[scifinoir2] Running robot
How far off do you think we are before we see robot ninjas? http://smart-machines.blogspot.com/2009/07/toyotas-running-humanoid-robot.html --
[scifinoir2] FUERZA BRUTA: LOOK UP interactive stage play
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=taBAtxasWto This is very cool. I'm not sure if this video captures what was on current tv. It is a live stage play but the performers and the stage sometimes moves THROUGH and ABOVE the audience! Its like 3d stage! it is only showing in NYC but when it comes here I REALLY WANT TO SEE IT LIVE!!! More video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sbxF8ojIP8Y&NR=1
[RE][scifinoir2] Running robot
Mr Worf, IMO, if you blink at the wrong time, you'll open your eyes to find 20 inches of katana in your belly... -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : [scifinoir2] Running robot Date : Sun, 2 Aug 2009 03:15:16 -0700 From : "Mr. Worf" To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com How far off do you think we are before we see robot ninjas? http://smart-machines.blogspot.com/2009/07/toyotas-running-humanoid-robot.html -- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds
Re: [RE][scifinoir2] Foundation-like
rave, I was bitten around my tenth birthday. -[ Received Mail Content ]-- Subject : Re: [RE][scifinoir2] Foundation-like Date : Sat, 1 Aug 2009 21:58:51 -0400 From : To : I was a sci-fi reader before my 30's and I am still one. To be honest, I per SF over anything else. --Lavender -- From: "ravenadal" Sent: Thursday, July 30, 2009 9:47 PM To: Subject: Re: [RE][scifinoir2] Foundation-like > Is it possible to become a sci-fi reader in one's thirties? I have always > considered SF a young person's game - if you don't get the bug early you > seldom get it. I wish I had a dollar for every time I have suggested a > great book to someone post thirty to only be met with a "I don't read > science fiction." > > ~(no)rave! > > (by-the-by: regarding Asimov, his style has always left me cold. I am a > Sir Arthur C. Clarke guy, myself). > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "marian_changling" > wrote: >> >> I am going to guess that she is in her thirties. >> >> I groaned when I heard that she was reading the book. Mainly because SF >> of that era was strong on ideas and less so with characterization. I >> remember loving the book but I don't know if I could read it now. Now I >> might sit back and gripe that there were no real female characters. >> >> I'm concerned that she might think that is what SF is like. >> >> >> >> --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, "Martin Baxter" >> wrote: >> > >> > Marian, the "Hyperion" series is about the closest I can think of in >> > comparison, in terms of scope and depth of event and characterization. >> > Having read both, I wouldn't dis-recommend "Hyperion". I would, >> > however, suggest "Foundation" first. Can I be rude and inquire as to >> > your friend's age? A few SF book recommends I've made recently have >> > faltered because I've advised books written during my generation to >> > people of a later one, and many of the cultural constructs are >> > incomprehensible to them. >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> -[ Received Mail Content ]-- >> > >> Subject : [scifinoir2] Foundation-like >> > >> Date : Thu, 30 Jul 2009 18:27:06 - >> > >> From : "marian_changling" >> > >> To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com >> > >> > >> I have a friend who started Asimov's "Foundation" series because of the >> theme. Now she is faltering. I wouldn't be surprised if it is because of >> 1940's style of writing. >> > >> > Anyone know a modern book with a similar theme? Has no one taken up the >> > mantle of psychohistory from Asimov? Wikipedia mentions a number of >> > graphic novels and "Hyperion". I never read that one; anyone know >> > anything about it? Anyone have another suggestion? >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds >> > >> > > > > > > > Post your SciFiNoir Profile at > http://groups.yahoo.com/group/scifinoir2/app/peoplemap2/entry/add?fmvn=mapYahoo! > > Groups Links > > > > People may lie, but the evidence rarely does. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds
Re: [RE][scifinoir2] What was the last SF novel you read that made you go "WOW!"
