robot kirkland

2009-06-15T12:12:00.000-07:00

Wallander is a new series from the BBC that airs on PBS Mystery here in the US. It is the kind of filmmaking I have been waiting for. It is a crime drama based on the character, Investigator Kurt Wallander from the popular book series. The cinematography will hypnotize you. It is shot on RED digital cameras often using tilt shift photography to create a very soft look. Filmed on location in various small towns in Sweden most of the action takes place during the day making excellent use of the gorgeous coastal sunlight. I am a particular fan of this because I enjoy the contrast of dark crime and police action taking place in fantastically well decorated swedish homes on under blue skies on Saturday mornings. It probably doesn't hurt that Wallander is played by Kenneth Branaugh either. He's bigtime.

2009-06-13T21:25:00.001-07:00

For anyone who cares this is my official top 20 film list (in no particular order). I have put a lot of thought into it and have reasons for why I chose each film. If there are any films on this list you have not seen, I highly recommend them.

Friday Night Lights
One Hour Photo
The Departed
Punch Drunk Love
Heat
No Country for Old Men
Unbreakable
Waiting for Guffman
Million Dollar Baby
Ghost Dog
The Virgin Suicides
Batman Begins
Babel
Alien
Junebug
The New World
28 days later
The Wrestler
The Professional
Fallen

2009-05-07T13:28:00.000-07:00

Thursday May 7, 2009 Sean Kirkland officially announced that he is retiring from Ultimate Fighting. More specifically he is retiring from Ultimate Fighting training, since he did not actually compete. There was great promise for the young star but due to complications with following his diet and exercising regularly he has withdrawn from the sport. Lacrosse coach Joel Henning is a close friend of the retired fighter and was quoting in saying, "Sean doesn't know ONE martial art, let alone enough to mix!" It seems as though there was some truth to his statement after all. While the young fighter was able to lift heavy weights for 15 minutes at a time and roar at himself in the mirror often, he was unable to actually produce any results that would prepare him for a real fight. In a recent exclusive interview Sean explains to the public why he left and what they can expect from him in the future. "I have lived the dream. I have lived the ultimate dream and I don't regret one second of it. But now it must end. I can no longer continue down this road, because it leads to a city that I have already visited. I must blaze a new trail. A trail that leads to a place where people are chanting my name in anticipation. I hope to see you all there. Goodbye, and God Bless."

2009-03-22T20:38:00.000-07:00

I went to an indie craft fair today with Madeline, Brian, and Kayleigh. It is ridiculous how much fun I have at these things. I am finally coming to grips with the fact that God has programmed me to adore the world of design. When I see a piece of jewelry fashioned out of the inner workings of a watch or a plush cyclops monster with neon green fur, I am filled with a sense of excitement for both the finished product as well as its author. I say excitement because it is much stronger than appreciation. When I see design that pleases me, I am more likely to do a rabbit punch or break-dance than I am to give a light compliment of appreciation. Yes, there is definitely something inside of me that is fueled by creation. I enjoy creating things myself and in the last few years have begun to bring more of the things in my head into physical forms. I could not have begun this jouney without encouragement from my friends and family though. For so many years I have stayed away from truly pursuing my dream in design due to the classic fear of failure. There is nothing special about this fear. It affects us all. But in my case, I have allowed it to rob me of a true joy I believe God intended for me to have all along. My cousin Matt has been huge in helping me overcome this fear. Matt is a web designer for brandnewbox as well as a kick ass independent graphic and industrial designer. mattkirkland.com He has always encouraged me and showed geniune interest in my projects. I firmly believe that God used him to open my eyes and take a another look at how I am wired. I have always looked up to Matt and for him to come along side of me and tell me that I have value as a designer, that really does mean the world to me and it gives me the confidence and motivation I need to get off my butt and create more cool stuff. I am grateful for people like Matt in my life because I think they help me become what I am supposed to be. Whatever that is.

2009-03-05T20:13:00.001-08:00

I am training to be a UFC fighter. This is not a joke. It may look like a joke, but I assure you this is no laughing matter. I am taking my training very seriously. I am currently on day 4 of what will most likely be a year long process. The exercising is challenging but it is nothing compared to the strenuous lifting I have taken on. I do heavy weights 3-4 times a week and cardio on the off days. My diet is strict so please keep your soft drinks and reeses peanut butter cups away from me. I will have none of it. My training is still in the beginning stages and it is mostly conditioning but seeing how it is based around fighting, there are some pretty explosive exercises. Some of which require me to punch holes in the air and do ridiculous vertical leaps from stationary positions. It is pretty complicated and dangerous. I will be documenting my journey as I go from a man into killing machine and will be posting pictures of some of my workouts. I welcome encouragement so if you see me, don't hesitate to root me on with a high five or a fist pound.

