5 March 2014

Birthdays
Jake Lloyd b. 1989 (Star Wars: Episode 1: Don’t Make Me Type the Name)
Riki Lindhome b. 1979 (Big Bang Theory, Buffy)
Jolene Blalock b. 1975 (Legend of the Seeker, Starship Troopers 3: Marauder, Star Trek: Enterprise, Stargate SG-1, Jason and the Argonauts [TV])
Eva Mendes b. 1974 (The Spirit, Holy Motors, Ghost Rider, Mortal Kombat:Conquest [TV])
Matt Lucas b. 1974 (Alice in Wonderland [2010], Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire, Shaun of the Dead)
Paul Blackthorne b. 1969 (Arrow, Warehouse 13, The Dresden Files)
Aasif Mandvi b. 1966 (The Last Airbender, Jericho, Spider-Man 2)
David Fury b. 1959 (writer/actor, Fringe, Terra Nova, Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog, Lost, Angel, Buffy)
Adriana Barraza b. 1956 (Thor)
Samantha Eggar b. 1939 (The Astronaut’s Wife, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Demonoid: Messenger of Death, The Brood, Doctor Doolittle [1967])
Dean Stockwell b. 1936 (The Dunwich Horror [2009 and 1970], Battlestar Galactica, Stargate SG-1, Star Trek: Enterprise, Phenomenon: The Lost Archives, CQ, They Nest, Sinbad: The Battle of the Dark Knights, The Langoliers, Lois & Clark, Quantum Leap, The Twilight Zone [1989 and 1962], Dune, The Boy with Green Hair)
James Sikking b. 1934 (Star Trek III: The Search for Spock, Outland, The Incredible Hulk, The Bionic Woman, Man From Atlantis, The Terminal Man, Six Million Dollar Man, Escape from the Planet of the Apes, The Invaders, My Favorite Martian, The Outer Limits)

I'll admit it. Yesterday's birthday list was lacking in star power, but today's is much better. Last year, I had Jolene Blalock in the Picture Slot, both a fabulous babe and a regular on a Star Trek series. This year it's Dean Stockwell, a long career, a well-known face and a lot of his most memorable work in genre. I don't know who will get the Picture Slot next year, but it's probably not the youngest person, for reasons I don't think I need to explain.

Many happy returns to everyone on the list, all of whom are still alive. How about that? 
 

Predictor: T. Baron Russell in A Hundred Years Hence: The Expectations of an Optimist, published 1905

Prediction: I do not think that people will, within the next hundred years at all events, travel to and from work in flying-machines… But, as a means of amusement, the idea of aerial travel has great promise. Small one-man flying-machines, or the aerial counterpart of tandem bicycles, will no doubt be common enough. We shall fly for pleasure; and just as thousands of working men and women now take a Saturday-afternoon spin on a bicycle, so they will go for a sky-trip, and visit interesting mountain-tops for (non-alcoholic) picnics. The bicycle or the motor-cycle will perhaps be the point of development.

Reality: This week's prediction is very close to one hundred eighty degrees from correct. People do travel to and from work on planes, though few commute every day this way. People do travel by air for fun, but planes aren't much like tandem bicycles or motorcycles with wings. A plane is too expensive for the average working person to have one for weekend joyrides. And then there's Russell's dislike of alcohol, which sneaks into this prediction. Our pal T. Baron also thought eating meat and even drinking coffee and tea would be on the way out by the 21st Century, and on these points he and I part company. In moderation and at their appointed hours, caffeine, animal flesh and alcohol are among mankind's greatest blessings.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

The new regular Thursday predictor Lee de Forest shows up for the second time, looking at the 21st Century from his vantage point in 1960.

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!