Transformers

Had to post this "Bumble Bee" image from the upcoming Micheal Bay film, Transformers. I believe the head of the robot is facing down, but you can get a sense of scale and size of these "transformers". Click here for more behind the scenes info and images regarding the film.

Dragon Tiger Gate

"The Gate of Dragon and Tiger, created by media magnate Tony Wong Yuk-long in the 1970s, was a milestone in the history of Hong Kong comics. More than one generation of Chinese youngsters have been mesmerized by its tales of heroism and heart-pounding martial arts scenes. Inspired by the basic human values that the series upholds, the film revisits a bygone era, where back street boys can fight for justice in the community. While the spectacular action will appeal to Chinese and international audiences, the film is also an attempt to rekindle the passion and vitality lost in a mercenary and morally ambiguous society." Check the trailer, here!

Melissa Thorne

Melissa Thorne is a painter of meticulous care. She creates slick flat facsimiles of Afghan blankets. Her paintings continue the post modernist style of "grid painting" but instead of creating cold detached linear grids, her work brings the sense of hand craft, domesticity, and humor to the forefront. The images here don't do the work justice, but imagine the patience it takes to replicate the intricate woven pieces she uses as her subject. Check out Melissa's work here. Also, Melissa plays in a band called Bedroom walls, and although I don't know much about them, I do know they are getting a lot of "buzz" here in L.A.

Jason Hackenworth

Jason Hackenworth is one of those artists that make you smile, and say to yourself, "How did he come up with that?". He is a sculptor of balloons, and not your typical children's birthday party balloons either. He creates what he calls the "Megamite" which he claims to be an anemone, a creature from the deepest reaches of your id. Despite how it looks, these are serious art sculptures and have been shown at such prestigious art events as the Venice Biennale. To get an idea of Hackenworth's work, both in size and scope, go here.

DDR

Poor video, nice spectacle. Check out this kid's moves while he plays Dance Dance Revolution. He starts out slow, but then he gets it going. link

Lightning Strikes Shanghai

This reminds me of Ghostbusters, check out that bolt of lightning hitting the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai. Whoa.

Dead Man's Chest

The premiere of Dead Man's Chest was this Saturday at Disneyland, and Mice Age has some great images from the red carpet event as well as some great Disney released photo stills of the changes to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Check it out, here!

Painful Laughter

You will want to tear your eyeballs out as these sweet Chinese children sing the "Laughing Song".... And for the record, Yes, Chinese children's television is this annoying. link

Feel the Wow

Hitler Cats!

Funny. A blog dedicated to images of "Hitler Cats"... they're cute, but cruel.... Meow!

Marcos Chin

Marcos is a designer/illustrator who's work is pretty cool. You may have seen his work on the "lava life" billboards. Many of his Egon Schiele inspired characters inhabit futuristic posh spaces. Check out his stylistic renderings here.

Brown Dress Project

A Dancer, artist, and mother, has created an ongoing project where she wears the same brown dress for a whole year. She has plenty of documentation and seems like a cool woman. July 7th is the end of her year long project so check out her site.
Here.

Golden Monkeys

This poor guy is living in a crappy zoo in Wuhan China. He's too hot, so the zoo keeper gives him some ice and tangerines. Golden Monkeys are an endangered species and are oh so cute as babies, as evident here, take a look.

Back Dorm Boys Update

Well, the young duo known for their lipsyncing abilities the world over, has graduated this week, from Art School no less. Yes, the two viral video kings, are both sculptors. And like their work on the web, they collaborate on their sculptures too. Check out their blog to see their work. Plus they mug for their cameras at the opening of their senior show, the text is in Chinese, but they're some great pics. BD Boys. And click here to watch their now famous videos!

Kozyndan

I like the work of KozynDan (Kozy and Dan) a two person design team, that have some great illustrations. They have a keen sense of fusing Asian pop imagery with that of the everyday. Definitely worth a peek through their artwork section, they're are some real gems in there. This image graced the cover of the awesome magazine Giant Robot! And yes, those are falling bunnies coming from the wave's crest! Link!

Japanese business-bot

Click here to watch a short video of a robot crawling in Japan. And here to watch a Great Panda steal some Chinese guy's coat. The reactions, dress, and general appearance of the guys in this video are classic China style.

Hasselhoff Hilarity

Check out this video for David Hasselhoff singing "Hooked on A Feeling"... here. I presume the feeling he's hooked on is cheesiness. If you've never been to the Hoffster's personal site, then check it out here. Very funny stuff.

Connie Sings

I don't follow Connie Chung, but apparently she had a cable show which was cancelled, who knew? So to go out with a bang, she decided to leave her viewers with a special song. I'm sure this is just one big media stunt, but I'll buy in, because at the end of the day, we all get to see Connie making a fool of herself, in style mind you, hence the long white gloves and smiling piano man. Have a look at her performance here.

