WEEKLY STUFF E-ZINE #23-A (10-17-98) -Plain Text Version * * * Contents * * * 1.) OMEGA's Ramblings - IMPORTANT!!! 2.) New Sound System for STAR WARS: Episode 1 3.) A Peek Into The X-Files: Season 6 4.) Three X-Files Top Tens 5.) The X-Files Tidbits 6.) UFO-Savvy Radio Host Calls It Quits 7.) WB! Superman/Batman Animation Schedule (10-17-98 to 10-31-98) 8.) DC Comics Online Trivia Questions & Answers (8-21-98) 9.) Legion of Super-Heroes AOL Chats (8/13/98 & 8/15/98) 10.) Mailing List Technical Info ------------------------------------------------------------------ 1.) Omega's Ramblings - IMPORTANT!!! Every so often Weekly Stuff E-Zine goes through a big change (some times sooner than I would like). Back in Issue 19 we gained 20 topics, and in the process increased the total KB size to a level many of you aren't pleased with. Steve (SZink22446@aol.com) summed up the problem best by saying, "The report is now so large that it has to be downloaded as a file to be read. I hate doing things that way because it takes up space on the drive, takes time to download, takes more time to retrieve from file, and if I want to print any of it, way too much preparation time is needed." So to correct this problem: it was decided to split WSE in two. Each issue will be numbered with either an '-A' or '-B'. One issue will focus on Sci-Fi and Comic Books, and the other will focus on Anime and Video Games. For the first time you are able to Choose what parts of WSE you can receive. Here are the choices of how to receive WSE: A,) Both versions of Weekly Stuff E-Zine, B.) Only the Sci-Fi/Comic Book version of Weekly Stuff E-Zine, C.) Only the Anime/Video Game version of Weekly Stuff E-Zine, D.) Unsubscribe completely. Please send in your requests to ablarnold@csi.com, ASAP. If you don't you will continue to receive BOTH versions of Weekly Stuff E-Zine as you currently receive it. Thank you for your time. Enjoy the changes! ^_^ Adam "OMEGA" Arnold ablarnold@csi.com ------------------------------------------------------------------ 2.) New Sound System for STAR WARS: Episode 1 Fresh 'Star' sounds Lucas, Dolby bow new digital tech with 'Wars' By ANDREW HINDES, ERIC J. OLSON, October 15, 1998 Lucasfilm THX and Dolby Laboratories will launch a new theatrical digital surround sound technology, Dolby Digital-Surround EX, with the release of director George Lucas' upcoming “Star Wars: Episode 1 — The Phantom Menace,” next May 21. The new system, which will be unveiled Tuesday at the ShowEast exhibitors convention in Atlantic City, was co-developed and is jointly-owned by Lucasfilm THX and Dolby. It employs a 6.1-channel theatrical surround sound format, adding anadditional rear center channel to the 5.1-channel format currently used in most theaters. The speakers, which are positioned along the sides and rear of the theater, are wired to create more realistic sound effects that are smoother and more accurately placed than existing systems, according to a statement issued jointly by the two companies. Real world sound Gary Rydstrom, Oscar-winning sound designer and director of creative operations for Skywalker Sound (Lucas Digital Ltd.), was responsible for spearheading the development of the new technology. “I wanted to develop a format that would open up new possibilities and place sounds exactly where you would hear them in the real world,” he said. Added director and Skywalker Sound founder George Lucas, “This new surround technology provides filmmakers with a powerful new creative tool for producing realistic soundtracks.” The new format can be adapted to all existing 5.1 digital systems by installing the new Dolby SA- 10 surround adapter, which will cost theater owners less than $5,000, according to Dolby sources. In some cases, the installation of an additional speaker also will be required. In addition to Lucas' new “Star Wars” film, two more pics are already slated to use the technology: DreamWorks' “The Haunting of Hill House” and Sony's “Memoirs of a Geisha,” directed by Stephen Spielberg. Ironically, Spielberg is a part owner of DTS, a competing 5.1 digital system. Sony subsid Sony Cinema Products Corp. is the maker of SDDS, another rival system. SDDS, an eight- channel system, uses five speakers behind the screen, two surround channels and a subwoofer. Eyeing upgrades But in response to the THX/Dolby