Mashups - Girl Talk

So I think it was a couple of weeks back, Dan Wu wrote a blog about a mash-up artist that was on Letterman or Leno and posted a video up. It’s just the term mash-up that got me going cause a few weeks later I bought a copy of the new US GQ (yes, the one with an overly retouched Olivia Wilde on the cover) and read an article about this group called ‘Girl Talk’. When I say group really it’s just this guy Gregg Gillis. So I was thinking, ‘what the hey let me sample some of the music, it won’t hurt’. Lo and behold I have become a fan. It’s really fascinating cause he uses a lot of the music I like (even the sad bastard music I listen to) as a base and then runs rap on the vocal. Genius. Check it out.

Top 25 chest hair designs

Okay okay, to keep up with the theme of strange I got a great one here.

Funny is one thing and super funny is another but when it gets to the point where it comes out of my nose and I smirk, its beyond the boundaries of my planet of stupendous-ness. Now, I am myself a lifelong chest hair-less Asian boy. I remember a friend of mine saying she was in love with Asian boys because, and I quote, 'they don't have any hair'. What, are we a special breed of cat? But I do admit, I was intrigued with what she said, with her, though she wasn’t intrigued with me.

With delight, I am proud to serve you the subject in hand - chest hair designs -

http://www.collegehumor.com/pictures/gallery:chesthair#1899914

Weird Japan - improper webcam uses

Occasionally I’ll come across something that is totally funny and totally inappropriate as you will find out in this case. As usual I was going through my end of the day updates – technology news, lolcats, etc. With the technology blogs I read the editorial is excellent, comical in most cases, often playing on puns of the product with insertions of popular culture for extra juice. This one is baffling. Just read:

Japanese Erotic Game Uses Webcam for Boner Detection

"How's this for a bad idea: Japanese erotic game Love Death 4 is using face tracking and shape detection to add a nice dose of horror to the game's already-questionable content.

There are scant details for how it'll work, and hey, maybe there are other shapes that an erotic game would want to detect other than the shape of a baby's arm holding a crabapple. But I can't think of any.

But hey, maybe this is a good thing! It's innovation! It seems weird now, but when Natal comes out we'll probably be using our boners to reload machine guns in Gears of War 3. [TeaTime via Canned Dogs via Kotaku]"

Note: Sourced from Gizmodo.com

 

Halloween costumes - early considerations

Halloween is around the corner, again. I used to like it as a kid and not until college, in Boulder, I was persuaded to engage in some sort of costume. I last minuted something that made me look like a shower stall and/or shower curtain. However with the way conceptual art is, most people took me for a condom. And I guess from then on I haven't been afraid - for the most part - of making a fool of myself. During my last years in San Francisco I overkilled one Halloween and got a rayon leisure suit - in powder blue – and pair of Elvis glasses with sideburns. Yeah, sweet. My bestfriend Mike, a perennial Halloween lover, did an elaborate DIY Super Mario costume. It was a while back before people could afford digital cameras so the negatives are somewhere so I’m sure I’ll come by them in the next month or so.

Last year, AliveNotDead did me a justice by throwing a smasher of a Halloween party. I hadn’t been to one in ages, let alone a costume party so this was a challenge. Terence introduced a bunch of us to a costume shop somewhere in Kwun Tong. I took several trips with Shan, Stephan, Wing, Steph, and some other people, each trip a trying experience, each time trying to imagine what I could be. I think it was either Shan or Wing – at least one of the girls – saw by chance a panda costume. The panda costume that people that rowdy night recognize me by. Many times over last year I’ve been recognized simply as Panda. Hell, its my profile picture. Last year the ‘hot’ costume was Joker from Dark Knight, but who cares? There were at least 4 at the party last year but I, I was Panda.

So what’s the problem? How can I top the panda? Well, I’ve got an idea but its just an idea. I’ve found myself thinking of costume ideas for other people. So why not do something nice for the people – show them what people have been doing early.

This is the best I've seen in a while, a couples AT-At costume. I'm not with anyone right now so I think a single man/boy in this costume would look kind weird. Anyone?

Brilliant chewy costume, again from Star Wars. See, people have imaginations. Like this kid.

I'm sure you're thinking about the night right now. Think hard people.

Intro to Visual Art: Photography - Gregory Crewdson

I've been asked a number of people over the last few months to start writing blogs about the photographers or artists I talk about. Most of the time when talking about pictures, whom ever I'm talking to never really understands who or what I'm talking about. Sure, some people know about photography, whether it be fine art or commercial but usually to a certain degree. Though I do try and read up on whatever my friends into, I can never grasp the entire picture. Take for example when hanging out with Jason Tobin, Dax Phelan or Glen Chin - these guys are emerced in film knowledge simply because they have to be. Its their job to know a reference to a film or a style of a director. I, and I thought I was well versed in film, don't know that much. My ankles are in but if I want to really know something I want to be up to my eyeballs in whatever I'm interested in.

But to return to the purpose of this blog series is to introduce and even reveal some photographers, artists and movements you may not even know about. Today, I'm going to talk about someone on the top of the photographic pyramid (mine anyway), Gregory Crewdson.

By chance a few weeks ago I watched a show late night on NowTV (channel VOOM) that introduced Crewdson's work. I've been studying his work ever since art school. The work is incredibly complex and deeply layered. I've always had a eerie feel when looking at his work. He always includes details that go far beyond a single frame usually to the point where you have look past the initial glance. I've interpreted the work as exploration of the psyche in an environmental portrait composition. In past literature and interviews Crewdson talked about himself as a young boy trying to listen in on his father - who was a psycho-analysis - and his patients. Of course he never admits to ever hearing any of the sessions, but the idea of making this effort translates into the work.

Rather than say too much or give you my impression, I’ll leave you to your own devises. Happy learning and stay tuned to future episodes.

* note. I realize that the pictures I've linked are not appearing in they're supposed to be. If you're interested in look at more of Crewdson's work google 'gregory crewdson' or click on this link for the pictures i've included in this entry. Top image link, bottom image link

Lolcats - eurhoria dressed in a cat

I've been doing and feeling great recently. I've got to share the secret to my happiness. Lolcats.

Before you think, this guy has totally lost it, you've got to let it grow on you. In fact one of my brothers brought it up in an email to me one day. I didn't get it then so that was end of that first instance. The second time was when Jason Tobin mentioned it to me. Now Jason and I share the same sense of humor, movies, critism, and whole of other stuff. I still didn't get. Then as wise as the man is, he said, 'Let it grow on you'. So as it was with me, the perennial pessimist, I had to know. I have to know why I didn't like it and in the process I found that I really liked it. And being a cat owner/wrangler, why shouldn't I like it.

These are some of my favorites from http://icanhascheezburger.com/. enjoy.

 

Video spillage - commercial sex scenes

This is an over the top, quad x kind of commercial you'd expect to get banned. And in fact it did. I though I'd lay it down on you just of kicks anyway.

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

A good life - Kitty (1993-2009)

 

It was a sad day today – I had to put down my cat, Kitty. Its a funny story about the name, my brother couldn’t come up with a name for him and ended up calling him Kitty. He had a couple in those days, one called Hermie (now gone as well) and Billy (sill alive in New York), both girls.

Kitty was always a people cat, talking to people, asking about what they were doing. Sometimes he would watch my brother or me play video games, I always figured cause he wanted the attention.

I remember him escaping the house on my once back in the states. I was in San Francisco at the time but would occasionally spend the weekends in Davis, about an hour and a half outside of SF. One Sunday night I decided at 2 or 3 in the morning to get some gas for my drive back to SF. Somewhere between my leaving the house and returning he escaped through the garage door as he usually did but I didn’t see it happen and I was very tired. The next morning at 6, I realized he wasn’t there. And seeing that I need to hit the road for SF, I called my brother’s then girlfriend (my brother was in San Diego for business) and asked her if she could help find him. But before I left that morning I remember hearing a dog barking up a tree as if a cat was perched in it. As it turned out when my brother returned Tuesday evening it took him a couple minutes to find him using the ‘can of tuna’ technique. Kitty zipped out a few seconds later looking feral, hungry and a little cold. Well, he was out there for two days.

He was never really a good navigator, often getting lost in our neighborhood and when found often taunted me to ‘try and catch him’. He was strong in those days and could easily scale the 7 foot backyard fence. In the last couple of days though he could hardily jump onto my bed without help.

I’ll remember the early mornings trying to wake me up by ear marking my favorite books. I wanted to believe he was reading them whilst I was out because he only biting into the corners of the books that I thought were good. I’ll also remember him taking up the real estate on my bed before I wanted to go to sleep or when he would sleep between my legs before I passed out facing up and some how maneuver to the backs of my legs when I ended up on my front in the morning. 

I’ve never really felt so close to an animal or felt this way about losing someone or something but I guess this is how it feels. I think he’s doing good now, chewing on the grass somewhere, scaling huge fences and bouncing off walls with his speed. I’ll miss you K-dude.

Art review - Robbie Cooper's Immersion

Hi gang,

On this, my birthday I'm going to share with you a gift of art. I've been lucky enough to find out about this guys work through my usual channels I think its the best thing I've seen in a while.

Not often in Hong Kong do you really see good art with world class calibre, and for the few artists I know, they travel out of Hong Kong to get their fill - I know I would if I had the money.

