Thoughtful Preparations: Media Spin Blog

Got to admit, I like monkeys. So, I was shocked by the grisly news story about a chimp loving couple who were bitten and mauled by two escaped monkeys at an animal sanctuary. The highly trained and restrained Mike Tyson was unavailable for comment. A wild wake-up call, as Siegfried and Roy got, that animals are mysterious, unpredictable, and not fully understood.
There are good and bad monkeys. Having more fun than a barrel full of monkeys, might end up as a horrific human blender. Yet we still identify with the affable ape, such as 9622.net, and Monkey Vortex. Can you trust these cute chimps? Roll over the photo above and see.

An obvious trick photograph on the cover of the current Newsweet magazine, portrays soon to be released from prison Martha Stewart sweetly, as they imagined we’d like to see her: comfortable, relaxed and in good shape. Reality is sour and distasteful, and we applaud big media and politicians for sweetening it up for us.

P.S. I gave Martha a demo of interactive technology back when we both worked in the Time-Life building. She really is a smart cookie.

Here’s his side of fronting as an upstanding White House journalist, but a few other meanies pick on a naked guy, a poor crappy, fake-named press conference stooge. Work that Bush smirk and let it slide. That’s the Texas-American version of reality today. Or maybe part of the whole American Idol fascination with bad performances.

Detailed reconstructions of a number of visual effects shots from The Aviator.

It was the 77th Annual Kentucky Fried Oscars, as Chris Rock acknowledged in a bewildered moment of real clarity, the Oscar ceremonies were being processed for television so heartlessly, they may as well hand them out in the parking lot or through a drive up window.

Fortunately here were classier moments, Kurosawa was mentioned by Sidney Lumet and the great theme by Elmer Bernstein from The Magnificent Seven based on Kurosawa’s The Seven Samurai was encored by the orchestra. Million Dollar Baby winner Clint Eastwood owes his early Fistfull of Dollars to Kurosawa’s Yojimbo.

As an English speaker, if you’d like to experience numerous Lost In Translation laughs, check out the DVD of Kurosawa’s 1948 Drunken Angel. The ailing derelict gangster, played by K’s fave Tishiro Mifune, ends up in a delirious knife fight while falling and flailing around in spilled paint. There is an overall impression of polluted souls, and the outstandingly bad English translations makes the corrupted effect even better.

On Feb. 10 Synaptics stock shares tumbled because a few Wall Street analysts rumored that Apple’s future iPods would no longer use their wheel interface. Their opinions caused a panic that brought Synaptics stock down 50% in price, from the mid $30 range to below $21. (I had to buy some at those prices!)
“Bear Stearns analyst Andrew J. Neff said Apple last week unveiled its latest PowerBook laptop computer outfitted with a TrackPad, its own touch-sensitive interface developed using chips made by Cypress Semiconductor Corp.

Further indications suggest that Apple will use its internally developed technology on the next generation of its wildly popular iPod media player, Neff said. He added that Synaptics, whose most popular design is the iPod’s scroll wheel, historically has been Apple’s sole supplier of touchpad components.”

Today Synaptics provided the much needed facts, sweet official words, dispelling the rumors.
“We have received numerous inquiries from investors and analysts regarding the use of our products in the Apple iPod. In the absence of definitive communications from Apple regarding these matters, we have not believed it appropriate to comment on unconfirmed rumors and speculation. In addition, our policy generally is not to comment on market rumors, speculation, and changes in our stock price.

We are filing this Form 8-K in order to respond to inquiries regarding recent announcements of new product introductions.

Yesterday Apple announced several new iPods and we are confirming that our interface solutions are being used in those products. As has been the case since our initial product introductions in fiscal 1996, we compete for designs on a product by product basis and have no assurances from any of our OEM customers that they will utilize our interface solutions in any of their future products.”

Apple’s iPod is so successful, Apple’s stock has doubled and is set to split, so why would they change their design? Think about it.

’cause I’m hung up on dreams I’ll never see – Allman Brothers, Dreams.

There are great rock songs from the late 60’s and 70’s that still endure today, many as backup fuel for TV car ads. A month ago, in January, I was contacted by an individual who planned to develop a theatrical rock show, featuring a live cover band playing great rock anthems of 1976. His focus was on Boston, Kansas, Aerosmith, and Bad Company. Although I am familiar with these groups and some of their songs, they were never my big favorites, so I was doubtful of the success of this venture. The rock entrepreneur, had a long time vision of this grand show with montages of news and movie footage from 1976, 3D animation and sophisticated video projection as a big drawing multimedia extravaganza. Still, I was a bit skeptical when I saw very slim writing and storyboards defining specific content. The rock impresario could not be daunted, and he sent me a check telling me to go ahead, we’ll make a great 5 minute demo tape and sell this idea to his very big people. “Golly,” I thought, “how often do I have the chance for this kind of creative freedom, even if the music is Wayne and Garth goofy?” Carry on my wayward son! So, I’m wrestling with Maya particles for a week, animating the first Boston cover, when Mr. Retro Rock realizes the rights are going to be too expensive to acquire for this project. Poof! Done. Over. Kaput.

You know, I’ve learned the hard way, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably isn’t,” and this is one big classic rock reaffirmation.

Sometimes I feel, sometimes I feel, like I’ve been tied to the whippin’ post. – Allman Brothers, Whipping Post.

I got this lousy spam display ad today, and I’m thinking about signing up. You see, I’d like to be the first one on my block to become the expert in VICTIMOLOGY. You don’t want to get beat out on that one, do you? Next thing, you could be scrutinized by a licensed VICTIMOLOGIST. What’s a matter you, not a patriot? I want to be the Master of Victimology, and everyone else is the culprit, but not me. For the more ambitious, higher learning souls, you can study law and become a member of the Federalist Society. So, help protect your country, be a victimologist. Do it today, or be a potential predator terrorist. I’m gonna get you, sucka!