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Archive for the ‘Entertainment’ Category

Experts Have Thoughts

Posted in Entertainment, Science!, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 7, 2026| 1 Comment »

Since my recent posts have spent a lot of time in space, let’s take a slight break from the nonfiction drama of NASA’s Artemis II mission and shift over to the fictional world of space adventure.

In his books, Andy Weir (The Martian) works hard to bring scientific accuracy to his fiction. The challenge is balancing the demands of a thrilling story with the science that grounds it in reality.

How did he do? Experts weigh in.

How plausible is ‘Project Hail Mary’? Experts have thoughts

While “Project Hail Mary” has its share of explosions and catastrophes, it’s the thinking that’s thrilling. Grace and Rocky must come together, with tools and whiteboards, craft and ingenuity, to solve a seemingly insoluble problem. They make mistakes, but they learn from those mistakes and from each other.

And an astrophysicist also has thoughts:

Project Hail Mary is packed with hard science. An astrophysicist breaks it down

… when I walked out of a recent preview screening of the film adaptation of Andy Weir’s 2021 science fiction novel Project Hail Mary, I had tears of joy in my eyes. The filmmakers had done justice not just to the original story, but also to the science at the heart of it.

From NASA, with lots of interesting subsidiary links: 

The Science Behind ‘Project Hail Mary’ – NASA Science

Let NASA shed some light: Explore the resources below to learn the science facts fueling the science fiction.

(Wait, Tau Ceti was also featured in fiction by Isaac Asimov, Arthur C. Clarke, Frank Herbert, Robert Heinlein, Ursula K. Le Guin, and Kim Stanley Robinson? And was the setting for Barbarella? This planet gets around!)

The final assessment of the science? Not perfect, but good. And precisely accurate or not, this promises to be another very entertaining movie. (I’ve read the book but haven’t seen the film yet. Yes, I am a little behind the curve!)

Since we’re here, how about an article on the movie as a climate parable? (warning, spoilers!)

AMAZE AMAZE AMAZE! Yes, this is an article about Project Hail Mary as climate parable

And what the heck, here’s the movie trailer just for fun.

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Photo by Alex Shuper on Unsplash

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You’ve Reached Artemis, Please Hold…

Posted in Entertainment, Science!, tagged , , , , , , , on February 4, 2026| Leave a Comment »

Sadly, NASA’s Artemis mission launch has run into some issues (hydrogen leaks bad!) and will be delayed until at least March.

NASA Conducts Artemis II Fuel Test, Eyes March for Launch Opportunity

That said, safer is better, so you do what you need to do, NASA. (Maybe rehiring some of the folks who were let go last year might help? Just saying.)

What do we hope to see when the mission does launch? This site has a nice explainer.

The flight path of Artemis 2, step by step

And for more on the long-term goals, see this in-depth article: How Artemis will land humans on the Moon.

As we wait to hear more from the launchpad, here’s something fun I ran across the other day that may help keep you entertained:

We asked former astronauts about their favorite space movies, and this is what they said

I mean, I’m more The Martian and Galaxy Quest than 2001, but that’s me. So many good movies! 

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Photo by NASA on Unsplash

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Excellent, No Notes

Posted in Entertainment, Other, tagged , , , , on September 13, 2025| 2 Comments »

This is excellent: 

Need advice? Call these older folks for tips on love, dating and moose hunting

You can call 204-788-8060 and hear prerecorded messages from the residents on various topics. Press 1 for Carl’s advice on following your dreams. Press 3 for Randy’s wisdom on how to grow in new ways (he joined some clubs and got a girlfriend). Press 4 for guidance on surviving Winnipeg winters (if possible, don’t be there). Press 0 for Cheryl’s tips on being true to yourself (“it’s you who has to live with yourself later”).

In related “older people are awesome” news, The Thursday Murder Club movie was fun, recommend.

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Photo by Marisa Howenstine on Unsplash

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The Hunt is On!

Posted in Entertainment, Other, tagged , , , , , , , on September 10, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Are you a fan of puzzles, or mysteries, secrets or treasure? Then perhaps you will be interested to hear about the latest in a tradition of hidden treasure games like The Secret:

A $1 million treasure hunt is underway in Canadian wilderness | Popular Science

An actual treasure chest filled with around $1 million in gold coins is hidden somewhere in Canada. However, the mystery isn’t tied to a centuries’ old pirate bounty or unsolved bank heist, however. These riches were instead intentionally hidden by a mining consortium to celebrate the country’s “rich mining heritage and spirit of adventure.”

