This morning I found myself at the German embassy meeting with the ambassador and members of the European and German space industry. It was a very interesting breakfast where I learned of Germany’s contribution to the International Space Station (Germans give more than any other member of the European Space Agency). It is a research lab known as Columbus and is expected to be launched with the help of NASA and the space shuttle by October or November, 2007. Within Columbus, astronauts such as Thomas Reiter, will be able to conduct experiments on plants and other living things. Another area of innovation is the ATV, or Automated Transfer Vehicle, perhaps the most technologically complex module ever designed, relying almost solely on remote controls and robotics. The ATV may ultimately replace the shuttle, scheduled for retirement in 2010.

It’s been a long time since I dug out the Roswell Rayguns, but submit to you that, pound-for-pound, “Coach, you were 5-79 last season, why the playoff talk?” may be the best opening to an advertisement, ever.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=khOP9vvNH8I]
When the Rayguns first appeared, Eric Neel spoke the truth:

I believe in the funk and I tell you this: You cannot trifle with the funk, you can’t just set it loose, in a commercial or in your head, and expect things to stay the same. Sure, it looks harmless enough, all wrapped in nostalgia like it is here, like it’s a ’70s thing, but the funk is bigger, nastier and more intoxicating than even the most intense blast of nostalgia … and it cannot be contained. It is out there now, reanimated, in the air. It will proliferate, and it will change things. Squares will swing, stiffs will groove, the slow-down, feed-the-post game will disappear, and we will all be better for it.

Bring on The Finals.

Box Office Mojo has a good roundup of X-Men‘s monster opening weekend and concludes with this very interesting tidbit:

Playing at four theaters, An Inconvenient Truth averaged a promising estimated $70,500 per site over the three-day weekend, the highest of the year and for a documentary. Former Vice President Al Gore’s environmentalist tract has grossed $489,000 in five days, and distributor Paramount Classics plans to expand it throughout June, reaching its widest point over the Independence Day holiday.

Hmmmm.

This may be a bit industry-heavy for those not into the gaming world, but this IGN discussion on the Nintendo Wii price point ranges far and wide, touching on Playstation and Xbox and lots of different scenarios.

The most intriguing of which is the notion that Microsoft may be planning a November price cut for Xbox:

Since Microsoft can rely on awesome software rather than dealing with a hardware launch, it has the upper hand right now. If fact, if Nintendo was in this position we’d be seeing a price drop to combat the new systems. Microsoft isn’t stupid. I personally expect a drop of up to $100 ($50 is more likely, but Microsoft will be going for a TKO at Christmas) for each bundle starting mid-November.

The general sense seems to be that the Wii will launch under $200, perhaps as low as $149.

“To me, it’s not rocket surgery.”

David Lee Roth on the inevitability of a Van Halen reunion.

Buried way down in Lisa de Moraes’ column is this very ill portent for Law & Order fans:

The suits decided that was one too many new dramas to promote during Sunday game play, so they’ve moved “Kidnapped” to Wednesday at 10, longtime home to “Law & Order.”

“We needed to lighten up Tuesday,” Reilly said.

“Law & Order: Criminal Intent” will be moved from Friday to Tuesday to fill the hole left by “Kidnapped.” Wednesday’s “Law & Order,” displaced by “Kidnapped,” is moving into that “L&O: CI” Friday 10 p.m. berth.

Friday night at 10:00 p.m.? That’s about the third-least desirable slot in network television. If you want a series to fail so that you can kill it, that’s where you hide it.

Don’t be surprised if next season is the last.

No, seriously. Matus has a fascination with the hammerhead that I’ve never quite understood, but the series of pictures in that link are sort of beyond comprehension. I mean, the dude’s trying to land a 15-foot shark on a 23-foot boat.

Sure, I get it. It’s early Friday morning and you can’t be bothered to follow the link. Well, how’s this for a teaser?

The photo credit is to Joe Cermele, who’s more man than I’ll ever be.

Mike Russell has posted the latest CulturePulp–and it’s the best edition ever. Mutants are involved. As is the funny.