Jul. 8th, 2013

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As a family became more able to afford servants in London a century ago, in what order would they hire them?
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The Green Hills of Earth

An abrasive spaceman looses his eyesight in an accident his behavior made worse, affording him an entry into the lucrative world of itinerant folk singing.

This is substantially different from the Dimension X/X Minus One version(s). The whole college educated newbie versus illiterate veteran angle is lost, Rhysling is more of a jackass than a space coot, and the scenes set on Venus are gone. As well, Rhysling seems to have had a recording deal before his career ended. In general, the story focuses on the accidents that bookend Rhysling's wandering musician career and not so much on his experiences on the road.

Rhysling seems to be a Jonah; I guess any ship that would have him had to be in rough shape.
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Never Bet the Devil Your Head


A satirical tale about a ne'er-do-well whose family and friends fail utterly to reform despite their efforts in rhetoric and physical abuse. In the end, the fellow suffers an appropriate fate.

Wikipedia's article on "Never Bet the Devil Your Head".
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Art Carney and Mark Carney are different people.
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The Heart of the Man

A discussion of the seeming impossibility of what is now routine heart surgery, in some sections from the POV of the abstract heart.

There's a sad bit where a surgeon argues that heart surgery *has* to be impossible because if it's possible then he let his wife die because he wasn't a good enough doctor.
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Malihini Magic (Vacations)

A couple with wildly inaccurate ideas about Hawaii visits Honolulu, where they don't have much fun until a local friend gives them pointers about not being tourists.

Wow, that brochure really played up the submissive brown-skinned native angle.
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The Celestial Omnibus

A nauseasingly twee story about a young boy with True Faith and his corrupt, jaded mentor having an encounter with Heaven. It doesn't really go all that well for either of them because the people in Heaven are jerks and their buses don't have seat belts.

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