Neanderthals sailed the Mediterranean.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Thursday, October 25, 2012
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Title Optional
Planets orbiting pulsars may leave anomalous electric trails behind them.
Kim Boekbinder has a Kickstarter to fund The Sky is Calling, an album inspired by science and space. Phil "Bad Astronomer" Plait is on tap as a scientific advisor.
This is what happens when a black hole eats a black hole.
Divers return to the site where the Antikythera Mechanism was found.
Kim Boekbinder has a Kickstarter to fund The Sky is Calling, an album inspired by science and space. Phil "Bad Astronomer" Plait is on tap as a scientific advisor.
This is what happens when a black hole eats a black hole.
Divers return to the site where the Antikythera Mechanism was found.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
Saturday, July 21, 2012
M John Harrison in the Guardian
Just what it says on the tin: A profile of M. John Harrison in the Guardian.
"If Ray Bradbury wrote to forestall a future, Harrison says he writes to 'forestall a present'; the militarised capitalism, environmental destruction and short-sighted self-obsession of his imaginary universe are only 'a description of the world we live in'. It's a brutal, soulless world where human beings see the unknowable wonder of the Tract only as a chance to make some money; people visit the 'chop shop' to genetically modify their bodies to look like Marilyn Monroe or grotesquely over-muscled fighters; and the distant war against the aliens is 'your war, to be accessed however it fitted best into your busy schedule'."
"If Ray Bradbury wrote to forestall a future, Harrison says he writes to 'forestall a present'; the militarised capitalism, environmental destruction and short-sighted self-obsession of his imaginary universe are only 'a description of the world we live in'. It's a brutal, soulless world where human beings see the unknowable wonder of the Tract only as a chance to make some money; people visit the 'chop shop' to genetically modify their bodies to look like Marilyn Monroe or grotesquely over-muscled fighters; and the distant war against the aliens is 'your war, to be accessed however it fitted best into your busy schedule'."
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Saturday, July 14, 2012
SDCC 2012: News via CBR
Terry Moore, the creator of Strangers in Paradise, talks about his future comics plans. Looks like more SiP for it's 20th anniversary and Rachel Rising, a new horror series.
Robert Kirkman talks about the Skybound imprint at Image, including more Witch Doctor from Brandon Seifert.
An interview with Gary Whitta and Darick Robertson over Oliver!
The Image Panel featuring Matt Fraction, Joe Casey, Kelly Sue Deconnick, Howard Chaykin, Joe Casey, Jim Robertson, and people mentioned above. I'm stoked for Image in the coming year.
Dark Horse's horror panel.
Joe Keatinge and Ken Garing go Intergalactic in a new future sf series at Monkeybrain.
Robert Kirkman talks about the Skybound imprint at Image, including more Witch Doctor from Brandon Seifert.
An interview with Gary Whitta and Darick Robertson over Oliver!
The Image Panel featuring Matt Fraction, Joe Casey, Kelly Sue Deconnick, Howard Chaykin, Joe Casey, Jim Robertson, and people mentioned above. I'm stoked for Image in the coming year.
Dark Horse's horror panel.
Joe Keatinge and Ken Garing go Intergalactic in a new future sf series at Monkeybrain.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
Playwrights, Fabulists, & WWI: AA Milne
Winnie the Pooh was inspired by a Canadian black bear that was the mascot of a WWI military unit. Winnipeg the bear, or "Winnie", sat out the war at the London Zoo. Winnie was so tame that children could feed her honey but only under the supervision of the zookeepers. Christopher Milne was one of those kids.
A listing of poets of the Great War. I forgot that Saki was in that number.
A listing of poets of the Great War. I forgot that Saki was in that number.
Fabulists & WWI: JRR Tolkien Edition
One of the oldest ideas in my projects drawer concerns writers, primarily fabulists, that were more known as playwrights during their lifetime but are now usually known for one thing or in one area. Most of those on my list lived during the reign of Queen Victoria and/or King Edward VII. This afternoon's project is WWI. I'm just going to slide links for research material around here:
Tolkien and WWI: He joined the Lancashire Fusiliers as a second lieutenant.
More on the Battle of Somme which Tolkien experienced before being mustered out with trench fever.
Green Man Review covers John Garth's Tolkien and the Great War: The Threshold of Middle Earth.
Kate Nepveu covered John Garth's "Frodo and the Great War" for Tor.com. Interesting, but it appears here that Garth goes overmuch into connections between the war and The Lord of the Rings, and Tolkien maintained one wasn't a metaphor for the other.
