On Aug 21, 2025 at 3:16:30 PM PDT, "shawn" <
nanoflower@notforg.m.a.i.l.com> wrote:
On Thu, 21 Aug 2025 12:21:45 -0700, "Ian J. Ball" <ijball@mac.invalid>
wrote:
On 8/21/25 1:30 AM, Ubiquitous wrote:
What did you watch?
I actually watched a movie ("Cleaner") last night. And earlier in the
week I watched a movie off Prime ("The Fix").
But I'll probably just do a full-week catch up either tomorrow or Saturday. >>
Things that I've watched.
ALIEN: EARTH episode 1 where in we meet the people that are soon to
die on a science ship loaded with samples of various races. We get to
watch things go bad once some of the creatures get free as everyone
gets to die horribly except for one. Then we get to meet a kid that
gets to die, but not die as she becomes a synthetic human, a
combination of a human mind in a synthetic body (that manages to break
the laws of physics as demonstrated later in the episode.) She is soon
joined by other kids that get put into adult synthetic bodies (because
kid minds are flexible enough to handle the transfer.)
Honestly, this wouldn't be a bad thing. No pain, you just wake up in a new
body that will never get sick or die, with all your memories and personality and life experience intact. I'd take that deal.
Of course the ship manages to land/crash without breaking apart
leaving the not really adult synths to investigate.
The most intriguing part of the show for me so far are the *other* aliens they've picked up besides the Xenomorph.
The ALIEN wiki copied their descriptions from the scientific monitors in the ship's lab:
Trypanohyncha Ocellus - A smooth scolem features several ocular irises and a tentacle system that can grow or retract at will. The tentacles carry extraordinary strength and are built to climb into and dislodge the eyes of other living organisms. Once replaced in the eye socket, T. Ocellus takes over the ocular pathways to the brain, overriding the neuro-transmissions
throughout the body, and assumes control of the organism. More study needed to gauge imminent intelligence, thought T. Ocellus has shown remarkable problem solving skills at near-human measure.
Drosera Plumbicare - A carnivorous plant similar to the Terran Droseraceae family of sundew plants. Science officer has given the tentative taxonomic classification of D. Plumbicare due to the use of mucilage to lure
unsuspecting prey, a stamen to sense prey and a pattern of "leaves" which form a mouth. Though generally confirmed to be carnivorous, D. Plumbicare has been observed eating nearby flora in dire situations. Animals presented to D. Plumbicare have expired in one of three ways: asphyxiation, dissolution, or exhaustion. Enzymatic breakdown begins upon death of the prey. The stamen also acts as a gauge of atmospheric pressure and temperature. When conditions
become inhospitable or a threat to survival, the "leaves" of D. Plumbicare close completely. When attempting to open a closed D. Plumbicare, many kilograms of pressure have been applied to no avail. Further testing is required to determine the strength of the leaves.
Ioxides Gigantus - This parasitic hemovorous species resembles an extremely large hard tick with several appendages forward of a long, cylindrical body which becomes engorged with blood and expands to the size of a volleyball when feeding. Its cephalothorax and abdomen are completely fused. I. Gigantus possesses a gnathosoma (feeding structure) with mouthparts adapted for
piercing skin and sucking blood. Once attached to the neck of a host, I. Gigantus rapidly drains it of its full blood volume, killing the host.
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