pop culture
Modern popular culture topics in the geek sphere.
An Issue with UFOs and Aliens
There've been a number of reports in recent days about government admissions of UFOs or as they often call them UAPs (Unidentified Alien Phenomena). Even Obama chimed in on the issue. UFOs often stir up comments on aliens visiting the Earth and governments covering it up.
By Daniel Goldman5 years ago in Geeks
Beowulf and the Hero Archetype
The story of the epic poem Beowulf is set during the 6th century BCE in Denmark. The poem opens with Hrothgar, the king of the Danes, opening a mead hall that he calls Heorot for his subjects. The happy and carefree atmosphere of the mead-hall doesn’t last long, as a terrifying monster named Grendel starts attacking the hall soon after it opens. He does this every night for over twelve years, the king powerless to stop the greedy goblin and his subjects not strong enough to defeat it. Thankfully, Beowulf, a great warrior who happens to be the nephew of Hygelac, the king of the Geats, hears of Hrothgar’s trouble and sails to his kingdom. When Beowulf arrives, he tells Hrothgar that he is more than willing to help him, especially since Hrothgar helped Beowulf’s father a while ago and he owes him a favor for that. Later that night, Beowulf waits in Heorot Hall for the nightly arrival of the monster. When Grendel arrives, Beowulf fights him in a hand-to-hand conflict, ultimately ending with Beowulf ripping Grendel’s arm off from the shoulder. The wound is fatal, and the monster returns into the wilderness to die. Beowulf is celebrated the next day, with Hrothgar giving him gifts to show his appreciation. The celebration doesn’t last long, as Grendel’s mother arrives soon afterwards to attack the kingdom and avenge her son’s death. She attacks Heorot Hall while the warriors sleep. However, the warriors wake up during her rampage and force her back to her lair in a cave underneath a lake. Beowulf is called into action. He rushes after the monster with a troop of warriors by his side. Once he arrives at the lake, he dives in alone and swims into her lair, finding the body of Grendel inside. He grabs a sword from Grendel’s mother’s pile of treasures and uses it to slay her once and for all. He swims up in triumph, grabbing her son’s head and bringing it with him to the surface. The village celebrates Beowulf once again before he announces that he must return to his homeland. He sails away, and when he finally arrives home, he is celebrated again and subsequently becomes the king of the Geats. His rule lasts for fifty years until one day, a dragon starts attacking his people. He fights it off and successfully kills it but is mortally wounded in the process. The Geats cremate Beowulf and build a memorial-barrow to remember his legacy as an incredible leader and a great king.
By Jamie Lammers5 years ago in Geeks
I Love Sci-Fi, But...
Okay I love science fiction of all kinds. Star Wars, Star Trek, Jurassic Park and Aliens are incredible stories and concepts and anytime some new piece of information comes out concerning Back to the Future or The Predator I am eating that stuff up. But over the countless years of reading and watching science fiction you tend to pick up on some tropes. Some of them add to the entertainment value for sure. But others just need to either become less common or disappear entirely. Here is a list of things I would like to see less or more of in sci-fi.
By Gray Beard Nerd6 years ago in Geeks
TCM Film Festival: 'Tex Avery at MGM'
The Turner Classic Film Festival, May 6th through the 9th on TCM and HBO Max, is treading into the minefield that is the legacy of one Tex Avery during the 2021 TCM Film Festival. One of the centerpieces of TCM’s Saturday morning is the documentary Tex Avery: The King of Cartoons, a 1988 52 minute documentary that has rarely been seen as it has mostly been out of circulation in the last few years. It’s on YouTube but if you’re in America, and you don’t have one of those VPN disguises, you aren’t able to watch it. Thus the show, Saturday morning at 6 Am Eastern time on TCM is a rare opportunity to see the documentary.
By Sean Patrick6 years ago in Geeks
"Waiting for I Dunno"
The Signal Through The Noise/ Tolerance Party #4B put forth by The Cell Theater virtual recent project "Waiting for I Dunno" is mish mosh of Absurdism that goes nowhere important. Based off the play :"Waiting for Godot", Joseph Handel and Kira Simring write an incoherent play.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).6 years ago in Geeks
Everything You Need To Know About Shang-Chi
Fans were surprised and delighted with the recent appearance of the first trailer for Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, in honour of star Simu Liu's birthday. Liu is set to star as Shang-Chi, a gifted martial artist who's past comes back to haunt him when the criminal organisation Ten Rings, led by his Father Wenwu/The Mandarin, track him to San Francisco.
By Kristy Anderson6 years ago in Geeks
Tarantino's Underrated Gem
Normally when we think of Quentin Tarantino's film library people usually mention the obvious. Pulp Fiction, Reservoir Dogs, or the Kill Bill series. Which I mean let's face it, for most that is likely considered the holy trinity of Tarantino movies which are all cult classics respectively.
By Ace Howell6 years ago in Geeks
I'm Going With You!
The curtain on the third act rises. We now know all the players, the plot, and the stakes. It's time for the climatic battle to commence, so the hero dons their battle gear and begins a journey that will define their legacy. Then, the un-enhanced civilian, who has been either a messenger or victim to this point, announces that they are going also. The hero says it's too dangerous; you're too close to this; you're too injured; you're too emotional; this is not your fight; you can only speak to fish. Why bother? Everyone who has ever watched a movie or a television show, or read a comic book, or has seen a musical stage production of Spider-man already knows this contrived conflict has no legs. They will be coming.
By Ron Kretschmer6 years ago in Geeks
One Direction Songs as Books. Top Story - April 2021.
Have you ever been listening to One Direction and thought, “gosh, I would love to read a book that has the same vibe as this song?” Probably not. But, on the off chance that you have, the list below is for you. I can’t exactly explain my methodology here—I just took the idea and ran with it. Whether you're a directioner or not, I recommend all the books on this list.
By Delia Anderson-Colson6 years ago in Geeks
Why My Hero Academia Is Better Than Dragon Ball Z (anime)
The Dragon Ball franchise may have laid the foundation down for many anime after it, but foundation doesn't always mean better. Here's an example. The Nokia phones were cool at the time, but I'd rather have the latest Iphone or Samsung (Yes I did compare DBZ to the Nokia phone.) Dragon Ball Z gave us epic power ups, memorable rivalry's, colorful villains and crazy ass attacks from characters we'll never forget and much more to name or even remember. However there's no denying the anime hasn't aged well through time. Old fans of DBZ like me laugh at the jokes this series gets because its true. Jokes like fights taking a handful of episodes to get to and when the fight finally starts we have to wait for ANOTHER episode. Watching My Hero Academia I was not only remembering, but comparing my time as a viewer to both shows. It inspired me to write about this. It maybe an unpopular opinion for now while you're reading this. Hopefully by the end of this post I'll have you convinced and you'll be on my side. Whether you're like most DBZ fans who wont admit there are better shows out there, and wont give the new kid on the block his props. Or if you're an old DBZ fan and don't know nothing about this show or any other anime. I hope I'll be able to convince you to pick this show up and give it a try maybe it'll lead you to other great shows as well. Any ways whether you like it or not. Here's why I personally think My Hero Academia is better than Dragon Ball Z.
By Jeffrey Fontanos6 years ago in Geeks
