The halfway point marks a dramatic change in the competition – there was a girls group and guys group dance, new partnerships, and everyone dancing a solo. The voting also under went a change, with the judging panel bowing out leaving America to vote for individuals instead of partners.
Foxconn(/Apple) death
I just stumbled across this news item on Gizmodo: An employee of Foxconn, the Chinese company that builds iPhones for Apple, has, according to reports, “apparently” committed suicide after a shipment of iPhone prototypes came up one short in shipping. This after being abused by security officials following the event. Not only is it tragic, but it’s also strange: one of the Gizmodo items says that Chinese police are still calling this an ‘apparent suicide’ despite having the incident – he fell from the 14th floor of his building – on video.
Gizmodo items:
Death by iPhone
Foxconn iPhone Suicide: Chinese Police Now Investigating Murder
Perspective on the iPhone Suicide: Guy Died Over a F*&#ing PHONE
TV Review: Merlin S1, Episode 1: “The Dragon’s Call”
Buy MERLIN – Series 1 Vol. 1 (BBC Series) [NON-USA Format / Import / Region 2 / PAL]
As someone who is an avid attendee of renaissance festivals, I am fairly well versed in the realm of knights, jousting, magic, and dragons. Merlin was a show I was eagerly awaiting for some time, and it (mostly) did not disappoint.
(Spoilers after the jump)
Sunset Strip Music Festival Sept. 10 – 12
Dying for some live music this fall in Los Angeles? Check out the Sunset Strip Music Festival featuring CHRIS CORNELL, PEPPER, KOTTONMOUTH KINGS, LMFAO, SHWAYZE, SHINY TOY GUNS, UNWRITTEN LAW, THE DONNAS, FISHBONE, IGLU & HARTLY, LIVING THINGS, THE RINGERS, THE PRICKS, NICO STAI and THENEWNO2. The Festival takes place at famous LA venues like the Cat Club, House of Blues, Key Club, The Roxy Theatre, Viper Room and Whisky A Go-Go. They’re also doing the first street fest on the legendary Sunset Strip.
Tickets go on sale this Friday, July 24 via Ticketmaster. Street festival tickets are available for a special three-day sale rate of $35 through July 26. Beginning July 27, tickets will be $39.50.
If you’re in Los Angeles, make sure to check out Shiny Toy Guns, I absolutely love them. If you’re not in LA buy their album Season of Poison
Preview of the “LOST” Auction at this year’s Comic-Con!
PROFILES IN HISTORY TO OFFER A SNEAK PREVIEW OF THE “LOST” AUCTION AT THIS YEAR’S SAN DIEGO COMIC CON
Original Props, Costumes And Set Pieces From The Hit ABC Television Series “LOST” To Be On Display July 23-26, 2009
Calabasas, CA, July 21, 2009- Fans of the hit television show LOST will be getting a sneak preview. No, they can’t see it on TV, but they CAN see it at Comic Con!
ABC is pleased to announce the “LOST” Auction will take place after the series finale in May 2010. “In celebration of our fans around the world, Profiles in History has been selected to auction a selection of original props, set pieces, costumes and collectors’ artifacts from the entire series in order to give our fans a chance to own a piece of one of the greatest, most iconic shows in history. A first look at some of these items will take place at this year’s San Diego Comic Con.”
Profiles in History, the world’s largest Hollywood memorabilia auctioneer, will host this four-day sneak preview at booth #315 at the San Diego Comic Con July 23-26, and conduct this historic auction in May 2010. Kate’s toy plane, Hurley’s winning lottery ticket, Locke’s hunting knife, Sawyer’s letter, Charlie’s guitar, Mr. Eko’s club as well as other key props, costumes and set pieces from the first five seasons of LOST will be on display at Comic Con.
Profiles in History President, Joseph Maddalena: “Profiles in History is thrilled to be holding the LOST Auction. LOST is one of the most iconic TV shows ever created, and we are working in conjunction with ABC to offer fans from around the world an opportunity to own a memento of this amazing show. This is a once in a lifetime auction event that will celebrate one of the most beloved shows in television history.”
For more information about Profiles in History and to download complete catalogs from previous auctions, please visit HYPERLINK “http://www.profilesinhistory.com/” o “http://www.profilesinhistory.com/”www.profilesinhistory.com.
About Profiles in History:
Founded in 1985 by Joseph Maddalena, Profiles in History is the world’s leading auctioneer of Hollywood memorabilia. Profiles in History has held some of the most prestigious and successful auctions of Hollywood memorabilia. Their auctions include costumes, props and set pieces from both vintage and contemporary film, television, and rock ‘n roll. Profiles in History’s location in Calabasas Hills, CA- virtually a stone’s throw away from every major Hollywood studio – ensures a constant flow of fantastic and rare artifacts. With an extensive network of dealers, collectors, and public & private institutions, they are proud to play an important role in the preservation of motion picture history.
