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.
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.
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.
The Simpsons Movie: Since it was announced that there is going to be a Simpsons movie, I wrote so much about it, that other then saying that the plot of the movie is about President Schwarzenegger who wants to destroy Springfield, and about how the Simpsons save their town.
No Reservations: A chef’s life changes when her sister dies and she is left to take care of her niece. Cooking, love, and all the rest of the ingredients needed for a standard love story. Starring Catherine Zeta Jones and Aaron Eckhart who is known for his memorable roll in Thank You For Smoking.
I Know Who Killed Me: An amazing psychological thriller. No I’m just kidding… Lindsay Lohan plays a girl who wakes up in a hospital, and finds out everybody thinks she is someone else. Due to her recent stupidity, Lindsay will miss the premiere and maybe she should change the name of the movie to I Know Who Killed My Career.
<
This week’s peak is from the new Bourne movie: The Bourne Ultimatum. Have a great weekend!!!
According to UGO, Jennifer Love Hewitt have decided to upgrade her career. The actress who’s best known from the TV show Party Of Five, movies like I Know What You Did Last Summer and Shortcut To Happiness, and also for showing a lot of skin as a spokes model for Hanes bras, will appear this Saturday at Comic-Con in San Diego to answer questions from her loyal man-fans. She will meet the drooling fans to promote her CBS Vampire drama Ghost Whisperer.
We have to at least appreciate the effort. The Hanson brothers are back. Yes those three kids who MMMbopped us to the point of no return back in 97, have grown up, and just released their new album The Walk in the US. My first reaction, listening to Go, a single from the album was to make a face and complain about another kitschy song that will fill the playlists of thousands of radio stations due to a massive PR campaign. But on a second hearing i realized that although the song does have plenty of kitsch in it, it is no different then most songs sung by all those self acclaimed bands that reflect today’s music. It’s definitely not worse.
Judge for yourself:
Ladies and gents, our new Price is Right host is none other than unfunny man Drew Carey. Hording all the media attention in the past few weeks, Rosie O’Donnell was also considered for this role, but ultimately Carey beat out other male front-runners, such as ET’s Mark Steines and another 2-D catatonic Ken doll TV host whose name I can’t remember.
While there are certain attributes all pop celeb starlets share: Narcissism; wanton, often reckless, self-destructive behaviour; and director Brett Ratner’s bed, there is also a common adhesive for all of these characteristics: Coke.
Don’t get me wrong. Everyone will be talking about Lindsay Lohan’s latest DUI until this weekend or next week when Paris Hilton gets one or Britney Spears flashes another of her privates (maybe in conjunction with another!), or it’s finally revealed that a washed-up heroin/coked-up anorexic who most likely hasn’t had a regular period since she hit the age of puberty at 10, can’t possibly be fertile. But the point is, who cares? Or more importantly, why do we care?
Well, most likely we’re all part of the self-perpetuating, destructive cycle here. Our interest feeds the machine, and our reinforcement, whether positive or negative, further nourishes it. Anyone who witnesses a newly slim and whacked out Britney Spears on one of her outings can tell this girl is on some serious dope. Same with Lindsay, Kate Bosworth, Keira Knightly, and every other star. Coke is the rage. So why not let these people self-combust once and for all and end our preoccupation?
The Simpsons started as a series of animated shorts on The Tracey Ullman Show. To celebrate The Simpsons Movie here’s a taste of the good old’ days. Don’t be surprised if the faces and voices of the family are somewhat different then what we are used to.
I’ve already stated before, that it is very hard to be a soccer fan in America. It became much easier since David Beckham joined the LA Galaxy, or even better since he made his debut a couple of days ago Vs. Chelsea. However, despite the rising popularity of the game here, when I watch the soccer channels I often hear the commentators complain about the Media Circus surrounding Beckham’s arrival. Do you get this? Media Circus. Instead of embracing the moment, and enjoy the new audience you complain. Oh shut up!!! Go get another job.
David Beckham may not be the greatest soccer player of all time, but he is by far the biggest caliber to ever land in the MLS. Beckham’s success here is important to everyone who is connected to soccer in America. So please FSN and GolTV, don’t bite the hand then feeds you.
Although the new Harry Potter book breaks records by becoming the worlds fastest selling book with an amazing 8.3 million copies in the first 24 hours, the new Harry Potter movie, on it’s second week only came second at the box office in the past weekend with estimated $32.2 million. It was I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry making $34.8 million. It’s not that $32 millions in one weekend is bad, but you know, second place always have to try harder…
Amidst all the hoopla over the seventh and final chapter of the Harry Potter saga, which hit bookstands Friday night/Saturday morning, comes another ominous tale. This one is weaved by a newspaper and involves the publishing company that has published the Potter series since its inception in 1997.
In the ten years since, Scholastic books has done little to expand the Potter franchise and this has its investors complaining. Among the lists of offenses: Failing to use (exploit?) the series effectively to seek out other lucrative business partnerships and diversify their portfolio.
Still don’t cry too much over Scholastic or its crowned jewel. The well-known, reputable publisher won’t go anywhere soon. It’s anticipated that Scholastic will reap $225 Million from Potter sales this year. And that’s apart from the projected $10-15 Million annually in sales over Harry Potter in the next three years.
Dame Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas got it right. Big Girls Don’t Cry
But do they get piss poor drunk (for the umpteenth time), forget their lines onstage, proceed to say “F*ck! F*ck! F*ck!” while repeatedly hitting their head with a microphone, and then proceed to spit at the crowd after being a no-show at several other scheduled live gigs in the past few months?
