“Mattel proudly sponsors the Michael J. Fox Foundation and will be working with them to auction off a limited number of Michael J. Fox autographed Hoverboards this fall with all proceeds benefiting the Michael J. Fox Foundation. If you would like to donate or learn more about the foundation and how you can help, please click the banner below.”
Not keeping my hopes too high, but maybe I can meet Michael J. Fox, one day.
In other hoverbaord news, you have until Tuesday to pre-order your Hoverboards over at MattyCollector.com. Boards will ship in the fall. There is a chance that there will be some boards for sale during the fall, but prices may be higher and will not include the mini board that comes with pre-orders. Also, boards may sell out, so pre-ordering is a good idea...if you want one.
Get an EXCLUSIVE Hoverboard Scaled to 6" Action Figures When You Pre-Order!
Pre-orders are accepted from March 1, 2012, through March 20, 2012 only at MattyCollector.com, with an expected shipping date of November/December 2012. Pre-order during the 3/1-3/20 period and not only will you be guaranteed to get an authentic Hoverboard prop replica, you'll receive a pre-order exclusive, too… a Hoverboard scaled for 6" action figures! It'll hold most Mattel 6" figures, so your favorites can get in on the futuristic fun, too. The only way to get this totally rad lil' ride? Pre-order during the 3/1-3/20 period!
Here are some more images of Bob Gale, Michael Lantieri and Mary Anne Lantieri from our meeting last week.
Wow, last month was exciting! We had the fuckers in Astoria break the twenty mark, that is amazing. But, what is in store this month? Well, let us get right to it.
6 March 2012 503-468-5227 Astoria, OR Twenty-one. Can you believe it? It took a few days into the month, but these fuckers are getting back on track. Last month alone they made ten calls to me...and it was a short month. I do not want to jinx it but I think they can reach the thirty mark before this time next month. So, at what point does it become harassment?
8 March 2012
385-468-4668 UT, USA Listed as unknown, but did a little search on my "Telemarketing Confirmation Network"...or Google, showed that it came from somewhere in Utah. Did they really think that having 'unknown' as their location would get me to answer the phone? Hello, it is unknown. I was taught to "never talk to strangers"...unknown means stranger. Heck, I do not even talk to people I know. So, fuck you!
10 March 2012 503-457-1085 Tillamook, OR Second call from Tillamook, but different number. Oh, like you were going to fool mea different number...on a Saturday. Hello, you are calling from a city called Tillamook. That alone sounds like a fake name.
13 March 2012 323-927-2307 Los Angeles, CA I kinda get excited when I get a number I do not recognize. But then again, I miss the return callers. Again, smart to change up the numbers and smart to call every other day, or so. I may go as far to say that it was a good move to call at seven in the evening...making me think it is a legitimate call. For your efforts, I invite you to go fuck yourself.
15 March 2012 503-468-5227 Astoria, OR Twenty-two! So, the strategy for Astoria is to lay low the first half of the month, then strike hard and often at then end of the month. Looks like they can make it to thirty this month.
16 March 2012
503-468-5227 Astoria, OR And so it begins, the onslaught of calls until the end of the month. My theory is, they need to meet quota. Knowing that half the month is over, they need to step up and continually harass me until they get to thirty calls. Only seven more to go before the end of the month. Should be no problem for these fuckwads.
503-468-5227 Astoria, OR Twenty-four. I know have as many calls from Astoria as the Montreal Canadiens has Stanley Cups.
I took some photos of the items signed by Bob Gale. Enjoy
Japanese movie programs
These are rare Japanese movie programs. The Japanese go all out when there is a movie release. They make these programs to hand out to movie goers to give them a little information on the movie. Bob Gale personalized each one.
Back to the Future - "Have a wonderful FUTURE->!" Back to the Future Part II - "Best wishes for the FUTURE->!" Back to the Future Part III - "May your FUTURE-> always be bright!"
I like that he puts a little arrow in FUTURE, like the logo. Nice touch.
Hand painted cell from the animated series
I got this at one of the Open House events at DMC-California. Another rare item, this one is truly one-of-a-kind. Personalized with "GREAT SCOTT!"