The clues are presented in the form of a 13-stanza poem. Have I already asked AI for its opinion on this poem? Maybe. Is it fun that one of the top contenders for the secret stash spot is a place I go to on the regular? It is! And while I doubt that I’ll spend much more time on this, it’s an entertaining idea. 

(Speaking of entertaining, I expect that Josh Gates, TV host, explorer, and aficionado of similar puzzle/treasure hunts, will be doing a show on this at some point.) 

Because this game is sponsored by a Canadian mining company, the winner will have to be a Canadian citizen to claim the prize.* Sorry (not sorry)!

You have until the end of 2026 to find it. 

If nothing else, it’s a fun boost for poetry and a good excuse to get out in nature (explore responsibly, folks!). 

Regardless, the hunt is on!

* Although what’s to stop someone from finding it, enlisting a Canadian to cash in the prize, then becoming enmeshed in a sea of ever-shifting lies and betrayals as each party battles to claim the full amount, opening up endless avenues for dramatic retellings and fictionalized accounts? Why, nothing!

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Photo by Sesha Reddy Kovvuri on Unsplash

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Magical Things

Posted in Entertainment, Other, Science!, tagged , , , , , , , on August 2, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I enjoy the fact that there is always something new to learn. Some things are big, like the latest on asteroid deflection from NASA’s DART program, and some are small, like the fact that Dan Aykroyd had a cameo in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. (Did you know that? I didn’t, until last night when I did a double take and said, “Wait, the guy with the mustache and the British accent. Was that Dan Aykroyd?” It was!)

Of global importance or not, these facts are all interesting reminders that there is always something new around the corner, if you keep looking.

And that, I think, is magic.

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Photo by Matthias Müllner on Unsplash

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Four Forever!

Posted in Entertainment, Holidays, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 4, 2025| Leave a Comment »

It’s May 4th and you know what that means! It’s Star Wars Day!

Why is Star Wars Day celebrated on May the 4th?

Star Wars Day was created by fans as a sly nod to one of the films’ most popular catchphrases, “May the force be with you.”

And when does science fiction become science fact? A few examples:

Some ‘Star Wars’ stories have already become reality

…at least four important aspects of the “Star Wars” saga are much closer – both in time and space – than Lucas was letting on.

And while it’s true that we’re making progress on the scientific and technological aspects of the Star Wars universe, that’s not the reason we care so much about it. 

Star Wars came to me at a difficult time, and has served as an anchor ever since. Why does the story resonate so strongly with so many people?

A force awakened: why so many find meaning in Star Wars

According to Lucas: “I became fascinated with how culture is transmitted through fairy tales and myth. Fairy tales are about how people learn about good and evil…it’s the most intimate struggle that we cope with – trying to do the right thing and what’s expected of us by society, by our peers, and in our hearts.”

These stories typically appear during times of doubt and can help viewers reclaim the goodness and innocence in themselves, reminding them they can overcome the evil they see in the world. 

And while I normally ignore Episodes I, II and III (IV forever!), this quote from the script of III seems appropriate.

“In a dark place we find ourselves, and a little more knowledge lights our way.”

—Yoda

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Photo by Alexander Jawfox on Unsplash

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Aural Investigations

Posted in Entertainment, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , on April 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »

My father grew up loving the Sherlock Holmes stories. He wasn’t the only one, of course, and Sherlock has remained a driving force in modern culture since he was first invented by Arthur Conan Doyle. 

Now that the books are in the public domain, there are a lot of new Holmes stories coming out, which is great. But if you want to go back to the originals and you enjoy audiobooks, consider this collection of 19 Sherlock Holmes short stories on the BBC, narrated by actor Hugh Bonneville: Sherlock Holmes Short Stories.

Sherlock Holmes Short Stories – Hugh Bonneville hosts new Sherlock Holmes series on BBC

His adventures have been enjoyed by audiences around the world for over a century with new generations discovering his thrilling tales through blockbuster films, television series, and even video games.

Now, the great detectives’ most famous mysteries are being brought to life in the new podcast Sherlock Holmes Short Stories hosted by Hugh Bonneville.

Enjoy!

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Photo by huan yu on Unsplash

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The Power of Imagination

Posted in Entertainment, Other, Writing, tagged , , , , , , on January 9, 2025| Leave a Comment »

I write science fiction, but I don’t always like living in the future.

