A $2 photo from a California junk shop is the ‘holy grail of Western Americana’ • Hacker News Board

Re: A $2 photo from a California junk shop is the ‘holy grail of Western Americana’

#91

Post by dalke » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 8:27 PM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #86

krapp wrote: post #83

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Star Trek is full of unfortunate, badly executed attempts at what should have been good ideas. Discovering that all the humanoid species in the galaxy are genetically related would be worthy of an entire season, and might actually make the setting a bit more plausible. But it was just sort of ham-handedly dealt with using silly treknobabble and then quickly forgotten about, because heaven forbid anyone take some scie…

I agree. But note that TNG is also one of the best if not the best sci-fi series ever made, science-wise, and it's responsible for bringing up a generation of scientists and engineers. This reflects rather sadly on the general state of science-fiction in TV, though. The demise of Iconians always felt far-fetched to me. They had a portal network spanning a galaxy that could even be used to stage invasions at unexpecti…

"one of the best if not the best sci-fi series ever made, science-wise"

Ahem. Babylon 5. ;)

Re: A $2 photo from a California junk shop is the ‘holy grail of Western Americana’

#92

Post by dogma1138 » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 8:31 PM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #85

dogma1138 wrote: post #81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not sure but Assassin Creed: Syndicate is around the corner so we'll probably find out the next part of the story.

You're telling me this idea is actually explored in Assasin Creed? :o. I guess I need to finally start playing it.

That's the entire backstory and the connecting over-arcing story for AC (and also somewhat Watch Dogs because it's apparently the same universe), and for the most part it's much more interesting than the game with allot of very cool ideas and premises.

Basically modern humans and neanderthals were bred by a more advanced and ancient form of humans (physically similar to AMH) we were all designed to have a naturally occurring fractal antennas in our brains that allowed them to mind control us to be used as slave/servants (humans) and soldiers (neanderthals). Some humans had a mutation (either naturally occurring, or a case of sleeping with the help which was also implied in the game, basically seraphim doing earthling hot chicks > flood recap) that made them immune to the mind control tech. There was a rebellion and a catastrophe (solar eruption) the ancients mostly have died out, some organizations know about them and some parts of the mind control tech have survived (pieces of eden in the game). The templars are after that tech to control the entire world, the assassins want to stop them.

PSA: That's pretty much spoiler free you can probably find a whole recap of the premise online.

Re: A $2 photo from a California junk shop is the ‘holy grail of Western Americana’

#93

Post by TeMPOraL » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 8:32 PM UTC

dalke wrote: post #91

TeMPOraL wrote: post #86

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I agree. But note that TNG is also one of the best if not the best sci-fi series ever made, science-wise, and it's responsible for bringing up a generation of scientists and engineers. This reflects rather sadly on the general state of science-fiction in TV, though. The demise of Iconians always felt far-fetched to me. They had a portal network spanning a galaxy that could even be used to stage invasions at unexpecti…

"one of the best if not the best sci-fi series ever made, science-wise" Ahem. Babylon 5. ;)

I know. I need to finally watch it. Queued after I finish Andromeda.

Re: A $2 photo from a California junk shop is the ‘holy grail of Western Americana’

#94

Post by TeMPOraL » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 8:33 PM UTC

dogma1138 wrote: post #92

TeMPOraL wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You're telling me this idea is actually explored in Assasin Creed? :o. I guess I need to finally start playing it.

That's the entire backstory and the connecting over-arcing story for AC (and also somewhat Watch Dogs because it's apparently the same universe), and for the most part it's much more interesting than the game with allot of very cool ideas and premises. Basically modern humans and neanderthals were bred by a more advanced and ancient form of humans (physically similar to AMH) we were all designed to have a naturally o…

> and also somewhat Watch Dogs because it's apparently the same universe

Wait what?! Ok, my mind is officially blown here. Thanks for telling me that, I'll check it out.

Re: A $2 photo from a California junk shop is the ‘holy grail of Western Americana’

#95

Post by lmm » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 8:37 PM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #93

dalke wrote: post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"one of the best if not the best sci-fi series ever made, science-wise" Ahem. Babylon 5. ;)

I know. I need to finally watch it. Queued after I finish Andromeda.

Without meaning to be rude, I struggle to imagine the decision-making process that lead you to watch Andromeda before watching Babylon 5.

Re: A $2 photo from a California junk shop is the ‘holy grail of Western Americana’

#96

Post by onedev » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 8:40 PM UTC

NullCharacter wrote: post #12

If you had bought this picture for $2 later to find out it's worth $5,000,000, would you feel an obligation to share some of the proceeds with the shop from which it was purchased?

Absolutely not. It doesn't make any sense. They sold me an item for $2. The item's new value is now many times that due to findings of my own accord.

Re: A $2 photo from a California junk shop is the ‘holy grail of Western Americana’

#97

Post by TeMPOraL » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 8:42 PM UTC

lmm wrote: post #95

TeMPOraL wrote: post #93

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I know. I need to finally watch it. Queued after I finish Andromeda.

Without meaning to be rude, I struggle to imagine the decision-making process that lead you to watch Andromeda before watching Babylon 5.

I'm halfway through third season, so I may as well finish it before switching at this point. I don't really expect Andromeda to be in any way positively comparable to B5, though I do like the "restore the civilization" attitude of the protagonist :).

Re: A $2 photo from a California junk shop is the ‘holy grail of Western Americana’

#98

Post by [deleted] » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 9:12 PM UTC

mmmBacon wrote: post #26

echion wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It can be hot and dry in summer in New Mexico. Not great for leaves. "The loss of numerous leaves from trees is not uncommon in New Mexico in June." -- http://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/1997/063097.html

Yes it's also dry here in CA and trees will lose leaves but not all of their leaves. The trees in the photo are completely bare. Note also that the grass in the foreground shows up in the image as dark. This implies that the grass is green. So even if you are correct and all the trees have lost all of their leaves then you would expect the grass to be dormant (not green) and show up as light in the image if it were s…

[deleted]

Re: A $2 photo from a California junk shop is the ‘holy grail of Western Americana’

#99

Post by lmm » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 9:13 PM UTC

TeMPOraL wrote: post #97

lmm wrote: post #95

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Without meaning to be rude, I struggle to imagine the decision-making process that lead you to watch Andromeda before watching Babylon 5.

I'm halfway through third season, so I may as well finish it before switching at this point. I don't really expect Andromeda to be in any way positively comparable to B5, though I do like the "restore the civilization" attitude of the protagonist :).

Sure, that makes sense, I was more meaning why you started it in the first place. I have Andromeda in my big pile of sci-fi series, but it's wayyy down the list.

Re: A $2 photo from a California junk shop is the ‘holy grail of Western Americana’

#100

Post by TeMPOraL » Fri, Oct 16, 2015, 9:17 PM UTC

lmm wrote: post #99

TeMPOraL wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I'm halfway through third season, so I may as well finish it before switching at this point. I don't really expect Andromeda to be in any way positively comparable to B5, though I do like the "restore the civilization" attitude of the protagonist :).

Sure, that makes sense, I was more meaning why you started it in the first place. I have Andromeda in my big pile of sci-fi series, but it's wayyy down the list.

I was reading up on Gene Roddenberry, recalled that Andromeda is based on his scripts and decided to start watching on the spot. No comparing with other options happened - it sort of occured to me that I want to finally watch it, and I went with it.