The novel mixed with the mundane makes for rare instances of magic within our own mundanity. The painstaking work behind such creations gives us the illusion — if only for an instant — that this thing we are experiencing is indeed wondrous. Cheeming Boey’s styrofoam cups as featured on Booooooom! is one such case.
The music video for Coldplay’s Strawberry Swing is yet another brilliant piece of stop motion artistry making the rounds. Directed by Shynola, this video stands out for the sheer time and work involved in redrawing the chalk backgrounds for each frame. Incredible.
Below are two other notable stop motion videos in the past few months: “Her Morning Elegance,” “Sorry I’m Late,” and the “Stop Motion with Wolf and Pig.”
Disney finally released the TR2N test footage from last year’s Comic-Con. The sequel to the groundbreaking 1982 film Tron is now officially called Tron Legacy. If the film is anything like this test footage, it will be an amazing use of stylized CGI. I can’t wait.
One of the pitfalls of a Hawai‘i designer is the proper use of Hawaiian diacritical marks, particularly the okina. To not use them is to deviate from the true Hawaiian language, but to use them, you risk making the simplest mistake.
In this case, it’s the all too familiar use of an apostrophe instead of an okina. Unfortunately, this mistake was made on a U.S. postage stamp celebrating Hawai‘i. I feel for the artist, Herbert Kawainui Kane, who is responsible for the painted artwork celebrating surfing. Though it’s clear that he was only responsible for the artwork and not the type, it’s a shame that a simple thing as the careless use of an apostrophe can ruin this otherwise beautiful stamp. I’m sure the designer responsible for the typography feels terrible. Read on.
‘Ukulele sensation Taimane Gardner lit up this year’s Roy Sakuma ‘Ukulele Festival. The family and I were just about to leave, when her rendition of Johnny Be Good stopped us with the classic “WTF?” look on our faces. Her skills on the strings are mesmerizing and her stage presence draws you in like a true entertainer.
If you ever have a chance, check out her live performances. Better yet, support her and make your iPod happy by purchasing a CD.
Thanks to NPR for this review of the video game, “The Path,” which is in a league of its own. While the graphics and sound appear spectacular, its the game’s concept that stands out. In it, you play one of six versions of Red Riding Hood who are instructed to “stay on the path” on the way to grandmother’s house. If you do as told, however, you fail. It’s obvious that the experience of the game is to stray from the path and into the mysterious forest. Each version of Red is of a different age from the others and each encounters their own “wolf.”
Game designer Michael Samyn said it best: “What’s frightening about it is the confrontation with your own interpretation of things, and probably realizing that they’re your own.”
Listen to the story and be sure to click on the video links. From what is said, the game appears revolutionary, perhaps starting a new game genre. “Coming of Age Simulation” maybe?
First the glowing testimony. Virgin Mobile is a great carrier if you are on a budget. I just hopped onto their Texter’s Delight monthly plan for $15 and added 50Mb of data a month at $10. The coverage is good and the phones are cheap: I bought their Shuttle at $79. All that with no contract.
(If you enter my Virgin kickbacks referral code at your service activation, we both earn 60 minutes free. My code is wLdvPMq5.)
Not all websites support Virgin Mobile SMS services—especially monthly plans. My local paper offers SMS updates of breaking news to most carriers except Virgin Mobile, which is odd since Virgin uses Sprint’s network (a supported carrier).
Most heartbreaking of all is that Twitter, at this writing, does not authenticate Virgin Mobile phones as a device. I’ve tried several methods to activate it—even changing my Virgin number several times online—to no avail.
I called Virgin’s customer service line regarding this issue and the representative was unfamiliar with what Twitter is and could barely hear me because it sounded like he was in a closet full of a hundred of his yelling coworkers. I have since assumed that this is not a Virgin Mobile issue, but a Twitter issue though I could be wrong.
Because of this unfortunate “FAIL,” I’ve tried many workarounds to access Twitter on my phone. Some of these work and some of these almost work, but a combination of these services is better than nothing.
I have a big gripe with any company who goes out of its way to take away features on its product in order to make money. Virgin Mobile is not alone in this, but shame on them for locking us in — or at least trying to.
Virgin Mobile does not make it easy to put custom ringtones on your phone other than by purchasing it from their store. I’ve tried transferring files by card, SMS, Bluetooth, and email to my phone, but Virgin does a good job in shutting those means down.
The only solution I’ve found to load your ringtones onto your phone is to use Rumkin’s Sprint PCS Vision Uploader. You’ll need to purchase Virgin Mobile’s data plan — at least for now — because you’ll need to browse to Rumkin’s website on your phone. Upload an mp3 file from your computer to their website and they will send you a code that you can then use to access the site via your phone. From there you can choose to download contents from the page and save it to your phone. Note: I am using Virgin’s Shuttle phone, and I’m not sure if other Virgin phones will allow you to do this.
So that’s it. If I go through more challenges I will be sure to update this post. In the meantime, good luck!
(Please don’t contact me for help — I’m not a help desk.)
I, like many, hold a certain disdain for the SciFi Network’s decision to rebrand itself as SyFy, but the network is challenging nonbelievers with this extraordinary trailer for the House of Imagination. Tell me you don’t want to go here, and you tell me you’ve smothered your inner child.
I don’t see how this is an “official” version, but I thought it’s worth posting until the link is pulled. For those sorry fools who have not gone to watch “Up” yet, this is the short that played before it. Classic Pixar. It’s good for what ails you.
(If you’re sobbing in a fetal ball during this short, you’re obviously seeing it as an analogy for your job or marriage. Get help.)
This music video will blow your mind out of your smiling face. Directed by Masashi Kawamura, Hal Kirkland, Magico Nakamura, and Masayoshi Nakamura.
