[scifinoir2] Re: Leverage and the paradigm of the black technology geek

[B. Smith]

I get your point but it isn't the case in this instance. Alec has had
as screen time and exposure as every other member of the main cast.
His backstory is being filled in and the growing attraction between he
and Parker has been handled really well. 

Watch the early episodes and you'll see how the team came together and
how they interact. Alec is no more a servant than Parker, Elliot or
Sophie. Nate is the main character and his backstory is what drove the
initial plot and a lot of the episodes but other team members have had
chances to shine. 

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "ravenadal"  wrote:
>
> So there is no Rochester action going on here?  In many ways, Eddie 
> "Rochester" Anderson was "the most important member" of the Jack Benny
> radio and television franchise - but he was still a servant.
> 
> ~(no)rave!
> 
> 
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "B. Smith"  wrote:
> >
> > I agree with Justin. Alec is in many ways the most important member of
> > the team and he's been had quite a bit of exposure in several
> > episodes. The Bank Shot Job and The Stork Job are two episodes to
> > watch if you want to see him in action. His intro in the pilot episode
> > is epic nerdy goodness.
> > 
> > I like this show quite a bit. It's like Burn Notice for me in that
> > it's pretty lightweight overall and fun. There is some darker stuff
> > lurking underneath but it doesn't overwhelm the proceedings. There are
> > some plot elements that could make for a very interesting second
> season. 
> > 
> > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella" 
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > I've seen all the episodes aired so far.  You might not like where
> it is
> > > going, but he gets back story and goes on missions.  Last week he
> > saved a
> > > few hundred people and went undercover as a corporate hot shot.
> > > Unfortunately,  it was an episode in which he also screwed up a job
> > a little
> > > because he was late for work as a result of staying up all night
> > play with
> > > the new version of war craft.  However, unfortunately I see signs of
> > the rut
> > > you describe.
> > > 
> > > The people who put this together did Independence Day and The
> Librarian.
> > > So don't expect much.  However, in future episodes, it seems to me
> > that all
> > > the players start getting back story and all get to shine.  While
> > it's light
> > > weight, it does not seem driven by one character with accessory
> > characters.
> > > It also seems to have improved since the first episode.  Let's hope
> > they do
> > > not lock into this predictable character format.   
> > > 
> > > -Original Message-
> > > From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:scifino...@yahoogroups.com] On
> > > Behalf Of ravenadal
> > > Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 9:21 AM
> > > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> > > Subject: [scifinoir2] Leverage and the paradigm of the black
> > technology geek
> > > 
> > > I just saw my first episode of Timothy Hutton's new TNT series
> > > "Leverage."  "Leverage" is what you would get if you artificially
> > > inseminated "Mission:Impossible!" with "Oceans Eleven."  I like
it and
> > > have scheduled my DVR to record future episodes but I feel compelled
> > > to mention that the lone black regular character, Alec Hardison
(Aldis
> > > Hodge), like IM's Barney Collier (Gregg Morris)and Luther Stickell
> > > (Ving Rhames)- heck, like Hogan Heroe Sgt. James 'Kinch'
Kinchloe (the
> > > late great Ivan Dixon), both completes and depletes me.  
> > > 
> > > On one hand, all are self-contained, obviously well educated,
> > > articulate electronics experts. On the other hand, all are given
> > > precious little to do.  While the other, primarily white cast mates
> > > get to cavort about wearing masks and assuming other identities, the
> > > lone black technology geek is tethered to his computers and his
> > > listening devices. More often than not their electronic wizardry
saves
> > > the day but they rarely get any of the glory.
> > > 
> > > In short, our hero gets to witness the pageantry but rarely gets to
> > > participate in it.  While there is plenty of interaction between
most
> > > of the white characters, our hero is literally a "black hole" into
> > > which camera light goes but nothing - no personality, no back story,
> > > no nothing - escapes.
> > > 
> > > And, as such, he is the ultimate "Invisible Man."
> > > 
> > > ~rave!
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > 
> > > Post your SciFiNoir Profile at
> > >
> >
>
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=mapYa
> > > hoo! Groups Links
> > >
> >
>

RE: [scifinoir2] A New Test....

[Augustus Augustus]

--- On Sat, 1/31/09, Reece Jennings  wrote:
From: Reece Jennings 
Subject: RE: [scifinoir2] A New Test
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Date: Saturday, January 31, 2009, 12:40 AM














I hate 
you!  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! !!



From: scifino...@yahoogro ups.com 
[mailto:scifinoir2@ yahoogroups. com] On Behalf Of Augustus 
Augustus
Sent: Wednesday, January 28, 2009 8:48 PM
To: 
AtlantaMeetNGreets@ yahoogroups. com; Bham_Meet_N_ gr...@yahoogroup s.com; Sci 
Fi
Subject: [scifinoir2] A New Test






  
  



  








 

 



 




  
Cleaning 
The Mouse
You 
should do this every few days. More often if you spend a lot of 
time 
on computer!  I was shocked to see this 
works!
To 
recalibrate your mouse, click and hold on the S.  

Then 
drag the S toward the e.  
If 
it doesn't work, you might want to clean your 
mouse.


  

Stop 
f 
uck 
ing 
around and 
go do something constructive
   
 

 
 



  




 

















  

Re: [RE][scifinoir2] Is It Time for a Black Comic Book Superhero?

[Augustus Augustus]

o.k. article, but besides the great 'Black Lighting', DC did some work in the 
90's when they introduced 'Static', but the books that i enjoyed even better we 
- Icon, Hardwire, and the Crime Syndicate.

--- On Sun, 2/1/09, Martin Baxter  wrote:
From: Martin Baxter 
Subject: [RE][scifinoir2] Is It Time for a Black Comic Book Superhero?
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Cc: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, scifinoir_...@yahoogroups.com, "'CINQUE'" 
, ggs...@yahoo.com, "'Sincere'" 
Date: Sunday, February 1, 2009, 8:08 AM

This guy clearly did his research. :P

He omitted Black Lightning, for one.




-[ Received Mail Content ]--
 Subject : [scifinoir2] Is It Time for a Black Comic Book Superhero?
 Date : Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:20:08 -0800
 From : "Tracey de Morsella"

 To :
,   ,
"'CINQUE'"
,   , "'Sincere'"



Captain Obama ... Is It Time for a Black Comic Book Superhero?


Tuesday , January 27, 2009


By S.E. Cupp


Barack Obama has appeared in at least two comic series since his arrival on
the national stage.

Back in September the superhero Savage Dragon took it upon himself to
endorse Obama for president, and days before his inauguration, Spider-Man
saved the day for the 44th president by defeating an Obama imposter.

While Savage Dragon is an overly muscular green humanoid, Spider-Man is a
real, live human being. And, like Superman and Batman and Captain America
and Flash and Wonder Woman, the Web Crawler has a common trait among comic
strip superheroes:

He's white.

Since their inception, there have been only a few black superheroes in comic
books, and fewer still have achieved mainstream appeal.

But Obama's rise to the presidency now has many people in the business of
creating and marketing heroes hoping that a black superhero will finally
break into mainstream pop culture.

Marvel Comics, home of Spider-Man, The Hulk, Iron Man and the X-Men, is
keeping up with the times. The company recently announced the untold story
of the first Marvel superhero of color in the "Adam: Legend of the Blue
Marvel" project. The Black Panther, another Marvel mainstay, will undergo
a
life-altering new storyline and will be featured in an animated series.

Whether any of these developments will mean more big screen time for black
superheroes will be up to Marvel readers. "While we're always looking
to
represent characters from all walks of life, at the end of the day the most
important thing is crafting good stories - that's what people are going to
respond to," said executive editor Tom Brevoort.

That reader response, for black comic artists in particular, could carry
larger sociological implications.

"I figure, the more you see us in a different light, the more doors that
open up for African-Americans," says Jerry Craft, the award-winning
creator
of the Mama's Boyz comic strip, which chronicles the life of an
African-American woman raising two teenage sons. The strip has been
syndicated by King Features since 1995.

Craft is one of three black comic-strip artists who offered FOXNews.com
exclusive drawings of what they would like a black superhero to look like.

. Click  here to see
images of the new superheroes.

"Hopefully seeing us as more positive members of the community, and not
just
the people you see on the news or 'Cops,' will get them to expand their
horizons to include us," said Craft, who has worked for Marvel and Harvey
Comics and was editorial director at Sports Illustrated for Kids.

. RELATED:  What
leading artists, authors and editors say about the absence of black
superheroes and President Obama's possible impact.

The first black superhero was Marvel's Black Panther, who showed up in a
1966 Fantastic Four story and has gained some popularity. Another Marvel
character, Blade, earned big-market attention when Wesley Snipes personified
him in a film version of the comic. Some characters have vacillated between
races - both Spawn and Catwoman were black in certain iterations, white in
others. And characters like Storm, Luke Cage, Static, and Bishop have
enjoyed a certain level of celebrity, but not the kind that has netted
others their own big-budget Hollywood films.

But with Obama establishing a new role model for blacks in America,
traditional depictions of blacks in popular culture could get a makeover,
said culture critic David Horowitz.

"I think having a black president will have a positive impact on black
images in the popular culture and will move that culture away from some of
its politically correct absurdities," he said.

Comic book creators, authors and artists have many explanations for the
historical absence of black superheroes in mainstream pop culture.

Savage Dragon creator Erik Larsen, a former Spider-Man author for Marvel,
says, "I think part of that is that there hasn't been a breakout
character
that transcends race the way actors Will Smith and Eddie Murphy have, or the
'Cosby Show' did, or, frankly, Barack Obama has.

"The characters in comics are often too

[scifinoir2] Re: Leverage and the paradigm of the black technology geek

[ravenadal]

So there is no Rochester action going on here?  In many ways, Eddie 
"Rochester" Anderson was "the most important member" of the Jack Benny
radio and television franchise - but he was still a servant.

~(no)rave!


