Dear you,
Well this is the conclusion of the first section, Non-Contradiction, of Atlas Shrugged.
Scandalous shit has been going on man! Yeah this has been kind of weird.. I feel like the Transcontinental Railway only exists to somehow link all of these characters rather than representing a major part of the economy. These chapters were probably the most.. exciting out of the whole section. You learn about some interesting affairs and more about John Galt and his legends.
Conflict with Rearden Metal and the State Science Institute arises and Hank just won't give it up. The institute is filled with cocky, stuck up people who just want titles. They only want to close down Rearden Metal because they believe Rearden's new innovated metal will give them a bad name since they were not the ones who provided it. SO, they make some crap up saying it's hazardous material and should be put to question and what-not.
Actually, a lot of stuff has been happening to Rearden in general. His mother is a total douche to him and I just enjoy his comebacks. Rearden is soulless in the best way possible.
On top of that, the Legislature passed the Equalization of Opportunity Bill which pretty much screwed Hank over.
The John Galt line! I find it so strange how Dagny just chose to name it that. In the beginning of the line's introduction, Eddie Willers is taking to a worker and it just seems so schizophrenic. The worker is totally unnamed and his responses are shown as a "..." followed by more of Eddie's continuous talk. I find this almost horrific it's just so creepy. I do recall Eddie talking to a worker before, but it was more interactive and stuff. But this time.. it's just Eddie man. It's really weird.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
Incinerate
Warm weather is nice. But, I'm really prone to hot weather. I can get dizzy or nauseated.. maybe even a heat stroke. Despite the cons that affect me, it just reminds me of change.
I'm an indecisive and picky person, so I don't truly have a favourite season. My situation would be once it's summer, I cannot wait until it's winter so I can throw on a bunch of blankets to be warm and eat like a fatty. Not to mention playing a bunch of video games and what not.
Then, it's winter. I start to get sick of it when it's mid January to February. I'm sick of the cold weather and rain, I can't do anything. So I seek for the long summer days and fun.
The closest thing I would have to a favourite season would be spring. Ideally, mid to late spring. I enjoy spring because the weather is neutral. The sun would be nice and warm, but there would be a cool breeze here and there. On top of that, school's almost over so, it's when I have the most fun with friends. I think I just enjoy feeling the transition from what used to be crammed, cold school days to something more relaxing. It's very nostalgic! I wish there was a better way to explain it, but that's as close as I can get.
Now that I think about it, I loved last summer. The summers before, I would just stay home and have repetitive passionate time with my computer. Last summer was different though. I made new friends to help occupy my empty days of summer and.. made interesting discoveries. I admit there were some flaws in that summer such as the weather wasn't hot enough or there were times where I really didn't want to do much.. I also have an issue with thinking up of what to do, so sometimes I would rely on friends. And when that happens, I don't always go with it. I guess last summer wasn't as perfect as I thought it would be due to some distractions.
I don't even know if I was making sense at all.
Well, okay. Referring back to my issue where I can't "think" of anything to do. I never realized how hard it would be. In order to come up something to do, it has to be "acceptable" to the people who would be accompanying such occasion. It's just some common courtesy so you wouldn't seclude someone. Then again, that isn't always the problem. Maybe I just wouldn't know what they'd want to do so I keep to myself and think again. Yeahhhhh. I for sure am suffering this as of now. I'm hoping summer will help ease it since there's more time and no school.
Oh wait, I will have school. Summer school. I don't really mind though! I get to take physics so it's all good jajaja. I don't know what this post is about to be honest. I guess it kind of revolves around summer, yes? Anywho, cheers to that.
I'm an indecisive and picky person, so I don't truly have a favourite season. My situation would be once it's summer, I cannot wait until it's winter so I can throw on a bunch of blankets to be warm and eat like a fatty. Not to mention playing a bunch of video games and what not.
Then, it's winter. I start to get sick of it when it's mid January to February. I'm sick of the cold weather and rain, I can't do anything. So I seek for the long summer days and fun.
