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    <title>The Terminator's Recent Activity - Spout</title>
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      <title>Film:The Terminator</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/films/The_Terminator/34472/default.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<table width='100%' style='font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><tr><td><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u36233xrf8j.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' /></td>
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<strong>Title:</strong> The Terminator<br/>
<strong>Year:</strong> 1984<br/>
<strong>Director:</strong> James Cameron<br/>
<strong>Plot:</strong> Endlessly imitated, The Terminator made the reputation of cowriter/director <a href="/players/P____10397/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>James Cameron</a> -- who would go on to make 1997's titanic <a href=/films/114746/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'>Titanic</a> -- and solidified the stardom of <a href="/players/P___110501/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Arnold Schwarzenegger</a>. The movie begins in a post-apocalyptic 2029, when Los Angeles has been largely reduced to rubble and is under the thumb of all-powerful ruling machines. Kyle Reese (<a href="/players/P_____6111/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Michael Biehn</a>), a member of the human resistance movement, is teleported back to 1984. His purpose: to rescue Sarah Connor (<a href="/players/P____29969/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Linda Hamilton</a>), the mother of the man who will lead the 21st-century rebels against the tyrannical machines, from being assassinated before she can give birth. Likewise thrust back to 1984 is The Terminator (Schwarzenegger), a grim, well-armed, virtually indestructable cyborg who has been programmed to eliminate Sarah Connor. After killing two "Sarah Connors" who turn out to be the wrong women, he finally aims his gunsights at the genuine article.  This is the film in which Schwarzenegger declared "I'll be baaaack" -- and back he was, in "kinder and gentler" form, in the even more successful Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide<br/>
<strong>Times Tagged:</strong> 69<br/>
<strong>Number of Lists:</strong> 84<br/>
<strong>Number of blog posts:</strong> 7<br/>
<strong>Number of discussion threads:</strong> 13<br/>
<strong>SpoutRating:</strong> 3<br/>
</td></tr></table>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 16 Jul 2009 07:05:04 GMT</pubDate><spout:Title>The Terminator</spout:Title><spout:Year>1984</spout:Year><spout:Director>James Cameron</spout:Director><spout:Plot>Endlessly imitated, The Terminator made the reputation of cowriter/director &lt;a href="/players/P____10397/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;James Cameron&lt;/a&gt; -- who would go on to make 1997's titanic &lt;a href=/films/114746/default.aspx style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Titanic&lt;/a&gt; -- and solidified the stardom of &lt;a href="/players/P___110501/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Arnold Schwarzenegger&lt;/a&gt;. The movie begins in a post-apocalyptic 2029, when Los Angeles has been largely reduced to rubble and is under the thumb of all-powerful ruling machines. Kyle Reese (&lt;a href="/players/P_____6111/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Michael Biehn&lt;/a&gt;), a member of the human resistance movement, is teleported back to 1984. His purpose: to rescue Sarah Connor (&lt;a href="/players/P____29969/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Linda Hamilton&lt;/a&gt;), the mother of the man who will lead the 21st-century rebels against the tyrannical machines, from being assassinated before she can give birth. Likewise thrust back to 1984 is The Terminator (Schwarzenegger), a grim, well-armed, virtually indestructable cyborg who has been programmed to eliminate Sarah Connor. After killing two "Sarah Connors" who turn out to be the wrong women, he finally aims his gunsights at the genuine article.  This is the film in which Schwarzenegger declared "I'll be baaaack" -- and back he was, in "kinder and gentler" form, in the even more successful Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide</spout:Plot><spout:TimesTagged>69</spout:TimesTagged><spout:taglevel>Tag Target (&gt;10)</spout:taglevel><spout:Numberoflists>84</spout:Numberoflists><spout:NumberOfBlogPosts>7</spout:NumberOfBlogPosts><spout:NumberOfDiscussionThreads>13</spout:NumberOfDiscussionThreads><spout:SpoutRating>3</spout:SpoutRating><spout:FilmCoverURL>http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u36233xrf8j.jpg</spout:FilmCoverURL><spout:SpoutFilmDetailURL>http://www.spout.com/films/The_Terminator/34472/default.aspx</spout:SpoutFilmDetailURL><spout:type>Film</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Terminator Salvation Expectations Lifted. Today in Film Bloggery 03/03/09</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2009/3/3/40806.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u36233xrf8j.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/9325/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog on spout.com</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 3/3/2009 8:01:06 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> I have always tried to maintain low expectations for Hollywood product in general. But when it comes to highly anticipated movies, particularly blockbuster sequels to popular sci-fi action franchises, my excitement can get the best of me. Whenever I need to calm down my expectations, though, I simply recall all the disappointments of 1997 (Alien Resurrection, The Lost World, the Star Wars Special Edition), and I can get through the hype pretty safely. Considering I’m one of the few who actually loved both Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and (yes, even) McG’s Charlie’s Angels movies, it’s hard for me to believe that I’m also one of the few who isn’t now expecting Terminator Salvation to be the second coming of Christ The Terminator after watching the new trailer (embedded below).
Sure, Christian Bale could very well be a lucky charm to franchise reboots (though does anyone believe this will be even a tenth as good as Batman Begins?) and T4 could easily be better than rival summer blockbuster Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (though “easily” is an understatement, because Transformer 2 will suck just as bad as Transformers 1). But with two and a half months left until the movie opens, it’s just too early for us to be going so ga-ga over one piece of marketing. The only thing left to happen now is a backlash, which I guess I’m sort of starting right now?
Here’s a sample of the most extreme gushing to hit the blogosphere since the trailer’s premiere last night:


Vulture gets credit for both the Batman Begins and the Transformers comparisons:
From the looks of this trailer [McG] seems as if he’s on the cusp of delivering one of the best franchise reboots since Chris Nolan decided to take on Bruce Wayne…guaranteed to make Michael Bay seethe with jealousy: huge robots, even huger explosions, and, gasp, realistic-seeming human emotion!

