Sci Fi Jungle

I am taking part in the Sci Fi Experience

The Sci Fi Experience is the brainchild of Carl, blogger of stainlesssteeldroppings.com.  Its an informal challenge, with a review site where people can cross post and post links to their book review blog posts. 

I'm going to play!  I usually read more Fantasy than Sci Fi, with my favorite being Fantasy Romance.  Yeah, yeah scoff.  Whatever. But for this challenge I am going to go more hard Sci Fi and see if I can find stuff I like.  Any recommendations?

Sci Fi Experience 2009 Book Review Site.

The first book I am going to review is Storm Front (The Dresden Files, Book 1) , by Jim Butcher.  It is the first in the series of Harry Dresden Chronicles books.  You may remember the fairly short lived Sci Fi Network TV series of that name, and these are the books that the show was made from.

I really enjoyed Storm Front.  There is a humorous, cynical lilt to Harry's first person narrative that makes the book a very fun read.  There is plenty of action, grea characters, and a lot of fun wizardry to learn about.

The book is really different from the TV series, so if you have that in mind when you are reading you have to do a bit of adjustment.  For example, the cop Harry works with has a drastically different description that the actress in that role on the TV show.   You will recognize the film noir feel however, and Harry's cute self-depreciating manner.  In the book he in fact does a lot more kick-ass magic than in the show and I have a feeling that if the show had a bigger special effects budget to match some of the magic battles, it would have been a heck of a lot more successful!

Anyway, I totally recommend this book, and I am looking forward to reading more in the series.

2008 Year Sci Fi Year in Review

While I snack on Buffalo Chicken Dip, and my kids color New Years Eve themed coloring pages, I decided to write about the year in review.   Here are some conclusions.

1.  T-Shirt sales are a fickle dream.  Although Sci Fi T-Shirt is my top keyword, I have yet to sell a single shirt since I started this operation in April.  Hmm...  Well, optimism reigns supreme.  When the last startfighter 2 comes out maybe I will sell a Last Starfighter T-Shirt.

2.  i09 has a great 2008 Sci Fi Year in Review feature.

3.  Too many great names in Sci Fi passed away this year.

Sir Arthur C Clarke

Eartha Kitt Dead at 81

Star Trek's 'First Lady' Dies

Sci-Fi Guru Forrest Ackerman Dead at 92

Crichton Dead of Cancer at 66

Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax dies at 69

Not to mention - Charleton Heston (Planet of the Apes), Heath Leger (Batman), Robert Lynn Aspirin (Writer), Stan Winston (special effects master Aliens, etc.) and Maila Nurmi ( TV’s Vampira)

I guess I must be getting old because I find myself really carding when celebrities die.  Oy Vey!  Well, here's to the hope we all live long happy prosperous lives starting right now.

Wolverine Origins Trailer

I simply adore Hugh Jackman!  The trailer for Wolverine: Origins has been released and boy does it look like an exciting film.  It will open May 1st, 2009 so we are in for a long wait.  In the meanwhile I guess I have to check out Australia with Nicole Kidman.

Star Trek 20 Questions - 20Q

Head over to http://www.20q.net/startrek/ to play the Star Trek version of the 20Q Artificial Intelligence game.  You imagine any sentient being, place, or thing from Star Trek and the AI will figure it out before you can answer 20 questions.  This this is amazing - I don't know how it does it!  The more people play the harder it gets to stump the computer.  It guessed my "place" of Romulus correctly.

I hope everyone is happy with the Christmas/Hanukkah/Kwanza/Solstice/Festivus celebrations and gifts.  May your new ipods give you lots of enjoyment.

News Years Resolution in honor of Eartha Kitt

Eartha Kit, of Catwoman fame,  died Thursday at the age of 81.  She was being treated for colon cancer.

The beautiful and talented singer, dancer, and actress was famous for singing the song Santa Baby, and she died on Christmas.  I hope that she was able to be with her family before she passed.

