Could someone explain what this means?

free will: "Neurobiologists have measured how long certain visual perceptions take to register in consciousness... This time delay--about 200 milliseconds--means that a tennis star at Wimbledon must return a serve well before becoming conscious of the serve's approach." Thus one neurobiologist concludes: "Our everyday experience of having conscious experiences and acting because of them is in most cases an illusion. Consciousness comes too late to affect behaviour."

Does this throw your brain in a turmoil or what!!! If I could figure it out I'm sure it would make great conversation at a party!!...Kirk

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Answers

Please don't kick me out Jim! I promise to get back to homesteading. Ha!....Kirk

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

The very few times I've had to actually slam on my brakes, after I was stopped, I didn't remember asking my foot to do it. It just does it all by itself before you are even aware I think. It's a reaction.

Ever catch a ball on pitchers mound right in front of your face? Is that what is called "out of the corner of our eye"? I quess over the years of practice we have taught our parts to work on their own, especially in emergencies. Like putting one foot in front of the other too. Interesting topic Kirk.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Visual perceptions aren't the only way we receive input,tho.Gets into the parapsycology aspect of life. Or,maybe that is too touchy feely weird,huh!

And,do you know some people can "see" events in slow motion? Don't believe it? I'm married to one.In a crises,that's what happens for him.It's why he's really good at handling them. All very interesting,eh?

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Your neurobiologist got his degree from a Sears & Roebuck catalog if he can jump to such a conclusion. My behavior in reaction to perceptions almost never occurs in milliseconds. It CAN, though, and I find that interesting. I don't think it's something we learn, but something we're born with.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

sharon, I have frequently experience the "slow-motion" effect. At work as a nurse and in my life during crisis situations. I consider it a gift. Kirk, my brain is always in a turmoil over how much we think we know and how little we really know. The biggest thing I learned while sitting three months 10 to 14 hours a day in meditation practice at seminary was, we are most certainly NOT our thoughts or even who we think we are.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Its easy to explain what they are talking about. The human "brain" is actually multiple brains, ranging from the primitive reptilian brain to the developed intelectual lobes. Together they control all our reflexes and thoughts. Kinda like comparing a solar powered calculator to a windows 98 multitask pc.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Wow diane.Did you ever say alot in a short paragraph! There's so much more than "meets the eye",isn't there?.Your experiences must have been fruitful.

Your ability is a gift.One of many things that has convinced me over the years in believing in our Creator.Uh oh,there go that thread drift again.Ain't it great!

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Great analogy,Jay.It would have to be many PC's

Aren't computers getting really close to duplicating human ability? Expected to within the next 10 years? I read that somewhere. That is scary,too,though. Not as much as GMO's for me,but still.....

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

The only time other than my dreams when I perceive events happening in slow motion is when I am falling down. It always seems to be so slow, and usually there's nothing I can do to stop it. When I fall and catch myself, it's fast. But when I fall and know I can't catch myself, it's very slow, seems like a minute has gone by.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

'some people can "see" events in slow motion'

That happened to me once or twice, most memorably when my cat "hung" himself -- he was wearing a harness and tethered to a skinny tree, which he decided to climb. I turned around to see this, and everything went into slo-mo. Unfortunately, the effect seemed to include my actions as I tried to race to him. I remember some far- back corner of my mind saying "He's still struggling, that's GOOD!". He was fine by the way, as soon as I got under him he stood on my shoulders, and by the time I detangled his rope, he was ready to go walk around some more. (One of his nicknames was "monkey boy")

Who cares about thread drift? We're having a conversation, are we not?

One of my favorite sayings (unfortunately, I don't remember where I found it) is: We are not physical beings on a spiritual journey, we are spiritual beings on a physical journey.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Cindy: Come to think of it I've had that same sensation of falling in slow motion. Also I was in an auto accident that seems to take forever to happen. Pleeeessee Dooonnn't Hiiiitttt Meeeee!!

