Hello. Today we're exploring the weird world of 1970s cars. Why? Because--they were so entertaining. Well into the mid-80s, these cars were still surviving on California's temperate-climate roads. But now they're only viewable in the windmills of our minds--unless a neighbor happens to have one of these in the driveway (usually not driven much). Then it's a flashback to a strange, inventive time, where experimental, affordable vehicles were treated as viable transportation.
The AMC Pacer was wide. How wide? This wide:
This supposedly made it more stable, comfortable and cool. Unfortunately no one thought it was cool, except for my Aunt Maris, who had the wagon with the wood insets. It made a wide impression when she came to visit.
We would call this her "flying saucer" car. Because it looked almost as wide as long. This bummed her out, but we actually liked her Pacer. It is cool to try something new, even if it's extra wide. AutoMoments has an intriguing and thorough history of the Pacer here.
AMC again. This time it's the Gremlin. The Gremlin was infamous for looking like a piece of garbage on wheels. But it had a distinct little gremlin mascot logo, and as kids--we liked that. The car your kids want is probably not the car you should get. But they were cheap--real cheap. Don't see these much anymore (because they have all since disintegrated). They were once a fixture on California roads for many years, especially in lime green for some reason.
The Ford Pinto makes this TWO shitty cars in one commercial.
The Volkswagen Thing. You could change it up: take the top off, the doors and windows off, fold the windshield down. It seemed like more of Matchbox toy than an actual road-worthy vehicle. Still popular in Mexico and among collectors in Europe and the U.S.
For reasons known only to him, my dad once bought a turquoise Volkswagen Dasher station wagon. Although marketed as an affordable "family car," the back seat had metal springs that my brother and I could feel poking into our backs through the vinyl seats--like sitting against an old junkyard mattress. It had a permanent rattle too, resembling the sound of an open case of beer with the cans rolling around at all times.
My dad eventually gifted this car to me when I moved to San Francisco and having dealt with the corrupt Muni bus system at all hours of the day and night for two years straight, even the Dasher was an improvement. That permanent rattle was my entry into the wonderful world of car ownership. Eventually it couldn't pass a smog test, so I couldn't legally register it. I sold it to my friend Bill, who told me he had always wanted to buy a car for $100 even. That Dasher made his consumer dream come true.
This will give you an idea of the best-forgotten legacy of the VW Dasher. Tagline: "Volkswagen Does It Again." Yes, they certainly have.
Here's a manual wagon with the AM/FM stereo option in the much sought-after "crusty-egg yolk" color scheme. Apparently someone forgot it was in their garage because it only has 22,000 miles on it.
I'm going to get an angry comment for this, but the 70s-era Chevy El Camino car-truck is still completely weird-looking to me. Why make a truck with the body of a car? Just admit you're driving a truck, confused car-consumer. There's a solid-brown one of these in a driveway near my kid's school and every morning when I pass by, I think: that's one weird utility-vehicle concept. Anyway, I kind of like these too because the resemble a child's model-car experiment gone awry--except they're REAL.
Update: Took the kid to see "Cars 2" today. Imagine our surprise to find a lime-green Pacer, a tangerine Gremlin and a much-maligned Hugo all have prominent roles in the Pixar sequel. John Lassiter remembers the 70s well.
Filtered through the brain cells of Lisa McElroy
Monday, June 27, 2011
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
New Santigold will be here any minute now
OK--well, actually Santigold has promised to release her second album in the fall. And so we patiently wait. New release (featuring Karen O):
This calls for a celebratory Santigold dance party!
I'm not going to lie. I completely stole all this information from ONTD, a main source of entertainment news.
This calls for a celebratory Santigold dance party!
I'm not going to lie. I completely stole all this information from ONTD, a main source of entertainment news.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Marta Thoma Hall - Journey of a Bottle at the Walnut Creek Library
This amazing sculpture by Marta Thoma Hall resides in the stairwell of the new library in Walnut Creek, California. It is always enriching to look up as you climb the stairs to see how the bottles capture the wonderful East Bay light from the wall of windows nearby (can there be a "wall" of windows?). I took many shots for a class I'm taking and I thought I'd share. The library has other really fine artwork too and is a fabulous place to hang out and obsessively-compulsively read, if you like that sort of thing.
