Halloween Special - 2 Spooky Unsolved Mysteries

 

       Just a quick post for Halloween!

       I love a good mystery… and spooky stuff as well. So here’s a double dose of spooky mysteriousness that if not managing to shit you up, will at least leave you scratching your head.

       Both are totally real and both totally UNSOLVED!

       Read on if you dare... Mwahahahahaha!

 

1)    The Overtoun Bridge (AKA The Dog Suicide Bridge)

 

       Dog lovers be warned – this one can be particularly disturbing for you.

       There is a bridge in Dumbarton, Scotland where, for some bizarre unknown reason, dogs have been uncontrollably jumping off of.

       Just a coincidence, you say? Well since the 60’s there have been around 600 documented cases of dogs leaping to their death on the very same bridge. Witnesses report an unexplained urge of the dogs to hurl themselves off - and in some cases, having survived the initial fall, have climbed back up top just to throw themselves off again!

       Spooky, right? Various theories are floating about as to why the dogs behave like this, ranging from the scientific (animal scents/pheromones or a naturally occurring sound pitch that drives the dogs crazy), to the supernatural (the bridge is just plain ol’ HAUNTED!).

       Whatever the reason, this mystery is still unsolved to this day. Dog lovers hold on tight to that lead…

        2) The Chase Vault (AKA The Moving Coffins of Barbados)

       Coffin lovers be warned – this one can be particularly disturbing for you!

       The Chase family vault in Barbados was a crypt big enough for a number of coffins to be housed. As each member of the Chase family died, so their coffin would be placed in there. First three coffins put in there… so far so normal.

       It was when the fourth coffin was added in 1812, that the creepy shiz started happening… Upon opening the door to the tomb, they were disturbed to see that the coffins had been moved about to different positions within the room.

       After putting the new coffin in and righting the positions of the old ones (and presumably also after having changed their trousers) the funeral service dudes sealed the crypt back up.

       Four years later, in 1816, when another coffin was to be added, they yet again found the coffins within to have been moved…

 

       …And this kept happening… once again later in 1816 and then again in 1819. So perplexing was this mystery that the Governor of Barbados at the time, Lord Combermere, demanded a thorough examination of the site, but found no signs of tampering, vandalism or a secret entrance. He then went on to cover the floor with sand (in order to detect footprints of any trespassers inside) and then, after once again putting the coffins back into their proper position, sealed the crypt with his own personal seal.

       Eight months later, Lord Combermere demanded the tomb to be opened up again – not to put another body in but just to check it out.

       …The coffins had been moved AGAIN.

       

        Check the before and after diagram:

       Well, you might say – Graverobbers? Pranksters? Nah, bee – check the facts: the coffins themselves were really heavy (the larger ones took eight men to lift). The door was made of heavy marble and cemented shut. Nothing was ever taken - ruling out the robbery motive. There was no footprints in the sand, no traces of water of flooding, no reported earthquakes during that time.

       The tomb still exists today but is left empty – the Chase family having decided to remove the coffins and bury them elsewhere.

       This spooky mystery still remains unsolved…

       Sleep well, children… Mwahahahaha!

31 Oct 2012

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Happy 100th Post!

 

       Happy 100^th Post! This calls for a celebration! [Cue monkey fanfare…]

       There are actually a few more than 100 posts on this blog, but this is the 100^th post since my original quasi-manifesto. And although I haven’t managed to write every day like it originally suggested, I think I have done okay to get this far.

       You see, my biggest problem I have with writing is the time and discipline required and writing this blog has been the best kind of practice for me. It has really been helpful in developing my own writing style (as well as experimenting with various others) as I have tried my hand at reporting, top 10 lists, fictionetc… as well as numerous commentaries on film, TV, videogames, music and just general randomness.

       With the majority of these, I have tried to stay away from just writing a simple ‘review’ (as there are already so many other sites out there that do this and I find simple listing of pros and cons to be rather uninspiring), and instead I’ve tried to focus on one or two aspects of each thing that I find interesting to discuss. With most articles, the seed is already there in my head – it’s just a matter of getting it out in coherent sentences and in an entertaining way.

       Another thing I’ve tried to do is stay away from writing about personal things in my life. As I stated in my original manifesto, this blog isn’t meant to be an online diary or a place for me to moan and vent. It’s about me practice my writing in a light-hearted, fun and interesting to read way – well that's the aim anyway. An article about my shoes is about a personal as it gets – and I aim to keep it that way.

       Just in case you are interested, at the time of writing, here are my top 3 most read articles:

       1) Ableton! (5116 views) - An article discussing the music software I use to create my mixtapes.

       2) Abandoned Places (625 views) - An article discussing the tumblr page dedicated to the beautifully melancholy nature of abandoned places

       3) Why I Don't Watch Trailers (495 views)- Rather self-explanatory – an article about why I avoid watching movie trailers (or looking at any promotion material in general) for any films that I am interested in seeing at the cinema.

       When some of my articles only have a single figure number of views, to get this many is an amazing honour – so a big 'thank you' to all my readers out there – whether you be regular or only occasional.

       So here’s to another 100 articles!

