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Archive for July, 2008

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Based on the 2008 movie of the same name, and claiming to bring the fast-paced action and adventure of the film to the small screen

Glu Launches The Dark Knight Thrilling Action Mobile Game
Good news for BATMAN fans! The leading global publisher of mobile games, Glu Mobile has announced the global launch of its new thrilling action mobile game based on the highly-anticipated Warner Bros. Pictures live-action film - The Dark Knight. The company is also offering an extensive content suite associated with The Dark Knight including 31 […]

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NY Times: Get with the program

After EliteXC’s giant failure in terms of production and action on Saturday night, the New York Times decided to finally begin running some articles on the sport of mixed martial arts. It became apparent that the famous newspaper and its MMA writers aren’t true fans of the sport, and have the smarts of the typical casual fan that has only been into the sport for about a week. Here’s some great opinionated drivel from NYT:

The announcers — Gus Johnson and Mauro Ranallo, in particular, and Frank Shamrock — usually sounded like teenagers besotted by the brutality that fists, elbows, forearms, knees and feet can inflict. But if the action is compelling enough and if M.M.A. truly is the world’s fast-growing sport (Johnson’s claim), why did the three sound like such in-house lackeys?

YAMMA must not have been on this guy’s schedule of MMA to watch. I thought Gus Johnson, Mauro Ranallo, and Frank Shamrock as a team did a fine job. It wasn’t the greatest commentary performance ever, but it was fairly crisp for a nationwide show. In-house lackeys? Yeah, let’s talk complete crap about how bad the promotion is while broadcasting. Give me a break.

Richard Sandomir continues to blast the show for the lines of outrageous claims that CBS/EliteXC made during the event. CBS is on the “dawn of a new era in American sports” and “leading MMA out of the shadows and into the light of prime time”. It isn’t like those statements aren’t true, but they are a bit over the top. Mauro Ranallo is over the top, and that’s why he’s one of the best.

Then there was Johnson’s assessment of Robbie Lawler, who was on the undercard, as being “one of the biggest punchers at 185 pounds on the planet.”

Actually, Robbie Lawler probably is one of the biggest punchers on the planet at 185.

Maybe I’m too used to boxing, but M.M.A. seems more violent. Boxers have died. A death in the cage is almost certain.

So, you’re too used to a sport in which more men die per year than have ever in the sport of MMA? I won’t compare each sport since I love both, but a “death in the cage is almost certain” is a copout statement. MMA has had two deaths already in its existence, a much, much smaller number that boxing has per year.

If M.M.A. is about safety and honor, why whine about protecting the fighters’ health, just because Thompson didn’t go down in a more conclusive pool of blood?

This comes down to actually having some knowledge of the sport. The blood was from Thompson’s cauliflower ear exploding, which isn’t a serious injury. The blood wasn’t in his eyes, it wasn’t impeding his progress, and it wasn’t stopping him from protecting himself. You just saw blood and thought “how horrific, stop the fight”. Interesting, we see movies every single day with blood and gore all over them and people want more, but a little cauliflower ear breaks open and its blasphemy.

Richard Sandomir, get a clue. If you are going to inaccurately portray the sport, do it on someone’s blog. If you want to report on it, maybe the NY Times should find someone who actually likes the sport and wants to watch it. Someone with some knowledge of the history and the fighters.

I would have given EliteXC and CBS an unfavorable review, but I wouldn’t nitpick at the commentary. If you’d have watched some PRIDE, you’d have known that Mauro Ranallo was exactly in character. Gus Johnson did a fantastic job in his commentating duties, and Frank Shamrock worked well as an analyst from time to time. Stop covering MMA, NY Times.

DIY - How to Make a Mobile Tripod!

DIY - How to Make a Mobile Tripod!
Do you think you will be directing any home-brewed movies anytime soon?  Well, if you are, here’s how to make a mobile tripod for those action shots. How to make a stable, mobile, and cool looking base for your tripod. via instructables Brought to you by: Zedomax.com DIY - How to Make a Mobile Tripod! action shots, Cameras, Consumer, Cool, […]

Hong Kong Action Flicks
Top Hong Kong Action Movies on DVD, from your About Guides Marcy Dermansky and Jurgen Fauth

Hong Kong Action Flicks

Hong Kong Action Flicks
Top Hong Kong Action Movies on DVD, from your About Guides Marcy Dermansky and Jurgen Fauth

Green Festival Chief Financial Officer / Co-op America / Washington, DC

Green Festival Chief Financial Officer / Co-op America / Washington, DC
Co-op America/Washington, DC

Green Festival is a joint program of two non-profit organizations, Co-op America and Global Exchange. The Chief Financial Officer (CFO) works with the Green Festival Executive, Operations and Programming teams to ensure that the Green Festivals are run in a financially sound and sustainable manner, and to plan for the growth of Green Festivals.

The events are held in five major markets annually with an aggressive long-range expansion plan. The position requires travel throughout the year. This position is located in the Co-op America office in Washington, DC.

Green Festivals are "parties with a purpose" - weekend long events that showcase the green economy, celebrate what's working in communities and help people, businesses and government learn about how to take their next steps towards creating just and sustainable communities.

Each Green Festival includes over 150 visionary speakers, how-to-workshops, green films, interactive kids' activities, a food court with local, vegetarian food, organic beer and wine garden, and over 350 green business exhibitors. Between 30,000-40,000 people come to each Festival.

Co-op America is a leading national green economy organization, based in Washington, DC. Global Exchange is a leading international human rights organization, based in San Francisco. With Green Festival as their joint program, it brings together sustainable economy, ecological balance and social justice.

The team that puts on Green Festivals is made up of people all over the country:

Staff from Co-op America and Global Exchange.
Seven Star Events, Asheville, NC; event planning, management, operations, sales.
Denise Hamler, Green Festival Director, Co-op America
Greg Roberts, producer; San Francisco, CA
Green Festival has regional directors in each of its cities - Chicago, Denver, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, DC.Ranch 7, Novato, CA; design.
Earthsite, Fairfax, CA; web design and operation.
Organic Works, New York, NY, media.
Executive Co-producers: Alisa Gravitz, Co-op America's executive director and Kevin Danaher, co-founder, Global Exchange
The Green Festival operates as a nonprofit joint venture between Co-op America and Global Exchange. Its board members are Kevin Danaher and Kirsten Moller, Executive Director, Global Exchange and Alisa Gravitz and Denise Hamler of Co-op America.

Responsibilities:

Participatory management and our open-book system means that all Green Fest team members are involved in budgeting and long-term financial planning.

A. Finance & Budgeting Responsibilities:

Develop, maintain and improve accounting systems.
Develop cash flow reporting systems and manage cash flow.
Prepare annual budget with Producer.
Monitor budgets; keep Green Festival on budget.
Prepare and report financial performance on monthly, quarterly, and annual basis for management and the board.
Major liaison with Seven Star financial/bookkeeping staff
Balance trial balance and general ledger at the end of each month.
Weekly cash flow management and reporting
Oversee credit card processing and balance credit card bank account.
Complete reconcilements of all liabilities and assets accounts on the balance sheet.
Oversee year end closing and final financial reports.
Manage collections.
Manage line of credit as needed.
Management of the financial office at the events to include box office and all financial transactions as well as night deposits.
6. Prepare and maintain all reports and filings:

Prepare for annual audit and tax filings
State registrations and filings as needed
Oversee nonprofit postage permitting and filings.
Ensure proper filings and renewal of all trademark and domain name registrations.
B. Expansion Planning:

Develop business plan with stakeholders
Participate in raising capital, if needed
C. Business and Legal Responsibilities: work in consultation with pro-bono and paid attorneys:

1. Contracts

Manage contract negotiations
Development, review and monitoring
2. Intellectual property

Development with outside attorney
Implementation and protection
3. Licensing Agreements
4. Internet issues - legal review and policy creation/implementation
5. First Amendment review of publications and web content
6. Oversee all event insurance and D&O.

