“McFarlane Toys’ Lost Series 1 captures six fan-favorite characters from the series’ first season. Each 6-inch Lost figure comes with a detailed base and photographic backdrop, capturing an episode-specific moment in the character’s story. In addition, each package includes a detailed prop reproduction central to the character’s story, enabling fans to “own” a piece of the show’s mythology.”
“Damon was quick to say he hadn’t heard anything about it. His publicist added that Abrams was joking when he said he would choose Matt to play Kirk and it’s nothing serious. As we followed his publicist into the elevator we got a little more, “I think that it [the rumor] came out of a junket he [Abrams] was doing in Asia for Mission Impossible and from my understanding it was one of those hypothetical questions actors always get about who they’d like to work with and JJ threw Matt’s name out there. But we’ve never heard anything on our end. I even called Endeavor, Matt’s agency, to see if they had heard anything – they hadn’t. There has been nothing from Paramount and I haven’t heard anything from JJ’s camp. I’m sorry there’s nothing more interesting to report”.”
“This is a topic really close to my heart for a variety of reasons, which are all inter-related. As a guy who has always loved innovation, novelty, diversity and variation like so many other Indians, it’s depressing to see how our Bollywood has taken us for a ride all these years. 90% of the movies with similar stories? 4 superstars in 6 decades?
This is not healthy, it’s the sign of an industry that is scared to experiment, lest they might fail. However they don’t realize that they have given birth to a whole new generation of dissatisfied viewers that watch maybe 5-10 movies a year out of the 200 odd movies that Bollywood makes. Don’t get me wrong, I still love our movies and probably watch more movies than an average viewer, but that’s because I am an addict. The fact that I love it so much, makes me think, that we can do a lot better than this.”
…maybe what’s needed is for more Bollywood films to be exported to markets like the United States (like anime)? That might allow film makers in India to take more chances if they had a larger audience.
I guess my other advice is – if you don’t like something, change it! The low budget YouTube digital video revolution allows people on a low budget to make films. If you want to see Bollywood make indie films that explore new genres, do it yourself. The best way to find the Harvey Weinstein of Bollywood is to become that yourself, that’s the true indie film maker spirit.
Below: Fusion cuisine! Latino pop singer Shakira doing a Bollywood dance number:
“The dwarf planet formerly known as Xena received a new name today, while Pluto was given a number to reflect the loss of its status as a planet. Dr. Michael E. Brown, a professor of planetary astronomy at the California Institute of Technology who discovered the distant ball of ice and rock that he nicknamed Xena, chose the name Eris, after the goddess of discord and strife in Greek mythology. The International Astronomical Union made the name official today.”
…but it’s even worse, Pluto now has been given a number! It’s like the sad dwarf planet is a common criminal:
“Pluto, now that it is no longer a planet, has been assigned the number 134340 in the catalog of minor planets. In 1999, the astronomical union’s Minor Planet Center had proposed assigning Pluto the number 10000 in the same catalog, to give it dual citizenship as both a planet and a member of the Kuiper Belt, a ring of icy debris beyond Neptune. Brian Marsden, director of the center, said it was meant as special recognition for Pluto, but the idea was withdrawn after protests from people who saw it as a demotion.”
Keck Telescope image of Eris and its moon Dysnomia:
“Doctor Who writer Russell T Davies is to bring back one of the Doctor’s most famous companions for a new children’s TV series. The Sarah Jane Adventures on CBBC will star Elisabeth Sladen, who played Sarah Jane Smith opposite Jon Pertwee and Tom Baker between 1973 and 1976. ”
“Who is the Elvis Trooper, where did he come from, is he really Elvis or a Clone, and why is he here? These are just some of the many questions that may have brought you here. Well, there are no answers to be given here, just a photographic documentation of the many Elvis Trooper sightings that are being reported across this great land of ours.”
Posted by Michael Pinto on Sep 14, 2006 in Science
The photo below is what Saturn looks like at night. In contrast to the human-made lights that cause the nighttime side of Earth to glow faintly, Saturn’s faint nighttime glow is primarily caused by sunlight reflecting off of its own majestic rings. The above image of Saturn at night was captured in July by the Cassini spacecraft now orbiting Saturn. The thumbnail doesn’t do the photo any justice (you need to see all of the cool detail to appreciate the image), so you should click to the link and see the photo full scale:
“While at Creation Entertainment’s Official Star Trek Convention in Sacramento Sunday to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Star Trek, Leonard Nimoy took the stage and got bombarded by questions about the film. One of the questions posed to him was whether he’d be interested in playing Spock’s father Sarek (originally played by Mark Leonard Baker) in the new movie. Leonard’s response, “get Abrams on the phone right away!” seems to indicate that he’d be up for it.”
Looking at the photo on the right I think Nimoy might be too hippy looking to play his own father:
…but say what you may, Mark Lenard (on the left) was a darn good actor!
“More than one-third of the giant planet systems recently detected outside Earth’s solar system may harbor Earth-like planets, many covered in deep oceans with potential for life, according to a new study led by the University of Colorado at Boulder and Pennsylvania State University.
The study focuses on a type of planetary system unlike our solar system that contains gas giants known as “Hot Jupiters” orbiting extremely close to their parent stars — even closer than Mercury to our sun, said CU-Boulder researcher Sean Raymond. Such gas giants are believed to have migrated inward toward their parent stars as the planetary systems were forming, disrupting the space environment and triggering the formation of ocean-covered, Earth-like planets in a “habitable zone” conducive to the evolution of life, according to the new study.”
Posted by Michael Pinto on Sep 12, 2006 in Star Wars
For just a mere $2400 you can own your own authentic Star Wars Stormtrooper suit! Shepperton studios, which made the originals for Lucasfilm, is now selling them to the public. These are complete suits exactly like the ones worn in the movies. The helmet is made from the original 1976 movie mold, so it is 100% authentic. Blaster not included:
“Peter Jackson is eyeing his next fantasy series. The filmmaker has dipped into his discretionary fund to option “Temeraire,” a historical fantasy series by first-time novelist Naomi Novik, as he puts the pieces together for his career post-“King Kong.”
The “Temeraire” saga reimagines the world of the Napoleonic Wars with the addition of an air force of dragons and valiant aviators. It centers on British naval Capt. Will Laurence, who captures a French ship, where he discovers an unhatched dragon egg in the hold — a gift from the Emperor of China intended for Napoleon. When the egg hatches, he is forced to give up his naval career to become captain of the dragon he names Temeraire.”
Also check out this fan website for the book series:
“Next summer, six scientists will get to travel to the desolate permafrost desert of the Arctic, live in a two-level metal can and only go outside wearing 40 pounds of faux spacesuit. Not your idea of fun? For the scientists, it could be. The team will be the first to get a taste of what it will be like to live on Mars for months at a time, and they get to skip the half-year trip to the red planet to boot.
The research station is run by the Mars Society, a group of scientists, engineers and futurists intent on accumulating the knowledge needed for manned exploration of Mars. The goal of the four-month tour is to develop field research techniques applicable for scientific investigations of the planet, said Robert Zubrin, an aeronautical engineer and president of the society.”
Posted by Michael Pinto on Sep 12, 2006 in Pulp Fiction
This is a must visit website for Lord of the Rings fans! This interactive Elvish translator converts English into into Tengwar script, which is the script used to write Elvish languages such as Quenya and Sindarin:
