Andy TaylorLeave a commentUncategorized, , , ,

UA Museum of Art presents a Lecture by Douglas Trumbull

Photo of Doug Trumbull“A History of Special Effects in Film and Beyond”

To Speak at The University of Arizona
In Association with UAMAs Exhibition, Metropolis.

The University of Arizona Museum of Art is pleased to announce a presentation by Douglas Trumbull, the legendary special effects creator on Monday, September 20 at Crowder Hall. The special program on the history of cinema from a special effects perspective will encompass the full spectrum of film history from silent films to his current quest for “Immersive Cinematic Experiences.”

Punctuating his lecture with film clips, Trumbull will discuss his efforts in taking IMAX public, developing the Showscan film process, and working on expos and theme park attractions such as Universal Studio Back to the Future, The Ride from a cinematic perspective. His presentation is not to be missed! for film enthusiasts or anyone who has been fascinated by recent advances (think Avatar).

Trumbull will talk about current trends, including Avatar, Digital Showscan, Virtual Sets and digital production/exhibition – plus he will look into the future.

Trumbull’s career took off at the age of twenty-three when he designed the psychedelic tunnel of colored lights called the Star Gate sequence for the film 2001: A Space Odyssey. After 2001’s release in 1968, Trumbull worked on Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Blade Runner and Star Trek:The Movie, and directed two sci-fi films of his own, 1972’s Silent Running and 1983’s Brainstorm.

Visit his website for preview glimpses: www.douglastrumbull.com.

The Trumbull UAMA presentation takes place in Crowder Hall on Monday, September 20 at 7:30 pm. The Lecture is in conjection with the Metropolis Exhibit

Tickets are $12 each ($6 for students and UAMA members).

Seats are limited. Advance ticket purchase is strongly recommended.

TICKET AVAILABLE in person at the UA Fine Arts Box Office, located in the Marroney Theatre in the UA Fine Arts Complex or
Online at arizona.tix.com or Phone: (520) 621-1162

S!ick3 CommentsUncategorized,

make your own shirts…well, almost

I’ve always been a slim guy…at least I think so.  I don’t remember “off-the-rack” shirts ever fitting perfectly:  they have always seemed to be too large around the torso and waist.  The closest I have come is, when I lived in Denver, I invested in a bunch of shirts from the Brooks Brothers store that was there.


“Blank Label is empowering you to co-create your own dress shirt. Forget about shopping at your local retail stores to buy a dress shirt…that fits like a parachute…”

You have my attention…

“Customize the collar, cuff, placket, pockets, shoulders, buttons and more on your personalized dress shirt. Individualize it with a personalized monogram or a custom label…

“Make it a slim fit dress shirt meant to be untucked for Friday nights out, or a fitted dress shirt long enough to be tucked in for a serious day at work…make it your own. Designed by you, stitched by us.”

(That’s a good line:  “Designed by you, stitched by us”…)

Some of their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

“There are 100% cotton fabrics as well as polyester cotton blends, ranging from broadcloth, poplin, pinpoint and oxford.

“…All our dress shirts are individually made for you so we can pretty much do anything with it that you want, including making short sleeves. On the Sizing Page of the Dress Shirt Application, on the bottom right, look for the ‘[5] Measurements’ box. Please just state there ‘Short Sleeve’.

“Find yourself a measure tape, watch instructional videos, make sure the tape is perfectly horizontally straight and you’re measuring at precisely the right positions…

“We don’t encourage self-measuring. There are too many variables that could go wrong with you measuring yourself.

“…we cannot make sizes bigger than XXL with a 18.5 collar and 37-38 sleeve…”

You design/”co-create” your shirt on their website.  I was amazed at the options:
forty types of fabric
collar (complete contrast, inner lining)
cuff (sleeve, complete contrast, inner cuff, single or double button, french/cufflinks)
placket (standard, french, covered)
shoulders (complete contrast, military/epaulet, double strip, clean shoulder)
pocket (complete contrast, double flaps, single notch, no pockets)
buttons (blue, red, brown, black, lavendar, standard)
monogram (collar, pocket, cuffs)
label (collar, placket)

It’s fun just to design a shirt so you can play with all of the options.  When you’re done, URLs can be provided for you to share the design and the shirt!

Danny Wong of Blank Label sent a package to me:

“…Here’s a shirt from my personal collection…

“I have included return shipping inside the bag…”

Oh, well…so much for my birthday present from him…

I’m impressed by the quality of the shirt…to my surprise, he customized the inside of his sleeves…and, it appears we have similar measurements…

(Oh, calm down everyone:  I plan on returning his shirt.  I “plan” on it…today, I plan on it…)

http://www.blank-label.com/

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new PS3 news

September 1st, a new system software update (version 3) will be available for the PlayStation 3 (via “System Update” on the XMB/XrossMediaBar). It will add screens for “What’s New” in the PlayStation Store, and recently played games on the XMB.

The price of the 80 GB PS3 is now $299, and the 160 GB version is $399 because…

The newest PS3 will be in stores September 1 for $299 with a 120 GB hard drive. Per Sony, “…users will not be able to install other Operating Systems to the new PS3 system”.

Some new titles upcoming (from SCE Worldwide Studios) are:
Uncharted 2: Among Thieves
EyePet
Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time
Heavy Rain
God of War 3
MAG
ModNation Racer
and Gran Turismo 5.

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memory for your mother, for Mother’s Day


Mother’s Day is Sunday (May 9th). Lexar is suggesting that you consider giving portable memory storage (for data) as a gift…

At first thought, it may not seem like a great idea…but, hold on: it’s something she can keep things on and take with her anywhere she goes. She can put important information on it, like a will and health records. Pictures and videos can be available for her to show-off. And, she can copy some music files so she can listen to them.

They can be very stylish. For example, Lexar has drives available in different colors and sizes:

 

“…It also serves as a fashionable accessory and comes with a key chain hole so it can be easily tethered onto a key ring, attached to a backpack, or hooked to a purse or briefcase…”

To enhance it as a gift, I thought you can: purchase a USB drive…copy files to it that she will love (pictures, audio recordings, and videos of and from family)…and then give it to her on Mother’s Day. With a tissue, because there’s a good chance she might think it’s so sweet she’ll shed a tear or two…

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