Sacramento metallers Deftones have completed pre-production and are pushing forward with plans to enter the studio in July to record their seventh studio album. July 9th is the date currently set to begin tracking the new material. “I know everybody says this, but I think it’s best album we’ve written. I am very excited because it sounds futuristic compared to our last album — so it feels like a step forward," frontman Chino Moreno told Chilean site Latercera.com as translated by theprp.com.
IDW and Topps have announced that they are co-producing a Broadway musical based on the “Mars Attacks” trading card series. Called “Mars Attacks: 21st Century Slaughter,” the musical is being written and produced by John Layman, who is currently writing the “Mars Attacks” comic books. In the release, Layman is quoted as saying, “My approach to ‘Mars Attacks’ on stage is sort of a science fiction version of ‘West Side Story’: a human and a Martian involved in a star-crossed romance, set against the backdrop of a violent interstellar war, with all of humanity caught in between! It’s going to be a rollicking good time, with songs that will make you want to get up and dance!” The play is slated to debut next year, with Topps and IDW currently “in negotiations with a high-profile director/songwriter team. ” They are also, “…seeking a seven-foot tall male lead with extensive rock vocal experience.” Layman’s “Mars Attacks” comics will be out this June, while a new, commemorative card set will be out in July.
Orbital have unleashed the official music video for their new single "Wonky" featuring Lady Leshurr. The track is set to appear on the reformed British electro dance duo's long awaited eighth studio album of the same name, which is due out next week via ACP. As for the clip, things get weird when a man begins to be chased/haunted/run-over by a bunch of cats. If you missed it, also check out the visual for the LP's lead single "New France" featuring Zola Jesus.
Universal Pictures is planning a sequel to the 1988 flick Twins - with a twist, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Ivan Reitman-directed comedy starred Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito as twins conceived from a government genetic experiment gone awry who were then separated at birth. The follow-up film, called Triplets, would reunite the two stars as Julius and Vincent, who discover that they have a third sibling - to be played by Eddie Murphy.
Long running Bremerton, WA-based pop-punk trio MxPx are streaming another new song, called “Stay On Your Feet,” off their upcoming album, “Plans Within Plans.” You can stream the trackhere. “Plans Within Plans” is due out next Tuesday on MRI/Rock City Recording Company.
Brit rock vets Maximo Park are making another go-round, announcing their first record since 2009's disappointing Quicken the Heart. The National Health will be out on June 11. After splitting with long-time label Warp, it appears there's no imprint attached to this release yet, but the album can be pre-ordered via the band's website. You can check out the album's title track hereor over at the band's official website.
The National Health:
01 When I Was Wild 02 The National Health
03 Hips and Lips
04 The Undercurrents
05 Write This Down
06 Reluctant Love
07 Until the Earth Would Open
08 Banlieue
09 This Is What Becomes of the Broken Hearted
10 Wolf Among Men
11 Take Me Home
12 Unfamiliar Places
13 Waves of Fear
Late last year, Kevin Smith announced his impending retirement from filmmaking, presumably to do touring shows, write comics, podcast and work on his reality show. But just because he’ll be stepping back from making movies doesn’t mean he’s ready to completely give up on one of his signature creations, as the director recently shared his gestating idea to bring “Clerks 3” to the Great White Way. Smith’s final film is currently set to be the hockey flick “Hit Somebody” in 2013, but even when announcing his planned retirement, he made sure to note that there could be a return to “Clerks” in his future. Slash Film reported the director as saying that “Clerks 3” could be a possibility, “if I have something to say in my late 40s about being in my late 40s.” But at a recent book signing in Los Angeles, Smith revealed that “Clerks 3” could take a far different form from the other installments in the series, as he is toying with the idea of a “Book of Mormon”-inspired 6-month limited run on Broadway. Apparently he’s already discussed the idea with “Clerks” star Jeff Anderson, and stated over Twitter that he’d like to see the production take the stage in 2014 if Anderson could be involved.
