The Random Potatoes Present Blogapalooza

Do you eyes decieve you, or is that a new post?

2007-10-03T17:24:00.000-05:00

So I’ve been told that I apparently don’t update enough. Have no fear, gentle readers, there’s nothing like the power of homework avoidance to get me blogging again. Here’s a quick recap of what’s new and exciting with me lately.

Schools been going well, I suppose. Nowhere near as intense as last semester, but it is starting to crank up. Midterms coming up already…ugh. Story Development for Film and Games is easily my favorite class. The prof brings such an unbelievable amount of energy to the class each week that you can’t help but get drawn in. As far as my other classes go, Multimedia (Flash) is pretty cool, Game Programming is okay (even if the game builder we’re using is riddled with glitches), and then there’s Creative Writing. Which is okay, I guess, but I’ve not been very motivated so far with that class. Which is why I’m blogging instead of working on my manuscript right now.

Cool thing about this semester is that I’ve been actually using my awesome Wacom Tablet more. I bought it on sale earlier this summer and failed to train myself to use it as planned, but its been earning its keep lately. I’m hoping to try my hand at some digital painting at some point, so then I can really give it a good workout.

Saw WAAAAY to many movies this summer, but it was all good fun. My favorites were (in no particular order, mind you), Ratatouille, The Borne Ultimatum and Ocean’s Thirteen. Both Spidey and Pirates disappointed, but at least Pirates yielded a great soundtrack. On the Pixar note, a new teaser for WALL-E hit the net, and it looks awesome. I’m really excited to see how the storytelling plays out using only robot noises for dialogue. It’s risky, but all current signs look promising. Plus, they keep referring to it as ‘R2-D2:The Movie’, and how can that not be awesome?

Amazingly enough, a brand-new Legend of Zelda game came out for the DS yesterday, and I didn’t rush out to buy it right away. Not that I don't want it, mind you. It looks awesome. I tell myself that I’m being disciplined and not buying anything that would distract me from homework, but really, it’s just because I’m too cheap. If someone had it on sale for even $5 off right now, I’d be all over it. Of course, there’s also a Zelda for the Wii that’s been out for almost a year now that I have yet to play through, but that’s because I’ve yet to buy a Wii. Soon, though. Soon.

I have been buying music lately, though. Bought the new David Crowder Band’s album last week, and I’ve been listening to it pretty much nonstop ever since. To say it’s their best one yet would be to pit it against the awesomeness that is A Collision, which wouldn’t be fair to either album. So I’ll just say that it’s spectacular, and you should go buy it now. Oh, and it’s got Ted Nugent guest-starring on a song. How can you go wrong with that?

Also been trying out Amazons nifty new MP3 download service. So far, I’m very happy with it. Selections admiringly limited right now, but I’ve still been able to find some cool deals, including the new Medal of Honor soundtrack for seven bucks. Since Michael Giacchino’s one of my favorite composers, I was pretty psyched. There are some other great deals out their that are very tempting, including a deluxe edition of the new Barenaked Ladies album with almost 30 songs for seven bucks. Might just have to snag that one.

Yeah, I'm sure that there's more I could say, but I suppose I should actually get to it. See how much writing I can get done before the magic allure of the TV calls to me...

Doh!

2007-07-23T17:30:00.001-05:00

In the spirit of the Mii post I had a while back comes this sweet new toy from the Simpsons Movie site that lets you create yourself Springfield-style. Highly addicting, it is.

The Wonders of MovieMaker

2007-06-14T18:12:00.000-05:00

Some people have way too much time on their hands. And by some people, I of course mean the guy that made this, not me for spending ten minutes of my life watching it. I was...being productive. Somehow. Anyways, don't be a wimp and quite half-way through or anything, because it really is worth sticking through.

Ding Dong' the merry-oh, sing it high, sing it low!

2007-05-31T18:56:00.000-05:00

Upon threat of peasants revolting, it was strongly suggested that I update my blog. Having little of excitement to say, I'll pose a question that was the source of much discussion at work the other day. With regards to the Wizards of Oz's delightfully upbeat song "Ding Dong! The Witch Is Dead", can you think of any other children's or family movie in near of distant past in which such main characters (being aligned with the forces of good) so cheerfully and vigorously sing and dance over their enemies grave? Seems slightly taboo these days, no?

The Link-O-Matic Strikes Again!

2007-04-23T11:36:00.000-05:00

Gotta love choreographed nuns.

Best. Video. Ever.

2007-04-19T15:13:00.000-05:00

All The Ducks Are Swimming In The Water.

Yup.

2007-04-07T22:02:00.001-05:00

It's an Easter miracle! I've updated my blog! Pretty impressive, no? Before you all go getting to excited, though, I should warn you that it's going to be an oh-so-exciting link-o-rama kind of post, also known as a cop-out. (Lots of hyphenated words there! ) Without further ado, I present sites you didn't know you couldn't live without:

Remedy is Coming

Best. House. Ever.

This one's obviously not completely accurate, but still somewhat sobering to watch the tallies after a couple of minutes.

The Human Clock

Only play this game is you're prepared to kiss you life goodbye for a couple of days. Majorly addicting.

Why not just anyone should be allowed to drive a boat.

Is anything cooler then the mighty katana? Didn't think so.

Apparently, a lot of hands get chopped on in Star Wars. And, people have to much time of their hand.

Da Vinci's got nothing on Microsoft paint.

Finally, (yes, I'm actually done now) an oldie but a goodie, the best Trigger Happy prank ever.

I promise I'll have an actually update sometime later this year...

Yet another post dealing with random musings.

2007-01-02T21:10:00.000-05:00

Hmm…I suppose it’s probably time for an update, yes? Has been awhile, but I’ll gladly blame all of that on school. This was, to say the least, my toughest semester yet, but looking back it’s all been worth it. Learned a lot of new stuff, and been able to focus my studies a little better. (I’m hoping to pursue level design, if you must know). Classes start again next week, which seems to soon, but I’m actually looking forward to some of the new skills I’ll be learning. Should really help with game designing and all that.
On a gaming note, the Wii and PS3 are both out and about, so the next wave of console wars is officially underfoot. I, sadly, don’t have a Nintendo Wii yet. I’d blame financial setbacks (which is a huge factor), but the biggest reason is that I forgot to pre-order one, and they are now impossible to get. Supposedly, the Wii, having been out only a month now, has already sold half as many units as the Xbox 360 has, despite the fact that the 360 has been out for over a year now. Shows what a little hype can do, eh?
The Nintendo DS, meanwhile, continues to crush the Sony PSP, and fan boys everywhere rejoice.
I suppose since it’s New Years-time and all, I should offer various reflections and what-not, but I’m not really in the mood right now. Of course, last year I updated with my top ten favorite scores of ‘05. No such list this year, because a) I have like, two scores from this year, and b) there’s not a whole lot out there to get. Granted, there have been a handful of good-to-great scores over the past month of so, but its still been a pretty sad and dry year for good movie music. Thankfully, the insane number of blockbuster films in ‘07 offer a better and brighter hope for tomorrow. I might put together a list of some of my favorite books I’ve read this year though, seeing how as I’ve read some truly fantastic books this year.
And that, despite not having updated for three-hundred-gazillion years, is all I have to say for now. Kind of a let-down, no?

So mean, yet so funny...

2006-11-27T14:44:00.000-05:00

Best. Prank. Ever.

Shattered Dreams

2006-11-16T18:38:00.000-05:00

Okay, so I was flipping through the channels earlier this week and came across a special about the Blue Man Group, and they were interviewing the BMG, only it wasn’t the BMG proper, but rather the guys who perform as them. Which, I mean, I always knew that they were just a bunch of guys painted blue, not actually blue, mute men, but it was still pretty sad. It felt like finding out Santa or the Easter Bunny weren’t real all over again. Okay, maybe not, since my parents never tried to make me believe Santa or the Easter Bunny or any other holiday-associated mascots were real or anything so I never actually believed in Santa or anything, but it still felt like finding out he‘s not real, based on what I can imagine it would feel like to believe such a thing and then find out it’s all a lie. I mean, they weren’t even bald or anything!

There

2006-10-29T16:26:00.000-05:00

I switched to the new Blogger Beta. Isn't that exciting.

Concert Review/Homework Evading

2006-10-14T20:16:00.000-05:00

This past Thursday was rather exciting, due largely to the fact that my brother Charlie and I were able to go to the excellent Third Day/David Crowder Band concert in Kalamazoo. Seeing how as they are probably my two favorite Christian bands, having the chance to see them both at once was pretty awesome. Opening for the show was some newbie band whose name is hardly worth mentioning, since doing so could be interpreted as a plug for them, and I don’t think they were quite good enough to plug. Although they did play a fun heavy-rock version of “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, so that was cool.
The DCB rocked the house, and I think I might have enjoyed them as much, if not more, then Third Day. Or course, I knew all of DCB’s songs, as opposed to knowing only most of 3D’s songs. Still. Highlights included the audience-participation-heavy “Sing Like The Saved” and a very toe-tapping “I Saw The Light”. Also loved “Wholly Yours” and “Forever and Ever Ect.” And, well, everything they played. As I said, it was a great show.
Third Day seemed to have some audio problems during their first couple of songs, rendering the vocals pretty much inaudible. That, and the fact that they opened with the few songs of theirs I don’t know (I know, my fault, not theirs) made for a slightly weak opening. But where vocals failed, the band and lights managed to highly-entertain. And sure enough, within minutes audio was fine and they were ripping out one classic after another. Favorites included “Show Me Your Glory”, “Sing A Song”, a awesome, awesome, awesome cover of “Blessed Assurance”, along with hits such as “Creed” (As in Nicene Creed, upon which the song is based) and a great closing cover of worship classic “Agnus Dei”. It was a great set, and the crowd, though not terribly large, was certainly energized and made it all the more fun. Only song missing I was hoping for was “Your Love Oh Lord”, but we managed to hear it on the ride home.
Speaking of, it being Michigan and the second week of October, we had to brush off several inches of snow off the van after the concert. We continued to experience heavy snow and wind coming home, which was good fun since I was driving on a new road for me in the dark. Good times.
One other cool thing, then it’s back to this pile of homework I’m currently blowing off. In addition to a brief rendition of the Super Mario Brothers theme for DCB, the set for 3D (which was awesome, BTW), was very Tetris-inspired. Video game fun follows wherever I go.

