Hi-Sci-Fi

by Irma Arkus

Do you know what is the largest civilization on Earth?

First, let me first assure you, it is not human, but rather a recently discovered ant colony.

What was touted as a first confirmed “supercolony” were related ants living in colonies that spanned miles across North and South America, Europe and even parts of Asia. Scientists determined that the ants are part of a larger body because they “recognized” members from different colonies as relatives, rather than engage in war-like response reserved for those who were considered other.

But now, the scientists say that it is not only nickel particles that once assembled start to behave like a rather predatory organism. The supercolonies too behave in these patterns, resembling a living biological organism.

When conducting an analysis of some 168 species of ants at University of Florida, it has been found that while members maintain a certain “individuality” as a collective group, a colony, they tend to organize themselves in such a way to suggest a “superorganism.”

What is a super-organism anyways?

Well, according to the researchers, these superorganisms very much correspond to life, development and behaviour of an individual. Essentially, if one is to undestand the actions of colonies that have captured our imagination for millenia, then perhaps undestanding them as a singular is the key (and this is where I fondly harken back to Greg Bear’s “Slant”)

Once more, the research applies to not only ants, but bees, termites, and wasps. The findings will be offering a new, fresh perspective on how societies evolve and develop, perhaps most importantly, giving us new tools to learn about humans, or…that superhuman organism? ([ufl]

by Irma ARkus

It is obvious that 3D technology has captured the imaginations of many theatre viewers. But recent announcements indicate that the success of Avatar in 3D is about to quickly translate to numerous productions offering their films in the three-dimensional format.

From the ticket sales viewpoint, selling $15 dollar tickets instead of $12 tickets may be enough of a differential to gain an edge in the market and introduce something novel to the audiences.

Avatar’s ticket-box success also translates to lower, or inconsequential rates of piracy, as most flock to see Avatar in 3D rather than in conventional 2D mode.

But latest announcements, such as the recent question on IMDB “Right at this moment, Warner Bros. is considering whether to release the upcoming Clash of the Titans remake in 3D; do you think they should do so?” implies that many films are not offering the same kind of experience that James Cameron has provided for his fans.

Or for that matter, what does releasing a film in 3D mean anyways?

For one, Cameron invested in CG that would make the use of the technology highly sophisticated and realistic, resulting in some remarkable after-effects, including recently reported creation of false memories, and in some cases even depression on the part of the viewers who suffer after the realization that the world of Pandora is but a fantasy.

In a thorough examination of Avatar’s production, Cameron admits to millions of dollars spent in preparation specifically for this
unique, and novel format.

In an interview with Popular Mechanics, for example, Cameron admits to delaying the release of the film, awaiting for more theaters to install 3D equipment. Moreover, Vince Pace and James Cameron experimented with 3D relatively recently when capturing “Ghosts of Abyss” in 2003, and their experimentation with the format led to a creation of a specialty High-Definition 3D camera system, that allowed for multiple cameras to be fused 2 1/2” apart in order to create an image that would be captured by our two eyes.

The very definition of a 3D movie is “a motion picture that provides the illusion of depth perception. Derived from stereoscopic photography, a special motion picture camera is used to record the images as seen from two perspectives” [wikipedia: 3D films].

In Avatar’s case, the 2D releases of the film would simply eliminate the second “eye,” but that begs the question: are all films shot in 3D technology and we simply never get to see them?

by Irma Arkus

“We all knew that James Cameron, is a Canadian, and a total jerk, threatening the film industry,” explains a concerned 36-year old executive, James Smith. What Smith is referring to is the latest concern of major film studios: “Theaters play all kinds of films. The Tooth Fairy, Legion, Extraordinary Measures, Alving and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, and my favorite, The Book of Eli, a film about a supernatural bible that kicks the asses of all unbelievers. But all people wanna watch is Avatar!”

The treatment of these mediocre productions by the public, executives say, is unfair. And they see Cameron as a major threat to the film industry overall.

“We thought we had an agreement,” says Roger Browne, a major film investor. “We made concerted efforts to make Avatar dumb, and resemble Dancing with the Wolves as much as possible. But the public is just eating it up.”

The executives and the investors agree that Cameron’s Avatar is something that should never happen again, as it represents a security threat to the entire film industry. Rumours are, the film industry has gone as far as Pentagon to ask for assistance: “We are talking with some very important and powerful people. More powerful than Spielberg.”

