Monday, December 31, 2007
Sexy Coffee Shops: showing up everywhere
Here are some more great pics!!
http://www.mokagirls.com/index.htm
http://www.thesweetspotcafe.com/index.php
http://www.cowgirlsespresso.com/main.php
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Teen Who Cut Off Corpse's Head To Make Bong Sentenced
Friends Say Buckalew Told Them He Did It Out Of Boredom
POSTED: 12:52 pm EDT June 29,
2006
2006
ST. JOHNSBURY, Vt. -- A Vermont teenager has been sentenced to prison for breaking into a tomb and cutting the head off a corpse.Nickolas Buckalew, 18, of Morrisville, Vt., pleaded guilty to two charges.One was a felony count of intentionally removing or injuring a tombstone. The other was a felony charge of intentionally disinterring and carrying away the remains of a human body.
Buckalew was sentenced to between one and seven years in prison and was given credit for serving 14 months while awaiting trial.On April 8, 2005, Buckalew broke into a tomb, opened the lid of a casket and cut off the head of a corpse. He stole eyeglasses and a bow tie from the dead man. He then wrapped the head in plastic bags and took it home, The Caledonian-Record reported.The teen reportedly told friends that he planned to leave the head outside to dry and would then bleach it, a police affidavit said. The witnesses said his plan was to turn the skull into a bong -- a pipe generally used to smoke marijuana. Buckalew went to an apartment where some of his friends were and told them that he had chopped off the head because he was bored, according to The Caledonian-Record. The witnesses said they then went to the tomb to see the casket and saw that the lid was removed and the body in the casket was headless. Morristown said that while executing a search warrant at Buckalew’s home, they found a human head wrapped in bags, a necktie, a hacksaw, crowbar, garden trowel and two small parts of the damaged casket, according to the newspaper. A psychiatrist has diagnosed Buckalew with mental health issues.Dr. Philip Kinsler, a clinical psychologist and adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry at the Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, N.H., testified that Buckalew “has always felt extraordinarily out of place" and that Buckalew said he tried to hang himself when he was a child.After the incident, the victim's widow, the only family member in the area, was told of the vandalism. "The widow was in shock," the chief of police said said. "She did not want any information. She did not want to know any details."Buckalew addressed the court after his sentencing, saying, "It was a horrendous thing that I did -- what I did was appalling. I didn't think of the victim."He went on to say he wants to get help for his mental problems. He's been sent to a residential treatment program for juveniles.
Buckalew was sentenced to between one and seven years in prison and was given credit for serving 14 months while awaiting trial.On April 8, 2005, Buckalew broke into a tomb, opened the lid of a casket and cut off the head of a corpse. He stole eyeglasses and a bow tie from the dead man. He then wrapped the head in plastic bags and took it home, The Caledonian-Record reported.The teen reportedly told friends that he planned to leave the head outside to dry and would then bleach it, a police affidavit said. The witnesses said his plan was to turn the skull into a bong -- a pipe generally used to smoke marijuana. Buckalew went to an apartment where some of his friends were and told them that he had chopped off the head because he was bored, according to The Caledonian-Record. The witnesses said they then went to the tomb to see the casket and saw that the lid was removed and the body in the casket was headless. Morristown said that while executing a search warrant at Buckalew’s home, they found a human head wrapped in bags, a necktie, a hacksaw, crowbar, garden trowel and two small parts of the damaged casket, according to the newspaper. A psychiatrist has diagnosed Buckalew with mental health issues.Dr. Philip Kinsler, a clinical psychologist and adjunct assistant professor of psychiatry at the Dartmouth Medical School in Hanover, N.H., testified that Buckalew “has always felt extraordinarily out of place" and that Buckalew said he tried to hang himself when he was a child.After the incident, the victim's widow, the only family member in the area, was told of the vandalism. "The widow was in shock," the chief of police said said. "She did not want any information. She did not want to know any details."Buckalew addressed the court after his sentencing, saying, "It was a horrendous thing that I did -- what I did was appalling. I didn't think of the victim."He went on to say he wants to get help for his mental problems. He's been sent to a residential treatment program for juveniles.
Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Solar Tree Hits the Streets, and Passes the Test
by Sami Grover, Carrboro, NC, USA on 12.27.07
It wasn’t the first time we’d seen solar street lights (other examples can be seen here, here and here), but it was probably the most beautiful. When we first saw the solar tree concept by Welsh designer Ross Lovegrove we really were pretty taken aback. It is a gorgeous example of a marriage between form and function. However, often such concepts remain just that – concepts – so we were delighted to hear, via Renewable Energy Access, that the design has now undergone real-world testing on the streets of Vienna, with positive results:
"The solar cells on the tree were able to store enough electricity in spite of receiving no direct solar light for days at a time because of the clouds. They showed that solar trees really are a practical form of street lighting," Christina Werner from Cultural Project Management (Kulturelles Projektmanagement, Vienna) told enewableEnergyAccess.com. She said that the City of Vienna was now in the process of deciding whether to install more solar trees. "We hope that not only the city of Vienna but other cities will see the merits of using renewable energy for street lighting to cut emissions," Christina Werner said. "Someday soon solar trees could well be the main form of street lighting in Europe."
Thursday, December 27, 2007
The Most Controversial Films
ning,censorship, or protest have graphic sex, violence, homosexuality,religious, political or race-related themes and content. Theyusually push the envelope regarding what can be filmed and displayedon the screen, and are considered taboo, "immoral" or "obscene" due to language, drug use, violence and sensuality/nudityor other incendiary elements. Inevitably, controversy helps topublicize these films and fuel the box-office receipts.Controversy-invoking films may be from almost
any genre - documentaries, westerns, erotic-thrillers,
dramas, horror, comedy, or animated, and more. Standards for what may be considered shocking, offensive or controversial have changed drastically over many decades.The
voluntary ratings system of the Motion Picture Association of
America can influence a film's public showing in a theatre --
an NC-17 rating or an unrated film may often close down a film's
screening and lead to commercial failure.
The following illustrated list in the next few web pages,
in unranked alphabetical order, presents a solid collection of
the most controversial films in cinematic history. Entertainment
Weekly's June 16, 2006 issue contained a listing of their
top 25 "Most Controversial Movies of All-Time"
- included here and indicated with the # numbers after the film
title, in this more comprehensive list.
Note: The films that are marked with a
yellow star are the films that "The Greatest Films" site has selected as the
"100 Greatest Films". For
the many other milestone films with sexual scenes that were especially
notorious, infamous, controversial, or scandalous, see this site's
special writeups on Sex in Cinema and the genre of Sexual/Erotic Films.
The Most Controversial Films of All-Time
(alphabetically by film title) - Introduction
Intro | Part
1 | Part 2 | Part
3 | Part 4 | Part
5 | Part 6 | Part
7 | Part 8 | Part
9 | Part 10 Flims listed below just click on the numbers, there are many, some good ones in there
Tae Kwon DO
Being a Black Belt in Tae Kwon DO, this stuff always interests me. The videos are great!!!!
http://english.tour2korea.com/02Culture/Sports/t_study.asp
Having identified the 5 Most Dangerous Taekwondo Kicks, sit back and check out these highlights showing just why these kicks can be so deadly.
Taekwondo Master Demonstration:
See the artistic performance about colorful and beautiful Taekwondo Kicks.
Poomse: Bigak (flying leg)
Video clips for Taekwondo basics:
http://english.tour2korea.com/02Culture/Sports/t_study.asp
Amazing Christmas Lights synched to Music
5) THX sound FX:
4) Carol or the Bells:
3) Toy Sack, BABY!
Wow, this one. I think I like it so much because
or the dancing Santa.
