Brüno is coming!

Started seeing taxis promoting Brüno movie for about 2 months now. Then, I stumbled onto the movies "social website" - www.meinspace.com/bruno. It's a pretty funny meinspace site with facebuch & Tvitter links. I thought that was very clever social network promotional tie in to the movie. The only problem with the meinspace page is the music on the page gets on your nerves pretty quick, (I know its supposed to).

The movie comes out on July 10 - I'm not sure if this movie will be funny all the way through and maybe the trailer is showing us the funniest parts but the trailer is pretty hilarious. You can be sure - I'll still go to the movie to see it for myself.

Would you invest in a company that filed for bankruptcy?

Since General Motors has filed for bankruptcy protection and our government keeps saying, that the taxpayers are now all owners. I have seen blogs, websites and people on flickr pick up on that idea - and create their own GM business cards. At first I thought that was funny idea - but thinking about it some more, I wondered - Would you really take your hard earned cash and invest it in a company that has filed for bankruptcy?

Look at GM, they now have to restructure their company. Which means selling off parts of the company (like Saturn, Buick, Pontiac, Hummer, Saab, Cadillac, Chevrolet), stop producing GM cars and trucks. Lay-off a bunch of people, close dealerships and end all contracts with suppliers.

Then they have to borrow money (from the government) to make new cars. Prove to their investors (again the government) why these cars make a sense to produce. Then they have to find suppliers (again) that haven’t gone under because of GM filing for bankruptcy. Have them start producing parts for their new car. Hire, back some laid-off workers to help produce these cars. Then start to advertise these “new and improved cars. “

If GM goes through all that and still fails - they will have to file for Chapter 7. Which means they liquidate whatever’s left of the business. Whatever is left of the company is pretty much worthless by that time. You will never see any of the investment money you just put into it.

Now tell me - Who in their right mind would want to be part owner in that?

Banksy - New Exhibition In Bristol

Well the news is out - Banksy's new exhibition is in his hometown of Bristol,UK. Check out the video and images from BBC. There are great new pieces from him. Big fan of his work for years always good to see new work coming out from him.
Click here to watch the BBC video link - BBC Video. You can also see photos of the exhibit here - BBC Photos.

Just added video clips of Banksy himself working to get his exhibit up at the Bristol museum. Click here.

go bus - excellent design idea

I was in Newark, New Jersey last friday waiting for my wife to pick me up and saw this bus parked near the train station. The navy blue color really caught my attention. I walked up to it then noticed that near the front entrance where the passengers get on there was a list of all the stops the bus makes. What a good idea! How many times have you got on a bus and wondered if you were getting on the correct one? Or even held up the line asking the bus driver if this bus was making a certain stop. No more confusion - This is a really simple solution to that problem.

NINJA- Nine Inch Nails & Jane's Addiction Tour

Saturday night I went to see Nine Inch Nails & Janes Addiction with my brother at PNC Arts Center in NJ. Got there a little late. We missed the opening band, Street Sweeper Social Club. By the time we got to the seats Nine Inch Nails was in the middle of their third or fourth song already. Let me personally thank the staff working that night at PNC Arts Center – who pointed us to the wrong seats. We were watching Nine Inch Nails 20-30 rows from the stage. When Nine Inch Nails ended and Jane’s Addiction was setting up we asked some security guards if we had correct seats and they told us no. They proceeded to move us, to our amazement & shock, five rows in front of the stage. A little pissed that PNC staff messed up but got over it real quick when Jane’s Addiction started.

Both bands have over 20 years experience so it’s no surprise that this show was great. NIN - Trent Reznor’s voice was perfect there were really not miss-steps at all. The touring band was tight and flawless. The band’s energy really invigorated the crowd. The fans loved them and were amazed. It was really a perfect performance that was very impressive to see live.

Let me say that Jane’s Addiction roadies only took 15 minutes to set-up the equipment, which amazed me. I’m used to waiting 30 to 45 minutes for the next band to have their equipment set-up. Then still have to wait as they do sound checks of the instruments and microphone. Right off the bat I was impressed. Then the band started to play behind a see thru curtain and bang - the crowd erupted. Jane’s Addiction was awesome - they played all their original songs flawlessly. For a fifty year old man, Perry Farrell looked better than some 20 year old musicians I've seen. His voice was perfect-he was full energy dancing around the stage. The rest of the band members were incredible - being five rows in front of the stage made it an amazing experience. Also it was great seeing Eric Avery back with the band - he was really in a zone, playing his heart out.

If you have the chance to see the NINJA tour this year, I would highly recommend it!!!

A Drifting Life by Yoshihiro Tatsumi (review)

I have been a comic book fan for over 15 years now. I went through the superhero phase-then got bored with it. Later on discovered alternative comics and then even later in life I stumbled across a more personal styled comics called, mini–comics. I don’t read a lot of comics now-a-days, a few here and there. But I have been buying all comics produced by Yoshihiro Tatsumi. I bought The Push Man and Other Stories a couple of years ago, then Abandon The Old In Tokyo and then much later his book titled Good-Bye. These were written so different from what I was accustomed to reading that I became hooked right away. They are not typical and some of his short stories are realistically disturbing.

A Drifting Life, is Yoshihiro Tatsumi memoir. This is a thick book, eight by six inches with a two inch spine and 856 pages. It took Tatsumi over a decade to complete.

We follow the main character Hiroshi, (Tatsumi’s alter-ego) at the beginning of manga industry. The story begins right after the Japanese surrender in World War II. We watch young Hiroshi obsessing and creating manga - as a postwar Japan slowly changes into an industrialized nation around him. Even thought this is a quick read your are instantaneously, immersed in the story. You emotionally get caught up in Hiroshi's life and you want him to succeed. What makes the story even more interesting is you are also witnessing the beginning of manga. It’s inspirational reading the Mangaka (japanese term for creators of manga who both write and draw their comics) trying to meet deadlines and brainstorming about story ideas.

Mr. Tatsumi style is simplified and rugged. He skills are unmistakable - his art perfectly evokes Japan’s past. He has a quick, rough inking style-Which complements the story.

This is a great book - which I highly recommend. Even if your not into comics pick this up you won’t regret it.

Hand Painted Signage- Sampiyon Fenerbahche (unique find)

They other day walking to the train station after work, I saw this white van with the words Sampiyon Fenerbahce painted on it.
I was so fascinated by the hand painted letters that I didn't even notice the owner get in the van and start the engine. I quickly pulled out my camera phone to take a picture.

I find the hand painted lettering beautiful. The vibrant navy blue and yellow creates a very unique visual. The thick and thin blue outline with blue hairs standing on end is puzzling but at the same time engaging. Fun use of star's under certain letters instead of the traditional accent mark the cedilla. Even the placement of the words Sampiyon Fenerbahce on the van is a little off that the letter E of Fenerbahce gets cut off by the van's door. Charming and unusual lettering style.

(I've looked up Sampiyon Fenerbahce, from what I can decipher this is a Turkish soccer team whose colors are navy blue & yellow.)