In Appreciation of : Dark Night Returns Part 2

2 weeks or so ago, I rented the Dark Knight Returns (Part 1) after listening to a glowing review from Kevin Smith on a podcast.

I knew the movie was based on a Frank Miller book, but I never had any interest in reading it because I thought the book was based on Batman at an advanced age who couldn’t be a crime fighter anymore.

While that’s partially true…  Bruce Wayne is sorta thrusted into the role of Batman in his mid 50’s to take on group of bad guys known as “the Mutants” 

Batman prevails but he doesn’t get to take off the cowl because the Joker decides to bust out of jail to confront the Batman.

I thought the entire second part was going to be Batman VS the Joker.  Much to my surprise, Batman defeats the Joker in the second act and the movie wraps up with an epic battle between Batman & Superman.

I can’t believe how hard this movie brought the goods.  Please drop everything you’re doing and see this immediately. 

Songs From the Black Hole (Operation Space Opera)

image

Prior to recording the seminal album, Pinkerton, Weezer began work on a concept album under the name “Songs from the Black Hole”.

 A “Space Rock Opera” that was going to reference 3 guys, 2 girls and a robot.  The album was supposed to be analogy of preparing to go on the road to support an album.

Over the past 20 years, Rivers Cuomo has slowly begun to leak recorded demos/notes/sheet music to fans who have wanted to reassemble the discarded works and possibly piece together one of the most ambitious efforts in alt-rock history.

Fast Forward to 2013…  

I don’t know what possessed me to look up Songs From the Black Hole on the internet, but I discovered that a group of Super Fans, set out on an ambitious project to cover SFTBH from beginning to end.  They pieced together recorded demos/sheet music provided by Rivers and self-produced an album of what could have been.

You can download the album (for free)  by visiting: http://operationspaceopera.bandcamp.com

I cringed a little after hearing the first few tracks… but I found myself getting lost in how incredible the gesture was to put this thing together.

Highly recommend it to anyone who is a Weezer fan.

PS - you need to really download the whole album and listen to it seamlessly to appreciate it.

In Appreciation of: Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

image

Wanted to quickly swoon over a video game I purchased last week called Ni no Kuni.

I didn’t have a lot of time to play it because of chores and work to do from home…  but after playing the game for about 20 minutes, I can safely say that it’s the most beautiful game I have ever played in my life.

I haven’t played the game long enough to really know much about the plot… I know that the central character is a boy(Oliver), who goes by the name Ollie and he has a friend Phillip who has a machine of some kind we’re about to start up after our parents go to bed.

That’s where I stopped the game.  I needed about 15 minutes to sit on my couch and reflect on how far games have come in my lifetime.  I’m possibly playing the game I have always dreamed of and I can’t believe this game could land somewhere between my two all-time favorite games: Final Fantasy VII and Zelda: Ocarina of Time.

I had hoped to have a little more to gush about… but I won’t have time to play this until the weekend.

Quick note to friends who may pick this up soon:  Be prepared to allow the game to install an update (English text) that takes about 15 minutes before you get to play the game.  Its well worth the wait tho’.

image

Grapple

Discovered a brand (read: not culture) of Apples the other day called “Grapples”.   An apple (fuji) that has been engineered to taste like Grapes.

The taste is “synthetic” but especially “grape” if you allow yourself to slow chew the flesh and skin.

Want to quickly plug it to friends who may want to give it try.  They’re pricey, but it’s a good fruit to share with someone.

Senorina Lopez (1936 - 2013)

Received word early Tuesday morning that my Grandmother had passed away in her home in Mexico City.

Her passing wasn’t exactly unexpected…  she suffered a severe stroke in early 2012 and my immediate family has been quietly working through the many emotions one endures when a keystone member is lost.

Regrettably, I did not have a chance to see her in the last 12 months.

If memory serves me correct, I saw her in my late teens and there was a weekend in 2006 where she came up to visit my Mom in South Texas, but I had just moved to San Antonio and we put off seeing each other for another time…

After making some arrangements at work, I drove down to my parents house w/my sister and her daughter to spend time with my Mom as she mourns the passing of her mother.

I can tell that my mom is working through a number of emotions inside that will one day possibly come out through dialogue.  It’s been great to just hang back and see her play with her Granddaughter and hear her tell me stories about how my Grandma used to spend time with both my Sister and I when we were toddlers.

I spent a lot of time on my drive down yesterday thinking about my extended visits at her home in Mexico City.  I thought about her love of birds and helping her feed what seemed like 60 various types of parrots she kept as pets.  

What I remember most was this unique fragrance she had that I could only describe as “La Doña Güera"  an affectionate nickname that she never quite cared for.

That and this song by Cafe Tacvba that has always reminded me of her.  

Noe Hernandez 1978 - 2013

http://september29th.com/deadpool

Source (AP)

(AP) MEXICO CITY - A Mexican race walker who won a silver medal in the 20-kilometer men’s walk at the 2000 Sydney Olympic games has died, about two weeks after he was shot in the head while at a bar in Mexico City.

Race walker Noe Hernandez had been recovering at home since the Dec. 30 shooting, which cost him his eyesight.

The head of Mexico’s Olympic medalists association says Hernandez’s family confirmed that he died Wednesday.

Association president Daniel Aceves says Hernandez appears to have suffered a heart attack, but he says an autopsy is planned to determine whether his death was related to the shooting.

Hernandez was 35. Following the shooting, he told reporters the attack appeared to have been premeditated.

Apple A Day Project

Started up an Apple A Day Project at the beginning of January and can use your help!

You can learn more about how by clicking here: Apple A Day Project

I’ve also made it a link on the main page where I’ll continue posting observations I make as I sample new Apple Cultures.  Be sure to check in every now and again to see how I’ve updated the poster.