MRS SILENCE DOGOOD: September 2007

September 30, 2007

Where are the Pulitzer Prize winning photos from Iraq?

Where are the Pulitzer photos from Iraq?

Here's what I came up with

Irony... Chevron ad popped up after I posted at digg
click for closer

Human Energy = Blood for Oil?

Did we really have to hear from Alan Greenspan to get that political put?

digg link

September 28, 2007

FANBOYS (2008)

(Red Alert: may contain some spoilers)

It's the year 1998

A group of Star Wars fanboys head out across the U.S. on a roadtrip west to George Lucas' Skywalker Ranch to fulfill the wish of a dying friend to see Star Wars: Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

One small problem... they don't have permission -- but being hard core SW loyalists they hatch a plan to break into the Lucas high security ranch, steal a print and screen the movie months before it's pending public release.

Fanboys Trailer

Backstory:

George Lucas Gives ‘Fanboys’ Thumbs Up - (Geeks of Doom)

After George Lucas was given an advanced screening of the rough cut of the film, he enjoyed it and gave it his "stamp of approval". He then contacted the filmmakers with his authorization to use Star Wars sound effects.

Filmmaker and Star Wars fan Kevin Smith also viewed an early version of the film and asked for and was allowed a cameo in the film. Just recently, the movie was pushed back once more (to January 2008) because director Kyle Newman was given more funding to shoot additional scenes that the original budget did not include. Getting the cast back together will only be possible in September 2007, thus the movie's release date had to be moved to 2008.

A rough cut of the full film was shown in public for the first time at Star Wars Celebration Europe on July 14th, 2007. The screening was followed by a Q&A session with director Kyle Newman.

TriggerStreetTV Episode 13 "Nerd it Up" Industry Insight section
Carter Swan interviews FANBOYS and JETSONS scribe Adam F. Goldberg

FANBOYS

Director - Kyle Newman

Writing credits

Ernest Cline (story)
Dan Pulick (story)

Ernest Cline (screenplay)
Adam F. Goldberg (screenplay)

Acting Credits

Sam Huntington - Eric
Chris Marquette - Linus
Dan Fogler - Hutch
Jay Baruchel - Windows
Kristen Bell - Zoe
Seth Rogen
Danny Trejo - The Chief
William Shatner - Himself
Carrie Fisher - Doctor
Jaime King - Amber
Christopher McDonald - Big Chuck Bottler
David Denman - Chaz
Joe Lo Truglio - Jail Gaurd
Ray Park - Security Guard
Billy Dee Williams
Allie Grant - Kimmy
Lou Taylor Pucci Boba Fett #1
Pell James - Crystal
Noah Segan - Boba Fett #2
Kyle Newman - Fanboy Yoda
Nicole Marie Lenz - Christie Brinkley Girl
Rachel Klein - Liz
Jordan Gelber - Harry Knowles
Daniel Spink - The Man with Six Fingers
Ernest Cline - Ensign Wierzbowski
Thom Bishops - Gruvock
Charlie B. Brown - Myron
Peter Reinert - THX Guard
Hugh Elliot - The Ewok
Clark Sanchez - Steve Sandia
John C. Mann - Ensign Eddie
Shappy Seasholtz - Admiral Seasholtz Posse Member
Yvonne Alemany-Coffer - Tie Pilot/Star Journey Tourist

Produced by

Evan Astrowsky - producer
Dana Brunetti - producer
D. Scott Lumpkin - line producer
Kevin Mann - executive producer
Matthew Perniciaro - producer
Kevin Spacey - producer
Ron Cosmo Vecchiarelli - line producer: additional photography

Production Companies

Trigger Street Productions
Coalition Film

Distributors

Weinstein Company, The (2008) (USA) (all media)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (2008) (USA) (theatrical)
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corporation (MGM) (2008) (USA) (theatrical)

Special Effects

Solventdreams (visual effects)

Release Dates:
USA 18 January 2008
Iceland 2 February 2008

Full Credits

(07:33) Fanboys Q&A - The cast and crew of 'Fanboys' spoke at Star Wars Celebration IV.

