Monthly Archives: October 2019

Arthur C. Clarke, PROFILES OF THE FUTURE (1962..1999)

Posted on Thursday 31 October 2019 by Mark R. Kelly

This is a book first published in 1962, a nonfiction book speculating on potential technological developments and human achievements. The subtitle is “An Inquiry in the Limits of the Possible.” Clarke revised it three times, the last in 1999 (he … Continue reading →

Posted in Arthur C. Clarke, Book Notes, Human Progress, Science | Comments Off on Arthur C. Clarke, PROFILES OF THE FUTURE (1962..1999)

Richard Dawkins: OUTGROWING GOD: A Beginner’s Guide (2019)

Posted on Wednesday 30 October 2019 by Mark R. Kelly

This book, clearly aimed at younger readers, repeats many of themes from his earlier 2006 book THE GOD DELUSION, boiled down and made even more pointed. The first part of the book is structured as a series of “but what … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Religion, Science | Comments Off on Richard Dawkins: OUTGROWING GOD: A Beginner’s Guide (2019)

Martin Rees: ON THE FUTURE: Prospects for Humanity (2018)

Posted on Tuesday 29 October 2019 by Mark R. Kelly

Martin Rees is a British astronomer and astrophysicist who looks rather like Richard Gere (see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Rees); he holds or has held all sorts of high positions in British science and academia. He’s published several books, of which the half dozen … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Science | Comments Off on Martin Rees: ON THE FUTURE: Prospects for Humanity (2018)

Skiffy Flix: Modern Times

Posted on Friday 25 October 2019 by Mark R. Kelly

Skiffy? Science fiction? Well, not quite, but the theme of the first part of the film, in which the main character works in a dehumanizing factory, echoes Metropolis and similar dystopias. That’s why I watched it. While I think I … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Skiffy Flix | Comments Off on Skiffy Flix: Modern Times

Skiffy Flix: The Invisible Man

Posted on Friday 25 October 2019 by Mark R. Kelly

This one is copyright 1932 but was released November 1933, says Wikipedia. It was produced by Carl Laemmle, stars Claude Rains, a high-profile actor at the beginning of his career (he was later in Casablanca, Notorious, and many others), and … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Skiffy Flix | Comments Off on Skiffy Flix: The Invisible Man

Skiffy Flix: Island of Lost Souls

Posted on Friday 25 October 2019 by Mark R. Kelly

This is a 1932 film, starring Charles Laughton and directed by Erle C. Kenton. All these films from the early 1930s are based on novels (or are sequels to previous films) but this time they changed the title: it’s based … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Skiffy Flix | Comments Off on Skiffy Flix: Island of Lost Souls

Horror Flix: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Posted on Tuesday 22 October 2019 by Mark R. Kelly

This was released early in 1932, just a couple months after Frankenstein and about a year after Dracula. The copyright in the credits is 1931. It stars Fredric March, who won an Oscar for the role. (Actually in a tie.) … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Skiffy Flix | Comments Off on Horror Flix: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Tyson, LETTERS FROM AN ASTROPHYSICIST

Posted on Monday 21 October 2019 by Mark R. Kelly

Here’s a new book by Neil deGrasse Tyson, just published a couple weeks ago. It’s blurbed as a ‘companion’ to his previous book, ASTROPHYSICS FOR PEOPLE IN A HURRY; post about that one here. This is a collection of 101 … Continue reading →

Posted in Book Notes, Meaning, Science | Comments Off on Tyson, LETTERS FROM AN ASTROPHYSICIST

Links and Comments: Trump vs California; Rural America vs the big cities

Posted on Saturday 19 October 2019 by Mark R. Kelly

Here’s another. Paul Krugman, Sept. 20th: Trump Declares War on California. Subtitled: “It’s a liberal state, so it must be punished.” I’m on a number of right-wing mailing lists, and I try to at least skim what they’re going on … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Evolution, Politics | Comments Off on Links and Comments: Trump vs California; Rural America vs the big cities

Status mid-October 2019

Posted on Thursday 17 October 2019 by Mark R. Kelly

I’ve been light posting here for months now. Here’s the arc of where I’ve been this year, and where I’m going. It’s now just about 7 years since I was laid off from my 30-year career at Rocketdyne. It’s nearly … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal history | Comments Off on Status mid-October 2019