Tuesday, March 18, 2014

18 March 2014

 Birthdays
Lily Collins b. 1989 (The Mortal Instruments, Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, Mirror Mirror)
Sophia Myles b. 1980 (Transformers: Age of Extinction, Moonlight, Outlander, Dracula [2006], Doctor Who, Underworld, From Hell)
Tamer Hassan b. 1968 (Robot Overlords, Dracula, Clash of the Titans, Kick-Ass, Batman Begins)
Thomas Ian Griffith b. 1962 (Timecop: The Berlin Decision, Vampires, Kull the Conqueror, The Guardian [1997])
Richard Biggs b. 1960 died 22 May 2004 (Babylon 5, The Alien Within, Twilight Zone [1986])
Steve Kloves b. 1960 (writer, Harry Potter, The Amazing Spider-Man)
Luc Besson b. 1959 (director, Lucy, The Fifth Element)
Jim Knobeloch b. 1950 (Iron Sky, King Kong)
Brad Dourif b. 1950 (End of the World, Child’s Play, Once Upon a Time, Fringe, Halloween II, The Lord of the Rings, Soulkeeper, Prophecy 3, The Hunger, Alien: Resurrection, Star Trek: Voyager, Babylon 5, Escape to Witch Mountain, The X Files, Graveyard Shift, The Exorcist III, Dune)
Drew Struzan b. 1947 (illustrator)
Carl Gottlieb b. 1938 (director, Caveman)
John Updike b. 1932 (author, The Witches of Eastwick)
Jack B. Sowards b. 1929 died 8 July 2007 (writer, Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan)
Peter Graves b. 1926 died 14 March 2010 (Addams Family Values, The Invaders, Attack of the Eye Creatures, Beginning of the End, It Conquered the World, Red Planet Mars)
Alexander Leydenfrost b. 1888 died 16 June 1961 (illustrator)

Last year, being loyal to Babylon 5, an excellent 1990s sci-fi series on the brink of being forgotten, I put up a picture of the late Richard Biggs, who played Doc Franklin. This year, besides the several Pretty Girl options, I would say the best known name is Peter Graves, who like his brother James Arness made some 1950s monster movies before getting on the gravy train as a regular in a TV series.

But for me, some of the most interesting names on the list today and not the actors. The Picture Slot goes to a poster from the prolific and iconic illustrator Drew Struzan. Among his genre classics are Back to the Future, Star Wars, Star Trek, Harry Potter, Thor and the one I chose this morning, Blade Runner. The other illustrator listed Alexander Leydenfrost, has had his work reproduced on this blog as well, and will continue to have it on the anniversary of every You Have Official Permission to Freak the Fuck Out Day.

Many happy returns to the living on the list and to the dead, thanks for all the memories.

Predictor: Ray Kurzweil in the 1999 book The Age of Spiritual Machines

Prediction: By 2009, cables are disappearing. Computer peripheries use wireless communication.

Reality: This has to be considered partially correct, and I'd say even mostly correct. After 1999, tablet computers make a big splash, though it should be noted that the industry leading iPad wasn't released until 2010. Tablets are pretty much cable free when used, though they do have to recharge. On my laptop, I also have a wireless mouse, though it isn't perfect and goes through batteries more quickly than I would like. But for most desktop computers, the screen, printer and keyboard are still connected to the computer by cable. All things considered, I'd say "are disappearing" makes the prediction true, and "have disappeared" would have made it false.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

Our regular schedule is interrupted by an exact date, predicting economic collapse and nuclear war.

Fun!

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!

6 comments:

  1. On my computer, I have a Bluetooth keyboard, trackpad, mouse, and numeric keypad. The computers are connected to the office network wirelessly, including printers and plotters. I hate to say it, but my desk is supportive of Kurzweil.

    Stupid desk.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I dislike Kurzweil as well, but he isn't wrong all the time.

      I mean, he's not Paul Ehrlich, for Odin's sake.

      Delete
  2. Sophia Myles was also in "Moonlight" which had the misfortune of being a vampire TV series the year BEFORE the Twilight movies hit it big, which was ALSO the year of the TV writers' strike.
    I think I'll go watch an episode or three in honor of her birthday.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for keeping me on my toes. When I go to imdb.com, I don't click on every title that's unfamiliar and some slip through the cracks. I also have some shows I've decided to ignore, though I won't mention which ones unless it becomes a bone of contention,

      Delete
  3. I'm surprised you didn't feature Brad Dourif, he was in a ton of Sci-fi things. I do understand your love of Bladerunner and Babylon 5 though. The former being a great movie (NOT the director's cut...yuk!) and the latter being a great work of JMS, could have been almost perfect were it not for some (ahem) less than stellar acting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love Dourif's work, though my favorites of his are not genre, Cuckoo's Nest and Deadwood running neck and neck for the top spot.

      Delete

Traveler! Have you news... FROM THE FUTURE?