Saturday, January 27, 2007

1408 Trailer Hits!

What I consider to be Stephen King's scariest short story has been made into a movie (high quality QuickTime link). Now, there's several things in the trailer that aren't in the original story, but the original would have been nearly impossible to make identical on screen anyway. This should be pretty dang sweet. Here's the YouTube version:

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

Just Like A Mini-Mall!

First, watch. It's truly a wonder to behold:



Seriously, that's their main selling point. "Just like a mini-mall."

Not "lowest prices!"
Not "great customer service!"
Not even "free hot dog with any purchase!"

No no, "Just like a mini-mall." What does that even mean? And more importantly, it appears to be a furniture store. How, exactly, is that "just like a mini-mall?" Also, check out the dude's eyes at about 0:45. I am sore afraid...

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Rejoice! We Have A New Savior!

The Church of Scientology has chosen a new "Christ"!

BEHOLD:



TOM Cruise is the new “Christ” of Scientology, according to leaders of the cult-like religion.

The Mission: Impossible star has been told he has been “chosen” to spread the word of his faith throughout the world.


Praise be to L. Ron Hubbard! Truly, we are blessed to have his gaze upon us.

Snow Patrol Drummer Breaks Arm Whilst Snowboarding

You can cut the irony with a knife. Sucks, though. He's a pretty good drummer (and it's a GREAT band. One of my faves.) Anyhoo:

Snow Patrol drummer Jonny Quinn has been replaced for the band's forthcoming tour - after breaking his arm in a snowboarding accident. The hitmakers have enlisted the services of longtime friend Graham Hopkins to replace Quinn. Quinn suffered his injury while snowboarding in the French Alps.

Last year, Snow Patrol were forced to cancel several European shows when bassist Paul Wilson suffered an injury, and the band also had to cut a number of American appearances when singer Gary Lightbody lost his voice. Hopkins will join the band for their forthcoming European and Australian dates, starting on March 4 in Offenbach, Germany.


No idea if Snow Patrol had to call the snow patrol.
--Good lord, that was a bad joke.
"I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Ghost In The Shell Goes Hollywod


AS much as I love GiTS, and would love to see it brought to a mainstream US audience, I have mixed feelings about this:

Animation company Production I.G has received permission from Kodansha to act as an agent to develop a live-action film with a Hollywood studio based on Ghost in the Shell.

Negotiations with American entertainment companies have not been a strong point for Japanese Anime and Film studios in the past. However, hopes are high that a project involving Ghost in the Shell would be more successful due to the significant number of people in the American film business who are fans of the series. The size of the North American fanbase for Ghost in the Shell is also a factor.


On the one hand, there's a reason (for the most part) that anime is anime. Some stories just can't be told in live action (at least not easily). There are (essentially) no limitations to what the animators can do.

On the other hand, I absolutely LOVE the Ghost in the Shell series. Sadly, some people just can't get over the "animation" part of anime and think of them as just "cartoons" (which is completely wrong, but I digress). So live action presents the story in way that is accessible to more people, and also gives the story a Hollywood-type budget.

Anyway, GiTS is a fascinating story, and brilliantly told. The animation is top-notch, and the world is fully realized, and has incredible depth. I think I'm looking forward to this. More as it becomes available.

Wednesday, January 17, 2007

The Worst Day Ever

My buddy Justin just sent me the funniest email I've read in quite some time. See, we're having this ice storm in central Texas and Baylor University (where we both work) likes to wait until 5:00am in the morning to decide whether to cancel or postpone classes or not. They decided to delay until 10:00. Here's J-Dawg's thoughts. Enjoy:

Hey, I've got a crazy idea. Let's open Baylor up at 10am today. Teachers and essential employees will have to come in earlier, of course, to get things ready, but I'm sure they won't mind standing out in the freezing rain trying to de-ice their cars. After all, how many of them don't have garages to park in? Probably just the grad students, but they'll be fine. And, let's let them drive down roads that the weathermen are calling "treacherous" and telling everyone to stay off of. It'll build character. After all, the slickest roads are the ones around Baylor anyway. We won't bother salting them, that would be a waste of precious time. We'll just let the teachers slip and slide on them enough to let them thaw out. We need as many as can come in early to come now since the weather is actually going to get worse by 10am. And let's let them see that the other school districts changed their minds about opening at 10am and instead decided to cancel. Those pansies, they act like they've never seen a winter storm warning and a freezing rain advisory before!

The worst day ever is today.


The good news: Baylor canceled classes about the same time I got this email.

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Inventor of Instant Ramen Dies



A sad, sad day indeed.

Momofuku Ando, inventor of instant ramen and founder and chairman of Nissin Food Products Co. in Osaka, died of a heart attack Friday. He was 96.

Ando, also chairman of the Japan Convenience Foods Industry Association, is widely regarded as having affected the nation's food culture.

