Author: Chris

David Foster Wallace on the Humdrum of Life

learning how to think really means learning how to exercise some control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience. Because if you cannot exercise this kind of choice in adult life, you will be totally hosed. Think of the old cliché about “the mind being an excellent servant but a terrible master

This commencement speech from David Foster Wallace1 is really interesting.  The whole thing is worth a read, with many sections that made me let out an audible, “Ooof”. Especially the part about the boring routine of adult life.

As someone who’s many years from graduation, the whole thing really does ring true and is solid advice for anyone, not just graduates. Although, I assume a younger person would gain more value than those who are older.

I still struggle with the choice of where to put my mind.

(via kottke.org)

Ethan Hawke on Good Sci-Fi

And for that matter, look at the moral conundrums that GATTACA asked – which are right here. To what extent do we really want to homogenize ourselves, when it’s our uniqueness that makes us special – when so many of us, when given the option, would eliminate that? For example – if they can discover dyslexia in the embryo, and get rid of it, many people would choose to do that. And we’d lose Albert Einstein, John Lennon, and my daughter.

Actor Ethan Hawke always puts on a good AMA.

Shubhro Saha on why software engineers should write

Software engineers should write because our craft is increasingly collaborative. Open source projects invite worldwide participation, while industry products often require an army of engineers. (Google Maps has 1100 full-time employees!) Good writing– whether it be in a GitHub comment, code review, or technical documentation– facilitates clear, concise communication for projects like these to move forward.

I’m going to take Shubhro’s essay on why software engineers (i.e. programmers, developers) should write one step further. Everyone should write about their craft. Database administrators, project managers, accountants, plumbers, Wal-Mart door greeter, you name it.

Writing is thinking. Writing helps you to understand your work better. To take a step back from the hustle and bustle and reflect on what you’re doing. You ask different questions about your craft when you take a moment to think and put it down in words for others to read.

O Human Star

After Nimona ended I’ve been looking for another interesting web comics series. I’m rather picky. The art has to be solid and consistent and the writing the same. I love sci-fi elements and anything that approaches the genre with a fresh voice. I think I’ve found my next obsession – O Human Star by Blue Delliquanti.

From the description on the recently successful Kickstarter,

Alastair Sterling was the inventor who sparked the robot revolution, and because of his sudden death he didn’t see any of it. That is, until he unexpectedly wakes up in a robot body that matches his old one exactly and finds out that 16 years have passed. Brendan Pinsky, Al’s former research partner and secret lover, now runs one of the largest robot manufacturers in the country. And Brendan’s dearest project, Sulla – a highly advanced robot with a mind copied from Al’s – is now living as a teenage girl.

Whaaaat? It’s as amazing as it sounds. Questions about gender, identity, mystery, what it means to be human – all great hooks for a story on their own – wrapped up into one beautifully written and illustrated story.

My only gripe is that I binged on every page and am now caught up. I have to wait to read the rest! Join me and be sure to start at the beginning!2