IT’s that’s time again, yep, the Nerds are here with another fantastic episode of random pop culture news. So please ensure your seats are in the upright position and trays are folded away as we are expecting to experience turbulence. This week we are taking a look at Western Australia with Buck. Apparently NASA and the European Space Agency are spending time there in preparation for their upcoming missions to Mars. Apparently it is as close as you can get to Mars conditions without going there. Just with super spikey Spinnefex grass to poke holes in your clothes, body, and anything else you put near it. This stuff is more painful than a cactus. But the main reason why NASA and the ESA have scientist out here isn’t for an all-expenses paid holiday. No, they are here to work. What is that work, well it is the first topic so listen in.
Next we hear about a bunch of dead beats who didn’t pay a kid for his hard work making an awesome game. That’s right, a gaming studio has actually shown themselves to be a bigger bunch of scumbags then a politician on the campaign trail. Apparently they only have a small number of employees though, so it was all just some misunderstanding. Wait a minute, hold on, Buck hit’s a sore point here and makes sense in regards to what the dirtbags are up to. Of course this is utterly outrageous, particularly if he is right; my goodness, if he is we’ll never hear the end of it. But if he is, oh the humanity, oh no, this is devastating. But if you want to know more of what I am rambling on about then you know what to do, that’s right, listen in.
At the sound of Tinker Bell waving her magic wand please turn the page… ohh, um, wait a second, are you still here? Dang nabbit! Well in that case We have the DJ for you with a story about a new spin-off for the terminator. James Cameron has announced his plans to reboot the series and is planning to do so after he finishes the Avatar series. So it is a race to see what comes out first, the new reboot of Terminator or Star Con, um, Star Citizen… Well I think we will all be old, even the Rolling Stones won’t be touring anymore by then. Perhaps One Direction will be back together for a reunion tour…oh the humanity, the torture, please stop. On a better note check out our friends at “Off With The Fairies” another outstanding TNC podcast. After this we have the usual shout outs, remembrances, birthdays and special events. As always, stay say, look out for each other and stay hydrated.
EPISODE NOTES:
NASA and the Outback - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-01/nasa-in-western-australia-looking-for-clues-to-mars-mission/11452250
Chucklefish no pay - https://www.gamerevolution.com/news/588619-starbound-dev-allegedly-worked-hundreds-hours-no-pay
Terminator trilogy - https://deadline.com/2019/08/terminator-dark-fate-james-cameron-on-re-wired-franchise-possible-new-trilogy-1202707063/
Games currently playing
Buck
– Albion online - https://store.steampowered.com/app/761890/Albion_Online/
Professor
– Dicey Dungeons - https://store.steampowered.com/app/861540/Dicey_Dungeons/
DJ
- Dungeons and Dragons - https://dnd.wizards.com/
Other topics discussed
Pilbara (large, dry, thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia. It is known for its Aboriginal peoples; its ancient landscapes; the red earth; its vast mineral deposits, in particular iron ore; and as a global biodiversity hotspot for subterranean fauna.)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilbara
Skylab crash into Australia
- https://www.thebigsmoke.com.au/2018/05/28/the-small-town-middle-universe-skylab-crashed-australia/
Snake on a coffee machine
- https://au.news.yahoo.com/brisbane-uni-student-finds-snake-on-coffee-machine-053316494.html
Silurian (a race of reptilian humanoids in the long-running Britishscience fiction television series Doctor Who.)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silurian_(Doctor_Who)
Snakes on a Plane (2006 American actionthriller film starring Samuel L. Jackson)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snakes_on_a_Plane
Spinifex (plant)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinifex_(plant)
MARS Rover Lander Structure
MARS Rovers and their specifications
- Rover - https://mars.nasa.gov/mer/mission/rover/
- Curiosity - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curiosity_(rover)
Riot Games Lawsuits
- Sex Discrimination lawsuit – https://www.engadget.com/2019/08/23/riot-games-settles-class-action/
- Pay dispute lawsuit - https://variety.com/2019/gaming/news/riot-games-under-investigation-over-pay-discrimination-1203242044/
Telltale games having crunch culture as a necessary evil
- https://www.pcgamer.com/au/telltale-co-founder-crunch-was-necessary-to-keep-studio-afloat/
Game Workers Unite
- https://www.gameworkersunite.org/
Defiant Development, game studio famous for Hand of Fate games shuts down
- https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2019-07-24-defiant-development-to-close-after-nine-years
