commonplace book of the living dead

Things about Anathem that I think will catch on

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:07:02 GMT

Under the cut: a few bits of Anathem that I think will make it into popular culture (or popular internet culture ... is that the same thing yet?)

"We have a protractor."
This bit made me laugh.
"I can't predict the future," I said, "but based on what little I know so far, I'm afraid it has to be a massive adventure or nothing."
"Great!"
"Probably the kind of adventure that ends in a mass burial."
That quieted her down a little bit. But after a while, she said: "Do you need transportation? Tools? Stuff?"
"Our opponent is an alien starship packed with atomic bombs," I said. "We have a protractor."

Kind of says it all.

the Lorites
This is a school of thinkers who postulate that there hasn't been an original thought in thousands of years: everything that's being done now has been done before. Of course, this doesn't lead to futility: they are obsessive scholars who absorb countless volumes so that upon meeting anyone who thinks he has something new, they can tell him who already thought of it, and thus perform an invaluable service to scholarship. No point in reinventing the wheel, even though it can't be avoided.

the Ita
(1) In late Praxic Orth, an acronym (therefore, in ancient texts sometimes written ITA) ... almost all scholars agree that the first two letters come from the words Information Technology ... (3) a proscribed artisinal caste ... the task of the Ita is to operate and maintain those subsystems while observing strict segregation...
Due to the importance of the separation of theory and praxis, in this world those who know how to run computers are an outsider group, untouchables. Their clothes mark them as separate; it is implied that they are racially distinct; they live alongside the thinkers though any contact between them is taboo.

bulshytt
It's not a mild profanity, it's a technical term.
From the glossary: Speech (typically but not necessarily commercial or political) that employs euphemism, convenient vagueness, numbing repetition, and other rhetorical subterfuges to create the impression that something has been said.

Anathem = all finished

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 22:35:55 GMT

Well, it was finished Saturday, but I was avoiding my computer yesterday for no reason in particular.

Fantastic book. Just fantastic. I'm going to try to write a review that's very low in spoilers; I'm going to make another post that treats a few subjects in some more detail. Both should be generally safe, in that I'm not going to give away anything about how it ends; on the other hand I experienced a certain joy in entering this book with absolutely no foreknowledge of its contents. You might enjoy that, too.

The setting is a world called Arbre, similar to Earth in many ways; its people are human, even though its culture has gone in a different direction. In this world, there has been an enforced separation between science and technology, between theory and practice. (This is to keep technology from developing faster than culture can acclimate, though details are scarce there had been disasters far in the past that inspired this separation.)

The theors live in monastic communities, with their own system of governance independent from the outside world. The flow of information is highly restricted: some groups allow communication once a year, others once every thousand years. Little heed is paid to the rise and fall of politics and religions outside the walls.

Things begin to change drastically when an anomaly is spotted in the sky. Brilliant minds from around the world are brought together in protection of the planet. Adventure ensues.

But that's not the point of the book, really. The plot is filled out by hundreds of dialogues and thought experiments and wonderful big ideas. Everything is pseudonymous, but can be recognized as a treatment of the big ideas of Earth. (After all, truth is truth, no matter which universe you live in ... ) At no point does it come across as forced. The characters spend their lives studying their world with no tools but their own minds; the story offers a glimpse into that way of life.

And, astoundingly, there is an ending. Very few loose ends remain, except for of course one thing which is clearly necessary to be left unresolved.

I never once stopped enjoying myself while reading. I forced myself to take breaks, so that it wouldn't be gone too quickly. I think it'll take a bit of time and distance to determine if I liked it better than The Baroque Cycle, but it's certainly up there as possibly the best thing Stephenson's written.

I'm seriously considering calling in sick tomorrow ...

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 00:23:36 GMT

... because my Advance Reader's Edition of Anathem showed up today.

This post will contain no spoilers, but I've got two photos under the cut.

