Hey, people. I'm thinking of writing some interactive fiction, something like a choose your own adventure game, only in digital form, and with slightly more complicated mechanics.
It's going to be fun both in a programming sense and in a writing sense, so it should be a healthy (in the sense that it won't die out too quickly) diversion.
Anyway, preliminary question to the handful of people who still visit. If I finished the game (or the interactive fiction piece, whatever), would you play it?
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
Sunday, November 18, 2007
I should've known it would come to this.
I wear glasses now, and, yeah, I suppose we do look more like the dorks that we are. (Although people tell me that the glasses look good enough on me.) To think that I used to pride myself on not having to wear glasses despite the constant reading and computer use. Hah.
In fact, though, I could survive without these glasses. The only problem I have is astigmatism, which only introduces some distortions in the details - between small or faraway letters, for example. So being without glasses, for me, wouldn't mean that I wouldn't be able to see anything anymore. Without glasses, everything would still be (more or less) in focus.
Nonetheless, there was a moment of disbelief, when I was having my eyes checked and the optometrist dropped the right lenses into the test glasses I was wearing. Clarity, man. It's true that you never notice your eyesight going bad, since you tend to assume that it's still normal how you can't read that sign properly (you're just too far away), and so on.
Anyway, yes, glasses. Still getting used to them. Why do I suspect that I'll be losing or breaking them in the near future?
What else is new? It's a new semester, and I've 18 units, 6 of which are GE units. I was supposed to take Bio 11 this sem, but CRS didn't see it fit to grant me a class, so... I'm still debating whether to take it over the summer or next semester.
Sometimes there is the urge to make creative nonfiction out of my life, but frankly it looks like it's going to take more embellishment than allowable to make the results entertaining. I'm too... middle-of-the-road. No great struggle, but no great triumph, either. Blah. This is why I suppose sometimes I think that I don't challenge myself enough. Whenever I do try to get more things done, though, laziness usually gets the better of me. It's a vicious, vicious cycle.
I think I might try out the GTD (Getting Things Done) approach to organizing tasks and projects and such. As of the moment, have read a little bit about it, and have some grasp on the basic concepts. Am trusting that looking at various (free) programs available will be enough to get me started on a decent facsimile of the system.
I'm sure there's a way to make laziness work. Laziness sometimes breeds efficiency, after all.
In fact, though, I could survive without these glasses. The only problem I have is astigmatism, which only introduces some distortions in the details - between small or faraway letters, for example. So being without glasses, for me, wouldn't mean that I wouldn't be able to see anything anymore. Without glasses, everything would still be (more or less) in focus.
Nonetheless, there was a moment of disbelief, when I was having my eyes checked and the optometrist dropped the right lenses into the test glasses I was wearing. Clarity, man. It's true that you never notice your eyesight going bad, since you tend to assume that it's still normal how you can't read that sign properly (you're just too far away), and so on.
Anyway, yes, glasses. Still getting used to them. Why do I suspect that I'll be losing or breaking them in the near future?
What else is new? It's a new semester, and I've 18 units, 6 of which are GE units. I was supposed to take Bio 11 this sem, but CRS didn't see it fit to grant me a class, so... I'm still debating whether to take it over the summer or next semester.
Sometimes there is the urge to make creative nonfiction out of my life, but frankly it looks like it's going to take more embellishment than allowable to make the results entertaining. I'm too... middle-of-the-road. No great struggle, but no great triumph, either. Blah. This is why I suppose sometimes I think that I don't challenge myself enough. Whenever I do try to get more things done, though, laziness usually gets the better of me. It's a vicious, vicious cycle.
I think I might try out the GTD (Getting Things Done) approach to organizing tasks and projects and such. As of the moment, have read a little bit about it, and have some grasp on the basic concepts. Am trusting that looking at various (free) programs available will be enough to get me started on a decent facsimile of the system.
I'm sure there's a way to make laziness work. Laziness sometimes breeds efficiency, after all.
Sunday, November 04, 2007
Pretty Eventful Sembreak, I guess.
I didn't really get a chance to just bum around the house like I do on breaks.
October 24-26, I was at Los Banos for the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas (SPP) Congress. It was an instructive and fun experience, in some unexpected ways perhaps. Got to spend a lot of time with the batchmates, as well as gain a sort of new perspective on the condition of physics here in the Philippines. (Although I can't be sure that the event provided a good enough representative sample.)
On Friday, the 26th, the last day of the SPP Congress, I then met up with some other friends (whose names, I guess, I don't need to mention here) to enjoy a night at one of the many hot springs resorts nearby. First time I ever really puked because of alcohol, but one can always insist that the better moments were worth it, I don't know. As far as drunken nights go, it was rather fun. Also found that my body mass gives me a decent tolerance for the stuff.
Then on the Monday directly after this started the workshop sessions with Dr. Muriel. He's a physicist who's now retired from all official academic positions (he's 67), but still continues to do research work. He gave a talk at the SPP Congress about his work in developing a molecular theory of turbulence, and a few of us students and Sir Perry have been meeting with him to work and explore and try to flesh out the theory a bit.
It's been fun, not only because Dr. Muriel pretty much pays for everything (brings us food, etc.), but also because, well, we wouldn't really have been productive, research-wise, without his prodding. Haha. He even plans to have us give a talk in La Salle on Tuesday (the 6th), summarizing what we've accomplished so far (which he assures us is significant, especially for just a week of work). I don't know, I'll have to work on this, work with the others.
It's nice enough to be back home after this period of sudden busy-ness. Basically today's the only day I got to spend just lazing about in my room, rereading old favorites (finished the first two books of the original Dune series, working on the third) and messing about on the computer.
Tomorrow is the start of registration for the next semester, imagine that. *stretches, yawns*
October 24-26, I was at Los Banos for the Samahang Pisika ng Pilipinas (SPP) Congress. It was an instructive and fun experience, in some unexpected ways perhaps. Got to spend a lot of time with the batchmates, as well as gain a sort of new perspective on the condition of physics here in the Philippines. (Although I can't be sure that the event provided a good enough representative sample.)
On Friday, the 26th, the last day of the SPP Congress, I then met up with some other friends (whose names, I guess, I don't need to mention here) to enjoy a night at one of the many hot springs resorts nearby. First time I ever really puked because of alcohol, but one can always insist that the better moments were worth it, I don't know. As far as drunken nights go, it was rather fun. Also found that my body mass gives me a decent tolerance for the stuff.
Then on the Monday directly after this started the workshop sessions with Dr. Muriel. He's a physicist who's now retired from all official academic positions (he's 67), but still continues to do research work. He gave a talk at the SPP Congress about his work in developing a molecular theory of turbulence, and a few of us students and Sir Perry have been meeting with him to work and explore and try to flesh out the theory a bit.
It's been fun, not only because Dr. Muriel pretty much pays for everything (brings us food, etc.), but also because, well, we wouldn't really have been productive, research-wise, without his prodding. Haha. He even plans to have us give a talk in La Salle on Tuesday (the 6th), summarizing what we've accomplished so far (which he assures us is significant, especially for just a week of work). I don't know, I'll have to work on this, work with the others.
It's nice enough to be back home after this period of sudden busy-ness. Basically today's the only day I got to spend just lazing about in my room, rereading old favorites (finished the first two books of the original Dune series, working on the third) and messing about on the computer.
Tomorrow is the start of registration for the next semester, imagine that. *stretches, yawns*
Sunday, September 16, 2007
Journal Entry Number Eight
I don't know why, but I haven't felt like blogging lately. More for the record than anything else, let's see. What's been new.
Have been reading the Achewood archives again. The characterization is excellent: he even keeps up blogs for nine or so characters! Hmm, some of the strips I liked the best, in no particular order: 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. It's actually hard to choose, since a lot of the appeal comes from having gotten to know the characters, from previous strips (and blog entries!). I don't know, I don't seem to be describing it well, but check it out for yourself. I recommend starting with the archives - even though the earliest ones are a bit rough, it's worth it to sort of build up your appreciation.
What else. Uh, recently my sister sent me her old PDA, since she got a new Blackberry PDA/phone. I've only had it for a few days, will see if it helps me become sort of organized or something.
Oh, there was a dinner with the Aboys at Raj's house last weekend. Great food, some drinks. The Aboys' group dynamic doesn't seem to have changed appreciably, with people falling into familiar roles. It's only been a few years, I suppose.
And before this dinner, we had an exam in the morning, and in the afternoon Jeanne and I visited the huge Fully Booked branch in the Fort. It was big, yeah. Too big, even. I was too tired from walking around and looking at all the books to actually buy anything, haha. There was even a Starbucks inside!