It's a post-apocalyptic novel about the effects of a comet strike on Earth. --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com, Keith Johnson wrote: > > What was Lucifer's Hammer? > > - Original Message - > From: "B. Smith" > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 5:07:06 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern > Subject: Re: [RE][scifinoir2] What was the last SF novel you read that made > you go "WOW!"? > > > > > > > I loved both of those as well as Lucifer's Hammer and their collaborations > with Steven Barnes, The Legacy of Heorot and Beowulf's Children. > > --- In scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com , Keith Johnson wrote: > > > > Enjoyed that book, but I think "Footfall" ,for some reason, got me more. > > Maybe it was the whole thought of space-traveling pachyderms... > > > > > > - Original Message - > > From: "Martin Baxter" > > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com > > Sent: Friday, July 31, 2009 8:00:28 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern > > Subject: [RE][scifinoir2] What was the last SF novel you read that made you > > go "WOW!"? > > > > > > > > > > > > > > For me, "The Mote In God's Eye" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle. Great > > ideas, semi-plausible scientific bases, fun read all the way through. (And, > > apparently, some of my former friends agree -- the four who stole each of > > the four copies I owned, that is.) > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -[ Received Mail Content ]-- > > Subject : [scifinoir2] What was the last SF novel you read that made you go > > "WOW!"? > > Date : Fri, 31 Jul 2009 11:46:14 - > > From : "ravenadal" > > To : scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com > > > > The question about Asimov's "Foundation" septology leads me to ask what was > > the last SF novel you read that made you go "WOW!" And, by that, I mean the > > last novel that made your head spin around. For me it was William Gibson's > > "Neuromancer" and that was published in 1984, twenty-five years ago! > > > > By-the-by, I am only interested in novel novels - do not summit graphic > > novels. > > > > Thanks, > > > > ~rave! > > > > > > > > > > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds > > >
[scifinoir2] New trailer for Stargate:Universe
IMO, looks a little more cohesive than what we've seen to date. Still, all opinions desired. http://www.sfcrowsnest.com/news/arc/2009/nz14114.php http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQdwk8Yntds
[scifinoir2] "Defying Gravity" on ABC now
Anyone watching ABC's entry into the "Big Brother in Outer Space by way of BSG-style drama"? It deals with a seven-year mission in the year 2052 that sends eight astronauts to visit six planets in the Solar System. Very quickly into the show, we're made aware there's some kind of secret involved. The two most experienced astronauts in the program (one of whom is played by Malik Yoba) are initially left off the mission aboard the spaceship "Antares". Later, when some kind of heart problem keeps cropping up among the crew--evidently tied to the "secret"--the two astronauts are blasted into space to join the mission. One comment I overheard makes me think some kind of sentient race has been encountered by humanity--perhaps on a previous tragic mission to Mars in which one of the current astronauts had to leave three of his fellows behind. Perhaps this sentient race is controlling the mission somehow? Not sure. Also not sure yet if I'll like the show. It has some decent actors and decent lines. But just when I'm starting to get into the mission and the scifi aspect of it, I'm distracted by overpowering music that attempts to heighten a scene, the lead astronaut's self-reflective monologue, too much of the newly-hot camera work (a la BSG and Star Trek) with a shaky cam to convey reality. Or I'm watching two astronauts make nekkid love in zero g and feeling vaguely manipulated at an attempt to make me feel awestruck or something. There's a lot of flashbacks and flashforwards that make following the story a bit confusing at times. "Lost" this ain't. There's also a odd flow: a mix of serious drama, melodrama, camp soap opera type moments, silly humour supported by "Desperate Housewives" type music, and a lot of titillation. It makes it hard for one to get a feeling of the overall nature of the show. Is it a drama, a reality-type show like "Virtuality", a mystery? Don't know, but I found myself losing interest a lot, then picking it back up, then losing it again as the standard nighttime soap feel comes back in the mix. Lots of TV veterans, including the blonde lady from "The 4400" (the one who feel inlove with a black man), and Cristina Cox "Blood Ties", who's been a guest in more series than Michael Michelle. They're all okay, but again, the uneven pacing, writing, and flashbacks undermine their acting. The constant shift from a high-tech spaceshp to mundane scenes on Earth are abrupt and off-putting. Like "Virtuality", this show seems to be another clone that tries to copy the delicate balance of reality-type drama mixed with scifi that BSG (mostly) did right. and like "Virtuality", it bores me as much as it intrigues--something that BSG didn't do in the main. Not sure if the show's even being picked up, but if it is, not sure I'll keep watching. Anyone else's thought's?