G4 TV interviews Chris Marquette, Kyle Newman and Dan Fogler about the upcoming movie "Fanboys" at the 2007 San Diego Comic Con

YouTube - Kristen Bell at FanBoys Panel

more "Fanboy" intel

Latino Review - Comic Con 7/26/2007 - Fanboys Panel

USA TODAY article - Whoever Fanboy is, he has plenty of power

Fanboys Pushed Back to January 2008

The Ultimate Fanboys Contest

Ultimate Fan Boys Contest - Triggerstreet Update

Fanboys at myspace

Fanboys at Rotten Tomatoes

The US nation-wide theatrical release is announced for January 18, 2008. Although the title is the same and the plot description is somewhat similar, the film is unrelated to the earlier fanfilm of the same name.

Trivia

Sam Huntington and Kristen Bell had previously worked together in two episodes of Bell's now-defunct noir show, Veronica Mars.

Originally Jorge Garcia was attached to play Harry Knowles, but scheduling conflicts with "Lost" (2005) caused him to turn down the role. Then, Kevin Smith stepped in and was reportedly very enthusiastic, but some last-minute editing for Clerks II(2006) forced him to step down.

The scene with the "Star Trek" fans in full costume dedicating the Captain William T. Kirk birthplace statue as they confront the Star Wars fans was shot on location in the Town Square Park Plaza of Las Vegas, New Mexico. You can see the historic Plaza Hotel in the background in certain shots.

Movie Connections:

"Star Trek" (1966)
- The Star Trek convention scene
"Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987)
- Captain Picard's statue
Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Seeing the movie is the main plot

Spoofs

Star Wars (1977)
- The trash-compactor scene and various other scenes

Quotes:

[from trailer]
Hutch: Nobody calls Han Solo a dirtbag!

[from trailer]
William Shatner: Are you kidding? I'm William Shatner; I can score anything.

other links

Trailers

Trailers for the Masses - Trailer (Flash)

(-trailers.blogspot.com)

Zero Frame - Trailers (various formats) (0-frame.com)

Ultimate Trailers - Trailer (various formats) (0.00-films.biz)

Moviecentre.net - Trailers (moviecentre.net)

We know that dictators are quick to choose aggression, while free nations strive to resolve differences in peace. - George W. Bush

Green Peace Image - 17 September 2003George Bush leads the US toward a policy of unilateral, pre-emptive counterproliferation warfighting strategy.

The Spanish newspaper El País recently published the transcript of a conversation between President George W. Bush and then-Prime Minister José María Aznar on Feb. 22, 2003—a few weeks before the invasion of Iraq—and it confirms some (though not all) of the most dreadful accounts and suspicions about Bush's true nature and intent. Immediate War!

read more | digg story

Texas Legislation gets busted on camera in voting investigation

Classic example of why 'politics' and politicians need a revamping from top to bottom.

read more | digg story

September 27, 2007

"21" (2008) 'Bringing Down the House: The Movie!'

There are a ton of exciting new movies coming out in 2008!

One film I've really been looking forward to seeing is "21", based on the book "Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six M.I.T. Students Who Took Vegas for Millions" by Ben Mezrich

"21" is a film based on a true story... a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor, played by (Kevin Spacey) teaches a group of students to use mathematics to count cards and increase their odds of winning at Las Vegas casinos. The students are able to bring home millions as a result.

Interview With "21" Director Robert Luketic

Podcast with Producers Dana Brunetti and Mike De Luca fresh off the Set of '21' in Vegas

Behind the Scenes of '21'
Dana Brunetti and Mike De Luca are joined by a special guest, Kevin Spacey, who assists in introducing behind the scenes footage of Dana, Mike, and author Ben Mezrich at a radio interview on the #1 rated morning show in Boston, "Matty in the Morning." De Luca discusses "Ghost Rider" and some of his other films, and then the discussion turns to "The Untitled Blackjack Project." aka '21'

Directed by
Robert Luketic

Writing credits
(WGA)
Peter Steinfeld (screenplay) and Allan Loeb (screenplay)

Cast (in alphabetical order)

