His hands moved in a dizzying motion.
The colors on the plastic block switched with each move.
Right-inverted, down-inverted, right and down.
The seconds hand passed by the top of the clock.
Up, right, up-inverted, left-inverted; up, right-inverted, up-inverted and left.
The color patterns changed quickly from a mess of colorful stickers to a solid white side and half-and-half blues and reds.
Holding the nearly-completed cube still, he carefully but quickly thought about the next course of action.
And it continued; left-inverted, up, left, up, front, up-inverted and front-inverted.
"It's really not that hard," said Rohan Sharma, freshman in aerospace engineering, while fumbling around with a 2-by-2 cube right before going step-by-step, slowly explaining the different situations and patterns a first-time "Cuber" would need to know.
Sharma's 2-by-2 Rubik's Cube was solved, yellow the opposite of white, red opposite of orange, blue across from green, and the seconds hand was still trying to keep up, not even getting halfway around the circle.
Putting the pieces together
Sharma, president of ISU Rubik's Cube Club and freshman in aerospace engineering, found his father's 1982 Rubik's cube when he was in the 11th grade.
After pulling it out of a box in their home garage, Sharma took about five days to solve the cube.
Only a couple years later, Sharma is focused on speed-cubing, which involves solving a Rubik's Cube while competing against the time clock; he is already third in state ranking for 3-by-3.
Instead of solving the cubes using the standard patterns or "cheat sheets" he first learned with, he is now looking for new puzzles and something unique to work on.
Sharma and the club don't limit themselves to just using standard cubes though. Sharma pulled out a puzzle, "Rubik's Magic," where the goal is to get three rings detached and back together again. Sharma says his record time is 1.15 seconds and then retracts his statement.
"Wait, wait; I actually think it's, 2.15 seconds. Yeah," he said.
He has also explored cubing with your feet, underwater, one-handed, blindfolded and upside-down, which Sharma says is intense once all the blood has rushed to your head mid-solve.
Today, Sharma can solve and is working on improving his time on a 7-by-7 puzzle and is looking for an 11-by-11 cube; not the Rubik's Cubes from Walmart, the nice ones that smoothly switch — from a company in Oregon — or the discounts they get from a dealer in China.
"You're always looking for something that is unique," he said. "Something that sets you apart almost."
Sharma got the idea and laid down the plan for the club in the fall semester of 2010; he elected temporary officers and met with people as a collective group.
Since the beginning of the semester, he said the club has been growing like a spider web; where one person tells another and then they tell two people.
He saw that there wasn't a Rubik's Cube club at Iowa State, and he was surprised later on to find out that with 28 members, his club had more members than MIT's club, which has 15 members and has existed for five years.
Sharma describes the club as an underground community similar to that of a poker club.
The nerd stereotypes following the club members around aren't something Sharma has ever experienced.
Most people want to learn how to cube and think it's cool, he said.
With the help of Sharma and other seasoned cubers, new members are beginning to solve their 3-by-3 cubes in less than two minutes and making great friends in the process.
Last week, the club went in front of the Government of the Student Body to ask for more money to increase inventory to provide each member with a 3-by-3 cube and to buy more complicated puzzles, but was turned down.
The previous time the club spoke to GSB, one of the members said in his speech to the senators, "Solving a cube is something you can show on a date."
From then on, the joke circulating the club members was that it was a goal for each single member to get a date with each cube success.
Sharma laughs and says he doesn't know of anyone who has actually done that but knows that members of the group, such as Malcolm Kelly — freshman in mechanical engineering — have posted statuses on Facebook that read, "Hey ladies, guess who just solved a Rubik's cube for the first time?!"
Although they didn't get the money they asked for, they sparked the interest of a few GSB members.
"We were rather shocked," Sharma said, in response to the GSB members who called them "cute" freshmen; and after denying them, came up to ask about how they could be a part of the club.
"In the long run, we want to host a competition that's nationally recognized and put the university's name out there," he said.
Not only does the club want to host competitions, but they'd like to be able to go on trips to experience what the Rubik's Cube world is like outside Iowa State.
The club will travel to Clinton — not to Flav's Fried Chicken — but to a mock competition April 16, using their personal money.
Sharma said that it's important to show what a real competition looks like and how it feels to compete in one; adding he was "scared as hell" at his first competition.
"It's literally a party," he said.
2011年3月31日星期四
2011年3月30日星期三
Build your April Fools' Day arsenal with these fun pranks and 'gifts'
Guys can start April Fools' Day off on the right foot by presenting their girlfriends with the 2-carat Cup ($15 at Andaluz). It looks like a big, sparkling, diamond solitaire engagement ring in an oversized jewelry box -- but the ring is really just a cleverly disguised handle to a coffee mug (albeit a handle she can slip over her ring finger). This should probably come with a disclaimer: Make sure you have a comfortable doghouse -- you may find yourself in it.
Prefer to begin your morning with a jolt of fear? The Mixed Messages do-it-yourself ransom note mug ($16 at Andaluz and Fireworks) makes it easy to create your own ransom message with colorful letters that cling to the enclosed white mug. Your significant other will be sure to meet your caffeine demands when faced with the message, "Fill with coffee and nobody gets hurt."
Another fun way to wake up family members: Pop some Frozen Smiles ice cube dentures ($9.95 at Portage Bay Goods) into an unsuspecting sleepy person's glass and watch them perk right up.
Once you're ready to head out the door, don't forget to accessorize: Fingerless gloves are all the rage, but you can make a real fashion statement by wearing Handerpants (“underpants for your hands,” $11.95 at the legendary Archie McPhee) on April Fools' Day.
Gross out your friends
Have some fun at school, the gym or at the office: Bring along Stuck Up Magnets ($6 at Andaluz), which look just like chewed-up wads of gum.
Not gross enough for you? The latest hot item from Fred & Friends is Lunch Bugs, a box of standard plastic sandwich bags -- with a great big roach printed on the front. These make a boring brown-bag lunch a real scream. Lunch Bugs are so new that none of the stores in Seattle have them yet (Andaluz is awaiting a shipment), but you can score them at Perpetualkid.com (24 bags for $5.95) and on Amazon.com ($11.95). Or, if you're tired of colleagues stealing your lunch out of the office refrigerator, employ the ingenious Anti-theft lunch bags ($7.99 at perpetualkid.com), which deter lunch theft by making it look like your sandwich is covered in mold. (Hopefully, you'll still be in the mood to eat it.)
Amuse and alienate co-workers
Remember in "The Office," when Jim came in early and moved all Dwight's furniture into the men's room? That's far too labor-intensive, but you can stick it to your co-workers by coming in early and putting tiny, creepy-cute eyes and mouths on all their office supplies, courtesy of In Antimate stickers ($3.95 at Portage Bay Goods). It's aliiiive!
Here's an idea from the annals of passive-aggressiveness: Leave a box of Get Along with your Co-workers Tea ($10 for 16 tea bags at Andaluz) on someone's desk. This makes a very Seattle gift -- it's organic.