San Diego Comic Con Exclusive
This was the highlight at San Diego Comic Con last year...at least for Back to the Future fans. Sold out within the hour. Luckily, as the designer of the car, I have a few. This one means a lot to me. It is as if, Bob 'signed off' on it with his approval. We had a few lying around, and me sure he went home with a couple of these. Another one personalized with "GREAT SCOTT!"
"GREAT SCOTT!" This was made by Sal Celeste. Designed to replace the cubby hole door behind the driver. It looks too good to hide behind the seat, and I am too lazy to mount the hardware. If you have a DeLorean and you have a chance to get you hands on one of these, do not hesitate, it is worth it. Quality piece of work, Sal.
Yes, that is a figure of Troy McClure that I have, always sitting in my car. Troy McClure, of course, owns a DeLorean, as seen in Season 7, Episode 19 of The Simpsons.
Troy McClure's DeLorean
Passenger side of my car
Having Bob Gale sign your DeLorean, and writing "Drive at 88!"...achievement unlocked!
Ah, the famous Hoverboard Chase scene in Back to the Future Part II. Well, it took a while, but Mattel is making the famous hoverboard that Marty McFly used to hover around Hill Valley in 2015. You can pre-order yours at MattyCollector.com, until 20 March.
Mattel showed a prototype of the board at New York Toy Fair last month. Since then there has been lost of buzz. This is a unique situation where everyone knows what we are doing. Most of the time, the industry is very secretive regarding projects in progress. The hoverboard is essentially 'out', everyone has seen it, and there are countless replica prop builders out there that have made their own boards.
I am proud to be a part of the team that is making this happen. I serve as 'technical adviser' on the project. There is a huge team of about ten people on this one project including design, engineering, electronics, sound design, package design, legal, licensing, marketing, etc.
On 8 March, we had a meeting with Back to the Future Writer/Producer Bob Gale, Special Effects Supervisor Michael Lantieri, and assistant to Mr. Gale Mary Anne Lantieri (also Michael's wife). I spent the better part of the day hanging out them. The meeting was documented by Beyond the Marquee, and there will be a video of it soon, possibly next week.
You can see more pictures from the meeting at the MattyCollector Facebook page. Unfortunately, I have the skill of sitting in places where I am either not in facing the camera, or totally out of focus. I assure I was there. Here are some pictures I took during Bob Gale's visit to Mattel.
Close up of one of the screen used hoverboards
This is one of the many screen used boards, made of foam.
Some dork with the board
Proof that I was in that meeting with Bob, Michael, and Mary Anne. And, I got to touch the boards.
Michael Lantieri and Bob Gale
Michael Lantieri and Bob Gale sharing stories from the Back to the Future trilogy. On the table, you can see the Pit Bull and a plywood version of Marty's board. Wood was used for strength and durability, this was a 'stunt' board that Michael J. Fox and his stuntman Charlie Croughwell.
Bob Gale with Mary Anne Lantieri
On the table, a little piece of the Pit Bull, Mattel's Toy Fair prototype, screen used wood board, screen used foam board. You can see wired feet holding up the foam board creating the 'floating' effect. In front of Bob, you can see my San Diego Comic Con Exclusive Back to the Future Time Machine box. Yeah, that is pretty awesome.
Presenting original concept are for hoverboards
Along with sharing fun stories of production, Bob showed us original concept art for the hoverboards that were hand drawn by John Bell. He also read some fan mail that we kept for over twenty years. Kid would write to Universal (and Mattel) about the hoverboards, usually asking for where to get one or just straight up asking them to send them a hoverboard. Each letter was answered by Bob and Mary Anne, some were sent pictures of hoverboards. One kid got a Pit Bull key chain.
Working with Dave Strom, getting the measurements correct
After our question and answer session, Bob signed a bunch of stuff for everyone. Lots of DVD's and Hot Wheels Time Machines...yeah, you know it. I waited until later to get my stuff signed. We also gave Bob, Michael, and Mary Anne a tour of Mattel's 'top secret' Design Center. Not really top secret, everyone knows where it is, but not everyone gets to go inside.
I showed them my messy cubical. Bob Gale was in my cubical, that makes it a historical landmark! Bob noticed that I had a box of DeLorean sign sheets, I gave them a small stack and they had me sign it. I personalized Bob's with, "You other friend in time." Here I am waiting to get my stuff signed and Bob, Michael, and Mary Anne asked me to sign something for them.
