Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Procrastination Station 10/10/12


Here's how I've been wasting my time online this week:

Remember Sneakers? The caper movie with Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, & Sydney Poiter?


 I LOVE THIS MOVIE.

Well, here's a fun little article by the actor who played the nerdy toy developer, Stephen Tobolowsky, reminiscing about the movie shoot.

- And here's a really long article about Cheers.

- Last night was the TV debut of Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along-Blog (!!), and lots of people in and behind the show (including Felicia Day and Nathan Fillion) live-tweeted fun facts and memories along with the broadcast:
If you missed it, you can see a handy roundup of all the tweets (plus pics and relevant video clips) on the official website here.

- I'm a huge fan of Adam Savage's "Man Cave" video series, where he talks about all his personal projects making movie props and cosplay outfits and whatnot. Really, I just love listening to someone who's passionate about making stuff, so the fact that it's Adam Savage talking is almost secondary. (Almost.) Anyway, if you haven't seen any yet, here's one to get you started:



- This article on the making of the game Limbo makes me want to go play it again. If you don't usually like video games, give it a read. I'm betting you'll be intrigued enough to try this one! (via SuperPunch

Oh, and that's the perfect excuse to show you some fabulous Limbo/Portal mash-up art:
By DeviantArt member Zed

The artist later went back and removed the slice of cake, which is a shame; that was my favorite part! (Yes, even though it's a lie.)

- For extreme DizGeeks only: this hour-long live show on the history of Epcot (including an interview with the original DreamFinder!) was held in the VIP lounge at the Norway pavilion. (Dudes. I didn't even know there was a VIP lounge in Norway!)

- After a bunch of recommendations for you readers, I finally tracked down some episodes of Face Off, the special effects reality competition, and AAAA! SO COOL!! 

I like that it doesn't have the usual drama and shrill arguments of most reality shows, too - or at least the episodes I've seen so far haven't. Anyway, you can watch the latest five shows for free on your computer here on Hulu. (I just wish they had more - or better yet, that Netflix would pick it up.)

- And finally, some of these "13 Brilliant Pumpkin Carving Hacks" really are brilliant. (Do you guys know what you're carving this year? I'm still deciding. :/)

Ok, I think that's enough procrastinating to get you through your Wednesday.  'Til next time!

45 comments:

  1. face off is having a marathon of this entire season on the 16th if anyone wants to catch it. :)

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  2. Aaaaah!!! I LOVE Sneakers. Can't wait to read that one...

    And Face Off looks awesome. I'll have to show my 9-year-old son that. I'm convinced he would make an awesome special effects make-up artist someday. No pressure, or anything. ;) (He currently has no interest in make-up, just a really awesome creative mind and an appreciation for the cool crap in movies.)

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  3. I'm SO glad you were finally able to sneak a peek at "Face Off"--I knew you guys would enjoy it.

    @AimeeWrites: My 12-year-old son loves this show.

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  4. If folks like the article about Cheers, they should check out Ken Levine's blog - lots of Cheers stuff there! http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/

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  5. Try the channels websites, usually they have episodes for those that missed them the first time around.

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  6. Face off = awesome! The drama is between the make-up artist and their creativity vs the skills/time they have to finish. The only big drama usually happens if they're teamed up with someone, which is few and far between.

    LOVE Sneakers! My parents and I will quote "My voice is my passport..." and "Too many secrets..." all the time.

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  7. Face Off is one of my favourite shows!! Have you seen the episode they did for Dishonored? The Tim Burton episode!? The Star Wars episode!?!? THEY'RE ALL SO GOOD.

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  8. Wow, I really figured I was the only Sneakers fan out there. Great cast, great writing, good plot, what more do you need!

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  9. Gah, all this stuff, so much love. Sneakers remains one of my favorite all time movies.

    I'm fairly certain (like half of the internet is, I'm sure) that if but we lived closer, we would be BFF, and we could sit in a room together and watch things and not talk and just type away on our computers. Yup.

