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I love Speed Racer merchandise, and while looking for places to buy Speed Racer tshirts I found a lot of great info about the Mach V, too!

If you’re watching the new Speed Racer cartoon on Nickelodeon you have probably realized that the Mach 5 (the original Speed Racer ride) is no more, having been destroyed in the second episode and replaced with the Mach 6. The Mach 5 of the new generation featured several “special powers” not seen on Speed Racer’s rides before, such as the holographic dashboard display and the ejector seat. So, what is the history of the Mach 5 anyway?

The Mach 5 first appeared in the Japanese manga in the 1960’s and looked a lot like the Mach 5 in the new live-action movie looks. It’s a white car that looks a lot like a Chaparral 2C- which is an actual racecar designed by Jim Hall- with tail fins and a large red “M” on the hood. The car is named the Mach 5 (in the American versions of the show), but that’s not really accurate, as the Mach 5 isn’t really capable of supersonic speeds. In Japan, the word “go” means “5”- so it’s a pun, and in Japan, the car is simply known as the Mach. On the show, Speed Racer races in a class of cars designed for maximum speed and minimum weight.

In all of its different reworked designs, the Mach 5 features a lettered set of buttons on the steering wheel (and one on the center console). Each button corresponds to a different secret feature of the car. Speed deploys these features as needed, as the races he’s in aren’t exactly contested under normal rules, nor are the other racers above blatant cheating through the use of such devices. Translated from the original Japanese comic book, they include:

1. Auto Jack- A series of 4 jacks that can be rapidly deployed. Ostensibly, these jacks are so that the car can be repaired quickly but in practical use, Speed usually ends up using them to jump over obstacles in his way.
2. Belt Tires- A special tire grip is activated, allowing Speed to keep control on icy or uneven terrain. When this power is activated, 5,000 extra horsepower are also evenly distributed amongst the 4 tires; the power is drawn from secret auxiliary engines.
3. Cutter- Two huge rotary saw blades pop out of the front of the Mach 5, enabling obstacles such as trees to be cleared out of the way with ease.
4. Defensor- Seals the driver in a waterproof, bulletproof cockpit. The driver inside is basically invulnerable once the Defensor is deployed.
5. Evening Eye (or Illuminating Eye) a special illumination system allowing the Mach 5’s driver to see much further down the road than normal. This system can also interface with the goggles on Speed Racer’s helmet to give infrared vision assistance.
6. Frogger Mode- essentially submarine mode, this allows the Mach 5 to serve as a submarine, complete with periscope, for 30 minutes- that’s when the air runs out.
7. Gizmo Rocket- activates a small homing rocket, controlled by a joystick on the center console. This rocket can be used to carry messages, take aerial video, or for self defense.
8. Button H is located on the center console and activates the Gizmo Rocket’s homing device, sending it to a pre-programmed location automatically.
There was a short-lived remake of Speed Racer on Nickelodeon in 2002 called Speed Racer X. In that series, the names and functionality of several of the secret powers were changed- for example, the jacks were replaced with compressed air and rockets, the tires were replaced with special tires that allowed the Mach 5 to float, the cutter blades were replaced with lasers, and the night vision feature was replaced with a grappling hook that allowed Speed to get out of tough situations. The car also made a full transformation into a submarine during Frogger mode, and the Gizmo Rocket was redesigned to look more like a peacock than its original dove configuration.

In the live action movie, several other changes were also made. Frogger mode was abandoned altogether along with Evening Eye mode. Jump Jacks and the bulletproof cockpit were retained as features and also figure prominently in the plot. The car also has had tire shields added, and Speed has the ability to control them via a remote in the center console. Other added features included instant-inflate spare tires, in case an original tire gets shredded, and crampons that emerge from the tire treads when things get too icy or slick.

While the Mach 5 in the movie IS an actual physical car, sadly, no one drove it. It was suspended from a crane and moved using hydraulics to get the necessary shots for the movie, then inserted into the digital footage using green screen technology. In the year 2000, a special prototype Mach 5 was build- it featured functional concealed cutter blades! As you can imagine, this car was not street legal, so in 2002, 100 street-legal versions of the Mach 5 were produced, built on a heavily modified Corvette chassis. If you want to drive one of these 345 horsepower beasts, first you’ve got to find one. Then, you’ve got to shell out from $75,000 to $125,000 to afford it!