On Thursday, Ando made a speech at a ceremony marking the company's first workday of the year. He then went home to rest, as he had a high fever. He was taken to a hospital in Ikeda, Osaka Prefecture, on Friday afternoon, but at that point, he was already in cardiorespiratory arrest.

Born in Taiwan, Ando established a seafood company in 1948. Ten years later, Ando invented the world's first instant ramen product that could be prepared just by adding hot water, in a workshop at his home in Ikeda. At the end of 1958, he changed the company's name to its current moniker. Before long, Nissin's Chicken Ramen had become a great success.

In 1971, the company began selling Cup Noodle. Ando made Cup Noodle a worldwide hit by exporting to the United States, European and other Asian nations.

Ando also established the association and became its director in 1964 to maintain order in the industry, as many other companies had violated Nissin's patents after the success of Chicken Ramen.

In 1981, Ando became chairman of Nissin and in 1989 he also became chairman of the association. In 2005, he took the title of founder and chairman.


I love me some ramen. Endless possiblities, cheap, and most importantly, GOOD! There are countless websites, blogs, and cookbooks dedicated to the humble ramen noodle soup. I will lift a bowl tomorrow in honor of Ando-san. Kampai!

Good Idea: Mandatory Gun Ownership

Glenn Reynolds has an article publish on the NYTimes about some cities new mandatory gun ownership ordinances. Sayeth the GreatMoose: Superb idea.

Last month, Greenleaf, Idaho, adopted Ordinance 208, calling for its citizens to own guns and keep them ready in their homes in case of emergency. It’s not a response to high crime rates. As The Associated Press reported, “Greenleaf doesn’t really have crime ... the most violent offense reported in the past two years was a fist fight.” Rather, it’s a statement about preparedness in the event of an emergency, and an effort to promote a culture of self-reliance.


I think that last part may be the most important: Self-reliance. We should not HAVE to wait on the police to handle a problem. Look at Katrina. Half the police abandoned the town anyway, the ones that were left could do nothing about all the crime. Sometimes you gotta handle it yourself.

My recommendation: The Saiga-12 12-gauge shotgun



It's a great zombie-killin' tool. Also shoots skeet really well!

Friday, January 12, 2007

It's like Nifong is mooning the system...

I haven't posted on the Duke "Not-A-Rape" debacle yet, but I figure now's a good time to update everybody (a good site for all things case related). Anyway, the "victim" has now changed her story so many times it's amazing the case hasn't been thrown out yet. The prosecuter, Mike Nifong, has destroyed these poor guys' lives, and has yet to get into any trouble at all. A great recap of all the absurdity is here and here.

A Duke law professor, James Coleman asked in an interview for News & Observer that "Who would believe that a witness, nine months later, suddenly recalls facts that coincidentally negate evidence produced by the defense?" He suggested that it's time to start investigating Nifong for crimial behavior (DUH!). "These people are almost criminal. It's making a mockery of the system. It's like Nifong is mooning the system. It's contemptuous."

Looking through all the evidence and testimony, there is no freakin' way these three boys are guilty. It's pretty clear that the "victim" is a lying whore. And so is DA Nifong. Sorry, but it had to be said.

Tuesday, January 09, 2007

Apple Unveils iTV and iPhone

OK, I'm sold on the iPhone. That thing is the cat's pajamas. And at $499 for a 4GB, and $599 for an 8GB, it's about the same price as the MotoRazr was when it came out. This thing has to be seen to be believed. Oh, and it's Apple, Inc. now. They've dropped the "Computer" from their name.



Follow the link above for a bevy (that's right, a bevy) of pics and info. Holy cow.

The Greatest Commercial Of All Time

Starring none other than "The Chin" himself, Bruce Campbell. BEHOLD!



I think he's supposed to be God in this commercial (ala Bruce Almighty). And what is up with that room?

UPDATE: Oh, snap! Watching it again, I notice there's the Necronomicon and a chainsaw in the background. Props to the Evil Dead!

Thursday, January 04, 2007

Bad@ss of the Year Award Goes to This Man



If you haven't heard the story yet, this is the guy with the WORLD'S BIGGEST CAJONES, that jumped on that kid that fell on the metro tracks and saved him. Here's the story.

When he couldn't get him off the tracks as a train approached, he covered the teenager in a space between the rails while two of the train cars passed over them.


Now THAT, my friends, is a HERO. And consider this: his two daughters were standing there with him.

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Steve Martin Says Goodbye to Saddam

It's freakin' hi-lar-ious. Done with sarcasm that only "The Jerk" can muster:

Your loyalty to family is rare in our times. When your half-brother was assassinated, Oh how we wept for you, thinking, what a terrible accident this assassination is. My Saddam, I wish we had more time with you, to find out what makes you tick, tick, tick. How your golden toilet seat will miss you!


It's short, sweet, and classic Martin. Imagine his voice with words, and you'll kick it up a notch. That's how a tribute to a dictator is done. Thanks, Steve!