May 19, 2008

Rejected Star Wars Merchandise

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Via geekologie

WALT DISNEY ANIMATION STUDIOS/ PIXAR ANIMATION STUDIOS 2008-2012 RELEASE SCHEDULE

up-pixar-render.jpgRemember that concept art from Pixar's Up that showed up a couple
months ago? Well, now there's a fully computer-rendered version

2008:

WALL*E (Domestic Release Date: June 27th, 2008)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director/Screenwriter: Andrew Stanton
Producer: Jim Morris
Co-Producer: Lindsey Collins
Sound and Character Voice Designer: Ben Burtt
Composer: Thomas Newman, with an Original Song Performed by Peter Gabriel Voice Talent: Fred Willard, Jeff Garlin, Sigourney Weaver, John
Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy

What if mankind had to leave Earth and somebody forgot to turn off the
last robot?

Academy Award(R)-winning writer-director Andrew Stanton ("Finding
Nemo") and the inventive storytellers and technical geniuses at Pixar
Animation Studios transport moviegoers to a galaxy not so very far away for
a new computer-animated cosmic comedy about a determined robot named
WALL*E.

After hundreds of lonely years doing what he was built for, WALL*E
(short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class) discovers a new
purpose in life (besides collecting knick-knacks) when he meets a sleek
search robot named EVE. EVE comes to realize that WALL*E has inadvertently
stumbled upon the key to the planet's future, and races back to space to
report her findings to the humans (who have been eagerly awaiting word that
it is safe to return home). Meanwhile, WALL*E chases EVE across the galaxy
and sets into motion one of the most incredible comedy adventures ever
brought to the big screen.

Joining WALL*E on his fantastic journey across a universe of
never-before-imagined visions of the future is a hilarious cast of
characters including a pet cockroach, and a heroic team of malfunctioning
misfit robots.



BOLT (Domestic Release Date: November 26th, 2008, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Chris Williams, Byron Howard
Producer: Clark Spencer
Voice Talent: John Travolta, Miley Cyrus, Susie Essman
For super-dog Bolt (voiced by John Travolta), every day is filled with
adventure, danger and intrigue -- at least until the cameras stop rolling.
When the canine star of a hit TV show is accidentally shipped from his
Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he begins his biggest adventure yet
-- a cross-country journey through the real world. Armed only with the
delusions that all his amazing feats and powers are real, and with the help
of two unlikely traveling companions -- a jaded, abandoned housecat named
Mittens (voiced by Susie Essman), and TV-obsessed hamster in a plastic ball
named Rhino -- Bolt discovers he doesn't need superpowers to be a hero.
Miley Cyrus ("Hannah Montana") brings her vocal talents to the role of
Penny, Bolt's human co-star on the television series.


TINKER BELL (Disney DVD and Blu-ray Release Date: October 28th, 2008)
DisneyToon Studios
Director: Bradley Raymond
Producer: Jeannine Roussel
Enter the magical world of fairies and meet the enchanting creatures of
Pixie Hollow, who "nurture nature" and bring about the change of the
seasons. Changing the colors of the leaves, moving a sunbeam to melt snow,
waking animals from their winter slumber, or giving a patch of sproutlings
a sprinkle of water are all within the realm of these seasonal specialists.
Tinker Bell thinks her fairy talent as a "tinker" isn't as special or
important as the other fairies' talents. But when Tink tries to change who
she is, she creates nothing but disaster! With encouragement from her
friends Rosetta, Silvermist, Fawn and Iridessa, Tink learns the key to
solving her problems lies in her unique tinker abilities ... and discovers
that when she's true to herself, magical things can happen.



2009:

UP (Domestic Release Date: May 29th, 2009, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Pete Docter
Co-Director: Bob Peterson
Producer: Jonas Rivera
Writer: Bob Peterson Voice Talent: Ed Asner, Christopher Plummer, John Ratzenberger, Jordan Nagai
From the Academy Award(R)-nominated team of director Pete Docter
("Monsters, Inc.") and co-director Bob Peterson comes "Up," a comedic
adventure taking off (and lifting spirits) in summer 2009. Carl Fredricksen
spent his entire life dreaming of exploring the globe and experiencing life
to its fullest. But at age 78, life seems to have passed him by, until a
twist of fate (and a persistent 8-year old Wilderness Explorer named
Russell) gives him a new lease on life. "Up" takes audiences on a thrilling
journey where the unlikely pair encounter wild terrain, unexpected villains
and jungle creatures. When seeking adventure next summer -- look "Up."


