I mentioned the other day that McDonald's is having their annual hockey cards promotion. I was reflecting on that when a thought occured to me.
The collectables market has ruined childhoods.
This one time a year is pretty much the only time that a kid can get his hands on hockey cards. I mean, you can't run down to the corner store anymore and buy a pack of hockey cards for a buck. Now, you have to go to some sportscard store and pay $3.95. It's become this exclusive thing.
It's the same thing with comic books. You can't do like when I was a kid anymore You can't run down to the drugstore and grab the latest Spider-Man off the newsstand. Now, you have to venture into a comic book store, where they sell it to you triple-bagged with warnings of not to open the bag, lest you ruin its resale value.
(I've got to talk to my aspiring comic book artist friend about this, who follows the industry. Do comic book artists like or dislike the fact that all comic books are sold in the direct market now? Are they upset that the medium doesn't reach a mass audience any more, or, because people have to go so far out of the way to grab the latest issue, do they think that they're finally being treated seriously as an art form? Gotta talk to him....)
I guess I"m just pissy about this because, as I've ranted before, I'm starting to see the same thing happen to action figures. Although, I'm learning more since when I wrote my initial rant.
I finally found out the proper reason why toys sold in the secondary market are so expensive. (The "secondary market" is buying toys in comic book and collectable stores; the "primary market" is, of course, Toys R Us and Zeller's and such.) Toys that are designed and sold directly through the secondary market are made in fewer quantities. Fewer of anything always drives up the price. So, that's why when you buy a DC Comics Superman figure at a comic book store, it'll cost $25, as opposed to $7.99 for a Mattel Superman figure at Toys R Us.
That still doesn't explain why I pay $7.99 for an Episode III figure at Toys R Us, but $25 for THE EXACT SAME FIGURE at Comic King. But it's a start.
Let's see...anything new on the campaign trail today?
The Conservatives unveiled their healthcare platform today. I'm not to sure about it. It's not that I'm not too sure about my opinion, I just don't know all the specifics.
The Bloc Quebecois raised eyebrows the other day. BQ leader Gilles Ducepe suggested that Quebec should have its own national hockey team to enter in international sporting events. For example, at the 2010 Winter Olympics, you could quite possibly see Team Canada vs. Team Quebec. This actually isn't new for Ducepe. Before the writ was dropped, he was also running around saying Quebec needs its own army and intelligence agency.
Actually, speaking of the BQ, they were quite savage on Royal Canadian Air Farce tonight. They re-enacted Paul Martin going to Rideau Hall to get Governor General Michelle Jean to disolve the government and call an election. Of course, when Maritn shows up at Rideau Hall, Jean goes all ape-shit. "Why the hell are you having a Christmas election? No one wants this!" Martin responded in kind. "You seperatist bitch! I made you Queen of Canada! Now grant me this!"
The segment ended with Jean putting a "Vote Bloc" lawn sign in front of Rideau Hall.
It was quite mean-spirited.
Thursday, December 01, 2005
It's that time of year again. McDonald's is giving away hockey cards! Do you know that McDonald's has been giving away hockey cards for 14 years now? I'd sure like to know what the longest-running fast food promotion has been.
The big news on the campaign trail today was that the Conservatives promised to slash the GST from 7% to 5%. Ah, yes. Promises about the GST. Because it worked so well for the Liberals 12 years ago.
If there's one tradition from Japan that I'm working to try to incorporate into my daily life, that's the thank-you gift. In Japan, a simple thank you card doesn't do. No, you have to give an appropriate small present.
For the past few weeks, one of my old instructors from NAIT has been kind enough to let me sneak in after hours to use the equipment to beef up my demo and such. I figured it was time to present some kind of thank you gift.
My instructor collects PEZ dispensers.
He's also a Star Wars nerd.
So, when I was at the Super A over in Evansburg the other day and saw one last Boba Fett PEZ dispenser hanging there, I knew I'd found my gift.
He loved it.
The big news on the campaign trail today was that the Conservatives promised to slash the GST from 7% to 5%. Ah, yes. Promises about the GST. Because it worked so well for the Liberals 12 years ago.
If there's one tradition from Japan that I'm working to try to incorporate into my daily life, that's the thank-you gift. In Japan, a simple thank you card doesn't do. No, you have to give an appropriate small present.
For the past few weeks, one of my old instructors from NAIT has been kind enough to let me sneak in after hours to use the equipment to beef up my demo and such. I figured it was time to present some kind of thank you gift.
My instructor collects PEZ dispensers.
He's also a Star Wars nerd.
So, when I was at the Super A over in Evansburg the other day and saw one last Boba Fett PEZ dispenser hanging there, I knew I'd found my gift.
He loved it.
Tuesday, November 29, 2005
ELECTION!!
Yes, Canada is having an election right now! But, in honor of Roger Abbot's impression of Jean Chretien on Royal Canadian Air Farce, I will refer to the election as an "erection" for the rest of this post:
- The day of the erection is January 23rd. This will make it one of the longest erections in Canadian history.
- This is Canada's first Christmas erection in 25 years.
No doubt it's going to be a hard erection for the Liberals, as they try to convince the people that they're still fit to govern in the shadow of Gomery. It's going to be an even harder erection for the Conservatives, as they try to show that Stephen Harper is da man!
OK, I've worn out that joke.
There's a couple of big DVD releases today, as everyone tries to cash in on the biggest movie release of the holiday season, King Kong.
First up is a brand new DVD release of The Frighteners. This is Peter Jackson's 1996 film where Michael J. Fox played a ghostbuster who could actually talk to ghosts, and was thus using this to con people. It's a brand new "unrated director's cut" with a Peter Jackson running commentary and a slew of featurettes about making the film.
Next up are two classic giant monster movies from Japan. King Kong vs. Godzilla is re-released on DVD today, in a brand new digitally remastered version. King Kong vs. Godzilla was written and directed by Ishiro Honda, who wrote and directed the first Godzilla film and is pretty much acredited with being the inventor of the giant monster genre. I shouldn't need to explain the plot, as the title is pretty self-explanatory. I should note that this DVD release boasts the American edit of the film, meaning you have scenes of American actors randomly spliced in going, "Wow! Look at King Kong and Godzilla fight!"
But, did you know there was a second Japanese giant monster movie starring King Kong? That's also out today! King Kong Escapes features King Kong fighting MechaKong, a sea serpent, and another beastie known as a "Gorgosaurus." It came out in 1967, and was also written and directed by Ishiro Honda. This is the first time it's ever been released in a home video format!
It should be noted that King Kong vs. Godzilla and King Kong Escapes are available serperatly or bundled together in a 2-pack.
