Martian Snow

Note: Wistful Nebulae is moving to http://mpaxauthor.com/blog/ on August 20th. The website and this blog are the same, publishing the same articles on the same days, MWF.

Did you hear about Martian snow? http://news.yahoo.com/mars-
snowflakes-tiny-red-blood-cells-162342554.html Apparently, the size and kind of dust has an impact on whether it can snow and what the snow will look like.

In sci-fi news, Falling Skies returns to TNT on Sunday nights. Season 2 started off with a bang. Noah Wylie returned from his time with the aliens. Cue Twilight Zone music ... It gives me my alien fix. Yay aliens.

Since I was home all weekend, Husband Unit and I finished watching Torchwood IV. I love this show. I hope there will be a season 5. All's I know is, one shouldn't work with Jack and Gwen. I know some griped that the show was Americanized or something. Shrug. It still surprised me, which is what I love most about Torchwood.

About half way through season 1 of Game of Thrones, too. Makes me want to start reading book 2, but I have so many books ahead of it. Siiigh.


 

On someone else's blog ... can't remember who ... they recommended watching the documentary Dear Zachary on Netflix. I have to second that recommendation. It started out being about a man who was murdered, then became something else, at least twice during the film. It was surprising and gripping, and if you write about crime at all, I think you should see it. That said, have a box of tissues handy when viewing. If you're not moved by the film, have your pulse checked. At any rate, I keep thinking about the story and the people in it.

Well, I'm back at the vet today. I hope to come out intact ... have to get the IV thingy out of her leg. Anyway, still nursing my poor cat. I think if she hadn't of been poked so much, she'd be much better than she is. Siiigh. 

On a side note ... Blogger seems to get glitchier by the day. Maybe it's just me. I can find bugs in computer software / code no one else can. It's quite a talent. At any rate, I can't wait to be done with Blogger. But then I'm in a mood today ...

Spotlight on Venus, Space Opera, and IWSG

JL Campbell is kind enough to host me on her blog today, The Character Depot. I'm discussing the space opera and my favorite TV shows that inspired my love for the genre.

Very briefly, I was able to see the transit of Venus yesterday. Some of my astronomy buddies set up telescopes with sun filters (an accessory I do not yet have) on Pilot Butte, which is just a few blocks from my backyard. So, I hiked the mile up. There was a still a reasonable amount of blue among the clouds, although not warm. I had on a sweater, a fleece, my down vest, and was kind of sorry I didn't bring gloves and a hat. Seriously. It was barely 50 degrees here yesterday.

I got up there, said hello, and got a quick peek through both of the telescopes when the clouds broke. It was really neat. Venus was much bigger than I expected it to be. That peek was all I was going to get. The clouds swarmed in, it started raining, and then ... snow. It snowed on us. I swear this year the observatory season is just cursed.

Anyway, photo taken and provided by Bill Logan, a devoted observer of the sun. He's often at the High Desert Museum or on Pilot Butte, sharing his hobby and his passion. And he sends us all emails on what the sun is up to.

Photo taken by Bill Logan

Here's some photos from my hike ...

Moody skies over Bend, OR, from the top of Pilot Butte.

Juniper berries. Juniper, cedar, and sage, that's what this area grows very well. I must report that it smells just fantastic. Instant air freshener any time I open a window.

A sign of spring braving our crazy weather.



Last, but not least, it's IWSG day. Insecure Writers Support Group is hosted by Alex J. Cavanaugh, writer and ninja extraordinaire. The first Wednesday of every month writers gather to share their insecurities or encouragement and support. It's not to late to sign up if you'd like to join us.

I wasn't sure what to expect with the launch of The Backworlds in early May, but am humbled and deeply grateful for all the support from all of you. The blogging community, you, helped me create a buzz, get Amazon to price match, provided reviews that made me warm and fuzzy, provided me time and space for touring, and also put me in touch with a great editor, who I look forward to working with again.

You helped my work get noticed. 2,000 downloads and growing. Thank you.

You know what else makes me happy? Seeing how many of you are publishing and getting published lately. It's fantastic. It really is. So, congrats to all of you for being fantastic, awesome people. The sky's the limit for all of us if we continue to support each other the way we do.

OK, that got a bit sappy and gooey. But that's OK. You're all worth it.

