As promised, here are this week’s two games, both of which hinge on the same concepts: invulnerability and explosions.

Title: Boombot
For: Web browsers
Developer: Kaiparasoft
Publisher: Ninja Kiwi
Age rating: N/A

First up is Boombot, in which you have a limited number of bombs with which to propel a cute little indestructible robot to the exit of each stage. Sometimes you only have one bomb; other times you have several. Sometimes there are other explosives in the stage you can set off for a boost; other times there aren’t. It’s a lot of fun, in any case. Just don’t run out of bombs or fall into any open pits, or you’ll have to try the level again.

Title: IndestructoTank A.E.
For: Web browsers
Developer and publisher: Armor Games
Age rating: N/A

And secondly we have IndestructoTank A.E. In this one you control an invincible but weaponless tank beset on all sides by helicopters, planes and other vehicles. You use the explosions of their bombs and missiles to propel your tank into the air, crushing your foes with the sheer weight of the vehicle. Same concept as Boombot, totally different execution, and just as fun in its way. There is a bit of animated blood in this one, so beware.

Enjoy!

(Screen captures by Justin Hoeger)

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“Three billion human lives ended on August 29th, 1997. The survivors of the nuclear fire called the war ‘Judgment Day.’”

– Sarah Connor

That’s right, “Terminator 2″ fans.

Today is the 11th anniversary of Judgment Day, when Skynet — the all-powerful computer in charge of Earth’s strategic defense system — became self-aware. (To be precise, it happened at 2:14 a.m. on August 29, 1997. A Friday.)

As you might remember from history class, Skynet sent two Terminator robots back through time with a single purpose: to destroy the leader of the human resistance, John Connor.

The first Terminator was programmed to target his mother, Sarah Connor, in 1984 (as chronicled in the documentary “The Terminator”). The second was sent to strike young John himself.

Naturally, you can never save the world just twice.

In 2003, Skynet sent another nasty Terminator (this time a smokin’ hot babe ‘bot) to hunt John Connor down. Guess what? It didn’t quite work.

“Terminator Salvation”, the fourth installment in the hugely successful series, takes us back to home base as Connor (Christian Bale) and a band of survivors struggle to stay alive in post-apocalyptic 2018.

The movie is set to open theaters next May.

Meanwhile, the hit FOX television show “Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles” — which returns for a second season on Sept. 8 — fills in the blanks between the events of “T2″ and “T3.”

This entertainment juggernaut is nigh unstoppable! Almost like … wait a minute! … a Terminator.

Humankind may be in more trouble than I thought.

***

Thanks to The Man from Moqui for the tip.

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People have had big ideas for the Oceano Dunes for a long time.

The Chumash Indians were the last sustained civilization on the dunes, living on the abundant clams and fish.

In the early 1900’s real estate speculator’s maps carved the beach up into lots. On July 4, 1907 a celebration was held at a pavilion called La Grande Beach.

An advertisement in the Telegram trumpeted the event on July 1, 1907.

Within 8 years the development was abandoned.

Apparently folks found the access through sand and across the flood prone Arroyo Grande Creek difficult.

Even today drivers loose trucks during the rainy season in the creek, imagine what it was like before Lopez Dam tamed the worst of the flooding.

The dunites lived in wind scoured huts built out of scavenged lumber in the early to mid 1900’s. Norm Hammond wrote a book on the subject.

By the 1960’s the dunes were owned by a patchwork of corporations and the state.

PG&E was giving serious consideration to building a nuclear power plant in the dunes.
The story by Pat Keeble says:

“Conservationists and would-be industrializers are engaged in a tug-o’-war over use of the dunes.”

A previous post documents the united efforts of off road advocates and the Sierra Club to keep access to the dunes open to recreational users.

Check out the state of art graphic, a picture plastered with white tape and typewritten labels.

This Sunday, The Tribune begins a three-part series on the Oceano Dunes that has been more than 6 months in the making.

The stories will present the various sides of the debate over whether the state should continue to allow vehicle traffic on the Dunes, in light of the county’s recent consideration of selling Dunes land to the state.

