Dreamworks To Go 3D

Dreamworks announced today that starting in 2009 all of their animated movies will be produced in 3D. The working title of the first release using this format is Monsters Vs Aliens. The movie is based on the comic book "Rex Havoc and the Ass-Kickers of the Fantastic". Personally, I prefer that title but can understand why they may have wanted to change it. Indications are that the 3D technology will add 10 to 15 million dollars to the cost of the films but the added expense will be paid for by increased ticket prices. "We have not really been enthusiastic about turning 2-D into 3-D in post-production," DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg said, referring to the way 3-D graphics are currently not designed from the start, but rather just added on at the end. "It doesn't begin to touch the quality of a product that is originated in 3-D." Details have not been released for Monsters Vs Aliens but the image above is a sample of conceptual art being used for the movie. Production will begin this spring when more details will be released. 2008 will see the release of the first live-action film utilizing the new digital 3-D process, "Journey 3-D" starring Brendan Fraser in a retelling of "Journey to the center of the earth." Movie theatres hope that this will be a way to revive ticket sales by providing an experience that cannot be duplicated at home.

Global Warming Land Grab

Global warming is causing the polar ice caps to receed at an alarming pace. This has made reaching places like Hans Island much easier than in the past. Turns out there is a considerable amount of money to be made in the artic. U.S geologists estimate that 25% of the earths untapped oil and gas reserves are located here. Not to mention, an estimated 2 trillion dollars worth of minerals. (well I guess I just mentioned it anyway) These treasures have led to disputes over which countries have rights to these places. Denmark and Canada are both claiming this island and in a sign of the times, Canadians and Danes took out competing Google ads, each proclaiming sovereignty over the rock 680 miles south of the North Pole. (Article) This may just be a sign

of more things to come. With deminishing supplies of oil and gas and an increasing demand for it, we may see battles waged over polar bear country in the future. In doing a little reasearch into this subject I found an interesting site where you can purchase this island and many others. If you cant pull together the funds for your own island you can even rent them. I guess the question in the case of Hans Island is to whom should you make the check out to, Canada or Denmark?

Red Means Hot & Blue Means Cold

I wonder if it tastes like Kool - Aid ? This is a novel idea from Hog Wild and it only cost 20 bucks. A led lights up causing the stream of water to look blue until it reaches 89degrees, then a temperature monitor changes the light to red. Not sure how long the battery lasts but given how cheap they are why not try one out. Here is a link for the product as listed on Amazon. The gadget is about 2 inches long so a deep sink or high faucet works best. It also comes with 2 sets of batteries and several adaptors to fit different sized faucets. Here is a Video of this product in action...no clue why the woman in the video is taking pictures while filming the demo. Strange choice of music too but oh well.

Move Over Lava Lamp

At first glance this looks like computer generated graphics. This shot is definately worthy of any desktop background. What you are seeing here is a magnetic field. The liquid is called ferrofluid. Ferrofluid is a liquid that becomes strongly polarised in the presence of a magnetic field. Ferrofluids are composed of nanoscale ferromagnetic (substances such as iron, nickel, or cobalt) particles suspended in a carrier fluid, usually an organic solvent or water. By manipulating the magnetic field you can make some pretty cool looking "fluid sculptures." Look at these two videos to see amazing footage of what artists have done with this liquid. (Video 1, Video 2)

Daylight Saving Time Side Effects

When you start messing with time some pretty interesting things can happen. I found an article that lists some of the extraordinary events tied to Daylight Saving Time. Did you know that a man was able to avoid the draft due to DST? How about the terrorists that blew themselves up in 1999 because of it. Are you planning on taking a train during the time change? Well if you are traveling on Amtrak and your train is on time during the fall time change it will stop on the tracks at 2 am and wait an hour. Turns out they cannot leave a scheduled stop early so they must wait it out. DST has caused riots consisting of over 1,000 angry bar patrons in Ohio. Daylight Saving Time even effects candy sales on Halloween, so say the candy lobbiests. Yes, they do exist. They are partly responsible for the time change being pushed back into November for 2007. Check out this site for all the details of these stories and many more.

