The Universe is ending...
And the Gate is closed. SyFy has decided that "Stargate Universe" will end after two seasons. This happens, of course, just as we're getting to some of the meatier ideas about the show and some pretty good character development. I think that was the last show I regularly tuned into on SyFy, though I always meant to start watching "Eureka" again, I never got around to it. I also abandoned "Haven" after its first episode due to the lack of any chemistry or decent acting from the two leads, so I don't know if it got better. I'm guessing all that's left now will be one or two direct-to-DvD movies that wrap up a lose end here or there for SGU, if we're lucky. It's a pity it had to end this way, as I thought the franchise, as a whole, did a better job with continuity and interesting ideas than most. That quality, of course, might have doomed it from the start. :)
From the description, it's not huge news, but nineteen minutes of "2001: A Space Odyssey" has been re-discovered. This was one of the first "big idea" and "future evolution" stories I was introduced to, having spent my time prior to that with robots, Time Lords, and dashing starship captains behaving illogically. Nowadays, I see more and more of this concept in sci-fi literature. In fact, it's gotten so ingrained in my head that I'm almost seeing sci-fi that's more than a century into the future without nigh-immortal humans sporting cyber-implants (if not outright nanotech) as "unrealistic." This isn't helped by the fact that it's usually presented with the moral lesson of "we need to upgrade or we're toast as a species." I'm still waiting for the Borg-like race that keeps its more "primitive" brain-bits occupied with some kind of enormous MMO while the rest of the gray matter and computer parts get on with assimilating things.
Next, I think I have found a crowning moment of clueless that just boggles the mind: A conservative (and as a recovering poly sci major, I know that a lot of these labels aren't the classical definitions, but these guys self-label, so whadd'ya gonna do?) group is upset at Marvel's "Thor" movie doing a disservice to Norse Mythology by casting a black man as Heimdall. Firstly, this group is (at least in their statement of principles) identifying as a Christian organization, so why should they care how a bunch of gods (that have been run through a comic book filter, at that) that they don't believe in are portrayed? I mean, I'm guessing they don't get upset when films portray Jesus as a white guy with blond hair and a non-European accent, do they? I'm pretty sure that Thor and company aren't going to sound particularly Scandinavian when they speak (though if anyone out there would re-dub the trailer with appropriate accents, you would probably win several million internet points). And I long ago stopped caring about what actors looked like and more about how good they were at acting. Nothing ruins a film for me more than someone who was cast for traits that don't involve not sounding like they're reading off of a cue card. So anyway, the movie is apparently otherwise completely accurate to the myths of old, right?
And I gave in to the vile video game purchasing service, Steam. They had a sale on a game called "Just Cause 2." I never played the first one, and it turns out, it doesn't matter. For eight dollars (it's since gone back up to $29.99) you get a game that's pretty much like running around in the most ham-fisted action hero film ever devised, with Michael Bay providing the pyrotechnics on an unlimited budget. You can grapple-hook and parachute yourself at any time, so dying by means other than bullets is kind of hard. It plays like "Grand Theft Auto: Pacific Island Dictatorship," but without an annoying cousin calling you every three seconds. I've only played it for two hours thus far (you can pretty much pick it up and put it down without losing any sense of continuity as there's really one goal: Kaboom), but I could see getting sucked into wanting to see what's over the next mountain range and if I get cash bonuses for blowing it up. I hear that Steam will have a holiday sale as per usual where games are discounted for 12 or 24 hours before a new set goes up (it's kind of like a Woot-off, but it sucks away your time as well as your money), and I'll let everyone know if I spy it going on.
And ps238 #48 is finally underway (don't ask, lots of headaches) and #49 is in the works. I'm still looking to do the trade paperback thing like "Girl Genius," if I can afford the print runs; I'm told it's better business for both me and the readership in the long run. I also wouldn't mind finding some place that could print them in color on my budget, but I'm not holding my breath. If I do go this route, look for these smaller (probably 96 page) trades to focus more on one character or story, making them more stand-alone. I still plan on continuing character development that's already been established, never fear. It's a brave, new world full of iPads and perfect-bound tomes o' comics, and I want to be a part of it.
Worlds collapse and new ones rise, but the links never end:
- Douglas Adams famously mocked Earthlings for "thinking digital watches were still a pretty neat idea, but this short about how they work is pretty interesting.
- This next video is not safe for viewing by anyone offended by claymation dog poo. It's a German game played with a plastic dog and Play-Doh, and I would so love for my son to play it when he's about five and ready to enjoy such humor properly.
- In case you're stuck for festive arboreal ideas, here's a bunch of geek-oriented Christmas trees to consider.
- In "The Force Unleashed II," you get to rewrite Star Wars history with a decidedly Dark Side bent. Such as encountering Han Solo and Chewbacca with tragic results.
- There is a rule that says nearly anything cut apart in anime will explode. The game Slash Boom seems to follow this trope well.
- If you want an authoritative review of "Tron: Legacy," who else should you turn to but the Tron Guy?
- After the movie, why not enjoy some Tron cupcakes?
- Y'know, so long as George Lucas is messing with his movies, why not bring a Doctor or two into the picture?
- Speaking of movies, the latest "wow, is this line overused" clip-fest highlights Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore.
- More video clips? Yeah, well this one's a follow-up. It's footage of Tim Burton's "Superman Lives" disco-costume. I would love to hear what kind of soundtrack would have gone with this movie.
- Here's a flash-based snowflake maker, allowing you to revisit those carefree days of taping paper snow to windows without the mess.
- This is some incredible sculpture made from canned goods, with even more here.
- Those who suffer from seasickness should steer clear of On The Deck, a game where you tilt various craft to keep your jauntily dancing passengers safe.