The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Audial Aweomeness: Audio Wishlist

AIAIAI Tracks Headphone Series

This is, just simply, pretty cool. In the past headphones were the size of small plates and did a pretty good job of muting the entire outside world. The audio was pretty great but you sweated profusely because of the generous foam padding. And to be quite honest you looked stupid. Through time and some evolution we then ended up at the other extreme, with tiny "earbuds" that nearly vanish in your ear — and you still looked stupid.

Now, we have moved on to “audio fashion wear” that combines the best of all worlds. Copenhagen’s AIAIAI and its design partners at Kilo has come up with the stylish, light-weight Tracks Headphone Series that combines toned-down nostalgic looks with superior sound quality. A leather version of Tracks, in natural and black, is apparently in the works as well.

In another 5-10 years I'll be saying these look stupid on me as well. But for now they have a great style and look to them. They'll set you back 80 bucks but style don't come cheap.

iPod Dock + Speaker + Bed Light

Note that, sadly, this is only in it's conceptual stage. This is the iPod Dock + Speaker + Bed Light. Its a pretty basic idea. Nothing to it really. But it's subtle yet brilliant design makes it desirable. This dock would have hidden speakers in the device's panels, a sleek smooth finish that comes in many colors and a handy night light fixed in the overhead panel above the dock station. Its the perfect device for someone with little space with an eye for great design.

Zikmu

Zikmu are wireless speakers designed by Philippe Starck for Parrot. Standing at 2.5 feet tall, these speakers are an iPhone/iPod docking station with surround sound technology and a range of wireless capabilities. The two speakers, which radiate sound from both sides, can be placed anywhere in a room and work without wires. Speakers can also stream audio from mobile devices such as a PC or a Mac using Bluetooth A2DP or Wi-Fi. They also have remote control and very trendy minimalist look.

Radiofonografo

I am really excited about this though it is way out of my price range. From the Italian brand Brionvega, the 60s and 70s are back, or that at least some of the design sensibilities of the era have new life. The classic, groundbreaking Radiofonografo, divined in 1965 by two of the three Castiglioni brothers, Pier Giacomo and Achille, is making a comeback as RR226. In 1965, the 'musical component robot' was an electronic marvel that in one groovy designed device included a radio, amplifiers and a record player (for both 45s and 33s).

This modernized model also has a CD and DVD player but other than that it is as close as possible to the original. The amplifiers are moveable which makes it possible to create different configurations both for visual and listening pleasure. It was showcased at the Salone del Mobile in Milan in April, it may be a while before coming to a store near you. But like so many of the Castiglioni brothers' product marvels, still produced and/or displayed by Zanotta,Flos, Artemide and MoMA, the Radiofonografio is most likely going to stay with us for yet another long period of time.

Links: aiaiai.dk, cultofmac.com, zikmu.parrot.com, brionvega.it

Mario the Musical: Bravissimo!!!

Music Highlight: Biffy Clyro

Time for another music highlight, which I haven't done in months. After a friend asked me about the band last night I had another listen to their music and loved it more than when I had first come across them. These guys are Scottish and it shows in some of their vocal melodies. There is just something about this band that makes me want to toss it all to the wind and let life take me where it wants to. Take a listen to a few songs of theirs below.

Biffy Clyro - Bubbles


Biffy Clyro - Many of Horror (When We Collide)


Biffy Clyro - God and Satan

Galaxiki: A Collaboration of Galactic Proportions

This is pretty cool. For all of you who enjoy the creative ventures of writing, design and/or science this might just be right up your alley. At Galaxiki.org, every star, every planet, every moon is represented by a wiki page that can be edited by members of this community. The users can make changes to star systems, they can add to planets giving them an elaborate ecosystem complete with lifeforms and write stories to give more detail. One of the main goals of the site seems to be collaboration, the idea being to require users to rely on each other to make sure their solar system histories and physical characteristics are compatible and can coexistent.

There are also growing social networking features including star system ratings, comment options, bookmarks, user awards and status updates for users.

The site requires a membership signup but this is free. However, for those out there that want to create their own solar system that can't be tampered with (though that seems to be in defiance of what they are trying to create) there is an option to get your own personal system by making a donation to the site. The very idea of the site is to reply on everyone to create these fictional worlds.

I haven't really used the site myself just yet. I haven't had the time to sit down and actually give it a try., but I am very interested in doing so. I might do an update sometime in the future if I actually get involved.

link: galaxiki.org

Mini Weapons: Just What I Need For Semi-Mass Destruction

Why? Because it's awesome.

Ever wanted to launch peas from the kitchen to the living room? Or how about fire a toothpick projectile at your cat? This book looks amazing and I am not just saying that because projectile weapons are every guy's obsession... actually, yeah that's why I'm saying it. Plus, all the stuff you would use to create this miniature medieval weaponry could be classified as recycled products. If you are going to declare war on someone at least be green about it. "...the more you know."

link: www.amazon.com

Deion Sanders: He Can Sing Too? Oh, He Can't?

Did you know that one football's legends also moonlighted as an R&B star in the early 90s. He actually made it to #70 on the Top R&B Hip-Hop Albums list. Bad Lip Reading needs to do a cover of this song.

Monkey Gamers: Online Gaming Will Never Be The Same

I guess this proves that even "less-evolved" brains can play video games - this can't say much for those that boast in their thumb skills. Check out this video of a chimp playing a first person shooter (Far Cry 2). Now I love this, highly underrated, first person shooter game series, but now that I see even a monkey can do it I feel a little less compelled to enjoy it.

I don't know what this means for the future of monkeys and/or video games but here is a thought: If monkeys can be trained to shoot virtual guns what's to stop a country from training monkeys to use real guns and forming a monkey military? Should World War III come, it could end up looking a lot like a scene from Planet of the Apes.

Bad Lip Reading: Music Videos

This is both funny and genius. Just watch.



If you didn't catch on I'll just go ahead and say it: This is not the actual song or lyrics that go with the music video. Some of the comments on these videos crack me up because people don't realize this is a joke. I guess that just speaks to how well these videos are done if they can trick people into thinking they are genuine. But to be honest I like these songs they come with much better than most of the pop music they are dubbing over. This is like Weird Al for the mod-generation and done much better I might add. They have several "bad lip reading" videos on their channel but with lines like "And braid his show-dog, Tiny Timmy Tokyo... and I'm pregnant" and "Please help me down from this swing... I got my plasma sword and I'm ready to crank it!" this video is my favorite so far.

"Let's buy two big industrial windmills. I already got one. Who needs three? Well, the first one... I broke it."

Check out more at youtube.com/user/BadLipReading.

Rad To The Max: Technology

It's never too early to start making your Christmas list and this stuff is at the top of mine.


Robotic Dinosaurs

The National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology in Japan has made some really cool dino-bots. They are still far from making one that could actually be mistaken for the real thing - t T-Rex head shakes when it walks, it's very slow... rounding corners would be an issue and its skin is obviously rubber - but I still want one. Just think of how much gas you could save by riding it to work.

link: National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology


The Reactable Mixer

"...an electronic music instrument that combines a tangible tabletop interface with concepts or techniques such as modular synthesis, visual programming and visual feedback." What more do you need to usher in the music of the future? The Music Technology Group has made their mark in the music industry. This is another must for me. The idea of combining visuals with music is brilliant. It makes music tangible and that is the best way for people to learn. I am excited about this technology entering the home in the near future.



source link: Music Technology Group


Zelda Theme, Electrified

Now, I am a huge Zelda fan. I have followed the series since the beginning starting with that Christmas years ago when I got the gold special edition for the NES. After that I was hooked. I also like all things science, though I don't always understand it... always being a generous word. So, when I saw that someone had used Tesla Coils to create the original Zelda theme music I became an instant fan. That electricity would look great flying across my living room.

