May 2021
Review of the Magicians: (Book 1) by Lev Grossman
I just finished reading The Magicians: (Book 1) by Lev Grossman.📚
Quentin is at the top of his class but is still unhappy with his life. One day he gets an offer that will change his life completely.
The smell of freshly cut grass makes me happy and content.
I’m trying to write an actual letter, and it is not easy OO And as it the receiver is a small child, it makes it more complicated.
Watched this movie yesterday, I liked it very much. At times a bit over the top but in the sum a very likeable movie. And as I like the music of the Boss did certainly help as well ;-)
After discovering the music of Bruce Springsteen, a Pakistani British teenager begins to understand his identity, his culture and the world at large.
Just back from a walk. The last one was way too long ago, as the weather was not inviting in the previous few weeks or I was spending my time otherwise.
Review of Heaven's River by Dennis E. Taylor
I finished reading Heaven’s River by Dennis E. Taylor.📚
In this book, Bob starts searching for Bender once again. He set out for the stars more than a hundred years ago.
I took some time to start my first index in my current notebook. I already see a space issue for some letters oO.
I just started reading How to Take Smart Notes: One Simple Technique to Boost Writing, Learning and Thinking – for Students, Academics and Nonfiction Book Writers by Sönke Ahrens.📚
@V_ let us know how it goes!
by JeremyWxBaker on
@JeremyWxBaker sure as soon as I've read it. That reminds me that I'm a bit behind with my book reviews right now.
by V_ on
@JeremyWxBaker so I finally written my review for the book. You can find it here: vmac.ch/posts/202...
by V_ on
The index topic is trailing me this week :-)
A writer has to have a system for going back through old work and finding ideas.
⤑ Indexing, filing systems, and the art of finding what you have - Austin Kleon.
Another article I found – its actually better then the first.
An index is not an exhaustive list of every possible word you might relate to a page in your notebook. Don't hesitate to add useful keywords to the index, but only add ones you honestly think you might use to get back to that point.
Finally, and most importantly, even after those rules, an index is not something that gets created only according to rules that are set in stone
It contains a lot of pratical advice on actually writing an index.
For a 240-page journal-size notebook, I use five pages. For an 80-page notebook, I use two.
Whenever you add some notes to your system, whether by writing them, copying them, filing them, or punching and binding them, add some entries to the index. Good keywords
- are not the title of the page (we're not going for a list of contents).
- do not apply to very many other notes (a keyword that has 15 page numbers is annoying since you have to look up many of them).
- are things you would think of when trying to find these notes (that seems obvious, but sometimes I find myself putting keywords in the index that are related to the notes but I couldn't possibly expect myself to use when looking something up).
- if in doubt, should be the first things you think of, because those are probably the same keywords you'll think of when you're looking for it again.
⤑ The Art of Personal Indexing: The Complete Guide to Indexing Your Paper Notes.
Related to my post from yesterday I started searching for some more input on note taking and index generation.
An alternate index is no more than something you list out in the back of the book you’re reading, that you create and update as you read through the book.
Your alternate index should focus on the topics, themes, and ideas that most resonate with you.
⤑ How To Build Your Own Index of Notes and Ideas When Reading Books — The Focus Course.
I was learning much about TCP and TSL at work in the last week. Or better said, I realized how much I don’t know any more or have forgotten in the meantime.
I was looking for a good book on the topic but only found 1000 page books which are ten years old so far :-)
Looking out of my office window: The birds a soaring low and high, hunting for food.
On the search for a note condensing process
A year ago, I started carrying a small notebook with me to write down anything I find essential during the day. A habit that works very well, and I’m amazed at how many ideas I have during the day, which is otherwise would forget. But after I’ve written the notes into the book, I don’t do anything with them. I initially planned to regularly scan the written pages of the notebook to digitized the notes.
Castle Lenzburg
My least favorite DIY task — painting.
Review of Five Spellbinding Laws of International Larceny (The Tale of Bryant Adams Book 4) by Megan O'Russell
I just finished reading Five Spellbinding Laws of International Larceny (The Tale of Bryant Adams Book 4) by Megan O’Russell.📚
A journey to Grece is the plan for this book. Unfortunately, our group gets a non-magical minder.
Finally made a template for my weekly work log. To fill out at the start of each week. It helps me keep track of my weeks and how they went.
More flowers.
A green oase in the city.
Review of Three Simple Steps to Wizarding Domination (The Tale of Bryant Adams Book 3) by Megan O'Russell
I finished reading Three Simple Steps to Wizarding Domination (The Tale of Bryant Adams Book 3) by Megan O’Russell.📚
It looks like one week on standby was too much for my work laptop. Every app is frozen and needs to be force quitted before it can make a restart – a good start of the week :-(
I just started reading The Magicians: (Book 1) by Lev Grossman.📚
Yesterday I found Logisim-evolution, a free digital circuit simulator. Just the tool I need for my CPU project. Now I’m in the progress of designing my circuit in it. Looks good so far. Found it via this youtube video: Intro to Logisim Evolution, the free and oh-so-good logic simulation software.
Back in the shop. And I love my shop furniture on casters. The best solution for a small shop.
The moment when you finished a good book series and don’t know which book to read next oo
Nothing on my to be read list interest me right now :-(
@V_ What genres do you enjoy? Maybe I can make a few recommendations.
by josephaleo on
@V_ Try subscribing to Scribd or Bookmate. You have millions of books there for a monthly fee to read. Enjoy.
by mikiejones on
@josephaleo I mostly read Fantasy, Science Fiction, and YA. Magic Schools are always a plus or alternate history / parallel world.
by V_ on
@mikiejones not sure if I want to go on the subscription train for books. Currently, my problem is more that I need to find a new series to start. It's always work to enter a new world and get to know new personalities.
by V_ on
@V_ I think the best YA magic school book is Ursula K. Le Guin’s A Wizard of EarthSea. I think I re-read it every decade. It always holds up and I always find something new in it. Remarkable for such a thin novel. Charles Stross’s Merchant Princes series is a neat take on a classic trope. It’s got magic and plenty of alternate histories. I’m a fan of Bruce Sterling and I also just re-read his Heavy Weather novel. It was published n 1994 and it’s remarkably prescient (a wrecked climate, rampant viruses, crypto currencies, etc). It’s also showing its age but a great read. I’m also a fan of the late Iain M. Banks, especially his Culture novels. The Player of Games is my favorite in the series. Another author I love is Neal Stephenson and I recommend Cryptonomicon, The Diamond Age, and Snow Crash. I also think you’d adore The Rise and Fall of D.O.D.O., which he co-wrote with Nicole Galland. Greg Egan writes the hardest of hard scifi and Diaspora is Egan at his mind blowing best. Finally, if you want to try some grimdark, I highly recommend Thomas Ligotti’s My Work Is Not Yet Done. That should get you through the summer :-)
by josephaleo on
@V_ I’m sure goodreads.com will have something for you :)
by mikiejones on
@V_ That's when I open up my Instapaper backlog, sort by oldest first, and catch up on all that I’ve put off reading.
by patrickrhone on
@V_ what are you into ??
by peaceofmymadness on
@V_ I understand!
by kitt on
@V_ have you read Patrick Rothfuss - The Name of the Wind and The Wise Man’s Fear? Two of my favourite fantasy books. Magic, darkness, light, love, humour, intelligence, mystery, incredible moments of music and life. And a magic college too (it features prominently and is a super exciting place)😄I’ve read them twice over (I never do that) and got them on Audible as there’s a fantastic narrator.
by hollyhoneychurch on
@josephaleo I love the Merchant Princes series, still waiting for the last issue of the follow up series. And I think I've read nearly everything from Mr. Stross. I still have some issues open vom Urusla Le Guin, but that is usasually quite heavy to read – not something I want to do right now ;-) I will checkout the other books/authors you've mentioned.
by V_ on
@hollyhoneychurch I' loved that book! But given up hope that I will ever by able to read the conlusion of that series :-) And this series is certainly an example of a magic school done right.
by V_ on
@V_ agreed 😊 don’t give up hope. It’ll come. Another fav fantasy - though not about a magic school - Kings of the Wyld. I found it a lot of fun. And different - it’s about grown ups for a start ha! I like that it’s a stand alone book though Nicholas Eames has written a follow up around some of the same characters. It became super real with the audible narrator doing many a fun voice. I’m like you, into all the magic stuff (loved Harry Potter). Also had great fun (and tears) reading Pullman’s His Dark Materials. His Sally Lockhart books were also incredibly gripping. Then Philip Reeve’s Mortal Engine series plus Fever Crumb series kept me busy for a while. I had a blast reading all of them.
by hollyhoneychurch on
@V_ did you read The Magicians? I haven’t but I have watched all the series on Prime and found it excitingly hilarious. Amazing actors and screenplay. Brutal in places, giggles in other bits. Super creative.
by hollyhoneychurch on
@hollyhoneychurch I started follow up series of His Dark Materials (as I liked that) but his writing style is quite hard to read for me so I have not yet read the second issue it's still on the to be read list. Mortal Engine should be right up my alley (steampunk / airships) but I've lost interest after I think the third book – its sad – I like the world but not the protagonists. And HP I'm at the moment on another "reread" (via audiobook), I've lost count how many times I've read or listened that series.
by V_ on
@V_ which version? have you tried Stephen Fry? Books are so personal and subjective. I totally understand.
by hollyhoneychurch on
@hollyhoneychurch I'm not sure if I follow, Stephen Fry is the narator of the Harry Potter audiobook (and I like him very much) does he also write books?
by V_ on
@V_ if you’re into sci-fi and fantasy etc you’ve read it already, but have you read Stephen Kings Dark Tower series? I can highly recommend it if not.
by AndyNicolaides on
@V_ is not for everyone and has a bit of a bumpy start but The Lies of Locke Lamora is book one of an unfinished series. It’s sort of an alternate world renaissance era Venice Italy. It gets dark and is chock full of adventure and very colorful language.
by cm on
@AndyNicolaides I've stumbled over it multiple times but I have not yet read it and I've forgotten about it again. I put the sample chapter of the first issue in my Kindle app so it does not happen again.
by V_ on
@V_ there's another version of the Harry Potter series - the one usually available in the US. And yes, Stephen Fry also writes novels : )
by hollyhoneychurch on
@hollyhoneychurch thanks for the clarification! Looks like I'm lucky I have all books narrated by Stephen Fry.
by V_ on
@V_ yes!
by hollyhoneychurch on
Virtual forests. My attempt at procedurally generated content.
Finally added a second Ethernet connection for my desk. I don’t know why I installed only one, to begin with.
@V_ Ah, the “joys” of cabling, twisted pairs, and debates between T-568 A or B. (No, not really) 😂
by pimoore on
@pimoore :-D I actually find it kind of relaxing. And it is amazing how fast I jump back into it consindering that it is more than ten years since I did it regulary. And I never did think to much about A or B as long as everybody on the team uses the same I don't mind :-D
by V_ on
I’m frustrated — set up my Rasberry with Hass.io on Saturday with all my sensors. And now everything stopped working. I made a fresh install (on a new SD-card) today, and after only 1 hour of uptime, it froze again. It looks like there is no solution for this issue at the moment.
I just started reading Heaven’s River by Dennis E. Taylor.📚
Review of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter 6)
I just finished listening Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter 6) by J.K. Rowling.📚
Uncertainty and suspicion fill the wizarding world after He, who must not be named, is once again out in the open. Harry gets a visit from an injured Dumbeldore, and he does not disclose what has happened to his wand hand. The new school year starts with a lot of secrets already.
Pillar holding up the roof of the wood stack.
Another try at getting Home Assistant running.
He stared wordlessly at the googles in my outstretched hand. “You will need them” —” Why?” That is the only response I get before he turns around and runs toward the storm.
I just started reading Five Spellbinding Laws of International Larceny (The Tale of Bryant Adams Book 4) by Megan O’Russell.📚
Flowers (not Tulips). I love their colors.
Black square
I think I found where part of my Harddrive space is vanishing. I found out that my Developer folder is a whopping 40GB – I cleaned it out a bit yesterday, and now I have some more free space again.
An ad I would love to see!
The ad would simply display some of the information collected about the viewer which the advertising platform uses. Facebook was not into that idea.
I’ve watched Yellow Rose the other day and was positively surprised about this movie. It is has a pretty slow build-up. The story hooked me from the beginning.
I especially liked the actress of the main character. And I only realized towards the end why I had the feeling I know her. It was Lea_Salonga.
I think I need to install a bigger SSD into my iMac - or buy a new one. I constantly run out of space on it. Or perhaps just wipe it clean and start over fresh.
Trying something new with my hair.
The instructions are clear :-) The message is: Dad write neatly.
@V_ it is pleasant… but then makes my nose stuff up. I seem to be allergic to grass or grass seed.
by dejus on
@dejus I hope it is not to bad – I'm really lucky in this sector that I don't have issues with it.
by V_ on