Okay Diane let me get this right! 12 hr medatations!!!!! Oh Mercy. That reminds me in the 70s I spent a weekend at an (out of body) workshop. We were under these headsets 12 hrs at a time. I was so spacey for 2 weeks afer I could barely function!...Kirk

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Yes A.I (artificial intelligence) is advancing with the development of super conductors and organic based processors. My understanding is that until they can completely understand how the human brain can cross react between synaptic contacts, it cannot be duplicated. They also do not have a full understanding of the effect of human emotion in the function of our brains. Are emotions a neccessary component of our processing function or a byproduct? I have read where some researchers are concerned enough that they want Isaac Asimov's three laws of robotics as described in his sci-fi book "I Robot" implemented as a type of safety feature as the concept of the organic based processor brings images of the "positronic brain" he used in his novels.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Kirk, we had 30 days of just functional speech at a time, times three months. Even meals were in a meditation fashion. We had walking meditation so we did not actually sit for 12 hours at a time. Spacy...after that three months it took me a very long time to feel comfortable in the "real world". In fact, never really have because I don't believe this really is the "real world". I do love my life though and enjoy the earth a lot. (now, I am not really crazy, on no meds or anything and do function.....just most of the time I think my Buddhist teacher was right and this is all a COSMIC JOKE)

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

OK, I'm going to contribute to a little bit of thread drift here...

Speaking of A.I., is anyone going to see the movie A.I. when it comes out at the end of June? The movie trailers look pretty good.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

.....just most of the time I think my Buddhist teacher was right and this is all a COSMIC JOKE

That sounds intriguing, Diane. I have somewhat of an interest in Buddhism but I'm in the early stages of learning about it so I would love to hear your thoughts on the subject. I hope I'm not being too nosy in asking, though...

Let me know if you would like to talk about it in more depth on the forum here or we could discuss it on the BTS mailing list instead.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Wow! This is an esoteric bunch. Keep talking! Love it.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Hey Joy....I lived that "cat hanging in a tree" thing myself!! I foolishly put a harness on one of my favorite housecats and let her outside. Of course she found the skinniest tree to climb and hang herself up in, but she was dangling 6' above ground and I'm only 5'5"!! I had to shimmy up that tree and rescue her! NOT a pretty sight! But I did it. Amazing what the average person can do in an emergency!! Needless to say, my housecats are now STRICTLY housecats!

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Diane: You have Had the most incredibly interesting life! If you discuss Buddism With Jim I hope you do it here so I can listen in.

Jay I've read those robot books. I wish I was young so I could see how artificial intelligence plays out. I wonder how far out it will be before we get a Hal........kirk

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Yeah Please Dianne. Maybe a new thread "DIANE TELLS ALL". Seriously, that would be interesting.

Re: The slow motion thing. I've had some experience with it too and I think its similar if not the same thing as the "space" the martial artist types get into when they're totally "with" the moment.

When I was a cop I was involved in a high speed car accident. This guy turned out in front of me while I was involved in a high speed chase. I KNEW I was gonna hit him in spite of doing everything I could to avoid it. Time stood still---a transcendental moment. Upon impact I saw the hood of the car moving towards the windshield. I remember thinking "I'd better duck or I'm gonna get decapitated" I ducked, pulled the car to a safe stop,etc. In actuality it probably took place over a second or two, yet I experienced it as ALOT longer. I think it has to do with intensely concentrated attention mixed with adrenalin.

Actually, I've got this half baked theory that when people were into "God fearing" rather than God loving there was a manipulation of consciousness thing going on there that could cause them to have the time-standing-still experience as a heightened awareness, transcendental experience. Just a thot.

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

I think the best Asimov book I ever read was the one he co-authored with Robert Silverberg: The Positronic Man (expanded from Asimov's original short story). It's the story about Andrew, the robot who longs to be human. It's one of my all-time favorite books.

