1, 2 , 3, 4, 300

"Why the liberal furor over 300?"

Link found via my multiple daily visits to instapundit.

Era - Round Up

Era is 8 months today. i'm only disappointed that it was too cold for a long walk after work. The walk he and i took yesterday after work was awesome. Conversation was a little one sided. Tho he didn't seem to mind.








This whole having-a-baby gig is pretty amazing. For real.

Film Festival Print Ads Taste Great

Ahhh... Shouldn't all print advertising feel this good? Taste this good? take us back to a special place? Heh. Memories... The Canadian Film Festival taps into those with these print elements. Made great because they are Canadianized: Made local, "Canuck Spin" they call it. I read some Americans that don't get it. That's ok. It's just subtle enough to mean something.







/Good luck getting this tune out of your mind before you go to sleep. Heh.

Viacom Owns Jon Stewart, Sells to iFILM

I youtube a little. Mainly for Jon Stewart & Colbert clips. i haven't been to youtube much lately. No sign of Stewart, no sign of Colbert. Gone. Like they were erased.

I've found them again, on iFilm.

It all makes sense now.

Viacom sues Youtube

Comedy Central's Top 5

CotC 2.0 Continues

This weeks CotC (Thanks Political Calculations), not yet onto page 1 of a google search for "CotC"... soon tho, i would hope.

It's a Start

Iran softens, not enough mind you. Not yet.

Millionaire Giving Mansions to Homeless

I'm not there quite yet. Just yet.

"Giving away mansions shows more dedication to helping Hawaii's homeless than just handing out wads of cash, he said. Asked whether he was concerned about losing money on the effort, he laughed and said: "This is pocket money for me."

Low income, attainable housing with a twist. i like.

She Said What?

Did Alderwoman Cathy Smith just say "these people have been subsidized for years?"
When describing all residents of Medicine Hat; You, me... my family? That tone is disgusting.

In an election year?

The conversation can be found over at medhatblog.com
Thanks again to Dangermouse for drumming up the truth. And stuff.

Ronin Next

i guess i will answer my own question:
I wonder which story is next? (Cast my vote for Ronin, ground-breaking)

The answer found:
In 2007 Gianni Nunnari, producer of 300, announced he would be producing and Sylvain White, director of Stomp The Yard, directing the Ronin film adaptation. Ronin Wikipedia

Ronin it is. I'm already looking forward to it.

300 & Frank Miller Roundup

Thermopylae "an unsolved riddle".

Some in Iran are miffed. They find 300 offensive and politicized, as when the Iranian government said the film was “part of a comprehensive U.S. psychological warfare aimed at Iranian culture.”

A Parsi perspective of 300 worth reading.

Screen shots compared to Millers original graphic novel. Amazing similarity. Thanks for the link O.

Loved the movie (saw it twice so far). Really enjoyed the cinematic rendition flowing form the pages of one of Frank Millers most stunning pieces of work. (props go to Lynn Varley as well - read the link, you'll learn, like i just did, that Lynn was Franks wife once.)

After Sin City, with the critical aclaim & PROFIT already generated with the release of 300 it is no longer a matter of IF but WHEN the next Frank Miller graphic novel will be converted to dvd. I wonder which story is next (Cast my vote for Ronin, ground-breaking)

Era Gets a New Hat

There is a story in here. Somewhere.

Telus Marketing

When Telus was young, i too was young. The company was exciting, and following their take over of Mike with all the increased marketing and advertising that implemented i was struck. This might be a company to work for, for no other reason than to buy stock (1995 prices compared to 2007 prices - i might cry). I loved what they were doing with growth and marketing, but i didn't love it that much.

Since those early days, Telus has grown to be a major player nation wide (sea to sea to sea, as they call it now). While they've grown, my hypothetical stock options growing with them, Telus lost its lustre. I left their internet service for perceived better. In fact, i have left Telus for everything they provide except a home phone line, and that merely, is due to lack of choice (so far). It is all about choice.

Recently, Telus struggled out of the gate, and in a flash, they were correcting and moving on.

