I just see clearer than the rest of you

What a better quote to describe the new Blu-Ray discs than this quote from Sanderson in the episode "Seance Spectre". I won't post a review just yet, but all I can say for now is the Network Blu-Ray discs are stunning. If the 2005 release was already wonderful, this one is mind blowing. To see Space: 1999 in such clarity is like seeing it for the first time. I can only recommend it very highly. The bonus features are also great and all those pictures that came out of the vault are priceless. I also like the menus, especially sound wise. They made a nice mix of essential Space: 1999 sounds and music that is very "hypnotic".

The only problems that I found with them so far is on "Another Time, Another Place". In 5.1, the fade out in the closing credits cuts abruptly. That annoys me since it's my all time favourite episode and I would have liked it to be perfect. But that's a minor defect. One correction that I like on this episode is that the sound effects during the teaser have the "swirling around the room" effect toned down that was SO over the top in the 2005 release. Now it's a lot nicer to the hear.

So I will continue reviewing as I continue watching.

End of Eternity.... the blu ray are almost here !

I cannot wait for the blu ray release of Space: 1999 that is kept being pushed back almost every week. But maybe that's for the better.

Have a look here :http://www.aintitcool.com/node/47011

There is Light !

I'm entering my 5th month of archiving and filing everything in the house. It feels like forever. The only thing that came to break up the monotony is the arrival, a few weeks ago of my new Artemide "LESBO" lamp and my"ORACOLO" lamp last week. Since the "LESBO" was still in production I kept postponing buying it. But during my vacation in September, I came across a floor model on special at the boutique Avant-Scène and decided to get it right away. As for the "ORACOLO", this was a vintage one mint in original box since that model has never been reissued. Only the smaller version the "MEZZO ORACOLO has been reissued at the end of the 90s but has now been out of production again. Unfortunately, I cannot light up my "ORACOLO" yet since any of my european plug adapters won't fit on its plug so I will have to change the plug on this one. Usually, adapters always does the job on my european lamps. But even not lit up, it's a beauty. These Artemide lamps are just so incredibly well made.

Breaking away from the past

It seems that Breakaway day has become a day where I always do some kind of cleaning up. And this year was no exception. But this year was a bit hard on me. I decided to get rid of all the Christmas decorations. I didn't decorate since 1992 so I thought it was time to part with them. I'm glad that I found a good home for them though. I must admit that I took a picture of every Christmas ball and decoration since there were so many memories attached to them. I also got rid of two big boxes of dinnerware (mostly china) and some other things. All these objects became more of a ball and chain to me since my mother got sick and passed away in 2002.

Since I've always lived in the same house (for almost 48 years soon), all these objects were witnesses of my past. I grew up with them. Since I am an only child, I was a bit solitary and very much of a contemplative person. So it is difficult to part with them but I think it's a necessity. I think the memories attached to them are the important thing and I don't need the physical object anymore to remind me of every event attached to them.

I still have many objects that I want to get rid of but that I'm not ready to let go yet. All in due time..... you can't rush these things.

Archiving or not archiving.... that is the question !

It's been almost 3 months since I started archiving my last remaining videotapes. This last batch is very complicated since it's full of small videos from 5 to 15 minutes. It's a very long and tedious task. I am trying to let go of the past but it's very difficult sometime. But I guess I will get to it eventually. The important thing is to do a little every day. Procrastination is out of reach from now on in my life.

SPACE: 1999 ON BLU-RAY

At last, SPACE: 1999 is coming out on blu-ray dvds. It's about time. The most visually mind blowing show of all time deserves such a treatment. The Network remastered version was already wonderful but after I saw the Prisoner, I want Space: 1999 to look as pristine and crisp. Just can't wait. And what a better date to announce it than the 20th of July. If only we could have seen man's first landing on the Moon in the blu-ray clarity ! ;-)

Too bad A&E kept their awful dvd covers with that HORRIBLE "new and updated" logo. You don't update perfection. Leave classics alone, don't remake things so they look more "NOW". The Network cover looks better though. Too bad they didn't put the unnamed blue planet in the Sylvia Anderson credit in the opening titles or the blue light in Force of Life ! It would go better with the blu-ray concept !

But no matter the cover I'm ecstatic that Space: 1999 will finally released on blu-ray.

Oh the joys of archiving !

I'm still archiving my video tapes and I'm a bit tired. Looking forward to finish that long and boring task.

The joys of archiving......

