Cephalopod Dreams...

An Underbelly of Evil?

“A seaside town hardly conjours up images of evil spirits.  But a priest was so scared of dark forces in Portishead, Sommerset, he warned his flock to pray for it and fled to another town.  ‘I believe there are spiritual forces of wickedness in this place,’ Rev Clive Laws, 58, wrote in the parish magazine.  One churchgoer said: ‘Well, I don’t think there is an underbelly of evil.  It’s a lovely place’”

Source: ‘… and finally’, the Metro on Monday, August 11, 2008

Books Etc. II

The Diamond Age, by Neal Stephenson

This doesn’t count for my 101, as I have read Neal Stephenson before, but still, I was enthralled by the book and the way it is part science fiction, part fantasy.

The book itself is set in a future world that was once ours and is now both different and very much the same.  The book itself is an extrapolation of what living in a relatively advanced nanotech society is like.  Or rather, societies.  The world presented in The Diamond Age is split not along the lines of countries, but along more philosophical lines.  There is less talk about what can be done, and rather what what should be done, or not done.

What I would very much like to do now is read it again and gather quotes, and try to understand it a little deeper.

Coffee~

So, I successfully completed #41 on my list.  I gave up coffee for the whole month of May, and then rewarded myself with a drink of the stuff this afternoon.   It was an interesting experience as it really emphasised to me when I drink coffee and also perhaps when I shouldn’t.  Whilst I will continue to drink coffee with people, or while reading in a cafe I am going to try and keep off the coffee in the mornings.

 In other 101 related news, I have started work on both #2 and #52, so links will followfor them when they are more complete.  And, of course, the eventual migration of all the tasks to #2.

 I once again failed to swim and I failed to write anything of any significance to people this month, but otherwise my ‘continuous improvement’ tasks seem to be going well.

Update!

First: I really need to make these updates more often.

But now onto the actual reason for the update.  I’m still off coffee, for quite a few days now.  I actually miss the ‘social’ aspect of it more (although I’m substituting hot chocolate mostly) and also taking a book down to the coffee shop.

 Also, I’m now fairly regularly buying, and reading, the Guardian.  Which is a convinient size to read and is generally interesting.  Plus the g2 crossword is one I can actually do. *grin*

Today I baked, a Ginger Cake from Delia.  It worked pretty well, although the icing had too much lemon in (so it was too runny) and the ginger pieces could probably have been chopped up smaller.  But still, it was very tasty, which is the main thing!  (No picture, as camera was broken :( )

 Finally, today I climbed Knowl Hill with mum and dad, which was a very pleasant walk and completes #29 of the list!

All in all, I feel fairly accomplished.