This year’s annual bad s3x writing awards. I think that “bad” is modifying the “writing,” not the “s3x,” though in many cases, it appears to be both.
[Via Kathy Shaidle]
Category Archives: Social Commentary
Character
Thoughts on freedom, virtue and religion from Bill Whittle.
We Laugh
…so we can think better. Some interesting research on the role of humor.
Simpsons Fail
A lot have been complaining about The Simpsons going downhill over the past several years. I agree that there have been some egregious moments in the series, but overall, I still have found each episode mostly enjoyable. But not tonight. It may be possible to spoof Mad Men, but they certainly didn’t succeed. It’s the first time I can recall watching The Simpsons and not laughing. And that’s saying something. Whoever the writers were, they clearly don’t understand what they were satirizing at all. They may be too young.
[Monday morning update]
OK, I exaggerated. This was funny: “Why can’t I be funny with just my words? Bill Maher doesn’t put dangerous things near his crotch, except when he’s off work.” – Krusty Clown
Alcohol Was Involved
…as could have been easily predicted.
[Update a few minutes later]
Speaking of alcohol, Danielle Crittendon explodes the latest urban myth with good old-fashioned empiricism. The science is settled! But just to be sure, I think that Kari should do this on Mythbusters.
Too Busy Cooking To Blog
To all my American readers, have a happy and bountiful Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving
Rebel Romney
Willpower
An interesting excerpt from a new book on Henry Morton Stanley. There are some lessons in here that will be valuable to space colonists.
Changing The Conversation
I agree with Stephen Hawking that it is important to expand humanity into the universe, but…:
Stephen Hawking says the colonization of outer space is key to the survival of humankind, predicting it will be difficult for the world’s inhabitants “to avoid disaster in the next hundred years.”
The renowned astrophysicist explores some of the most remarkable advancements in technology and health with the new U.K.-Canadian series “Brave New World With Stephen Hawking,” debuting Saturday on Discovery World HD.
Before its premiere, he discussed the earth’s most pressing concerns in an email interview with The Canadian Press from Cambridge, England, declaring space exploration to be humankind’s most urgent mission.
“We are entering an increasingly dangerous period of our history,” said Hawking, who has Lou Gehrig’s disease, leaving him almost completely paralyzed and unable to speak.
Please stop using the E-word as though it’s synonymous with space settlement. It is not. It is a means to an end, and as long as the focus stays on “exploration,” it is easy for opponents of sending humans into space to say, “it’s cheaper with robots.” Unless you believe that robots will be our mind children (as some do), humanity is not going to settle space with robots. Every time you are about to say the phrase “space exploration,” stop yourself, and replace it with “space settlement.”
As an aside, for those who followed the link to Wikipedia, Jimmie Wales is not Hans Moravec. He’s not a douche, either. Or maybe he is. That one’s a matter of opinion, I guess. Anyway, as The Oatmeal points out, you get some pretty hilarious Wikipedia pages when Wales is doing a fundraiser. He should move his face over to the right side of the page, or something.