Introduction:
This is the first episode in what plan to be at least a 50 part Vampire story. All episodes will appear only here on this blog. I'll try to crank one out every few weeks, but don't hold your breath. So without further adieu.......
RED GIANT
Part One: The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
70 AD
Inside the tent David carefully picks the stones and moves them between his fingers, studying each one with as if it held the future in its surface. He places them in the pouch and grabs the long leather strap. Again, with a gaze of intensity, he goes over the strap, turning it over again and again – stretching it and relaxing it. Outside he can hear the dull roar of the thousands approaching from the west. The sun hammers down and the tent radiates. David’s sweat falls on the leather strap as he rises up and looks outside. There in the distance dust clouds form the harbinger of evil.
“Who here will challenge me!” Goliath growls. His spear raised in a victory stance above his head. He towers above his Philistine comrades, they cheer in reply to his boasts, “There is no one that can defeat me. I am a servant of Dagan, Lord of the Land! Within his dark temple sits your gods defiled Ark that I took from your people! The Israelites are a weak clan. Is there no one to defend your failed god?!”
Below Goliath, a robed figure reaches up and touches his shoulder and whispers an incantation upon the mighty warrior. Goliath closes his eyes and fire races thru his veins.
The dust settles. All is quiet. Goliath begins to walk towards the Israel army. His armor flashes in the brilliant sunlight of the desert.
David steps forward, “This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down, and cut off your head; and I will give the dead bodies of the host of the Philistines this day to the birds of the air and to the wild beasts of the earth; that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel, and that all this assembly may know that Yahweh saves not with sword and spear; for the battle is Yahweh's, and he will give you into our hand."
Goliath stands motionless, confused of the site before him. “A child? You send a child to battle for you?” Goliath laughs and readys his spear, “I will take pleasure in spilling your virgin blood on your holy land young fool.”
Goliath starts his death strike – he lunges toward the boy. The Philistines cheer.
David quickly pulls a stone from the pouch and places it in the leather strap and begins to swing it over his head. Goliath is almost apon him when David releases the stone and it strikes the giants skull, embedding itself there.
Goliath falls. Blood pours from the wound and over his angihshed face. David runs to his side and removes the philistines sword from its sheath. In one motion David severes Goliaths head from his body. The blood runs over David’s feet and he lifts his voice to the heavens, “I am your humble servent oh lord. Through you alone I have the strength. Guide us into victory this day!”
The Israelites lift their weapons high and charge at the retreating Philistines - their their fallen champion lies in the dirt, trampled by the onslaught.
After the battle
Goliath’s head rests on top of Saul’s spear. The king inspects it, smiling, “So this is the indestrucalble Goliath. Our ememies are an ugly lot yes?”
The congregation laughs. Saul walks over to David and places his hand apon his head, “Little warrior you have done well this day. Who’s son are you?”
David answers, “I am the son of your servant Jesse the Bethlehemite.”
Then he, as well as you will join us tonight for a feast most grand!”
Later that same night - in the charnel pits
The robed figure silently stands before the ruined body of Goliath. The wind carries his whispers into the void that lays between worlds and dimensions, “Oh lord take your servents soul and make it anew. Cause him to rise again and seek to destory your enemies. Lift his body to live again in this world. Only you can grant this gift of eternal life. He we walk this earth forever in your service oh prince of the morning star. Wormword is thy name and thy name we worship.”
The sky turned red. Goliath arose.
131 AD
David finished his supper and bid his son goodbye. He always enjoyed their nights together, talking till the late hours of kings and battles, of miracles and of God. He stood in the entryway of his humble cottage and watched his son till he disapeared over the hill. He looked up to the sky – there a crestant moon was aligned with the evening star and a tinkling red one. The trio stood out in the night sky and filled David with awe. How he loved the stars and their perfect clockwork precison. In the distance a dog begin to howl. It was a erie howl. David stood awhile longer and marveled at the sight above then went back inside, just as the dust began to pick up.
He readied himself to bed, lighting a single candle to read his verses by. The shadows danced on his walls like lost souls. Outside the wind blew. He could still hear the dog howling. He put his book down and a strange thought came to him, “Is something coming?”
Why did he think that? Silly. He leaned over and blew out the flame. The smell of smoke filled his senses and filled him with comfort as well. He drifted to sleep.
