Tag Archives: technology

Drama, Family, Fun, Movies

Girl Geeks Rule in Hidden Figures

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SmuttyCat loves the Age of the Geek, especially Girl Geeks. This Christmas movie season brings us Hidden Figures, the till now untold story of the women who made the moon landing possible.

There are not enough words to describe the beautiful, nuanced and uplifting performances by Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer & Janelle Monáe. And let’s not forget one of SmuttyCat’s favorite geeks, Jim Parsons from The Big Bang Theory. Hidden Figures is a movie of triumph for gender, class, race and all cultures. It is a beautiful moment when America remembered that we are all for one and one for all. And that working together achieved the impossible.

And most importantly, it is inspiration for every girl geek wondering if she should follow her tech dreams. The answer in Hidden Figures is a resounding ‘yes’.

Hidden Figures lands in theaters on January 6, 2017. Start the New Year with fun and let SmuttyCat know if you loved this movie.

 

Animation, Humor, Movies, Robots

The Robots are Here!

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SmuttyCat is dismayed at the current chronology of events happening in the robotic world. Which of the Terminator franchise movies did developers and scientists miss? Why, oh why are they trying to end the world? While humans are oohing and ahhing over the BB-8 cutie (which SmuttyCat appaws of as a great cat toy), engineers all over the world are working on something quite different.

A little background; there are several new developments in hardware and software that are bringing us closer to Skynet and the Terminators. First, mind reading computers are now real, just check out the IFLScience site. Chip yourself at your own risk.

Next DARPA’s challenge will show many advanced, not clumsy terminator-style robots in human and animal configurations (see videos below). And now researchers have developed a robot that can seek out and TERMINATE a specific species (starfish) that are threatening the Great Barrier Reef.

Finally, a ‘mother’ robot has figured out how to evolve better children based on the success or failure of previous generations. Hmm, SmuttyCat is building a shelter. Good luck humanity.


Animation, Comic, Fun, Humor, Movies

Avengers Age of Ultron Awesomeness

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SmuttyCat loves superhero movies done well. Avengers Age of Ultron goes above and beyond with action, angst and armor. The movie opens with the team in action cleaning up Hydra elements.

Avengers logoLater, as the team kicks back to relax personalities start to shape up. Black Widow is cool and ruthless. Banner almost comes to terms with the Hulk and Tony Stark uses brilliance and insanity in equal portions.
While story concerns may give some more screen time, this is a true ensemble project. All of the heroes are great and all are flawed. Captain America seems to be the one most at peace with what and who he has become.

ultron rocksUltron Rocks

Yet the run away center of this magical entertainment is James Spader as Ultron. The delicate truth of Stark’s alter ego run amok is portrayed with sly ease by Spader. Being a Blacklist fan, SmuttyCat enjoyed watching Ultron and creator match wits. If AOU has any weakness, it is not having enough time to delve deeply into the elite chess match between these two. Oh, and the brother-sister accents are awful.

genius at work!!SPOILER ALERTS! !

Hulk-buster armor with flying backup! SmuttyCat wants one. Stark tech continues to rock extra hard. While the multiple robots Ultron uses mimics Iron Man 3, Tony continues to upgrade.

Hulk fist bumpAwesome fight of all time award to Iron Man vs Hulk. Major fist bump heard around the world. Grand Diva entrance award to Ultron who reminds the Avengers they don’t get to be normal. Best line of dialog toss up; “you get hurt, hurt back. You die, walk it off”. And “go to sleep, go to sleep, go to sleep” lullaby sung while pile driving the Hulk’s face.

The grade? Script – A for great continuity of series, if not true to print story. Acting – A+ for all around good performances from all. The weary but determined heroes back in the muck again. Effects – A+ for lack of cheesiness. Pacing – A- for simply too much action to cover in too little time.

Marvel has created a masterful formula for action/hero movies that will be hard to top for the foreseeable future. And that’s just fine with SmuttyCat.

