STUFF: News, Technology, the cool and the plain weird

[MIKA27]

A Familiar Sci-Fi Set-Up Gets A Killer Twist In Short Film They Will All Die In Space

A space ship filled with humans slumbering in cryogenic chambers encounters catastrophic troubles in deep space. We've all seen that in movies before — most recently, in Passengers and Alien: Covenant — but Javier Chillon's short, chillingly titled They Will All Die In Space, puts a sinister new spin on the story.

To say more would be a spoiler (though that title is indeed a bit of a hint), so just watch this suspenseful tale of survival — shot in crisp black-and-white — and enjoy it for yourself.

[MIKA27]

A Third Conjuring Is In The Works, And It's Unlikely To Be Set In A Haunted House

With the huge success of The Conjuring, its sequel, and spin-off Annabelle — and three more spin-offs already on the way — is it any surprise that New Line Cinema has started to prep a third Conjuring film?

Deadline reports that the studio just hired Conjuring 2 screenwriter David Leslie Johnson to write The Conjuring 3. The story will once again be drawn from the real-life files of supernatural investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren (who are played by Patrick Wilson and Vera Farmiga in the movies) but, according to one producer, the third film will break some new ground.

"Clearly we can't do another haunted house movie, right?" Conjuring producer Peter Safran said recently. "We can't do another supernatural possession in a house, with a family in peril. Right? So, it's got to be something different than that, I think."

He added, "There are some [cases] that maybe aren't as well known, but [the Warrens] spent a fair bit of time researching and were part of [them]."

Another thing that will likely be different is the role of James Wan, who directed the first two films. Deadline suggests he won't direct part three, he'll just be back as a producer. To be fair, that was the plan on The Conjuring 2 as well, before Wan's schedule changed and allowed him to make the movie. This time, though, Wan is already working on Aquaman, which won't be released until Christmas 2018. That means the studio would probably have to wait 18 months for him, which is an eternity in Hollywood. You'd imagine, if possible, New Line would want Conjuring 3 out by the winter of next year.

Now officially called The Conjuring Universe, the horror franchise has several spin-off films in the pipeline: Annabelle: Creation opens August 10, and The Nun and Crooked Man are currently in development.

[MIKA27]

Aston Martin's All-Electric RapidE Is Finally Official

Two years ago, Aston Martin teased a road-going all-electric version of its inimitable grand tourer called the RapidE. Based on the four-door Rapide, the RapidE will swap a 6.0-litre V12 for an all-electric powertrain, and it'll enter production in 2019. Any more information is sketchy, but if you're that especially cashed-up greenie who's always wanted an electric Aston Martin, this is the first one ever.
The RapidE's electric drivetrain — whether it's a single or dual electric motor setup, and the size of its battery pack — will be "revealed in due course", but Aston says that electric's instantaneous torque means the car will have "a unique driving experience of a kind not experienced before in an Aston Martin".

There'll only be 155 of Aston Martin's electric four-door sports car produced, which means they're either all already spoken for or will be very soon. It'll be based on the recently introduced Rapide AMR, one of two concept cars launched in March as the flagships of the new Aston Martin Racing road-going hypercar

Until we hear more about the RapidE as it inches closer to reality, feast your eyes on these concept sketches of what the electric Aston could look like.

 

[MIKA27]

Australia's Great Barrier Reef Has Been Valued At A Whopping $56 Billion

With the Great Barrier Reef under unprecedented environmental stress, a new report is raising the alarm in terms of its potential economic loss. Valued at $56 billion, the largest living structure on Earth is now deemed "too big to fail".

Located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, the Great Barrier reef is the largest coral reef system in the world. For the past few years, the corals have been undergoing a mass bleaching event that scientists primarily attribute to excessively warm waters. When water gets too warm, corals expel the algae living within, causing the coral to turn a ghostly white and eventually, starve. Earlier this year, a survey suggested that two-thirds of the GBR has suffered bleaching. Mercifully, a report issued just a few days ago shows that the global coral bleaching event may be coming to an end — but much of the damage has already been done.

It's not clear how long it will take — or even if — the bleached portions of the Great Barrier Reef will bounce back. But as a new report compiled by Deloitte Access Economics points out, the loss of the reef would represent an economic catastrophe for those who depend on it.

As an asset, the GBR is worth an estimated $56 billion, of which $29 billion comes from the tourism industry, and its 64,000 jobs. Approximately $24 billion is attributed to indirect or non-use value, which describes people who know of the reef but have not yet visited (so it's a measure of economic potential). The final $3 billion comes from recreational use, such as boating.

The report, commissioned by Great Barrier Reef Foundation, is the first to calculate the economic value of the GBR. It involved a survey of 1500 Australian and international respondents from 10 countries. The results show the extent to which people have come to depend on the Unesco World Heritage Site.

"This timely report is a much needed, holistic view of the incredible economic value and opportunities provided by the Great Barrier Reef," noted US politician and environmentalist Al Gore in the report. "Any failure to protect this indispensable natural resource would have profound impacts not only to Australia but around the world."

Great Barrier Reef Foundation director Steve Sargent said the report "sends a clear message that the Great Barrier Reef — as an ecosystem, as an economic driver, as a global treasure — is too big to fail," adding that at $56 billion, "the reef is valued at more than 12 Sydney Opera Houses."

While climate change has been implicated in coral bleaching, there are other factors threatening reefs as well, such as farming runoff, urban development, and cyclic outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish (which prey upon coral polyps). Frequent boating accidents and powerful cyclones aren't helping matters, either.

Last month, experts gathered in Australia to brainstorm solutions. Ideas included developing coral nurseries, increasing the efficiency and scope of starfish culls, expanding monitoring systems, identifying priority sites of the reef for conservation, and of course, cutting greenhouse gas emissions to prevent a further rise in sea surface temperatures.

By putting the loss of the Great Barrier Reef into economic terms, it's hoped that people might finally start to take note and respond accordingly. Which is actually kind of sad.

