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esonetwork · 1 hour
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The Final Countdown - Soul Forge Podcast 321
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The Final Countdown - Soul Forge Podcast 321
The final countdown is episode 321!
The wedding of the century is almost upon us. Shawn and Leah will be married in Las Vegas on May the 4th. This episode of the Soul Forge discusses their plans and the countdown until the big day!
But first, we talk about smile cookies. Tim Hortons, Canada’s number 1 coffee shop sells their smile cookies once a year. This is the big fundraiser that sends kids to camp for the summer. These cookies, while delicious, are not packaged up very well.
There may be some drunk singing in Vegas. Leah hopes to get Shawn singing karaoke. The only evidence of Shawn singing while drunk is on YouTube. Can you find it?
Other topics this week include seed planting. Leah is on a seed planting rampage. Mostly cabbage has sprouted so far. Shawn enjoyed coffee with his brothers this weekend. Many topics were discussed. Also, Shawn and Leah answer a few random questions found on TikTok.
The fedora. Shawn always wanted a fedora. However, he is too self-conscious to wear one. This week he bought one anyway. He’s finally reached the age where he doesn’t care what people think. That’s freedom.
Where are we going for the honeymoon? We have ideas. Fremont Street. Alcatraz. DisneyLand. The possibilities are endless. Will Shawn open a comic shop with brother Robin and their friend James? The final countdown is here!
This is the link to watch the livestream of the wedding: https://littlechurchofthewest.com/livestream/
This week’s podcast promo: The Dragon Con Report
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esonetwork · 19 hours
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Timestamp #303: Flux – The Halloween Apocalypse
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Timestamp #303: Flux – The Halloween Apocalypse
Doctor Who: Flux Chapter One – The Halloween Apocalypse (1 episode, s13e01, 2021)
He’s not quite Dan’s best friend.
Of all the odd places, Yaz and the Doctor are trapped, upside down, dangling over an ocean of acid.  As an alternative to the locks releasing their ankles in 79 seconds, a supernova is about to consume the planet. As an alternative to that, Karvanista’s kill disks will blast them into oblivion.
The death trap is reminiscent of something from Batman ’66.
After some shenanigans including voice-activated restraints and a well-placed mattress in the TARDIS, the Doctor and Yaz escape and set a course for Karvanista’s next target: Earth.
In Liverpool, 1820, Joseph Williamson digs a tunnel in preparation for the “cataclysmic”, reasoning that would supposedly drive anyone else mad. Two centuries later, Dan Lewis leads a tour group around the Museum of Liverpool. He’s not a real tour guide, however, and a museum employee named Diane escorts him out. Dan just wants to make people happy. The pair make plans for Halloween drinks later that night.
En route to Earth, the TARDIS refuses to land. The Doctor receives a psychic vision of two agents on a planetoid checking on a prisoner named Swarm. The prisoner has been contained in the Burnished Rage battleground since the dawn of the universe, but today is when he breaks free, restoring his vitality by consuming their life forces. The two women were apparently agents of the Division. When the vision ends, Yaz tells the Doctor about a black fluid leaking from the TARDIS. The Doctor scans it and sets their new course for October 31st.
Dan volunteers at the Jenning Street Food Bank, turning down a food box for himself. As he and Wilma lock up, a device scans them. Dan goes home and gives out candy for Halloween, though he refuses a man holding a carton of eggs. He later regrets not taking food from Wilma since his fridge and cupboard are bare, but his lament is short-lived as Karvanista breaks down his door and reveals his canine-like Lupar visage. Dan soon ends up in a cage.
The Doctor and Yaz follow Karvanista to Dan’s house and find evidence of a Lupari fleet waiting to invade Earth. They spring a trap and escape just as Dan’s house is miniaturized. Meanwhile, Dan wakes up in an electrified cage on Karvanista’s ship. Unfortunately for him, the hunter explains that he’s totally irrelevant.
Jumping to the Arctic, two researchers named Jón and Anna hear an alert from a glowing device in their garage. They seem to recognize it, but Anna smashes the device and ignores the warning.
In Liverpool, the Doctor investigates the house. Yaz and the Doctor meet a woman named Claire who claims to know them from the past. The Doctor rushes off at a signal from the Lupari, but the TARDIS seems to have some dimensional issues. Together, the Doctor and Yaz pilot the temperamental TARDIS to find the fleet. Yaz berates the Doctor for keeping secrets from her, but the argument is interrupted by a temporal field around Karvanista’s ship.
