ADVENTUROUS - A to Z Challenge

Today kicks off the A to Z Challenge! Blog the letters of the alphabet in order every day except Sundays (and not counting today.) The participation list is HERE – start with the blog after yours and visit at least five blogs a day. Mostly, make new friends and have fun!

My theme – I have selected a word for each day and will present to you blogger buddies who fit that description, along with movies, music, etc. My theme is to give back, highlight some awesome bloggers, and have fun in the process.

ADVENTUROUS

Melissa Bradley at Melissa’s Imaginarium

Now who could be more adventurous than Melissa? She’s not afraid to run with the geek boys when it comes to movies and music. She’s as much a fanboy as any many I know. She also writes erotica – now that is adventurous! Don’t let her wild nature fool you, though – she’s down to earth and a devoted friend. Hang with Melissa for a while and you’ll catch her adventurous and very genuine spirit!

Rango

Gore Verbinski directing a computer animated film. One that’s quirky and odd. One that pushes the envelope in computer animation. With Johnny Depp! It doesn’t get more adventurous than that. The animation is eye-popping and the story of a lizard in search of who he is and where he fits in to the grand scheme of life is heavy and funny. Obviously the risk paid off – Rango won Best Animated Film at the Oscars this year. And deservedly so!

Seventh Wonder - Mercy Falls

Big props to Seventh Wonder who created a masterful work about a man trapped in the town of Mercy Falls, a place that only exists in his comatose mind. This is an amazing work of progressive rock musicianship.

Ninja News 

Amy Lundermans’s new book, The Misadventures of Daria Pigwidgeon, is free on Amazon through today!

Charity Bradford wrote a really awesome review of CassaFire last week. Thanks, Charity!


Are you following Melissa? See the movie Rango? Even know Seventh Wonder? (Big props to those of you who do!) And who or what would you say is ADVENTUROUS…?

Rango Review and the iPad 2

RANGO

The critics were right - it’s quirky as hell!
The animation is staggeringly beautiful. This is as close to real as it gets - very soon, you won’t be able to tell the difference. Yes, it’s that impressive. The hair, the feathers, the texture - just incredible!
The story is a mishmash of a dozen different westerns. The existential comedy gives nods to Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, High Noon, and pretty much any Sergio Leone film.
It’s a little overlong, with a slower pace and a few stand out action set pieces. And again, it’s quirky. Small kids won’t get the humor. It’s more unusual funny than laugh out loud funny.
After over hyping Johnny Depp as the voice of Rango, he really blends. The character is inexperienced but not a bumbling idiot, and we see him grow over the course of the movie.
Overall, I enjoyed it! You should go for the visual feast - and stay for the quirkiness.

The iPad 2

First, it is NOT available for preorder. The iPad 2 goes on sale at 5 pm on March 11.

In the meantime, all first gen iPads are $100 off. Yes, until 5 pm this coming Friday, when they will all be removed from the marketplace, the iPad 1 is $100 cheaper. (That’s just how Apple rolls.)

What’s new? Let me give you a brief rundown.

It’s thinner (8.8mm) and lighter (1.3 pounds) and now available in white. It now has a dual core chip. It now has dual cameras and Facetime capability. It offers AirPlay, where you can view your iPad on your TV. In the area of software, it offers a revamped iMovie and GarageBand, Apple's two excellent programs for video and music editing. Prices will remain unchanged.

For more information:
Apple Store
iPad 1 vs. iPad 2
What’s Changed

And for those trying to decide which tablet to buy - a Comparison Keep in mind the gigantic platform that is iTunes - the iTunes/iBookstore/apps store has no equal.

Those are the specs!

Will I be buying an iPad 2 next Friday night?

Yeah, I’m a geek - I’ll be there before 5 pm!

Any other geeks? Rango opinions? More Hot Tamales you’d care to throw?