Max Engel - the 8BitKid
living bit by bit

Well, it is Monday, and I am feeling exceedingly lazy. I had an equally lethargic weekend, so I really should be more recharged, and yet here we are…

Since I don’t want to break my post-per-workday habit, I’m introducing a new feature that requires an embarassingly-minimal amount of effort on my end. “Visiting My Desk” will be an exploration of the random clutter that is my workspace. I have enough stuff to hopefully sustain this for a while.

First up is my PSOne. This was the final design iteration on the venerable Playstation. As depressing as this is, I actually bought it before taking a family trip to Alaska, and worked most of my way through Final Fantasy 7 while spending time in various hotel rooms. The screen can actually be detached, and it can be plugged into a full-size TV. This little guy tends to stay stocked with Street Fighter Alpha 3, and helps me get through those late-afternoon doldrums.  I have purchases each Playstation model since this, but none has garnered my affection quite like this little guy.

Brilliance…

Huck Gee, one of my favorite current artists around, is putting his latest vinyl creation up for sale this Friday at noon (PST).  There are only 10 figures in this set, and grabbing one will cost you a cool $800.  however, i have little doubt that these will sell out like hot cakes.  If you are looking for an amazing unique expense, check it out: Huck’s blog with info on the item and sale

A friend of mine has started a weekly dance party at Barcopa in Santa Monica.  It is every Wednesday, and is a great blend of indie dance, classic jams, and many surprises.  I am not one known for “busting moves”, but I have a great time every time.  Things tend to pick up on the later side, so I’d recommend getting their 10:30ish.

Check out this Facebook page for more info: “Get Wet Wednesdays”

Today I had my first real earthquake since moving to the west coast.  My apartment felt like a moon bounce.  Only Megaman and two Transformers were taken for a ride, but luckily, they survived.

I spent last weekend at Comic-Con in San Diego. It was my second visit to the show, and I had a blast reveling in the nerdy debauchery. MC Lars played at the G4/STRANGEco party, and unleashed this awesome song:

I spent a good bit of time perusing the show floor. While I didn’t have time to test out Street Fighter 4, I did discover an amazing booth for an American animation art dealer: Van Eaton Galleries. They had a mind-blowing assortment of work that spanned the last century. I spent hours digging through their collection rediscovering my childhood (I had completely forgotten about “Road Rovers”!). It reminded me of when I used to dig for vinyl, searching for the needle in the haystack. I really can’t describe how cool it was to see so many treasures from american animation, but it has definitely gotten me to consider a temporary transition from anime cels to those of the american variety. Luckily, the gallery happens to be nearby in Sherman Oaks, so I’m sure I’ll be spending more time there.

Well, I have had an exhausting day today at Comic-Con, and as I am recovering, I realized I didn’t make a post today.  Here is the new Futurama trailer.  It isn’t really comic-related, except that it is nerd-related in title.

Well, I’m on my way to the San Francisco airport after enjoying a nice whirlwind trip up here for Facebook’s F8 event. It was great to catch up with friends and wax web for a bit.

Now my travels continue as I take an even geekier adventure. As soon as I’m back in LA I hit the road to head down to San Diego for Comic-Con. Last year was a blast, and I’m looking forward to some nerdy decadence. Expect to see my pictures from the field up on Flickr.

Also, this is my first post with the new Wordpress iPhone and everything is smooth sailing so far.

I can’t even bother referencing all of the other posts I have written about anime movies getting the tinseltown treatment. “Akira”, “Ghost in the Shell”, “Neon Genesis Evangelion” are just several of the titles near and dear to my heart that are going before the gauntlet, and now it seems “Cowboy Bebop” is going to join that company.

Granted, this could actually make an awesome film. I keep thinking of Travolta and Samuel L. waxing philosophy while dining in “Pulp Fiction” and how I’d see Spike and Jet engaging in a similar level of banter. My real concern isn’t about staying true to the characters, but about preserving the role of Yoko Kanno’s score in the unfolding drama. Her soundtrack sets the tone for the show, and I can’t imagine removing her jazz vibe from a remake. I’ve got a little more hope for this one, which I guess means there is a greater opportunity for disappointment.

- via Anime News Network

A great video from College Humor.  The old newspaper editor in me loves this.  I know it isn’t Friday, but I was up all night with the workies, and this is the best my brain can handle.