How would you Rate a Book? Would you want to use or see a 5-star system, a 10-star system, maybe 6-Purple Thumbs, or 3-Flowers?
Short Answer? For reviews posted on this Blog, I'm going to be using a Monetary Based rating system. That is, taking into account how much the books are being sold for, versus how much I'd be willing to buy them for. I will tend to round to the nearest dollar.
Upside? It's a good way to track my actual like or dislike of a book. With the rating I'll post what I had to actually pay (or what the average consumer would have to pay) at the time I reviewed the book.
Downside? Monetary differences and Inflation can really mess up the rating system. If you want, just think of it as a 20-point Rating system instead. Why 20-point? I don't think I've ever paid more then $20 for a fiction book. Lately I grumble when I have to pay more then $12.
Long Answer:
As long as I've been reading reviews, I've always wondered why some places use the ratings system they had. Most commonly, it's a 5-star systems, with room for haves and possibly quarters. The few times I myself took up any sort of reviewing, I adopted this 5-star Flex system as it appeared to give me wide latitude in to how I perceived things. Then I ran into the inflexibility of some programmers.
For example, I've been on GoodReads for quite awhile, a website for people to review book, rate them, and share their lists. But while I've been a participant for quite awhile, one problem I've had always had with the website is their rating system. Specifically [GoodReads] uses a 5-star Flat rating system where you can pick 1,2,3,4 or 5 stars when rating a book, and nothing else. No ability to give it a half star, no ability to give it a zero. Just a 1-star to say you didn't like something, and 2-star or above to say you did.
On the other hand, [GoodReads] does then take all these flat ratings, and aggregates them into a 5-Star Decimal Flex type system, but the like of fine control for the reviewer does tend to aggravate a little.
So, when I started to contemplate posting my reviews to my blog, of course this discussion was one of the first things I began to contemplate. If I'm going to review a book, what type of system do I want to limit myself to? At first I thought that at the very least I would use a 5-star flex system, where I could feel more comfortable giving books degrees of like. Then I wondered why I didn't just go to a 10-star flex system. It would save on the half stars are be more honest.
Then it hit me; A 10-star system mimics pretty closely the price of novels costing lately. Rating books by how much I would buy them for, is actually easier then determining what someone thinks that book should be reviewed as. It's also a lot more honest as you get less spikes in the graph for really good, but minor works.
I further tested this argument by asking a few friends to try to rate a book. Then I asked them how much they might be willing to pay. Each time, the indicator or willing to pay showed a much stronger honest answer then the arbitrary 5-star system. I think I had found my rating system.
The easy part was over. Now I just have review these novels and revisit later how well this rating system works. Simple, right?
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Mid-August Book Review Update
While I continue to work on my lists and the actual Posts describing why I'm doing this and what everything means, I figured I should at least post what I've read so far this August. Especially as the next week and a half will likely slow me back to a crawl reading wise.
Engines of God - Jack McDevitt - First Book in the Engines of God of series (also know as the Priscilla Hutchins Series). Like a lot of McDevitt's novels it can take awhile to really pick up. I actually was picking it up and putting it back down so often, it took me more then a week to get through Part One. However once past Part One the book really began to gel and I was much more interested in reading it. It wasn't his first book ever, but it is still rather early and it shows in some of the pacing. However the by the end, the roughness is quite forgotten. I would still recommend this book to those who like more cerebral type novels, as like a lot of his books it's less about the Action, and more about the why. [Cost 8.00 / Rating 6.00]
Wishful Thinking - Evangeline Anderson - First book in the Swann Sisters Chronicles Trilogy, this was one of my off beat choices. I think I was trying to pick up a light Fantasy/Supernatural type novel, but what I really picked up was a romance/erotica book. Still, it was rather good. Light in the fantasy elements, they really were just there to trigger plot, and light in overall erotica aspects I would still come away and say this was a good book. [Cost 5.20 / Rating 3.50]
Working Stiff - Rachel Caine - First Book in the new Revivalist Series. This is going to have to be a down check. So the writing was good. I can never fault Rachel Caine for her actual writing as it flows decently well. The problem is, I'm starting to realize that the author seems to be giving her female characters a rather large inferiority complex. That is, her main character is often female, is often special, often has some sort of special power, and is often described as being tough. But then throughout the novels the character essentially gets beaten up, bullied, and has very little real backbone. Oh usually there is an apex point where they do kick some ass, but even then you got to wonder why the bad guys went from being normal to just being idiots during this pivotal scenes as the main character still doesn't seem any different from the beginning of the book. These characters are definitely no Sydney Bristow. [Cost 8.00 / Rating 2.00]
Karma Girl - Jennifer Estep - First Book in the Bigtime Superhero Universe. Here I had the opposite issue from Rachel Caine. Some of the elements in the book irritated me just a smidgen, such as the fact that every town was suddenly Gotham. Yet the main Character's journey was much more enjoyable to see. She also had Backbone! So I will give this one a thumbs up for quick, campy, Superhero/Romance fun. [Cost 3.00 / Rating 4.00]
Marion G Harmon - Wearing the Cape - Apparently I had a strong desire to read some Superhero based novels lately. On the plus side, I found a diamond in the rough. From what I understand this novel was/is self-published, but the editing sure doesn't prove it. By that I mean, it's good. It's got great flow, good info dump, good universe, good pacing, good characters (mostly) and some really good action scenes. Got it off Kindle for only 2.99, I say it's a steal and gladly recommend it to anyone who also likes Mur Lafferty Playing For Keeps. [Cost 3.00 / Rating 7.00]
Engines of God - Jack McDevitt - First Book in the Engines of God of series (also know as the Priscilla Hutchins Series). Like a lot of McDevitt's novels it can take awhile to really pick up. I actually was picking it up and putting it back down so often, it took me more then a week to get through Part One. However once past Part One the book really began to gel and I was much more interested in reading it. It wasn't his first book ever, but it is still rather early and it shows in some of the pacing. However the by the end, the roughness is quite forgotten. I would still recommend this book to those who like more cerebral type novels, as like a lot of his books it's less about the Action, and more about the why. [Cost 8.00 / Rating 6.00]
Wishful Thinking - Evangeline Anderson - First book in the Swann Sisters Chronicles Trilogy, this was one of my off beat choices. I think I was trying to pick up a light Fantasy/Supernatural type novel, but what I really picked up was a romance/erotica book. Still, it was rather good. Light in the fantasy elements, they really were just there to trigger plot, and light in overall erotica aspects I would still come away and say this was a good book. [Cost 5.20 / Rating 3.50]
Working Stiff - Rachel Caine - First Book in the new Revivalist Series. This is going to have to be a down check. So the writing was good. I can never fault Rachel Caine for her actual writing as it flows decently well. The problem is, I'm starting to realize that the author seems to be giving her female characters a rather large inferiority complex. That is, her main character is often female, is often special, often has some sort of special power, and is often described as being tough. But then throughout the novels the character essentially gets beaten up, bullied, and has very little real backbone. Oh usually there is an apex point where they do kick some ass, but even then you got to wonder why the bad guys went from being normal to just being idiots during this pivotal scenes as the main character still doesn't seem any different from the beginning of the book. These characters are definitely no Sydney Bristow. [Cost 8.00 / Rating 2.00]
Karma Girl - Jennifer Estep - First Book in the Bigtime Superhero Universe. Here I had the opposite issue from Rachel Caine. Some of the elements in the book irritated me just a smidgen, such as the fact that every town was suddenly Gotham. Yet the main Character's journey was much more enjoyable to see. She also had Backbone! So I will give this one a thumbs up for quick, campy, Superhero/Romance fun. [Cost 3.00 / Rating 4.00]
Marion G Harmon - Wearing the Cape - Apparently I had a strong desire to read some Superhero based novels lately. On the plus side, I found a diamond in the rough. From what I understand this novel was/is self-published, but the editing sure doesn't prove it. By that I mean, it's good. It's got great flow, good info dump, good universe, good pacing, good characters (mostly) and some really good action scenes. Got it off Kindle for only 2.99, I say it's a steal and gladly recommend it to anyone who also likes Mur Lafferty Playing For Keeps. [Cost 3.00 / Rating 7.00]
Friday, July 08, 2011
Book Review: Rule 34 by Charles Stross
There are writers who can world build, and there are writers who build worlds. Stross is one of the latter, a writer who can build a world full of characters, places, and ideas. A writer who can then present said world to the reader without an overload of information, and just a pinch of theater.
