Saturday, September 27, 2008

Vantage Point

Bad trailer, for a good movie.

“Eight strangers. Eight points of view. One truth.”



When I first saw this trailer, I thought it would be a movie that would cover eight people’s points of view about a single event, in this case, the president getting shot. So, I figured that most of the movie would be about getting statements from these eight people to determine what happened that day. Fortunately, that was not the case.

I just saw the movie on DVD at a friend’s house. While there are eight people, they are not all strangers to each other. Some of them have a part in what happens that day. While the first part of the movie goes over and over (from different people’s point of view) what happens right before and after the president gets shot, there is more to the movie than that.

Once we get a good idea what is going on, then the movie starts to make sense, and the good guys go after the bad guys.

If you like explosions, and car chases, you should like this movie. I did. It moves right along.

Friday, September 26, 2008

Dinosaur Fun

From: RisingDrag0n

Dinosaur Tries To Eat Pig



Playing Basketball



Tennis



The Trap...



The Mixer



Evil Pig

And we have the Rappin Raptor

From: kevmc34

Monday, September 22, 2008

Top 20 Songs, Around the World

Last month, for the Olympics, I put on my blog the top 20 songs for China. I then decided to do it for other countries. The links are below. The lists are the videos for the songs. However, by clicking on the links, you will see a link to the list itself, and links to the videos.

I found it interesting to see what music the rest of the world is listening to.

Argentina Top 20 list for the week ending August 14, 2008.

Australia Top 20 list for the week ending September 1, 2008.

China Top 20 list for the week ending July 14, 2008.

Denmark Top 20 list for the week ending August 8, 2008.

France Top 20 list for the week ending August 23, 2008.

Germany Top 20 list for the week ending August 30, 2008.

Iceland Top 20 list for the week ending August 23, 2008.

Japan Top 20 list for the week ending August 17, 2008.

Lebanon Top 20 list for the week ending August 23, 2008.

Mexico Top 20 list for the week ending August 16, 2008.

New Zealand Top 20 list for the week ending August 13, 2008.

Russia Top 20 list for the week ending August 4, 2008.

South Africa Top 20 list for the week ending August 10, 2008.

UK Top 20 list for the week ending August 17, 2008.

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Batman Fun!

Joker Interrogation Scene Spoof

From: MonkeyandApple

Okay this question's getting asked a lot so just to be clear: I play the Joker, and I play Batman. Same guy. I did everything except punch myself in the face, which came compliments of my friend Robert (I think you can see how much he enjoyed it). Thank you all for watching.



Exploding Shark

From: madjester13

This video is a clip from the original Batman movie ("Batman: The Movie"), featuring Adam West and was filmed in 1966. Classic.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Kota The Triceratops

I want one! But for $300, I think I will wait.

From: SamApplegate

Kota the Triceratops is a large robat dinosaur from Hasbro / Playskool. Kota is due for release in September 2008




Friday, September 12, 2008

The Thieving Duck



You just can't trust ducks.

From: Donncha

A duck robs a poor innocent woman as she's distracted by the cute ducklings. Moments later they all rush off with their ill-gotten gains!

What you don't see is the camera crew, make-up and lighting people and a small crowd watching from behind them. This was for some advert and of course the woman in question is a model.

I shot this on State Street, Chicago after stumbling upon the shoot by accident. They didn't seem to mind, and I even got a dazzling smile from the model!

Thursday, September 11, 2008

Super Mario Rescues The Princess

So, what does happen when Mario finally rescues the Princess? Maybe something like this...

From: SethComedy

Mario finally overcomes his enemy and rescues the woman he has been fighting to save. Too bad the princess is not impressed by what she sees.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

Commodore PET Games

The Commodore PET 2001 came out in 1977. You can read about it at: www.armchairarcade.com.

Here are examples of the games you could play on it. Computers and video games have come a long way in the last thirty years. For information on these games, go to: www.kmoser.com.

From: kmoser

Labyrinth



Android Nim



The Wizard's Castle



Tank!



Hunt The Wumpus


Friday, September 05, 2008

Top 100 Hits of 1968

Oh, what a night, late December back in sixty…oops, no we’re not talking about that year or that song. It’s 1968 again! Life was better then. Well, not really. We had a war going on. Gas was cheaper, but so were wages. We worry about terrorists today, back then we worried about communists. Today, we worry about Global Warming, back then we worried about nuclear war.

But, we did Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In to watch on TV, and could listen to The Beatles and The Doors on the radio. And if you were listening to the radio back then, this is what you probably were listening to.

I got the list from www.musicoutfitters.com.


Here is the top 100.

1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
51 - 60
61 - 70
71 - 80
81 - 90
91 - 100

Thursday, September 04, 2008

1968: 1 - 10

1. Hey Jude - The Beatles

The Beatles had three songs in the top 100 this year.




2. Honey - Bobby Goldsboro




3. Love Is Blue - Paul Mauriat

One of the many instrumentals in the top 100 this year.




4. (Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding




5. People Got To Be Free - The Rascals

A song about racial tolerance. Why can’t we all just get along?



