Have a Harry Thanksgiving

UPDATE 8/18/08: If you hadn't heard the announcement last week, looks like this film is getting pushed all the way to Summer of '09! There may be post-production issues to be worked out, but I suspect that Warner Brothers may want to try to dominate next summer the way they did with The Dark Knight.

Not only will we get to see the second Daniel Craig-incarnate Bond film, Quantum of Solace, this November but also the second to last chapter in the Harry Potter series - Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The story gives more background to the rise of Voldemort and builds up to the last book, The Deathly Hallows. This won't be the second to last movie, as The Deathly Hallows will apparently be made into 2 films to milk the franchise. Teaser was just released today:

NFL & Reebok Concerned About Hearing Conservation?

Reebok just released a commercial advertising the new NFL Reebok Speedwick Performance Tee, showcasing an array of NFL stars, including the Colts' Manning, Saturday, and Wayne (0:35). The most important thing about this commercial that I'm commenting on is the appropriate use of hearing protection in a commercial. Titans quarterback Vince Young (0:20) is shown on a riding lawn mower and wearing ear muffs. Many power mowers average around 90 dB SPL, which is definitely loud enough where the exposure will make some susceptible to noise induced hearing loss. I guess I was shocked about this commercial showing the hearing protection because if you go to lawn mower vendors' websites, you won't even see the ads or promo shots with people wearing hearing protection. Take Toro, Honda, or John Deere, I couldn't find any hearing protection in the photos or videos.

British Kids Say the Darndest Things

I've mentioned this series before, but I recently finished the entire series as it exists right now at this moment. I'm talking about the amazing Up Series, a (as of right now) 7 film documentary series that follows a number of British children from different socioeconomic backgrounds and interviews them every 7 years to watch the progression of their life. The first film, Seven Up, was film in 1964. It's amazing to see the progression of someone as they age, how they change along with the times and fashions. You find yourself trying to predict how their lives will end up, does looking at a child at seven show much of what he or she will end up for the rest of their lives. Very fascinating, director Michael Apted has somehow been able to keep this project going for this long. Watching one soon after another can be a bit repetitive since much of past footage from previous films are rehashed in the more current ones to show the progression, but finishing one does have you wanting more.
Here's the rundown of the films, Netflix them:

• Seven Up*
• 7 Plus Seven*
• 21 Up*
• 28 Up*
• 35 Up
• 42 Up*
• 49 Up
  

* Currently can be seen on Watch Instantly


I don't want to show too much footage from the series, as it's quite rewarding to watch the progression of these peoples' lives. Here's a brief clip of the latest, 49 Up(2005).




A short insight from British child Paul, from 1964 in Seven Up:

Fine Military Dining

When I think about military rations, the first thing that comes to mind are floating, rotating, non-descript brown boxes that you collect in Metal Gear Solid for increasing health. While testing for the National Guard here at the Yakima Training Center, I've gotten the opportunity to try an MRE or Meal, Ready to Eat ration. I tried some of the Pork Rib MRE, which is Meal Number 2 of 24 for the 2008 Menu - sounds like a trading card. Here's what was in the MRE:

• 1 Pork Rib
• 1 Clam Chowder
• 2 Wheat Snack Bread
• 1 Oatmeal Cookie
• 1 CHO Electrolyte Beverage (Like Gatorade Mix)
• 1 Packet of Cheese Spread
• 1 Packet of Steak Sauce
• 1 Accessory Packet A (Coffee, Sugar, Creamer, Salt, Chewing Gum, Matches, Toilet Tissue, Towelette)
• 1 Spoon
• 1 Flameless Heater
• 1 Hot Beverage Bag

The flameless ration heater is great, you add a little water to the pouch and in seconds it begins to steam. Stick the heater next to the food pouches and you've got cooked food in minutes. The food tastes doesn't taste too bad, definitely better and more filling than a Lunchables. Check out www.mreinfo.com to look more into MRE's.



Must look for a HOOAH! Bar:

Ichiro Good Luck for AL All Stars

After a long and drawn out All Star Game for the last time in Yankee Stadium, the AL All Stars finally won their 6th straight All Star Game in 15 innings. Although no team won in 2002, as a result of a tie, the NL team has not won an All Star Game since 1996. Ichiro has been to the All Star Game since 2001 representing the Mariners and has not lost in the game since. Last year, he won MVP honors in San Francisco and scoring the first in-the-park homer in All Star Game history. Recently, reports from AL All Stars are that the Japanese import is the secret to the AL's recent success due to a speech he gives before the game. He gives a speech, in English, cursing out the NL team. Ichiro usually uses an interpreter for interviews, but this speech is all on his own. It's been quoted as "Bleep, bleep, National League, bleep, bleep, bleeping National bleep." Below is an interview with Bob Costas, including Ichiro speaking some English....he' never going to play for the Royals: (Explicit Language)

Who Will Watch the Watchmen? Me!

