Flying cars are impossible

Jul. 3rd, 2025 02:43 pm
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[personal profile] glaurung
Flying cars have been a staple of science fiction since the dawn of SF. Along with jetpacks and moonbases, saying "where's my flying car" has become a shorthand for how the promises of a certain kind of future - made by admen, futurists, and SF writers in the heyday of techno optimism - have have failed to materialize.

The other day, I learned that back in 2000, Larry Niven, who despite being a right wing shithead, writes well researched hard SF, once said in response to an interview question at space com about what things he and other SF authors got wrong, "the wealth (as in flying cars) predicted by Heinlein and his followers (including myself) was another matter. It all went to welfare programs."

Niven's presumption seems to be that the only thing keeping flying cars from becoming reality was sufficient middle class wealth, which did not come to pass due to government policies which diverted that wealth into welfare programs (as a right wing poophead, Niven is fundamentally incapable of admitting that the wealth was in fact siphoned off to the billionaires, who proceeded to buy themselves learjets and yachts and sixth homes and generally act like complete sociopaths).

It so happens that I have been thinking about flying cars off and on for a while. Niven being an ass inspired me to actually write something down. So, have a post. Read more... )
[syndicated profile] notalwaysworking_feed

Posted by Not Always Right

Read This Story Contains Gluten And Apathy

Customer: "Hey, just letting you know, I think these got mislabeled. Says ‘gluten-free’ on the front, but the ingredients list wheat flour."
I take the bag and look. Sure enough, the front has a big green “GLUTEN-FREE” label, and right below it: 'enriched wheat flour' in bold.
Me: "Huh. That's... not right."

Read This Story Contains Gluten And Apathy

Meida Round Up: Girls and Demons

Jul. 3rd, 2025 11:21 am
forestofglory: Cup of tea on a pile of books (books)
[personal profile] forestofglory
It's that time again! More thoughts on media:

The Truth Season 3 case 8 (I think, the numbering is confusing now)— this case featured Chinese style horror, and it was very creepy but in a fun way. I also enjoyed the earthly 20th inspired costumes

I Got Abducted by Aliens and Now I'm Trapped in a Rom-Com by Kimberly Lemming— I’m writing about this even though I didn’t finish it because I think some of you might enjoy this. The first bit was really fun! The main character is a wildlife biology PhD student, who when she finds herself on an alien planet is upset that it's full of dinosaurs all from different time periods from each other! (Very relatable really) The book has a very fun voice. Unfortunately it ends up becoming too much sex for me.

The Girl Who Fell Beneath the Sea by Axie Oh— A Korean inspired fantasy YA novel about a girl who chooses to sacrifice herself in place of the designated Sea God’s Bride and enters a spirit world full of mythical beings and complex politics. (I read this even though the mom is dead, and really there’s no narrative reason for it) This was lovely and very atmospheric, though the ending left me a little dissatisfied. (Content Note: Infant death)

Painted Devils by Margaret Owen— Second book in the Little Thieves trilogy. Very fun and twisty in a similar way to the 1st book.

Kpop Demon Hunters — It's an animated movie about a kpop girl band that are magical girl-sque demon hunters, there's lot of musical numbers.A Koren friend of mine described it as “an American movie set in Korea” and I think that’s spot on. She specifically complained about how the worldbuiling/theology feels too christian. It doesn't fully work through the consequences of all the violence but the flight scenes are very swooshy and fun, and I liked the themes a lot. I also really liked the female friendship aspect.

Works due in THREE DAYS

Jul. 3rd, 2025 11:04 am
summerofhorrorexchange: silhouette of killer (Default)
[personal profile] summerofhorrorexchange
The collection is already looking spooky! Remember works are due Sunday, July 6th at 8pm EDT. Here is a countdown.

We still have some pinch hits here. We will make a new pinch hit post after the deadline.

If you have any questions, feel free to email at summerofhorrorex at gmail.

chirps

Jul. 3rd, 2025 10:23 am
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[personal profile] calimac
Chirp. It was the smoke detector in our bedroom, waking us to inform that the battery needed to be replaced. Or so we thought. Upon inspection, it turned out the battery couldn't be replaced on this one. You had to buy a new detector. Wait for the hardware store to open for the morning, then find one of the same model, so it fit on the same brackets. Sort of. Anyway, it's up and alert now.

