The Silent Podium

Alien

2012-01-26T17:11:00.000-08:00

It’s no secret that I enjoy a good science fiction movie. I don’t even mind the occasional TV show. Many of them stretch the boundaries of believability with their silliness but occasionally you will find one that takes the subject seriously and somehow manages to remain entertaining.

Even in the great ones though like Close Encounters, aliens are always very humanoid. That irks me. In the 60’s they had an excuse. There was only so alien you can make a person standing in a body suit. It’s a dance with a delicate balance that the entertainment industry refuses to deviate from. Even now the aliens are little more than obvious humans in makeup.

When we think back to the first sci-fi inspiring aliens, the grays from Area 51 even they were affected by this either lack of imagination or willingness to take a risk. Sure they were creepy looking but they too had the standard human body shape. When you think of strange looking aliens, you can’t help but think ALIENS. Its not too hard to see the man in the bodysuit there too. Just a more elaborate one.

On occasion we do get a film that covers other types of life. Artificial intelligence, alien, animals and such. It is rare though that we see a creature that is dramatically different from us and somewhat intelligent. Will humanity always make everything we consider intelligent in our own image?

The more vicious or barbaric the less humanlike they get to be if we go by Star Trek standards which seem to hold even today.

Vulcan - Intelligent with suppressed emotions. Evident in the brow and ears.
Romulan - Violent but still reasonable. More dramatic brow and ears with some forehead creases.
Klingon - Barbaric and unreasonable. The least human-like face.

So what am I looking for? Perhaps I’m hoping for something unexpected, something unbelievable or something that stretches the boundaries of the imagination and not just credulity. Why MUST it have two legs and two arms? Even when they get “crazy” they give the alien four arms and consider that wild. Why must it have any limbs at all? Why must it have a decipherable alphabet or hieroglyphic scripture? Religion!??

I think we are very limited in our understanding of how life can evolve. Throughout one individuals short life so many times the scientific understanding of how life can or cannot exist is turned upside down. I remember as a youth asking questions about the possibility of life on Mars or other planets and the answers were abrupt and absolute. “Life cannot exist on Mars because there isn’t any Oxygen.” Or “The atmosphere of Venus is too corrosive for live to exist.” Oxygen is also corrosive.

Alien? Or homeless person?

I want to be able to watch a movie or read a novel where aliens are the unknown. Where what we witness is new, not just remixes of animals we know. Shoot some of the creatures we find in the deep ocean look more alien than anything we find coming out of Hollywood.

[Edit Friends] (2-1-7) 47 Reads

2011-12-05T12:05:00.000-08:00

(Update: This one will only make sense if you had a classic MySpace profile.)

Current mood:mischievous I was going through my end of the month dust bunny sweep up and I got an idea. A long time ago I wrote a blog requesting for people to post some comments that I can use in a real About Me section.

Thank you Wife and Sarah! (The only two who submitted their truthful positive and negative descriptions of me.)

Well now I'm going to do a real Friend List.

I am going to post the names of the friends and acquaintances I have with a tiny little snippet about who they are and what they mean to me.

Are you nervous?

Jenny Girl First of all - you are so damn witty and clever. (And you can quote me on that!)
I love what you said about me... "Friend-in-law, MySpace acquaintance and regular blogger." Friend-in-law... now that is wit and clever at the top of the game!
If you believe in Astrology, Virgo's ruling planet is Mercury - God of Communication, and I think your ability to command communication through the art of writing is brilliant. Sincerely. You're a great writer and I enjoy everything you post.
You seem very much grounded, balanced and aware. I like that. Not to mention, you're lucky in love with a great gal... who could ask for much more.
- Jenny Girl, your friend-in-law
Bring me water, aww.. thanks for mentioning me!
witchy woman So I was thinking, honest, caring, cute , good old school friend, whatever you post about me, I have faith that it will be just fine. I am not worried, you are a good guy.
- HektikLyfe I posted it on the front page right below the About Me: section so you can check it out now.
  4 years ago
Apple Something LOL@Blunt. Its funny that that is the only word you used to describe me as a person. Thanks!
- Apple Something I was 99% kidding. Don't take that 1% to heart.
  And hey, the idea to do that on your page is a great one.
  4 years ago
- HektikLyfe Awww hey I hope you're at least a little kidding. I spent so much time in the formatting of the table I tried to keep the text short and sweet. In one of the twenty attempts to send out a bulletin (freakin' MySpace) I had stated that I was going to add more later. I wanted to get it finished and posted. I wanted to do a who they are column and what they mean to me but I couldn't get three columns to fit in the limited space so they kind of melded into one.
  
  Blunt is NOT the only word t
Wife:

Where are you posting the details?

Free eBook

2011-12-02T09:28:00.001-08:00

"1970's Buenos Aires based mystery."

Not usually what I post but what the hell right? Some of you may be readers. Enjoy. It will only be free for a while. Click on the picture to go to the download page. You must create a Barnes & Noble account which is free as is the Barnes & Noble applications you need to read them.