All the Downsides of Artificial Gravity
By Tamara Wilhite
You don’t notice it in science fiction shows and movies until it’s gone – the artificial gravity, that is. It is reasonable to assume the invention would be widely used, since it would allow people to function normally in space for a lifetime. You could raise children on space stations and space ships with artificial gravity knowing they’d grow up normally instead of ending up twice as tall because they were exposed to Martian gravity.
Yet artificial gravity comes with a number of potential dangers, all of which could be exploited by those with ill intent.
Goliath vs. David
The Estate of Prominent Progressive Harlan Ellison Threatens Legal Action to Squelch Conservative-Libertarian Response to Ellison’s 1967 Taboo-Smashing Anthology DANGEROUS VISIONS
By Liberty Island Links & Excerpts
Due to threat of legal action by the Harlan Ellison Estate, award-winning science fiction and horror writer Andrew Fox changed the title of his projected anthology of original science fiction stories addressing today’s taboos from THE NEW DANGEROUS VISIONS to HAZARDOUS IMAGININGS: THE MONDO BOOK OF POLITICALLY INCORRECT SCIENCE FICTION.
Four weeks prior to his launching a Kickstarter campaign to raise $7,000 to buy original stories, Fox contacted the Ellison Estate to seek their input on his projected anthology and reference to the title of Harlan Ellison’s seminal 1967 anthology. After responding immediately to Fox’s initial message, the Estate did not reply to a more detailed description by Fox of his intended project. Fox was aware that titles do not fall under copyright law, but he wanted to be considerate of Susan Ellison’s, Harlan Ellison’s widow’s, feelings in the matter and also learn whether the title “Dangerous Visions” had been trademarked.
Not hearing any objections from the Estate, Fox launched his Kickstarter campaign on May 16, 2019. On May 17, 2019, a representative of The Kilimanjaro Corporation, an arm of the Ellison Estate, contacted Fox and threatened to pursue legal action should Fox persist in using either of the Corporation’s trademarks, “Dangerous Visions” or “Harlan Ellison,” in the Kickstarter campaign.
What is a Democracy Sausage?
By Tom Weiss
The last time I spoke to my friend Kevin, all he wanted to talk about was the Australian election last week, which was surprising because normally the only news stories that interest him involve things like great white sharks attacking fishing boats.
Kevin told me the election was all over the news because the polls got it all wrong. It was a miracle and an incredible shock like Brexit and the election of Donald Trump. Kevin didn’t have a clue it was happening until it was all over, but now wouldn’t rest until he had the inside scoop.
“What the hell is happening down there?” He asked.
New Dark Humor Fiction: Hitch-Hike Baby, Part Two
The Ugly
By Carlos Stranger
When last we visited, I had just gotten laid by way of a friendly, frisky, pre-AIDS era hitchhike hookup. It was the only time such a thing happened during my years thumbing rides, but not for lack of offers. Unfortunately, at least for a straight guy like me, all the other offers I got after getting picked up were from men.
Ryan Reynolds: CHIMICHANGAS!!
Deconstructing Canadian Culture, Part 30: So Much Time Getting Pummeled
By Josh Lieblein
Oh! Hello. I know, right? Like the blind squirrel who eventually finds the broken clock twice a day, Josh has finally stumbled onto someone interesting and relevant. And it only took him 29 completely useless Canadian culture blogposts to do it! Great job, Josh. Your certificate in pointless knowledge is in the mail, as are the medals for everyone who’s been bored to tears by this Canadian culture crapfest for the past seven months.
Memorial Day Memories and Small Town Virtues
By David Churchill Barrow
Memorial Day in the sleepy little Massachusetts town where I grew up was a big deal (not so much here in Florida or elsewhere in the south, since its origin was a commemoration of Union dead). Next to Christmas it was also my favorite holiday, despite the somber ceremonies. It marked the beginning of summer – cook-outs, the filling of swimming pools, flowers in full bloom, and fresh clean air. Not long before school’s out!
PreTeena: May 20 – May 26, 2019
By Allison Barrows
You won’t want to miss these hilarious cartoons depicting the ups and downs of adolescence. Now each week’s strips will debut on Sundays as the lead strip of Liberty Island’s Sunday Comics feature. If you draw a comic and would like to have your work featured on Sundays, please contact us: [email protected]
Check out Allison Barrows’ new PreTeena blog here.
Why Is Disney Making So Many Live Action Remakes?
By Tamara Wilhite
Disney has been releasing a series of live action remakes. The “Beauty and the Beast” remake starring Emma Watson is the most notable success to date. The box office total for the live action “Beauty and the Beast” passed a billion dollars at the box office, earning more than the original animated film. It proved that live action remakes – regardless of what you think of them – could be very profitable.
Where Is Australia on the Map?
Part 5 in an Ongoing Series on Australia, Its People, and Culture
By Tom Weiss
Kevin’s next question isn’t as silly as it might sound. Growing up in the Northern Hemisphere, he and I were conditioned by every map we ever saw to look for Australia at the bottom right of the world. He wondered if the opposite was true in Australia.
“We’re at the top of all our maps because they’re made here,” he said. “It’s the same reason North is at the top. The opposite should be true down there, right? Don’t maps in Australia have South at the top?”
I didn’t want to admit it, but he had me stumped. I hadn’t thought at all about the question.
Exploring LeftTube, Part 2: BadMouse Productions
Why I like Extremists
By Shant Eghian
In his brilliant column on the future of sex robots (trust me, it’s really good), Ross Douthat opens with a line that I think is often true: “Sometimes the extremists and the radicals and the weirdos see the world more clearly than the respectable and moderate and sane.” I say this in light of today’s leftist YouTuber, BadMouse Productions, the most radical YouTuber I’ll be covering on a series on the rise of the YouTube Left (otherwise known as “LeftTube”).
Compared to other leftist YouTubers, BadMouse may not have the most views or subscribers, but what marks him out from his comrades is just how much he embraces his leftism. He’s no champagne-sipping socialist. More like a, East Germany wasn’t so bad, maybe we should rethink Stalin’s legacy, it’s not so bad if protestors attack cops, blood of the bourgeoisie sipping socialist!