Monday Music Highlight: Edison Glass

These guys have been doing their thing for a few years now so it's nothing new. But if you have never heard them it's about time you check them out. These guys are music geniuses. You don't have to like their music but their understanding of composition and music theory has to be appreciated. And the drummer... if I didn't know any better I'd think he injects "perfection" and "creativity" into his arms and hands. His timing is unbelievable and he rarely skips a beat. And the bass player... well, let's just say I could write a blurb about each of their talents but I'll let the music speak for itself. I will say that their live performance is shadowed by their great work in the studio but just to watch them is worth the price of a ticket.

Interesting fact: Their name is taken from the names Thomas Edison and Philip Glass.

Check out www.indievisionmusic.com for an interview with the band.




Check out more at www.myspace.com/edisonglass

Monday... er Tuesday Music Highlight: Sarah Jarosz

So, I am still trying to get into the habit of keeping a writing schedule. So, to make up for my forgetful memory I am posting what I had intended to post yesterday.

I saw this chick a few weeks ago on Austin City Limits. I can't say I was immediately blown away by her performance. But after watching through three songs she, and her accompaniment, began to plant a seed in my mind. I could begin to hear the potential in the arrangements. By the end of her set I was scrambling through the internet trying to find all her music. I have to say her live performance is slightly lacking; it left me wanting. But her studio work is amazing. I won't say much more. I'll let this video interview say the rest.

Here are six of her songs that I think are great examples of her studio work.

Check out more at sarahjarosz.com.


On another note: I have been using Grooveshark for years now. I found it shortly after its launch. It has become my favorite online streaming player. If you don't know about it check it out. I also discovered the Grooveshark widget (music player) recently. I think they did a great job with it. Its design is simple but good and the colors are customizable to fit your site. It's also a functional player which is more than I can say for some other player widgets. I have yet to see any problems with it. If you use widgets you should definitely check it out.

Grooveshark.coom

Top Five: Toys of My Youth

I spent a half an hour today in a Toys R' Us looking for a birthday gift for my favorite soon-to-be six year old. As I was standing in one of the dozens of aisles dedicated to girls' toys I was a little overwhelmed by my options. It was a very nostalgic experience, not because I played with girl's toys as a kid, though I can't say never, but because I was a toy fanatic as a kid. But then again what kid isn't. I landed on a toy that has been a staple for all little girls since I was a kid, My Little Pony. I'm not going to lie. It's a pretty cool toy. And of course I got some Hot Wheels for her brother, a staple for all boys' toys. It was actually a lot of fun being back in a store dedicated to toys. I am a huge kid myself and if I had millions of dollars I would have a room in my house dedicated to toy collecting.

Anyway, while I was there my mind wondered back and dusted off the memories of me playing with my favorite toys as a kid. The toys from the 80s and early 90s were the best. So, I figured I would make another Top Five list of my favorite toys from my childhood.

1.) Marvel X-Men Action Figures

These were the crème de la crème of toys when I was a kid. The cartoon was on FOX kids and in full swing. I was obsessed. I still remember humming the theme song throughout the day at school. I had a fantasy of being one of the gang. Mimic was my name and my powers were the ability to change form to look like anyone. I also had the "Rogue" ability to absorb mutant powers for a short time by touching that mutant. In essence I was cheating because with these powers I could be anyone I wanted, even if only for a short period of time. And, for all you X-Men fans, yes there is already a Mimic... I didn't know that at the age of 11. But since I couldn't be Mimic I settled for the next best thing, Wolverine. You can't go wrong with adamantium claws. I remember spending hours having X-Men battles in the back yard. It was beyond epic. Marvel toys redefined the action figure with this collection.

2.) Masters of the Universe

What kid didn't like HeMan in the late 80s? Santa got generous one year and brought me, pretty much, the whole collection of toys. I remember going nuts that Christmas morning. Castle Grayskull was, by far, one of the coolest hero bases ever. It had a secret door and a falling-rock trap at the front gate. Skeletor and his minions had no chance. And even if they did ever break through, HeMan's oily muscles, stunning power sword and faithful friend Battle Cat would destroy them. I HAD THE POWER!