Get fired
Participate in office meetings by adding your own cartoon soundtrack effects with the Special Sound Machine ($16.50 at Fireworks). Fart machines are so grade school -- this grown-up gadget offers good, clean April Fools' fun by adding effects like head-injury twittering birds, falling anvils, a high-speed running exit and more. It's more fun than Board Room Bingo.
Prefer to begin your morning with a jolt of fear? The Mixed Messages do-it-yourself ransom note mug ($16 at Andaluz and Fireworks) makes it easy to create your own ransom message with colorful letters that cling to the enclosed white mug. Your significant other will be sure to meet your caffeine demands when faced with the message, "Fill with coffee and nobody gets hurt."
Another fun way to wake up family members: Pop some Frozen Smiles ice cube dentures ($9.95 at Portage Bay Goods) into an unsuspecting sleepy person's glass and watch them perk right up.
Once you're ready to head out the door, don't forget to accessorize: Fingerless gloves are all the rage, but you can make a real fashion statement by wearing Handerpants (“underpants for your hands,” $11.95 at the legendary Archie McPhee) on April Fools' Day.
Gross out your friends
Have some fun at school, the gym or at the office: Bring along Stuck Up Magnets ($6 at Andaluz), which look just like chewed-up wads of gum.
Not gross enough for you? The latest hot item from Fred & Friends is Lunch Bugs, a box of standard plastic sandwich bags -- with a great big roach printed on the front. These make a boring brown-bag lunch a real scream. Lunch Bugs are so new that none of the stores in Seattle have them yet (Andaluz is awaiting a shipment), but you can score them at Perpetualkid.com (24 bags for $5.95) and on Amazon.com ($11.95). Or, if you're tired of colleagues stealing your lunch out of the office refrigerator, employ the ingenious Anti-theft lunch bags ($7.99 at perpetualkid.com), which deter lunch theft by making it look like your sandwich is covered in mold. (Hopefully, you'll still be in the mood to eat it.)
Amuse and alienate co-workers
Remember in "The Office," when Jim came in early and moved all Dwight's furniture into the men's room? That's far too labor-intensive, but you can stick it to your co-workers by coming in early and putting tiny, creepy-cute eyes and mouths on all their office supplies, courtesy of In Antimate stickers ($3.95 at Portage Bay Goods). It's aliiiive!
Here's an idea from the annals of passive-aggressiveness: Leave a box of Get Along with your Co-workers Tea ($10 for 16 tea bags at Andaluz) on someone's desk. This makes a very Seattle gift -- it's organic.
Get fired
Participate in office meetings by adding your own cartoon soundtrack effects with the Special Sound Machine ($16.50 at Fireworks). Fart machines are so grade school -- this grown-up gadget offers good, clean April Fools' fun by adding effects like head-injury twittering birds, falling anvils, a high-speed running exit and more. It's more fun than Board Room Bingo.
Cubitek's M4 Series mid-tower cases go on sale
Following the Tattoo, Tank and Magic Cube series, a fourth line of PC cases has now been launched by Cubitek, and it includes two midi-towers 'designed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts', the M4 and M4 Silencer.
Both chassis' measure 202 (W) x 470 (H) x 485 (D) mm, and have a black exterior, a 0.5mm steel structure, a door which takes up half of the front panel (can be used to store optical discs), a top I/O panel (2 x USB 2.0, 2 x audio ports), a built-in mini USB cable (micro USB adapter is included), four exposed 5.25-inch bays, plus one 2.5-inch and five 3.5-inch drive trays.
Cubitek's cases allow for tool-free installs of optical drives, hard drives and PCI cards, support graphics cards that are up to 400mm long, and feature two pre-drilled holes at the back for watercooling tubing.
The M4 includes one rear 120mm fan, has an all-black interior and costs €49.90, while the M4 Silencer has two 120mm fans (front and rear), a grey interior, sound insulating foam sheets on the top and side panels, and a price tag of €59.90.
Both chassis' measure 202 (W) x 470 (H) x 485 (D) mm, and have a black exterior, a 0.5mm steel structure, a door which takes up half of the front panel (can be used to store optical discs), a top I/O panel (2 x USB 2.0, 2 x audio ports), a built-in mini USB cable (micro USB adapter is included), four exposed 5.25-inch bays, plus one 2.5-inch and five 3.5-inch drive trays.
Cubitek's cases allow for tool-free installs of optical drives, hard drives and PCI cards, support graphics cards that are up to 400mm long, and feature two pre-drilled holes at the back for watercooling tubing.
The M4 includes one rear 120mm fan, has an all-black interior and costs €49.90, while the M4 Silencer has two 120mm fans (front and rear), a grey interior, sound insulating foam sheets on the top and side panels, and a price tag of €59.90.
2011年3月29日星期二
China Lithium Technologies Participates in 8th Annual China
a leading lithium-ion battery module, lithium-ion battery charger and lithium-ion battery management system manufacturer and distributor, today announced it participated in the 8th Annual China-Taizhou International Electric Vehicle & Spare Part Exhibition in Taizhou, China from March 1 to March 3, 2011, resulting in contracts with 3 new customers totaling $2 million.
Mr. Kun Liu, chief executive officer of China Lithium Technologies, commented, "We are very pleased with the new business we developed as a result of our participation in the 8th Annual China-Taizhou International Electric Vehicle & Spare Part Exhibition earlier this month. At this event, we displayed our Lithium Magic Cube line of products, which includes battery modules, battery management systems, and charging systems for lithium-ion batteries. The 60Ah/80Ah products from the Lithium Magic Cube series can be used in electric automobiles through parallel connections. This technology makes it possible to seamlessly upgrade a battery system from lead-acid batteries to Lithium-ion batteries, and represents a major advancement in electronic vehicle technology. These batteries are free of contaminants, without any heavy metals or rare metals, and carry the important CE and RoHS certifications. We were the only company using lithium iron phosphate as an anode material in our batteries, which generated further interest in our technologies. We hope to secure additional business from our experience at the exhibition."
The China-Taizhou International Electric Vehicle & Spare Part Exhibition provides a platform for companies from the electric vehicle industry in China to showcase their brands to a global audience. This year's theme was "low carbon life, green trips, luxurious products and leading electric motors."
About China Lithium Technologies Inc.
China Lithium Technologies is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of polymer lithium-ion battery modules, lithium-ion battery chargers, lithium-ion battery management systems, as well as other lithium-ion battery management devices essential to proper power utilization. The company has also developed an efficient battery management system that balances the process of charging and discharging multiple lithium-ion battery cells, and which adjusts the charging frequency to temperature changes in the ambient environment. The company's products are widely distributed and used in electric automobiles, motorcycles and bicycles in China.
Mr. Kun Liu, chief executive officer of China Lithium Technologies, commented, "We are very pleased with the new business we developed as a result of our participation in the 8th Annual China-Taizhou International Electric Vehicle & Spare Part Exhibition earlier this month. At this event, we displayed our Lithium Magic Cube line of products, which includes battery modules, battery management systems, and charging systems for lithium-ion batteries. The 60Ah/80Ah products from the Lithium Magic Cube series can be used in electric automobiles through parallel connections. This technology makes it possible to seamlessly upgrade a battery system from lead-acid batteries to Lithium-ion batteries, and represents a major advancement in electronic vehicle technology. These batteries are free of contaminants, without any heavy metals or rare metals, and carry the important CE and RoHS certifications. We were the only company using lithium iron phosphate as an anode material in our batteries, which generated further interest in our technologies. We hope to secure additional business from our experience at the exhibition."
