by Damon Martin
It’s been announced that 300 and Dawn of the Dead director Zack Snyder will helm the latest installment of the Superman film franchise. The news has been much anticipated after producer Christopher Nolan (Memento, The Dark Knight) met with several major directors including Tony Scott and Darren Aronofsky.
by Damon Martin
DC and Marvel have both made major announcements recently concerning the pricing of their comics. Seems the companies have more-or-less simultaneously decided to drop the price of many of their more expensive titles starting in 2011.
The move will see more than 80% of DC’s ongoing series drop priced at $2.99 (instead of $3.99). Days after DC made their announcement, Marvel also confirmed upcoming reductions on an as yet to be named “select” group of existing titles, as well as new books debuting in 2011.
The move sent a wave of relief over many financially strapped comic book connoisseurs, but let’s dig down deeper into the price adjustments to see if DC and Marvel really have the fan or the bottom line at heart with this recession-proofing move.
by Damon Martin
Scientists from the University of California Santa-Cruz and the Carnegie Institute of Washington have announced the discovery of a planet a scant 20 light years away from Earth that could theoretically be habitable since it has all the characteristics of a planet that could support life.
Gliese 581-g is the latest planet discovered by scientists studying the Red Dwarf star called Gliese 581, which resides in the Libra constellation. The team’s findings were strong enough for them to declare the new planet livable by Earth standards. As many scientists state when dealing with extraterrestrial life, where there is water there could be life. Gliese 581-g has all of the necessary factors to create and sustain water, as well as an atmosphere similar to what we have on Earth.
Professor Stephen Vogt, a member of the team that discovered Gliese 581-g, admits that they don’t know for sure if the planet currently has any life forms growing or living on the surface, but he is confident enough to make a very educated guess going as far as saying, “that chances for life on this planet are 100 percent.”
by Damon Martin
It’s funny to look back just over the last decade and realize how much social networking has changed everyone’s lives. From the musicians who were launched on MySpace, to the friends who reconnected on Facebook, to the endless (and often inane) updates on Twitter, social networking has become a ubiquitous part of everyday life for millions all over the world. It’s a way to stay connected, it’s a way to stay interested, and for the 26-yeaor old creator of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, it’s a way to become the world’s youngest billionaire.
The story of Zuckerberg, and the creation and launch of Facebook, will hit the big screens today. However, even pre-release, the critics have given high praise to The Social Network, which was directed by David Fincher (Fight Club) and written by Aaron Sorkin (West Wing). The movie follows Zuckerberg as he awkwardly tries to make his way in upper crust society while attending an Ivy League school. It was during his time at Harvard that Zuckerberg, along with some classmates, created The Facebook, as it was originally known.
by Damon Martin
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
The Supreme Court of the United States of America will soon be taking on a precedent-making case, set to be heard in November of this year, about the reach of the First Amendment when it comes to the realm of video games. Given Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s involvement, I’m going to try to present facts and opinion, and leave out any clichéd quotes such as “Get to da choppa!” or “I’ll be back” as best I can.
In 2005 the State of California passed two statutes, California Assembly Bills 1792 & 1793, which effectively banned the sale of ultra-violent video games to minors. However, the Video Software Dealers Association successfully appealed on the grounds of freedom of expression at the district court level, and the laws were judged to be unconstitutional. The State of California subsequently appealed the decision, and Schwarzenegger vs. Entertainment Merchants Association will bring the issue to the highest court in the land for a final judgment call
by Damon Martin
Dressing like a nerd has become the “in” thing to do (which is a little worrying when you consider yesterday’s “in” is today’s “out”). Personally I’ve been dressing like a nerd pretty much my whole life, because well, I’m a huge nerd – so I’ve little choice but to ride the wave (even if it beaches me in fashion oblivion in 6 months time). That said, there’s nothing wrong with being a stylish nerd (at least for now) and so with that I present “Geek Chic: The May the Force Be With You” edition.
by Damon Martin
Charlie: “Guys…where are we?”
The line that gave everyone the first clue that “Lost” wasn’t your average every day television drama. Sure, it started out looking like a typical TV show as a man woke up in a jungle, not knowing exactly what happened, and as he wanders through the trees and brush, he discovers that the plane he was riding on just minutes before had crash landed on an island He rushes to the scene to see all of his fellow passengers terrified of what they’ve just endured, and he immediately starts to help and lead those hurt and injured away from the burning debris.
In that moment, J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and Jeffrey Lieber had captured an audience and many of those same people would follow the tragedy and triumph of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 as they found themselves on an island that was anything but a normal tropical paradise for the next six years.
