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DuracellEnergizer

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30-May-2010
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30-Dec-2020
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Post
#710660
Topic
The Dream of the Giant Fractal Woodlouse.
Time

Well, I certainly had a strange dream this morning. Or perhaps it was dreams; with the non-linear way my mind dreams, it's impossible to tell.

It began with Daniel Jackson and Samantha Carter from Stargate SG-1 getting trapped inside a virtual reality simulation of an elevator (if elevators came equipped with several rooms, corridors, and windows which looked out onto the street). Basically, they could only escape the simulation if they inflicted tremendous pain on either themselves or another person trapped in the simulation; if the damage they dealt was too great, though, they could end up killing the recipients in the real world. So, instead of tossing some balding guy through a window like they originally planned, they ended up burning themselves or something along those lines to get out of the simulation.

From there, the dream changed to focus on a woman in a car (I think it was a station wagon) who was being followed by a malevolent alien in a car (also a station wagon, I believe) who was wearing a one-piece, head-concealing olive green bodysuit and a Cyclops-type visor. Somehow, though, that one alien became two bizarre aliens in bronze spacesuits with telescoping stilt-like legs.

Finally, the dream became a bizarre Green Lantern movie. Green Lantern was played by Jim Carrey, who looked exactly like the Riddler from Batman Forever save for the absense of question marks on his costume. Having failed as a superhero, he was bouncing from one minimum wage-paying job to another in search of steady employment. At one point in the dream he got folded into a giant quesadilla or taco.

The dream started coming to a close when Carrey Lantern got inside the flexible rubber walls of an elevator(!) where he saw the outline of two men swap chewing gum while making out with one another(!); thinking one of them was a woman, he got aroused. As that happened, though, Carrey Lantern got stuck in one of the rubber walls, leaving it up to one of the men -- who had a pocket knife on him -- to cut Carrey Lantern free. The man cut him free, and Carrey Lantern came out looking like a silver-purple rubber banana man. At that point the dream came to a close and I woke up.

To end this strange recollection on an even stranger note, I was woken up by one of my adult cats, who was kneading and sucking on one of my armpits like it was a teat.

Post
#710600
Topic
Star Wars: The New Dawn (The First Episode in DuracellEnergizer's New PT Re-Write) *COMPLETE*
Time

INT. BUNKER 13/SUBLEVEL R/TRANSMITTER ROOM - EVENING

After years of construction, the transmitter is almost finished; all the remains left to do is the installation of a vital transistor.

Hefting up the large transistor, Orowi flies over to Siri and Anakin and hands it over to them. Taking the component, the two Jedi slide their upper bodies in through an open cavity into the guts of the machine and, securing the transistor in its alcove, begin soldering the proper connections into place. Once that is done, they move out and place a panel over the open cavity, bolting it shut.

ANAKIN: Alright, that's it.

SIRI: We're done.

The small crowd of workers gathered around the machine give each other a round of applause.

OROWI: All that remains to be done is the calibration. Once that's out of the way, we can begin broadcasting immediately.

SIRI: And we're all clear on what we're broadcasting and how we're broadcasting it.

OROWI: (nods) The transmission will be a sting of carefully coded pulses, not visual or aural messages, so that if the Mandalorians manage to intercept it, they won't recognize it for what it is and just assume its naturally occurring background radiation. Along with the general information of our situation and location, the transmission itself also contains instructions to respond only in kind so that the Mandies will think that the transmissions of our benefactors are also natural and ignore them.

SIRI: (nods) Good. (turns to Anakin) Our job here is done, Anakin. The others can take over from here.

Together, the two Jedi then leave the transmitter room for the dirty, cluttered corridors beyond.

ANAKIN: How long do you think it'll take before someone picks up our transmission?

SIRI: I don't know that, Anakin. It may never be picked up or ignored as natural phenomena.

ANAKIN: But you said the transmission would be coded in a recognizable Imperial format.

SIRI: Which only helps us if an Imperial ship happens to pass along this way. Without knowing where in the galaxy we are, we have no way of knowing how likely that possibility is.

ANAKIN: Primeday seems certain it'll happen soon.