The China-Taizhou International Electric Vehicle & Spare Part Exhibition provides a platform for companies from the electric vehicle industry in China to showcase their brands to a global audience. This year's theme was "low carbon life, green trips, luxurious products and leading electric motors."
About China Lithium Technologies Inc.
China Lithium Technologies is a leading designer, manufacturer and distributor of polymer lithium-ion battery modules, lithium-ion battery chargers, lithium-ion battery management systems, as well as other lithium-ion battery management devices essential to proper power utilization. The company has also developed an efficient battery management system that balances the process of charging and discharging multiple lithium-ion battery cells, and which adjusts the charging frequency to temperature changes in the ambient environment. The company's products are widely distributed and used in electric automobiles, motorcycles and bicycles in China.
2011年3月27日星期日
Angry Birds cause a flap
A POPULAR puzzle video game called Angry Birds, which has been downloaded millions of times as an iPhone application, is causing a flap in more ways than one in Singapore.
The distinctive cartoon birds from a game originally developed in Finland have now winged their way off the screen to become huggable soft toys coveted by fans all over the world. They are officially due to arrive in Singapore only next month at the big toy stores and are being brought in by Megcorp and Co, the licensed distributor of Angry Birds plush toys in Singapore.
However, some of the coveted soft toy birdies have flown in under the radar already.
The early birds popped up at a SingTel booth at the IT Show 2011 at Suntec Convention Centre recently to the delight of fans. They were obtained from the game's developer, Finnish-based Rovio Mobile, through a supplier in the United States, according to a SingTel spokesman. SingTel was using the soft toys in promotions.
Angry Birds plush toys have also been spotted in several locker consignment shops around the island. It is not known if these Angry Birds from unofficial suppliers are the real deal from Rovio, like SingTel's were, or knock-offs.
They are for sale at Toy Outpost outlets in VivoCity and Jurong Point, as well as at Magic Cube & Novelties in Shaw Towers, retailing from $15.90 to $49.90, which at the higher end is less than the Rovio price on the Internet. The managers of all three stores declined to reveal their sources under agreement obligations.
The distinctive cartoon birds from a game originally developed in Finland have now winged their way off the screen to become huggable soft toys coveted by fans all over the world. They are officially due to arrive in Singapore only next month at the big toy stores and are being brought in by Megcorp and Co, the licensed distributor of Angry Birds plush toys in Singapore.
However, some of the coveted soft toy birdies have flown in under the radar already.
The early birds popped up at a SingTel booth at the IT Show 2011 at Suntec Convention Centre recently to the delight of fans. They were obtained from the game's developer, Finnish-based Rovio Mobile, through a supplier in the United States, according to a SingTel spokesman. SingTel was using the soft toys in promotions.
Angry Birds plush toys have also been spotted in several locker consignment shops around the island. It is not known if these Angry Birds from unofficial suppliers are the real deal from Rovio, like SingTel's were, or knock-offs.
They are for sale at Toy Outpost outlets in VivoCity and Jurong Point, as well as at Magic Cube & Novelties in Shaw Towers, retailing from $15.90 to $49.90, which at the higher end is less than the Rovio price on the Internet. The managers of all three stores declined to reveal their sources under agreement obligations.
2011年3月22日星期二
Celtics Vs. Knicks: Kevin Garnett Isn't Messing Around, Boston Blitzes New York
The New York Knicks were eight minutes away from a galvanizing upset over the Boston Celtics, a win that in the immediate could have squelched concerns about the heart of a team led by Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, and in the long run struck fear into the hearts of a potential playoff foe. Alas, it was not meant to be, as the Celtics stormed back in the fourth quarter to blast the Knicks 96-86, preserving fears that the Knicks are, as a crowd of skeptical fans might say, "ov-er-ra-ted" and that there's little hope they'll be able to challenge one of the East's elite in the playoffs.
The Knicks were in a good position in the fourth. 'Melo had scored 17 points through three quarters, and Stoudemire had offered 16. Boston hadn't scored a three-pointer, and despite New York's poor defense, only Kevin Garnett had really blown up (with 18 points through three). With 7-1/2 minutes left, the Knicks led by nine at 82-73. Then it all came crashing down. 'Melo picked up his fifth foul, and Paul Pierce took advantage, scoring seven unanswered. Rajon Rondo lobbed an alley-oop to Garnett. Ray Allen put in a streaking lay-up. Garnett pushed his total to 24. And fin. The damage was done, as the Celtics led by four, and the Knicks managed just four more points the rest of the game.
There's a second side to that fatal 13-0 run, and it's full of bricked jumpers. During the run, the Knicks took and missed five shots. Four of them were jumpers. In the quarter New York shot just 4-16, and by my count 14 of the shots were jumpers. No team can survive taking Js all day against the Celtics, because they will contest and you will miss. Ask the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals. Ask the Cavs in last year's Eastern Conference semifinals. You can't settle for a jumper every time down the court against Boston and expect to survive.
The Knicks were in a good position in the fourth. 'Melo had scored 17 points through three quarters, and Stoudemire had offered 16. Boston hadn't scored a three-pointer, and despite New York's poor defense, only Kevin Garnett had really blown up (with 18 points through three). With 7-1/2 minutes left, the Knicks led by nine at 82-73. Then it all came crashing down. 'Melo picked up his fifth foul, and Paul Pierce took advantage, scoring seven unanswered. Rajon Rondo lobbed an alley-oop to Garnett. Ray Allen put in a streaking lay-up. Garnett pushed his total to 24. And fin. The damage was done, as the Celtics led by four, and the Knicks managed just four more points the rest of the game.
There's a second side to that fatal 13-0 run, and it's full of bricked jumpers. During the run, the Knicks took and missed five shots. Four of them were jumpers. In the quarter New York shot just 4-16, and by my count 14 of the shots were jumpers. No team can survive taking Js all day against the Celtics, because they will contest and you will miss. Ask the Lakers in the 2008 NBA Finals. Ask the Cavs in last year's Eastern Conference semifinals. You can't settle for a jumper every time down the court against Boston and expect to survive.
2011年3月20日星期日
Humor column breaks down Smackdown from A to Z
A - Awesome. "Fortress of Attitude" and "Fortress of Aptitude" were the names Cole proposed for his cube. Any time a Superman reference can be made, it should and is. How about referring to himself as the "Golden Avenger?" I'm a much bigger Iron Man fan...
B - Brodus Clay is going straight to the top. It's not just the look or the push, I think he has it. It's not that hard to see why he'll be more successful than 97 percent of the NXT Rookies. For one, he has a gimmick, not just a terrible randomly picked name (cough, Johnny Curtis, cough). Secondly, it's easy to see what his role will be. He's clearly defined - he's the big guy and the enforcer. I thought Brodus vs. Edge was very good. Brodus worked a decent big-man match and Edge sold well. It felt like a big deal to beat Brodus. Well done. The only draw back was Booker's commentary, I'm not entirely sure he was speaking English during this match.