Bob signing stuff...on my car
Once the tour was over I walked them outside to my car. Bob Gale is one of the reasons that I have a DeLorean. I asked Bob to sign a bunch of stuff. Of course, I had the good stuff. Bob was shocked that I had all three Back to the Future Japanese movie programs, he signed all three. I had him sign a hand painted cell from the animated series. I had a few more things signed by Bob, I will post pictures of these later.
Signing my car
One last thing I wanted Bob to sign, my car. This is all sorts of awesomeness! He personalized it "Drive at 88!" How cool is that?
Needless to say that it was an unforgettable day for me.
The Shamrock Shake is back at McDonald's for a limited time. I got mine today. I cannot remember the last time I had one, maybe twenty years ago.
Mmmm...Shamrock Shake
What are you waiting for, go to McDonald's right now and get yourself one. While you are there, pick up a Double Filet-O-Fish.
Update: I had a comment about this post, so I will just answer in more detail here.
The shake is not as good as I remember it. I guess when you are a kid, anything at McDonald's just tastes better. Of course, recipes may have changed over the years...decades. It tastes like melted ice cream with mint flavour...which I am sure is not far from the actual recipe.
When I go to McDonald's I usually order the same thing, Filet-O-Fish meal and apple pie. I rarely stray away from the menu. Since this was a seasonal thing, I thought I would try it again.
Today, I was at McDonald's to get a Shamrock Shake. Well, I did not get one but I got something new off the menu. I have had the idea of a Filet-O-Fish Happy Meal for years, no decades. It was not a Happy Meal but a change involving my favourite McDonald's sandwich. They doubled up on their Filet-O-Fish sandwich, making it a 'Double Filet-O-Fish'.
McDonald's Double Filet-O-Fish
Twice the fish and twice the cheese. Not bad, but I am used to the fish to bun ratio of the original. Guess I will have to go back and get another one over the weekend when I pick up a Shamrock Shake.
Remember way back when I said that my car was used in a movie shoot? Well, it was. Obviously, this happened before I purchased the car, but I found the movie. Spork happens to be streaming on NetFlix, so I watched it to see if the car made the cut. I have saved you the trouble of watching the movie and screen captured the scenes that my car is in.
At about the 00:06:00 mark
You can tell that they had the car for one day as the shots are all about the same. Also, Danny at DMC-California told me he was up there with the car for a day for the shoot. At about six minutes, you can clearly see the car paked in front of the trailer. The car belongs to the lead character's brother.
At 00:38:51
Around the thrity eight minute mark, the brother and his friend are working on the car. There are close up shots of them tinkering with the engine. There is a close up shot of is, but you really cannot tell that it is a DeLorean that they are working on. Unless, of course, you know what to look for. You can see the recognizable DeLorean engine cover propped up. Then, you see the wide shot above. Looks like it was shot earlier in the day compared to the first on screen appearance. There are some close up shots of the characters exchangin dialog, then at forty mintues in you see it one more time.
At 00:40:14
So, that is it. Not much screen time, but enough to say that I have a DeLorean from a movie. I admit that I do not have any real proof that that is my car. It looks like 90% of all the DeLoreans out there. Accoring to Danny, my car was used for a movie shoot and this was the movie...and there it is. Again, feel free to check out the movie, but I pretty much gave you the best parts.
Mike Cammalleri scores against his former team, the lone goal was all that was need for the Flames to win. Okay, not all they needed, Miikka Kiprusoff stopped 28 shots for his fourth shutout of the year. The win puts the Flames in a playoff spot, for now.
The battle for the eight spot in the Western Conference was another game of brother vs. brother as Calgary's Brent Sutter goes 2-1-0-0 against former Flames GM and head coach, now Los Angeles head coach, Darryl, who drops to 1-1-0-1. Next Sutter battle will be in their home province in the Saddledome on 28 March.
A new month, a new record. We left off with Astoria tying the record at ten calls on the last day of January. Well, these assholes come swooping in early in the month with the record breaking call. I have to admit that I got a little excited when I got that call. I almost answered the phone to congratulate them.
