David Bowie’s death hit all of us hard. But Lou Anders, award-winning editor and author of the Thrones and Bones trilogy, wrote an especially eloquent tribute, explaining how Bowie threw the creative gauntlet down as a challenge for the rest of us.

Something happened on the day he died....

“Oh,” said my wife. “David Bowie died.”

I had just just stepped out of the shower. I was putting in my contact lenses, still wearing a towel.

“What?” I said.

“’David Bowie died peacefully today surrounded by his family after a courageous 18 month battle with cancer.’” She read the words from her iPhone.

It wasn’t possible. He doesn’t have cancer. I raced to look at her screen.

“His son just confirmed it on Twitter.”

It was true. Two days after his 25th studio album and his 69th birthday...

Look up here, I’m in heaven

I’ve got scars that can’t be seen

I’ve got drama, can’t be stolen

Everybody knows me now

I turned my face away when the tears started. Walked out of the room when they came thick and heavy.

In 1983, I wore a Van Halen symbol on a necklace. I drank Jack Daniels from the bottle. I thought David Lee Roth was the epitome of cool. Together with Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd, they defined my musical existence. And music defined my everything. When “Let’s Dance” debuted on MTV, I was aghast. I couldn’t stand the skinny little fag (Those were my words, I’m very ashamed to say. Yes, I was that guy, but read on...) singing about putting on red shoes and dancing. An upright bass was no instrument for a rock band.

Let’s dance,

For fear your grace should fall

Let’s dance,

For fear tonight is all

Then in college, a girl introduced me to Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. It was an entirely different musical experience, a hard rock concept album far more in keeping with who I was then. I couldn’t reconcile it with the Bowie I’d seen on MTV. Then, while sorting through a roommate’s albums, I found the two collections, Changes One and Changes Two. From my first glimpse of the jacket I was intrigued. They looked like photos of two entirely different men. As I listened to both, I couldn’t understand how one person could have such a varied range of musical styles...

Changes Two, in particular, wormed its way into my brainpan. To this day, that’s my favorite image of the artist, the one I think of first when I think of Bowie. And it was on Changes Two that I discovered the song “Ashes to Ashes.” Oh my god, that’s when I fell in the rabbit hole and never came out.

Do you remember a guy that’s been

In such an early song

I’ve heard a rumour from Ground Control

Oh no, don’t say it’s true

College was a period of rapid change for me. There were a lot of influences at work, from the literature I was reading, from college professors and the philosophies they were introducing me to, from Star Trek: The Next Generation’s philosophy of diversity and tolerance, from my classmates. I went from joking that the theater building was the one building on campus I’d never set foot in to spending an entire fifth year at school to take every single acting class required for a major. (I didn’t major in theater, because I didn’t take the history of theater classes required, but I took every actual “acting” acting course that a major would have required.)

David Bowie, and his scifi ambisexual ambiguity, was the hook that snared my imagination and dragged me from out of my particular Deep South mentality and reeled me kicking and screaming into the light. (My South isn’t Deep anymore and is full of wonderful people. It was full of wonderful people even when it was. That’s why I said “particular.”) Along that journey, I fell into the Talking Heads, the Cure, the Smiths. My horizons were being broadened in every direction, from a multitude of influences (not the least from cinema), but the Lady Stardust was certainly a primary one. And his bold words, his modus operandi, his lifelong challenge to himself and to us to “turn and face the strange”... His whole life, his whole career, was a series of leaps from the point of success into the unknown. He abandoned the Ziggy Stardust persona at the height of its popularity. He ditched the Diamond Dogs set at the start of the tour to become the Thin White Duke. He ran away from America and Britain to live a stripped down existence he deemed necessary to reinvent himself with Brian Eno in Berlin. While other artists were content to repeat the formula of their success over and over again for decades, he viewed the triumph of any one avenue of his creativity as a trap that was anathema to his next endeavor. He cast off personas, musical styles, artistic influences like a snake shedding skins and dove headfirst into unknown waters time and time again. That philosophy of change, not just its assumed inevitability but its vital necessity, was a profound contrast to a mindset mired in conservative dogmas about the unchanging nature of the world but also a challenge to a young man coming to grips with his own desire to be a creative individual.

Strange fascination, fascinating me

Changes are taking the pace

I’m going through

Labyrinth debuted during all this as well. I dragged my father to it when I was home from school one summer. I remember telling him, “David Bowie was an actor even before he was a musician. So this is David Bowie the actor we’re seeing. Not David Bowie the musician.” And then, of course, the film begins with “Underground” over the opening credits. Oh well, this is David Bowie the actor and David Bowie the musician. But... David Bowie and Muppets! George Lucas producing and Jim Henson co-writing directing! I’m still unpacking how seminal that film was in the context of my own love of fantasy narrative.

But down in the underground

You’ll find someone true

In Chicago, I co-wrote and co-directed small, black box comedies in a tiny theater in a crack neighborhood. After rehearsals, when we walked to the L late night, you’d see people lined up to buy their junk through a little window in a reinforced door. We’d stare at them and they’d stare at us. There was a record store near my house. They had a poster on the wall. Bowie. Soul. Period. The guy at the record store who was my taste-advisor was huge on Bowie. But only his two funk and soul albums, Young Americans and Station to Station. It blew my mind that here were two people, both hugely into Bowie, but two completely different Bowies.

Ain’t there one damn song that can make me

Break down and cry?

Sometimes I wasn’t ready to go where he was leading. I bought Outside but didn’t listen to it more than once for years. Black Tie, White Noise was a disappointment. (I love both albums now). Even understanding that a man who was “chameleon, comedian, corinthian, and caricature” would never repeat himself, I still dug my heels in and wanted him to do that thing he did before again. It was a few more years before I realized it wasn’t about whether I liked the latest David Bowie or not.

It was about my willingness to let him take me by the hand and guide me to the next horizon. 1997's Earthling knocked me for yet another loop. He was 50 years old (50!) and releasing possibly the best thing he’d ever done. And it was so new. His 50th Birthday Bash Celebration Concert at Madison Square Garden, in which he performed his songs alongside a host of famous rockstars, wasn’t a nostalgic look down memory lane. It was a challenge. A vital declaration that he was still forging head through cutting edge territories years ahead of the rest of us. “I have no idea where I’m going from here,” Bowie said, “but I promise I won’t bore you.”Reality came out around the time I got married. A Reality Tour is probably the best of all his live albums, my favorite line-up of musicians applying his new sounds to old songs. “China Girl,” never one of my favorites, is astounding with Mike Garson on piano and Gail Ann Dorsey on bass. Their rendition of “Under Pressure” is not to be missed.

Bowie vanished for ten years after that. He reappeared on his birthday last year with The Next Day, as challenging and original an album as any in his career. 68 years old and putting out music that challenges and confronts still. That’s it for me. That’s the central tenant of a life lived in Bowie. My friend John Picacio said it when he said this morning, “He’s one of those artists that makes me look at my own work and say, ‘Have I pushed this far enough?’ His music and his choices made me realize that the loneliness and uncertainty of change and challenge isn’t called fear. It’s called home.”

Last year, while I was a guest at a convention outside Chicago, my very good friend Stephenson and I got to slip away to visit David Bowie Is, a retrospective at the Museum of Contemporary Art. It was a profound experience for both of us, I a lifelong fan and he a relative newbie. What we both took from it was the man’s incredible discipline and dedication, the drive behind his drive. The relentless push for excellence. I’m so grateful for that day. I’ve written about it elsewhere, but it was a powerful day for me.

And then there’s Blackstar. His 25th studio album, released on his 69th birthday. As enigmatic as anything he’s ever done. Utterly different from the other 24. Yet quintessentially him.

And then two days later, he’s gone.

How many times does an angel fall?

How many people lie instead of talking tall?

He trod on sacred ground, he cried loud into the crowd

Three friends and my mother have called me today to see if I’m okay. Others have emailed, posted on my Facebook page.

My first though, honestly, was for his family. It feels self-indulgent for me to grieve when actual people lost an actual father, husband, friend... I never met David Bowie. In contrast to Robyn Hitchcock, who I’ve seen perform somewhere between thirty-five and forty times and who I’ve even published in anthologies, I’ve never seen Bowie live. But along with Hitchcock, Batman, Star Trek, Michael Moorcock, Tolkien, and Edgar Rice Burroughs, he’s one of a handful of primary influences. Certainly the central musical influence, but also the guiding light when it comes to understand what it means to be an artist and live a creative life. I see his fingerprint on everything I do.

There’s also a sly understanding that Bowie has orchestrated the circumstances of his passing as masterfully as anything he’s ever done. We all wondered yesterday at the meaning of the lyrics of the songs on Blackstar, at the dead spaceman and hospital room imagery of the videos for “Blackstar” and “Lazarus.” Now our interpretations of his final offering are radically different from what they were yesterday. A second layer of meaning has been superimposed over the first and we see how it has been there all along. Our narratives are full of stories of mega-celebrities and super famous rock icons who pull stunts with their deaths. Bowie’s actually done it. He kept the news of his failing health out of the press. He gave us what was always intended as his final album. He knew how we’d view it before and after he left. “I can’t give everything away”, the final track on the final album, is absolutely intended as his last word.

I know something is very wrong

The pulse returns for prodigal sons

The blackout’s hearts with flowered news

With skull designs upon my shoes

I can’t give everything

I can’t give everything

away

I tried to explain to my young daughter that a musician I greatly admired had passed. I think she thought I said “magician.”

