India cricket captain Virat Kohli has once again become the sole Indian in the Forbes 2019 list of world's highest-paid athletes, ranked 100th in the table.from Top CricketNext News- News18.com http://bit.ly/2WA0DGN
Kohli Slips, Now 100th in Forbes Top Paid Athletes Ranking
India cricket captain Virat Kohli has once again become the sole Indian in the Forbes 2019 list of world's highest-paid athletes, ranked 100th in the table.from Top CricketNext News- News18.com http://bit.ly/2WA0DGN
DJI’s newest drone is a $499 tank meant to teach kids how to code
Dronemaker DJI has spent the last few years running a massive robotics competition in China called RoboMasters, where students build and code robots that do battle in a literal arena. Now, DJI wants to sell a more approachable version of that idea to kids in the US, Europe, and Japan, with an educational toy robot tank called the RoboMaster S1.
The RoboMaster S1 is one part camera-equipped remote-controlled car, one part educational platform, and one part DJI flexing its fully mature hardware and software muscles. Available starting Wednesday for $499, the S1 can be driven using a mobile app, or coded to move on its own. It’s equipped with 31 sensors that help it map its environment, and it can move in 360 degrees thanks to...
from The Verge - All Posts http://bit.ly/2RhjKj7
Shaft Review
Tim Story’s Shaft clashes the blaxploitation pulse of the franchise with generational grievances, an international drug ring, and a pair of cooped-up romances. It’s quite a U-turn for the leather duster-bearing detective, and while the case slid across his desk feels as if it’s been opened before, the domestication of New York’s coolest cat makes the vigilante’s shoot-first, never-ask-a-question approach more palatable than ever before.
But at what cost? Written by Alex Barnow and Black-ish creator Kenya Barris, the film’s taming effort coincides with many people’s – and ironically, a lot of the characters’ – impression of the modern times: frail. Back in 2000, John Singleton’s rough-around-the-edges adventure saw the murder of a black youth at the hands of a racist socialite played by Christian Bale. In an act of total injustice, the case was tossed aside by the courts, and John Shaft (Samuel L. Jackson) decided to pick it back up on his own. While that film may have had its kinks, at the very least, it screamed something worth hearing.
This time, however, the cause is more personal than political, and the ramifications are based within something we didn’t know had existed: Shaft’s sensibility. Starting off on the streets of 1989 Harlem, the private investigator’s receiving an earful from Maya (Regina Hall), his main squeeze, over his irresponsible and dangerous lifestyle. On cue, the bullets of lurking hitmen start flying, and it isn’t until the danger has been quickly extinguished that we learn there was a third person listening in on their conversation: a twinkle-eyed baby.
Catapulted into the present day by a montage of political, historical, and family events – checkpointed by increasingly inappropriate presents from distant father to son – we meet J.J. (John Jr., played by Jessie T. Usher), a preppy type raised solely and politely by his mother away from the city. The apple hasn’t fallen too far from the tree, at least in occupation, as the young man takes his MIT degree and turns it into an analyst job over at the FBI.
At nearly every angle, J.J.’s the flop to his father’s flip. Clean, kind, classy, he hates the n-word – not to mention Jackson’s signature swear – and respects the woman he adores (Alexandra Shipp as a sweet-faced nurse) so much that the friendzone’s not something worth complaining about. When the two men eventually join forces – brought on by the suspicious overdose of J.J.’s convincingly reformed best friend (Avan Jogia) – the clattering and the bickering are both humorous and appropriately awkward, as father and son play their first game of catch…the killer.
Most of the movie’s dedicated to Shaft’s babysitting role on the hard streets of Harlem, but the script’s total adherence to this relationship and its cultural gaps noticeably takes precedence over the features of the case. There’s an oddly-named rehab organization, a grocery store laundering scheme, and a silly, cigar-smoking baddie behind it all. The twist behind this pimp is that he’s the one who sent those hitmen back in ‘89. Shaft’s been on his tail ever since, but can’t, for some reason, explain that to J.J., who inevitably feels used. Perhaps clarification isn’t macho enough, at least for Jackson’s character, whose definition and embodiment of manhood’s outdated in the face of the younger man’s charm.
It seems a lot of this film’s purpose is to redeem the more obsolete characteristics of the franchise – perhaps for future installments down the line. Most notably, the devotion to the namesake also opens up the door for the women, whose role in the franchise has been, up until this point, well, down on a bed. Hall and Shipp are given equally quick and funny lines, and the leashes they hold over their men, especially in Hall’s case, draw out another side of the male characters they’d never let loose.
