tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-70229308654634810422024-03-13T04:42:45.647-07:00Drombo's DenRumblings about this and that by avid pop culture lover.drombohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12044730483704932088noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022930865463481042.post-66176638453753413522011-06-06T12:24:00.000-07:002011-06-06T12:24:14.384-07:00Cyborg - JCVD is so cheesyAt first blogger had problems, then I was ill. Fortunately it was not related to recent EHEC craziness and I'm completely fine now. I would normally gather some more stuff to post, but high fever leaves you with just few possibilities to spend this abundance of free time and most ambitious is staying in bed for whole time. But I managed to watch one of the classic B sci-fi movies from the '80. With Jean-Claude Van Damme! Ladies and gentleman, give a warm welcome to the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097138/">Cyborg</a>! <br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Well, long haired a'la flopped Cloud Strife from Final Fantasy 7 JCVD to be precise.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ReaZ6SxFFwk/Te0UefYnXLI/AAAAAAAAACg/_MbS40R0VHo/s1600/shot0003.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ReaZ6SxFFwk/Te0UefYnXLI/AAAAAAAAACg/_MbS40R0VHo/s1600/shot0003.png" /></a></div>Isn't he cute? Not only that! He's deadly serious and trained to kill. JCVD is a mercenary hired by the cyborg, a quite nice lady actually, that want to reach last bastion of civilization in post apocalyptic future. She transports vital data that will help last scientists to develop cure for a strange decease that's eating humanity away. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AU4c1qDC-Mo/Te0VIByNkkI/AAAAAAAAACk/WulNSR5S3Dc/s1600/shot0006.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AU4c1qDC-Mo/Te0VIByNkkI/AAAAAAAAACk/WulNSR5S3Dc/s1600/shot0006.png" /></a></div>But of course they're not alone. Nemesis is personified by a true badass with dirty glasses and funny appearance. He thinks that using cyborg as a trade card allow will grant him greater power, access to better weapon, that he'll grasp the last remains from the past glory of the human. He kidnaps cyborg and forces her to lead him to the base of scientists. Well, she wanted to go there anyway, so in fact it's no big deal for her.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOXyBfuqk6c/Te0YBuXLQ_I/AAAAAAAAACo/GEAmtZ4sF_o/s1600/shot0010.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZOXyBfuqk6c/Te0YBuXLQ_I/AAAAAAAAACo/GEAmtZ4sF_o/s1600/shot0010.png" /></a></div>Of course, JCVD was at first defeated and almost killed. Or maybe he even died for our sins - it's up to you, I'll you leave you this picture.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Re4J824EtGU/Te0gd8bJKcI/AAAAAAAAAC4/R5f4JA9ps2E/s1600/shot0022.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Re4J824EtGU/Te0gd8bJKcI/AAAAAAAAAC4/R5f4JA9ps2E/s1600/shot0022.png" /></a></div><br />
Final confrontation is obviously unavoidable. It's not only the climax of the movie, but also the peak of bad acting. Guys we're yelling like madmen and I was laughing out loud. Scene takes place in rain to add some dramatic quality. And because at stake is the future of whole mankind they were really serious. Just look at him. You can also guess why he had always wore his notorious sunglasses. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ruew2BW2Xk/Te0hgQxifnI/AAAAAAAAADI/ZHNirDV92tM/s1600/shot0069.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5ruew2BW2Xk/Te0hgQxifnI/AAAAAAAAADI/ZHNirDV92tM/s1600/shot0069.png" /></a></div>This movie has everything you wish for - low budget, bad acting, strong characters, cheesy story and epic introduction monologue, which I leave to you to discover. If you can get it, I advice you to very much, you won't be disappointed. They don't do so good bad movies these days.<br />
If you have any questions about this flick - use comment form, I'll be happy to answer them all.<br />
<br />
PS. Yeah, I changed the template :) Quite posh, isn't it?drombohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12044730483704932088noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022930865463481042.post-13182467449990979452011-05-19T15:40:00.000-07:002011-05-19T15:40:54.352-07:00Dylan's unknown black gemYou probably didn't know about it, but the true author of the notorious Rebeca Black's song Friday is none other, but Bob Dylan himself!<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a>If you pardon my silly joke, try to listen to this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/9FISHEO3gsM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>I wonder how many haters would at least "be ok" with this song, if Dylan was really it's author. Hypocrites are everywhere, I guess :)drombohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12044730483704932088noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022930865463481042.post-53662584439533737402011-05-18T14:32:00.000-07:002011-05-18T14:32:51.194-07:00Another great space design - boat flatI posted sometimes ago two structures that gained my attention - today you can watch short reportage from quite nice flat in Barcelona.