Blast from the not-so-distant-past

2006-10-10T20:51:00.000-05:00

To busy for an actual post, but never to busy for a cool link. Enjoy!
Where's is the bugger?

EDIT: Sorry about the broken link, folks. All up and running now.

Coolest. Time Waster. Ever.

2006-10-02T21:31:00.000-05:00

Okay, so as everybody should know be know, Nintendo's next console, the Wii, hits stores next month. One of the fun toys they've included is something called the Mii channel, where gamers can create cartoons of themselves, called 'Mii's'. Anyways, somebody spent the time to create a flash version of the Mii channel based on demos Nintendo showed recently. So I thought I'd give it a go, and it might be the coolest thing ever. Okay, it's pretty simple, and it's missing a lot of stuff, but take a look at what I cranked out within a few minutes of playing with it:

It's me! Sort of.

It's a British rocker! Ringo, maybe?

Tom Hanks, DaVinci Code Style

Laurence Fishburne

And, of course, Mr. Samuel Jackson.

Exodus Decoded

2006-09-12T20:39:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks ago, the History channel aired a fascinating special called Exodus Decoded that looked at recent archaeological findings that helped prove that the Biblical account of Exodus actually took place. Since I was otherwise occupied the night it aired, I taped it and was finally able to watch it last week. It was an extremely well done documentary (complete with really slick CG) that unpacked lots of cool findings and evidence that proved, from an archaeological standpoint, the validity of Exodus. Perhaps the most interesting part about it was a segment devoted to a theory that the ten plagues were connected to eruption of the Santorini volcano thought to have destroyed the ancient Minoan civilization. The complete theory can be found at the official Exodus Decoded website (under the virtual museum), but the most fascinating theory was for the infamous tenth plague, the Death of The Firstborn. The theory goes that a cloud of giant carbon dioxide gas (also responsible for some of the first plagues) was released and would have killed anything low to the ground before dissipating harmlessly into the air. The actually documented a similar case at Lake Nyos, Cameroon in 1986 that killed 1,800 people and hundreds of cattle and animals. As far as the selectivity goes, archaeological findings have discovered that the firstborn male, being of a privileged position, would have slept on a bed low to the ground while their siblings would have slept on less-comfortable roofs. The Israelites, sitting up at their first Passover meal, would not have even noticed, much less been affected by the giant cloud of gas. It’s a fascinating theory, and the filmmakers, far from using science to discard God, were passionate about showing how God, being in complete control of nature, would have used natural events to accomplish his will. If you ever get a chance to watch it, I highly recommend it.

No more teachers, no more books? Please?

2006-09-07T20:40:00.000-05:00

Well, seeing how as school is started up again and all, I suppose it’s time to give a brief update, no? I’m taking almost all of my classes at Ferris this year, and my one GRCC class doesn’t start ‘till Monday. The Ferris classes, though, are a mixed bag. It’s defiantly going to be a homework-heavy semester…wait, make that is one. Already working on some big projects, complete with the frustration and the headaches. The Advanced Lighting and Rendering class in the current thorn in my flesh and will likely remain so for the next 15 weeks of my life. Dull, tedious work taught by a rather dry prof. Good news is my other classes are a lot of fun. I’ve already had to play twenty minutes worth of Unreal Tournament as ’homework’, and we watched a movie and played charades first day of the User Interface Design class (All in the name of education, of course). Coolest thing? My prof for the Game Design class actually made to classic ’Lost Mind of Dr. Brain’ game I used to play as a kid. That game rocked hardcore.
Still, the amount of homework will put a sad and abrupt end to what has been a great streak of reading I’ve been able to keep going over the summer, averaging at least one book a week. I’ll be sad to see that go, but I hope to work on a few yet anyways.

On a sorta-kinda-but-not-really school note, Nintendo (See? Gaming industry…tied to my major!) will be holding a press conference next Thursday, the 14th, to officially announce the price and release date of the Wii, along with several new games. (Rumored) Seeing how as I’m going into the gaming industry and this in potentially market-changing technology, and seeing how as my Gamecube is slowly but surely dying on me, I feel completely justified in buying a Wii in the name of education. It will just be nice to know how much it will cost me.

On a final note and if you haven’t bought the newest Jars of Clay album yet, do yourself a favor and do so immediately. While I won’t say it’s their best one yet (only because it’s up against very, very stiff competition), it’s getting close to my favorite and I’ve barely stopped listening to it since I bought it. Good times, y’all.

A picture that's worth at least a thousand words...

2006-08-27T19:34:00.000-05:00

Not really sure where this one came from, but I was cleaning throught My Pictures folder and found a comic I downloaded a while ago that I just had to share because, well, it's to strange not to. My favorite part is how kosher-sensitive Spidey is.

Genius!

2006-08-17T19:16:00.000-05:00

First they had the regular M&M's. Then came the minis. Now comes the mega size. The next logical step, the way I see it, are the mini-mega M&M's. Not to be confused with regular M&M's, mind you. Completely different product. They'll just, you know, look the same.

Coolest. Video. Ever.

2006-08-14T17:23:00.000-05:00

Every notice how 90% of my blog post are links to YouTube? Funny, that. Even show, here's possible the best one yet. Fear the Treadmill Dancers!

Random Stuff

2006-08-02T21:54:00.000-05:00

Much exciting music happenings lately, so here’s the rundown.

Just a week to go until the three-day Unity Christian Music Festival in Muskegon starts. I’d love to go for all three nights, but high ticket and gas prices limit me to you night. Which is actually fine be me, since three of my favorite artists, (Aaron Schust, Lincoln Brewster and Chris Tomlin) are all playing on Thursday night. Details can be found at unitymusicfestival.com.

As if that wasn’t cool enough, I now find out that Third Day is coming to Kalamazoo in October, and they’re taking the David Crowder Band with them. I’d pay good money to hear either one of these bands by themselves (probably my two favorite bands), but the chance to see both in one night? Sold.

On the soundtrack side of things, Sony Classical will release Danny Elfmans first concert work, titled ‘Serenada Schizophrana’, on CD on October 23rd. The concert work was commissioned for Carnegie Hall last year and was later adapted by the IMAX file Deep Sea 3D. While I haven’t been able to hear any of it, reviews I’ve read have been glowing. As if that wasn’t enough, Elfman will debut his next concert work titled ‘Overture To A Non-Existent Musical’ next month at the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Hopefully, that one will be released shortly as well. (Is it too much to hope that they’d both be on the same disc?)

Meanwhile, Immediate Music, best known for their spectacular original music for high-profile movie trailers such as King Kong, Narnia, and, most famously, Spider-Man 2, will a long last release their first commercial CD later this month. No U.S. release in currently planned, but it will reportedly be available for download on iTunes. Check out samples at their MySpace account.

In case you’re interested in hearing the Superman Returns score but don’t want to dish out the dough, Rhino Records has the complete score available for listening online for free. Mind you, it’s for listening only. No freebies here, sadly.

Finally, and I’m not really sure what his motivation here is, but some dude decided to play the famous Star Wars theme on his banjo. The results are actually really cool, and I’m kind of hoping to hear more from him.

What every wanna-be super villians needs.

2006-07-10T22:09:00.000-05:00

Ah, the things one comes upon whilst surfing the internet. Seems a dedicated soul took it upon himself to put together a comprehensive guide on how to destroy the Earth. Turns out, it's a lot harder then you'd think. Thankfully, there are a lot of options presented, so if you have the determination, the science and math is already done for you. Just make sure you have some sort of escape method planned beforehand.

Everybody was Kung-Fu Fighting

2006-06-22T19:46:00.000-05:00

You know, I don't believe in Darwinism or evolution at all, but it certainly seems that some monkeys are, in fact, smarter then certain humans. Case in point? Check out the karate monkey and tell me that he's not better then the Afro Ninja. Makes you wonder.

Who runs this dumb blog anyways?

2006-06-08T20:44:00.000-05:00

Apparently, having a blog entitles updating it more then once or twice a year. Which is funny, because I can’t even really make any claims about how I’ve been far to busy to update, since school ended weeks ago. Go fig. Anyways, here’s the latest from my life:

-Belated congratulations to my sister Janna and my new brother-in-law Steve on their wedding. Sorry I couldn’t see much of it, but someone had to watch the little one. (not you guys…I meant James)

-Been getting a lot of reading in over the past couple of weeks. Particularly enjoyed Brennan Manning’s Abba’s Child and Rick McKinley’s Jesus in the Margins, both which urge rethinking your life and identity as one truly, wholly and completely loved by God. Highly recommended reads.

-The Russ’ softball team has not only been enjoying it’s most wins ever, (4 out of 5 wins, compared to last years impressive record of 3 out of 10), but we’ve actually mercied other teams twice. It’s amazing, really. Of course, we’re missing some of our better players for the next couple of weeks, so I’m not holding my breath of maintaining our streak.

-Festivus came and went last weekend, and was sadly to wet to be as much fun as most years. Never got to try all the new food I was hoping to, though I did get a Souvlaki, so I can’t complain too much.

-Nintendo’s riding high of the success of their stellar E3 show, and many analysts are predicting that Nintendo could very likely come out number one in the console wars. And as more details leak out, it’s looking like the Wii might be more powerful then Nintendo’s letting on, combine that with strong launch titles that can be constantly previewed and the rumors of several secrets that have yet to be shown, and Nintendo’s going to be riding the hype train all summer long.

