Posts Tagged save the humans
Better Not Suck: SKYLINE, Aliens have Converted Dyson’s Bagless-Technology into Human-Sucking Motherships. Uh Oh.
Posted by mistergroonk in Movies, One Sheets, Trailers on November 12, 2010
Official Synopsis
After a night of partying, a group of friends are distracted when beams of light awaken everyone in Los Angeles, that then attract every person like a moth to a flame. As the night progresses, they soon discover that once exposed to the light, they vanish into thin air, caused by extraterrestrial forces that later threaten to swallow the entire human species.
What We Learned: Somebody must have put the kibosh on using scientist Stephen Hawking‘s theories on alien civilizations as a clever marketing campaign. Canon: gets the clearest pictures of what our future alien overlords want to do with us. Fast cars won’t outrun the alien apocalypse. Don’t go into the light, Clarice.
Why We’ll Watch: You may or may not have noticed, faithful reader, that there are some creative projects on which we’re not sure how the final product will play out. Sure that trailer, concept art, or plot synopsis looks good but did that goodness translate into the finished piece? We’ve surreptitiously marked such posts with the tag ‘better not suck.’
From the SKYLINE trailer we perceive three possibilities.
1) It’ll be a fun, romp and stomp us against them action piece.
2) It’s a treatise on the effects of the “limelight” on large swaths of humanity. Bear with us on this. SKYLINE’s focus is on L.A. The hometown of super stardom. The Hollywood Machine(aliens) hovers down and selects(abducts) the precious few to become part of their special collective.
3) It’ll suck.
We’re hoping it’s the first choice. The second choice we’ll leave for our thesis paper.
When’s it coming? November 12, 2010. That’s right. Today!
Official site: http://www.iamrogue.com/skyline
International Trailer for BATTLE:LOS ANGELES Awesomer than US Version, Teases with Story
Posted by mistergroonk in Movies, One Sheets, Trailers on November 12, 2010
Official Synopsis
For years, there have been documented cases of UFO sightings around the world – Buenos Aires, Seoul, France, Germany, China. But in 2011, what were once just sightings will become a terrifying reality when Earth is attacked by unknown forces. As people everywhere watch the world’s great cities fall, Los Angeles becomes the last stand for mankind in a battle no one expected. It’s up to a Marine staff sergeant (Aaron Eckhart) and his new platoon to draw a line in the sand as they take on an enemy unlike any they’ve ever encountered before.
What We Learned: Aliens have been watching/testing us for decades. They’ve judged us weak. Now they’ve come to collect whatever it is aliens want from a human infested planet.
Why We’ll Watch: We were doing our damndest to wait to talk about BATTLE:LOS ANGELES. The entire movie Internet has been chattering through our Twitters all morning about the short teaser. It was easy to ignore until Collider hit us with the international trailer provided by Omelete.
For once, the traditional approach to movie trailers wins out over some avant garde direction. This is a trailer in which we can sink our eye-teeth. There’s a quick skim of the plot. There’s actual dialogue. There’s some explanation on why Los Angeles is so damn important to become the title of the film.
Although we remain weary of any film that features L.A. as the last line of defense against our future alien overlords.*
When’s it coming?
March 11, 2011
Official sites:
Check it out. The viral marketing is strong in this one.
http://battlela.com/
http://reportthreats.org/site/
http://www.facebook.com/ReportThreats
http://www.youtube.com/ReportThreats
http://twitter.com/#!/ReportThreats
Under the cut lay the US version. Feel free to compare and contrast.
Read the rest of this entry »
Internet Flips Out Over The Simpsons “Banksy Opening.” Ignores Third World Unicorn Torture.
Posted by mistergroonk in Animation, World on October 11, 2010
For the first time, in a long time(Rule 77), people are talking about The Simpsons favorably. In this very serious couch gag directed by Banksy(seen below) we see some Banksy tags, an animation crew, sweatshop, a clothing sweatshop, and a DVD sweatshop featuring panda whippings, a beheaded dolphin and unicorn torture.
But the entirety of the Internet is focusing on is one word. Congratulations, Banksy. You are now the only story.
And, thank you, Internet. You’ve turned mild admiration over Banksy’s antics into flat out disinterest into anything he does.
Some one has to speak for the last unicorn DVD hole-punching in the 3rd world.
Also, those pesky over-worked humans.
Cool Car: Acrimoto, the Green Car of Your Future. Nathan Fillion Approved!
Posted by mistergroonk in Technology, The Future on September 20, 2010
The folks at Arcimoto would like to sell you a three-wheeled car. You know. The Future as depicted in that mediocre movie everyone feels so proud to quote whenever future-tech is made real in the 21st century.
On August 12 he crashed our servers when he tweeted to the world (or at least the 600,000 of them that follow him on Twitter) about our vehicle. Just a week later, Actor Nathan Fillion and Castle co-star Jon Huertas flew up to our little city of Eugene early Saturday to kick the tires and take our latest prototype out on the road.
