Ringworld, some thoughts
Just completed Ringworld last night, and have to say it was a fantastic read. At the end of the book, I clearly found myself just wanting to read more and more of the story. It had a fantastic circlular motion, that obviously plays into the ringworld imagery itself. The images of the planet really pull themselves out of the text. Such fantastic images of the ring wrapping itself through the night sky and the massive 1000 mile high fist of god will always stick with me. I think this classic piece of writting will aid me immensely in the writing of my own such pieces. The last few chapters deal rather brilliantly with species and individuals playing "god". I found this to have such amazing relivance today. Mind this is a rather common theme, stretching back to at least Mary Shelly's Frankenstein. The book is worth the read, it's a classic for a reason.
Some interesting interpretations here:
http://www.childrenwithin.com/ringworld/
Canada Day and The Return to Writing
Been a little while since I've been a posting. Way too much in the way of French class and work. Writing has begun in earnest again. At present I'm tying up some lose ends with Glimpses of Honululu Blue, a short story I began back in 2002 while I was working at the ambassador bridge. I really liked the flow of the work, and the fluidity of the dialogue so I've been working on finishing it. Looks to be doable. Which is surprising after a four year absence from it.
The other piece is entitled Peru Salvagum, a Sci-Fi novel. Two chapters down and a bunch more to go. I've presently turned to Larry Neivin's classic Ringworld for a little sci-fi inspiration. Seems to be working. I am really enjoying his piece. Little less like my first person HST take on the imagined world. Still, it's holding my attention and bring up some great ideas for Peru.
It is Canada day, so I've decided to add a little picture of love from my homeland, strong and free. A shot from the Peace Fountain on the East side of the city of Windsor. I loved going here as a kid, even more and as a teenager and now long for it as an adult. Regardless, Bon Fete a ma pays seulement!
William Carlos Willaims
On a odd night off work this week Emily and I bumped into John on our hunt for ice cream. We ended up spending a significant amount of time (somewhere in the order of 2 hours) shooting the shit at International Coffee Traders. Fantastic rants and tyrates intermingled throughout our entire dialogue. Anyhow, the topic of William Carlos Williams came up, as it often does amound those discussing politicals and the failings of the health care system in Montana. John brought up the poem
This Is Just to Say (For those less familiar with the works of W.C.W, its the one about the plums in the icebox.) This made me stop and read through the anthology of his works I own. I found the following poem, and just realling felt like posting it. As a sports writer and fan as well as a student of literature and history I found it facisinating.
At The Ball Game The crowd at the ball game
is moved uniformly
by a spirit of uselessness
which delights them -
all the exciting detail
of the chase
and the escape, the error
the flash of genius -
all to no end save beauty
the eternal -
so in detail they, the crowd,
are beautiful
for this
to be warned against
saluted and defied -
It is alive, venomous
it smiles grimly
it words cut -
They flashy female with her
mother, gets it -
The Jew gets it straight - it
is deadly, terrifying -
It is the Inquisition, the
Revolution
It is beauty itself
that lives
day by day in them
idly -
This is
the power of their faces
It is summer, it is solstice
the crowd is
cheering, the crowd is laughing
in detail
permanently, seriously
without thought.
William Carlos Williams.
Thoughts on the Red Wings and Netminding
I recently posted this little ditty on the Detroityes website in response to the rantings of Detroit fans about Manny Legace. My personal bias is simple: I support goalies. Typically as the anchor of any franchise, they carry an inordinate amount of weight. Problem with this is that when the team that surrounds them fails to score or play defense they are often left to blame for their teams failure. It's a sick mentality that Detroit media and fans have in regards to their netminders. Here is my tyrate about that:
"
As a lifelong Red Wing fan I can tell you one basic fact of Wings' fans. No matter how horrid a team plays, no matter how many miscues the rest of the players have IT IS ALWAYS THE GOALTENDER'S FAULT. This is regardless of how well they play. If you're going to blame Legace fine, but how many goals did his offense put in for him? You can't expect to win many games in the current NHL if you score just one or two goals. It's just fundamentally sound hockey. Legace is one guy, and extremely high paid group of guys in front him should have down a heck of lot more. Cujo should be proof positive of the Detroit media and fan's mentality of destroying good goaltenders. If Patrick Roy (Who is arguably the best and most influencial goaltender to play the game) had played in the D, and failed to record a cup every year he was there, he undoubted would have been trumpted out of town. Blame for failure for the past two decades has ridden strongly on the backs of those players the Red Wings choose to put in the pipes. Why not go after Shanny or Lidstrom from not tallying critical goals for the team? The Oilers are in the cup final, and in case you haven't noticed, appear to have regrouped as a team after losing Roloson. Take this a point further, Dwayne Roloson? Not exactly the largest name in goaltenders. Hockey is a team sport. It requires everyone on that team to carry the weight of success upon their own shoulders. Manny Legace, Curtis Joseph, and Tim Cheveldae were not and are not horrid starting goaltenders. They are simply scapegoats for the other 20 or so guys that failed their organization and fans in their quest for the cup. "
Evolutionary concerns and dietary issues
For all intents and purposes we have almost wholey relocated to our new quarters. Nestled near the same hilltop occupied by MSU, it is a tiny space but a welcome change. There appears to have been a growing hostility, or perhaps dislike on the part of our previous neighbours. It could all be in perceptions misheld chiefly by Emily and I, but there was at least an aspect of tension in the area. It could stem from the fundamental belief I have that vegetarians despise carnivores. Somewhat twisted individuals, these vegetarians appear to be significantly lower on the food chain. Much of their mental imbalances most likely stem from protein deprievation of the brain. It mainly causes paranonia and loss of common sense. Regardless of my deeply entrenched belief above vegetarians, one thing is obvious. I can tolerate their existence. Well could, if they stopped their twisted form evangelical religion. There often appears among them a significant amount of hatred towards those of the carnivorious persausion. Regardless, as neighbours we belonged to two different camps. There usually appeared some animosity from one the groups towards the other. Let's put it this way we eat meat and vegetables. Ho-hum, its pretty much done.
The rain finally appears to be finished its daily barrage. No worries it brightens up the high alpine semi-arid desert. Been shopping for insurance. Its fun like shopping for toliet covers. Both are suppose to cover your ass and both tend to be slightly overpriced. On that note, long live the Buddha's.
Icedogs Ride Again!!!
Like the famous openning line of Sega Genesis hit video game "Altered Beast" "Rise for your grave." Announced on the ominous day of 6/6/06, the Bozeman Icedogs are back again. According to the Icedog's website (
www.bozemanicedogs.com) the 'Dogs will be joining Helena, Butte, and Billings in the NORPAC hockey league. It was predicted here first. The great northern rockies hockey league is rising up again. No plans for the rink have been announced as of today, nor the team line-up. I believe its junior B hockey, but at least it's hockey!
Eyes on the Prize!
Great Montana Defection Correction
Ok, I recently posted some inaccurate information regarding the Helena Bighorns. While it was discussed that they would be relocated to Taylor, MI it appears the opted to remain in the great mountain state and merge with their Queen City compatriots. This decision was made after both Billings and Bozeman left the NAHL. This of course makes Bozeman look the bigger part of the problem that forced the Great Montana Defection of 2006. The Helena Bighorns revised team will play in the NORPAC hockey league. Perhaps this opens the doors for the Bozeman Blackhawks to play in the same league. The question remains as to where they may play, as the Valley's former ice garden/community centre has been converted into a giant beer fridge. That's solid community planning. Anyhow, here's the link to the Helena Independent's Article about the Bighorns:
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2006/05/25/sports/b01052506_01.txtThe upside to all of this is the sweet jersey for the Queen City Cutthroats. I'm a huge fan. I believe this is the fly fisherman in me. Beware of the angry endangered trout with a hockey stick!