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Although homes like aforementioned Safe House really make an impression, frankly, they're beyond reach for most of us, ordinary folks. This is why, in opinion, much more fascinating are projects such as this one. Owner of the flat is Christian Schallert, photographer from Barcelona. Apartment's size is 24 m² (258 ft²). Most of you probably have bigger bathrooms :) However, because of small metric area it becomes more real than dream for you and me to get one, after that only our imagination decides what you can squeeze out of it and, you'll admit it, Christian did one hell of a job.<br />
I also admire his philosophy. He said one, very important thing - in the end of the day all you need is nice comfortable mattress, running water and stove to cook something. I find it profoundly wise - do you really need seven bedroom, five bathroom sumptuous villa and new car every year to live happily? This is just a space that should carry out certain functions, nothing more.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/juWaO5TJS00?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br />
Oh, by the way - they have finally repaired blogger, how nice of them :)drombohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12044730483704932088noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022930865463481042.post-60048581646226635022011-05-18T13:58:00.000-07:002011-05-18T13:58:13.580-07:00Converting files - why linux is so wonderfulI'm a linux user for 5 or 6 six years now and want to give you some glimpses on how wonderful environment it can be for daily tinkering. <br />
<br />
Sometimes I have to change format of some file or files. This is the moment when the power of linux can be unleashed.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
There are plenty of free and commercial programs to do the conversion on Windows and you don't know which one to choose, which one can do the stuff you want for free, which is easy to use or has a good tutorial. Plenty of things to think about, but all you need to do just convert something now and the program won't be used for a very long time.<br />
However working on linux is much easier at least in this aspect. Chance that you already have a script or program that will do what you want is huge. Most of them is named in natural convention: <b>ps2pdf</b> - for converting PostScript files to PDF.<br />
If you want a manual for it, you just have to type <b>man ps2pdf</b> and everything will be printed in the terminal. If something is not already available, quick query in the wiki of your distribution or in the forum and you'll get complete solution in 90% of cases.<br />
Today I had this kind of problem. I wanted to print some scanned pictures of my friend's notes, but there were 200 pages in 200 files - person who scanned them was not very crafty. Anyway, in two minutes I found the solution - little script.<br />
<code><br />
# This step is only needed when the images are in png format<br />
# you would need to do the same with jpg's<br />
for i in *.png ; do <br />
if [ -f "$i" ] <br />
then<br />
convert +compress "$i" "`basename "$i" .png`.tif"<br />
fi<br />
done<br />
########<br />
tiffcp *.tif "Images.tif" # joins all file in one<br />
tiff2pdf -z "Images.tif" -o "Images.pdf" # converts file into pdf<br />
rm "Images.tif" # removes old files</code><br />
<br />
Using that within 5 seconds I got very handy pdf with every picture in right order.drombohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12044730483704932088noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022930865463481042.post-27531767657418002042011-05-09T16:36:00.000-07:002011-05-09T16:36:13.209-07:00Architecture - awesomeness out of thin airHi, sorry that I stopped posting so suddenly. I was out of town for few days, but now I'm back and I have something nice for you!<br />
I've just stumbled upon two quite creative examples of volatile design, if I can name it like that, and one of them is in my neighborhood. What I like most is that you can completely change the way the building looks like or, just like in the movie Prestige, you create something extraordinary out of ordinary things.<br />
First of all, look at <a href="http://freshome.com/2011/04/27/imposing-concrete-residence-in-warsaw-safe-house/">the concrete bunker located near Warsaw</a>. For the day your home may look like this:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FlsvWYQXRsg/TchzALbk1vI/AAAAAAAAACQ/WiKIN-WnaQQ/s1600/bunk1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FlsvWYQXRsg/TchzALbk1vI/AAAAAAAAACQ/WiKIN-WnaQQ/s320/bunk1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> But for the night you can change it into fortress. Proverb "your home is your castle" was taken literally here. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1RhAJhNh94Q/TchzB6DX4sI/AAAAAAAAACU/er_X0sM1_LI/s1600/bunk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1RhAJhNh94Q/TchzB6DX4sI/AAAAAAAAACU/er_X0sM1_LI/s320/bunk2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Building projected by Robert Konieczny from KWK Promes is called Safe House. It's located on 2500m² plot, which looks much, much bigger on the photos. House has floor area of 556,5m² and was finished in 2009.<br />
