Category: Uncategorized

Just saying thank you to for introducing me to Octavia Butler. In particular I’m re-reading bits of adulthood rites. Like alot of Butler’s stuff, its emotional tone is dark and heavy, with a strong sense of how things ought to be, and a hope that things can be improved, if not made to be fully as they ought to be. That’s a part of why I like it.

An interesting question that comes up in a fair amount of sci fi, I think, is the notion that protecting someone from harm may not be in their best interests. Asimov brings the question up fairly directly in Liar, undoubtedly one of my favorite stories from I, Robot. You can even see the question outlined, if you’re looking for it, in the movie. It is a major theme in Adulthood Rites.

I think it’s a question that comes up naturally with technological advance. Are we sacrificing personal growth for a comfortable life? And, if so, which is preferable?

I clearly have my own answers to these questions, but I think they are useful for provoking thought.

This weekend hasn’t been a good one for me, over all. Not terrible, just not good.

wednesday, federation of workplace democracies — MN

for

Thoughts on transportation: a couple hours worth of semi-extemporaneous writing

Two major topics: the NJ governor, and the recent california ruling.

James McGreevey

A boring recitation of the minutiae of my day. Read if you’re having trouble sleeping, do not operate heavy machinery after reading

Trying to decide what courses to take.

Currently it’s

Introduction to Policy Analysis	1.5 credits
Introduction to Public Management	3 credits
Public Affairs Economics I	3 credits
Empirical Analysis	3 credits
Developing your public service career	1 credit
Conflict Management Proseminar	1 credit
Stakeholder Identification	1.5 credit

Total 14 credits, out of 15 max for no additional charge

Sadly, there is no phys ed course I want to take that fits into my tue/thu mornings. I wanted something to wake me up before class, but Public Management & Leadership starts at 9:45am. And the self defense class ends at 9:55am, on the other side of the mississippi. Leaving advanced weightlifting. Ugh.

Maybe next semester I’ll be able to arrange my schedule for those gymnastics, dance, or wall-climbing classes. And, I’ll always have the gym…

Didn’t work out all weekend. Ate crap food. Yet still I weighed in at 148 (after workout, before dinner). Same old work out, and it was good.

I intend to swim tomorrow morning, with et al. This means curtailing my ffxi time. I think I’m strong enough. =)

today I made some progress on the minutes between browsing ffxi websites. And then at Brian’s, I got some of the reading I’ve been slacking on done. While he played ffxi. Not that I ffxi have a ffxi fixation or ffxi anything. =)