Author Archives: Anton

like illiteracy is a kind of literacy

Posted on Wednesday, 2005 November 30 by Anton

Another thing I wouldn’t mind hearing less of: the word infamous used as an emphatic synonym for famous.

Posted in language | Leave a comment

wacky microgravity tricks

Posted on Wednesday, 2005 November 30 by Anton

Does this really work?

Posted in cartoons, sciences | 1 Comment

any old papers please

Posted on Tuesday, 2005 November 29 by Anton

Today’s assignment was in a building where I hadn’t worked before, so I didn’t know about the fascist gatekeeper. Luckily my Costco card has a picture of me. I oughta make a laminated card with my picture and a name … Continue reading →

Posted in security theater | Leave a comment

flies on fire

Posted on Sunday, 2005 November 27 by Anton

It’s a fair bet that my readers include at least one Mutant Enemy fanatic. Got a couple of canon questions for ya. In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, anyone seen smoking is either evil, under a spell or doomed. (There’s one … Continue reading →

Posted in cinema | 1 Comment

refractin’ back atcha

Posted on Friday, 2005 November 25 by Anton

A few of my Povray scenes include objects with negative indices of refraction; I’ve said of this one that three-quarters of it cannot exist in the real world. Now I read in The Economist that, because a negative-refractive slab could … Continue reading →

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Plutinos, Twotinos, Cubewanos

Posted on Thursday, 2005 November 24 by Anton

John Baez gives (among other things) a handy summary of transneptunian objects.

Posted in astronomy | Leave a comment

how do you tell racism from diversity?

Posted on Thursday, 2005 November 24 by Anton

I’m watching a collection of Tom and Jerry cartoons, made by Joseph Barbera and William Hanna, who were later known for the much cruder animation of The Flintstones. I’m puzzled by the opening disclaimer in which Whoopi Goldberg explains that … Continue reading →

Posted in cartoons, cinema | 1 Comment