Farewell to Michael Crichton

11/5/2008
  • Michael-Crichton

    Author Michael Crichton died Tuesday.

    JIM COOPER / AP

    • Author Michael Crichton died Tuesday.
    Author Michael Crichton died Tuesday.

    "...as human beings we are capable of making sense of situations based on the thinnest slice of experience."

    Malcolm Gladwell, author of Blink and The Tipping Point.



    GOODBYE TO A SCI-FI MASTER: Author Michael Crichton had an unerring knack for taking intriguing science fiction topics and turning them into excellent books that led to great movies. Crichton, who died Tuesday, is remembered for such works as The Andromeda Strain, Jurassic Park, and Sphere, all of which lead to film versions. The Thin Slices staff celebrates the movie version of Jurassic Park as this weekend's DVD pick. The movie combined a cool and deceptively simple idea -- using DNA to clone dinosaurs -- with top-notch special effects and suspense. (RL)

    BETTER LATE THAN NEVER? With Guns N' Roses finally set to release "Chinese Democracy" this month, here are 13 other musical artists who've waited too long to release a new album. Which reminds us, where have you been Lauryn Hill and Dr. Dre? (RL)


    SHE HAS A SECRET: Country superstar Carrie Underwood feels very strongly about this so don't ask her who she voted for Tuesday because she's not telling. (RL)

    ENGLISH SNARK: For the second time in a few weeks Graham Parker, working under a nom de plume, has released a smart alecky (but funny) song taking a few jabs at the electoral process. This time he takes a jab at Joe the Plumber. (RL)


    THE LOGICAL CHOICE: Having a tough time deciding who to vote for today? Maybe casting a ballot for Capt. Kirk and Spock would be more logical. Here are 10 presidential tickets taken from the sci fi universe. (RS)

    VAN THE MAN SPEAKS: It's not often that Van Morrison gives an interview, much less a lengthy look into his creative process. But he recently gave this interview to the L.A. Times in which he explains that the influential critics-fave "Astral Weeks" is about as incomprehensible to him as it is to the rest of us. But we love him anyway. (RL)

    <a href=Tobey Maguire has signed on for two more Spider-Man films. " rel="storyimage1" title="Tobey-Maguire.jpg"/>
    &lt;a href=&quot; http://www.rediff.com/movies/2008/nov/03toby.htm&quot; target=&quot;_blank &quot;&gt;&lt;font color=blue&gt;&lt;b&gt;Tobey Maguire&lt;/font color=blue&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt; has signed on for two more &lt;a href=&quot; http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0948470/&quot; target=&quot;_blank &quot;&gt;&lt;font color=blue&gt;&lt;b&gt;Spider-Man films&lt;/font color=blue&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/a&gt;.


    LET'S PLAY TWO: Tobey Maguire has signed on for two more Spider-Man films. That's 4 and 5. (KC)

    IDOL ATTACK: American Idol has turned its sights on former castoff Josiah Leming. Leming, 19, didn't make the show's top 24, but a strict contract all "Idol" contestants must sign that makes them promise to record only with the "Idol"-preferred label, Sony/BMG. Pay the man. (KC)

    Rod Lockwood

    Kevin Cesarz


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