I'm about a hundred pages in, and it's seriously as good as I expected. It's set in a very different world than anything Stephenson's written before, but the challenges of new language and new culture are addressed with the same sort of accuracy as seen in The Baroque Cycle. The sort of attention to detail that makes me very very happy and makes this edition 890 pages. 935 if you count the glossary and appendices.

This particular volume was all crinkled on the front when it got here. That's what happens when things are shipped in ridiculously big boxes, I suppose. Not like it really matters.

And some very attractive interior art. Each Part is decorated with a smaller version.

The other neat thing about this is that the book shipped with a CD of music inspired by the book. I haven't listened to it yet for fear of spoilers. Commentary on that will come at some point.

Just a friendly reminder that the sheer awesomeness of this all was made possible by kind people at Harper Collins and at LibraryThing.com. I've promised them I'd write a review--not like I wouldn't have anyway.

And one last thing. As I'd mentioned before, I'm more than happy to share the love. Once I've finished reading and written the review, I will mail the book onwards to anyone in Canada or the United States (anywhere else and the postage gets prohibitive, but feel free to make your case). I've got to give priority to people on my flist already, as you've put up with me for years. After that, it's first come first served. The one condition is when you've finished, you will mail it either back to me or to the next person on the "list".

Enough talk. More reading.

Things which suck about water

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 21:01:37 GMT

Generally I really like rain. It's starting to interfere with my lifestyle, though, and that will not do.

We've had some near-record rainfall this past week, and there's supposed to be more tonight and tomorrow. Lots of roads have washed out, and though the river's already nearly flooded, they're releasing more water from dams upstream so as not to break the dams.

Which means I can't go rowing tonight. It's kind of cold anyway, but still. I haven't been in more than a week.

Things have been fine at work. We had some plumbing issues today but nothing serious & it all got fixed.

There's water in the basement of this house. I don't own the house, so I guess it's no big concern, but my dryer sheets are soaked through :( and it's no fun doing laundry standing in puddles anyway. Looks like it's come through at one point on the wall. I'll be letting the owners know.

None of which is nearly as bad as the serious flooding they've had at the Fort William Historic Site just outside of town. This is the second flood for them in three years. Looks like it'll be closed for a few months, at least. And now that I'm at home I can't seem to find any pictures online.

I'm going to be putting up a post on facebook shortly which is not entitled "things which suck about Bill C-61" but may as well be. If you're in Canada and don't know what's going on with that, you may want to become informed.

In which LibraryThing totally pays off

Fri, 23 May 2008 00:11:12 GMT

"Congratulations. You've snagged an Early Reviewers copy of Anathem by Neal Stephenson."

My day could not get any better.

Book: Lakota Star Knowledge: Studies in Lakota Stellar Theology, Ronald Goodman

Thu, 08 May 2008 00:12:01 GMT

I did say I had an interesting mix of things to review, didn't I?

Though it doesn't say, I think this one is an adaptation of a thesis. It has that feel. The language isn't super-elegant, but it's very clear, and easy to understand even with little knowledge of astronomy or Lakota culture.

Probably the number one best thing in it, which I'd scan if I had a scanner, is a star map with both Lakota and Greek constellations indicated. There's very little correspondence between the two (in that they don't even line up, let alone represent the same things), but there are certain features which are important to both. These include Cygnus, the square of Pegasus, Orion, and the Dipper; I'd venture that these features are intrinsically noticeable and will never not give the impression of being connected. Neat.

Anyway, on to content ...

It was very important which part of the sky the sun was in. As the sky and earth were understood to reflect each other, the sun is seen to travel through a landscape of the sky, which is a mirror of the landscape of the earth. Thus, the people travel through the land, following the path set by the sun. It was vital, in the period between spring equinox and summer solstice to travel from winter camps (matching the Dried Willow constellation; the time and place at which the willow was harvested) to Devil's Tower (matching Bear's Lodge constellation; legends concerning the origin of Devil's Tower involve a bear.)

In star maps, the symbol used to represent a star is an hourglass shape, meaning that the star is seen as the part of a vortex, a connection between the sky and the earth. The shape of the tipi, and the Sun Dance, have also both been described as the bottom part of that vortex. There is believed to be a constant connection between the two worlds.

So -- detailed observations, used reliably for timekeeping, for at least 3000 years. And usually gets about half a sentence in your average astronomy textbook's history chapter.

Book: Neil Gaiman, "The Sandman - A Game Of You"

Wed, 07 May 2008 23:42:40 GMT

Sandman vol. 5, A Game of You, Neil Gaiman, 1991-1992.

I'm reading Sandman all out of order. That's all right, though. Particularly with a volume like this, which is one self-contained story. Was pretty good, too.

I don't know, but I'm not as absolutely floored by Sandman stuff as some people seem to be. It's very good, yes, but I've yet to be astounded. (But if I demanded to be astounded by everything, I'd be in a sad state.)

The fantasy elements weirded me out a bit at first, until they began to make sense in terms of the entire story -- a sub-world in dreams which is real in itself but still dependent on the minds of those in the "real" world. I loved how the way the worlds were set up was actually explained, rather than just left hanging.

Not many other comments, certainly not beyond the analysis the rest of the world has come up with, but I absolutely loved the veil at the end.
Gonna have to do it to myself some time.

(Yeah, I know, this was a pretty pathetic book "review" but I said this is what I'm doing ... )

ugh.

Wed, 07 May 2008 23:18:41 GMT

I really do wish that someone had bothered to do something about the side yard of this house last fall. There are three apple trees, which will probably be lovely once they've got leaves, but the entire yard is filled with last year's apples.

I started raking, filled the composter and one bag, and there's still lots left. Unfortunately, the stuff that's left is turning to muck as I try to move it. So I've given up. It'll all rot and be reclaimed by fresh grass, right?

On the other hand, the front yard worked out pretty well.

Now, isn't this the stuff the people who ~own~ the place are supposed to do?

Book: Neil Smith, "Bang Crunch"

Tue, 06 May 2008 01:03:50 GMT

Bang Crunch - Stories, Neil Smith, 2007.

Picked this up compulsively based on having thought I'd read a positive review at some point. Short stories, mostly very good.

It's really hard to review a collection as one book. There is a connection between two of the stories, but for the most part they can be taken separately.

Isolettes
A single woman chooses to have a baby with her friend; the baby is born premature and eventually dies. She tries to reconcile how she ~should~ feel with how she ~does~ feel. Touching.

Green Fluorescent Protein
Teenage love. This story resonated with me pretty strongly.

The B9ers
A support group for people with benign tumours; they wonder if being too nice makes them susceptible. I found it very entertaining -- particularly the scene where an en masse attempt is made to be cruel.

Bang Crunch
To be sadly honest I had trouble with this story's disregard for conservation of mass and energy ... ah well. Taken purely as fantasy, though, it had some interesting things to say.

Scrapbook
A survivor of a school shooting, who can't tell anyone else that he'd been there. Probably one of the better in the collection.

The Butterfly Box
No strong feelings about this story -- to be honest it didn't make much of an impression on me.

Funny Weird or Funny Ha Ha?
Reminiscences of a recovering alcoholic. I really liked this one.

Extremities
This is one of those love-it-or-hate-it things. I loved it. Surreal & clever.

Jaybird
Number One The Best. A long time arts admin is given one chance to be in the spotlight; she does something no one expects and it's brilliant. Reminiscent of American Beauty.

Oh, and it's a debut. Good job, Mr Smith.

Book: Lee Smolin, The Trouble With Physics

Tue, 06 May 2008 00:40:32 GMT

The Trouble with Physics: The Rise of String Theory, the Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next. Lee Smolin, 2006.

A pretty amazing book. It made me realize how glad I am to have left physics when I did. It also made me want to try again.

Sound like a contradiction? Well, it is, maybe. But Smolin was happy to lay it out explicitly how screwed up and political the social world of academic physics is at the moment, how it tends to reward technical skills and being able to come up with the right solution as quickly as possible over deep understanding and examination.

