FOODHYPE: Chile Spiced Mango

Trader Joe's has something unusual in the dried fruit section: Chile Spiced Mango.

The mangoes are cut into strips, dried and coated with a blend of spices and chile powders. Personally, I would change the blend, but it's still pretty tasty. Plus the ingredients are all-natural: mango, paprika, sugar, salt, citric acid, and cayenne pepper.

They're great as a snack, and also go well in a curry... simply chop them into small pieces and toss them in the pot halfway through (along with some sliced almonds) and they'll impart a great flavor to the dish.

MOVIEHYPE: Asian Action

Dragon Tiger Gate (2006)

















Crying Freeman (1995)

Maybe you think all I care about is movies based on comic books -- you would be so wrong. These two action extravaganzas from the Far East are, in fact, based on manga. So there...

From LoveHKFilm.com:

If there is one Hong Kong movie people are looking to this year, it's probably this one: Dragon Tiger Gate. Based on the long-running comic book from creator Tony Wong Luk-Wong, Dragon Tiger Gate has elements that propel it beyond your average local production into something designed to induce Pavlovian responses from action-starved international audiences. Dragon Tiger Gate has it all: copious martial arts, hot young idols, righteous posturing, noble comic book concepts, and above all, Donnie Yen.



龙虎门 Dragon Tiger Gate: Donnie Yen Restaurant Brawl

From imdb.com:

A lethal assassin for a secret Chinese organisation, who sheds tears of regret each time he kills, is seen swiftly and mercilessly executing three Yakuza gangsters by a beautiful artist. She is captivated by the grace of his kill and later falls in love with him. An intense power struggle for the leadership of the Yakuza Clans ensues as they seek vengeance for the death of their leader. They soon realise the fatal mistake of underestimating the deadly skills of the Crying Freeman.

Dragon Tiger Gate trailer at YouTube
Crying Freeman teaser at Movie-List

MOVIEHYPE: Wanted

From imdb.com:

Wanted tells the tale of one apathetic nobody's transformation into an unparalleled enforcer of justice. In 2008, the world will be introduced to a hero for a new generation: Wesley Gibson. 25-year-old Wes was the most disaffected, cube-dwelling drone the planet had ever known. His boss chewed him out hourly, his girlfriend ignored him routinely and his life plodded on interminably. Everyone was certain this disengaged slacker would amount to nothing. There was little else for Wes to do but wile away the days and die in his slow, clock-punching rut. Until he met a woman named Fox. After his estranged father is murdered, the deadly sexy Fox recruits him into the Fraternity, a secret society that trains Wes to avenge his father's death by unlocking his dormant powers. As she teaches him how to develop lightning-quick reflexes and phenomenal agility, Wes discovers this team lives by an ancient, unbreakable code: carry out the death orders given by fate itself. With wickedly brilliant tutor - including the fraternity's enigmatic leader, Sloan - Wes grows to enjoy all the strength he ever wanted. But slowly, he begins to realize there is more to his dangerous associates than meets the eye. And as he wavers between newfound heroism and vengeance, Wes will come to learn what no one can ever teach him: he alone controls his destiny.

Based on a very popular comic book, and sporting a strong cast (Angelina Jolie, Morgan Freeman, and James Mcavoy for starters), this looks like it will take Matrix-style action scenes to new levels. How about a double-feature with either of the two in the next post above? Guaranteed action satisfaction.

MUSICHYPE: Music For One Apartment And Six Drummers

Music For One Apartment And Six Drummers through NoFatClips!!!





I could tell you that six mysterious drummers lurk outside a Swedish apartment block until certain mysterious residents leave to walk their mysterious dog... and then, with military precision the drummers set about their strange task... but description only goes so far, and in the case of these wacky Swedes, one beat is worth a thousand words.

SPORTSHYPE: US MNT v MEXICO

Just so you don't confuse them with the Women's National Team, that's what they're called now: the MNT. Like "US Mint".


Kyle Beckerman





















US Continues Domination Over Mexico
By Dave Lifton at BlogCritics Magazine (written after 2-0 win in Phoenix in Februray 2007)

U.S. Men vs. Mexico
02/06/2008 8:00 PM CT
Reliant Stadium; Houston, Texas

Broadcast on ESPN2 in most areas

Barely getting in under the hype deadline with this one, but look for more minty hype to come!

POLITICSHYPE: Barack and the Black-Eyed Pea

... and Scarlett Johansen, and that guy from "24", and a bunch of other (presumably) famous people that I don't recognize, riffing on Barack's 2nd place in New Hampshire speech, the "Yes We Can" speech. My favorite is the guy who says "Si, se puede." Who the heck is he? Must be famous, right?


"Yes We Can" music video


Barack Obama speaks to supporters following 2nd-place finish in NH

I don't know if this guy is the black Kennedy we're being hyped with, but it's undeniable: he makes a great music video!

POLITICSHYPE: Wake Up America!

I don't know about you but.....eeeeekkkkkkkk!

SPORTSHYPE: Prancing Soccer Referees

This really speaks for itself. It tells you a lot about why soccer (or football, as it's known in most parts of the world) is considered to be full of what Arnold "The Governator" Schwarzenegger would call girlie men.



This appears to be from the Brazilian leagues. The music to which it's set is perfect too... a ballet whose name I can't recall at the moment. Swan Lake, maybe?

POLITICSHYPE: Obama to the Rim

I got it from Fear The Beard.

MUSICHYPE: Human Beatboxes

When it comes to making music, humans are pretty innovative. If you've never seen somebody beatboxing, then you're in for a surprise. Radioactive, who's in the first video below, has been around for a while. I saw him tear it up with Karl Denson and Galactic at the Mountain Aire festival in 2000, and have one of his CD's. It was crazy - nearly 30 minutes of continuous beatbox mastery!

Here's Radioactive at the Independent in San Francisco (the venue formerly known as the Justice League). Halfway through he breaks out a set of pan pipes and uses them to great effect:



There's another guy who deserves beatboxing props. Apparently he won over the judges on the French version of American Idol with his take on Michael Jackson's Thriller, flowing into a bunch of other well-known Top 40 and Hip-Hop numbers:



Then there's Rahzel. This guy is also the man, and explains a little bit about the art in this video: