This Week in Geekdom

Happy weekend and Happy Mother's Day to all the moms out there! Good googly Cthulu it feels amazing to get back to some semblance of normalcy. The rest of this month should be chock-full of blogging goodness under several different categories.  Very, very excited about all this, but first, the week in geekdom! 

Happy Mother's Day to all our real-life superheros

Comics

DC is desperate for your attention. And by you, they mean anyone with disposable income who is old enough to have even vague memories of Masters of the Universe. The attempts at nostalgia are rife in their latest miniseries, which pits He-Man and his ilk against Superman and the rest of the Justice League. Those grumbles you hear are from disappointed She-Ra fans upon learning that their favorite Princess of Power gets no love in these new comics. The crossover series will hit the shelves this coming August.

Science/Technology

In a thrilling development for lovers of zero emissions/electric vehicles, Consumer Reports released their review of the new Model S sedan by Tesla. The verdict: a near-perfect score of 99/100. See video of the test drive and the full recap here.

Love the affordability of IKEA furniture but hate assembling it? Your fellow nerds over at MIT have you covered. This week, a team of engineers debuted their work on an autonomous robot that can put together several offerings from the Swedish home goods giant. 

Time, Google, and NASA collaborated on this simultaneously beautiful and unnerving time-lapse series of the Earth and the changes thereto that have taken place in the past 30 years.

It's the year 2013...so where are our flying cars? Turns out, they might be right here.

We're just weeks away from the first full update of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (D.S.M.) since 1994 and already psychiatrists are decrying the as-yet unreleased new volume.

Approximately 2 million people a year die because they did not have access to sufficiently clean drinking water. In order to address this widespread and entirely preventable problem, researchers at the Institute of Technology in Madras, India presented theirwork on a potential solution. Bonus: their device would cost under $3 USD per year to operate.

After 17 years of loyal service, Microsoft announced that it was putting hotmail out to the virtual pasture.

Movies

Ever found yourself vehemently disagreeing with a critic's assessment of a comic book movie? Turns out you're far from alone. Check out this very detailed, semi-studious ranking of 140 recent films that had roots in comics. 

It's been over 35 years since they were used, but apparently the original Tatooine sets from Episode IV are not only still standing, but have been entirely abandoned. Photographer Ra di Martino learned of this and set out for Tunisia to see for himself. These are the images she captured of that expedition.

Games

Fans of Diablo III may have been privy to a digital gold rush this week as a bug in the game metastasized to the point that Blizzard was forced to shut down the game's controversial auction houses. The glitch has since been fixed and the game restored to full functionality.

Ugh, come on EA. We really don't need any more of your evil shenanigans. Not only did the company manage to snatch up exclusive development rights to any and all Star Wars games for the foreseeable future, but they released this attempt at sensitivity.  Yes, you read that right. In the wake of gun-related tragedies like the shootings at Newtown, EA is going to stop paying licensing fees to firearms manufacturers, but continue to use the digital images of the guns in their games. So the pistols and assault rifles will remain; EA just won't pay for them. Right. 

Oh PopCap, when are your wares not wholly addictive? The answer is never. Soon we'll have even more cause to wonder where the last 2 hours went as the company announced that they will be releasing Plants vs. Zombies 2 in July.

Speaking of things that may manifest as click games on social media, remember how last year around this time Zynga tried to keep Facebook's sticky fingers out of their FarmVille cookie jar? Yeah, about that.

General Awesomeness/Feats of Nerdery

The innovative Danes over at Lego announced that they will be producing and releasing a line of Steampunk Legos later this summer. The guys over at Brick Bloggers have the full breakdown, including some gorgeous pictures of what tiny, plastic brick goodness is in store.

Absurdly impressive: take a peek at this incredible homemade Transformers costume. It took the costumer 2 years and nearly $2000 USD to build.