Claire returns to her house and finds a Weeping Angel. She seems to know something is coming for her, and the Angel eventually sends Claire back in time.
Next up, we visit Observation Station Rose in the depths of the universe. Observation Officer Inston-Vee Vinder makes (yet) another status report, finding the beauty of the universe a balm to his otherwise overwhelming boredom. He detects an error and watches as a dark cloud consumes Thoribus Minor.
Jón and Anna receive a visit from Swarm. Jón is consumed, but Anna is revealed as Swarm’s sister Azure.
The Doctor and Yaz land on Karvanista’s ship. The Doctor rushes off to confront Karvanista while Yaz seeks out Dan. It turns out that the invasion fleet is a recall fleet, bonded to humanity as guardians to rescue them in an ultimate crisis. Dan is the designated human to which Karvanista was bonded. Also, Karvanista is the only living Division operative left and the Doctor wants answers about her past. Instead, Karvanista tells the Doctor about the Flux.
The Flux, the ever-consuming cloud, bears down on Vinder’s station. With only a few minutes to survive, he launches an escape pod.
The Doctor, Yaz, and Dan escape from Karvanista’s ship on the TARDIS (which having more dimensional issues). They head to the edge of the solar system as, thirty trillion lightyears away, Sontaran Commander Ritskaw and Psychic Surveyor Kragar prepare to take advantage of the pending destruction. The Cloister Bell sounds as the Doctor receives another vision, this time of planets and entire civilizations being destroyed. She also sees Swarm on a desolate landscape, who reveals himself as her nemesis from the Doctor’s Division days.
The Flux changes direction and pursues the TARDIS, forcing the Doctor to set course for Earth. On the planet below, Azure lures Diane into a trap, but the planet is saved as the Lupari encase the Earth in a protective formation. Unfortunately, the TARDIS is unable to escape the Flux, even as the Doctor uses pure vortex energy as a weapon.
The Doctor stares down the end of the universe as the Flux rushes toward the TARDIS.
The vibe of this introduction is creepy and frantic. It does the job of setting up the game board and building tension as the Flux bears down on Earth, but the stakes are all too familiar in modern science fiction. How do you come back from demolishing the entire universe?
The relationship between Yaz and the Doctor has obviously strengthened since Graham and Ryan left the TARDIS. Yaz has learned to pilot the TARDIS (like Donna and Nardole before her, as well as several others in the audio universe) and has no problem calling the Doctor on her bluffs. It’s a welcome reprieve from being in the backseat for many of the previous adventures.
It’s definitely a good start and plays well into Chibnall’s strengths with long-form television. The only question that remains: What’s up with the well-placed mattress?
Rating: 4/5 – “Would you care for a jelly baby?”
UP NEXT – Doctor Who: Flux – War of the Sontarans
The Timestamps Project is an adventure through the televised universe of Doctor Who, story by story, from the beginning of the franchise. For more reviews like this one, please visit the project’s page at Creative Criticality.
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esonetwork · 2 days
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Sci-Fi In Film: The Early Years
In the new episode of Tales From Hollywoodland, join Steve, Arthur, Julian, and Mike as they discuss classic sci-fi movies from the early years of Hollywood. They are delving into the production, cultural impact, and personal anecdotes related to these films. They highlight the historical context of the era, such as the fear of atomic bombs, and the rise of sci-fi cinema. The conversation covers iconic movies like "The Blob," "The Amazing Colossal Man," and "Forbidden Planet," noting their influence on later works like "Star Trek." They also mention the use of color in films, the profitability of low-budget sci-fi, and the significance of drive-ins as social hubs. The episode is a nostalgic trip through the golden age of science fiction, celebrating the genre's lasting appeal.
Tales From Hollywoodland on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/talesfromhollywoodland 
Tales From Hollywoodland on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talesfromhollywoodland/
Tales From Hollywoodland on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdLX2kbwHqdn47FNN6vVN7Q 
We want to hear from you! Feedback is always welcome. Please write to us at  [email protected] and why not subscribe and rate the show on Apple Podcast, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Goodpods, PlayerFM, YouTube, Pandora, Amazon Music, Audible, and wherever fine podcasts are found. 