Avatar 2 (upcoming sci-fi film)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avatar_2
Star Citizen Squadron 42 (Game)
- https://starcitizen.tools/Squadron_42
Tim Miller (Movie Director famous for Deadpool, Terminator Dark Fate & Sonic Movie)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Miller_(director)
Movie to TV series
- Lethal Weapon (2016 TV series) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lethal_Weapon_(TV_series)
- Shooter (2016 TV series) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shooter_(TV_series)
The Orville (2017 science fiction comedy-drama television series created by and starring Seth MacFarlane)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Orville
Land of the Giants (1968 science fiction television series)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Land_of_the_Giants
Twilight Zone accident
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twilight_Zone_accident
Dr Who (1963 Sci Fi TV series)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_Who
How the Tardis sound effect was made
- http://www.themindrobber.co.uk/tardis-sound-effects-materialisation.html
William Hartnell (First Doctor in Dr Who)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Hartnell
Regeneration (biological ability exhibited by the Time Lords in Dr Who)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regeneration_(Doctor_Who)
D100 dice
Pierre de Coubertin medal (also known as the De Coubertin medal or the True Spirit of Sportsmanship medal)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_de_Coubertin_medal
Jesse Owens (American track and field athlete and four-time gold medalist in the 1936 Olympic Games)
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Owens
Recent Pierre de Coubertin medal winner : Han Meilin - Chinese artist most recognized today for his creation of the Fuwa dolls for the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_Meilin
Bloodhound Gang – Why’s Everybody Pickin’ On Me
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaGKxAgCguU
Off with The Fairies (TNC Podcast)
- https://thatsnotcanon.com/offwiththefairiespodcast
Shoutouts
1 Sept 1902 - A Trip to the Moon, considered one of the first science fiction films, was released in France on this day in 1902. The brainchild of French film pioneer Georges Méliès, the silent black-and-white film tells the story of an astronomer’s dream: a group of men travel to the moon by way of a giant cannon. - https://www.historychannel.com.au/this-day-in-history/worlds-first-science-fiction-film-released/
2 Sept 1752 – Great Britain, along with its overseas colonies, adopts the Gregorian calendar. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adoption_of_the_Gregorian_calendar#Great_Britain_and_its_colonies
2 Sept 2019 - Max Sylvestermade a dramatic emergency landing when his instructor passed out mid-flight says his studies saved his life. It was Mr Sylvester's first lesson in the two-seater Cessna and his third lesson overall, and his wife and three young children were watching from the ground. - https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-09-02/emergency-plane-landing-pilot-credits-study-for-saving-him/11471140
4 Sept 2019 – 13 years since Steve Irwin died, Irwin's children, 21-year-old Bindi and 15-year-old Robert both work with their mother at Australia Zoo, continuing the effort's their father dedicated his life to. -https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/world/steve-irwin-remembered-by-family-on-13th-anniversary-of-death
Remembrances
2 Sept 1973 – J.R.R Tolkien, English writer, poet, philologist, and academic, who is best known as the author of the classic high fantasy works The Hobbit,The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. While many other authors had published works of fantasy before Tolkien, the great success of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings led directly to a popular resurgence of the genre. This has caused Tolkien to be popularly identified as the "father" of modern fantasy literature—or, more precisely, of high fantasy. In 2008, The Times ranked him sixth on a list of "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945". Forbes ranked him the fifth top-earning "dead celebrity" in 2009. He died from a bleeding ulcer and a chest infection at the age of 81 in Bournemouth - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._R._R._Tolkien
2 Sept 2005 - Bob Denver, American comedic actor, widely known for portraying Gilligan on the 1964-1967 television series Gilligan's Island and beatnikMaynard G. Krebs on the 1959–1963 series The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. He died from pneumonia at the age of 70 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bob_Denver
