Quick Book Review

Posted By on April 29, 2009 at 8:23 pm

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress, by Robert A. Heinlein, 1966.
Quick review: I lately find myself wishing for an advantageous locale, vis-a-vis Earth’s gravity well.
5 stars.



Spurred by references to Simon Jester that popped up around the recent Tea Parties, I took it upon myself to dig out my ancient copy of Heinlein’s classic story of libertarian revolution.
Having failed to find it — I think it made its way to the used bookstore last year, along with several hundred other volumes — I acquired a fresh copy, and dug in.
It had easily been 20 years since I last read it, and yet much of the book has stuck with me over the years. Re-reading it was like greeting an old friend.
When I’d finished, I realized how much my own political views have been shaped by (or at least have developed into being a close match for) the views expressed by Heinlein’s characters.
TANSTAAFL, baby.
Come to think of it, I agree with a greater-than-zero bit of the political philosophy Heinlein expounded in Starship Troopers, too. Pity the movie sucked like a fusion-powered Electrolux.

Average IQ rises on both sides of the Senate

Posted By on April 28, 2009 at 2:33 pm

Senator Palpatine Arlen Specter has decided to switch to the Democrat side of the aisle, either because he is getting his ass handed to him in the PA GOP primaries, or simply to make his party affiliation match his voting record.
To be honest, I am surprised he ever wore the GOP label.
I liked him better when he had cancer; at least then I could feel something other than disgust for him.