I’m trying to figure out which of these will, historically speaking, suck more.
Category: Other
This is where everything “else” goes.
-
Avatar vs. Delgo
Avatar Trailer
-
Cotto vs. Pacquiao
“Okay, let’s make this official.”
Bob Aram, who represents both fighters, said both have verbally agreed to the terms, and that he expects the contracts to be signed by the end of this week. Aram did not disclose the purse split, but one would be crazy to think that it is anything more than a 60/40 split favoring Pacquiao.
So how do these two match up? Well first of all both of these guys are south paws, so this may level the playing field for the cut-prone Cotto and the duck-and-swing style of Pacquiao. The cuts have really affected Cotto’s recent fights, so this may bode well for him. If Manny has one single strength over the Puerto Rican, however, it’s hand speed. He’s made the best fighters in the world look like they downed a few Valium before their matches.
On the other hand, we have to consider whether Cotto’s monstrous body punching will force Manny’s hands to stay at home base long enough to put the Pac Man on the defensive. Personally, I don’t think so, but we’ll see what the critics say.
To me, speed beats strength at 145 lbs., which is the catch-weight these guys have agreed to fight at. Another question, which I don’t weigh as much (no pun intended), is whether the naturally larger, stronger fighter (Cotto) will be able to bully the smaller guy (Pacquiao) after having to drop weight to a less than comfortable amount. The reason I don’t care about this is that these guys are professionals. Pacquiao started out fighting at 103 lbs. and he’s dethroned world champions at 130, 135, 140 and 145 already.
A final comparison is quite simply who wants it more. Both of these fighters can unload their fists in any given round, and few can claim to have the brute strength of Miguel Cotto while even fewer can lay claim to the explosiveness of Manny Pacquiao. But when it comes down to it, will the Filipino dynamite lay waste to the Puerto Rican tank, who has looked less than convincing in his two biggest fights, or will history rewrite itself yet again?
We’ll find out November 14, I’m already counting the days!
P.S. I’ll have you over for the fight if you can guess who I was quoting at the start of this write-up. You have to get to my place on your own dime, though.
-
The 40 Year Winter.
Fans of George R.R. Martin’s fantasy series, A Song of Ice and Fire, are rejoicing at all of the casting news announced early this morning for the HBO pilot being filmed this fall (so far the show includes Peter Dinklage, Sean Bean and Mark Addy as the bigger names, with Gillian Anderson being rumored to jump on board as well). But one can’t help but shake one’s head in dismay at the Hollywood Reporter’s inability to put accurate facts into their releases.
Apparently in this series one must ascend to the Iron Throne in order to ensure their survival for the 40-year winter to come. This sounds enticing, but it is handedly false and mostly unfounded. Sometimes, editors, less is more. If you haven’t read the books, leave out the details.
Sigh.
-
Universal Health Care, American Style!
Click for Larger Image.
If you like going to the DMV, or think our tax code is like totally awesome, then you’re going to LOVE going to the doctor once the government steps in to rescue our health care system! See you at the doctor’s office… in line… with all of our forms… and three ball point pens… and our birth certificates… and our checkbooks. Yay!
-
Top Gear – Ken Block
My new favorite TV show? Why have I never heard of this? So wonderfully shot, edited, and even the host is interesting. Gotta love rights-free terms like “Facetube” and “Gamestation”. Ha.
-
Paulie Jr. vs. CL Smooth
If you know anything about 90’s rap music, you’ll know who CL Smooth is (of the group Pete Rock and CL Smooth). And if you know anything about pop culture, you’ll have heard of American Chopper, and of Paulie Jr. formerly of Orange County Choppers.
And if you’re like me, you’re wondering: “How did I not notice before how much these two guys look alike?”
I know, and I feel your startled reaction just like I felt it earlier this afternoon. But rest easy; I’m on the case, and on the hunt for any other cross-culture dopplegangers out there.
If you have any, please let me know. The more professionally disparate the better.
Youtube. Paulie Jr.
Youtube. CL Smooth. -
Burton’s Alice in Wonderland
Disney releases some concept art for Tim Burton’s upcoming reimagining of Alice in Wonderland. I have to say that, even though Ann Hathaway is going to be in this film (who has been omitted from the below photos for reasons of intolerance on my part), I am still very excited about this film.