SIRI: I admit that there was more to Primeday than met the eye, but she's still loopy. From her perspective, a thousand years could be a single day.

ANAKIN: So what are we going to do now? Just keep going with the Mandalorian program as we've been doing?

SIRI: Yes, but we also have to prepare ourselves, to get ready in case our transmission is picked up by friendly ears in the near future. (beat) It's about time Obi-Wan and I got our lightsabers back, don't you think?

INT. CENTRAL TOWER/PENTHOUSE/SHRINE - EVENING

Zull kneels before a series of idols carved to represent the Meketrex gods, her hands clasped together and her eyes shut tight as she prays in silence.

SIRI: (O.S.) Zull.

Hearing the Jedi Knight's voice, the former priestess opens her eyes.

ZULL: What are you doing here?

SIRI: (O.S.) I need to talk to you.

Rising to her feet, Zull turns to acknowledge her visitor. Seeing the Jedi, her eyes narrow.

SIRI: (notices Zull's bulging abdomen) I didn't realize you were pregnant. (beat) Is Vizsla the father?

ZULL: He will be. (beat) I didn't invite you here, Tachi.

SIRI: I'm sorry. I'll try to be as brief as I can so you can return to your prayers.

ZULL: Very well. Tell me what it is you want.

SIRI: Zull, I want you to retrieve the lightsabers that were taken from me and Obi-Wan.

ZULL: Your lightsabers? (walks up to Siri) Why in the worlds would I do that, Jedi?

SIRI: Zull, you know why -- Primeday showed us both. We have to get ready for the uprising.

ZULL: Uprising? There will be no uprising.

SIRI: We can't know that.

ZULL: Even if your toy succeeds in drawing your allies to this planet, neither you nor they will succeed against us.

SIRI: (frustrated) Do you even hear yourself? We share the same enemy!

ZULL: Your enemy is not my enemy. Your enemy is my master, and I will not betray him.

SIRI: (angry) What loyalty do you owe him? He kidnapped you and forced you to fight for a cause you didn't believe in!

ZULL: (angry) That may have been true, but only in the beginning. Pre has opened my eyes. Through his kindness, through his love, he has shown me the truth of the Mandalorian way.

SIRI: (incredulous) Kindness!? Love!? Are you even aware of what he has done?! Thousands have been massacred in the raids he orchestrated, all whom he could have spared. Where was his love and kindness then?!

ZULL: (averts her gaze) It was unfortunate but it was necessary. Sometimes the few must be sacrificed for the sake of the many.

SIRI: You've been brainwashed and you don't even know it.

Her eyes flaring wide with anger, Zull refocuses her gaze on the Jedi.

ZULL: (sneers) You are one to point fingers, you sanctimonious hypocrite.

SIRI: What are you talking about?

ZULL: I know who you are, Siri Tachi, knight of the Coruscanti Order. I did my research. You belong to the same sect of Jedi Pre once belonged to -- a sect of baby snatchers who mold those they kidnap into unquestioning extensions of the emperor's will.

SIRI: When we become aware of an acolyte's dissatisfaction with our ways, we allow them to leave to follow their own path. Vizsla just has the unruly beaten down until they're forced to submit or die.

ZULL: Submit or die ... submit or die. (laughs bitterly) Death isn't always physical, Tachi.

SIRI: I don't follow you.

ZULL: You don't know what happened to Pre, do you? You don't know what it was that led him to leave the Coruscanti Order.

SIRI: No, I don't. Why don't you enlighten me?

ZULL: During the First Clone War, he met and fell in love with a fellow soldier. This soldier, of course, wasn't a Jedi -- she was just an average, non-sensitive sentient. In spite of that, Pre chose to marry her, rejecting over a thousand years of dogma in favour of love.

SIRI: And so he left. Am I supposed to feel empathy or sympathy? He knew the price for marrying outside the Order.

ZULL: But he didn't leave. Their relationship was discovered, and his title was stripped from him and he was cast out.

SIRI: That changes nothing --

With lightning speed, Zull seizes Siri's throat in an ice-cold grip.