Los Angeles cyber metallers FEAR FACTORY have revealed the cover artwork and package details for their forthcoming album, "The Industrialist". Set for North American release on June 5 via Candlelight Records, the CD is a conceptual record based around a story written by vocalist Burton C. Bell. Lyrics to the album's ten songs divulge the narrative as discussed recently by Bell with Decibel magazine. The album's artwork was created by American designer Anthony Clarkson with additional direction from the band. The album will be available on three formats — standard CD, a limited edition deluxe digi-book (featuring two additional songs), and 180-gram double vinyl.
"The Industrialist" track listing:
01. The Industrialist
02. Recharger
03. New Messiah
04. God Eater
05. Depraved Mind Murder
06. Virus of Faith
07. Difference Engine
08. Dissemble
09. Religion is Flawed Because Man is Flawed
10. Human Augmentation
11. Blush Response (Difference Engine) *
12. Landfill *
It has been announced that “Fix: The Ministry Movie” will be released on April 10 on DVD. Not sure about Blu-ray. “Raw and uncompromising, ‘Fix’ is the story of the rock band Ministry — hard living in the fastest lane, told for every fan, or merely the morbidly curious, whomsoever wished that just for a few nights they might have an all access pass into the belly of the rock beast — a chance to go behind that locked door at the back of the bus, and hang out one-on-one with whatever’s lurking there,” reads a press release. That may be the longest run-on sentence in history. The film was shot during the “Sphinctour” in 1996 by director Doug Freel with a single camera. Packaged along with the DVD will be a companion soundtrack from former Ministry member Paul Barker entitled Fix This. The album features 11 new tracks by Paul along with Taylor Momsen, Nivek Ogre, Chris Connelley, Alexis S.F., USSA and Jeffrey Kinart.
Dutch carbuilder Savage Rivale has released the first footage of their retractable telescopic multi panel roof system, which is an unique folding mechanism used to open and close the roof of the 2012 Savage Rivale Roadyacht GTS. After a year of brainstorming, it’s still in the development stage, but the necessary patent applications have been filed. The system is designed around a telescopic arm which pulls the glass panels (reinforced by carbon fiber sills) to the rear of the car where they are stored and fixed. The locking mechanisms are placed in the ‘C’ pillars securing a true safety cage. The system is controlled by only one module making it very lightweight and reliable.
Madball have announced that they will be back in the studio within in the next few weeks to begin recording a 4-5 track EP. They announced it yesterday on their Twitter page with the following message: “Hitting the studio in a few weeks for a new MADBALL ep !! The riffin has begone ….” Also yesterday, they posted another message, saying “goin back with Eric Rutan .. 4 ,, 5 new tracks !! Hard”. Madball’s last studio album Empire was released in 2010. The new EP will be their fourth one in a row, the first being 1989′s Ball of Destruction, the second 1992′s Droppin’ Many Suckers, and the third 2004′s N.Y.H.C.
After a five year hiatus and a more than eight month delay, the Smashing Pumpkins will release their new album this summer. Smashing Pumpkins frontman, Billy Corgan, has announced that the five year wait is over – their ninth studio album, Oceania, will be released on June 19, 2012 after being pushed back from its original launch date of September 1, 2011. The actual mixing of the album was completed on September 18, 2011 and Corgan describes it as being the group’s “best effort since Mellon Collie” which is saying a lot. The 1995 album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness, was a huge success producing hits like “Bullet with Butterfly Wings,” “Tonight” and “1979.” If Oceania is anywhere near as good, the Pumpkins will be on the fast-track to a full-fledged comeback. Of the creative process, guitarist, James Iha, said: “The big change is that Billy is not being the big 'I do this-I do that'. It's much better. The band arranged a lot of songs for this record, and the song writing process was organic. The circumstances of the last record and the way that we worked was really bad.” Here’s a look at the tracklisting:
Jack Black and Kyle Gass are back. After a six year hiatus from making music, Tenacious D will be touring and releasing a new album this spring. Their new album "Rize of the Fenix" is the follow-up to 2006's "The Pick of Destiny." "Rize of the Fenix" is scheduled to be released May 15. In addition to the announcement, the duo released a new video, "To Be The Best," which is a comedic look at the two have been up to for the last few years when they weren't recording. The video features cameos from Dave Grohl, Josh Groban, Jimmy Kimmel, Maria Menounos, Tim Robbins and Val Kilmer.
