Category: Share the Love

Movie Review: The Green Slime

the green slimeThe Green Slime is a campy 1968 Sci-Fi flick written by Ivan Reiner (story), Bill Finger, Tom Rowe and Charles Sinclair  (screenplay), directed by Kinji Fukasaku, and starring Robert Horton, Luciana Paluzzi, and Richard Jaeckel (See full cast and crew).

Green Slime: The Premise

A large asteroid threatens collision with the Earth.  Commander Jack Rankin is sent up from earth to an orbital platform to take command of a spacecraft and crew who will attempt to destroy the asteroid with nuclear charges.  For some inexplicable reason, Rankin is also taking command of the orbital platform, currently under the command of Cmdr. Vince Elliot.  Of course these men have a history.  Part of that history is Dr. Liza Benson, who serves aboard the platform with Commander Elliot.

The ball of space rock threatening Earth is infested by globs of green goo that interfere with the mission by disabling equipment.  The spaceship must attempt to outrun the nuclear blast by accelerating beyond its designed capacity.  The mission to the asteroid is successful in blowing up the asteroid, the ship and crew survive, but a miniscule glob of the green goo hitches a ride along in a fold of a crew member’s space suit.

Continue reading “Movie Review: The Green Slime”

The Ups and Downs of Slope Side Living part 2

Last time I covered some of the challenges people will face while setting up home in mountainous terrain.  This time I want to look at some of the rewards and drawbacks of living here.

Bungalow_8699
Our Mountain Home

Before we were married, Marie was a life-long resident of St. Louis, Missouri. She grew up being able to walk to school, the library, and the neighborhood grocery store. Many of her relatives and most of her friends lived right in her neighborhood. When desired, her family could get in the car and drive a few minutes to find most anything their hearts desired. The gratification of going out for something and coming back home with it that day was a way of life.

During my youth, we lived mostly rural. Often in a community that was little more than a handful of homes, a post office and a grain elevator. A few times in a small town with a population of a few hundred, a bank, post office, maybe a couple of grocery stores (just to make it interesting) and a Woolworth’s. Other times truly rural: out in the sticks. We moved a lot, and we preferred a little elbow room.

When Marie and I married, the wisest thing to do was for me to let go of my little rural rental house and move to the city to share a home with her. For a few years I became accustomed to the convenience of being able to buy lumber and supplies as needed for my woodworking because several specialty stores were just a few minutes of driving away.

How we came to move to the mountains is a story unto itself, but as we formulated that plan the biggest hurdle in Marie’s mind was going to be giving up the convenience of having all the trappings of life so close at hand. Her only real demand was that there would be a Wal-Mart within a reasonable distance … and that we have the fireplace she has always wanted.

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Book Review: Dark Space

Dark Space, sci-fi, science fiction, space operaDark Space, by Jasper T. Scott is a rollicking space opera that kicks off a series of books in high adventure fashion.  This review is based on the Kindle edition, this book is also available in paperback.

The Dark Space Story

Ethan Ortane is captain of a badly beat up space freighter, he already owes crime boss Alec Brondi a lot of money for previous repairs and now Ethan and his female sidekick are on the run.  But you can’t hide from Brondi.

When Brondi catches them he forces Ethan into a deal he doesn’t want.  A deal that would mean he would be responsible for the loss of a great many lives.

Our setting is a place called Dark Space, a galaxy within a shell of black holes.  Once used as a dumping ground for convicts it is now the final refuge of humanity’s remnants as they flee a merciless invasion by the Sythians who are bent on the extinction of all humankind.

There are several sub-plots that wind around one another to propel the events of the story.  There are surprises and twists too. Continue reading “Book Review: Dark Space”

Book Review: Foreign Identity

Foreign Identity sci-fi novel by Becca J. CampbellForeign Identity, by Becca J. Campbell is quite probably the strangest alien abduction story I have read:  “strangest” as in unique and imaginative.  It is also a genre-melding story that brings together elements of romance, fantasy, mystery and Sci-Fi.

A note on the romance angle: I tend to avoid modern romance novels because so many of them are a cape of pornography hung on a wireframe of plot.  The primary thrust of the story (pun intended) is graphically described sex.  Foreign Identity is not one of those. 

The story begins with a man and a woman chained to opposite ends of a strange room.  They awaken to discover that they have no memory of who they are, where they are, or how they got there.  The room is a puzzle, a puzzle they must work together to solve.  But it is also just the first step in a long series of challenges that are before them as they get to know one another and try to discover who they are, what is happening to them and how to get back “home”. Continue reading “Book Review: Foreign Identity”

Book Review: Alien Empire

Alien Empire, by Anthony Gillis, is an interesting read that disappoints in only one way.

Alien Empire: The Story

The central character is history professor, Haral Karden, who specializes in first contacts between cultures.  When a fleet of alien ships appears at the edge of the solar system, heading inward, he is included in a group of leaders who are assembled to greet them.

Upon their arrival, the ambassador for The Elders; an ancient, spacefaring race,  tells the world of The Galactic Protectorate, where hundreds of thousands of worlds enjoy peace, plenty and prosperity.  He invites them to join this union of worlds and offers to share amazing Elder technology that will provide cheap clean power, improved manufacturing and brotherhood among the nations.

