Classic holiday (Nike) cheer. Featuring Kobe, Lebron, KRS-One, and Lupe Fiasco.
[Via KanyeBlog]
All posts by Scott Meisner
Two “I’m on a Boat” spoofs: Apple & phone editions
“I’m on a Mac” by The Pantless Knights is all about switchin’ to Mac and never going back. Catch “I’m on a Phone” by The Misunderstoods after the break.
[Thanks Alli K.]
Continue reading Two “I’m on a Boat” spoofs: Apple & phone editions
Avatar success results in record numbers, “The Bootleg”
Avatar is a good movie and a breakthrough in 3D cinema. We know that. But how did it fare in the box office? By the numbers it made (so far)…
- $77 million on opening weekend
- $75 million during Christmas weekend
- $250.4 million in its first twelve days of release (that’s #6 fastest all-time and #1 non-sequel all-time)
- $726,612,776 (worldwide) in its first twelve days of release
- $39 million from 249 IMAX screens in just 10 days
- #3 spot in the Box Office Mojo chart of the biggest Tuesday box-office earnings ever
- Total gross: Domestic: $268,886,074 (36.1%) + Foreign: $476,192,825 (63.9%) = Worldwide: $745,078,899 (as of today, 12/31)
- The Hot Blog speculates that “there is a very real chance that the film will break $1 billion worldwide before it’s fourth weekend starts. If not, it seems pretty sure to happen in that fourth weekend.”
Sounds like Cameron and crew will make bank off this massively successful movie. And do they deserve it. Avatar was in many aspects an experimental film for James Cameron and he took a big risk in making it. (It cost around $500 million to make.) It all paid off, so to speak; critics praised it, movie-goers flocked to it, and the 3D and IMAX integration successfully added to the immersive experience. Job well done all around.
Update: Avatar hits $1 billion in seventeen days, reaching that milestone faster than any other movie in history. Right now it remains the third largest grossing movie, behind Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and Cameron’s other hit Titanic.
Then there’s this: “Free Love Forum takes you behind the scenes of the revolutionary new bootleg of the revolutionary new movie.” Please sit back and enjoy this comedy mockumentary of “Avatar: The Bootleg.”
[Via TheHotBlog; BoxOfficeMojo; Slashfilm; AC; Collider; TechCrunch; The Inquirer]
Patrick Stewart is granted knighthood, adds Sir before his “captain” title
Patrick Stewart, best known for his portrayal as Captain Jean-Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation, is receiving the highest honor of knighthood in his home country of Britain by Queen Elizabeth II. At 69 years old, the Yorkshire native wholly deserves this award because of his talent and influence in the arts, most specifically in television, film, and theatre. Congratulations, soon-to-be Sir Patrick Stewart. Let’s celebrate with two Capt. Jean-Luc Picard videos: First, the famous TNG episode 15 edit, “That Jean-Luc Picard.” Second, “The Picard Dance Song.” Have fun trying to get this out of your head! It’s posted after the break.
Continue reading Patrick Stewart is granted knighthood, adds Sir before his “captain” title
Glee’s HI-larious Jane Lynch joins The Cleveland Show
Glee‘s we-love-to-hate-villian-in-a-jumpsuit Jane Lynch joins The Cleveland Show as “Roberta’s brusque, no-nonsense new teacher Ms. Eck.” EW’s Ausiello sat down for a short quip with Lynch and she discussed her excitement for the part:
Are you a fan of Family Guy?
JANE LYNCH: I love Family Guy. I am also appalled and shocked by Family Guy. And I am proud to say that several children in my family under the age of 10 get it and love it, too.How is Ms. Eck similar to Sue Sylvester?
LYNCH: They both lack filters and say whatever awful thing comes into their mind. In-the-head-and-out-the-mouth syndrome.And how are they different?
LYNCH: Ms. Eck lacks Sue’s icy Nordic aggression.Your first reaction upon viewing yourself in ‘toon form?
LYNCH: Ms. Eck may have the largest, most disproportionate butt in cartoon history.
Tune in January 10 (FOX, 8:30PM) to see Jane Lynch get animated by Seth McFarlane. This should be good.
Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG wins the ‘iF product design award 2010’
This year the gorgeous Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG will be handed one of the most prestrigious design awards, the “iF product design award.” The 24-member jury chose 778 entries from around 2500 candidates in 16 categories. The SLS AMG took the top crown in the “Transportation Design” category. Prof. Gorden Wagener, Head of Design at Mercedes-Benz: “This sought-after award for the new SLS AMG is a great honour for us. It also reflects the extremely positive feedback on the design of the SLS that we have been receiving since the September world premiere at the International Motor Show (IAA) in Frankfurt/Main.” The SLS AMG is the first Mercedes vehicle to be built in-house by AMG. It’s expected to ship in Europe mid-2010 and later in the US for less than $200,000. Additional shots after the break.
[Via KanyeBlog; InfiBeam; Wiki]
New logos for Nick & AOL
I reported back in late July that Nickelodeon’s “splat” logo was about to undergo a transformation, and now it’s time to follow up. After much deliberation, the creative team at Nick decided go with what you see above (right). Obviously the focal point of the new logo is the stretched “i” that resembles a kid. Cyma Zarghami, president of Nick and MTV Networks’ Kids and Family Group: “We wanted to clean it [the logo] up and allow Nick to be the stamp on all of these channels. In asking ourselves if everything could live under the splat, we decided that the splat was dated. It just couldn’t be done in a streamlined way.” To celebrate Nick’s 30th anniversary, the new logo was unveiled this past fall and is now in full force. Rest in peace, splat; you will never be forgotten. Peek after the break for all the new streamlined Nick logos including those for Nick Jr., TeenNick, NickToons, and Nick@Nite.
