Links: 2015 — 12

Assorted links from the last two months, and almost certainly the final for 2015.

• This article on autism in women is mostly interesting and good, but has an unfortunate tendency to exaggerate a point by failing to compare like with like.
• I learned a thing or two from this Upgoer-style explanation of relativity.
• This essay on weather in literature is worth a read, but the section on present-day works is weak and disappointing.
• Interview with Thony Christie, covering various topics in the history of science. The meat is from 00:07:00 to 01:07:50.
• Timeline of the Universe. Be aware there are allegations of significant errors, some of which are mentioned in the comments.
• Convincing proof laid out in an SMBC cartoon.
• Transcript of a talk on online advertising and related issues of crucial importance in today’s world. Definitely worth reading. I don’t endorse every opinion (especially near the end), but it’s all part of an important conversation.

I have several things to say on the topic of books.

• Books I bought recently include Perv by Jesse Bering (2013) and Setting Aside All Authority by Christopher Graney (2015), the latter on the strength of this review.
• Mark Rosenfelder’s book on China is out. I helped with the cover illustration, which uses a photograph taken by my mother. We’re each getting a free copy.
• I’m (sort of) writing a book of my own. It’s the children’s poem I wrote years ago and started illustrating, but this time with someone else doing the illustrations. It’s not a commercial publication. There’s a lot more I could say — and feel free to ask — but otherwise I’ll reveal all early next year.

A November ritual is choosing a wall calendar for the following year. Readers may recall that I have a collection to which I add one calendar a year, and that each year I choose a theme I’ve never had before. For 2016 I’ve chosen “Australian Waterfalls” and I am very happy with that decision.

I wrote a couple of random thoughts on Google Plus (here and here), in case you want to add anything.

Advertisement