreaking technology within the marketing of a music CD will help to breathe a new lease of life into the physical music sales format.”

Buu-Kim Hoang-Le, Head of Digital & eCommerce, Universal Music TV, said: “We are always looking at innovative ways for our bands to engage with music fans. ‘Against All Odds’ is one of the most anticipated albums of the year, and we wanted fans to have a greater interactive experience with the album alongside the music.

“N-Dubz have a close relationship with their fans, and the fans play a huge part in their success. The augmented reality experience takes this further and brings fans a unique one-to-one experience with N-Dubz
live and interactive in their homes.”

Hello motherfucker, hey, hi how you durrrrrn?

Welcome to WHOWHAT.TV, a snapshot of events and parties that I think are kick arse.  I want this to become a credible, reliable and unfuckwitable source of info for Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane party kids to keep informed on whats happening in their town.

This is just a test blog to see how long I can last doing this,  if I enjoy it I’ll create a proper page and include other cities.  Holla if you hear me!  Email me at whowhattv@gmail.com with any gigs/parties/rants  etc.

Here is a link to download the audio directly: Episode #44

Episode Overview-

Hey everyone,

Episode #44 is up for your listening pleasure and boy is it a doozy! It clocks in at just under 42 minutes!  Yikes! Episode #44 is kind of a unique episode because it features a recording of a live event. Back on November 14th I was lucky enough to attend the Powering Up with Technology Conference in Prince George’s County Maryland.  At that conference I presented a session called Alternative Professional Development.  I use the term “presented” loosely because, although I was listed as the presenter, the session was more of an integrated brainstorming session.  I was more of the moderator for the discussion than a presenter.  During the session we tried to outline some of the common problems with staff development happening in public schools and then try to come up with some solutions.  During the course of the discussion a bunch of great ideas were mentioned about how to address some of the problems with the typical professional development model.  Furthermore, a number of concrete resources are mentioned that can be used to assist students.  You can access the entire presentation as generated by the audience here:  Alternative Professional Development Presentation from PUWT09.

The episode also features a bumper from Robin Lesht who is a speech-language pathologist from Mount Prospect, Illinois. I met Robin at ATIA 09 where we shared different experiences working in the field of speech-language pathology.

A.T.TIPS In This Episode-

A.T.TIP #67: Document Holder from Inverted CD case and Alligator Clip

Many a student has strained their neck transposing a handwritten assignment onto the computer because the paper was flat on the desk.  To alleviate the neck strain people started to use document holders so that they didn’t have to constantly shift their field of vision from the paper to the screen and back again.  Sure, you could go out and spend money on a fancy, commercial document holder or you could take an unused CD case that you probably have lying around, flip it over so the hinged cover is upright and then fasten the paper to it with an alligator clip.  Done and done, instant document holder.                   

A.T.TIP #68: www.educatus.com

This website provides over 1000 pre-made lessons/presentations on a wide variety of curricular topics.  The media-rich presentations are similar to a PowerPoint presentation and each one is available to be viewed online via your web browser.  Each presentation is useful as a pre-learning activity where students could be asked to independently review content before a class discussion, as an alternative source of content to complement or supplement another lesson, or as a follow-up/review activity at the end of a lesson.

A.T.TIP #69: www.voki.com

This website allows you to create an animated talking head.  Use text-to-speech or record a voice to have the voki speak the message.  Vokis could be used by a teacher to introduce a lesson, give verbal instructions for an assignment, record reminders to students, provide feedback and more!  Vokis could be used by a student as an alternative means of expression for presentations, practicing conversations, or demonstrating knowledge.  Check out these ideas on how to use Voki in your classroom from The Edublogger.

Check out a Voki I created.

A.T.TIP #70: www.blabberize.com

This website allows you to upload a picture, select a portion of that picture that will move (usually a mouth), and then record a message.  When the message is played back, the selected area will move in time with the message.  Blabberize can be used in similar ways as Vokis.  It could be used by a teacher to introduce a lesson, give verbal instructions for an assignment, record reminders to students, provide feedback and more!  It could be used by a student as an alternative means of expression for presentations, practicing conversations, or demonstrating knowledge.   

Check out a video I made in Blabberize

Additional Resources Mentioned-

1. Loudoun County Public Schools’ Assistive Technology Video Archive

2. Evidence that high-speed Internet access is not ubiquitous.

3. More evidence that high-speed Internet access is not ubiquitous.

4. www.delicious.com – Social Bookmarking Site.  Note that the A.T.TIPSCAST uses delicious to share resources on the left side of the page.

