Weekly book post

A Little History of Science by William Bynum. Compressing millenia of scientific development into 250 pages is not an easy task. Bynum takes a good stab at it. He believes magic, religion, technology, and science have been the tools to understand and control the world. I would have been confused in a number of places if I hadn't already known a fair amount about the topics, so I wouldn't consider it an introductory book. Still worth reading to put developments in context.

Why Things Bite Back: Technology and the Revenge of Unintended Consequences by Edward Tenner. While the book is a little dated, its basic premise is still valid. Technology tends to replace acute life-threatening problems with slower-acting and more persistent problems. He used examples from medicine, the environment, computerized offices, and sports. The writing could have been better but the topic was interesting.

The White Garden by Stephanie Barron. Somewhat of a disappointment. I love her Jane Austen novels. This one centers on Virginia Woolfe and her set. It shifts between present day and World Way 2 and uses several different voices and narrative techniques to tell the story. It felt a little gimmicky and was ultimately unsatisfying.

Getting ready for the Inauguration

DC is dressing up and battening down for the Inauguration. They've installed temporary cell phone towers on the Mall to help with the expected massive tweeting and cellphone call volume. Along the parade route, they've started removing the newspaper boxes and sealing manhole covers. The Newseum is dressed up already.



On Sunday, they held a rehearsal for the parade. At the Capitol they played recorded music and practiced the introductions. The bands were absent, but they timed the parade and check security. It was a foggy morning.



( More This Way )

One nutty thing. For the past 15 months they've been resodding and repairing the grassy part of the Mall near the Capitol. The fences are coming down just in time for the inauguration. One part of the restored section will be protected, but another part will be opened up just in time to be trampled by the crowds. Dumb.