tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944Mon, 25 Aug 2008 05:03:03 +0000http://robogeek.com/noreply@blogger.com (Paul)Blogger393125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114888809773923376Sun, 28 May 2006 07:34:00 +00002006-05-29T10:55:48.980-07:00 The legendary Alex Toth passed away Saturday morning at his drawing table. A giant among American comic illustrators, he was best known for designing the Super Friends and Space Ghost cartoons (including, of course, Brak). Wizard magazine named him the 7th most influential comic book artist of all time, and his "Death Flies the Haunted Sky" was included in The Greatest Batman Stories Ever Told. http://robogeek.com/2006/05/rip-alex-toth-1928-2006.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114854434462850474Thu, 25 May 2006 08:05:00 +00002006-05-29T02:14:11.210-07:00I do what I do in life because of Walt Disney - his films and his theme park and his characters and his joy in entertaining. The emotional feeling that his creations gave me is something that I want to turn around and give to others. I believe in the nobility of entertaining people, and I take great, great pride that people are willing to give me two or three hours out of their busy lives. http://robogeek.com/2006/05/john-lasseter-in-his-own-words-to.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114854412199183179Thu, 25 May 2006 08:02:00 +00002006-05-29T02:45:17.866-07:00On a recent Boston Legal, Candice Bergen's Shirley Schmidt enlightened a courtroom (and millions of viewers) that high fructose corn syrup doesn't metabolize like a normal sugar, and prevents a hormone called leptin from reaching the brain - which is what normally tells you that your stomach is full. So when you eat foods with HFCS, you tend to eat more, and hence... Americans are the fattest http://robogeek.com/2006/05/high-fructose-corn-syrup-is-evil.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114841730547032559Tue, 23 May 2006 20:45:00 +00002006-05-29T01:15:18.476-07:00I'm not a runner (though I probably should be), but this strikes me as pretty damn cool. Apple and Nike announced a partnership today to create a new line of products integrating sports and music, starting with the Nike+iPod Sport Kit for runners that enables Nike+ shoes to wirelessly communicate time, distance, calories burned, and pace data with your iPod nano. It will retail for $29 starting http://robogeek.com/2006/05/apple-announces-nikeipod.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114840789106197384Tue, 23 May 2006 18:11:00 +00002006-05-23T15:07:51.736-07:00ICv2 reports that Joss Whedon's forthcoming six-issue Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic for Dark Horse will be a sequel to the TV series, and function as its 8th Season. (It launches in October.)http://robogeek.com/2006/05/whedon-writing-buffy-season-8-comic.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114836035881621513Tue, 23 May 2006 04:49:00 +00002006-05-29T03:59:00.360-07:00I promise not to turn this site into robobaby just yet (though I am contemplating a spin-off site, which just might launch by Father's Day), but I simply can't resist sharing three baby gadgets I've been particularly taken with. The first is the Sleep Sheep by Cloud b, an adorable plush "audio pacifier" that makes four "soothing sounds" to (allegedly) lull both babies and adults alike to sleep. http://robogeek.com/2006/05/sleep-sheep.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114809968281427415Sat, 20 May 2006 04:34:00 +00002006-05-19T23:32:15.466-07:00 I love my TiVo. I love the sounds it makes, and the power it gives me to pause, rewind, and fast-forward TV, and to automatically record all my favorite shows. It is one third of the Holy Trinity of consumer technology at whose altar I have worshipped daily for years now - PowerBook, Treo and TiVo. I'd be lost without any of them, and would metaphysically implode without all three. But now I http://robogeek.com/2006/05/dual-tuner-tivo-nirvana.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114801461361860391Fri, 19 May 2006 04:56:00 +00002006-05-19T23:41:59.976-07:00Shut cho mouth and say it ain't so! Even though I'm entering Day Three of Hiccup Hell, I'm still in a giddy glow over last night's one-two punch of reality show joy. First, evil arrogant psycho Jade finally got eliminated on Top Model, resulting in the greatest finalist pairing ever - (formerly) gap-toothed Arkansas underdog Danielle and (formerly) snaggle-toothed preacher's daughter stripper http://robogeek.com/2006/05/reality-show-joy-danielle-wins-elliott.