I just read through Larry Niven's Ringworld in 2 sittings, which would be a personal record if I hadn't finished Neuromancer in one.
It's an undoubtedly fascinating book, hailed by some as one of the greatest works of science fiction. I'm inclined to agree here; the book manages to mix everlasting themes of human relationships with the splendour of an imagined future - a strange cocktail, but one that's defined the sci-fi genre since the early 1900s.
Without giving away too many details - Louis Wu, a 200-year-old veteran space explorer and a little bored with how prosaic his life has become, is invited by a strange (but not altogether surprising) alien on a four-man mission to explore a strange (and mind-bogglingly huge) artifact described rather astutely as "a star with a ring around it". The team (Louis, the human Teela, a felinoid Kzin known as Speaker-to-Animals, and the alien puppeteer Nessus) arrives at the ringworld, and are faced with a series of highly disturbing questions, the answers upon which may depend their own lives.
Larry Niven has managed to construct an epic that involves deeply, with intensely personal and believable characters. Highly recommended reading for science-fiction fans, and all you nonteknischen out there as well.
cheers,
adam
Wednesday, September 21
Sunday, September 11
Wednesday, August 24
Tuesday, August 16
Saturday, August 13
!
Forgive me, I've been listening to pop music again. Or whatever you call it, in today's world it's hard to find the right label for anything. I shall call it 'pop' because that's what it was called when I was growing up, now it's probably labeled 'alternative-something-something', which I feel is unjustified and also, ludicrous.
Sixpence None the Richer - breathe your name
Smooth vocals, beautiful lines and a wonderful bass riff which really defines the sound. And I love the lyrics. What's not to like?
Sixpence None the Richer - breathe your name
Smooth vocals, beautiful lines and a wonderful bass riff which really defines the sound. And I love the lyrics. What's not to like?
Saturday, August 6
basket
Being a basket-case online isn't my idea of fun.
I won't lie; I have my problems. Lots of them, in fact. However I don't feel justified in bitching about them online (except certain ones reserved for online bitching - see the hate list).
Sometimes, however, you just feel so wasted sitting at home and trying to be cool about the state of your life.
Bah.
adam
I won't lie; I have my problems. Lots of them, in fact. However I don't feel justified in bitching about them online (except certain ones reserved for online bitching - see the hate list).
Sometimes, however, you just feel so wasted sitting at home and trying to be cool about the state of your life.
Bah.
adam
Thursday, August 4
arguing is a lot like gaming.
1. It's fun if you're better than your opponent at it.
2. Is a major contributing factor in domestic violence.
3. After a certain point x which varies depending on your mood, the amount of chocolate you've had in the past two hours (in kg) and the colour of your left sock (if you're wearing one),
it starts to seem really, really, really pointless.
4. If you continue to do it after said point x, your brain will melt and start to leak slowly out of your ears in what is generally accepted to be a reeeeeaaallly creepy fashion. And then you'll die.
Do you disagree with me?
adam
1. It's fun if you're better than your opponent at it.
2. Is a major contributing factor in domestic violence.
3. After a certain point x which varies depending on your mood, the amount of chocolate you've had in the past two hours (in kg) and the colour of your left sock (if you're wearing one),
it starts to seem really, really, really pointless.
4. If you continue to do it after said point x, your brain will melt and start to leak slowly out of your ears in what is generally accepted to be a reeeeeaaallly creepy fashion. And then you'll die.
Do you disagree with me?
adam
Friday, July 29
Writer's Blog
started a new blog at
http://yesitsapun.blogspot.com
for people I know who like (or try) to write, so we can have a space to post writings and get feedback and discussions. If you'd like to join, email me.
adam
http://yesitsapun.blogspot.com
for people I know who like (or try) to write, so we can have a space to post writings and get feedback and discussions. If you'd like to join, email me.
adam
Thursday, July 28
wish I was you.
Wish I was you.