Friday, June 17, 2011
Robert Reich explains our problematic economy in 2 minutes
I can handle economic news in two-minute increments. Can you? Thank you Robert Reich for making it so.
He is absolutely right about schools and roads. My kid's third-grade class has 32 kids in it. The teacher depends on a teacher's aid to keep all those kids in line and learning, but aid-budgeting has been cut for the last two years. We parents are begged to contribute to a seemingly insurmountable fund to pay aids' salaries. This, after multiple fundraisers throughout the year to pay for music, physical education, art and other "extras."
It takes the "public" out of the public school system when you're constantly being asked to pay for education on top of all the taxes paid each year. And what happens to schools that are not located in solidly middle-class neighborhoods? You can understand the problem but can you offer a solution? Neither can I.
And roads. There is a stretch along Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, CA that is so utterly wretched and destroyed that I almost thought of four-wheelin' it the other day. Like one of those 1990s' SUV TV ads where the vehicle ultimately plows through a creek-bed among the redwoods by commercial's end. Always with the SUV through a creek, destroying nature and wildlife endlessly in those thoughtless, nitwitted commercials. And America bought it, but that's another tale to tell.
Anyway, Telegraph is a major travel artery in Oakland and no one in the city sees fit to fix it. I can't imagine what it costs city dwellers each year in auto repairs, simply trying to get from point A to B. And yes, there are bicycles, but there are also a lot of bicycle accidents in Oakland, and not everyone can afford decent health insurance (or even a decent bike--they're hella expensive now).
I will end this rant by saying the economy does drastically affect all our lives, even if it's in the future when kids graduate from schools that can barely hold it together from year to year. And no one can afford to rent or buy a home because there are few jobs and even fewer well-paying jobs. And this is something that's been going on for decades now, dot-com and housing booms and busts aside. Take it from me, a long-time struggling slacker/low-wage earner. And while you're pondering quality-of-life issues, try not to plow through any delicate creek-beds with your aging SUV, please.
He is absolutely right about schools and roads. My kid's third-grade class has 32 kids in it. The teacher depends on a teacher's aid to keep all those kids in line and learning, but aid-budgeting has been cut for the last two years. We parents are begged to contribute to a seemingly insurmountable fund to pay aids' salaries. This, after multiple fundraisers throughout the year to pay for music, physical education, art and other "extras."
It takes the "public" out of the public school system when you're constantly being asked to pay for education on top of all the taxes paid each year. And what happens to schools that are not located in solidly middle-class neighborhoods? You can understand the problem but can you offer a solution? Neither can I.
And roads. There is a stretch along Telegraph Avenue in Oakland, CA that is so utterly wretched and destroyed that I almost thought of four-wheelin' it the other day. Like one of those 1990s' SUV TV ads where the vehicle ultimately plows through a creek-bed among the redwoods by commercial's end. Always with the SUV through a creek, destroying nature and wildlife endlessly in those thoughtless, nitwitted commercials. And America bought it, but that's another tale to tell.
Anyway, Telegraph is a major travel artery in Oakland and no one in the city sees fit to fix it. I can't imagine what it costs city dwellers each year in auto repairs, simply trying to get from point A to B. And yes, there are bicycles, but there are also a lot of bicycle accidents in Oakland, and not everyone can afford decent health insurance (or even a decent bike--they're hella expensive now).
I will end this rant by saying the economy does drastically affect all our lives, even if it's in the future when kids graduate from schools that can barely hold it together from year to year. And no one can afford to rent or buy a home because there are few jobs and even fewer well-paying jobs. And this is something that's been going on for decades now, dot-com and housing booms and busts aside. Take it from me, a long-time struggling slacker/low-wage earner. And while you're pondering quality-of-life issues, try not to plow through any delicate creek-beds with your aging SUV, please.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
The Simple Things In Life
It's summer! Unless you're in Australia. But here, it's summer! Time for sipping lemonade at the local garage sale while ladies fan themselves with junk mail and talk about network-marketing moisturizing parties. When did it all get so COMPLICATED? Here's to the simple things in life.
Unicorns!
Daisies!
Part 2
Part 3
Love!
Frog song!
Bar-Kays!