--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "B. Smith"  wrote:
>
> I agree with Justin. Alec is in many ways the most important member of
> the team and he's been had quite a bit of exposure in several
> episodes. The Bank Shot Job and The Stork Job are two episodes to
> watch if you want to see him in action. His intro in the pilot episode
> is epic nerdy goodness.
> 
> I like this show quite a bit. It's like Burn Notice for me in that
> it's pretty lightweight overall and fun. There is some darker stuff
> lurking underneath but it doesn't overwhelm the proceedings. There are
> some plot elements that could make for a very interesting second
season. 
> 
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella" 
> wrote:
> >
> > I've seen all the episodes aired so far.  You might not like where
it is
> > going, but he gets back story and goes on missions.  Last week he
> saved a
> > few hundred people and went undercover as a corporate hot shot.
> > Unfortunately,  it was an episode in which he also screwed up a job
> a little
> > because he was late for work as a result of staying up all night
> play with
> > the new version of war craft.  However, unfortunately I see signs of
> the rut
> > you describe.
> > 
> > The people who put this together did Independence Day and The
Librarian.
> > So don't expect much.  However, in future episodes, it seems to me
> that all
> > the players start getting back story and all get to shine.  While
> it's light
> > weight, it does not seem driven by one character with accessory
> characters.
> > It also seems to have improved since the first episode.  Let's hope
> they do
> > not lock into this predictable character format.   
> > 
> > -Original Message-
> > From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:scifino...@yahoogroups.com] On
> > Behalf Of ravenadal
> > Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 9:21 AM
> > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> > Subject: [scifinoir2] Leverage and the paradigm of the black
> technology geek
> > 
> > I just saw my first episode of Timothy Hutton's new TNT series
> > "Leverage."  "Leverage" is what you would get if you artificially
> > inseminated "Mission:Impossible!" with "Oceans Eleven."  I like it and
> > have scheduled my DVR to record future episodes but I feel compelled
> > to mention that the lone black regular character, Alec Hardison (Aldis
> > Hodge), like IM's Barney Collier (Gregg Morris)and Luther Stickell
> > (Ving Rhames)- heck, like Hogan Heroe Sgt. James 'Kinch' Kinchloe (the
> > late great Ivan Dixon), both completes and depletes me.  
> > 
> > On one hand, all are self-contained, obviously well educated,
> > articulate electronics experts. On the other hand, all are given
> > precious little to do.  While the other, primarily white cast mates
> > get to cavort about wearing masks and assuming other identities, the
> > lone black technology geek is tethered to his computers and his
> > listening devices. More often than not their electronic wizardry saves
> > the day but they rarely get any of the glory.
> > 
> > In short, our hero gets to witness the pageantry but rarely gets to
> > participate in it.  While there is plenty of interaction between most
> > of the white characters, our hero is literally a "black hole" into
> > which camera light goes but nothing - no personality, no back story,
> > no nothing - escapes.
> > 
> > And, as such, he is the ultimate "Invisible Man."
> > 
> > ~rave!
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > Post your SciFiNoir Profile at
> >
>
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=mapYa
> > hoo! Groups Links
> >
>

Re: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer

[Mike Street]

That's not Xzibit in the trailer  it's Marlyn Wayens. He looks totally
different. Here are all the movie posters
http://www.superherohype.com/news/gijoenews.php?id=8016

On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 4:23 PM, Martin Baxter  wrote:
> I did, Aubrey. The only reason I recognized him was my 14-year-old niece, who 
> was watching along with me.
>
>
>
>
>
> -[ Received Mail Content ]--
>
>  Subject : RE: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer
>
>  Date : Sun, 1 Feb 2009 13:08:46 -0500
>
>  From : Aubrey Leatherwood 
>
>  To : 
>
>
> Hotmail(R) goes where you go. On a PC, on the Web, on your phone.
> http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/learnmore/versatility.aspx#mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_WL_HM_versatility_121208
>
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds



-- 

My Social Media Resume: http://www.visualcv.com/mikestreet

Visit my Blog: http://www.Greasyguide.com

Follow Me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/streetforce1

[scifinoir2] File - SciFiNoir People Profile Form

[scifinoir2]

Hi SciFiNoir Family.  

This is a notice to remind you to  Post Your SciFiNoir People Profile on the  
SciFiNoir People Profile Map.  It is a new profile section of our group that 
enables us to let other members know more about your specific interests in 
science fiction.  If you have a sci-fi related blog, web site, book, comic, 
graphic novel, web series, club, publishing firm, production company, etc., 
this is one of the best places to let members know about what you are doing.  
It is also a great tool for finding out which members are  located near you.

For over a decade, many of you have been submitting your profile via email to 
the group.  A few years ago, we started using Frapper to see which members 
lived near each other.  Recently Yahoogroups has added a new set of features 
that allows us to do that and more.  

Go to the following link to see the SciFiNoir People Profile Map of members who 
have already posted their profile
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2

Help us get to know you and meet others with similar interests by posting your 
profile at: 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=map

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact me.

Thanks

Tracey de Morsella, your moderator
scifinoir2-ow...@yahoogroups.com 
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SciFiNoir2/

[scifinoir2] Re: Leverage and the paradigm of the black technology geek

[B. Smith]

I agree with Justin. Alec is in many ways the most important member of
the team and he's been had quite a bit of exposure in several
episodes. The Bank Shot Job and The Stork Job are two episodes to
watch if you want to see him in action. His intro in the pilot episode
is epic nerdy goodness.

I like this show quite a bit. It's like Burn Notice for me in that
it's pretty lightweight overall and fun. There is some darker stuff
lurking underneath but it doesn't overwhelm the proceedings. There are
some plot elements that could make for a very interesting second season. 

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella" 
wrote:
>
> I've seen all the episodes aired so far.  You might not like where it is
> going, but he gets back story and goes on missions.  Last week he
saved a
> few hundred people and went undercover as a corporate hot shot.
> Unfortunately,  it was an episode in which he also screwed up a job
a little
> because he was late for work as a result of staying up all night
play with
> the new version of war craft.  However, unfortunately I see signs of
the rut
> you describe.
> 
> The people who put this together did Independence Day and The Librarian.
> So don't expect much.  However, in future episodes, it seems to me
that all
> the players start getting back story and all get to shine.  While
it's light
> weight, it does not seem driven by one character with accessory
characters.
> It also seems to have improved since the first episode.  Let's hope
they do
> not lock into this predictable character format.   
> 
> -Original Message-
> From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:scifino...@yahoogroups.com] On
> Behalf Of ravenadal
> Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 9:21 AM
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [scifinoir2] Leverage and the paradigm of the black
technology geek
> 
> I just saw my first episode of Timothy Hutton's new TNT series
> "Leverage."  "Leverage" is what you would get if you artificially
> inseminated "Mission:Impossible!" with "Oceans Eleven."  I like it and
> have scheduled my DVR to record future episodes but I feel compelled
> to mention that the lone black regular character, Alec Hardison (Aldis
> Hodge), like IM's Barney Collier (Gregg Morris)and Luther Stickell
> (Ving Rhames)- heck, like Hogan Heroe Sgt. James 'Kinch' Kinchloe (the
> late great Ivan Dixon), both completes and depletes me.  
> 
> On one hand, all are self-contained, obviously well educated,
> articulate electronics experts. On the other hand, all are given
> precious little to do.  While the other, primarily white cast mates
> get to cavort about wearing masks and assuming other identities, the
> lone black technology geek is tethered to his computers and his
> listening devices. More often than not their electronic wizardry saves
> the day but they rarely get any of the glory.
> 
> In short, our hero gets to witness the pageantry but rarely gets to
> participate in it.  While there is plenty of interaction between most
> of the white characters, our hero is literally a "black hole" into
> which camera light goes but nothing - no personality, no back story,
> no nothing - escapes.
> 
> And, as such, he is the ultimate "Invisible Man."
> 
> ~rave!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Post your SciFiNoir Profile at
>
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=mapYa
> hoo! Groups Links
>

[scifinoir2] OT Super Bowl

[Meta]

BBC One is airing the entire game.
I'm so happy!!!

Meta

RE: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer

[Martin Baxter]

I did, Aubrey. The only reason I recognized him was my 14-year-old niece, who 
was watching along with me.





-[ Received Mail Content ]--

 Subject : RE: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer

 Date : Sun, 1 Feb 2009 13:08:46 -0500

 From : Aubrey Leatherwood 

 To : 


Hotmail® goes where you go. On a PC, on the Web, on your phone. 
http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/learnmore/versatility.aspx#mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_WL_HM_versatility_121208
 


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds

[RE][scifinoir2] Bleak Future For TV

[Martin Baxter]

Honestly, I wouldn't miss them.

I only watch about five channels regularly, all cable-based. The rest, 
broadcast TV in particular, I visit only for specific reasons. If they went 
waway, I could live without them, if the networks were to shift the programming 
I usually take in on them to online access.





-[ Received Mail Content ]--

 Subject : [scifinoir2] Bleak Future For TV

 Date : Sun, 1 Feb 2009 11:15:20 -0800

 From : "Tracey de Morsella" 

 To : , "'CINQUE'" 


Bleak Future For TV


30 January 2009 1:40 AM, PST

A bleak future for broadcast television stations is being projected at the
National Association of Television Program Executives conference in Las
Vegas. Warner Bros. TV syndication chief Ken
 Werner said during a panel discussion
that during the current "revolutionary period" some TV stations could go
dark. Large markets served by six to eight stations could find themselves
down to only three in a few years, he said. To survive, he said,
broadcasters must "put on things that are interesting to see while they
still have the strategic advantage." As reported by Broadcasting & Cable,
Neal Sabin, an executive with Weigel Broadcasting who was seated on the
panel said that current licensing fees for programs were "meant for another
time." And Emerson Coleman of Hearst-Argyle Televising remarked that new
syndicated shows being introduced these days are not drawing audiences. He
suggested that stations be allowed to participate in new shows' development.
Studios, he said, might find "that their expense is less because we [local
stations and station groups] would be a participant in the show."

http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0664608/




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds

[scifinoir2] Re: Leverage and the paradigm of the black technology geek

[ravenadal]

I saw "The Snow Job" which is episode eight.  I went the TNT Leverage 
website http://www.tnt.tv/series/leverage/and apparently "The Stork 
Job,""The Wedding Job," and "the Mile High Job," episodes five, six 
and seven are available for online viewing.  

I suggest, however, that choices were made and casting the black guy 
as the electronics geek, revolutionary forty years ago, in itself 
limits that character's opportunities and possibilities.  And, even if 
the Hardison character exceeds this expectation, he will still be the 
exception that proves the rule. 

~(no)rave! 

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella"  
wrote:
>
> Alec Hardison was a foster kid, the story of his coming to be a 
foster kid
> has yet to be determined. Fortunately, we do know Alec had a loving 
yet
> hard-nosed foster mom.  From the Leverage Wiki
> 
> They did not start giving the characters back stories until the 
third
> episode and there are five aired.  However, we've only been given 
that much
> info about the other characters (not including Bottoms).  In fact we 
know
> less about the English woman or Christian Kane's character.  We 
learned
> about Hardison and the Blond girl while they were rescuing orphans 
in the
> former Soviet Union.  They used that as an excuse to introduce their 
back
> story and since then this connection is raised repeatedly.   I get 
the
> impression that they are going to use back stories in part to drive 
the
> characters.  After the pilot the story seems to become relationship 
driven
> and it is hard to have relationships without backstory 
> 
> So, I'm not saying that there is no truth to your Black Tech geek 
theory,
> but that there are signs that they are also deviating from that 
formula at
> the same time.
> 
> I think you should watch more than the pilot before reaching any
> conclusions.  I think when you see a few more episodes, you will see 
that
> you are right and wrong...  I think  :-)   .
> 
> By the way,  I read the actor did two episodes of Supernatural.  I 
have not
> watched it in a while.  Has anyone seen him in it?
> -Original Message-
> From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:scifino...@yahoogroups.com] 
On
> Behalf Of ravenadal
> Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 10:12 AM
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: Leverage and the paradigm of the black 
technology
> geek
> 
> "Snow Job."  So, tell me, what is his back story?  
> 
> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Justin Mohareb  
> wrote:
> >
> > Which episode was it?
> > 
> > Because you're really mis-reading Hardison based on it.
> > 
> > Justin
> > 
> > On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:21 PM, ravenadal  wrote:
> > > I just saw my first episode of Timothy Hutton's new TNT series
> > > "Leverage." "Leverage" is what you would get if you artificially
> > > inseminated "Mission:Impossible!" with "Oceans Eleven." I like 
it 
> and
> > > have scheduled my DVR to record future episodes but I feel 
> compelled
> > > to mention that the lone black regular character, Alec Hardison 
> (Aldis
> > > Hodge), like IM's Barney Collier (Gregg Morris)and Luther 
Stickell
> > > (Ving Rhames)- heck, like Hogan Heroe Sgt. James 'Kinch' 
Kinchloe 
> (the
> > > late great Ivan Dixon), both completes and depletes me.
> > >
> > > On one hand, all are self-contained, obviously well educated,
> > > articulate electronics experts. On the other hand, all are given
> > > precious little to do. While the other, primarily white cast 
mates
> > > get to cavort about wearing masks and assuming other identities, 
> the
> > > lone black technology geek is tethered to his computers and his
> > > listening devices. More often than not their electronic wizardry 
> saves
> > > the day but they rarely get any of the glory.
> > >
> > > In short, our hero gets to witness the pageantry but rarely gets 
> to
> > > participate in it. While there is plenty of interaction between 
> most
> > > of the white characters, our hero is literally a "black hole" 
into
> > > which camera light goes but nothing - no personality, no back 
> story,
> > > no nothing - escapes.
> > >
> > > And, as such, he is the ultimate "Invisible Man."
> > >
> > > ~rave!
> > >
> > > 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > -- 
> > Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy.
> > http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com
> >
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Post your SciFiNoir Profile at
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?
fmvn=mapYa
> hoo! Groups Links
>