ZULL: (brings her face close to Siri's) His wife was not yet cold in her grave when they excommunicated him. Instead of consoling him, instead of serving as beacons for the light side they claimed to represent, they kicked him out to rot in the cold, dark world of his own misery. And all this was done for what? For falling in love. (beat) Anyone who would choose to serve an order like that is no friend or ally of mine. If you wish assistance in your war, you'll find none from me. (beat) Now begone. Never show your face to me here again.

Releasing her hold on Siri's throat, the near-human turns away from the Jedi and returns to kneeling before her idols. Siri, for her part, can only stand and stare at this coldly formidable woman.

SIRI: Zull ... I --

ZULL: (closes her eyes) Go.

SIRI: (resigned) Alright. I'll go. (beat) Zull.

ZULL: (impatient) What now?

SIRI: (sighs) What the Council did to Vizsla was wrong, but does that make what Vizsla is doing here and now right?

The Jedi Knight turns and departs, leaving the Mandalorian Knight alone with her own conflicted thoughts and feeling.

Post
#710593
Topic
Besides "The films need to be the way I want them," has Lucas stated anything as to why the Blu-rays became the travesty that they are?
Time

TV's Frink said:

Fang Zei said:

Wasn't being serious, but I am genuinely shocked it took this long.

 Some people really like it.  Some people are weird.

Says the guy who'd be offended seeing a guy walking around with a square mustache on his face. =P 

Post
#710403
Topic
Star Wars: The New Dawn (The First Episode in DuracellEnergizer's New PT Re-Write) *COMPLETE*
Time

INT. CENTRAL TOWER/TRAINING ROOM - EVENING

Standing within the centre of the large training room, heavily pregnant, Zull holds her ignited lightsaber upward, eyes trained on the three lightsaber practice 'droids which stand in a semi-circle before her. Lean but powerfully-built, the 'droids -- Purple Eyes, Orange Eyes, and Green Eyes -- are plated with a thin layer of Mandalorian iron alloy and armed with lightsabers taken from captured Jedi.

As Zull moves her blade downward just a fraction of a millimetre, Purple Eyes pounces. As it swings its green blade, the Meketrex ducks, allowing her to block Green Eyes' yellow weapon just as it comes in swinging after Purple Eyes.

Twirling over to the right, Zull moves out from under Purple Eyes and goes for Orange Eyes. As the near-human Mandalorian Knight brings her chartreuse blade down, the 'droid turns its blue lightsaber sideways, blocking the blow easily. Pushing forward, Orange Eyes forces Zull backwards toward Green Eyes.

Spinning around, Zull brings her lightsaber down just in time to intercept Green Eyes' underhanded swing. Forcing Green Eyes' blade down to the floor, Zull quickly brings her yellow-green blade up to the 'droid's unarmoured neck. Hitting the 'droid, the blade doesn't sever its head; instead, the 'droid and its lightsaber automatically power down.

Turning away from the dormant machine, Zull refocuses her attention on the remaining 'droids. Bringing their weapons to bear, Orange Eyes and Purple Eyes attack.

As the 'droids run towards her, Purple Eyes throws its right leg out in a high kick while Orange Eyes swings its lightsaber low, trying to catch the near-human woman in a nasty crossfire. Hurling herself forward, Zull manages to pass through the empty space between the two dangerous blows. Springing back up, she swings her lightsaber around before Purple Eyes can turn around; as the chartreuse blade makes contact with the unarmoured joint between the droid's unarmoured hips and torso, the droid shuts down.

Deciding to put a swift end to this training session, Zull hoists her weapon up like a javelin and then hurls it head-long toward Orange Eyes. Sailing forward straight and true, the tip of the yellow-green blade strikes against one of the 'droid's photoreceptors, deactivating the automaton instantly.

Perspiring from the effort she just put herself through, Zull walks over to her lightsaber and retrieves it, readjusting its power level back to full. Pocketing the weapon, she turns around and walks away from the three 'droids toward the front of the room, where Pre Vizsla stands against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest.

PRE VIZSLA: You shouldn't be sparring this far into your pregnancy.

ZULL: You don't have to worry. I had their programming set on easy mode.

PRE VIZSLA: Nevertheless, your due date is approaching. If you don't want to suffer complications, I suggest you go easy on the physical exercises and focus on the mental ones.