2009-02-25T11:48:00.000-08:00

It’s pretty rare these days to stumble across something cool before wikipedia does. As I congratulated myself in discovering this treasure first, I was suddenly hit with the pathetic but true realization. If wiki-pedia doesn’t have any information on the subject then how will I ever learn about it? After some serious research through alternative sources, I learned that Zeitguised is a company that does CG work primarily for commercials. The link below is to a short they created for noncommercial purposes. It is entitled "Peripetics or The installation of an irreversible axis on a dynamic timeline." It is a piece in six acts made by Zeitguised for the opening exhibition at the Zirkel Gallery with sound design by Zeitguised and Michael Fakesch. It reminds me of some of the things I dream about. While it is visually stunning it also is emotionally disturbing to me. Check it out here.
http://www.vimeo.com/3268624

2009-02-25T10:02:00.000-08:00

The first time I met Madeline I knew I was in love. I know there are relationships out there where people slowly grow on each other or gradually develop an attraction or closeness. This was not my experience with Madeline. I instantly knew I loved her and I was obsessively infatuated with her. It was probably pretty unhealthy but I did not care. Looking back I see that I based all my decisions on pure emotion and suffered the consequences for doing so in the process. Yet somehow we muddled through the messiness and she made the decision to become my wife. I could not be more grateful, for there is no reason a crazy, twisted, weird looking man like myself should ever get a woman like her. She has gorgeous blonde hair and big pretty eyes that make my stomach do flip flops. She has smooth porcelain skin and an elegantly soft voice that calms me down when I have a rough day. That same small voice can also morph into the loudest booming voice you have ever heard! I can’t believe it. Can you? Madeline is such a little girl to have such a powerful voice. Most people have never heard it. She only lets me and a few other people hear it. She reminds me of a lioness in that respect. A beautiful wild creature that does not perform for anyone, but if you are lucky enough to hear her roar, it is a special experience. She is not like me. She doesn’t need or want social attention. She is perfectly content being private and isolated. Sometimes I think she isolates herself too much but I don’t argue with her anymore. She is one of the strongest debaters I have ever met, so getting into an argument with her is like getting into the boxing ring with Ali. You do NOT want to go there unless you are craving defeat or just curious about what it feels like to get your ass kicked. She is very aware of her argumentative skills though and she has been trying to rein them in a bit for the sake of others. She is a fantastic cook. She cooks with passion and makes a mess. After a meal the kitchen is usually a war zone but it is worth it. There is nothing she won’t make, bake, cure or stir. She loves challenges and learns from her mother who cooks in the ancient Mennonite way. Madeline is so funny that one time I choked on a carrot just thinking about something she said. I can’t remember what she said but I remember that carrot getting lodged in my throat. (I have a pretty bad fear of choking.) She makes me laugh constantly when we are together. The expressions on her face and the bad English accents send me reeling with happiness and joy. Madeline is the best thing in my entire universe and I am so excited that I get to do life with her. She is a gift from God and I will cherish her always.

2009-01-27T16:59:00.000-08:00

The Wrestler is a study on two types of dangerous and sometimes brutal entertainment, pro-wrestling and stripping. The film follows Mickey Rourke's portrayal of Randy the "Ram" as he continues to wrestle in the underground circuit well past his prime. He performs in rings that are erected over the weekends in community centers and elementary schools for embarrassing amounts of cash. A hand-held camera follows Randy for most of the film as he prepares for his matches. His pre-fight rituals focus just as much on tanning and hair dying as they do on lifting weights and shooting up. You might think you would find it humorous to watch a 53 year old guy spray on a tan or highlight his roots in preparation for a wrestling match but the viewer feels nothing but sadness as they watch Randy use his measley budget to crudely try to piece together a youth that abandoned him years ago. The first time you actually see a match is well into the film and for good reason. Up until this point the mood has been very thoughtful and quiet but as you follow Randy the "Ram" into the ring for the first time, everything changes. The roar of the crowd is deafening and the adreneline kicks in. You watch Randy come alive as an entertainer and the sounds of bone crushing blows will make your heart stop. Pro wrestlers will put their bodies through literal hell for the sake of applause and we learn that it is this particular form of validation that fuels Randy's soul. That is why this film evokes a deep sadness and not pity. Randy doesn't go through extreme makeovers out of vanity. He does it because it is part of his job. Just as he continues to physically endanger himself in exchange for a sense of purpose. Marisa Tomei plays Pam, a stripper that befriends Randy. Pam also struggles with her age as her body is constantly being watched, judged, and inspected. Though she may not live for the roar of the crowd as Randy does, she is still in the business of selling her physique for entertainment. This story is about two people that became very good at one thing and the scary reality that they cannot continue doing it. I loved this movie because I LOVED RANDY the RAM. Rated R for nudity and violence.

