Coopernundrums » Art

Defending Your Turf

JayCooper — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 02:41:23 +0000

It was the start of the year in our old Celtic lands, and we’d be waiting… in our houses of wattles and clay. The barriers would be down, you see, between the real and the unreal, and the dead might be looking in… to sit by our fires of turf.

This eerie quote from Halloween 3: Season of the witch made me wonder what wattles and clay and turf might be. It’s always good to learn new things. Keep reading to be enlightened.

Turf is an old Celtic word for compressed peat used as fuel. This is fitting since modern Halloween is based on the ancient Gaelic festival of Samhain. Peat forms when plant material, usually in marshy areas, is inhibited from decaying fully by acidic and anaerobic conditions. It is composed mainly of marshland vegetation: trees, grasses, fungi, as well as other types of organic remains, such as insects, and animal remains. Peat is soft and easily compressed. Under pressure, water in the peat is forced out. Upon drying, peat can be used as a fuel. Ireland and Scotland suffer from a scarcity of trees so peat is traditionally used for cooking and domestic heating. Stacks of drying peat dug from the bogs can still be seen in some rural areas.

Wattles and clay or daub are the terms used to describe an ancient building process. Walls are constructed using a woven lattice of wooden strips called wattle. These walls are then daubed with a sticky material usually made of some combination of wet soil, clay, sand, animal dung and straw. Wattle and daub has been used for at least 6,000 years, and is still an important construction material in many parts of the world.

Now go watch Halloween 3.

Cooper Halloween Legacy

JayCooper — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 04:15:21 +0000

Carving a pumpkin, wearing a costume, and collecting tasty candy are really the only things a child dreams about during the month of October. One of my absolute fondest memories of Halloween growing up was picking out my costume.

I was lucky enough to have been of trick or treating age in the late seventies through the eighties. Costumes at this time, at least for budget conscious parents like mine, were usually found in cardboard boxes with a cellophane window revealing the day glow goodness inside.

They usually came with a plastic jumpsuit having the consistency of a trash bag, a thin, brightly colored, vacuformed plastic mask with eye-holes, and a rubber band that was notorious for snagging your hair to hold the mask in place. I still remember to this day the wafting smell of strong plastic as my brother and I would open our boxed delights to try them on.

Ben Cooper Inc. was one of the three largest Halloween costume manufacturers in the U.S. from the 1950s through the mid-1980s. Halloween was synonymous with Ben Cooper products for many children. The variety and simplicity of the little synthetic outfits, paired with the company’s savvy licensing division, made them staples of the season, until an early ’80s damper that brought on a decade of financial woes and eventually bankrupted the company.

Ben Cooper costumes are still highly collectible and very retro cool. The fact that this company shares my name is pretty cool too.

I miss the good old days.

Happy Halloween!

15 Directors that Made me Who I am.

JayCooper — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 02:29:35 +0000

I am not just a computer geek but I am a geek on many levels. I am a beer geek, a music geek, a high-definition geek, a book geek, and I finally a movie geek. Lately I have been admiring the folks that bring the movies I love to life. The great Sidney Lumet’s passing made me realize how these films and the men that made them affected my life. I decided to make a list, not of the world’s most influential directors, but instead, a list of the directors that have most influenced my life. Mr. Lumet did not make my list I am sad to say but I will forever remember many of his movies. The list is limited to 15 for brevity’s sake and these are in order of least influential to most. While I do invite all comments, please realize this is not a “best ever” list but instead a list based on my life and opinions.

#15 Rob Reiner

This is Spinal Tap
When Harry met Sally
The Princess Bride
A Few Good Men
Stand by Me
Throw Momma from the Train
Misery

When I was researching this list I almost fell out of my chair because I, to my surprise, did not realize how many fo Rob’s movies have affected me. Just out of high school I can vividly remember watching this This is Spinal Tap. I quote The Princess Bride almost daily. I have a strange unnerving fear of cast iron frying pans thanks to Throw Momma from the Train. I wont even get into how bad my ankles hurt any time I see Kathy Bates now. This guy definitely influenced my life.

…

#14 Peter Jackson

Dead Alive
Bad Taste
The Frighteners
Lord of the Rings Trilogy
King Kong

How does a guy get from making strange, amazing, horror comedies to making the Lord of the Rings. I remember watching Bad Taste and Dead Alive.They freaked me out as a teenager. The grand, epic scope of the Lord of the Rings films makes Jackson a director I can relate to. I must be one of the few people on the planet that loved his King Kong remake.

…

#13 Alfred Hitchcock

Rear Window
The Birds
Vertigo
Psycho

I can thank Mr. Hitchcock for introducing me to one of my favorite film genres, Horror. Psycho will for me, like many, always make taking a shower interesting. The Birds and The Rear Window are also favs of mine. You have to watch those crazy taxidermists right?

