Pink Raygun - News, Reviews and Interviews for Fangirls...and boys

Ask an Amateur Scientist: Orgone

Alpha-Girl — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 08:05:10 +0000

By Brian Thompson I. The Setup History is littered with the memories of those who made the unenviable journey from high respectability to high insanity. Consider Prince, for example. In the ‘80s, he had us all by the dancing shoes. Sure, the purple thing was a little over the top, but that’s what being a rock star is all about. We can forgive a little eccentricity in our entertainers. To a large extent, we can even embrace it. This is why I have an undying love of the former part-time Guns ‘N Roses guitarist Buckethead. He’s a fine enough axeman, but he earns his reverence by refusing to take off that bucket and by demanding record companies build a full-sized chicken coop inside every studio they expect him to use.

True Blood: Season One Wrap Up

Alpha-Girl — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:05:35 +0000

By Teresa Jusino I sit here in mourning. This has been the first Sunday in weeks that my housemates and I haven't been able to get together to watch the one television show that everyone in the house loves. This Thanksgiving weekend, as each of us went to different destinations to spend the holiday, I'm sure of one thing. Somewhere, in our deepest heart of hearts, we were all giving thanks for True Blood.

Intergalactic Law 2-115

Space Cowboy — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 07:05:17 +0000

Heroes: The Eclipse, Part 2

Alpha-Girl — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 14:32:59 +0000

By TrinityVixen A wise friend of mine recommended I take the easy way out and turn in a three-word review for each week’s increasingly pointless episode of Heroes: “Make it stop.” It was a nice mantra to have in order to survive not one but two unnecessary make-out sessions between Sylar and Elle.

Heroes: Teenage Wasteland

Alpha-Girl — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:05:53 +0000

By Lisa Fary This must be what it feels like to parent a teenager.

Comics: Flash Gordon #2

Alpha-Girl — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 08:05:00 +0000

By Lisa Fary I’m a sucker for Flash Gordon.

Intergalactic Law 2-114

Space Cowboy — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:05:11 +0000

Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - Strange Things Happen at the One Two Point

Alpha-Girl — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:05:45 +0000

By Melissa Voelker This week my rant is all for Fox. Fox, why do you hate your own programming? First you buy shows and announce that you will be their new best friend, and then you start to hurt them. Its like you are the ultimate abusive boyfriend.

WoWoW: Thanksgiving 2008 Edition

Space Cowboy — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:24:09 +0000

by John Zakour Since it’s that time of the year I thought I’d do a simple entry this week of WoW things I am grateful for.

Intergalactic Law 2-113

Space Cowboy — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:05:02 +0000

Ask an Amateur Scientist:  Sleep Paralysis

Alpha-Girl — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:05:05 +0000

By Brian Thompson I. The Setup I’ve taken a couple of weeks off from writing this column, which was weird for me. I’m not normally one to go on vacation. I get a little antsy when I’m not doing something productive like sitting on the living room sofa, watching old episodes of Doctor Who, playing Xbox with homophobic middle schoolers, sleeping, and not working.

Do Space Pilgrims Get Turkey?

Alpha-Girl — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:04:23 +0000

By Lisa Fary The pilgrims came here so you could spend all day pouring your resentment into a meal that won’t live up to your mother-in-law’s expectations.

Intergalactic Law 2-112

Space Cowboy — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 09:41:16 +0000

A Quantum of Awesome

Alpha-Girl — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:05:58 +0000

by Teresa Jusino I know, I know. Everyone went to the movies the weekend before last to see the new Star Trek trailer. If you stayed a little longer, though, you might have noticed that there was a movie attached to that trailer. It was the latest installment in the story of another character that made his first filmed appearance in the 1960s - James Bond.

Buffy for Beginners 3.16: Doppelgangland

Alpha-Girl — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:04:58 +0000

By Sabrina Boyer The term “doppelganger” is German for “double” and “walker,” and also means a ghostly double of a living person. There is definitely a double walker in this episode, and it is Willow. This ep is somewhat a “part two” to the previous season three episode “The Wish” where Cordy wishes Buffy had never come to Sunnydale and we are first introduced to Willow, vamp version.