Unicorns!
Daisies!
Part 2
Part 3
Love!
Frog song!
Bar-Kays!
Monday, June 13, 2011
Friday, June 10, 2011
Wednesday, June 08, 2011
The Monsters of Big Man Japan
Comedian/writer/director Hitoshi Matsumoto's satirical cult monster-movie, Big Man Japan, is set to be remade by an American think-tank conglomerate. Due to the cultural references particular to Japan vs. the U.S., I for one can't wait to not see this. Although there's always a very outside chance it could have some merit. But I'm not hopeful.
Anyway, back to Big Man Japan. I got this DVD for three dollars at a closing Blockbuster video store (remember those?) and I think it was worth every penny and then some. There are pacing problems. The first rule of screenwriting class—show don't tell, is completely ignored here. And American audiences tend to freak out when scenes go on for more than five minutes and there's too much exposition. But the boring documentary-style interviews with slow-witted, middle-aged monster fighter Masaru Daisato actually echo the Japanese monster-movie format—boring ineffectual people set up the scenes that lead to excellent and cheesy monster fighting. So fast-forward to the monster fights like a traditionalist if you want. That's what I do.
Modern Japanese culture gets skewered, and some of it might be transferable to our disposable, commercialised U.S. shores. Daisato is considered a pest more than a hero and is nearly obsolete due to lack of monsters and interest by the Japanese reality-TV audience. Unlike his popular grandfather, the monster-fighting "Fourth," he has no servants and lives in poverty, sadly sprinkling dehydrated seaweed upon his lonely meals. His wife and child have left him. The public despises and blames him for ruined infrastructure and environmental damage. He's not much of a fighter either, tubby and cautious, more often accidentally killing the oddball assortment of monsters who seem to exist to torment him within barren landscapes devoid of screaming crowds.
I debated whether to post images of the bizarre and entertaining CG monsters (most of whom, like Big Man, come across as pear-shaped, middle-aged, and not too sharp), not wanting to spoil it for everyone. But with this new remake announcement, I figure you're all going to be looking at the monsters anyway, especially YOU, Hollywood. If you don't want to see the weirdness, look away! I promise not to reveal the ending, which is truly amazing and requires some mind-bending thought processes to integrate within the weird world Matsumoto has culled together. And now:
Big Man Japan (tattooed with a corporate-sponsor logo--make note, film studios).
The Strangling Monster lives to flip his comb-over after happily toppling buildings and then--well, I'm not sure what he's doing to the building sites afterwards. Like a lot of these creatures, it's a weird brew of grotesque sexual pleasure, and I don't know what else. I'll leave it for you to decide when you watch the film.
The Fourth was considered a true hero in Japanese society, surrounded by adoring crowds who paid for his every living expense. Quite a contrast to the modern Big Man Japan lifestyle of neglect and non-self-reflexive ennui.
Leaping Monster only wants to leap while yelping, "Sei!" Fans of Yokai Monsters will not find these creatures all together incomprehensible. Everyone else: prepare to be deeply perplexed.
Evil Stare Monster is extremely perverse in its fighting methods. Kind of like a really bad stage act at the Exotic Erotic Ball.
Stink Monster is one smelly bitch in heat. Big Man Japan tries reasoning with this mysterious hot-house flower to, of course, no avail.
The Child Monster is helpless yet potentially threatening. Kind of like real children.
Evil Red Menace with his glowing eyes actually knows how to fight. That could definitely be problematic.
Trailer
Anyway, back to Big Man Japan. I got this DVD for three dollars at a closing Blockbuster video store (remember those?) and I think it was worth every penny and then some. There are pacing problems. The first rule of screenwriting class—show don't tell, is completely ignored here. And American audiences tend to freak out when scenes go on for more than five minutes and there's too much exposition. But the boring documentary-style interviews with slow-witted, middle-aged monster fighter Masaru Daisato actually echo the Japanese monster-movie format—boring ineffectual people set up the scenes that lead to excellent and cheesy monster fighting. So fast-forward to the monster fights like a traditionalist if you want. That's what I do.
