This is one of my wife's favorite pictures. Baby sloths are just too adorable.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Movie Monday
The Land Before Time
Dir: Don Bluth (1988)
I was recently reminded of this movie when some of my students started talking about it. I was overjoyed to know that high school biology students still know about this film. My favorite lines during this conversation in the classroom were when one of the students all of a sudden exclaimed, "Cera was butch!" And one of the other students responded, "Yeah, but Spike was so cute. Awwww...Spike." I loved what they said because I felt the same way back in the day.
I remember seeing this movie in the theater back in 1988. My family was still living in Germany at that time and I went, with my dad, to the little theater on the Army base. I loved the characters and was terrified of Sharptooth the T-rex. I think I did get a little sad when Littlefoot's mother passes away. I hated Cera, the yellow Triceratops, but loved Petri, Ducky, and Spike. I even got the movie tie-in book from the Scholastic Book Club insert at my school. My fondest memory with this movie relates to some of the merchandise. Pizza Hut had a deal going where you could get rubber hand puppets of each of the main characters. The most vivid thing I remember about the puppets were their aroma. They had that unique smell that only rubber/vinyl toys have. Once you opened the plastic bag, you were buffeted by the smell. I think that I finally did succeed in getting the complete set. My parents were always willing to go the extra mile to complete sets.
As much as I love the original...I despise the sequels. The first sequel came out in 1994, well after the original. The new movies are horrendous. They added a bunch of sing-a-long musical numbers that detract from the story. The original was produced by Steven Spielberg. Needless to say the sequels are not. I just discovered that there are in fact 12, TWELVE, sequels out now. That is outrageous! I guess enough people buy them to keep it lucrative. Hopefully the series will end soon so that people can still remember the original fondly.
Dir: Don Bluth (1988)
I remember seeing this movie in the theater back in 1988. My family was still living in Germany at that time and I went, with my dad, to the little theater on the Army base. I loved the characters and was terrified of Sharptooth the T-rex. I think I did get a little sad when Littlefoot's mother passes away. I hated Cera, the yellow Triceratops, but loved Petri, Ducky, and Spike. I even got the movie tie-in book from the Scholastic Book Club insert at my school. My fondest memory with this movie relates to some of the merchandise. Pizza Hut had a deal going where you could get rubber hand puppets of each of the main characters. The most vivid thing I remember about the puppets were their aroma. They had that unique smell that only rubber/vinyl toys have. Once you opened the plastic bag, you were buffeted by the smell. I think that I finally did succeed in getting the complete set. My parents were always willing to go the extra mile to complete sets.
As much as I love the original...I despise the sequels. The first sequel came out in 1994, well after the original. The new movies are horrendous. They added a bunch of sing-a-long musical numbers that detract from the story. The original was produced by Steven Spielberg. Needless to say the sequels are not. I just discovered that there are in fact 12, TWELVE, sequels out now. That is outrageous! I guess enough people buy them to keep it lucrative. Hopefully the series will end soon so that people can still remember the original fondly.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Music Sunday
PUMA Hardchorus
covering Savage Garden - Truly Madly Deeply
I just discovered this video last week. It was made in honor of Valentine's Day by PUMA. PUMA wanted to create e-cards that futbol/soccer fans could send to their loved ones that would still reflect their manly-ness. The tagline for this campaign read, "They want to be in your arms. You want to be in the stands. What do you do when Valentine's Day falls on game day?"
Even though this is an ad of sorts, I still think it is wonderfully done. For one thing, the men actually harmonize! My favorite part is the brief shot of the old man sitting at a table and singing along. This cover is FAR better then the original. It avoids the sappy feel of Savage Garden, and replaces it with machismo. It does make me wonder how much practice and how many takes this video required. Congrats PUMA!
covering Savage Garden - Truly Madly Deeply
Even though this is an ad of sorts, I still think it is wonderfully done. For one thing, the men actually harmonize! My favorite part is the brief shot of the old man sitting at a table and singing along. This cover is FAR better then the original. It avoids the sappy feel of Savage Garden, and replaces it with machismo. It does make me wonder how much practice and how many takes this video required. Congrats PUMA!
