This possibly-a-dog was spotted in Vietnam and given the nickname The Muppet of Long Son Pagoda. Any excuse for a cute doggy pic!
Monthly Archives: May 2010
London Unveils a New Bus Design
The final design of the New Bus for London, based on the Routemaster, was today unveiled by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and London’s Transport Commissioner, Peter Hendy.
The bus will be 15 per cent more fuel efficient than existing hybrid buses, and 40 per cent more efficient than conventional diesel double decks and much quieter on the streets.
The pioneering design makes use of lightweight materials, with glass used liberally to make it feel less claustrophobic. An impressive glass ‘swoop’ at the rear and offside pick out the two staircases and provide a dramatic visual effect. An asymmetric design for the front-end completes the futuristic look.
The new design features an open platform; similar to the Routemaster of old; and allows the reinstatement of a hop-on, hop-off service. Three doors and two staircases will aid speedier and smoother boarding. There will be two conventional doors and an open rear platform, which has the option to be closed off at quiet times for example during the night.
Boris said: “This iconic new part of our transport system is not only beautiful, but also has a green heart beating beneath its stylish, ‘swooshing’ exterior. It will cut emissions, and give Londoners a bus they can be proud of, complete with cutting edge design, and the freedom of an open platform.
“I expect to eventually have hundreds of these on London’s roads, and for cities around the globe to be beside themselves with envy for our stunning red emblem of 21st century London.”
Wrightbus and Transport for London have been working with Heatherwick Studio as a collaborative design partner taking the lead on the styling of the bus to support Wrightbus in the design and development process.
Wrightbus engineers are working on a static mock up of the bus to be complete later this year with the first prototype to be delivered late next year, the new buses will enter service from early 2012.
See the design of London’s New Bus up-close in pictures and video
by Genevieve Sibayan
TV: Lost – The End
Was it really six years ago that LOST first crashed onto our screens? ‘Breaking ground’ all over the place; LOST has since picked up a raft of awards including an Emmy® for Outstanding Drama Series, a Golden Globe® for Best Television Series (Drama), and Screen Actors Guild and Writers Guild Awards.
In 2007, Lindelof and Cuse made the bold decision to announce that LOST would comprise six seasons in total and reach its conclusion in 2010, allowing them to map out exactly how the series would unfold over the final two seasons, whilst also providing dedicated viewers with an endgame.
The sixth season, which debuted on Sky1 HD in February 2010, has answered many long-standing questions posed back in the early days of the show. In perhaps one of the most revealing scenes so far, Jacob (Mark Pelligrino) used the metaphor of a wine bottle to explain the importance of the Island, the true nature of the Man in Black and how and why he must be prevented from fulfilling his wish of escaping. “Think of this wine as… Hell… malevolence, evil, darkness, and here it is – swirling around in the bottle unable to get out, because if it did, it would spread. The cork, is this island, and it’s the only thing keeping the darkness where it belongs.” Now with the Man in Black taking on the form of the deceased Locke (Terry O’Quinn), the final episodes are building towards his potential escape. But will Charles Widmore (Alan Dale) or Jacob’s yet-to-be-decided successor “The Candidate”, be able to stop him?
Executive producers and writers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse recently put the finishing touches on the final script, and explained that answers to the mysteries will continue to unravel. Cuse commented: “It was very profound for us, as we had written a cryptic scene, and we thought, no, these characters are actually at the place where they can have a discussion about what is going on here. It was very weird to take these closely held secrets and actually put them in the scene. It was very liberating and exciting.”
George Lucas sent an open letter to executive producers Lindelof and Cuse the show on its run and offering some words of support. Poking fun at the producers he says: “Congratulations on pulling off an amazing show. Don’t tell anyone … but when ‘Star Wars’ first came out, I didn’t know where it was going either. The trick is to pretend you’ve planned the whole thing out in advance. Throw in some father issues and references to other stories — let’s call them homages — and you’ve got a series.”
