Sponsors included Heineken, Sagatiba Rum, Aqua Vi (tees for guys and girls in our gift bags), and Club H Fitness.

Great music was provided courtesy of DJ Yoshi, and photographs were taken by Gordon Ho (pictures are on the way). We also want to thank Peter Dali for editing together a dynamic video loop of VM content and pictures.

The silent auction included a gold Nina Ricci watch, Favala apparel, a designer Chak Chel handbag, Cimber Designs jewelry, Cerca Trova jewelry, and a lunch date with Mike Steinberg of The Bachelorette, Season 5. We raised over $400 for Child’s Play, a game industry charity dedicated to improving the lives of children with toys and games in their network of over 60 hospitals worldwide.

Also, our T-shirts, bumper stickers, and Moo cards were such a success, that they will soon be available online for sale.

Again, thank you. Stay tuned for pictures and VM updates for the holidays!!

Walks like ours will be taking place all over the country, and Long Island is expecting thousands to attend, but even millions more to benefit.

If you’re interested, check out the link below, and sign up for the team. If you’re not sure you can make it, then help us reach our goal of $1,000!! All money raised goes directly to research, suicide prevention, support groups, and advocacy programs.

http://afsp.donordrive.com/team/vigilantmonkey

Speak up. Stop the stigma. Save lives!!

1) www.YearbookYourself.com

Upload a picture or take one with your webcam, and the website puts it in a yearbook photo from the past. See what your yearbook photo would have been in 1960. So weird…

2) www.GetHuman.com

You know how it is: You have to make a call you don’t really want to make in the first place, to a company you know is going to make you jump through hoops to actually speak to an operator. Thus, begins the labyrinth of options and language preferences, menu switching and voice commands, numbers to press and information to verify. And just when you’re about to hang up, you take a gamble, and press the number that worked with that other company to get you to that operator that was mildly helpful, only to be reprimanded, “You have pressed an incorrect key. Main Menu!” Or worse, “That is an invalid entry. Goodbye!” Anger. Rage. Defeat.

Well, fret no more. Check out the website above, and find out just what number or intricate Morse code message you need to get through to a human at each different company. We don’t promise you’ll be helped; we’re just saying you’ll speak to a human, and these days, that’s already a triumph.

3) www.ProbablyBadNews.com

This site rounds up the most amusing headlines out there. Some will be of the familiar, already-made-the-rounds sort, others are on the more lowbrow end, but most are just plain funny…like “Federal Agents Raid Gun Shop, Find Weapons.”

Thank you Internet, for giving us something to do.

The 12 Most Annoying Types of Facebookers

vs.

Facebook Etiquette 101

Coincidence? We think not. But, no matter, Soraya’s version is still better!!

We’re watching you CNN, we’re watching you…

Director: Neill Blomkamp; Screenplay: Neil Blomkamp & Terri Tatchell; Cast: Sharlto Copley, Jason Cope, David James, Vanessa Haywood, Mandla Gaduka, Kenneth Nkosi, Eugene Khumbanyiwa, Louis Minnaar, and William Allen Young; Distributor: TriStar Pictures; Runtime: 111 min.; Rating: R; Theatrical Release: August 14, 2009 (wide)

District 9: Official Site

There’s an old show business adage that says, “No one ever got fired for saying no.” If that’s true, whoever said “no” to Peter Jackson and Neill Blomkamp should get an inaugural boot out the door.

District 9, opening nationwide this Friday, August 14, wound up as something of a consolation prize to Producer Jackson and Director Blomkamp. Jackson had pegged Blomkamp to direct his big-budget live action adaptation of the Halo video game series, but shortly after pre-production work began in earnest, studio support suddenly evaporated. Still determined to make a film with Blomkamp, Jackson offered him the opportunity to continue with a different project, albeit on a much smaller budget. Jackson was initially attracted to Blomkamp because of his commercial work and his intriguing short film Alive in Joburg (see clip below), the concept of which was rather hastily expanded into District 9. “It happened very quickly,” said Jackson at the D9 Comic-Con panel. “We woke up in the morning thinking we were making Halo, and we went to bed that night making District 9.”

Want to read more? Check out the full review, complete with links and videos, at The Vigilant Monkey.