#Earlysci-fifilms #Pre-1970sciencefiction #Hollywoodsci-fihistory #Classic sci-fimovies #Thegoldenageofsci-fi #Sciencefictioncinemapodcast #Sci-fifilmanalysis #Hollywoodhistorypodcast #Vintagesci-films #Hollywoodnostalgiapodcast #Sciencefictionstorytelling #Hollywoodclassicspodcast #Sci-fimovietrivia #Sci-fifilmindustr #Hollywoodcinemaevolution #EarlyHollywoodsci-fi #Hollywoodfilmhistory #Hollywoodsci-fipioneers #TalesFromHollywoodlandpodcast #ESONetwork
Check out this episode of Tales From Hollywoodland!!
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esonetwork · 2 days
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Sci-Fi In Film: The Early Years
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Sci-Fi In Film: The Early Years
In the new episode of Tales From Hollywoodland, join Steve, Arthur, Julian, and Mike as they discuss classic sci-fi movies from the early years of Hollywood. They are delving into the production, cultural impact, and personal anecdotes related to these films. They highlight the historical context of the era, such as the fear of atomic bombs, and the rise of sci-fi cinema. The conversation covers iconic movies like “The Blob,” “The Amazing Colossal Man,” and “Forbidden Planet,” noting their influence on later works like “Star Trek.” They also mention the use of color in films, the profitability of low-budget sci-fi, and the significance of drive-ins as social hubs. The episode is a nostalgic trip through the golden age of science fiction, celebrating the genre’s lasting appeal.
Tales From Hollywoodland on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/talesfromhollywoodland 
Tales From Hollywoodland on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talesfromhollywoodland/
Tales From Hollywoodland on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdLX2kbwHqdn47FNN6vVN7Q 
We want to hear from you! Feedback is always welcome. Please write to us at  [email protected] and why not subscribe and rate the show on Apple Podcast, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Goodpods, PlayerFM, YouTube, Pandora, Amazon Music, Audible, and wherever fine podcasts are found. 
#Earlysci-fifilms #Pre-1970sciencefiction #Hollywoodsci-fihistory #Classic sci-fimovies #Thegoldenageofsci-fi #Sciencefictioncinemapodcast #Sci-fifilmanalysis #Hollywoodhistorypodcast #Vintagesci-films #Hollywoodnostalgiapodcast #Sciencefictionstorytelling #Hollywoodclassicspodcast #Sci-fimovietrivia #Sci-fifilmindustr #Hollywoodcinemaevolution #EarlyHollywoodsci-fi #Hollywoodfilmhistory #Hollywoodsci-fipioneers #TalesFromHollywoodlandpodcast #ESONetwork
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esonetwork · 2 days
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Die, Monster, Die | Episode 409
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Die, Monster, Die | Episode 409
Mark Maddox returns for a rousing discussion of a 1965 classic tale based on a story by H.P. Lovecraft “Die, Monster, Die,” starring Boris Karloff, Nick Adams, Suzan Farmer, Patrick Magee, Freda Jackson, Terence DeMarney and Directed By Daniel Haller. Based on “The Colour From Space,” the story centers around a young man (Adams) visiting his British girlfriend and learning of the strange going-ons surrounded her home. Find out more on this episode of MONSTER ATTACK!. The Podcast Dedicated To Old Monster Movies.
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esonetwork · 3 days
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The Earth Station DCU Episode 376 – Catch Me If You Can
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The Earth Station DCU Episode 376 – Catch Me If You Can
This Week on Earth Station DCU! Drew Leiter and Cletus Jacobs challenge you to catch us if you can. Jaime joins Booster Gold in searching for Ted Kord in Blue Beetle #7. Bruce Wayne is in prison with the Joker, while Zur-En-Arrh begins his battle against crime in Gotham in Batman #145. Barbara and Dinah pay a visit to Vixen to see if they can get some help solving the mystery of who keeps murdering Barbara in Birds of Prey #7. Dr. Woodrue introduces a new student who becomes Pamela’s rival in their secret experiments in Poison Ivy #20. The Captain teams up with the Creeper to take on the Shadow Thief in Shazam #9. All this plus, DC News, Shout Outs, and much, much more!
