arotrios

joined 1 year ago
[–] arotrios@lemmy.world 3 points 11 months ago

Sorry - these are all table top games.

 

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/13thFloor/t/371761

A list of over 200 gaming systems available in various free formats, classified as follows:

 

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/13thFloor/t/513056

The Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival returns for 2023 with 135 films selected for screening October 9 through the 15th. SciFi fans from around the world are welcomed to join this one-of-a-kind event as all films will be made available online for streaming and rating through Brooklyn SciFi's Netflix style festival platform. This year we are proud to select the best films from independent filmmakers representing 26 countries, including first-time filmmakers and industry veterans alike. Classic SciFi themes of time travel, malevolent and friendly robots, clones, space travel, and aliens are well represented along with a renewed focus on A.I. appropriately including some of the festivals first A.I. generated content. U.F.O. fans are sure to enjoy several documentaries delving into extraterrestrial visitors including Accidental Truth - UFO Revelations narrated by actor Matthew Modine (Full Metal Jacket, Stranger Things).

"When the headlines are filled with stories of A.I., dystopian climate change, and UFOs, it's hard to deny we're living in a SciFi future. Let us be your guide."
— Michael Brown, Executive Director - Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival     

Categories include Live Action Short Films, Animation, Comedy SciFi, SciFi Documentary, Feature Films, Student Films and Young Filmmakers. The complete listing of selected films is available online at the BrooklynSciFiFilmFest.com website. The Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival is kicking off its fourth season this year on October 9th and will stream online through October 15th. There will be special events each night as well as watch parties, voting, panels, and the return of the 4th season of our curated film series The Sixth Borough featuring three outrages dystopian SciFi tales each episode. Think of it as the Black Mirror or Twilight Zone of independent SciFi.
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Online and In-Person Events

Events include a Best of Brooklyn screening of 12 Brooklyn-based SciFi short films at Stuart Cinema Cafe in Greenpoint, Brooklyn on October 11th. Animation Exploration night with a panel of 10 animators followed by an evening of films available online on October 12th, a 10th Anniversary online screening of the feature film Computer Chess by director Andrew Bujalski October 13th, and the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema in-theater event and after party in Brooklyn on On Saturday October 14th, where we will feature a program of select short films and announce awards in each category. Tickets are available on Eventbrite or from the Brooklyn SciFi website at brooklynscififilmfest.com.

Filmmakers will be recognized in the following categories:

Best Feature Film - Awarded to the best feature length entry selected by our committee.

Best Live Action Short Film - Awarded to the best live action (non-animated) short film (30 minutes or less) selected by our committee.

Best Animated Short Film - Awarded to the best animated (non-live action) short film (30 minutes or less) selected by our committee.

Best Comedy SciFi Short Film – Awarded to the best SciFi comedy short film across all ages and groups.
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Best Student Short Film - Awarded to filmmakers between the ages of 18 and 26, and currently attending a film program at a recognized college, university, or certificate program.

Best Young Filmmakers Award - Awarded to filmmakers under the age of 18, with recognition according to age and/or grade level (depending on number of entries).

Best In Brooklyn - Awarded to the best entry shot in Brooklyn or directed by a Brooklyn-based filmmaker.

Peoples Choice Award - Recognition to the film that receives the most viewer upvotes. Attendees of the festival cast votes for their favorite film to determine the winner.

More About the Brooklyn Scifi Film Festival

Born from a DIY spirit, the BSFFF is committed to being a place of inclusiveness. From its inception, the team behind the BSFFF knew they wanted to create an event that was open to anyone with the passion and determination to get their film made. “Unlike established festivals, which have acceptance rates that resemble the Ivy League, the Brooklyn SciFi Film Festival is a non-elitist home for indie filmmakers everywhere,” said Michael Brown, the co-founder and executive director of BSFFF. “It is, in that sense, the film festival for the people.”


Hat tip to @inkican for his post on @scifi that gave me the heads up on the festival.