[scifinoir2] How to draw Obama

[Tracey de Morsella]

By Rich Watson

.Now that we have our first African-American president, I hope people will
relax about caricaturing African-Americans. For some, the whole notion of
'caricature' has had an evil connotation when it comes to blacks. It raises
the specter of 'Little Black Sambo' and pickaninnies. Or, even worse - Ted
Danson in blackface.

".But   that whole notion
is not what I, or the caricaturists and cartoonists I know, are about."

Related: The 
legal ramifications of Obama's likeness appearing across so many comics.

Plus: Funny

Obama-as-comics-geek story from The Onion (thanks to Max for the link).

http://www.popcultureshock.com/blogs/how-to-draw-obama/

 

[scifinoir2] Genre Shows Going, Going ... Gone?

[Tracey de Morsella]

Genre Shows Going, Going ... Gone?


By MICHAEL HINMAN
Jan-31-2009
  ShareThis

Michael Ausiello over at Entertainment Weekly has shared some bad news for
fans of "Kyle XY." The ABC Family show is calling it quits after its current
run of episodes, but there could be other genre shows close behind.

Over the past week, SyFy Portal has been talking to various studio sources
trying to get a handle on whether genre fans will have a chance to continue
seeing a ton of program in 2009-10, or if there will be a bloodbath coming
up.

So if you're curious about whether your show is going or gone ... here's the
latest.

Fringe (Fox)
STATUS: Staying

Fox has had nothing but praise for the latest outing from J.J. Abrams and
the other masterminds behind the upcoming "Star Trek XI," and while ratings
haven't been homerun-ish like "House 
," they've been enough to celebrate.

There was some fear about what might happen to the show when "House" was
removed as its lead-in, but "American Idol" has been much better for the
show, where overnight audiences have jumped 34 percent since the change. 

And while "Fringe" did get its best rating following the season premiere of
"House" before quickly falling back down to where it had been tracking, the
second episode coming out of "American Idol" has done just as strong, losing
less than 3 percent of its previous week's audience. 

Heroes (NBC)
STATUS: Staying

It might be easy to write the obituary of "Heroes," but NBC still remains
committed to the show. Network executives are hoping that some of the house
cleaning they did late last year moving out some producers and making room
for some familiar faces like Bryan Fuller will be just what's needed to help
the show regain its spark.

Even if ratings don't improve too much on the upcoming volume that begins
Monday, NBC isn't concerned. Most of their changes came late in the game on
this season, and unless there is just a huge implosion, executives seem to
be interested in giving "Heroes" at least 13 more episodes after that.

Knight Rider (NBC)
STATUS: Going

We are hearing a lot of chatter that NBC is just not happy with how "Knight
Rider" turned out. Despite the objections of its executive producer, Gary
Scott Thompson, the network cleaned house there and retooled the series.

On top of that, there seems to be a lot of heated communications between the
show and the network, which could end up with a leadership change if the
network decides to continue the series past the first season.

But that doesn't seem likely. "Knight Rider" is far more expensive to
produce than "Bionic Woman" was, and it can't even come close to the
audience that "Bionic Woman" drew.

NBC is already taking drastic steps to cut expenses and clean out its
schedule -- like putting Jay Leno on five nights a week in the 10 p.m. slot
-- so it seems highly unlikely they will make the room for "Knight Rider."

Life On Mars (ABC)
STATUS: Going

Sadly, life doesn't look good for "Life On Mars" either. Despite SyFy
Portal's own pleas to bring viewers to this show, it doesn't seem to be
happening.

ABC had hoped putting "Life On Mars" as the "Lost" lead-out would work, but
for some reason, no show has ever been able to survive as a lead-out from
"Lost."

And now it seems "Life On Mars" could be the next victim. The show lost a
quarter of its audience in the move, and right now it needs to retain every
single eyeball it can. If the ratings don't bounce back this coming week,
then Sam Tyler is as good as dead.

The Middleman (ABC Family)
STATUS: Gone

ABC Family never seemed to be very keen about this show, and it's probably
not a surprise. Trying to find something to excite the audience it drew with
"Kyle XY," this quirky drama seemed like the best fit.

And while "The Middleman" is a hit with die-hard genre fans, it has not
appealed to a wide audience.

Fans have been waiting months for a decision on whether or not there will be
a second season, but that silence has spoke volumes. "The Middleman's" ride
is over.

Pushing Daisies (ABC)
STATUS: Gone

No one knows what happened here. "Pushing Daisies" has remained a darling of
critics across the board, and have done nothing but heap praise on the show,
even in its second season. But for some reason, audiences didn't feel the
same way, or were just too busy to show up.

It's hard to explain what audiences are going to do sometimes. Hell, many
people thought putting "Life On Mars" after "Lost" was a great idea, but
even that came back with a surprising result.

Bryan Fuller is a great television 
creator, and the world created with "Pushing Daisies" will be missed. But
alas, not even Ned's magical touch can help this show.

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Fox)
STATUS: Going

For some reason, whenever we talk about the demise of some series, fans who
are not familiar with SyFy Portal think we just don't like a show. That
couldn't be furth

[scifinoir2] Bleak Future For TV

[Tracey de Morsella]

Bleak Future For TV


30 January 2009 1:40 AM, PST

A bleak future for broadcast television stations is being projected at the
National Association of Television Program Executives conference in Las
Vegas. Warner Bros. TV syndication chief Ken
  Werner said during a panel discussion
that during the current "revolutionary period" some TV stations could go
dark. Large markets served by six to eight stations could find themselves
down to only three in a few years, he said. To survive, he said,
broadcasters must "put on things that are interesting to see while they
still have the strategic advantage." As reported by Broadcasting & Cable,
Neal Sabin, an executive with Weigel Broadcasting who was seated on the
panel said that current licensing fees for programs were "meant for another
time." And Emerson Coleman of Hearst-Argyle Televising remarked that new
syndicated shows being introduced these days are not drawing audiences. He
suggested that stations be allowed to participate in new shows' development.
Studios, he said, might find "that their expense is less because we [local
stations and station groups] would be a participant in the show."

http://www.imdb.com/news/ni0664608/

RE: [scifinoir2] Re: Leverage and the paradigm of the black technology geek

[Tracey de Morsella]

Alec Hardison was a foster kid, the story of his coming to be a foster kid
has yet to be determined. Fortunately, we do know Alec had a loving yet
hard-nosed foster mom.  From the Leverage Wiki

They did not start giving the characters back stories until the third
episode and there are five aired.  However, we've only been given that much
info about the other characters (not including Bottoms).  In fact we know
less about the English woman or Christian Kane's character.  We learned
about Hardison and the Blond girl while they were rescuing orphans in the
former Soviet Union.  They used that as an excuse to introduce their back
story and since then this connection is raised repeatedly.   I get the
impression that they are going to use back stories in part to drive the
characters.  After the pilot the story seems to become relationship driven
and it is hard to have relationships without backstory 

So, I'm not saying that there is no truth to your Black Tech geek theory,
but that there are signs that they are also deviating from that formula at
the same time.

I think you should watch more than the pilot before reaching any
conclusions.  I think when you see a few more episodes, you will see that
you are right and wrong...  I think  :-)   .

By the way,  I read the actor did two episodes of Supernatural.  I have not
watched it in a while.  Has anyone seen him in it?
-Original Message-
From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:scifino...@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of ravenadal
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 10:12 AM
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [scifinoir2] Re: Leverage and the paradigm of the black technology
geek

"Snow Job."  So, tell me, what is his back story?  

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Justin Mohareb  
wrote:
>
> Which episode was it?
> 
> Because you're really mis-reading Hardison based on it.
> 
> Justin
> 
> On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:21 PM, ravenadal  wrote:
> > I just saw my first episode of Timothy Hutton's new TNT series
> > "Leverage." "Leverage" is what you would get if you artificially
> > inseminated "Mission:Impossible!" with "Oceans Eleven." I like it 
and
> > have scheduled my DVR to record future episodes but I feel 
compelled
> > to mention that the lone black regular character, Alec Hardison 
(Aldis
> > Hodge), like IM's Barney Collier (Gregg Morris)and Luther Stickell
> > (Ving Rhames)- heck, like Hogan Heroe Sgt. James 'Kinch' Kinchloe 
(the
> > late great Ivan Dixon), both completes and depletes me.
> >
> > On one hand, all are self-contained, obviously well educated,
> > articulate electronics experts. On the other hand, all are given
> > precious little to do. While the other, primarily white cast mates
> > get to cavort about wearing masks and assuming other identities, 
the
> > lone black technology geek is tethered to his computers and his
> > listening devices. More often than not their electronic wizardry 
saves
> > the day but they rarely get any of the glory.
> >
> > In short, our hero gets to witness the pageantry but rarely gets 
to
> > participate in it. While there is plenty of interaction between 
most
> > of the white characters, our hero is literally a "black hole" into
> > which camera light goes but nothing - no personality, no back 
story,
> > no nothing - escapes.
> >
> > And, as such, he is the ultimate "Invisible Man."
> >
> > ~rave!
> >
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy.
> http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com
>






Post your SciFiNoir Profile at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=mapYa
hoo! Groups Links

RE: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer

[Aubrey Leatherwood]

Windows Live™ Hotmail®:…more than just e-mail. 
http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_hm_justgotbetter_explore_012009

