Thursday, June 17, 2010
Television Thursday
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Nickelodeon 2005-2008(Wikipedia)
Well, I am finally down to the last episode of this series. I have thoroughly enjoyed the entire series, and I am looking forward to see how it all ends up. (All three seasons are currently streaming via Netflix.) The story revolves around the titular "Avatar" who must master the use of all four elements in order to rise up and defeat the baddies. The world in which this story takes place is highly influenced by our own Asian cultures. There are four lands and their respective peoples. Each land is based on one of the four elements and certain individuals are able to "bend" (manipulate) their peoples' element. It is essentially like using magic. Each culture also focuses on a specific style of martial arts. The creators of this show were fans and practitioners of martial arts, so that helped influence the direction of the show.
I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the show when I first discovered it. There is a very good balance of comedy, action, and to some extent, drama. It never feels too heavy-handed in its approach. The characters are all well developed and not annoying. I would have to say that it is one of the few cartoons in recent years that actually succeeds in being fun for both kids and adults. I also really appreciated the art design. They spent some time and effort in designing each culture and it shows. The voicework is also impressive. The main antagonist is named Zuko and he is voiced by the actor who played Rufio in the classic film "Hook." Even more exciting for me was when I discovered that one of the recurring characters (Iroh) was voiced by Mako (who also voiced Aku in "Samurai Jack.") Sadly, Mako passed away between seasons two and three, and was therefore not featured very prominently in the last season. It has won several awards including a Peabody in 2008.
There will be a live-action feature film based on this franchise. It is directed by M. Night Shyamalan. It is scheduled to be released on July 2, 2010. I imagine I will see it, but I just hope that it holds up as well as the cartoon has.
Nickelodeon 2005-2008(Wikipedia)
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Book Wednesday
Jock of the Bushveld
By: Percy Fitzpatrick in 1907(wikipedia)
In honor of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, I thought I would feature this book. I was given this book when I was six or seven and our family was living in Germany. When we first arrived in Germany we had to stay at a guesthaus while we waited for our new home to become available. We did not speak German (or Dutch) at that time, so we became very close friends with the only other English speaking family staying at the guesthaus. The family was from South Africa, and we still stay in touch with them to this day.
The family made several trips back to South Africa while we were still in Germany, and they brought back a copy of this book for me after one of their trips. I recall that I enjoyed the book since it had to do with animals as well as taking place in an exotic foreign country. The downside to the book follows the same style of Where the Red Fern Grows, The Yearling, Old Yeller, etc. In short...the dog dies at the end. Sorry to reveal a spoiler, but I think you can kind of figure that is what would happen. (Random aside: I think I finally figured out why our classes would always have to watch The Yearling or Fern when it was too rainy to go outside for PE. They were depressing movies that would keep all of the kids quiet instead of being rambunctious while staying indoors. Ah, psychological warfare in its most basic form.)
I also seem to recall seeing a movie version of this way back in the day. I believe that there were some scenes of Jock bounding through the tall veld grasses chasing something. Our neighbors, in Germany, had a dog. There were also several farming fields behind our house. On occasion, the neighbor's dog would go out and play in the fields. I remember thinking that he looked a lot like Jock when he would bound through the crops that had been planted.
I still want to make it to South Africa for a visit. I loved hearing about all the exciting things that our family friends did when they would go back to visit. One day I intend to make the trip and maybe I will get to see the statue of Jock myself.
By: Percy Fitzpatrick in 1907(wikipedia)
In honor of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, I thought I would feature this book. I was given this book when I was six or seven and our family was living in Germany. When we first arrived in Germany we had to stay at a guesthaus while we waited for our new home to become available. We did not speak German (or Dutch) at that time, so we became very close friends with the only other English speaking family staying at the guesthaus. The family was from South Africa, and we still stay in touch with them to this day.
The family made several trips back to South Africa while we were still in Germany, and they brought back a copy of this book for me after one of their trips. I recall that I enjoyed the book since it had to do with animals as well as taking place in an exotic foreign country. The downside to the book follows the same style of Where the Red Fern Grows, The Yearling, Old Yeller, etc. In short...the dog dies at the end. Sorry to reveal a spoiler, but I think you can kind of figure that is what would happen. (Random aside: I think I finally figured out why our classes would always have to watch The Yearling or Fern when it was too rainy to go outside for PE. They were depressing movies that would keep all of the kids quiet instead of being rambunctious while staying indoors. Ah, psychological warfare in its most basic form.)
I also seem to recall seeing a movie version of this way back in the day. I believe that there were some scenes of Jock bounding through the tall veld grasses chasing something. Our neighbors, in Germany, had a dog. There were also several farming fields behind our house. On occasion, the neighbor's dog would go out and play in the fields. I remember thinking that he looked a lot like Jock when he would bound through the crops that had been planted.
I still want to make it to South Africa for a visit. I loved hearing about all the exciting things that our family friends did when they would go back to visit. One day I intend to make the trip and maybe I will get to see the statue of Jock myself.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Art Tuesday
Dan McCarthy
Official Page
I have been fascinated by his art for quite some time now. I cannot remember where I first discovered his work, but I believe it was via the Inside the Rock Poster Frame blog. My understanding is that Dan started to get recognition due to his gigart posters, and has now developed quite a following for his art prints. Every year he sets up an opportunity for collectors to sign up to his monthly subscription. This will let them receive his monthly print without having to worry about it selling out before they have a chance to buy one. The subscription also includes a unique print that is not available anywhere else (other than Ebay of course.) My favorite print of his is "The Biography of a Carbon Atom."
He screenprints his works by himself in his own studio. He has a Facebook page that he updates with info when he finishes new art. His art incorporates several themes that I have noted. Almost all of them relate to science in some form. (I wonder why I like it...) Some recurring motifs are: trees, dinosaurs, mountains, nightscapes, skeletons, snow, and building architecture. He also uses shadows very well. I am not as fond of his prints that involve buildings, but I know there are some people who like it. His most popular prints are those that involve dinosaurs, as well as those that glow in the dark. And who wouldn't like a dinosaur poster that glows in the dark?
I have been fortunate to purchase two of his prints. I own "The Fall" as well as "What Once Was 2." Both of these incorporate dinosaurs. "WOW2" is the glow in the dark print seen above (in the light/in the dark.) His two most lucrative prints are probably his submission to the LOST prints that were sold last year ("Rousseu's Transmission") and a print that he added to a collection of prints by various artists that was sold to raise money for a musician friend, Jason Nobel, that had been diagnosed with cancer ("The Rain had a Sound".) In fact, "The Rain" was voted Best Art Print of the Year 2009. It is pretty cool looking since the rain is metallic ink. Both of these prints are listed on Ebay periodically and they tend to go for between $300-$500. Thus, I will never own one :(
I am looking forward to see what else he produces.
Official Page
I have been fascinated by his art for quite some time now. I cannot remember where I first discovered his work, but I believe it was via the Inside the Rock Poster Frame blog. My understanding is that Dan started to get recognition due to his gigart posters, and has now developed quite a following for his art prints. Every year he sets up an opportunity for collectors to sign up to his monthly subscription. This will let them receive his monthly print without having to worry about it selling out before they have a chance to buy one. The subscription also includes a unique print that is not available anywhere else (other than Ebay of course.) My favorite print of his is "The Biography of a Carbon Atom."
I am looking forward to see what else he produces.
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