Boom. That, I presume, was the sound of the warehouse full of fireworks exploding after it caught on fire, a couple days ago. Although it was after hours and out in the countryside, seven people were reported missing. It may be a while before this can be put out; fireworks keep exploding. At least one local town had been relying on those fireworks for its July 4th show, which has been canceled. Be careful out there.

Smof. It means ... well, it means someone experienced in running science-fiction conventions. One such has written that the unopposed bid for the next Worldcon up is woefully unequipped to do its job. This is the sort of thing smofs often say about Worldcon bids, whether or not it turns out to be true. The smof recommends voting No Award, er I mean None of the Above, so that the Worldcon Business Meeting will decide what to do. Reading the very serious comments on this post, I decided it was better not to post my snarky comment, which would have been, "Maybe we should put the Worldcon on a boat." But I'm not sure how many readers will have been around long enough to remember what that's a reference to.
Update: Worldcon bid in question has responded with a puff piece. This does not instill confidence.

Meow. A cat walking in front of my monitor, hoping for an early breakfast, made it difficult for me to read the announcement of the impending publication of Ursula K. Le Guin's Book of Cats. This is apparently a collection of unpublished or obscure pieces, many of them whimsical, rather than e.g. an omnibus of Catwings.

Speaking of cats ... This was on xkcd a few days ago:

Manga (Anime) series info?

Jul. 3rd, 2025 01:37 pm
goddess47: Emu! (Default)
[personal profile] goddess47 posting in [community profile] little_details
I'm writing a story where my main character stops his friend, a dad to a 13-ish year old boy, from purchasing some anime manga books because the main character knows the book series is too adult (sex, violence, both) for a 13 year old. The main character then recommends a different series because the story line is more appropriate for the age of the teen.

The story is the relationship between the main character and the dad, so this is a small piece of the larger story. But I know absolutely nothing about anime (or manga, obviously!) and would appreciate some recommendations of titles that would fit those categories.

Thanks!


ETA: I'm looking for currently available titles and perhaps where they are best purchased (a bookstore, a comic book store, a specialty shop, online?)


ETA2: I'm looking US-centric here.
[syndicated profile] copperbadge_feed

renew-leverage:

impactvelocity:

I was looking at Leverage fic on AO3, read the tag “hand job” and thought “I don’t remember that episode” in all seriousness before it hit me

[via]

It’s about the stolen IP rights to a prosthetic hand design and it’s played completely deadpan right up until the last five minutes when Elliot looks at Parker, who has been acting completely normal (for her) the whole time, and says, “Okay, just say it, the suspense is killing me,” and she yells joyfully, “They gave us such a fun hand job!”

The Big Idea: E. L. Starling

Jul. 3rd, 2025 03:57 pm
[syndicated profile] scalziwhatever_feed

Posted by Athena Scalzi

We do so love the big blue marble we call home, don’t we? But what if humans had another home, and what if it was our red and dusty space neighbor? Author E.L. Starling poses this question in the Big Idea for newest novel, Bound By Stars, thinking up possibilities about the future that are certainly dystopian, but also realistic. Follow along on a journey through the stars, and try to keep afloat as the (space)ship goes down.

E. L. STARLING:

My family rewatches Interstellar together every year, which sometimes (read: always) devolves into a heated debate about complex theories, space time, and whether “they” really were aliens or just an unfathomable combination of future human technology and a natural anomaly splicing through the multiverse. (Probably the aliens, right?)

In spring of 2022, as the credits rolled, my oldest veered off our usual set of topics and brought up a certain billionaire’s desire to terraform Mars. We all responded with eye rolls and a version of the same sentiment, “How about putting that effort into combating climate change on this planet where we already have oxygen, water, and atmosphere?”

Plus, if I’m being completely honest, even if Mars was a viable option for everyone, you can still leave me here. Reading in a car going 25 mph flips my stomach inside out. And, the vastness of the unknown is a fear I would rather not face.

