9 July 2015

Birthdays
Georgie Henley b. 1995 (The Chronicles of Narnia)
Toby Kebbell b. 1982 (The Fantastic Four [2015], Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Wrath of the Titans, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time)
Jamie King b. 1981 (Lost City Raiders, Vampire Diary)
Linda Park b. 1978 (Infestation, Star Trek: Enterprise, Jurassic Park III, Spectres)
Fred Savage b. 1976 (The Wizard, Little Monsters, The Princess Bride, The Twilight Zone [1986], The Boy Who Could Fly)
Enrique Murciano b. 1973 (Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, 666 Park Avenue, Star Trek: Enterprise)
Scott Grimes b. 1971 (DreamKeeper, Frogs!, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Critters 1 & 2, Frog, Twilight Zone [1985])
David O’Hara b. 1965 (Cowboys & Aliens, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, Wanted, Doomsday)
K. Todd Freeman b. 1965 (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles [2014], The Dark Knight, Buffy)
Kevin Nash b. 1959 (Almighty Thor [TV], Genesis [TV movie]. The Punisher, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Swamp Thing [TV], Super Force, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze)
Tim Kring b. 1957 (writer/producer, Touch, Heroes)
Kelly McGillis b. 1957 (Z Nation)
Philip Martin Brown b. 1956 (Sleepy Hollow [movie])
Tom Hanks b. 1956 (Cloud Atlas, The Polar Express, The Green Mile, From the Earth to the Moon, Apollo 13, Big, Splash, Mazes and Monsters)
Jimmy Smits b. 1955 (Revenge of the Sith, Attack of the Clones, The Tommyknockers)
Kim Hector b. 1953 (The Outer Limits, Twilight Zone)
Chris Cooper b. 1951 (The Amazing Spider-Man 2)
Ray Baker b. 1948 (Heroes, Path of Destruction, Alien Siege, Holes, Area 52, 3rd Rock from the Sun, The Tomorrow Man, Freaked, Total Recall [1990], C.H.U.D.)
O.J. Simpson b. 1947 (Capricorn One)
Dean R. Koontz b. 1945 (author, Dean Koontz’s Frankenstein, Odd Thomas)
Soledad Miranda b. 1943 died 18 August 1970 (Vampiros Lesbos, Count Dracula [1970], Pyro… The Thing Without a Face)
Edy Williams b. 1942 (Bad Girls from Mars, Dr. Alien, Lost in Space, Batman, The Brass Bottle, Twilight Zone)
Richard Roundtree b. 1942 (Knight Rider [2009], Speed Racer, Heroes, Vegas Vampires, Blade: The Series, Painkiller Jane, Theodore Rex, Beauty and the Beast [1989])
Brian Dennehy b. 1938 (The 4400, Category 6: Day of Destruction, NetForce, Cocoon, Ants)
James Hampton b. 1936 (Superboy, Teen Wolf 1 and 2, Otherworld, The Greatest American Hero, World War III, The Cat from Outer Space)
Vince Edwards b. 1928 died 11 March 1996 (Andy Colby’s Incredible Adventure, Return to Horror High, Tales from the Darkside, Space Raiders, Knight Rider)
Martin Garner b. 1927 died 28 September 2001 (Alien Nation [TV], Tales from the Crypt, Beauty and the Beast, Twilight Zone: The Movie)
Ed Ames b. 1927 (The Starlost)
Susan Cabot b. 1927 died 10 December 1986 (The Wasp Woman, The War of the Satellites, Viking Women and the Sea Serpent)

Notes from the birthday list.
1. The Picture Slot.The previous folk in the Picture Sot were Linda Park, the double threat of being fabulous and a regular on a Star Trek series, even if it was Enterprise, and K.Todd Freeman, Mr. Trick on Buffy. Regular readers will know that being a movie star is not the quickest way into The Picture Slot, and the biggest star here is Tom Hanks. I like Tom Hanks and he is a local boy. A friend of mine from my Atari days went to high school with Hanks. Hanks saw Jason and the Argonauts at the Grand Lake Theatre in Oakland and he loved it and so did I. We may have been in the same audience. I would even say his roles in The Green Mile and Apollo 13 are iconic.

But I ask you: In any of his genre films, did he have a line as good as "Is this a kissing book?" No, he did not so the Picture Slot goes to Fred Savage.

I am willing to listen to counter-arguments for Hanks or any of several others, but you should recall the First Rule of Blogging ("You aren't the boss of me!") may be invoked.

2. O.J. Simpson? Really? Yeah, I had to. I saw his name and already knew he was in Capricorn One, so he was a shoo-in.

3. Living Canadian free! No Canadians found today, the second time this week.

4. MST3K. I know The Viking Women vs. the Sea Serpent for sure and I think that's all we've got. 


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

Movies released 
Predators released, 2010
Despicable Me released, 2010

Predictor: Alexander Hamilton in 1787, commenting on the newly finished Constitution of the United States, quoted in The Experts Speak.

