There may be another big space race in the offing to put the first private manned spacecraft in orbit.
Category: Blog
The 2004 Ig Nobel Prizes
In what has become an annual tradition, I’m pleased to bring you the results of this year’s Ig Nobel Prizes, awarded by the science humour magazine Annals of Improbable Research to those who have done something that “first makes people laugh, then makes them think.” The awards were presented on September 30 at Harvard University …
Writing Diary: October 4, 2004
Well, that’s better! Tried to blog off and on all day (and last evening, too, come to think of it) and Blogger did not seem to be working. But, here I am! Not much to blog about at this hour, though. No science column today–that’s tomorrow’s duty since this is a non-CBC week. (Sniffle. I …
And the winner is…
The Ig Nobel Prizes have been handed out for 2004. Fish flatulence, hula hoops and more are featured. More details may very well be forthcoming in next week’s science column…
What do you serve with a thousand-year-old egg?
Ever wonder what you serve with that Chinese delicacy, the thousand-year-old egg? How about some 2,500-year-old-pomegranates?
A sweet step to nanotech nirvana
Nanotechnology, as any self-respecting SF reader or writer knows, has the potential to some day usher in utopia. But utopia can only be achieved one step at a time…one better-smelling step at a time.
Writing Diary: September 29, 2004
Yesterday: editing of the science column (scroll down to read about the flu shot), and a few pages of Excalibur Reforged; today, Excalibur Reforged and odds and ends. How’s that for being brief and to the point?
Bring back blimps!
I’m a big fan of airships–I’d love to fly in one and I’ve long mourned the demise of the Zeppelins of old–so I found this story interesting.
Be the first on your block…
…to own a Norman Roswell T-shirt.
One down, one to go for SpaceShipOne
SpaceShipOne made it to the edge of space and back again in today’s first official X-Prize flight. It had me on the edge of my seat with that roll on the way up, though…probably because it reminded me of the opening sequence of The Six Million Dollar Man.
The flu shot
The leaves are turning yellow, the nights are getting colder, and that can only mean one thing: a new season is upon us. Specifically, flu season, which last year, according to Health Canada, kicked off right here on the prairies at just about this time. With the advent of this new season comes a growing …
Writing Diary: September 27, 2004
Today I spent mostly on my science column–no fiction writing. The column, on influenza vaccinations (see it here tomorrow!) was harder to research than anticipated–mainly on the history side. Of course, when I finally did find a history of the development of the vaccine, it was an enormously detailed one, and all I wanted were …