And, while not Kong-related, I feel I have to mention this film. Also out today is a little movie called Gorgo. Gorgo was England's attempt at doing a Japanese-style giant monster/man in a rubber suit movie. The plot itself is pretty much a flat-out rip-off of Godzilla, as Gorgo lays waste to London. But still, it's worth checking out.
Yes, Canada is having an election right now! But, in honor of Roger Abbot's impression of Jean Chretien on Royal Canadian Air Farce, I will refer to the election as an "erection" for the rest of this post:
- The day of the erection is January 23rd. This will make it one of the longest erections in Canadian history.
- This is Canada's first Christmas erection in 25 years.
No doubt it's going to be a hard erection for the Liberals, as they try to convince the people that they're still fit to govern in the shadow of Gomery. It's going to be an even harder erection for the Conservatives, as they try to show that Stephen Harper is da man!
OK, I've worn out that joke.
There's a couple of big DVD releases today, as everyone tries to cash in on the biggest movie release of the holiday season, King Kong.
First up is a brand new DVD release of The Frighteners. This is Peter Jackson's 1996 film where Michael J. Fox played a ghostbuster who could actually talk to ghosts, and was thus using this to con people. It's a brand new "unrated director's cut" with a Peter Jackson running commentary and a slew of featurettes about making the film.
Next up are two classic giant monster movies from Japan. King Kong vs. Godzilla is re-released on DVD today, in a brand new digitally remastered version. King Kong vs. Godzilla was written and directed by Ishiro Honda, who wrote and directed the first Godzilla film and is pretty much acredited with being the inventor of the giant monster genre. I shouldn't need to explain the plot, as the title is pretty self-explanatory. I should note that this DVD release boasts the American edit of the film, meaning you have scenes of American actors randomly spliced in going, "Wow! Look at King Kong and Godzilla fight!"
But, did you know there was a second Japanese giant monster movie starring King Kong? That's also out today! King Kong Escapes features King Kong fighting MechaKong, a sea serpent, and another beastie known as a "Gorgosaurus." It came out in 1967, and was also written and directed by Ishiro Honda. This is the first time it's ever been released in a home video format!
It should be noted that King Kong vs. Godzilla and King Kong Escapes are available serperatly or bundled together in a 2-pack.
And, while not Kong-related, I feel I have to mention this film. Also out today is a little movie called Gorgo. Gorgo was England's attempt at doing a Japanese-style giant monster/man in a rubber suit movie. The plot itself is pretty much a flat-out rip-off of Godzilla, as Gorgo lays waste to London. But still, it's worth checking out.
Monday, November 28, 2005
Well, here's my cool movie news of the day. It's only cool because it involves Tim Burton, and I just love his films.
Burton is currently in negotiations to direct Ripley's Believe It or Not, a biography of Robert L. Ripley, he who gave us Believe It or Not. The film is about 80% true, as it portrays Ripley as being a bit of an Indiana Jones sort, as he goes on all kinds of adventures around the world, searching for his oddities.
The screenplay was written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewsy. They were known as "the quirky biography guys" in the 1990s, as they also wrote Ed Wood, The People vs. Larry Flint and Man on the Moon. (Don't forget that Burton also directed Ed Wood).
And Tim Burton's not the only one in negotiations. Jim Carrey is also in talks to play Ripley.
Could be good. You know I'll see it anyway, just cuz I love Tim Burton.
I guess I should take a moment to talk about the Grey Cup, just because, you know, everyone else in Edmonton is talking about it.
Actually, the Grey Cup reminds me of Japan. When I was in Japan, and I'd go out to dinner with the co-workers, I loved breaking the awkward silence with, "So, who do you like in the Grey Cup?" You want to see befuddled looks? Try talking Canadain football with Americans and Japanese.
I think it was in March of 2003...there was an awkward silence, I did my usual "Grey Cup" schtick, and one of my co-workers turned to me and said, "Haven't they played that damn game yet?" I nodded and said, "Yeah. Back in November. Montreal won."
That's another one I'll never forget. At work, we got the Japan Times, Japan's biggest English-language newspaper. The only time I ever saw the CFL covered in the Japan Times' sports section was when Montreal won the Grey Cup. There it was, tiny little article with tiny little headline. "Montreal Wins Grey Cup."
Ahh, memories.
Burton is currently in negotiations to direct Ripley's Believe It or Not, a biography of Robert L. Ripley, he who gave us Believe It or Not. The film is about 80% true, as it portrays Ripley as being a bit of an Indiana Jones sort, as he goes on all kinds of adventures around the world, searching for his oddities.
The screenplay was written by Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewsy. They were known as "the quirky biography guys" in the 1990s, as they also wrote Ed Wood, The People vs. Larry Flint and Man on the Moon. (Don't forget that Burton also directed Ed Wood).
And Tim Burton's not the only one in negotiations. Jim Carrey is also in talks to play Ripley.
Could be good. You know I'll see it anyway, just cuz I love Tim Burton.
I guess I should take a moment to talk about the Grey Cup, just because, you know, everyone else in Edmonton is talking about it.
Actually, the Grey Cup reminds me of Japan. When I was in Japan, and I'd go out to dinner with the co-workers, I loved breaking the awkward silence with, "So, who do you like in the Grey Cup?" You want to see befuddled looks? Try talking Canadain football with Americans and Japanese.
I think it was in March of 2003...there was an awkward silence, I did my usual "Grey Cup" schtick, and one of my co-workers turned to me and said, "Haven't they played that damn game yet?" I nodded and said, "Yeah. Back in November. Montreal won."
That's another one I'll never forget. At work, we got the Japan Times, Japan's biggest English-language newspaper. The only time I ever saw the CFL covered in the Japan Times' sports section was when Montreal won the Grey Cup. There it was, tiny little article with tiny little headline. "Montreal Wins Grey Cup."
Ahh, memories.
Sorry it's a week late, but I finally got my review of Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire done. It's over at the main page.
Go read it, why don't you?
Go read it, why don't you?
Sunday, November 27, 2005
Latest column's up! This week, I tell a tale I've already told you. it's called Lineman:
"On the short list of craziest things I’d ever done in my life, this certainly ranked in the top 5. But then, insanity is a relative thing when you’ve led my life. The past few months have been spent in a room, in the basement, staring at the ceiling and wondering why no one is calling me. Lord knows I’ve sent out enough resumes and demo tapes. I’ve had my fair share of interviews, only to be told that the company decided to go in another direction. I’ve given up on doing those follow-up phone calls where you ask the interviewer why you didn’t get the job and ask for tips on improvement, if only because I was getting no real information, just inspirational bullshit: “Oh, it wasn’t you, it’s us. Your stuff is real good, just keep with it and someone will hire you eventually!” My breaking point was coming soon. And when I break, I usually do it in a large public format, thus causing maximum embarrassment."
