Essentials: Technology & Entertainment

He's arguably the most popular comic book character ever, so it's not surprising that Wolverine was selected for the first of the "X-Men Origins" prequel series. And it's equally unsurprising that the film sliced its way to the top of the box office.

The success of the the X-Men Origins: Wolverine is based on the same principle that makes its title character so appealing: action. Logan's tendency to 'claw first, ask questions last' led director Gavin Hood to pile action on top of action in, what the film's adverts called "the summer's first blockbuster."

Superhero movies are getting darker and more "adult" than ever. If "The Dark Knight" wasn't enough to convince you, Watchmen certainly will. Set in an alternate 1985, where the Cold War never ended and Nixon is still President, Watchmen is dark, gritty and borderline disturbing.

It started with a brilliant stroke of cryptic genius: Sports and entertainment figures in stark black-and-white, describing the power of "G." Interest was piqued as "What is G?" became the most-searched term on Google, ahead of "Obama" and "porn," even.

The big reveal was the Super Bowl; The same black-and-white figures announced that "G' was, in fact, Gatorade. But it was NBA All-Star weekend when Gatorade's journey into the advertising unknown began.

Despite loads -- and I mean LOADS -- of airtime dedicated to educating viewers about the upcoming DTV transition, the analog armageddon may be delayed four months.

On Monday, the US Senate voted unanimously to delay the pending February 17 switch four months to June 12, 2009. The "DTV Delay Act" will now head to the House and could be voted on as early as Tuesday.

It's not often that Christmas albums feature original songs as the majority. Most artists rehash Christmas classics, maybe trying their hand at one or two tracks of their own crafting. But the latest EP from The Maine finds the Tempe-based power pop quintet caroling three-quarters original holiday tunes.