Is anyone out there

**che2000** · August 23, 2011 @ 7:13 AM

I know that the recent hacks have probably scared a lot of folks away, but is anyone still out there?

It would be a shame to let SFReader fade away and die, so maybe its time we all got back to feudin' and a-fussing and discussin' the world of speculative fiction once again.

Any takers?

**Jaqhama** · August 23, 2011 @ 11:04 AM

Hasn't scared me away.
The hacker was supposedly a Tunisian guy, claimed he was making an effort to destroy the US economy by destroying websites. That's going to keep him busy for a while.
What a larf.

Linda just pointed out that there's probably not much to do in Tunisia after Star Wars left.

Anyway...Linda and I just watched Fast Five...and speaking of larfs...what a ridiculous movie it was to be sure.
The most impressive thing was Dwayne Johnson's biceps/triceps and the Ghurka armoured car he was driving.
They really need to feed those FF girls more, they look anorexic.
And check out how much Dwayne sweats throughout the movie, when everyone else seems perfectly cool. Very strange. Water was pouring off him in every scene he was in.
News just in...Dwayne's going to be in the next GI Joe movie. Might almost be worth watching...

Hmmm...what else have we been doing since Hamid the Hacker struck?

Oh yeah...Angry Robot never got my MilSF submission during their open period...considering I was one of the first to send a sub I was pretty annoyed about that. But Lee, the editor, assures me he'll get someone to read my sub, because I did send it in on time, even if it never actually arrived.

Beddy byes time here, catch you all later.

Cheers: Jaq.

**John M. Whalen** · August 23, 2011 @ 12:43 PM

Present and accounted for. Glad to hear Angry Robot is being decent about youor submission, Jaq. I don't plan to see Fast 5, but I did catch The Warrior's Way on BluRay. I guess if you never saw any of the Lone Wolf and Cub movies you'd think this was pretty unique. But it's really pretty derivative, borrowing not only from Japanese samurai films but spaghetti westerns as well. Jeffrey Rush playing the Old PRospector part was a hoot. It's another film that looks more like a comic book than a comic book. It's entertaining. Worth a rental on a dull night, but defintiely not to buy. Maybe two and a half stars out of four.

**che2000** · August 23, 2011 @ 3:57 PM

Last movies I saw (in the cinema, that is) were Super-8 - which I didn't care for all that much - and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, which was okay but obviously setting up the franchise. Been reading the Captain Alatriste novels by Arturo Perez-Reverte (good, swashbucklin' fun) and started on what I hope to be something of a Cordwainer Smith binge (currently reading The Dead Lady of Clown Town and lovin' it).

Auditioned for the high-profile and equally demanding part of 'Informer' in Game of Thrones (season 2 is currently being shot in Northern Ireland) earlier today - total audition time about 6 minutes, total potential time on screen, about 6 seconds, I reckon.

Hmmmm.... I'm not sure that trageting sites like SFReader is going to bring the Imperialist War Machine of the Great Satan to its knees though.

**Jaqhama** · August 23, 2011 @ 9:59 PM

Saw the Warrior's way DVD in the vid shop, wasn't sure about hiring it. Looked too chop suey. Looking forward to the number 3 Ong Bak movie though.

Hey...good luck with the audition. You're already closer to playing Bond than most folks...you've already got his first name.

And I think you underestimate the power of SFR.
The subtle emanations of our writings, reviews and recommendations have obviously caused enough of a stir in the aether that the djinns of the desert were worried enough to target us.

Here's a bit of trivia...someone in the media, seeing Daniel Craig in the Cowboys vs Aliens movie was quoted as saying, "Daniel Craig is the new Steve McQueen."

Oh, pass me a small plastic bucket.

There's only ever been one Steve McQueen and that's all she wrote.
Are we sure that murdering people in the film and media is against the law? I mean really sure?

**John M. Whalen** · August 23, 2011 @ 11:42 PM

I saw Ong Bak III. Really bad. They shouldn't let Tony Jai direct anymore. He's gotten carried away with himself.