Read it all right here!
"On the short list of craziest things I’d ever done in my life, this certainly ranked in the top 5. But then, insanity is a relative thing when you’ve led my life. The past few months have been spent in a room, in the basement, staring at the ceiling and wondering why no one is calling me. Lord knows I’ve sent out enough resumes and demo tapes. I’ve had my fair share of interviews, only to be told that the company decided to go in another direction. I’ve given up on doing those follow-up phone calls where you ask the interviewer why you didn’t get the job and ask for tips on improvement, if only because I was getting no real information, just inspirational bullshit: “Oh, it wasn’t you, it’s us. Your stuff is real good, just keep with it and someone will hire you eventually!” My breaking point was coming soon. And when I break, I usually do it in a large public format, thus causing maximum embarrassment."
Read it all right here!
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Bored.
Bored bored bored.
Hmmm....
KA-BOOM!!
Sorry, just quoting a favourite Twisted ToyFare Theatre.
I managed to accomplish absolutly nothing today. Well, that's not true. I kept a fire going in the fireplace. But other than that, nothing.
Although, I did manage to catch Pokemon Chronicles. I love it, if only because it manages to successfully buck the pokemon formula. Today's episode, Training Daze, takes us back in time to how villains Jessie, James, and Meowth first met and became the top Team Rocket agents they are today.
It goes like this. We flash back several years to Team Rocket's boot camp. There, we meet Jessie. She seems to be doing OK in her training, but she just has one nasty problem: she tends to leave her partners behind to die. She's also developing a bit of a rivalry with fellow Team Rocket candidate Cassiday. Anyway, Jessie's about to wash out, but, because she does have some exceptional skills, she wins "one last chance."
Around this time, Meowth manages to sneak into the office of Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, and begins begging to be made an agent.
Jessie is introduced to her new partner, James. They don't hit it off too well at the beginning. Jessie still tends to leave people behind, but James puts up with it with a quiet dignity.
Around this time, we see that Meowth has forced himself upon Giovanni, and is trying to act as Giovanni's personal assistant. Fed up with Meowth once and for all, Giovanni re-assigns Meowth to the Viper - the Team Rocket drill instructor - and Viper asssigns Meowth to Jessie and James.
And thus begins the next test: a long, grueling hike through the wilderness. Each one is given only a loaf of bread and a bottle of water for rations. Meowth, naturally, consumes his right away.
The hike is long and hard. Jessie is charging on ahead, again leaving James and Meowth behind. Meowth is whining a lot, and James, in his quite, noble way, carries Meowth. When Meowth gets hungry again, James even offers up his rations without a thought.
That night, at their camp, Jessie's having trouble sleeping because of James and Meowth's grumbling stomachs. She takes her loaf of bread, splits it three ways, and they all eat. There, they have a bit of heart-to-heart, in which they realize they can win this thing and become Team Rocket field agents and just band together.
The next day, the next part of the hike involves crossing a rickety bridge. Just as Jessie makes it to the other side, the bridge collapses. Jessie grabs a hold of Meowth, and James has a death grip on Meowth's tale. As James and Meowth dangle precariously over the raging river, James knows that Jessie isn't strong enough to haul them both up. Taking one for the team, James lets go and plummets into the river below.
We jump forward. James is recovering in the Team Rocket infirmary. Cassiday is gloating. And Jessie just feels sad for her new friend James. And that's when Viper gives them their final exam: break into a high-security installation and steal a rare red Snorlax. Cassiday goes on with her partner Butch, and Jessie will have to do it alone.
That night, our Team Rocket trainees begin their assault. Butch and Cassiday charge into the building, but Jessie holds back. She's realized that she can't do this alone. She needs her team. That's when Meowth and James - still bandaged - appear. James once again vows that he won't let the team down, and they charge forward.
Both teams evade all manner of traps until they make it to the top of the tower where the red Snorlax is being held. Butch and Cassiday are on one side of the room, Jessie, James and Meowth are on the other. Butch and Cassiday run forward towards the Snorlax, but a trap door opens and they go plummeting to their doom. James and Meowth run forwards, but Jessie holds back and yells a warning. "There may be more traps!" she says. James and Meowth stop and go, "Huh?" and a trap door opens up beneath their feet. Meowth is barely hanging onto the ledge. James has a death grip on Meowth's tale. Jessie is trying her best to pull the both of them up. Gee, does this sound familiar? James, once again trying to take one for the team, lets go of Meowth's tale. But this time, Meowth manages to scramble up onto the ledge, both he and Jessie grab a hold of James, and, by working together, Jessie and Meowth pull up James. Once they catch their breaths, they run forward to catch the Snorlax, but an alarm goes off. Time's up! They're just a few seconds too late. The Snorlax reveals itself to be Viper in disguise, and he says that their performance is now going to the review board.
the next day, Viper announces the findings of the review board. True, no one was able to achieve the goal of capturing the Snorlax. But, because of their exceptional teamwork, Jessie, James and Meowth are made Team Rocket field agents. Butch and Cassiday are givin the lesser title of "villains in training."
And thus, their happy career in villainy began!
So, I guess the day wasn't a total waste.
Bored bored bored.
Hmmm....
KA-BOOM!!
Sorry, just quoting a favourite Twisted ToyFare Theatre.
I managed to accomplish absolutly nothing today. Well, that's not true. I kept a fire going in the fireplace. But other than that, nothing.
Although, I did manage to catch Pokemon Chronicles. I love it, if only because it manages to successfully buck the pokemon formula. Today's episode, Training Daze, takes us back in time to how villains Jessie, James, and Meowth first met and became the top Team Rocket agents they are today.
It goes like this. We flash back several years to Team Rocket's boot camp. There, we meet Jessie. She seems to be doing OK in her training, but she just has one nasty problem: she tends to leave her partners behind to die. She's also developing a bit of a rivalry with fellow Team Rocket candidate Cassiday. Anyway, Jessie's about to wash out, but, because she does have some exceptional skills, she wins "one last chance."
Around this time, Meowth manages to sneak into the office of Giovanni, the leader of Team Rocket, and begins begging to be made an agent.
Jessie is introduced to her new partner, James. They don't hit it off too well at the beginning. Jessie still tends to leave people behind, but James puts up with it with a quiet dignity.
Around this time, we see that Meowth has forced himself upon Giovanni, and is trying to act as Giovanni's personal assistant. Fed up with Meowth once and for all, Giovanni re-assigns Meowth to the Viper - the Team Rocket drill instructor - and Viper asssigns Meowth to Jessie and James.
And thus begins the next test: a long, grueling hike through the wilderness. Each one is given only a loaf of bread and a bottle of water for rations. Meowth, naturally, consumes his right away.
