...and I am betting that none of you knew today was the anniversary of a lunar voyage, in fact the first one ever. Well really now, it is the anniversary not of a real lunar landing but of the very first science fiction film and it was called Le voyage dans la lune and debuted on May 2, 1902 (or October 4, 1902 , or September 1, 1902 all depending on the source you quote or the country of release) I prefer the October 4th date (the date of the US debut) because that makes it a Libra like me but I went with today's date to add it here as a Today In History post instead of having to wait. I do not know which date is correct but the nod for most quoted seems to go to the September 1, 1902 date. Regardless of the date, even if today was not the debut date, the film is worth a blog post and I am posting it today.
I was going to say that I had never seen it, then checked GOOGLE and there it was, not at YouTube as I had expected but at Google video (which I did not know existed). All I can say is Voila! I have seen it now and I love it. Much like sci-fi movies of today, this one was about a small group of scientists/adventurers who head off into outer space, land on the moon, are then accosted by hostile aliens from another world but manage to escape and return home to earth. In the short span of this film are included many of the same things we see in today's films including the space ship, beautiful scantily clad babes, strange worlds, adventure, danger, beautiful scantily clad babes (remember this was 1902 and those are short shorts by anyone's standards), aliens, hostility, violence, humanity overcoming all comers, and so on. For the most part, these movies have changed only in as much as they seem more realistic today, have bigger budgets, and somewhat sexier babes with just a bit less clothing. As I said though, this one had all the basics and I imagine it made the kids and sci-fi buffs of that other time as thrilled as I was the first time I saw Alien.
Of course, being as old as it is it is also corny beyond compare when you look at today's sci-fi movies but yet I think it was worth watching anyway - if just to see the first one ever. I am a bit of a sci-fi buff, I especially love movies and shows along those lines and even though this one is a silent film classic and only 14 minutes long, I think you might love it too if you love the genre. Here it is, with narration (that I am supposing was added many years later as this was a silent film), for your enjoyment.
I may or may not watch it again but I will be certain to watch many more films of the sci-fi genre; films that this one, the first one, spawned to thrill us and chill us.
All the best,
Glenn B
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Be Careful...
...out there my friend. My guess is you got called out on this. I hope you brought your Sonic screwdriver set! You know who you are!
Later for you,
GB
Later for you,
GB
The NYPD...
...has officially called it a bombing attempt and Commissioner Ray Kelly said that an improvised bomb was dismantled by law enforcement. It sounds to me like an amatueurish attempt but even at that, had this gone off there probably would have been lots of deaths, injuries and damage.
This is one of the most video covered locations in the USA so chances are they will spot the culprits on camera and catch them quickly. Let us hope so.
All the best,
Glenn B
This is one of the most video covered locations in the USA so chances are they will spot the culprits on camera and catch them quickly. Let us hope so.
All the best,
Glenn B
A Bomb Or A Vehicle Fire...
...causing a panic in Times Square in the heart of NYC's Manhattan Theater District? Take your pick but as I sit here and watch on the TV news as I type let me tell you with all those officers standing around with hands in their pockets, I hope it is not a bomb.
The low down so far, as per Fox news and CNN, is that at about 1830 (6:30PM) a tee-shirt vendor alerted a NYPD Mounted Police Officer of an abandoned vehicle with smoke coming out of it (a Nissan Pathfinder). A later search reportedly found propane tanks and a container of gasoline inside the Pathfinder. There was reportedly also a possible timing device found in the vehicle. So was it all a bomb or is it a case of over reactive imaginations. If it was a bomb - thank goodness it did not go off a good eye on the cop who spotted the smoke. If it was not a bomb - well okay then - I would rather have them over react than not and then have it explode when they thought it was nothing.
The thing is, if this does turn out to have been a failed bombing attempt, and if the the evidence points to Muslim Extremists - and I am not in any way shape or form saying that there is any such evidence right now just saying IF it does develop - then the time has come to prepare yourselves for more of this on our shores in very short time - in my estimation. Why do I think so. Because of the failed subway bombing plot in NYC (for which the bums were just convicted), because of the Colonel who shot up the military base not all that long ago. If this too is linked to Muslim extremism then the fever of it is here and firmly planted and you had better be prepared to deal with it (legally) and to deal with with spineless politicians and bureaucrats who may again try to have you basically ignore it. If it is here, then we need to take action and that action should be, in my opinion, legal, swift and strong to counteract it. We do not need to become another Paris with mobs ofMuslim extremists youths firebombing cars and beating people. We do not need to become England where Sharia law is now, at least in part, the law of the land. We do not need to become plagued by terrorist violence like Israel. We need to get rid of the problem swiftly and decisively and legall. Round ups and deportations may be called for of all illegal aliens from certain nations, and more scrutiny of those legally here, but that is my absolutely personal opinion (as is everything else in this post).
