Highlights from Quantum Bullsh*t: How to Ruin Your Life with Advice from Quantum Physics, by Chris Ferrie
Category Archives: fantasy and science fiction
Windycon 2022
Mining Our Biblical Matriarchs
A workshop on Friday, September 2, 2022 at Chicon 8, presented by Sally Wiener Grotta
The women of the Bible (Eve, Esther, Miriam, etc.) have been amongst the West’s most enduring female archetypes. As lush and varied as any mythology, their stories have been reinterpreted by every generation’s artists, clerics, and political leaders, according to how they expected women to be. However, these archetypes have been largely overlooked by modern spec fic authors. In this workshop, we’ll have fun challenging and toppling common preconceptions about various women of the Bible, as we mine this rich mother lode for SF&F story ideas.
The following are my notes and amplifications. I am solely responsible for their content and any mistakes.
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Chicon 8
Thursday
On Thursday, Sept. 1, Mia McDavid and I drove to Chicago for Chicon 8: The 80th World Science Fiction Convention at the Hyatt Regency Chicago . This was our 5th Chicon. Previously we had attended:
- Chicon 7 (2012)
- Chicon 2000 (2000)
- Chicon V (1991)
- Chicon IV (1982)
Despite some glitches, we really enjoyed the Con, and visiting downtown Chicago again.
Capricon Notes
As I wrote previously , Mia (my wife) and I spent last weekend at Capricon, a Chicagoland science fiction convention. We went to most of the Capricons in the ’80’s and ’90’s, but in our first years in Minnesota the pressures of parenthood prevented us from going. Those have eased somewhat and we have been to most of the Capricons (and Windycons) since 2009. While most Capricons have been in the Chicago suburbs, this year the convention was downtown, at the Sheraton Grand Hotel.
Chicago again
Mia (my wife) and I spent last weekend in Chicago for the Capricon, another science fiction convention that has been part of our life for decades. This year the convention was downtown, at the Sheraton Grand Hotel. Our room was on north side of the 28th floor and the view from our window was magnificent by night and day:
Windycon 2021
My wife Mia and I spend the past weekend in Chicagoland. Friday and Saturday we were at Windycon, a science fiction convention that we have frequently attended since the 1970s. This was first SF con we have been to since the world shut down for Covid-19. There was no Windycon in 2020. Covid, of course, has not gone away, but this year Windycon was back, with changes. There were very strict and detailed Covid policies. Proof of vaccination or a recent negative Covid test were required for admission. Masks were required everywhere except “while … actively consuming food or drink in the consuite or green room” or for performers while performing and at least 6 feet from anyone else. Bill Roper has a positive con report, with which I completely agree.
Rang Gaeilge, 29ú lá Mí na mí Mheiteamh 2021
Duinnín agus an Bhadhbh (tuilleadh)
- Bhí tost sa seomra. Bhain an Duinníneach taitneamh, soicind,
as éifeacht a scéil ar an gcomhluadar. An soicind ina
dhiaidh sin, chúb sé roimh an mbéic a lig Woodley as.‘Mo chuid sionnacht [var pl?]! Iad á ngoid ag mo thionóntaithe féin!’
‘Ach ni bhíonn tú ag seilg sionnach, a thaisce, agus tá’s agat
go n-itheann siad na piasúin . . .’arsa a chéile.There was silence in the room. Dineen enjoyed, for a second, the effect of his story
on the company. The second after that he cowered before the shout Woodley let out‘My foxes! My own tenants are stealing them!’
‘But you don’t hunt foxes, my dear, and you know they eat the pheasants . . .’ said his wife.
taitneamh Shine, brightness; Liking, enjoyment soicind second [of time] m éifeacht Force, significance; efficacy, effect; value, importance f comhluadar (Social) company m chúb bend, cower, shrink béic yell; shout f seilg hunt, chase f piasún pheasant m gs npl piasúin
A nuanced look at Heinlein’s Starship Troopers
In Starship bloopers Charlie Stross promises to present a nuanced opinion of Starship Troopers, and delivers.
Continue readingRang Gaeilge, 25ú lá Mí na Bealtaine 2021
Duinnín agus an Bhadhbh (tuilleadh)
-
Tháinig Dínny amach ón gcuilinn agus a lámha san aer.
‘Tá drochbhail ar na créatúirí istigh ansin.’ ar seisean.
‘Ná bog,’ arsa Jeremiah leis agus, gan béal an ghunnáin a bhogadh, chúlaigh sé gur thug sé stracfhéachaint ar a raibh istigh i gcairt Dinny.
‘Boscaí folmha agus beart sac. Sin uile atá ann,’ arsa Dinny.
Chinntigh Lowney nach raibh Dinny armtha.
‘Suigh id chairt go nglaofaidh mé ort ‘
Chrom an tAthair P’ádraig athuair ar an mbeirt a bhí ceangailte a scaoileadh saor.
‘Bhí tú ag súil go mbeadh gunnaí sa chairt?’ ar seisean le Lowney.Dinny came out from the holly with his hands in the air.
‘The creatures in there are in bad shape.’ he said.
‘Don’t move,’ Jeremiah said to him and, without moving the mouth of the revolver, move back to take a cursory glance at everything that what was in Dinny’s cart.
‘Empty boxes and a bundle of sacks. That’s all there is,’ said Dinny.
Lowney made sure Dinny was not armed.
‘Sit in your cart until I call you’
Fr. Patrick bent over the two that were tied up to release them.
‘You were expecting guns in the cart?’ he said to Lowneycuileann holly m gs cuilinn drochbhail Bad condition; bad circumstances cúlaigh Back, move back; reverse, retreat strac- = srac- Cursory, sketchy, slight féachaint look, glance; appearance; aspect; trial, test; taste, small portion f beart bundle , sac sack m Cinntigh Make certain; confirm, assure id = i do athuair Again, a second time scaoil Loose(n), release, discharge; Undo, untie, unfasten
Léigh tuilleadh