Interface: The Sci Fi Book written right before the Internet

Even thought I haven't finished the book Interface by Neal Stephenson and J. Frederick George, I can tell you that its a unique piece of literature. Stephenson and George published the book in 1994, the year before the Internet took off. Also everyone in the book is impressed by car phones. Over every page of the book, this fact looms. The characters are focused around a political campaign and an implanted chip in one of the candidates' head. The characters make political speeches. One of them made me laugh. He said we had no technological innovations.

The technology put into a story dates the story as much as the hair cuts on actors date a movie.

I am a writer and have written several sci fi stories. Reading this book and thinking about movies like Hackers and The Net make me wonder how we writers can keep up with the changing technology. I am interested in writing stories and some of the stories involved technology. Right now I am interested in capturing life as close to normal as possible. If I include some of today's technology which would not be distracting to a reader in the next few weeks, it might be distracting and annoying like a 80's hair cut is to us now in a few years (months??).

I think the only option we writers that want to write about today have is either be vague about the technology that our characters are using, or make it a period piece set firmly in the current year.

What role do you think technology has in fiction? Do you feel that these time stamps matter? Or are readers/viewers more interested in the story than to care that their high tech razor phone is now not even used by children.

Day 8: Only 8 Servings to Fruits and Veggies

Day 8: 3/31

I am doing an experiment to eat like the research says we need to: 9 Servings of Fruit and Veggies everyday. What does it take to eat this way. Is it even possible long term? If the research tells us we need to eat like this, how can it be done. I'll be documenting my progress and any effects I see. Remember, the research shows that this is the healthy way to live, so what does it take to live like this? Today is day 8 since I decided to start this experiment.

Today I felt soo sore from the extreme workout I did yesterday. I had to do quite a bit of stretching when I first woke up. Then I went to Hot Yoga at Nameste Yoga in Lutz. I went for a massage and that helped loosen up the tight muscles.

I also went shopping and bought all the groceries for next week. It cost $115. I am excited about cooking next week.

Its 9:39 PM and I am so full there's no way I can eat more. That's the difficult thing with this diet. Its really hard to fit it all in.

One of the reasons I am doing this experiment is to see if its possible and feasible long term. A few things that are helping me is that I can work from home when I need to, so I can make my meals. I usually bring a large salad with me to work, but I'd have a hard time bringing my juicing machine in to the office. Eating out is expensive, so I'd have to bring a bag of apples or carrots to eat for an afternoon snack. With this diet your pretty much eating all the time. You're never hungry.

Also eating out is difficult. Its hard to control what they are putting into the meal, and unless you get a salad, you probably won't get a full serving of veggies. So far I've only eaten outside my home once.

Breakfast 2 servings: smoothie strawberry, almonds, milk with 2 tablespoons of cranberry, blue berry, cherry concentrate, and protein powder.

1st lunch 2 Servings: Fresh Juice: carrot, cranberry, apple, cucumber, ginger, lemon juice

2nd Lunch:1 Serving: hot turkey sausage, chick peas, purple cabbage, asparagus, string beans, onions, garlic, yellow squash, broccoli, carrots.

1st Dinner: 1 Serving: leftovers: hot turkey sausage, chick peas, purple cabbage, asparagus, string beans, onions, garlic, yellow squash, broccoli, carrots, mushrooms, fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, turmeric, ginger paste, a lot of salt, cayenne pepper, and black pepper. This is my family's new favorite dish. Its just amazing. Purple Cabbage is so sweet. I make it very spicy and the turkey sausage is very spicy also. The veggies are sweet. The liquid is salty. These three tastes compliment each other and the overall dish is wonderful.

Desert: 2 Servings: four jumbo strawberries, one large banana, milk, one scoop of ice cream and 1 brownie

Total Servings of Fruit and Veggies: 8

Workout: 1 hour and 15 minutes of hot yoga

Day 7: Lots of Energy and Working out like Crazy!

Day 7 

3/30

Today I got up early before my alarm and felt great! I went straight to the gym where I worked out for an hour before work. I felt so good that after work I went again and did another hour. 

I already scheduled a massage because I know I am going to be very sore tomorrow. I just feel great and I want to use some of my energy. I felt very strong and when I left I felt like I could have kept going.  

Breakfast 2 servings: Smoothie: strawberry, almonds , milk with 2 tablespoons of cranberry, blue berry, cherry concentrate, and protein powder. Soooo good! Along with my smoothie I always have my vitamins including: Fish oil, Turmeric, Rhodiola, MSM, and of course B Complex.

Lunch:2 servings: salad with roman,watercress, tomato, onion, mushrooms, avocado, chicken, steamed asparagus, arugula, purple cabbage black olives, with chicken.

Watercress is one of the most healthy things you can eat.

afternoon snack: 1 serving : one orange 

Dinner number 1: 2 servings smoothie:
strawberry, walnuts, pecan banana smoothie with 2 tablespoons of cranberry, blue berry, cherry concentrate, and protein powder
 

Dinner number 2: 2 servings: arugula, spinach, onion, tomato

Workout: 2 hours (done in two different visits to the gym) 

Back: with 40 lbs:
3 sets of 10 deadlifts, 

3 sets of 8 clean and presses, 

3 sets of 10 rows 

3 sets of 10 wide rows 

3 sets of 10 chest presses at an angle with 20 lbs 

3 sets of 10 chest presses flat with 20 lbs

3 sets of 20 squats with 40 lbs 

1 set of 20 lunges with 30 lbs 

Several types of crunches
1 minute side plank on each side, 

2 minutes plank 

3 sets of 10 push ups 

20 side leg raises 

10 Assisted pull ups 

Day 6: 10 Servings of Fruit and Veggies!

Day 6 3/29


 Thoughts from today. I spend most of my time feeling really full. As soon as I feel that I am not stuffed anymore I have to eat something else just to keep up. Its a little stressful, but all the food I am eating is really delicious.


Today I had my improv show at Jacks Joint in Clearwater, so I had two eat one dinner early and the other after the show.


The exciting part of today is that I ate something from outside the house. I visited Viitals.
Viitals is an adorable place in South Tampa right off of South Dale Mabry. I highly recommend that you stop by and try out the smoothies. The atmosphere is clean but homie with nice tables and chairs. They have all kinds of goodies which are either Gluten free or Vegan or Low carb or a combination of those. When you eat so many fruits and veggies everyday you really appreciate some variety, and Viitals sure has variety. I first read their menu online and wanted to try it. I managed to get there before they closed on my way to my improv show. 




Breakfast 2 Servings: Smoothie with strawberries, walnuts, pecans,  banana with 2 tablespoons of cranberry, blue berry, cherry concentrate, and protein powder 

 Lunch 2 Servings: Salad with romaine, tomato, avocado, onion, arugula , purple cabbage 

1 Serving: left overs: hot turkey sausage, chick peas, purple cabbage, asparagus, string beans, onions, garlic, yellow squash 


 Afternoon snack 2 Servings: Juice made from carrot, cranberry, apple, cucumber, ginger, lemon juice. 


 1st Dinner 1 Serving: Smoothie purifying ginger from Viitals: organic apples, organic zucchini, organic lemon, organic ginger, pea protein isolate, organic coconut milk, truvia, fiber blend

2nd Dinner 2 Servings: carrot: Salad with watercress, tomato, onion, avocado, chicken, steamed asparagus 

For a grand total of 10 Servings of Fruits and Veggies today!

Day 5- 9 servings of fruit and veggies

Day 5
3/28
Quote for the day: you crave what you eat!


A few things I've noticed. Normally I eat ice cream a few times a week and usually want to eat it all the time. But I've not have a craving for ice cream since Saturday. I also have a whole batch of brownies which I made on Friday that I haven't been tempted to eat either, and I love brownies. I've not decided not to eat those things, but I just haven't felt like eating them.


Today I weighed in at 144 lbs.
Breakfast 2 Servings: strawberry, walnuts, pecan banana smoothie with 2 tablespoons of cranberry, blue berry, cherry concentrate.

Lunch:
1 Serving: romain Lettuce salad
2 Servings: left overs: hot turkey sausage, chick peas, purple cabbage, asparagus, string beans,  onions, garlic, yellow squash.

Afternoon snack: 2 Servings: carrot, cranberry, apple, cucumber, ginger, lemon


Dinner: 2 Servings: banana , strawberry, almond, protein powder, milk, peanut butter, ice smoothie

Workout: 25 minutes with 40 lbs:
3 sets of 10 deadlifts,
3 sets of 8 clean and presses,
 3 sets of 10 rows
3 sets of 10 wide rows

Cardio:
29 minutes on the stair master. 338 calories
2.69 miles

Total: 9 Servings of Fruit and Veggies!