According to the US-based Argonne National Laboratories, these self-assembled magnetic “snakes” very much emulate biological life, and do follow Markovnikov’s rule:

“Nickel particles float peacefully in a liquid medium until a giant snake seems to swim by and snatch several particles up, adding to its own mass. The self-assembled “snakes” act like biological systems, but they are not alive and are driven by a magnetic field. The research may someday offer some insight into the organization of life itself.”

by Irma Arkus

Every once in a while, television and the Internets conspire in an unholy alliance to produce something so vile that it can only be called irresponsible. I present to you Martha Stewart “pole dancing” video.

Yes, what is itching your lobes is tucked expertly between Yarn Cards and How to Choose a Lamp Shade. If we weren’t into horror, it would have stayed there, but every once in a while, I need to feel a few chills too.

Here comes brrrrr.

by Irma Arkus

Fox is officially the bane of my existence. Not only is Fox responsible for mowing down some of most fan-beloved shows, but its eagerness to remake everything into a watered-down version of its former self is starting to eat at my soul. I present to you the latest attempt to murder us in our stupor while sitting in front of the screens: remaking Torchwood.

I am not saying that it’s a bad idea. In fact, I can see Torchwood in an international setting - a sort of US arm of the specialty unit dealing with all alien threats. But I do ponder at why?

If you are not familiar with Torchwood, a Russell T. Davies show that sprung as a companion piece to Doctor Who, then let me do the introduction. Meet Captain Jack Harkness, an immortal man who wears a coat two sizes larger, and flashes a smile that will seduce every living thing, is in charge of Torchwood, a unit that combats all those dangers that aliens present, while the Doctor is away.

The unit is lovable, sexy, and more than mildly steamy. It’s like X-Files meets Saved by The Bell, but one in which everyone is doing it with everyone else.

In other words, it’s genious fun for grown-ups. And I do mean the kind that US television has failed to produce for decades.

So, my question is: why? Do they really think that the grave injury represented by unruly and flop hems around Jack’s ankles would be a forgivable sin if worn by anyone else?

Do you really see another Jack? Do you see too many gay romances? Do you see? Do you see? I don’t. Naaah. [The Hollywood Reporter]

by Irma Arkus

Of all the machiavellian moves to engage in censorship and control over Internet traffic, none is more insidious than the proposed ACTA, an international treaty designed as a draconian move to protect the interests of corporate copyright holders.

Thus far, most of ACTA has been deemed illegal - disconnecting users based on a detection of certain traffic suspected of copyright infringement does not translate into a solid proof of such infringement- and that is only the tip of an iceberg that is ACTA.

Either way, ACTA is a purely American invention, designed to provide optimal protection for corporations struggling to survive in a data-rich era.

The idea of course, is to create not only an environment in which Internet users are keenly aware of not only the legality of their own actions, but are exposed to continuous loss of any anonymity and sense of privacy.

The video enclosed is provided by Google DC talks, and it contains some very valuable insights, running at whopping 1 hour and 24 minutes.

One of the disturbing aspects of ACTA is that it is also designed to be kept a secret - as in, in order to protect corporations, the protections themselves will be kept out of the public sphere.

This stratagem of a legalistic maneuver is explained by the corporate sluts below:

First “real” look at the A-Team film remake.

by Irma Arkus

This week’s True Blood announced the added casting of Kevin Alejandro, a familiar face to viewers of Ugly Betty, Southland, and the now defunct Drive.

Alejandro will be joining the show but he will be playing an unusual addition to an already exciting storyline. Alejandro will play none other than Lafayette’s love interest, a move that will potentially change the face of homosexuality and solidify presence of homoerotica in North American media.

You see, Lafayette is unlike other gay characters which have graced the television screens of North American audiences.

Past shows featuring prominent gay characters, such as the long-running sit-com “Will & Grace,” tended to play into LGBT stereotypes, providing a way for the audiences to accept and connect with homosexuality through familiar, albeit often homophobic concepts.

Clip below showcases Will and Jack, who are an example of two male gay characters who display not only amazing interior design abilities, but also practice law and acting, two relatively soft, white-collar professions. They also braid each other’s hair!

