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"No man should outlive his fictional wizard. No man!!". ..........Homer Simpson
"Mr. Spock, the women on your planet are logical. Yours is the only planet in this galaxy that can make that claim". .........Captain Kirk
If a man speaks in the forest and his wife or girlfriend isn't there to hear him, is he still wrong? ........anonymous
Wax, or The Discovery Of The Movies On The Internet
As historic moments go, this one, it could be argued, was closer to "Watson, come here!" than to another Saturday night at the movies.
A small audience scattered among a few dozen computer laboratories gathered Saturday evening to watch the first movie to be transmitted on the Internet -- the global computer network that connects millions of scientists and academic researchers and hitherto has been a medium for swapping research notes and an occasional still image.
Yes, the cult movie, "Wax: Or the Discovery of Television Among the Bees," had to be reduced from full color to a blurry black and white. And true, the spotty audio occasionally went silent. But coming as companies in the cable TV, telephone and computer industries are hot on the trail of 500-channel, all-digital TV, let history record that Saturday night marked the first baby steps in that direction.
The movie, an 85-minute feature by David Blair about a beekeeper who ends up being kept by the bees, has attracted a cult following since its release in 1992. Mr. Blair transmitted it Saturday night from a film production studio in midtown Manhattan. He played it on a VCR and fed it into a computer that converted it into digital form and fed it into the Internet. Promises, Promises
Mr. Blair's effort demonstrated that while information industry giants like Tele-Communications Inc., A.T.& T. and Time Warner are tantalizing the nation with promises of hundreds of channels of ultra-high-resolution interactive pictures transmitted via fiber-optic superhighways, the technology is still in its infancy.
Indeed,
it was not until halfway through the digital network premier of "Wax"
that the engineers gathered at an office of Sun Microsystems Inc. in
Mountain View, Calif., were even able to find the movie signal in the
Internet datastream and direct it to play on their color work stations.
The Spirit
Tropic Thunder
This is the funniest movie I have ever seen. Ever. When I went I expected a few laughs and a bit of entertainment but what I got was a two hour laugh fest so intense it almost hurt to laugh so much. In addition to being funny it's also incredibly politically incorrect, something that to me is a wonderful thing. If you are sensitive to politics, war, animal rights, women, men, dogs, cats, sheep, minorities, trees, air, or pretty much anything else, this is not the movie for you. For real humans however, this is a great movie.
If not for the controversy about the word "retard" being used in this film, I'd have never given it a second thought. But when I heard some overly sensitive politically correct bozo on a local talk show start crying when tthe "retard" clip was played, I knew I had to see this movie. Anything that makes a politclally correct moron go over the edge is alright with me. After viewing this movie, I can tell you I was not not disappointed. Even now several days after viewing the movie when I think of parts of this movie, I am still cracking up laughing. This makes strangers look at me a bit oddly. Well, more oddly. But to Hell with them, it's all about me.
The premise of this movie is thus: self absorbed actors filming a Vietnam movie destroy a million dollar movie set and to save the production the director takes the crew into the real Vietnam jungle where he has rigged cameras in trees along a route to the "end" of the movie with the only way out being a the helicopter that dropped the
actors there, something he neglects to inform them about until they are actually on the jungle "set" in Vietnam. Things go awry when just after giving the actors this information he turns around and steps on a real surplus land mine left over from the Vietnam War blowing himself up and into several pieces. The actors all think this is part of the "plan" and continue the job of making the movie following a map brought in by the
director.
This movie is funny in almost every scene, but it's a bit grotesque when the main star "Tug Speedman" picks up the head of the director thinking he's in the movie and starts drinking blood from the severed head in an attempt to act as a macho solder, so be forewarned. Our Hero Tug is also an animal rights activist who loves Panda Bears and when separated from the rest of the crew one night in a fierce struggle with an unknown being kills a Panda. That's funny but it's even funnier when Tug goes feral and he's shown wearing the skinned and hollowed out head of the Panda. So, you see this movie is not for the Politically Correct crowd.
This movie is also not for children considering the jokes are about drugs, murder, war, and well, farts. Immature adults will do fine (I know, I'm an expert on the subject of immature adults).
Death Race
Death Race is remake of the 1970's exploitation film "Death Race 2000" starring David Carradine as that movies hero, "Frankenstein" who is a (supossedly) hideously deformed masked driver leading a cross country race. In this Death Race drivers score points by running over and killing people. The most points are given to drivers who kill senior citizens because they are useless and a drain on society. Well, that movie had a great concept but the movie was poorly executed. The idea at was good satire but it just didn't work. The original was most notable aspect of that early film is the fact it was and early movie with Sylvester Stallone in a starring role. One great thing about this movie was political inccorectness before the term was even known.