Robbie Copper is an photographer who took a very simple idea and took it to the next level. And sometimes the simple ideas are the best ones.

The work is focuses on the faces of children whilst they play video games or watch movies. The clip below mostly shows these kids playing video games (most you will recognize from the sound effects). He got the idea whilst interviewing people in internet cafes in China. According to an interview in the April 2009 issue of PDN, he noticed that his subjects would sit through the entire interview with their eyes transfixed to the screen.

Using the High Res 4K Red One camera Cooper films his subjects using a interrotron to grab the stills. (There is more information on the internet regarding the interrotron). Eventually Copper plans to get adults involved in his work.

Look at the stills and below is a compiled video clip from the series.

Enjoy your weekend cause I know I will.

(Picture sourced from Design Corner)

Edited for TV - Snakes on a plane

I found something typical of American TV. As with hong kong they edit out swearing so the films with the best, or should I most pronounced profanity are rendered b-versions, lesser versions of the original. But sometimes, the edited for TV versions are funny.

Take for example this Samuel L Jackson gem, Snakes on a plane.

Watch Snakes on Plane: TV Edit and more funny videos on CollegeHumor

There's a great one of Die Hard III, with a vengence. I couldn't stop laughing about that one, I even wanted a DVD of that version.

Airsoft - I'm so addicted right now I feel dorky. Dorky-er

I've gone into Airsoft obsessive mode. I'm in love with not a girl but the act of wargaming. My other other lover is not a girl but the internet. But she's too much to love.

Anyway, I youtube-ed and found some airsoft videos. There are hundreds. Here are just a few. Join my party. Enjoy.

Airsoft - Call of Duty in real life

There are no more jokes today, the economy is down, there are tons of shootings related to the loss of jobs. People aren't happy. I've got to admit, I've been a little down also. But there's got to be something to smile about, right?

Call Of Duty, Heat, Black Hawk Down, Navy Seals, Ronin - what do these things have in common? Shooting and guns. what's it got to do with my catch line? Airsoft. I recently had an Airsoft battle. I polished off the dust from the guns I hadn't been using for over 2 years, got some new batteries and pellets and went off to war. And what a day it was.

People from north america and pretty much every where else are probably asking, what the fuck is airsoft? They'll know paintball for sure. But airsoft, WTF? Airsoft was started off by the Japanese simply because, like Hong Kong, its illegal to own a fire arm. So they decided to make realistic guns that fire plastic pellets.

Fast forward to now in the digital world. We've played Call Of Duty, we've shot each other up pretty good, online. But thats sitting in a chair, on the sofa, in bed with a controller and not a gun. Airsoft is with the same guns where you actually have to run and aim and usually, use teamwork to your advantage. COD crowd, you'll love this. Its the mods with scopes (I never find the use for one) and the camo and the rolling around is for real. Its getting someone in the crosshairs and trying to dumping a couple of rounds in them. Its the smell of raw Adrenalin coming through pumping through you veins, out your pores and into your sweat. Its one hell of a rush.

Now the paintball crowd will probably say,' But it'll hurt more than paintball, right?'. I can't say as I've not tried paint ball because I was never that rich, but I can say it stings a little but not for long and the bruising not as bad. How can you tell you've been shot? You'll know cause you'll hear or feel it. It purely an honor code out there, if you're shot, you're dead - put your hands up and return to the staging area. If you don't people will be hunting for you the next time. I had an experience once where a player won't go down during a battle. So I decided to shoot him - didn't die/surrender and I'd shot a dozen times, in the spot he was standing still. Next person, same thing. Next person, same thing. By the end of the day on close to the final skirmishes, a veteran player had the same experience several times but his gun died. 'Take mine,' I told him and he went after the bastard. At the whistle blow the Veteran and the 'Bastard' faced off where the Vet emptied my clip into the Bastard. Served him right.

So how did I fair? I've only played a couple of times, twice with my brother, once with Jason Tobin. I understand what's going on, but its nothing like a COD map where there are boundaries. I mean there are on the courses but in general you sweat alot more, swear, yell alot more and get tired. But its amazing! It might be sadistic but that's what COD or World of Warcraft or any game where you have to kill someone in a game is like. I definately got shot and shot a couple of people that day.

I'll mostly likely let you in on some up coming battles in Hong Kong cause I want more people to come.

Game on!

Hudson hero - amazing simulation of events

As it has been lately with the financial crisis and crap like that, its amazing when you get to see real heroism at a time or peril. And with me, with all the free time I have I've managed to come across something amazing. This is the Flight Simulator....uh....simulation with cockpit voice recordings from the actual Hudson River crash landing that happened a few months back. I'm sure all of you know the story but if you don't the details are in the excerpt below. Talk about calm under pressure.