Day 4: of the 9 servings of fruit and veggies

This blog is all about how to get more out of life while getting back. Health is the most important part of both getting more out of life and giving back. So far I've only touched on health here and there. I am going to do a series on health with myself as the test subject. I'll record my food and my exercise.

So I normally eat pretty good, but I do like a lot of not so healthy things. My family always ate a huge salad for dinner every night and my mom is a vegetarian. 

After listening how incredibly good fruits and veggies are for you to the Peoples Pharmacy on NPR ( http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2011/06/25/819-health-news-update/ ), I decided to try to eat 9 servings of fruit and veggies everyday.

When I started this new plan, I weighted 146 lbs. I am 5'6. I work out 3 times a week at the least, and usually more times.

Day 4 3/27

 Breakfast 2 Servings: strawberry, walnuts, pecan smoothie with 3 tablespoons of cranberry, blue berry, cherry concentrate.

 Lunch 2 Servings: Chicken, green beans, red pepper, arugula, watercress, onion, ginger, turmeric, garlic, tomatoes

 Afternoon snack: 1 Serving: carrot, cranberry, apple, cucumber, ginger, lemon

Dinner: 2 Servings: hot turkey sausage, purple cabbage, asparagus, string beans,  onions, garlic, yellow squash.

 Desert: 2: orange, four big strawberries

Total day four:  9 servings of veggies and fruit

 Workout: stairs, 2.54 miles, 30 minutes, 332 calories 1 minute side plank, 2 minutes plank 3sets of 10 pushups 20 side leg raises 40 vertical leg lifts

My new diet of 9 servings of fruits and veggie

This blog is all about how to get more out of life while getting back. Health is the most important part of both getting more out of life and giving back. So far I've only touched on health here and there. I am going to do a series on health with myself as the test subject. I'll record my food and my exercise.

So I normally eat pretty good, but I do like a lot of not so healthy things. My family always ate a huge salad for dinner every night and my mom is a vegetarian.

After listening how incredibly good fruits and veggies are for you to the Peoples Pharmacy on NPR ( http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2011/06/25/819-health-news-update/ ), I decided to try to eat 9 servings of fruit and veggies everyday.


When I started this new plan, I weighted 146 lbs. I am 5'6. I work out 3 times a week at the least, and usually more times.

What I am doing is an experiment. Its to see what it takes to actually eat this way. Is it even possible long term? If the research tells us we need to eat like this, how can it be done. I'll be documenting my progress and any effects I see. Remember, the research shows that this is the healthy way to live, so what does it take to live like this?

On Saturday, Day 1, 3/24, I made it only to 6 servings. I did not work out.
On Sunday, Day 2,  3/25, I only mad it to 7 servings and I did not work out.

 Here's how I did today:
 Food journal Day 3: 3/26
 Breakfast 2 Servings: strawberry, walnuts, almonds, pecan smoothie with one tablespoon of cranberry, blue berry, cherry concentrate.

 Lunch 2 Servings: Chicken, green beans, red pepper, arugula, watercress, onion, ginger

Afternoon snack: 2 Servings: carrot, cranberry, apple, cucumber, ginger, lemon

Dinner: 1 Serving: left over chicken green beans, red pepper
Desert: 2 Servings: orange, four big strawberries

Total  Servings of Fruit and Veggies on day three:  9 servings of veggies and fruit

Lost in Code; Looking for Love

This is a short essay I wrote a few years ago first for the HCC student news paper "The Catalyst for Democracy"

Lost in Code; Looking for Love

By Bett

So, you were busy googling and designing the objects for your new Everquest map that you didn't realize till just now that you need someone to love? Well, then you reading the right article.

First you need to identify the problem: You want someone to blame when you run out of toilet paper, someone to snuggle up to at night, someone who will love you even when you have morning breath.

Next, you need to first develop Requirements for the person you will love. Your love must have a compatible personality. If you are obstinate, then your love must be submissive, and so on. If you enjoy bowling, your love must also enjoy bowling. If you love to sit on the couch and eat hamburgers while soaking up the tube rays, then loving a former Olympic athlete probably won't work.

Don’t expect the person you love to reform you AS SEEN ON TV. It doesn't happen in real life. Only You can change your self, no one else. You must become the person you want to be, and you might want to get on that right now so when you finally do meet the right person, you’ll be ready.

Once you find a person, then you need to Test.

Don't date. It’s artificial and stupid. Go out with them, and be yourself. Why would you want to impress the person, and set their expectations higher than reality? If you buy flowers for them on the first date, they will expect them ten years into marriage. Just be your self. If you want to be the kind of person who gives flowers, then become that person, but don’t fake it. If your love interest can't handle who you are now, they won't handle who you are in 15 years either.

Once they past the test of your true personality (you may need to test out several people, before you find the one who accepts you as you are), then you are ready to Integrate them into your life. Secure their hand in marriage, and start your life off together.  Integration takes a few years, and is often difficult. But stick in there, because its worth it.

The most important part of the relationship lifecycle is Maintenance. Once you get fully integrated, you need to keep strong communications channels open. Show love and respect to your love, and they will stay your love for years to come.

Why I love Vladimir Nabokov

Why I love Vladimir Nabokov

I am almost done with Speak, Memory by Vladimir Nabokov.
Its the first book I've read by him in a few years and I am shocked that I could have waited so long.

The previous books I've read by him:
Lolita
Pale Fire

Pnin

The Defense

The Real Life of Sebastian Knight 



Newly finished since I wrote this blog post originally
Speak, Memory
Bend Sinister


The first reason I love Nabokov's books is each he filled with exotic intoxicating language. Heres an example from the passage I am reading right now in Speak Memory,
"The slender shadows of oleander leaves would cautiously move in the sea breeze along a pale wall, as if pointing as something, with a great show of stealth."

 He uses alliteration frequently as seen in this example from the same book.
"Happy is the novelist who manages to preserve an actual love letter that he received when he was young within a work of fiction, embedded in it like a clean bullet in flabby flesh and quite secure there, among spurious lives."

He goes on in this beautiful passage about leaving Russia:
"In March 1919, the Reds broke through in northern Crimea, and from various ports a tumultuous evacuation of anti-Bolshevik groups began. Over a glassy sea in the bay of Sebastropol, under wild machine-gun fire from the shore (the Bolshevik troups had just taken the port), my family and I set out for Constantinople and Piraeus on a small and shoddy Greek ship Nadezhda (Hope) carrying a cargo of dried fruit. I remember trying to concentrate, as we were zigzagging out of the bay on a game of chess with my father - one of the knights had lost its head, and a poker chip replaced a missing rook- and the sense of leaving Russia was totally eclipsed by the agonizing thought that Reds or no Reds, letters from Tamara would be still coming, miraculously and needlessly, to southern Crimea, and would search there for fugitive addressee, and weakly flap about like bewildered butterflies set loose in an alien zone, at the wrong altitude, among an unfamiliar flora"


The second reason why I love Nabokov is because I learn so many new words. In the last few minutes I've learned the following new words:
Coeval - means the same or equal age, antiquity or duration.
Antiphonal - a psalm, anthem, a verse sung responsively
Spurious - of deceitful nature
Plangent - Having a loud reverberating sound
Pell-mell - in mingled confusion or disorder
Syncopate - to shorten or produce by syncope, to cut short
Garrulous - given to prosy, rambling, or tedious talking
Chamfra - to cut a furrow in

Thats just in the last two pages that I've been reading.

The third reason to love Nabokov is for his memorable characters. They are so sincere and so sincerely wrong. Humbert in Lolita is in love with a child and yet he continues to love her when she is grown leaving some room to believe that he might actually love a person instead of an age range.

Luzhin the chess master in The Defense confuses the real world with Chess. When he is not playing chess he believes he is dreaming and loves his dream, but knows its still just a dream. 


Of course my favorite, Charles Kinbote from Pale Fire who we learn about as he gives a literary review of a poem his neighbor wrote. The book is laid out as a poem followed by a literary critic of the poem. Kinbote believes his the exiled king of Zembla and that the entire poem is actually about his life and his escape from his supposed country. He is a narcissistic meglomaniac who twists each line of verse to tell his own story.


These memorable characters crack me up just thinking about them. Seeing them bubble along as they try to make their way in life creates very fun stories. 


Nabokov's lovely language, variety of vocabulary, and characters should not be missed. I hope that you have already enjoyed Nabokov's works and if not, I hope I've convinced you to read a few. They are sure to reward you with