Re: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer

[Mike Street]

nope I skipped on that movie

On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 1:08 PM, Aubrey Leatherwood
 wrote:
> He lost weight a long time ago... Did you see him in X-Files?
>
> Aubrey Leatherwood
> www.aubreyleatherwood.com
> FaceBook * MySpace
> The People You Know, The Sex They Have
> ROMANTIC TIMES NOMINEE FOR BEST CONTEMPORARY EROTICA 2008
> ISBN: 978-0-9818905-0-0
> Lyrical Press. Inc
>
>
>
>
>
>
>> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
>> From: streetfor...@gmail.com
>> Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 12:33:21 -0500
>> Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer
>>
>> Is that Xzibit? If it is he has lost a serious amount of weight.
>>
>> On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:29 PM, Aubrey Leatherwood
>>  wrote:
>> >
>> > Oh yeah... I'm all over that. ALL OVER IT... And did I see XZibit? Did
>> > I? I
>> > confess to having the tiniest desire to be around him unclothed for five
>> > minutes.
>> >
>> > Aubrey Leatherwood
>> > www.aubreyleatherwood.com
>> > FaceBook * MySpace
>> > The People You Know, The Sex They Have
>> > ROMANTIC TIMES NOMINEE FOR BEST CONTEMPORARY EROTICA 2008
>> > ISBN: 978-0-9818905-0-0
>> > Lyrical Press. Inc
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > 
>> > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
>> > From: streetfor...@gmail.com
>> > Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 12:17:05 -0500
>> > Subject: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> > http://greasyguide.com/2009/02/01/super-bowl-2009-commercial-gi-joe-rise-of-cobra/
>> >
>> > The Baroness looks MAJOR!!! I can't wait to see this!
>> >
>> > --
>> > 
>> > My Social Media Resume: http://www.visualcv.com/mikestreet
>> >
>> > Visit my Blog: http://www.Greasyguide.com
>> >
>> > Follow Me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/streetforce1
>> >
>> >
>> > 
>> > Windows Live™: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. Check it
>> > out.
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> 
>> My Social Media Resume: http://www.visualcv.com/mikestreet
>>
>> Visit my Blog: http://www.Greasyguide.com
>>
>> Follow Me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/streetforce1
>>
>> 
>>
>> Post your SciFiNoir Profile at
>>
>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=mapYahoo!
>> Groups Links
>>
>>
>>
>
> 
> Hotmail(R) goes where you go. On a PC, on the Web, on your phone. See how.
>
> 



-- 

My Social Media Resume: http://www.visualcv.com/mikestreet

Visit my Blog: http://www.Greasyguide.com

Follow Me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/streetforce1



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RE: [scifinoir2] Leverage and the paradigm of the black technology geek

[Tracey de Morsella]

I've seen all the episodes aired so far.  You might not like where it is
going, but he gets back story and goes on missions.  Last week he saved a
few hundred people and went undercover as a corporate hot shot.
Unfortunately,  it was an episode in which he also screwed up a job a little
because he was late for work as a result of staying up all night play with
the new version of war craft.  However, unfortunately I see signs of the rut
you describe.

The people who put this together did Independence Day and The Librarian.
So don't expect much.  However, in future episodes, it seems to me that all
the players start getting back story and all get to shine.  While it's light
weight, it does not seem driven by one character with accessory characters.
It also seems to have improved since the first episode.  Let's hope they do
not lock into this predictable character format.   

-Original Message-
From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:scifino...@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of ravenadal
Sent: Sunday, February 01, 2009 9:21 AM
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [scifinoir2] Leverage and the paradigm of the black technology geek

I just saw my first episode of Timothy Hutton's new TNT series
"Leverage."  "Leverage" is what you would get if you artificially
inseminated "Mission:Impossible!" with "Oceans Eleven."  I like it and
have scheduled my DVR to record future episodes but I feel compelled
to mention that the lone black regular character, Alec Hardison (Aldis
Hodge), like IM's Barney Collier (Gregg Morris)and Luther Stickell
(Ving Rhames)- heck, like Hogan Heroe Sgt. James 'Kinch' Kinchloe (the
late great Ivan Dixon), both completes and depletes me.  

On one hand, all are self-contained, obviously well educated,
articulate electronics experts. On the other hand, all are given
precious little to do.  While the other, primarily white cast mates
get to cavort about wearing masks and assuming other identities, the
lone black technology geek is tethered to his computers and his
listening devices. More often than not their electronic wizardry saves
the day but they rarely get any of the glory.

In short, our hero gets to witness the pageantry but rarely gets to
participate in it.  While there is plenty of interaction between most
of the white characters, our hero is literally a "black hole" into
which camera light goes but nothing - no personality, no back story,
no nothing - escapes.

And, as such, he is the ultimate "Invisible Man."

~rave!





Post your SciFiNoir Profile at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=mapYa
hoo! Groups Links

RE: [RE][scifinoir2] How Gmail destroyed Outlook.

[Tracey de Morsella]

Good Point.  I wish it weren’t an either or proposition

 

From: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com [mailto:scifino...@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf 
Of Martin Baxter
Sent: Friday, January 30, 2009 5:14 PM
To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
Cc: ' Lockhart, Daryle '; afrikanm...@hotmail.com; 'Albert Fields'; 
bettil...@msn.com; CINQUE; 'Cleo'; dorothyh...@sbcglobal.net; 
duva...@hotmail.com; fis...@bellsouth.net; 'GTW'; 'Jeffrey Ballou'; 'Kai 
Pettaway'; kalpub...@aol.com; keithbjohn...@comcast.net; 'Kera'; 
kimbe...@luftworld.com; 'Leroy Hughes'; 'Leslie'; 'Logic'; 'Martin Baxter'; 
'Marvalous'; 'Michael Gordon'; michael.v.w.gor...@gmail.com; 'ravenadal'; 
rs...@yahoo.com; 'Seku Brathwaite'; 'Valery Jean'; 'Wendell Theophilus Smith'; 
'Whitney J Evans'; williamsf...@speakeasy.net; 'Zanfordino Anthony'
Subject: [RE][scifinoir2] How Gmail destroyed Outlook.

 


This article presumes that Outlook worked ab initio.

It is, IMO, the biggest piece of cybercrap to be created since Uncle Billy-Boy 
concocted Windows. I tried to configure it once, ended up losing a week's worth 
of e-mails, including an invitation to dinner by a VERY lovely lady. Right now, 
mine sits, along and palely loitering.




-[ Received Mail Content ]--
Subject : [scifinoir2] How Gmail destroyed Outlook.
Date : Fri, 30 Jan 2009 16:58:44 -0800
>From : "Tracey de Morsella" 
To : "' Lockhart, Daryle '" , 
, "'Albert Fields'" , 
, "CINQUE " , "'Cleo'" 
, , , 
, "'GTW'" , "'Jeffrey Ballou'" 
, "'Kai Pettaway'" , 
, , "'Kera'" , 
, "'Leroy Hughes'" , 
"'Leslie'" , "'Logic'" , "'Martin 
Baxter'" , "'Marvalous'" , 
"'Michael Gordon'" , , 
"'ravenadal'" , , "'Seku 
Brathwaite'" , "'Valery Jean'" 
, "'Wendell Theophilus Smith'" 
, "'Whitney J Evans'" 
, , "'Zanfordino 
Anthony'" 

What do you guys think? I think Google has serious privacy issues 




The Best E-Mail Program Ever 


How Gmail destroyed Outlook. 


By Farhad Manjoo 
Posted Thursday, Jan. 29, 2009, at 5:52 PM ET 

_ 

As of this week, Gmail has reached perfection: You no longer have to be 
online to read or write messages. Desktop programs like Microsoft Outlook 
have always been able to access your old mail. There is a certain bliss to 
this; if you've got a pile of letters that demand well-composed, delicate 
responses (say you're explaining to your boss why you ordered that $85,000 
rug), unplugging the Internet can be the fastest way to get things done. 
That's why offline access is a killer feature-it destroys your last 
remaining reason for suffering through a desktop e-mail program. 

Google's not alone in providing this option. Microsoft's Windows Live Mail, 
Yahoo's Zimbra, and the mail app made by the Web startup Zoho, among other 
services, also provide some measure of untethered e-mail access. For now, 
Google calls this addition "experimental 

"-you've got to turn it on explicitly, and the company is asking users to 
report any bugs-but I found it easy to set up and a delight to use. 

To get offline access, you first need to download and install a small 
program called Google Gears (except if you're 
using Google's Chrome browser, which comes with Gears built in). Then, after 
you enable Gmail's offline capability, the system will download two months 
of your most recent messages, which should take 30 minutes to an hour. Now 
you're good to go: When you're offline, type www.gmail.com 
into your browser, log in-yes, Gears enables you to 
log in even when you don't have a Web connection-and there's your e-mail. 
Though I work from home and rarely find myself away from a hot Wi-Fi 
connection, I shut off my router and parked myself on my couch for about an 
hour yesterday. I loaded up Gmail on my laptop, and it responded 
seamlessly-I could read, search through, and respond to any message I'd 
received during the last two months, all through the familiar Web interface. 
Eureka! I'll never again be mailless on a plane, a subway, or anyplace else 
where you don't have the Web but do have a lot of time to kill. 

Now that Gmail has bested the Outlooks of the world, it's a good time to 
assess the state of desktop software. There are some things that work better 
on your computer (your music app, your photo editor, your spreadsheets), and 
there are some that work better online (everything else). Over the last few 
years, we've seen many programs shifting from the first category to the 
second-now you can get spreadsheets and photo editors online, though they're 
still not as good as programs hosted on your computer. But e-mail has 
crossed the line completely. Hosted services like Gmail are now the most 
powerful and convenient way to grapple with a daily onslaught of mail. If 
you're still tied to a desktop app-whether Outlook, the Mac's Mail program, 
or anything else that sees your local hard drive, rather than a Web server, 
as its brain-then you're doing it wrong. 

The shift has been a long time coming. On July 4, 1996, Sabeer Bhatia and 
Jack Smith, two techies w

[scifinoir2] Re: Leverage and the paradigm of the black technology geek

[ravenadal]

"Snow Job."  So, tell me, what is his back story?  

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Justin Mohareb  
wrote:
>
> Which episode was it?
> 
> Because you're really mis-reading Hardison based on it.
> 
> Justin
> 
> On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:21 PM, ravenadal  wrote:
> > I just saw my first episode of Timothy Hutton's new TNT series
> > "Leverage." "Leverage" is what you would get if you artificially
> > inseminated "Mission:Impossible!" with "Oceans Eleven." I like it 
and
> > have scheduled my DVR to record future episodes but I feel 
compelled
> > to mention that the lone black regular character, Alec Hardison 
(Aldis
> > Hodge), like IM's Barney Collier (Gregg Morris)and Luther Stickell
> > (Ving Rhames)- heck, like Hogan Heroe Sgt. James 'Kinch' Kinchloe 
(the
> > late great Ivan Dixon), both completes and depletes me.
> >
> > On one hand, all are self-contained, obviously well educated,
> > articulate electronics experts. On the other hand, all are given
> > precious little to do. While the other, primarily white cast mates
> > get to cavort about wearing masks and assuming other identities, 
the
> > lone black technology geek is tethered to his computers and his
> > listening devices. More often than not their electronic wizardry 
saves
> > the day but they rarely get any of the glory.
> >
> > In short, our hero gets to witness the pageantry but rarely gets 
to
> > participate in it. While there is plenty of interaction between 
most
> > of the white characters, our hero is literally a "black hole" into
> > which camera light goes but nothing - no personality, no back 
story,
> > no nothing - escapes.
> >
> > And, as such, he is the ultimate "Invisible Man."
> >
> > ~rave!
> >
> > 
> 
> 
> 
> -- 
> Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy.
> http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com
>

RE: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer

[Aubrey Leatherwood]

Hotmail® goes where you go. On a PC, on the Web, on your phone. 
http://www.windowslive-hotmail.com/learnmore/versatility.aspx#mobile?ocid=TXT_TAGHM_WL_HM_versatility_121208
 

Re: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer

[Justin Mohareb]

And the new Star Trek trailer, as well.  We've hit the motherlode, people!