His newest book, Rule 34 is no exception. For the short review, I can say that the book itself is very well crafted piece, and a very thoroughly enjoyable read.
Set in the same milieu, for lack of a better term, as a previous book Halting State, it's only about 20 down the road and the world has progressed into a technological wonderland, all be it a wonderland in the middle of a economic depression. No, no nanite or technology as magic, just the technology of today, more refined and omnipresent then before. With UAV patrolling for dog shit, and everyone with their own personal HUD or virtual reality overlay. However, you don't have to had read his previous book to be able to read this one, as only one or two characters from the previous really make any sort of appearance, and they are essentially standalone novels.
For the uninitiated, Rule 34 is an internet meme that states, "If it exists, there is porn of it.". In the world of Charles Stross' this becomes more a fact, and sets the stage for discussion on how Internet meme's could affect a future that's not just wired in, but wired to the bone. Where a German cannibal with the ability to manufacture cloned meat, could spawn dinner parties where the guest of honor is the main course. In such a world, how can you then tell the difference between coincidence and horrifying new trend in murder, and how do you stop it? When a trend is international, how would your local police force even cope? For Rule 34, you have the Innovative Crime Investigation Unit. The misfit in a nip Police force, set to patrol the dregs of the Internet and try to stay sane. So when a new murder, with unique twists comes across your desk, what are you going to do?
The biggest trouble I had with the novel was mostly in trying to wrap my head around some of the thick Scottish accents, and how they come across in print. Being not Scottish myself, naturally, the shortened words and adjacent spellings threw a metaphysical monkey wrench in to my thought processes. As this is heaviest in the beginning of the book, I found myself having to pause a lot, and attempt to translate what the characters were saying. Luckily its appear the accents get less hurtful as the book progresses, probably due to both adapting to the writing, and some additional characters who have less full on Scottish-ness.
Beyond the accents, the jumping viewpoint was also slightly disconcerting. That is until you started to grasp that all the different viewpoints are like the old adage about five blind men and an elephant, who could describe what they touched, but until you added in all their view points you didn't know it was an elephant. One the things Stross is really good at in his novels, is that he can weave multiple big ideas in to one coherent story. By this I mean that where a story could serve as a warning on the overabundance of some technology, there is also an idea about internet memes, the rise of fabrication in the home, and national economics. Normally such big ideas can be the sole focus of a novel just by themselves, but Stross likes to use ALL the ideas to craft a story that complex squared.
Which leads to, What the heck genre is this novel? Is it Science Fiction? A Mystery? A Thriller? The short answer is all three. As I have noticed over the last ten years, most books I can tag with what I call a Primary Genre, and then I have to add two or three sub-genres just to label it for people who only read certain things. In this case, I would dub Rule 34's Primary as Science Fiction (non-Space), with a Sub-genre of Mystery/Police Investigation and a sub-sub-genre of Political Thriller. So if you like one of these genres, and don't absolutely hate the others then I'd say dig in and have fun.
His newest book, Rule 34 is no exception. For the short review, I can say that the book itself is very well crafted piece, and a very thoroughly enjoyable read.
Set in the same milieu, for lack of a better term, as a previous book Halting State, it's only about 20 down the road and the world has progressed into a technological wonderland, all be it a wonderland in the middle of a economic depression. No, no nanite or technology as magic, just the technology of today, more refined and omnipresent then before. With UAV patrolling for dog shit, and everyone with their own personal HUD or virtual reality overlay. However, you don't have to had read his previous book to be able to read this one, as only one or two characters from the previous really make any sort of appearance, and they are essentially standalone novels.
For the uninitiated, Rule 34 is an internet meme that states, "If it exists, there is porn of it.". In the world of Charles Stross' this becomes more a fact, and sets the stage for discussion on how Internet meme's could affect a future that's not just wired in, but wired to the bone. Where a German cannibal with the ability to manufacture cloned meat, could spawn dinner parties where the guest of honor is the main course. In such a world, how can you then tell the difference between coincidence and horrifying new trend in murder, and how do you stop it? When a trend is international, how would your local police force even cope? For Rule 34, you have the Innovative Crime Investigation Unit. The misfit in a nip Police force, set to patrol the dregs of the Internet and try to stay sane. So when a new murder, with unique twists comes across your desk, what are you going to do?
The biggest trouble I had with the novel was mostly in trying to wrap my head around some of the thick Scottish accents, and how they come across in print. Being not Scottish myself, naturally, the shortened words and adjacent spellings threw a metaphysical monkey wrench in to my thought processes. As this is heaviest in the beginning of the book, I found myself having to pause a lot, and attempt to translate what the characters were saying. Luckily its appear the accents get less hurtful as the book progresses, probably due to both adapting to the writing, and some additional characters who have less full on Scottish-ness.
Beyond the accents, the jumping viewpoint was also slightly disconcerting. That is until you started to grasp that all the different viewpoints are like the old adage about five blind men and an elephant, who could describe what they touched, but until you added in all their view points you didn't know it was an elephant. One the things Stross is really good at in his novels, is that he can weave multiple big ideas in to one coherent story. By this I mean that where a story could serve as a warning on the overabundance of some technology, there is also an idea about internet memes, the rise of fabrication in the home, and national economics. Normally such big ideas can be the sole focus of a novel just by themselves, but Stross likes to use ALL the ideas to craft a story that complex squared.
Which leads to, What the heck genre is this novel? Is it Science Fiction? A Mystery? A Thriller? The short answer is all three. As I have noticed over the last ten years, most books I can tag with what I call a Primary Genre, and then I have to add two or three sub-genres just to label it for people who only read certain things. In this case, I would dub Rule 34's Primary as Science Fiction (non-Space), with a Sub-genre of Mystery/Police Investigation and a sub-sub-genre of Political Thriller. So if you like one of these genres, and don't absolutely hate the others then I'd say dig in and have fun.
Friday, March 18, 2011
To Bully or be Bullied
One of the Hot Topics on the Internet this week, is about a video of an Australian kid fighting back against a Bully. The video appears to have been shot by one of the Bully's buddies, and shows a shorter, leaner kid go up to another gawky kid of over weight stature, and begin to hit him and tease him for his size. The heavier stature non-bully appears to at first just ignore the teasing but then finally snaps out, grabbing the shorter kid and slams the tormentor to the ground. The slam was hard enough the tormentor didn't get up right away, and when he did it was to waddle out of the arena.
After the video hit YouTube and went viral, a heated discussion quickly emerged, one that has fluctuated to say the least. Few appear to doubt that the shorter kid was the bully to the heavier stature adolescent. Size does not always correspond to whose the victim and whose the victimizer. Often in the early teenage years and prior, unless those of the heavier stature display some athletic skill, they will be teased more often then not just for being different. The discussion instead mostly surrounds if the victim should have fought back or not.
I will stop here and say, that most people who advocate the "Never fight back" advice, normally haven't been bullied or teased. The reason I say this is that those who have been bullied, teased or victimized, know that although fighting back may just make it worse, not fighting back at all, rarely ends anything either. I once read a philosophical exchange between two characters, in which one character quipped that "War never decided anything". The resounding answer was without a doubt "War almost always decides, it just may not decide the best way". In it's way, violence may not be the solution to a disagreement, but violence is a solution.
I will say that I was teased similarly in my pre-teen years. First for being shorter then everyone else, then for being different then the popular kids. I got into fights very few times as most of the bullying was of the teasing variety with non-physical pranks and jabs. However one day, the teasing got to be just to much, and one of those teasing did physically jab at me. I responded similar to our heavier stature hero in that I grabbed the bully and tossed him across the room. The situation was quick and short. My opponent wasn't hurt more then symbolically, and a teacher quickly saw and intervened. The teacher knew of the bullying but was powerless to stop the source so neither side was punished for the exchange.
The net result was that not long afterward the teasing lessened. The Bullies were now wary of any direct action toward me. It didn't stop completely, but what occurred from there on out was of significantly lessened nature that the Bullies eventually gave up and took their tactics elsewhere.
Could the same outcome have occurred if I hadn't shown such a strength, or reaction? The answer is truly unknown without being able to see such a parallel universe. But having experienced other teasing and other bullying prior to that last incident I can say that the road of inaction will only cause the Bully to stop, when they have found another target. If no other target is available, inaction only fuels their needs to feel superior, whether childish or note. Action on the other hand, also fraught with complications including raising the stakes of the bullying, can prove a catharsis, for the victim at the very least. And in a Bully situation, shouldn't one feel for the victim, and not the Bully?