And it's located in an area that's, oddly enough, both upscale and undeveloped, or, well, in the process of development. Posh restaurants, ugly new apartment blocks, the works. The restrooms at Serendra even have an attendant each, who stand around inside and greet you when you enter and leave. Weirdness.
Oh, and, well, an unfortunate carbuncle problem. I'll spare you the details.
Uhh. Now that I have a PDA to scribble in, I suppose I can leave the journal-type (i.e., mundane records) out of this blog. Farewell, and celebrations.
Have been reading the Achewood archives again. The characterization is excellent: he even keeps up blogs for nine or so characters! Hmm, some of the strips I liked the best, in no particular order: 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. It's actually hard to choose, since a lot of the appeal comes from having gotten to know the characters, from previous strips (and blog entries!). I don't know, I don't seem to be describing it well, but check it out for yourself. I recommend starting with the archives - even though the earliest ones are a bit rough, it's worth it to sort of build up your appreciation.
What else. Uh, recently my sister sent me her old PDA, since she got a new Blackberry PDA/phone. I've only had it for a few days, will see if it helps me become sort of organized or something.
Oh, there was a dinner with the Aboys at Raj's house last weekend. Great food, some drinks. The Aboys' group dynamic doesn't seem to have changed appreciably, with people falling into familiar roles. It's only been a few years, I suppose.
And before this dinner, we had an exam in the morning, and in the afternoon Jeanne and I visited the huge Fully Booked branch in the Fort. It was big, yeah. Too big, even. I was too tired from walking around and looking at all the books to actually buy anything, haha. There was even a Starbucks inside!
And it's located in an area that's, oddly enough, both upscale and undeveloped, or, well, in the process of development. Posh restaurants, ugly new apartment blocks, the works. The restrooms at Serendra even have an attendant each, who stand around inside and greet you when you enter and leave. Weirdness.
Oh, and, well, an unfortunate carbuncle problem. I'll spare you the details.
Uhh. Now that I have a PDA to scribble in, I suppose I can leave the journal-type (i.e., mundane records) out of this blog. Farewell, and celebrations.
Saturday, September 01, 2007
Battle of Corrin
More of the same, or, well, actually, worse. Bleh. Having read the first two books of the trilogy, I sort of felt obligated to read this last one, if only to bring it to an end. And, well, to see how they managed to put the pieces of the prequel puzzle together.
Answer: horribly. Paper-thin characterization (with no realistic character changes of any sort to speak of), parallel plots that also fail to hold together enough (take the entire Arrakis series and the Ginaz swordmasters arc, for instance), and a poor handling of the prequel premise. Why do all of the important events in history and the founding of the influential social groups and institutions (the Guild, House Corrino, the Bene Gesserit, the Swordmasters of Ginaz, the Fremen, the Suk doctors, and so on) happen within a span of a hundred years?
I could go on and on. Plot holes abound. You do not actually get to care about any single character, except maybe Erasmus, a bit, but even then not really. Horrible writing (I feel like I could've done better, even, although of course it's harder to write well than it is to recognize bad writing, those are different things entirely).
Brian Herbert should be ashamed of this clumsy attempt at imagining the history of his father's wonderful Dune universe. Or, rather, I should be ashamed of having been fooled not once, not twice, but thrice!
On a positive note, it is done! Time to go for better reads. Really looking forward to re-reading the original series.
Answer: horribly. Paper-thin characterization (with no realistic character changes of any sort to speak of), parallel plots that also fail to hold together enough (take the entire Arrakis series and the Ginaz swordmasters arc, for instance), and a poor handling of the prequel premise. Why do all of the important events in history and the founding of the influential social groups and institutions (the Guild, House Corrino, the Bene Gesserit, the Swordmasters of Ginaz, the Fremen, the Suk doctors, and so on) happen within a span of a hundred years?
I could go on and on. Plot holes abound. You do not actually get to care about any single character, except maybe Erasmus, a bit, but even then not really. Horrible writing (I feel like I could've done better, even, although of course it's harder to write well than it is to recognize bad writing, those are different things entirely).
Brian Herbert should be ashamed of this clumsy attempt at imagining the history of his father's wonderful Dune universe. Or, rather, I should be ashamed of having been fooled not once, not twice, but thrice!