TOY STORY in 3-D (Domestic Release Date: October 2nd, 2009)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: John Lasseter
Producers: Ralph Guggenheim, Bonnie Arnold
Composer: Randy Newman Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Don Rickles, Jim Varney, Wallace
Shawn, John Ratzenberger
Originally released by Walt Disney Pictures in 1995, "Toy Story" was
the first feature film from Pixar Animation Studios and director John
Lasseter. The film went on to receive Oscar(R) nominations for Best
Original Score, Best Original Song, and Best Original Screenplay, and
earned Lasseter a Special Achievement Award (Oscar(R)) "for the development
and inspired application of techniques that have made possible the first
feature-length computer-animated film." The 3-D version of this landmark
film is being personally overseen by Lasseter with his acclaimed team of
technical wizards handling all the necessary steps in the conversion
process.


THE PRINCESS AND THE FROG (Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2009)
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: John Musker, Ron Clements
Producer: Peter Del Vecho
Composer: Randy Newman
Voice Talent: Anika Noni Rose, Keith David, Jenifer Lewis, John Goodman
A musical set in the greatest city of them all, New Orleans, "The
Princess and the Frog" marks Disney's return to the timeless art form of
traditional animation. The film teams Ron Clements and John Musker,
creators of "The Little Mermaid" and "Aladdin," with Oscar(R)-winning
composer Randy Newman to tell the most beautiful love story ever told ...
with frogs, voodoo, and a singing alligator.


TINKER BELL NORTH OF NEVER LAND - working title (Disney DVD and Blu-ray
Release Date: 2009)
DisneyToon Studios
Director: Klay Hall
Producer: Sean Lurie
In autumn, Tinker Bell is entrusted with crafting a great treasure that
can rejuvenate the Pixie Dust Tree. But when her friend Terence offers to
help, Tink's temper and stubbornness get the better of her, shattering both
her creation and her friendship with Terence. To set things right again,
she must embark on a journey far North of Never Land ... and along the way,
she will discover an even greater treasure.



2010:

TOY STORY 2 in 3-D (Domestic Release Date: February 12th, 2010)
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: John Lasseter
Co-Directors: Lee Unkrich, Ash Brannon
Producers: Helene Plotkin, Karen Robert Jackson
Composer: Randy Newman Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Kelsey Grammer, Don
Rickles, Estelle Harris, Jim Varney, Wallace Shawn, John Ratzenberger
Originally released in 1999, "Toy Story 2" went on to become one of the
most popular animated features of all time. The film picks up as Andy is
heading off to Cowboy Camp and the toys are left to their own devices. When
an obsessive toy collector named Al McWhiggin (owner of Al's Toy Barn)
kidnaps Woody, and Woody learns that he's a highly valued collectable from
a 1950s TV show called "Woody's Roundup," the stage is set for a daring
rescue attempt by the gang from Andy's room. The film introduced such other
memorable characters from "Woody's Roundup" as Jessie the cowgirl, Bullseye
the horse, and the Prospector.


TOY STORY 3 (Domestic Release Date: June 18th, 2010, Disney Digital
3-D(TM))
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Lee Unkrich
Producer: Darla K. Anderson
Writer: Michael Arndt
Composer: Randy Newman Voice Talent: Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, Joan Cusack, Don Rickles, Wallace
Shawn, Estelle Harris, John Ratzenberger, Ned Beatty
The creators of the beloved "Toy Story" films re-open the toy box and
bring moviegoers back to the delightful world of Woody, Buzz and our
favorite gang of toy characters in "Toy Story 3." Lee Unkrich (co-director
of "Toy Story 2" and "Finding Nemo") directs this highly anticipated film,
and Michael Arndt, the Academy Award(R)-winning screenwriter of "Little
Miss Sunshine," brings his unique talents and comedic sensibilities to the
proceedings.



RAPUNZEL (Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2010, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Glen Keane, Dean Wellins
Producer: Roy Conli
In this new telling of the classic fairy tale, "Rapunzel," audiences
will be transported to a stunning CG fantasy world complete with the iconic
tower, an evil witch, a gallant hero and, of course, the mysterious girl
with the long golden tresses. Expect adventure, heart, humor, and hair ...
lots of hair, when Rapunzel unleashes her locks in theaters for the 2010
holiday.