But, what would that be like? What if the wealthy abandoned Earth to create a utopia 140 million miles away and left the rest of the world’s population behind? Would they really leave Earth for good? Terraforming is a long game. They would still need resources. Would they use Earth like their new planet’s remote farm and factory? There was so much to consider.

This discussion sparked an idea. Two worlds. Separated by space and socioeconomic classes. 

As my family members scattered, I was building the dystopia in my mind: After the Earth is ravaged by climate change, the population decimated, and society reshaped, the wealthy still control the resources, but they’ve drilled for water, built infrastructure, and established a safe haven in luxurious habitat cities on Mars. 

The dynamics of the world set up the perfect main characters: two people from different classes and different planets. And what if they were teenagers in this world— still required to manage school, bullies, love, homework, and their impending futures? What if I upped the stakes further and put them on a doomed starliner between their two worlds? There was The Big Idea: YA Titanic-in-space.

Enter Jupiter Dalloway and Weslie Fleet. Jupiter is from Mars. Born at the top of society. The heir to a multi-trillion-dollar company. Unsatisfied with his predetermined future. Weslie’s from Earth. Hardened by a life of struggle and injustice. Full of confidence and armed with the attitude to call out Jupiter’s alarming privilege. Both of them seventeen, on the tailend of adolescence. Two people who learn to appreciate and celebrate each other’s differences despite the backdrop of a complex and oppressive world.

Choosing to write Bound by Stars as a YA novel was a conscious endeavor for me. At that age, you’re near adulthood, but still not fully in control of your own life. There are people who dictate the basics of your day to day, but you’re the one expected to make decisions about your future. High school graduation, college, the rest of your life is just around the bend in the road ahead. You’re shaped by every heartbreak, moment of triumph, cruel word, and act of kindness. And all the emotions inside you are bigger, stronger, more passionate. The future feels open. Possible. Big. Scary.

I love celebrating this multitude for joy, hope, injustice, and even sadness. In my opinion, this is great insight into why we often throw teenager characters into dystopian stories. While sometimes labeled as “overly emotional” or “out of control,” that “too much-ness” of adolescence is human emotion at its absolute fullest capacity. I can’t help but respect someone who can experience heartbreak like a life-ending blow and still care about their friends, show up for band practice, sing their heart out in a theater production, and write that 5-page essay due at the end of the week. 

And on top of it all—today’s youth are growing up with a true fear of climate change and developing an understanding of the dangers of unfettered capitalism in real time, while being asked “What do you want to do with your life after high school?” 

Of course, the compelling lightbulb of “Titanic-in-space” was fun and romantic: a chance to create parallels to an epic love story in a high-stake situation. But there was a level deeper. Underneath the outrageous opulence of the ship headed for Mars, sharp banter between characters from different worlds, slow-burn romance, and an action-packed, “there aren’t enough lifeboats (or escape pods in this case)” climax, Bound by Stars is a story about relatable, young characters navigating life in bleak future landscape. After all, dystopian novels can reflect the complexities of existing in this stage of life, while—hopefully—offering a bit of hope and inspiration.


Bound By Stars: Amazon|Barnes & Noble|Bookshop

Author socials: Website|Facebook|Instagram

(no subject)

Jul. 3rd, 2025 11:21 am
lotesse: (Default)
[personal profile] lotesse
Alas that stress also means need for dentist. I think the filling repair my dentist did last month already broke; it might not be the only bit of my dentistry crumbling under the current tension levels. And going to the dentist is so painful and scary :(

Hair-Cut The Day Short

Jul. 3rd, 2025 04:00 pm
[syndicated profile] notalwaysworking_feed

Posted by Not Always Right

Read Hair-Cut The Day Short

Suddenly, the regional manager appeared at my side. He says quietly:
Regional Manager: "I want you to put down what you’re doing, clock out, and not come back until you get a haircut."

Read Hair-Cut The Day Short

News and Reveals

Jul. 2nd, 2025 11:59 pm
[syndicated profile] ilonaandrews_blog_feed

Posted by Ilona

The first draft of the Inheritance is officially finished.

It’s the same size as Magic Claims. Some novella it turned out to be. Oy. This was so not the plan when we started.

