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  • Verne Troyer, ‘Mini-Me,’ Hospitalized for Seizure

    Verne Troyer, best known for his role as Mini-Me in two of Mike Myers’ Austin Powers films, suffered a seizure at the Heart of Texas Comic Con in Waco on Saturday, and was hospitalized as a result.

    The actor has posted a short clip via Twitter, however, to assure fans he is doing just fine now.

    “I’m sure you guys have heard some news that I went to the hospital,” Verne Troyer said. “But I just want to reassure you and let everyone know that I am fine.”

    “I was there for maybe a couple hours, did some tests, and now I’m here at the hotel and I plan on signing again tomorrow,” he added.

    A rep for Verne Troyer told The Hollywood Reporter that even the trip to the hospital was a precautionary one, and that all of the actor’s test results came back just fine.

    In addition to appearing in the Austin Powers films, Verne Troyer had a role in Mike Myers’ film The Love Guru in 2008. In 2005 he appeared on the reality show The Surreal Life.

    Fans are no doubt relieved to learn that Verne Troyer is just fine. And hopefully he was able to return to the Heart of Texas Comic Con in Waco, Texas on Sunday.

  • Will Ferrell Back for ‘Zoolander 2’

    Will Ferrell Back for ‘Zoolander 2’

    Will Ferrell will reportedly reprise his role as Mugatu for the upcoming Zoolander 2. Zoolander–which hit theaters back in 2001–saw Ben Stiller’s character Derek Zoolander and Owen Wilson’s character Hansel compete over the title of hottest male model. Will Ferrell’s Mugatu is a fashion designer who sets out to brainwash Zoolander in order to keep using child labor to manufacture his clothing line.

    During a recent interview with JoBlo.com, Will Ferrell confirmed Mugatu’s return.

    “We are actually supposed to do a read-through of a sequel script soon, and Mugatu is a part of it,” he said.

    The new film will likely see Derek and Hansel in their attempts to compete against younger models, while an opposing company tries to take them out from the modeling business.

    When Zoolander 2 is ready to shoot, Will Ferrell–along with Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson–will find himself under the direction of Jennifer Aniston’s fiance, Justin Theroux.

    Ben Stiller told the New York Post that as of this past December, Zoolander 2 had been on hold.

    “There’s a script we like, but I don’t want to force it, because people who love that movie really love it, so I want to make sure we do the sequel the right way,” he said. “Mike Myers did it well with the Austin Powers movies–they were all funny, and very ‘of their time.’ And Zoolander is ‘of its time,’ too, so it’s about how we could bring it up to date, to the present day.”

    In addition to Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, and Owen Wilson, funny man Jonah Hill and supermodel Cara Delevingne have been linked to the upcoming film.

    Were you a Zoolander fan? Are you excited to learn that Zoolander 2 may soon be underway, and that it features the return of Will Ferrell’s character Mugatu?

  • Sharks With Frickin’ Laser Beams Attached to Their Frickin’ Heads

    Marine Bioligist Luke Tipple has finally done what Number 2 never could, provide us with sharks with frickin’ laser beams attached to their heads.

    The project was sponsored by Wicked Lasers, a consumer laser manufacturer in Hong Kong, that keeps the world well stocked in high-powered handheld lasers.

    “This was definitely a world first,” Tipple told Wired. “Initially, I told them no. I thought it was a frivolous stunt. But then I considered that it would give us an opportunity to test our clips and attachments, and whatever is attached to that clip, I really don’t care. It was a low-powered laser that couldn’t be dangerous to anyone, and there’s actually useful applications in having a laser attached to the animal.”

    Adding, “I figure everyone deserves a warm meal”.

    But not really. The useful application he is referring to is testing whether or not sharks are repulsed by light of certain wavelengths. The conclusion is that anecdotal evidence is false, and the sharks are actually attracted to the light. Though Tipple admits further testing is required.

    The test also proved useful in showing a sharks relative position to its prey when on the hunt. Marine professionals may find this information incredibly in-credible, as there is no scientific testing to follow up these observations, only the observations themselves.

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    The main focus was the testing of the new clamp apparatis that can be used to house real scientific equipment. The clamp is non-intrusive and dissolves after a period of time, so a shark isn’t swimming around with equipment on its back its whole life. According to Tipple, in his interview with wired, the tests went well. “The shark didn’t really like it when I initially deployed the clamp,” says Tipple, “but after a few seconds it returned to normal behavior. The clamp itself isn’t strong enough to cause any pain, and the dorsal fin is actually not very sensitive due to it being composed primarily of cartilage.”

    Tipple has met some criticism for the stunt. Opponents say it is nothing more than a publicity stunt for Tipple and Wicked Lasers, who set up a Facebook promotion to gain support. Tipple is a sort of celebrity marine biologist, appearing on shows like Mythbusters and various Shark Week programs.

    I say it’s two fold. Sure Tipple and Wicked Lasers get publicity for the stunt, but a clamp that does not require a scientist to poke holes in a sharks skin to attach it, and dissolves after a period of time in the water could be very beneficial to marine biologists. What do you think?