Heroes: The Eclipse, Part 1

Alpha-Girl — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 02:14:46 +0000

By TrinityVixen “I hate heroes.” Sylar says what we’re all thinking. And, like us, he’s still, somehow, unable to escape them. Perhaps it is because this week he has no powers, and, as Mr. Bennet handily demonstrates, without his powers, he’s just six feet of punching bag.

The Doctor is In

Alpha-Girl — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 16:03:20 +0000

Meet Your New Doctor (image after the jump):

Supernatural: Heaven and Hell

Space Cowboy — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 07:05:27 +0000

by Sylvia Bond - I had a hard time with the uneven pacing of this week’s up, but mostly I kept asking myself the super important question that I’m sure was on all True Fan’s minds: What is UP with Sam’s hair? It has been so pretty lately, and now look at it. Maybe the flat, greasy style is supposed to represent his inner emotional turmoil, but frankly, I’m in love with emo hair that moves about, and, well, maybe it’s just as well it wasn’t so pretty this week. I come across as totally shallow when I obsess about it, and I very probably should concentrate on something more substantial. More serious. Like Dean’s eyelashes. Or how about his BACK? (More about that later.)

Heroes: How Hiro Can Get His Groove Back

Alpha-Girl — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:03:36 +0000

By Lisa Fary No one ever sees the chubby guy lurking in the sparsely planted corn.

Heroes: It’s Coming

Alpha-Girl — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:47:47 +0000

By TrinityVixen Where to begin the kvetching? I’d like to begin with the bad science, move onto the misogyny, and finish with some (more) character assassination. A holy trifecta of ensuckitude!

Star Trek: The Promise of You

Space Cowboy — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 09:22:20 +0000

by Sylvia Bond: My love for character back story knows no bounds, and especially this character, who I’ve carried clutched to my bosom lo these many years. A movie about a young Kirk? Oh, yes. At LAST. Don’t get me wrong. My adoration for Shatner and Nimoy and company is hard-wired and rock solid for all the joy they’ve brought me over the years. But this is the opportunity for the entire story and for well-loved characters to be born anew, vibrant and fresh like newly-hatched chicks, but the same. Beloved. Known. Cherished.

Intergalactic Law 2-111

Space Cowboy — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:43:44 +0000

We Are Wizards

Alpha-Girl — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:05:33 +0000

By Sonia Aurora Last weekend my friend Gabby and I went to see a documentary in NYC called We Are Wizards. Although I’d heard nothing about it, she mentioned that the movie was about Wizard Rock, people who had come together, inspired by Harry Potter, and created bands that essentially sing about or as characters of the books.

Pushing Daisies: Oh Oh Oh…It’s Magic

Alpha-Girl — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 08:04:07 +0000

By Sonia Aurora Oh yes, its magic, you know, but if only that magic could extend past the screen and into the hearts of the ABC execs who loom over Pushing Daisies with weed killer and shears in their hands.

An Open Letter From Tim Kring (NBC’s Heroes)

Space Cowboy — Sun, 23 Nov 2008 03:05:05 +0000

This just popped in to the email at pinkraygun.com about five minutes ago. Thought we should share.

I need to strongly apologize for the slightly mangled quote of mine that is making it’s way around the internet. It was made while trying to explain the rise in DVR and online audience for the show. I was making the point that these platforms now offer a superior way to watch the show (without commercials, with extra content, commentary, at the audience’s convenience, etc.) And went on to say how it’s getting to the point where “watching the show on the air is relegated to the poor saps and dip****s who can’t figure out how to program their DVR’s”. (Or something close to that) It was a boneheaded attempt at being “cute” and making a point. Instead, it turned out to be just plain insulting and stupid. I know now how it sounded, but I truly never meant to suggest anything negative about our audience. No one cares more about the fans than we do at Heroes, and no one appreciates them more than me. We are grateful for whatever way people are finding our show. Now more than ever.