Robo Love

The Online Times has an article about robots evolving into androids, and the different roles they will play in society.
"People are going to be having sex with robots within five years,” “My guess is that we’ll have conscious machines before 2020,” said Ian Pearson, futurologist-in-residence at BT. “If we put that in a robot, it’s an android. That is an enormous ethical change.” The article goes on to discuss the ethics of our relationships with said androids. Good short read, link

El Pandito

Nacho Libre aside, I think this is one cool Vinyl Collectible... Love the Mao cap and panda wrestler mask! To purchase one for yerself go here, Link!

Hippie Ride

Here is a group of Summer Solstice "Naturalists" preparing themselves w/body paint for a nude bike ride around the town. Although this may be a practice run, since the solstice isn't till Wednesday... All in all, not very sexy, but some fun body paints, perhaps best viewed at home though (NC 17). slideshow

No Txt

Check this, an online "magazine" with no text... an all image mag, kinda cool. link

Sand Party

I love this image, I'd like to say that its for the cover of a Chinese Folk Rock band. How great would that be? The Mammas and Pappas, China Style... But really it's an image of some folks receiving "sand therapy" in China's Xing Jiang province. Eh...

This Mortal Coil

Here's what I know, mid-80's 4 AD super group, This Mortal Coil, releases the awesome record "It'll End in Tears" with the exceptional cover song of Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren". This song becomes an instant classic, both haunting and beautiful. I believe David Lynch used it in "Lost Highway", and I'm sure it's been used in countless other things (car commercial?). But here is a rare live performance of this now classic cover song. With Liz Cocteau on vocals, this is one beautiful must hear performance. Buckley's raw lyrics and the song's sparse arrangement, make this song complete. Watch it now! And click here if you want to read the song's lyrics, which I totally recommend.
**thank's mr. schiprock!!

Give Peace A Chance

"Overweighted Girls"

I liked this picture, but the headline made it even funnier, "Overweighted Girls play football" was the title of the China Daily article about how Chinese youth are getting less exercise and are getting fat.

My Friend's Movie

My friend's first feature length film is complete! He screened it for us on Tuesday night, and it is really good. It is a documentary that follows ten people working in Hollywood as "Extras". Check out the trailer here!

I need some pics, so here they are...

R.I.P

Alot going on this week, and with Grandpa Woo's passing, a little distracted. He was a good man. R.I.P

A Child's Universe

Physicist Stephen Hawking and his daughter are to write a science book for children which will be "a bit like Harry Potter", but without the magic. Link

Sexed Bots

"The sexed robots are autonomous wheeled platforms fitted with nylon genital organs, respectively male and female. They are programmed to explore their environment, occasionally entering a "in heat" mode, where they will try and locate a partner in the same state. If a partner is located, the robots will attempt to mate."
love bots

LP Covers

Musician, Dennis Caltron, is a cool guy who has a site where he has posted some of his favorite LP covers, mostly pin-up style cheesecake covers. Take a look here!

I.F.O.C.E

Check out the International Federation of Competitive Eating's web site. You can read up on all the top ranked eaters in the world. Over the weekend, Rookie Joey Chestnut won the Grilled Cheese competition, eating 47 in ten minutes! This is real folks, and get this the second top rated eater in the world is a 105 pound woman! link

The White Knight

Saurkids

More odd Dutch graphic design, tunes, and t-shirts. Check out the weird world of saurkids

BOB

It's Monday, so let's start out the week with the creepy/evil entity named BOB from David Lynch's Twin Peaks. Find out how actor Frank Silva got the part of "BOB" here.

Nacho Libre

I don't know how excited I am for this movie. I really like J.B. and I also liked Napoleon Dynamite, but I have serious reservations about this comedy. I will say that while working on Nancy Myers, The Holdiay, I got to see J.B. on and off set, and he was very gracious with everyone. I didn't speak to the hombre, but we exchanged eye contact and he gave me the "was up bro" nod. Anyhow, after changing out of his wardrobe, he showed up to lunch late, most stars would just walk to the front of the buffet line, but not J.B. he calmly waited his turn at the back of the line, classy. Anyways, if you're a fan, you'll want to read this well written article about him and his new movie here. And if you're interested to see Jack in a romantic comedy with Kate Winslet, click here! I have to say, I liked the script, but am not impressed with this trailer.

Grace is Gone

John Cusack got interested in his latest Indie film, Grace is Gone, by the absence of news coverage of flag-draped caskets returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Serving as the film's producer and star, Cusack says making the film was a "politcal" action for him, but that the film itself is not. The story involves a father of two who becomes deeply conflicted when his wife Grace, a soldier in the army, is killed while serving in Iraq. Read more here.

Gnarls Barkley

"The group, Gnarls Barkely, comprised of Grammy-winning Gorillaz producer Danger Mouse and Atlanta soulman Cee Lo, performed for the MTV main event last night, which was hosted by actress Jessica Alba. Despite Cee Lo's somewhat muted microphone, Gnarls Barkley, whose entire band sported the outfits of various Star Wars characters, wowed their audience with a live version of their St. Elsewhere smash hit "Crazy." I missed this but MTV will be re-running the show all weekend, I think it's worth a look, apparently Chewie has a mean backbeat. You can try to see it here but I was unable to get it to run on my machine.