ChristianCageArt_130GG_28.jpg
C - Cage! Rage! ...Mage? I'm out of cool rhyming "-age" words. I like the cage match added between Christian and Del Rio. It makes sense for the feud. Del Rio and Christian feels like a cage is the only thing that will let them unleash all of their fury. The problem was Raw just did a meaningless cage match with A-Ry and Cena last week and this one seemed silly. Thanks, Raw! Raw: Doing everything bad that you want to see, so it looks bad when you do it.
D - Dramatic question mark?! Champion vs. Champion! Wowee! This never happens. Even Josh Matthews said this was rare! I looovvveee Zack Ryder too! Can I be anymore sarcastic? Find out!
E - Either that or magic spells. I like how it must be the King of the Ring "curse" that caused Sheamus to lose. The "curse" that has affected no other king of said ring. It can't be anything else. The announcers said it almost as if the "curse" was definitely real and authenticated. I'm waiting for "ghosts" to be the reason why Kofi can't get a main event push.
F - Finally! Sheamus has gotten rid of that embarrassing king gear. He looked like a comic-con attendee that got lost. I thought he was an extra for the upcoming "Thor" movie. I thought he stole his mom's curtains and put Christmas decorations on his head. I thought...okay, I'll stop here. I have plenty of these, though. I filled half a page of my notes with Sheamus jokes. Ahh...WWE.
G - Grade C+. Above average show. The wrestling was decent, too. I'd say the show was better than finding a really nice pen (the value of a good pen cannot be understated) but not as good as after-holiday candy sales.
H - Honestly, Sheamus is getting better. I really liked the Kofi match. Sheamus has a better grasp on storytelling and really seems to be trying to connect with the audience on each move. Good idea in hindsight putting the U.S. Title on him.
I - I love Cody Rhodes. I do this every week, and every time I tell myself "No, Charles, no more rambling about Cody Rhodes in your Smackdown column." Well too bad, because I am. His new gimmick is awesome. It's a true character evolution; as opposed to when guys all of sudden show up with a new gimmick and name with no reason why. It's the natural arc for the "pretty boy" type: humble, over confident, cocky, fall from grace. The new song, the dark lighting, the towel over his head...I like everything about this. Best angle of 2011 so far and maybe of all 2011 when it's all said and done. He's got a World Championship coming soon.
J - Just when I started giving up on women's wrestling (see: TNA columns) Layla and Kelly Kelly put on a decent match. Both women are terrific athletes, which should be the number one quantifier to be a women's wrestler. Unfortunately, it looks like that anticipated Lay-Cool isn't happening unless something happens during the freak show six-person tag at Mania.
K - Kwoosh! Sploosh! Onomatopoeia! That's all WWE is missing from the Sin Cara promos. He now has the ability to make fire surround him at all times, along with his previously shown giant newspaper clipping levitation and glowing aura.
L - Let me get this straight. Two weeks ago, Kane wanted to hit Big Show with a chair with no provocation. One week ago, Show blasted Kane with a chair after their tag match. Now, from Kane's perspective, Show "completes him." Wow. Okay. Talk about the Odd Couple.
M - Most insane thing ever said by an announcer: "Slater and Gabriel have been together for a long time." "How long?" "Almost one year." One year?! That's a long time? I shouldn't be surprised. In WWE years, a one-year tag team is equivalent to 40 human years.
N - Niiiccce. Kane and Big Show's beat down at the hands of Corre was visually striking and compelling. Beat up one individually, sure, but both simultaneously and it's a reputation maker. Of course, it can never be as good as Nexus's debut - easily the most jarring attack in years - but that's the inevitable Curse of Comparison for Corre. They will always be compared to the New Nexus and the original Nexus. It was good, but it was no Nexus.
O - Only in WWE: a large, former collegiate wrestler/football player beats up a short, surfer-type with help from a short, forty-year-old broadcast journalist with a pension for bad puns. On that note...
B - Brodus Clay is going straight to the top. It's not just the look or the push, I think he has it. It's not that hard to see why he'll be more successful than 97 percent of the NXT Rookies. For one, he has a gimmick, not just a terrible randomly picked name (cough, Johnny Curtis, cough). Secondly, it's easy to see what his role will be. He's clearly defined - he's the big guy and the enforcer. I thought Brodus vs. Edge was very good. Brodus worked a decent big-man match and Edge sold well. It felt like a big deal to beat Brodus. Well done. The only draw back was Booker's commentary, I'm not entirely sure he was speaking English during this match.
ChristianCageArt_130GG_28.jpg
C - Cage! Rage! ...Mage? I'm out of cool rhyming "-age" words. I like the cage match added between Christian and Del Rio. It makes sense for the feud. Del Rio and Christian feels like a cage is the only thing that will let them unleash all of their fury. The problem was Raw just did a meaningless cage match with A-Ry and Cena last week and this one seemed silly. Thanks, Raw! Raw: Doing everything bad that you want to see, so it looks bad when you do it.
D - Dramatic question mark?! Champion vs. Champion! Wowee! This never happens. Even Josh Matthews said this was rare! I looovvveee Zack Ryder too! Can I be anymore sarcastic? Find out!
E - Either that or magic spells. I like how it must be the King of the Ring "curse" that caused Sheamus to lose. The "curse" that has affected no other king of said ring. It can't be anything else. The announcers said it almost as if the "curse" was definitely real and authenticated. I'm waiting for "ghosts" to be the reason why Kofi can't get a main event push.
F - Finally! Sheamus has gotten rid of that embarrassing king gear. He looked like a comic-con attendee that got lost. I thought he was an extra for the upcoming "Thor" movie. I thought he stole his mom's curtains and put Christmas decorations on his head. I thought...okay, I'll stop here. I have plenty of these, though. I filled half a page of my notes with Sheamus jokes. Ahh...WWE.
G - Grade C+. Above average show. The wrestling was decent, too. I'd say the show was better than finding a really nice pen (the value of a good pen cannot be understated) but not as good as after-holiday candy sales.
H - Honestly, Sheamus is getting better. I really liked the Kofi match. Sheamus has a better grasp on storytelling and really seems to be trying to connect with the audience on each move. Good idea in hindsight putting the U.S. Title on him.
I - I love Cody Rhodes. I do this every week, and every time I tell myself "No, Charles, no more rambling about Cody Rhodes in your Smackdown column." Well too bad, because I am. His new gimmick is awesome. It's a true character evolution; as opposed to when guys all of sudden show up with a new gimmick and name with no reason why. It's the natural arc for the "pretty boy" type: humble, over confident, cocky, fall from grace. The new song, the dark lighting, the towel over his head...I like everything about this. Best angle of 2011 so far and maybe of all 2011 when it's all said and done. He's got a World Championship coming soon.
J - Just when I started giving up on women's wrestling (see: TNA columns) Layla and Kelly Kelly put on a decent match. Both women are terrific athletes, which should be the number one quantifier to be a women's wrestler. Unfortunately, it looks like that anticipated Lay-Cool isn't happening unless something happens during the freak show six-person tag at Mania.