You can get more photos in the link posted above or from <a href="http://www.kwkpromes.pl/">the website of the architects</a>.<br />
It is really impressive and I really don't want to know how much does it cost.<br />
<br />
However, I'm quite the opposite with the second one I want to share with you. It's an ordinary garage, isn't it?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nW7USc4qYk8/Tch2ZPuPpGI/AAAAAAAAACY/55-vuVuC5hE/s1600/garage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nW7USc4qYk8/Tch2ZPuPpGI/AAAAAAAAACY/55-vuVuC5hE/s320/garage1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Look at your man, look again, I'm on a horse. I won't spoil you the fun with browsing the pictures you can find on <a href="http://www.homedsgn.com/2011/03/07/before-after-would-you-live-in-a-garage/">homedsng.com</a>.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qc7zhE-IoRA/Tch2aRQcLGI/AAAAAAAAACc/uD7gY8DUL_g/s1600/garage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qc7zhE-IoRA/Tch2aRQcLGI/AAAAAAAAACc/uD7gY8DUL_g/s320/garage2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>It's amazing what you can do with relatively small space in ugly and unadapted structure like this garage. With a little space in front of the entrance in form of small garden, providing some privacy for occupant it would be a perfect place to live in the city. Small, functional, simple, ergonomic and beautiful at the same time. And for the still hot, Polish real-estate market finding such an unusual place, if possible, should leave some big bunch of money in your pocket - win-win situation!drombohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12044730483704932088noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022930865463481042.post-59215899871614679252011-05-03T16:52:00.000-07:002011-05-03T16:52:32.213-07:00Beastie Boys roxxx!!!I wanted to write about something else, but I've just encountered this video! This is a tribute to the Fight for Your Right to Party by Beastie Boys made with participation of some quite famous people. Watch it to the end and moan in ecstasy just as I did.<br />
It's hilarious!<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/evA-R9OS-Vo" width="560"></iframe>drombohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12044730483704932088noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022930865463481042.post-67426511894534897352011-05-02T14:28:00.000-07:002011-05-02T14:28:39.899-07:00OMG they killed Kenny!!!Not Kenny actually, but the notorious Osama bin Laden! Who would think that it will ever happed?<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nl5e45jGjlE/Tb8h9qF40vI/AAAAAAAAACM/AJ_Y8oWvVWo/s1600/53056-omg-they-killed-kenny-by-guitargoddess2012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Nl5e45jGjlE/Tb8h9qF40vI/AAAAAAAAACM/AJ_Y8oWvVWo/s320/53056-omg-they-killed-kenny-by-guitargoddess2012.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>drombohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12044730483704932088noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022930865463481042.post-18856064028503391902011-04-29T13:12:00.000-07:002011-04-29T13:12:46.411-07:00Game of Thrones - child actorsThis first caught my attention - it's same story as Harry Potter series. Most amazing thing with Harry for me is how producers found child actors for main characters. They predicted that franchise will be blockbuster and other book will also be adapted. Just think for a while how hard it was to find a appropriate child among thousands of casting participants. Child not only talented enough to cope with main role today, but also after another 5 or 10 years.<br />
With Game of Thrones producers got to cast several child parts and series will be continued to the end of story, in my opinion. Of course, if Martin will get his ass to the keyboard and write two last volumes. But even for now, story is complex enough for next 3-4 seasons. For every child starring it's really long time. How will they grow up? Will they still match played characters as it is now? Guys and gals from casting department had tremendous job to do. I think they deserve praise. Just look how playful and wild Maisie Williams as Arya is. how her eyes sparkle. How elegant, posh is her sister Sansa, played by Sophie Turner. And this is they first flick!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eruIUa10ADA/TbsZtrXWbzI/AAAAAAAAACE/kaZuIbQjyYQ/s1600/sansa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eruIUa10ADA/TbsZtrXWbzI/AAAAAAAAACE/kaZuIbQjyYQ/s320/sansa.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vqcc573myT4/TbsZuaj1E6I/AAAAAAAAACI/ClLDo2cb5OQ/s1600/arya.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Vqcc573myT4/TbsZuaj1E6I/AAAAAAAAACI/ClLDo2cb5OQ/s320/arya.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002274/">Nina Gold</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2778071/">Edward Said</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1414435/">Robert Sterne</a> are responsible for that outcome - thanks!<br />
