I know, I know... I haven't updated in quite a while. Hopefully that will change now that I have some extra time on my hands. 
Slashdot reported on Thursday that researchers in California have developed an artificial muscle that heals itself and generates electricity. 'We've made an artificial muscle that, when you apply electricity to it, it expands, more than 200 percent, the motion and energy is a lot like human muscles,' said Qibing Pei, a scientist at UCLA and study author. The researchers used flexible carbon nanotubes as electrodes. If an area of the carbon nanotube fails, the region around it seals itself by becoming non-conductive and prevents the damage from spreading to other areas. This material also conserves about 70% of the energy you put into it. As the material contracts after an expansion the rearranging of the carbon nanotubes generates a small electric current that can be captured and used to power another expansion or stored in a battery.
The extended HD trailer for Iron Man is out, and I get more and more psyched each time I watch it (I just finished viewing number 5...)
Seems some of the major news outlets are reporting (with a cautious optimism) that the Writer's Strike currently depriving me of all that is good in life, not to mention a billion dollars worth of revenue for the industry, may be drawing to a close. Apparently the studios and the writers have both indicated a willingness to compromise on some of the issues at the root of the situation.
Just found out about this and thought I'd share... especially since even the concept is enough to have my inner 11 year old jump for joy. Information is limited, but it appears to be in development by Traveller's Tales and has a release date of Spring 2011.
Pizza Hut's latest promotion, the "Crunchy Cheesy Crust" pizza, certainly LOOKED very tasty in the commercials and advertisements I had recently seen. "Self," I said, being prone to grandiose and slightly deranged conversations with myself, "You should try out this delicious looking new take on what is a beloved staple in your limited diet..." (I tend to be verbose when carrying on pompous dialogues with my self.) 
I came across the trailer for the second in the series of the new and reimagined Batman franchise and it looks pretty damn sweet. I vastly prefer this take on the venerable DC character, especially since the last franchise devolved into camp and silliness (Nipples on the Batsuit, Joel? You should be ashamed...). Christian Bale is a very believable Bruce Wayne and Morgan Freeman's presence in any film automatically elevates its watchability. 