Nothing to report this month apart that I'm currently busy archiving my last 250 videotapes of the last 27 years. Ten years ago, when my boyfriend moved in with me, there were over 2000 videotapes in the house. Over the years with the release of many of our 60s & 70s TV series on DVDs, we got rid of most of them. But that last bunch remained and I finally decided to get to it and archive them once and for all.
While digging in my old tapes boxes, I got to the first 4 videotapes that I ever recorded. Of course, the first thing I ever recorded was Space: 1999. I got my first VCR in order to record the series. At the time, I didn't have much money and that's why my first VCR was a rental (yes, you could rent a VCR 27 years ago) from a company called GRANADA (Oh ! The irony). Tapes were also very expensive in those days. Those 4 tapes in the picture below were 15.00 $ each. Soon after, I discovered those discount wholesalers downtown selling tape for only 5.00 $ each ! What a bargain it was ! You can also see how badly was the labelling done on these tapes. Remember, this was when I got my first computer, an amazing 286 with a color screen and a colour printer ! Look at the amazing quality of these labels !!!! ;-p Photoshop where were you ?! We came a long way since !

SORELLA LAMP BACK IN PRODUCTION

I am pleased to annouce that the Sorella lamp will be back in production by the Nemo Cassina group. A big thank you to Maurizio D'Orsi for letting me know about that news. You can see the new Sorella lamp in their catalogue at : www.nemo.cassina.it/schedaprodotto.asp?ID=201 It is not available yet, but should be in the months to come.

Lucciola Lamp

On february 9th, I bought this wonderful Lucciola table model (Lucciola da Tavolo) by Fabio Lenci for Guzzini. It's an incredible lamp with a very dinstinctive look. A masterpiece of minimalism. This lamp had such an aura of mystery for me for so long. We see it in many Space: 1999 year one episodes. It's always discrete but yet very present. I was very happy to finally meet her in person on March 19th when I finally received it after a long 5 weeks.

More on the subject in the months to come.

Dring, Dring !

I found this beautiful phone at the Spoutnik store on Amherst street here in Montreal. It would look perfect in a UFO episode. Just look at those numbers ! A masterpiece of simplicity !

Another Month, Another Lamp

Yes, I ordered another Artemide lamp. It's the wonderful TELEGONO this time. I've always wanted an all white example in excellent condition and I finally got one. It's absolutely gorgeous.

The Artemide family is expanding !

This week I received 4 new Artemide lamps. They are from the left :
DANIA
SAFFO
ELECTRA
SINTESI (not shown here)
















They were all unsold old stock. So they were all brand new, never used and in perfect condition. A real collector's dream. Since I now have almost every piece of furniture that was in Space: 1999, I'm extending my collection to all the other Artemide pieces that I like. The 60s and 70s Artemide lamps are absolutely incredible. It's a shame that they only reissued a few of their classic lamps. They should have continued producing them all along with their furniture collection. Their lamps look as fresh and new today as they originally were 40 to 50 years ago. They are all true classics. Every one of them had their own personality. Nowadays, Artemide collection is a bit bland, like any other companies out there. Most lamps created by the new designers of today look alike and are very boring..... to me anyways.

Dania looking at herself in the 1973 Artemide catalogue !







Saffo and Electra on the night of their arrival.










Saffo at night














Saffo and Electra in their new environment

Place Bonaventure

2010 : We now live in the Future !

Ten years have past since the beginning of the new millennium and it barely looks like the future we all imagined growing up in the 60s. So here are some pictures of the Place Bonaventure in my hometown of Montreal, Canada. All that beautiful concrete !!! This place was so futuristic in the late 60s and 70s. Now it has been renovated to today's standards (i.e. : ruined) a pity really... I will try to do updates regularly every 13th of the month.

Cleaning is a therapy !

So this weekend I'm doing my seasonal cleaning to celebrate Breakaway day.

Alphan decor must be perfectly clean at all times.
My living room looks as if the Moon would have really left the Earth's orbit. It's all upside down. I will finish tomorrow, no hurry, I'm on vacation!

Place Ville-Marie is 47 today !

Place Ville-Marie was inaugurated 47 years ago today. It's certainly my favorite tall building here in Montreal. She was born on my favourite date and on the same year as me.

http://www.placevillemarie.com/

Today is Breakaway day + 10

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the day the Moon left Earth's orbit. It's also the 10th anniversary of the day my boyfriend proposed to me at the SPACE: 1999 convention in Los Angeles (9th-13th september 1999). So what a better day to inaugurate my new blogue. I didn't decide yet what shape it will take. Let's say it's just a complement to my regular site for now.

You can visit my regular website on SPACE1999.NET at

http://www.space1999.net/~sorellarium13/