Preorders and Availability

The Inheritance has gone to the developmental edit, and then it will go to the copyedit. We aiming for tail end of July for the release date but please don’t hold us to it. The cover is done. It was painted by Candice Slater with typography by Natanya Wheeler, and it is beautiful. We will reveal it when we’ll have the preorder up. We anticipate the preorder period to be very short, only a couple of weeks, unless something drastically changes. We may skip it altogether, depending on where we are in the online serial.

The audiobook: we are signing contracts as we speak. The audio will be recorded this month; however, it will take a few weeks for it to be uploaded. We will keep you posted. There may also be slight delay in print, just because that process takes longer.

Candice’s beautiful artwork will be included in the ebook and print versions. It will be black and white in print and will show up as black and white if you are using an actual Kindle. If you are reading on your phone or other tablets that display color, the artwork will show up in full color.

Here is a sample of what it will look like. The text doesn’t match because we just took a random chapter and stuffed a bunch of images into it to test things.

A screenshot of Candice Slater's illustration of a street with a monster climbing up on the building and random chapter text below to illustrate how the images will be presented in the ebook.

Remaining Installments

People are asking how many installments are left. 7. Unless we glue some scenes together.

As always, the story will stop before the big finale, because as much as we love you, we do need to make money, so if you want the final resolution, please support us by purchasing a copy. We hope to have no delay between the last installment and the availability of the entire book.

There will be an installment tomorrow.

Direct Sales

We know that some of you are upset by the recent change to Amazon’s policy that prevents you from saving your books to your own storage devices. We are considering offering digital copies of The Inheritance for sale through Shopify/Bookfunnel in addition to selling it through Amazon, Apple, and other retail channels.

Again, in addition to Amazon, Apple, BN and other options. You will be able to purchase it at your favorite retailer or at our site directly.

If we decide to offer direct downloads, this would mean that you can buy the book from us and add it to your favorite reading app or Kindle library. A lot of indie authors successfully use this distribution model. I actually just bought Tears of the Wolf from Elizabeth Wheatley’s site.

Update: NVM about the cover note that was here. It actually does show up properly after the file is opened.

We know that some of you will want to know which option will give us more money. We’re not going to tell you. Please buy in the format most convenient to you. We want the purchasing process to be as smooth as possible for you.

We will get our money either way. We only ask that you don’t pirate.

Finally

Finally, a very important announcement.

The cover of THIS KINGDOM WILL NOT KILL ME will be revealed early next week. It is truly a beautiful cover. So please check the blog on Tuesday around 11:00 am EST for the link.

And that concludes this week’s admin post. Pheew.

The post News and Reveals first appeared on ILONA ANDREWS.

james_davis_nicoll: (Default)
[personal profile] james_davis_nicoll


Director of the nation formerly known as Canada Quinn Atherton is determined to deliver much mass murder as it takes to achieve peace, order, good government. Why do so many ingrates object?

Blight(Sleep of Reason, volume 2) by Rachel A. Rosen

Connexions (18)

Jul. 3rd, 2025 10:01 am
the_comfortable_courtesan: image of a fan c. 1810 (Default)
[personal profile] the_comfortable_courtesan
A deal to think on

Really, Heggleton was a deal more entertaining a place than Ollie – the Honble Mr Oliver Parry-Lloyd, second son of Lord Abertyldd – had anticipated! Had accompanied his grandfather and namesake, Sir Oliver Brumpage, out of a sense of duty, for Granda’s man Barnet was no longer young himself, and Ma and Pa had been fretting that some younger person should go with him, make sure he did not overdo &C&C&C. And had been very agreeable to see the admiration in Thea – Lady Theodora Saxorby’s – eyes when he made the offer. For sure he had been being somewhat of a frivolous young man about Town – not particularly wild, since that fright they had all had over that business of Rathe and his gambling-hell, but not, perchance, the like of young man to appeal to a serious and pious young woman.

So he had undertook the task in somewhat of a penitential spirit, and was discovering it much more agreeable than his suppositions. Here was Heggleton not just a fine bustling manufacturing town with its prosperity built largely on cotton, but there was a deal of life about the place! An Institute – Assembly Rooms – societies for getting up concerts and choral performances – one of Lady Ollifaunt’s fine theatres – as well as a great number of improvement schemes.

