Thursday, January 24, 2008

Sorry miss, I was giving myself an oil-job.

The EW list of the "17 Heavenly Bodies from Sci-Fi" has Tricia Helfner, Jeri Ryan and Billy Dee Williams of course, but they seem to have missed some of the biggest hotties from Sci-Fi...


1. C3PO

Why Sexy?

The first film robot to come out of the closet, C3PO is often lovingly referred to as the "Droid Rupert Everett."

Quote

"Would you like to join me in a nice oil bath?"

2. Dr. Zira

Why Sexy?

Are you kidding? Look at that bod. Some may say we're not even the same species. I would remind those people that apes and man are all descended from the same common ancestor... Robin Williams.

Quote

Dr. Zaius: "Would you like to see what I have in my pants for you my dear doctor Zira?"

Zira: "What do you think I will find in there, doctor?"

Dr. Zaius: "Your destiny."

3. Saint-Exmin

Why Sexy?

The last of the Valkyrie race she is attractive due to her superior intelligence and mediocre appearance.

Quote

"You've never seen a Valkyrie go down... "

4. Robby The Robot

Why Sexy?

He's the original hard-body.

Quote

Commander Adams: "A little KY Jelly, Robby?"

Robby: "I seldom use it myself. It promotes rust."

5. Horta

Why Sexy?

Not much to look at but a real wildcat under the covers. Apparently the Horta is into the rough stuff including whips, leather and chains.

Quote

Horta: "What do you want from your Master?"

(Whips Spock)

Spock: "Paaiiinnnnnnn!"

6. Face-Hugger

Why Sexy?

Face-Hugger is attractive to those who hate dating, foreplay, etc. and just want to get right to the fun stuff. Before you know it he'll have his tongue down your throat.

Quote

Ripley: "Hi, I'm Ripley. My cousin Angela arranged our date tonight. Hey, what the... MMmmfff."

Later. Right now lets play Global Thermonuclear War.


Peak Oil: The Game.

Set in a fictional near future based upon the headlines of today, Frontlines: Fuel of War brings players into the world's next great war. As society succombs to a worldwide energy crisis, a new global depression takes hold. Amidst this gritty backdrop, two superpower allinaces emerge. Join battle on the frontlines of tomorrow as the Western Coalition (U.S./E.U.) or The Red Star Alliance (Russia/China).

I wonder if they'll have it out for the Wii. I'll have to pick it up for Overdroid.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Boy, what a fruitcake you are!

Dick Cheney appeals for bipartisianship.

Mike Tyson appeals for sportsmanship.

Lindsey Lohan appeals for modesty.

Roger Corman appeals for quality film.

Jackie Collins appeals for elevated literature.

You get the idea.

(If you're not familiar with the scene this quote is from the line before this is "everybody should care about everybody else.")

Jack, I may be going out on a limb here, but you don't seem like a happy camper.

If there was a filmmaker that deserved a break but instead seemed hopelessly cursed it would have to by Terry Gilliam.

One of the repercussions of yesterday's untimely death of Heath Ledger was that Gilliam's latest film "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus" had to shut down after only one week of filming.

"The movie is produced by Samuel Hadida, Bill Vince and Amy Gilliam, and largely financed through Hadida's Paris-based Davis Film.

Ledger's involvement in the project was a key factor in raising the finance. He had a strong relationship with Gilliam from their last pic together, The Brothers Grimm.

In November 2000, Gilliam was forced to abandon his $32 million indie project The Man Who Killed Don Quixote after just a week of shooting, when his star Jean Rochefort was too ill to continue. "

An incredible filmmaker, Gilliam has pretty much refused to play by the Hollywood rules. His most commercial project to date was probably The Brothers Grimm which featured a scene in which a kitten was kicked into a ceiling fan. A ceiling fan! Try and explain that to the kiddies.

But Gilliam's films have been visionary in scope and production. His "Fisher King" included a beautiful imaginary ballroom dance scene that facilitated the shut-down of Grand Central Station in New York at the cost of millions to the production company. The scene only takes up a few minutes of screen time but is hardly integral to the plot. It was integral to Gilliam's vision of the characters.

It doesn't look to me like there's much chance that Parnassus will get made at this time, which is a real shame. It's a horrible twist of fate that someone as creative as Terry Gilliam is constantly having to confront such huge obstacles. I'm not sure I'd call it a curse but the man certainly has some bad Karma going.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Listen, you hear it? - - Carpe - - hear it? - - Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.

If you knew you had six months to live and could give one speech summing-up your life and communicating your values to your kids what would you say? Would you talk about your regrets? Your grudges? Your accomplishments? Your childhood dreams?

This was the question 46 year old Carnegie Mellon computer science professor Randy Pausch was faced with and his answer is nothing short of inspirational.

I've linked the speech below but I'd like to warn you - it's almost two hours long. If you have the time it's well worth watching. You can skip the introductions by the first two people until you get to Randy.

(For the record I became aware of this story because J.J. Abrams just helped Randy accomplish one of his childhood dreams by giving him a small part in the Star Trek film shooting now. )

Randy Pausch's Farewell Speech.

I believe we live in a great country, a country that's great enough to help a man financially when he's in trouble.


Last night I read about the collapse of foreign markets just before going to bed and had the strangest dream...








Can anyone help me sort-out what that all means?

Monday, January 21, 2008

To fight for the right. Without question or pause. To be willing to march into hell for a heavenly cause!

On this day in which we celebrate Dr. King my own thoughts are towards the looming presidential election and which candidate will best carry King's torch into their own administration.

Martin Luther King is probably best known for his philosophy of non-violent resistance. It's important to remember that resistance, regardless of how it manifests itself, is still resistance.



King's Letter From Birmingham Jail was written in response to a group of sympathetic white clergyman issuing a "Call to Unity" basically pleading for the civil rights movement to get off the streets and back behind courtroom doors. In his letter King outlined point by point why direct action was necessary in order to precipitate change.

Like all Americans I long for unity. I wish we lived in a time when we could put aside our universally petty differences and work for the common good of the United States of America. I wish we could all just get along.

But wishes aren't horses. Wanting America to be a better place and making America a better place are two entirely different animals. One necessitates nothing but imagination while the other takes a willingness to act and courage; because change will meet resistance. Change always meets resistance.

If those kids who faced down Bull Connor's dogs and fire hoses would've waited, would've taken the middle-road or would've sat on their hands in the hopes that we would all just "get along" then Jim Crow would still be very much alive today. If they had put their resistance aside in deference to the idea there is just "one America" then they'd still be riding in the back of the bus.


Real change takes courage and it takes action. Dr. King knew that. My hope is that our political leaders today will heed his message.