announcement, Sony Cinema Products Corp. VP Bill Meade said his company would consider adding an additional surround channel to the SDDS system if there was a demand from filmmakers. “We would like to look at the market and see where filmmakers want to go,” said Meade, a former Dolby exec. “To the extent that this is viable you can certainly look to us to address this need with our products.” ~Source: http://www.aint-it-cool-news.com/, submited to WSE from Starman, http://members.surfsouth.com/~starman/ ------------------------------------------------------------------ 3.) A PEEK INTO X-FILES, SEASON 6 1. The Beginning, airing 11/8/98 Mulder and Scully get kicked off the X-Files. Skinner is no longer their boss. Agent Spender and Fowley (Mulder's ex-girlfriend from last season). The Black-Haired Man, a new Syndicate member shows up, as well as an alien from the X-Files movie. The kid telepath from last episode, Gibson Praise, is a teep because he has his existing alien DNA turned on, unlike the rest of us. 2. Drive, airing 11/15/98 Mulder and Scully are busy checking out fertilizer (post X-Files demotion), when they discover people in this town have been spontaneously exploding. Turns out there may be a secret military project to use broadcast energy for offensive purposes. The only way to escape, apparently, is to head west… 3. Ghost Ship, airing 11/22/98 Shot in real time (only an hour happens during the episode). Mulder dreams that he's in the 1930s, on a cruise ship, taken over by Nazi's. A lot of the cast play passengers and Nazis. Spender, of course, is a Nazi. On the romantic side, Gillian Anderson plays a Scully look-alike on board the ship, and Mulder and Scully share a "wet" kiss. In fact, Mulder even tells current 90s Scully, "I love you," but Scully just brushes it off because Mulder's still delirious. 4. Dreamland, two parter, airing 11/29/98, 12/6/98 Mulder finally gets into the legendary Area 51 by switching bodies with Morris Fletcher, an Area 51 employee and one of the Men in Black. Morris evidently has been trying to get out of the Men in Black, and so escapes in Mulder's body and tries to seduce Scully while the real Mulder is taken captive by Area 51 guards, escapes, and tries to get his body back. 5. Terms of Endearment, airing 1999 Bruce Campbell (Army of Darkness, Evil Dead, The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr., Xena: Warrior Princess) gets a buzz to play a demon with a heart of gold, who fathers babies in a small Blue Ridge Mountain town. 6. Rain King, airing 1999 An exploration of the Mulder/Scully relationship. Characterized as "heartwarming." If you don't count the slime, of course. 7. Unknown Episode, airing 1999 A related four-story mini-epic, which relates to the beginning of the X-Files and the agent, Arthur Dales, that starts it. 8. Unknown Episode (2 parter,) airing 1999 Cassandra Spender (Agent Spender's mom) comes back from her season five abduction, and she has such stories to tell! Also mucho Krycek. ~ Source: The Den.com: http://dailysci-fi.theden.com/web/dsf_News?article_id=751 ------------------------------------------------------------------ 4.) Three X-Files Top Tens © Copyright 1995, Forrest Eastham 103265.1732@compuserve.com Greetings, long ago and in a land far away (some people refer to it as AOL others AOHell and some America On Crack) I wrote a few top ten lists on The X-Files. I figured, hey why not share them with the rest of the world? So did and that explains why you're reading this. There are three top ten lists following. Top ten things Scully will never say. Since I know someone's bound to ask, number one is an ever-so-subtle reference to Mr. Duchovny's appearance on Twin Peaks. 10. Just a minute, Mulder. Days of Our Lives is on. 9. Wait a sec. That *is* a real extraterrestrial. 8. Autopsy number 1013CC. Let's slice this baby open. 7. No, sir. Agent Mulder was mistaken. I believe it was bigfoot. 6. Sure Frohike, Saturday night's fine. 5. You know, sir, it would be really cool if you waxed your head. 4. What happened to my copy of "Playgirl?" 3. Turn the radio back on! I was listening to Howard Stern. 2. Die alien scum! (Playing Doom on her laptop.) 1. Don't get your panties in a knot, Mulder. Top Ten things that Mulder has, but we'll never see 10. The underwear that turned pink when he forgot to separate colors and whites. 