And John, as one of your happier staulkers just let me say that if you throw up a photo now and then of say, a brick, I’ll be happy. Write about your wife, and frankly I tear all up like a little rain cloud. I love the kid stuff but totally get why you back off. The thought of being killed in your sleep with the dull end of a Barbie doesn’t appeal to anyone. I’ll admit when you write about techno stuff all I get is that cricket chirping noise in my head, yet, I WILL check your blog for something edible every stinking day. You are my blog crack and I, the monkey who keeps banging her head to get it.

I also thought I’d chime in with my own recommendation of a movie currently in theaters– We went to see Stardust the other day and really enjoyed it. It’s probably more of a fairy tale than science-fiction, but it was very entertaining, and I thought it deserved better reviews than what the critics are giving it.

And cheers to writing about whatever interests you!

Have trouble believing that The Matrix hasn’t been mentioned yet, though.

I’ve been waiting for the price to come down on the Primer DVD.

Of the two Mars movies of 2000, Red Planet beat Mission to Mars by a country mile.

But, Contact is possibly the best SF film I’ve seen.

“Paycheck” is a good one. Solid SF, great story, engaging characters, no fantasy at all.

“I, Robot” is excellent and they did a VERY good job on that one, most un-Hollywood like.

“Pitch Black” is a fun one, definitely not for kids; the sequel is even better, “Chronicles of Riddick”, a *really* crazy SF adventure, extending far more into fantasy but no less enjoyable for all that. If you can watch Star Wars with your belief suspended, you can manage Chronicles, and Pitch Black doesn’t do anything in the fantasy area except the (in my mind) essentially forgivable presumption of FTL travel. Without this, much SF is impossible, so I buy in without argument.

“Starship Troopers”, while a serious SF book, is more of a send-up, a tongue-in-cheek social commentary than a real SF movie, but again, if you can manage star wars… :-)

Mind you, I like star wars too. It’s just that I recognize that as SF, it is pitiful. As fantasy, though, it’s fabulous. Also often funny. I look for funny, adventurous, interesting characters, decent continuity, a storyline one can empathize with, and eye candy of all kinds. All my recommendations have, IMHO, all those things.

Speaking of funny, try “Galaxy Quest” on for giggles. If you like SF, you will love this movie. And when you’re certain you’re alone with the L&T/sig-other, watch “Orgasmo” for the same reason (it is rare when a single movie can send up movie-making, porn, religion, relationships, criminals, innocence, heroism and our own sensibilities all at once, and pull it off perfectly (no pun intended, but… oh well.)

I would echo your recommendation of Serenity, but I would say that first watching the 14 episodes of Firefly is important both to understand the characters better, and to see what fools the networks are to cancel something of that quality. I personally think that Firefly was the best series ever put on television, and this from a fellow who is not particularly enamored with either cowboys or rural lifestyles.

Superb character development, rib-cracking humor, good visuals, compelling storyline, great continuity… all shot in the foot by people who can’t wrap their heads around the idea that Nielson ratings don’t actually sum up the audience. Oh well. At least they shot the 14 episodes in hi-def.

— Being Daddy —

Just as a counterpoint, I come here for everything *except* the being daddy stuff; I’m done being a daddy at age 50, and my version of the “empty nest” syndrome was to throw a very sincere and very extravagant party. My three boys are great, but thank goodness they’re on their own. Man, have I *ever* had enough. SigOther agrees.

As to your blog, I was captured by the quality of your posts and the observations you make on matters of direct import to me. I don’t *mind* your “daddy” posts, of course, because I generally don’t read them. So I’d implore you in just as heartfelt a manner to keep up with your current volume of non-parenting fare here. Because I *do* read those. :-)

It’s complicated.

This blog has always been about stuff that’s interesting to me. And people change. You might say I’ve found more balance now that I don’t change diapers a dozen times a day. :-)

One of my favourites.

I’d also suggest The Abyss, the dystopian shoot ‘em up Equilibrium and, despite it’s low production values Six String Samurai is probably the most fun and ideologically relevant post-apocalypse movies I’ve seen. Finally, I saw Sunshine last week. It may be the intellectual inheritor to 2001. I recommend you go see it while it’s still in the theatre. I think it might loose something on DVD.

I’m going to have to look into Primer thanks for the suggestion.