Sometimes you hear about a new invention, that has a cool idea behind it although you know that you are never going to use it, one of those things that will make Jay Leno ask his How lazy are we getting question. Ambient Devices, a US company that combines Internet information and everyday products, came up with an umbrella that forecasts the weather. The umbrella is equipped with a radio receiver, that gets weather info using a wireless network. Company spokesman Mark Prince said: “You can put this umbrella by the door, in an umbrella stand, and on your way out it’ll be telling you if this is the day when you are going to need an umbrella.”
Reuters reports that a light in the umbrella handle will tell if it’s going to rain in the next 12 hours. Having lived in Boston in the past few years, and having the pleasure of enjoying the rapid weather changes, I am not surprised that the company that brings us the umbrella is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
By the way, the forecast umbrella doesn’t come cheap and will retail at about $140.
After drawing a lot of attention, and making headlines with Jennifer Love Hewitt, and the announcement that Zachary Quinto will play Mr. Spock in Star Trek XI, the San Diego annual Comic-Con ended on Sunday, not before a crowd of 4000 exited Heroes fans came to the shows panel on Saturday. The fans went crazy When it was announced that Kevin Smith would direct the first episode of spinoff show Heroes: Origins. According to Reuters, the con will be remembered as the Con at which TV shows eclipsed feature films.
Television’s presence was the strongest it’s ever been at the Con, where the small screen’s influence has been slowly growing since ABC launched “Lost” in 2004, previewing the pilot in a half-full hall. But it was those early fans that helped the show become a buzzworthy hit, and when an unknown show called “Heroes” previewed in 2006 and went on to become one of the biggest new dramas of the season, the Con’s launching pad status was solidified.
For me, to hear the name Kevin Smith and Heroes together makes my day.
Valkyrie is set to hit theaters August 8, 2008 and just began principal photography today in Berlin. Along with Cruise the film stars Kenneth Branagh, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, Eddie Izzard, Christian Berkel, Thomas Kretschmann, and Carice van Houten.
The “July 20 Plot” on Hitler’s life is one of the most heroic but least known episodes of World War Two. Severely wounded in combat, Colonel Claus von Stauffenberg returns from Africa to join the German Resistance and help create Operation Valkyrie, the complex plan that will allow a shadow government to replace Hitler’s once he is dead. But fate and circumstance conspire to thrust Stauffenberg from one of many in the plot to a double-edged central role. Not only must he lead the coup and seize control of his nation’s government … He must kill Hitler himself.
“Valkyrie tells a story that is not only exciting but also important,” said Singer. “It’s something that Chris McQuarrie and I have wanted to do for some time. I can’t imagine shooting it anywhere else but on location in Germany, and I’m thrilled that we were able to get Tom Cruise to play Col. Stauffenberg.”
Maybe it’s me, but I think Scientology Boy looks a little ridiculous. He’s definitely not butch enough. Maybe there’s an “Ilsa the She-Devil of the S.S.” party somewhere in Hollywood, huh?
Ok, so Amy Winehouse and Scottish bloke singer Paolo Nutini are already slated to tour together (we’re always the last to know…), but who knew the duo might have such complimentary voices? The video seen below is an homage to Scottish singer Paolo Nutini and the psycho who compiled this image gallery of a video on Youtube. Right. So why do we care? Cause it also relates to Amy Winehouse and it just so happens that the Nutini video montage also features audio of the singer doing a cover of Amy Winehouse’s Rehab. And after listening to this cover, you’ll be hard-pressed to find two other white people (and one Jewish at that) who do Soul as well, at least in today’s emerging music scene. Sufficed to say, I’d love to see these two on tour together.
Amaldo.com vlogger Ilana Donna steps it up a notch this week with her pop culture round-up, once again giving us All the news that’s fit to capture on video including talk of Spice Girls reunion, Nicole Ritchie’s fertility, and Lindsay Lohan’s latest DUI. And for naysayers proclaiming you read all this in last week’s “US Weekly,” when’s the last time you saw Spice Girls hit single “Wannabe” sung freestyle?
Wait. Did I or did I not use “freestyle” correctly here? Eh. Who cares. Just watch the video, k.
Well, talk about a trainwreck week! Lindsay Lohan went and broke the law while drunk and high (again!) Britney Spears showed the world that she is indeed a certifiably crazy person, and astronauts got drunk.
Here are some other people with problems.
J, my daughter just told me that she idolizes Lindsay Lohan, and wants me to take her to the mall to “update” her wardrobe. When she showed me some clothes she had picked out online, I was appalled. She thinks the “whore” look is in…and she’s only 12. I adore celebrities (and celebrity blogs!), but there’s no way in hell I want my daughter dressing like one. Any advice?
—NOT Dina Lohan
Dear NDL,
You know how glad I am I’m no longer anywhere near 12 years old? REAL glad. That age sucked. Kids had judgment beams affixed to their foreheads and would make fun of anyone or anything that their young minds deemed “uncool”.
Most probably, your daughter is trying to fit in anyway she can, and while your sweetheart may not dress like a whore, other girls in her school do, and most times, those trashy dressers get a lot of attention (most of which turns negative really quickly). I’m sure she’s seeing that attention, talking to her friends, watching TV, and thinking that dressing like a hooch on crack is going to make her popular.
All you can do in this situation is talk to her. Most teenagers will do what they want regardless of what their parents tell them, so developing a relationship with your daughter where she respects what you have to say is the best way to reach her. Read More…
Just a small update: Last night we went to the premiere of The Simpsons Movie. It was awesome. If you are a Simpson fan, this will be the movie of the year for you. If you watch the show occasionally, it will be the best movie you saw lately. If you like Family Guy and South Park but not so much the simpsons, you will still have a great time. If you hate the Simpsons, you are not reading this so I don’t really care… In short, The Simpsons Movie is like one long episode of the show only edgier and even funnier. Oh and yes, Bart shows everything!!! Go watch the movie.
Zachary Quinto who plays Sylar, the ultimate bad guy in one of our favorite TV shoes Heroes, is going to be Mr. Spock in Star Trek XI. The new movie is now in production and will be released in late December 2008. In the Prequel tradition, Star Trek is about the early adventures of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock , and how they met at the Starfleet Academy (A love Story???.) So far, it is unknown who will play the roll of Captain Kirk, but the rumors talk about the British singer Robin Williams. Matt Damon was also mentioned for the part.
Ladies and Gentleman, and children of all ages, let me introduce to you, what is going to be one of the busiest weekends of the year at the box office. In the next few lines you will read about a heroic family, gourmet food, and one princess that won’t make it to the ball this time.
Sometimes you hear about a new invention, that has a cool idea behind it although you know that you are never going to use it, one of those things that will make Jay Leno ask his How lazy are we getting question. Ambient Devices, a US company that combines Internet information and everyday products, came up with an umbrella that forecasts the weather. The umbrella is equipped with a radio receiver, that gets weather info using a wireless network. Company spokesman Mark Prince said: “You can put this umbrella by the door, in an umbrella stand, and on your way out it’ll be telling you if this is the day when you are going to need an umbrella.”
Ok, so 
Hey Media Whores,