Jim Sturgess ... Ben Campbell
Kevin Spacey ... Mickey Rosa
Kate Bosworth ... Jill Taylor
Laurence Fishburne. Cole Williams
Aaron Yoo ... Choi
Josh Gad ... Miles Connoly
Jacob Pitts ... Fisher
Jack McGee ... Terry
Liza Lapira ... Kianna
Sean Paul Cormier.. Friend
Spencer Garrett ... Stemple
Sam Golzari ... Kameron

Produced by
William S. Beasley.. executive producer
Dana Brunetti .... producer
Michael De Luca .... producer
Ryan Kavanaugh .... executive producer
Brett Ratner .... executive producer
Kevin Spacey .... producer

Cinematography by Russell Carpenter
Film Editing by Elliot Graham
Casting by Francine Maisler
Production Design by Missy Stewart
Art Direction by James F. Truesdale, Christina Ann Wilson
Set Decoration by Tracey A. Doyle
Costume Design by Luca Mosca

Full Cast and Credits

Production Companies

Michael De Luca Productions
Trigger Street Productions

Distributers

Columbia Pictures (2007) (USA) (theatrical)
Sony Pictures Releasing (2008) (Netherlands) (theatrical)

Trivia

* The scenes in the MIT bar were actually filmed at the BU (Boston University) Pub. MIT would not allow them to film on campus.

* Much of this movie was actually shot across the river from MIT at Boston University.

* Filming was done at the Christian Science Center in Boston, MA.

Though not originally intended to have a sequel, Mezrich followed this book with Busting Vegas (ISBN 0060575123). Busting Vegas is about another group of MIT students who use different tactics than the card counting the group in this book employ. This sequel, like the original, went on to become a New York Times Best Seller.

2007 PokerMoments Interview with Ben Mezrich, focusing on his upcoming movie entitled 21

Alibris' Listing of Ben Mezrich's Works

Ben Mezrich: the telling of a true story, a 2004 interview focused on Bringing Down the House, published at Kuro5hin

Ben Mezrich at Yahoo! TV

Wired adaptation from the book

Kevin Lewis's Website

Other Links

digg story

September 26, 2007

Bush fulfills H.L. Mencken’s prophecy that some day the White House will be adorned by a downright moron

H. L. Mencken On July 26, 1920, the acerbic and cranky scribe wrote in The Baltimore Sun: "On some great and glorious day, the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."

read more | digg story

September 24, 2007

shouts! cool new digg feature or fruit of the pointy ear'd freak?

Please fix your blurry avatar I keep thinking
I'm going blind

It cracks me up how courteous and polite people are when asking you to digg their story using the new shout feature.

"check this out, I know you'll like it" or "If it's not a bother and you have time... please enjoy this" or "Ran across this and thought it might really interest you" etc

Come on!!!! I really don't think there is polite way to pimp your story. wink... wink... nudge... nudge

Guilty of being slightly disingenuous??? CAAAAA CHOW!!!!! But i 2 was lured to the digg tree of fruity goodness and evil-tee... and tempted... and ate of it... and I did revel in it....... until today.

But I have to ask... why be shy about it? Why act like there is really any other motive you have in mind other than a blatant diggin' desire to pimp the living sh*t out of your submission for just 'one' more digg? The many... the one... the digg

Spock:The Kobayashi Rose Maru digg algorithm scenario frequently wreaks havoc on students and server equipment. As I recall you front paged three times yourself. Your final solution was, shall we say, unique?

Kirk: It had the virtue of never having been tried.

Here is my top eleven list of straight to the point 'shouts'
feel free to add your own

Disclaimer: Some may or may not apply to the more or less obsessed faction at our beloved digg.com

1. DIGG THIS NOW! (no nonsense request)

2. Help... I need a digg reallll bad. I'm joneszing man. I haven't had a digg in three hours and I'm sitting on a f*cking gold mine on page 1 of the upcoming section (in need of 12 step intervention digger)

3. Digg this so my wife/girlfriend will leave me! (pleading may be inaccurate do to fact potential digger is totally lying and alledged "wife/girlfriend" never existed)

