Monday May 31 1516

Sadly, I had my bike stolen Saturday night from out in front of work: it was locked and stuff, but it's light enough that they probably just lifted it into a truckbed. A shame, but isn't a huge loss and was fun while it lasted. I likely won't get a replacement. Probably for the best: riding without plates or helmet was starting to attract unwanted attention from the beefed up police presence (for the World Expo). I did get a package from Dad, though, so that's pretty sweet!

Thursday May 27 0936

I'm going to get new glasses today: it'll be nice to replace my pretty dinged up, chipped glasses =) It'll likely be 600RMB (about 80$).

Monday May 24 0728

Habits in China that I will have to Break Lest I Die when I Come Back

1. Walking into traffic
2. Walking through dark alleys
3. Talking to people on the bus

Habits I'll be happy to Start Up again when I Come Back

1. Drinking from the faucet
2. Reading english-language books
3. Online gaming

Friday May 21 0839

Hello EDWARD MILLER,


Regretfully, we have canceled your wireless service because your account remains unpaid. Our records reflect an unpaid balance of $0.57. If your account remains unpaid, AT&T may be left with no alternative but to refer your account to a collection agency. This may result in a negative reference on your credit report if the past-due amount remains unpaid.

If you have already made your payment, please disregard this reminder. For your convenience, you may also pay by major credit card, debit card or electronic check by calling 1-800-947-5096.

If you have any questions about your account, please call us at 1-800-947-5096 and an AT&T representative will be glad to assist you.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.


AT&T

Not only did I have it cancelled anyways 3 months ago but... seriously? Fifty-seven cents?

Tuesday May 18th 0956

Today I learned that coffee beans are actually the seeds from a kind of cherry! Never would have guessed: I always assumed it was a particularly pungent bean plant thing, or like Okra.

Friday May 14 1454

I've been playing lots of Starcraft, and I'm quite enjoying playing Protoss against the guys on the company LAN. I'm pretty good, but not quite good enough to consistently win in 4-player matches. This weekend should provide some practice!

It is the national sport of Korea, apparantly

Starcraft

Jump to 7:30 or so for the game's start?

Wednesday May 12 1413

I've been given a simulator to play with, and so have been doing SCIENCE at work, looking at the statistics coming out of relevant populations. It's fun, but tests take a long time to conclude, so I mostly doodle and wait to analyze the results when done.

Otherwise, it's a beautiful spring in Shanghai!

Wednesday May 5th 0922

I brought two books with me to China, largely for airplane-fodder. Sadly, I had thought there'd be books in English in specialty bookstores, but I was disappointed: they only really carry "Let's Learn Chinese", "Let's Learn English", and "A Hundred Phrases for the Aspiring Emigree", OR recent publisher Bestsellers like "The Audacity of Hope", "Harry Potter and The Belated Sequel", and such. What I'd much prefer is a nice solid midlist book selection, but I assume that, given the hassles of book importation to the PRC (both legal and logistical) and the mercurialness of the likely customer's tastes, it is hard to avoid relying on sure-profitable books.

And so I've been rereading my two books over about every four weeks, and last night I finished a re-read of Titanicus by Dan Abnett, since I wasn't ready to plow my way through Titus Groan by Mervyn Peake again.

Titanicus is a nice solid geek-fest with giant robots, straightforward characters, and plenty of combat sequences, and so it makes for a nice relaxing read. I imagine it's a lot like Grandma's mysteries in entertainment value (except for the fact I doubt there are giant robots and lasgun combat sequences in the mysteries, haha). Having read Titanicus a few times now, and some other books by the author, I have to conclude however that it is not quite as solid plot-wise as most of his other books.

I think the MacGuyver at the end tends to spoil the book a bit for me (the Archenemy needs to get its act together if a homemade bomb made from piss, screw washers, and nytrate can get pulled through an entire parade ground of troops by a ragged crew of 5 and hit the Weak Spot). I also thought that the resolution for Cally was anticlimatic: she was leading her PDF remnant through all sorts of spiky baddies the whole book, and it ends with her getting a pat on the back and a dead husband, without even a cinematic out: I get the feeling that her injured charge was supposed to be a real interesting sneak through enemy lines, but Abnett realized the book was getting a bit thick for a paperback and cut it off early. I thought Moderati Tarses was real cool, but in the end he was shoehorned into the "Oh Noes A Invictus/Tempestus Commanded Titan in the Middle of Heresy" role. And there were entire characters unused: the gardener guy was intriguing, and added next to nothing to the book.

Overall, the book is solid and gripping for the first 600 pages, but I felt the tying-off of the several plot lines in the last 100 felt like it was rushed and maybe under publication pressures.

Tuesday May 4th 0836

Life in China can be boring, and most of the past week has been basically that. =)

I did go on a nice bike ride with Chris Monday, and I've been playing some LAN games with the guys at work, so at least it's been nice!