Otokichi

Not yet November, but here's Gordon Lightfoot's iconic song about the "where/when did it go?" Bulk Iron Ore carrying ship of the Great Lakes. Nothing like a lake chantey about a "ghost ship" of the 1970's, to get you ready for Halloween, eh? Press PLAY to sail on Gitche Gummee...

This is an "audio drama"/radio play from some years back, set in the "Wing Commander" universe. Yep, it's a sort-of Podcast that has more in common with an Orson Welles radio drama. You're a cat lover? Beware the Kilrathi, they are massive, sentient Bengal Tiger-like beasts who seek to end of our Simian-based race. Voyage into the wilds of Space, where the Unknown beckons, like that LV-426 warning message: "Stay Away! Dangerous planet! You have been warned!" Press PLAY for cats that roar and tear you apart with their claws...

Over the past 5 years, this YouTube movie/TV viewer has "traveled the world" through video. From "Citizen Kane" (1941) to "Star Wars" (1977) to the movies of the MCU/DCU, what movies stand out as guideposts for various genres/cultures/countries? Press PLAY if English subtitles don't scare/bore you, and discover The World.;)

It'e time for elections at local and national levels. Many folks have given up on the "Beltway Circus," saying it doesn't see/hear/answer them. Can this "made for 1783 America" system be fixed/modified/replaced? Press PLAY and see if you remember some of this from a decades-ago secondary school Civics class.;)

Hello average Gamer, would you like to be a Communist Apparatchik? Yes? Welcome to Arztotzka Border Control, where rules/regulations change all the time and you may be punished for the smallest infraction of the rules. You get to be a tin pot dictator of people's destinies as you Welcome, Deport, or Detain suspicious people. Warning, there are human traffickers, "soiled doves" and suicide bombers trying to get into your great country. Be vigilant and error-free so you family doesn't die in "Class 8" housing. Press PLAY if you dare. "Papers, Please" short film

I played this space combat before the turn of the century with my cheap charlie CH Flight Stick. However, the story behind all of the "pew-pew-pew-die-Kiralthi-scum!" action is interesting. Unlike today's 3D Photorealistic combat games like IL-2 Sturmovik, this "hear the Kilrathi call you foul names and diss you in combat," is just animated 2D. If you're the peaceful sort who doesn't want to burn "Bengal Tigers in space suits," here's "Old Blue Hair/space pilot Blair's" second tour against the Kzinti-like Kilrathi. See you on the "TCS Concordia," Space Pilot!;) But if you want to "burn some kitties," you can do it all, "Tiger's Claw" to the "Midway." "Wing Commander complete series from #1 to Prophecy including The Secret Missions"

Has it been that long? "Haunted Blowfish" looks at Horror movies from 1920 - 2019, in short takes, from Silent movies to the current DFX-stuffed, multi-million dollar opuses that "go bump in the night." Get on board the blood-and-gore soaked railroad of Horror...if you dare! (Just in time for Halloween, too.;)

My (somewhat) omnivorous voyages through YouTube can lead to strange/forgotten "trips down the rabbit hole" of the past. Back when MTV played music videos and wasn't meh, they ran interesting, offbeat videos that would later wash up on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim. Here we go, trying to make sense of a homeless superhero, The Maxx. Try not to get lost out there among the Sky Whales in The Outback,,,

Since Techmoan hasn't posted anything yet, here's another kind of forgotten tech by "databits." It's the 1980 "not-8mm-video-recorder" that Technicolor. Muntz, and Funai Electric inflicted on the world. Press PLAY to see how this "looks like a Compact Cassette" video system emerges from "new old stock" hibernation...

Just in time for the ghosts, goblins, and Cosplayers at the end of the month. Press PLAY if "nightmare fuel" is a quaint concept to you...;)

Here's a (sort of) U.S. "Techmoan," who finds old tech fascinating. "Databits" has "other fish to fry" along with the Wollensak tape playing system. Press PLAY to hear what kind of non-HiFi music was available between the "open reel" Dinosaurs and they yet-to-arrive Philips Compact Cassette.;)

Cruising along in YouTube, I came across "High Boi's explantaion of "2001: A Space Odyssey" (1968). Other movie reviewers are Serious. Humorous, or easily aroused. This reviewer reminds me of characters in Randy Newman songs, like "Rednecks." If you want your "IQ to drop sharply," press PLAY and "know what it feels like to go insane.";)

In "Blazing Saddles" (1974), Mongo has ridden into town on his his Brahma Bull. Someone (The Mayor?) tells him he can't tie up the Bull. Mongo registers his displeasure by punching the man's horse. Press PLAY if you want to see how various YouTube video reactors take that scene... Luke Skywalker gets his Light Saber.

"Letting AI select the images" gets more interesting with Billy Joel's Cold-War-to-the-present song. Press PLAY if you're a "fire starter.";)

Instead of another "Techmoan" or VWestlife" tech tale, here's a short story about the birth of Someone Completely Different. Rod Serling would be proud of these people.;)

Do you "aim to misbehave" in real life? Is your final answer during an argument is "I'll be in my bunk"? Can you sing the "Firefly theme" all the way through? Welcome to some snappy phrases that network TV missed, to their detriment...

Discovered after following a trail of shorter Silent "Star Wars" movies, this one has just the right balance of funky music and eye-straining bad video to look ideal.;)

How about a non-cassetter VTR from 1976? It's the Quasar VR1000, which makes VHS video recorders and cassettes look small. Does it work? Well, press PLAY to get a top to bottom look at how this beastie works.

Does your CD suffer from "magnetization issues"? "Techmoan" takes on this howler of a "problem with CDs" with a healthy dose of WTF? So, do YOUR music CDs suffer playback degradation because they get "magnetized"? Press PLAY to find out about this "Audiophile Problem.";)

"Techmoan" is at it again, looking at "Japan domestic" tech. In this case, it's a portable MIDI Karaoke machine for home or automobile with 50 songs per cartridge for "Noboru the Road Warrior" to sing along on sales calls across Japan. Translation: It's mostly 1990's Japanese Pop with Japanese text on a small/hard-to-see Monochrome LCD screen. Is there something that "Techmoan" can sing in his UK flyvver? Press PLAY to find out...

Well now, how would AI handle the lyrics from a Doo-Wop kid's lullabye? Press PLAY if "nightmare fuel" isn't in your vocabulary.;)

Oh my, YouTube strikes again! This time it's a Romeo and Juliet tale with Ballad Land vs. Beat Land in a musical battle of the bands. What does this have to do with Science Fiction? Press PLAY if you dare. (Beware the Gonks!;)

YouTube recommendations can lead to interesting paths on the site. Consider if you will, plugging in the lyrics of a song and having an AI program come up with images. Press PLAY to see what AI sees in Led Zeppelin's song...if you dare.;) It all began with Blue Oyster Cult's song: (Don't Fear) The Reaper Don McLean's "American Pie"?

Here's a modern, uplifting song from Alan Doyle, late of that "can't-be-found-on-Songfacts" Canadian Maritimes Celtic Folk-Rock band, "Great Big Sea." Press PLAY to hear what I heard one Summer night on PBS just after the turn of the century.;)

It's 1981, and grandpa wants to play his LP collection at "Geezers on the Beach." Can you load some of the home HiFi equipment into the Woodie so gramps can play Billie Holiday? Fear not, "Techmoan," stepping pout of the Wayback machine will get Your Hit Parade tunes warbling across the beach. Press PLAY to see what it takes to "replace the belts" on this monster, break-your-shoulder, LP Boombox!