-If you’re looking for some good Christian music, I highly recommend David Crowder’s new album A Collision. Easily one of the most unique, innovate and diverse worship albums to come along in a long time. I got it last week and have listened to it at least once everyday since. I just found out yesterday that a remix album, cleverly titled ‘B Collision’, is due out later this month. Can’t wait.

-Speaking of music I can’t wait for, Mars Hill launched a MySpace account to promote their upcoming live CD, complete with several songs available for listening. Be sure to check out the Hymn Medley and All Creatures, the later of which features the Jenison drum line adding a spectacular rhythm to the whole piece. I had opportunity to participate in the recording, and let me tell you: singing 25 feet in front of an entire drum line is an awesome, if not slightly deafening, experience.

That’s pretty much my life for the past couple of weeks. And I’ll try to update more then once a month, this summer. Promise.

Gaming Goodness

2006-05-09T21:30:00.000-05:00

The press conferences have come and gone, with each of the companies packing their own surprises. Here's a quickie recap:

Sony
-$500 & $600 price tags for the PS3, depending on how big of a hard drive you want. Start saving now, kiddies!
-Controller redesigned from last year, now looks like a classic PS2 controller, only with added tilt-control function added. A shameless rip-off of Nintendo, to be sure, but as IGN explains, it's far from the same thing.
-Worldwide launch in November
-PSP/PS3 connectivity shown, but nothing mind-blowing. PSP games look meh.
-Games look pretty good. Very nice graphics for most, though Grand Turismo looks PS2 quality. Metal Gear Solid 4 trailer looks awesome.

Nintendo
-As much as I expected Wii to blow everybody away, it was the onslaught of AAA titles for DS that stole the show. StarFox, Yoshi's Island 2, Mario vs. DK, Diddy Kong Racing, Mario Hoops, Final Fantasy 3, Zelda...the list goes on.
-Wii remote has a speaker built into it, allowing for more immersive gameplay. Bullets sound like their fired from the remote and sound travels to screen, tennis balls bounce of your racquet and make noise on controller. Sweetness.
-Zelda will be released for both Wii and Gamecube, torturing gamers everywhere. Zelda will be launch title for Wii.
-New Mario platformer shown
-No price, release date, virtual console details, Smash Brothers...

Microsoft
-Didn't stream live, so I haven't watched it yet. Recap based on on-line reports.
-Tons of new games coming to XBox Live Arcade
-Tons of great looking games shown for XBox 360
-Gates announces 'Live Anywhere', lets gamers take their XBox gamertags to Vista, mobile phones.
-Fable 2 announced
-Halo 3 trailer shown, fans everywhere wet their pants.

All in all, it's been a decent show so far. I'll somewhat disappointed with Nintendo, however. They didn't really show much new, and today was the day to stop teasing us and blow the doors off their system. Matt, the chief editor of the Nintendo channels at IGN, sums up his feelings pretty closely to mine. A missed opportunity, to be sure. Of course, this is just half of the fun. The doors open Wednesday morning for three days of hands-on with all of the games, with some surprises sure to be shown.

Tick...Tock...

2006-05-07T19:43:00.000-05:00

E3 starts this week, so I'll basically be holed up in my room watching wall-to-wall coverage for the next couple of days. Most of the big game sites (IGN, Gamespot, 1UP), will be streaming the conferences live. The times, for those dedicated gaming geeks out there, are:

Sony: Monday, May 8 @ 7:00 PM EST
Nintendo: Tuesday, May 9 @ 12:30 PM EST
Microsoft: Tuesday, May 9 @ 3:00 PM EST

Expect recaps from each conference later this week.

Anticipation for…

2006-04-28T20:20:00.000-05:00

…finishing the stupid semester. I don’t really have much to study for in terms of finals, but final projects? Whole other story. Programming a Sudoku solver is the current thorn in my flesh, one that just keeps digging in deeper and deeper. Thankfully, I’m done in less then a week’s time, and all this will be behind me.

…E3. I won’t bore you with all my geek talk now (although you can be sure I will come May 9), but you may want to keep an eye on gaming sites such as IGN and Planet GameCube for the latest happenings. Shaping up to be a great one this year, folks.

…having free time again. Seriously, my current reading list for the summer is big enough to last well into the fall, and I can’t wait to get going again. Also looking forward to giving my room a good spring-cleaning, and even trying my hands at selling stuff on eBay. (Old Nintendo Powers, anyone?)

…Jars Of Clay! Tickets have been secured for their May 10th concert at the new DeVos Fieldhouse, and I can’t wait. Anyone who hasn’t checked this awesome band out yet should start with either Redemption Songs or Who We Are Instead . Great songs, both of them.

…Sweeps! Yes, I watch way to much TV, but that will be scaled way down during the summer. In the mean time, I got the Lost and Alias finales to look forward to, as well as Law and Order and American Idol. At this point, I’m putting my money on either Chris or Taylor to win.

…softball, assuming our team can find a couple more willing and able players, that is. Here’s hoping.

…Festivus, just a few short weeks away. I can almost smell it now…

…I’m also told someone I know is getting married soon, so I guess I’m looking forward to that, too.

One wonders "What, exactly, they were smoking?"

2006-04-27T17:11:00.000-05:00

Nintendo's done some weird stuff in the past, but this is just plain stupid. Their highly-anticipated next-gen console, long-time codenamed 'Revolution', has been officially named the 'Wii'. That's right, the 'Wii'. There's a press release out there that tries to justify the name, but I'm not going to even bother linking to it because it doesn't change the fact that it's a stupid name. Doesn't mean I won't be buying it yet, but I refuse to call it what they would have me call it. As far as I'm concerned, it's still the Revolution.

About stinkin' time...

2006-04-26T11:23:00.000-05:00

Some sweet news for fellow soundtrack geeks out there. Immediate Music, famous for their high-quality original trailer music, just confirmed with me via E-Mail that their long-awaited commercial CD will be released this summer. The current plan is for it to be released July 24 in the UK, with other territories to follow shortly thereafter. It will also be available for download "through the various online music stores", so we can safely guess iTunes. Best of all? Beefed up version of the famous Spider-Man 2 trailer music to be included. Complete details are expected on their website within a month. Here's hoping for the Narnia and King Kong music make the cut.

Blast from the past

2006-04-23T20:20:00.000-05:00

YouTube.com may have a lot of crap on it, but it's completly redeemed itself for it's impressive display of old cartoons. Classic such as, Yakko's World, Wakko's America, International Friendship Song, and, of course, the theme song.Fans of the classic Pinky and Brain theme need to check out this alternate theme that throws a third stooge into the mix. I've watched that one several times now and still bust out laughing each time. They just don't make TV like that anymore.

Gaming Oddities

2006-04-05T14:14:00.000-05:00

Who would’ve guessed? Turns out that the late Bob Ross, the PBS painter famous for ’Happy Trees’, is getting his very own game, “The Joy of Painting”. The timing of the games announcement created skepticism among gamers, as it was announced on March 31, right before April Fools. Once the dust settled, though, it became clear the game is, in fact, real. Go fig. The game is scheduled for release on Nintendo’s DS and Revolution systems, both of which are, admiringly, perfectly suited for painting purposes. Still, a Bob Ross game? What is the world coming to?

Meanwhile, in similarly amusing news, a Mario-based April Fools stunt landed five teenage girls in trouble with the police. Seems the group of friends decided to decorate the town with 17 large boxes modeled after the famous Mario question-mark boxes. Seems innocent enough, but the problem is that you can’t leave unidentified boxes out in public these days without the bomb squad getting involved. Oops. Apparently, this isn’t an isolated incident either. qwantz.com has pictures of the boxes hung up all over America, plus some coin mobiles. I got to make me one of those.

In which I randomly constructs words in the vague hope that they might form cohesive sentences that will pass as a post

2006-03-24T22:44:00.000-05:00

Impressive. I’ve just managed to avoid doing any homework for the past couple of hours, despite the loud, nagging voice in my head that kept telling me to get to it. Strong though it was, I overcome it. Besides, it’s horrid programming for my horrid Object-Oriented Programming class, so motivation is pretty low. Seriously, the even the prof hates the class and the work. He told us the first night that it will be boring and we’ll hate it. He was right.

The big Game Developer Conference came and went with minimal excitement, although Nintendo did show off a new Legend of Zelda game for the DS, which currently looks even cooler then the uber-cool Gamecube-bound Zelda also due out this year. All things Revolution is being held off for E3, apparently. Only a six and a half weeks to go. Good times.

That whole thing about being to stand an egg up during the Vernal Equinox turned out to be true. Had two eggs standing for an hour+ undisturbed. Very exciting stuff. Spring is coming in all it’s glory very shortly, and the Russ’ softball team will be playing before we know it. We’re a ragtag bunch, the kind of underdog team you’ve seen in hundreds of sports movies, only difference being is that we never actually win in the end. Oh well.

I really though I’d have more random thoughts to post then this when I stared writing. I was wrong, apparently. Go fig.

Tech News

2006-03-15T22:33:00.000-05:00

For the few gaming geeks out there who may not have heard, Sony has officially delayed the launch of the Playstation 3 from spring to November. This hardly comes as a shock, and some skeptics still insist that Sony will be hard pressed to get it out this year yet. To soon to tell, if you ask me. There are all sorts of features Sony announced for the PS3, but they’re hardly worth mentioning since they hardly have to highest success rate on living up to their promises. The most significant part of the story is that PS3 will now be launching against Nintendo’s innovative console codenamed Revolution, meaning we’ll have a fun clash of the titans this holiday season.

