Tupac is back, and HE'S A FREAKING JEDI!!!
Monthly Archives: April 2012
TED Talk: Daniel Libeskind’s 17 Words of Architectural Inspiration
This TED Talk by Daniel Libeskind may have been filmed back in 2009, but this lecture has yet to decline in its popularity. Libeskind at one point was a free-verse poet, an opera set designer and a talented musician who would later become an internationally-famous architect who has been both praised and criticized for his glorious design style (you know, like almost EVERY OTHER ARCHITECT). In this TED Talk, Libeskind describes what inspires his unique approach to architecture in only seventeen words. For example, he starts out by stating his belief that optimism is the driving force of architecture, which is why he states, “Architecture is not based on concrete and steel and the elements of the soil. It’s based on wonder.” Watch the full lecture after the break.
The Best Way to Play “Tetris;” On A Building!
This past weekend, a group of student gamers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (or MIT) hacked the Green Building, home to the school’s Earth and Planetary Sciences Department, and played one gigantic game of Tetris.
China’s Dilemma of New Construction vs. Architectural Legacy/Heritage
The art and method of reusing building materials from older buildings for newer building is nothing new; the Romans harvested construction materials from older structures to build new monuments, just as later Roman monuments were harvested for new construction in medieval times. This strategy, from the “pro” side, of considering the “design-science of the life of buildings” rather than just the “art of building” was a suggestion of futurist Steward Brandt. A problem, the “con,” that could arise from that is the structures that could have been deemed culturally and historically significant were razed for the sole purpose of new construction. Granted, the importance of historic preservation may or may not have been as important then as it is today, but now it has become a legitimate alternative, guideline, and preference in architecture. Unfortunately for China, according to an article in Architect: The Magazine of the American Institute of Architects, they may have fallen into the “con” category.
CM Punk’s Farewell in Ring of Honor (Highlights)
While celebrating the promotion’s Top 5 moments in it’s history, Ring of Honor (ROH) placed CM Punk’s final match against Colt Cabana (and the events surrounding it) at the ROH event Punk: The Final Chapter as part of that Top 5 list. Punk initially rose to prominence through his career on pro wrestling’s independent circuit, primarily as a member of ROH, where he was the first head trainer of ROH’s wrestling school as well as winning both of their championships.
PlayStation Vita to get Skype App Later Today!
I remember using Skype on my PSP-3000 a few times and being impressed with the feature. As a matter of fact, Skype was one of the reasons I sold my old PSP-1000 model for a PSP-3000 one (that, video-out, and the “Rock Band: Unplugged” bundle; man, that game is fun!) However, it was limited to voice-based calling, which was fine, but at the time any computer with a built-in or external webcam could utilize the video/voice call option. I finally got a chance to use the video/voice call option on my Samsung Epic 4G, but ran into some trouble early on in a call with an old college friend of mine (apparently, software now-a-days need something called “updates;” I know, never heard of ‘em).
Retired Boeing 737 Repurposed as Garage-kept Flight Simulator
Coming to a video game arcade near you.....?
Oakland, CA resident, air traffic controller, and pilot James Price has taken an original nose/pilot cabin of a 1969 Lufthansa Boeing 737-100 and converted it into his own personal flight simulator. According to Price, he “gutted” the bird, installed “all new” parts, moved it into his garage and then decided to show his pet project to the world.
Welcome the Tokyo Sky Tree, The World’s Tallest Comm Tower
The Sky Tree is Japan’s 2,080-foot tall communications centerpiece and the second tallest building on the planet, dwarfed only by the Burj Khalifa. It is located in Sumida, Tokyo and cost $806 million to complete, including a two-month delay due to the earthquake and tsunami. Over half a million workers assisted in its construction which was completed in late-February to early-March.
Want to Know How the Tupac “Hologram” Worked? *Coarse Language Ahead*
The big news this week in entertainment has been the recent return-from-the-dead (not really) of Tupac “2Pac” Shakur at the Coachella Music Festival, thanks to some very interesting technological means and methods. It was instantly (and incorrectly) described as a “hologram,” although it was technically based on the usage of a projector that sent a 2D animated Tupac onto a reflective surface, that then reflected back to an invisible (to the audience) transparent foil screen to make him look 3D. Check out the picture below for more simplified details.
Sony Announces “God of War: Ascension” for Spring 2013!
Sony has just confirmed that there is going to be a new God of War game, entitled God of War: Ascension, for the PlayStation 3. Ascension would be a prequel to the entire existing God of War series – Chains of Olympus (PSP), GOW1 (PS2), Betrayal (mobile), Ghost of Sparta (PSP), GOW2 (PS2) and GOW3 (PS3)– and that more information about the game would be released on the PlayStation Blog on Monday, April 30th. The game will follow the origins of Kratos, the longtime protagonist of the series, as “he takes his first steps on a now legendary quest for freedom and vengeance.”
Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn, ECW Hardcore Heaven 1999
Rob Van Dam entered into a rivalry with Jerry Lynn in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) in 1999, and he would defend the ECW World Television title at Hardcore Heaven (a rematch from their match 2 months prior at Living Dangerously) in a “no time limit” match. Since the match was deemed so good by ECW officials, wrestlers, and fans alike, ECW owner/promoter Paul Heyman aired it on ECW’s debut episode on TNN in place of a shoot (i.e., non-scripted, non-storyline) promo about TNN that he was planning, but was not allowed to air. This turned out to be the beginning of ECW’s issues with that network due to the raw deal they had with TNN that put them at a disadvantage from the very start of they’re business relationship.
So, “Halo 4″ is coming out November 6th, 2012
Not being a huge fan, but regardless, this is still some huge news. Microsoft and 343 Studios have announced earlier today that Halo 4 is scheduled to be released into the retail jungle on November 6, 2012 for the Xbox 360 to start a whole new trilogy in the series (which is sort of interesting since Halo games typically release in September; oh well, it’s probably for the holiday sales figures). The game will also be announced and discussed in further detail on tonight’s edition of “Conan” on TBS, in which there will be a special segment on the Master Chief’s latest journey.
A New Use for VHS Tapes…Coffee Tables!!!
With the rise in digital media and the popularity of tangible video media through DVD and Blu-ray (and even HD-DVD for the stubborn), the VHS just cannot compete with the aforementioned digital media in terms of picture quality or audio fidelity. However, the VHS has a great sense of nostalgia; recording you favorite TV shows and movies for the first time, watching home movies, and the memories entangled with that feel, magic, and soul that good old analog-technology can provide. Read the rest of this entry
Stand Your Ground, Young Architecture Majors.
Ask for the money in advance...
Frank Gehry Pulls a “Jenga” for this Apartment Building
Architect Frank Gehry has now left his stamp in the city-state of Hong Kong, after doing so in Los Angeles, New York, Prague, Bilbao. The recently-completed Opus Hong Kong is a 12-story residential tower, and the architect’s first in Asia.
