Walk without rhythm

Music, Science Fiction, Video, , , , , ,

Walk without rhythm and we won’t attract the worm – Paul Atreides, Dune (film) 1984, David Lynch, based on Dune by Frank Herbert

The David Lynch movie, Dune , is second only to 2001 A Space Odyssey in my list of epic sci-fi movies. It is highly quotable … at least it has been in the life of the Mrs and I.

Some of our more used quotes are:
Get out of my mind!
You will live out the rest of your life in a pain amplifier

Fat Boy Slim’s Weapon of Choice includes the walk without rhythm phrase in the lyrics. If you have seen the music video, here it is to enjoy again. If not, then you are in for a treat!

Walken with rhythm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_69_/_Weapon_of_Choice

Loda

Humor, Music, Science Fiction, , , , ,

The perfect mashup of The Kinks, StarWars, and Weird Al Yankovic.

Remember Lola?

Remember StarWars Eposode V : The Empire Strikes Back?

Ever hear of Weird Al?

This may be a blast from your past or new to you. Either way … enjoy.

Lola – The Kinks 1970

Yoda – Weird Al 1985

Reference:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lola_(song)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yoda_(song)

Postscript: I am taking an extended break from writing. I am currently overwhelmed by an over-abundance of “life”.

Kittens First Night Home

Cats, Filler, ,

They just keep getting cuter ..

(Not mine)

Fred, Lilly, Franky's avatarFredrick, Lilly, & Franklin

Since I was so rude and never actually put up their first photos… I will try to redeem myself with these amazingly adorable pics!

FrednLilly

 

It’s so crazy how scared Lilly was when we first brought her home. Now she is the biggest cuddle bug and loves to be around us!

P1000950

 

Click Here to see the entire album from the kittens first night!

 

<3F&L

 

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Rocket Man

Mars, Reblog, Science Fiction, Space Travel, Technology

In case you missed it …

Yes, I am desperate to have you read this …

cb's avatarContrafactual

For background context on this story, you are encouraged to read: Phobos Rising and Jumper.

Rocket Man – a short story

Copyright © 2014 by Christian Bergman, All rights reserved.

All people, places, and events are fictional … except when they aren’t.

Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids. In fact, it’s cold as hell. – Elton John, Bernie Taupin (1972)

“Rocket Man, burning out his fuse, out here alone.” I recall the lyrics of the ancient Elton John song that has become the anthem of our profession, as I prepare for our deorbit burn. “Pressurizing the primary fuel loop … now,” I call out to my copilot.

“Roger that. Pressures coming up nicely,” Sam replies. “Prepping the igniters. I have New Masdar on the com. They have us in the flyway.”

“Roger that. Double-check the voltage on main B bus. I don’t like what I’m…

View original post 2,878 more words

Rocket Man – what is wrong?

Blogging, Cats, Day 42, Essay, Fiction, Mars, Music, Opinion, Reblog, Science Fiction, Social Issues, Space Travel, Technology, Video, Zombies, ,

Despite all the other fun bits that I include in my blog … my cats, the interesting YouTube video, various fun facts, music, history … my real reason for blogging is that I want to write fiction. I currently have two main streams of fiction: the Day 42 zombie saga and the Mars collection of science fiction short stories.

I recently wrote a new short story titled Rocket Man.

I included various supplementary material on either side of it. Prior to posting Rocket Man. I reblogged both Phobos Rising and Jumper. After I posted it, I included a history of the Rocket Man song. Intermixed with this was a variety of other video posts and a cat post.

The material on either side of the Rocket Man short story got numerous ‘likes’ … yet Rocket Man got only a single ‘like’.

I am perplexed.

• Did you read it and not like it?

• If you read it and did not like it, can you tell me what you disliked?

Be frank I’m a big boy I can take criticism.

• If you didn’t read it why not?

As always I am extremely appreciative of your feedback.

Thanks cb

iPad Air FAIL – Update

News, Opinion, Technology, , , , , , , , , ,

So back on December 8th I posted my original iPad Air Fail post.

I had suggested reviewing the following thread: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5532206?tstart=0

It is a long thread
20140109-173809.jpg
Despite the glowing reviews of the mainstream press and tech community, there are still many frustrated users out there whose iPad Airs have regular Safari crashes, App crashes, and even full reboots.

Continue reading iPad Air FAIL – Update →

Rocket Man

History, Mars, Science Fiction, Space Travel, , , , , ,

For background context on this story, you are encouraged to read: Phobos Rising and Jumper.

Rocket Man – a short story

Copyright © 2014 by Christian Bergman, All rights reserved.

All people, places, and events are fictional … except when they aren’t.

Mars ain’t the kind of place to raise your kids. In fact, it’s cold as hell. – Elton John, Bernie Taupin (1972)

“Rocket Man, burning out his fuse, out here alone.” I recall the lyrics of the ancient Elton John song that has become the anthem of our profession, as I prepare for our deorbit burn. “Pressurizing the primary fuel loop … now,” I call out to my copilot.

“Roger that. Pressures coming up nicely,” Sam replies. “Prepping the igniters. I have New Masdar on the com. They have us in the flyway.”

“Roger that. Double-check the voltage on main B bus. I don’t like what I’m seeing.”

“It’s on the low-end of nominal, but within tolerance. It should get us home.”

“Okay, bringing reserve batteries online. Request NAV fix.”

“Patching in NAV from New Masdar”

“Got it. Ten minutes to ignition,” I confirm. “Better notify our passengers.”

Continue reading Rocket Man →

Jumper

Fiction, History, Mars, Science Fiction, Space Travel, Technology, Video,

Prerequisite reading …

cb's avatarContrafactual

[Author’s note: This is part of the Project Mars series of short stories.
To start at the beginning go >> HERE << ]

Copyright © 2013 by Christian Bergman, All rights reserved.

All people, places, and events are fictional … except when they aren’t.

 

http://en.almareekhwiki.org.mars/jumper_(spacecraft)

Jumper (spacecraft)
____________________________________________________________________

From AlMareekhWiki, the free encyclopedia of Mars
(Redirected from Ballistic Jumper)

English Version | النسخة العربية | Русская версия | 中国版本 | हिंदी रूपांतर

    This article appears to be largely based primarily on the author’s personal opinion.
    This article lacks sufficient sources of documentation.
    Please add additional primary sources.
    Please add secondary sources.

Jumper, also known as ballistic jumper, is the primary short range transport vehicle for Mars. It is a variant of the lunar jumper in use since the mid twenty-first century. Like the lunar jumper, upon which it is based, it comes in three variants: ballistic crew jumper…

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Phobos Rising

Mars, Science Fiction, Space Travel, , ,

Prerequisite reading …

cb's avatarContrafactual

Copyright © 2013 by Christian Bergman, All rights reserved.

All people, places, and events are fictional … except when they aren’t.

Phobos Rising

“A7A! That landing was harder than anything we trained for! Muhammed, Abdullah, Fatima, Ayesha are you OK?”

I listen for them to check in one by one:

“Na’am, Alhamdulillah!, Yes, Praise to God!”

“OK, Alhamdulillah!”

“Na’am”

“Na’am, Alhamdulillah!”

I look over at Maria and she nods that she is OK. I check the gauges and indicators, then pull up the system diagnostics on the computer display. “Saidati wa sadati, ladies and gentlemen, Welcome to Mars!”

View original post 2,712 more words

Second Amendment

Essay, Opinion, Satire, Social Issues, Technology, Zombies, , , , , ,

Guns, lots of guns

Earlier this year I wrote a piece of satire titled ATF, a post-apocalyptic strategy based on the stockpiling of alcohol, tobacco, and firearms. Although satirical in nature, and intended to be humorous, there is much truth, I believe, in that essay.

Continue reading Second Amendment →

The Journal of Cleopatra Stevens

Fiction, Social Issues, Zombies, ,

One of the reasons that I am behind on the Day 42 series is that I am reading an engrossing old-school zombie novel titled

Surviving the Zombie Apocalypse
The Journal of Cleopatra Stevens

Based on the number of “likes”, I appear to be the only one reading it. This is a shame because it’s really good and if you’re a fan of The Walking Dead TV series, I think you would enjoy this.

Like Walking Dead, this story deals more with the interactions of people in a collapsed society, with the zombie apocalypse serving as the mechanism for the collapse. In a way it also reminds me of the TV series Jericho which used nuclear terrorism (war?) as the means for destabilizing society and then observing the interactions of the remaining people and subsequent power struggles.