But Lafayette’s presence is one that does not follow this familiar pattern in terms of behaviour, instead showcasing a much different, more complete personae, rather than the carboard(ish) stereotypes easily found in popular shows from “Sex in the City” and “Ugly Betty” to “The Office.”

They tend to be feminized to an extent that they serve as best friends of female protagonists who seek their council on everything from what to wear, to how to manage their lives and relationships. We almost never see their background stories, or see them in actual relationships, something that many LGBT communities actively complained about in the past.

Wonderfully depicted by Nelsan Ellis, Lafayette is unlike those characters. In some ways he is an embodiment of discriminatory patterns. He is a gay, black man, residing in a relatively stagnant, small town of southern Bon Temps.

But that is where the distinguishing qualities of Lafayett are showcased. Though flamboyant in his attire, he is also an individual aware of his strengths and abilities, as well as his physical capacity.

A mover and a shaker, Lafayette is a rare fish in a small pond, and he often supplements his income by engaging in variety of legal and illegal schemes. Highly intelligent, provocatively well spoken, and a natural charmer, he wheels and deals to the best of his ability. He mostly trades in drugs, in particular V, named to represent actual vampire-blood used by inhabitants of True Blood universe as a hallucinogenic and a short-term metamorphic substance; but he also engages in potential prostitution, and runs operations such as various internet businesses, including one in which he allows online viewers to pay for dancing in his own living room.

His main source of income though, is a string of low-skilled, low-paid jobs, and that includes being a line cook at Merlot’s, and occasional work in construction. This separates Lafayette from the usual glamour paved over the streets of New York or other major metropolitan cities, and instead allows us to identify him as part of lower-class, working America.

What Ellis brings to the show is an undeniable physicality to the character of Lafayette. Lafayette is keenly aware that he is an exceedingly attractive male, a quality that he takes full advantage of - after all, he wears a lot of makeup and even satin turbans that in any other setting than the kitchen would allow us to tap into Dior or Haute Couture - but he is also aware of his physical, masculine strength, and he seems very much prepared to use it to defend himself or his principles, displaying a kind of savage nobility that usually falls to heterogenous male protagonists.

Watch what happens when Lafayette’s cooking is rejected with a hefty dose of homophobic remarks:

While the discussion on whether Lafayette is confronting in this scene just another set of stereotypes, in this case, a group of three, lower class, unnecessarily patriotic men in fatigues, who also display a great deal of cowardice despite their outspokenness and initial impetus for aggression, Lafayette does succeed in aggressively confronting them, physically defending and proving his masculine superiority.

Thus, Lafayette represents not the kind of gay man who engages in traditionally feminine roles, which would allow the patriarchal, heterosexual audiences to easily dismiss him. Instead, he presents us with a homosexual character who explicitly showcases his masculine strengths.

Lafayette can very much be understood to be a new type of gay character in American media, one that departs from the acceptable stereotypes, and physically threatens the established status quo.

Lafayette’s character is also very much beloved by female and male audiences. While thus far Lafayette has been clearly depicted as a strong homosexual protagonist, the lack of any romantic involvement on his part has also somewhat slightly diminished his open display of homosexuality. In other words, he has been merely a supporting character that most noted as lively, and interesting, but one that still does not display his sexuality in an fully open fashion.

Now, however, with the announcement of Alejandro joining the cast as the Lafayette’s romantic interest, audiences would be given a chance to consume a relatively new type of gay romance, with undeniably homoerotic tendencies.

This very much invites the question of whether True Blood is acting as an introduction, or gives rise to, a type of “yaoi,” a popular sub-genre of manga comic books predominantly consumed by women in Japan.

Yaoi has thus far largely been ignored by the North American consumers, but the general excitement over Lafayette amongst the female audiences is undeniable, as is the excitement over what is to come in the upcoming season of the show.

Perhaps True Blood will pave the way for more than unexpected characters, but open us to a wider, cultural acceptance as well as the unlikely consumption of homoerotica on a much bigger scale.

by Irma Arkus

Check out the disturbing promotional trailer for Poochinsky, a failed attempt at a TV show with an unforgettable cop duo.