If you’ve never watched LOST, I’d love to give you an overview of what you’ve missed, except I’m still not sure myself. Watch this video and anyone would think that even the script writers get confused.
The final season has also introduced the concept of flash-sideways, portraying two parallel universes. The scenes on the island depict a universe where the bomb failed to detonate and the survivors remained, whereas the flash-sideways show a world where Oceanic 815 landed and the passengers never ended up living together. However, destiny appears to be drawing them together regardless as their lives end up colliding despite the reversal of history. Indeed, following a recent meeting with Charlie (Dominic Monaghan), Desmond (Henry Ian Cusick) starts to feel as if he has led another life before and plans to ‘awaken’ the other passengers on Oceanic 815 – starting with crashing his car into Locke as he crosses the road.
On Friday 28 May at 7pm, Sky1 HD and Sky1 will kick off an evening celebrating LOST with a two hour US special entitled LOST: THE FINAL JOURNEY. The documentary will take a retrospective look at the past six seasons of the series and delve into what has transpired during the current season as a primer leading into the finale.
At 9pm, it’s time for LOST: The End, a two and a half hour conclusion to a television phenomenon and an unmissable landmark event in television history. Fans need not despair as at 11.30pm, two of Sky1 HD’s specials, THE END IS NIGH and TOP 10 GREATEST SCENES will follow.
by Genevieve Sibayan
Sibling Rivalry {Carl Packman}
On Newsnight with Jeremy Paxman yesterday David Miliband, Labour leadership contender, former foreign secretary and the apple of Hilary Clinton’s eye, slipped a little under the scrutiny, a rare occurrence for him. Paxman wasn’t particularly cutting, simply asked Miliband whether he thought his brother Ed, also running for leader of the former incumbent party, would do a good job of it. “I don’t want to say anything negative here Jeremy,” Miliband the elder uttered, to which Paxman rightly replied “I’m not asking you to”.
Where might this compulsion to state negatives have possibly come from?
Sibling rivalry has always been characterised as a means of grabbing the most parental resources as possible away from the other, to secure your monopoly over the paedocratic (as in paedocracy, regime led by children) kingdom of a Mother’s affection, and it can rear its competitive head in many ways.
One unnamed crackers genetic determinist put it:
Parental resources are finite, and if one brother gets a large proportion of parental time, attention, and money, then this necessarily means that the other brother will be getting less.
Stereotypes abound, the job of competing for the affection of the Miliband boys’ Father, the Marxist intellectual Ralph Miliband, author of books such as The State in Capitalist Society, would surely have been met with disdain, particularly with regards to Father Miliband’s political commitment to egalitarianism and equal distribution – the sibling rivalry of the brother’s surely would’ve been seen as nothing short of capitalist doctrine consuming their innocent souls like cows branded for ownership proof.
Other sibling rivals like Christopher and Peter Hitchens do battle with ideas – the former once being famous for his firebrand left wing politics, now shoved to one side for the pursuit of a militant atheism and insistence on the benefits of the Iraq war, while the latter brother sits himself on the right wing politically, born again in his Christianity and fully opposed to military intervention in the Middle East.
David and Ed play the nice game, but the elder brother’s small, but telling, admission with Paxman puts another thorn in the side of those who feel that sibling rivalry is just a load of ol’ poppy.
For those of us who have any optimism for the Labour party, that it should bin its recent past with dignity, doing away with those things to which parallels can be drawn with Shakespeare’s As You Like It – “All the world’s a stage” when it comes to our neo-imperialist adventures, or “too much of a good thing” with the thirteen years of New Labour flirtation with the neo-liberal vacuum – ought to be careful what we wish for the future; might the brother’s Miliband be playing the parts of rival siblings Orlando and Oliver, where jealously prevails over a divisive inheritance?
by Carl Packman
You can read more of Carl’s thoughts and articles on his blog Raincoat Optimism.
