Gravity Lens Weblog

Archive January 1 -16 2006

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Monday, January 16

Tonight is the Night of January 16th.

Future Tech: Better Humans gets us up to speed on nanoscale computer memory.

Technovelgy looks at transmitting orders to combat soldiers via scent.

USA Today reports on using algae farms to reduce smokestack emissions.

Christian Science Monitor examines ideas for future space exploration robotics.

Friday, January 13

Sean Huxter at SciFi Weekly reviews the pricey new foot-long Space: 1999 Eagle Transporter replica. It's made by Product Enterprise, which has sold a lot of nice Gerry Anderson toys, including the ultimate geek trinket: a gold-plated Eagle in a satin-lined box.

Assorted Items: The good news is SciFi Channel will be airing the new Dr. Who series in March. The bad news is the DVD has been moved back to July.

Robin Lloyd of LiveScience informs us that geniuses are just like us.

Warren Ellis introduces us to Indianapolis' newest superheroes: the duo of Mr. Silent and Doktor DiscorD. I love the idea of costumed heroes with blogs.

Finally, How to Cook with Lava.

Thursday, January 12

Two words: Space Tornado!

Some plugs: Many of you know I'm a big fan of steam-driven adventure stories. Well, yesterday I took delivery on my copy of Jess Nevins' Encyclopedia of Fantastic Victoriana. It is a handsome (and hefty) print edition of his wonderful website. The book is pricey, but fortunately Amazon has it a little cheaper. Either way, it is well worth it.

Here's what Agony Column said about it.

The esteemed Mr. Nevins also wrote a pair of companion books to Alan Moore's The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which you should also own.

Full disclosure: a couple years back Nevins gave me some wonderful quotes that I used on a publicity flyer for this humble website that managed to drum up some traffic, so I am indebted to him.

Also on that flyer were some kind words from friend and fellow SF fan, metalhead, and transhumanist George Dvorsky of Better Humans. I've neglected to mention that George is blogging again, and y'all should frequent his site Sentient Developments. He speaks of matters of importance and moral weight.

Wednesday, January 11

There will soon be action figures of GWAR!

Newsarama is posting the entire first issues of some new Image comics this week. So far they've done two of my favorites: Fell by Warren Ellis and Ben Templesmith, and Rick Remender and Tony Moore's science fiction adventure Fear Agent.

Tuesday, January 10

Our galaxy is being infiltrated!

After a close-to-three year wait, the second chord in John Cage's 639-year long composition organ2/ASLSP was played last week in Halberstadt, Germany. My favorite part is that the chord "is to be held down over the next few years by weights."

If that's a little too peppy for you, don't forget you can still listen to a live stream of the computer-composed Longplayer, set to last a thousand years.

Monday, January 9

The Weekly World News reports that without the extra mass provided by fat people, the universe would tear itself apart.

Via Grow-A-Brain: The Steely Dan Dictionary, an "A-Z glossary of over 80 obscure words, people and places — all taken from the lyrics of Steely Dan songs."

I got a good chuckle from the story last week that Richard Branson and Deepak Chopra were starting a comics/animation studio, but I have to say this preview art is pretty sweet.

On a related note, here's a blog that keeps tabs on everyone who worked for Crossgen.

Y'know, it'd be nice if I could get a new issue of The Red Star sometime soon...

Saturday, January 7

Robert Fripp has recorded the assorted sounds you'll hear in the next Windows OS.

Space.com has some neat future spaceflight wallpapers by digital artist David Robinson available for download.

Friday, January 6

Science Fiction Tech: Doug Vakoch at Space.com looks at planetary asteroid defense.

Ian Johnston at The Scotsman tells the U.S. Gov't is looking into hyperdrive.

Technovelgy updates us on the cool-looking Dynalifter airship, which launches this Spring.

Thursday, January 5

The January Molecule of the Month is Batrachotoxin.

With both Burlyman's Doc Frankenstein and DC's Seven Soldiers: Frankenstein coming out today, let's revisit Dial B for Blog's tribute to the big galut. And let's not forget Frankenstein Mobster, Frankenstein Jr., and Death Race 2000.

Also check out Dial B's current feature on How to Join the Justice League.

The latest Modern Drunkard gives us some public service posters, a history of women drinkers, and visits the Six Circles of Hangover Hell.

Kelly Young of New Scientist Space tells us 2006 will be a busy year.

Wednesday, January 4

Locus reminds us that The Website at the End of the Universe has made its wonderful pulp science fiction calendar available as a PDF download.

Jason Davis of Cinescape warns us that the television show title sequence is vanishing.

Tuesday, January 3

Here you go: a daily Christian scripture podcast, entirely in Klingon. There's also an online Klingon Bible. You may be asking "Why would the Klingons accept Christ?"

For my Jewish friends, here's some Klingon Klezmer.

UPDATE: Geekpress links to these Klingon Personal Ads at McSweeney's.

Taylor Dinerman of The Space Review looks at America's New Ray Guns.

Leonard David of Space.com visits the future site if the New Mexico Space Port.

Here's some neat images of space ports.

Monday, January 2

For those who care, Bad Day Studio had just under 200,000 unique visitors in 2005, with both Gravity Lens and the Comic Book Motivationals pulling in just under 50K each.

That's a bit humbling, even to an raving egocentric curmudgeon like myself. I thank you all.

Unfortunately there's only 23 of you on the Frappr Map. How can I summon my minions to action if I don't know where you are?

Astrobiology informs us that when the Space Shuttle Columbia burned up during re-entry two years ago, some worms from a science experiment survived.

Sunday, January 1

It is January 2006.

The God of the Month is the Great God Science!

On a related note, Sam Harris at Free Inquiry condemns scientists who sell out science.

Currently making the rounds: this excellent gallery of 1960's Motorola advertising art showing us life in the future. Apparently glass houses will become popular.

And here's a bunch of other future houses.

The latest edition of SF Crowsnest has Geoff Willmetts looking at science fiction involving mankind being confined to our solar system, while Mark R. Leeper charts the impact of The Twilight Zone and Rod Serling.