 

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/13thFloor/t/478961

It was a special pleasure to see things eaten, to see things blackened and changed. With the brass nozzle in his fists, with this great python spitting its venomous kerosene upon the world, the blood pounded in his head, and his hands were the hands of some amazing conductor playing all the symphonies of blazing and burning to bring down the tatters and charcoal ruins of history. With his symbolic helmet numbered 451 on his stolid head, and his eyes all orange flame with the thought of what came next, he flicked the igniter and the house jumped up in a gorging fire that burned the evening sky red and yellow and black. He strode in a swarm of fireflies. He wanted above all, like the old joke, to shove a marshmallow on a stick in the furnace, while the flapping pigeon-winged books died on the porch and lawn of the house. While the books went up in sparkling whirls and blew away on a wind turned dark with burning.

Wikipedia

 

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/13thFloor/t/476755

Don't panic, and bring a towel.

For seasoned galactic travelers, if you're looking for the Ultimate Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which includes:

  • Hitchhiker's Guide
  • The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
  • Life, the Universe, and Everything
  • So Long and Thanks for All the Fish
  • Young Zaphod Plays It Safe
  • Mostly Harmless

... this wormhole should get you there.

Also, upon conferring with both Space and Ice Pirates, I've been persuaded to also provide their contribution here in honor of the late, great Douglas Adams.

Now could you guys please untie my cats and get them off the plank?

 

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/13thFloor/t/317329

The Blues Brothers is a 1980 American musical comedy film directed by John Landis. It stars John Belushi as "Joliet" Jake Blues and Dan Aykroyd as his brother Elwood, characters developed from the recurring musical sketch "The Blues Brothers" on NBC variety series Saturday Night Live. The script is set in and around Chicago, Illinois, where it was filmed, and the screenplay was written by Aykroyd and Landis. It features musical numbers by rhythm and blues (R&B), soul, and blues singers James Brown, Cab Calloway (in his final feature film role), Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, Chaka Khan, and John Lee Hooker. It features non-musical supporting performances by Carrie Fisher, Henry Gibson, Charles Napier, Kathleen Freeman and John Candy.

More detail

[–] arotrios@lemmy.world 0 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That's one of the reasons I posted the source material as available (free) downloads as well - Day has come under criticism before by Tolkien scholars. I personally found most of his mistakes and liberties in this work to be minor, but I'm not a Tolkien scholar. Nonetheless, the work has a unique artistic touch that regardless of its accuracy, brings the novels to life in a way that surpasses later catalogues, and it was responsible for getting young readers of my generation interested in reading them.

 

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/13thFloor/t/468551

Original post credit to @_rhofman@kbin.social

The Commander-in-Chief answers him while chasing a fly
Saying, "Death to all those who would whimper and cry"
And, dropping a barbell, he points to the sky
Saying, "The sun's not yellow, it's chicken"

 

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/13thFloor/t/468313

Black Orpheus (Portuguese: Orfeu Negro [ɔɾˈfew ˈneɣɾu]) is a 1959 romantic tragedy film directed by French filmmaker Marcel Camus, and starring Marpessa Dawn and Breno Mello. It is based on the play Orfeu da Conceição by Vinicius de Moraes, which set the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice in a contemporary favela in Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval. The film was an international co-production among companies in Brazil, France and Italy.

The film is particularly noted for its soundtrack by two Brazilian composers: Antônio Carlos Jobim, whose song "A felicidade" opens the film; and Luiz Bonfá, whose "Manhã de Carnaval" and "Samba de Orfeu" have become classics of bossa nova. The songs performed by Orfeu were dubbed by singer Agostinho dos Santos.[6] Lengthy passages of filming took place in the Morro da Babilônia, a favela in the Leme neighbourhood of Rio de Janeiro.

Black Orpheus won the Palme d'Or at the 1959 Cannes Film Festival, the 1960 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, the 1960 Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Film and was nominated for the 1961 BAFTA Award for Best Film.

Important to note, there's some controversy over the film in Brazil:

While the 1959 adaptation has been celebrated internationally, it has been criticized by Brazilians and scholars for exoticizing Brazil for an international audience and reinforcing harmful stereotypes.

and...