…

#12 David Cronenberg

Videodrome
The Incredible Melting man
Scanners
Naked Lunch
M. Butterfly
The Fly
Eastern Promises

This guy taught me to have a strong stomach. he also showed me the joys of seeing things that you just can’t believe. The master of “Body Horror” I cant go more than a week without sitting transfixed watching one of Cronenberg’s movies.

…

#11 David Lynch

Eraserhead
Blue Velvet
The Elephant Man
Dune

This guy made the list for two reasons. I watched the Elephant man when I was a young adult after I read some things about the person the movie was based on. I was mesmerized by the direction and, of course the acting. This movie made me understand that I had and continue to have a LOT to be thankful for. Dune on the other hand was a wildly fantastical Sci-Fi Epic that it took me 4 viewings to fully understand, but once I did the richness of the movie and the direction sticks with me even now.

…

# 10 Clint Eastwood

High Plains Drifter
Sudden Impact
Pale Rider
Heartbreak Ridge
Unforgiven
Million Dollar Baby
Letters from Iwo Jima
Gan Torino

I am pretty jazzed that in my lifetime I have been able to enjoy Clint as both an amazing actor and more recently a timely director. His movies about the west were my introduction to the western and his direction of Pale Rider and Unforgiven made me realize he was a master of both crafts.

…

#9 Martin Scorsese

Taxi Driver
Raging Bull
Goodfellas
Cape Fear
Gangs of New York
Aviator
The Departed

Scorsese films showed me the seedy and often mentally off sides of life. I can still relate to these touched individuals thanks to the brilliant direction given. I remember his films teaching me that odd is OK and for a geek that means a lot.

…

#8 Ridley Scott

The Duelists
Alien
Blade Runner
Legend
Gladiator
Kingdom of Heaven
Robin Hood

What can I say about this man? His films are both prolific and relevant. Ridley showed me both as a youth and as an adult that storytelling is without a doubt NOT a lost art form. I can VIVIDLY remember how scared I was while I watched Alien, how transfixed I was watching Blade Runner, and how amazed at the imagery that existed in Legend. I STILL to this day watch all these movies over and over and find new things every time.

…

#7 Terry Gilliam

Monty Python and the Holy Grail
Time Bandits
Brazil
The Adventures of Baron Munchausen
The Fisher King
12 Monkeys

I am a huge Monty Python fan. Lets face it British humor is something you either get or you don’t, but Terry’s films take that quirky oddness to a whole different level. His movies brought fascination and silliness into my life at a time when I needed it. I will forever think of how many times I watched Time Bandits to try to understand it. Now that I get it I LOVE IT. That’s really the way it is with all these films.

…

#6 Tim Burton

Beetlejuice
Edward Scissor Hands
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Batman
Batman Returns

Burton ranks pretty high on this list because of my connection to him as an artist. Being an illustrator first and a computer jockey second I can totally relate to hos he fell into film making. I have grown up watching Tim’s progress from obscure artistic interpretations, to comedies and then darker fare. I will always see him when i discuss dark thought-provoking films.

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# 5 John Carpenter

Assault on Precinct 13
Halloween Series
The Thing
The Fog
Escape from New York
Star Man
Big Trouble in Little China
Prince of Darkness
They Live
Vampires
Villiage of the Damned

Carpenter is one of my all time favorite directors. The list of his movies that I would happily re watch any time is filled with his films. It does not just stop at his directorial works but his soundtrack talents as well. I attribute my love of synth music to him.

#4 Mel Brooks

Blazing Saddles
Young Frankenstein
History of the World Part 1
Spaceballs
Life Stinks
Robin Hood Men in Tights

Mel Brooks is a master of the spoof comedy. When I feel the worst in my life I can ALWAYS flip on one of his films and laugh my blues away. The dialog of his films while humorous is also clever and smart. His films make me feel good and I love to share my love of his movies with others. Sharing them with my kids for the first time I think is one of the greatest moments I ever had as a father.

…

#3 Stanley Kubrik

Spartacus
Dr. Strangelove
2001 A Space Odyssey
A Clockwork Orange
The Shining
Full Metal Jacket
Eyes Wide Shut

Kubrik’s amazing attention to detail in his films and his tremendous eye for camera work is what I attribute as one of the driving factors in my overall love of film. Spartacus is an amazing film even after all these years. A clockwork Orange not only made me think about the future but feel it. 2001 is a movie that is as brilliant in execution as it is to look at. Kubrik is definitely one of the greatest of filmmakers of all time and one of my favorites too.

…

#2 George Lucas

THX 1138
American Graffiti
Star Wars series

Now I know what you’re saying, this guy is not a really great director. Well, that may be true, but I cannot deny that the films Lucas has directed have influenced my life’s fiber in almost every way. I grew up living and breathing Star Wars. I had toys. I ate branded Happy Meals. I drank out of emblazoned glasses. I wore clothes with images from the films. There is not one aspect of my childhood and now my adult life that I can not reference some Star Wars films in. Nuff Said.