Originally from Gizmodo.com

If you thought that the pilot who landed US Airways flight 1549 on the Hudson River was cool, you haven't seen this simulation with the real FAA voice recordings. I'm absolutely stunned by his nerves.

The captain of Cactus 1549—the codename for flight 1549—is cooler than Batman, Iron Man, and frikkin Admiral Adama all rolled into one. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, 57, is a former US Air Force fighter pilot who left the military in 1980. Couple that with the fact that he is also a safety expert and a glider pilot, and you will understand why his nerves are made of steel.

Transcript from cockpit audio

AWE1549: Ah this is Cactus 1549 hit birds. We lost thrust in both engines. We're turning back towards Laguardia
L116 (NY departure radar contact): OK, yeah, you need to return to Laguardia. Turn left heading of uh two two zero.
AWE1549: Two two zero.
L116 (to Laguardia tower): Tower stop your departures. We got an emergency returning.
LGA: Who is it?
L116: It's 1529 (sic). He got a bird strike. He lost all engines. He lost the thrust in the engines. He's returning immediately.
LGA: Cactus 1529 which engines???
L116: He lost thrust in both engines, he said.
L116: Cactus 1529 if we can get it to you, do you want to try to land runway one three?
AWE1549: We're unable. We may end up in the Hudson.
L116: Alright Cactus 1549, it's going to be left traffic to runway three one. (First he got the number wrong and now he's not listening. Is this guy this thick?)
AWE1549: Unable.
L116: OK, what do you need to land? (big iron balls, that's what)
L116: Cactus 1549 runway four is available if you want to make left traffic to runway four.
AWE1549: I'm not sure we can make any runway. What's over to our right? Anything in New Jersey? Maybe Teterboro?
L116: OK, yeah, off to your right side is Teterboro airport.
L116: Do you want to try to go to Teterboro?
AWE1549: Yes.
L116: Teterboro, uh empire actually, Laguardia departure got an emergency inbound.
TEB: OK, go ahead.
L116: Cactus 1529 (again?) over the George Washington Bridge wants to go to the airport right now.
TEB: He wants to go to our airport. Check. Does he need any assistance?
L116: Ah yes, he was a bird strike. Can I get him in for runway one?
TEB: Runway one, that's good.
L116: Cactus 1549 turn right two eight zero. You can land on runway one at Teterboro.
AWE1549: We can't do it.
L116: OK, which runway would like at Teterboro.
AWE1549: We're gonna be in the Hudson.

(understandable silence from La Guardia)

L116: I'm sorry, say again Cactus.

US TV Season Closure - WTF Battlestar?

I recenly talked about TV shows and movies. I've been following. I've been looking them up on the TV spheric websites. Here's my word:

Season finales and series finales

Conan O'Brien made an agreement with NBC to take over for Jay Leno in June of this year as Jay proposed his retirement of the tonight show with Jay Leno. Then if this wasn't enough NBC couldn't live without Jay and offered him the spot before Conan. It isn't a big secret but NBC hasn't been taking all the chips from the prime time slots. They made a business decision and a wise one at that. But this is the same thing they did to David Letterman when they promised Dave (Conan is in his spot) when Johnny Carson retired. Instead NBC hired Jay, and Dave walked across the street to CBS.

Now that there's an earlier show before the tonight show, it'll mean that Jay will still be the main man on the late prime circuit on NBC.

Conan's last week on his show was spectular as usual. Funny, engaging. College boys late night classic. I'll be sad to not see him in NY. but then again when you got to go, you gotta go. His replacement, Jimmy Fallon has had a rough week. He's called all his friend from the rolodex and had them come on regardless of whether or not they have something to talk about. Comments on his show:

1. the pace is still getting tuned. its still not clicking together. good luck.
2. The skits are marginal. keep going.
3. The Roots band is great but they're no Max Weinberg 7.

I guess its all chemistry.

Battlestar Galactica

Don Cruz got me into this. I've got to admit I was not one to get behind a show after the third season (see: haven't watched The Sopranos, Lost. Yea, I haven't) because I feel I'm too far behind to watch it. Since then I've given shows the chance.  Battlestar is one of them. Its a good watch but it helps if you're a sci-fi freak (see: I'm a nerd/dork like Pat most of the crew at the AnD offices. Not you Boon).

I just watched the second to last episode last night and I still have no idea how they can close it off in one hour. You can't do shit in an hour. Well, we'll see in a week.