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Table of Contents
0:00:00 Show Open
0:00:55 DC News
0:09:18 Blue Beetle #7
0:15:37 Batman #145
0:21:54 Birds of Prey #7
0:25:23 Poison Ivy #20
0:29:21 Shazam #9
0:38:07 Bodies S1 Ep7 – Catch Me If You Can
0:48:46 Show Close
Links
Blue Beetle #7
Batman #145
Birds of Prey #7
Poison Ivy #20
Shazam #9
Batman #181 (Cletus’s Read More Comics Pick)
Earth Station DCU Website
The ESO Network
If you would like to leave feedback, comment on the show, or would like us to give you a shout out, please call the ESDCU feedback line at (317) 455-8411 or feel free to email us @ [email protected]
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esonetwork · 3 days
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'The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes' Book Review By Ron Fortier
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'The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes' Book Review By Ron Fortier
THE DAUGHTER OF SHERLOCK HOLMES By Leonard Goldberg Minotaur Books 303 pgs
When we breeze through a book of 300 pages swiftly, it is a sign that it is not only well written, but that the story itself is totally captivating. And both those elements are clearly present in this wonderful book. Of course it helps if you’re a Sherlock Holmes fan as we are. 
The plot opens quickly in 1914. Sherlock Holmes has been dead for several years. His companion, widower Dr. John Watson, has made 221 B Baker St. his permanent resident and often enjoys the company of his son, Dr. John Watson the second. Watson senior occasionally sees people seeking assistance based on his time with the Great Detective. Such is the case when Miss Mary Harrelston arrives seeking their help in proving her older brother, Charles, did not commit suicide by hurling himself out of a two story downtown office building. The father and son amateur detectives soon learn that there were three eye witnesses to the man’s tragic demise; a Gardner working across the street at the time and a young widow taking a stroll with her ten year old son. They begin their investigation by interviewing the woman, a Mrs. Joanna Blalock and her son John.
Young Dr. Watson is taken not only by Mrs. Blalock’s beauty but also by her keen intellect. The attractive widow is immediately intrigued by their inquiries and begins to express her own misgivings as to the police’s verdict and what she witnessed. She volunteers to assist the two doctors in their quest for the truth and proves herself most adept in the role. Whereas Watson senior is already familiar with the woman and her lineage and when he reveals it in confidence to his son, the story’s narrative shifts into high gear.
“The Daughter of Sherlock Holmes” is a pure delight and Joanna Blalock is one of the most endearing detectives to inherit the legacy of Sherlock Holmes. Oh, that someone in Hollywood would latch on to this book. We can always dream.
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esonetwork · 7 days
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Animal Consciousness and Other Ideas - Soul Forge 320
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Animal Consciousness and Other Ideas - Soul Forge 320
Animal Consciousness and Other Ideas!
Are animals self aware? Scientific evidence supports the assumption that it “feels like something” for a fish to be caught on a hook. Shawn and Leah have a bit of a lively discussion regarding animal consciousness. They talk about their dads, wedding preparations, taxes, television shows and more!
Scientists and philosophers across the globe agree it is reasonable to assume the vast majority of creatures on Earth are sentient in some way. This includes lobster, squid and the tiny flies that swarm over drinks left outside in the summer.
The New York Declaration on #Animal #Consciousness, released Friday, was signed by 39 cognition scholars. They are from universities from #Canada to #Australia. It says there is “at least a realistic possibility” that all vertebrates and many invertebrates have conscious experience.
The declaration rests on recent scientific studies that show garter snakes can recognize their own scent. Crows can report what they see, octopi can avoid pain and fruit flies can sleep — and they sleep best when they’re with other fruit flies. Animal consciousness and other ideas is the 320th episode of the Soul Forge Podcast.
Also on this episode are discussions about fears, and how much work has been recently dumped onto Letter Carriers. #Television shows mentioned include #Fallout, #Crusade, #Robocop and #Star Trek Discovery. Leah and Shawn’s dad started planting in the greenhouse. They sat and shared their seeds.
This week’s podcast promo: Cosmic Pizza
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esonetwork · 8 days
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Timestamp: Series Twelve Summary
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Timestamp: Series Twelve Summary
Doctor Who Series Twelve Summary
Jodie Whittaker’s second set picked up the pace.
This group of stories was where the Thirteenth Doctor hit her stride, and it seemed a fitting place to throw a wrench in her confidence with the Timeless Child revelations. The only stinker in the bunch was Orphan 55, a story with one of the most telegraphed plot twists, a serious lack of tension and internal continuity, and an overly preachy ending that lectured the audience and characters instead of using subtle metaphorical elegance.
Much of this series focused on pulpy storytelling and having fun, though Chris Chibnall’s penchant for “oops, we’re out of time” rush endings was a constant companion. I love how this series remembered that Doctor Who can be exciting, whimsical, and thoughtful. The Timeless Child thread was woven fairly well throughout the series, and I appreciate how it only cropped up from time to time instead of being in our faces like Russell T. Davies and Steven Moffat are prone to do.
