No one knows. But science fiction writer David Brin does an excellent job of summing up the possibilities in “Singularities and Nightmares: Extremes of Optimism and Pessimism about the Human Future.” It’s a long read, but well worth it. (Via Instapundit.)
Category: Blog
An age of miracles and wonders
Few people appreciate that medicine has advanced more since World War II than in all of earlier history. Read the whole New York Times article. Now, what was that about the “good old days”?
Merry Christmas!
More photos here.
Photo of the Day: Cellphone Christmas
Quite Impressionistic, isn’t it? More photos here.
Flying reindeer continue to fly high…
…atop this week’s list of search terms bringing people to edwardwillett.com, a.k.a. Edward Willett’s Intergalactic Library. Here are the top 15, with links to where they take you on the site: 63 flying reindeer 54 christmas chemistry 31 animal intelligence 29 chemistry christmas 28 collosal squid 25 christmas physics 24 let it snow 20 hygiene …
I can see clearly now…
…my transistors are transparent: Imagine a car windshield that displays a map to your destination, military goggles with targets and instructions displayed right before a soldier’s eyes or a billboard that doubles as a window. Only in science fiction you say? Northwestern University researchers report that by combining organic and inorganic materials they have produced …
The Chronicles of Narnia vs. His Dark Materials
Philip Pullman explictly says his fantasy trilogy (I seem to remember reading somewhere that he doesn’t like it to be called “fantasy,” but fantasy it is, however he feels about it) is an atheistic answer to Lewis’s allegorical and Christian Narnia series. I enjoyed His Dark Materials for the most part, but I think Catherine …
Sword-swallowing safety tips:
Concentrate. For instance, if there is a misbehaving macaw on your shoulder, ignore it. Avoid unusual swords, such as curved sabers. Don’t try to swallow multiple swords at a time. Safety tips you can use, courtesy of the British Medical Journal.
Colossal calamari caught on camera:
Japanese scientists herald live giant squid footage (from PhysOrg.com): Japanese scientists have released what they say could be the first live video footage of the elusive giant squid, exposing some of the creature’s underwater secrets. Note this is a giant squid, not a colossal squid, which I only mention because “colossal squid” is a search …
Which science fiction writer are you?
Well, I’m Edward Willett, of course, but according to the quiz in question, I am: Robert A. Heinlein Beginning with technological action stories and progressing to epics with religious overtones, this take-no-prisoners writer racked up some huge sales numbers. Which science fiction writer are you? Which ain’t bad.
Would you buy a book from this machine?
It’s the Espresso from On Demand Books, and books is what it brews: The machine can produce two books simultaneously in seven minutes, a time which includes all the printing, binding and cutting involved. The machine even slaps a snazzy laminated full-color cover on its creations. Cost: about five cents per page. So a 300-page …
"Moths drink the tears of sleeping birds…"
…is how this story about Madagascarian insect life is headlined, but never mind the science: doesn’t “Moths drink the tears of sleeping birds…” sound like the start to a wonderfully evocative poem by some terribly sensitive poet? Something like: Moths drink the tearsOf sleeping birds;I drink up beersAnd slur my words. *Sniff.* Brings a lump …
My latest live walk and vlog
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