TINKER BELL A MIDSUMMER STORM - working title (Disney DVD and Blu-ray
Release Date: 2010)
DisneyToon Studios
Director: Carolyn Gair
Producer: Margot Pipkin
After being confronted by her antagonist Vidia, an irritated Tinker
Bell retaliates by taking a photograph of Vidia ... without considering the
consequences. Now, the two must set aside their differences and cooperate
to prevent evidence of the existence of fairies from falling into human
hands.



2011:

NEWT (Domestic Release Date: Summer 2011, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Gary Rydstrom
Producer: Richard Hollander
Writers: Gary Rydstrom, Leslie Caveny
What happens when the last remaining male and female blue-footed newts
on the planet are forced together by science to save the species, and they
can't stand each other? That's the problem facing Newt and Brooke, heroes
of "newt," the Pixar film by seven-time Academy Award(R) winner for sound
Gary Rydstrom, and director of Pixar's Oscar-nominated short, "Lifted."
Newt and Brooke embark on a perilous, unpredictable adventure and discover
that finding a mate never goes as planned, even when you only have one
choice. Love, it turns out, is not a science.


THE BEAR AND THE BOW (Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2011, Disney
Digital 3-D(TM))
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Brenda Chapman
Producer: Katherine Sarafian
Voice Talent: Reese Witherspoon, Billy Connolly, Emma Thompson
A rugged and mythic Scotland is the setting for Pixar's
action-adventure "The Bear and the Bow." The impetuous, tangle-haired
Merida, though a daughter of royalty, would prefer to make her mark as a
great archer. A clash of wills with her mother compels Merida to make a
reckless choice, which unleashes unintended peril on her father's kingdom
and her mother's life. Merida struggles with the unpredictable forces of
nature, magic and a dark, ancient curse to set things right. Director
Brenda Chapman ("The Prince of Egypt," "The Lion King") and the
storytelling wizards of Pixar conjure humor, fantasy and excitement in this
rich Highland tale.


TINKER BELL A WINTER STORY - working title (Disney DVD and Blu-ray
Release Date: 2011)
DisneyToon Studios
Producer: Sean Lurie
The fourth, as-yet-untold story of Tinker Bell and her fairy friends
will take place in winter, completing the cycle of the seasons.



2012:

CARS 2 (Domestic Release Date: Summer 2012, Disney Digital 3-D(TM))
Pixar Animation Studios
Director: Brad Lewis
All the world's a racetrack as racing superstar Lightning McQueen zooms
back into action, with his best friend Mater in tow, to take on the globe's
fastest and finest in this thrilling high-octane new installment of the
"Cars" saga. Mater and McQueen will need their passports as they find
themselves in a new world of intrigue, thrills and fast-paced comedic
escapades around the globe. "Cars 2" is being directed by Brad Lewis,
producer of the Oscar(R)- winning film "Ratatouille."


KING OF THE ELVES (Domestic Release Date: Christmas 2012, Disney
Digital 3-D(TM))
Walt Disney Animation Studios
Directors: Aaron Blaise, Robert Walker
Producer: Chuck Williams
Legendary storyteller Phillip K. Dick's short story (his only
experiment in the fantasy genre) becomes the basis for this fantastic and
imaginative tale about an average man living in the Mississippi Delta,
whose reluctant actions to help a desperate band of elves leads them to
name him their new king. Joining the innocent and endangered elves as they
attempt to escape from an evil and menacing troll, their unlikely new
leader finds himself caught on a journey filled with unimaginable dangers
and a chance to bring real meaning back to his own life.

Via cinematical.com

May 18, 2008

The Internet Is Expanding!

Twilight?



I don't get why all vampires MUST be so pretty, but oh well, could be cool, maybe.

Picture of the Day

Toilet Tank Trick

Space Debris: Evolution In Pictures

Between the launch of Sputnik on 4 October 1957 and 1 January 2008, approximately 4600 launches have placed some 6000 satellites into orbit, of which about 400 are travelling beyond geostationary orbit or on interplanetary trajectories.

Today, it is estimated that only 800 satellites are operational - roughly 45 percent of these are both in LEO and GEO. Space debris comprise the ever-increasing amount of inactive space hardware in orbit around the Earth as well as fragments of spacecraft that have broken up, exploded or otherwise become abandoned. About 50 percent of all trackable objects are due to in-orbit explosion events (about 200) or collision events (less than 10).

Space Debris: Evolution In Pictures - All Hi-Res!

Debris objects in low-Earth orbit (LEO):

image


Close Up of the picture above:

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Radiation Cat

Meteorite Impact on Earth Simulation

May 17, 2008

Tropic Thunder - Will Be The Best Thing Ever!

