Joe Ledbetter is an emerging Los Angeles pop-artist whose work I really enjoy.  I first contacted him earlier this year about buying a Q*Bert print he did for Gallery 1988's "I Am 8-Bit" show, but it was sold out before I reached him.  Since then I had been waiting for new prints to be released when I received an email from his manager about some new releases.  I bought this:

Post-Apocalyptic Surf Bunny

The print arrived today, but there was a problem.  Despite the package being marked "Do Not Bend" in several places, it came bent, with the print itself creased across its width in two places - essentially destroying the value of a print limited to 100 issues.

I contacted Ledbetter's manager, and she agreed to send me a new print immediately, and she would contact me later about sending the print back so she could turn in the damage to UPS.

I went to see Serenity with Kim and Ian last night.  I've been waiting for this movie for a long time, and introduced Kim to the Firefly universe over the past few months by watching the DVDs.

For those who don't know, Serenity is the movie sequel to the short-lived TV series Firefly.  Created by Joss Whedon of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fame, Firefly ran for a short time on FOX in 2002 before quick cancellation.  A "space-western" of sort blending sci-fi and western elements (the newly settled planets are fairly backwoodsish, while the richer central planets are sci-fi futuristic, it quickly found a fan base on DVD release that led to the movie being made.

Rarely to me has a movie lived up to this high of expectations.  There was a bit tweaking of the back-story at the beginning of the movie that initally had me worried, but as soon as it moved to the ship and crew, the movie took off and flew high.

Exciting, funny, scary and poignant with characters in spades, I'd recommend checking it out.

"Vintage" Fan-Made Serenity Poster

And in other weird animal news, a two-headed tortoise was found living and in good health in Cuba.

You may recall something similar last year which led to a new cast member of the Ninja Turtles...

[From People's Daily Online Via Boing Boing]

Japanese scientists revealed this week that they have captured photos and videos of a living giant squid for the first time ever.  They used a baited fishing line to attract the squid and reportedly captured more than 500 images.

It's pretty amazing to think that it's taken until now to have someone be able to film a living giant squid given that they've been known about for centuries (due to corpses that sometimes wind up on beaches) and that there are enough to be a major food source for the sperm whale.  The Discover Channel even did a special a few years ago focused on the search for the giant squid where they were unable to find one.

Mmm.  Giant calamari...

[From National Geographic (click to see the full article) via Boing Boing]

At 3 am last night, Kim woke me up saying that there was someone knocking at the door.  Waking up and hearing the erratic knocking, I went to the front window, finding no car besides our own parked in the driveway or in front of the house.  Looking to the side by the door, I couldn't see who was knocking, so I went to the door and asked "Who is it?"  No answer.

The knocking continued, and as there are some shady people living across the street from Kim, I wasn't willing to open the door to just anyone that late at night, so I asked again:  "Who is it?!"  "Open the door," came a scratchy reply.  The person then tried turning the doorknob, but the door was locked and deadbolted.

"Open the door," followed by more erratic knocking.  "Open the door!"  "Who's there?" I asked again, but with no answer beyond knocking and more attempts to open the door. 

Kim called 911 and told them that there was someone at the door who wouldn't identify themselves.  A few minutes later, two police cars pulled up and questioned our visitor. 

It turned out she was an old woman with alzheimer's who thought she was living in Chariton and at her son's house.  They asked if she was from the nursing home down the street, to which she said no, but upon taking her over there she said she recognized the place.

So there you have it - a pretty creepy occurrence which made me glad that the front door was locked (imagine waking up to find some old woman standing over your bed) and really got the adrenaline flowing.

Found this one on Joystiq...

A new interpretation of the Super Mario Brothers has popped up on the Internet—and it's a weird one. Does anyone have any insight into this bizarre project? Re-imagining this famous duo as muscle-bound super freaks makes us uncomfortable. But for some reason, we can't look away…

The comic itself can be found here, with an almost-as-incomprehensible Google Translator translation here.

If anyone can translate (hint Kristin hint), I'd appreciate it!

After months of waiting, the "big deal" about the new Nintendo console - codenamed Revolution - was finally revealed this week.  Making a drastic shift from the conventional video game controller, the revolution uses a small one-handed controller that's reminiscent of a remote control, which the system can sense the position of in three dimensions, as well as its own tilt.

What this means is that with the Revolution, how you move the controller through the air - the speed, direction, even the controller's incline - can all be carried through into gameplay.

Imagine a tennis game where how you handle and swing the "racquet" actually carries through into gameplay.  Or a Zelda game where you control the swing of the sword, or a stick-poking game where you poke things with a virtual stick (ok that last one doesn't sound so much fun).

While I doubt that such a system will make Nintendo the top-game console in this first generation, it certainly sounds like an opportunity to play some fun, unique games.  They've also announced some controller add-ons, one of which is a thumbstick (used for movement in one hand while the other moves the main controller - think using the thumbstick in a Zelda game to move Link while the main controller is the sword or shield) and a controller that looks more like a standard game controller which the main unit plugs into the back of to make it wireless and still sense positioning.  This would allow more traditional games coming out on the other systems to still be ported to the Rev.

The teaser video shown by Nintendo featuring the Revolution controller. It doesn't show any actual games, but it gives a good idea of the possibilities. It looks like the grandfather is teaching the kid how to shoot a phaser in the photo, though...

IGN's Nintendo Revolution FAQ

Remember the Super Mario Super Show?  The one with Captain Lou Albano playing Mario in live action sequences surrounding animated sequences taking place in Mushroom Land?

Yahooligans now has a number of episodes up on their web site to watch.

I remember running home after school in sixth grade on Fridays to catch their Legend of Zelda episodes!  And it turns out that they are also online on the same site!

So my latest daily read online is an online comic called VGCats.  If you've never been the gamer type, odds are you won't think much of it, but for us who grew up part of the Nintendo generation, it's often very funny.

An excerpt from a strip featuring a "Parents Day" event (click the image to read the whole thing):

Some other funny ones:

• Star Wars Episode III
• Halo 2
• Aliens
• Final Fantasy VII
• Zelda: Link to the Past

Remember 20 years ago when a bag phone was cutting-edge wireless, 35-inch color was high-definition, and a little company named Micro-Soft was prepping to sell a new program called Windows?  Engadget does.  Check it out.

For another entry into the surprising animal victory category, you should watch this video clip from Nature.

I've always been fascinated by Octopi.  When I was in 7th grade, we had to write a place for information on a particular biome.  I wrote an aquatic research center in San Diego and asked them to send me a live octopus.  Sadly, they did not.

Another odd fact:  at Shedd Aquarium we learned that they have to give octopi increasingly difficult tasks to keep them entertained/healthy.  Eventually, octopi can learn to even unscrew a jar to get to food.

Phil directed me to the following news story today from BirdWatcher's Digest [via BoingBoing]:

The other day while I was working in the yard my son urgently called to me. "Dad, a praying mantis caught a hummingbird!"

Not sure what to expect, but knowing my son is not one to tell an untruth, I came running to see for myself.  By the time I arrived it was too late for the poor hummer and my scientifically minded son had already begun taking pictures and studying the scene.

As you can see from the photographs this hungry mantis captured and killed a hummingbird not much smaller than itself.  The hummer measured 2 inches and the mantis was about the same!  The mantis used its spiny left foreleg to impale the hummingbird through the chest while leaving his right leg free.

We surmised that the mantis ran the hummer through and dangled its full weight on its foreleg while he consumed the flesh of the hummingbird from the abdomen.  After he had his fill, the mantis gave his foreleg several swift jerks and freed his leg.

Reminds me of when we had all the giant mantises in downtown Des Moines three years ago.  The full story with another picture can be seen by clicking: here.

Update:  A Google search tells me that mantises killing hummingbirds are fairly common due to their natural camouflage and quick speed.  Huh, who knew?

As a fan of Deadwood, it's interesting to see many new people are joining the cast next year.  First, a few weeks ago I saw an article while flipping through the Weekly World News that the infamous Batboy was joining the cast (unfortunately, I can't find the photo they had shown online), and now this story comes through:

Novak Joins Cast of "Deadwood"

Within days of being suspended by CNN for swearing during a live program, Robert Novak has signed a deal with HBO to star in a six episode arc on its Western drama, “Deadwood.” “I was so impressed by the dramatic way Bob said ‘that's bullsh*t!' on ‘Inside Politics' that I can't wait to see him yell c*nt, motherf*cker, and ‘douchebag' 38 times in this six minute monologue I've written for him,” said series creator David Milch. [More...]

You know that kid that lives down the block from you?  The one that looks just a little bit...off?  Luckily, Benn has keyed me in to what the issue is.  Lucky for us all.

Beware the Zogg!

There's a new comic book coming out, poised to show the world the truth of what's to come under liberal domination...

It is 2021, tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of 9/11. America is under oppression by ultra-liberal extremists which have yielded governing authority to the United Nations. It is up to an underground conservative group (known as F.O.I.L.) led by Sean Hannity, G. Gordon Liddy and Oliver North to thwart Ambassador Usama Bin Laden's plans to nuke New York City.

That guy in the front of the picture is supposed to be a cybernetically-enhanced Sean Hannity along with a semi-robotic G. Gordon Liddy behind him.  EXTREME!

For the sake of reference, here are pictures of the real Hannity and Liddy:

Less EXTREME!  But who knows, once they become future-outlaw-broadcaster/freedom-fighter-part-robot, maybe they'll somehow look 20ish.

EXTREME Hannity?

For the record, when this comic takes place, 16 years from now, Liddy will be 91 years old, and Hannity will be 60. 

NOT SO EXTREME
91 Year Old Liddy
(Projected Example)

Ok, conservatives, but maybe you haven't noticed how you control the three branches of government right now.  So I'm not quite clear why you feel the need to act like you're the oppressed underculture. 

I've taken to watching the Season 1 episodes of the new Battlestar Galactica remake.  When I first heard they were remaking the show, I never bothered to watch due to A) I already watch too many shows, and B) I remember seeing a few eps of the original and finding it 70s sci-fi hokey.

I should have known better when I saw that Ronald Moore was behind the remake, as I loved what he did with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.  So after months of hearing great things about the show, I got my hands on Season 1 and started watching.

Wow.

Great, thoughtful sci-fi.  It's a show filled with realistic, three-dimensional characters and chock full of shades of gray.  Seeing humanity at the brink with only 50,000 people remaining after a devestating attack and watching how they react to their new reality of running as a species for survival makes for powerful television.

I'd recommend watching it.  Which undoubtedly means it will be cancelled soon.

Looks like Darth Tater has a henchman coming out...

From Comedy Central comes this short spoof documentary (spoofumentary?) about Bush's speechwriter.

Last night Kim and I went to a sneak preview of the new Wells Fargo Arena - Des Moines's first modern major arena complex - that was given for Wells Fargo employees.  They allowed us all to wander around, looking in areas we'll likely not see again like the locker rooms and the control room.  It's a really nice facility, so hopefully the good concerts will now be in DSM instead of Ames...

Unfortunately I forgot my camera, so the only photo I have is from my cameraphone.

Milo Fireworks

April 29th

[As with most funny Star Wars things - thanks to Bonnie]

Update:  The Quicktime version found here (or by clicking the animation above) is really funny, too, with the added soundtrack.

Click here (unless you haven't seen Episode III yet).

And many more funny variations here.

A shot from my cameraphone of the Wicked stage prior to the show. The giant dragon above is a puppet that lit up, moved and emitted smoke whenever magic occurred.

Now I really liked Star Wars: Episode III.  I thought it was an entertaining ride, definitely the best of the prequels (though is that really saying much?), but there is certainly room for improvement.

Bonnie posted a link today to a "fan" script of "Revenge of the Sith: The Abridged" version.  It's really funny, but don't read it unless you've seen the movie since there are spoilers within.