Outside the crestent moon and it’s two brothers had long since sank below the horizon. The dark took hold and a cold blue hand reached out from it. It touched David on his forhead. This caused him to stir a bit, and the hand retreated. Once the sleeping David settled, the hand came again and carefully pulled down the blanket.
David awoke.
Before him in the gloom a wrecked face of a man apeared. He was sitting on the bed close to him. This was a face that had haunted his dreams since he was a child. The face of Goliath.
David spoke,”Are you a dream?”
Goliath answered, “I am damnation.” When he spoke David could see the giants gapeing mouth – filled with yellowed, canine teeth.
There was no time to react – the once dead warrior desended on David and tore into the soft of his neck. There was a spray of purple and David was still.
Outside the dog began howling again.
"We listened and looked sideways up ! Fear at my heart, as at a cup, My life-blood seemed to sip! The stars were dim, and thick the night, the steerman's face by his lamp gleamed white ; From the sails the dew did drip--Till clomb above the eastern bar the horned Moon, with one bright star Within the nether tip."
From The Rime of the Ancient Mariner
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 22, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Saturday, December 13, 2008
Movie Marathon Update!
I've talked with Mike D. and he has cleared the way to have the
1st Annual 3Dchain's Movie Marathon at his place.
The date: Saturday Jan 24th (tentative)
The Time: 7pm
The Theme: When Animals Attack! (just two movies)
The Prizes!: Sweet stuff to give away during the Trivia portion of the Marathon
I'll come up with some drinking games and other fun stuff.
Go vote on the poll to the right of this screen for the two movies you want to watch.
-3D
1st Annual 3Dchain's Movie Marathon at his place.
The date: Saturday Jan 24th (tentative)
The Time: 7pm
The Theme: When Animals Attack! (just two movies)
The Prizes!: Sweet stuff to give away during the Trivia portion of the Marathon
I'll come up with some drinking games and other fun stuff.
Go vote on the poll to the right of this screen for the two movies you want to watch.
-3D
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Two Things
On the eve of the 1st ever Idle Time Ghost Hunt, let me take this opportunity to ponder that age-old question, “Do you believe in Ghosts?”
As the brother of the team leader of this expedition, Jeannie and I have had the same up bringing, relatively the same views on life and religion were taught to us. As she stated in her blog we both grew up in a religious home, but not one that was oppressing or in any way zealous. I have since shed a lot of the things drilled into my brain as a child concerning heaven and hell, and come to an understanding (with the help of Carl Sagan) of how I believe the universe runs and our place in it……well sorta.
If anyone ever tells you they have things figured out they are lying. I am constantly questioning things and trying to discover the ultimate truth. I know I’ll never achieve that, but the day I stop is the day that I give up and better off dead. This world is too amazing to not try, to not look for answers, to not try and see the impossible and live in awe. I am lucky to have been exposed to all the different views that I have. I wouldn’t trade my years in a Pentecostal church for anything – even if I no longer subscribe to that institute of thinking and way of life. But for those that do, I do not past judgment. John Lennon said it best, “Whatever gets you thru the night…it’s alright. It’s Alright.”
So with that, here is what I have come to believe, and the foundation of why I do not believe in ghosts.
We are all Starstuff.
Born from a supernova. Every element you see here on Earth – the gold in that ring you wear on your finger – everything was forged in a Supernova. A star explosion. There is no disputing that fact. This act of creation is happening right now, light years away. Billons of years of evolution later and I’m here, typing this on a computer – astonishing. The clockwork of creation took hold on Earth – all the dots lined up and life flurshished. If but one thing was out of place, if the sun was a little bigger or smaller, if the continents had not dislodged they way they did allowing for the right flow of the warm oceans to stave off the ice age, if Jupiter was not there to soak up killer asteroids, we would not be here. Life is extremely fragile and exists on the direction of a breeze. Thoughts like these make me smile. To me, this is far more inciting and beautiful then the belief of one all powerful creator.
But at the same time, couldn’t a God be behind all of the above? Yes. And that is where the idea of Faith comes into play. Faith is the most powerful force in this world. It can cause wars, it can save lives - it can bring peace or it can bring destruction. It controls every action and reaction. We cannot live without it. So the question shouldn’t be, “Do you believe in ghosts?” it should be “Do you have faith that ghosts exist?”
If the faith is strong enough, there are ghosts. If your faith is stronger elsewhere, you will go through your life never seeing a single ghost. This simple formula is true for UFO’s and Bigfoot. And it’s true for all religions and their Gods. George Michael said it best, “You gotta have faith-a, faith-a, faith-a.”