Modern Japanese culture gets skewered, and some of it might be transferable to our disposable, commercialised U.S. shores. Daisato is considered a pest more than a hero and is nearly obsolete due to lack of monsters and interest by the Japanese reality-TV audience. Unlike his popular grandfather, the monster-fighting "Fourth," he has no servants and lives in poverty, sadly sprinkling dehydrated seaweed upon his lonely meals. His wife and child have left him. The public despises and blames him for ruined infrastructure and environmental damage. He's not much of a fighter either, tubby and cautious, more often accidentally killing the oddball assortment of monsters who seem to exist to torment him within barren landscapes devoid of screaming crowds.
I debated whether to post images of the bizarre and entertaining CG monsters (most of whom, like Big Man, come across as pear-shaped, middle-aged, and not too sharp), not wanting to spoil it for everyone. But with this new remake announcement, I figure you're all going to be looking at the monsters anyway, especially YOU, Hollywood. If you don't want to see the weirdness, look away! I promise not to reveal the ending, which is truly amazing and requires some mind-bending thought processes to integrate within the weird world Matsumoto has culled together. And now:
Big Man Japan (tattooed with a corporate-sponsor logo--make note, film studios).
The Strangling Monster lives to flip his comb-over after happily toppling buildings and then--well, I'm not sure what he's doing to the building sites afterwards. Like a lot of these creatures, it's a weird brew of grotesque sexual pleasure, and I don't know what else. I'll leave it for you to decide when you watch the film.
The Fourth was considered a true hero in Japanese society, surrounded by adoring crowds who paid for his every living expense. Quite a contrast to the modern Big Man Japan lifestyle of neglect and non-self-reflexive ennui.
Leaping Monster only wants to leap while yelping, "Sei!" Fans of Yokai Monsters will not find these creatures all together incomprehensible. Everyone else: prepare to be deeply perplexed.
Evil Stare Monster is extremely perverse in its fighting methods. Kind of like a really bad stage act at the Exotic Erotic Ball.
Stink Monster is one smelly bitch in heat. Big Man Japan tries reasoning with this mysterious hot-house flower to, of course, no avail.
The Child Monster is helpless yet potentially threatening. Kind of like real children.
Evil Red Menace with his glowing eyes actually knows how to fight. That could definitely be problematic.
Trailer
Saturday, June 04, 2011
Scott Weaver's San Francisco toothpick sculpture - Rolling Through the Bay
Roger Ebert's twitter pointed me to this today and it's so epic, amazing and charming I thought I'd share. Scott Weaver spent the past 35 years building a model of the San Francisco Bay Area with more than 100,000 toothpicks. Best of all, it's kinetic. Beautiful, unreal and fun--just like the real place it depicts.
On display now at the Exploratorium's Tinkering Studio through June 19th.
Scott Weaver's Rolling through the Bay from The Tinkering Studio on Vimeo.
On display now at the Exploratorium's Tinkering Studio through June 19th.
Thursday, June 02, 2011
Wholesome Pole Dancing
Pole dancing! The fitness sensation that's sweeping the nation! It's not just for strippers anymore! Need proof? Read on:
Pole fitness for Jesus done to upbeat contemporary Christian music.
Martha Stewart embraces the pole, looking perfectly comfortable and natural while doing so.
Not to be outdone, Ellen De Generes tries her hand in her awesome custom-made androgyny-wear. (Ellen is my favorite fashion icon. Even more so since whenever she speaks I think of Dorie the lovably brain-damaged Fish from "Finding Nemo.")
In a show of pole-dancing equality, Ellen features a bare-chested male pole dancer. The suspenders make it wholesome.
I hope you're up for an emotional open-shirted pole-dancing experience. The confetti rain washes away any lingering impurities.
Pole fitness for Jesus done to upbeat contemporary Christian music.
Martha Stewart embraces the pole, looking perfectly comfortable and natural while doing so.
Not to be outdone, Ellen De Generes tries her hand in her awesome custom-made androgyny-wear. (Ellen is my favorite fashion icon. Even more so since whenever she speaks I think of Dorie the lovably brain-damaged Fish from "Finding Nemo.")
In a show of pole-dancing equality, Ellen features a bare-chested male pole dancer. The suspenders make it wholesome.