In the end I will not advocate violence to end Bullying, just as I also won't fail to understand that someone who uses violence sparingly, sometimes does so because to do otherwise would be to be a victim forever.
After the video hit YouTube and went viral, a heated discussion quickly emerged, one that has fluctuated to say the least. Few appear to doubt that the shorter kid was the bully to the heavier stature adolescent. Size does not always correspond to whose the victim and whose the victimizer. Often in the early teenage years and prior, unless those of the heavier stature display some athletic skill, they will be teased more often then not just for being different. The discussion instead mostly surrounds if the victim should have fought back or not.
I will stop here and say, that most people who advocate the "Never fight back" advice, normally haven't been bullied or teased. The reason I say this is that those who have been bullied, teased or victimized, know that although fighting back may just make it worse, not fighting back at all, rarely ends anything either. I once read a philosophical exchange between two characters, in which one character quipped that "War never decided anything". The resounding answer was without a doubt "War almost always decides, it just may not decide the best way". In it's way, violence may not be the solution to a disagreement, but violence is a solution.
I will say that I was teased similarly in my pre-teen years. First for being shorter then everyone else, then for being different then the popular kids. I got into fights very few times as most of the bullying was of the teasing variety with non-physical pranks and jabs. However one day, the teasing got to be just to much, and one of those teasing did physically jab at me. I responded similar to our heavier stature hero in that I grabbed the bully and tossed him across the room. The situation was quick and short. My opponent wasn't hurt more then symbolically, and a teacher quickly saw and intervened. The teacher knew of the bullying but was powerless to stop the source so neither side was punished for the exchange.
The net result was that not long afterward the teasing lessened. The Bullies were now wary of any direct action toward me. It didn't stop completely, but what occurred from there on out was of significantly lessened nature that the Bullies eventually gave up and took their tactics elsewhere.
Could the same outcome have occurred if I hadn't shown such a strength, or reaction? The answer is truly unknown without being able to see such a parallel universe. But having experienced other teasing and other bullying prior to that last incident I can say that the road of inaction will only cause the Bully to stop, when they have found another target. If no other target is available, inaction only fuels their needs to feel superior, whether childish or note. Action on the other hand, also fraught with complications including raising the stakes of the bullying, can prove a catharsis, for the victim at the very least. And in a Bully situation, shouldn't one feel for the victim, and not the Bully?
In the end I will not advocate violence to end Bullying, just as I also won't fail to understand that someone who uses violence sparingly, sometimes does so because to do otherwise would be to be a victim forever.
Tuesday, February 01, 2011
To Write, or To Be Social
I was going over the archives from this blog, and my previous "home" blog and I noticed that my most prevalent posts were usually about, well writing or updating the blog again. Well to the observant out there, I'm sure there is a collective... DUH, if you don't update that often, when you do it's going to be about updating, or trying to write again.
To try to stave off a deja vu type of post, I decided to do a little self examination for why, or more when does this burst of creativity usually occur? The answer? When I'm more social, I write more.
In personality terms I'm considered a borderline introvert and extrovert. Any test I've partaken of, always put smack dab on the border between being social, and being, well not. In other words, sometimes I'm social and sometimes I'm not. The frequency of which appears to be fairly well balanced, to such a degree that I can't be pigeonholed one way or the other.
I then noticed that when I slide further in to a social state, I want to write more. That is, I want to express myself in more forms then previous. When I slide back to a non-social state, I can still be creative, but I usually output my expressive nature through other non-thought laden means.
Anyways, I thought it was just an interesting observation. Now that I'm aware of it, maybe I can figure out how to bank some of this output, or at least provoke it more often.
To try to stave off a deja vu type of post, I decided to do a little self examination for why, or more when does this burst of creativity usually occur? The answer? When I'm more social, I write more.
In personality terms I'm considered a borderline introvert and extrovert. Any test I've partaken of, always put smack dab on the border between being social, and being, well not. In other words, sometimes I'm social and sometimes I'm not. The frequency of which appears to be fairly well balanced, to such a degree that I can't be pigeonholed one way or the other.
I then noticed that when I slide further in to a social state, I want to write more. That is, I want to express myself in more forms then previous. When I slide back to a non-social state, I can still be creative, but I usually output my expressive nature through other non-thought laden means.
Anyways, I thought it was just an interesting observation. Now that I'm aware of it, maybe I can figure out how to bank some of this output, or at least provoke it more often.
Monday, January 31, 2011
The Internet Will Never Die, Just Fade Away
Out of curiosity I did a Google search on my handle again today, noticed that unlike a search I did maybe a year or two ago, the best match had fallen to about the 6th 7th links. My full email address alone, only turned up three links, of which two were to comments I had placed a couple of years ago. All this really meant, is that I had a minor epiphany.
In the age of the Internet, it appears nearly impossible to disappear. However, in this same age, given time the information, and your presence can fade. Unless you are active, or "relevant" your persona can slowly fall from the first link, to the back page.
In reality this is due to a number of factors:
1. Year after year, the Internet grows, almost exponentially
2. Search engines are constantly changing to meter out relevance
3. Erasing yourself is probably impossible, but give it a few years and the Internet may effectively do it for you.
The good news is, as I'm not searching for fame or really fortune, this graying of my online persona is not something I'm worried over, other then my handle may be subverted at some point do to non-use. The bad news, I've got to find a Western song in order to ride off in to the Sunset. Since I like ACDC and Rolling Stones more, this may be problematic.
In the age of the Internet, it appears nearly impossible to disappear. However, in this same age, given time the information, and your presence can fade. Unless you are active, or "relevant" your persona can slowly fall from the first link, to the back page.
In reality this is due to a number of factors:
1. Year after year, the Internet grows, almost exponentially
2. Search engines are constantly changing to meter out relevance
3. Erasing yourself is probably impossible, but give it a few years and the Internet may effectively do it for you.
The good news is, as I'm not searching for fame or really fortune, this graying of my online persona is not something I'm worried over, other then my handle may be subverted at some point do to non-use. The bad news, I've got to find a Western song in order to ride off in to the Sunset. Since I like ACDC and Rolling Stones more, this may be problematic.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Construction in Progress
Yes, it appears that time of the decade again, where I work on updating my website, and my a solemn promise to write more.
If you can find the problem with statement, congratulations, you can also likely find Where's Waldo. However after having just come back from Readercon 21 in Boston, hopefully... again hopefully I will do more then just a few updates, some quick dusting of the website, and instead begin to do some writing again.
I know I have some great ideas, but can I put them down and be happy with them? What about the website? Will real life again distract me from finishing or even updating? All this and more on the next exciting update....
In the meantime, beware the sparks and the occasional 404 Page not found as I redesign my homepage, and try to decide what I'm going to use, and where.
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Memories: Earliest Gaming
One of my earliest memories of gaming, occurred when I was either two or three years old. I can remember, having this big joystick, grabbing on to the stick with both my hands, pushing it forward and back, left and right, and watching this excitable yellow mouth on the tv run around a maze, chomping on other yellow dots, while colorful blobs chased him. I didn't know the name of the game, or even that was a game at the time, I just remember being fascinated that I could control something other then myself, and that it was fun.
I of course learned much later it was Pac-man, and I was playing on one of the original Atari game stations. My father, who was in College at the time, having gone back after serving a tour in the Navy, was never big into gaming or electronics, although he, like me was a great fan of science fiction. Being in Engineering College in California, in the late 70's, and early 80's, it was almost destiny that he picked up the Atari, to have when friends of his and my mother's were over for a "party". And it was almost destiny, that his son, being the next in a long line of engineer minded would pick up the controller, and find it just right.
Most of my impressions from that time, are colorful snap shots. One of which, was of various people, not my parents, watching me play Pac-Man, and then trying to beat my high score, but failing to do so. This was confirmed by my parents, who claim that frequently, when their adult friends came over, they would sit down and try to beat my score or ability, but very rarely being able to.
One would suspect that this early rivalry would have made me more competitive, however even at that time, I didn't rejoice at beating someone so much larger then me, but instead loved to watch, compare, even teach even with a three year old's vocabulary. Something I still do to this day, when I love co-op games, and teaming more then PvP.
Beyond Pac-Man, I would most later remember this air dogfight game, however even now, I'm not sure when they took place, other then by the time I was six the Atari had broken down again, and when we moved, I was left without another console or computer till the NES broke on the stage.
I of course learned much later it was Pac-man, and I was playing on one of the original Atari game stations. My father, who was in College at the time, having gone back after serving a tour in the Navy, was never big into gaming or electronics, although he, like me was a great fan of science fiction. Being in Engineering College in California, in the late 70's, and early 80's, it was almost destiny that he picked up the Atari, to have when friends of his and my mother's were over for a "party". And it was almost destiny, that his son, being the next in a long line of engineer minded would pick up the controller, and find it just right.
Most of my impressions from that time, are colorful snap shots. One of which, was of various people, not my parents, watching me play Pac-Man, and then trying to beat my high score, but failing to do so. This was confirmed by my parents, who claim that frequently, when their adult friends came over, they would sit down and try to beat my score or ability, but very rarely being able to.
One would suspect that this early rivalry would have made me more competitive, however even at that time, I didn't rejoice at beating someone so much larger then me, but instead loved to watch, compare, even teach even with a three year old's vocabulary. Something I still do to this day, when I love co-op games, and teaming more then PvP.
Beyond Pac-Man, I would most later remember this air dogfight game, however even now, I'm not sure when they took place, other then by the time I was six the Atari had broken down again, and when we moved, I was left without another console or computer till the NES broke on the stage.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Mambo with Words
When as a writer, you attempt to put words down on a page or screen, you necessarily want to start with at least some direction. Direction of course, is usually at least some kernel of an idea, some word, phrase, or passing fancy to begin the metaphorical creative first step. Once you have this idea, you can then usually turn this first step into a dance of sorts, by putting one word after another, one sentence after another, and one paragraph after the next. Eventually, you are then moving from a simple cha-cha of words, to the tango of a story. However, like in any sort of dance, the first foot forward, has to know a little of where to go.
A couple of weeks ago, my friend Jeff, whom you can visit via the Friends and Family link, caught up with me and let me know he'd be in town with, well his family. Family in the loss sense of the word, being the people he cares about, hangs out with, and decided to come to town with, including his significant other MC. Knowing I would be up for a change, and having met several of his family before, he invited me to have lunch with them all, and basically introduce me to MC. I agreed, as any social life addition is more then welcome. Although as I found out later, I almost had to deal with his visit, another friend's visit, and another friend's birthday party on the same day. This of course being a karmic revenge for having little to no social life for the last four years, and of course now moving to shift that might allow it. The bad news, was the second friend ending up not being able to come down. But I was less harried, although still pretty much out the entire day.
As I digress, I eventually met up with Jeff and his family for lunch, which ended up being, me, Jeff and 9 or 11 women at one table. This wasn't as bad as some people might imagine, as most of the women were under 30, and those that weren't, didn't pay it any mind. So conversation wasn't the type cast girly, and it was a rather enjoyable meal.
After we had finished the meal, various groups went in different directions and I decided to walk with Jeff and MC. While strolling the conversation at one point turned to writing. As Jeff and I have both struggled with writing over the years, each with our own demons to fight in trying to become what we would call a writer, this type of conversation was not wholly unexpected. MC being relatively new to it, metaphorically kicked both our asses and pointed out things we knew, but had ignored. As such we both eventually fell to her authoritative arguments and agreed we'd try writing, again, and again, and again, till we finally break through the last wall to find ourselves, writers.
Whether or not this actually happens, I can at least say that MC is a great women, and Jeff is a lucky man to have her in this now time. And yes, this counts MC! Cheers.
A couple of weeks ago, my friend Jeff, whom you can visit via the Friends and Family link, caught up with me and let me know he'd be in town with, well his family. Family in the loss sense of the word, being the people he cares about, hangs out with, and decided to come to town with, including his significant other MC. Knowing I would be up for a change, and having met several of his family before, he invited me to have lunch with them all, and basically introduce me to MC. I agreed, as any social life addition is more then welcome. Although as I found out later, I almost had to deal with his visit, another friend's visit, and another friend's birthday party on the same day. This of course being a karmic revenge for having little to no social life for the last four years, and of course now moving to shift that might allow it. The bad news, was the second friend ending up not being able to come down. But I was less harried, although still pretty much out the entire day.
As I digress, I eventually met up with Jeff and his family for lunch, which ended up being, me, Jeff and 9 or 11 women at one table. This wasn't as bad as some people might imagine, as most of the women were under 30, and those that weren't, didn't pay it any mind. So conversation wasn't the type cast girly, and it was a rather enjoyable meal.
After we had finished the meal, various groups went in different directions and I decided to walk with Jeff and MC. While strolling the conversation at one point turned to writing. As Jeff and I have both struggled with writing over the years, each with our own demons to fight in trying to become what we would call a writer, this type of conversation was not wholly unexpected. MC being relatively new to it, metaphorically kicked both our asses and pointed out things we knew, but had ignored. As such we both eventually fell to her authoritative arguments and agreed we'd try writing, again, and again, and again, till we finally break through the last wall to find ourselves, writers.
Whether or not this actually happens, I can at least say that MC is a great women, and Jeff is a lucky man to have her in this now time. And yes, this counts MC! Cheers.
Monday, December 03, 2007
Light of Many Days
A couple of weeks ago, my job decided to move me from graveyard shift to second shift. I'd been on graveyard for about four years up till then, and thus was both willing and nervous about changing shifts. Willing, because four years of only working from 9pm till the next morning, tends to impact the things you take for granted on many levels.
For one, you live opposite everyone else. When you go to work, everyone else is at home. When telemarketers call, they aren't interrupting your dinner, or leaving messages while your not at home, they are instead interrupting your sleep. Your social life basically goes to pieces, so if unless you are married, have kids, or a serious significant other already, the chances of meeting people, friends, or gaining new acquaintances is shot. You also are usually more tired, see light as the enemy, and generally never get anything done.
On the plus side, you usually make more money, don't have to deal with traffic, and can drink beer in the mornings, although this could be a big minus depending on your state's blue laws. Night work is also usually slower then daytime, although in my case, it wasn't, but that was due to work being unable to staff up correctly part of the time.
As is, going for four years, and one gets used to things. Thus moving to a day shift was going to need some adjustment. I was certainly all for the move, just internally a little apprehensive, over both the different work atmosphere, as well as the possibility of rejoining the human race in my own timezone.
Being several weeks now, I can still say I'm glad of the whole move. Work is different, but not in a bad way. I never really had a lot of time on the graveyard shift, but now I'm more focused on set procedures and work then before. My diet is also coming under control as I'm able to eat at more regular times, and have a lot more choice. I still don't have a big social life, however already I'm not stressed when friends show up in town, and want to do lunch, as now, I'm certainly awake.
It'll still take some time to fully adjust, and more time adjust my own self perception and get back on the dating horse again, but now I see the light in the distance, as a beacon, and not as this hostile otherworld.
For one, you live opposite everyone else. When you go to work, everyone else is at home. When telemarketers call, they aren't interrupting your dinner, or leaving messages while your not at home, they are instead interrupting your sleep. Your social life basically goes to pieces, so if unless you are married, have kids, or a serious significant other already, the chances of meeting people, friends, or gaining new acquaintances is shot. You also are usually more tired, see light as the enemy, and generally never get anything done.
On the plus side, you usually make more money, don't have to deal with traffic, and can drink beer in the mornings, although this could be a big minus depending on your state's blue laws. Night work is also usually slower then daytime, although in my case, it wasn't, but that was due to work being unable to staff up correctly part of the time.
As is, going for four years, and one gets used to things. Thus moving to a day shift was going to need some adjustment. I was certainly all for the move, just internally a little apprehensive, over both the different work atmosphere, as well as the possibility of rejoining the human race in my own timezone.
Being several weeks now, I can still say I'm glad of the whole move. Work is different, but not in a bad way. I never really had a lot of time on the graveyard shift, but now I'm more focused on set procedures and work then before. My diet is also coming under control as I'm able to eat at more regular times, and have a lot more choice. I still don't have a big social life, however already I'm not stressed when friends show up in town, and want to do lunch, as now, I'm certainly awake.
