Speakers UP! Barry Gray Pop Music

I know the title ascribes this to Captain Scarlet, but that’s incorrect.

The original was done for the White as Snow episode of Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons, but all anyone has to do is watch that episode on DVD to be greatly disappointed. It’s not the same music and the tempo is shockingly slow too.

This is actually from an episode of UFO (which one, escapes me at the moment). It’s played as incidental background music on, if I recall correctly, a car radio. Barry Gray recycled the music, increasing the tempo and somewhat tinkering with the instrumentation.

The result is this piece, which I must have played into my head several hundred gazillion times. This is best listened to with headphones. Really get into it. It’s one of the best pieces Barry Gray ever did.

captain scarlet pop theme

Strings: A Puppet Movie

Strings is a gorgeous motion picture featuring nothing but marionettes — as marionettes.

In this alternate universe, marionettes are alive and their strings reach into the heavens and give them their life force. Cut their strings and they die.

At the time of this film’s release, I recall reading that the director was inspired by a vision of seeing ten thousand strings rising into the sky.

The puppetry in this movie is breathtaking, featuring some of the best marionette walking I’ve ever seen. Unlike Gerry Anderson‘s Supermarionation, no attempt is made to hide the strings or disguise the fact these are puppets. Also unlike Supermarionation, the mouths do not move. This facilitates dubbing into other languages. Even with static mouths, it’s not difficult to keep track of who’s speaking.

I own this on DVD. I highly recommend it — especially to writers who are interested in fantasy.

Here’s the trailer from YouTube. Due to fast-action sequences, it gets pixelated. A high-quality trailer is here.

STRINGS movie trailer (english)

I’m not sure if this movie was ever released theatrically in the U.S.. It did very well in Europe.

Orbitz And Dell: Puppet Ads

Several years ago the travel company Orbitz had a TV ad campaign clearly inspired by the Supermarionation series of Gerry Anderson.

I think I have all the ads socked away somewhere, but right now they’re not easy to find.

I was able to find one on YouTube.

LGBT AD – Orbitz Travels

Via the magic of Google cache, there’s an article on the making of them.

The company that created the puppets has a scanned article with photos.

And Dell — yes, the computer company — did a series of web-only ads that was inspired by Team America: World Police. I also have these saved somewhere.

One day, when I finally track these down, maybe I’ll post them on YouTube.

Previously here:

Gerry Anderson’s Space Precinct
Extinct: Super Adventure Team TV Series
Rare Sylvia Anderson Interview
Interster: Rare Puppet Series Pics And Videos!
UFO: Timelash
Gerry Anderson: Not UFO Season 2
OMFG!!! INTERSTER!!!
Video: Indirect Gerry Anderson
Reference: Anime Tropes 2
Two More Gerry Anderson Videos
From Space:1999 To Space:2099
Two Gerry Anderson Videos
The Mac Vs. PC War Takes An Awful Turn
Some Rare Gerry Anderson Videos
Christine Glanville Video Interview
Gerry Anderson: Thunderbirds, Next Generation?
Some Gerry Anderson Items
Supermarionation Is Not Easy
Gerry Anderson’s Doppelganger
R.I.P.: David Mitton
Enhanced Gerry Anderson
A Must For Gerry Anderson Fans
Gerry Anderson’s UFO
Rare 1960s TV: Space Patrol
The Original Thunderbirds Atrocity
Someone At Carlton Must Pay For This Atrocity
Jane Merrow Is On YouTube!
Thunderbirds: Terror In New York City
Sylvia Anderson: Future Of Fashion
Gerry Anderson’s Eternity
Better Than Space:1999!
Via WordPress Search, #3
Reference: Anime Tropes
Thunderbirds: Simulated Tanker Rescue
Sylvia Anderson Interview
Wet Circuit Is Fixed!
Digital Water
Star Wars Spin-Off Goes CGI
Marvel Comics: Some Great Vids
Gerry Anderson Supermarionation TV Ad
Joost: Stand By For Action!
Interster Still M.I.A.
BBC Four: All About Thunderbirds

Gerry Anderson’s Space Precinct

This is not among my favorites. Neither was it a favorite of local TV station WPIX, which scheduled it at something like 1 or 2 AM!

This is not available on DVD in America. So here’s a chance to get a glimpse of it.

Space Precinct wikipedia entry

Vodpod videos no longer available.

more about "Gerry Anderson’s Space Precinct", posted with vodpod

Like I said earlier. This is the Internet. Almost everything can be seen.

