Wahlberg to star in Shyamalan film
'Happening' set to happen June 2008
By MICHAEL FLEMING
Mark Wahlberg has been set to star in 20th Century Fox thriller "The Happening," which M. Night Shyamalan will direct in August in Philadelphia.
Fox has carved out plans to release the film with a day-and-date worldwide bow on Friday, June 13, 2008.
"Friday the 13th has very distinctive, global connotations, which make it the ideal launching pad for this frightening thriller," 20th domestic distribution president Bruce Snyder said in a statement.
Wahlberg will play a man who takes his family on the run when a cataclysmic natural crisis threatens to end the world.
Shyamalan set a spec deal for the spooky apocalyptic pic at the studio earlier this month (Daily Variety, March 7).
When he made the deal, Shyamalan brought back his "Unbreakable" and "Sixth Sense" producer Barry Mendel to produce with Sam Mercer. He also brought with him a co-financier in India-based UTV, which committed 50% of the film's $57 million budget, with Fox distributing worldwide except in India.
When Shyamalan made his deal with Fox, he'd already been making inroads to get Wahlberg aboard the film.
"Mark has a unique blend of charisma, humanity, authenticity and skillfulness as an actor," Shyamalan said, "all of which coalesced at this moment in his career, making him the perfect person to take on the role of Eliot Moore, the science teacher at the center of this event."
The actor, who just opened in "Shooter," is also getting in the ring with Matt Damon and director Darren Aronofsky on Paramount film "The Fighter."
Pic is the third that UTV has recently co-financed at the studio, after the Mira Nair-directed "The Namesake," and the Chris Rock starrer "I Think I Love My Wife," both distributed by Fox Searchlight.
March 30, 2007
March 8, 2007
Super-Close Google Maps Zooms
Super-Close Google Maps Zooms: "Super-Close Google Maps Zooms
Holy moly that is a close up zoom of a camel (see my screenshot above) – and it works for other place on Google Maps too! Yes, it turns out that you can zoom in much more deeply onto Google Maps by doing this:
Select a location and switch to satellite view
Zoom in as far as you can, and click “link to this page” at the top right
Now replace the “z” parameter in the URL with a higher value, e.g. 20, 22, or 23, and wait. Some locations will now show more detailed imagery
The French Ecrans website and Geotrotter have more on this.
What fun images can you find? Please post screenshots.
Playing water ping pong.
It seems he’s looking into the camera, actually.
This is a rare zoom level 23, almost (already?) creating privacy issues people joked about earlier.
Nobody’s in the Googleplex pool.
Relaxing at the beach.
[Thanks Frank Fuchs!]
Update: Some of the images are from Google’s Australia Day 2007 fly-over snapshots and already show this detail at level 19. This is however not the case with the desert image, and the Googleplex pool..."
Holy moly that is a close up zoom of a camel (see my screenshot above) – and it works for other place on Google Maps too! Yes, it turns out that you can zoom in much more deeply onto Google Maps by doing this:
Select a location and switch to satellite view
Zoom in as far as you can, and click “link to this page” at the top right
Now replace the “z” parameter in the URL with a higher value, e.g. 20, 22, or 23, and wait. Some locations will now show more detailed imagery
The French Ecrans website and Geotrotter have more on this.
What fun images can you find? Please post screenshots.
Playing water ping pong.
It seems he’s looking into the camera, actually.
This is a rare zoom level 23, almost (already?) creating privacy issues people joked about earlier.
Nobody’s in the Googleplex pool.
Relaxing at the beach.
[Thanks Frank Fuchs!]
Update: Some of the images are from Google’s Australia Day 2007 fly-over snapshots and already show this detail at level 19. This is however not the case with the desert image, and the Googleplex pool..."
SwayNet.net » iTunes for Weapons of Mass Destruction?
SwayNet.net » iTunes for Weapons of Mass Destruction?:
"iTunes for Weapons of Mass Destruction? Posted on Wednesday 7 March 2007
I came across from a friend that in the End User License Agreement for the popular music player software iTunes from Apple, that there is a strange clause stating that the software may not be used for the production of weapons of mass destruction. My current version of iTunes (6.x) needed updating to 7.1 so I thought it would give me a chance to investigate to confirm this, and it indeed did say that.
