WWW.SUPERDELUXE.COM
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For those of you attending TimeGate this year, as I have mentioned before, we are having a Costume Contest.
That event takes place at 10 PM on Sunday night. Sign-up sheets should be at Registration.

There's also the Costume Panel, and that's happening at 8:30 PM on Friday night. I would love to have as many Doctor Who cosplayers as possible in the audience, so that I can point to each one and ask them to stand up and model their outfit, and maybe even tell a little bit about it, if it was made for or by them, or if it was purchased ready-made (i.e. not made specially as Doctor Who garb, but that it was put together to make a Doctor Who cosplay outfit). Such a little talk must be brief, under a minute if at all possible.

Please email me off the community to let me know me that you're interested and which Doctor/Companion/Monster/Villain/Guest Star/Other that you cosplay, and that way I will know about how many DW cosplayers I can expect for our costuming panel at TimeGate. You can email me at acciochocolate at livejournal dot com .
Thanks! :)

For more info on TimeGate, Atlanta's Doctor Who and Stargate convention, please go here:

http://www.timegatecon.org/

http://www.esani.com/html/guestservices/index.cfm

Anyone ever go there? How long ago and what did you have done?

TIA!

Located just east of Ga 400 on Holcomb Bridge Road
Martin's Landing is hosting a community garage sale this weekend.
Many homes will be participating, maps will be available at the front entrance.
Each home with balloons on the mailbox is participating.
Saturday (63 homes) & Sunday (35 homes) Hours are 8 -3
http://martinslanding.org/

We have an antique full sized bed, antique youth bed (twin), household appliances (dorm fridge, toaster ovens, under cabinet can opener) toys, sporting goods, sega genesis, roller skates, and other miscellaneous items at our house. See you this weekend!

City of Atlanta Vice Arrests, with mugs

Its like...the coolest page out of a high school yearbook ever!

So I went to see "Speed Racer" last night with a couple of friends and we had a great time. Let me be clear about one thing right up front: it isn't Great Cinema. There's no deep philosophical message contained within. The conflict is very black and white -- good vs. evil. The acting is pretty much one-note and some of the plot points you can see coming from a mile away. Top all that off with the fact that it's a remake of a cheesy late-60s cartoon and some might say you have a recipe for failure (and that seems to be borne out by the box office returns; it made less than $20M the opening weekend. Got a long way to go before it makes back the estimated $160M cost).

What "Speed Racer" IS is a visual extravaganza that pushes the envelope of digital filmmaking further than anything I've ever seen. I'd heard many reviews praising the effects, the optical flash, the whirl of color and sound. They were all correct but none of them came close to describing what appears onscreen (and I can't either). This is eye candy in its purest, most unadulterated form, absolutely stunning effects that make your head expand. It's all so patently, obviously over-the-top that it becomes quite easy to slip into the fantasy world the Wachowskis have created. Brilliantly lit skies, dazzling vistas, swooping and geometrically impossible tracks, cars whirling about like Matchbox toys, contrails from weapons, streaks left in the air during fistfights....it's a live-action cartoon, is what it is. Which is exactly what I expected and exactly what I hoped for.

Most of the rest of the movie just feels lightweight, which is to be expected considering the source material. Acting? Passable, but nothing extraordinary except for Roger Allam's deliciously evil Royalton. Music? A decent and over-the-top score from Michael Giacchino, who keeps the adrenaline up; I liked the various reinterpretations of the Speed Racer theme, too. Characters? Perfectly good or perfectly evil (there's no middle ground in this film). Story? Pretty much the same as any of the episodes of the TV series (although there was some nicely structured flashback/flashforward paralleling going on in a few places); Speed fights evil by racing it, and wins the day.

Mostly, the Wachowskis have done a very smart thing: they haven't strayed far from the format of the cartoon, remaining very very true to the original even down to keeping its cheesy dialogue, cliched situations and cardboard cutout villains. But as far as pure filmmaking goes, they've done something remarkable with this one. "Speed Racer" redefines what's possible with digital imagery and blending of CGI effects with live-action. It wouldn't work with any film that was less fantastical and over-the-top, but here it just shines. If you're prepared to check your brain at the door and just enjoy yourself for a couple hours, go and have fun. If you want meaning or depth, save your money. As for me, I'll be picking this one up on DVD on release day. Hell, the eye candy in this one may make it worth an upgrade to Blu-Ray.

-- END OF LINE --

[[The Oracle would like to know your favorite childhood cartoon.]]

http://ellen.warnerbros.com/2008/05/ellens_getting_married.php

It's no animated proposal, but still quite awesome.

Oh, the tow-headed babies they'll have once science works that out.

John Phillip Law, R.I.P.

So much for getting him to record commentary for the Skidoo SE DVD.

***

Went to the Tin Roof Cantina last night for dinner. It wasn't bad. Getting out of the parking lot takes some work, though.

Looking for the best speeding ticket attorney in Atlanta. Any suggestions anybody?

*sigh*

Get out of the megaplex and put down the DVDs. Summer is near and that means its time to watch movies in some place grand.