Politicians attempt to use the event to bolster their own power.  Much of the populace embraces the invitation.  Professor Karden asks himself, “What do they want in return.”

Together with a quirky pair of scientists, a manufacturing mogul, and a linguist, Karden answers that question, along with the related concern of “What happens if we decline?” and unwittingly set themselves up as leaders of a revolt. Continue reading “Book Review: Alien Empire”

Is Science Fiction Returning to Syfy?

science fiction, Childhood's End
Childhood’s End by David A. Ledwith

For true Science fiction fans, the Syfy channel has been a disappointment for a while now as it seems to have turned into The Paranormal Channel.  But it seems there is hope for them yet.

On Monday April 15th, the premier of Defiance will air.  If you’ve been living in a deep cave somewhere and are unaware of Defiance, this is a post-invasion/apocalypse story about a group of survivors manning a resistance base in St Louis fighting back against the aliens who have practically destroyed the earth.  OK, not exactly an original story line, but what makes this one different (aside from the promise of some outstanding special effects) is the fact that the TV series is to be tied to the video game and (eventually) top players in the game will be helping to steer the show’s progress.  This will either become a ground-breaking multi-media tie-in or the most shameless video-game promotion ever.  I suspect the latter, but I’m willing to give it a chance. More on Defiance is available here: http://www.defiance.com/

In addition, Syfy has several other promising science fiction projects in the works: (Most of the following was gleaned from io9.com)  Continue reading “Is Science Fiction Returning to Syfy?”

Book Review: Scat

The Story

Scat by Jim Graham, sci-fi novelScat, by Jim Graham is an imaginative and intriguing story set in the far future that follows Sebastian Scatkiewicz, a.k.a. Scat – an American in the US Marine Corps and decorated war hero. After ‘retiring’ from the Marines he finds himself on a distant planet working in a mine. He gets caught up in a riot there, and is shipped to another planet where he is unwillingly swept up in a planetary rebellion. The major players in the war that ensues are not governments so much as mega-corporations, a regulatory commission and the people of the planet he’s on. All he wanted was to do his tour of duty in the mine, get paid and buy a patch of dirt to settle on. Now he’s embroiled in a war and he has to choose a side.

Mr. Graham employs some unique science and offers a very dark view of corporate domination that may appear all too realistic given the way things are going. The story undergoes several convolutions that turn the plot on its head and leaves you guessing where it will end up, and I love the twist at the end that serves up retribution for the villainous. All of the villainous. Continue reading “Book Review: Scat”

Book Review: The Trilisk Ruins

The Trilisk Ruins (Parker Interstellar Travels #1), by Michael McCloskey, is a futuristic tale.  Mankind has achieved an efficient form of space travel and ventured out among the stars, but humanity and the people who try to manage it are not so very different from us today.

Among the stars, humanity has discovered evidences – artifacts – left by several technologically advanced alien races, but have not found any evidence that these races still survive.

Telisa Relachik is the daughter of a high ranking naval officer, the captain of a military starship.  She is trained as a xenoarcheologist (studier of alien artifacts) and highly resents the government’s increasing attempt to control possession and even knowledge of the alien artifacts. This puts her and her father at odds with each other.

Telisa accepts a job offer with an organization that has the ability – and the desire – to help her locate and study artifacts without government interference.  The only problem is that doing so is so illegal it carries the death penalty. Continue reading “Book Review: The Trilisk Ruins”

The National Anthem Done Right

If you’re like me you get a little tired of pop stars mangling the National Anthem at events in order to “make it their own”.  Here’s a gem I came across that is wonderful.  Three young siblings (Erika, Delaney, and Zachary) singing the anthem (as originally written), right in their own living room.  It is less than 2 minutes long and well worth a few moments of your time.  I especially like that they dedicate the song to the men and women serving in the armed forces.

Book Review: 30 Day Clutter Bootcamp

30 day clutter bootcamp30 Day Clutter Bootcamp is a lively, active book that will spur you on if your goal is to get rid of the clutter and streamline your home.  Some of its features are:

  • 106 pages of decluttering magic.
  • 40 sure-fire decluttering techniques.
  • A 30 day clutter action guide.
  • A personal cheerleading squad on every page.
  • Inspiration quotes in callout boxes.
  • Quick and easy action days. Most under 30 minutes.
  • Flexibility. You can go at your own pace and comfort level.
  • 100% money back guarantee if you’re not satisfied. (No one’s asked for their money back yet!)
  • A unique category approach to decluttering so you won’t get overwhelmed.
  • All decluttering all the way. It’s not watered down with organizing tips. (declutter first. organize later.)
  • A ton and a half of inspiration to keep you bootcamping your way to a clutter free house.
  • 100% new content. This is not a collection of blog posts. None of the material in the book has been posted before.
  • Free support on her blog. Ask your questions or ask for inspiration and she’ll be here for you!

If you are looking for a guide to organizing your treasure-trove storehouse, this is not he book for you.  If you want a practical guide to sorting through and clearing out the mess, here is the answer.  And it’s all written in Tanja’s light-hearted, friendly style, so there are no lectures, no browbeating. Continue reading “Book Review: 30 Day Clutter Bootcamp”