I hope you're up for an emotional open-shirted pole-dancing experience. The confetti rain washes away any lingering impurities.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Red Sonja for no reason whatsoever
I have to keep looking at my calendar to remember what day it is. My kid had furlough days off of school, plus Memorial day weekend and then an extra day for reasons I can't remember--a Union stipulation perhaps. Hence: my confusion. Is it garbage night? Does the mail now come after two days of no delivery? Are people bitching on Facebook about nothing important? OK--getting back to normal then.
Here's Red Sonja starring 80s sensation, Brigitte Nielsen. "They" say she's a bad actor, but I really like her in this. Kind of stiff and cold, but she's supposed to be, having been mauled by marauders and left for dead without any counseling afterwards. She gets along well with animals and beats the crap out of people (mostly men) with her broadsword. She's got a killer mullet and she's properly physical, which is all in keeping with her Amazon warrior-like status.
Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Kalidor (basically Conan in everything but name--a legal issue) as good-natured, but smirky. Whenever I happen to be channel-flipping and this is on, I linger. But I do yell out (spoiler) "NO!" when Sonja finally succumbs to Dumbhead's charms. She obviously should find contentment with an equally cool lady.
Check out these clips. With Dino De Laurentiis at the helm, you will definitely be entertained.
Epic, huh? Sandahl Bergman is the evil Queen Gedren. I would hate to be in a girl-band with her. I think I was in a girl-band with her.
Bergman was originally slated to play Sonja but turned the role down to play Gedren instead. What might have been!
And take a look at Conan's, I mean, KALIDOR's pad. Manly.
It's all a grand journey into the demented mind of...someone, and though it tanked at the box office and critics have been laughing at it since 1985, I like it--wrong as it is. It paved the way for Xena, Buffy and Seven of Nine--half-human/half-warrior chicks who didn't need men, opting for femme girls, conscious-tortured vampires and the Borg, respectively.
Here's Red Sonja starring 80s sensation, Brigitte Nielsen. "They" say she's a bad actor, but I really like her in this. Kind of stiff and cold, but she's supposed to be, having been mauled by marauders and left for dead without any counseling afterwards. She gets along well with animals and beats the crap out of people (mostly men) with her broadsword. She's got a killer mullet and she's properly physical, which is all in keeping with her Amazon warrior-like status.
Arnold Schwarzenegger plays Kalidor (basically Conan in everything but name--a legal issue) as good-natured, but smirky. Whenever I happen to be channel-flipping and this is on, I linger. But I do yell out (spoiler) "NO!" when Sonja finally succumbs to Dumbhead's charms. She obviously should find contentment with an equally cool lady.
Check out these clips. With Dino De Laurentiis at the helm, you will definitely be entertained.
Epic, huh? Sandahl Bergman is the evil Queen Gedren. I would hate to be in a girl-band with her. I think I was in a girl-band with her.
Bergman was originally slated to play Sonja but turned the role down to play Gedren instead. What might have been!
And take a look at Conan's, I mean, KALIDOR's pad. Manly.
It's all a grand journey into the demented mind of...someone, and though it tanked at the box office and critics have been laughing at it since 1985, I like it--wrong as it is. It paved the way for Xena, Buffy and Seven of Nine--half-human/half-warrior chicks who didn't need men, opting for femme girls, conscious-tortured vampires and the Borg, respectively.
Monday, May 30, 2011
The Way We Get By - Memorial Day 2011
If you get a chance, you should watch the documentary The Way We Get By, which aired once again on PBS this Memorial Day. It's a very heartfelt and touching look at a group of older people who send off and greet U.S. troops out of the Bangor, Maine airport, 24 hours a day. Some have served in the military. Some have family members in the military. All have differing views of politics and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but they're united by one philosophy: to thank the young people in the U.S. armed forces for their service.
Trailer
Watch it on Hulu.
Trailer
Watch it on Hulu.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Sasquatch Festival streaming live on NPR
Neglected the blog unintentially but here's a treat: listen to Sasquatch Fest live this weekend on NPR, May 28-30, all the way from the mid-eastern quadrent of Washington State. Sasquatch country.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
AV Undercover 2011 - handpicked bands test their cover limits
AV Undercover asks readers to suggest a list of 25 songs and then invites underground bands into the office to cover them. Some covers are inspired. Some are pretty anemic. That's how it goes with would-be innovative covering techniques. As the list shrinks, the question lingers: who will get stuck covering The Power of Love by Huey Lewis & The News?
