…becoming too conventional? A review of his latest book.
[Update a couple minutes later]
A new book about the high frontier, and an accompanying 3-D space colony app.
[Update a few minutes later]
An interview with Stephenson about the book.
Category Archives: Popular Culture
A Dubious Honor
Jason Hanson has been kicking for the Lions for twenty years, apparently an NFL record. It’s been a rough two decades, but maybe this season will make up for it.
Arrrr
It be that time of the year again, maties, to talk like a pirate.
John Stewart
I’ve never been as impressed with him as I’m supposed to be.
Here’s a long explanation why:
Was Jon Stewart being a dick when he was subjecting Jim Cramer to enhanced interrogation? Sure he was. He was also being a dick when he called Tucker Carlson a dick, and when he was preaching to Chris Wallace. But here’s the thing: It doesn’t matter. What matters is that even when Stewart’s a dick, he is never the dick. It is Stewart’s unique talent for coming across as decent and well-meaning when he’s bullying and hectoring and self-righteous. And this is because his talent is not just for comedy and not just for media criticism or truth-telling; it’s for being — for remaining — likable.
I think it’s a travesty that so many young people get their news from him and think they understand what’s going on.
So Much For The Spartans
I thought that Notre Dame was a much better team than their record, and they showed it today. Michigan was very lucky to get out alive, but the Spartans looked over-ranked today. They probably won’t drop out of the polls completely, but they never should have been at 15. It will still be a tough game against them in October for the Wolverines, though, because it always is. But the way Michigan played today, they may be able to go into that game 6 and 0. Which is a nice way for a first-year coach to start.
[Sunday morning update]
Ignoring the Spartans, which did fall out of the polls, it’s been a pretty good sports weekend for the Great Lakes State. The Lions are tromping the Chiefs, and if the Panthers can come back against Green Bay, they may be at the top of the division, with Chicago going down to the Saints. And the Wolverines are now ranked at #22. Prematurely, I think. Not to mention that the magic number for the Tigers has been zero for more than a couple days now. Their first time in the playoffs in almost a quarter of a century, I think, not counting wild cards.
This Won’t Be Good For The Rocket Racing League
Many people have been killed and injured at the Reno Air Races. It was a vintage plane (reportedly a Mustang) and things can go wrong. The rocket racers will be more modern, and presumably safer, but there will be a lot of emotional arguments against allowing a crowd anywhere near them after this.
[Update a few minutes later]
Here’s some video. Looks to me like it could have been a lot worse — the pilot seems to have tried to minimize the damage. I’d hope do the same in similar circumstances — I suspect it’s a natural reaction. You don’t want to die, but you don’t want to fly into a crowd, either.
The Invasion
…of the earbud people.
I do have to wonder about someone who seems afraid to be alone with their own thoughts. Of course, I don’t wear them because they hurt my ears.
Oh, Goody
There’s going to be a hearing in the House Science Committee next Monday, and guess who is on the witless list?
Scheduled witnesses are Neil Armstrong, Gene Cernan, and Mike Griffin, so you can kind of guess the hearing’s theme already.
Why oh why couldn’t Rohrabacher have gotten that chairmanship?
[Update a few minutes later]
I just got an update from Jeff Foust; the hearing is actually scheduled for next Thursday, the 22nd. Not that it makes it any better.
911 And Science Fiction
Are the books not being written, or not being published?
One And Oh
Well, the Lions tried to lose the game against Tampa Bay at the end, as is their wont, but didn’t quite succeed. And the Tigers have now won nine straight. They’d have to have a monumental collapse now to not win the division. It’s a good sports weekend for the Great Lake State.
By the way, I almost felt sorry for Notre Dame last night. Almost.