Sean at FilmJunk adds to the better-than-Transformers discussion: “Not only does Terminator Salvation have giant robots, explosions and impressive special effects, but it also has acting talent, an interesting story, and a sense of style.”
While I’m sure (and hoping) she’s at least half-joking, Best Week Ever’s Michelle Collins nicknames the director “McGenius” and believes the trailer is great enough to now ensure people will be lining up days in advance. Note to Warner Bros.: you apparently needn’t spend money on further marketing materials. You’re good.
Neil Miller at FIlmSchoolRejects is overly dramatic and overly excited:
Even Christian Bale, master of all things badass — a man who has saved Gotham City twice from disaster — cannot stop the elimination in McG’s soon to be awesome Terminator Salvation. Am I being dramatic? Yes. Is this movie going to rock you to your core? Absolutely, yes.

Alex Billington at FirstShowing.net, on the other hand, still prefers to hate on the director in spite of all his excitement: “Watching this makes me forget that McG is even directing this and makes me believe that we may actually see an awesome Terminator movie. This year’s summer movie season is looking better and better with every new day!”
Rob at Topless Robot at least seems to understand the relativity that’s affecting his fanboy salivation: “Am I the only one excirted because my expectations for a McG-directed Terminator were so abyssmally low?”
Todd Brown at Twitch nominates the spot as the “Best Trailer of The Year” and claims it’s better than any of the trailers for either of the James Cameron installments: To him, it “comes as near to perfection as I’ve seen in a long, long time.”
Meredith Woerner at io9 pumps up the fanboys with screenshots, including some resembling parts of Star Wars and Firefly.
Empire (and also Topless Robot) also sees some Battlestar Galactica resemblance.
Oh, TMZ, you’re still on the Bale tirade story? Don’t you know today’s a day for positive T4 news?
Okay, there is at least one blogger with lower expectations than I have: Rod at ThePlaylist.

 Originally posted on:SpoutBlog<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2009 01:01:06 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>SpoutBlog</spout:postby><spout:postto>SpoutBlog on spout.com</spout:postto><spout:postdate>3/3/2009 8:01:06 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>I have always tried to maintain low expectations for Hollywood product in general. But when it comes to highly anticipated movies, particularly blockbuster sequels to popular sci-fi action franchises, my excitement can get the best of me. Whenever I need to calm down my expectations, though, I simply recall all the disappointments of 1997 (Alien Resurrection, The Lost World, the Star Wars Special Edition), and I can get through the hype pretty safely. Considering I’m one of the few who actually loved both Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines and (yes, even) McG’s Charlie’s Angels movies, it’s hard for me to believe that I’m also one of the few who isn’t now expecting Terminator Salvation to be the second coming of Christ The Terminator after watching the new trailer (embedded below).
Sure, Christian Bale could very well be a lucky charm to franchise reboots (though does anyone believe this will be even a tenth as good as Batman Begins?) and T4 could easily be better than rival summer blockbuster Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (though “easily” is an understatement, because Transformer 2 will suck just as bad as Transformers 1). But with two and a half months left until the movie opens, it’s just too early for us to be going so ga-ga over one piece of marketing. The only thing left to happen now is a backlash, which I guess I’m sort of starting right now?
Here’s a sample of the most extreme gushing to hit the blogosphere since the trailer’s premiere last night:


Vulture gets credit for both the Batman Begins and the Transformers comparisons:
From the looks of this trailer [McG] seems as if he’s on the cusp of delivering one of the best franchise reboots since Chris Nolan decided to take on Bruce Wayne…guaranteed to make Michael Bay seethe with jealousy: huge robots, even huger explosions, and, gasp, realistic-seeming human emotion!

Sean at FilmJunk adds to the better-than-Transformers discussion: “Not only does Terminator Salvation have giant robots, explosions and impressive special effects, but it also has acting talent, an interesting story, and a sense of style.”
While I’m sure (and hoping) she’s at least half-joking, Best Week Ever’s Michelle Collins nicknames the director “McGenius” and believes the trailer is great enough to now ensure people will be lining up days in advance. Note to Warner Bros.: you apparently needn’t spend money on further marketing materials. You’re good.
Neil Miller at FIlmSchoolRejects is overly dramatic and overly excited:
Even Christian Bale, master of all things badass — a man who has saved Gotham City twice from disaster — cannot stop the elimination in McG’s soon to be awesome Terminator Salvation. Am I being dramatic? Yes. Is this movie going to rock you to your core? Absolutely, yes.

Alex Billington at FirstShowing.net, on the other hand, still prefers to hate on the director in spite of all his excitement: “Watching this makes me forget that McG is even directing this and makes me believe that we may actually see an awesome Terminator movie. This year’s summer movie season is looking better and better with every new day!”
Rob at Topless Robot at least seems to understand the relativity that’s affecting his fanboy salivation: “Am I the only one excirted because my expectations for a McG-directed Terminator were so abyssmally low?”
Todd Brown at Twitch nominates the spot as the “Best Trailer of The Year” and claims it’s better than any of the trailers for either of the James Cameron installments: To him, it “comes as near to perfection as I’ve seen in a long, long time.”
Meredith Woerner at io9 pumps up the fanboys with screenshots, including some resembling parts of Star Wars and Firefly.
Empire (and also Topless Robot) also sees some Battlestar Galactica resemblance.
Oh, TMZ, you’re still on the Bale tirade story? Don’t you know today’s a day for positive T4 news?
Okay, there is at least one blogger with lower expectations than I have: Rod at ThePlaylist.