Of Montreal covers White Stripes' Fell In Love With A Girl. I can't help but opine that some Of Montreal members may eventually regret their stylistic tendencies in the near future. Is it possible to pre-date your dated look? Because I think that's kind of going on here. No matter! My standard blogging uniform also needs work. Enjoy Of Montreal gettin' gnarly for a couple minutes.
Dum Dum Girls cover Big Star's September Gurls in dreamy, surf-rock fashion.
Wye Oak covers Danzig's Mother. Sure, why not? Nice job. Is that a flugelhorn?
For last year's series, Wye Oak covered The Kinks' Strangers. Niiiice.
The Low Anthem covers Wilco's A Shot In The Arm. I've never been as ape-shit about Wilco as most music-writer types but this is a perfectly fine cover featuring a clarinet and enough scruffiness for a room-full of bloggers.
If you start craving a Starbuck's frappuccino after this, please blame our current rock & roll culture of advertising.
Of Montreal covers White Stripes' Fell In Love With A Girl. I can't help but opine that some Of Montreal members may eventually regret their stylistic tendencies in the near future. Is it possible to pre-date your dated look? Because I think that's kind of going on here. No matter! My standard blogging uniform also needs work. Enjoy Of Montreal gettin' gnarly for a couple minutes.
Dum Dum Girls cover Big Star's September Gurls in dreamy, surf-rock fashion.
Wye Oak covers Danzig's Mother. Sure, why not? Nice job. Is that a flugelhorn?
For last year's series, Wye Oak covered The Kinks' Strangers. Niiiice.
The Low Anthem covers Wilco's A Shot In The Arm. I've never been as ape-shit about Wilco as most music-writer types but this is a perfectly fine cover featuring a clarinet and enough scruffiness for a room-full of bloggers.
If you start craving a Starbuck's frappuccino after this, please blame our current rock & roll culture of advertising.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
John Lithgow does Gingrich
John Lithgow performs Newt Gingrich's recent press release. This is what politics are all about: acting.
source: Crooks and Liars
source: Crooks and Liars
Friday, May 20, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
I Wake Up Dreaming: Haunted World of the B Film Noir at The Roxie
I meant to write about the two-week film noir festival at San Francisco's Roxie Theater, but I got sidetracked. It started Friday, May 13 (of course--the perfect night to begin a film noir B-movie festival), and runs through May 28. Billing itself a showcase for darkly demented B budget curios of American style, most of the films are not available at a store near you. This is a great chance to see low-budget, hard-edged weirdness on the big screen, surrounded by the sights and sounds of the real-life noir of today's gentrifying Mission District.
Rated: dark. Synopsis here. Show dates/times (don't go by the synopsis page--it's on hashish or something).
Female violence in The Story of Molly X (1949)
Witness to Murder (1954) with Barbara Stanwyck and George Sanders--pinch me, I must be imagining the perfect dream cast!
Private Hell 36 (1954) written by and starring the great Ida Lupino.
Wait, you haven't seen Kiss Me Deadly? Probably one of the most disturbing films I've ever had the displeasure of seeing, but it's worth it for shock value alone. And it's been very influential over the years.
Rated: dark. Synopsis here. Show dates/times (don't go by the synopsis page--it's on hashish or something).
Female violence in The Story of Molly X (1949)
Witness to Murder (1954) with Barbara Stanwyck and George Sanders--pinch me, I must be imagining the perfect dream cast!
Private Hell 36 (1954) written by and starring the great Ida Lupino.
Wait, you haven't seen Kiss Me Deadly? Probably one of the most disturbing films I've ever had the displeasure of seeing, but it's worth it for shock value alone. And it's been very influential over the years.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Zoetropes, Phonographantasmascopes and Praxinoscopes for Friday
I certainly can come up with the timely topics. I made a zoetrope many years ago in fine-arts summer school in a really bitching animation class and it was one of my favorite things ever. How I wish I still had my little zoetrope that spun on a pencil--so cool. You can buy kits to make these or just craft your own at this point, thanks to YouTube. Phonographantasmascopes are the best-named things of all time and look really cool too--like a 3D zoetrope that seems to be animating before your very eyes whilst trodding upon a turntable. Praxinoscopes use mirrors in a clever way and will wow you in an ol' fashioned manner, my friend.