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  10. Face Off looks awesome! I'll have to dig up some episodes and take a look! I am obsessed with creative cosmetics.

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  11. 13? There are only 9 pumpkin hacks! I understand, information overload, I get it all the time! At work I carry on about 3 conversations and do no less than 5 things all at the same time. I swear I NEVER get them crossed up. I swears it. [Gollum voice]

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  12. Ahhh, Sneakers. Years ago when I woke up at 1am, beginning labor with my second baby, I went downstairs and watched Sneakers. I was waiting for it to be a decent hour to wake up my husband and call my in-laws to come stay with out 2 year old so I could go to the hospital. I loved that movie before, but now it has an even more special place in my memory! :o)

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  13. I love love love Face off! Makes me want to go crazy on my halloween costume this year. Not that I can do anything even near the worst one they make...but still very inspiring. Did you see the Dr Seuss one last nite?

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  14. The Fifth Element is my all-time fave movie, and I'm a cosplay freak who built the entire diva Plavalaguna outfit from scratch, so watching Adam Savage talk about his labour to reproduce another amazing part of that film just fills my geek heart with glee! Thanks!

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  15. I still love "Sneakers." I grew up near the Bay Area and knew the roads and bridges they were driving pretty well. I had just moved to Florida when the movie came out and watching it made me so homesick! And I've even used "SeaTec Astronomy" as a password at one point. Aah, memories!

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  16. Caution: the pumpkin keg looks very cool but raw pumpkin can do nasty things to your digestive processes. I once used a scooped out pumpkin as a tureen to serve pumpkin soup. It looked great but none of us made it to work the next morning as we couldn't get far from a bathroom all day.
    How to make your friends remember your dinner party...

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  17. sneakers is one of my all time favorite movies...robert redford and river phoenix!! and the plot really makes you think.

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  18. I love Sneakers! David Strathairn (Whistler) did such a great job in that role. One of my favorite parts is when Marty (Robert Redford) has to guide Whistler while he is driving the van.

    Great movie, and highly underrated in my opinion. All the actors did a wonderful job.

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  19. I introduced my fiance (who I'm slowly and successfully geekifying, mostly thanks to Doctor Who) to Dr. Horrible last night. Heehee. I think he enjoyed it.

    Also, my favorite pumpkins to do are geeky ones--2 years ago, I carved the Ring inscription from Lord of the Rings, and last year I did a TARDIS. I think this year, I'd like to do the Mockingjay symbol from The Hunger Games, mostly because that would look awesome with a fiery glowing pumpkin.

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  20. I Love Sneakers too!! I knew there must be someone else who liked it :)

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  21. Did you see the new Steampunk Disney items coming soon - they were featured on the Disney Blog yesterday?

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  22. Oooooh! Thanks for the Epcot link! Going to grab some popcorn and enjoy that tonight :)

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  23. Face Off is one of the best reality shows, IMHO. The "cutthroat" people who are nasty to others get eliminated early and just the good guys are left. And the talent, oy! Love that show.

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  24. I'd just like to put in a good word for using a power drill on your pumpkin. Not only is it really fast, its also incredibly fun to get pumpkin shards all over the place (just run an extension cord out into the yard or something). I carved a spooky tree that way - just picture what you want as a silhouette and don't over complicate things with different size drill bits!

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  25. I am SO HAPPY that you are finally watching FaceOff! Such a great show and some of the techniques/ideas they use are crazy inventive!

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  26. love that actor! He has a new memoir out...
    http://www.npr.org/2012/10/03/162223342/tobolowsky-an-actors-life-low-on-the-totem-pole

    I will always remember him as Ellenor's boyfriend on "The Practice" I even saw him on the NYC subway once...creepy!

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  27. After years of lurking, I have to pop into the comments to suggest (nay, demand!) that you check out Stephen Tobolowsky's podcast The Tobolowsky Files. It's AMAZING, and I suspect, right up your alley.