The TARDIS got some enhanced interior deco, finally adding some depth to that claustrophobic set, and the Master got a facelift with an amazing performance from Sacha Dawan. We also got to see the trio of Ryan, Graham, and Yaz in top form (although I would still love to see Yaz doing more) before the fam was broken apart.  It was a fun series that, with one notable exception, I’d easily watch again.
Overall, Series Twelve comes in with a solid 4.1 score. That’s in good company with the classic Fifth Season, the classic Eighteenth Season, Series Two, Series Seven, and Series Nine. It’s a six-way tie for tenth place in the scope of the Timestamps Project.
Spyfall – 5 Orphan 55 – 2 Nikola Tesla’s Night of Terror – 4 Fugitive of the Judoon – 5 Praxeus – 4 Can You Hear Me? – 4 The Haunting of Villa Diodati – 4 Ascension of the Cybermen & The Timeless Children – 4 Revolution of the Daleks – 5
Series Eleven Average Rating: 4.1/5
Next up, the Timestamps Project continues to the end of the Thirteenth Doctor’s era with Flux and the finale specials.
UP NEXT – Doctor Who: Flux – The Halloween Apocalypse
The Timestamps Project is an adventure through the televised universe of Doctor Who, story by story, from the beginning of the franchise. For more reviews like this one, please visit the project’s page at Creative Criticality.
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esonetwork · 9 days
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Songs Not Even Nominated | Tales From Hollywoodland
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Songs Not Even Nominated | Tales From Hollywoodland
Classic songs go with Oscar telecasts, but it’s simply amazing how many classics were never nominated in the Best Song category.  This week on Tales from Hollywoodland, Arthur, Julian, and Steve examine the musical track record of the Academy Awards, wondering aloud how so many songs not only didn’t receive Oscar gold but weren’t even nominated – “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, “Singin’ in the Rain,” “To Sir with Love,” “Staying Alive” – they all came up empty. 
Tales From Hollywoodland on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/talesfromhollywoodland 
Tales From Hollywoodland on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talesfromhollywoodland/
Tales From Hollywoodland on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdLX2kbwHqdn47FNN6vVN7Q 
We want to hear from you! Feedback is always welcome. Please write to us at  [email protected] and why not subscribe and rate the show on Apple Podcast, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Goodpods, PlayerFM, YouTube, Pandora, Amazon Music, Audible, and wherever fine podcasts are found. 
#Tales from Hollywoodland #Oscarsnubbedsongs #SongsnotnominatedforOscars #Hollywoodmusicdiscussion #Filmsoundtrackanalysis #Hollywoodawardstrivia #Musicincinemapodcast #Iconicmoviesongs #Hollywoodlegendspodcast #AcademyAwardshistory #Hollywoodmusictrivia #Oscar-winningsongsanalysis #Hollywoodnostalgiapodcast #Oscarnominationprocess #Hollywoodmusicindustry #Famousmoviesoundtracks #Oscarscontroversydiscussion #Moviesoundtrackappreciation #StevenJayRuben #ArthurFriedman #JulianSchlossberg
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esonetwork · 9 days
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Songs Not Even Nominated
In this episode of "Tales from Hollywoodland," the hosts and their guest Lee Tsiantis discuss the silent film era's rich history and its profound impact on the film industry. They explore the origins of film, animation, the transition to sound films, and the challenges actors faced during this shift. The conversation covers the low survival rate of silent films into the modern era, the influence of directors like Erich von Stroheim, D.W. Griffith, and Auguste Lumiere, and their influences on modern audiences. 
Tales From Hollywoodland on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/talesfromhollywoodland 
Tales From Hollywoodland on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/talesfromhollywoodland/
Tales From Hollywoodland on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCdLX2kbwHqdn47FNN6vVN7Q 
We want to hear from you! Feedback is always welcome. Please write to us at  [email protected] and why not subscribe and rate the show on Apple Podcast, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Goodpods, PlayerFM, YouTube, Pandora, Amazon Music, Audible, and wherever fine podcasts are found. 
Check out this episode of Tales From Hollywoodland!!
