Links With Comments

Like the label on the tin says.

1) Today is the 100th anniversary of the start of World War I. Here are some interesting thoughts on the generals of WWI weren't as dumb as they get portrayed in popular history.

2) Walter Jon Williams reminds writers that Amazon is not your friend: they have the right to reduce your royalties at any time without notice.

3) A reminder - the Hadley Rille fundraiser (now with no totebags!) has two days to go.

"Debates"

Imagine you're off doing whatever it is you do and somebody comes up to you. They say, "the Earth is flat and I challenge you to a debate right now!" The following things would (I suspect) go through your mind:

• This guy's got a few screws loose, bats in his belfry, and isn't playing with a full deck. The idea the the Earth is round is pretty basic and well-accepted.


• Darn!  I know I learned all of the evidence for a round Earth, but that was a long time ago.  I'd have to start digging some of that up to refresh my memory.


• Okay, suppose I toss a few facts at this guy.  Will it matter?  I mean, he's got a few screws loose, bats in his belfry and isn't playing with a full deck.


• Will it end, or will he be like a dog once you start throwing a ball, insisting we keep at it until he gets tired?

I leave it as an exercise to the reader to determine what this post is related to.