I definitely saw that, and it made me miserable. Of course, I only got as far as a B.Sc. -- the very thought of even having the hubris to attempt anything postgraduate, well, I was still having to look up formulae we'd covered in second year, wasn't I?

But enough about me. [It's too depressing.]

The issue is that most of theoretical physics research and funding has been directed towards a single research programme, string theory. While this is in some ways promising, it's not had any real success in explaining new observations, or making predictions. Meanwhile, there's basically no funding for research towards non-string theory.

Smolin's a very clear writer, and in my view he's hit a perfect balance of depth, accuracy, and accessibility. He doesn't shy away from presenting the science as it is to the reader, but he does so in a way that's won't intimidate. And (unlike some pop-sci writers I've encountered) he's not just in it to impress you, "hey look at all this math I know!"

Really a brilliant job. Go read it if you haven't. Then talk to me. This is stuff I've tried to make myself not care about over the past three years, and suddenly I'm feeling all involved again.

best foot forward

Mon, 05 May 2008 01:12:01 GMT

So the New Thing that I'm going to try to do for May is to write a (short/long) review of every single book I read. Should be doable, and should likely be good for me -- might force me to actually follow through on things for once. And I've been successful with my New Thing for April, so this is good timing.

I've actually got a pretty interesting looking pile lined up. But I'm not starting tonight. Too hung over :(
Last night was ... interesting.

drag

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:10:58 GMT

bicycle + trenchcoat & scarf = not so very aerodynamic

One of those nights, hm?

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:06:31 GMT

Nothing doing, tonight.

Been home about two hours and all I've done is made and eaten dinner, and read a bunch of webcomics.
My further plans involve doing laundry and reading ... things which are not webcomics.

Was going to take my bike out (finally!) tonight, as it's warm and sunny, but it's also windy like stupid, so I've decided against it. Perhaps tomorrow.

I have plans for Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, though, so tonight's free.

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 22:02:49 GMT

I got an email today from someone with whom I spent one of the best nights of my life. (nothing romantic, but absolutely brilliant.)

It was only a couple of lines, but it made my day. I'm still smiling.

In all seriousness ...

Thu, 03 Apr 2008 23:38:52 GMT

Ok, this is a real question:

Why is it that archivists seem to have such trouble with managing their own records?

In my new job, I've inherited an office that's been used by a few different people over the past two years. There is stuff everywhere -- on the desk, on the bookshelf, in the filing cabinet. I've started going through things, and there's stuff that's work to be done, reference materials I can actually use, reference materials that were outdated ten years ago, files that quite literally need to be boxed up for storage and/or shredded, and total non-record junk that also can just be got rid of.

So everyone's worried about getting compliance from departments, from making sure that schedules are adhered to etc etc etc, but we can't do it in our own offices? Something seems wrong here.

PS Actual details of the move and the new job & stuff will probably follow. Sometime.

Generic life update.

Sun, 23 Mar 2008 17:07:34 GMT

Right-o.

So, I'm still moving to Thunder Bay. I move this week, start work Monday after next.
I've got an apartment now -- well, I haven't signed anything yet, but there's a verbal agreement with someone who has no reason to back out.
I have ... some packing finished. There's a lot to go, but it's mostly stuff that can be transferred simply from its current location to a box. Having moved last seven months ago means that re-packing isn't difficult.
Just difficult mentally, but, y'know.
I have what remains of today, and all tomorrow, and much of Tuesday. Trailer will be loaded late Tuesday afternoon. Tuesday night is reserved for one last evening of awesomeness (specifics yet to be determined.) Then I'm driving Wednesday and Thursday. Unload Thursday night. Unpack and get settled Friday through Sunday. Then start work.

Despite the utter insanity of all that written above, I have a really good feeling about the job, the apartment, the people I've met.

big changes

Sat, 08 Mar 2008 20:08:45 GMT

A few people might have heard by now, but ...