The Palme d'Or and Oscar-winning film was celebrated internationally and criticized in Brazil; Vinicius de Moraes, author of the play Orfeu da Conceição upon which the film was based, was outraged by the film and left the theater in the middle of the screening. Critics of the adaptation by Marcel Camus argued that it reinforced various stereotypes about Brazilian culture and society and about Afro-Brazilians specifically, portraying the characters as "simple-minded, overtly sexual, and interested only in singing and dancing." Setting out to make itself more "appealing" to foreign audiences, the film resorts to a "cheap and problematic exoticism" of Brazil.

Wikipedia

This movie is an explosion of cinematic joy de vivre, unique in the energy it brings to a classic tragedy, and a unique picture of Brazil in the late 50s, I've decided to let the audience decide where their opinions sit in the controversy above.

Captions in English available in settings -> captions on the player for those that don't speak Portuguese.

 

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/13thFloor/t/468547

David Day's A TOLKIEN BESTIARY is a scholarly, definitive and enchantingly beautiful explanation of all the imaginary beasts, monsters, races, nations,deities, fauna and flora of J.R.R- Tolkien's fantasy worlds of Middle-earth and the Undying Lands.

David Day has identified, analyzed and described 129 separate races. Each is lucidly explained in terms of its physical appearance, language, behavior and culture. A TOLKIEN BESTIARY does not retell their stories: its purpose is to make Tolkien’s own books more accessible by identifying his living creatures and explaining their roles in his epic world.


While not the most accurate of the Tolkien Bestiaries, this one was the first, and the one with the best artwork.

Downloads for the novels:

 

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/13thFloor/t/359206

Karel Čapek’s last major novel, War with the Newts, is a satirical dystopian masterpiece, both prescient and timeless, uniquely Czech and yet universal in appeal. Published in 1936, it remains one of the most thought-provoking novels ever written.

Wikipedia

The full novel in html, courtesy of Project Gutenberg Australia

 

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/13thFloor/t/466120

Racks on racks, money ginja me
Opps, they talk, say na frequency
Had to laugh way they humor me
Runnin' it up with the urgency
Streets dey over ginja me
From the wall to the window seat
In the sun, through the storm, in the winter
I'm in the club, shawty moving like a ninja, ninja
Fresh to death, I'm beyond heat
Activist in my Dior jeans
Buss a jigg, feed you Molly
Feed my love like crack to this fiend
I can't be your lover
Too many things to lose
You love me with no honor
Don't wanna leave, I don't
I knew that you were trouble
Wasted eyes on you
I can't be your lover
Too many things to lose
Demon with the Dior on the dresser
Pop a Molly tessie in a Tesla
Let it warm your back and your neck (uh, uh, uh)
I'ma film it all, make a best-of
Edit it all, make it scene on scene
Under it all, know you scheme on me
Hottie million with a milli' on me
I wanna menage with the blicky on me
Turn the bass up (tell me what you want, want)
She want more to taste, uh (I can get it all, all)
(Pretty little bitch, give me pretty, give me nana)
(Take me to Nirvana, diamond in the sky-y)
I can't be your lover
Too many things to lose
You love me with no honor
Don't wanna leave, I don't
I knew that you were trouble
Wasted eyes on you
I can't be your lover
Too many things to lose

Wikipedia on Amaarae

 

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/13thFloor/t/465146

Why are you such a derelict? Such a piece of human junk? The answer's simple. You're a scanner, which you don't realize. And that has been the source of all your agony. But I will show you now that it can be a source of great power.

CW: Exploding head. David Cronenberg. Genetic manipulation. Homeless escalator acrobatics. Involuntary suicide. Thinly veiled Thalidomide allegory. Did I say exploding head? Exploding head.


Wikipedia

[–] arotrios@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

If you need it in other formats, this link has a great selection of free alternatives - you can filter by your preferred file format. There's a azw3 version here that should work with Kindle.