 Originally posted on:SpoutBlog</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:The Problem with Time Travel</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/sci_fi/Re_The_Problem_with_Time_Travel/4/39727/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u36233xrf8j.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/19065/default.aspx'>mythman</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/sci_fi/4/discussions.aspx'>sci-fi</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 1/20/2009 8:31:44 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> [quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="rjsprague"]... treatment of time travel ...[/quote] ... 12 Monkeys was one of the most interesting Time Travel movies. I was always amused by the Back to the Future movies how they always tried to break down time travel and the ramifications and explain it to the audience, and then it would go right ahead and break all of the rules it set up. [/quote]I agree that 12 Monkeys was good to time-travel, and that the Back to the Future series was first-and-foremost a comedy. Another one that was good to time-travel was the Terminator series - most-notably Terminator 3 which (like 12 Monkeys) presented a logical truth about Time-Travel. The Butterfly Effect (2004) might've done that too--I don't remember. Bluntly, that truth is that there are some things you can't prevent (just like there are some you can't predict.) It makes me think of Rubik's Algorhythms---sets of four twists that, when repeated, move a selected square to the 'front' without radically changing any of the other squares on the 'front' (I saw in a Squidoo-lens a while ago). Likewise, time travel can't change the 'present future' (the 'face'), it seems it can only make sure that a selected being moves into it.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 21 Jan 2009 01:31:44 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>mythman</spout:postby><spout:postto>sci-fi</spout:postto><spout:postdate>1/20/2009 8:31:44 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>[quote user="Risselada"] [quote user="rjsprague"]... treatment of time travel ...[/quote] ... 12 Monkeys was one of the most interesting Time Travel movies. I was always amused by the Back to the Future movies how they always tried to break down time travel and the ramifications and explain it to the audience, and then it would go right ahead and break all of the rules it set up. [/quote]I agree that 12 Monkeys was good to time-travel, and that the Back to the Future series was first-and-foremost a comedy. Another one that was good to time-travel was the Terminator series - most-notably Terminator 3 which (like 12 Monkeys) presented a logical truth about Time-Travel. The Butterfly Effect (2004) might've done that too--I don't remember. Bluntly, that truth is that there are some things you can't prevent (just like there are some you can't predict.) It makes me think of Rubik's Algorhythms---sets of four twists that, when repeated, move a selected square to the 'front' without radically changing any of the other squares on the 'front' (I saw in a Squidoo-lens a while ago). Likewise, time travel can't change the 'present future' (the 'face'), it seems it can only make sure that a selected being moves into it.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:Top 5 Ass-Kicking Heroine Films</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/Re_Top_5_Ass_Kicking_Heroine_Films/190/39448/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u36233xrf8j.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/141391/default.aspx'>flair</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/Top_5/190/discussions.aspx'>Top 5</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 1/13/2009 5:06:21 AM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> This is not intended to be as snarky as it probably reads, but looking down this column of movie posters, it's remarkable how many terrible films are listed. I say that even though I've seen most of them and enjoyed many. But when Linda Fiorentino has to be moved over from film noir, the proper category for devious _ but by no means kick-ass _ Wendy/Bridget, you know the pickings are slim in this genre. Nevertheless, here's a few that deserve attention:   Terminator (1984)  Linda Hamilton as a regular woman becoming kick-ass. Honorable mention to Kristanna Loken for the lesser T3.   House of Flying Daggers (2004) Astoundingly beautiful, with astoundingly beautiful assassin Zhang Ziyi.   Serenity (2005) Even before becoming a Terminator, Summer Glau was a very, very dangerous person. Why are there links to Firefly but not  its movie, or is this now supposed to be Firefly Part 2?   Innocent Blood (1992) Anne Parillaud, the original Femme Nikita, blazes through the very, very narrow category of Vampire against the Mob movies.   Dangerous Beauty (1998) Granted, Catherine McCormack really only kicks Oliver Platt's butt, but she beats the Inquisition as well. Besides, she's too beautiful to ignore, especially with sword in hand.   Aliens (1986) The installment in which Sigourney Weaver actually kicks butt, rather than merely surviving, and before the series lost any shred of coherence.   Lifeforce (1985) Mathilda May. Space Girl. Resistance really is futile.   King Arthur (2004) All right, I concede that at 98 pounds in her training bra, Keira Knightley doesn't make the most awe-inspiring warrior princess. But smeared with woad, or at least blue paint, and strapped into a skimpy and very uncomfortable looking leather harness, Knightley is still quite energetic at defending Roman Britain from the Saxon hordes. Besides, she deserves cumulative points from the ridiculous Domino and never-ending Pirates movies. This is another startling omission from the database.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 13 Jan 2009 10:06:21 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>flair</spout:postby><spout:postto>Top 5</spout:postto><spout:postdate>1/13/2009 5:06:21 AM</spout:postdate><spout:body>This is not intended to be as snarky as it probably reads, but looking down this column of movie posters, it's remarkable how many terrible films are listed. I say that even though I've seen most of them and enjoyed many. But when Linda Fiorentino has to be moved over from film noir, the proper category for devious _ but by no means kick-ass _ Wendy/Bridget, you know the pickings are slim in this genre. Nevertheless, here's a few that deserve attention:   Terminator (1984)  Linda Hamilton as a regular woman becoming kick-ass. Honorable mention to Kristanna Loken for the lesser T3.   House of Flying Daggers (2004) Astoundingly beautiful, with astoundingly beautiful assassin Zhang Ziyi.   Serenity (2005) Even before becoming a Terminator, Summer Glau was a very, very dangerous person. Why are there links to Firefly but not  its movie, or is this now supposed to be Firefly Part 2?   Innocent Blood (1992) Anne Parillaud, the original Femme Nikita, blazes through the very, very narrow category of Vampire against the Mob movies.   Dangerous Beauty (1998) Granted, Catherine McCormack really only kicks Oliver Platt's butt, but she beats the Inquisition as well. Besides, she's too beautiful to ignore, especially with sword in hand.   Aliens (1986) The installment in which Sigourney Weaver actually kicks butt, rather than merely surviving, and before the series lost any shred of coherence.   Lifeforce (1985) Mathilda May. Space Girl. Resistance really is futile.   King Arthur (2004) All right, I concede that at 98 pounds in her training bra, Keira Knightley doesn't make the most awe-inspiring warrior princess. But smeared with woad, or at least blue paint, and strapped into a skimpy and very uncomfortable looking leather harness, Knightley is still quite energetic at defending Roman Britain from the Saxon hordes. Besides, she deserves cumulative points from the ridiculous Domino and never-ending Pirates movies. This is another startling omission from the database.