That’s Monsieur Quirky to you

Perhaps the films of Michel Gondry need to carry a warning: Do not try this at home. His last movie, The Science of Sleep, featured a character who couldn’t distinguish his waking life from his dreams, to bizarre and comic effect. Gondry is still best known for 2004’s Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, which starred Jim Carrey as a man who has the memories of his ex-girlfriend wiped from his brain, to bizarre and comic effect.

The 44-year-old French director’s newest film, which opens this Friday, is Be Kind Rewind, starring Jack Black as a man who accidentally erases the stock of a video rental store; he must then partner with the store’s clerk (Mos Def) and an ’80s-era VHS camera to remake the collection. But Gondry says this was only for comic (and bizarre) effect.

‘DVD Jon’ frees your media with DoubleTwist

The man notorious for cracking the DVD code, and Apple’s FairPlay DRM, is looking to make a legitimate business out of his expertise.

Beginning Tuesday, the first product from his company, DoubleTwist Ventures, will enter open beta. Called DoubleTwist, it’s a free desktop client that essentially allows any kind of music, photo, or video file to be shared between a long list of portable media players, and through Web-based social networks.

Instead of iTunes songs or videos taken with a Nokia N95 remaining locked on the phone, DoubleTwist software allows for dragging, dropping, and syncing of different media formats no matter the device.

Last eclipse of the moon for almost three years to take place Wednesday night

DURHAM — A total eclipse of the moon will occur starting at about 8:45 p.m. Wednesday.

The entire event is visible from most of North America, including Durham Region.

During a total lunar eclipse, the moon can take on a dramatically colourful appearance, from bright orange to blood red to dark brown and, although rarely, even dark grey, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s (NASA) website said.