So my faith in ghosts never took hold. I love the hell out of ghosts and goblins and all things supernatural, and believe me wish and hope that I will see a ghost tomorrow night, or sometime in my life – but the faith is not there. It was there as a child, at night, in bed in the dark. It was there at church when the spirit moved the congregation and Jesus spoke. But that was never enough. The simple fact that I’ve always woken up the next day without a bite mark on my neck disproves any rational that there are vampires. And the simple fact that I much rather give my heart to my children and my family, then to Jesus, speaks volumes. But that’s just me.
So what do I have faith in? In two things that go hand in hand. Two things we all have in common no matter where we grew up, or what church we went to. No matter if you believe you’ve been abducted by aliens or think God shouldn’t be mentioned in the Pledge of Allegiance. In two things that cross all cultures, and to me, is the reason for living and searching and creating and laughing and crying and waking up in the morning and yes even ghost hunting…..
Where does my faith lie? With love and with the stars.
As the brother of the team leader of this expedition, Jeannie and I have had the same up bringing, relatively the same views on life and religion were taught to us. As she stated in her blog we both grew up in a religious home, but not one that was oppressing or in any way zealous. I have since shed a lot of the things drilled into my brain as a child concerning heaven and hell, and come to an understanding (with the help of Carl Sagan) of how I believe the universe runs and our place in it……well sorta.
If anyone ever tells you they have things figured out they are lying. I am constantly questioning things and trying to discover the ultimate truth. I know I’ll never achieve that, but the day I stop is the day that I give up and better off dead. This world is too amazing to not try, to not look for answers, to not try and see the impossible and live in awe. I am lucky to have been exposed to all the different views that I have. I wouldn’t trade my years in a Pentecostal church for anything – even if I no longer subscribe to that institute of thinking and way of life. But for those that do, I do not past judgment. John Lennon said it best, “Whatever gets you thru the night…it’s alright. It’s Alright.”
So with that, here is what I have come to believe, and the foundation of why I do not believe in ghosts.
We are all Starstuff.
Born from a supernova. Every element you see here on Earth – the gold in that ring you wear on your finger – everything was forged in a Supernova. A star explosion. There is no disputing that fact. This act of creation is happening right now, light years away. Billons of years of evolution later and I’m here, typing this on a computer – astonishing. The clockwork of creation took hold on Earth – all the dots lined up and life flurshished. If but one thing was out of place, if the sun was a little bigger or smaller, if the continents had not dislodged they way they did allowing for the right flow of the warm oceans to stave off the ice age, if Jupiter was not there to soak up killer asteroids, we would not be here. Life is extremely fragile and exists on the direction of a breeze. Thoughts like these make me smile. To me, this is far more inciting and beautiful then the belief of one all powerful creator.
But at the same time, couldn’t a God be behind all of the above? Yes. And that is where the idea of Faith comes into play. Faith is the most powerful force in this world. It can cause wars, it can save lives - it can bring peace or it can bring destruction. It controls every action and reaction. We cannot live without it. So the question shouldn’t be, “Do you believe in ghosts?” it should be “Do you have faith that ghosts exist?”
If the faith is strong enough, there are ghosts. If your faith is stronger elsewhere, you will go through your life never seeing a single ghost. This simple formula is true for UFO’s and Bigfoot. And it’s true for all religions and their Gods. George Michael said it best, “You gotta have faith-a, faith-a, faith-a.”
So my faith in ghosts never took hold. I love the hell out of ghosts and goblins and all things supernatural, and believe me wish and hope that I will see a ghost tomorrow night, or sometime in my life – but the faith is not there. It was there as a child, at night, in bed in the dark. It was there at church when the spirit moved the congregation and Jesus spoke. But that was never enough. The simple fact that I’ve always woken up the next day without a bite mark on my neck disproves any rational that there are vampires. And the simple fact that I much rather give my heart to my children and my family, then to Jesus, speaks volumes. But that’s just me.
So what do I have faith in? In two things that go hand in hand. Two things we all have in common no matter where we grew up, or what church we went to. No matter if you believe you’ve been abducted by aliens or think God shouldn’t be mentioned in the Pledge of Allegiance. In two things that cross all cultures, and to me, is the reason for living and searching and creating and laughing and crying and waking up in the morning and yes even ghost hunting…..
