Miscellany and marginalia « A Progressive on the Prairie

Miscellany and marginalia

The head of NASA’s former Breakthrough Propulsion Physics Project has announced the formation of the Tau Zero Foundation. Named after a Poul Anderson novel, the foundation is intended to support “incremental advancements in science, technology, and education” leading to interstellar flight. (Via Roberson’s Interminable Ramble.)

Speaking of being on another planet, evidently the Bible says stay away from NYC for the next week.

Maud Newton notes: “Losing myself in books . . . was what drew me to reading as a child, but the experience is increasingly rare. These days I abandon 95% of the books I start before page 50.” While my statistics for punting on books would probably skew the other way, I wholly agree that it is increasingly rare to find books that wholly engross me.

A Chicago Tribune reporter takes a wry, alternative look at 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (Via The Millions.)

The NHL expounds on the role of the USHL in providing NHL talent.

I once knew a man,
A very talented guy
He’d sing for the people
And people would cry

“My Man,” Eagles, On the Border