“I know why he died,” she proclaimed. “He did too many tricks, and in too many of his tricks he fell down.”

Yes, actually. That’s a good summation. 69 is actually pretty old for a rockstar that indulged in as many different illicit passions as he did. And “magician” is as good a monicker for what the Starman was as any other. But while the Man Who Fell to Earth has fallen for the last time, still in his passing he challenges us again. In an era when the highest grossing film of all time in North America could be said to be a remake of its 1977 predecessor, and so much of our entertainment is geared towards giving us exactly what we already know we enjoy, the Blackstar directs us to throw away our safety nets, to leave our comfort zones and seek our inspirations in unknown, even frightening, new horizons. I may never had met David Robert Jones in the flesh, but in every other sense, he touched me. He took a prejudiced, mis-and-uninformed young southern boy and lead him to a wider, fuller, richer, multicolored, exciting, diverse world even as he helped that same boy find his artistic voice and footing. He is the epitome of artist. Chameleon, comedian, corinthian, and caricature, indeed. Creators everywhere take heed. No, everyone take heed. David Bowie is gone, but that doesn’t mean we get to rest easy. He’s thrown the gauntlet down... and he’s still inspiring...

Something happened on the day he died

Spirit rose a metre and stepped aside

Somebody else took his place, and bravely cried

(I’m a blackstar, I’m a blackstar)

Lou Anders is the author of Frostborn, Nightborn, and the forthcoming Skyborn, the three books of the Thrones & Bones series of Norse-themed fantasy adventure novels written for boys and girls equally. Anders is the recipient of a Hugo Award for editing and a Chesley Award for art direction. He has published over five hundred articles and stories on science fiction and fantasy television and literature. A prolific speaker, Anders regularly attends writing conventions around the country. In 2013, he was deeply honored to be among the jurors that inducted David Bowie into the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame, and despite the sentiments above, Lou wants you to know he really did enjoy The Force Awakens.

http://www.amazon.com/Frostborn-Thro...

Top image: People gather next to tributes placed near a mural of British singer David Bowie by artist Jimmy C, in Brixton, south London, Monday, Jan. 11, 2016 Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images

When last week’s “Steven Bomb” of Steven Universe episodes began, it offered love as the real answer to many fans’ questions about the history of Garnet. But in “Log Date 7 15 2", we got an alternative answer to those questions, and it was so meta, it might as well have been a love letter to fandom as a whole.

http://io9.gizmodo.com/steven-univers...

Spoilers ahead, of course!

The overriding question on people’s minds is really just how Peridot will integrate into the Crystal Gems now that she’s essentially betrayed Homeworld and join the team in wanting to defend Earth. The answer? By having Peridot essentially become a hilarious stand-in for fandom in general. It was pretty adorable. She gets so many hilarious moments as she inquisitively explores the world around her (mainly by pushing Greg off a roof to see if he would live) as part of her personal logs, but the absolute highlight is when she falls wildly in love with a single episode of a Canadian soap opera, right down the the point that she’s writing her own fan theories and drawing up a literal shipping chart of the most perfect couplings:

In the background throughout all of this is Garnet, who is a witness to many of Peridot’s kooky investigations, and ultimately. the focus of it, as she seeks to understand both fusion and why Garnet desires it constantly. Shaken by years of Homeworld teaching her that fusion without purpose is wrong, it’s ultimately through her newfound fan-self that Peridot learns to appreciate Garnet’s internal relationship as Ruby and Sapphire. It was a sweet, appropriately dorky way for Peridot to get her “bonding” moment with Garnet, and a fantastic way to end this week of episodes.

Now, how much longer do we have to wait for more?

This morning, the Internet erupted with rumors that physicists have finally observed gravitational waves; ripples in the fabric of spacetime predicted by Albert Einstein a century ago. While it isn’t the first time we’ve heard excited whispers about the elusive phenomena, the gossip feels more promising in light of the recently upgraded detector at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (LIGO) that’s behind all the hubbub.

Discovering gravitational waves would be a huge deal for physics, cosmology, and our understanding of the universe at large. But if you’re not a scientist studying one of the aforementioned fields, it’s possible you’ve never heard of these mysterious ripples. What the heck are gravitational waves, and why have physicists been struggling to find them for a century? Moreover, why should we care?

Simply put, gravitational waves are vibrations in the fabric of the universe—light-speed ripples in spacetime itself, caused by such epically violent events as exploding stars and black hole mergers. Thanks to inconceivably large, violent, and distant celestial happenings, the atoms that make up everything from the stars in the sky to the human beings on Earth are shaking a tiny bit, all the time.

And by tiny I really mean tiny. For all the energy that goes into producing gravitational waves, spacetime ripples themselves are incredibly faint. Physicists estimate that by the time gravitational waves reach Earth, they’re on the order of a billionth the diameter of an atom. You need ridiculously precise instruments operating in completely noise-free environments to measure them, and until very recently, our detectors simply haven’t been up to snuff.

Numerical simulation of two merging black holes performed by the Albert Einstein Institute in Germany. Image Credit: Werner Benger / Wikimedia

But the gravitational wave detection game’s been changing of late, with a recent spate of improvements to our leading ground-based observatory, LIGO, and with the launch of the very first space-based gravitational wave detector, LISA Pathfinder. Armed with these two science laboratories, physicists are hopeful that we’ll be able to measure our very first spacetime ripples by the end of the decade. Now, it’s looking like that day might come a lot sooner.

In principle, detecting gravitational waves is quite simple; in practice, it’s maddeningly difficult. What physicists are trying to do is measure small fluctuations in the distance between two objects separated by a known amount. But because the atomic jitters we’re hoping to detect are so damn tiny, we need experiments that can separate objects by huge distances. Even then, we need to measure changes in distance very, very precisely.

That’s the principle behind our current state-of-the-art gravitational wave detectors. In the case of LIGO, which first went online in the early 2000s, two mirrors are hung very far apart (in Richland, Washington and Baton Rouge, Louisiana), forming a primary arm, while another two mirrors are set up perpendicular to that. A beam of laser light is passed through a beam splitter and allowed to bounce back and forth between both arms’ mirrors, many times, before returning to its source.

“If the two arms have identical lengths, then interference between the light beams returning to the beam splitter will direct all of the light back toward the laser,” a Caltech informational website on LIGO explains. “But if there is any difference between the lengths of the two arms, some light will travel to where it can be recorded by a photodetector.”

Simple schematic of the LIGO Detector. Via LIGO.

If that happens, an electrical signal is produced— and it’s up to scientists to determine whether they just witnessed a bona fide gravitational wave. Trouble is, our planet is a noisy place, and a lot of other types of motion, from tremors in the Earth to cars and trains, can muck up the signal. The background noise of our planet, coupled with limitations imposed by the distance of the detectors, has put some serious constraints on our ability to sniff out gravitational waves from the ground. The first LIGO observational campaign, which ended in 2010, turned up no firm evidence, although we were almost fooled by a fake signal deliberately planted by the LIGO Internal Affairs commission to keep scientists on their toes.

But following the 2010 campaign, LIGO underwent a series of upgrades over a five year period. When Advanced LIGO finally came online this past September, its shiny new detectors were three times more sensitive than the initial LIGO experiment. That means Advanced LIGO can now “listen” across a much vaster swath of space—up to 225 million light years away, compared with the 65 million light years distance achieved during the last gravitational wave hunt. And eventually scientists hope to boost Advanced LIGO’s sensitivity to ten times that of the initial LIGO experiment.

The hunt for gravitational waves is also headed to space for the first time this year. The LISA Pathfinder, which launched on December 2nd, is a proof-of-principle experiment that’ll test fundamental technologies needed for gravitational wave detection beyond Earth.

Computer model of the LISA pathfinder experimental chambers (gold boxes) and laser interferometer system (center). Via ESA.

There are a few reasons outer space is a compelling place to search for gravitational waves. For one, it’s a much quieter environment than Earth—the only real sources of background noise we have to contend with are solar wind and cosmic radiation, which can be avoided with careful shielding. (In the diagram of the LISA Pathfinder experimental chamber shown above, two test masses are housed in separate electrode boxes, where they’re protected from all external forces. As with LIGO, the distance between them is precisely measured using laser interferometers.)

But the real reason scientists are bringing the hunt for gravitational waves to space has to do with distance. Freed from the spatial constraints of a small rocky planet, we can position objects much further apart, and in doing so cast a much wider net for gravitational waves. While the LISA Pathfinder experiment will attempt to measure the relative position of two masses separated by a mere 15 inches, a future space-based gravitational wave observatory based on LISA’s technology might do the exact same thing over hundreds of thousands of miles.

Why is observing gravitational waves such a big deal? Apart from the fact that it would affirm a big piece of Einstein’s theory of general relativity, gravitational waves can be used to probe some of the most mysterious phenomena in the cosmos. As LISA Pathfinder scientist Bill Weber told Gizmodo last month, they’re “the most direct way of studying the large fraction of the universe which is dark.”

Black holes, neutron stars, and other objects that don’t emit light are very difficult to study directly from our vantage point. But gravitational waves, which pass through such objects like a knife through butter, offer us a window. In probing the dark universe with gravitational waves, we might uncover new celestial wonders we never dreamed of.

LISA Pathfinder, ready to launch in December 2015. Via ESA.