Hint: one of them is a dead cop who entered the body of a dog. Thanks to Mike for the tip.

ps. word “irony” pops into my head when I watch it, even though there is obviously no irony here. for some reason, I am also tempted to file it under “science.”

by Irma Arkus

The latest frenzy to install airport scanners has, in my humble opinion, gone overboard, and furthermore has given itching authorities carte blanc to installing another trillion dollars worth of security machinery that many experts doubt in terms of legality or safety, and generally making lives of passengers beyond miserable.

The airport scanners are invasive, and though I personally cackle with fond thoughts of Total Recall, they indeed present a serious invasion of anonymity for passengers.

Undertheradarmedia reports that actual images produced by the scanners are not in fact the negatives we’ve been shown. Instead the images appear as simple black and white “scans” of our bodies.

I personally am not a shy daisy, and neither is the woman in the image. But there is a great differentiation between having the right to say no to being examined head to toe and being forced to comply with extreme security measures(or otherwise get Tasered?)

Our sense of anonymity and privacy has already been vanquished to make way for “securitization.” Whether it’s securitization of economic funds, national borders, or just following orders of some vague “intelligence” community, I at least expected the luxury of having my ass covered with a shammy through the process. [Undertheradarmedia

by Irma Arkus

The finale of the Doctor Who “The End Of Time” special will be forever marked with a death of a beloved character, in this case the Doctor as portrayed by David Tennant. And I hated to see him go.

The heartfelt goodbye, Tennant’s close-up whispering “I don’t wanna go,” hit me square in the chest, forcefully provoking an emotional response.

I know, and you know, that Tennant in real life is not the Doctor, and I presume, nothing alike to him either. But Tennant’s acting skills and passion for this character has revived an almost dead franchise (not to undermine the marvelous debut by Christopher Eccleston) and made us “love him” in an entirely new and unpredictable way, one that can only be compared to what I call “passion of Tom Baker.”

End of Tennant is also an end to a chapter for the franchise, which at this point rules the hearts and minds of UK viewers.

It isn’t however Tennant’s work that we should mire, but rather Russell T. Davies, who started humbly with a vision of the Doctor’s resurrection, only to pump out not one but three (3!) successful television shows.

Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, and Doctor Who concurrently ran in order to provide a complete immersive experience to an audience thirsting for science fiction with a UK angle in numerous flavours.

And having three television shows was only the beginning. There is also the tireless marketing machine that engages the public in an even broader sense, with Dr. Who music concerts, various benefits and fundraisers, featurettes, television specials, behind-the-scenes video diaries, cartoons, blogs and webisodes of all colours, not to mention the amount of merchandising available.

That said, Tennant’s face represented an important era of Doctor Who series, and while three seasons of watching him perform may sound like a lifetime for an actor, in reality, when compared to Tom Baker’s run at the role who lasted for seven seasons, it does not seem like all that much in particular.

Three seasons is nothing when looking at comparably popular shows. Stargate SG-1 for example, had ten seasons, and the core cast held on for an entire decade, but I digress.

The point is, it could have lasted for longer. Why didn’t it though?

The idea behind Tennant’s decision to move on may be directly tied to the fact that Russell T. Davies has decided that it is time for him to take a break, announcing the franchise is to be left in the competent hands of Stephen Moffat.

On the one hand, Moffat’s work has been quite exciting. Blink, The Girl in The Fireplace, the Doctor Dances, and more importantly, his genuinely interesting work on Jekyll, represent the body of Moffat’s writing.

However, Moffat’s arrival is also hailed as a Reboot, or Restart of the Doctor Who universe. Moffat’s favorite Doctor is Peter Davison, and he apparently has not much love left for current villainous creatures, intending to bring, I am guessing, more gothic themes, more dead and ghostly children.

Moffat’s arrival to the helm has already struck my heart with a pang of panic and fear, but the teaser for the upcoming season has been already eliciting excitement.

So, thank you Tennant. I wish you a lot of luck. The best of luck. And more importantly, thank you Davies! And Moffat…we know where you work.

Nothing says I love Star Trek AND diving like the Star Trek Wetsuit.

These suits are the newest novelty item aimed at us poor geeks who are willing to shell out a pretty penny for just about anything Star Trek. I have to say that even though I am horribly broke, this one does appeal to my senses, and I am terribly, terribly tempted.

It sure beats a uniformed teddy bear.

by Irma Arkus

It was hard compiling the list of what we loved and didn’t this year. First I tried the top 10 list. 10 of what? Quite honestly, when I realized that I didn’t even love 10 films this year, I gave up and decided to just list off what I loved, hated, enjoyed…

So this is our 2009 list.