So Amy Winehouse is back in the media whirlwind for her behaviour while onstage at the Eden Project this week. While Amy’s actions have been linked to the two bottles of Champagne, two bottles of Jack Daniels, and two bottles of red wine found in her trailer, one has to wonder if she’s trying to conceal something a bit bigger. Like maybe this girl with the amazing voice is simply a manufactured product of a British recording studio. Conspiracy theories aside, the self-destructive rockstar diva bit is getting old.
I like those weeks when more then one Big movie is opening, and it is hard to predict which of them will win at the box office. In the last couple of weeks it was impossible to watch any talk show, day or night, that did not host a cast member of either Hair Spray or I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry, trying to win our hearts, or at least our pockets.
I Now Pronounce You Chuck And Larry- Chuck and Larry (Adam Sandler and Kevin James) are two fireman who pose as a gay couple so they can get some insurance benefits. This movie reminds me a French movie I can’t remember the name of…
Hairspray- John Travolta(in drag) and Nicole Blonski sing and dance in this Musical. Tracy Turnblad dreams about appearing in “The Corny Collins Show,” a famous dance TV show.
Cashback- We actually featured a clip from this movie last week. Ben Willis, a student, uses his imagination to fight the boredom of working an eight hour night shift at the supermarket. I think this might be the refreshing movie of the weekend.
Since we are going to talk a lot about The Simpsons movie next week, today’s peak is from the new Lindsay Lohan movie, I Know Who Killed Me. Enjoy the weekend
Victoria Beckham didn’t waste any time capitalizing on her hubby’s deal with the LA Galaxy to further catapult her career as a professional celebrity. Her Monday night special, Coming To America, testified to that. And although the special picked up decent enough ratings for the silicone-breasted bronzed kewpie doll to get a repeat performance tonight on NBC, the show didn’t manage to do much in the way of swaying American populace opinion of the star. In other words as a publicity agent, the show failed miserably in that people still consider her to be a self-involved bitch. On the flipside, execs at NBC were so impressed with her that they decided that not only will they re-air the special tonight, but have her host the whole Thursday night line-up on NBC. To include extra Beckham footage, NBC hauled ass back to the Beckhams and managed to secure some interstitials in time for tonight. Victoria was said to be most obliging. GO figure!
Hope that it’s Suzanne Vega. At 48, the fiery chanteuse, is just as much a force as she ever was. Back with her new album Beauty & Crime, the subject matter, 9-11, focuses on the sadness and the rebuild of New York in the time since September 11. The album plays more like an ode to New York. Its single, “Frank & Ava” true to its title is a happy tune about New Jersey native and NY icon Frank Sinatra and his lover, actress Ava Gardner. The SF Gate gave the album a thumbs down, but I like to give Suzanne the benefit of the doubt. As a native New Yorker who’s spend the good part of her life there, I think that Vega’s emotional IQ and intelligence naturally lend herself to this project. In an effort to celebrate Suzanne’s legacy, listen to the song that made her a star, or a name to contend with, at the very least.
A couple of days ago, as I was walking from the kitchen to the living room(…) I noticed my wife was watching the end of Mermaids on one of the movie channels. We started talking about how Winona Ryder kinda’ disappeared since being caught shoplifting a few years back, and how shoplifting sounds so innocent comparing to the jail/rehab/drugs/homemade porn and other goods that surrounds today’s celebrities. So today, as it often happens with people I talk about (my natural super power) Yahoo reports that Winona is finally speaking out on her shoplifting incident five years ago, where she got in trouble for stealing. The interview will appear on the August issue of Vogue magazine. Ryder will also be featured as the cover star. In a quote from the interview Winona refers to the media coverage:”The attention was what was embarrassing, It was the December after September 11. . . So much attention was being paid to me, when we had just been attacked and there was all this really important news going on.” Winona also explains why she used painkillers: “Two months prior to that, I broke my arm in two places, and the doctor … was giving me a lot of stuff and I was taking it at first to get through the pain. And then there was this weird point when you don’t know if you are in pain but you’re taking it. Have you ever taken painkillers? It isn’t a reckless[state], like you’re out of your head. It’s just confusion.”
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 
Ladies and gents, our new Price is Right host is none other than unfunny man Drew Carey. Hording all the media attention in the past few weeks, 
While there are certain attributes all pop celeb starlets share: Narcissism; wanton, often reckless, self-destructive behaviour; and director Brett Ratner’s bed, there is also a common adhesive for all of these characteristics: Coke.
Amidst all the hoopla over the seventh and final chapter of the 
Dame Fergie of the Black Eyed Peas got it right. Big Girls Don’t Cry
Victoria Beckham 
Hope that it’s Suzanne Vega. At 48, the fiery chanteuse, is just as much a force as she ever was. Back with her new album Beauty & Crime, the subject matter, 9-11, focuses on the sadness and the rebuild of New York in the time since September 11. The album plays more like an ode to New York. Its single, “Frank & Ava” true to its title is a happy tune about New Jersey native and NY icon Frank Sinatra and his lover, actress Ava Gardner. The SF Gate gave the album a thumbs down, but I like to give Suzanne the benefit of the doubt. As a native New Yorker who’s spend the good part of her life there, I think that Vega’s emotional IQ and intelligence naturally lend herself to this project. In an effort to celebrate Suzanne’s legacy, listen to the song that made her a star, or a name to contend with, at the very least.
A couple of days ago, as I was walking from the kitchen to the living room(…) I noticed my wife was watching the end of Mermaids on one of the movie channels. We started talking about how 