No particular reason for this, other than it’s cool. I love movies, and have seen a bunch of the films in this. But not all.
I have several of the early Georges Méliès shorts. Some of his effects still hold up well. Some don’t. But it’s all fun.
Come to think of it, I need to post some of his works. You might not care about it, but I’d enjoy it.
Here’s one for you video game players. Or those that used to play video games.
You’re welcome.
Um. Yeah.
[YouTube]
You can go about you business now, firm with the knowledge that you can never unsee that.
It’s the Christmas season. And, of course, what would Christmas be without … a Star Trek reference?
The song Baby, It’s Cold Outside first appeared in the MGM feature Neptune’s Daughter
[YouTube]
Microsoft? Not a fan. Well, maybe a little. Some of their stuff works great. But Windows? It’s cumbersome. I haven’t tried Windows 8 yet, but maybe it’s okay. Kinda doubt it.
Anyway, I went Mac in 2007 and have been happy ever since. Was MS-DOS since 2.20 and Windows since 2.03, but finally made the switch. Happy with my Mac, happy with my iPhone (though not with my carrier), and I’m not interested in going back to Windows, or with getting a Windows Phone.
Having said that, recently Microsoft posted a series of videos poking fun at Apple’s new iPhones. But, the Redmond company caught flack about them and took them down. I’m kinda disappointed they caved. The videos were kinda clever. Here’s one:
[YouTube]
Now, a lot of the criticism I saw was directed at the confusion over the CEO character (seen only from behind). They weren’t sure if it was supposed to be Tim Cook because it sometimes looked like Steve Jobs. What they missed is … the entire point.
Though the ad begins in “2013” it’s clearly a compare/contrast between Apple under Cook and Apple under Jobs. Notice how the characters talking to the CEO change shirts and hair styles. The grey shirts represent\ current-day, under Cook, and the black shirts represent Apple under Jobs.
They two developers are shown unsuccessfully selling Jobs on the idea of plastic, colored phones, and getting that passed off as innovation in the current day.
I liked the ad. Microsoft did a good job. It seems that some people don’t appreciate Microsoft’s sense of humor any better than I appreciate their operating systems.
Good job, Microsoft. On the videos.
[Source: YouTube]
Barack O–, Barack Obama, thank you for doing everything and all the kind stuff. Thank you for all the stuff that you helped us with. Thank you for taking the courage and responsibility for everything you have done for us. And God has gave you an special power. And you, and you are going to handle it gr–, just fine. You are good, Barack Obama. You are great and– and when you get older you will be able to do great things. Love, Steven. Barack Obama!!”
What was it Linda Creed wrote? “I believe that the children are the future?”
We’re screwed.
Image: The Mirror
Some people appear to getting their panties in a wad over the pope laying hands on some guy and praying. They’re saying he performed an exorcism on the guy right there in line at St. Peter’s Square.
Here’s the video:
[Source: YouTube]
Now, it looks to me like he did exactly what I said in the opening sentence: he laid hands on a fellow and offered a prayer. Heck, I’ve seen Baptists do that, so I’m certainly not surprised when the Bishop of Rome does it.
But, some folks are going all gaga over it, calling it an exorcism. And, heck, maybe it was.
If it was, and Pope Francis can do that (and I’m not doubting it), I wonder if maybe he’ll do it again sometime.
I suggest his next visit to Washington, DC, would be a great time. So, in case the head of the Roman Catholic Church is reading this, here’s what to do:
I wish you much success!
Star Trek seems to have gotten one right. For those not familiar with the TV franchise, there’s a plot device they used in called Hodgkin’s Law of Parallel Planetary Development. There’s some mumbo-jumbo about “similar planets with similar environments and similar populations tended to gravitate toward similar biological developments over time.” What it really meant was that they could save money by having planets look like Earth at many points in history, allowing the show to use existing sets and costumes.
But, maybe, just maybe, there is something to Hodgkin’s Law. On March 15, 1967, the 25th episode of the show’s second season (production episode 43) aired.
Here’s the setup. The Enterprise happens across a planet similar to earth (the fourth planet of system FGC 892) with Hodgkin’s Law in full effect. On this planet, the Roman Empire didn’t fall in its 503rd year (476 A.D. by our calendar). It survived another 1,500 years or so, to Start Date 4040.7 when the Enterprise happened across it.
Rome is in what we would call the 20th century, and Kirk, Spock, and McCoy get captured when investigating. They’re thrown into jail with an ex-gladiator named Flavius. And that’s where our video picks up.
[Direct link: YouTube | Full episode at StarTrek.com]
FLAVIUS: Long ago there were rebellings, but they were suppressed. And, with each century, the slaves acquired more rights under the law. They received rights to medicine, the right to government payments in their old age, and they slowly learned to be content.
SPOCK: Even more fascinating. Slavery involving into an institution, with guaranteed medical payments, old age pension.
The only thing they forgot were the Obama phones.
Leno hits Obama on Libya. It’s at the 51-second mark. Tip: Andrew Malcolm.
[Source: The Tonight Show/NBC]
Transcript of the joke:
Well, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell is back. Not for gays in the military; it’s (the president’s) new policy on questions about Libya.”
Now, if only the mainstream media would at least ask.
I noticed the audience didn’t like this one as much as some of the other Obama zingers Leno has told lately.
For the last couple of months, I’ve spent time locked in a satellite, being forced to watch bad movies with a couple of wise-cracking robots.
Wait. Maybe that wasn’t me, but someone else. I think I may have seen that on TV or something.
Yeah, that’s what it was.
I used to enjoy watching Mystery Science Theater 3000. Still do, in fact. I have all of the episodes on disc or recorded.
If you remember the show, you’ll recall that there was a character, TV’s Frank, played by Frank Conniff, that joined the cast at the start of Season Two and left at the end of Season Six. I liked the character. A lot. He was funny, and Frank Conniff made him really likable.
What’s Frank Conniff up to now? He’s still a comedian, and besides doing stand-up and participating in Cinematic Titanic shows, is doing commentary for Salon.com. Yes, it’s political. And yes, Frank is a liberal. Frank Conniff, I mean. Here’s his first Salon commentary.
[Vimeo direct link]
Tip: Satellite News
Now, if you’re a fan of MST3K, as Frank J., Harvey, and I are, I’m curious as to what you think of Frank Conniff’s commentary. Lots of Satellite News readers agree with his politics, but a good number don’t.
I had a brief back-and-forth with one of the commenters there. He ended up linking to IMAO as evidence that I’m political or something. I thanked him for the link.
Anyway, what about you? Was it funny, regardless of political bent? How about the forum, an MST3K fan site? Is that the place for political commentary? And what about entertainers who go political? Does it ruin your appreciation of their past work?
What do you think about Frank Conniff’s commentary?
UPDATE: Linked by Frank Conniff. I think he thinks we think he sucks. I don’t think he sucks. I think his politics suck, but that’s true of most entertainers.
It is no longer a secret to the animal world. They know the truth: Obama ate a dog.
[Direct link]
Now that the animals know, what will they do? Will plagues descend upon this nation? Frogs, lice, flies, locust…?
All because Obama ate a dog.
