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Nevertheless, the movie is rated 8.2 on IMDB - pretty good. Besides the so-powerful=boring argument, there must be something enjoyable in this movie... (didn't see it yet)

Nope, it's the sequel to Congo. This time, they'll have rabid pileated gibbons and drone strikes.

It gets better. By 2003, this was a common technique in politics and straight out of the play book politicians use. They used it a lot then and they continue to do it today. If you don't like where the conversation is, change the subject. If people are paying attention to one thing, do something else totally outrageous that you don't mind as much. Once you have several outrageous things going on, be sure to contradict yourself so people have to start digging to find out the truth. Keep everyone busy arguing about this and that so that they aren't paying attention to the things you want kept secret. What do you think the Clinton fiasco with Monica Lewinski was? I mean, really. That was pretty pathetic. "Read my Lips" with Bush was another one. These were distractions. There were far more important matters for the country to be debating, but it was all over the news as these were the "major" items back in the day. Keep digging further back in history and you'll see more examples of this.

The worst part is that it works and it works well. Next step is to dig up more proof, and show bad Syria is. If that doesn't work, go to war with Syria. (Hell, we may do that just to keep the war machine going.) There's a reason why the phrase Wag the Dog exists.

Empire of the Sun

I thought he was superb.

I didn't even know there was a 4, much less a 5 coming.

[John]

I had to check as well, darn if there isn't "Terminator Salvation", I LOL

I understand that one comment about initials now as well: Director: McG
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0438488/

"Terminator" was amazing, a unique story line to me, much the same as "The Matrix"; toss in "Top Gun" who needs more :}

It wasn't a bad movie and it even had Kirk Douglas in it. It had some scenes that were a little over the top but better than Dudley Do-Right You can smell that movie all the way back to the 90s.

If you want to see something that wasn't ever worth the celluloid it was printed on, you have to see the Hercules in New York where his voice was dubbed throughout the film and all he did was look er, like a buffoon.

It wasn't a bad movie and it even had Kirk Douglas in it. It had some scenes that were a little over the top but better than Dudley Do-Right You can smell that movie all the way back to the 90s.

If you want to see something that wasn't ever worth the celluloid it was printed on, you have to see the Hercules in New York where his voice was dubbed throughout the film and all he did was look er, like a buffoon.

"A. Are you saying just because a technology can be used for harm it should be abandoned or suppressed?"

Actually, no I didn't say anything remotely resembling that. I think I pointed out if you are going to tote up the upside you should probably at least keep it in your mind there is a down side to most technologies. Their cost can be extremely steep, especially when you whistle past the grave yard and ignore them.

Fossil fuels for example have been a boon to the energy input equation driving civilization, as long as they don't start a run away greenhouse effect and wipe out life as we know it.

You seem to be a poster child for "the road to hell is paved with good intentions".

Well, if the point you are trying to make is so superficial, thanks for pointing out the obvious. Every technology is a double edged sword. It doesn't take a genious to realize any tool can be used for good or ill. The story itself simply points out that measurable economic gains have been realized in developing genomic technology. But it would be moronic to take that to mean we are headed for a modern day gold rush where every Tom, Dick, and Harry with a pan can go out and make a mess of things by doing rogue biotech. Throughout human history, Plenty of technological advances have shaped and shifted society in countless ways. You can't deal with it by cowering in fear at the unknown. As a whole, we've adapted and matured. Sure, we will probably make a few mistakes along the way, but we generally learn from those we make and avoid a lot more that the smarter ones among us have already foreseen.

"Just because the technology makes it more feasible doesn't mean we are reckless enough to flirt with it again"

Keep telling yourself that, and hope you have good genes.

My genes happen to be excellent, thank you very much. I've benefited enormously from choosing my ancestors wisely. However, I place far greater value in the wisdom of civilization and culture. I don't agree with everything he's published, but I think you can gain a bit of perspective by reading a bit of Steven Pinker. I am inclined to believe eugenics of the kind you are afraid of (ie. wholesale crimes against humanity) are obsolete human endeavors that will go the way of such things as institutionalized slavery, human sacrifices, and other social institutions that we as a society have outgrown. I suppose an argument can be made for some types of control over reproduction that can constitute some form of eugenics. For example, it is now possible for couples to receive genetic counseling and manage the risk(s) of possible congenital defects in their children. Ethical or not? That *is* a intelligent discussion worth having.