Oh, and doesn’t Johnny Depp look like Elijah Wood in that photo?
Larger photos here. IMDB page here.
-
Ryan Gets Stoned – Part I
Hello,
At 1:15a last night, I was unpacking wardrobe boxes in my new Connecticut home while waiting for my sheets to dry. By 1:30a I felt a mild cramping in my lower left back, and figured I may have gas or something. By 1:45a I was literally on the ground writhing in what would later become the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my entire life.
I tried to deal with the agony as long as possible, holding out hope that it may have been simple intestinal cramping, and would go away. It did not.
By 3:00a I had woken my sleeping father-in-law, and asked if he had any ibu-profin. I explained my symptoms to him and he said, without flinching, two simple words.
“Get dressed.”
We arrived at the Danbury Hospital ER within the half-hour, where I was admitted and laid on a stretcher in a small room. They placed an IV drip into my arm, and asked me to describe all of what had happened. I tried to do my best in between shallow, pulled, excruciating breaths. Soon after, they sedated me with narcotics, and asked that I strain my urine the next time I had to go, which I did without protest.
Then I slept.
Two hours later, I was awoke by a new nurse (the day nurse), who informed me we were headed to a CAT Scan, followed by an X-Ray. It’s worth noting that I felt much better by this time, what with the drugging and all. After being wheeled all around the hospital to take the tests I returned to my room to await the results. Within fifteen minutes the doctor on call came into the room. He reminded me of a skinnier Quentin Tarantino.
He told me that the CAT Scan showed what he suspected to be the case: I had a kidney stone, and based on the imagery, I had passed it while in the hospital. This doesn’t mean it has left my body, only that it has made its way from the kidneys and is now floating somewhere in my bladder.
The doctor discharged me with a prescription for Percocet, and two days rest, at which point I will have to have a follow up examination. I am currently back home in bed as I write this, the home I literally just moved into today.
My kidney still throbs vigorously when I stand up, and the pharmacy doesn’t open for another two hours. However, compared to my ordeal in the middle of the night, I am on top of the world.
All of this said, I will not be coming into the office tomorrow to work.
…ryan
-
American Idol Season 8 Finale
So the performers have performed, the judges cast their judgement, voters phoned in their votes. Without a doubt, this was one of the best finales we’ve seen in all eight seasons of the show. And what are we left with? Two artists who have the relevance, talent and ability to sell millions of albums, that’s what.
In the red corner we have Adam Lambert, a Steven Tyler meets Steve Perry meets Nathan Lane type of stage character, and perhaps the first finalist who can really tap into the rock genre and have an impact in the way Carrie Underwood did in country music (I’m not sure if I should count the Nickelback-niched band Daughtry or not). He can definitely sing and perform, and has legions of fans ready to fight for him. His cover of Gary Jules’ cover of Tears for Fears was perhaps the highlight of the season when he first performed it a few weeks back.
And in the blue corner, the proverbial underdog Kris Allen. We’d barely heard a peep about this laid back singer in the auditions portion of the season, and he’s only gotten stronger as the weeks have gone by. I appreciate his ability to perform with an instrument, and feel his presence every time he plays. He fills that John Mayer, Jack Johnson, 311, Starbucks café niche perfectly. His connection to the audience and fans alike is different from Lambert in many ways, though he is just as willing to reinterpret a song, take risks, and make the performances his own. He doesn’t have the vocal prowess of Lambert, but he does possess more of that everyman, ordinary Joe quality which may take viewers by surprise tonight.
Their songs in the finale were for the most part excellent. Round 3 didn’t a prayer, as it was the Idol songwriter’s song round (ugh). But Allen’s “Ain’t No Sunshine,” and Lambert’s “A Change is Gonna Come,” left it all on the table for the viewers to decide. Allen had the misfortune of ending with an overreaching rendition of the crappy Round 3 song.
I predict Adam Lambert wins, narrowly. I wouldn’t be shocked if Allen pulls one out of the hat however, and I’d be happy either way. We have to remember that Danny Gokey fans had to cast their votes for someone last night, after all. Who do you think they are more likely to latch onto?
