In a node to Escher, the artist balsamia paints what he/she sees.
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THE FIRE WIRE
Popular Culture, Books, Comics, Music, Movies, Television, Gadgets, Posters, Toys & More
Posted in October 2011 …
Steve Jobs Biography Now Available on iBookstore
Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs’ official biography, Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson, is now available on the iBookstore and through other retailers. Based on more than 40 interviews with Jobs conducted over the last two years of his life, as well as interviews with more than 100 family members, friends, competitors, and contemporaries, the book spans Jobs’ entire life from his younger days growing up in Mountain View, CA, to his decision to step down as the CEO of Apple earlier this year. As expected, the book also holds several surprises, as Jobs spoke openly of his thoughts regarding competing products — Android in particular — and of the inner works at Apple. Steve Jobs by Walter Isaacson is priced at $17.
Apple Posts Video of Steve Jobs Tribute Event
Apple has posted a video of its special event celebrating the life of Steve Jobs. The video, which runs over 80 minutes in length, was recorded at Apple’s campus in Cupertino, CA on October 19th, and features speeches and remembrances from Apple CEO Tim Cook, former Apple employee and Intuit Chairman Bill Campbell, former U.S. Vice President and Apple board member Al Gore, and Apple senior vice president of industrial design Jonathan Ive, and musical performances by Norah Jones and Coldplay.
iPod Announced 10 Years Ago Today
Ten years ago today, Apple announced the original iPod for $399, an early step in the computer maker’s evolution into a consumer electronics giant. Designed solely to store and play music, the first iPod was distinguished by its unusually small size for a then-considerable 5 Gigabytes of storage space, enough to hold roughly 1,000 songs. With a clear and white plastic face and a mirror-polished stainless steel back, the iPod used a physically moving Scroll Wheel and four physical buttons to navigate black text menus on a white backlit screen.
DreamWorks Animation Plans to Bring Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants to the Big Screen
DreamWorks Animation today announced that the studio has obtained the rights to Dav Pilkey’s Captain Underpants book series, with plans to pursue a feature film adaptation for the big screen. DreamWorks Animation development executive Damon Ross is overseeing the project at the studio.
The Captain Underpants book series tells the story of two mischievous kids, George Beard and Harold Hutchins, who hypnotize their school principal and turn him into their comic book creation, Captain Underpants.
“This is a joyous day for the countless Captain Underpants fans at our studio,” said Bill Damaschke, DreamWorks Animation’s Chief Creative Officer. “We are thrilled that Dav has decided the time is right to turn his beloved property into a movie and we look forward to bringing the greatest Waistband Warrior of all time to the big screen at DreamWorks Animation!”
“I never wanted to do a Captain Underpants movie in the past because, frankly, I worried that a movie might not be able to properly convey what I was trying to do with the books. Then I saw How to Train Your Dragon and the Kung Fu Panda movies. I loved the subtle way that morality and personal responsibility were handled in these very funny and exciting adventures. I felt that DreamWorks Animation would be the perfect home for Captain Underpants,” added Dav Pilkey.
Scholastic first launched the Captain Underpants book series in September of 1997 and there are over 50 million Pilkey books in print in the U.S. alone. Eight Captain Underpants books have been published in 19 countries and several have debuted at #1 on various best-seller lists, including The New York Times and USA Today.
Once Upon a Time: First Look
Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (Lost, Tron:Legacy) invite you to a bold new vision of the world where fairytales and the modern day are about to collide.
Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison) knows how to take care of herself. She’s a 28-year-old bail bonds collector who’s been on her own ever since she was abandoned as a baby. But when the son she gave up years ago finds her, everything will change. Henry (Jared Gilmore) is 10 years old now and in desperate need of Emma’s help. Henry believes that Emma actually comes from an alternate world … and is Prince Charming (Josh Dallas) and Snow White’s (Ginnifer Goodwin) missing daughter. According to his book of fairytales, they sent her away to protect her from the Evil Queen’s (Lana Parilla) curse, which trapped the fairytale world forever, frozen in time. Of course Emma doesn’t believe a word, but when she brings Henry back to Storybrooke, she finds herself drawn to this unusual boy and his strange New England town. Concerned for Henry, she decides to stay for a while, but she soon suspects that Storybrooke is more than it seems. It’s a place where magic has been forgotten, but is still powerfully close … where fairytale characters are alive, even though they don’t remember who they once were – including the Evil Queen who is now Henry’s foster mother. The epic battle for the future of all worlds is beginning, but for good to win, Emma will have to accept her destiny and fight like hell.
Brace yourself for a modern fable with thrilling twists and hints of darkness. Brimming with wonder, and filled with the magic of our most beloved fairytales, Once Upon A Time is a fitting follow up to Lost from two master storytellers.
Once Upon A Time premieres tonight, Sunday, October 23 at 8|7c on ABC.
The Punisher Planned As A Fox TV Series
After three feature film versions, Frank Castle is heading to the small screen. Fox has plans to develop Marvel Comics’ “The Punisher” as a television series from former “Criminal Minds” showrunner Edward Allen Bernero.
Set up through ABC Studios, “The Punisher” will take on the format of an hourlong police procedural. In this version, Castle will work by day as an NYPD detective and by night as the Punisher, writing the wrongs that he legally can’t.
“The Punisher” marks the fourth live-action Marvel Universe property planned for television, following the proposed “Hulk” series, “Cloak and Dagger” and “AKA Jessica Jones,” based on Brian Michael Bendis’ “Alias.”
Official Poster For Martin Scorsese’s Hugo Revealed
The official theatrical poster for Martin Scorsese’s Hugo has been revealed and it features Asa Butterfield as Hugo Cabret hanging from a clock hand inspired by the classic silent films like Harold Lloyd’s Safety Last.
Hugo is an upcoming 3D family adventure drama film based on Brian Selznick’s novel The Invention of Hugo Cabret. The novel is about an orphan boy living a secret life in the walls of a Paris train station. When Hugo encounters a broken automaton, an eccentric girl, and the cold, reserved man who runs the toy shop, he is caught up in a magical, mysterious adventure that could put all of his secrets in jeopardy.
The film stars Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Ray Winstone, Emily Mortimer and Jude Law.
This is Scorsese’s first film shot in 3D and it is due to be released on November 23, 2011.
The Walken Dead
The Walken Dead… For every zombie who’s ever wanted their brains served with a side of cowbell.
Tim Burton Designs Balloon For The 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
A lonely outsider will become the star attraction as B., a stitched together balloon boy takes flight in the 85th Anniversary Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. World-renowned filmmaker and artist, Tim Burton brings his unique vision to the lineup of the Macy’s Parade with the introduction of B. to the skies above New York City. Specially designed by Mr. Burton, B. is the latest entry into the famed holiday Parade’s Blue Sky Gallery series, which invites renowned artists to create flying wonders for the Thanksgiving procession.
“I’ve always had a fascination with balloons,” stated Tim Burton. “To have the opportunity to design one for the Macy’s Day Parade is a real honor. Looking through photographs of the balloons that have been part of the parade over the last 85 years was really inspiring.” As for the new balloon, Mr. Burton said, “B. Boy looks forward to his flight through Manhattan on Thanksgiving Day.”
Firmly framed in the artist’s unique aesthetic, B. Boy, like all other inhabitants of the world of Tim Burton has an interesting story.
Born, or more accurately – constructed on the fourth of July in the basement of London’s Great Ormond Street Hospital, B. Boy was stitched together from rejects of old birthday party balloons left over from the many children’s parties that took place on the upper floors of the Hospital. With his pointed teeth and uneven stitches, B. was not allowed to play with the children at the hospital, because some feared he would scare them. With his spirit deflated, B. withdrew to his cramped basement home and into the world of his favorite film, The Red Balloon. Watching it obsessively, B. hoped that one day he too would be able to fly above the city and bring joy to one small child. With the notion that some dreams come with strings attached, B.’s dream will finally come true on Thanksgiving Day as he soars in the famed Macy’s Parade.