The hike is long and hard. Jessie is charging on ahead, again leaving James and Meowth behind. Meowth is whining a lot, and James, in his quite, noble way, carries Meowth. When Meowth gets hungry again, James even offers up his rations without a thought.
That night, at their camp, Jessie's having trouble sleeping because of James and Meowth's grumbling stomachs. She takes her loaf of bread, splits it three ways, and they all eat. There, they have a bit of heart-to-heart, in which they realize they can win this thing and become Team Rocket field agents and just band together.
The next day, the next part of the hike involves crossing a rickety bridge. Just as Jessie makes it to the other side, the bridge collapses. Jessie grabs a hold of Meowth, and James has a death grip on Meowth's tale. As James and Meowth dangle precariously over the raging river, James knows that Jessie isn't strong enough to haul them both up. Taking one for the team, James lets go and plummets into the river below.
We jump forward. James is recovering in the Team Rocket infirmary. Cassiday is gloating. And Jessie just feels sad for her new friend James. And that's when Viper gives them their final exam: break into a high-security installation and steal a rare red Snorlax. Cassiday goes on with her partner Butch, and Jessie will have to do it alone.
That night, our Team Rocket trainees begin their assault. Butch and Cassiday charge into the building, but Jessie holds back. She's realized that she can't do this alone. She needs her team. That's when Meowth and James - still bandaged - appear. James once again vows that he won't let the team down, and they charge forward.
Both teams evade all manner of traps until they make it to the top of the tower where the red Snorlax is being held. Butch and Cassiday are on one side of the room, Jessie, James and Meowth are on the other. Butch and Cassiday run forward towards the Snorlax, but a trap door opens and they go plummeting to their doom. James and Meowth run forwards, but Jessie holds back and yells a warning. "There may be more traps!" she says. James and Meowth stop and go, "Huh?" and a trap door opens up beneath their feet. Meowth is barely hanging onto the ledge. James has a death grip on Meowth's tale. Jessie is trying her best to pull the both of them up. Gee, does this sound familiar? James, once again trying to take one for the team, lets go of Meowth's tale. But this time, Meowth manages to scramble up onto the ledge, both he and Jessie grab a hold of James, and, by working together, Jessie and Meowth pull up James. Once they catch their breaths, they run forward to catch the Snorlax, but an alarm goes off. Time's up! They're just a few seconds too late. The Snorlax reveals itself to be Viper in disguise, and he says that their performance is now going to the review board.
the next day, Viper announces the findings of the review board. True, no one was able to achieve the goal of capturing the Snorlax. But, because of their exceptional teamwork, Jessie, James and Meowth are made Team Rocket field agents. Butch and Cassiday are givin the lesser title of "villains in training."
And thus, their happy career in villainy began!
So, I guess the day wasn't a total waste.
Friday, November 25, 2005
I bought stamps today.
They're fance snowman stamps, which I will use when I send out my Christmas cards!
Yes, I'm making up a Christmas card list and sending out Christmas cards this year. I love sending letters and postcards, I don't know why I didn't do this earlier! I should actually sit down this weekend and physically make the list, so that way I'll be ready.
Would you like to be on the list? Just send me an e-mail and let me know your snail mail address.
Once I figure out exactly how many cards I'll need, then I'll run out and buy a box. Hopefully, first week in December, they'll be in the mail!
They're fance snowman stamps, which I will use when I send out my Christmas cards!
Yes, I'm making up a Christmas card list and sending out Christmas cards this year. I love sending letters and postcards, I don't know why I didn't do this earlier! I should actually sit down this weekend and physically make the list, so that way I'll be ready.
Would you like to be on the list? Just send me an e-mail and let me know your snail mail address.
Once I figure out exactly how many cards I'll need, then I'll run out and buy a box. Hopefully, first week in December, they'll be in the mail!
Thursday, November 24, 2005
I can't go to stores anymore without feeling sad.
I was browsing through HMV and the whole experience just depressed me. See, back in the day of, o, about three years ago when I was gainfully employed, I loved DVDs. I loved buying DVDs. It was not unusual for me to blow half my paycheque on DVDs. "Ehh, I don't need to buy groceries. If I carefully ration the ramen, it'll last another two weeks." And I'd walk out with whatever the latest special edition was.
But now, with unemployment, I just can't buy as many DVDs as I once did. One every two months if I'm lucky. So I just get very sad when I'm browsing through HMV or Future Shop. So many DVDs I want, but so little money....
I swear, when I get my first radio job, that first paycheque is going to vanish after one afternoon at Future Shop.
Besides, I shouldn't complain too much. This is about the time of year that I stop buying things for myself anyway. Actually, I suggest everyone do this. When the Christmas shopping season comes, just stop buying stuff for yourself. Two reasons why:
1) If you buy yourself all the stuff you want, there'll be nothing left for me to give you for Christmas.
2) If you buy all the stuff you want, you'll have no money left to buy ME a present.
So, I stop buying things for me, that way I have money to buy you stuff, and there's stuff for you to buy me. It's win-win.
But I still love my West Edmonton Mall. I noticed something weird today.
West Edmonton Mall is getting a third sex shop.
Now, you're probably thinking, "How the hell does Mark know West Edmonton Mall has TWO sex shops?"
Easy. WEM's two sex shops are on the short list of "mainstays," that is shops that have existed in the same place ever since I first started hanging out at WEM 20 years ago. It's a very short list, and the two sex shops are on it. And I only went browsing in one of them once, mainly because my curiosity finally got the better of me.
And it's not like I went looking for this third sex shop. It's very easy to spot. It has massive signs out front..."Coming soon, THE HUSTLER STORE!! Canada's first HUSTLER STORE opening soon! Now hiring staff for THE HUSTLER STORE!"
Granted, I'm just assuming it's a sex shop, as I'm assuming it's related to the Hustler publication.
Anyway, just thought I'd share.
I was browsing through HMV and the whole experience just depressed me. See, back in the day of, o, about three years ago when I was gainfully employed, I loved DVDs. I loved buying DVDs. It was not unusual for me to blow half my paycheque on DVDs. "Ehh, I don't need to buy groceries. If I carefully ration the ramen, it'll last another two weeks." And I'd walk out with whatever the latest special edition was.
But now, with unemployment, I just can't buy as many DVDs as I once did. One every two months if I'm lucky. So I just get very sad when I'm browsing through HMV or Future Shop. So many DVDs I want, but so little money....
I swear, when I get my first radio job, that first paycheque is going to vanish after one afternoon at Future Shop.
Besides, I shouldn't complain too much. This is about the time of year that I stop buying things for myself anyway. Actually, I suggest everyone do this. When the Christmas shopping season comes, just stop buying stuff for yourself. Two reasons why:
1) If you buy yourself all the stuff you want, there'll be nothing left for me to give you for Christmas.