Prediction: “A shilly-shally thing of milk and water, which could not last.”

Reality: Treasury secretary Jack Lew has his heart set on putting a woman on the $10 instead of the $20, so I thought I'd give Hamilton a little blog love. It's easy to say he's wrong and the Constitution did last, but it only lasted because we say it's lasted. If some bold racist from the South said they were going to count black folks as 3/5 of people when redistricting, strict constructionists would have to take their side if they really meant what they said, but they won't because their alleged reasons are so much jiggery-pokery.

And if you want to mark the murder of the Constitution, though we decided not to bury the corpse, leaving us with some sort of zombie founding document, consider when the Supreme Court told asshole Andrew Jackson (lionized by the Democratic Party) he couldn't mess with the Cherokee but he did anyway, citing the fact the Supreme Court didn't have an army to back up what it wrote.

So I'm giving Hamilton half credit here. Yes, it lasted, but he's right that it was shilly-shally.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

Can H.G. Wells ever get full marks on a prediction ever again from this blog? Well, even a broken clock is right twice a day.

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!
 

8 July 2015

Birthdays
Jaden Smith b. 1998 (After Earth, The Day the Earth Stood Still)
Jamie Blackley b. 1991 (Snow White and the Huntsman, Myths)
Liz Katz b. 1988 (The Guild, The Crow: Wicked Prayer)
Jake McDorman b. 1986 (Aquamarine)
Alexis Dziena b. 1984 (Invasion, Witchblade)
Sophia Bush b. 1982 (Sabrina, the Teenage Witch)
Joshua Alba b. 1982 (The Dead Undead, Dark Angel)
Milo Ventimiglia b. 1977 (The Whispers, Gotham, Heroes, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch)
Shamron Monroe b. 1977 (Zombie Strippers!)
Jon Barton b. 1977 (Punisher: War Zone, Threshold, Dead Man on Campus)
Iyari Limon b. 1976 (Buffy)
Kathleen Robertson b. 1973 (Tin Man, Psycho Beach Party, The Hidden Room, Maniac Mansion)
Amanda Peterson b. 1971 died 5 July 2015 (Windrunner, Explorers)
Amy O’Neill b. 1971 (Honey I Blew Up the Kid, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Honey I Shrunk the Kids, The Twilight Zone [1985])
Michael Weatherly b. 1968 (Dark Angel, The Crow: Stairway to Heaven, Charmed, Asteroid)
Billy Crudup b. 1968 (The Watch, Watchmen)
Marcus Chong b. 1967 (The Crow: Wicked Prayer, The Matrix, Hard Time on Planet Earth)
Michael B. Silver b. 1967 (Heroes, Supernatural, The X-Files, Virtuosity, Deep Space Nine)
Lee Tergesen b. 1965 (The 4400, Weird Science [TV], Honey, I Shrunk the Kids: The TV Show)
Rocky Carroll b. 1963 (Invasion)
Robert Knepper b. 1959 (The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Arrow, R.I.P.D., Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, SGU Stargate Universe, Heroes, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Carnivale, Species III, Seven Days, Brimstone, E.A.R.T.H. Force, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Twilight Zone [1987])
Kevin Bacon b. 1958 (R.I.P.D., X-Men: First Class, Hollow Man, Apollo 13, Flatliners, Tremors, Friday the 13th)
Angelica Huston b. 1951 (The Addams Family, The Mists of Avalon, The Witches, Faerie Tale Theatre, The Ice Pirates)
Kim Darby b. 1947 (Dark Realm, The X-Files, Halloween: The Curse of Michael Myers, Teen Wolf Too, Star Trek)
Jeffrey Tambor b. 1944 (Paul, Hellboy, Muppets From Space, Meet Joe Black, Dr. Doolittle, Max Headroom, The Twilight Zone [1985/6])
William Cort b. 1936 died 23 September 1993 (Quantum Leap, Ghost, Small Wonder, Galactica 1980)
Marty Feldman b. 1933 died 2 December 1982 (Slapstick (Of Another Kind), Young Frankenstein)
Craig Stevens b. 1918 died 10 May 2000 (The Incredible Hulk, Project U.F.O., The Invisible Man, The Deadly Mantis, Abbott and Costello Meet Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde)
Glenn Langan b. 1917 died 26 January 1991 (The Andromeda Strain, Women of the Prehistoric Planet, Mutiny in Outer Space, The Amazing Colossal Man)
Dean Cromer b. 1917 died 14 December 1995 (Wonder Woman, The Monolith Monsters, Adventures of Superman, Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, Them!)

Notes on the birthday list.
1. The Picture Slot. How did I wait three years to put Marty Feldman in The Picture Slot? My excuses are Billy Crudup in Watchmen and Glenn Langan inThe Amazing Colossal Man, but even I don't consider those good enough reasons.

I can't believe he's been dead over 32 years now. I still miss him. He was frickin' hilarious.

