Eve of Christmas Eve Link Salad

[chris_gerrib]

I'm on vacation for the rest of the year, and I have no idea what that will mean for posting. Enjoy the links:

1) The Mary Celeste, the unluckiest ship ever.

2) A brief overview of why Robert Falcon Scott wasn't able to win the race to the South Pole.

3) Like the link says, the anti-hero of "Young Adult" isn't unlikeable, she's mentally ill. Mental illness is not just foaming at the mouth.

4) Thanks to the Kepler probe, astronomers find two Earth-sized planets orbiting the same star. I keep meaning to write the next Great Intergalactic Space Opera, but I would kinda like astronomers to get a better idea of what a "typical" solar system looks like.

5) In another edition of "elections have consequences," US auto industry shuts door on another strong year. The auto industry, for the second year running, outperformed the economy as a whole.

Comments

[bdunbar.livejournal.com]

I don't know from film criticism, but I really liked 'Young Adult'.

I didn't see the trailers, didn't know anything about the movie, expected a standard romantic-comedy thing. A typical date-night movie.

Was pleasantly surprised to find myself watching a terrific drama.

And yah: Mavis is nuts.

[chris-gerrib.livejournal.com]

I have to confess that I didn't see the movie, nor do I particularly want to. Unpleasant people behaving unpleasantly is not my cup of tea.

[bdunbar.livejournal.com]

It's not everyone's cup of tea, I will allow.

But it's solid fiction, the characters are in character and don't do things for no good reason just to make a happy ending in the second reel. Well acted by all parties.

Catch it on Netflix when it comes around - you might like it.

[chris-gerrib.livejournal.com]

I'll give it a shot.