davidbrin

davidbrin, 4 months ago to random

Andrew Fraknoi has compiled a pretty good list of sci fi stories and novels that relate good astronomy. My short story "Reality Check" appeared in Nature with an odd solution to the Fermi Paradox. https://www.nature.com/articles/35005182 Andy’s list is available at https://www.fraknoi.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Science-Fiction-with-Good-Astronomy.pdf

davidbrin, 4 months ago to random

Eureka! A great sci fi series you might at least like to see summarized. One of the few (ever) that started and continued in a general attitude of optimism and belief in us.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pf6_rSIPFA

davidbrin, 4 months ago to random

Prisons banning "fantasy and SF materials" - A new PEN America report shows that the number of books banned in prisons by certain states outpace all other book censorship in school and public libraries.

https://pen.org/report/reading-between-the-bars/

davidbrin, 4 months ago to random

Humans have among the most precise sense of musical tonality and rhythm. Apes have some, e.g chimp 'storm dances' I portrayed in Uplift War! Newborn infants can heed the beat and notice when it falters, arguing for an evolved biological foundation

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/it-turns-out-we-were-born-to-groove/

davidbrin, 4 months ago to random

A great interview. My friend Roger Penrose rambles across many concepts, like an alternative theory of consciousness – a 'time-jumping, multiverse-killing notion of reality(!)' Notable: the savvy and cogency of host Andréa Morris, who Roger clearly enjoys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=itLIM38k2r0

davidbrin, 4 months ago to random

okaaaaay then

https://www.smbc-comics.com/comic/peace-2

davidbrin, 4 months ago to random

See a short movie of Kurt Vonnegut's biting "Harrison Bergeron" called "2081." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEgOuZzjI8o

Like Orwell as a 'man of the left' KV thought folks would appreciate his warnings about excesses and failure modes that hurt the cause. He was wrong, alas.

davidbrin, 4 months ago to random

Despair is masturbatory treason. Zakaria chides our self-indulgent funk. So much is going well. Yes the planet must be saved and US democracy is under attack. There ARE crises - tho LESS so than Nikki Haley's 'good old' 50s, 60s and 70s! Snap-out-of-it!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEIuG4p0Jnc

davidbrin, 4 months ago to random

temis' to way-cool in-depth items by others, about the Fermi Paradox and the "ethics of uplift" and so much more. If you like to look up, especially as we enter a year of 'interesting times,' come on by.

https://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2024/01/news-from-spaaaaace-oh-and-fermi.html

davidbrin, 4 months ago to random

I enjoyed the latest sci-extrapolation podcast episode by Isaac Arthur, this time about “Ethics of Uplift!” Very thorough and thought-provoking. Though of course I’d offer addenda - possibly in a comment, below. Great series. Wow is Isaac thorough!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDb01ggyDfo

davidbrin, 4 months ago to random

On Tim Ventura’s interview podcast-about the 'AI crisis' with “GoLLeMs” - how they can't yet be sapient. Also how Sam Altman’s irresponsible acts may have done us a huge service. And why all those summer calls for an “AI Moratorium” became vapor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWf8lGV2XLI

davidbrin, 4 months ago to random

jeez seriously? I'll use this as an excuse to plug HEART OF THE COMET. And yes, my doctoral work was about this beast! But still, passing aphelion to begin the long (40+ year) swoop is not exactly "it's coming!"

https://en.softonic.com/articles/halleys-comet-returns-to-earth

davidbrin, 5 months ago to random

This weekend posting fills in more about how hard it will be for the moderate, mostly-liberal-minded and mostly progressive American middle to save the nation, the planet and our future. On paper, it should be fairly easy, but...

