Good Day! + Boo Foo
Feb. 26th, 2004 01:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
newnumber6Wow, today turned out pretty well. Had a test today, and I was feeling so not ready for it in general. I could understand the questions on the problem set, but the chapter material in general flummoxed me. ANyway, I got to school early, and did my normal ritual of having a bad of chips before the test (I find salty, vinegary chips help my mind work better). Anyway, every machine I passed on the way to my first class, didn't have salt and vinegar. So, finally I found one that had 'all dressed' (which, for those of you who don't know, seem to be a mix between a few flavours, including salt and vinegar). I took it to be a bad omen at first, but after I put in my money... two bags of chips fell out of the machine! Both all dressed, but it was still cool.
Then, when time came for my test... well, it just so happens that the test was pretty well the questions on the problem set, just with slight changes to the values involved. So I think I did quite well on it.
Also,
Finished: Donnerjack, by Roger Zelazny and Jane Lindskold
Started: A Case of Conscience, by James Blish
Minor spoilery stuff and thoughts behind the cut tag.
Donnerjack was a lot of fun. Once I got into the world, and just excepted how the whole thing was set up as a given, it was very smooth reading, and I was even able to just run with elements that would have been eyerolling-worthy in other contexts. Plus, some nice twists on expectations towards the end, and the fact that although a lot of separate plotlines were going on throughout the book (like on Downbelow Station), I enjoyed and was interested in almost all of them.
A nice look at a world with virtual reality that borders (almost literally) on magic.
Just started Case of Conscience, which is a Hugo winner. The story revolves around a survey team sent to the planet Lithia. They're supposed to put together a report and decide on recommendations.. whether the planet should be opened up for normal traffic, exploited for mineral resources, or if it posed a threat to humans and should be restricted or even quarantined.
Among the scientists doing the survey is the Biologist, also a Catholic priest. He begins to be troubled by the fact that the inhabitants of the planet are highly intelligent, almost totally rational, and most of all, completely ethical, with no crime or sin of any kind, and yet have no conception of God. This opens up all sorts of religious questions, such as whether they have souls, and if not what does that mean.
So far the story's pretty interesting, although I necessarily don't agree with some of the main character's premises.
Then, when time came for my test... well, it just so happens that the test was pretty well the questions on the problem set, just with slight changes to the values involved. So I think I did quite well on it.
Also,
Finished: Donnerjack, by Roger Zelazny and Jane Lindskold
Started: A Case of Conscience, by James Blish
Minor spoilery stuff and thoughts behind the cut tag.
Donnerjack was a lot of fun. Once I got into the world, and just excepted how the whole thing was set up as a given, it was very smooth reading, and I was even able to just run with elements that would have been eyerolling-worthy in other contexts. Plus, some nice twists on expectations towards the end, and the fact that although a lot of separate plotlines were going on throughout the book (like on Downbelow Station), I enjoyed and was interested in almost all of them.
A nice look at a world with virtual reality that borders (almost literally) on magic.
Just started Case of Conscience, which is a Hugo winner. The story revolves around a survey team sent to the planet Lithia. They're supposed to put together a report and decide on recommendations.. whether the planet should be opened up for normal traffic, exploited for mineral resources, or if it posed a threat to humans and should be restricted or even quarantined.
Among the scientists doing the survey is the Biologist, also a Catholic priest. He begins to be troubled by the fact that the inhabitants of the planet are highly intelligent, almost totally rational, and most of all, completely ethical, with no crime or sin of any kind, and yet have no conception of God. This opens up all sorts of religious questions, such as whether they have souls, and if not what does that mean.
So far the story's pretty interesting, although I necessarily don't agree with some of the main character's premises.
