August « 2010 « Alan N. Shapiro, Technologist and Futurist

Beginner’s Luck (a Casino Gambling story)

August 31st, 2010 in Category: Casino Gambling, Creative Writing, Photography

There was a famous and elegant casino at the Venice Lido called the Casinò Municipale di Venezia. My friends knew about the casino but had never been inside. To my surprise, Tony expressed his belief that I was destined to win a lot of money at blackjack. He announced that he intended to "stake me" money to play.

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“All Our Yesterdays”

August 29th, 2010 in Category: Library of the Future, Time Travel

Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Dr. McCoy beam down to the planet Sarpeidon, the only natural satellite of a star, Beta Niobe, which is going to explode as a supernova in three-and-a-half hours. Enterprise sensor scans indicate that there is no intelligent life remaining anywhere on that world.

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Passing: Franco La Polla

August 23rd, 2010 in Category: Uncategorized

Franco La Polla died in Pavia, Italy on February 27, 2009. From 2004 to 2007, La Polla was Professor of the History of Cinema, and Director of the Department of Music and Theatre (DAMS) at the University of Bologna. For 30 years, La Polla was Professor of the History of American Literature.

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Germans overestimate (and underestimate) their knowledge of English

August 21st, 2010 in Category: Language

I received an e-mail from amazon.de. They want to sell me a book by Vattimo called "The Responsability of Philosophy." The only problem is that the correct spelling of the word is: responsibility. They want to make money from people who read books in English, but they can't take the responsibility to learn how to spell.

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Around the Town (a Sports Gambling story), part 4 of 4

August 21st, 2010 in Category: American Slang, Language, New American Studies

MOE: If your team this week is the Cowboys, then you’re leaving yourself wide open for it. Don’t worry, Bill. The Niners won’t run it up too bad on the ‘Boys this time. But expect a thrashing!

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“Shore Leave”

August 9th, 2010 in Category: Real/Virtual Reality, Theme Park of the Future

With the exhausted crew of more than four hundred and thirty people in dire need of quality leisure time following months of especially strenuous missions, advance landing parties scout an uncharted Earth-like world in the Omicron Delta region of space to ascertain its degree of holiday suitability.

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Around the Town (a Sports Gambling story), part 3 of 4

August 9th, 2010 in Category: American Slang, Language, New American Studies

LINDA: Nice job against the Packers, but don’t expect the Niners to lie down so easy. We intend on kicking the Cowboy’s butts. Just two more wins and our boy Steve goes to Disneyland and we’re on the way to a dynasty.

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Around the Town (a Sports Gambling story), part 2 of 4

August 5th, 2010 in Category: American Slang, Language, New American Studies

As they reached the south side of the Park, Siggy looked back at the sweep and majesty of this historical landmark. He noticed the variety of people who call this park their own. There were drug dealers and mothers with tots in strollers. There were old geezers and students from nearby New York University.

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