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Unreliable Narrators
"We have looked for so long at foggy landscapes reflected in misty mirrors that we have come to like fog."
A collection of short films by Jon Rafman.
Films shot on location in Montreal, San Francisco, and Chicago. "We have looked for so long at foggy landscapes reflected in misty mirrors that we have come to like fog." ... more -
The worst movie hairstyles ever
I don't think they're all that bad really.
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Save The Ninja!!!
With the recent sighting of the rare and elusive Ninja in the wilds of New Jersey, I thought it prudent to re-address an old cause of mine - saving the endangered majestic Ninja.
Where Have All The Ninja Gone?
Cheap fuel-efficient cars, VCRs, and stereos weren’t the only Japanese exports that flooded into America during the 70s and 80s. The plucky indigenous ninja cleverly smuggled themselves over the sea to dazzle American audiences with their seemingly magical martial arts abilities. They were soon to find fertile ground in American pop-culture and almost immediately a Ninja Boom was born.
There was a time when ninja were as abundant as the stars in the skies. They were everywhere in America. They were in movies, on TV programs, in comic books, in newspaper personals, on street corners.
Just opening the pages of any comic book back then you could find throngs of ninja taking on small bands of heroes. On TV you could watch ninja fight each other, the A-team, greying old ex-pats, G.I. Joe, and so on. Less respectable movie theaters showed Ninja movies every other week. In bookstores, you had your pick of ninja books that detailed every aspect about these secret warriors from their skills, their weapons, to their breakfast cereals.
Everybody wanted to be a ninja or at least own their weapons. Nun-chunks were once as plentiful as handguns in American households. No impressionable 13-year old boy could hold his head up high amongst his peers if he did not own at least half a dozen shurikens (”throwing stars”). That these JC Penny shurikens failed to stick in anything did not deter their popularity one bit.
As for the real Ninja, they served as the perfect martial arts foil for any aspiring hero whether they were samurai, shaolin monks, police officers, superheroes, or redneck truck drivers. Ninja were readily available for heroes to test their mettle against. It didn’t take much to find a few ninja back then as they were just about everywhere. A hero could hardly go for a leak without bumping into a pack of them along the way.
Then the butt-kicking would begin. With the recent sighting of the rare and elusive Ninja in the wilds of New Jersey, I thought it prudent to re-address an old cause of ... more -
Prince Charles breakdancing
Some rare footage of the future king of England putting in some extraordinary moves on the dancefloor back in the 1980s.
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The Smurfs are going to Hollywood
The same guys who brought us Shrek are turning the all-too-familiar Hanna-Barbera cartoon into a Hollywood film. I'm not quite sure if this is a good thing or not! The same guys who brought us Shrek are turning the all-too-familiar Hanna-Barbera cartoon into a Hollywood film. I'm not quite sure if... more
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Party of Hope-Ted Kennedy 1980
Listen or read Ted Kennedy in his 1980 Democratic National Convention Address. There are many great moments in this. I have clipped in just a few below.
"We are the Party -- We are the Party of the New Freedom, the New Deal, and the New Frontier. We have always been the Party of hope. So this year let us offer new hope, new hope to an America uncertain about the present, but unsurpassed in its potential for the future."
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"We must not surrender to the relentless medical inflation that can bankrupt almost anyone and that may soon break the budgets of government at every level. Let us insist on real controls over what doctors and hospitals can charge, and let us resolve that the state of a family's health shall never depend on the size of a family's wealth.
The President, the Vice President, the members of Congress have a medical plan that meets their needs in full, and whenever senators and representatives catch a little cold, the Capitol physician will see them immediately, treat them promptly, fill a prescription on the spot. We do not get a bill even if we ask for it, and when do you think was the last time a member of Congress asked for a bill from the Federal Government? And I say again, as I have before, if health insurance is good enough for the President, the Vice President, the Congress of the United States, then it's good enough for you and every family in America." Listen or read Ted Kennedy in his 1980 Democratic National Convention Address. There are many great moments in this. I have clipped ... more -
Exclusive! Square Pegs Minisode
Before Sarah J was a fashionista she was a geek just like the rest of us (or well like me!)
