Links of the Day--Sci-Fi Edition

My biggest task since getting back has been cleaning out my Google Reader cache. Fortunately, I found some great links, especially today.

1.) First of all, I'd like to note that Tom Ricks found the article that Adam Elkus and I wrote the other day regarding science fiction and military theory particularly interesting. (By the way, Tom, Adam was the one who used the term "speculative fiction", so props to him). Tom Ricks had the following to say:

I liked their review of the issue, but came away wanting to read more about the related issue of fiction that doesn't appear to be about a given war, or perhaps any war at all, because it is disguised. One obvious example is one they mention,Starship Troopers, which I think is not really about outer space but really about World War II in the Pacific, with the inhuman enemy crawling out of holes in the ground. Even more distant from the war it is about, I think, is Doctor Dolittle, which I think is about World War I. If I recall correctly, it began as letters written home then by Hugh Lofting, who served with the Irish Guards. In a world of trench warfare where men lived like animals, in holes in the ground, Lofting effectively lived in a world of talking animals.

Additionally, Mr. Ricks commented on my collection of links regarding his theory that light infantry commanders were more well-suited to counterinsurgency than armored commanders, which we'll call the "boots beats bolts" hypothesis (phrase coined by Kings of War, as near as I can tell). (Note: the aforementioned post also contains references to crack whores in Fayetteville, NC).

2.) While we're on the topic of science fiction, I also found an interesting link which noted that, according to nearly 10,000 stolen passwords from Hotmail, the most popular password seemed to be the following. You might want to get a pen out, as it's hard to remember. Here it is:

12345

Are you kidding? That's the stupidest password I've ever heard! It sounds like the password an idiot would put on his luggage! Yet, its the most common password on Hotmail.

3.) More science fiction news: Adam and I felt that the use of lightsabers represented a "legacy failure"--simply superimposing ancient technology in a futuristic world. Well, this week, we've been proven wrong. Seems Special Operations Command is releasing a new portable "plasma knife" this week for use in surgery.

I now know what I want for Christmas.