 

cross-posted from: https://kbin.social/m/13thFloor/t/460362

The Songhai Empire (also transliterated as Songhay) was a state located in the western part of the Sahel during the 15th and 16th centuries. At its peak, it was one of the largest African empires in history. The state is known by its historiographical name, derived from its largest ethnic group and ruling elite, the Songhai people. Sonni Ali established Gao as the empire's capital, although a Songhai state had existed in and around Gao since the 11th century. Other important cities in the kingdom were Timbuktu and Djenné, where urban-centred trade flourished; they were conquered in 1468 and 1475, respectively. The Akan state of Bonoman was located to the south of the empire.[3] Initially, the Songhai Empire was ruled by the Sonni dynasty (c. 1464–1493), but it was later replaced by the Askia dynasty (1493–1901).

During the second half of the 13th century, Gao and the surrounding region had grown into an important trading centre and attracted the interest of the expanding Mali Empire. Mali conquered Gao near the end of the 13th century. Gao remained under Malian command until the late 14th century. As the Mali Empire started disintegrating, the Songhai reasserted control of Gao. Songhai rulers subsequently took advantage of the weakened Mali Empire to expand Songhai rule.

Under the rule of Sonni Ali, the Songhai surpassed the Malian Empire in area, wealth, and power, absorbing vast regions of the Mali Empire. His son and successor, Sonni Bāru, was overthrown by Muhammad Ture, one of his father's generals. Ture instituted political and economic reforms throughout the empire.

A series of plots and coups by Askia's successors forced the empire into a period of decline and instability. Askia's relatives attempted to govern the kingdom, but political chaos and several civil wars within the empire ensured the empire's continued decline, particularly during the rule of Askia Ishaq I. The empire experienced a period of stability and a string of military successes during the reign of Askia Daoud.

Askia Ishaq II, the last ruler of the Songhai Empire, ascended to power in a long dynastic struggle following the death of Daoud. In 1590, al-Mansur took advantage of the recent civil conflict in the empire and sent an army under the command of Judar Pasha to conquer the Songhai and gain control of the trans-Saharan trade routes. Following a defeat at the Battle of Tondibi in 1591, the Songhai Empire collapsed.

Wikipedia

[–] arotrios@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Another great one - here's a link to get a free .pdf copy if you're looking to add to your library:

https://annas-archive.org/md5/ae962cb11c50e00ecdc2b50d2d813b54

[–] arotrios@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I agree, Still Life is the stronger novel. I usually choose Cowgirls as the work of his to to introduce new readers to, as it's more accessible and lighthearted, but Still Life is where Robbins really shows his chops.

Here's a link to a free copy (.pdf download) from Anna's if you're looking for one: https://annas-archive.org/md5/85333852ce8e0b37dc4918f59cfb5bb1

[–] arotrios@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

I agree. I'm probably gonna post this to the !13thFloor@kbin.social with more of a synopsis another night, but here's an early screening for you.

[–] arotrios@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Wut?

The internet archive lit the fire, or whomever posted the video collection did. I just found the smoke, and invited y'all around the campfire. There's no need get snippy, Zorak.

[–] arotrios@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Shhhhh.... the corpodrones will hear you. They haven't relinquished the copyright - they've been hunting Space Ghost to extinction everywhere on the internet.

Seriously though, licensing and an aggressive anti-piracy campaign have pretty much wiped Space Ghost from most places online, and the daft motherfucker is a cultural icon. So it sure sure is great that the Internet Archive, knowing it's days were numbered, absolutely doesn't have a full download link for all the episodes in the lower right hand panel so you glorious bastards can do what you do best and make sure it doesn't get locked away behind a corporate paywall or vault for the next 30 years... because that would be illegal and wrong and cost a couple of pennies to the assholes who have every writer in Hollywood out on the street striking.

In fact, I'd say recent developments towards the centralization, sterilization and capitalization of our culture have become so extreme that subversive action is not just justified, but inevitable at this point.

In other words, surf's up, mateys! Time to ride the waves and sail the high seas again... Space Ghost needs our help!

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