The current incarnation of that movie has the slightly truncated title of "Death Race" works and it works fine. No longer a cross country race of random indiscriminate human carnage (as great as that idea is) this Death Race takes place within the confines of an enormous island prison with the top prize being the freedom of the convict winner. It's 2012 and the current version of Bread and Circuses is Death Race, viewed by millions on the Internet. Created by the prison's Evil Warden and her Evil Cohort and having the largest audience in history she intends to maintain that viewership by having the best driver alive framed for the murder of his wife and delivered to her prison to take the place of the now deceased but still legendary Frankenstien. Anyone can be Frankenstien since Frankie's face is hidden by a mask. Our Hero gets sucked into the role of Frankenstein role by the Evil Warden. In addition to an incredible souped up armored car with military weaponry Our Hero gets a navigator who is also a prisoner from the Women's Correctional Facility who just happens to be an ubber babe. No surprise here, this is what happened in the original flick when David Carridine as Frankenstein One went on a nation wide blitz of vehicular homoside.
This Death Race takes place in three stages over three days and Our Boy Frank manages to blast and blow his way through his rivals, prison gaurds and even "The System", as well as the Evil Warden who eventually gets her cumupins. Bottom line is, this movie is great. For the three people who read my movie reviews here (I know where you are and how to find you), you know how much I hate "message" movies. This movie ain't none of that. This movie is about cars, killin' and hooters. It has all the ingredients for what I consider a great movie: no plot, almost no dialogue, lots of deafeningly loud rock music and tons of explosions. Truly, this movie is a work of art. This is a man's movie.. None of that Oprah crap, just killing through the bastards that get in your way. You know, the way things would be in a perfect world. If you are a guy and want to get in touch with your manhood after being subjected to politically correct crap such as being sold on the idea you need to be "sensitive man", go see this movie at the theater. You'll reconnect with what makes you male.
That's entertainment!!!!
Call to Artists: Community Center Retaining Wall In CHapel Hill
Chapel Hill Public Arts Office
Call to Artists: Community Center Retaining Wall
Project Summary
DESCRIPTION: The Town of Chapel Hill, North Carolina seeks qualifications from artists/teams to creatively design a functioning, low-rise retaining wall/seating element bordering the playground area at the Chapel Hill Community Center Park at 120 South Estes Drive .
ELIGIBILITY: Open to all artists/teams in North Carolina . Artists/teams may specialize in multiple disciplines and media.
PROJECT BUDGET: The Art budget for this project is estimated to be at least $45,000, inclusive of the wall construction and railing. Site preparation will be handled by the Town.
DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS: September 24, 2008
Project Overview
An existing wood retaining wall is in need of replacement. An opportunity exists for a creative solution for a utilitarian project. The purposes of the wall will be to:
- Keep a low hillside from collapsing
- Provide an area for parents to sit near the playground and watch their children
- Improve the area by adding an art element to the park
The wall will measure approximately 2 1/2 feet at its highest and 6 inches at its lowest. The wall may be stepped down from the central point to the edges. The wall length will be about 76 feet. A small side “wall” is 5 feet, 7 inches long and 9 inches tall. The wall may be fashioned out of any durable materials (brick, stone, wood, concrete, etc. or any off the shelf building materials with added artistic enhancements) as long as it meets the above requirements. Because the position of the wall is at the terminus of a sloping hill side, a low railing (that may or may not be an artistic feature) may need to be installed on top or behind the low wall. The construction of the wall may be sub-contracted. Engineering approval will be required. Because of its location near a play area, all pertinent safety regulations must be met. Thematically, the wall should reflect its location near a children’s play area.
Photographs of the existing wall and site for download can be found at http://www.chapelhillarts.org/artists_curr_0.php.
How to Apply
Artists and teams may send a compact disc containing application materials through the post to Jeffrey York, Public Art Administrator (address provided below) or in a .zip file sent to chapelhillarts@gmail.com.
Each application must include:
Ten (10) Images of Relevant Work
Each image must be a PC-compatible JPEG file at 72 pixels per inch, as close to but no larger than the following dimensions: 750 pixels wide by 560 pixels tall. Each JPEG file must be named in the following format – lastname_01_title.jpg – where the artist’s last name is followed by underscore, two-digit identification number, underscore, title, file extension. If you wish to show a detail, include it within the required number of images. Please do not present your work as a montage of images (ie., in a PowerPoint file); each image must be a separate JPEG.
Annotated Image List
A word file (.doc) listing JPEG images by two-digit identification number, followed by artist, title of work depicted, year completed, media, location, dimensions, and budget.
