Monday, May 26, 2008

Back from Lost



Welcome back. I am back form my weekend van trip to Lost Memorial Day Weekend. I had a great time, partied with some great vanners, saw some killer rides, and as always, it was over too soon. Now to get ready for the Nats!
My new trailer worked great, made for worse mileage (by about 2mpg...whatever), but not having all our stuff piled up in the van so as not to be able to move made the trade off worth while. Here's a few pics to enjoy.

This classic van now sports a new coat of art done by my friend Guy (who sadly did not make it this year) Why I didn't get a picture of the new mural... well, they were parked a little close during the show, and I didn't catch up the rest of the weekend, so I now have a new mission. Get a pic of the Eagle's new paint!

This one features some awesome stained glass portholes.


This is the van Visions. Truly an excellent example of an updated classic. The body is a mid Ford, but the nose features headlights from a modern era Chevy pickup. Awesome body work on this one.

Visions interior.
What the?!? That top wasn't chopped last year!! Still an amazing van, and the funny part is it's the owners work truck!


Hey I even made the light show this year! All in all I have to say I had a great time, and special thanks go out to my friends in Moon Lite Vans of Reading PA. for letting me park with them. (and not kidnapping Finnegan! :D ) See you in Altamont in July!

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Let's shoot some zombies!




Check out this cool zombie game I just found out on the internets!

clicky here

Friday, May 16, 2008

Vans in Ads: Ford Econoline Van 1970's Bachelor Pad

Let's end this little theme week with an actual commercial from the 70's for the Econoline. Gotta love this one!

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Vans in Ads: Vonage

My favorite ad from the Vonage ones! I love that they used a killer early Econline in thier ads, but they seem to have done away with that now. Too bad.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Vans in Ads: Alltel TV ad - Wizard

Ok, so these guys in no way represent vanners. They are pretty much just dorks with a van. Not really helping our image much, but I have to say these ads do make me laugh. I love the way the wizard goes "uuuuuoooh, it's YOU guys..." Props to Altell for making the van a central theme in their ads tho... even if it is a spoof of another phone companies ads... which we'll see tomorrow.

One side note that bugs me regarding this van tho... that door clearly came from another van. The way the mural abruptly stops at the jambs and the fact that it is a completely different shade of brown really stand out and bother me.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Vans in Ads: Guitar Hero 2 Xbox 360 TV Ad

Ok, I admit, I have never played the game, and I think learning how to play a real guitar is much cooler (sorry GH fans), I have to tip my hat to the fact that the animators of this ad not only included a van, but it was a radical custom! A tandem! Sooooo the bomb!

Monday, May 12, 2008

Vans in Ads: Diet Pepsi

Here's another from a few years ago. I love the looks this guy gets when he rolls up in the van. ...seems vaguely familiar somehow.

Never was a big "Loverboy" fan tho...

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Van's in ads: Stride Gum

Thought i'd do a bit of a theme week. Lately it seems as though 70's style custom vans have been used a lot in advertising. The latest is one for Stride Gum. I love that the included this classic looking mid-Ford in the ad, especially as it has NOTHING to do with the product, and is only used as a getaway van for their hijinks. Enjoy.

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Van of the Week: Miss Behavin'

Wow. Been a while since I've done one of these posts! I guess since it's getting back to vannin' season for me (2 weeks from today I'll be coolin' my heels at Lost Memorial Day Weekend in Greenwich NY. Can't wait!)

Anyhoo, this classic mid-Ford van entitled Miss Behavin' which was used by by a company called J&J in their ads back in the 70's, was until recently delegated to guarding the inside of the barn it was sitting in for many years. The owner wanted $1800.00 for it. (where are these deals when i have the money????) It's now owned proudly by a midwest vanner. I am looking forward to seeing it in person at the Nats this year in Altamont Il.
Seriously, this thing is a gorgeous time capsule. Glad it was saved and will be back at shows.




Thor movie


I just read a pretty interesting article regarding the recent sucess of superhero movies, and the majorites of them being Marvel characters. Having been a DC fan first off, I have been wondering "where are the DC movies?" THis article explains a bit. I have to say I was looking forward to the upcoming Justice League film. Bummer it's on hold.