You are spirited, always excited by the challenges you seek every day. You recognise that you are your own limit, and your life is a series of goals to be achieved, each in defiance of the last. The knowledge that you are special does not escape you; it is your greatest ally in times of difficulty. You build your solutions out from yourself, relying on others only because you know that they are your extensions, just as you are theirs. You believe you are destined for greatness; this belief is not a prophecy but a mantra in your aspirations, each day pushing to new heights.
adam
You are spirited, always excited by the challenges you seek every day. You recognise that you are your own limit, and your life is a series of goals to be achieved, each in defiance of the last. The knowledge that you are special does not escape you; it is your greatest ally in times of difficulty. You build your solutions out from yourself, relying on others only because you know that they are your extensions, just as you are theirs. You believe you are destined for greatness; this belief is not a prophecy but a mantra in your aspirations, each day pushing to new heights.
adam
Wednesday, July 27
wish I was you.
Wish I was you.
You are powerful. You see the world as it is in all its intricacies and you refuse to lose yourself even as you navigate the wash of constantly changing trends. In the toughest of crises you prevail with indomitable strength that will not back down and will not change because you know that you can make it. You are never embarrassed to be different because you understand of all people that you, like everyone, have a power to succeed and you of all people know how to wield it. You are passionate and energetic in everything because you refuse to be held back by expectations and opinions.
adam
You are powerful. You see the world as it is in all its intricacies and you refuse to lose yourself even as you navigate the wash of constantly changing trends. In the toughest of crises you prevail with indomitable strength that will not back down and will not change because you know that you can make it. You are never embarrassed to be different because you understand of all people that you, like everyone, have a power to succeed and you of all people know how to wield it. You are passionate and energetic in everything because you refuse to be held back by expectations and opinions.
adam
wish I was you.
Wish I was you.
You are intelligent. Your success is not the product of some freak accident, but the accumulation of years of dedication. You wrestle with principles, but that makes you strong because nobody can topple what you think is right. Because of that you hold a rare sincerity that means you value everything but refuse to be subverted by the inane, and the unfounded criticism of others. You are one of the few who is constantly bewildered by everything, and you take solace in the fact that you yourself are bewildering, as is the spark of beauty you find in yourself and everyone.
You are intelligent. Your success is not the product of some freak accident, but the accumulation of years of dedication. You wrestle with principles, but that makes you strong because nobody can topple what you think is right. Because of that you hold a rare sincerity that means you value everything but refuse to be subverted by the inane, and the unfounded criticism of others. You are one of the few who is constantly bewildered by everything, and you take solace in the fact that you yourself are bewildering, as is the spark of beauty you find in yourself and everyone.
Monday, July 25
hate no.2
2. Technology
I despise technology with a passion. I hate it with all the sullen fiery-ness that a desert hates water. And yes, contrary to popular belief, deserts do not 'thirst' for water or anything of the sort. They hate it, that's why it's so dry.
Last month during RMUN the IT department (whom I firmly believe are some secret devil-worshipping cult) issued me a centuries-old laptop. It's called a Compaq Armada, in some sad tribute to the resilience that it obviously lacks. The first couldn't start up. Hong Quan made a trip back and demanded a replacement, which promptly crashed after five minutes of work. The third crashed when I plugged my ipod into it to store files on, and grudgingly started up when plugged into a power socket.
Also, it's the only computer i've known to actually lag seriously on microsoft word.
What gives?
But there's more. Within the last year, i've had to get a replacement for my palm (which crashed within 2 weeks of purchase), had to deal with a millenia-old phone which won't register if you press a button more than twice in a second, had to reformat my virus-plagued computer, and finally had to repair my NEW handphone which crashed within two weeks of purchase.
There's more!
The computers and printers in the library have caused me to lose my stored data at least 3 times now, and have forced me to waste $2.50 of my money printing out 5 copies of somebody else's multi-colored social studies report. Also, the internet only works sporadically, with healthy encouragement in the form of good solid thwacks.
Computers are the sort of thing spawned by the twisted minds of centuries of bureaucracy and customer service, built only to make sure you get nothing done, and go bleep when they do so.
You know what else I hate about technology? EVERYTHING. I say go back to good ol' hammer, chisel and tablet. At least they don't go bleep.
