It turns out that the Firefox Web-browser, my browser of choice, was created by aliens and not mankind. Students at Oregon State University have found proof. I only hope it is the friendly little grey aliens with transporter technology and not the mean snake aliens who take possession of human hosts and built the pyramids.
Hat tip: Ziggurat of Doom.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Don't Forget CBS's Online Network Innertube When Planning Your Fall Viewing
When it comes to the internet as network entertainment medium, it looks like CBS might just be "getting it." According to the Hollywood Reporter the Eye will be floating a number of its key shows on their internet channel Innertube.
The HR reports:
Add to this revelation, the DVD advance release of "Kidnapped" and "Studio 60" pilot episodes to Netflix by NBC and you can see how these two networks are trying to stay ahead of Disney and their iPod connection. By the look of things, it appears that CBS and its Innertube Channel may just be leading the way and may have even come up with a possible solution to the "Serial Television" problem that Hollywood Reporter Ray Richmond reported about during the Television Critics Association Summer Meeting.
It is with the serial drama, like the new show "Jericho," where the new medium will become most useful in establishing an audience. The consumer directed and on demand nature of internet content will raise the possibility of "Jericho's" survival. Let's say the show gets good critical reviews early on, but that the show is extremely dependent upon knowledge of prior episodes. No problem, consumers can watch -- at will -- the earlier episodes, in the case of "Jericho" the whole season to the date the person first tries the show, and catch up on what has happened.
Not to mention that if "Jericho" doesn't get enough TV viewers, ratings are everything, but it achieves awesome web numbers, the show might continue as an online (and hopefully eventually DVD) only show. Imagine if "Firefly" had been made available in this format by Fox, or "The Inside," or "Invasion."
Those assume that the show will be good, a fact I cannot testify too or even guess at, but if the show isn't good than Innertube won't harm the show either. The addition of an internet television network is an exciting opportunity for even more viewer selected programming. Current Nielson systems are not 100% accurate, but bandwidth demands don't lie. If one show's content creates a drain on servers, you know you have a hit.
Exciting times my friends exciting times.
The HR reports:
episodes from "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "CSI: Miami," "CSI: NY," "Jericho," "NCIS," "Numbers" and "Survivor" will be posted on Innertube the morning following their initial network broadcast. Episodes of the three "CSI" series, "NCIS" and "Numbers" will be available for four weeks while episodes of "Jericho" and "Survivor" will remain available on the broadband channel all season..
Add to this revelation, the DVD advance release of "Kidnapped" and "Studio 60" pilot episodes to Netflix by NBC and you can see how these two networks are trying to stay ahead of Disney and their iPod connection. By the look of things, it appears that CBS and its Innertube Channel may just be leading the way and may have even come up with a possible solution to the "Serial Television" problem that Hollywood Reporter Ray Richmond reported about during the Television Critics Association Summer Meeting.
It is with the serial drama, like the new show "Jericho," where the new medium will become most useful in establishing an audience. The consumer directed and on demand nature of internet content will raise the possibility of "Jericho's" survival. Let's say the show gets good critical reviews early on, but that the show is extremely dependent upon knowledge of prior episodes. No problem, consumers can watch -- at will -- the earlier episodes, in the case of "Jericho" the whole season to the date the person first tries the show, and catch up on what has happened.
Not to mention that if "Jericho" doesn't get enough TV viewers, ratings are everything, but it achieves awesome web numbers, the show might continue as an online (and hopefully eventually DVD) only show. Imagine if "Firefly" had been made available in this format by Fox, or "The Inside," or "Invasion."
Those assume that the show will be good, a fact I cannot testify too or even guess at, but if the show isn't good than Innertube won't harm the show either. The addition of an internet television network is an exciting opportunity for even more viewer selected programming. Current Nielson systems are not 100% accurate, but bandwidth demands don't lie. If one show's content creates a drain on servers, you know you have a hit.
Exciting times my friends exciting times.
