Malkin out 2-3 wks with shoulder injury

Dan Bylsma just called and informed me that Evgeni Malkin will be out for at least 2-3 weeks with a shoulder injury. I will be flying out to Pittsburgh tomorrow morning to assess his condition. As Bunny is a qualified acupuncturist (he picked up the art while traveling in South East Asia), he is traveling with me to help deal with the situation. I've already informed Mike Tomlin that we will need to consult with him as well.

With both Gonchar and Malkin out, the Penguins will need to work extra hard to maintain their impressive momentum, as they are coming off of an impressive 6-1 rout of the Canadians which included a Sidney Crosby hat trick. I trust that Jordan Staal will step up from centering the #3 line to the #2 line with little difficulty. The question is who will fill Staal's 3rd-line role, which would typically be shouldered by the always reliable Maxime Talbot, but he too is out until at least December. Once Dan Bylsma and I have properly assessed the situation, we will begin to talk strategy.

Rob Rob and Bunny's Movie Review: Year One

Rob Rob: (one panda thumb up, one panda thumb down)
While the basic premise was kind of weak, but the film was actually better than I thought it would be. I object to the use of solely western Judeo-Christain-centric characters in the film (one would have liked to see Buddha or Confucius step in at the end and kick some ass), but all-in-all it was okay.

Bunny: (one ear up, one ear down)
Eh, what can I say? It was kind of stupid, but had a few funny moments. If you expected it to be anything more than that, you are kind of stupid, too. Michael Cera and Jack Black play tribal versions of Michael Cera and Jack Black. There are some girls that are too hot for them that they end up hooking up with, and Jack Black inexplicably beats up a bunch of large armed guards at the end of the movie. Basically it makes very little sense but is worth watching once for a chuckle.

Rob Rob and Bunny's Movie Review: Burn After Reading

Rob Rob : (one panda thumb up, one panda thumb down)
Burn after reading is the first film made by the Cohen brothers since their Academy Award-winning "No Country For Old Men." This movie didn't suck as much as NCFOM, but it certainly wasn't great, either. For as many stars as their were in the movie, it was suprisingly boring. One would think that there would be something of artistic merit in the contrast of the banal of the everyday life of the gym employees and the spies at the CIA, but even that fails in the film. For a comedy, this was a little too dark, not that the darkness was disturbing, but rather it drowned out the humor. Also, the dim-witted characters are at first entertaining, but quickly become boring. Some may be amused by this movie (hence the one thumb up), but I wouldn't watch it again.

Bunny: (two ears down)
I met John Malkovich a couple of times, and he's just as much of an asshole as the character he plays in this film. People who comment about his performance don't realize that he wasn't acting at all. He was just being himself. This was a piece of shite. If Brad Pitt and George Clooney together can't save a movie from mediocrity, then nothing can.

Bamboo Revolution #1

Aside from being the most important component of the Panda diet (second only to frozen fruits, our favorite dessert), bamboo is one of the fastest growing woody plants in the world. There are >1000 species of bamboo, and it is an important plant both economically and culturally. Bamboo's long life makes it a Chinese symbol of longevity, while in India it is a symbol of friendship. Bamboo forests sometimes surround shrines as part of a sacred barrier against evil; many Buddhist temples also have bamboo groves.

Bamboo is important in modern economical development as well. This is (hopefully) the first post in a series on the importance of bamboo to the modern world.

Outside of Lusaka, Zambia, local craftsman build handmade bikes out of locally-grown bamboo. The company, named Zambikes, is owned by two Californians and two Zambians. Santa-Cruz-based bike designer Craig Calfee designed and built prototype experimental bikes using bamboo, and his tests suggested that bamboo's strength and lightness make it a great substitute for metal, and it has excellent vibration-dampening properties. These bikes are sold in the US at a cost of ~$500 for the frame and ~$900 for the entire bike. I highly suggest you look into this company if you are seeking to purchase a bike. Buying a Zambike helps support a developing nation, and is good karma for the global community.

Rob Rob and Bunny's Movie Review: Enter the Dragon (1973)

Rob Rob's Review (two panda thumbs up): Aside from the fact that this movie has some awesome fight scenes in it, I like it because Bruce Lee plays a Shaolin Monk. The main Shoalin temple was founded in Dengfeng China in the 5th century by Chan Buddhists. Shaolin monks practice the basic peaceful tenants of Buddhism, but when provoked, they release the fury of Shaolin Kung Fu, much like Pandas are typically docile creatures, but when provoked can turn into ferocious warriors.

Bunny's Review (two ears up): I first met Bruce Lee when he was playing Kato in "The Green Hornet," and over the years we hung out a few times here and there. I, like everyone else in the 1970's, was really into the whole idea of being a Kung Fu master. Bruce was one of the few people who actually was one, but it is important for me to point out that Jim Kelly (who plays "Williams," the black American in the film) was also an accomplished marital artist, and later went on to star in many blaxpoitation movies, including "Black Belt Jones" and "Black Samurai." Unfortunately the world lost Bruce not long after this movie was completed (but before he had finished "Game of Death"). However, Jim Kelly and I have crossed paths a few times here and there, and whenever we do, we inevitably light one up, talk about the 70's, and put this movie on. This movie is the definitive 70's Martial Arts movie. So many great fighting scenes and so much cool 70's dialogue (my favorite is when Williams is questioned by Han and Han's men come up behind him ostensibly to take him prisoner, and Williams looks at Han sitting behind the desk and says, "Man, you come straight out of a comic book..."). I have a lot of good memories about hanging out on the set of "Enter the Dragon," so I may be a bit biased, but I really think this is the most important martial arts movies ever. Everyone was involved. I remember meeting Jackie Chan (who played one of the guards) for the first time, and after he walked away, Bruce leaned over to me and said, "Bunny, that guy could be a good marital arts actor, but instead I fear he will make really shitty action-comedy movies..." Bruce was right on, just like he was in this movie. Below is a picture of Bruce snapping Jackie's neck.