I love Ain’t It Cool News. Harry & Co. are a lot of fun to read and to get my daily geek injection. Now, I know that it is remarkably close to April Fools Day, but this story has an odd sense of truth to it.
Here’s the original story from AICN: http://www.aintitcool.com/node/32089
Here’s the site for the “Snake Plissken Memorial Playground Project”: http://www.snakeplisskenmemorialplayground.com/
AND here’s the My Space site: http://www.myspace.com/spmp
It sounds weird enough to be true.
In other Plissken news; Gerard Butler (King Leonidas from 300) has signed on for the “Escape from New York” remake. While I’m sure Butler will do a great job, the movie will be a hoot and make a wheelbarrow full of cash, I have always hoped that Kurt Russell would be back as Snake for at least one more film. Also words like “remake” or “re-imagining” almost always send ice water down my spine. Still… with this property, which is near and dear to my beating geek heart, I will be there opening night – no doubt.
See you at the playground!
Friday, March 30, 2007
Saturday, March 24, 2007
But Does It Float?
Unique homes are all over the place. I happen to have a thing for water; playing in it, being near it, yadda yadda… I suppose that it’s only natural that the majority of the following homes have something to do with water. I’ve always thought that living on board a boat; sail, barge or other would be a freeing experience. Let’s face it; if things got too hot in one port of call all one would have to do is quietly slip out of the harbor only taking fond memories with you. Nice. Don’t like the neighbors? Sail away. The view is too boring? Change it – the world is truly your picture window.
As a Parrothead I knew that the “Cosmic Muffin” existed in the world somewhere. The famed rocket ship that Desdemona piloted around the Caribbean in search of “Joe Merchant”. Well… Behold. The stories are true: http://unusuallife.com/2007/03/18/desdemonas-rocket-ship-the-cosmic-muffin/. Be the first on your block to live in a ex-plane boat.
Stiltsville Miami in the middle of Biscane Bay. The homes are now part of the National Parks Service but lest there be no doubt, that was pretty cool. Check it: http://www.stiltsville.org/pages/history.html
Not too shabby. A small island in the Keys for only 1.2 million! Rancho Del Evil Chicken? (See it here: http://fkren.com/residential.cfm?houseid=1475)
Frank Lloyd Wright designed this little fixer-upper entitled, “Falling Water”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater It’s a museum these days but it was once a private residence.
Of course the Dutch Barge is always an option. These are huge in Europe; I’d love to give one a spin for a year or so. http://www.barging.co.uk/index.htm
Alas, once more gentle reader; if wishes were horses then beggars would ride. Pretty neat ideas though…
As a Parrothead I knew that the “Cosmic Muffin” existed in the world somewhere. The famed rocket ship that Desdemona piloted around the Caribbean in search of “Joe Merchant”. Well… Behold. The stories are true: http://unusuallife.com/2007/03/18/desdemonas-rocket-ship-the-cosmic-muffin/. Be the first on your block to live in a ex-plane boat.
Stiltsville Miami in the middle of Biscane Bay. The homes are now part of the National Parks Service but lest there be no doubt, that was pretty cool. Check it: http://www.stiltsville.org/pages/history.html
Not too shabby. A small island in the Keys for only 1.2 million! Rancho Del Evil Chicken? (See it here: http://fkren.com/residential.cfm?houseid=1475)
Frank Lloyd Wright designed this little fixer-upper entitled, “Falling Water”. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fallingwater It’s a museum these days but it was once a private residence.
Of course the Dutch Barge is always an option. These are huge in Europe; I’d love to give one a spin for a year or so. http://www.barging.co.uk/index.htm
Alas, once more gentle reader; if wishes were horses then beggars would ride. Pretty neat ideas though…
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
“Pirates of the Caribbean – At World’s End” Trailer is Live!
Aye Lads & Lasses, have ye seen this?
http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1564047&sdm=web&qtw=480&qth=300
Well, feast yer eyes.
I can’t wait for this movie. I’m having geek spasms. I’ll be away at GeoWoodstock in North Carolina but I’ll be seeking out a theater via Fandango…
Aye, mark me words lads and lasses. Mark me words.
http://playlist.yahoo.com/makeplaylist.dll?id=1564047&sdm=web&qtw=480&qth=300
Well, feast yer eyes.
I can’t wait for this movie. I’m having geek spasms. I’ll be away at GeoWoodstock in North Carolina but I’ll be seeking out a theater via Fandango…
Aye, mark me words lads and lasses. Mark me words.
Monday, March 12, 2007
More Than a Feeling
Gentle reader; please allow me to take you back to the summer of 1977. I spent the majority of this summer camping at “The Old Stagecoach Campground”. Yes – I will admit to enjoying to this experience. We slept in a tent and an ancient pop up camper (circa world war I). We had electricity and water on site. Not too shabby. My dad even set up a refrigerator under our rain fly, yep – very fancy. I remember riding my banana seated Schwinn through clouds of DDT, which was dispersed via a “fog machine”, pulled by a tractor around the campground. The theory was that the fog would kill the mosquitoes. I can neither confirm nor deny that any of the blasted blood suckers were killed or not but I can say that DDT tastes pretty bad.
I absolutely loved my existence there at the campground; swimming, crabbing, playing pinball & pool, buying & reading comic books and listening to the jukebox in the game room. Good times. Rod Stewart’s “If You Think I’m Sexy” {as if I had any idea what the song was about at the time}, K.C. & the Sunshine Band’s, “ That’s the Way (I Like It), Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke”, George Harrison’s, “Blow Away”, Boz Scaggs, “Ledo Shuffle” and Boston’s “More Than a Feeling” were songs, that for one reason or another, spoke to me. I hope that makes sense – it’s true… they spoke to me. Those tunes are imprinted onto my organic MP3 player. It’s history – both the bands who recorded them and mine.
I especially love the band, Boston. There’s just this righteous, justified, power chord quality to their music. Tom Scholz is primarily responsible for the sound but it never would have happened if not for Brad Delp, the lead singer for the band. This being said, Mr. Brad Delp, passed away on March 9, ’07. He was only 55 years old. He was a part of my development – my growth. Bottom line. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
Thank you for the music.
I absolutely loved my existence there at the campground; swimming, crabbing, playing pinball & pool, buying & reading comic books and listening to the jukebox in the game room. Good times. Rod Stewart’s “If You Think I’m Sexy” {as if I had any idea what the song was about at the time}, K.C. & the Sunshine Band’s, “ That’s the Way (I Like It), Stevie Wonder’s “Sir Duke”, George Harrison’s, “Blow Away”, Boz Scaggs, “Ledo Shuffle” and Boston’s “More Than a Feeling” were songs, that for one reason or another, spoke to me. I hope that makes sense – it’s true… they spoke to me. Those tunes are imprinted onto my organic MP3 player. It’s history – both the bands who recorded them and mine.
I especially love the band, Boston. There’s just this righteous, justified, power chord quality to their music. Tom Scholz is primarily responsible for the sound but it never would have happened if not for Brad Delp, the lead singer for the band. This being said, Mr. Brad Delp, passed away on March 9, ’07. He was only 55 years old. He was a part of my development – my growth. Bottom line. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.
Thank you for the music.
Saturday, March 10, 2007
"300"
Go see it. Mother Hen & I caught it on Friday and it is worth the price of admission.
…Unlike “Ghostrider” which you can wait for cable to see.
…Unlike “Ghostrider” which you can wait for cable to see.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Boldly Going Again
Star Trek 11 is an official go. Click this for the Full Monty… http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/news/article/45415.html?page=1 . Needless to say Christmas Day of 2008, after opening the presents and digesting the turkey I believe a trip to the local multiplex may be in order.
Abrams said, “If there's something I'm dying to see, it's the brilliance and optimism of Roddenberry's world brought back to the big screen. Alex and Bob wrote an amazing script that embraces and respects Trek canon, but charts its own course. Our goal is to make a picture for everyone — life-long fans and the uninitiated. Needless to say, I am honored and excited to be part of this next chapter of Star Trek.”
Amen. That is what has been missing from Trek for the last ten years.
