As a Trekkie, I have long had on my list to catch up on the"Star Trek: Enterprise" TV series that ran from 2001-2005. This week I finally finished going through most of the four-season run of the show, and I have to say I'm both glad to be finished and a bit sad that it's over.
"Star Trek: Enterprise" is commonly derided among Trekkies as the worst of all of the "Star Trek" series. Fans complained that the plots were unimaginative and derivative, the characters were one-dimensional, and the overall point of the show was muddled and unclear. Pandering scenes like this one didn't help.
For "SwingNation" episode 17, Spuds , Zuckerpunch and I go back to the beginning of the neo-swing era to chat with 90s swing all-star Steve Bailey. We also gush over Cheryl Crow's latest list of tips for swing dance teachers and show some ridiculously cute Ukrainian kids lindy hopping.
Here's a pretty sick Microsoft commercial. Never thought I would write that last sentence.
Directed by LXD creator Jon Chu, this ad for the new Microsoft Surface tablet showcases lots of awesome hip-hop dancers, featuring b-boy Daniel "Cloud" Campos, Phillip "Pacman" Chbeeb, Steven "Twitch" Boss, and many more. Love the beatboxing section, but don't know who that cat is.
Check out episode 10 starting off season two of "SwingNation," the world's only live broadcast internet talk show on swing and lindy hop. Spuds, Zuckerpunch and I were excited to get back into the studio and try out our new 30 minute format.
Check out the fancy new intro designed by our buddy Paul Marino! We all got fun title cards on the intro video, although Zuckerpunch's is clearly the best.
I love this 50 minute compilation / remix of 80s commercials and television shows, which among many other treasures has some wonderful classic hip-hop and b-boying. Fast forward to the 1:37 mark where the dancing starts.
Also included: "endless beach parties, Saturday morning cartoons, claymation everything, sleek cars, sexy babes, toys you forgot existed, station idents, primitive computer animation, all your favorite sugary cereal mascots" and so much more. Oh yeah.
Entitled "Memorex", the video is described as "the advertising industry's collective wet dream" culled from 40 hours of VHS recorded commercials.
I am happy to announce that the documentary "When Strangers Click" has been nominated for an Emmy in the category "New Approaches to News and Documentary Programming"! Directed by Robert Kenner, director of "Food Inc," the film explores how people are connecting with each other on the Internet, whether it be on a dating site, a message board or a virtual world.
I am proud of my involvement as a consultant on this documentary, helping wrangle some of the love stories that were considered for use in the film and advising the director about how to think about virtual worlds. I hope it wins, which it totally deserves.
[Link to the list of nominees for the 33rd annual Emmy awards.]
Watching these scientists from many disciplines dive deep into the ocean, hike deep into the rainforest, climb tall trees, and root out insects and spiders in the middle of night is a great reminder of what a fantastic adventure science can be. They got to see parts of the Philippines that I have dreamt of visiting, and other areas that were totally remote and intimidating.
And I learned that these scientists are made of sterner stuff than me. You see one arachnologist get bit by a gigantic spider as he is putting it in the a bag for collection. "I'm pretty sure they aren't poisonous," he says, examining the bite. He then resumes searching for more spiders. WOAH.
I also appreciated how much the scientists were connecting with local researchers, teachers, and towns folk, to educate, exchange ideas and collaborate on ways to preserve the local environment, for themselves and succeeding generations of Filipinos. Makes me proud to work at the Academy. And a bit more hopeful about the Philippines, seeing locals stand up for the environment.
My only regret is that this expedition happened before I was at the Academy! But I get to see the fruits of it every day that I'm on the public floor.
Like millions of other geeks, I have a huge nerd-crush on Felicia Day, actress / gamer / ubergeek. Miss Day apparently has a new video blog where she goes out and tries all sorts of different skills, from blacksmithing to crocheting. In this episode, Felicia goes out and learns how to "swing dance."
There's so many things wrong with this dance lesson:
Felicia isn't allowed to "play the man part"
She is told that the man is "in control"
The instructor tells her that "submission is a good thing." WTF?
And of course the steps and the choreography could not be dorkier.
This is made more frustrating for me by the fact that this was filmed in Los Angeles, where there must be boatloads of great lindy instructors who could have shown her all the things that make swing dancing awesome -- connection, pulse, explosive movement, joyful expression. Instead, she learned "The Swing."
America's Best Dance Crew Season 7 Episode 2 was in all respects an improvement over episode 1: better music (Flo Rida), better dancing, and actual drama with one crew going home. Here's my take on the five crews (really six) this week.
Electrolytes: Crew from the sticks in Arizona. Great energy, very dynamic movement, overall solid.
Rated Next Generation: Another teen crew. I liked their swag and their choreo was very "mature" and well executed. I hate their name. I wonder how a battle between them and 8 Flavahs would go?
Collizion Crew: They represent the Dirty South aesthetic well, plus they have great tricks, humor, and dynamic movement. Of the nine crews, they right now are my favorite.
Funkdation: Big ups to these Mexicano dancers for repping the old skool, but they just aren't as clean as the other crews. Their choreo was clever and they added some fun latin flavor. But I'm not a fan.
Mos Wanted Crew: Overall most interesting and complicated choreography of any crew, flawlessly delivered. Not a lot of flash, which was interesting. Squeaky clean and professional. Not surprising since all of them are hip-hop instructors.
I thought the battle between Mixed Elements and Funkdation was pretty one-sided. Mixed Elements had unmatched tricks and well synched choreo. Funkdation had style and flavor, but weren't that much in sync, and didn't have much dynamics or tricks. My guess is that the judges decided to keep Funkdation because they make a better crew in the mix, compared to Mixed Elements were are somewhat forgettable, despite their strong dancing.
That said, I enjoyed every single one of these routines and look forward to seeing next week!
