...but don't be alarmed. It's not shrinking quickly. However, we thought it had stopped that stuff a long time ago.
The data that establishes that the moon is still shrinking came, believe it or not, from modern analysis of data gathered by seisometers...left by the Apollo missions.
(No, it was not all a publicity stunt).
Tuesday, May 14, 2019
Monday, May 13, 2019
Oh, look...
...it's a dragon!
https://www.sciencealert.com/tiny-jurassic-dinosaur-had-wings-like-a-bat-not-a-bird
Bat winged dinosaurs lost out to the feather winged kind, but they did exist. Briefly.
Totally a dragon.
https://www.sciencealert.com/tiny-jurassic-dinosaur-had-wings-like-a-bat-not-a-bird
Bat winged dinosaurs lost out to the feather winged kind, but they did exist. Briefly.
Totally a dragon.
Friday, May 10, 2019
Is Evolution Sometimes a Cycle?
Apparently, yes.
One species of rail has twice colonized islands and become flightless...in the same exact way. This proves that evolution is highly predictable. The phenomenon is called iterative evolution.
It has some interesting implications. If a species can literally evolve twice in essentially the same way, then...for one thing, it means de-extinction isn't as unnatural as we think.
(Passenger pigeons, anyone?)
One species of rail has twice colonized islands and become flightless...in the same exact way. This proves that evolution is highly predictable. The phenomenon is called iterative evolution.
It has some interesting implications. If a species can literally evolve twice in essentially the same way, then...for one thing, it means de-extinction isn't as unnatural as we think.
(Passenger pigeons, anyone?)
Thursday, May 9, 2019
Nobody is Perfect
Occasionally, there are typos in books. In fact, there are typos in books that go through major publishing houses.
People ask how that can happen.
Well, it's not just books. Quite a lot of people were asking how a Starbucks cup ended up left in the shot in an episode of Game of Thrones. Surely one of the people on set would have noticed it.
Fact is, mistakes can get past everyone. No matter how many people you have look something over, something is going to slip into the live version.
Whether it's a coffee cup or a ; instead of a c (Don't ask. It happened), mistakes are going to slip through.
And it's always nice to have a reminder that they happen to other people.
(In the digital world, they're easy to fix. The coffee cup will apparently not be showing up again).
People ask how that can happen.
Well, it's not just books. Quite a lot of people were asking how a Starbucks cup ended up left in the shot in an episode of Game of Thrones. Surely one of the people on set would have noticed it.
Fact is, mistakes can get past everyone. No matter how many people you have look something over, something is going to slip into the live version.
Whether it's a coffee cup or a ; instead of a c (Don't ask. It happened), mistakes are going to slip through.
And it's always nice to have a reminder that they happen to other people.
(In the digital world, they're easy to fix. The coffee cup will apparently not be showing up again).
Wednesday, May 8, 2019
Aww....it's cute!
It's T-Rex...three feet tall.
Suskityrannus hazelae is a tiny relative of T-Rex from just before it became the ultimate apex predator. It probably ate small animals.
And it's adorable. I mean, I still wouldn't argue with a T-Rex even at that size, but...
Suskityrannus hazelae is a tiny relative of T-Rex from just before it became the ultimate apex predator. It probably ate small animals.
And it's adorable. I mean, I still wouldn't argue with a T-Rex even at that size, but...
Tuesday, May 7, 2019
The Engame (Spoilers)
Yes, spoilers. And as I know people who still haven't seen it...just stop reading now if you haven't.
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Still with me?
Okay, if you're familiar with the original Infinity War storyline, then the Big Spoiler...isn't. In the original comics, Tony is killed when he uses the Infinity Gauntlet to reverse Thanos' actions. Being comics, he came back.
Being as Downey has said he wants to move on from Tony Stark, MCU Tony probably isn't coming back. There will undoubtedly be a new Iron Man. Or, more likely, more than one. There's an obvious set up for Morgan Stark - thanks to timeline shenanigans now of a close age with Cassie Lang (Stature in the comics) and Hawkeye's daughter (whom he already called Hawkeye) to be future Avengers, but the kids are all under 8.
Either Rhodey will take the mantle for a while or we're going to see the imminent introduction of Ironheart (Riri Williams) as Tony's replacement. The Far From Home trailer has Fury trying to get Peter to take the title, but obviously...well...he has his own.
I was dissatisfied with Cap's ending, but squee'd when he gave Falcon the shield (I've been worried we might end up with Bucky-Cap, which is far less interesting). Also near squee when he picked up Mjolnir. (Yes, Mjolnir is back, as is Cap's TWICE destroyed shield. Items have plot immortality).
Both upset and not about Black Widow.
Very upset that the original Gamora seems to be staying dead, retconing all of her character development. However, the end did kind of set up for Guardians III: The Search for Gamora (does this mean that if there's a fourth movie they have to travel into Earth's past?) so...who knows what Gunn has in mind there.
The best part of this movie, though, was the message it sent to younger viewers: Everyone can be an Avenger.
All you have to do is stand up for what's right and protect your community. The passing on of the shield from a white man to a black one strengthened that message.
"I don't want to live in a world without Captain America."
None of us have to. And that was the primary message of Endgame. That we don't need our heroes.
We can become them.
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Still with me?
