The BLACK HOLE A Short Film

This is a fascinating super short short film, titled The Black Hole. Careful there, dude! Check and see what I'm talking about. Be sure and leave your ratings below.

Director: Diamond Dugs
Running Time: 2'34
Country: U.K.
Category: Comedy

A sleep deprived office worker finds a Black Hole whilst photocopying late one night Suddenly the possibilities seem endless. Will greed get the better of him?

Phil & Olly aka Diamond Dogs met in the last murky years of the 20th Century at one of Wimbledon School of Arts now legendary parties. They teamed up in 2003 and began shooting no budget promos whilst busting their balls as Art Directors to pay their bills. Phil & Olly continue their careers as editor & art director respectively to fund their directing projects in a world of ever shrinking budgets.



The boys are currently in production on music videos for Will and the People and The Enemy and in pre-production on a 30 second Miller Light commercial. They are also penned to shoot a 4 minute short for Future Shorts in conjunction with Samsung called Spontaneously Capture your life and in pre-production with The UK Film Council in association with Virgin Media Shorts on a short film project called The Archaeologist

Cool PICTURE Chinese Year of the Tiger

Celebrating Chinese Year of the Tiger
Time Pictures of the Week

AP

Coochy-Coo
Siberian tigers perform for visitors at a zoo in Fuzhou, China, on the second day of the Lunar New Year — the year of the Tiger.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/picturesoftheweek#ixzz0g61Cfr9x

HRH Prince William looking good on cover of HELLO

The darker hair color looks good. Hides the loss. Now when is the wedding going to be?

ME WANT Largest Yacht in the World plans unveiled

My favorite Russian oligarch, hottie, billionaire Roman Abramovich must be salivating. Plans were unveiled recently for a new largest yacht in the world, by designer Berkeley March (isn't that the most "Upson Downs" name ever?) The proposed yacht would be 656 ft (200m) and could cost up to $1 billion (£650 million).

About the juxtaposition of such an extravagant toy in today's bleak economic environment March said:
"Some people may say the timing was a little bit daft. But I think that many people who previously would not have had the power to buy such a yacht, are thinking that now is their chance. The people left with a lot of money have more power now, as there is less demand."

According to March, the recession did not change rich people's beliefs that "size matters. Recession or not, it's still all about men's egos."

Abramovich currently has the biggest in the world: yacht that is (the "Eclipse"). Hopefully he'll add this to his collection of super yachts.

So should we criticize these billionaires and their penis envy competition? Does one really need multiple yachts, several private jets, multiple homes around the world? I wonder: would it be forgivable if these toys were equally matched with philanthropic donations and contributions?

I still would like to have one of these and a private jet. If I could have those then I would only want a flat or two in some lovely world capitals. That's not too excessive is it? Now to get the billions.

Mr. Abramovich, if you're reading this I hope you'll buy this and always have the biggest yacht! I am ashamed to say, as politically correct as I am, that you are my hero. To be 40-ish, cute, rich beyond belief and to be able to have all of these amazing things would be wonderful. There's an idea for a reality show: "How to be Roman Abramovich for a day!" He could develop the concept into a Trump-like franchise, with a phrase like "Mine's bigger" instead of "You're fired"!!

I'd definitely make a visit to one of Roman's residences, La Croe, the Duke & Duchess of Windsor's former compound in Cap d'Antibes, the first visit on the show if I were a contestant! That is mighty fine taste you have, Mr. Abramovich!

Ellen Degeneres and AMERICAN IDOL

Did you watch Ellen Degeneres' debut on American Idol last night? The reviews have been very good and positive which doesn't surprise me. I was sick and had to go to bed early. I was disappointed because I was very eager to see her debut. What did you think?

Photo: Michael Becker/ FOX

Chinese new YEAR of the TIGER

February 14, 2010 marks the beginning of a new Chinese year: this year we have the year of the TIGER.

According to CNN:
"Tigers could become extinct in the wild in less than a generation, the World Wildlife Fund warned Wednesday as it launched a campaign to save them.

The number of tigers in the wild has dwindled to 3,200 -- less than the number held in captivity in the United States alone, the campaigners said.

'There is a real threat of losing this magnificent animal forever in our lifetime,' said Sybille Klenzendorf, director of the WWF-US species conservation program. 'This would be like losing the stars in the sky.

'Three tiger subspecies have gone extinct, and another, the South China tiger, has not been seen in the wild in 25 years,' she told reporters."

According to WWF, there are more tigers in zoos than in the wild. Please visit the wwf website to find out more about this.

I was born in another year of the tiger, 1962, and I'm feeling extinct. To the rest of you Tigers out there hope you'll take note that our namesakes could use some help.

http://www.worldwildlife.org/species/finder/tigers/year-of-tiger.html

According to wikipedia these are the animals in the Chinese New Year.