"this stuff is not so easy to do accidentally"

Yea, its so tough there are DIY home geneticists "using the Synthetic Biology Parts Registry to engineer yogurt bacteria to produce prozac"

As someone who has actually participated in iGEM, I'm afraid you have a grossly skewed understanding of how synthetic biology is done. The link you've provided demonstrates in principle how to do genetic engineering. Its akin to how anyone with enough undergraduate physics can in principle construct a fission bomb. Again, that only happens in the movie reality of Hollywood. But seriously, all participating iGEM teams doing this kind of synthetic biology are heavily supported by sponsorship from industry players and academic entities with money, lab facility, and other vital resources such as the wealth of experience provided by project mentors (usually university professors or Ph.Ds in the field). These are not home gene

Sort of the "I-won't-ever-retire" cop that's only a shadow of his former glory.

You mean, The Last Action Hero?

/me ducks

We need a Paula. Vulcans? Hell, I'd take Vogons at this point.

Paula: Look, many young men who should be able to move out, simply can't. It's called "failure to launch". And that's where I come in. Young men develop self-esteem best during a romantic relationship, so I simulate one. We have a memorable meeting. We get to know each other over a few casual meals, he helps me through an emotional crisis, then I meet his friends, if he has any... Then I let him teach me something... But the bottom line is, he bonds with me. He lets go of you. He moves out.

I think if you asked Itskov about that, he'd probably say something along the lines of "given enough time to live, people get other priorities besides being assholes." He's a reformed Russian oligarch, for fnord's sake; it's hard to get more proof-of-concepty than that.

...that being said, it certainly would slow down social change.

But, hey, his timeline includes Surrogates in two years. Probably not something that'll really happen.

Rumor is they've found a way to efficiently brute-force low-level AES.

A rumor that hasnt been substantiated even after over a decade of analysis by top crypto experts around the world. Color me skeptical.

Im sure the NSA is good, but AES security has been pretty thoroughly tested, hammered, and inspected for chinks.

Au contraire, mon frere! They cracked everything years ago!

Sounds like a "Johnny Canal" - type solution. Sure it's great if you're traveling from London to Rome. But what if your trip is more complicated, and realistic, like Tulsa to Naples. My point is, it will be a rare thing that a traveler will be able to board a "pod" and end up at their destination, without ever leaving their "pod".

According to that PewResearch article, 56% are in favor ofr un-Constitutional, unwarranted and illegal spying, and 41% against*.

That initially sounds pretty damning, but in triuth it is a pretty slim majority, considering how these polls are typically rigged. It's a useful number that politicians can point to, but I'd wager that it doesn't accurately reflect what most people feel about the situation. Those polls have leading questions that almost force you to agree with whatever the pollsters (or their employers) are supporting, and leave no room for dissenting opinions (for example, sure somebody might support telephone monitoring if it were used to stop a terrorist attack, but do the pollsters ask if the querents mind if that information is used for /anything else/?)

If there were a single-question poll made of the US public ("Are you in favor of the US government monitoring every communication you and every other American makes?") I think the results would be quite different.

* presumably the remaining 3% want monitoring for some, miniature American flags for others).

They made a movie about this...

Let's see what else from my movie list would fit his predicament best? End of line.

Actually, it was "Working Girl" (Harrison Ford, Melanie Griffith, Sigourney Weaver). Apparently Abraham stole it and put his name on it.

Actually it was "Grandma's Boy"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0456554/

Actually, it was "Working Girl" (Harrison Ford, Melanie Griffith, Sigourney Weaver). Apparently Abraham stole it and put his name on it.

Reference needed. Saying that someone "stole" something is a fairly strong statement.

The story concept of one person's idea being stolen by someone else is not exactly new with Kevin Wade's 1988 script.
It's been a while since I've seen either of these movies, but the connection between them seems thin at best.

Actually, it was "Working Girl" (Harrison Ford, Melanie Griffith, Sigourney Weaver). Apparently Abraham stole it and put his name on it.

NASA, those innocently naive guys... they should have asked NSA before sending in the rovers.

(ducks)

NASA is part of the NSA. Who do you think puts their spy satellites up?

