Wednesday, August 31, 2011
The Double
Synopsis
In THE DOUBLE, the mysterious murder of a US senator bearing the distinctive trademark of the legendary Soviet assassin “Cassius,” forces Paul Shepherdson (Richard Gere), a retired CIA operative, to team with rookie FBI agent, Ben Geary (Topher Grace), to solve the crime. Having spent his career chasing Cassius, Shepherdson is convinced his nemesis is long dead, but is pushed to take on the case by his former supervisor, Tom Highland (Martin Sheen). Meanwhile, Agent Geary, who wrote his Master’s thesis on Shepherdson’s pursuit of the Soviet killer, is certain that Cassius has resurfaced. As Shepherdson and Geary work their way through crimes both past and present, they discover that Cassius may not be the person they always thought him to be, forcing both to re-examine everything and everyone around them.
The Debt Film Review
Review by by Jack Giroux on http://thefilmstage.com/reviews/review-the-debt/
There is a fantastic film in The Debt. With a director like John Madden behind the camera, it’s a bit surprising that he didn’t churn out something of a higher caliber, especially when there’s plenty of scenes that show signs of a competent, meticulous storyteller at work. And, sure enough, when those scenes play out – a tense train station sequence in particular – they outweigh the film’s less impressive qualities.
The Debt tells the story of three Mossad agents – Rachel Singer (Jessica Chastain), David Peretz (Sam Worthington) and Stephan Gold (Marton Csokas) – hunting down a Nazi war criminal in 1965. It’s a promising hook, and the script (initially scribed by Matthew Vaughn and Jane Goldman, then worked on by Madden and Peter Straughan) delivers on that promise, but only in 1965. Everything involving that mission is tightly paced, suitably claustrophobic and keenly aware of the gray area of each character’s motivations.
It’s when we meet these same characters 30 years later that problems arise.
One would think seeing Helen Mirren, Tom Wilikinson and CiarĂ¡n Hinds as the older, regretful characters who were once young and ambitious would be nothing but captivating. These are three pros that could make waiting in line at the DMV exciting. The main issue is that their predicament lacks the power and excitement of seeing the trio in their younger years.
When it comes to the 1965 East Berlin storyline, Madden crafts a real, psychological thriller. Rachel, David and Stephan have never worked together before, and they are setting out to get the job done quick and clean. As is always the case, that’s not how it goes down. An expected love triangle develops, and escaping with the war criminal, Dieter Vogel (Jesper Christensen), turns out to be not so simple. Stuck with in hiding with their target, tension runs high.
Vogel represents a perfect counterpoint to Rachel, David and Stephan. He has committed horrific acts, but unlike his captures, expresses no regret, or is effectively hiding it to get under their skin. He’s a lesser antagonist that pushes their buttons in subtle ways. I use “lesser antagonist” because, by the end of the film, the questionable choice Rachel, David and Stephan make in their younger years is the greatest villain of the film, and it eats away at their lives.
It’s subtle storytelling that loses its shape thanks to a flat and generic ending. The performances by Chastain, Csokas and a good accent-slipping Worthington hold attention, but it’s the thematic and internal work back in the past that make this uneven thriller better than the ending would lead one to believe.
The Debt is in wide release starting today, August 31st.
Lautner To Rock The Rock In "Goliath"?
Here's an interesting pairing - The Rock and Team Jacob in "Goliath", a family adventure film adaptation of the biblical epic of David vs. Goliath reports Twitchfilm.
6'5" Dwayne Johnson is in talks to fill the role of Goliath in the Relativity Media and Temple Hill Entertainment production which Scott Derrickson ("The Exorcism Of Emily Rose") was previously attached to.
The story follows a young Shepard named David who is set on an epic chase to save his own life and the lives of his people when the fierce warrior Goliath begins tracking down a foretold king of the Israelites. The tone was previously said to be a period piece with contemporary sensibilities and a stylised look.
Meanwhile an offer is out to 5'10" Taylor Lautner to fill the part of David. The link is no major surprise as "Twilight" film series producers Marty Bowen and Wyck Godfrey are also involved in "Goliath".
"Blues Brothers" Revived For Television
John Belushi's widow Judith Belushi-Pisano and "Saturday Night Live" writer Anne Beatts have teamed to pen a pilot script currently being shopped around for a TV series version of John Landis' classic 1980 film comedy "The Blues Brothers" reports Variety.
The series will follow the musical duo of Jake and Elwood Blues and takes place just after they both get out of jail. A major story thread will involve Elwood searching for his real father while each episode in the series will include one main musical number with different musicians taking on the role of The Blues Brothers band as Jake and Elwood travel the United States.
Universal owns the film rights to the property, but Dan Aykroyd and Judith Belushi-Pisano share the television rights. Aykroyd's voice will be heard in the unseen role of Jake and Elwood's parole officer. No other casting decisions have yet been made.