Prior Profiles in History Hollywood auctions highlights include the “Cowardly Lion” costume from The Wizard of Oz ($805,000); a full-scale model T-800 Endoskeleton from Terminator 2: Judgment Day ($488,750); a T.I.E. Fighter filming miniature from Star Wars ($402,500); a King Kong six-sheet movie poster ($345,000); the Command Chair from the “U.S.S. Enterprise” ($304,750); Harrison Ford’s hero blaster from Blade Runner ($258,750); the original “Robot” from Lost in Space ($264,500); Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber ($240,000); a Frankenstein one-sheet movie poster ($212,400); the Black Beauty car from The Green Hornet ($192,000); George Reeves’ Superman costume from The Adventures of Superman ($126,500); the H.R. Giger designed Alien creature suit from Alien ($126,500); a full-scale T-Rex head from Jurassic Park ($126,500), the Leaping Alien Warrior figure from Aliens ($126,500), Christopher Reeve’s ‘Superman’ costume from Superman: The Movie ($115,000), C-3PO’s helmet ($120,000), The Wizard of Oz ‘Winkie’ Guard Costume ($115,000); a “Ming the Merciless” cape from Flash Gordon ($115,000) and the Hydraulic screen-used Velociraptor from The Lost World: Jurassic Park II. ($115,000).
China bans shock therapy for Internet Addiction
A article posted to the Discover Magazine website relates how the Chinese government has banned the use of shock therapy in the treatment of Internet Addiction. This happened after local media had picked up the story stemming from events in a hospital in Shandong province. My ‘favorite’ line from the article (i.e. the most ironic): “In what might be an indication of the clinic’s effectiveness, its practices came to light when former patients when online to complain.” Also mentioned in the piece is a recent UK survey that resulted in a working definition of Internet addition, amidst the debate about whether or not this is a real syndrome. Go read – http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/07/15/china-bans-electroshock-therapy-for-internet-addiction/
Movie/DVD Review: The Monster Squad
Before Joss Whedon’s witty dialogue and smart, vulnerable characters, before Kevin Williamson’s sly, self aware pop culture references and before Edgar Wright’s good-natured poking at beloved horror classics there was Fred Dekker and Shane Black’s The Monster Squad!
Read More
Why You Should Watch the New Doctor Who
Doctor Who – The Complete First Series
You can’t spend much time in the SciFi community without hearing about the cult classic – Doctor Who. This British television series originally ran from 1963 to 1989 and is listed in the Guinness World Records as being the longest-running science fiction television show in the world. While there’s much to say about the first 8 doctors, this review is only going to focus on the 2005 relaunch of the series, affectionally known as the New Who. While it’s nice to see the original Doctor Who, it’s not necessary if you want to start with the more current series.
Doctor Who revolves around the adventures of a mysterious alien time-traveler known only as “the Doctor”. The Doctor travels in a blue 1950s police box which is, in reality, a space and time ship called the TARDIS. The Doctor can travel alone, but a majority of the series he has “a companion”. A usually human traveling with the Doctor through time and space aiding the Doctor in saving the universe, solving problems, fighting aliens and righting wrongs.
Experience the Fight for Humanity’s Survival Through the Eyes of the Cylons for the First Time Ever In Battlestar Galactica: The Plan
Television’s most thrilling science fiction adventure makes a stunning turnabout when Battlestar Galactica: The Plan debuts on Blu-rayTM Hi-Def and DVD on October 27, 2009 from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. For the first time ever, fans can experience the uncut and uncensored story of humanity’s futuristic fight for survival through the eyes of their deadly adversaries, the Cylons. This never-before-seen perspective of the Cylon plan reunites the series’ original television cast, including Emmy Award winner Edward James Olmos (Stand and Deliver), Dean Stockwell (JAG), Tricia Helfer (Burn Notice), Grace Park (The Cleaner) and Callum Keith Rennie (Californication). Ronald D. Moore and David Eick return as executive producers.
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan’s executive producer and writer Jane Espenson added, “Edward James Olmos was our director on the movie, and he did an amazing job. He also shot some great footage that we are not able to show on TV, so I’m thrilled that viewers can experience it uncut as our director envisioned it.”
Battlestar Galactica: The Plan includes the uncensored 90-minute feature and revealing bonus features that take viewers onto the set of the most unexpected twist ever in the intergalactic saga’s history. Interactive features available exclusively on Blu-rayTM Hi-Def include the new Battlestar Galactica Trivia Game, as well as Universal’s acclaimed U-CONTROLTM and BD-LiveTM experience. With Blu-rayTM Hi-Def, viewers can enjoy Battlestar Galactica: The Plan’s stunning visuals with perfect picture and the purest digital sound available.
Music Review: Sub Pop’s Cybersex Digital Sampler (2009) [CWG Review]
I’ve started doing some album reviews for CWG and I thought you guys might enjoy. Make sure to read the entire review over at CWG! – Tabz
Reviewing a compilation CD is a bit like reviewing a cheerleading squad. You have to not only score the relative hotness of each girl as an individual, but how they work together as a team. Then you must factor in things such as presentation, costumes and pep. So when I sat down to review Sub Pop’s Cybersex Digital Sampler (2009), I was a bit overwhelmed, but in a good way.
Sub Pop Records is a Prolific Seattle label that has a quirky, buck-the-system attitude to making music, as evidenced by their album. You won’t hear a sugary pop song on this album, but instead you’ll hear compelling lyrics, complex rhythms and tambourines. Yes, I’ve got a thing for tambourines, so sue me.
First up on the album is “Strictly Rule” by the band Vetiver. This is probably one of my favorite songs on the entire sampler. I love the incorporation of 70’s style rock with a smooth vocal that gives it a simple but profound sound. The lyrics are perfect and I love how they turn common phrases (“Once chased now this bitter taste as I swallow my pride…”).
Read More Over at Chicks with Guns.
Buy Tight Rope by Vetiver