Okay, if you're familiar with the original Infinity War storyline, then the Big Spoiler...isn't. In the original comics, Tony is killed when he uses the Infinity Gauntlet to reverse Thanos' actions. Being comics, he came back.
Being as Downey has said he wants to move on from Tony Stark, MCU Tony probably isn't coming back. There will undoubtedly be a new Iron Man. Or, more likely, more than one. There's an obvious set up for Morgan Stark - thanks to timeline shenanigans now of a close age with Cassie Lang (Stature in the comics) and Hawkeye's daughter (whom he already called Hawkeye) to be future Avengers, but the kids are all under 8.
Either Rhodey will take the mantle for a while or we're going to see the imminent introduction of Ironheart (Riri Williams) as Tony's replacement. The Far From Home trailer has Fury trying to get Peter to take the title, but obviously...well...he has his own.
I was dissatisfied with Cap's ending, but squee'd when he gave Falcon the shield (I've been worried we might end up with Bucky-Cap, which is far less interesting). Also near squee when he picked up Mjolnir. (Yes, Mjolnir is back, as is Cap's TWICE destroyed shield. Items have plot immortality).
Both upset and not about Black Widow.
Very upset that the original Gamora seems to be staying dead, retconing all of her character development. However, the end did kind of set up for Guardians III: The Search for Gamora (does this mean that if there's a fourth movie they have to travel into Earth's past?) so...who knows what Gunn has in mind there.
The best part of this movie, though, was the message it sent to younger viewers: Everyone can be an Avenger.
All you have to do is stand up for what's right and protect your community. The passing on of the shield from a white man to a black one strengthened that message.
"I don't want to live in a world without Captain America."
None of us have to. And that was the primary message of Endgame. That we don't need our heroes.
We can become them.
Monday, May 6, 2019
Balticon Schedule
As usual, this may be subject to last minute changes.
Friday, 5pm - Being A Fan of Problematic Things (moderator). Sadly it won't be late night this time, so we might have to tone things down some.
Friday, 9pm - Bad Movie Adaptations. There will be a cage fight.
Saturday, 11am - How to be a Good Moderator
Saturday, noon - Writing Neurodivergent Characters
Saturday, 2pm - Balticon Short Takes (this replaces the Broad Universe RFR, which was canceled due to drama. Ask me if you really want to know).
Saturday, 4pm - Reading with Paul Ellis and Veronica Giguere (I have to compete with Veronica? Ack!)
Saturday, 8pm - Fantasy -isms: When Metaphors go bad
Saturday, 9pm - Non-Super Super Heroes. Which is about how some characters might not have super powers...but might as well. My Bond fan will come out here.
Sunday, 10am - Doctor Who: The Whittaker/Chibnall Era so Far. Rotated back onto the Who panel. As the only woman. Talking about Whittaker. *grins*
Sunday, 12pm - Signing (I will also have books throughout the con, so talk to me).
Sunday, 2pm - Just How Many People Live In Your Fantasy City, Anyway? (moderator). This one may get a bit technical. There may be math. Hence why I'm moderating.
Sunday, 3pm - Consent Violations and Bystander Intervention (moderator)
Sunday 5pm - Queer Fandoms
Sunday 8pm - Sex, Sexuality and Worldbuilding (moderator). Yes, this one is definitely 18+.
Monday 10am - Dealing with Toxic Fandoms
Monday 1pm - Scifi Comics Without Superheroes. I'm hoping to talk about G. Willow Wilson's intriguing Invisible Kingdom.
Yes, I'm letting them work me hard again, but I love it.
Friday, 5pm - Being A Fan of Problematic Things (moderator). Sadly it won't be late night this time, so we might have to tone things down some.
Friday, 9pm - Bad Movie Adaptations. There will be a cage fight.
Saturday, 11am - How to be a Good Moderator
Saturday, noon - Writing Neurodivergent Characters
Saturday, 2pm - Balticon Short Takes (this replaces the Broad Universe RFR, which was canceled due to drama. Ask me if you really want to know).
Saturday, 4pm - Reading with Paul Ellis and Veronica Giguere (I have to compete with Veronica? Ack!)
Saturday, 8pm - Fantasy -isms: When Metaphors go bad
Saturday, 9pm - Non-Super Super Heroes. Which is about how some characters might not have super powers...but might as well. My Bond fan will come out here.
Sunday, 10am - Doctor Who: The Whittaker/Chibnall Era so Far. Rotated back onto the Who panel. As the only woman. Talking about Whittaker. *grins*
Sunday, 12pm - Signing (I will also have books throughout the con, so talk to me).
Sunday, 2pm - Just How Many People Live In Your Fantasy City, Anyway? (moderator). This one may get a bit technical. There may be math. Hence why I'm moderating.
Sunday, 3pm - Consent Violations and Bystander Intervention (moderator)
Sunday 5pm - Queer Fandoms
Sunday 8pm - Sex, Sexuality and Worldbuilding (moderator). Yes, this one is definitely 18+.
Monday 10am - Dealing with Toxic Fandoms
Monday 1pm - Scifi Comics Without Superheroes. I'm hoping to talk about G. Willow Wilson's intriguing Invisible Kingdom.
Yes, I'm letting them work me hard again, but I love it.
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