OSC Alert!

Though it contains sections hinting at a lead-in to one, I promise this post is in no way a political (or other issue-related) rant. Rather I intend to promote a book while avoiding all actual discussion of any issues except those related to whether I like the little bit I have so far read and intend to read the rest of it.

I've never made it a secret that I'm a huge fan of Orson Scott Card. His newest book, Empire, will be released in the United States on November 28th of this year. The first five chapters are available online, and of course, upon discovering this, I promptly read through them. Despite the enourmous love I harbor for all things OSC has ever written (OK, not all; I have avoided reading most of his specifically Mormon works), the first two chapters made me nervous. The book is a "political thriller," something that first of all sounds like exactly what every other person is writing at the moment, all of those really popular, best seller listing, advertised on the radio books that everyone is talking about except people like me who role our eyes and wait for the next relatively-speaking unknown science fiction work to be published. Or even those other people who shove these new books aside to read the old classics. With no actual hostility intended to those who scour the best-seller listings to decide what to read, most of those simply aren't my style. Second of all, if I may proceed back to my original point, I've become so tired of arguing my own point of view against everyone else who doesn't agree with me that most of the current political issues, including that of our war, send me running for cover lest I become annoyed and frusterated at yet one my person telling me exactly how right they are, how stupid I am, and with whom I am unable to even discuss because I will never manage to meet them in my life.

I hope I haven't lost anyone thus far, because I'd really hate to turn anyone away from reading anything by OSC. As stated, the first two chapters had me actually nervous, wondering whether my beloved author could have written something which I would actually be forced not to like, and just waiting for the sentance or two that would have me frusteratedly leaving the webpage rather than spend my free time upsetting myself. I needn't have worried; it never came. It took until the last couple lines of the second chapter - not because everthing before was badly written, by any means, but because of the topic itself - to provide a hook I was willing to bite. The third, fourth, and fifth chapters were all brilliant. Another important point, particularly for me, is that this is OSC writing, and so even though a political thriller will necessarily have political material in it, it is told from a conservative point of view. While I may not entirely agree with everything, having made it through the first three chapters and then the first five, I will no longer hold any worry about coming across something that makes me want to throw the book. Instead, I expect another novel of brilliant thinking and writing, and anxiously await the book's release.

He's also proved in previous books that he has a good military mind and historical background, and understands how large groups of people work as well as individuals. I'm sure enough that he can sucessfully pull this off that I intend on having the book as soon as it comes out - whether I decide in early November to reserve a copy somewhere, or simply hit the bookstores as soon as possible on or after November 28th.

The Philotic Web has a short article/interview with OSC about Empire, for anyone interested in reading some of the author's own thoughts.

Those Poor Plutonians

So many cute friendly aliens have now been left without a planet. Do you think they feel discriminated against, being told they only live on a dwarf planet instead of a regular one? We'll have to be careful, once man is consistantly and personally moving out that far, not to treat them as lesser beings due to their planetary status, and to make sure they are properly protected (and represented!) within interplanetary laws. Only we can't call it interplanetary law - I imagine, due to this new developement, such a term would be far from politically correct.

All my astronomy books are now completely out of date. I'm sure a couple star charts are okay, and with luck my telescope has survived, but whole stacks of books are going to become useless. On second thought, I wonder whether the local bookstores will be prepared, and quickly placing all the old books on sales from which I could happily collect.. or whether, unprepared, I could manage to write an astronomy book of my own proudly discluding Pluto from the main planetary list, and find myself published simply because no one else has got so far. OK, granted, the former option seems a lot more likely.

We will need a new way to help children memorize the planets, however; My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Up Nine Planets will no longer cut it. Anyone else in favor of My Very Excellent Mother Just Served Us Noodles?

Safe in Texas

For all those interested, I arrived safe and sound in Austin a week and a day ago. The trip was uneventful, but I will note that Missouri was full of mosquitoes, Arkansas is still a beautiful state, and the drive down through northeast TX looks much nicer by daylight and when not worried about showing up at midnight.

Since being in Austin, I have been treated not only to hours of family companionship but also to a brilliant live musical. I managed a seat in the third row back (or was it the fourth?), got autographs from all the actors (and the director!), was invited to spend the rest of the evening with the cast, was treated to a free and delicious dinner before the show, and was even invited to the dress rehearsal the previous evening in order to join the technical crew and film the performance. The fact that the particular film was not used when putting together the final product is irrelevant.

In case anyone was unaware, Texas is hot. Duct tape melts in cars, as do the colorful tops of thumbtacks, and laminating on books will bubble. Luckily air conditioning exists inside (there is a similar thing outside, called nighttime) and I have been safely and happily cool since arriving with the exception of venturing into cars.

