Elegant Distractions

If your heart is too hard to appreciate a baby-penguin mosh-pit, then perhaps you need this film more than most. It certainly seemed to be the most popular show at the multiplex today.

Visuals are so spectacular that sometimes I thought they must be CG but that's not very likely coming from National Geographic.

The use of 4:3 aspect-ratio struck me as odd for a landscape that screamed for a wider format. Images from the web site give me the impression it was shot on 16mm and the blow-up was grainy at times. Not sure how HD cameras would hold up in that extreme environment.

Mr. Simon calls it the best film of the summer. Tough to argue against that.

Posted by director at 06:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Categories: Film

What he said.

This is a film in which death has no sting because the characters have no lives to lose.

See also Sin City Review

Posted by director at 10:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Categories: Film

London cops blast fleeing terror suspect. Muslims are afraid.

"We are getting phone calls from quite a lot of Muslims who are distressed about what may be a shoot-to-kill policy."

More such distress would seem like the right direction. Better to distress potential bombers than innocent citizens.

Via Roger L. Simon

Posted by director at 11:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Categories: Politics

After the serious mountain stages this last weekend, things look to be clear for Lance Armstrong to take an unprecedented 7th yellow jersey. Lance holds a 2:46 lead over his closest rival and should be safe in upcoming stages. Most of them are flat, or at least flat near the end which stops major competitors from getting away from him. The time to beat him was in the mountains and the biggest stages there are done. The only real danger ahead is the time trial on Saturday. Lance rides time trials at least as well as anyone in the field and so to lose 2:46 he'll have to really screw up. Barring a major disaster, he may well win yet again.

-Godshatter

Posted by Godshatter at 10:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Categories: Sports

I'm glad to see that Bush picked a winner for the court. I was really worried that he'd go wobbly on us but it appears he didn't. He picked a man who is reportedly one of the smartest lawyers in DC. Someone who has argued 49 cases before the Supreme Court. Someone who was brave enough to let stand a really stupid law making it a crime to eat french fries on the subway in D.C. because, while inane, it wasn't unconstitutional. This man is John Roberts. Hugh Hewitt has mentioned him in the past in glowing terms. If the guy is good enough for Hugh, he's good enough for me.
The Dem's seem confused about how to respond. They want to go nuclear but aren't sure the country will buy it. There are polls of late showing that 60+ % of the country think the President should get his pick. This guy doesn't look to provide a big target. We can only hope that they are full of bluster and won't actually block the nomination. Stay tuned...

-Godshatter

Posted by Godshatter at 10:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Categories: Politics

A terrific Townhall article concerning Hollywood's continuing suicide.

Look, anybody not in Hollywood can see this a continent away. Hollywood disdains middle America, all these good people stand for and believe in, but still expects them to fork over their dinar for films that are spiralling into the abyss of wretchedness.

Problem is, these hated people now have a) the internet and, b) options.

If you don't know how the internet is affecting movie-going habits, drop a line to Tim Robbins & Susan Sarandon.

The only reason DVDs eat into boxoffice revenues is because what's on the screen is terrible. The local mega-chain has racks of DVDs for $8. So, I can drop $40 for two at the giga-plex (not counting dinner) or stay home and see something I know will be good. Or, more precisely, I can see five movies for the same price.

There is way too much money at stake for this problem to go unsolved. Studios execs seem willing to suffer as long as possible before facing the stark realities they have brought on themselves.

Posted by director at 06:56 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Categories: Film

RevoteWa.com has an online survey covering potential reforms to the completely broken elections system in Washington State.

Go here to participate in the poll.

Posted by director at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Categories: Politics

I've been a long-time fan of the Canon pro-sumer cameras. I own a GL1 and have been making plans to acquire an XL2. But this may change my mind. Apparently available in August.

I've been skeptical of HDDV but this camera might just change my mind.

Posted by director at 08:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Categories: Technology

Opponents of the new 9 cents-per-gallon tax increase turned in 420,570 signatures yesterday, almost 200,000 more than required. The Seattle P-I reports that supporters of the new tax are "shocked."

I bet. 420,570 citizens (not "subjects", or "assets", btw) struck back at the ruling class in Washington State with such a thunderous voice that most within the echo chamber of Olympia must be wondering what that sound is.

It is the sound of many elected officials hunting for new jobs come election day, 2006.

It is the sound of citizens breaking their silence on neo-marxist government spending.

It is the sound of status quo crumbling under the weight of free-flowing information.

Posted by director at 10:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Categories: Politics

Have some fun with the Gitmo Terro-Gator if you dare! Not for the faint-of-heart.

Posted by director at 10:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Categories: Politics

A fascinating interview with Kenyan economics expert James Shikwati by Der Spiegel:

SPIEGEL: Mr. Shikwati, the G8 summit at Gleneagles is about to beef up the development aid for Africa...

Shikwati: ... for God's sake, please just stop.

SPIEGEL: Stop? The industrialized nations of the West want to eliminate hunger and poverty.

Shikwati: Such intentions have been damaging our continent for the past 40 years. If the industrial nations really want to help the Africans, they should finally terminate this awful aid. The countries that have collected the most development aid are also the ones that are in the worst shape. Despite the billions that have poured in to Africa, the continent remains poor.

SPIEGEL: Do you have an explanation for this paradox?

Read the whole thing for the insider's view on the crippling effects of foreign aid.

Posted by director at 10:28 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Categories: Politics

Here is part of an email I received today from my long-time (daren't say "old"!) friend in London:

Its awful but at least the casualties weren’t as high as yours. I worry about the muslims here, the Brits are far less tolerant than the Americans and far quicker to hurt people. Those that will do this will not be intelligent enough to realise the muslims as a people are not responsible but a few madmen and there will be those looking for someone to blame and unfortunately they will be it. No doubt somewhere along the line the blame will be levelled at Israel, it usually is, just like 911 was.

London was deserted last night so goodness what this will do to small businesses. Public transport is crap at the best of times, now it will be a bigger problem because people will use their cars and Livingston the mayor has spent years trying to cut down on the cars! Mind you he is anti-jewish and says the suicide bombers have a point, I wonder what his opinion will be of suicide bombers now they did it in his back yard!!!

This lady has traveled extensively, especially to the States. She thinks, for example, that the U.K. is twenty years behind the USA in certain technologies. So, to note that the bigotted, racist America (according to certain segments) is more tolerant than our British cousins is quite a statement.

I'm working up a concept in my mind: all the billions spent on public transportation and it turns out to be a huge safety risk. Wonder what the socialists will say about that?

Posted by director at 07:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0) | Categories: Politics