2) Nutcracker:
1) The amazing, the original, Wizards or winter:
Egypt's Impressive Pyramids -- From the Ground, Air, & Space
1. Aerial View of the Pyramids, 1999
Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah – Arab Republic of Egypt 
Large Medium Original
2. Backdropped By The Great Pyramids, Farmers and Caribou in the Field Near Cairo
Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah – Arab Republic of Egypt 
Large Medium Original
3. Another Aerial View of The Great Pyramids, September 10, 1983
Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah – Arab Republic of Egypt 
Large Medium Original
4. Horseback Riders On Their Way to The Great Pyramids
Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah – Arab Republic of Egypt 
Large Medium Original
5. The Great Sphinx of Giza and One of The Great Pyramids
Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah – Arab Republic of Egypt
Large Medium Original
6. The Great Pyramids and El Giza, April 2, 2005, Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah – Arab Republic of Egypt
As Seen From the International Space Station (Expedition 10)
El Giza, Egypt: The Great Pyramids and The Great Sphinx photographed from space on November 17, 1999 by IKONOS, a Space Imaging satellite »
http://web.archive.org/web/20061111124918/http://www.spaceimaging.com/gallery/other_images/pyramids.jpg
http://web.archive.org/web/20061111124918/http://www.spaceimaging.com/gallery/other_images/pyramids.htm
http://web.archive.org/web/20061111124918/http://www.spaceimaging.com/gallery/other_images/pyramids_300.htm
Large Medium Original
7. Aerial Front-View of Two of The Great Pyramids and West Cairo, November 9, 1980
Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah – Arab Republic of Egypt
Large Medium Original
8. Another View of The Great Sphinx of Giza and One of The Great Pyramids
Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah – Arab Republic of Egypt
Large Medium Original
9. Cairo, The Nile River, The Great Pyramids and El Giza, May 27, 2005, Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah – Arab Republic of Egypt
As Seen From the International Space Station (Expedition 11)
Large Medium Original
10. An Air Transport Command Airplane Flies Over The Pyramids During World War II, 1943
Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah – Arab Republic of Egypt
Large Medium Original
11. The Great Sphinx of Giza and The Great Pyramid, August 1, 1985
Jumhuriyat Misr al-Arabiyah – Arab Republic of Egypt
“I Am the LORD Thy God.” Psalm 81:10, KJV
Photo Credits:
1. First Row (Full size): Air Force Link – Photos (http://www.af.mil/photos, 021105-O-9999G-017, "Flying over foreign lands"), United States Air Force (USAF, http://www.af.mil), United States Department of Defense (DoD, http://www.DefenseLink.mil or http://www.dod.gov), Government of the United States of America (USA).
2. Second Row (Full size Original–Local copy, Large, or Medium): Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC, http://www.DoDMedia.osd.mil, DF-ST-99-05287), United States Department of Defense (DoD, http://www.DefenseLink.mil or http://www.dod.gov), Government of the United States of America (USA).
3. Third Row (Full size Original–Local copy, Large, or Medium): Joint Service Audiovisual Team; United States Air Force (USAF, http://www.af.mil); Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC, http://www.DoDMedia.osd.mil, DF-ST-84-05994), United States Department of Defense (DoD, http://www.DefenseLink.mil or http://www.dod.gov), Government of the United States of America (USA).
4. Fourth Row (Full size Original–Local copy, Large, or Medium): Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC, http://www.DoDMedia.osd.mil, DF-ST-99-05368), United States Department of Defense (DoD, http://www.DefenseLink.mil or http://www.dod.gov), Government of the United States of America (USA).
5. Fifth Row (Full size Original–Local copy, Large, or Medium): Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC, http://www.DoDMedia.osd.mil, DF-ST-99-05286), United States Department of Defense (DoD, http://www.DefenseLink.mil or http://www.dod.gov), Government of the United States of America (USA).
6. Sixth Row (Full size Original–Local copy, Large, or Medium): NASA; ISS010-E-22442, The Great Pryamids, El Giza, International Space Station (Expedition 10); Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA-Johnson Space Center. "Astronaut Photography of Earth - Display Record." <http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/sseop/photo.pl?mission=ISS010&roll=E&frame=22442>; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA, http://www.nasa.gov), Government of the United States of America (USA).
7. Seventh Row (Full size Original–Local copy, Large, or Medium): SSgt. Bill Thompson; Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC, http://www.DoDMedia.osd.mil, DF-ST-82-06256), United States Department of Defense (DoD, http://www.DefenseLink.mil or http://www.dod.gov), Government of the United States of America (USA).
8. Eighth Row (Full size Original–Local copy, Large, or Medium): Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC, http://www.DoDMedia.osd.mil, DF-ST-99-05326), United States Department of Defense (DoD, http://www.DefenseLink.mil or http://www.dod.gov), Government of the United States of America (USA).
9. Ninth Row (Full size Original–Local copy, Large, or Medium): NASA; ISS011-E-7288, Nile river, Cairo, The Great Pryamids, El Giza, International Space Station (Expedition 11); Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA-Johnson Space Center. "Astronaut Photography of Earth - Display Record." <http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/sseop/photo.pl?mission=ISS011&roll=E&frame=7288>; National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA, http://www.nasa.gov), Government of the United States of America (USA).
10. Tenth Row (Full size Original–Local copy, Large, or Medium): Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC, http://www.DoDMedia.osd.mil, HD-SN-99-02674, NARA File #: 111-SC-179564), United States Department of Defense (DoD, http://www.DefenseLink.mil or http://www.dod.gov), Government of the United States of America (USA).
11. Eleventh Row (Full size Original–Local copy, Large, or Medium): SSgt. David Nolan; Defense Visual Information Center (DVIC, http://www.DoDMedia.osd.mil, DF-ST-86-07719) and United States Air Force (USAF, http://www.af.mil), United States Department of Defense (DoD, http://www.DefenseLink.mil or http://www.dod.gov), Government of the United States of America (USA).
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
Worlds tallest skyscraper coming to Moscow
The statistics for the project are absolutely staggering; floor area alone will be four times the size of Pentagon in Washington DC. The incredible 1500 ft. tall multi use structure will feature 900 apartments, 3000 hotel rooms, an international school for 500 students, cinemas, a theater, sports complex and much more. There will also be a 16,500 space underground parking lot for all the visitors. The Crystal Island visitors will be able to enjoy panoramic views of Moscow on the viewing platforms located 980 ft. above ground.
And as we’d expect from Foster + Partners, this soon-to-be world’s biggest building will also incorporate a number of sustainable design features into the overall scheme. The exterior facade will be solar responsive and will include solar panels which, along with wind turbines, will generate electricity for the huge tower. Natural ventilation will be provided thanks to numerous strategically placed large atriums. The internal environment will also have dynamic enclosure panels slotted into the structural framing that will allow daylight to penetrate deep into the heart of the structure; the panels will also be controlled to modify temperature inside the building – closed in winter for extra warmth and opened in summer to allow natural ventilation. Energy management is at the heart of this structure, several on-site renewable and low-carbon energy generation projects are plannedPatriots' historic game to be available to all of America, after all
Associated Press
NEW YORK -- The New England Patriots' shot at history Saturday night will be available for every household in the country with a television after months of wrangling.
The game against the New York Giants, in which the Patriots could become the first NFL team to go 16-0 in the regular season, was originally scheduled to be shown only on the NFL Network, which is available in fewer than 40 percent of the nation's homes with TVs.
But the league announced Wednesday that the NFL Network feed will be simulcast on NBC and CBS. It's a major concession by league officials, who repeatedly said they would not show the game anywhere but the NFL Network. The NFL had faced mounting pressure from politicians in recent weeks to make the game available to more viewers.
This will be the first three-network simulcast in NFL history and the first simulcast of any kind of an NFL game since the first Super Bowl in 1967, when CBS and NBC both televised the first meeting of the champions of the newly merged National Football League and American Football League.
Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Incredible Filipino Martial Art: Kombotan
Watch as these guys practice the Filipino...
fighting skills of Kombotan, where the
contenders are blind-folded. The outcomes are
unpredictable when you don't rely on your eyes!
The Best 19 Movies You Didn't See in 2007
December 24, 2007
by Alex Billington
No one really has enough time (or money) to see every movie released every year, but shamefully too many great films are left in the dust. Sure, maybe you'll see a couple of those indies that are making the rounds on the year-end top ten lists, but even those critics missed a few good ones. This is about those movies that were phenomenal yet hardly anyone saw, so now we're giving them one final moment in the spotlight. I want to encourage you to maybe stop and ponder the next time you come across one of these and wonder why you didn't catch one in theaters - because they were worth that ticket price, guaranteed. If anything, you'll at least discover something new and something great from this list.
If you spent the few hours it would take to watch even one of these movies mentioned, it would mean that much more to the filmmakers. This isn't about getting kudos for mentioning certain films, this is about pointing out those movies that don't deserve to be forgotten and are begging to be watched.
Across the Universe
Opened September 14th, 2007
Directed by Julie Taymor
A dock worker Jude travels to America in the 1960s to find his estranged father. There he falls in love with sheltered American teenager Lucy. When her brother Max is drafted to fight in the Vietnam War, they become involved in peace activism.
