Phantom Reflections

What? No Posts! Is this still a blog?

I've been neglectful of Phantom Reflections. Real Honest Film has been my focus and with all the other stuff I'm doing It's hard for me to roll over here and write something clever or at least interesting. The fact of the matter is that I'm doing all my media blogging over there, which leaves this good ol' blog for sports, writing, computers, and generic rants about whatever. I don't like to talk too much about writing, because it's a personal thing and everyone has his own opinion on the subject. I like to talk cycling, but we're in winter for at least half of the planet. I guess I can still hang with the Aussies. I'll have to make a better effort to swing over here once and a while for a new post. All the action is at my new blog Real Honest Film, and some of the uber deep reflective stuff you used to see here is over there. But that's all. I need to get moving so I can catch a showing of I AM LEGEND.

iPhone, You Phone, We All Phone

Oh Steve Jobs, how you bewitch us with your wizardry. Your magic gifts us with amazing trinkets that rob the precious Franklins from our wallets. You cover our desks with shiny objects of wondrous beauty, bringing us music, pictures, and visual spectacle. You laugh at our feeble minds as we dash uncontrollably to our local Apple stores, grabbing up armfuls of this opium you like to call technology. We wait in line, out in the cold, the heat, the rain, and the snow just to be the first to buy whatever new piece of sorcery that you allowed passage from Cupertino.

Okay, I bought an iPhone. C’mon, $200 off? Seriously. Rome wasn’t built in a day, nor was it built for $399, so overall I think I got a good deal. And let me tell you it's as freaking awesome as everyone says. Setup was easy. The sync with my iMac was a piece of cake with my calendar, mail, and address book. I downloaded my favorite music, videos, and, of course, my copy of World Enough and Time. Custom ringtones are a snap with iTunes and pairing my Bluetooth headset was so simple I don’t even remember doing it.

Listen kids, Blackberries may be nice for the corporate/establishment set, but if you are in need of a smart phone, or just have some extra cash burning a hole in your pocket, the iPhone is definitely worth a look.

A ‘Tron’ Sequel is in the Works

In the seeming never ending sea of remakes, re-dos, do-overs, re-imaginings, and wholesale takeover of anything nostalgic, it seems that 1982’s Tron has been selected for something a little different. They are actually planning to leave the original alone and simply do a sequel. [via The Hollywood Reporter]

TORONTO -- Commercial director Joseph Kosinski is in final negotiations to develop and direct "Tron," described as "the next chapter" of Disney's 1982 cult classic. Sean Bailey is producing via the Live Planet banner, as is Steven Lisberger, who co-wrote and directed the original film.

Kosinski, who last month signed on to helm the remake of "Logan's Run" for Warner Bros. Pictures, will oversee the visual development of the project and have input on the script, which is being written by "Lost" scribes Eddie Kitsis and Adam Horowitz. Story details are being kept secret.

This sounds like it might kick some major butt. Not only is Kosinksi a big fan of Tron, but he’s also working with those who were involved in the first film. That means the sequel will remain true to its roots. What a brilliant idea! I’m looking forward to this one.

The Tour of Missouri Starts Tomorrow

Who needs the Tour de France? The world’s greatest cycling race (formerly) has become home to character assassination, career ruin, and just a bad time for the peloton. Sure, I tune in. Most cycling fans tune in, but then again over the top drama makes for great entertainment. Even so, I just want to watch a great race, not a soap opera.

But here comes the Americans to save the day (again... sigh). We did it with the Tour of California, been doing it with the Tour of Georgia, and now have added a third mini grand tour—the Tour of Missouri [via Velonews.com]:

The inaugural six-stage Tour of Missouri, the third and final of America's three "grand tours," kicks off Tuesday in Kansas City. The 600-mile course will travel a counter-clockwise route, ending on Sunday, September 16, in St. Louis. In between the state's largest cities are stops in Clinton, Springfield, Branson, Lebanon, Columbia, Jefferson City, and St. Charles.

Not only is St. Louis home to some of the best donuts in the world, it will now be host to a world-class cycling event. I wish I could be there. For all of us who had to endure two awful years at the Tour de France, it will be a welcome event to watch. It’s a fast, flat course that will favor the sprinters.

This is what the sport of cycling needs—new races. The old ones have become home to scandal and corruption. We need fresh ideas, new courses, and a new attitude. It’s getting to the point where I’d much rather watch the American mini-tours than the TDF.

What would be even better? Imagine Floyd Landis being vindicated on the final day of the race, or the day after. It would be a high point for cycling. It would be a symbol to all that the sport is rising from the depths of destruction back into the light of day.

