Love From Tulsa

Matt Gleason wrote a very nice article about Where's My Jetpack?: A Guide to the Amazing Science Fiction Future that Never Arrived and about what I've been up to in general. During the phone interview Matt said something that cracked me up -- it was along the lines of: "So you're just, like, a regular dude who knows about science?" Hah! So true...

Check out the article in the Tulsa World.

Public Radio International

Heads up, world! On Monday, August 12th I'll be talking jetpacks with Faith Salie on the Fair Game Show on Public Radio International. Should be a good time!

Robot Uprising Movie... still limping along!

The LA Times interviewed Tom Lennon and Ben Garant -- the two very talented (and busy) screenwriters who are working on adapting How to Survive a Robot Uprising for Paramount. According to this LA Times story the guys are still working on what I like to call "my movie." Exciting -- it's just too bad that I'll be in my thirties before it comes out.
:)

Odd But Potentially Amusing Request

In-te-rest-ing. I've been taking improv classes this year and it looks like I'm going to get a chance to use my skillz. Well, not really. But I'll be at the Portland Center Stage on September 21st, working with Gary Hirsch from On Your Feet Improv and Super Project Lab Improv. Here's what I'll be doing:

We are looking for guests to share their stories and to inspire our improv for this next run. Here is what it would entail:

* You are introduced to the audience and ask for a suggestion to inspire a true life story or experience (in the past guests have asked for an occupation, a life changing event, etc)

* The audience yells out their ideas and when you hear one that inspires you, they tell a true story from your life based on the suggestion. This is a 2-3 minute monologue about anything you want to talk about. This does not have to be funny or clever, it just has to be true.

* After about 3 minutes, or when you find a stop point, one of the five SPL improvisers will walk in front of them and start an improvised scene inspired by their monologue. Then you move off the stage into a comfy chair for about 10 minutes.

My Kanye West-esque Critique of Transformers for Wired Magazine

Transformers don't care about people -- any kind of people. I wrote a quick article for Wired about why Transformers rock because they don't want to either be people or kill people. They've got their own damn problems.

Of course, I saw the latest movie preview today and it's all about how some Transformers want to "protect" humans and some want to "destroy" humans. That's what cracks me up about humans -- it's always all about us... But it's a movie, so what are you going to do?

Bro-Jitsu: The Martial Art of Sibling Rivalry

So I'm writing a book AND a movie. And yes, I'm too lazy to elaborate. So please just read the Variety article. Alternately, read the Hollywood Reporter article -- it comes with a pretty funny-yet-philosophical quote from my producer Marc Rosen.

Salon.com reviews Where's My Jetpack

Check out this Salon article about the implications of Where's My Jetpack. It's deep, man.

Plus, I really like being described as "arch." Cool.

Interview with Art Bell (Coast to Coast AM)

This Sunday night from 11PM until 2AM I am going to be holed up in a Motel Six. There can be only sordid reasons for a three hour hotel stay, and this is one of them -- I'll be using the motel room landline for a three hour interview with Art Bell and Coast to Coast AM about jetpacks, killer robots, and.. buh buh buh... SCIENCE. From the producer:

"Coast to Coast AM" is the largest overnight talk radio show in the U.S., airing nationwide on 500 affiliates. The show is the number one rated show in most markets with overwhelming market share.

Although we cover news stories and hard science when the events warrant our attention, we do not close the door on ideas that run counter to conventional wisdom. We have Ivy League professors on the show as well as people who claim to have seen ghosts and aliens.

This is going to be fun. Clearly.

Where's My Jetpack!? is finally here

The pub date for my second book has arrived, which is why I'm currently watching Maurie Povich from a hotel room in San Francisco between giving book talks. Later I'm going to take a bath and get room service. Um. In the meantime, check out these reviews of the book!

Popular Mechanics

The Oregonian

Seattle Times

Hartford Courant

GQ Magazine

Robot Hall of Fame - The Jury

Killer. I just joined the jury of the Robot Hall of Fame. This means that I'm joining Arthur C. Clarke, Rod Brooks, Steve Wozniak, Anthony Daniels (he's C3PO!) and a passel of other very impressive folks (see them at the jury page) to select the 2007 inductees to the RHOF.

Do you think I could get a consensus on Vicki the robot girl from the 1980s sitcom, Small Wonder? Yeah, probably not.