A Persistent Electrical Storm on Saturn


How do large storms evolve on Saturn? On Earth, a hurricane can persist for weeks, while the Great Red Spot on Jupiter has been in existence for over 150 years. On Saturn, a storm system has now set a new endurance record, now being discernable for greater than three months. Electrical signals were detected from the storm in late November of 2007, while the above image was taken in early March 2008. The storm has roughly the width of planet Earth. Planetary scientists hypothesize that the storm runs deep into Saturn's cloud tops. The above image is shown in exaggerated colors combining violet and green light with light normally too red for humans to see. Visible on the upper right are shadows of Saturn's expansive ring system. Careful inspection will reveal Saturn's small moon Janus just below a ring shadow. Understanding weather on other planets helps atmospheric scientists better understand our Earth's weather. Observers of our Solar System's huge ringed world will be tracking the storm to see how it evolves and how long it will ultimately last.

Via Astronomy Picture Of The Day

Spirals


Uncomfortably close Typhoon Rammasun (right) and 25 million light-year distant galaxy M101 don't seem to have much in common. For starters, Rammasun was only a thousand kilometers or so across while M101 (aka the Pinwheel Galaxy) spans about 170,000 light-years, making them vastly dissimilar in scale, not to mention the different physical environments that control their formation and development. But they do look amazingly alike: each with arms exhibiting the shape of a simple and beautiful mathematical curve known as a logarithmic spiral, a spiral whose separation grows in a geometric way with increasing distance from the center. Also known as the equiangular spiral, growth spiral, and Bernoulli's spiral or spira mirabilis, this curve's rich properties have fascinated mathematicians since its discovery by 17th century philosopher Descartes. Intriguingly, this abstract shape is much more abundant in nature than suggested by the striking visual comparison above.

Real or Fake?

First video:











Second video:






May 16, 2008

Earth Set to Receive Alien Reply, Invasion in 2015?

If all goes well—or very wrong—Earth may receive a message from aliens from the Altair solar system as early as 2015. Japanese astronomers Hisashi Hirabayashi and Masaki Morimoto sent an email there back in 1983, which was lost and has just been re-discovered by the latter at the Nishi-Harima Astronomical Observatory. Hirabayashi says they were drunk at the time, which explains why some of the 13 71 x 71 pixel images are the molecular formula for ethanol, the kanji characters for "kanpai!" (cheers!), and the English word "toast." Check out some of the pictures and play drunk alien yourself after the jump.

According to Hirabayahsi, he "came up with that idea while drinking. The aliens probably won't understand that (kanpai and toast) part." We can only hope that whoever is looking for life at their radio telescope up there won't be drunk as well, if only to ensure good inter-planetary relations from the start. Example:Obviously, this means: "Dear People of Altair, We are organisms who reproduce sexually to form families. Life on Earth started in the water." Kind of scary, but better than the alternative—after five whiskies: "Hey alien dudes, here on Earth we are all nudist. Some of us are giants with big tits. Others are giants with tiny penises. Fishes like to suntan on the beach. Turn the page to see us drunk. Kanpai!"Whatever happens with the decoding of this binary message, at least it gives a little hope to Mulder-wannabes and tinfoil hatters all over the world, who may see alien contact in just seven years. Otherwise, the prospect was quite bad: US scientists sent another message to M13—the Hercules globular cluster—thinking that having a big concentration of stars, it may give us a bigger possibility of getting an answer back, instead of Elvis singing back "Return to Sender." Unfortunately, they didn't think that the waiting time to get a message back from a planet in M13 would be a bit too long: a mere 46,000 years.While Hirabayashi is hopeful that his message was received in 1999 and now a reply is getting back to be received by any Jodie Foster listening out there, he knows that it's highly improbable that it would work. "I believe in aliens, but they are very difficult to find," he says.

If you add the fact that Altair may not have any planets at all, the chances are extremely slim. Still, he says that they did it because "it was good enough," and he is glad about it, especially after all the messages he got from schoolchildren everywhere: "children's response is the best thing."

What he doesn't realize is that children are small, talk in strange gibberish and get green sometimes, so his aliens may have contacted him already. [Sankei via Pink Tentacle] from gizmodo.com

Clip Of The Week

Hackfresse

The famous 1993 kinetic robotic art project using remote control, car batteries, aluminum parts, and cables - intentionally set on fire.

We've All Got To Eat