Science-Fiction Spam IV

Finally, Wired News picks up on my favorite spammer.

Placeme(a)nt

Want to see where I live? Here's an aerial photo. And here's a topographic map.

Thanks to Metafilter.

Technofetishism XLIV

File under: Tech demos can be dangerous.

Davo, a co-worker, just brought over an iSight camera for me to test drive with him. I downloaded a new version of OSX and the iChat AV beta, and we just played around with the video and audio chat functions.

Brilliant. Absolutely wonderful. Unfortunately, Davo wasn't giving me the camera, so I had to order my own. Which I just did. Wow. I can't wait. The iSight is extremely cool.

Comics and Commerce IV

According to Briefing.com this morning:

07:55 ET Marvel Enterprises Vice Chairman sells 5.13 mln shares (MVL) 21.07: In an SEC filing, Vice Chairman Isaac Perlmutter reports the sale of 5.13 mln shares on Aug 26.

Who's the largest shareholder now? Does this mean Toybiz chief Isaac Perlmutter is on the outs? Is this good or bad for the company?

Event-O-Dex LXXIV

Friday, Aug. 29: Emetrex, Verona Downs, Francine, and Dear Leader get down at TT the Bear's in Cambridge.

Sunday, Aug. 31: The Great Clearing Off, Combat, Disaster Strikes, and Fruit Salad get tossed at the All Asia Cafe in Cambridge. The all-ages show starts at 3:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 2: Norwegian comic artist Jason does a signing at the Million Year Picnic in Cambridge.

The Movie I Watched Last Night LXXVI

Taxi Driver
This 1976 film directed by Martin Scorsese ends with a mixed message. While Robert De Niro's character Travis Bickle's first instinct is to lash out in a destructively antisocial manner because he was jilted by a woman (Cybill Shepherd's character Betsy), the way he finally lashes out in a destructively antisocial manner -- to free Jodie Foster's street-walking Iris Steensma -- secures him as hero. While his motivations in the latter violent outburst are understandably more laudable, Bickle's more antihero than hero as his post-Vietnam war trauma and trials add up to a distaste for most New Yorkers, if not the city itself. The movie's cast is awesome, including an early role by Harvey Keitel and a political campaign nebbish played by Albert Brooks, and the cinematography is solid. Even though I don't think the "You talkin' to me" line is the most memorable (I much prefer the following exchange: "I think you are the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," "But how do you feel about the candidate, Palatine?"), it's clear why this movie has found such a priveleged place in late-'70s filmmaking. And finally, Bernard Hermann's score, his last, adds a layer of jazzy atmosphere to a film that becomes increasingly dark and desperate.

Tunnel Love

Building the Washington Metro outlines the organization and construction of the 103-mile rapid transit system in the Washington, DC, area. The Architecture and Construction sections are particularly interesting, as are the reader-contributed history and memories.

Thanks to Metafilter.

Comics and Media Coverage

The New York Times is all over comic books today.

One Vision from 1940's Still Rocks by Elvis Mitchell, New York Times, Aug. 27, 2003
Jack Kirby Heroes Thrive in Comic Books and Film

The Magic of Comics! While Batman Turns 64, a Fan Goes Back to 9 by Dana Jennings, New York Times, Aug. 27, 2003

Library Gets a Trove a Cartoonist Collected by Elizabeth Olson, New York Times, Aug. 27, 2003

The Movie I Watched Last Night LXXV

Tomb Raider
Honestly, this was hella better than I expected the video game-inspired movie to be. Not overly linear -- and with a richer back story than I could have imagined -- this is a straight-up adventure movie in a fine Indiana Jones-inspired style. The mystery surrounding the key Croft finds -- and the role it might play in the once-every-5,000-years planetary alignment -- adds a degree of desperation and necessity to the plot's development, and the screenplay writers rolled in several other popcult aspects that work quite well. While I don't agree that the Illumimati made the best evil foils for Croft, the mythical undercurrents pulled me in. Jon Voight shines as Croft's father, but Croft -- as played by Angelina Jolie -- showed no chemistry with the Alex West character, although it seemed some romantic connection was implied. It is the end that impressed me the most, with its Contact-meets-From Hell singularity in time and space. For what it is, a fine movie. Not great, but not awful.

Requiem for a Dream
This, however, is a great film. Directed by Darren Aronofsky, the man who brought us Pi, Requiem for a Dream is a frantic expansion on exploration of the American dream. To paraphrase Jared Leto's lead character, "I really only want her to be happy, I guess." The pursuit of happiness looms large throughout, with Leto's Harry Goldfarb seeking ecstasy --- and escape -- with his friends and the drugs that they take together. His addiction -- to drugs, to Marion -- is picked up by his mother, portrayed by the frenetic Ellen Burstyn, who obtains an uppers habit in order to lose weight for a TV appearance that never solidifies. The cinematography is amazing, trading surreal TV sequences featuring Christopher McDonald's infomercial king Tappy Tibbons ("No red meat! No refined sugar! Juiced by you!") for quick-cut, multilayered sequence that aptly capture the rush of drugs. The movie itself is a rush as it accelerates to its demeaning end, in which happiness eludes all of the main characters and the shared dreams that connected them dissipate like so much sand. The Kronos Quartet-provided soundtrack portions add a nice touch, as does the DVD's interface. When I first popped it in, I thought something was wrong with the DVD or my TV. But the DVD designers incorporated infomercial elements from the Tappy Tibbons sections to create one of the best DVD UI's I've ever seen. Play around with it for awhile. It's an impressive part of the movie experience.

North End Moment XL

Some random snaps taken in the alley behind the Scotch & Sirloin building:



These were taken moments ago in response to Warren Ellis' "It's Wednesday. I want to see the world, please," plea in Die Puny Humans.

Music to My Ears XLVI

I had no idea how important it was for presidential and other political candidates to have a theme song. Months before the Boston Globe picked up the story, Martha Brant gave Rev. Al Sharpton extra credit for the appropriateness of his choice: Bob Marley's "Stand up for Your Rights."

Magazine Me XLIV

Advertising Age features a solid article about the forthcoming magazine Tracks, which just secured $5 million in startup funding. Previously titled Good Music, the magazine will target music listeners over the age of 30. The ideal reader? Pushing 40, kids, a commuter, shops at malls. Huh. Planning to publish two issues before the end of the year, the magazine aims for 10 issues a year by 2006.

Thanks to I Want Media.