On a positive note, it is done! Time to go for better reads. Really looking forward to re-reading the original series.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Journal Entry Number Seven
Lethargy
Last night I fell asleep while resting my eyes for a bit, and tonight I'm feeling quite low on energy, too. I wonder why this is. I haven't been doing any more work than usual. I hope I'm not not eating right, or not getting enough sleep...
Hmm. I hope I haven't become dependent on coffee, either. I think I haven't had proper coffee, these past few days...
Again, for the record
(Processing to come eventually but not right now, so feel free to skip the raw transcript below, thanks.)
Monday. No classes, stayed at home to not get much done, as usual (although I did prepare for the lecture I was to give on Wednesday, and cut a hole in a plastic soda bottle for our Physics 191 demo (total internal reflection)). Tuesday. Philo 11 midterms, did well enough, I suppose. Found out that the bottle I made worked fine! Went with Jyan and Vilma to Bubble Tea in the afternoon. Finished one out of two problem sets due Thursday in the evening. Wednesday. 191 workshop in the morning, progress reports (no lecture!) in the afternoon. Hung out in the food court: coffee, a mini baguette and a tuna turnover from French Baker, capped off by "Manila Fries" (small chicharon bits) from R.Lapid's. In the evening rewrote problem set and attempted to finish the other one to no avail. Thursday. Tried to make bubble mixtures in Theory out of detergent, starch, glycerin and water. Made bubbles, but the differences between solutions that we wanted to show weren't that evident. Finished the problem set during the long break. Dinner at Sbarro: cheese pizza extra cheese, half baked ziti, and a sighting of a German exchange student. Friday, i.e., today. Classes as per usual. Lunch at Wok Dis Way: sisig with cheese! Proceeded to do CWTS, i.e., hang out at the NIP Lib. Jeanne came over to watch us play Hangaroo and the slapping game. Chocolat: Bailey's cake, English scone (something like a cross between pancakes and muffins and cookies, which are apparently actually biscuits?). At the food court we almost sat next to the twins (should write them up sometime, or something, and, no, you probably don't know them, unless you spend the same amount of time that we do at the SM North food court, didn't think so, i.e., in short, not *those* twins), but wussed out. They later moved to a table next to ours, which was kind of weird. Dinner: Binalot, tapadobo/tocidobo. Bow.
Now what?
Well all the typing seems to have woken me up a little. I guess I'll go see what I can do. Oh, the exciting life I lead!
Last night I fell asleep while resting my eyes for a bit, and tonight I'm feeling quite low on energy, too. I wonder why this is. I haven't been doing any more work than usual. I hope I'm not not eating right, or not getting enough sleep...
Hmm. I hope I haven't become dependent on coffee, either. I think I haven't had proper coffee, these past few days...
Again, for the record
(Processing to come eventually but not right now, so feel free to skip the raw transcript below, thanks.)
Monday. No classes, stayed at home to not get much done, as usual (although I did prepare for the lecture I was to give on Wednesday, and cut a hole in a plastic soda bottle for our Physics 191 demo (total internal reflection)). Tuesday. Philo 11 midterms, did well enough, I suppose. Found out that the bottle I made worked fine! Went with Jyan and Vilma to Bubble Tea in the afternoon. Finished one out of two problem sets due Thursday in the evening. Wednesday. 191 workshop in the morning, progress reports (no lecture!) in the afternoon. Hung out in the food court: coffee, a mini baguette and a tuna turnover from French Baker, capped off by "Manila Fries" (small chicharon bits) from R.Lapid's. In the evening rewrote problem set and attempted to finish the other one to no avail. Thursday. Tried to make bubble mixtures in Theory out of detergent, starch, glycerin and water. Made bubbles, but the differences between solutions that we wanted to show weren't that evident. Finished the problem set during the long break. Dinner at Sbarro: cheese pizza extra cheese, half baked ziti, and a sighting of a German exchange student. Friday, i.e., today. Classes as per usual. Lunch at Wok Dis Way: sisig with cheese! Proceeded to do CWTS, i.e., hang out at the NIP Lib. Jeanne came over to watch us play Hangaroo and the slapping game. Chocolat: Bailey's cake, English scone (something like a cross between pancakes and muffins and cookies, which are apparently actually biscuits?). At the food court we almost sat next to the twins (should write them up sometime, or something, and, no, you probably don't know them, unless you spend the same amount of time that we do at the SM North food court, didn't think so, i.e., in short, not *those* twins), but wussed out. They later moved to a table next to ours, which was kind of weird. Dinner: Binalot, tapadobo/tocidobo. Bow.
Now what?
Well all the typing seems to have woken me up a little. I guess I'll go see what I can do. Oh, the exciting life I lead!
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Journal Entry Number Six
Another lazy weekend
It's been a lazy weekend again, echoes of the monster weekend that just passed? In any case I managed not to get much of anything done. Dabbled a bit in some online RPGs, did some articles, bummed around some.
Well, okay, fine, for the record:
Saturday I met up with Jeanne in the morning so we could spend some time together before my 2 pm make up class. Chanced upon Yas and Abby who were at the AS steps for the Book Fair volunteers' meeting. Wandered around UP a bit.
Had lunch at Mashitta, where we met Frau Lenz, one of Jeanne's German professors, and got to talk about higher education in Germany. She's a member of DAAD, Germany's academic exchange organization, which handles foreign students from the undergraduate to the Ph.D. level. Short version: it'd be hard to get a scholarship for a master's degree; easier for a Ph.D., but only if I had taken my master's here. Master's degrees are aimed more for practical courses like engineering, while doctorate courses are intended to help other countries' academes.
While eating I found out that the make up class was canceled (our professor got sick), so we had the rest of the day to ourselves. Proceeded to SM to while away the afternoon. Tried out the new Bubble Tea place. Had cold Almond Milk Tea, which was fine, and hot Royal Milk Tea, which was better. They have this cool sort of second floor that's nice for hanging out in. I tried to write, to no avail.
Then it was to the food court, our usual haunt (we're cheap, really, sometimes). Talked, hung out, etc. Had lugaw, and, well, fries. Haha. Stayed there until going home.
Okay, now what?
Well, I've been thinking thoughts again.
Having never satisfactorily finished a short story, I still do not know what sort of approach I should take. I've been telling myself to just pick one to go ahead and try, but it doesn't seem to work that way, either.
I've been thinking of going through my blog archives to see what sort of things I always end up talking about. I'm supposing it'd be easier to write something revolving around those things, since I'd be sure that I'd have something to say, eh?
Speaking of recurrence, well, it's happening again. Aha. That feeling of ending up in the same ruts, the same patterns and routines. I suppose that's part of what's called 'identity'?
It's been a lazy weekend again, echoes of the monster weekend that just passed? In any case I managed not to get much of anything done. Dabbled a bit in some online RPGs, did some articles, bummed around some.
Well, okay, fine, for the record:
Saturday I met up with Jeanne in the morning so we could spend some time together before my 2 pm make up class. Chanced upon Yas and Abby who were at the AS steps for the Book Fair volunteers' meeting. Wandered around UP a bit.
Had lunch at Mashitta, where we met Frau Lenz, one of Jeanne's German professors, and got to talk about higher education in Germany. She's a member of DAAD, Germany's academic exchange organization, which handles foreign students from the undergraduate to the Ph.D. level. Short version: it'd be hard to get a scholarship for a master's degree; easier for a Ph.D., but only if I had taken my master's here. Master's degrees are aimed more for practical courses like engineering, while doctorate courses are intended to help other countries' academes.
While eating I found out that the make up class was canceled (our professor got sick), so we had the rest of the day to ourselves. Proceeded to SM to while away the afternoon. Tried out the new Bubble Tea place. Had cold Almond Milk Tea, which was fine, and hot Royal Milk Tea, which was better. They have this cool sort of second floor that's nice for hanging out in. I tried to write, to no avail.
Then it was to the food court, our usual haunt (we're cheap, really, sometimes). Talked, hung out, etc. Had lugaw, and, well, fries. Haha. Stayed there until going home.
Okay, now what?
Well, I've been thinking thoughts again.
Having never satisfactorily finished a short story, I still do not know what sort of approach I should take. I've been telling myself to just pick one to go ahead and try, but it doesn't seem to work that way, either.
I've been thinking of going through my blog archives to see what sort of things I always end up talking about. I'm supposing it'd be easier to write something revolving around those things, since I'd be sure that I'd have something to say, eh?
Speaking of recurrence, well, it's happening again. Aha. That feeling of ending up in the same ruts, the same patterns and routines. I suppose that's part of what's called 'identity'?
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