…

#1 Steven Spielberg

Jaws
Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind
1941
Raiders of the Lost Ark Series
E.T.
Twilight Zone
The Color Purple
Empire of the Sun
A.I.
Hook
Jurassic Park
Saving Private Ryan
Minority Report
AND ON AND ON

What Can I say? Spielberg is number one on my list for the most part due to his huge confluence of films and the sheer number of them. I have enjoyed is films over the course of my entire life. I can almost note a film of his that I love for every year or so since I started watching movies. I can quote lines from almost all his films. I know trivia and details about his films that would blow your mind. The fact that his movies stand the test of time coupled with the fact that he is STILL making movies blows my mind. Of all the directors I know of he fits MY definition of what a director is better than any other. I want to know all the movies he has ever made.

…so that’s my list. If you read through all that then I applaud you. I almost did not think I would finish this as it turned out to be a MUCH larger task than I anticipated. Cheers.

Magnetic Personalities

JayCooper — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 02:49:27 +0000

Throughout the course of my life I have met some extremely colorful characters. I have a large circle of people who I am happy to call friends. I have a lot of clients that I work for that I don’t really consider friends. I want to tell you about a couple that fall into the former group.

These folks originally joined my group of acquaintances by becoming customers of mine. I was approached to update their existing business website, MagnetQueen. It was a long process as their website was a bit larger than I anticipated. Long jobs, as any developer or graphic designer will tell you, tend to stick with you. This one introduced me to Brian and Liza, Native New Yorker’s that migrated their business here to Tennessee. They make Save the Date Magnets for weddings, birthdays, graduations, you name it.

Brian is a Fordham University graduate and Liza is a graduate of the Parsons School of Design. Together they have owned and run their own successful business for many, many years. They would tell you that they wish they could be a lot more successful but, what other person wouldn’t tell you the same? They are a fun couple that likes the arts and are superb conversationalist and over the years I have grown very fond of them. Most importantly they make some of the coolest magnets you can imagine. My refrigerator is covered with picture magnets and fun magnets they have made for me over the years.

If you are in the market for some unique invites to give for your next event. I hope you will consider my friend’s work. I think you will be very pleased.

Here’s to you Brian and Liza.

http://www.magnetqueen.com

1973 a Year in Review

JayCooper — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 03:54:57 +0000

Well, it’s my birthday on November the 13^th. I always find myself looking to the past when my birthday rolls around. I was born in 1973. I personally have never really looked into the events of my birth year so I thought I would research a bit and share my findings. Turns out it was a rather amazing year and not just because I was born. Here is the list of factoids I discovered.

Some of my favorite movies were released in 1973.

The classic Horror movie The Exorcist

Enter the Dragon starring Bruce Lee

George Lucas’s first film American Graffiti

The Sting starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford

Some of the events of 1973 really surprised me.

The first part of the ill-fated first space station Skylab was launched into orbit

The Watergate Scandal caused Richard Nixon to resign the presidency

The Roe vs. Wade Supreme court decision made abortion legal

The World Trade Center opened in New York

The United States Drug Enforcement Agency is created.

The American Psychiatric Association removes homosexuality from its list of known mental disorders

A lot of great music was released in ’73.

Pink Floyd released their Landmark Album Dark Side of the moon

Elvis performed his Aloha in Hawaii concert

Aerosmith released their debut album Aerosmith

Kiss performs their first concert, at the Coventary Club in Queens

Mike Oldfield’s Tubular Bells becomes the first release on Richard Branson’s newly-launched Virgin label

The Who release Quadrophenia

Brothers Malcolm and Angus Young perform as AC/DC at the former Sydney nightclub ‘Chequers’ for their New Year’s Eve party

We lost some pretty important people passed away.

Pablo Picasso, 1881-1973

Betty Grable, 1916-1973

Bruce Lee, 1940-1973

Lon Chaney Jr., 1906-1973

J.R.R. Tolkien, 1892-1973

Jim Croce, 1943-1973

David “Stringbean” Akeman, 1916-1973

Lyndon B. Johnson, 1908-1973

Quite a few New Faces, aside from mine, decided to make an appearance.

Oscar de la Hoya, American boxer born Feb 4^th

Steve McNair, American football player Feb 14^th

David Blaine, American magician April 4^th

Carson Daly, American talk show host June 22^nd

Monica Lewinsky, American former White House intern July 23^rd

Seth MacFarlane, American animator and voice actor, Oct 26^th

Terrell Owens, American football player, Dec 7^th

Seth Meyers, American actor and comedian, Dec 28^th

Well, now I feel like I know a bit more about the year I was born. Hopefully you found that reading this was as enjoyable as it was for me to write it. Until next year!

Age Old Debate..Trapped Miners

JayCooper — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 15:08:23 +0000

This made me think and laugh, so I decided to share it with you.