I want to take this opportunity to say that I’m very sorry for this careless, lame remark. The best way to make it up to you is to live up to my promise that the upcoming episodes of the show are fantastic. I think you’ll agree we’re really on a roll and we couldn’t be more excited about the last four episodes of “Villains” and the upcoming volume, “Fugitives”, which we feel will be a huge hit with the audience.

Thank you for hearing me out.

Humbly

Tim Kring

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Funimation Licenses 2 New Anime?

Alpha-Girl — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 18:16:50 +0000

By Cowhat Ninja The fansub team Rumbel has received three cease and desist orders from Funimation.

Intergalactic Law 2-110

Space Cowboy — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 16:44:32 +0000

Smallville: Abyss

Alpha-Girl — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 08:05:45 +0000

By TrinityVixen Question: if you’re losing your memories, how can you remember that you’re losing them?

WoWoW: What’s The Hurry

Space Cowboy — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 07:16:28 +0000

Words on Worlds of Warcraft by John Zakour

I received my copy of Lich King on Friday morning but purposely didn’t play until Friday evening. Partly because I had work to do, partly because I thought it would be a good lesson in patience for me. My plan has always been to work first and use WoW as my little reward.

My goal is to get to level 80 on my mage before my favorite niece (my inspiration for the Flaxen Femme Fatale) and her husband come to visit us the week before Christmas. With each new level requiring more than a million and half experience and figuring I could grind 500K xp in day (and still get work and life done) I thought this was a reasonable goal. I also want to always have rested experience as that just makes more sense to me: twice the xp for the same amount of work.

Once I started playing I hopped a bird to Wetlands then took the book there to Northend. I figured the Howling Fjord would be the less crowded of the starting areas. My initial impressions were that Blizzard did a really nice job. The places are laid out well. Quests fall into place nicely so there is not a lot of excess hiking back and forth. The quests are mostly interesting and seem to have just the right amount of challenge. After playing for a couple of hours and having over 400k xp without pushing I knew my goal was well within reach. I felt pretty good about my pacing. Then there was a world announcement that the first player at hit level 80. Yep I wasn’t even at 71 yet and somebody had hit 80. I wasn’t sure what to think about this. I looked at the general chat to see what was going on. I expected to see some congrats and some jeers. I was surprised to see only jeers,

“Another loser with no friends.”
“Bet he’s a virgin.”
“He’s probably fat with zits…”
“He just played the beta….”
“Levels played in beta don’t count…”
“Yeah, but you know where to go…”

The remarks went on but I stopped reading. I started to collect my own thoughts. First I was wondering why everybody assumed this player was a guy, but I guess they figured most woman have more common sense than to sit more than 24 straight hours at a computer playing a game. I have to admit I was at first a little envious. Somebody got to 80 before I had even made it 71. Albeit they had a day head start on me but there was no way I could even dream of being anything more than 72 by the next day.

My son sitting at the next computer started reading to me some of the techniques people were using to hit 80. The first players at least certainly weren’t doing this alone. The first guy to level to 80 had a healer with him all the time. As he grinded the healer healed so he had very little down time. Others hunted in groups - the player leveling would tag a bunch of mobs then his / her teammates would finish off the mob. So you get most of the xp with out much of the work. In a way I think this is ingenious. But in another way I have to say, “what’s the hurry???”

Yeah, sure it’s kind of cool being the first to level 80 on your realm. You do get some good bragging rights and you do may get first dibs at some cool gear. But when it all comes down to it, you’re just pushing buttons on a computer playing a game. It’s not the first person to scale Everest. Not the first to hit 700 home runs. Not the first black president of a super power. You were basically willing to sit at a computer for more than a day straight. In a way it’s an accomplishment but then again I’m glad there is no way in “heck” my wife, family, editors, agents and friends would let me sit at a computer playing a game for more than a couple of hours.

So congrats to those who already made level 80. Now go outside and avoid your computer for a while. I will see you in 80s arenas in about three weeks. Sure your gear will be better than mine. Sure you’ll clobber me.