From “AOL” to “Aol.” America Online has gone through its paces over the years. First it was everyone’s portal to the Internet during the dial-up days. Then they merged with Time Warner and became the butt of many jokes since it lost its dominance due to high speed Internet the introduction of the sole Internet browser as the main portal to the other side. On December 10, AOL detached itself from Time Warner, thus ending a short-lived and unsuccessful merger, and decided to enter the next decade with a whole new identity. Tim Armstrong, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of AOL: “Our new identity is uniquely dynamic. Our business is focused on creating world-class experiences for consumers and AOL is centered on creative and talented people — employees, partners, and advertisers. We have a clear strategy that we are passionate about and we plan on standing behind the AOL brand as we take the company into the next decade.” Sure AOL lost its steam as computer users began to realize they didn’t need it any longer as a source for email and browsing; but it is still relevant today. AOL owns a bunch of content and their plan for the next decade is to push this content harder. Besides maintaining the unpopular AOL software, they also continually update AOL Instant Messenger (still used by many as a communication service) and they own popular blogs like Engadget and TMZ. As a reinvigorated content-driven organization free from the shackles of Time Warner, Aol. enters 2010 with fresh vision and slightly different logo for a new generation.
Google Chrome OS netbook specs leaked (looking good!)
Out of the boring status quo comes a netbook with specs that don’t mention Intel Atom, NVIDIA Ion, HDD, and standard def. Chrome OS, that browser-as-your-operating-system concoction from Google, is coming soon and it will come installed inside a Google-designed netbook of their own. According to the IBTimes, the “Google netbook” looks to be one beast of the netbook: it will be powered by an ARM CPU and NVIDIA’s Tegra graphics chip; it will feature a 10.1-inch TFT HD multi-touch display, 64GB SSD, 2GB RAM, and other goodies such as WiFi, 3G, Bluetooth, an Ethernet port, USB ports, a webcam, a 3.5mm audio jack, a multi-card reader, and more. According to the latest rumors, the device will be subsidized with a 3G plan and will end up in the sub-$300 category.
I really hope these specs are fact, not rumor. A netbook with an ARM CPU and NVIDIA’s sweet Tegra graphics would be a welcome addition to the netbook mix. Tegra can only be found inside Microsoft’s Zune today, and it deserves more than that!
In related Google news, Google will be holding a press conference on January 5 where they will likely announce the coveted “Google phone,” the Nexus One. Search, browsers, cell phones, netbooks, oh my! Google world dominance is starting to gain hold.
3D programming is coming to a non-compatible TV near you via DirecTV
According to the HDGuru, DirecTV plans on launching the first 3D HDTV channel in the US sometime next year. It’s been reported that DirecTV recently shot a brand new satellite into orbit that supports the addition of a 3D channel plus other regular HD stations. The satillite becomes operational in March 2010, so that’s the earliest a 3D channel could pop up. HD Guru’s “sources” tell him that all current DirecTV set top boxes will receive a firmware upgrade that will enable it to receive the 3D programming. But remember, in order to watch 3D on your television, you need a TV that supports it. DirecTV is expected to make this announcement at next week’s Consumer Electronics Show; TV manufacturers like LG, Sony, Samsung, and Panasonic are planning on showing off their latest 3D HDTVs as well.
Thing is, I don’t think we are ready for 3D programming yet. Hell, we are just getting used to high definition! A hefty percentage of America finally owns decent HDTVs, and now the industry expects us to go out and buy a new 3D-supported TV. I think not. Let’s stick with 3D in the theatres for now (Avatar and Up were the first 3D movies I thoroughly enjoyed); slowly but surely the industry should allow it to enter the home.
Robot gymnast training for future Olympics
Watch as this robot gymnast attempts the horizontal bar routine. Close, but not quite.
[Via Robot Dreams; Engadget]
Most realistic DeLorean is up for grabs on eBay
I’m sure you are all familiar with the DeLorean of Back to the Future fame. BTTF enthusiast Gary Weaver has built the most realistic recreation of the time-machine car with a 1981 DeLorean DMC-12. Six years of research results in what you see in the gallery below. (Fun fact: The location where this photo shoot was taken place is at the Gamble House in Pasadena, the very house that served as Doc Brown’s residence.)
- Built on a beautiful, super-clean, stock 1981 5-speed DMC-12 with over $16,000 of mechanical work and upgrades performed at DMC California in September of 2008. Approx. 78K miles on vehicle.
- Programmable time circuits which function just like those in the film.
- Functioning digital speedometer on the dashboard (reads actual vehicle speed).
- Main Time Circuit switch functions just like in the film, with all sound effects.
- All interior indicators and switches light up, just like in the film.
- Sound effects upon door opening.
- Screen-accurate “OUTATIME” metal-stamped license plate with 1986 registration tag.
- Eagle Goodyear GT tires, as seen in the film (not pictured).
It’s up for grabs on eBay right now. You can “buy it now” for 90K; or the current bid stands at $60, 301.03 (there’s been ten bids placed on it). The auction ends in about two hours!
Fireplace + HDTV integration
Helex’s “I-Vision” integrates the two main focal points of your living room–a fireplace and a flat-screen television. The HDTV is covered with a glass panel and completely disappears above the gas-powered fireplace when it’s turned off. This fireplace-HDTV hybrid holds a modern, sleek look that can turn any ordinary living room into a technological marvel. And now it’s on my list of things to install into my future home. Additional shot after the break.