Phone companies cozy up as woo date draws near by Dave Watson is an excellent opinion piece published March 1st, looking forward to what was to come in Cell Mobility.

Fast forward to last week. CRTC enables cell users to take their cell number with them when they leave one provider for another. Choice again, this is likely a huge barrier limiting the transfer of customers from one provider to another. If i were still a Telus Mobility subscriber, now would be the opportune time to leave. In fact, i am likely not the only one with that sentiment. You would think an exodus of sorts could occur, seeing as that last reason NOT to switch has been removed. I'd expect marketing from every other mobility player in the Alberta market: "Switch now, get a hug form a Bell representative" or some such.

We are a week into the "switching time" and all i've seen are ads (and ads and ads) informing me that i can finally switch to Telus. Like, all this time i've been waiting. I haven't (has anyone?). But that gets to my point: Telus has done right. Again. And their stock will reflect that. Again. They were ready, the moment the CRTC opened the gates, Telus stepped in to take command of the conversation. Perfect timing. Taking advantage of choice. Right now, in Alberta, when i think of choice... i hate to say it. So i won't, but do you know which provider i think of first?


I wonder where the other players were... maybe they don't need any more customers? maybe they don't want any more of Telus customers than just naturally switch without being enticed. Maybe Telus really is verging on Evil Empire ground...

Truth be Told

More of this.

CotC 2.0 Continues

Blogblivion brings us this weeks Carnival of the Capitalists.

Jace Inc

It has been years since i rambled on about what was not my office.





That is not my office either, but what a reception area.

/ i did NOT photoshop this pic, just found it AS-IS.

Ting of Pradu

Ong Bak

Tony Jaa

/cryptic?

The Movie Ong Bak, was filmed in 2003 in Thailand. Sold only in Thailand. i was in Thailand in 2003 and bought Ong Bak in a market. Seems that Thai movies are the only movies in Thailand that are NOT pirated. So i payed FULL price. It was VCD. In Thai. Great action, i didn't have a clue what they were saying.

The movie was released in the west recently (nice to see Mark Cubans company 2929 involved). Bought the DVD. Watched it tonight. Now i get the jokes (it's subtitled - and not particularly well) but, i watch Ong Bak for the amazing Muay Thai action. (i have a pair of competitive Muay Thai shorts, but i don't put them on before i watch the movie, that would be strange).

What?

Kiva Grameens' Kenya

Micro credit can change lives... Kiva.org has folks on the ground in nations all over the world to ensure the loans are getting into the hands of the intended recipients. Empowerment... and teaching a man to fish, and all that.

***** UPDATE MARCH 18, 2007*****
Here is the link to the Kiva page for Hellen Wangui Irungu who, since last nite when i posted the link, has collected 100% of the loan she had requested. Hellen will buy a new dairy cow, increasing her production and greatly impacting her cash flow... and bottom line.
The web ad (below) that was her's is now pointed to a new Kiva partner. Take a look.
***** END UPDATE*****



Thanks dm for the link. he knows i love Kenya... so this is a natural fit.

I've read some about Oiko Credit as well, tho i have no personal experience wtih them.

The last Grameening i was a part of was the Christmas micro support driven by dm over at medhatblog.com (a micro drive that went macro... over $500.00 was raised and donated online for the Medicine Hat Food Bank.)

"Putting poverty in museums!"

White & Nerdy

Like Weird Al, i am self aware.

A Chink in the Internets Armor

"Paul Twomey, ICANN President and CEO said today that “Terminating accreditation is the strongest measure ICANN is able to take... "

The company i have been using for domain name registration has just received a Formal Notice of Termination from the ICANN Registration Accreditation Agreement (RAA). I've been registering names with said company since 2001. I've got lots of domain names registered. Lots. Names relating to sites. Not just my sites, but some of yours as well.

In a perfect world, this would all be resolved, transfered and managed such that you never notice a blip or hiccup. I really don't care what internet governing body manages the registration of a domain name, surely you don't care either, just so long as the DNS continues to point to the proper web address... the one where we can see your website. That is what a perfect world looks like. If the world is less than perfect, if the internets are broken... hold on. Not even Al Gore could save you now.