C. Personnel/Contractors

Ensure the development, review and monitoring of annual contracts with personnel and contractors
Develop and maintain personnel and organizational policies
Develop and implement benefits
Coordinate hiring and departure
Qualifications:

5+ years experience in finance and accounting; experience in both business and nonprofit preferred.
Bachelors Degree and MBA or CPA preferred.
Budget development and management experience.
Business planning experience.
Supervisory experience.
Knowledge of legal issues of nonprofit organizations.
Experience raising capital preferred.
Experience with collaborative leadership and management.
Managing an accounting team, conducting and overseeing accounting and financial reporting functions.
Mastery of Quickbooks and Excel; other accounting software experience a plus.
Excellent people and project management skills.
Excellent time management.
Enjoy working independently and on teams.
Commitment to Co-op America's and Global Exchange's missions and to participatory management and open book management.
Ability to travel 5-6+ times a year to the Green Festivals.
Compensation: Salary: $50,000 - $55,000. Excellent Benefits package, including 4-day flexible work week.

Equal opportunity employer.

Apply To Job

Terra Nova (Novaya Zemlya)

Terra Nova (Novaya Zemlya)
Film Reviews: Unrelentingly macho, violent and a bit of a hoot, sci-fi actioner “Terra Nova” looks set to be the next Russian B.O. smash when it bows in late August. Made on a big (for Russia) budget alleged to be upwards of $12 million, pic tells the tale of a motley crew of prisoners shipped to a far northern island and left to fight it out over supplies and survival.

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
Based on the 2008 movie of the same name, and claiming to bring the fast-paced action and adventure of the film to the small screen

Coming Attractions: Traitor

Coming Attractions: Traitor
Opening August 27, Traitor stars Academy Award nominee Don Cheadle (Hotel Rwanda, Crash) and Guy Pearce (Memento, L.A. Confidential) in a “taut international thriller set against a jigsaw puzzle of covert counter-espionage operations.” You can catch the exclusive HD trailer for Traitor, written and directed by Jeffrey Nachmanoff, on the Movie Trailers site.

Terra Nova (Novaya Zemlya)
Film Reviews: Unrelentingly macho, violent and a bit of a hoot, sci-fi actioner “Terra Nova” looks set to be the next Russian B.O. smash when it bows in late August. Made on a big (for Russia) budget alleged to be upwards of $12 million, pic tells the tale of a motley crew of prisoners shipped to a far northern island and left to fight it out over supplies and survival.

Ghost in the Shell

Ghost in the Shell
Espionage, action and a futuristic bad guy… what more could you ask from an Anime film? Get the full review of Ghost in the Shell.

MTV Rough Cut: Angelina Jolie

The action star dishes on what the additional tattoos from "Wanted" mean, negotiating acting schedules with Brad and more.

MTV Rough Cut: Angelina Jolie

MTV Rough Cut: Angelina Jolie

The action star dishes on what the additional tattoos from "Wanted" mean, negotiating acting schedules with Brad and more.

UFC 86 Quinton Rampage Jackson vs Forrest Griffin quick picks

UFC 86 Quinton Rampage Jackson vs Forrest Griffin quick picks

This is going to be a great event with an excellent main event in Rampage vs Forrest and some great undercard fights. Quick picks is all I have time for these days so here they are.

Corey Hill Vs. Justin Buchholz - picking Corey Hill to win by height and ferocity.

Melvin Guillard Vs. Dennis Siver - Guillard is like a mini Randleman in a sense that he has better physical tools than most fighters but lack other important qualities like hard work and mental aspects of the fight game. On talent alone and lots of trashtalk mixed in with some substance abuse in the last year he only managed two very embarassing losses to Stevenson and Clementi. It seems to me he's on his last chance to stay in UFC and this fight with Siver is make it or break it. Siver has good striking credentials and has decent ground game, at least defensively. Siver's loss to Gray Maynard only showed his toughness and ability to stay in the fight when the going gets tough. Picking Siver because he is a serious fighter unlike the underachiving Guilldard.