Or not. From a letter to Professor L. W. Forster dated 31 December, 1960: The Lord of the Rings was actually begun, as a separate thing, about 1937, and had reached the inn at Bree, before the shadow of the second war. Personally, I do not think either war (and of course not the atomic bomb) had any influence on either the plot or the manner of it's unfolding. Perhaps in landscape. The Dead Marshes and the approaches to the Morannon owe something to Northern France after the Battle of Somme. They owe more to William Morris and his Huns and Romans, as in The House of the Wolfings or The Roots of the Mountains.
Picture of a WWI revolver, 2nd Lt Tolkien's, in this case.
The Pietist Schoolman covers WWI as regards Tolkien and CS Lewis.
Tolkien and WWI: He joined the Lancashire Fusiliers as a second lieutenant.
More on the Battle of Somme which Tolkien experienced before being mustered out with trench fever.
Green Man Review covers John Garth's Tolkien and the Great War: The Threshold of Middle Earth.
Kate Nepveu covered John Garth's "Frodo and the Great War" for Tor.com. Interesting, but it appears here that Garth goes overmuch into connections between the war and The Lord of the Rings, and Tolkien maintained one wasn't a metaphor for the other.
Or not. From a letter to Professor L. W. Forster dated 31 December, 1960: The Lord of the Rings was actually begun, as a separate thing, about 1937, and had reached the inn at Bree, before the shadow of the second war. Personally, I do not think either war (and of course not the atomic bomb) had any influence on either the plot or the manner of it's unfolding. Perhaps in landscape. The Dead Marshes and the approaches to the Morannon owe something to Northern France after the Battle of Somme. They owe more to William Morris and his Huns and Romans, as in The House of the Wolfings or The Roots of the Mountains.
Picture of a WWI revolver, 2nd Lt Tolkien's, in this case.
The Pietist Schoolman covers WWI as regards Tolkien and CS Lewis.
Thursday, June 28, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Why I Write - Geo Orwell
"Writing is not a serious business. It's a joy and a celebration. You should be having fun with it. Ignore the authors who say 'Oh, my God, what word? Oh, Jesus Christ...', you know. Now, to hell with that. It's not work. If it's work, stop and do something else."
"And looking back through my work, I see that it is invariably where I lacked a POLITICAL purpose that I wrote lifeless books and was betrayed into purple passages, sentences without meaning, decorative adjectives and humbug generally."
"And looking back through my work, I see that it is invariably where I lacked a POLITICAL purpose that I wrote lifeless books and was betrayed into purple passages, sentences without meaning, decorative adjectives and humbug generally."
Monday, June 25, 2012
Friday, June 22, 2012
Still Asleep
Hack the City, a quadcopter drone group, were held at London Southend Airport on suspicion of terrorism.
Hack the city uses the drones to perform a flying ballet and to create a mobile wi-fi zone. The drones were built with components originally intended for police surveillance.
Hack the city uses the drones to perform a flying ballet and to create a mobile wi-fi zone. The drones were built with components originally intended for police surveillance.
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Saturday, June 16, 2012
The Overfalls Railroad to Canada!
I'm sure everyone has heard that Nik Wallenda crossed Niagara Falls on a tightrope on June 15, 2012. ABC required Nik to wear a harness, something that might have thrown his balance as he didn't practice with one.
The Wikipedia entry on The Flying Wallendas needs some updating. I've caught references that says the family as performers have been around for 200 years. I'm more than a little curious about this.
The Wikipedia entry on The Flying Wallendas needs some updating. I've caught references that says the family as performers have been around for 200 years. I'm more than a little curious about this.
Thursday, June 14, 2012
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Light & Sound, What Art They Make
Archifon I. - Interactive Installation from the macula on Vimeo.
The archifon is a large interactive musical instrument played by application of laser pointers.Monday, June 11, 2012
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
We Should All Be So Healthy At Our Current Age
If Grace Jones wasn't lip syncing, and I don't believe she was, she hula hooped and sang for four minutes without losing her wind. At 64. Pardon me, I'm tossing my useless carcass into the wood chipper.
Monday, June 4, 2012
Whisky Tango Foxtrot
Sensory Organ, Not Brain, Differentiates Male And Female Behavior In Some Mammals
When the nose, or a sensory organ in the nose, of female mice is removed, they begin behaving like male mice. All terrestrial mammals have this organ except for the higher primates.
When the nose, or a sensory organ in the nose, of female mice is removed, they begin behaving like male mice. All terrestrial mammals have this organ except for the higher primates.
Sunday, June 3, 2012
Saturday, June 2, 2012
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Jesus. Wept.
