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Articles by Johnny Ecks
Fictional things/products that became real
June 22, 2026, 6:10pm 1 The new Toy Story movie got me wondering about this. After the first movie, Woody and Buzz dolls were sold that were basically identical in form to the toys in the movie. They probably couldn’t talk, but I can’t be sure because they wouldn’t do it in front of us. Wonka candy is another example. I don’t know if they’re still sold anywhere, but I can remember Wonka candy bars.
British diplomats/ ambassadors in the antebellum American South
I’m reading that you should be careful not to make assumptions. Being a new country, the UK was keeping its distance, they only send a minister and not an ambassador. The thawing out and upgrade was close to the start of the civil war. So I can find consuls at the civil war time, and some mention of consuls starting 1850’s… its really looking like that there were no consults until the tail end of the period you are interested in.
Are there any parody artists besides Weird Al?
You’d think that in the YouTube/social media era, there would be at least one artist who has name recognition for being a parody artist. Maybe not on the same level as Weird Al (no one will ever be at Weird Al’s level), but perhaps on the same level (recognition-wise) as, say Mr. Beast. Alas, no. At least, not that I can find. However, I’ve found a few parody artists on YouTube that are at least on the spectrum, so to speak.
Invincible Season 3
The entire season (or maybe just the first half of it, I’m not sure) just dropped. I’m only a few episodes in and the show is still killing it. It’s diverging from the comics (which I loved) in interesting ways. I have only watched the first three episodes but I am loving it so far. There’s a short, dialogue free story at the opening of episode three that was just so well done. Since people watch at different rates, cloud any spoilers but is anyone else watching ?
Identify this Science Fiction Novel
January 23, 2025, 1:44pm 1 I read it in the late 70s, but I’d guess it’s 60’s or earlier, I remember the book being reasonably weathered when I got it from the library. A fleet of aliens visits Earth. They tell us there’s a migrant species that invades the galaxy every million(?) years or so and wipes out all intelligent life. They’re putting together a multi-species fleet to defend the galaxy, and they want Earth to help. But all they want is one particular man. He agrees and joins the fleet.
Humor/satire of the 1950s and 1960s
He may not be exactly what you’re looking for, but one of the most prolific humorists of the 1960s was Jean Shepherd, as a writer and radio personality. People know him best from “A Christmas Story,” which was adapted from a collection of his stories reflecting on his childhood in the 1940s, but many of his writings (in Playboy and other magazines) and radio broadcasts were topical to the 1960s.
Could the Soviet Union have survived if Gorbachev wasn't in charge?
I just wonder if another type of leader like Andropov could have salvaged the situation? It was those “other types of leaders” who has screwed it all up in the first place, so it’s unlikely they would have been better at fixing the problems. Another leader would have either had to make similar reforms, and take the similar risk of hardliners working against him, or he would have had to continue just ignoring the problems.
What video games are most like a combination of open world and mystery?
1 Let’s start with the details of the type of game I’m looking for. To start with, the platform doesn’t matter. The game should be an open world type game, focused more on solving a mystery rather than on the combat. It doesn’t have to be a complete world. Something like a city surrounded by impenetrable fog or some such is ok, as long as you get to explore all the buildings and houses individually.
Sci Fi Book Recommendations please
I’m looking for some light reading to get psyched for Starfield’s release. The game is inspired by the old Traveller RPG which I loved. I’m a huge fan of Ursula LeGuin and Jack Vance and also the Expanse series. I’m hoping for something escapist and fun, but not insipid, if you know what I mean. Ideally, not aliens or alien artifacts, more a scrappy band of free traders just trying to make a buck in this indifferent galaxy ala Firefly. Thanks in advance
Documentary Now - IFC (no thread?)
Actually, I thought “Sandy Passage” (the Grey Gardens spoof) was a laugh riot, but it probably only would be for people familiar with the original. Still, completely hilarious (especially when it decides to spoof another genre along the way). I found the Errol Morris TBL parody the least funny simply because the more we hear about our justice system, the more we realize how such a riff isn’t always too far from the truth. So this comes the closest to social commentary more than comedy, per se.
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