I'll be doing everything i can, if you've never backed up your domain... it couldn't hurt to do so now. Email me with specific Q's relating to your site(s) if you have a need, desire or hunger to get an inside look at this as it transpires. Basically, i'll be manually transferring and monitoring the bulk transfer of all domains as permitted... or watching thru a glass wall as the legalise is tossed back and forth like volleys of table tennis. Either way, it's a perfectly good reason to miss some sleep. Gah.

:)

Say Arrr

"Scare the grandparents" with baby tattoos. i likey.

With era sporting these, grandfolks won't be scared... they wouldn't even be surprised.

Era & Raema

Ladies nite at the Thai Restaurant. Of course Era goes, he's no fool, the ladies love the little gaffer.

300 Over Dead Man's Chest

File this under "i expected that! and am not surprised... at all"

300 sets NEW record for opening revenue...
(wait for it)

...

In GREECE.

"Greek audiences showed notable fervor for Zack Snyder's violent adaptation of Frank Miller's graphic novel about the battle of Thermopylae. "300" set a record for best Greek opening with $3.1 million at 138, topping last summer's "Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest" even though the latter opened with 100 more prints."
-Variety

/Can 3.1 Million bones ($$$) worth of Greeks be wrong? i think not.

Another thought occurs. We've long debated the Pirate versus Ninja battle issue (ad infinitum). but maybe now we should consider a similar conversation about Spartans versus Pirates. And how, the Spartans have cleaned up... Heh.

Team Canada: Cricket

After my last visit to Africa (Athletes in Action trip, 2006), i returned with a hunger for Cricket. We spent the day with Kenyan National Cricket Team members. Spent the day on the Pitch, learning to bowl (i did a lot of running in the outfield, which, for cricket (unlike baseball) is 360 degrees from the batters wicket.





Went to work today, and began receiving email notice of the Canada Kenya World Cup Cricket match going on. Game was shorter than it probably should have been, Canada doesn't sound as competitive as it wanted to be. Kenya laid the beats.

Here's the round up on Globe & Mail: Canada falls to Kenya, with quotes by Kenyan team captain Tikolo, who was a gracious host.

i chatted over coffee with a friend last year that maybe, just maybe, Cricket should be a semi pro sport here in Alberta. Might be worth stirring the pot a little more on that one.

Click the following links to satisfy your burning desire to know more about the game of Cricket:

An explanation of Cricket.
The Canadian Cricket Association.
Canada Cricket Online.

How many did you click?

Coffee Round Up

Meagan is guest blogging at Instapundit, and takes a welcome swing at Starbucks. Not so much cool for it's coffee, as it is cool for being cool, or something. (a testament to proper use of marketing chops).

In regard to bucks, she has this to say:
"I too would prefer less roasting. I have two conjectures: either they're benefitting from first mover advantage, or stupid Americans have some sort of macho attachment to burned coffee, as if that charred flavour makes it somehow more authentic and manly."

i had BURNT coffee last nite, (i must be uber-manly) while in High River (sorry for the lack of blogging the CotC like usual) i stopped in on a pub to watch the Calgary Flames game. (well, the first two periods anyways). I got a cup of coffee... took one gulp and felt terrible. Felt like a sissy and took another swig. Thought i would be sick... and waited.
The waitress offered me a refill, to which i gladly accepted, in a new cup with a new pot.
When she returned with my new decent cup of java, she sheepishly apologized, seems the last cup i'd been given was the last cup in a pot that was still on the burner when she started her shift that day. Did i mention that i thought i would be sick?

Tomorrow, i will drink much coffee. It will be good. None of it will be from Bucks (although maybe not as deplorable as Meagan makes them sound). i prefer mine from Local specialty roaster BEAN THERE! ROASTING COMPANY. The best coffee in Medicine Hat, without doubt (and delivered to my door as freshly roasted beans too)

Life is good.