       Oh… and Happy Halloween!

31 Oct 2012

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Oh I Dare... I Double Dragon Dare!

        One of the games I have been playing a lot of recently is Way Forward’s Double Dragon Neon, available on PSN/Xbox Live. This game is pure awesome because it manages to be a throwback to the 80’s original Double Dragon game whilst updating the graphics, gameplay and music to more modern sensibilities.

        You see, there is a difference between retaining that ‘old school’ feel and actuallybeing ‘old school’. It works because it is a nostalgic throwback to the structure and feel of the of the original game whilst making it a more forgiving gameplay experience by allowing you to upgrade your stats and special moves – something which an old school ‘take it or leave it’ arcade style game would never let you do. This RPG element is what gives the game its replayability factor, similar to games such as Scott Pilgrim vs the World: The Game and the seminal Castle Crashers.

        The actual fighting mechanics have also been improved, allowing for combos, an evasive roll move, as well as expanding on the variety of weapons that can be picked up and environmental hazards that can be turned on the enemies.

        Anyone who grew up in the 80s will love the myriad of references in this game – a particular standout for me being the music, all of which (composed by Jake Kaufman) can be listened for free HERE. Favourite tracks of mine include City Streets 2 (Mango Tango – Neon Jungle) a jaunty pop ballad, and Space Dojo 2 (Billy and the Breakers – Firebird) which is influenced by 80’s hair metal, complete with motivational lyrics. Even every power-up has its own 80’s music inspired theme, ranging from hiphop, power ballad, synth-pop and more.

        The great thing about it is that all the humour is definitely tongue in cheek – from the bromance of Billy and Jimmy, to the cackling Skeletor-alike outbursts from arch nemesis Skullmageddon – one of the most memorably hilarious villains in recent memory. It doesn't take itself seriously, which allows for the glorious 80s excess such as a building that turns into a rocket ship, a helicopter that can fly upside down, a genetically modified mutant plant that has a T-Rex head at the end of one tentacle and a great white shark on the other, as well as plentyof neon throughout.

        In response to Skullmageddon’s taunt of ‘follow me - if you dare!’, as he jumps through a space/time portal – the brothers reply, ‘Oh I dare! I Double Dragon dare!’ – something that developer Way Forward definitely have done – dared to update a classic into a very worthy, extremely playable and fun gaming experience.

        If you are a fan of 80’s games, 80’s music or just scrolling beat ‘em-ups in general – definitely check this one out!

23 Oct 2012

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Track of the Week: AlunaGeorge - Your Drums, Your Love

 

       A new regular feature I’ve decided to start up is Track of the Week.
       I listen to a lot of music from a wide variety of sources and across many genres and thought it would be nice to share some of these with you as well as giving me something quick to write about.

       Where possible, I will include an embedded video/link for you to watch/listen as well as give a little background on the artists and provide some links to help promote them.

       Most of the tracks I will share will be stuff from up and coming bands as well as being of a fairly accessible sound – so if anyone reading discovers a new track that they love through this it will have been worthwhile for me.

       Anyway, this week’s track is Your Drums, Your Love by AlunaGeorge, a two-piece outfit from London, consisting of Aluna Francis on vocals and George Reid producing the music (both of whom can be glimpsed in the video).

       First off, the tune is awesome for me mostly because of its great production. I love the electronic beats and warped vocal samples and Aluna’s soulful voice and catchy chorus are just the icing on the cake.

       Where the tune really takes off is when played with its video, set in an art gallery with pieces from Arran Gregory and featuring some poppers. The choreography here is astounding, as not only is it finely nuanced to the music but it also fits well with the story and emotion of the song, utilizes pieces within the gallery AND is integrated with the sweeping camerawork. No multitude of quick and flashy cuts – the whole video is a fully thought out and choreographed piece of art in itself.

Watch it here:

       For more info on AlunaGeorge visit their website HERE.

       Their other single You Know You Like It can be listened to HERE.

23 Oct 2012

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A Black Ops Tribute - The Future is Black

         Recently, myself and Frenzy The Ninja B3ar collaborated on a video project – a tribute to Call of Duty: Black Ops entitled ‘The Future is Black’.

         The idea for this was for him to put together footage from both the campaign and the multiplayer aspects of the game and for me to write an accompanying script for it. As well as celebrating both of these aspects of the Black Ops experience, this video was also looking forward to the release of Black Ops 2, due for release in November (hence the use of the Black Ops 2 Main Theme as the music).

         Throwing about some ideas, we decided on having the voiceover being from the perspective of a Vietnam war veteran speaking about how easy killing had become in warfare (Black Ops was set in the era of the Vietnam war, whereas the sequel has a near future setting), but then ending with him wishing he was young again and fighting for glory instead of being left to growing old with nothing to show for it.

         It was challenging for me to write as I had to try and keep the writing as politics-less as possible (that's why I made the opinions personal to the veteran himself and not for all soldiers in general), and it had to build to a rousing finale (to match the climax of the music). So whilst it still alludes to the difference of setting between the two games, the veteran wishing he was back in the fight again to earn glory allows for a rousing call to arms for his fellow young soldiers to do likewise, lest they live to grow old and regret it like he did.