Browncoats and Castle fans are familiar with the driver and rider of the Arcimoto pictured above. Check out Fillion’s Yfrog photostream if you want more photos of a celebrity showboating prototype green cars. You’ll have to scan back about a month from this post.
Below the jump, see Captain Tightpants’ video of the Arcimoto Tron’d out.
Overload: Awesome Reddit is Awesome. Gets a Thank You from Stephen Colbert.
Posted by mistergroonk in Digital Share, Intertube Madness, Interviews, Just Freaking Neat, USA on September 17, 2010
Reddit has been in our heart for just a few months. That’s a short time by meatspace standards. But it’s ancient by virtual reckoning. Reddit has remained “sticky” for us where Digg failed a long time ago. Also, we’re hard pressed to recall a time when Digg users did something this awesome.
The idea of the Colbert Rally came about when, on August 28th, a Pink-Faced Half-Wit decided to rally his troops congregation followers in Washington, DC. Just what they’re riled-up about remains unclear to our logic. But that’s not important.
What is important is that some grand Redditor posited the idea that “Colbert needs to hold a satirical rally in DC.” This idea snowballed on the Internets into ColbertRally.com.
This ball continued to roll downhill until The Daily Show and Colbert Report returned from their week break. Internet continued to push, as only the Internet can, to make the Restore Truthiness to become a reality.
In the meantime, Reddit formed a charity to Restore Truthiness to the Classroom. It’s goal: raise $500,00 USD by October 1, 2010. As of this posting it’s raised $237, 873 USD. Not bad. Not bad at all. (If you wish to donate just go to: http://www.colbertrally.com/donate )
Mr Colbert was so moved by the amount of money raised for USA schools that he thanked Reddit with this verified and sweet note.
Dear Redditors,
Ever since the visit of one of your Dear Leaders, Alexis “kn0thing” Ohanian, my inbox has been orangered with pleas to “Restore Truthiness.” The track record of your hivemind speaks for itself. Mr. Splashypants got a name. You rescued Soapier. You frightened the sweet-and-sour Jesus out of a 90-year-old man on his birthday. Despite how silly and nonsexual reddit can be, your true colors show when someone is in need.
I almost had a pregnant when I saw what you had done at DonorsChoose.org for classrooms around the country. I am humbled and honored (a rare combination for me), and find myself wishing there was a Look of Approval.
You have inspired me by helping untold thousands of students; with the momentum you’ve created, we could stage a hundred rallies. I might just call on you, Redditors – for nothing is more terrifying than tens of thousands of Heroes taking to the streets with the faint odor of bacon wafting behind them. Except for bears, obviously.One huge upvote for you.
Sir Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, DFA
And he sent, Alexis Ohanian, Reddit co-founder, an photo of thanks.
Now, as of September 16, 2010, all the papers have been signed and the announcements have been made. On October 30, 2010, the “Jon Stewart – Rally to Restore Sanity” and the “Stephen Colbert – March to Keep Fear Alive!” will come to Washington, DC.
Raising money for schools. Being the voice of reason in the night. Raising awareness of other reasonable voices.
That’s Reddit. Helping people.
Links to all the official sites we could muster and a Big Think interview with Alexis Ohanian on how Reddit has used its powers for awesome(before the recent happenings) lay below the cut.
WATCH: David McCandless Talk the Beauty of Data Visualization. “Data is the New Soil”
Posted by mistergroonk in Art, Comics, Intertube Madness, Just Freaking Neat, Marketing on September 17, 2010
Here we present to you a delightful TED talk featuring journalist/programmer Davd McCandless.
When David McCandless began speaking of combing the language of the eye with the language of the mind the obvious connection came to us.
“It’s two languages working together at the same time.”
This is something comics readers have known forever. It’s no accident that data visualization works as a simple, yet complex, way to get useful information across efficiently.
Below the jump, some info-graphics featured in the TED Talk that stirred our curiosity.
Robot WTF: Georgia Tech Engineers Teach Robots to Lie. When the End Comes, the Blame Falls There.
Posted by mistergroonk in Robots on September 13, 2010
Here’s a bedtime story your children will tell their children in order to scare them silly.
engineers from the Georgia Institute of Technology have constructed a bot that not only dupes its competitors, but actively lies, cheats, hides and steals to accomplish its treacherous goals. According to Tech’s Ronald Arkin, the group of scientists “developed algorithms that allow a robot to determine whether it should deceive a human or other intelligent machines,” while also developing ” techniques that help the robot select the best deceptive strategy to reduce its chance of being discovered.”
Basically, when being pursued or tracked by an enemy, the running-robot recognizes the threatening situation, sends false signals and forges a trail in one direction before doubling back to hide. During tests, the stealth-bot successfully eluded its tracker 75-percent of the time. While the benefits seem numerous, particularly the potential for dispatching covert communications, Arkin claims to recognize the project’s “ethical implications” and “deleterious aspects.”
And yet, they did it anyway. When you look up “foolhardy” in future dictionaries you won’t find a damn thing. Because the robots will have destroyed all the dictionaries and the humans that made them.