Unfortunately it was the basis for that horrible Robin Williams movie: The Bicentennial Man. ACK! Phtooey! The movie didn't do justice to the book...

-- Anonymous, May 19, 2001

Under stress I sometimes sense the immediate future.I've saved my and other's butts a few times.That's my gift.Not at all refined.Not under my control.Perhaps the same chemical input occuring, on a brain that functions in a slightly different way. John's explanation sounds plausible.

I met a women who was known to do the same,only far,far more powerful.Known,not supposed.She was 95 when I met her and still a real presence.I felt she scanned me,when we met.Then she smiled,so I guess I passed inspection :o) She was Nick's great aunt. He has lots of stories about her.

I just don't tell people I can do that.Nick knows of course.Most wouldn't believe it.I keep it to myself,mostly. Well,till now! Hey if I ever call you in the middle of the night to warn you of something,don't think I'm nuts,just listen!

Like the complex natural world around us, there is much about the way the brain works that is still unknown or unverified bc it's not yet duplicable by current scientific studies. But yet it's there. Either we've experienced it ourselves,or know someone who has.Keep talking! I haven't had conversations like this in years.One of the downsides of living in the country.

John,I would love to sit down and talk to you for a few hours. Expand on what you said concerning religious fervor,if you would?

And I would love for Annie and diane both to discuss their particular brand of spirituality,if they would be kind enough to do so.

And no,I cannot predict the lottery for you. So don't ask. And don't laugh at me,either.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

HEY! Just because I was working in the garden today doesn't mean I get to miss out! This is the kind of thread that makes all the BS worthwhile!

My first comment is don't take scientific results you read at face value! The very nature of scientific experimentation is that you have to modify the system you are studying in order to study it. The Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle is the best known example. I would think that study of consciousness would have the same problems. Obviously the tennis players DO manage to return a serve. I must admit that I have wondered how I would react to one of those serves, and think that after the initial incredulity, would eventually be able to return one (delusions of youth here!)!

I also agree with Diane on some level, in that I have this strange gut feeling that reality is not what it seems, and have realised the whole cosmic joke thing. Never had the kind of supportive meditation you had, Diane, but it just kind of eats at me sometimes. I have experienced the slow motion sensation a few times, I"ve had serious deja vu even more often. Just little things that don't make physical sense. I have very little fear of death, because I just don't believe in it, not in a religious sense, but more in that I feel there is a collective consciousness and universal life force that I am just a small part of.

Kirk, if you ever get invited to a party where the conversation could get this interesting, please let me know. The scrumpy won't be ready for at least 2 years, but we'll do it here then (cross thread drift warning)!

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

Sharon, I'm very cool and collected in an emergency also, I seem to keep all my wits about me, and actually take charge. I'm the one telling everyone else what to do. It's just something that kicks in, and you don't even question it, just do it.

It's hard to explain. When I'm watching TV, I have to cover my eyes still for any scary parts or when I know something bad is going to happen. But in real life, I'm the first to stop the truck and run to help someone in an accident. I mean run. It upsets Steve when I do that, but I can't help it. It's like I'm not myself, and I must go help and keep people calm and I'm not afraid at all, not even a little.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

Jim, I would not mind trying to discuss what little I know here, but I am not sure exactly what you want to know?? I could try and answer specific questions the best I could, or direct you to a book perhaps in the area of your interest. I never thought of my life as particularly interesting. I just wanted to know "stuff" and tryed to find things out. I did manage to meet some wonderfully interesting people along the way, like the people on this forum. Every single one of us here has a wonderful story to tell, I enjoy you all so much. Hope you all have a great day....I am driving up north to visit my daughter and grandchildren.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

Please don't take the conversation elsewhere! I wanna read!Tren

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

Well,Jim now you got me wanting to read that Butthead Scientist's book.I picked one of his up one time,don't remember which one,but didn't like it.Didn't read anymore.But,I'll respect your opinion and try that one.

