Watch Sci-Fi Film That Promotes Real Rosetta Comet Mission

European Space Agency

The European Space Agency released a short science fiction film, Ambition, to promote its upcoming real Rosetta probe. The ESA hopes the unusual tactic will help explain to the general public the purpose of the mission, which is a study of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. In November, they will put a small robot on to the surface of the ice comet to analyze it.

The film, which runs less than seven minutes, stars Aidan Gillen (Game of Thrones) and Aisling Franciosi. Check out Ambition and learn more about the Rosetta probe.

Ambition was filmed in Iceland, and it initially screened in London on October, 24 2014 during the British Film Institute’s sci-fi program, Days of Fear and Wonder. For more on the making of the film, check out this video.

Did the ESA come up with a good way to teach science? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Harry Shearer’s New Series on Richard Nixon

    Nixon Web Series

    Actor Harry Shearer, famous for his work in This Is Spinal Tap, Saturday Night Live, and The Simpsons, is tackling a new character with his YouTube mini-series, former president Richard M. Nixon. In the new series, entitled Nixon’s the One, Shearer portrays Nixon by following transcripts of actual audio recordings of Nixon. The results are both illuminating and funny.

    Shearer and Nixon scholar and author Stanley Kutler listened to Nixon recordings to find segments that reveal Nixon’s everyday life. Shearer explained to CBS that he always felt that portrayals of Nixon missed something about the man. Shearer sees him as “this strange, self-torturing, self-destroying guy who was, in my point of view, darkly comic.” These new episodes attempt to capture that tragic and comic part of Nixon.

    This segment of Nixon’s the One gives a hidden-camera view of Nixon talking to Henry Kissinger about John F. Kennedy.

    One episode captures Nixon’s conversations as he prepares to give his speech to the nation announcing his resignation. As Nixon engages the reporters in small talk as he prepares to resign, the result is funny but also heartbreaking. Certainly, it captures the loneliness of Nixon at that moment. .

    It should not be too surprising that the man who does the voice of Mr. Burns would help us see another side of President Nixon. Check out other segments of Nixon’s the One on YouTube. If you want to compare the resignation video to the real thing, see below.

    Who is your favorite actor to portray Nixon? Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Ronny Spears: “North of Mexico”

    Texas singer-songwriter Ronny Spears passed away this week on October 20, 2014. Although not as well known as the many of those he performed with, Spears had a genuine Texas sound and the man was admired by those who knew him.

    Spears often collaborated with songwriters like Ray Wylie Hubbard. Most recently, Spears worked with Robby White as part of White & Spears. The duo often performed around north Texas, and as recently as Saturday, October 18 were scheduled to play at Hank’s Texas Grill in McKinney, Texas.

    In the video below from June 2011, Spears appears on “Texas Renegade Radio” on KNON 89.3 FM in Dallas, Texas, hosted by Mark Mundy. Here, he performs “North of Mexico,” which he wrote. If you have never heard Spears, check it out.


    RIP Mr. Spears.

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    “The Simpsons” Parody of Stanley Kubrick’s Films

    This week, The Simpsons ran its 25th “Treehouse of Horror” episode. One of the three segments in the show was “A Clockwork Yellow,” which spoofed films by director Stanley Kubrick. This clip includes references to A Clockwork Orange (1971), Eyes Wide Shut (1999), Full Metal Jacket (1987), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), and Barry Lyndon (1975). [2019 Update: Unfortunately the clip from “Treehouse of Horror XXV” is no longer available for embedding.]

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

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    Authentic Folk Music From Barbara Brown

    barbarabrown
    When Chimesfreedom first started writing about Kentucky’s Marty Brown, long before he appeared on America’s Got Talent, we praised the authentic country sound of his music. We also have noted that his musical talent runs in the family. A few new videos on YouTube now illustrate that the source of some of his talent comes from his mother, Barbara Brown.

    Check out Barbara Brown sitting on the porch singing the traditional folk ballad, “Baby on the Doorstep,” a song recorded by Frank Luther in 1928 and that otherwise is not on YouTube. Marty Brown accompanies her on what I think is his father’s guitar. [2019 Update: Unfortunately, the video is no longer available.]

    In another video, Barbara and Marty Brown duet on “Blue Kentucky Girl.” There’s some genuine great music here. I would buy her album.

    Leave your two cents in the comments.

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