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114789315387680914Wed, 17 May 2006 19:12:00 +00002006-05-18T23:23:24.330-07:00When I first moved to Austin a dozen years ago, it occured to me that there were just three things keeping it from being a true metropolis - a rapid transit system, a major art museum, and the availability of good donuts downtown. We're still awaiting the first - and thankfully both Whole Foods and BakerMan's Bakery have taken care of the third - but now we finally have the second in the form http://robogeek.com/2006/05/blanton-belatedly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114788613026964772Wed, 17 May 2006 17:15:00 +00002006-05-17T10:21:03.480-07:00Must. Have. Superman Bowling Ball! (More details here.)http://robogeek.com/2006/05/superman-bowling-club.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114788559359072563Wed, 17 May 2006 04:11:00 +00002006-05-17T10:09:50.196-07:00Over at AICN, Harry announced the latest news regarding this year's Fantastic Fest (which I co-founded and co-chair). This year's will be bigger and better, as we're expanding to a full week (September 21-28) while also lowering prices. Badges are on sale now, including the $160 V.I.P. badge that guarantees admission to each and every screening, panel, forum, party, reception, you name it - and http://robogeek.com/2006/05/fantastic-fest-2006-update-call-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114782789382594269Wed, 17 May 2006 01:04:00 +00002006-05-17T10:28:55.766-07:00Technology marched on this week with the release of two long-rumored, much-anticipated products - Apple's new 13" widescreen MacBook (replacing both the aging 12" & 14" iBooks as well as the 12" PowerBook) and Palm's Treo 700p (which replaces the 650). Announced today, the MacBook is a mere 5.2 pounds and just over an inch thick, ships with a 1.83 or 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor (several http://robogeek.com/2006/05/macbook-treo-700p-released.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114736337439705696Thu, 11 May 2006 16:02:00 +00002006-05-11T15:21:28.826-07:00I was pleasantly surprised (and rather flattered) to discover my name among XL's Fortunate 500 list of Austin's top movers and shakers in this morning's Austin American-Statesman. (I'm listed among 30 Film Stars for co-creating Fantastic Fest and my work on the forthcoming Villa Muse Studios, among - I suppose - other things.) While there are several omissions to the list who I think are more http://robogeek.com/2006/05/xls-fortunate-500.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114724389872246538Wed, 10 May 2006 06:51:00 +00002006-05-09T23:51:38.796-07:00 Sorry for the lack of updates lately, but I've been a little preoccupied with a certain bundle of joy. My son Benjamin was born a week ago today (7lbs 12oz), and I've since been a happily doting dad. (Here he is at one day old, getting a hearing test.) Anyway, I'll try to get back in the swing of things around here soon with all manner of robogoodness, but in the meantime... you have seen the http://robogeek.com/2006/05/robobaby-10.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114659041203745660Tue, 02 May 2006 17:20:00 +00002006-05-11T15:15:45.440-07:00TV Land has greenlit "I Pity the Fool," a reality show starring Mr. T as a Dr. Phil-style help guru. This is awesome.http://robogeek.com/2006/05/mr-t-reality-show-coming.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114629532993616213Sat, 29 Apr 2006 07:22:00 +00002006-04-29T00:23:28.660-07:00I hardly ever watch SNL because, well, it's hardly ever funny. But tonight is Best of TV Funhouse, celebrating the 10th anniversary of Robert Smigel's animated shorts - and hosted by "The Ambiguously Gay Duo" themselves, Ace and Gary (voiced by Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell). Should be a real treat. (BTW, Smigel was interviewed on NPR's Fresh Air yesterday, which you can listen to online.) http://robogeek.com/2006/04/saturday-tv-funhouse-with-smigel.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114628604241219004Sat, 29 Apr 2006 04:47:00 +00002006-04-28T23:47:35.270-07:00Sorry for the unnanounced week-long hiatus, but (among other things) all my reality shows went insane this week, and it freaked me the hell out. First off, Nnenna (my pick to win America's Next Top Model) got the boot! Which is just obscene, since there's still psycho Jade, stupid Sara, and aggressively unattractive Furonda (who I swear looks like a cross between Flavor Flav and Zorak, but in http://robogeek.com/2006/04/reality-tv-gone-mad.