Same happened for me, on the Dune books,which I love(well the first three), and then the movie.Yeech! Stinko. And, anytime Robin Williams was in a movie he wasn't any good.Like him as a comic with his frenetic wit,hate him as an actor.And of course,now you've started a new thread....What movies do you recommend? Or not?

Cindy-I'm the same with horror films.Cannot watch them.Can't sleep for a week.They seem too real to me.For gosh sakes,I know people like that! Maybe it's from living around our neighbors in KY? HAHAHA

Yes I am here.No I did not go to Lexington.Not feeling well enough to travel today. Oh well. Maybe next year.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

'Butthead Scientist'

LOL!

Is it safe to say that you have some 'issues' with the good Doctor, or just scientists in general?

I'm not a huge Asimov fan but this book is an exception. If you can get a copy at the library I think you'll like it.

I never got into any of the Dune books or the movie. I don't know why...they just never interested me. One book that I absolutely LOATHED was Samuel R. Delaney's Dhalgren. I read it as a kid, got about 3/4 of the way through it, and ended up throwing it against the wall in disgust. It is unreadable gibberish and it *still* gets my blood pressure up just thinking about it again after all these years. Anybody else read that book? If so, what did you think of it?

And yes, I agree about Robin Williams - very funny comedian but as an actor, well...

I can't recommend many movies - most of them are pretty bad, IMO. But I did absolutely LOVE The Matrix and some of the questions it raised (mainly: what is reality?). The actions scenes kicked butt, too. A few movies I can recommend are October Sky, Contact, and Gattaca. I probably can come up with a few more but I'm drawing a blank at this time.

BTW, we did go out today to see the movie Shrek. It wasn't too bad - the animation was fantastic and the story line was pretty good, but the music they chose was pretty bad, IMO, and really detracted from the movie. It's not a bad movie to take kids to see but it's nothing spectacular. But that's pretty much par for the course coming from Hollywood...

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

Diane: I haven't had much time today to think about what I want to ask you concerning Buddhism. I'll ponder it tonight and hopefully will post something tomorrow. I do want to ask you what your recommendations are for books on Buddhism, though... One book that I've read that I enjoyed was Buddhism - Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen. I enjoyed it greatly and would really like to find books similar to it. I've got a list of books that look interesting and maybe I'll post their titles tomorrow to see if you've read any of them.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

hey, its funny you guys were talking about Robin Williams. He dated a girlfriend of mine,Tish Carter, several years ago. She moved from Kansas City to L.A. and met him while she was working at the comedy club. She brought him back to Kansas City to meet all her friends. He was a very nice and funny guy. He took about a dozen of us out to dinner!

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

Well, I didn't throw 'Dhalgren' against the wall, but I was pretty peeved that I'd been rooked out of the purchase price of that book. I never finished it either, so I can't tell you if it had any redeeming pay off at the end or not. My life was too busy to wait around for paint to dry, but I suspect that the author should have had a random drug test done.

I just watched 'The Cell', which has some absolutely stunningly beautiful cinematography in it, but I suspect that it would really upset some people. I found the main plot line a bit murky and unsatisfying (but what the heck, it all takes place on dreamscape! Whoever promised things would be satisfying and literal?). I suspect that I'm gonna watch it again, but I'm a real special effects fan. A guy I know in California would send me photos of himself in the latest horror movie he was going to be in so I'd be able to recognize him when he got his big scene (I wouldn't have recognized him a number of times without the polaroids! Not even knowing he was IN the movie!)

I wasn't too happy with either production of 'Dune' either. I'm torn between anticipation and dread for 'The Lord of the Rings' coming out. MAYBE we will get lucky on it, like when 'Star Wars' first came out...

You didn't like Robin Williams in 'Good Morning Viet Nam'?