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:The Problem with Time Travel</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/sci_fi/Re_The_Problem_with_Time_Travel/4/38621/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u36233xrf8j.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/140759/default.aspx'>mciocco</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/sci_fi/4/discussions.aspx'>sci-fi</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 12/19/2008 2:30:13 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> For my money, nothing beats the original  The Terminator for a good time travel story that solves the whole paradox problem.  It uses what's called the circular causality explanation of time travel, which means that it's not possible to change the course of history.  You can travel back in time, but it will not result in any changes to history because everything you did in the past has already happened.  This is a particularly popular time travel theory and makes for great stories with wonderfully ironic endings, such as the aforementioned The Terminator, in which Skynet sends back a robot to kill the mother of its enemy, but neglects to consider that the rebels will send back Reese, who ends up fathering their enemy!  Furthermore, Skynet only comes into existence because of the remains of the terminator that got sent back. This is a theory that has been used in other films as well.  Someone already mentioned 12 Monkeys, which uses the same theory.  Interestingly enough, so does Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure  (though I don't know if I would say they did a very rigorous job, towards the end, they do make good use of this theory). Annoyingly,  Terminator 2 kinda takes the opposite view and features a bunch of people attempting to stop the future.  The more I think about it, the less I like T2.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:30:13 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>mciocco</spout:postby><spout:postto>sci-fi</spout:postto><spout:postdate>12/19/2008 2:30:13 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>For my money, nothing beats the original  The Terminator for a good time travel story that solves the whole paradox problem.  It uses what's called the circular causality explanation of time travel, which means that it's not possible to change the course of history.  You can travel back in time, but it will not result in any changes to history because everything you did in the past has already happened.  This is a particularly popular time travel theory and makes for great stories with wonderfully ironic endings, such as the aforementioned The Terminator, in which Skynet sends back a robot to kill the mother of its enemy, but neglects to consider that the rebels will send back Reese, who ends up fathering their enemy!  Furthermore, Skynet only comes into existence because of the remains of the terminator that got sent back. This is a theory that has been used in other films as well.  Someone already mentioned 12 Monkeys, which uses the same theory.  Interestingly enough, so does Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure  (though I don't know if I would say they did a very rigorous job, towards the end, they do make good use of this theory). Annoyingly,  Terminator 2 kinda takes the opposite view and features a bunch of people attempting to stop the future.  The more I think about it, the less I like T2.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:Introduce Yourself - a place to say Hi and make friends</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/sci_fi/Re_Introduce_Yourself_a_place_to_say_Hi_and_make/4/37743/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u36233xrf8j.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/5582/default.aspx'>csprague</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/sci_fi/4/discussions.aspx'>sci-fi</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 11/29/2008 5:10:50 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> [quote user="mciocco"]   Hello!  My name is Mark.  I'm from Philadelphia, PA (currently living in the suburbs) and also work for a website.  That tends to keep me pretty busy, but in my spare time I like to watch ridiculous amounts of movies and also read some books.  I like to talk movies too, though I don't have a ton of folks to talk to:( Hence coming to sites like this... Anyway, my interest in SF started primarily in books.  Sure, I'd seen some SF style movies (The Terminator comes to mind),  but books are what really inspired me.  In particular, I discovered Asimov when I was 14 or so and read something on the order of 20 of his books within a year.  I moved on to some other classics (Clarke, Heinlein, etc...) and still devour SF books to this day.  Neal Stephenson is my favorite author (just finished his latest, Anathem, and loved it!) and my favorite SF movies are too many to list:p Adaptations of my favorite books can be... rough... but I still  love SF movies (and TV).  I have some ideas for posts but for now, just wanted to introduce myself:)   [/quote] Hey Mark, Welcome to the sci fi group. You're from Philly eh? I'm from about 3 hours west of there, good old York, PA. What kind of work do you do for the website? Let me know if you have any questions or need help with anything on Spout. Cheers, Christi  <br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:10:50 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>csprague</spout:postby><spout:postto>sci-fi</spout:postto><spout:postdate>11/29/2008 5:10:50 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>[quote user="mciocco"]   Hello!  My name is Mark.  I'm from Philadelphia, PA (currently living in the suburbs) and also work for a website.  That tends to keep me pretty busy, but in my spare time I like to watch ridiculous amounts of movies and also read some books.  I like to talk movies too, though I don't have a ton of folks to talk to:( Hence coming to sites like this... Anyway, my interest in SF started primarily in books.  Sure, I'd seen some SF style movies (The Terminator comes to mind),  but books are what really inspired me.  In particular, I discovered Asimov when I was 14 or so and read something on the order of 20 of his books within a year.  I moved on to some other classics (Clarke, Heinlein, etc...) and still devour SF books to this day.  Neal Stephenson is my favorite author (just finished his latest, Anathem, and loved it!) and my favorite SF movies are too many to list:p Adaptations of my favorite books can be... rough... but I still  love SF movies (and TV).  I have some ideas for posts but for now, just wanted to introduce myself:)   [/quote] Hey Mark, Welcome to the sci fi group. You're from Philly eh? I'm from about 3 hours west of there, good old York, PA. What kind of work do you do for the website? Let me know if you have any questions or need help with anything on Spout. Cheers, Christi  </spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:Introduce Yourself - a place to say Hi and make friends</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/sci_fi/Re_Introduce_Yourself_a_place_to_say_Hi_and_make/4/37728/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u36233xrf8j.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/140759/default.aspx'>mciocco</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/sci_fi/4/discussions.aspx'>sci-fi</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 11/28/2008 9:47:44 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong>  Hello!  My name is Mark.  I'm from Philadelphia, PA (currently living in the suburbs) and also work for a website.  That tends to keep me pretty busy, but in my spare time I like to watch ridiculous amounts of movies and also read some books.  