2 Sept 1937 - Pierre De Coubertin, French educator and historian, founder of the International Olympic Committee, and its second President. He is known as the father of the modern Olympic Games. The Pierre de Coubertin medal (also known as the Coubertin medal or the True Spirit of Sportsmanship medal) is an award given by the International Olympic Committee to athletes who demonstrate the spirit of sportsmanship in the Olympic Games. He died from a heart attack at the age of 74 in Geneva - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pierre_de_Coubertin
Famous Birthdays
2 Sept 1877 - Frederick Soddy, Englishradiochemist who explained, with Ernest Rutherford, that radioactivity is due to the transmutation of elements, now known to involve nuclear reactions. He also proved the existence of isotopes of certain radioactive elements. His work and essays popularising the new understanding of radioactivity was the main inspiration for H. G. Wells'sThe World Set Free, which features atomic bombs dropped from biplanes in a war set many years in the future. Wells's novel is also known as The Last War and imagines a peaceful world emerging from the chaos. In Wealth, Virtual Wealth and Debt Soddy praises Wells’s The World Set Free. He also says that radioactive processes probably power the stars. He was born in Eastbourne,Sussex - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frederick_Soddy
2 Sept 1936 - Andrew Grove, Hungarian-born American businessman, engineer, author and a pioneer in the semiconductor industry. He escaped from Communist-controlled Hungary at the age of 20 and moved to the United States where he finished his education. He was one of the founders and the CEO of Intel, helping transform the company into the world's largest manufacturer of semiconductors. As a result of his work at Intel, along with his books and professional articles, Grove had a considerable influence on electronics manufacturing industries worldwide. He has been called the "guy who drove the growth phase" of Silicon Valley. In 1997, Time magazine chose him as "Man of the Year", for being "the person most responsible for the amazing growth in the power and the innovative potential of microchips." He was born in Budapest - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Grove
2 Sept 1966 - Salma Hayek, Mexican and American film actress and producer. She began her career in Mexico starring in the telenovelaTeresa and starred in the film El Callejón de los Milagros (Miracle Alley) for which she was nominated for an Ariel Award. In 1991, Hayek moved to Hollywood and came to prominence with roles in films such as Desperado, From Dusk till Dawn, Wild Wild West, and Dogma. Her breakthrough role was in the 2002 film Frida, as Mexican painter Frida Kahlo, for which she was nominated for Best Actress for the Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Golden Globe Award, and Screen Actors Guild Award. This movie received widespread attention and was a critical and commercial success. Hayek's recent films include Grown Ups, Puss in Boots, Grown Ups 2,Tale of Tales and The Hitman's Bodyguard. She was born in Coatzacoalcos,Veracruz - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salma_Hayek
Events of interest
2 Sept 1807 – The British Royal Navy bombards Copenhagen with fire bombs and phosphorus rockets to prevent Denmark from surrendering its fleet to Napoleon. - https://www.onthisday.com/events/date/1807
2 Sept 1946 – The Interim Government of India is formed, headed by Jawaharlal Nehru as Vice President with the powers of a Prime Minister. This government was entrusted the task of helping the transition of India and Pakistan from British rule to Independence as two separate nations. The Interim Government was in place till 15th August 1947, when the nations of Indian and Pakistan received Independence from colonial rule. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interim_Government_of_India
2 Sept 1901 – Vice President of the United States Theodore Roosevelt utters the famous phrase, "Speak softly and carry a big stick" at the Minnesota State Fair. Roosevelt described his style of foreign policy as "the exercise of intelligent forethought and of decisive action sufficiently far in advance of any likely crisis." - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1901_in_the_United_States#July%E2%80%93September
4 Sept 1966 - The Jerry Lewis MDA Labor Day Telethon was first aired to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA). The Muscular Dystrophy Association was founded in 1950 with hopes of gaining the American public's interest. The show was hosted by comedian, actor, singer and filmmaker Jerry Lewis from its 1966 inception until 2010. The telethon would raise $2.45 billion for MDA from its inception through 2009. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jerry_Lewis_MDA_Labor_Day_Telethon
Intro
Artist – Goblins from Mars
Song Title – Super Mario - Overworld Theme (GFM Trap Remix)
Song Link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GNMe6kF0j0&index=4&list=PLHmTsVREU3Ar1AJWkimkl6Pux3R5PB-QJ
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