Links: 2019-12-30

Science Fiction

• SF and Nonsense: 2019 best reads
• Just The Caffeine Talking: A Lovecraftian Chronology
• Beloved ‘Star Trek: Deep Space Nine’ Actor René Auberjonois Dies at 79 | Space

Science

• Sabine Hossenfelder: Backreaction: Dark energy might not exist after all
• Sabine Hossenfelder: Backreaction: How Scientists Can Avoid Cognitive Bias
• NASA’s ‘Treasure Map’ of Water Ice on Mars Shows Where Humans Should Land | Space

Other

History

• The History Blog » Elizabeth I’s translation of Tacitus found
• Archaeologists in Greece find 3,500-year-old royal tombs
• The History Blog » Two princely tombs found near Griffin Warrior tomb in Pylos. A second take on the above item.

Politics

• Evangelical magazine Christianity Today: Trump must go.
• Justin Amash on Impeachment: Republicans Are Betraying the ‘Principles and Values They Once Claimed To Cherish’ – Reason.com.
• Jeff Flake: The president is on trial. So are my Senate Republican colleagues. – The Washington Post. If you follow just one link from this post, this is the one. “Ask yourself today: Has the president changed his behavior? Has he grown in office? Has the mantle of the presidency altered his conduct?… Next, ask yourself: If the president’s conduct hasn’t changed, has mine?”

Humor

My Top 10 Calvin and Hobbes strips by Bill Watterson posted on GoComics from July to December:

• July 12, 2019. A new way to eat ice cream.
• July 13, 2019. On being a super-genius
• September 01, 2019. Spaceman Spiff!
• September 15, 2019. Face the green stuff.
• October 16, 2019. Learning.
• November 06, 2019. On intelligent life in the universe.
• December 10, 2019. Trying to be good for Christmas I.
• December 11, 2019. Trying to be good for Christmas II.
• December 26, 2019. Snowman art.
• December 28, 2019. A new year and decade: Where’s my flying car?

Music

December anniversaries…

50 years ago this month, in December 1969, The Rolling Stones released Let It Bleed. Here’s “Gimme Shelter.”

Here are some more of December’s children who’ve turned 25-50:

• 1973: Ozark Mountain Daredevils – Ozark Mountain Daredevils (“Black Sky“)
• 1973: Black Sabbath – Sabbath Bloody Sabbath (“Sabbath Bloody Sabbath“)
• 1975: Emmylou Harris – Elite Hotel (“Feelin’ Single – Seein’ Double“)
• 1976: Blondie – Blondie (“Rip Her to Shreds“)
• 1976: Jean Michel Jarre – Oxygene (“Oxygene IV“)
• 1979: The Clash – London Calling (“Brand New Cadillac“)
• 1981: Venom – Welcome to Hell (“One Thousand Days in Sodom“)
• 1981: Black Flag – Damaged (“Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie“)
• 1983: Slayer – Show No Mercy (“Die by the Sword“)
• 1986: Joan Jett – Good Music (“If Ya Want My Luv“)
• 1989: Peter Murphy – Deep (“Cuts You Up“)
• 1991: Cathedral – Forest of Equilibrium (“Soul Sacrifice“)
• 1992: King Missile – Happy Hour (“Martin Scorsese“)