Also a good deal of local society that was very welcoming to Sir Oliver’s grandson, particularly one that was in Society, had a sister that was lately married, a father that was part of an active coterie in the Lords on the side of reform –

Even more welcoming when he was discovered musical, for besides playing the bassoon, that he considered his instrument, Ollie was capable of sustaining a reasonable performance on bass fiddle or pianoforte. So there were invitations to informal gatherings to make music, and he just happened to have brought with him copies of some several of Zipsie’s compositions, that were greeted with extreme enthusiasm.

Sure, he was no innocent, he perceived that there were a number of young ladies who looked upon him as an eligible parti. Granda indeed commented upon it, with remarks upon what they would bring to a match –

I hope I am not the kind of fellow that would make that a consideration!

So do I, but do you like any of 'em, is somewhat to be took into account.

But was not all frivolity and flirtation – was being made acquainted with the business of cotton, that was where their fortunes came from.

Granda sighed, and deplored that one could not yet get by without some American cotton, though he did what he could – and revealed that as some salve to his conscience, sent a considerable sum to the di Serrantes in Boston – what a fine woman is Mrs di Serrante, the Quakers breed a very exceptional type – to disburse in various ways for the abolitionist cause.

Indeed one saw that Granda was not the brutal industrialist at all – had been twitted at first about the conditions in his mills, but had proved that not working the hands to exhaustion – having a school for children – light and air &C&C– came about remunerative in the long run.

So there was that – and Ollie began to see the interest in it all – but there would be a deal to learn!

There were also meetings with the political set in the town, for Heggleton was now a Parliamentary borough, and there was very like an election impending. Ollie did not entirely see that there was any cause for anxiety in the matter – 'twas a very solid Radical Whig seat – but over the course of various dinners, meetings of local societies and clubs &C, he came about to apprehend that there was another matter under advizance.

Here was Mr Oliver Parry-Lloyd, grandson of Sir Oliver Brumpage, son of Lord Abertyldd, that gave him a sound political pedigree – might he not, in due course, consider standing for Parliament? Ollie realized that 'twas quite a reasonable expectation. Had never given it thought before, but, indeed, had been hearing political discussion for some several years – ever since he was of an age to join the gentlemen in brandy and cigars after dinner – had observed Bobbie Wallace take to the business of being an MP quite like a duck to water

So he attended to the conversations, and ventured an occasional question.

Granda clapped him on the shoulder and said he was glad to see that Ollie was not one of these young fellows that supposes he knows precisely how to set the world to rights, and will tell his foolish seniors in and out of season what they should be doing.

Why, said Ollie, have not give the whole matter the thought I should.

It also struck him that going into politics would manifest a seriousness that might, perchance, appeal to Thea? Or at least, impress her parents that he was no idle wastrel?

Oh, Thea.

Zipsie was a good sister that conveyed a certain amount of news in her occasional letters – well, one could not expect a new wife with all the burdens of that position upon her to indite lengthy epistles like one in a novel by Richardson! – even was that mostly about the music she and Thea were about. Certain songs by the late Miss Billston, that had been Lady Jane Knighton’s cousin, that Lady Jane greatly desired to hear once more –

But was Thea happy? Were her parents persecuting her for her religious inclinations? Were they advancing some suitable match?

It was during a ball in the Assembly Rooms for the benefit of the new hospital that he learnt intelligence that he hoped might be a good omen.

He had no idea how the conversation over the supper table had turned to that topic – had someone asked where he went to church o’Sundays? And that had got on to various parish squabbles – some matter of who would be appointed chaplain to the hospital – and a mention that this new vicar at St Oswald’s was said to have very High practices, positively Romish.

Ollie determined to go to at least one service at St Oswald’s to ascertain whether it might conform to Thea’s leanings.

But before the nearest Sunday he attended a performance at the local theatre. Was teazed by the resemblance of the actress playing Amanda in The Rivalrous Ladies to a young woman – well, had been a girl at the time – that had been wont to be among the merry throng at the Raxdell House parties for young people in the Ferraby days. But the name, he recollected – there had been a brother and a sister as well – had been Richardson and the name on the playbill was Miss Dalrymple.

