Transformers IMAX

After a big movie summer, there aren't a lot of good movies released in September. To be more blunt, it's been a real suckfest of a month at the theater. So in our desperation to see a movie, Megan and I saw Transformers again, but the IMAX version. Although I mostly enjoyed the movie originally, and I'm a big fan of the IMAX format, I was wary about spending $30+ on this combination. So imagine my surprise to discover that I actually enjoyed it more than the regular theatrical release. We both agreed that the battle sequences, which were often visually indecipherable in the regular version, were much clearer and enjoyable. And we noticed additional scenes were added. They were all quite brief (only a couple of minutes extra in total), but still fun. And the sound quality was (as always with IMAX) awesome. So if you're just as unexcited with the Sept.-Oct. movies, live near an IMAX theater and don't mind spending a little extra, check it out.

Foreclosures

Stockton is either the No. 1 or No. 2 foreclosure leader of the nation. But a picture is worth a thousand words and I think this picture of the foreclosure listings in our newspaper is just that (literally?)

Cutting-room floor

Although Fighting Port: Stockton in WWII was a very well-made documentary and featured The Haggin Museum prominently, it was missing one thing: my voiceover! Although most people don't recognize their own voice when they hear it played back, I can assure you that it was someone else reading the letters I read. I got positive feedback from the producers, so I will choose to believe that my recordings were misplaced and they were then too embarrassed by the oversight to inform me.

The Lame Show: Episode 19

If you'd like your questions answered on an upcoming episode of The Lame Show, post a comment to this blog or send an e-mail. Hey, it's worked for the latest episode...

Ring Us Up

Eddie defends his opinion from more reader mail. Noah takes issue with David Maynor and ringtones. In other news, SpiralFrog has launched and Palm is struggling.

On the Lame List this week is Apple's new ringtone policy and the fact that Windows 'thinks it knows better' than you do. Picks of the Week include Beck's new single "Timebomb" and the Doves older album "The Last Broadcast."

The truly burning questions are asked: Do radio DJs understand iTunes? Have you had Spanish hot chocolate lately?

Episode 19.m4a (59:28)

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Stockton in WWII

A while ago, I performed some voicover work for the following documentary, which was produced as a complement to Ken Burns' much-anticipated "The War." Both myself and museum coworker Lisa Cooperman read personal WWII letters. Other museum staff members contributing on-camera work are Director Tod Ruhstaller and Curator of Archival Collections Kimberly Bowden. The completed documentary will air this Wednesday, Sept. 19, 7:30 p.m. on local PBS affiliate KVIE.

Fighting Port: Stockton in WWII

This documentary features Stockton's contribution to the war effort with a look at the Stockton Warbird Group, the shipyard, and the Stockton Jeep Project. We take an emotional look at a series of letters written between Stockton soldiers and their loved ones back home, those who kept the city going while many of its residents were away at war.

'Across the Universe' with Bono

I learned this week that Julie Taymor's long-delayed film "Across the Universe," a love story set in the sixties and inspired by Beatles' songs, features Bono as the character Dr. Robert. He performs "I Am The Walrus" with The Secret Machines. You can catch a short clip here at the official web site. The Deluxe Edition of the soundtrack also includes a version of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" performed by Bono. The film will (finally) open nationwide on Sept. 21. It could definitely be a mess, but probably a good-looking mess. Don't forget that Taymor is writing and directing that Spider-Man Broadway musical with music by ... Bono and The Edge.

Annie Lennox brings 'Songs of Mass Destruction' to US

Veteran musician Annie Lennox has mapped a North American tour that will support her forthcoming album, "Songs of Mass Destruction," ... her follow-up to 2003's "Bare." The singer recorded the set in London, Los Angeles and Miami with super-producer Glen Ballard.

On the off-chance you don't know, I'm excited about this. She will be coming to San Francisco in October and I've never seen her perform live, so my fingers are crossed on getting tickets. I always find it amusing how Ticketmaster's page will tell me "You currently do not have any tickets for upcoming events. We can fix that."

During the (dreadful) MTV Video Music Awards, Shia LaBeouf revealed the name of the new film as being "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull." So ignore anything that talks about 'the City of the Gods' and get the official info from IndianaJones.com.

The Lame Show: Episode 18

If you'd like your questions answered on an upcoming episode of The Lame Show, post a comment to this blog or send an e-mail.

We've Got Mail!

Noah and Eddie respond to reader mail regarding Windows vs. Mac OS X and whether or not Apple's iTunes Store is consumer friendly. Then, of course, it's time to rate and debate the new iPod models.

NBC/Universal tops the Lame List, followed by the HP Blackbird (or at least the reactions to the Blackbird). Picks of the Week include "Wincing the Night Away" by The Shins and the Google Earth Flight Simulator.

The truly burning questions are asked: Should people complain when prices drop? How much should a TV episode cost to download? Why are there less Easter Eggs nowadays?

Episode 18.m4a (44:57)

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San Francisco photos

Follow the linked image below to see some photos of our day trip to San Francisco (yes, we're nearly a month late uploading them). The Giants lost in less than two hours and Barry Bonds hit his record-breaking home run days earlier, so the game wasn't too great. You'll also notice that someone else took a worse photo than I did.

San Francisco 8/12/07