Why it's Great: This Beatles-infused musical features over 30 Beatles songs modernized and sung beautifully right into the story by an immensely talented cast. It wasn't the greatest film - it got hacked to pieces in editing - but the songs and a great love story combined with some profoundly unique visuals make it one of the most memorable films this year that shouldn't have been missed.
Air Guitar Nation
Opened March 23rd, 2007
Directed by Alexandra Lipsitz
Air Guitar Nation chronicles the birth of the US Air Guitar Championships and the personal journeys of those talented contestants who are vying to become the first World Air Guitar Champion from the United States.
Why it's Great: We've all had that moment - dancing around our house in our undies rocking out to some old school rock and roll. It is those moments of glory that spawned the worldwide sport of Air Guitar, the subject of Alexandra Lipsitz’ fast paced, energetic and deeply respectful documentary. Showing off the silliness and the seriousness of the sport, this documentary left audiences both in stitches and filled with great respect for these wannabe rockers.
Angel-A
Opened May 25th, 2007
Directed by Luc Besson
A beautiful woman helps an inept scam artist get his game together.
Why it's Great: Despite being in black & white (which this actually uses to its advantage), it's a fantastic morality tale about a down-on-his-luck guy who thinks he meets his lucky ticket but eventually discovers she is helping him get on the right track. It's not overflowing with visuals, besides the gorgeous streets of Paris, instead it focuses on the story and morals at hand. I came out of this a much better person and realized that it's yet another wonderfully cinematic film from Fifth Element director Luc Besson that sadly not enough people have discovered.
The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford
Opened September 21st, 2007
Directed by Andrew Dominik
Robert Ford, who's idolized Jesse James since childhood, tries hard to join the gang of the Missouri outlaw, but gradually becomes resentful of the bandit leader.
Why it's Great: One of the most gorgeous looking films of the entire year, The Assassination of Jesse James is an absolute masterpiece with critically acclaimed cinematography and some of the best performances in any movie. Despite it's epic length and mediocre reviews, you'll find yourself drawn into the detailed world of the old west and won't be ready to let go of the story until that final moment. Even if you're not a fan of westerns, this is still a phenomenal film that shouldn't be passed by without a second glance.
Death at a Funeral
Opened August 17th, 2007
Directed by Frank Oz
Chaos ensues when a man tries to expose a dark secret regarding a recently deceased patriarch of a dysfunctional British family.
Why it's Great: The funniest farce and best British humor you'll see in a movie in years. Death at a Funeral takes us back to Frank Oz’ comedic roots with a great film that builds momentum as time goes on and turns a typically morbid event into the most hilarious mishap ever. Fans of "Firefly" star Alan Tudyk won't be able to stop laughing once he's on the drugs - and it never lets up, it only gets better and better as the story goes on.
Delirious
Opened August 15th, 2007
Directed by Tom DiCillo
An offbeat drama focused on a homeless youth, a pop music siren and a member of the paparazzi.
Why it's Great: A little indie comedy that has so much warmth found amidst some solid comedy. The more I watched this the more I started to appreciate both Michael Pitt and Steve Buscemi's performances and their story within. The final scene with Buscemi on the red carpet is still one of my favorites. This is such a happy-go-lucky comedic gem that many people will appreciate and enjoy, but it never got traction enough to make it to the mainstream
Everything's Gone Green
Opened April 13th, 2007
Directed by Paul Fox
Ryan, a good-natured slacker, is tempted into a money laundering scheme while working for a lottery magazine. A capitalistic comedy that asks the question - when is "enough" enough?
Why it's Great: A Canadian indie comedy about everything from money to marijuana. It's not about how over-the-top it can get nor is it a stoner comedy, it's an incredibly smart drama with some great comedic moments all lead by one of the finest up-and-coming actors of this generation - Paulo Costanzo. This is such a "chill" and down-to-earth film that I've suggested it to more of my friends than almost anything else.
Fido
Opened July 6th, 2007
Directed by Andrew Currie
Timmy Robinson's best friend in the whole wide world is a six-foot tall rotting zombie named Fido. But when Fido eats the next-door neighbor, Mom and Dad hit the roof, and Timmy has to go to the ends of the earth to keep Fido a part of the family.