Justin

On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:42 PM, Mike Street  wrote:
> Traileraddict.com also has Transformers 2 and the Land of the Lost trailers
> up
>
> On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:38 PM, Justin Mohareb 
> wrote:
>> It doesn't look nearly as bad as it could be.
>>
>> Justin
>>
>> On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:17 PM, Mike Street 
>> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>> http://greasyguide.com/2009/02/01/super-bowl-2009-commercial-gi-joe-rise-of-cobra/
>>>
>>> The Baroness looks MAJOR!!! I can't wait to see this!
>>>
>>> --
>>
>> --
>> Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy.
>> http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com
>>
>>
>
> --
> 
> My Social Media Resume: http://www.visualcv.com/mikestreet
>
> Visit my Blog: http://www.Greasyguide.com
>
> Follow Me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/streetforce1
> 



-- 
Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy.
http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com

Re: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer

[Mike Street]

Traileraddict.com also has Transformers 2 and the Land of the Lost trailers up

On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:38 PM, Justin Mohareb  wrote:
> It doesn't look nearly as bad as it could be.
>
> Justin
>
> On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:17 PM, Mike Street  wrote:
>>
>> http://greasyguide.com/2009/02/01/super-bowl-2009-commercial-gi-joe-rise-of-cobra/
>>
>> The Baroness looks MAJOR!!! I can't wait to see this!
>>
>> --
>
> --
> Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy.
> http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com
>
> 



-- 

My Social Media Resume: http://www.visualcv.com/mikestreet

Visit my Blog: http://www.Greasyguide.com

Follow Me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/streetforce1

Re: [scifinoir2] Leverage and the paradigm of the black technology geek

[Justin Mohareb]

Which episode was it?

Because you're really mis-reading Hardison based on it.

Justin

On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:21 PM, ravenadal  wrote:
> I just saw my first episode of Timothy Hutton's new TNT series
> "Leverage." "Leverage" is what you would get if you artificially
> inseminated "Mission:Impossible!" with "Oceans Eleven." I like it and
> have scheduled my DVR to record future episodes but I feel compelled
> to mention that the lone black regular character, Alec Hardison (Aldis
> Hodge), like IM's Barney Collier (Gregg Morris)and Luther Stickell
> (Ving Rhames)- heck, like Hogan Heroe Sgt. James 'Kinch' Kinchloe (the
> late great Ivan Dixon), both completes and depletes me.
>
> On one hand, all are self-contained, obviously well educated,
> articulate electronics experts. On the other hand, all are given
> precious little to do. While the other, primarily white cast mates
> get to cavort about wearing masks and assuming other identities, the
> lone black technology geek is tethered to his computers and his
> listening devices. More often than not their electronic wizardry saves
> the day but they rarely get any of the glory.
>
> In short, our hero gets to witness the pageantry but rarely gets to
> participate in it. While there is plenty of interaction between most
> of the white characters, our hero is literally a "black hole" into
> which camera light goes but nothing - no personality, no back story,
> no nothing - escapes.
>
> And, as such, he is the ultimate "Invisible Man."
>
> ~rave!
>
> 



-- 
Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy.
http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com

Re: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer

[Justin Mohareb]

It doesn't look nearly as bad as it could be.

Justin

On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:17 PM, Mike Street  wrote:
> http://greasyguide.com/2009/02/01/super-bowl-2009-commercial-gi-joe-rise-of-cobra/
>
> The Baroness looks MAJOR!!! I can't wait to see this!
>
> --

-- 
Read the Bitter Guide to the Bitter Guy.
http://thebitterguy.livejournal.com

Re: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer

[Mike Street]

Is that Xzibit? If it is he has  lost a serious amount of weight.

On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:29 PM, Aubrey Leatherwood
 wrote:
>
> Oh yeah... I'm all over that. ALL OVER IT... And did I see XZibit? Did I? I
> confess to having the tiniest desire to be around him unclothed for five
> minutes.
>
> Aubrey Leatherwood
> www.aubreyleatherwood.com
> FaceBook * MySpace
> The People You Know, The Sex They Have
> ROMANTIC TIMES NOMINEE FOR BEST CONTEMPORARY EROTICA 2008
> ISBN: 978-0-9818905-0-0
> Lyrical Press. Inc
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> 
> To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> From: streetfor...@gmail.com
> Date: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 12:17:05 -0500
> Subject: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer
>
>
> http://greasyguide.com/2009/02/01/super-bowl-2009-commercial-gi-joe-rise-of-cobra/
>
> The Baroness looks MAJOR!!! I can't wait to see this!
>
> --
> 
> My Social Media Resume: http://www.visualcv.com/mikestreet
>
> Visit my Blog: http://www.Greasyguide.com
>
> Follow Me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/streetforce1
>
>
> 
> Windows Live™: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. Check it out.
>
> 



-- 

My Social Media Resume: http://www.visualcv.com/mikestreet

Visit my Blog: http://www.Greasyguide.com

Follow Me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/streetforce1



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RE: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer

[Aubrey Leatherwood]

Oh yeah... I'm all over that. ALL OVER IT... And did I see XZibit? Did I? I 
confess to having the tiniest desire to be around him unclothed for five 
minutes.
Aubrey Leatherwoodwww.aubreyleatherwood.comFaceBook * MySpaceThe People You 
Know, The Sex They HaveROMANTIC TIMES NOMINEE FOR BEST CONTEMPORARY EROTICA 
2008ISBN: 978-0-9818905-0-0Lyrical Press. Inc



To: scifino...@yahoogroups.comfrom: streetfor...@gmail.comdate: Sun, 1 Feb 2009 
12:17:05 -0500Subject: [scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer



http://greasyguide.com/2009/02/01/super-bowl-2009-commercial-gi-joe-rise-of-cobra/The
 Baroness looks MAJOR!!! I can't wait to see this!-- My Social Media 
Resume: http://www.visualcv.com/mikestreetVisit my Blog: 
http://www.Greasyguide.comFollow Me on Twitter: 
http://www.twitter.com/streetforce1 





_
Windows Live™: E-mail. Chat. Share. Get more ways to connect. 
http://windowslive.com/explore?ocid=TXT_TAGLM_WL_t2_allup_explore_012009

Re: [scifinoir2] Leverage and the paradigm of the black technology geek

[Mike Street]

wow that was deep

On Sun, Feb 1, 2009 at 12:21 PM, ravenadal  wrote:
> I just saw my first episode of Timothy Hutton's new TNT series
> "Leverage." "Leverage" is what you would get if you artificially
> inseminated "Mission:Impossible!" with "Oceans Eleven." I like it and
> have scheduled my DVR to record future episodes but I feel compelled
> to mention that the lone black regular character, Alec Hardison (Aldis
> Hodge), like IM's Barney Collier (Gregg Morris)and Luther Stickell
> (Ving Rhames)- heck, like Hogan Heroe Sgt. James 'Kinch' Kinchloe (the
> late great Ivan Dixon), both completes and depletes me.
>
> On one hand, all are self-contained, obviously well educated,
> articulate electronics experts. On the other hand, all are given
> precious little to do. While the other, primarily white cast mates
> get to cavort about wearing masks and assuming other identities, the
> lone black technology geek is tethered to his computers and his
> listening devices. More often than not their electronic wizardry saves
> the day but they rarely get any of the glory.
>
> In short, our hero gets to witness the pageantry but rarely gets to
> participate in it. While there is plenty of interaction between most
> of the white characters, our hero is literally a "black hole" into
> which camera light goes but nothing - no personality, no back story,
> no nothing - escapes.
>
> And, as such, he is the ultimate "Invisible Man."
>
> ~rave!
>
> 



-- 

My Social Media Resume: http://www.visualcv.com/mikestreet

Visit my Blog: http://www.Greasyguide.com

Follow Me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/streetforce1

[scifinoir2] Leverage and the paradigm of the black technology geek

[ravenadal]

I just saw my first episode of Timothy Hutton's new TNT series
"Leverage."  "Leverage" is what you would get if you artificially
inseminated "Mission:Impossible!" with "Oceans Eleven."  I like it and
have scheduled my DVR to record future episodes but I feel compelled
to mention that the lone black regular character, Alec Hardison (Aldis
Hodge), like IM's Barney Collier (Gregg Morris)and Luther Stickell
(Ving Rhames)- heck, like Hogan Heroe Sgt. James 'Kinch' Kinchloe (the
late great Ivan Dixon), both completes and depletes me.  

On one hand, all are self-contained, obviously well educated,
articulate electronics experts. On the other hand, all are given
precious little to do.  While the other, primarily white cast mates
get to cavort about wearing masks and assuming other identities, the
lone black technology geek is tethered to his computers and his
listening devices. More often than not their electronic wizardry saves
the day but they rarely get any of the glory.

In short, our hero gets to witness the pageantry but rarely gets to
participate in it.  While there is plenty of interaction between most
of the white characters, our hero is literally a "black hole" into
which camera light goes but nothing - no personality, no back story,
no nothing - escapes.

And, as such, he is the ultimate "Invisible Man."

~rave!

[scifinoir2] OMFG! GI Joe Rise of Cobra Trailer

[Mike Street]

http://greasyguide.com/2009/02/01/super-bowl-2009-commercial-gi-joe-rise-of-cobra/

The Baroness looks MAJOR!!! I can't wait to see this!

-- 

My Social Media Resume: http://www.visualcv.com/mikestreet

Visit my Blog: http://www.Greasyguide.com

Follow Me on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/streetforce1

Re: [scifinoir2] Freema Agyeman Finds Way Back To 'Doctor Who'

[Daryle Lockhart]

Unfortunately the only source on this is The Sun,  which  was the  
source that told us Eddie Murphy was playing The Riddler in the next   
Batman movie.


I will need something a little more official before I get excited.  
REALLY  looking  forward to this season of Doctor Who, though. There   
is early talk that this may be the most  successful season in years.


On Feb 1, 2009, at 4:25 AM, Tracey de Morsella wrote:



Freema Agyeman Finds Way Back To 'Doctor Who'

By MICHAEL HINMAN
Jan-27-2009

Talk continues to swirl over whether Michelle Ryan will be the new  
full-time companion when "Doctor Who" returns to normal seasons in  
2010, but for now, an old companion is slated to return.


Freema Agyeman, who played Martha Jones in the third season of  
"Doctor Who," is nearing a deal to where she will return at least  
for the final episode featuring David Tennant in the title role,  
according to the British tabloid The Sun.


"Freema's on board," a source told the newspaper. "It's early days,  
so it's unclear what exactly Martha will be up to in the new show."