 

New shows that need a tuning or fuck it, cancel that shit

I've only felt two shows that I've watched are shit this year. One is Fringe. Its not completely shit. Its not what I thought it could be. JJ Abrams is a great creator. Alias. Lost. Slap a little X-files action and BAM. Should look like Brangelina's kids right? Fuck no. Its missing a couple of links. And cogs. and a decent script. The writing is one thing, the actors are not far off. The concept is great but the direction is not that pleasing. I've give this series my whole this year. I've been waiting for it to get better or get cancelled.

Dollhouse is a plain ole mistake. Eliza Dushku is a really hot mama. But she can't act her way out of a paper bag. Yes, its that bad. I gave this one three episodes because I was hoping it'd get better. Not even Dushku's pretty ass can get me to continue watching the show. Good concept but poor poor execution. Its sort of a Bourne and Total Recall rip off. Oh but with an attractive protagonist.

 

Ok enough ranting for now.

Seven girls I 've dated in college

This is really what is sounds like. I probably knew more of the type than others. I'm really into the definition of words, the etymology of words. I guess its got something to do with my facination with August Sander's work. Eh. Enough of me this is about the jewel I found today.

This is an entry about girls you'll date in college. I've dated about 3 of these kinds of girls (ok ok, the safe one, the friend, the perfect one.). This is a truth nugget in my opinion.

Read below children:   (Further insight to follow)

 

Original from CollegeHumor.com

The Athletic One

The Beginning:
Maybe you were good at sports, maybe you always sucked, but a semester of 4am burritos hasn't helped either way. She'll be cute, blonde, and look better in track shorts than she does make-up. Through careful deception, you'll convince her you can still play intramural soccer sans heart attacks.

The End: 
This, of course, is a lie, and you'll both discover that, in the strictest animal-eating/shelf-building sense, she's more of a man than you. You'll have fun, but as soon as you try to keep up with her on the field (and elsewhere), she'll be forever left with an image of you, wheezing, doughy, and begging her to slow down.

 

The one who likes to party

The Beginnng:
Scene: An awful club with a one-word name like "Velour" or "Prolapse". You hate places like this. She's skinny, tanned, and seems to be wearing a confusing handkerchief. She starts talking to you. You love places like this. Your friend's a promoter or a DJ, whichever is cooler? She offers pills, and you desperately wonder if there's a non-alphabetical difference between "E" and "X".

The End:
A few months later, you'll be broke, exhausted, and starting to resemble Christian Bale from "The Machinist". She'll pout, amused by your misery, and you'll suddenly identify strongly with those sleepy YouTube puppies. Before even remembering if the sex was good, you'll be dreaming of a world where naps are worth more than gold. Also, dinosaurs with lightsabers.

 

The one who goes to Church

The Beginning:
After years of being told you're a "nice guy", you'll finally meet a girl who makes you feel like James Dean, if James Dean had Wolverine claws and once drank eleven Bud Lites in a single night. To her puritanical sensibilities, you'll be a badass, and you'll fucking love it.

The End:
Option A, she's the real deal and will try to change you. There may be a girl worth waking up at 8am on a Sunday morning for, but you'll quickly decide she ain't it. Option B, under the thin veneer of virtue there's a boatload of real crazy, and she'll quickly realize your Level 60 Badass is as lame as the World of Warcraft reference I just made.

 

The dumb hot one

The Beginning: 
Not beautiful, not cute, just "hot". Whether it was Daddy, society, or the media who ruined her, she's spent years fighting her natural looks to end up in a place that should, by definition, be attractive, but feels distractingly photoshopped. She finds you interesting, and, in a moment of weakness, you're going to go for it.

The End:
You two will last exactly as long as your tolerance for crippling insecurities and songs by former Mousketeers. As insufferable as you find her, she'll find you distant, inconsistent, and generally a jerk. You'll still keep a picture of her to show off. She won't.

 

The safe one

The Beginning:
Between the tough internship and the actually interesting classes, you'll decide that a girlfriend should be like your old Ford Taurus: not flashy, but reliable, low maintenance and often mistaken for an undercover cop car. One day after Lit class, you'll ask her out and, when she says yes, you'll pretend to be excited, just like you did when you were sixteen.
 
The End:
There will be movies, dinner, and perfunctory but satisfying sex. It will be, by all technical definitions, "a relationship". Then, as your schedule clears, you'll realize you want something more, and that you just spent the last four months with someone "just good enough".  As did she.

 

The friend

The Beginning:
You've spent hours discussing weed, hoodies, and children's television from the 80s. She was there when you thought you could play guitar; you were there when she had that tat of Jem & the Holograms removed from her inner thigh. In fact, you're completely comfortable with each other - did you just discover the magic warp pipe to dating without fear or anxiety?