[MIKA27]

Spain Is Digging Up Salvador Dalí's Body Because The World Is A Surreal Nightmare

A Spanish judge just ordered the body of Salvador Dalí to be exhumed for a paternity test. The order comes as a result of a lawsuit filed by a woman named Pilar Abel, a tarot card reader who claims to be Dalí's illegitimate daughter. In court, Abel claimed that her mother was working near the Dalí family's holiday home in the 1950s and that the two "had a friendship that developed into clandestine love". Now, Abel wants to be recognised as the surrealist's rightful heir.

This legal battle has been going on for over a decade. Abel attempted to get DNA proof that Dalí is her father back in 2007, using hair and skin remains taken from the painter's death mask. The results of that test were inconclusive, however, and there are no other biological remains. That's why Abel sought the court order to exhume Dalí's body. Abel also claims that Dalí's own mother first suggested that she was Dalí's long lost daughter and, according to the complaint, told Abel that she was "as weird as [her] father". Abel's lawsuit, filed against the Dalí family as well as the Dalí Foundation, now seeks to give her full rights over the Dalí copyrights as well as the right to carry on his name. However, according to El Pais, "all this would be subject to another demand."

But the next, dark step to solving this mystery involves digging up Dalí's body and getting some DNA samples. Dalí died in 1989 and is now buried in a tomb in a crypt below the stage at the Dalí Theatre and Museum in Figueres, Spain. So it seems that Dalí's remains will return to the world of the living, however briefly, in characteristically dramatic fashion. Seems fitting for the world's most famous surrealist.

[MIKA27]

Newly Declassified Documents Show Nazis Plotted To Destroy Panama Canal

Investigators in Chile have released thousands of declassified documents dating back to the Second World War, revealing the extent to which Nazi spies had infiltrated the country. Among the more shocking revelations is the discovery of a Nazi plot to destroy the Panama Canal — an act that would have changed "the history of the whole world."

As reported in Deutsche Welle, the documents were presented yesterday at an unveiling ceremony in Santiago, Chile. The files were finally made public after a petition was filed earlier this year by Chilean deputies who demanded their release. The files will now stay on public display at Chile's National Archives, and digital versions will be made available online.

"Until yesterday, this was a state secret," said lawmaker Gabriel Silber, one of the authors of the petition. "Maybe, from today, we are going to recognise an uncomfortable truth that unfortunately some political and business figures in Chile supported the Nazis."

Indeed, the Nazis had some support in Chile and other Latin American countries during WWII, which is why so many Nazi officials fled to South America after the war. In 1941, after Nazi groups were discovered in the country, the Chilean government set up a special police unit called Department 50 to track these spy rings and thwart their activities.

As the newly declassified docs show, upwards of 40 people among Nazi spy rings were arrested during the war. Department 50 managed to break up two major spy rings that were working in Chile and other South American countries, seizing weapons, confiscating thousands of dollars in cash, and uncovering various plots, including a plan to bomb mines in northern Chile. The special police force also learned that the children of some German families living in the country were undergoing paramilitary training.

The files also show that Nazi spies and supporters in Chile managed to intercept radio communications made by the Chilean navy. Nazi agents were able to encrypt these messages, and relay them back to the Third Reich. It's fairly obvious from this and other examples that the Nazis received considerable help from Chilean sympathizers in high places.

The USS Arizona in the Panama Canal (1921).

Perhaps most shocking of all, Department 50 uncovered and thwarted a plot to attack the Panama Canal. "If they had prospered in their objectives, it could have changed not only Chile's history, but the history of the whole world," said Hector Espinoza, the director general of Chile's investigations police, at yesterday's ceremony. No details of the plot were made available, but the spies were likely thinking of planting bombs in vulnerable areas, rendering the canal inoperable for extended periods. Destroying one or several locks, for example, could have been potentially catastrophic.

No doubt, the destruction of the Panama Canal, even temporarily, would have been a major disruption to the Allied cause. The canal served as a primary route for the transport of US troops and supplies from the US East Coast to the Pacific Theatre. An obstructed canal would have greatly stunted the ability of US forces to fight Imperial Japan, which was allied with Germany at the time. As a relevant aside, the Japanese had also formulated a plan to attack the Panama Canal during the war using a fleet of submarines, but the global conflagration ended before the attack could be launched.

The release of these documents comes only a few days after a trove of Nazi artifacts were found hidden in collector's home in Argentina. The war may have ended 72 years ago, but we're still discovering the extent to which the Nazis tried to make South America their home away from home.

[MIKA27]

VIBRANT PHOTOS FROM 70S BEACH LIFE THAT SHOW JUST HOW FAR OUT IT REALLY WAS

Going to the beach is always a good idea. But back in the 70s, going to the beach was an even better idea

What made 70s beach culture so memorable? This collection of summer seaside shots from the Getty archive should jog your memory. You'll spot roller girls with groovy knee socks, muscle dudes in tight crop-tops, crochet swimwear, and sick 70s mustaches. These were the days of hip beach parties, cool surfer dudes, and VW bugs.

Plus, when was the last time you saw Arnold Schwarzenegger in a speedo? Keep scrolling, you'll find him. 

A couple shows off their chopper bike near the water's edge on Daytona Beach, Florida, circa 1970.

Arnold Schwarzenegger admires the muscles of another bodybuilder at Muscle Beach in Los Angeles, 1977.

A woman (left) roller-skates, and a group of girls (right) get ready for a skate, at Venice Beach, California, 1979.

Rock band the Runaways pose for a portrait on the Los Angeles beach in 1976. From left: Cherie Currie, Joan Jett, Sandy West, Jackie Fox, and Lita Ford.

An aerial view of Santa Monica Beach, California, circa 1970.

A group of friends take a break from roller-skating at Venice Beach, 1979.

Edmund Sylvers (left) of the R&B group the Sylvers, poses for a portrait on the Los Angeles beach in 1978, and a woman (right) roller-skates on Venice Beach in 1979.

