the 941

Just a little friendly reminder to all you happenin’ kids out there in Squara– oops, we mean Sorryscrot — jeez, what are we saying. Ahem.

Don’t anybody forget to go to Burns Court tomorrow night for Cinema Sounds. Here’s the see and do that CL arts writer Amanda, currently on “vacay” in Portland, wrote for the event.

Burns Court is taking the edge off a muggy July eve with the second installment of its Cinema Sounds series. Saturday’s lineup features a handful of bands providing live musical accompaniment to film excerpts of their choosing. Among the acts: Miami’s Rat Bastard and Curious Hair, and locals Resi Noth, Syd and I and HoverKraft. The latter band, a minimalist/prog rock trio, will furnish the score to Dutch filmmaker Peter Delpeut’s 1991 silent era collage, Lyrical Nitrate. It’s a compilation of found footage shot between 1905 and 1915, the title a nod to the rotting, potentially explosive chemical stock discovered in storage at an Amsterdam cinema. This sort of ephemeral edit job, complete with an in-the-flesh, avant-garde soundtrack, sounds right up our trippy alley. Hell, it’s gotta beat The Love Guru. Sat., July 12, doors at 10 p.m., Burns Court Cinema, 506 Burns Lane, Sarasota, $5, 955-3456 or filmsociety.org

All the cool kids will be there, and so will we.

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This story just confirms what I have believe all along: the automakers have long been able to make super fuel efficient vehicles, but have not, for reasons unknown.

Recently, Volkswagen unveiled a vehicle that gets 235 miles per gallon with a conventional engine. The vehicle only seats two and is made largely of carbon fiber, but VW plans to put it into production for 2010, less than two years away. Amazingly, VW built the car six years ago, but has been waiting for the price of carbon fiber to drop. Prius, schmius.

• Toyota does have plans to add solar panels to some Prius models.

• Mercedes Benz plans to drop all of its petroluem-powered vehicles from it’s line up by 2015.

• I had a call the other day asking me where I got some of my facts regarding the electromagnetic field risks of driving a Toyota Prius. Here’s the link to the story from the New York Times from this April.

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It’s arguable that Marvel Comics’ Ultimates series — a modern re-tool of the classic Avengers team — is the biggest breadwinner the company has seen in years. Not the actual comic books, really, since we know that print comics still don’t enjoy mainstream success. These days, the money is all at the movies.

First came a series of successful animated DVDs. Then, when the company took over production of their officially licensed movies with Iron Man and Hulk (2008), it announced that most of the next 5 years of big-screen comic features will be devoted to the slate of characters on the Ultimates team, with another Iron Man movie, a Captain America feature and a blow-out movie featuring the entire Avengers line-up. And, considering the quality of the first few Ultimates comics series — and the box-office success of Iron Man and the Hulk — it was a good move. Samuel Jackson as Nick Fury? That’s how he was drawn in the Ultimates years before these movies were mentioned.

But then why would you kill the goose that laid the golden egg? I’m not saying that Marvel is canceling the Ultimates comic. On the contrary, I wish they would. (more…)

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When we saw the headline, we thought the guy paid two million bucks to lunch with Jimmy Buffett. But this, this makes much more sense.

For those awaiting the forthcoming Tampa Ikea store…

We heart this article on catchphrases. It is what it is, you know?

Nelson Mandela’s 90th b-day concert drew pretty much, um, everyone. Even Ms. Winehouse.

Getting outta dodge for the Fourth of July? Be green while doing it.

Are you fueling your Corvette today in anticipation of tomorrow’s festivities? Yeppers, it seems the House has just discovered irony. Again.

The online sweatshop?

Today in creative euphemisms: “Among high-stakes professionals,” gambling is a “lifestyle and a passion.”

Obamapalooza continues.

Exile in “Why”-ville: Russia’s ex-pat biweekly is nyet more.

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Stan Winston, a true artist of moviemaking, has passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was 62.

From Jurassic Park to Aliens to Terminator 2 to this summer’s Indy Jones installment and Iron Man, Winston was the effects wizard responsible for theater upon theater chock full of dropped jaws.

In a 2003 BBC interview, Winston said, “I don’t do special effects. I create characters, and I use the tools of special effects necessary to do it.”

Winston did more than create characters. He made magic happen.

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This weekend at the box office: Hulk sees green, M. Night Shamalamadingdong’s latest places third.

Honda goes down to zero, celebs get first dibs as usual. Dang.

Tim Russert’s son, Luke: The (very good) apple doesn’t fall far.

Stockpiling food? Think twice about your favorite canned meat: Spam is spendy.

Whoopi, meet Tony. Tony, meet Whoopi. And some awards were given out, too.

It’s too early for us to read this, but…

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Get down, downtown, tonight, when Digital 3 and Orange Press present a shindig in celebration of the O.P.’s latest issue, its Coloring Book edition (yep, with color, too - a first for the pub).

The party starts at 7, with live music gearing up shortly thereafter and a DJ taking over at 11 p.m. There’s a $10 cover, discounted if you come dressed “richer or poorer.”

D3’s at 1419 Blvd. of the Arts in the SRQ. Contact # is 330-9159. See ya there.

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In honor of the U.S. Open teeing off today in California, here are a few of the best golf video clips ever, from Caddyshack of course.

And it’s really important to have this one from Tin Cup, perhaps the only other decent golf movie ever made.

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The Caribbean Monk seal will soon be off the endangered species list, but only because it’s officially extinct.

• Don’t believe in God? Well, neither does this guy and he took out a billboard to prove it.

• Is Barack Obama an enlightened being?

• Is this the end of the Clinton era?

• Sign that John McCain is in trouble: Robert Novak is calling McCain talking points silly and stupid.

• McCain may be running on the ticket of the “family values” party, but what about the wife he so callously left behind?

• In the lighter side, here’s a look at some really strange festivals in Europe, including Greece’s phallus fest.

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Goodbye, Bo, 1928-2008.

Mr. Pitt, hotelier. Can we get the corporate rate?

O’Neal attempts a Ryder, claims she’s “researching a part.” Um, yeah, perhaps the McEnroe defense next time?

She’s no good. Admittedly.

“Thank you for having the courage to stick with the obvious, yet still hilarious joke.” Indeed.

Jezebel weighs in on the Yves Saint Laurent obits.

Vuja de at the movies, once more. Again.

Speaking of which, no surprise here. And yeah, it really wasn’t that great.

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