What’s more, as fingerprints of the most energetic events in the universe, gravitational waves can help us understand how the force of gravity operates under extreme conditions; that is, near the strong field limit. There’s a lot we simply don’t know about how gravity works when very massive objects are dancing around one another at speeds approaching that of light.

The rumor we heard today, that Advanced LIGO may have detected gravitational waves, has yet to be confirmed. As Gizmodo’s Jennifer Ouellette points out, it’s likely that the LIGO community won’t offer us peace of mind anytime soon. But the fact that physicists are all in a tizzy over the mere possibility speaks to the promising future for gravitational wave detection. As LIGO’s sensitivity continues to grow, and as LISA Pathfinder settles into a stable orbit at the L1 Lagrange point, we can expect many more whispers of spacetime ripples—perhaps, even some tenuous verification—over the weeks and months to come.

Exciting times we live in.

Follow the author @themadstone

Top Image: LISA Pathfinder’s electrode housing chambers, where the first space-based tests for gravitational waves will take place, via CGS SpA.

Few would argue with the fact that Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is the best film in the Trek franchise. It’s got action, suspense, huge twists, an amazing villain, and perhaps most importantly for the matter at hand, an iconic score by the late, great James Horner.

Now, Mondo is releasing that score on limited edition vinyl, and it looks absolutely gorgeous thanks to new art by Matt Taylor. Even if you’re familiar with the main themes—you should be!—it’ll have some fresh moments, as it’s the extended score, “featuring cues rarely released for home listening,” according to Birth Movies Death.

Check out the set from all angles.

If you can’t read the track listing on that back cover, here it is:

01. Main Title (3:06)

02. Surprise on Ceti Alpha V (0:45)

03. Khan’s Pets (4:19)

04. The Eels of Ceti Alpha V / Kirk in Space Shuttle (3:53)

05. Enterprise Clears Moorings (3:33)

06. Chekov Lies (0:40)

07. Spock (1:12)

08. Kirk Takes Command / He Tasks Me (2:07)

09. Genesis Project (3:16)

10. Surprise Attack (5:07)

11. Kirk’s Explosive Reply (4:01)

12. Inside Regula I (1:35)

13. Brainwashed (1:24)

14. Captain Terrell’s Death (1:58)

15. Buried Alive (0:57)

16. The Genesis Cave (1:09)

17. Battle In The Mutara Nebula (8:07)

18. Enterprise Attacks Reliant (1:29)

19. Genesis Countdown (6:34)

20. Spock (Dies) (1:53)

21. Amazing Grace (1:26)

22. Epilogue / End Title (8:41)

23. Epilogue (Original Version) / End Title (7:29)

The set will be on sale January 13 at mondotees.com for $35. Follow @MondoNews for the heads up. Stop drooling and get your credit cards ready, weak humans.

[Mondo]

Contact the author at germain@io9.com.

The midseason premieres are kicking off for real this week. There are three brand new shows, and one of them blew our minds when we watched it. Plus the season finale of American Horror Story: Hotel! A full week of new Adventure Time! All this, Quetzalcoatl and microscopic aliens, on This Week’s TV!

Tonight

Adventure Time (7:30PM, CARTOON)

President Porpoise is missing! A new Adventure Time airs every day this week at 7:30— including a fully stop-motion episode.

The Liquidator (6PM, TCM)

A hard-to-find spy-fi film, starring Rod Taylor, and featuring Jill St. John and Suzy Kendall!

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Tuesday

iZombie (9PM, CW)

“Liv is crushed to discover that the lead actor on her favorite show, “Zombie High” has been murdered on set. Meanwhile, Vaughn tests Major’s loyalty, and Ravi delivers bad news. Lastly, Blaine receives an unexpected visitor.”

iZombie finally returns!

Wait, Liv’s favorite show is “Zombie High”? That’d be like if I contracted the Power Ranger Virus, or also if I became a zombie.

Shadowhunters (9PM, FREEFORM)

Series premiere on the newly christened Freeform Network! Cassandra Clare’s beloved novels failed on the big screen, but now they’re getting another shot on television. In Shadowhunters, a reluctant teenager must battle monsters with multiple mouthparts (like the vampires in Blade, or the vampires on the Strain, or the Predator) to rescue her kidnapped mother (just like Spy Kids, the Ewok movie and VR Troopers)!

The Expanse (10PM, SYFY)

“Holden makes an uneasy alliance. Avasarala makes a power play and Miller unearths a major secret.”

An uneasy alliance, a power play, and a major secret...could “strange bedfellows” be far behind?

Teen Wolf (9PM, MTV)

The Shannara Chronicles (10PM, MTV)

“Wil and Amberle are kidnapped by Eretria and Cephalo while returning to the palace. But the Rovers are the least of their worries –Wil must learn how to use the Elfstones before a bloodthirsty Fury kills them all.”

This is a ten o’clock show?

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Wednesday

Face Off (9PM, SYFY)

Season ten premieres!

Second Chance (9PM, FOX

“Seventy-five-year-old Jimmy Pritchard (guest star Philip Baker Hall, “Modern Family,” Magnolia) is a shell of his former self. A drinker, a womanizer and a father who always put work before family, Pritchard was forced to resign as L.A. County Sheriff for corrupt conduct more than a decade ago. Now, some 15 unkind years later, he is killed when he stumbles upon a robbery at the home of FBI Agent Duval Pritchard (Tim DeKay, “White Collar”), one of his three children. But death is surprisingly short for Jimmy, who is brought back to life by billionaire tech-genius twins Mary Goodwin (Dilshad Vadsaria, “Revenge”) and her brother, Otto (Adhir Kalyan, “Rules of Engagement”), founders of the social networking empire, Lookinglass. Resurrected as a younger version of himself, with physical abilities of which he never dreamed, a re-animated Pritchard (Rob Kazinsky, “True Blood”) is given a second chance at life. What will he do with it? Will he seek vengeance against those who killed him? Will he try to repair the damage he did to his family? Will he embrace a new sense of purpose or fall prey to old temptations?”

35 is the new 25....?

American Horror Story: Hotel (10PM, FX)

Now that Lady Gaga has gotten a Golden Globe, it’s time for the season finale of American Horror Story: Hotel!

It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia (10PM, FX)

“Frank falls out the window causing him to think it’s 2006, the gang approaches it as a do-over and attempts to fix their past mistakes.”

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Thursday

Teen Titans Go! (6PM, CARTOON)

“Robin makes the other Titans sell their treasured mementos from past episodes.”

Angel from Hell (9:30PM, CBS)

“Allison asks New Kids On The Block favorite Joey McIntyre to help her patch up a relationship with an old friend as part of a lesson Amy’s trying to teach her about facing her fears.”

Colony (10PM, USA)

“In near-future Los Angeles, life isn’t what it seems. Desperate to find his son, Will Sullivan (Josh Holloway) attempts a daring rescue to bring his family together again. Meanwhile, his wife Katie (Sarah Wayne Callies) takes a risk to help her sister (Amanda Righetti) get much needed medicine for her son. Later, Proxy Alan Snyder (Peter Jacobson) presents Will with an ultimatum, and he is faced with a decision that will change his families’ lives forever.”

Series premiere! This is the one that blew us away when we watched the pilot at New York Comic-Con. We’re hoping this could be as good as USA’s other show, Mr. Robot.

The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret (10PM, IFC)

Three episodes in a row! Just one week after the season premiere, it’s already time for Todd Margaret’s season finale. Find out what’s up with the apocalypse cult that introduces each episode.

Elementary (10PM, CBS)

“Holmes and Watson investigate a homicide in which the victim was murdered in a manner reminiscent of the crimes of an infamous, and already incarcerated, serial killer. Also, Sherlock and Joan tutor Detective Bell for a police sergeant’s exam that would lead to a promotion and a post at another precinct.”

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Friday

Reign (8PM, CW)

“Mary becomes suspicious of Prince Don Carlos’ true condition and relies on Gideon to help her uncover the truth. Elizabeth makes a shocking discovery which could change the course of her reign over England and forces Dudley to make a tough decision. Meanwhile, Narcisse forces Claude to marry someone of his choosing, against her wishes.”

Kick off your weekend with a reluctant marriage!

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Saturday

Q: The Winged Serpent (3AM, EL REY)

Q is coming! Don’t miss this classic.

Shark Movie Marathon (12: 30PM, EL REY)

Two-Headed Shark Attack (meh…), Jaws (Awesome!) and Super Shark (stars John Schneider and Jimmy J.J. Walker) back-to-back-to back!

From the Earth To the Moon (2PM, TCM)

A very rare Jules Verne adaptation not available on DVD! See it in HD. Followed by Woody Allen’s Sleeper.

Svengoolie Presents King Kong Escapes (10PM, MeTV)

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Sunday

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (11AM, NICK)

“When microscopic aliens invade Mikey’s mind, the Turtles have to chase them through the strange world of Mikey’s subconscious.”

Love it or hate it, the Turtles are still traveling through outer space with David Tennant— “I’m sorry, I’m SO sorry!”

Microscopic aliens are super promising—check out Frank Belknap Long’s excellent short story, “The Flame Midget,” for a perfect example!

Galavant (8PM, ABC)

Two episodes, back-to-back!

“Galavant is fed up with Richard after he trades the Jewel of Valencia for a dragon and travels to find the giants on his own. They are not at all what he expected but are willing to help under one condition - he must help them defeat the dwarves. When they met face to face, Galavant is in for not one but two surprises. Roberta steps in to help bring both men to their senses and attempts to resolve the issues between the dwarves and giants. Gareth tells Sid about his feelings for Madalena. Sid warns Gareth against confessing his feelings, but he is determined, which ultimately leads to a dangerous situation for one of the men. Woodworm sends Isabella to Princess Jubilee’s palace to hand deliver her invitation to her wedding. Things don’t go as planned especially when the crown on Isabella’s head is accidentally broken.”

“Just as their travels hit a new low, Galavant, along with Richard and Roberta, stumbles upon his father, Sir Arnold Galavant. While Richard prepares for battle by training at Arnold’s knight school, Galavant learns a few things about the man who abandoned him as a child. Madalena tries to make Gareth’s birthday the best day ever, but his idea of a fun time is getting into a bar fight. Isabella returns to Hortensia and banishes Woodworm. Sid, now a wanted man in Valencia, flees to the Forest of Coincidence where he meets Woodworm. Their chance encounter sparks an evil plan. Sid stabs someone with his sword.”

It’s the busiest half-hour on television!

Robot Chicken (12PM, CARTOON)

“Robot Chicken introduces the next animated mega-hit: The Cheese League! Oprah lands a hot guest: C’thulhu. Galactus needs a new herald. Family Double Dare breaks a few families apart, and Nickelodeon’s Guts teaches a boy to score.”

Contact the author at fisharebeautiful@gmail.com.

David Bowie wasn’t the only icon we lost in the past few days. André Courrèges, the indelible Parisian fashion designer who helped to define the Space Age, also died late last week. Courrèges’ designs formed a huge part of what we think of as “futuristic” sixties fashion, and our ideas of what people would wear in space.

Check out some of our favorite 1960s and early 1970s Courrèges designs below.

Photo by Associated Press

Photo by Associated Press

Photo by Associated Press

Photo by Associated Press

Photo by Associated Press

Photo by Express Newspapers/Getty Images

Photo by Reg Lancaster/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

[h/t Charles Choi]

Charlie Jane Anders is the author of All The Birds in the Sky, coming Jan 26 from Tor Books. Follow her on Twitter, and email her.

There’s a lottery meme on Facebook claiming that if we just divided the current Powerball jackpot evenly, every American would get $4.3 million. But that’s not right at all. Why? Simple math:

When we take $1.3 billion and divide by 300 million we get $4.33. As in, four dollars and 33 cents. Not $4.33 million. So while it’s a nice dream that the lottery winnings would make every person in the country wealthy, it’s not even close to being true.

The Facebook post currently has 253,266 likes and 574,007 shares. And that’s not even counting the number of people who have just ripped the image and posted it to their Facebook page anew.

In fact, the image that’s currently going viral looks as if it was altered to include a different handle, @Livesosa. There’s a ghostly image behind it that I can’t quite make out.

Whoever originally made the meme, it’s pretty unstoppable. Expect to see this one on your friends and family’s social media accounts this week, if you haven’t already.

The meme even has its own counter-meme now:

Nevermind the fact that the population of the United States is actually closer to 319 million. Which means that if the Powerball jackpot were divided evenly amongst the entire population everyone would get about $4.09.

Math was never my strong suit. But I certainly know how to use a calculator. Or Google. There are literally millions of better ways to give away $1.3 billion than handing it over to one person. And maybe dividing it evenly would be smart. But you’re not going to get much more than enough for a cup of coffee.

h/t Chris Scott on Twitter

David Bowie was much more than a musician or an actor. He was an icon, a force of pop culture that affected countless people through his incredible career. Here’s what the incomparable David Bowie has meant to all of us at io9 and Gizmodo.

David Bowie Was the Greatest, Truest Rock Star in the Universe

When David Bowie passed away this morning, we didn’t just lose him. We lost Ziggy Stardust and the Thin White Duke. We lost Aladdin Sane, and Thomas Jerome Newton, and the Goblin King. We lost an explorer, a pioneer, one of the most creative, brilliant musicians of the 20th century. And we lost the greatest rock star the world has ever known.

Other musicians might have sold more albums, and other bands may have had more #1 hits. Maybe they had more screaming fans or wild, debauched nights (although I imagine Bowie could give most of them a run for their money in that regard). But only Bowie truly epitomized rock n’ roll more than anyone, because Bowie knew what a rock star was, before any of us.

He explained it in his seminal album Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, back in 1972. Like Bowie himself, his Ziggy persona was an alien, estranged from society for his long hair, his make-up, his overt sexuality and androgyny. But his status as the ultimate outsider made him an icon for every teenager and adult who ever felt excluded from the mainstream; he was a messiah that understood, accepted and loved everyone who traditional culture disapproved of.

What made Bowie so brilliant is how he understood that how simultaneously powerful and superficial being a rock star was—how his position as an icon was crafted not just by him, but by his fans who wanted to be saved. By literally performing as Ziggy, he turned the subtext of that artificiality into text. And, because he knew how essential, how inevitable it was for all messiahs to die, Bowie didn’t hesitate to kill his Ziggy persona when the time came.

Had Bowie only created Ziggy Stardust, he would be remembered as a genius, but this was only the beginning of a 40-year career that spanned… just about everything. David Bowie rocked, he crooned, he danced with Mick Jagger in the street; he defied expectations and went to Germany, churning out some of the most brllliant, challenging work of his career.

He parlayed his natural theatrical talents into movie stardom, using his charismatic otherworldliness to playing aliens, geniuses and incredibly sexy Goblin Kings. He publicly claimed he met his first wife when they were having sex with the same man. And he was a big Spongebob Squarepants fan, too.

David Bowie was a musician, an actor, a genius, a chameleon, an iconoclast and, most especially, the truest rock star who ever lived. He was a pioneer so far ahead of his time that few people have been able to follow the trails he blazed. There was literally no one else like David Bowie, and now that he’s passed, there never will be again. —Rob Bricken

“Ziggy Played Guitar”

Ziggy Stardust is the greatest science fiction album of all time. This is not my opinion. It is universally acknowledged that Bowie’s rock opera about an alien who comes to earth in its final days and becomes a rock n’ roll messiah doesn’t just hold up today, it’s just as brilliant today as it was when Bowie released it 44 years ago. The album is technically about an alien who comes to earth in the planet’s dying days with a message of peace, love and sex, but who is destroyed by his fame and his fans; however, that barely scratches the surface of Bowie’s joyous, somber, sexy, messianic, apocalyptic scifi masterpiece.

When I finally listened to Ziggy Stardust for the first time in 2000, I didn’t anticipate discovering my favorite album ever; it was 28 years old at that point. So I was astonished to discover how relevant it still felt, how powerful it was. The album didn’t just hold up; it was still brilliant all these decades later. Listening it to it today, with tears in my eyes, of course it still is. I wasn’t alive when it was recorded, and nor do I fit any idea of the ultimate outsider that Bowie sang of, and yet this album speaks to me in ways that no other album ever has, that I can’t possibly explain. It’s alien, it’s timeless, and yet it’s intensely personal even as its epic. And, most fittingly, it could serve as the epitaph of Bowie himself: “He too it all too far / but boy could he play guitar” —RB

“Ashes to Ashes” Freaked Me Out

This music video still gives me goosebumps every time I see it. Something about the ultra-primitive visual effects makes its weird clown/funeral imagery look that much more bleak and horrifying. The whole thing looks like a washed-out, inescapable nightmare, or a withdrawal-induced hallucination. It also looks a lot like an episode of Doctor Who from that same era. The Larry Graham-influenced funk bassline is countered by a wall of synth that makes the song impossible to dance to, and the combination of the two drills itself into your brain. I think I discovered this song at exactly the same time as “Space Oddity,” and it seemed to be two parts of the same story about someone who travels too far out into the universe, and then crashes to Earth. —Charlie Jane Anders

The Man Who Fell Into The Man Who Fell to Earth

It should be no surprise that David Bowie’s first film role was as an alien in Nicholas Roeg’s The Man Who Fell to Earth. It might be more surprising to learn that Bowie was as good at acting on camera as he was rocking on stage. As Thomas Jerome Newton, a Martian who comes to Earth to bring water to his dying planet but gets destroyed by the vice of Earth, Bowie was perfectly cast. He was simultaneously otherworldly, but somehow still more human than his fellow cast members—a perfect utilization of his Ziggy Stardust persona. The Man Who Fell to Earth is one of the greatest science fiction films of the 20th century, and Bowie is responsible for most of it. Given his immense talent in all other walks of his illustrious life, perhaps we shouldn’t have been surprised at all. —RB

“Cat People” Made a Nest Inside My Head

As a kid, I only really listened to funk music. I was kind of an annoying funk purist, who turned up my nose at anything that lacked a really strong bassline and preferably a nine-piece horn section. But some years after it actually came out, I realized that his Let’s Dance album was just brilliant. The notion that Bowie had worked with Nile Rodgers, the R&B/disco mastermind behind Sister Sledge and Chic, was kind of mind-boggling to me, and the thumping beats in this album totally won me over. For some reason, the song “Cat People” was the one that actually stuck in my mind and got stuck on endless repeat though. This howling soundscape, and the tale of people who turned themselves into cats, was only made more intensely weird by the notion of “putting out fire with gasoline.” I hadn’t actually seen the 1982 horror movie with Nastassia Kinski as a sexy were-cat, but listening to Bowie’s song in a loop conjured an image of that story that was probably better than the actual movie. —CJA

Life on Mars Led Me to Bowie

I was a teenager when the world had thought David Bowie had all but retired from making new music in the mid-2000s, so I didn’t really grow up listening to his music. But I can still remember the first time I heard it, when I watched the first episode of the BBC time-travel/cop thriller Life on Mars. Aside from lending its name to the series, the titular song features in the opening scenes of the show where protagonist Sam Tyler is hit by a car, only to wake up and find himself back in 1973.