The return does come as a bit of a surprise. Agyeman was slated to  
make the move full-time over to the "Doctor Who" spinoff  
"Torchwood" after a trial run in that show's second season, but at  
the last minute opted to take on a regular role in "Law & Order:  
U.K." instead. That move was said to have angered some of the  
management over in the "Doctor Who" camp, most especially outgoing  
showrunner Russell T. Davies, who had already plotted Martha's  
return to full-time status on "Torchwood," and even teased such a  
pairing in the fourth season finale of "Doctor Who."


Whatever rift was there, apparently it's gone, and Agyeman will  
make at least one guest appearance as a way to say farewell to  
Tennant.


Tennant, of course, is being replaced by Matt Smith when the show  
returns for its fifth season in 2010, but it seems he wasn't the  
first choice of the producers.


Martin Clunes, the 47-year-old actor who American audiences would  
probably best remember as Gary Strang in the 1990s series "Men  
Behaving Badly," was apparently the man incoming showrunner Steven  
Moffat had in mind to take over the sonic screwdriver.


"Producers wanted Martin to take over Tennant's job full-time and  
were desperate to see him in the Christmas episode," sources told  
the tabloid. "They saw it as a trial for the main job, but they  
found the whole casting process very frustrating. Talent comes at a  
price and the show could simply not afford Martin."


"Doctor Who" returns with an Easter special this spring on BBC.

http://syfyportal.com/news426011.html

[scifinoir2] Around the World Roundup: ‘Seven Pounds’ Stays on Top

[ravenadal]

Will Smith has drug the torpid "Seven Pounds" across the global
hundred million dollar mark ($130,157,603).  Money! Moni! Mone! Big
Willie does it again!

~rave!

http://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=2541&p=.htm

Around the World Roundup: `Seven Pounds' Stays on Top

by Conor Bresnan

January 29, 2009

Excluding results from the Chinese-speaking territories, which are
delayed due to the Chinese New Year, Seven Pounds remained No. 1 at
the foreign box office with $12.7 million from 23 markets, bringing
its total to $60.2 million. Solid holdovers in France (down 34
percent), Spain (down 36 percent), Germany (down 36 percent) and the
United Kingdom (down 30 percent) carried the weekend for the Will
Smith drama, which had no openings. 

[scifinoir2] Re: No, Megan Fox Isn't Lara Croft

[ravenadal]

Okay, I'm sold.  Rhona Mitra it is.

~rave!

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella" 
wrote:
>
http://www.cinematical.com/2009/01/27/no-megan-fox-isnt-lara-croft/

[scifinoir2] Re: My Superpower Is More Useless Than Yours

[ravenadal]

I recently saw "Jumper" for the first time and it reinforced my
previously held notion that the only super power I would covet is
teleportation.  I watched "Jumper" with my 16 year-old daughter.  I
thought it would have been better if they had spent more time on David
Rice's sad sack life before he discovered his nascent power so I would
had more empathy for this dispassionate hero, especially as played by
the blank Hayden Christensen - but my daughter loved the movie (she
watched it twice) and it did do $222 million at the global box office.

~rave!

--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella" 
wrote:
>
> 
> My 
> Superpower Is More Useless Than Yours
> 
> 
> By Nivair H. Gabriel  , 10:00
>  
AM on Sat
> Jan 31 2009, 3,669 views 
> 
> Flying, controlling the weather, and turning invisible are
officially out. A
> new blog gives us the goods on the true superpowers
>   of the future.
> 
> Ever thought about having gamma-ray vision? The power of in-flight
flight
> (pictured)? An immunity to the thirteenth bullet? Well, it's time to
explore
> the possibilities of these alternate abilities - the more useless
side of
> superpowers  , if you will.
Superuseless
> Superpowers   is paving the way
through
> this ironic discussion, inventing talents such as psychic amnesia:
> 
> This superuseless superhero foresees the future while instantly
forgetting
> anything he has just foreseen. Known in some circles as Untotal Recall.
> 
> The brains behind Superuseless
>   Superpowers are an
> imaginative bunch. Maybe you'll never be able to move objects with your
> mind, but don't lose hope! You might one day be able to achieve 99%
opacity.
> 
> http://io9.com/5143517/my-superpower-is-more-useless-than-yours
>

[scifinoir2] Re: Is It Time for a Black Comic Book Superhero?

[ravenadal]

This article illustrates everything that works against black
superheroes.  First of all, the very idea of comic book heroes -
homoerotic characters who run around with their underwear outside
their clothes - work against everything but an ironic (see Jerry
Craft's Obamanation character below) or "post" ironic black superhero
characters (Static Shock with his black Malcolm X baseball cap).  

This may explain why the most successful black superhero characters
(Spawn, the Black Panther) cover their faces with masks - if you were
parading around in skin tight tights, a cape AND your underwear on the
outside of your uniform YOU would wear a mask, too!  

It's hard out there for a black superhero.  

I direct you Damon Wayans'"Blank Man" (Keith! There's a Robin Givens
sighting in this movie!)or Robert Townsend's "Meteor Man" to see the
notion of a black superheroes taken to its ridiculous conclusion.

Finally, as whenever a big deal is made about black firsts, seconds or
lasts, this is much ado about nothing.  If FOX or anybody else is
serious about black superheroes or believes seriously that there is a
market for black superheroes, all they have to do is ring up Dwayne
McDuffie.  I am sure Mr. McDuffie is more than willing to dust off a
few "Icons."

~rave!



--- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Tracey de Morsella" 
wrote:
>
> 
> Captain Obama ... Is It Time for a Black Comic Book Superhero?
> 
> 
> Tuesday , January 27, 2009
> 
> 
> By S.E. Cupp
> 
> 
> Barack Obama has appeared in at least two comic series since his
arrival on
> the national stage.
> 
> Back in September the superhero Savage Dragon took it upon himself to
> endorse Obama for president, and days before his inauguration,
Spider-Man
> saved the day for the 44th president by defeating an Obama imposter.
> 
> While Savage Dragon is an overly muscular green humanoid, Spider-Man
is a
> real, live human being. And, like Superman and Batman and Captain
America
> and Flash and Wonder Woman, the Web Crawler has a common trait among
comic
> strip superheroes:
> 
> He's white.
> 
> Since their inception, there have been only a few black superheroes
in comic
> books, and fewer still have achieved mainstream appeal.
> 
> But Obama's rise to the presidency now has many people in the
business of
> creating and marketing heroes hoping that a black superhero will finally
> break into mainstream pop culture.
> 
> Marvel Comics, home of Spider-Man, The Hulk, Iron Man and the X-Men, is
> keeping up with the times. The company recently announced the untold
story
> of the first Marvel superhero of color in the "Adam: Legend of the Blue
> Marvel" project. The Black Panther, another Marvel mainstay, will
undergo a
> life-altering new storyline and will be featured in an animated series.
> 
> Whether any of these developments will mean more big screen time for
black
> superheroes will be up to Marvel readers. "While we're always looking to
> represent characters from all walks of life, at the end of the day
the most
> important thing is crafting good stories - that's what people are
going to
> respond to," said executive editor Tom Brevoort.
> 
> That reader response, for black comic artists in particular, could carry
> larger sociological implications.
> 
> "I figure, the more you see us in a different light, the more doors that
> open up for African-Americans," says Jerry Craft, the award-winning
creator
> of the Mama's Boyz comic strip, which chronicles the life of an
> African-American woman raising two teenage sons. The strip has been
> syndicated by King Features since 1995.
> 
> Craft is one of three black comic-strip artists who offered FOXNews.com
> exclusive drawings of what they would like a black superhero to look
like.
> 
> . Click  
here to see
> images of the new superheroes.
> 
> "Hopefully seeing us as more positive members of the community, and
not just
> the people you see on the news or 'Cops,' will get them to expand their
> horizons to include us," said Craft, who has worked for Marvel and
Harvey
> Comics and was editorial director at Sports Illustrated for Kids.
> 
> . RELATED:   What
> leading artists, authors and editors say about the absence of black
> superheroes and President Obama's possible impact.
> 
> The first black superhero was Marvel's Black Panther, who showed up in a
> 1966 Fantastic Four story and has gained some popularity. Another Marvel
> character, Blade, earned big-market attention when Wesley Snipes
personified
> him in a film version of the comic. Some characters have vacillated
between
> races - both Spawn and Catwoman were black in certain iterations,
white in
> others. And characters like Storm, Luke Cage, Static, and Bishop have
> enjoyed a certain level of celebrity, but not the kind that has netted
> others their own big-budget Hollywood films.
> 
> But with Obama establishing a new role model for blacks in Ame

[RE][scifinoir2] No, Megan Fox Isn't Lara Croft

[Martin Baxter]

I didn't think that the screams of ten million fanboys could be that loud...





-[ Received Mail Content ]--

 Subject : [scifinoir2] No, Megan Fox Isn't Lara Croft

 Date : Sat, 31 Jan 2009 19:50:56 -0800

 From : "Tracey de Morsella" 

 To : , , "'CINQUE'" 



No, 
Megan Fox Isn't Lara Croft


by Elisabeth Rappe 
Jan 27th 2009 // 1:40PM

Boys, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but the latest Megan Fox rumor
has been shot down by the actress herself. 

Latino

raid-her-womb-i-mean-tomb-6045> Review first brought the rumor (which
apparently originated in Spain) that Megan Fox was in line to revive the
Tomb Raider franchise. It seems only natural, since Fox is slowly becoming
Angelina 2.0. 

However, the rumor machine was wrong again, just like when Fox was
reportedly set to become Wonder Woman. io9

contacted her spokesperson, who denied Fox was involved with Tomb Raider in
any way, shape, or form. 

I breathe a sigh of relief at this, as Lara Croft is a character rather near
and dear to my heart. I've cherished a secret hope they would revive the
films (and even

wrote about it, which I'm kind of embarrassed about in retrospect). Fox may
be hot, but she's no Lara. And if io9 is actually going to champion her for
the part, then I'll start my own grassroots campaign and champion Rhona
Mitra  . Not only was she the original
Lara Croft model (here's
 some
photos, you're welcome), but she's racking up a respectable B-movie action
career. The best part? She's actually British, so no wonky accents.

Anyway, I sincerely doubt there will ever be another Tomb Raider film (and I
don't even know if there ever should be) 
but Fox's fan base is such that we must report all rumors and rumblings.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds

[RE][scifinoir2] Is It Time for a Black Comic Book Superhero?

[Martin Baxter]

This guy clearly did his research. :P

He omitted Black Lightning, for one.





-[ Received Mail Content ]--

 Subject : [scifinoir2] Is It Time for a Black Comic Book Superhero?

 Date : Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:20:08 -0800

 From : "Tracey de Morsella" 

 To : , ,
"'CINQUE'" ,, "'Sincere'" 



Captain Obama ... Is It Time for a Black Comic Book Superhero?


Tuesday , January 27, 2009


By S.E. Cupp


Barack Obama has appeared in at least two comic series since his arrival on
the national stage.

Back in September the superhero Savage Dragon took it upon himself to
endorse Obama for president, and days before his inauguration, Spider-Man
saved the day for the 44th president by defeating an Obama imposter.