"Live to Rise," Soundgarden's first new song in 15 years, is slated to appear on the soundtrack for The Avengers in May. The full track hasn't leaked just yet, but the label has released a 30-second teaser – which you can check out below – showing off the song's colossal riffs.
Electro duo Simian Mobile Disco have returned with a video for “Cerulean,” an 8-bit throwback with animations so deceptively simple that they might trick you into thinking that programmers could have accomplished them in the ‘80s but were just lazy. Check it out below. Disco’s latest offering Unpatterns is out May 14.
Ferrari took to the track at Suzuka for the first shakedown run of the Ferrari 599XX fitted with the new Evoluzione Package. The Evoluzione Package increases horsepower and revises the gear ratios of the 599XX in search of a quicker Nurburgring lap time. The 700-hp 6.0-liter V-12 helped propel the 599XX around the famed ‘ring in 6:58.16. Thanks to the Evoluzione Package, the 599XX now makes 750 hp at 9000 rpm and 516 lb-ft of torque. Ferrari also fitted it with a new Pirelli tire and reduced total vehicle weight by 77 pounds. An active rear wing’s position is adjusted automatically by the 599XX’s computers. The new wing provides more downforce than the fixed wing’s 616 pounds at 124 mph to between 726 and 968 pounds of downforce. The shakedown run was presented for owners and collectors of the new Ferrari 599XX with the Evoluzione Package. Ferrari has yet to lap the Nurburgring with the new package fitted, but the Italian automaker says it has lapped the Maranello test track one second quicker than the standard 599XX. Check out the video below to see and hear the Ferrari in action at Suzuka.
The Sword has signed a new, multi-album worldwide deal with New York City based label, Razor & Tie. After releasing three critically acclaimed albums on Kemado Records, the Austin TX based quartet featuring guitarist/vocalist J.D. Cronise, guitarist Kyle Shutt, bassist Bryan Richie, and new drummer Santiago "Jimmy" Vela III will commence recording their fourth album in late June with a projected release date of fall 2012. The new studio album will be supported by extensive global touring that will stretch well into 2013. John Franck, SVP of Marketing for Razor & Tie comments, "We're delighted to welcome The Sword to Razor & Tie. They're a special band and unique signing for us. We're looking forward to making an incredible record together and continuing to grow the band's brand on a global level." The Sword is the latest addition to independent label Razor & Tie's expanding roster that includes such artists as All That Remains, For Today, P.O.D., Norma Jean, I Am War, Nonpoint, Saves the Day, Shadows Fall, Chelsea Grin, and more to be announced soon. The New York City-based label is one of the fastest growing independent record companies in the United States, and has garnered both Platinum sales and Grammy awards in its 20-year history.
Oakland riff-metal power-trio High On Fire has been working different variations on the same thundering fast-growl hurtle ever since Matt Pike formed the band in 1998. The band’s new album is called De Vermis Mysteriis, after a fictional book that summons Old Gods and hellbeasts in H.P. Lovecraft books. And it’s got a master behind the boards: Converge’s Kurt Ballou, who’s produced a whole ton of great underground metal albums in recent years. Right now, the entire album is streaming at NPR. To hear it, clickhere.
Azealia Banks has premiered a brand new track online. The rapper has teamed up with Diplo for new song 'F**k Up The Fun', which debuted online on Sunday (March 25) evening. It has not been confirmed whether the track will be included on Banks's debut album Broke With Expensive Taste, which is expected to be released in September through Universal Music. Meanwhile, Banks's first EP 212 is available to download now and includes new cuts '212' and 'Liquorice'.
One film festival ends, another joins the calendar. Gore fans, get ready for the inaugural Housecore Horror Film Festival, coming to Austin in October, 2013 with a really big name attached. The announcement came during the Seeing Red: Aesthetics and Visuals of Metal panel, courtesy of BloodyDisgusting.com's Corey Mitchell. The true crime writer announced that he and power metal icon Phil Anselmo (Pantera/Down/Stoner God) are prepping the underground horror fest for next year. After the panel, Mitchell (who is currently working with Anselmo on his autobiography) gave the Chronicle a few more details. He explained that the plan is not for this to be a rival to Fantastic Fest: Instead, it will be a small, intimate and very underground event at the ND Austin on East Fifth. Anyone who caught Anselmo at last year's Reel Murder: From Crime Scene to Big Screen knows he is a massive horror fan. As a co-founder of New Orleans' legendary House of Shock Halloween attraction and the owner of a huge VHS collection, there is potential for some true rarities, oddities and surprises.