ZULL: Could you hand me a towel, please?

Turning toward a short table, Vizsla retrieves a white towel and hands it to Zull. Taking it, she mops the sweat from her head and shoulders.

PRE VIZSLA: You're hiding something.

Zull freezes at those words.

PRE VIZSLA: Something troubles you.

Draping the towel across her shoulder, Zull averts her gaze from his.

ZULL: You're mistaken.

PRE VIZSLA: You can't hide your feelings from me, Zull. I know you too well.

Bringing her head back up, she restores eye contact with Vizsla.

ZULL: I'm afraid.

PRE VIZSLA: For the child?

ZULL: For the child, for me, for you. I'm afraid for the future.

PRE VIZSLA: (puts his hand on her shoulder) We make our own future.

ZULL: (brushes his hand off) You made me believe that was true.

Taking the towel from her shoulder, Zull tosses it back on the table. Turning away from her master, she then leaves for the door.

Post
#710392
Topic
Your favo[u]rite actors & actresses
Time

Who are your favourite actors/actresses? Mine are:

  • Erick Avari
  • Bart the Bear
  • Laura Bertram
  • Clancy Brown
  • Millie Bobby Brown
  • Bruce Campbell
  • Julie Christie
  • Jeffrey Combs
  • Jennifer Connelly
  • Tim Curry
  • Jaye Davidson
  • Mira Furlan
  • Sarah Gadon
  • Michael Ironside
  • James Earl Jones
  • Boris Karloff
  • Heather Langenkamp
  • Jennifer Lawrence
  • Christopher Lee
  • Tom McCamus
  • Richard Moll
  • Leonard Nimoy
  • Peter O’Toole
  • Vincent Price
  • John Saxon
  • Max von Sydow
Post
#710370
Topic
Dark Horse to adapt "The Star Wars."
Time

Well, I read the entire adaptation. Here are my basic thoughts on it.

The writing isn't anything stellar -- the love dialogue in particular is just awful. But as this is meant to be a faithful adaptation of a Lucas-penned early draft -- warts and all -- I'm not going to hold that against it. Still, it's pretty good for a purely Lucas effort; on a scale of quality, I'd say if falls somewhere between ROTJ and the PT.

The sexual escapade that Annikin had with some anonymous female character in the actual script was all but omitted from the comic. There are a few shots in the comic, though, where Annikin and the aforementioned female character check each other out, so I wonder if the stuff with them having sex was actually written and drawn out but was removed by editorial decree before publication.

I noticed that while Jedi and Sith both wield red lightsabers, stormtroopers wield silver lightsabers, and I can't help but wonder why the writer/artist went that direction. I feel all three factions should have either all wielded red lightsabers or had their own individual lightsaber colours.

While I liked the art for the most part, like too much comic art these days, the images where pretty static; movement just wasn't depicted very well by the artist.

Finally, I'd just like to say that I was disappointed that Darth Vader's likeness wasn't patterned after David Prowse; it would have been a nice tribute to the actor to finally assign his face to the character even if it isn't the exact same character as the one from the movies.

Post
#710274
Topic
Star Wars: The New Dawn (The First Episode in DuracellEnergizer's New PT Re-Write) *COMPLETE*
Time

FADE TO

A sped-up montage of the various warriors, workers, and prisoners within the Mandalorian complex making their way to-and-fro about their business.

CUT TO

A time-lapsed shot of the three suns of Dania VII moving across the emerald sky above the Mandalorian complex and sinking below the horizon, casting this side of the planet into night.

CUT TO

Siri helping a pain-wracked Ben into bed. Wincing as he stretches out on the mattress, he thanks Siri as he closes his eyes. Turning, she walks out of the dark room.

FADE TO

Anakin as he lies down on the sofa for his brief sleep before the night shift. Sitting at the table, Nashira looks upon him yearningly.

FADE TO

Zull lying upon her ornate, king-sized bed alone. Turned over on her side, she stares ahead unblinking, her expression unreadable.

FADE TO

Siri, sitting on the sofa, her eyes growing heavy with sleepiness.