300

Brutal & Beautiful. Artistic, stunning, and, dare i say it... priceless. If nothing else, this movie will likely polarize the audience (it was after all, R-rated, 18A in Canada). Love it or Hate it. I'll be watching it again, and again. Which is more than i can say for Sin City, Millers last graphic novel adapted to the screen. That was a movie i'm glad i saw, but not a movie i'll watch again.
In my humble opinion, i was very (very, very) right the other nite, when i said (even before seeing the movie) 300 "might be one of the best movies released in a very long time. Seriously. Frank Miller is that much the genius".



From opening, to close... the movie was riveting. Have you ever seen a better in-battle representation of the behemoth that was Phalanx? The art of war.

300 is an adaption of a graphic novel based on a true story. Read the Battle of Thermopylae on wikipedia.

Opening weekend was a blockbuster. 300 is now the 3rd highest grossing Opening Weekend of an R-rated movie, behind only Matrix reloaded & the Passion of the Christ.

The marketing of 300 was brilliant, and over the top. They've owned myspace.com for some time now with themes and previews etc. If you haven't gone to see 300 yet... consider it. And go.

The Learning Mind

"Toddlers have an easier time learning new words when they figure out the meanings themselves" - Reuters.com

And for as the mind grows, we have Scientific American to discuss the Expert Mind and how that mind is made, not born.

Trade Show TV Interview Snippet

March 2nd 2007 Classic Communities @ The Medicine Hat Home Garden & Leisure Tradeshow
Video sent by jaceanderson

i blogged the tradeshow briefly, but this video gives you a look at our booth (or six of them to be exact). We sold a lot of homes that weekend. People go to trade shows and buy houses... Only in Medicine Hat.
Ahh, suprise media visits... good times.

/Kudos to Daily Motion, the french based online video site i chose to host this video (because they allow videos up to 150 mbs, and this video is close to that threshhold) Zippy just couldn't do it, not this time.

300

This might be one of the best movies released in a very long time. Seriously. Frank Miller is that much the genius.

Tonight is opening nite, tomorrow i go to see the flick on the big screen. Bittersweet, seeing as Medicine Hat today lost TWO theatres. Landmarks really.

Until then, i watch the trailer again, and again (as i have been for weeks)... and dream of this NES game that never was...

Heh.

***** UPDATE *****
300 Brings History to Life
The early theatre openings suggest i am not alone in wanting desperately to see this movie. Early showings of 300 draw sell out crowds.

Series 11 Curse?

I have one collection adorning a wall in the storage room in my basement. It's as much space as i can negotiate (i'd have them all over the living room if given the opportunity. yeah, i can be that tacky).
The collection is McFarlane NBA basketball figures. MIB (Mint In Box)... i've bought my share of them on eBay, but most were bought as they are released. 12 series so far. (Series 12 will be released this month, i can hardly wait)

Tonight, i wandered through the discount aisle at a major retailer in town. 2 figures from the NBA Series 11 were on the shelf. Discounted? Already (they were initially released December 2006).

I snapped them both up, and see tonight that they have something in common on ESPN's website. Due to injury, their seasons may be over. (Joe Johnson - Hawks & Wally Sherzazzerad - Celtics) I hope this isn't a toy curse (like the EA Sports video game cover curse we've seen for years... hello, vince carter?)

Gah.

era in the Hat

Took the gaffer swimming tonight. Again.


Thumbs up space cadet


That hat fits a bit better than before. Click here to see the first post of era and his hat.

I'll keep blogging the boy... relax. sheesh.

Sippy Cup Vlog

CotC 2.0 Continues

The carnival this week is as hard as ever to get published in, but the read is well worth the link. This weeks Carnival of the Capitalists here.

/Renee would rather i published more pics of era, and less links to the CotC... but is she really my reading demographic? (i guess what i mean is, do you ALL want to see more pics of my boy? hardly.)

Mark Cuban Gets Respect

Give Cuban a Cigar

I've been on that band wagon for years... prior to his purchase of the Mavs in fact. Not that it matters, i love the mans business acumen, savvy and willingness to be open. His blogging ways sure help too.

Trade Show Weekend

Trade Show weekend. We have six booths this year (four last year, our previous high) and we are a little understaffed (holidays etc).

This translates to lots of hours, and likely less blogging than usual. i'll miss it, for sure.