Now come visit me at Joy's.

You Can't Take the Sky From Me

Today I'm at Allan Douglas's blog, The Write Stuff, talking about one of my greatest inspirations for The Backworlds, and one of my all-time favorite space operas. I met Allan awhile ago, and he has been a great supporter and fan. Quite fantastic. And he'd also a great writer.

 Yesterday I discussed strategies in launching a series at Nick Daw's. Have some ideas on marketing? Pop over and let's discuss.

Friday I'll be visiting Derek Flynn at Rant with Occasional Music. Topic: Kepler. Besides being a writer, Derek is also a talented musician with his first album recently released. Check out his latest music video.

I ran across this recently in my internet travels, a LEGO Serenity/Firefly playset. Awesome. You can find out more about it HERE.

Come see me at Allan's.

Got a look at Venus on Saturday. Venus has phases like the moon. Anything between us and the Sun has phases. Anything behind us, doesn't.

Evolution of Character

Today you'll find me at Misha Gericke's My First Book. I can tell you she writes a fabulous story, and is a great crit partner. I look forward to celebrating her future publications. She puts out a fabulous blog, too.

 Wednesday I visited Rachel Morgan's. The topic was bioenginnering. Rachel kindly taught me the trick of using Powerpoint to create better titles on my book covers. I love how we all share here in the blogosphere.

Monday I'll be at Nick Daw's Writing Blog. I'm thrilled to be inside Nick's writing world. The topic will be on strategies for launching a series.

Stop by and see us.

Training for another summer up at Pine Mountain Observatory is this weekend. Only two more weeks until we open. Woot!

Outer Space! Really?

Syfy announced plans for a new drama set in ... OUTER SPACE! Seriously? The Syfy channel is going to make a science ficiion show? I'm speechless, and trying not to get my hopes up too much.

As reported on Gateworld:

Robert Hewitt Wolfe, who worked on Star Trek: DS9 before shepharding Gene Roddenberry’s Andromeda, is developing a currently untitled series from Universal Cable Productions, set on the Starship Defender.  “After decades of war, the newly formed Unity Democracy orders a volatile mix of humans and trans-humans to lead the Starship Defender on an expedition in search of lost worlds requiring law and order,” says Syfy.

I'm wondering what they mean by transhumans. Ghosts in space? Animal-human hybrids?

At any rate, just because they're thinking about doing this show doesn't mean it'll ever even make it to the pilot phase. So, I'll try and forget about it until it happens, and hope someone creates a science fiction internet channel with plenty of spaceships and aliens and planets and stars.

With that said, they're also developing two new dramas that seem to use ghosts. Um, Syfy, you don't need any more ghosts on your channel.

Terra Nova, Life on Mars

Terra Nova starts tonight on Fox, 9/26, 8:00 p.m. Eureka's season ended just in time. I have high hopes for this show. Let's hope Fox doesn't fubar it. You can find out more than you want to know about the show at the official website: http://www.fox.com/terranova/

TERRA NOVA follows an ordinary family on an incredible journey back in time to prehistoric Earth as a small part of a daring experiment to save the human race. In the year 2149, the world is dying. The planet is overdeveloped and overcrowded, with the majority of plant and animal life extinct. The future of mankind is in jeopardy, and its only hope for survival is in the distant past.

When scientists unexpectedly discovered a fracture in time that made it possible to construct a portal into primeval history, the bold notion was born to resettle humanity in the past – a second chance to rebuild civilization and get it right this time.

The series centers on the Shannon family as they join the Tenth Pilgrimage of settlers to Terra Nova, the first colony established in this beautiful yet foreboding land. JIM SHANNON (Jason O’Mara), a devoted father with a checkered past, guides his family through this new world of limitless beauty, mystery and terror. Jim’s wife, ELISABETH (Shelley Conn), is a trauma surgeon and the newest addition to Terra Nova’s medical team. JOSH (Landon Liboiron) is their 17-year-old son who is torn to leave life as he knows it behind; upon arriving at the settlement, he finds himself instantly drawn to the beautiful and rule-breaking SKYE (Allison Miller). MADDY (Naomi Scott), Josh’s endearingly awkward 15-year-old sister, hopes Terra Nova will give her a chance to reinvent herself. Although Elisabeth’s medical training secured the family a spot on the pilgrimage, a secret involving their five-year-old daughter, ZOE (Alana Mansour), soon endangers their place in this utopia.