Monday, August 14, 2006
B is for Bookclub
I want to thank those of you who put out ideas for authors to be read by my fantasy/scifi book club. As you may know, next month we will be reading a book by a fantasy/scifi author whose name starts with a B. Once more, I don't want to dictate to my reading group which books should be read so I'll provide the following list and ask all of you to vote which book I should recommend to my group.
Eric, who is a part of my group, mentioned that he was thinking Brooks for B and I am a pretty big Brooks fan. Sword of Shannara is a pastiche to the Lord of the Rings, with a little post-apocalyptic fare, but Elfstones and Wishsong are wonderful fairy-tales which I would be happy to re-read.
The Mucker and Beyond 30 are often overlooked adventure tales by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I have found both to be quick, and pleasant, reads. They are very much products of their times, and they lack the "fantastic" element of Burroughs' Mars/Venus/Moonmaid stuff, but they make for a good look at the history of the genre.
The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold is a good representation of where Fantasy is at today as a genre.
The Book of Jhereg is a remastered version of the first Taltos novel. The author has made slight changes to make the narrative more consistent with later books. These books are essentially hard-boiled Fantasy novels, think Mike Hammer meets magic.
As for Something Wicked This Way Comes, does it really need justification? Classic.
So, I leave the voting up to you and I will make my recommendation to the group on Thursday (after we have discussed the latest Star Wars novel) based on your comments.
As for the Star Wars novel, I will post a review of the book on Friday.
- The Mucker by Edgar Rice Burroughs
- Beyond 30 by Edgar Rice Burroughs
- Elfstones of Shannara by Terry Brooks
- Wishsong of Shannara by Terry Brooks
- Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
- The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold
- The Book of Jhereg by Steven Brust
Eric, who is a part of my group, mentioned that he was thinking Brooks for B and I am a pretty big Brooks fan. Sword of Shannara is a pastiche to the Lord of the Rings, with a little post-apocalyptic fare, but Elfstones and Wishsong are wonderful fairy-tales which I would be happy to re-read.
The Mucker and Beyond 30 are often overlooked adventure tales by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I have found both to be quick, and pleasant, reads. They are very much products of their times, and they lack the "fantastic" element of Burroughs' Mars/Venus/Moonmaid stuff, but they make for a good look at the history of the genre.
The Hallowed Hunt by Lois McMaster Bujold is a good representation of where Fantasy is at today as a genre.
The Book of Jhereg is a remastered version of the first Taltos novel. The author has made slight changes to make the narrative more consistent with later books. These books are essentially hard-boiled Fantasy novels, think Mike Hammer meets magic.
As for Something Wicked This Way Comes, does it really need justification? Classic.
So, I leave the voting up to you and I will make my recommendation to the group on Thursday (after we have discussed the latest Star Wars novel) based on your comments.
As for the Star Wars novel, I will post a review of the book on Friday.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
I Have Officially Lived in a Horror Movie
Have you seen Jeepers Creepers 2? No? That's alright, it isn't like you are missing out on A Clockwork Orange, but if you have seen it you will better understand what my day today was like.
Jeepers Creepers 2 is a story of a high school athletic team (I believe basketball, but maybe football) whose bus breaks down in the middle of nowhere, USA. Soon after their bus breaks down, they discover they are being hunted by a batwinged and undead scarecrowesque demon. It's fun stuff, if silly, and very Manly Wade Wellman-like, not as Wellman-like as Pumpkinhead but pretty Wellman-like.
Anyway, that's what happened to me today. As a part of my job I have organized a trip for 40+ high school students to travel from Los Angeles (actually Rosemead, Alhambra, San Gabriel, and Monterey Park) to Sacramento where they will meet with their Assemblymember (Judy Chu) and get a tour of the California Capitol. It's all in the hopes of inspiring this group of students to become political go-getters at their local high schools, not that they much need it. These students are already very excited about the political process and are great to work with, which makes today's events even more like a formulaic horror movie.
At mile 12 in Merced County on the I-5 running between Los Angeles and Sacramento the bus carrying these brave young future leaders lost its drive shaft and coasted to a halt in the middle of farm country in the San Joaquin Valley. That's right, they broke down in the middle of the Big Valley with no Heath to save them. All we could see for miles around were rolling hills, some orchards, and the wandering grazing cow. Stranded, but cellular capable our driver called for back up and we were notified it would be two hours before a replacement bus would arrive.
That's when we were attacked by a batwinged undead scarecrowesque demon. Luckily, I brought my full "DJ-CJ monster hunting kit" (registered trademark), jumped out the side door of the bus and did battle with this spawn of the pit. The battle lasted for hours and the students were in awe, not merely with my (patented) l33t monster fightin' skillz but also with the wide array of "tools" in the DJ-CJ monster hunting kit (registered trademark). In the end it was chemical solution x-2345jxr (patent pending) that dissolved enough of the beast's corporeal form that I could begin the arcane and difficult ritual required to return the beast to the pit. Sadly, the ritual required the still beating heart of a high school student. I hate it when I fight so hard to prevent casualties only to have to cause one of my own.
After three hours we were back on the road and in another two-hours arrived at our hotel in Sacramento.
Okay, to be honest there was no demon fighting, but the rest of the story is true.
Jeepers Creepers 2 is a story of a high school athletic team (I believe basketball, but maybe football) whose bus breaks down in the middle of nowhere, USA. Soon after their bus breaks down, they discover they are being hunted by a batwinged and undead scarecrowesque demon. It's fun stuff, if silly, and very Manly Wade Wellman-like, not as Wellman-like as Pumpkinhead but pretty Wellman-like.
Anyway, that's what happened to me today. As a part of my job I have organized a trip for 40+ high school students to travel from Los Angeles (actually Rosemead, Alhambra, San Gabriel, and Monterey Park) to Sacramento where they will meet with their Assemblymember (Judy Chu) and get a tour of the California Capitol. It's all in the hopes of inspiring this group of students to become political go-getters at their local high schools, not that they much need it. These students are already very excited about the political process and are great to work with, which makes today's events even more like a formulaic horror movie.
At mile 12 in Merced County on the I-5 running between Los Angeles and Sacramento the bus carrying these brave young future leaders lost its drive shaft and coasted to a halt in the middle of farm country in the San Joaquin Valley. That's right, they broke down in the middle of the Big Valley with no Heath to save them. All we could see for miles around were rolling hills, some orchards, and the wandering grazing cow. Stranded, but cellular capable our driver called for back up and we were notified it would be two hours before a replacement bus would arrive.
That's when we were attacked by a batwinged undead scarecrowesque demon. Luckily, I brought my full "DJ-CJ monster hunting kit" (registered trademark), jumped out the side door of the bus and did battle with this spawn of the pit. The battle lasted for hours and the students were in awe, not merely with my (patented) l33t monster fightin' skillz but also with the wide array of "tools" in the DJ-CJ monster hunting kit (registered trademark). In the end it was chemical solution x-2345jxr (patent pending) that dissolved enough of the beast's corporeal form that I could begin the arcane and difficult ritual required to return the beast to the pit. Sadly, the ritual required the still beating heart of a high school student. I hate it when I fight so hard to prevent casualties only to have to cause one of my own.
After three hours we were back on the road and in another two-hours arrived at our hotel in Sacramento.
Okay, to be honest there was no demon fighting, but the rest of the story is true.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Science Fiction and Fantasy Feedback Request
Recently, I started a Fantasy and Science Fiction bookclub at the local friendly bookstore where I buy most of my books. The books I don't by there are usually ebay, abebooks, or at small used bookstores. What can I say, I value the small business owner. The bookclub currently has a very limited membership. I am the coordinator and there are three other members of differing depth of "FantaSciology" (that would be knowledge in the realm of Fantasy/Science Fiction), though most seem to have a good deal of "FantaSciphilia" (love of Fantasy/Science Fiction). My goal is to both increase the membership of the group and to maintain the interest of the current membership.
That is why I am asking you for help. I need recommendations. Before you just jump to the comments section and list you recommendations, let me give you background on the "rules" we are using to select books.
Each month we will read one book and discuss it. We will choose the book based on where the author's last name is in the alphabet. Thus the first book we read will be by an author whose last name starts with an A. Those are the strict rules and I hope you can all recommend 26 books for me.
The books you recommend can cover any age level, interest, or sophistication. They can be new, old, or forthcoming. They might even be books you have written. I just need book recommendations, even graphic novels are welcome.
Of the group, I have read the most Fantasy and Science Fiction and I don't want to limit the experience to things I have read or limit the group to my own tastes.
As an example, our first book is the first book in the new Star Wars Expanded Universe series Betrayal by Aaron Allston. I haven't read much of the Star Wars Expanded Universe stuff, but two of the club members are Star Wars fanatics.
What do you recommend?
That is why I am asking you for help. I need recommendations. Before you just jump to the comments section and list you recommendations, let me give you background on the "rules" we are using to select books.
Each month we will read one book and discuss it. We will choose the book based on where the author's last name is in the alphabet. Thus the first book we read will be by an author whose last name starts with an A. Those are the strict rules and I hope you can all recommend 26 books for me.
The books you recommend can cover any age level, interest, or sophistication. They can be new, old, or forthcoming. They might even be books you have written. I just need book recommendations, even graphic novels are welcome.
Of the group, I have read the most Fantasy and Science Fiction and I don't want to limit the experience to things I have read or limit the group to my own tastes.
As an example, our first book is the first book in the new Star Wars Expanded Universe series Betrayal by Aaron Allston. I haven't read much of the Star Wars Expanded Universe stuff, but two of the club members are Star Wars fanatics.
What do you recommend?
Monday, August 07, 2006
Expanded List of Genre Movies Releasing This Year: How They Stack Up So Far
Earlier this year, I posted an Expanded List of Genre Movies (mainly scifi and fantasy) that were coming out this year. Now that the year is a little more than half over, I can give brief up/down votes on those that have already come out.
Here's my brief rating system based on the fact that I see pretty much every movie with my lovely wife.
Happy Married Couple -- Both of us enjoyed the movie.
Disgruntled Husband -- My wife liked the movie, but I was less than happy. My wife will have to sneak viewings of the film when I am out of town on business or out with the boys.
Estranged Wife -- I enjoyed the movie, but my wife was less than happy. I'll have to sneak viewings of the film when my wife is out of the house.
Dinner was Good -- Neither one of us thought the movie was all that special, but neither one of us hated the film. At least the dinner and conversation was worth the time out. We will probably watch it again when it is on HBO.
We Could Have Stayed In -- We would have had more fun if we stayed home watching Monk or Stargate. The experience wasn't terrible, but $20?
Who's Idea Was This Again?! -- We both hated the film and the person who recommended it will be reminded ad infinitum when making future recommendations.
Here goes:
The rest of the movies in the initial list haven't come out, but I will provide capsules as we see them.
On a side note, we saw Ultraviolet with Milla Jovovich. No real story, but if you like watching Milla chop up baddies for 90 minutes and can tolerate 5 minutes of "development," the movie is fun. Reminded me of a version of Equilibrium without the Fahrenheit 451 references or commentary on our phara-culture. I think the 3.7 on IMDB is a bit harsh, but understandable. My wife and I did watch this on DVD while playing a board game, the game was more engaging. Dinner was Good
We also saw the Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D. Have you seen The Neverending Story? Yes? Then avoid this movie. No? Go watch The Neverending Story. The film didn't utilize 3D technology in any innovative way, unless you consider spitting out food at the audience innovative. Same boring 3D tricks, with better technology on the 3D, as the old 3D films. Script was derivative of both Neverending Story and Wizard of Oz. What's that? Blink three times and you'll return home? Is that a tornado? Who's Idea Was This Again?! It was mine, I think it will take longer to live down than my wife's recommendation of Head Over Heels I hated that, even though I adore Monica Potter.
That's it for now.
Here's my brief rating system based on the fact that I see pretty much every movie with my lovely wife.