While Savage Dragon is an overly muscular green humanoid, Spider-Man is a
real, live human being. And, like Superman and Batman and Captain America
and Flash and Wonder Woman, the Web Crawler has a common trait among comic
strip superheroes:

He's white.

Since their inception, there have been only a few black superheroes in comic
books, and fewer still have achieved mainstream appeal.

But Obama's rise to the presidency now has many people in the business of
creating and marketing heroes hoping that a black superhero will finally
break into mainstream pop culture.

Marvel Comics, home of Spider-Man, The Hulk, Iron Man and the X-Men, is
keeping up with the times. The company recently announced the untold story
of the first Marvel superhero of color in the "Adam: Legend of the Blue
Marvel" project. The Black Panther, another Marvel mainstay, will undergo a
life-altering new storyline and will be featured in an animated series.

Whether any of these developments will mean more big screen time for black
superheroes will be up to Marvel readers. "While we're always looking to
represent characters from all walks of life, at the end of the day the most
important thing is crafting good stories - that's what people are going to
respond to," said executive editor Tom Brevoort.

That reader response, for black comic artists in particular, could carry
larger sociological implications.

"I figure, the more you see us in a different light, the more doors that
open up for African-Americans," says Jerry Craft, the award-winning creator
of the Mama's Boyz comic strip, which chronicles the life of an
African-American woman raising two teenage sons. The strip has been
syndicated by King Features since 1995.

Craft is one of three black comic-strip artists who offered FOXNews.com
exclusive drawings of what they would like a black superhero to look like.

. Click  here to see
images of the new superheroes.

"Hopefully seeing us as more positive members of the community, and not just
the people you see on the news or 'Cops,' will get them to expand their
horizons to include us," said Craft, who has worked for Marvel and Harvey
Comics and was editorial director at Sports Illustrated for Kids.

. RELATED:  What
leading artists, authors and editors say about the absence of black
superheroes and President Obama's possible impact.

The first black superhero was Marvel's Black Panther, who showed up in a
1966 Fantastic Four story and has gained some popularity. Another Marvel
character, Blade, earned big-market attention when Wesley Snipes personified
him in a film version of the comic. Some characters have vacillated between
races - both Spawn and Catwoman were black in certain iterations, white in
others. And characters like Storm, Luke Cage, Static, and Bishop have
enjoyed a certain level of celebrity, but not the kind that has netted
others their own big-budget Hollywood films.

But with Obama establishing a new role model for blacks in America,
traditional depictions of blacks in popular culture could get a makeover,
said culture critic David Horowitz.

"I think having a black president will have a positive impact on black
images in the popular culture and will move that culture away from some of
its politically correct absurdities," he said.

Comic book creators, authors and artists have many explanations for the
historical absence of black superheroes in mainstream pop culture.

Savage Dragon creator Erik Larsen, a former Spider-Man author for Marvel,
says, "I think part of that is that there hasn't been a breakout character
that transcends race the way actors Will Smith and Eddie Murphy have, or the
'Cosby Show' did, or, frankly, Barack Obama has.

"The characters in comics are often too ethnic for a white audience and too
embarrassing for a black one."

Adds Craft: "I don't think that the black superheroes of the past were all
that interesting. Since most of the creators were white, they based their
characters on their perception of black men and women. They definitely were
not built to stand the test of time."

Political correctness has also been an impediment. "I think that their
creators tried hard not to offend blacks and made many of them too perfect,"
Craft said. "Many were army hero

Re: [RE][scifinoir2] Antibacterial Soaps: Unnecessary Risks, No Benefits

[Martin Baxter]

Well, I'm out of Brut... ;-)

Seriously, I used to use Dial, but I stopped when they made it antibacterial, 
and started shuffling between various soap brands, ending up with a number of 
nasty rashes. As a last resort, I went to Irish Spring, and have had no trouble 
whatsoever since, close to a year now.





-[ Received Mail Content ]--

 Subject : Re: [RE][scifinoir2] Antibacterial Soaps: Unnecessary Risks, No 
Benefits

 Date : Sun, 01 Feb 2009 04:40:49 +

 From : keithbjohn...@comcast.net

 To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com


Irish Spring? Funny, i haven't used that in ages. Next thing you'll be telling 
me you scrub down with Pumice, and get ready for a night on the town with some 
Brut on a rope!



 -- Original message --
From: "Martin Baxter" 
> Keith, I stopped using antibacterial soap years ago, for just the reasons 
> listed.
> 
> Martin (Irish Spring man)
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -[ Received Mail Content ]--
> 
> Subject : [scifinoir2] Antibacterial Soaps: Unnecessary Risks, No Benefits
> 
> Date : Sat, 31 Jan 2009 20:28:24 +
> 
> From : keithbjohn...@comcast.net
> 
> To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com
> 
> 
> Well, been hearing about this for a while now. Guess it's time to throw out 
> the 
> Dial antibacterial soap and just stick with the old standards. Wonder if they 
> still sell Lifebuoy? Although I don't care what anyone says: still using 
> paper 
> towels to open public toilet doors!
> 
> ***
> 
> http://www.divinecaroline.com/article/22178/66003-antibacterial-soaps--unnecessa
> ry-risks--no
> 
> Antibacterial Soaps: Unnecessary Risks, No Benefits
> By: Sarah Krupp (View Profile) 
> 
> Make no mistake about it. They are everywhere. Your body is swimming in them, 
> the keyboard on your computer is blanketed, and that five-dollar bill you 
> handed 
> to the cashier before eating your scone is a virtual minefield. Bacteria are 
> omnipresent. 
> 
> I have two friends with vastly different approaches to these microscopic 
> threats. One believes the best way to beat them is to commune with them and 
> recommends�only half jokingly�eating off the kitchen floor once a week to 
> build up the ol� immune system. The other friend washes his hands incessantly 
> and refuses to take public transportation for fear of infection. He tries not 
> to 
> touch anything. And although this approach is stringent, the truth is, we 
> Americans are becoming more and more like friend number two. We open restroom 
> doors with paper towels and disinfect after every handshake. In short, we are 
> becoming a nation of germaphobes. 
> 
> Fearing the insidious little creatures that make us sick but knowing we can�t 
> dodge them all, we aim to destroy them with an arsenal of antibacterial hand 
> soaps, detergents, toothpaste, and even mattresses and toys. It seems logical 
> to 
> want total eradication of the microorganisms that cause illness, infection, 
> and 
> in extreme circumstances, death�unfortunately, it�s not that simple.
> 
> More Harm Than Good
> For starters, there is little proof that the antibacterial soap you buy at 
> the 
> drug store actually kills the most-dreaded microbes: S. aureus (staph) and E. 
> coli. Plus, living in a disinfected bubble can actually be bad for your 
> health 
> and the environment. Many experts believe that too much sanitization weakens 
> the 
> immune system and may create lethal superbugs that are antibiotic resistant. 
> If 
> that�s not enough, the bacteria-killing chemicals go down the drain and into 
> our waterways, harming wildlife and potentially ending up back in our bodies 
> where they can present health risks.
> 
> Although you have likely heard at least some of this before, you probably 
> still 
> reach for the antibacterial soap to clean your bathroom and wash your hands. 
> The 
> psychological draw is undeniable. In fact, scientists� warnings have not 
> dampened the burgeoning market. Antibacterial products are a one billion 
> dollar 
> industry and make up nearly 80 percent of all liquid soaps. In 2003, there 
> were 
> fewer than 200 antibacterial products on the market; currently there are over 
> 3,000.
> 
> The biggest�and most publicized�concern is whether antibacterial products, 
> like the overuse of antibiotics, will eventually create more of the 
> untreatable 
> bacteria we fear. By creating a hostile environment, antibacterial agents 
> promote strains of bacteria with certain mutations that allow them to 
> survive. 
> These superbugs are also more likely to be immune to antibiotics. The most 
> commonly used antimicrobial in soaps�triclosan�has already shown resistance 
> to S. aureous.
> 
> No Better Than Regular Soap
> Still, the most important piece of information when you are staring at an 
> aisle 
> full of cleansers is whether or not the antibacterial soaps fulfill their 
> promise. 
> 
> According to the Food and Drug Ad

[RE][scifinoir2] What Happens When Wars Are Fought By Robots?

[Martin Baxter]

To answer the question posed, yes. I'm immediately reminded of a story I read 
online several years ago, about a Guv'mint robotics research facility working 
on artificial intelligence. They designed a robot that was supposed to be able 
to escape from any situation. Before they could test it, guess what?

It escaped.

THREE TIMES.

They still can't figure out how it did so. I'll look for the story and post it, 
if it hasn't been redacted.





-[ Received Mail Content ]--

 Subject : [scifinoir2] What Happens When Wars Are Fought By Robots?

 Date : Sun, 1 Feb 2009 00:41:52 -0800

 From : "Tracey de Morsella" 

 To : , , "Chris de 
Morsella" ,"'paul demorsella'" ,  
"'Sincere'" 


Military 2.0: Should You Fear the Killer Robots? 

Interview: P. W. Singer discusses the military's sci-fi future, what happens
when life imitates Star Wars, and his new book, Wired for War. 

By Eric Stoner 

January 29, 2009

http://www.motherjones.com/interview/2009/01/should-you-fear-the-killer-robo
ts.html

Peter W. Singer is not your typical "military expert." At 33 years old, he
is the director of the Brookings Institution's 21st Century Defense
Initiative and the youngest senior fellow in the think tank's 90-year
history. In 2003, his book Corporate Warriors chronicled the rise of the
privatized military industry; Children at War, released in 2005, examined
the tragic phenomenon of child soldiers. He also served as the coordinator
of President Barack Obama's defense policy task force during Obama's
campaign-a role he took on after consulting for The West Wing. 

In his new book,  Wired for War, Singer
takes an in-depth and at times frightening look at the growing use of
robotics by the military-a development that he argues will be looked on as
"something revolutionary in war, maybe even in human history." Recently, he
spoke with Mother Jones about the unforeseen ripple effects of these new
technologies, the folly of calls to use robots in Darfur, and whether we
should ban these machines before it's too late. 

Mother Jones: Was there anything in particular that surprised you or scared
you as you researched the book? 

Peter Singer: I think three parts were most surprising. One was the openness
with which people talk about how science fiction influenced what the
scientists build and what the military asked to be built. That's what drew
me to research science fiction's influence on science reality. I was really
driven by just how many people would describe some weapon or robot and say,
"I was watching this Star Wars movie with my kids and I thought it would be
cool if we could have something like that." And it'd be a Marine colonel
saying that. There is also a great scene in the book where the folks at a
human rights organization I was visiting are referencing Star Trek more than
the Geneva Conventions. 

The second part of this is how quickly things moved. In the first draft of
the book there were systems on the commercial and military side that didn't
exist then that are out there now. Related, this issue of arming and
autonomy of robots is farther along than I thought. Finding some of the
studies  about "taking
man out of the loop" was a little bit surprising and scary. 

Finally, the international "blowback" issue was much bigger than I
suspected, which became very clear after interviews with folks in the Middle
East. I knew, of course, broadly that there were serious issues with our
public diplomacy, but how dire it was when it came to our new military
technology was a little bit surprising even to me. 