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esonetwork · 9 days
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The Land That Time Forgot | Episode 408
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The Land That Time Forgot | Episode 408
Jim reflects on a film based on Edgar Rice Burroughs’ classic “The Land That Time Forgot,” starring Doug McClure, John McEnery, Susan Penhaligon, Keith Barron, Anthony Ainley, Declan Mulholland, Steve James, and directed by Kevin Conner. A group of shipwrecked sailors (both British and German) must work together to survive on an island that has dinosaurs and other perils. Find out more on this episode of MONSTER ATTACK!, The Podcast Dedicated To Old Monster Movies.
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esonetwork · 10 days
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The Earth Station DCU Episode 375 – The World is Yours
New Post has been published on http://esonetwork.com/the-earth-station-dcu-episode-375-the-world-is-yours/
The Earth Station DCU Episode 375 – The World is Yours
This Week on Earth Station DCU! Drew Leiter and Cletus Jacobs want to remind you that the world is yours! It’s been a year since Falcone went down and the Penguin’s relationship with Batman gets more complicated in The Penguin #7. While the Wonder Girls are still searching for the Amazons, Queen Nubia and Faruka are solving a mystery on their own in Amazons Attack #5. The Flash and The Boom head to Brazil to seek help in dealing with Doctor Elemental in Jay Garrick: The Flash #5. Batman battles his demons as he continues to cross the desert, while the Question seeks answers in Gotham in Detective Comics #1082. The Flash continues to be plagued by the Stillness as an old adversary makes an appearance in The Flash #6. All this plus, DC News, Shout Outs, and much, much more!
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Table of Contents
0:00:00 Show Open
0:00:56 DC News
0:05:22 The Penguin #7
0:12:52 Amazons Attack #5
0:16:35 Jay Garrick: The Flash #5
0:22:16 Detective Comics #1082
0:32:42 The Flash #6
0:42:08 Bodies S1 Ep6 – The World Is Yours
0:56:30 Show Close
Links
The Penguin #7
Amazons Attack #5
Jay Garrick: The Flash #5
Detective Comics #1082
The Flash #6
House of Secrets #61 (Cletus’s Read More Comics Pick)
Earth Station DCU Website
The ESO Network
If you would like to leave feedback, comment on the show, or would like us to give you a shout out, please call the ESDCU feedback line at (317) 455-8411 or feel free to email us @ [email protected]
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esonetwork · 11 days
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'Emperor's Sword' Book Review By Ron Fortier
New Post has been published on http://esonetwork.com/emperors-sword-book-review-by-ron-fortier/
'Emperor's Sword' Book Review By Ron Fortier
EMPEROR’S SWORD The Imperial Assassin Book 1 By Alex Gough Canelo US 358 pgs
Silus is a half-breed Roman scout comfortable in the wild northern terrain of Caledonia. One fateful mission ends with his murdering a regional chieftain. This reckless act in turn starts a chain of events that has dire consequences for the Empire. The retaliation for his rash act results in further barbarian raids and in one attack his wife and daughter are killed. Lost in a sea of grief and despair, Silus comes to the attention of Caracalla, one of the triumvirate rulers. Seeing potential in the scout, Caracalla has him assigned to the veteran spymaster Marcus Oclatinuis; the chief of an elite spy faction known as the Arcani. They are the assassins of the empire.
What follows is a truly memorable historical action-adventure filled with colorful characters and gut-wrenching battles as two different cultures vie for supremacy. The prize of their war was the island continent of what would one day be Great Britain. Gough’s history is impeccable and enriches his tale greatly. The characters come to life as does the savagery of the times. He brutally displays the insanity of war and the vagaries of the human experience both in its nobility and its depravity.
This is a remarkable book and only the first in a series. One we are eager to follow.
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esonetwork · 12 days
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The Diary of River Song Series 8 Review | Earth Station Who
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The Diary of River Song Series 8 Review | Earth Station Who
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Delve into the captivating world of Doctor Who with the Earth Station Who Podcast’s review of the Big Finish Audio’s, “The Diary of River Song” series 8! Join us as we journey alongside the enigmatic River Song through time and space in this thrilling audio adventure. Joined this week by Podcaster Julie Filipek, we explore each riveting chapter of River’s escapades along with Rachel and K9, unraveling the mysteries of her captivating character through Time and Space. Whether you’re a devoted Whovian or a casual listener, our review promises to immerse you in the rich storytelling of Professor River Song and the ever-expanding universe of Doctor Who. Tune in now for an unforgettable journey with the Doctor’s most intriguing companion!
We want to hear from you! Please write to us at [email protected]. Also, please subscribe and rate the show on iTunes, Amazon, YouTube, or wherever fine podcasts are found. Feedback is always welcome and much appreciated.
Links Listen to older episodes of the Earth Station Who Podcast ESW on iTunes Earth Station Who on Spotify Earth Station Who on Instagram Earth Station Who on YouTube Make-A-Wish Foundation The ESO Network TeePublic Store The ESO Network Patreon Watchers in The 4th Dimension
Promotion Tales From Hollywoodland
If you would like to leave feedback or comment feel free to email us at [email protected]
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esonetwork · 15 days
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Timestamp #302: Revolution of the Daleks
New Post has been published on https://esonetwork.com/timestamp-302-revolution-of-the-daleks/
Timestamp #302: Revolution of the Daleks
Doctor Who: Revolution of the Daleks (1 episode, New Year Special, 2021)
A little bit of cloning and a little bit of open warfare.
It’s been 367 minutes since the Doctor and her team destroyed the Reconnaissance Dalek in GCHQ. An ill-fated truck driver takes the empty casing to Depository 23, but he is assassinated en route with some bad roadside tea. The woman who served the tea stashes his corpse in the truck and drives it away.
Jo Patterson, the Technology Secretary for the United Kingdom, meets with Leo Rugazzi and Jack Robertson to see the engineer’s new defense drones. The demonstration includes a mock riot which is broken up by a drone that looks like a Dalek but uses water cannons and tear gas. The drone is solar-powered and driven by artificial intelligence. Patterson buys into the idea because they will help her win the upcoming election.
Some 79 billion light years away, the Doctor wakes up in her asteroid cell and scratches another tally mark on the wall. She goes through her daily routine, including a walk with restrained Weeping Angels, Ood, Silence, and Pting, before getting ready for bed. She hears four knocks through her wall and knocks four times in reply, but there is no further answer.
Back on Earth, Ryan, Graham, and Yaz meet in the TARDIS disguised as a house. Yaz is working on a method to find the Doctor, but Ryan and Graham urge her to move on. Graham also shows her footage of the new security drone and the companions decide to investigate.
Patterson convinces Robertson to expedite a national rollout of the security drones at no cost to the taxpayers. Later, the companions confront Robertson about his drones but are forced to leave when armed security arrives.
In the prison, the Doctor finds Jack Harkness during her daily constitutional. He shows her a temporal-freezing gateway disinhibitor bubble which they use to escape by treating it like a hamster ball. Using a vortex manipulator, the pair vanishes.
Patterson wins her election as Prime Minister and party leader. Rugazzi shows Robertson the organic remnants he found in the original casing, which he has cloned and grown into a Dalek mutant. Robertson tells Leo to destroy it, but it eventually takes control of the engineer.
The vortex manipulator drops Jack and the Doctor inside the Doctor’s TARDIS. Jack likes the new interior design. They discuss the Cyberium and Ashad, as well as the Doctor’s imprisonment for being herself while she was trying to figure out who she was. She tells the TARDIS to find her fam.
That fam is discussing the Dalek threat when the TARDIS materializes in the living room. It’s been ten months since the companions and the Doctor were separated, and after she apologizes, the companions tell her about the Dalek.
The Dalek controlling Leo takes him to Osaka, Japan, where he finds a clone farm that has somehow sprung to life in the time since it was cloned. As the companions board the TARDIS, Jack gives them a crash course on his history with the Doctor. They split up, sending Yaz and Jack to find the Dalek DNA in Osaka while Ryan and Graham accompany the Doctor to Robertson’s office.
Robertson shows off his 3D printing operation, but the Doctor warns him he’s messing with something he doesn’t understand. He also denies having a facility in Osaka, which Yaz and Jack find listed as an agricultural park but containing the clone farm. Jack also warns Yaz that she should enjoy her journey with the Doctor because it will end, but is worth the pain in the end.
PM Patterson announces the defense drones in an address outside 10 Downing Street. While she promises a new secure age for the UK, the Doctor, Graham, and Ryan take Robertson to Osaka. The Doctor and Ryan have a heart-to-heart talk during which she promises to find out about herself. Meanwhile, Yaz and Jack set explosives and are besieged by the cloned Daleks. They get some relief when the TARDIS arrives.
The Doctor asks about the farm and Dalek-Leo admits that he infiltrated Earth’s networks and diverted resources to remotely direct its construction. He even fed his clones with the workers just to keep things clean. The Dalek intends to use the planet as a base to conquer this sector of the universe. Yaz and the Doctor note that the light is changing in the facility, gradually becoming ultraviolet to allow the clones to teleport into the shells that Robertson built.