Where does my faith lie? With love and with the stars.
3DChain predicts the Golden Globe Winners!
BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
1. THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
2. FROST/NIXON
3. THE READER
4. REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
5. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
1. ANNE HATHAWAY – RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
2. ANGELINA JOLIE – CHANGELING
3. MERYL STREEP – DOUBT
4. KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS – I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (IL Y A LONGTEMPS QUE JE T’AIME)
5. KATE WINSLET – REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
1. LEONARDO DICAPRIO – REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
2. FRANK LANGELLA – FROST/NIXON
3. SEAN PENN – MILK
4. BRAD PITT – THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
5. MICKEY ROURKE – THE WRESTLER
BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
1. BURN AFTER READING
2. HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
3. IN BRUGES
4. MAMMA MIA!
5. VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
1. REBECCA HALL – VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
2. SALLY HAWKINS – HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
3. FRANCES MCDORMAND – BURN AFTER READING
4. MERYL STREEP – MAMMA MIA!
5. EMMA THOMPSON – LAST CHANCE HARVEY
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
1. JAVIER BARDEM – VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
2. COLIN FARRELL – IN BRUGES
3. JAMES FRANCO – PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
4. BRENDAN GLEESON – IN BRUGES
5. DUSTIN HOFFMAN – LAST CHANCE HARVEY
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
1. BOLT
2. KUNG FU PANDA
3. WALL-E
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
1. AMY ADAMS – DOUBT
2. PENELOPE CRUZ – VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
3. VIOLA DAVIS –DOUBT
4. MARISA TOMEI – THE WRESTLER
5. KATE WINSLET – THE READER
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
1. TOM CRUISE – TROPIC THUNDER
2. ROBERT DOWNEY JR. –TROPIC THUNDER
3. RALPH FIENNES – THE DUCHESS
4. PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN – DOUBT
5. HEATH LEDGER – THE DARK KNIGHT
BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
1. DANNY BOYLE – SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
2. STEPHEN DALDRY – THE READER
3. DAVID FINCHER – THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
4. RON HOWARD – FROST/NIXON
5. SAM MENDES – REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
1. SIMON BEAUFOY – SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
2. DAVID HARE – THE READER
3. PETER MORGAN – FROST/NIXON
4. ERIC ROTH – THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN
5. JOHN PATRICK SHANLEY – DOUBT
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - MOTION PICTURE
1. ALEXANDRE DESPLAT –THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
2. CLINT EASTWOOD – CHANGELING
3. JAMES NEWTON HOWARD – DEFIANCE
4. A. R. RAHMAN – SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
5. HANS ZIMMER - FROST/NIXON
BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
1. “DOWN TO EARTH” — WALL-EMusic by: Peter Gabriel, Thomas NewmanLyrics by: Peter Gabriel
2. “GRAN TORINO” — GRAN TORINOMusic by: Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, Michael StevensLyrics by: Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens
3. “I THOUGHT I LOST YOU” — BOLTMusic & Lyrics by: Miley Cyrus, Jeffrey Steele
4. “ONCE IN A LIFETIME” — CADILLAC RECORDSMusic & Lyrics by: Beyoncé Knowles, Amanda Ghost, Scott McFarnon, Ian Dench, James Dring, Jody Street
5. “THE WRESTLER” — THE WRESTLERMusic & Lyrics by: Bruce Springsteen
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
1. DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
2. HOUSE (FOX)
3. IN TREATMENT (HBO)
4. MAD MEN (AMC)
5. TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
1. SALLY FIELD – BROTHERS AND SISTERS
2. MARISKA HARGITAY –LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
3. JANUARY JONES – MAD MEN
4. ANNA PAQUIN – TRUE BLOOD
5. KYRA SEDGWICK – THE CLOSER
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
1. GABRIEL BYRNE – IN TREATMENT
2. MICHAEL C. HALL – DEXTER
3. JON HAMM – MAD MEN
4. HUGH LAURIE – HOUSE
5. JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS – THE TUDORS
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
1. 30 ROCK (NBC)
