Koo’s Corner

I always keep an eye out for solid commercials as I hate scrambling to pick one, when its time to select a Commercial of the Week. This week I found myself impressed by a pair of new Nike commercials.

I have always enjoyed the vast majority of Nike’s commercials and found the below ads to be up to par. Both mix exciting imagery and action with intense and suspenseful music.

The timing of these commercials is also important, as lots of Americans will be tuning in to watch March Madness, the start of baseball, and the home stretch of the NHL and NBA seasons. With winter turning into Spring, its very plausible that sports fans tuning into their favorite team may decide upon watching these commercials that its time to buy a new work out outfit or pair of shoes.

My Better is Better

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw1t2_9CrN4]

No Cinderellas

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=CPK8NJhKbpc]

I tend to keep an eye out for interesting movies in production or slated to be coming out soon.

A lot of movies I tend to enjoy are adaptions and interpretations of real life events. 2 recent ones that come to mind are Into the Wild (great sound track) and American Gangster.

With that in mind I wanted to call attention to a handful of interesting movies on the horizon that are based on real events.

21

Details: Coming out at the end of March. Stars Kate Bosworth, Laurence Fishburne, and Kevin Spacey

What its about: Retelling of the MIT Black jack team who beat casinos all over the world

Milk

Details: “Milk is the current title of the upcoming biopic of Harvey Milk, directed by Gus Van Sant. The film, one of two projects about the assassinated San Francisco city supervisor and gay rights activist stars Sean Penn in the title role and is currently in production” Wikipedia

What Its about: “The Moscone-Milk assassinations were the killings of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and openly gay San Francisco Supervisor Harvey Milk, who were shot and killed in San Francisco City Hall by former Supervisor Dan White on 27 November 1978. White was angry that Moscone refused to re-appoint him to his just-resigned Board of Supervisor’s seat, and that Milk heavily lobbied against the re-appointment. Milk was (according to Time magazine) “the first openly gay man elected to any substantial political office in the history of the planet”, leading to speculation from within the LGBT community as well as media and political circles that his assassination was a hate crime.” wikipedia

The Argetine

Details: “The Argentine is a film about Che Guevara directed by Steven Soderbergh starring Benecia Del Toro”

What Its about: “The Argentine will focus on the Cuban revolution, from the moment Fidel Castro, Guevara and other revolutionaries landed on the Caribbean island, until they toppled the dictatorship of Fulgencio Batista”

Valkrie

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NPoZWP2738k]

Details: Bring Singer directs, Tom Cruise stars.

What Its about: “The film is based on the July 20 Plot of German army officers to assassinate Adolf Hitler. Cruise will portray the leader of the plot, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg.”

Escobar and Killing Pablo

Details: There are two competing movies titled “Escobar” and “Killing Pablo” about Columbian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar. The popularity of Entourage is noted as a reason why the films are being made.

“This is a great project about a fascinating man who took on the system. I think I have to thank, Scarface, and maybe even Ari Gold.” Oliver Stone on Escobar

What its about: Escobar will focus on Escobar’s life while Killing Pablo will chronicle the Columbian government’s efforts to bring him down.

Frost/ Nixon

Details: Directed by Ron Howard starring Kevin Bacon and Oliver Platt

What Its about: “The film focuses on a series of interviews that David Frost (Michael Sheen) conducted with Richard Nixon (Frank Langella) in 1977.”

I absolutely love my Iphone and have recommended it to a lot of friends have gone onto positive experiences with it as well.

Initially I had some gripes, but over time the various software upgrades alleviated most of my issues. However there is still one glaring defect that mocks me on a weekly basis.

The Iphone does not get MMS (Multimedia messaging Services) messages like pictures and video. For whatever reason its just not part of the functionality of the Iphone.

Initially this really didn’t bother me that much as MMS messages sent to me could be accessed via a website called viewmymessage.com. Whenever a picture or video text message came my way I would get a message alerting me and telling me the necessary credentials to use on the website to view the sent message.

The only problem. Viewmymessage.com doesn’t really work. The majority of time the website relays the following message after a lengthy delay.

A quick Google search shows that the problem is pretty consistent and widespread.

Apple forums excerpts below

The Wire may not be my favorite show on television, but it was by far the best and I will miss it dearly.

Shows like The Office, Entourage, and the Sopranos may have entertained me more or warranted repeat viewings with my friends, but in my opinion they were nowhere near the brilliance of The Wire.

Trailer for Final Season:

Although somewhat of a bold claim, the opinion is shared by many

Wikipedia entry highlights

1) The Wire is the highest rated in TV show or movie on community site IMDB.COM.

2) The Wire has received critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of urban life and uncommonly deep exploration of sociological themes, and has been named the best show on television by TIME,^[2][3] Entertainment Weekly,^[4] The Guardian,^[5] the Chicago Tribune,^[6] Slate,^[7] the San Francisco Chronicle^[8] and the Philadelphia Daily News.

Why I label it the best show: Personally I give The Wire the distinction of labeling it best show because it captivated me in a way that no show ever has. The Wire served as an infusion of reality, insight, and truth to a world I am personally interested in yet completely out of touch with at the same time. In a nutshell, The Wire made me think,research, investigate, and question a variety of important topics that seem to have faded into obscurity over the years.

The Wire on Education:

What is The Wire about: Lots of people can give a better account of its significance. This guy was pretty right on

” This weekend marks the beginning of the end of one of television’s greatest achievements, as HBO airs the first of 10 episodes that make up the final season of “The Wire.” Creator David Simon’s multi-faceted portrayal of an American city in decline is not only supremely entertaining, but has more to say about America in the 21st Century than perhaps any work of art of any medium this millennium.

The genius of Simon’s creation cannot possibly be overstated. Combining brilliantly written characters with gritty realism and sociological precision, “The Wire” looks at its city, Baltimore, from every angle

Found this tonight. The perfect game for mischievous worker bees who dream of glory days of years past.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.484896&w=425&h=350&fv=] from www.funny-games.biz posted with vodpod

Found this tonight. The perfect game for mischievous worker bees who dream of glory days of years past.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.484896&w=425&h=350&fv=] from www.funny-games.biz posted with vodpod

Found this tonight. The perfect game for mischievous worker bees who dream of glory days of years past.

[vodpod id=ExternalVideo.484896&w=425&h=350&fv=] from www.funny-games.biz posted with vodpod

I have two great friends in town this week, hence my blogging has been down. Its been an awesome past couple of days, taking advantage of all the fun stuff in and around the Bay Area and of course the weather (I am told a bad blizzard hit Ohio yesterday while we were at the beach in shorts and sandals).

The California Tourism board has done a pretty good job promoting the state. With my friends reveling in the glory that is California, I thought I would give credit to newest of these great ads. The showcase a diverse amount of activities and locations in California (wine country, golf, hollywood, beach, slopes, golden gate) have a lot of star power, and are visually captivating (especially in HD). The tagline of “Find yourself here” is also very affective and perpetuates the state’s image.

So without further ado

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=eSM27eDO69w]

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=gNZRyv3jtWM]

Today Brett Favre retired. Rather than trying to add analysis to something that has been covered ad nauseum, I am going to showcase his longjevity by benchmarking Brett’s career to other significant things in my life.

1991

Brett Favre: Favre’s only year not as a Packer. Throws 4 passes.

Ben Koo: Third grade, learned long division. Its a skill that has served me extremely well.

Random Fact: Rodney King is beaten, US soldiers return from Iraq, USSR collapses

1992-

Brett Favre: Favre becomes a Packer and earns starting role early in season. Shows flashes of brilliance as Packers go on 6 game winning streak.

Ben Koo: I become immersed in the Gold Rush.

Random Fact: Bill Clinton elected president, CD’s surpass casette tapes in sales.

1993-

Brett Favre: Favre leads Packers to playoffs, and wins first playoff game

Ben Koo: I play the saxophone. I find a loophole where I lie on practice cards to obtain better grades in music class.

Random Fact: US agents storm Waco, World Trade Center is bombed

1994-

Brett Favre: Throws 33 TD’s and only 14 interceptions

Ben Koo: I graduate elementary school

Random Fact: OJ chase, Nancy Kerrigan gets clubbed, ER premieres on television.

1995-

Brett Favre: Beats Niners in playoff game (last time I attended with my whole family) but loses to Cowboys in NFC Championship

Ben Koo: Have perfect attendance at all junior high and city sponsored dances (Lots of Michael Jordan cologne, and Binaca useage)

Random Fact: 150 million people watch as the not guilty verdict is read in the O. J. Simpson verdict.

1996-

Brett Favre: Favre wins his only Super Bowl.

Ben Koo: My first girlfriend, followed by my second, third and fourth girlfriends. 96 good was good to me.

Random Fact: Bob Dole gets a taste of Bill Clinton and can’t hang.

1997

Brett Favre: Gets back to Super Bowl but is upset by John Elway’s Broncos.

Ben Koo: Goes to private Catholic High school

Random Fact: Ellen comes out of the closet

1998

Brett Favre: Loses to Niners in historic playoff game.

Ben Koo: Gets driver’s license and is captain of JV footaball team.

Random Fact: The Euro is introduced. Monica Lewisnky scandal unfolds.

1999

Brett Favre: Packers do not make playoffs, Favre has iffy year with 22 TD’s and 23 Int’s

Ben Koo: Plays fantasy football for his first time and makes mistake of drafting Vinny Testeverde

Random Fact: Columbine tragedy, The Blair Witch Project does well at the box office.

2000

Brett Favre: Favre wins last 4 games of the year but still misses playoffs

Ben Koo: Is caught for throwing parties while parents on vacation. Argues “This is like the 20th one, so I must be doing something right.”

Random Fact: Elian Gonzales is all the rage

2001

Brett Favre: Packers get back to the NFC Championship but lose to the “Fastest show on Turf” Rams

Ben Koo: Enrolls at THE Ohio State University

Random Fact: 9/11 attack, the movie Pearl Harbor bombs, US invades Afghanistan

2002

Brett Favre: Favre makes Pro Bowl, but loses to Vick’s Falcons in the playoffs

Ben Koo: Decides that all Big Ten schools are in range of weekend road trips and follow football team on undefeated season.

Random Fact: Barry Bonds does a lot of roids but loses in World Series

2003

Brett Favre: Another Pro Bowl year, but loses to Mcnaab’s Eagles.

Ben Koo: Gets first internship at Time Inc.

Random Fact: Schwarzenegger becomes California govenor

2004

Brett Favre: Packers have another good season but lose in first round of playoffs to Vikings

Ben Koo: Interns at Acopia Networks outside of Boston

Random Fact: Bush re elected, Tsunami hits

2005

Brett Favre: Packers have miserable year. Favre throws 29 interceptions

Ben Koo: Graduates and stars work at Etrade.

Random Fact: Tom Cruise knocks up Katie Holmes and creeps out America.

2006

Brett Favre: Packers start off horrible but finish strong with 4 straight wins yet do not make playoffs

Ben Koo: Starts writing for Bucknuts

Random Fact: Crocodile Hunter is killed. Pluto loses status as a planet.

2007

Brett Favre: Rebounds with pro bowl year and get Packers to NFC Championship game where they lose in overtime.

Ben Koo: Buys his first HD tv… starts benkoo.com .

Random Fact: Iphone debuts

2008

Brett Favre: Favre calls it quits

Ben Koo: Discovers the joy that is Bourbon Street.

Random Fact: Patriots lose Super Bowl.