Stephen Hawking Ruffles Feathers and Remains Future-Fearful
Posted by mistergroonk in Books, Interviews, Space, The Future on September 2, 2010
Earlier this morning for some reason, Stephen Hawking upset some people with his Burly Man words.
Stephen Hawking says universe not created by God
God did not create the universe, the man who is arguably Britain’s most famous living scientist says in a forthcoming book.In the new work, The Grand Design, Professor Stephen Hawking argues that the Big Bang, rather than occurring following the intervention of a divine being, was inevitable due to the law of gravity.
In his 1988 book, A Brief History of Time, Hawking had seemed to accept the role of God in the creation of the universe. But in the new text, co-written with American physicist Leonard Mlodinow, he said new theories showed a creator is “not necessary”.
Stephen Hawking just declared that Gravity is God!
See what we did there?
We have some notes for those so ready to jump on Professor Hawking’s words and shout across the world because you think you need to be heard, too.
Religious right. Calm down. Just because one brilliant scientist aired his beliefs about the universe and everything in it does not mean it invalidates your faith in whatever. Not everyone has to believe what you believe for it to be valid.
Atheists. Settle down. The universe, and multi-verse, is a big place. It’s where we keep all our stuff. There’s no need to get all culty, know-it-all, froth at the mouth and point fingers while dancing the I-told-you-so dance. There’s bound to be something out there that challenges you straight to your mortal core. Want to lay odds on that thing being unexplainable?
There’s no reason for science and religion to exist separately. Others far wiser than our humble self have postulated on this. We don’t have it all figured out any more than you. (Though at times you’d be hard pressed to believe that.) There’s no filling a cup that’s already full. (Stop those snarky typing fingers. That phrase did exist before James Cameron thought to throw it into AVATAR. )
Are your feathers unruffled now? Good.
Now look below to let Stephen Hawking freak-out your future.
The Solar System in 30 Megapixels. Beautiful. Stunning.
Posted by mistergroonk in Art, On the French, Space on August 29, 2010
French Artist Licoti has created an amazingly detailed piece of art depicting our solar system. The file, which you can download for free here, is 30,000 pixels wide and weighs in at a whopping 18megs.
Man Punches Polar Bear in Nose, Survives. Gets Handshake.
Posted by mistergroonk in Animals, Interviews on August 16, 2010
Most days, the bear gets you. Last July, Wes Werbowy got the bear.
“The bear was like an apparition,” he said. “There was no beginning of the movement; there was no subtlety. It was ‘Vroomp!’ [and] he was there.
“The front of my tent is collapsed inward, and his nose is about two feet from my face.”
If Werbowy’s situation was not already dire enough, he said the polar bear was standing on his firearm, which he had left at the front of his now-collapsed tent.
So Werbowy said he did what an Inuit elder once told him to do: punch the polar bear in the nose.
Every story, from now on, must include onomatopoeia.
This guy is full of life and anecdotes.
“My uncle fought a bear three times,” Enuapik told The Canadian Press. “The three encounters he had with a bear, he always would punch its nose. It’s the most sensitive part of the polar bear.”
Don’t take our word for it. Have a listen to his story in this CBC News interview.
Honestly, we can’t get enough of his words.
“I do not have a scratch, and the bear is alive. We didn’t have to kill him,” he said. “It was a win-win-win all the way around.”
Triple win, indeed. In the interview, Werbowy mentions telling an elder. of what he did. The elder replied that. “it was a good thing he did. That bear will never bother another human again.”
via cbc news
Welcome to my Boards
Hijinks Ensue- My Car Is Smashed June 14, 2016
- Nomad Tofu
- trying to remember how to draw and it’s... January 13, 2021
- Octopus Pie
- Octopus Pie 2007-2017 March 4, 2021
- Pitch Black
- Karloff May 30, 2019
- XKCD
- Manage Your Preferences March 3, 2021
Look Closer
- Counting Down the Hours
- Recipe: Adam's Texas-Style Chili November 25, 2020
- PENINSULA on Blu-Ray! November 18, 2020
- Geeks of Doom
- Interview: Jordan Graham, Writer/Director Of Horror Film ‘Sator’ Dr. Zaius
- Book Review: Siri, Who Am I? by Sam Tschida Empress Eve
- Audiobook Review: From A Certain Point Of View: The Empire Strikes Back (Star Wars) FunWithDeadTrees
- Top 10 Horror Films Of 2020 (Danny “Dr. Zaius” Torkel’s Picks) Dr. Zaius
- Letters of Note
- Live a life worth living March 1, 2021
- I have the best mother in the world January 18, 2021
- Naked Imagination
- The Old Man December 10, 2012
- When the eyes close December 10, 2012
- Nick Holmes
- Aspire to awesomeness. Long live the King. October 31, 2020
- Aspire to awesomeness. April 6, 2020
- Warren Ellis
- home August 13, 2020
- Wil Wheaton
- and …. breathe January 20, 2021
- we are so close. he is almost gone. January 12, 2021