Why it's Great: This is as hilarious and as awesome of a take on the zombie genre as Shaun of the Dead. Once you actually see it you'll know why it deserves a spot in your collection next to Shaun of the Dead. It's smart, it's funny, it's got a great cast, and to top it off, director Andrew Currie pays such close attention to detail that every scene looks lush and vivid. I don't know anyone who saw it who didn't end up loving it.
The Go-Getter
Opened Never
Directed by Martin Hynes
When his mother dies, a teenager takes a road-trip in a stolen car to find his long-lost brother. Along the way he discovers a profound connection with the car-owner and with himself as well.
Why it's Great: Although this was never actually picked up by a distributor after its debut at Sundance in January, I still haven't forgotten it. The best road trip movie I think I've ever seen with a great soundtrack and an unforgettable, and often funny, plot. This should've been in theaters this year and it's likely that if it would've made it out it probably would have become a cult hit by now.
Gone Baby Gone
Opened October 19th, 2007
Directed by Ben Affleck
Based on the Dennis Lehane novel about two Boston area detectives investigating a little girl's kidnapping, which ultimately turns into a crisis both professionally and personally.
Why it's Great: It had a poor run at the box office and yet was one of, if not the, best movie of the year. Not only are Casey Affleck and Ed Harris awards-worthy, but the plot has so many perfectly executed emotional twists and turns that I was very moved at the end. Don't be fooled, Ben Affleck is an immensely talented director who has succeeded brilliantly with his first feature film.
Grindhouse
Opened April 6th, 2007
Directed by Robert Rodriguez & Quentin Tarantino
Two full length feature horror movies written by Quentin Tarantino & Robert Rodriguez put together as a two film feature. Including fake movie trailers in between both movies.
Why it's Great: I'm not sure how so many people missed this set of two of the best movies the year. Planet Terror is quite grotesque yet a finely crafted small-town zombie fiasco directed by Sin City's Robert Rodriguez. Death Proof contains not only Kurt Russell's greatest performance, but the best car chase ever filmed, hands down. Forget the length, watch each individually and you'll still find they're equally awesome. The best experience I've had at the movies my entire life.
The Host
Opened March 9th, 2007
Directed by Bong Joon-ho
A monster emerges from Seoul's Han River and focuses its attention on attacking people.
Why it's Great: Subtitled or not, The Host is one of the most gripping films of the entire year. Forget about Cloverfield, this is what a monster movie should be - a huge slimy sea monster created by American ignorance that terrorizes Seoul. It's at times ridiculous, at others intensely scary but always entertaining. There is no other movie that redefined its genre the way The Host gave a makeover to the monster movie in '07.
Interview
Opened July 13th, 2007
Directed by Steve Buscemi
After falling out with his editor, a fading political journalist is forced to interview America's most popular soap actress.
Why it's Great: If you truly appreciate independent film, then there's no way you won't find something incredible in Interview. It's a two-person back-and-forth interview piece without a moment of boredom. I never would have thought I would enjoy Steve Buscemi and Sienna Miller talking for nearly two hours, but I'll be damned if they didn't pull it off and still had me amazed at the ending. Be brave and take a risk with Interview, the pay off will be sweet
King of California
Opened September 14th, 2007
Directed by Mike Cahill
An unstable dad who after getting out of a mental institution tries to convince his daughter that there's Spanish gold buried somewhere under suburbia.
Why it's Great: Another indie gem that I don't understand how so many people overlooked. Michael Douglas is great as a crazed institutional lunatic who's searching for Spanish gold underneath a CostCo in California. This is such a fun movie on top of being very well-made and I can't suggest it enough. It's not the best comedy nor is it the best drama, but it is a very fun flick and one of the better movies that was missed this year.
The King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters
Opened August 17th, 2007
Directed by Seth Gordon
Diehard video game fans compete to break World Records on classic arcade games.
Why it's Great: Probably the greatest underdog story ever told on film, The King of Kong was loved by both critics and all who saw it play in limited release. It's the story of two gamers, both determined to hold the world record in the classic arcade game Donkey Kong. Edited to perfection, this one plays out to be just as epic a battle as Jedi v. Empire. If you've ever played a video game or loved a geek, you will be easily captivated by this enchanting documentary.
