I got an offer to train in something new at work.
Thank heaven. I was starting to get bored there.
Phew.
Target: 1600 words
Written: 2180 words, novel: Father Lightning
Read: Gregor And The Marks Of Secret, Suzanne Collins
Comics: WildCats v2 16-19
Music: For Those About To Rock, AC/DCI was thinking about Tom Sterner’s note of the conundrum of actual learning versus the grades-based culture of modern education. How if a 2.0 and a 4.0 GPA go up against each other for the same job, the job will go to the 4.0 every time because the 4.0 represents to our product-based society the most potential.
On the other hand, if the 2.0 had focused on learning what they needed to learn, learning to live in the process, but not scoring well, they’d have nothing to show for the fact that they knew more and were better long term learners than the 4.0.
It’s presented as a paradox, but the more I think about it, it doesn’t matter. Maybe it matters to the hiring party, but functionally, having learned to live in the process, the 2.0 is better off in a thousand different ways, including self-sufficiency and quality of life and presence.
Are they really disadvantaged? They actually know how to do things. They know stuff. They are enjoying the process, and that always attracts attention.
I don’t know. I’m not sure it’s all that dire. That’s all I’m saying. Would that we could do away with the grade system in favour of, you know, actual learning, and I think we’d all be better off.
Target: 1500 words
Written: 1287 words, novel: Father Lightning
Read: Against The Fall Of Night, Arthur C. Clarke
Comics: Spartan: Warrior Spirit 2-3, Grifter 4-5
Music: Fixed, Nine Inch NailsYou wake up, things seem like they’re going tickety-boo, and then all of a sudden, it’s three o’clock and you’ve only done distracted things and shit for other people.
And yet it seemed like you had so much time.
If that ain’t a metaphor for a wasted life, I don’t know what is.
This workin’s for the birds.
Target: 1500 words
Written: 2028 words, novel: Father Lightning
Read: Time For A Tiger, Anthony Burgess
Comics: Wildstorm Rising 2, Grifter 2, WildCats Adventures 10, WildC.A.T.S. 21
Music: Five Dollar Bob's Mock Cooter Stew, MudhoneyWell, that shit went way off the rails.
Way off.
Target: 1500 words
Written: 310 words, novel: Father Lightning
Read: Harry Potter And The Philosopher's Stone, J.K. Rowling (look, I know, but it is a good book, and before she radicalized on the trans issue, she was actually quite liberal. Calling people out is one thing, but she's a perfect example of how weaponing outrage can actually turn possible allies into monstrous enemies - not that she doesn't need to take responsibility for her beliefs, but all those angry fans ragefarming against her definitely caused her to double down, over and over, until she's little more than a MAGA mouthpiece now.)
Comics: Gen 13 v4 6-9
Music: Feeling Strangely Fine, SemisonicNot my end. My fiscal end always feels imminent.
Nope, just my workplace. Which means reviews, scrambles, last minute struggles, and hopefully, a fucking raise, finally.
Lord knows I’ve done the work.
Target: 1500 words
Written: 1648 words, novel: Father Lightning
Read: The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby, Tom Wolfe
Comics: Gen 13 v3 14-16, Gen 13 v4 1
Music: Feel Good Lost, Broken Social SceneI mean, I’m a bit off today because yesterday was St. Patrick’s and I have to get right in there and get back to work, but I’m starting to think of possibilities that might help me move forward.
I’m thinking of possibilities that might break me free of this dreary life.
This bland and weary work.
This modern malaise.
I am planning.
Picking a way forward.
Target: 1500 words
Written: 2163 words, novel: Father Lightning
Read: Code And Other Laws Of Cyberspace, Lawrence Lessig
Comics: Superman/Gen 13 2-3, Gen 13 v2 54, GenActive 2
Music: Family Tree, BjorkApparently, I wasn’t on the list of names on the chopping block for Carney’s cuts.
Yay, me. Tipple one up.
It’s a huge weight off my mind. Now, I can get back to focusing on writing a bunch of stuff and having it rejected all over the map.
Target: 1500 words
Written: 2889 words, comic: The Stuff 6
Read: The Broom Of The System, David Foster Wallace
Comics: Fables: The Wolf Among Us 6-9
Music: 20th Century Masters - The Millenium Collection: The Best of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy I was hoping with all this snow, they’d say work from home today, but nope.
We’re in the office. On the plus side, I never got the notice of possible layoff, so I guess I’m good for now.
I guess that’s a nice trade-off, when you think about it.
Still.
A snow day would have been cool. Think about it next time, bosses.
Think about it.
Target: 1500 words
Written: 465 words, comic: The Stuff 6
Read: The Broom Of The System, David Foster Wallace (I honestly don't know what I'm reading and whether I like it, or whether the schtick is wearing really thin)
Comics: Fables: The Wolf Among Us 4-5, Fables 148, Fairest 33 (I'm going to miss Fairest, and Cindy in particular - total bad ass)
Music: June 9, 2006, The Metro/Smart Bar, Local HI was reading old posts (Christ, 2024 Empty, what the fuck were you thinking?) and I still haven’t figured it out.
How the fuck do I get people to buy my stuff without having to go full social media whore or pretend to be something I’m not?
People both love and hate preachy; see Tolle, Eckhart.
But I hate it. I’d rather be honest (even if I’m not always) and show warts and say, here, I did something cool!
Or better yet, take myself fully out of the equation.
Here’s a cool thing. Enjoy!
Don’t worry about the man behind the mask. We never used to.
Now, it’s up to us to be paragons, or be cancelled.
Unfortunately, only one of those things is ever actually possible. Anything else is a fucking act.
PR to stave off the betrayal when we find out we aren’t actually perfect.
Flawed in private, public perfection. Fuck that. I’m perfectly imperfect, and proud of it.
It’s the only way we ever could be. It’s only how we feel about that fact that makes a difference.
Target: 1400 words
Written: 1267 words, comic: The Stuff #2
Read: Secrets And Lies: Digital Security In A Networked World, Bruce Schneier (we're into the weeds now)
Comics: Fables 122-123, Fairest 8-9
Music: November 1994, Astoria Theatre, London, Beck (bet you thought it was going to be Nirvana)A very productive day, all around.
Well, except for this.
Target: 1400 words
Written: 3425 words, comic: The Stuff #2
Read: Secrets And Lies: Digital Security In A Networked World, Bruce Schneier
Comics: Fairest 6-7, Fables 121, Fables: Werewolves Of The Heartland 1
Music: August 30, 1992, Reading Festival, Nirvana