K - Kwoosh! Sploosh! Onomatopoeia! That's all WWE is missing from the Sin Cara promos. He now has the ability to make fire surround him at all times, along with his previously shown giant newspaper clipping levitation and glowing aura.
L - Let me get this straight. Two weeks ago, Kane wanted to hit Big Show with a chair with no provocation. One week ago, Show blasted Kane with a chair after their tag match. Now, from Kane's perspective, Show "completes him." Wow. Okay. Talk about the Odd Couple.
M - Most insane thing ever said by an announcer: "Slater and Gabriel have been together for a long time." "How long?" "Almost one year." One year?! That's a long time? I shouldn't be surprised. In WWE years, a one-year tag team is equivalent to 40 human years.
N - Niiiccce. Kane and Big Show's beat down at the hands of Corre was visually striking and compelling. Beat up one individually, sure, but both simultaneously and it's a reputation maker. Of course, it can never be as good as Nexus's debut - easily the most jarring attack in years - but that's the inevitable Curse of Comparison for Corre. They will always be compared to the New Nexus and the original Nexus. It was good, but it was no Nexus.
O - Only in WWE: a large, former collegiate wrestler/football player beats up a short, surfer-type with help from a short, forty-year-old broadcast journalist with a pension for bad puns. On that note...
2011年3月15日星期二
London 2012: Oliver Holt recalls his personal favourite five Olympic moments
1. Cathy Freeman only ran in one event at the 2000 Sydney Olympics but she dominated those
Games as completely as if she had been competing every day.
The first aboriginal athlete ever to compete for Australia, Freeman became the conscience of
a nation during the Olympics, a symbol of the guilt many Australians still feel about the way
they treated the continent's original inhabitants.
Freeman lit the flame at the opening ceremony and when she lined up for the final of the
400m, the pressure on her to win was enormous.
The roar in the stadium that greeted the starting gun lasted the whole lap. Freeman, wearing
a hooded body suit, led from start to finish. At the end, in one of the iconic pictures of
those games, she sank to the track and sat down, her face a picture not of joy but of relief.
Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates winning the men's 100m final of the athletics competition in
the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (Pic:Reuters)
2. I am not sure that I believe in Usain Bolt but sitting in the Bird's Nest in Beijing and
seeing him
obliterate the rest of the field in the 100m final still took my breath away.
I knew in those startling 9.69 seconds what it must have been like to have been in Seoul in
1988 to see Ben Johnson blow away rivals that included Carl Lewis and Linford Christie.
It was the nonchalance of Bolt that was the most shocking thing of all, the way that he eased
up with about ten metres to go, looked around and spread his arms out wide in triumph.
This was the 100m men's final and he was coasting. Despite the cursed lineage of the event,
the positive tests attached to previous champions like Justin Gatlin, Johnson and Christie,
there is still an incredible thrill about watching the fastest man in the world.
What Bolt did in Beijing, winning gold in the 200m too and breaking Michael Johnson's world
record, made him the star of the Games.
Steve Williams, James Cracknell, Ed Coode and Matthew Pinsent
3. Seeing Steve Redgrave win his fifth Olympic gold medal in Sydney was special but I enjoyed
seeing Britain's men's coxless four win in Athens more.
Advertisement - article continues below
Maybe it was because it was such an amazingly close race between the British and Canadian
boats, a contest so nerve-wracking that many did not know who had won when the boats crossed
the line.
There was great drama, too, in men like Sir Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell, incredible
sportsmen in their own right, trying to win gold without Redgrave and knowing that silver
would be regarded as a desperate failure.
It was Pinsent's fourth gold and he wept like a child on the podium after the race. It was
sporting drama at its very best.
Olympic sailor Shirley Robertson (Pic:Reuters)
4. I have not included Shirley Robertson's victory in the Europe class of the sailing event
in Sydney in my top 5 because it was one of the outstanding sporting achievements of the
three Olympics I have covered although obviously it was a superb accomplishment by Robertson
that was justly celebrated.
I included it because the moment of her victory seemed to me to encapsulate much of the magic
that the Olympics can bring.
I spent the whole of that day in a small motor boat on Sydney Harbour, being buffeted by
waves and soaked in spray, trying to follow Robertson's exploits.
It was one of the most beautiful sporting scenes I have ever witnessed, a flotilla of boats
in one of the most beautiful harbours in the world on a gloriously sunny day.
And a sport which is rarely given the oxygen of publicity was suddenly centre stage, more
important for a few hours than the Premier League or an Ashes Test. It summed up much that is
best about the Olympics.
Games as completely as if she had been competing every day.
The first aboriginal athlete ever to compete for Australia, Freeman became the conscience of
a nation during the Olympics, a symbol of the guilt many Australians still feel about the way
they treated the continent's original inhabitants.
Freeman lit the flame at the opening ceremony and when she lined up for the final of the
400m, the pressure on her to win was enormous.
The roar in the stadium that greeted the starting gun lasted the whole lap. Freeman, wearing
a hooded body suit, led from start to finish. At the end, in one of the iconic pictures of
those games, she sank to the track and sat down, her face a picture not of joy but of relief.
Usain Bolt of Jamaica celebrates winning the men's 100m final of the athletics competition in
the National Stadium at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (Pic:Reuters)
2. I am not sure that I believe in Usain Bolt but sitting in the Bird's Nest in Beijing and
seeing him
obliterate the rest of the field in the 100m final still took my breath away.
I knew in those startling 9.69 seconds what it must have been like to have been in Seoul in
1988 to see Ben Johnson blow away rivals that included Carl Lewis and Linford Christie.
It was the nonchalance of Bolt that was the most shocking thing of all, the way that he eased
up with about ten metres to go, looked around and spread his arms out wide in triumph.
This was the 100m men's final and he was coasting. Despite the cursed lineage of the event,
the positive tests attached to previous champions like Justin Gatlin, Johnson and Christie,
there is still an incredible thrill about watching the fastest man in the world.
What Bolt did in Beijing, winning gold in the 200m too and breaking Michael Johnson's world
record, made him the star of the Games.
Steve Williams, James Cracknell, Ed Coode and Matthew Pinsent
3. Seeing Steve Redgrave win his fifth Olympic gold medal in Sydney was special but I enjoyed
seeing Britain's men's coxless four win in Athens more.
Advertisement - article continues below
Maybe it was because it was such an amazingly close race between the British and Canadian
boats, a contest so nerve-wracking that many did not know who had won when the boats crossed
the line.
There was great drama, too, in men like Sir Matthew Pinsent and James Cracknell, incredible
sportsmen in their own right, trying to win gold without Redgrave and knowing that silver
would be regarded as a desperate failure.
It was Pinsent's fourth gold and he wept like a child on the podium after the race. It was
sporting drama at its very best.
Olympic sailor Shirley Robertson (Pic:Reuters)
4. I have not included Shirley Robertson's victory in the Europe class of the sailing event
in Sydney in my top 5 because it was one of the outstanding sporting achievements of the
three Olympics I have covered although obviously it was a superb accomplishment by Robertson
that was justly celebrated.