I like to talk movies too, though I don't have a ton of folks to talk to:( Hence coming to sites like this... Anyway, my interest in SF started primarily in books.  Sure, I'd seen some SF style movies (The Terminator comes to mind),  but books are what really inspired me.  In particular, I discovered Asimov when I was 14 or so and read something on the order of 20 of his books within a year.  I moved on to some other classics (Clarke, Heinlein, etc...) and still devour SF books to this day.  Neal Stephenson is my favorite author (just finished his latest, Anathem, and loved it!) and my favorite SF movies are too many to list:p Adaptations of my favorite books can be... rough... but I still  love SF movies (and TV).  I have some ideas for posts but for now, just wanted to introduce myself:) <br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 29 Nov 2008 02:47:44 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>mciocco</spout:postby><spout:postto>sci-fi</spout:postto><spout:postdate>11/28/2008 9:47:44 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body> Hello!  My name is Mark.  I'm from Philadelphia, PA (currently living in the suburbs) and also work for a website.  That tends to keep me pretty busy, but in my spare time I like to watch ridiculous amounts of movies and also read some books.  I like to talk movies too, though I don't have a ton of folks to talk to:( Hence coming to sites like this... Anyway, my interest in SF started primarily in books.  Sure, I'd seen some SF style movies (The Terminator comes to mind),  but books are what really inspired me.  In particular, I discovered Asimov when I was 14 or so and read something on the order of 20 of his books within a year.  I moved on to some other classics (Clarke, Heinlein, etc...) and still devour SF books to this day.  Neal Stephenson is my favorite author (just finished his latest, Anathem, and loved it!) and my favorite SF movies are too many to list:p Adaptations of my favorite books can be... rough... but I still  love SF movies (and TV).  I have some ideas for posts but for now, just wanted to introduce myself:) </spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:Weekly Theme for November 24: Cyborgs, Androids, &amp; Sexbots, Oh My!</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/Re_Weekly_Theme_for_November_24_Cyborgs_Androids/625/37597/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u36233xrf8j.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/140759/default.aspx'>mciocco</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/Weekly_Theme/625/discussions.aspx'>Weekly Theme</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 11/24/2008 8:20:50 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> Let's see here, some of my favorite robots that are a little too human, or at least striving to be that way: The Terminator - Of course, it's not a particularly good thing that he looked so human, but this is one of my favorite movies of all time, so there! Ash from  Alien and Bishop from  Aliens - I'd bet most folks had no idea that Ash was even a synthetic until he went crazy and Ripley knocked his head off and he started squirting out all that white milky bloodlike stuff.  And Bishop, of course, is not as crazy.  He even follows Asimov's first law of robotics! Speaking of Asimov's robots, how about Data from Star Trek:TNG - Perhaps not so much in the movies (though I do like First Contact), but Data's quest to become more human was one of my favorite things about TNG. Gigolo Joe from A.I.: Artificial Intelligence - Ok, fine, maybe Haley Joel Osment's character too, but Jude Law's performance was awesome. Major Motoko Kusanagi from  Ghost in the Shell (and it's various  sequels and  Anime series) - She's a strange one because as a full replacement cyborg, she has a lot of identity issues (if you replace your entire body with artificial parts, are you still you?), but she's a great character. I suppose that a few of the above are technically cyborgs, but whatever.  I still like them:p Oh, and I believe they're called "Fembots" not "Sexbots" (but I like where you're head's at.  I also like women of that... caliber!)<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 25 Nov 2008 01:20:50 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>mciocco</spout:postby><spout:postto>Weekly Theme</spout:postto><spout:postdate>11/24/2008 8:20:50 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>Let's see here, some of my favorite robots that are a little too human, or at least striving to be that way: The Terminator - Of course, it's not a particularly good thing that he looked so human, but this is one of my favorite movies of all time, so there! Ash from  Alien and Bishop from  Aliens - I'd bet most folks had no idea that Ash was even a synthetic until he went crazy and Ripley knocked his head off and he started squirting out all that white milky bloodlike stuff.  And Bishop, of course, is not as crazy.  He even follows Asimov's first law of robotics! Speaking of Asimov's robots, how about Data from Star Trek:TNG - Perhaps not so much in the movies (though I do like First Contact), but Data's quest to become more human was one of my favorite things about TNG. Gigolo Joe from A.I.: Artificial Intelligence - Ok, fine, maybe Haley Joel Osment's character too, but Jude Law's performance was awesome. Major Motoko Kusanagi from  Ghost in the Shell (and it's various  sequels and  Anime series) - She's a strange one because as a full replacement cyborg, she has a lot of identity issues (if you replace your entire body with artificial parts, are you still you?), but she's a great character. I suppose that a few of the above are technically cyborgs, but whatever.  I still like them:p Oh, and I believe they're called "Fembots" not "Sexbots" (but I like where you're head's at.  I also like women of that... caliber!)</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:Introduce Yourself</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Introduce_Yourself/Re_Introduce_Yourself/291/36925/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u36233xrf8j.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/140759/default.aspx'>mciocco</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/Introduce_Yourself/291/discussions.aspx'>Introduce Yourself</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 11/3/2008 11:09:46 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> Greetings!  Thanks for the invite, I never would have found this group otherwise. My name is Mark, I live in West Chester, PA (near Philadelphia) and work for a big retail website doing, uh, web stuff. I've always loved movies.  The first non-cartoon I ever watched was  The Terminator and it totally blew me away (I can't say as though I totally understood it as I was only 6 or 7 at the time).  I have since seen that movie countless times (talking at least triple digits here) and have obviously branched out to lots of other movies.  I was also blown away by some early Coen brothers movies (notably Raising Arizona).  Now that I think about it, it's kinda surprising that I was watching such movies at such a young age (the two mentioned are only examples). So I've always sought out new and interesting movies.  I was an engineer in college, but I took a film class as an elective and it was fantastic.  Around the same time I started to get into the Hong Kong action scene.  It was hard to find these movies at the time, but every now and again, we'd head out to Chinatown in Philly and would find some new imports of some kind.  I also had a friend at the time who was on a mission to find and watch the weirdest, most disgusting movies ever, which is how I found out about Peter Jackson's early work and also an odd filmmaker by the name of Alejandro Jodorowsky.  It was an eye opening experience to say the least, and I still like to occasionally partake in that sort of schlocky horror film. In fact, I just finished a six week horror movie marathon in preparation for Halloween in which i watched somewhere on the order of 30-40 horror movies. It was quite fun! I really love all kinds of movies, whether it be the latest Hollywood blockbuster, or the smallest indie flick or a neglected classic like  Gabriel over the Whitehouse (which I discovered via Filmcouch). Like lots of other folks, I like to read (currently reading Anathem by Neal Stephenson, which is awesome so far).  I also enjoy video games and to a lesser extent music.  Mostly I watch movies and screw around on the internet (I have a blog that I post to around twice a week) though. I found Spout basically through Filmspotting, though I made the intermediate stop  of listening to Filmcouch first (I'm a movie podcast junkie).  One of the discussions there prompted me to come to the site and post something, and so here I am.  I'm looking forward to joining in the community!<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 04 Nov 2008 04:09:46 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>mciocco</spout:postby><spout:postto>Introduce Yourself</spout:postto><spout:postdate>11/3/2008 11:09:46 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>Greetings!  Thanks for the invite, I never would have found this group otherwise. My name is Mark, I live in West Chester, PA (near Philadelphia) and work for a big retail website doing, uh, web stuff. I've always loved movies.  The first non-cartoon I ever watched was  The Terminator and it totally blew me away (I can't say as though I totally understood it as I was only 6 or 7 at the time).  I have since seen that movie countless times (talking at least triple digits here) and have obviously branched out to lots of other movies.  I was also blown away by some early Coen brothers movies (notably Raising Arizona).  Now that I think about it, it's kinda surprising that I was watching such movies at such a young age (the two mentioned are only examples). So I've always sought out new and interesting movies.  I was an engineer in college, but I took a film class as an elective and it was fantastic.  Around the same time I started to get into the Hong Kong action scene.  It was hard to find these movies at the time, but every now and again, we'd head out to Chinatown in Philly and would find some new imports of some kind.  I also had a friend at the time who was on a mission to find and watch the weirdest, most disgusting movies ever, which is how I found out about Peter Jackson's early work and also an odd filmmaker by the name of Alejandro Jodorowsky.  It was an eye opening experience to say the least, and I still like to occasionally partake in that sort of schlocky horror film. In fact, I just finished a six week horror movie marathon in preparation for Halloween in which i watched somewhere on the order of 30-40 horror movies. It was quite fun! I really love all kinds of movies, whether it be the latest Hollywood blockbuster, or the smallest indie flick or a neglected classic like  Gabriel over the Whitehouse (which I discovered via Filmcouch). Like lots of other folks, I like to read (currently reading Anathem by Neal Stephenson, which is awesome so far).  I also enjoy video games and to a lesser extent music.  Mostly I watch movies and screw around on the internet (I have a blog that I post to around twice a week) though. I found Spout basically through Filmspotting, though I made the intermediate stop  of listening to Filmcouch first (I'm a movie podcast junkie).  One of the discussions there prompted me to come to the site and post something, and so here I am.  I'm looking forward to joining in the community!</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re:The List!</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/Heroines_in_Hollywood/Re_The_List/647/36482/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u36233xrf8j.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/5711/default.aspx'>Dr_Gor</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/Heroines_in_Hollywood/647/discussions.aspx'>Heroines in Hollywood</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 10/18/2008 5:45:20 AM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong>    "There are only two things that scare me...   women and the police."   (Burt Reynolds in "White Lightning") ...    You gotta love those warrior women!   I thought the  "Kill Bill"  movies were EXCELLENT and I have a secret fantasy of Uma Thurman just beating the living shit out of me...   just as long as she doesn't pluck my eyeball out of my head or cut me in two with her fucking sword!   Other than that, it would all be good...   Another good one would be Sanahl Bergman as 'Valeria' in  Conan the Barbarian .   She kicks some serious butt in that movie.   Also, I think it is the same chick who plays Conan's Mom in that movie who also plays a boner inducing 'Viking Princess' in the excellent  The 13th Warrior .      Along these lines we must not forget Sigourney Weaver in the  Alien  series and Jamie Lee Curtis in  Halloween .   And, of course, Linda Hamilton in  The Terminator  series...    I could ramble on for hours on this subject but I will stop for now.   Thanks again for starting this wonderful group!                                                                                            &lt; GOR &gt;<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 18 Oct 2008 09:45:20 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>Dr_Gor</spout:postby><spout:postto>Heroines in Hollywood</spout:postto><spout:postdate>10/18/2008 5:45:20 AM</spout:postdate><spout:body>   "There are only two things that scare me...   women and the police."   (Burt Reynolds in "White Lightning") ...    You gotta love those warrior women!   I thought the  "Kill Bill"  movies were EXCELLENT and I have a secret fantasy of Uma Thurman just beating the living shit out of me...   just as long as she doesn't pluck my eyeball out of my head or cut me in two with her fucking sword!   Other than that, it would all be good...   Another good one would be Sanahl Bergman as 'Valeria' in  Conan the Barbarian .   She kicks some serious butt in that movie.   Also, I think it is the same chick who plays Conan's Mom in that movie who also plays a boner inducing 'Viking Princess' in the excellent  The 13th Warrior .      Along these lines we must not forget Sigourney Weaver in the  Alien  series and Jamie Lee Curtis in  Halloween .   And, of course, Linda Hamilton in  The Terminator  series...    I could ramble on for hours on this subject but I will stop for now.   Thanks again for starting this wonderful group!                                                                                            &amp;lt; GOR &amp;gt;</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Could BLINDNESS Really Happen? Five Doomsday Movies Ranked by Likelihood</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/9/30/35719.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/u36233xrf8j.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/9325/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog on spout.com</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 9/30/2008 2:00:37 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> Bailout talks implode, leaving economy’s fate unresolved, Chavez reaffirms Russia alliance during visit, Pirates seize ship carrying tanks, ammo. Just click over to CNN.com or any other news site and you’ll see why post-apocalyptic and doomsday movies seem more relevant than ever. 
The doomsday scenarios in movies can be pretty outlandish, but some of them are actually plausible. After all, in world where pirates have tanks, Hollywood doesn’t need to stray far from reality for a good yarn.
Below the jump, we put five doomsday movie scenarios to the plausibility test. If you’ve always secretly thought Waterworld was a work of dead-on global warming prophecy, read on.

5. Waterworld

The doomsday scenario:
Global warming causes the complete melt of glaciers and polar ice caps, flooding nearly the entire planet.
Could it really happen?
No. Make no mistake, rising sea levels due to climate change are very likely to cause major problems in the the next century, but a near-total covering of the world in water is not possible. While the melting polar ice caps are destroying the habitat of the polar bear, it’s important to remember that most of the Northern ice cap is already floating in the ocean, so its contribution to sea level rise will not be as severe as Greenland or Antarctica. And even if all the ice melted off of those two land masses, the collective sea level rise would be about 67 meters, or 220 feet. That’s very bad news if you live in Amsterdam or New Orleans, but it’s certainly not enough to cover all but the highest mountains, as in the film. We also shouldn’t expect those chucks of ice to melt too fast. It will likely take a thousand years or more for them to be gone completely, so we’ll have plenty of time to hoard paper and build cool boats, or just move to Denver.

4. The Terminator/The Matrix (Separate films, similar problem)

The doomsday scenario:
Computers converge into one super intelligence, hell-bent on destroying the useless parasite known as humanity.
Could it really happen?
Probably not. In the 1980’s Vernor Vinge popularized the theory of a technological singularity. The basic idea is that computers will eventually become smart enough to think for themselves, and therefore make even smarter computers. Those computers would then make even smarter computers, and so on until the exponential growth of artificial intelligence goes far beyond human comprehension. At this point, as in The Terminator and The Matrix films, the machines would realize they no longer need humanity and seek to eliminate it. Most credible scientists doubt Vinge’s hypothesis. While it’s easy to imagine the exponential growth of computing power, as Moore’s Law does, it’s a big jump to assume that such increased power will lead to the creative thinking that would be required for self-improvement.
So that’s the good news, the bad news is that if the singularity did want to destroy humanity, it wouldn’t be nearly so merciful as the machines in The Terminator and The Matrix. I’m sure it wouldn’t take long for the super intelligence to master the fields of biology and nanotechnology, at which point it would engineer a super virus that would wipe out humanity in a mater of minutes. Is it really a smart use of robot-overlord resources to send mechanized assassins back in time or dispatch swarms of tentacled machines into abandoned sewer tunnels? Sure, biological warfare seems like cheating in human-on-human conflict, but I doubt the machines would be so forgiving.
3. Blindness
The doomsday scenario:
The entire population except for one woman goes blind almost instantly. Mass hysteria breaks out, quarantines are ineffective, the strong and brutal hoard food and commit atrocities.
Could it really happen?
Maybe. There is a form of infectious blindness, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It’s usually passed physically, through towels or by touching an infected person’s eyes. It’s most common among children in poor areas where hygiene is lacking. The up side is that it takes a while, unlike the mysterious plague in Blindness. The down side is that blindness caused by trachoma is extremely painful, as the eyelids turn inwards, scratching the surface of the eye to the point where it’s no longer transparent. In its current state, Chlamydia trachomatis could not cause instant mass blindness, but if by some fluke the bacteria became exponentially more contagious, we could be in for a dark future.
2. Children of Men

The doomsday scenario:
Mass infertility. In the film the cause is unknown. Not only are women unable to get pregnant, pregnancies in progress also fail when the mysterious event occurs.
Could it really happen?
Maybe. In the landmark 1995 book Our Stolen Future, the authors examine how chemical pollutants effect reproductive health. In short, there are an increasing number of chemicals floating around that mimic hormones. These have been shown to cause all sorts of problems including reduced puberty age, fetal defects, and reduced sperm counts. The kicker is that many of these chemicals are extremely persistent, meaning that they do not break down. So even if the junk leaching out of your Nalgene bottle is very slight, it will join the other hormone disruptors lodged in your fat cells until they gather enough friends to do some real damage, even if it takes several generations. This differs from the film in that it’s likely to be far more gradual. A steady decline in global sperm count wouldn’t effect pregnancies in progress, and we’d see it coming.
1. Armageddon

The doomsday scenario:
A huge asteroid strikes Earth, wiping out every living thing.
Could it really happen?
Yes. It nearly happened 65 million years ago, causing the extinction of most dinosaur species, and it could happen again. More recently, a meteor or comet exploded over a remote region of Siberia in 1908, detonating with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima bombs, knocking over trees in an 830 square mile area, and on the scheme of things, that was a small one. The US government and the UN have recently begun to take the threat of asteroid collision more seriously, but that doesn’t mean we’re prepared. Many experts put this scenario at the top of their list of likely causes of human extinction. There have been several near-misses, some quite recently. As far as we know, the rock that most likely has our name on it is (29075) 1950 DA, which could spin through space in one of two ways: if it picks door number 1, it will miss us by millions of miles, if it picks door number 2, it will have a 1 in 300 chance of ruining everyones’ day. Luckily, that day won’t come until March 16, 2880.
In the meantime, we can work out a reliable way to either destroy the asteroid, as they did in Armageddon, or alter its course and eliminate the threat. The latter solution is looking more reasonable at the moment, but it’s no surprise Michael Bay preferred interstellar nuclear weapons to a film about altering an asteroid’s course by a fraction of a degree using the gravitational pull of an unmanned spacecraft. The really scary part, however, is that while about 800 near-Earth objects larger than 1 km across (the really bad ones) have been accounted for, many estimate that about 200 have yet to be found. Let’s just hope they find the one heading for us in time to get Bruce Willis and his team from their offshore oil rig and into a nuke-laden space shuttle. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 30 Sep 2008 18:00:37 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>SpoutBlog</spout:postby><spout:postto>SpoutBlog on spout.com</spout:postto><spout:postdate>9/30/2008 2:00:37 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>Bailout talks implode, leaving economy’s fate unresolved, Chavez reaffirms Russia alliance during visit, Pirates seize ship carrying tanks, ammo. Just click over to CNN.com or any other news site and you’ll see why post-apocalyptic and doomsday movies seem more relevant than ever. 
The doomsday scenarios in movies can be pretty outlandish, but some of them are actually plausible. After all, in world where pirates have tanks, Hollywood doesn’t need to stray far from reality for a good yarn.
Below the jump, we put five doomsday movie scenarios to the plausibility test. If you’ve always secretly thought Waterworld was a work of dead-on global warming prophecy, read on.

5. Waterworld

The doomsday scenario:
Global warming causes the complete melt of glaciers and polar ice caps, flooding nearly the entire planet.
Could it really happen?
No. Make no mistake, rising sea levels due to climate change are very likely to cause major problems in the the next century, but a near-total covering of the world in water is not possible. While the melting polar ice caps are destroying the habitat of the polar bear, it’s important to remember that most of the Northern ice cap is already floating in the ocean, so its contribution to sea level rise will not be as severe as Greenland or Antarctica. And even if all the ice melted off of those two land masses, the collective sea level rise would be about 67 meters, or 220 feet. That’s very bad news if you live in Amsterdam or New Orleans, but it’s certainly not enough to cover all but the highest mountains, as in the film. We also shouldn’t expect those chucks of ice to melt too fast. It will likely take a thousand years or more for them to be gone completely, so we’ll have plenty of time to hoard paper and build cool boats, or just move to Denver.