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  28. Stephen Tobolowsky has a FABOO podcast called The Tobolowsky Files. It's basically just him reading stories very much like that article. Some are about his movies, a bunch are about his life, but all of them are ridiculously entertaining.

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  29. Sneakers: The scene in which the blind character (been a while since I have seen it) drives the van across the parking lot - I used to work in that building.

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  30. I read the Cheers article last week, but was stunned that they never once mentioned the theme song. You can't talk about Cheers and not talk about the theme. Gary Portnoy and Judy Hart Angelo deserve to be recognized for their part in making Cheers one of the best shows ever.

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  31. I enjoy Sneakers too! I love how he described the "party" noises and it was ducks! And that Chinese restaurant singer cracks me up with his LeRoy Brown!
    I lived in the Bay Area for more than 50 years, so loved the familiar sites.
    One thing for those with kids. There is one part that was not what I thought as child friendly, and I had to mute that part for years when we watched! (What he is told to say when he is repeating what he is told, in reference to oral sex.)

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  32. 'Sneakers' is why I still love David Straitharn despite how creepy he was in 'Dolores Claiborne'. I'm still so thankful this movie came first :)

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  33. Last year I carved a pumpkin with the "Firefly" logo, which turned out surprisingly well. If we weren't moving halfway across the country the week after Halloween this year, I would be attempting a Mockingjay, but that plan has been put on hold until next year.

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  34. I really wanted to read the whole Cheers article but it's a little too long for my busy life at the moment.

    I am a little too young to have watched Cheers on the first go round, but it has always fascinated me a little bit. I am named after a character as my birth caused my father to miss an episode.

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  35. Fussy reader here: it's 'special effects', not 'affects'.

    I'm sorry, I totally enjoyed that post. It's just that I'm an editor and suffer from obsessive-compulsive correctionism. Don't hate me:).

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  36. I love Sneakers too! Despite the technology changes I think it stands up well today.

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  37. @ Regina - Boops. Thanks for catching that! Fixed now.

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  38. Loved "Sneakers'' but mostly for David Strathairn, who is just an amazing actor. He's been in a lot of John Sayles' films such as "Limbo," and "Passion Fish" and "Matewan" and others. And of course, he garnered a Best Actor nomination for his portrayal of Edward R. Murrow in "Good Night, and Good Luck." He's just terrific.
    OK, done swooning.

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  39. Face Off is awesome! I got hooked with the first season, there is another show called Hot Set from the creators of Face Off, where two set designers have 3 days to create a set based on a theme, they have limited resources/funds and only a certain square footage to work with, I'm obsessed with that show as well. It's on right after Face Off on Tuesday nights. Love them!

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  40. Lovin' Face Off. On nearly every episode, someone gets terribly discouraged or behind and one or more of their competitors step up with advice, a hug, or even some of their own time to help crack or clean out a mold. This is what competition should be about--doing the best you can do, being appreciative of the opportunity, and being just as happy for a competitor to succeed as you are for yourself. As someone else pointed out, the only drama happens when two people with disparate visions of the goal are teamed up, and even then it's minor compared to so many other reality competition shows (the folks on Ink Masters are just evil-mean!)

    You might like Hot Set as well. It's a competition show for building and dressing movie sets in 3 days. I'm amazed at the what they can do in such a short time with a very small team.

    I watch both of these shows both to appreciate the competitors' talent and artistic vision, but also for tips and tricks for my own costumes and projects!

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  41. Watching Adam and Jamie geek out is just about the cutest thing ever. I have a bit of a geek-girl crush on them both.

    Also, totally want to try a mockingjay pumpkin now. I'm not sure if my ten year old will let me get out of doing my annual dragon, though.

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  42. Thanks for promoting our live show! We had an absolute blast talking about Epcot to 100 liked minded Disney fans.

    We're already planning our next one!

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  43. Like George said above, glad you enjoyed our live show!!!! :) Yay Disnerds!

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  44. We love Face Off, AND I just found out that they renewed it for another season! YAY! What's really cool is that the people who win are people you are actually rooting for because they are SO good.

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