I Wonder if the Pizza Tastes Like Hell

What a great idea. This pizza box can be converted into a smaller box for your leftovers or as they call it "your remains." The restaurant is a very popular pizza joint in New Zealand called Hells Pizza. They are very creative in their marketing with pizzas being delivered in hearses, controversial billboards, and a full line of merchandise.
They are currenlty expanding rapidly in New Zealand and have plans on coming to the US very soon. Here is a good article that tells the story of the owners/creators. Also, check out the website where they have again used creativity to stand out from most others and be sure to click on the little devils, they are interactive. This place will be a huge hit in America if they stay true to their creators ideas and don't get bogged down by corporate Americas desire to always be politically correct.

I Think I Must Have This

This could be the greatest thing since cameras made their way into our cell phones. The picture and technology description are from Microvisions website. This company has a working prototype and is now in the process of working with several major manufacturers.

Unlock the Big Experience from Small Devices. PicoP is the Microvision brand name for an ultra-miniature projector that can be embedded directly into mobile devices or stand-alone accessory projectors. PicoP projectors leverage the company’s ultra-miniature Integrated Photonics Module (IPM) which enables thin devices with projection display capability, breaking through the display bottleneck. Company Website

It's All In How You Look At It

Most of us have got the email with pictures of this incredibly talented artists work. I happened to stumble upon his site today with many examples of his work that I had never seen before. There are also some pictures from different angles in which the whole 3D effect is gone. Turns out that this type of work is called anamorphosis. (great time to use AnswerTips just double click any word you want info on) The earliest known example of this technique comes from Leonardo da Vinci in a work called Leonardo's eye painted in 1485. Another great example is the dome and vault of the Church of St. Ignazio in Rome, painted by Andrea Pozzo, representing the pinnacle of the illusion. Due to complaints that an actual dome would block the light by neighboring monks, Pozzo was commissioned to paint the inside of a dome instead of constructing one. (image)
Just added: Video of his work on YouTube (here)

Just Giving You My Two Cents

Is it just me or does every women in America think she is the reincarnation of Cleopatra? Guys, how many of you have wives or girlfriends who swear they were the Queen of Egypt. If you are lucky they claim you were Mark Anthony or at least Ceaser. I wonder if this story will have them changing their tune. Not quiet the glamorous, beautiful Cleopatra from the movies. Oh and ladies Mark Anthony didn't look much better. This link will take you to the story with a video also showing Mr. Anthony who is pictured on the flip side of this coin.

Dropping Pennys

A penny dropped from the top of a tall building could kill a pedestrian!
A penny isn't the most aerodynamic of weapons. A combination of its shape and wind friction means that, tossed even from the 1,250-foot Empire State Building, it would travel fast enough merely to sting an unlucky pedestrian. For more Busted Myths Click Here ..... Some might suprise you.

Wars and Terrorism and Now Kites?

This may be one of the craziest and saddest stories I have ever read. Eleven people killed at a kite festival is sad enough but when you read how it happened it gets worse. People falling off roofs, throats slashed by metal kite string, and electricution just to name a few. Check out this article for more details.

Finally

I came up with this idea about 5 years ago and now its out..... Cereal Flavored Milk. Article

To all those who love cereal as much as I do check out this place.... Cereality

Answers Enabled

You may have noticed the Answers logo on this blog. Whats it all about? Double-Click any word on the blog and get more information on that word. Best of all it pops up in a little bubble and you dont even need to leave this site. Cool Huh? Try it out. Careful it's addictive. I find it to be a great addition to this pastiche styled blog. <<<<< double-click it I had to look it up too :)

Just starting out!

Hey all, there is so much out there on the internet that I promise to keep this as interesting as I can. I will try not to post too many pictures of my trip to Florida and focus on things that I feel are fun to read and look at. Interesting articles pictures and videos that I stumble across will end up here.