Re: [scifinoir2] "Defying Gravity" on ABC now
Here's a silly question, but what happened to that show that was on Fox? I can't think of the name but it came on 3 weeks ago and I haven't seen it since. On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 7:13 PM, Keith Johnson wrote: > > > Anyone watching ABC's entry into the "Big Brother in Outer Space by way of > BSG-style drama"? It deals with a seven-year mission in the year 2052 that > sends eight astronauts to visit six planets in the Solar System. Very > quickly into the show, we're made aware there's some kind of secret > involved. The two most experienced astronauts in the program (one of whom > is played by Malik Yoba) are initially left off the mission aboard the > spaceship "Antares". Later, when some kind of heart problem keeps cropping > up among the crew--evidently tied to the "secret"--the two astronauts are > blasted into space to join the mission. One comment I overheard makes me > think some kind of sentient race has been encountered by humanity--perhaps > on a previous tragic mission to Mars in which one of the current astronauts > had to leave three of his fellows behind. Perhaps this sentient race is > controlling the mission somehow? Not sure. > > Also not sure yet if I'll like the show. It has some decent actors and > decent lines. But just when I'm starting to get into the mission and the > scifi aspect of it, I'm distracted by overpowering music that attempts to > heighten a scene, the lead astronaut's self-reflective monologue, too much > of the newly-hot camera work (a la BSG and Star Trek) with a shaky cam to > convey reality. Or I'm watching two astronauts make nekkid love in zero g > and feeling vaguely manipulated at an attempt to make me feel awestruck or > something. There's a lot of flashbacks and flashforwards that make > following the story a bit confusing at times. "Lost" this ain't. There's > also a odd flow: a mix of serious drama, melodrama, camp soap opera type > moments, silly humour supported by "Desperate Housewives" type music, and a > lot of titillation. It makes it hard for one to get a feeling of the overall > nature of the show. Is it a drama, a reality-type show like "Virtuality", a > mystery? Don't know, but I found myself losing interest a lot, then picking > it back up, then losing it again as the standard nighttime soap feel comes > back in the mix. > > Lots of TV veterans, including the blonde lady from "The 4400" (the one who > feel inlove with a black man), and Cristina Cox "Blood Ties", who's been a > guest in more series than Michael Michelle. They're all okay, but again, the > uneven pacing, writing, and flashbacks undermine their acting. The constant > shift from a high-tech spaceshp to mundane scenes on Earth are abrupt and > off-putting. > > Like "Virtuality", this show seems to be another clone that tries to copy > the delicate balance of reality-type drama mixed with scifi that BSG > (mostly) did right. and like "Virtuality", it bores me as much as it > intrigues--something that BSG didn't do in the main. > > Not sure if the show's even being picked up, but if it is, not sure I'll > keep watching. > > Anyone else's thought's? > > > > -- Bringing diversity to perversity for 9 years! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
Re: [scifinoir2] "Defying Gravity" on ABC now
That's the one I mentioned here also: "Virtuality". My understanding is that Fox elected not to pick it up as a series. I think the pilot two-hour TV movie was written in a way so that it could be a self-contained movie if that happened. At least, that's what I heard. I didn't spend the time watching to the end to see how they wrapped things up. You know, one thing I will saw about "Virtuality": it's at least nice to see a bit of a return to some scifi movies-of-the week on network TV. NBC did a two-part movie last weekend about a comet or something hitting Earth. Wasn't great, but was decent for a couple of hours. I remember when I was younger, back when movies-of-the-week were the norm, there was a lot of that type of scifi. I do wish that would return, so that we could enjoy some movies without having to worry about them becoming series. And, to give us an alternative to the SyFy weekend movies, which are just as horrible now as they were before the name change... - Original Message - From: "Mr. Worf" To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, August 2, 2009 10:21:30 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] "Defying Gravity" on ABC now Here's a silly question, but what happened to that show that was on Fox? I can't think of the name but it came on 3 weeks ago and I haven't seen it since. On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 7:13 PM, Keith Johnson < keithbjohn...