Here’s the band playing on TV: www.youtube.com


6. Sunshine of Your Love - Cream

Eric Clapton was in Cream.




7. This Guy's In Love With You - Herb Alpert

From a rock song, we turn to a more mellow song from Herb Albert.




8. Stoned Soul Picnic - Fifth Dimension




9. Mrs. Robinson - Simon and Garfunkel

Like now, 1968 was an election year.
Sitting on a sofa on a Sunday afternoon.
Going to the candidate's debate.
Laugh about it, shout about it
When you've got to choose
Every way you look at this you lose.

It does seem that way at times, doesn’t it?



From the Concert in Central Park (1981): www.youtube.com


10. Tighten Up - Archie Bell and The Drells

I’ve covered this song before in my blog.



1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
51 - 60
61 - 70
71 - 80
81 - 90
91 - 100

1968: 11 - 20

11. The Good, The Bad And The Ugly - Hugo Montenegro

From the movie with the same name.




12. Little Green Apples - O.C. Smith




13. Mony, Mony - Tommy James and The Shondells

Tommy James had other hits, including Crimson and Clover (1969) and Draggin' The Line (1971).



You can also hear this song on www.60sradio.com: www.youtube.com


14. Hello, I Love You - The Doors

The Doors had other hits, including Touch Me (1968), Light My Fire (1967), and Riders on the Storm (1971).




15. Young Girl - Gary Puckett and The Union Gap

Gary Puckett had four songs in the top 100 this year.




16. Cry Like A Baby - Box Tops




17. Harper Valley P.T.A. - Jeannie C. Riley

This song was made into a movie and a TV show.




18. Grazing In the Grass - Hugh Masekela



Friends of Distinction also sang this song: www.youtube.com


19. Midnight Confessions - The Grass Roots



They also sang Let's Live For Today (1967). www.youtube.com


20. Dance to the Music - Sly and The Family Stone



1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
51 - 60
61 - 70
71 - 80
81 - 90
91 - 100

1968: 21 - 30

21. The Horse - Cliff Nobles and Co.

Another instrumental.



Teens dancing to the song on “Teen Time”: www.youtube.com


22. I Wish It Would Rain – The Temptations




23. La-La Means I Love You – The Delfonics




24. Turn Around, Look At Me - Vogues



This song was also sung by the Bee Gees and Elvis.


25. Judy In Disguise (With Glasses) - John Fred and His Playboy Band



Here’s the song with clips from the movie "Wrecking Crew", with Dean Martin and Sharon Tate. www.youtube.com


26. Spooky - Classics IV



Here’s a clip of someone else performing the song: www.youtube.com


27. Love Child - Diana Ross and The Supremes




28. Angel of the Morning - Merrilee Rush



This song was also covered by Juice Newton (1981). www.youtube.com


29. The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde - Georgie Fame




30. Those Were the Days - Mary Hopkin

It is common, to think of the past as better than the present. Nowadays, we can say that the nineties were the days.



Here’s a karaoke version: www.youtube.com

1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
51 - 60
61 - 70
71 - 80
81 - 90
91 - 100

1968: 31 - 40

31. Born To Be Wild - Steppenwolf



They also sang Magic Carpet Ride (1968). www.youtube.com


32. Cowboys to Girls - Intruders



A short version of the song from TV: www.youtube.com


33. Simon Says - 1910 Fruitgum Company




34. Lady Willpower - Gary Puckett and The Union Gap



A comparison of this song to “Young Girl”: www.youtube.com


35. A Beautiful Morning – The Rascals




36. The Look of Love - Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66

If you want to hear more of their music, and see more mini-skirts, here is a link: www.youtube.com



Here’s a short clip of the song from TV: www.youtube.com


37. Hold Me Tight - Johnny Nash



He also sang I Can See Clearly Now (1973). www.youtube.com


38. Yummy, Yummy, Yummy - Ohio Express



This clip shows the band, but the clip is not that good. www.youtube.com

And here’s a Finnish version of the song: www.youtube.com

And the same version of the song in English: www.youtube.com


39. Fire - Crazy World of Arthur Brown

This guy reminds me of Alice Cooper.



Some clips and interviews with Arthur and his mates at the Windsor National Jazz and Blues festival in August 1967: www.youtube.com


40. Love Is All Around – The Troggs

After that acid trip of the previous song, a more mellow sound.



1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
51 - 60
61 - 70
71 - 80
81 - 90
91 - 100

1968: 41 - 50

41. Playboy - Gene & Debbe



They also sang Go With Me. www.youtube.com


42. (Theme From) Valley of the Dolls - Dionne Warwick



Theatrical trailer for the 1967 film: www.youtube.com


43. Classical Gas - Mason Williams




44. Slip Away - Clarence Carter

We have had songs about cheating on your spouse for a very long time.