Animal	Branch	New Year dates
鼠 Rat	子 Zǐ	February 19, 1996	February 7, 2008
牛 Ox	丑 Chǒu	February 7, 1997	January 26, 2009
虎 Tiger	寅 Yín	January 28, 1998	February 14, 2010
兔 Rabbit	卯 Mǎo	February 16, 1999	February 3, 2011
龍 Dragon	辰 Chén	February 5, 2000	January 23, 2012
蛇 Snake	巳 Sì	January 24, 2001	February 10, 2013
馬 Horse	午 Wǔ	February 12, 2002	January 31, 2014
羊 Sheep	未 Wèi	February 1, 2003	February 19, 2015
猴 Monkey	申 Shēn	January 22, 2004	February 8, 2016
雞 Rooster	酉 Yǒu	February 9, 2005	January 28, 2017
狗 Dog	戌 Xū	January 29, 2006	February 16, 2018
豬 Pig	亥 Hài	February 18, 2007	February 5, 2019

The Tiger ( 虎 ), is one of the 12-year cycle of animals which appear in the Chinese zodiac related to the Chinese calendar. The Year of the Tiger is associated with the earthly branch symbol 寅.People born within these date ranges can be said to have been born in the "Year Of The Tiger," while also bearing the following elemental sign:

• 8 February 1902 - 28 January 1903: Water Tiger
• 26 January 1914 - 13 February 1915: Wood Tiger
• 13 February 1926 - 1 February 1927: Fire Tiger
• 31 January 1938 - 18 February 1939: Earth Tiger
• 17 February 1950 - 5 February 1951: Metal Tiger
• 5 February 1962 - 24 January 1963: Water Tiger **
  
• 23 January 1974 - 10 February 1975: Wood Tiger
• 9 February 1986 - 28 January 1987: Fire Tiger
• 28 January 1998 - 15 February 1999: Earth Tiger
• 14 February 2010 - 2 February 2011: Metal Tiger

The following information is from http://www.yearofthetiger.net/:
People that are born in the Year of the Tiger are generally well liked because of their charismatic personalities. Often, failing at a given duty or being unproductive in his personal or professional life can cause a Tiger to experience a deep sense of depression. A Tiger is always at their happiest when they endeavor to climb the ladder of success. Attaining the top spot is his foremost purpose; being in a position of power is her ultimate goal. They are quick learners, need to be challenged and often prefer to work alone. Some Tigers tend to change careers more frequently because they get bored quite easily. They are natural born leaders and perform at their best if working towards positions of power and influence. So once there is no further room for progression, they will often move on to something else.

Anyone that is born in the Year of the Tiger is usually straightforward and outgoing by nature. They will never give up no matter how aggravated they may become. But, they are also full of suspicion and at times will take hasty action. Never lose sight of the fact that Tigers are smart and instinctive.

People born in the Year of the Tiger always take pride in being different from others, and normally demonstrate their originality best in their homes. Their homes are typically filled with exotic possessions. It is no surprise that one of the Tiger’s favorite gemstones is the cat’s eye, but tigers also love the sparkle of rubies and diamonds. They like to spend money, and also to share it. They can be very impulsive spenders because they know they can at all times make more.

The Year of the Tiger is the third year in the cycle of “Heavenly Branches”. Customarily, it is called “Yin”. Those born in the Year of the Tiger are compatible with the horse, dog, and dragons. The year 2010 is another Year of the Tiger. It is the ji-chou year. Jji is the sixth of the Ten Celestial Stems and yin is the third of the Twelve Terrestrial Branches and marks the Year of the Tiger.

Positive and Negative Capability

Positive: The Tiger can be lovable, alluring, warm-hearted, altruistic, honourable, hard-working, pleasant, independant, engaging, dynamic and idealist sweetie pies.

Negative: The Tiger can also be rash, hot-headed, reckless, infatuated, quarrelsome, caustic, moody, predatory, rebellious, disobedient and irreverent rascals.

Celebrity

Some Famous Tigers: Sir David Attenborough, Natalie Wood, Tom Berenger, Agatha Christie, H.G. Wells, Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio, Emily Dickinson, Isadora Duncan, Roberta Flack, Frederick Forsyth, Jodie Foster, Stevie Wonder Sir Alec Guiness, Hugh Hefner, William Hurt, Dylan Thomas, Marilyn Monroe, Demi Moore, Beatrix Potter, Diana Rigg, Lionel Ritchie, Kenny Rogers.

Don't know which animal you were born under the Chinese Lunar year? Visit here:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/dating/2010/02/10/hail-the-year-of-the-tiger-and-see-what-chinese-zodiac-sign-you-should-date/

This blog entry is dedicated to one of my oldest, best, and dearest loved friends Miss Rosalynn "Deah" Carter, aka as Michelle Shelly Mullen and her beloved Patticakes Bradley. Both are fellow Tigers. All hail the Tiger!

MOVIES and the weekend...and thoughts about Best Picture Academy Award AVATAR v HURT LOCKER

VS

This weekend I saw two of the front runners for Best Picture Oscar: Avatar and The Hurt Locker. Man is this a tough one. These two movies are truly apples and oranges.

