The Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) have announced the final ballot for this year’s Nebula Awards, made up of the top vote-getters from the preliminary ballot, which is a list of all the stories that received at least 10 recommendations from active members of SFWA by the end of 2006. The final …
Category: Blog
Rise of the ray-guns
“Set phasers on stun!” Captain Kirk used to order his crew, the usual preference of the United Federation of Planets being to avoid killing aliens, no matter how bad their make-up, if at all possible. Alas, in the real world, we don’t always have that option. Aside from the Taser, which zaps people with an …
My apologies for the light blogging…
…I’ve been struggling with computer problems that culminated today in my taking my desktop machine to the shop. Then I spent several more hours getting my laptop (on which I’m writing this) set up as my temporary desktop machine. By way of making amends, I offer several photos taken while I was strolling around the …
Bigelow’s big plans
Bigelow Aerospace has big plans for Earth orbit–and beyond: Even as Bigelow Aerospace gears up for launching its second prototype space station into orbit, the company has set its sights on something much, much bigger: a project to assemble full-blown space villages at a work site between Earth and the moon, then drop them to …
New specimen of colossal squid landed
New Zealand fishermen have landed a half-ton, 39-foot-long colossal squid, probably the largest specimen ever recovered. I once wrote a science column about colossal squid (which are a different species from giant squid). I like this paragraph: “I can assure you that this is going to draw phenomenal interest. It is truly amazing,” said Dr. …
Back to the Moon
Popular Mechanics explains the plans. I’m really happy we’re heading back to the moon, but I found this paragraph depressing: It took pilots 50 years to progress from scarf-and-goggles barnstorming to setting down footprints on the Sea of Tranquility; it will have taken another half-century for us to return to the moon. Sigh. Oh, and …
Bonus Photo of the (Yester)Day: Berries and Bricks
More photos here.
Photo of the (Yester)Day: Church Lamp
More photos here.
Stick it where the sun shines:
A Swiss entrepreneur says his thin-film solar panels will provide power more cheaply than fossil fules within five years: Even though solar technology has made significant gains since the 1970s when it cost $100 per watt (now it’s $3 to $4 per watt), that sweet spot of beating out fossil fuels is $1 per watt. …
Score one for us loners:
According to a new study, group thinking clouds decision-making: People have a harder time coming up with alternative solutions to a problem when they are part of a group, new research suggests. I think every organization should seriously look into this problem, perhaps by striking a committee. Oh, wait…
Free 2007 science fiction swimsuit calendar!
Every year The Web Site @ the End of the Universe creates a free downloadable science fiction calendar. This year, it’s the swimsuit edition! (That’s Miss January at left.)
The irrationality of political beliefs
Monday was Family Day in Saskatchewan, and probably more than one family that got together that day set a dinner-time rule: “Don’t talk about politics.” Political disagreements, unlike run-of-the-mill disagreements, tend to turn hot very quickly. And that’s just one way they’re unusual, says Michael Huemer of the University of Colorado in Boulder. In “Why …
My latest live walk and vlog
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