Real Steel Posters
Story by Ryan Lambie on
http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/1035364/real_steel_international_and_us_posters_arrive.html
The marketing types behind DreamWorks’ forthcoming Real Steel are clearly selling the film on two simple yet bankable points: the star presence Hugh Jackman, and clanking robots with big fists. What’s interesting about this approach is that, so far, it’s downplayed the dramatic aspect of Shawn Levy’s upcoming picture.
Like a sci-fi Rocky, Real Steel isn’t merely about the rivet-popping brawls that occur in the ring (though they’re obviously the film’s big draw) – it’s also about the life of Jackman’s character when the fights are over, and his fractious relationship with his estranged son, played by Dakota Goyo.
Nevertheless, the marketing wizards are pushing the macho, punchier side of the movie, as reflected in these two new posters, which show Jackman glaring out at us beneath the shadow of his prize-fighting robot, Atom. In case you were wondering, the US poster is the one where the Atom’s facing us – the international poster looks as though Jackman and his robot have had some sort of lovers’ tiff.
Real Steel is due out in UK cinemas on 14th October
Training Day
Training Day is a 2001 crime/drama film directed by Antoine Fuqua, written by David Ayer and starring Denzel Washington, Ethan Hawke, and Eva Mendes. The film follows two LAPD narcotics detectives over a 24-hour period in the gang neighborhoods of South and East Los Angeles.
The film was a box office success and earned mostly positive critical appraisals. Washington's performance, a departure from his usual roles, was particularly praised, and earned him a Best Actor Oscar at the Academy Awards. This film was the debut of R&B singer Grammy-winner Macy Gray as an actress.
Blind Date (1987 film)
Blind Date is a 1987 romantic comedy film, directed by Blake Edwards and starring Kim Basinger and Bruce Willis.
The film was originally intended for the recently married Madonna and Sean Penn, but both backed out at the last minute. Bruce Willis' character in the film was deliberately written so as to be different from the character he had played in the TV series Moonlighting. The film was a financial success and opened at number one at the box office.
The Night Before (film)
The Night Before is a 1988 film starring Keanu Reeves and Lori Loughlin. Reeves plays Winston Connelly, the so-called high school nerd and vice president of the Astronomy club. Loughlin plays Tara Mitchell, the pretty and popular head cheerleader who also happens to be the local police chief's daughter. The Tagline was: "You lost your father's car, sold your prom date and a guy called 'Tito' wants you dead. It's a date that's the time of your life." It was filmed and set entirely in Los Angeles, California.
iam8bit
iam8bit is a production company, creative think tank and art exhibition based in Los Angeles, California. The company works in many entertainment industries including video games, film, fashion and music. They have produced many projects including exclusive taste-maker mailers, large scale community events and short films. In 2011, iam8bit rebranded their identity to be more broadly focused, launching with a new logo and website.
Scribe Wants Dinklage For "Captain" Sequel
"Captain America: The First Avenger" co-writer Christopher Markus is keen on getting "Game of Thrones" star Peter Dinklage to play the villain in a potential sequel.
Markus tells The Los Angeles Times that he would love to get Dinklage to star as M.O.D.O.K. (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing), the now giant headed and hovering mutated form of the scientist responsible for the creation of the cosmic cube (I think that's right, the character background is a little confusing).
Markus says “I think you could make a terrifying movie with MODOK but nobody seems to be on my side at the moment. I will win you over to Peter Dinklage as MODOK. If he came around the corner and you saw him floating there you would be terrified. It would be amazing.”
At last report the 'Winter Soldier' saga of the comics will be the likely story option should a sequel go ahead.
Tucker & Dale vs. Evil Film Review
Review by Andrew Kasch on
http://www.dreadcentral.com/reviews/tucker-dale-vs-evil-2011
Next to remakes, the horror-comedy has been one of the most prolific subgenres of late. And like remakes, I can count the good ones on one hand. For every Shaun of the Dead there are dozens of lousy Sam Raimi/Peter Jackson imitators and even bigger hyped titles like Dead Snow, Jack Brooks, and Zombieland I found forced pastiches of much better movies. So imagine my surprise when a backwoods redneck comedy with a title like Tucker & Dale vs. Evil managed to defy all expectations and completely charm me in the end.
The concept is so great I’m surprised no one thought of it sooner: Just like every post Texas Chainsaw horror film, we begin with a van full of vacationing teenagers who stop at a secluded gas station and are promptly freaked out by the scary backwoods locals. It is here that Tucker & Dale shifts the action over to the hicks – and as it turns out, they’re simply misunderstood good ole boys. The film is mostly told from the perspective of our title characters: two lovable dimits whose only goal in between beer runs is to renovate their “dream home” (i.e., a crappy cabin by the lake). And this time, in a brilliant role reversal, the dumb preppy city kids are inadvertently the villains.
When Tucker and Dale rescue one of them from drowning during a late-night skinny dip, the paranoid teens confuse them for psychopathic Deliverance types and waste no time starting a fight for their lives. Of course, Tucker and Dale are just trying to help and completely oblivious to their situation, which unleashes a gruesome comedy of errors where the entrails go flying.