https://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2024/01/are-right-and-left-in-agreement-to.html

davidbrin, 5 months ago to random

Glynnis Johns –RIP at 100– was amazing in the 50s, from Court Jester to Mary Poppins. “Other actresses are girls men dream about. I’m the one they invite to meet Mother.” My favorite=No Highway in the Sky + Jimmy Stewart, extolling heroic-nerdy competence.
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/glynis-johns-dead-mary-poppins-1235779586/

davidbrin, 5 months ago to random

All of January, the UPLIFT STORM TRILOGY will be on sale for $3.99. Alas apparently not on Kobo or Barnes & Noble. But a crazy good deal on Amazon. And adventure? With some science and great alien races? I got em here for you!

https://www.amazon.com/Uplift-Storm-Trilogy-Brightness-Infinitys-ebook/dp/B091YFWFZK

davidbrin, 5 months ago to random

Trump denounced as 'terrible' more former appointees and 'Great guys!' than ALL other US presidents COMBINED. Whatever your politics, you can't evade one conclusion...
...that Donald Trump is a terrible judge of character

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2023/12/31/former-trump-aides-warn-of-serious-threats-if-he-wins-in-2024/72072594007/

davidbrin, 5 months ago to random

I finish the year with a missive on practical tips and tricks for writing fiction! Some of you may add a few skills... and thus proceed to write something truly glorious that opens millions of eyes to the myriad wonders that lie almost within our grasp!

https://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2023/12/advanced-tips-for-rising-writers.html

davidbrin, 5 months ago to random

Murders fell sharply across the U.S. in 2023, according to the F.B.I. Detroit is on track to record its fewest homicides since the 1960s. Oh but those are things called 'facts', of little interest to the far-left or today's mad ENTIRE US right.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/homicide-numbers-poised-hit-record-decline-nationwide-americans/story?id=105556400

davidbrin, 5 months ago to random

Midweek posting - the title tells all. There are reasons John Roberts might - or not - obey orders to dump Trump. Weigh them for yourself! And Cory D is both very right and very wrong about AI.

https://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2023/12/will-supremes-dump-donald-and-doctorow.html

davidbrin, 5 months ago to random

I keep in touch with my pal and 'killer bvee' colleague Vernor Vinge, and convey his new years greeting to you all. One of the great treasures of our field! We met for lunch (with Prof. John Carroll) a month or so ago and speak by phone often. It's been a rough couple years for us KBvs! But science fiction and futurism... and the bold, scientific and ever-curious civilization that fostered them... shall carry on, even if 2024 turns into a roller coaster. Persevere!

davidbrin, 5 months ago to random

"We deem this the first communicative exchange between humans and humpback whales in humpback 'language.'" Headlines imply more 'communication' than actually happened- a friendly exchange of "Howdy" greetings in Humpback-speak. Still, it's a start.
https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-contact-whales-in-world-first-communication-experiment?

davidbrin, 5 months ago to random

My weekend posting is about the science of human origins... interesting bio-news... plus a GAME that makes stark and fascinating the hard struggles of our ancestors!

https://davidbrin.blogspot.com/2023/12/human-origins-and-evolution-patterns-of.html

davidbrin, 5 months ago to random

For years, litSF explored the chilling topic of a HOT phase of the recurring, 240 year American Civil War. Esp two novels - TEARS OF ABRAHAM and OUR WAR.Next year comes a theatrical film, CIVIL WAR. Even the trailer is scarier n' shit.

https://www.giantfreakinrobot.com/ent/civil-war-trailer.html

davidbrin, 5 months ago to random

Researchers spotted a dolphin with fins that appeared to have thumbs. Might they observe anything like independent movement of this ‘digit,’ as it does have its own thumb bone? If so, all the Uplift Institute? What did I call these in Startide Rising?

https://themessenger.com/tech/rare-dolphin-spotted-with-hooked-flippers-defies-scientists-expectations

davidbrin, 5 months ago to random

My bro the great science fiction author Kim Stanley Robinson - one of the world's wise-guys - explains that good SF always takes into account the one story - the one that matters... that made us, rife with wretched errors (and a few triumphs) to learn from and extrapolate. Human history.

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/reidhoffman_all-art-has-a-political-aspect-to-it-but-activity-7139653348495867904-LcQR?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop