Comments for The Crotchety Old Fan

Comment on Retro Review: The Outer Limits by AlexJ.

AlexJ. — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 20:35:41 +0000

I’d forgotten Cliff Robertson was in that episode.

Back then, the B&W was an art form in this show. Hopefully young people recognize that and enjoy discovering this series.

And glad you are not quite dead yet!

Comment on Retro Review: The Outer Limits by The Crotchety Old Fan

The Crotchety Old Fan — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:25:20 +0000

oy sorry for the non-specificity Gary.

I should have found a way to concatenate “mundane life (wife, business)” and fannish life (radio astronomy hobby)

Spaceman: I could sell the cards individually on ebay and net a 7 and a half times return on the initial investment. On the other hand, you can now acquire almost half the set in one purchase for under 30 on ebay – just watch out for the “reprints” masquerading as originals.

Comment on Retro Review: The Outer Limits by Gary Farber

Gary Farber — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:15:15 +0000

“first he abandons his wife and business in favor of the hobby”

That’s three things.

“(when he was obviously good and successful at both”

Which two of the three are “both”? Or did you mean “all three”?

Comment on Retro Review: The Outer Limits by Spaceman Spiff

Spaceman Spiff — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 15:02:02 +0000

So glad you are devoting some time to The Outer Limits. I’ve had the complete series on DVD for some time, and like you I viewed them (for the first time in about twenty years) in broadcast order. I learned to love the show all over again. It was especially fun to point out to my wife–who could not have been less interested in the episodes otherwise–the featured and cameo appearances of many stars that got much bigger later in their careers. I also gained a new appreciation for many of the simple tricks they used to accomplish the wonderful and understated special affects that now too often stand in for the lack of a compelling story. I’m looking forward to future postings on this topic.

Do you still have that complete set of OL trading cards? I always envied you them, and my offer of a hundred dollars still stands.

Spiff

Comment on Why I Think Norman Spinrad is COOL by “Third World Worlds” Link Compilation « The World SF News Blog

“Third World Worlds” Link Compilation « The World SF News Blog — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 00:24:17 +0000

[...] The Crotchety Old Fan on Why I Think Norman Spinrad is COOL. [...]

Comment on Tonight/Tomorrow Is HUGO Award Nomination Deadline by kpgraham

kpgraham — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 19:27:31 +0000

April 4

Comment on Tonight/Tomorrow Is HUGO Award Nomination Deadline by Richard Robinson

Richard Robinson — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 18:44:59 +0000

When will the awards be announced, Steve?

Comment on Academy Award Genre Round Up by JeffConn

JeffConn — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:04:45 +0000

Your list of animated genre films is definitely lacking. Howl’s Moving Castle, the Corpse Bride, Monsters Inc., Lilo & Stitch, Monster House, Treasure Planet are just the obvious genre ones. I’m sure there are others, but those come to mind.

Comment on Why I Think Norman Spinrad is COOL by The Crotchety Old Fan

The Crotchety Old Fan — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 12:27:02 +0000

Colin,
maybe I chose the wrong time/wrong issue, but rather than being up in arms about another perceived case of “FAIL”, I’ve simply gotten sick of the whole finger-pointing, public bashing, pontification for a cause bs from the past year.
The same kind of accusatory crap that permeates most of the rest of my life outside of fandom is creeping in to fandom (or rather, has always been there and is now finding public acceptance).
I’m sympathetic to “causes” – even if my genetic heritage condemns me (without trial) to the bad guys camp. I do as much as I can – I ask questions, I do research, I give the benefit of the doubt (as in this case pending more information), I assume that folks are essentially good and decent, I assume that they don’t intend to hurt of ‘fail’ and I understand that change (where justified and necessary) often just takes time.
What I also understand is this: screaming and yelling at the other side just makes them get up from the table. If you want dialogue, you need to have DIAlogue.
And you need to do so in a manner that doesn’t make a sizable minority of the audience shut their ears because they’re just sick and tired of the whole thing.

Comment on Why I Think Norman Spinrad is COOL by Colin Hinz

Colin Hinz — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 22:16:49 +0000

The problem with people who “[do] not give a good goddamned flying fuck at a rolling donut what someone else is going to think about what he says” is that they become incapable of knowing when they’ve jumped the shark. Or even, for that matter, perceiving the existence of the shark in the first place. See Heinlein, or for that matter, Ellison.

Just because somebody wrote some awesome books four decades ago doesn’t prevent them from being boneheaded NOW.