That’s all for now. If you’re looking for Speed Racer hats, stop by the store and pick some up!

Gone are the days when the most sophisticated home entertainment system at our disposal was a fuzzy black and white TV with no remote control. Mirroring the evolution of so many other fields of science, technological advances in audio and video have come quickly, and the results have changed our lives forever. Today, more families than ever before are taking advantage of these marvels of modern science, style and engineering. Utilizing the latest advances in hi-def TV, ultra-real surround sound systems, arcade-quality gaming consoles and wireless internet capabilities, folks are building home theaters and media rooms at the highest rate in history.

A Home Entertainment Room is a wonderful spot for the guys to congregate for that big sporting event, for the children to have their classmates over for a few hours of playing the latest game offering, for getting the folks together with the children to watch the most recent Disney offering, or for the newlyweds (or those who want to feel like they are) to snuggle with an adult beverage while viewing the latest romantic offering. There is much to think about when designing a home entertainment room. First, of course, is the budget. Even though a a complete home theater could cost a great deal of money, it can be done without a budget-busting expenditure. when this year’s model supplants last year’s model, the old technology becomes a great deal less costly. Eliminating this hurdle allows you to get started on that home theater you’ve always dreamed about.

The focus of any home theater must be a high-definition television. Even though there is a dazzling array to choose from, it will quickly become obvious that it will produce far better video reproduction than the old box TV it will replace - no matter what you pay for it.
Another critical component of your home theater is a surround sound system. These marvels of audio technology have become smaller in both size and price. Furnishings are another important ingredient in your home theater.
Though existing furniture might be utilized, such as couches, sectionals or recliners, other homeowners are opting to purchase cushioned, movie theater-style seats. There are drawbacks to certain kinds of furniture, though, so do your research carefully!
The inability to afford a professional designer need not hamper your efforts. There are plenty of internet sites that will give you an education in home theater design. There are even e-books available at low cost, which will lead you through the process, one step at a time, of building your new home entertainment center.

There are a great number of variables, in matters such as style and engineering, that go into the design and construction of a home theater area. So as you can see, research and planning are the first and perhaps the most important steps you can take. Make sure to take advantage of the information the internet has to offer; free articles and economical e-books can be a terrific asset. Carefully done, a well-designed and executed home theater will not only provide you and your family with hours and hours of great entertainment, but will also be of great benefit to your home’s market value.

Frank Sarntarpia
Home Theater Blog

Speed Racer’s New Merchandise

We all know that Speed Racer is one of the most successful anime franchises in the USA- the ancillary marketing of Speed Racer merchandise has been very successful, as well. From DVD’s to comics to toys, video games and now, a feature film, people want to own a piece of the Speed Racer legacy. So what Speed Racer merchandise is out there?

Artisan/Lion’s Gate Entertainment have released the first 5 seasons of the series on DVD, comprising a total of 52 episodes. DC Comics have released issues of the Japanese comic book series that started it all as Speed Racer: The Original Manga. In 1985, NOW Comics released The New Adventures of Speed Racer, which lasted for about 40 issues and included the phenomenal airbrush work of artist Ken Steacy. In 1991, Wildstorm productions also released a new Speed Racer series, and IDW is re-releasing this series as well for the new movie.

So, what non-comic-book Speed Racer Merchandise is available? Well, Lego has released toys, and Mattel holds the master license for the new film. JADA toys has the rights to reproduce die-cast models of the Mach 5 and have also released plastic model sets of Speed’s ride. Barbie Collector is also releasing Trixie and Speed dolls to coincide with the live action movie. Toynami is releasing large-scale reproductions of the cars (also timed with the release of the movie) and Art Asylum is also releasing a set of Mini Mates!

Speed has also made numerous appearances in video games, from 1992’s Speed Racer in the Challenge of Racer X in DOS format (by Accolade), and the same company released Speed Racer in My Most Dangerous Adventures for the Super Nintendo. Namco also created an arcade game in 1995, and Jaleco produced a Playstation Speed Racer game in 1998. There will also be a game based on the live action 2008 movie that will appear on Wii, Nintendo DS and Playstation platforms, with the stars of the movie reprising their roles for the film.

