:: theMediaman journal ::

Those Silly CEO's :: Tuesday, August 31, 2004 ::

Somehow this just doesn't feel like 'news'.

Offshoring pays... CEOs

:: Stephen 3:54 PM [+] ::

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Quote of the Day
"Britney Spears and Kevin Federline are hoping the new mansion they've just purchased will be ready in time for their wedding. It could take a while, because it takes a long time to weld together a hundred trailer homes." Graham Norton, as quoted on TheSuperficial.com

Although I swore that I'd never talk openly on MY web site about that emotionally and mentally retarded whore, Paris Hilton, I read that she's planning to write a memoire at the ripe ol' age of 23. This pisses me off, but not for the same reason as many would be.

When I was riding the train to IAOD every day back in 2000, I considered writing a memoire. Not in spite of being 23, but because I was 23. The question I asked myself was, why would I want to be 60 in order to look back on my life? It always seems like a good idea until I realize there's work involved. I do have my thoughts sketched down from those times, and they might make an interesting read... but unless I surgically remove half my brain, I won't become popular enough in American Media to make my mental meanderings into a Best Seller.

Here's another Goy-ish observation. Considering the fact that I didn't know that Yiddish was a real language until about 2-3 years ago, I was kind of surprised to see that they actually have Yiddish language courses!

Finally, some not-so-funny links. The number of American Soldiers who have died in Iraq has nearly hit 1,000. The number of coalition forces crossed that grim milestone early in July. Ironically, it might cross that number during the Republican Convention this week. I'd prefer it not cross 1,000 dead Soldiers For Oil at all.

I'm not sure what I can do about the Americans dying for the Oil Barons, since there might be a stupid law in the US like we have in Canada, forbidding 'outsiders' from influencing the voters (where an 'outsider' is anyone who doesn't physically live in Canada). While there may be very little that I'm happy with Paul Martin about, keeping Canadian Forces out of this "War Against A War Tactic" is something I'm very proud he's done. Cretien refused to go into Iraq, and Paul Martin is keeping that stance. If Canada does get into the "war", I'm loading up the car with bristol board and markers, and heading to Ottawa.

:: Stephen 12:28 PM [+] ::

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Time to start an affirmative-action campaign to stop this. House of the Dead was one of the worst movies I have EVER seen... and I've seen The Bodyguard.

Really, the movie was totally amature-hour. Horribly made in every aspect of filmmaking... from story, script, cinematography, acting, directing, editing, special FX, especially the FX, everything.

And now they want to make a sequel. I don't know why, the movie didn't make much money and the critics hated it. It cost $12 million to make and grossed $10 million at the box office.

And as though Uwe Boll was actually able to translate one videogame to the screen (and if you've played HotD... the movie is NOTHING like it, save for a zombie and a small cabin that they're in for about 20 minutes) they're giving him two more video game-to-movies. Alone in the Dark was a popular adventure game franchise in the 90's, but now that's in post-production (starring Christian Slater). Unless Uwe Boll's been tapped on the head by an angel and granted some talent, this will be another bomb.

Finally, the director's been given Bloodrayne... a video game that was as financially and critically successful as the HotD movie! The movie will keep the central "good-guy, hotness vampiress", but chuck out every other part of the videogame's story. Oh, and they're working on a Bloodrayne 2. As a publicity stunt, they're getting the 3D character to appear on the MTV awards. Normally, a successful franchise generates a pop-culture icon like Lara Croft. It seems that they're trying to create a pop-culture icon in order to generate a successful franchise!

The question has been answered. I've been told countless times, "They have no new ideas anymore. Everything is a remake, sequel or spin-off of a successful movie/videogame/comic book/tv show. What happens when they run out of those?!?" The answer: do remakes and sequels to the unsuccessful movies, videogames, comic books and tv shows.

The point of this rant is, can someone stop HotD 2 from being made? Please?

:: Stephen 12:49 PM [+] ::

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There are three kinds of people in the world...
...Those who can count and those who can't.

There are two kinds of people in the world...
...Those who finish what they started, and...

There is one kind of people in the world...
...Those who generalize.

:: Stephen 11:24 AM [+] ::

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I always wondered what Roy Scheider would look like as a bunny.

http://www.angryalien.com/

These 30 Second Movies started with The Exorcist, and become really popular. One film even won an award at the Montreal Fantasia festival, and another will be competing in the Ottawa Film Festival.

:: Stephen 11:49 AM [+] ::

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In anticipation of the question "where do you find this stuff?", the answer is - excessive amounts of link-clicking.

The Best Star Wars Songs

And here's some Spoof Star Wars MP3's

:: Stephen 1:30 AM [+] ::

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Some cool news to report.