45. Girl Watcher - O'Kaysions




46. (Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone - Aretha Franklin




47. Green Tambourine - Lemon Pipers




48. 1, 2, 3, Red Light - 1910 Fruitgum Company




49. Reach Out Of the Darkness - Friend and Lover




50. Jumpin' Jack Flash - The Rolling Stones



1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
51 - 60
61 - 70
71 - 80
81 - 90
91 - 100

1968: 51 - 60

51. MacArthur Park - Richard Harris

This is the same Richard Harris, the actor. The following is a video montage of clips highlighting some of the many movies Harris starred in during his lengthy career.



Donna Summer had a hit with this song in the seventies. www.youtube.com


52. Light My Fire - Jose Feliciano



The Doors also played this song: www.youtube.com


53. I Love You - People




54. Take Time to Know Her - Percy Sledge




55. Pictures of Matchstick Men - Status Quo




56. Summertime Blues - Blue Cheer



The Who also sang this song: www.youtube.com


57. Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell



Donnie & Marie sang the song in the seventies: www.youtube.com


58. I Got The Feelin' - James Brown and The Famous Flames



Here’s a live version: www.youtube.com


59. I've Gotta Get a Message to You - Bee Gees




60. Lady Madonna - The Beatles




1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
51 - 60
61 - 70
71 - 80
81 - 90
91 - 100

1968: 61 - 70

61. Hurdy Gurdy Man - Donovan



Here he is singing the song live: www.youtube.com


62. Magic Carpet Ride - Steppenwolf




63. Bottle of Wine - Fireballs




64. Stay in My Corner - Dells



Here’s a live version from 1975: www.youtube.com


65. Soul Serenade - Willie Mitchell




66. Delilah - Tom Jones



I’ve talked about Tom Jones before.


67. Nobody But Me - Human Beinz



And here’s some teens dancing to the song on “Teen Time”: www.youtube.com


68. I Thank You - Sam and Dave




69. The Fool on the Hill - Sergio Mendes and Brasil '66



Of course, The Beatles also sang this: www.youtube.com


70. Sky Pilot - Eric Burdon and The Animals

A sky pilot is a military chaplain. However, since the Vietnam was going on at the time of this song, it seems appropriate to see scenes of pilots from that war.



1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
51 - 60
61 - 70
71 - 80
81 - 90
91 - 100

1968: 71 - 80

71. Indian Lake - The Cowsills



The Cowsills also sang the song “Hair”: www.youtube.com


72. I Wonder What She's Doing Tonight - Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart

They wrote some of the songs that The Monkees sang.




73. Over You - Gary Puckett and The Union Gap



Live at the Epcot Center: www.youtube.com


74. Goin' Out Of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You - The Lettermen



The Lettermen live: www.youtube.com


75. Shoo-Bee-Doo-Be-Doo-Da-Day - Stevie Wonder




76. The Unicorn - The Irish Rovers



And some song clips of the band: www.youtube.com


77. (You Keep Me) Hangin' On - Vanilla Fudge




78. Revolution - The Beatles



And here’s the slow version: www.youtube.com


79. Woman, Woman - Gary Puckett and The Union Gap




80. Elenore - The Turtles



1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
51 - 60
61 - 70
71 - 80
81 - 90
91 - 100

1968: 81 - 90

81. Sweet Inspiration - Sweet Inspirations



And here’s the group singing their song later on: www.youtube.com


82. The Mighty Quinn - Manfred Mann



Another clip: www.youtube.com


83. Baby, Now That I've Found You - Foundations




84. White Room - Cream




85. If You Can Want - Smokey Robinson and The Miracles




86. Cab Driver - The Mills Brothers




87. Time Has Come Today - The Chambers Brothers



Here’s the nine minute version: www.youtube.com


88. Do You Know The Way To San Jose - Dionne Warwick




89. Scarborough Fair/Canticle - Simon and Garfunkel



From the Concert in Central Park (1981): www.youtube.com


90. Think - Aretha Franklin



The clip from The Blues Brothers: www.youtube.com

1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
51 - 60
61 - 70
71 - 80
81 - 90
91 - 100

1968: 91 - 100

91. You're All I Need To Get By - Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell



They also sang “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”: www.youtube.com


92. Here Comes The Judge - Shorty Long



“Here Comes the Judge” was a common theme on “Laugh-In”: www.youtube.com


93. I Say A Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin



Dionne Warwick had a hit with the same song a year earlier: www.youtube.com


94. Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud Part 1 - James Brown & the Famous Flames




95. Sealed With A Kiss - Gary Lewis and The Playboys

In this clip, the song is at 8:00.



Brian Hyland had a hit with the same song in 1962: www.youtube.com


96. Piece of My Heart - Big Brother and The Holding Company



14 year old Jennifer Espinoza sang the song in 2007: www.youtube.com


97. Suzie Q. - Creedence Clearwater Revival




98. Bend Me Shape Me - American Breed




99. Hey, Western Union Man - Jerry Butler




100. Never Give You Up - Jerry Butler



There is another song with the same title, that we all know. www.youtube.com

1 - 10
11 - 20
21 - 30
31 - 40
41 - 50
51 - 60
61 - 70
71 - 80
81 - 90
91 - 100

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

Google Chrome: a New Browser

Google has created their own browser, called Google Chrome. It looks interesting. To read all about it, go to: www.google.com/chrome