jamesdmacdonald

It Isn’t Just for SETI Any More

Distributed computing –lots of small machines emulating one gosh-darned big one — is a thing. Used to be that pretty much the only thing happening was SETI At Home, where you could be part of a project looking for extraterrestrial intelligence by donating your computer’s idle time. It came with a screen saver. Nowadays,Continue reading “It Isn’t Just for SETI Any More”

Roll Over, Beethoven

THE DEEDS OF CLAY, Tune. — The Bonny Boat. When in the south dread civil war Rose like a storm of night. And nullifiers near and far, Braced for the field of fight; Then sons of those illustrious sires. Who bled at Bunker Hill, Rushed madly forth to light their fires, Their brother’s blood toContinue reading “Roll Over, Beethoven”

President Tyler’s Nose

Apparently Mr. Hood of Philadelphia needed five lines after the last song and before beginning the next, to fill the page. So he printed this bit: The Madisonian says that the “Tyler men are willing to count noses with the Van Buren men any day.” The Tylerites do not number very many noses, but thenContinue reading “President Tyler’s Nose”

No Curs’d Abstractions

WHIG SONG. TUNE. — Roy’s wife of Aldivalloch, Harry Clay of old Kentucky, Harry Clay of old Kentucky, There’s ne’er a man in all the land. Like Harry Clay of Old Kentucky, When foreign foes our rights denied, Whose voice aroused our martial thunder? And when we’d lowered old England’s pride. Who still’d the stormContinue reading “No Curs’d Abstractions”

Once Again, and Just As Shameless

ALTERED STATES OF THE UNION To the tune of “Old Dan Tucker” Altered States is come to town In all the bookstores ’twill be found Hardcover and paperback On a shelf or spinner rack. So come along, alt-hist fanners Now’s the time to show your manners Come along, don’t be a Bozo, Support this workContinue reading “Once Again, and Just As Shameless”