In commemoration of Star Wars Day last weekend, the guys at Etckt.com compiled this extremely detailed periodic table of elements using characters, places, and concepts from the Star Wars universe. Bonus: they crafted their Mendeleev-inspired piece using only elements from Episodes IV-VI

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Movie Review: Iron Man 3

Hi guys! I'm back! For real this time, I promise. Where was I? Well, every so often you'll get snippets of my kvetching about how work morphs into this massive Elder Hydra that then proceeds to consume nearly all free time for a period of 2-6 weeks. April was that epic struggle on steroids. The last time the battle was that feverish was because the Hydra received a historically enormous buff (i.e.  the largest bankruptcy in U.S. history) . This time the conflict wasn't even event-driven...more like a series of zemblanitous coincidences. Side note: zemblanity is an awesome, if somewhat sad, word. It was literally as though everyone in my party could roll no higher than a 3 and all environments and NPCs were having a similarly rough go the dice. Long story short, the Elder Hydra has finally been dispatched and life can return to some semblance of normalcy. Woot!

Part of this glorious return to life-as-usual was having free time again, which allowed me to jump into the summer blockbuster movie season with reckless abandon. Ok, so more like measured abandon, but you get the idea. First on the docket was the third installment of the Iron Man series. The release of the film was tailored to give it every possible advantage, a measure taken with the sole purpose of furthering the near-planetary inertia set in motion after the unprecedented success of the Avengers. Still, even after slating the film to release on the same calendrical weekend as its immediate predecessor (which itself coincided with the once-every-six-years confluence of Star Wars Day and Free Comic Book Day) and an enormous multimedia ad campaign it was abundantly clear that the Avengers was going to be an extremely hard act to follow. 

Granted, not every movie can be a billion-dollar, box office busting history-maker BUT, if you're trying to further a multi-billion dollar Marvel-based movie universe, Iron Man was your best bet. The two earlier installments of Iron Man brought in over half of the approximately $1.3 billion total gross from the six "feeder" films that culminated in the Avengers ($630.4 million for Iron Man 1 & 2 versus $624.2 million from the other four movies). The title character is colorful and engaging in just about every way, due in no small part to the brilliance that is Robert Downey Jr. His performance is one of those surreal performances that seems to bring an intangible character to real physical form. It's akin to Peter Dinklage playing Tyrion Lannister on HBO's Game of Thrones. After you've seen the actors in those roles, it's nigh impossible to imagine their textual counterparts as separate entities. In the case of Robert Downey Jr., this is due in no small part to things like this:

Ok, yes yes. Disney/Marvel isn't stupid. Of course they're going to follow their biggest compilation with their strongest participating franchise. The question is, were they successful? Does Iron Man 3 follow through in its crucial momentum-enhancing role?

The answer is...sort of. Yes, only kinda.

The reactions I've experienced myself as well as those garnered second-hand have ranged from <shrugs> "meh" to "WTF?" Where you have or will likely fall will probably depend on your responses to the following questions.

- Were you/are you originally a reader of the Iron Man comics or were you introduced to Tony Stark via the films?

- If you were a follower of the comics, which did you prefer: the comics or the movies? (yes, you have to choose)

Why does this matter? Well, quite frankly, if you're even somewhat familiar with the comic book Iron Man universe then the movie is likely to grate on you as it handles a significant amount of rich, complex history with all the precision and care of an industrial chainsaw.

We're led to believe that the primary villain in the film is Tony's mythic arch-nemesis, the Mandarin. Without spoiling things, the Mandarin is neither what we're made to believe he is, nor really what he deserved to be. A perfect illustration of this garbled interpretation is the lack of the Mandarin's rings. We get a single rushed glimpse of them and they play no functional role in the story. And yes, these are the movies, not the comics, so a certain amount of creative license is to be expected when translating a property from one form of media to another. However, the depiction of the Mandarin not only trounces pretty much all of comic canon, but destroys nearly every possibility of either the character or the extremely important organization he's tied to (in the film, not the comics) making an appearance in any future Marvel movie. If you're versed in Marvel lore and have followed the films to this point, you may sit with jaw agape wondering why on Earth the writers/producers decided to do this.

There are plenty of additional canonical qualms, but they all can be summarized as follows: the movie attempts to placate fans of the comics with copious references while still engaging newcomers, but, in order to do the latter, it waters down the former into a barely recognizable state.

