books & reading

I’m a book nerd. I don’t read as often as I should, but tell that to my overflowing bookshelves.

from.where.I.sit

things.I.see.from.where.I.sit

RollingStone
Gun control in Canada
Sweet Music
visor
digitalblasphemy
Connections (English)
Weaver – Hendrick
Feature
Caselogic
The Second Creation

I was idling some Coupland – and the idea of random thoughts – words – stream of consciousness occurred. So I write without much thought: I am pondering upgrading this Blogger-thing to pro. I guess there are some neat-o features with it, but it’s really a tough call to justify the US$35 pricetag. Originally I was thinking: hey, I’m not gonna upgrade ‘cuz who cares really? Who knows if I’ll even be using this thing in a week? Who is going to read the random scrawl of me?

Implied reality: I did a backup yesterday while I was waiting for meine co-wokers to edit some work.related.stuff: total content on this site is approximately 103 pages of text in Word, formatted as it appears here, 12 point TNR font. That’s a small book. A book without much of a plot, mind, but a book none-the-less.

Perhaps that justifies an upgrade. Perhaps it is just a waste of money. Perhaps it would be the “moral” thing to do: support the service which I have milked for so many months and so much bandwidth. Sigh. Decisions, decisions.

Karin and I took another carload of my junk to the new apartment last night. My old place gets emptier and emptier, while the new place gets fuller and fuller. Funny how that happens. Our biggest quandry at the moment is what to do about the JavaHut situation. Our highly frequented locale will be a bit too far off the normal stomping grounds surrounding the new suite: hense, we’re in need of a new place to sit and read/write/chat/ponder.life/whatever… While making an errand run to the London Drugs at the mall we located a Starbucks — but I haven’t given into despiration quite yet to submit to that. I am thinking some serious on-foot exploration of the neighborhood is in order — in the near future — and hopefully that will result in something both interesting and useful.

But whatever.

bummed

The reason I am bummed: went swimming last night, and tossed my wet towel into my backpack. Found it this morning – stupid me I forgot – and it was sitting on one of my books. The book is now double it’s original size having sucked most of the water from my towel. Fortunately my keyboard was not part of the mayhem – because then I would have been beyond bummed.

The reason to be less bummed: despite the rain, I trotted down to Granville Island over lunch, had a nice hunk of focaccia bread in a paper bag and some spicy chicken on a plastic plate. On my way out I snagged a whole bag full of fruits and vegies for the amazing price of about five bucks. And I got out for a nice walk to boot.

wanderings

On my random wanderings yesterday evening I couldn’t help but overhear a conversation being had by two excessively loud guys. They were discussing – of all things – shaving. Now I only bring it up because of my deep knowledge and broad experience on the subject. But they were discussing the Mach 3 razor – a sleek little machine of which I recently puchased my second copy. It now comes in a cerulean blue-ish tone and I needed an upgrade anyhow.

As it was, these two loud guys were discussing the cost of these machines: if you work out the price, the best you can hope for is about $1.50 to $2 per blade. They are sold in packs of 4 or eight, so ususally this sets you back about ten or twenty dollars. I justify this because I change the blades about as often as I organize my sock drawer: as in every three months, give or take a month. Now perhaps it is just me and my genetically determined lack of excessive facial hair, but this seems about right and I can get away with it without dulling the blade too much.

The one guy says: “I don’t know. Them blades are too expensive. I tried ’em and I was payin’ almost 10 bucks a week – jus’ta shave.”

The other responds: “Well you gotta use’m more than once or twice. I can get nearly four shaves from a blade ‘fore it goes dull on me.”

Perhaps I’m a cinical shopper and won’t throw away something until it is beyond useless, but four shaves! I mean, what are you shaving? Your whole body?

Alas, I don’t think I will ever know – or want to know for that matter.

For now, I am twiddling away my Saturday on projects yet to be determined. Still so much to do, and the clock is ever ticking downwards…

Someone’s car alarm was bellowing in the distance.

The rain trickles down my window, reminding me that this place used to be a rainforest – now it is a raincity.

I see a flag at half-mast. I suppose it is some sort of royal tribute.

And I notice that my plants need water: Ayech too Oh. Poor plants: I am just too neglectful sometimes.

I was reading another couple of books last night: first, I was yet again engrossed in a weird tale called A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius. And it is – sort of. Second, I picked up a random Narnia story and plucked through it before I curled off to sleep. I have them all memorized from listening to the BBC radio plays so often.

I should do something productive: I should clean my apartment. I should go out and see an interesting sight. I should not be sitting here, doing this. Now I am just writing – for the sake of writing – not actually caring what types of words I type. Type I type. type I type. typeyetype. typeyetypeyetype.

My mind is numb. I want a slush, but it’s too cold and I’m too lazy: and slushses are bad for me.

JK Rowling is on Biography:

JK Rowling is on Biography: has success gone to her head? Doubtful. The books are very good, and she seems modest enough.

I have been stirring a few ideas around in my head about public licensing and copyright. For those familiar with GNU software public licensing, I am pondering how and if something like that could or should exist for words – text – literature, if you will.

GNU, as I understand it, is based upon the understanding that no one really owns a piece of software distributed under GNU, but rather it exists as an enitity that anyone can use, manipulate, and redistribute, provided they don’t try and take it as their own: it goes back into the pool. Linux is distributed under GNU.

Rowling is rambling: she seems like the type – at least being interviewed – that has a lot to say, and means to say it. I think the folks at AandE probably did more than average editing after they put her in front of a camera. But she does make an interesting if not debatable point: she says no one is going to dictate a single word of what she writes: in other words, she won’t be directly bowing to public pressure on her content. Good for you JK, if you can actually pull it off. But, don’t tell me that nothing you write will be steered through your audience’s reaction to the first four books…

Back to GNU: I don’t know if directly translates. I don’t know if it is possible to take a piece of literature: this paragraph for example, and push it into some sort of realm of public domain: sort of an open words licence (OWL?) that puts text into a broad freely distributable context within the confines of maintaining content. It’s an idea I’m going to play with a little. If nothing more, it is something of an academic pursuit to occupy my thoughts for the weekend.

Chris just called: we’re going to check out Blade 2 tomorrow afternoon, provided we can first find a parking space at Metrotown, and second, get in the theatre. It tends to be a tricky task. After that: Thai? As long as it’s as tasty as the chili I cooked up tonight, I can’t complain.

And.. miracle of miracles: Karin started her own blog. No doubt to rival this one. Will she suceed? Cast your votes now…