It’s such a powerful moment, made iconic by Bowie’s poetic lyrics. “Life on Mars” is a song of contradiction and dissonance that makes it perfect for a moment of discovery like Sam’s, or time travel in general. It’s both immediately anthemic and yet deeply melancholy, something that upon first appraisal is wildly impenetrable and yet as you listen more and more it reveals layers of itself. It’s a song about looking at the world and wanting to be somewhere else, some time else, and the hope and tragedy that that all entails.

I was hooked, desperate to hear more, something that lead to me digging into my parents’ music collection and, eventually into an ardent appreciation for Bowie that is still with me today—an appreciation of his ability to capture the ethereal concept of the other across his different personas and his albums, from scifi routes to glam-rock epics. Bowie, like “Life on Mars” itself, was grand and full of showmanship, and yet hauntingly otherwordly and transformative. —James Whitbrook

“Five Years” Taught Me What Makes a Great Song

When I was 12, I started learning guitar, I didn’t really know how to play anything and I wasn’t very good. At the time, I was obsessed with David Bowie’s early stuff, Young Americans, Low, Hunky Dory, and of course, Ziggy. When you listened to Ziggy, you could hear that Bowie quality that drove you to click repeat and listen unending. But it was really “Five Years” that showed me that Bowie was an undeniable giant. A song with a subject so emotionally complex yet built with a simple chord progression. “Five Years” was and continues to be my absolute favorite Bowie song — or really folk rock song in general.

But on today of all days, all I can think about is how’d I’d give anything for just five more years of Bowie. —Darren Orf

I Was Jareth the Goblin King

Before I really knew who David Bowie was, I knew him as Jareth, the Goblin King. A Jim Henson movie would have been the kiss of death for many careers, but Bowie infused the role with his signature weird, wild inventiveness to make Jareth one of the most memorable villains of all time. For most of my youth, the soundtrack cassette for Labyrinth was perpetually cycling through my boom box; our two-story family room made an excellent location to stage baby doll-tossing performances of “Magic Dance.” (You remind me of the babe. What babe?) In fact, Labyrinth was such a big part of my childhood that when I was admitted to an emergency room in Las Vegas and told I had an inner-ear virus called labyrinthitis, I said “Like David Bowie?” The look the doctor gave me revealed he obviously hadn’t seen the movie—and I had just spent hours convincing him I hadn’t taken any drugs.

I admit my Halloween costume from a few years ago wasn’t just an homage to Jareth, rather it was an homage to an homage: I dressed as “David Bowie from the 1986 movie Labyrinth” seen in the “Bowie’s in Space” episode of Flight of the Conchords—which is actually one of the best celebrations of Bowie’s weird, wild inventiveness out there. I’m going to watch it again right now and dance magic dance. —Alissa Walker

1970s Bowie Will Help You Tell Weird Stories

I listened to Ziggy Stardust and Changesonebowie quite a bit as a teenager—sometime after I had worn out my copy of Let’s Dance, in fact—but it was only in the last few years that I really started soaking a lot in ‘70s Bowie. Maybe it was hearing ultra-dramatic renditions of “Lady Stardust” at Sister Flora Goodthyme’s karaoke night. Or maybe it was the haunting use of “Life on Mars” in the TV show of the same name.

But a few years ago, I started obsessively listening to Bowie’s ‘70s material, way more than I ever had before, especially while writing. His classic stuff is bursting with drama and a kind of lush weirdness, and he often seems to be speaking to someone who’s putting him on the spot. People are trying to pin this mercurial sprite down and force him to explain himself, to explicate his gender-defying, unfixable identity, to sort out all the inconsistencies in his story, and he always slips away. “Oh no/not me/I never lost control.”

Plenty of ‘70s rock is vaguely operatic, if not bombastic, but nobody else’s music retains the same intense charge as Bowie’s, after all this time. It’s still as if he’s speaking right to you, seeing you, and yet deliberately not quite making sense. —CJA

Contact the author at rob@io9.com.

Confused? No worries. CBS’ new Supergirl series has just cast Laura Vandervoort as the recurring villain Indigo on the series. Vandervoort played Superman’s cousin Kara on Smallville; she joins Helen Slater, who played Supergirl in the 1984 movie, as well as Melissa Benoist, who’s the person actually playing Supergirl on the current series.

It’s just another fun nod from the show that chose Slater to play Kara Zor-El’s adoptive mother Eliza Danvers and The Adventures of Lois & Clark’s Dean Cain as her husband Jeremiah.

Indigo is indeed a character from the comics, if you were wondering. Here’s how the press release describes her:

A living, strong-willed supercomputer that was sentenced to Fort Rozz after turning against the people of Krypton. Now on Earth, Indigo will let nothing stand in her way.

That seems to be a bit different from Indigo’s comic origin, which I won’t spoil, but I will say if you’re a Superman fan and feel like Indigo sounds a bit familiar that’s not unintentional

The Young and the Restless’ Jeff Branson has also been cast as Master Jailer, “the forceful and unrelenting jail guard” who is “hellbent on catching all of the Fort Rozz escapees and brutally bringing them to justice.” Branson has not professionally played Supergirl, as far as I am aware.

Contact the author at rob@io9.com.

Cheap sweaters, an exercise bike with unlimited resistance, and clever iPhone chargers highlight today’s best deals. Bookmark Kinja Deals and follow us on Twitter to never miss a deal. Commerce Content is independent of Editorial and Advertising, and if you buy something through our posts, we may get a small share of the sale. Click here to learn more.

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Now that it’s actually cold outside, Amazon’s offering great deals on dozens of sweaters and cardigans for men and women, today only. You’ll find styles from several different brands in this Gold Box deal, but the most popular ones could sell out early, so don’t waste any time getting bundled up. [Amazon Sweater Sale]

Anker, purveyor of your favorite charging gear, also makes a Wi-Fi security camera and a desk lamp, and they’re both on sale today.

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The AnkerCam streams to your smartphone, tablet, or computer in 720p, and even lets you talk to the person (or pet) on the other end. It’s well reviewed at $100, but today, you can get it for $60, with no subscription fees required. [AnkerCam HD Wi-Fi Security Camera, $60 with code FQJ4OJKE]

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The Anker Lumos desk lamp features multiple dimming levels, flicker-free LED bulbs to help with eyestrain, and an infinitely-adjustable design. There are lamps out there with more features, but this is a fantastic price. [Anker Lumos Desk Lamp, $26 with code JKCOICF6]

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This Moga Bluetooth game controller is compatible with hundreds of popular Android games, and even if you don’t think you’d use it that often, it might be worth checking out at $8. [MOGA Mobile Gaming System for Android, $8]

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If you missed out on last week’s $60 2DS sale (which is still available, by the way), you can get one for $85 today, but with a copy of Mario Kart 7 included. Chances are, you were going to buy that game anyway, so the deals are basically a wash. [Nintendo 2DS + Mario Kart 7, $85]

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If you were planning on getting a little more exercise in 2016, this Lifecore Fitness Assault exercise bike offers unlimited resistance and fantastic reviews, and Amazon’s taking $300 off its usual price, today only. [Lifecore Fitness Assault Bike Trainer, $700]

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Hey, remember when Apple came out with a $100 iPhone battery case? That was fun, eh? [Lenmar iPhone 6/6s Battery Case, $20 with code SDLENBC6]

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Steaming your clothes might not get them as crisp as ironing, but it does a decent enough job in a fraction of the time, and for $15, why not? [Pure Enrichment PureSteam Fabric Steamer, $15 with code STEAMR15]

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Burt’s Bees is your favorite lip balm by a wide margin, and you can save 15% on your resupply today on Amazon.

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This coupon is only available when you purchase through Amazon’s Subscribe & Save program, but you can always cancel after your first package is delivered. Also, your discount won’t appear until checkout. [Extra 15% off Burt’s Bees Lip Balm]

You know those giant photos of stadiums and landscapes that let you zoom wayyyy in? They were probably made with Gigapan’s gigapixel camera mount and accompanying software, and you can get your own for under $600, today only. Note: DSLR not included, obviously. [GigaPan EPIC Pro Robotic Camera Mount, $595]

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Go check out some sample images if you want an idea of what this thing is capable of.

Update: Sold out, but available for a few bucks more on Amazon.

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If you can’t keep up with all of your remotes, this popular Logitech Harmony 700 can control eight of your favorite devices (from a database of 270,000) for just $60. [Logitech Harmony 700, $60]

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If you can’t afford an Oculus Rift and a computer to run it, this Google Cardboard-compatible View-Master headset only requires your phone, and can be yours for just $20. [Viewmaster VR With Google Cardboard Support, $20]

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I can never seem to keep my salt and pepper shakers in the same place, so building both into one device definitely seems appealing. Plus, you can adjust the coarseness of the grind on both ends. Not bad for $8. [Ohuhu [2 in 1] Salt and Pepper Grinder Set, $8 with code 3I98VFW6]

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I’m an unabashed fanboy of Nomad products, and you can save over $100 on a gift set of three today, courtesy of Best Buy.

