Tag Archives: Compaq Presario

In Memorium: Tony Scott AKA ‘Top Gun’ and the Need for More Than Speed

Ask us what our three favorite movies are. Go ahead. Ask us.

Number one would probably be Wayne’s World. That’s just our movie. The one of which we know every word. The one we would just play over and over again the background, as if it was our Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The third movie we’d list would probably be Tombstone or Rushmore, depending on what kind of mood we were in or the audience we were with or if there was someone we were trying to impress; Tombstone if we wanted to seem more original, more honest, more badassRushmore if we wanted to seem more intellectual, more sophisticated, more melancholy. But the second movie on our list would no doubt be Top Gun, the Tony Scott film that was played on repeat during our childhood and pretty much taught us what an action movie should be: adrenaline-fueled, testosterone-soaked, hyperactive, supercharged, bombastic, loud, and frenetic, a visceral thrill ride. It essentially defined 80s popcorn blockbusters. In fact, it kinda defines the 80s. And maybe that’s why it’s so significant to us, why we still hold on so dearly to Scott’s definitive film (with all apologies to Crimson Tide and True Romance, and no apologies to anything from Scott’s later collaborations with Denzel Washington).

But it’s more than that. Maybe ‘Top Gun’ is just good.

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Filed under Crucial Taunt, In Memoriam, Nostalgia Corner, The Big Screen

In Memorium: Steve Jobs

Well, actually, all that needs to be said about Steve Jobs has already been said, both good and bad.  So, instead, we thought we’d take this opportunity to share our earliest memory of Mac, what made us first want a Mac (a wish that took over ten years to come true, and then another five to be a proud owner of a brand new model): the 1995 sitcommerical, “The Martinettis Bring Home a Computer.”  We recall watching this infomercial-scripted comedy-hybrid on Saturday mornings with the same rapt attention we offered Muppet Babies and Saved by the Bell.  Much like the innovative products Jobs would bring to the world several years later upon his return to Apple, this “show” was pretty much the first of its kind.  Starring Chauncey Leopardi, better known as Michael “Squints” Palledorous, it remains a symbol of the that quintessential visionary Apple spirit, seen before, during, and hopefully after Jobs.

(if you’re curious, our first computer was  Compaq Presario with Windows 95 and we thought it was the most amazing thing ever ever).

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Filed under In Memoriam, Nostalgia Corner, Robots

In Memoriam Emeritus: Chris Farley

Every year here at Jumped the Snark we like to commemorate the passing of Chris Farley, who left us on December 18, 1997.  We’re a few days late marking the 13th anniversary of that dark afternoon, but we don’t think Chris would mind terribly.  He’d probably just be happy knowing that he’s still making us laugh.

Vodpod videos no longer available.

Back in the late 90s when it seemed like a fun idea to customize the sounds on my Compaq Presario we used the audio from this clip as the welcome message.  Much better than the Windows 95 default greeting.

Thanks again, Chris.  We’ll be on time next year.

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Filed under Flashback!, In Memoriam