We aim to misbehave
11 Oct
It’s understandable if you don’t know who Jeremy Clarkson is. But that’d be a shame.

That is Clarkson, one of the three hosts of Top Gear- one of BBC’s most popular (and my favorite) shows. It’s also one of the longest running shows having begun in 1977. It’s gone through some updates over the years but what’s kept it so popular is Clarkson’s quips and personality.
Before I show you why I’m even posting this entry, here’s a segment of Clarkson on Top Gear.
Now while the British are known for their sketch comedy like Monty Python, there’s a newer show on called ‘Harry and Paul’. They recently did a sketch about Clarkson called… CLARKSON ISLAND.
And just for fun… The Stig Intros from Series 10!
5 Oct
They say that Rickey Gervais is the funniest man on the planet. I agree with this claim since the original BBC The Office is far superior to the US remake. Newsweek offered Gervais an opportunity to write an article and naturally he wrote what we all would… the top 8 things that annoy him the most. It should be noted we both are put off by many of the same things… except he left wet socks off of his list. I hate wet socks.
19 Sep
Here it is! The official itinerary by Joanna Giordano with notes and comments. I’ve also added some anecdotes in blue.
Taglit Birthright Israel, Israel Experience IE-18-339, August 4 - 18 2008
August 4, 2008 - Day 1
August 5, 2008 - Day 2
August 6, 2008 - Day 3
August 7, 2008 - Day 4
August 8, 2008 - Day 5
August 9, 2008 - Day 6 - Shabbat
August 10, 2008 - Day 7
August 11, 2008 - Day 8
August 12 - Day 9
August 13, 2008 - Day 10
August 14, 2008 - Day 11
August 15, 2008 - Day 12
August 16, 2008 - Day 13 - Shabbat
August 17, 2008 - Day 14
August 18, 2008 - Day 15
***Update: 9/9/08: Sake bombs on the Upper East Side NYC. Where were you?
31 Aug
After 14 days in Israel and 13 days back in the United States, I can safely say I’m ready to go back! Was it the amazing group leaders? The most intense military tour guide a guy could want? The gorgeous sites? The beaches and Israeli women? Learning about my Jewish heritage? The food? (see title)
It’s probably a little bit of each in addition to what I found the most enjoyable- the 39 strangers I left with and the 39 close friends I returned with. There were two direct reasons for why we all bonded so amazingly. The first is that our age group was 22-26, making all of us either grad students or young professionals. We all knew the hardships of supporting ourselves and having to be responsible. The second (and more important) reason was the diversity.
The question we all heard most often but could never master the answer for was “Where is your group from?”. Our response was always:
You also may notice the Josh Album in the photos section. On the first night in Israel we were all congregating outside our rooms about, hmm I don’t know, giant spiders and bats and bugs and anything else we were being attacked by. I had my camera and tried to take a picture of something (no clue what) and the photo that I ended up with was only of Mr. Josh Kamowitz looking up and away. For no real reason we found it really amusing and decided that for the rest of the trip we’d take a picture with the same motif anywhere we went:

In the end I took 945 photos over the 14 day trip and every one is priceless. I don’t have to type up everything we did to remember it because I have photo-documentation of the entire trip. It’s been almost 3 weeks since I’ve been back and I still haven’t been able to wrap my head around it all yet. Eventually I’ll post on each day but for now I’ll leave you with the famous line (one of many to be precise) from Gidi, our tour guide:
“Shut up or I’m going to kick your head out of your face”
Stay Frosty…
6 Jul
Believe it or not, that’s how many hits I’ve garnered since February 2004 when I began keeping track of stats. Keep in mind hits are not how many visitors but how many web pages have been viewed. The explanation for the high number are the Penn State Nittany Lion videos and more specifically the Ohio State game of the 2005 season. After I put the highlights of that game online I received 65,000 hits the first day and about 975,000 total that month. I had never thought to total up the website’s hits but when I redesigned the template I saw a plugin to keep track on the frontpage.
Speaking of which, you may have noticed the new site is up and running. I redesigned it from scratch using Joomla which is a CMS (Content Management System) that allows me to keep track of content and updating exponentially better. It also allows me to change the entire layout and template with a single click whereas before I’d have to change the code by hand with Dreamweaver. I could list about four dozen other improvements the website now has but mostly they’re behind the scenes.
This past weekend was the fourth of July- and while rainy- was a great time. CT from the Brill days came to Philly to visit some friends and we all spent the fourth having a nice BBQ (photos will be up soon). The weekdays prior I ended up heading to the theaters day three days in a row for Get Smart, Hancock and Wall-E.
Get Smart - As I told a few people, this movie confirmed two things for me.
So as I just mentioned, Anne Hathaway is my new #1 and I’ll show you why very soon. But before her was Denise Richards. I know, I know. But I’m not talking current Denise Richards, I’m talking 1997 Denise Richards. Starship Troopers and Wild Things Denise Richards. Then she married Charlie Sheen and went insane. And now I’m sad. Below is a timeline for you:
1997 Denise Richards