4.Digg this or my wife/girlfriend is going to leave me. (sympathy digg request may be inaccurate do to fact potential digger is totally lying their ass off and "wife/girlfriend" is actually stuck between pages 34-35 of Maxim)

5. Digg this so I can get a wife/girlfriend (Russian Bride is in the mail)

6. Hooray Diggers! Digg this up! My wife/husband just left me cuz I spend all my time on digg! (potentially very accurate)

7. Digg this or I'll report your profile activity to Tom on Myspace

8. Hi! I'm noobs and I was wundering if youd would bee kind to enough diggg this because cousin my Father Prinze Zimmbambookoo of the small toewnship of bullshitiohaga in Northurn Nigeria has a swuss bank accunt wid a zillion dullards in it.... (future of shout @ digg?)

9.Digg if your horny (breaks new digg record and is front paged in 3.14 seconds)

10. Help I'm on fire! Please digg this so I can exponentially increase the chances of some total online stranger calling the fire department and rescuing me. (dumb ass)

11.Digg me and I'll hump your leg (most likely scenario for abuse)

Is there potential for spam shout abuse? Sure there is!

but I think Kirk and Spock sum it up best... the one digg.. the many...

Kirk: Spock.

Spock: Digg... out of danger of shout spam?

Kirk: Yes.

Spock: Don't grieve, Admiral. It is logical. The needs of the many outweigh...

Kirk: ...the needs of the few.

Spock: ...Or the one. I never took the Kobayashi Rose Maru test until now. What do you think of my solution?

Kirk: Spock...

Spock: I have been and always shall be your digg friend.

[Holds up little shovel and does the Vulcan salute]

Spock: Digg long and prosper.

(1 new shout) ;)

September 23, 2007

Interactive Vesuvius Eruption Map - National Geographic Magazine

Vesuvius In A.D. 79, the world's most dangerous volcano buried the town of Pompeii. Click on the graphic to see the impact of another major Veusvius eruption.

from mrssilencedogood.vod

read more | digg story

Through the Looking Glass -- and the parallel universe Alice found there

Parallel universes really do exist, according to a mathematical discovery by Oxford scientists described by one expert as "one of the most important developments in the history of science".

read more | digg story

Audio Slide Show: Ivo van Hove

Ivo van Hove works with his actors in the production of Moliere's
Behind the Scenes: The director talks about his contemporary approach to the new production of Molière's "The Misanthrope" at the New York Theater Workshop

read more | digg story

"Non-abductees Anonymous" A Short Film

Synopsis: A support group for people who have NEVER been abducted by aliens. Forlorn and rejected, they go to extremes trying to get the attention of those snobby extraterrestrials.

Genres: Comedy, Sci-Fi/Fantasy
Format: 16mm film
Film Style: Color
Length: 4:14

Non-Abductees Anonymous

Director: Philip Powell

Writers: Philip Powell, James McKeny

Producer: Leading Edge, INC.

Director of Photography D A Oldis

Cast:

Tom Barker...Tom
Doc Clay...Warren
Carmen Dubnik...Carmen
Chad Edwards...Chad
Sarah Kelly...Betty
Jim McKeny...Reginald
Steve Moore...Ivan
Chris Patrick...Ted
Philip Powell...Herb
Roberta Powell...Joyce
Connie Summers...Tina
Patricia Wells...Mildred

Production Notes: I knew I was an independent filmmaker when I was begging a dairy farmer to let me dress up two guys in cow costumes and let me chase his cows around till they ran past them. He was very proud of his cows, let me tell you. Have you ever tried forcing a cow to go ANYWHERE?!! Its Nuts. The worst shot of the whole shoot. Non-Abductees has been in about 30 film festivals worldwide, and won several awards along the way. Note - The end credits were not included because I did a really fast scroll and the compression tore them up..plus it made it shorter, which makes everybody happy.

Non-Abductees Anonymous - imdb.com

Philip Powell Bio

Proving that I have to suffer for my craft, I direct television commercials. I have been directing short films and theatre for nearly 10 years and I LOVE it because it involves my three favorite things...bossing people around, demeaning actors and lying about things in my biography. In this biography I was torn between lying about my contributions to the Human Genome Project OR being a missionary to Brazilian lepers, but in the end decided on recently being cast as the lead in the national touring production of “Lord of the Dance”. I can of course provide you with truthful information…but it's considerably less interesting. Non-Abductees Anonymous grew out of my fascination with human insecurities. It's been in about 30 film festivals and won several awards along the way. I hope you find the film funnier than this bio.