It'll still take some time to fully adjust, and more time adjust my own self perception and get back on the dating horse again, but now I see the light in the distance, as a beacon, and not as this hostile otherworld.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
So you want to be famous?
I was talking with a co-worker earlier about some procedures, and what to do in X situation, mostly trying to impart some of my experience on the job, when he came across an official procedures document, that apparently mentioned me in it. Upon examination I found some things I had written when, for lack of a better word, bugging the procedures in the first place. Apparently the people in charge of said procedures and programs, decided to just lift my notes whole and use them. Looking at the document, all my notes showed no bad intentions were in mind when they did so, on the contrary this only enforced a most positive view of me. But what it really did was remind me, that although I've never been the "Cool" or the "Popular" person, I've also been the person most remembered and respected.
The co-worker also enforced this ego by then saying "You're a celebrity and didn't even know it"
My only comment was, "That seems to happen a lot"
I mean, growing up, I'd somehow get my picture in the paper, not as the focus or sole person highlighted in the article, but instead usually with a group of people, or about some project going on. It was rarely with the same people either, but instead it was as if I was riding some human interest wave, from one project to the next. Bouncing between the local newspaper, to the school paper, to the state paper and back. And every time, my name would wind up in the article, and people would notice.
I unconsciously tried side stepping this unintentional "be the story" by joining journalism my last year in high school. I figured, if I wrote the paper, I wouldn't be the paper. Unfortunately, because I didn't concentrate fully on writing, and instead still did a lot of other things my senior year, from founding a NJROTC at my school, to doing a stint as a page for the State House of Representatives, I still ended up in other people's articles. Also of course in an article about the school newspaper, so there was no escaping it there.
Finally I did leave most of the evident very minor celebrity status behind when I went off to college, only to begin a new quasi-very minor celebrity adventure, but having my name show up in the oddest of places, years after I'd left jobs in some cases, because when I left, I usually left a place better, with a bit more understanding, and apparently quite a bit of respect.
Thus, whenever I'm reminded of this unintentional life I lead, I'm glad to know that although I'm not famous as the world knows famous. Instead I'm famous in the way I want to know famous, as the cog that made a difference, and was proud of it
The co-worker also enforced this ego by then saying "You're a celebrity and didn't even know it"
My only comment was, "That seems to happen a lot"
I mean, growing up, I'd somehow get my picture in the paper, not as the focus or sole person highlighted in the article, but instead usually with a group of people, or about some project going on. It was rarely with the same people either, but instead it was as if I was riding some human interest wave, from one project to the next. Bouncing between the local newspaper, to the school paper, to the state paper and back. And every time, my name would wind up in the article, and people would notice.
I unconsciously tried side stepping this unintentional "be the story" by joining journalism my last year in high school. I figured, if I wrote the paper, I wouldn't be the paper. Unfortunately, because I didn't concentrate fully on writing, and instead still did a lot of other things my senior year, from founding a NJROTC at my school, to doing a stint as a page for the State House of Representatives, I still ended up in other people's articles. Also of course in an article about the school newspaper, so there was no escaping it there.
Finally I did leave most of the evident very minor celebrity status behind when I went off to college, only to begin a new quasi-very minor celebrity adventure, but having my name show up in the oddest of places, years after I'd left jobs in some cases, because when I left, I usually left a place better, with a bit more understanding, and apparently quite a bit of respect.
Thus, whenever I'm reminded of this unintentional life I lead, I'm glad to know that although I'm not famous as the world knows famous. Instead I'm famous in the way I want to know famous, as the cog that made a difference, and was proud of it
Friday, October 19, 2007
When reading, doesn't enjoy
The fact that you are reading this, means you sometimes read things, not because you enjoy them, but because if you don't read it, you feel you've missed out on something. Not to say that my writing is terrible, just that my blogging has never been terribly consistent. On the other hand, what has brought up this topic isn't blogging, but instead when it comes to reading novels.
Currently, I'm attempting to read a novel, that I will only refer to as "That piece of Crap" or [TPOC] for short. I'm also going to refrain from specifics on the plot, as I am sure that if I discussed it at all, it'd be evident pretty quickly as to what I was reading. All I can say, is that it's science-fiction, it's relatively new, and it's a load of horse manure.
I picked up the novel because it was supposed to be similar to some earlier stories I had enjoyed, although more up to date, and on today's heartbeat. Like other new novelists, the beginning was slow. Fine, I'm used to trudging through a hundred pages to get to the meat of a novel. However in TPOC, I'm half-way done, and I can already tell it's a half-assed merging of three or four other masters of writing, full of plot holes, one-dimensional characters, and a view of the world only an idiot could enjoy. Yet, I still trudge on, with the hopes the author will redeem himself.
My question though, is it worthwhile to finish reading something you consider that atrocious. Especially if you aren't a critic or editor? Or should you continue to give it the benefit of doubt, until you have completed it, then vow to burn the book and never case eyes on the likes of it again?
*UPDATE* Got about two-thirds through the novel and gave it up. Maybe I'll go back and finish it some time, but since then I've found a lot of other books to try that aren't nearly as bad. Also helps I've been enjoying them on a new electronic device, but that's another post far in the future.
Currently, I'm attempting to read a novel, that I will only refer to as "That piece of Crap" or [TPOC] for short. I'm also going to refrain from specifics on the plot, as I am sure that if I discussed it at all, it'd be evident pretty quickly as to what I was reading. All I can say, is that it's science-fiction, it's relatively new, and it's a load of horse manure.
I picked up the novel because it was supposed to be similar to some earlier stories I had enjoyed, although more up to date, and on today's heartbeat. Like other new novelists, the beginning was slow. Fine, I'm used to trudging through a hundred pages to get to the meat of a novel. However in TPOC, I'm half-way done, and I can already tell it's a half-assed merging of three or four other masters of writing, full of plot holes, one-dimensional characters, and a view of the world only an idiot could enjoy. Yet, I still trudge on, with the hopes the author will redeem himself.
My question though, is it worthwhile to finish reading something you consider that atrocious. Especially if you aren't a critic or editor? Or should you continue to give it the benefit of doubt, until you have completed it, then vow to burn the book and never case eyes on the likes of it again?
*UPDATE* Got about two-thirds through the novel and gave it up. Maybe I'll go back and finish it some time, but since then I've found a lot of other books to try that aren't nearly as bad. Also helps I've been enjoying them on a new electronic device, but that's another post far in the future.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Alcohol, Religion, and Economics (Part 2)
In the previous post I explained what the situation was. In this post I'm going to try to expound on the situation, interjecting some of my own opinions.
Essentially, there are a multitude of problems concerning this religion versus economics squabble brewing in Minneapolis. First and foremost, in a land of freedom of religion, does a company, providing arguably a public service, have a right to discriminate against a religious faction, if that faction hinders and at times halt that public service?
Depending on the example from history you might find, you can say both yes, and no. The biggest example of yes they could and should, actually springs from rather recent times and concerns this nations struggle with racism, in which groups, such as the Klu Klux Klan blocked public services (hospitals, schools, water fountains). The Klu Klux Klan was then prosecuted and basically eliminated as a group by the federal government.
On the other hand, if you were to look at the current debate over Abortion you could see something of a see-saw to the same argument. Abortion by many definitions is an economic versus Religious debate, where the Religious side is claiming it's tenements do not allow or proscribe that anyone, even those not of their religion should be able to have an Abortion. In the current battle this comes down to meaning that doctors have the right not to perform an abortion, if they believe it's against their religion. At the same time, Anti-Abortion groups have with differing levels of severity been restricted from impeding those who want to have an Abortion. Thus Anti-abortionists still picket many clinics that offer this service, but if they cross the line from picket to active refusal, such as by hitting, grabbing, or causing damage they are then actively prosecuted for discrimination and violence. The latest wrinkle to this debate is that a number of supposed Abortion clinics have been popping up where they are really controlled by Anti-abortionists who find ways to delay or convince their patients not to have an Abortion. So far, this unusual tactic when found out, has mostly been closed down by immediate press revelations.
Which brings us back to this problem of alcohol and cab drivers. By all rights, this attempts of the MAC appear to have been honest attempts at compromise to allow the cab drivers their religious freedom, while lessening the impediment of the public. The drivers on the other hand have decided that all these attempts have only been about discrimination and thus have decided to act like it.