Unfortunately they also made some mistakes. If it comes to children I think that they made one mistake. Jack Gleeson as Joffrey Baratheon is in my opinion a miscast. I imagined him as a very good-looking, tall and with curly hair. Handsome and spoiled at the same time. I'd even say rotten to the core. But maybe that is just me.<br />
What do you think about it?drombohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12044730483704932088noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022930865463481042.post-72933389095339942412011-04-28T05:36:00.000-07:002011-04-28T05:36:46.466-07:00Game of Thrones - my first encounter with the seriesHBO is really successful at picking scripts. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Sopranos">The Sopranos</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Six_Feet_Under_%28TV_series%29" title="Six Feet Under (TV series)">Six Feet Under</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carniv%C3%A0le">Carnivàle</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deadwood_%28TV_series%29" title="Deadwood (TV series)">Deadwood</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rome_%28TV_series%29" title="Rome (TV series)">Rome</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boardwalk_Empire">Boardwalk Empire</a> - list is truly impressive.<br />
Half a year ago I didn't know about existence of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_R._R._Martin">George R. R. Martin</a> . Then I stumbled upon a short preview of the TV series. Impressed by it, I've done some research, asked friends and ordered first book of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire">Songs of Ice and Fire</a> series.<br />
That decision was not so easy as it sounds. It's about 4000 pages to read (at least in edition) and it takes significant amount of time to wade through it. And it's not finished. End is not even in sight. Well, to be precise, last book ends with short note from the author, which goes something along these lines:<br />
<blockquote>I've written so much that it's impossible to publish. In my opinion, it's better to tell whole story of half of the heroes, than the other way around, so here you go with first part. Second one will be easy to finish, so expect it in next year.<br />
Georgie<br />
June 2005</blockquote>Publisher <a href="http://shelf-life.ew.com/2011/03/03/dance-with-dragons-date">announced</a> that it will be published on July 12, 2011... And there are two other books planned to finish the series. I don't even want to think when they will come out...<br />
I've read everything within 4 months and I must admit that that time was well spent and every reread will give me at least as much pleasure as first one. Story is very rich in terms of events and characters. Story is told the third-person through the eyes of the key heroes. Each chapter is devoted to one person and you have a chance to get to know him or her. Almost every chapter ends with cliffhanger and you just must leave everything else to read another +100 pages to find out what happened. With every volume, tale is enriched by new characters, plot thickens and your sympathies are put to the test. And the book is surprisingly <br />
Only 2 episodes of the TV series are out by now. <b>It's not to late to get the books and read them!</b> When you finish, first season of show will be completed and you could you watch it through the weekend. You'll be astonished!drombohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12044730483704932088noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7022930865463481042.post-16394558187686867022011-04-25T18:02:00.000-07:002011-04-25T18:02:11.108-07:00The BeginningI've read your blogs for so long that I started to wonder why I shouldn't do it myself.<br />
The amount of mistakes in this first, short sentence will suggest you at least one of other reasons for my heroic act - English is not my mother tongue and as I don't have many opportunities to use it I should better create them by myself. Dictionary will be heavily used for sure, but I'll be extremely grateful to you for pointing out all my mistakes.<br />
What else? I'm an ardent film buff and proud owner of vast movie collection. Strange Japanese slasher? Funny cult classic horror? European cinema? I probably have it and will post about it in near future. I may even gossip about my favorite stars, because why not?<br />
Of course I'll find some place for music, books and other pop culture things. Geeky stuff will also be posted - some things I adore, some I must write down to remember. I'm quite experienced linux user, maybe I'll win you over to the dark side!<br />
Ok, that's enough for now. I hope you will enjoy my writings and together we will spend some fun time.<br />
Have a nice day!<br />
drombodrombohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12044730483704932088noreply@blogger.com4