Tree "Trimming"

On the radical side, I'd say.

Cat and Bird. Also Tree.

Canyon of Improbable Time

EXT: CANYON OF IMPROBABLE TIME—DAY

MESSENGER VA and GUARD walking side by side. In the background, the walls of a heavily eroded desert canyon stretch upward out of frame.

MESSENGER VA

Keep your wits about you. We're going to go through the Canyon of Improbable Time.

GUARD

That doesn't sound so bad. It could be the Valley of Certain Destruction.

VA

The Valley of Certain Destruction is the other way, smart guy. That's where Scout is headed in pursuit of the Toa Maiden. If you're lucky you won't catch up with him.

GUARD

You're a feisty one.

VA

And you're a newly-minted soul-slave of Scout's. How long have you been out of the box?

GUARD

I'm pretty new.

VA

How long?

GUARD

I think it was this morning. It's really dim before then.

VA

I see. You are lucky - you'll stay with Trainer when we get there. All right, here we are. You may think you see things, but they aren't anything to panic about.

GUARD

So they are just illusions? I can handle that.

VA

Not illusions. They are there, but not long enough to matter to you. You may not see anything except a blur. But it's not safe. Some of the things can see you just fine.

An innocuous mound in the background suddenly seethes into seeming life. MESSENGER VA flees immediately but the GUARD, initially stunned, stands his ground to battle the onrushing wall. He is immediately engulfed.

EXT CANYON OF IMPROBABLE TIME - MOMENTS LATER

VA

(muttering)

I guess I could have seen that coming. I told them that he would just be in the way and well he was but only for a little while because he is no one's way now, the poor sap. I wonder if Scout will feel any remorse at all. I wonder if that guard was supposed to keep me from getting back? That would be just about Scout's speed, the lying, treacherous wretch. Trainer is right not to trust him. Sure, Scout has been around almost as long as the universe but that doesn't give him the right to treat his servants, created yesterday, for pity's sake, yesterday! as if their lives don't matter. And it loks like Scout is getting careless. Time was when he would rage and spout fire if any of his lads even got hurt. Now he uses them up just to keep tabs on this old messenger Va. Well, now I'm laughing, aren't I. I am here almost on the other side of this vastly treacherous ground while Scout's poor tool is in the belly of that thing.

More of the same

Fort Bend school trustees put off video game appeal | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

Still ridiculous.

Not-White Teen Writes FPS Mod + claw hammer != terrorist

Chinese Community Rallies Behind Student Removed From Clements - FortBendNow

Beyond ridiculous.

Handy collection of Toa Maiden Links

And some comments from the good folks at Forum of Destiny.

Two-Tongued Eleslothoala

In Pursuit of the Toa Maiden

20070424_sneaky_0

Against the Current

from this thread:

Perhaps there is a niche for more thoughtful Bionicle stories.

Citizen Kanua. Wealthy chronicler Kanua looks for happiness his entire life but really just wants his lava sled back.


Lorans of Mata Nui. The koros are splintered and bickering even while under attack. Lorans convinces them to work for their common good.

The Ga-Koro Connection. Infected masks are flooding the streets and Popaiadoia does whatever it takes to find out where they are coming from.

Ussal Driver. Bikkolo, damaged by war, finds himself unable to fit into society. Things go very wrong when he tries to defend the honor of a Ga-koran.

Waiting for Godo. (No adaption needed, works as is.)


The Maltese Gukko. She said she wanted protection but she's really after fabulous treasure.

The Good, The Bad and the Rahi. The Toa With No Name contends with treachery on the hunt for fabulous treasure.

Treasure of the Sierra Ihu. Prospectors contend with treachery — and madness — on the hunt for fabulous treasure.

Treasure Nui. Naive Matoran find map, seek ... fabulous treasure. There is also treachery.

Alarm clock runs away gone commercial

Clocky. The prototype was made out of Lego. At least the wheels were.
I will hold out for the plush version.

Boy jailed over clock change mix-up

Boy jailed over clock change mix-up This makes me so mad! How many idiots does it take to raze a village? If the idiot witnesses (the principal and anyone who listened to the message and had access to the timestamps) and the idiot police don't dress in burlap and cover themselves in ashes at the feet of this child then there is no justice.

Mr. Lister is not happy about this!

Contamination cited in Listerine recall

ape/satyr/cow-skull thingie

From the parts bin

20070409_MOC

Shown in conflict (inevitable conflict) with a Toa in dog-catcher livery. Back story ... um. Soulless spectre spawned from the unleashed passions of an ancient battle between titans so ancient themselves that their very names are forgotten and their iron bones, as broad as pylons, wore to dust.