McQeen was the coolest. According to interviews STirling Silliphant gave when he wrote the screenplay for The Towering Inferno, he was continually being approached by McQeen to rewrite dialog so he would have the last line in his scenes with Paul Newman. When they would shoot the scene Newman would come to Silliphant and tell him to rewrite the next scene so he'd get the last word. It was one upsmanship day after day. McQueen was also smart enough to say he didn't want to play the architect, which was originally to be his role. He wanted to play the fireman. Newman didn't care. Maybe he wanted the love scene with Fay Dunaway. But the fireman was definitely the better part.

**che2000** · August 24, 2011 @ 11:09 AM

Turns out I didn't get the part - I was too tall/ too short/ too fat/ too thin/, ah well, onwards and upwards, the life o' a jobbing actor is not unlike the like of a writer, mucho rejection with occassional breakthroughs (plus, of course, the theatre is my real home!!)

Daniel Craig as the new McQueen.... er.... no. Nothin' against Daniel Craig but I can't really see him as, say, the Cooler King or trying to upstage Yul Brynner (check out the early scenes of The Magnificent Seven, McQueen does everything in his power to draw attention - checking his shotgun loads, holding his stetson up to the sun and so forth).

What's next Ben Stiller as the new Jerry Lewis? Jack Black as the new Robert Mitchum? Ben Affleck as the new single-cell organism?

**John M. Whalen** · August 24, 2011 @ 2:22 PM

Too bad, James. The next one might be the big break. Keep swinging. This one was a swing and a miss. Next one might be a homerun. But it won't happen if you don't keep swinging. Baseball metaphor!!! I forgot you're in Ireland. Oh well! You know what I mean.

**che2000** · August 24, 2011 @ 4:40 PM

Again, like writers, I think actors have to develop a thick skin. Just cos ye don't get this part doesn't mean that you're a bad actor (although sometimes it does) it just means you weren't what they were looking for.

I feel that why when stories come winging back, too, not that it's a bad story (although sometimes it is) but just that it didn't strike a chord with that particular editor.

Either way, I reckon you just gotta get back in the game and, as you say, John, just keep swingin'

**H.P. Lovesauce** · August 24, 2011 @ 6:23 PM

Aye, it's what is wanted for a particular thingy just now. A friend of mine got a job in a film purely because he's short--making the leading lady look taller.

**che2000** · August 24, 2011 @ 7:54 PM

As soon as craggy and bald are 'in', that's my ticket to success.

Doubt if I'll ever play Bond, I'm a little too Ernst Stavro Blofeld for that. I have played Dracula on stage though - more Max Shreck than Christopher Lee, mind you.

**Jaqhama** · August 24, 2011 @ 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by H.P. Lovesauce

Aye, it's what is wanted for a particular thingy just now. A friend of mine got a job in a film purely because he's short--making the leading lady look taller.

Tom Cruise is your friend? How cool.

Originally Posted by che2000

As soon as craggy and bald are 'in', that's my ticket to success.

Doubt if I'll ever play Bond, I'm a little too Ernst Stavro Blofeld for that. I have played Dracula on stage though - more Max Shreck than Christopher Lee, mind you.

I'll look forward to seeing you in the God of War movie then?

**wicked** · August 25, 2011 @ 6:09 PM

*waves*
I'm still here, too. Somewhere between the hack attacks, internet outages, jabbing myself with glovers needles, and running off on wild goose chases.

Speaking of hacks, when they struck, the little icon on my favorites list changed to a smiley face. I wasn't sure about checking to see if the site was back because the smiley face was still there. Odd.

**Jaqhama** · August 26, 2011 @ 12:02 AM

You catch any geese?

I never seem to. Must be too quick for me.

**wicked** · August 29, 2011 @ 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by Jaqhama

You catch any geese?

Nope. The little bastards can fly.

**Greybeard** · August 31, 2011 @ 10:26 PM

I haven't keeled over dead yet. Just busy at work.

So one hack was the Tunisian twit, what about the others?

**che2000** · September 1, 2011 @ 2:47 PM

Some other news. I was offered a part in Game of Thrones today and had to turn it down because shooting clashes with a play that I am in rehearsals for. This is my third run-past with the show, I had an audition last year which I couldn't attend because I was doing some teaching work, didn't get the part of Informant earlier this month and now had to say no to HBO.

I can't help but feel that this has something to do with the fact that a friend of mine gave me the first book in the series a few years ago and I didn't bother me arse to read it.... karma? Or is the universe preparing me for bigger things?