Ah hah, another thing to hold over Sharon's head!!! My video collection of horror movies!!! Tieing her up and making her watch all 1,700 of 'em! (or however many there are...they are uncounted and largely uncatalogued...) The only horror movie I can remember actually frightening me was 'American Werewolf in London'...when we were driving home from it late at night, I saw something large standing on the side of the road. It was the BIGGEST coyote that I had ever seen, wolf-sized. And it just stood there. Staring at us. *Brrrrr...* I was careful to be indoors before dark for the next couple of full moons -- just being careful, mind you!! The worst part of that movie was the baying of the creature unseen. I commented at the time that that creature would never catch ME, and was questioned as to whether I thought I was really that fast to outrun it, and replied, "Out-run it, heck!! If I HEARD that, I'd drop dead of a heart attack and it'd be all over!!" That one really jerked my chain.

The only times I've ever really experienced that time stretching phenomenon was meeting up with a bear out in the woods. I also now know what they mean about your "Heart in your throat". Mine was trying to leap out my mouth and go galloping away shrieking on it's own while the rest of me went ice cold and stood rooted to the spot...

Obviously, I survived it.

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

Okay Julie don't tell me "the Exorcist" didn't scare you? That movie shook me up at that time!!....Kirk

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

OK now, from what everyone is saying about slow motion happening to them, it seems that we are given a few extra seconds for our conscious to catch up with the situation, and act accordingly.

Did any of you see "Millinium"? With Cherly Ladd. Neat movie, I watched it again not too long ago. Time stood still for all the plane crashes, they knew who wasn't going to make it, and they took them off of the plane and replaced them with robot bodies. They took the people to a new world to start over. The ones that survived they left on the plane. Paradoxes were what the movie was about.

I have never in my life watched a horror movie, just the regular movie scary parts get to me. I really really liked "Mercury Rising" and "Enemy of the State", movies like that. And of course all the touchy feelie movies!

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

I love Robin Williams. I absolutely believe he's a genius, and also that he's totally insane, but there's the old fine line again. I am not a fan of 'course' language from any source, and sometimes his mouth turns the TV off around here and we unfortunately miss the message, but we're used to that.

Actually I am a huge movie fan, specially old ones. We went to see Crouching Tiger........ last night, was great fun.....a really good girl-power movie.......full of great fantasy .........and even tho all the swordfighting got to be a bit sillyl afte while.....would be so neat to be so free and light as to be able to dance among the treetops...

As to your initial post, Kirk, you know , dont you dear, that there is no such thing as time...........

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

Oh no Julie! Please no! Not that! That is worst than the picture diane stole.

Didn't turn into bear doodoo,huh? The only time you really have to worry abt them tho, is if you are bleeding.Then they will follow you.Really.

Nope,didn't like Good Morning..Nick did though. Hey,neither of us liked Forest Gump. Nick is the Trekkie and Star Wars fan.I like them too.

The first Hobbit movies are really good.I enjoy them,anyway.Not sure why they have to be done again?

Time Bandits was good,The Dark Crystal was great,and The Neverending Story was enjoyable.When you have kid at home, you discover these movies,and then end up watching them over and over.

American Werewolf was one of the ones that scared the bejeezes out of me too.And Hitcher.That was too intense. Exorcist actually didn't bother me too much. For some reason Carrie did. What abt Jack Nicholson in what was it called now I forgot. Don't watch the teenage slasher stuff.Can't stomach it.

Here's one I loved.The Ghost and the Darkness. Well I always did have a thing abt lions.Ever since Born Free.Even married one.The movie, by the way ,is definitely not Born Free,Revisited.

Jim,neither is the case.That was the title given to him by Gate's boys,when he wouldn't give them approval to use his name or a book title or some such thing as a program title.So they coded in 'Butthead Scientist' into the program. It amused me.

And,you must plow thru the first ...Oh,I don't know..130 pages of the first book of Dune,in order to learn the language.After that it really picks up! Nick didn't have the patience for it,either.