The Lookout
Opened March 30th, 2007
Directed by Scott Frank
Chris is a once promising high school athlete whose life is turned upside down following a tragic accident. As he tries to maintain a normal life, he takes a job as a janitor at a bank, where he ultimately finds himself caught up in a planned heist.
Why it's Great: The opening scene alone with the fireflies is enough to suggest this, but it's much more than that. In fact, The Lookout is even much more than a small-town heist movie, as they thrown in Joseph Gordon-Levitt, who has trouble remembering things, into the mix. Too many people missed a great indie thriller from early in the year that I'm sure a lot will find fulfilling and thoroughly enjoyable.
The Nines
Opened August 31st, 2007
Directed by John August
A troubled actor, a television show runner, and an acclaimed videogame designer find their lives intertwining in mysterious and unsettling ways.
Why it's Great: Although it's hard to suggest this as I wasn't too fond of it, I can't help but include it because of how unique it is. Ryan Reynolds is outstanding as three different people in three almost unrelated plots. If you end up catching this, I'm certain you'll find yourself drawn in to figuring out exactly what's going on as well as searching for all of John August's cartefully placed nuances. By the end you'll be a changed person for experiencing The Nines.
Sunshine
Opened July 20th, 2007
Directed by Danny Boyle
A team of astronauts are sent to re-ignite the dying sun 50 years into the future.
Why it's Great: One of the most incredibly envisioned sci-fi movies of this entire decade, Sunshine is a fascinating adventure through the cold and lonely depths of space. What Danny Boyle did for the zombie genre with 28 Days Later he has done again for sci-fi with Sunshine. The production design and visual effects look and feel incredible, and the performance of the small cast and hugely thrilling plot all deliver.
Talk to Me
Opened July 13th, 2007
Directed by Kasi Lemmons
The story of Washington D.C. radio personality Ralph "Petey" Greene, an ex-con who became a popular talk show host and community activist in the 1960s.
Why it's Great: Talk to Me is as powerful and profound of a biopic as Ray or The Pursuit of Happyness. Don Cheadle absolutely deserves an Oscar for his portrayal of Petey Greene and not only makes it emotional but also injects the perfect amount of humor in the right spots. Talk to Me is both charming and inspiring and does not deserve to be so easily passed by. It's musically inclined and wonderfully filmed and tells a powerful story in our country's history. I can't say enough good things about it and yet how depressing it is to see such a phenomenal movie be forgotten so easily.
I hope you consider yourself educated on 19 more movies that you now need to see. You may not like all of them, but I guarantee you'll find something great in at least one of them.
Guest writing on Air Guitar Nation, The Host, and The King of Kong provided graciously by Neil Miller of Film School Rejects. Photo at the top compliments of msnmark on Flickr.
Batcave Home Theater
Last month we featured a custom home theater designed to model the Enterprise NCC-1701D from Star Trek: The Next Generation. We return in December to show you the home theater set-up of a retired naturalist who thought that her cellar would be a great Batcave.
That’s right, a Batcave themed home theater created by New Hampshire-based installer DC Audio Video Systems. The set-up includes prop bats which hang from above, a motorized 110″ 16:9 Stewart Electriscreen, Triad Silver THX Speakers, and a Sony G90, a $36,000 commercial 1080p 2500 x 2000 CRT projector. The room also features eight black, motorized leather recliners and a LiteTouch LC5000 System for Lighting Control. I love the desaturated dark gothic look (very Tim Burton-esque)
• Cool Stuff: Star Trek Home Theater
• Cool Stuff: Movies - Ruining The Book Since 1920 T-Shirt
• Cool Stuff: Cloverfield Wrap Party Invitation
• Cool Stuff: LEGO Iron Man
• Cool Stuff: R2D2 Trash Can
How to Set Up Your New Computer
So Santa left a brand-new computer under the tree this year, eh? Lucky you! If you're spending the holiday setting up a new Mac or PC, it's time to get filled with free software cheer. While the Lifehacker editors take today off to throw back some eggnog, you can point your clicker at a holiday feast of power tips and downloads. Trick out your new rig with our favorite system tweaks and downloads for Windows XP, Vista, Mac, and Linux.