The End:
Well, yes, but without fear and anxiety, without the unknown, dating is about as titillating as a five-year-old Slanket. And nobody only a certain percentage of people (whose websites I find personally very confusing) wants to fuck a Slanket.

 

The perfect one

The Beginning:
Beautiful, funny, kind, she'll inspire you to acts of poetry that will inspire your friends to call you gay. You'll say it's "love", defined here as a one-sided activity comprised mostly of staring at her Facebook. After ten months of carefully planned, slightly pathological courtship, she'll take a chance on you. And it will be everything you hoped for.

The End:
Aesop had a fable about a squirrel so scared of someone stealing his nuts that he lost them. Actually, it might have been a lion. Or maybe it was a Michael Crichton novel. Regardless, you will always be afraid of screwing things up with her. And (irony alert) this is what will screw things up. You'll realize you're in a relationship in which you can never truly be comfortable, and, five sweaty weeks later, just as graduation rolls around, you'll realize she's moved on. Your turn.

 

Well, now I think about it one of the girls I dated in college started out as the friend, then the safe one then the perfect one. I kept in touch with her but just recently found out she's a republican. Don't get me started.

Another one was kinda of like the safe one. But she broke my heart in the worst way. It still hurts. Sometime, everybody hurts. REM.

More to come after the break.

Control-A-Cat Remote Only Makes Cats More Frustrating

I came across a really funny post about a cat remote control. I thought I'd share it with you all. (As posted from the original at Gizmodo)

Dear Manufacturer: As the owner of two dumb felines, I was pleased when you introduced the 21-button Control-A-Cat remote with "meow" and "catch mice" functionality. But certain buttons on my unit don't seem to work.

For instance, no matter how hard I push "use litter tray," Wynona still prefers to use the linoleum floor just in front of the litter tray. Is this a calibration issue?

And when I aim the thing straight at Wade and press "Get Off—Shelf," he just looks at me. And that's the other problem: Even when I'm not pressing certain buttons such as "Remain Aloof" "Cat Nap" and "Eject Fur Ball," the cats seem to be performing those tasks anyway. It's as if they have minds of their own! Maybe there's a good reason you don't print a toll-free tech support number on the package.

Sincerely,

Wilson, Frustrated Cat Owner

The People vs George Lucas

No matter how much I wish I never saw Episode I thru III, I will always hate myself for it. I lined up for the 'newest' three like I lined up for The Matrix III (whatever it was called I don't care to remember). I thought I'd learn better. The pre-quels as it turned out and for a lack of a better way of putting it, a terrible error in judgement. Financially speaking it is a success but a terrible let down to everyone who hoped it would be the center piece in what made most of childhoods come together. I remember some people in denial even saying that Episode II was pretty good - WTF are you talking about??? Two hours of crap movie just to see a younger Yoga do a couple of mediocre CG backflips?!!? If that wasn't bad enough Episode III when Natalie Portman's character lies on her death bed only to have the robot prognose her with 'not having the will to live'. WTF?

Ok chill, relax.

This trailer might help to show you my feelings, my true feelings, my true frustrations.

Video Spillage

Some really funny videos today. Two I've watched are both from Boon's blog. Here are my picks today.

My brother sent one of these. There ads were made for the late night crowd. Its all about buying and buying in the US mainly of crap that's, well, crap. These particular products are useful though how often would you use the putty? I mean ok, somethings broken so you fix it. Then, for a long time nothing breaks. You put the putty somewhere then you forget about it. So where's all the putty you bought? Damn you lost it. The gunk clearer, that stuff works, I've used it like twice. But unless you're a total slob you'll never get to the level of gunkiness in the commercial.

More spillage to come. Enjoy!

Edit - one of the videos got removed. Damn you!

Mighty Putty Re-Dub - watch more funny videos

Video Spillage - part 2 in one day

This is particularly funny. These idiots are funny

See more funny videos and funny pictures at CollegeHumor.

I’m a user….a PS3/blu-ray user and I’m proud to admit it!

I’ve always been a game lover. It started all the way back in the old Apple and PC’s. I grew up with Scott and Ryan Hui back in the day. Scott had the original Nintendo and everything up to now. That’s probably how I got started with game consoles. In college I bought my first game console, the Nintendo N64.

 

This was a fun thing. I started playing Madden on this puppy. I can’t even remember the cover of the Madden for the copy I bought with this machine. It was fun. I think I bought it for this phenomenal game Rogue Squadron:

 

For better graphics it required an expansion pak. I guess it was sharper. But this came the Playstation 2:

I got this after I left Colorado. Nonetheless it was the console to get. Some of my fraternity brothers managed to get one of these – it was certainly the hotness. Another brother got the Sega Dreamcast – he actually lived across from the guy with the PS2 – but the Cast wasn’t nearly as cool. It was a ‘high res’ console with a dvd player. At the time DVD player were $$$. This was 2 awesome birds in one stone, uh, console. I never really used the DVD player, just gamed the crap out of it. I played it continually from when I got to San Francisco for art school (I remember the long nights of my roommate and myself rocking out the Max Payne and the GTA till dawn). This was probably my first experience with online gaming (Madden) and talking trash with your opponent.

