…and the age of the fake nerd.
I suppose that’s still better than taking pride in your ignorance of math, as some do. As I noted on Twitter yesterday, it’s OK to like Star Wars, as long as you don’t delude yourself that it’s science fiction.
[Wednesday-morning update]
Star Wars TFA has a perfection problem. Note (FWIW) that Megan is married to SF film critic Peter Suderman.
[Bumped]
RAH Expanded Universe
“Span of time is important; the 3-legged stool of understanding is held up by history, languages, and mathematics. Equipped with these three you can learn anything you want to learn. But if you lack any one of them you are just another ignorant peasant with dung on your boots.”
No one should take pride is being ignorant of any of the three legs.
I call them science groupies. You see them all over Twitter – people who wouldn’t know a differential equation from a quadratic equation lecturing others on Global Warming and the meaning of “science”.
You don’t have to be a scientist or a mathematician to be a nerd though.
As I said before, I think Ed is hurting the Instapundit brand. This post is a good example. Teachout’s post makes a decent point, but as a commenter put it, a person who didn’t like Star Wars, didn’t like the latest iteration of Star Wars. As much as a point was made, not much other information was provided.
Then there is the banality that is the DailyMail article. As I noted at Insty, they ask why would a single guard be left guarding a prisoner in manacles. Why wouldn’t she be left alone, heavily restrained, with a single armed guard, in a middle of a detention facility with roving guards outside the door? Previously, the DailyMail noted she is just a junk trader. That’s exactly what everyone, including her, thinks she is when she is left alone, restrained, with a single armed guard. Further, how is any of that a plot hole? The DailyMail article is nothing but clickbait, which is the normal trope from Ed.
A strange thing about Ed coming on board is the increased links to Ace of Spades HQ and the return of links from them to Instapundit.
One of the things that really bugs me about Ed is his misuse of the term, “To coin” and frequent read it alls.
The strength of Reynolds was his very concise commentary while providing links to interesting articles and good use of quotes to let the articles speak for themselves. He saves up his words for his columns and even then exercises an amazing economy of words.
I noticed some additional linkage, but mostly in ONT. That doesn’t bother me too much, because I read AoSHQ. However, I am wary of echo chambers.
Ed does have a noticeable style, and my dislike of his commentary makes his style seem annoying too. I’ve had enough Shot/Chasers.
Overall, it is the Insty style I like, and Wodun nails it. It is the economy of words. Even Sarah Hoyt can pull it off. The occasional long text, such as Elizabeth Foley’s is fine b/c it is rare. And where Glenn will repeat a point (e.g. Teach Women Not To Rape), do so with just a few words as a theme.
Well, I found the comparison to Robin Hood interesting. I saw Star Wars as a kid. Had no idea how much of it was essentially lifted directly from movies like Midway and Dam Busters.
And Hidden Fortress, among others.
Ah, yes, I think I heard that once, too. Never saw it. But, as Steve Jobs liked to say, talent imitates, genius steals, right?
I saw a link earlier this week (ill have to find it again), but it was the original Star Wars (A New Hope) entirely done with scenes from other movies that Lucas essentially “borrowed”, which is Teachout’s point about homage. Still, a comparison, or stealing others ideas, is not a plot hole.
I should note; I didn’t think TFA was good. The best pithy comment I heard is “the villain is someone with daddy issues”. What seems worse is the yet untold backstory (perhaps it will be filled in later, but not fully explaining something is not a plot hole) suggests really lame daddy issues. It’s doubtful that his parents were abusive. Is Kylo Ren suffering from Afluenza too?
Which is interesting, because he must have stolen that quote from Oscar Wilde.
Why do people assume his daddy issues were the cause of his turning to the Dark Side, rather than the result? If he were that messed up to begin with, I doubt he would have been picked for Luke’s Jedi Academy.
Nah, Luke was just doing Han and his sister a favor by taking in their son. Super Girl is almost certainly Luke’s long lost daughter. And Fin didn’t know his parents so there’s going to be some back story there as well.
Super Girl is almost certainly Luke’s long lost daughter.
It would seem that way, but Jedi are supposed to be celibate. And you remember what happened the last time someone broke *that* rule. I hope they at least deal with that, if she is his daughter.
Could be in-vitro. Surely, a civilization that can travel through hyperspace can reproduce without sex.
Aaaaah, no.
From 633 Squadron, starring Cliff Robertson, who was an actual pilot.
He tried to buy one of the Mosquitos used in the movie but no one would sell. It’s great to see that there’s an airworthy Mosquito again.
Cyool!
I’ve often wondered how comic strip writers can keep coming up with new material day after day after day. I bet they all have thick binders of every strip they ever loved that they mine periodically.
Maybe I picked the wrong career.
George Lucas always said Star Wars was not science fiction. The term he used was “science fantasy.” Although, “space fiction” or “space fantasy” would be more accurate.
Although, I’m not sure why SF fans who are so hard on Star Wars generally love 2001, with its LSD trip and giant space baby.
If you have to categorize Star Wars, the best choice is not science fiction or any other movie genera, but a movie genera. It’s a 1930’s serial, with a modern budget and modern special effects. Viewed in that light, it’s a remarkable accomplishment (which is not to say everyone has to like it).
OTOH, I get very irked when I hear people say Marvel’s Avengers is science fiction. No. Just, no.
OTOH, I get very irked when I hear people say Marvel’s Avengers is science fiction. No. Just, no.
But Tony develops AI! It is so like Bill Nye, Science Guy!
Another useful phrase: Space Opera.