2008-11-26T12:46:00.000-08:00

Stranger than Fiction opens with Emma Thompson narrating a novel that she is currently writing. Her main character is Harold Crick (Will Ferrell), an IRS represenative that lives a very boring scheduled life. One day while Harold is brushing his teeth something very strange happens. Harold hears his narrator. The film is extremely entertaining as a very straight faced Ferrell never questions his sanity but instead teams up with a literary professor (Dustin Hoffman) and goes on a search to find out who is narrating his life. As he gets closer to finding the voice the viewer is filled with tension for fear of what will happen when real life intersects with fictional literature. The cast is perfect and Ferrell who is very serious and contemplative the whole time, is hilariously fantastic at not being funny. But the best part of this film is in the message. What makes a story great? Is it essential for death and sadness to be ingredients in great literature? Why is it that we tend to roll our eyes at stories that are joyful or give us hope? Spoon does the soundtrack and those guys totally rule. Rated PG-13

2008-11-26T08:50:00.000-08:00

I have spent the last week researching different types of mold and other fungi. In my quest to learn if mold was part of the fall, I have come across 2 distinct camps. You may say to yourself, "Sean, who cares about mold? This is not a popular topic that people would even argue about?" Still, some of you will take a side on this. Allow me to explain. Some people believe that mold and other organisms involved in biodegradation were an original part of Gods plan in the Garden of Eden. To them it is a beautifully orchestrated design which allows birth and growth while preventing crowding and overgrowth. Though the fall changed the way we interact with this organism, it was there all along. This theory follows the idea of a constant cycle for all living things created excluding those made in Gods very image. That’s right most people who have this opinion believe that the cycle was originally something for humans to enjoy but not something for them to participate in. (Sure we all want to watch the leaves fall but we don't want to ACTUALLY die too.) The other theory is that nothing even resembling death or any sort of cycle existed before the fall. Believe it or not there may be some scriptural evidence to back up this theory. Some scholars believe that there was absolutely no rain before the flood. Lets look at 2 verses in Genesis: "These are the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens, And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground. But there went up a mist from the earth, and watered the whole face of the ground." (Genesis 2:5-6) and “In the six hundredth year of Noah’s life, in the second month, the seventeenth day of the month, on that day all the fountains of the great deep were broken up, and the windows of heaven were opened.” (Genesis 7:11) These scriptures suggest that there was originally a trapped atmosphere with a constant mist that kept everything growing without the use of rain. A greenhouse effect if you will. (This is also used to explain why people lived to be 800 years old but I know nothing about that stuff) So what does the absence of rain have to do with this theory you ask? Well, rain is one of the biggest representations of a cycle in our world today. It is critical to our survival. Yet it did not seem to be necessary when God created the earth. Plants still grew and no one went thirsty, yet there was no need for such a painful process. (Think baby teeth just becoming adult teeth instead of actually losing them) So in this theory, nothing died, nothing changed, everything was healthy and always had everything it needed. That is until sin.

2008-11-17T11:06:00.000-08:00

Does anyone have any theories on whether or not mold was part of the fall? Genesis tells us that humans sinned against God in the garden of eden and severed a relationship with their creator which then left Gods creation suceptible to death and destruction. Christians believe the Fall corrupted the entire natural world, including human nature, causing people to be born into original sin, a state from which they cannot attain eternal life without the gracious intervention of Jesus Christ the Son of God. I have always equated things like pain in childbirth and thorny plants with the fall. I am no theologian but I have often heard pastors associate shame, disease, and physical pain with part of this corruption. I have read books where theologians use phrases such as, "It wasn't supposed to be this way." or "This was not what God intended." I have always wondered what it was like before Adam and Eve where evicted. Were the animals all herbivores? Did mosquitoes exist? (If so did they drink honey instead of blood?) If there was no death, was there no decay? Which brings me to my original question. What is the spiritual nature of mold? It seems that most molds main purposes are in biodegradation (when organic substances are broken down by the enzymes produced by living organisms) and since death was not in the original plan, what was God's original intention for this form of life seeing that it is primary function is decomposition? As I said before I am no theologian, and I am definitley not a scientist but I am going to investigate further into the nature of mold and its various attributes with hopes to learn more about its creator. I plan to start with these common molds:

Acremonium
Aspergillus
Cladosporium
Fusarium
Mucor
Penicillium
Rhizopus
Stachybotrys
Trichoderma

I know you all will be chomping at the bits to read about my discoveries.