• Nomad Key - A tiny Lightning cable that fits on your keychain. (Normally sells for $25)
• Nomad Roadtrip - A dual-port (one USB-A and one USB-C) car charger with a 3,000mAh rechargeable battery built in. (Normally sells for $60)
• Nomad Wallet - A genuine saffiano leather wallet with an unobtrusive 2400mAh battery and Lightning cable built in. (Normally sells for $100)

Needless to say, with these tools at your disposal, you’ll be like some kind of USB charging mystic. [Nomad Holiday Gift Set, $80]

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If you’ve ever been curious just how much power your various appliances and electronics are using, Belkin’s WeMo Insight Switch can monitor your energy usage, and even turn devices on or off from anywhere in the world.

Functionally, the Insight Switch is no different than a standard Belkin WeMo switch. Just plug one in between a wall outlet and the device of your choice, and you’ll be able to turn it on or off from your smartphone or Amazon Echo, and even create automatic schedules. The difference is that the Insight will monitor your device’s energy use, and even calculate its monthly cost on your power bill. I wouldn’t go as far as to say that the Insight will completely pay for itself, but it can certainly make you more mindful of what goes into your monthly bill.

Amazon will sell you an Insight for just $40 today, which is within a few cents of an all-time low, and actually $20 less than the standard WeMo Switch. We aren’t sure how long this deal will last though, so lock in your order, and start saving power. [Belkin WeMo Insight Switch, $40]

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There are few things worse than a cord falling behind your desk, so $6 for a 6-pack of self-adhesive cable holders seems like a no-brainer. [Attmu Cable Organizer, Set of 6, $6 with code CI3PBEU7]

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If you like going for runs with your dog, but want to keep your hands free, this cheap running belt has a leash built right in. Genius! [Homdox Running Belt With Built-In Handsfree Dog Leash, $13 with code ZKINB3CM]

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Now that you’ve seen The Force Awakens, you can relive either of the original trilogies for $35 on Blu-ray.

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You can’t control these power outlets with your smartphone, or tie them to IFTTT recipes like the Belkin WeMo line, but they sell for a tiny fraction of the cost of their smarter brethren, and can be controlled from across the room via the included remotes. It’s only a half-measure towards creating a smart home, to be sure, but they might be worth a look at the price. [5-Pack Etekcity Wireless Remote Control Electrical Outlet Switch, $21 with code DEALBIGG]

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Five terabytes for $110. What a world. [WD - My Book 5TB External USB 3.0 Hard Drive, $110]

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If you’re a fan of fighting games, this specialized PS4/PS3 controller is designed specifically for you. And at $30, it’s never been cheaper. [HORI Fighting Commander 4 Controller for PlayStation 4/3, $30]

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Tech

Storage

• WD My Book 5TB External USB 3.0 Hard Drive ($110) | Best Buy
• SanDisk Ultra 16GB Class 10 SDHC Memory Card ($7) | Amazon
• PNY High Performance 128GB High Speed MicroSDXC Class 10 Memory Card ($35) | Amazon
• Lexar High-Performance microSDHC 633x 32GB UHS-I/U1 (Up to 95MB/s Read) w/USB 3.0 Reader Flash Memory Card ($15) | Amazon
• SanDisk Ultra Fit CZ43 64GB USB 3.0 Low-Profile Flash Drive ($18) | Amazon
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• ORICO Dual Bay SATA to USB3.0 Hard Drive Docking Station with Clone Function ($28) | Amazon | Use code 55MRI5CX

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Power

• Inateck 40W 5-Port High Speed Desktop USB Charger with Smart Charging technology ($16) | Amazon | Use code UGNBVQEJ
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Audio

• AKG K490 NC High-Performance Active Noise Cancelling Headphones ($99) | eBay
• Sennheiser CX 3.00 Black In-Ear Canal Headphone ($30) | Amazon
• LG Tone Infinim HBS 900 Wireless Headset Headphones ($40) | eBay
• Compact Bluetooth 4.0 Speaker w 8Hrs Play ($14) | Amazon | Use code FLKM5S6S

Home Theater

• Sharp AQUOS - 55-Inch LED 1080p Smart HDTV ($530) | Best Buy
• HomeBeck Indoor HDTV Antenna-50 Miles Range ($22) | Amazon | Use code QDGG6RKG
• Hisense 50-Inch 1080p 120Hz Class LED Smart HDTV ($350) | Walmart
• TiVo Bolt 500GB Unified 4K Entertainment System w/ $50 Gift Card ($286) | Best Buy
• Logitech - Harmony 700 8-Device Universal Remote ($60) | eBay
• Hauppauge 1191 WinTV-HVR-955Q USB TV Tuner ($46) | Amazon
• Onkyo TX-NR636 7.2-Ch Dolby Atmos Ready Network A/V Receiver w/ HDMI 2.0 ($329) | Amazon
• Sanus Premium Full-Motion TV Wall Mount for Most 40" - 50" TVs ($100) | Best Buy

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Computers & Accessories

• Brother DS-620 Mobile Color Page Scanner ($75) | Best Buy
• EnerPlex Packr Executive Solar Backpack ($50) | Best Buy
• Inateck Unibody Aluminum 4-Port USB 3.0 Hub with 1ft USB 3.0 Cable ($10) | Amazon | Use code OSJDAAC4

Mobile Devices

• AmazonBasics Apple Certified Lightning to USB Cable ($7) | Amazon
• iPhone 6s Plus Folio Flip Leather Case w/ View Window and Mag Closure ($10) | Amazon | Use code Z9F92WCQ
• Apple iPad 2 iPad 3 iPad 4 Drop Tech White Black Gumdrop Case ($21) | Amazon
• View-Master Virtual Reality Starter Pack ($20) | Amazon
• Sprint Prepaid Motorola Moto E 4G with 8GB Memory No-Contract Cell Phone ($40) | Best Buy
• RiPoP Selfie Stick, U-Shape Self-portrait Monopod Extendable Selfie Stick ($5) | Amazon | Use code M6C6F4MI

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Photography

• Nikon D5200 24.1 MP CMOS Digital SLR with 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 AF-S DX VR NIKKOR Zoom Lens ($419) | Amazon
• Lowepro Urban Reporter 150 Camera Messenger Bag ($20) | Best Buy

Home

• Attmu Cable Organizer, Set of 6 ($6) | Amazon | Use code CI3PBEU7
• WeMo Insight Switch, Wi-Fi Enabled ($40) | Amazon
• AnkerCam HD Wi-Fi Security Camera ($60) | Amazon | Promo code FQJ4OJKE
• 100x Reusable Nylon Velcro Hook Loop Cable Ties ($3) | eBay
• Faux Leather Storage Ottoman / Shoe Bench ($99) | Sears
• Kohree 20ft 120 LEDs Starry String Lights, Copper Wire Lights ($10) | Amazon | Use code ALYD6WG2
• Turcotte Luxura High Back Managers Chair ($150) | Staples
• Boyt Electronic Steel Vault ($75) | Woot
• Luxury 8" Gel Memory Foam Mattresses are On Sale at Woot in All Sizes
• Craftsman Garage Opener Ultra Quiet Belt Drive, 3/4 HPS ($200) | Sears
• Several Generators are On Sale at Home Depot, Today Only
• Heininger 3050 PortablePet FoodTote ($8) | Amazon

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Beauty & Grooming

• Spornette DeVille 100% Boar Bristle Paddle Hair Brush ($9) | Amazon

Kitchen

• New England Cutlery 4" Ceramic Utility Knife ($8) | Staples
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• New England Cutlery 5" Ceramic Santoku Knife ($14) | Staples

Fitness

• Homdox Running Belt With Built-In Handsfree Dog Leash ($13) | Amazon | Promo code ZKINB3CM
• Fitbit Charge HR Wireless Activity Wristband ($110) | eBay
• Lifecore Fitness Assault Air Bike Trainer ($700) | Amazon

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Madman is one of the coolest comics characters to emerge in the past 25 years. A riff on Frankenstein in a cool costume, Madman blended Mike Allred’s clean pop-art sensibility with a uniquely weird and colorful set of characters.

Now writer and pop culture historian Christopher Irving has put out a set of 3-D collectible art cards featuring Madman art by everybody from Alex Toth to Jack Kirby. He did a successful Kickstarter to make the project happen, and now the cards are available to order from his site.

According to Irving, the set breaks down into these categories:

• MADMAN cards: 42 cards (including 2D checklist) covering the whole series
  
• THE ATOMICS: 11 card subset of The Atomics
  
• 1ST APPEARANCE: 8 card subset of Mike’s Grafik Muzik work!
  
• 3-D SPECS: These card-sized “Swell-o-Vision” specs fit in the tuck box.
  
• BONUS CARDS: 2D cards, including a ‘90s Madman, ‘90s Astroman, early Madman (when he was called The Spook) cards, Frank and Joe Forever, Mike Allred, and Laura Allred cards. The Bonus Cards will NOT be reprinted.
  

Plus, finally, there’s the “Artist Edition,” which includes “10 artist renditions of Frank, many of which are new for this set.” But there are only about 48 of those sets left, although Christian LeBlanc, who did the 3D conversions, will also be selling some more of these sets from Canada. The set also comes with “a special Joelle Jones bonus card.”

