Saturday, July 23, 2011

Retro: Kimmer

Retro: Kimmer

Link to Retro: Kimmer

AMY WINEHOUSE FOUND DEAD AT 27

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 10:47 AM PDT


Amy Winehouse 09-14-83 – 07-23-11

I first saw Amy Winehouse on the grammy awards a few years ago. I sat transfixed watching her sing with her fantastic band. I wondered if she really was that messed up. Guess she was. It is so hard these days to tell when someone really needs intervention or are they acting like this as publicity stunts?

My friend JB in NJ found this video today and it really is good...



We are bombarded by story after story about Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan... yet they are still in the news day after day... This reminds me of Anna Nicole Smith...



When Amy Winehouse was booed off the stage recently I wondered who is managing this girl? How could they let her go onstage like that? Amy was obviously not able to navigate the stage or getting from one city to another.. So who was making these decisions for her? So sad to lose such a young girl with such talent... Amy's Bio on Wiki

Amy Winehouse Slideshow Washington Post

Troubled, Grammy-winning singer Amy Winehouse has been found dead in her North London home, Sky News is reporting. The Daily Mail reports that police have confirmed the passing.

In a statement, the London Metropolitan Police said, "Police were called by London Ambulance Service to an address in Camden Square NW1 shortly before 16.05hrs today, Saturday 23 July, following reports of a woman found deceased. On arrival officers found the body of a 27-year-old female who was pronounced dead at the scene. Enquiries continue into the circumstances of the death. At this early stage it is being treated as unexplained."




My favorite Amy Winehouse song Valerie is from her album Back to Black

Rest in Peace Miss Winehouse.... XXOOK




THE ARK'S YOUTH SONGWRITING CAMP

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 08:47 AM PDT


Hello! We need your help spreading the word about The Ark's Youth Songwriting Camp. We have a great experience designed (and proven) to empower young people, while also helping them to express themselves and build relationships across social boundaries. All at a reasonable price.


THANK YOU SO MUCH!

:0)
Jesse

Jesse Morgan
Founder &
Creative Operations Officer
Community Records L3C
www.CRL3C.org
734.985.0127

RETROKIMMER: THE THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 08:05 AM PDT


Faye Dunaway and Steve McQueen 1968

The Thomas Crown Affair is a 1968 film by Norman Jewison that starred Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway. It was nominated for two Academy Awards and won the Award for Best Song with Michel Legrand's "Windmills of Your Mind".



Thomas Crown (Steve McQueen), a millionaire businessman and sportsman, pulls off a perfect crime by having five men rob a Boston bank and dump the money—approximately $2.6 million—in a cemetery's trash can. Crown never meets any of the five face-to-face, before or after the crime. He retrieves the money later and deposits it at a bank in Geneva.

Vicki Anderson (Faye Dunaway), an independent insurance investigator, is contracted to investigate the heist. She will receive a percentage of the stolen money if she recovers it.

Crown doesn't need the money but is in need of diversions. He plays polo and golf, flies a glider and drives a dune buggy, but is generally bored and welcomes Vicki's sudden interest in him.

She begins seeing Crown socially, openly admitting she is investigating him. Their relationship evolves into an affair. But it is complicated by Vicki's vow to find the money and help Detective Eddie Malone bring the guilty party to justice.


Faye and Steve

" The Thomas Crown Affair" Is one of the very best films of the late 60's. It captured Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway at their very prime. What a stunning couple! The makeup, the hair styles, the clothes fabulously incredible...



A remake was released in 1999 starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo. I loved the remake which is very unusual for me. Though the original was a gorgeous film... I preferred the chemistry between Pierce and Rene...

WHO WAS THE ZODIAC KILLER 1968-1969?

Posted: 23 Jul 2011 07:16 AM PDT



"Zodiac" murdered victims in Benicia, Vallejo, Lake Berryessa and San Francisco between December 1968 and October 1969. Four men and three women between the ages of 16 and 29 were targeted. Numerous suspects were named by law enforcement and amateur investigators but no conclusive evidence surfaced during the killer's lifetime.

In April 2004, the San Francisco Police Department marked the case "inactive", yet re-opened the case at some point prior to March 2007. The case also remains open in the city of Vallejo as well as in Napa County and Solano County. The California Department of Justice has maintained an open case file on the Zodiac murders since 1969.