2. Spot the Canadian! It's only Kathleen Robertson born north of the border today, though several actors' resumes have the definite whiff of Canuck-ness. 

3. Not the Guy at the Door. if Amanda Peterson hadn't died earlier this week, the cut-off person between the living and the dead would be 71 year old Jeffrey Tambor. That is way too young to be The Guy at the Door, but then again, 43 is way, way too young to die, and that was Ms. Peterson's fate.

4. Nepotism FTW. Her career has gone so well, I am willing to downplay any nepotistic advantage for Angelica Huston, but I have no problem acknowledging the nepotistic advantages of Joshua Alba, Jessica's way less famous brother. 

5. MST3K. The two I am sure of are The Amazing Colossal Man and The Deadly Mantis. I'm not sure Mr. Cromer was on the episodes of Rocky Jones that got roasted on The Satellite of Love.

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

Movie released
Fantastic Four released, 2005
 
 
Predictor: George Sutherland in his 1901 book Twentieth Century Inventions

Prediction: Electric heating is, however, the method which will probably take precedence over others in all those cases where systems are tried on their actual merits apart from sentiment or usage. The wonderful facility afforded by the electric heating wire for the distribution of a moderate degree of warmth, in exactly the proportions in which it may be needed, gives the electric method an enormous advantage over its rivals.

Reality: Gas is still used a lot. I don't know exactly how electric heating didn't win completely. Perhaps our undead architect comment hero will clue us in.

Never to be Forgotten: Irwin Keyes 1952-2015 Three obits yesterday and another today, three of four not getting to the age of Social Security. Irwin Keyes was a mainstay on modern horror, featured in productions including Professor Creepy’s Scream Party, Evil Bong 3-D: The Wrath of Bong, Legend of the Phantom Rider, Black Scorpion, Oblivion, Timemaster, Tales from the Crypt, Adventures in Dinosaur City, Frankenstein General Hospital, Nice Girls Don’t Explode, Exterminator, Zapped!, Friday the 13th and Nocturna. Some may quibble there isn't anything big budget on the list, but for for my money, that makes his ability to pay the rent with such a resume even more impressive.

Best wishes to the family and friends of Irwin Keyes, from a fan. He is never to be forgotten.


Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

Will The Experts Speak ever get something right? Don't put the rent on it.


Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!

7 July 2015

Birthdays
Dylan Sprayberry b. 1998 (Teen Wolf, Man of Steel, Land of the Lost)
Juliana Guill b. 1987 (The Apparition, Altitude, Friday the 13th [2009])
Zoe Anderson b. 1983 (The X Files)
Marika Dominczyk b. 1980 (Witchblade)
Hamish Linklater b. 1976 (Battleship, The Future, Fantastic Four)
Kirsten Vangsness b. 1972 (Agent Carter, Shelf Life, Vampire Mob, Phil of the Future)
Heather Kafka b. 1972 (Idiocracy, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre)
Tanya Newbould b. 1971 (Skyline, X-Men: The Last Stand, Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey)
Robia LaMorte b. 1970 (Buffy, Spawn, Earth Girls Are Easy)
Robin Weigert b. 1969 (Once Upon a Time, Gods Behaving Badly, American Horror Story, Lost)
Jorja Fox b. 1968 (House of Frankenstein [1997 TV movie])
Steven Schub b. 1967 (Brave New World, The Thirteenth Floor)
Tracy Reiner b. 1964 (Apollo 13, Masque of the Red Death)
Akiva Goldsman b. 1962 (writer, Allegiant: Part 1, Insurgent, Fringe, I am Legend, I, Robot, Lost in Space [1999], Batman & Robin, Batman Forever)
Billy Campbell b. 1959 (Helix, Revolution [2009 TV movie], Eureka, Meteor, The 4400, Dracula [1991], The Rocketeer, Star Trek: The Next Generation)
Catherine Carlen b. 1953 (Fallout: Red Star, They Came from Outer Space [TV], Chopper Chicks in Zombietown)
Shelley Duvall b. 1949 (Big Monster on Campus, Tales of the Mummy, Twilight of the Ice Nymphs, Frogs!, The Twilight Zone, Faerie Tale Theatre, Time Bandits, The Shining, Brewster McCloud)
Michael Herring b. 1947 (artist)
Joe Spano b. 1946 (The Invisible Man, From the Earth to the Moon, The X-Files, Apollo 13, The Incredible Shrinking Woman)
Ringo Starr b. 1940 (Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Alice in Wonderland, Caveman, Son of Dracula)
Richard Garland b. 1927 died 24 May 1969 (Mutiny in Outer Space, Panic in Year Zero!, Attack of the Crab Monsters, Adventures of Superman)
Jon Pertwee b. 1919 died 20 May 1996 (Doctor Who, One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing)
Robert A. Heinlein b 1907 died 8 May 1988 (won 1956 Hugo for Double Star, 1960 Hugo for Starship Troopers, 1962 Hugo for Stranger In A Strange Land, 1967 Hugo for The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress)
George Cukor b. 1899 died 24 January 1983 (director/designer [uncredited], The Wizard of Oz)

Notes from the birthday list. 
1. The Picture Slot. In previous years, I went with Robia LaMorte because I'm a Whedonverse nerd and Robert A. Heinlein because, well, this is a science fiction blog. Even with those two removed, I'd still say there are three good iconic choices, Shelley Duvall from The Shining, Ringo Star from Caveman and the winner, Jon Pertwee as the Third Doctor.

2. Nepotism FTW. Tracy Reiner is the daughter of Penny Marshall and took the last name of her stepfather Rob Reiner. Zoe Anderson is the younger sister of Gillian Anderson.

3. Living Canadian free! No Canadians today. That happens occasionally.

4. The Guy at the Door. No one older than Ringo Starr is alive and no one younger than he is has died yet. I can't tell you how old this makes me feel.

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

Predictor: John Langdon-Davies in hsi 1936 book A Short History of the Future

Prediction: Power will be supplied to all on the same terms as water and drainage today. Abundant new raw materials will make food, clothing and other necessities universally obtainable.

Reality: Being charitable, there is abundance in the world today compared even to the 20th Century, but not surprisingly, the people who own it want to be paid for it. A Commie like Langdon-Hughes might have thought that was only passing fancy, but we in the future can laugh at his naivete.

Though we might have to laugh through tears.

Never to be Forgotten: Amanda Peterson 1971-2015

For what I think is the first time, there are three genre obits today. The youngest, actress Amanda Peterson, had her heyday during the Brat Pack era and her genre movies are Windrunner and Explorers.

Best wishes to the family and friends of Amanda Peterson. She is never to be forgotten.
 

Never to be Forgotten: Daniel Quinn 1956-2015

The next oldest on our obit list is Daniel Quinn who died a month short of his 59th birthday. He also has just two genre credits, Spiders II: Breeding Ground and The X-Files.

Best wishes to the family and friends of Daniel Quinn. He is never to be forgotten.

Never to be Forgotten: Jerry Weintraub 1927-2015

The oldest of our freshly dead trio, producer Jerry Weintraub, is also the best known of the three. He worked both in the film and music industry and his three genre credits are the 2015 TV version of Westworld and the movies Soldier and My Stepmother Is an Alien.

Best wishes to the family and friends of Jerry Weintraub. He is never to be forgotten.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

It's Wednesday already and we hear from our sensible pal George Sutherland from his 1901 book Twentieth Century Inventions.

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!
 

6 July 2015

Birthdays
Robert Naylor b. 1996 (Helix, Being Human, Immortals, Stephen King's Dead Zone, Race to Mars)
Gregory Smith b. 1983 (The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising, A Wrinkle in Time, Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, Small Soldiers, Meego, M.A.N.T.I.S., Spellbreaker: Secret of the Leprechauns, Leapin' Leprechauns, Highlander [TV])
Paula LaBaredas b. 1982 (Attack of the 50ft Cheerleader, Camel Spiders, Paul)
Eva Green b. 1980 (Penny Dreadful, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, Dark Shadows, Camelot, Perfect Sense, Clone, The Golden Compass)
Kevin Hart b. 1979 (This is the End, Krod Mandoon and the Flaming Sword of Fire)
Adam Busch b. 1978 (The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Point Pleasant, Buffy)
Symba b. 1970 (The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Deep Space Nine, Sliders, Star Trek: Voyager)
Brian Van Holt b. 1969 (Ascension, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Threshold)
Brian Posehn b. 1966 (The Big Bang Theory, Knights of Badassdom, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Undead or Alive: A Zombedy)
Mark Mitchinson b. 1966 (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, Power Rangers, Underworld: Rise of the Lycans, Legend of the Seeker)
Casey Sander b. 1956 (The Big Bang Theory, Buffy, Quantum Leap, Predator II, Spaced Invaders, V)
Allyce Beasley b. 1954 (Gotham, Rumplestiltskin, The Tommyknockers, Superboy, ALF)
Jennifer Savidge b. 1952 (Evolution, FreakyLinks, Deep Space Nine, House of Frankenstein [TV], Lois & Clark)
Geoffrey Rush b. 1951 (Pirates of the Caribbean, House on Haunted Hill [1999], Mystery Men)
Geraldine James b. 1950 ( Robot Overlords, Alice in Wonderland [2010], Fairy Tales, Hex)
John Byrne b. 1950 (writer/artist, Marvel Comics, DC Comics)
Shelley Hack b. 1947 (Tales from the Crypt, Troll, SeaQuest 2032, Time After Time)
Gloria Gifford b. 1946 (Halloween II, The Incredible Hulk)
Sylvester Stallone b. 1946 (Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over, Judge Dredd, Demolition Man, Death Race 2000)
Fred Dryer b. 1946 (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Relic Hunter)
Burt Ward b. 1945 (Star Quest, Homeboys in Outer Space, Beach Babes from Beyond, Cyber-C.H.I.C., Batman)
Ahna Capri b. 1944 died 19 August 2010 (Man from Atlantis, Piranha, The Ivaders)
Rosemary Forsyth b. 1943 (Ghosts of Mars, Star Trek: Voyager, The Incredible Hulk)
Ned Beatty b. 1937 (Gulliver's Travels [1996], Replikator, Purple People Eater, The Incredible Shrinking Woman, Superman I and II, Exorcist II: The Heretic)
Janet Leigh b. 1927 died 3 October 2004 (Halloween H20, The Twilight Zone [1989], Starman, The Fog, Night of the Lepus, Hello Down There)
Merv Griffin b. 1925 died 12 August 2007 (Alice in Wonderland [1985 TV], Slapstick (of Another Kind), The Man with Two Brains, The Girl with Something Extra, The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms)
William Schallert b. 1922 (True Blood, Lois and Clark, Deep Space Nine, Matinee, Quantum Leap, Innerspace, The Twilight Zone [1986 and 1960], Gremlins, Twilight Zone: The Movie, Hangar 18, Legends of the Superheroes, The Bionic Woman, The Six Million Dollar Man, Colossus: The Forbin Project, Land of the Giants, Bewitched, Star Trek, Men Into Space, The Monolith Monsters, The Incredible Shrinking Man, Commando Cody, Tobor the Great, Them!, Invasion U.S.A., The Man from Planet X, Mighty Joe Young)
Nancy Reagan b. 1921 (Donovan's Brain, The Next Voice You Hear)
Sebastian Cabot b. 1918 died 22 August 1977 (Miracle on 34th Street [1973 TV Movie], The Time Machine, The Twilight Zone)