The hook in the matter is that although they can say they are being discriminated if the MAC decides to restrict them for refusing a service, they, themselves, are honestly discriminating against others by their very own refusal. They are trying to foster a set of rules on their attempted passengers, which the passengers don't wish to agree to. In most societies where this happens, it then becomes the passengers right to not use that service and instead opt for one which allows the transportation of alcohol. But in this environment, where the cabs all look similar and it's hard to distinguish between them, this attempt to use the service that allows them is causing an undue hardship delay.
My own opinion is thus, in a society of freedoms, any attempt to curtail another's rights, whether religious or not, should be struck down. Thus, the cab driver's wants to not allow the transportation of alcohol in their cabs, although lawful, well meaning, and within their right, should not give them the authority to block a person from using a cab in a timely fashion.
If they want to continue this religious choice, either they should then accept a compromise that allows a person to choose their cabs, or they should expect to lose the business of passengers.
As an aside, while working on this post I got in to a lengthy discussion with some co-workers about this particular issue. From his POV (Point of View), the only "discrimination" that was going on was against the cab drivers. Thus from his POV, he believes either the cab drivers will eventually compromise, or the airport will just restrict all alcohol transportation. I disagreed and then we launched in to a long debate on discrimination, which I will post at another time.
Essentially, there are a multitude of problems concerning this religion versus economics squabble brewing in Minneapolis. First and foremost, in a land of freedom of religion, does a company, providing arguably a public service, have a right to discriminate against a religious faction, if that faction hinders and at times halt that public service?
Depending on the example from history you might find, you can say both yes, and no. The biggest example of yes they could and should, actually springs from rather recent times and concerns this nations struggle with racism, in which groups, such as the Klu Klux Klan blocked public services (hospitals, schools, water fountains). The Klu Klux Klan was then prosecuted and basically eliminated as a group by the federal government.
On the other hand, if you were to look at the current debate over Abortion you could see something of a see-saw to the same argument. Abortion by many definitions is an economic versus Religious debate, where the Religious side is claiming it's tenements do not allow or proscribe that anyone, even those not of their religion should be able to have an Abortion. In the current battle this comes down to meaning that doctors have the right not to perform an abortion, if they believe it's against their religion. At the same time, Anti-Abortion groups have with differing levels of severity been restricted from impeding those who want to have an Abortion. Thus Anti-abortionists still picket many clinics that offer this service, but if they cross the line from picket to active refusal, such as by hitting, grabbing, or causing damage they are then actively prosecuted for discrimination and violence. The latest wrinkle to this debate is that a number of supposed Abortion clinics have been popping up where they are really controlled by Anti-abortionists who find ways to delay or convince their patients not to have an Abortion. So far, this unusual tactic when found out, has mostly been closed down by immediate press revelations.
Which brings us back to this problem of alcohol and cab drivers. By all rights, this attempts of the MAC appear to have been honest attempts at compromise to allow the cab drivers their religious freedom, while lessening the impediment of the public. The drivers on the other hand have decided that all these attempts have only been about discrimination and thus have decided to act like it.
The hook in the matter is that although they can say they are being discriminated if the MAC decides to restrict them for refusing a service, they, themselves, are honestly discriminating against others by their very own refusal. They are trying to foster a set of rules on their attempted passengers, which the passengers don't wish to agree to. In most societies where this happens, it then becomes the passengers right to not use that service and instead opt for one which allows the transportation of alcohol. But in this environment, where the cabs all look similar and it's hard to distinguish between them, this attempt to use the service that allows them is causing an undue hardship delay.
My own opinion is thus, in a society of freedoms, any attempt to curtail another's rights, whether religious or not, should be struck down. Thus, the cab driver's wants to not allow the transportation of alcohol in their cabs, although lawful, well meaning, and within their right, should not give them the authority to block a person from using a cab in a timely fashion.
If they want to continue this religious choice, either they should then accept a compromise that allows a person to choose their cabs, or they should expect to lose the business of passengers.
As an aside, while working on this post I got in to a lengthy discussion with some co-workers about this particular issue. From his POV (Point of View), the only "discrimination" that was going on was against the cab drivers. Thus from his POV, he believes either the cab drivers will eventually compromise, or the airport will just restrict all alcohol transportation. I disagreed and then we launched in to a long debate on discrimination, which I will post at another time.
Alcohol, Religion, and Economics
Via Cnn.com comes an article about a group of cab drivers in Minneapolis (Minnesota) who have been refusing to transport anyone carrying alcohol. What makes the situation more complicated then simple economic driven supply and service is that the group of cab drivers are Muslims, predominately from Somalia.
Essentially the Muslim religion teaches that transportation, consumption, or any other use of alcohol is strictly forbidden, and a sin. Thus the cab drivers, even though they should be driven by economic forces to transport another person, even one not of their religion, who has partaken or is carrying alcohol, would be committing a sin to do so.
Normally in a mixed religion nation such as ours, this particular problem doesn't crop up that much, as the mix is great enough that a person refused a service because of religious issues could easily get service from some one else. The problem in Minneapolis is that the group of cab drivers refusing service is so large, that it's causing major bottleneck problems at the local airport.
According to the article, in the last years approximately 5,400 people were initially denied service from a taxi at the airport at least once, for this reason alone. One commuter interviewed even described being denied a taxi cab five times, and having to wait twenty minutes for carrying a sealed bottle of wine he had bought on his vacation.
The local authorities (Metropolitan Airport Commission or MAC) then tried to step in and work out a compromise that wouldn't violate the religious freedoms of one group, or discriminate against the freedom of another group. Unfortunately what should have been a simple matter of compromise took a wrong turn when the MAC was rebuffed twice.
The first time then went to local religious leaders and asked for a special dispensation for the cab drivers. The local leaders disagreed and reiterated the doctrine against transportation of alcohol. The MAC then tried a different approach of asking those who didn't want to transport alcohol to use some identifying symbol on their cabs so that patrons could know which they couldn't use, and which they could. They were again rebuffed as the group cried this discrimination.
Now the MAC has been left with little choice but to either impose harsh penalties on cab drivers refusing to pickup passengers for trying to follow their religious faith, or to get hit with lawsuits and other economic penalties for not providing a service for their customers.
Essentially the Muslim religion teaches that transportation, consumption, or any other use of alcohol is strictly forbidden, and a sin. Thus the cab drivers, even though they should be driven by economic forces to transport another person, even one not of their religion, who has partaken or is carrying alcohol, would be committing a sin to do so.
Normally in a mixed religion nation such as ours, this particular problem doesn't crop up that much, as the mix is great enough that a person refused a service because of religious issues could easily get service from some one else. The problem in Minneapolis is that the group of cab drivers refusing service is so large, that it's causing major bottleneck problems at the local airport.
According to the article, in the last years approximately 5,400 people were initially denied service from a taxi at the airport at least once, for this reason alone. One commuter interviewed even described being denied a taxi cab five times, and having to wait twenty minutes for carrying a sealed bottle of wine he had bought on his vacation.
The local authorities (Metropolitan Airport Commission or MAC) then tried to step in and work out a compromise that wouldn't violate the religious freedoms of one group, or discriminate against the freedom of another group. Unfortunately what should have been a simple matter of compromise took a wrong turn when the MAC was rebuffed twice.
The first time then went to local religious leaders and asked for a special dispensation for the cab drivers. The local leaders disagreed and reiterated the doctrine against transportation of alcohol. The MAC then tried a different approach of asking those who didn't want to transport alcohol to use some identifying symbol on their cabs so that patrons could know which they couldn't use, and which they could. They were again rebuffed as the group cried this discrimination.
Now the MAC has been left with little choice but to either impose harsh penalties on cab drivers refusing to pickup passengers for trying to follow their religious faith, or to get hit with lawsuits and other economic penalties for not providing a service for their customers.
Thursday, January 25, 2007
A blog is a Journal
When sitting down to write every day, I usually have to brain storm for several minutes (err hour). What should I write today, I muse. Which inevitably becomes, what's the focus of the blog? You see blogs, from my perspective, are supposed to be places where someone comments or informs the reader about something, such as people, or places, or news, or about other blogs. These can take the form of opinion pieces, or even just a link fest telling people whats the hip today. But they are still, first and foremost, a portal of information.
Again, why does this matter?
When I write pieces like this, I don't feel like I'm a commentator, or a portent to information. Instead I feel like I'm writing in an diary, only one that is online. This counter to the fact I'm writing a post on a site with blogger in the address only adds to internal debate over whether I'm seriously writing, or just venting where someone might see, and still not care.