5. www.Prezi.com – A new and interesting way to create a presentation.  Information is presented on one large canvas and you zoom into different areas of the canvas to view the information.

6. www.tinyurl.com – A useful way of making long URLs shorter.  Shortened URLs are easier for users to remember (like www.tinyurl.com/nlsstories) and easier for people to type in if entering a URL from a piece of paper.

7. Tonyvincent.info – A link library of useful educational resources created by the keynote speaker of the conference, Tony Vincent.  **Corrected from original post- Tony made a comment below sharing that the site he used to present at the conference was http://tonysite.info ***

8. Radio WillowWeb Podcast - Radio WillowWeb is a podcast for kids
and by kids from the students at Willowdale Elementary School in Omaha, Nebraska.
Each new show is called a Willowcast. Each Willowcast can be heard on WillowWeb
as an mp3 digital audio file.

9. ASHA Podcast - The American Speech-Language-Hearing Association’s podcast features interviews with different individuals making strides in the field of speech-language pathology and audiology

10. Quick Access Toolbar in Word 07 – Microsoft Word 07 features a quick access toolbar that can be customized, allowing for favorite tools to be shown and less used tools to be hidden.  This feature helps to reduce clutter on the screen while highlighting to students some key/important features they could be using in Word.

Upcoming Presentations-

Alternative Professional Development – Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference 2010 – Orlando, Florida – January 28 – 2:45pm – 3:45pm EST

UDL 2.0 presented with Beth Poss – Assistive Technology Industry Association Conference 2010 – Orlando, Florida – January 29 – 9:15pm-10:15pm EST

Contact Information-

If I don’t get to see you at NECC we can still connect virtually. Join the A.T.TIPPERS group on Facebook and/or Classroom 2.0 ! You can also follow me on twitter.com.

Leave a comment down below or drop me a line at attipscast@gmail.com. Let me know what you think of the show! You can access the podcast and register as a fan of the show from here:

Thanks everyone and happy listening!

Ancora Augmented Reality e Musica, dopo la news dell’altro giorno riguardante i N-Dubz.

Questa volta riguarda il rapper Sinik e la Universal francese. News da Billboard.

Universal Music France ha annunciato che il prossimo album (in uscita il 30 novembre) del rapper Sinik, “Ballon d’Or”, includerà immagini che daranno accesso a features di AR.

Magari ci tornerò sopra quando e se sarà disponibile un video dell’ AR in questione. Non solo il booklet, ma anche il cd conterrà un immagine AR che permetterà di lanciare strumenti di mixing.

El titular de la Comisión, Carlos Garbelino (PJ – Victoria), dijo que “aunque se han alejado de los titulares los temas relacionados con los elementos que se utilizan en la práctica médica, queremos seguir profundizando el debate para encontrar una norma de fondo que permita a la Secretaria de Salud intervenir en beneficio de la calidad de vida de nuestra población”. En el encuentro que se desarrolló en el recinto de la Cámara Alta estuvo presente el Secretario de Salud, Pablo Basso; representantes de los hospitales San Roque y San Martín, del Colegio de Farmacéuticos; de la facultad de Ciencias de la Salud de la UADER; de la Facultad de Bioingeniería; el titular del Colegio de Ingenieros y directivos del Laboratorio Industrial Farmacéutico de Santa Fe. El ministro de Salud no concurrió por estar en la ciudad de Concordia.

El Senador Garbelino destacó los alcances del encuentro y consideró que “se trata un tema trascendente, que tiene que ver directamente nada más y nada menos que con la salud de los entrerrianos”. “Esta reunión es para intercambiar ideas, que todos puedan conocer un proyecto que tenemos desde hace tiempo y que queremos enriquecer”, enfatizó.

Al término del encuentro el legislador señaló que “en los próximos días vamos a receptar la opinión de todos los presentes”. “Creo que se hicieron intercambios muy interesantes, ya que todos son actores del sistema y pueden ayudar a pulir el texto que proponemos”, opinó.

La reunión

En el encuentro se observó una presentación del Bioingeniero Javier Elgadban, entrerriano oriundo de Rosario del Tala, quien cumple funciones en la ANMAT desde 2003. El profesional explicó en detalle los alcances del proyecto de ley que propone, en su primer artículo, “regular la fabricación, elaboración y comercialización de productos médicos en todo el territorio de la provincia de Entre Ríos”.