With thousands of shells at their command, the Daleks begin their assault on Earth, including the assassination of PM Patterson. The Dalek controlling Leo kills the engineer and teleports away. The Doctor finally figures out who she is… she’s the one who stops the Daleks. Opting for the nuclear option, she sends the Reconnaissance Scout’s signal through the time vortex and summons the Death Squad Daleks – the SAS of Daleks – who will ignore humans in favor of exterminating the impure clones. They mustn’t realize, however, that the Doctor is on Earth.
As the cloned Daleks wreak havoc in the streets, the bronze-colored Death Squad begin exterminating Robertson’s army. As the Doctor prepares to move on, Robertson approaches the Death Squad and joins them with information about who sent the signal.
The Doctor continues her plan: Once all of the defense drones are destroyed, Jack will destroy the Death Squad ship. Graham and Ryan join him and start planting charges. Jack finds Robertson as the businessman tells the Dalek leader about the Doctor. As the final defense drone is destroyed, Jack calls the Doctor with what he learned and she enacts a backup plan with Yaz.
The Daleks detect the TARDIS hovering over the city and swarm around it. She emerges and baits them into entering the TARDIS as the explosives tear the command ship apart. The Doctor appears as a hologram and reveals that the Daleks are trapped in the “house” TARDIS. Further, she has programmed it to fold in on itself and emerge in the heart of the Void where it will self-destruct.
With the threat eliminated, Graham and Ryan watch the news as Robertson takes credit for saving everyone. Disgusted, the pair joins the Doctor and Yaz on the TARDIS where Jack sends regards from Gwen Cooper. It is then that Ryan declares that he’s done traveling with her because he knows what he wants to do with his life.
The Doctor hugs him farewell. Yaz wants to keep traveling, but Graham doesn’t want to miss his grandson growing up. The fam shares one last hug and the Doctor gives each of the men a piece of psychic paper. The Doctor and Yaz are sad, but they know that it’s okay.
Sometime later, Graham and Ryan are back on the hillside as the latter practices with a bicycle. They discuss strange occurrences like a troll invasion in Finland and gravel creatures in Korea. They decide to make plans, but first, they finish cycling practice.
And a vision of Grace watches over them as they work.
The companions really steal this show as the Doctor struggles with the Timeless Child revelation. It makes sense, given that this is the swan song for Ryan and Graham. We also get a good story where three companions seem to work well together. Unfortunately, that formula still doesn’t include Yaz as she gets very little to do with this otherwise explosive plot.
There are some hiccups along the way. No one addresses the murder that kicks off the defense drone program, and the timing’s a bit suspect when it comes to building the farm. The Dalek wasn’t in charge of Leo long enough to make that work, but the story needed a way to mass-produce Daleks.
On the plus side, the subtle references to Doctor Who history are pretty clever. The Death Squad Daleks are the bronze versions that have popped up throughout the revival era, and the defense drones are voiced similarly to the Imperial Daleks last seen during the Dalek Civil War. It makes sense that they would fight one another.
I enjoyed the crash course on Jack’s history with the new companions. It plays well with the running thread of the companions and their questions about traveling in the TARDIS. I also dug the running gag of not telling Robertson how the TARDIS works while he traveled in it.
Finally, I’m glad that the creative team is embracing the changes they made by way of the Timeless Child. The Doctor has to rediscover who they are while facing a large, looming threat. It’s good drama.
Note that this is the final appearance of Captain Jack Harkness (as of early 2024) due to allegations of sexual misconduct leading to John Barrowman’s blacklisting by the BBC.
Rating: 5/5 – “Fantastic!”
UP NEXT – Series Twelve Summary
The Timestamps Project is an adventure through the televised universe of Doctor Who, story by story, from the beginning of the franchise. For more reviews like this one, please visit the project’s page at Creative Criticality.
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esonetwork · 16 days
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All About The Silent Film Era & Early Talkies Too
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All About The Silent Film Era & Early Talkies Too
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In this episode of “Tales from Hollywoodland,” the hosts and their guest Lee discuss the silent film era’s rich history and its profound impact on the film industry. They explore the origins of film, animation, the transition to sound films, and the challenges actors faced during this shift. The conversation covers the low survival rate of silent films into the modern era, the influence of directors like Erich von Stroheim, D.W. Griffith, Auguste Lumiere, and the influences on modern audiences.
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