animal
Into the Sunset: The Dragon’s Claw
A timely tangent on my Spaghetti Western tangent!
Like the lone heroes of the spaghetti westerns, the protagonist in friend and animator Robert Bruce’s recently released and lauded video for Justice of the Unicorns‘ The Dragon’s Claw lives in solitude… until, of course, he sees reason for action. Check out this modern day Man with No Name, sporting a monster costume instead of a poncho.
“The Dragon’s Claw” by Justice of the Unicorns from Robert Bruce on Vimeo.
The Third Man: The Cuckoo Clock
Mechanical Cuckoo from 1650
One of the most well-known lines from The Third Man was not written by Graham Greene, but was actually added by Orson Welles to fill an awkward pause in the middle of a scene.
“…in Italy for 30 years under the Borgias they had warfare, terror, murder, and bloodshed, but they produced Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, and the Renaissance. In Switzerland they had brotherly love – they had 500 years of democracy and peace, and what did that produce? The cuckoo clock.”
Oddly enough, the cuckoo clock actually originated in the Black Forest of Germany and not Switzerland, a point that the Swiss were quick to make to Mr. Welles.
Regardless of its origin, the cuckoo clock is not a simple time piece. It’s often a complex mechanism housed in an intricately decorated… um… house.
Maneaters: For the Love of Nature
Until approximately 6.5 weeks ago, I only knew two people with an intense interest in Jacques Cousteau: my grandfather Armando and Wes Anderson. Now I know another: my friend and colleague Josh. Recently, on a whim, Josh and his wife, borrowed The Cousteau Odyssey from the library. They soon fell in love with the man, his mission, and his red skull cap. That red skull cap is so distinctly Cousteau that it’s even referenced in the Cousteau Society’s logo.
Maneaters: The Charm of the Wild: Addendum
Just saw a tweet from Maud Newton and had to share.
The intro for Olivia Gentile’s forthcoming book, Life List, is a treat.
Magical music. Beautiful birds.
Maneaters: El Matador
Let me be clear about this: I do not condone bullfighting. I think it is a cruel, barbaric,and unnecessary sport. I fully support PETA’s campaign in Europe to end it.
I am, however, fascinated by the grace and glamour of the matador and can understand how Manet and Hemingway were inspired by them.
Maneaters: The Charm of the Wild
Wild animals are cute, right?
from fuckyoupenguin.blogspot.com (via Alex and Jon)
from www.zooborns.com (via Mike)
Maneaters: When I See An Elephant Fly
He’s got wing-like ears, makes nice with a mouse, and rolls with the circus. These are crucial points to the story of Dumbo and some key elements used in the design of the film posters.
Tangent: Maneaters
Recently purchased the new Neko Case and can’t stop listening to “People Got A Lotta Nerve.” The truth is: they do. They really do. Everytime I hear her belt “I’m a man-man-man, man-man-maneater” I want to shake my head.
I want to shake my head for two reasons:
1) I’m totally digging the song.
2) I’m exhibiting both my disgust in and sympathy for the recipient of this message.
You should’ve known, man. You should’ve known.