…here’s another interview with a German climatologist (one who very much agrees climate is changing and we’re largely responsible, before you ask) taking issue with the tone of the discussion: “We Have to Take Away People’s Fear of Climate Change.”
Mrs. Beeton’s Ad of the Day
Another company that’s still around, although now in addition to being a food retailer they have “interests in financial services.” Their history is online. The section called “The Early Years,” below, takes the company right up to the time of his 1915 ad: Sainsbury’s was founded in 1869 by John James and Mary Ann Sainsbury. …
"So, how did it go?"
I’m sure that’s the question you’re dying to ask about my telephone conversation with my editor at DAW, Sheila Gilbert, earlier today. It went very well…it also went on for an hour and a half and produced five single-spaced pages of notes. I now have a couple of months to rewrite the whole thing and …
I wrote all that?
Yes, I guess I did: I just discovered the FantasticFiction page about myself. The site’s creators (or more likely their software) have donea better job of compiling everything I’ve written than I have! It’s a rather long list when you see it all strung out like that.
Plugging computer memory into the brain
Researchers have created computer chips that can talk to the brain, chips which could revolutionize the way we think about thinking, and how we treat various neurological disorders, including Alzheimer’s: “It’s the type of science that can change the world,” says Richard H. Granger, Jr., a professor of brain sciences who leads the Neukom Institute …
Mrs. Beeton’s Ad of the Day
Borwick’s was founded by George Borwick sometime in the 19th century–there are old ads for it all over the Web, including at the British Museum–and you can still buy their powders today. It was obviously a successful business: George Borwick got a barony out of it.
Marseguro update
I’ve finally heard from Sheila Gilbert at DAW regarding my new book (which she refers to as Marseguro, so maybe that actually will be the title); she’s going to call tomorrow to discuss some editorial revisions (a few things that need “fleshing out” and some “points we need to discuss for clarification”). Wish me luck! …
Amazing ancient acoustics accounted for
I’ve been to the ancient Greek ampitheatre at Epidaurus, built in the 4th century B.C. The acoustics really are incredible–you can hear a whisper on stage from the very top row. I was there with the Harding University A Cappella Chorus during our European tour in the summer of 1982. (Which was–gulp!–25 years ago, wasn’t …
Mrs. Beeton’s Bonus Ad of the Day
OK, just one more: “Patent Barley ‘in powder form’” is not something widely available today, but Robinson’s still exists, after a fashion. Apparently one mixed this stuff with hot water to make a drink. I’ll stick to coffee.
"Is the universe expanding or contracting?"
The science fiction universe, that is: Publisher’s Weekly has a cover story on the state of SF and fantasy publishing. My publisher, DAW, gets a mention although, alas, my book is not the “hot title” from them that gets mentioned.
Universal blood
Blood is always in demand, and not just by vampires. Blood transfusions mean the difference between life and death when people suffer traumatic injuries, or undergo major surgery. But there’s always been a problem with transfusions: people don’t all have the same blood type, and giving someone the wrong blood type is worse than giving …
Sour things taste sweet…
…thanks to this miraculous berry: People who eat the berry say that lemon juice tastes like lemonade and stout beer seems more like a milkshake. They add that after consuming Synsepalum dulcificum, rhubarb tastes like a sugar stick and strawberries taste like candy.Work is underway to commercialize the “miraculin” protein that causes this effect, so …
My latest live walk and vlog
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