MJ: What do you think are the most overlooked negative consequences of
developing a more roboticized fighting force? 

PS: The part that I find overlooked from the political side is how our
greater use of these technologies affects our own understanding of war,
especially the public's links to war. We can walk through a recent example.
There was an editorial

2191.html> in the Washington Post this month that talked about how we
should do something in Darfur with unmanned machines. Now, let's leave aside
the irony of a humanitarian intervention done by an inhuman machine. What we
overlook too often is that military operations are not simply throwaway
commitments, even with machines. They involve you in something that is
complex and long-term on the ground. 

The public's relationship to their military in the US is a frayed thread
right now. We don't have a draft. We don't have declarations of wars
anymore. We don't even have presidents asking the public to pay higher
taxes. Now add in a situation where Americans are mainly only risking their
machines. The bar to war was already lowering. Now you take it all the way
to the ground. This was a huge concern of the soldiers I interviewed. 

MJ: Also, so many of your interviews showed that the strategic impact of
using more robotics on the battlefield is questionable, and that they could
even backfire

1260.html> .

PS: It's tough because you're d

[RE][scifinoir2] Freema Agyeman Finds Way Back To 'Doctor Who'

[Martin Baxter]

Once more, she shall Freema heart from bondage... <3 <3 





-[ Received Mail Content ]--

 Subject : [scifinoir2] Freema Agyeman Finds Way Back To 'Doctor Who'

 Date : Sun, 1 Feb 2009 01:25:18 -0800

 From : "Tracey de Morsella" 

 To : , 


Freema Agyeman Finds Way Back To 'Doctor Who'


By MICHAEL HINMAN
Jan-27-2009

Talk continues to swirl over whether Michelle Ryan will be the new full-time
companion when "Doctor Who" returns to normal seasons in 2010, but for now,
an old companion is slated to return.

Freema Agyeman, who played Martha Jones in the third season of "Doctor Who,"
is nearing a deal to where she will return at least for the final episode
featuring David Tennant in the title role, according to the British tabloid
The Sun.

"Freema's on board," a source told the newspaper. "It's early days, so it's
unclear what exactly Martha will be up to in the new show
 ."

The return does come as a bit of a surprise. Agyeman was slated to make the
move full-time over to the "Doctor Who" spinoff "Torchwood" after a trial
run in that show's second season, but at the last minute opted to take on a
regular role in "Law & Order: U.K." instead. That move was said to have
angered some of the management over in the "Doctor Who" camp, most
especially outgoing showrunner Russell T. Davies, who had already plotted
Martha's return to full-time status on "Torchwood," and even teased such a
pairing in the fourth season finale of "Doctor Who." 

Whatever rift was there, apparently it's gone, and Agyeman will make at
least one guest appearance as a way to say farewell to Tennant.

Tennant, of course, is being replaced by Matt Smith when the show returns
for its fifth season in 2010, but it seems he wasn't the first choice of the
producers.

Martin Clunes, the 47-year-old actor who American audiences would probably
best remember as Gary Strang in the 1990s series "Men Behaving Badly," was
apparently the man incoming showrunner Steven Moffat had in mind to take
over the sonic screwdriver.

"Producers wanted Martin to take over Tennant's job full-time and were
desperate to see him in the Christmas episode," sources told the tabloid.
"They saw it as a trial for the main job, but they found the whole casting
process very frustrating. Talent comes at a price and the show could simply
not afford Martin."

"Doctor Who" returns with an Easter special this spring on BBC.

http://syfyportal.com/news426011.html




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds

[scifinoir2] Freema Agyeman Finds Way Back To 'Doctor Who'

[Tracey de Morsella]

Freema Agyeman Finds Way Back To 'Doctor Who'


By MICHAEL HINMAN
Jan-27-2009

Talk continues to swirl over whether Michelle Ryan will be the new full-time
companion when "Doctor Who" returns to normal seasons in 2010, but for now,
an old companion is slated to return.

Freema Agyeman, who played Martha Jones in the third season of "Doctor Who,"
is nearing a deal to where she will return at least for the final episode
featuring David Tennant in the title role, according to the British tabloid
The Sun.

"Freema's on board," a source told the newspaper. "It's early days, so it's
unclear what exactly Martha will be up to in the new show
 ."

The return does come as a bit of a surprise. Agyeman was slated to make the
move full-time over to the "Doctor Who" spinoff "Torchwood" after a trial
run in that show's second season, but at the last minute opted to take on a
regular role in "Law & Order: U.K." instead. That move was said to have
angered some of the management over in the "Doctor Who" camp, most
especially outgoing showrunner Russell T. Davies, who had already plotted
Martha's return to full-time status on "Torchwood," and even teased such a
pairing in the fourth season finale of "Doctor Who." 

Whatever rift was there, apparently it's gone, and Agyeman will make at
least one guest appearance as a way to say farewell to Tennant.

Tennant, of course, is being replaced by Matt Smith when the show returns
for its fifth season in 2010, but it seems he wasn't the first choice of the
producers.

Martin Clunes, the 47-year-old actor who American audiences would probably
best remember as Gary Strang in the 1990s series "Men Behaving Badly," was
apparently the man incoming showrunner Steven Moffat had in mind to take
over the sonic screwdriver.

"Producers wanted Martin to take over Tennant's job full-time and were
desperate to see him in the Christmas episode," sources told the tabloid.
"They saw it as a trial for the main job, but they found the whole casting
process very frustrating. Talent comes at a price and the show could simply
not afford Martin."

"Doctor Who" returns with an Easter special this spring on BBC.

http://syfyportal.com/news426011.html

[scifinoir2] What Happens When Wars Are Fought By Robots?

[Tracey de Morsella]

Military 2.0: Should You Fear the Killer Robots? 

Interview: P. W. Singer discusses the military's sci-fi future, what happens
when life imitates Star Wars, and his new book, Wired for War. 

By Eric Stoner 

January 29, 2009

http://www.motherjones.com/interview/2009/01/should-you-fear-the-killer-robo
ts.html

Peter W. Singer is not your typical "military expert." At 33 years old, he
is the director of the Brookings Institution's 21st Century Defense
Initiative and the youngest senior fellow in the think tank's 90-year
history. In 2003, his book Corporate Warriors chronicled the rise of the
privatized military industry; Children at War, released in 2005, examined
the tragic phenomenon of child soldiers. He also served as the coordinator
of President Barack Obama's defense policy task force during Obama's
campaign-a role he took on after consulting for The West Wing. 

In his new book,   Wired for War, Singer
takes an in-depth and at times frightening look at the growing use of
robotics by the military-a development that he argues will be looked on as
"something revolutionary in war, maybe even in human history." Recently, he
spoke with Mother Jones about the unforeseen ripple effects of these new
technologies, the folly of calls to use robots in Darfur, and whether we
should ban these machines before it's too late. 

Mother Jones: Was there anything in particular that surprised you or scared
you as you researched the book? 

Peter Singer: I think three parts were most surprising. One was the openness
with which people talk about how science fiction influenced what the
scientists build and what the military asked to be built. That's what drew
me to research science fiction's influence on science reality. I was really
driven by just how many people would describe some weapon or robot and say,
"I was watching this Star Wars movie with my kids and I thought it would be
cool if we could have something like that." And it'd be a Marine colonel
saying that. There is also a great scene in the book where the folks at a
human rights organization I was visiting are referencing Star Trek more than
the Geneva Conventions. 

The second part of this is how quickly things moved. In the first draft of
the book there were systems on the commercial and military side that didn't
exist then that are out there now. Related, this issue of arming and
autonomy of robots is farther along than I thought. Finding some of the
studies   about "taking
man out of the loop" was a little bit surprising and scary. 

Finally, the international "blowback" issue was much bigger than I
suspected, which became very clear after interviews with folks in the Middle
East. I knew, of course, broadly that there were serious issues with our
public diplomacy, but how dire it was when it came to our new military
technology was a little bit surprising even to me. 

MJ: What do you think are the most overlooked negative consequences of
developing a more roboticized fighting force? 

PS: The part that I find overlooked from the political side is how our
greater use of these technologies affects our own understanding of war,
especially the public's links to war. We can walk through a recent example.
There was an editorial
  in the Washington Post this month that talked about how we
should do something in Darfur with unmanned machines. Now, let's leave aside
the irony of a humanitarian intervention done by an inhuman machine. What we
overlook too often is that military operations are not simply throwaway
commitments, even with machines. They involve you in something that is
complex and long-term on the ground. 

The public's relationship to their military in the US is a frayed thread
right now. We don't have a draft. We don't have declarations of wars
anymore. We don't even have presidents asking the public to pay higher
taxes. Now add in a situation where Americans are mainly only risking their
machines. The bar to war was already lowering. Now you take it all the way
to the ground. This was a huge concern of the soldiers I interviewed. 

MJ: Also, so many of your interviews showed that the strategic impact of
using more robotics on the battlefield is questionable, and that they could
even backfire
 .

PS: It's tough because you're dealing with two arguments that make a great
deal of sense. The "hearts and minds" element is so important to countering
insurgencies, but at the same time the technology has proven to be useful.
The limited discussions that we've had on robots have always been on
absolutist terms. How this is all playing out in reality is way more
complicated. And it's already complicated now with our current Model T Ford
versions of robotic technology. Imagine how it will look with the ne

[scifinoir2] Does Fox Hate Your Favorite Superhero Movies?

[Tracey de Morsella]

Does 
Fox Hate Your Favorite Superhero Movies?


By Graeme McMillan  , 7:00
  AM on
Sat Jan 31 2009, 5,590 views 

First Watchmen   now Iron Man 2
 . Is Fox on some kind of not-so-secret
vendetta against superhero movies? If you don't believe in scheduling
conflicts, then the answer may be "maybe"...

Variety is reporting that Emily Blunt   has
been cast by Fox in their new Jack Black vehicle, Gulliver's Travels, but
that the scheduling of that movie coincides with the shooting schedule of
Iron Man 2, in which Blunt was due to play Russian superspy Natasha
Romanoff, the Black Widow. While Blunt's agents work to see if there's a way
that schedules can be adjusted to make both of the roles possible, Ain't It
Cool has glommed onto Variety's mention of Fox's existing option on Blunt's
time (as a result of her time on The Devil Wears Prada) as proof of the
studio's hatred of superhero movies:

FOX to eff up IRON MAN 2's Black Widow? Sadly, it looks like it! Or does it?
Hey folks, Harry here... I have nothing against this upcoming live-action
GULLIVER'S TRAVELS - but it seems that FOX has some sort of contract
agreement with Emily Blunt left over from her time on THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA,
which could be exercised by FOX (Fucking Over Xtraordinary) Films to keep
her from being the astonishingly ravishing Natasha Romanoff aka Black Widow
in IRON MAN 2.

Whoever works in Fox's PR department, they really need to up their game;
between this and Watchmen  , this is twice
where Fox are actually in the right, legally, and yet get the crap kicked
out of them by fans because of their decisions.

Iron Man 2 is due for release summer 2010.

Blunt, 
Segel added to 'Travels' [Variety]

http://io9.com/5143278/does-fox-hate-your-favorite-superhero-movies