Tuesday I had a second interview for a new job.
Friday I was offered the position, and accepted.

By the end of the month I will be living and working in Thunder Bay.

The move is pretty significant, and I'm a little bit panicked at the thought of getting everything together in less than three weeks.
The job will be, I hope, a much more interesting one than what I've been doing for the past six months. I have a really good feeling about that part of all of this.

More news will follow as I, you know, figure stuff out.

jobbishness

Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:32:53 GMT

Remember a couple of weeks ago when I said I was going to be looking for a new job?

Just finished a phone interview that I think I very much aced. I'm on a short list which is quite short. And the work would be very much more interesting than what I'm doing now.

I'm trying, and failing, not to get my hopes up.

Also, I haven't quit a job* since 2001. How does one go about doing such things?

(* not counting the "I'm moving/graduating and thus no longer ~can~ work here" instances)

can has tv?

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:25:46 GMT

Right, so from now until I've got a copy I'm on an embargo of certain journals that are a risk for spoiling me for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.
You probably know who you are.
Please don't spoil me.

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 02:45:58 GMT

Aw, man, so Sara is a big scary pile of angst these days.
Things are beginning to Happen. At least, I hope that Things are Happening. Life as it is is not of the most wonderfulness.

Bah. I'm working on the fixing of it.

Wrap-up

Mon, 31 Dec 2007 21:27:47 GMT

Fourth year running ...

1. What did you do in 2005 that you'd never done before?
Got a "permanent" (still only probably permanent) job. Lived in Ottawa. Did a bit of distance driving.
I am no longer a student. That's kind of big.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Well, the one I kind of made didn't really work. By the time I had interviews the suit was a bit too big. Oh well.
This year I hope to be able to diversify my interests, social interactions, and ways I spend my time.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
No, but a few people I know are lined up for next year.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
No.

5. What countries did you visit?
None. Don't think I even made it to the ol' USA this year.

6. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
The ability to give a first impression of "interesting".

7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
Nuit Blanche was pretty memorable.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Graduating.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Having my not-thesis sort of suck. Passed, of course, but I'd rather have been more proud of it.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Had some deep bruising from a hilarious piano-related accident, but nothing bad.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
This apartment. Which is rented, but it's the same sort of deal.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?
Can't think of any one astounding case. Everyone's been pretty neat.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?
Erm, Canadian reps at Bali? Or is that too political for this quiz?

14. Where did most of your money go?
Rent, food, &c. Books. Some great shows.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Graduating. Moving. Evil Dead The Musical.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
"Face Of The Earth" by Joel Plaskett Emergency.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you happier or sadder?
More stable; less excited. Is that a good thing?

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Things which would improve my skill set and/or career.

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Worried about job applications.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
Already did -- spent 4 days in St Thomas visiting people, then went back to work.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
As always.

23. How many one-night stands?
None so far :)

24. What was your favourite TV program?
Doctor Who, Torchwood, CSI.

25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Nope.

26. What was the best book you read?
Perdido Street Station, probably, with Good Omens as a close second. Lots of good things.

27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Joel Plaskett, Arcade Fire.

28. What did you want and get?
A degree. A job.

29. What did you want and not get?
Job of my dreams.

30. What was your favourite film of this year?
Fido :) Was that this year? It seems so long ago. Sweeney Todd was also very good, though I just saw that last night.

31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
Worked, bussed it to London, helped w/ wedding shopping, had free baklava.

32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably satisfying?
Getting a job more in the vein of the part-time work I did during school.
Yes. I am broken record.

33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
Shirts, jeans, shoes ... I do have different hair now. It is red and sticks up. I like it.

34. What kept you sane?
As last year: That the alternative is not an option.

35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Zomg. Really want me to answer that?

36. What political issue stirred you the most?
I'm getting really annoyed at the lack of funding for municipal government and public transit. That, and environment stuff, as usual.