Opiniones

En una parte del encuentro el Secretario de Salud consideró que “es necesaria una norma como la propuesta”, indicando que desde el área a su cargo “hay una actuación mínima en algunos sistemas de control”. Cabe mencionar aquí que en el proyecto los senadores impulsan, en ámbitos de la Secretaría, la creación del Área de Fiscalización de Medicamentos. El disertante comentó que “a lo largo de los últimos años desde Entre Ríos gran cantidad de profesionales han ido a fortalecer algunas área de control del gobierno nacional”.

Basso dijo que “todo órgano de fiscalización debe permitir a la provincia subsanar un déficit que hay en este tema y además habrá que reglamentar algunas normas que existen y tienen que llegar a aplicarse plenamente cuanto antes”.

Uno de los temas centrales fue el relacionado con la trazabilidad de un producto, observando cómo se pueden realizar controles sucesivos y coordinados para asegurar que cuando el elemento llegue al usuario final, conserve todos los elementos esenciales para un buen resultado.

Lo que propone la Constitución

El ingeniero Elgadban mencionó a todos los presentes los alcances del artículo 19 de la Constitución entrerriana reformada. En este artículo la provincia “ reconoce la salud como derecho humano fundamental, desarrollando políticas de atención primaria. La asistencia sanitaria será gratuita, universal, igualitaria, integral, adecuada y oportuna. Será prioritaria la inversión en salud, garantizando el primer nivel de atención, así como la formación y capacitación”.

Agrega que “se implementará un seguro provincial de salud para toda la población y una progresiva descentralización hospitalaria”, e inmediatamente (enfatizó el disertante) considera al medicamento “un bien social básico”, añadiendo que “el Estado regula y fiscaliza el circuito de producción, comercialización y consumo de éstos y de los productos alimenticios, tecnología médica y acredita los servicios en salud. La ley propenderá a jerarquizar el nivel de atención hospitalaria de tiempo completo”.

Estuvieron presentes los Senadores Eduardo Melchiori (PJ – Islas), Victorio Firpo (PJ – Feliciano), Hernán Vittulo (PJ –Gualeguay); Aldo Ballestena (PJ – La Paz), Jorge Ghirardi (PJ – Villaguay), José Luis Panozzo (PJ – Federación), Juan Navarro (PJ – Tala), Oscar Arlettaz (PJ – Colón), y Santiago Gaitán (PJ – Paraná). (RecintoNet)

Interview: Judd Apatow (Part Two)

Read Part One of this interview right here

When Judd Apatow’s latest film, Funny People, was announced, many critics and audiences hailed it – even before they saw it – not only as an evolution of the filmmaker’s style, but a return to the kind of drama-laced comedy that flourished in the 1980s and early ’90s thanks to folks like Cameron Crowe and James L. Brooks. When it was released, the film more than satisfied those expectations, offering an unflinching but frequently hilarious portrait of an A-list comedian rediscovering himself, but there seemed to be a sense that audiences knew themselves less well than they felt like they knew the film’s main character, resulting in a less enthusiastic response than perhaps even they expected.

The film arrives on Blu-ray this week, offering what is indisputably the most complete and comprehensive look behind the scenes at a comedy ever produced, and offers audiences a second chance to check out Apatow’s most meaningful and resonant work to date. Cinematical got a chance to catch up with the writer-director via telephone to discuss the contents of the expansive, 2-Disc Collector’s Edition; in the second part of our chat, Apatow talks about precisely what made the movie so personal for him, and offers a few insights about its place in his growing body of work, and its potential influence on his future films (including a Harry Pottermovie, maybe?).

Cinematical: With or without talking to you at the time of the film’s release, people seemed to assume that this was a very personal film, I think because it was more serious than your previous work. Was it really personal, and if so in what way or why?

Judd Apatow: Well, I find that things can be very personal without pointing out to people what is taken directly from your life. If I do it right, it shouldn’t feel like I’m just talking about personal experiences that happened to me or people in my world. So it’s good that it doesn’t seem – that you can’t track it (laughs). But the ideas are very intimate and they relate to a lot that’s happened to me over the decades, but it’s all thrown into a blender to make it more amusing or dramatic. But yes, it does feel very personal, to the point of being embarrassing, but it’s because it’s how you feel about the world that’s out there. It’s kind of showing one’s pleasant side and one’s crazy voices; I’m just better at hiding them in a character that can act them out. You make a movie and think, ah, this is about other people, but slowly you realize it’s all about you. It’s also about everyone who’s involved in the collaboration, but it surprises you when it’s done how much is based on things that you’re struggling with.