Co-writer/director Eli Craig is clearly a big fan of the genre, and he’s knowledgeable enough to deliver a loving homage without resorting to obvious self-referential jokes. Half the fun is how the script takes the oldest of genre clichĂ©s and gives you a hilarious new perspective on them. It’s a simple, broad comedy but one that never outstays its welcome and keeps the gory (and largely practical) set-pieces flying at a frenzied rate.
The success or failure of a movie like this all boils down to the likability of the protagonists, and Alan Tudyk and Tyler Labine make for the perfect comedy team. Under normal circumstances a couple of country bumpkins would be difficult to relate to – especially in this genre – but these sweet-natured heroes will have you rooting for them every step of the way. This is mostly because their characters aren’t stereotypes; they’re completely genuine with a great rapport and never go for typical Dumb and Dumber/ Jeff Foxworthy style jokes. They’re more like the dysfunctional types you’d see in an early Coen Brothers flick, and it’s especially refreshing to see two leads in a horror-comedy who aren’t self-aware movie geeks or bad Ash clones.
It should be noted that Tucker & Dale vs. Evil falls a tad short of “instant classic” status. It’s a fairly one-joke affair, and once the gags get rolling, it’s pretty easy to spot the punchlines before they happen (although to be fair, they’re the exact gruesome pay-offs you want to see). It also peaks a bit early with a finale that isn’t nearly as inspired as the rest of the film. That said, it’s still one of the best horror-comedies in ages, and these characters could easily launch a series worthy of Abbott & Costello.
Renegade Ops
Overview
Renegade Ops is a top down dual-joystick shooter developed by a 15 man team at Avalanche Studios. The game has you driving vehicles and helicopters as you shoot bad guys. The game is scheduled for a late 2011 release and is a part of the PSN Play program.
Story
Renegade Ops has a simple story, similar to those found in 80s movies and video games. It's told through vignettes at the beginning of each mission. The evil Inferno is hell bent on ruling the world and terrorizes Europe by blowing up Paris. International governments are too afraid to unite against Inferno so general Bryant decides to take matters into his own hands by searching the globe for elite soldiers who would be able to foil Inferno's plans. He finds Armand, Roxy, Diz and Gunnar.
Gameplay
You can play the game as either Armand, Roxy, Diz or Gunnar. Each character has a different vehicle and different abilities. For example, Roxy drives a buggy and can call in for an airstrike while Diz, who drives a truck, can unleash an EMP blast, crippling the enemy's weapons for a certain period of time. Each character, however, controls the same. The left stick is used to move while the right stick is used to shoot. 3 face buttons are used: one for each character's special ability, the other to speed up the vehicle that you're driving and the third and final button is used to fire missiles. Controls are about the same when piloting a helicopter except that you must dodge obstacles and you can do flips.
Levels have both primary and secondary objectives. These objectives range from rescuing hostages to blowing up tanks and ammo depots. Each mission is timed and you are awarded points for killing enemies, completing objectives and doing flips in the helicopter. During missions, you can pick up items that can give you temporary damage boosts, increase your life or increase your weapon range.
The game features online co-op for up to 4 people and split screen co-op for up to 2 people.
The Baconing
The Baconing is the third installment in the ever-growing DeathSpank franchise.It has quite a few puzzles to solve and you'll be able to decide on how to move forward. For example, in one puzzle, I had to make a rhyme with some monks to get a code to proceed into the next area. I could either choose to answer their riddles or simply kill them.
To top it all off, there are also going to be seven unique Weapons of Justice which will be usable after defeating a certain amount of enemies. Other weapons include a chainsaw and my personal favorite, a laser-guided attack from fire-breathing dragons.
The environments are all updated as well. In the last games, level design felt a little barren. Now they have added new set pieces to allow for a cover system where Deathspank can hide behind walls and barrels to plan his attack.
There is also local co-op with a new character to the Deathspank world. Your co-op partner is Bob from Marketing and he is a freaking shark who uses a swordfish as a weapon! He might not be an integral part of the story, but he is a great addition to the world of The Baconing.
The environments in the game are as colorful and fun as the story. Along with the Spanktopia world which has the whole Blade Runner-future-slum feel, there are also ones that really add to the color of the narrative. There is the Forbidden Zone where we noticed elements from the game, Simon. You might also notice elements from Battlestar Galactica or Knight Rider here.
Terraria
Terraria is an action-adventure/RPG indie game released by independent game studio Re-Logic. The game features exploration, crafting, building structures and combat with a variety of creatures. The game's slogan was previously "Shut Up and Dig Gaiden", a reference to another indie game, Barkley, Shut Up and Jam: Gaiden.
Released on May 16, 2011, the game is estimated to have sold about 50,000 copies during its first day of release, with over 17,000 players online at the same time during the first day's peak. Over the course of a week, 200,000 copies of the game were sold, making it the top selling game on Steam for the week, "ahead of games like The Witcher 2 and Portal 2." It remained number one on Steam for the first six days of its release before it eventually dropped to the number two slot.
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Bringer of Light
Book Information
Jarek Reen is trying to save a lost world. He discovered the primitive theocracy of Serenein by accident, and now he wants it to take its place in human-space. To do this he needs a shiftspace beacon – without it, there is no way to find the planet again. The beacons were made by the Sidhe, the race that originally gave humanity access to the stars – and dominated human-space for millennia, before a coalition of human rebels and Sidhe males brought the evil Sidhe females down. Most people think the Sidhe are long dead, but Jarek knows better: a renegade female Sidhe is one of his companions, and a male Sidhe gave her and her lover the special powers that made them Angels, very unusual trained assassins. Jarek’s only hope is to find Aleph, the hidden system where the last Sidhe males are rumored to live. But even if he can persuade these eccentric, introspective beings to put aside their interminable internal squabbles, he still has to persuade Serenein that joining the rest of humankind is a good thing …for the price of progress is likely to be high. Can he stop it turning into tragedy?
Germline (The Subterrene War Trilogy 1) by T.C. McCarthy
Plot
McCarthy's compelling debut introduces Oscar "Scout" Wendell, a journalist and self-destructive adrenaline junkie who embeds with the Marines when Russia and the United States go to war over rich mineral deposits discovered in Kazakhstan. Plunged into a nightmarish world of subterranean combat and random death, Scout feels his identity slipping away as he and his fellows are reduced to faceless cogs in an infernal war machine. He finds an unexpected emotional anchor in Sophie, a genetically engineered super-soldier. Though Sophie soon begins to deteriorate, their romance never turns either mawkish or faux tragic. McCarthy, a geologist and former CIA analyst, crafts a portrait of the effects of battlefield stress that is difficult to bear but impossible to put down. Recalling the work of Remarque, Willi Heinrich, and especially Michael Herr, McCarthy's delirious narrative avoids cliché and raises intriguing questions about what it means to be human.
King's "Under the Dome" Set Up At Showtime
Showtime, Stephen King, Steven Spielberg and DreamWorks TV are all combining for a TV series based on King's supernatural thriller novel "Under the Dome" reports The Wrap.
The story revolves around the drama that unfolds after an invisible force field suddenly descends on a small vacation town in Maine. As the locals fight for their survival, the town descends into warring factions led by enigmatic characters.
DreamWorks optioned the book back in late 2009 and has been trying to set it up as a cable event series since. Showtime confirmed its involvement this week. King, Spielberg, Stacey Snider, Darryl Frank and Justin Falvey will executive produce.
"Knight Rises" Batcave & Lucius Details
We know Wayne Manor is making a comeback in the upcoming "The Dark Knight Rises", now its been confirmed that The Batcave will also be returning albeit with a different look.
MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD
Wales Online reports that a few weeks ago director Christopher Nolan spent two days filming around the Henrhyd Waterfall in the Neath Valley, Brecon Beacons, Wales. Said waterfall is being used as the entrance to the Batcave by the production, and one insider claims it will be a part of the opening sequence of the film.
Said insider however mistakes it for being the "discovery of the Batcave" which we already saw in the first film. The previous waterfall entrance seen in "Batman Begins" was part of the Batcave set built at Shepperton Studios combined with miniatures. The new Batcave is being built on Sound Stage 30 on MGM’s lot in California.
Meanwhile shooting is continuing in Los Angeles and Morgan Freeman was spotted on set as Lucius Fox. It's said his scenes will involve both Bane (Tom Hardy) and Catwoman (Anne Hathaway), while he himself is trying to prevent a Tumbler from being stolen.
Our Idiot Brother Film Review
Review by John Fink on http://thefilmstage.com/reviews/review-our-idiot-brother/
Social critique and satire is rarely charming, however Our Idiot Brother, directed by Jesse Peretz, is a relaxed tight-rope walk. Structurally the film is aloof for some segments, much like Paul Rudd’s titular Ned. Also like Ned, once the film finds its footing, it’s a pleasure to be a part of. Ned is a carefree organic farmer who makes the mistake of selling pot to a uniformed officer; he’s a likable and trusting guy who later makes the mistake of treating his parole officer as a counselor, whom he wins over.
His sisters include a struggling writer (Elizabeth Banks) with a crush on her neighbor (Adam Scott), a passionate, if ditzy, bisexual (Zooey Deschanel) who lives with her hipster girlfriend (Rashida Jones) and the eldest and most responsible, (Emily Mortimer) with two children and a documentary filmmaker husband (Steve Coogan). The first thing Jesse Peretz, a punk musician-turned-filmmaker, does right is casting. But then he has been around longer than most people know, with two excellent comedies (The Chateau, which also starred Rudd, and The Ex) as well as the atmospheric romantic drama First Love, Last Rites under his belt.