2) If you buy all the stuff you want, you'll have no money left to buy ME a present.
So, I stop buying things for me, that way I have money to buy you stuff, and there's stuff for you to buy me. It's win-win.
But I still love my West Edmonton Mall. I noticed something weird today.
West Edmonton Mall is getting a third sex shop.
Now, you're probably thinking, "How the hell does Mark know West Edmonton Mall has TWO sex shops?"
Easy. WEM's two sex shops are on the short list of "mainstays," that is shops that have existed in the same place ever since I first started hanging out at WEM 20 years ago. It's a very short list, and the two sex shops are on it. And I only went browsing in one of them once, mainly because my curiosity finally got the better of me.
And it's not like I went looking for this third sex shop. It's very easy to spot. It has massive signs out front..."Coming soon, THE HUSTLER STORE!! Canada's first HUSTLER STORE opening soon! Now hiring staff for THE HUSTLER STORE!"
Granted, I'm just assuming it's a sex shop, as I'm assuming it's related to the Hustler publication.
Anyway, just thought I'd share.
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
I love watching the news. Premier Ralph Klein is my favourite sitcom character.
For those who don't care, Klein has spent the past few days on a speaking tour of the Eastern provinces and the Maritimes, with stops in Ottawa, Quebec City, and Halifax. The speeches he's giving have to do with how Alberta's incredibly large suprlus benefits all Canadians. The Alberta press has jokingly dubbed it the "Don't hate us because we're rich" tour.
But, that hasn't been the main focus of the tour. No. Before he left, Klein was asked what he'd do if reporters along the way asked him about Alberta's "Third Way." (ie the plan to privative healthcare.) Klein infamously responded, "I cannot tell a lie. If they ask me about it, I will give honest answers."
So, guess what Klein's been asked about non-stop on his trip? And, he answers every question the same way. "I don't know. We haven't worked that out yet."
And now, what happened today. It's looking more and more like we're going to have a Christmas election. When asked about the federal election, Klein said that, beyond the shadow of a doubt, this next election will bring about...another Liberal minority.
The federal Conservatives are already gritting their teeth. Klein has promised to help the federal Conservatives in their campaign, but when Klien goes spouting off about how Conservatives are more friendly towards private health care, or like today with his "the Liberals will win another minority" claim, the Conservatives really wish Klein would stop "helping" them.
Today, Deputy Conservative Leader Peter Mackay was asked how the federal Conservatives would get Klein to stop "helping."
Mackay's answer? "Duct tape."
By the way, the opposition parties are going to table their motion of non-confidence tomorrow. The house votes on it on Monday. Which all means, odds are, the election campaign begins on Tuesday.
I'm going to get a lawn sign for every candidate again. This time, I'm going to hang my Christmas lights on them.
For those who don't care, Klein has spent the past few days on a speaking tour of the Eastern provinces and the Maritimes, with stops in Ottawa, Quebec City, and Halifax. The speeches he's giving have to do with how Alberta's incredibly large suprlus benefits all Canadians. The Alberta press has jokingly dubbed it the "Don't hate us because we're rich" tour.
But, that hasn't been the main focus of the tour. No. Before he left, Klein was asked what he'd do if reporters along the way asked him about Alberta's "Third Way." (ie the plan to privative healthcare.) Klein infamously responded, "I cannot tell a lie. If they ask me about it, I will give honest answers."
So, guess what Klein's been asked about non-stop on his trip? And, he answers every question the same way. "I don't know. We haven't worked that out yet."
And now, what happened today. It's looking more and more like we're going to have a Christmas election. When asked about the federal election, Klein said that, beyond the shadow of a doubt, this next election will bring about...another Liberal minority.
The federal Conservatives are already gritting their teeth. Klein has promised to help the federal Conservatives in their campaign, but when Klien goes spouting off about how Conservatives are more friendly towards private health care, or like today with his "the Liberals will win another minority" claim, the Conservatives really wish Klein would stop "helping" them.
Today, Deputy Conservative Leader Peter Mackay was asked how the federal Conservatives would get Klein to stop "helping."
Mackay's answer? "Duct tape."
By the way, the opposition parties are going to table their motion of non-confidence tomorrow. The house votes on it on Monday. Which all means, odds are, the election campaign begins on Tuesday.
I'm going to get a lawn sign for every candidate again. This time, I'm going to hang my Christmas lights on them.
Bad News: Kevin Smith was supposed to be in Edmonton last night.
Good News: It's been re-scheduled to February 6, and my tickets are still good.
Better News: At his official website, Kevin Smith mentioned that, when he does show up in Edmonton, he'll have Clerks 2 footage to show off.
Best News: Today's Edmonton Journal announced that Smith will be joined by none other than Jay, better known as Jason Mewes.
Other Kevin Smith tidbits: He finished production on Clerks 2 back on Friday, he's been editing the film as he filmed and he's about half-done editing already, and the final budget came in at a scant $5 million.
Good News: It's been re-scheduled to February 6, and my tickets are still good.
Better News: At his official website, Kevin Smith mentioned that, when he does show up in Edmonton, he'll have Clerks 2 footage to show off.
Best News: Today's Edmonton Journal announced that Smith will be joined by none other than Jay, better known as Jason Mewes.
Other Kevin Smith tidbits: He finished production on Clerks 2 back on Friday, he's been editing the film as he filmed and he's about half-done editing already, and the final budget came in at a scant $5 million.
Tuesday, November 22, 2005
Got some cool DVD news I'd like to share.
It looks like March 7, 2006 is the day that Disney will release Wave 4 of their dubbed Studio Ghibli films. Wave 4 will consist of:
Howl's Moving Castle - Hayao Miyazaki's latest epic. I saw it back in the summer and it was pretty good.
My Neighbour Totoro - The film that put Miyazaki on the map as a filmmaker, as it was the first one to get a major North American release. (Way back in 1993.) Sadly, this DVD won't contain the original 1993 dub, but an all new Disney produced dub.
Whispers of the Heart - Ghibli's 1995 film, directed by Yoshifumi Kondu, with a screenplay by Miyazaki. A shy young girl meets a walking, talking cat and this helps her come out of her shell. Ghibli's 2002 film The Cat Returns was actually a sequel to this, and The Cat Returns was part of Disney's Studio Ghibli Wave 2, which came out back in the spring.
There's no word yet on bonus materials but, based on Disney's past Studio Ghibli releases, we can expect the animatics for the whole film, a featurette on the dubbing process, and the original, uncut Japanese language tracks.
Got some other Studio Ghibli bits:
- The Studio Ghibli Museum is about to premiere three brand new exclusive animated short films. Each one was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. All three premiere on January 3, and the only place on Earth you can see them is at the Studio Ghibli Museum.
- The next film from Studio Ghibli will be directed by Miyazaki, but not the one you think. The next Ghibli opus will be directed by Goro Miyazaki, son of the legendary Hayao Miyazaki. The junior Miyazaki was originally a landscape architect, and his last job was director of the Studio Ghibli Museum. The senior Miyazaki is apparently none too pleased that his son has decided to follow in his footsteps.
It looks like March 7, 2006 is the day that Disney will release Wave 4 of their dubbed Studio Ghibli films. Wave 4 will consist of:
Howl's Moving Castle - Hayao Miyazaki's latest epic. I saw it back in the summer and it was pretty good.
My Neighbour Totoro - The film that put Miyazaki on the map as a filmmaker, as it was the first one to get a major North American release. (Way back in 1993.) Sadly, this DVD won't contain the original 1993 dub, but an all new Disney produced dub.
Whispers of the Heart - Ghibli's 1995 film, directed by Yoshifumi Kondu, with a screenplay by Miyazaki. A shy young girl meets a walking, talking cat and this helps her come out of her shell. Ghibli's 2002 film The Cat Returns was actually a sequel to this, and The Cat Returns was part of Disney's Studio Ghibli Wave 2, which came out back in the spring.
There's no word yet on bonus materials but, based on Disney's past Studio Ghibli releases, we can expect the animatics for the whole film, a featurette on the dubbing process, and the original, uncut Japanese language tracks.
Got some other Studio Ghibli bits:
- The Studio Ghibli Museum is about to premiere three brand new exclusive animated short films. Each one was written and directed by Hayao Miyazaki. All three premiere on January 3, and the only place on Earth you can see them is at the Studio Ghibli Museum.
- The next film from Studio Ghibli will be directed by Miyazaki, but not the one you think. The next Ghibli opus will be directed by Goro Miyazaki, son of the legendary Hayao Miyazaki. The junior Miyazaki was originally a landscape architect, and his last job was director of the Studio Ghibli Museum. The senior Miyazaki is apparently none too pleased that his son has decided to follow in his footsteps.
Bloo>> Well, let's just spice this up, like how I spiced up Taco Nite last week!
(quick cut of a group of imaginary friends, flames coming out of their mouths, and screaming in pain)
Mr. Harriman>> That was you?
Bloo>> Yeah. Heh heh.
Mr. Harriman>> But...but...we thought it was Johnny Buttons!
Bloo>> I set it up so you'd think that. I framed him.
Mr. Harriman>> We had him deported....
Bloo>> I know! He still sends me postcards!
(Bloo hands Mr. Harriman a postcard. Mr. Harriman reads it. The message is made up of letters cut out from a magazine and reads "I will get you.")
Ya know, I wasn't too keen on Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends when I first watched it, but it's really started to grow on me.
Here's some cool news.
Sony announced on Friday that they've just burned their first ever Blu-Ray DVD! (Blu-Ray, as you know, is Sony's next generation of DVD; the rival format is Toshiba's HD-DVD). Now, for this new format, this new disc that can hold 25G of information and provide a much higher quality picture and better sound, what film did they choose?
Sony just bought out MGM...perhaps it was some classic like Lawrence of Arabia or Gone with the Wind. No.
Perhaps it was one of Sony's recent blockbusters, like Spider-Man. No.
So, what movie has the honour of being the first film released into the next generation of DVD?
Charlie's Angels: Full Throtle.
Wow. Just wow. To quote a favourite line from Family Guy, "You've screwed that up so spectacularly that we're just going to move on."
But, on the bright side, all those non-Sony companies that are building Blu-Ray players now have something to test their machines.
The format war begins in the spring.
(quick cut of a group of imaginary friends, flames coming out of their mouths, and screaming in pain)
Mr. Harriman>> That was you?
Bloo>> Yeah. Heh heh.
Mr. Harriman>> But...but...we thought it was Johnny Buttons!
Bloo>> I set it up so you'd think that. I framed him.
Mr. Harriman>> We had him deported....
Bloo>> I know! He still sends me postcards!
(Bloo hands Mr. Harriman a postcard. Mr. Harriman reads it. The message is made up of letters cut out from a magazine and reads "I will get you.")
Ya know, I wasn't too keen on Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends when I first watched it, but it's really started to grow on me.
Here's some cool news.
Sony announced on Friday that they've just burned their first ever Blu-Ray DVD! (Blu-Ray, as you know, is Sony's next generation of DVD; the rival format is Toshiba's HD-DVD). Now, for this new format, this new disc that can hold 25G of information and provide a much higher quality picture and better sound, what film did they choose?
Sony just bought out MGM...perhaps it was some classic like Lawrence of Arabia or Gone with the Wind. No.
Perhaps it was one of Sony's recent blockbusters, like Spider-Man. No.
So, what movie has the honour of being the first film released into the next generation of DVD?
Charlie's Angels: Full Throtle.
Wow. Just wow. To quote a favourite line from Family Guy, "You've screwed that up so spectacularly that we're just going to move on."
But, on the bright side, all those non-Sony companies that are building Blu-Ray players now have something to test their machines.
The format war begins in the spring.
Monday, November 21, 2005
Well, I'm back from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I rather enjoyed it. 3 Nibs. Full review coming later.
Although, I must say, that I am now more than ever interested in reading the books. About 5 years ago, when I first heard about The Philosopher's Stone coming to the big screen, Goblet of Fire had just come out, and people were marveling at this "kids book" with over 600 pages. With Hollywood starting to adapt Harry Potter, the one question on everyone's mind was, "With over 600 pages, how the hell are the going to adapt Goblet of Fire?" Several people - including Steve Kloves, the screenwriter for all the films - were lobbying that Goblet of Fire be divided into two films. But, ultimatly, Warner Brothers said no, and firmly asserted that one book makes one movie.
So, I've got to read the book now, just to know what all was cut.
Although, I must say, that I am now more than ever interested in reading the books. About 5 years ago, when I first heard about The Philosopher's Stone coming to the big screen, Goblet of Fire had just come out, and people were marveling at this "kids book" with over 600 pages. With Hollywood starting to adapt Harry Potter, the one question on everyone's mind was, "With over 600 pages, how the hell are the going to adapt Goblet of Fire?" Several people - including Steve Kloves, the screenwriter for all the films - were lobbying that Goblet of Fire be divided into two films. But, ultimatly, Warner Brothers said no, and firmly asserted that one book makes one movie.
So, I've got to read the book now, just to know what all was cut.
Hello!
Just wanted to take a minute to tell you that it's World Hello Day! How you celebrate is quite simple: throughout this day, say "Hello!" to 10 people.
