I’m always one for highlighting things I find are cool and/or hip.  Whether I actually am cool or hip I will let you decide that. Here’s my cool thing for the week. I used to work at a company called Turner Broadcasting Inc., who among all things great on TV had cartoon network.  It was a fun job where I got to immerse myself in the many properties that Turner had in their arsenal: Power Puff Girls, Dexter’s Lab, The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy… but one of the new shows that I discovered when i got there was called Ben 10. I had never heard of the show before Turner, which instantly put me on the average 10 year old’s “lameo” list.

In my year working there, I learned that Ben 10 is one of the most popular cartoons on this Planet and I ended up watching it in 3 different languages.  It was the go to gift for any boy (and the occasional girl) between the ages of 5 and 12.  It spawned a pretty good live action film, Ben 10: Race Against Time (directed by Alex Winter aka. Bill from the Bill & Ted’s… movies).  Well a new series with Ben as a teenager came out called Ben 10: Alien Force.  It was also a pretty good show, and i actually thought it took what was good from Ben 10 classic and just made it more intense.  Ben 10: Alien Force has just completed it’s third season.

After the success of the first film, we all knew it was a matter of time they were going to make a new film attached to the Alien Force.  Well look no further than November cause that is when, Ben 10 Alien Force: Alien Swarm is released. Bigger film, bigger action and more aliens. It looking pretty cool, check out the trailer below.

Also the title song has been released and it’s a pretty hard rockin’ song.  A immensely small part of me thinks it is too hard and the drummer’s cymbals are set too high, but it like it. It’s really drives pretty hard.  Has a very Nickelback feel to the song with a much poppier sounding singer.  That is my assessment, check it out.  It’s by a band called There For Tomorrow… I think they’re gonna gonna do just fine.

Keep checking back here for more cool stuff.  Who knows you might actually like some of it!

Cheers,

on july 17th, 2009, a new name was added to an already long 2009 obituary list.  walter cronkite, was one of the best journalists this world has ever seen.  a man at times who resembled grandpa munster, he had a voice that you just trusted.  he could be reading a dictionary and he would have your engrossed to every word he was saying.  in a day when color was a luxury on television and titles were a scarcity it relied heavily on the abilities of the anchor to tell the story.  and tell it he did.  though i do not have many memories of the man, he retired from cbs evening news in 1980, i still recall watching many clips of him on tv and just being mesmerised by his words.  it didn’t matter that i was too young to fully grasp what the man was saying, he had my attention, and as a kid anything that had my attention for longer than 3minutes was a good thing.

in a chair that has since housed dan rather and now katie couric, walter cronkite was a journalist who set an incredibly high standard of journalism and one that few will reach. some major events had transpired in his time at the news desk and though sometimes his emotions were apparent on air, it was obvious that he was always in control.

since he vacated the chair, journalism is longer just an anchor sitting at a desk give you the facts.  it is now dominated by constantly updated new computer technology,  graphics, music, sound effects and the occasional hologram.  but in his time, news was  just the news, and it was really given only by one man. i can only hope that future generations around the world, will know the greatness of this man.  walter cronkite, though you are gone, your voice still lives in our minds.  if i had even a smidge of the quality you possess, i think i would be pretty happy. “…and that’s the way it is.” cheers walter.

the following is his report on the death of president john f. kennedy after he was shot.

jonathan

Ed McMahon
Farrah Fawcett
Michael Jackson

Three people whom were all legends in their own right. One, never craved the limelight, but was in it by default.  One wanted the limelight and got it in so many different ways.  And one stole the limelight as a kid and never let it go until his death.

Ed McMahon, for 30 years was the other voice of the tonight show.  His “Heeeeeer’s Johnny” is as much an icon of american culture as the Tonight Show itself.  His banter with Carson were hilarious and he himself was always brilliant.  A Far cry from the Late Show’s Alan Kalter’s scrīpted jokes. Everyone is quick to a retrospective on Jackson and Fawcett.  In death as in life, McMahon always played second fiddle to the big stars, but he was a star in his own right too. That booking voice of his, will forever live on in my head.