For most New Yorkers, Friday night started out as yet another potentially fun summer evening shot down by severe thunderstorm warnings. But for a musically dedicated few, the rain was nothing more than a refreshing break from the heat of dancing to the funky, jazzy grooves of the Royal Family Records concert in Prospect Park.

The concert was held for free in the Prospect Park Bandshell as part of the Celebrate Brooklyn! Summer Concert Series. While the rain was able to deter many fans from Dumpstaphunk’s incredible opening set, a couple hundred fans who did not let showers spoil their night were handsomely rewarded with unbeatable New Orleans funk and ample dancing space. The evening began with ponchos, umbrellas, and a bass-heavy Dumpstaphunk jam leading into the vocal explosion, “Everybody Wants Some.” While the whole band held down the beat, organist Ivan Neville and bassists Tony Hall and Nick Daniels collaborated on vocals, emitting the kind of harmonious yet powerful sounds that can only come from mixing such differing tones. Ivan lingered in the lower register, and Tony’s energy and power behind the mic added to the effect of his James Brown-esque screams, lyrics, and cadences, all while Nick accented the choruses with his high-pitched wails. As the rain began to subside, the funk continued with Tony strategically switching between bass and guitar, supporting Nick and Ivan, respectively. On guitar, Tony ripped up a song dedicated to New Orleans while Ian powered away on rhythm guitar, sporadically shredding just enough to leave the crowd wanting a little bit more. On bass, Tony and Nick participated in their typical, though never dull, bass battles during a ‘70s funk-style song and the band’s feel-good mantra, “Meanwhile,” which ended the set. In the meantime, Raymond Weber was holding down the drums in front of his characteristic wide-mouthed smile and genuinely happy eyes. Tony once told me that Raymond is such a great drummer because he knows his musicians. He knows what Tony’s twitches and Ivan’s quick glances mean and how to perfectly complement them. This set was a perfect example of that communication.

Accompanying the already flawless band were Sam Kininger and Ryan Zoidis who make up The Shady Horns. Kininger’s alto-sax and Zoidis’ bari-sax provided some always-welcome brass overtones to round out the sound. The only unfortunate aspect of the night’s performance was its too-short length. After only nine relatively album-length songs, including just two short-lived bass-offs and no girls dancing on stage (like Tony usually instigates), the band got the red light and the funk was put on hold…at least until Royal Family legends Soulive set up.

After a short break from the music, the funk/soul trio Soulive was finally ready for their tenth anniversary show. Soulive consists of brothers Alan Evans (drums) and Neal Evans (keyboard) plus guitar superstar Eric Krasno. Accompanied by The Shady Horns, Soulive’s uniquely funky grooves instantly attacked the crowd’s eardrums and didn’t stop until the last note of the evening. The first several songs perfectly represented Soulive’s musical niche between smooth, soulful guitar riffs and harder, funkier beats accented by the horns in the background. The seamless communication between Krasno and the Evans brothers gave way to some remarkable jams dispersed amongst some recognizable Soulive songs. Soon, jazz trumpet player Christian Scott joined The Shady Horns on stage, further backing up the frontline trio with his classically jazzy runs and high-note accents. The jazz flavor was further enhanced when legendary jazz guitarist John Scofield took the stage. As someone who has never seen Scofield live, I was blown away by the ease and smoothness with which he handles his guitar. Every sound emanated effortlessly from his fingertips and his face reflected this same comfort despite the incredibly complicated nature of his playing. Christian Scott’s playing was enhanced by Scofield’s guitar as Scott was able to jazz up the horn section even more and the funk/soul feel of the concert shifted slightly to a jazzed-up groove.

For their last few songs, Soulive brought up gospel/soul vocalist Nigel Hall, nephew of Dumpstaphunk’s Tony Hall. By the time Nigel started leading the band through some funked-up gospel numbers, the crowd had multiplied to fill most of the designated bandshell area. Thousands of fans fed off the high-energy musical performance while the musicians gained momentum from the crowd’s intensity, which culminated in an incredibly soulful tribute to Curtis Mayfield. The encore consisted of Stevie Wonder’s “Jesus Children of America” and Sly and the Family Stone’s “If You Want Me to Stay,” featuring Tony Hall and Ivan Neville accompanying Nigel Hall on vocals.

