Net Chunks

New smaller kindle demonstrated by Ian Freed

2010-07-29T16:26:00.000+01:00

Ian Freed, vice president of Kindle at Amazon.com, demonstrating the new smaller, lighter, brighter version of the e-reader at the company's new South Lake Union headquarters.

And now we FINALLY have kindle in the UK too.

Basil Marceaux - an internet phenomenon and a terrifying man...

2010-07-29T16:19:00.000+01:00

Here's a clip of Basil Marceaux, the republican candidate running for the Tennessee governorship. Watch the video and you'll see why he's becoming a meme - colbert also has helped his rising star by lampooning him last night.

Basil seems to be oblivious to the tone of most of his commentators however, seeing the increase in interest as vindication of his stance on his various platforms.

Daft Punk Soundtrack for Tron Legacy leaked

2010-07-29T12:56:00.000+01:00

I'm really excited about tron legacy. This makes me even happier as it turns out Geek Favourite, Daft Punk, have been working on the soundtrack for the last 3 years. Director Joseph Kosinski is quoted as saying the duo are "blurring the lines between sound design and music".

And if you haven't seen the latest trailer premiered at comic-con last week, here it is

Happy in Paraguay

2010-07-29T12:46:00.001+01:00

This is just brilliant...

Paul McCartney and the Jonas Brothers - together at last

2010-07-29T12:02:00.001+01:00

Music Legend McCartney has performed at the white house for the president and his family. Macca serenaded the first lady with Beatles classic, Michelle. This was especially nerve-wracking, with the president joining in - even with the french bits (show off).

The Jonas Brothers also made an appearance to keep the younger dignitaries happy and a thoroughly good time was had by all. Macca claims he and the president "could talk like a couple of guys."

The performance will be shown on US TV this evening.

Most amazing basketball trick shot ever!

2010-07-17T00:13:00.000+01:00

This is just astonishing. Basket scored from behind the bleachers.

If anyone know of any better sporting one-offs captured on camera, please post them in the comments.

India unveils new rupee symbol

2010-07-16T15:08:00.000+01:00

The Indian cabinet and finance ministry has chosen the new symbol for it's national currency. Chosen from a shortlist of five, post-graduate student D. Udaya Kumar's design impressed judges.
Fellow shortlistee, Shibin KK said that "Udaya Kumar's design was among the best three designs. The 3-D presentation at the RBI was quite impressive. I am happy that his design has been selected to represent the rupee."

It was felt by the cabinet that Mr Kumar's design represents the strength of the growing Indian economy. Moves are afoot to make the new symbol a computer standard alongside the Pound Sterling, dollar and Euro sign.

Check out the full story at the guardian

Inception Review - to listen, or not to listen, that is the question

2010-07-16T13:43:00.000+01:00

Inception hits the screens in the UK today, and I for one am seriously looking forward to it. I'm also a big fan of the Kermode and Mayo show on the BBC's fivelive radio station. I love listening to Mark Kermode's reviews as he undertakes his job with such passion and enthusiasm. It only makes me sad when he puts me off going to see a film (he can be very persuasive!), only to find out years later that I actually thought it was alright.

Anyway, having not learnt my lesson, I'm going to see what he has to say about Inception this afternoon ahead of seeing it tonight. If you want to listen, he's on at 2pm UK time (GMT+1) and you can listen here (Outside the UK may have trouble with this link. Clearly I don't condone using a UK proxy, or anything like that.)

Alexa Ray Joel: 'My dad tells me to cover my boobies'

2010-07-16T09:50:00.000+01:00

Alexa Ray Joel - Daughter of piano man billy - told Howerd Stern her father tells her to cover up her lady bits before going out!

I think any fathers out there can sympathise with the uptown guy's desire to protect his daughter - after all he's been around the block a few times himself!

Get the full story at Showbiz Spy

Radiohead : In Rainbows

2007-10-10T17:04:00.000+01:00

Everyones talking about it, and with good reason. Is In Rainbows the first album in the new world order of buying music? Are the record companies losing their grip on an industry where they are becoming less and less relevant. Or will bands find they need the likes of EMI to promote and guide them? Time will tell. In the meantime, I just bought In Rainbows for £2 and love it I have to say. Particular favorite after 3 listens - 'Jigsaw falling into place', although a throw back to OK Computer, a very welcome one in my opinion.

A few reviews and articles...

Buy In Rainbows

Times Online
Drowned in Sound
AlbumVote
Track by Track @ Rolling Stong

BBC

Vin Diesel to play The Terminator in Terminator 4

2007-10-09T15:24:00.000+01:00

The word on the street is that Vin Diesel and Charlie’s Angels director McG are in talks over the new Terminator film set in post-apocalypse America as John O'Connor heads the resistance against Skynet and it's robotic Army.

Free Speech suffers at University of Florida

2007-09-18T22:49:00.000+01:00

A University of Florida student, Andrew Meyer, was subdued with a taser because he asked questions "with passion" to 2004 presidential candidate John Kerry.

Regardless of the content of what he was saying (some of which I'd like to have heard Kerry answer), the cops unbelievably move in drag him away and tazer him with absolutely no reason whatsoever.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AlnIkhYCS4w

I think it it's pretty damn disgraceful that the cops feel they have a right to remove someones freedom of speech and expression. How did we come to this?

It seems Meyer is no shrinking violet, he has a history of stunts and skits, as can be seen on his website theandrewmeyer.com , and I'm sure he's not going to be too dissapointed by his new found celebrity status. But even if this was a calculated stunt, and even if he was shooting his mouth off and being a dick, I don't think the police have any business behaving in the way they did here.

More comments at the facebook group...

http://ufl.facebook.com/event.php?eid=5779218759 .

Documentarian Errol Morris on conspiracies and the power of nightmares

2007-09-15T13:08:00.000+01:00

Eroll Morris - filmaker, photographer and cultural commentator speaks to Adam Curtis, director of “The Power of Nightmares”...

http://www.errolmorris.com/content/interview/believer0406.html

Kings of Chaos

2007-09-15T13:03:00.000+01:00

There's a huge buzz about the massive online multiplayer game, Kings of Chaos.

I want to check it out, but the server is down goddammit, anyone know anything about it?

http://www.kingsofchaos.com/

Sarah Shahi - Life promo stills

2007-09-15T12:28:00.000+01:00

Check out these Sarah Shahi promo shots over at ns4w.org.

"LIFE" — is a new drama about a detective who is given a second chance. Damian Lewis stars as complex, offbeat Detective Charlie Crews, who returns to the force after years in prison, thanks to close friend and attorney Constance Griffiths, after serving time for a crime he didn’t commit. The cast also includes Sarah Shahi as Charlie’s skeptical, demanding partner, Robin Weigart as their hard-hitting lieutenant, and Adam Arkin as former cellmate Ted Early. "Life" is an NBC Universal Television Studio production.