LOSING THE MESSAGE

Posted on December 19, 2022December 19, 2022 by John

Scrooge: A Christmas Carol (2022) *** Movie mogul Samuel Goldman reportedly once said, “If ya wanna send a message, use Western Union.” (1) But despite Samuel Goldman’s misgivings, many authors do set out to deliver a message in their work, sometimes to great effect. Certainly, Dickens’s A Christmas Carol is one of those […] Read More

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW?

Posted on May 19, 2020September 1, 2020 by John

SETI AND THE DANGERS OF MAGICAL THINKING An Essay, May 19, 2020 *** “The universe is a pretty big place. If it’s just us, seems like an awful waste of space.” ― Carl Sagan, Contact *** Scientists at the University of Nottingham have recently speculated […] Read More

TIME TO RETHINK THAT TESLA?

Posted on February 21, 2020December 19, 2022 by John

Introducing Tesla Conversion Kits! Satire, February 21, 2020 *** With the price of gasoline tumbling like a lava down a volcano, maybe it’s time to rethink that elaborate electric vehicle you spent so much money on. As the chrona virus picks up steam, it doesn’t look like this is going to change […] Read More

HAVE YOU EVER QUESTIONED THE NATURE OF REALITY?

Posted on December 29, 2019December 15, 2022 by John

Westworld and the Courage of Storytellers An Essay, December 29, 2019 *** “Have you ever questioned the nature of your own reality?” — Bernard Lowe (Jeffrey Wright) With the release of Season 3 of Westworld just a few months away, HBO has again promised to create a lavish, though probably slightly distasteful, experience for […] Read More

THE MORALITY OF THE DRIVERLESS CAR

Posted on August 12, 2018December 8, 2022 by John

Can Machines be Taught to be Moral? An Essay, August 12, 2018 The Mercedes-Benz ‘Luxury in Motion’ F 015 fully autonomous concept car. *** “A no-win situation is a possibility that every Commander may face. Has that never occurred to you?” — Admiral James T. Kirk (William Shatner), The Wrath of Kahn *** In […] Read More