Philip with Actor Kevin Spacey
and other Triggerstreet Finalists
at Robert De Niro's Tribeca Film Festival

click pic for larger view

Dos Gringos Tribeca Photojournal

Ranked 24 in Atom Films Most Popular

September 22, 2007

In the kingdom of the blind, the one-eyed man is an unacceptable risk

Can you Hack it - Documentary

A rendering of Adrian Lamo by AAlib.

Can You Hack It, a documentary covering Adrian Lamo's life and times, is slated for release under the care of Trigger Street Productions.

Directed by Sam Bozzo, it features Apple Computer co-founder Steve Wozniak, TechTV personality Leo Laporte, and narration by actor Kevin Spacey. The film explores the practical and ethical themes of modern computer hacking, intertwining Lamo's story with those of controversial figures throughout history.

The day filming for Adrian Lamo's role began, the FBI attempted to execute an arrest warrant on him, visiting the wrong address. Filming continued during Lamo's week-long negotiations with the FBI, up to the moment he walked into the federal courthouse in Sacramento to surrender to US Marshals.

Adrian Lamo Talks with Leo Laporte and Kevin Before Arrest

Lamo is featured in a cover story by SF Weekly

Can You Hack It explores the origin of true hackers vs. today's computer criminals by following the adventures of Adrian Lamo and other well-intentioned hackers, who found security holes and pointed them out so they might be fixed, only to eventually be arrested. Commonly thought of as computer criminals and vandals, a true hacker is an innovative thinker able to "hack" himself out of a given problem or situation, whether it be computer related or not. Historically, hackers have accounted for mankind's greatest inventions and discoveries and yet have repeatedly been persecuted for their new ideas by the powerful and fearful. Experts on cyber-terrorism also examine our societal view of the hacker and debate as to whether or not we should recruit and utilize the skills of the helpful hackers to fight future cyber-wars, instead of continuing to punish what we do not understand. Written by Writer/Director Sam Bozzo

Cast

Adrian Lamo ... Himself (also archive footage)
Kevin Spacey ... Narrator (voice)
Leo Laporte ... Himself (also archive footage)
Steve Wozniak ... Himself
Peter Shipley ... Himself
Kevin Rose ... Himself (also archive footage)
Dorothy Dennings ... Herself
Craig Calef ... Himself
Robert Lyttle ... Himself
John Draper ... Himself
Richard Feynman ... Himself (archive footage)
John Arquilla ... Himself
Kevin Lee Poulsen ... Himself/Bystander
Mario Lamo ... Himself (scenes deleted)
Tod Pagle ... Himself/Bystander (scenes deleted)
other cast:
Ravi V. Prasad ... Himself
Ira Wing ... Himself (scenes deleted)
Frank Harris ... Himself
Marcus Ranum ... Himself
Henry Hawkins ... Himself, Defense Investigator

Filming Locations
Los Angeles, California, USA

New York, USA

Sacramento, California, USA

San Diego, California, USA

Adrian Lamo (left) with contemporaries Kevin Mitnick (center) and Kevin Poulsen.

How I Learned to Stop Worrying about the Bomb and start worrying about my Country

exploding onto the scene

revolution solution evolution revolution

This Dr. Strangelove mashup marks a fitting beginning to this blog.

Stanley Kubrick's biting mockumentary film style wickedly unveils the insanity of government, war and the failings of the simpering, weak minded blow hards in charge that continuously exploit the gullible masses... just because... they can.

Never before in our Nation's 200+ year history have we faced such daunting challenges.

"We the People" need to stand together and fight to turn this nation back around. We need to restore the founders vision. We can never concede or it will be too late. Technology, money and the machinations of war will shred the flags and the dreams of our Forefathers into pieces.

My undying goal... with your help... is to put a peaceful stop to it.

Mrs. Silence Dogood