Notes from the birthday list.
1. The Picture Slot. Previously, the Picture Slot went to Oh That Guy extraordinary William Schallert, who turns 93 today and good on him. When it comes to movie stars, Geoffrey Rush and Sly Stallone are the biggest names here and for TV stars iconic in genre, Burt Ward as Robin is an excellent choice. But I was in a fabulous babe mood and selected Eva Green, the star of the current show Penny Dreadful.

2. Spot the Canadians! The younger Canadians are spottable, Robert Naylor and Gregory Smith, have Canadian looking credit lists. Rosemary Forsyth, the oldest Canadian celebrating a birthday today, is not spottable.

3. Yes, they're still alive. I'm not surprised about our two nonagenarians today. I saw William Schallert on True Blood  a few years back and I knew I hadn't seen his obit yet and I hope that is true for some time to come. I had my tabloid blog years ago and they always had Nancy Reagan on death's door, but she is still with us as well.

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

Predictor: The ESPN panel of baseball experts predict the playoff teams for major league baseball before the season starts.

Predictions (reality):
A.L East: Boston (5th in division)
A.L. Central: Cleveland (4th in division)
Detroit for wild card (3rd in division 6th in wild card race)
A.L. West: Seattle (4th in division)
Anaheim for wild card (currently top wild card team)

N.L East: Washington (1st)
Miami for wild card (4th in division, 9th in wild card race)
N.L. Central: St. Louis (1st)
Pittsburgh for wild card (currently top wild card team)
N.L. West: Los Angeles (1st)
  
Comments: Halfway through the season, the National League is much more predictable than the American. The only oversold team in the National are the wild card Marlins, who are well under .500 right now, while in the American, every prediction division winner is under .500 with lots of teams to climb over to get to the playoffs. We will of course check in again when the season is over and let the experts pick the playoffs, which they sucked at last year because two wild card teams played for the World Series, a hard outcome to predict. 

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

John Langdon-Davies is back, getting lots of stuff wrong.

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!
 