A group of roller skaters on the shores of Venice Beach, 1979.

A surfer catches a California wave in 1978.

Nudist sunbathers at the Devil's Slide Beach in San Mateo County, California, circa 1974.

A group of kids arrive at the Los Angeles beach in a Volkswagen Beetle with a body made of ornate steel, circa 1970.

Crowds of beachgoers enjoy the sun at Deerfield Beach, Florida, 1976.

A pair of surfers (left) pack their surfboards into their car near Byron Bay, Australia, in 1974. Two people (right) embrace on the beach at Jacob Riis Park in Brooklyn, 1974.

People arrive at Old Orchard Beach, Maine, to show off their motorcycles in 1978.

A pair of kids from Ohio rest on their motorcycles after arriving at Daytona Beach in 1975.

A beach patrol officer sits in a patrol car at Nauset Beach in Orleans, Massachusetts, in 1972.

A man takes in the view of the beach in Los Angeles, 1979.

A pair of young women sunbathe at Coney Island in 1977.

Children play on the shore at Jacob Riis Park in 1974.

A beachgoer soaks up the sun in Malibu, 1970.

[MIKA27]

Zack Snyder Posts A New Picture Of Batman

Zack Snyder is currently spending some time with family, and we hope they are doing as well as they possibly can be, but he put a lot of work into Justice League. He’s still promoting the movie and decided to share a new image of Batman to his Vero account.

It’s a bit hard to tell if the image is from Batman v Superman or Justice League though the latter would certainly make more sense considering the timeline. If nothing else Snyder remains a master at photographing these characters and these worlds. The image screams “the god damn Batman” which is more or less the version that Warner Bros is currently going for. We can’t see much but that’s the look Snyder has been giving this series from the beginning. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, and while Snyder might not “get” Batman he certainly gets the look if nothing else.

The movie is less than six months away and Comic-con International is less than a month away. Warner Bros always puts on a good show in Hall H so it would be very surprising if they didn’t release some sort of trailer. We still haven’t seen Superman and we all know he’s going to be in the movie. There is no way Warner Bros and DC could keep that a secret until November. If there was a crowd who would lose their minds over a reveal like that it’s the Hall H crowd.

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Summary: Fueled by his restored faith in humanity and inspired by Superman’s selfless act, Bruce Wayne enlists the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince, to face an even greater enemy.

Justice League will be directed by Zack Snyder and stars Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, Jason Momoa, Ezra Miller, Ray Fisher. and Henry Cavill. It will be released on November 17, 2017.

[MIKA27]

BXR IS THE LATEST BOXING GYM YOU’D WANT TO LIVE IN

BXR London is the latest state-of-the-art training facility to join the UK’s growing list of glossy boutique gyms and this one looks more like a designer bachelor pad than a sweat factory. The venue is spread across an expansive 1,115 square-metre space complete with 6 metre high ceilings, a juice bar, chic industrial finished amenities and more fitness equipment than you can poke a barbell at.

Bergman Interiors co-founder Marie Soliman, who oversaw the gym’s design along with Albin Berglund told Wallpaper that, “BXR is a real showcase in the boxing world. We are reflecting the history, the glamour and the craftsmanship of the sport.”

“We used a rich blend of backlit dark tinted mirror, bronze accents along with warm Cognac-coloured leather.”

The goal behind BXR is to create a boxing space which is both theatrical in paying homage to the sport whilst being unintimidating to those who have never set foot inside a boxing gym. Short of wanting to move in and live there after joining, members can utilise BXR’s in-house clinic, throw back some organic juice from Joe & The Juice’s custom menu or simply admire the raw concrete decor complete with murals. 

Even the in-house sound system possesses enough power to rival those of an Ibiza night club. 

 

[MIKA27]

Glassblower Ben Slanted Bar Glasses

There’s a lot of talk around here about cocktails and sipping whiskey, and if you’re already talking about your drinks, you might as well put them in a noteworthy glass. The Slanted Bar Glass is a new angle on the traditional bar glass. A 45° angle to be precise. And let’s address the most obvious issue with the glass right away. Yes they will tip over if you put too much in them and no that’s not an issue regular glasses have. But that’s a problem so easily avoided (namely by not pouring too much liquid in it) we’d really have to blame the user if it became a chronic failure. If you keep your pour at or below 6 ounces, the glass should stay standing. If that doesn’t seem like enough to you, you could fill it as you normally would and keep it in your hand all the time, so you have options here. No matter how you choose to use it, these glasses are as much as conversation piece as your whiskey or mixed drinks.

[MIKA27]

THE NORTH FACE FOUNDER'S PATAGONIAN FARM

Situated between the Renihue and Negro rivers in southern Chile, The North Face Founder's Patagonian Farm is an adventurer's retreat. The property is part of conservationist and businessman Doug Tompkins' Conservation Land Trust and consists of 1,750 acres. Its waterfront setting allows for fly fishing and kayaking, while the Valdivian rainforest offers bird watchers a variety of exotic species. Accommodations include a restored five-bedroom main house with a gourmet kitchen to prepare farm to table fare from the two organic gardens and three wood-stove heated greenhouses, as well as a guest house, farmhand housing, management offices, repair shops, and airstrip. Along with views of forests, mountains, and rivers, the farm also offers glimpses of the neighboring Pumalin Park Sanctuary's Michimahuida Volcano.

 

[MIKA27]

HARDY NOCES D'OR SUBLIME COGNAC

In addition to distilling premium Cognac since its inception back in 1863, the Maison Hardy name is just as identifiable by its creative and unique bottle designs. The latest in the line is Hardy Noces D'or Sublime, featuring a bottle designed for the Year of the Rooster which is also the Hardy family's coat of arms. The bottle arrives in a plaque designed in the French Art Nouveau style that has been cut, etched, and polished by hand. And the spirit itself is even more impressive, created from forty different 100% Grande Champagne Cognacs that are aged a minimum of 50 years.