Hmmm...The Matrix..will have to consider it.And yeah,pretty much "it's been done before and much better" is my take on recent movies.Which is why we really haven't watched anything new for a while.

Hey, what about the old silent films! Charlie Chaplin is G.R.E.A.T!

And for both of you, I'll make sure I go nowhere near Dhalgren

-- Anonymous, May 20, 2001

Julie isn't exaggerating. She doesn't get scared by movies, for the most part. But Jules, what was the movie that sent us scurrying to blockade ourselves in the bathroom? Or was that when the window slammed down? Yup, American Werewolf etc. scared me too. I slept with a light on all night and had nightmares all night. One of the several friends I went to it with got up and left right after the killing in the subway -- she couldn't take it anymore. I saw The Exorcist in college, and no, I didn't think it was too scary. Kinda tense at times, but not scary. I got bored with the Jack Nicholson version of The Shining and turned off the TV. Maybe it woulda been scary if I'd seen it at the theater, but I don't like Jack so I wouldn't pay to see it.

I hardly ever get to a movie these days. I don't even seem to get around to watching them when they come on TV.

Now, READING 'Salem's Lot scared the bejabbers out of me (but I was in college, I'm braver now). I was visiting Julie at college, sleeping on her living room floor (boy, I wish I could stand to do that now), and it was 2 a.m. when I finished. She'd been asleep for 2 hours. As soon as I turned off the light, I heard something hissing and crawling across the floor towards me! I snatched a cushion off the sofa (hey, I didn't HAVE anything else), and holding it in front of me, switched on the light! Nothing, nada, zip. Suddenly, I heard the hissing -- it was her radiator. Then I heard the crawling noise -- it was her pet mouse rearranging her bedding in her cage. Geez. It still took me another hour to get over the adrenaline surge and go to sleep . . . .

Another movie that scared the &!#*@# out of me was Savage Harvest. I saw it on HBO in the '80's. I don't think it did much in the theater. It was based on several true incidents in Africa during a drought. The lions were starving (drought had killed much of their prey and driven the rest many miles away in search of water), and started attacking humans. They even got into the house of some people and killed several people. I didn't find The Ghost & the Darkness to be nearly as frightening, but then, I was a lot older and braver by the time I saw that.

Okay, maybe I am a dweeb, but I thought Mrs. Doubtfire was hilarious! I enjoyed Forrest Gump too, but I was captive on an airplane with nothing better to do . . .

A couple of movies I almost always will sit down and watch, if they happen to come on, are Alien (first in series) and Aliens (second in series), especially Aliens. That one made me really tense throughout. Didn't like the third and fourth. Ooh, and the Kurt Russell remake of The Thing was pretty tense too -- scary enough to be fun, without giving me nightmares.

Is this enough thread drift for you?

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2001

More thread drift warning....

I don't even remember watching a horror movie during that period you're talking about there, CatFlunky. What I DO remember was the storm brewing up and looking like tornado weather, the window slamming shut and you screaming. THAT is what scared me. It's a monkey-boy reaction. The monkey next to you screams in fear, you jump and head for the nearest tree. Them old monkey genes will get you scrambling to save your monkey-butt every time!! Run now, find out what it is later. (gee, that almost gets back to the original thread about reaction times)

Now, Catholic Horror Movies do not scare me. Things like 'The Exorcist'...nah, that's kind of mild stuff. I used to take people to see 'Jaws' so I could watch THEM watch the movie. Almost got one person to do a back-flip over the theatre seats when the shark came out after the chum. The popcorn arcing through the dark was quite festive. But that's kind of a cheap, jack-in-the-box kind of scare. I've gotta admit tho, that a couple of horror movies involving CLOWNS disturbed me. Clowns disturb me whole bunches...(worst part of 'Poltergeist' was that damn clown doll!!)(and I guess that John Wayne Gacy proved me right about basically distrusting clowns)

Hey, I went to see 'Time Bandits' in the theatre and was enjoying it immensely ("Oh, so THAT's what an invisible barrier looks like!"). At the end of the movie, I got up at the same time a man across the aisle did. Simultaneously, we turned to the people we were with and said: (Me) "Boy, was that a GREAT movie!!" and (Him) "Boy, was that a BAD movie!!" We did a double take looking at each other like, what movie were YOU watching??!!