Windows XP and Vista
- Top 10 Free Windows Downloads
"Our top picks of free Windows software downloads that will make your PC faster, stronger, more functional and productive." - Power Replacements for Built-in Windows Utilities
"How many times have you wished Notepad had tabs, Paint supported layers, or Windows Explorer let you bookmark frequently used folders? Power users need power utilities, and Windows' default system programs barely get the job done. Over time third-party developers have stepped up and built superior replacements to programs like Notepad, Paint, Windows Explorer, and the Command Prompt." - Top Windows tweaks
"Hop in for a quick ride around Windows dialogs, tabs, menus, and toolbars to get your XP fitting like a glove." - Windows Vista Power Tips
"After weeks of test-driving Windows Vista full-time, there are several tips and tweaks I wish I'd known before I started." - Top 10 Free Windows File Wranglers
"Windows Explorer and its weak band of file manipulation functions just don't cut the mustard for people with lots of data and only a little time, but several free utilities can help out." - Automatically Load and Update Your Windows Systems
"One of the best parts of getting a new computer for the holidays—other than that new computer smell—is setting up a fresh, clean system exactly how you want it."
Mac
- A Guide to Switching to a Mac
"There's no need for you to waste your precious time figuring out the minutiae of a new operating system. To ease this transition for all of the new Mac owners out there, here's a quick guide for Mac newbies making the big switch." - Build Your Mac with 20 Useful Downloads
"You've got a new Mac running a fresh Leopard install, and now you've got to load it up with all your essential software." - Top 10 Mac OS X Tweaks
"Mac OS X is a great operating system out of the box, but a few simple customizations can make it even better." Ed: This guide was written regarding Tiger, but most of it will still apply to Leopard. - Top 10 Mac Utilities
"The system utilities that add extra polish and convenience to your Mac's working environment. Most (but not all) of these little suckers are free, many live in your Mac's System Preferences pane and on the menubar, and all of them greatly enhance your overall Mac experience." - The Complete Guide to Mac/Windows Interoperability
"Today Mac OS and Windows can work together in harmony on the same home network, sharing files and printers, mounting one another's drives and using the same equipment, like wireless routers and USB drives."
Linux
- Top 10 Ubuntu Applications
"While Ubuntu comes jacked with useful applications out of the box, there's a big selection of free, thriving Linux desktop software that matches or betters their Windows and Mac counterparts in terms of features." - Power Up Your Linux Desktop With Compiz Fusion
"Not only can desktop decorator Compiz Fusion add eye candy to your system that leaves Windows and Mac users drooling on their keyboards, it can seriously boost your productivity." - Top 10 Gnome Desktop Tweaks
"The desktop environment for many Linux users, Gnome, is fast, organized and very easy to learn. But Gnome is also very powerful and highly customizable." - Slim Down and Speed Up Linux
"While Linux is pretty efficient with a computer's resources out of the box, there are still ways you can make it run leaner and meaner on your desktop."
Finally, if it was a widescreen monitor that you unwrapped today, find out how to make the most of your dual monitors, and de-smudge that new glossy screen.
Baby Gives The Evil Eye
A cute little baby enjoying an ice cream cone can give the evil eye on command, which is hilarious!
Baby Gives The Evil Eye - Watch more free videos
Referee pulls out red card, then a gun
From correspondents in Kuala Lumpur
December 25, 2007 06:44pm
Article from: Reuters
A MALAYSIAN referee took out his gun and fired warning shots in the air after a local soccer match turned unruly following the suspension of a player, according to a local newspaper report.
The referee, who was also a policeman, ran to his patrol car to get his gun after players mobbed him for showing the red-card to one of them, the New Straits Times said.
"We are investigating as to whether the policeman was justified in taking out his firearm and discharging it, and also why he had it with him during the match," it quoted Hussin Ismail, police chief in the southern Johor state, as saying.
The policemen was taken into custody for suspected misuse of firearms.
Five players, aged between 23 and 40, were also being held for questioning and could be charged for rioting, the paper said.
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Ian M. Sherwin Giclée
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All you art collectors out there. Here is a chance to get a Giclee copy of some of Ian M Sherwin work. Ian is planning on doing a whole series of Marblehead, Massachusetts paintings.
His work is amazing.
http://sherwingiclee.yolasite.
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