Here goes:
- Tristan and Isolde Opens January 13. I enjoyed this film quite a bit. It took a mature look at the relationship between Tristan and King Mark. It's out on DVD, so pick it up. Happy Married Couple.
- Underworld: Evolution Opens January 20. Not as good as the first film. The plot was really sketchy, and that is in comparison to the first, but it is pretty at times and the action was fun. Dinner was good.
- Nanny McPhee Opens January 27. Saw it on DVD and I should have seen it on film. I really liked this quirkly piece of film making was entertaining, though it is extremely formula for a fairy tale. Happy Married Couple.
- V for Vendetta Opens March 17. Remember remember the 5th of November? The directors and the producers of this film would have been well reminded to read about the Gunpowder plot of Guy Fawkes. Not as insightful as the graphic novel, and that wasn't really all that insightful. Kinda pretty though.We Could Have Stayed In>
- Stay Alive Opens March 26. (Massive Multiplayer Online RPGs can Kill!) I have to add this to my Netflix queue. Couldn't build the courage to see this in a theatre.
- Silent Hill Opens April 21. Despite the fact that some of my friends liked this, I have yet to see it. My wife was resistant and we had other priorities.
- X-Men 3 Opens May 26. Can you say disappointing? Where did all the money go on this production? Obviously not into sets and effects, or to screenplay for that matter. Wait for DVD, it just didn't live up to prior entries. Dinner was Good
- The Omen 666 Opens June 6. Though I really like Liev Schreiber, I am hesitate to watch another remake of a classic film with him as star. Manchurian Candidate disappointed, and I fear this one will too. I'll catch it on DVD.
- Superman Returns Opens June 30. I loved it. Does it have problems? Sure, but it felt like a Superman movie and had the right heart. If I hear about "deadbeat Superdad" one more time, I will kill that person. Superman left moments after the Second movie, in the "universe" of this film, and Lois doesn't remember the romance she had with Supes. What's to prevent her from dating the day after Superman 2? Not memory of a romance. And given Lois' filmic identity, I don't think she cares much about "protection." Only disappointment is that this is essentially Superman 1 redux, as DisContent pointed out.Happy Married Couple.
- Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest Opens July 7. I'll know if we liked this when the third one comes out. It was fun, but very dark in subject matter and ended on a down note. All symptoms of being the middle movie of a trilogy. You can read my longer review, but to sum it up...Too much buckling and not enough swashing. Happy Married Couple (if the sequel is good), Dinner was Good (if the sequel isn't).
- Lady in the Water Opens July 21. Contrary to the critics, my wife and I very much liked this film. We watched it for what it was, a fairy tale. It followed formula perfectly. Alas, one of the characters was a film critic and you know how critics react to being criticized. Could have used one more rewrite on the names, but the lack of depth in the mythology is really only a lack of depth of the characters in the film's understanding of the mythos. The problem with "creating" a mythology is that you ought to share more of the history with your audience than Shyamalan does. Happy Married Couple
The rest of the movies in the initial list haven't come out, but I will provide capsules as we see them.
On a side note, we saw Ultraviolet with Milla Jovovich. No real story, but if you like watching Milla chop up baddies for 90 minutes and can tolerate 5 minutes of "development," the movie is fun. Reminded me of a version of Equilibrium without the Fahrenheit 451 references or commentary on our phara-culture. I think the 3.7 on IMDB is a bit harsh, but understandable. My wife and I did watch this on DVD while playing a board game, the game was more engaging. Dinner was Good
We also saw the Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl in 3D. Have you seen The Neverending Story? Yes? Then avoid this movie. No? Go watch The Neverending Story. The film didn't utilize 3D technology in any innovative way, unless you consider spitting out food at the audience innovative. Same boring 3D tricks, with better technology on the 3D, as the old 3D films. Script was derivative of both Neverending Story and Wizard of Oz. What's that? Blink three times and you'll return home? Is that a tornado? Who's Idea Was This Again?! It was mine, I think it will take longer to live down than my wife's recommendation of Head Over Heels I hated that, even though I adore Monica Potter.
That's it for now.
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