Science

A New Torchwood? We’ll See

Jack Harkness is DEFINITELY too gay for Fox

Jack Harkness is DEFINITELY too gay for Fox

I keep hearing these rumblings that Fox wants to have their own Torchwood, set in the US with aliens and weird fringe science type stuff. The first thing to note is that it seems like Fox forgot about its OTHER show, Fringe (you know, the only science fiction show they haven’t canceled yet?). And we won’t even mention the recent bang up job that they did with a certain Joss Whedon property. Seriously, with as well as Fox handles what little science fiction they get, what do they want with a show about about an omnisexual, un-killable guy who fights weird aliens that pop out of a rift in time and space?

Furthermore, what room does the station that reneged on Dollhouse (shit, I said I wouldn’t mention it..) want with a show that featured two men having sex, or an alien cloud that needed the energy from orgasms to survive? If you go back and check the history books on Fox, you would notice that the station is hardly the one to go for an idea like Torchwood..

Unless…

Unless they want to change it. And this is where I get all kinds of concerned. Science Fiction is on the downswing here in the states. There aren’t really any major sci fi shows with respectable numbers post BSG and those that are around currently are starting to experience a ratings drop. Even Caprica doesn’t seem like it will be enough to keep SyFy from turning into MTV: The Non-Science Fiction channel. Remember Sarah Connor Chronicles? Better yet, remember that update to Bionic Woman? What about Flash Forward? Journeyman? If other companies are having problems with the genre and all it’s sub genres, it would stand to reason that Fox isn’t doing so hot with them either. Really, the only way Fox could make Torchwood: US happen is if they changed it significantly to fit a wider demographic, i.e. taking out the overt sexuality and making Jack less than who he is now.

Seriously, people, if it ain’t broke..

Fakin’ the Nut Allergy – A Rant

According to Joel Stein:

  • My nut allergy is a product of my white upbringing.
  • I can stop my anaphylactic shock with my mind.
  • My parents were yuppies.
  • Your parents are yuppies.
  • God hates retarded children.
  • Fat friends make you fat (He quoted a guy for this fact).
  • Nuts are good.
  • Durr.

Ok, the last few bullet points were me being silly, but I think you get where I’m coming from. It’s hard to take this opinion piece seriously when the writer didn’t really bother to make a “good” point. As someone who’s experienced anaphylactic shock numerous times growing up (most involving hospital visits), I hardly think that my nut allergy is a product of my parents worrying I could be allergic to things. In fact, it’s because they let me eat whatever the hell I wanted as a young’un that we discovered my little “aversion” to nuts.

While I can’t necessarily argue against certain illnesses and allergies being “all in the mind,” I can’t outright say that that’s the case either. I’ve met people who fit into both sides of the argument and it’s led me to believe that things like this CAN be in the mind and CAN actually exist. And sure, there’s yuppie paranoia and the issue of being “too clean” and “too healthy,” but people like me still do exist and our problems are real.

Am I crazy in finding this guy’s ramblings aggravatingly written?

Paralyzed With Joy

Had my RSS feed reader on this afternoon in class (I know, shame on me..) when this article popped up on Gizmodo about these brain implants that help paralyzed monkeys regain movement. I clicked through to the New Scientist article and read further on the breakthrough implant. I must say that I’m quite fascinated by the implications of this, especially since I have a constant fear of waking up one morning and finding myself unable to move. Anyway, give the articles a look-see.