"Titanic" film director James Cameron has completed the world's first solo dive to the deepest known point on Earth, reaching the bottom of the Pacific Ocean's Mariana Trench southwest of Guam in a specially designed submarine. The filmmaker arrived at the site known as "Challenger Deep" shortly before 8 a.m. local time Monday (6 p.m. EDT on Sunday), reaching a depth of 35,756 feet, or roughly 7 miles beneath the ocean's surface, said the National Geographic Society, which is overseeing the expedition. Cameron's first words to the surface upon reaching the bottom were, "All systems OK," National Geographic said on its website. "Hitting bottom never felt so good. Can't wait to share what I'm seeing w/ you," the filmmaker said in a separate Twitter message posted just after he touched down. The low-point of the Mariana Trench, a great valley below the Pacific, has been reached by humans just once before, in 1960 when U.S. Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh and Swiss oceanographer Jacques Piccard spent 20 minutes there in the bathyscaphe Trieste. Cameron, the first to make a solo dive to the spot, planned to spend six hours there collecting research samples for marine biology and geology. The expedition is a joint project by Cameron, National Geographic and watchmaker Rolex that has been dubbed "Deepsea Challenge" and is designed to expand understanding of a little-known corner of the Earth. The single-man vehicle piloted by Cameron, the Deepsea Challenger, stands 24 feet tall and was designed to descend upright and rotating at a speed of about 500 feet per minute. The submersible represents breakthroughs in materials science, structural engineering and imaging through an ultra-small, full-ocean depth-rated stereoscopic camera. While he is perhaps better known as director of such films as "Titanic," "Avatar" and "Aliens," Cameron is no stranger to underwater exploration. For "Titanic," he took 12 dives to the famed shipwreck in the North Atlantic, leading him to develop deep-sea film and exploration technology. Since then he has led six expeditions, authored a forensic study of the German battleship Bismarck wreck site and conducted extensive 3-D imaging of deep hydrothermal vents along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, the East Pacific Rise and the Sea of Cortez.
Jake Gyllenhaal has played a lot of roles, but you may not have seen him like this before. The actor plays a serial psycho killer in a new video by French electro-pop act, The Shoes. In the psycho-drama music video for "Time To Dance," Gyllenhaal chases his victims up fire escapes, behind back alleys and through dark bars and strip clubs, killing them one by one with swords and other weapons. This isn't Gyllenhaal's first stab at music videos. He previously starred in Vampire Weekend's "Giving Up the Gun" video. Next up for for the 31-year-old star is a role in the upcoming film, "End of Watch," which also stars Anna Kendrick and America Ferrera. The Shoes have remixed, produced and arranged music for various artists, including Shakira and Lana Del Rey.
‘Horror Vacui’ by Federico Chiesa is a photo series that imagines what some of the most iconic villains in pop culture would be doing in their retired years. All of the characters are from 1980s films, and it appears that they have mellowed out quite a bit now they are done killing. While Michael Myers used to chase people down and stab them, that probably won’t happen now that he has to use a walker to get around. Darth Vader doesn’t seem to be doing too well for himself, as he is depicted sitting in a comfy chair with a blanket over his lap flipping through channels. Horror Vacui by Federico Chiesa reminds one that even the bad guys don’t live forever. (more)
The Offspring have finished their new album. Here’s what they had to say on Twitter: “Leaving the studio in Hollywood now. The record is finished. – Dexter” The Offspring’s most recent studio album, Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace, was released in 2008 on Columbia Records. Their new one is supposed to be released sometime this year.
