Mountain Cabin

From today’s Dark Horizon’s postings:

David Tennant is set to stand down as Doctor Who, after becoming one of the most popular incarnations of the character in the British sci-fi series five decade history reports BBC News.

Tennant made the announcement after winning the outstanding drama performance prize at the National Television Awards saying “When Doctor Who returns in 2010 it won’t be with me…Now don’t make me cry, I love this part, and I love this show so much that if I don’t take a deep breath and move on now I never will, and you’ll be wheeling me out of the Tardis in my bath chair. I’ll miss it.”

He added later that “I think it’s better to go when there’s a chance that people might miss you, rather than to hang around and outstay your welcome. I don’t ever want it to feel like a job, so I want to move on when it still feels exciting and fresh and that means I’ll miss it.”

Chirstopher Eccleston played the ninth incarnation of the Time Lord for the first season of the relaunched “Doctor Who” in 2005 and regenerated into Tennant in the final episode of the season.

Tennant has played the role for the past three seasons and will continue to do so through this year’s Christmas special, three special ‘bank holiday’ adventures to air in 2009, and next year’s Christmas Special where the character will likely regenerate into his eleventh incarnation.

The news is not unexpected with the departure of show runner Russell T. Davies who has closely worked with Tennant over the years. Davies last involvement in the role will be next year’s Christmas special when Tennant bows out.

Acclaimed scribe Steven Moffat takes over the reigns of the show in 2010 with a new Doctor in tow. Who it could be is anyone’s guess, though one cryptic hint is that this year’s Christmas special will be entitled ‘The Next Doctor’ and main guest star David Morrissey is playing a character that calls himself The Doctor.

I’ll be sad to see him go. He did make a great Doctor.

We took the kids to the vet Saturday and the doctor told us Logan is underweight so increase his feeding amount. We have doubled what he gets each day. I’m sure this is the first time he’s ever left the vet happier then when he arrived. It’s not often your doctor tells you to eat more rather than less.

Wow!

From CleanTechnica.com:

Scientists at the University of New South Wales have set a new world record by creating the first silicon solar cell to achieve 25% efficiency.

Team leader, Prof. Martin Green of the university’s ARC Photovoltaic Centre of Excellence, says their world-beating solar cell is now a massive six per cent more efficient than the next best technology. The record edges the current generation of solar cell technology closer to the theoretical limit of 29% efficiency.

The rise in efficiency is due to new knowledge about the composition of sunlight, leading to an improvement in the solar cell’s ability to capture more energy at the extremes of the solar light spectrum. According to Green, “These light-trapping features make our cells act as if they were much thicker than they are. This already has had an important spin-off in allowing us to work with CSG Solar to develop commercial ‘thin-film’ silicon-on-glass solar cells that are over 100 times thinner than conventional silicon cells.”

Negotiations for commercial production of the latest advancement are already underway, and could soon lead to a new generation of low cost, high energy output solar cells.

I love the shit you read on Craig’s List…

spend day at Disney, later in your hotel – 36 (Windermere)
Reply to: xxxxxxxxxxx@craigslist.org
Date: 2008-10-26, 10:59AM EDT

Love to please straight guys after a busy day in any Disney park, i will take you in and you will give me great sex in return

I am so happy! They are finally releasing gay porn on Blu-ray! Woohoo!

Check out TLA Video. I’ve only seen 4 titles so far, but the deluge will be happening soon.

Hot Daddies In Hi Def

http://www.palinaspresident.us/

This from E! Entertainment today:

“Dexter” picked up for 2 more seasons

Wed Oct 22, 8:58 am ET
The cast of Reuters – The cast of ‘Dexter’ in an undated photo. (Showtime/Handout/Reuters)

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) – Showtime has renewed its top-rated drama series “Dexter” for two more seasons.

The premium cable network has ordered 12 episodes each for Seasons 4 and 5, with the fourth season set to go into production in the spring in Los Angeles.

Season 3 premiered September 28 and is averaging 2.5 million weekly viewers combined across all airings, up 16% over the same period last season. When DVR and on-demand numbers are factored in, Showtime expects that number to exceed 3 million weekly viewers.

“Dexter,” which stars Michael C. Hall as a complicated and conflicted blood-spatter expert for the Miami police department who moonlights as a serial killer, was nominated for five Emmys this year, including best drama series and best lead actor in a drama. The show also received a 2008 Peabody Award.

Man, am I friggin’ excited! Just when I think the show can’t keep my attention for another season, I get sucked right back in by the great writing and great cast (Michael C. Hall is a hottie!)

Universal has announced their newest “E Ticket” attraction. Will it really be as spectacular as it sounds?

‘Transformers’ to be Developed as Theme Park Mega-Attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Studios Singapore

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Oct. 20 — “Transformers,” the electrifying blockbuster celebrated for its multi-generational appeal, inventive storyline, spectacular action sequences and special effects, will now be developed as a new theme park mega-attraction in a partnership between Universal Parks & Resorts, Hasbro, Inc. and DreamWorks Pictures.

The attraction will fuse 3D-HD media, mega special effects and stunning robotics with a ride system that will transform perceptions of theme park experiences. The rides are scheduled to make their debuts in early 2011, first at Universal Studios Singapore and then at Universal Studios Hollywood. In “Transformers,” Earth’s humans are caught in the middle of an intergalactic war between the friendly Autobots and the evil Decepticons, which are able to change into a variety of objects, including cars, trucks, planes and other technological creations.

Tom Williams, Chairman and CEO, Universal Parks & Resorts, said: “‘Transformers’ will be a jewel in our collection of world-class rides based on great movies. We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Hasbro, DreamWorks, director Michael Bay and the film’s executive producer, Steven Spielberg, who has been responsible for so many of our signature rides and attractions.” Steven Spielberg serves as creative consultant to Universal Parks & Resorts and has worked closely with the company in the creation of some of the world’s most innovative theme park attractions. Those attractions include Jurassic Park-the Ride, a featured attraction at UP&R parks in Orlando, Hollywood and Japan, the E.T. Adventure at Universal Orlando and Universal Studios Japan, and the “War of the Worlds” sets at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Larry Kurzweil, President and Chief Operating Officer, Universal Studios Hollywood, said “‘Transformers’ represents a perfect match for our theme park: an exhilarating blockbuster with a great story, clever humor, non-stop action and flawless special effects. It has all the elements necessary to become one of the world’s most exciting theme park rides and a centerpiece attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Universal Parks & Resorts and DreamWorks to create this ‘Transformers’ attraction because we believe it will deliver an ultimate one of a kind immersive ‘Transformers’ experience for our fans around the world!” said Brian Goldner, President and CEO of Hasbro, Inc.

Tan Hee Teck, Chief Executive Officer of Resorts World at Sentosa, the mega resort that is home to Universal Studios Singapore, said: “It is great that Asia will be the launch pad for the first Transformers attraction. Transformers was introduced in the United States in 1983 but traces its roots to Asia. Optimus Prime, Bumblebee and Megatron are familiar names to Asian audiences, who grew up with the robot toys and love the movie. When Transformers opens in Universal Studios Singapore in 2010, it will be the first of its kind in the world. We may see a surge of Transformers mania.

Director Michael Bay and Executive Producer Steve Spielberg presented “Transformers” in 2007. “Transformers” broke box office records on its way to gathering worldwide gross revenues of over $706 million — the highest non-sequel gross of any movie in 2007 — and three Academy Award nominations. The sequel, “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen,” is scheduled to be released by Paramount Pictures in the U.S. on June 26, 2009.

Not a lot going on except work being crazy again. I’ve been hoping all day, though surprisingly, I was able to have lunch without getting any phone calls. I even worked Saturday night as we slowly move our server room. I also didn’t make it to Scream Fest though it looked like fun. Who wouldn’t want to see Corey Haim dragged away being under the influence of drugs and/or alcohol.

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And in our obituary section: Zima

MillerCoors LLC says goodbye to Zima. The joint venture between SABMiller’s U.S. unit and Molson Coors Brewing Co. told distributors in a letter Monday that production of the malt liquor beverage was discontinued as of Oct. 10. Chief Marketing Officer Andy England says the decision was due to weakness in the “malternative” segment and declining consumer interest. He says distributors can get remaining Zima inventories most likely through December.

Better late than never!

LOD, Israel–Israel has introduced a step-on scanner that spares airline travelers the nuisance of having to remove their shoes so they can be X-rayed for hidden weapons, though the new device cannot yet sniff out explosives.

Only the shoes of passengers deemed suspicious by Ben-Gurion Airport staff are removed, X-rayed and swabbed for bomb residues. Most people can now keep their shoes on.

Installed next to the walk-through scanners at Ben-Gurion, “MagShoe” announces within two seconds whether the footwear of the passenger standing on it contains unusual metal that might be a knife for a hijacking or a bomb detonator part.

“This innovation brings enormous logistical value as it significantly cuts down the discomfort and delays associated with standard shoe searches,” said Nissim Ben-Ezra, security technologies manager for Israel’s Airports Authority.

But he said MagShoe must be used in conjunction with other precautions, especially as it would not spot hidden explosives — a major concern after the botched 2001 “shoe bombing” by al Qaeda sympathizer Richard Reid aboard a Paris-Miami flight.

A bomb-sniffing version of the suitcase-sized MagShoe is in the works, an Israeli security source said. The current version, produced by Israeli firm Ido Security, costs about $5,000.

The U.S. Transportation Security Administration is assessing MagShoe’s feasibility for American airports and several other countries have expressed an interest, the Israeli source said.