July 2004 Archives
I stumble accrosses this cool article at Gizmodo that writes about the Semiconductor/Chip manufacturers stating about the theory of blackhole as comes to Chips on cellphones. It seems that chip makers had to only focus on one thing before when a media gadget was more focused. Like Camera Chips had to be good at image processing, while gaming chips had to be good at rendering and so forth. But now days with ur uber l33t all-in-one devices, the chip makers dont get this option anymore. INstead they have to cramp more and more into the chip. They also call this a "blackhole" because hip makers dont make money.
I write this as i remember my 1997 Communication class, where my professor explain the future of media and communciation. The catch phrase back then was "convergence" and to this day i think more and more devices/ concepts are follwoing this foot step, though slow, not unlike the flying cars of 1984 or the moonbase of 2001, we really havent hit the marks of the predictions of past. Still today as i carry my Treo 600, with it camera, PDA, cellphone, Aduio recording, Mp3 function, i cant help but wonder, "how the hell they squeeze everything into this little device!" We are close the a point where entertianment systems in the living room will be replaced by computers and Hard drives, all networked together with ur fridge where they can all link by ur cellphone via wireless bluetooth or etc. I mean cars are linking to your Cellphones & iPods.
If you liked the first moive Bourne Identity, then you will like this one. That pretty much sums it. Its very similar to the first movie in pacing, looks and acting. The story follows Robert Ludlum's novels and both Bourne movies are screenplayed by the screenplay writer, Tony Gilro.
Obiously the story has the same feel, it picks up with the first movie and just keeps on going in the same world of jason Bourne. The movie never tries to make a big deal out of its self by going epic, nor tieing into current world affairs. It remain timeless and stay true to a simple piece of spy movie without involving any issues that will date its self. CIA has a problem, we get a story. Not international conflicts between countries, nothing.
The director, Paul Greengrass stay true to the directorial feel of Doug Liman, whom directer Identity. It almost have the same feel in action and pacing, cept maybe few quick edits in unarmed combats that seems a little flashy and too quick. But the car chases are definetly one up from Identity. There's one car chase in this movie thats pretty good. Nice action sequences that goes all out, holding no punches. Just the way super spy/assassins should fight and react to things. it feels realistic and gritty. Even the transistions fomr a more colorful setting to the grey-er European backdrop seems a nice change from the dreams to reality.
Of course, Matt Damon keeps true to the Bourne of the first movie. And not to mention Franka Potente. Whom seemed to be trained in the ways of Bourne in this movies. As she responds much better to "let's get in a car and GO!" remarks of Jason Bourne. Also lets not forget Eomer as a badasss Rohirrim with a spear, I mean karl Urban as a russian guy with a BMW.
And of course Oksana Akinshina, who has aged well from her Lilja 4-ever days. I mean who can forget the swedish man montage, 1st PERSON!! And to think she was 14-15 when she made that movies. How it should SOO NOT OF BEEN LEGAL in the states to make that movie. But we're happy she aged well, and is a nice scene stealer in Supremacy in her legality minus one state.
It all, if u like the first one, this is a good sequel. CHanging nothing of the qualities of the first movie, Supremacy takes the characters and throws another story at them. Not to mention character growth, which we totally didnt expect in a spy as this.
More House of Flying Dagger news:
Opening in China, taiwan, and Hong Kong on 7/16, HoFD supposely made 55,000,000 yuan (about 6.6 mil US) as compared to Hero openning at 52,500,000 ( about 6.3 mil @ todays exchange rate). IN Taiwan alone sales for HoFD actually was slightly higher then Return of the King, which is big news in the Foreign Film dominated Asia big box office.
Zhang Yimou clearly states that Hero was a story of Martial morality, and HoFD is not. HoFD is a love story.
The current chinese media is big with reviews, comments of all sort. Overall the reviews go in all direction. I havent found any decicive stuff yet. From comments of the Tang dynasty clothing to, Ancient chiense word usage, acting, overuse of Takeshi Kaneshiro's long face, to the under use of Andy lau's acting abilities. Comments center around a unplausable story plot, involving hidden organizations, secret martial art societies, and the not-so connected poltical intrique of the Tang dynasty. Supposely the chief writer along with Zhang Yimou him self is Feng Li, who wrote Warrios of Heaven and Earth, Hero, and maybe the infernal affair trilogy (not sure on this yet, i have found the actual chiense name). And also, Zhang Ziyi has more sex scenes... apprently she getes more and more ever since CTHD.
There were many praises for Siu-Tung Ching's action choreography. (he's the guy that did the choreography in Hero and directer chiense ghost story). Many high marks for a snow fight and some sort of grass fight.
Music is not as great as some of the older oscar attempt chiense films. I think this time they gone more modern with a Circ-du-soliel/Lord of the Dance stlye post-modern music. More violins, reed insturments, and less ancient instruments. But Zhang ziyi does bless us with her singin voice... (Listening to the soundtrack as i write this.)
Other news talks about the intense crack down of theater piracy. Of how all three of the most popular pirated copies all seem to be un watchable. Shucks, no crappy advance version for us.
A WMV of Zhang Ziyi singing at the Opening Event
Offical Site
IMDB Page
Since i'm not doing much interetsing blogging, and i've been checking out some MP3 Blogs, i decided to do a little music introduction my self.SO since my recent craze is this INdie Japanese Rock thing, i've decided to introduce to anyone of my Blog readers to some of the Japanese Bands that i'm listening to. Our first MP3 Blog entry of Parlor is Go!Go! 7188.
Sample: Ukifune form their 3rd album called: Tategami.
(These MP3 are for smapling purposes only. If you are an artist (or represent an artist) of any of these mp3 and want me to take down a song, let me know, and it will be removed from the server immediately. melchoir@gmail.com)
Go!Go!7188 consist of 3 main members, Akiko (bass/singer), Yumi (guitar/singer), and Taaki (drums). Also known as Yuu, Akko, and Taaki (turkey, engrish style). Started somewhere around 2000, they are relatively young, and rides on the media craze left by other famous rock bands. At the Project-J site, Akko mentions her likings to THE BOOM, Shiina Ringo, Cocco, Brahman, Judy and Mary and Thee Michelle Gun Elephant.
What make me like them personally is Akko and Yuu's blending of japanese singing style with modern rock. Clearly they are young, and they know how to rock. Not like i'm a great expert on the whole rock thing, but i like their sound, very carefree, very free-spirited rock. That aside, Akko and Yuu adds their vocals. Just with a hint of japanese Noh chant. Their control of trailing sounds, seems to bend like Traditional japanese singing/chanting. Which just adds a flavour to Go!GO!7188's blend of East/West musical style. The mixture of Japanese singing and western rock makes an interesting mix that gives Go!Go!7188 a distinctive sound. The sample song Ukifune, which means Potoon or Canoe, is a nice example of this combination. Pay attention to the vocals and how Akko bends her notes. Also let the cool japanese rock style carry the song off. Appreciate the mix of the japanese chanting and the rock, and let the blending speak its own language.
I read somewhere that Go!Go! 7188 means the 3 measurements in CM. GO being 5 in japanese, so the band name is something like, 55-71-88. Which would mean a rather small bust. But i guess its ajapanese thing. I'm not sure how accurate this is though.
Offical Japanese WebsiteEnglish Fan Site.
Another English Site about them.
OLED, Organic Light Emiding-Diodes, another way to make ur basica LCD monitors, cheaper simpler to make, brighter and faster (only matter if u play FPS). Apprently SOny is going to start selling them. They are technically cheaper then LCD, but they been having life span issues so far, as tests show that OLED dont survive very long, speically used as a monitor. Not sure what is Sony's answer to this yet, but this article mentions Sony's desire to start selling them. So lets hope this tech is ready to roll, so we can all have our Matrix style multi flat panels with arms all over are work desk. Think Ikea-Techno.
Yes, foreskin.
This has been a topic in my mind. Here's a Wired article That basically states points out all the techniques that can be use to restore your foreskin. But anyways even though with all the medical warning about how circumcision is healthier, prevents AIDS and all. I still think since it is easier to remove the foreskin, u might as well leave it on at birth and give it a go, then decide if u want to get rid of it. Cause it seems hard to get it back.
Um why i post this? well, so i can point and laugh. (TMI warning) Lets just say i dont need these techniques.
Apprently the RIAA is begging to congress. So they sent a letter to move the Induce Act along. Now, Ernest miller a writer at Corante. Writes and annotes the letter.
The Excessively Annotated RIAA Letter on the INDUCE Act (IICA)
Past links on the Induce Act
SO LA City has decided to put some regulations about Cybercafes. Biggest first rule is that we do not talk about cybercafers... NO i mean u need a permit from the police department. Also rules like camera to monitor the doors, limited time for users under 18. No inclosed booth, 20 sq ft. per computer, no more tintied windows ( i mean they do know computer kids cant be in the sun right?), no smoking, no gambling and someone working there has to be over 18.
Apprently this is all on the heels of those cybercafe violence stories from a few years back. Of course any gathering spot for young angst teenagers who just got "pwned" by some "l33t dud3" would be excited to do some real-life ultra violence. Maybe they just need some of that "special milk".
They hard part of this regulation is the definition of a cybercafe. It seems that not all cybercafe-esque places fall into the definition of this regulation. So i guess there's our loop-hole. And if anyone is good at loop-holes, its them computer geeks.
Atleast the good news is they didnt just closed off all the cyber cafes like other more iron fisted countries.
Not that i'm in support of the anti-ness of this war. Nor for it. Apprently some Relgious groups (http://www.waronpornography.com/) got together and started a war on pronography. Figuring this is a bad thing for my unnamed friends, also the world "googleboming" was used. So I'm here in support of Fleshbot by linking their story via the spirit of Googlebombs.
So, for all my NOrthern CALifornia friends i give u this link. Apprently there is a bill on the table to be prostituion-friendlier in the city Berkeley. Not to comepletely legalize it but to allow prostitutes to report abuse and violence instead of the fear of cops. SO it feels like if there were no prostitution, why would we need to be more friendly to it? oR even there will be no violence and abuse now would there? Kinda of like turning a blind eye rather then getting rid of it. But i guess the liberal students of Berkeley needs their outlet, cause i can onlky imagine the feminist movement at Berkeley.
Wired being a great source for reading, did an article on robots in parallel with their paper magazine. I think it has something to do with the craptacular "i' Robot" movie this summer, but Wired takes it into a more realistic level. This article gives the idea of what current technology in the field of robotics. And what possiable future these techs can comobine to form one day. A lot of is pretty amazing. TO thinking, with all this stuff that people are working on, like artifical muscle structure, AI, to synthetic skin. Pretty soon... we cna have real robots. Now will we need a Will Smith to protect us from them... thats a whoel other issue, but Wired does have an article on him also.
