Ballard and music, Panasonic eReader pix, Project Orion re-redux, Alan Moore interview…

• 1 – Modest Muse
  “Author J.G. Ballard’s influence on modern music.” Interesting interview / retrospective piece.
  (tags: influence music transgressive speculative literature sf scifi fiction science retrospective interview authors writers Ballard G J)
• 2 – Maps of War
  Great site with animated maps and graphics showing the course of conflicts through history, both recent and ancient. An excellent find, via Metafilter.
  (tags: reference visualization time war politics military history animation maps)
• 3 – Panasonic’s Word Gear e-book reader in the wild
  Engadget has the pictures, as always.
  (tags: images device portable technology plaque ereader ebook Word Panasonic)
• 4 – The ThrustPac
  “It’s basically just a big gas-powered propeller that you strap to your back, capable of pushing you forward while seated on a bike … you’ll be able to reach speeds of 25 to 35 mph, while averaging a very respectable 150 mpg.”
  (tags: lunacy sports extreme bike bicyle engine propeller gas personal ThrustPac)
• 5 – Creative X-Fi Gaming Mod
  Yeah, I’m still a sucker for case mod build-logs. So sue me.
  (tags: pictures images log build commision X-Fi Creative technology computer geek modding mod case PC)
• 6 – Unidentified flying idiots
  “I’m sorry, folks, but you can’t have your cake and eat it too. You can’t choose and pick the science that appeals to you and then attempt to tie it in with bogus and unfounded speculations.” George Dvorsky appeals for rationality.
  (tags: absurdity narrow religion singularity illiteracy thought scientific pseudoscience UFO SETI objects artificial transhumanism)
• 7 – Hitachi’s Employee-Tracking WiFi Active RFID Tag
  “The difference is that these tags can be tracked electronically, constantly broadcasting their location so managers can know exactly where their employees are at all times.” I think I’ll invest in tinfoil stocks.
  (tags: security technology surveillance monitoring tracking employee Hitachi badge name arphid RFID wifi)
• 8 – Minimag Orion, and follow-on ideas
  “Mini-mag Orion would use sub-critical explosions with Z pinch technology.” Er, yes. Dyson’s ‘Project Orion’ gets a 21st Century reworking. Still sounds a little far-fetched to me, but hey, if it works then why not?
  (tags: propulsion nuclear proposal vehicle mission space Mars Mini-mag Orion Project)
• 9 – Huge ‘launch ring’ to fling satellites into orbit
  “An enormous ring of superconducting magnets similar to a particle accelerator could fling satellites into space, or perhaps weapons around the world, suggest the findings of a new study funded by the US air force.” This story finally goes mainstream.
  (tags: research technology LaunchPoint satellite orbit space accelerator projectile magnetic ring launch)
• 10 – MyScam: the PR puff behind ‘internet stars’
  ” … today, that is the very illusion the marketers try to sell you – that you’re the one who’s on the money, who’s an innovator, who listens to bands and solo artists that no one else has yet heard of.” Eyetoldyaso.
  (tags: stardom internet scams publicity music media marketing networks social web2.0 MySpace)
• 11 – Alan Moore’s ‘Lost Girls’
  “What would happen if Alice, Wendy and Dorothy met as adults? Alan Moore, Britain’s greatest graphic novelist, reveals the story behind his most controversial work yet.” Independent Online article, via Grumpy Old Bookman.
  (tags: interview writing novels graphic comics Girls Lost Moore Alan)