What about the waterbed

Sick of "best of" lists for science fiction? If you want to try creating a different sort of list, New Scientist has an idea. How about significant or milestone works. Not necessarily the best, but the works where new ideas and concepts are introduced to the world. NS have thrown a few up for consideration - the first mention of a time machine or alien invasion - that sort of thing. It tries to tie it into a discussion of predicting the future. But they aren't really the same thing. We may never travel in time or be invaded from space, but they are still concepts that have become firmly rooted in general consciousness because of their introduction by science fiction. It is more about creating the mindset of the future rather than predicting the technology.

On a related but tangential note I see that William Gibson's Neuromancer is reportedly finally in pre-production. Something for the "I'll believe it when I see it" file.

Hellmouth

My least favourite destination on the planet? No competition - it is Sydney Airport. I have said so on many occasions including in this blog. I usually don't get much argument. But the real question is, how did it get to be that way?

It seems we have an answer. You see, the problem with Sydney Airport is operational - it doesn't operate properly. So who is GM of Operations? Well it used to be a chap called Steve Fitzgerald. How do we know he was (partly) responsible? Well he is now CEO of Wellington airport and anybody stupid enough to go ahead with the "Wellywood" sign is clearly an idiot who shouldn't be trusted with paper planes let alone an airport.

There is a facebook group opposing the sign over here if such are your thing.