However, there are examples from the silver screen of characters that have broken the mold. Who’ve said, ‘I love my dressing gown and I’m going to conduct everyday activities while wearing it.’ Consider the following examples as bathrobe pioneers, proving that things can be achieved while adorned in chenille… (In the movies at least).

The Dude – Big Lebowski

This might not be the best example of a character wearing a bathrobe and achieving, well not in the traditional sense. Jeff Bridges iconic ‘The Dude’ from the Big Lebowski is a slacker icon, spending plenty of time in his bathrobe. What he does achieve is a state of cool that is revered amongst those concerned with such things. He’s a hero and part of this is definitely due to his laid back, easy going attitude, a state typified by his bathrobe wearing throughout much of his misguided adventure.

Tyler Durden – Fight Club

Tyler is a motivator, he’s a doer. A macho dream of muscle, aggression and discontent which, if you haven’t seen the movie, culminates in him mobilizing an underground army to rise against the powers that be. While making explosives and running a nationwide bare-knuckle fighting ring aren’t exactly the most salubrious of past times, it is still some go-getter attitude. And what does he wear when orchestrating such grand plans with a logistical prowess even DHL would be proud of? A pink toweling dressing gown with a steaming coffee cups motif. Sweet.

Rocky Balboa – Rocky

What could look better than a Rocky bathrobe  with ‘Italian Stallion’ emblazoned on the back. Not a lot is the answer and that’s exactly what Rocky wears as he trots to the ring to dish out a whole lot of pain to his opponents. Hood up, head down, there is business to be done and it all begins while wearing a bathrobe.

The Emperor – Star Wars

Not until The Empire Strikes Back did the Emperor appear, and what an appearance. He made the bath robe his own, a shroud of a garment in a deepest of deep greys, synonymous with the dark side of which he was so fond. The garment hindered him not a jot when it came to dominating as the head of the Galactic Empire and on the side as the Dark Lord of the Sith. Not bad work at all. From beneath his robe he spouted electrical charges that did for many a Jedi and I like to think this was only possible due to the loose fitting nature of his chosen preferred clothing of the dressing gown.

When it comes to getting things sorted, maybe you’re looking at things the wrong way. As these heroes in bathrobes show, it’s not about a professional look. It’s about comfort and freedom of movement allowing you to perform your duties and achieve your goals, whether they are being the El Duderino, creating social destabilization, becoming World Heavyweight Champion or wiping out the Jedi’s.

As a crossover between three highly successful and one (sorry Hulk!)fairly successful franchises The Avengers had a lot of potential to go either way. It could have easily been a fame and hype studded train-wreck, just as easily as it could have been a blockbuster. Luckily director Joss Whedon seemed to go with the strength of the various lines, and not merely stop with the weaknesses.

Robert Downey Jr. returns as Iron Man, who, as the biggest name associated with the picture, threatened to overshadow the entire movie. Instead keeping it on an even keel and saving the trademark Iron Man one liners for dramatic effect. The cast avoided this neatly by simply delivering a solid romp of an action/adventure movie.

Chris Hemsworth returns as the Asgardian Thunder God Thor. And seemed a bit more at ease in the role than he did in his own movie. Chris Evans likewise seemed slightly more comfortable wearing the Captain America costume and delivering some of Cap’s trademark cheesy lines and Forties inspired dialog. Evans’, becoming a seminal nerd-oriented-movie superstar in his own right in recent years, deserves full credit for bringing a viable Captain America to the table. Lastly, Mark Ruffalo rounds out the crew as the newest interpretation of the Incredible Hulk. In my opinion, and much to my surprise, Ruffalo surpassed previous Hulk’s Edward Norton and Eric Bana.
The Avengers isn’t the most well written movie in history. It is not an exactly faithful retelling of the Avengers origins, nor “The Ultimates” remake it is loosely based on. It is however, a lot of fun! More fun than I expected, and so much fun that I intend to go see it in the theater again, when the lines finally die down.

NASA researchers have utilized the data from the Dawn probe to confirm a long held suspicion about Vesta. Contrary to popular belief, Vesta is not actually a huge asteroid. Instead, Vesta, which is the second largest object inside the asteroid belt, has now been conclusively determined to be an ancient protoplanet.

The data collected by Dawn so far reveals several interesting facts about the protoplanet: Vesta’s core is made of iron, it has color variations that set it apart from every asteroid that has been explored to date and it is approximately as wide as the state of Arizona. Perhaps more interesting than any of those facts, however, was the discovery that Vesta suffered from two gigantic impacts during a time frame that is way beyond the Late Heavy Bombardment period.

The first of these impacts occurred approximately two billion years ago, and it created a basin that is 249 miles wide. That basin, named Veneneia by NASA researchers, was expanded upon approximately one billion years ago when another impact occurred.

The second impact almost erased the evidence of Veneneia, and it was named Rheasilvia. The Rheasilvia crater spans 314 miles, and the impact dramatically changed the surface of Vesta in many ways, including the creation of a raised central peak that now stands at over two times the height of Mount Everest.

Due to the two major impacts, the planet’s surface is extremely different on the northern and southern halves. The northern half was spared from the damage of the two impacts, and as such, it retains a good history of the countless minor collision that the protoplanet has encountered. This information is invaluable because it helps to date both the protoplanet and other events that have happened near it. The southern side’s surface was reset due to its two major collisions, so it is unknown what else may have impacted that portion of Vesta before two billion years ago.

Dawn will continue its exploration of Vesta until August 26, 2012. NASA researchers are looking for evidence of water, and they are also looking forward to exploring the most northern part of Vesta, which has been covered in shadows throughout Dawn’s current mission. The sun’s light will reach the northern part soon, however, and researchers hope that the north pole region will provide new information about the protoplanet’s history.

Once Dawn finishes with Vesta, it will head to Ceres, a dwarf planet that resides inside the asteroid belt. Dawn is scheduled to reach Ceres in February of 2015.

See Vesta in 3D

For those who are not aware, Kickstarter is a website that allows people from all around the world to “crowd fund” any project they like to fund. Basically, all that this means is that when people like a project idea that someone has, they can become “investors” of a sort.

The main difference between this and traditional investment is that for their leap of faith, the people who make the investments are not promised dividends, but instead, they are promised the final product, among other rewards, for their faith in the viability of the product.

There has been an explosion of activity around Kickstarter projects as of late, particularly in the area of video games. However, that isn’t to say creative people outside of the video game industry aren’t finding success too. Kickstarter’s most successful project yet has been the Pebble digital watch.

The Pebble watch connects to your smartphone and can display a huge amount of information that is streamed to it, everything from the time to your emails and text messages. In addition to what is currently built into the watch, it will also have app support, so that people can develop more apps for the device once it comes out, adding more support.

When their Kickstarter campaign first kicked off, for about $100, one could get a watch when manufacturing started. Within just a few short hours, Pebble had exceeded its goal of $100,000 and within just a few days breezed past $2 million.

Inf act, the volume of orders was so large through Kickstarter that the makers of the Pebble were forced to do something no one had ever done before on Kickstarter and cap pre-orders at 85,000 watches, since they could not produce any more after that.

The whole crowd funding thing is really just totally fascinating, the idea that the consumer can directly be involved in the development and creation of a product without having to involve a large corporation is fantastic, and paves the way for many more independent creative thinkers to find their way in the world with the help of a few million people willing to give their idea a try.

Here are this weeks awesome science and technology headlines in the fields of Lasers and Robotics. This week we’re looking at real life surgical grade lightsabers, robotic birds that mimic the real thing, and creepy Japanese robots intended for hugging!

The Doctor will see you now...

Medical Lasers

In medical news a new laser scalpel was debuted in late April, being called the “Medical lightsaber.” This new medical laser is said to be ultra-fast, ultra-accurate, and ultra-compact. Bringing an end to the days where even with so called “precision” micro-lasers vast portions of tissue beyond the desired cut were affected.

The endoscope controlled femtosecond laser, that is, 200 quadrillions of a second per pulse can accurate target damaged and diseased cells. A feat long declared impossible when using an ordinary metal scalpel.

Even the once vaunted Cyberknife is fairly ineffective by comparison when dealing with cellular level cuts.

Robot Bird

University of Illinois student Soon-Jo Chung and Aditya A. Paranjape a postdoctoral researcher have teamed up to design and unveil a winged robotic plane capable of flight by flapping wings, something never before seen in modern robotics.

The real coup, however, is the intense detail with which this little bird-bot is capable of flying. When in flight the “bird” can speed up, slow down, and in most other ways replicate a real functioning living bird.

In addition to replicating bird like movement, the wondrous little metal avian can perch on a human hand, emulating it’s fleshy predecessor to a nearly eerie closeness.

The Robot that Cares

In other robot-replicating-organic-life news Japanese robot designer Hiroshi Ishiguro has unveiled his newest creation, the Hugvie Robot.

This plush single legged figure is supposed to emulate a missed love one. It can accept a cellphone to have a conversation with a distant loved one and simulate physical contact and it also has electronic equipment inside to simulate a human heartbeat when hugged close. The vibrations can be customized per individual user.

If you are in need of a hug, and would prefer the robot variety, the Hugvie is available through Vstrong in what I will describe as a variety of rather wild looking colors for a huggable slug robot.

It has been revealed that the FBI is requesting that major internet corporations like Microsoft, Facebook, Yahoo, and Google, who opposed SOPA when it was in deliberation earlier this year not oppose their attempt to require these companies and many more to build backdoors into their communications systems to allow wiretaps.

While the FBI has been trying to keep this quiet, some people that are part of the tech industry have blown the whistle on the proceedings.

The FBI plans to implement this new type of internet wiretapping by modifying an existing law that was put into place in 1994, called the “Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act”, or CALEA for short. As of this moment, that law only applies to telephone providers, like AT&T or Verizon. the FBI, however, wants to expand this law to also apply to any sort of online messaging, like Skype or Facebook, so that when they get a wiretap warrant they can tap these communication vectors as well.

Thankfully, not all tech companies are simply letting this happen. According to documents that were filed with Congress a few weeks ago, Apple is currently lobbying on the topic. When Microsoft was asked about the subject, they said that it was “an area of ongoing interest”. Google, Facebook, and Yahoo decided to not make any comment about the situation at all.

Of course, the main problem that tech companies have with a law like this expansion to CALEA isn’t exactly the same as the everyday citizen’s concerns. Instead of being worried about privacy, these companies are worried about how much it would cost to add these backdoors into existing software, or even to put them into new software that they are currently developing.

The other problem that these corporations have with an expansion is the threats it could pose to industry secrets, as they might be laid bare in a court proceeding.

Again, the government is attempting to strip away layers of privacy that many of us enjoy on the internet, and the tech industry is fighting back, but for the wrong reasons. I imagine we will see this pattern continue for the foreseeable future, sadly. Hopefully one day, we can come to a reasonable agreement on this whole issue.

Hot on the heels of the Euro and Asian release of Android Ice Cream Sandwich comes the first official look at Samsung’s newest shot at the sometimes aptly nicknamed “Iphone Killer” Galaxy S line of phones. After months of consumer speculation, false media leaked images showing outrageous potential design options and hints regarding everything from the camera to the design materials, the SIII is both fairly normal and fairly awesome.

While it does not bend or roll up, as some leaked images of a seemingly warped prototype indicated or a twelve Megapixel camera as often rumors, the Galaxy SIII does come packed with a variety of new features. Most notably the Quad Core Exynos CPU. While it keeps the Eight Megapixel camera of the SII it adds a few new features. Full 1080P video is an exciting upgrade to Youtube fans everywhere.

Taking a cue from the Iphone, there will be a 16bg and a 32gb version of the SIII available. This doesn’t mean an end to expandable memory however, the S3 boasts a 64 gig micro sd capability bringing the potential memory total to a whopping 96 gig.

The ever growing Galaxy display will reach a staggering 4.8 inch measure. Continuing with the AMOLED technology with an upgrade to new Super AMOLED touchscreen at 1280×700 pixels. Samsung fans will be glad to know the SIII will release with a significantly larger 2100 mAh battery, hopefully resolving many of the battery lifespan issues the SII continues to show.

Finally, in an effort to keep up with Siri Samsung will package the phone with “S Voice,” the newest attempt at a voice interaction and recognition package being unveiled this year.

With it’s much lighter but still larger than an Iphone display. Numerous upgrades and improvements over older models and the Iphone itself, and media already buzzing about the slew of new camera features Samsung may well have finally prepared a bullet for Apple’s death lock on phone sales supremacy.

Even if the Galaxy SIII doesn’t end up being the Iphone Killer, it continues to bear the torch for Android users everywhere.

The privately owned space transport company, SpaceX, has been forced to postpone their flight to the International Space Station once again, this time from May 7 to May 19. This flight has been delayed many times within the last year or so, and this is the second time it has been delayed just within the last month. SpaceX has claimed that they want to make sure they do their due diligence before the launch happens.

The Mission Yet to Come

Once SpaceX actually manages to get the flight, which is called “Commercial Orbiter Transportation Services Demo Flight 2″ or “COTS Demo Flight 2″, off the ground, the mission will be the most challenging flight ever undertaken by a commercial space company.

While the ship, which is known as the “Dragon”, will be unmanned, it will have to both orbit and dock with the International Space Station, one of the most challenging maneuvers in space travel.

Even though it is a test flight, NASA cannot afford to pass up a chance to take supplies up to the station, so they have loaded up over a thousand pounds of supplies onto the Dragon for its trip.

Plans for the Future

The Dragon isn’t simply a supply ship, however. SpaceX is currently working on a variant that they are calling the “DragonRider” which will be able to carry up to seven astronauts to the International Space Station, finally offering an alternative to the Russian Soyuz craft that is currently being used for all crew ferrying since the shuttle was retired in 2011.

Thinking further into the future, SpaceX has also proposed using the Dragon ship for an advanced unmanned Mars mission that they are calling “Red Dragon”, and would be capable of storing large amounts of instruments and be able to drill into the martian surface.

There has even been some talk of using the Dragon Capsule for manned martian missions.

Moving Forward

Because its contracts and rapid progression towards operational spaceflight, SpaceX remains the space transport company that is the most poised to take control of the space market and continue for the foreseeable future to supply NASA and America with viable spaceships and memorable flights that NASA can not provide until they get their program back on its feet.

Play Tribes: Ascend from Hi-Rez Studios

With that in mind, “Tribes: Ascend” is the newest free-to-play multiplayer title and blows most alternatives out of the water. Critics are in agreement that this game sets the bar for all future FTP games in many ways. High quality graphics, crisp gameplay, and worthwhile additions combine to make this a game that anyone can enjoy. A better multiplayer experience online that costs nothing might not exist. Plus, this game does more than just beat other FTP alternatives. “Tribes” even manages to rival some of the paid games too.

Quick Guide

• Fast-paced team play
• Having to lead off shots makes hits more enjoyable
• Graphics are smooth and crisp
• Purchased items don’t break gameplay

Everything about “Tribes” is solid at the very least when it comes to free-to-play titles. For starters, the gameplay offers a unique twist on first-person shooters. The gameplay is fast-paced thanks to the jetpack and skiing system that further differentiates this title from all other options – paid or free. Instead of shooting directly at opponents, players are often required to lead their bullets in order to land a kill. Of course, that makes kills far less likely during matches.

However, gameplay is designed for teamwork and completing objectives. Different classes allow players to focus on different aspects of play. A team for a match might consist of heavily armored assault characters, fast and agile flag runners, or even defensive base building soldiers. This is both a fast-paced and tactical shooter that is unparalleled by the alternatives available. Also, players can quickly jump in without paying a penny to start enjoying themselves. Mastering the ski system takes time, but other aspects are easy to figure out.

Finally, “Tribes: Ascend” breaks the FTP mold by offering valuable purchase items. All free-to-play offerings make money by offering in-game items for real money. Most titles just throw in items that do not change gameplay or even make gameplay unfair for other players. “Tribes” actually offers players weapons, skins, and other items that are both reasonably priced and enrich the gameplay. In this area, the developers of “Ascend” have come very close to mastering the fine line between useful and useless in-game purchase.

In the end, “Tribes: Ascend” is a step above other free-to-play options currently available. This game breaks the mold in nearly every area and ascends above other titles for that reason. Gameplay is smooth, unique, and crisp on the computer and does not take long to learn. The graphics are not the best available but beat the competition nonetheless. Undoubtedly, this game’s biggest accomplishment is offering great in-game purchases at a reasonable rate. Plus, “Tribes” could almost rival some of the recent offerings from the market that require payment. Upcoming free-to-play titles have their work cut out for themselves because the bar has been raised.

Photo by Leonid Mamchenkov @Flickr

Scientists have once again taken their lead from popular science fiction culture for the development of their latest piece of technology. This time the goal is Star Trek’s universal translator, a device which can translate any language. There are already many translation applications for various devices, including computers and phones, though they are not quite universal in their ability to get the job done.

Most of these technologies require that those conversing take turns speaking in a single device, only work for a select number of languages, or relate the translated speech in an emotionless, robot-like voice. Microsoft is hoping to change that soon.

Microsoft’s latest invention, when completed, will solve the above problems, creating a truly universal translating device. They are reportedly close to having the device done, prompting a recent demonstration of its capabilities.

Frank Soong, research scientist for Microsoft, has been working on the project for some time now at the company’s research center in Beijing, China. During the demonstration, he showed how the device can read Spanish, as well as its ability to translate English into Mandarin.

All this is done while retaining, for the most part, the voice of the speaker, including tonal inflections and other patterns of speech which are integral to proper communication. So far, the Microsoft translator works with 28 different languages.

Though Microsoft may be ahead in the race to develop this new technology, they are not the only ones working to get it done. AT&T has their own version in the works, though theirs is focused on improving the voice-recognition and translation of computer applications.

Whether speaking directly to another person or talking across the net, universal translators will change the perception of foreign language as a barrier to communication.