Neutron Shilling: The Guild, Season 1 on DVD
Posted by SeanFrancis on August 1st, 2008 filed in NewsComment now »
Have you ever sat down to watch something that was made just for the internet and found yourself subjected to either videos that boiled down to guys getting hit in the crotch with various objects or pretend teenagers using the technology of the web to enthrall viewers in their pretend drama?
No more… The Guild, which has been on the web for quite some time at http://www.watchtheguild.com is a well written, well told, well acted tale of a young woman’s struggle with her online gaming addiction and her relationships with her guildmates - a wonderful collection of characters with very distinct and conflicting personalities that come together when the need arises.
Why do I consider this news if The Guild has been on the web for quite sometime already? Well, quite simply today The Guild season 1 is released on DVD, which is news. You may notice that I don’t announce ‘new stuff to buy’ often. I am one of those people whose skin crawls when I am made to feel that I only have value to society when I’m buying the latest gadgets, so I don’t like to perpetuate such feelings onto other people. The Guild was offered (and is still available) for free on YouTube.com.
“Hey,” you may be saying to yourself, “if it is there for free, why would I want to buy it?” This formula breaks down to very simple terms. In order to make more of this very funny, delightfully quirky show, they need to be able to pay people Even actors like to eat and pay rent, believe it or not. Remember when I got all preachy about consumerism? Well, ignore that for a moment. By owning The Guild on DVD, not only will you get the nifty keen extras you have grown to expect from any quality DVD; not only will you be supporting quality independent projects, but also you will be part of the vanguard of the new media.
Oh, I see the words forming on your lips now - “I was part of the Dr. Horrible experience, I am the vanguard!” You have failed to see the fatal flaw… The Guild came first and also stars the wonderful Felicia Day. I can’t say that without The Guild there wouldn’t be Dr. Horrible, but I can’t help but wonder.
I make no bones about the fact that I am shilling and trying to get as many people to buy this DVD as possible. I thought The Guild was amazing, quality entertainment, better than most of what has been on TV for the past few years. I want more. I can’t get more unless you buy a DVD. Oh yes, this is all about my self interest.
So here you go, a link right to the DVD, I can’t make it any easier for you.
Fancast: Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog
Posted by SeanFrancis on July 21st, 2008 filed in Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog, FancastComment now »
Now you can watch Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog with me talking over all the good parts and telling you when to laugh. I know you want this kind of direction in your life, but you will first have to download this revolutionary piece of entertainment from ITunes.
Neutron! Presents - The Aetherman
Posted by SeanFrancis on July 1st, 2008 filed in Aether Age Steampunk, PresentsComment now »
This is the first episode of Neutron! Presents, bringing you unique science fiction.
Neutron! Presents a steampunk short story. In a world driven by steam and gears, where there is a real division between the classes, the aetherman is someone who can bring power to the people. Hilliard is a simple man who has moments of conscience, but is just product of his society. Change is coming though, and he might be part of it.
The opening music is by Dreamline and called Future Travel.
The Aetherman by Sean D. Francis is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Based on a work at www.neutronnetwork.com.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at http://www.neutronnetwork.com/.
Joss Whedon Talks Sing-A-Long
Posted by SeanFrancis on June 28th, 2008 filed in NewsComment now »
I know you’ve been waiting, like I have, on the edge of your seats for more information regarding Dr. Horrible’s Sing-A-Long Blog. Joss has finally provided some info as well as made sure the various websites are in place.
The good news… Joss is releasing this for free for a short period of time. And then hopes the fans (not just Browncoats) will cough up some actual dough to own what is going to be a revolution in modern entertainment. Witness the future! It is here, now!
Teaser from Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog on Vimeo.
Towards AI: The Impact of Daphne Koller
Posted by SeanFrancis on May 6th, 2008 filed in NewsComment now »
The New York Times has a fascinating article on Daphne Koller, a mathematical theoretician, who is working on Artificial Intelligence.
Her biggest accomplishment — and at age 39, she is expected to make more — is creating a set of computational tools for artificial intelligence that can be used by scientists and engineers to do things like predict traffic jams, improve machine vision and understand the way cancer spreads.
Artificial or Machine Intelligence is a staple of speculative fiction, though it is lately been looked at in terms of the singularity, the point at which Artificial Intelligence is able to design and create an intelligence better than itself creating an endless loop of improvement. This, of course, is speculation in and of itself.
Wingless Flight For Tiny Flying Saucer
Posted by SeanFrancis on May 6th, 2008 filed in NewsComment now »
Good speculation in science fiction needs to start based on good science and ideally revolutionary science. The concept of magnetohydrodynamics is a revolutionary science that hasn’t yet gotten off the ground in a significant way. The basic concept is if an electrical current or magnetic field is passed through a conductive fluid, a force is created. This force, if properly harnessed, could become a form of propulsion.
Aerospace engineer, Subrata Roy at the University of Florida, Gainesville, US has filed a patent using magnetohydrodynamics as the propulsion in a small flying disc, which could be the first step in the long road of a new form of propulsion.
Speculation on this idea can lead to some very interesting places.
U.S. Food Rationing Begins
Posted by SeanFrancis on April 25th, 2008 filed in NewsComment now »
The Guardian
The global food crisis reached the United States yesterday as big retailers began to ration sales of rice in response to bulk purchases by customers alarmed by rocketing prices of staples.
Wal-Mart’s cash and carry division, Sam’s Club, announced it would sell a maximum of four bags of rice per person to prevent supplies from running short. Its decision followed sporadic caps placed on purchases of rice and flour by some store managers at a rival bulk chain, Costco, in parts of California.
The world price of rice has risen 68% since the start of 2008, but in some US shops the price has doubled in weeks.
Retail experts said there was little evidence of panic hoarding by the public but that restaurants and smaller retailers were buying up stocks at wholesalers in the expectation that the cost would go even higher. Shops said Filipino residents in the US were also making large purchases to send to relatives in the Philippines, where a shortage of supplies is causing concern.
FantaSci Cafe: Fantastic!
Posted by SeanFrancis on April 22nd, 2008 filed in FantaSci CafeComment now »
The missing episode of season 1 finally makes its way onto the net. This is one of the shorter episodes in which the Fantasy genre is dissected. Dissected is slightly wrong… it is kind of cut open and laid bare a bit.
The Best of the Week is the wonderful podcast Quirks and Quarks from CBC radio.
Fancast: Battlestar Galactica Episode 3, Season 4
Posted by SeanFrancis on April 20th, 2008 filed in Battlestar Galactica, Fancast1 Comment »
Fancast: Battlestar Galactica ep3s4
Ever get tired of not having someone talk to you while you are watching TV? I know I don’t but alas, here I go and attempt this thing - a fancast. What is a fancast? Well, it is a fan watching a show or movie and talking about what is going on. Yes, if this person was in the same room with you while you are trying to watch the show, you would keep casting glances his way before you say - “Would you shut up?!”
So why would you want to listen to something like this? Possibly for insight.
FantaSci Cafe: Fear and Hope
Posted by SeanFrancis on March 20th, 2008 filed in FantaSci Cafe1 Comment »
FantaSci Cafe: Fear and Hope
The eleventh episode of FantaSci Cafe is here but this is a transition episode that is focused mainly on a bunch of news updates along with my brief tribute to Arthur C. Clarke.
