A geologist and archaeologist by training, a nerd by inclination - books, films, fossils, comics, rocks, games, folklore, and, generally, the rum and uncanny... Let's have it!
Elsewhere:
- Yrtree.me - it's still early days for me in the Fediverse, so bear with me
“If the Olympics are going Satanic and mocking god, they might actually be worth watching this year,” chimed in @ericlahti1.
This was my thought - I should have tuned in.
Fringe religious conservatives melted down Friday night over the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics, decrying the spectacle as “Satantic.”The phase “mocking god” trended on social media following the opening ceremonies, which included drag performers and a singing — beheaded — Marie Antoinette...
> Fringe religious conservatives melted down Friday night over the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics, decrying the spectacle as “Satantic.” > >The phase “mocking god” trended on social media following the opening ceremonies, which included drag performers and a singing — beheaded — Marie Antoinette. > >“BOYCOTT THE OLYMPICS” wrote @online_shogun along with a short clip showing drag queens in colorful costumes at the ceremony. “This filth is a slap in the face of all Christians. I reject this from every fiber of my being. You Moloch worshipping scum, you are mocking God, and for this you will be punished. As long as faithful people are here to reject f--otry and blasphemy, God.” > > The post quickly gained traction, along with others. > > “One day every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. One day every knee will bow. Mocking God is the height of foolishness,” wrote @TJMoe28. > >“My opinion and I’m entiltled to it! Mocking God, never ever ends well… ILY” wrote @Wonderwpatriot7. > > ... > > “If the Olympics are going Satanic and mocking god, they might actually be worth watching this year,” chimed in @ericlahti1.
In particular, they are losing their shit over a drag queen parody of the Last Supper as well as other "Satanic" motifs:
> The opening ceremony of the Olympics is not even hiding the satanic rituals anymore. > >There is no longer anything hidden in plain sight. > >These are the demonic dark forces of Satan who want to eclipse the light. > >You can already see: > >- Skulls >- Motifs of death >- Satanic red lighting >- Children trapped in tunnels > >Did anyone notice that the single rider on a pale horse is straight out of the Book of Revelation?
Without giving too much away, I saw it as a celebration of the 20th Century Fox era of Marvel films. This was further enhanced with footage shown during the end credits.
As I said here, and in my local last night, that it is about giving characters and ending, as well as providing the audience with closure, as well as being a meta commentary about the growth and development of the Marvel movies over the last 26 years. The mid-credit montage only makes sense from that perspective. This article makes the argument for Wolverine - people thought Hugh Jackman wouldn't be back because Logan gave Wolverine a great ending but D&W goes one better and gives him a happy ending (no not that kind).
I expect that's in the next study, which will also discover they sleep on treasure.
J-Horror Rising (Shikoku, Isola: Multiple Personality Girl, Inugami, St. John’s Wort, Carved: The Slit-Mouthed Woman and Noroi: The Curse, and Persona)
I'm up for this.
How many times has Hellraiser been released on Blu-ray now? Feels like one of those films that gets released every few years because they’ve found something new to stick in the extras!
Best I can tell, this is the North America release if the previous UK-only set - I haven't been able to spot any new content.
You've mistaken this for the news that Team America is out in 4k.
Will do, it's better done before you shake hands.
Highlander - I know the dialogue off by heart and can do better accents too.
