What A Slacker!

Star Trek Review Part 1

Add comment May 8th, 2009

Saw the new Star Trek movie last night and all I can say right now is “WOW!” I am headed to the IMAX today to see it again and maybe I will be able to formulate more of an actual review at that point, but until then here is my friend’s review from last nights viewing (Warning some spoilers most are at the end of the review — enjoy and go see the film!)

Kent’s Review:

It has been a long, long time since I have given a four star review to any science fiction film released in the theater of late. I was beginning to think the endless sequels, remakes, retreads and prequels had Hollywood in a funk they could not get out of, which certainly did not justify the recent writer’s strike and does even less to fuel the rationalization of the pending actor’s strike. In short, there are very few new ideas out there, and even fewer new ideas that are actually decent and play well from beginning to end without being mucked up by the Hollywood machine. So, in these times of uncertainty, unoriginality and unappreciation, we turn our eyes to what offerings ther are on the table and hope for the best. Sadly, more often than not, we are disappointed with the results.

Until now.

Make no mistake, Star Trek is back, not only in a big way, but in a way that will please fans both young and old and also give chance to newcomers to the saga to hop on board without needing any previous knowledge of the canon or its characters. This is not a reboot. This is not a remake. This is (slightly skewed) fresh start for us to see played out the first meetings of the beloved Original Series characters and many of the snippets of their pasts that were mentioned or alluded to in episodes but were not actually seen. This is no easy task since director J J Abrams needs to walk the fine line between diehard fans, and deeply entrenched legendary history, established and beloved characters, the demands of special effects and action sequences of today and the board of critics, both novice and professional, that have been waiting anxoiusly for this much-hyped recalibration. An impossible task at best, but the results are as mindblowingly close to perfect as anyone could possibly hope to come.

First and foremost, if the cast doesn’t work, the rest of the film doesn’t matter. You can’t just have anyone don a classic Trek uniform, have them deliver tagline references and hope to pass them off as the iconic legends these characters have become. But there are absolutely no worries in that department. Chris Pine’s Kirk is savvy, rebelious, slightly egotistical, reckless and has a weakness for the opposite sex. Equally inpressive is Zachary Quinto’s portrayal of the emotionally and logically divided Spock, who is still trying to determine who he is and sort out what sort of man he is to become. Everyone else - Sulu, Uhura, Chekov, Scotty - is more than passable, even if the looks don’t exactly match or the character developmen is a bit off. But above them all, dead on, perfect-for-the-role is Keith Urban’s portrayal of the late, great DeForrest Kelly’s Dr. McCoy. Just close your eyes as he delivers his crusty county doctor repitoire and try to separate him from his predecessor. Then open them and copare the mannerisms, gestures, expressions and side-of-the-mouth dialogue delivery and try not to believe he is Kelly reborn. The comparisons are staggeringly uncanny.

Then there’s the plot. Well, whenever you have a villain that goes dickering around with time, there are bound to be a few flaws, not to mention inconsistancies that result due to the interference with the space/time continuum. However, since this is not an exact history and some latitude needs to be given for plot devices, the few changes to what history we know of Star Trek are both forgivable and understandable. We can suspend our belief and accept a few minor changes here and there for the sake of the Trek we have all been so eagerly and patiently been waiting for.

And finally, the finishing touches. Special effects; check. Music; check. Surprising and unexpected castings for the supportng roles; check. classic taglines that don’t feel forced or out of place; check. All systems; check. An a kickass ship to put them all in; absolutely.

For so many years the “blockbuster” start of the summer has been a mixed bag of disappointments, half-hearted attempts and critically bashed tripe. This year, without question, the summer film season has begun on an extremely positive note. And with the Enterprise out in front, with any luck, this time it will live long and prosper.

Star Trek **** (out of four) Rated PG-13 for violence, language, sexual situations, alcohol consumption, and scary situations. Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Keith Urban, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saladna, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Bruce Greenwood, Eric Bana, Ben Cross, Wynona Rider, Deep Roy and Leonard Nimoy.

• Things we would like to have seen or heard that were not included in the film:
• Nurse Chapel
• Yeoman Janice Rand
• “He’s dead, Jim.”
• “I’m only one man, captain.”
• “Beam me up, Scotty” (only because no one officially ever said it ever) or “Energize” all by itself.
• “Fascinating.”
• For the timeline to have been restored, even if only to bring back Amanda or Kirk’s dad, or at least save Vulcan
• Captain (or Admiral) Robert April
• Lt. Arex and/or Lt. M’Ress (now that the special effects are available, they could do it)
• Things that seemed out of place:
• That little alien creature hanging around with Scotty (sorry Deep Roy)
• The violation of the orignal canon regarding no one knowing what a romulan looked like before Balance of Terror
• and, again, the destruction of Vulcan and the loss of Amanda and Kirk’s father
• That whole scene with young Kirk stealing the car and driving it off the cliff
• The premise that Budweiser beer will still be around hundreds of years from now.
• The Spock/Uhura relationship
• Things that were absolutely cool:
• The continued death-of-a-red-shirt tradition
• Uhura being smokin’ hot!
• The inclusion of an Orion girl. Always welcome.
• The inclusion of other alien races in crowd scenes. Nice touch.
• The playing out of the whole Kobyashai Muru incident.