WARNING: before you read this blog entry any further; 1.) You will need to understand and care about the basics. Trek 101 is a prerequisite. 2.) There are spoilers here lads and lasses. Ye’ve been warned.
Still here, gentle reader?
While any new Star Trek will always catch my weary geek eyes; there hasn’t been a decent Star Trek movie since “Star Trek – First Contact” (Star Trek VIII, 1996) and J.J. Abrams will be fighting an uphill battle to win back ground that has been lost. Abrams has a story and a direction that will “embraces and respects Trek cannon.” As well it should. When one creates a universe one is also bound to the history that exists there. To muck about is sloppy storytelling. When I first heard about a young Kirk and Spock at Starfleet Academy I was skeptical but it sounds like Abrams is going about it the right way. Trek 11 is a go.
What about Trek 12? Abrams has not called me concerning what direction the Trek after this one, Star Trek 12, will take. When he does here is what I’m going to tell him. The Next Generation deserves a big screen send off. You cannot leave such a well-written & realized property to languish as they have been. “Star Trek Nemesis” (Trek 10) ran afoul with both old and new audiences. The franchise, the actors and the fans deserve better. In “Evil Chicken’s Trek 12”, “Q” will return. John De Lancie will reprise his role; in fact all of the regulars would. This will include Brent Spiner whose character, Data, died in the last movie and Wil Wheaton whose cameo was cut out of the last flick. Not to boor you gentle reader (although since you have read thus far I can only assume you read and agreed to the WARNING that was posted), but here’s my quick outline for bringing Star Trek back to the masses.
An aged and all too human Data begins appearing at places where the ex-executive staff of the starship Enterprise – D (& E for that matter), has set up shop. The Klingon High Counsel for Ambassador Worf, Earth for Geordie (who has gone into the field of Positronic research by the way), the Enterprise – E since in my movie Riker is the Captain and Troi is still his wife & Ships Counselor and to Duridian II, where we find Beverly Crusher and Jean-Luc Picard. The two have been married for quite some time but Jean-Luc is suffering from the effects of his Irumodic syndrome and his life is coming to an end. Why Duridian II? I like the sound of the name. Any way, Data who is now resurrected and human is the harbinger of Q. Data, for some reason, has to give his life to revive Picard. Why? Well, you see, the Q Continuum is about to crush in upon itself and only the crew helmed by Picard can save the day. Picard and company rush to the aid of Q and save the day but in doing so everything returns to how it was at the beginning of the movie. With Picard’s Irumodic Syndrome he is practically a vegetable and under constant care, waiting for the mercy of death. Q offers him another chance to boldly go where no one has gone before – he offers him membership in the Continuum. He accepts and Picard becomes “P” – the latest and destined to be one of the greatest omnipotent beings the universe has to offer. “The Human adventure is just beginning”, would be the tagline – again.
Yeah, good times, good times…
So Mr. Abrams, let me know what you think. Trek 12 is only a few years off – you know it will happen, so if you want to make some magic together just let me know. Please make checks payable to Evil Chicken, Swamps of South Jersey.
Thanks.
Abrams said, “If there's something I'm dying to see, it's the brilliance and optimism of Roddenberry's world brought back to the big screen. Alex and Bob wrote an amazing script that embraces and respects Trek canon, but charts its own course. Our goal is to make a picture for everyone — life-long fans and the uninitiated. Needless to say, I am honored and excited to be part of this next chapter of Star Trek.”
Amen. That is what has been missing from Trek for the last ten years.
WARNING: before you read this blog entry any further; 1.) You will need to understand and care about the basics. Trek 101 is a prerequisite. 2.) There are spoilers here lads and lasses. Ye’ve been warned.
Still here, gentle reader?
While any new Star Trek will always catch my weary geek eyes; there hasn’t been a decent Star Trek movie since “Star Trek – First Contact” (Star Trek VIII, 1996) and J.J. Abrams will be fighting an uphill battle to win back ground that has been lost. Abrams has a story and a direction that will “embraces and respects Trek cannon.” As well it should. When one creates a universe one is also bound to the history that exists there. To muck about is sloppy storytelling. When I first heard about a young Kirk and Spock at Starfleet Academy I was skeptical but it sounds like Abrams is going about it the right way. Trek 11 is a go.
