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May 29, 2007
Dead Ant
Man. I've just love YouTube when I go there and find exactly what I was looking for. Although a whole lot is lost watching it on a YouTube clip instead of a nice large television screen, this is still an awesome 3D animation sequence. However the real reason I sought after this video has very little to do with the visuals.
Okay, let me back up. Last September my kids begged me to buy the new The Pink Panther movie that had come out on DVD (with Steve Martin). I think we rented it first and they loved it (and I liked it too) so I eventually purchased it. We've since played it thousands of times and one of my most favorite things about the DVD is the animation that plays when you are on the main menu (the video above). It is just gorgeous, you have to see it on a big screen to fully appreciate it, but it is just such a glorious animation.
However I have gotten something from that DVD that has fascinated me FAR more than the video. Have you ever listened to something you've listened to a million times and then have it suddenly, inexplicably sound different? That is what happened to me. I was listening to The Pink Panther Theme, a song I've been familiar with and have heard countless times throughout my entire life, and all of a sudden it sounded different. It was the exact same song it's always been but suddenly it hit me . . . It's BRILLIANT! This has got to be one of the most masterfully composed and performed musical pieces of all time. Seriously. It is amazing and I am completely blown away by it now. It's funky, it's jazzy, and it is so totally unique! I mean it is unfathomably unlike anything else! Think about it! It really is. And it just sounds so damn good. I have no idea what caused me to have that experience but it is so cool to have a chance to hear stuff with "new ears" like that.
Henry Mancini, you RAWK (er, well, rawked - R.I.P.)!! And so do all of the lesser known musicians and producers that contributed to the creation of that masterpiece. I mean I know, it's not like it isn't already one of the most famous songs of all time, but I personally have never heard anyone sing its praises or even take 5 seconds to talk about its greatness. So I felt the need to try to share with you how it has effected me.
So please take a moment to check out this cool animation sequence and see if maybe you can hear The Pink Panther Theme with "new ears" like I have.
Posted by Jamie at 12:12 AM | Comments (2)
May 16, 2007
When 10 A.M. Isn't Early Enough
It's Clocky!
Finally someone has developed an alarm clock for someone like me. Check this out:
"This little wonderful wheeled alarm clock started as an engineering student's project. Having trouble waking up herself, Gauri Nanda developed Clocky to shriek annoyingly and effectively, waking you up. The fun doesn't end there, kiddies. It leaps off of your night stand, and drives around your room, making random turns and racing away from your grasp. Now you have to get out of bed and hunt the little bugger down to turn it off."
That might just work. Might.
Posted by Jamie at 08:46 AM | Comments (2)
May 08, 2007
The Han
THIS is some mama frickin' brilliance is what this is.
I. LOVE. It. Despite the fact that it was written for an online men's entertainment website and was apparently only meant to be read by men. (a man sent me the link in case you were wondering)
Why do I love it?!?! Because I have *always* regarded Han Solo as the hottest of the hotties. The manliest of the manlies. The peak. The pinnacle. The numero uno. The two-word response to the prompt,"Describe the perfect date." ... and this article does a great job of celebrating him and the things that make him so sexy! :::siiiiiiiigh::: So gorgeous. And no. I am not talking about Harrison Ford. I am only talking about Han.
It's The Top 15 Han Solo Quotes You Need to Use in Regular Conversation. I'll post an excerpt here in case you haven't clicked it yet. And I'm posting #1, so if you're worried about me spoiling it for you, then just click here instead and read them in order.
"1. “I love you.”“I know.”
When to say it: Duh
If you use this line at least once in your lifetime, you can die a happy man. It is the epitome of everything Han Solo stands for: cocky and bad-ass, yet sincere ... is, bar-none, the greatest moment in the entire Star Wars saga.
Not to mention that if you use this line on a woman who is legitimately expressing love for you, it will drive her nuts. If there’s one thing women love – other than musicians – it’s having strong feelings for someone who doesn’t reciprocate them (especially if the person in question is a musician). If you respond to “I love you” with “I love you, too,” you’re essentially begging the woman to lose interest in you. Making an arrogant, not-quite reciprocation of that love that hints at possible affection without outright stating it is the most intelligent thing you can possibly do; it keeps the mystery up, it keeps you in control and you keep your dignity intact.
Han Solo knows this. That’s why he’s Han Solo."
Uh ... does the guy that wrote this know me? Scary.
Posted by Jamie at 10:49 PM | Comments (0)
Blue Sun
So today the seven year old asks me, "If the sun is supposed to be so hot, how come it isn't blue?"
Man, he asks the greatest questions.
Sure, he is obviously just a few scientific facts shy of being able to completely understand this, but what I'm saying is ... the thought of a blue sun is totally inspiring and cool, isn't it? Well it is inspiring to me anyway ... I may have to paint or draw or something ...
See how groovy? check out this false-color pic from NASA:
... now picture being on Earth and seeing that in the sky. =D
Posted by Jamie at 09:01 AM | Comments (0)
May 06, 2007
All Things Cool
Oh cool. 60 more days.
Also cool. You've never known any 3 dudes that could travel across the country in a cramped van and make it look as fun and adventurous as these guys are doing. Holy crap, they eat a lot of soup!
More coolness. They are airing Roving Mars (the IMAX version) on the Science Channel this Thursday!!! Awesome. And now that I have signed up to get satellite, I'll actually be able to watch it!
I bought some cool dishes yesterday and have decided that I don't think I ever want to eat off of them. So now I need help figuring out how to best (and most safely) display beautiful dishes and cups. Any ideas? No really, these things are gorgeous and the photo does not do them justice at all. I'm just thinking of it as utilitarian art ... that I, uh, don't ever want to utilize. Is that wrong??
I also purchased the ultimate, the final, the biggie ... The Dark Tower VII. The last book of the series. Anything Dark Tower related = utmost coolness. I can't believe it came out 3 freaking years ago. Where is my life going? I hope to be reading this book for several years. I know that is not a normal thing to say about a book that I am very eager to read but what is more important to me is that I at least attempt to make it seem endless. :(
Posted by Jamie at 11:46 PM | Comments (1)