Soviet moon lander discovered water in 1976.
This could have should have been crucial. Getting water out of the Earth's gravity well for use by astronauts is expensive, almost prohibitively so. Water is part hydrogen, which can be used for fuel.
We could have had a better functioning and forward advancing space program over the past 35 years and the US government pissed it away.
This could have should have been crucial. Getting water out of the Earth's gravity well for use by astronauts is expensive, almost prohibitively so. Water is part hydrogen, which can be used for fuel.
We could have had a better functioning and forward advancing space program over the past 35 years and the US government pissed it away.
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Anybody Want Some Gum?
"The best anti-spasmodic is a joke. Take a leaf from Catastrophe Theory, which is really the science of the punch line. IT's the thing that suddenly takes you out of the locks system and helps you go meta." - John Perry Barlow
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Beck's Beginning - TRON: Uprising - Disney XD Official
Disney has released the 30 minute premiere of Tron: Uprising in advance of the series beginning in June.
This is nice. I like this, and I say this beyond just the my usual love of heroes. This is good.
How About an Idiocy Defense?
Court rejects insanity defense on "exorcism" murder.
After her son wouldn't drink oil and vinegar as part of his mother's plan to rid him of demons, the mom smothered her son until he suffocated. She says she expected him to spring back to life.
After her son wouldn't drink oil and vinegar as part of his mother's plan to rid him of demons, the mom smothered her son until he suffocated. She says she expected him to spring back to life.
Monday, May 14, 2012
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Saturday, May 12, 2012
A Life in the Art
Alan Moore, and a few others, interviewed about the life and art and Art of Austin Spare.
Friday, May 11, 2012
The sound is deep in the dark
Am I the last to discover this?
How to describe The Wormworld Saga? This is a webcomic graphic novel, barely started it seems, that reminds me ever slightly of Jeff Smith’s Bone and the work of Wendy Pini, but that isn’t quite correct. It’s obviously storywise somewhat related to those two, while artistically reminding me of the work of Mike Ploog with his lush rural landscapes and haunting beauty.
I can easily see Studio Ghibli adapting this for animation.
I can easily see Studio Ghibli adapting this for animation.
This is something that I’d love to have a collected edition for the shelf, except that can’t happen with Herr Lieske’s layouts. He plays to the strength of his medium. the only other person to do this in a webcomic is Scott McCloud.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Never Trust a Necromancer
While looking for something else, I found Steven Erikson's Bauchelain and Korbal Broach. This is a collection of novellas about a pair of completely nasty necromancers set in Erickson's Malazan series. I set the book aside some months ago having stopped at the last story, "The Healthy Dead", and for some reason, didn't pick it up to finish.
Which is odd, as I enjoy Bauchelain and Broach's, um, endeavours? Erickson is playing games with perceptions of protagonists with these two, and the manservant Emancipor Reese, in that, while they frequently are heroes and do the right thing, those two (that trio?) are villains. They're just usually better than their opponents. They are not anti-heroes. Villains.
Which seems to be the norm for Erickson. I've only read a little of his Malazan series and it seems that the golden boy, the hero, worked for the Evil Dark Lord, and the troop of thugs, barely worth calling them soldiers, fights for right?
More reading of Steven Erickson's fiction is required.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Miss the 90s Jazz HipHop
And I'm sure someone will inform me it's still going on. Share the wealth. Name some bands.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Five For Fighting: Five science links for the afternoon of May, 2, 2012
Alpines being used to test equipment for future manned Mars mission.
Dinosaurs appear to have been plagued by pests ten times as big as modern fleas. Their "bite" would feel more like a flu shot than a flea bite.
Meteorite fragments that landed in California is of a rare type called chondrite. Chondrite contains carbon and organic materials such as amino acids and is suspected of seeding the Earth with the building blocks of life.
Spring is starting sooner than previous experiments have suggested.
And Death valley doubles for Mars as a test center for NASA's Curiosity rover.
Dinosaurs appear to have been plagued by pests ten times as big as modern fleas. Their "bite" would feel more like a flu shot than a flea bite.
Meteorite fragments that landed in California is of a rare type called chondrite. Chondrite contains carbon and organic materials such as amino acids and is suspected of seeding the Earth with the building blocks of life.
Spring is starting sooner than previous experiments have suggested.
And Death valley doubles for Mars as a test center for NASA's Curiosity rover.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Monday, April 23, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Sunday, March 25, 2012
"Casanova will be your doom"
The life and times of Casanova. Presenting the legendary lover as an intellectual.
Friday, March 23, 2012
Double Star Plus
A little on Alpha Centauri, a double* star system only 4.3 light years away.