And it's obvious that the NSA needs to keep on eye on Mars, too. There have been credible threats to Earth from that planet and I think the NSA's budget should be increased to *bahDaDa* ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS!

NASA, those innocently naive guys... they should have asked NSA before sending in the rovers.

(ducks)

NASA is part of the NSA. Who do you think puts their spy satellites up?

And it's obvious that the NSA needs to keep on eye on Mars, too. There have been credible threats to Earth from that planet and I think the NSA's budget should be increased to *bahDaDa* ONE HUNDRED BILLION DOLLARS!

The Lives of Others

There's a big difference,though.

Aside being complete fiction, the monitor was directly listening in, empathized with the folks he was spying on, was disillusioned with his cause and leadership and basically burned out with the whole job - IIRC.

With the NSA, they have mostly automated systems that are listening in on everyone in a mechanical way that doesn't allow for empathy and identification with the vict...subject, you have monitors that believe that they are "protecting" the US from its enemies (drank the Red, White and Blue Kool-Aids),and add in bureaucrats who have to cover their asses in order to keep their over paid cushy jobs (please, getting chewed out by a grandstanding toothless namby pamby Congress that would NEVER think of really doing anything for fear of being labeled"Soft on Terror" by the morons on Fox News and the idiots who watch it? Entertainment for the grillee! ).

The other thing is, where's the Jewish community? Why aren't they up in arms over this? Doesn't this feel like Nazi/East Germany?

Never forget indeed.

that's quite possibly the honest truth since neither that "war" nor "terrorism" has been defined to any degree.

For it is the doom of men that they forget. -- Merlin, Excalibur

SEC. 2. AUTHORIZATION FOR USE OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES.

(a) In General.--That the President is authorized to use all necessary and appropriate force against those nations, organizations, or persons he determines planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons, in order to prevent any future acts of international terrorism against the United States by such nations, organizations or persons.

By their deeds you shall know them.

1996 Bin Laden's Fatwa - The following text is a fatwa, or declaration of war, by Osama bin Laden first published in Al Quds Al Arabi

1998 Bombing of US embassies in Tanzania and Kenya

2000 Photo: USS Cole - Video: 2000: USS Cole Attack in Yemen

2001 9-11

2002 Bali terror attack

2004 Madrid train attacks

2005 London 7/7 Terrorist Attacks

2009 Now classified as "workplace violence" - Nidal Hasan Admitted Jihadist Motive, Ft. Hood Victims’ Attorneys Say

2013 Boston Marathon Bombing

Note that this is only a snapshot of attacks, and doesn't include the many attacks that occurred in the Middle East (except the Cole). It also doesn't include the many plots disrupted by the security services, or cancelled by the terrorists planning them. It doesn't include the many arrests for terrorism related activity, but snapshot of that over a short period of time is below:

FBI’s Top Ten News Stories for the Week Ending January 27, 2012

Denver: Man Arrested for Providing Material Support to a Designated Foreign Terrorist Organization

Jamshid Muhtorov was arrested by members of the FBI’s Denver and Chicago Joint Terrorism Task Forces on a charge of providing and attempting to provide material support to the Islamic Jihad Union, a Pakistan-based designated foreign terrorist organization.

Baltimore: Man Pleads Guilty to Attempted Use of a Weapon of Mass Destruction in Plot to Attack Armed Forces Recruiting Center

U.S. citizen Antonio Martinez, aka Muhammad Hussain, pled guilty to attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction against federal property in connection with a scheme to attack an armed forces recruiting station in Catonsville, Maryland.

Washington Field: Man Pleads Guilty to Shootings at Pentagon, Other Military Buildings

Yonathan Melaku, of Alexandria, Virginia, pled guilty to damaging property and to firearms violations involving five separate shootings at military installations in northern Virginia betwe

This is beyond the wildest dreams of the STASI [...]

Indeed. And for those who don't have a clear image of what their lives already look like (in terms of privacy) when they post their private stuff in "the cloud", I highly recommend the movie Das Leben der Anderen.

Russian.

The major problem with Agile is that it is the new software development buzzword, and thus is perceived as a golden bullet for software development.

Golden bullet? What!? Are you fighting wererabbits over there?

I nominate Scenes from a mall as the most boring movie ever. If I want to see a married couple arguing over nothing I just have to go home and look in the mirror.

