Classic video...

I just randomly ran across this and haven't seen it in years, but love the song and the video:

Pearl Jam, Do The Evolution'

Happy Birthday Boss Man

OK, I know it's not until tomorrow, but technically tomorrow is only 1 hour away. Anyhow, just thought I'd send a shout out to Mannie to wish him a happy birthday!! Make those lab members take you somewhere good for lunch:) Enjoy and have a great day!

60's TV still has value

Here's an episode from Star Trek (the original series) called "Let That Be Your Last Battlefield" that every American who might vote for McCain this fall just because of race should watch. It's a classic episode as powerful today as when it was first aired:


Watch CBS Videos Online

One can hear the crickets chirping...ANYONE out there?

Well I guess I'll join B in questioning of any Liscum Lab members (present or former) aside from he and I ever use the Internet? The blog has been he and I having private little conversations and jabs at each other for too long now. Time for some new voices, hell even a comment. Come on Jo I know you get emails when a new post goes up...Renee has an excuse (I read her blog so I know!).

On the (good) chance that B is the only one reading this I have another Fu movie recommendation: Furious Slaughter. Another Old Skool Fu flick, this one starring Jimmy Wang Yu (the One-Armed Swordsman himself - although he's neither one armed or a swordsman in this particular movie). This is not an easy flick to find but if you can it's really quite good as 70's Fu goes - the story (and English dub) are good, the lead actor is perfect in this role, and the fights are plentiful and bloody (if not exceptionally fast or wire-fu). I posted a review on my HK Flix page (yes my screen name there is Porky Lo Meng, I'll explain to anyone who wants to know why). If you can't find this one and still want a decent Fu flick ( or a more modern one) try "Transporter 2" - very good action, and from a non-Asian dude!

NEW - 2008 Lab T-shirt

Hey the 2008 Liscum Lab T-Shirt is ready to go to the printers. We need a head count (#'s and sizes) for anyone who wants one this week. Like to place the order by Fri 13 June.

If you want to see the design go to link Liscum Lab '08. We thought this design might appeal to not only the current members but some of our previous members!

Everybody was Kung Fu fighting...another movie recommendation

OK, I'm clearly locked in a Fu mood lately so I've got another movie recommendation for ya'll that is in the Fu genre. This one is great for a whole set of reasons that aren't in common (generally) with my most recent recommendation - Jet Li's "Hero". The current recommendation, "Contour", is NOT a cinematic masterpiece - hell it's not even up to the quality of Ron Widbin's Rockbridge/Hickman produced stuff on the Columbia public school channel - nor is the acting high quality (again think high school plays)...BUT, it kicks Hero to the curb for pure adrenaline-charged nearly constant kick arse Fu action!! This is some of the most impressive Fu action I've seen in years.

"Contour" was made by a bunch of martial artists and stunt people who call themselves simply: The Stunt People. These are some crazy, but VERY talented mo-fo's. Anyhow, these guys & dolls have been making Martial Arts/Fu/Action shorts for some time now and in 2006-07 produced and released their first full-length feature film - "Contour". Eric Jacobus, one of the founders of The Stunt People, wrote, directed and starred in "Contour". For those of you who know of Ed Wood Jr and his films there is some similarity between Contour and Wood films in there shoestrng budgets, poor acting and horrible scripts - but that's where the similarities end. If Wood could kick arse like Jacobus he'd not be simply remembered as the Worst Director of all time but the Worse Director of all time that no one would dare tell that to for fear of getting their head crushed. Anyhow, "Contour's" plot is thin at best - hell I can't rightly tell you what the plot is - but it's Ok since the plot and character developments are just means to connect the various awesome fight scenes. This movie is one fight to the next, with many lasting so long one will get tired just watching these guys/girls beat eachother relentlessly. The fight scene near the end of the movie is nearly 20 minutes in length and is a masterpiece. Nevermind that all the characters in the movie are played by a handful of people (they wear masks of various types, many times causing me to laugh out loud at how stupid it all looks, to shield that they are in fact the same guys/girls); the entire budget of the movie (~$5000) was likely spent on water (for obvious rehydration), food, and medical bills [there is no way it was spent on much more]; and that NO ONE in the cast can act (Jacobus is a pretty decent Fu version of Bruce Campbell - even looks a little like him) - this is simply a tour de force of Fu action. You will wince 30-30 times I gaurantee! The DVD also has a docu on the making of "Contour" and The Stunt People, as well as several shorts and training pieces - all quite amazing. I highly recommend it - but don't expect great (or even good...mark that decent) cinema, you need to watch this knowing it's low budget for film, but as high a 'budget' for action as anything out there.

See some reviews of "Contour" at HK Flix

Search out this movie for rental...B has my copy so maybe he'll respond to this post after he watches it?

Movie Recommendation

If you haven't seen the Jet Li movie "Hero" - SEE IT!!! It's not simply a kung fu or action movie. In fact, while the fight scenes are impressive - well except the one that got so much hype in the HK Fan circles between Li and Donnie Yen (this one is OK but not as great as I expected) - they are not the anchor of the Film. Note that I used Film with a capital F - this is fine cinema. The director, Zhang Yimou, is a veteran HK director who specializes in highly stylized dramas. He didn't skimp on his stylized vision with "Hero". WOW! The cinematography is stunning, the sets and action choreography are intertwined with the camera work to produce simple beautiful images. Yimou's use of color and backgrounds is breathtaking. Three examples stand out: 1) the 'red' fight between Maggie Cheung (aka, Flying Snow) and up-and-coming starlet Ziyi Zhang (aka, Moon) in the leaves; 2) the 'green' fight between Tony Leung (aka, Broken Sword) and Daoming Chen (aka, the King) in the palace; and 3) the 'blue' fight between Leung and Li (aka, Nameless) over the mountain lake. If you are an old skool Fu fan (like myself) be aware that this movie is 'wire-fu' all out, but it's done well. I felt the 'wire-fu' in "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was a bit too much, but in "Hero" it was more tolerable, and in large part this was due to Yimou's asthetic senses. "Hero" is a great story, told well through both dialog and visuals. This is a movie that both Fu fans and non Fu fans can enjoy. Watch it with or without the English dub (which is quite well done), but watch it - really watch it. You will be impressed. HK cinema kicks Hollywood to the curb!

Cool seminar...

As an academic and science geek I go to many seminars (although fewer now that I'm the "manny" for my kids afer school), but tonight I had the pleasure of attended a really different but thoroughly enjoyable seminar (at it was for me). No not scientific in any way, rather it satified my love for Second World War history; Sir Ian Kershaw was on campus to give a lecture on 'How and Why the Nazi's Fought on to the Bitter End'. Kershaw is a renowned historian/author who is a Professor in Sheffeld UK. His talk was truly captivating (again for me) and I guess all my reading has been doing some good because I wasn't at all lost in the mix of dates, personalities, political discussions, etc. I found it quite intellectually stimulating. Here's hoping MU gets a few more greats like Kershaw in the near future (apparently he has a friend at MU and has been here before a couple times - although I suspect he is also attending the WWII Conference at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans 10-12 April - I wish I could go!!).