9. The Playboy centerfold in his bedroom. 8. The video collection. 7. Power Ranger sheets. 6. Alien tee shirts. 5. Leftover Chinese food in the fridge. 4. Post cards from Roswell, New Mexico. 3. The complete set of Charles Fort's books. 2. Hate letters from Newt Geingrich. 1. His bed. Top Ten X-Files We'll Probably Never See: 10. Elvis seen in Tennessee woman's Jell-O. 9. Giant fluke that lives in sewers... Oh wait, never mind. 8. Mulder and Scully try to find out who that Saturn woman really is. 7. Where do dust bunnies come from? 6. Aliens visit Rush Limbaugh and encourage him to run for President in '96. 5. Vermont woman bears nero reincarnate. 4. Classified 3. Why does a toilet flush counter-clockwise in the northern hemisphere? 2. Why are Mac homekeys "K" and "D" instead of "F" and "J?" 1. My toaster is possessed. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 5.) The X-Files Tidbits +++The Wire has reported that the next X-Files movie will NOT be in production next summer. Hopefully this will ensure a high quality final season. The blurb can be found at the following URL. http://www.ii.net/~jcw/xfiles/wire/moviesequel3.html -----pbarnette@mail.leectysch.com +++This page has a whole bunch of xf clips on it, including a movie clip http://ciudadfutura.com/expedientex/multi.htm +++Fox Home Video now has a Fight the Future web site, with clips from the movie: http://www.foxhome.com/fightthefuture +++The Web Adventures of Mulder and Scully http://www.geocities.com/~bjruef/Action/icepicktures.htm Watch Mulder & Scully molded plastic action figures battle Barney and plastic aliens! See action figure Mulder adopt a plastic cow! See action figure Mulder & Scully confront their feelings toward each other to the tune of the Partridge Family's "I think I Love You!" It's worth it for the pics alone. +++Today in the Houston Chronicle they said that the release date for the collectors set would be Nov 17th and it would contain: ~A wide screen version of the film ~A Making of the XF video ~5 film frames from 35mm prints ~8x10 reprints of the 3 posters ~A making of the the movie book ~A script w/the red on red just like they used - THE TRUTH MUST BE TOLD ------------------------------------------------------------------ 6.) UFO-savvy radio host calls it quits UFO-savvy radio host calls it quits By Alan Boyle, MSNBC Oct. 13 - In an example of life imitating conspiracy theory, radio talk-show host Art Bell abruptly announced Tuesday that he was going off the air. Bell, whose late-night show delved into the strange world of UFOs, vampires and government plots, cited a "threatening, terrible event" involving his family and a succession of other events. But he said he wouldn't discuss those events further. "This is it, folks." Bell said at the conclusion of his show. "I'm going off the air and will not return." He promised that he would explain his reasons "when the time comes." "It's not that I want to hold anything back from my audience. However, for the protection of my family, until it is otherwise revealed, I can't discuss it, I won't discuss it," he said. "And if you were in my position, you would do exactly the same thing." He signed off saying, "That is the end of this man's broadcast career. So thank you and goodbye." The announcement caught Bell's syndicators as well as his listeners unawares. Premiere Radio Networks, which distributes the show to more than 400 radio stations nationwide, said it would rebroadcast highlights from past programs for at least the rest of the week. Premiere also voiced hope that Bell could be persuaded to return to the air. "We have been in contact with Art to let him know of our support for him and his family," the company said in a statement read by spokeswoman Lisa Lyon. "We will work with Art in every way to see to it that he can return to what he does so well. ... We will keep you informed of our progress and the earliest return date of Art Bell to live programming." Efforts to contact Bell's office were unsuccessful. Bell's weekday show, "Coast to Coast," was broadcast from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. ET from a double- wide trailer in Pahrump, Nev. He also hosted a weekend show called "Dreamland." Although the show issued from low-key surroundings, it attracted 8 million to 10 million listeners via 400 radio