I included it because the moment of her victory seemed to me to encapsulate much of the magic
that the Olympics can bring.
I spent the whole of that day in a small motor boat on Sydney Harbour, being buffeted by
waves and soaked in spray, trying to follow Robertson's exploits.
It was one of the most beautiful sporting scenes I have ever witnessed, a flotilla of boats
in one of the most beautiful harbours in the world on a gloriously sunny day.
And a sport which is rarely given the oxygen of publicity was suddenly centre stage, more
important for a few hours than the Premier League or an Ashes Test. It summed up much that is
best about the Olympics.
2011年3月13日星期日
Android game Mr. Hat and the Magic Cube plays to the small crowd
There's no better judge of a kids' game than a kid. My six-year-old spent a good 30 minutes
with Mr. Hat and the Magic Cube. She likes it, so who am I to disagree?
Based on the gameplay, which I tested on Nexus One running Gingerbread, I'd say the game is
aimed at ages six and under. Animated sequences begin and run throughout the game. The
storyline involves a set of kids who stumble upon a magic cube, and get drawn inside. There
they meet Mr. Hat and his crystal wand. Mr. Hat is happy to use his wand to send them home,
but just before he does, Dr. Romo flies by in an airship to steal all the jewels from the
wand. Your kid's mission is to play the games and solve the puzzles to get the jewels back
and go home.
There's a tilt table, which my kid loved, where you guide a colored rolling ball into its
matching colored hole. A conveyor belt of letters, where you must touch the missing letter to
spell the word that matches a picture. You'll also find a memory game, where you select pairs
of identical characters out of a group, and a counting game.
Any complaints? Well, a couple of small ones. There's a second or two of blank screen between
the end of an animated sequence and the start of a game section. The game also froze a couple
of times when I tried it after my daughter finally handed back my phone. It's worth noting,
however, that she never complained about these things. She just laughed when she did well,
and groaned when she didn't.
with Mr. Hat and the Magic Cube. She likes it, so who am I to disagree?
Based on the gameplay, which I tested on Nexus One running Gingerbread, I'd say the game is
aimed at ages six and under. Animated sequences begin and run throughout the game. The
storyline involves a set of kids who stumble upon a magic cube, and get drawn inside. There
they meet Mr. Hat and his crystal wand. Mr. Hat is happy to use his wand to send them home,
but just before he does, Dr. Romo flies by in an airship to steal all the jewels from the
wand. Your kid's mission is to play the games and solve the puzzles to get the jewels back
and go home.
There's a tilt table, which my kid loved, where you guide a colored rolling ball into its
matching colored hole. A conveyor belt of letters, where you must touch the missing letter to
spell the word that matches a picture. You'll also find a memory game, where you select pairs
of identical characters out of a group, and a counting game.
Any complaints? Well, a couple of small ones. There's a second or two of blank screen between
the end of an animated sequence and the start of a game section. The game also froze a couple
of times when I tried it after my daughter finally handed back my phone. It's worth noting,
however, that she never complained about these things. She just laughed when she did well,
and groaned when she didn't.
2011年3月9日星期三
National Pack A Lunch Day: 5 Reasons to Brown Bag It
Let's face it, YOU are a bitchin' rock star from Mars and what better way to prove it than by
rockin' a totally bitchin' lunchbox for National Pack a Lunch Day? That's right, it's time
to dust off your Knight Rider lunchbox because March 10th is National Pack a Lunch Day!
At this point you may be rolling your eyes at the impossibility of actually waking up on time
(let alone early) to pack your lunch. Yes ,you already know why you should pack your lunch-
it's economical, more nutritious ( Zebra Cakes and Cheetos aside), and you help the
environment, but you may still find it hard to put those two slices of bread and filling
together every day. Before you start beating yourself up about it, perhaps you just need a
little more motivation. We've got your back! Here are 5 reasons to brown bag it (with a
reusable brown bag, of course!)!
1. You Don't Have to Split a Check
Picture it ( Sicily 1937) the waiter makes his way over, drops off the check, and vanishes
before someone can ask the dreaded (and belated), "Can you split the check". A hush falls
over the table. Like a stand-off in an old western movie, everyone makes a move like they are
going to grab the check but they hesitate. Blood pressures rise and impending anxiety attacks
cause chests to tighten and palms to sweat. Everyone knows that whoever picks up the bill
first better have their restaurant check math down to a science or friendships will be lost;
there will be blood. In a perfect world, everyone could easily split a $43.00 check without
incident but when there is a group of four or more the usual offenders rear their ugly heads-
the penny pincher, the boastful over-tipper, and the person who never has cash ever.
Eventually, after much stress and strife, calculating and re-calculating, rounding and
carrying, the bill gets sorted out and you, without fail, end up paying $14.00 for a $6.00
bowl of French Onion soup! Not this week my friend! Bring your lunch and leave your abacus
and algebra crib sheet at home! You're welcome!
2. You Can Disguise Being Broke as Concern for Lowering Your Carbon
Footprint
Which sounds better?
Scenario A: Co-worker: "Hey we're going to lunch do you want to come?"
You: " No, thanks! I can only spend $8.00 on lunch this week!"
Scenario B: Co-worker: "Hey we're going to lunch do you want to come?"
You: "No, I read that bringing my lunch to work instead of going out to
eat can significantly lower my carbon footprint. Just doing my
part!"
See, you're not broke, you're an earth loving, tree hugging, free-wheeling,environmentalist!
3. You Can Eat an Egg Salad Sandwich without Being Judged
We all have at least one nasty sandwich that we secretly love to eat- liverwurst and onion,
egg salad, or grilled Spam-n-cheese. Though our love for these sandwiches run deep, we can't
bear to order them in public lest we lose cool points in the eyes of our peers ( not that you
care...).
Just try and order an egg salad sandwich in public without your co-workers staring at you in
disbelief! When you pack a lunch however, all bets are off, you have free reign to concoct
the most vile sandwich imaginable and devour it in the comfort of your own cubicle.What
better way to escape from the day than by playing a game of Solitaire and enjoying that
peanut butter and chive cream cheese sandwich?! Enjoy!
4. You Can Stop Using Your Magic 8 Ball in Vain
Will you and your three co-workers be able to decide where to eat before your lunch hour is
over? Outlook Hazy. Will your annoying, onion-loving, closer talker co-worker be joining you
for lunch today? Yes. Will you be eating Thai food for the third time this week? Signs point
to yes. If you pack your lunch will you enjoy a meal that is free from indecisive and/or
aggravating co-workers for at least 30 minutes to an hour? Yes-Definitely.
5. You Can Rock a Cool Lunch Box
Packing your lunch doesn't have to be dull. Leave the boring, insulated cube at home and get
your swag on with and old school classic or a chic stainless steel lunchbox. Should you
bring your old Super Friends lunch box and matching thermos to work today or your new, all-
natural, hemp lunch bag, now that you low-carbon emitting environmentalist?Decisions,
decisions!
rockin' a totally bitchin' lunchbox for National Pack a Lunch Day? That's right, it's time
to dust off your Knight Rider lunchbox because March 10th is National Pack a Lunch Day!
At this point you may be rolling your eyes at the impossibility of actually waking up on time
(let alone early) to pack your lunch. Yes ,you already know why you should pack your lunch-
it's economical, more nutritious ( Zebra Cakes and Cheetos aside), and you help the
environment, but you may still find it hard to put those two slices of bread and filling
together every day. Before you start beating yourself up about it, perhaps you just need a
little more motivation. We've got your back! Here are 5 reasons to brown bag it (with a
reusable brown bag, of course!)!
1. You Don't Have to Split a Check
Picture it ( Sicily 1937) the waiter makes his way over, drops off the check, and vanishes
before someone can ask the dreaded (and belated), "Can you split the check". A hush falls
over the table. Like a stand-off in an old western movie, everyone makes a move like they are
going to grab the check but they hesitate. Blood pressures rise and impending anxiety attacks
cause chests to tighten and palms to sweat. Everyone knows that whoever picks up the bill
first better have their restaurant check math down to a science or friendships will be lost;
there will be blood. In a perfect world, everyone could easily split a $43.00 check without
incident but when there is a group of four or more the usual offenders rear their ugly heads-
the penny pincher, the boastful over-tipper, and the person who never has cash ever.
Eventually, after much stress and strife, calculating and re-calculating, rounding and
carrying, the bill gets sorted out and you, without fail, end up paying $14.00 for a $6.00
bowl of French Onion soup! Not this week my friend! Bring your lunch and leave your abacus
and algebra crib sheet at home! You're welcome!
2. You Can Disguise Being Broke as Concern for Lowering Your Carbon
Footprint
Which sounds better?
Scenario A: Co-worker: "Hey we're going to lunch do you want to come?"
You: " No, thanks! I can only spend $8.00 on lunch this week!"
Scenario B: Co-worker: "Hey we're going to lunch do you want to come?"
You: "No, I read that bringing my lunch to work instead of going out to
eat can significantly lower my carbon footprint. Just doing my
part!"
See, you're not broke, you're an earth loving, tree hugging, free-wheeling,environmentalist!
3. You Can Eat an Egg Salad Sandwich without Being Judged
We all have at least one nasty sandwich that we secretly love to eat- liverwurst and onion,
egg salad, or grilled Spam-n-cheese. Though our love for these sandwiches run deep, we can't
bear to order them in public lest we lose cool points in the eyes of our peers ( not that you
care...).
Just try and order an egg salad sandwich in public without your co-workers staring at you in
disbelief! When you pack a lunch however, all bets are off, you have free reign to concoct
the most vile sandwich imaginable and devour it in the comfort of your own cubicle.What
better way to escape from the day than by playing a game of Solitaire and enjoying that
peanut butter and chive cream cheese sandwich?! Enjoy!
4. You Can Stop Using Your Magic 8 Ball in Vain
Will you and your three co-workers be able to decide where to eat before your lunch hour is
over? Outlook Hazy. Will your annoying, onion-loving, closer talker co-worker be joining you
for lunch today? Yes. Will you be eating Thai food for the third time this week? Signs point
to yes. If you pack your lunch will you enjoy a meal that is free from indecisive and/or
aggravating co-workers for at least 30 minutes to an hour? Yes-Definitely.
5. You Can Rock a Cool Lunch Box
Packing your lunch doesn't have to be dull. Leave the boring, insulated cube at home and get
your swag on with and old school classic or a chic stainless steel lunchbox. Should you
bring your old Super Friends lunch box and matching thermos to work today or your new, all-
natural, hemp lunch bag, now that you low-carbon emitting environmentalist?Decisions,
decisions!
2011年3月7日星期一
The Avengers (2012) Plot Details and Spoilers
According to the Latino Review, the big bad guy the Avengers will be facing in the
Joss Whedon directed film of the same name will be, who has been rumored, Loki.
Apparently, Loki gets his hands on the Tesseract, or as us comic readers know it by -
the cosmic cube.
According to sources, Loki uses this to summon the alien race known as the Skrulls to
attack earth.
What about the Hulk?
We do know the Avengers are said to battle among themselves and Marvel Studios
President and producer on The Avengers said the following:
"In my opinion, The Skrulls are really the only viable threat that would require so
many super heroes to fight as a team. Sure, you could have The Hulk as a villain in
the beginning, but then they have to come together for an even bigger threat.
Something hinted about in IM2, Thor and Cap by Nick Fury's presence. Plus Fox doesn't
have the rights to The Skrulls, only the Super Skrull. But this is just my inner geek
thinking out loud and hoping."
What I think happens and spoilers for Thor, Captain America and The Avengers.
Assuming any of the above to be true:
Bruce Banner becomes the Hulk at the beginning and is uncontrollable. The Avengers
are summoned to handle this threat. Eventually, the Green Goliath is subdued with the
Hulk transforming back to Banner.
pic
The Tesseract plays a part in all three movies as we already know from the images of
the Red Skull, it appears in Captain America: First Avenger. According to the Thor
script spoilers, the Tesseract appears in the movie inside Asgard's treasure chamber.
Loki wants to rule Asgard - and obviously gets defeated in the upcoming Thor movie.
So he wants revenge and of course, at the same time, still wants Asgard. Loki
acquires the Tesseract summoning the advanced shape-shifting alien race known as The
Skrulls. He wants his brother destroyed, as well as Midgard (Earth); note: but not
Asgard.
Well, something goes wrong and Loki no longer has control over the Skrulls. Perhaps,
the Tesseract loses its power, and the Skrulls now decide to invade and take over
everything.
This is similar to Loki's MO in the comics, where he is only thinking of himself and
brings forth a great threat that ends up threatening that which he loves - Asgard.
Of course, the Avengers assemble - with the Hulk - to take down this threat.
pic
Actually, Kevin Feige was involved in an animated Marvel movie "Hulk Vs." where Loki
brought Banner to Asgard, separated Banner from the Hulk - and then unleashed the
Hulk upon Asgard. Loki thought he could control the Hulk with his magic, but couldn't
tame the beast. When Loki realizes just what he has done, he ends up teaming with his
brother to stop the Hulk.
Sounds similar.
I guess, we'll have to stay tuned as we are still a year or so away!
The Avengers is set to assemble in theaters May 4th 2012 starring Robert Downey Jr.,
Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, and Samuel L.
Jackson.
Joss Whedon directed film of the same name will be, who has been rumored, Loki.
Apparently, Loki gets his hands on the Tesseract, or as us comic readers know it by -
the cosmic cube.
According to sources, Loki uses this to summon the alien race known as the Skrulls to
attack earth.
What about the Hulk?
We do know the Avengers are said to battle among themselves and Marvel Studios
President and producer on The Avengers said the following:
"In my opinion, The Skrulls are really the only viable threat that would require so
many super heroes to fight as a team. Sure, you could have The Hulk as a villain in
the beginning, but then they have to come together for an even bigger threat.
Something hinted about in IM2, Thor and Cap by Nick Fury's presence. Plus Fox doesn't
have the rights to The Skrulls, only the Super Skrull. But this is just my inner geek
thinking out loud and hoping."
What I think happens and spoilers for Thor, Captain America and The Avengers.