I've always said any show could be improved by the addition of giant, man-eating reptiles. I just hope I won't be disappointed.

I like Jason O'Mara in the lead. He was also the lead in Life on Mars. Have you ever seen this? I watched in on dvd recently and it really is a fabulous show. Jason - Sam Tyler somehow ends up back in 1973. I commend their attention to detail. The culture, the feel, the attitudes, it took me back to that decade without a stumble. Peppered with the 1970's cop show are trippy scenes as the audience tries to figure out with Sam Tyler what the heck is going on. If you haven't seen Life on Mars, I highly recommend it. It originally aired on ABC. I see the UK did a remake, but I haven't seen that one, so can't say whether it's as good.

The season ender of Eureka was great. I'm glad to see we get a 'final' season before all science fiction disappears from Syfy. Warehouse 13 had zombies in it, so I couldn't watch it. Why would they do that to me? It's just wrong to put zombies in any show not about zombies that I watch.

I get inspiration from TV, so I like to watch some. Except for Terra Nova, there's not anything on I want to see though. I've been watching Lexx on Netflix, which is interesting. Dark, but interesting. Definite Mad Maxxish, Blade Runnerish vibe.

Anything have you excited this season? Besides my upcoming release of Semper Audacia? :) See anything good on dvd or Netflix?

Want to keep discussing Terra Nova? Join me on my website, Spacedock 19 is continuing talk on Terra Nova.

Smoke in the Desert

Some of you've seen me tweet or FB about the smoke out this way the past few weeks. There's a wildfire up at Warm Springs, a good 60 or more miles away, but the wind is just right to make it smokey all the way down here. Thank you, wind [that was facetious, in case you missed it].

So here's my Pine Mountain Observatory photo journal from last weekend. Clicking on any photo will enlarge the view.

Here's proof of the smoke. I took this photo last Friday at Pine Mountain Observatory.

So we begin our final month of the observatory season. Four more weeks to go then I get a little wiggle room ... maybe. Probably not as I push on with my epublishing endeavors.

Friday night was cold. I wasn't sorry I had dug all my thermals out and put them on. I was sorry I didn't opt for a sweater over a long sleeved shirt, and I really must invent knee warmers. Once my knees get cold, I'm done, done, done. Or I need to invent some sort of down igloo contraption that's wearable. Here's some moon shots I took Friday night.

The Moon is just to the right of that tallest tree

Had a lot of great visitors, as usual. One little guy on Saturday had a great imagination. He looked at the Moon through my telescope for a really long time and started having a conversation with the astronauts he imagined up there. Then he was telling me about the dinosaurs there, too. I was so amused and entertained, I asked him whether the dinosaurs had spaceships. To which he said, yes. We then had a very interesting conversation about spacefaring dinosaurs. Sparked a few story ideas for me. Thanks, cool little dude.

Here's photos of the Moon from Saturday.

And some of Jupiter. I learned that using a blue filter cuts the glare and lets the red stripes pop out. I'll play more with it next week, attempting to get better shots than this.

Without a filter - can see three of the Galilean moons -- Callisto, Ganymede & Europa

With the filter -- not as bright, but you can make out some of the red stripes

Here's some extra shots.

I found this shadow very interesting Saturday evening. There were no clouds, so it was the low sun and the contours of the mountain making that shape. Took this on Saturday. You can see there was a lot less smoke. Thank goodness. I'm getting tired of smelling burning trees.

These are highland cattle at a farm on the way out to PMO.

Ran into some deer. Baby. Center of photo.

Here's Momma below me, who was getting ready to kick my ass if I didn't get out from between her and baby.

There was a coyote in the middle of the road on my way home Saturday night. Had to make a screeching stop to miss him. It was pitch black, so no photo. No cougar spottings yet, but as one visitor put it, that doesn't mean they aren't watching me. It'd be very interesting if cougars had telescopes.

The Russians had trouble with their rockets last week, so the space station may be abandoned come November if they can't fix the problem. We grounded the shuttle, so no help from us. At least, there are still the spacefaring dinosaurs on the Moon.

In sci-fi TV news, I heard that Syfy already scrapped Blood & Chrome. So, there will be no BSG series this fall, except maybe on the internet. What has a girl got to do for some space opera? Sigh. Maybe an internet space opera channel is the way to go. And, Happy Star Trek Day, one day late. Sept 8, 1966: Star Trek premiered on television. TV boldly went where it had never gone before. What a legacy.

Have a great weekend.

My Favorite Star Treks

If you're here for the Spark blogfest, I'll be posting for that on Wednesday.

Narrowing this down to just five favorite episodes was really hard. For me, the original series was the best. It had the best characters and I liked how the solutions were always within my grasp, so I could play along trying to figure out how Kirk and pals were going to get out of trouble.

City on the Edge of Forever

After accidentally overdosing on a powerful stimulant, Dr. McCoy acts erratically and disappears through the Guardian of Forever, a newly-discovered time portal on a remote planet. Kirk and Spock follow after learning that McCoy somehow changed history. Arriving in the 1930s, the duo meet Edith Keeler, a New York social worker who gives them a place to stay. As the days pass, and McCoy is nowhere to be seen, Kirk finds himself falling in love with Keeler... but Spock discovers that Keeler must die to restore the timeline. Spock built a radio in this episode, which one of my cats found exceedingly interesting. It was then I began suspecting she has a crush on Mr. Spock. The pointed ears maybe?

Trouble With Tribbles

Tribbles--purring, limbless, and fertile--disrupt the exploitation of a disputed planet between the Klingons and Federation. I especially loved Mr. Scott's line: "They called the Enterprise a garbage scow."

Amok Time

Kirk violates Starfleet orders in order to take Mr. Spock home to Vulcan to be married, only to find himself thrust into a duel with his first officer for possession of the bride. The ending is so classic.

Plato's Stepchildren

This episode never fails to make me laugh. The crew of the Enterprise encounters an ageless and mischievous race of psychic humanoids who claim to have organized their society around Ancient Greek ideals. Well known for the kiss between Uhura and Kirk.

Journey to Babel

While transporting dignitaries to an important peace conference the Enterprise is pursued by a mysterious vessel and an assassin is discovered among the passengers. This is my ultimate favorite episode. It had several different things going on, which made it more complex than usual.




Honorable mentions:

Space Seed -- Where we meet Khan.

Enterprise Incident -- where Kirk & Spock dress up like Romulans.

For the Earth is Hollow and I have Touched the Sky -- First off, I just love the title of this episode. It's a Dr. McCoy centric episode.

Mirror, Mirror -- Just love evil Spock.

This Side of Paradise -- classic.

Arena -- Gorn vs. The Kirk

Spock's Brain -- Come on, it was hilarious that Spock's brain got stolen. One of my favorite moments in Star Trek is McCoy telling the Kirk that Spock's brain was stolen.

Thanks to Ellie Garratt, host of the Star Trek Blogfest, blogging at Ellie Garratt.

What are your favorite Star Treks? Your favorite character?

Blood and Chrome, Fall 2011 Sci-Fi TV

Syfy has ordered another Battlestar Galactica prequel called Blood and Chrome, takes place in the 10th year of the first Cylon war. As the battle between humans and their creation, a sentient robotic race, rages across the 12 colonial worlds, a brash rookie viper pilot enters the fray. Ensign William Adama, barely in his 20s and a recent Academy graduate, finds himself assigned to the newest battlestar in the Colonial fleet… the Galactica. The talented but hot-headed risk-taker soon finds himself leading a dangerous top secret mission that, if successful, will turn the tide of the decade long war in favor of the desperate fleet.

Here's concept art released for the series:

Yay on space opera, but I'm not entirely excited. I'm not enamored of prequels at all, for one. For two, Caprica was awful. At least in this one there will be some space battles. That's something.

Also coming up with sci-fi-ey themes:

Terra Nova. FOX. Centers on the Shannons, an ordinary family from 2149 when the planet is dying who are transported back 85 million years to prehistoric Earth where they join Terra Nova, a colony of humans with a second chance to build a civilization. I'm really looking forward to this despite the logic flaw of why they'd chose to send people back in time to this time period to save them. Maybe they explain that in the first episode though. Then there's the fact it's on Fox, where they enjoy screwing up the success of sci-fi shows.