4. The Terminator/The Matrix (Separate films, similar problem)

The doomsday scenario:
Computers converge into one super intelligence, hell-bent on destroying the useless parasite known as humanity.
Could it really happen?
Probably not. In the 1980’s Vernor Vinge popularized the theory of a technological singularity. The basic idea is that computers will eventually become smart enough to think for themselves, and therefore make even smarter computers. Those computers would then make even smarter computers, and so on until the exponential growth of artificial intelligence goes far beyond human comprehension. At this point, as in The Terminator and The Matrix films, the machines would realize they no longer need humanity and seek to eliminate it. Most credible scientists doubt Vinge’s hypothesis. While it’s easy to imagine the exponential growth of computing power, as Moore’s Law does, it’s a big jump to assume that such increased power will lead to the creative thinking that would be required for self-improvement.
So that’s the good news, the bad news is that if the singularity did want to destroy humanity, it wouldn’t be nearly so merciful as the machines in The Terminator and The Matrix. I’m sure it wouldn’t take long for the super intelligence to master the fields of biology and nanotechnology, at which point it would engineer a super virus that would wipe out humanity in a mater of minutes. Is it really a smart use of robot-overlord resources to send mechanized assassins back in time or dispatch swarms of tentacled machines into abandoned sewer tunnels? Sure, biological warfare seems like cheating in human-on-human conflict, but I doubt the machines would be so forgiving.
3. Blindness
The doomsday scenario:
The entire population except for one woman goes blind almost instantly. Mass hysteria breaks out, quarantines are ineffective, the strong and brutal hoard food and commit atrocities.
Could it really happen?
Maybe. There is a form of infectious blindness, caused by the bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis. It’s usually passed physically, through towels or by touching an infected person’s eyes. It’s most common among children in poor areas where hygiene is lacking. The up side is that it takes a while, unlike the mysterious plague in Blindness. The down side is that blindness caused by trachoma is extremely painful, as the eyelids turn inwards, scratching the surface of the eye to the point where it’s no longer transparent. In its current state, Chlamydia trachomatis could not cause instant mass blindness, but if by some fluke the bacteria became exponentially more contagious, we could be in for a dark future.
2. Children of Men

The doomsday scenario:
Mass infertility. In the film the cause is unknown. Not only are women unable to get pregnant, pregnancies in progress also fail when the mysterious event occurs.
Could it really happen?
Maybe. In the landmark 1995 book Our Stolen Future, the authors examine how chemical pollutants effect reproductive health. In short, there are an increasing number of chemicals floating around that mimic hormones. These have been shown to cause all sorts of problems including reduced puberty age, fetal defects, and reduced sperm counts. The kicker is that many of these chemicals are extremely persistent, meaning that they do not break down. So even if the junk leaching out of your Nalgene bottle is very slight, it will join the other hormone disruptors lodged in your fat cells until they gather enough friends to do some real damage, even if it takes several generations. This differs from the film in that it’s likely to be far more gradual. A steady decline in global sperm count wouldn’t effect pregnancies in progress, and we’d see it coming.
1. Armageddon

The doomsday scenario:
A huge asteroid strikes Earth, wiping out every living thing.
Could it really happen?
Yes. It nearly happened 65 million years ago, causing the extinction of most dinosaur species, and it could happen again. More recently, a meteor or comet exploded over a remote region of Siberia in 1908, detonating with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima bombs, knocking over trees in an 830 square mile area, and on the scheme of things, that was a small one. The US government and the UN have recently begun to take the threat of asteroid collision more seriously, but that doesn’t mean we’re prepared. Many experts put this scenario at the top of their list of likely causes of human extinction. There have been several near-misses, some quite recently. As far as we know, the rock that most likely has our name on it is (29075) 1950 DA, which could spin through space in one of two ways: if it picks door number 1, it will miss us by millions of miles, if it picks door number 2, it will have a 1 in 300 chance of ruining everyones’ day. Luckily, that day won’t come until March 16, 2880.
In the meantime, we can work out a reliable way to either destroy the asteroid, as they did in Armageddon, or alter its course and eliminate the threat. The latter solution is looking more reasonable at the moment, but it’s no surprise Michael Bay preferred interstellar nuclear weapons to a film about altering an asteroid’s course by a fraction of a degree using the gravitational pull of an unmanned spacecraft. The really scary part, however, is that while about 800 near-Earth objects larger than 1 km across (the really bad ones) have been accounted for, many estimate that about 200 have yet to be found. Let’s just hope they find the one heading for us in time to get Bruce Willis and his team from their offshore oil rig and into a nuke-laden space shuttle. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:Classic</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Classic/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/Classic/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>Classic</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 816</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 312</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 1453</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:54:36 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>816</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>312</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>1453</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:Loved-It</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Loved-It/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/Loved-It/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>Loved-It</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 509</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 179</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 921</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:56:35 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>509</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>179</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>921</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:action</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/action/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/action/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>action</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 319</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 111</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 460</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:49:02 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>319</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>111</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>460</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:sci-fi</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/sci-fi/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/sci-fi/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>sci-fi</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 217</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 102</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 375</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 19:33:53 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>217</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>102</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>375</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:future</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/future/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/future/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>future</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 492</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 101</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 258</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 22 Aug 2009 09:46:43 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>492</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>101</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>258</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:intense</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/intense/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/intense/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>intense</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 162</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 81</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 249</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:07:45 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>162</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>81</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>249</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:violent</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/violent/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/violent/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>violent</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 97</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 57</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 153</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 27 Jul 2009 04:28:06 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>97</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>57</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>153</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:timetravel</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/timetravel/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/timetravel/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>timetravel</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 449</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 55</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 114</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:56:35 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>449</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>55</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>114</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:scifi</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/scifi/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/scifi/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>scifi</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 56</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 36</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 101</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 07 Sep 2009 07:07:43 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>56</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>36</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>101</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:80s-classic</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/80s-classic/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/80s-classic/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>80s-classic</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 44</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 34</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 108</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 23 Oct 2008 04:37:46 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>44</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>34</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>108</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:killing</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/killing/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/killing/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>killing</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 7191</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 31</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 96</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 07 Aug 2009 13:01:54 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>7191</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>31</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>96</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:futuristic</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/futuristic/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/futuristic/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>futuristic</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 20</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 27</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 36</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sat, 07 Feb 2009 21:17:32 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>20</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>27</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>36</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:technology</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/technology/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/technology/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>technology</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 688</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 23</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 54</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 25 Jun 2009 13:02:23 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>688</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>23</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>54</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:weapons</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/weapons/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/weapons/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>weapons</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 1335</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 16</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 35</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 29 Oct 2009 16:54:00 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>1335</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>16</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>35</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:ontherun</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/ontherun/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/ontherun/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>ontherun</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 1546</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 15</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 37</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 28 Jul 2009 13:02:37 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>1546</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>15</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>37</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
  </channel>
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