Comic foundation aside, Iron Man 3 is considerably darker and more serious than either of its predecessors. It differs from its forebears in another crucial way: it is a story about Tony Stark, not Iron Man. Set very soon after the events of the Avengers, we see Tony mired in a struggle with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He clings to both his sanity and his relationship with Pepper Potts by the barest of threads. While he loves building his trademark suits it becomes clear that this affection is derived from the comfort and security they provide their wearer, not because they could serve as the uniform of an active, crime-fighting superhero.

We get to see a suit on a would-be active crime fighter in the form of War Machine, now re-branded as the Iron Patriot. In fact, the suits and re-branding underscore the larger theme that the power armor is no longer something uniquely Tony. A handful of people aside from Stark get to don them and, at one point, they are the basis of what is perhaps the world's most baffling and expensive pyrotechnics display.  

However, if the power armor is what's bringing you into the theater, then the progression of the plot may seem to drag. Again, this is about Tony and his tale here is one of classic redemption. Hero loses everything, hero must strive to regain that which has been lost and learn valuable lessons along the way. Iron Man 3 attempts to make this more multifaceted and contemporary by adding an overlay of horrific terrorism, but the timeless device prevails.

It's a long, hard climb back to the top (or a few chummy scenes with an 8 yr old sidekick!)

The majority of the cast turn in admirable performances. Ben Kingsley and Guy Pearce do an especially commendable job with their roles. There's plenty of action, loads of shiny technology, snarky one-liners, and oodles of explosions. Still, despite all the flare and panache, the movie seems a bit hollow. Though some of this is probably due to "Pixar Syndrome" and the fact that the Avengers cast an enormous shadow, the disappointment is rooted in something more. It's not just that we know the studio could have done better; it's that it seems as though the studio knew this too, but was either too overextended or simply didn't want to produce a cleaner, more coherent product. Instead they try to cram in far too much and support it on some pretty bare bones. There are simply too many logic gaps, plot holes, and seamlessly perfect resolutions to make this movie a truly satisfying third (and final?) chapter.

It's honestly not dissimilar to what you may have experienced after seeing the Dark Knight Rises, as many of the disappointments are rooted in the same basic causes. It's a letdown  not only because the story seems strained, but because we'd previously been privy to so much more.

In summary: Go in either braced for the extreme discrepancies from the source material or consciously ignore the comic history entirely and treat the movies as an entity unto themselves. It's quite a show, just maybe not the kind of show you were expecting.

Overall Grade: B-/C+

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This Week in Geekdom

For the second consecutive year we've been treated to cinematic brilliance alongside both Star Wars Day and Free Comic Book Day. Is there seriously a better weekend to be a nerd? Do you think a point exists past which we could cram no additional geekery without a weekend imploding under its own awesomeness? Hmmm...I'd be willing to test this. Anyhow, on to the week! 

Games

In a brilliant but saddening social experiment, indie developer Green Heart Games produced their first title, Game Dev Tycoon, and released it this past Monday. The game is a simulator in which players manage their own game development company. Akin to what their real-life counterparts experience, these virtual companies encounter piracy which threatens their financial health. In order to try and underscore the severity of piracy in the gaming world, Green Heart Games attempted to give the pirates a definitive example of just how their actions impact developers. Check out what happened when pirates played the simulator and were continually bankrupted due to piracy.

The saga surrounding the much-maligned Aliens: Colonial Marines continued as both Gearbox Software and Sega found themselves slapped with a lawsuit earlier this week. The suit claims that both defendants misrepresented the game by claiming that the footage used in their trade show demo was of actual gameplay. Turns out that was not the case.

TV

Nerds around the world cried out all at once and then were silent following the announcement of the cancellation of Star Wars: the Clone Wars. This week, we were given reason to cheer when it came to light that there was still a bit of life left in the series. Supervisor Dave Filoni shared some of the details concerning the efforts being made to tie off the last remaining story arcs.

Speaking of Star Wars, check out this list of some of the most memorable references to the Trilogy to grace the small screen.

Ever wonder why some TV shows get a second chance at life, while others are left to live on only in the memories of their fanbases? Netflix executive Ted Sarandos tells us who gets to make that call and why some series will never be rebooted. 

