No, not the movie.
Fellowship comes through avatars. Meta has legless avatars.
We momentarily become that character; fellowship is temporary.
We conceal ourselves behind those cartoons.
Author: J.C. Cross
Digging
Evaluating oneself continually is not promoting health. I have to refer this back to the scripture “do not depend on your own understanding.” For me, this came into my spirit as to self-reflection. “The over-examined life is not worth living.”
I’ve found that there is great wisdom in this text. Trying to determine why I feel a certain way or going back in personal memory to repeatedly ask for forgiveness does not promote tranquility of mind.
At this point, I will refer to medicine, but also “mindfulness” may be helpful here. I never looked at that as a serious practice; just some hokum.
Going Beyond Old Stories
Is it possible to create fiction without touching on Jung’s or Campbell’s types?
Trying to break the stereotype should not be the goal. Story is challenging because you are making new spins on old stories.
For the longest time I thought being unique and new would help in writing stories. J.K. Rowling borrows from a lot of classical and British forms. Yet she is one of the most successful writers on the planet. Even science fiction borrows from forms.
Along with this is another question I have: Is it possible to write great fiction without having a storytelling spirit at birth?
I think reading is just as important as writing a lot. You learn by both.
Can’t go back to visiting my professor at his book-hidden desk. Can’t rush it either.
Writing takes time. Writing takes skill that can be built.
Rain
Little parka, water on eyelashes, rotted wood fence, dappled leaves.
The smell of rain on concrete. Captured scents. I feel it.
Incompatible with flesh
The spirit is incompatible with the flesh. New wine in old wine skins.
It came upon me when I prayed that day some 30 years ago, something from above, something that could not be uttered. Its tingling sensation combined with a shiver. Voluntary versus involuntary. I had no control.
I can’t understand that feeling that fell on me, part flesh, part mind. Not graspable. Something heavenly, something strange and awesome.
The Milky Way rumbles.
I saw Apollo cross the sky
Brilliant light, golden hair.
Across the firmament,
His chariot ripped.
Time slowed down,
Heaven surround.
He carried the star round the flame.
His lance shone its light.
Like pure silver,
The confluence of the rivers,
On his feet touched by divine.
He has fire.
FB
My generation’s access to social media hinges on Facebook. I used to say “naw we can’t be classified.” But no. There are some things true about each generation. Mine is one already with kids and perhaps jobs, and other responsibilities. We don’t have a lot of access to contemporary music, cocktails, nights out.
FB provides an outlet for us as we cope with daily responsibilities. We speak with friends and “friends” on FB. I used to say some things that were “important,” but learned that is not in my bailiwick–as if it ever was. I have learned to be content with things I can speak about.
Illusion and Ignorance
Can’t remember exactly what I was thinking when I wrote this one down:
From illusion to understanding. From ignorance to knowledge.
These are obviously about progression.
We can live under illusion or progress to understanding. Touching a real life. From thinking we know to actually knowing is progressing as well, but knowledge is not the end; Wisdom is, the application of knowledge.
December and last month I read Proverbs, asking God to show me the wisdom everyone says Proverbs has. It is a lot of warnings about an adulterous woman. But I underlined the parts about it where man was being warned about his inclinations.
Now, I am on to the 12.
Drowning
My brother saved my life twice. I can’t remember either my drowning at age 3 or car crash at 18. It’s said that we have a tendency to remember the negative–but I can’t remember either of those events. Something so traumatic shouldn’t I?
This idea of a virtual life is tenacious. Smelling fire…
AI asking questions
Is it true that thought and consciousness will inevitably arise from the network? It seems inevitable that someone would ask this, and someone dishonest could report or make it appear that AI were thinking. Of course, the company evangelists and marketers are out there misleading.
In my opinion, the nature of AI thought does not come close to organic thought. They are completely different types of things.
But does this beg the question, can humans create an AI like organic thought, or must it be something only electrical because we cannot create a true AI modeled after humans? Our mind is a black box, we are born not knowing ourselves. Can we create something like us?
The most recent Boston Dynamics robots are scary impressive. But doesn’t this just evince that we can create something advanced, but not conscious?
Amateur thoughts, but just thinking.
What’s in an IP number?
IP numbers are ubiquitous. Most of us have more than one at all times.
They’re a blessing and a tracking and monitoring vector. Through them a cyber attack can happen or a phone can be found. Marvelous. Perilous.
The IP lights up the world. Things not alive, like stone, and things alive, both come to life, illuminated by electricity.
Do we really need…
radicals to fight radicalism?
The Republicans and Democrats have crappy candidates. In a nation of 380 million we come up with these people.
Prudence
Dear Prudence…
A phrase that was quoted by Twain and others is “better to be thought a fool and keep your mouth shut than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.” (paraphrase)
In my personal life, this is a recent discovery 8^). I mean, I have encountered in debate with a friend, to wait and see what he says first.
I am also learning about how this relates to having proper boundaries. If you don’t keep your distance, you can end up full of emotion and lacking logic. Thinking meta.
Observing others goes hand-in-hand with respect for them as well. This leads to respective debate.
Signing back in
Since the camp ended, just writing some cyber stuff and helping with some marketing on the site (SEO/email lists/designing front page slider with eBook).
Had my uncle and aunt and sister and her boyfriend over for TG. Sis and boyfriend will be here again on Monday for a Christmas dinner with us.
In other news, Jax was neutered! Poor guy. His stiches were a little open though. Taking him for a checkup on Tuesday. Prayers for him.
Hibernating ends
Coding camp finished. Six months!
I was very impressed at the camp content. It was so complete. It gave a great starting point to dive more into it. However, I was behind the last few weeks. As I said before, if you take one of these, make sure you don’t leave things undone more than one class period. For those in the 3 month course, I can’t imagine how they did it.
Matt Banz from Google was a phenomenal teacher. He was erudite and yet, approachable. So were the TAs, who were always available and led me through it rather than just giving me the answers.
We started with HTML and CSS, then quickly pivoted to JavaScript, the only programming language we used throughout the course. I had no idea what Node was on the server-side. I had never built a server before.
But those weaknesses quickly faded as I learned each week. No vanity needed.
Right now, getting back to writing cyber and figuring out next steps–with development or not?
Coding Camp – Days 63-66
Thanksgiving was 4 days of family, but camp is done! I will have a review of what I learned and my thoughts.
Coding Camp – Day 62, Final Project Day 2
Spent a few hours with the guys building the back-end of our MERN app. Mostly nailing down details about the models, schemas and still some of the interface questions with our front-end brothers. A week and a half and this camp is done!
Coding Camp – Day 61, Final project day 1
So we came up with a meetup app for Dungeons and Dragons players to meet up and play. It’s tentatively called AirDND. I don’t think that will ever fly in the real world, but it sounds fun.
It uses all the most recent tech in class: MongoDB, Mongoose, React, GraphQL, and Apollo and Express server. It’s tough, but will look good!
Coding Camp – Days 58-60
Finishing MERN and regular class periods tonight! I will have a review of the class after the final project. As I said before, don’t ever go into one of these camps with the misconception that you can catch up if you skip or procrastinate on the challenges.
Fried.
Coding Camp – Day 57
Completed MERN section of class and moving to last section, State.
So three more sessions and then 2 weeks for the last project. 6 months spent well.