3 July 2015

Birthdays
Dean Cook b. 1985 (Powers, The Little Vampire, Highlander [TV])
Corey Sevier b. 1984 (Supernatural, Immortals, Age of the Dragons, Smallville, Metamorphosis, The Dresden Files, 2030 CE)
Brandon Jay McLaren b. 1981 (Dead Before Dawn 3D, Falling Skies, Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, Kyle XY, Smallville, Blade: The Series, Power Rangers S.P.D., Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed)
Shoshannah Stern b. 1980 (Jericho)
Olivia Munn b. 1980 (X-Men: Apocalypse, Iron Man 2)
Ian Anthony Dale b. 1978 (American Horror Story, Mortal Kombat: Legacy, The Event, Tekken, Dollhouse, Charmed, Angel)
Patrick Wilson b. 1973 (Space Station 76, Prometheus, Watchmen)
Shawnee Smith b. 1970 (The Grudge 3, Saw, Island, Breakfast of Champions, Armageddon, The Shining [1997 TV], The X-Files, The Stand, The Blob [1988])
Justin Dreyfuss b. 1969 (Munchies, Close Encounters of the Third Kid)
Connie Nielsen b. 1965 (Demonlover, Mission to Mars, Solider, The Devil’s Advocate)
Tommy Flanagan b. 1965 (Sin City, Alien vs. Predator)
Thomas Gibson b. 1962 (Category 6: Day of Destruction, The Lost Empire, Psycho Beach Party)
Hunter Tylo b. 1962 (SharkMan)
Tom Cruise b. 1962 (Edge of Tomorrow, Oblivion, War of the Worlds, Minority Report, Vanilla Sky, Interview with the Vampire, Legend)
Rick Ducommun b. 1956 died June 2015 (Brimstone, Ghost in the Machine, Groundhog Day, Encino Man, Gremlins 2, Little Monsters, Spaceballs, Max Headroom)
Cork Hubbert b. 1952 died 28 September 203 (Charmed, Sabrina, The Teenage Witch, Sinbad of the Seven Seas, The Charmings, The Twilight Zone [1986], Legend)
Betty Buckley b. 1947 (The Happening, Carrie)
Michael Cole b. 1945 (It, Beyond Westworld, Wonder Woman)
Paul Young b. 1944 (The Omega Factor, Mad Max)
Kurtwood Smith b. 1943 (Resurrection, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Deep Impact, Star Trek: Voyager, Deep Space Nine, The X-Files, Star Trek VI, RoboCop)
Harrison Schmidt b. 1935 (walked on the moon)
Tom Stoppard b. 1937 (co-author, Brazil)
Ken Russell b. 1927 died 27 November 2011 (director, The Lair of the White Worm, Altered States)
Tim O’Connor b. 1927 (The Burning Zone, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Wonder Woman, The Six Million Dollar Man, Sssssss, The Outer Limits, Twilight Zone, ‘Way Out)
Carol Ohmart b. 1927 (House on Haunted Hill, Men Into Space)
Rae Allen b. 1926 (Vampire Mob, Stargate, The Greatest American Hero)
Louise Albritton b. 1920 died 16 February 1979 (Son of Dracula)
George Sanders b. 1906 died 25 April 1972 (The Body Stealers, Batman, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Village of the Damned, From the Earth to the Moon)
Franz Kakfa b. 1883 died 3 June 1924 (author, Metamorphosis)

1. The Picture Slot. In previous year, I had moonwalker Harrison Schmidt and Thetan talker Tom Cruise in The Picture Slot. This year, I considered Kurtwood Smith (whom I didn't use because I'm a dumb-ass), George Sanders (whose iconic genre role as Mr. Freeze is beneath his dignity) and instead decided to go with happy-go-lucky elfin charmer Franz Kafka.

2. Spot the Canadians. The late Rick Ducommun was born north of the border and is hard to spot, but the other two are obvious to the trained Canuck hunter and the reader is given the chance to spot them.

3. Nepotism FTW, however small. Justin Dreyfuss is the nephew of Richard Dreyfuss. The two films lists are his entire credit list.

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

Movies released
Despicable Me 2 released, 2013
The Amazing Spider-Man released, 2012
Transformers released, 2007
Men In Black released, 2002
Terminator 2 released, 1991
Back to the Future released, 1985
 

Predictor: H.G. Wells in his 1901 book Anticipations

Prediction: The suggestion is powerful, the conclusion is hard to resist, that, through whatever disorders of danger and conflict, whatever centuries of misunderstanding and bloodshed, men may still have to pass, this process nevertheless aims finally, and will attain to the establishment of one world-state at peace within itself. In the economic sense, indeed, a world-state is already established.

Reality: Wells has a full chapter devoted to what a nightmare modern warfare will be and while the particulars are off, the basic premise is correct. We don't have a one world-state and we are unlikely to get there soon, but it should be noted that it's been seventy years since two (or more) truly industrialized nations squared off against each other. It's impossible to say now whether this is just a very long lull historically or the actual beginning of a limited version of peace among the most powerful nations.

Looking two days ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

The writer of this blog is going to take a two day break, known in some cultures as weekend. He has heard good things about them and wanted to try one just to see if he liked it. He will be back with the usual silliness on Monday.

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!
 