Looks like New Line is moving ahead on Freddy vs. Jason 2. This basically means they've started piecing together a script, but if things come together we may see a new film.

And to stop you before you start, Aliens and Predator are properties owned by Fox, so you won't be seeing Freddy vs. Jason vs. Alien vs. Predator... however, there's already a really popular fan-film of Batman vs. Aliens vs. Predator (and Joker makes love to a facehugger offscreen). However, rumours have resurfaced to bring in Bruce Campbell and make it Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash from the Evil Dead series.

On the Official Bruce Campbell web site, you have to love his sense of humour as he references his 'pivotal role' in Spider-Man 2.

Elsewhere, Simone's favourite car is going to be the Focus (<= pun) of the new, not-so-Mini (<= another pun) Canada's Wonderland ride. I'll probably Escort (<= hee hee) her to the ride.

Yet another movie-to-theme-park conversion - they're making a ride centered around "The Italian Job". There's one being built for 2005 at Canada's Wonderland, and another at Kings Island in Warren County, Ohio.

The site has a 3D version of the ride as it's planned to be. This is a good thing. Past Canada's Wonderland ads have shown what the "New Attraction" is for the year by showing a similar product elsewhere in the world. However, the final product rarely looks similar.

I heard on the radio that they're already starting the "buy next year's Season Pass and get the rest of this year for free" promotion. Simone and I might do that. I know that she won't be able to pass up the opportunity to ride in a MINI all day long.

...Oh, and Simone's got a new place to live downtown-ish. More about that later. Lunch break is over and I've got to get back to work...-ish.

:: Stephen 12:54 PM [+] ::

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This is a seriously sick and twisted way to corrupt children. A book about the evils of Leftist Liberalism. In this children's book, the monsters are the Liberals, who steal from and oppress the two kids in the story.

The story in "this fun work" was described on the Conservative Bookstore - "We see how two boys, making an entrepreneurial effort are held back by the well-meaning and the demagogic leftists". I'm 28 and even I don't know what 'demagogic' is. When I looked it up (of, characteristic of, relating to, or resembling a demagogue ???) I found that a book that "appeals with crude oratory to the prejudice and passions of the mob" itself, was accusing all Liberals of doing the same.

Before today, I may not have known what 'demagogic' is, but I knew the definition of 'Irony'.

Anyone who knows me might see this as yet another anti-Right blog entry, but this book really has a serious problem. If I encountered a book aimed at impressionable youth that leaned as far to the Left as this book does to the Right, I believe that I would still be offended. Making one political view out to be such a Boogeyman while children are still forming their understanding of the world, refuses them the ability to make balanced decisions later in life.

:: Stephen 10:29 AM [+] ::

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Wow. It's August and I don't think I've gone to the movies even half-a-dozen times since the Blockbuster season started in May. I'm sure I commented somewhere in this Blog (but I can't find where) about how I saw a record number of movies twice in theatres in 2002. Of course, this was including Summer 2002, when we got Spider-man, Star Wars Episode 2, About A Boy, Minority Report, Lilo & Stitch and Bourne Identity. Other big name movies that came out (but I didn't see in theatres) were Blade 2, XXX, Men in Black 2, Austin Powers 3 and Signs.

The irony struck me, as I was writing this list, the most interesting movies in 2004 are connected to 2002. This year, the biggest (and probably the only 'big') movie is Spider-man 2. We've also got new sequels for the Bourne Identity and Blade franchises. There's a dark Tom Cruise this year in Collateral. The movie that looks like a bit of a sleeper, but pulled in many millions because Tommy's name. Vin Deisel's back as an anti-hero in The Chronicles of Riddick. We have another Michael Moore movie too! And Em Night Shamalanalam has a new ZZZZZZcary movie with The Village. Will Smith returned to his usual July spot (altho' pushed back a couple of weeks by the power of Spider-man 2) with I, Robot.

Not including the Lord of the Rings movies from 2002, I saw several pics more than once. This year I have little urge to do so. Let's go through a list of movies I've seen, and others I haven't.

Seen it:
Van Helsing
Troy
Shrek 2
Harry Potter 3
Chronicles of Riddick
Fahrenheit 9/11
Spider-man 2
I, Robot
......

...holy crap. That's it. Just eight movies since the start of the season (Coffee & Cigarettes doesn't count, since it's an artsie film).