Speaking of Nintendo, official confirmation finally came the Nintendo’s upcoming Legend of Zelda title for the dying Gamecube will make use of the Revolution controller for enhanced gameplay, giving gamers two unique ways to play it. (Assuming, that is, Nintendo builds the whole game for it and doesn’t cop out as reduced the controllers use to a few mini-games). The flood gates on the next-gen wars will begin leaking over the next week or so, as Nintendo’s loose-lipped chief developer Shigeru Miyamoto is slated for multiple interviews, and talk is that Nintendo’s presence at next weeks Game Developer Conference might be grounds for unveiling another mystery or two about the Revolution. All this, of course, leading up to this years E3 expo in May, which promises to be the biggest one yet. Good times.

Williams must be proud

2006-02-25T19:45:00.000-05:00

As further proof that some people have way to much time on their hands, check out this amusing rendition of the classic Vader Theme. We all knew that the Dark Lord of the Sith needed a creative outlet.

Random Musings

2006-02-23T16:36:00.000-05:00

So apparently, it’s been a while since I’ve updated my blog. Go fig. Fact is, I really haven’t had anything to blog about. But for the few and faithful out there, I thought I’d update anyways. Just be warned that it won’t exactly be an exciting post.

I suppose a school update is in order. All’s going well this semester, and it’s actually one of my most fun semesters yet. Particularly enjoying my AutoCAD and Music & Computer technology classes. Last week in the music class, my prof spent the first five minutes telling us how stealing music under circumstance is wrong, then spent the next hour and a half showing us how to do it anyways. Heh. If I think of it, I’ll share some of my cool tunes towards to end of the semester. Amazing how a great program allows someone like me whose never played an instrument in his life crank out catchy music within minutes. Pretty cool.

Since I put a site meter on my blog a week or so ago, I’ve found that a surprising number of people have found my blog while searching for the Lord of The Rings Potato song. That’s surprising on account of the fact that I’ve never linked or even mentioned the song on my site. Crazy google. Still, you got to give the people what they want, so here you go.

Game wise, the hype level for this years E3 has ramped up considerably over the past couple of weeks. For the unenlightened, E3 is like a gamers Christmas, an annual expo when all of the game companies show off their biggest games. This years especially exciting as the curtain is finally drawn back on Nintendo’s unique new system codenamed Revolution as well as Sony’s PS3. While a won’t bore you with my geeky ranting (I’ll save that for in-person), this year will likely set the course for the multi-billion dollar industry for the next five or so years. Good times. Also, if you have a DS and don’t have Mario Kart yet, go buy it now. Best. Handheld Game. Ever. And if you don’t have a DS, go buy one just for this. Just be sure to say goodbye to your family first.

That about all I have for you. The Lost soundtrack is coming out in a few weeks, which is pretty cool. It also be cool if something actually happened on Lost, but that’s apparently wishful thinking. The Olympics have been exciting, but could seriously use some spicing up. I’ve been pulling for Ski Jump Jousting and Sledding Halfpipe for some time now. Also fun would be pairs figure skating while a madman on a zamboni tries to hit them. It pull in the ratings, anyways.

The Maestro's Birthday

2006-02-08T10:58:00.000-05:00

For the unaware, today is composer John Williams' 74 birthday. 74 years old, and still going strong. Last year was particularly impressive, with Williams' writing four fantastic soundtracks, compared to his average one or two a year. Sadly, he doesn't have any movies lined up for '06, but he is writing several concert pieces. There is, of course, no deny the success and talent of this man. His themes are among the most recognized and popular pieces of movie music out there, with such titles as Star Wars, Indiana Jones, E.T., Jurassic Park, Schindler's List, Hook, Harry Potter, Superman, and Jaws to his credit, not to mention several outstanding Olympic themes that you'll likely be hearing non-stop over the next couple weeks.

To celebrate, please listen to as many of his soundtracks over the course of the day as you can. (My problem, of course, is choosing which of my 30+ works of his to enjoy...)

Best Soundtracks of '05

2006-02-01T15:43:00.000-05:00

No surprise here folks, but the Oscars did a really poor job with their nominations for Best Score. To correct this grievous wrong, I’ve assembled a list of the top ten soundtracks for ‘05. Enjoy.

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith
Revenge of the Sith got a lot of mixed press, both as a movie and a soundtrack. John Williams fans were a little disappointed that his last Star Wars soundtrack ever didn’t top the rest, instead shifting tones for a darker, more subdued style. Even so, there’s a wealth of material to enjoy. Battle of the Heroes is among Williams most enjoyable cues, and the choral moments such as Anakin’s Dark Deeds were spectacular.

Narnia
No, it wasn’t quite the LOTR-killer I hoped it to be, but then, it doesn’t try to be. A unique and heavily debated score (the use of synthesizers to capture to old-world feel light soundtrack message boards on fire), Narnia nevertheless enchants with its peaceful, melodic beginning and excites with powerful, heroic cues in the latter half. “The Battle” stands out as one of my favorite cues of the year, a thrilling and thunderous combination of orchestra and choir that worth rattling your windows for. (Not that I do that sort of thing)

Valiant
Though Valiant failed to stir up much excitement amongst critics and moviegoers, soundtrack fans found a score to be proud of this summer. George Fentons high-flying soundtrack to Valiant is orchestral gold start to finish, complete with a soaring main theme, lively British marches, Glenn Miller-styled jazz and a stunning 13-minute action piece that deserves to be played over and over again. Hidden gem of the year.

The Legend of Zorro
Like many fans of the original Mask of Zorro score, I was cautiously optimistic about James Horner’s sequel score. And while fears that Horner wouldn’t introduce much new material for the sequel were well-founded, he did write a thrilling ‘remix’ of the Mask of Zorro, complete with what’s possibly his best action cue ever, the relentlessly action-packed 11-minute track “The Train”.

Goblet of Fire
Patrick Doyle took over composing duties from John Williams for the fourth Harry Potter film, and in doing so cast off virtually all of Williams themes for the previous films. In its stead, we get a score that’s distinctly Doyle, complete with several fantastic themes, lively waltzes and spectacular dark choral moments.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory/The Corpse Bride
Danny Elfman wrote two fantastic soundtracks last year, both equally fun and amusing. Best of all, he returned to singing and songwriting, a treat Elfman fans last enjoyed in the cult-classic “The Nightmare Before Christmas” many years ago. Song awards for CATCF go to the catchy “August Gloop’ and the ABBA-inspired “Veruca Salt’, while Corpse Bride wins with the bouncy jazz song “Remains of the Day” and the Gilbert-and-Sullivan-esque “The Wedding Song”. Outside of the songs, Elfman also wrote fantastic scores for each of them, the most notably of the two being the tragic piano-based Corpse Bride.

Memoirs of a Geisha
World-renowned composer John Williams teams up with world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma and world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman for the soundtrack that’s proved to be, ironically, and movie that’s anything but world-renowned. Still, the soundtrack is fantastic, with Williams writing one of his most eloquent score ever. Whereas most Williams soundtracks are immediately stellar, this in one that worms it’s way into your heart, requiring several listen to truly appreciate it.

Steamboy
Okay, I’m fudging things a little by including this on my ‘05 list. See, the film actually came out in 2004 in Japan, but it didn’t hit the states ‘till 2005, so it qualifies for my list. A delightfully rousing score complete with memorable themes and a near-total abandonment of composers Steve Jablonsky’s Media Ventures roots, Steamboy has been my favorite surprise of the year.

Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit
When looking for simple fun factor in a soundtrack, it doesn’t get much better then this. The wonderful theme “A Grand Day Out” gets the ball rolling for this 50-minute roller coaster of a ride that many have likened to the equally fantastic score for “Chicken Run”. Indeed, like Chicken Run, composer Julian Nott runs the main theme through repeated variations, many of them unexpected. Add to that multiple sub-themes, occasional choir and thrilling action cues, and Wallace and Gromit is sure to stay in your CD player for a very long time.

Kingdom Of Heaven
Harry Gregson-Williams score for the controversial crusades movie has gotten the most playtime out of any my soundtrack for ‘05. Epic without resorting to noisy bombast, Kingdom primarily uses ethnic instruments and religious choral that repeatedly reaches moments of Lord of the Rings-esque beauty. Combined with a great theme, strong variation and heroic cues, and Kingdom wins my best of ‘05 award.

Honorable mentions go to James Newton Howard’s replacement score for King Kong and Mark Isham’s thrilling Racing Stripes. It should be noted that I (sadly) haven’t gotten to hear all of ‘05’s big scores, so this list is based on my sampling of the years scores.

Winter Wonderland

2006-01-21T22:36:00.000-05:00

Maybe it’s the lack of sleep talking, but it is truly a blessing to step out the door at five-to-six in the morning and discover the world around us has been transformed overnight into a place of unspeakable beauty. As all West-Michiganders know, we were hit with a decent winter storm system last night that dumped a rather impressive amount of snow on us, the first we’ve had in quite some time. Once all of the initial negatives are gotten past (namely poor driving conditions and shoveling), I found myself thinking what a wonderful gift from God this is. Granted, even just yesterday, though it didn’t look anywhere near as pretty, God’s wonder was on display in his mere ability to maintain all of life and creation, to hold the sky up high and give us air to breath. But in God’s infinite wisdom, He knew that this line of thinking would get lost in the day-to-day ruts we’re so good at getting ourselves into, so He constantly dazzles with the wonders of His creation. Snow is one of his more unique ways of dazzling us, a treat much of the world never gets to see. Mind you, I’m a big believer in everything in moderation and believe that this applies to snow first and foremost, but it is still quite the sight.

The timing of the snow comes at particular good timing for me personally. Having just finished reading a great book called “Through Painted Deserts” by Donald Miller that described his hippie-style journey across America just for the sake of journeying (my dream vacation), I found myself wanting to experience the glories of God’s creation all across the globe. Mind you, I still want to explore the world, but this mornings snow reminded me that His beauty is on display everywhere, including little old Grandville, Michigan. Praise be.

Proof that some people have to much time...

