This groundbreaking launch, the second of a SpaceX Dragon capsule and the first on a NASA-related mission, takes a small step, and a giant leap, for privatized spaceflight.
Author Archives: JD DeLuzio
Halloween Review: Devil Seed (2012)
Once more, across the northern hemisphere, leaves fall from trees to be crunched underfoot, masks by the Silver Shamrock corporation stare from store windows and oatmeal-faced zombies prowl the streets. Cornfields turn into mazes along haunted highways while costumed kids take candy from suspicious strangers. And, here at the Bureau, we begin our annual countdown of creepy films. We’ll review the famous and familiar and, certainly, some newly unleashed horrors, a couple of old-time scares and (perhaps) unfamiliar finds.
Our October Countdown appears at the end of this review.
First up: every town has that house, that haunted place where something horrific happened. Where I live, it can be found a fifteen minute walk away. That house. We all know the horror that happened there, even if we dare not talk about it. The shooting—the principal shooting for this 2012 straight-to-video, straight-to-download horror hit….
Weekend Review: Looper
The last time Bruce Willis looped in time, it resulted in a much more thought-provoking film. Nevertheless, Rian Johnson’s time travel/ganster/action movie has much to recommend it. Predictably, SF fans may be less impressed than viewers of the mundane persuasion. I’m not trying to be a speculative snob here; it’s just a statement of fact.
Fringe Review: “The Transilience Thought Unifier Model—11”
The Transilience Thought Unifier Model—11! That creature has stolen the Thought Unifier!
—Regretably, no one actually says this
We haven’t reviewed Fringe for some time, but they’ve launched a fifth and final season, with a bold new direction: a leap onto the Future Dystopia Train! We’re reviewing the season premiere, and asking if anyone wants discussions of the rest of the season.
Revolution Discussion: “Chained Heat”
“the state of genre television is pretty poor.”
–Brian Rollins, “2012 Emmy Results,” Bureau42.
No review for episode two, but we’re posting a place for discussion. Is anyone continuing with Terra Event? Does anyone want us to continue discussing this series?
PRO: The villains have potential, and the flashbacks to the early days prove far more dramatic than anything happening in the show’s present tense.
CON: Episode two– often a critical one, as much can go awry with a pilot– doesn’t improve much on the first one.
Newspace
A long time ago….
We’ve sighted the earliest and most distant galaxy yet.
This news might move you:
Evolution has been observed in e coli.
This still has a better chance of being better than every other sequel and prequel they’ve made to the original thus far:
They’ve cast Norman Bates for the forthcoming Psycho Prequel Series.
Video below includes the just-released latest Hobbit trailer, Deadpool Gangnam Style, a curious short film, and more!
Revolution Review: Pilot
The pilot has been online for some time, but J.J. Abrams’ new post-apocalyptic show officially premiered last night.
Great visuals. Shame about the show.
Weekend Review: Backwater Gospel
This week’s film can be watched online at Youtube. No, it’s NOT the ineptly-made, months-old film that certain religious extremists and opportunistic demagogues are using as an excuse to rampage. It’s a remarkable short film from 2011 that, oddly enough, addresses religious extremism and opportunistic demagoguery.
It begins when a sinister, familiar figure comes to town.
Newspace
And maybe they’ll be able to explain the Olympic Opening Ceremony: The Queen’s astronomer, Lord Martin Rees, suggests our scanning of the cosmos may lead to the observation of alien life in the next forty years.
MacGyver lives! The crew of the International Space Station use a toothbrush to make an emergency repair.
Notify the conspiracy theorists: A recent notorious murder case may have an outer space connection.
Recovering past dreams: Brookyn-based Singularity and Company plans to save SF, one obscure classic at a time.
Don’t forget about medical research: Recent experiments suggest a possible treatment for Alzheimer’s.
Below: Political figures encourage space exploration, and images from the 2012 World SF Con in Chicago and DragonCon 2012 in Atlanta!
Hugo Awards 2012
The Hugos were awarded in Chicago last night at WorldCon. The full breakdown may be found here. Winners include:
Best Novel: Jo Walton, Among Others
“The Paper Menagerie” by Ken Liu (The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction, March/April 2011)
Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form: Game of Thrones, Season One.
Best Dramatic Presentation, Short Form: The Doctor’s Wife, Doctor Who.
More follow. And yes, due to the changes to the site, comments may take a minute to appear.