***

Hey, if you have read this far chances are you are a fan of Photos from the Vault.

You may have heard that newspapers are looking for new ways to provide advertising as the internet grows. It’s true.

Think of the warm happy feeling you’ll get when you say to your friends, “Yes The Vault is a cool blog and I’m even cooler because I sponsor it.”

Word on the street is that sponsorship will bring  you _____(number) % more ____________(adjective) ____________(noun), the admiration of the free world and envy of the rest.

The Vault reaches a regional as well as national audience so if you are interested send me an e-mail and I’ll forward the information to our advertising reps.

dmiddlecamp[at]thetribunenews.com

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I talked to Ramses Barden at practice this week leading up to Cal Poly’s football opener at San Diego State on Saturday. He was the main focus of many of Aztecs coach Chuck Long’s media interviews this week. He’ll probably be the focal point of San Diego State’s defense, too.

(Not much going on in the background, but Barden’s a big guy. He blocked out most of the frame.)

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I got the call today, and according to Alison Cone, Anthony DiLoreto — the would-be freshman from Minnesota — and his family have decided not to have him enroll in classes at Cal Poly. Check the print edition of The Tribune or SanLuisObispo.com on Friday for the full story.

It seems Bromley spoke by phone to the DiLoreto’s and the end result of the conversation led to what appears to be the end of any ties between DiLoreto and the university.

It would have been a tough P.R. sell for Cal Poly to have a student athlete on campus facing bank robbery and gun charges. It would have been tough for DiLoreto for that matter. At 7 feet tall, I imagine its pretty hard to blend in.

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Beatles Covers Are Easy To Come By, But A Few Stand Out

Just when you think you’re up to speed on the Beatles . . .

 While interviewing local musician Loren Radis – a big Beatles fan himself — I learned of a Beatles tribute album called “In My Life.” Radis told me it featured actors like Robin Williams and Sean Connery. So, of course, when I got back to the office, I had to put off other things and check it out. (Hey — if it’s in the blog, it’s work-related!)

The album was spearheaded by Beatles producer George Martin and featured songs by Martin’s friends, including actors and musicians.

Oh, wonderful YouTube. How I love thee.

Through YouTube, I was able to hear “Come Together” by Robin Williams and Bobby McFerrin.

That was okay. And “In My Life” by Sean Connery was surprisingly not bad, even though it features Connery speaking throughout.

Goldie Hawn does a nice lounge-like version of “A Hard Day’s Night.” But Jim Carrey’s version of “I am the Walrus” is the biggest surprise. As you can see in the video, he really got into it, and it’s that energy — which you’d expect from Carrey — that drives the song.

 Of course, there are some terrific Beatles covers — and some really horrible ones. One of my favorites is the Richie Havens version of “Here Comes the Sun.” Stevie Wonder nailed “We Can Work It Out” when he was younger. And, of course, Joe Cocker famously did justice to several Beatles tunes, most notably “With a Little Help From My Friends.”

But my favorite would be “Yesterday” by Ray Charles. I actually put this on a DVD I made made from our old family movies, and I cried the first ten times I saw it.

While I’m talking about “Yesterday,” check out Elvis singing this Paul McCartney classic during a rehearsal.

Meanwhile, for a good collection of Beatles covers, give a listen to the “I Am Sam” soundtrack. The covers on here aren’t all winners, but Rufus Wainright, Aimee Mann and Ben Harper have some good ones on here.

Yeah, yeah — nothing replaces the originals. That’s true. But it’s fun to hear someone else’s take on those great songs.

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My plan: Make “MST3K” track, make millions

As a hardcore “Mystery Science Theater 3000″ fan, I’ve always wanted to create my own commentaries.

Don’t get me wrong — I loooove it when Mike, Joel and the ‘bots riff on terrible science fiction flicks and mind-melting B-movies.But I’ve always wondered to myself, “How hard could it be? Surely I could make fun of awful movies, too.”

Now I can.