2006-01-20T21:04:00.000-05:00

Well, here's one of the oddest discoveries I've made on the web in a while. Its The Brick Testament, a retelling of the Bible done through use of Legos. The amount of content is actually rather impressive, although you should be warned that they don't shy away from sexual content, even if they are Legos. Use the warning system they have setup to avoid anything you may not want to see.
My favorite? This little gem, a wonderful verse and picture that I, frankly, think would make a perfectly fine wedding gift for a soon-to-be-married couple...

Boo-yah!

2006-01-16T21:50:00.000-05:00

It was a monumental day at the Jurries household last Saturday…I finally got my 200th soundtrack in the mail. The honor goes to “Cliffhanger “, a wonderful score that carries the weight of it’s historic ranking well. This, or course, puts me 1/5th of the way to a thousand, a goal I’ll no doubt have reached within five years time. And much as a person chooses their birthday to reflect on their life, so to have I decided to use this moment to reflect upon my collection.

The most obvious thought that comes to mind is how extremely diverse my collection is. Practically every style of music is represented here. From action to adventure, drama to comedy, majestic to romantic, heroic to heartbreaking, it’s all there. Scores range from full, rousing orchestra to small, intimate scores played by just a few people, to traditional to electric to experimental to bizarre. It compasses almost every ethnicity, including Asian, Celtic, Jamaican, Mexican, French, Middle Eastern, Egyptian, British and good old American. It knows no boundaries of time, with scores plunging you as far back as dinosaur days, taking you on a guided tour of history from Roman reign to the Dark ages, Shakespeare to the Civil War, the wild, wild west and finally to the deepest, darkest corner of space hundreds of years in the future. Themes take you soaring in the skies, sailing across the ocean or charging into battle. Styles range from jazz to choral, brass to percussion based, playful to angry. Whatever mood I’m in, I have a score to match.

If asked which of the 200 is my favorite, I wouldn’t hesitate for a second. John Williams brilliant score for Jurassic Park was my favorite back when I only had a couple scores, and it will no doubt forever remain my favorite. If asked my second favorite, I’d have to say it’s Danny Elfman’s enchanting score for Edward Scissorhands. The finale is simply one of the most moving pieces of music ever, and it defiantly ranks as my favorite cue. Beyond that, it gets shaky. I often joke that I have well over 30 ‘top ten favorites’, and it’s growing every month. Honorable mentions go to The Mummy Returns, Lord of the Rings, Hook, Chicken Run, Kingdom of Heaven, Schindler’s List, Cutthroat Island, The Legend of Zelda, Dragonheart, The Mask of Zorro, Dinosaur, Rudy, Batman, Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas, Steamboy, Sky Captain, Medal of Honor, Sommersby, Spider-Man, Nightmare before Christmas, Independence Day, Tomorrow Never Dies, The Rock, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and, or course, Star Wars. (If you’re wondering which of the six I like best, it’s The Empire Strikes Back.)

Some interesting stats to throw at you: My collection is made up of roughly 65 composers, including many whom I’m just beginning to explore. John Williams holds the record for most soundtracks by a single composer, with 32 scores to his credit. Danny Elfman is a close second at 22, followed by Harry Gregson-Williams with 10. Of my 200 soundtracks, 153 are for movies, 26 for game soundtracks and 7 for television shows/movies. The remaining amount goes towards specialty scores, such as a compilation of trailer music. Of the 153 movies scores I have, I’ve seen less then half of them, many I now wish I never saw, yet fully enjoy the soundtracks to. Fact is, I don’t even know the plot to many of the movies I have soundtracks for…the music is what matters to me. Time wise, I have well over 9 days worth of music, enough to keep me busy for quite some time.

Value wise, it’s got some gems, with lots of rare and promo scores tucked safely away on my shelf. Ebay has been particularly good to me, as I’ve repeatedly won out-of-print scores that normally sell in $50-$100 range as cheap as five bucks. The cheapest I ever won was Dragon: The Bruce Lee story for the grand price of $0.01, plus shipping, of course. The most expensive score I paid for was $21.00 for Danny Elfman’s tragic score to Sommersby, and I would’ve gladly paid twice that if I had known just how wonderful the soundtrack really was. Generally, sellers on Ebay proved to be great, and I’ve only had bad business experiences with one or two of them. Read the product description carefully, look over their feedback rating and write them about any concerns, and you’ll be fine. Interestingly enough, most of the sellers I buy from seem to be from Texas. The furthest away a CD has ever come to me has been Italy, a lengthy journey that yielded me a copy of the rare expanded Raiders of the Lost Ark soundtrack.

Above all else, though, reflecting on my collection compels me the praise the Lord. The talent and musical genius represented in my small sampling of the soundtrack universe are his doing, whether the composers themselves realize it or not. I’m also thankful for God’s gift to me in being able to appreciate the talent he has given. Admittedly, soundtrack junkies are a minority within the musical world. While most people enjoy music within the context of the movie, that’s where most of them like to keep it. Yet for me, it’s one of my greatest joys in life, and I thank God for the gift he has given me. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be on eBay.

As if the commercials weren't bad enough....

2006-01-09T16:13:00.000-05:00

For reasons far beyond my mere mortal understanding, there's now a Pepto-Bismal Dance Machine . The best combo, should you be of strong enough heart and mind to endure this doubtlessly traumatizing site, is 1,5,1,5. Enter at your own risk.

Soundtrack Preview '06

2006-01-06T21:12:00.000-05:00

Ah, a fresh new year. A clean slate, a world of possibilities. Of course, being the soundtrack junkie that I am, I naturally look forward to the chances 2006 holds for soundtracks. 2005 proved to be a solid year, and I’ll be posting my top ten soundtracks from last year before long. In the mean time, here’s a preview of what to expect this year.

Mission Impossible 3
Danny Elfman and Hans Zimmer delivered competent but hardly standout scores for the first two Mission Impossible scores, and now rising star Michael Giacchino gets his shot at it. Currently scoring the fifth season of ABC’s spy-drama Alias, Giacchino is no stranger to scoring for espionage, making him well suited for the job.

Eragon
Patrick Doyle finally got a break from comedies and Shakespeare this year when he wrote a fantastic adventure score for the fourth Harry Potter film. Now, he gets to return to fantasy scoring for this years big Lord of the Rings-inspired film based on the popular book. Since much of the film deals with dragons, we’ll hopefully get some sweeping flying themes, along with lots of extended action music.

Pirates of the Carribean 2
The first Pirates of the Carribean soundtrack got a lot of mixed reviews. Those not well acquainted with Media Ventures soundtracks found it a rousing, thoroughly enjoyable action scores, while seasoned score critics lamented the lack of pirate in the scores blood and the heavy reliance on past Zimmer scores. Now Hans Zimmer takes the reins from his apprentice for the highly-anticipated sequel. Don’t expect to much of a difference from the first, other then it being bigger, louder, and likely employing a powerful choir. Hopefully, it will be a little more swashbuckling as well.

Flushed Away
Harry Gregson-Williams makes a welcomed return to scoring animated films, especially since his scores for Chicken Run, Shrek and Sinbad are amongst the composers best. 2006 sees him composing a film about a rat living in an upscale London apartment who suddenly finds himself flushed into the sewer system. Interstingly enough, Michael Giacchino is scoring a Pixar film in 2007 that has a almost identical plot. I can see the polls now...

Charlottes Web
Elfman churned out a couple of really fun soundtracks in 2005, both of which gave him a chance to return to his beloved singing and songwriting fans love so much. 2006 should see him returning to his other famous style, the tragic, emotional sound of Edward Scissorhands. Charlottes Web has potential to be an outstanding score, likely combining the best bits of such sad scores as Edward and Sommersby into one package. Also keep an eye out for a Day in the Life of Walter Robinson, an upcoming Disney films that deals with the power of imagination, the prefect playground for a fun score.

The Lady in the Water
Hot off the heels of King Kong, James Newton Howard scores the fifth film in the M. Night Shamaylan suspense series. Giving the premise of the film deals with fairy tales, the score is likely to follow suit, no doubt borrowing elements from his stellar score for The Village. Hopefully, the movie will be better than Shamaylan’s less-then-fantastic Village.

Superman Returns
Granted, this one is not one to watch for it’s potential greatness, but rather for how badly it’s likely to bomb. Composer John Ottoman has yet to do anything to gain respect from me, and the thought of him desecrating John Williams beloved soundtrack is almost to much to handle. The horror begins this summer.

Casino Royale
David Arnold has a spotty record for scoring James Bond films. While Tomorrow Never Dies is easily one of his best scores and among the finest action scores ever, Die Another Day and The World is not Enough are nowhere near as good, which is about the only way ‘good’ and those scores will ever find their way in a sentence together. But with a fresh new air being blown into the Bond series, Arnold might just find the inspiration needed to write another blockbuster score.

The Legend of Zelda: The Twilight Princess
Had to sneak a game soundtrack in here somewhere. Zelda games always have great soundtracks, but this one has the potential to rise head and shoulders above the rest. For the first time in the series, the soundtrack will be scored using a full orchestra, a rare treat for Nintendo fans. Originally due out this year, Twilight Princess was delayed and is expected to be released late spring/early summer, presumably with the soundtrack coming around the same time.

Black
Composers Michael Giacchino and Chris Tilton team up to score this upcoming PS2/Xbox console shooter. If anything, Giacchino’s record with the Medal of Honor series and Tilton’s recent work on Mercenaries offer plenty of reason to get excited. Soundtrack.net reports it to be heavy on the brass and percussion, centered around a ‘stirring’ main theme.

So there you go. Mind you, this list is far from comprehensive As is often the case, composers may be reassigned, so even this short list isn’t set in stone. Plus, oftentimes the movies with the best scores of the year don’t start filming until early 2006, so there are sure to be surprises. Stay tuned for further updates.