3.) Ninja Turtles

This was another classic toy dynasty from the early 90s. Leo, Raph, Donnie, Mikey, Splinter, April O'Neil, Shredder, Bebop and Rocksteady, the footclan, Krang, the Turtle Van, The Sewer System... the list goes on. This was one of the coolest collections of toys. The thing I remember the most were the accessories. The various weapons, vehicles and environments that were in the collection were amazing. I even had quality (plastic) replicas of the turtle's weapons so I, too, could be a turtle in my own back yard. The cartoon was fantastic as well. I remember as a kid this particular toon came on for a full hour on Saturday mornings. And for those of you who are a little younger and think the later TMNT cartoons that followed were just as good or better... you couldn't be more wrong. The TMNT cartoons to follow never did the original justice.

4.) Battle Beasts

These were some of my favorite toys. I had a million of them. They came in packages of 4 or 5, I can't remember, and they covered every animal imaginable. On the front they had a square powercell that showed one of three elements: fire, water or earth. They "activated" when you held your thumb against them for a couple seconds. These elements indicated which "team" they were on. Like the ever popular, Pokemon, of the next generation, I had to have them all.

5.) Legos

I loved Legos. I had three Lego cases full of them. But of all the Lego series out during my youth the Ice Planet collection was my favorite. I had the whole series. Just looking at the pictures bring back so many memories. The two images to the left I built on Christmas morning on the kitchen floor. It took me all morning to put the whole series together and then I spent the rest of the day playing "Ice Planet". I mined ice crystals and fought off space pirates, played by characters from the Space Minifig series. I think my parents were convinced that I would grow up to become some sort of toy engineer. I would spend hours building my own models. I won second place and got a 250 dollar Lego gift card for a lego building competition when I was 12. That was one of the biggest highlights of my youth. Alas, math would become the bane of my existence and engineering would become a less attractive avenue. Besides, I had plans to become a weatherman... that didn't happen either.

Top Five: Favorite CG Short Films

So with my new found addiction taking up a lot of my free time, as well as time that is not-so-free, my love for CG films has been rekindled. Blender has given me a whole new perspective on what goes into a film like The Incredibles. I thought I already knew so much. I had taken classes on basic animation when I was in school (studying fine art: graphic design) but I suppose I had never really taken a class purely on animation. Just modeling basic low-poly junk is tedious... but fun. I can't imagine the time and attention to detail it must take to even produce a CG short with a fully realized world. Granted, many of the larger films have massive teams of people who know all the hot-keys and shortcuts but much of the time these shorts are done with a team of three or less... even just one person at times. Seeing what goes into modeling, texture wrapping, bump mapping and rigging, among many other tasks, I see now, more than ever, how impressive these films really are. Sure they are beautiful to look at but there is beauty behind the scenes as well... and a lot of crying and temper-tantrums I am sure. So, while rekindling this love over the past few weeks I have been watching a lot of CG shorts and have come across some really good ones. These are my top five favorite CG shorts as of now.

Sigg Jones from Asterokid on Vimeo.

I lived on the Moon from Yannick Puig on Vimeo.

Cat's Meow from Jorge Garcia on Vimeo.

Pigeon Impossible (720p) from Paulo David on Vimeo.

REPLAY HD from Anthony Voisin on Vimeo.

If you would like to see more amazing CG work check out the post "10 CG Shorts You Must See" at www.3dworldmag.com. This site is great for keeping up with what's new in CG.

Epic Meal Time: I'd Eat That

I found these guys last year in the fall and have been following them since. Despite the thousands of calories, the large amounts of liquor and bacon strips, bacon strips, bacon strips... I still never fail to get hungry watching them. I would eat anything they make. I would probably regret it later but, yeah, I would eat it. You know you have made something special when you "about to get drunk off pancakes".

Check out more at www.epicmealtime.com or check out their Youtube Channel.

