Koyaanisqastsi - Stunning, way-cool vid-mash

This is an amazing, mashed-up clip from the 1982 underground favorite film "Koyaanisqatsi," (The Hopi Indian word for "life in motion," or "life out of balance.") It is the first of three films using time lapse, fast motion, extraordinary videography and a creepy soundtrack to study the way people and the planet work. And, I guess, how we do stuff. This version is mashed with a song by "The Strokes," called "Reptilia," and it's pretty cool. Note the giant housing complex about two minutes in: It's the infamous "Pruitt-Igoe" housing project that changed the way we think about public housing. All public officials should have to read about this disaster. The film was perceived strangely in '82, if I recall. Looked at as part psychedelia trip, part study in video possibilities. Came across as probably an environmentally-flavored piece when it first came out, showing how we screw everything up, but it is absolutely stunning to watch. I suggest following the links and playing as many as possible, then buying the whole series and spending about five hours in rapt amazement. Then donate lots of cash to some worthy cause.
Or you could just watch this.
The second film came about six years later, and had help from George Lucas, I believe. I'll post a piece of it later. The final film was about six years ago. I have yet to track it down for a review.
Enjoy this, and you'll never look at the world the same again, ever.

Caption Contest "Alpha"

-"Five dollar foot long..."
-NASA's $57,000 pencil
-Prototype iBullet
-In a bizarre twist of technology, the three men were all hoping to impress the ladies with their new invention: A portable lipstick factory!

(Here's the skinny: The creators of Explorer 1 holding a model of it on the press conference at launch day (or the day before), February 1, 1958 (or January 31, 1958). Starting from left side: Ph.D. William Pickering, Ph.D. James Van Allen, Ph.D. Wernher von Braun. Public Domain, NASA)

"Astropup Laika to base. Laika to base! Damnit, it just sounds like "ruff, ruff, ruff!"

Because of his place in history. Here's a strange hero: Laika, the Soviet Space Dog. The first living creature in Space.



Other than abducted Midwestern folks, OF COURSE.
BTW- "Laika" means "barker" in English. Hmmm, maybe that's why they sent him into space. He was no "hero," he was driving his neighbors nuts!

Ah, waxing poetic about Space, "The Final Frontier."
Just think how we take the moon for granted. Besides the whole tidal action stuff, it makes for a good subject matter.
In everything from bored, freezing camera operators (such as me taking the "Moon and Flag deal") to sci-fi, poetry and even Bob Seger, who wrote a tune or two about the Moon.
These are the voyages...

(Imitating Andy Rooney on 60 minutes:)
"How come we hear about "space junk" on occasion, but I've never heard the finally tally on how much garbage we've left on the Moon.
We could and will go back, I'm sure, but we probably have a lot of junk up there already.
Who's in charge of the moon garbage? And while we're talking about the Moon, if I get there, can I drive around in that hotrod, electric space buggy? Think they left the keys in it? I'll take it for a zip around the lunar block."
Whooo! No stop signs!
Have I shown you my very hairy neck and ears? What about my collection of cell phone chargers?"

"You AND your little dog!"

(Photo Credit: NASA. So We The People ALL paid for it. I know I got my .0000017 cent's worth!)
Just got back from 'Wicked," at the (Historic) Orpheum Theatre, in downtown Mpls. Got there in my "Historic" Jeep. Went to the someday-to-be-remembered-fondly-but-not-in-a-historic-way Rock Bottom Brewery. Tasty viddles with cute sounding beers: Itasca is the only one I remember.
I highly recommend "Wicked." The music is quite solid, catchy and relevant, and the stage is among the best I've ever seen. The story, of course, is the background to the two witches from Wizard of Oz. They carefully but honestly dovetail the strange story into the movie, more than the Frank Baum novel.
Glinda and Elphaba (The Wicked Witch of the West) were both amazing. The story MUST be a movie in the near future. I saw the Glinda character as Amy Poehler, and the WWW could be Tina Fey, who might have some free time now that Gov. Palin is back home, wrestling Kodiak's. Actually, I could see the Guv filling in as an understudy.
(Playing the role of the Wicked Witch tonight is Governor Sarah Palin.)
"Oh gee, dare. You might need to stand back so my lil bropmie-thing here has some room...Geez, you know the only difference between a witch and Hillary Clinton, dontcha? Witches use broomsticks, dontcha know!"

Hmmm, if they can make THREE High School Musicals, they can cajole @ least ONE Wicked!
Soundtrack would be good, but the tix - courtesy my spousal associations - would have been over $65.
Hmmm-Live music theatre or, hmmm, paying for the LIKELY GREATEST TAX INCREASE IN THE HISTORY OF CIVILIZED MAN AND SECOND BIGGEST EVER FOR ALL LIVING ORGANISMS since the Inquisition? Tough call. You know, now that Obama is gonna be President.
Oh I SO miss the political ads.
"Hahaha. I betcha miss those political ads of mine, dontcha? Hey Todd, run and get me a Moosehead from the porch, and tell Trig to leave the snow-machine alone when it's runnin!"

Oh wait, the families were off-limits. Have I no heart? Wait, that's a character from 'Wicked!' So it all comes full circle!

(More bkgrnd on the NASA Image of the (scary) Witch Head Nebula. "As the name implies, this reflection nebula associated with the star Rigel looks suspiciously like a fairytale crone. Formally known as IC 2118 in the constellation Orion, the Witch Head Nebula glows primarily by light reflected from the star. The color of this very blue nebula is caused not only by blue color of its star, but also because the dust grains reflect blue light more efficiently than red. A similar physical process causes Earth's daytime sky to appear blue. ")

Surrender Dorothy!