Our Idiot Brother is about something far more interesting than its title character. Like Jerry Seinfeld in the sitcom that bore his name, he serves a connective tissue for an ensemble piece. Take Rudd away and you’d be forgiven for thinking you’ve landed in a Nicole Holofcener film. Like Holofcener’s films, especially Please Give (also a critique of upper middle class New York City), here is a family that functions because they are politely independent: they have a standing policy not to loan each other money.
Yet, they all (and their significant others) come to the aid of their idiot brother. Carefully balancing the cynicism, Peretz is wise to keep Steve Coogan a supporting character (after sharing several meals with him in The Trip he near wells out his welcome). Coogan’s filmmaker has a vague through-line. The actor and the character both have very strong and difference presences – tension in moderation, especially in a film this relaxed is controlled. Just because its relaxed doesn’t mean it’s incompetent.
The family needs this idiot brother of theirs, who otherwise is a charming, honest and likable guy. This is story where everyone has a certain privilege – they are all comfortable opting into a certain class structure. This is the type of indie film rarely made anymore without the consciousness of an economic structure that has led to extreme winners and losers – a throw back to the indie films I grew up and loved.
Our Idiot Brother is, like its title character, enormously likable: he’s able to make friends with the elite as well his ex-girlfriend’s current boyfriend (one T.J. Miller, who advocates for the return of his beloved dog Willie Nelson). The film resolves itself in a matter that may be be too cute for its own good, but it’s as carefree late summer/early fall entertainment, it’s fitting and a great deal of fun.
Electronic 'tattoos' to monitor vital signs
Story by Jessica Hamzelou on
http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn20787-electronic-tattoos-to-monitor-vital-signs.html
Once a patient has left hospital, how can doctors track his or her physical condition? Conventional technology is too bulky or obtrusive, but rub-on electronics that stick to the skin like a temporary tattoo could revolutionise medical monitoring.
When doctors need to keep watch on someone's bodily systems, from the heart's beat to the brain's activity, they have to use bulky electronic devices and attach electrodes to the skin with sticky gel.
"These are useful in some clinical settings, but in the real world they restrain movement and cause irritation to the skin," says John Rogers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
To avoid restricting movement, Rogers's team have given their new "epidermal electronics" the flexibility, elasticity and density of skin. They took the silicon and gallium arsenide typically used to build transistors, diodes and resistors, and fashioned it into wires just a few nanometres thick, each bent into the shape of a tiny meandering river. The meanders can stretch and contract to give electronics constructed from them a degree of flexibility which matches that of skin.
The researchers then took circuits made from the wires and put them on a thin patch of rubber. Finally, they embedded the rubber in a water-soluble protective sheet of plastic, creating a patch around 40 micrometres thick. This patch can then be applied to the skin like a temporary tattoo: it is placed on the skin, rubbed with a wet finger to dissolve the protective sheet and left to dry.
Tech style
The nifty "tattoo" is kept in place by the weak intermolecular forces that are at play whenever two surfaces come together. Because the circuit is soft and stretchy enough to conform to the skin's texture, the contact between the two surfaces is good enough to keep the device in place for several days. For the style-conscious patient, it can even be combined with a conventional temporary tattoo (see video above) – although until a wireless transmitter can be incorporated into the design, the temporary tattoo must still be wired to a computer.
In a preliminary study, the group put patches on the throats of volunteers. The thin electronics could detect the electrical changes beneath the skin associated with muscle movements as the volunteers spoke. The signals were then sent through a computer algorithm, which could differentiate the signals associated with different words and allow the volunteers to control a video game with spoken commands.
The first generation of medical patches can monitor electrophysiological signals associated with the heart, other muscles and brain activity. But in future people may benefit from patches that go beyond this passive role, says Rogers.
"We can also use the device to stimulate muscle contractions," he says – although this work, achieved in rats, has yet to be published.
The patches are "a beautiful example of the novel applications than can be enabled by building electronic systems on non-conventional substrates", says Ali Javey, an electronic engineer at the University of California, Berkeley. "This is truly exciting work," he adds.
New Phase-Changing Gel Method Repairs Severed Blood Vessels Better than Stitches
Story by Rebecca Boyle on
http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-08/new-gel-glue-method-rejoins-cut-blood-vessels-better-stitches
A new heat-sensitive gel and glue combo is a major step forward for cardiovascular surgery, enabling blood vessels to be reconnected without puncturing them with a needle and thread. It represents the biggest change to vascular suturing in 100 years, according to Stanford University Medical Center researchers.
Sutures are an effective way to reconnect severed blood vessels, but they can introduce complications, for instance when cells are traumatized by the puncturing needle and clog up the vessel, which can lead to blood clots. What’s more, it’s difficult to suture blood vessels less than 1 millimeter wide, the Stanford team said. One of the authors on this study, Stanford microsurgeon Dr. Geoffrey Gurtner, was inspired to work on this problem a decade ago after a five-hour surgery in which he reattached the severed finger of a year-old infant, according to Stanford Medical School.