Bad Dogs Shouldn’t Be Put Down Give Em a Job

Add comment May 1st, 2009

Mean dogs are given a second chance at life in Idaho. According to the Associated Press dogs that are too mean to be pets are now patrolling prison grounds.

It is good to hear that dogs that would normally be put down because they are un-adoptable are finding a home in the prison system there. Apparently they are just as good if not better than their human counterparts when it comes to being a prison sentry. This mix of German Shepherds, Rottweilers, Belgian Malinois, Pit bulls and Boxers haven’t allowed a single escape since 1986. No one has even tried since the 90s. Officer Amos was quoted as saying, “What makes them a bad pet makes them good sentries.”

Keep up the good work of being a bad dog and keep those bad humans where they belong prison. My only hope is more states see the value of putting these dogs to good use instead of simply putting them down.

The Magneticat - Boris Gets a New Toy

Add comment March 11th, 2009

Boris got a new toy the other day and he LOVES it!

It is called the MAGNETICAT (get it magnetic cat — LOL). It has a magnet in the toy and magnets in the base so when the toy moves it keeps going for a little while to tease your cat back to it for more play.

Boris goes over and rubs the steel pole the toy is attached to and then the magnets get to moving the toy and he thinks, “what the heck, I’m here might as well play now” and plops down and kills it. See the video for how much fun he has.

And thanks to the folks over at CatToys.com he’s going to be a star! (They have posted his video on their site for the whole world to see!)

Update: Boris’ Magneticat video is on their blog too!

I Want It Wednesday: weRobot T-Shirt

Add comment February 4th, 2009

So often my “Want It” posts are for things that are completely out of reach for me, but today’s post is something I will be getting.

After viewing Monday’s Big Bang Theory I had to go on a search for the t-shirt that Sheldon was wearing. My search brought me to a cool website (Chop Shop) with a similar shirt, but instead of Godzilla the shirt I came across this shirt was covered in Robots (only about half of which I can name…I hope the shirt comes with a list of who they are).

But since I could not find the Japanese monster shirt I had seen and this shirt was similar I thought I would ask, so I shot off a quick email. I thought I would hear back in a few days (if at all). To my surprise I got an email back in about an hour and they told me who did the shirt Sheldon was wearing even though it was not available through them. How cool is that?!

So I will definitely be back for this awesome robot tee!

I Want It Wednesday: A Pen That Writes Anywhere

Add comment January 14th, 2009

Remember the Fisher Space pen and how cool it was to be able to write anywhere even upside down? I found another pen that is just as cool, maybe even cooler. (If that’s possible since the Fisher Space pen did do a licensed Star Trek pen back in the day, I have one in my collection.) This new pen I am talking about is the INKA pen.

The Inka pen is from those innovative guys over at Nile Ize and it is pretty sweet. Like the space pen it writes anywhere — upside down, under water and in extreme temperatures. So you can take it with you anywhere you go even planet Vulcan.

It has a multifunction design. The closed pen is watertight and can be used as a key chain or attach it to your gear. There’s a PDA stylus too so you can quickly tap out commands on your tricorder or smart phone (which ever one you happen to have). Take the key ring off and reassemble your Inka in to a full size writing instrument, which by the way is pretty smart looking, with its stainless steel and carbon fiber components. This would make a great gift for anyone from all out geek to a sports nut. For more info check out writeanywhere.com or just head on over to ThinkGeek.com to pick up yours.

The Marvelous Marvel Ranch

Add comment October 18th, 2008

We recently discovered a little restaurant in the middle of town called the Marvel Ranch. It is at 4th and Penn in downtown Reading. We have been driving by this place for twenty odd years and thought it was a closed down dive. Well it isn’t either of those things.

The outside does present itself as a dive and perhaps the inside isn’t much better, but the food is good and inexpensive. It has a homey feel like Mel’s in Alice’s Restaurant. (We haven’t gone in enough times to know if The Marvel Ranch has its own version of Flo or not. But the locals and regulars add plenty of color and character to the overall atmosphere even without a Flo in the mix.)

The hours at the Marvel are a bit odd (this is why we assumed it was no longer in business). They open real early to catch the folks heading off to work something like 5:30 or 6: 00 (you won’ t catch me up that early). Then close around I:00 pm and 12:00pm on Sundays. You can get their entire menu at any time. So if you want a burger at 6 am you can get it or if you want the Marvel Mess at noon you can get that too. What is the Marvel Mess? It is an omelet that is pretty much a Marvel Ranch exclusive. It includes scrambled eggs, cheese, potatoes, ham, onions, and peppers all served up in a heap on your plate for only a few dollars. The also serve a smaller portion called the mini marvel mess. A stack of 3 pancakes is under 3 dollars.

Next time you find yourself in Reading in the morning looking for a good place for breakfast or an early lunch check out this hidden treasure that’s just across the Penn Street bridge. You’ll be pleasantly surprised. I know we were.

Review: Fly Fusion Pentop Computer

Add comment September 25th, 2008

LeapFrog FLY Fusion Pentop Computer is more than just a digital pen. It is an educational tool as well. It is made by Leapfrog so we adults that are using it sometimes feel like we are using a kid’s toy more than a productive piece of equipment. I would say that the fly fusion is geared more toward the junior high (oops I am showing my age there, I mean middle school) and high school crowds, but college students and adults can also use it.

As you write on special paper with the pen it scans your text into the pen then you download your notes to your PC where you can store, email, edit and organize them. You can get additional math and language programs for the pen as well. All your applications can be accessed through a control panel on the fly fusion notebooks. You can even play MP3s through the pen.

Since I’m not in school I don’t really need the added test prep or math programs, but the composition and language programs could be of some use. For the most part the pen work s pretty well. I do have to fix a few errors once my handwriting is converted to a word document, but I would need to proof read a typed document as well. For $ 79 you get the pen, a very thin notebook and $10 download card to use with the enclosed software so you can add games and other apps right away. If you head over to the online store you can pick up additional notebooks, ink, memory cards, a case and other goodies.

I bought the Target exclusive black pen because I thought it looked classier. Well it doesn’t any more because nothing else comes in black. So my pen now looks like Frankenstein. Also the ink is only about 2 thirds that of a regular pen so you’ll want extras right away and I have not seen the ink refills in any store just online. Ink is available in blue, red or green but not black. I like the pen it is nice to carry a tablet and pen with me instead of my laptop. If you do a lot of writing (blogging) you might want to take a look a the fly fusion for under a hundred bucks it is a handy tool to have.

Right now the FLY Fusion Pentop Computer is only $50 at Amazon.

Yeah PA Adopts a No Smoking Law (sort of)

1 comment September 12th, 2008

PA No Smoking Law went into effect yesterday. Of course this has pissed off a slew of smokers, but as a non-smoker and someone who is actually allergic to smoke I am very happy to see this law finally come to Pennsylvania. Smoking really is a filthy, dirty habit and your lungs will thank the state for stepping in on their behalf.

While this is a statewide ban on indoor smoking across the state there are a few exceptions like bars that have less than 20% of their sales in food and casinos. Personally, I think this should have been wide sweeping and covered ALL businesses. It hasn’t hurt bars in California at all.

It will be great to not have to hang all my close outside after being in a restaurant and knowing I will be healthier without the second hand smoke. No more feeling sick when the smoke from a table of smokers blows across our table (it always seemed like non-smoking sections were still way too close to the smokers).

I have to agree with SharonHerald.com who said, “A complete non-smoking law everywhere would have made it simple. But then again, no one has ever accused our state General Assembly of doing what’s right for the people. They are too often swayed by special-interest groups and campaign contributions.” How true is that?

I Want It Wednesday: Lego Deathstar

Add comment June 25th, 2008

The Lego Star Wars Deathstar has reached new heights with the new Battle inside the Death Star™! This is not just a Lego model it is a playset to beat all playsets (and maybe it should at a $400 price tag). Look at everything this cool Lego set has to offer.

• Includes 25 heroes, villains, droids and creatures!
• Includes 6 new and exclusive minifigures and droids only found in this set: Luke Skywalker™ (Stormtrooper™ outfit), Han Solo™ (Stormtrooper outfit), Assassin Droid™, Interrogation Droid, Death Star Droid and 2 Death Star Troopers™!
• Also includes Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Obi-Wan Kenobi™, C-3PO™, R2-D2™, Princess Leia™, Chewbacca™, Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight), Darth Vader™, Grand Moff Tarkin™, Emperor Palpatine™, 2 Stormtroopers, 2 Emperor’s Royal Guards™, R2-Q5™, and mouse droid!
• All-new Dianoga™ trash compactor monster!
• Movie-authentic Death Star environments include the Superlaser control room and target monitor, Imperial conference chamber, TIE Advanced hangar bay with moving launch rack, Emperor’s throne room, droid maintenance room, detention block, trash compactor, and much more!
• Rescue Princess Leia from the detention block cell, then escape through the secret hatch to the trash compactor below!
• Reenact the final duel between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in the Emperor’s Throne Room!
• Death Star measures 16” (41cm) tall and 16½” (42cm) wide!
• TIE Advanced measures 3½” (9cm) wide!

