CornerScribe

Archive for the ‘In the news’ Category

This is an interesting article on Digg. I have to wonder what effect genetic engineering will have on our species in the future. And what about modern medicine? Think about it. Many people survive today and produce children when they would have had no chance to even one hundred years ago. How will those changes to the gene pool affect humanity’s evolution.

I’m not against genetic engineering, or medicine, for that matter. I do think that considering how we’ve evolved so far, and how we’re able to affect our future evolution, is an intesting topic.

Which brings to mind a book I really enjoyed. Margaret Atwood’s Oryx and Crake. I’m a fan of her work in general, particularly The Handmaid’s Tale. If you’re interested in speculative fiction that’s not fantasy, sci-fi or horror, then this may be for you. Both books are set in a fictional future. In Oryx and Crake’s case, the world is faced with the products of many genetic experiments, including super-bacteria and a bizarre new race of humans, engineered to avoid the pitfalls that have plagued humanity so far.

In the Handmaid’s Tale, we see a product of reduced fertility rates and ultra-fundamentalist Christianity, in which fertile women are made handmaids to produce children for the powerful. If you were ever scared of Jerry Falwell, this book will really give you the chills.

read more | digg story

Finally, a (relatively) cheap laptop that weighs less than 2 pounds! Check this out and this.

I’ve been looking for something like this to carry with me, particularly on the weekends. My laptop is just a little large and heavy, and once it’s in its case, it’s practically a piece of luggage. I’ve looked at some other products (like the Dana and similar items), but I wanted something that’s actually a computer.

I even tried using a PDA with a keyboard, with very little success. It may have worked better had my combo not used IR for the keyboard/PDA connection, but it turned out to not be a viable arrangement.

For $600, I think I’d be willing to buy one. I think it’s going to be available in the fall, so I’ll keep my eyes open.

I believe I’ve heard each of these at one time or another, and I have to say I’ve believed a few of them.

As for number 2 (the direction water drains), I’m not sure even still. I’ve known people who SWORE that it did spin the opposite direction south of the equator. That, of course, begs the question… how does the water spin if you’re exactly on the equator?

Regardless, these may be some myths to use (or avoid using, as the case may be) in your writing. If nothing else, they are interesting.

read more | digg story

This is an interesting article, particularly if you’re interested in creating alien races. People in the Netherlands are growing taller (six feet one is the average for men). The article points out that it’s probably because they lead healthier lives and have better nutrition.

When I read about alien races, I like to understand why they’re different from humans. Evolution selects the fittest, so if someone is taller, shorter, has four arms or knees that bend backwards, there has to be an evolutionary explanation. In short, their design must fit their environment or be explained by their environment. Otherwise, it’s just a neat anomaly that’s likely to bug the reader. I Know it bugs the heck out of me.

read more | digg story

Meet the “Star Nosed Mole.” Imagine taking a mole, ripping off its head and gluing a flower on in its place. Got it?

If you’re interested in writing science fiction or fantasy, this is one oddball critter that might inspire you to create a headless race of your own. Or maybe a creature with four arms and no legs. Or how about four legs (for stability) and two arms. Just as in nature, its all about adaptation to the environment. As odd as this mole seems, it’s suited for where it lives and what it does, so of course, alien species in fiction need to be too.

I enjoy reading about alien races, but creating them really isn’t my forte. I suppose that’s why in my novels I tend to stick with races that are pretty much humanoid. Boring, perhaps, but it’s what I’m comfortable with. Maybe one of these days I’ll create a six-legged, flower-headed alien. We’ll see.

read more | digg story

“A giant ice shelf the size of 11,000 football fields has snapped free from Canada’s Arctic, leaving a trail of icy boulders floating in its wake.”

This is an interesting article for anyone interested in climate change (and if you’re not, you really should be). Of course, there are lots of story ideas you can glean from this as well. I’m interested in writing end-of-the-world style novels, so this is right up my alley.

By the way, I’m having a very lazy moment. Does the period go inside or outside the parens above?

read more | digg story

I read an article a few days ago about people in Turkey being required to vote, and I couldn’t help wonder about how that would work in the U.S.

Let’s pause to mull that over, shall we? (more…)

Here’s an article about Fox running a special this weekend about radical Islam and its desire to attack the US. The twist here is that this serves, in the author’s mind, as “proof” that Fox isn’t objective.

Does anyone still believe any media outlet IS objective?

Some, of course, will argue that they try to maintain objectivity, but the reality is that it’s pretty easy to tell which side a reporter and/or news organization falls on. The questions asked, the questions unasked, even the tone of voice and facial expressions give it away. I doubt that many people are so naive as to believe in media objectivity any longer.

So why don’t the major media outlets just “fess up” and declare their allegiances?

I think it’s more honest and ethical to state your biases up front. That allows listeners to weigh what you report, and don’t report, in light of what your beliefs and agenda are. Of course, I’m not naive enough to believe that will happen any time soon.

But what if it did?

What if all media outlets admitted their bias? What would that do to and for viewers/listeners/readers? Would we consume only what agrees with our beliefs, or would we seek out the opposing viewpoint? I don’t know about you, but I think I know the answer to that one; we’d read and listen to and watch the reporting that made us feel right.

And what does that say about us, as a society?

Yes, yes, I’m on a bit of a rant, but this year’s NaNo novel touches on some of these ideas, albeit loosely, so this type of article really jumps out at me now.

By the way, if you’re interested in reading a very humorous (and thought provoking) blog, take a look at the Dilbert Blog. Scott Adams has a knack for making everything controversial, and he really enjoys tweaking his readers.

Link: CNN.com - Witnesses: Dog cared for abandoned baby - May 9, 2005.

As a pet lover, I enjoyed this story. It’s sad to think of babies abandoned by their parents — and abandoned to a miserable death at that. This little girl was very lucky, thanks to a dog with more that enough mothering instinct.

Link: KATU 2 - Portland, Oregon.

Well, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the new Star Wars movie. How many of you will be taking off work early to go?

Me?  probably…