Sutures work by stitching together sides of a blood vessel and then tightening the stitch to pull open the lumen, or the inner part of the vessel, so the blood can flow through. Gluing a vessel together instead would require keeping the lumens open to their full diameter — think of trying to attach two deflated balloons. But dilating the lumen by inserting something inside introduces a wide range of problems, too.
Gurtner initially thought about using ice to fill up the lumen instead, but that meant making the vessels extremely cold, which would be too time-consuming and difficult on the operating table. He approached an engineering professor, Gerald Fuller, about using some kind of biocompatible phase change material, which could easily turn from a liquid to a solid and back again. It turned out Fuller knew of a thermo-reversible polymer, Poloxamer 407, that was already FDA approved for medical use.
Working with materials scientists, the team figured out how to modify the polymer so that it would become solid and elastic when heated warmer than body temperature, and would dissolve into the bloodstream at body temperature. In a study on rat aortas, the team heated it with a halogen lamp, and used the solidified polymer to fill up the lumen, opening it all the way. Then they used an existing bioadhesive to glue the blood vessels back together, a Stanford news release explains. The work was published in this week’s issue of Nature Medicine.
The polymer technique was five times faster than the traditional hand-sewing method, the researchers say. It even worked on superfine blood vessels, just 0.2 millimeters wide, which would not work with a needle and thread. The team monitored test subject rats for up to two years after the polymer suturing, and found no complications. “This new technology has potential for improving efficiency and outcomes in the surgical treatment of cardiovascular disease,” the authors say.
First Steps of a Cyborg
Story by James Vlahos on
http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-08/first-steps-cyborg
Austin Whitney didn’t want to graduate from college in a wheelchair. So he and the student engineers at U.C. Berkeley’s “Kaz Lab” built a machine that allowed him to stand up and walk across the commencement stage.
Seven steps. A short, straight walk across a stage backed by blue and gold balloons, lit by camera flashes, and ringing with the cheers of 15,000 people in the track stadium at the University of California at Berkeley. For most of the class of 2011, traipsing across the carpeted commencement platform is a triumphal but essentially symbolic exercise. You don’t even get your diploma, just a rolled-up note saying that one will be mailed. But for Austin Whitney, who comes last this year, the walk itself will be a major achievement.
Whitney is a paraplegic. For the past four years, he has been bound to a wheelchair, unable to walk. Then he got a call from Homayoon Kazerooni, the director of Berkeley’s Robotics and Human Engineering Laboratory. Kazerooni creates robotic exoskeletons, motorpowered devices worn by users to add mechanical might to the movements of muscle and bone. The U.S. military funds most exoskeleton research, with the goal of one day creating a super-soldier, a bionic man who can punch through brick walls or carry 200-pound loads all day long. Kazerooni has built exoskeletons that are now being tested by the Army, but when he contacted Whitney in August 2010, he had other users in mind. He was looking for a research subject to help his students develop an exoskeleton that didn’t give its wearer a superpower but rather a much more basic one: the ability to walk.
On the stage, Whitney’s mortarboard tassel drops in front of his eyes and he flips it aside with a shake of his head. Lurking a few feet behind him in dark glasses and black sport coats are Michael McKinley, Jason Reid and Wayne Tung, graduate students in Kazerooni’s lab. Waiting offstage is another graduate student, Minerva Pillai, and the lab manager, Arun Joshua Cherian. Whitney is about to demonstrate their invention in public for the first time, and the exoskeleton has been bedeviled with technical glitches that persisted until moments before he wheeled himself onstage.
Until now, the exoskeletons developed in Kazerooni’s lab have been elaborately engineered test pieces. “All we’ve been doing is making really expensive machines,” Kazerooni says. “We’re making Porsches.” For the current project, Kazerooni challenged the students to invent the Honda of exoskeletons, a bare-bones device that would cost $15,000 or less, not $100,000 or more. Only at that price, he says, will disabled people (and their insurance companies) be able to afford them. Since the project began in January 2009, it has become a steadily consuming obsession for Kazerooni’s students, who powered themselves through 17-hour days with caffeine, candy bars and pirated MP3s. In the month before graduation, most of the students took up unofficial residence in the lab. “This in many ways is like a moon launch,” McKinley says. “When the countdown reaches zero, we hit that stage.”
Whitney grips the handles of a walker placed in front of him. Arms quivering, he pushes himself up from the chair. Cheers swell around him as his right leg, powered by the clacking machinery of the exoskeleton, flexes at the knee and begins to swing forward.on Tuesday at Midnight, four days before graduation, it seems uncertain that the first step will even happen, though the students refuse to voice any doubt. Kazerooni is in China for a conference, the students are running the shop, and the exoskeleton is having problems. The “Kaz Lab,” a windowless, basement-level room in Berkeley’s engineering building, is strewn with wires, circuit boards, Thai food containers and Twix wrappers. McKinley hunches over a computer-controlled machining tool, which cuts into a copper plate with a nails-against-the-chalkboard scream. Pillai works at a sewing machine to modify the exoskeleton’s shoulder harness. Exoskeleton prototypes with gears for hips and thin metal rods for legs hang from ceiling straps around the room’s perimeter.
