Work work.
Been busy working on numerous projects over the past few days. Editing a dramatic short, editing commercials and promo videos, and then yesterday… filmed the premiere screening event of Tommy Tang’s new Thai travel and cooking PBS tv series! Haha, it was pretty fun… wish I had some of the free Singha beer though! =D Pictures follow:
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Tags: food, work
The Departed… I MEAN– Departures
So tonight’s movie was “Departures”, or “Okuribito”, the Academy Award-winner for Best Foreign Language Film.
Again… not a review, but a reaction…
I think I could sum it up like this: I thought UP was touching — and then this movie came along. Man, I haven’t had tears actually stream down my face in years. Streaming! Felt a little embrassing at first (MEN DON’T CRY! *puffs up chest*), but I thought ‘who cares?’ and forgot all about feeling insecure.
Death is a very touchy subject and something that really hits me deep inside my gut. A lot of people get the wrong idea about death and funeral ceremonies. There have been a few movie reviews that call Departures depressing, and one of the workers at the theatre’s customer service desk even echoed that remark. But really, it’s not about sorrow and feeling sad, but celebrating their life. I like to invoke a quote from my Grandpa at one of our relative’s birthdays when he said, “It’s not about how many breaths you take, but how many times your breath gets taken away.” The movie touches on this theme and shows the contrast of people’s association of death with uncleanliness with the beauty of a person’s life.
Some people might say that it’s a mediocre plotline, and I admit that’s it’s not very complex. However, Departures hit it’s emotional marks perfectly, and when it does, that’s the highest form of connection you can get with your audience. After all, it’s that sort of thing that made me want to get into film in the first place.
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Tags: movies, review
UP UP and awayyy!
(SPOILER ALERT: I talk about some aspects of the movie “Up” in here, and I don’t know how much into detail I will get… so just a warning! Oh yeah, and it’s not really a review, but a reaction!)
So I just got back from a screening of Pixar’s Up at Arclight Sherman Oaks. We originally had tickets for the 3D-enhanced version of the movie, but an accident on the 101 prevented us from making it on time. =/ It’s okay though, as we traded them in for a regular showing, and I got some of my money back (which I should be thrifty with anyway!) So yes, there were a few ‘annoyances’ in the theater (read: giggling stoners next to us), but I zoned it out for the most part.
The pre-show short, “Partly Cloudy” was very cute, and gave me a few chuckles. Cloud texture was pretty cool, but otherwise… it was okay. Not much plot, but tons of cuteness.
Now “Up”… amazing once again. Honestly, and I hate to admit it, but I was tearing up within the first 20 minutes. I’m telling you, this montage had my eyes squinting to try and dam up the water wells! From the advertisements and trailers, I kinda felt that Karl wasn’t someone who I could relate with… I mean… all he did was grunt and say “NO!” But the movie is totally different, and you can pretty much click with him from the beginning. The rest of the movie was quiality Pixar work as always. I really do want to see the 3D version as I can imagine a great number of shots to that OOH level, but the regular version was perfectly fine as it is. I think the only problem I have with this movie is…
***SPOILERS?!***
Charles Muntz’s character development. Yeah, sure, he wants to prove himself to the world. But come on! Implying that he kills people for this? And then he leaves Russell to drop out of his dirigible?! Crazy.
***END SPOILERS?!***
Otherwise, I loved it! And as my twitter says, “Always inspired after these kinds of movies to keep on doing what I’m doing.”
Goodnight!
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Tags: movies, review
US lab invents a *SUPER LASER*
Check it out, this is unbelievable! This opens up a whole new world of possible technological advances.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090530/ts_alt_afp/usitresearchmilitarylaser_20090530082418
SAN FRANCISCO (AFP) – A US weapons lab on Friday pulled back the curtain on a super laser with the power to burn as hot as a star.
The National Ignition Facility’s main purpose is to serve as a tool for gauging the reliability and safety of the US nuclear weapons arsenalbut scientists say it could deliver breakthroughs in safe fusion power.
“We have invented the world’s largest laser system,” actor-turned-governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said during a dedication ceremony attended by thousands including state and national officials.
“We can create the stars right here on earth. And I can see already my friends in Hollywood being very upset that their stuff that they show on the big screen is obsolete. We have the real stuff right here.”
NIF is touted as the world’s highest-energy laser system. It is located inside the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory about an hour’s drive from San Francisco.
Equipment connected to a house-sized sphere can focus 192 laser beams on a small point, generating temperatures and pressures that exist at cores of stars or giant planets.
NIF will be able to create conditions and conduct experiments never before possible on Earth, according to the laboratory.
A fusion reaction triggered by the super laser hitting hydrogen atoms will produce more energy than was required to prompt “ignition,” according to NIF director Edward Moses.
“This is the long-sought goal of ‘energy gain’ that has been the goal of fusion researchers for more than half a century,” Moses said.
“NIF’s success will be a scientific breakthrough of historic significance; the first demonstration of fusion ignition in a laboratory setting, duplicating on Earth the processes that power the stars.”
Construction of the NIF began in 1997, funded by the US Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA).
“NIF, a cornerstone of the National Nuclear Security Administration’s effort to maintain our nuclear deterrentwithout nuclear testing, will play a vital role in reshaping national security in the 21st century,” said NNSA administrator Tom D’Agostino.
“This one-of-a-kind facility is the only place in the world that is capable of providing some of the most critical technical means to safely maintain the viability of the nation’s nuclear stockpile.”
Scientists say that NIF also promises groundbreaking discoveries in planetary science and astrophysics by recreating conditions that exist in supernovas, black holes, and in the cores of giant planets.
Electricity derived from fusion reactions similar to what takes place in the sun could help sate humanity’s growing appetite for green energy, according to lab officials.
“Very shortly we will engage in what many believe to be this nation’s greatest challenge thus far, one that confronts not only the nation but all of mankind – energy independence,” said lab director George Miller.
The lab was founded in 1952 and describes itself as a research institution for science and technology applied to national security.
“This laser system is an incredible success not just for California, but for our country and our world,” Schwarzenegger said.
“NIF has the potential to revolutionize our energy system, teaching us a new way to harness the energy of the sun to power our cars and homes.”
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Tags: news, technology
Hello, World!
Hello, Cyrus here. Just thought this might look prettier than the previous “temp” page.
Maybe I’ll even post every so often, eh? 
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