If you’re a fan of the Day 42 series, The Walking Dead TV series, or a fan of more traditional zombie stories you owe it to yourself to read this blog.

Start here

http://survivingthezombieapocolypse.wordpress.com

Then go to Day 1

http://survivingthezombieapocolypse.wordpress.com/2013/12/18/day-1/

b b d d … (4 thumbs up) 🙂

Curiosity

Fiction, Mars, Science Fiction, Space Travel, Technology, , , , , , , ,

Curiosity – a short story

Copyright © 2013 by Christian Bergman, All rights reserved.

All people, places, and events are fictional … except when they aren’t.

The traffic on the Foothill Freeway is particularly light today, due to the fact that almost everyone is taking the week of Christmas off. I am approaching an old pickup truck poking along what must be 45 to 50 mph in the far left-hand lane. At 80 mph, I am closing the gap quickly. Deftly sliding over one lane to the right, I punch the accelerator of my 12 year old ‘pre-owned’ Tesla Roadster, passing the pickup with ease. Inside the pickup truck an old Latino couple are arguing away, oblivious to the traffic hazard they present. I check my rearview mirrors left and right and realize that we are the only two vehicles on the road. My exit is coming up fast, so I let off the accelerator and ease over to the far right lane applying ever-so-light regenerative breaking to slow down for my left turn on to Berkshire Place. I swing under the Foothill Freeway and continue coasting and decelerating as I approach the dead-end ‘T’ into Oak Grove Drive.

The light is red. As I pull to a stop, I mutter out loud, “why am I waiting on a signal light when I’m the only car as far as the eye can see?” With that I check my surroundings one last time, swear under my breath, and pull deliberately into Oak Grove Drive heading north. I smile as I power up to the speed limit. “I am an outlaw,” I think to myself as I double check the radar detector and rear view mirrors.

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory main entrance appears ahead. Once again, I decelerate as I pull up to the guard shack. I immediately recognize the guard on duty and show him my badge. “Hey Al, Merry Christmas. I thought you were off to see the grandkids.”

Continue reading Curiosity →

Happy Stewball

History, Music, , , , , , ,

We are big PP&M fans at Cat Beard Manor. Today while eating the Christmas Feast, Number One Son comments about this and how he can never listen to John & Yoko’s Happy Christmas without thinking of Stewball the racehorse. This is old news, yet new to me. It is similar to Kingston Trio Patriot Games vs Joan Baez God on Our Side.

Peter Paul & Mary Stewball 45 1963

 

John Lennon – Happy Xmas (War Is Over)

 

Happy Stewball (War is Over)

 

Happy Stewball … Everyone

Rip-off

Blogging, Economic Issues, Social Issues, , ,

So my neighbor sends me the following email:

Hey all,

Please forward this to all of your mailbox addresses and ask them to do the same.

I bought a policy from this company (CHOICE HOME WARRANTY) and the sales rep told me that if they couldn’t repair an item it would be replaced as long as regular maintenance was kept up. I have regular maint on my equip, but the company still will not repair my furnace as “valves are not covered” and then the Director of the company named Alex who reports to no one but the President of the Company told me that no sales rep told me that. I beg to differ with Alex, but when I told him the rep did say that, Alex said that was not true and to me, he may just have called me a liar. Please do not buy a policy from CHOICE HOME WARRANTY and make sure that all your friends get the info.

Let the country know this outfit (CHOICE HOME WARRANTY) might insinuate that you are a liar as well, and that my friends came at the cost of $1,125.00.

He was obviously angry

So I did some web sleuthing …

Continue reading Rip-off →

Day 52

Day 42, Fiction, Zombies, , , , , , ,

This is an archival version. Please visit The Nudist War for the current version.

https://contrafactual.com/the-nudist-war/

[Author’s note: This is the 11th chapter. To start at the beginning go >> HERE <<]

Copyright © 2013 by Christian Bergman, All rights reserved.

All people, places, and events are fictional … except when they aren’t.

 
– Day 52 –

The helicopters began arriving shortly before 7:00 AM. First, Brian buzzed to say that Shelly had just radioed him that the first chopper had departed. MAN got up, got dressed, and put on coffee. “Maggie let’s take you out before our guests arrive.” While Maggie did her business, MAN climbed up to the helipad to talk to Nora and Jan. The fall air was cold and crisp, in the mid-30s. The sky was a clear dark blue, with the wind blowing strongly from the north. A few bright stars could still be seen twinkling overhead despite the warm glow from the east. “Sun will up soon. See anything yet?” he asked.