Cinematical: Given the sort of line-o-rama process by which you work when shooting scenes, how do you decide what ends up in a film or works best for it?

Apatow: Every joke is meant to illuminate something, whether it’s how funny someone is or a piece of their back story or how they’re feeling on that particular night. So there’s literally no punchline that wasn’t in there that wasn’t debated for hours and hours, but how I like to shoot it is to shoot Adam or Seth doing half an hour of material, not obsessing about what I will use when we’re shooting, and then decide what fits best after. But when you keep it loose and the comedians are really in character, other things happen on stage that are surprising and they do fit into what you need. People do subconsciously start living the story, so Adam one day said, “hey, tonight I’m going to improvise something on the piano,” and he just sits down and sings this mad song. The audience doesn’t know that he’s sick, but in a way it’s a strange goodbye to his audience, and it’s really sad and filthy. I never could have written that in a million years, and Adam did it off the top of his head; and because it’s improvised, it’s sloppy and emotionally raw in a way that’s very truthful. He just went there, and that’s why I try to create some extra space for those moments to happen.

fun15

Cinematical: How much is there a degree of sort of self-satirization in this film, whether you’re taking direct jabs at your or Adam’s movies? Or, even if it’s not in the movie, how much do you guys sort of rib one another about the movies you make?

Apatow: Every time you make a movie, it’s a risk. It’s easy to take for granted the work of comedians, but it’s insanely hard to make people laugh out loud and be really happy for an hour and a half straight. And sometimes you do it with the silliest thing in the world and sometimes you do it in a more thoughtful way or emotional way, but it’s hard as hell (laughs). How I looked at that aspect of the movie was that this character valued being on top more than the quality of his movies, so he tried to make decent movies, but his ego made him try to hit a home run every time out. That being said, while we were making the movie, we kept saying, “we’d make Mer-Man right now!” There’s a funny version of Mer-Man, there’s a funny version of Redo. And it genuinely made us laugh; even though we knew we were goofing on movies like that, we also thought, we could probably do a good one of these!

But one thing I appreciated from Adam was that he never said, “oh don’t do that – people will think you’re goofing on me.” The truth is, I’m not goofing on Adam because Adam has a ridiculously wide range of movies he’s made. He’s just covered so much ground. Some are incredibly silly, some are truly experimental art films, and his level of success is so high he’s just been amazing for a very long time, and I don’t think George Simmons would have tried most of what Adam has tried to do. Again, there’s a subtle difference there, so it’s easy for people to say, “oh, you’re goofing on your own movies,” but I really thought what was more interesting to me was what happens when a shallow person gets sick? He doesn’t want to be thoughtful, so his movies can’t be thoughtful; he’s not making introspective comedies. When he gets sick, he doesn’t tell anybody, he doesn’t know how to talk about it – he’s not that kind of person. He’s more like a Rodney Dangerfield kind of person; he’s telling jokes and being silly.

Cinematical: What I think is one of the things he and the film communicates is that comedy is a way for someone to conceal their true feelings, and ultimately a prison that keeps them from being able to express them.

Apatow: Sometimes it’s easier to hide when you’re that famous. It was strange when Michael Jackson died and there were so many similarities to how we were presenting this fictionalized comedy star in our movie and what was coming out about Michael Jackson. The opening conversation about our movie is Adam having a conversation with his doctor about sleep medication. And all of these images of this rich guy alone in this giant house, never feeling satisfied with the amount of affection he’s getting from the world – which is an enormous amount of affection. A lot of times people want to make you laugh not because they want to make you happy but because they want to know if you like them. Your laugh signals “you’re okay” – and that’s a tough way to live. I think a lot of us as we get older think, is there a healthy way to do what we’re doing? We didn’t start this [for our] mental health, but can we spin it at some point and be creative for normal positive reasons?

Cinematical: Having done this movie which was so much more personal and serious than your other films, do you feel inclined to continue going in that direction?

