On this page
- The Andromeda Strain trailer
- Forgive me, but this is very funny
- The Saskatchewan Strain
- Blog It could be quite useful
- Letter to Vancouver Sun re: Phone Books
The Andromeda Strain trailer
Posted by Michael Klassen on May 14, 2008 in Soapbox
I am extremely doubtful that the A&E 2-night version of The Andromeda Strain will top the original 1971 version. Here's a pretty good old trailer which indicates the sophisticated level of cinematic story-telling for this sci-fi thriller.
A further great document of the original book and movie by Michael Crichton puts the original story in context. Fears about biological warfare in the Vietnam War-era, coupled with a young 20-something author created a lot of media buzz for the original film.
Bonus points for having the very fine Canadian actor Kate Reid in perhaps her most famous role, Dr. Ruth Leavitt.
In case you haven't figured it out by now, I consider this movie as a very fine work of cinema, worth having in your personal collection.
Tagged: andromeda strain, sci fi
Forgive me, but this is very funny
Posted by Michael Klassen on May 14, 2008 in Zeitgeist
Before anyone tut-tuts me on what is probably the most course rant you have read in a long time, think of John Cleese mocking his German guests in Fawlty Towers (which was very, very funny). This sardonic rip on Hillary, reconstructed from Der Führerbunker in the dying days of the Third Reich (scene from the very good film Downfall) is absolutely rich. Be forewarned, this is full of expletives that will hurt your eyes.
Tagged: democrats, hillary clinton, politics
The Saskatchewan Strain
Posted by Michael Klassen on May 8, 2008 in Zeitgeist
Okay, now the repressed Sci-Fi geek in me gets to come out.
Check out this story about a microscopic orb that may have been transported to Earth by an asteroid. They are investigating whether it may have been a factor in the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Viruses from space? Now that sounds familiar. Michael Crichton's first bestseller was The Andromeda Strain. It was a compelling story that was turned into an often overlooked brilliant movie version that inspired other movies and even computer games (Half-Life is a rip from this book).
There is a really good account here about Michael Crichton's huge early influence on Sci-Fi cinema. No mention of Terminal Man though.
Now A&E is doing a 2-night remake of the story airing later this month. Set your PVRs. It is indeed a bad day to be human. Here's the trailer.
Cool.
Tagged: andromeda strain, galactic microbes, sci fi
Blog It could be quite useful
Posted by Michael Klassen on April 17, 2008 in Zeitgeist
I'm not a big Facebook app guy, but this brand new tool Blog It could prove to be quite useful. It allows users to post to multiple sources through Facebook, including your status, a personal blog, or a service like Twitter -- all at once.
I'll give it a little test run.
Letter to Vancouver Sun re: Phone Books
Posted by Michael Klassen on April 16, 2008 in Soapbox
The following letter in response to this gushing advertorial (on page 3 of the April 9th edition) in the Vancouver Sun was never published. Gee, I wonder why.
Dear Editor,
Re: One big phone book makes a comeback, April 9
Let me ask the obvious question of your readers. When was the last time YOU used a paper phone directory?
Yellow Pages trots out this spurious stat, "50 per cent of people who look for numbers online will also look at the printed directory." Does that mean they'll glance at the heap of paper and ink collecting dust, or actually pick it up and read it?
At least 2 companies are outsourced for phone directories (Yellow Page and Can Pages) and each year both brag about how they're improving their books to meet customer needs. Someone supposedly told them they want the books to be even bigger.
The amount of waste created and numbers of trees felled for this "product enhancement" boggles the mind.
It is time to put the brakes on leaving directories on our doorsteps without our permission first. A phone book "opt-in" requirement should have been put in place years ago. Just stick a survey question in my next phone bill.
But since they insist on dropping off copies at my door, do me a favour and put it right into my Blue Box, which is where they go as soon as they arrive anyway.
Yours,
Mike Klassen
Tagged: save a tree, sustainability, waste paper, yellow pages