I saw Avatar in 3D at IMAX theater and it is easily the most unique film experience of my life. It is a beautiful film. And it is landmark, no doubt, and not JUST because it is the highest grossing film of all time (NOT adjusted for inflation and by the way that does make a huge difference). The movie is cinematically flawless. It is a masterpiece. But there are some problems with it. I think the whole beginning of the movie is very vague. It also goes a little overboard in depicting the Marine colonel as one-dimensional. It bordered at times on being a little too Disney-esque. That being said though, it is a profound story and is filled with a lot of provocative, intelligent, and complex themes (it is without a doubt a strong pro-Environment, anti-Republican party message but it really is a very spiritually evolved film as well). It is truly such a landmark film that one has to give it the title "one of the greatest films ever made." But it still has some flaws. That Sam Worthington is one mighty fine little hottie. It was also great seeing Sigourney Weaver.

The Hurt Locker is really a perfect film. It has no flaws. Unless you consider the fact that it is a very depressing film a flaw, which I don't. It is truly one of the more emotionally difficult movies I've seen in my lifetime. The only other one that I can think of is Deer Hunter. It is a stunning film though. The acting is tour de force. It is a relentless movie and it doesn't flinch or allow the viewer to shirk from facing the realities of Iraq, the War on Iraq, the Iraqi people, etc. Set in war-torn Baghdad the film tells the story of a unit of three soldiers whose responsibility is to safely disable bombs that have been set. It is a brutal film in every way. It also is one of the more balanced films that I think I've ever seen. The citizens of Baghdad (terrorist and non) watching from the buildings in the various scenes where SFC William James (the film's main character) moves towards the incendiary devices was an interesting perspective: who is the villain? Who was the invade in those scenarios? I don't know if this was intentional but I just thought the whole movie avoided, and amazingly so, being judgmental in any way, which seems to me it's greatest accomplishment. (There were two appearances by major actors that I was glad to see: Ralph Fiennes and Guy Pearce.)

So Avatar has some flaws and The Hurt Locker doesn't. But ultimately the sheer scale of Avatar I think gives it a little bit of leeway; I think it should win the Best Picture, even though there are some weak aspects.

I also saw The Blind Side again yesterday, which I was thrilled was included in nominations for Best Picture. Contrary to what critics said, I thought the film amazingly transcended itself, primarily because of the remarkable performances from Sandra Bullock (I wasn't previously a huge fan of hers by the way) and Quinton Aaron, who plays Michael Oher. This film could have been just a passable feel-good movie for white-bread, Republican, Christians. It ends up being a unique balance of humor and poignancy, and for that the director deserves kudos. In most hands this would have been a second rate movie with similar performances. But it really is an excellent piece of film making. I should add that I am now certain that Sandra Bullock SHOULD win Best Actress for this role, despite the fact that I LOVE La Streep and the film Julia and Julia. I just believe that Bullock delivers a tour de force, emotionally nuanced, technically perfect performance. When I first saw the movie I thought that this role for Bullock was like Julia Robert's Erin Brokovich: a singular career best. (These performances are so uniquely realized by the actresses in ways that no other actress perhaps could have, if that makes sense?) But I didn't think she would have a chance because well....she was Sandra Bullock and Meryl Streep is......La Streep. But the fact that The Blind Side, having earned almost $250 domestically (which even Streep has never done....not Angelina Jolie, not Julia Roberts, not even Reese Witherspoon or Cameron Diaz) is the highest grossing film with a major actress in the title role and was nominated for Best Picture, I think, has paved the way for Bullock to deservedly win. This is a major thing for all actresses, this box office revenue accomplishment. It means more actress driven films will be made, I hope! Which is a fantastic thing as far as I'm concerned (I'm not much of a testosterone film lover).

I think I've seen now, with the exception of Precious and A Single Man, all of the truly serious contenders for Best Picture Academy Award.

Inglorious Basterds was completely overrated, although I did enjoy Diane Kruger's performance. Up In The Air (as I blogged about in previous posting) is brilliant and a perfect film, with incredible performances by Clooney and his two co-stars. It is a true accomplishment for Jason Reitman. But compared to Avatar and The Hurt Locker it just doesn't stand up to that level.

I will see Precious next, then A Single Man. And then I think I'm prepared to have an opinion on who SHOULD win the major awards. Although often that is not who wins. I'm usually pretty astute about who will win, whether or not I have a personal opinion. So watch and see how my predictions do. This year is an interesting year. The only sure award is Jeff Bridges for Best Actor. I haven't seen that movie or A Single Man to see Colin Firth, the other major contender so I don't have a personal opinion. I just think Jeff Bridges will win. It's his time after a long career with brilliant performances in very unique movies.

Another interesting characteristic of Academy Awards this year is that major money makers don't usually translate to Academy Award esteem. But Avatar's accomplishment is so significant and historic and The Blind Side's as well. Can't say the same for the stupid film Transponder can you? A film, I should add, I refuse to see.