Search for "fluid".

I'm going on a trip soon and I'd like a taser, please. I'm not going to carry it on the plane but I need it to defend myself from those commie bastards disguised as TSA agents. Those people are trying to rob us of our freedoms and steal our precious bodily fluids!

It was a bad movie cause it was unimaginative - while being about a character who is all about imagination.

Also it was all over the place - building up three different villains and none of them actually being THE villain.
For fuck's sake, one is missing for the most of the movie, one gets eaten by another villain (after all the buildup) and one is just there so we'd have his origin story in THIS movie, not in the next one.

Then, the story jumps around for no reason other than "let's have a training montage".
While we're at it, here are some characters for the comic book nerds. No, we won't give them any character or back story.
Have some CGI instead.

Then, we're back to Earth... where our superhero basically does nothing superheroic.
Unless you count him being all emmo and insecure.
AND THEN... he fights the UltimateVillainTM, represented by a fucking CLOUD OF DUST.
Whom he defeats by ripping of the ending from that Freddie Prinze Jr. and Matthew Lillard movie. The one with submarines in space.

And on top of all that, they really miscast Ryan Reynolds.
Kyle Rayner - maybe. Hal Jordan...

With all the comicbook adaptions we got, i rather hope it takes a turn the other direction to be a little more like 2081

Get your facts right please! It's only going to have David Tennant and this mysterious John Hurt character in it, alongside Smith.
The first three actors are dead anyway and Ecclestone was so pissed off during his time he will never return
to it.

John Pertwee has a son, Sean Pertwee http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0675730/

With some makeup, I bet they could make him look the same. Though I'd be down for a Sean Pertwee as The Doctor.

This is ZPG all over again.

here is your answer.

mod parent up :)

here is your answer.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0708414/

Maybe you were going for funny, but Excel was exactly what the Oakland Athletics, and later the Boston Red Sox used to succeed...as depicted in Moneyball.

Pretty sure he meant Bruce Willis...

Without RTFA, the synopsis leads me to suggest two great movies that cover this topic:

District 9
Bladerunner

What defines a human and what defines a sentient being?

Sometimes I wonder what my freaking dog is thinking. She seems a little too smart when she knows the exact moment to bolt into the neighbor's yard.

Without RTFA, the synopsis leads me to suggest two great movies that cover this topic:

District 9
Bladerunner

What defines a human and what defines a sentient being?

Sometimes I wonder what my freaking dog is thinking. She seems a little too smart when she knows the exact moment to bolt into the neighbor's yard.

This is when I recall it really first took off.. almost 20 years ago. I like the idea of that American God's series though :) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110148/

That's not the question. The problem is not getting paid at all in spite of a promise.

To quote the character of Yuri Orlov from Lord of War , "The second rule of gun-running is always ensure you have a foolproof way of getting paid."

When I was a kid I saw the movie dubbed in nahuatl. It probably was not an official translation but it was done. I also foudn this Hollywood movie by Warner brothers Jesus and is dubbed in quechua Here is a scene in Quechua Here is the same scene in English

Reminds of this one.

I know where he can get some good PR people. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1034314/

I agree. Your response *is* phenomenally ignorant. And, overweeningly arrogant. And replicates the drivel and trope that have been used to foist hasty death on humanity, in the name of fame, power, and a quick buck (not necessarily in that order) millenia since the buck was invented, or before drinking radium tonic, using asbestos, lead makeup, leadedgas,and ... well, it's a huge list. Penicillin *was* great, wasn't it? So were CFC's. So was DDT. So was nuclear energy. So was gunpowder assisted coal mining. And, strip mining. Whose discouyrse you mimic, socially.

Yeah? Tell that to Milla Jovovich.

That particular episode was written by Conan O'Brien. Phil, while brilliant in his own right, just read the line. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0701189/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_wr#writers

Not to mention the ability to extinguish an active volcano by freezing it.
'Cause that's what the "cold" in cold fusion means, right?

/sigh/ Remember when there used to be science in science-fiction?

Did you just spoiler the movie? If so, I have to kill you.

If you want to see Homer Hickam's story, you can watch the excellent movie October Sky. In the movie, they definitely accidentally blow some stuff up while inventing rockets. And they got in trouble, but they didn't get expelled, jailed and have their lives ruined.