New York City Timelapse Tilt-Shift Video {Misc-uity}
Tilt-shift photography is a style of photography in which the camera is manipulated so that a life-sized location or subject looks like a miniature-scale model. This video ‘The Sandpit’ made by Sam O’Hare is a combination of tilt-shift photography and timelapse. It’s made up of thousands of still photographs, he captures NYC and shrinks it to the size of a model village.
The Sandpit from Sam O’Hare on Vimeo.
To achieve this miniature effect to your photographs, it’s best to shoot subjects from a high angle (especially from the air). It creates the illusion of looking down at a miniature model. A camera equipped with a tilt-shift lens, which simulates a shallow depth of field, is essentially all you need to start. Or you could cheat and do it in post.
Next Week's TV Picks
Monday 17th
George Clooney is an odd one. He can go from an out an out blockbuster that everyone in the world will see (even those without TV’s had Ocean’s 11 beamed into their brains via satellite) to little movies that still cost as much but not many know about, and he still holds his credibility. I am speaking, of course, about Welcome to Collinwood on BBC 1 at 23:20. Clooney plays the wheelchair bound old acerbic Safe Cracker hired by a motley band of crooks who share a goal of obtaining the biggest score of their lives, their ‘Bellini’. With a brilliant cast including Sam Rockwell, William H Macy and Michael Jeta, Collinwood is a silly yet excellent crime caper that’ll make you late for work on Tuesday but is absolutely worth it.
Tuesday 18th
Music Award shows annoy me, filled with prancing posing idiots fuelling themselves on champagne for a night of self indulgence, Damon Albarn worship and dancing on tables because their “so mad”. The Classical Brit Awards 2010 (ITV, 22:35) will be oh so different. Presented by classical crumpet Myleene Klass, this event will be full of brilliant performances (one of which by Bryn Terfel…..awesome) so get a glass of good wine and turn the volume up. But before this make sure your watching BBC 1 at 21:00 to see our fair Editor Miss Catherine Balavage committing acts of violence upon Paul McGann in Luther.
Wednesday 19th
YAAAAAAYYYYY THE BIG BANG THEORY IS BACK!
Finally after a weird disappearance from our screens for two months the rest of season 3 is continuing on Channel 4 at 22:55 (why it’s on so late confuses me). After a double date with Howard and Bernadette, Leonard and Penny’s relationship suffers a blow after Penny tells of her belief in psychics. Meanwhile Raj recruits Sheldon as his wingman as the pair attend a University Mixer in an attempt to score!…….I love this show.
Thursday 20th
I wasn’t expecting to like Forgetting Sarah Marshall (showing at 20:00 on Sky Movies Comedy), but one day after finding nothing else to watch I decided to give it a go and found that it’s surprisingly entertaining. I thought this lighthearted, sweet story of a man trying to get his ex would be overshadowed by Russell Brand overtly parodying himself, but his performance is believable and down to earth, and with a very good if small role by Jonah Hill this is my recommendation for the 20th. Oh and at 22:00 turn over to Channel 4 to hear Charlie Brooker yell about the TV that none of us should watch in You Have Been Watching.
Friday 21st
I missed The Wrestler when it came out at the cinema, and this annoyed me. So I’m definitely going to be tuning into Sky Premier at 22:00 to see this award winning film. The story of an aging pro-wrestler trying to come to terms with hanging up his shorts and living his life outside the ring, re-patching his role as father to the daughter he abandoned, attempting to tell a stripper how he really feels for her and having to work a dead end job while struggling with his deteriorating health, The Wrestler is one to watch.
Saturday 22nd
I don’t know if I like Michael Moore, his films give good messages and highlight problems that might otherwise go ignored to anyone not experiencing them, but he uses cheap tricks and propaganda to deliver them. Case in point, in Sicko he tells of the UK’s brilliant health care system by interviewing a well paid and very well off GP…and that’s it, he doesn’t share the information about the lack of Mid-Wives, the struggling NHS, the MRSA debacle etc etc. But all this said, like I stated, it’s the message he delivers that’s important, and Capitalism: A Love Story on Channel 4 at 22:15 tells us of the capitalist tendencies of major US corporations and lets us know how the rich stay rich and how the poor are kept poor. Sure to be insightful, shocking and entertaining…but beware the propaganda!