Again though, that is only if this is related to terrorism - and caused by terrorists especially Islamic Extremist types. Of course, it could be terrorism of another ilk, like those home grown wackos who blew up the federal building or the ones who recently plotted to kill a police officer then attack the funeral of the officer to kill more officers. I don't see us needing to do much to wake up our politicians because if American citizens are involved I have no doubt our politicians will act swiftly, they always are ready to denounce what they call right or left wing extremists. It is just that I have my doubts if they are Muslims as to the response our politicians will have - just look at the shooting by Major Nidal Hasan at Fort Hood. He screamed out the name of his so called glorious god while he killed and they don't want to call it Muslim extremism. Shame on them and shame on us if we let that happen again.
Then again for another time, maybe it was just a burning vehicle with propane tanks for a restaurant and extra gas in a can and yada, yada, yada... I suppose we will know more as time goes on. As for me, I tend to think it may be the real deal, they have been at it all night long. In addition, I just heard the car and plates do not match; a not all that uncommon event in n NYC but quite the coincidence with the fire, the propane, the gasoline, the so called possible timer and the place where it was parked (one of the most crowded night spots in Manhattan). In closing let me say - real deal alert - but probably an attempt by a rank amateur. Let's hope either that or nothing but coincidence and a vehicle fire.
All the best,
Glenn B
The low down so far, as per Fox news and CNN, is that at about 1830 (6:30PM) a tee-shirt vendor alerted a NYPD Mounted Police Officer of an abandoned vehicle with smoke coming out of it (a Nissan Pathfinder). A later search reportedly found propane tanks and a container of gasoline inside the Pathfinder. There was reportedly also a possible timing device found in the vehicle. So was it all a bomb or is it a case of over reactive imaginations. If it was a bomb - thank goodness it did not go off a good eye on the cop who spotted the smoke. If it was not a bomb - well okay then - I would rather have them over react than not and then have it explode when they thought it was nothing.
The thing is, if this does turn out to have been a failed bombing attempt, and if the the evidence points to Muslim Extremists - and I am not in any way shape or form saying that there is any such evidence right now just saying IF it does develop - then the time has come to prepare yourselves for more of this on our shores in very short time - in my estimation. Why do I think so. Because of the failed subway bombing plot in NYC (for which the bums were just convicted), because of the Colonel who shot up the military base not all that long ago. If this too is linked to Muslim extremism then the fever of it is here and firmly planted and you had better be prepared to deal with it (legally) and to deal with with spineless politicians and bureaucrats who may again try to have you basically ignore it. If it is here, then we need to take action and that action should be, in my opinion, legal, swift and strong to counteract it. We do not need to become another Paris with mobs of
Again though, that is only if this is related to terrorism - and caused by terrorists especially Islamic Extremist types. Of course, it could be terrorism of another ilk, like those home grown wackos who blew up the federal building or the ones who recently plotted to kill a police officer then attack the funeral of the officer to kill more officers. I don't see us needing to do much to wake up our politicians because if American citizens are involved I have no doubt our politicians will act swiftly, they always are ready to denounce what they call right or left wing extremists. It is just that I have my doubts if they are Muslims as to the response our politicians will have - just look at the shooting by Major Nidal Hasan at Fort Hood. He screamed out the name of his so called glorious god while he killed and they don't want to call it Muslim extremism. Shame on them and shame on us if we let that happen again.
Then again for another time, maybe it was just a burning vehicle with propane tanks for a restaurant and extra gas in a can and yada, yada, yada... I suppose we will know more as time goes on. As for me, I tend to think it may be the real deal, they have been at it all night long. In addition, I just heard the car and plates do not match; a not all that uncommon event in n NYC but quite the coincidence with the fire, the propane, the gasoline, the so called possible timer and the place where it was parked (one of the most crowded night spots in Manhattan). In closing let me say - real deal alert - but probably an attempt by a rank amateur. Let's hope either that or nothing but coincidence and a vehicle fire.
All the best,
Glenn B
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