We hail a space taxi, and we find the absolute best moment of the Kentucky Derby. Also, we learn about the most awesome ring in, or out, of the world, and question why on earth someone wouldn’t want one just like it. And, did the Russians just flat out copy our late, lamented space shuttle [...]
The Repeater discovers automotive genitalia, we ponder the place of Gabby Hayes in space, discuss a hypothetical murder suicide homicide manslaughter conspiracy, and cut lemmings a freakin’ break. Show Notes: • James Cameron will save us all, and film it — http://io9.com/5904599/its-official-james-cameron-and-google-unveil-plans-for-asteroid+mining • Hypothetical murder/suicide — http://boingboing.net/2012/04/24/hypothetical-murdersuicide-co.html#more-156335 • Lemming suicide — http://www.snopes.com/disney/films/lemmings.asp Planetary Resources Webcast [...]
We find that wrongdoers can’t hide from the long arm of the Internet, decide how we’ll get around after the apocalypse, find out how an eccentric millionaire caught the Repeater’s fancy, and do our first check in with Kentucky Slim’s brother. Show Notes: Website’s Commenters identify a piece of a car broken off in a [...]
Well, apparently, this week, the repeater annoys the bejesus out of Kentucky Slim. Also, was the Earth a galactic litterbug in its teenage years? Also, why the Starship U.S.S. Enterprise didn’t dock with downtown Las Vegas (Hint: One guy in Hollywood was afraid to take a chance). Show Notes: Dave: Secret history of the [...]
May 18th, 2012 
Ben My significant other and I both have an “elevator list”, but there’s only one name on each one.
The same name in fact: Craig Ferguson.
This video is simply one reason we love him so … keep watching til at least the 1:43 mark.
I’m also putting this up as a tribute to The Conduit. But I’ll let him til you why!
May 15th, 2012 TowerBot Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
We hail a space taxi, and we find the absolute best moment of the Kentucky Derby. Also, we learn about the most awesome ring in, or out, of the world, and question why on earth someone wouldn’t want one just like it. And, did the Russians just flat out copy our late, lamented space shuttle back in the 1980s? (Spoiler alert: Yes, they certainly did.)
Show notes:
• Guy makes his own weding ring out of a meteorite -
http://io9.com/5907849/this-guy-hand+forged-his-own-wedding-ring-out-of-a-meteorite
• Space Taxi! -
http://www.space.com/15382-private-space-taxi-race-special-report.html
http://www.space.com/13409-photos-spacex-dragon-capsule-commercial-spacecraft.html
http://www.space.com/15366-dream-chaser-private-space-plane-infographic.html
• Buran
http://www.k26.com/buran/Future/1.02/space_buran_1_02__ptichka_.html
Duck and Cover! (but, if you see the flash, it’s probably too late….)
May 9th, 2012 Daggor Please to enjoy the trailer for the upcoming Transformers: Prime videogame. It is geared more toward the kiddos, so I may be giving this one a pass. The good news/bad news hinted at from the trailer is that the stupid human characters that infect the Transformers: Prime series are present, but they may be the “princesses” at the end of this game and thus omitted from most of the gameplay. I recommend this trailer mostly so those interested can hear Frank Welker’s Megatron steal the second half of the classic “One shall stand…” line.
Follow me on Twitter! @dopponline
May 8th, 2012 Kevin There are annoying opinions and lots of media hubbub popping up everywhere following the over-the-top success of “The Avengers” after its opening weekend – the film, which is the culmination of Marvel Comics-based films featuring The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man, Thor and Captain America, grossed more than $200 million, the highest ever for an opening run.
The hubbub of which I speak (I’m looking at you, MTV.com) involve media outlets who are now questioning whether the highly-anticipated “The Dark Knight Rises” can top “The Avengers” at the box office. Now, it’s no secret that I’m a Batman freak, but here’s what I’m going to say: It doesn’t matter which film “wins” at the box office. Why? Because they are two completely different things.
Scarlett Johansson is quite good as Black Widow in "The Avengers." But she's no Anne Hathaway (Catwoman).
“The Avengers” is a great flick – it is wonderfully fun and action-packed summer popcorn fare, and there’s nothing at all wrong with that (within reason, of course). Robert Downey Jr. gets some great lines, and delivers his Iron Man character perfectly. There is non-stop banter, a classic good-versus-evil, save-the-world storyline, and lots of eye-popping CGI. There was also a great bonus scene or two at the end (which I missed because I had to pee).
But on July 20, Warner Bros. is going to release a very different type of superhero film in “The Dark Knight Rises”. First of all, it will be dark and gritty – one-liners will be kept to a minimum in favor of character and story development. Sure, it will be action-packed, as any superhero-based film should be, but it won’t be nearly as gratuitous as in a film like “The Avengers.” (And there won’t be a bonus scene depicting Batman and Catwoman eating at a diner together, I promise you.)
Most importantly, “The Dark Knight Rises” will challenge the audience in a different way. It’s going more than just a good-versus-evil romp – there will be multiple layers to the story and the characters within, which is what will make it appeal to a different type of audience on a different level.
Will it “win” at the box office? Hard to imagine it doing so. But in the end, does it really matter? We can enjoy both equally for different reasons. Either way, you’re probably going to pony up your eight bucks and be glad you did.
(By the way, Catwoman could still kick Black Widow’s butt. And I’d pay more than $8 to see it.)