I finally watched Hero, and the only review I am immediately going to give is in saying that I haven't had time to think about it yet and I certainly hadn't digested it within a night after watching it. Though I may not have spent too much of that night actually thinking about it either. I have also been introduced to Good Eats, and (with apologies to any fans out there) was not terribly impressed. Granted, it was funny, but as far as cooking goes I really care that little. The chances of me taking time to make my own chocolate sauce (or store eggs on their side, or attempt to perfectly cut and cook cabbage) are so slight as to be non-existent, unless after getting my own apartment I need to cook a particularly special meal for anyone, so the practical benefit of the show was lacking. The amusement gained from it was not constant enough to be worth the amount of time spent watching a guy cut meat (or other cooking related action). The companionship value of watching it with other people, however, was and continues to be worth the half hour. Someday, perhaps, these ancient memories of half-absorbed cooking knowledge will return to me in time of need.

Who Could Imagine I'd Be Wandering So

I'm off - Texas, here I come. First stop, Austin, with any luck around noon on Tuesday.

From now until early September, posts may be few and far(ther) between. I'll try to update when I can with continued self-amusing observations or, at the very least, and assurance that I did in fact arrive safely and do, in fact, still exist.

I'd hate to just go *poof* after all.

ISS Shuttle Schedule

A quick article about the upcoming shuttle launch, scheduled for August 27, and those scheduled to follow. There is an extrememly undetailed list of what each shuttle will be carrying as far as parks for the International Space Station and what the schedule of work is. They've got a busy schedule for the next few years, but if all goes well, the ISS will be complete by 2010.

Which is good, because then when the world is destroyed in 2012, we can send a select handful of people to hide there. Unless it's the real end of the world, in which case I don't imagine hiding in space would be a an idea anyone should embrace, or very useful, at that.

..Whaaaaaat? It's on the Mayan calendar!

A Muddy Outing

My Yesterday

(All pictures taken at Hoffmaster State Park, in MI, on Lake Michigan.)

How's Life in the Pond?

The Beginning of a Long Journey

Russia's space agency is putting together a simulated Mars mission. They're accepting applications from volunteers all over the world to be part of the five person team, but you have to be between ages 25-50. It figures - I'm just barely two years too young to apply. Of course, I'm not a doctor, engineer, or anyone with any other special qualifications, so probably wouldn't have made it anyway, but you can bet I'd have tried.

I suppose it isn't so bad after all; they aren't actually leaving the planet. And once they've had time to run through the simulation and begin planning a real trip, I'll both be old enough and have had time to gain a few more skills.

I just have to decide whether to focus on computers or biology. I could always make an attempt at physics, too.

Aww, What a Cute Kitty

There's a cat parasite that apparently can cause strange personality changes in people.

Now we know the real difference between cat people and dog people.

What would happen if we isolated a handful of people - a couple thousand maybe - on some random planet, overran it with cats, and came back in a few centuries? I wonder whether it would be similar to what happened on Path in Card's Xenocide.

Not that I'm advocating doing so. Just a thought.

Finding Virtue in Popular Vice

The article No Regrets: Pick Play Over Work discusses a phenomenon many people are familiar with, either through personal experience or others' stories. Many people are familiar with the idea of the aging person who suddenly regrets all the time they spent at work instead of doing they would have enjoyed more. Right off the bat I can come up with a list of songs whose narrators suddenly realize they have better things to do with their life.

The author is correct when she talks about having a necessary balance between work and play, but I strongly object to what seems to be her definition of virtue and vice. By the time I reached the statement saying that "People tend to overemphasize virtue at the expense of vice," I realized what the problem seemed to be. "Virtue" is what's going to put you ahead in life, so to speak; going to work, making money, getting better jobs, putting all these things before your own desires; hard work, dedication, self-restraint. "Vice" is anything that isn't going to put you ahead; giving in to the desire to do something relaxing, take an afternoon off, go for a walk; not restraining yourself from doing anything that has no higher purpose.

I can't imagine everyone who ends up regretting all they time they spent denying themselves for their jobs, their health, or whatever else seemed so important, at the expense of time spent with family, an afternoon reading a book, or eating an ice cream cone every once in a while, are really regretting acting virtuously. What they're regretting, I would guess, is the lack of balance. They're finally seeing that there is something good and worthwhile in the activities they ignored. It's true that to spend all one's time avoiding work and to act only for the moment, only aiming for what is pleasurable, is a vice to be avoided. Virtue is found in the balance. In not going to either extreme, but instead understanding what the proper balance is, and neither indulging too much nor restricting oneself too much. The author of this article, and probably many other people, are coming to the correct idea - if we miss the balance by restricting ourselves from doing anything, we'll regret it - without understanding that sometimes the restriction is a bad thing, and should be avoided not only because we will regret it later in life.. but because in avoiding complete restriction, we can actually find the proper balance. We can find the virtue.

Big Fans Go Begging

At least us little people aren't the only ones speculating about the events of the seventh and final Harry Potter book. Of course, certain famous authors were actually in a situation in which they could beg her not to bring about a certain turn of events. Don't worry, no particular spoilers, just idle rambling on the position of deaths in fiction.

I wish it had been more of an actual in depth discussion instead of idle chatter. About fictional deaths, I mean, not about the Harry Potter books.. though I'd take that, too. Though I figured out years ago that sometimes characters get themselves into situations where Death or other unlikeable outcomes are the only appropriate response. When the character is telling you, "look, it's my time now, got that?" manipulating them out of it just doesn't quite feel right.

.... Yes. The characters do talk to me on occasion.