An exerpt from the EULA is below:
“10. Export Control. You may not use or otherwise export or reexport the Apple Software except as authorized by United States law and the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Apple Software was obtained. In particular, but without limitation, the Apple Software may not be exported or re-exported (a) into any U.S. embargoed countries or (b) to anyone on the U.S. Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Nationals or the U.S. Department of Commerce Denied Person’s List or Entity List. By using the Apple Software, you represent and warrant that you are not located in any such country or on any such list. You also agree that you will not use these products for any purposes prohibited by United States law, including, without limitation, the development, design, manufacture or production of missiles, or nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.”
Strange, eh? See for yourself if you don’t believe me. Their official EULA can be found in PDF format at the following link: http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/itunes.pdf
So, who is the first one willing to breach the EULA to make their first weapon of mass destruction using iTunes?
~Sway"
"iTunes for Weapons of Mass Destruction? Posted on Wednesday 7 March 2007
I came across from a friend that in the End User License Agreement for the popular music player software iTunes from Apple, that there is a strange clause stating that the software may not be used for the production of weapons of mass destruction. My current version of iTunes (6.x) needed updating to 7.1 so I thought it would give me a chance to investigate to confirm this, and it indeed did say that.
An exerpt from the EULA is below:
“10. Export Control. You may not use or otherwise export or reexport the Apple Software except as authorized by United States law and the laws of the jurisdiction in which the Apple Software was obtained. In particular, but without limitation, the Apple Software may not be exported or re-exported (a) into any U.S. embargoed countries or (b) to anyone on the U.S. Treasury Department’s list of Specially Designated Nationals or the U.S. Department of Commerce Denied Person’s List or Entity List. By using the Apple Software, you represent and warrant that you are not located in any such country or on any such list. You also agree that you will not use these products for any purposes prohibited by United States law, including, without limitation, the development, design, manufacture or production of missiles, or nuclear, chemical or biological weapons.”
Strange, eh? See for yourself if you don’t believe me. Their official EULA can be found in PDF format at the following link: http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/itunes.pdf
So, who is the first one willing to breach the EULA to make their first weapon of mass destruction using iTunes?
~Sway"
March 4, 2007
FOXNews.com - Stargazers Take in Lunar Eclipse Across World - Science News | Current Articles
I got to see this tonight at the Summit / Cheesecake parking lot! pretty cool... Lasted from about 6:10 - 8ish (I got too cold.) I snapped a few pictures which I'll post here when I get them... There was about 5 cars parked around for our little viewing...
Josh
FOXNews.com - Stargazers Take in Lunar Eclipse Across World - Science News Current Articles: "Stargazers Take in Lunar Eclipse Across World
Saturday, March 03, 2007
March 3: The moon during an eclipse as seen from Germany.A dark red shadow crept across the moon Saturday during the first total lunar eclipse in nearly three years, thrilling stargazers and astronomers around the world.
Partly visible on every continent, residents of Europe, Africa and the Middle East had the best view of the phenomenon, weather permitting.
About a dozen people gathered at the Croydon Observatory in southeast London to watch the start of the eclipse.
'It's starting to go!' said Alex Gikas, 8, a Cub Scout who was studying for his astronomy badge. 'I've never seen anything like it before. I'm really excited.'
The eclipse was clearly visible, thanks to clear, crisp weather in southern England.
Lunar eclipses occur when Earth passes between the sun and the moon, an uncommon event because the moon spends most of its time either above or below the plane of Earth's orbit."
Josh
FOXNews.com - Stargazers Take in Lunar Eclipse Across World - Science News Current Articles: "Stargazers Take in Lunar Eclipse Across World
Saturday, March 03, 2007
March 3: The moon during an eclipse as seen from Germany.A dark red shadow crept across the moon Saturday during the first total lunar eclipse in nearly three years, thrilling stargazers and astronomers around the world.
Partly visible on every continent, residents of Europe, Africa and the Middle East had the best view of the phenomenon, weather permitting.
About a dozen people gathered at the Croydon Observatory in southeast London to watch the start of the eclipse.
'It's starting to go!' said Alex Gikas, 8, a Cub Scout who was studying for his astronomy badge. 'I've never seen anything like it before. I'm really excited.'
The eclipse was clearly visible, thanks to clear, crisp weather in southern England.
Lunar eclipses occur when Earth passes between the sun and the moon, an uncommon event because the moon spends most of its time either above or below the plane of Earth's orbit."
March 3, 2007
FOXNews.com - Swiss Troops Accidentally Invade Liechtenstein - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News
Too funny... You guys might notice its about half serious here... I love weird stuff. Liechtenstien is one of the smallest countries in the world. They have no army and they struggle each year to get up enough people for a national soccer team...
Josh
From WIKIPEDIA:
The Principality of Liechtenstein (German: Fürstentum Liechtenstein) is a very small, doubly-landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to its west and by Austria to its east. Mountainous, it is a winter sports resort, although it is perhaps best known as a tax haven. Despite this, it is not heavily urbanized (in the way that the Principality of Monaco and Gibraltar are). Many cultivated fields and little farms characterize its landscape both in the north (Oberland) and in the south (Unterland). Not only is it the smallest German-speaking country in the world, but also it is the only German-speaking country besides Luxembourg to have a Royal head of state.
FOXNews.com - Swiss Troops Accidentally Invade Liechtenstein - International News News of the World Middle East News Europe News:
"ZURICH, Switzerland — What began as a routine training exercise almost ended in an embarrassing diplomatic incident after a company of Swiss soldiers got lost at night and marched into neighboring Liechtenstein.
According to Swiss daily Blick, the 170 infantry soldiers from the neutral country wandered more than a mile across an unmarked border into the tiny principality early Thursday before realizing their mistake and turning back.
A spokesman for the Swiss army confirmed the story, but said that there were unlikely to be any serious repercussions for the mistaken invasion.
'We've spoken to the authorities in Liechtenstein and it's not a problem,' Daniel Reist told The Associated Press on Friday.
Officials in Liechtenstein also played down the incident.
Interior Ministry spokesman Markus Amman said nobody in Liechtenstein had even noticed the soldiers, who were carrying assault rifles but no ammunition. 'It's not like they stormed over here with attack helicopters or something,' he said.
Liechtenstein, which has about 34,000 inhabitants and is slightly smaller than Washington, D.C., does not have an army."
Josh
From WIKIPEDIA:
The Principality of Liechtenstein (German: Fürstentum Liechtenstein) is a very small, doubly-landlocked country in Central Europe, bordered by Switzerland to its west and by Austria to its east. Mountainous, it is a winter sports resort, although it is perhaps best known as a tax haven. Despite this, it is not heavily urbanized (in the way that the Principality of Monaco and Gibraltar are). Many cultivated fields and little farms characterize its landscape both in the north (Oberland) and in the south (Unterland). Not only is it the smallest German-speaking country in the world, but also it is the only German-speaking country besides Luxembourg to have a Royal head of state.
FOXNews.com - Swiss Troops Accidentally Invade Liechtenstein - International News News of the World Middle East News Europe News:
"ZURICH, Switzerland — What began as a routine training exercise almost ended in an embarrassing diplomatic incident after a company of Swiss soldiers got lost at night and marched into neighboring Liechtenstein.
According to Swiss daily Blick, the 170 infantry soldiers from the neutral country wandered more than a mile across an unmarked border into the tiny principality early Thursday before realizing their mistake and turning back.
A spokesman for the Swiss army confirmed the story, but said that there were unlikely to be any serious repercussions for the mistaken invasion.
'We've spoken to the authorities in Liechtenstein and it's not a problem,' Daniel Reist told The Associated Press on Friday.
Officials in Liechtenstein also played down the incident.
Interior Ministry spokesman Markus Amman said nobody in Liechtenstein had even noticed the soldiers, who were carrying assault rifles but no ammunition. 'It's not like they stormed over here with attack helicopters or something,' he said.
Liechtenstein, which has about 34,000 inhabitants and is slightly smaller than Washington, D.C., does not have an army."
Bush visits school devastated by twister - Yahoo! News
Bush visits school devastated by twister - Yahoo! News:
"Bush visits school devastated by twister By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
34 minutes ago
ENTERPRISE, Ala. - On a mournful mission, President Bush climbed over piles of concrete, roofing, insulation, broken glass and textbooks Saturday that littered Enterprise High School, battered by a tornado that killed eight students.
Down hallway three, lined by blue lockers, he went in private, the corridor where the students died and scores more were trapped in Thursday's storm. The president also saw the wing — now just rubble — where students had hunkered down as the tornado approached.
'Today I have walked through devastation that is hard to describe,' he said, standing with students, one of whom had a tear running down her face. 'Our thoughts go out to the students who perished. Thank God for hundreds who lived,' he said."
