I don’t know why robotics experts haven’t thought of this before, but this tire-like surveillance robot is the way to go for mobile and autonomous operations. Even better since it looks like it’s right out of science fiction, from Terminator, The Prisoner or Fahrenheit 451.
Read more @ Technabob
This has to be one of the most minimal watches that I’ve ever seen, and it also has a vibrating alarm function, which is something that I’ve been wanting to see in a watch for a long time. While some people need to hear an alarm, I’ve found that a vibrating alarm is enough to wake me up. The Mutewatch offers a silent alarm and a really cool design to go with it.
Read more @ Technabob
TRON: Legacy will be released next week, but if you can’t wait, you can try out the TRON: Legacy suite at the Ice Hotel in Sweden.
Read more @ Technabob
Setting up a home office for more than one person can be a challenge, especially when it comes down to desk real estate. Setting up one can be easy, but it’s finding the right space for the second that can be an issue. We found this Swedish setup pretty amazing, thanks to its long, hacked desk that takes care of all of the problems.
The LA Times reviews Larsson’s latest book, which came out a while ago in French, but will be soon released in English.
Simply put, Salander is a deeply radicalized feminist, portrayed in a manner designed to test the sympathies of a largely liberal-minded audience, the attention of which is diverted by the blur of his books’ nonstop action. Implicitly, Larsson asks us whether the understanding we normally, casually extend to the principles Salander acts upon can also extend to a character who so heedlessly exemplifies them.
A great long form article about the Stieg Larsson Millennium books. The books were released a while ago in French, so I read them all. I recently also watched the Swedish movies that were made based upon these books.
The article is about the Larsson family and Stieg’s literary estate. His live-in spouse, to whom Larsson wasn’t married, has no rights to the books or the movies. The rights, money and estate are now managed by Larsson’s somewhat estranged father and brother. However, Gabrielsson retains Larsson’s laptop, which contains ¾ of a 4th Millennium book. It has been surmised that since Larsson worked on more than one at a time, that a good portion of the 5th and 6th Millennium books is also written. Initially, Stieg Larsson wanted Millennium to be a series of 10 books.
I just finished watching the second movie of the Millennium trilogy.This movie, just like the book on which it is based on, centers on who exactly Lisbeth Salander is. The first movie didn’t really go that much into the sordid details of her past, but we know that they were there. Mikael Blomkvist barely touches them.
Last night, I took the time to watch The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, or the more appropriate title, Men Who Hate Women. Having read the books last year in French, I had been trying to find the movies. It took a while for them to be released and for me to find them. Yesterday, I also discovered that all three Stieg Larsson books were made into movies last year in Sweden. I’m sure that an English version is under way, but I have to say that the Swedish film is pretty good.
Each issue of T-Post is printed inside of a t-shirt and sent off to its subscribers. Sounds pretty cool! Each issue costs €26. (via wsj)
When I heard that Kenneth Branagh was playing Kurt Wallander, I was pretty surprised. I didn’t know much about the novels or the Swedish series, but I knew that it would be interesting.
I wasn’t disappointed.
The new series on BBC follows the investigations of workaholic detective Kurt Wallander, who’s had trouble living a personal life since his separation. His adult daughter Linda is the only reminder of a life that he once lived, other than the wedding ring that he can’t bear to take off.
The series is moody and eerie, filmed on location in Sweden, where the seasons and the day don’t follow what we know, except if you have lived in Scandinavia or Alaska.
Sweden is picturesquely beautiful, filled with green spaces and buildings. I found it very interesting on how the language was portrayed. There are Swedish newspapers and Swedish phones, which show a really keen attention to detail to make us believe that it is taking place in Sweden.
The accents are great as well. They are definitely Swedish, or Swedish-like. They are by no means British. I found the production values really great as well, though the cinematography could get to me at times.
Why?
Well, for some reason, the cinematographer worked on keeping only a part of the frame in focus during some shots. The surrounding shots were blurred in post-production, and it gets annoying after a while, since the blurring effects aren’t natural, they are inserted into the movies to add a feeling.
I think that they should have been more careful with that, but otherwise, there are some great shots. I can remember a scene taking place in the fog, or details about Wallander’s personal life that flesh out his character.
I really liked the opening theme by Aussie Emily Barker as well. It’s called Nostalgia. She’s from Bridgetown. You have to be careful because there is also an artist called Emily Baker from Brighton in the UK. It can be confusing because they both play similar music. Notably, this series used the new Red One digital camera for it’s filming.
Series 1 adapted the novels Sidetracked (’95), Firewall (’98) and One Step Behind (’97).
Anyway, I recommend it. I can’t wait for series 2.