But I also predict both of these artists will produce more hits than all previous artists (with the exception of Carrie Underwood, who entered a very anemic country genre when she left the show). I would choose Kris Allen if the decision were in my hands, but with Gokey out of the competition due to a lack of taste and risk-taking, both of these guys would have been my second and third choices for the finals.
It’s worth noting that neither of these contestants have ever visited the bottom three until the final four week. It seems America has gotten it right this season, in my humble opinion.
-
Movie Review: Star Trek
Paramount presents a film directed by J. J. Abrams. Screenplay by Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. Running time: 126 minutes. MPAA rating: PG-13 (for sci-fi action and violence, and brief sexual content).
Film Rating: 87%
Star Trek the umpteenth reboot to one of the most iconic and successful and rebooted franchises in TV and film history. It’s a prequel (my friend called it Dawson’s Trek, which after watching I can’t say I really agree with), which is nothing new in and of itself, but funny how a relative newcomer to Hollywood (J.J. Abrams) is showing old timers like George Lucas how it should be done.
This film, in its very concept, works in broad strokes, taking us from the birth of Jim Kirk to his inevitable rite of passage as the more commonly known Captain Kirk. This inevitability is important, because the franchise was up against two factors here; on one hand, they needed to entertain and keep the die hard and part-time Trekkies alike giddy until the end; on the other, they had to initiate a new legion of fans (myself included) into the world of the U.S.S. Enterprise. On the most basic level, I’d say they succeed at both, but not without a few sacrifices and distractions.
First of all, Star Trek was entertaining and fun (for lack of any overly sophisticated words). I found myself cringing as Kirk tried desperately to seek shelter on the ice planet. I clung to every Scottish syllable Montgomery Scott (Scotty) issued forth. And though the romantic element was slightly thin overall, I found solace in an unexpected flame sparked around the half way point of the film. The world building sustained my interest, suspending my disbelief just long enough to get the job done. There were a couple of Armageddon moments, where if you blinked you missed the plot detours, which were usually fed to us by Sulu or Checkov (funny in his Polish dialect, though not as funny as Eugene Hutz in Everything Is Illuminated, who would have been a more interesting casting choice).
Secondly, and equally as important when reading other reviews of this film and wondering why it is not held in the same esteem as, say, the original Star Wars, or even Casino Royale, is that Star Trek is also (for all of its charms) a very pedestrian movie. The plotting was mostly text book sci-fi pulp drivel, the characters strained yet never bent beyond their predeterined archetypes, and the dialog (while entertaining) never held any true sense of import. Moments of sage wisdom or contemplative decision-making came across as telegraphed punches, making the comic relief less sharp than it could have been. Where was the risk? The existentialist Stephen Hawking theories? Why tread lightly when you should be going boldly? I felt like the revelations in this film could have been as epic as the visuals themselves set out to be.
I was surprised by the devotion to Spock as a pivot-point of the plot. You would have thought it might have easily become a journey of Kirk’s rites of passage to becoming captain. I think it was a wise move to shift away from that pitfall, lest it feel too much like the Anakin Skywalker’s rise to Darth Vader. The central conflict—involving an alien race hell-bent on revenge, the Romulans—was just okay, nothing original or Earth-shattering (actually…). That aspect of the film felt like filler to me, the misguided revenge as a weak crux in the middle of a rollicking space opera epic. The macguffin itself, however, I rather liked; the whole red matter as pebble-in-a-pond motif worked for me here (literally) on an inter-planetary level.
A moment’s attention on the cinematography. I am a fan of J.J. Abrams, and LOST may be one of the all-time greatest television series of all time, but I swear to Jacob himself when I say that I lost count of how many lens flares he used within the first two minutes of the film. I think he even managed to get a flare in on a predawn landscape. He made Michael Mann look like Ken Burns after this. Combine that with J.J.’s newfangled Paul Greengrass inflected handheld maneuvering, and you have a movie that only functions at least twelve rows back from the front. This is an important footnote, for there is nothing as distracting as a camera who is overly aware of herself. I could almost hear her speaking to me like a fledgling pigeon, saying “Watch me, aren’t I clever?” on more than one occasion.