Gifted guitarist and avid Ferrari fan Eric Clapton was reported last year to have requested Ferrari build him a one-off 458 Italia powered by a V-12 engine. However, unlike previous custom Ferraris like the Superamerica 45 and P540 Superfast Aperta, which Ferrari were more than happy to confirm, there was no mention from any official source that the British musician had ever made such a request. Now a video of a custom 458 Italia has been spotted at the HR Owen London dealership in England, which is believed to have been commissioned by Clapton.
Switzerland's Shawish Jewelry has created the world's first diamond ring. Not impressed? Well, consider that the entire ring is carved from a diamond, whereas most other diamond rings are composed of a precious-metal band with a diamond centerpiece. Styleite writes that the 150-carat ring runs laps around some other famous diamond competitors, including Beyonce's 18-carat engagement ring from Jay-Z and the even better known 30-carat ring given to the late Elizabeth Taylor by Richard Burton.
The ring was created by Shawish's President and CEO Mohamed Shawesh using lasers along with traditional diamond cutting and polishing techniques. It took a full year to carve the ring, which has been copyrighted and is expected to sell for $70 million.
Andrew WK has announced plans to re-issue his debut album I Get Wet. The 'Party Hard' singer will re-release the 2001 LP on CD and double gate-fold vinyl LP on July 17. The new versions will include a special second disc of new live recordings, demos, alternative mixes and other unreleased material. WK has also promised fans that a limited number of autographed editions will have "a very special something" from his private collection. The rock singer will play I Get Wet in full at three UK gigs next month. He is also due to perform at this year's Sonisphere Festival in July alongside the likes of Kiss, Faith No More and Queen. Andrew WK is currently working on the follow-up to 2009's 55 Cadillac.
Part of the sideshow in the Saab revival circus has been the waning and waxing fate of the Saab Museum Trollhättan, Sweden. The U.S. Heritage Collection was sold to two U.S. collectors earlier this year, while the Swedish museum's collection was rescued from breakup by three Swedish interests: the city of Trollhättan, SAAB AB and The Wallenberg Foundation. With stipulations that its cars can only be displayed at the museum or regionally on occasion, the new museum opened its doors this weekend with the full complement of so-called quirky autos. It's open just about every day this year save for a week in June and the Christmas holidays.
A 78-year-old Indian woman is believed to be the world’s oldest female professional sharpshooter. Chandro Tomar has entered and won over 25 national championships across India as well as raising six children and 15 grandchildren. “I wanted to do something useful with my life and show people my capabilities,” the Daily Mail quoted her as saying. “As soon as I shot my first pistol I was hooked. And now I’ve shown everyone there’s no disadvantages to my age. If you’re focused you can do anything,” she said. Almost ten years ago Tomar took her granddaughter to a local firing range in Johri village, in Uttar Pradesh, India. She wanted to learn a new skill but was too shy to go alone. In the end it was Tomar who was welcomed into the club with open arms. “As I was waiting around I decided to have a go. The coach spotted me and was amazed at my aim. “He told me to come back so I did. Initially I was just supporting my granddaughter but I enjoyed it so much it became a passion and I looked forward to going to the club every week,” she said. While Tomar tended to her daily chores on her farm and raised her family, she practiced her aim whenever she could using stones and throwing them at water bottles. “I was surprised when I saw a pensioner in our group but she picked it up pretty quickly,” the club’s coach, Farooq Pathan, who set up the shooting club with two friends in 1998, said. “She was so good some of the men stopped turning up altogether to avoid being humiliated by her, an old woman. She has the ultimate skill, a steady hand and a sharp eye,” he said. Now she’s a national treasure, known throughout India for her skill, even winning gold at the Veteran Shooting Championship held in Chennai.
The Pima Air & Space Museum in Arizona celebrated its Great Paper Airplane launch on Wednesday with the maiden voyage of a 45-foot, 800-pound paper aircraft. The design was inspired by 12-year-old paper airplane distance contest winner Aturo Valdenegro. The Tucson boy won the honor of meeting engineers who oversaw the design and construction of the massive paper plane after claiming first prize in the museum's competition, held in January. Organizers lifted the paper aircraft by helicopter up approximately 2,703 feet before letting it sail. Here's a first-hand account of the flight, compliments of the museum's live blog:
"After it was lifted off the ground by its nose, our giant paper airplane rose and rose until it began swaying pretty heavily in the wind (a product of our having to delay the launch until the evening instead the calmer morning). Aaron, our helicopter pilot then gave the order to cut the plane loose from the cable when it began to pull the chopper itself in a strong gust. But after it was released, for several shining moments, our huge, beautiful, silly, hubristic 45-foot paper airplane soared."
The plane reached speeds of 98 mph and then glided into history.
Stalley rereleased his debut mixtape, Lincoln Way Nights, late last year on Rick Ross' Maybach Music Group label, after Ross signed the Ohio rapper on the strength of tracks like "Address," his first collaboration with Curren$y. On his follow-up mixtape, Savage Journey to the American Dream, Stalley reteamed with Curren$y to record the upbeat track "Hammers and Vogue." Savage Journey to the American Dream will be released on March 30th, but you can hear "Hammers and Vogue" below.
"For The Animals", the first single from THE CULT's new album, "Choice Of Weapon", is available for streaming atRollingStone.com. The song will go to radio on Monday, March 26. Co-produced by Chris Goss (Queens of the Stone Age, U.N.K.L.E.) and longtime collaborator Bob Rock (Metallica, Aerosmith), "Choice of Weapon" was made in several studios, including the band's own Witch Mountain, as well as spots in New York City, Los Angeles and the California desert.
According to Entertainment Weekly, "Boardwalk Empire" star Michael K. Williams is set to play fellow New Yorker Ol' Dirty Bastard in the biopic "Dirty White Boy." Born Russell Jones, Dirty rose to fame as a rapper and co-founder of the legendary Wu-Tang Clan. Sadly, the rapper's career was cut short in 2004, when he passed away from a drug overdose. "Dirty White Boy" follows Dirty during the final years of his life. The film centers around the friendship he struck up with 22-year-old VH1 production assistant Jarred Weisfeld, who went on to become the rapper's manager. "We both knew full well who Ol' Dirty Bastard was but this story completely floored us. As filmmakers, we knew that this would make a great film and that Jarred Weisfeld would offer an actor a complicated and compelling character to play," said producers Lars Knudsen and Jay Van Hoy ("Beginners") in a press release. "This felt to us like 'Risky Business' and '8 Mile,' with equal elements of darkness, humor, and humanity." Williams is already known for portraying another offbeat character: Omar, the shotgun-toting robber on "The Wire," so, he may be the perfect choice to play the late Wu-Tang member. "Dirty White Boy" will be directed by first-timer JoaquÃn Baca-Asay. There is currently no release date.
The first episode of the new geek series has aired and the episode is up on YouTube right now. The series is called Super Power Beat Down and the initial episode pits two well-known Batmobiles against each other in a drag race. I’m sure we’re all familiar with the 1966 Batmobile that was the main ride in the series’ 120 episodes. The other vehicle in a drag race is the 1989 swoopy black cartoon car from the 1989 Tim Burton version of Batman.
2012 marks the 20 years anniversary of Swedish soft-core band Millencolin and to celebrate this the band recently announced a 2-day festival in their hometown of Örebro. The festival, set for June 8-9, will feature other Swedish punk veterans such as The Hives and No Fun At All. More info can be foundhere. Millencolin are currently working on a new album which would be a follow-up to 2008′s “Machine 15″ released via Epitaph Records.
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals will release their fourth studio album, The Lion The Beast The Beat, on June 12th via Hollywood Records. Your first taste of the band's forthcoming LP comes in the form of a track titled "Never Go Back", which you can now stream over atRolling Stone. Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys produced and co-wrote the single. He also helped pen two other tracks that appear on the full-length. Potter had this to say about writing with Auerbach: "We weren't thinking, 'Let's write a big hit single.' It was more like, 'Let's geek out with some weird gear and see what happens.' I'm very glad we did."
Commodore USA has resurrected another Commodore brand with the launch of theCommodore Amiga Mini PC, and this one is a little more powerful than the original Commodore Amiga. The Commodore Amiga Mini is a small form factor computer, inside you will find a 3.5GHz Intel Core i7 2700K processor, 16GB of DDR3 RAM and a NVIDIA GeForce GT430 graphics card with 1GB of RAM. It also features a 1TB harddrive, of the choice of a 300GB or 600GB solid state drive (SSD), plus it comes with a slot loading Blu-ray player as standard. The Commodore Amiga Mini will retail for $2,495, although they are also offering a barebones version which comes with the Blu-ray drive for $345, it will be available in a choice of either black or silver, you can find out more details over atCommodore.