But despite these varying roles, Jr.’s millennial status and the constant jabs directed towards it, this Shaft continues to incorporate, mostly through Jackson, the obligatory elements of black exploitation: big cars, big leather jackets, cigars, guns, drugs, booze, babes, you get the picture. We even get a couple of nice nods to the 1971 original (but only a remix of Isaac Hayes’ Oscar-winning theme unfortunately), including a rope-swinging venture, as well as, of course, a cameo performance by the first black private dick himself, Richard Roundtree. And once the veteran actor joins the party, the multi-generational posse that storms out is among the coolest images of the year.
Is Shaft a great movie? Hardly. Each of its predecessors have their own particular strength, but from a filmmaking perspective, this one’s certainly the best of the bunch. Story’s action scenes are well-crafted, and convincingly reprises the 70-year-old Jackson, whose boisterous personality brings an unaltered authority to every one of his roles, as one of Hollywood’s baddest mother– shut yo’ mouth! Too bad their efforts aren’t directed towards a more worthwhile threat.
from Movies – We Got This Covered http://bit.ly/2WuQMx3
DJI’s newest drone is a $499 tank meant to teach kids how to code
Dronemaker DJI has spent the last few years running a massive robotics competition in China called RoboMasters, where students build and code robots that do battle in a literal arena. Now, DJI wants to sell a more approachable version of that idea to kids in the US, Europe, and Japan, with an educational toy robot tank called the RoboMaster S1.
The RoboMaster S1 is one part camera-equipped remote-controlled car, one part educational platform, and one part DJI flexing its fully mature hardware and software muscles. Available starting Wednesday for $499, the S1 can be driven using a mobile app, or coded to move on its own. It’s equipped with 31 sensors that help it map its environment, and it can move in 360 degrees thanks to...
from The Verge - All Posts http://bit.ly/2RhjKj7
ICC World Cup 2019 | Rain, Rain Go Away, Let the Poor World Cup Get Some Play
Following an exciting first week or so of the ICC World Cup 2019 that benefitted from one of the advantages of hosting a tournament in Britain – a diverse and multicultural population that led to packed and enthused houses all round, even at the warmup games – its second has been plagued by one of its disadvantages - the weather.from Top CricketNext News- News18.com http://bit.ly/2KfZfT4
In Numbers | Yuvraj's Test Record Outside Asia Blemish on Sparkling Career
1900 runs in 40 Tests (62 innings) at an average of 33.92 with just three hundreds and 11 fifties – these numbers do not do justice to the immense talent Yuvraj Singh was bestowed with.from Top CricketNext News- News18.com http://bit.ly/2WzUwx6
Taunton Weather Report: Light Showers Predicted In Taunton on Wednesday
The weather forecast seems a bit topsy-turvy for the fans as they get ready to witness Australia take on Pakistan at The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton in the ICC 2019 World Cup. This will be the second game at the venue.from Top CricketNext News- News18.com http://bit.ly/2WEjTTD
Australia vs Pakistan Playing XI Prediction: Stoinis Ruled Out for Australia, Pakistan Unchanged
Defending World Cup champions Australia have been dealt a big blow with one of their two all-rounders Marcus Stoinis ruled out of their ICC World Cup game against Pakistan on Wednesday (June 11).from Top CricketNext News- News18.com http://bit.ly/2Wzil8m
ICC World Cup 2019 | We Are One Game Away From Getting Everything Right: Benkenstein
South Africa batting coach Dale Benkenstein knows it's now or never for his side and has urged his batsmen to step up their game if Proteas want to make it to the semifinals of the 2019 World Cup.from Top CricketNext News- News18.com http://bit.ly/2F6uQCm
Fujifilm’s Instax Mini LiPlay brings audio to the instant camera experience
Fujifilm has just announced its latest Instax camera, the Instax Mini LiPlay. Like prior Instax Mini cameras, the Mini LiPlay takes lo-fi rectangular images that are developed instantly. It also has the ability to capture digital images and audio at the same time, which you can view on its LCD screen or transfer to your phone through Fujifilm’s Mini LiPlay app. It’s like a smaller version of the Instax Square SQ10 from two years ago, with a new added gimmick. It will be available starting on June 14th for $159.95.
Fujifilm’s Instax cameras, synonymous with influencers and the occasional sweet 16 party, have never been known for their impressive image quality or high-end features. They exist to capture high contrast aesthetic prints...
from The Verge - All Posts http://bit.ly/2R8zapz
Fujifilm’s Instax Mini LiPlay brings audio to the instant camera experience
Fujifilm has just announced its latest Instax camera, the Instax Mini LiPlay. Like prior Instax Mini cameras, the Mini LiPlay takes lo-fi rectangular images that are developed instantly. It also has the ability to capture digital images and audio at the same time, which you can view on its LCD screen or transfer to your phone through Fujifilm’s Mini LiPlay app. It’s like a smaller version of the Instax Square SQ10 from two years ago, with a new added gimmick. It will be available starting on June 14th for $159.95.
