And is that a Texas license plate, too?
I caught the BBC premiere episode of "Dirk Gently," based on the novel of the same name with "Holistic Detective Agency" added on at the end. The show seemed to start off almost like a British version of 'Psyche' or early 'Monk,' in that your detective is chock full of quirks that are often played for laughs against a hapless assistant or sidekick (though in the case of 'Psyche,' both partners are comedic). The mystery(s) were played up to enhance the 'interconnectedness' of Dirk's philosophy, which isn't that unusual in mystery shows these days. Quite often, apparent red herrings or inconsequential details will later come back to have significance, but in this case, it's part of the schtick. Dirk's character does go a little over the top in the eccentricity department (erasing a whiteboard with a bucket of paint and a roller, for example), and I almost suspect the actor/character is somewhat designed to take the piss from the BBC's other show, "Sherlock."
But what I loved was the inclusion of... well, without spoiling it, a sci-fi element that invoked the first novel and made the whole show more worthwhile. If they can put that kind of stuff in the occasional show (or every show, if done right), then Dirk Gently might just earn a place alongside "Doctor Who" in my must-see Brit-TV lineup. Though their idea about how long an iPhone battery (or to be fair, any battery) will hold a charge, let alone still work. And it's really odd that that's the most unrealistic concept in the program, in my opinion. :)
It looks like Lynda Carter won't be sharing the Wonder Woman TV tiara for now, as the proposed series based on the comic book heroine didn't find a home. I'm almost becoming of the opinion that we need a big-budget Justice League film that then leads to DC Comics spin-offs of the individual characters where their pasts can be explored in bits and pieces rather than all at once (which is like trying to explain the plot of any given soap opera character since 1954 and expecting the listener not to crack up). More movie stuff with word the film adaptation of The Hunger Games will be PG-13. I agree it doesn't need to be a gore-fest to be as powerful as the books. However, I think they do need to let certain... shall we stay spoiler-free and call them "tragedies?" ...happen, even if off-screen (which, as we've noted, can feel a thousand times worse than seeing it in full detail). So lets hope the director can present the horrific in an artful way, or I fear a lot of the punch the books carried will be lost. Then over in the land of Nicholas Cage's Ghost Rider sequel, the movie is sounding pretty much like a reboot in its entirety other than the lead actor and his co-star (I'm referring to the hamster they glued to his scalp). The film will get a new origin story, which is just fine by me, as I wasn't thrilled with the first one. I do hope they take some of the 'wild ride' they speak of and transfer it to the main character who tended to stand as stiff as a board when he wasn't on his motorcycle.
Not that I have a ton of cash to drop on gadgets, but I do love to see some of the new and interesting objects that came out of the 2011 Consumer Electronics Show recently. Like, flexible displays which can reportedly survive a direct hit from a sledgehammer. There are thumbsticks for your iPad, a new Microsoft mouse that looks Cheeto-proof, and a TARDIS speaker prototype. Then there's the novelty items like an electronic rosary (though I'm not sure they picked the best name for it). The best toy, in my humble opinion, is in the linkdump below.
So I just found out that research points to babies processing language in an adult manner. This means that either my kid is unimpressed by my Dalek impersonation, or he, like other adults, wonders why I'm allowed to have access to sharp objects and take care of a minor. He does dance a bit when I play "Marvin, I Love You," so there's hope, right?
Now I have to worry his teachers will ask why he cries "frell," "smeg," and "frak" all the time. I'll prep myself for trying to blame a mysterious cousin who we hired for babysitting duty while I direct everyone to the following:
- For those who were disappointed that Tron: Legacy didn't take place on the internet, this (language/adult themes in the form of popup parodies warning) animated short, Tron 2: Electric Boogaloo goes a small way towards correcting that error.
- It's an okay article about a Roomba that cleans windows, but the real reason I'm posting it is that the headline is a semi-obscure G.I. Joe cartoon reference.
- And it's because I keep seeing this intriguing photo that I'm posting this Q.I. clip explaining what it is. Now I can finally sleep at night.
- From the "you kids have toys that are cooler than you deserve" files comes Hot Wheels cars with built-in cameras and LCD displays on their undersides.
- Forget piranha, steer clear of the Koi pond at feeding time.
- This game, Kaleid, wins points for originality, if nothing else. Drag colored cubes to the right location to re-create the kaleidoscope image presented.
- Here's a more traditional side-scrollin' upgrady-campaign-shooter called Armor Mayhem. Claim the infinite supply of energy crystals for Earth by zapping our enemies, Halo-style (from a side view). Though would we really need to fight over an infinite resource?
- I realize this post goes to an oft-derided mall store chain, but perhaps the product listed there is a cunning ploy by the Batman to lure a villain into the open.
- There are a lot of internet images floating around that make me wonder if I'm being watched. This is one of them.
- Grab your shiruken and katana, it's time for The Ninja Game. Using only your mouse (well, not counting the 'R' key if you need to reset a level), jump and throw pointy things in an effort to reach the portal at the end of each stage.