By the time the evening came to a close, the dedicated, still partially drenched fans had traveled on an aural adventure from dirty New Orleans funk, through Soulive’s smooth grooves and the jazzy ensemble of Christian Scott and John Scofield, and finally towards the soul/gospel perfection of the set’s encore. The show was a musical journey from start to finish, and regardless of the weather, no live music fan could complain.

Joanna Asher is a certified Mat Pilates instructor through Pilates Academy International. She is a recent graduate of Tulane University in New Orleans with both a BA and an MA in English. Her interest in live music began at a young age and was only enhanced by her experiences in New Orleans, which exposed her to a multitude of diverse musical talent.

Dear Olga,

I hate everyone, and sometimes I find myself thinking that there are only four or five people on the planet who deserve to live. How can I bring about the destruction of civilization?

Yours truly,

Disgusted Misanthrope

Dear Grumpy Pants,

Just like you think that there are 4 or 5 people that deserve to live, those 4 or 5 people probably have their own little circles of people that they care deeply for and so on. So in reality, there may be all sorts of good people on this planet that deserve a chance to rise to their potential.

I say, take care of your 4 or 5. Destroying the world would probably upset them.

Also, I want you to drink hot cocoa and take yummy naps. And I want you to be a little groovier. Just a little though—I don’t want you to ever stop being you!

—-

Dear Olga,

My friend has really bad texting and IM manners. They never respond in a timely manner! If they even respond at all! Or they start a conversation and then seemingly walk away while I’m typing away like some fool. Or they text me at 3 AM and get upset if I don’t respond. How do I get them to be more polite?

Thanks,

At Wit’s End

Dear Gentle Reader,

This is a tough one, one that we can all relate to, and, interestingly enough, one that we’ve all done, to some extent. I’ve not returned texts (it’s usually because I have nothing to say in response to said text OR by the time I see the text, a response would be useless). I have walked away from an IM conversation and forgotten to type “BRB.” I’ve done it. It’s happened. There, I said it, and I feel better already!

Again, as I noted in my last column, it’s about consistency. How often is this friend exhibiting this behavior? If it’s occasional, then you may have to let it go. By letting go, I mean understanding that this is what your friend does, and you choose to accept these lapses in politeness because you like your friend.

If it’s a consistent behavioral pattern, though, where you might as well be texting or IMing a ghost, then it’s time to re-evaluate how you to choose to expend your energy.

Or it may very well be that your friend is not a texter. Are you sure this person has even agreed to be your friend?

If so, then they just may not be fans of electronic communication. Balance it out: Is there a medium where both of you can communicate and feel comfortable? Reach out to your friend and let them know that you’re open to trying different avenues of communication with them, including smoke signals, if that’s what it takes. They may be into that, and you’ll both gain a new hobby. Bonding alert!

But in all seriousness, sometimes our friends will not be polite in every interaction with us. It’s up to you to personally decide your limit.

I say, most importantly, let your friend know what’s on your mind before they send you that 100^th bizarre, super random text at 3 AM…and you decide to eat your phone in an act of rage.

Olga Navia clearly does not like to be texted at 3 in the morning. Ever. For more of her words of wisdom, check out her blog at allbodiesrise.blogspot.com.

Top 10 Video Games: Summer and Beyond
VM samples the best in games for the rest of ’09.
By Rich Stambolian

The world of video games had a bit of a slow start this year. Sure, we’ve had a few good hits—Street Fighter 4, Resident Evil 5, and the many Fallout 3 expansions—but not much else. Well, the months to come are looking to change all that. Check out our list of the top ten most anticipated games of the summer and latter part of the year. Some have already been released, while others are yet to come.

Ghostbusters

Are the original busters too old to make Ghostbusters 3? Probably. But we have the closest thing to a direct sequel in this June-released next gen game, out now for all platforms. The reviews are in, and it has gotten pretty favorable feedback with the major complaint being that it is a bit stiff in certain areas. All that aside, you cannot beat the fact that the entire original cast has lent their voices and likenesses to the game, leading Dan Akroyd himself to declare this game to be Ghostbusters 3.