2. CALIFORNICATION (SHOWTIME)
3. ENTOURAGE (HBO)
4. THE OFFICE (NBC)
5. WEEDS (SHOWTIME)Lionsgate Television
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL
1. CHRISTINA APPLEGATE – SAMANTHA WHO?
2. AMERICA FERRERA – UGLY BETTY
3. TINA FEY – 30 ROCK
4. DEBRA MESSING – THE STARTER WIFE
5. MARY-LOUISE PARKER – WEEDS
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
1. ALEC BALDWIN – 30
2. STEVE CARELL – THE OFFICE
3. KEVIN CONNOLLY – ENTOURAGE
4. DAVID DUCHOVNY – CALIFORNICATION
5. TONY SHALHOUB – MONK
1. THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
2. FROST/NIXON
3. THE READER
4. REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
5. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
1. ANNE HATHAWAY – RACHEL GETTING MARRIED
2. ANGELINA JOLIE – CHANGELING
3. MERYL STREEP – DOUBT
4. KRISTIN SCOTT THOMAS – I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG (IL Y A LONGTEMPS QUE JE T’AIME)
5. KATE WINSLET – REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA
1. LEONARDO DICAPRIO – REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
2. FRANK LANGELLA – FROST/NIXON
3. SEAN PENN – MILK
4. BRAD PITT – THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
5. MICKEY ROURKE – THE WRESTLER
BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
1. BURN AFTER READING
2. HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
3. IN BRUGES
4. MAMMA MIA!
5. VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
1. REBECCA HALL – VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
2. SALLY HAWKINS – HAPPY-GO-LUCKY
3. FRANCES MCDORMAND – BURN AFTER READING
4. MERYL STREEP – MAMMA MIA!
5. EMMA THOMPSON – LAST CHANCE HARVEY
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
1. JAVIER BARDEM – VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
2. COLIN FARRELL – IN BRUGES
3. JAMES FRANCO – PINEAPPLE EXPRESS
4. BRENDAN GLEESON – IN BRUGES
5. DUSTIN HOFFMAN – LAST CHANCE HARVEY
BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM
1. BOLT
2. KUNG FU PANDA
3. WALL-E
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
1. AMY ADAMS – DOUBT
2. PENELOPE CRUZ – VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA
3. VIOLA DAVIS –DOUBT
4. MARISA TOMEI – THE WRESTLER
5. KATE WINSLET – THE READER
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE
1. TOM CRUISE – TROPIC THUNDER
2. ROBERT DOWNEY JR. –TROPIC THUNDER
3. RALPH FIENNES – THE DUCHESS
4. PHILIP SEYMOUR HOFFMAN – DOUBT
5. HEATH LEDGER – THE DARK KNIGHT
BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE
1. DANNY BOYLE – SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
2. STEPHEN DALDRY – THE READER
3. DAVID FINCHER – THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
4. RON HOWARD – FROST/NIXON
5. SAM MENDES – REVOLUTIONARY ROAD
BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE
1. SIMON BEAUFOY – SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
2. DAVID HARE – THE READER
3. PETER MORGAN – FROST/NIXON
4. ERIC ROTH – THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN
5. JOHN PATRICK SHANLEY – DOUBT
BEST ORIGINAL SCORE - MOTION PICTURE
1. ALEXANDRE DESPLAT –THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
2. CLINT EASTWOOD – CHANGELING
3. JAMES NEWTON HOWARD – DEFIANCE
4. A. R. RAHMAN – SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
5. HANS ZIMMER - FROST/NIXON
BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE
1. “DOWN TO EARTH” — WALL-EMusic by: Peter Gabriel, Thomas NewmanLyrics by: Peter Gabriel
2. “GRAN TORINO” — GRAN TORINOMusic by: Clint Eastwood, Jamie Cullum, Kyle Eastwood, Michael StevensLyrics by: Kyle Eastwood, Michael Stevens
3. “I THOUGHT I LOST YOU” — BOLTMusic & Lyrics by: Miley Cyrus, Jeffrey Steele
4. “ONCE IN A LIFETIME” — CADILLAC RECORDSMusic & Lyrics by: Beyoncé Knowles, Amanda Ghost, Scott McFarnon, Ian Dench, James Dring, Jody Street
5. “THE WRESTLER” — THE WRESTLERMusic & Lyrics by: Bruce Springsteen
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
1. DEXTER (SHOWTIME)
2. HOUSE (FOX)
3. IN TREATMENT (HBO)
4. MAD MEN (AMC)
5. TRUE BLOOD (HBO)
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
1. SALLY FIELD – BROTHERS AND SISTERS
2. MARISKA HARGITAY –LAW AND ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT
3. JANUARY JONES – MAD MEN
4. ANNA PAQUIN – TRUE BLOOD
5. KYRA SEDGWICK – THE CLOSER
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA
1. GABRIEL BYRNE – IN TREATMENT
2. MICHAEL C. HALL – DEXTER
3. JON HAMM – MAD MEN
4. HUGH LAURIE – HOUSE
5. JONATHAN RHYS MEYERS – THE TUDORS
BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
1. 30 ROCK (NBC)