B. will join the ranks of five other works of contemporary art that have been transformed into flying wonders. Previous flying art balloons have included works by Tom Otterness, Jeff Koons, Keith Haring and Takashi Murakami. Helping to bring fine art to the masses, Tim Burton’s B. will debut on Thursday, November 24th in front of more than 3.5 million spectators lining the streets of Manhattan and another 50 million viewers nationwide.
Starting with a one-of-a-kind sketch, the artists at Macy’s Parade Studio collaborated with Mr. Burton over the course of the summer on the balloon design, even traveling to England and the film set of Burton’s latest film, Dark Shadows. Armed with a treasure trove of Macy’s historical archive materials, Macy’s creative director Bill Schermerhorn, Macy’s lead designer John Piper and Burton, fine-tuned the concept and design of the new balloon creation. From there B. was transformed from a sketch and 2-foot model, into a 32-foot tall, 19-foot wide inflatable giant.
The 85th Anniversary Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade kicks off on Thursday, November 24, 2011 and is broadcast nationally on NBC-TV, from 9am to 12pm, in all time zones.
Ben Affleck To Direct Stephen King’s The Stand Film
Warner Bros has chosen Ben Affleck to adapt and direct The Stand, Stephen King’s apocalyptic mammoth book. Affleck has become a cornerstone director for the studio, but this would be his greatest challenge yet. Even King has been reticent about the idea of making a feature of his book, which previously was turned into a miniseries. With The Town and Gone Baby Gone, Affleck has shown the grit necessary to handle such an unforgettable tale. Affleck is now currently directing Argo.
Download Brandi Carlile’s Rendition of The Elvis Classic Song, Can’t Help Falling In Love Here
Recorded exclusively for Tiffany & Co’s WhatMakesLoveTrue.com campaign, Brandi Carlile’s “Can’t Help Falling In Love” is an instant true love classic. Released Friday, October 14, the song is available for preview and limited download on Tiffany’s website
Download the complimentary track and check out her playlist of favorite love songs HERE.
Happy 100th Birthday Mary Blair
Today, Google celebrates the 100th birthday of the late Disney artist, who lent her colorful style to such immortal ‘50s animated films as “Alice in Wonderland,” “Cinderella” and “Peter Pan.” She also contributed to “Dumbo” and “Lady and the Tramp.”
Although Blair left Disney animation by the mid-’50s, Walt Disney — appreciating her eye for color and design — later hired her to work on such theme-park attractions as It’s a Small World and the Tomorrowland Promenade.
Today’s Doodle honors that very eye for color, rendered with a bright, expressive palette and playful, almost kinetic design.
Born Mary Robinson in Oklahoma in 1911, she attended L.A.’s esteemed Chouinard Art Institute, soon making her way in an industry then dominated by men. Both her husband, Lee Everett Blair, and her brother-in-law, animator Preston Blair, were also artists.
Blair joined the Disney studio in 1940, where she and her husband created concept art for such films as “The Three Caballeros.” After she left Disney more than a decade later, her graphic work included major advertising campaigns and illustrations for Simon and Schuster’s Golden Books for children.
In 1991 — 13 years after her death — Blair received a “Disney Legend” award.
Her bold design continues to influence generations of artists.
And today, as millions of Google viewers enjoy her mirthful style, the shared legacy again renders it a small world, after all.
Happy birthday, Mary Blair. (Reprinted from The Washington Post)
2000 Foot Hot Wheels Track
Check out this 3 minute long video of a 2,000 feet long powered Hot Wheels track that goes up and down the stairs, through 14 rooms of a house, around the outside of the property and finally jump over a hot tub.
Joe Hill: Under Locke & Key
Joe Hill took some time to speak with IGN about his 2 current comic books: Locke & Key and The Cape both published by IDW.
In the interview the prolific author discusses his Spike TV Scream Award nomination and future projects that include a 5-issue run on a well-known caped character (?) and a new original horror story (not Locke & Key) that will appear in 6 issues. Also fans can expect to see more Locke & Key!
Read more HERE.
Lytro, The Camera That Can Focus After You’ve Taken The Picture!
The Lytro pocket-sized camera offers a powerful 8x optical zoom and f/2 lens in an iconic design, creates interactive ―living pictures that can be endlessly refocused. The camera is available in two models and three colors, starting at $399.
The Lytro is the only consumer camera that lets people instantly capture a scene just as they see it by recording a fundamentally richer set of data than ever before. Lytro cameras feature a light field sensor that collects the color, intensity, and the direction of every light ray flowing into the camera, capturing a scene in four dimensions. To process this additional information, Lytro cameras contain a light field engine that allows camera owners to refocus pictures directly on the camera. When the Lytro’s living pictures are shared online, the light field engine travels with each picture so anyone can interact with them on nearly any device, including web browsers, mobile phones, and tablets—without having to download special software.
The Lytro’s sleek design was created with simplicity in mind. With no unnecessary modes or dials, the camera features just two buttons—power and shutter—and has an intuitive glass touchscreen that lets pictures be viewed and refocused directly on the camera. While the Lytro camera houses complex technology, it is fundamentally easy to use, opening new creative opportunities for anyone interested in sharing their favorite memories with friends and family.
What Would Stephen King Say To His 16-Year-Old Self?
If you were to write a letter to your 16-year-old self, what would it say?
In the book, Dear Me: A Letter to my Sixteen-Year Old Self, 75 celebrities, writers, musicians, athletes, and actors have written letters to their younger selves that give words of comfort, warning, humor, and advice.
These letters present intimate, moving, and witty insights into some of the world’s most intriguing and admired individuals. By turns funny, surprising, raw, and uplifting, this singular collection captures the universal conditions that are youth, life, and growing up.
Read the excerpt below from the prolific author Stephen King and find out what words of wisdom he would say to his teenage self.
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Bob Seger Releasing Career-Spanning Two-CD Set, Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets On November 21, 2011
On November 21, Capitol Records will release a 2 CD Bob Seger ‘best of’ package that will run the length of his full music career. The set will feature completely new remasters of each song, all from the original master tapes. The album is called Ultimate Hits: Rock and Roll Never Forgets.
The 26-track CD will even contain Seger’s Holiday track, “Little Drummer Boy”, the mono version of “Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man” and two of Bob Seger‘s current hits, “Downtown Train” and “Hey Hey Hey Hey (Going Back To Birmingham)”. This collection will also be made available as a Digital Download.
The tracklisting is as follows:
Disc One:
1. Old Time Rock and Roll
2. Hollywood Nights
3. Night Moves
4. Mainstreet
5. Roll Me Away
6. Turn the Page
7. Her Strut
8. Still the Same
9. You’ll Accomp’ny Me
10. We’ve Got Tonight
11. Like a Rock
12. Fire Lake
13. Tryin’ to Live My Life Without You
Disc Two:
1. Rock and Roll Never Forgets
2. Against the Wind
3. Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man
4. The Fire Down Below
5. Travelin’ Man (Live)
6. Beautiful Loser (Live)
7. Shakedown
8. Shame On the Moon
9. Katmandu
10. Little Drummer Boy
11. Wait For Me
12. Hey Hey Hey Hey (Going Back To Birmingham)
13. Downtown Train
The 10 Worst Songs of the 1970s
Earlier this month, Rolling Stone Magazine asked their readers to vote on their least favorite songs of the 1980s. Voters picked classics like “Puttin’ On The Ritz”, “Mickey” and “Rock Me Amadeus” and many people on the Internet violently disagreed with the choices.
Now the magazine has posted the results of the 10 worst songs of the 1970’s HERE. See if you agree? What songs are missing?