Un Blogenzie

I can’t believe it’s been two weeks since I posted anything on this blog! I feel so ashamed at my uber lameness. Fact of the matter is that I’ve been heads down working on a project that’s taken all my energy. At the end of the day I don’t even want to write my name—it’s like that. Still, I find writing on this blog very therapeutic so I intend to do at least one post every day. The hiatus is over!

Back To School

It’s that time of year again when kids around the country have their brief taste of freedom ripped away and are returned kicking and screaming to school. It takes me back to my youth. When I was a kid and started to see all those “Back to School” commercials show up on TV at the end of June, the acid in my stomach would start to build. The thought of getting up hellaciously early just to sit on a hard plastic chair for hours on end gave me a feeling of dread. I wasn’t alone. All my friends felt the same way. School was something that we were forced to do and we looked forward to graduation as if it were some golden gate to liberty and ultimate happiness.

To be totally frank, I hated school. I hated every single hour of every single day of it from kindergarten through college. Mind you I did well; I graduated in the top of my class in high school and with honors from college. I had a lot of good friends, dated all the time, and had nice teachers. But the social aspects didn’t do it for me. I was bored. My mind wandered in class all the time. If there was a window I looked outside at all the cars passing by and thought about how lucky the people were to not have to sit in class all day. I got to be really good at B.S.ing my way through questions if I got asked. I don’t know how I did it, but I could pull something out of context and make it sound like I was actually paying attention. This skill came in handy when I was a corporate executive.

The books they made us read were so terrifyingly boring that I’m amazed that any GenXer even goes near a novel nowadays. Thankfully, I discovered Cliffs Notes sometime around age eleven. The schools didn't like us using these reading aids because they knew that we’d employ them to avoid reading such uplifting goodies like The Jungle. We all used them anyway, and a book report with enough referenced quotes from the actual novel could garner an A in most places. The “classics” were shoved down our throats like so much supposedly “good for you food” that tastes like bitter garbage. Luckily I read stuff on my own. Yes Virginia, I discovered reading long before schools told me that it was “mandatory” and I think that’s what saved me—that and the influence of my parents.

How did I survive school? I learned in about third grade that I wasn’t a classroom learner. I needed to do things on my own. I would always read ahead in the textbooks and do research on stuff that was of interest to me. History was my favorite subject, but the classes in school moved really slowly. Luckily cable and a good encyclopedia helped me fill in the blanks.

If I could have any advice for a student of today who feels as I did, it is to find your own way to learn. Don’t rely on the schools or anyone else to “give” you an education. Find out what you like and go after it. With the Internet getting access to information is easier than ever. A hungry mind can travel around the world with only a few clicks of the mouse. If you don’t like what they’re giving you to read in school, head to the library or bookstore and pick something out—anything. Paperbacks don’t cost much more than a grande latte and will last a whole lot longer, minus the calories.

Education is important—it’s too important to put it in the hands of someone else. Always keep learning; it doesn’t take a classroom to do it. You can learn everyday. It’s important to keep up the level of inspiration. Even though I ran screaming out of college as soon as all my credits were complete, I continue to learn to this day. It is my goal to learn something new everyday, whether it be a word, a historical story, an anecdote about someone I admire, a new way to construct a character, how to change the mass air flow sensor on my Jeep, or just how many calories are in that glass of beer I just drank.

Knowledge is what separates humans from all the other creatures on the planet. Never stop learning. You don’t want that dolphin to get the job ahead of you.

Movie Log: HOT FUZZ

I love British television, especially British comedy. It tends to be a little more sophisticated than the bathroom slapstick we get here in the States. The creators of SHAWN OF THE DEAD came up with a parody of all those U.K. murder mystery and cop shows. The movie is called HOT FUZZ and it’s out on DVD right now. Here is the summary from the distributor Rogue Pictures:

Nicholas Angel is the finest cop London has to offer, with an arrest record 400% higher than any other officer on the force. He's so good, he makes everyone else look bad. As a result, Angel's superiors send him to a place where his talents won't be quite so embarrassing - the sleepy and seemingly crime-free village of Sandford. Once there, he is partnered with the well-meaning but overeager police officer Danny Butterman. The son of amiable Police Chief Frank Butterman, Danny is a huge action movie fan and believes his new big-city partner might just be a real-life "bad boy," and his chance to experience the life of gunfights and car chases he so longs for. Angel is quick to dismiss this as childish fantasy and Danny's puppy-like enthusiasm only adds to Angel's growing frustration. However, as a series of grisly accidents rocks the village, Angel is convinced that Sandford is not what it seems and as the intrigue deepens, Danny's dreams of explosive, high-octane, car-chasing, gunfighting, all-out action seem more and more like a reality. It's time for these small-town cops to break out some big-city justice.

