A Bunch of Us

Best Sci-Fi??

Chris — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:40:10 +0000

What are your favorite science fiction TV shows, books and movies? Lately I’ve become addicted to some BBC sci-fi shows, thanks to Max’s recommendations. I burned through three seasons (or series as they’re known in England) of Primeval and I eagerly await the fourth, which isn’t even in production yet. I’m also watching Torchwood which I like a lot, though its not quite as good as Primeval. I’ll probably move on to the new Dr. Who eventually, since Torchwood is a spinoff of that franchise. I got bored with the drama queens and kings on BG after the first season. Is there any reason to watch Caprica if you didn’t finish all of BG?

Transformer 2 review

D M — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:19:47 +0000

I don’t want to get into a discussion about how bad the movie is. Just want to share the review in the Portland Mercury, which is fantastic.

Whatcha readin’?

D M — Thu, 21 May 2009 02:00:35 +0000

I’ve run out of things to read, and I could use some more books from the library. What’s been interesting?

NFL Draft Open Thread

Mark — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:24:22 +0000

Happy Draft Day, everyone. Feel free to post your comments on the draft as it happens here. Here’s a brief update on draft contest predictions from people I’ve talked to:

Aaron - Clay Matthews Jr., New England (23)
Natalie - Eben Britton, Minnesota (22)
Dan - Larry English, San Francisco (10)
The Goat - Michael Crabtree, Seattle (4)
Brendan - Aaron Curry, Seattle
Kevin - Mark Sanchez, Seattle
Jim - Mark Sanchez, Seattle
Me - Aaron Curry, Seattle

I hope I got everyone’s pick right. You still have about forty minutes to add and/or change or pick. Feel free to chime in.

NFL Draft Contest

Mark — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 06:14:00 +0000

It’s that time once again, everyone. Feel free to submit your pick for who your team is going to draft. I’d encourage everyone to also submit who you would like your team to draft, since it’s always fun to hear who people are interested in. (Only the former will be counted for the purposes of the contest.) I’m very interested in hearing who all of the Hawks fans out there are interested in picking, since there seems to be no consensus whatsoever concerning who Seattle should pick at #4.

As usual, the winner gets…well, nothing. I keep threatening to give someone a big sloppy wet kiss, but I’m not that cruel and, frankly, I don’t think anyone would buy that anyway. Good luck everyone.

Disappointment

D M — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:36:16 +0000

You know how I had issues with the whole FISA vote? Way back when?

Yeah.

Not sorry I voted for Obama. But this position is not OK.

Who’s Up for a BSG Open Thread?

Aaron — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 23:18:26 +0000

As I sit here writing this at 7:15 pm Eastern Standard Time, less than two hours remain until the start of the Battlestar Galactica series finale. It promises to be eventful, with so many loose ends waiting to be tied up. After all, the remnants of the human race are still adrift in space, running out of food and basic necessities, and no closer to finding a permanent home than when they started; the vast majority of the Cylons are still actively seeking to destroy them; the Galactica is falling apart at the seams; the child Hera, who holds the key to their salvation, is in enemy hands; and we still don’t know whether Kara Thrace is a human, Cylon, half-Cylon, or some other species as yet undetermined.

Plus, lots of people are a-gonna die. Here are my best guesses, which will no doubt be proven wildly wrong:

Will Die:

Laura Roslyn. Yeah, I know this is an easy one, because she’s dying of cancer already.
Bill Adama. He has seemed old and tired this entire season, and he wouldn’t want to go on living without Laura, anyway.
Lee Adama. I think the scene with the bird in last week’s episode was a foreshadow. Doves (and a pigeon is a type of dove) are often associated with death. Besides, every fan of the show wants he and Kara to finally end up together, which is more than enough reason for this show’s fiendish writers to do precisely the opposite.
Galen Tyrol. He will sacrifice himself to save Hera and atone for his part in letting her get captured by the Cylons.
Sharon Valeri (aka “Boomer.”) She’s switched sides in this conflict so many times that pretty much everybody on either side wants her dead, anyway. Hopefully she goes out heroically, saving Hera.

Won’t Die

Gaius Baltar. If there is one thing I am positively certain of, it’s this: Gaius will live. His one defining character trait over the past four years has been his selfishness and ability to survive anything. He always looks out for #1, right up until last week, when he desperately wanted to do the right thing and join the rescue mission, but just…couldn’t…force himself to do it. No one needs redemption more than Gaius, and that redemption will be earned by leading the remnants of humanity to safety after most of the other main characters die.
Kara Thrace. C’mon, she’s already died once! That’s enough.
Karl Agathon. He’s the most morally incorruptible character in the entire show, and he’ll need to be around to take care of his daughter after Athena dies. Unless she lives, in which case he dies.
Saul Tighe. Someone has to lead the military after both Adamas perish.

No Frakkin’ Idea if They WIll Die

Umm…all the other major characters.

Your thoughts? Theories?

Angel of Death

D M — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 23:20:43 +0000

Hard boiled web series from comic book writer Ed Brubaker. Check it out here.

Ho-ly. Smokes.

D M — Sun, 08 Mar 2009 18:38:32 +0000

Fuz sent me this video. It has NSFW concepts. But I’m kind of amazed it even got made.

I guess Bill Hicks was right; ad agencies would just show us porn if they could.

Getting My Wheedon On

Mark — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:05:47 +0000

So I imagine that it isn’t news to anyone on this site that Joss Wheedon’s new series, “Dollhouse,” premiered a couple of weeks ago. (If you haven’t seen it, Hulu has it for free here.) The verdict so far? I like it, but I’m still kind of getting used to the more dramatic tone that they’re going for here. I miss the funny, to be honest with you. It’s one of the things that has always made Wheedon’s series great. Still, I’m expecting some rather fascinating and involving plot lines as the season goes on.

Apropos of nothing in particular, I’ve rank every season of Wheedon’s output thus far. I imagine this could provoke some arguments from the faithful. Here goes…

13. Buffy, Season 7
12. Angel, Season 1
11. Angel, Season 2
10. Buffy, Season 1
9. Buffy, Season 6
8. Buffy, Season 4
7. Angel, Season 4
6. Angel, Season 5
5. Angel, Season 3
4. Buffy, Season 3
3. Firefly, Season 1
2. Buffy, Season 2
1. Buffy, Season 5

Damn, that’s a lot of TV. Any thoughts from anyone?