The evil of the Daleks
Radio ABC: "They are among the most loved, or most feared, villains in science fiction. But what is it that makes Dalek such great baddies? What constitutes evil and why do the Daleks represent a very specific idea about rationality and morality? This week, we talk to a philosopher about what the Daleks have to tell us—in their mechanical, screechy voices—about who we are." Read on
The Singularity and schools: An interview with Vernor Vinge
"Vernor Vinge is a five-time Hugo Award-winning science fiction author. Most importantly, his 1993 essay “The Coming Technological Singularity,” argues that accelerating technological change will bring about the end of the human era as we know it, and that the world will become so complex and foreign to human observers, it will be impossible to predict what will happen next." Read on
Robert J. Sawyer - Interview - June 21, 2012
bookotron.com: "...about his ability to craft novels that take a single Big Idea and spin it a million different directions." Read on
Ursula K. Le Guin - Interview WIRED Magazine - 25.07.2012
wired.com: "Recent years have seen the 82-year-old writer engaged in numerous clashes with the powers that be, from Google and Hollywood to the literary establishment and an increasingly corporate publishing industry, which, despite her celebrated career, wants to make fundamental changes to the books she writes." Read on
Dr. Travis Langley - Batman and Psychology: A Dark and Stormy Knight (M4a File)
theofantastique.com: "Dr. Langley is both a social psychologist, and a comic fan who labels himself a "superheroologist." In this podcast he shares his thoughts on the Colorado shooting and alleged connections to Batman, and additional thoughts on superheroes in American culture." Read on
Cory Doctorow on Copyright
Radio ABC 16.07.2012: "A funny thing happened on the way to the 21st century, copyright policy ceased to exist. Because every copyright policy that we make has a seismic effect on the Internet, and you can’t regulate copying without regulating the Internet." Read on
Quantum computing – a step closer
Radio ABC: "Quantum computing is the holy grail of computing. It is a technology that relies upon the physical properties of individual atoms. When developed, computers will be capable of very much more, performing more operations faster. They will need different software and processors." Read on
Memes
WPR: "What do the opening notes of Beethoven's "Symphony Number Five" and a rabbit named Oolong balancing a pancake on his head have in common? They're both examples of memes – units of culture that are imitated and, as a result, copied from one brain to another. Are memes the driving force behind cultural evolution?" Read on