Well here's my Oscar opinions and predictions on the major awards at the moment:

Best Film
Should Win: Avatar
Who Will Win: Avatar

Best Actor
Should Win: undecided
Who Will Win: Jeff Bridges

Best Actress
Should Win: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side
Who Will Win: Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side

Best Director
Should Win: Kathryn Bigelow, The Hurt Locker
Who Will Win: James Cameron, Avatar

I'd love to hear your thoughts as well?

Great new book HOTEL Bemelmans

I love to read and quite frankly the only reason I really started this blog was to talk about reading and books. But for the last six months, while I'm reading as prolifically as always, I just haven't read anything that I thought worthy of public discussion here.

I don't know if books, like films, etc. are not being published in as many numbers and therefore the quality is down or what (I do know that I don't often find a DVD to rent because there doesn't seem to be as many movies that interest me these days).

Until I read HOTEL BEMELMANS by Ludwig Bemelmans. He was a New York busboy, waiter, and restaurateur in New York in the 20's and 30's. The book is a series of short essays or sketches about the life and times of the Hotel Splendide where Bemelmans worked. The Splendide was in reality the Ritz Carlton.

With an introduction by Anthony Bourdain (Kitchen Confidential), the book tells the secrets and scandals of the hotel's staff and rich patrons and guests. As Bemelman's modern day counterpart, Bourdain says: "Ludwig Bemelmans was the original bad boy of the New York hotel/restaurant subculture."

Bemelmans has several claims to fame besides his bad boy restaurateur image. He was an artist and humorist and perhaps most famous for being the author and illustrator of the Madeline books. Like the Madeline series, HOTEL BEMELMANS includes the author's illustrations of the various characters and episodes that are in the book.

Originally from Austria, Bemelmans arrived here as the book says: "at the age of sixteen after he shot a head-waiter at his uncle's hotel." He has a very wry and wickedly funny sense of humor and I literally guffawed throughout the book.

This is a zany cast of characters of con men, gypsies, a wizard, and a number of other eccentric bosses and co-workers. There's Vladimir Slezack, or "Mr. Sigsag" as he's commonly referred to by the staff, who is the catering banquet manager who Bemelmans works for. But my favorite is the hotel manager, Otto Brauhaus:

"Otto Brauhaus (illustration by Bemelmans at right) was an immense stout man; he had to bend down to pass under the tall doorways of his hotel. Big as his feet, which gave him much trouble, telegraphing their sorrows to his ever-worried face, was his heart. For despite his conception of himself as a stern executive, and strict disciplinarian, he could not conceal his kindness. He liked to laugh with guests and employees alike, and the result was that his countenance was the scene of an unending emotional conflict."

What I loved most about Brauhaus is his German accent which "he had somehow never been able to improve.......Brauhaus spoke with a thick dialect that sometimes sounded like a vaudeville comedian trying for effect. He was, in any case, inarticulate, and hated to talk. Two expressions recurred in his speech like commas; without them he seemed hardly able to speak: 'Cheeses Greisd!' and 'Gotdemm it!'

I roared and guffawed my way through this book especially when Brauhuas popped up with his "Cheeses Greisd! Gotdemm it," usually in the same sentence. Here's an example: "But things had not been going too well with Brauhaus's friends, these elderly men who ate and drank too well. In one week Mr. Brauhaus went to two funerals. He came back very gloomy from the second, saying 'Gotdemm it, Cheeses Greisd, every time I see a friend of mine he's dead.'

When he discovers the staff having fun when they thought he was away "Brauhaus stormed back there and exploded: 'What is diss? Gotdemm it! Cheeses Greisd! You have a birdtay zelepration here?'"

There are certain phrases in books that somehow make their way into my daily lexicon. "Fecking eejit" is one (from Frank McCourt's Angela's Ashes, one of my favorite books of all time). But "Gotdemm it Cheeses Greisd" is the newest.

His drawings are as unique as his writing voice as well. Each person illustrated in the drawing reflects a certain self-assuredness/self-possession with themselves. While this is funny when you encounter a pompous, it's even funnier depicting the eccentricities of some of the characters.

This book is really just delightful. You'll relish every moment. I swear, Gotdemm it Cheeses Greisd!

Photo of Ludwig Bemelmans by

Life Magazine, April 1945, Photographer Walter Sanders

Painting by Bemelmans "Terrasse"

NEW World cruise ship UTOPIA with condos for sale

From Money/CNN: New Mexico-based investors have teamed with Korea's Samsung Heavy Industries to build The Utopia, (above, as it would look in Miami) an opulent $1.1 billion ocean liner that will travel the globe, hopping between the world's major sporting and cultural events. The 105,000-ton and 1,000-foot long ship -- the weight and length of more than three Lady Liberty statues, from the base of the concrete platform to the top of the torch -- is scheduled for completion in 2013.

As their website says: "Travel the world in the comfort of your own home." Yes, please, ME WANT. Can you imagine living on this ship. Constantly on the move but all of your stuff right there with you? Of course, I'd prefer the 40,000 ft home! After all, you wouldn't want to get island fever by feeling all cooped up.

Even a six-month stay as a hotel guest would be nice. But I'd rather just have my permanent home on board this non-permanent nomadic city. Remember you can click on photos to enlarge......especially the floor plan below.

