Sean Young in "BLADE RUNNER"I know, I know -- everyone disapproves of smokers, smoking and all things tobacconary but ... who can resist that wonderful scene in BLADE RUNNER (featured on this page) of Sean Young wreathed in sinuous coils of fume? I was reminded of that vision when I read this piece, by Nandini Mehta in the current issue of OUTLOOK. Holding her elegant hand up against the tide of today's Anti-Smoking fanatics, she makes a coolly reasoned and unapologetic case for being pro-choice(i.e., she's not championing cigarettes or smokers but the notion of being liberal in all dimensions, including this). I'm not a smoker coz I wheeze and snuffle but ... I used to smoke, a long time ago, and I enjoyed it for what it was. I never had a major habit (never bought my own ciggies!) but I still regret that it's a bad habit, bad all around -- for general health, for the environment, for social relations (viz. the food v/s tobacco debate in low-income families) -- because ASIDE from being bad ... it's soooo coooool. *sigh*
Onward, onward. Here's a tiny amusement for all those of you who play BOUNCE on your NOKIA phones -- a nifty little cheat: once you've launched the game, key-in the numbers: 787898. Your bouncer will be rendered immortal until you exit that session.
Neat, huh?
OH! -- while on the subject of SF(BLADE RUNNER, i.e.), here's an absolutely superlative list of what might be dubbed nanofiction, SF branch courtesy my friend Anvar, from WIRED mag.
6-word Sci-fi
Wired magazine asked dozens of its favorite auteurs to put their words to paper. Sure, Arthur C Clarke refused to trim his: God said, 'Cancel Program GENESIS.' The universe ceased to exist., but some of the rest were concise masterpieces. Random specimens:
Failed SAT. Lost scholarship. Invented rocket.
- William Shatner
Computer, did we bring batteries? Computer?
- Eileen Gunn
Longed for him. Got him. Shit.
- Margaret Atwood
From torched skyscrapers, men grew wings.
- Gregory Maguire
Epitaph: Foolish humans, never escaped Earth.
- Vernor Vinge
It cost too much, staying human.
- Bruce Sterling
Kirby had never eaten toes before.
- Kevin Smith
To save humankind he died again.
- Ben Bova
Tick tock tick tock tick tick.
- Neal Stephenson
Wasted day. Wasted life. Dessert, please.
- Steven Meretzky
Epitaph: He shouldn't have fed it.
- Brian Herbert
Nevertheless, he tried a third time.
- James P. Blaylock
Lost, then found. Too bad.
- Graeme Gibson
Cyborg seeks egg donor, object ___.
- David Brin
Death postponed. Metastasized cells got organized.
- David Brin
Osama’s time machine: President Gore concerned.
- Charles Stross
Will this do (lazy writer asked)?
- Ken MacLeod
Salinger story: three koans in fountain.
- Howard Waldrop
The baby’s blood type? Human, mostly.
- Orson Scott Card
Finally, he had no more words.
- Gregory Maguire
Broken heart, 45, WLTM disabled man.
- Mark Millar
He read his obituary with confusion.
- Steven Meretzky
Time traveler's thought: "What's the password?"
- Steven Meretzk
Leia: "Baby's yours." Luke: "Bad news…"
- Steven Meretzky
Parallel universe. Bush, destitute, joins army.
- Steven Meretzky
There were only six words left.
- Gregory Maguire
Dorothy: "Fuck it, I'll stay here."
- Steven Meretzky
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