“Good Morning Angels.”  “Good Morning Charlie!”.  As cool as the Charlie’s Angles movies were, I watched some of the original show’s episodes on syndication and instantly enjoyed it.  Though she quit only after one season.  She went on to be a sex symbol and an icon to millions.  But not to get typecasted, she proved that she wasn’t just a pretty face and showed she had the acting chops to back her up.  Even before she died, she still looked as beautiful as ever.

My first real experiences with the King of Pop was what my sister listened to in the 80s.  And I instantly was hooked on the grooves of the songs.  Just the way the bass line sounded.  I had never actually gotten into his singing at the time.  But you always knew right away when a Michael Jackson song was on the radio.  It would just hook you in with that opening beat.  As i learned to appreciate the distinctness of his voice, I grew in appreciation, fondness, and respect for the man.  Having quickly also searched out his music with the Jackson 5, i knew instantly that i was in the middle of an amazing generation of talent. (Michael Jordan was also in his prime) Minus all the controversies, and the plastic surgery, he was still amazingly talented and never stopped being an awesome entertainer. Thriller, Billie Jean, Bad, Beat It, You are Not Alone, We Are the World, Remember the Time, Black or White, Smooth Criminal, ABC, I’ll Be There… The list just keeps on going.  The music shall live on.

As i write this, i actually am tearing up.  We are always quick to judge and scrutinise these stars and we forget that they are humans too and are not infallible to father time.  I feel sad, that we always highlight his legal troubles, his scandals, and her fateful appearence on David Letterman, where everyone thought she was high. True to life, McMahon was in debt and sick for a while but noone really knew about it.

But on these last few days, we finally get to remember these three people for their body of work, and the sheer brilliance of their craft.

Ed McMahon: March 6, 1923 – June 23, 2009
Farrah Fawcett: February 2, 1947 – June 25, 2009
Michael Jackson: August 29, 1958 – June 25, 2009

James Liption will always ask his guests ten questions at the end of the interview.  I often think about what i would answer if i was posed with these 10 questions.

What would your answers be?

The questionnaire concept was originated by French television personality Bernard Pivot, after the Proust Questionnaire. The ten questions Lipton asks are:

1. What is your favorite word? bollocks, it a swear word and generally lots of fun
2. What is your least favorite word? mucus
3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? seeing someone better than me (it pushes me always to be better than i am)
4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? people that cannot meet a deadline and finish stuff late. cause if messes everything else
5. What sound or noise do you love? a really good solid drum groove.
6. What sound or noise do you hate? When a song is badly written
7. What is your favorite curse word? fucking.  it ads color to almost every adjective
8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? forensic cop (ala CSI)
9. What profession would you not like to do? windown washer on a tall building
10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? I did alright didn’t I?

What are you answers?

cheers,

jon

the following is taken from the indian economic times.  they are, in my eyes, normall pretty respectable publication, however they do have a lot of mistakes.  but this most recent one, published today, is one of my favorites.

“Tax havens: Will Hong Kong, Macau be named? China worries 4 Apr 2009, 0522 hrs IST, Saibal Dasgupta, TNN Print EMail Discuss Share Save Comment Text: BEIJING: After G-20 ’s decision to crack down upon tax havens. Chinese leaders are worried that Hong Kong and Macau will be included among the Money Financial crisis Competitive economies Ghosts of 1929 US mortgage crisis Five facts on stock falls list of tax havens. At stake is Hong Kong’s position as a safe place for parking funds by the world’s rich individuals and corporations. G-20 has asked OECD to report back on tax haven cooperation by November when finance ministers of these countries meet in Scotland. China on Friday said that Hong Kong and Macau, both special administered regions, should not be labelled as tax havens. Hong Kong, which has the largest stock exchange in Asia, allows foreigners great flexibility for brining in funds from across the world while Macau is the world’s biggest gambling centre in terms of revenues, having surpassed Les Vegas Strip two years back. “If put on the black list, these two cities will lose their special appeal and popularity among investors,” sources said. Hong Kong and Singapore, which also offer a lot of flexibility for money transfers from other countries, are major centres for private banking and wealth management. Thousands of rich people across the world use these centres to park their money.”

source: India Economic Times

you should check it now while they haven’t changed it…

i don’t know about you, but i’ve never been to the Les Vegas Strip.

cheers,