If you’re like me, not a day goes by that you don’t either photocopy, receive a fax, or print on a laser printer. In each case you’re using xerography (“dry writing”), one of the most remarkable inventions of the 20th century–and a technology we might not have if not for the dogged perseverance of its …
…of a sort. Doing an egoogle (that’s where you put your own name into Google; I just made it up–think it will catch on?) today (because it beats working), I discovered that Spirit Singer is currently the number five bestseller for teens at eReader.com, the ebookstore for Palm users. It ain’t the New York Times …
Science fiction stories have used the concept for decades to get around the long travel times to even the nearest stars; now the European Space Agency is planning serious research into suspended animation.
In honor of the many hundreds of hours of my college years that I spent on fantastical quests instead of studying, I point you to this interview with Gary Gygax, the father of Dungeons and Dragons, on the occasion of the game’s 30th anniversary.
Here’s an interesting article from the United Church Observer about the religious roots of science fiction.
While many of us were having a good time at ConVersion in Calgary, the Canadian Guest of Honor, Spider Robinson…wasn’t.
Back at work today after ten days’ break, and it’s a Monday, so today’s main writing task was the weekly science column. Today’s topic: xerography. It was 45 years ago that both I and the modern photocopying era were born, although the two things have nothing to do with each other–I assure you, I am …
…should it be good enough for me? Wired has decided that henceforth, the Internet will be the internet, the Web will be the web, and the Net will be the net. Wired should know, I guess. They argue that these things are simply types of media, and just as we don’t capitalize radio, television or …
Here I am singing “Me” from Beauty and the Beast in an impromptu concert in the hall outside the con-suite at ConVersion XXI in Calgary. That’s Hugo (and Nebula) Award-winning author Robert J. Sawyer on the right.
On the job, that is; vacation over, Con attended, zoo visited, child swum, etc. Blogging will now resume its usual highly erratic “pattern.”
What do you call an event where costumers mingle with bestselling authors, artists hang out with scientists, the Arrogant Worms perform, and the sight of knights in chainmail whacking each other with swords draws scant attention? A science fiction convention, of course—specifically, Calgary’s ConVersion XXI. This year’s guest of honour was best-selling SF and fantasy …
Too busy yesterday afternoon and evening to blog about the final day of ConVersion, but here I am now to fill you in on the finale. Sunday began with the brunch that all ConVersion members were encouraged to buy tickets for because it helped the con meet the food and beverage requirments set by the …