Crammed against one wall, a treadmill sits covered by a bed sheet. Two sneakered feet jut out from underneath it. They belong to Whitney, who, somehow, amid the pandemonium, is able to nap. Though he isn’t an engineer (double major in history and political science), Whitney’s input is critical to the Kaz Lab team. He has participated in hundreds of tests and provided design suggestions, user feedback and motivation. The students might say they’re working to advance the cause of the disabled, but what they’re really thinking about is helping their friend to walk. The schedule has been so hectic lately that Whitney returns home for only a few hours a night and has taken to napping between exoskeleton tests. A paper-plate sign taped to his treadmill shanty reads “Will pilot exos for food.”
Reid stands up from a computer where he had been tweaking some of the software that controls the exoskeleton. He comes over and taps Whitney on the shoulder. “We’re about ready for you, Austin,” he says. Whitney sits up and rubs his eyes. He hoists himself into a wheelchair that already holds the exoskeleton in a seated position. He cracks open a 16-ounce Monster Energy drink as the team members tighten the bindings that hold him in the machine. The test is about to begin when Whitney calls out, “Oh wait, music. Come on guys, step up!” A student taps at a keyboard, and a beat starts pumping out of desktop speakers. “Some labs run on water, others on honey,” Whitney says. “We run on techno.”
Whitney pushes himself laboriously to his feet, and the exoskeleton experiment is under way. With a safety cord running to a ceiling track, he takes a lurching, clanking step forward, like the Tin Man breaking free from his prison of rust.
Monday, August 29, 2011
Suzie's Organic Farm Pedal, Pick & Grin
If you didn't make it to Suzie's Organic Farm in Imperial Beach yesterday for $2/lb tomatoes and $3/lb peppers (both of endless varieties) then you TOTALLY MISSED OUT. Bike parade? Check. Bluegrass band? Check. Tromping through rows upon rows of completely organic produce just picking whatever looks delectable? Check. I've been a lazy slob about signing up for their CSA, but laze no more, after yesterday I am a believer. There's just something about eating something that you pick, and I'm sure if you grow it the feeling is intensified by a bajillion. It was a glorious day as horses trotted by, kids created dirt tornadoes with their bikes, people of all ages gripped their straw hats and knelt to gently twist and remove a fat and hearty jalapeno, bell pepper, heirloom tomato, or fresh okra bite to take home and enjoy however they saw fit.
For us, a pizza was our ultimate creation. We snagged a garlic and herb pizza dough from Trader Joe's and after letting it rest for 20 minutes, we divided it into 4 mini pizzas and started the grill on medium high. While the grill heated up, we sliced and diced some of the amazing deep red tomatoes and a variety of yellow, orange, and green peppers for toppings. After laying the rolled out dough onto tin foil on the grill, we let them sit for about 3 minutes and flipped them, revealing a golden brown crisp crust. We immediately spread some fresh pesto on the crisped side, liberally sprinkled some feta, and then laid the tomatoes and peppers across the whole shebang. After another 3 minutes of toasting, we removed them from the grill and crowned each one with some torn fresh basil leaves and feasted.
As the first of many dishes this week that will feature our bounty, it was a success! I can't wait to keep nomin' on our stash, and I definitely look forward to continuing to patronize Suzie's. All hail San Diego local organic farms!
God of War Origins Videogame Review
Review by Greg Miller on http://ps3.ign.com/articles/119/1190707p1.html
Look up "dumb character" in the fictional dictionary, and you'll find a photo of Kratos. He screams everything he says, he disembowels everyone he meets, and he can't muster a smile to save his life. I find him about as deep as a puddle, and as an admitted "story whore," the fact that I enjoyed playing as the big idiot in God of War Origins surprised me.
Spoiler Alert: you don't need me to tell you God of War Origins rocks. A bundle of two PSP God of War games that each scored around the IGN 9.5 mark, Origins ports Chains of Olympus and Ghost of Sparta into high definition, adds 3D, and slathers on PlayStation Network Trophies. Sony succeeded in making good games better.
In 2005, Kratos and PlayStation became synonymous. The original God of War introduced quicktime events, the Blades of Chaos, and insane finishing moves. Every iteration of the franchise pushed the limits a little bit further -- that includes these two titles. God of War: Chains of Olympus acts as a prequel to the original game,casting the protagonist as a servant to the Greek gods. Kratos deals with a Persian invasion and things go from bad to worse when the sun disappears. God of War: Ghost of Sparta fits in between God of War and God of War II. A vision invades Kratos' brain, and he sets off to find his brother.
Some love the God of War story and swear by it. I say it doesn't really matter. I constantly forget what ancient Al or Annie I'm chasing and where it all fits into Greek mythology. The bottom line: the fun factor of the gameplay outweighs the convoluted story.