2. CALIFORNICATION (SHOWTIME)
3. ENTOURAGE (HBO)
4. THE OFFICE (NBC)
5. WEEDS (SHOWTIME)Lionsgate Television
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL
1. CHRISTINA APPLEGATE – SAMANTHA WHO?
2. AMERICA FERRERA – UGLY BETTY
3. TINA FEY – 30 ROCK
4. DEBRA MESSING – THE STARTER WIFE
5. MARY-LOUISE PARKER – WEEDS
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL
1. ALEC BALDWIN – 30
2. STEVE CARELL – THE OFFICE
3. KEVIN CONNOLLY – ENTOURAGE
4. DAVID DUCHOVNY – CALIFORNICATION
5. TONY SHALHOUB – MONK
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Synchronicity man. Interconnecting principals.
It's Monday - baby runs out of milk - we forget to buy some.
Somewhere a Target worker hates his job and is dreading going to work the next day
It's Tuesday morning - baby goes to sitters - we go to work - still no milk
The Target worker puts on his red shirt and tan pants. He is already planning on how he can ruin someone's day.
It's Tuesday after work - I drive to pick up the Baby at the sitters - I stop to get some beer and totally forget there is no Milk at home.
The Target worker punches in, he already sees the crowd forming in the video section and frowns.
It's Tuesday evening at home -I walk in the door and check the mail - there is a Target Gift card from our Real-estate Agent for 100 dollars.
The Target worker takes a break to urinate and pees on the floor.
It's Tuesday night - during dinner the baby proclaims "I Want Baba Milk!" - I stare in horror at the empty fridge, as I slowly drink a swig of the beer, "shit".
The Target worker watches the DVD fly off the shelves - he forgot to zip his fly
It's Tuesday after dinner - I call my wife to see if she can pick up some milk. She informs me that she will not be getting off work for another hour. The baby wants Baba Milk!
The Target worker is asked to collect carts, in the freezing cold - the anger grows.
It's Tuesday night, bathtime - as the baby plays in the bubbles and forgets Baba Milk, I relish the peacefulness, but know it wont last.
A Target shopper spits a piece of gum out near her car.
It's Tuesday night, after the bath - the baby get her jammies on. I see the words forming on her lips before they come out, "b.a.b.a.m.i.l.k"
The Target worker is collecting carts and steps on the gum. Frustrated and cold, he leaves to go back inside the store. The carts remain uncollected.
It's Tuesday night - I've put the baby's jacket on and hat. I stop to pick up the Target gift card on the way out the door. The bitter cold hits hard as we get in the car.
The Target worker is called over by his boss, "since you are done collecting carts, please re-stock the dvd's".
It's Tuesday night - I drive into the Target parking lot. It's littered with carts. Finding a close by park, I get the baby and head inside.
The Target worker is stocking dvd's when someone comes up to him, "Do you have any Dark Knight left on Bluray?" The Target worker smiles, "NO". the customer walks away defeated.
It's Tuesday night - I've gotten the milk and headed to the check out line. Something stops me. I take a detour to the video section.
The Target worker is stocking normal copies of Dark Knight. He turns away yet another BluRay customer as I walk up.
Me - "Do you have any copies of the Dark Knight on BluRay?"
Target worker - "NO."
Me - "Oh, okay. We'll guess I'll just check out what the normal DVD's look like."
Baby - "Baba Milk!"
Me -"I know baby, Almost ready to go home. Hang on."
The Target worker is getting nervous with me so close by. I notice his fly is down.
Me - "Hmmm, what's this way back here?" I see something pushed back into the shelve, something a little different sized then the normal dvd boxes.
Someone else comes up, "You have any Dark Knight on BluRay?"
Target worker - "NO. We're all out."
Me - "Except for this one!" I cheer as I pull out from the depths of the shelve the last copy of Dark Knight on BluRay, the special edition Batman Face shaped one even. "Guess it's my lucky day." I smile at the Target worker. He grimaces back.
