December 18

Better Than News

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  On Her Majesty's Secret Santa is a 1969 spy film about the grinch Blofeld (Telly Savalas), who threatens to destroy the world's entire stockpile of Christmas presents.

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  The Last Temptation of Constantine is an epic religious superhero horror film directed by Martin Scorsese and Francis Lawrence, starring Keanu Reeves, Willem Dafoe, and Tilda Swinton.

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  The Men Who Stare at Goatees is a satirical black comedy science fiction war film starring George Clooney and Leonard Nimoy.

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  Blade Muppet is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Jim Henson and Ridley Scott. It is loosely based on the 1968 novel Galactic Puppet-Healer by Philip K. Dick.

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  Beyond the Lightcone is a 2023 science fiction horror film about a physicist who invents a faster-than-light drive which opens a hole into the demon realm.

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  Toilet Horn is a type of musical instrument in the wind family adapted from toilets.

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  Last Action Bistro is a 1993 fantasy restaurant management training film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

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  Hollywood Shuffle is a drama buddy film about two aging actors who hope to make one last film together.

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  One does not simply get a good deal on a secondhand tungsten cube. —Boromir, Chief Metallurgist of Gondor

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  "The role of the artist is to not look away." —Akira Kurosawa

Beyond Plausible

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  ED-209 of Orange is a science fiction romance-thriller film directed by Paul Verhoeven and starring Rutger Hauer, Jeroen Krabbé, and Peter Weller.

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  Matrix of Steel (2023) - final battle scene.

In Other Words

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  Bill and Ted's Jaunty Mnemonic is a 1995 cyberpunk comedy film about two high school students who must quickly memorize a large volume of information.

Are You Sure

• ... that physicist and academic J. J. Thomson (18 December 1856 – 30 August 1940) conducted pioneering research on cathode rays, leading to the discovery of the electron; and that Thomson discovered the first evidence for isotopes of a stable element?

... that Every Which Way But Lost in Space is a 1978 American action comedy film about an astronaut and bare-knuckle brawler (Clint Eastwood) roaming low Earth orbit in search of a lost robot while accompanied by his pet orangutan, Clyde?

Selected Anniversaries

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  1661: Scientist, inventor, and industrialist Christopher Polhem born. He will make significant contributions to the economic and industrial development of Sweden, particularly mining.

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  1799: Mathematician and theorist Jean-Étienne Montucla dies. His deep interest in history of mathematics became apparent with his publication of Histoire des Mathématiques, the first part appearing in 1758.

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  1856: Physicist and academic J. J. Thomson born. His research in cathode rays will lead to the discovery of the electron. Thomson will also discover the first evidence for isotopes of a stable element.

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  1958: Project SCORE, the world's first communications satellite, is launched.

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  1978: Premier of Every Which Way But Lost in Space, an American action comedy film about an astronaut and bare-knuckle brawler (Clint Eastwood) roaming low Earth orbit in search of a lost robot while accompanied by his pet orangutan, Clyde.

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  1995: Physicist Nathan Rosen dies. He developed the idea of the Einstein–Rosen bridge, later named the wormhole.

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  1995: Engineer, inventor, and pioneering computer scientist Konrad Zuse dies. He invent the Z3, the world's first working programmable, fully automatic computer.

Topic of the Day

Butter

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  "Getting Butter" is a song by the English rock group The Breadles from their 1967 album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Bread.

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  Butter It's Gold is an advertising campaign slogan promoting gold as a national security foodstuff.