*The third star, Proxima Centauri, is a red dwarf and yields no evidence it holds planets in it's orbit.
*The third star, Proxima Centauri, is a red dwarf and yields no evidence it holds planets in it's orbit.
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Methane Rain
Areas of Saturn's moon Titan will go 1000 years between rainfall. The Titan Mare Explorer will, if launched, land in Ligeia Mare and spend three months analyzing it's depth and chemistry.
Yes, But What is It?
NASA scientists analyze new pictures of Vesta transmitted from the Dawn spacecraft. Preliminary studies show material on the surface that appears to be unchanged since Vesta was formed 4b years ago.
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Starting to feel human today
Kirk Cameron appears to be upset that people are making fun of him for his homophobic comments. John Scalzi on the 1st Amendment.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Friday, March 2, 2012
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Blow the Horn.
More on rhinoceros poaching. The horn is believed to be a cure for cancer and male impotence.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Oh No
Virtual Reality Contact Lenses Could be Available by 2014
First multi car pileup caused by their use will be two weeks after they hit the market.
First multi car pileup caused by their use will be two weeks after they hit the market.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Gender Bias Literature Study, Day Three
All Things Considered looks at Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.
So one more for men and a book that probably doesn't need any help at the bookseller. Maybe.
So one more for men and a book that probably doesn't need any help at the bookseller. Maybe.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Gender Bias Literary Reviews Day 2
Diane Rehm interviews Adam Johnson about his novel, The Orphan Master's Son.
So, as of day two, two women and one man.
So, as of day two, two women and one man.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Gender Bias Literary Reviews, Day 1
A recent article in the Boston Phoenix commented on the lack of reviews on NPR for fiction written by women and strongly implied that there was a deliberate gender bias on the part of the network. As Diane Rehm and Terry Gross are two of their more popular hosts, I have a hard time accepting that they would skew more towards men. So form now to the end of February, I plan to to link to and add up NPR's literary reviews and interviews.
Margaux Fragoso reviews Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye.
Maureen Corrigan reviews An Available Man by Hilma Wolitzer.
Two literary reviews today, both women.
Margaux Fragoso reviews Margaret Atwood's Cat's Eye.
Maureen Corrigan reviews An Available Man by Hilma Wolitzer.
Two literary reviews today, both women.
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
For Reading Later
Superstuff: When Quantum Goes Big
Cool a piece of metal or a bucket of helium to near absolute zero and, in the right conditions, you will see the metal levitating above a magnet, liquid helium flowing up the walls of its container or solids passing through each other. "We love to observe these phenomena in the lab," says Ed Hinds of Imperial College, London.
This weirdness is not mere entertainment, though. From these strange phenomena we can tease out all of chemistry and biology, find deliverance from our energy crisis and perhaps even unveil the ultimate nature of the universe. Welcome to the world of superstuff.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Drill, Baby, Drill
We know that life can flourish in very hot deep sea vents. Now there is an expedition to explore Antarctica's Lake Ellsworth, a sub-glacial lake reasonable accessible, for signs of life and sediment samples to better understand the past climate.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The Rookery
I am strongly fighting the urge to write a short novel or novella and "publish" it in this blog. Working title: The Rookery.
If I do this, I plan to use the Clockwork Storybook 30 Day Challenge as a pacer to force me to finish, to get something down.
On one hand, I expect it'll come a cropper, trying to put first-ish draft prose up here on a daily basis and expect it to be not good but tolerable. On the other hand, writing means BIC and getting the words down so it can be fixed in subsequent drafts.
I know better. I know better. I know better.
Bugger.
The Rookery by James O. Veitch is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
If I do this, I plan to use the Clockwork Storybook 30 Day Challenge as a pacer to force me to finish, to get something down.
On one hand, I expect it'll come a cropper, trying to put first-ish draft prose up here on a daily basis and expect it to be not good but tolerable. On the other hand, writing means BIC and getting the words down so it can be fixed in subsequent drafts.
I know better. I know better. I know better.
Bugger.
The Rookery by James O. Veitch is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
Monday, January 9, 2012
Saturday, January 7, 2012
Somewhere Between Kin and Kind
Nature photographer, conservationist, and biotech entrepreneur John King had an incredibly rare encounter with a troop of mountain gorillas in Uganda's Bwindi Impenetrable National Park. The gorillas passed through his camp and stopped to observe him, with a grooming him.
The park is known to be home to 350 mountain gorillas, about half the number of known wild gorillas.
The park is known to be home to 350 mountain gorillas, about half the number of known wild gorillas.
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