@comcast.net > wrote: Anyone watching ABC's entry into the "Big Brother in Outer Space by way of BSG-style drama"? It deals with a seven-year mission in the year 2052 that sends eight astronauts to visit six planets in the Solar System. Very quickly into the show, we're made aware there's some kind of secret involved. The two most experienced astronauts in the program (one of whom is played by Malik Yoba) are initially left off the mission aboard the spaceship "Antares". Later, when some kind of heart problem keeps cropping up among the crew--evidently tied to the "secret"--the two astronauts are blasted into space to join the mission. One comment I overheard makes me think some kind of sentient race has been encountered by humanity--perhaps on a previous tragic mission to Mars in which one of the current astronauts had to leave three of his fellows behind. Perhaps this sentient race is controlling the mission somehow? Not sure. Also not sure yet if I'll like the show. It has some decent actors and decent lines. But just when I'm starting to get into the mission and the scifi aspect of it, I'm distracted by overpowering music that attempts to heighten a scene, the lead astronaut's self-reflective monologue, too much of the newly-hot camera work (a la BSG and Star Trek) with a shaky cam to convey reality. Or I'm watching two astronauts make nekkid love in zero g and feeling vaguely manipulated at an attempt to make me feel awestruck or something. There's a lot of flashbacks and flashforwards that make following the story a bit confusing at times. "Lost" this ain't. There's also a odd flow: a mix of serious drama, melodrama, camp soap opera type moments, silly humour supported by "Desperate Housewives" type music, and a lot of titillation. It makes it hard for one to get a feeling of the overall nature of the show. Is it a drama, a reality-type show like "Virtuality", a mystery? Don't know, but I found myself losing interest a lot, then picking it back up, then losing it again as the standard nighttime soap feel comes back in the mix. Lots of TV veterans, including the blonde lady from "The 4400" (the one who feel inlove with a black man), and Cristina Cox "Blood Ties", who's been a guest in more series than Michael Michelle. They're all okay, but again, the uneven pacing, writing, and flashbacks undermine their acting. The constant shift from a high-tech spaceshp to mundane scenes on Earth are abrupt and off-putting. Like "Virtuality", this show seems to be another clone that tries to copy the delicate balance of reality-type drama mixed with scifi that BSG (mostly) did right. and like "Virtuality", it bores me as much as it intrigues--something that BSG didn't do in the main. Not sure if the show's even being picked up, but if it is, not sure I'll keep watching. Anyone else's thought's? -- Bringing diversity to perversity for 9 years! Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness/
Re: [scifinoir2] "Defying Gravity" on ABC now
I think that they like doing series because if it is successful they can make a ton of money off of them domestically and in syndication. (plus merchandising) I think that if they were to reshoot some of the segments it could be interesting. I don't think that the show could have worked after killing the protagonist it felt as if they were doing a writing exercise. On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 7:30 PM, Keith Johnson wrote: > > > That's the one I mentioned here also: "Virtuality". My understanding is > that Fox elected not to pick it up as a series. I think the pilot two-hour > TV movie was written in a way so that it could be a self-contained movie if > that happened. At least, that's what I heard. I didn't spend the time > watching to the end to see how they wrapped things up. > > You know, one thing I will saw about "Virtuality": it's at least nice to > see a bit of a return to some scifi movies-of-the week on network TV. NBC > did a two-part movie last weekend about a comet or something hitting Earth. > Wasn't great, but was decent for a couple of hours. I remember when I was > younger, back when movies-of-the-week were the norm, there was a lot of that > type of scifi. I do wish that would return, so that we could enjoy some > movies without having to worry about them becoming series. And, to give us > an alternative