Search found 380 matches

by Windwalker
Sat Apr 24, 2010 8:37 pm
Forum: The Art of Science, Fantasy and Science Fiction
Topic: Gems and Elementals
Replies: 12
Views: 127136

Dear Heather, I'm very excited to see the Elemental series completed -- and the final companion is as beautiful and evocative as the rest. Earth is Classical, Air Archaic, Fire Gandharan... and Water is Hellenistic! In addition to embodying the merfolk of myth, he also carries the Botticelli referen...
by Windwalker
Thu Apr 08, 2010 10:43 am
Forum: The Poetry and Prose of Science and Science Fiction
Topic: When Worf embarks on a journey of discovery...
Replies: 1
Views: 37322

Heh, heh! Great story, and the best of geeky fun (fan?).
by Windwalker
Wed Apr 07, 2010 11:28 pm
Forum: Musings and Chats
Topic: Ancient families, ancient genes
Replies: 11
Views: 92659

Kathryn, here are some books and links that I found interesting and informative: Books (both available from Amazon): Luigi Cavalli-Sforza, The Great Human Diasporas Bryan Sykes, The Seven Daughters of Eve Links -- both Wikipedia, very detailed and with many excellent additional links: Ötzi, integrat...
by Windwalker
Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:42 pm
Forum: Musings and Chats
Topic: Ancient families, ancient genes
Replies: 11
Views: 92659

I think that, in this particular case, we haven't learned anything for certain that we didn't already know until/unless a truly independent analysis is done, with proper mindsets and controls. Genetic testing of this kind, of course, has given us amazing insights even in cases of non-related specime...
by Windwalker
Wed Apr 07, 2010 8:03 pm
Forum: Musings and Chats
Topic: Ancient families, ancient genes
Replies: 11
Views: 92659

I can understand national pride -- Egypt, like my country, was systematically plundered for archeological booty. However, in his case this is overlaid with personal ambition and professional sloppiness. Like Evans, Hawass skews his data to fit preconceived desired outcomes and denies access to anyon...
by Windwalker
Wed Apr 07, 2010 5:27 pm
Forum: Literature and Cinema
Topic: Castle
Replies: 34
Views: 337677

Yes, I can hardly endure it! But we must grin and bear it. *laughs*
by Windwalker
Wed Apr 07, 2010 1:43 pm
Forum: Musings and Chats
Topic: Ancient families, ancient genes
Replies: 11
Views: 92659

Turns out that Hawass is getting massive amounts of $$ from both Discover Channel and National Geographic for exclusives for such "documentaries" and he has changed his mind several times about mummy identities. He has also refused to allow independent tests for confirmation, citing "...
by Windwalker
Wed Apr 07, 2010 1:01 am
Forum: Literature and Cinema
Topic: Castle
Replies: 34
Views: 337677

Eloise, I've been finding myself watching Castle. It's still uneven, but I like it enough to keep returning. I enjoyed the double episode with Dana Delany -- it's good to have another woman detective (and a formidable one) in that sea of men!
by Windwalker
Tue Apr 06, 2010 11:57 pm
Forum: Musings and Chats
Topic: Ancient families, ancient genes
Replies: 11
Views: 92659

Kathryn, I may have access to JAMA. I plan to take a look into this tomorrow and reply at length. In the meantime, two items: my skimming of the summaries indicates that the detractors may be right; and Hawass is an ambitious publicity hound who's monopolizing everything Egyptological and who kept s...
by Windwalker
Wed Nov 18, 2009 1:59 am
Forum: The Poetry and Prose of Science and Science Fiction
Topic: When science fiction becomes hard science...
Replies: 1
Views: 38962

If you go discipline by discipline, the technological advances have been quite astonishing. The big bumps (space travel, beating dementia and cancer...) are another matter!
by Windwalker
Fri Nov 06, 2009 7:07 pm
Forum: Literature and Cinema
Topic: Castle
Replies: 34
Views: 337677

Frakes directed several ST episodes and films. His efforts were respectable, if not inspired. I'll definitely make time for this one, I'm curious to see how he handles it.

Number One, eh? Passing the baton... but Mal Reynolds was already Number One in his own universe!
by Windwalker
Tue Oct 27, 2009 10:15 am
Forum: Literature and Cinema
Topic: Castle
Replies: 34
Views: 337677

Many thanks, Eloise! That was incredibly funny but also bittersweet, including the point about moving on. I love the fact they show the glimpses of him putting the clothes on, like the traditional shot of heroes putting on greaves, etc. Then the swashbuckling swagger combined with the self-mocking b...
by Windwalker
Tue Oct 27, 2009 1:36 am
Forum: Literature and Cinema
Topic: Castle
Replies: 34
Views: 337677

I only managed to see the last 10 minutes! Which means I missed all the best parts *grumble* I'll just have to pounce on the reruns... that means next spring.

But you're right -- I so wish they had given Firefly the chance it deserved. Fillion was made to play Mal.
by Windwalker
Sun Oct 25, 2009 12:30 pm
Forum: Literature and Cinema
Topic: Castle
Replies: 34
Views: 337677

I saw the trailer -- they reference not only Firefly and Buffy, but also Underworld (the Vampire/Lycan feud). I think tomorrow will be a short day at the lab! *smile*
by Windwalker
Wed Oct 07, 2009 5:57 pm
Forum: The Art of Science, Fantasy and Science Fiction
Topic: Gems and Elementals
Replies: 12
Views: 127136

Estraven and Genly Ai

Here's my rendition from, oh, 25 years ago: http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c56/AAndreadis/Misc/Darkness002.jpg Estraven is a Gethenian. They're androgynous hermaphrodites who spend most of the time being neither female nor male (somer). When they go into estrus (kemmer), they temporarily become e...