Utopia will have 15 decks, 200 private residence units and 204 hotel rooms. That makes the ship spacious enough to accommodate 3,000 guests, said chairman of Utopia Residences David Robb, but to turn up the luxe, Utopia will only welcome 600 guests aboard at a time. Plus 600 crew members to serve them.

The cost of most residences on the Utopia will range from $3.8 million for a 1,400-square-foot condo to $24 million for a 6,600-square feet estate. The single 40,000-square-foot unit will be priced at $160 million. The lairs go on sale in 2010.














Located on Decks 8-15, Utopia’s 190 luxury residences are well-situated to offer breathtaking views wherever your home will travel. Each residential deck has been carefully designed to offer maximum comfort and convenience, with service areas for our professional chefs and caterers and additional storage space all just steps away from your door. Residents will also have access to six private elevators shuttling to and from the residential decks.

They offer a variety of floorplan and sizes. Here the Carnevale Estate Plan 2 bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, 1,890 - 1,967 square feet (176-183 sqm)

You can visit the Utopia's website at: http://www.utopiaresidences.com/utopian_living/index.php

2010 Oscar Nominations

And here they are, in case you haven't heard: the 2010 Oscar nominations (not any surprises). I've made predictions as well (three gold stars)....will do this again (predict) when time draws nearer to ceremony. The predictions are, I should add, not preferences. Meaning I don't necessarily agree with the prediction. The films with * are the ones that I have seen.

What do you think?

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

82nd Oscar Nominations

Best picture

"Avatar" *** *
"The Hurt Locker" *
"Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
"Up in the Air" *
"Inglourious Basterds" *
"Up" *
"The Blind Side" *
"District 9"
"An Education" *
"A Serious Man"

Actor

George Clooney, "Up in the Air" *
Jeff Bridges, "Crazy Heart" ***
Colin Firth, "A Single Man"
Morgan Freeman, "Invictus"
Jeremy Renner, "The Hurt Locker" *

Actress

Meryl Streep, "Julie & Julia" *
Sandra Bullock, "The Blind Side" *** *
Gabourey Sidibe, "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
Helen Mirren, "The Last Station" *
Carey Mulligan, "An Education" *

Supporting actor

Matt Damon, "Invictus"
Woody Harrelson, "The Messenger"
Christopher Plummer, "The Last Station"
Stanley Tucci, "The Lovely Bones"
Christoph Waltz, "Inglourious Basterds" *

Supporting actress

Vera Farmiga, "Up in the Air" *
Mo'Nique, "Precious" ***
Anna Kendrick, "Up in the Air" *
Penelope Cruz, "Nine" *
Maggie Gyllenhaal, "Crazy Heart"

Director

Quentin Tarantino, "Inglourious Basterds" *
Kathryn Bigelow, "The Hurt Locker" *
James Cameron, "Avatar" ***
Lee Daniels, "Precious: Based on the novel 'Push' by Sapphire"
Jason Reitman, "Up in the Air" *

Animated feature

"Up" ***
"Coraline"
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"The Princess and the Frog"
"The Secret of Kells"

Original screenplay

"The Hurt Locker" ***
"Inglourious Basterds"
"The Messenger"
"A Serious Man"
"Up"

Adapted screenplay

"District 9"
"An Education"*** *
"In the Loop"
"Precious"
"Up in the Air" *

Best foreign-language film

"Ajami"
"El Secreto de Sus Ojos"
"The Milk of Sorrow"
"Un Prophète"
"The White Ribbon"

Best film editing

"Avatar" *
"District 9"
"The Hurt Locker" *** *
"Inglourious Basterds" *
"Precious"

Art direction

"Avatar" ***
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
"Nine" *
"Sherlock Holmes"
"The Young Victoria"

Cinematography

"Avatar"***
"Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince"
"The Hurt Locker" *
"Inglourious Basterds" *
"The White Ribbon"

Costume design

"Bright Star"
"Coco Before Chanel" ***
"The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus"
"Nine"
"The Young Victoria"

Best documentary feature

"Burma VJ"
"The Cove" *
"Food, Inc."
"The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers"
"Which Way Home"

Documentary short

"China's Unnatural Disaster: The Tears of Sichuan Province"
"The Last Campaign of Governor Booth Gardner"
"The Last Truck: Closing of a GM Plant"
"Music by Prudence"
"Rabbit à la Berlin"

Makeup

"Il Divo"
"Star Trek"
"The Young Victoria"

Music (original score)

"Avatar" ***
"Fantastic Mr. Fox"
"The Hurt Locker"
"Sherlock Holmes"
"Up"

Music (original song)

"Almost There" from "The Princess and the Frog"
"Down in New Orleans" from "The Princess and the Frog"
"Loin de Paname" from "Paris 36"
"Take it All" from "Nine"
"The Weary Kind (Theme from "Crazy Heart") from "Crazy Heart"

Short film, animated

"French Toast"
"Granny O'Grimm's Sleeping Beauty"
"The Lady and the Reaper"
"Logorama"
"A Matter of Loaf and Death"