An ode

2005-12-28T14:26:00.000-05:00

Ahhh, cheese. Is there anything you can't do?
You cheer me up when I'm sad,
you fill my belly when it's gurgly,
and when I'm full, I can roll you up into
a ball and play with you!

Thought for the day

2005-12-25T23:38:00.000-05:00

Here’s a great quote from Frederick Buechner I heard earlier this week that’s stuck with me. Being Christmas and all, I felt it appropriate to share it with y’all. Merry Christmas!

"The face in the sky. The child born in the night among beasts. The sweet breath and steaming dung of beasts. And nothing is ever the same again.

Those who believe in God can never in a way be sure of him again. Once they have seen him in a stable, they can never be sure where he will appear or to what lengths he will go or to what ludicrous depths of self-humiliation he will descend in his wild pursuit of man. If holiness and the awful power and majesty of God were present in this least auspicious of all events, this birth of a peasant's child, then there is no place or time so lowly and earthbound but that holiness can be present there too. And this means that we are never safe, that there is no place where we can hide from God, no place where we are safe from his power to break in two and recreate the human heart because it is just where he seems most helpless that he is most strong, and just where we least expect him that he comes most fully."

Best. Web Site. Ever.

2005-12-22T16:13:00.000-05:00

Merry Christmas from a galaxy far, far away, everyone!

Make sure your speakers are on nice and loud, otherwise it's not much of anything.

Anticipation...

2005-12-11T16:47:00.000-05:00

Only a few more days until King Kong opens, folks. All current talk is that this three-hour monster of a movie is nothing short of breathtaking, with even the harshest critics still insisting that it's well worth seeing. Sadly, due to school conflicts, I won't be able to see it until Friday night, making this week an exercise in patience.

On a separate movie note, I went to see The Chronicles of Narnia last night. My quick review? Loved it. Probably my favorite movie of the year, slightly edging out Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The special effects were for the most part spectacular, with only a couple hiccups here and there. The acting was great, and the casting for the children perfect. Having been years since I've read the book, I can't compare the two, but it's pretty faithful as far as I can remember. If I have any complaint, I'd have to say that the role of Aslan wasn't all it should of been, but it wasn't downplayed as it could have been in the wrong hands. The fights were cool, and the music was awesome. Sadly, the score doesn’t come out until Tuesday, leaving me only with Amazon's 30-second sound clips to whet my musical appetite.

Also, I changed my Blog template. My apologies to The Director for copying her template for Wendler Cottage, but the color scheme I had was becoming to much of an eyesore for me. If I have time this week, I might try messing around creating my own custom graphics as my brother has done, but I’m not sure how cramped my schedule is this week yet.

And they said it would never happen...

2005-12-07T15:09:00.000-05:00

As faithful blog readers and those who know me best know, 'The Random Potatoes" was a name I came up with for a fictional Yiddish rap band some time ago. Today, fiction becomes reality as CNN reports that
Jewish hip-hop is catching on, with groups such as the Hip Hop Hoodios rapping out the Torah. The moral of the story? Never doubt me again.

School Pride

2005-11-30T12:37:00.000-05:00

Apparently suffering from having to much time on their hands, GRCC is building a 25 foot King Kong statue made entirely out of popcorn. It will be completed in time for King Kong's theatrical release on December 14 and will be on display at the new south Celebration Cinema. Over 600 pounds of popcorn will be used for this Guinness World Record-shattering project. Makes you proud, doesn't it?

Begun, these next-gen wars have

2005-11-23T15:16:00.000-05:00

Microsoft jump-started the next generation of video games yesterday with the release the the Xbox 360, the successor to their popular Xbox gaming system. How successful the launch was remains to be seen, as many reports of unfilled pre-orders and near riots have left many questioning how well Microsoft did. Still, the pictures of hundreds of geeks lined up outside of Best Buys everywhere (including the Grandville store) bodes well for Microsoft, and stores are reportedly sold out everywhere. So what does Blogapalooza’s resident gamer think about the 360? Personally, not much. Granted, it’s easy to hate Microsoft, and I’m a Nintendo fan boy at heart, but even when looking at it objectively there’s not a lot to get excited about. The graphics are improved, but hardly next-gen. They look more like Xbox 1.5 then anything. The launch lineup is solid and strong, but most of the games are just slightly enhanced ports of games out on the original Xbox, or PS2 and Gamecube for that matter.

My biggest problem with the 360 is that it offers nothing new. Sony’s forthcoming Playstation 3 is a monster of a machine, combining several new technologies, such as cel-processing and Blue-Ray disc format, that will create a entirely new level of games. Even if it’s only half as powerful as Sony claims (and Sony has a history of talking big and not following through), it will still easily overpower the 360 claim top spot on the graphics totem pole. Nintendo is taking a different road, opting for innovation and creativity versus graphics. Of course, Nintendo has yet to show off how powerful the system is, and recent reports put it equal to 360. Comparatively, the 360 is stuck in the middle, offering neither the best in technology nor innovation. Next year could change all this, mind you, so we’ll have to wait and see.

On another gaming-related note, Nintendo celebrated the one-year anniversary of the Nintendo DS handheld gaming system this week. Despite some claims when it was first unveiled that it was ‘gimmicky and stupid’ (similar to what naysayers are saying about the Nintendo Revolution), the DS has proven to be a mammoth success, producing what might go down in gaming history are the strongest first-year library on any gaming system. Best yet, the innovation and potential for the system is barely tapped, meaning we’re in for many more years of great games on the go.

Movie Music Update

2005-11-16T16:37:00.000-05:00

Lots of movie music news this week, so I'll get right to it.

Soundtrack.net has first 'ears-on' impressions for Harry Gregson-Williams upcoming score for The Chronicles of Narnia, complete with sound clips. Based on their article, this should live up to all of the hype it's been getting. Great themes, large choir, strong action music...This one might just top Gregson-Williams score for this years Kingdom of Heaven as my favorite of the year.While you're there, check out their review for John William's score to Memoirs of a Geisha, yet another instant classic from the maestro.

In other highly-anticapted soundtrack news, has a production diary up talking about the scoring process. James Newton Howard is working an insane 18 hours a day to finish this on time, forced to cram what's normally a four to six month project into the space of about five weeks. That being said, the MovieScore Blog says it won't suffer for being rushed, containing some very strong, memorable themes.

Popular rumor is that Christopher Young will be officially announced soon as Elfman's replacement for Spider-Man 3. Young contributed a lot to what you hear in Spider-Man 2, with much of Elfman's work for Spidey only finding the light of day on album. Sony owns to rights to Elfman's themes, so the score won't stray far from it's roots.

Finally, the web most popular soundtrack review site, Filmtracks, is back after an extended summer hiatus. They've rolled out seven of 25 new reviews to be released over the coming weeks, the most notable being for Wallace and Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and James Horner's follow-up score for Legend of Zorro. I've been debating buying both of these anyways, but now the temptation is to strong. (BTW, add an extra star to their review for Elfman's Corpse Bride. Somehow, the genius of the songs managed to evade them).

Anyone want to trade?

2005-11-07T13:14:00.000-05:00

The thunderstorms that rolled through West Michigan early Sunday wrecked havoc on almost all of the televisions in our household, completely frying one and messing the color on several others. My TV has recovered well, leaving only a tiny spot of funky discoloration in the lower right-hand corner off, but it’s hardly noticeable while watching TV. This is, however, only the latest in a string on various quirks that plague both my television and VCR. For one, my TV no longer recognizes the remote controls. No, it’s not that my remote is broken…it works fine on my brothers TV, and he has the same model, albeit healthier. It merely refuses to take any input from remotes whatsoever. The TV also has a very strange habit of suddenly going black and white, and which point the buttons on the TV won’t work. The only way to fix this is to unplug it for a brief period, after which turning it on again will find the volume at unreasonable loud level. A variance on this is that sometimes it won’t turn on at all, at which point it needs to be unplugged for several minutes before it will behave. The newest problem I’ve been having is that the audio now refuses to match with the video, resulting in a Godzilla-like dubbing effect for everything.

My VCR is the better behaved of the two, but it’s hardly perfect. It will, on occasion, decide that a brand new blank video is not worthy of it, and will violently destroy the tape immediately. It’s a rather hungry VCR, actually, as it eats tapes as often as possible. It’s also finicky about rewinding, opting instead to power down and spit the tape out. Granted, these complaints are hardly that big, especially since I should be watching less TV then I do. That and I’m to cheap to go buy a new set, since at this point I would likely need a digital TV since the government deemed that they would be switching the signal in about four years. Plus, the quirks my TV set a certain amount of character.

Well, why not

2005-11-04T20:23:00.000-05:00

This one was inevitable, I suppose, but it's amusing none-the-less. 2K games has announced that they are working on a video game based on The Da Vinci Code. That's right, now you can experience all the heresy fun of the book on the video game console of your choice. Start saving your pennies now. Or, you know, don't.

And so the family circle grows...

2005-11-04T20:20:00.000-05:00

I'm pleased to announce that my sister Grace has started her own blog, called Ace's Place. If you haven't already, please drop by and welcome her to the wonderful world of bloging.

Who lives in a pinapple under the sea?

2005-11-02T22:40:00.000-05:00

We got to model Spongebob Squarepants in my 3D Animation class tonight, so since I spent a fair amount of time on the little bugger, I thought I'd share with the rest of you. Mind you, he's far from perfect. The hands are a mess, he's missing lots of his sponge-like dents, and he looks, well, a little evil. Manically speaking. Of course, he has brainwashed millions of children (and adults), so maybe he is up to something. Who knows.

Here's a second picture, this time of Spongebob in a more fitting environment. Set the microwave for 2 minutes and you'll have one dried-up Spongebob on hand.

Here's one more model I did as part of my mid-term. There as some issue, most notably the cockpit and back fins, but thankfully, you don't know what source image looks like, so you won't know any better if I say it's perfect. Heh.

