The Walking Dead Title Sequence (Or so it should be.)

THE WALKING DEAD "Opening Titles" from Daniel Kanemoto on Vimeo.

This absolutely fantastic title sequence for the upcoming AMC adaptation of Robert Kirkman's brilliant zombie apocalypse comic series "The Walking Dead" is not what will actually precede the show. This is a fan-made title sequence, and I'll be damned if AMC can top this.

Besides making me want to cut off my fingers because of their inability to manipulate After Effects this well, this sequence perfectly captures the essence of the comics, from the use of Charlie Adlard and Tony Moore's artwork, to the straight-from-True Blood music, Eel's "Fresh Blood."(it's actually from True Blood! - I had said that as a joke)

Anyway. Watch, enjoy, lament. Maybe AMC will snag Daniel Kanemoto up for some title work. They certainly should, because if they don't, someone else will.

MOOOOOOOOOOOOON

I finally got around to watching Duncan Jones' Moon today, and I've got to say that I was supremely disappointed. Well, maybe not supremely, but still. Marginally disappointed at the very least.

c/o typophile

Jones, in his first feature directorial role, also developed the story; the premise of which is intriguing enough, and it only gets more so as the story progresses. But the twists and turns of the plot itself never quite live up to the promise inherent to it.

Sam Bell (a fantastic Sam Rockwell) is nearing the end of a three year shift as the sole (or is he?) overseer of a solar energy harvesting facility on the moon. Intelligent readers may have now discerned the origins of the film's title. Naturally, things do not quite go according to plan, even with a pseudo-sentient A.I. managing the station, and Bell's hopes of completing his contract and returning to earth are put in jeopardy.

It's not a theory if it's true!

Earlier today, io9 had, as it frequently does, an interesting story involving sciency things. More specifically, it concerned mysterious chemtrails that appeared in a circular formation over Houston on September 9th and 11th, 2010.

Chemtrails have long been the subject of conspiracy theories, as they really would be an easy way to disseminate dangerous biological agents over a populated area. They look very similar to contrails left by your standard airplane, only significantly more billowy. And ominous.

So apparently, some particularly devious chemtrails covered the skies above Houston on the anniversary of the greatest source of conspiracy theories in decades. So guess what? It's shit-flippin' time.

So, naturally, people started flipping their shit about these mysterious symbols in the sky, and for good reason. That shit be evil-looking.

But NASA has stepped up, and stated that the circular patterns were due to their conducting high-altitude research in the Houston area, sampling the air gathering data on hurricane intensification.

But doesn't that sound exactly like a line you would expect a government agency to feed the public to cover up something villainous?

It's like when a squadron of attack helicopters flew over Portland, and they were all, "Um... training exercises!"

Ef you government. We know you've got Godzilla on retainer.

The Answer?

Apparently, ol' Allen Iverson may be on his way to China, seeing as no NBA teams want anything to do with him. For some reason.

The all-knowing ESPN has the story, of which my favorite part is when Gary Moore, Iverson's personal manager says, "What has Allen Iverson done to not warrant interest in him?"

Gary, I am so glad you asked!

Benefits

One of the many, oft-unsung benefits of being unemployed is that you can be totally prepared for rain delays at the U.S. Open.

Case in point: Right now. The U.S. Open Final was supposed to take place yesterday, on a weekend, to accommodate those who, due to some random cultural significance, have free time. But as it was raining in Flushing Meadows, and as tennis is a "wuss sport" (i.e. cannot be played in rain), the Final was forcibly delayed. Until today.

Today, tons of poor saps have to miss out on the glorious final between Rafael "rockin' them capris" Nadal and Novak "Joke" Djokovic simply because they are gainfully employed.

Nevermind the inability to go out with friends due to your dwindling bank account balance; this is where you strike back. This is your coup.

Just think of the anguish you'll be able to cause when one of your friends calls up later today and is like, "Yo Bromo Sapien. Just got off work, tryna hit a bar?"

And you can be all like, "Sorry dawg. I'm totes beat from watching the epic U.S. Open Final! Did you see it? Oh right.... You didn't." Burnt. Man they'll feel dumb.  (It should be noted that it is absolutely integral that you hang up the phone before they get a chance to ask, "Oh. Is that like a golf thing?")

So to all ye woefully underemployed denizens: Fear not! Just bask in the glory of being able to have extended conversations about the t-shirt Djokovic's dad was wearing. Which, for the record, is something like one of those wolf t-shirts that philistines wear in a gruesome failure of an attempt at irony, only with Novak Djokovic instead of a wolf.

There might also be an eagle on there. I'm not sure.

 Luckily I have all day to try to find out.

Santa?

Um... Just watch this.




So it looks like they definitely went for a darker vision in the reboot of The Santa Clause.


It's really sad to see Tim Allen give up the lead role. He was so... decent. Just kidding, he was actually alright, and the first Santa Clause was actually a decent kids' Christmas movie. It was one of my favorites growing up. Can't say I ever saw the sequels though, because, well, you know:

The Solo Adventures

One of my favorites unexplored elements of the Star Wars backstory was Han Solo's relationship with Jabba the Hut; more specifically, the incident that causes Jabba to hunt Han throughout the original trilogy. It's briefly mentioned in A New Hope, something about "jettisoning cargo at the first sign of an Imperial Ship," and I always thought that would make for a very cool story.

Daniel Smith just told it, with the grace, humor and spirit that the botched attempt at prequels so sorely lacked.

Check it out, in glorious 3-D!


The Solo Adventures from Daniel Smith on Vimeo.

The guy doing Han is incredible, too.

Let's talk about the Commentary for the FIBA World Championships.

Long story short: It's incredible.

None of the shmultzy Marv Albert impersonations that permeate NBA commentary,  just pure, unadultered excitement about the game. Take, for example, this dunk by the one and only Nicolas Batum.



That is not something you would hear in an NBA game. Team-based commentators have been known to deviate from the script on occasion, but for the most part, you've got your Mike Breens and your Kevin Harlans spouting off catch phrases, trying to make the fact that David Stern has them by the balls as unobtrusive as possible. (For the record, I'm actually a huge Kevin Harlan fan)

I would love to hear them lose it like the guy above. Maybe drop a "GOT DAMN!" after something particularly dunktastic. I understand that composure is key to their job performance, but there's something cool about having announcer that is so excited about the game that he can't gather his thoughts into anything terribly cohesive.

Sometimes, "BANG!" just doesn't cut it.