FADE TO

Nashira climbing into bed. Pulling the sheet up to her chin, she quickly falls asleep.

EXT. CLOUD WORLD - EVENING (DREAMSCAPE)

Under a full, pale-yellow moon set within a dark blue sky, Obi-Wan, Siri, Anakin, Nashira, and Zull find themselves suspended within the air atop stone pillars which disappear into a heavy cover of billowing clouds below them. Arranged in a circle, they find themselves surrounding a central pillar which towers above them; standing upon this central pillar, wearing robes and beads of iridescent black, is Primeday Surprise.

PRIMEDAY: Welcome, children.

SIRI: (confused) What is this?

NASHIRA: A dream. It's gotta be.

PRIMEDAY: (cont'd) This is no dream, Nashira. This is a nexus, where many minds become one.

OBI-WAN: We're in a rapport. Primeday's gathered us together inside her mind.

ANAKIN: (gestures toward Zull) Who the hell's that?

NASHIRA: It's Zull!

ANAKIN: (frowns) The Mandie who gave that rapist bastard the snippety do dah?

PRIMEDAY: (raises her arms) You have many questions that require few answers. I will give them to you. Now, be silent.

They all quiet down to hear what the enigmatic H'nemthe has to say.

PRIMEDAY: (cont'd) The day and hour of your deliverance draws nigh. Those who would be your saviours are coming, and you have but to call to them. But before you can, before you must, you will have to prepare. (beat) As we six have become one soul in the Force, so must all who have been unjustly imprisoned within the Mandalorian walls. (beat) Together, here, we will show each other the way ...

FADE TO

Obi-Wan rising up in bed awake.

FADE TO

Siri on the sofa as she wakes up.

FADE TO

Anakin rolling over on the sofa as he comes awake.

FADE TO

Siri in bed as her eyes fling open.

FADE TO

Zull as she sits up in bed wide awake, her expression troubled.

INT. BUNKER 13/SUBLEVEL R/TRANSMITTER ROOM - EVENING

As three prisoners work on calibrating the various components of the as-yet-unfinished transmitter, Anakin and Orowi stand off to the side conversing.

ANAKIN: (cont'd) You got all that?

OROWI: (frowns) I think so. (beat) It'll help?

ANAKIN: Do you have any better alternatives?

OROWI: No. We were winging it, really, just hoping things would fall together nicely on their own. (beat) Okay, I'll do it and I'll tell the others to do the same.

INT. BUNKER 13/LEVEL 34/KELE'S QUARTERS/MAIN ROOM - DAY

Opening his door, Keletons Onesb allows Ben to step inside his quarters.

KELE: Kenobi?

OBI-WAN: (turns to Kele) You recall that favour you owe me?

KELE: Of course. What can I do for you?

OBI-WAN: Just listen to what I have to say. After I'm done, you can do what you wish.

KELE: I don't understand.

OBI-WAN: You will. (beat) One other thing.

KELE: What?

OBI-WAN: If you agree to go through with this, you have to agree to pass what I teach you on to others -- others you can trust.

EXT. ARBORETUM - DAY

Out in the wide open space of a lush arboretum, Nashira walks about gathering beautiful flowers of many different colours and hues.

NASHIRA: (singing) (in Irish Gaelic) And I feel it. And I feel it. Where ya going to tomorrow? Where ya going with that mask I found? And I feel. And I feel. When the dogs begin to smell her. Will she smell alone?

Having finished gathering flowers, Nashira walks off.

INT. CENTRAL TOWER/PENTHOUSE/BEDROOM - DAY

Zull stands before a full-length mirror, staring back at her reflection. Clad in a form-fitting black bodysuit, her Mandalorian robes and armour sit laid out upon her bed to her left. Her face, her eyes, are grave.

Suddenly an electronic buzz resounds through the air, alerting her to the presence of a visitor. Turning from the mirror, she walks off to see who is there.

INT. CENTRAL TOWER/PENTHOUSE/ENTRANCE HALL - DAY

Making her way down the short hall, Zull reaches out for the panel which controls the door and presses a button. Unlocking, the door slides up into the ceiling, revealing Nashira standing there on the other side, a bouquet of flowers in her arms. Her expression serious, the young girl hands the bouquet to Zull.