**Jaqhama** · September 1, 2011 @ 11:02 PM

I guess the theatre show is more important to you than GoT...or you gave your word to play a part in the theatre show first, and you keep your word. Good on you if that's the case.

I watch so little tv/movies these days that if I never saw another program I'm not sure it would bother me that much.
The older I get the less time I want to spend in front of the media box.
Now completly off the subject...

I'm making a real effort to spend at least an hour each day outside in the fresh air, doing some form of exercise. Even if it's just lifting weights in the front or back garden.
Two days ago Linda and I took our mountain bikes to an area alongside the local river that we'd never been to before...imagine our surprise when we discovered an abandoned area of what must once have been farmed fields and local industry. Now empty of both farms/houses and people. Quite incredible. We rode around for a couple of hours. Of course we didn't have a camera with us, otherwise I'd post up some pics. Next time. We both said it was like an after the apocalypse movie, when the Earth is healing itself and all the people are gone. Shades of I am Legend.

I digress: So anyway I'm making a big effort to not turn into a couch potato as I move into middle age. I cannot stress enough how much weight lifting is an aid to slowing down the aging process. Dave our esteemed webhost will tell you the same thing.
And check out these Youtube vids: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eae3_...2&feature=plpp

And: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Clk6r...8&feature=plpp

You don't have to go to a gym; if you've got the mental dedication you can work out at home alone with nothing more than a bench press, barbells and dumbells. Most people go to a gym because they feel more empowered to work out in the company of others, myself I prefer to work out at home alone. I also like working out in the sunshine in the garden.

Originally Posted by Greybeard

I haven't keeled over dead yet. Just busy at work.

So one hack was the Tunisian twit, what about the others?

No idea, maybe it was the same guy every time.

**che2000** · September 2, 2011 @ 8:58 AM

It's true that I am a theatre actor at heart, it's also to do with issues of contracts and touring and, to be blunt, finances - a month on tour with the stage show will pay more than a few days filming, especially since the character in Game of Thrones was of the 'you rang, m'lord' variety.

On the other hand, and this is where I take most heart, they actually asked for me for the part on the strength of my previous audition so at least I can still keep me head high.

**Mike Griffiths** · October 2, 2011 @ 7:45 PM

I'm still here too.

Funny I was in Tunsia not too long ago and no one I talked with had any real problem with America, but then again I probably wasn't hanging out in the loony tunes circles.

Mike

**jdens** · October 19, 2011 @ 11:08 PM

Originally Posted by che2000

I know that the recent hacks have probably scared a lot of folks away, but is anyone still out there?

It would be a shame to let SFReader fade away and die, so maybe its time we all got back to feudin' and a-fussing and discussin' the world of speculative fiction once again.

Any takers?

Nope. me either wasn't affraid of the hack. the admin will be the could take care of that. Maybe some forumers here are not been active lately due to this. maybe someday they'll get back and hope to share more topics here. ^_^

**Dave** · October 21, 2011 @ 9:00 AM

Maybe we just need to be more argumentative and start conflict in order to attract new users....

Hacks seemed to have stopped, although they were a pain, biggest being the vBulletin is a COTS products and evey hack cost me $60 to do a database restore, AND we lsot a few days of stuff each time. I'm looking for a new host, but haven't picked on yet.

ALso heard some peopel are getting a Google wanrning when going to SFReader? Anyone? I know SFWatcher has been SQL Injected, I keep cleaning it up, but it keeps coming back. I need to take several hours and run through all the code, code I wrote over a decade ago! Not looking forward to that.....

Just answered a post about the 2011 story contest, as in I'm not sure I'm going to run it. I was always proud to offer such nice cash prizes, but that was back when SFraeder made enough to support itself and still had viatlity as a community.... Maybe I'll run it with lower prizes....

**John M. Whalen** · October 21, 2011 @ 7:41 PM

The latest problem I'm having is that when I click on my bookmark for the site, I get a notice saying I no longer have access to the front page. I can only access this forum. The notice says the administrator may have changed my status. Weird.

**John M. Whalen** · October 24, 2011 @ 9:39 AM

This is really annoying me. I cannot access the main front page, only the forum, and the message I get says the Administrator may have disabled my account or limited my privileges!!!! Dave, can you look into this.