37. Who did you miss?
I miss all the people I met at McGill, most of whom I haven't seen in months now.

38. Who was the best new person you met?
I have a bunch of way-awesome new co-workers.

39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
Don't try to do too much at once. Don't try to do too little at once.

40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
(guh. I cannot. is it just me or is this the most difficult question of all?)

~whump

Thu, 13 Dec 2007 02:27:22 GMT

The good stuff to be found here.

Have now finished writing cards. (It always takes just that little bit longer than I expect it will.) Now I just have to do shop, bake, and help prepare dinner for seven. All's well.

The other day, my supervisor came out of her office waving around bits of paper and saying "wow, you have to take this personality test, it's really neat." I was highly skeptical, as I tend to be, but played along. Answered questions. Got a little answer & a few pages of summary.

We went over results during a meeting this afternoon, and I was then able to see the point of the whole thing. I've always been skeptical of tests of that sort (particularly the self-administered web-based with the ugly html) because it seems so impossible to divide the human populace into five or sixteen or however many "types" and expect that to cover it. I'm a great believer in cognitive diversity. If I know one thing about people it's that they're all so different it's sometimes frightening. And what the testing & discussion revealed was -- yes, difference. And it forced everyone, simultaneously, to think about those differences, to say explicitly "oh, my friends and colleagues and family are working off different operating procedures than I am".
And ~that's~ the benefit. Not "here's the key to Sara" but "don't forget that Sara thinks differently than you do."
And everyone else in the world probably knew that before I did, but I'm pretty happy with the revelation.

Taking things apart

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 02:54:01 GMT

Work's getting interesting this week.

Seriously, LIS people, if you are ever offered the chance to decommission a former library, go for it. While it's sad that these particular information needs are no longer met in a physical place, intangible connections, ambience, &c, it's also really fun.

Though my workspace is starting to get cramped and paranoid with piles and boxes and piles of boxes. Apparently when we have to get the books out by Friday, they've got to go somewhere ...

I'm really getting into Iron Council. I'd been chipping away at the first chapters a couple of pages at a time, but once I hit the part with the puppet show it seems that things like sleeping and going to work are just distractions. Why did it take me so long to start reading these books? M. Miéville, je t'aime.
For some reason, the descriptions of New Crobuzon with neon lights keep reminding me of Blade Runner. Which is silly, as they're totally different. Well, similar, in a totally different sort of way.

Cards

Sat, 01 Dec 2007 20:56:46 GMT

Hi all,

I like to send cards to people in December. It's one thing I'm quite happy to adopt as a tradition.

Anyone who wants mail (real mail!) please let me know your mailing address. Comments will be screened for privacy, of course.

And, as always, international postage will not be an issue. Other planets, sorry. ISS? We'll discuss.

Work & life & change

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 21:51:33 GMT

Yeah, I'm behind on, erm, stuff again. Have replies to write. Perhaps tonight!

The past two days I've been attending a big Ministry-wide workshop. Bits of it were quite interesting; others were of the "why am I here; I already know this!" nature. But, fortunately, I've emerged with lots of notes & ideas & things to follow up on. And have met a few people from other parts of the Ministry and OPS in general (ie not just those of us on the 5th floor downtown.)

Not sure how much of that I'm able to share publicly. A few things might show up eventually in my other writing place.

The shift from Academic to Public Servant is an interesting one in that respect. (If you're one of those people who is interested in these sorts of issues ... ) While at school, it was pretty much common practice that if you come across something neat, you post it around pretty much everywhere, tell all your friends, &c, &c. (While paying a veneer of lip service to copyright, of course.) Leads to inbox bloat, but also makes sure that you know as much as possible about what's going on in the chosen sphere.

In the government, privacy is a big, big thing. As it should be. I deal with personal information, financial information of businesses, material related to court cases, and things like that on a daily basis. But leaving aside the more obvious examples, there's a vast quantity of documents that I have access to on intranets and shared drives, which seem utterly innocuous but are still proprietary. It's a major shift in the way I need to view my own work and activities.