That's all the work I'll show for now. I will be starting work on a 30+ second animation in a week or two, and I'll post that at the end of the semester when it's all done. Interestingly enough, a 30-45 second animation of Ferris' extremely powerful computer is still going to take all weekend long to render out. Lucky me.

Cool Beans

2005-10-24T13:25:00.000-05:00

Want proof that some people have way to much time on their hands? Check out Worth1000.com. Basically a photoshop contest site, there are literally thousands of original images for you to browse through, most of them highly creative and unique. Particularly worth checking out in the galleries is Exaggeration City, full of all sorts of size manipulation, and Middle Earth 2005, a site that Lord of the Rings fans will especially enjoy.

Newsapalooza

2005-10-17T21:44:00.000-05:00

Big happenings in the world of movie music this week. Howard Shore's score for King Kong, one of the most anticipated films and soundtracks of the year, was rejected. Director Peter Jackson cites 'differing creative aspirations' for the split, also announcing that James Newton Howard will be replacing him. The MovieScore Blog has a great article up discussing the shakeup and talks about other famous rejected scores. Personally, I was very much looking forward to hearing Shore's score, but Newton Howard is a fantastic composer with a wider array of adventures scores under his belt, and I'm sure that he'll deliver a great, albeit rushed soundtrack.

Meanwhile, Music from the Movies reports that composer Harry Gregson-Williams will be honored with a Hollywood Award for achievement in film composing. While I normally don't care about what awards Hollywood hands out to it's own, it's great to see Gregson-Williams, a relatively new composer, get the recognition he deserves. His scores to DreamWorks animated films Sinbad and Chicken Run are easily among my favorite soundtracks, and his score for this years Ridley Scott epic Kingdom of Heaven currently looks like one of the strongest contenders for Soundtrack of the Year. Disney just announced that they will be releasing a extended two-disc soundtrack for his forthcoming score for Narnia, my most anticipated score for the year.

And as my family and mailman are all too aware, I recently went on another one of my famous EBay soundtrack binges. While I'm pleased to say that everyone of the many scores I bought is great, Steve Jablonsky's score for the animated film SteamBoy is the clear standout of the bunch. Fans of action soundtracks will want to pick up this fantastic soundtrack ASAP.

On a non-soundtrack relegated note, 1up.com has a great write-up discussing the Nintendo Revolution. It's a little lengthy, but does a great job summarizing the scope of what this means for Nintendo. Time magazine just listed the Revolution as the number 2 thing that will 'blow your mind'. Somewhere, Keanu Reeves just went 'Whoa'.

Got $300-$400 to spare?

2005-10-12T14:45:00.000-05:00

No surprise here, but Apple officially unveiled their new iPod Video, capable of holding up to 150 hours of video. (For the off chance you need to have 150 hours of video with you wherever you go) Also announced was that ABC and Disney will be offering downloadable episodes of their most popular shows, namely Desperate Housewives and Lost, for $1.99 per episode. Expect more hit TV shows to follow, as well as the inevitable movies. as cool as this is, you got to love how they announced this just a few weeks after they unveiled the new iPod Nano. Devious, no?

Pure evil

2005-10-10T12:12:00.000-05:00

If you want a new way to waste hours on end on the web and have the patience of Job, then I'd recommend WebSudoku, a highly addictive, if not somewhat frustrating puzzle. The rules are fairly straight froward, and after a couple of practice runs the addictive nature of it begins to set in. My advice? Before you start, set the options button for "How am I doing" to helpful...you'll be using it a lot.

Very Superstitious

2005-10-09T13:13:00.000-05:00

According to BBC,residents of Portland, Dorset have a thing against rabbits, so much so that they don't even refer to them as such. The kosher term is 'underground mutton', or 'furry things', if you prefer. I'm guessing that the Easter Bunny isn't that popular there either.

Computer Geeks, Unite!

2005-10-06T20:45:00.000-05:00

Computer-savvy types who want to spice up their screen saver beyond the boring old 'Starfield' or some such will want to check out ReallySlick.Com Their are lots of really cool screen savers there, most notably 'Helios', a psychedelic particle effect saver that will provide hours of cheap entertainment to those of us who are easily amused.

On another computer note, the 3-D computer animation course I’m taking is easily one of the coolest classes ever. The program we’re using, 3D Studio Max, is a easy to learn yet incredibly versatile system with tons of awesome effects. (Like, say, being able to make a volcano spew hundreds of teapots everywhere) While far above my skill level, you can check out the this link for an idea of some of the stuff this program is capable of. If only all school could be this much fun.

Keen!

2005-09-29T21:46:00.000-05:00

Old-school gamers should remember this blast from the past, now available online and providing a great distraction from homework. How come we haven't seen a new game in this classic series yet?

Movie Music update

2005-09-26T12:25:00.000-05:00

Here's a quick roundup of the latest soundtrack news from this past week.

Soundtrax.net has their first impressions up for James Horner score to The Legend of Zorro, complete with audio samples from each track. From their detailed track-by-track descriptions, it sounds like a fantastic soundtrack, containing little in terms of new themes put plenty of great variations on themes from the first, as well as some great action music. The score will be available October 25.

On November 22nd, Reprise will release The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring - The Complete Recording. This deluxe box set will feature all of Howard Shores score for the expanded version of the film, a massive release spanning over 180 minutes and three CD’s. A fourth disc will be included, a DVD that features the music in 5.1 surround sound. The set will also include exclusive artwork and extensive linear notes. Similar releases are planned for The Two Towers and The Return of The King, though no street date is available yet.

Afi announced their top 25 soundtracks, and John Williams Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope claimed top spot. Williams claimed two other spots for his scores for Jaws and E.T. Sadly, Jurassic Park was nowhere to be seen. The complete list can be viewed here.

Danny Elfman confirmed that he will not be returning to compose Spider-Man 3, citing differences with series director Sam Rami. This is disappointing for Elfman fans, especially since his scores for the first two Spider-Man films are amongst his most enjoyable. No word yet on who will be filling his shoes, but Rami apparently owns the rights to Elfmans Spider-Man theme, meaning the score won’t stray to far from what we know. In other Elfman news, The Corpse Bride soundtrack owns all. Buy it.

Point to Ponder

2005-09-22T19:59:00.000-05:00

If less is more, then think about how much more more would be.

Viva la Revolution!

2005-09-16T21:14:00.000-05:00

Well, folks, Nintendo finally did it. Not only did they show off the Revolution Controller, ending a years+ worth of speculation and debate, but they followed through on their promises of changing the way we play games. Gone is the traditional 2-handed controller used for 20 some years. In it’s place is a television remote-like peripheral that comes with two motion sensors to be places on the left and right side of your TV, thereby turning the ‘remote’ into a virtual wand. The controller, currently dubbed a ‘pointer’, can then be used to move characters and objects just by moving the controller. It has a expansion port on the bottom for add-ons. Currently revealed is a analog stick device complete with two trigger buttons. It’s a radical departure from what we’re used to, and it’s full of promise.

Sadly, I'm having difficulties uploading images, but before you read any further, take a moment to look over the controller. Gaming site IGN Cube has a bunch of great pics of the pointer and add-on.

So how would will this translate to gameplay? No actual game details are known yet, but based on a series of tech demos Nintendo showed, we can get a fair idea. Imagine a fishing game where you actually make a casting motion with the pointer and yank the pointer back to reel the line in. Or a baseball game where you swing the bat not with the press of a button, but by swinging the pointer. Or a action game where you move with the analog stick and swing your sword with the pointer. Or a surgery game where the pointer becomes your tool. Or grab a second pointer and use them as drumsticks for a music game. Or examining a room in a ‘Myst’ like game by grabbing objects in the room with the pointer as a hand. Or use it as a baton to conduct an orchestra. Or use it for a Duck Hunt sequel. The possibilities are mind-boggling, and since the option exists for add-ons for the pointer designed specifically for a game, a developers imagination is the only limit that is set before him.

In case you doubt the chance of success for this, take a look at Nintendo’s reputation for controller innovation. They invented the d-pad. They invented the shoulder buttons. They invented the analog stick. They invented the rumble pack. They invented wireless controllers. With every single console they’ve released, they have raised the bar for controllers, molding them into what has now become the norm. And just last year, they started changing the way we play games via the Nintendo DS, the unique dual-screened, touch screened handheld system that has seen more innovation in it’s game library in it’s first years then some consoles see their entire lifespan. Nintendo has that magical quality that inspires both fans and developers alike, and seldom disappoints.

The controller is genius in a lot of ways. It’s genius because it can function as a remote, a mouse, a joystick, light gun, a floating hand, and a semi-traditional control all at once, and yet is not strictly any of those. It’s genius because it can allow both original and traditional games, depending on the developers choice. It's genius because it's entirely original and yet, held on it's side, functions just as Nintendos firts NES controller from 20 years ago does. It’s genius because, in some ways, it’s an extension the DS, giving us a fair idea of what to expect, and it’s genius because it’s also very different from the DS, making both unique from each other.

In case you can’t tell by now, I’m pretty psyched for the Revolution. There are still a lot of concerns that need to be addressed, but given the uniqueness of the controller, the promise of finally taking beloved Nintendo franchises online, the inclusion of a iTunes-like service for downloading 20 years worth of old Nintendo games, strong third-party support as well a impressive list of known titles in the works for this early in the systems run, the Revolution has a lot to like. Kudos, Nintendo, kudos.

It's a-me, Birthday Mario!

2005-09-14T11:58:00.000-05:00

Yesterday marked the 20th anniversary of the Japanese Super Mario Brothers game for the Famico (know as the NES state-side.) Mario has forever changed that video game industry and remains the industry’s most enduring icon. Mario has stared in countless titles through the years, ranging from traditional platforming to kart racing, tennis, golf, baseball, soccer, RPGs, party games, dancing games, fighting games, spelling games and puzzle games, and there's no end in sight for the plump Italian plumber. To celebrate this historic day, Nintendo of Japan released the Game Boy Micro, a pocket sized extension of their popular Game Boy series. To give you an idea of how ridiculously small this is, I swiped a comparison shot from gaming site IGN.

