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Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories

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On 3/31/2017 12:46 PM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
> On Fri, 31 Mar 2017 11:47:05 -0700, Don Y
> <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
>
>> On 3/31/2017 8:59 AM, Jeff Liebermann wrote:
>>> On Thu, 30 Mar 2017 21:18:00 -0700 (PDT), whit3rd <whit3rd@gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>
>>>> A lovely PowerPoint-ish presentation in the film gets through
>>>> a few (fairly sound) scientific observations, and I was all set
>>>> to hear that the Barkhausen criterion was going to allow
>>>> the monster to be destabilized.... when the 'fiction' got thicker and flakier.
>>>
>>> I'm one of those weird people that enjoys pointing out violations of
>>> basic physics in many sci-fi and disaster movies.  I was at Costco
>>> once watching "Twister" on a big screen TV.  It was full of physical
>>> absurdities and impossibilities dressed up as "science".  I was giving
>>> a blow by blow commentary on these to a small crowd when a 16 year old
>>> declared that I had ruined the movie for him, and stomped away.  I had
>>> thought that the creative science was the best part of the movie and
>>> was rather surprised when the 16 year old disagreed.
>
>> I give producers/authors a fair bit of poetic license, in that regard.
>> Instead, I focus on things that *anyone* should be able to pick up.
>> Like when an actor's clothing changes in mid-scene; when they are shown
>> dripping wet from falling in a river -- then bone dry MOMENTS later; etc.
>> Or, plot discontinuities -- like someone being killed in one scene but
>> appearing in a later scene.
>
> Yes, but there's no science in such mistakes.  It's the science, not
> the fiction, that gets my attention.  For example, in the movie
> Twister, the two principal characters get overrun by an amazingly
> compact tornado.  To avoid getting shredded by the flying debris, they
> jump into a well and hang onto a convenient cross bar.  As the tornado
> runs over the well, they are sucked vertically into the swirling
> cloud, while still hanging onto the bar.  It looks really impressive
> on the screen, with high speed air roaring past the actors.  However,
> there's a problem.  The tornado is acting like a giant vacuum cleaner
> over the well, but there's no way for air to enter the well from
> below.  Even if there was a way, the water in the well would also get
> sucked upwards, and drench the actors.  Such mistakes get my
> attention, not minor error in clothes changes.

Its the "minor" nature of the error that makes it most entertaining,
to me!  I.e., "How could the 'continuity' staff NOT notice this?
Anyone (audience) PAYING ATTENTION would see it!"

There are many westerns that are very obviously "set" in the wrong
locales.  Ditto obvious product FAILS like Old El Paso's logo
(hint:  Saguaros won't be found in Texas.  Nor Utah, Colorado, etc.
despite what the filmmakers would have you believe from their settings
(or, labels on their food products!  :> )

I'd not expect folks to know that sort of trivia.  But, I'd expect
them to notice if an actor magically "teleports" from one part of the
set to another part of the set -- and back again -- in what SHOULD be
an uninterrupted sequence of events (as happens in _Serenity_ with
Jayne after the payroll heist).

OTOH, other times there are subtle INTENTIONAL easter eggs buried in
scenes (e.g., the jet car "dieseling" after its transdimensional
voyage in Buckaroo Banzai)

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OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Cursitor Doom <curd@notformail.com> - 2017-03-28 17:12 +0000
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-28 10:46 -0700
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "Dave M" <dgminala@mediacombb.net> - 2017-03-28 14:23 -0500
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories John Robertson <spam@flippers.com> - 2017-03-28 10:47 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-28 10:53 -0700
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "Paul Hovnanian P.E." <paul@hovnanian.com> - 2017-03-28 19:49 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories John Larkin <jjlarkinxyxy@highlandtechnology.com> - 2017-03-28 10:58 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Jim Thompson <To-Email-Use-The-Envelope-Icon@On-My-Web-Site.com> - 2017-03-28 11:01 -0700
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "Michael A. Terrell" <mike.terrell@earthlink.net> - 2017-04-02 00:47 -0400
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bitrex <bitrex@de.lete.earthlink.net> - 2017-03-28 14:09 -0400
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Phil Hobbs <pcdhSpamMeSenseless@electrooptical.net> - 2017-03-28 14:39 -0400
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories John Devereux <john@devereux.me.uk> - 2017-03-28 19:45 +0100
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-03-28 20:11 +0100
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-28 12:34 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "Kevin Aylward" <kevinRemovAT@kevinaylward.co.uk> - 2017-03-28 21:20 +0100
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-28 13:30 -0700
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Gunther Heiko Hagen <guntherxxx@quantserve.de> - 2017-03-28 21:36 +0000
        Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Gunther Heiko Hagen <guntherxxx@quantserve.de> - 2017-03-28 21:53 +0000
        Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-28 17:12 -0700
          Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-28 19:39 -0700
            Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-28 21:16 -0700
              Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-29 06:23 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories John Devereux <john@devereux.me.uk> - 2017-03-29 15:19 +0100
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-29 10:28 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-29 17:24 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-29 19:07 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-29 10:23 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-03-29 19:01 +0100
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-29 11:15 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-03-29 19:58 +0100
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-29 12:23 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories whit3rd <whit3rd@gmail.com> - 2017-03-29 17:05 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-29 19:02 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2017-03-29 22:06 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories whit3rd <whit3rd@gmail.com> - 2017-03-30 21:18 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2017-03-31 08:59 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-31 11:47 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2017-03-31 12:46 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-31 13:27 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2017-03-31 21:09 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-31 22:32 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "Michael A. Terrell" <mike.terrell@earthlink.net> - 2017-04-02 01:32 -0400
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> - 2017-04-02 09:49 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "Michael A. Terrell" <mike.terrell@earthlink.net> - 2017-04-04 21:50 -0400
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-29 18:02 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-29 19:00 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-03-30 08:06 +0100
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-30 00:17 -0700
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Frank Miles <fpm@u.washington.edu> - 2017-03-30 15:46 +0000
                Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bill.sloman@ieee.org - 2017-03-29 17:53 -0700
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories John Larkin <jjlarkinxyxy@highlandtechnology.com> - 2017-03-28 13:49 -0700
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bitrex <bitrex@de.lete.earthlink.net> - 2017-03-28 17:16 -0400
        Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bill.sloman@ieee.org - 2017-03-28 16:12 -0700
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-03-28 23:40 +0100
        Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories John Larkin <jjlarkinxyxy@highlandtechnology.com> - 2017-03-28 15:46 -0700
          Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bitrex <bitrex@de.lete.earthlink.net> - 2017-03-28 18:51 -0400
            Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-03-29 00:19 +0100
            Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-28 19:17 -0700
          Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bill.sloman@ieee.org - 2017-03-28 16:22 -0700
        Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-28 17:08 -0700
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-28 15:48 -0700
        Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Cursitor Doom <curd@notformail.com> - 2017-03-28 23:14 +0000
          Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bill.sloman@ieee.org - 2017-03-28 16:30 -0700
          Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Tom Gardner <spamjunk@blueyonder.co.uk> - 2017-03-29 10:12 +0100
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories bill.sloman@ieee.org - 2017-03-28 16:19 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "nuny@bid.nes" <alien8752@gmail.com> - 2017-03-28 14:59 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-28 15:40 -0700
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories dplatt@coop.radagast.org (Dave Platt) - 2017-03-28 16:18 -0700
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories George Herold <gherold@teachspin.com> - 2017-03-28 19:29 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Adrian Jansen <adrian@qq.vv.net> - 2017-03-29 09:12 +1000
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Chris <cbx@noreply.com> - 2017-03-28 23:26 +0000
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> - 2017-03-28 17:15 -0700
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Wond <gboot.phil@gmx.com> - 2017-03-29 14:31 +0000
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories jurb6006@gmail.com - 2017-03-29 08:15 -0700
    Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories John Robertson <spam@flippers.com> - 2017-03-29 10:59 -0700
      Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories Ingvald44 <noone@nowhere.com> - 2017-03-29 20:00 -0400
  Re: OT: Best Ever Sci-Fi short stories "David Eather" <eather@tpg.com.au> - 2017-03-31 07:58 +1000

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