what Dave thinks about movies, books and everything
David Brin has created a website to gather together science fiction solutions to real-world problems. The idea is that governments and organizations could look here when they have an unusual problem to deal with. By learning from the thought science fiction authors have already given to these problems, they could avoid mistakes and think about […]
{4.5/5} “It occurred to me that I was privileged at that moment to witness four of the great Orders of Life in action at the same instant. Hydrogen breathers, machine intelligences, oxy-creatures like myself, and the ‘retired’ phylum — beings who built on such a scale that they thought nothing of husbanding a star like […]
Here’s an updated version of this list. Marvel will undoubtedly be able to keep to their schedule all the way to 2020 given what they’ve done so far. Here are my mini-reviews of the first 5 movies. Iron Man 2008 -> 4.5/5 The Incredible Hulk 2008 -> 4/5 Iron Man 2 2010 -> 4/5 Thor […]
{5/5} “Well, I tried to start a revolution, but didn’t print enough pamphlets so hardly anyone turned up.” Thor: Ragnarok, released in 2017 Hela, Thor’s sister he didn’t know he had, has returned to reclaim the throne — and she’ll destroy any Asgardians in her way to do it. Meanwhile, Thor and Hulk have both […]
More than 15 000 scientists from 184 countries have signed a document issuing a warning to humanity about the environment. Included are points about a decline in freshwater, dwindling biodiversity, and population growth. Here’s how CBC covered the story: More than 15,000 scientists from 184 countries issue ‘warning to humanity’ We’ve seen before with CFCs […]
This article points out that donating food to charity is inefficient. Next time you’re thinking about doing it, perhaps consider donating money instead. The buyers at food banks can buy food more cost effectively than you — plus they can buy what they need. The article is from Tristin Hopper, in the National Post: I’m […]
{5/5} “Now, why don’t you explain just what Bea told you about our operation, and maybe I’ll consider not killing you all on the spot.” Serenity: No Power in the ‘Verse by Chris Roberson et al, published in 2017 Bea has been taken by the Alliance. In order to free her Mal decides to temporarily […]
Here are the movies in the series that started with Ridley Scott’s Alien. The quadrilogy Alien 1979 -> 3/5 (+) Aliens 1986 -> 4.5/5 (+) Alien3 1992 -> 3.5/5 Alien Resurrection 1997 -> 4.5/5 The crossovers Alien vs. Predator 2004 -> didn’t see it Alien vs. Predator: Requiem 2007 -> didn’t see it The prequels […]
Here are my ratings for the Batman movies that aren’t part of the DC extended universe. It’s possible that I watched 1966’s Batman movie with Adam West decades ago but I have no interest in watching it again to rate it. The graphic novel The Dark Knight Returns and the TV show Gotham are both […]
{5/5} “For now let’s move on to President Trump, the silver lining for anyone who died in 2015.” Last Week Tonight season 4, aired in 2017 John Oliver continues to bring us stories we need to hear, in a funny-yet-serious way: Tibetan sovereignty and human rights gerrymandering net neutrality vaccines local news nuclear waste presidential […]