Once Upon a Time. ABC. Centers on a woman with a troubled past who is drawn into a small town in Maine where the magic and mystery of Fairy Tales just may be real.

Grimm. NBC. Crime solving drama where the main character is a descendent of the Brothers Grimm. Latest reports say this won't be starting until November.







Fables. Based in a world where fairy tale characters have been forced out of their homes by a mysterious enemy known as the Adversary, and now live in a hidden community in New York City known as Fabletown. The series' first storyline followed Fabletown's sheriff, a reformed and pardoned Big Bad Wolf, who investigates the murder of Snow White's party-girl sister, Rose Red.

Untitled Star Wars TV Series. On hold for 3 more years due to budget problems reported June 2011. This could be cool if they can figure out how to produce it without a budget equivalent to running a medium sized country.

Seems fairy tales are invading the airwaves this fall.

This past Sunday was the season finale of Falling Skies. That was fast. It was pretty good. They wrapped up something I'd been wondering for awhile ... what happened to Karen. The gang of survivors had some successes and failures in their offensive against the aliens. Now we have to wait until summer 2012 to see where they're going with this story. 

So what are your thoughts on another BSG? The fairy tale shows? Anything interesting you? Anything not?

Summer Sci-Fi

Syfy started it's summer lineup on Monday nights: Eureka, Warehouse 13 and the new series, Alphas.

Eureka -- I'm not as well versed on this series as the husband unit. Mostly because it used to air on Friday nights. I'm rarely home on a Friday night in the summer [working at the observatory]. So the switch to Mondays is welcome. It's as fun and quirky as I remembered. A good lead-in to Warehouse 13.

Warehouse 13 -- I loved this show from episode one. This season, their third, started with a bang. Love the new guy. Love its homage to steampunk with the contemporary / urban fantasy. Fun mix of subgenres with good characters and good chemistry among the cast. Good story telling.

Alphas -- I'm lukewarm about this series so far. Maybe it'll get better. It'll have to, to get me to watch any TV past 10 p.m. It's sort of like Heroes, but not as comic booky.

Falling Skies -- started on TNT in June. Airs Sunday nights at 10 p.m. Love the Skidders. Love that they may not be what they seem. Lots of action and some decent character building. So far, I'm liking it. At first I thought, gees another alien invasion show, but some subtle twists here and there show some promise.

I know that Haven and Torchwood 4 have started, too. I'm never home on Friday nights, so won't get to see Haven. And I don't get Starz, so have to wait for the dvds to come out for Torchwood. Hex on anyone who tells me anything about it. I'm covering my ears ... and eyes.

Missing -- space opera. Where's the space opera? I hope something is coming down the pike soon. Still have one episode plus the movies of Babylon5 to tide me over and have Odyssey 5 waiting. Also am most of the way through Life on Mars. Good show. Quite excellent, actually. Started rewatching Firefly. Fabulous as ever, even the 100th time over.

Watching any of these shows? What are your thoughts? Anything have you hooked at the moment? Do share. :)

Coffee Travesty of the Third Kind

Writers and coffee go hand-in-hand. Sure, sometimes we feel bold and badass and go for tea. Needless to say, we have our habits. I roll out of bed, grab my cup of jo and go at my WIP.

A few weeks ago, at a late hour, our coffee grinder quit. Pffft. Making coffee is the husband unit's job. He just has more talent at it than I do. I suggested the food processor, the blender, a hammer ... desperate. He shook his head no. Damn! I told him to get his coat and get in the car. He says, "It's eleven at night. Where we going to get a coffee grinder?"

Me: Wal-Mart.

Normally I avoid the place. Something about the lighting unsettles me, but this was an EMERGENCY and they're open 24 hours. Phew! They had a coffee grinder and we got backup ground coffee for the next coffee crisis and were on our way. Turns out it's the best coffee grinder we've had yet. And we've been through at least three in the past three years. So a thumbs up to Wal-Mart for saving me from a potential tragic morning.

Then came crisis number two. Tragically, I dropped my Firefly mug when emptying the dishwasher last week. Everyday, every stinking day, I sipped my two mugs of java from it. My mug. I <3'd my mug. 'You can't take the sky from me.' What a great line. That gasp you heard last week which snapped your head up with a, "What's that," on your lips. Yeah, that was me. The gasp heard around the world.