On a side note, if they were to make a Aquaman film, and took the direction mentioned in the article that would suck. He already gets little respect, and that would just worsen things. His story would make a great film, as he has a rich history, backstory, and supporting cast. Not to mention it would have the potential to be visually amazing.

from E!Online:

"So, if you're Superman, and you heard this week that Thor—Thor!—got a release date for his movie, do you wonder what on your adopted planet you have to do to get on the calendar?

The answer might be: Be a Marvel character.

This week, hot off Iron Man's $102-million opening weekend, Marvel issued a "partial" list of eight upcoming superhero movies, everything from Iron Man 2 to Thor. All but Ant-Man had scheduled release dates.

Meanwhile, rival DC Comics' characters, from Aquaman to Wonder Woman, and with the very large exception of Batman, remain in various stages of, if you'll pardon the vulgar Hollywood expression, development.

"I really don't see a big difference between the potential of Marvel versus DC characters on the big screen," wrote Mike Voiles, editor of Mike's Amazing World of DC Comics, in an email interview.

Well, actually, there is one big difference, as comic experts like Voiles are quick point out: Marvel is its own entity, cutting its own deals, and even financing its own movies. DC Comics is a subsidiary of Warner Bros.

"Even higher profile DC properties have to fight through other Warner priorities and projects to get made," Voiles wrote.

To Jim Littler, webmaster of ComicBookMovie.com, the long-planned Wonder Woman movie is a prime example of the superhuman challenges a DC superhero can face.

"Warner Bros. was able to get Joss Whedon at the helm—AND THEN THEY REJECTED HIS SCRIPT! Joss Whedon of Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and more!" Littler wrote in an email. "I'll bet the DC people were crying when that fell apart."

More than a decade ago, it was Marvel heroes who were having all the rotten luck in Hollywood. Spider-Man wasn't much more than a 1970s TV washout. The Fantastic Four were fit for an unreleased Roger Corman B-movie. Captain America was singed in a direct-to-video bomb.

Now, it's DC's turn. While the comic giant's characters continue to be huge small-screen players, on Smallville and in various animated series, they're getting swamped by Marvel's gang at the multiplex. Superman vs. Batman was scrapped. Justice League of America fell apart. And all sorts of cape- and tight-wearers are cooling their boots—even Superman, who's doesn't yet have a definitive start date for his next movie, two years after Superman Returns grossed $200 million.

According to Littler, DC's troubles have nothing to do with DC's characters.

"Many comic fans think DC has a much stronger lineup than Marvel does," Littler said. "I can think of at least three or four more franchises that they haven't even touched yet that could be as big as anything Marvel has put out."

Few, in fact, expect any comic-book movie to be bigger this summer than The Dark Knight, starring DC's own Batman (with an assist from Christian Bale). Filmmaker Christopher Nolan's much-anticipated Batman Begins sequel opens July 18.

Even in star-crossed times for his JLA colleagues, the Caped Crusader reigns. "I've never run into any comics fan who doesn't like Batman," Littler said.

Now, if only some of his mojo could rub off on the Green Lantern.

Here's a look at some of the upcoming Marvel-based movies, and their scheduled release dates, per the company:

* The Incredible Hulk (June 13)
* Punisher: War Zone (Dec. 5)
* X-Men Origins: Wolverine (May 1, 2009)
* Iron Man 2 (April 30, 2010)
* Thor (June 4, 2010)
* The First Avenger: Captain America (working title) (May 6, 2011)
* The Avengers (July 2011)
* Ant-Man (no announced date)

And here's a look at the statuses of some of the planned DC-based movies, per ComicBookMovie.com:

* Aquaman: "According to Comic Book Resources, the producers want to make a screwball comedy of it."
* The Flash: Wedding Crashers' David Dobkin was signed to direct last year.
* Green Lantern: Greg Berlanti (Brothers & Sisters, Eli Stone) is writing a script; Jack Black won't star—at least he promised as much back in 2006.
* Justice League of America: "Tabled."
* Superman: The Man of Steel: Director Bryan Singer's on board. Superman Returns star Brandon Routh's on board. Filming might begin "early next year," per Routh, who admittedly doesn't have the power to schedule such things.
* Wonder Woman: "Sitting uncomfortably on the backburner."

Friday, May 9, 2008

Apocalypse Yum!


My favorite on line comic "Breakfast of the Gods" has just begun book three "Apocalypse Yum". I beleive this is third in a trilogy. If you haven't checked this out it's well worth it. I have posted links to one and two respectively, and they are available from the site itself. Dig in and enjoy!

Apocalypse Yum