Zodiac Killer letters

On August 1, 1969, three letters prepared by the killer were received at the Vallejo Times-Herald, the San Francisco Chronicle, and the San Francisco Examiner. The nearly identical letters took credit for the shootings at Lake Herman Road and Blue Rock Springs. Each letter also included one-third of a 408-symbol cryptogram which the killer claimed contained his identity.



The Chronicle published its third of the cryptogram on page four of the next day's edition. An article printed alongside the code quoted Vallejo Police Chief Jack E. Stiltz as saying "We're not satisfied that the letter was written by the murderer" and requested the writer send a second letter with more facts to prove his identity. The threatened murders did not happen, and all three parts were eventually published.

On August 7, 1969, another letter was received at the San Francisco Examiner with the salutation "Dear Editor This is the Zodiac speaking". This was the first time the killer had used this name for himself. The letter was a response to Chief Stiltz's request for more details to prove he had killed Faraday, Jensen and Ferrin. In it, the Zodiac included details about the murders which had not been released to the public as well as a message to the police that when they cracked his code "they will have me".



On August 8, 1969, Donald and Bettye Harden of Salinas, California, cracked the 408-symbol cryptogram. It contained a misspelled message in which the killer claimed to be collecting slaves for the afterlife. No name appears in the decoded text, and the killer said that he would not give away his identity because it would slow down or stop his slave collection...

Zodiac Story on Tru-TV Crime Library



July 5, 2011 (San Francisco Chronicle)
Zodiac sleuths with police skills keep case alive

Lyndon Lafferty and his cohorts are like a lot of unofficial sleuths trying to solve the 42-year-old Zodiac serial killer case - utterly convinced they've cracked it, obsessive about their research, and dismissive of any theory that doesn't match theirs. But there's one thing Lafferty's ad-hoc gumshoes have that most of the others don't...

Lafferty believes there was a huge cover up with the Zodiac case... Full Story Here

A&E Cold Case Files:

Zodiac Killer Part 1
Zodiac Killer Part 2
Zodiac Killer Part 3
Zodiac Killer Part 4
Zodiac Killer Part 5
Zodiac Killer Part 6

[New post] SDCC2011 -Day one recap

SDCC2011 -Day one recap

Doctor Who

Matt Smith made his first Comic Con appearance, receiving the praise of fans.
Via BBC America Blog:

"For me, it's quite remarkable to jump into something that already has a legacy. It started with William Hartnell, Patrick Troughton… Tom Baker." But after doing fan events both stateside and in his native Britain, "I now realize it's quite popular," he laughed.

In spite of getting the most rousing applause of anyone on staff, Smith admitted to being starstruck by his own co-panelists. "I get to sit next to Pam and Lafayette," referring to the True Blood character names of stars Kristin Bauer and Nelsan Ellis. He says he's a "huge fan" of the vampire drama.

Smith remarked on the irreverence of the crowds here: "I saw a man dressed as the Predator who looked like he could take my head off. So there's a good spirit here."

In the Q&A portion of the panel, Smith received the lion's share of questions, including one about a possible return of one of the Doctor's best companions, Captain Jack Harkness. "John [Barrowman] is welcome to come back and strut his stuff."

Marvel Comics

Avengers Origins mini-series, Black Panther faces off against the Kingpin and the Red Hulk goes to Arabia? Plenty of announcements with more to come...

Via MTV:

First up was "Hulk of Arabia," a new arc starting in Hulk #42 in October. The storyline sees Red Hulk heading to the Middle East to seek revenge for an old friend, and encountering both Fortean and the Secret Avengers along the way. Jeff Parker and Patrick Zircher present Red Hulk's most harrowing journey yet!


Avengers Origins, running in November and December, is a series of five weekly one shots taking a closer look at some of the most popular Avengers:

Ant-Man & The Wasp by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Stephanie Hans
Luke Cage by Mike Benson & Adam Glass, and Dalibor Talajic
Quicksilver & The Scarlet Witch, by Sean Keever and artist TBD
Vision by Kyle Higgins & Alec Siegel, and Stephane Perger
Thor, by Kathryn Immonen and TBD

Next is Marvel's deadliest new ongoing series, Villains for Hire. Debuting in November, the series will feature Misty Knight, formerly of Heroes For Hire, aligning herself with some of Marvel's most fearsome foes. Artist Renato Arlem joins the acclaimed writing duo of Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning.