2 July 2015

Birthdays
Margot Robbie b. 1990 (Z for Zachariah, About Time)
Ashley Tisdale b. 1985 (Charmed, Donnie Darko)
Vanessa Lee Chester b. 1984 (The Lost World: Jurassic Park)
Owain Yeoman b. 1978 (The Sarah Connor Chronicles)
Yancy Butler b. 1970 (Kick-Ass, Lake Placid, Wolvesbayne, Basilisk: The Serpent King, Witchblade, Ravager, Perversions of Science, Mann & Machine)
Terry Rossio b. 1960 (writer, Pirates of the Caribbean, Shrek, Small Soldiers, Godzilla, The Puppet Masters)
Jerry Hall b. 1956 (Vampire in Brooklyn, Freejack, Batman [1989])
Andrew Divoff b. 1955 (Lost, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, The Rage, Dr, Rage, Wishmaster, Conan [1997 TV], Highlander [TV], Xtro 3, Mac and Me, The Twilight Zone [1986], Misfits of Science)
Wendy Schaal b. 1954 (The X-Files, Small Soldiers, Star Trek: Voyager, *batteries not included, Innerspace, Amazing Stories, Knight Rider)
Elisabeth Brooks b. 1951 died 7 September 1997 (Deep Space, The Howling, The Six Million Dollar Man, Kolchak: The Night Stalker)
Nancy Stephens b. 1949 (Dark Skies, Halloween I and II, Escape form New York)
Saul Rubinek b. 1948 (Warehouse 13, Eureka, Lost, Stargate SG-1, The Android Affair, Star Trek: The Next Generation)
Ron Silver b. 1946 died 15 March 2009 (Xenophobia, Timecop, Lifepod)
Kenneth McMillan b. 1932 died 8 January 1989 (Cat’s Eye, Dune, Heartbeeps, Salem’s Lot, The Stepford Wives, Dark Shadows [TV])
Robert Ito b. 1931 (MythQuest, Star Trek: Voyager, The Omega Code, The X-Files, Highlander [TV], Star Trek: The Next Generation, Buckaroo Banzai, Rollerball, The Six Million Dollar Man, The Terminal Man, Soylent Green, Dimension 5, Women of the Prehistoric Planet)
Brock Peters b. 1927 died 23 August 2005 (Deep Space Nine, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country, Alligator II: The Mutation, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, Battlestar Galactica [1979], The Bionic Woman)
Hannes Bok b. 1914 died 11 April 1964 (artist)
Hermann Hesse b. 1877 died 9 August 1962 (author, Steppenwolf, The Glass Bead Game)

1. The Picture Slot. Today's list has a lot more Oh That Guys than movie stars. In previous years the Picture Slot was given to artist Hannes Bok and writer Terry Rossio. This year it goes, to Saul Rubinek, an Oh That Guy whose work I've always liked, pictured as the collect Kivas Fajo from Star Trek: The Next Generation.

2. Wait... he's dead? Still not completely used to the fact that Ron Silver is dead.

3. Nepotism FTW. Wendy Schaal is the daughter of Richard Schaal.

4. A Canadian walks amongst us. Robert Ito's career started long before the big boom in Canadian TV and movie production.

Many happy returns to all the living on the list and to the dead, thanks for all the memories.
 
Terminator 3: The Rise of the Machines released 2003
Hancock released, 2008

I know some folks are excited for a new Terminator movie, but I terminated by Terminator activities after the second one.

Predictor: Richard Nixon, 15 October 1965

Prediction: If the United States gives up in Vietnam, the Pacific Ocean will become a Red Sea.

Reality: Well, we lost in Vietnam about 40 years ago now and the Commies still haven't pushed us out of the Pacific. One of the things about the future I find disappointing, maybe even more than the lack of flying cars and jetpacks, is how completely off the table any discussion of reducing the military budget is in the United States, even though the list of big victories after World War II consists of Grenada and the first Gulf War.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

Will tomorrow bring us H.G. Wells the futurist, H.G. Wells the warmonger or H.G. Wells the creepy guy?

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!
 

