Plugs and the Animation Army Event

Before I head off to seal myself in the writing cave, a few plugs-

Check out the DVD release of Marvel's newest animated movie, Next Avengers. Written by the talented Christopher Yost, it got released this week and is getting great reviews.

If you're out and about, check out the film Ping Pong Playa. It's opening this week, starring the incomparable C Dub Wang (aka Jimmy Tsai), and it, too, is getting solid reviews.

And last but not least, I want to plug the upcoming Animation Army Event next Sunday night. It features two talented animation pros, George Krstic and Will Feng. It also features some third shlub, but I've never heard of him and I'm sure security won't let him in the door.

See you in a few days!

Animation Army Event at Cinespace - Sunday, September 14th - 7:00 pm

This month Animation Army is proud to announce a new venue, Cinespace, and three extremely talented animation industry professionals as our presenters:

GEORGE KRSTIC, writer for George Lucas' "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (George will be showing clips from past and present animation projects)
WILL FENG, animation Production Coordinator for: "Metalocalypse" (Season 1)
EUGENE SON, writer for "Ben 10" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"

--

Sun, Sep 14, 2008
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Hosted by: Animation Army
(310) 458-6073
Cinespace
6356 Hollywood Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028

--

We want YOU to join Animation Army!

Animation Army hosts social networking events every other month, for professionals and students in the animation industry. At Army events you can:
* Network with animation industry professionals.
* Find talent to work on your projects.
* Show off your work.
* Find career opportunities

Membership is FREE, just sign up at www.animationarmy.com, and we'll add you to our guest list for upcoming events.

September 14th Event:
Networking and cash bar from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Presentation and animation screening from 8:00 pm to 8:20 pm
Question and Answer session from 8:20pm to 8:30pm
Networking from 8:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Event ends promptly at 9:00 pm

http://www.animationarmy.com/

Hartlepool

Fact that I learned today : the people of Hartlepool, England are affectionately referred to as "Monkey Hangers"

Heard a passing reference to this on the radio today, which sent me scrambling to the internet. From Wikipedia

According to local folklore, during the Napoleonic wars, a French ship was wrecked off the coast of Hartlepool. The only survivor was a monkey, wearing a French uniform (presumably to provide amusement for those onboard the ship). On finding the monkey, some locals decided to hold an impromptu trial on the beach; since the monkey was unable to answer their questions, they concluded that it was a French spy. The animal was thus sentenced to death and hanged...

I can't believe I've lived my entire life so far without learning about a monkey being tried as a French spy. Now I have a reason to someday visit Hartlepool. The monkey is supposed to be popular all over the city, and the local football team even has a mascot, H'Angus the Monkey.

According to the official web site of Hartlepool, the story isn't true - but that isn't going to stop me from finding some way to work the Hartlepool monkey into some future story.

Because you can't hold a good monkey story down.

Speaking of those Wacky Brits

I took this picture last summer near the Earl's Court Underground station.



Here in the States we have gun amnesties - on the other side of the pond, they have knife amnesties. Where criminals are encouraged to turn in their blades.

It's so civilized, well-mannered, and respectable. Frankly, it's adorable.

Anyways, THIS apparently happened two years ago, but I only now found out about it.



The dead serious expression on that officer's face tells it all. I'd make a joke or two or a hundred, but it's just too easy.

August 2008 Music Diary

Missed July, which is okay since I didn't have a lot of new music that month. Here's the new stuff that iTunes says I'm listening to-

I Kissed a Girl - Katy Perry
About a Girl - The Academy Is...
Mr Rock & Roll - Amy MacDonald
Can't Find the Words - Karina
Built to Last - Melee
Black & Gold - Sam Sparro

You've heard Katy Perry. Unless you've been living under a rock. On Mars. With your eyes closed and your ears shut.

Found The Academy Is through iTunes - they're meh, but catchy meh. Fell in love with Melee and Amy MacDonald on U.K. pop radio. Sam Sparro and Karina - great free iTunes tracks.

The Wayne Knight of the Computer World

You may have noticed that it's been kinda quiet on the blog. Sorry about that. I've been busy with work - and the foreseeable week or two looks busy, too.

One bit I can share. I got myself a new computer. For the first time in almost a decade, I got myself a new desktop computer. See, for the past nine or so years, I've been all laptop, all the time. But it was high time to chain myself back to my desk. The new desktop can do several things that I just can't do with a laptop, plus it saved me a boatload of money.

For those interested in the geeky details, it's an Intel Core 2 Duo, dual-booting Mac OS 10.5 and Windows Vista. Yeah, I know, Vista. It was cheaper to buy than XP - and yes, it's as lame as everyone says. I mean, it's pretty-looking and all, but some of the most basic things go screwy for no reason. I tried to re-install Vista on a new partition and it went something like this-

"To install Vista, you must format this drive in NTFS. Click Format."
"Vista cannot install because the drive is NTFS. Click Format."
"To install Vista, you must format this drive in NTFS. Click Format."
"Vista cannot install because the drive is NTFS. Click Format."

And it went on like this. Nothing like a dual boot to remind me how much I love the Mac.

Okay - better get back to work. Have a great week everybody.

Fear of a Finnish Planet

Cleaned out part of the garage and found an old box of Zip Disks.

Remember Zip Disks? Ah, 100 huge mega-bytes of storage. Shortages of disks. Clicks of death. Good times.

Anyways, digging through them for old files. Found mostly very old, very awful writings. Then I found a great photo.

The year was 2002. Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. We were outside the E Center, waiting to get through security to watch Team USA take on Team Finland in Men's Ice Hockey. There was a huge buzz over the crowd - it was Team USA's first game with their huge home-ice advantage.

Then the Finns showed up.

It was a big group of Finns, all wearing red coats, all waving Finnish flags, all chanting at the top of their lungs, "SU-O-MI! SU-O-MI!" Needless to say, it was awesome. And surprisingly intimidating.

So the Finns stood in line waiting to get through security - and I thought I had to get a great picture. So I grabbed a tiny American flag, walked up alongside the enormous group, and made a sheepish expression on my face as I waved my tiny little flag. My friends tried to take the picture, but it didn't come out. So they motioned at me to stay there and they'd take another picture.

Then the Finns spotted me.



I couldn't keep a straight face and cracked up laughing, as the Finns directed their Su-o-mi chants at me. You can't even see the tiny American flag I'm holding because the Finn behind me is draping a Finnish flag over me.

Alas, the first pic that didn't come out would've been funnier. But at least the second pic came out, so I now have proof positive what it's like to be intimidated by the Finns.

Oh sure - to you the Finns may seem like nice people. But as for me? I fear the Finns...

"You're speaking in Canada"

A few years back, TNT hired Ali G to interview NBA players for a bunch of playoff commercials. I saw a few of them, but I'd never seen this one. This is Ali G interviewing Steve Nash. It's short - enjoy!