[polarbear]

On ‎26‎/‎06‎/‎2017 at 3:07 PM, MIKA27 said:

MCGREGOR VS MAYWEATHER

It's really happening — Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Connor McGregor enter the ring on August 26, 2017 in Las Vegas. On one side, you have who is widely recognized to be one of the greatest pound-for-pound boxers in history with a 49-0 record. On the other, a mixed-martial artist with a killer instinct, lightning reflexes, and hands of stone. Already looking to be one of the biggest events in sports, McGregor-Mayweather might be the shot in the arm the flagging sport of boxing desperately needs.

Its going to be an interesting fight, to say the least
In all honesty I cant see how Connor will win this without a lot of luck but I'm looking forward to the spectacle of it.
If it goes the distance and Floyd wins by decision (which I think is likely) it'll be a win for all parties

That having been said, I did throw $50 on McGregor to knock Floyd out in the 2nd
Sometimes its better to be lucky than good...

[MIKA27]

Matt Reeves Teases a “Noir-Driven, Detective Version” of ‘The Batman’

With War for the Planet of the Apes landing in theaters next month, director Matt Reeves has already started making the press rounds for the final chapter in the new Apes trilogy. As you might expect, people have some questions about The Batman. What’s a bit more surprising is that Reeves actually had some encouraging and interesting things about his vision for the project rather than the boilerplate non-answers and roundabout diversions most major studio directors feed the junket press.

In an interview with New Trailer Buzz, Reeves emphasized that it’s early days yet on the project, mentioning that he just picture locked on War for the Planet of the Apes a matter of days ago, but he did talk about his “point-of-view driven” approach to filmmaking and the emotional parallels that attracted him to both Caesar and Batman.

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“One of the reasons I was drawn to [The Batman] is that I had a similar obsession to Batman when I was younger that I had with the Apes series, which I was obsessed with. I see a parallel emotionally between Caesar and Batman, in that they’re both tortured and trying to sort of grapple within themselves to try and do the right thing in a very imperfect and, to some degree, corrupt world. It’s really that emotionality that I’m interested.”

But here’s the part where he says exactly what most Batman fans have been waiting to hear — he wants to honor the “World’s Greatest Detective” moniker with a “noir-driven” Batman film. Sweet sweet music to my ears. At the same time, Reeves says he’s interested in connecting you to the character’s inner emotionality.

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“In all of my films, what I try to do, in an almost Hitchcockian sense, is use the camera and use the storytelling so that you become that character, and you emphasize with that point of view. There’s a chance to do an almost noir-driven, detective version of Batman that is point-of-view driven in a very, very powerful way, that hopefully is going to connect you to what’s going on inside of his head and inside of his heart.”

This ideation sounds pretty well in line with what Ben Affleck was planning while he was still attached to direct the film. At the time, he described The Batman as a Maltese Falcon-inspired detective story, and it certainly makes sense that the studio would want to find a director with a vision that would keep their star happy, even if he ultimately declined to direct.

As we previously reported, The Batman is headed towards a likely 2019 release date, which means that the film should get in front of cameras late this year.

[MIKA27]

Iron Maiden Comics By Llexi Leon, Ian Edginton And Kevin J. West In Heavy Metal Magazine, Starring Eddie For The First Time

At San Diego Comic-Con, get ready for a new Iron Maiden comic book. No, not a new name for Riri Williams, but new actual Iron Maiden comics, yes as in the heavy metal band, appearing appropriately enough in July’s Heavy Metal Magazine. 

Based on the mobile game Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast, the Iron Maiden comics will feature Eddie battling through the worlds of their albums. Remarkably, this is the first time Eddie has officially appeared in a comic book, though there have been plenty of knock-offs over the decades. Courtesy of Nerdist we get the info.

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Eddie’s immortal soul is shattered and strewn across the cosmos. Now, Eddie must journey across space and time to battle the twisted legions of The Beast, seek out the lost shards of his soul, and bring order to the realms.

Written by Llexi Leon and Ian Edginton with art from Kevin J. West, in July’s Heavy Metal #287. Check out the intentional nineties-style colouring…

[MIKA27]

Raze: Dungeon Arena Wants To Bring The Hardcore Dungeon Crawler Experience To Mobile

Every now and then, a game comes out that redefines gaming genres or even creates a new one, and Wonder Games really wants Raze: Dungeon Arena to be one of them. Raze is designed to try and satisfy players looking for both single player questing action and PvP/Co-Op multiplayer modes by giving them a hack-n-slash style, dungeon crawling RPG on iOS and Android.

Thats one hell of a promise to live up to, and it will be interesting to see if Raze will make it even halfway there.

Raze: Dungeon Arena has over 60 single player dungeons filled with baddies and boss battles. For those looking to make things a bit more personal, Raze offers 1v1, 2v2, guild battles, and co-op modes. So its a lot of content crammed into that mobile title. So its going to require a hefty sum of your phone’s harddrive.

The game will debut this summer with 24 fully-playable heroes. It employs a tag-team style battle system that lets players take any two heroes into battle. These two heroes can be freely swapped during a fight, offering a new layer of depth to both boss battles and PvP fights. True to RPG form, the heroes in Raze can also be upgraded with loot found in dungeons, gear crafted at the blacksmith, and through the development of their special skills and abilities. The developers at Indra Soft also plan to release a new hero each month.

Pre-Registration for Raze: Dungeon Arena has already begun. Grosvenor, the gun-crazed dwarf, is the pre-reg bonus hero. If you’re into that sort of thing.

You can check out Raze: Dungeon Arena in action below.

 

[MIKA27]

The Foreigner Trailer: Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan Get Angry and Gritty

Jackie Chan is, of course, an international martial arts movie megastar and an icon in the film industry. However, he has typically showcased a repertoire relying on elaborate fight sequences utilizing his own acrobatic physicality, often to comedic spectacle. However, the October release of The Foreigner will see Chan trade clownery for dark vengeance.