Consider the fact that a century ago, many of the innovations we find commonplace were the stuff of dreams.

I do love advances in things like clean air and water, energy, infant mortality, waterproof shoes, effective moisturizers, trash collection, the postal service, public libraries and so much more.

The sci-fi-level post-apocalyptic wildfire situation currently playing out in Southern California? That, I could do without.

I’m not a Californian but I am an American, a North American, and a human being. Extreme weather events also aren’t uncommon anymore. That, plus the fact that one of the fires surrounding Los Angeles is less than two kilometers from the hotel we stayed in for the Writers of the Future workshop helps make these events even more concrete.

I feel for the people in the fire’s path today, and for the risks we all face tomorrow.

It’s also easy to imagine bad outcomes when we see them in the news. It can be harder to remember the good already incorporated into our lives, and what could be waiting for us up ahead.

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The other night, Mr Man and I realized that we’d never seen Bullitt, Steve McQueen’s 1968 classic movie. It was a well-told story but also a trip down memory lane. I spent a good part of the show saying things like “Oh right, you could smoke most everywhere back then” and “Hang on, that’s how they used to track your pulse?” or “Looks like seatbelts were optional” and “So much of this plot revolves around the fact that you had to stop to find a phone” and “Lord, that is a lot of smoke coming out the back of those giant gas guzzlers.”

The movie’s world was certainly recognizable, but in the way your grade school classroom might be, years later.

Things change, much as it doesn’t always feel like it.

Let’s try to make it change for the better.

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Photo by Venti Views on Unsplash

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Childhood Flashback, Bookshelf Edition

Posted in Entertainment, Writing, tagged , , , , , , , , , on October 30, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Funny how something can play a big role in your life without you knowing all the details behind it. 

My childhood bookshelves were filled with science fiction and fantasy, and a lot of those books were published by Del Rey. 

I’m not sure I knew what was behind the publishing house name, or that it was a she, or that she was instrumental in promoting speculative fiction that did not feature hobbits or Conan. Reading through the list of Del Rey books is a walk through some of the classics. The Sword of Shannara, the reissued The Princess Bride, Foster, Heinlein, Hambly, Clarke, McCaffrey, Anthony and many more. 

The woman who revolutionized the fantasy genre is finally getting her due

In publishing, the people who work behind the scenes rarely get their due. But on Oct. 1, 2024, at least, one industry pioneer got the limelight. On that day, PBS aired “Judy-Lynn del Rey: The Galaxy Gal,” the first episode of its new documentary series “Renegades,” which highlights little-known historical figures with disabilities.

A woman with dwarfism, Judy-Lynn del Rey was best known for founding Del Rey Books, a science fiction and fantasy imprint that turned fantasy in particular into a major publishing category.

Read the article or watch the PBS episode for more of the work she did to move this form of fiction into the mainstream. 

Here’s the episode:

(Also, as a somewhat related aside, how did I never have a Star Wars Intergalactic Passport?!)

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Photo by Vita Maksymets on Unsplash

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No One’s Ever Really Gone

Posted in Entertainment, Other, tagged , , , , , , , , on September 10, 2024| Leave a Comment »

James Earl Jones (1931-2024)

His career spanned three-quarters of a century and included work from stage to voice to movies, but for me he will always be Darth Vader. I’ve written about my love of Star Wars before, and that’s my anchor when thinking about James Earl Jones. 

Who else could have captured Vader’s complex and contradictory traits? Who made us both hate and finally feel for the tortured soul that was Anakin Skywalker? 

‘Star Wars’ colleagues lead tributes to James Earl Jones

“James was an incredible actor, a most unique voice both in art and spirit. For nearly half a century he was Darth Vader, but the secret to it all is he was a beautiful human being. He gave depth, sincerity and meaning to all his roles, amongst the most important being devoted husband to the late Ceci and dad to Flynn. James will be missed by so many of us…friends and fans alike.” 

— “Star Wars” creator George Lucas

A lot of tributes are being published, and if you’re interested in learning more about his impressive and wide-ranging career, I recommend reading them. Here’s just one, from NPR: Actor James Earl Jones, a beloved baritone, dies at 93.

But if you just want to take a quiet moment to appreciate the loss of this generational talent, may I recommend this: 

Thankfully, as Luke says, no one is ever really gone.

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Photo by Josh Howard on Unsplash

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