Category: Uncategorized
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Check out the opening rush at the booksellers room at Readercon–You can see how seriously people still take books here. David Hartwell is back there behind several customers. And there was serious interest in my students’ poster, actually intended for the Gordon Conference this week. “Real science” at Readercon–people were thrilled. At Readercon we had…
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On my way out to Readercon and the Microbial Stress Gordon Conference, I leave you with this one great profile of Gene Sharp that speaks for itself. What do you think? Is a lone man in his study the dictator’s worst nightmare?
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Our usually tranquil summer in tree-lined Gambier has been rocked by storms and power-outs, and by a major controversy over outsourcing at Kenyon College. The crisis came when a maintenance workers’ union contract ended and the College announced that a subset of workers including “skilled trades” and supervisors would be transferred to employment by a…
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At the Campbell conference it was great seeing Jim Gunn, and hearing about his intriguing new novel working its way through Tor. I will always remember the first call I received 25 years ago from Jim, a few days after the birth of my son, so I could not then travel to accept the award.…
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Independence Day in Gambier. My microbiology students here for the summer were told to celebrate the holiday, although one plans to start “overnight cultures,” and I’m plotting the punch list for our next publication. Recently in San Francisco, at the ASM meeting, Keith Martinez (blue shirt) explained acid-stressed biofilms to a rapt audience. Dan Riggins…
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I would like to thank the Campbell Award Jury for honoring The Highest Frontier with the John W. Campbell Award. The award surprised me in that the Campbell jury rarely honors a book by a previous Campbell recipient. I am grateful for their notice, especially given the impressive list of finalists including co-winner The Islanders…
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The ACA survives. By a hair, just like in novels. Like everything else these days. NPR has a nice feed. This is not an end, but a beginning. The woes of Medicare, Medicaid, Medigap–don’t get me started. Nevertheless, a glimmer; those of us who have marginal relatives (who doesn’t?) might someday be able to retire.…
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Breaking news: According to the Herald Scotland, the existence of the Loch Ness monster is being used to disprove evolution in Louisiana schools. And governor Jindal’s state funds for private schools are paying for it. Why Nessie? Recall that, according to young-earth creationists, all species that exist now existed at the beginning–and vice versa. Thus,…
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In Egypt, democracy advances with Mohammed Morsi declared the winner of Egypt’s first competitive presidential election. While Morsi’s Muslim credentials get lots of play, the foot of the article reluctantly notes that he is an American-educated engineer with a PhD from U-SoCal. Based on my own (very limited) observations of California life (downtown San Francisco),…
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Whenever I review a manuscript for the American Society for Microbiology journals, a box must be checked as to whether the submitted paper might have dual use. Dual use means, loosely, any technology that might serve both peaceful and military uses. I hope I never check that box by mistake (it happens) because, in recent…
Joan Slonczewski 