         Again, the aim was to try and stay away from an overtly pro-war or anti-war stance but instead just to describe one man’s own personal feelings.

         For research, I watched a fair amount of motivational war speeches, so you can probably hear bits of General Patton, Henry V, Aragorn and William Wallace in there somewhere. The Branagh version of Henry V’s Saint Crispin’s Day is a personal favourite as it is particularly rousing – but then again I’m a sucker for a good bit of Shakespeare… (Bonus: also look out for a young Christian Bale in the crowd in that clip!)

         So here is the finished video, with script read by Frenzy himself. Whilst not perfect, I am pretty happy with the end result – not bad for our first collaboration, and hopefully it serve as a fitting tribute to Black Ops as well as to hype fans up further for the release of Black Ops 2.

         For more of Frenzy's Black Ops videos go to his YouTube channel or follow him on Facebook.

12 Oct 2012

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5 'Gangnam Style' Vids That Tickled My Fancy

 

 

        Unless you‘ve been living under a rock for the last couple of days, chances are you've heard of Gangnam Style by Korean artist PSY. With an unprecedented worldwide appeal due to its catchy tune and ridiculous dance moves filled silly music video, Gangnam Styleis (at the time of writing) no.1 in numerous countries as well as the in the UK pop charts.

        That’s pretty insane considering the majority of the lyrics are in Korean and the UK is generally not known for having foreign language hits.

        A huge part of its success is down to the song’s exposure on Youtube (smashing all records as the most viewed K-pop song EVER), and so it’s no surprise then that numerous covers, tributes and parodies of the song have sprung up from every corner of the globe.

        Of course it would be pointless to attempt an exhaustive list or even come up with a definitive ‘best of’ as there are just too many videos out there. Instead, I’m just going to note down the 5 videos (in no particular order) that I have seen in passing and have tickled my fancy. First though, if you haven’t already seen it or need a refresher, here is the original.

1) 'Musicless' MusicVideo

        What would this ridiculous music video look like without the music? If you have ever pondered this then ponder no further - as this video presents it as just that.

        Using only the acapella vocals, ambient background noises and tons of sound effects, this manages to be consistently funny, with scenes of deafening wind machines, the awkward clip-clopping of the dance moves and the merry-go-round music - being particular highlights. Not only does it manage to make a ridiculous music video somehow even more ridiculous – but is also humourous in that you feel that there is a certain element of truth to it – as in they must have experienced similar moments of musiclessness when filming certain segments of the original music video.

2) Deadpool vs Gangnam Style

        Many parodies of Gangnam Style exist out there, often with people dressing up and with adapted lyrics in English (see POP! Goes The Mischief’s Gotham Style and ScreenTeam’s Gandalf Style for examples). However, this video featuring a guy dressed up as Deadpool is my favourite as it just fits with his mischievous character so well.

        The song is not changed in any way – it’s just footage of a guy dressed up as Deadpool wandering the streets, dancing and just generally larking about. Highlights include the escalator spinning-plank, members of the public gamely joining in with him and the numerous times he thrusts his crotch into people’s faces.

        I guess its funny just to see how different people react to something like this. Some love it and get involved straight away, others just try and ignore it in the hope that he will eventually just go away.

        There are plenty of nods to the original video too – as well as a guest cameo from Bane! Who says Marvel and DC cant get along?

3) Waveya Dance Team’s Routine

        Another video that has gained a ridiculous amount of exposure following the growing popularity of the song. I mean, five hot Korean girls performing a fun dance routine in short skirts/shorts – what’s not to love?

        What I like about this video is that the dancing is actually pretty good (a lot of the moves are to the lyrics and not just the beat/melody), but also the fact that the girls are not afraid to show that they have a sense of humour by also incorporating the dance moves from the original music video. Simple, but effective - which definitely makes it one of my favourites.

4) Acoustic Soul Cover

        There have also been many covers of Gangnam Style in a variety of different styles. Lara’s piano cover and Erock’s metal cover come to mind as strong contenders. However the best one I’ve seen so far is Berkley based Korean band Ra-On and their supremely soulful acoustic cover. Featuring two singers and a guy on guitar, it somehow totally changes the song and elevates it into something spectacular.

        Not much to add here, really – just have a listen for yourself.

5) Gangnam Style Wedding Video

        What better way to celebrate your marriage than to make a Gangnam Style music video - featuring the bride, groom, family, friends and other wedding guests? Crazy as it ,ay seem, this San Francisco based couple enlisted the services of LightBulb Videography to make a music video of the song to commemorate their special day.

        As well as numerous references to the original, this video also features actual footage of the couple inside the church and at the wedding reception!

        This video is great because it’s professionally produced – but mainly also because it looks like it was legitimately fun to make and be a part of. It may be kind of groan-worthy to some watching it right now due to the current massive popularity of the song, but just think – many years from now EVERYONE in it will look back and think ‘dayum – we had bare jokes that day!’…

        Good times!

        Know of any other Gangnam Style vids that deserve a mention? Suggest them in the comments below!

Here's a bonus clip - just for fun!

9 Oct 2012

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