Resume
A word file (.doc) providing resume(s). If you are applying as a team, include all team member resumes within one document.
Letter of Interest
A word file (.doc) not to exceed 5,000 characters. The statement will explain the artist’s or artist team’s interest in the project and past experience. If the Letter of Interest is on behalf of a team, please identify the lead artist and indicate if the individuals and/or organizations have previously collaborated and the nature of the association. If the artist or artist team has worked with a landscape architect, neighborhood organization, local government, or other similar and relevant agencies, please describe the relationship as well as the design process. Describe any experience with the fabrication process.
References
A word file (.doc) listing three professional references (commissioning agency or organization, design or arts professional, architect, landscape architect, engineer, etc.) with knowledge of your work and working methods. Include the name and date of the project(s), complete address, telephone numbers, and em ail for each individual. If an organization is serving as a professional reference, please identify a contact name.
Selection Process
A Public Art Review Committee comprised of arts professionals, representatives from the Arts Commission, the Parks and Recreation Commission, the Parks and Recreation department, the community and Chapel Hill Town Council will review all of the submissions and select up to three finalists. This committee will interview finalists in Chapel Hill , North Carolina and its final recommendation of an artist/team will be approved by the Chapel Hill Town Council. Finalists will be compensated for their travel and lodging, and will receive a flat rate fee of $500.
Schedule for Artist Selection (subject to change)
September 24, 2008: Deadline for Electronic Application Materials
October 31, 2008: Artist Recommendation Committee selects finalists
early December, 2008: Finalists interviewed in Chapel Hill , North Carolina
January, 2009: Project Awarded
May, 2009: Wall installed
Chapel Hill Information
The Town of Chapel Hill is located principally in Orange County , in the north central portion of North Carolina on the Piedmont Plateau, approximately equidistant between Washington , DC , and Atlanta , Georgia . The area’s topography is characterized by rolling hills. The Town, which was incorporated in 1819, presently covers an area of 21.3 square miles and has a population of approximately 53,400. The Town is the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill , the nation's oldest public university. Chapel Hill is a thriving community and is frequently listed as one of the best places to live in the United States .
The Chapel Hill Parks and Recreation Department provides a variety of services to the citizens of Chapel Hill and Orange County . Its mission is to enhance the quality of life of all citizens and foster a sense of community by providing superior recreational, cultural, and educational services and effectively maintaining and protecting the Town’s natural resources.
Established in 1992 by a resolution of the Town Council, the Chapel Hill Public Arts Commission is the Town advisory board responsible for advising the Council on art-related matters, working with Town Public Art staff to administer the Percent for Art program, increasing public access to the arts through programming initiatives, and promoting public understanding and awareness of the arts.
Additional Information
If you have questions or need any additional information please contact the Town of Chapel Hill Public Art Office :
Jeffrey J. York,
Chapel Hill Public Arts Administrator
Chapel Hill Town Hall
405 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
E: jyork@townofchapelhill.org
T: 919-968-2750
Cloth Salvaged From Dumpsters
Coffee Shop Open At the North Carolina Arts Incubator in Siler City
Courtyard Coffee & Soda Cafe
223B North Chatham Avenue
Siler City NC 27344
Proprietor: Joan Underwood
919-663-2152
Prints from Australia
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Grants for North Carolina Writers
First: Regional Artist Project Grant (www.ashevillearts.org)
This application is done, less the two letters of reference, and just needs to be photocopied and dropped off. I’m asking for funding to cover a February 2009 trip to Chicago so that I may attend the annual AWP Conference there. This is for about $1,000.
Second: Arts Writers Grant Program (www.artswriters.org)
This application is lengthy and now that I’ve completed the above listed grant app, I can begin this one. It’s due in two months and it might just take me that long to put it together. As their site explains, “The Warhol Foundation Arts Writing Initiative is a three-year, three million dollar pilot program to support independent, progressive, nonprofit arts publications and individual arts writers…The initiative amplifies the foundation’s longstanding support of critical writing about the arts by focusing attention on arts writing as an essential component of a thriving visual culture.” Awards could be as small as, say, $2,000 or as much as $50,000.
Third: North Carolina Arts Council Writers Fellowship (www.ncarts.org)
Every three years, NC writers are invited to apply for this fellowship. This application is relatively simple, but the fellowship is so difficult to get that I must make every word seriously. The applicaiton is so simple I could complete it in one evening—but the decisions are complex and require more time. I must send 20 pages of my best work—what does that mean? Do I include fiction and nonfiction? Both? Either you’re in or you’re out. $10,000 to support the creative development of an NC writer and generate the creation of new work or not. No letters of reference (darn!).