NASHIRA: For you, Zull.

Gingerly, Zull takes the flowers. Planting her face in the petals, she closes her eyes and breathes in deeply. Then, casting the bouquet aside, she scoops Nashira up into her arms, hugging the human child close to her as tears begin to run down her cheeks.

CUT TO

A montage of the events which occur over the next five-to-six months. The prisoners work on the transmitter, adding more-and-more components as the days and weeks pass on by. Ben, Nik, Siri, and 'Shira teach other prisoners how to rapport through the Force, and those prisoners in turn teach even more prisoners. Zull's belly grows ever larger as the child within her womb approaches her due date.

Post
#710267
Topic
The thread where we make enemies out of friends, aka the abortion debate thread
Time

Perhaps the following should be in the religion thread, but since it centres heavily on matters pertaining to abortion, I felt perhaps it would be best put here.

...

As some of you have probably already guessed, I've espoused a pro-choice stance when it comes to abortion in the past. It isn't really because I believe an underdeveloped embryo/fetus isn't a viable human and that the mother has the right to abort if she wishes; it's because I have a rather dim view of physical existence on this Earth.

Basically, I feel that existence on this world is one of suffering, that when one brings a child into this world, they not only bring more misery into this overpopulated, dying world, but they heap misery upon the child they've brought into this world, however unwittingly. I have felt, more often than not, that it is better not to ever be born into this world. I have felt that if there is an afterlife, it is best to skip right over this one and go straight to the end of the road to become one with God. That is why I've supported a person's right to have an abortion.

However, about a week ago, while I was lying in bed waiting to fall asleep, I began to wonder if perhaps aborting an unborn child doesn't spare them from the misery of this world. I began to wonder if God wanted people to be born into this world as some part of Its master plan -- I began to wonder if God incarnated souls into this material world so that they could live a life of physical suffering before finally graduating, so to speak, and passing on through into the spirit world. I began to wonder if abortion didn't just force the souls of the unborn to be reincarnated into another body, prolonging their suffering in this corrupted universe.

So what am I saying? I'm saying I don't consider myself pro-choice anymore. Of course, I don't consider myself pro-life, either. I suppose you could say I'm caught at a point somewhere between the two stances where they cancel each other out (if that makes any sense).

Post
#710261
Topic
Random Thoughts
Time

Here is a incomprehensive list of movies I will utterly refuse to watch unless someone is literally willing to pay me big honkin' bucks to see them:

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 (2014); American Pie (1999); American Pie 2 (2001); American Wedding (2003); American Reunion (2012); Arthur (2011); Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016); Beerfest (2006); Beneath Still Waters (2005); Bewitched (2005); Black Christmas (2006); Cursed (2005); Date Movie (2006); The Devil's Rejects (2005); Disaster Movie (2008); Epic Movie (2007); Evil Dead (2013); The Fast and the Furious (2001); 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003); The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006); Fast & Furious (2009); Fast Five (2011); Fast & Furious 6 (2013); Fast & Furious 7 (2015); Friday the 13th (2009); Fright Night (2011); Halloween II (2009); Highlander: The Source (2007); Jumper (2008); Man of Steel (2013); Meet the Spartans (2007); A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010); Old School (2003); Resident Evil (2002); Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004); Resident Evil: Extinction (2007); Resident Evil: Afterlife (2010); Resident Evil: Retribution (2012); Scary Movie 5 (2013); Soul Plane (2004); Star Trek (2009); Star Trek Into Darkness (2013); Superbad (2007); Superhero Movie (2008); Transformers (2007); Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009); Transformers: Dark of the Moon (2011); Twilight (2008); The Twilight Saga: New Moon (2009); The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010); The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 1 (2011); The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn - Part 2 (2012); Underworld (2003); Underworld: Evolution (2006); Underworld: Rise of the Lycans (2009); Underworld: Awakening (2012); Vampires Suck (2010); Van Helsing (2004); The Wolfman (2010); The Wolverine (2013); X-Men: The Last Stand (2006); X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009); X-Men: First Class (2011); X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014)