Digital Ink Los Angeles

What is Erykah Badu saying in her new music video for her single, “Window Seat“? (Click image to view.)

She’s protesting free speech with her naked booty?

She seems to have a lot to say. And it’s a shaky truth.

One should not “Group Think” this one too much, but it seems evident that Ms. Badu wants us to think about JFK and the reality of social delusion. And her booty.

Thank you, Ms. Badu, for your courage. Now, explain that public booty-shaking session for us, please.

Avalon Tuna Club

Catching is always more fun than just fishing, but fishing at Avalon is special at the Tuna Club of Avalon.

Where rod-n-reel fishing started, and the landmark building that housed these wealthy sportsfishers.

The Antichrist has made its debut at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival, and the audience has found that the film lacks a substantial amount of comedy and humor, though some groans and moans from the audience elicited chuckles from nearby movie watchers.

What makes a cinematic genius decide to assemble his filmmaking resources and blow the lid off of the opening chapters of the Book of Genesis? More importantly, will we view love and hate in the Garden of Eden the same way after Lars Von Trier‘s Antichrist hits the darkened theaters and effectively peels a layer off our sensibilities and consciousness?

Von Trier’s Breaking the Waves (1996) is one of the more poignant, gut-wrenchingly emotional movies I’ve ever seen. And Bjork‘s debut in 2000′s Dancer in the Dark was quite a ride as well. Let this be said: Lars Von Trier has some tremendous moxie to focus his creative talent on such a stark and unrelenting narrative. As Roger Ebert said in his review of the film:

There’s electricity in the air. Every seat is filled, even the little fold-down seats at the end of every row. It is the first screening of Lars von Trier’s “Antichrist,” and we are ready for anything. We’d better be. Von Trier’s film goes beyond malevolence into the monstrous. Never before have a man and woman inflicted more pain upon each other in a movie. We looked in disbelief. There were piteous groans. Sometimes a voice would cry out, “No!” At certain moments there was nervous laughter. When it was all over, we staggered up the aisles.

See for yourself, as the film’s creators have offered this advanced trailer:

“All that I care to know is that a man is a human being–that is enough for me; he can’t be any worse.”
~~ Mark Twain, in Harper’s Magazine, September 1899

Mark Twain is a man of American letters who spoke to the profound paradox of man — at once a brave beast, divine and brutal, with ugly virtue and graceful depravity.

There’s a video circulating the internet with naked images of ESPN reporter Erin Andrews, taken surreptitiously by a voyeuristic video-maker with access to Erin Andrews’ hotel-room peep-hole.

All dorm-room humor aside, and after the initial lure to search “Erin Andrews Naked Video” for the best-quality posting on the internet, there arises a moment of pause…

What kind of sick freak has the audacity to put his video camera to a door’s peep-hole and video a young woman in the privacy of her hotel? Not casting any stones, just wondering what this person does for fun? Is there an extreme likelihood that this voyeuristic freak wouldn’t know what to do with Erin Andrews if she invitingly opened her door and offered her uninvited guest to come in for a nitecap?

Quite simply, Erin Andrews is a beautiful woman living in an ugly world. She deserves better. Paris Hilton, Pamela Anderson, and Colin Farrell somehow found their sex videos on the internet because they had intentions from the beginning to capture these compromising images.

Maybe Erin Andrews can call up some of her NFL buddies with gangster friends and criminal histories — Michael Vick, Pacman Jones, Ray Lewis, Travis Henry, and Steve Smith — to exact some violent justice on this peep-hole pervert? That would be a nice professional courtesy, considering the way Erin Andrews has always been an absolutely professional and courteous reporter since she began with ESPN in 2004.

Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is the name of the fourth album from the French Disco Funk band from Versailles, named Phoenix.

Phoenix is Thomas Mars, Deck D’Arcy, Christian Mazzalai and Laurent Brancowitz. Their sound emerged from the 90s club-scene in Paris (think Air and Daft Punk).

Phoenix’s lead singer, Thomas Mars, is married to Sofia Coppola. Their hit single, “1901,” has been the heavy-rotation club remix of the summer.

Listen to the YouTube mp3 here:

Phoenix rising.

“In our blessed and mostly peaceful society we’re not as familiar with courage as we once were. We ascribe the virtue to all manner of endeavors that only really require skill, fortitude and a little daring, the qualities Pat Tillman showed on the football field. Pat’s best service to his country was to remind us all what courage really looks like, and that the purpose of all good courage is love.“
– Senator John McCain
Pat Tillman’s memorial service, May 3, 2004

Pat Tillman was an excellent football player. He was also an heroic soldier. He gave his life for a cause most Americans still can’t quite comprehend, except to say there are bad people who wish our nation harm, and men and women like Pat Tillman have a desire to defend everything this nation represents.