MOVIES WE LOVED

This year marks a new chapter in sci-fi cinematography. One in which Duncan Jones and Neil Blomkamp successfully carved out a place for science fiction in theaters, something that came from a left field, and left us truly excited.

Moon (2009) has been a great film to watch. Smart, dramatic, inspired by classic science fiction films such as Odyssey 2000, Moon manages to propel hard science fiction elements and tell a human story of Sam Bell, a mining worker stuck with a solitary 3-year contract on our moon. After an accident, Sam finds out that neither the corporation he works for nor himself may be what he initially assumed.

Fans of the film were so rabid in their support that they actively pursued Oscar noms from audiences in form of general pestering and petitions. Sam Rockwell’s performance can be only admired and the film does seem to have gained an Oscar push.

District 9 (2009) has been a smart action film with bold political overtones. Delivered by Neil Blomkamp, the film takes us to a parallel world in which aliens live in South African apartheid conditions. Stranded on earth, the alien species struggles with corporate and political interests. Wikus, a mid-level bureaucrat becomes affected by a compound that transforms him into an alien, having to fight for his own survival. A must-see, the film has done remarkably well in theatres, ensuring that Blomkamp’s next project will receive millions of audience members.

9 (2009)
The animated feature by Starz Animation has been received relatively well, but not spectacularly so. The feature does deserve your attention though, if for nothing else then for the endearing character of 9, a humanoid creation that fights for a new vision of the world devastated by environmental hazards.

More successful than Terminator Salvation, 9 depicts the post-apocalyptic world with a tangible, emotional story, of a devastated world in which this new creation is grasping for a life beyond war.

Yesterday Was A Lie (2009)
James Kerwin’s project that introduces a smart mix of genres bringing us a thinking sci-fi noir. Quantum physics meets film noir, the film oozes with beautiful characters and female lead Hoyle, who delivers us a non-linear storyline and fantastic performances by Kipleigh Brown and Chase Masterson.

This independently produced gem was struggling to find its feet, and if you haven’t seen it yet, I suggest you get a copy, stat.

I also suggest you keep an eye on Kerwin and this bunch. They mean trouble, and many exciting sci-fi projects are in planning stages.

Avatar (2009)
Cameron’s baby has been touted to have such magical powers that it will literally change the world as we know it. That may have been an overstatement, as the screenplay written by Cameron revealed a more of a Lucas-angle than we ever thought possible. But the technology and the animation are so amazing that the film is worth viewing, even if you hate the smurfs.

Watchmen (2009)
When Zach Snyder announced that he’ll attempt to cramp the entirety of Watchmen into a single feature, we knew that many, many would be leaving the theatres unhappy, no matter how brilliant the film would be. And truly, the film has left a lot of anguish and disappointment amongst fans, but at the same time, Snyder’s filmmaking abilities are undeniable and Watchmen, for what it is, gets to the heart of Moore’s story: if superheroes would exist, ours would be a sad world, full of fascism. Then again, we may be getting there anyways. Watch the Watchmen.

Pandorum (2009)
While reviled for its nudge towards horror, this sci-fi film does offer an intersting storyline, good acting and plenty of boohs. Resemblance to Event Horizon is touted to be accidental, yet it is inescapable to compare the two. Still, it has been a while since we’ve seen such a stylish Event Horizon.

Coraline (2009)
I secretly (alright, maybe it’s not such a big secret) believe that all Neil Gaiman books should be made into films. Coraline is just such an example of story of a girl who walks off into a better, more attentive universe, one in which mom and dad are quite a lot of fun. The downside is they are a little bit different, sporting buttons for eyes. Not all that starts well, ends well, learns little Coraline who must fight the dark forces to retain her lovely peepers.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009)
Lovely interpretation of what I hope will rise into a franchise of fun, X-Men based films, Wolverine’s story includes, and successfully so, some major X-Men characters that most have been hankering after - Gambit, Deadpool and more. I refuse to wax poetics about Wolverine, considering that it is an exploitation of well true, tried techniques, and that it is based on a rather extensive comic book line. But for what it is, it is good.

