Life

Things to write down so I can forget

What's the point of having a good memory if you still make the same mistakes over and over?

A person who believes in nothing is at least as mistaken as a person who believes in everything.

Reading the same book twice I always find something new in it. Since the words has been the same ink on the same paper, I must assume it was me who has changed.

I once read that art is the result of a stable society, that after enough food and security is achieved, art naturally flourish. Yet when I look around, many of the best art are achieved under the darkest of human conditions. I am convinced art is a tool for survival and not the result.

In the absence of external pressure, your body's internal pressure becomes deadly. Perhaps, in the absence of small talk - these little white noise acting as external pressure, our own internal turmoil becomes unbearable too.

Star Shine, Star Bright

Beautiful night sky.

The Space in Between

Space and Time is interchangeable. Look far enough into the universe and you will see the past staring back at you. The distance involved is astronomical. In order to visually re-live 1 single second that has passed, you must look past 3x10^8 meters - roughly the distance of 7 times around Earth. Such is the value of a single second.

Now, to bridge the gap of one year, that distance moves to 9.46x10^15 meters - enough to travel from Earth to Sun 65,743 times.

Is it any wonder couples with an age gap sometimes have a hard time communicating? To be so far apart as to render the term long distance relationship inadequate.

~ Random thoughts after reading "The Speed of Dark" by Elizabeth Moon

Writing Advice: Kurt Vonnegut

Kurt Vonnegut recently died. A notable author in the literary world, he has this to say about writing:

1. Use the time of a total stranger in such a way that he or she will not feel the time was wasted.
2. Give the reader at least one character he or she can root for.
3. Every character should want something, even if it is only a glass of water.
4. Every sentence must do one of two things -- reveal character or advance the action.
5. Start as close to the end as possible.
6. Be a sadist. No matter how sweet and innocent your leading characters, make awful things happen to them -- in order that the reader may see what they are made of.
7. Write to please just one person. If you open a window and make love to the world, so to speak, your story will get pneumonia.
8. Give your readers as much information as possible as soon as possible. To heck with suspense. Readers should have such complete understanding of what is going on, where and why, that they could finish the story themselves, should cockroaches eat the last few pages.

Those words are the extend of my knowledge regarding the man. I found his words useful and I hope you find some good use for the advice too.

p.s. If you want to know more about the man. Here are some more of his own words, spoken at 82. Enjoy.

Far Away

Pride and Prejudice has never been my favorite book. Though my valiant English teacher from long ago tried very hard to bring forth light and wisdom of classical literature to the barbarian that is me, she did not succeed. My love went to the science fiction, the space opera, and the fantasy. However, I thought this song compliments Pride and Prejudice very nicely. Together they inspired a desire in me to reread Pride and Prejudice. My English teacher would be proud, perhaps I am not a complete lost cause - just someone far away looking for his way home.

For some reason this song made me thought of Carol. I miss you. Hope you are doing well.

Glimpse

If you don't understand the video don't worry about it. It represents a world that you do not live in. Enjoy the music. It is now my favorite song.