The bride

Categories: Culture

The Movie Box has copies of the two new Kill Bill trailers (from the soundtrack CD). Not any spoilers we didn’t see in the first couple of trailers, lots of cool stuff, and a glimpse at an interesting cinematic technique I won’t spoil in case someone wants to be surprised in the theaters. I am so jazzed for this movie.

September 25, 2003 · 1 min · Bryant

Footloose redux

Categories: Culture

Now, see, if they’d done this (original) (warning: QuickTime ahead) in Footloose, Kevin Bacon wouldn’t have been so darned rebellious. Free State High School, in Lawrence, Kansas, has apparently been having a problem with “provocative” dancing. So they made a video to show students what sorts of things weren’t permissible. The dancer in the video, as it happens, is the school mascot in full costume.

September 24, 2003 · 1 min · Bryant

Embrace the new

Categories: Culture

Speaking of Quicksilver, Neal Stephenson has caused a Quicksilver wiki (original) to be generated. Clever man.

September 24, 2003 · 1 min · Bryant

Quashing classification

Categories: Culture

This is very sad. The Online Computer Library Center, who owns the Dewey Decimal System, is suing the Library Hotel. Apparently one’s not permitted to use the DDC without purchasing a license. Since Melvil Dewey first published the DDC in 1876, one would think that at least the early editions would have passed out of copyright, but perhaps there’s a wrinkle I don’t understand. It’s still a malicious, nasty lawsuit. “A person who came to their Web site and looked at the way (the hotel) is promoted and marketed would think they were passing themselves off as connected with the owner of the Dewey Decimal Classification system.” ...

September 21, 2003 · 1 min · Bryant

Vamp said were said

Categories: Culture

Haven’t seen Underworld yet, but it’s in the theaters. Here’s one take on the similarities between White Wolf’s mythos and the movie. Here’s someone disagreeing (original). Maybe I’ll get out to see it this afternoon and chime in with my own thoughts. I’m getting PACER access so I can read the court documents, but once you request access they send you the password via regular mail so it may be a couple of days yet before I can go hunting for minutae.

September 21, 2003 · 1 min · Bryant

FINALLY

Categories: Culture

I have no idea how Into The Night managed to show up on DVD without me noticing, but it’s about time. Best damned yuppie goes through hell movie ever.

September 15, 2003 · 1 min · Bryant

Of the people

Categories: Culture

Hey, kids, Warren Ellis is taking the pulse of the Internet again (original). He wants your picture. I sent him mine.

September 15, 2003 · 1 min · Bryant

Accident prone

Categories: Culture

Well, this is a dangerous site. Book Sale Finder is a lengthy list of upcoming book sales across the United States. Probably better avoided if you’re prone to book-buying, but it’s too late for me.

September 12, 2003 · 1 min · Bryant

Vampires in law

Categories: Culture

Yeah, I thought the first rush of news in the White Wolf v. Sony case was done too — but I was wrong (original). Sadly, I’ve missed the first court session. White Wolf wanted a restraining order to prevent Sony from releasing Underworld, but they got an expedited discovery period and a preliminary injunction hearing in a month. My favorite bit of the press release is the bit where the judge denies White Wolf the restraining order because they can’t post a big enough bond to protect Sony from potential damages.

September 12, 2003 · 1 min · Bryant

The story in question

Categories: Culture

I read lengthy messageboard threads so you don’t have to. The only useful post on the White Wolf vs. Sony RPG.net thread is a summary of the Nancy Collins story. Probably not a substitute for reading the damned story yourself, but for those us who don’t want to go digging through used bookstores for some old White Wolf anthologies, this is the next best thing.

September 12, 2003 · 1 min · Bryant