All of that said, I give this film a smiley face with a wink. I loved watching Chris Pine (James Kirk) and Zachary Quinto (Spock, aka Sylar in Heroes, aka a much better choice for the role than the once-courted Adrien Brody) build up their repoire over the course of the film. I really thought several of the scenes were wonderfully imaginative (Vulcan’s educational pods springs to mind, along with the sky diving down to the Romulan’s drill base scene). The acting was over the top but worked for the material, and besides a few of the interior shots of Starship Enterprise (see image below), Abrams managed to eschew the b-movie film/TV series connotations (ie. M.A.S.H. in spandex).
Star Trek is most certainly the first of many new films in an instantly rejuvenated franchise, the denouement alone made that much clear. They’ve rebooted the Bond franchise successfully, why not Star Trek? I can already imagine the sequel in my head; you know, the one where Kirk tries to change the past and rekindle his relationship with his father, only to be faced with a difficult choice when the fate of a helpless planet hangs in the balance. The one where black holes act like quick sand because the CG effects can look cooler. The one with lens flares used as glints on teeth and eyes, just because it makes everything look better. Yeah that one. See you at the theater in a couple years for more.
Oh, before signing off, I just wanted to mention how I found myself tying some of the logic of time travel in this film back to Abram’s LOST project, and actually I think he dropped some clues in this film. Anyone else catch that?
-
Men and boys, that was.
Manny Pacquiao and Ricky Hatton, two of the most acclaimed boxers in the sport, faced off last night in Las Vegas. Many people speculated that brute strength would rule the day. Others posited the fight would come down to speed and elusiveness. Well it turned out they were both right.
Only it was Pacquiao in possession of both, as he steam-rolled the “naturally bigger man”, scoring two knockdowns in round 01 (one a perfectly timed counter right cross, apparently the very punch they worked on in the gym; the other an imposing straight left which connected with Ricky’s glove and subsequently into his face). I worried we might see a repeat of the Juan Manuel Marquez rematch, where Pacquiao knocked Marquez down three times in round 01, only to win a controversial decision.
But then I remembered that this is Ricky Hatton, the Manchester brawler who doesn’t back down, who doesn’t run away… who doesn’t adapt or adjust, try as he may. It only took one more round to be reassured that Hatton, good as he is, was not as good as Marquez last night.
The winning blow came in the waning seconds of round 2; a vicious Bruce Lee inspired left hook to the chin, torquing Ricky’s face and sending the Hitman flailing unconscious into the deep blue canvas (aka next Tuesday). Fortunately Hatton is okay; the way he went down it could have gone either way.
People can talk all they like about the “walk around weight” Hatton puts on between fights. That doesn’t really tell the whole story, however, as was demonstrated in this match-up. It has more to do with what strength and weight and speed and skill you bring with you into the ring, not out. Both of these fighters have huge fan-bases, immense country pride, and original, highly likable personas (case-in-point: watch the HBO 24/7 series).
But more importantly than all of that, both fighters are well-known knockout punchers. It just so happens that Pacquiao is about five times faster than Hatton, and Hatton is pretty fast. I’m not sure who you would consider to be the stronger fighter based on last night’s performance, but I’ll reserve my opinion for now.
I wonder, however, will the pundits reflect upon this victory and say Hatton just had an “off night” or perhaps it was simply a “bad game plan” or maybe Manny “landed a lucky shot”? Will they marginalize Pacquiao’s dominance once again? I surely hope not; that would be half-witted and foolhardy.
However, the critics were quick to throw caveats in the air following his win against De La Hoya, the same critics who deemed Manny the statistical underdog. Manny then went on to utterly dismantle the Golden Boy over the course of ten painful-to-watch rounds. Apparently Pacquiao actually didn’t prove he was a great fighter in their eyes though; Oscar was simply out of shape, dehydrated, past his prime. Funny, though, how much better De La Hoya looked against Mayweather just one year before, when none other than Freddy Roach was training him (Roach, who has been Pacquiao’s trainer and surrogate father for eight years and running; Roach, whom De La Hoya promptly fired after his loss).
