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The author of Skulls in the Stars is a professor of physics, specializing in optical science, at UNC Charlotte. The blog covers topics in physics and optics, the history of science, classic pulp fantasy and horror fiction, and the surprising intersections between these areas. -
Monthly Archives: August 2007
Optics basics: The three major branches of optical science
Since this is supposed to be in large part a science-focused blog, I wanted to get started with some serious posts about scientific topics. Like most of the established science bloggers, I’ll be mixing up posts which are on basic … Continue reading
Posted in Optics, Optics basics
14 Comments
Temporary slowdown
I hate to do this so soon after starting my blog, but I’ll be having a posting slowdown over the next few weeks as I travel on business to Amsterdam, the Ukraine, and then San Jose. I’ll try and throw … Continue reading
Posted in Personal
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… the Hell? Republican sex scandals
Yet another Republican politician has resigned in the wake of a sex scandal. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, was arrested in June for apparently soliciting lewd conduct in an airport men’s bathroom. He pled guilty to the charge of disorderly conduct. … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, Politics
8 Comments
Abu G outta da house… (updated)
Alberto Gonzales has resigned. I can’t say I’ll miss him, and it’s already been noted that there really isn’t anyone, outside of the president, and maybe Cheney, who’s sad to see him go. It’s important, though, as our brains flood … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
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Exciting film projects which may never get made…
Here’s an interesting tidbit for Robert E. Howard fans: an animated film version of the Conan story Red Nails is in production. I stumbled across the web site for it a few weeks ago, and it looks like it is … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment, Fantasy fiction, Robert E. Howard
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Films too good to describe
All the talk about the movie Hot Fuzz in my earlier post got me thinking about another curious category of movie. First, let me say a few words about Hot Fuzz: it’s an action film parody/homage by the same people … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment
7 Comments
In the footsteps of Mythos… (updated)
Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) is one of the most influential horror authors people have never heard of. He was a direct inspiration to most of the leading horror voices of this generation, including Stephen King and Ramsey Campbell.
Posted in Cemetery, Fantasy fiction, Lovecraft
6 Comments
What created the Khmer Rouge? (updated)
One of my major irritations in life is feeling like I know better than supposed ‘experts’ in a particular job or field of study — even though I know absolutely nothing about the job or field in question. A few … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
4 Comments
The best bad films that ever were
I recently was wandering through the local Borders and found that they’ve finally released the 1980’s Flash Gordon in a nice DVD box set. I’ve loved this film since my college days, when I would get together with a number … Continue reading
Posted in Entertainment
17 Comments
Don’t read those bloggers… they’re unclean!
Steve Benen at The Carpetbagger Report notes that, over the weekend, Michael Skube, a professor of journalism at Elon University, wrote an op-ed in the LA Times blasting blogs: There was something appealing about this argument — one that no … Continue reading
Posted in Politics
3 Comments
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