1 February 2012
503-468-5227 Astoria, OR Eleven! That is a new record. I love how these guys fight back. Slowly and steady wins the race. One only knows where they go from here. Congratulations on breaking the record, and fuck you!
2 February 2012
503-468-5227 Astoria, OR Twelve...a dozen calls from the same number. So, that plan to call every three days is scrapped and now they are back to their old techniques. Am I to expect another call tomorrow? You can just go ahead and fuck the right off.
503-468-5227 Astoria, OR Oh, wait...you are going really old school, calling multiple times a day. You already broke the all time call record. Are you going for the calls per day record? That is two calls in two hours. I can only say fuck you in so many ways, but I am up to challenge.
The last five calls: The record tying call, record breaking call, and three more just to fuck with me.
503-468-5227 Astoria, OR That makes fourteen calls, folks. Three in one day. Wait, I cannot believe I missed this. Hold on. Okay, ready? Look at the date for today, 2 February...it is fucking Groundhog Day. No, not groundhog fucking day, just Groundhog Day. Yeah, like the fucking movie. Ugh, not porn, the regular movie. Anyways, it is like I am living in that movie with these goddamn calls. I wounder if terrorists actually have a sense of humour. Do you think they planned this, just for me? Oh, you guys are so goddamn funny...go fuck yourselves.
4 February 2012
310-614-1082 Palm Desert, CA Another fucking text message, FUCK YOU! And...this shit comes in at 7:14...in the morning...on a fucking Saturday. Oh but wait, apparently Apple wants to test out iPhone 5, and if I am the first 1000....you get the idea. Uh, I am pretty sure that a company like Apple has their own internal testing group, and they do not need to hire terrorists to help test their products.
312-273-9245 IL, USA What the fuck is up with these weekend calls? These guys need to get out on the weekends. Scratch that, these guys need to get out...and find a real job, a respectable job.
5 February 2012
661-623-7085 Taft, CA Argh, another text massage...on a Sunday! Calls and texts on weekends? Seems like I am getting texts from California numbers on the weekend. Fuck you, Calfornia! I do not even read or respond to texts from people I know...but the 'receiving of up to $1,250 transfer to my account is really going to get my attention. Yeah, take your $1,250 and shove it up your ass!
9 February 2012 619-438-4347 San Diego, CA Oh look, another fucking text. This time, I can get $1500. Step up, Taft. I bet the next fucking terrorists texts me with a $1750 offer. Yeah, fuck you in the ass with Shamu. 11 February 2012 410-000-002 Yep, this is another on of those text messages I get on occasion. Only this one came in at 1:22AM. What the fuck?
14 February 2012
773-449-5062 IL, USA Too bad I missed the call, I bet they were calling to wish me a Happy Valentine's Day. Well, fuck Hallmark, fuck Valentine's Day, and fuck all telemarketers. I hope someone shoot an arrow through your heart.
15 February 2012
503-457-1274 Tillamook, OR Tillamook, really? Hey, Tillamook is about seventy miles south of Astoria. I like Nike, but Oregon sucks big donkey dick.
16 February 2012
503-468-5227 Astoria, OR ...and that makes it fifteen calls. We are halfway through the month, a short month, although there is that 'extra' day, I wonder if they can make it to twenty calls. Do you think anyone in the cave office got flowers or candy for Valentine's Day? Yeah, probably not.
503-468-5227 Astoria, OR Make that sixteen calls. Colour me surprised.
503-468-5227 Astoria, OR Third call of the day. Wait, if I was to do this like the public address guy at a hockey game.
With their third of the day, a natural hat trick and seventeenth of their career....call made by Assssstorrrriaaaaaa, OR! Time of the call, 15:26. Yeah, fuck you!
17 February 2012 503-468-5227 Astoria, OR Wow, eightteen calls. They can easily break the twenty mark by the end of the day. This is almost exciting. Yeah, this is the stuff I look forward too. Sometimes I think I do not have a life...then I think about the people of Astoria.
502-873-0246 KY, USA KY? How about you take some KY and lube up your phone and shove it up your fucking ass. Fuck you, Kentucky...and fuck your shitty KFC franchises.
