Thursday, October 10, 2002
Hello, World!
Okay, I'm back. Yes, yes, from the dead; this time reports of my demise have not been greatly exaggerated - to paraphrase and bastardize yet another great literary passage. Speaking of literature, Hungarian author Imre Kertesz has won this year's Nobel Prize in Literature for his 1975 novel Fateless, an account of concentration camp internment seen through the eyes of a 14-year old boy. Looks like the printing houses will have a field day resurrecting that one.
The tale reminds me of the efforts of Primo Levi, an Italian Jewish writer who penned The Periodic Table, a collection of similar accounts seen through the eyes of a chemist. As close to my heart as his text is as a fellow person of science, I will nevertheless be forever separated from his perspective by his singular meeting with adversity. Wonderful text, one I've probably mentioned before. I think it's actually in the book-basket in my bathroom as I write this.
So, who isn't attending university this term? Well, it's me, as it turns out. Opportunity comes and goes, as it were, and never are we too late to grab it by the horns and...well, sometimes let it go, I suppose. Here I am, then, working amidst industry uncertainty, doing fringe science and engineering, hoping against hope that it might matter one day - and that I might still be working at it when it does. Because, after all, I love it.
But there's more. I've another chance to make good on promises made, since I was recently offered a part-time teaching position at the Art Center College of Design, doing more of what drives me. If I can consume enough caffeine, I should be able to pull it off.
Oh, comments are back. But, you already knew that. If you can put up with their incessant charity solicitations, you should be fine. Thank you all for your continued support.
Okay, I'm back. Yes, yes, from the dead; this time reports of my demise have not been greatly exaggerated - to paraphrase and bastardize yet another great literary passage. Speaking of literature, Hungarian author Imre Kertesz has won this year's Nobel Prize in Literature for his 1975 novel Fateless, an account of concentration camp internment seen through the eyes of a 14-year old boy. Looks like the printing houses will have a field day resurrecting that one.
The tale reminds me of the efforts of Primo Levi, an Italian Jewish writer who penned The Periodic Table, a collection of similar accounts seen through the eyes of a chemist. As close to my heart as his text is as a fellow person of science, I will nevertheless be forever separated from his perspective by his singular meeting with adversity. Wonderful text, one I've probably mentioned before. I think it's actually in the book-basket in my bathroom as I write this.
So, who isn't attending university this term? Well, it's me, as it turns out. Opportunity comes and goes, as it were, and never are we too late to grab it by the horns and...well, sometimes let it go, I suppose. Here I am, then, working amidst industry uncertainty, doing fringe science and engineering, hoping against hope that it might matter one day - and that I might still be working at it when it does. Because, after all, I love it.
But there's more. I've another chance to make good on promises made, since I was recently offered a part-time teaching position at the Art Center College of Design, doing more of what drives me. If I can consume enough caffeine, I should be able to pull it off.
Oh, comments are back. But, you already knew that. If you can put up with their incessant charity solicitations, you should be fine. Thank you all for your continued support.