"Bush visits school devastated by twister By DEB RIECHMANN, Associated Press Writer
34 minutes ago
ENTERPRISE, Ala. - On a mournful mission, President Bush climbed over piles of concrete, roofing, insulation, broken glass and textbooks Saturday that littered Enterprise High School, battered by a tornado that killed eight students.
Down hallway three, lined by blue lockers, he went in private, the corridor where the students died and scores more were trapped in Thursday's storm. The president also saw the wing — now just rubble — where students had hunkered down as the tornado approached.
'Today I have walked through devastation that is hard to describe,' he said, standing with students, one of whom had a tear running down her face. 'Our thoughts go out to the students who perished. Thank God for hundreds who lived,' he said."
March 1, 2007
Blogger on Ice - washingtonpost.com
This is a broad human rights violation... Please read this and visit the site. This is one of the freedoms that we in America enjoy, yet take for granted; The freedom of speech. In most other countries this is what happens when you dare to voice your opinion....
Blogger on Ice - washingtonpost.com:
"Blogger on Ice
Once again Egypt's Hosni Mubarak shows zero tolerance for a secular democratic dissenter.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007; Page A18
THE BUSH administration has tolerated Egypt's brutal crackdown on domestic dissent and the broader reversal of its democratic spring of 2005 in part because President Hosni Mubarak argues that his adversaries are dangerous Islamic extremists. It's true that the largest opposition movement in Egypt is the Muslim Brotherhood; how dangerous it is can be debated. But what is overlooked is that Mr. Mubarak reserves his most relentless repression not for the Islamists -- who hold a fifth of the seats in parliament -- but for the secular democrats who fight for free elections, a free press, rights for women and religious tolerance.
The latest case in point is a blogger named Abdel Kareem Nabil Soliman, who was sentenced to four years in prison last week on charges of religious incitement, disrupting public order and 'insulting the president.' A brave and provocative 22-year-old student, Mr. Soliman first achieved notice with postings that denounced riots in Alexandria directed at Egypt's Christian Copt minority. He said the brutality he witnessed was the result of extremist Islamic teachings, in part by his own university, Al-Azhar, which he called 'the other face of al-Qaeda.' He compared the prophet Muhammad to Israel's Ariel Sharon. And he said Mr. Mubarak was a 'symbol of tyranny.'"
Blogger on Ice - washingtonpost.com:
"Blogger on Ice
Once again Egypt's Hosni Mubarak shows zero tolerance for a secular democratic dissenter.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007; Page A18
THE BUSH administration has tolerated Egypt's brutal crackdown on domestic dissent and the broader reversal of its democratic spring of 2005 in part because President Hosni Mubarak argues that his adversaries are dangerous Islamic extremists. It's true that the largest opposition movement in Egypt is the Muslim Brotherhood; how dangerous it is can be debated. But what is overlooked is that Mr. Mubarak reserves his most relentless repression not for the Islamists -- who hold a fifth of the seats in parliament -- but for the secular democrats who fight for free elections, a free press, rights for women and religious tolerance.
The latest case in point is a blogger named Abdel Kareem Nabil Soliman, who was sentenced to four years in prison last week on charges of religious incitement, disrupting public order and 'insulting the president.' A brave and provocative 22-year-old student, Mr. Soliman first achieved notice with postings that denounced riots in Alexandria directed at Egypt's Christian Copt minority. He said the brutality he witnessed was the result of extremist Islamic teachings, in part by his own university, Al-Azhar, which he called 'the other face of al-Qaeda.' He compared the prophet Muhammad to Israel's Ariel Sharon. And he said Mr. Mubarak was a 'symbol of tyranny.'"
A Christmas 2008 gift for Trekkies - Yahoo! News
News for nerds... Hey, I'm excited!
Josh
A Christmas 2008 gift for Trekkies - Yahoo! News:
"LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Captain's log: December 25, 2008.
Paramount Pictures has set a Christmas Day 2008 release date for the 11th 'Star Trek' feature, to be filmed by 'Mission: Impossible III' director J.J. Abrams. Shooting will begin in the fall, Paramount said Tuesday.
The screenplay, from 'M:I 3' scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, is said to follow James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock during their Starfleet Academy years and into their first space mission.
The previous film in the series, the 2002 box office bomb, 'Star Trek: Nemesis,' was directed by Stuart Baird, and starred Patrick Stewart.LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Captain's log: December 25, 2008.