Pimp Cane

This is old news now, but since I've found a nice side by side comparison, I thought I'd post about this bit of dialogue theft from X-Men 3. You all know what I'm talking about, If you're like me, when you heard the line, "I'm the Juggernaut, Bitch" ya nearly choked. Ratner and company clearly swiped this from a now infamous viral X-Men online cartoon parody. Click here to see both clips, the top being the original parody and the bottom, Ratner's lamer version of the line. link.

Superman in 3D

An online movie critic I respect, Jeffrey Wells, had this to say about seeing an IMAX Superman screening last night. "Superman Returns is opening simultaneously in IMAX theatres on 6.28, and about 20 minutes worth (i.e., "selected scenes") will be show in IMAX 3D. The press was shown a preview of how the 3D footage will look last night after the main screening, and it's mindblowing. There's an airborne action sequence in particular that delivered, for me, the greatest sensory thrill I've ever experienced from a mainstream movie in my life. There's no question that anyone within reach of an IMAX presentation of this film HAS TO SEE IT THIS WAY. (Singer has worked out a green light-red light system that will tell moviegoers when to put on the glasses just before a 3D section begins.) Trust me, catching it this way will be an absolute knockout." Read all his comments here.

Worked to Death

Here is an actual account of a 35 year old factory worker, and former kindergarten teacher, who was worked to death. The article details her working conditions, including the events that lead up to her "sudden death". Apparently, she had not slept in several days, working hard at a textile plant to meet a deadline, and finally decided that she needed to take a long rest. She told her boss, she physically couldn't continue, and need to go home and rest for a few hours. She then went home, shut her eyes, and never woke up. Read this illuminating article here.

The Real Toy Story

China, the world's factory. We have become accustomed to receiving so many cheap goods from China, that we've lost sight of the human hardships connected to these products. In response to the poor working conditions, artist Michael Wolf, created an installation using plastic toys made in China. The installation intergrates the workers and their products in a visually arresting way. When I was teaching in China, I heard stories from some of my students what life in Guandong province (China's factory capital) was like. The working and living conditions can be completely cruel. This photo essay about China's Toy industry is very compelling and should not be missed, check out "The Real Toy Story" here or check out these photos Wolf took of the women at work in the toy factories here.

Apache

Okay, if you haven't seen this "Apache" video and you like good disco and dancing girls in "squaw" costumes then be sure to check this out link. And if you like the band Jimmy Eats World, check out their remixed version with sparkly dancing squaw girls, here!

Baby Update

In case anyone was wondering, baby Liu Junjie, was successfully operated on and now has two arms. To read about his operation and recovery click here.

Blood Wrestling

To celebrate last Tuesday, a bar had a "blood" wrestling contest. Click here to see a slideshow of the mayhem. (kinda sorta work safe)

The Omen and 666 Babies

Wow! What a day yesterday was. The soundstage next to the one we are shooting on at Sony caught fire (because of Spidey 3 demolition crew) and then a sniper was targeting the lot, and a whole host of bad car accidents around town. Coincidence, maybe, but if you believe in that kind of thing, kinda creepy. I for one, was looking forward to seeing the Omen remake, and I am happy to say that the movie is a lot of fun and doesn't take itself too seriously. I won't be surprised if Fox has a big hit on it's hand. The Omen feels like the Final Destination movies meets Davinci Code. Both scary and funny, the movie plays very similarly to the original, but with a little more punch. Most notably, the creepy kid actor cast as Damien, whose pouty face is very funny and serves as a comedic punctuation to the scare beats in the film. I really liked the framing in this new version, allowing for contemporary disasters: 9/11, Tsunami, Iraq war as other "omens" of the coming apocalypse. I had a really good time, laughing at and gripping my seat during this Fox remake. And if you want to really read too much into things, check this, 20th Century Fox, the studio releasing the film has this numerological significance connected to it. F is the sixth letter of the alphabet, O is the 15th letter (1+5=6) and X is the 24th letter (2+4=6). Could Fox be the studio of the Beast?

What I may of liked most about The Omen, was seeing it on an "event" date. The film incorporates the 6/6/6 date which added that extra creep factor. But the inevitable question arises, could a "Damien" have been born yesterday? Many Western mothers worries so much about their children being "stigmatized" by their birth date that they made sure to induce labor to avoid the "mark of the beast" as their child's birthdate. Here are two articles that report the Mother/666 baby hysteria link and another here that discusses some parents defiant of the date, even willing to name their kid "damien", hell yeah! link

Lastly, not everywhere the 666 stigma is seen as a bad thing, in China it is considered lucky, and many mother's were actually trying to have their babies born yesterday click here to see the Chinese 666 babies!