World Hello Day was started in 1973, at the end of a conflict between Isreal and Egypt. It's believed that, if you take the time to say "Hello" to your neighbours, you will open the lines of communication and thus help spread peace.
So, help spread peace! Say Hello!
And now, I am off to Edmonton to deliver soil samples to the lab, say "Hello" to a few people, and maybe, just maybe, see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
(Ya know, I always wished that the Harry Potter movies would follow the lead of the James Bond movies. Somewhere, in the end credits of Goblet of Fire I hope to see these words: The End of 'The Goblet of Fire' but Harry Potter will return in 'The Order of the Phoenix.')
Just wanted to take a minute to tell you that it's World Hello Day! How you celebrate is quite simple: throughout this day, say "Hello!" to 10 people.
World Hello Day was started in 1973, at the end of a conflict between Isreal and Egypt. It's believed that, if you take the time to say "Hello" to your neighbours, you will open the lines of communication and thus help spread peace.
So, help spread peace! Say Hello!
And now, I am off to Edmonton to deliver soil samples to the lab, say "Hello" to a few people, and maybe, just maybe, see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
(Ya know, I always wished that the Harry Potter movies would follow the lead of the James Bond movies. Somewhere, in the end credits of Goblet of Fire I hope to see these words: The End of 'The Goblet of Fire' but Harry Potter will return in 'The Order of the Phoenix.')
Sunday, November 20, 2005
Why am I the only one who finds this weather unnerving? It's the final half of November, almost a month until Christmas, yet there's no snow, the grass is still green, and today, the temperature hit 12 degrees. I seem to be the only one in Alberta who finds this odd....
Anyway, latest column's up! this week, it's Red, Blue, Green, Gold:
" What’s that, you say? The house with the most points? Did Mark go to Hogwarts when he was boy? No, I’m no wizard. Long before it was popularized in Harry Potter, Entwistle School was divided into houses. It was drilled into me on my very first day of the first grade. As soon as you walked through the front door, you were greeted with a massive board telling you about the four houses and how many points each one had. And each one was named for a colour: Red, Blue, Green, and Gold. "
Read it all!
Anyway, latest column's up! this week, it's Red, Blue, Green, Gold:
" What’s that, you say? The house with the most points? Did Mark go to Hogwarts when he was boy? No, I’m no wizard. Long before it was popularized in Harry Potter, Entwistle School was divided into houses. It was drilled into me on my very first day of the first grade. As soon as you walked through the front door, you were greeted with a massive board telling you about the four houses and how many points each one had. And each one was named for a colour: Red, Blue, Green, and Gold. "
Read it all!
Friday, November 18, 2005
God, this is a frustrating day. We're going through some very high winds right now. I know Xplornet claims that the weather doesn't affect the wireless high-speeed Internet, but I swear, we only have problems when the wind picks up.
Anyway, SUPERMAN!!
The first teaser for Bryan Singer's Superman Returns is up and online. I downloaded it last night, you know, before the winds, so I've watched it over and over and over and I'm just geeking out and June 30 can't get here soon enough.
It's a simple teaser...just some iconic shots with recycled music from the original movie and recycled dialogue from the original movie providing the voice over.
But oh, if the film's as good as the iconic shots, then this is going to rock!
Oh, and picking up on yesterday's entry about the films that qualify for Best Animated Film. I said I didn't know anything about that Gulliver's Travels film. Well, today, I found out a little more. Turns out that it's a computer animated film from India, and that it's only played at an art house theatre in LA. Apparently, that's enough to get it to qualify.
Anyway, SUPERMAN!!
The first teaser for Bryan Singer's Superman Returns is up and online. I downloaded it last night, you know, before the winds, so I've watched it over and over and over and I'm just geeking out and June 30 can't get here soon enough.
It's a simple teaser...just some iconic shots with recycled music from the original movie and recycled dialogue from the original movie providing the voice over.
But oh, if the film's as good as the iconic shots, then this is going to rock!
Oh, and picking up on yesterday's entry about the films that qualify for Best Animated Film. I said I didn't know anything about that Gulliver's Travels film. Well, today, I found out a little more. Turns out that it's a computer animated film from India, and that it's only played at an art house theatre in LA. Apparently, that's enough to get it to qualify.
Thursday, November 17, 2005
Hey! Here's something that almost slipped by me. The Academy Awards folks have come forward and revealed that these are all the films released this year that qualify for the Best Animated Film Oscar:
Chicken Little - Disney's first CGI movie, in theaters now!
Gulliver's Travel - I can find no information on this movie.
Hoodwinked - More on this further down
Howl's Moving Castle - Hayao Miayazaki's latest
Madagascar - Dreamwork's latest
Robots - Blue Sky's latest; came out in the spring
Steamboy - The latest from the guy who did Akira, but sadly not as good.
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride - Good, but not Oscar worthy.
Valiant - Did ANYBODY see this in the theatre?
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit - Considered to be the front runner, cuz Oscar just loves Wallace and Gromit.
So, we know the drill. This will be narrowed down to three nominations, which will be announced with ALL the other Oscar nominations in January. And then, the Oscars will be on TV at the end of February.
Now, welcome to "further down." You may remember I did my CGI Scorecard column a few weeks back, well, here's a few other CGI films on the horizon that should be noted:
Hoodwinked - This one comes out in December. It's actually an independent film. It was picked up by the Weinstein Company, re-dubbed with a big name voice cast, and is getting a nation-wide release. It's a sarcastic (ie Shrek-like) retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. The plot: we all know the climax of Little Red Riding Hood, where Red Riding Hood is being chased around by the wolf, the wolf is being chased by the heroic woodsman, and granny's locked in the closet. Well, in this film, at this point the police come in, calm everyone down, and then try to sort out what happened. Each character then tells the tale of Little Red Riding Hood...from their point of view. Could be interesting, but I've seen the trailer, and its low budget indie roots still shine through.
Happy Feet - You knew it was just a matter of time before Warner Brothers got into the computer animation field. This is their first product, coming out November 2006, but the teaser will be in front of Harry Potter this Friday, and went online yesterday. It's nothing but singing and dancing penguins. Although, it has a good pedigree. The guy behind this one is George Miller, the Aussie director who gave us the Mad Max films for the grown-ups and the Babe films for the young-uns.
Chicken Little - Disney's first CGI movie, in theaters now!
Gulliver's Travel - I can find no information on this movie.
Hoodwinked - More on this further down
Howl's Moving Castle - Hayao Miayazaki's latest
Madagascar - Dreamwork's latest
Robots - Blue Sky's latest; came out in the spring
Steamboy - The latest from the guy who did Akira, but sadly not as good.
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride - Good, but not Oscar worthy.
