Posts Tagged ‘VSL’

Escape Tools

Wednesday, July 29th, 2009

Great photography and fascinating exhibit from Marc Steinmetz Photography.  Paging through his site, his photography is really captivating.  Below is the collection I saw first — Prison Escape Tools.  Check it out:

escape-tools

Thanks VSL

Clowning Around

Friday, April 24th, 2009

Check this out:

It’s a commercial (for Phillips TVs), yes, but a brilliant one.  Adam Berg, through some amazing combination of CGI and live-action filming (and maybe some still photography?) basically constructed an uninterrupted tracking shot to rival the one at the beginning of Touch of Evil (rival, perhaps, but not beat — considering that shot was a minute longer and was shot on film with no digital trickery).

I have no idea how Berg did it, but it’s pretty cool.  And like the opening of Touch, it’s a self-contained story.  I like it.

via VSL

Jean-Claude Van Damme?

Wednesday, April 1st, 2009

I’m not quite sure what to say about this, but I think it actually looks pretty good:

In the same vein as Being John Malcovich, Van Damme plays himself — a past-his-prime action star, returning to his home in Brussels, and playing out his remaining career shooting more and more questionable B movies.  Until one day he runs out of money.  And finds himself in the middle of a real-life bank robbery.  Comedy and drama ensues.

I know what you’re thinking — Jean-Claude Van Damme? From Universal Soldier?

I know.  I had the same reaction.

The amazing part is — at least in the trailer — Van Damme’s acting is actually pretty good.  He’s actually funny and compelling — and overall the film – JCVD – looks really good.  It comes out on DVD on 4/28, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

Thanks for the tip VSL!

The Obameter

Thursday, March 12th, 2009

I really like the idea of this: PolitiFact has dug through the archives and tracked down all of the promises that Obama made on the campaign trail, and are basically tracking the progress on them in real time.

At first this seemed unfair and unrealistic, but if you recall, Obama actually asked the American people to hold him to the promises he made.

Answering the call, PolitiFact made the ‘Obameter‘ which tracks Obama’s progress on each and every one of his 500 campaign promises.

obameter

It’s fascinating to see numbers and ratings on these things.  And honestly, looking at the numbers, he’s doing quite well.  Check it out for yourself.

Thanks VSL

But Say You’re a Super Villain?

Tuesday, March 10th, 2009

So the Brooklyn Superhero Supply Store isn’t your bag, eh?  You’re more inclined towards activities which could be described as, shall we say, evil?

Say no more, I’ve got just the thing for you:

henchman

No your eyes do not deceive you.  You are indeed just one click away from Henchman’s Helper — a site consolidating all of the tools and gadgets you might ordinarily stock in your lair into one convenient web site.

Now you can keep an eye on all of your normal sophisticated surveillance equipment from the comfort of a Starbucks.  Or your living room.

Thanks VSL!

You Lose

Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008

You never had a chance.  When up against Bruce Lee?  At table tennis?  With nunchucks?  Don’t even bother:

That, apparently is a Nokia commercail that aired in China last month. With some really clever digital wizardry.  Nobody is quite sure how they got Mr. Lee into the footage, but man, it’s pretty sweet.

Read more about it on VSL

Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour

Sunday, November 30th, 2008

I just got the first two volumes of The Best of Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour in the mail (I’d completely forgotten I’d ordered it) and it’s AMAZING!  You need it.  You might not have known it before you started reading this, but you really need it.

The whole thing is like a cross section of fringe 20th century music.  Blues, Jazz, Folk, early Rock & Roll, Bluegrass… it gives you the feeling that you’re listening to the music that’s always been rolling through Dylan’s subconscious.  And in the 4 discs that came with the set, I think I’d only heard about 3 of the songs before.  It’s truly a great collection.

Not convinced?  Read more:

Very Short List first talked about Bob Dylan’s XM Radio show in 2006, including details on how you can tune in on AOL Radio.

– You too can get your own copy, bu as VSL explains, you have to order it from someplace outside the US — the powers that be didn’t want to deal with our annoying copyright laws.

Thanks VSL!