The Foreigner trailer has arrived and, based on what we’re seeing, the hype is real. Set in London China Town, the film sees Jackie Chan as a restaurant owner named Quan, who is forever changed when witnessing his daughter, played by Katie Leung (Cho from the Harry Potter films), killed in a terrorist-set explosion. Thus, the typical happy-go-lucky onscreen persona of a Chan character undergoes a radical transformation into a tortured, vengeance-seeking badass. Moreover, when an official, named Liam Hennessy (Piece Brosnan), reveals evidence that the explosion was the work of a conspiracy, the white-hot rage of the aggrieved father Quan reaches a new level; something that will prove to be bad news for those responsible.

For Jackie Chan, at age 63, The Foreigner is a major tonal detour for his prolific CV. After 50+ years in the industry, notably breaking big in the U.S. with 1998’s Rush Hour and its two sequels (with another one rumored in the pipeline), 2000’s Shanghai Noon and its 2003 sequel (again, with another one rumored), 2010’s The Karate Kid remake (yet again, with a sequel rumored) and myriad more, we’re see pure enmity channeled through Chan's – normally smile-inducing – acrobatic chopsocky in a gritty tour de force. He is joined by former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan, who provides a bit of the dark exposition and (per the press release,) fulfills another crucial part of the dramatic process. – We’ll just leave it at that.

Martin Campbell assumes the director’s chair for The Foreigner, working off a screenplay by David Marconi (Live Free or Die Hard, Enemy of the State), which adapts Stephen Leather’s novel “The Chinaman.” Campbell, an internationally-known high-profile helmer, brings his brand of emotionally intense action. The project also serves as a reunion with co-star Brosnan, who made his 007 debut in Campbell’s beloved 1995 Bond outing GoldenEye. Campbell also directed the (also beloved) 2006 Bond debut of Daniel Craig in Casino Royale and was behind the camera for films such as Edge of Darkness, Vertical Limit, The Mask of Zorro and a notorious DC comic book movie misfire in 2011’s Green Lantern.

The Foreigner will unleash the unbridled wrath of a grieving father in the U.S. on October 13, 2017. The film will first see a release in Malaysia on September 28.

 

[MIKA27]

Four Weird Helicopters Are Flying Over Sydney Right Now

If you go outside in Sydney today and look up into the sky, you might see four particularly weird aircraft. Kinda like planes, kinda like helicopters. Don't be alarmed, we're not being invaded. Here's what they are.

The weird-ass aircraft in question are the Bell-Boeing MV-22 / CV-22 Osprey, four of which are in Australia at the moment from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 268, part of the Marine Rotational Force Darwin 17.2 which landed in Darwin at the end of April for their international posting. This was the first time that an Osprey made a trans-Pacific flight.

Look cool, don't they? The video above shows the Ospreys landing in Darwin as part of the Marine force rotation exercise; they're presumably in Sydney just for a bit of sightseeing and showing off.

Former Giz editor Luke Hopewell, in the lofty heights of Twitter's Sydney CBD building, snapped a good photo:

Four Ospreys flying across Sydney right now

They're here for Exercise Talisman Sabre:

You might have seen some of these V-22 Osprey aircraft flying over #Sydney 
part of #TalismanSaber Exercise

 

[MIKA27]

Eerily Accurate Facial Reconstructions Are Allowing The Dead To Speak

Researchers at Liverpool John Moore's University have reconstructed the face of a man who lived in Dublin some 500 years ago. Incredibly accurate reconstructions like this are providing archaeologists with new way of studying the past — while also allowing them to visualise some of the most forgotten figures in history.

Known only as SK2, the remains of this man were found in 2014 by archaeologists from Rubicon Heritage and Transport Infrastructure Ireland. He was one of five skeletons pulled from a construction site near the entrance of Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland. At first, the archaeologists figured the remains were either Vikings or Norsemen, but further analysis suggests the skeletons date back to Tudor Ireland, a period that ran from 1485 to 1603.

Burials found at College Green in Dublin, Ireland.

The skull of SK2 was in excellent shape, prompting a 3D digital facial reconstruction. The work was carried out by Caroline Wilkinson and her team from Liverpool John Moore's University's Face Lab. This is the same team that has performed facial reconstructions of Richard III, Robert the Bruce, and several other historical figures. But unlike these historical bigshots, SK2 was a relative nobody — an individual who came from the lower end of the socioeconomic spectrum.

Indeed, this latest facial reconstruction, like the one done of an ordinary man who lived in England 700 years ago, is providing archaeologists with a novel way of studying a portion of the population that rarely gets mentioned in historical documentation or through art — the very poor. Typically, it's only the rich and famous that get to be remembered.

To build the face of SK2, Wilkinson's team first created a 3D scan of the skull, which formed the basis of the reconstruction. Using well-established marker points from forensic science and specialised software, the researchers were able to lay down the critical facial components, namely facial muscles, soft tissue, and skin. The rest was guesswork — but informed guesswork.

Skeletal analysis suggests the man was between 25 to 35 years of age when he died, he measured 5'6" in height, he suffered from childhood malnutrition, and he performed heavy manual labour during his life. Isotopic analysis of his teeth indicate he hailed from Dublin, where he was subsequently buried. His remains, along with those of four adolescents, were located in place that used to be known as Hoggen Green — an open area that was controlled by the municipality of Dublin. Their graves were shallow, and none of the bodies were placed in a coffin.

Based on these findings, and a review of illustrations made of 16th century Irish people, Wilkinson's team adjusted SK2's face to match. They endowed him with long hair, a beard, and typical Irish features such as fair skin, blue eyes, and brown hair. They even gave him bland, simple clothing to match his social status.

This may not be a perfect representation of SK2's mug, but perfection isn't the point. By pooling all of the scientific and historical evidence together, and by using cutting edge computer technology, the researchers have done something that, until recently, we've never been able to do before — create a photo-like impression of a common person who lived centuries ago.