stations nationwide, making it the highest-rated radio talk show at night. Bell's Web site boasted more than 21 million hits since the first of the year. Bell's topics often came from the speculative fringe: Were there ancient monuments on Mars? Did horrific beings like the Mexican "goat-sucker" really exist? What was the nature of crop circles, vampirism and ghostly sightings? Bell generally let his guests expound on the theory of the night, without rendering judgment himself. Bell-related bulletin boards were chattering Tuesday about the reasons for Bell's apparent departure from the scene - which came on the heels of rumors that the show might actually be rebroadcast during the daytime. Some messages noted that Bell had recently aired a series of programs on end-of-the-world themes. Others speculated that a freshly concluded trip to South Africa might have added to the strain. "What on earth is Art Bell up to?" one correspondent asked on the alt.fan.art-bell newsgroup. "My guess is that they got to him, but we'll just have to see," another wrote on the alt.conspiracy newsgroup. "What a loss, one of the few voices we had, if you know what I mean." ~From MSNBC (http://www.msnbc.com/news/204743.asp) ------------------------------------------------------------------ 7.) WB! Superman/Batman Animation Schedule (10-17-98 to 10-31-98) Warner Bros. Animation has supplied us with the following air schedule, which is subject to change. THE NEW BATMAN/SUPERMAN ADVENTURES airs weekdays and Saturdays on the WB Network. Check local listings for time and channel. 10/17/98 -- "Solar Power" (Superman) 10/17/98 -- "Girls' Nite Out" (Batman -- New); Episode 020 "Girls' Nite Out" Harley, Poison Ivy and Livewire team up to have a leisurely Gotham night out, while bringing the city to its knees in the process. Guest stars Supergirl and Penguin. 10/19/98 -- "The Ultimate Thrill" (Batman) 10/19/98 -- "Feeding Time" (Superman) 10/20/98 -- "Growing Pains" (Batman) 10/20/98 -- "The Last Son Of Krypton Part I" (Superman) 10/21/98 -- "The Last Son Of Krypton Part II" (Superman) 10/21/98 -- "The Last Son Of Krypton Part III" (Superman) 10/22/98 -- "Over The Edge" (Batman) 10/22/98 -- "Joker's Millions" (Batman) 10/23/98 -- "Action Figures" (Superman) 10/23/98 -- "Critters" (Batman) 10/24/98 -- "Chemistry" (Batman - New); Episode 021 "Chemistry" Now married, Bruce Wayne's new wife entangles him into Poison Ivy's latest plot. 10/24/98 -- "Where There's Smoke" (Superman) 10/26/98 -- "Harley and Ivy" (Batman) 10/26/98 -- "Mxyzpixilated" (Superman) 10/27/98 -- "Almost Got 'Im" (Batman) 10/27/98 -- "On Leather Wings" (Batman) 10/28/98 -- "Two's A Crowd" (Superman) 10/28/98 -- "Avatar" (Batman) 10/29/98 -- "The Main Man Part I" (Superman) 10/29/98 -- "The Main Man Part II" (Superman) 10/30/98 -- "The Demon Within" (Batman) 10/30/98 -- "Prototype" (Superman) 10/31/98 -- "Judgement Day" (Batman - New); Episode 022 "Judgement Day" A judge, fed up with the justice system that constantly rotates Gotham City's worst criminals in and out of jail, takes matters of punishment into his own hands. 10/31/98 -- "New Kids In Town" (Superman - New); Episode 044 "New Kids In Town" A teen-aged Clark Kent teams up with Chameleon Boy, Cosmic Boy, Saturn Girl from the New Legion, to battle Brainiac in Clark's hometown of Smallville. ------------------------------------------------------------------ 8.) DC Comics Online Trivia Questions & Answers (8-21-98) BobRo's Trivia Questions: 1. Which hero of Lallor had a long-distance romance with Shrinking Violet? 2. Hidden in an experimental rocket to escape Lord Sliderule, who was launched into space? 3. You remember the heroes-vs.-villains baseball game? Whose wife helped organize that event? 4. To avenge her lover's death, Lisa Snart took on what identity? 5. Her abilities funnel through Magic Wanda, enabling Felina Furr to fight crime in what identity? 6. Inca god Apu Illapu touched a stone-turned-statue, given amazing powers to whom? 7. Summonings, Reckonings and Bindings are the sub-titles for which series of Vertigo TPBs? 8. Donnerschlag is the canine companion to what hero? 9. Old JLA headquarters is now occupied by what team? 10. Zero Hour saw what hero take on villainous proportions? 