Light is a science fiction novel by M. John Harrison published in 2002. It received the James Tiptree, Jr. Award and a BSFA nomination in 2002, and was shortlisted for the Arthur C. Clarke Award in 2003.

Overview

The book centres on the lives of three individuals — the physicist (and serial killer) Michael Kearney, on the verge of a breakthrough in theoretical physics sometime in 1999; Seria Mau Genlicher, the cybernetically-altered female pilot of a "K-ship", and the ex-space pilot and adventurer Ed Chianese. Seria Mau and Ed's stories take place in the year 2400 AD.

The lives of these three individuals are linked in many ways, though most tangibly by the presence of a mysterious creature called The Shrander, who appears in many guises to all three characters throughout the novel (with anagrammatic names of Sandra Shen and Dr. Haends). They are also linked by the Kefahuchi Tract, a space-time anomaly described as "a singularity without an event horizon", an object of awe and wonder that has been the ruin of many civilisations attempting to decode its mysteries.

Light is an American digital photography company that has devised a multi-lens and multi-sensor camera that is eventually planned for embedding in smartphones and mobile devices. Its announced product, the L16, is a standalone version with 16 camera modules. The technology is said to be comparable to the quality of DSLR cameras but in a smaller form factor. It plans to eventually provide mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets with higher-quality photo capabilities and true optical zoom. Light recently entered into a deal with smartphone manufacturer, Foxconn, to allow them to sell products that include Light's technology.

History

Light was founded in 2013 by Dave Grannan (CEO) and Rajiv Laroia (CTO) in Palo Alto, California. In June 2014, the company received $9.7 million in Series A funding from an investor group including Bessemer Venture Partners, CRV, and Qualcomm executive chairman, Paul E. Jacobs. Jacobs also joined Light's board of directors per the agreements of his investment deal.

The Light was an automobile built in Detroit, Michigan by the Light Motor Car Company in 1914. The Light was a conventional vehicle with a six-cylinder, 30 hp engine. It came as a touring model selling for $1,250.

References

Dogū (土偶)(meaning "clay figures") are small humanoid and animal figurines made during the late Jōmon period (14,000–400 BC) of prehistoric Japan. Dogū come exclusively from the Jōmon period. By the Yayoi period, which followed the Jōmon period, Dogū were no longer made. There are various styles of Dogū, depending on exhumation area and time period. According to the National Museum of Japanese History, the total number found throughout Japan is approximately 15,000. Dogū were made across all of Japan, except Okinawa. Most of the Dogū have been found in eastern Japan and it is rare to find one in western Japan. The purpose of the Dogū remains unknown and should not be confused with the clay haniwa funerary objects of the Kofun period (250 – 538).

Origins

Some scholars theorize the Dogū acted as effigies of people, that manifested some kind of sympathetic magic. For example, it may have been believed that illnesses could be transferred into the Dogū, then destroyed, clearing the illness, or any other misfortune.

Dogs are an important motif in Chinese mythology. These motifs include a particular dog which accompanies a hero, the dog as one of the twelve totem creatures for which years are named, a dog giving first provision of grain which allowed current agriculture, and claims of having a magical dog as an original ancestor in the case of certain ethnic groups.

Myth versus history

Chinese mythology is those myths found in the geographic area called China, which of course has evolved and changed throughout its history. These include myths in Chinese and other languages, as transmitted by Han Chinese as well as other ethnic groups (of which fifty-six are officially recognized by the current administration of China). (Yang 2005:4)

In the study of historical Chinese culture, many of the stories that have been told regarding characters and events which have been written or told of the distant past have a double tradition: one which tradition which presents a more historicized and one which presents a more mythological version.(Yang 2005: 12-13) This is also true of some accounts related to mythological dogs in China.

D0g is a fictional character in the Half-Life series of video games, first introduced in Half-Life 2 in 2004. D0g is a hulking robot belonging to Alyx Vance, which was built by Alyx's father Eli to both provide companionship and protect his daughter; Alyx subsequently upgraded the robot into its current form. His character provides comic relief during the series; his battle sequences are often comically exaggerated, such as taking on small enemy squads by throwing cars and trucks at them. His appearance as the first character seen in Half-Life 2: Episode One was influenced by positive fan reception.

Character design

Half-Life 2: Raising the Bar states that D0g's design underwent "relatively few changes" from his very first concept sketch; Valve artists were inspired by "classic movie robots," citing Robby the Robot from Forbidden Planet.

In video games

D0g's role in Half-Life 2 is to aid the player in tutorials—in particular, training in the use of the gravity gun—and lifting heavy objects the player cannot manipulate without the gravity gun.

Metro Station is the eponymously titled debut length album by pop band Metro Station. The album was released on September 18, 2007 under Columbia/Red Ink.

Four singles were released from the album; "Shake It" and "Seventeen Forever" charted on the Billboard Hot 100. The album debuted at #189 on the U.S. Billboard 200, but reached a peak of #39 in June 2008. The single "Shake It" was certified Platinum in 2008. Since its release, Metro Station has sold approximately 400,000 copies in the United States.

The album was released in the UK on March 30, 2009. The version of the album released in the UK contains 2 exclusive bonus tracks including a brand new track, "After the Fall". The first UK single, "Shake It", was released a week before, on March 23, 2009.

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Metro Station, except "True to Me" by Metro Station, Sam Hollander and Dave Katz. 

Release history

Charts

Personnel