2008 Denise Richards

Now you can understand what I’ve had to go through. It was a sad descent but there was nothing I could do (or so I keep telling myself). Instead I did what any guy would do… find a new girl! Rather than go looking I just waited for a pretty brunette to pop off the screen as Denise did back in Starship Troopers. And so that’s what Anne did… and luckily she’s only been getting prettier as time goes on. Hopefully she won’t marry Charlie Sheen and go absolutely bonkers. Actually as I’m sure you’ve read, she recently broke up with her boyfriend who was arrested for laundering money of some sort. There’s even rumors going around that she turned him in. Not helping was the fact she was coincidentally out of the country when he was arrested. Those stories really made my week… plus the underlying fact that she’s single again!
Anne Hathaway

Given the recent real life Law & Order episode of her real life, it seems like she’s commited to staying on the right track. Hopefully she’ll stay this way as long as she can! She’s already outlasted Lindsay Lohan 6x over…
Sorry, guess I got a little sidetracked there…
Hancock - I really don’t know what all the critics were on about. It wasn’t nearly as bad as I was expecting it to be. Sure there were huge plot holes and a boring villain but it doesn’t take an expect to see movie studio interference during the second half. Gee a sharp and edgy first half and then a mindless second half? They don’t call them Hollywood endings for nothing. By the end I found myself having a good time and having laughed many times. While it wasn’t as clever as most of Will Smith’s July 4th films, it was by no means a bad summer film. By normal standards it was pretty good- even though it clocked in at barely 90 minutes- but for a Will Smith blockbuster it definitely was lacking something.
Wall-E - As with all Pixar movies it was simply brilliant. The short film beforehand was hysterical and all I really need to say is this: Fred Willard rocks!
Next weekend is Arts Fest 2008 and as usual will be quite an adventure…
Stay Frosty…
10 Jun
The new website is coming along faster than planned thankfully.
The films section including the Comm345 and Comm440 are completed even having to re-encode every video I have. The photo section will be fun (though tedious) and last but not least the Penn State section. I’m still unsure of the new design for that page but once I get started it’ll be done in little time.
Work’s been busy lately leaving me little time to relax or do website updates. Last weekend I spent most of my time in the office and this weekend I have a shoot along with my mom flying in from Boston. Sunday evening should leave me with plenty of time to code once everything settles.
I’d much prefer to be outside playing football but it’s just too hot lately. My car’s been telling me 99 or 100 since Sunday though I believe it’s going to cool off after this week. The first few days of these temperatures are always the same when getting in the car. Very reminiscent of Raiders of the Lost Ark when the German guy who’s face melts off at the end grabs the medallion in the fire. A little bit of sizzle and then a run outside to cool off his hand in the snow. Except I don’t run out of my car screaming. And there’s no snow.
I did see the latest Indiana Jones film a few weeks ago. I have to say I enjoyed seeing Harrison Ford with the fedora on the big screen but it didn’t feel like the others. Why? Because of George Lucas naturally. I’m not going to go into heavy detail for those who haven’t seen it but all I really need to say is this: Refrigerator. It did have some wonderful moments and I actually enjoyed Shia LeBouf. I was afraid he’d turn into the next Short Round or Jar Jar Binks but he stayed in the green the whole movie for me. It was neat seeing Karen Allen back as Marion too, she’s still quite feisty. Harrison Ford did well, never backing off or showing his age even though they made a few pokes at him throughout.
According to Lucasfilm they kept the ratio of 70/30 for actual stunts to CGI just like the original movies. I can’t say I believe them with the ridiculous action sets on edges of cliffs but there WAS less than I personally thought there would be.
Overall I had a good time with it- not a classic but it made for a good summer movie. Luckily the pinnacles of this summer are spread out beginning with Iron Man and ending with The Dark Knight. Had we waited all these years and revolved our entire summer around Indiana Jones I’m sure we’d be up in arms. But then again, what do you expect from a movie with George Lucas’s name on it but not Lawrence Kasdan’s…
And just for good laugh, here’s what Jim texted me earlier tonight:

LET’S GO STATE!
Stay Frosty… (especially with this weather)
1 Jun
Site construction is currently underway for BrianChalfin.com V3.
Until it is complete only the blog section of the site will remain operational.
Stay Frosty…
9 May
Another week complete, another episode of Lost and BSG in the books and a decent amount of rain. All things considered a pretty decent way to start the weekend. These will be two productive days for me unlike in exactly a week when I’ll be in Happy Valley for graduation weekend. It’s usually rainy during graduation but I’m hoping for a sunny weekend, though not much could ruin the fun anyway.
This week’s summer movie is Speed Racer which I find in no way interesting. I’ve seen preview after preview and it just looks like some gaudy slapstick video game rather than a cohesive movie. I have a little faith since the Wachowski’s directed it however there doesn’t seem to be many redeemable qualities. The only real reason I’d even consider would be to see Matthew Fox as Racer X. It’d be nice to see Fox outside of the Lost realm and it so happens Racer X is my favorite Speed Racer character.
Last week’s movie was Iron Man which was a fantastic way to begin the summer. It was precisely what Spiderman 3 should’ve been- a fun action film with memorable characters and some good laughs. Nothing too serious but nothing silly enough to make you shake your head. Robert Downey Jr has been on a ridiculous roll lately, racking up not just good films but solid and memorable films. From Zodiac to Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang he’s really found a perfectly suited strategy to picking roles. All of them have his subtle humor plus some good one liners (”Actually I’m retired, I invented dice when I was a kid”). As Tony Stark he’s really able to fit in to the role as if it was always him. Naturally the PG-13 summer blockbuster hinted at but directly dropped the alcoholism subplot from Stark’s personality, but quite simply that’s just Hollywood. It was also quite a treat to see Jeff Bridges back in action, this time as a villain with a shaved head and beard. Seemingly every guy who’s seen the movie kept thinking “I’m the DUDE, man” every time he was on screen, myself included. I’m still waiting on the youtube version called ‘Iron Dude’… you know, if you’re in the whole brevity thing.
Stay Frosty…
4 May
My honest answer would be “a few years ago” if you asked me when I had edited ‘A Hero in Heaven’. Turns out I only finished it about 14 months ago but that’s how the world of film is. You’re rewarded for your work months if not years after the fact. A perfect example is my new best friend, The Telly Award. ‘A Hero in Heaven’ was awarded one by the 29th Annual Telly Awards last month and he [they] will be arriving any day now. The statues are made by the same designer and manufacturer as the Oscars and Emmy’s as you’ll see below. Don’t expect poses on the red carpet but I’m sure a few facebook/myspace photos will make the rounds. Until I get my dirty mitts on mine, here’s a preview they sent us:

Also in television, by now I’m sure you’re award that 24 has been postponed indefinitely. Thanks to the strike the deadline to start 24 and have it play continuously without a week off had passed. Instead they decided to push it back an entire year! The seventh season of 24 won’t be now until January 2009. Thankfully Lost is back with new episodes along with Battlestar Galactica. I still am holding strong on the possibility of Lost being the best show ever created. It all hinges on the answers and explanations that will be coming in a year or two, but they’re really got something going. If they’re able to pull it off there wouldn’t be any arguing that the show is the king. Until they do, Battlestar Galactica might just be in the lead. BSG continues to amaze and just address so many themes. Only one cyclon remains hidden from us but who will it be? Both BSG and Lost have outlined their remaining seasons and the ending of the show. BSG is currently airing it’s fourth and final season while Lost will continue for two more seasons after the current one, ending in 2010.
I had planned on writing about my adventure in NYC for the Superbowl however it’s been just a bit too long to write about it now. The pictures and the video will do the trip justice…
Next up is Digitalism. I haven’t had much of a chance to talk about them but do yourself a favor and have a listen when you can. They came out with their first album ‘Idealism’ in 2007 and it’s been one of my obsessions since my first listen. I came across them during a Pontiac commercial back in November. I checked out the song, wanted more and here I am today. I’m incredibly surprised they haven’t become bigger but I suspect it won’t be long now. The best way to describe them is a German influenced version of the French Daft Punk. They don’t sound exactly like Daft Punk but their songs are just as extravagant. Digitalism’s Idealism couldn’t be any better, and if it was it’d be Daft Punk’s Discovery- an album that will occupy the top spot for the rest of time.
The two to check out first are ‘Pogo’ and ‘Idealistic’.