May 8th, 2012 TowerBot Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
The Repeater discovers automotive genitalia, we ponder the place of Gabby Hayes in space, discuss a hypothetical murder suicide homicide manslaughter conspiracy, and cut lemmings a freakin’ break.
Show Notes:
• James Cameron will save us all, and film it —
http://io9.com/5904599/its-official-james-cameron-and-google-unveil-plans-for-asteroid+mining
• Hypothetical murder/suicide —
http://boingboing.net/2012/04/24/hypothetical-murdersuicide-co.html#more-156335
• Lemming suicide —
http://www.snopes.com/disney/films/lemmings.asp
Planetary Resources Webcast
May 8th, 2012 Paul 
I recently received word from The Tower’s science correspondent, Monica Wolfson, on our Facebook page about her recent deployment aboard the Japanese research vessel, Chikyu as part of the science team drilling into the Japan trench fault line to study the fault itself. As if this wasn’t amazing enough, they are also breaking a deep sea drilling record. 8,000 meters long! To get an idea of what that’s like, imagine taking a spool of thread that’s 1 millimeter thick and then allowing it to unwind from the top of a 20 story building. That’s essentially what they are doing except that once the pipe reaches the ocean floor 7,000 meters down it will then drill another 1,000 meters into the fault where it will take readings on temperature and pressure.
You can actually see our very own Monica Wolfson in the back row of the crew meeting at 14:56 in.
Interested in more info? Go here: http://www.jamstec.go.jp/chikyu/eng/CHIKYU/index.html
May 5th, 2012 Ben 
Ask anyone here at the Tower and they’ll tell you that one of our all-time favorite movies is 1959’s “Attack of the Killer Shrews” … or simply “The Killer Shrews” to true film nerds.
It has it all: terror on a tropical island full of maple trees, a hard-hitting lesson in the dangers of over-population, the 1956 Miss Sweden, TV’s Festus from Tv’s Gunsmoke, a bunch of cute lil’ doggies wearing coats, and of course the man himself: James Best.
Growing up inIndiana, you heard a lot about James Best, especially if you lived anywhere near Corydon Indiana. Which I did. And so did James Best. Yes, before being seduced by the silver screen, a young James Best spent his formative years in this small Indiana hamlet. The town happily latches onto their link with Hollywood, so much so that they mounted this sign on the front porch of their most famous son’s boyhood home:
I made a pilgrimage to Corydon on Friday …. to, uh, buy some batteries at the Walmart … but I could not resist the urge to drive down that famous street one more time. Yes, the Best house is still there. Yes the sign is still there. And yes, the town is still full of pride for their favorite son. As proved by this sign on the front porch of the house directly to the left of the Best house:
By the way, I noticed that the house on the other side of the James Best House, the one directly to the right, is for sale. Just saying … if you’re in the market … and into potential signs.
So, why all the hub-bub for this Hollywood icon? Well, it’s because actor James Best is most associated with the word ”sheriff.” Of course I’m referring to Sheriff Andy Taylor, and The Andy Griffith Show, where James Best played hot young guitar slinger Jim Lindsey. He appeared on the show from time to time to jam on electric guitar with Andy, causing Aunt Bea no end of noise- and stress-enduced headaches. The music was also Opie’s gateway into a world of drugs and defiance in his teenage years … after the show went of the air of course. How do you think he lost his hair?
May 1st, 2012 Daggor Transformers: The Ride is opening at Universal Studios Orlando and in typical theme-park fashion, they have costumed characters roaming the park. While I am a vocal opponent of the Bayformer design aesthetic, the costume itself looks great. This super-sized character will no doubt delight and/or terrify the kiddos. Watch Optimus Prime as he carefully yet desperately searches for a bathroom in Orlando below!
Oh. And the ride features 3D elements. Grunt.
May 1st, 2012 Daggor 
Botcon was this past weekend, and tons of photos are making their way online. Not to be outdone, Hasbro has been releasing official photos of their upcoming wares as well. My favorite of the bunch is this new Shockwave figure. Some issues have plagued Shockwave since the 80′s. The original toy was not a Hasbro/Takara original, instead it was licensed from competitor Bandai to meet the surprising demand for new product in the Transformers’ heyday, so re-releases have been out of the question. During the period Transformers weren’t being produced, Hasbro lost the trademark for the name, so “Shockblast” has been a stand-in moniker a few times. In these PC days, a hand weapon is a bit more iffy when it comes to family-friendly products, unless it’s a Nerf gun. All of those obstacles have been overcome here, however. Hasbro legal has the name back and the new Fall of Cybertron video gave features wacky floating Cybertronian space doodads, so why not a floating Cybertronian space doodad that kinda’ looks like Shockwave’s old gun mode? Shockwave is back, baby!
May 1st, 2012 TowerBot Podcast: Play in new window | Download | Embed
We find that wrongdoers can’t hide from the long arm of the Internet, decide how we’ll get around after the apocalypse, find out how an eccentric millionaire caught the Repeater’s fancy, and do our first check in with Kentucky Slim’s brother.
Show Notes:
Website’s Commenters identify a piece of a car broken off in a hit and run and help cops track down the suspect -
http://jalopnik.com/5903407/police-arrest-murder-suspects-in-truck-identified-by-jalopnik-commenters
Getting Around after the apocalypse -
http://io9.com/5896196/how-will-we-get-around-in-the-post+apocalypse
HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE
Eccentric millionaire fails spectacularly -
http://www.reporternews.com/news/2012/apr/07/titanic-at-100-abilenes-jack-grimm-ship-finding/