Sunday 23rd
It seems I’m ending this week with a bunch of movies, but seeing as that’s how I spend the most of my time (when I’m not playing Half-Life2) it’s appropriate. Sunday’s choice is the outstanding Frost/Nixon on Sky Movies Crime and Thriller at 15:15. This dramatisation shows the series of interviews given by David Frost to ex President Richard Nixon, which came very close to the ex Oval Office dweller admitting guilt for the Watergate Scandal and uttering the shocking statement of ‘When the President does it, it’s not illegal’. Strange to think that that bloke off Through the Keyhole went up against such a formidable foe and came out on top! Make sure you don’t miss this.
Futuristic Fashion from the 1930's {Misc-uity}
We’ve all thought about what people will be wearing in the future. Admit it. You have really. It’s something high school textile students do by default, it’s human nature. So it’s no suprise to discover that people in the 1930’s did exactly the same thing and luckily this clip from ITN shows some of their thoughts.
Marc Jacobs
‘Silly’ could describe some of the outfits but they’re more likely to be described as ‘Scarily Accurate’. Their predictions include mesh dresses, upside down heels, zippered skirts and men would carry radios and phones and might not ever get married!
It’s safe to say that those trend forecasters were ‘ahead of their time’. See what I did there? Nevermind, watch the video.
“Oooh, swish”
Stefan Reviews; Nightmare on Elm Street.
From the Eighties to the early Noughties the horror genre has been dominated by two names; Jason Vorhees and probably the little more known….Freddy Kruger.
With nine films, a TV series and a smorgasbord of (sometimes parody) guest appearances in TV under his belt, Freddy has certainly made his quadruple bladed glove mark in the world of celluloid.
What started out as a very scary character played horrifically menacingly by Robert Englund, Kruger sadly became one of mischief and comedy rather than a to-scared-to-turn-the-lights-out-after-watching monster that he once was. This however was rumoured to all change when Freddy was taken on by Jackie Earl Haley.
Best known for his sinister portrayal of Rorschach in last years Watchmen, Haley was an eagerly awaited choice for the role by the majority of Kruger fans wanting to see the darker side of an already pretty pitch character.
The before the title opening scene gives a nice quick introduction to the main players in the film and ends in a way that seems to promise as much blood as you would expect from the old franchise and a lot more scares. Unfortunately it doesn’t deliver, there are a couple of gallons of blood and a few actual scary moments that make squeals and screams erupt from a jumping audience (I cant remember the last time a new horror film did that) but they are few and far between so fail to keep viewers on the edge of their seats, although this could not be said for the girl sitting behind me who I think must have lost most of her popcorn!
The mostly unknown in movies cast (mainly American TV an small film roles) are good at keeping out the horror shlock thus once again making this an altogether different route for Nightmare, but only Rooney Mara stands out from the rest (strange considering it also co-starred Clancy Brown). Her portrayal of troubled heroine Nancy Thompson is believable and pulls in the sympathy and could easily be carried over into sequels if they choose to remake the rest of the Nightmare stories (I’m hoping they don’t for fear they would go the same way as the 80’s/90’s lot and end up with a rapping Haley arsing about with a prop guitar). Joy turns to disappointment with Jackie Earle Haley, as promised, he is a lot more menacing and frightening than Englund ever was, but for some odd unexplainable reason during the finale fight he starts spouting rubbish one liner quips. Threatening with the promise of violence and abuse throughout the entire film, resorting to crappy puns very nearly ruins the re-imagining of the character.
A film that promised much and delivered a bit Nightmare on Elm Street has too few scares and fails to build suspense, and if you can ignore the image of Freddy wearing Rorschach’s mask (it seems Haley has adopted that voice to express malevolence and inspire fear) I suggest you wait for the DVD.
Nightmare on Elm Street is still playing at most cinemas and is rated 18.