Saw Jack Nicholson in 'The Shining' in the theatre, and I've gotta say that the movie was actually pretty well made. Watching it on Tv with commercials just doesn't cut it. The tension that they built up without ever really showing much of anything was pretty good -- we were all sitting there in the dark, when suddenly they flashed the title "TUESDAY" in big red letters on the screen and everyone in the threatre jumped and gasped, then promptly laughed, because nothing had happened, they just had people that tense. Scariest Tuesday I ever saw.

I guess it just goes to show that my imagination can scare me more than what I see on a screen. 'Salem;s Lot' the book was far scarier than the movie...when I saw the mysterious vampire on the screen I just about hooted out loud in derision, thinking "This is the guy who lost out in the Nosferatu-look-alike contest"

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2001

Hey Julie-I'm a Tuesday morning clown-BOO! Ooooooooooo Scary!!!

Joy,Hisssssssqeak!Radiating mouse gonna get you!

You two crack me up.Tag team Comics.

I remember watching Touch of Evil in college.My roomate came into the bathroom afterwards,acting like Lurch and caught me unawares.She had to scrape me off the ceiling.Don't know why but that movie really disturbed me.

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2001

Julie:

Well, I didn't throw 'Dhalgren' against the wall, but I was pretty peeved that I'd been rooked out of the purchase price of that book. I never finished it either, so I can't tell you if it had any redeeming pay off at the end or not. My life was too busy to wait around for paint to dry, but I suspect that the author should have had a random drug test done.

Amen on the drug testing, sister! I think Delaney was SERIOUSLY whacked when he wrote that one...

I just watched 'The Cell', which has some absolutely stunningly beautiful cinematography in it, but I suspect that it would really upset some people. I found the main plot line a bit murky and unsatisfying (but what the heck, it all takes place on dreamscape! Whoever promised things would be satisfying and literal?). I suspect that I'm gonna watch it again, but I'm a real special effects fan.

I saw "The Cell", too and agree that the special effects were great. Another movie that had some great cinematography in it was "What Dreams May Come" - Robin Williams was in this one, too. The story line could have been much better but at least some of the scenes were cool.

You didn't like Robin Williams in 'Good Morning Viet Nam'?

It's been long enough ago since I first saw it that I can't remember all that much about it. I guess if it doesn't stand out in my mind I probably wasn't all that impressed with it.

Kirk:

I was too young to see the Exorcist in the theatres when it first came out. I saw it on T.V. but thought it was more silly than scary. I did recently see previews on T.V. for the re-release of the movie on DVD where they've added back some parts that had been cut out of the original. The "spider walk" scene looks FREAKY! I may have to rent the DVD version to see if the movie would scare me now.

Cindy:

Did any of you see "Millinium"? With Cherly Ladd.

I didn't see the movie but I read the book (which the movie was supposedly made from) and remember it being pretty good. You might want to try to find a copy of the book and see if it differs much from the movie.

I really really liked "Mercury Rising" and "Enemy of the State", movies like that.

I saw "Enemy of the State", too, and loved it. I think it probably was pretty accurate, too, in showing how much power the "government" has now to spy on individuals... :-(

Earthmama:

I haven't seen "Crouching Tiger" yet but it's definitely on my 'to rent' list. Looks AWESOME!

Sharon:

Nick is the Trekkie and Star Wars fan.I like them too.

Yep, me too. Are you guys gonna watch the series finale of Star Trek: Voyager this week? I don't think it's as good as Star Trek: TNG, though - I *really* was depressed when ST:TNG quit it's run but can't say I'll miss Voyager all that much. I am looking forward to episode II of the Star Wars series...