I used it up till last year when I decidedly felt it was ‘of age’. But there was a conundrum: Xbox or PS3. Sony sat on their golden egg too long – the development of Blu-Ray cost them the #1 seat. Xbox 360 made it with good graphics and great connectivity (all with the help of Microsoft products). With the XBox out a year earlier and the PS2 supports eagerly awaiting the PS3, news of the Wii were appearing here and there. Weird controllers were certainly my first thoughts. But as the executives of Nintendo would say, ‘We’re concentrating on game play, not graphics’, I wasn’t convince. But how would a believer say, ‘I told you so’.

The Wii and the PS3 came out around the same time. The Wii stole the hearts of an eager audience. New game play – no more sitting around, you actually apply your movements to the game play. What Wii did for game play is what the iPhone did for haptic input (touch input). On the other side, there were reports of faulty Blu-Ray assemblies, PS3 suffered production delays. Then finally it arrived but with few titles. XBox had taken the lead by coming out a year early stealing most of the game developing from PS3. And the initial price – forget about it.

Before I bought the PS3 I had played the XBox and the Wii. Thanks to Don Cruz I fell in love with Guitar Hero and Skate. I was certain I would love the XBox. Thankfully Don offered me the caveats of the XBox. He suffered early adoption problems. One the biggest ‘The Ring of Fire’ or ‘The circle of death’. Though I’ve know about these problems I’ve never read about so many in a production product that didn’t call for a full recall. Anything from faulty disc loaders to over heating CPUs it was a slew ‘maybe nots’.

PS3 had it share of problems too. Jammed slot loaders being one of them. I thought long and hard for this one. XBox offered connectivity and awesome game play. But and there are a few buts kept me aback. Back in SF, my roommate and best friend Mike owned a the original XBox. Another friend, Todd owned the Nintendo Gamecube and I owned the PS2. Three gaming consoles within 200 yards of each other. I hated the original XBox controller - It was designed for large fat American hand (trying not to sound to derisive). I heard later down the line while they’d begun selling to Japan and other Asian countries that the controller got redesigned for small Asian hands. Hmm. The other thing was the positioning of the left analog stick. With the N64 controller it was lower like the PS2 and PS3. Both the PS2 and PS3’s analogs are on equal planes. The XBox 360s left is higher than the rights. Preference? Maybe. But what about the experience?

HD-DVD and Blu-Ray started their battle campaigns well before I even considered buying anything. Obviously Blu-Ray won though you can still buy a HD-DVD player for XBox 360 for a steal. I decided on the PS3 because of Blu-Ray. I – like many of you perhaps have way too many DVD’s. They’re just so cheap in HK now. I love movies. I love the cinema. So I needed something that would open my eyes up to new home cinematic experiences. I still love the controller and plus its wireless.

The thing that really got me going is the media it can read. I had a whole bunch of video files I never rendered and plugged them into the PS3 via hard drive. Bingo, it worked fine. The great thing like all consoles now is it updates if there are updates to, uh, update.

So I’m here to tell you I use a PS3 and I’m proud of it.

Palm Pre – should have more awesomeness than that thing called the iPhone

I’ve got to admit, I’m not much of a fan of the iPhone. Its that anti-steve jobs chip I have installed. Open up Mac OSX the iPhone OS and I’ll consider him an okay guy. I watched ‘Pirates of Silicon Valley’ and I thought Steve was a dick. The iPod, that can stay.

The Pre – that’s just exactly what I want. Keyboard and touch screen. Intuitive controls and NOT an Apple. Why this anti-mac behavior? I’ve always built computers as a kid. I like to use different components to build the best thing I can for the least amount of money. The OS is undoubtedly awesome. But it’s the lock apple has on it hardware. It’s the way they make boatloads and only they make it. You believe it’s the best because it looks great, but the truth is the guts are just marginal – you can built something equivalent for half the price sometimes.

But lets get back to the point about the Pre. Palm started making the best selling PDA’s before phones got attached to them. Now a decade later they’ve all but disappeared from the market. RIM made the Blackberry. Apple made the iPhone. Microsoft made well, WM6.1. Google came up with Android. Palm’s last chance for a comeback – the Pre. It’ll certainly make Microsoft think about their products as Apple-Blackberry-Palm have. Improve the interface, speed and usability WinMo can, perhaps get back into the game.

