It seems that this is spring cleaning week. Here’s another piece that I wrote some time ago and simply never got around to publishing. Isaac Asimov’s introduction to “Segregationist”: In the spring of 1967, I received an interesting request. It seems there is a periodical called Abbot tempo, supported by Abbott Laboratories, a respected pharmaceutical … Continue reading Segregationist
Asimov
January 2, 1920
Isaac Asimov didn’t know exactly when he was born. As he wrote in his autobiography: The date of my birth, as I celebrate it, was January 2, 1920. It could not have been later than that. It might, however, have been earlier. Allowing for the uncertainties of the times, of the lack of records, of … Continue reading January 2, 1920
Catching Up
Quote of the day: The short memories of the American voters is what keeps our politicians in office.—Will Rogers I was tentatively planning to write a post about the first three of these, but I have so many irons in the fire, so many posts in the queue, that I decided to throw these all … Continue reading Catching Up
Is the Third Time the Charm?
Quote of the day: There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that “my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.”—Isaac … Continue reading Is the Third Time the Charm?
The Feeling of Power
Quote of the day: I am prejudiced against religion because I know the history of religion, and it is the history of human misery and of black crimes.—Isaac Asimov According to an article in Time Magazine, a new study suggests that using AI made doctors less skilled at spotting cancer. Huh. Why the hell were … Continue reading The Feeling of Power
Isaac and Stephen and Tom
Quote of the day: I know that there are people who do not love their fellow man, and I hate people like that!—Tom Lehrer In the second volume of Isaac Asimov’s autobiography, In Joy Still Felt, there is this passage: I maintained my friendship with Bill Boyd’s assistant, Bernie Pitt, even after he was fired, … Continue reading Isaac and Stephen and Tom
Final Jeopardy
Quote of the day: When stupidity is considered patriotism, it is unsafe to be intelligent.—Isaac Asimov I stopped watching the game show Jeopardy! years ago because it was no longer fun, at least for me. The contestants had become much too invested in winning at any cost rather than just having fun playing the game and … Continue reading Final Jeopardy
In Memoriam
If you’ve read more than a few of my blog posts, you’ve probably learned of my admiration for science fiction writer Isaac Asimov. When he died on April 6, 1992, I had not yet experienced any great personal loss due to death in my life. Yes, my grandparents, all four of them, had died, but … Continue reading In Memoriam
One Ordinary Day, With Peanuts
During Isaac Asimov’s final illness, the editor of his namesake magazine commissioned Connie Willis to write an editorial for the magazine in order to help take some of the pressure off the Good Doctor, who up till then had written an editorial for every issue. In the event, Asimov died before her editorial could be … Continue reading One Ordinary Day, With Peanuts
“my second best bed” — Part 2
Constance Elaine Trimmer Willis (born December 31, 1945) writes science fiction and fantasy stories under the name Connie Willis. She has won eleven Hugo Awards and seven Nebula Awards—more major SF awards than any other writer. But who’s counting? (She probably is.) (Every other SF writer probably is as well.) She wrote some time travel … Continue reading “my second best bed” — Part 2