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Gaming Saturday
Botticelli
I had never heard of this game until I took a family car trip with my wife's family. It was a long drive so they suggested we give it a try. They had played many times since they had done cross-country treks in the past. It took a little while for me to get the hang of it, but then I really got into it. The rules are simple and it can really help pass the time.
The basic premise is that one person thinks of a famous person. One important thing to remember is that everyone who is playing needs to be familiar with the mystery person. The next step is that the individual who came up with the mystery person needs to announce what letter their name begins with. Then the other players pose yes/no questions. The trick to this is that these questions need to be about someone who also begins with the same letter. I don't think that I will be able to explain it very well in text, so I will let the Wikipedia page describe the rules for you.
Sometimes one round can last for many minutes. Other times it can go very quickly. One time I announced that I was thinking of someone who begins with the letter 'L' My sister-in-law then asked, "Are you someone who is very good at shooting arrows?" That was in fact who I had chosen so I had to announce, "Yes, I am Legolas." She guessed my person with the first question. Then it was her turn to come up with someone to try and stump us.
I really enjoy this game now, but it is important to try and play with people who have a similar knowledge base. If you don't, you run the risk that you are not thinking of a person that they will ever have a chance of guessing. Those games are not very fun since they last FOREVER! A good game will make a several hour car trip zoom right by.
The basic premise is that one person thinks of a famous person. One important thing to remember is that everyone who is playing needs to be familiar with the mystery person. The next step is that the individual who came up with the mystery person needs to announce what letter their name begins with. Then the other players pose yes/no questions. The trick to this is that these questions need to be about someone who also begins with the same letter. I don't think that I will be able to explain it very well in text, so I will let the Wikipedia page describe the rules for you.
Sometimes one round can last for many minutes. Other times it can go very quickly. One time I announced that I was thinking of someone who begins with the letter 'L' My sister-in-law then asked, "Are you someone who is very good at shooting arrows?" That was in fact who I had chosen so I had to announce, "Yes, I am Legolas." She guessed my person with the first question. Then it was her turn to come up with someone to try and stump us.
I really enjoy this game now, but it is important to try and play with people who have a similar knowledge base. If you don't, you run the risk that you are not thinking of a person that they will ever have a chance of guessing. Those games are not very fun since they last FOREVER! A good game will make a several hour car trip zoom right by.
Friday, February 19, 2010
Food Friday
Pittsburgh Pretzel Sandwich Shop
3531 Forbes Ave
Several years of my childhood were spent living in Germany. I currently live in Virginia. The reason I mention this is that my wife and I recently took a trip up to Pittsburgh, PA. There is one overriding reason that I want to move there now. Pittsburgh provided me with some of the best soft pretzels that I have had in many years, since Germany in fact.
I loved the pretzels I used to get when we went to Bavaria. They were just the right style. The German pretzels were firm on the outside with a warm, soft interior. They also had just a small amount of salt on the outside. Most of the pretzels you find in America are either stale and bland from the street vendors, or too buttery and squishy from shops in the mall. The Pittsburgh pretzels put all the other Virginia pretzels, I have tried, to shame.
I was very excited when I noticed this pretzel sandwich shop while walking down the street. I knew I was going to have to go there for lunch while we were visiting. I was not disappointed. I got the chicken salad sandwich. The salad was so-so, but the pretzel was super-yum. It is right in between Pitt and Carnegie Mellon. It seemed that the shop got a fair amount of college traffic and I hope it does well. Their website is designed so that you can order online and then pick-up in the shop. The employees were very friendly to me and provided me with inexpensive, fresh, tasty food. I really don't need much more than that in life.
Several years of my childhood were spent living in Germany. I currently live in Virginia. The reason I mention this is that my wife and I recently took a trip up to Pittsburgh, PA. There is one overriding reason that I want to move there now. Pittsburgh provided me with some of the best soft pretzels that I have had in many years, since Germany in fact.
I loved the pretzels I used to get when we went to Bavaria. They were just the right style. The German pretzels were firm on the outside with a warm, soft interior. They also had just a small amount of salt on the outside. Most of the pretzels you find in America are either stale and bland from the street vendors, or too buttery and squishy from shops in the mall. The Pittsburgh pretzels put all the other Virginia pretzels, I have tried, to shame.
Weekly Theme: 80's Toy Gimmicks
Neon
M.A.S.K. and Transformers
Gotta love how garish colors were in the 80's. Everything was bright and cheerful. Even your toys. Neon was used for many girl toys, but even some boy toys. And let's not forget the neon clothes :)
M.A.S.K. and Transformers
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Television Thursday
Better Off Ted
ABC (2009-present)
I must admit, I was very skeptical about this show to begin with. The TV ads really made it look derivative. I never watched it when Season 1 was actually broadcast. Then right before the second season began airing, Hulu put up the entirety of Season 1. Since there were not any other shows that I felt like watching at that time, I decided to give it a try. I was pleasantly surprised by what I discovered.
It is a sitcom that primarily takes place within the office building of Veridian Dynamics. The main cast are all part of the research & development wing of this company. Veridian is known for its development of weapons and other evil products. The cast often question the sense in making such products and try to find ways around it.
The plot sounds very trite, but somehow the show really works. I think it comes down to the quality of the writing and the acting. Portia de Rossi's character Veronica is by far my favorite character. She is Ted's supervisor and is ruthless. But, Portia delivers her lines very well and maintains a hilarious demeanor. Almost every episode has me laughing at certain lines the characters deliver. I don't know what else to say, other than to suggest people give it a try. It is cleverly written, has good actors, and had a Dalek cameo in one of the episodes. Need I say more?
ABC (2009-present)
It is a sitcom that primarily takes place within the office building of Veridian Dynamics. The main cast are all part of the research & development wing of this company. Veridian is known for its development of weapons and other evil products. The cast often question the sense in making such products and try to find ways around it.
The plot sounds very trite, but somehow the show really works. I think it comes down to the quality of the writing and the acting. Portia de Rossi's character Veronica is by far my favorite character. She is Ted's supervisor and is ruthless. But, Portia delivers her lines very well and maintains a hilarious demeanor. Almost every episode has me laughing at certain lines the characters deliver. I don't know what else to say, other than to suggest people give it a try. It is cleverly written, has good actors, and had a Dalek cameo in one of the episodes. Need I say more?
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Weekly Theme: 80's Toy Gimmicks
Color Change
Hot Wheels / G.I.Joe
I remember thinking just how cool it was that things could change color. They were solid toys, but for some reason they could change how they looked. Some were triggered by light, and others by temperature. Some of the toys that claimed to be altered by light were actually just altered by the heat from the sun. Those were kind of neat because you could get the same effect in the dark if you heated them up with your hands. I had several toys that could change. Sadly I don't remember exactly which car it was, but it was similar to those in the picture. Zartan would have his skin change color in the sun since that was what would happen to the character in the show. His vehicle had chameleon properties so the toy would change colors too.
Hot Wheels / G.I.Joe
I remember thinking just how cool it was that things could change color. They were solid toys, but for some reason they could change how they looked. Some were triggered by light, and others by temperature. Some of the toys that claimed to be altered by light were actually just altered by the heat from the sun. Those were kind of neat because you could get the same effect in the dark if you heated them up with your hands. I had several toys that could change. Sadly I don't remember exactly which car it was, but it was similar to those in the picture. Zartan would have his skin change color in the sun since that was what would happen to the character in the show. His vehicle had chameleon properties so the toy would change colors too.
Book Wednesday
The Alchemist
Paulo Coelho (1988)
I first discovered The Alchemist while spending a summer in Bangladesh. I was staying with a family of doctors who worked at a Christian Mission Hospital in one of the cities. It was a wonderful experience, and I was exposed to many new sights and insights. Since we did not have constant access to all the modern distractions of TVs, computers, and video games; we took advantage of the time to read. The doctors had quite an extensive collection of books at their home and they recommended I try out this book. I am very glad that they did.
This book is very difficult to describe. Its tag-line reads, "A Fable about Following your Dream." I would say that is a pretty accurate summation of the book's essence. The basic plot revolves around the conversations between a young shepherd and the enigmatic sage he meets while out in the desert. It is a pretty philosophical book that also dabbles in mysticism. I did not consider it too cheesy and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story and characters. It is a relatively short novel, and I suggest you take a day or two to read it.
Paulo Coelho wrote The Alchemist in Portuguese and it was his second published book. Since its initial publication it has been translated into 67 languages (netting it the Guinness World Record for most translated book by a living author) and sold more than 65 million copies. I have read a few of his other books, but this is the only one I actually enjoyed. His other books veer too far into New Agey cheesiness for my tastes. Coelho is a very intriguing author and it sounds like he has experienced life to its fullest. He has a unique outlook on the world and he is not afraid to express his views. He appears to be very tech savvy and his website has a multitude of multimedia offerings. You can even follow him on Twitter and Facebook. I suggest reading The Alchemist, but if you enjoy it, read his other books with caution.
Paulo Coelho (1988)
This book is very difficult to describe. Its tag-line reads, "A Fable about Following your Dream." I would say that is a pretty accurate summation of the book's essence. The basic plot revolves around the conversations between a young shepherd and the enigmatic sage he meets while out in the desert. It is a pretty philosophical book that also dabbles in mysticism. I did not consider it too cheesy and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story and characters. It is a relatively short novel, and I suggest you take a day or two to read it.
Paulo Coelho wrote The Alchemist in Portuguese and it was his second published book. Since its initial publication it has been translated into 67 languages (netting it the Guinness World Record for most translated book by a living author) and sold more than 65 million copies. I have read a few of his other books, but this is the only one I actually enjoyed. His other books veer too far into New Agey cheesiness for my tastes. Coelho is a very intriguing author and it sounds like he has experienced life to its fullest. He has a unique outlook on the world and he is not afraid to express his views. He appears to be very tech savvy and his website has a multitude of multimedia offerings. You can even follow him on Twitter and Facebook. I suggest reading The Alchemist, but if you enjoy it, read his other books with caution.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Weekly Theme: 80's Toy Gimmicks
Holograms
Visionaries and Super Naturals
Visionaries commercial / Super Naturals commercial
Visionaries and Super Naturals
Visionaries commercial / Super Naturals commercial
I never actually owned any of these toys, but I have vivid memories of seeing them in the toy stores and at friends' homes. I always wanted some, yet never got around to getting any. Holograms were the cool new thing in the 80's and these two toy-lines had some of the largest holograms. In the case of the Super Naturals, the holograms covered almost the entire toy. The commercials are typical 80's boy toy commercials. VERY EXCITING! I also think the names of all the characters are hilarious. I still think holograms are pretty nifty, and I think more toys should integrate them into their design again.
Art Tuesday
Bobby Chiu
Imaginism Studios
Bobby Chiu began work by designing toys for Disney, Star Wars, and Warner Bros. Now he tends to focus his efforts in digital art. More people will become familiar with his designs since he did character concepts for the new Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland. He also teaches online digital art classes.
I appreciate how all of his art is infused with humor. He draws his characters big and brash...quite cartoonish. Some of my favorite pieces of his are: Tobi and the Jellybean Tree, Carrot Run, First Line of Defense, Twins, and Beam Me Up Scotty.
