Wednesday Link-a-mania

Moonlight dead
Even undead PIs have to die some time… According to Variety, vampire Mick St John is about to join John Amsterdam in the immortal detective retirement home as CBS has decided not to renew Moonlight. We have to admit we’re surprised. The second half of the season has taken giant leaps from the early faltering episodes, and the fact that the network ordered four new episodes post-strike suggested they had some faith in the show. Like Mick and love interest Beth’s romance, however, it was clearly never meant to be.

Life on Mars USA
The American Life on Mars remake got a greenlight earlier this week, and Entertainment Tonight has posted a trailer for the new series. With Jason O’Meara and Colm “Chief O’Brien” Meaney stepping into shoes previously occupied by John Simm and Philip Glenister, it feels familiar yet completely alien – if someone made a “What if they remade Life on Mars in America?” spoof trailer on YouTube, it would probably look something like this. That said, we’re really curious to see where they take the new incarnation of the show.

Be careful what you knit for
The Times has a story about a woman who designed knitting patterns of Doctor Who creatures, and faced the wrath of the BBC when she put them online. The Beeb told the woman (who goes by the name of Mazzmatazz) to take the patterns for Ood and Adipose down, or face court action.

Science fact
And finally a couple of stories from that curious realm where science fiction becomes reality. First the news that the Ministry of Defence has released secret files on UFO sightings for the first time. If you’re looking for concrete evidence of little green men, the BBC’s report doesn’t have them. There are, however, tales of flying saucers being shot down by the military, and a geriatric abductee being told: “You can go. You are too old and too infirm for our purpose.”
On the other side of the Pond, Skynet may be one step closer to fact. Wired is reporting that the US Air Force is looking for “access” to and “full control” of all computers to help in the ongoing war on terror – apparently a recent USAF commercial said: “You used to need an army to wage a war. Now, all you need is an Internet connection.” Hopefully Macs will be safe from the oncoming end of the world – has no one learned anything from the Terminator movies?