It's Black Panther Vs. Kingpin in an exciting new arc starting in Black Panther: The Most Dangerous Man Alive #525 in November. David Liss and Shawn Martinbrough collaborate on this pulse-pounding new story also guest-starring Typhoid Mary and Lady Bullseye!

Mattel debuts new action figures

A massive lineup of Legion of Superheroes, Johnny Thunder and his Thunderbolt and more on their way!

More images here

Ridley Scott's Prometheus

A special featurette was debuted at Comic Con giving guests an early glimpse of the hotly anticipated film.

Via I09:

The featurette starts with a medley of past Ridley Scott films, and then the title card, "RIDLEY SCOTT RETURNS TO THE GENRE HE REDEFINED, WITH AN ORIGINAL SCIENCE FICTION EPIC PROMETHEUS." At first, you see Ridley standing in a studio, and then in a big open space with weird ribs on the walls, and Scott says, "So here we are, I'm back again." He explains that it's a James Bond studio (Pinewood) and he could fit seven and a half jumbo jets in here.

And then the actual footage from the film starts, and its a huge flood of creeptastic imagery that recalls Alien but also a bit of 2001: A Space Odyssey. There are guys in pressure suits exploring an ancient chamber with weird hieroglyphs, and a guy in a spacesuit walking through a sliding door into a clean white chamber. And a guy (who might be Michael Fassbender) pulling a weird jelly-looking thing out of a canister. And as Ridley Scott's voiceover notes that things that may look small in the film will turn out to be important, there is a shot of a drop of blood on a finger. There is Charlize Theron on a table with bandages wrapped around her breasts, as though she's waking from hypersleep.

And then the footage gets faster and more furious, with a guy in a visor looking down at something, a woman in a suit walking into a red entryway, and a globe, and then Scott says, "The cast find an establishment which is not what they expected it to be, it's a civilization but what we find in it is very uncivilized behavior." And then there is insane carnage and people with goop inside their space helmets and someone shooting a flamethrower, and mayhem breaking loose in confined spaces. Meanwhile, Scott's voiceover is saying that there will be biomechanoids and the film will "break new ground." We see a giant pale planet with rings around it.

And then we see Charlize Theron doing pushups naked. Says Scott in the video, "There is a DNA of the original Alien, [but] that's as far as it goes, everything else is completely different. It's all about everything." And now the people in the footage are crying and screaming and freaking out and the video is flickering like an interrupted signal. And Scott concludes, "Of course, what i want to do is scare the living shit out of you."

Damon Lindelof, who was moderating the panel, talked about getting the call from Ridley Scott asking him to work on this movie, and the long process of the two of them sitting across the table from each other hashing out this movie. At first, the "$64,000 question" was whether this was an Alien prequel, but eventually they moved past that.

_________________

I was actually too busy doing other movies and exploring other genres, so frankly I never actually thought about science fiction until I realized there was something in the first Alien movie that nobody had ever asked the question about ... and I thought that could be the centerpiece of what we've just completed. That said, that is the only DNA loosely applied to the original Alien. We've gone in a different directions, but in the last few minutes of this movie you'll see what I'm talking about.

And Scott hinted that "there may be two robots in Prometheus," not just the one android who's rumored to be in the film. He added: "I think robots and androids and Replicants have become so much part of the actual science fiction scenario and landscape, that they're no longer unique. [So] you've got to come up with those unique notions that make something fresh."

The Amazing Spider-Man

Spidey fights the Lizard by Gabriele Dell'Otto

Via I09:

Direct Marc Webb made the surprise announcement during the Comic-Con panel: Dr. Connors would be the Lizard to Peter Parker's Spider-Man. He then announced the first Lizard clip in 3D.

We're first introduced to the human Curt Connors at Oscorp. Gwen Stacey, who is working at Oscorp, has brought her science-minded classmates in to meet Connors. Referring to his missing right arm, Connors says, "Before you ask, yes. I'm a southpaw, not a cripple." He then announces he has a plan to cure his one-armed condition. Peter Parker wonders if it's through cross-species genetics; zebra fish can, after all, regenerate cells. Connors is impressed.

We quickly transition to Connors testing his regenerative serum on himself. Sure enough, his hand is reborn. "I'm stronger!" he cries with delight. "I am beautiful."

But then, of course, things go south.

The CG Lizard appears in a high school girls bathroom (and revealed to two unlucky high school girls). He's a giant beast, green with oversized arms, and a proportionally smaller head and enormous yellow eyes. He doesn't have a crocodile head — more of a cross between a lizard and a human's, with a flat nose, but a grotesque curled mouth. As the two girls are pinned to the wall in fear, a long pink tongue unfurls from his mouth, and we see a row of pointed teeth. The level of detail is impressive — the Lizard actually does look wet, and you can see each individual scale. And yes — he and his tongue were in 3D.

We'll have more on the Spider-Man panel — and footage — soon!

DC Comics Reboot

One of the biggest announcements of Comic Con is DC Comics' massive overhaul of 52 monthly books in two month's time. Jim Lee and Dan DiDio had little to offer in terms of what to expect, but the preview images speak volumes.

Via I09

This is a radical plan not only by DC Comics' standards, but in terms of the comic industry as a whole. Did you study the examples of any past big publishing events when planning this?

Jim Lee: Nothing overtly. The two of us had a pretty long history with doing big projects like this. This one was definitely double or triple the amount of work than anything I've done before. We generated a pretty thick document at the start of all this outlining the ideas to sell it internally.

Dan DiDio: Once we did that, it really was a full company effort. Every department contributed from their assets. We met on a regular basis building a full battle plan on how to do this at every level: creative, marketing, sales, and so on. Right now, the first and second issues are done and everyone's thinking, "Now it's time [for DC] to take a little bit of break!" But no, the goal is to stay ahead of our schedule so we really have time to examine our books instead of rushing them out the door.

The Newly redesigned Aquaman

The new Superman

Batman debuts in the new JLA

Francis Manipuls beautiful art from the forthcoming Flash series

More as it comes...

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Latest articles from Retro To Go

Latest articles from Retro To Go


Tour limited edition screenprint by Lord Dunsby for Design Conspiracy

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 10:41 AM PDT

Tour

Whether you're a cycling fan or not, you can't help but notice that the Tour de France is in full flow right now. And to celebrate the iconic race, there's a rather cool piece of art that's inspired by it - this Tour limited edition screenprint by Lord Dunsby for Design Conspiracy.

If the name is familiar, it should be, we featured Lord Dunsby's new book last week. Now we've switched from fashion to sport, with a vintage-style print described as 'looking back but always with one foot firmly going forward'.

It's a three-colour screenprint, printed on archive sugar paper, limited to just 50 and A2-sized (16.5 x 23.4 inches). Each is signed by the artist and each sells for a very reasonable £65. See a detail shot over the page.

Find out more at the Design Conspiracy website

Tour2

eBay watch: 1950s midcentury-style side table

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 08:33 AM PDT

Midcentury_table

Love this design - and right now, this 1950s midcentury-style side table isn't any money.

Details are scarce (manufacturer and wood type for example), but thankfully there are large images, showing off that really smart abstract design on the table's surface. Below that are three angles legs, with a 'protective band' around the edge of the table.

Condition is described as 'excellent' with 'only slightest wear'. If that's fine with you, the table is currently at just £9.

Find out more at the eBay website

For sale: 1930s art deco house in Guiseley, Leeds, West Yorkshire

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 08:08 AM PDT

Leeds1

Many of the art deco houses we see on the market are pushing the £1 million mark. This 1930s art deco four-bedroomed house in Guiseley, near Leeds, West Yorkshire is more modest in both size and price, but does need a little work.

Not too much though, the overall structure looks to have been maintained since the original construction, with the likes of the windows, doors and staircase still looking as they should be (but can't be absolutely sure) That front door in particular is impressive in its originality. The garage door certainly isn't!

Leeds2

Details are very scarce on the agents site (although there are plenty of images to check out), but the layout is confirmed as being four bedrooms, two reception rooms, kitchen, presumably a bathroom, a double garage and what are described as 'attractive gardens'. Looks high up from the road too, which is probably a good thing.

Leeds3

Most of the work that needs doing looks decorative, so shouldn't be too costly. As for the house, offers around £425,000 should secure it.

