SmartLess

The hosts explained that Tom Stoppard’s script for the Fablemans was based on J.G. Ballard’s Empire of the Sun, crediting the novel’s dreamlike quality, active imagination and blurred reality for shaping key scenes such as the one with Christian Bale as Jim. They highlighted the book’s significant influence on the film’s storytelling.

Highly Recommended

Episode: "Steven Spielberg"

The Fablemans' script was based on the book and contributed to the film's dreamlike quality, exploring the character Jim's active imagination and blurring reality.

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Tom Stoppard's contribution who wrote the script based on the J.G. Ballard book

Podcast

Bad Friends

The podcasters discussed Christian Bale's performance in this Steven Spielberg film, highlighting his amazing acting at a young age and noting the movie as an underrated Steven Spielberg film.

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When he was a kid, he did a movie. What was it called? He did a Steven Spielberg movie and he was the star of it. And he must've been 14, 12 to 14 years old. He was the lead. It was called Empire of t...

— Episode: A Kid at the Crib

Episode: A Kid at the Crib

The podcasters discussed Christian Bale's performance in this Steven Spielberg film, highlighting his amazing acting at a young age and noting the movie as an underrated Steven Spielberg film.

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When he was a kid, he did a movie. What was it called? He did a Steven Spielberg movie and he was the star of it. And he must've been 14, 12 to 14 years old. He was the lead. It was called Empire of the Sun.

He was amazing in that fucking movie. And that's when you first saw him.

And that's the most underrated Steven Spielberg movie, I believe.

Podcast

99% Invisible

The book chronicles the evolution of the calculator, starting with ancient tools like the abacus and tally sticks, and moving through the development of the slide rule and mechanical calculators, ultimately culminating in the creation of the pocket calculator.

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My name is Keith Houston and I am the author of Empire of the sum the rise and reign of the pocket calculator

— Episode: Empire of the Sum

Episode: Empire of the Sum

The book chronicles the evolution of the calculator, starting with ancient tools like the abacus and tally sticks, and moving through the development of the slide rule and mechanical calculators, ultimately culminating in the creation of the pocket calculator.

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My name is Keith Houston and I am the author of Empire of the sum the rise and reign of the pocket calculator

The slide rule was a major innovation that came along in the 1600s.

The slide rule made calculations a lot faster and less error prone than using the log charts and pen and paper.

I have a fondness for the slide rule as an object. My father graduated with a degree in mathematics and I remember seeing slide rules around his house and this very cool-looking But tiny and humble tool was the basis of mid-century engineering

It was used to get the Apollo 11 to the moon. It was used to design airplanes It was used to build rockets and I have to admit it does look a little complicated and daunting if you don't know how to use it

Episode: Empire of the Sum

It explores the history of the calculator, covering various forms, from ancient tools like abacuses and tally sticks to modern calculators. It examines how the evolution of calculators shaped our built environment and technological advancements.

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My name is Keith Houston and I am the author of Empire of the sum the rise and reign of the pocket calculator.

The slide rule was a major innovation that came along in the 1600s.

I have a fondness for the slide rule as an object. My father graduated with a degree in mathematics and I remember seeing slide rules around his house and this very cool-looking but tiny and humble tool was the basis of mid-century engineering.

So, thank you Keith so much. This is marvelous. It was so much fun and to look back at this sort of nerdy history. Thanks. Not so thank you again for having me.

go read his book Empire of the sum the rise and reign of the pocket calculator.

SmartLess

Episode: "Steven Spielberg"

Bad Friends

Episode: A Kid at the Crib

99% Invisible

Episode: Empire of the Sum

Episode: Empire of the Sum

Episode Name