Stanisław Lem(1921 - 2006) was a Polish science fiction writer. His books have been translated into 41 languages and have sold over 27 million copies. He is perhaps best known as the author of Solaris, which has twice been made into a feature film. His works explore philosophical themes, such as speculation on technology, the nature of intelligence ( Read more... )

I think I'm interested in seeing this. It's a film about hippies... running the US military.

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A decade ago, Sé expressed a desire to open an eclectic used bookstore which feature art and live music as well. I expressed skepticism at the time. She has long since established her bookstore, {open}, in Long Beach. And this past Friday, Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins, and Dave Navarro of Jane's Addiction debuted ten songs at her bookstore ( Read more... )

Always I have wanted the perfect bookshelf -- a combination of function and form. This desire is not too surprising, considering my attraction to books, both qua content and qua physical tokens. I have long since envisaged my perfect bookshelf: two chrome or brushed-nickel rods places vertically 1.5 feet away from the wall, extending upwards about ( Read more... )

- "Michael. Dear Michael. Of course it's you, who else could they send, who else could be trusted? I... I know it's a long way and you're ready to go to work... all I'm saying is wait, just wait, just-just-just... please hear me out because this is not an episode, relapse, fuck-up, it's... I'm begging you Michael. I'm begging you. Try and make ( Read more... )

BELIEVE ME when I say that Jeff Bridges's character in the new TRON film is meant to look like Philip K Dick. See for yourself:


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During the rainy summer of 1816, much of the world was locked in a long cold volcanic winter caused by the eruption of Mount Tambora. That summer, a young woman, Mary, and her lover visited Lord Byron at the Villa Diodati by Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Lord Byron was also visited by his friend and fellow immortal, Methos ( Read more... )

Dvorak asked me yesterday what Regina Spektor album he should listen to, if he were to listen to a single one. He oddly qualified the question with the addendum that he does not plan on listening to any Spektor albums -- but this does not detract from the pertinence of his original question, for the sole reason that it is Dvorak asking it.

Regina ( Read more... )

Recently I have took to disliking documentaries, for several reasons.

Firstly, it occurred to me -- I know, quite an epiphany -- that there is no decisive reason or set of reasons to treat what is claimed as true. A fictional film does not purport to claim truths, in the sense that if others criticize the accuracy or sincerity of a film, the ( Read more... )

Neil Labute's play "Reasons to be Pretty" is playing on Broadway. I saw it a few days ago; here is a picture of the playhouse.  We had the third row, right in the center, almost perfect. Neil Labute is perhaps better known as the playwright of "The Shape of Things". His newer play was not as twisted, but still entertaining, and in a way more mature ( Read more... )