2008-11-10T09:59:00.000-08:00

Heaven is a film I viewed for the first time this past October. I had never heard of it before and I am still trying to figure out why. It has excellent cinematography and two fantastic actors driving a very curious story. The story takes place in Italy where an American school teacher (Cate Blanchett) takes the law into her own hands and makes a costly mistake that she will regret for a lifetime. Held prisoner by the police, she is entrusted to the watch of a young officer (Giavanni Ribisi) who takes an immediate liking to her despite her crimes. For no logical or practical reason other than love, he decides to help the teacher and the two embark on a strange and sad journey to escape their past. The film is in Italian which makes it even more impressive for the two American actors. I thoroughly enjoyed the constant momentum of the story which will hold your attention quite well. Italian is a very beautiful language and mixed with a haunting score it makes for a wonderful soundtrack. Rated R

2008-10-31T20:44:00.000-07:00

It is Halloween and after an exhausting week at work I did what anyone would do. I painted my face like a skeleton, made some tacos and watched a movie. It would have been the best night ever, except that the movie blew giant rhino zits. I know I should have known better than to watch Jim Carrey's Dick and Jane, but it was just on, and there were tacos and pepsi and it was just on, and I JUST WATCHED IT OK!! There was nothing visually appealing yet I never took my eyes off it. It wasn't funny, but I laughed in several parts. There wasn't a story, but I saw it through to the end just in case. Why do I do that to myself? As I sat and contemplated the poor use of my time (as I often do) I thought of how much more productive my life would be if I didn't waste it watching movies. I could produce more artwork or help my parents work on their house. I could take extra classes or spend more quality time with my little brother. The thought of cutting films out of my life entirely made my skin crawl. No, no that was not the solution. There are too many redeeming aspects of films and I couldn't bear to be without them. So I have decided that I will simply be more selective. If I give up my time it needs to be worth it. No more eating nachos and watching Romi and Michelles Highschool Reunion. (My cousin Matt probably plows through 500 pages of 17th Century French Literature in the time it take me to watch that junk.) I don't know of any critics that I agree with more than 50 percent of the time so I will turn to my friends for guidance on these matters. Feel free to suggest your personal favorite films as I will begin to blog about mine (hopefully returning the favor). Now if you will excuse me, I have to go egg Gene DeFelice's house.

2008-10-28T21:26:00.000-07:00

My dad turned 53 today but he said that he felt 30. We all had a long laugh. What a funny guy. My mom made a delicious rosemary pork roast and we shared stories about him. We told Madeline of the time when serious nerve damage left him unable to breathe on his own, and how after months of tears and prayer he was miraculously healed. My mom was explaining how all the doctors were puzzled at his seemingly supernatural recovery when I noticed Trevor's wide eyes and intense face. The kid had never known about it. Being an infant, he never went through that scary time with us so he was spared that. Its funny that Trevor can grow up with the same parents yet have such a different experience. I got to race my dad around Hazelwood Central's race track when I was his age. Trevor will never get to experience that. It seems sad but now as I write this I am realizing Trevor has a big brother that races him on the track. And I never had that when I was his age. (For those of you who are wondering, YES, Trevor can beat me in a race.) We also talked about how we missed Jeremy as we always do during special celebrations. We are simply incomplete without him. As we were cutting the cake Trevor felt the need to tell us about the dreams he has been having lately. Apparently he has nightmares about all of these Chinese babies that point and laugh at him as he tries to get ready for school. Its awesome.

2008-10-25T21:34:00.000-07:00

I scored tickets to the MU homecoming game so I had the privilege of watching Chase Coffman evade a tackle using his patented "jump over the dude" tactic, live and in person. My wife Madeline and I accompanied her parents who got us the tickets and we tailgated with none other than senator Kit Bond. I also got to meet up with my best friend Joel and his wife Heather and watch him show off on the snare drum with the alumni drum line. Man, those guys are GOOD. In addition to the football I also got to see:

-a guy drink a beer from a hollow wiffle ball bat and almost get hit by an SUV
-the golden girl alumni squad (think heavyweights meets the t.v. show golden girls)
-a gaggle of guys wearing white hats play Frisbee (classic)

The tigers destroyed Colorado 58 to 0 and Coffman broke the record for most receptions by a tight end. All in all it was a fantastic day!

2008-10-25T20:43:00.000-07:00

My aunt and uncle just bought a new house. It is totally awesome, but the two greatest features of this beautiful home are the indoor hot tub and the "joke phone". A bright blue plastic payphone that is adhered to the wood paneling in their unbelievably hip basement. That's right, for only 25 cents you can enjoy a joke told in the fashion of the great comedians from the 1950's, complete with a laugh track. So if you ever get the chance to visit the new Doug Kirkland estate, bring plenty of quarters because while the pool, jacuzzi, and billiards are free the jokes are not.