Darth Vader Easter Egg (and more)

There is such a thing as a Darth Vader Easter Egg. That is, the ovum of a chicken with decoration, not a hidden bit of software.

The Cat is on the Car

In the tradition of The Cat Is on the Roof, I present The Cat Is on the Car.

Toa Maiden and the Branch

The Toa Maiden crosses a branch as big as a bridge.

Toa Maiden in the Cavern of Wonders

aka
my living room floor

Tale of the Toa Maiden: The Wormhole in the Rocky Defile

wormhole

Funny IM Convo

Clash Heroin wrote:
check this out
Slick video demo

Kyle.Beatty wrote:
It may be the best thing since sliced bread but it is being touted in exactly the wrong way. I am strongly reminded of the protracted hypefest that surrounded video-goggles. Lots and lots of promises + a cool demo != good.

·the demo is awesome
·the promises are abundant
·?
·profit!

Clash Heroin wrote:
Very true, but you have to admit it is still cool

Kyle.Beatty wrote:
I think maglev is cool but I can't take one to the commuter station where my flying car waits to fly me to Jetson Towers and my robot housecleaner.

Clash Heroin wrote:
rofl

Kyle.Beatty wrote:
And my moon shuttle trip was canceled due to lack of room at the Lunar Hotel because they forgot to build the future. And now I have a name for all my disappointment: Jeff Han. It's his fault. That Steve Jobs wannabe demo-giver Jeff Han.

Earthquake near former stomping grounds

I can see my house from here!

2B1: The Children's Machine - OLPCWiki

2B1: The Children's Machine - OLPCWiki: "laptop.org"

It's adorable!

Inherit the Wind

Dimetrodon, played by Fedric March, is run to ground by naked ape with giant brain (Spencer Tracy). Genetic selection ensues.

Director Kramer stacks the deck against William Jennings Bryan, but so did reality, so I guess it's allowed.

Wallace Beery, who has maybe three lines, almost steals the show.

A mule for clones

Mule as the expression is used in Serenity

From 20070303

Logitech threatens to sue software author

I've been using Logisphere for a good long while and their software only made me appreciate the logitech gear more. This type of corporate boorishness is just depressing. Happily, Abelcam works with a variety of cameras and PTZ equipment. So I am not tied to to the bullies. Hooray for choice!



read more | digg story

My Darling Clementine

'My Darling Clementine' is not perfect. John Ford didn't finish his edit, one of the characters is named 'Chihuahua,' and the always aggravating Victor Mature in a main role, but the overall effect is really good.
Tipping it into classic status is Walter Brennan's performance as the profoundly amoral, bestial and depraved Pa Clanton. No bad guy has ever approached such complete villainy. Darth Vader and Hannibal Lecter aren't a patch on Pa Clanton with their misguided loyalties and effete savoir-faire. Henry Fonda was probably channeling Brennan while he performed in 'Once Upon a Time in the West': as bad as Frank is, Pa Clanton makes him look like a mere victim of a difficult childhood with parental issues to process. Sauron could learn a few things about ruthlessness from Pa Clanton. At least the Old Testament God didn't let Abraham sacrifice Isaac. Pa Clanton is not subject to such lily-livered distractions.

The Awful Truth

It is screwball, yes, but it has a little more edge than 'Bringing Up Baby,' say. Lots of great comebacks and raised eyebrows. Performances are not restrained but the action never descends to pure slapstick. OK, the dog and mirror gag is not really all that inspired or necessary, but it's brief and painless. Most of the direction is really smart.

The Long Ships

Apologists for this movie aside, this is dreadful schlock. That Jack Cardiff directed this childish travesty so soon after his DP work on the great 'The Vikings' is difficult to understand. Everything that is good about 'the Vikings' is mocked in 'the Long Ships.' One element belongs to 'the Long Ships and 'the Long Ships' alone: Sidney Poitier's coif must be seen to be appreciated. High marks for enthusiasm all around but did they make it up as they went along?

The Ox Bow Incident

Earnest social message does not blunt impact of this morality tale. William Wellman manages to hint at some of the darker possibilities in Henry Fonda's screen persona (e.g. 'Frank' from 'Once Upon a Time in the West.') Dana Andrews almost steals the show.

Destroy All Monsters

Stone soup approach to giant Japanese monsters is not a great success. English language narration is especially inept but amusing. More shootouts between alien-controlled zombies and intrepid spaceship crews than is expected in a movie with Godzilla.

In the Dust of the Stars

Production values perhaps a thousand times that of 'Target Earth' don't quite rise to level of not ridiculous. European style goings-on never quite gel into any kind of sense. Peculiar parallel to Britt Ekland's dance number from 'The Wicker Man.'