Superman Unbound Trailer

Here’s the trailer for Superman Unbound, DC’s upcoming animated film based on Geoff Johns’ acclaimed Superman: Brainiac run. In addition to Superman and Brainiac, Kal-El’s cousin Kara Zor-El is a prominent player in the story. This makes me happy, because Supergirl is totally hot. More seriously, I really enjoy Superman storylines that cover Kryptonian history. Hearing about Kandor, Zod, and the like fleshes out Superman’s Kryptonian heritage. A lot of writers focus on his wholesome upbringing in Smallville, but dude is an alien and it’s fun to explore that side of him.

Kindly check out the trailer when you have a chance and let me know if you’re interested in Superman Unbound. How do you think it’ll measure up against DC’s other excellent animated features like Batman: Under the Red Hood and The Dark Knight Returns?

Coffee Talk #561: Hating A-Roid

I’ve never liked Alex Rodriguez. Originally it was because of my duty as a Yankee homer; as a Derek Jeter fan, I had to hate rival shortstops like Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra. When A-Rod signed that ridiculous contract with the Texas Rangers, I still hated him. When he came to the Yankees…oy. Yankee fans are usually good about welcoming formerly-hated rivals. Look at Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, and Johnny Damon, for example. Fans never really warmed up to Rodriguez. With A-Rod, many fans felt that…more

Welcome to Coffee Talk! Let’s start off the day by discussing whatever is on your (nerd chic) mind. Every morning I’ll kick off a discussion and I’m counting on you to participate in it. If you’re not feelin’ my topic, feel free to start a chat with your fellow readers and see where it takes you. Whether you’re talking about videogames, whether BlackBerry 10 will change RIM’s fortunes, David Beckham playing football in Paris, or Lindsay Lohan’s mysterious triangle tattoo, Coffee Talk is the place to do it.

I’ve never liked Alex Rodriguez. Originally it was because of my duty as a Yankee homer; as a Derek Jeter fan, I had to hate rival shortstops like Rodriguez and Nomar Garciaparra. When A-Rod signed that ridiculous contract with the Texas Rangers, I still hated him. When he came to the Yankees…oy. Yankee fans are usually good about welcoming formerly-hated rivals. Look at Wade Boggs, Roger Clemens, and Johnny Damon, for example. Fans never really warmed up to Rodriguez. With A-Rod, many fans felt that he wasn’t a “true Yankee.”

Rodriguez has had numerous incidents that prevented fans from accepting him. His bat has gone impotent during many playoff series. There was that time he cheaply tried to swat a caught ball out of Bronson Arroyo’s glove. Last year, he allegedly tried to score a woman’s phone number during a crucial playoff game. The Miami New Times’ report of A-Rod being tied to a performance-enhancing drug dealer has raised the bar. Rodriguez admitted to using PEDs during his Rangers days, but has repeatedly said that he has been clean ever since. If the recent news is true then he’s a liar, a cheat, and a fraud.

Things have gotten so bad that the Yankees are allegedly trying to void Rodriguez’s contract. The crazy thing is, most Yankee fans would love that. (I’d be one of them.) Yankee fans are usually great homers that make good excuses for players’ character flaws. We lauded Mike Mussina’s Stanford education and didn’t mind that he clearly thought he was the smartest man in the league. We described Paul O’Neill’s childish dugout tantrums as “fiery competitiveness.” We dismissed Bernie Williams’ idiotic base running by saying that he was a great clubhouse guy that played a mean guitar. Excuses were never made for A-Rod. He was always an overpaid embarrassment.

A-Roid. A-Fraud.

I’ve never seen anything like him. In my lifetime, I don’t recall a Yankee that was so reviled by Yankee fans. Well done, Alex.

NAMM 2013: Bad Seed Titanium and Steel Guitars

Continuing my NAMM 2013 quest for traditional musical instruments made out of unusual materials, I interviewed Bad Seed Ltd. owner Sheldon Currington about his company’s titanium and aircraft-grade steel guitars. Bad Seed guitars use wooden necks and metal bodies, with a neck-through process that allows for killer sustain. I’ve tried a few metal electrics in the past and they had an artificial tonal quality. Bad Seed’s guitars have a more vibrant sound that’s also unique. In addition to a more natural sound, titanium is just a cool material.