I play Halo 2 off and on with Phil and some others, and while fun in small groups, it gets quickly annoying when playing with random people online who invariably are 15 year old annoying idiots.  These guys (and yes, they're almost all guys) typically play several hours a day, yet hang out on the training ground levels where they get to play against us casual gamers.  Invariably they beat us, after which they scream stupid comments.  An example:  after beating Phil and I at one team game, they saw that Phil's screen name is "D3LTAF0RC3", so one proceeded to scream out, "DeltaForce?!  Well I am OMEGAForce!" in this high-pitched voice.

Anyway, Bungie, the company behind Halo, has begun really cracking down on banning these idiots who are making us other players - who they rely on for the bread-and-butter casual purchases - not want to play anymore.  Last month they were asked "What exactly is cheating, and what isn't?" to which they posted this funny response:

Any and all mods, hacks, and artificially modified game profiles used on Live (which potentially includes playing on System Link while connected - the whole "Live Aware" thing) will be treated the same way - as cheats. We don't support the devices or software used to make these hacks, and so we have no obligation to supporting their use. They are and have been used for cheating, and since there's no way for us to tell if they're being used for innocent or nefarious purposes, we are nuking ALL instances and banning them from matchmaking. SO DON'T USE THEM. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED. Not to be confused with regular game saves, where you've made a custom game type using Halo 2's built-in interface. Those are fine and we can easily tell the difference.

"Boosting" - manipulating your way up the leaderboards with the help of other players or techniques = banned. It IS cheating. Those doing it know it is cheating, and more to the point, it is purposeless. You are not proving you're better than other players, in fact, you're showing that you simply don't have the skill or ability to compete. Which makes you suckaz. It's also very easy for us to detect, so don't do it or you're banned. And you may be banned today anyway for a prior history of Boosting. This is a temporary 7 day suspension to give you one last chance to quit it so don't bother whining to me about it. I DON'T CARE. YOU CHEATED. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS. And if your "little brother" did it, take it up with him, not us. Oh dear, my Caps Lock is acting up to day. MONKEYS!!!! After the seven day suspension ends, you can try playing properly. Do it again and there will be more permanent penalties. Don't like it? Call a "waaaaah-mbulance."

Other forms of cheating, betrayals, constant quitting when losing, hiding bombs, will also be treated as cheating and continue to be dealt with using the feedback system and YOU WILL BE BANNED TOO.

Being an idiot online? Cursing continually? Making threats? Being a racist jackass? BANNED. Oh and a word to screamers – BANNED. Anyone who so much as looks at ME funny on Live? BANNED. Synonym for a group of musicians? BAND. Things are going to get a lot tighter around here. We have more tools and better awareness, and all you have to do to avoid being BANNED is QUIT BEING AN IDIOT. You're not funny. You're not clever. You're a boring loser and people hate you.

Look, most of you know what cheating is, so quit asking stupid questions about it, or acting indignant because there is a bug in the game that you felt obliged to exploit. YOU ARE CHEATING. We don't even owe you this explanation. The only reason we bother is so that we can go back and say look, we told you this was cheating and you're BANNED so shut up. And I hope you get boils. And I hope the boils are full of acid-spewing spiders that burst out and hump your face.

It really reminds me of when Phil and I ran a BBS in High School, where I would ban anyone who would post any comment slightly disparaging against us or our system.  Then they would have their friends send Phil a whiny message about how their friend was banned without a warning, etc.  Whatever.  It was our system, our time, our phone line, our cost, and if they didn't like it, we didn't want them there.

I don't recall where I came across this online comic strip, but it's oh-so-weird and pretty funny, too.  Alien Loves Predator which oddly doesn't involve an Alien loving a Predator but rather two of them as apartment-sharing roomates in New York City.

MoveOn.org has a new commercial debuting that parodies the new Star Wars in comparison with what's going on in the Senate right now.  It's pretty funny.  From their site:

This week, Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith opens in theaters nation-wide.  And weirdly enough, the plot of what will undoubtedly be one of the biggest films in movie history revolves around a scheming senator who, seduced by visions of absolute power, transforms a democratic republic into an empire.

Watch the commercial by clicking the picture above or here.

Got back from a late-night early screening of Star Wars: Episode III a little bit ago.  I'll write more later, but for now, suffice it to say - see it.  SO much better than Episode I or II.

You know you want one.