Crew members on Francis Ford Coppola epic 'Megalopolis' claim director was unprofessional as video of filmmaker kissing extras surfaces
> With two months to go before the release of “Megalopolis,” things are about to get awkward. > >Video has surfaced of director Francis Ford Coppola that shows the legendary director trying to kiss young female extras on the set of his ambitious sci-fi epic. Variety has obtained two videos (posted below) that were taken by a crewmember last year during the filming of a bacchanalian nightclub scene. > >Two sources told Variety that Coppola appeared to act with impunity on set. And unlike traditional movies, Coppola financed the entire $120 million budget himself, so there were none of the traditional checks and balances in place. The videos would appear to corroborate a bombshell report in the Guardian that claimed the 85-year-old director “tried to kiss some of the topless and scantily clad female extras” and told them “he was ‘trying to get them in the mood.’” The Guardian story broke right before “Megalopolis” made its world premiere in Competition in Cannes. > > The scene in question, which features actress Nathalie Emmanuel, was shot on Feb. 14, 2023, at the Tabernacle, a concert hall in Atlanta. The call sheet, which Variety has reviewed, says the actresses playing female party goers had been “cleared for topless nudity” while others in the scene had been “cleared for scantily clad.” > >The sources claim that Coppola’s behavior was unprofessional. One source who was on the set during the nightclub scene estimated that between 150 to 200 people were assembled, including background actors and crew as Coppola started directing the scene. The filmmaker kept leaping up to hug and kiss several women, often inadvertently inserting himself into the shot and ruining it, which the source said was unusual. > >“I’ve worked with really important directors and that behavior is uncommon — the most I’ve ever seen any director do is say something like, ‘high energy, guys,'” the source adds. “I’ve never seen anyone on set, and this extends to a camera operator, so much as touch an actor.” > >The source said that after multiple takes, Coppola got on a microphone and announced in earshot of everyone in the room, “Sorry, if I come up to you and kiss you. Just know it’s solely for my pleasure.”
Science secretary backs five quantum technology hubs in push for UK to transform healthcare and industry
> Britain’s plans to create advanced devices based on the mind-bending physics of the quantum world have received a £100m boost, in a move ministers hope will have a transformative impact on healthcare, transport and national security. > >Peter Kyle, the science secretary has announced funds to establish five quantum technology hubs across England and Scotland. They will work with industry and government to develop and commercialise devices and ultimately drive a new economy. > > “We are at the foothills of where quantum technology is going to take us and that provides a huge opportunity for British science and British research and development,” Kyle told the Guardian from Glasgow before Friday’s announcement. “If we get this right, we can become global leaders, which means not just solving challenges domestically and creating opportunities domestically, but being able to fully exploit the global market as well.” > > ... > > The hubs, based in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Oxford and London, will aim to build the next generation of devices, from brain-scanner helmets and gravity sensors that detect underground pipes to quantum-enhanced blood tests that catch diseases early, and global positioning and precision-timing services that do not rely on GPS. > >In one project, scientists at UCL are fine-tuning the quantum properties of atomic defects in diamond nanoparticles to develop ultra-sensitive blood tests. The technology allows scientists to draw a blood sample and detect minuscule amounts of proteins or DNA by making them flash like the beam from a lighthouse. > >“A whole new generation of quantum sensors is beginning to appear and our hub is going to harness those to transform early diagnosis and treatment, where it has applications across cancer, cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer’s and infectious diseases,” said Prof John Morton at UCL. “We’re really excited about translating these weird and wonderful quantum sensors into practical applications that patients will benefit from.” > > At the University of Birmingham, scientists are exploiting a quantum effect known as superposition to build gravity sensors that detect underground infrastructure. Such sensors could alert utilities companies to gas and water mains where they plan to dig, or help them find their own pipes to repair. > >“Rather than lots of digging to find things – and lots of holes are dug in the wrong place – we can in principle find the infrastructure quicker,” said Prof Michael Holynski at Birmingham university. “We have already detected tunnels and pipes with the sensor we have in the hub. What we want to do in the next phase is make it something that can move quickly, and more accurately inspect the underground.”
Scientists from King's College London discovered that Komodo dragons' serrated teeth are enhanced with iron, particularly concentrated along the cutting edges. This feature, staining the teeth orange, helps keep them exceptionally sharp. The study analyzed teeth from Komodo dragons and explored p
> Scientists have discovered that the serrated edges of Komodo dragons’ teeth are tipped with iron. > > Led by researchers from King’s College London, the study gives new insight into how Komodo dragons keep their teeth razor-sharp and may provide clues to how dinosaurs like Tyrannosaurus rex killed and ate their prey. > >Native to Indonesia, Komodo dragons are the largest living species of monitor lizard, averaging around 80kg. Deadly predators, Komodos have sharp, curved teeth similar to many carnivorous dinosaurs. They eat almost any kind of meat, from smaller reptiles and birds to deer, horses, or water buffalo, pulling and tearing at their prey to rip flesh apart. > > The researchers discovered that many reptiles have some iron in their teeth, but Komodo dragons have concentrated the iron along the cutting edges and tips of their teeth, staining them orange. Crocodiles and other monitor lizards, by comparison, have so little that the iron is often invisible. > > ... > > Through advanced imaging and chemical analysis, the team was able to observe that the iron in Komodo dragons’ enamel is concentrated into a thin coating on top of their tooth serrations and tips. This protective layer keeps the serrated edges of their teeth sharp and ready to be used at a moment’s notice. > >The research, published on July 24 in Nature Ecology & Evolution, leads to new questions and avenues for research into how extinct species such as dinosaurs lived and ate. > > ... > > “Unfortunately, using the technology we have at the moment, we can’t see whether fossilized dinosaur teeth had high levels of iron or not. We think that the chemical changes that take place during the fossilization process obscure how much iron was present to start with. > > “What we did find, though, was that larger meat-eating dinosaurs, like tyrannosaurs, did change the structure of the enamel itself on the cutting edges of their teeth. So, while Komodo dragons have altered the chemistry of their teeth, some dinosaurs altered the structure of their dental enamel to maintain a sharp cutting edge. > >“With further analysis of the Komodo teeth, we may be able to find other markers in the iron coating that aren’t changed during fossilization. With markers like that, we would know with certainty whether dinosaurs also had iron-coated teeth and have a greater understanding of these ferocious predators.”
It's worked every time for a friend of mine. He is banned from the allotment but still likes to hoover nude.
That's the dirty secret of medicine - they dick about when no-one is looking.
Sounds like a press release from Big Gourd.
James Wan to Direct ‘Creature From the Black Lagoon' Remake for Universal
Will Beall, who penned Wan’s ‘Aquaman,’ is writing the screenplay. The film will most likely be part of Universal’s “Monsterverse” which already includes “The Invisible Man” and the upcoming “Wolfman.”
cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/15201387
> James Wan is finally done with ‘Aquaman’ and already has a couple of projects lined up. It’s already been announced that he is adapting “The Call of Cthulhu,” based on the 1928 H.P. Lovecraft short story of the same name. However, Wan has seemingly lined up another film as his potential next project. > >Daniel Richtman is reporting that Wan is set to direct “Creature From the Black Lagoon” for Universal. This is a remake of the 1954 classic which tackled a strange prehistoric beast lurking in the depths of the Amazonian jungle and the group of scientists who try to capture the animal to bring it back to civilization for study. > >Will Beall, who penned Wan’s ‘Aquaman,’ is writing the screenplay. The film will most likely be part of Universal’s “Monsterverse” which already includes “The Invisible Man” and the upcoming “Wolfman.”
"So I was farming in the nude and slipped in the gourd field and..."
60-years-old farmer was sent to the hospital due to intense stomachache. Doctors found a 40cm bottle gourd lodged in his rectum.
> Doctors in India recently carried out an unusual surgery to remove a 40cm bottle gourd from a farmer’s rectum. > >According to India TV, the patient arrived at Chhatarpur District Hospital in Madhya Pradesh from Khajuraho on Saturday (20 July). > >The 60-year-old was in critical condition, suffering from intense stomach pain. > > An X-ray revealed the entire bottle gourd lodged inside the farmer’s rectum, causing significant internal damage > > ... > > One of the surgeons involved in the operation revealed that the patient declined to disclose how the gourd came to be lodged in his rectum. > > Doctors suspect that a mental health issue might be behind this bizarre incident, though they haven’t ruled out the possibility of an accident.
Some say Ann Arbor's popular Graffiti Alley has taken a turn for the worse in the last year with "Farts" dominating it now.
> It was about a year ago when someone first covered Ann Arbor’s Graffiti Alley with “Farts,” repeatedly spray-painting the word hundreds of times over. > >While it amused some alley visitors who couldn’t help but chuckle at the silliness of it, others saw it as defacing a beloved exhibit of street art and hurting the alley. > > The phenomenon, unlike anything Graffiti Alley has seen in decades, continues to generate mixed reactions and online chatter, including one Reddit thread dubbing it “Farts Wars.” > >Some say “Farts” is art, while others say it stinks. > > ... > > While the debate rages, the identity of the artist behind “Farts” remains somewhat of a mystery, but those who’ve met him say he’s a local, middle-aged dad named Ryan. > >“I met him and I shook his hand because I was like, oh my gosh, you’re the famous farts guy,” Colin Spry, who considers himself Graffiti Alley’s unofficial tour guide, said of his first encounter with the “Farts” artist. > >“He’s probably in his late 40s, he’s got salt-and-pepper hair and a shaved face, like a 5 o’clock shadow,” said Spry, who regularly hangs out in Graffiti Alley and tells visitors about the artwork.
I like the way he doesn't go back for it - if it wants to be free, just let it go.
The store in Wyke Regis, Dorset, puts up posters to warn customers about the crisp-stealing seagull.
cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/15262714
> > A shoplifting bird dubbed "Steven Seagull" has been banned from a convenience store for flying off with packets of crisps over a six-year stealing spree. > > > >Staff at the Lyndale Central store in Wyke Regis, Dorset, have put up posters urging customers to "close the door" behind them in a bid to stop Steven. > > > >The manager of the store, Stuart Harmer, said the crafty seagull had made off with about 30 packets of crisps in the past two months alone. > > > >He said: "Trying to explain to the powers that be that I've got stock loss because of a seagull - they think its a joke." > > > >Mr Harmer said Steven "comes in the shop when the doors open, puts his head around the corner of the door, nicks a packet of crisps and flies off with it". > > > > According to Mr Harmer, Steven is particularly fond of BBQ beef flavoured crisps.
Stomp is standard English - it tends to have a more slightly more violent meaning. Ultimately leading to the Skinhead Moonstomp.
The store in Wyke Regis, Dorset, puts up posters to warn customers about the crisp-stealing seagull.
> A shoplifting bird dubbed "Steven Seagull" has been banned from a convenience store for flying off with packets of crisps over a six-year stealing spree. > >Staff at the Lyndale Central store in Wyke Regis, Dorset, have put up posters urging customers to "close the door" behind them in a bid to stop Steven. > >The manager of the store, Stuart Harmer, said the crafty seagull had made off with about 30 packets of crisps in the past two months alone. > >He said: "Trying to explain to the powers that be that I've got stock loss because of a seagull - they think its a joke." > >Mr Harmer said Steven "comes in the shop when the doors open, puts his head around the corner of the door, nicks a packet of crisps and flies off with it". > > According to Mr Harmer, Steven is particularly fond of BBQ beef flavoured crisps.
As Mike Mignola is on scripting duties for this, whatever the rating required to tell the story properly is fine by me.
Greater Manchester Police has said it understands the "deep concerns that have been widely raised with us" after the video was shared on social media - with hundreds of protesters gathering in Rochdale on Wednesday night.
> A police officer has been suspended after footage shared on social media showed a suspect being kicked in the head and stamped on at Manchester Airport. > >The suspect has been named as Fahir in an Instagram video where he appears alongside his lawyer Akhmed Yakoob. > >The lawyer is also representing a second man who was arrested in the incident at Manchester Airport and names him as Amaad. > >Mr Yakoob, who is the only one who speaks in the video, does not confirm whether Fahir and Amaad are brothers but says they will be making a formal complaint accusing Rochdale Police of assaulting them and "their elderly mother". > >Greater Manchester Police (GMP) had been responding to reports of an assault at Terminal 2 at 8.25pm on Tuesday before the footage of the police officer stamping on Fahir was filmed. > >The force has said three officers were injured in a subsequent altercation and there was a "clear risk" of firearms being snatched from officers who were carrying weapons.
Kevin Feige Confirms MCU Blade Movie Is Being Developed With R Rating
Kevin Feige confirms to ComingSoon that the upcoming Blade reboot movie with Mahershala Ali is being developed with an R rating.
> In a recent interview with BlackTree TV, Feige hinted that the forthcoming Blade movie, which is currently dated for 2025, could be rated R. > >“There were some great Blade movies years ago — they were all rated R. So I think that’s, like Deadpool, inherent with the character of Blade,” he said at the time. “For the last two years, as we’ve been trying to crack that movie, the most important thing for us is not rushing it and making sure we are making the right Blade movie.” > > ... > > When asked for an update regarding the film, Feige said, “[We’re] taking the amount of time that it needs. And right now, I don’t think there’s a scoop. If there is, it’s all yours. But Eric Pearson, who’s a great, great writer, is working on a draft right now. That is very exciting. Yeah. so, but we won’t get too excited until it’s really all there because Blade’s a very, very important character. Mahershala [Ali] is an amazing actor who walked in one day and said, ‘I think I wanna be Blade.’ And we wanna find the right way to do that.”
IMAX release slate 2024-2026
In a previous thread @UKFilmNerd@feddit.uk said:
> If you download this PDF report from the Q2 2024 IMAX Investor Presentation, there are charts showing which films are being produced with IMAX in mind all the way through to the end of 2026.
And I thought it worth extracting the relevant images (I've kept them high resolution):
2024:
2025:
2026:
In anticipation of his 77th birthday, we appraise the monolithically musclebound Austrian’s action-packed oeuvre
They are:
- The Terminator (1984)
- Conan the Barbarian (1982)
- Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
- Total Recall (1990)
- Predator (1987)
- Commando (1985)
- The Running Man (1987)
- Pumping Iron (1977)
- Stay Hungry (1976)
- The Last Stand (2013)
- The Expendables 2 (2012)
- Sabotage (2014)
- Raw Deal (1986)
- True Lies (1994)
- Last Action Hero (1993)
- Eraser (1996)
- Maggie (2015)
- Escape Plan (2013)
- End of Days (1999)
- Twins (1988)
A stern Georgian ex-teacher on a mission to make amends with her trans niece learns a thing or two in Levan Akin’s rich, rewarding ensemble film
cross-posted from: https://feddit.uk/post/15255690
> > The latest film from Swedish director Levan Akin (And Then We Danced), Crossing is terrific: a rich and rewarding tapestry of characters and cultures flung together and flourishing.
A stern Georgian ex-teacher on a mission to make amends with her trans niece learns a thing or two in Levan Akin’s rich, rewarding ensemble film
> The latest film from Swedish director Levan Akin (And Then We Danced), Crossing is terrific: a rich and rewarding tapestry of characters and cultures flung together and flourishing.
How could the UK government’s new digital policy affect the Fediverse?
How will the UK's election result and its new Labour government impact digital policy, especially for social media?
> How could the UK government’s new digital policy affect the Fediverse? As one of the Fediverse’s leading UK based projects, we thought we’d take a look. > >Data on the Fediverse shows that the network is primarily a North American and European project, with a healthy Japanese annex. On server count the UK languishes below Finland and Russia with just 44 servers, compared to 754 in France. > >Political instability in France and the recent EU elections will probably matter more to the Fediverse than the ones in the UK. The Netherlands is leading state interest in the Fediverse and funding for many projects comes ultimately from Horizon Europe, Europe’s massive state backed R&D fund. > >But, a new, stable government in the UK may create opportunities for change as priorities are reassessed, as opposed to the continuities and chaos in Europe. > >The Labour Party’s policy is structured around five core missions that cut across government departments. This means technology & digital policy emerges in support of the missions, rather than as an end in itself. > >With massive economic and social issues facing the new government, it is unsurprisingly light on specific tech policy. “AI” is mentioned a few times as an opportunity, but “social media” just once and “internet” is completely absent. > >Pulling the threads together, here’s what it means in practice: > > ... > > Taken together, the government vibe is a mix of optimism for the economic potential of the tech sector but an awareness of the negative impacts it can bring if unrestrained. > >The mission frameworks indicate a holistically minded approach to government, rather than a set of policy silos. Other priorities such as tackling violence against women & girls, which has a high profile champion in the Home Office, cyber security and democratic reform could end up having big impacts on the shape of cyberspace in the UK. > >This moment of change offers a new opportunity. The Fediverse could find an open ear if it can tap into the new government’s more sceptical view of Big Tech and social media, and present itself as a possible alternative. Getting into the conversation early and initiating dialogue about the open social web as the Regulatory Innovation Office is being built ought to be a key objective of public advocacy in the UK.