Previously here:

Extinct: Super Adventure Team TV Series
Rare Sylvia Anderson Interview
Interster: Rare Puppet Series Pics And Videos!
UFO: Timelash
Gerry Anderson: Not UFO Season 2
OMFG!!! INTERSTER!!!
Video: Indirect Gerry Anderson
Reference: Anime Tropes 2
Two More Gerry Anderson Videos
From Space:1999 To Space:2099
Two Gerry Anderson Videos
The Mac Vs. PC War Takes An Awful Turn
Some Rare Gerry Anderson Videos
Christine Glanville Video Interview
Gerry Anderson: Thunderbirds, Next Generation?
Some Gerry Anderson Items
Supermarionation Is Not Easy
Gerry Anderson’s Doppelganger
R.I.P.: David Mitton
Enhanced Gerry Anderson
A Must For Gerry Anderson Fans
Gerry Anderson’s UFO
Rare 1960s TV: Space Patrol
The Original Thunderbirds Atrocity
Someone At Carlton Must Pay For This Atrocity
Jane Merrow Is On YouTube!
Thunderbirds: Terror In New York City
Sylvia Anderson: Future Of Fashion
Gerry Anderson’s Eternity
Better Than Space:1999!
Via WordPress Search, #3
Reference: Anime Tropes
Thunderbirds: Simulated Tanker Rescue
Sylvia Anderson Interview
Wet Circuit Is Fixed!
Digital Water
Star Wars Spin-Off Goes CGI
Marvel Comics: Some Great Vids
Gerry Anderson Supermarionation TV Ad
Joost: Stand By For Action!
Interster Still M.I.A.
BBC Four: All About Thunderbirds

Smart Car Pr0n For A November Weekend

All photos taken Saturday November 1, 2008 with the Philips crapcam.

First, the usual gray baby I nearly always encounter:

Then I was shocked to encounter a new yellow lovely:

And shocked again when I came upon a gorg-o-licious red one:

If you squint, you can see a traffic officer writing it a ticket!

Previously here:

Smart Car End-Week Micro Pr0n
Smart Car Pr0n For Labor Day 2008
Orgy Of 133 Smart Cars On One Street!
Smart Car Gets American Love
The Newest Smart Car Pr0n
Technolicious: iPhone + Smart Car!
Photo Album: Smart Car Pr0n Yes!!
Smart Car: Panel Swapping
Badder Badass Batman Smart Car
The Obligatory Smart Car Pr0n
Reference: Smart Car Tips
Your Weekend Smart Car Pr0n
NOW Do You Believe In My Persecution?!!?
Smart Car Stuff
Photo Album: Smart Car In Manhattan #3!
More Smart Car Videos
This Is Why It’s Called The Smart Car!
Fugly MINI Cooper Vs. Cutie Smart Fortwo
Smart Car: Coast-To-Coast Possible
The Smart Car Cult
Badass Batman Smart Car!
Video: Smart Car
Photo Album: Smart Car In Manhattan Again!
Photo Album: Smart Car In Manhattan
Cars Of The Future: Lose Weight Or You’ll Walk!

Gasoline On November 2, 2008

I haven’t been recording this for quite some time.

Photo taken Sunday, October 26, 2008 with the Philips crapcam:

That’s what it was last weekend.

Yesterday, Saturday November 1, 2008, it was this:

(I had to lighten that pic considerably.)

And today, Sunday November 2, 2008, this is the price:

Cropping is bad, but it’s the only shot I could get.

Let me review all the times I’ve noted the price of gas (Super Unleaded/Premium):

March 15, 2008 – $3.61
May 18, 2008 – $4.25
May 21, 2008 – $4.31
May 26, 2008 – $4.39 (photos begin here)
May 31, 2008 – $4.39
June 8, 2008 – $4.43
June 12, 2008 – $4.51
June 21, 2008 – $4.53
June 28, 2008 – $4.57
July 3, 2008 – $4.59
July 9, 2008 – $4.63
July 27, 2008 – $4.59
July 31, 2008 – $4.53
August 8, 2008 – $4.49
August 13, 2008 – $4.39
August 16, 2008 – $4.35
August 17, 2008 – $4.25
August 21, 2008 $4.39
September 1, 2008 – $4.29
September 6, 2008 – $4.09
September 11, 2008 – $4.05
October 26, 2008: $3.29
November 1, 2008: $3.23
November 2, 2008: $3.09

Note that these are not the days the price changed. These are the days I happened to go by the stations. (There were some consecutive days I went, but not consistently, and I didn’t keep notes. I was interested in the trend.)

So when will I see a drop in food prices?!!?

Educate yourself!

Previously here:

Gasoline On September 11, 2008
Gasoline On September 6, 2008
Gasoline On September 1, 2008
Gasoline On August 21, 2008
Gasoline On August 17, 2008
Gasoline On August 16, 2008
Gasoline On August 13, 2008
Gasoline On August 8, 2008
Gasoline On July 31, 2008
Gasoline On July 27, 2008
Gasoline On July 9, 2008
Gasoline On July 3, 2008
Gasoline On June 28, 2008
Gasoline On June 21, 2008
Gasoline On June 12, 2008
Gasoline On June 8, 2008
Gasoline On May 31, 2008
Gasoline On May 26, 2008
Gasoline On May 21, 2008
Gasoline On May 18, 2008
Gasoline On March 15, 2008
Oh. My. God.