Firefly: One Of The Best

I am currently rewatching Firefly and the short-lived, fourteen episode, series never seems to get old no matter how many time I watch it through. Its so frustrating to think that a great series could get canceled when there is so much crap on television. Makes me wonder what the studios are thinking. Are they really trying to please the viewing audience? Firefly is one of the lamented cancellations in the television's history. Captain Reynolds and his dis-functional crew had so many more stories to tell.

If you have never seen the series I suggest giving the first episode a try. If you are a fan of westerns, space adventures and witty writing you'll love it. Check out the first episode Serenity on Hulu.com.

Monday Music Highlight: States

In this music post I am going to highlight a band that is a phoenix from the ashes of two bands that have made huge impressions on my own music. Those bands are Copeland and Lydia. I was sad to see the end of Lydia and even more upset (understatement) to see the demise of Copeland. But there is redemption in the form of a brilliant new sound coming from a new band called States. This collaboration is made of former guitarists, and brothers, Bryan and Stephen Laurenson (Copeland) and vocalist and keyboardist Mindy White (Lydia).

Line 'Em Up is their first release and is already making its way to the top of playlists. Anxious seems to be the flag ship song garnering the most exposure but the rest of the EP is not to be skipped over. In fact there is very little criticism to be had with this first release. Line 'Em Up is a solid introduction for a band with a great deal of potential.

www.statesmusic.com



Here is their song Anxious. Check out the rest of their EP on www.myspace.com/states.

Fighting Robots: The Future Is Here

Robots fighting robots... what more could one ask for? There was a time when Battlebots was gaining popularity but it has since lost its appeal. However, these robots, perhaps because of their human form, are redefining the tech-sport of bot battling. I wish we were this cool in the states. I doubt this would ever really catch on here unless we could make the robots say f*@#, bleed profusely and/or have sex in between matches. For now I'll have to settle for videos on Youtube.

Most of the time these robots fall over and flop around like a fish out of water and yet I am still compelled to watch. Though, every now and then they do pull off some really cool moves. I read that the robot engineers that create these "fight-bots" are having to renovate their designs about every six months to keep up with the increasing pace of the evolution of technology. That is intense. I can't imagine how much money these people must be sinking into such a relatively ridiculous activity but as long as they do I'll be watching.

You can see more at www.robots-dreams.com.

Psych: "Are You A Fan Of Delicious Flavor?"

Psych is one my all-time favorite shows. I currently have seasons one through three on DVD and still haven't gotten tired of watching them.

Imagine Sherlock Holmes, in the present century, with a sharp wit, a generous knowledge of obscure 80s trivia, a great attention for detail and a Dr. Watson side kick who isn't actually a doctor but rather a pharmaceutical salesman moonlighting as his partner in anti-crime. Oh, and did I mention he owns a fake psychic detective agency?

This is by far the best show on the USA network and definitely one of the best shows on-air. I haven't come across an episode yet that didn't make me laugh. The writing is clever, the story lines are fun and the characters are diverse and work so well together. Basically, this show has it all.

Check out episode clips, reviews and character profiles, even quiz yourself on Psych trivia, at www.usanetwork.com.

Read what others have to say about Psych at www.tv.com.

Starcraft II: Blizzard Does It Again

So after a year of dragging my feet I finally got wise and bought Blizzard's StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty and I don't regret shelling out the 60 bones at all for this gem of a game. I may not be worthy of the title "gamer" but I am no stranger to the work of Blizzard Entertainment, I have spent many hours slaughtering the Horde, and this might just be the best title Blizzard has ever released. This is definitely a must for real-time strategy gamers. Those of you who don't give it at least a four out of five stars need to get your heads examined. Whether you are a casual or obsessive gamer StarCraft II does very little to disappoint.

"While it's not a revolutionary game, it is one of the most fully featured, expertly designed, and impressively refined real-time strategy experiences on the market. "

IGN, StarCraft II Wings of Liberty Review

Check out IGN's full review of Starcraft II: Wings of Liberty.

www.ign.com

www.blizzard.com