What about Trek 12? Abrams has not called me concerning what direction the Trek after this one, Star Trek 12, will take. When he does here is what I’m going to tell him. The Next Generation deserves a big screen send off. You cannot leave such a well-written & realized property to languish as they have been. “Star Trek Nemesis” (Trek 10) ran afoul with both old and new audiences. The franchise, the actors and the fans deserve better. In “Evil Chicken’s Trek 12”, “Q” will return. John De Lancie will reprise his role; in fact all of the regulars would. This will include Brent Spiner whose character, Data, died in the last movie and Wil Wheaton whose cameo was cut out of the last flick. Not to boor you gentle reader (although since you have read thus far I can only assume you read and agreed to the WARNING that was posted), but here’s my quick outline for bringing Star Trek back to the masses.
An aged and all too human Data begins appearing at places where the ex-executive staff of the starship Enterprise – D (& E for that matter), has set up shop. The Klingon High Counsel for Ambassador Worf, Earth for Geordie (who has gone into the field of Positronic research by the way), the Enterprise – E since in my movie Riker is the Captain and Troi is still his wife & Ships Counselor and to Duridian II, where we find Beverly Crusher and Jean-Luc Picard. The two have been married for quite some time but Jean-Luc is suffering from the effects of his Irumodic syndrome and his life is coming to an end. Why Duridian II? I like the sound of the name. Any way, Data who is now resurrected and human is the harbinger of Q. Data, for some reason, has to give his life to revive Picard. Why? Well, you see, the Q Continuum is about to crush in upon itself and only the crew helmed by Picard can save the day. Picard and company rush to the aid of Q and save the day but in doing so everything returns to how it was at the beginning of the movie. With Picard’s Irumodic Syndrome he is practically a vegetable and under constant care, waiting for the mercy of death. Q offers him another chance to boldly go where no one has gone before – he offers him membership in the Continuum. He accepts and Picard becomes “P” – the latest and destined to be one of the greatest omnipotent beings the universe has to offer. “The Human adventure is just beginning”, would be the tagline – again.
Yeah, good times, good times…
So Mr. Abrams, let me know what you think. Trek 12 is only a few years off – you know it will happen, so if you want to make some magic together just let me know. Please make checks payable to Evil Chicken, Swamps of South Jersey.
Thanks.
Campark & the Mega Millions
Two winning parties will split $390,000,000 – one in Georgia and one in New Jersey. I’m not one of those parties. But one of my old haunts is where the winning NJ ticket was sold; Campark Liquors in Woodbine NJ. Campark has been everything from a convenience store to a sandwich shop but it has always sold lottery tickets. I’ve bought many from them over the years while participating in office pools and such. As I write this blog the winner has not yet come forward which makes a lot of sense. If blessed with such a fortune it would behoove the winner to secure a lawyer and an accountant before sealing the deal, so to speak.
Any way, due to the local proximity in relation to where the ticket was purchased and the fact that a major employer in the area happens to be down the street from Campark, there is a fair to midline chance that I may know the winner – not in a “Hey Evil Chicken let me pay off your mortgage” sort of fashion but in a “Hey, I know that guy / gal!” The workers at Campark are all over the local network affiliates and I’ve seen or know the lot of them. Nice people. The owner of Campark gets a $10,000 check for selling the winning ticket. It turns out that he is going to split the amount between his employees, which is a classy thing to do, by the way.
I wish the winner the best but I do hope that the pot goes to someone who deserves it, needs it and can use it to better more people’s existences than just their own.
You know, I’ve spoken a lot of the lottery most recently (see 2/25/07 entry); take heart gentle reader, I’ll change the topic soon – I promise.