One had never seen them elsewhere – but indeed, there was a considerable diversity to be found in the parties give at the Raxdell House Phalanstery! – Julius and Hannah Roberts were ever among the young guests, along with the Lowndes offspring – though sure one now saw Ferraby Lowndes received everywhere –

That had been a fine girl – not exactly pretty, but with a certain vivacity that made one overlook more obvious beauties – and had been some matters of boyish stolen kisses during Hide and Seek.

So here he was at St Oswald’s, that was to be found in one of the poorer parts of Heggleton – not that there were any actual slums – and being dutifully attentive to the service and the vicar’s practices, and observing that he had a decent congregation.

Was waylaid by the fellow on his way out, that was clearly a little surprized to see a fine gentleman – Ollie made it clear that he was only visiting – not sure how long his stay would be – felt disinclined to reveal his family connexions just yet –

When a hand came through his arm and a fine attractive female voice said, La, Mr Parry-Lloyd! What a pleasure to encounter you! Might I beg you to be so kind as to escort me to my lodgings?

He looked around and down, and seeing her closer he could not doubt that 'twas Rosalind Richardson – perchance had married? – though he saw no ring – and, blushing a little, said 'twould be an entire pleasure.

So they stepped away from the church porch, and once they had got a sufficient distance she gave a little ripple of laughter and said, had Mr Pringle been at him about work with the young men of the parish?

Ollie grinned. He had not yet quite got to that! Manly recreations to keep 'em out of places of low resort &C?

Quite so! But what do you in this place?

He explained the reasons for his presence. Mentioned that he had been to the play t’other night – praised her performance – had not been sure 'twas her, because of the name –

O, when I ran away to go on the stage, I determined to change my name so that there would be no odorous caparisons with Mama –

Lord, Richardson! that would be, Clara Richardson, only slightly less noted a thespian than Amelia Addington.

– so I took darling Papa’s name professionally, even am I not entitled to it in law.

Ollie came to a stock-still halt. Dalrymple – Danvers Dalrymple, his father’s old friend, that one had ever supposed a sad old bachelor that still dressed as if 'twere the days of the Regent – though still a fine hand on the cricket pitch – ?

I see, she said with an air of amuzement, that you are not apprized of their domestic establishment – are quite Darby and Joan – Mama would not marry and renounce the boards – they live most genteel and respectable with Grandmama and her pugs – a deal more genteel and respectable than many couples that have gone to church –

Do you not mind? Ollie enquired.

Why, Gods stand up for bastards! – I daresay there are stations I might aspire to where it might hurt me, but all I have ever wanted to do is tread the boards, just like my brother, that is now running a theatre in New South Wales.

They walked on a little way, coming to rather more respectable streets.

She said with somewhat of wistfulness that those had been wonderful parties at Raxdell House – but, she added, to his sympathetic expression, we did not go home to sleep in ashes! And here were her lodgings.

They shook hands and she went in.

He shook his head. The encounter had give him a deal to think on.


Community Thursday

Jul. 3rd, 2025 07:20 am
vriddy: Link from Legend of Zelda taking aim with a bow (taking aim)
[personal profile] vriddy

Community Thursday challenge: every Thursday, try to make an effort to engage with a community on Dreamwidth, whether that's posting, commenting, promoting, etc.


Over the last week...

Final (;v;) vigilantes chit-chat on [community profile] bnha_fans, for this season at least!

Commented on [community profile] common_nature.

Book chit-chat on [community profile] booknook.

Commented on [community profile] littleblackdressex about a duplicate nom..... My first exchange sign-up this year! Excited :D :D

Signal boost:

  • [community profile] sunshine_revival started! Each (chill) challenge will have journalling prompts, and so on. A good way to be active and meet other active people around Dreamwidth! There's a friending meme, too! As happens way too often (and I'm going to need to address that at some point...), I'm too overwhelmed with other things to take part in social challenges at the moment, but wishing everyone a super fun time with it! And who knows, maybe I will manage to squeeze in one or two challenges, too... It could happen!!
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[personal profile] conuly
Moonpie's foot looks better, we didn't end up having to take her for an x-ray at all.

************************


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