Fujifilm’s Instax cameras, synonymous with influencers and the occasional sweet 16 party, have never been known for their impressive image quality or high-end features. They exist to capture high contrast aesthetic prints...
from The Verge - All Posts http://bit.ly/2R8zapz
Taunton Pitch Report: Fast Bowlers to Rule the Roost With Rain Likely to Dictate Terms
The 17th game of the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 will be played at The Cooper Associates County Ground, in Taunton between Australia and Pakistan on Wednesday (June 12).from Top CricketNext News- News18.com http://bit.ly/2WsbJZq
World Cup Points Table 2019: Updated ICC Cricket World Cup Team Standings After Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh Match
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh were forced to split the points in Bristol as rain played spoilsport and the game had to be called off without a ball being bowled. This washout means that the Lankans get their fourth point in the 2019 ICC World Cup and move to fifth position, while Bangladesh are on seventh spot with three points.from Top CricketNext News- News18.com http://bit.ly/2R7zl4F
Australia vs Pakistan Live Streaming: When & Where to Watch ICC World Cup 2019 Match on Live TV & Online
Australia vs Pakistan in the ICC World Cup 2019 on June 12 (Wednesday) will be broadcast on the Star Sports network and Live streaming will be available on Hotstar. The match will be played at The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton and will begin at 1500 HRS IST. (AUS vs PAK Live). You can also follow all the action on our live blog.from Top CricketNext News- News18.com http://bit.ly/2XdlZtb
Taunton ODI Records: Pakistan & Australia Brace for High-scoring Clash
The County Ground in Taunton is set to play host to the ICC World Cup 2019 game between Australia and Pakistan. Both teams are in need of the two points and will square off on a ground that has seen high-scoring encounters in the past.from Top CricketNext News- News18.com http://bit.ly/2R7sND3
The biggest news from Elon Musk’s Tesla shareholder meeting
Horses were a somewhat unexpected theme at Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting. After CEO Elon Musk suggested that owning a gas car would be the equivalent of using a horse to get around, a Tesla shareholder asked Musk if the company’s announced pickup would have enough go power to haul her horse. “I didn’t mean to insult horses earlier,” Musk replied. “I love horses.” (Yes, the planned pickup could haul her horse.)
The shareholder meeting had some ups and downs — from a member of animal rights group PETA asking about vegan steering wheels to a discussion about Model 3 demand. The meeting comes at a time when Tesla’s stock price is at two-year low after falling almost continuously throughout 2019. The company suffered one of its worst...
from The Verge - All Posts http://bit.ly/2ZhSsvv
Konami announces TurboGrafx-16 Mini console
Konami has announced the latest in the slew of shrunk-down retro consoles, the TurboGrafx-16 Mini. Six games have been announced so far for the system, which will be released in Japan as the PC Engine Mini and in Europe as the PC Engine Core Grafx. It’ll have two USB ports for controllers and support a five-way multiplayer adapter.
The games announced so far are:
- R-Type
- New Adventure Island
- Ninja Spirit
- Ys Book I & II
- Dungeon Explorer
- Alien Crush
Other versions of the system have different games announced so far. For example, the PC Engine Mini is confirmed to include Castlevania classic Dracula X: Rondo of Blood.
The original PC Engine was designed by Hudson and manufactured by NEC. It was released in Japan in 1987, and the US-focused...
from The Verge - All Posts http://bit.ly/2XEDMX3
The biggest news from Elon Musk’s Tesla shareholder meeting
Horses were a somewhat unexpected theme at Tesla’s annual shareholder meeting. After CEO Elon Musk suggested that owning a gas car would be the equivalent of using a horse to get around, a Tesla shareholder asked Musk if the company’s announced pickup would have enough go power to haul her horse. “I didn’t mean to insult horses earlier,” Musk replied. “I love horses.” (Yes, the planned pickup could haul her horse.)
The shareholder meeting had some ups and downs — from a member of animal rights group PETA asking about vegan steering wheels to a discussion about Model 3 demand. The meeting comes at a time when Tesla’s stock price is at two-year low after falling almost continuously throughout 2019. The company suffered one of its worst...
from The Verge - All Posts http://bit.ly/2ZhSsvv
Konami announces TurboGrafx-16 Mini console
Konami has announced the latest in the slew of shrunk-down retro consoles, the TurboGrafx-16 Mini. Six games have been announced so far for the system, which will be released in Japan as the PC Engine Mini and in Europe as the PC Engine Core Grafx. It’ll have two USB ports for controllers and support a five-way multiplayer adapter.