-adam
I despise technology with a passion. I hate it with all the sullen fiery-ness that a desert hates water. And yes, contrary to popular belief, deserts do not 'thirst' for water or anything of the sort. They hate it, that's why it's so dry.
Last month during RMUN the IT department (whom I firmly believe are some secret devil-worshipping cult) issued me a centuries-old laptop. It's called a Compaq Armada, in some sad tribute to the resilience that it obviously lacks. The first couldn't start up. Hong Quan made a trip back and demanded a replacement, which promptly crashed after five minutes of work. The third crashed when I plugged my ipod into it to store files on, and grudgingly started up when plugged into a power socket.
Also, it's the only computer i've known to actually lag seriously on microsoft word.
What gives?
But there's more. Within the last year, i've had to get a replacement for my palm (which crashed within 2 weeks of purchase), had to deal with a millenia-old phone which won't register if you press a button more than twice in a second, had to reformat my virus-plagued computer, and finally had to repair my NEW handphone which crashed within two weeks of purchase.
There's more!
The computers and printers in the library have caused me to lose my stored data at least 3 times now, and have forced me to waste $2.50 of my money printing out 5 copies of somebody else's multi-colored social studies report. Also, the internet only works sporadically, with healthy encouragement in the form of good solid thwacks.
Computers are the sort of thing spawned by the twisted minds of centuries of bureaucracy and customer service, built only to make sure you get nothing done, and go bleep when they do so.
You know what else I hate about technology? EVERYTHING. I say go back to good ol' hammer, chisel and tablet. At least they don't go bleep.
-adam
Sunday, July 24
hate list!
Ever had one of those where everything screws up for you and you really start to despise the world, deep down somewhere?
Well, today isn't one of them. However, I've taken the liberty of compiling the lists of the things that pop up on my 'hate' list whenever these days happen.
ahem.
1. Simple Plan
Without offense to the band members, Simple plan is the worst music conceivable to mankind. Simple plan is not just a joke, it is an insult to music, and a pathetic one at that. To those less mathematically inclined, I would like to just point out that there are only three different ways to play chords I, IV and V and no matter how you juggle them it gets nauseating after awhile. And that's just the music.
The lyrics are without doubt the worst lyrics - now I won't say 'in the whole world' because i've definitely heard worse somewhere - to make it into the popular music culture. Drab, whiney, teenage-angst, oh-god-hates-me-life-sucks bad. I'm serious. After listening to some tracks that's about all I can distill from their songs. I starve for adjectives.
Yes, Simple plan in all it's off-tune, unimaginative, angsty-oh-my-life-sucks-so-bad-please-pity-me-by-buying-my-records glory has to make it to the top of my list.
To all you simple plan fans out there, you can damn well go stick your head in a pig or something suitably offensive.
more to come.
adam
Well, today isn't one of them. However, I've taken the liberty of compiling the lists of the things that pop up on my 'hate' list whenever these days happen.
ahem.
1. Simple Plan
Without offense to the band members, Simple plan is the worst music conceivable to mankind. Simple plan is not just a joke, it is an insult to music, and a pathetic one at that. To those less mathematically inclined, I would like to just point out that there are only three different ways to play chords I, IV and V and no matter how you juggle them it gets nauseating after awhile. And that's just the music.
The lyrics are without doubt the worst lyrics - now I won't say 'in the whole world' because i've definitely heard worse somewhere - to make it into the popular music culture. Drab, whiney, teenage-angst, oh-god-hates-me-life-sucks bad. I'm serious. After listening to some tracks that's about all I can distill from their songs. I starve for adjectives.
Yes, Simple plan in all it's off-tune, unimaginative, angsty-oh-my-life-sucks-so-bad-please-pity-me-by-buying-my-records glory has to make it to the top of my list.
To all you simple plan fans out there, you can damn well go stick your head in a pig or something suitably offensive.
more to come.
adam
Wednesday, July 6
words for july
Just started my official batch of words for the month of july, so I won't be posting them here. When the month is over i'll give a link to all of them.