I have a suggestion for you - if you are over 40 and have not yet had a colonoscopy  talk to your doctor about scheduling one.  They are a painless procedure (with a slight unpleasant prep) that can save lives.  By catching colon polyps at a small size you can have them removed and avoid having them turn into cancer later.  Colon cancer is one of the most preventable cancers.

I realize this is not a topic most Sci Fi blogs would talk about but it is a subject dear to my heart.  I have Crohn's disease, which can increase your risk of colon cancer.  My maternal grandmother died from color cancer. 

I have had three colonoscopies so far and I am sure I have a lot more in my future.  If I can do it so can you.

bacolicio.us

In case you wanted a big piece of bacon covering your favorite web page, check out bacolicio.us.

For example, to bring together your favorite Sci Fi site and your favorite breakfast meat simple enter into your browser: http://bacolicio.us/http://www.scifijungle.com

No diet pills are required.  This is calorie free transparent background bacon suitable for any diet.  It's also low carb.

It is however, not kosher.   Speaking of Kosher, have a Happy Hanukkah.

WhiteKnightTwo makes maiden flight

WhiteKnightTwo, the massiive airplane that will launch Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo flew its first test flight yesterday.  The "mothership" is produced by Scaled Composites, and is one huge plane!

Here is a quote from the Fox News article about the flight:
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,470716,00.html

A carrier aircraft designed to be the first stage of a commercial spaceline system made its maiden test flight today at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California.

Designed by Scaled Composites, the huge and unique WhiteKnightTwo mothership rolled down the runway and muscled itself into the air using four Pratt and Whitney PW308A turbofan engines. The WhiteKnightTwo flew for about an hour, departing the runway at roughly 8:17 a.m. Pacific Standard Time, safely touching down at the Mojave Air and Space Port at approximately 9:17 a.m. PST.

"It's a big day," said Stuart Witt, general manager of Mojave Air and Space Port. "I think it's a real reflective time. When everybody's looking for a bailout, there are still people that are doing something for a much larger reason," he told SPACE.com.

Can you imagine the size of those Pratt and Whitney turbo engines?  That's a lot of burn.  Beats green tea fat burner any day. 

I wonder what Obama has in mind for NASA once he gets in office.  I was worried that he was planning on cutting budget there to pay for social programs, but I have read that he does not want to do that if it can be avoided.  Considering how space exploration and study can help improve the economy I think it makes the most sense to put as much effort as we can into technological advances and space study.

Stargate Universe Casting News

Robert Carlyle (The Full Monty) and Fox's 24: Redemption, has been tapped to play the lead in Stargate Universe.  The character is reported to be called Dr. David Rush and is the leader of a group of soldiers, scientists, and civilians stranded on an ancient ship on an unknown itinerary across space.

Here is the report from Entertainment Weekly.  For more information on the proposed characters they are casting for see this article on Gateworld.

SciFi Gift Idea - Twilight Fan or Goth Girl Edition

I realize that there is a whole bunch of Twilight swag out there.  Team Edward, rah rah.  But I have found a gorgeous gift idea - check out this mirror/shelf combination.  It is absolutely perfect for setting up your own personal alter.   Add some Votive candle holders on the shelf and place your family photos, Zuni Fetishes, Buddha statue, St Francis, or any spiritual and lucky items of your choice.

Then let the mirror reflect back the candlelight and meditate.  Om...

 

Sci Fi Gift Idea of the Day Kids Edition - Bakugan

Bakugan is the  hot hard of find toy of 2008.  Imagine a kind of cross between Pokemon and the old fashioned game of marbles, and you will have an idea of how this is played.  The players lay down metal cards and then throw their Bakugans that are in the shape of big marbles.  If the Bakugan lands on one of the metal cards it will open and then the two players will battle based on their strenths and abilities.  There are also ability cards to go along with it.

So for those of you with a special kid in their lives, this is a great way to introduce them to the concept of gaming.  Indoctrinate that with these cute little Bakugan brawlers and someday you can be playing Magin the Gatering with them!

Benefits of Bakugan:

Teaches match skills.
Gets kids into stategy gaming which is great for logical thinking.
Social gameplay - fun with friends and family.
Can be played in any weather.
No helmet or car insurance needed.