You know how a lot of fantasy nerds believe that everyone in New Zealand is tied to The Lord of the Rings in some way? In Bad Seed’s case, that’s actually true. Currington worked on some special effects for The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit movies. One of the company’s guitars features control knobs and tuners that look like skulls. The skulls were designed by a person that worked on the miniatures for the films.

Currington also has a background making race cars and hot rods. Bad Seed combines his passion for metal working and music. So yeah, this guy makes cool guitars, worked on The Hobbit, and makes race cars. He’s pretty much the coolest person I’ve met in the last year…and makes me feel bad about making goofy videos and writing goofy articles.

Anyway, check out the video above. It’s a fun talk about some of the coolest electric guitars I saw at NAMM 2013.

Vaping Diaries #33: Innokin iTaste SVD Enroute

Here’s the new Innokin iTaste SVD. This is a variable-voltage and variable-wattage tube mod made from stainless steel. The company’s iTaste MVP was a big hit in 2012, thanks to its combination of great battery life and accurate performance at a relatively low price. I believe that it’s still one of the best values in vaping today. With that in mind, I’m looking forward to Innokin’s entry into the highly competitive VV/VW tube-mod scene.

Here are some specs from the manufacturer.

Basic Parameter
Dimension: (109.7-139.7) *23.5
Material: Stainless Steel
Maximum Current Output: 5.0 Amperage
Operating Voltage: 3.3V-6.0V
Operating Wattage: 3.0W-15.0W

Brief Features
Variable Voltage: voltage can be adjusted from 3.3 – 6.0 volts in .1 volt increments.
Variable Wattage: Wattage can be adjusted from 3.0 – 15.0 W in .5 watts increments.
Short Circuit Protection.
Reverse Battery Protection Circuit
Battery Voltage Detection
Resistive Load Detection ( Ohms meter )
ON/OFF battery switch
LED Battery Power Display
Low Voltage Warning
Overtime Vaping Warning
Telescopic Tube supports 18350, 18500 or 18650 batteries
Battery safety protection
Myriad compatible ( Thread fit iClear10 ,iClear16, iClear30,CE4,CE5 ,eGo, T2,T3 , VIVI NOVA and 510 etc )
Change battery and switch VV or VW have parameter memory function
Built-in 3 digit display ( Ohms meter , Volts /Watts , Atomizer voltage output )

I should be getting the SVD next week. Stay tuned for the review!

Noobz Available Now

The videogame movie Noobz is now available through iTunes and Google Play. If you want to check out the movie and support this site then kindly pick up the digital or physical version through Amazon (using the links in this sentence). Directed by and starring Blake Freeman, Noobz is a road-trip movie about a group of friends competing in a Gears of War tournament. The movie also stars the excellent Jason Mewes and the sexy Zelda Williams, with cameos by Adam Sessler and the legendary Casper Van Dien.

I’m a fan of Freeman and a total mark for Mewes. From my time on the set and chatting with Freeman, I appreciate that he treated gaming in a respectful and realistic way in Noobz. There are too many movies that have faked gaming and/or looked down on it. For several reasons, I hope this movie does well.

I’ll be watching the movie later this week. For now, check out the Noobz interviews below.

NAMM 2013: Vibrato Sax Polycarbonate Saxophones

One of my missions at NAMM 2013 was to find traditional musical instruments made out of non-traditional materials. Vibrato Sax’s polycarbonate alto saxophones certainly fit the bill. I interviewed company president Piyapat Thanyakij to learn more about these instruments. To get an idea of how they sound, my brother — jazz musician Reggie Padilla — put them through their paces.

Vibrato’s altos weigh about 1/3 of what a typical brass saxophone weighs, and they’re waterproof to boot. To attract younger players, Vibrato offers parts in various colors, allowing for bright personalization. These altos are also a compelling choice for older players looking for a travel saxophone. My brother was impressed by the sound, saying that it was very close to the output of a brass saxophone. He’s looking forward to the company’s upcoming tenor model.

This was easily my favorite NAMM 2013 video. It was fun working with my brother on a project and I was genuinely impressed by Vibrato. The company is based in Thailand, so hopefully I’ll get to stop by and see where they’re made the next time I visit my second home. Check out the video above and listen to my brother play a Vibrato Sax polycarbonate saxophone (please!).

Today’s Poll: Who Makes the Best Hercules?

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson is living the high life. He recently won the WWE Championship and has been confirmed as Hercules. The 2014 mythological-action movie is being directed by Brett Ratner, so expect Rush Hour in loincloths (not really). Seriously though, the news made me think about other portrayals of the Greek/Roman hero. Arnold Schwarzenegger brought unintentional comedy to new heights in Hercules in New York. Thanks to the power of syndication, millions of people around the world love Kevin Sorbo from Hercules: The Legendary Journeys. How will The Rock’s version of Hercules compare to those two? Kindly vote in today’s poll and use the comments section to talk about the best Hercules ever!

[poll id=”174″]

NAMM 2013: Audiofly AF120, AF140, AF160 In-Ear Monitors

Audiofly has been getting a lot of attention with its high-quality headphones. The company recently won a CES Innovations 2013 Design and Engineering Award for its AF78 model. At NAMM 2013, I met up with Audiofly CEO Dave Thompson to learn more about the company’s new Performance line of in-ear monitors. These models (AF120, AF140, AF160) offer superior sound for use on stage, in the studio, and at home. The difference between the three models is the number of balanced armature drivers. The AF120 has a single armature driver, the AF140 has two, and the AF160 has three. Each model is available with a standard cable, as well as a microphone cable with iOS-compatible controls. Prices start at $249.95 and run to $399.99.

Check out the video interview above to learn more about Audiofly’s in-ear monitors.

Paul Giamatti as Rhino in Amazing Spider-Man 2?

My friend Jennie posted a link to this story about Paul Giamatti being in negotiations for the role of Rhino in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. While he might seem like an unusual choice for a comic-book movie villain, Giamatti is a huge fan of the Rhino character and has been anxious to play the role for years. With some luck, he’ll be joining Jamie Foxx (Electro) in the next Spidey film.

I’m a huge, huge fan of Giamatti. Sideways is one of my favorite movies of all time and I’m a huge fan of his work in American Splendor. I’ve also enjoyed Giamatti’s comedic roles, such as Pig Vomit in Private Parts and Bob Zmuda in Man on the Moon. Many people believe that he’s one of the best character actors alive today and I agree with those people. If he’s a mark for Rhino then he should get the part. He’s talented enough to rock the hell out of it. Besides, it would make Sideways even funnier, since it would be a road-trip movie starring Rhino and Sandman.

What do you think of Paul Giamatti taking on Spider-Man as Rhino? Are you as jazzed as I am? Or do you think a dramatic actor measuing 5′ 9″ is no match for Spidey?

Source

GI Joe: Retaliation is Ninja-tastic

The latest trailer for GI Joe: Retaliation is awesome on several levels. Initially, it focuses on the conflict between Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow. Generally speaking, cool things happen when Arashikage ninja go at it. In addition to a slick showdown between these two, a thrilling chase seen is shown, with Snake Eyes and Jinx escaping from a bunch of nameless, faceless ninja clad in red (the official color of cannon fodder?). The pair hurtle down zip lines, but really, the cool thing here is Jinx. Menacing ninja are cool, but sexy female ninja are even cooler. London explodes for a few seconds. Lastly, the trailer wraps up with some action featuring Bruce Willis and current WWE Champion, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson.

I’m hoping that Snake Eyes and Storm Shadow get lots of time to shine. That’s probably wishful thinking with Johnson and Willis being featured so prominently. *sigh* Some of my favorite GI Joe comics were ones that focused on the Arashikage Clan. The family has a rich and colorful history that ends in tragedy. The fall of the Arashikage Clan also ties together great characters like Snake Eyes, Storm Shadow, and Zartan. That wish aside, the trailer is pretty sweet. This movie looks like big, dumb fun.

Check out the trailer when you have a chance and let me know what you think of it (please!).