The Trailer For Chronicle
MTV has debuted the trailer for 20th Century Fox’s Chronicle, the faux-documentary style film that tells the story of three teenagers who develop superpowers. Directed by Joshua Trank and written by Max Landis and Trank, the movie stars Dane DeHaan, Michael B. Jordan, Alex Russell and Michael Kelly.
Chronicle started with a spec script from Max Landis (son of “Coming to America” director John Landis) that Twentieth Century Fox picked up. In the February 3rd release, three high school students make an incredible discovery, leading to them developing uncanny powers beyond their understanding. As they learn to control their abilities, and use them to their advantage, their lives start to spin out of control, and their darker sides begin to take over.
The New Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Trailer
Warner Bros. Pictures has revealed the new trailer for Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. Hitting theaters on December 16, the Guy Ritchie-directed film stars Robert Downey Jr., Jude Law, Noomi Rapace, Jared Harris, Eddie Marsan, Stephen Fry and Rachel McAdams.
Sherlock Holmes (Downey Jr.) has always been the smartest man in the room… until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large—Professor Moriarty (Harris)—and not only is he Holmes’ intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade (Marsan), points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder—a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by Professor Moriarty. The cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead of Holmes as he spins a web of death and destruction—all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.
Star Wars Art: Comics
Star Wars and sequential art share a long history: Star Wars debuted on the comic-book page in 1977, when Marvel Comics began publishing a six-part adaptation of the first film, which morphed into a monthly comic book. Now, more than three decades later, new series by Dark Horse Comics continue to expand the Star Wars galaxy.
The second book in the Star Wars Art series, Star Wars Art: Comics ($40) brings together the very best artwork from the entire history of Star Wars comics publishing, showcasing original art from the top comics artists working in the industry. Hand-selected and curated by George Lucas, the art featured in this volume includes interior pages and fully painted covers from artists such as Al Williamson, Howard Chaykin, Adam Hughes, Bill Sienkiewicz, Dave Dorman, and many more—as well as new work created exclusively for this book by over 20 renowned artists, including John Cassaday, Sam Kieth, Mike Mignola, Paul Pope, Frank Quitely, Jim Steranko, and other comics superstars. Star Wars Art: Comics is a tribute to sequential storytelling, a worthy and justly celebrated art form.
Available now where books are sold.
Champions of Breakfast by Dave Perillo
Champions of Breakfast is a wonderful new art print created by Dave Perillo for the upcoming POP! – the Art of Pop Culture show that opens on October 21st at Ltd. Art Gallery in Seattle.
10″x20″ signed/numbered giclee prints on archival paper limited edition of 20
Apple Launches Remembering Steve Tribute Webpage
Apple has updated its prior Steve Jobs tribute page with a constantly updated page that highlights messages from people all over the world.
Entitled “Remembering Steve”, the page reads, “Over a million people from all over the world have shared their memories, thoughts, and feelings about Steve. One thing they all have in common — from personal friends to colleagues to owners of Apple products — is how they’ve been touched by his passion and creativity. You can view some of these messages below.”
The page also notes that readers still have a chance to share their own messages by sending an email to rememberingsteve@apple.com.
Introducing TIME’s New iPad App: Populist
In 2005, TIME launched the first of a series of comprehensive culture lists: The 100 Greatest Movies of All-TIME. Compiled by Richard Corliss and Richard Schickel, it named the best films—in their critics’ opinions—made since the magazine was founded in 1923.
In the years since, the magazine’s critics and writers have done the same for fiction, nonfiction, albums and television shows, sifting through the cultural history of more than eight decades to distill what they think is worthwhile, lasting and transcendent.
Today, TIME is launching a free iPad app called TIME Populist. On it, you can access more than 100 of the movie, book, television, music, and video game lists that TIME has compiled over the years, big and small. Looking for the best movie car-chase scenes ever? They’ve got it. Interested in the worst TV spin-offs? It’s there. Want to know what the Top 10 novels of the 2000s were? You can find it on the app!
You can download Populist—here for free. Everyone loves a good list—especially pop culture fanatics, and TIME’s Populist is a perfect recommendation and discovery tool.
