MetaFilter posts tagged with Vonnegut

One long step for mankind

longsleeves — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 21:09:00 -0800

Chrono-synclastic infundibulum - SLYT featuring Bob & Ray, somehow based on a concept from Kurt Vonnegut's Sirens of Titan which refers to a region of the universe in which all conflicting opinions are simultaneously correct.

Condensed: 'Care, constraint, concise, cut, character, clarity, and charity.'

goodnewsfortheinsane — Sun, 13 Jul 2008 18:35:00 -0800

How to Write With Style.

'There is no such thing as polywater because if there were, there would also be an animal which didn't need to eat food. It would just drink water and excrete polywater' - Richard Feynman

Large Marge — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:34:51 -0800

If you were doing research in the 60s, You might've heard of Polywater, A form of water that exhibited wide variety of interesting characteristics and existed under identical conditions to that of normal water. Eventually debunked, none the less is a fascinating story. Naturally one draws parallels to Vonnegut's ice nine, but did you know there actually is an ice nine? In fact, there's twelve to sixteen types of ice, depending on your opinion. More recently, computer simulations have indicated water may structure itself into icosahedra, which, incredibly, is the platonic solid (described over 2000 years ago!) representing the element water! And if you don't know what an icosahedron is, I bet you've used one before. One of the most ubiquitous, and arguably most important, substances in our lives, our understanding of water is far from complete.

persuasive guessing

amberglow — Mon, 12 Dec 2005 22:35:07 -0800

Your Guess Is as Good as Mine --by Kurt Vonnegut (it's an excerpt from his new book)

Vonnegut- The old Lie: It is "sweet and honourable" to die for your Country

notmtwain — Mon, 21 Nov 2005 20:28:38 -0800

Dulce et Decorum Est Kurt Vonnegut was interviewed by an Australian newspaper, which took the quote out of context and completely missed the poetic reference Vonnegut was making with the comment , thereby generating what will likely be a firestorm of negative publicity for Vonnegut. (A blogger's negative reaction was Farked.) I am sure that Metafilter readers would spot the reference, but having been Farked and misquoted on ABC (Australian TV), Vonnegut is probably in as much trouble as Terrell Owens.

Bonanza of articles and interviews on communication

painquale — Wed, 02 Nov 2005 01:27:06 -0800

Forbes special report on communication. A truckload of excellent articles and interview excerpts! Noam Chomsky on the spontaneous invention of language. Carl Zimmer on talking chimps. Jane Goodall on why words hurt. Arthur C. Clarke on the planetary conversation. Kurt Vonnegut on telling a story. Desmond Morris on symbolic gestures. Sid Meier on communicating with video games. David Copperfield on keeping secrets. Stan Lee on the superpower of comics. Steven Pinker on why we have language. Walter Cronkite on the language of news. Daniel Libeskind on the language of design. And much more!

Kurt Vonnegut at 82

tranquileye — Tue, 11 Oct 2005 08:22:25 -0800

"Please, I've done everything I'm supposed to do, can't I go home now?" Kurt Vonnegut at 82.

His books are required reading for the rest of your life

chinese_fashion — Wed, 15 Sep 2004 09:51:49 -0800

The Greatest War Protestor of All Time --Wise, hilarious, and kind words from Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. If you don't know who he is, fake it.

"I once had a high that not even crack cocaine could match."

xowie — Fri, 14 May 2004 17:21:26 -0800

Cold Turkey by Kurt Vonnegut.

Ms Snit — Thu, 07 Jun 2001 12:59:22 -0800

The literary voice of our generation ...err...of his generation...umm...of your generation?

mathowie — Mon, 31 Jan 2000 16:52:58 -0800

Bad news: Kurt Vonnegut is in critical condition after a fire in his home.