Jim,neither is the case.That was the title given to him by Gate's boys,when he wouldn't give them approval to use his name or a book title or some such thing as a program title.So they coded in 'Butthead Scientist' into the program. It amused me.

I did not know that. Weird, wild stuff... (Dana Carvey doing Johnny Carson in an SNL impression) :-)

Hmmm...The Matrix..will have to consider it.

Yes! If you guys haven't seen it yet I think you're in for a real treat. This one is at the top of my list of recommended movies.

Joy:

Okay, maybe I am a dweeb, but I thought Mrs. Doubtfire was hilarious!

OK, you got me on this one. Mrs. Doubtfire was fantastic. I've seen it several times and have yet to get tired of it. Robin Williams was brilliant in it.

A couple of movies I almost always will sit down and watch, if they happen to come on, are Alien (first in series) and Aliens (second in series), especially Aliens.

Much agreement with you on Aliens. I've seen it probably a dozen times now and haven't gotten tired of it yet. Excellent movie, IMO.

Have any of you seen "Pitch Black", yet? I saw it and thought it was pretty good. I didn't think there were too many scary parts to it and the plot line was a bit strange but it was original so I gave it points for that. I thought the special effects were pretty good.

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2001

A long time ago, I allowed myself to talked into watching Silence of the Lambs. A dreadful mistake! It scared me for years, still does a little. Anthony Hopkins is way to good an actor for that Hannibal role. A wooden actor like John Wayne would not have scared me. Or maybe Robin Williams. Sandy

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2001

Probably should have just let this thread go and go to one of the newer ones but I have to admit I didn't complete reading either Dhralgren or Dune. I only then started giving myself permission to not finish reading a book I had started. For a long time I insisted that I finish what I started reading.

I had nightmares after watching both Savage Harvest and the Silence of the Lambs. Usually I am not bothered by movies but those two really got to me. I find the Steven King books infinately more scary than the movies made. When I was reading the Shining I couldn't stand to be in the house alone when I was reading it. I think I can paint a much scarier picture in my mind than they can on the screen.

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2001

I agree with that Diane, my mind is better at scaring me than my eyes are . . . And horror movies have the "advantage" of scary music. Have you every watched scary movies without the sound? The frightening parts are much less so without the music. Ever wonder WHY that music seems scary or makes the scene seem scarier? What causes those sounds to make things more frightening?

Of course, one real "sound effect" that can be frightening -- crickets chirping away, then suddenly, THEY STOP! We all know what that means . . . . ;-)

-- Anonymous, May 21, 2001

Yeah Joy, thank you for sound effects, because then I know it's time to put my head under the covers and my fingers in my ears! I ask Steve, "Is it over?", and he'll tell me it's ok to look again. I'm not making this up either! I don't like it when they trick me into "seeing" the horrid commercials for movies before I can look away either. I am such a sissy, and I admit it freely! I have never had any desire to see that stuff. I can't watch the shows about snakes either. I grew up watching Timmy and Lassie and I quess it stuck!

-- Anonymous, May 22, 2001

How typical of those scientists... Haven't they got something better to do with their time - like ending war or something???

I guess what they say would be true of most folks... Hell - most people today can't see beyond their noses, so why should they bother with being conscious of anything else?

If you practice 'living in the moment' you will find this most definately not true. Besides... Its already been 'proven' that a scientist seeking certain answers will find those answers. So maybe he was looking for an excuse as to why he forgot his wife's birthday... LOL!

-- Anonymous, May 23, 2001

Wow, Sue posted on topic and I thought I was on the wrong thread...LOL

-- Anonymous, May 24, 2001

Hey, we could make a lot of money. Sell T-Shirts that say "THREAD DRIFT HAPPENS!"

-- Anonymous, May 25, 2001