Apatow: I try to be very passionate about the movies I’m making. I can get passionate about something that’s ridiculous and absurd and silly in the same way I can be passionate about something that’s more intimate and thoughtful, but I just have to care about it. So I don’t know; as of right now, I’m trying not to think too much about what I’ll do next and see what strikes me, but every once and a while I think it would be great to do something really dumb next, really goofy, and just make people happy. Create a joy machine. But most of the time I think let’s do another really dark, melancholy movie about a different subject, and then I think, you know what? Maybe I need a longer rest (laughs). So I don’t know; I’ll just wait until someone needs a director for the 14th Harry Potter movie and hopefully I’ll be at the top of the list somewhere.

Cinematical: Do you have any idea what the next thing is going to be for you?

Apatow: I really don’t. I’ve never had two ideas in my head. I mean, my brain is completely blank. I covered a lot of ground with these last two movies, so I may need something to happen to me in life before I can write again. But I don’t know – then something hits you out of the blue and it could happen in an eighth of a second; oh, it’s that! And then you’re off to the races.

Cinematical: Whether they’re conscious or not, do you see ongoing or repeated themes emerging in or from your growing body of work?

Apatow: I don’t think about it consciously, but there are certain ideas that recur and then you start thinking to yourself, well, should I make sure that never happens in Cinematical: How much is there a degree of sort of self-satirization in this film, whether you’re taking direct jabs at your or Adam’s movies? Or, even if it’s not in the movie, how much do you guys sort of rib one another about the movies you make?

Apatow: Every time you make a movie, it’s a risk. It’s easy to take for granted the work of comedians, but it’s insanely hard to make people laugh out loud and be really happy for an hour and a half straight. And sometimes you do it with the silliest thing in the world and sometimes you do it in a more thoughtful way or emotional way, but it’s hard as hell (laughs). How I looked at that aspect of the movie was that this character valued being on top more than the quality of his movies, so he tried to make decent movies, but his ego made him try to hit a home run every time out. That being said, while we were making the movie, we kept saying, “we’d make Mer-Man right now!” There’s a funny version of Mer-Man, there’s a funny version of Redo. And it genuinely made us laugh; even though we knew we were goofing on movies like that, we also thought, we could probably do a good one of these!

But one thing I appreciated from Adam was that he never said, “oh don’t do that – people will think you’re goofing on me.” The truth is, I’m not goofing on Adam because Adam has a ridiculously wide range of movies he’s made. He’s just covered so much ground. Some are incredibly silly, some are truly experimental art films, and his level of success is so high he’s just been amazing for a very long time, and I don’t think George Simmons would have tried most of what Adam has tried to do. Again, there’s a subtle difference there, so it’s easy for people to say, “oh, you’re goofing on your own movies,” but I really thought what was more interesting to me was what happens when a shallow person gets sick? He doesn’t want to be thoughtful, so his movies can’t be thoughtful; he’s not making introspective comedies. When he gets sick, he doesn’t tell anybody, he doesn’t know how to talk about it – he’s not that kind of person. He’s more like a Rodney Dangerfield kind of person; he’s telling jokes and being silly.

Cinematical: What I think is one of the things he and the film communicates is that comedy is a way for someone to conceal their true feelings, and ultimately a prison that keeps them from being able to express them.

Apatow: Sometimes it’s easier to hide when you’re that famous. It was strange when Michael Jackson died and there were so many similarities to how we were presenting this fictionalized comedy star in our movie and what was coming out about Michael Jackson. The opening conversation about our movie is Adam having a conversation with his doctor about sleep medication. And all of these images of this rich guy alone in this giant house, never feeling satisfied with the amount of affection he’s getting from the world – which is an enormous amount of affection. A lot of times people want to make you laugh not because they want to make you happy but because they want to know if you like them. Your laugh signals “you’re okay” – and that’s a tough way to live. I think a lot of us as we get older think, is there a healthy way to do what we’re doing? We didn’t start this [for our] mental health, but can we spin it at some point and be creative for normal positive reasons?

Cinematical: Having done this movie which was so much more personal and serious than your other films, do you feel inclined to continue going in that direction?

Apatow: I try to be very passionate about the movies I’m making. I can get passionate about something that’s ridiculous and absurd and silly in the same way I can be passionate about something that’s more intimate and thoughtful, but I just have to care about it. So I don’t know; as of right now, I’m trying not to think too much about what I’ll do next and see what strikes me, but every once and a while I think it would be great to do something really dumb next, really goofy, and just make people happy. Create a joy machine. But most of the time I think let’s do another really dark, melancholy movie about a different subject, and then I think, you know what? Maybe I need a longer rest (laughs). So I don’t know; I’ll just wait until someone needs a director for the 14th Harry Potter movie and hopefully I’ll be at the top of the list somewhere.

