Why our ‘amazing’ science fiction future fizzled

http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/05/29/jetpack/index.html

“At the 1964 New York World’s Fair, people stood in line for hours to look at a strange sight.

“They wanted to see the ‘Futurama,’ a miniaturized replica of a typical 21st century American city that featured moving sidewalks, computer-guided cars zipping along congestion-free highways and resort hotels beneath the sea.

“Forty years later, we’re still waiting for those congestion-free highways — along with the jet pack, the paperless office and all those ‘Star Trek’-like gadgets that were supposed to make 21st-century life so easy.”

 

There’s No Klingon Word for Hello

http://www.slate.com/id/2217815/

“A history of the gruff but surprisingly sophisticated invented language and the people who speak it.” (May 7, 2009)

Also sent by Kyle….

 

Star Wars’ mighty Y-Wing : A pictorial essay

http://denofgeek.com/movies/246903/the_mighty_ywing_in_star_wars_a_pictorial_essay.html

“Ben justly lambasts the technological short straw of Star Wars’ rebel fleet…” (May 7, 2009)

Sent my way by Kyle — go raibh maith ‘ad!

 

Star Wars Day

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Wars_Day

“May 4 is called Star Wars Day because of a pun or play on words based on the similarity between ‘May the 4th be with you’ and ‘May the force be with you’, a phrase often spoken in the Star Wars movies.”

 

Ace Of Cakes Show Makes Star Trek Cake, Trekkie Rage (And Some Hilarity) Ensues

http://www.geekologie.com/2008/05/ace_of_cakes_show_makes_star_t.php

“So those crazy fonadanters [sic] on the Food Network’s Ace of Cakes recently made a Star Trek cake and posted pictures of it on Trekmovie.com. But some Trekkies weren’t happy with the result.” (May 28, 2008)

(Via Cake Wrecks, which, if you’re not already following that blog’s content, what’s wrong with you?)

 

A Dozen Science-Fiction Drinking Games

http://io9.com/5230837/a-dozen-science+fiction-drinking-games

Everyone probably occasionally (or often) thinks, You know what would make this Battlestar episode better? A lot of alcohol. So here, for your drinking — and viewing — pleasure, are a dozen science-fiction drinking games.

 

‘Star Trek’ writer sues over 1967 episode

http://news-briefs.ew.com/2009/03/star-trek-write.html

No, I’m not including an excerpt, because you already know who the author is. Oh yes you do.

 

Sci Fi Channel to become Syfy: Thank the lawyers?

http://www.cnet.com/8301-18603_1-10197108-73.html

In perhaps the most ill-advised branding move since New Coke, NBC’s basic-cable Sci Fi Channel will be renamed the phonetically similar Syfy on July 7.

 

Ride the PHOENIX SPACE ELEVATOR!

http://www.spaceelevatorclimb.com/

“In addition to a VIP tour, several tons of gene plasm were sent into orbit and shipped to the lunar colonies, marking the first time official cargo for the Elevator!”

What an odd thing for Google to sponsor at me, via my inbox.

 

Futurama timeline

http://everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1690915

I’ve been looking for something of this scope for a while, and am glad to have finally found it.

 

Torchwood Specials (2008)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Torchwood_episodes#Specials_.282008.29

 

My Superpower Is More Useless Than Yours

http://io9.com/5143517/my-superpower-is-more-useless-than-yours

 

Create Your Own Original Star Trek Story

http://io9.com/5136738/create-your-own-original-star-trek-story

They’re using the word “original” loosely. Or sarcastically. Or both.

 

Come to the Dark Side: We Have Cake

http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/2009/02/come-to-dark-side-we-have-cake.html

First of all, Twin Cities is representin’! (Yes, that’s right. Sunday’s posts are good cakes.)

Second, the title made me think of Eddie Izzard. I suspect that was unintentional.

 

Borg Christmas

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=N2ck_7NTLB4&e

I cannot remember where I ran across this one…it’d almost have to be io9, right?