Short film, live action

"The Door"
"Instead of Abracadabra"
"Kavi"
"Miracle Fish"
"The New Tenants"

Sound editing

"Avatar" *
"The Hurt Locker" *
"Inglourious Basterds" *
"Star Trek" *
"Up"*

Sound mixing

"Avatar" *
"The Hurt Locker" *** *
"Inglourious Basterds" *
"Star Trek" *
"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen"

Visual effects

"Avatar" *** *
"District 9"
"Star Trek" *

Oh You're BREAKING MY HEART. This photo is TOO cool

TIME's Picture of the Week
Sukree Sukplang / Reuters

It's All Love

Three piglets rest next to their eight-year-old adoptive mother, Sai Mai, at Thailand's Sriracha Tiger Zoo.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/picturesoftheweek/0,29409,1957531_2030404,00.html#ixzz0e3ZZVnsJ

NEVER FORGET: Memories of visiting Auschwitz 32 years ago

Peter Andrews / Reuters

NEVER FORGET

When I was a teenager, about 16 I think, I had the amazing and overwhelming experience of going on a 3-week trip to then-Soviet Union Russia and Poland. As a a member of my church choir we embarked on the trip to sing secular music, ironically, at some of the most beautiful churches in Russia and Poland. Our travels took us to Leningrad, as it was known at the time (it is now St. Petersburg); Moscow; Warsaw; Krakow and many other towns and villages.

At the time I was a messed up, confused teen. I'm not sure how much the trip helped or hindered that condition, although the experience did leave an indelible lifetime imprint that in essence changed inextricably who I was and who I have become today. It wasn't a change that really happened immediately at the time. I think it was a seed that was planted that over the years following, as I aged, became more distinctly entrenched and altered the way I processed the world. In some ways I think it made me a fatalist, although I rather think that's a genetic trait that I was born with, so it simply triggered a natural condition. You could say the trip made me a darker shade of grey.

That life-altering, perspective-skewing aspect of my trip to Russian and Poland in 1978 was a visit to the Nazi concentration camp, Auschwitz. We actually visited two former concentration camps, however, the other one had been razed by the Germans and was only a memorial to the many children who died there--if I recall it was a concentration camp for children.

Being a 16-year old and witnessing such human atrocities I think is a very beneficial experience. I don't know whether the visit had the same impact on my fellow choir singers--no doubt it had an equal impact on us all, but in distinctly different and unique ways. Others might have found hope from the visit that perhaps changed their lives inextricably too.

But for me, a child of the 70s who lived in terror because of my homosexuality, the visit I think highlighted the world in which I lived. I understood such hatred. I had witnessed personally hatred all of my life. I don't know that I knew that so much at the time as much as it slowly dawned on me as I grew up in the years following the trip.

That experience, awakened me to the world in future years with less of a naivete.

Seeing actual piles of glasses/spectacles, piles of hair of the remains of some of the 1.1 million people who were exterminated at Auschwitz is something that we should all witness. Standing in front of two of the ovens where hundreds of thousands of bodies were burned in the crematoriums or standing in the showers where millions of people were gassed, or standing in front of the walls which are pockmarked with bullet holes which killed thousands more: this is something we should all see. And never forget.

This is what we are. Our species is capable of this. No church, no religious institution, no political institution, no political party, no politician, no God/Goddess can illustrate or instruct us about the true basic nature of humankind, more than Auschwitz. This is what we are capable of and what we've done over the thousands of years since our existence, usually in the name of religion. We kill each other: brutally, barbarically, heinously. Our capacity as a species for love and intelligence, does not conquer all. Even with these supposed higher levels of capability, which give us a supposed advantage to the other species on our planet, look at the world that we live in today in 2010....a world that we are destroying. Look around you at the world that man has created, evolved, and which is still sometimes as barbaric and without reason as it was in the Dark Ages.

After that remarkably profound and seminal personal experience at Auschwitz, I never could see the world in any other way except with an inherent unease that somehow the same thing would happen again. I could see vestiges of similar hatred all around me as a young gay man growing up in Texas in the late 70s. I still see the same vestiges of hatred, and even more startling and prevalently some 30 years later, everywhere, as a gay middle-aged man living in Southern California. Auschwitz and the Holocaust happened over 65 years ago. And I'm afraid that it will happen, no, it is happening again. It has happened in countries in Africa over the last 50 years.

Time.com has a rather remarkable article with photos which marks the 65th anniversary of the Auschwitz-Birkenau death camp's liberation. You can visit the site:

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1957088,00.html#ixzz0dqIV2tzW

These photos are austerely beautiful, the contemporary ones, which masks the hideous nightmare that existed 65 years ago. Underneath the photos below are the captions from Time.com

Peter Andrews / Reuters
Never Forget The barbed wire fences serve as a reminder of the horrors of the past. There were thought to be around 7,000 survivors in the camp at the time of the liberation in 1945 with only a handful still alive. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu honored the victims and those who risked their lives to save Jews from the Nazis. "We encounter the worst evil in the history of mankind together with the greatest courage in the history of humanity. This is not an easy encounter but it gives us hope and direction for our future."
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1956984_2029641,00.html

Peter Andrews / Reuters

New Day Rising The camp's barracks are pictured on the early morning of January 27, 2010. In 2005 the United Nations declared the date International Holocaust Remembrance Day. More than a million people were murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1956984_2029648,00.html#ixzz0dqNdQ2tM

One of my favorite places to visit in Washington DC is the Holocaust Museum. Even if you cannot make a trip to Poland to actually witness Auschwitz, do make an effort to go to this museum in DC. For more information, visit The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's website for more information: http://www.ushmm.org/ .

If you look around you every moment of the day, hatred is so prevalent and rampant in every aspect of our lives. I read today that Fox News is now the most trusted source of news in the US.....now that's a whole lot of hatred spewing that emanates from the most trusted news source. I even examine my own hatred for right-wing Republicans and Christian conservatives and I see the same base essence of our species that created an Auschwitz and its outcome approximately 65 years ago. The ushmm.org website has a very good section dedicated to genocide. Please investigate.

I remember reading and listening to mythology/religion scholar Joseph Campbell in the late 80's. He made the statement, which seems even more prophetic today, that somehow in our modern technologically advancing (these days at dizzying speeds of light) world we had not evolved a new mythology in which to find a spiritual path which resonates for our times. His assertion was that, throughout man's history, societies had created mythologies that were necessary and helpful to humans and that were based upon mankind's evolutionary maturity. Campbell's observation was that we were long overdue for a new mythology which reflected our evolutionary progress. We seem as a species to be stuck at a spiritual age of a two year old, although our intellectual maturity is that of a 40 year old. When I look around today that is most evident and even more frightening than when I heard Mr. Campbell make the observation two decades ago.

So this blog entry today isn't positive, I'm sorry. It is most fatalistic. We really can only do one thing though: NEVER FORGET what we are capable of. It's chilling enough to make one reconsider your own thoughts and to examine more closely the world in which you live today.

Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day

I won't ever forget that visit to Auschwitz. I cannot ever forget that mankind is capable of such horrific acts. It can and will happen again. Unless we never forget.

Roger Viollet / Getty

Unimaginable The ovens of Auschwitz. "The Holocaust is the tragedy which unites Europe," European Jewish Congress leader Moshe Kantor said on the eve of the anniversary, which President Barack Obama was due to address by video.

CEBU Dancing Inmates REALLY cool music video Michael Jackson's This Is It

This is an amazing musical video. Thanks for this from Flesh Addicted for this find!
Cebu Dancing Inmates – Michael Jackson’s This Is It DVD. The “Thriller” routine of the Cebu dancing inmates captured audiences worldwide, including the King of Pop himself, the late Michael Jackson. Payne, along with two of Jackson’s backup dancers, taught the inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center new routines for a special dance video that will be released to coincide with the “This Is It” DVD launch.

The number was called “The Drill,” the last choreography Payne and Jackson collaborated on before the King of Pop died in June 2009.

The performance was uploaded on the video-sharing site YouTube last January 22. Accessed on the morning of January 26, the video clip had already been viewed 417,610 times. The number also showed the inmates forming a huge peace sign, possibly in remembrance of Jackson, who advocated world peace. Dancers Daniel Celebre and Dres Reid also joined the inmates, who wore black “This Is It” shirts.

The choreographer said it was but fitting to include a special dance number from the now world-renowned Cebu inmates for the special “This Is It” DVD launch. The Cebu dancing inmates even made it to the “Michael Jackson Opus,” the only new publication that was approved and endorsed by Jackson himself and the estate of Michael Jackson.

Read more: http://www.dailybuzzonline.com/cebu-dancing-inmates-michael-jacksons-this-is-it-dvd/3341/#ixzz0dlAOp8es

1,500 plus CPDRC inmates of the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center, Cebu, Philippines at practice!

A floating future for New Orleans? New Orleans Arcology Habitat

Wonder if Brad Pitt is in on this one? I want to live in this too.. All illustrations/cg renderings by Tangram 3DS LLC






From World Architecture News

Floating city concept designed for ecological living solution

Kevin Schopfer, heading up Ahearn Schopfer architects practice, has developed this unconventional solution to ecological living, specified for use in New Orleans.

Together with Tangram 3DS, a firm specializing in visualization and computer animation, Schopfer has designed and presented New Orleans Arcology Habitat (NOAH) as a proposed urban Arcology (architecture and ecology), whose philosophic underpinnings rest in combining large scale sustainability with concentrated urban structures, in this case a floating city.

NOAH's structure is designed for concentrated use with around 20,000 housing units at an average of 1,100 sq ft, three hotels, 1,500 time-share units and 500,000 sq ft of retail space. Also incorporated are three casinos, 500,000 sq ft of commercial condominiums, parking for 8,000 cars, a school, 100,000 sq ft of cultural facilities and a 20,000 sq ft health facility, making the structure socially self-sufficient. All fitting together with public amenities and administrative offices into an estimated 30 million sq ft.