When this piece, the Pre makes it out, I’ll probably do a review.

photo spillage - from the last couple of weeks

So, I've been taking more pictures on my phone lately. Not that I like to but rather its easier to do. here are just some - I'll comment on each. Note: the pictures are in the incorrect order, most recent first.

I took this picture whilst walking around Mong Kok with my brother. I think I was rather appalled by the yellow boots. plus the picture looks wacky like I shot it with a 20's era lens.

This was taken on our trip back from a massage place in Shenzhen. My brother (left) and Jason Tobin (right) were quite relaxed after. Guitar Hero anyone?


This is kitty, my brother Alvin's cat from way back. He lives with me now. he's so photogenic. *wink*


Ah yes, Pat's party at the Sands. Pretty awesome night from what I can remember. it was nuts! Here's Pat on the left with one of the dancers. Yea, he got on stage.


Here's Raffi and one of the dancers that night. Pretty girl, aye?


This is the first night I met Ana Souza. She's super nice. And tall.


This is Amy Fung, an awesome makeup artist I've come to know on the shoots I've been on.


And finally this was a shoot I was on earlier in the year. I think it was a shoot for Elle.

Upcoming movies and the Superbowl

Ok ok, I didn’t watch the Superbowl. I used to. Since I started living in Hong Kong, I’ve slowly moved away from some American past times. Put it this way I used to watch baseball, well passively anyway. The Cards put up a good fight with the Steelers and like all the Superbowls of the past that I have watched (except John Elway’s last Superbowl against the Falcons) it was a close one.

But the highlight I’ve continued to watch during the Superbowl are the commercials and the movie trailers. I’ve always been a fan of Star Trek especially the cheesy classic original series. The new movie which should be a blast will be on my ‘movies to watch list’. I guess I should publish that, shouldn’t I?

Mad Men - a mid-viewing review

I like Mad Men. Its a really good show and I finally know why. The acting is, lack of a better word, phenomenal. January Jones is gorgeous. Christina Hendricks is a great femme fetale. Jon Hamm plays a great classic. I might not know how to describe acting or character but I know when good is good. So I guess I should be showing some work soon, shouldn't I?

its late, signing out.

i - well just watch

iPussy - watch more funny videos

broner

I found this video a little while ago and showed it to a bunch of friend. it show a little bit of the dark humor I enjoy. Rob Corddry rocks.

Rob Corddry Has A Broner by Rob Corddry

tv shows and tv shows, and ah, tv shows

I've got to admit, I'm addicted to TV. I'm addicted to pop culture. well, there's a bunch of stuff but I'll get to them one at a time.

So, about TV. That thing is cool. yeah I own one. Well on my computer. Its a internet connection to my brother's SlingBox which is in NY. Slingbox, if you didn't know is remote connection with a cable box over the internet. its great for me cause when I'm up my brother is sleeping or at work. and I have NOW tv.

This and the last years lineups from US TV are phenomenal. Mad Men, a period show based in the 1960s about Advertising men in Manhatten. I've finally caught onto the show - its finally being broadcast on NOW, I guess on FX, late night. in the states its on AMC. And proof that its, well, that good, it won Golden Globe for Best TV Drama Series. its brillantly styled - costumes, hair, makeup, the period language and mentalities. if you watch it you'll understand what I'm talking about. its so unPC its amazing.

I've also been watching Burn Notice, a show about a spy whos been 'burned' (term used to decribe a spy whos been fired by his agency). based in Miami the main character Michael Weston investigate the circumstances regarding his 'burn' as well as undertaking services to people his comes across. well its a better show than CSI: Miami.

Life is a real good show I've have a chance to catch-up to. Psych is good one too. And Monk. And House. And 30 Rock. You know what, go watch some shows.

photos from the new phone

hey all,

starting off a new blog here. testing out the thing. and here it is.

first off, pictures from my new phone. I bought this a little while back. its a HTC touch pro. yea, I know, a little too expensive but absolutely cause my old dopod c730 (actually the numbers are weird here because HTC bought dopod when I bought my phone. so finding it is hard. its practically in cell phone pergatory)

I took a couple of pictures during new years - and I've got to say I've never been a fan of cell phone pictures but its handy, its not a 1ds mark III or a 8x10 but its quick and dirty. so lets play figure out who this is:


this was taken, yea, drunk. the cool thing about the phone is the flash, well sort of flash. its a LED next to the lens so its exposure is S**t. which explains the blur. so who is this? its model Ana R. WOOHOO! how I took it and why, I don't know. I've never taken a picture of her till now and I finally took a bad one. or is it so bad its good. I'll opt for that.

so heres the first of many posts. stay tuned.