Not only is the size insane, but they're charging $99 bucks for it. An American release is set for next Tuesday, in case you have eagle-like eyes and don't mind the tiny, tiny size of it. Also, stay tuned for updates from the Toyko Game Show this weekend, as Nintendo looks posed to unveil the much-debated Revolution.

All your soundtracks are belong to us

2005-09-12T11:59:00.000-05:00

As mentioned before, I’m a major film music junkie. My collection is currently north of 150 and counting, and I love exploring new scores. 2005 has so far been a good year for soundtracks, with highlights including Kingdom of Heaven, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Valiant and Star Wars Revenge of the Sith. Now that all of the big summer blockbusters have come and gone, though, it’s time to look towards to remaining soundtracks for the year worth waiting for. Bear in mind that this list is neither a comprehensive list, as there are like to be surprises in store for the year yet, nor is it a list of actually movies I’m necessarily looking forward to. (For instance, the Harry Potter films hold no appeal to me, but the fourth Potter score is on my list.) Without further ado, here’s your fall 2005 score preview.

The Corpse Bride
Granted, the fact that it’s a Danny Elfman score is enough reason to get excited, but the fact that it’s for a Burton film (Elfmans score for Tim Burton films are among his best) and that we get to hear him sing again only sweetens the deal. It’s due out in stores next week, so start saving your pennies.

Serenity
This one wasn’t even on my radar until I heard some sound clips last week, and now I can’t wait. Far from a just another clichéd sci-fi soundtrack, David Newmans score for Serenity combines loud action music with a playful banjo. Based on what I’ve heard, it’s a lot of fun and I’m eager to hear more.

The Legend of Zorro
One must by cautiously optimistic about James Horner these days; most of his scores tend to sound the same, and he’s perfected the art of self-plagiarism. That being said, The Mask of Zorro remains one of his strongest and most enjoyable scores, and any chance to hear an expansion of that is welcomed.

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
John Williams hands over the composing reigns to Patrick Doyle for the next Potter score, giving Doyle and much-deserved chance to spread his wings beyond scoring Shakespeare films and romantic comedies. While the last Potter score is a tough act to follow, Doyle’s unique style makes him the right man for the job.

The Family Stone
If this movie was being scored by anybody else, it probably wouldn’t be on the list. What makes this one worth keeping an eye on is that its being composed by relatively new composer Michael Giacchino. Giacchino has been impressing video game fans for years with his outstanding scores for the Medal of Honor games, and recently treated movie-goers to a spirited, 60's jazz-ish score for The Incredibles. Now, he enters uncharted waters for him; the romantic/comedy/drama. It’s a great opportunity for a great new talent in Hollywood, and could help establish Giacchino as one of the bigger composers on the block.

King Kong
Lord of the Rings composer Howard Shore reunites for director Peter Jackson for this epic remake of the classic King Kong film. There’s so much potential for this score, as the nature of the film allows for both multiple themes (King Kong, Ann Darrow, Kong & Ann theme, ect.), period pieces (tribal jungle music and 1930’s New York spirit) and, of course, great action music. (Anybody else geeked for the Kong vs. T.Rex fight?)

Munich
While we don’t know anything about John Williams forth score for the year, I expect it follow the dark but subtlety hopeful tone of Revenge of the Sith and War of the Worlds. Hopefully, he avoids the clichéd Arab voice wailing, but I’m not holding my breath on that one.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Without a doubt, my most anticipated score for the year. Composer Harry Gregson-Williams is fast becoming a favorite of mine, and his score for Kingdom of Heaven remains my favorite soundtrack of the year so far. Other credits of his include the wonderfully creative scores for Chicken Run and Shrek, as well as the high-energy Sinbad: Legend of the Seven Seas.
For Narnia, though, Gregson-Williams has the chance to create his masterpiece, his own Stars Wars or Lord of the Rings. He’s very much up to the task, and early sound clips are very encouraging. Keep an eye out for this one.

So there you go. As I said, I'm sure that there will be unexpected surprises. There are a couple scores I'm keeping a half eye on that I didn't include to try to keep the list somewhat short, so there's a lot of potential for the year yet. Expect a preview for 2006’s soundtracks in the weeks to come.

In Which I Post Random Stuff

2005-09-08T19:46:00.000-05:00

School has started up again for me, meaning I must fulfill the unwritten rule of blogging that's obligates everybody to talk about it. Basically, it's looking like just another semester at GRCC, none to different from the last. The one class worth getting excited about, however, is my 3D Computer Animation class. The program we're using, 3D Studio Max, is an awesome program whose handiwork you've no doubt seen, whether you're aware of it or not. Used in countless commercials, video games and even movies, it's an incredibly powerful program, and I get to play around with it for the next 15 weeks. Expect further ranting about the coolness of this class in time to come.

Also, video game fans will want to take note: rumors are flying left and right that Nintendo will use next weeks annual Tokyo Game Show to show of it's next-generation console, codenamed Revolution. Current details on the system are minimal, but we do know that it will be WiFi ready straight from the box, and it will have a 'iTunes' like service for downloading 20 years worth of Nintedo's games. Most frustrating, though, is that they telling us that, as the name suggest, it's going to take a unique, innovate approach to gaming beyond what we're used to. Speculation runs wild on message boards, but no one really knows what they have up their sleeves. Still, credibility is being given to some reports claiming Nintendo will show all next week, so stay tuned.

Finally, on the off chance you live in West Michigan and aren't already aware of this, tomorrow night is Celebration on the Grand, which is basically just another excuse to blow stuff up. Firework fans can join my and fellow bloggers on the Pearl St. bridge for an evening of fun and fire.

Service Announnouncement

2005-09-04T15:40:00.000-05:00

As my brother has pointed out, International Talk like a Pirate is fast approaching. While this is all well and good for some, I felt inspired to create my own special day. To that end, I hereby proclaim Tuesday, September 6 International-al Extra Syllable Day. Throughout the course of your day, whether you’re talking, writing or even bloginginging, you are encouraraged to throw as many extra syllyllables in every word as possibleble. Enjoy.

Two screens are better then one

2005-08-29T21:53:00.000-05:00

As my family is well aware, I recently purchased a Nintendo DS, the latest in Nintendo's line of hand held gaming systems. More then just a evolution of the Game Boy line, the DS innovates in several areas, most notably the use of two screens instead of one. Further coolness stems from the fact that the bottom screen is a touch screen, opening the doors to many creative possibilities in games. Other nice features include a microphone for voice command, 3D graphics (albeit N64 quality), backlight screens, backwards compatibility with Game Boy Advance and wireless connection for both multiplayer and Nintendo's forthcoming WiFi online system, which is posed to offer free online gaming with such classics as Mario Kart and Metroid. In terms of comfort, the DS took a little getting used to, but now I find it quite nice, though a small step back for the GBA.

Of course, as any gamer knows, its the games that make a system worth buying, and so far the DS is no slouch. Despite a weak launch, Nintendo has released a multitude of great games over the summer and has a very impressive lineup for the holidays, complete with popular franchises and original games specifically designed for the uniqueness of the DS. High up on my list of anticipated titles are "Lost in Blue", a quirky title that more or less plays out like a Cast Away game would (minus Tom Hanks and Wilson the volleyball), and "Trauma Center", which takes advantage of the touch screen to bring you all the fun of surgery without the life-and-death responsibility. In terms of my current DS library, it's limited to one title, but it's a stellar one at that. "Advance Wars Duel Strike", is the third in a series of increasingly popular strategy games and already promises endless replay. All in all, a great system and well worth the money.

Extreme Makeover and Elfman goodness

2005-08-28T20:45:00.000-05:00

Like the new look? After a short 48 hours of its creation, Blogapalooza has already undergone it's first remodel. I'm not sure if I'm fond of the new template or not, so don't be surprised if further changes occur. Blogger has a disappointingly limited selection of skins, and all of the good ones are already taken by fellow family bloggers. Oh well.

As promised, I give you my first movie music update. The website for Tim Burton's The Corpse Bride has launched, complete with music clips from Danny Elfmans forthcoming score. Be sure to check out the jazzy "Remains of the Day" with wonderful vocals from the Elfman himself and the Gilbert and Sullivan-esque "The Wedding Song." The other songs are great as well, with "Tears to Shed" sounding almost straight out of his famous Nightmare Before Christmas score, but they're not quite as memorable as the other two.

And if you haven't gotten around to listening to his score for Charlie and the Chocolate Factory yet, be sure to do so. The Oompa Loompa songs rock, and the score equally fun. The movie comes highly recommended as well.

LOL! First Post!!!!!!!!

2005-08-26T20:57:00.000-05:00

Welcome, reader. After much nagging (er, encouragement) from my family, I have finally caved in to the pressure and have started my own blog. For the curious, Random Potatoes is the name for a fictional band I came up with several years ago. (A Yiddish Rap band, non the less.) For the phonetically inclined, “Potatoes” in this instance is to be pronounced “Po-Tay-Toes”, not “Po-Tah-Toes.” You may use the alternate pronunciation in every other aspect of your life save this one. For those of who don’t know me so well, my interests, and thus the great deal of focus of my humble blog, include theology, reading, video games and soundtracks. With a soundtrack collection of 150 and counting, you can except lots of reviews and news updates from the wonderful world of movie music, as well as the occasional ode to John Williams and/or Danny Elfman, my two favorite composers. Also, expect the typical random nonsense you've come to expect from blogs these days.

And so, having run out of things to talk about, but wishing to extend my comments beyond the typical-but-much-appreciated “Welcome to Bloging” comments, I ask of you this: What is the strangest thing you've ever eaten? Please, share with the rest of the class.