Imaginism Studios
Bobby Chiu began work by designing toys for Disney, Star Wars, and Warner Bros. Now he tends to focus his efforts in digital art. More people will become familiar with his designs since he did character concepts for the new Tim Burton Alice in Wonderland. He also teaches online digital art classes.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Weekly Theme: 80's Toy Gimmicks
Slime
He-Man and The Real Ghostbusters
One of the trends in toys for the 80's was using some form of slime. Apparently boys thought it was cool to play with something goopy and messy. I definitely had some slime when I was growing up. I still remember the very distinctive aroma that it had. It didn't matter what color it was, it still smelled the same. The slime would always come packaged in a plastic barrel. He-man had a couple sets with the green slime, and The Real Ghostbusters had their red Ecto-Plazm. Toys sure were sticky back then.
He-Man and The Real Ghostbusters
One of the trends in toys for the 80's was using some form of slime. Apparently boys thought it was cool to play with something goopy and messy. I definitely had some slime when I was growing up. I still remember the very distinctive aroma that it had. It didn't matter what color it was, it still smelled the same. The slime would always come packaged in a plastic barrel. He-man had a couple sets with the green slime, and The Real Ghostbusters had their red Ecto-Plazm. Toys sure were sticky back then.
Movie Monday
Rikki-Tikki-Tavi (1975)
Dir: Chuck Jones
Amazon / YouTube
I remember watching this on VHS way back when I was only about four years old. That was when my family lived near Indianapolis. We did not have a VHS player at the time, but one of our family friends did. I would always ask to watch this whenever we went over to visit them. For some reason the movie just resonated with me back then. I think I liked it because it had some action in it, it took place in an exotic location, and the main characters were animals. Seeing as I am now a biology teacher and majored in bio at undergrad, it should not be surprising for me to say that I loved animals growing up. I distinctly remember my frequent trips to the "dead amigo museum" (dead animal/natural history museum) outside of Indianapolis. I was also a member of the kids club at the zoo. Ring-tailed lemurs were by far my favorite animal. I thought that a movie about a mongoose was pretty awesome.
Chuck Jones directed and animated this adaptation. I find Chuck Jones' animation to be incredibly iconic. You always know when it is one of his pieces. He is most known for his work on the Looney Tunes cartoons. Some other memorable films with his animation are The Phantom Tollbooth, A Cricket in Times Square, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
This story is actually by Rudyard Kipling and is part of his The Jungle Book. Chuck Jones got Orson Welles to narrate the film, and his voices adds a certain level of gravitas to the proceedings. The plot of this tale focuses on Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, a mongoose. An English family is living in India, and their young son discovers the mongoose and keeps him as a pet. There are two cobras who want the human family to leave their estate, but Rikki protects the family from harm.
I was very pleased to find this on DVD a few years ago, and had a very fun time watching it again after all those years. The story is a classic and the animation is quintessential 70's. I found that someone has posted the film on YouTube so feel free to check it out. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
Dir: Chuck Jones
Amazon / YouTube
Chuck Jones directed and animated this adaptation. I find Chuck Jones' animation to be incredibly iconic. You always know when it is one of his pieces. He is most known for his work on the Looney Tunes cartoons. Some other memorable films with his animation are The Phantom Tollbooth, A Cricket in Times Square, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
This story is actually by Rudyard Kipling and is part of his The Jungle Book. Chuck Jones got Orson Welles to narrate the film, and his voices adds a certain level of gravitas to the proceedings. The plot of this tale focuses on Rikki-Tikki-Tavi, a mongoose. An English family is living in India, and their young son discovers the mongoose and keeps him as a pet. There are two cobras who want the human family to leave their estate, but Rikki protects the family from harm.
I was very pleased to find this on DVD a few years ago, and had a very fun time watching it again after all those years. The story is a classic and the animation is quintessential 70's. I found that someone has posted the film on YouTube so feel free to check it out. Hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Weekly Theme: T-shirt
"We are Made of Carbon" Design by Matthew J. Elliot via Threadless
(Yeah, I'm a science dork. What of it?)
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