Archives for October 2014
When Stuff Doesn't Work
Entropy. It is happening to all of us. It is a fact of life. Stuff moves from working to not working over time.
I experienced this last week with my computer. It’s the finest laptop I’ve ever owned (although there was that Macbook I had for work… but I digress). But, even at that, it decided to die.
I lost more than a couple of hours to the problem. In fact, as of this moment, it’s not fixed. It’s not fixed because, at it’s core, there’s a hardware issue that appears to be unrecoverable.
Things break. We get to decide how we manage those situations, but they’re not going to stop. I experienced a great deal of frustration with my computer situation last week. And then I remembered that it’s part of life. There’s a mandate to subdue the earth. Some part of that is putting order to the disorder. So, next time something breaks and you work on it for hours, remember that you are simply doing your job. There is disorder. Give it order. There is dirt on the floor. Sweep it up. It is good work you do.
Word-of-the-Day: Vocation
vo·ca·tion noun \vō-ˈkā-shən\
: a strong desire to spend your life doing a certain kind of work (such as religious work)
: the work that a person does or should be doing
Full Definition of VOCATION
1
a : a summons or strong inclination to a particular state or course of action; especially : a divine call to the religious life
b : an entry into the priesthood or a religious order
2
a : the work in which a person is employed : occupation
b : the persons engaged in a particular occupation
3
: the special function of an individual or group
See vocation defined for English-language learners »
See vocation defined for kids »
Examples of VOCATION
This isn’t just a job for me; it’s a vocation.
people who follow a religious vocation
He never felt a real sense of vocation.
I’m a carpenter by vocation, but my hobby is painting.
Build / Destroy
Great words from Winston Churchill.
To build may have to be the slow and laborious task of years. To destroy can be the thoughtless act of a single day.
That’s good stuff.
Fun Reads: The Eye of the World
The Eye of the World by Robert Jordan remains one of my favorite reading memories. Although it was published in 1990, I was in my late teenage years when I first discovered it. It sticks out in my head as one of several completely satisfying reads during those years. (Dune, from last week, was another.)
The Eye of the World begins by introducing a cast of characters. I think that’s what worked so well for me. It was one of my first experiences with a novel that had more than one protagonist. Robert Jordan’s management of his characters feels quite deft in this first book. The story moves quickly, the world feels very big, and the characters we’re following feel important, even when we’re not sure how.
The Eye of the World is the first book in a fourteen volume series. The whole series weighs in at 4.4 million words, so this is an endorsement with a necessary caution: while this book is light on its feet, later books (especially around books 8 – 11) feel as though the characters feet are encased in concrete by comparison. While I love the series, my wonderful wife still hasn’t made it all the way through, thanks to the series bogging down in the middle.
But, if you’re looking for a fun read with a fast pace, The Eye of the World is one of my favorites.