In Cryptonomicon, Neal Stephenson employs an effective tactic for shifting perspective from third-person to first-person narrative. As he has a character observe the world, he will shift from description to explanation. He uses this primarily with the Waterhouse characters, mathematicians whom I suspect most Stephenson fans readily identify with. Typically, a description […]
Monthly Archives: September 2003
More about water
September 14, 2003 – 12:00 am
I write this sitting in the (a?) Phoenix airport, where America West has seen fit to deposit me en route to Seattle. Ah, the glorious efficiencies of the hub-and-spoke model.
Flying over Arizona, I couldn’t help but notice a few things. Almost all of the surface water is contained in manmade structures, mostly canals […]
Water
September 13, 2003 – 12:00 am
Moments ago I watched a neighbor grabbing a case of bottled water from his trunk (of his Volkswagen, to take up to his loft living the stereotype). I thought idly to myself that I prefer the filtered water from my fridge to most bottled, but I do like having a bottle to carry about. […]
Speaking of water—-
September 13, 2003 – 12:00 am
Heather has wondered what’s so bad about NICOwater? Well, nothing, really.
Fun facts:
NICOWater contains 4mg of nicotine per half liter
Nicotine emulates acetylcholine, a NT that appears early in several pathways, including the endorphin-induced runner’s high, and raises glutamate levels, which are suspected to be involved in the “writing” of memories. When I first […]
The bazaar needs fewer experts
September 11, 2003 – 12:00 am
Novices require simplicity. Microsoft has to dumb down its tools for the novice developer, but the Java community often seems to feel no such compulsion. I’m watching some coworkers struggle to become fluent in Struts. They are rightfully offended by how often they have to learn some little workaround rather than the […]
The manufacture of history
September 11, 2003 – 12:00 am
Great quote from a great article: “[Richard Drew] is no stranger to history; he knows it is something that happens later. In the actual moment history is made, it is usually made in terror and confusion, and so it is up to people like him?paid witnesses?to have the presence of mind to attend to its […]
Fulfillment
September 7, 2003 – 12:00 am
The plan I set in motion in spring when I decided to commit to a lofty goal has reached its conclusion. I finished with extra distance the Missouri MS 150, meanwhile raising more than the average $500 in sponsorships. Thanks to good weather (sunny but highs below 85 F), but no thanks to […]
Impending doom
September 5, 2003 – 12:00 am
I leave tonight for the MS150, with a team of 10 (including Ryan, Heather, and Bryce). A number of us intend to do century (100 mile) rides both days, so wish us luck. Big props to those who have sponsored us and the fight against MS, and there’s still time for the rest […]
Traffic is still dumb
September 4, 2003 – 12:00 am
Most St. Louisians aren’t aware of it, but MoDOT is pretty far along with the local Intelligent Transportation System. Of particular note are the traffic cameras.
Masochism
September 3, 2003 – 12:00 am
Heather seems to be convinced that road racing is dangerous. I
have no idea what gave
her that idea.