1 July 2015

Birthdays
Hannah Murray b. 1989 (Game of Thrones, Dark Shadows [2012 movie])
Laura Jacobs b. 1987 (Almost Human, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief)
Hilarie Burton b. 1982 (Extant, Forever)
Kim Jackson b. 1981 (Iron Sky, Scooby-Doo)
Clemency Burton-Hill b. 1981 (Supernova, Dungeons & Dragons: Wrath of the Dragon God)
Elizabeth Thai b. 1979 (Man of Steel, Arrow, Eureka, Fringe, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, The Dresden Files, The 4400, Smallville, Andromeda)
Liv Tyler b. 1977 (The Leftovers, Space Station 76, The Incredible Hulk, The Lord of the Rings, Armageddon)
Julianne Nicholson b. 1971 (The Others, Storm of the Century)
Colin Patrick Lynch b. 1968 (Serenity, Firefly, Angel, Terminator 2: Judgment Day)
Ritchie Coster b. 1967 (Let Me In, The Dark Knight, The Tuxedo)
Harald Zwart b. 1965 (director, The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones)
Dominic Keating b. 1962 (Beowulf, Heroes, Star Trek: Enterprise, The Immortal, Good vs Evil, Buffy, Poltergeist: The Legacy)
Andre Braugher b. 1962 (The Andromeda Strain [2008 TV], The Mist, Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Salem’s Lot, Frequency)
Dale Midkiff b, 1959 (Flight of the Living Dead, Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion, Time Trax, Pet Sematary)
Alan Ruck b. 1956 (The Whispers, Zombie Night, Fringe, Eureka, The Happening, InAlienable, Stargate: Atlantis, From the Earth to the Moon. Star Trek: Generations)
Robby the Robot built 1955 (Earth Girls are Easy, Gremlins, Mork & Mindy, Wonder Woman, Project U.F.O., Space Academy, Ark II, Lost in Space, The Addams Family, Twilight Zone, The Invasion of the Neptune Men, The Invisible Boy, Forbidden Planet)
Dan Aykroyd b. 1952 (Earth vs. the Spider [2001 TV], Evolution, Coneheads, Ghostbusters, My Stepmother Is and Alien, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Twilight Zone: The Movie)
Brian George b. 1952 (Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, The Big Bang Theory The 4400, Andromeda, Star Trek: Voyager, The X-Files, Lois & Clark, Deep Space Nine, Weird Science [TV], Poltergeist: The Legacy, Here Come the Munsters, Quantum Leap, Martians Go Home)
Terrence Mann b. 1951 (Sense8, The Dresden Files, Critters)
Michael Pressman b. 1950 (director, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze)
Deborah Harry b. 1945 (Anamorph, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Tales from the Darkside: The Movie, Videodrome)
Tony DiBenedetto b. 1944 (Lois & Clark, The Hidden II, Splash)
Genevieve Bujold b. 1942 (The Adventures of Pinocchio, Coma)
Inga Neilsen b. 1940 (Beyond Westworld, Wonder Woman, The Invisible Man, Grave of the Vampire, Batman)
Karen Black b. 1939 died 8 August 2013 (Ooga Booga, Dr. Rage, Teknolust, Dinosaur Valley Girls, Plan Ten from Outer Space, Evil Spirits, The Invisible Kid, It’s Alive III: Island of the Alive, Faerie Tale Theatre, Invader from Mars [1986], Capricorn One, The Invaders)
Ron Masack b. 1935 (They Came from Outer Space, Starman [TV], The Aliens Are Coming, Wonder Woman, Laserblast, Land of the Lost, Bewitched, I Dream of Jeannie, Twilight Zone)
David Prowse b. 1935 (Star Wars, The Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy [TV], Jabberwocky, Gulliver’s Travels [1977], Space: 1999, Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell, The Tomorrow People [1973 TV], Doctor Who, Vampire Circus, A Clockwork Orange, The Horror of Frankenstein)
Jean Marsh b. 1934 (An Adventure in Space and Time, The Tomorrow People [1994 TV], A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, Doctor Who, Willow, Return to Oz, The Changeling [1980], UFO, Unearthly Stranger, Twilight Zone)
Farley Granger b. 1925 died 27 March 2011 (The Invisible Man [1975], The Six Million Dollar Man)
Florence Stanley b. 1974 (Dark Shadows [1960s])
Harold Sakata b. 1920 died 29 July 1982 (Death Dimension, The Amazing Spider-Man [1978], Dimension 5)
Olivia de Havilland b. 1916 (The Swarm)

1. The Picture Slot. In earlier years, the Picture Slot was filled by Liv Tyler and Robby the Robot. This year it was a competition between Hannah Murray who plays Gilly on Game of Thrones, Dan Aykroyd from Ghostbusters and the winner, David Prowse as Darth Vader, seen here without his helmet.


2. Spot the Canadians! The fact that Dan Aykroyd is Canadian is at the level of not very tough trivia to my mind, and the other Canadian is the very pretty Laura Jacobs, whose career so far has consisted of being very pretty in the background.

3. Wait... she's dead? I'm still not quite used to Karen Black being dead.

4. Wait... she's alive? I kinda sorta knew Olivia de Havilland was still alive. I knew that she and her sister Joan Fontaine were still feuding until Joan died in 2013, the thing is I'm a little sketchy on which one is alive and which one is dead.

5. I know this, but I'm still not used to it. Deborah Harry turns 70 this year. Most of the rest of the folks from the punk/new wave scene of the 1970s are about ten years younger.

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

Movie released
The Last Airbender escaped, 2010  
Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs released, 2009
 

Predictor: George Sutherland in his book Twentieth Century Inventions

Prediction:  Just as the miner pounds away at the rock by means of compressed air or electricity, brought to his hands through a pipe or a wire, so the farmer will work his land by spades or ploughs by the same kind of mechanical power. The advantages of electrical transmission of energy will greatly favour this kind of installation on the farm, as compared with any other method of distribution which is as yet in sight. For the ploughing of a field by the electric plough a cable will be required capable of being stretched along one side of the area to be worked.

Reality: I like our sensible friend Mr. Sutherland, but he made an early decision that gas powered machinery was not going to be useful because of the technological challenges of 1900 and 1901. Those problems got fixed and we got the petroleum fueled modern world, like it or not.

This month's splash illustration: I'm a little amazed this exists, but this is a toy based on the 1963 episode of The Outer Limits entitled The Zanti Misfits. I was eight when I saw this and it scared the bejeezus out of me. The face of this toy kind of reminds me of Dr. Venture, so it's a little less scary now, but I can still transport myself back to the terrified pre-pubescent kid who first saw it in black and white.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

It's Thursday again and we get another clunker prediction from The Experts Speak.

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!