All of these cards are a limited print run—so unless demand goes nuts, there will probably never be another printing, and this might be your only chance to pick these up!

Check out some exclusive images of the Madman cards below:

First Appearance in Grafik Musik (1990)—I think I have that comic somewhere in my stash.

The back of “First Appearance”

First Appearance in Madman (1992).

Art by Alex Toth!

Art by Darwyn Cooke!

Jack Kirby!

Existential Nightmare!

Back of the Existential Nightmare card

Astroman

The Truth About Everything

Astroman

The Atomics!

The Atomics!

Head Trip

The Back of Head Trip

It Girl

90s Madman (Bonus)

The back of “90s Madman (Bonus)”

Charlie Jane Anders is the author of All The Birds in the Sky, coming Jan 26 from Tor Books. Follow her on Twitter, and email her.

Lois and Clark. It’s a pairing held up as one of the dreamiest in all comics, the classic romance of the secret superhero and the no-nonsense reporter that loved him. The two have gone through some rough spots—but let’s not forget, in their earlier incarnations, Lois and Clark could be real douchey to each other.

These excellent snippets of comics gone by come from the new tumblr of author Tim Hanley, who set up the blog to promote his upcoming history of Lois Lane, Investigating Lois Lane: The Turbulent History of the Daily Planet’s Ace Reporter, promising to share snippets of Lois’ history big and small in the run up to the book’s release in March.

http://www.amazon.com/Investigating-...

Hanley only began today, but already there’s some great little panels, like the one above from Action Comics #85 in 1945, featuring Lois giving Clark the sickest burn in celebration of her latest Daily Planet cover story. It was kind of justified, too—in the earliest runs of Action Comics Lois spent most of her job doing all the hard work, only to be scooped by Clark, who would use his super powers to dart back to the Daily Planet (and even earlier at the Daily Star) and write up her stories as his own.

Clark spent many years after that being a jerk to Lois, too, as this panel from 1958's Superman’s Girl Friend Lois Lane #2 shows. The story gets even more miserable in context: After a film director refuses to cast Lois as herself in a film about Superman, Clark/Superman spends an entire day making Lois’ life miserable. He sabotages her work to anger her, breaks up with her to make her cry, and introduces her to the woman chose to play her in the film, to make her jealous... all the while secretly photographing her, so he can take the pictures to the director and convince him that Lois had the emotional range to star in a movie.

WHAT THE HELL, CLARK!? Couldn’t you have just, I dunno, asked her to act for you!?

But anyway, if you want to see more from Lois’ humongous comic book history, Hanley promises to update the blog daily with panels covering the most important (or funny) moments.

[Tumblr via Tim Hanley]

Header Image credit: Action Comics #85 (June 1945). Written by Don Cameron, art by Ed Dobrotka. Middle Image credit: Superman’s Girl Friend Lois Lane #2 (May 1958). Written by Otto Binder, art by Kurt Schaffenberger.

If you’re like us, you can’t get enough pop culture art. New movies, old classics, cult oddities—we love it all, and a new show at Los Angeles’ Hero Complex Gallery combines all of that and more.

The show is called “Quattro with a Shotgun” and features the work of four ultra-talented artists you may not have heard of yet: James Rheem Davis, New Flesh, Matt Ryan Tobin, and Vance Kelly. If you haven’t heard of them, though, check out those sites. Their work is badass. Below, check out just a few of the coolest pieces in their show.

Edge of Tomorrow by New Flesh

Aliens by Vance Kelly

The Martian by New Flesh

Raiders by James Rheem Davis

“The Bloodsucking Brady Bunch” by Matt Ryan Tobin

Alien by James Rheem Davis

“Miles To Go Before We Sleep” by Matt Ryan Tobin

“To Linger. Death” by Matt Ryan Tobin

My favorite piece in the show is that Blair Witch Project piece. In person, it has an ultra subtle layer of ink that makes those handprints look like they were put on by an actual ghost. You kind of get the idea from the photo but it’s so cool.

You can grab all these posters at this link, and get information to out the full show too.

[Hero Complex]

Contact the author at germain@io9.com.

I was familiar with the work of David Bowie from a young age, but I didn’t fall in love with the man and his work until 1999. That was when I played Omikron: The Nomad Soul, a video game that changed the way I felt about David Bowie entirely.

David Bowie succumbed to cancer on Sunday January 10 at the age of 69. The artist and his eclectic body of work had only a small impact on me when I was a kid—the album The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars was on regular nighttime rotation in the attic room of my grandmother’s house I shared with my older brother. Compared to the more pop-styled music my parents enjoyed it was alien and frightening.

Growing up in the ‘80s I experienced the more elegant side of Bowie. Every radio station and music video program was playing “Let’s Dance” and “China Doll”, both fine songs that ultimately had about as much impact on me as any big ‘80s hit—background noise for better years, but not much else.

By the time Bowie donned the tights of the Goblin King Jareth in 1986's Muppet-powered Labyrinth I was too busy doing the normal 13-year-old boy things to care.

Lovely memories all ‘round, but none of these were my David Bowie. My David Bowie was a mystical digital god battling soul-hungry demons in developer Quantic Dream’s Omikron: The Nomad Soul.

Having played Goblin Kings and strange beings from outer space, David Bowie’s role as cyber god Boz in the 1999 PC release (a Dreamcast version was released in 2000) felt like a natural progression. His understated performance as the enigmatic digital being gave the game’s warped dystopian future setting a depth of character it would have lacked otherwise.

But it wasn’t David Bowie’s acting performance that affected me. Bowie worked closely with Quantic Dream on aspects of the game’s story, but his core contribution (along with songwriter and producer Reeves Gabrels) was the music.

The songs Bowie and Gabrels created for Omikron were unlike anything I’d heard before, otherworldly tunes that fit the atmosphere of the game perfectly. Bizarre vocal harmonies and the use of unusual instruments (like psychedelic mainstay the mellotron) came together to create songs that were from a completely different world.

“New Angels of Promise”, the game’s opening song, introduced players to a world that was one peripherally similar to their own. The deeper they venture into the game, the more twisted the world becomes. Eventually they run into the fictional band The Dreamers, whose unnamed lead singer sports a familiar face and even more familiar voice.

That’s “Survive”, a song that never fails to make my heart ache. “I should have kept you / I should have tried / I should have been a wiser kind of guy / I miss you.” Those lyrics burn themselves into anyone that’s loved and lost, and hearing them in what is essentially a music video within a video game was a completely new experience to me.

As demonstrated by the game’s performance of “The Pretty Things Are Going To Hell”, the animation wasn’t quite up to the task of bringing the strange fictional band to life, at the time it was a powerful device.

The music from Omikron: The Nomad Soul appears (with minor changes) on David Bowie’s 1999 album Hours..., which critics generally either loved or hated. Perhaps if they’d all had the added experience of playing in the world that inspired many of its tracks the album might have resonated more. To this day it remains one of my favorite things Bowie has done.

The Omikron experience deepened my appreciation for the artist considerably, bringing those fleeting memories from earlier in my life into sharper focus. Now I look back fondly on those ‘80s tunes, and should his most popular song from the Labyrinth soundtrack come into play, I will indeed dance the “Magic Dance.” Even my earliest memories of hearing Bowie’s music have transitioned from scary childhood moments to something still dark, yet more magical than frightening.

While Omikron: The Nomad Soul is Bowie’s most direct interaction with the gaming industry, his influence on creators and players alike is impossible to miss.

The most obvious evidence of Bowie’s influence comes from Hideo Kojima’s Metal Gear Solid series. First came numerous references to “Major Tom” in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, referencing Bowie’s “Space Oddity” and “Ashes to Ashes.” According to the Metal Gear Wiki, both songs were considered for ending songs for the game, only to be replaced as the game’s space themes became less pronounced during development.

Then there’s Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom pain, a game featuring the private military company Diamond Dogs, a name derived partially from the Bowie album of the same name. Indeed the game opens with a cover of Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold The World” by Midge Ure.

And let’s not forget this image, which made the rounds a couple of years back.

Coincidental similarity or no, it’s obvious that Hideo Kojima is one of the biggest David Bowie fans in the industry, but he’s certainly not alone.

Just look at the ending credits song for Remedy Entertainment’s Alan Wake.

Or the Gighee enemies from Final Fantasy VII, horse like creatures with shocks of blond hair and guitars for tails. As the Final Fantasy wiki points out (thanks Shadaloo Soldier), the katakana for Gighee can also be read as “Ziggy”. And in case that weren’t enough proof, the Gighee is always accompanied by a creature called a Christopher, which can only use its “Stardust March” attack if the Gighee it accompanies is still alive.

Not to mention more overt Bowie appearances, such as Lucasfilm Games’ (they weren’t LucasArts yet) PC adaptation of Labyrinth.

And of course Omikron: The Nomad Soul, the game that secured David Bowie a place in my heart. A game I won’t be able to replay from here on out without feeling a bit sad and empty.

To contact the author of this post write to fahey@kotaku.com or find him on Twitter @bunnyspatial.

The Concourse RIP David Bowie, The Most Human Alien Of All | io9 David Bowie Made The World a Safer Place for the Alien in Us All | Gawker David Bowie Was Too Weird For ‘70s TV | The Muse Dancing Dog: Watch David Bowie Putting Down the Best Moves | Kotaku The Video Game That Changed How I Saw David Bowie | Jalopnik David Bowie’s Art Mini Is A Subversive Kind Of Awesome | Gawker Remember When David Bowie Got Busted for Pot With Iggy Pop in Hell, AKA Rochester, New York? |

Update: Marvel.com has just confirmed that Creed director Ryan Coogler will be helming Black Panther, which opens February 16, 2018. Original story from December 4 follows.