Check out her first TV show, Square Pegs Before Sarah J was a fashionista she was a geek just like the rest of us (or well like me!) ... more -
Portion size, then and now
Wow! Around the time I was born, people used to eat a lot less.
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New Kids on the Weather Block!
Wow! Television news is getting more and more desperate to hook the younger crowd--and by younger crowd I mean those of us still stuck wearing our acid washed jeans, scrunchies and Reebok high tops!
Still a very enjoyable start to the day you might say--"He's stuck (hand tough!)!" Wow! Television news is getting more and more desperate to hook the younger crowd--and by younger crowd I mean those of us still stuck... more -
Chernobyl, Nikolay and the others
On 26 April 1986, the worst nuclear disaster in history occurred in Chernobyl, devastating the lives of millions of people living in Western Russia and the Ukraine as well as contaminating large parts of Europe.
Nikolai was working in Chernobyl as officer in command of the battalion 32207. He was a podpolkovnik. The task of his battalion was to provide first aid in the event of an accident at the nuclear plant.
Early that morning, the 20 scientists on duty ran a safety test in the Reactor No. 4 of the power plant of Chernobyl in the north of Ukraine, just 106 km from Kiev. When something went wrong the biggest ecological disaster was about to start. What happened is History, more or less contaminated too.
It?s thought that almost 800000 people worked in the clean-up after the accident, although only 284,000 are registered as veterans of Chernobyl. It?s impossible to establish an accurate figure. In a totalitarian regime that routinely classified practically everything and everyone the exact number of those who came to clean up Chernobyl is unknown because no records had been kept ? in fact, there are no official lists of people who were sent or simply worked in Chernobyl.
During the interview with Nikolai, he told me that on the third day after the accident, 350 men were put under his command to form the battalion 50937 of the civil defence. He claimed that 350 men were assigned to him, but none of them were officially listed. (He possesses the documents to back up his claim).
?The people who formed my battalion weren?t officially there. They weren?t on a payroll or anything similar. They were in fact, Smertniki, people sent to die.
Many questions remain unresolved: Why weren?t all those men officially listed? Why did it take Nikolai, who was a high-ranking officer, 17 years to prove he was there? And what really happened in those days?
The documentary would give a first-hand account of somebody who was there ? his thoughts and recollection of those dramatic days as well as his harrowing 20-year battle for recognition with the Ukrainian government. The documentary aims to give a voice and recognition to the forgotten heroes of the 20th century ? people like Nikolai ? whose courage and determination saved Europe from a nuclear holocaust.
Rather than focus on the actual disaster of Chernobyl and its environmental consequences, the three-part documentary will narrate the story of the ghost battalion 50937.
The Chernobyl accident will function as a background to explore the feelings and the memories of a collective drama that involved millions of people, yet still remains a mystery to the outside world. However, it?s my belief that any attempt to narrate a true account of those days is impossible as the Ukrainian government is slowly coming out of a decade of fake democracy and corruption at every level. Because of the bureaucratic culture that allowed the cover-ups and censorship in the coverage of Chernobyl in the Soviet media, there is still a lot of secrecy about the area.
Nikolai, in fact, is not only fighting for recognition but mainly, and understandably, for a better pension. The Eastern European approach to life is much more practical ? it became clear to me that none of the people who still live in Kiev and have been to Chernobyl are fighting for a better place in history but rather because recognition would automatically mean a better pension.
For all of the veterans, it?s a traumatic experience to remember and they are all very ill with various forms of cancer (thyroid the most common, but also testicle cancer) and many also suffer from respiratory and heart complications. The documentary should be made as soon as possible because of deteriorating health conditions of many of the potential interviewees and their need for medicines.
On 26 April 1986, the worst nuclear disaster in history occurred in Chernobyl, devastating the lives of millions of people living in W... more -
Terrifying 80s corporate mascots...
...and the people responsible for them. Why you are so messed-up now. Video is of your friendly neighbourhood M&Ms Man.
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Hot shoe, glue footed, street scoundrel - 1980s skateboarding
Now-celebrated skater Mike V, at Brooklyn Banks in New York City, back in '86. Soundtracked by Run DMC's 'Perfection'. Love the nonchalant face... Now-celebrated skater Mike V, at Brooklyn Banks in New York City, back in '86. Soundtracked by Run DMC's 'Perfection'. Love the nonc... more
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Former PM Margaret Thatcher in hospital
82-year-old Lady Thatcher was taken to a London hospital last night for "precautionary tests". She was driven from her Belgravia home and admitted to St Thomas's Hospital near Waterloo for the medical checks, a Conservative party spokeswoman said.
In 2005 the former Tory party leader suffered a series of minor strokes which affected her short-term memory. She was advised by doctors to withdraw from public commitments and is said to require extensive home care. 82-year-old Lady Thatcher was taken to a London hospital last night for "precautionary tests". She was driven from her Belgravia home... more -
Boston: The '80s Rock Film Series
Break out the blue eye shadow and stonewash jeans, it's time to party like it's 1985. The Brattle Theatre features classic '80s treats until March 12th. From "Purple Rain" to "This is Spinal Tap." These go to 11. Break out the blue eye shadow and stonewash jeans, it's time to party like it's 1985. The Brattle Theatre features classic '80s treats... more
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Out of print
An ode to the counterculture of the 80s and 90s when unearthing quality culture was a real treasure hunt. Made as part of the Underground Filmmaker Festival. More of my films can be viewed at www.dannyplotnick.com. An ode to the counterculture of the 80s and 90s when unearthing quality culture was a real treasure hunt. Made as part of the Undergr... more
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Family Ties cast reunites to promote new book
Alex, Mallory, Elyse; Oh My! I heart the Keaton's!
The principal cast of "Family Ties" all gathered for the first time in 18 years on to help promote a new memoir by the creator of the iconic 1980's television sitcom, Gary David Goldberg. The idea had been for Goldberg to be on TODAY alone to promote “Sit, Ubu, Sit,” whose title is taken from the tagline of the show that ran on NBC for seven seasons, ending in 1989.
OMG! Anyone remember when Courtney Cox played Alex's girlfriend? What's your favorite "Family Ties" memory or moment? Alex, Mallory, Elyse; Oh My! I heart the Keaton's! ... more -
Lazer Tag... Hotter Than Ever
If they're bringing back American Gladiators, Lazer Tag had better not be far behind. "Rookie! You're late, Rookie!"
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The Smurfs Turn 50!
Happy Birthday to Papa, Sleepy, Baby, Painter, Grandpa, Sneaky, Dreamy, Nosey, Smurfette, Gargamel and Azrael! (Those are all I remember...)
"The Smurfs have turned 50 and a host of events are planned to celebrate the birthday of one of Belgium's greatest exports. 'Les Schtroumpfs' as they were originally called in French, first appeared in Le Journal de Spirou comic strip in 1958 as the brainchild of the Belgian comic artist, Peyo. By 1960, they had their own comic strip series and with the advent of the Hanna-Barbera Productions animated cartoon in 1981 secured a global fan base."
Happy Birthday to Papa, Sleepy, Baby, Painter, Grandpa, Sneaky, Dreamy, Nosey, Smurfette, Gargamel and Azrael! (Those are all I rememb... more -
STRAIGHT FROM THE MIDWEST
YES!
THAT OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP...WITH THE OLD SCHOOL (CIRCA RAP CITY) FEEL! REMEMBER WHEN?
I KNOW THIS IS AN AMATEUR VIDEO, BUT I LIKE THE ORGINAL FEEL AND THE HONEST LOOK ... THE HOOD IN THE MIDWEST.
I ESPECIALLY LIKE THE NAME....MINDPIMP!
HOW CURRENTESQUE
ENJOY THIS! YES! THAT OLD SCHOOL HIP HOP...WITH THE OLD SCHOOL (CIRCA RAP CITY) FEEL! REMEMBER WHEN? ... more -
Snoop Dogg throw back to a different era.
This video looks like it was shot on Beta Max. It's hilarious. Click the link for the video.
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1980s
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1980s
