Jerry Springer in Space

Well, if you wanted any proof that astronauts were ordinary human beings, today's story on CNN (and everywhere else) about one astronaut's attempt to kidnap another should suffice.

It's pretty tawdry stuff - married female Navy Captain / astronaut attacks romantic rival in airport parking lot. All the news accounts mention that the attacker, Captain Lisa Nowak, wore diapers during her drive to Orlando. Jeez - NASA needs more publicity, but this is proof that not all publicity is good publicity!

Damn You John Scalzi!

John Scalzi, my favorite SF writer, released his novella The Sagan Diaries in podcast format. I listened to it, and struggled not to cry at the end. Between Mary Robinette Kowal's dynamite readings and Scalzi's prose, it was a knockout.

If I ever write something as good as that, I'll die happy.

PS - Cherie Priest did a bang-up job in the "Sex" chapter.

Edited to add - Although you can certainly buy the book, John Scalzi is asking that folks who download the audio version to donate to Reading Is Fundamental, a children's literacy organization.