Continue reading Day 52 →

‘Nursing’

Cats, , , ,

In addition to an overabundance of cuteness, Hillary has a number of bizarre behavioral habits. This may be due to insecurity at having been orphaned at such a young age (see Cat Tales – Pickles and Hillary).

Hillary ‘nurses’. We have many ‘blankys’ around the house that Mrs and I use in bed or on the recliner sofa. One blanky in particular, a snowflake pattern blanky must remind Hillary of his mommy because he will frequently nurse on it. We call it Hillary’s blanky.

Code Monkey

Humor, Music, Video, , , , ,

Another classic Jonathon Coulton song. I love this song and I really love this particular music video of it.

This video is titled ‘Code Monkey AMV‘ by Kagatoamv
(AMV = Anime Music Video)

More info after the break …

 

The song is by Jonathon Coulton.
http://www.jonathancoulton.com/wiki/Code_Monkey
You can purchase it on iTunes, or directly from Jonathon Coulton directly. You can also donate if you feel so inclined,

Donations

The video is from
The Legend Of Black Heaven (aka Hard Rock save the Space)

Black Heaven – Hard Rock save the Space

Peace

PS … Enjoy this as I work on Day 52

Day 51

Day 42, Fiction, HZV, Science Fiction, The Nudist War, Zombies, , , , , , , , , , , ,

This is an archival version. Please visit The Nudist War for the current version.

https://contrafactual.com/the-nudist-war/

[Author’s note: This is the tenth chapter. To start at the beginning go >> HERE <<]

Copyright © 2013 by Christian Bergman, All rights reserved.

All people, places, and events are fictional … except when they aren’t.

 
– Day 51 –

Eddy was running for his life. How stupid could he be to let himself be caught with the Zs between him and his car … and without a weapon. The Surf Pack was gaining on him. They could run faster in soft beach sand than he ever could. If he could just make it to the water. Zs can’t swim.

Continue reading Day 51 →

iPad Air FAIL

Technology, , , ,

What’s an Apple fanboy to do? There seems to be a problem with a small number of the Apple iPad air models. I say a small number, I hope it’s a small number.

See below (note, I am NOT Lsmith123)


https://discussions.apple.com/thread/5532206?start=375&tstart=0

Lsmith123
Re: Ipad air low memory crash
Dec 8, 2013 12:45 PM (in response to Yellowtail714)
Frustrated that another support email resulted in being told that Apple we’re not aware of this issue so I made a video of the problem to prove that I wasn’t doing anything unusual:

If anyone wants to see two iPad airs next to each other doing the same thing I will be happy to provide that video as well 🙂 for more fun I will make one of me at the Apple store doing this on their demo units as well – although I expect I won’t be allowed to do that 🙂

I am an Apple fan, but this is really starting to annoy me now. Not the so much the fault, rather the complete denial by all Apple support employees that this is a known issue.

Siri, does iOS 7 crash?

News, Technology, , , , , , , , , , , ,

I am an Apple fanboy, some have even called me an Apple apologist. Be that as it may, I am closely following a thread on the Apple support discussion site that suggests that there are problems in the Apple orchard. To wit, iOS 7 has memory management problems that cause the Safari browser and other apps to crash or the iPhone/iPad to crash and reboot. Both cases leave a ‘LatestCrash‘ and/or ‘LowMemory‘ log in

Setting > General > About > Diagnostics & Usage > Diagnostics & Usage Data

(You must have ‘Automatically Send‘ checked)

 

Additionally many experienced folks are suggesting that the mere 1GB LowMemoryof RAM found on the iPhone 5s / iPad Air / iPad Mini with Retina Display is woefully inadequate to support the A7 CPU 64-bit architecture.

The Ipad air low memory crash thread on the discussions.apple.com site had 18,652 views and 280 posts at the time of this post.

I have had a handful of crashes on my new iPhone 5s, nothing too worry about, but others appear to have been less lucky. If you are experiencing problems since upgrading to iOS 7 or are having problems with your new iPhone 5s, iPad Air, or iPad Mini with Retina Display you are not alone.