Paramount Pictures has set a Christmas Day 2008 release date for the 11th 'Star Trek' feature, to be filmed by 'Mission: Impossible III' director J.J. Abrams. Shooting will begin in the fall, Paramount said Tuesday.
The screenplay, from 'M:I 3' scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, is said to follow James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock during their Starfleet Academy years and into their first space mission.
The previous film in the series, the 2002 box office bomb, 'Star Trek: Nemesis,' was directed by Stuart Baird, and starred Patrick Stewart."
Josh
A Christmas 2008 gift for Trekkies - Yahoo! News:
"LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Captain's log: December 25, 2008.
Paramount Pictures has set a Christmas Day 2008 release date for the 11th 'Star Trek' feature, to be filmed by 'Mission: Impossible III' director J.J. Abrams. Shooting will begin in the fall, Paramount said Tuesday.
The screenplay, from 'M:I 3' scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, is said to follow James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock during their Starfleet Academy years and into their first space mission.
The previous film in the series, the 2002 box office bomb, 'Star Trek: Nemesis,' was directed by Stuart Baird, and starred Patrick Stewart.LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Captain's log: December 25, 2008.
Paramount Pictures has set a Christmas Day 2008 release date for the 11th 'Star Trek' feature, to be filmed by 'Mission: Impossible III' director J.J. Abrams. Shooting will begin in the fall, Paramount said Tuesday.
The screenplay, from 'M:I 3' scribes Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, is said to follow James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock during their Starfleet Academy years and into their first space mission.
The previous film in the series, the 2002 box office bomb, 'Star Trek: Nemesis,' was directed by Stuart Baird, and starred Patrick Stewart."
Test Tube Aliens: Gadget of the Week - Popular Mechanics
Test Tube Aliens: Gadget of the Week - Popular Mechanics:
"Test Tube Aliens: Gadget of the Week
Finally, a toy that invites children to explore the nature of cruelty. In fact, Electronic Test Tube Aliens ($15) are either the most cynical and ill-conceived toys on the market, or the world's first truly existential toy. The story is simple: There's an alien invasion on, and you get to be a collaborator by taking care of a Wi-Fi-enabled, battery-powered alien adoptee. Three of the aliens are good and three are evil; whether yours is good or evil has no bearing on how your creature will behave, since these test-tube babies can't fight each other or really do anything. Except die. In fact, that's their specialty.
Each alien comes in a white egg ..."
"Test Tube Aliens: Gadget of the Week
Finally, a toy that invites children to explore the nature of cruelty. In fact, Electronic Test Tube Aliens ($15) are either the most cynical and ill-conceived toys on the market, or the world's first truly existential toy. The story is simple: There's an alien invasion on, and you get to be a collaborator by taking care of a Wi-Fi-enabled, battery-powered alien adoptee. Three of the aliens are good and three are evil; whether yours is good or evil has no bearing on how your creature will behave, since these test-tube babies can't fight each other or really do anything. Except die. In fact, that's their specialty.
Each alien comes in a white egg ..."
Panoramic Photography, Boing Boing: Black Rock winter snowscape photos (Burning Man site)
Boing Boing: Black Rock winter snowscape photos (Burning Man site): "Black Rock winter snowscape photos (Burning Man site)
Image: cropped detail from a stunning panoramic photo of the Black Rock Station on a sunny, wintery Nevada day -- well, actually, today.
Snowy Gerlach in February, the opposite spot in the calendrical cycle from those sweltering weeks when the desert is chock full of hippies.
JPEG Link (it's a really large photo, 11726 x 504 pixels), and here's an index page with more beautiful panoramic photos of the same site, during other seasons. Photos credited to Ghost Dancer.
It's really a lovely place, with or without beglowsticked humans. (Thanks, Wayne Correia)"
Image: cropped detail from a stunning panoramic photo of the Black Rock Station on a sunny, wintery Nevada day -- well, actually, today.
Snowy Gerlach in February, the opposite spot in the calendrical cycle from those sweltering weeks when the desert is chock full of hippies.
JPEG Link (it's a really large photo, 11726 x 504 pixels), and here's an index page with more beautiful panoramic photos of the same site, during other seasons. Photos credited to Ghost Dancer.
It's really a lovely place, with or without beglowsticked humans. (Thanks, Wayne Correia)"
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