As for apparel, there is lots of classic Speed Racer merchandise available to purchase. T-shirts, hats, ties, boxers, and all forms of Speed Racer merchandise are now available, both in classic form and “re-imagined” for the new live action movie.

From the New York Times: Somewhere in between the parade of busty women in low-cut gold lamé minidresses and contestants spinning the wheel, George Bush made a star turn.
“I’m thrilled to be on ‘Deal or No Deal’ with you tonight,” Mr. Bush said from a giant screen in a cameo taped for the Monday episode of one of NBC’s most popular prime-time shows. The president paused a beat. Elitism is to the 2008 campaign as communism was to 1950s politics: a career breaker. The “Deal or No Deal” contestant Mr. Bush rooted for, Joe Kobes, is a decorated Army captain who served three tours in Iraq. Timing, however, matters. (Mrs. McCain said that the man she calls “Johnny-Boy” loves horticulture and cooking and contrary to news reports does not have a “temper” problem.)
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Michelle Obama, who last week stood up for her husband’s common touch on “The Colbert Report,” tried to prove it by taping a segment of “Rachael Ray” alongside Barack Obama on Monday. Hillary Rodham Clinton performed a self-mocking skit on “The Colbert Report” last week (not to be confused with her self-mocking skit on “Saturday Night Live,” on March 1) and agreed to appear on “Larry King Live” on CNN on Monday night. Mr. Obama accepted a seat, for the third time, on “The Daily Show With Jon Stewart.”
The novelty of politicians showing their lighter side on national television has begun to weigh heavily on the campaign season. It’s hard to recall how unusual it was to see Gov. Bill Clinton of Arkansas playing the sax on “The Arsenio Hall Show” in 1992 or Mr. Bush revealing his favorite sandwich (peanut butter and jelly on white bread) on “Oprah” during the 2000 campaign. Mr. McCain had a walk-on part on the Fox drama “24” in 2006, and played himself as a wedding guest in the 2005 film comedy “Wedding Crashers.”
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In politics as in show business too many appearances can weaken their value: all three presidential candidates taped appeals for donations for a special star-studded episode of “American Idol” this month and all three were bumped by bigger stars (Reese Witherspoon, Miley Cyrus) and relegated to the next night.
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Satirical programs like “The Daily Show” send up politicians, but they increasingly invite politicians to send themselves up on their dime; too much collusion blunts the satire and turns even the most irreverent, iconoclastic television personalities into insiders.

In need of entertainment for your home in the form of satellite television? Maybe you just bought yourself a new wide-screen television and are in search for something to complement your purchase ? A good choice to go for is Dish Network satellite.

Dish Network is one of only two satellite providers in the United States. Dish Network offers five basic packages; Dish Family, America’s Top 100, America’s Top 200, America’s Top 250, and lastly, the Everything Pak. Dish Family, the most basic of all Paks features some of the best ‘family-friendly’ channels. Add a few dollars each month and you can get local channels, most of the in HD.

The United States is a melting pot of different cultures and nationalities. Dish Network caters to virtually everybody. Their International Programming has more than 10 different languages, including, but not limited to, Vietnamese, Bengali, Urdu, and Hindi. The Spanish-speaking programming is the most common. This is due to the large Hispanic community. For the millions of Chinese speakers there is the ‘Great Wall Package’ which features channels that broadcast 24-hours-a-day, and includes channels such as CCTV and Dragon TV.

Professional installation is offered free of charge by Dish Network within 24 hours. You have the choice of getting up to 4 rooms connected at no extra charge. Each room will, of course, get its own DVR (Digital Video Recorder) or ‘box’ allowing for you to watch different channels simultaneously without the need of installing another dish.

Your Dish TV technician will install your dish facing the southern sky, and it imperative that there be no trees or branches obstructing the signal. If you are renting an apartment written permission will be required from the owner/landlord before you can get your dish installed. That shouldn’t be a problem, unless you have a grumpy old landlord !