Saturday, February 06, 2010
No Comment Department
Taylor Lautner Gets Another Huge Film Franchise: He’ll Be ‘Stretch Armstrong’ – Deadline.com: "He's already Hollywood's highest paid teen. Pretty soon, he may also be Hollywood's richest teen. He's certainly Hollywood's hardest working teen. Universal has just cast the 17-year-old Twilight Saga star Taylor Lautner to play title character Stretch Armstrong based on the Hasbro toy. The studio is giving Stretch superhero powers in the new 3D franchise that is scheduled for release in 2012."
Ian Carmichael, R. I. P.
The Press Association: Veteran actor Ian Carmichael dies: "Veteran British actor Ian Carmichael has died at the age of 89, his wife said.
The star of large and small screen from the 1950s to the 1970s had fallen ill over Christmas and New Year, Kate Carmichael said.
He died peacefully at his home in the Esk Valley on the North York Moors.
Hull-born Carmichael made his name playing in a series of films for the Boulting Brothers including Private's Progress (1956), Brothers in Law (1957) and I'm All Right Jack (1959).
During the 1960s and 1970s, he was successful in television, particularly as Bertie Wooster in The World of Wooster and Lord Peter Wimsey in several drama series based on the mystery novels by Dorothy L Sayers."
Hat tip to Toby O'B.
The star of large and small screen from the 1950s to the 1970s had fallen ill over Christmas and New Year, Kate Carmichael said.
He died peacefully at his home in the Esk Valley on the North York Moors.
Hull-born Carmichael made his name playing in a series of films for the Boulting Brothers including Private's Progress (1956), Brothers in Law (1957) and I'm All Right Jack (1959).
During the 1960s and 1970s, he was successful in television, particularly as Bertie Wooster in The World of Wooster and Lord Peter Wimsey in several drama series based on the mystery novels by Dorothy L Sayers."
Hat tip to Toby O'B.
The History of Monoply
NPR : Monopoly, Present at the Creation: "Charles Darrow has long been credited with the invention of Monopoly. His is a nice little story, with an appropriately capitalist theme. An unemployed Depression-era radiator repairman invents a game in which down-on-their-luck Americans trade pricey properties and connive their way to fantastic riches. The game catches on with a cash-starved public looking for cheap entertainment. The unemployed repairman fills his pockets with wads of real money.
It's a nice little story, but it's not entirely true."
The rest is at the link.
Hat tip to Bob Vasquez.
It's a nice little story, but it's not entirely true."
The rest is at the link.
Hat tip to Bob Vasquez.
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
String of church-arson cases in Texas probed: "Eight Texas churches barely 150 miles apart have caught fire since New Year's Day, putting pastors and congregations on edge and on guard wondering whether theirs is next.
Authorities determined seven of those fires were intentionally set and they are investigating one that broke out Thursday as a possible arson. There have been no reported injuries or arrests, and federal officials aren't saying whether there's a connection.
Most people in these parts can't help but think they are."
Authorities determined seven of those fires were intentionally set and they are investigating one that broke out Thursday as a possible arson. There have been no reported injuries or arrests, and federal officials aren't saying whether there's a connection.
Most people in these parts can't help but think they are."
Paging Christa Faust
I don't usually do shoe porn, but this pair of beauties caught my eye.
Link via Neatorama.
3D Stiletto Police by Tim Cooper � Yanko Design: "This is one of those unique opportunities where the product’s extended collection of copy (that’s the words) lends a direct hand in the title of the post. This post is a special case in more ways than one, though, as you’re soon 2b seeing. The name of the project is “Stiletto Police”, and as far as industrial design projects go, this one’s rather graphic. Look at these shoes. And fall right into a maniacal state of wonder."
New Small Press
Perfect Crime Books is a new small press that appears ready to publish some good stuff. One of the first books will be Guilt Edge, a collection of stories from Bob Randisi. There'll be a 2-volume PWA collection soon, too. Check at the link for some of Perfect Crime's other offerings.
Friday, February 05, 2010
Good-Bye to All That
BBC News - Last speaker of ancient language of Bo dies in India: "The last speaker of an ancient language in India's Andaman Islands has died at the age of about 85, a leading linguist has told the BBC.
Professor Anvita Abbi said that the death of Boa Sr was highly significant because one of the world's oldest languages - Bo - had come to an end."
Professor Anvita Abbi said that the death of Boa Sr was highly significant because one of the world's oldest languages - Bo - had come to an end."
Who Moved My Buy Button?
Who Moved My Buy Button?
Want to track your books on Amazon? Click the link and sign up at this site created by the Authors Guild.
Want to track your books on Amazon? Click the link and sign up at this site created by the Authors Guild.
Hang 'em High!
Queens girl Alexa Gonzalez hauled out of school in handcuffs after getting caught doodling on desk: "A 12-year-old Queens girl was hauled out of school in handcuffs for an artless offense - doodling her name on her desk in erasable marker, the Daily News has learned."
Hat tip to Art Scott.
Hat tip to Art Scott.
It's Not Nice to Try to Fool Mother
Milwaukee Mother Shoots Son During Prank | Newsradio 620 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin News, Talk, Sports, Weather | Local Headlines: "That's when she pulled out a .357 revolver and fired several times."
Amen, Roger!
From Paris With Love :: rogerebert.com :: Reviews: "The fight construction is the same with most modern action movies. In past decades, studios went so far as to run fencing classes for swordfights. Stars like Buster Keaton, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Errol Flynn did their own stunts and made sure you could see them doing them. Most of the stunts in classic kung-fu movies, starring such stars as Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan, really happen. Sure, they used camera angles, trampolines and wires, but you try it and see how easy it is."
Once Again, Texas Leads the Way
Robonaut: "NASA and General Motors are working together to accelerate development of the next generation of robots and related technologies for use in the automotive and aerospace industries.
Engineers and scientists from NASA and GM worked together through a Space Act Agreement at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston to build a new humanoid robot capable of working side by side with people. Using leading edge control, sensor and vision technologies, future robots could assist astronauts during hazardous space missions and help GM build safer cars and plants."
Engineers and scientists from NASA and GM worked together through a Space Act Agreement at the agency's Johnson Space Center in Houston to build a new humanoid robot capable of working side by side with people. Using leading edge control, sensor and vision technologies, future robots could assist astronauts during hazardous space missions and help GM build safer cars and plants."
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