Land of the Lost (2009)
What’s a Will Ferrell movie doing on my list? Well, you should watch this then. Not only is this most loosely-based film on popular Jules Verne story, but it contains a great deal to glamor sci-fi of the 60s and 70s. Ferrell plays a professor who…oh, what does it matter…he is a great, fluffy scientician, and they end up fighting off dinosaurs as well as the Sleestack race intent on conquering the universe and time as we know it. Also stars the most excellent Danny McBride. I laughed a lot.

Zombieland (2009)
This film taps into the recent trend of combining comedy with horror, and does very well as such. Gun-toting Woody Harrelson meets a survivalist Jesse Eisenberg, who gives us his list of techniques on how to survive a zombie-ridden world. But Eisenberg is also going through adolescent growing pains, and the list must be forsaken if he is to fight for his new love. It’s about friendship, twinkies, and most importantly, Bill Murray.

MOVIES WE HATED

Star Trek (2009)
I get it. It was a fun romp. An adventure through the stars. Like watching the old faces but new and young. And I still hated it. Why? Because somewhere down the line, I was cheering for Nero. Replacing decades of Star Trek morality tales that made fans look to a better, fairer future, was replaced by something akin to popcorn action in which the good guys are actually not that good. I already live in a world like that thank you very much, and I don’t need you to rub it in.

In other words, go Nero!

The Surrogates (2009)
We have been thirsting for a film that would combine action and science fiction. We watched District 9 and it was good. The Surrogates on the other hand, did very little of that, settling for an execution of a mediocre, Hollywood-polished production telling a tale of a world occupied by avatars, except with very little action, and even less story. We wanted to see Bruce Willis suffer, and instead, we just got to see him walking around. Dull.

Gamer (2009)
This horrible attempt at giving us a world full of people, poor or convicted used as avatars for play of the rich and…rich, is actually one film that left me on the sidelines. The reason why I hated it is not the lack of action, which it has plenty of, or acting, that too is fine, but for this crude depiction of…yes, gamers. It crossed a line by insulting and caricaturing its very own audience. Still, I would catch it on DVD.

Knowing (2009)
While the cinematography of Knowing is surprisingly good, this Nicholas Cage film is one film I loved to hate this year. Heavy Christian overtones are threwn around the film in which a time capsule reveals the date of the end of the world. Cage, a single father, realizes that his son is “chosen.” In other words, we get to see the Rapture with a sci-fi twist.

Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009)
We already got to see this version of Romeo and Juliet as the story of doomed lovers is glimpsed by the viewers in the previous, second film in the Underworld franchise. Why for the life of me this deserved a full feature, I don’t know. The film isn’t any worse or better than its predecessors, and it does make for a light piece of entertainment, but I cringed at the thought that the makers of the popular vampire-action films could not dedicate their time to a new story that would actually capture our attention, rather than just retell what they already successfully did in the previous film.

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)
Instead of cheeky characters, bad lines, and a guy with a funny Cobra head, we got this sleek, fast, heartless monstrosity, aimed only at 13 year-old-boys who have an hour to spare. G.I. Joe was supposed to appeal to our inner nostalgia, and instead it just ended up disappointing multiple generations. Do not, under any circumstance, bother wasting your eyes on this.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009)
I think that Michael Bay is a very, very ill man, who has some kind of hyper-HDD condition. He lack the ability to focus so very much that he created two full hours of non-stop commercial in which cars transform, die, and rise again. Unless you are on drugs, or watch this in tiny, 5-minute incremental snippets, you will suffer the consequences of the atrocity that is the sequel to Transformers. Watching is like having your brain on fire with stupidity.

Not sure how many of you have seen the first part of…DOOM!!! Alright. Not exactly doom, but rather the highly anticipated Doctor Who X-mas special, which will result in hallowing in a new era of the Matt Smith Doctor, and kiss the old one, meaning David Tennant, goodbye.

Thus far, the nailbiting adventure has brought back the old and the bad: John Simms is back as The Master, except somehow even more likeable and charming than the last time around. Turns out, The Master was not crazy, he just can’t stop hearing the drums!!!

Grandpa Noble is back as well, we just cannot figure out why, but we like the old man a lot.

And also, Donna Noble is back! Donna turns out to be one of the select few humans who can resist the Master’s mind-manipulation techniques. As a side effect, Noble is also starting to remember the past, which is a bit of a relief considering that she has left to a cruel, average and miserable destiny, leading the life of a minimum wage temp.

