Nerd Culture Podcast

If you’re a Doctor Who fan (and let’s face it, you probably are!) then you’ll want to know all about The Hub Productions’ Whoniverse event!

Thanks to The Hub Productions, Matt “The Doctor“ Smith, Karen “Amy Pond” Gillan and Arthur “Rory Williams” Darvill will be touring Australia’s major cities in early March and for the first time in Australia, fans will be given the opportunity to encounter a modern-age Doctor in the flesh!

So Whoniverse is an amazing opportunity for fans of Doctor Who to see the stars of the show and even get up close and personal in an awesome not-to-be-missed setting.

Tickets are available from Ticketek now, and come in a variety of packages and price ranges to suit every fan, including the much sought after Gold and Silver packages (which include professional photograph and autograph opportunities with the stars) and Reserve tickets to see the stars live on stage.

Full details can be found HERE, including the opportunity to buy the tickets. Don’t miss out, and say Hi if you see us there!

I was one of the first to turn.

They said come to the hospital if you had flu like symptoms. I had been suffering with a bug for days that wouldn’t go. Whether that was The Virus, or I acquired that later is up for conjecture. The Virus has since mutated and there is no incubation period.  Once bitten, you turn.

I was lying in the hospital bed. My fever had become dangerously high.  Somewhere in the back of my feverish mind I was hoping it would kill the bug.  I didn’t yet know what we were dealing with. No one did.

Later that night, I died.  At least my body did. The Virus that swam on in my system was still alive and took its opportunity to mutate my cells, forcing my body to become its vehicle. They should’ve burned the body, but they didn’t know.  How could they know?

I remember my eyes opening and I could see the light coming through the sheet that covered my face. My hand seemed to rise of it’s own accord and pulled the sheet from my body. My body then lurched up off the bed, startling some nurses.  It lurched toward them. They were the first victims.

It is a small blessing that whatever the part of my brain this spark of me lives, cannot receive signals from my physical body.  I watched in horror as my body ripped into these nurses like Henry the eighth ripped into a turkey leg.  I could see the squashy grey matter of their brains in my hand, but not feel it. Or taste it.

The virus seemed to be sated, as it sat by and watched the last nurse writhe in agony on the floor. She had been bitten in the neck.  I was fascinated and sickened at the same time to realise how quickly the Virus had mutated. The nurse was turning right before me.  She looked at me with pleading eyes. It wasn’t long before those eyes were as cold and dead as mine. I wept inside, but no tears appeared on my face.

There were many times I tried to take control of my own body. All in vein…  My body was to all intents and purposes, dead.  The virus was just using it as a vessel. Like a person taking the bus.  I don’t know how enough of my brain survived for me to be trapped inside.  It is a torture I wouldn’t wish on anyone and yet I’m afraid that for everyone that turns at my hand, there is another soul trapped inside a cold decomposing, god-awful smelling body.  I’m not sure if I can smell my own decomposing flesh or it’s just psychosomatic.

I do not know if the others like me are trapped inside their own bodies or if they are just walking automatons.  I have no way of communicating. We tend to recognise each other for what we are and leave each other alone. I’m not sure if that recognition is on the viruses part, or mine. I don’t know how much of my brain is left to make rational thought.

I wondered if the people fighting us could see the despair in my eyes. Probably not, in fact I don’t even think I have both of them any more. I’m not entirely sure how I’m able to see. Some sort of trick on the part the virus to torture my soul some more as I lurch after more and more victims.

As much as I tend to anthropomorphise the virus, I know it’s not smart. It runs on survival instinct alone. My biggest hope is that sooner or later I will cop a bullet to the face or an axe though the head.

My brain, you must destroy my brain!

Episode #76 features:

Special: Star Trek v Star Wars

Bo and David are joined by special guest Robert from ST-vSW.net and discuss all things Star Trek vs Star Wars, including the difference in Fans, Canon rules and changes, the imposter Spock & who would win in a dogfight between the Millennium Falcon and the Defiant…and much much more!

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Thanks again to Robert for joining us and sharing his extensive knowledge of Star Trek & Star Wars with us. If you have even the slightest bit of curiosity about the Star Trek vs Star Wars debate, or Star Trek/Star Wars canon, please check out his awesome collection of websites. You wont be disappointed.

Star Trek v Star Wars
CanonWars
No Letters Home

And for a different view/opinion on the debate check out – stardestroyer.net

Our Gold-Pressed Latinum Anniversary Episode!

Episode #75 features:

Dust Jacket: Dune by Frank Herbert

Popcorn Junkies: The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

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The nominations for the 2014 Academy Awards have been announced and to be honest, there were few surprises, except perhaps the exclusion of Saving Mr Banks. And, although there was no doubt that 12 Years A Slave would be included, I believe the number of nominations are excessive. I know that this is a controversial opinion, but I believe that film is highly over-rated.

And, on a side note, how the hell can Star Trek: Into Darkness be nominated for visual effects?! The use of fake Lens Flare should automatically exclude your film from any nominations! 🙂

2013 featured some great films, and some exceptionally strong performances, so I don’t envy the Academy members’ task to choose the best of the best from the list below.

Continuing the tradition from last year, I’ve included my Picks (who I want to win) & Predictions (who I think will win) for the winners of Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor, Supporting Actress & Director in the list below.

Best Picture
American Hustle
Captain Phillips
Dallas Buyers Club
Gravity
Her
Nebraska
Philomena
12 Years a Slave
The Wolf of Wall Street

My Pick: Her
My Prediction: 12 Years a Slave

Best Actor
Christian Bale, American Hustle
Bruce Dern, Nebraska
Leonardo DiCaprio, The Wolf of Wall Street
Chiwetel Ejiofor, 12 Years a Slave
Matthew McConaughey, Dallas Buyers Club

My Pick: Leonardo DiCaprio
My Prediction: Leonardo DiCaprio

Best Actress
Amy Adams, American Hustle
Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
Sandra Bullock, Gravity
Judi Dench, Philomena
Meryl Streep, August: Osage County

My Pick: Cate Blanchett
My Prediction: Cate Blanchett

Best Supporting Actor
Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips
Bradley Cooper, American Hustle
Michael Fassbender, 12 Years a Slave
Jonah Hill, The Wolf of Wall Street
Jared Leto, Dallas Buyers Club

My Pick: Barkhad Abdi
My Prediction: Jonah Hill

Best Supporting Actress
Sally Hawkins, Blue Jasmine
Jennifer Lawrence, American Hustle
Lupita Nyong’o, 12 Years a Slave
Julia Roberts, August: Osage County
June Squibb, Nebraska

My Pick: Lupita Nyong’o
My Prediction: Jennifer Lawrence

Best Director
David O. Russell, American Hustle
Alfonso Cuaron, Gravity
Alexander Payne, Nebraska
Steve McQueen, 12 Years a Slave
Martin Scorsese, The Wolf of Wall Street

My Pick: Martin Scorsese
My Prediction: Steve McQueen

Click More for the rest of the nominations (more…)