Asked about why NOAH took this form, the architect responded: "The Pyramid shape is the strongest, most able shape to guarantee structural stability when considering the size and height to width ratio of the entire structure. The shape was also chosen so that the wind and inclement weather would be able to blow through the building instead of fight it."

Transportation through the structure would be made possible by the implementation of staggered 'zone elevators' and a mini electric 'subway' system.

Chosen as the 'city that needs it most' the design of NOAH is not created to complement the fabric of New Orleans but as a 'sustainable icon' which would be forever anchored by its coastline.

Beautiful Pachyderms (not of the US political kind I might add)

Damir Sagolj / Reuters

If you follow this blog you'll know that I love elephants. This is the sweetest gesture. The Haiti situation was indeed hideous before the earthquake and is beyond disastrous at this point. My heart truly goes out to that country. I encourage everyone to please donate something. They needed it before....but now. I donated to the Red Cross using the text-messaging effort--it involves sending the word "Haiti" in a cellphone text message to the number 90999, which automatically adds a $10 pledge to a person's phone bill.

The picture above is from TIME.com picture of the day, January 21, 2010.

Please
Thai elephants walk through the backpackers' area of Khao San Road to collect money for the survivors of Haiti's earthquake.

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/today-in-pictures/0,31511,1955736,00.html#ixzz0dYSH8ptw

NOW this is funny....way to go Conan!

I don't watch tv, except for DVD. I used to watch CNN at night but I cannot stand Larry King anymore and Anderson Cooper (before the Haiti disaster) seems to be trying to become Fox (or as another blogger sagely said: faux fox). Alas, I will maybe watch Discovery channel or Chelsea Lately when I eat dinner.

So, most of the recent NBC late night brouhaha was a bit lost on me. I never liked Leno. I've always preferred Letterman. I've never watched Conan or Leno's new shows. But I do think no matter what, that the NBC people are idiots.

Since I don't like Leno I'm automatically sympathetic to Conan. But after this, I LOVE the guy. This is utterly hysterical. You go, Conan. (thanks to perezhilton.com for this). And good for Tom Hanks for taking part in this perfect fuck you gesture.

Perezhilton had this listing today on his blogsite:

You Go, Coco! O'Brien Blows NBC's Money Until The End!

Read More: Celebrity gossip juicy celebrity rumors Hollywood gossip blog from Perez Hilton http://www.perezhilton.com/#ixzz0dYe7WjIl
Celebrity Juice, Not from Concentrate

Although Conan refrained from slamming NBC during his last night on the Tonight Show, Coco had no problem spending the network's $$$!

According to The Roots' drummer and Late Night with Jimmy Fallon house band leader Questlove, NBC paid $500,000 for Tom Hanks to walk out to The Beatles' Lovely Rita (in honor of Hanks' wife, Rita Wilson) on Conan's Friday night show!!

Tweeted Questlove:

"yo i hate spoiling but i will have you know that walk on song we just heard was half a milli. i know cause i got the list rate at nbc… anytime you use the beatles on tv that will cost you dearly."

Ha!

Read More: Celebrity gossip juicy celebrity rumors Hollywood gossip blog from Perez Hilton http://www.perezhilton.com/#ixzz0dYdwxzEd
Celebrity Juice, Not from Concentrate

Newest Tall Building in the world proposed. IN Miami--the Miapolis?

Thanks to RobOrange for this blog sighting. We're into tall, large structures here and this is big, big news. If it ever gets built? Can anyone in the US afford something so expensive?

It is quite large but it doesn't have the elegance that Dubai's Burj Khalifa (formerly Burj Dubai) has? I don't think. It is rather nice looking and it is colossally tall, which is the first attraction for me. I like my buildings tall.........BIG and TALL. It actually looks like two buildings attached with intermittent connecting floors. It appears to be built on an island which is interesting. But I think the crown thing at the top is a bit odd. It looks strangely like a bishop's mitre. The base is rather interesting as it looks like it is very "green" design-oriented. But the photo below from above makes the whole structure too phallic and the base looks a bit to "scrotal." What do you think?

No telling how long it will take to build if it ever gets built. So the current reigning world champion, the Burj Khalifa should stay champ for a while.

Developed by Kobi Karp, a Miami based architectural and interior design firm, the “Miapolis” is a 975-meter high tower planned for Watson Island that if constructed will surpass Dubai’s Burj Khalifa by 183 meters. Accommodating an amusement park, observatory, restaurants, 1.96 million sq ft of shops, over 1000 apartments, 1 million sq ft office space and a 792-room hotel, the 160-story superscraper will create 35,000 permanent jobs and generate $39 million to the City and $2.5 billion to the local economy annually. To quote the Miapolis website,

Johnny Depp on the COVER of the new GQ

I'm heading directly to the store to get the new GQ issue with that brilliant and gorgeous Johnny Depp on the cover. The issue is the 25 Most Stylish Men in the World and includes a few other favorite hotties: Daniel Day Lewis and Robert Pattinson.

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