The most recent 20 comments posted to Making Light by Dave Robinson:

Serge @#80 No I don't think you are delusional at all. Gordon Eklund wrote a couple of Laser books. I remember buying several and enjoying them at the time.

Of course, they say "the golden age of science fiction is thirteen" - and Laser Books' brief window of publication nicely bracketed that age as I was 13 in 1976 and they ran from 75 to 77.

I wonder if it would ever be possible for Fred Phelps to reach that level of rage where he has his picketers out with signs saying "God hates Fred Phelps?"

He had been an incredible talent in his youth, but I have to agree that he wasn't socialized as an adult human being.

Speaking of Campbellian aliens, he almost reminds me of Valentine Michael Smith. Human by race, other by upbringing. I don't intend to excuse anything he may or may not have done by saying he "didn't know it was wrong," or that he was so twisted he didn't care. He was on the outside looking in and he knew it. It wasn't the big things he didn't understand - it was the little things he had never been socialized to see as inappropriate. He grew sideways because he never had the chance to grow up.

I agree: it was his life that was the real tragedy, more than his death.

I once saw a sign in Vancouver BC advertising "Cajun Barbecue Sushi."

I think that tops this - but not by much.

Xopher@ #2

I get it: US, US, UK, Canada, UK

I hate any type of voice menu system with a passion. I want to be able to SEE my options and get cranky when I can't. Voice prompts are too slow, and I'm more likely to get them wrong.

Like others I hate phones in general, and don't maintain a personal voicemail. The missed call list shows who called, and that's all I need to know.

As for cell phone and other provider customer service lines: once I get through the voice menu system I'm generally so furious that it's very hard not to be angry with the innocent reps.

I enjoyed the movie - my only problem was with Simon Pegg. He just wasn't Scotty. He did a great job otherwise, but it felt like he was playing Lt. Commander Nott not Scott.

I saw a show the other night that pretty much killed the conspiracy junkies' ideas. They showed not only was it possible to fire that weapon that quickly, but also Oswald's shooting scores. He was a good shot.

I think Gitmo, and many aspects of the Patriot Act, are the biggest victories the terrorists have managed, and closing the prison there is a vital step toward defeating terrorism.

The whole point of terrorism, going as far back as Prince Kropotkin, is to force society to become more repressive through the application of terror. Detaining people outside US soil to deny them their rights is a perfect response from their perspective. It takes away the moral high ground, our ability to say we are better than they are because we do follow the rules and hold ourselves to a higher standard.

It's about time.

I always read The Prince as a ruthlessly pragmatic and relentlessly practical statement about gaining and holding political power in Renaissance Italy. It's not about either morality or his personal beliefs.

Of course I also think that most of his reputation comes from people who have never read anything else of his.

joann@262

I think if it's not hate crime it's in the same neighborhood.

I really have a problem with anyone who considered a vote for Proposition 8 a vote for religious tolerance. It's a vote for tolerating intolerance.

I caught a little of McCain's speech and what I have caught is very well-spoken.

BBC News is weird - they've called SC for McCain but the tallies they're showing for the same state are showing a healthy lead for Obama.

I run Firefox with adblock and an anti-ad hosts file. Whenever I hit a webpage that starts making noise I didn't ask it to I reach for the close button.

Wow

That's all I can say. The thing that scares me most about this election is that through Palin we're beginning to see a greater validation and acceptance of the extreme religious right. I'm not so worried about a McCain victory this election as I am about a Palin for president campaign on the next one.

The one thing that scares me most in this election is the possibility that Sarah Palin might become President in the next few years. Add that terrifying thought to the fact that a company that makes voting machines has been clearly partisan, and you have a very unpleasant picture.

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