Sniff. RIP Firefly coffee mug.

I began the hunt for a new one, getting nowhere. I make do with my Van Gogh, Starry Night mug. But it's not the same. Just not the same. The shape and thickness is all wrong. I want 'my' mug back. My special coffee vessel of sci-fi geekdom and beauty.

I sent a mournful email to the friend who gifted me the mug, saying I was unable to snuffle out a new one so far. She told me where she got it from, Cafepress, so forth I went with low expectations. I hadn't been able to find one so far, why would this search be different. But it was! Pages and pages of Firefly themed mugs. Happy dance.

So, now I have two replacements on the way ... in preparation for the next coffee crisis. I can't wait until they arrive.

So, can you guess my all-time favorite character?

Le sigh. I miss Jayne. I miss Firefly. I miss good space opera. Me thinks I'll be breaking out the Firefly dvds this week. And we still have 1/2 of season 5 of Babylon 5 to get through. Then the movies. After that we have Life on Mars and Odyssey 5. Sunday, Falling Skies, starts on TNT. You can bet I'll be watching. Curious to know more about it? You can watch the first five minutes HERE.

Have you experienced any coffee travesties? Did help arrive on time? Chewing on a coffe bean and hoping it all turned out well.

Greatest Sci-Fi of All, Laughter & Games Blogfests, Message from Blair Underwood

My Website: Please participate.

Go visit www.mpaxauthor.com

In the previous poll, Pluto remains the 9th planet won.

New poll up: Favorite all-time space opera on television. It's a tough choice. You can vote more than once though, about once every hour. Poll

In the previous discussion, the most wanted super power was teleportation.

The new discussion question -- How do you prefer to get your sci-fi / fantasy fix? Click the yellow 'discussion' under the answers to participate. Discussion

Under Writers Desk, I wrote a new article on beginnings. They're tricky things. As tricky to get right as a query letter. Read it HERE.

Upcoming blogfests.

The fabulous Leigh T. Moore of That's Write and the equally fabulous Lydia K of The Word is My Oyster are hosting the blogfest, Laughter is the Best Medicine, on Monday, May 16th. It's simple. Post a joke. For more details and to sign up, go here: That's Write or The World is My Oyster






On June 6th, the fantastic Alex J. Cavanaugh is hosting the It's All Fun & Games Blogfest. For more details and to sign up, go here: Alex J. Cavanaugh

Blogfests are great ways to connect with other writers and make new friends.

Blair Underwood asks if you'd like to see another season of The Event, to please contact Vernon Sanders at NBC.

If you'd like to see another season of "The Event," please show your love by sending your shout outs to Vernon Sanders, Executive Vice President of Current Programming for NBC/Universal Media Studios. They need to hear from us, so they know you're out there! Mail letters to: NBC/Universal Media Studio c/o Vernon Sanders 100 Universal City Plaza Building 1320 Suite 4M Universal City, CA 91608


source: twitter / FB
 
I confess to missing the last few episodes of The Event due to Syfy moving SGU's final episodes to the same time slot. I'll get caught up on it though, because I've enjoyed The Event so far.
 
The Event is currently airing 9:00 p.m., Mondays on NBC.


Have any news to share?

Falling Nova Torchwood4

I saw a commercial recently for the highly anticipated Terra Nova, airing on Fox this fall in the US. I was intrigued by the time travel then hooked by the man-eating dinosaurs. I've always said any show could be improved by the addition of giant murderous reptiles. Guess somebody heard me. It looks awesome. I hope it'll be good as the tease. Anyway, here's the trailer:





Which reminds me, I forgot a villain in my Wicked, Ode to the Villain, post last week. The T Rex in Jurassic Park. She was awesome.

Coming this summer on TNT in the US is Falling Skies. You can watch the first five minutes. I found it pretty intense. Begins June 19th.


Falling Skies: First Five


I'm sad we don't get the Starz channel. This July 8, it premieres Torchwood 4. It'll be airing simultaneously on BBC in the UK. I will be eagerly awaiting the release of the dvds. I know some people really hated the third season, Children of the Earth, but I loved it. This series is unexpected, which keeps the suspense high. You really have no idea where it's going or what the outcome is going to be, because Torchwood doesn't play it safe. That's my favorite thing about it.

For those not in the know, Torchwood is an anagram of Doctor Who. Torchwood is a Doctor Who spin-of that started life on the BBC. The series stars John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness, who runs a branch of the Torchwood Institute out of Cardiff in Wales. Torchwood is a clandestine organization that counters threats to Earth. Miracle Day, season 4, is a co-production between BBC Wales, BBC Worldwide and Starz.

Season 4 looks to being broader in scope with a more global flavor. A revamped Torchwood team stops off in Los Angeles and possibly other international locations.

"The theme is something that's going to affect... and touch everybody," star Eva Myles [plays Gwen Cooper] recently told DigitalSpy. "Everybody's going to relate [to it]."

Showrunner Russell T. Davies gave more away at the Television Critics Association in January.

"[T]he premise is a miracle that happens to the world. It’s as simple as this, that one day on Earth no one dies. Not a single person on Earth dies. The next day no one dies. The next day no one dies and on and on and on. Now, the sixth day, the old stay old and keep getting older. The dying keep dying, but no one quite dies. The possibility of death ceases to exist."

Cast additions for the new series  include Mekhi Phifer, Alexa Havins, and Bill Pullman, and will be more US-oriented than previous seasons.

Two upcoming shows that seem promising. And one I will look forward to coming out on dvd. Still no space opera on the horizon that I see. Dinosaurs and alien wars will do in the meantime. And some Jack Harkness.

The final episode of Stargate Universe airs Monday, May 9th at 9:00 p.m. on Syfy.

So what do you think?

Wicked

Without the evils ones, our favorite stories, shows and movies would be flat and unsuspenseful. Every good story needs a good bad guy or gal.

So, here is my ode to the wicked ones, the evil ones I've loved.

One of my favorite bad boys was Apophis on SG-1. Why? Because he enjoyed being evil. This alien with delusions of godhood had a real passion for it. He never made any apology for being what he was. Definitely my favorite Goa'uld.

Another favorite -- before he was humanized -- was Darth Vader. He was one scary villain in the original Star Wars. I didn't care for him being softened by understanding how he became what he became. I didn't want to know. I just enjoyed his evilness. Now he doesn't scare me so much. Pity.

When I searched for a photo of Vader, it reminded me of Box in Logan's Run. That was one disturbing robot.

So were the darleks. "Exterminate!"

Which leads to Terminator. The original. Arnold was dang scary.

Then there's Khan of Star Trek. Wasn't he delicious? And fun.

Londo of Babylon5. Fun and far from saintly. Many would probably not classify him as a villian, but he is wicked and often has nefarious motives. Yet I get a kick out of him.

The shadow things also in Babylon5 were scary. They made my skin crawl.

And the apes in Planet of the Apes, just the idea of them scared me. Loved the old movies and the old TV show.

And one of my all-time favorite movies, Psycho. Norman Bates.

And these things still scare the crap out of me.

What about you? Who are your favorite villians?

Hosted by Arlee Bird of Tossing it Out http://tossingitout.blogspot.com/

Lost in Space

Lost in Space was my introduction to science fiction. One of my earliest memories is the family gathering around the old black and white TV to watch this show. We all had to hold our bit of the tinfoil right to get it in clear enough. It was still speckled with snowy interference, but it didn't stop us from watching. The series originally aired 1965-1968. I remember looking forward to watching this show, and Space Ghost.

The original plot:

In the year 1997, Earth is suffering from massive overpopulation. Professor John Robinson, his wife Maureen, their children (Judy, Penny and Will) and Major Don West are selected to go to the third planet in the Alpha Centauri star system to establish a colony so that other Earth people can settle there. They are to go there on a ship of Professor Robinson's design, christened the Jupiter 2. However, Doctor Zachary Smith, an agent for an enemy government, is sent to sabotage the mission. He is successful in reprogramming the ship's robot, but in the process becomes trapped on the ship, and because of his excess weight, the ship and all on board become hopelessly lost and it now becomes a fight for survival as the crew tries to find their way back home. Written by Brian Washington Sargebri@att.net

Yeah, they later made this into a movie. What TV show did you love as a kid?

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