11. “Enter freely—unafraid” reads the sign of whose Greenwich Village shop? 12. Nurse Karin Grace was a member of what covert team? BobRo's Trivia Answers: 1. Duplicate Boy 2. Brother Power 3. Sportsmaster 4. Golden Glider 5. Alley-Kat-Abra 6. Jonni Thunder 7. BOOKS OF MAGIC 8. Wild Huntsman 9. Young Justice 10. Green Lantern 11. Madame Xanadu 12. Suicide Squad ~ Source: The original competition takes place at the Anything Goes Production Chat Hour, every Monday at 10 PM ET, keyword Chat DC. Questions and Answers are modified from the original from which appeared in: BobRo's Trivia Corner a part of DC Comics Online E-Mail Newsletter. ---------------------------------------------------------------- 9.) Legion of Super-Heroes AOL Chats (8/13/98 & 8/15/98) Jeff Moy (L* penciller) was the guest on America Online's Legion of Super-Heroes Chat for Tuesday, October 13, 1998. Jeff and KC Carlson (L* #66 writer) also attended Legionnaires Chat for Thursday, October 15, 1998. Legion of Super-Heroes Chat takes place every Tuesday in the DC Comics Online area of AOL at 6:00 PM EST. Legionnaires Chat is held every Thursday in the same area at 10:00 PM EST. (Keyword: CHAT DC.) Regular guests include Tom McCraw, Jeff Moy, Ron Boyd and Mike McAvennie. Thanks to T. Troy McNemar who originated the Legion Chat Reports; so much of the format of these writeups was derived from his hard work. DISCLAIMER: I can't guarantee the reliability of this report. Essentially, the Legion chats involve about twenty-five fans shouting repeated questions to the creators. The creators are sometimes unable to answer questions thoroughly or clarify their responses. As a result, misinterpretations may occur on my part. SPOILERS: Information that spoils current or upcoming issues is found toward the end of this report. There's no spoiler space to separate such info from the more general comments. SUBSCRIPTIONS: To subscribe to these chat reports, send an e-mail to "majordomo@mlists.com" with the message "subscribe lsh-chats". To unsubscribe, send the message "unsubscribe lsh-chats" to the same address. PLUGS: To subscribe to Lev Kalman's humorous LSH pics, send an e-mail to "majordomo@mlists.com" with the message "subscribe lev-pics". You'll get his new cartoons sent to your e-mailbox. To browse this fan's STARMAN website, visit http://users.aol.com/nachro2/starhome.htm Finally, for all your LSH online needs, check out the Legion of Super-Resources at http://www.idyllmtn.com/rac/dc/lsh/lsh_res.htm A BIG THANKS: To James Schee for logging Tuesday's chat, and Jim Caldwell for logging Thursday's session. :=========================: +Jeff's working on L* #70. His next issue to be published is #67, after #66's fill-in by Michael Collins. +KC hopes to write more Legion stories, but it's up to current editor Mike McAvennie to find any suitable opportunities. +Jeff once suggested giving Magno a gambling habit. +Jeff knows that for at least six months, the Fatal Five's Empress won't find the Emerald Eye. +Jeff explained that he designed an 'S' for Tasmia's costume, thinking she would be named "Shadow Lass." After he learned her name was "Umbra," he decided the 'S' was a symbol for darkness on her world. +Jeff hopes that if/when the Legion of Super-Pets show up, they'll use characters from both Legion teams, including Gates and Sensor. He noted that they can't use the classic Super-Pets. The Legion splits into two teams with LSH #110 and L* #67. +Charma is not Lyle's 'C'. +When asked why Zoe has a large closet when she doesn't need one, KC joked that it's because "she's a girl." +Jeff says that Jan is "kinda spotlighted" in L* #67. +Spoilers and character designs for the Legion's appearance on the SUPERMAN cartoon can be found at http://www.batman-superman.com/superman/cmp/legion.html . Thanks to Jason Bourgeois for the tip. - -- Alex Tam goldie@intergate.bc.ca; Nachro2 on AOL ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 20.) Mailing List Technical Info ~ Back Issues can now be found at Omega's Vanishing Point, the original home of this E-Zine: http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ablarnold/wsemain.html ~ To subscribe a friend send e-mail to ablarnold@csi.com, with the subject of _SUBSCRIBE_ . ~ To unsubscribe send an unsub e-mail to ablarnold@csi.com, with the subject of _UNSUBSCRIBE_ . See you again in Weekly Anime E-Zine! Adam “OMEGA” Arnold ablarnold@csi.com ; ICQ #7737442 http://welcome.to/vanishing.point/