Valiant - Did ANYBODY see this in the theatre?
Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit - Considered to be the front runner, cuz Oscar just loves Wallace and Gromit.
So, we know the drill. This will be narrowed down to three nominations, which will be announced with ALL the other Oscar nominations in January. And then, the Oscars will be on TV at the end of February.
Now, welcome to "further down." You may remember I did my CGI Scorecard column a few weeks back, well, here's a few other CGI films on the horizon that should be noted:
Hoodwinked - This one comes out in December. It's actually an independent film. It was picked up by the Weinstein Company, re-dubbed with a big name voice cast, and is getting a nation-wide release. It's a sarcastic (ie Shrek-like) retelling of Little Red Riding Hood. The plot: we all know the climax of Little Red Riding Hood, where Red Riding Hood is being chased around by the wolf, the wolf is being chased by the heroic woodsman, and granny's locked in the closet. Well, in this film, at this point the police come in, calm everyone down, and then try to sort out what happened. Each character then tells the tale of Little Red Riding Hood...from their point of view. Could be interesting, but I've seen the trailer, and its low budget indie roots still shine through.
Happy Feet - You knew it was just a matter of time before Warner Brothers got into the computer animation field. This is their first product, coming out November 2006, but the teaser will be in front of Harry Potter this Friday, and went online yesterday. It's nothing but singing and dancing penguins. Although, it has a good pedigree. The guy behind this one is George Miller, the Aussie director who gave us the Mad Max films for the grown-ups and the Babe films for the young-uns.
Yay! Kevin Smith is returning to Degrassi: The Next Generation!
See, for those who missed it, Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes were special guest stars on Degrassi back in the spring. It was a 3-episode arc in which Smith came to Canada to film his latest movie Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh?. They were filming on location at Degrassi, and thus got mixed up in all the school kids lives. It was just released on DVD under the title Jay and Silent Bob do Degrassi, which makes a wonderful Christmas present for the Kevin Smith fan in your life.
(In case you're intersted, the plot of Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh? was that Jay and Silent Bob never finished high school. And the only high school that would accept them now was in Canada. So, they were off to the Great White North to get their diplomas.)
Anyway, Smith and Mewes will be back in a two-parter, airing on the 28th and December 5. The plot this time is that Smith and Mewes return to Degrassi for the premiere of Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh?, and thus get to tie up all the loose ends from their original arc.
Oh, and here's another bit of Kevin Smith news. With podcasting being the big thing right now, there's even a Kevin Smith-sponsored podcast dedicated to pop culture and what the Kevin Smith regulars are currently doing in it. It's called Radio Askew. I listened to a bit of it the other day, and it opens with a sound clip from Dogma. It's Metatron, warning everyone that God's about to speak:
"Anyone who's not already dead or from another plain of existence would do best to cover their ears...right about now!"
I heard that and could only think one thing: "How come I never thought of using that?"
See, for those who missed it, Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes were special guest stars on Degrassi back in the spring. It was a 3-episode arc in which Smith came to Canada to film his latest movie Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh?. They were filming on location at Degrassi, and thus got mixed up in all the school kids lives. It was just released on DVD under the title Jay and Silent Bob do Degrassi, which makes a wonderful Christmas present for the Kevin Smith fan in your life.
(In case you're intersted, the plot of Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh? was that Jay and Silent Bob never finished high school. And the only high school that would accept them now was in Canada. So, they were off to the Great White North to get their diplomas.)
Anyway, Smith and Mewes will be back in a two-parter, airing on the 28th and December 5. The plot this time is that Smith and Mewes return to Degrassi for the premiere of Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh?, and thus get to tie up all the loose ends from their original arc.
Oh, and here's another bit of Kevin Smith news. With podcasting being the big thing right now, there's even a Kevin Smith-sponsored podcast dedicated to pop culture and what the Kevin Smith regulars are currently doing in it. It's called Radio Askew. I listened to a bit of it the other day, and it opens with a sound clip from Dogma. It's Metatron, warning everyone that God's about to speak:
"Anyone who's not already dead or from another plain of existence would do best to cover their ears...right about now!"
I heard that and could only think one thing: "How come I never thought of using that?"
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Well, I just wasted an hour.
I finally found a website that had all of Gotham Girls archived.
For those who don't remember, you have to cast your mind back to 2000. "Internet content" was the big buzz word, and everyone and their brother was making Flash cartoons for their websites. Gotham Girls was a contribution from Warner Brothers Animation.
Made by a lot of the same creative staff from Batman: The Animated Series, Gotham Girls focused on the female characters from Gotham City. You'd have Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn engaging in Odd Couple hijinks, Catwoman doing her thing, and then Batgirl swooping in and kicking everyone's ass. The sorceress Zatanna even popped up for a few episodes. Each episode was about 3 minutes long, and they even got the same voice actors from Batman: The Animated Series.
It ran for 3 seasons (2000, 2001, 2002), with 10 episodes in each season. For season 3, they went all out and it was essentially a 10-part episode. It even spawned a 5-issue mini-series from DC comics.
I discovered it late in season 2, and even then, I was reluctant to watch it because of slow downloading on dial-up.
So I just wasted the past hour watching all of season 1 and what I missed in season 2. It's crudly animated...I mean, 5 year old Flash animation, it's expected. But it's still quite entertaining.
And what's this wonderful archive? Why, it's the Wikipedia entry for Gotham Girls!
Or, you can go to the official Gotham Girls website, but they only have season 3 archived for you.
I finally found a website that had all of Gotham Girls archived.
For those who don't remember, you have to cast your mind back to 2000. "Internet content" was the big buzz word, and everyone and their brother was making Flash cartoons for their websites. Gotham Girls was a contribution from Warner Brothers Animation.
Made by a lot of the same creative staff from Batman: The Animated Series, Gotham Girls focused on the female characters from Gotham City. You'd have Poison Ivy and Harley Quinn engaging in Odd Couple hijinks, Catwoman doing her thing, and then Batgirl swooping in and kicking everyone's ass. The sorceress Zatanna even popped up for a few episodes. Each episode was about 3 minutes long, and they even got the same voice actors from Batman: The Animated Series.
It ran for 3 seasons (2000, 2001, 2002), with 10 episodes in each season. For season 3, they went all out and it was essentially a 10-part episode. It even spawned a 5-issue mini-series from DC comics.
I discovered it late in season 2, and even then, I was reluctant to watch it because of slow downloading on dial-up.
So I just wasted the past hour watching all of season 1 and what I missed in season 2. It's crudly animated...I mean, 5 year old Flash animation, it's expected. But it's still quite entertaining.
And what's this wonderful archive? Why, it's the Wikipedia entry for Gotham Girls!
Or, you can go to the official Gotham Girls website, but they only have season 3 archived for you.
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