Friend of the blog Michael Wester tells me that noted science foundation Bank of America has issued a report to its clients that there is a 20-50% chance we are living in a Matrix-style simulation.  (Where are my cool shades and shiny leather coat?)  The report cites Elon Musk, Neil de Grasse Tyson, philosopher Nick […]

I’m up at the Ski Valley this weekend, soaking in that peaceful autumn high-mountain vibe.  My usual venue is closed, so I’m staying in a mountain chalet so retro that it has no wi-fi.  (Yeah!  I was surprised, too!) So unless I drive down to Arroyo Seco’s coffee house (as I just did), it’s unlikely […]

As you might have been able to tell from my last couple of posts, I’m getting a little grumpy about my entertainment options. Just look at TV.  We are really in television’s golden age, with dozens of channels programming 24 hours per day, and an unprecedented number of high-quality series on networks or available for […]

Netflix’s Stranger Things has been widely appreciated for its deft appropriation of 1980s film and music (much of which is actually Seventies film and music, but nevermind), and one acquaintance of mine called it “the movie that Stephen King and Steven Spielberg never made.” I understand that people might enjoy a series that sort of name-checks […]