RiffTrax.com is inviting all film buffs, brainiacs and smartasses to make their own funny film commentaries.

The Web site will host and distribute the tracks (called iRiffs), set up product pages for folks to sell their tracks, and even hand out cash prizes to the best smack-talkers. The only thing commentators need to do is write and record their riffs — using (reasonably) easy-to-use programs like Audacity.

Fortunately, there’s a how-to section for technically inept people like myself.

RiffTrax is the brain child of former MST host Michael J. Nelson, so it makes sense that he’d welcome other folks into the fold. The more, the merrier, right? All I know is that I’m going to be rich beyond my wildest fever dreams. Hopefully.

iRiffs can be uploaded as soon as October. I better get cracking.

***

But wait! There’s more!

Fans of “Mystery Science Theater 3000″ can now download entire episodes for free at UtterNerd.org. That’s right — FREE.

Site host Matt Freitag has all ten seasons available, plus the ultra-rare episodes aired on cable’s KTMA in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. This is a huge treasure trove — everything from “Pod People” to “Puma Man” (one of my personal favorites).

Download ‘em NOW before the powers that be intervene.

***

Thanks to io9.c0m for the tip. Keep circulating the tapes!

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The old San Luis Obispo telephone exchange when it was located on Chorro Street. Pictured here are Cecelia Dodge (standing) Ruth Johnson, nee Haley, Elena Bellani, nee Heyd, Mael Seely, nee Sutliff and Maymie McMillan.

The exterior photo shows the 1894-95 San Luis Obispo telephone office located in the Knapp building on Higuera Street next to the old city hall.

Tribune librarian, Sharon Morem found two earlier Pacific Telephone and Telegraph exchange photos than the ones we published earlier this month.

These look much older than the mid-1960’s photos we had before. My guess is these are from the early 1900’s or late 1800’s. Other than the wood burning stove, the technology looks much the same; only the dresses seem to have changed.

The big revolution would come later with transistor technology and touch-tone phones.

Press 1 to repeat this blog entry.

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Note to nude sunbathers: You are not alone.

Even if you can’t see a soul for a hundred miles, millions of eyes might eventually see your fleshy form. Because somewhere up in space, Google is honing in on you. Which means your naked body could wind up on the Internet for millions to snicker at.

Don’t believe me? Check out the Top Ten Naked People captured by Google Earth.

Okay, true, we’re talking satellite images, so there aren’t a lot of details. Which means you probably don’t have to worry about your parents seeing that tattoo you got on your butt while in Vegas. But Mom and Dad might surely recognize you and your boyfriend getting amorous on their rooftop.  

Now I’m not one of those people who’s all paranoid about my privacy. In fact, I think businesses that offer identity theft protection operate largely on unfounded fear. But still, it’s weird how Google can practically get in our backyards.

And, yeah, I did check out Pirates Cove on Google Earth. But the image was to blurry to see naked people. So if you really have a need to see nudists, take a long lunch and drive to Avila Beach.

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“Donnie Darko” is, well, dark

You might describe “Donnie Darko” as an anthem for the maladjusted.

Like the goths, punks and emo kids who love the movie, Donnie (Jake Gyllenhaal in a star-making role) is a teenager battling real and imaginary demons — including a giant bunny named Frank.

In school, he argues with his teachers and alienates his fellow students with his weird behavior. At home, his violent schizophrenia comes out in fights with his parents and sisters and talks with his therapist. But Donnie’s imagination is an even more frightening place.

Mixing teen angst with musings about time travel and fate, “Donnie Darko” is a disturbing, fascinating psychological thriller that blurs fantasy and reality. No wonder it’s become a cult favorite.

Watch “Donnie Darko” tonight at The Palm Theatre, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. Showtimes are 7 p.m. and 9:15 p.m.; tickets are $7.50.

***

The popular Palm Wednesday series continues next month with:

• Sept. 3: “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” 
• Sept. 10: “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”
• Sept. 17: “The Warriors”
• Sept. 24: “Total Recall” 

Photo courtesy of MovieWeb.com.

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