I always thought the truly original idea contained in the tales of I Robot was Susan Calvin acting as a psychologist to…
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Watched I Robot while practicing work avoidance yesterday. What a steaming pile of crap based on the title of a book with the same name! You know a movie's in bad shape when even it sqaunders Will Smith's considerable charm, but I Robot's biggest flaw was that it abandoned almost everything from Asimov,except the three laws (good) and a very 1940's view of what robots would be. Who needs mechanical manservants when everyday objects perform more and more of our chores?
I'm fascinated by blimps. I've also always wondered why they weren't used more for hauling cargo, especially stuff that didn't fit neatly into road-width containers. National Geographic says I'm not the only one.
This is perfect. Read while drinking at great peril to your monitor and keyboard.
Addicting website featuring Don Ellis' stunning photographs and words (sometimes) and layout (mostly) that "clarifies" the statement.
Via Grow-a-Brain
Beethoven conducts Fidelio, Louis Spohr remembers in the February 7, 1865 edition of The Guardian.
You know, because, at first, all I had was the Arcam Solo, and the Arcam Solo does everything. It's a good-looking, easy-to-use, single-box multi-purpose solution; a CD playing, AM/FM receiving, integrated amplifying dreamboat of a component. It does everything I want it to do, does it all very well, and takes up almost no space and draws very little attention to itself while doing it. I love it. If you're interested in a fun and easy, one-stop ride into the high-end, then I think you should definitely get to know the Solo. But, like Reading Rainbow, you don't have to take my word for it…
I did some work for Muzak once and made the mistake of calling it "music" within the hearing of my boss. He corrected me, "It is a work enhancement technology." Muzak, he explained, was designed to operate subliminally and different programs were designed to have different effects. Office music was designed to keep you focused and working briskly, whereas shopping music was designed to chill you out and make you linger, perhaps to buy more.
A new study suggests that music can affect your choice of wine. Is that manipulation? Is Muzak? Are either of them worse than paying for shelf placement…
Do conspiracy theories displace critical engagement with public life in favor of a fascination with the private lives and personal interest of a mistrusted class (specifically politicians)?
Frank Furedi seems to think so.
Okay, last week we gave a shout out to great first lines; now let's give the last line some.
I concur with the choice of The Code of the Woosters, BTW.
Phil Plait, over at Bad Astronomy is outraged over the meddling of George Deutsch in NASA's press releases about science matters. Deutsch, a 24-year-old political appointee and college dropout, is entitled to his opinions on scientific matters, of course, but it does seem—shall we say presumptuous?—to insist on editing real scientists on matters of scientific "accuracy."
But that's just my opinion. Plait makes his case so well, I really don't need to add my 2¢.
Just as I was about to post this, I saw that the NYT announced Deutsch's resignation. It's still a great read, so I'll post…