In two weeks I’ll be heading to Penn State for one hell of a weekend I’m sure. Originally split across two weekends, now the weekend of the 17th will be another meeting of the PSU crew along with my brother’s graduation. Cue the parental units, the best friends and the good times!
The last trip to Penn State took place Easter weekend. Jim wasn’t able to make it but Deirdre, Crystal, Sara, Alli, Lauren and I did go. We all went to dinner at Chili’s like last time, made a pit stop at the hotel for the girls and then made our way to Cafe 210. From there we went to Indigo (Ex-Players) and finally to The Den. The night was more relaxed than usual but so was State College in general. We didn’t play the Text Game too much nor did we take as many pictures as usual. Most of the students had left to go home for Easter, leaving just a skeleton crew around. On the upside, it was easy to get into the bars and the lines weren’t too bad. It was a little chilly that night but not too bad. The next morning I woke up to find incredibly cold temperatures and two inches of snow on the ground. It didn’t slow any of us down though; as planned we all went for breakfast at the Waffle Shop where I had the tastiest breakfast of 2008 so far. Afterwards we did some PSU shopping and oddly enough all the #14 Nittany Lion jerseys were on sale…

The girls left to see their families for Easter while I went “home” so to speak. Where you may ask? To Sheetz! Before departing State College I always stop at Sheetz for fuel and sustenance. I don’t remember what I had, I think some sort of breakfast sandwich, but it was absolutely delightful. In two weeks I’ll be having another one…
And at long last comes the end of the AJ Anniversary project. Today is May 4th 2008 and I personally began working on that project April 7th, 2008. Between those two dates I’ve only had 3 days off from work with two of them being for Passover in which I spent every waking minute before and after the seder editing for a different work related project. That only leaves one real non-work related day off- and that day was yesterday. By this Friday that will have been 32 days of work and only 1 real day off not editing. That’s an entire month of work. While I’m incredibly proud of the product it did ruin my two favorite weekends of the entire year. Not only did I miss Blue/White Weekend (also due to Passover) but I missed the entire 2008 NFL Draft. All I really have left to look forward to is Arts Fest in July and there’s no way I’ll be missing that due to work. I think from now on I’ll be putting in my PSU weekends off a year in advance. Might as well since you need to do the same to reserve hotel rooms!
Stay Frosty!
6 Apr
I’ll begin with the most recent (and important) event… last night. I went to North Star Bar last night with Megan to see quite possibly my all-time favorite band, Ambulance LTD. And it was amazing.
While it looked like a dive from the outside, North Star is actually a pretty cool place. Megan and I got there at 7:30 pm and had ourselves a few pints. Michael and Liz joined us a little later for more drinks and discussion. We learned a few things- the most important being that while Judge Dredd is a silly loud mess of an action movie, if it’s muted on a plasma while there’s music being played from elsewhere the movie is quite enjoyable. Not only that, every patron in the bar will be memorized by Stallone and Schneider.
Now while the show was supposed to start at 9, the opening act didn’t begin until 10:00 pm. The first band was Bear Hands and they were pretty darn good. I ponied up some cash and bought their EP as I met Dylan, the lead singer. Next up was Wild Light and while they were alright, it was almost midnight and we were all anxious for Ambulance. There was another bar by where the stage was so some more lager kept us busy. Wild Light was followed by a long equipment change that lasted maybe 20 minutes. And then Marcus took the stage.

They began with Heavy Lifting which I figured they would. It’s also ironic because that was the first song I ever heard by them, catching just the last 90 seconds when they performed on Leno one night. Following Heavy Lifting, about half was new material and half was split between LP and the New English EP. Hearing Ophelia live was definitely a treat for me. The words between songs were kept to a minimum and the jamming was also turned down overall. I loved that aspect because they were able to play that many more songs. Each was about 3 minutes on average during over an hour of music. The encore began with Primitive and ended with Young Urban, the last song on the LP. The music sounded fantastic and hearing everything live just added to their already unbearable appeal. Now all I can do is patiently wait for their next album.
Baumer also released their new album a few weeks ago, “Were It Not For You”. I couldn’t be any happier with it either. They don’t waste a single track the entire album, gracefully flowing from one tune to the next. Every song is incredibly different although they all maintain the sound of Baumer. Without a doubt they’re the next band on the top of my list to see live.

The Oscars were also something I haven’t had a chance to cover. I think Jon Stewart did a good job hosting, keeping the political humor minimal while slipping in some great improvising. I can’t say there were too many surprises, No Country for Old Men won the major award as Daniel Day Lewis won for There Will Be Blood. Personally I was pulling for Viggo (and his beard) but it’ll have to wait for next time. The next morning I tuned into WMMR, part of my commute to work routine, and heard a hysterical segment almost causing me to crash as always: