Welcome to the my Web site, v. XII. The blog is typically published Monday - Saturday. My primary topics tend to be the Nats, Penn State (esp. football), BeltwayLand, transportation, media, photos and more. The rest of the site gets updated as warranted and is noted on the blog.
More Star Wars news - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
More Star Wars news
First look: The next 'Star Wars' is animated 'War' - USA Today Star Wars: Clone Wars (official site), an animated prequel to Revenge of the Sith is coming out in theaters on August 15. It will precede a Cartoon Network series that arrives this fall. I guess there is a movie I'll want to see in a theater after all -- hopefully Uptown will get it.
...has lots of models and costumes from the entire saga. The "science" of Star Wars galaxy is explained and compared with contemporary science from this galaxy. In some ways, we are not far off from things in the Star Wars universe, but sadly lightsaber technology remains elusive. Also, the Millennium Falcon is worth doing too. Sadly, we were not allowed to take any photos inside the Falcon.
The Inkypreview is critical of the "science" part of the exhibit which is a reasonable assessment, but not many people are there for the science anyway.
Both Erica and I really enjoyed the exhibit, more so than the one the Smithsonian had in the late 1990s. Since Philly is less than three hours up I-95 from D.C. so you can make a day-trip out of the visit. If you want to make a weekend out of it gophila.com has a package.
I recommend buying tickets in advance though to avoid the lines, particularly for the Falcon simulator which is a separate admission.
Random YouTube magic: ABC Sunday Night Movie - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Random YouTube magic: ABC Sunday Night Movie
Remember when movies on network TV were a big deal? This opening below conveys that better than any other ever did:
YES! It must be time for Star Trek II, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, a Bond or Superman movie. ABC always got the blockbusters; they needed to with an opening this good. I love the strings at the start of the music, they create an incredible amount of tension and anticipation for a mere movie bumper. This clip also answers the question of what an America flag going Warp 5 looks like.
According a YouTube commenter, the music was composed by Ferdinand J. Smith. The announcer from Dynasty promo at the end was the late Ernie Anderson, who ranks up there with John Facenda for best voices ever. He was also father of Paul Thomas Anderson.
Don't forget The Great Muppet Caper! I remember when that got its network TV premiere, and it was as big an event as any of the other movies you mentioned.
# posted by Fritz :
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 8:54:00 AM
I understand it isn't as good a narrative for aliens destroy Indiana because a burning Wal-Mart isn't a vivid as skyscraper, but still destroying New York is a cliche that actually happened.
Why does Hollywood hate N.Y.? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, January 04, 2008
Why does Hollywood hate N.Y.?
When I saw a commercial for the movie Cloverfield the other day, I lamented to myself that it was yet another movie that destroys all or part of New York City. I have never really seen the appeal of these movies especially since IT ACTUALLY HAPPENED. At this point, in addition to being unsettling, it is lazy storytelling since it has been done so many times.
I thought about cataloging these movies and writing up a post about the phenomenon, but a Brooklyn born Post-Gazette columnist beat me to it.
Will someone lend me Slapshot? - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, November 30, 2007
Will someone lend me Slapshot?
Finding out that Capitals head coach Bruce Boudreau was in Slapshot reminded me that I need to see that movie again. Anybody want to lend me their copy? I hate going to Blockbuster.
Sorry, but Fritz's Video Mecca doesn't stock Slapshot. Good movie, though! Good for drinking games, too.
# posted by Fritz :
Friday, November 30, 2007 10:24:00 AM
As a Johnstown native, I own it. Maybe we can meet up and exchange it here in the near future. I do have to get it out of storage in order for you to have it, though.
# posted by Muha :
Saturday, December 01, 2007 10:20:00 AM
Post a Comment<i>Collegian</i> documentary on PBS - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Collegian documentary on PBS
The Paper, a documentary about The Collegian will are on PBS on December 11:
STATE COLLEGE - From gay rights to racial bias, from plummeting circulation to "infotainment," from burnt-out reporters to hard-bitten editors, THE PAPER goes inside the newsroom to reveal the drama of deadline journalism. But this is not some big-city major daily.
It's The Daily Collegian, published by students at Pennsylvania State University who, in the course of one crisis-filled year face crashing deadlines, ethical dilemmas, doubts and disagreements, all the while shouldering courses, homework and exams.
It appears The Paper was filmed around 2004-2005. I'll post broadcast times when they become available. I'll be very interested to learn what Collegian alumni think of this documentary.
It's on the Daily Communi...er, "Collegian". Most sane alums will think the staff there is on something (which probably isn't far from the truth).
# posted by Muha :
Tuesday, November 27, 2007 8:42:00 PM
Very interesting. As a Collegian alum, I will definitely have to check this out.
# posted by Brad Stratton :
Wednesday, November 28, 2007 8:12:00 PM
Post a CommentDante Hicks calls out of our friend Tom (NSFW!) - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Friday, November 09, 2007
Dante Hicks calls out of our friend Tom (NSFW!)
THIS VIDEO IS NOT SAFE FOR WORK!
Long story short -- every year, my friends Tom and Wiley head to Jersey for Kevin Smith's Vulgarthon. After day two of the 2006 Vulgarthon, Tom went back to the room to sleep instead of going to the after party. When Wiley met Brian O'Halloran, best known as Dante from Clerks, he mentioned what Tom was doing. O'Halloran was not amused and Wiley got it on video. After over 1½ years, they finally got the video up. I'm looking forward to watching this when I get home.
# posted by Fritz :
Friday, November 09, 2007 12:57:00 PM
That was hilarious! Awesome!
Props to Wiley for being able to hold the camera upright while laughing hysterically.
# posted by TMBC :
Friday, November 09, 2007 1:16:00 PM
Post a CommentHMPL on 98 Rock - William World News - William F. Yurasko's blog
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
HMPL on 98 Rock
This morning I heard filmmaker John Heyn on 98 Rock talking about Heavy Metal Parking Lot. It seems a lot of the fans in the doc came from greater Baltimore which is shocking.
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