The Puget News

I went and saw Greg Bear speak a month or two ago. He spoke about his advisor role at Homeland Security. I think it’s a pretty great idea to have a group of able-minded science fiction writers thinking through possible disaster scenarios and how we can avert or at least respond to them.

Quoted: Looking to prevent the next terrorist attack, the Homeland Security Department is tapping into the wild imaginations of a group of self-described deviant thinkers: science-fiction writers.

Read the entire Cluetrain Manifesto online for free! This is one I’ve been meaning to get to for a while and should be great as a weekend read.

It’s apparently also soon to be a major motion picture. I am reading David Weinberger’s new book, “Everything is Miscellaneous: The Power of the New Digital Disorder” and am enjoying that immensely.

Quoted: markets are conversations. talk is cheap. silence is fatal.

ChangeThis posted an interesting manifesto by the author of “The Definitive Drucker.” It explores the various ways that management concepts have shifted from the manufacturing economy on into the information age and the ways in which successful leaders must constantly remain focused outward while acting inward.

A website and blog in support of a new book on the well known manager, Peter Drucker.

Quoted: Delivers keen insights into business in the twenty-first century, while distilling Drucker’s advice to management into interrogative guidance on how to strategize and triumph in this new environment

A great collection of “top 5 business books” lists from noted authors and business leaders.

Quoted: Hundreds of business books are published each year. Chances are at least one has the answers you’re looking for. But how to find it? U.S. News spoke with 14 leaders from all walks of business life—from academics to entrepreneurs to corporate execs—about the five books they consider indispensable reading for managers.

I went and watched Hot Fuzz last night at the new theater in Lynnwood. The movie was ridiculously funny and worth your 10 quid. It’s one that will definitely be added to my movie collection.

Quoted: Since Hot Fuzz is from the guys who brought us Shaun of the Dead, you can expect more of the same attention to detail, heartfelt homages to the genre, elaborate set pieces, flawless comedic timing, and ace acting augmented by top-notch writing.

An article about musicians and how the online world is bringing them closer to their fans than ever before.

Quoted: How the rock ‘n’ roll life became a desk job.

A great New Yorker article on the anonymous artist known as Banksy.

Quoted: The invisible man of graffiti art.

China Miéville’s top 10 of weird fiction. I’ve never heard of #1, “The Course of the Heart,” by M. John Harrison. I’m a huge fan of “The Three Stigmata of Palmer Eldritch,” by Philip K. Dick though.

It appears that some of the members of Japanese audiences are experiencing physical sickness upon seeing “Babel.” They believe it may be related to a scene with strobe lights in a night club.