Recreate the action and adventure of the Star Wars™ movies with the ultimate Death Star playset! This amazingly detailed battle station features an incredible array of minifigure-scale scenes, moving parts, characters and accessories from Episodes IV and VI on its multiple decks, including the Death Star control room, rotating turbolaser turrets, hangar bay with TIE Advanced starfighter, tractor beam controls, Emperor’s throne room, detention block, firing laser cannon, Imperial conference chamber, droid maintenance facility, and the powerful Death Star superlaser…plus much more! Swing across the chasm with Luke and Leia, face danger in the crushing trash compactor, and duel with Darth Vader for the fate of the galaxy!

Shop the LEGO Star Wars Collection

Sweetest Contest This Summer is at Cold Stone

Add comment May 31st, 2008

Cold Stone Creamery is holding a delicious contest. Before I get into how cool and wonderful this is let me tell you it is for young adults 13 to 19 (which sucks for me because I would have so been there). Okay, so now you know and if you are between those ages you can do this.

All you have to do is go a Cold Stone Creamery and create your best combination of ingredients. Once you have the ultimate yummy combo name it and head to the internet. Yep take your ice cream to the masses.

Sign up for the Awesome Cold Stone Contest online. Here’s where the fun part comes in get all your friends, both from the real world and the internet, to head to Cold Stone and taste your creation. Once they have given you two thumbs up have them vote online for you and your yummy ice cream concoction. In a competition kind of like those I have seen on the food network your entry will be judged first by the masses then if it passes the public opinion then you get to face the judges at Cold Stone.

I have not even mentioned that you are competing for over $30,000 in prizes! The iMix America contest has already started so get out there and create the ultimate ice cream mashup and get to promoting yourself online you only have until June 5th! Oh, and good luck.

Really Cool Temporary Art

Add comment May 22nd, 2008

I justed happened across this video this morning while I was avoiding going to the hospital for my tests (still dealing with that accident six months ago). Any who, this video shows some very, very cool artwork done on sidewalks with chalk (unbelievable stuff with such depth and dimension you wish it were permanent) and sand sculptures like I have never seen before (again wish these were made of stone). Well enjoy this video and let me know which piece is your favorite.

Man´s Creations - Click here for more amazing videos

Need More Business Cards Time to Reorder

Add comment May 14th, 2008

Well I have finally given away the last of my business cards. I had some made up last year for my website over at Vista Print. Since they are completely gone now it is time to head back over to their website and reorder some more. The site is so easy to use and you really do get professional quality printing at an amazingly low price. I also had matching magnets made at the same time. I couldn’t have been happier, but I guess that goes without saying since I will be reordering more.

They have tons of special offers, even free merchandise, but I opted to upload my own graphics and then I got a high gloss front, which looked so cool with the black background. I just logged in and reordering couldn’t be easier. They still have my cards on files and all I had to do was hit a button and review my cards. If I hadn’t uploaded the card design as an image I could have edited it during review before finalizing my purchase, which I did not do just yet.

I still have to go back and find my original artwork. They have so other items besides just business cards and magnets. They have invitations, cards, rubber stamps, and promotional items just to name a few.

Speaking of promotions during check out, if your order is over $15, you’ll be offered a free magazine from one of their partners. Well if, like me, you choose to decline the offer be sure to click the link to get a rebate form. Fill that out and you can request rebate for the stated value ($10) of the offer. Not a bad deal.

Indiana Jones Lego Sets Keep On Coming

Add comment May 7th, 2008

May 1st brought a slew more Indian Jones LEGO sets.  We already had the The Temple Escape ($60),  Race for the Stolen Treasure ($30),  The Lost Tomb($20) and the Motorcycle Chase ($10).  the only one of those three I still need to get is the Race for the Stolen Treasure set and I might have to put that one off for a little while as these new sets have me all excited!

The Indian Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Lego sets available as of May 1, 2008 are: Jungle Duel ($10), River Chase ($20), Jungle Cutter($40), and The Temple of the Crystal Skull ($70). So far the only one I have picked up is the cheapest one The Jungle Duel set. Fun little set that includes three minifigs. You get Indy, Mutt and Spalko. The cloth tent is pretty cool. I could see a whole bunch of these set up as a military camp or boyscott troop. I can definitely see the steampunk and diselpunk lego fans making some fun stuff from all these Indy sets that’s for sure.

I really hope LEGO keeps pushing out the Indiana Jones sets for us adult fans as well as the kids. So far these are available at Toys R Us and Wal-Mart. Target hasn’t jumped on the band wagon yet as they only have the first four Lego sets none of the new ones and none of the action figures either. If you are looking to pick these up I don’t recommend TRU as their prices are $2-10 more than any where else including LEGO.com and EntertainmentEarth.com.