Fight Night Round 4

Holy Gawd! When Fight Night 3 dropped for the next gen systems we all had to pick up our jaws off the floor. Fight Night 4 promises to be all that and a bag of chips, especially with an all-new career mode, a near 50-man roster, and the inclusion of Iron Mike Tyson. I would bet the bank that this will be one of the finest boxing games you have ever played.

Batman: Arkham Asylum

Could this be the Batman game that we have always wanted? I sure hope so. While previous Dark Knight endeavors have left a bad taste in our mouths, Arkham Asylum promises to be the whole package. It supposedly combines complete stealth with straight up, break-your-face action to deliver a true Batman experience. The PS3 version will even let you play as the Joker. I have a feeling this one will end up being a nice immersive experience, sure to keep us busy for hours.

The Conduit

We don’t see many applause-worthy Wii games coming out too often. So far the biggest release in 2009 has been Punchout. The Conduit looks to be the first in what I hope is a debut of more mature-themed Wii games. This is a first-person, sci-fi shooter in which the main character faces a Washington D.C. affected by a virulent outbreak. Hey, if you can bring some solid action to the Wii, I’m all for it.

Beatles: Rock Band

Who doesn’t like going to their friend’s house to play hours and hours of Rock Band? No one, that’s who! It sort of feels like the music simulation games are starting to fall off the radar. Beatles Rock Band may be just the thing to keep the genre afloat for at least a little while longer. The game will include a whopping 45 master tracks and additional downloadable content, and it will basically have the most gorgeous fake guitar to date in a Gretch Duo Jet. And the game also comes with a Hofner bass ala Paul McCartney.

Forza Motorsport 3

When Forza 2 came out, it was the closest thing to Gran Turismo that 360 owners could latch onto. The game completely delivered on all fronts from graphics to gameplay to all the amazing cars within the game. Forza 2 was a surprise hit and became a best seller immediately. Forza 3 promises to deliver on a bigger scale with new features, including more than 400 cars, 100 tracks, a driver car cam, and rewind capability. The game even has a car rollover feature for those big wrecks. Check this out come October.

Left 4 Dead 2

Do you like killing zombies? Who doesn’t! L4D2 picks up where Left 4 Dead, well, left off…sort of. The nation is in the midst of a zombie pandemic, and you can play as one of four survivors. You kill, avoid, and destroy all kinds of plague carriers. The big difference between 2 and 1 is that the new installment is set in the South and is sure to deliver more enemies and surprises. We would be in for a treat if the game sticks to the pseudo-cinema storylines for each mission.

Bioshock 2

Bioshock was such a great game. It took you to a morbid and mysterious undersea world that got more chaotic as you progressed, with a top-notch that really drew you into the saga. The sequel actually centers around the first Big Daddy, who was the prototype for the rest of them. The game also supposedly takes place ten years after the original where a Little Sister grew up and became a Big Sister—who took over Rapture and made a mess of things. I’m completely sold on this, and you should be, too. It comes out late October.

Tekken 6

Fighting games have made a huge comeback in the last year or so. We had Soul Caliber 4, Mortal Kombat DC, and the stellar Street Fighter 4. The Tekken series has always been one handled with love and a true fan favorite, and Tekken 6 is looking to tear it up for us one more time. There are reportedly 42 playable characters—more than any other in the franchise. There will be new battle modes, breakable stages, larger fighting areas, and a create-a-character mode. This installment takes place right after Tekken 5. The main story centers around Jin, Kazuya, and a bounty that has been put on Jin’s head. Tekken 6 is set to drop in October.

Modern Warfare 2

The first Modern Warfare completely blew our minds. MW2 will definitely do the same. Following the same storyline as the first (albeit a few years later) you find yourself in the midst of an international war on terror. The repercussions from the first game wind up in MW2, and it’s up to you to set things right. The missions will take you from Russia to the Middle East to Brazil. Details are scant right now, but the multi-player mode is sure to be stepped up a notch. There is also a Special Forces Co-op mode similar to the Mile High Club from MW1. Be on the lookout for this one at the end of the year.

Rich Stambolian is a writer/photographer based in Queens, NY. He’s a pretty swell guy.