Sci Fi Jungle

Trading In Video Games

Today we took a pile of old DS games that the kids don't play anymore, and some XBox games the hubster doesn't play anymore to GameStop and got a $64.00 credit.

The kids each got a new (or used as the case may be) DS game and a new case for their DSi's.  I ended up paying about $10 but I think it was a good deal to clean out the house a bit, and especially to give the kids a lesson about the value of goods.

While we were there we saw a Nintendo3DS.  Instantly made me car sick in about 20 seconds of looking at it.  Blech.  I needed some of the best creatine supplement and a nap after that experience.  3D and me do not get along very well.  Add it to the list of thigs that make me car sick - cars, boats, airplanes, IMAX...  Yes I am a sad puppy.

Just Some Rain and Lightning

We has some major storms come through last night.  The lightning was almost contstant.  I took a litte video for your pleasure.  Mostly just some nice rain and thunder sounds with one or two flashes.   There was a tornado watch and hail reported locally, but we were unscathed here in John's Creek GA. 

By the way, today I learned that the French word for computers is ordinateurs.

 

Beautiful Aurora Borealis Video

The Aurora from Terje Sorgjerd on Vimeo.

This is an incredible stop action video of the aurora borealis.  Here is some information from the Vimeo page for the video:

I spent a week capturing one of the biggest aurora borealis shows in recent years. Here are some details from the Vimeo page for the video:

Shot in and around Kirkenes and Pas National Park bordering Russia, at 70 degree north and 30 degrees east. Temperatures around -25 Celsius. Good fun.

Big thanks to the guys over at dynamicperception.com for their amazing all-in-one motion control dolly.

More info on tesophotography.com

Music is Gladiator soundtrack "Now we are free"

Fringe Has Been Renewed

As Fox says in their press release - Fringe has been renewed "in both Universes."  They are calling for a full 22 episodes. 

The show is getting great, so people really need to start watching. And I think they do a really good job of recapping what you need to know at the beginning of each episode so you can jump in and not be totally Lost. 

If you want to learn more about the shows over-arching storyline, the older episodes are on DVD, as well as streaming from Amazon.  If you just want t catch up on recent epsisodes Hulu.com has the previous 5 episodes streaming for free.

 

Happy 80th Birthday Leonard Nimoy

Today is Leorard Nimoy's 80th birthday.  They guy is awesome and still working!  (On Fringe, athough I guess in a way not really since his character is in the body of Olivia... ok now I am confused)

Spock at with his cool scanner software

Fringe cast photo

(Images apoligetically nabbed from the interwebs)

William Shatner had his 80th birthday too this week - I didn't know those guys were almost exactly the same age.  Older than my parents and still kicking it old skool style!  Yay!  That gives me something to look forward to.

Radio Shack Catalogs

At this website you will be able to view these old 1939-2005 Radio Shack catalogs...year by year...page by page. 

via www.radioshackcatalogs.com

Why? Just because, that's why.

Free Online Courses from Academic Earth

via www.academicearth.org

From Astronomy to Writing... some high quality academic course videos from top college profs.

The Moon

via apod.nasa.gov

You're going to want to click on the link and see the full res. image. Wow - there is so much detail.

Some information about the photograph can be found here:

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap060907.html

The photographer, Neil Carboni, used of fifteen images stitched together.

Patrick Stewart on Sesame Street

I am still smiling at this one, so thought I should share.  When Patrick Stewart guest stars on Sesame Street, the number one better get into his place!

Patrick Stewart hasn't sent me any birthday invitations but if he did I would go. 

And just to add - whoever is doing the voice of The Count these days just does not sounds quite right.

 

1 Huge Image of the History of Science Fiction

via www.brainpickings.org

A work by Ward Shelley. Pretty wild... you could get lost in this.