Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Gadget Porn

Colossus: The Forbin Project is a funny kinda film. The premise is that, seemingly untested in the real world, countries turn their defences over to massive computers that can decide to launch missiles when they feel the time is right. Then the computers start chatting with each other and getting cranky. It's hard to imagine that anyone who has used computers long enough to watch something go haywire could take such a film seriously, yet I gather it's being remade soon. With Will Smith.

The title sequence is worth watching in a Popular Science wet-dream way. I dunno if you can find the whole of the movie to watch - this is most of it - and I don't think it's worth the effort except as a look into a world so science-happy that they could cede the control of their countries over to hardware. FOOLS! Nobody needs to do that when we have Holy Books.

20 comments:

M. Bouffant said...

The future: Nixies & punch tape.

And a drawbridge over the shitmoat.

Smut Clyde said...

The Lifeboat AI-shield people seem to have watched it, anyway, and added it to their list of Existential Threats.

mikey said...

The premise is that, seemingly untested in the real world, countries turn their defences over to massive untested computers

Meh. Microsoft calls this a "Beta Test Program"...

Substance McGravitas said...

Eventually the lead scientist is supervised by the computer on date nights.

Big Bad Bald Bastard said...

Eventually the lead scientist is supervised by the computer on date nights.

Does the computer tell him when he can launch his missile?

Substance McGravitas said...

Yes. A brave GURL SCIENTICIAN helps with that.

zombie rotten mcdonald said...

weird. It looks like all those phones have WIRES running to them.

Dragon-King Wangchuck said...

Eventually the lead scientist is supervised by the computer on date nights.

LIAR! That lead scientist is <a href='http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Young_and_the_Restless">Victor Newman</a> and there is no force on Earth that can stay his romantic powers.

Dragon-King Wangchuck said...

Well, that's an embarassing tagfail. I blame Obama.

Dragon-King Wangchuck said...

Victor Newman?

Dr.KennethNoisewater said...

OK, this is getting weird. Did I rub too many girl cooties on this blog or what? First I come here and make Substance discuss SATC with me. (Although in fairness, HE brought it up.) And today I find posts referencing "The Young and the Restless." What the hell?

I'll know I've gone through the looking glass when y'all start discussing my favorite shower gels.

Dr.KennethNoisewater said...

Also, it's true. That old fart gets all the wimmin, and a lot of them are half his age.

Substance McGravitas said...

You almost got this as another post.

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Oh what, the shower gel?

Look I clean the shower ever 2-4 months whether it needs it or not.
~

tigris said...

Nordstrom, 2006: After a particularly successful bra fitting, I couldn’t help but well up a bit at the sight of my newly perky breasts.

Nordies is magic.

Dr.KennethNoisewater said...

"You almost got this as another post"

I would advise the author to shop the Intratrons or catalogs. Works for me, but not everyone is a cranky hermit like me.

Hamish Mack said...

Just an idea to throw out into the marketplace.
Beer flavoured shower gels?
It sort of wins you over doesn't it?


Capcha!! Flopsop was a childhood nickname. Sheesh

Substance McGravitas said...

About 2,930,000 results (0.37 seconds)

Smut Clyde said...

Beer flavoured shower gels?

There are very few concepts that are not improved by the addition of the qualifier "beer-flavoured".

Dr.KennethNoisewater said...

Beer-flavored douches still sound pretty unappealing.