Don’t take SmuttyCat’s word, check the trailer for yourself, then run to the nearest theater.

weary heroesRobert Downey Jr., as Iron Man, Chris Evans as Captain America, Chris Hemsworth as Thor, Mark Ruffalo as The Hulk, Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow, Jeremy Renner as Hawkeye, and Samuel L. Jackson as Nick Fury, Don Cheadle as James Rhodes/War Machine, Cobie Smulders as Agent Maria Hill and Stellan Skarsgård as Erik Selvig, James Spader as Ultron, Elizabeth Olsen as Wanda Maximoff, Aaron Taylor-Johnson as Pietro Maximoff, and Jarvis gets an upgrade when Paul Bettany becomes Vision.

Family, Fun, Humor

Skynet is Very Close

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SmuttyCat has been keeping an eye on robots for a while now. Robots and felines don’t get along well because they can’t be predicted.

The latest news in the robotics world shows that SmuttyCat has been right all along, robots are trouble. First up, exoskeletons that read minds. Well, if it can read human thoughts, maybe it can control them.

Next, special muscles that are making robots extra strong and unbeatable. Unsurprisingly, Google is financing this project by purchasing the company who was spearheading the research.

Finally, a prizefight is shaping up between ATLAS and Valkyrie, two robots who are part of the DARPA robotics challenge to develop a means of exploring dangerous zones. In theory this is a great idea. But what is to prevent Skynet from turning them on humans? Hey, cats need humans until we evolve opposable thumbs.

Drama, Family, Fun, Pets, TV

Cybergeddon, the Latest Web Series From Yahoo!

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(Credit) DKemp Designs

Smutty is pondering litigation.  It seems the creators of CSI have come up with a new Web series called Cybergeddon.  It appears to be a great project, but the title is dangerously close to Smutty’s own movie Smuttageddon.

Couldn’t they have found another name for it?  Why have the confusion, Smutty has enough competition without the creators of CSI adding to his troubles.

Well, check out the trailer and let Smutty know what you think.

Comic, Family, Humor, Pets

More Robot Fun

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Smutty has been keeping a close eye on robots.  They may interfere with his plans to take over the world.  Smutty recently discovered that robots can now walk up stairs.  And now, Willow Garage has created a great personal use robot and the software to run it.  This robot combines great dexterity and mobility with advanced customization ability.

Smutty smells threat.  If humans get their needs met by robots, they won’t be hypotnized by their cats’ purring into following Smutty.

Fortunately for Smutty, the robot has one huge drawback; it costs $400,000.

Family, Fun, Movies, Pets

Total Recall Reboot

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In a summer of reboots, the unlikely candidate Total Recall is getting a new life.  Starring Colin Farell in Arnold Schwarzenegger’s role, the new version offers super slick FX.  The movie is not blockbuster material, especially following Avengers, Spiderman and Dark Knight, but should offer solid escapist fun.

Enjoy the summer and don’t forget your furry family members.

Comic, Family, Fun, Humor, Pets

Stupid Human Tricks

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power saw/bluetoothSmutty has been rolling with paws up laughing at recent human antics.  First, a woman cut her husband with a power saw. But it was an accident, she thought he was an intruder.  In another room, where the window was locked.  Smutty recommends serious marital counseling.

Next, Mashable asks the question, “Is Tech Too … Distracting“, the answer is “Yes”.  People leave their children in stores, have car accidents and bump into buildings while talking on a cell phone or texting.  My human uses her headset most of the time, but she still looks a little loopy talking to the air.  Once, inside a store, she was talking to her sister in line and start laughing out loud at something her sister said.  Her hair covered the headset so everyone in line moved away from her and started looking scared.  This of course, made her laugh harder.  Finally, she pulled back her hair and pointed out the headset.  Many relieved sighs from the other customers.

Too much staring at the phone or computer is not good for humans.  So Smutty recommends petting your cat or playing fetch with your dog.  Good for you and the pet and you don’t look loopy.

Yawn.