At the end though, we are exposed to not only a swarthy, vocal and somewhat spitty Timothy Daulton, but to a potentially returning glory of Gallifrey.

Here’s the teaser for the Saturday’s conclusion of the End of Time!!!

by Irma Arkus

Joined study by a Princeton and Harvard science team, whose findings are published in this week’s Nature, reveals that our polar ice sheets are far more vulnerable to temperature changes than initally estimated.

Even minor warming, study warns, will result in a significant sea level change. Estimated 2 degrees temperature increase could give rise up to 9 meters in the sea levels.

That significant of a water increase would impact all coastal areas, at this point most populated areas on the planet, submerging New Orleans, a big part of Florida, large part of the US East Coast, Bangladesh, and most of the Netherlands, resulting in billions of dollars worth of losses, and displacement of millions of people from their homes.

Though the rise in sea level is officially expected to take centuries researchers point out that the continuous rise in greenhouse gasses may speed up this process.

While the Copenhagen talks disintegrated, many hope that the action on the global climate change be undertaken swiftly, and on a global scale.

by Irma Arkus

Paramount has hired Ashley Edward Miller and Zack Stentz, better known for their work on Thor, to work on the adaptation of Damn Nation for the silver screen.

Damn Nation is a Dark Horse comic book mini-series, a trilogy written by Andrew Cosby, on the subject of a vampire-creating disease outbreak. A combo between zombies and vampires. US is attacked by creatures of the night to such an extent that most population has been entirely evacuated.

A la Omega Man, but with a lot more fangs. In fact, now that I think about it, Damn Nation may be more Richard Matheson than “I Am Legend.”

Once the infection takes place on a large scale, a group of scientists returns to US, trying to find a cure. And you know what happens then.

by Irma Arkus

Wow. So many people are being added to True Blood cast that I am starting to seriously suspect some major funding provided to production.

The latest scoop is that we are not only to meet Sam’s younger, long-lost brother, but we’ll also get to meet his father, played by Cooper Huckabee, his mother, as portrayed by J. Smith-Cameron.

But don’t think that the story will be only concerned with Sam’s family background as we also get to meet Lafayette’s mother, played by the wonderful Alfre Woodard.

Natasha Alam is added to the cast as a sexy Fangtasia dancer who catches the eye of none other than Eric.

But that is not all, as Sookie is said to also have a romantic interest in the new werewolf in town, played by Joe Manganiello, who as Alcide Herveaux, helps her find Bill after a “kidnapping”???

Evan Rachel Wood is reappearing as queen of all vampires, but leeks indicate that there will be some kind of vampire king in the mix as well.

Tommy Mickens, a character unknown, will apparently also play an important role in the upcoming season. We just don’t know who it will be, or who it will be portrayed by.

Apparently, Alan Ball wants to shake up our feathers quite a bit this season, adding werewolves and romantic interludes a plenty. Who am I to argue?

The only fly in the ointment is the date for the new season premiere: June, 2010. Long way to go, and nothing to watch.

During our last broadcast, Tarek mentioned “Muscle March” for Wii and as promised, we want to share the weird, the amazing, and the funny.

Apparently, the guy in the football suit steals the protein powder from muscle men. As a body builder, you run after him through various “holes in the wall” but as you cross the wall barrier, you must assume the correct muscle pose to gain points. Simple? Not if you don’t know your poses. Also, hillariously, the assumption is that these are muscle MEN (and a polar bear?) poses, rather than just body-building poses, kind of farting in the general direction of all those lovely body-building ladies. Either way, Muscle March is undeniably weird, colourful, and oh so very Japanese.

Here is Muscle March!

by Irma Arkus

Hiromasa Yonebayashi, Ghibli studio director and animator, has announced that the next production will be “Karigurashi no Arrietty” based on Mary Norton’s book.

According to Kyodo News, the film, translated as “Arrietty Borrows Everything,” is actually based on “The Borrowers,” Norton’s best-selling novel that already received a film treatment in 1997, albeit unsuccessful, about the lives of the little, 10cm large (4” tall), people who live underneath the floorboards of a lively house.

Now studio Ghibli will apply their own treatment to the book, focusing on the character Arrietti, a girl living underneath a kitchen floor who eventually befriends a little human boy in the house.