Merci 2011 from John Sullivan on Vimeo.
Let me know what you think,
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Split-Rail and Bradford
We may not have built it but that doesn't mean we can't try and milk our little fence for all it is worth. Look out Montana!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Thing of Beauty
If you happened to notice today was the day the internal combustion engine was patented. In honor of that I have decided to reprint a news story I read that ties in loosely to this theme.
Think ingenuity and booze.
In this photo released Tuesday, March 31, 2009, by the Newark (Ohio) Police Department, a motorized bar stool is shown. Police in Newark, 30 miles east of Columbus, say when they responded to a report of a crash with injuries on March 4 2009, they found a man who had wrecked a bar stool powered by a deconstructed lawn mower. Police say Kile Wygle, 28 was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated after he told an officer at the hospital that he had consumed 15 beers. Wygle told police his motorized bar stool can go up to 38 mph. (AP Photo/Newark (Ohio) Police Department
Friday, March 20, 2009
Patton Oswalt and the Truth
I’ve been listening to some of Patton Oswalt’s stand up the past few days and while I have been laughing myself silly I have also learned a thing or two. When I say learned what I really mean is that a truth I already knew has been revealed to me. This, I think, is the true worth of stand-up comedy. A person gets on stage and tells you things you didn’t know you already knew and they make you laugh while doing it.
What I learned from Mr. Oswalt today has to do with the Star Wars prequels. Before I listened to this routine I was sure I did not like any of the prequels and I was fairly sure I knew the reasons why. I missed a few. In his act Mr. Oswalt reveals some of the most convincing reasons I have encountered as to why these movies are absolute garbage. Forget Jar-Jar and terrible acting and a lead that conveys no emotion. Forget also really bad looking digital video that was hyped (there it is again!) as "The Thing That Would Soon Devour Film". Even, and I know this is a big one, forget the fact that Lucas decided to direct these movies himself -- despite the glaring evidence of the first trilogy why this would be a bad idea.
Now that we have forgotten these minor points (and believe me, I have more) let us get to what Mr. Oswalt targets as the problem: Lucas spends a good deal of time in the first two movies telling us about the really tough and evil characters we love, but about when they were sweet, innocent children. It had not occurred to me before listening to this bit but that, without a doubt, is exactly what is wrong with these movies. Let's look at one of the all time villains when he was a sweet and cuddly boy that life kept tromping on. Poor little Vader, don't cry now. The truth of the matter is very simple: I could not care less how Darth Vader came to be what he is. Not one bit. The same goes for any of the other characters in these films.
What I learned from Mr. Oswalt today has to do with the Star Wars prequels. Before I listened to this routine I was sure I did not like any of the prequels and I was fairly sure I knew the reasons why. I missed a few. In his act Mr. Oswalt reveals some of the most convincing reasons I have encountered as to why these movies are absolute garbage. Forget Jar-Jar and terrible acting and a lead that conveys no emotion. Forget also really bad looking digital video that was hyped (there it is again!) as "The Thing That Would Soon Devour Film". Even, and I know this is a big one, forget the fact that Lucas decided to direct these movies himself -- despite the glaring evidence of the first trilogy why this would be a bad idea.
Now that we have forgotten these minor points (and believe me, I have more) let us get to what Mr. Oswalt targets as the problem: Lucas spends a good deal of time in the first two movies telling us about the really tough and evil characters we love, but about when they were sweet, innocent children. It had not occurred to me before listening to this bit but that, without a doubt, is exactly what is wrong with these movies. Let's look at one of the all time villains when he was a sweet and cuddly boy that life kept tromping on. Poor little Vader, don't cry now. The truth of the matter is very simple: I could not care less how Darth Vader came to be what he is. Not one bit. The same goes for any of the other characters in these films.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
The Tale of Two Cuts
Despite a fairly impressive amount of negative media attention I decided to watch Babylon A.D. this past weekend. I was in the mood for a gritty, rough kind of action film and I was pretty sure that Vin Diesel would deliver. I didn't really get that from Babylon A.D.
Instead, what I ended up with was yet another DVD that decided to try and defeat poor reviews and box office performance by including two versions of the movie on the DVD. This is what we call the "Throw everything we shot at the audience and hope something sticks" technique.
This is not a new practice and, I have to admit, once upon a time I found this concept to be appealing. My thought process ran something like, "You have footage that is not properly edited, scored and lacking digital effects that you have decided to share with me?! I am ready!".
Lately I have found that I lack the interest to watch two different versions of the same film during a rental period (even a Netflix rental period) or even to sit through the deleted scenes which are served up as some rare delicacy. The reason for this is fairly simple, I’d like someone to decide what the movie is and I don’t think that person should be me.
Babylon A.D is a great example of the studio/director not presenting a unified front and giving the world one version of their movie. So instead the audience is given two versions of the film, neither of which is really complete. Now perhaps the two opposing camps did not have access to the same footage, or perhaps there was so much ill will floating around that they intentionally tried not to use the same footage but for some reason critical pieces of dialog and even portions of scenes are missing from both cuts.
What you end up with is one cut which we shall call "The Dark Cut" and the other which we shall call, "The Less Dark Cut". Now the only way that the viewer which we shall call "The Unsatisfied Customer" can actually see this movie and get all of the information they need in order to a) understand the movie's point and b) attempt to enjoy it is by watching both of these versions and mentally editing sections from each together.
I have never seen a case as severe as this, although I am sure there are probably worse. I have seen differences like with Die Hard 4.0 where one is missing a few expletives and the blood splatter is toned down. I have seen differences like with the numerous versions of Blade Runner where a dream sequence or a shot of an origami unicorn is missing.
My long-winded point I am trying to make here is that typically when studios and directors do this nonsense the cuts that are ultimately released differ in such slight ways that it is rather obvious as to why certain scenes, lines or shots were scrapped. The studio wanted a PG-13 rating or felt that shooting the dog would upset the audience too much. What is going on with Babylon A.D. is like being served up three-quarters of a movie in either version and being told "It's not my fault, blame the other guy."
Instead, what I ended up with was yet another DVD that decided to try and defeat poor reviews and box office performance by including two versions of the movie on the DVD. This is what we call the "Throw everything we shot at the audience and hope something sticks" technique.
This is not a new practice and, I have to admit, once upon a time I found this concept to be appealing. My thought process ran something like, "You have footage that is not properly edited, scored and lacking digital effects that you have decided to share with me?! I am ready!".
Lately I have found that I lack the interest to watch two different versions of the same film during a rental period (even a Netflix rental period) or even to sit through the deleted scenes which are served up as some rare delicacy. The reason for this is fairly simple, I’d like someone to decide what the movie is and I don’t think that person should be me.
Babylon A.D is a great example of the studio/director not presenting a unified front and giving the world one version of their movie. So instead the audience is given two versions of the film, neither of which is really complete. Now perhaps the two opposing camps did not have access to the same footage, or perhaps there was so much ill will floating around that they intentionally tried not to use the same footage but for some reason critical pieces of dialog and even portions of scenes are missing from both cuts.
What you end up with is one cut which we shall call "The Dark Cut" and the other which we shall call, "The Less Dark Cut". Now the only way that the viewer which we shall call "The Unsatisfied Customer" can actually see this movie and get all of the information they need in order to a) understand the movie's point and b) attempt to enjoy it is by watching both of these versions and mentally editing sections from each together.
I have never seen a case as severe as this, although I am sure there are probably worse. I have seen differences like with Die Hard 4.0 where one is missing a few expletives and the blood splatter is toned down. I have seen differences like with the numerous versions of Blade Runner where a dream sequence or a shot of an origami unicorn is missing.
My long-winded point I am trying to make here is that typically when studios and directors do this nonsense the cuts that are ultimately released differ in such slight ways that it is rather obvious as to why certain scenes, lines or shots were scrapped. The studio wanted a PG-13 rating or felt that shooting the dog would upset the audience too much. What is going on with Babylon A.D. is like being served up three-quarters of a movie in either version and being told "It's not my fault, blame the other guy."
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Odd Post Day
So I just came across another little odd gem on the web and decided to post it here. For those of you not familiar with the site Craig'slist.org it's a free online publication featuring personals classified ad's. This particular ad was in a section called, "Missed Connections". It was posted in 2004.
My foot - your ass missed connections
Being a humanitarian and a friend to all cats, I often let my cat Fredrico outside to do, well, whatever cats do outdoors. Crap in the neighbor’s garden, fornicate, frolic, etc etc. It's 3 am, The bars let out, and I'm now out trying to save my cat’s ass from another kicking. I saw you kick Fredrico last month and if it wasn't for my broken toe, I'd would have run you down and broken another toe off in your ass!
Fredrico is a loving cat and being he's slightly over weight (25 lbs or so), he is not prone to getting out of the way of soccer hooligan style shenanigans. I've thought deeply about how to prevent poor Fredrico's ass from another booting, and that would be to keep him indoors all the time. This will not do; Fredrico needs his exercise. I’ve thought about get him a tread mill and possible send him on a couple of vacations a year, He loves to climbing and believe it or not Fredrico takes to the water like an otter. However, given our financial situation, right now those options are not available. Fredrico is on disability and I'm the only one bringing home a check these days, damn economy.
Now, this leaves me no alternative. To all of you who have not kicked Fredrico's ass, but given the opportunity couldn't resist a puss on boots escapade; please take note. I will be baiting the Wicker Park & Bucktown neighborhoods with Paper Mache look a likes of Fredrico, however, these look a likes will be filled with scrap metal. Please refrain from kicking my decoys, unless you like Musac, emergency rooms, and needles.
And if by chance I get to you before you get off into a cab, ambulance, or whatever; be prepared to answer to an angry Fredrico.
Fredrico is now on a diet and has been working out since this unpleasant incident. I've attached weights to all of his toys and he's been sparing with our neighbor's toy dog. Fredrico's got some moves.... Beware cat kicker, we’re on to you.
Regards,
Fredrico's Roommate & best buddy.
P.S. Fredrico would also like to add; “ FFFFFFFFFFTTT!!!”
I am at a loss for words here
I came across this article today about the organization PETA and a certain Mr. Clooney. There is really not much else I can say, take a gander:
Washington Post article
Washington Post article
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