04/05/’11

Science Fiction Rules

That is, the rules of science fiction.

In a totally shameless theft, I stole the majority of this entry from Fearsome Pirate over at metalutheran.blogspot.com but please don’t hold that against me, as I’ve added a few extra links and text to try and make my offering a little more educational and relevant to myself. (8+)

I am frequently insulted by the stupidity of Hollywood but I totally understand that what it does it does in the name of ‘entertainment’, as such I can (more or less) forgive such inaccuries as those listed below.

11 Days of The Doctor

I was sent a link by my mate Alex on Flickr of a set of images, some of which are reproduced below (with permission).
The Flickr profile in question isn’t a Pro account, which means they have limited bandwidth so hotlinking to their images really wouldn’t be a good thing.
To view the original images please go to this link : TheBritishBafoon on Flickr.
I’ve added a couple of images after the jump.
All this in in celebration of the return of Doctor Who this evening on BBC1 at 18:20.

Nanoscale Model of the Enterprise-D

This Starship Enterprise NCC-1701-D of Star Trek : The Next Generation was fabricated by Takayuki Hoshino & Shinji Matsui in 2003 (I don’t know why it only appears to be doing the rounds now) for the 47th International Conference on Electron, Ion and Photon Beam Technology and Nanofabrication Bizarre/Beautiful Micrograph Contest. Phew.
The model is an incredible 1:1,000,000,000,000 (European, (1:1,000,000,000 American)) scale – that’s 1 billionth scale.
To put it in more reasonable terms it measures a mere 8.8 micrometers long – there are 1000 micrometers in 1 millimetre.
Here’s the science bit …
It was created using a 30 kV Ga+ focused-ion- beam Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) that uses phenanthrene gas.
They should’ve created a tiny Borg cube to go with it, but the crowning glory (as if this wasn’t enough already) would have come if they managed to get the NCC-1701-D on the saucer section.

Sci-Fi Fans

Browsing around the net and I happened upon this Sci-Fi Superfan Reference Manual.
Now it’s more of a chart than it is a manual, but it’s still rather a fun diversion for 5 minutes.
The original can be found at MADATOMS.com.

Early Star Wars Storyboards

This one came to me by way of my forum.

Not much to say really other than it’s a Flickr set of early Star Wars storyboard images. How early, you might be asking? Well, the Mellinnium Falcon was still being called ‘pirate ship’ and it’s design hadn’t yet been finalised, that’s how early.
My favourite image in that set is the one of the prototype Darth Vader – read the comments and you’ll understand.

I hope you enjoy, and may the Force be with you. Always.

What is Kirill?

A few days ago someone called Rupert posted the following on my About this blog page …
My name is Rupert, and I’m working on a new Sci-fi project called Kirill, in conjunction with Microsoft MSN and Digital Studios (a little digital studio part of Endemol UK), and we would really like your opinion and feedback on the project so far. Here is the link to the video introducing the whole concept and explaining a little more. http://www.kirilluncovered.com/?p=16

This intrigued me enough to go searching for Kirill.
I didn’t really find any definitive answers, so I’ll ask about it here, perhaps you ot can help me work out exactly what it is.

I’m not entirely sure if it’s just some sort of viral campaign for a game, or a film (though imdb doesn’t have anything on the title) or a TV show or, well, anything really.
Is it simply something to do with Halowe’en?

Following the link Rupert posted it has an MSN logo on the page, so it’s likely to be some sort of online venture I’d guess, but what?

I don’t know. Do you?

@£$%

A break of two months (give or take) and I’m back … with a rant, of sorts.

The background
I’m going to a friends wedding next year which is being held in Las Vegas, so I have to save up, and to help with that I’m whoring myself with regards to overtime in work.

Today I’m working a 17hr day, all overtime (please, don’t get too excited, my basic is not much really), and I’ve just been informed about this (also here).
Now, you may, or may not, be aware that I’m Jedi by choice and missing this is a real downer.
Seriously, I can’t describe just how annoyed I am at missing this.
It’s on both days this weekend and I’m doing overtime today and I’m on my normal shift tomorrow.

Just earlier today I was looking on eBay at Stormtrooper outfits.

If I’d’ve known about this early last week I’m not sure I’d’ve taken todays overtime.

Goddamnit!
>8+<

The Sci-Fi Geek Hierarchy

Browsing the ‘net, as you do, I came across the following flowchart which details how some sci-fi geeks consider themselves less geeky than other sci-fi geeks.

Apparently I’m less geeky than SF/Fantasy Literature Fans but not as geeky as Trekkies Who Speak Klingon.

Where do you come in the chart?

Happy Star Wars Day