[MIKA27]

Everything You Need To Know About 'Cleganebowl', Game Of Thrones' Most Hyped Fan Theory

Fan theories and the vast works of A Song and Ice and Fire go hand in hand, and Game of Thrones has spent the last couple of years bringing a few of the biggest of them to life. But one this upcoming season might finally tackle is the legendary Cleganebowl — a duel fans have been chomping at the bit to see for ages.

A Tale of Two Brothers

So what is Cleganebowl? Basically, it's what some fans see as the culmination of the story arcs of Sandor "The Hound" and Gregor "The Mountain" Clegane — two brothers who are very very eager to kill each other.

Pretty much from the get go, in the show and the novels, it was established that the Clegane brothers were not loving siblings. Years of bullying and torture at Gregor's hands — including the burns across his face — taught Sandor to despise his brother, and Gregor's own monstrous actions during the sacking of King's Landing (and his eventual knighthood) also gave the younger Clegane a distrusting view of the world of chivalry and royalty.

Although when we first meet them in the show the animosity is clear, it's also established that the two are both still loyal to House Lannister despite their deep hatred of one another. Since those early days, though, Sandor and Gregor have gone on wildly divergent paths. Gregor remained at Cersei's side, eventually perishing in a deadly duel with Oberyn Martell, only to be resurrected as a zombie-esque silent bodyguard for Cersei, created as an unstoppable Champion for her in her planned trial by combat against the Faith.

Sandor, on the other hand, abandoned the Lannisters and fled King's Landing after the Battle of Blackwater, journeying in the Riverlands with Arya Stark as his captive for a time. Eventually, an encounter with Brienne of Tarth led to her royally beating the crap out of him, and Arya used the battle to escape from both of them. That's more or less where the books left the Hound (although in the books he received his wounds from two of Gregor's men), but the show has since revealed that Sandor survived after Brother Ray and his followers encountered him after his duel. Ray nursed him back to health, and Sandor seemed content to lay down his sword and live with these simple people, until tragedy struck, when they were all massacred by former members of the Brotherhood Without Banners. Sandor picked up his sword and hunted them down, until he found the actual Brotherhood, who were hanging the rest of the murderers for their crimes.

Sandor has since joined the Brotherhood Without Banners, and trailers for season seven have since confirmed he'll at one point meet up with Jon Snow, potentially allying with him as the pair journey beyond the Wall for reasons currently unknown. Although their paths are radically divergent at this point, fans believe there is a future duel between Gregor, as Cersei's Champion, and Sandor, chosen somehow to represent the Faith, given that he was saved by Brother Ray. Or, they thought it was meant to be, until Tommen ruled that trial by combat wouldn't be allowed, leading to Cersei blowing up all of her enemies at the climax of season six.

Since it first emerged, the idea of the jokingly-dubbed Cleganebowl being "confirmed" whenever the slightest bit of news about either one of the brothers has emerged has become a long-running meme in the Thrones fandom. It's even got its own subreddit, which, before last week's release of a new trailer for the show, was full of in-jokes and theories as to how the duel could eventually come about, and is now mainly people screaming their heads off that the theory may finally be coming to pass.

So Could Cleganebowl Actually Happen on Game of Thrones?

Ever since Sandor returned in the TV series following his duel with Brienne — and confirming the hints dropped by Martin in the books that he'd survived there, too — fans have assumed that Cleganebowl is inevitable, even after Tommen's banning of the trial by combat. But the latest trailer for the show released last week contains a blink-and-you'll-miss it shot that many fans believe all but confirms we can expect the fated duel to go down in this penultimate season.

Although obscured by sunlight, the shrouded figure in the trailer does match up with Sandor's hair, and the costume matches one seen in a recent promo for the show worn by him. Sandor Clegane could be drawing his sword at anyone in this shot, but fans have taken it to be him drawing his sword at his brother because of the brief glimpse at the location around him. It looks far different to the chilly Northern climes we've been seeing Sandor in over the last season, and we speculated in our trailer breakdown last week that this could be part of a rumoured major coming together of several members of the Game of Thrones cast at a location called the Dragonpit, a pivotal landmark just outside of King's Landing.

What draws people there is currently unknown, but with rumours that both Clegane brothers are a few of characters that will visit the Dragonpit next season, it seems like after years of waiting, Cleganebowl has finally been scheduled — if if it isn't ultimately as part of Cersei's trial by combat any more.

Cleganebowl in the Books

Beyond the narrative satisfaction of watching these two finally fight it out on screen, there are two other reasons fans are certain Cleganebowl is on the way, and they're both from George R.R. Martin's novels — even though there's actually not as much hard evidence in the books as the show, simply because the show has advanced well beyond where A Dance of Dragons left off.

In the books, we last properly saw Sandor Clegane in A Storm of Swords bleeding out after his duel with Brienne, so we don't know if he survived as he did in the show yet. That said, there is evidence: In A Feast For Crows, Brienne's journey across the Riverlands in search of the Stark children lead to her coming across a monastery lead by a man called the Elder Brother, and a grave digger bearing remarkable physical similarities to Sandor, including his burn wounds, but with his face obscured. The Elder Brother told Brienne that the "Hound is dead", while Sandor himself was "at rest", which obviously implied he's dead, but more likely refers to the younger Clegane giving up his life as the Hound and, no longer fighting, angry or bitter, has found peace.

Meanwhile it hasn't been completely confirmed that Cersei's ominous bodyguard is even Gregor Clegane in the books. Although the show has openly transformed Gregor into Cersei's zombie-esque body guard, the books haven't. There, the giant, silent knight is given the name Ser Robert Strong, but is implied to have been an experimented-upon Gregor, either through science or necromancy, and that the Mountain may have been the vessel, but there's much more going on with him. So there's a chance Ser Robert Strong might not really be Gregor, although it's unlikely.

Regardless, simply because we're still waiting on The Winds of Winter's arrival, we don't know if the books are heading in the direction of the two Clegane brothers ever meeting again, let alone fighting — although, unlike in the show, the original theory of them meeting as part of Cersei's future trial is still a possibility there.