Cinematical: Do you have any idea what the next thing is going to be for you?

Apatow: I really don’t. I’ve never had two ideas in my head. I mean, my brain is completely blank. I covered a lot of ground with these last two movies, so I may need something to happen to me in life before I can write again. But I don’t know – then something hits you out of the blue and it could happen in an eighth of a second; oh, it’s that! And then you’re off to the races.

Cinematical: Whether they’re conscious or not, do you see ongoing or repeated themes emerging in or from your growing body of work?

Apatow: I don’t think about it consciously, but there are certain ideas that recur and then you start thinking to yourself, well, should I make sure that never happens in one of my movies again? For instance, I like when sad people find a way to get happy, even if it’s only for a moment; should I avoid that now that I’ve noticed that in a bunch of my

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movies? That’s an interesting question for me as I walk around the house. I can see the stitching on the ball now more than anybody, and then you start thinking about new terrain, but you also don’t want to suddenly make a movie about Icelandic people just because no one expects you to do that. I would like always to write about things that matter to me and I understand, but I was reading this graduation speech that Larry Gelbart delivered at UCLA a few years ago and a big hunk of it was about writing about things you don’t know anything about and how ultimately it will still become a personal story. I usually go against that, but I thought, well, if Mr. Gelbart says that then maybe my philosophy is wrong.

Cinematical: What was the thing that you took away from this experience that was maybe different than your other movies?

Apatow: Well, it’s much more challenging to make a movie that’s meant to be more than just fantasy fulfillment. It is hopefully a big, funny, enjoyable experience but it’s also kind of an independent movie, you know; it’s a character study, and it is a different world when you’re trying to have that relationship with the audience. A lot of people got to the movies just to numb themselves out from whatever other difficult things life is presenting to them, and I’m exactly like that; when a girl broke up with me, the first thing I did was run to see What About Bob? But this is the first time for me where I tried to share a more complicated experience with people. And you get a larger array of reactions to it – some people, it completely knocks them out, other people, you can tell that they emotionally shut down from thinking about any of this, and the movie is hard for them to tolerate. And that’s the point of it: it’s supposed to stick with you for a while. That’s all I thought about when we were ending it, and I hope people talk about this for a while. I hope it’s something that stays on people’s minds.

by Todd Gilchrist

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The City’s Employee Relations Board (ERB) met this morning and dismissed all of EAA’s claims against the recent elections. Additionally the ERB voted to allow for the certification of the two Engineering units (MOUs 8 & 17) to cleared the way for the members of those units to be represented by SEIU 721.

This represents a significant move in that these units will now have the opportunity to control their negotiations and possibly negotiate cost savings ideas and increased efficiencies in exchange for the reduction or elimination of furloughs. It will be important to watch these two units and the successes they achieve.

EAA as an organization has represented failure for our members. The lack of representation has resulted in inadequate salary protections, loss of increased retirement benefits in 2002/2003, and the most severe furloughs compared with other City workers.

Congratulations to MOUs 8 & 17, you have proven to the rest of our members hope is not lost.

As a side note, here is what EAA had to say about the loss of the two MOUs:
“Hello All, The City’s Employee Relations Board adopted Daugherty’s recommendation regarding the blocking charges EAA filed. The Board just finished certifying SEIU 721 as the recognized bargaining representative for members of MOU 8 & MOU 17. The Board will not entertain the new charges EAA’s counsel attempted to lodge concerning the City implementing furloughs to affect the outcome of the MOU 8 election. As of now, EAA does not represent any City employees in bargaining units 8 or 17.
Fraternally, Bob”

A Universal divulgou um making-of de O Lobisomem, remake do clássico de 1941. Bem montado o vídeo conta um pouco da história do estúdio com os clássicos filmes de monstros  mostra cenas comentadas da refilmagem, com o trio principal do filme Benicio Del Toro, Emily Blunt e Anthony Hopkins: Confira abaixo:

A cada vídeo divulgado fico mais animado com esse filme, excelente elenco, efeitos especiais que prometem e claro uma clássica e boa história. Díficilmente essa nova versão vai conseguir superar o original, mas promete no minímo honra-la, algo que os remakes atuais não estão conseguindo.

Na história ambientada na Inglaterra vitoriana, Benicio Del Toro é Larry Talbot que retorna ao castelo do seu pai (Anthony Hopkins), onde conhece Gwen (Emily Blunt). Mas, após ser mordido por um lobisomem passa a viver a terrível maldição e passa a  ser investigado pelo detetive Aberline (Hugo Weaving).

O Lobisomem estreia em 12 de fevereiro de 2010.

He reeks of death.  But death is his trade and he has a taste for it.  Yet he’s never “killed in hot blood” before, never killed in war.

As Mord, the royal executioner and ally to King Richard III (Basil Rathbone), Karloff personifies the cruel representation of political violence behind the throne, the workmanlike brute force that does his master’s bidding to preserve the peace.

Mord may hide behind the throne, but Karloff’s gleefully morbid turn is nakedly, aggressively terrifying.  He is the prototypical executioner, the death dealer of our childhood nightmares.  The first moment we see the powerfully built but cadaverous looking Mord–hunched over his grinding wheel, sharpening his oversize axe with a black raven perched on his shoulder–it’s like watching Cain himself readying the next murder.  But where Cain acted impulsively, emotionally… Mord is pure professional.  There is little overt art to his blood-letting, hence why he yearns for something a little more exciting, creative, arousing.  Karloff is almost touching as he pleads to Rathbone to take him into battle.  Warfare must be a wonderful, crimson bounty for a man like Mord.  The opportunities for passion are no doubt endless.  God knows how energized Mord will be when he returns from murder on such scale.

…as putea face reclama la cafea, doar e una din pasiunile mele!

Pillars Of The Sky is a good Universal-International picture starring Jeff Chandler and Dorothy Malone. Watched it over the weekend. Like so many U-I Westerns, it really deserves the widescreen DVD treatment. Notice it says “Print by Technicolor,” not “Color by Technicolor.”

Pillars was written by Sam Rolfe, who co-wrote The Naked Spur (1953) and a bunch of TV, ranging from The Man From UNCLE to Star Trek: The Next Generation. Ward Bond and Lee Marvin have very good roles. And it was directed by George Marshall — who did both You Can’t Cheat An Honest Man and Destry Rides Again in 1939. (He also did the Audie Murphy remake Destry.)

But what I’m celebrating here today is the picture’s incredible poster art by Reynold Brown. Up top, the half sheet. Below, a couple details from a different layout. (Click on them and they get large enough to really study.)

The album features 2 UK firsts an N-Dubz magazine including exclusive interviews, behind the scenes pics, exclusives images, N-Dubz style and beauty secrets, baby pictures, a glossary of N-Dubz lingo and lyrics to every song. PLUS we’ve created a special album insert that will bring the band to your computer screen in 3D glory! N-Dubz talking and singing to every one of you in 3D in your hand!

In Italia molte notizie passano sotto silenzio. Molte. Quelle politiche a volte trovano qualche paladino che le diffonde. Il problema è il silenzio silenzioso della cultura italiana. Del resto il berlusconismo è la quintessenza dell’ignoranza. La Cultura con la C maiuscola è diventata CULtura con il CUL maiuscolo e in bella mostra e il sistema mediatico sembra adagiarsi salvo rare eccezioni.

Un bel giorno c’era il cinema. Il cinema vero, quello con la grotta buia, e le ombre che danzano sul suo fondo. C’era la verità e la rappresentazione, l’appropriazione del reale tramite l’irreale. C’era il cinema. C’erano i film fatti per il cinema. E’ del 19 novembre 2009 un accordo fra Mediaset Premium e Universal, Warner e Medusa* per mandare in onda on demand i film in contemporanea alla sala al costo di 10 euro, dal 2010. Evviva. Una comodità. Ora masse di cerebrolesi che già entravano nei cinema una volta l’anno, cioè a Natale, potranno gustarsi l’ultima pellicola holliwoodiana a casa per 10 euro. 10 euro. Si vuole ammazzare un luogo sacro come il cinema per 10 euro. E nessuno li ferma, anzi. Ben venga. 10 euro son pochini per destare la coscienza dell‘italiano medio.

*Notare quanto Mediaset Premium e Medusa facciano riferimento allo stesso soggetto. Fare accordi con se stessi si sa, è sempre conveniente e non scandalizza mai nessuno.