You know the drill–some things that I found worthy of some comment:
- I quite liked Julie Rehmeyer’s short piece on the math scholars who accidentally solved an astrophysics problem. It’s got all the good stuff: pure math, astrophysics (come on, “gravity lensing” just sounds cool, even without any context), serendipity, and above all a good science journalist doing the writeup, and making the story clear for the layman. Ever since James Burke blew my mind back in the early 90s
Yeah, the series is from the 70s, but I didn’t see it until the 90s. with Connections, I’ve just loved the stories that highlight secret history (and the highly non-linear nature) of science. Sometime this week I’m going to dig through the rest of Rehmeyer’s “Math Trek” columns and see what other jewels are lurking in there. - Speaking of science, did you see the article where current research finds that heterosexual women find naked women more arousing than naked men? I’m sure it will be heavily covered in Maxim and other similar science magazines for intellectuals. (Jokes aside, the research in the article doesn’t surprise me, except for the bit about women getting turned on by monkeys.)
- One of the books currently sitting in my to be read queue is the limited edition of Lewis Shiner‘s Black & White. You can beat me to reading this, even if you didn’t buy a copy, since Shiner has put it, along with a ridiculous amount of his short fiction, online for free. Take a look at his manifesto in which he explains why he’s doing this, and expresses his plan to eventually get all his short work up there. Hopefully this will get some people to buy his awesome-and-yet-somehow-under-the-radar books. Speaking of those books, in my opinion Say Goodbye was note perfect (in fact, I bought several copies to give to friends–both people working in music, and people who would understand what Shiner was saying about how hard work and excellence don’t necessarily suffice to “make it”, despite how those who do later construct their successes), and Slam, another fine book, has one of my favourite passages
It’s the bit near the beginning about travelling to find the important knowledge/jigsaw puzzles/how Greyhound goes to the other side; page 9 in my TPB edition , from any book, in it. If you still need convincing, check out Shiner talking about the book in one of Scalzi’s Big Idea posts. - I would not be exaggerating if I said I have an entire drawer full of AC adapters for various devices. At some point along the way I got smart and started labelling the blocks so I would know what device they went with, which has saved me some pain. What I’d really like, though, is to be able to get rid of them all, and have my myriad devices start using standard plugs so I could use a single, standard adapter. Well, it seems like Westinghouse is going to push for that now. And they’re throwing in a few environmental bonuses, as well. Here’s hoping that gets done.
- Charlie Stross pointed out this video showing how fabricator technology can be used in some very dystopian ways. Even more than the device created and the implications of fabricators that Charlie is interested in, I thought the way this item was presented was indicative of something. Something that spooks me. I think I’m with Bowie now.
- The philosophy quiz Will pointed to a couple of days ago tells me that I am 100% an existentialist. I wouldn’t describe myself that way–although I absolutely would say that I believe it is up to us to imbue life with meaning–but it’s probably the closest of the available choices. When I have to pigeonhole myself, I always like to chose “erisian zen metadramatic humanist”
You know, quite a bit of KSR, a little bit of Cam Benares, and a touch of Malacylpse the Younger. but that never seems to show up on the lists. - This seems to be the month of entertaining reviews of wretched books. It’s no OH JOHN RINGO NO, but this one is also pretty good. Of course, this is essentially self-published, so it’s less shocking than a book from a decently-sized publisher.
- Now, don’t hold back Mr. Disch… tell us how you really feel about the passing of Algis Budrys. I love this kind of stuff. I always thought the whole “don’t speak ill of the dead” thing was overplayed in our society–yes, I should keep my mouth shut when I’m around people who are hurting from loss–that’s just simple courtesy, but it definitely stops at the point of keeping my mouth shut. I don’t have to lie–I never really bought that whole “pretend I liked or respected him because he’s dead now” thing. Whether or not there’s any point in speaking the negative truth of your opinions in places where you assume people won’t be hurt is debatable, but it is certainly refreshing to see someone do it.
- It will not surprise you to know that I hold the whole idea of “teach the controversy” for evolution vs creation in utter, utter disdain. Therefore, you won’t be surprised that I am quite amused by the teach the controversy t-shirts. I think the periodic table one is my favourite.
- I have been secretly hoping, for a while now, that the rising price of gas would mean less required business travel for me. It appears my logic was sound–or at least one prominent economist thinks so.
