The garden wall picture in this article titled “5 Compost Bin Ideas for a Beautiful Backyard” set my thoughts to wandering. Wouldn’t it be cool if you could create a science fiction or fantasy backyard on a low budget. I have never been a big landscaping buff because when I was a kid my parents…
Category: Essays
Xenite 1997-2012: 15 Years of Magic, Sweat, and Passion
Today, March 14, 2012 marks the 15th anniversary of Xenite.Org. I have told everyone who would listen to me on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and SF-Fandom that this day was coming. I’ve even sent email to a few thousand friends (and former friends) of SF-Fandom, asking them to recognize this day with a friendly Tweet. I…
A Song for the Soul, a Melody for the Day
Music is thought to be nearly as old as civilization itself, and perhaps is older than that. Some people teach that music was invented by the ancient Mesopotamians, who sent drummers out to the fields to frighten away evil spirits (who comes up with this nonsense?). Supposedly, the drummers got bored and started developing some…
Sky Captain and the World of Yesterday’s Movies
The art of movie-homage has exploded on the silver screen over the past decade. Hollywood has lost some of its creative spark and is seeking new inspiration in the past. George Lucas popularized movie-homage film-making by recreating the pizzazz of the old Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon serializations which were popular in movie theaters in…
In the Merry Old Land of Oz
“The Wizard of Oz” is without doubt, unquestionably, the best, most greatest fantasy movie of all time. It has a little bit of everything: beautiful women, violence, danger, terror, good acting, bad acting, Busby Berkeley dance routines, hot dogs, and H.R. Puff’n’Stuff. Okay, Puff’n’Stuff isn’t really in the movie, but the Munchkins make up for…
Mirror …. rorriM
As I’m turning around, I catch a glimpse of someone in the mirror so I stop long enough to take a look. Oh, that’s… me? No, can’t be. Who is that – that person – in the mirror staring back at me? That can’t possibly be me! I look over my shoulder, but there is…
Practical Magic – Starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman
I saw a lot of movies in the theater during the summer of 1998. I remember seeing the still promos for “Practical Magic” while waiting for movie after movie and slowly building up anticipation for it. I like Sandra Bullock and have enjoyed most of the movies I’ve seen her in. I’m not so much…
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace
The original articles on Xenite.Org about the movie “Star Wars: The Phantom Menace” have been moved. You can now read them here: The Phantom Menace The Phantom Menace, Part 2 The Phantom Menace, Part 3