But life will go on just the same and that’s just fine with me.

John Zakour is a humor / sf/ fantasy writer with an online Master’s degree in Human Behavior. He has written zillions (well, thousands) of gags for syndicated comics and comedians (including: Rugrats, Grimmy, Bound and Gagged, Dennis the Menace, The tonight show and, Joan River’s old TV show.) John also writes his own syndicated comic, Working Daze for United Media. John has been the weekly cartoonist for Geek.com and has sold cartoons or gags to hundreds of journals, magazines and web sites. John also has been a regular contributor to Nickelodeon magazine writing Fairly Odd Parents, Rugrats and Jimmy Neutron comic books. Recently John has started writing Simpsons comics for Bongo comics. John’s has written seven SF novels for Daw books the latest The Flaxen Femme Fatale hits bookstore on December 4th.

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Tim Kring Says You’re A Sap

Alpha-Girl — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 20:54:35 +0000

By Lisa Fary Why fix Heroes when you can bitch about fans and DVR?

Mindwarp: Cult Classic or Campbell Palate Cleanser?

Alpha-Girl — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 08:04:39 +0000

By Lisa Fary With Bruce Campbell, mutant cannibals and virtual reality, why isn’t Mindwarp a cult classic?

Stargate Atlantis: Remnants

Alpha-Girl — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 02:49:56 +0000

By Wolfen Moondaughter So Mallozzi's last episode, while not as shining or explosive as "Broken Ties", let him go out of the season with a fairly good bang! It feels good that I've been able to, thanks to the writers and Picardo's talent, around so thoroughly on Woolsey's character, that I enjoyed the use of him here -- thanks, guys, for proving my fears unwarranted. (Now if only you could do that with McKeller -- I really would like to enjoy her characters again).

Geek Sex Doesn’t Sell

Alpha-Girl — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 16:07:57 +0000

By Lisa Fary People’s Sexiest Man Alive issue is the only issue of that magazine that I like. I don’t care about celebrity gossip, the 50 most beautiful people, or the 25 most intriguing people according to People. However, I do like gratuitous pictures of hot guys.

Kill Your Boyfriend

Alpha-Girl — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:05:31 +0000

by Teresa Jusino Several posts ago, Lisa bemoaned the upcoming remake of Footloose, and the Pink Raygun community discussed the fact that it's a shame that Hollywood remakes older hits for today's audience, rather than allow them to develop their own voice. However, re-releases are a whole other thing. Re-releases make sure that future generations are aware of greatness that was, and hopefully set the bar high, inspiring future creators to greatness themselves.

Buffy for Beginners 3.15: Consequences

Alpha-Girl — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 08:03:58 +0000

By Sabrina Boyer This episode begins with a dream. Buffy’s dream to be exact. She’s in water being pulled down to the bottom by the Deputy Mayor, Alan Finch, the one Faith killed.

Intergalactic Law 2-109

Space Cowboy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 07:05:55 +0000

Supernatural: I Know What You Did Last Summer

Space Cowboy — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 07:05:10 +0000

by Sylvia Bond This ep has it all. A dither in the Impala. In the rain. A dither in a motel. A COW who wasn’t pretty in a compartmentalized, TV-ish kind of way. First AID! Flashbacks and lots of ‘em! Drunk Sam. MORE drunk Sam. Drunk, stumbling Sam. Whumpage on a drunk and stumbling Sam. Belligerent Sam. Sarcastic Sam. And lastly, but not leastly, NEKKED Sam. Well, half-nekked anyway, and what a nice view it was so smoke ‘em if you got ‘em. But mostly? Mostly what I enjoyed was the fact that during the course of this ep, Padalecki finally got to. Strutt. His. STUFF.

Heroes: I See White Men

Alpha-Girl — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 04:51:21 +0000

By Lisa Fary I’ve never found Sylar attractive. Had nothing to do with his psychokilling or his Monarch eyebrows. Just didn’t dig him. Until now. I think it was the hair on his chest that got me. I encourage more shirtless Sylar scenes.