But I digress. No matter how you look at it, whether you claim Hatton couldn’t pick himself up and evolve following his heartbreaking loss to Mayweather, or whether you believe Pacquiao is the undeniable pound-for-pound boxer in the world. Only one real question remains:
Will Pacquiao fight Floyd Mayweather Jr., and get to be the only fighter in the sport to deliver the Pretty Boy a loss?
Or will Juan Manuel Marquez beat him to the punch come this July? I believe it will be one or the other who does the honors, and hopefully the Pride of the Philippines gets the shot. As the boxer who single-handedly (the left hand, specifically) dethroned and dismantled the nearly empirical reign of Mexican warriors far and wide (Erik Morales, Marco Antonio Barrera, Juan Manuel Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya), Pacquiao has certainly earned it.
-
Babies are Cute… Especially Mine!
Rose Stretching.
-
Silhouettes Unite!
Not going to say too much here, but our friends at Digital Kitchen certainly have no shortage of inspiration. Here is a piece they did for Seattle International Film Festival, 2009. Compare that with Portland Studio’s “Dutemps” project for Zune-Arts, 2008.
I know what you’re going to say: “But wait! In the first example it’s an old man with a flask, and the second example it’s a boy with a lantern.”
But seriously, let’s be real; the pieces bare a eerily strange resemblance in palette, technique, and execution to one another. The concepts are different sure, audio, etc. but it’s still a good idea to push things far enough away from the source so that the police (ie. me) don’t come out of the woodwork to make a point of it.
-
Breaking the Mold with Clae.
These guys have been around for a while, but they just recently jumped on my radar (thank you, ANTENNAE). I just really dig the mix of casual and classy. They juxtapose premium details, like leather interiors and custom molded footbeds, alongside casual sportswear design cues. The result is a comfortable shoe you can hit the streets in, even if you’re headed to the opera house for a night with the philharmonic.
Visit Clae Shoes.
-
King Kong Bundy was Robbed.
<nostalgia>My uncle took me to this when I was a boy. I remember the battle royale, there were NFL guys in the ring with the wrestlers. Needless to say they got Harlem Globetrotted right out of there. The Dream Team were defeated as well, and Ozzy Osbourne made an appearance.
It wasn’t until it was over that I realized that I would not be seeing Hulk Hogan vs. King Kong Bundy. That was at the California event. Tragic.</nostalgia>
-
American Idol – Danny Gokey
It is for stories like this that I watch American Idol every year. I still don’t own any music from any of the contestants, but the show has become its own microcosm, it’s own beginning and end.
Also, I predict Danny Gokey, featured in the heart-wrenching video below, will win American Idol. I predicted it after the second round of cuts, and I’m sticking to it. As of this posting, he is in the top 36, which will be cut down to 9 next week.
UPDATE: Last night, Danny made the cut, and is now part of the top 9. So far so good.
-
Google’s New Auto Complete.
It’s amazing what you can learn about our culture by entering just a few words. Try it for yourself.
-
The Divided States of America
Why does this map scare the ever-living crap out of me?
-
Hobbymasters
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozX24VxC8NA
The writing and acting in this commercial is unparalleled. I’ve never witnessed a more genius way to sell product. Oh wait… huh?
(Thanks, Eric!)
-
Lost in Manhattan
Behold, a rare rant…
(Apologies in advance.)
I left my job in Chicago to pursue a career in New York City. I have friends here… somewhere… but for now I am in a hotel room alone.
My very precious daughter Grace and very pregnant wife Erin are all back home while I figure this new (ad)venture out, which makes it all the lonelier.
I felt like pausing here, to exhale and put these words down somewhere. I’ve always been the reclusive type, preferring a quiet corner of the room to its noisy epicenter. But for some reason, this time, here, the isolation is cold. Or is that the wind chill?
I realize New York is not going to find me, I have to discover New York. I’ll get there, soon, when I’m done getting lost.
Thank you for listening.
-
Oh, Uncle Joe!
Oh Joseph Stalin, so chic and so gentle. History must have gotten you all wrong. Such a poor, misunderstood, metrosexual, sensitive communist dictator. Tragic, really, don’t you think?