Assuming any of the above to be true:
Bruce Banner becomes the Hulk at the beginning and is uncontrollable. The Avengers
are summoned to handle this threat. Eventually, the Green Goliath is subdued with the
Hulk transforming back to Banner.
pic
The Tesseract plays a part in all three movies as we already know from the images of
the Red Skull, it appears in Captain America: First Avenger. According to the Thor
script spoilers, the Tesseract appears in the movie inside Asgard's treasure chamber.
Loki wants to rule Asgard - and obviously gets defeated in the upcoming Thor movie.
So he wants revenge and of course, at the same time, still wants Asgard. Loki
acquires the Tesseract summoning the advanced shape-shifting alien race known as The
Skrulls. He wants his brother destroyed, as well as Midgard (Earth); note: but not
Asgard.
Well, something goes wrong and Loki no longer has control over the Skrulls. Perhaps,
the Tesseract loses its power, and the Skrulls now decide to invade and take over
everything.
This is similar to Loki's MO in the comics, where he is only thinking of himself and
brings forth a great threat that ends up threatening that which he loves - Asgard.
Of course, the Avengers assemble - with the Hulk - to take down this threat.
pic
Actually, Kevin Feige was involved in an animated Marvel movie "Hulk Vs." where Loki
brought Banner to Asgard, separated Banner from the Hulk - and then unleashed the
Hulk upon Asgard. Loki thought he could control the Hulk with his magic, but couldn't
tame the beast. When Loki realizes just what he has done, he ends up teaming with his
brother to stop the Hulk.
Sounds similar.
I guess, we'll have to stay tuned as we are still a year or so away!
The Avengers is set to assemble in theaters May 4th 2012 starring Robert Downey Jr.,
Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, and Samuel L.
Jackson.
2011年3月3日星期四
The Avengers (2012) Plot Details and Spoilers
According to the Latino Review, the big bad guy the Avengers will be facing in the
Joss Whedon directed film of the same name will be, who has been rumored, Loki.
Apparently, Loki gets his hands on the Tesseract, or as us comic readers know it by -
the cosmic cube.
According to sources, Loki uses this to summon the alien race known as the Skrulls to
attack earth.
What about the Hulk?
We do know the Avengers are said to battle among themselves and Marvel Studios
President and producer on The Avengers said the following:
"In my opinion, The Skrulls are really the only viable threat that would require so
many super heroes to fight as a team. Sure, you could have The Hulk as a villain in
the beginning, but then they have to come together for an even bigger threat.
Something hinted about in IM2, Thor and Cap by Nick Fury's presence. Plus Fox doesn't
have the rights to The Skrulls, only the Super Skrull. But this is just my inner geek
thinking out loud and hoping."
--------
What I think happens and spoilers for Thor, Captain America and The Avengers. Assuming
any of the above to be true:
Bruce Banner becomes the Hulk at the beginning and is uncontrollable. The Avengers are
summoned to handle this threat. Eventually, the Green Goliath is subdued with the Hulk
transforming back to Banner.
pic
The Tesseract plays a part in all three movies as we already know from the images of
the Red Skull, it appears in Captain America: First Avenger. According to the Thor
script spoilers, the Tesseract appears in the movie inside Asgard's treasure chamber.
Loki wants to rule Asgard - and obviously gets defeated in the upcoming Thor movie. So
he wants revenge and of course, at the same time, still wants Asgard. Loki acquires
the Tesseract summoning the advanced shape-shifting alien race known as The Skrulls.
He wants his brother destroyed, as well as Midgard (Earth); note: but not Asgard.
Well, something goes wrong and Loki no longer has control over the Skrulls. Perhaps,
the Tesseract loses its power, and the Skrulls now decide to invade and take over
everything.
This is similar to Loki's MO in the comics, where he is only thinking of himself and
brings forth a great threat that ends up threatening that which he loves - Asgard.
Of course, the Avengers assemble - with the Hulk - to take down this threat.
pic
Actually, Kevin Feige was involved in an animated Marvel movie "Hulk Vs." where Loki
brought Banner to Asgard, separated Banner from the Hulk - and then unleashed the Hulk
upon Asgard. Loki thought he could control the Hulk with his magic, but couldn't tame
the beast. When Loki realizes just what he has done, he ends up teaming with his
brother to stop the Hulk.
Sounds similar.
I guess, we'll have to stay tuned as we are still a year or so away!
The Avengers is set to assemble in theaters May 4th 2012 starring Robert Downey Jr.,
Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, and Samuel L.
Jackson.
Joss Whedon directed film of the same name will be, who has been rumored, Loki.
Apparently, Loki gets his hands on the Tesseract, or as us comic readers know it by -
the cosmic cube.
According to sources, Loki uses this to summon the alien race known as the Skrulls to
attack earth.
What about the Hulk?
We do know the Avengers are said to battle among themselves and Marvel Studios
President and producer on The Avengers said the following:
"In my opinion, The Skrulls are really the only viable threat that would require so
many super heroes to fight as a team. Sure, you could have The Hulk as a villain in
the beginning, but then they have to come together for an even bigger threat.
Something hinted about in IM2, Thor and Cap by Nick Fury's presence. Plus Fox doesn't
have the rights to The Skrulls, only the Super Skrull. But this is just my inner geek
thinking out loud and hoping."
--------
What I think happens and spoilers for Thor, Captain America and The Avengers. Assuming
any of the above to be true:
Bruce Banner becomes the Hulk at the beginning and is uncontrollable. The Avengers are
summoned to handle this threat. Eventually, the Green Goliath is subdued with the Hulk
transforming back to Banner.
pic
The Tesseract plays a part in all three movies as we already know from the images of
the Red Skull, it appears in Captain America: First Avenger. According to the Thor
script spoilers, the Tesseract appears in the movie inside Asgard's treasure chamber.
Loki wants to rule Asgard - and obviously gets defeated in the upcoming Thor movie. So
he wants revenge and of course, at the same time, still wants Asgard. Loki acquires
the Tesseract summoning the advanced shape-shifting alien race known as The Skrulls.
He wants his brother destroyed, as well as Midgard (Earth); note: but not Asgard.
Well, something goes wrong and Loki no longer has control over the Skrulls. Perhaps,
the Tesseract loses its power, and the Skrulls now decide to invade and take over
everything.
This is similar to Loki's MO in the comics, where he is only thinking of himself and
brings forth a great threat that ends up threatening that which he loves - Asgard.
Of course, the Avengers assemble - with the Hulk - to take down this threat.
pic
Actually, Kevin Feige was involved in an animated Marvel movie "Hulk Vs." where Loki
brought Banner to Asgard, separated Banner from the Hulk - and then unleashed the Hulk
upon Asgard. Loki thought he could control the Hulk with his magic, but couldn't tame
the beast. When Loki realizes just what he has done, he ends up teaming with his
brother to stop the Hulk.
Sounds similar.
I guess, we'll have to stay tuned as we are still a year or so away!
The Avengers is set to assemble in theaters May 4th 2012 starring Robert Downey Jr.,
Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Jeremy Renner, and Samuel L.
Jackson.
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