Defending Science and Science Fiction

Wednesday, June 29th, 2011

I wanted to point out two great articles standing up for things I think are wonderful and positive. First, John DeNardo of sfsignal.com writes a thoughtful and balanced positive plea to literary types to read science fiction, in particular knocking down a number of misconceptions that might make some pass.  This is the kind of […]

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What’s Right and Wrong with the Hugo Awards

Wednesday, May 4th, 2011

The Hugo awards are based on fan voting for various science fiction and fantasy categories, such as best novel.  Hugo winners have always been part of my ongoing reading list my entire life. First of all, one of the things that’s right this year:  my buddy Jay Lake is one of the hosts of the […]

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What’s Really Wrong with our Space Policy

Wednesday, October 13th, 2010

There are issues about private industry vs. government, moon vs. Mars, each country for itself or in collaboration, etc., but these, I feel, pale in comparison with the real issue. This week President Obama signed the NASA Authorization Act of 2010, a 3 year plan for NASA’s spending that also clarifies NASA priorities for the […]

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Intellectual Integrity is the Coin of the Realm of Science

Monday, September 27th, 2010

I try not to use this blog as a platform only to rant, but I do rant from time to time.   Things do get me upset, and strong emotions (good are bad) are good starting places for meaningful writing.   I have a strong sense of justice and fairness, so I never have a lack of […]

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It’s Got to be Tough to be an Astronaut (Poll on Future of Manned Space Program)

Friday, June 11th, 2010

I have mixed feelings about the path Obama has chosen to take with NASA.   I hate it when discussions develop along mindless political lines, like how some conservatives say that private industry is always better than the government (it is sometimes but not other times), how some liberals and libertarians think that the government has […]

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Themes in Science Fiction: Cultural Relativism and Absolute Morality

Friday, May 14th, 2010

Does Captain Kirk follow the Prime Directive — not to interfere with a developing alien species, or does he choose to do the right thing as he sees it? Does the team on Stargate: SG1 let the people on an alien world follow their own laws, or try to impose their own moral sensibilities upon […]

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AAS Action Alert 2009-01: Call Your Members of Congress and Have Them Support Science in Stimulus Bill

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

From the American Astronomical Society (AAS).   It is specifically calling astronomers to action, but anyone, in the sciences or not, should be encouraged now to call their members of Congress and ask the to support science in the stimulus bill.   It’s a little trickier for me bring in Brazil at the moment, but modern internet […]

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