Indie Film Watch - "Yellow Cake"

If you've been following news out of Iran, then you can probably guess that the title of this video "Yellow Cake" might have something to do with enriching uranium and nuclear proliferation. This animated short was described to me as Snow White meets The Battle of Algiers. There's definitely a lot of social commentary to pick up on the surface, but I would highly recommend a second or third viewing, because you'll catch something new each time. The piece was done by a Nickelodeon animator named Nick Cross, and has a running time of about 9 minutes. So here it is, Yellow Cake by Nick Cross.

Yellow Cake from Nick Cross on Vimeo.

Indie Film Watch - "Asshole"

Here's the Sundance short film "Asshole" from proud New Yorker, Gavin McInnes.

Adventures in Questionable Eating - The Fluffernator

Shadiest Batteries Ever?

I needed some AA batteries. It was late, so I knew the usual places wouldn't be open. I came across a slightly unsavory looking convenience store. Went in, asked for batteries, paid and went on my way. I got home, and got a chance to take a closer look at the batteries and I noticed that something wasn't quite right. First, all the asian script makes the batteries seem slightly unofficial. Second and most importantly, there's a fuzzy pink bunny wearing a yellow "Duracell" tank top. I'm pretty sure the only brand of battery to feature a fuzzy pink rabbit is Energizer. Ah well, I'm pretty sure they'll work just the same.

Streaming Movie of the Week - "RiP! A Remix Manifesto"

This week I'm picking a documentary about modern copyright. It looks at copy right, and creative commons in a very cultural and media savvy way. I think it's a great watch for everyone, especially for those with strong connections to the internet. It's also a pseudo biography on mash-up maestro Girl Talk, who is featured throughout much of the documentary. So here it is friends, "RiP! A Remix Manifesto."

Brief Thoughts

A public health system in America simply will not work. It's totally true, in fact, 9 out of 10 people that have absolutely no idea what they're talking about agree.

Editing Photos - What Have I Been Missing?!

So, I recently got a 17" MacBook Pro, and suddenly I see the world differently. Lights are brighter, colors clearer, edges more defined... in my photographs that is. I kept reading about all this work people did on their photos after they took them, but I had no idea what they were doing. So I was flipping through my photos in iPhoto (it's a Mac thing, no big deal) and I noticed a little button that said "Edit." I though "what a novel idea, editing photos." I picked a picture I took a while back and away I went, and subsequently, never plan to return. First there was the RGB scale, sliding the bars up and down effortlessly, as if a Ouija board guiding me to the perfect spot. Then, a tri-force of tuning; EXPOSURE, CONTRAST, SATURATION! What wonders! What idle hands could have crafted such witchcraft. Then definition, followed by highlights, and on and on until resting at de-noise. My breaths short, and my heart beats shorter I thought surely that was it, surely there couldn't be more... but then, there it was. Each letter sounded a symphony as I read it in my head, "Temperature." Doth mine eyes deceive me? With all disregard for my cardio-vascular systems, I slid the slider a cool, or should I say hot, 10 degrees to the right. I did not see a warning when I received my MacBook, I did not feel empty inside, yet I knew my soul had to have been taken, because this could only be the work of the devil himself. Beauty; simple and uncompromising. I am in love... with editing my photos.