Apple Wins Auction The Corsair Code Chris Hemsworth Star & Jonathan Tropper Adapting His Sci-Fi Short Story
> Apple Original Films has won a spirited auction to land The Corsair Code, an original feature film set to star Chris Hemsworth. The film is based on a short story by Jonathan Tropper, which he brought to Hemsworth and his producing partner Ben Grayson. > >Hemsworth and Grayson will produce through their Wild State shingle, and Apple Studios will serve as the studio. Tropper will write the screenplay and produce through his shingle Tropper Ink. > >The Corsair Code is described as a high-octane, sci-fi mystery adventure, but they are keeping plot specifics under wraps. > > Tropper already is in business with an overall TV deal at Apple TV+, where he created and is the showrunner of Your Friends and Neighbors, which is in production, with Mad Men’s Jon Hamm the EP and star of the series. Tropper has two films heading into production this fall: The Wrecking Crew with Angel Manuel Soto directing Jason Momoa and Dave Bautista, and he rewrote Matchbox for Mattel Films with Extraction helmer Sam Hargrave directing. And, oh yeah, Tropper is going to write the Star Wars film that Deadpool & Wolverine’s Shawn Levy will direct. Novelist-screenwriter Tropper scripted the Levy-directed Ryan Reynolds starrer The Adam Project and the Levy-directed This Is Where I Leave You with Jason Bateman and Tina Fey. He also wrote Kodachrome, which starred Ed Harris, Jason Sudeikis and Elizabeth Olsen, and was EP and showrunner for the second and third seasons of Apple TV+’s See, which starred Momoa. Tropper also was co-creator and EP of Banshee.
The Indian government killed him on paper and that's how a criminal was born. As dramatic as it may sound, it turned out to be the reality in the north Indian state of Rajasthan. As per reports, a death certificate was issued for Baburam Bhil from Mithora village in Balotra district though he was st...
> The Indian government killed him on paper and that's how a criminal was born. As dramatic as it may sound, it turned out to be the reality in the north Indian state of Rajasthan. As per reports, a death certificate was issued for Baburam Bhil from Mithora village in Balotra district though he was still alive. He reportedly left no stone unturned to get the error corrected, but to no avail. > > He was desperate to get the government's attention, and that's how the idea of becoming a criminal crept into his mind. > >On July 19, he took a knife and a petrol bottle and decided to terrorise a local school. > > ... > > Upon being interrogated, Bhil made a shocking revelation. > >He said his death certificate had been issued, and so he feared that his property would soon be confiscated by the government. > >Bhil wanted to give proof of his being alive and thus committed the crime so that he gets booked and the entry of his arrest in police records proves that he is alive. > >The police are still conducting an investigation into his claims. > >Notably, such reports are not uncommon in India. > >In November last year, a 70-year-old man was seen roaming in Agra with a placard reading 'I'm alive' after his death certificate was issued.
Popular Conservatism Conference: Defeated Conservative MPs Urge Party to Lurch to the Right and embrace Nigel Farage
> “Now is not the time for blame”, the Conservative activist and journalist Annunziata Rees-Mogg suggested to her colleagues at the start of the ‘Popular Conservatism’ conference on Tuesday. > >It was not a suggestion which any of them seemed willing to countenance. > >Instead, over the course of more than three hours, a series of unelected and recently de-elected Conservative politicians revealed a long list people and institutions they blamed for the fact that their own brand of ‘Popular Conservatism’ had inexplicably proved to be quite so unpopular. > >For the former Conservative minister and current peer, Lord Frost, the answer was quite simple. His party had been compromised by radical leftists pushing a “flabby mishmash of sub-socialist ideas”. > >“On virtually every issue we have followed the collectivist Zeitgeist leftwards”, Frost told the room. > >His former colleague and surviving Conservative MP Suella Braverman wholeheartedly agreed, insisting via video link from another hard right political conference in Washington, that her party had made the fatal error of trying to “mimic the Labour party”, while refusing to ever mention real Conservative ideals. > >“We didn’t mention immigration,” said Braverman, who had mentioned next to nothing else during her time as Home Secretary.” > >“We didn’t want to talk about it, we didn’t want to look at it.” > >Later, an audience member suggested that this leftist infiltration had extended right into the heart of the Conservative party’s own campaigning machine, warning that Lib Dem sleeper agents must now be expelled from the party’s headquarters.