Any way, due to the local proximity in relation to where the ticket was purchased and the fact that a major employer in the area happens to be down the street from Campark, there is a fair to midline chance that I may know the winner – not in a “Hey Evil Chicken let me pay off your mortgage” sort of fashion but in a “Hey, I know that guy / gal!” The workers at Campark are all over the local network affiliates and I’ve seen or know the lot of them. Nice people. The owner of Campark gets a $10,000 check for selling the winning ticket. It turns out that he is going to split the amount between his employees, which is a classy thing to do, by the way.
I wish the winner the best but I do hope that the pot goes to someone who deserves it, needs it and can use it to better more people’s existences than just their own.
You know, I’ve spoken a lot of the lottery most recently (see 2/25/07 entry); take heart gentle reader, I’ll change the topic soon – I promise.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Rainforest Café – Atlantic City
Gentle reader. I didn’t start writing this blog to do what I’m about to do right now… Please forgive me.
Chick 2.0 celebrated a birthday yesterday so after a trip to the zoo we ended up at the “Rainforest Café” in Atlantic City – pretty cool, no? You bet. It’s on the boardwalk and part of the “Trump Plaza” property. Hey we were down in Orlando and had a blast at that one and those “Volcano” cakes are pretty cool – no doubt. Why not take Chick 2.0 and her siblings to mark the day?
For those of you who don’t know, the “Rainforest Café” is a theme restaurant that looks like a jungle. Every 15 minutes or so the jungle comes to life. Animatronic gorillas, elephants, giant butterflies and Mayan gods get into the act. Rain falls and mist rises. Pretty neat. The food is corporate which is to be expected. The AC version of this restaurant is smaller than the one in Orlando FL. The staff is different too. In Orlando they are used to dealing with families on vacation while in AC they are used to dealing with people who have just lost a lot of money at the casinos – usually sans children. Don’t get me wrong – the service was good; I only refer to the overall sense of welcome. Orlando had it, AC doesn’t.
“But why, Evil Chicken, are you upset?” It wasn’t just the service thing. Call me crazy but if I’m spending a hundred bucks on dinner I want to be whistling gleefully at the end of the night. No, gentle reader, that’s not the complete reason that I’m miffed. You see 3 out of 5 members of our family (including the birthday girl) had immediate diarrhea – repeatedly. 1 member was throwing up too.
Yeah, good times.
So, the next time that you’re planning a special night out, it would be my humble recommendation to skip the AC “Rainforest Café” all together and wait until you can go to Orlando. There are other local places to blow a hundred bucks. If you cannot wait, at the very least let the Board of Health complete an inspection first.
See you at McDonald’s.
Chick 2.0 celebrated a birthday yesterday so after a trip to the zoo we ended up at the “Rainforest Café” in Atlantic City – pretty cool, no? You bet. It’s on the boardwalk and part of the “Trump Plaza” property. Hey we were down in Orlando and had a blast at that one and those “Volcano” cakes are pretty cool – no doubt. Why not take Chick 2.0 and her siblings to mark the day?
For those of you who don’t know, the “Rainforest Café” is a theme restaurant that looks like a jungle. Every 15 minutes or so the jungle comes to life. Animatronic gorillas, elephants, giant butterflies and Mayan gods get into the act. Rain falls and mist rises. Pretty neat. The food is corporate which is to be expected. The AC version of this restaurant is smaller than the one in Orlando FL. The staff is different too. In Orlando they are used to dealing with families on vacation while in AC they are used to dealing with people who have just lost a lot of money at the casinos – usually sans children. Don’t get me wrong – the service was good; I only refer to the overall sense of welcome. Orlando had it, AC doesn’t.
“But why, Evil Chicken, are you upset?” It wasn’t just the service thing. Call me crazy but if I’m spending a hundred bucks on dinner I want to be whistling gleefully at the end of the night. No, gentle reader, that’s not the complete reason that I’m miffed. You see 3 out of 5 members of our family (including the birthday girl) had immediate diarrhea – repeatedly. 1 member was throwing up too.
Yeah, good times.
So, the next time that you’re planning a special night out, it would be my humble recommendation to skip the AC “Rainforest Café” all together and wait until you can go to Orlando. There are other local places to blow a hundred bucks. If you cannot wait, at the very least let the Board of Health complete an inspection first.
See you at McDonald’s.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)