“You jerk-offs, you popped my yogurt!” Rocky, from Ron Goulart’s 1977 Challengers of the Unknown novel. Cover artist uncredited.
PULP WONDER WOMAN
-The New Paradise-
The space-suited figure was terribly heavy to carry but Diana dared not lighten the burden by removing the protective suit the man wore. Breaking the seal on the visitor’s helmet and exposing the rocket ship pilot to the atmosphere could prove fatal, or worse. Much had changed in the world in the century since the corpse of the Zerodark slammed into the world from outer space and transformed the world of mankind forever.
Diana spared a glance back over her shoulder at the vast, horizon-spanning bulk of the creature that destroyed much of the old world so many years ago by dying within the pull of the Earth’s gravity. She could still detect the wisp of gray smoke from the destroyed rocket curling upwards through the sky, visible against the cracked, dark blue chitinous armor of the Zerodark. An hour’s walk distant from the rocket and Diana could yet hear the hungry screams of the alien fauna drawn to seek prey by the noise of the rocket crash.
For a moment an exhausted Diana considered abandoning the unconscious pilot to the mercies of the strange plant and animal life that was borne to earth by the ill-timed death of the moonlet-sized creature. Living within its flesh, both hostile parasites and beneficial microbes were set free from their usual world of thick shell to attack and twist the Earth. But leaving the pilot to a horrible fate was a consideration that was, at most, fleeting. The spaceman represented hope for her people. He was from a time no one was old enough to recall and surely held secrets of science that Diana and the rest of the survivors could only dream of. The remains of humanity would need this man’s help in the quest to rebuild the world into a new paradise for them all.
Next Month
- Eye of the Zerodark-
Why do the religious and conservative minds seem to hate science and facts so much? Why do they tortuously do whatever they can to avoid, cloud, self-servingly edit, ignore and discredit facts?
Because they can’t adapt their fantasies fast enough to survive reality.
They exist within a static universe or one in which their predispositions serve their interests. Facts chip away at the foundations of their prejudices and the upsetting of the status quo or anomie is hard to accept. Usually it is these people who will often be on the losing side of right and wrong and history.
Fear of the loss of control is usually the result. The worry that randomness is the true meaning of the universe and those in power are determined to keep their hold as tight as possible on the people and events that keep them on the top.
Progress marches on, keep up or get stepped on and left behind.
PULP SLEESTAK
The moment she walked into my office through the door I forgot the first rule of detective work: Never trust a beautiful dame, especially a blonde. There was something about her. Something special and I could sense it right away. She came breezing in on a cloud of expensive French perfume, all blond and soft curves and sharp, high cheekbones. From the way she was dressed I could tell she could afford an entire team of private dicks so if she came to a skid row P.I. like me it could only be for two reasons: She was desperate and had a secret.
“I was referred to you by a mutual acquaintance, Mr. Sleestak. You come highly recommended as a person who could get things done quietly and without fuss. I can’t afford this problem to be a matter of public fodder for the gossip columns.”
“Why don’t we start with your name.” I said. I didn’t bother to correct her notion about keeping things quiet. A lot of my cases usually ended with a lot of noise. The kind of noise that comes from the business end of a gun. I motioned her to a chair and she reluctantly took a seat. She was high class, that was for sure. She was almost able to keep the expression of distaste of her angelic face as she settled onto the chair. I wasn’t one for housecleaning. I was sure that this skirt would burn her dress the first chance she got.
“I’m Susan Evers.” She said. I knew the name. The famous, or should I say infamous Evers Family had their fingers in all kinds of pies in this town. She was rich. Real rich. “My estranged sister is out to destroy the family.”
“Go on.” I urged her, taking another drink from the bottle of cheap bourbon I always keep on hand in my desk. I tipped the bottle towards her in a silent offer of a drink, but she ignored my gesture. My already high estimation of her went up a couple of notches.
“As you may know, my family does not always get along.” Miss Evers began. “In fact, my parents divorced early and fought for controlling interests in the family holdings for decades. Since in the event of their passing the family money and business goes to us children, my sister and I where used as weapons by each parent to control the other. My mother and sister, Sharon, who is my exact twin by the way, moved to England shortly after the divorce. It is only recently come to my attention that Sharon has been attempting to take control of the business by undermining my influence.”
Getting mixed up in family problems was always bad news for a detective. Too much emotion and not enough facts cloud the issue. I’ve seen this before. People say it’s about right and wrong but in the end it always come down to one thing. Greed. I nodded. “So why come to me? This seems like more of a matter for a shyster and not a low-rent gumshoe.”
“I wish I could use the courts, but all the lawyers are being manipulated and some of them are in on the plan. Sharon has already impersonated me a number of times and is always one step ahead of my own team. Sharon signs paperwork and makes appearances as me and if I attempt to reverse one of “my” decisions I look weak, foolish or ineffective to the board of directors. That plays right into Sharon’s hands.”
“Mr. Sleestak, The shareholder’s meeting is in two weeks and for the first time in 20 years our parents will be living under the same roof for the duration. It was Sharon’s idea that we all get together. We will all be one big “happy family” again until the proxy vote is over and I’m worried that Sharon has laid some kind of trap for our parents. My fear is that Sharon will take that opportunity murder them and me in order to take control of the family business.”
She started to cry then, and dabbed delicately at her tears with a lace handkerchief. At that point I knew that little bit of cloth was the luckiest silk to ever be extruded from the bowels of a caterpillar. If I had one weakness it was when a dame starts with the waterworks. She looked up at me. “I need your help to get the proof I need to stop Sharon, Mr. Sleestak. Will you take the case?”
“Yesssss.” I said. “But from now on, call me Slee.”
I loved that ride. I am absolutely stunned and terribly saddened that when the ride was dismantled for Star Tours no one saved the giant eye through the microscope animatronic. That was such a cool and thrilling finale to the ride.“Adventure Thru Inner Space”
Adventure Thru Inner Space opened on August 5, 1967 as part of the New Tomorrowland, and closed in 1985
(via fuckyeahsciencefiction)
“Folks, we’ll be experiencing a little turbulence. Your flight attendants will be passing out helmets to prevent injuries from all the suitcases falling from the shelf-like overhead storage.”American Airlines postcard. (by totallymystified)
Photograph by Ivan Dmitri. “The DC-7 main cabin. This 365 mph airliner flies nonstop between Los Angeles and New York.”
I’m noticing this image, a sales advertisement from a precious gems reseller, showing up a lot online in the last few weeks. Most notably being posted and shared on conservative social media.
The image is typically accompanying or begins articles or statements about over-reaching government, magic as science fact in school curriculum and ‘proof’ of someone’s opinions. Comments that follow this image are often supportive and in the realm of “Hear! Hear!” and “Well said!”. Like much of the items obliviously peered at through conservative-filtered glasses this as is either not critically evaluated or if read, not understood outside of how it is applied towards their predispositions.
Let’s look at this image and the message. To start with, this is an advertisement. It is public relations. That in itself makes any message and the intent suspect. A diamond reseller found it necessary to comment on what is being taught in schools? The origins of this ad are a bit murky but searches lead it toward being produced sometime in the late 1970s and 1980s. It is not of recent make and is awkwardly shoved in as support for whatever subject the person is attempting to apply it to.
Context is important. The ad references school and education. What was this ad in response to originally? This reseller is recognizing a disturbing trend that they could be legitimately concerned about, but more likely there was something occurring in society that they has or they fear will affect sales. But shoving this into a conversation in support of teaching creationism, cutting lunches or as a comment that America Has Lost Their Way doesn’t even make sense. Whatever it was that prompted this ad it has been used primarily in the discussions of the non-critical or magical thinker. For all anyone knows this could have been against teaching Intelligent Design in school.
Think about what was going on in the late 1970s and through the 1980s. Increases in civil liberties and equality, public awareness of wrongs throughout the world, the economy famously taking a periodic downturn and backlashes in 80s materialism. All of which directly or indirectly would negatively affect gem sales. Awareness of market manipulation and the sources of many gems, procured through exploitation and slave labor definitely hurt sales. The various recessions only helped reinforce the decisions not to purchase precious gems mined from questionable sources.
In the recent past the terrible sources of diamonds and other gems was hushed, ignored or obfuscated. Thanks to government regulations and embargoes in recent years gems newly procured must be conflict free. That is, gems must have been procured through fair labor and not used to fund criminal activities or oppressive regimes and terror organizations.
Today companies embrace as selling points that their products are not “conflict diamonds”. But this is only a feel good PR move for the consumer as miners and resellers have little choice but to do the right thing. Even as recently as the 1990s and later some politicians in the US argued against embargoes of gems mined by slave labor or sold in support of regimes participating in crimes against humanity. Why? Because it was their opinion that American women would not accept not being able to purchase diamonds. An horrific argument that eventually failed.
It is interesting that the ad mentions maturity and compassion, traits they are trying to manipulate in their favor. No one with any real maturity and compassion would buy a precious gem in that era. While the current sources of most gems may be cleaner than in the past some companies were built on the horrific exploitation of labor and human rights violations on a near genocidal scale.
The message in this ad is ultimately self-serving. Nothing inherently wrong with that. However with the exception of a comic book store no business would tell people to not buy their product because of negative-trending public opinions. They would make every effort to sway a disturbing trend in their favor. It is a matter of survival. Just be aware that ultimately this is about nullifying whatever may prompt a rational person to not purchase a precious gem by going against what was probably a trend of public awareness.
This change of heart in the origin of precious gems to the market was not out of innate goodness or morality on the part of the resellers. It was forced upon them kicking and screaming by governments. Profit over right is the reason governments impose regulations. Companies simply are not as a whole able to self-regulate in manner that does good for anyone other than the entity itself.
This ad smacks of a cynical attempt to appeal to a certain niche, prompting some sort of trigger to make a type of consumer feel community and thereby, maybe, spend thousands of dollars on a precious stone.
No thanks, 1980s marketing from company that sells rocks mined by slaves. I’ll get lessons in maturity, compassion & morality elsewhere.
I teared up more at that then when puppies die.Dana Delany & Tim Daly Reprise ‘Superman’ Roles For Animated ‘Man Of Steel’ Trailer
By Andy Khouri
Repeating the formula from its highly bloggable Batman: The Animated Series Rises video, The Hub has enlisted the original voice cast of Superman: The Animated Series to help recreate the Man of Steel theatrical trailer almost shot for shot using clips from the classic cartoon. In the video below, Tim Daly and Dana Delany return to their fan favorite roles as Superman and Lois Lane, respectively, to perform in their own styles such lines as “How do you find someone who has spent a lifetime covering his tracks?” and “It’s not an ‘S.’ On my world, it means ‘hope.’”
(via lankyguy)
