Anathem
Anathem is Neil Stephenson’s new book.
- Anathem on the Long Now Foundation
- Anathem on Amazon: Two short clips of Stephenson (reading an excerpt & talking about the book.)
Archive for the 'News' Category
Twenty-five people with albinism have been murdered in Tanzania since March, a BBC investigation has found.
Yet more attrocities commited in the name of religion.
The latest victim was a seven-month-old baby. He was mutilated on the orders of a witchdoctor peddling the belief that potions made from an albino’s legs, hair, hands, and blood can make a person rich.
… I just found out that I have the rather high AQ of 37. Well, it was not much of a surprise to me. Hey, at least my IQ is higher! (I won’t say how high - I wouldn’t want to embarrass you.)
“Life is worth losing”, George Carlin once said. Well, he’s lost it, and the world just isn’t as funny anymore. I hope he’ll give god an earful. If anyone can, it’s this bearded fella.
So long, George!
Bo Diddley died two weeks ago, on the 2th of June. I didn’t have much to say then. I don’t know much about his life, but I do know he Rocked this world as hard as he could in his 80 years, and the schokwave will keep on goin’.
So ladies, and gentlemen, I give you
Who do you love?
I walk 47 miles of barbed wire,
I use a cobra-snake for a necktie,
I got a brand new house
on the roadside,
Made from rattlesnake hide,
I got a brand new
chimney made on top,
Made out of a human skull,
Now come on take a walk
with me, Arlene,
And tell me, who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Tombstone hand and a graveyard mine,
Just 22 and I don’t mind dying.
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
I rode around the town, use
a rattlesnake whip,
Take it easy Arlene,
don’t give me no lip,
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Night was dark, but the sky was blue,
Down the alley, the ice-wagon flew,
Heard a bump, and somebody screamed,
You should have heard
just what I seen.
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Arlene took me by my hand,
And she said ooowee Bo, you
know I understand.
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
Who do you love?
A bill intended to protect blind people and other pedestrians from the dangers posed by quiet cars will be introduced Wednesday in Congress.
The measure would require the Secretary of Transportation to establish safety standards for hybrids and other vehicles that make little discernible noise, including an audible means for alerting people that the cars are nearby.
Is making cars louder the wisest, and most effective, choice? Are the blind really at risk? And if so, if the purpose is to protect as many people as possible, are they the majority of pedestrians killed in car accidents? I do wonder if this is not just another case of politicians reacting to a sympathetic, and vocal, lobby. And making cars louder does seem a ridiculous idea.
References:
Congress to take up issue of silent hybrid cars.
News release by congressman Ed Towns.
The bill.