Screen on the Green won't be at Piedmont Park this year, but this one year detour to Centennial Olympic Park will give you a much needed change of scenery. Movies start at sunset. Outside food and non-alcoholic drinks are ok to bring, but leave the high-back chairs, tents, glass containers, pets, and grills at home. Alcoholic drinks will be availible for sale in the park. Also if you haven't been to Centennial Olympic Park in the past few years, many new restaurants and bars have opened nearby such as Luckie Food Lounge, Stats, Thrive, Petite Bistro and Maxim [Magazine] Steakhouse so there are plenty of places to eat and drink before and afterwards. Admission is free. Centennial Olympic Park is a short walk from both the Peachtree Center MARTA station (N1) and the CNN/Dome/GWCC/Omni/Phillips/KitchenSink MARTA station (W1).

May 29 - Jaws
June 5 - Big Momma's House
June 12 - Chicago
June 19 - E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
June 26 - Footloose

Flicks on Fifth returns. While not set in a park, Technology Square does allow lawn chairs. Umbrellas, pets, and coolers are prohibited. Like Screen on the Green, admission is free and the movies start at sunset. If you aren't familar with Tech Square, there are lots of little shops and one huge bookstore. Many restaurants are part of Tech Square, so you can get some food and drinks to go with the movie. Tech Square is a few blocks from both the Midtown MARTA station (N4) and the North Avenue MARTA station (N3).

http://flickson5th.gatech.edu/

JUNE 11 - I am Legend
JUNE 18 - Horton Hear's a Who
JUNE 25 - The Bourne Ultimatum
JULY 9 - Hairspray
JULY 16 - Superbad
JULY 23 - 21

Though not free, the Coca-Cola summer movie series at the Fabulous Fox Theatre is not to be missed. You just can't compare a bland megaplex to this grand old movie palace. Tickets are $7 each or you can buy a twelve pack of tickets for $60. There is also a sing along with the pipe organ and viewing of a classic cartoon before the movies. Some movies also have a wine tasting event before hand for an extra charge. The Fox Theatre is on the same block as the North Avenue MARTA station (N3).

http://www.foxtheatre.org/coke_series.htm

June 5 - Shine A Light — 7:30 PM
June 8 - Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who! — 2 PM
June 8 - Atonement — 7 PM
June 17 - Casablanca — 7:30 PM
June 18 - No Country for Old Men — 7:30 PM
July 13 - Enchanted — 2 PM
July 13 - Ben Hur — 7 PM

You might also want to consider the Starlight Six Drivein. Pack the car full of your friends, and pack the trunk with chairs, food, and booze. Bonus points for bringing a pickup truck with a couch in the back. Movie titles announced each week on their website: http://www.starlightdrivein.com/. While MARTA buses do go that way, it's not really a drive in if you walk in.

Originally published at stories.JeBas.us. You can comment here or there.

It often surprises me how often people will decide what has been said before the other person starts talking. I'm not talking about sales people turning away a potential customer. I'm talking about the simple assumption that we know what the other person is saying. My grandfather had a great example of this.

Now my grandfather loved books. He read, and he read a lot. In his library, there were histories, biographies, political treaties, and loads of science fiction. It was rare that he would pass by a book store and not purchase something. His library was continually expanding, and in his last house, it had expanded to completely fill the unfinished basement of the house. It was not a small collection of books.

Now while he was in that last house, the county government had expanded their library system, and they were looking for books for the new shelves. My grandfather called the number advertised, and stated that he had a rather large collection, and they could have anything that thought they would need.

"Why thank you Mr. Ford. If you will drive them by the local branch nearest you, we will be more than happy to examine them."

My grandfather tried to explain to them that he had a rather large collection. He also stated that he was in his early 80's and could not possibly carry that many books down to the library.

"That's alright Mr. Ford. I'll be driving through that area on Thursday to pick up some other donations from our house bound patrons. If it is all right, I will stop by your house as well."

My grandfather agreed.

She arrived in a small Honda Civic that was already half filled with junk. My grandfather showed her in, and began to explain his collection again. He offered to guide her through his stacks, but she refused.

"Mr. Ford, I have a strict guideline on what is acceptable to the library and what is not. I have occasionally had arguments with people because these guidelines did not include some of their favorite books. Therefore I prefer to go through these books alone."

My grandfather then showed her to the basement, and asked if there was anything additional that she needed.

"No, Mr. Ford. I have everything that I need," and she holds up a single paper grocery sack.

He then pointed to the door, walked back up the stairs, and sat down in the living room. He opened his paper, and waited for her to complete her task.

About an hour later, she comes back up stairs with a rather humbled expression on her face.

"Mr. Ford, I may need a little help to go through your complete collection. Is it possible that I could come back at a later time, with some help?"

I'm sure that this brought out a chuckle in my grandfather, and he agreed. A few days later, she returned with three burly men and a rented truck. It took them almost three weeks to go through everything in my grandfather's basement. And when the finished, they had removed over three quarters of the books.

After that, my grandfather was given a special treatment by the library system. Of course it also provided my grandmother no end of amusement as my grandfather would go the library to check out a book that he donated.

FYI, for those who might be traveling on the Downtown Connector over the weekend:

Downtown Connector Resurfacing Project Resumes May 16, 2008

Date/Date/Time:
9 p.m. Friday, May 16 - 5 a.m. TO Monday, May 19

This weekend's lane closures (weather permitting):

I-75/85 SOUTHBOUND: 3 left lanes closed between 10th Street and University Ave.

Please visit the project website for additional details.

To receive regular updates on street and highway closures in Downtown, sign up for the Downtown Navigator email.

The governor signed HB 89 into law yesterday *snoopy dance*.

However, it has been reported by the media, mistakenly so, that the law goes into effect immediately. THIS IS NOT TRUE. HB 89 goes into effect July 1st. Do NOT carry on MARTA Yet. Do not expect that the provisions of HB89 (aside from carry in city/county parks, that are not public gatherings) is legal either.

The City/County parks provision is effective now because it is emphasizing that cities and counties cannot prohibit carry there any more than they can elsewhere. Georgia has a pre-emption law on the books. Cities and counties cannot pass firearms regulation laws, this any laws prohibiting carry in such locations is not legal under state law. HB 89 merely underscores such specifically.

Anybody have anything good/bad/indifferent to say about the Eddie's Trick Shop in Duluth? I'm hoping to find a bodice to finish off my costume for Renfest, and I've heard various things about their selection. I'm short on time, so I'd prefer not to go unless I know it'll be worth it (plus they're not answering the phone, so no help there >.<). Extra points if you can comment on their plus-size selection (cuz I'm, well, fat). Thanks!

Well, I went to callbacks today. On the elevator up I rode with J-asterix. Ugh. The fact that he got called back and not Sasha made me sad, somewhat. I waited outside the callback room and read some of my "Deadly Abridgement" to give me some confidence in my humor. Soon George, one of my teachers from Dad's Garage the small group of us outside in a snazzy light-grey suit. I was impressed with myself in that I was called back with the likes of one of the best character improv guys in town (so they tell me). Next recognizable face: Veronica Duerr. Veronica seems to follow me from town to town and make me cry with her plays. In Savannah at SCAD she was in a show with an ex-girlfriend of mine called "Playing for Time" where she was a cellist at a concentration camp, then here in Atlanta she was the lady in "Our Town" who does the "Why don't they live?" speach. "Who will I run into next that I know?" I wondered. "Rick? I heard that he auditioned." Sure enough, I ran into him when I got out of the bathroom.

Sidenote: Duerr is also extra-awesome, I learned, for she loves Squidbillies.

Also in attendance was another teacher of mine from Dad's, Tim, and the guy that leads the troupe that performed at my apartment complex, name forgotten because of my horrible memory and the fact that I'm a bad person.

We were given scripts and broken up into groups of two, or in my case three. George, guy from that troupe that came to my complex, and I were together. It was a huge relief not to work with J-ampersand.

We did some two-person bits like at auditions and then did our scenes. There was some really funny stuff. I was dying of a brain tumor, but in a funny way.

I think I did alright over all. Confident in my abilities. However, they're only taking two people from that audition for the show and out of the sixteen that auditioned, I don't think I'm in the top 12.5%. I figured that one out in my head on the way to the car. Whoever did get it will know in the next three weeks.

Thanks again to Dean for the free headshots, to those who gave me great advice on my resume, to Ariel who's resume I hollowed out and filled back in with my own info, to all of you for your support, and to my wife for all that she does. Free Tibet!

All in all, awesome. Boost to the ego. It seems as though I do improv well and I won't even miss any more work.

I have to replace a broken 1 gig iPod shuffle 2nd gen that I've had less than a month, and it's due to a manufacturer defect and is under warranty. I am not going to be able to get to the Apple Store before going on my trip and I personally find it difficult to travel without an iPod.

I am contemplating buying one at the airport, and then getting the old one replaced. Thus I would have one lightly used and one brand new iPod shuffle (There's a small possibility that I could end up with 2 lightly used ones if they repair the old one). Would anyone be interested in buying one of them off me? I think I would want $45 for the new one and $35 for a lightly used one, which is slightly less than what you would pay on Amazon, or a potential barter for a service or item that is worth that much to me (look at my user profile and make me an offer).

my username -at- livejournal dot com

I live very close to Clairmont and 85. My dog-o's need their nails did, lol!

I usually do this myself, but lately my husky's been even more neurotic about us touching his feet when the time comes to do the deed, so I'm thinking he might need a mild sedative, so to a vet's office we go. I don't want to drive all the way to our regular vet's office to have it done if there's somewhere closer since it's just for nail trimming.

Help?

Oh, and bonus points if it's something I won't neccesarily have to make an appointment for!

From the YoungBlood gallery mailing list:



An amazing world-wide group, Nest, that was organized to fund women's businesses in developing countries is having their Nest Atlanta kick-off party this Sunday. Please join us and show some love to the cause.

There will be fiesta-style food and drink donations by area restaurants and local designers will be setting up shop. It's hosted by Luxe and 1*Five*0 on Marietta St. in the West Side.

click here for more info and directions!

clicky for bigger
=)
see our LJ for more details
drsketchyatl