to the SyFy weekend movies, which are just as horrible now as > they were before the name change... > > > > - Original Message - > From: "Mr. Worf" > To: scifinoir2@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Sunday, August 2, 2009 10:21:30 PM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern > Subject: Re: [scifinoir2] "Defying Gravity" on ABC now > > > > Here's a silly question, but what happened to that show that was on Fox? I > can't think of the name but it came on 3 weeks ago and I haven't seen it > since. > > On Sun, Aug 2, 2009 at 7:13 PM, Keith Johnson > wrote: > >> >> >> Anyone watching ABC's entry into the "Big Brother in Outer Space by way of >> BSG-style drama"? It deals with a seven-year mission in the year 2052 that >> sends eight astronauts to visit six planets in the Solar System. Very >> quickly into the show, we're made aware there's some kind of secret >> involved. The two most experienced astronauts in the program (one of whom >> is played by Malik Yoba) are initially left off the mission aboard the >> spaceship "Antares". Later, when some kind of heart problem keeps cropping >> up among the crew--evidently tied to the "secret"--the two astronauts are >> blasted into space to join the mission. One comment I overheard makes me >> think some kind of sentient race has been encountered by humanity--perhaps >> on a previous tragic mission to Mars in which one of the current astronauts >> had to leave three of his fellows behind. Perhaps this sentient race is >> controlling the mission somehow? Not sure. >> >> Also not sure yet if I'll like the show. It has some decent actors and >> decent lines. But just when I'm starting to get into the mission and the >> scifi aspect of it, I'm distracted by overpowering music that attempts to >> heighten a scene, the lead astronaut's self-reflective monologue, too much >> of the newly-hot camera work (a la BSG and Star Trek) with a shaky cam to >> convey reality. Or I'm watching two astronauts make nekkid love in zero g >> and feeling vaguely manipulated at an attempt to make me feel awestruck or >> something. There's a lot of flashbacks and flashforwards that make >> following the story a bit confusing at times. "Lost" this ain't. There's >> also a odd flow: a mix of serious drama, melodrama, camp soap opera type >> moments, silly humour supported by "Desperate Housewives" type music, and a >> lot of titillation. It makes it hard for one to get a feeling of the overall >> nature of the show. Is it a drama, a reality-type show like "Virtuality", a >> mystery? Don't know, but I found myself losing interest a lot, then picking >> it back up, then losing it again as the standard nighttime soap feel comes >> back in the mix. >> >> Lots of TV veterans, including the blonde lady from "The 4400" (the one >> who feel inlove with a black man), and Cristina Cox "Blood Ties", who's been >> a guest in more series than Michael Michelle. They're all okay, but again, >> the uneven pacing, writing, and flashbacks undermine their acting. The >> constant shift from a high-tech spaceshp to mundane scenes on Earth are >> abrupt and off-putting. >> >> Like "Virtuality", this show seems to be another clone that tries to copy >> the delicate balance of reality-type drama mixed with scifi that BSG >> (mostly) did right. and like "Virtuality", it bores me as much as it >> intrigues--something that BSG didn't do in the main. >> >> Not sure if the show's even being picked up, but if it is, not sure I'll >> keep watching. >> >> Anyone else's thought's? >> >> >> > > > -- > Bringing diversity to perversity for 9 years! > Mahogany at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mahogany_pleasures_of_darkness
[scifinoir2] Their New to Me Graphic Novels
I have been reading two series in Graphic Novels that I discovered at work. First is the Zombie Apocalypse party known as "Walking Dead." I'm two volumes into it and it's pretty right on. Zombies, people struggling to survive, Zombies, ethical delimmas in a world without law, Zombies, adventure in the search for a new home, and Zombies. It's pretty bad ass. I'm also, three volumes into "Y The Last Man." Yorrick is the last man on earth. All other men died from a mysterious plague. He's wandering the country with a spy/protector with no Name and a genetic scientist who's a cloning expert. All the while he's being hunted by crazed lesbians bent on destroying him and the Israeli Army who are determined to capture him for strategic advantage. It's also very funny. Anyone else read either of these? Bosco