So every time I begin to write here, I have to go this internal debate over what to write, and why. Because if I'm not a blogger, and this isn't a blog, then what is it? On the other hand, maybe it's just my perception that's wrong.
Via Dictionary.com, and according to Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.6) a blog is: an online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page.
It is not however, strictly journalistic, although other definitions use journal in them. Then again, I've been using the web long enough I remember livejournal before blogging became the term to use.
What all this really adds up to, is that why contemplating the focus of this blog, I decide two things. One, I can't figure out what my focus interest is just yet. And two, the one entry a day must be an opinion piece, either on life, or something I've read that day. Other then that, I can have more then one entry a day, it's just the first entry, must be an opinion post.
Really, why did this all come up? Beyond the semantic impression of the word blog, I had been debating whether a review piece on a book I picked would fit in to the style here, and whether it would suffice for the one post a day. Nope was answer I came up with, for the later not the former. Later on I'll post reviews of books, movies, and maybe even link some popular stories, but every day I'll start with some rant, opinion, or other rumination. And eventually I'll find a balance once more.
Again, why does this matter?
When I write pieces like this, I don't feel like I'm a commentator, or a portent to information. Instead I feel like I'm writing in an diary, only one that is online. This counter to the fact I'm writing a post on a site with blogger in the address only adds to internal debate over whether I'm seriously writing, or just venting where someone might see, and still not care.
So every time I begin to write here, I have to go this internal debate over what to write, and why. Because if I'm not a blogger, and this isn't a blog, then what is it? On the other hand, maybe it's just my perception that's wrong.
Via Dictionary.com, and according to Webster's New Millennium™ Dictionary of English, Preview Edition (v 0.9.6) a blog is: an online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page.
It is not however, strictly journalistic, although other definitions use journal in them. Then again, I've been using the web long enough I remember livejournal before blogging became the term to use.
What all this really adds up to, is that why contemplating the focus of this blog, I decide two things. One, I can't figure out what my focus interest is just yet. And two, the one entry a day must be an opinion piece, either on life, or something I've read that day. Other then that, I can have more then one entry a day, it's just the first entry, must be an opinion post.
Really, why did this all come up? Beyond the semantic impression of the word blog, I had been debating whether a review piece on a book I picked would fit in to the style here, and whether it would suffice for the one post a day. Nope was answer I came up with, for the later not the former. Later on I'll post reviews of books, movies, and maybe even link some popular stories, but every day I'll start with some rant, opinion, or other rumination. And eventually I'll find a balance once more.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Step One, Two, Three
And then again, maybe I'm not...
For anyone just joining us, let's recap. Due in no small part to several nudges and comments over the last week, I had finally decided to make another concentrated push at writing again. Large or small I was going to set aside some time each day, give myself a deadline, and write... anything. So what happens after the first day? I run in to one of my not so unusual sleepless periods.
That is it was the weekend, I didn't have to work, and of course I couldn't sleep. Oh I still averaged 5 hours a day, it just that it came in dribs of 1-2 hours at a time. This of course causes me to be even more lethargic then my normal and thus any desire to, well do anything vanishes. I end up not cleaning, cooking, working on my house, or even playing a game. I basically veg all day long, trying to maybe become interested in something, tv, music, anything at all, and not succeeding.
Luckily this only happens maybe every other month or two, and is usually sparked because I'm overworked, over slept, and just not focused on anything. Others who I've confided in have put forward the theory that I might be a little manic depressive. The major flaw with this theory of course being I'm never in the manic phase. Plus when I'm lethargic I'm not depressed, just uninterested.
Is it some sort of early, early Alzheimer's? Doubtful, as I have only one grand parent with Alzheimer's, and they didn't begin to exhibit problems till their late 60's early 70's. I still have some 40 years then. I've also had certain odd memory issues since I've been a kid. Such as trying to remember a person or place's name. Never could, but I can fairly easily remember long strings of numbers, and have a high, not perfect, photographic style memory.
Then why? I don't personally know, and probably can't afford the neuro-physicist who might be able to find out.
As for a psychiatrist? Likely they would either side with the manic depressive, or decide it's some sort of adult ADHD. And I'll admit, in a way it is some sort of adult ADHD. But I don't think taking drugs designed to "mellow" one out would solve a lethargic problem. Amphetamines on the hand might, but I'm not very big on drugs to begin with. Which is odd contradiction because of my personal politics, but that's a completely different subject.
Anyways, due to multiple factors currently in my life, including my weird sleeping schedule, I'm not sure if there ever is going to be a good answer to my problem. However my flatmate, with whom I discussed this recently, half joked he was going have me take ginsing and some other memory herbs and such. I think I might try them out.
As to the writing... well I'm back at work, so likely I'll sleep normally again for the rest of the week, and that means I'm back to writing, again.
For anyone just joining us, let's recap. Due in no small part to several nudges and comments over the last week, I had finally decided to make another concentrated push at writing again. Large or small I was going to set aside some time each day, give myself a deadline, and write... anything. So what happens after the first day? I run in to one of my not so unusual sleepless periods.
That is it was the weekend, I didn't have to work, and of course I couldn't sleep. Oh I still averaged 5 hours a day, it just that it came in dribs of 1-2 hours at a time. This of course causes me to be even more lethargic then my normal and thus any desire to, well do anything vanishes. I end up not cleaning, cooking, working on my house, or even playing a game. I basically veg all day long, trying to maybe become interested in something, tv, music, anything at all, and not succeeding.
Luckily this only happens maybe every other month or two, and is usually sparked because I'm overworked, over slept, and just not focused on anything. Others who I've confided in have put forward the theory that I might be a little manic depressive. The major flaw with this theory of course being I'm never in the manic phase. Plus when I'm lethargic I'm not depressed, just uninterested.
Is it some sort of early, early Alzheimer's? Doubtful, as I have only one grand parent with Alzheimer's, and they didn't begin to exhibit problems till their late 60's early 70's. I still have some 40 years then. I've also had certain odd memory issues since I've been a kid. Such as trying to remember a person or place's name. Never could, but I can fairly easily remember long strings of numbers, and have a high, not perfect, photographic style memory.
Then why? I don't personally know, and probably can't afford the neuro-physicist who might be able to find out.
As for a psychiatrist? Likely they would either side with the manic depressive, or decide it's some sort of adult ADHD. And I'll admit, in a way it is some sort of adult ADHD. But I don't think taking drugs designed to "mellow" one out would solve a lethargic problem. Amphetamines on the hand might, but I'm not very big on drugs to begin with. Which is odd contradiction because of my personal politics, but that's a completely different subject.
Anyways, due to multiple factors currently in my life, including my weird sleeping schedule, I'm not sure if there ever is going to be a good answer to my problem. However my flatmate, with whom I discussed this recently, half joked he was going have me take ginsing and some other memory herbs and such. I think I might try them out.
As to the writing... well I'm back at work, so likely I'll sleep normally again for the rest of the week, and that means I'm back to writing, again.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Confluences and Coincidences
I was talking with one of my coworkers just a short while ago, before getting out of work to head home and eventually to yet, when by some round about logic chain he asked why I wasn't writing. Well, actually he asked why I wasn't in the movie business, but in way that really meant he was asking why I wasn't pushing myself and my writing in to the lackluster from his point of view entertainment industry. When I then explained that I tend to be to much of a perfectionist, accounting for my currently two year drought in writing creativity, he again asked why.
After I had gone back to my desk, I pondered that question; why wasn't I trying to write. I know I've been stuck after having belted out 50,000+ words for a National Novel Writing Month challenge, and I was stuck because I really wanted to go back and edit the volume before trying to write the other half and finish it. But why hadn't I attempted any serious blogging, writing or anything else very creative in over two years? The real reason? I don't know. But at that moment I vowed, like I've done a handful of times in the last ten years, to try to do some daily writings. Thus I went back to my coworker, and challenged myself, with him as a witness, aka meddlesome friend who will razz me to no end if I don't finish what I start, to write something every day.
Then I hit a different sort of obstacle, what the heck was I going to write about?
After a few minutes of brainstorming I eventually decided to write a book review on a fairly good book I had read just the weak previously. I was going with this book, mostly because even though I've read two other books since, it was the only one to actually remain in my memory, which of course is a good thing. The problem was, that on the way home my mind began to drift as I attempted to scribe a good review.