Every once in a while, an “Outlier,” a 1%er, a SuperGOOD person comes along, and their exceptional character necessitates their destiny. For Tillman, it was a sad ending to an otherwise extraordinary life. Only now, after years of cover-ups and back-room bureaucracy, have the facts surfaced about his death. Like much of war, they are not pretty.

Pat Tillman, Sr., in a letter written in 2005 to The Washington Post, stated that supposed “mistakes” by Army higher-ups were part of a pattern of conscious misconduct:

“With respect to the Army’s reference to ‘mistakes in reporting the circumstances of [my son's] death’: those ‘mistakes’ were deliberate, calculated, ordered (repeatedly), and disgraceful — conduct well beneath the standard to which every soldier in the field is held.“

Writer and “New-New Journalist” Jon Krakauer has a new book, “Where Men Win Glory: The Odyssey of Pat Tillman,” which attempts to expose the facts behind the Pat Tillman tragedy.

Whatever the truth may be, Pat Tillman will always be a hero. On the 8th Anniversary of 9/11, Digital Ink Los Angeles remembers the people who’ve sacrificed everything for the love, not the glory.

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Thanks to and credit to Sport Illustrated‘s photographer, Heinz Kluetmeier, for this 1979 photo insert from 30 years ago.

They called him the Tyler Rose. His leg strength — the weight and fury of those tree trunks churning, jersey #20 at Texas and #34 with the Oilers — Earl Campbell was a perfect blend of balance, strength and speed.

His career with the NCAA’s Texas Longhorns and NFL’s Houston Oilers is a thing of legend — a powerful display of leg strength and nimble feet that make Big Earl the most feared Running Back in history.

Earl was born in 1955 in Tyler, Texas, the sixth of eleven children. When Earl was 11 years old, his father died. Some people say this made Big Earl become a man at a young age.

Well, after leading his Tyler High team to a Texas State Championship, Barry Switzer said he should have gone straight to the pros. In his senior season at Texas in 1977, Earl was awarded the Heisman Trophy, having led the nation in rushing with 1,744 yards. Earl’s best NFL season was 1980. In 15 games with the Houston Oilers he had 373 carries for 1,934 yards, at an average of 5.2 yards per carry with 13 touchdowns.

Watch this YouTube video showing the Power and Force of Earl Campbell with a football in his hands.

For this kind of spirit and human strength, a hero, if not superhero, mythic status, must be offered the Tyler Rose. #34 in the program, #1 in our football hearts.

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70s diabolical cinema gave audiences Rosemary’s Baby, The Exorcist, The Omen, and Halloween.

The Millennial Age has given them Blair Witch Project, and now Paranormal Activity.

“A POTENT FRIGHTFEST that will fry your nerves and CREEP YOU OUT!”
– Peter Travers ROLLING STONE

The thing about Oren Peli‘s film — much like Blair Witch Project — is the viral nature of its marketing and the low-budget production’s ability to thrill audiences. Hand-held cameras, insufficient lighting, lack of dramaturgy, cliched storylines, and no-name actors make up the recipe for failure in Hollywood.

Not so with this flick, as the opening date business is already prompting Paramount Studios to initiate a “Demand Paranormal” ad campaign.

View the trailer below:

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Forget about all that freeway traffic — there ‘s a new way to commute to your job. No more waiting in long lines for airline flights. Wanna take that Tahitian vacation but don’t have time for a cross-Pacific flight? Well, fret no more. We’ve got a new way to travel!

Scientists at the Helsinki Universita have discovered a method of deconstructing and reconstructing atom structures and their first tests have proven their theories.

In a February 25th experiment, their tests were able to teleport a fully grown, healthy male student from the bio-physics lab to a temporary facility set up on the opposite end of the campus.

When interviewed, the mysterious Professor of Physics, Dante Inflagrato, said, “We have engaged with a new phase of internet hyper-transfer protocols. By unraveling the DNA strand and re-assembling the atomized structures, the student disappeared and re-appeared on a place not too far away.”

When asked about any problems with the particle- or atom re-assimilator, Dr. Inflagrato said, “The student did experience some period of vertigo-induced nausea and a profound urge to fly, but we’ve been able to calm his systems and functions.” The male student — a volunteer in the pay-for-school work-study program — has not been made available for interviews.

Professor Inflagrato is also in need of volunteers for his time-travel machine and an experiment in invisibility.

On a side note, APRIL FOOL’S!!!

And the winners are…

Digital Ink L.A.‘s 82nd Annual Academy Awards picks:

-Adapted Screenplay-
“Up in the Air”
(Paramount in association with Cold Spring Pictures and DW Studios) Screenplay by Jason Reitman and Sheldon Turner

-Original Screenplay-
“Inglourious Basterds”
(The Weinstein Company) Written by Quentin Tarantino

-Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role-
Jeff Bridges
“Crazy Heart” (Fox Searchlight)

-Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role-
Christoph Waltz
“Inglourious Basterds” (The Weinstein Company)

-Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role-
Carey Mulligan
“An Education” (Sony Pictures Classics)

-Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role-
Mo’Nique
“Precious: Based on the Novel ‘Push’ by Sapphire” (Lionsgate)

-Best Animated Feature Film of the Year-
“Up”
(Walt Disney) Pete Docter

-Achievement in Art Direction-
“Avatar”
(20th Century Fox) Art Direction: Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg
Set Decoration: Kim Sinclair

-Achievement in Cinematography-
“Avatar”
(20th Century Fox) Mauro Fiore

-Achievement in Costume Design-
“Coco before Chanel”
(Sony Pictures Classics) Catherine Leterrier

-Achievement in Directing-
“Avatar”
(20th Century Fox) James Cameron

-Best Documentary Feature-
“The Cove”
(Roadside Attractions)
An Oceanic Preservation Society Production

-Achievement in Film Editing-
“Avatar”
(20th Century Fox) Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua and James Cameron

-Best Foreign Language Film of the Year-
“Un Prophète” (Sony Pictures Classics)
A Why Not/Page 114/Chic Films Production France

-Best Motion Picture of the Year-
“The Hurt Locker” (Summit Entertainment)
Voltage Pictures Production

The harder the life, the sweeter the song.

Jeff Bridges plays Bad Blake in the film. Bridges has achieved mastery of his craft.

Check out the trailer:

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What causes us to search for a New World?

A new route to the Far East spice trade? Nah.

Desire to spread the word of God, like the Dominican and Jesuit missionaries of the 18th Century? Not likely.

Escape from nuclear Armageddon or biological malaise? Maybe.

Discovery of raw materials and new water sources? More than likely.

The recent opening of the billion-dollar CityCenter in Las Vegas is a boastful nod to New World capitalism and its achievements, with the tagline: “Capital of the New World.”

What gives? Films like The Road, Armageddon, Cloverfield, and WALL-E portend the destruction of Earth.

Does Hollywood know something we don’t? One thing for certain, James Cameron won’t be directing my escape ship. And it’ll probably be pretty obvious we’re “not in Kansas anymore.”

Remember that song from the 70s, Children of the Sun?

“‘People of the earth can you hear me?’
came a voice from the sky on that magical night.
And in the colors of a thousand sunsets,
they traveled to the world on a silvery light…”

In 3-D, of course.

Why does Charlie Brown pick the ugliest, scrawniest tree in the lot?

What does he imagine this sad tree will give him?

Well, he’s asking for something simple — the true meaning of Christmas.

According to the original two-buck Chuck, Charles Schultz‘s, A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965):

[first lines of story]
Charlie Brown: [Charlie Brown and Linus stop at a wall on their trip to the pond for ice skating] I think there must be something wrong with me, Linus. Christmas is coming, but I’m not happy. I don’t feel the way I’m supposed to feel.
[begins to walk with Linus again]
I just don’t understand Christmas, I guess. I like getting presents and sending Christmas cards and decorating trees and all that, but I’m still not happy. I always end up feeling depressed.

Linus Van Pelt: Charlie Brown, you’re the only person I know who can take a wonderful season like Christmas and turn it into a problem. Maybe Lucy’s right. Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you’re the Charlie Browniest.

What is the true meaning of Christmas?

Well, Linus defines the literal Christmas with his recounting of the Three Kings and Baby in a Manger story of Jesus Christ‘s birth.

But, more to the figurative meaning of Christmas, Linus offers this idea regarding Charlie Brown’s little tree:

Linus Van Pelt: I never thought it was such a bad little tree. It’s not bad at all, really. Maybe it just needs a little love.

Can’t buy that at a Christmas sale.

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