The closest thing I would have to a favourite season would be spring. Ideally, mid to late spring. I enjoy spring because the weather is neutral. The sun would be nice and warm, but there would be a cool breeze here and there. On top of that, school's almost over so, it's when I have the most fun with friends. I think I just enjoy feeling the transition from what used to be crammed, cold school days to something more relaxing. It's very nostalgic! I wish there was a better way to explain it, but that's as close as I can get.
Now that I think about it, I loved last summer. The summers before, I would just stay home and have repetitive passionate time with my computer. Last summer was different though. I made new friends to help occupy my empty days of summer and.. made interesting discoveries. I admit there were some flaws in that summer such as the weather wasn't hot enough or there were times where I really didn't want to do much.. I also have an issue with thinking up of what to do, so sometimes I would rely on friends. And when that happens, I don't always go with it. I guess last summer wasn't as perfect as I thought it would be due to some distractions.
I don't even know if I was making sense at all.
Well, okay. Referring back to my issue where I can't "think" of anything to do. I never realized how hard it would be. In order to come up something to do, it has to be "acceptable" to the people who would be accompanying such occasion. It's just some common courtesy so you wouldn't seclude someone. Then again, that isn't always the problem. Maybe I just wouldn't know what they'd want to do so I keep to myself and think again. Yeahhhhh. I for sure am suffering this as of now. I'm hoping summer will help ease it since there's more time and no school.
Oh wait, I will have school. Summer school. I don't really mind though! I get to take physics so it's all good jajaja. I don't know what this post is about to be honest. I guess it kind of revolves around summer, yes? Anywho, cheers to that.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Atlas Shrugged: Letter no. 2
Dear you,
The new chapter starts with the Taggarts' relationship with the D'Anconias, specifically Dagny and Francisco himself. Majority of these next couple of pages were flash backs of them at their youth looking forward to their prosperous future. I didn't find their relationship surprising, since situations like these are kind of common (since Dagny now "dislikes" Francisco).
I found it strange how Dagny always brings up Halley's Fifth Concerto. I was baffled when it first came up as she was introduced in the story by the worker's whistling. I know Halley will become somewhat of a significant character later in the book, but I just wonder what is the purpose of his "Fifth Concerto". What's even more confusing about it is that Halley is retired and stopped writing music. No one knows where he is or what he is doing, so it's kind of creepy how there's a concerto that mimics his style making it believable that he wrote it yet it doesn't even exist.. I don't know. I don't understand it's point; it's really mysterious.
I didn't do much annotating.. so yeah.
Rearden happens to me one of my favourite characters. He's the only one that really appeals to me. Dagny Taggart is alright.. but she just seems really typical to me. I am waiting for an impression. I don't really know why or how to explain why I like Rearden the most. Hopefully I'll be able to come up with some suave stuff to say about him later on.
I really do like this book. People would probably find it boring, but it's interesting reading about each individuals separate goals based on objectivism. Their economic and political situation are simple, yet realistic and something you can relate to. I enjoy philosophy, so absorbing this book isn't much of a work to me, but an advantage. Hopefully it'll also help me get into some activism sheeeeiiiiit.
The new chapter starts with the Taggarts' relationship with the D'Anconias, specifically Dagny and Francisco himself. Majority of these next couple of pages were flash backs of them at their youth looking forward to their prosperous future. I didn't find their relationship surprising, since situations like these are kind of common (since Dagny now "dislikes" Francisco).
I found it strange how Dagny always brings up Halley's Fifth Concerto. I was baffled when it first came up as she was introduced in the story by the worker's whistling. I know Halley will become somewhat of a significant character later in the book, but I just wonder what is the purpose of his "Fifth Concerto". What's even more confusing about it is that Halley is retired and stopped writing music. No one knows where he is or what he is doing, so it's kind of creepy how there's a concerto that mimics his style making it believable that he wrote it yet it doesn't even exist.. I don't know. I don't understand it's point; it's really mysterious.
I didn't do much annotating.. so yeah.
Rearden happens to me one of my favourite characters. He's the only one that really appeals to me. Dagny Taggart is alright.. but she just seems really typical to me. I am waiting for an impression. I don't really know why or how to explain why I like Rearden the most. Hopefully I'll be able to come up with some suave stuff to say about him later on.
