Learning Curve

2010.01.11-01I like space ships. Out there, in the depths of space (noob system Ryddinjorn), no one can hear you scream. But they can watch you take a picture of a mining colony as you learn the basics of ship control. But, I hear you say, you’re such an awesome podder! You took to it like a fish to water! How could you possibly need training? Well, boys and girls, there’s quite the space piloting learning curve when welded into a life-support pod that can download your consciousness and send it to a waiting clone in the event of your death. Quite the curve, indeed.

Thoughts from the Day Job

Brought some delicious Traverse City cherry coffee to work today. Got it at Horrocks, ground it in Nikki’s white elephant gift from the Cramptons (which ended up being mine, because she spoils me something fierce), brewed it in my coffee maker, and brought it to work in my white elephant gift from the Cramptons. Did I mention that it’s damn tasty?

I spent most of the Micro Center gift card that I got from my parents. Let’s see if I can tick off the ways in which I spoiled myself:

Still have a bit left on the card, for future miscellaneous geekery.

Horoscope for 23 Dec 2009:
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): According to astronomer Mark Whittle, the Big Bang began in silence. Soon it crescendoed into a majestic major third chord 50 octaves below middle A. Then it transformed, over the course of a million years, into a wistful minor third chord. In my vision of the first two-thirds of 2010, the music of your life will have a similar pattern: It begins with silence. Next, it progresses into a lush major feel, with spirited and complex contrapuntal themes. Then in June, it evolves into a dreamy, contemplative phase. By late September, however — unlike the Big Bang — you will move into a third act, in which the music of your life returns to the lively mood it had at the start, only now with the gravitas that the reflective phase has instilled.

Horoscope for 30 Dec 2009:
TAURUS (April 20-May 20): My Taurus friend Jill had a dream in which she stopped by a blackberry bush on a summer afternoon. All the ripe blackberries were too high on the bush, just out of reach. She stood there gazing longingly up at them for a long time. Finally three people in medieval garb came by, as if having stepped out of a deck of Tarot cards — a warrior, magician, and priestess. “I really want those blackberries,” she said to them. “Could you give me a boost?” They stooped down to make their backs available. She climbed up, but still couldn’t reach the berries. “Oh well, we tried,” she said. “Follow us,” said the priestess, and she did. After a while they came to another bush whose blackberries were lower and easy to pluck. Then the four shared the feast. After analyzing the omens for 2010, Taurus, I’ve come to the conclusion that Jill’s dream is an apt metaphor for your best possible destiny in 2010.