I encourage anybody who's interested to try, though, it's an amazing excercise in discipline and writing.
- adam
I encourage anybody who's interested to try, though, it's an amazing excercise in discipline and writing.
- adam
Thursday, June 30
June 30th thursday 9.30 pm
My mind won't stop. Even on sleepy evenings, on and on. I listen to music sometimes I take it like a drug sometimes even that won't stop. Covered in blood and shaking slowly, because I'm tired of trying to fix myself trying to wipe the mess. It comes from inside you know? I might cut myself and find I'm wrong on the inside horrible sticky guts and blood it's a mess. The mess - Better try to put it back - IT'S NOT MINE! . I need to stop yelling need to stop myself I need to find him and watch him bleed.
- adam
- adam
Wednesday, June 29
29th June Wednesday 9.30 pm
He sat there, deafened. The machinations hummed and buzzed around him, the screeching rattle-clack, rattle-clack building to a devastating crescendo. "The derivative,' the lady said ' of x with respect to y..." Clockwork. It was all clockwork. He clenched his teeth with the strain of stopping it all. The gears were in motion, he would be crushed amidst the steady click goddamnit, my pencil click... click... there were tears on his hand crushed amid the gears- slowly, painfully, each bone taking its time to shred and break and all the while, he would stand there, winding, winding, winding, winding.
- adam
- adam
Monday, June 27
MOAN!
Rayner IS right! The more work I have, the more time I spend bitching about it here. Whee. The difference is that I think I've done it this time, even if my maths portfolio IS several weeks overdue and is starting to grow a thin civilisation of sentient mold. Work sucks.
- adam
- adam
Sunday, June 26
26th June, 2005 Sunday 9.40 pm
Will I spend my life searching for a feeling? A little piece of this life, a tableau that I can stretch and twist into meaning? No, I say! Throw yourself into the deep end, only because the bottom is real. Why splash about in the shallows, creating ghosts and legends out of mist? Why should life cover me only to my ankles? No. I refuse to spend my time chasing currents while I slowly suffocate. The only reality is action - I move therefore I am. Breathe in the saltwater! We drown eventually. But I moved the ocean, not vice-versa.
June 21 2005 Tuesday 9.50 PM
I'm not profound at night. Maybe a little damp and a little groggy from dinner and pillows and lack of sleep. sitting about trying to be profound brings about the most abject depression. It is also futile. Sometimes I get up and wonder about God for awhile. Or jellyfish. Sometimes He speaks to me in the little noises. Sometimes I just hear things. Sometimes I sprawl about with dripping languor and dream about craters and tunnels of my childhood. That wonderful misty red air. I grip the blankets and am fitful for awhile. Lost in the dream of little stars...
- adam
- adam
Saturday, June 25
hundreds
Participate in the 100 words project. (Link is to the left) I've gone and used this as an excuse to force myself to write, so here's my 100 words for the 25th of june. I never edit, hardly ever delete a sentence that's been written, and blatantly flounce all rules of proper grammar and sentence-structure.
25th june, 2005
On the other hand. When you aren't sleepy thoughts become precise. Point one. Point two. Sub-point one point three point seven-six-five-four-two-nine-eight. Short sentences punctuated by anxious punctuating punctuation. It says Lucidity! Clarity! The breath of day is dry and light. Only brighter. Difficult to recede into the mist because there is so little of it. Adjectives, bah. Verbs, bah. Condense! Words are king and queen (and the rest) and never, ever artifically lengthen by using phrases like 'never ever' or allow a little madness to get in the way of short concise writing.
-adam
25th june, 2005
On the other hand. When you aren't sleepy thoughts become precise. Point one. Point two. Sub-point one point three point seven-six-five-four-two-nine-eight. Short sentences punctuated by anxious punctuating punctuation. It says Lucidity! Clarity! The breath of day is dry and light. Only brighter. Difficult to recede into the mist because there is so little of it. Adjectives, bah. Verbs, bah. Condense! Words are king and queen (and the rest) and never, ever artifically lengthen by using phrases like 'never ever' or allow a little madness to get in the way of short concise writing.
-adam
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