I really do like this book. People would probably find it boring, but it's interesting reading about each individuals separate goals based on objectivism. Their economic and political situation are simple, yet realistic and something you can relate to. I enjoy philosophy, so absorbing this book isn't much of a work to me, but an advantage. Hopefully it'll also help me get into some activism sheeeeiiiiit.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Quickwrite: Multitasking vs. Concentration
This is a very old quickwrite, but I'm an uninspired individual who has not been actively thinking of any topics whatsoever for the past month or two :l I'm sure it's fine though.
Okay, multitasking. I have to say it's an important skill, but it does have its disadvantages. You can do as much as you want, but as Nicholas Carr says, you know less. It seems to make perfect sense to me actually. I suppose you can train yourself to multitask.. as in keep doing the same things over and over again to the point where it requires less concentration. Effortless.
Some things can be considered as what I like to call 'passive multitasking'. Something that doesn't take much brain power, but in reality it does use your senses. For example: listening to music. Tons of people listen to music no matter the situation such as doing work, walking down the street, purchasing goods, sleep, eat, read... You get where I'm going. Thing is, I believe it can also be a distraction. Strange, isn't it? You would think you wouldn't be truly concentrating on what you're listening to, but I know for a fact that I do. I get mentally sidetracked and start to listen to the music more attentively or sing along. I'm positive this happens to a lot of people fdsjkljFrance;klcjdlkj
One tricky thing to master in our book of multitasking would be deep thought. Like REAAAAL deep thought where you're just staring into space and caught into your own little world of absolute concentration. There's many examples to prove how hard to near impossible it is to successfully be in deep thought while doing some other stuff. As in more complex than walking or idly moving your hands or feet. I don't know.
BUT, I do recall a time where this has happened to me. I was attempting to apply the mobius strip into things like wheels or architecture. I don't know why I was thinking about it so hard, but I just couldn't stop. I just stared at my feet, occasionally drawing on my hand or in the air to kind of help me visualize. My friends were trying to talk to me at the same time and I just didn't want to break my concentration
Multitasking is second nature to humans (mostly for women, hahaha). So in reality, we constantly do it. You really wouldn't consider some of the things you do as multitasking since it's so easy (such as talking while walking). I suppose it's because through evolution our brain size has increased and stuff so tasks that would be considered difficult millions of years ago are now easy (duh derpderplollo). Even today I believe our ability to multitask is continuously growing even though we're nowhere near evolving. We're just that amazing.
ON THE CONTRARY,
We have been depending on technology and services for a long time and continue to do so. We're intelligent yet lazy people. So maybe our multitasking skills will decrease... You know, we have babbysitters to watch our babby.. Maids to clean houses..... Electric erasers..........
Okay, multitasking. I have to say it's an important skill, but it does have its disadvantages. You can do as much as you want, but as Nicholas Carr says, you know less. It seems to make perfect sense to me actually. I suppose you can train yourself to multitask.. as in keep doing the same things over and over again to the point where it requires less concentration. Effortless.
Some things can be considered as what I like to call 'passive multitasking'. Something that doesn't take much brain power, but in reality it does use your senses. For example: listening to music. Tons of people listen to music no matter the situation such as doing work, walking down the street, purchasing goods, sleep, eat, read... You get where I'm going. Thing is, I believe it can also be a distraction. Strange, isn't it? You would think you wouldn't be truly concentrating on what you're listening to, but I know for a fact that I do. I get mentally sidetracked and start to listen to the music more attentively or sing along. I'm positive this happens to a lot of people fdsjkljFrance;klcjdlkj
One tricky thing to master in our book of multitasking would be deep thought. Like REAAAAL deep thought where you're just staring into space and caught into your own little world of absolute concentration. There's many examples to prove how hard to near impossible it is to successfully be in deep thought while doing some other stuff. As in more complex than walking or idly moving your hands or feet. I don't know.