Movies

Amidst all the clamor surrounding the release of Iron Man 3 we got a tidbit concerning fodder for a future first weekend in May: Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver will join the cast of the Avengers 2.

Science/Technology

The internet celebrated its 20th birthday on Tuesday. As part of the celebrations, the folks at CERN restored the very first link to grace the world wide web.

Fans of nuclear fusion were treated to some wonderful news. Researchers MIT’s Plasma Science and Fusion Center revealed that a certain kind of turbulence in molecular plasma appears to be a factor in achieving the elusive self-sustaining reaction.

In an unorthodox blend of creativity and science, artist Heather Dewey-Hagborg creates portraits of individuals by deriving their features from their DNA. What'll make you raise an eyebrow: the DNA comes from bits of trash, such as gum or cigarette butts, that she finds in public places.

The guys over at IBM clearly enjoyed themselves as they played with their 2-ton atomic microscope. Aside from conducting research, they created this stop-motion film with individual atoms as the pixels.  

High fructose corn syrup: demonized food additive, artificial sweetener, and possible causer of honey bee colony collapses.

Issac Aasimov would nod in approval this week as the U.N. Human Rights Commission released a statement saying that its members would be seeking a moratorium on killer robots. Asimov was even cited in the statement, which you can see here.

And, in an impressive effort, Blizzard artist Vitaly Bulgarov sought to create 10 unique mechs in 10 days. The stunning results of this "Black Phoenix Project" can be seen here.

As always, best wishes for an awesome week ahead!  

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This Week in Geekdom

Happy weekend everyone!  Just a quick post this time around and hopefully, hopefully getting back to real posts again soon. This past month has been unexpectedly tough in a whole bunch of ways BUT May is nearly upon us and, with a new month, there shall be new nerdy awesomeness!

Science/Technology

So 3-D printing has been a legit thing for a few years now. So why isn't the price of the technology coming down so we can, you know, have access to and use it? Here's your answer.

Magnets, how do they work? Well, aside from generating that meme, that question has perplexed quite a few physicists when they attempt to "project" magnetic fields over a given distance. A magnetic field can be extremely powerful and useful, but was effectively limited to its polar bases until these researchers developed a type of "hose" to project fields pretty much wherever they wanted.

60 Years ago this past Thursday four intrepid scientists concluded that DNA generally assumes a helix shape. This is the story of their paradigm-shifting discovery.

What if your college professor gave you full license to cheat on his exam? How would you react? Check out the story of one UCLA professor who presented his students with exactly this scenario.

Frustrating: typing on your handheld device with your thumbs or index fingers. If this is frequently the case for you, fear not, a new keyboard layout may not be too far away.

Holy thermodynamic adherence! Earlier this week, astronomers spotted a galaxy with the ability to convert ambient energy into stars with nearly 100% efficiency.  

Games

In what will almost certainly not be the last of THQ-published franchises to be snapped up by other developers at a bankruptcy-necessitated bargain price, Gearbox Software announced this week that it had acquired the beloved strategy franchise, Homeworld. The purchase came on the heels of a failed crowdfunding attempt bring the property into the hands of its most devout fans.

Since EA couldn't possibly allow for a stable and enjoyable gaming experience, they released the first major patch for Sim City this week. And...yeah...about that. 

Legend of Zelda: Symphony of the Goddesses concert series has released a smattering of new tour dates. Check out the updated schedule to see if they're coming to a venue near you.

TV

Though we try to write this off as another "hiatus", it appears that Futurama may be gone for good this time. On Monday, Comedy Central announced that they would not renew the animated series for another season. The show's producers are in the process of trying to find a new home for their creation but, unless there's a massive response from the fans, they seem content to let the series come to an end on September 4th.

Less saddening, but still disappointing was the announcement that the upcoming season of the Venture Brothers has been pushed back from its original release in mid-May to midnight on June 2nd. There was no official reason given for the rescheduling, but we will, in fact, have new Venture Brothers this year.

I leave you with this excellent interview with Clark Gregg (aka Agent Coulson)...because we're not already excited enough about the S.H.I.E.L.D. TV series. 

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