Transmat acivated

Okay, I've got a new blog set up. Hopefully this one won't get unfairly shut down before it even gets going. Just to stay on the safe side I'm not putting up any hyperlinks. No blogroll, no Wikipedia references, nothing like that. Until now I've made it a point to link back to the blog of anyone who was kind enough to leave a comment here, and I'm sorry I won't be able to do that from now on. Maybe I'll find a workaround sometime, but I don't want to risk the banhammer right now.

I've also decided to drop the "Jerry Cornelius" handle. I really just adopted it on a whim. And this way I won't have to worry about posting anything that'll tick off MM. Besides, there's just too many Jerry Cornelius's running around on the web. I mean, blimey! Can't they find some other corner of the multiverse to cause trouble in? Anyway, from now on you can just call me "Mike." Boring, huh?

So tune in to Ultrawave for all future FTL transmissions. I hope to see you there.

Update (09 Oct 2012): I'm posting here again because something has gone haywire with my Ultrawave blog. I haven't been able to log in for close to a week. I can't even leave a comment! So I've set up a new Tumblr blog, Hyperwave. I'll be posting there from now on. I'm still getting settled in, but I should have things sorted out in a few days. I hope you'll come join me.

Altering vector

"Wahoo!"

What with Google megacorp's intrusive new policies I've decided to slip into my spacesuit, climb onto my crotch rocket and blast off for the other side of the solar system. I was all set to start a new blog over at Blogetery, but before I could even make my first post the account was suspended and I got the message, "Sorry, but this blog has been marked as spam as defined in our Terms of Service." Can you beat that? So obviously it'll be awhile before I'm back online. So anyway, this blog is going into suspended animation. Thanks to the baker's dozen of you out there who followed it, and to any of you who just dropped by for a peek. Per aspera ad astra.

Fly Me to the Moon

"All your base are belong to us!" 

In this latest episode of his weekly science show Explorations, Dr. Michio Kaku covers the danger of solar flares, the forty year struggle ahead of Japan to deal with the nuclear disaster, how global warming will bitch slap the U.K. (and Scotland, too), and welcomes special guest Dr. Michael Shermer to debunk conspiracy theories. Unfortunately, he doesn't touch on reactionary bully Newt Gingrich's recently declared dark dream of outer space imperialism. Gingrich, a politician who constantly demonizes "secular atheists", is blissfully ignorant of the irony of his naming Isaac Asimov, a signatory to the Humanist Manifesto, as an inspiration. Hopefully one day Earth will have a colony on the Moon -- an international colony established for peaceful, scientific purposes.

Explorations

"Danger, Will Robinson!"

Dick Tufeld, who was the announcer on Irwin Allen sf shows like Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea and The Time Tunnel has passed away. But what he will be best remembered for is his role as the voice of the Robot on Allen's sci-fi farce, Lost in Space. So what better way to commemorate his career than enjoying an episode starring the Robot?

Happy Lunar New Year

"Best rollercoaster ever!"

Happy Year of the Water Dragon to all. May all your wishes for the year be fulfilled. As the old year goes out and the new comes in how about we celebrate with Rural War Room Radio's meandering mixture of melodies, the"Young & Old Show"?

Young & Old Show Part 01
Young & Old Show Part 02
Young & Old Show Part 03
Young & Old Show Part 04
Young & Old Show Part 05

Non-Western Science

As you've probably noticed, I listen to a lot of podcasts. So many, in fact, that I get behind in my listening all the time. That's why I'm just now getting around to this episode of Against the Grain. It's an interview with the philosopher of science Sandra Harding discussing non-Western ways of thinking. I know there's a tenancy among some to dismiss this kind of thing out of hand as some kind of Lysenkoism, but I think there is some merit to this viewpoint. Also, I think it's germane to sf given that the Western scientific perspective is the one that informs most of the genre.

While it's a stimulating discussion, I do have to quibble with her use of the word "science" as a sweeping generalization. That term covers such a broad spectrum that it's about as specific as "footwear", which can mean anything from sandals to waders. So while the points she raises may be valid in relation to ecology or medical science, I don't see how they would be applicable to, say, research into superconductors.

And I also find it interesting that although she never actually uses the term her philosophical approach is very close to that of Pragmatism. It always amuses me how often people hold de facto Pragmatist views, often without realizing it. Like that time William James wrote to H. G. Wells after reading one of his non-fiction books and not only claimed him as a philosophical kinsman but also declared, "You're a pragmatist!"

Non-Western Science (49 mins, 37 secs)

Stop SOPA

PROTECT IP / SOPA Breaks The Internet from Fight for the Future on Vimeo.

Remember the bad old days when Star Trek fans were being threatened with lawsuits for using images of the show on their fan sites? Luckily that didn't last long, but things could get that bad again -- or even worse. Help stop internet censorship.