It’s Rated R, which seems to be a little harsh for this film. There are some gory parts, but nothing that we haven’t seen much in PG-13 movies lately. I wouldn’t be embarrassed watching this thing with my parents or in-laws, and that’s saying something.

If you need a movie that makes you laugh, and if you get British humor, HOT FUZZ is a great choice for your weekend DVD. I plan on watching it one more time before I take it back to the video store.

Camping Out for the iPhone

Link: Manhattan iPhone Watch: T minus 3.5 days | Tech news blog - CNET News.com
Click the link above to see the first people in line in Manhattan for the iPhone release on Friday. I have to give it to these guys. I can't deal with standing in line for more than five minutes for anything, let alone almost five days. But there they are, waiting for a cell phone.

It will be 112 today in Phoenix. I hope no one is insane enough to wait outside here, but you never know.

Chicken Bird Pants for Proto-Revolutionists

It's the blog post with no purpose. I haven't written since last week when I bitched about '24', and I didn't want to continue the downward spiral of whining and complaining. '24' seemed a bit more like itself this week with more Jack and Chloe, but Chloe seemed out of character a bit. I have no clue what happened to my favorite show this season. It kinda has me bummed out. For the past five years '24' broke new ground and kept me and a whole bunch of others glued to the small screen. It was like little one hour doses of Tom Clancy and David Baldacchi every week. Now I don't know what's going on, but I do know that I'm not alone. I think Joel Surnow should take time away from his other projects and whip the show back into shape. I don't know if Season 6 can be saved at this point. It makes me sad. I just hope the show that kept things "real" doesn't fall down the slippery slope of political correctness. That will be its end.

Yahoo announced that it was "going green." Okay, I'm not sure how you just decide to "go green." Buying a whole bunch of carbon offsets doesn't do it. The only way to truly "Go Green" is to promote and use clean sources of energy. We will continue to need more energy, especially with the emergence of India and China as economic superpowers, and promoting and advancing clean, renewable sources is the only way to truly "Go Green." Paying some company to supposedly plant trees in Ecuador because you feel guilty about flying your G5 to Paris for caviar doesn't do it. It's a feel good cocktail party conversation load of bull. Want to make a real difference? Invest some of the carbon offset money into research and development of SCIENTIFIC SOLUTIONS that will actually make a difference -- things like improved battery technology, solar power, wind power, cold fusion, bio-diesel, hybrid technologies, or really buff hamsters. The only way to truly "Go Green" and solve the problem is to bring these technologies to market as a better, more economical solution to fossil fuels. That is the challenge, and I'd rather see these big corporations investing their money into finding solutions instead of "feel good" short term publicity stunts. [End rant here.]

Other things: Can't wait for the iPhone; I really want an XBOX 360 so I can play HALO 3; I don't know why they remade HAIRSPRAY; my car is dirty; and try roasting a bulb of garlic in beer -- it's good.

My Favorite Science Fiction TV Shows of All Time

Since I blogged a few days ago about my favorite science fiction films in response to that poll by SFX magazine in Britain, I thought I would share my top ten favorite SF TV shows of all time. These are live action shows only. Animated SF is another story.

1. STAR TREK (Original Series)
Kirk, Spock, and McCoy -- the way it should be.

2. DR. WHO (Original Series)
I cut my teeth, literally, on this SF TV series from the U.K. When I was just a toddler my mom would put me down to watch. I never stopped watching and still try to catch original episodes when I can.

3. STAR TREK - THE NEXT GENERATION
Make it so.

4. BABYLON 5
I loved everything about the show, from the beautifully arced multi-year storyline, to the characters, to the actors. It was awesome.

5. STARGATE SG-1
Up until about Season 8 when we lost Richard Dean Anderson my wife and I would anxiously await every new episode. The series changed dramatically after Anderson left, and we haven't enjoyed it quite as much. But for eight awesome seasons, it makes number five.

6. HEROES
With episodes like 'Company Man' it's easy to see how this show made the list. It may make it up a few notches after the end of season one.

7. DR. WHO (New Series 2005)
Russell T. Davies did a great job updating The Doctor for the 21st century without losing any of the charm of the original.

8. FIREFLY
It was edgy back when edgy didn't mean crass. It was fun, engaging, and totally unexpected. It only lasted one season, but wow!

9. SPACE 1999
Everyone seemed to have forgotten about this show, and you never ever see it in reruns. I see a DVD purchase in my future.

10. BATTLESTAR GALACTICA (The Original Series)
I was a kid. It was on TV. It was right after STAR WARS came out. It starred Loren Greene. Nuff said.