Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Dark Matter Music

I am not very familiar with this theory of dark matter, but apparently many scientists believe that it is the dominant substance that makes up the universe/space. Well, now some scientists are running experiments on the music that dark matter makes. I think we already knew what dark music sounds like, though. The Prince-lord of Darkness himself (H.I.M., you sly devil, you...) already beat them to it, I say. Come on, science... get with it.

Friday, January 25, 2008

My World

I'm very excited right now. I was remembering the days when a few of us started wearing "Fertility Stones" that we'd buy from the $.25 bins at Wal-Mart. It sparked some ideas for a story. At this point, there is no story, but I am brainstorming the creation of a world from that simple and quite silly idea. I guess the part that I like the most about it is that one of my weird little jokes could turn into something that I now feel has merit as a world/setting for me to play in.
I won't really say anything more about it at the moment (I have discovered that my excitement for the process of creation always sticks around longer when I don't share details with anyone else. I have no idea why that is, but once I start talking about it with others, the excitement and "need" to work on it diminish).
If I can ever find anyone to try Dungeons and Dragons with me, I think I just may use it as the setting. Although, I admit that no one seems too keen on the idea of playing Dungeons and Dragons (I know it's nerdy, but come one people! Who doesn't like being taken to a dream world of magic? Finding enough for a whole group of 5-6 is turning out to be pretty tough).

Interim Deals

The WGA has worked out a couple more interim deals with both Marvel Studios and Lionsgate. The link to the Lionsgate article mentions some other studios that have reached agreements with the WGA, also. This makes me very happy. I'm also glad to relay this little bit of info: Viggo Mortensen, who has been nominated for Best Actor, will be snubbing the Oscars unless the AMPTP has reached an agreement with the WGA. Good for you, sir.

And the last thing I'll mention in movie news: they are planning a Saw 5. That is sad to me. Let it go, guys. Let it go.

Monday, January 07, 2008

The Fun of Editing!!

Before I continue on, watch this "trailer."


I've never actually seen the original movie (I have only seen the made for tv re-make), but thought this was so clever. Afterward I thought of all the fun you could have twisting movie plots and what not through nothing more than the editing.
It was then that I realized why I get so angry with Michael Moore. The man does this (but not in a cutesy/clever way--he willingly and intentionally misleads people through doctoring his footage) and distorts truth through the magic of editing.
He is not the only filmmaker who does this, nor is it limited to film at all. You can find it in all mediums, and it leaves us unable to fully trust anything we hear or see. Everything becomes a matter of perception and portrayal.
That does not remove "truth," though. I am reminded of the saying: "You can put lipstick on a pig, but it is still a pig." Think about that for a second; the pig is a pig. No amount of make-up changes that. However, it is scary how effective something like make-up can be when the farmer has an agenda. It is also scary how many of us will fall for the ruse, and find ourselves making out with a pig. I guess the scariest part, is when we fall so deeply into the lie, that when we are reminded that it is actually a pig, we are past caring.

Friday, January 04, 2008

Matthew Fox Interview

This one comes from Entertainment Weekly and definitely talks about season 4. Consider yourself warned (Steven). Very good stuff. It really got me hoping for a quick resolution of the writers' strike. Come on AMPTP! Quit screwing everyone over!

Also, here is an interview that Harold Perrineau (Michael) did.

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Happy Birthday

In my daily intrawebbed wanderings, I came across a site dedicated to toasting J.R.R. Tolkien's birthday (which also just happens to be today). I signed up (the link should go to the page that has my entry, but if not, then it is alphabetical and under the name "John of Cory"), wrote my drink of choice and toast, and then proceeded to the office kitchen to retrieve said drink. Then, I toasted the man who has helped me waste more time than just about anyone. Thanks, Jrr.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Indy IV

I just read a fantastic interview in Vanity Fair of Lucas, Spielberg, and the man Harrison himself. They talk all about the new movie, a bit about the old ones, and a little about themselves. I loved it.

Spoiler Warning (i.e. don't read on Sir Steven--I know how you hate to know anything about movies before hand)!!!!

So, the fourth movie is set in the late 50s and has more of a science fiction twist to it. Add to that the emergence of a new villain (for Indy at least) of the Russians, and I gotta tell you that I'm stoked! I had a ton to say, but then I realized that the article says it all for me, so I'll just leave it at that: go read the article.

Very Touching

I just learned that my 11-year-old niece, Emilee, opted to do something different this year for her birthday. Instead of having the 10 girls that were invited to her birthday party bring gifts for her, she had them bring gifts for two widows in her ward. They put them in baskets and went and dropped them off. All of it was her idea.

I'm so impressed by her. I don't think I would have been willing to do that for my eleventh birthday. Shoot, I don't know if I'm willing to do that now.

It's amazing to me, though. People are always saying how bad this world is getting (myself included because, well, it is), but hearing a story like that inspires me. It gives me hope. What an amazing young woman (as far as I'm concerned, she has earned the right to be called a woman with a maturity like that).