18 February 2012
424-207-7911 Inglewood, CA I did a Google search on this number, nothing came up. Terrorists usually do not attack on weekends.
424-207-7911 Inglewood, CA My phone was in another room, so I ignored it.
424-207-7911 Inglewood, CA I am not sure if this is from a telemarketer, but they called three times in less than two minutes. If if was urgent enough to call me three times, why not leave a message? All the same...just to be safe, fuck you!
23 February 2012 971-220-1017 Gresham, OR Another return caller, been about a month since got a call from Gresham. Based on the pattern, I should be getting another call from Astroia soon.
24 February 2012 360-529-6156 WA, USA I have had a dozen calls from the 360-529-61XX number. This is the first from this particular number. Looks like Washington is getting back into business. The Pacific Northwest is full of a bunch of hipsters anyways. They can all go right ahead and fuck themselves.
971-220-1017 Gresham, OR Well, hello again. Third call from this number. I wonder if there is a big hat full of numbers, my number and I just keep getting picked by the same fucking douche bags. How does this process work? Nah, fuck it...I do not really care.
25 February 2012 360-529-6156 WA, USA At eight in the morning on a fucking Saturday? Really? How important is this that you need to call me this early in the morning...on a fucking Saturday? If it was that important, why not leave a message like a normal person? Oh, because it is automated and the fucking terrorists have won.
360-529-6156 WA, USA Another call on a Saturday. I think these guys want to climb up the charts. This is only their third call from this number. Keep working on it. By the way, the record is eighteen calls. Hey, I have an idea...you should call Astoria and bug them. In the meantime, go fuck yourself!
27 February 2012 802-552-8144 Montpelier, VT Montpelier? Well, that is random? Here I am thinking the Pacific Northwest was the hub of all telelmarketer activity. Did you know that Montpelier is the capital of Vermont? See, I do a little research, once in a while. Actually, I kinda remembered it from Wacko's 50 States. Here, check it out.
28 February 2012
860-229-2992 CT, USA Nice number, easy to remember. Which also makes it easier for me to ignore. There is something going on in the telemarketer community. I normally do not get calls from the Northeast. I think these crazy rise of gas prices has something to do with it...or not. Seriously, I think they are setting up camp in another region of the country to throw people off. They do this every few months. I wonder if they will ever move to Hawai'i.
29 February 2012
970-232-6238 CO, USA What a great way to celebreate Leap Day. How about you leap off a cliff somewhere in the Rockies. We can scratch Colorado off the list, this is the first call from them.
503-468-5227 Astoria, OR That would be number nineteen. I knew telemarketers were not that smart, back to their old ways. Well, fuck you!
503-468-5227 Astoria, OR TWENTY!!! I cannot believe that they did it, they reach the twenty call mark. This is history, folks. They said it could not be done. What is next for theses guys? Thiery, forty, fifty? Will they break a hundred? Oh, I better not jinx them. This is the best Leap Day, ever!
Update on the Verizon situtaion. I got fed up and dumped them like a prom date, and switching to Time Warner. I hope they do not disappoint me. If they do, you will be the first to hear about it.
I called a few more times to see if I could get another 'technician' to help out. The automated line told me the problem was fixed. And, you know how these automated things work, "your problem has been fixed, is there something else I can help you with?" Uh, the problem is NOT fixed...otherwise I would not be calling you. Oh wait, you can help me...you can help me by cancelling my account.
I love how customer service tries to please you when you are about to drop them. The guy on the other end was trying hard to keep me as a customer. He offered compensation and upgrades to my service. While it sounded good, but I was tired of Verizon's crappy customer service. Where was this 'service' a few days ago? What, I am not a premium member? How about, I am not a member at all.
I will be out of internet service for a few days. Funny, that they offered to compensate me for my time and by getting me set up with some kind of service. Oh really? What about the extra $14.99 a month, or the one time $39.99 charge to fix the line?
Here is a tip. If a customer is loyal to you for years, waive the fee to fix things. Actually, do not add a fee to fix things. Like I said, things were fixed with a phone call...until this crap about 'premium members' came up, and now there is a fee. What? Am I the only one here that sees this as a stupid move. I am no business man, but this is just stupid business practice.
Well, you lost a customer...granted, not a premium customer.