BUT, I do recall a time where this has happened to me. I was attempting to apply the mobius strip into things like wheels or architecture. I don't know why I was thinking about it so hard, but I just couldn't stop. I just stared at my feet, occasionally drawing on my hand or in the air to kind of help me visualize. My friends were trying to talk to me at the same time and I just didn't want to break my concentration
Multitasking is second nature to humans (mostly for women, hahaha). So in reality, we constantly do it. You really wouldn't consider some of the things you do as multitasking since it's so easy (such as talking while walking). I suppose it's because through evolution our brain size has increased and stuff so tasks that would be considered difficult millions of years ago are now easy (duh derpderplollo). Even today I believe our ability to multitask is continuously growing even though we're nowhere near evolving. We're just that amazing.
ON THE CONTRARY,
We have been depending on technology and services for a long time and continue to do so. We're intelligent yet lazy people. So maybe our multitasking skills will decrease... You know, we have babbysitters to watch our babby.. Maids to clean houses..... Electric erasers..........
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Atlas Shrugged: Letter no.1
Dear _____,
This book is HUGE. Wow. I'm jealous of your fast reading, Tim. But then again you're probably not absorbing the book as much as I am >:l
So far, the book is great. It's a bit mind boggling since we haven't been indulged to the main idea of the book yet. On top of that, it's hard to make out the current state the world is in......? I don't know. Like that calendar. What the hell is that calendar for? I don't know if it was symbolic or if it seriously does exist on top of a building.
I admire Rand's thoroughly detailed descriptions of each character that has been featured so far. It's rare to find much individualism in a character when it comes to novels. As for annotating- I didn't do much. I wrote a few notes analyzing Henry Rearden and his behavior. I believe he's one of the first characters to display Rand's philosophy, "objectivism".
Rearden seems to really care about those who are close to him even though he doesn't openly display it. The way he thinks kind of reminds me of myself like in page 34: "Fighting anger, Rearden told himself that this was Philip's form of solicitude...it would be unjust to feel resentment"
Rearden was getting pissed off that Philip was picking at him for working so much and that it's taking a toll on him, but Rearden is proud of what he's doing and just wishes his family could acknowledge his work. Even though he was getting angry, he knew that his brother was just concerned about his health and well-being.
His situation just reminds me of how my sister bitches at me all the time, but in the end I know it's just because she cares.
Sorry to jump around events, but I also noticed in the beginning that Eddie Willers reacted differently to the infamous question, "Who is John Galt?", than the others later in the book. Further into the chapters, "Who is John Galt?" is usually used after posing questions that "cannot be answered" (as said in page 16 by the fireman), but Willers reacted with slight.. disgust. I don't know if Willers had any relations with Galt, but the way John Galt is brought up makes it seem like he was an old story.
This book is HUGE. Wow. I'm jealous of your fast reading, Tim. But then again you're probably not absorbing the book as much as I am >:l
So far, the book is great. It's a bit mind boggling since we haven't been indulged to the main idea of the book yet. On top of that, it's hard to make out the current state the world is in......? I don't know. Like that calendar. What the hell is that calendar for? I don't know if it was symbolic or if it seriously does exist on top of a building.
I admire Rand's thoroughly detailed descriptions of each character that has been featured so far. It's rare to find much individualism in a character when it comes to novels. As for annotating- I didn't do much. I wrote a few notes analyzing Henry Rearden and his behavior. I believe he's one of the first characters to display Rand's philosophy, "objectivism".
Rearden seems to really care about those who are close to him even though he doesn't openly display it. The way he thinks kind of reminds me of myself like in page 34: "Fighting anger, Rearden told himself that this was Philip's form of solicitude...it would be unjust to feel resentment"
Rearden was getting pissed off that Philip was picking at him for working so much and that it's taking a toll on him, but Rearden is proud of what he's doing and just wishes his family could acknowledge his work. Even though he was getting angry, he knew that his brother was just concerned about his health and well-being.
His situation just reminds me of how my sister bitches at me all the time, but in the end I know it's just because she cares.
Sorry to jump around events, but I also noticed in the beginning that Eddie Willers reacted differently to the infamous question, "Who is John Galt?", than the others later in the book. Further into the chapters, "Who is John Galt?" is usually used after posing questions that "cannot be answered" (as said in page 16 by the fireman), but Willers reacted with slight.. disgust. I don't know if Willers had any relations with Galt, but the way John Galt is brought up makes it seem like he was an old story.
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