The first teaser trailer for Robert Pattinson's newest film Cosmopolis has finally been unveiled. Cosmopolis, which is based on the Don DeLillo novel of the same name, is directed by David Cronenberg and features Pattinson as the central character "Eric Packer." Packer is a billionaire who takes a limo ride to get a haircut, and in the process, loses billions of dollars for his clients (a fact which he seems to relish), gets caught up in a few heavy traffic jams, runs into his wife (portrayed by Sarah Gadon in the film) on several occasions, and finds himself in the middle of major violence.
American scientists have developed a camera that can see around corners and view objects otherwise obscured from view. Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have overcome a major obstacle in optics and image processing by using a technological trick, The Guardian reports. They are now able to build up images from light waves that are scattered off surfaces in every direction. Ramesh Raska and colleagues bounced super-fast pulses of laser light off walls towards the hidden object. Some of the light reached the object and was reflected back, scattered by the wall again before finally reaching the camera.
The scientists recorded the return time of the scattered light so they could then fire off more laser pulses, changing the angle to get a more complete image of the hidden object. The camera, which takes a shot every two trillionths of a second, recorded the results, allowing scientists to reconstruct 3D images of the object. The new technology may be developed into equipment which can inspect components deep inside machines or to spot people in hiding.
The Mars Volta are set to release their sixth studio album, Noctourniquet, the band's first since 2009. Bandmates Cedric Bixler-Zavala and Omar Rodriguez-Lopez are about to embark on a busy year, having announced a reunion of their previous band, At the Drive-In, for the first time in 11 years. That band has already played a few select gigs, and the frontmen have said there will be more live dates in 2012. Noctourniquet, which is inspired by mythologies from the Greeks to the Superman saga, will be released on March 26th, but we have an exclusive first listen here.
Veteran musician Herbie Hancock is set to launch a new initiative to celebrate jazz across the globe with a star-studded concert series featuring Morgan Freeman, Robert De Niro and Michael Douglas. The legendary pianist, who is a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations' Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), will establish the new annual International Jazz Day on 30 April as part of America's Jazz Appreciation Month. This year's inaugural event, organised by UNESCO, will include concerts in New York, Paris in France, and New Orleans, Louisiana, as well as celebrations in more than a dozen countries. Hancock will start the day with a sunrise concert in New Orleans before flying to the Big Apple for a show which will be hosted by Hollywood actors including Freeman, De Niro and Douglas and as well as music mogul Quincy Jones. Hancock tells the Associated Press, "Jazz has been the voice of freedom for so many countries over the past half century. This is really about the international diplomatic aspect of jazz and how it has throughout a major part of its history been a major force in bringing people of various countries and cultures together... "I hope that this day spreads the joy of spontaneous creation that exists in this music. My feeling is that jazz will be getting its just due."
Nissan has announced a plan to revive Datsun as a low-cost marque, 31 years after removing it from its line-up. The Japanese carmaker said the brand's reputation for value and reliability would help it in emerging markets. Datsun models will be sold in Indonesia, Russia and India from 2014. Nissan has not decided where the Datsun-branded cars will be produced, but a spokesman said that it was likely to be in Asia. "It is ironic, as Nissan spent 10 years in the 1980s trying to get rid of Datsun," said Jay Nagley, managing director at the consultancy Redspy Automotive. "It's becoming quite common for car makers to develop low cost brands. Renault has been successful with Dacia, Volkswagen with Skoda. "Nissan wants to create a low cost brand without giving Nissan cars a low cost image." Nissan's chief executive Carlos Ghosn revealed details about the Datsun revival plan during a visit to Indonesia, where he also announced that the carmaker would invest $400m over the next two years. This would make the nation one of Nissan's biggest production centres in Asia. Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono welcomed the announcement. "Nissan is bringing new jobs and new vehicles to Indonesia," he said.