More images at the Zoopla at eBay website


Via WowHaus

Size? offers exclusive reissue of 1970s Adidas Forest Hills trainers

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 07:54 AM PDT

Forest1

We saw some appalling David Beckham variants of these earlier today, so it's nice to see balance restored with this Size? exclusive reissue of the Adidas Forest Hills trainers, which goes back to year one for inspiration.

First produced in the 1970s and named after New York's Forest Hills tennis centre, this tennis shoe turned terrace classic, with its lightweight NASA technology, has been consistently popular and regularly reissued, most recently in a 'bold' coloured version and a grey and blue combo, both of which got mixed reactions.

The new version goes old school - white leather upper, metallic gold stripes and 'sunshine' outsole - a reissue that's part of the Archive collection and exclusive to the Size? chain. Saturday (23rd July) is the shelf date in the stores, with online sales from Friday 29th July. No price, but we'd guess around the £70 mark for something certain to be in short supply. A detail shot over the page.

Find out more at the Size? website

Via His Knibs

Forest2

Big House Devon Iconic Architecture Prints

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 06:54 AM PDT

Zoom_P1020669 
There are plenty of prints out there of famous buildings and landmarks, but Big House Devon's range of Iconic Architecture Prints includes some interesting choices.

Yes, the often-drawn Battersea Power Station, Big Ben and the BT Tower are here, but so too are Brighton's Saltdean Lido (a wonderful example of 1930s design), Bath's Royal Crescent and The Circus, and the Hoover Building (one of my favourite London buildings). The images are hand-drawn then silk-screen printed with the number of prints limited to no more than 35 per design. The prints cost £45 each unframed.

Visit the Big House Devon's store on Not on the High Street to view the whole range.

Calligaris Dot Wall Clock

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 06:36 AM PDT

Obj_dotwhite_425a 
Italian design company Calligaris describe their style as contemporary, but the Dot Wall Clock has more than a dash of 1960s style to it.

It is made from wood finished with matt white lacquer and decorated with a smattering of walnut bubbles of varying sizes. To keep the design simple, the clock has no numbers and the clock hands are slim and black.

The clock costs £76 from Mac and Mac Interiors.

Seaside Ladies Cushion from John Lewis

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 04:53 AM PDT

Seaside

The summer has got us thinking about the seaside and no coastal trip would be complete without sending a few saucy postcards. Instead of just posting a few, why not stick one on your sofa?

This bloomin' marvellous (sorry) Seaside Ladies cushion from John Lewis depicts some lovely ladies taking a constitutional along the prom with their undercrackers on display. It's also waterproof so perfect for relaxing at the beach & enjoying the view. Ooh saucy!

The Seaside Ladies cushion is £30 from the John Lewis website.

 

Soda screen print by Matt Wingfield

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 02:00 AM PDT

Soda
Gosh, it's warm out isn't it...? What do you mean it isn't? Well, for the purposes of this post, let's pretend it is. At the height of summer, nothing hits the spot quite like chilled fizzy pop from an old fashioned glass bottle.

This Soda screen print by Matt Wingfield is a celebration of the retro soda bottle. The stylised bottle designs are adorned with kitsch Americana-inspired logos, kept simple & clean as a four-colour screen print. A refreshing addition to any kitchen wall. Just don't try to drink from them.

The Soda screen print is £40 from Castor + Pollux. See the website for more details.

Vintage Lingerie: Historical Patterns and Techniques book by Jill Salen

Posted: 22 Jul 2011 12:44 AM PDT

Vintage

Not quite the risque book you might be expecting, Vintage Lingerie: Historical Patterns and Techniques by Jill Salen is an altogether more practical book.

Part reference, part guide to creating period pieces, Vintage Lingerie looks at the progression of lingerie over the last 120 years, from 1920s French knickers to 1950s pin-up brassieres, not to mention vintage corsets, garter belts and basques, along with 1950s New Look girdles, brassieres and knickers.

The book includes 25 'fully annotated working patterns' alongside drawings, photographs and practical advice on any feature or alteration necessary for making up the garments. So if you are looking for authenticity, this is the place to go. 128 pages long and published by Batsford, you can order a copy from Amazon for £17.

Find out more at the Amazon website

Don't Be So Quick to Overlook the Maserati Grecale Folgore

If the GranTurismo Folgore is a guide, this Grecale Folgore could be surprisingly competitive. The EV GT was one of the year's best surp...