You know that long ago, people sat around parlours admiring their hosts' praxinoscopes and exclaiming that it really looked like a tiny goat was jumping over an obstacle a hundred million times before their very eyes. No wonder people have always loved to entertain. To watch the little goats, of course.
Basic zoetrope demo. It fools the eye!
Pixar has made the ultimate zoetrope (of course). It's lovely.
Time on your hands? Make a high-tech zoetrope. Be the envy of everyone.
What's a phonographantasmascope? So glad you asked.
The praxinoscope makes good use of tiny mirrors.
And don't forget the other interestingly named, round, spinny animation device, the phenakistoscope.
You know that long ago, people sat around parlours admiring their hosts' praxinoscopes and exclaiming that it really looked like a tiny goat was jumping over an obstacle a hundred million times before their very eyes. No wonder people have always loved to entertain. To watch the little goats, of course.
Basic zoetrope demo. It fools the eye!
Pixar has made the ultimate zoetrope (of course). It's lovely.
Time on your hands? Make a high-tech zoetrope. Be the envy of everyone.
What's a phonographantasmascope? So glad you asked.
The praxinoscope makes good use of tiny mirrors.
And don't forget the other interestingly named, round, spinny animation device, the phenakistoscope.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Help! I've fallen down a K-tel Commercial wormhole
And I never want to get out. The 1970s was the era of ridiculous products and so called "inventions" that everyone had to have, making garage sales more junked out than ever for several decades. And K-tel was right in the forefront of this consumerist madness with their super-cheap, excitedly announced product line that we loved so well.
Mood shirts for your every mood. Family life made everyone "tense" in the 70s, hence the high divorce rate. I'm sure this product didn't help.
Do you remember? Husker Du was a memory exerciser that was virtually "impossible to memorize." A rainy-day staple at grade schools across the country.
Kids! Why catch a ball with your hands, when you can order two vacuum handles with thumb holes instead? Television posed numerous questions such as this while we were growing up. It led to a lifetime to questioning and formed the great society that we are today.
If you're getting up there in years, you might remember K-tel Record Selector. The Tape Selector was its bastard cousin. Eight-tracks didn't stick around long enough to create a profit on this, I'm sure.
Excuse me for a heavy-metal moment while I have an Axe Attack.
K-tel's "Block Buster" is an excellent example of the schizophrenic top-40 programming mentality that existed throughout the 70s. Listen to disco, soft rock, r&b, prog-rock and power ballad all within the space of 7 minutes (or less!).
We still have this one. It features Hot Butter's "Popcorn" so you know we're never giving it up.
Mood shirts for your every mood. Family life made everyone "tense" in the 70s, hence the high divorce rate. I'm sure this product didn't help.
Do you remember? Husker Du was a memory exerciser that was virtually "impossible to memorize." A rainy-day staple at grade schools across the country.
Kids! Why catch a ball with your hands, when you can order two vacuum handles with thumb holes instead? Television posed numerous questions such as this while we were growing up. It led to a lifetime to questioning and formed the great society that we are today.
If you're getting up there in years, you might remember K-tel Record Selector. The Tape Selector was its bastard cousin. Eight-tracks didn't stick around long enough to create a profit on this, I'm sure.
Excuse me for a heavy-metal moment while I have an Axe Attack.
K-tel's "Block Buster" is an excellent example of the schizophrenic top-40 programming mentality that existed throughout the 70s. Listen to disco, soft rock, r&b, prog-rock and power ballad all within the space of 7 minutes (or less!).
We still have this one. It features Hot Butter's "Popcorn" so you know we're never giving it up.
Monday, May 09, 2011
Adele for Monday
What a voice! Adele! On Monday!
Ice sculptures? Why? Good make-up though.
Adele takes it down a notch.
Adele keeps it real.
That voice! That voice! Swoon.
Ice sculptures? Why? Good make-up though.
Adele takes it down a notch.
Adele keeps it real.
That voice! That voice! Swoon.
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