It's Tuesday night bedtime - the baby is sleeping with a belly full of milk and the Joker is smiling on my t.v.
-3D
Somewhere a Target worker hates his job and is dreading going to work the next day
It's Tuesday morning - baby goes to sitters - we go to work - still no milk
The Target worker puts on his red shirt and tan pants. He is already planning on how he can ruin someone's day.
It's Tuesday after work - I drive to pick up the Baby at the sitters - I stop to get some beer and totally forget there is no Milk at home.
The Target worker punches in, he already sees the crowd forming in the video section and frowns.
It's Tuesday evening at home -I walk in the door and check the mail - there is a Target Gift card from our Real-estate Agent for 100 dollars.
The Target worker takes a break to urinate and pees on the floor.
It's Tuesday night - during dinner the baby proclaims "I Want Baba Milk!" - I stare in horror at the empty fridge, as I slowly drink a swig of the beer, "shit".
The Target worker watches the DVD fly off the shelves - he forgot to zip his fly
It's Tuesday after dinner - I call my wife to see if she can pick up some milk. She informs me that she will not be getting off work for another hour. The baby wants Baba Milk!
The Target worker is asked to collect carts, in the freezing cold - the anger grows.
It's Tuesday night, bathtime - as the baby plays in the bubbles and forgets Baba Milk, I relish the peacefulness, but know it wont last.
A Target shopper spits a piece of gum out near her car.
It's Tuesday night, after the bath - the baby get her jammies on. I see the words forming on her lips before they come out, "b.a.b.a.m.i.l.k"
The Target worker is collecting carts and steps on the gum. Frustrated and cold, he leaves to go back inside the store. The carts remain uncollected.
It's Tuesday night - I've put the baby's jacket on and hat. I stop to pick up the Target gift card on the way out the door. The bitter cold hits hard as we get in the car.
The Target worker is called over by his boss, "since you are done collecting carts, please re-stock the dvd's".
It's Tuesday night - I drive into the Target parking lot. It's littered with carts. Finding a close by park, I get the baby and head inside.
The Target worker is stocking dvd's when someone comes up to him, "Do you have any Dark Knight left on Bluray?" The Target worker smiles, "NO". the customer walks away defeated.
It's Tuesday night - I've gotten the milk and headed to the check out line. Something stops me. I take a detour to the video section.
The Target worker is stocking normal copies of Dark Knight. He turns away yet another BluRay customer as I walk up.
Me - "Do you have any copies of the Dark Knight on BluRay?"
Target worker - "NO."
Me - "Oh, okay. We'll guess I'll just check out what the normal DVD's look like."
Baby - "Baba Milk!"
Me -"I know baby, Almost ready to go home. Hang on."
The Target worker is getting nervous with me so close by. I notice his fly is down.
Me - "Hmmm, what's this way back here?" I see something pushed back into the shelve, something a little different sized then the normal dvd boxes.
Someone else comes up, "You have any Dark Knight on BluRay?"
Target worker - "NO. We're all out."
Me - "Except for this one!" I cheer as I pull out from the depths of the shelve the last copy of Dark Knight on BluRay, the special edition Batman Face shaped one even. "Guess it's my lucky day." I smile at the Target worker. He grimaces back.
It's Tuesday night bedtime - the baby is sleeping with a belly full of milk and the Joker is smiling on my t.v.
-3D
Sunday, December 7, 2008
2 turntables and a microphone
Here I am in action at the Idle Time's Best Music of 2008 Listening Party at The House of Shields in S.F.
Friday, December 5, 2008
R.I.P Forrest J Ackerman
True Magic
the idea comes to us
we take that idea and sketch it out
we develop it
the idea becomes 3 dimensional
the idea is born and now we can see, feel, hear it
we hold a once intangible thought in our hands
that is true magic.
For those of us that create in this genre, Forest was our maestro. His enchantments will be missed
-
3D
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Movie Marathon
I am currently in the process of putting together the...
1st Annual 3D Chain's Idle Time Movie Marathon!
I got a few ideas for what kind of movies I want to do - nothing too serious or hard to set thru. Bottom line is, these Marathons will be a good excuse to come up with fun Drinking Games and hang out.
I've done these parties in the past at my house, but I'm thinking of renting a place and somekind of projecter - hmmmm, House of Shields had a Projector. I bet we could reveseve that top floor for our Marathon.
the wheels are turning
-3D
1st Annual 3D Chain's Idle Time Movie Marathon!