What happened, was that I kept getting side tracked by a number of logic chains. First I recalled that the book I had read, by pure chance a major core of it's background had been referenced at least twice in different articles or events. Remarking on this short term coincidence, I then segued to a different logic chain, where upon I realized, I had been reminded, or prodded to a minor degree about writing as well this week. I also realized that I had been goaded enough that when my friend pushed the last button he finally put me over the tipping to do something about it. I also realized I had been nudged enough that any review I attempted to write, would probably head back in to remarking and talking about the various confluences and coincidences.
Thus on my first days sojurn in to writing, I've ended up writing this, one long "cat vacuum" of a post, about nothing more then the fact I've been prodded to write, and am going to attempt to write every day, all without trying to promise again what I haven't been able to do in the last two years.
Then again, at least I'm writing...
After I had gone back to my desk, I pondered that question; why wasn't I trying to write. I know I've been stuck after having belted out 50,000+ words for a National Novel Writing Month challenge, and I was stuck because I really wanted to go back and edit the volume before trying to write the other half and finish it. But why hadn't I attempted any serious blogging, writing or anything else very creative in over two years? The real reason? I don't know. But at that moment I vowed, like I've done a handful of times in the last ten years, to try to do some daily writings. Thus I went back to my coworker, and challenged myself, with him as a witness, aka meddlesome friend who will razz me to no end if I don't finish what I start, to write something every day.
Then I hit a different sort of obstacle, what the heck was I going to write about?
After a few minutes of brainstorming I eventually decided to write a book review on a fairly good book I had read just the weak previously. I was going with this book, mostly because even though I've read two other books since, it was the only one to actually remain in my memory, which of course is a good thing. The problem was, that on the way home my mind began to drift as I attempted to scribe a good review.
What happened, was that I kept getting side tracked by a number of logic chains. First I recalled that the book I had read, by pure chance a major core of it's background had been referenced at least twice in different articles or events. Remarking on this short term coincidence, I then segued to a different logic chain, where upon I realized, I had been reminded, or prodded to a minor degree about writing as well this week. I also realized that I had been goaded enough that when my friend pushed the last button he finally put me over the tipping to do something about it. I also realized I had been nudged enough that any review I attempted to write, would probably head back in to remarking and talking about the various confluences and coincidences.
Thus on my first days sojurn in to writing, I've ended up writing this, one long "cat vacuum" of a post, about nothing more then the fact I've been prodded to write, and am going to attempt to write every day, all without trying to promise again what I haven't been able to do in the last two years.
Then again, at least I'm writing...
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Reboot Part Redux
A couple of months ago, I finally decided to look in to re-writing my home page, just to show that a) I'm still alive, and b) I can still web code. However while working on my project offline, I ran into some snags. As such, I again put it off. During this hiatus I was introduced to some nifty little programs to streamline my online reading habits. In the process, I was also finally clued in and up to date on whatever latest web innovation was going on. Much to my surprise, my original blog site was finally undergoing a major facelift. Since my new site hadn't been much active, I realized that I might want to at least put up something, or I might as well throw in the towel.
Since I didn't want to give up on writing, as you can plainly see, I've converted the new site over to the new Blogger and will be in the coming days, weeks, months or even years be trying to post and designing a new blogsite. Maybe even one that I'll finally be happy with. Till then though, write, read, and be merry, for tomorrow you might get writer's block.
Since I didn't want to give up on writing, as you can plainly see, I've converted the new site over to the new Blogger and will be in the coming days, weeks, months or even years be trying to post and designing a new blogsite. Maybe even one that I'll finally be happy with. Till then though, write, read, and be merry, for tomorrow you might get writer's block.
Friday, July 08, 2005
[TB] Today, We are all Londoners
If you have no idea what I'm about to write on, then you are more out of touch then even I am, and that's saying something. On June 7th, 2005, London was blighted, by the worst attack on it's very streets since World War II. 37 people were killed, and at least 700 wounded when four bombs in various subway carriages, and bus trolleys went off near simultaneously. The resulting explosions, at first thought to be a massive gas leaks, wrecked havoc on the London mass transit system. Not to long afterward, a little known Jihadist website Al-Qal'ah, made a claim to this atrocity and further warned all those who support the Iraq invansion are under threat now to, unless they pull their troops out, to paraphrase.
Being one least likely to jump on a global bandwagon, I debated briefly, whether to post a story about this at all. But then while reading BoingBoing, and RangelMD, I was struck with the above quote. The quote itself is a slight ripoff of something that was said after the Trade Center attack in New York, but in itself, is truth. When tragedy strikes, often as not, human beings find themselves even at incredible divide, suddenly united under one roof. They are reminded, ever so briefly, that all people, no matter their stature, no matter their wealth, race, descent, sex, or religion, can be killed by the slightest of whims, of people who really have no concern for life, no matter what their rhetoric.
And for the briefest of instances, we realize that this is one world, warts and all.
Being one least likely to jump on a global bandwagon, I debated briefly, whether to post a story about this at all. But then while reading BoingBoing, and RangelMD, I was struck with the above quote. The quote itself is a slight ripoff of something that was said after the Trade Center attack in New York, but in itself, is truth. When tragedy strikes, often as not, human beings find themselves even at incredible divide, suddenly united under one roof. They are reminded, ever so briefly, that all people, no matter their stature, no matter their wealth, race, descent, sex, or religion, can be killed by the slightest of whims, of people who really have no concern for life, no matter what their rhetoric.
And for the briefest of instances, we realize that this is one world, warts and all.
Friday, June 24, 2005
[TB] Work vs Blogging
One of the topics I bring up occasionaly is on the various interactions between work, and blogging. Basically in this day and age it has become so very easy to expound in a semi-public forum on such a wide ranging set of topics, that some blogs have become all about what we have to put up with everyday. That is, blogging has become the 21st century water cooler, where we can at no expense to ourselves gossip about the latest going on's of our officemates, our co-workers, and the successes and failures of our umbrella that is the company whom employs us. The downside to having such a marvelous new land to gossip and gripe in, is that it may be a little to public.
Like the old joke about the coworker whose very good at impersonating the boss, in a funny, and not so good way, who one day gets caught by said boss, writing in a blog can inherently be a dangerous medium for even the most average of grippers to easily get caught in. And unfortunately when you are displaying in such an open space the problems of a company and the people in it, it's almost inevitable that when discovered, the usual reward is to be fired. But when the news is dish, and your friends not quite as sympathetic, what are you going to do?
One early trend that seems to be most popular is to learn how to be both anonymous, and amphorous about what you are writing. You hide the details, bury the real names of everyone involved and try to keep the story intact while not giving away to those home-brewed detectives the who, what, and where that could get you spotted and exiled. This method of course has it's own drawbacks, as you have to bend backwards daily and you are constantly looking of your shoulder to make sure no one is watching you, watching them.
On the other hand you can do like me. Avoid the problem by not mentioning friends problems, company gossip, or even your neighbor's actions. Instead if you have to comment, make it insightful, not backstabbing, put out both sides, even if one is extreme, and is moderate. Above all, learn to have fun with it and not worry, because you know what? In the end life is like a box of choclates, sweet, messy, and fatening, but horribly delicous once you get done.
Like the old joke about the coworker whose very good at impersonating the boss, in a funny, and not so good way, who one day gets caught by said boss, writing in a blog can inherently be a dangerous medium for even the most average of grippers to easily get caught in. And unfortunately when you are displaying in such an open space the problems of a company and the people in it, it's almost inevitable that when discovered, the usual reward is to be fired. But when the news is dish, and your friends not quite as sympathetic, what are you going to do?
One early trend that seems to be most popular is to learn how to be both anonymous, and amphorous about what you are writing. You hide the details, bury the real names of everyone involved and try to keep the story intact while not giving away to those home-brewed detectives the who, what, and where that could get you spotted and exiled. This method of course has it's own drawbacks, as you have to bend backwards daily and you are constantly looking of your shoulder to make sure no one is watching you, watching them.
On the other hand you can do like me. Avoid the problem by not mentioning friends problems, company gossip, or even your neighbor's actions. Instead if you have to comment, make it insightful, not backstabbing, put out both sides, even if one is extreme, and is moderate. Above all, learn to have fun with it and not worry, because you know what? In the end life is like a box of choclates, sweet, messy, and fatening, but horribly delicous once you get done.
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