Andymonsters Blog » 2010

Prom Goes Viral

April 30, 2010

Marvel’s Thor Revealed in First Movie Photo

April 29, 2010

by Matt McDaniel

The long blond hair. The dark tunic with silver discs. The blood-red cape. Yep, that’s Thor, all right.

With excitement at a fever pitch for next weekend’s release of “Iron Man 2,” buzz is already building for Marvel Studio’s next adaptation of one of their classic comic books. To fuel the fire, we have the exclusive look at the first photo anywhere of star Chris Hemsworth in costume as the God of Thunder in next summer’s “Thor.”

See the First Look at Thor >>

26-year-old Australian actor Hemsworth first gained attention from movie audiences in his brief but memorable role as George Kirk — Captain James T. Kirk’s father — in the opening scene of last year’s “Star Trek.” Many well-known actors were considered for the part; Daniel Craig said he was approached to play Thor but turned it down. After an exhaustive search, Hemsworth won the role over many other young hopefuls. He even beat out his younger brother, Liam, who was most recently seen opposite his real-life girlfriend Miley Cyrus in “The Last Song.”

From what we can see of the costume designed by Oscar winner Alexandra Byrne, it looks to be inspired by the latest version of the character from the comic books drawn by French artist Olivier Coipel. While Thor’s basic look hasn’t changed much since he was originally created by Jack Kirby in 1962, the suit in the movie adopts the more modern look with an armored chest piece and textured sleeves. Slightly different is Hemsworth’s beard, which has been used for Thor in the comics but only occasionally. The two most prominent elements of Thor’s look that we don’t see, however, are his signature winged helmet and his weapon, the mighty hammer Mjolnir.

“Thor” doesn’t open for another year, but there are some hints about the movie within next weekend’s “Iron Man 2.” Like the first movie, where Samuel L. Jackson’s cameo was hidden after the credits, there is a bonus scene in the sequel for those who stick around to the very end. Of course, Hemsworth will team up with Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans — who was recently cast as Captain America in his own movie — for “The Avengers,” which is scheduled for release in 2012.

Directed by Kenneth Branagh, “Thor,” which also stars Anthony Hopkins and Natalie Portman, will thunder into theaters on May 6, 2011.

Chris Hemsworth in Paramount Pictures' 'Thor'

Chris Hemsworth in the first photo from Paramount Pictures’ “Thor“

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/movie-talk-thor-revealed-first-photo.html

Barefoot Tree Climbing

April 28, 2010

Barefoot Tree Climbing in Minnesota. No ropes, no equipment.

African Cats Trailer

April 27, 2010

A Talented Chinese Boy on Ellen DeGeneres’ SHOW

April 26, 2010

Endangered sturgeon fish flourishing in Wisconsin

April 25, 2010

By CARRIE ANTLFINGER, Associated Press Writer Carrie Antlfinger

SHAWANO, Wis. – It’s been a tough fight for the whisker-snouted sturgeon.

The fish survived whatever killed the dinosaurs and have struggled against habitat destruction and overfishing. Now many of its 25 species are endangered, but a small pocket in upper Wisconsin boasts of having one of the world’s largest concentrations of the fish.

The success is because of the state’s strict spearing limits, poaching laws, restocking efforts and the popular — and well-protected — spring spawning, which mostly finished last week.

“If we can restore the sturgeon population in the Great Lakes and manage the current population effectively, then we know we are doing a pretty good job of managing the other aspects of the aquatic community,” said state sturgeon expert Ron Bruch.

In Lake Winnebago there are now around 40,000 lake sturgeons, likely where the population was in the 1800s, Bruch said. In the 1950s, it was 10,000. Whereas in the Great Lakes system, there are now about 156,750, less than 1 percent of what it was in early 1800s, said Rob Elliott, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist.

Thousands from around the state and elsewhere visit the Lake Winnebago system tributaries to watch the enormous fish writhe and splash as they lay eggs in shallow, moving water. The fish, which grow up to 300 pounds and look like a cross between a catfish and shark, are close enough to touch.

“Some people say they are awful homely, awful bad looking, but to me … they are beautiful fish, just like a beautiful blonde,” said 73-year-old Pat Wudtke, who’s speared sturgeon for 50 years during the state’s annual season.

For the past decade, Wudtke also has been among the hundreds who volunteer to protect the fish from poachers.

“I’ll do everything I can to preserve them,” Wudtke said.

People love the animals because of their unique look, that the species is prehistoric and their size, Bruch said.

“This is the only place really in the world that you can see them to this extent,” he said.

The spawning spectacle pumps $350,000 into three nearby cities, some of which have signs directing people to the spawning sites.

The fish’s success in Lake Winnebago has Bruch concerned. Though only a few cases of poaching are reported each year, he worries there will be more since other areas have a sturgeon shortage and demand is high. And he thinks the taste of lake sturgeon caviar compares with the high-priced kind.

There also are reports of poaching of white sturgeon in California as its caviar has grown more popular, said Ellen Pikitch, executive director of the Institute for Ocean Conservation Science in New York. It is illegal to fish wild white sturgeon in California and sell its meat or eggs, but people can sell farm-raised white sturgeon. It’s also illegal in the U.S. to sell lake sturgeon meat and its eggs from the states.

In the Black and Caspian Seas the beluga sturgeon is overfished for its caviar, which costs up to $5,000 a pound.

Wisconsin does allow sturgeon spearing, with thousands huddled in shanties on a frozen Lake Winnebago. Spearers are allowed one sturgeon per person. Most get none. The DNR ends spearing when 5 percent of the population is taken.

The spearing is why the group, Sturgeon for Tomorrow, started in 1977, because they wanted to keep that tradition alive, said a founder, Bill Casper. Bruch credits the group for part of the sturgeon’s success. It runs the sturgeon guard program and raises funds for research and hatcheries, among other things.

But some say even one speared sturgeon is too many.

“If they were not removed from the water,” Pikitch said, “They would have opportunity to spawn many, many times in a long lifetime.”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/us_saving_sturgeon

NASA | New Eye on the Sun Delivers Stunning First Images

April 24, 2010

This compilation of video shows some of the first imagery and data sent back from NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO). Most of the imagery comes from SDO’s AIA instrument, and different colors are used to represent different temperatures, a common technique for observing solar features. SDO sees the entire disk of the Sun in extremely high spacial and temporal resolution and this allows scientists to zoom in on notable events like flares, waves, and sunspots.

Turn off the TV and Look Up

April 23, 2010

by Mike Krumboltz

In the pre-dawn hours of April 22 (1:00 – 3:00 am), be sure to look up. If you do, you’ll likely be treated to a spectacular celestial show in the form of the Lyrids meteor shower.

Why bother to wake up at an ungodly hour to gaze at the sky? Several reasons. First, the Lyrids shower was, according to Meteor Showers Online, first observed at least 2,600 years ago, making it the oldest of any meteor shower. Secondly, viewers have a small chance “to get a glimpse of some dazzling fireball meteors from a completely different meteor swarm.”

Here’s a brief breakdown on the shower’s history, tips on where to watch, and how in the heck the meteors earned their name…

How to see them
It’s slightly more complicated that just craning your neck skyward, but not by much. For maximum viewing, you’ll want to find a dark place, away from city lights, and with an open horizon. Lie back and give your eyes several minutes to adjust to the darkness. Then, wait for the show.

How to know if what you just saw was part of the shower or just some jerk with a laser pointer? SPACE.com explains that identifying a Lyrid meteor can be done by following its trail. A Lyrids meteor should have a trail that “points back to near the dazzling blue-white star Vega.” You can check out a helpful sky chart here.

Old, but reliable
In China, there are ancient records from 687 B.C. and 15 B.C. of meteors that are “believed to be Lyrids.” SPACE.com explains that the Lyrids caused a small panic in Richmond, Virginia, back in 1803. “Numerous townspeople… were roused from their beds by a fire alarm and were able to observe a very rich display between 1 and 3 o’clock.” This time, we know they’re coming.

How’d they get their name?
National Geographic has a nice write up on the meteors and their history. Vega’s constellation, where the meteors appear to emanate from, is known as “Lyra.” Hence, the “shooting stars” became known as “Lyrids.” Simple enough, right?

What can you expect to see?
Whenever the Lyrids come around, they put on a slightly different show. As Anthony Cook, an astronomer for the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, told National Geographic, “The only way to know what the Lyrids have in store for you, is to go outside and observe them.” As for the fireballs, Space.com calls their appearance a “wildcard,” but it’s definitely in the realm of possibility.

http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/93599?fp=1

Rare Borneo rhino caught on camera in Malaysia

April 22, 2010

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) – A rare Borneo rhino, thought to be pregnant, has been caught on camera in Malaysia, and wildlife experts said Wednesday a new calf would be a lifeline for the near-extinct species.

Just 30 rhinos remain in the wild in Borneo island, which is shared by Malaysia, Indonesia and Brunei, and researchers are only able to monitor the population through images captured on remote camera traps.

Images of the rhino, “believed to be a pregnant female, estimated to be below 20 years” were captured by a camera trap in February, the Malaysian arm of World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) – said in a statement.

“There are so few Sumatran rhinos left in the world that each calf represents a lifeline for the species,” international rhino expert Terry Roth said.

The Borneo sub-species is the rarest of all rhinos, distinguished from other Sumatran rhinos by its relatively small size, small teeth and distinctively shaped head.

The Sumatran rhinoceros is one of the world’s most endangered species, with few left on Indonesia’s Sumatra island, the north of Borneo island and peninsular Malaysia.

Laurentius Ambu, wildlife director for Malaysia’s Sabah state, where the female rhino was spotted, said two rhino calves had also been seen in a similar area and urged the government to do more to enforce laws against poaching.

“Habitat protection and enforcement have been recognised as the main strategies in ensuring the survival of the rhino population in forest reserves,” he said.

The WWF said the rhino’s future on Borneo island would depend on preserving sufficient forest reserves for the animal.

Raymond Alfred, head of the WWF’s Borneo Species programme said data from an ongoing rhino monitoring survey programme showed the animal’s home range was affected by the expansion of palm oil plantations.

Malaysia is the world’s second-largest exporter of palm oil after Indonesia, and the two countries account for 85 percent of global production.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20100421/sc_afp/malaysiawildlifeenvironmentrhino_20100421055115

Taiwan’s Singing Sensation!

April 21, 2010

Today Ellen welcomed Lin Yu Chun all the way from Taipei, Taiwan. He competed on a Taiwanese talent show, and the video has been viewed millions of times. He chatted with Ellen about the experience and gave an unbelievable performance of “I Will Always Love You”