Let's see what else is offered:
The Day After Tomorrow - the movie that was disliked by the Right Wing AND the Left Wing. Good work, Hollywood. Next time you want to remake Deep Impact, try remaking Armageddon first. At least we got to see Paris blowed up!
The Stepford Wives - Toothless remake of the original. Again, we had both sides of the Feminism issue hating this movie.
Garfield - I'm a big Garfield fan, but I can't get anyone else to go with me.
Dodgeball - John tried using the "Pokemon 2000" clause on me in order to go see this one.
The Terminal - Waaaaaay too dramatic for me to consider it a "Summer Blockbuster"
King Arthur - Clive Owen kicks ass... but this looks a little "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" for me.
The Bourne Supremacy - This is one of two movies left this Summer that I "have" to see... the other being
Alien vs. Predator - I've been waiting for a while for this movie. If it's as true to the original franchises as Freddy vs. Jason was last year, we've got a very entertaining movie here.
The Manchurian Candidate - I've been told it's good, but seems a little too Fahrenheit 9/11 to be fully entertaining.
The Village - no
Collateral - I can't see myself going to the theatres to see this. This might be a "I Feel Like A Movie And 'Collateral' Is What I Feel Like". It's more likely that I'll wait until it's on DVD this November.
Catwoman - What's wrong with this movie IMHO - 1) Doesn't star Michelle Pfeiffer, 2) stars Halle Berry 3) used a CG whip most of the time, 4) the costume looks impossibly dumb, 5) critics panned the movie, and 6) so did the viewers, 7) domestic gross won't reach one half of the $85 million production budget, 8) apparently takes half the movie before she even becomes a superhero, and 9) I don't know anyone else who would want to go. Nine lives up for Catwoman (hee hee, i'm witty).
Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle - Maybe if I've already seen AvP, and I'm drunk. Very drunk.
Exorcist: The Beginning - A Movie that's had fifteen re-writes (more than Catwoman), four directors, three leading actors, and two COMPLETE PRODUCTION SHOOTS can't be that bad, right?
Jet Li's Hero - Never really liked Jet Li that much. I'll probably rent it.
Anacondas - If this movie actually makes money, then I'm leaving North America before they make a sequel to Lake Placid.

Yup. Looks like a weak Summer. Resident Evil 2 and Captain Sky aren't due until September, so it looks like I'll have to look forward to Summer 2005. I know there's a Star Wars movie coming, so are we just going to have another 2002 Redux?

If so, I hope they get it right this time.

:: Stephen 1:44 PM [+] ::

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While in Japan back in 2001, I visited a rather large HMV (yeah, I know, really sucking in the culture, eh?). One of the unique CDs I saw there was a new release of the Daft Punk sophomore album, "Destiny" with a custom Japan-only case. The case featured the blue anime rock stars that were used in the albums four music videos.

While doing some research for a new compilation CD I'm working on, I found out that Daft Punk contracted Leji Matsumoto to finish a full, 68 minute version of the movie. There's no dialogue, just the Destiny album working as a full-length soundtrack (sort of like running Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon" during The Wizard of Oz). So now I'm interested in getting my hands on a copy of the DVD. However, it would be found in limited release as it is. Additionally, it was only released last December. Maybe Queen Street Video or GenX has a copy of Interstella 5555 for rent.

Keeping in the same theme, I downloaded "Do the Bartman" by Bart Simpson. This song is so incredibly dated. It feels like it was built from a template used by all early 90's rap/pop stars, from MC Hammer to Vanilla Ice. Absolutely hilarious.

There are two surprising things that I noticed while watching the video: First, it would seem that the animation on the Simpsons has become cheaper and less extravagant over the last 15 years. The animation in the first few years was much more exaggerated and unnatural, but at the same time it was a lot smoother. On the flipside, South Park was started with construction paper, and now employs computer animation and more three-dimensional sets (with proper vanishing points) and smoother animation.

It seems weird to me how something that's made kerzillions of dollars like the Simpsons has (arguably) allowed production quality to drop, while South Park has progressively become better over the last eight seasons. On top of all of that, South Park has a turn-around time from script-to-broadcast as little as several weeks. The Simpsons haven't been "topical" for years, because turn-around time is at least several months. All that wait for Korean, slave-produced intermediary frames.

The second thing I noticed while watching the video is the line "And if you do the Bart, you're Bad like Michael Jackson"...

...that's just wrong.

:: Stephen 8:48 PM [+] ::

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<rant tone=insaneFury>

I've been coding HTML pages for nine years

I started in Notepad.exe

I moved up to WYSIWYG editors because they do a better job of coding tables

I stayed with WYSIWYG editors because I could change a file name and it would be fixed across the site in the blink of an eye.

I kept my raw coding skills in practice, but continued to use WYSIWYG editors because I get the job done in one-tenth the time.