Jorge Gurgel Vs. Cole Miller - hmm.. I could be entertaining for a little bit, but neither are impressive fighters. Miller should be able to land a tonn on Gurgel's face early on given his reach advantage and hopefully finish it there. There is a chance that Gurgel could smarten up for this fight and try doing the ground game as soon as can, but I think Cole's been training with Marcus Aurelius for this fight at American Top Team and his ground game should be as tight as ever. Picking Cole by Gurgel's inability to do anything serious.

Gabriel Gonzaga Vs. Justin McCully - Gonzaga was on top of the world after KOing Mirco CroCop and should not have had much shame inlosing to Randy Couture. But then fell apart in his cowardly loss to Fabricio Werdum. He definitely took a giant step back as a fighter that night. So hopefully he got some type of help with the mental aspects of the game which nowadays is becoming a necessity for many top fighters, see Chuck Liddell's use of Tony Robinson. Zuffa is throwing Gonzaga a bone here and having him face a scrub really, Tito "The embarrased" Ortiz's training parner Justin McCully. Should be an easy win for Gonzaga by whatever he wants, picking him by a head kick probably.

Tyson Griffin Vs. Marcus Aurelio - Clay Guida vs Marcus Aurelio should have been a barn burner too, but Marcus supposedly got the "UFC debut jitters" and Clay shaked his long hair enough for a split decision. I believe in Tyson Griffin to not be too scared of Aurelio and really push the action. But I think Aurelio got past the jitters and being more comfortable being in UFC should be able to at least decision Griffin, if not submit him. Picking Aurelio

Josh Koscheck Vs. Chris Lytle - this one is a tough one for me to pick because Lytle has fought some tough competition and even responded to recent critisims of being to timid with being more agressive. Koscheck will be definitely stronger of the two and I hope he'll not be smart and stand with Lytle. Picking Lytle by TKO of some type

Joe Stevenson Vs. Gleison Tibau - Stevenson will most likely come back strong from his bloody affair with BJ Penn and show off his great ground game coupled with constantly pushing the action. Picking Stevenson by decision

Patrick Cote Vs. Ricardo Almeida - I really like Cote and glad he has a 3 fight winning streak with some cool knockouts in his last two fights, but he has very little chance against Almeida. Many years ago, Renzo Gracie's top dog Almeida had a rough run in UFC, then he went to beat up a bunch of tough guys in the longest running Japanese promotion, Pancrase, including Nathan Marquardt and then decided to take an unexpected break to concentrate on the art of jiu-jitsu and teaching. Well, not that UFC is out in the open and is very popular I guess he got another itch to fight and make some serious money this time. His comeback fight in UFC was quick and impressive. Picking Almeida to make a statement and get a title shot at Anderson Silva, though I don't he's ready for that one just yet.

Quinton Jackson Vs. Forrest Griffin - I have lots of emotions about this one. I've been following Rampage since his days in KOTC and Pride, UFC should man up and release Rampage's greatest Prefight Interviews DVD cause there is some funny stuff there. He did pretty good for himself since his entrance to UFC and if Chuck's KO could be argued as a fluke, he did beat Dan Henderson handily. Forrest beat Mauricio Shogun in his last fight which was awesome. I think everyone was rooting for him and he pulled it off smashingly. That night he certainly could hold his own and push for a decisive win. So Forest beat Shogun, Shogun beat Rampage, so….blah blah blah. In reality Rampage wasn't well when he fought Shogun, Shogun wasn't well when he fought Forrest. Rampage has loads more experience of facing top notch competition than Forrest and it will show tonight. I have a feeling this will be some what similar to Wanderlei Silva showing everyone Keith Jardine isn't quite there yet and Rampage will do the same with Forrest. Picking Rampage

Now go order it ……it starts in 30 mins!

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