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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. -
Category Archives: … the Hell?
“The Wicker Tree?” (Updated)
This one was an immediate WTF moment for me: Robin Hardy, the writer/director of the original version of the film The Wicker Man (1973), is “reimagining” his film as The Wicker Tree, slated for release sometime this year: For those … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, Entertainment, Horror, Robert E. Howard
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Captain America has a tradition of social commentary
If you haven’t seen it yet, the most recent issue of the Marvel Comics series Captain America has drawn the ire of teabaggers because of its negative portrayal of them. Via Yahoo news, Since 1941, Captain America has been one … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, Entertainment, Politics
3 Comments
I’ll stick with my parachute, thanks
Via Daily Kos, I came across this interesting article in Popular Mechanics: How to Fall 35,000 Feet — and Survive: You have a late night and an early flight. Not long after takeoff, you drift to sleep. Suddenly, you’re wide … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, General science
1 Comment
Which Winston Churchill wrote “Man Overboard!”?
Horror fiction is often burdened by the popular impression that it is the refuge of the anti-social, the unliterary, the morbid, and even the perverse. However, a surprising number of authors of classic literature have dabbled in macabre fiction, such … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, Horror
9 Comments
Atlantis discovered… again…sigh.
Via the Huffington Post, which is sort of a magnet for really outlandish and unsubstantiated claims, we find this rather dubious announcement that the lost city of Atlantis has been found: Undersea archaeologists have found the ruins of an ancient … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?
3 Comments
John Grant’s Bogus Science
About two years ago, I had the pleasure of happening across and reading John Grant’s book Corrupted Science. Corrupted Science deals with the systematic weakening, ignoring, and suppression of scientific reality for political purposes; examples include the disastrous Lysenkoism of … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, General science, Science news
3 Comments
The movie 2012… stoopid before it even comes out
You know, I’m not in principle against a film based on the premise that the world will end in 2012 as prophesized by the ancient Mayans, even though the idea is complete bunk. What does bug me is that the … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, Entertainment
10 Comments
The “curse” of success in science
(This post may seem like boasting just as much as it seems like complaining, for which I apologize in advance.) Those who are regular readers of this blog may have noticed that things have been a little quiet again for … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, General science
7 Comments
Sad
The scene at San Jose International Airport, 5 am:
Posted in ... the Hell?, Travel
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Off to Frontiers in Optics 2009!
Today my life is complete chaos as I try and get things together for the OSA Annual Meeting, aka Frontiers in Optics 2009. Wouldn’t you know it, today is the day that suddenly a dozen extra meetings and phone calls … Continue reading
Posted in ... the Hell?, Science news
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