Archive for July, 2009

Mp3 of the Week: Times New Viking’s “No Time No Hope”

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Times New Viking: \”No Time No Hope\” (Times New Viking: “No Time No Hope”)

As decent-functioning recording equipment becomes cheaper by the year, you have to wonder about the future of lo-fi. When every Mac laptop comes with GarageBand pre-installed, what role can tape hiss possibly have in indie rock circa 2009?

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Driven Mad: Vegas, baby

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Unusual driving gigs add piquancy to the usual roster of airport transfers and bachelor hoedowns, or “ho-go-downs” as a recent customer named them.

Classy.

Out-of-the-ordinary jobs include those which take us to an unlikely destination, or involve interesting or famous people, or leave one asking plenty of questions. I had an example of the latter last week, one that left puh-lenty of room for speculation.

My dispatch docket showed the time at which a privately owned jet was scheduled to arrive at our wonderful “International” airport, together with the number of people traveling (two) and the address to which I was to drive them. This stank of the unusual, from when I searched online for the owners of this particular jet (a corporation in Las Vegas) to the fruitless quest to find just where the customers’ residence was (somewhere in Manatee County). The street name, or the possible typo-induced variations of it, just didn’t make sense. Curiouser and curiouser. Oh well, the customers should know where they live, and they will speak English despite their obviously Asian name, right?

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Video game review: Let’s Tap

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Let's Tap Box Art
Let’s Tap
Developer:Prope
Publisher: Sega
Released: June 16, 2009
MSRP: $29.99

We thought we had it all. We could use the Wii remote as a sword, fishing rod, tennis racket, baseball bat, lightsaber and an assortment of other weapons and sports paraphernalia. But alas, we didn’t have it all. At least not until Let’s Tap. Now, gamers can set their Wiimotes down for a change and tap their way to single or multiplayer victory. Or just have fun with fish in a pond or fireworks in the sky.

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Gamma Testing video game podcast episode #15: Prototype

Friday, July 31st, 2009

The GammaTesting.com guys dive deep into this ’90’s-era, comic-inspired, morally-devoid, open-world, super-dude action game and revel in the freedom of movement and wide range of epic combat options. Of course, no amount of car-throwing, copter-jacking or disease-tendrilizing can overcome brutal and blatantly manipulative boss fights, like the final one in Prototype.

Still, epic is good. Listen up! (Then check out all the other Gamma Testing episodes.)

Gamma Testing Podcast Ep15: Prototype

Movie review: Fly me to the Moon

Friday, July 31st, 2009

A sci-fi adventure with few special effects?

Moon, a UK entry in three film festivals, does not need an expensive Hollywood budget. Its dramatic strength lies in Duncan Jones’ skillful direction of the main character, Sam Bell, an astronaut/miner we bond with from the minute we watch the first frame of the film.

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Listen to Cliff Roles interview Venice Theatre director Brad Wages

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Cliff Roles interviews Brad Wages

From our boy Cliff Roles:

One of my all-time favorite musicals, West Side Story, is going to be performed at Venice Theatre from Thursday, July 30 onwards as its third annual Summer Stock production.

Here’s Brad Wages, director & choreographer, in conversation with me about Bernstein & Sondheim’s modern day retelling of Romeo & Juliet – click to listen!

Enter to win free tickets to see Def Leppard, Poison and Cheap Trick at Tampa’s Ford Amphitheatre on Fri., Aug. 14

Friday, July 31st, 2009

Here’s how it works: Tell us why you deserve free tickets for a night of craziness with your favorite ’80s rock gods in the comments section below, then email us your contact information. We’ll announce our winner on Tues., Aug. 11!

Linkage: News from around the Suncoast in five clicks or less

Friday, July 31st, 2009

— A tape recording of Sgt. Ken Castro interviewing Juan G. Perez suggests Castro was more interested in getting Perez to agree that he was treated fairly than in collecting evidence about whether or not criminal charges should be filed against the officer who abused him. (You can listen to the full audio to boot.)

— While the local construction industry continues to languish, Charlotte County makes changes so that when growth does pick back up, it will be the environmentally friendly kind.

— Five Points Park: arts destination? “‘We want to change the park’s image from a homeless hangout to a place where arts are enjoyed,’ said Brenda Terris, executive director of Season of Sculpture.”

Neighborhood Eats: Our Longboat Key restaurant guide

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

Sarasota’s longest, most insular island is home to the area’s best waterfront dining options. Here’s a selection:

CAFÉ DON GIOVANNI 5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 383-0013
Casual but elegant Italian cuisine featuring gherbs grown by the chef and some homemade pastas.

CAFÉ ON THE BAY 5350 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 383-0440 or cafeonthebay.com
Part of the Cafe L’Europe and Celebrations Catering group, Café on the Bay serves island fare that ranges from cheeseburgers to veal forestiere, with the occasional Asian influence thrown into the mix.

CHART HOUSE 201 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key, 383-5593 or chart-house.com
Although a national chain, this upscale seafood and steak restaurant has been a fixture on Longboat for decades, with expansive and gorgeous views of the Gulf on the south end of the island. (more…)

Sarasota ABC sports anchor cramps up, wears shorts on air

Thursday, July 30th, 2009

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