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114560231011877926Fri, 21 Apr 2006 06:51:00 +00002006-04-21T00:07:09.690-07:00 Variety reports that J.J. Abrams has been tapped by Paramount to direct, co-write (with Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci of Alias and Mission: Impossible III) and co-produce (with Damon Lindelof and Bryan Burk of Lost) a Star Trek prequel film centered on "the early days of James T. Kirk and Mr. Spock, including their first meeting at Starfleet Academy and first outer space mission." And I'm http://robogeek.com/2006/04/can-jj-abrams-save-star-trek.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114559479150624515Fri, 21 Apr 2006 04:46:00 +00002006-04-24T20:32:59.016-07:00You know what I really kinda hate? Movies whose entire paint-by-numbers plots are completely predicated on the main characters being either stupid or insane or both. And what I hate even more is when said characters aren't developed even a smidgen - because if a movie can't be bothered to care about its characters, why should we? Silent Hill is one of the worst movies I've seen in a long time. http://robogeek.com/2006/04/silent-hill-really-kinda-sucks.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114538254298355576Tue, 18 Apr 2006 17:49:00 +00002006-04-18T11:13:58.250-07:00Korewa science fiction! The holy grail of obscure '80s anime has finally been released on DVD today (by ADV Films), and there is much rejoicing here at robogeek.com. Ignore the lamely narrated trailer and bland, misleading box art - Prefectural Earth Defense Force is relentlessly inspired, gleefully unhinged mad genius. Not only does it have perhaps the greatest opening sequence and theme song http://robogeek.com/2006/04/prefectural-earth-defense-force.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114533432313418880Tue, 18 Apr 2006 04:25:00 +00002006-04-17T21:26:56.120-07:00It's coming! (From the makers of The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra - and presented by Ray Harryhausen!)http://robogeek.com/2006/04/trail-of-screaming-forehead.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114508397387790564Sat, 15 Apr 2006 06:52:00 +00002006-04-18T11:12:51.580-07:00After a long hiatus, Justice League Unlimited returns to Cartoon Network tonight for the first of its final four episodes, entitled "Far From Home", scripted by the great Paul Dini. (You can watch a preview clip here, check out some promo stills at Comics Continuum, and read a review at AICN.) Meanwhile, you can pick up Supergirl and the Legion of Super-Heroes at your favorite comic book store.http://robogeek.com/2006/04/supergirl-and-legion-of-super-heroes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114499898721373577Fri, 14 Apr 2006 07:16:00 +00002006-04-15T13:48:04.483-07:00The AP reports: In a case considered crucial to TiVo's survival, a federal jury ruled that EchoStar (parent company of Dish network) willfully infringed nine sections of TiVo's patent on digital video recorder technology, and awarded TiVo $73.9 million in damages. Analysts (myself included) believe this will not only give TiVo significant leverage in negotiating licensing deals with cable and http://robogeek.com/2006/04/tivo-victorious.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114460606196922503Sun, 09 Apr 2006 18:07:00 +00002006-04-09T11:22:55.463-07:00AFP reports: In a tale reminiscent of the last Wallace and Gromit movie, furious villagers in northeast England have hired armed guards to protect their beloved communal vegetable gardens from a suspected monster rabbit. Leeks, Japanese onions, parsnips and spring carrots have all been ripped up and devoured by the mystery were-rabbit. Reuters reports: "This is no ordinary rabbit. We are http://robogeek.com/2006/04/attack-of-were-rabbit.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3323944.post-114438580951356984Fri, 07 Apr 2006 04:56:00 +00002006-04-09T11:33:19.170-07:00Well, it sure would've been a heck of a lot cooler if they'd announced it on their 30th Birthday this past Saturday - but I suppose everyone would've thought it was an April Fool's joke. Anyway, yesterday Apple boldly unveiled Boot Camp - which allows Intel Macs to dual boot Windows XP alongside Mac OS X from the same hard drive. And then today, Parallels announced Workstation - which allows http://robogeek.com/2006/04/apple-repeals-switcher-tax.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Paul)