Several months ago, director Ryan Coogler was rumored to be up for Marvel’s Black Panther movie. It didn’t pan out. Now though, after the success of his latest film Creed, it seems like he’s actually going to do it.

Birth Movies Death reports Coogler is in talks to direct the 2018 Marvel movie, which will star Chadwick Boseman as T’Challa, the prince of Wakanda who doubles as the superhero. The character will first be introduced in next year’s Captain America: Civil War.

Coogler first hit the scene with 2013’s powerful drama, Fruitvale Station. He turned that success into his dream project, the Rocky-spinoff Creed and with that movie now a hit, it seems he’s moving on up to a big budget superhero movie.

The initial reports by BMD were backed up by all of the Hollywood trades, which reiterated negotiations were currently taking place for Coogler to direct the film. That means it’s only a matter of time before Marvel makes it official.

And now they have.

Black Panther is scheduled for release February 16, 2018.

[Birth Movies Death]

Image Credit: Marvel Studios, Warner Bros.

Contact the author at germain@io9.com.

Want to read a totally trippy, insane short story that will keep you guessing—and possibly a little bit uncertain of the solidity of your surroundings? You’re in luck, because there’s a weird-as-hell Laird Barron short story over at Apex Magazine.

I can’t even begin to summarize “Nemesis,” except that there’s a fish called Hercules, and some kind of apocalyptic event, and a mysterious Machine, and a main character who was murdered by their father—but how, and when? It keeps changing.

Here’s how it begins:

Poe died of rabies, didn’t he? Died raving, at any rate.

Here we are at end in a cheap motel along the lost highway. You’ve been walking for a long time and the time has come to rest. Your sandals are worn through to the bone. Your beard could host sparrows. Your eyes have seen too much.

Sit in the armchair by the table. Here’s a tumbler and an unmarked bottle. The bottle should be green with electric lime, but it’s black. Pour a shot, set it aside. That’s the hammer cocking back. That’s the muzzle and the bore of the universe bearing down; that’s the naked bulb in the eighty-dollar a night room snapping on. The window frames the world like a television screen. That shadow flowing over the tundra is the moon coming too close to its mother. While all other points of fire wink out, a wandering star sparkles, black flame from a black nozzle magnified by the whiskey glass bottom pressed to your eye. Press RECORD. Time has come to get down to cases.

This room is a microcosm of everything that exists. You are alone with the monkey that rides your back. DO NOT DISTURB has arranged this tête-à-tête. There’s no mirror, there’s only you and him and you aren’t friends. There are, however, questions you’ve got to ask yourself here at the brink. Let’s make it easy. These are yes/no questions. Be honest. Honesty is best.

For a moment back there you got to be a god. There were infinite possibilities. Look at what you did with that split second of omnipotence. Look into the mirror, if you are able. You open your mouth and the mirror shivers and somewhere a supermassive black hole dilates.

“But it wasn’t that way at all,” you say. “My father killed me when I was a boy.”

You sound so sincere.

You can read the rest over at Apex Magazine. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.

Top image: Apex Magazine #79 cover art by Irek Konior

Charlie Jane Anders is the author of All The Birds in the Sky, coming Jan 26 from Tor Books. Follow her on Twitter, and email her.

In 1977, astronomer Jerry R. Ehman observed a data signal so unique he drew a red circle around it and wrote “Wow!” to emphasize the discovery. The source of the signal was never identified, leading some to say it was aliens. But a new study suggests it wasn’t aliens at all—but rather a hydrogen cloud caused by comets.

The Wow! signal, as it’s known, was detected by Ehman while he was working on a SETI project at Ohio State University’s now defunct Big Ear radio telescope. While scanning the skies for evidence of extraterrestrial radio messages, he focused on a portion of the radio spectrum that resembles hydrogen. On August 15, 1977, he documented an extraordinary 72-second sequence of unusual intensity. Intriguingly, the signal appeared to have emanated from a M55, a globular cluster located in the constellation Sagittarius.

Follow-up analyses ruled out satellite interference, or that the signal was reflected from the Earth’s surface. Naturally, some people insisted it was an extraterrestrial message, a claim that’s never been proven. (For what it’s worth, Ehman never believed it was caused by aliens.)

http://gizmodo.com/the-many-many-...

The only thing scientists have been able to agree on is that the signal definitely came from space. But from where? It’s a mystery that has lasted nearly 40 years. New Scientist reports the latest theory is that the signal may have been produced by comets.

According to Antonio Paris, an astronomer at St. Petersburg College in Florida, the Wow! signal could have been produced by one or two passing comets, namely 266P/Christensen and P/2008 Y2 (Gibbs). It sounds weird, but Paris says that comets are known to release considerable amounts of hydrogen when passing near the Sun. As they make their way into the inner Solar System, ultraviolet rays disturb the comet surface, releasing a cloud of hydrogen that extends like a tail for millions of miles. It could have been this cloud of hydrogen, says Paris, that caused the Wow! signal.

Some comets have gas. (Credit: NASA)

More from New Scientist:

If the comets were passing in front of the Big Ear in 1977, they would have generated an apparently short-lived signal, as the telescope (now dismantled) had a fixed field of view. Searching that same area – as subsequent radio telescopes did – wouldn’t show anything. Tracing the comets’ positions back in time, Paris says that the possible origin for the Wow! signal falls right between where they would have been.

Neither comet was known in 1977; they were both discovered in the last decade, which would mean nobody would have thought to search for them. The odds of any telescope catching them in the region of the Wow! signal by chance were vanishingly small.

But some astronomers aren’t buying it, arguing that one or two comets couldn’t possibly release enough hydrogen to produce such a strong signal. Thankfully, however, Paris has produced a testable hypothesis: Comet 266P/Christensen is coming back to our neighborhood in January 27, and P/2008 Y2 (Gibbs) will return in January 2018. By analyzing the comets’ hydrogen signatures, we should have a good idea if Paris’s theory is correct.

“The hypothesis must be tested before it is ruled out,” noted Paris in the New Scientist article. “Science 101.”

Read the entire study at the Center for Planetary Science: “Hydrogen Clouds from Comets 266/P Christensen and P/2008 Y2 (Gibbs) are Candidates for the Source of the 1977 “WOW” Signal”.

Email the author at george@gizmodo.com and follow him at @dvorsky.

Top image by the Ohio State University Radio Observatory and the North American AstroPhysical Observatory (NAAPO).

Our sorrowfully gone alien-icon David Bowie has been eulogized for many things today—for his music, obviously, and for his fashion, and for the particular transcendent way he put the world forward with his imagination and lack of concern for convention, including gender. But we’d also like to note Bowie for his inimitable skills on a dancefloor, a man who moved with a sinewy grace and wobble legs and freaky heart.

James Brown was clearly an influence—obviously, as James Brown’s moves influenced practically everyone—but there are other parallels. Some of his jauntier leg jams are reminiscent of the freneticism of Joy Division’s Ian Curtis, whose rigid torso put his leg motions in sharper motion, but Bowie also had the rounded pelvic motion of Elvis Presley, a subtle grind just suggestive enough to be maddening.

In our video of his best moves, he starts out to “Stay” doing a perfect and pristine mashed potato, light on his feet through the whole of his career, as nimble as any dancer. “Modern Love” sees a doo-wop-inspired strut, one he builds on for Labyrinth and jazzes up with a ‘50s style duckwalk in “Dancin’ In the Streets.” He had all the flair we could handle; it added to his copious mystique. Rest in peace, sun.

Contact the author at julianne@jezebel.com.

The adventures of Hellboy and his friends in the pages of Dark Horses comics have always examined the spooky underpinnings of the occult. But this week’s issue of Abe Sapien takes a whole new look at Western occultism, through the gorgeously macabre art of Santiago Caruso—and io9 has an exclusive look!

A warning: some of the art below might be a little NSFW for work time browsing.

Abe Sapien #30, out tomorrow, is a standalone story that delves into the history of the mysterious man named Gutav Strobl, a regular supporting character in the series who is fascinated by Abe. The issue dives into the dark arts to fulfill his desire of standing alongside the Devil as his right hand man when the apocalypse comes (an Apocalypse that Abe obviously wants to stop).

But Abe Sapien #30 is also one of the first comics to be drawn by Argentinian artist Santiago Caruso, who gives Strobl’s backstory a dark, mystifying look that’s both exceedingly creepy and seemingly pulled from the pages of some ancient tome. Mike Mignola, Hellboy creator and co-writer on Abe Sapien with Scott Allie, is full of praise for Caruso’s art in a quoted provided to io9:

I’ve been fascinated by Santiago Caruso’s work since I first laid eyes on it. It never fails to be beautiful (even the very disturbing pieces) and wildly inventive, so dense with symbolism that often his pieces feel like a puzzle we will never be able to solve. I was overjoyed when he wanted to work with us and can think of no artist better suited to illustrate the history of one of our strangest and most complicated characters.

But without further ado, here’s an exclusive look at Caruso’s work on Abe Sapien #30:

Abe Sapien #30 hits comic book store shelves tomorrow, January 13th.