The games announced so far are:
- R-Type
- New Adventure Island
- Ninja Spirit
- Ys Book I & II
- Dungeon Explorer
- Alien Crush
The original PC Engine was designed by Hudson and manufactured by NEC. It was released in Japan in 1987, and the US-focused TurboGrafx-16 followed in 1989. The PC Engine did pretty well in Japan but the TurboGrafx-16 failed to make much impact in the US.
Konami was one of the biggest...
from The Verge - All Posts http://bit.ly/2XEDMX3
Dark Phoenix Director Confirms That Dark Knight Rises Reference
Spoilers to follow.
Dark Phoenix serves as the finale for Fox’s X-Men saga and, for the most part, it doesn’t finish the mutants’ stories as much as promise a new beginning. Beast takes over as the principal of Xavier’s school (renamed the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning), while the now-retired Professor X himself is last seen outside a cafe in Paris with his old friend Magneto.
Anyone well-versed in their superhero cinema will have a sense of deja vu about this ending. It, of course, recalls the similar coda to DC’s The Dark Knight Rises, in which Alfred discovers Bruce Wayne enjoying his retirement with Selina Kyle…outside a cafe in Italy (close enough).
io9 caught up with writer/director Simon Kinberg and asked him if this was a deliberate homage to Christopher Nolan’s 2012 closer to his Batman trilogy. As per his comments prior to the movie’s release, the filmmaker confirmed that the Dark Knight trilogy was indeed a huge influence on his vision for Dark Phoenix.
“Obviously there are the supernatural, fantastical elements from the source material and it was important to me that we included the cosmic intergalactic storyline from the comics because we hadn’t seen any of that in X-Men films yet. The superhero movies that were most inspiring to me were like Logan and Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy.”
What appeals most to Kinberg about Nolan’s work is the emphasis on the characters beneath the costumes. This approach is something he wanted to bring to the X-Men franchise, too, with the director saying:
“Ironically, the first half of Batman Begins is my favorite chunk of the Dark Knight movies. Obviously, they’re all masterpieces, but the first half of Batman Begins before he becomes Batman, I just found so relatable because he’s just a guy. He doesn’t have his suit or an alter ego. He’s not off fighting crime. I approached Dark Phoenix with those films in mind, and wanted to emphasize the character drama. The movie needed to be more raw and intimate and personal than we’d done with the franchise before.”
Unfortunately, being inspired by critically-acclaimed movies like Logan and The Dark Knight didn’t mean that Dark Phoenix shared their success. The film’s been the victim of harsh reviews which have brought its Rotten Tomatoes score to the lowest the X-Men movies have ever been. It’s hard to say how big a factor this was, but the negative reception likely contributed to DP‘s disappointing opening weekend at the box office as well, as it’s expected to lose over $100 million for Fox.
from Movies – We Got This Covered http://bit.ly/2wLN1ZD
Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker May Reveal That Rey’s Connected To Palpatine
Star Wars fans have been obsessed with uncovering the truth about Rey’s parentage since 2015’s The Force Awakens. So much so that Kylo Ren’s revelation about her folks being nobodies from Jakku in The Last Jedi hasn’t swayed the torrent of fan theories out there connecting Daisy Ridley’s heroine to various characters, usually the Skywalkers or the Solos.
The Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer threw another potential relative of Rey’s into the ring, though. The cackle of Emperor Palpatine confirmed that Ian McDiarmid will return as the uber-villain in Episode IX, which opens all sorts of doors about how he could fit into the closer to the Skywalker saga.
Now, The Express has shared one bold theory that suggests that Palpatine is responsible for Rey’s birth. You see, Darth Vader #25 confirmed a major fact that fans have been wondering about since the Prequel Trilogy: that Darth Sidious created Anakin Skywalker inside his mother Shmi by manipulating the midichlorians. Just as he later told Anakin Darth Plagueis could do to create life in Revenge of the Sith.
So, assuming that Palpatine survived his death in the Death Star in Return of the Jedi, what if he pulled off this trick a second time and gave life to Rey? After all, his first Chosen One turned out to betray him, so perhaps he’d engineer a new powerful Force user in order to achieve his goals once again. In fact, Rey could be the latest Jedi destined to bring balance to the Force, as the old prophecy says.
This explanation would go someway to appeasing fans who want Rey to have a relation to some established character, as well as not outright discrediting the TLJ reveal about her parents. Director Rian Johnson says he doesn’t mind if J.J. Abrams ignores his plot developments, but some viewers might take umbrage with such a blatant retcon. Then again, Star Wars has been doing that since the Original Trilogy.
from Movies – We Got This Covered http://bit.ly/2XB7Fr8
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