I tried every God of War game upon release but only finished God of War III. I found Kratos so polarizing that I couldn't get into his adventures. I figured I didn't have enough testosterone to appreciate his exploits and put the controller down time after time to try something else. But settling into review God of War Origins, it all clicked. I wanted to bash enemies' heads in, snag lots of orbs, and collect things. God of War Origins excels at all of that. With the other games, I tripped up by looking for an engaging story when I should've seen the engaging gameplay.
Hopefully, you don't need a blow by blow on what makes up God of War gameplay -- and if you do, check out the original Chains of Olympus review and Ghost of Sparta review. Two blades attached to chains wrap around Kratos' arms, and the player uses heavy and light attacks to dish out damage. From there, you unlock magic, weapons, upgrades and moves. While simple, the satisfaction in discovering a boss' pattern or perfectly dodging an enemy attack to unleash a killing blow curls my toes. And I can jump in and out of when I feel like it.
God of War Origins also offers a rare opportunity in the video game industry -- a time lapse of a developer coming into its own. Playing the two portable Kratos games back to back, I saw the studio learn and grow before my eyes. Both of these games looked good on the PSP, but Chains of Olympus occasionally looks simple and stiff on a massive flat-screen TV. However, Ghost of Sparta pops with detail, cinematic cuts and character. I didn't understand why I couldn't slide down walls in Chains of Olympus and -- bam -- I can do it Ghost of Sparta. Quicktime prompts show up in the middle of the screen in Chains but on the sides in Ghost. Putting the games back-to-back shows how much Ready at Dawn put into them.
While I wish I could quit one game and go to an Origins main menu rather than quitting back to the XMB, that small quibble rounds out my complaint list. Bonus material such as costumes, documentaries and the challenge rooms made the jump to Origins. The game pauses here or there as a big event queues, but Chains and Ghost run extremely well. The adjustable 3D looks very good for wide shots but gets too crazy for up close attacks. Sometimes the fixed camera makes fights harder for no reason, but that's a God of War trademark.
Closing Comments
God of War Origins collects two of the best PSP games and gives them all the PS3 treatment -- HD visuals, 3D options, Trophies and DualShock controls. It also acts as a time lapse experiment for players to get a really good look at how a developer evolves from one game to another. If you haven't played these titles before -- and even if you have -- recommending God of War Origins is easy.
Josh Brolin Confirmed For "Oldboy"
He was previously rumoured but now it's official, Josh Brolin is confirmed to be starring in Spike Lee’s "Oldboy" remake at Mandate Pictures reports Deadline.
Mark Protosevich adapted the script from the 2003 Korean original which centered on a man kidnapped and held for 15 years in solitary confinement without explanation. He is eventually released and sets out on a path of revenge.
Shooting on the remake is now scheduled to kick off in March once Brolin wraps Ruben Fleischer's "Gangster Squad" but before he gets to work on Jason Reitman’s "Labor Day" in June. Roy Lee and Doug Davison will produce.
Zoe Saldana Is Part Angel In "Dominion"
"Colombiana" star Zoe Saldana is attached to star in the supernatural thriller "Dominion" at Paramount Pictures says The Hollywood Reporter.
Dean McCreary and Chester Hastings are penning the screenplay which centers on a woman (Saldana) who is half-human and half-angel.
Saldana, Robbie Brenner, Dean McCreary and Chester Hastings will produce.
Monahan Helps Script For "Sin City 2"
"The Departed" and "Kingdom of Heaven" scribe William Monahan has been hired to do some work on the script for the "Sin City" sequel reports Heat Vision.
Monahan is reportedly "supplementing a draft" recently completed by comic creator Frank Miller. Robert Rodriguez directs this follow-up to the 2005 hit graphic novel adaptation.
Monahan has numerous scripts of his on the way from Joseph Kosinski's "Horizons", to the just announced Martin Scorsese-directed remake of James Toback's 1974 drama "The Gambler". The news of the latter caught everyone by surprise, including Toback himself who penned a fascinating letter about it.
NJ Pictures of Hurricane Irene
After the 5.8 earthquake on Wed - Hurricane Irene hit Saturday night. Here are some pictures of Hurricane Irene's impact on parts of NJ. We were lucky; our power was only out for two days and we didn't have any property damage. Most of the roads, however, around our place were flooded - and we couldn't leave.
Pictures of Milltown
(taken by one of Gary's students)
(taken by one of Gary's students)
My cousin also took VIDEO FOOTAGE of the damage in Northern Jersey, by my uncle's place - his footage was used on News 12.
I love this picture of a boarded up place in Asbury Park - it reminds me of the picture I should have taken, but didn't... the house across from us in Sea Isle was boarded up and had "No Wake" spray painted across the planks - wish I had snapped that one.
This is the place next to ours in Sea Isle - we woke up Friday to the sound of a table saws (cutting boards) and at least 50 seagulls squawking out of their minds - flying in circles.
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