The trailer for a film I've been waiting for since it's initial pre-production over a year ago finally has it's first trailer! The film is Watchmen, an adaptation of Alan Moore's (V for Vendetta) graphic novel about washed up superheroes in the '80's and their relevance in society. This novel appeared on Time magazine's 100 best English-language novels from 1923 to the present released in 2005. Elements from the novel have been used in many other modern plot lines, The Incredibles and Heroes are a couple of examples. The film is directed by Zak Snyder, who did an exceptional job adapting the novel 300. Check out the trailer!

The Next Star Wars Kid?

Not as ridiculous as Ghyslain Raza, the Star Wars Kid. This new 'Halo Kid' spends his time making weapons out of cardboard. I'm not sure if reloading or demonstrating melee attacks with a cardboard gun is a useful skill for a middle school kid.



This kid should spend some time building some equipment like the gear the guys at Nightmare Armor make:

Bringin' the Payne

So there have been a slew of video games live-action adapted to the silver screen. Many have been quite aweful - Tomb Raider, Postal, Doom, Resident Evil, Dungeon Siege, Street Fighter, Hitman, BloodRayne, Mortal Kombat (ok, but sequel was horrid), Silent Hill, Double Dragon, DOA even got a movie recently,.....and who can forget Super Mario Brothers. Hailed by many as the worst director in Hollywood, Uwe Boll directed 3 of the above films - not a good track record for video games. Recently a trailer has been released for Max Payne, starring Mark Wahlberg. The film looks like it has potential to be watchable. Having played both the original game as well as the sequel, the franchise has taken a lot from pulp crime noir films - grainy film, dark colors and lighting, monologue voice overs, revenge, etc. The game was released not too long after the films Payback and The Matrix were released, utilizing the style and background of the Gibson-starred film and featuring bullet-time effects. Most notably, the game draws a lot of classic John Woo bullet ballet gun play. Here's the teaser trailer:

Resolution in Nerd Drama

A film a couple years in the making has finally made a breakthrough in a somewhat arduous ordeal. The movie Fanboys, set in the year 1998, follows a group of friends who want to break into the Skywalker Ranch and steal Episode 1: The Phantom Menace before it releases in theaters due to the fact that one of them has cancer and may not live to see the then highly desired prequel. When press was released of this Star Wars fans from all around were excited in anticipation of the film, even Lucas himself gave his approval and helped with the movie. Then came the monkey wrench in the project. News broke that The Weinstein Company, who was producing the film, was planning on editing the film by cutting out the cancer aspect because they believed it made the film too depressing. Those in the media who saw both early cuts of the film with and without the cancer plot lines felt that the cancer-free film did not have the heart of the original cut and also portrayed geeks across the world in a bad light. Geek rage grew over the web and there were talks of boycotting the film and The Weinstein Company. Upon the release of the Weinstein's film Superhero Movie, fans attempted to boycott the film and there were even planned protests at theaters around the country. With all of this drama and upheaval over the film it was announced yesterday that the original cancer plot will indeed be shown in the theatrical release, appeasing the masses of geeks around the world. I'm definitely excited about this film, I do not believe there is an official release date as of yet, but I'd say it'll be out within the next year or so. Here's the teaser trailer that has been lingering for awhile:

Hooked on Rapture

When I got my laptop, I knew I had to get a game. I got Bioshock. This awesome FPS pits you in an underwater stylistic art deco world where genetic splicing has gone too far has been overrun by zombies, vampiric children, and giant crazies in diving suits w/ drills for hands. Now I'm hooked on it. Trailer below. Beautiful Unreal 3 engine........

Competitive Eating Shifted to Overtime

This is old news, but if you didn't catch it on the 4th of July, Joey Chestnut defeats Kobayashi again at the 2008 Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest in a 5 hotdog eat off after they both tie during the regulation time. This year's competition was cut down 2 minutes from 12 to 10.

A Wonderful Miracle of Science & Music

So I'm back from the East Coast for 4th of July weekend. I can't believe the Northwest is that much better in the summer! I'm rockin' out w/ my new Dell XPS M1530. I'll show it off soon, still trying to get it all tweaked. Anyways, here's a video about a cool new procedure, Aural Implant Technology:

Another Sequel Trailer Cometh

So I still have yet to see Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, or Prince Caspian. I don't really care too much about The Incredible Hulk, but may give Hellboy II: The Golden Army a watch. I am waiting in anticipation for this month's The Dark Knight, also Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince this holiday season. Next year's Terminator: Salvation or Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen have not released a teaser yet. One sequel coming out this holiday season, has just released it's first trailer : Quantum of Solace, the next installment in the Daniel Craig led James Bond series. The film supposedly starts right where Casino Royale left off, developing more of the raw Bond we saw into the Bond we've seen in the last 20 films.