A web site about physics and other things
vttoth — July 11th, 2009
Hah! I just happened upon the blog site of my favorite British writer, actor, and tall person: John Cleese.
I especially enjoyed the video interview with him made shortly before last year’s American presidential elections.
Categories: Pop culture | No Comments
vttoth — March 15th, 2009
I’m watching a horrible movie (“Recon 2020“) and in an attempt to find out what it is about, I happened upon a Web page where I read this:
“Action packed lots and lots of monster killing. You know all the stuff sci-fi fans love.”
No. That’s not what sci-fi fans like. Or, at least, that’s not what this here sci-fi fan likes.
I grew up on the sci-fi of the likes of Asimov, Clarke, the Strugatsky brothers, Lem, or for that matter, Verne and Wells. Science fiction that contemplated the future of humanity, the role of science and technology, our destiny, the dangers we face, our chance of survival, our responsibilities. THAT’s what science fiction means to me. I don’t mind action and monsters, if well done it can even be fun, but no action or monster killing can make up for the absence of a credible plot and a meaningful story.
Categories: Film, Pop culture | No Comments
vttoth — December 22nd, 2008
This is not what I usually expect to see when I glance at CNN:
CNN and integrals
It almost makes me believe that we live in a mathematically literate society. If only!
The topic, by the way, was a British Medical Journal paper on brain damage caused by a dancing style called headbanging. I must say, even though I grew up during the disco era, I never much liked dancing. But, for what it’s worth, I not only know how to do integrals, I actually enjoy doing them…
Categories: Health, Mathematics, Pop culture, Television | No Comments