Livewire has decided that we will only use raw coding applications from now on, because a few of our coders don't know how to write clean code and the WYSIWYG editors fuck everything up when it feebly tries to fix their shitty code.

Now I have 22 pages of "simple" updates that I could have done in 15 minutes, but will take me no less than a full day to complete.

yeah... that's really fucking efficient.

</rant>

:: Stephen 2:31 PM [+] ::

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Once in a blue moon I take a genuine vacation. One where I travel instead if sit in my basement apartment and play through all the levels of the most recent version of Carmageddon. Last weekend, Simone and I took off for Montreal. I took the Friday off, and met Simone in Mississauga. We left around 1:00 and got to Montreal sometime around 10:00. The driving conditions were just horrendous. I tell the story much better than I could write it, so I won't include that part of the trip here.

Our hotel room was really nice. The rooms are situated on floors 10 through 17 (or so) of a downtown building. The room faced right towards downtown and Old Montreal, so the view was really nice. The room always seemed cold, as they tended to crank the thermostat down to it's lowest setting (below 60 F). Every time I turned it up, I would find it back below 60 the next time the maid would make up the room. Once again, I'm reminded that we live in what is probably the only country in the world that habitually turns on the A/C when it's 15 degrees C outside.

Most of Saturday involved pelting rain from above. We had anticipated it (having driven through the biblical rain the previous day) so we planned the day around walking in the Underground... Montreal's version of Toronto's The Path. We also got to ride on the Metro, which is a much smoother ride. However, the trains appeared so old that they made the trains on the Bloor line look like the Golden Age of comfortable travel.

For dinner, we started walking around the immediate vicinity of the Hotel. Just about all of the restaurants were East Asian foods. I usually eat four out of five lunches every week at Pacific Mall or First Markham Place. I didn't want Chinese food on my holiday too! We finally settled on a deceptively-titled place called "Just Noodles". The food was quite good and well priced. I was reminded again that Chinese food is either really cheap ($5 for full meal + drink) or really expensive (Chinese take-out or Dim-sum usually exceeds $20 per person).

We met up with Reg, Hwan and Pops to go clubbing. We wandered in and out of a few different places and once again I displayed my utter incompetence on the dance floor.

Sunday we walked to Old Montreal. Ice cream just seems to taste better when you're on vacation. I guess it's just more of a treat at that point than a temporary distraction from your responsibilities. When you finish an ice cream cone while on vacation, you're still on vacation.

We wandered around with no particular destination in mind. At one point we passed by a movie shoot for The Greatest Game Ever Played, but didn't see anyone of note. By the looks of it, there wasn't anyone of real star-status except for the man in the director's chair.

Side note: and this is really weird... Bill Paxton was the director, writer and star in the Fish Heads music video shown over twenty years ago on Saturday Night Live.

For dinner, we returned to the strip where we spent the night clubbing. There were a number of upscale restaurants, including Newtown - Jacques Villeneuve's club/restaurant/lounge/etc. I was expecting the prices to be high, but they were PSYCHO-high. I'm sure the food and service is great, but a dinner there for two would have been well in excess of $100. We "settled" on a great Italian restaurant across the street called Pino, which still exceeded my hopes for a romantic dinner.

We had a good view of one of the busy intersections. We started talking about the difference in cars in Montreal. We had only seen one Hummer H2, but seen three Toyota Prius's, one Honda Insight, and even a new 2005 Ford Escape Hybrid - although it was only on display. We even saw a new SmartCar.
Seems to me that Montreal drivers - while more vicious behind the wheel - might be more concious of fuel economy and the environment. I like that trend. Even the Toronto Mayor and the Ontario Minister of the Envrionment chose to drive a Toyota Prius instead of the traditional limosine. Could the world be sobering up? After all, the USA invaded the 2nd largest oil reserve in the world last year and staked its claim. Yesterday, crude oil prices hit an all-time high despite the fact that we have most of the world's oil in our pocket. </rant>

Monday, we walked up the mountain and had our lunch. With the rain earlier in the weekend, there was no smog, but there was haze. We looked around for a while, took a few pictures and walked back down the mountain. On our way out of town, we grabbed a couple 12's of Sleeman Red Ale - a product I'd never seen before walking into a grocery store in Montreal. It looks a little like Sleeman Dark, so it might just be that under a different label. I'm emailing Sleeman to find out why we don't have that beer in Ontario, so I'll let you know. It might just be a regional beer, but even those are listed on Sleeman's site.

So, that was the trip. My car's got about 1500 more kilometeres on it, but it was definitely worth it to spend a whole weekend with Simone.

:: Stephen 1:20 PM [+] ::

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