I got a few ideas for what kind of movies I want to do - nothing too serious or hard to set thru. Bottom line is, these Marathons will be a good excuse to come up with fun Drinking Games and hang out.
I've done these parties in the past at my house, but I'm thinking of renting a place and somekind of projecter - hmmmm, House of Shields had a Projector. I bet we could reveseve that top floor for our Marathon.
the wheels are turning
-3D
The Wire
I hate Televison. I hate sitcoms. I hate lame cop dramas were hard boiled police can only say "hell, damn, crap, and shucks". I hate the lack of realism that network televison is bound to. Okay, I do like American Idol and The Science Channel but that's it. What I do like is unedited, uncensored t.v that can only come from the likes of HBO, Showtime, IFC, HD Movie Channel, and a few others. It's those channels that are the reason I got a LCD Flat Screen (in addition to the Bluray player for DVD's). So I don't watch Heroes, Lost, CSI, and countless other shows - I just can't get into them. I need the sex, violence, and language in order to fully enjoy my televison watching experience. What'da gonna do?
A good example of what I'm taking about is the HBO show, The Wire. There is no way in hell that this show could be as good as it is on network tv. And when I say good, I mean the best show ever aired on cable tv that I have watched in my whole life - and I've watched a lot. Th e Wire ran 5 seasons from 2002 to 2007 on HBO. I'd heard a little talk about it over the years but never gave it any attention. One day William Howell told me I should drop the 1st season in my Netflix Que and give it a look-see, he couldn't stop raving about it. William has been know to have pretty good taste in films/tv (with the obvious exception being Salem's Lot) so I trusted him and rented the 1st season......
Season One: To be honest when I put that first disk in I was expecting the normal Cops and Robbers drama, with a little more roughness around the edges about it due to the HBO connection. So I started watching, and subconsciously imposing my preconceived notions on it. Then something happened by the 3rd episode - what I was watching ceased to be Cop show and became something else - something so epic in scale and grandiose and real - I wasn't watching actors playing a role, I was watching a dance, a performance of characters that were so thought out and well-written that each one sucked you in to the world of Baltimore Maryland. All the joys and tragedies played out without a sappy music score, without emotional ques. This is how it is, take it or leave it. Cops were fucking assholes and did completely questionable things. The Drug Dealers displayed a work ethic that I wish some of my employees had. What was going on? This isn't Miami Vice or Hill Street Blues. How can cops drink on the job and cheat on their wives not have to pay the price at the end of the episode like normal televison? How can you show a drug lord going to college to earn a degree in business then go put the order out to kill a snitch and have that drug lord still standing at the end? Because this is how real life is. No apologies. Season one will suck you in. Be prepared - you will have no choice but to rent the rest of the seasons back to back and the next few months of your life will be consumed by it.
Season Two: It's the common thread among Wire fans that season two is the weakest out of the 5. But I think if you take a step back and look at the big picture, it's one of the most insightful, engrossing, and clever seasons. After the end of season one and all the play with the drug dealers and the wiretap that the cops used to catch them, you are expecting more of the same with season 2. Instead the focus shifts to the dock workers and the union troubles that plague Baltimore. The dock workers are still brilliantly written and acted and you get attached to them just as you did the others. There are still some drug dealings and all of the characters you grew to love from season 1 come back. We get to we see more of the inner working of both organizations - The Police and the Drug Lords - and what happens to both when they are dismantled, ironically enough both by the Police. This season moves slow but for a reason, it sets up the next two seasons and gets you ready for them. It is the calm before the storm.
Season Three and Four: I consider seasons 3 and 4 one giant season. You cannot have one without the other. It is quite possibly the best 24 episodes of televison ever produced. All the players are set, the pieces have been placed, and what follows will blow you completely away. I will not spoil anything here because I want you to experience it for yourself, but I guarantee you will blaze thru those disks. You feel pain when your favorite character dies. You will be in shock at some of the betrayal that goes on. You will be part of the 8th grade classroom where the lives and deaths of Baltimore children are played out before your eyes by some of the most gifted child actors I have ever seen. You will see the horrors of the drug trade from all sides and the helplessness that all involved battle day to day. It is brutal, beautiful, and absolutely riveting. By the end of season 4 you have invested so much with these characters and the city that to call it just another cop show would be folly - this place has become your home. And I will miss the hell out of it when I get to the end.
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