The Crazy Prophecy Behind Cleganebowl

 

A subsection of Cleganebowl fans think that the fated duel between the brothers could play a part in a larger prophecy in the books — specifically the one given to a young Cersei by fortune teller Maggy the Frog. In the TV show it was seen during a flashback in the season five premiere. However, the TV series left out a piece of the full prophecy Maggy gave Cersei in A Feast for Crows that Cleganebowl fans latched on to:

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When your tears have drowned you, the valonqar shall wrap his hands about your pale white throat and choke the life from you.

"Valonqar" means "Little brother" in High Valyrian — and while book fans have speculated that it's highly possible that the Valonqar is either Tyrion (who, in both stature and by blood, is Cersei's little brother) or Jaime (more of a technicality as, although Cersei's twin, was born minutes after her, making her the oldest), Cleganebowl fans believe the Valonqar is actually Sandor Clegane.

Because Maggy's prophecy simply tells Cersei "the Valonqar" and not "your Valonqar", the potential for an unrelated little brother to kill her could potentially mean that Sandor bests his older brother Gregor in the trial by combat (which, as far as we know by the end of A Dance With Dragons, is still a thing in the books), helping sentence Cersei to her death.

Of course, since this part of Cersei's prophecy is only mentioned in the books, it doesn't have any relevance for the show — although it's certainly possible that if Danaerys does conquer Westeros in season seven, Cersei may face another trial. She'd certainly choose Ser Gregor, and Sandor would leap at the chance to finally take out his brother.

Game of Thrones returns on July 17, so we won't know for sure if the Cleganebowl will take place this season, in the final season, or never. But many, many fans have already bought their tickets, and can't wait for the fight to begin.

[MIKA27]

Some Dick Destroyed Norway's Beloved Troll Penis Rock

Norwegian citizens are about to go Liam Neeson in Taken on the shameless vandal who desecrated one of their most beloved natural monuments — a troll dick. Well, it's a rock that looks like a dick. But it's supposed to be a troll dick, specifically.

some jackass cut down a natural rock formation in #Norway. cuz. #Trollpikken https://www.nrk.no/norge/trollpikken-er-odelagt-1.13574442 …

On Saturday, June 24, joggers discovered the rock formation, called "Trollpikken" — which loosely translates to "troll dick" — had been drilled into and hacked off. According to the Associated Press, citizens are now raising money to make their dick rock erect again.

Over the last few days, the Trollpikken Facebook page has received an outpouring of support from its fans. According to the AP, by Sunday, 500 people had donated nearly 90,000 Norwegian kroner ($AU14,056) to a crowdfunding site in order to repair the castrated peen. It's unclear what vendetta the vandal(s) had against the innocent troll dong, but regardless, the culprit could face up to six years in prison.

Locals are confident they will find the person(s) responsible for the heinous crime, and are vowing to rebuild. According to NRK News, police in Egersund have evidence of a chisel left behind at the scene and are in the process of questioning a suspect.

"We have the Viagra it takes," contractor Sverre Garpestad told news outlet TV2.

Norwegian activists hope to raise the equivalent of $AU39,500 in order to repair Trollpikken. Repairing it should only take about an hour with helicopters, by Garpestad's estimates.

Our thoughts are with Trollpikken and its fans during this difficult time.

[MIKA27]

How Spider-Man: Homecoming Balanced Peter Parker's Legacy And Tony Stark's Influence

Part of what makes Spider-Man Spider-Man is his ingenuity. His ability to make things on his own and be an independent superhero. Which is why some fans were concerned when trailers for Spider-Man Homecoming made it seem like Tony Stark did most of the work for him.
So did the filmmakers and star of the film consider how Tony Stark's role would change the core of the Spider-Man character?

"That was definitely a concern," co-writer and director Jon Watts told me. "But I felt ok with it because we don't show that he's not good at stuff."

It's true. Throughout the movie, we see Peter (played by Tom Holland) and his friend Ned (Jacob Batalon) building things. Tinkering things. Being super smart. Plus, the fact Peter Parker was Spider-Man before meeting Tony Stark is key.

"The original Spider-Man [suit] in this movie is all made by Peter Parker," said Tom Holland. "The original webshooters, goggles, that's all Peter Parker tech, it's just been upgraded by Tony Stark. I often find that in previous movies, him making his Spider-Man suit is a little far fetched. Our Spider-Man suit has the justification because it was made by Tony Stark."

But in the movie, Stark is more than the maker of the suit. He's an unwilling mentor to Peter and the directors and producers felt that relationship was not just one of the core reasons for making the movie, it had to be handled very carefully to keep Peter's personality intact.

"The Russo Brothers set up this relationship just so elegantly in Civil War," said Watts. "So, for me, it was about examining the fallout of that. Because when you look at what they did in that movie, Tony Stark plucks this 15-year-old kid out of obscurity, takes him on this insane adventure in Germany, doing something that's potentially very questionable, and then we see him just dropped off in his bedroom in Queens. So the question is, 'Now what?' That lays the ground work for a lot of interesting questions like 'How much did Tony really think this through? What did Peter think now about his relationship with Tony? Is Tony ready for this kind of responsibility? To me that movie raised so many fun and interesting questions that I used that as the spring board into this story."

The mentor relationship between Tony and Peter was also at the core of the pitch Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige gave producer Amy Pascal to sell her on the idea of teaming up with Marvel. But Feige knew, that couldn't be the main focus.

"Certainly fans of the comics know there have been many incarnations of Spider-Man's outfit," Feige said. "And suddenly we had a built in way of suggesting how does a high school kid have this amazing costume? And yes, of course, always saying he doesn't need all those bells and whistles which is why, a lot of those bells and whistles, as you see in the film, get in the way as much as they help."

"Basically [Peter figuring out his relationship with Tony] is what the whole entire movie is about," Pascal added. "Like all of us, it's about wanting to be someone that you're not and then getting stuck with yourself."

Interestingly, while Tony was the obvious choice, especially after the events of Civil War, Watts created images of Nick Fury as the mentor in the story in early "mood reels" before getting the job. "I don't know what the situation would be," he said. "But that would be a person he'd want to get in trouble with."

And as important as the Stark Spider-suit is, Watts doesn't think it's the end all be all.

"I'd love to see more of what Peter can do when it's all his technology," he said. "It would be cool to see him hack the Stark suit and do some other things with it. We see him messing with the protocols [in this movie] but what if he disassembles it and builds his own thing? That could be really cool."

Which feels very much like something Peter Parker would do.

Spider-Man Homecoming opens July 7.

[MIKA27]

Mario-Themed Monopoly Gamer Has Power-Ups And Boss Battles

Hasbro's been pumping out branded versions of classic board game Monopoly for ages. With token-specific abilities, power-up dice and boss fights, Mario-themed Monopoly Gamer is something different.

The heart of Monopoly remains intact in Monopoly Gamer, which hits stores in August. Players roll the dice to travel around the edge of the game board, buying and trading properties.

But the rest has been severely Nintendo-ised. We've got two denominations of cardboard gold coins in lieu of colourful faux cash.

Rather than Boardwalk and Park Place, these cardboard coins are used to buy properties like Bowser's or Peach's Castle.

The game comes with Mario, Yoshi, Peach and Donkey Kong tokens. Each of the four characters has a "Super Star" ability, activated when they land on special spaces on the board. Mario rolls the game's numbered die and collects that many coins from the bank. Princess Peach collects rent on all properties she owns. Yoshi collects all coins on the board, and Donkey Kong steals three coins from each player.

Then we have the dice. Instead of a pair of standard six-siders, the game comes with one standard die and one special power-up die.

Players roll the dice, move the number of spaces on the numbered die and activate the power-up indicated on the other (in whichever order they choose.) If a player rolls a Red Shell they can cause any player to drop three coins on the space they currently occupy. A Green Shell functions the same way but can't be targeted, automatically affecting the next player down the board.

Making things more interesting, the power-up die's effects can be enhanced depending on which character is rolling. If Princess Peach rolls a Red Shell, the player she chooses has to drop four coins instead of three.

When players land on or pass "Go," they collect two coins and a boss battle begins.

There are eight boss battle cards in the game, which players must fight in order. Players pay the amount of coins indicated on the card to initiate a fight. In order to defeat a boss the player rolls a die. If the number is the same or higher than that on the boss card, the player wins and the boss card goes into their inventory.

The game ends when the final boss is defeated. Players tally up the points from the properties they own and the bosses they have defeated, along with ten extra points for every five coins in their stash. The player with the highest score wins.

Make sense? If not, here's someone from Hasbro to explain it in video form:

Not only has Hasbro embraced gaming concepts like power-ups and boss fights, they have also got downloadable content locked down in the form of Booster Packs.

Each $US2.99 ($4) Booster Pack adds a new player to the game with their own unique abilities. Tanooki Mario here's Super Star ability is to fly to the nearest unowned property, with the option to buy.

This all sounds pretty great to me. I love Mario. I love Monopoly, but I hate how it never seems to end. Monopoly Gamer ends with a fight against Bowser and a little accounting.

Monopoly Gamer goes on sale in August for $US24.99 ($33).

[MIKA27]

Hugh Jackman Is P.T. Barnum In First Trailer For “The Greatest Showman”

“There’s a sucker born every minute.”

It’s a phrase often attributed to 19th century showman P.T. Barnum, even though there’s no evidence he actually said it, and whether the word “sucker” was even in common use to describe a mark or a rube in his day is up for debate. But regardless of whether Barnum actually said his signature catchphrase, it’s still had a major influence on our culture.

Barnum was also an author, a politician, a philanthropist, and of course the founder of the Barnum & Bailey Circus, which subjected animals to cruel and inhumane treatment for 146 years before closing down in 2017. Now, Barnum’s life is being celebrated with a new musical starring Hugh Jackman: The Greatest Showman.

Directed by filmmaker and MMA champion Michael Gracey, The Greatest Showman is set to hit theatres on December 25, and you can view the first trailer for the film, released this morning.

[MIKA27]

Mysterious Samurai Scroll Describes Mystical Fighting Powers

A legendary samurai scroll has been translated into English for the first time, revealing some of the mysteries of the elite Japanese swordsmen. The scroll is known as the “Sword Scroll” and is believed to have been written by two elite samurai who served medieval Japanese nobles. The exact date of the scroll’s writing is unknown but it is believed to be at least 500 years old.

The Sword Scroll was first translated into modern Japanese by Fumio Manaka, a Japanese master martial artist, and then translated into English by Eric Shahan, a Japanese translator with a speciality in translating Japanese martial-arts texts. The text largely consists of teachings and parables intended to instill the classic samurai philosophies and doctrines, such as these warnings:

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It is best to err on the side of caution and not enter a mountain road infested with brigands […] There is a saying that goes, ‘a little bit of military training can be the cause of great injury’

However, the Sword Scroll also contains instructions for some of the samurai’s more mysterious techniques such as how to fight in darkness and how to make eggshells full of special blinding powders to throw in enemies’ eyes. One version uses crushed red pepper, while another uses chopped grass, horse manure, and the powdered remains of venomous snakes.

A scroll depicting Yamamoto Kansuke, a legendary samurai reported to be one of the authors of the Sword Scroll.

Despite being recently translated, the scroll remains somewhat of a mystery. While the text claims that the scroll’s authors were two elite samurai, Yamamoto Kansuke (1501-1561), and Kusunoki Masashige (1294–1336), it remains unverified whether these two legendary warriors actually wrote the scroll. Furthermore, several different versions of the Sword Scroll have been collected over the years in various Japanese history books and martial arts texts, each slightly different from the others, making it difficult to tell which, if any, is the original.

Shahan, the scroll’s English translator, says there are scores of more samurai texts waiting to be translated and that we’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of these warriors’ legendary history.