Under the Tracks
April 10, 2009 | permalink

I played a game today that recreates the Battle of Gettysburg. It attempts to represent the chaos of battle and the unpredictable nature of the the behavior of groups of people to such a level of detail that the complexity of it is almost more than I can wrap my brain around. It was fascinating, and almost fun (I think the fun will be more present next time, when I have to spend less time thinking about the rules and more time figuring out how to annihilate the forces of my dear friend Smacktalk).

It was a good simulation, but not a good distillation, if that makes sense. It was way too complicated to be elegant, which is one of the things I find really appealing about things that represent other things; their elegance as compared to the reality of the complex system they are standing in for.

I have always liked things that are representative of other things. Maps and codes, graphs and charts, distillations and simulations, and diagrams of every kind. I'm fascinated by the way that large and complex things and systems can be represented in a simple and (relatively) easy to understand format. (Subway maps are a good example.) One of the reasons that I love my job- indeed, one of the things about it that engages me the most- is the diagramming of how I want the lighting systems installed on the paperwork I give to my crew to work from. I am constantly striving to improve it, to make it easier to read and understand and yet still convey all of the information that they need to do their jobs. My goal (which I believe is nearly impossible, but is what I shoot for nonetheless) is to encapsulate the load-in so well on the paperwork that no one needs any clarification.

Of course, that would mean I diagrammed myself out of a job. So maybe it's good that it is probably not going to happen...

Posted in Musings
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When It Started
April 6, 2009 | permalink

Well, I have to tell you Gentle Readers, I have been having a hell of a productive week. I could almost get used to this not working thing. I have been able to get things done that I have had on back burners for weeks and weeks. And not just one thing; several.

In the last week, I've made a five gallon batch of beer, started a four gallon batch of Wildflower Mead, made bread, made cookies, started some cherry tomatoes and some scallions, made all-weather firestarters for upcoming camping trips that I have in the works, began a perpetual bread starter (no more over-priced yeast for this bear!), AND replaced the dead tree in my living room that has been there for an embarrassingly long time.

I am ridiculously pleased with myself.

Posted in Food and Drink & The Home Front
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Ghostfire
March 23, 2009 | permalink

I'm back to the freelance life, Gentle Readers. Though I must admit, it wasn't really my idea. What with the economy tanking and all, it seems that no one is throwing ostentatious events; and no matter how ambivalent I was about working on them (I love work itself, and the people I work with, but often thought the actual events were crap), they were without a doubt my company's bread and butter. And unlike some of the others, my position has no potential to bring work in; only to implement work that we already have. Alas!

Not that it is all bad. There are a lot of things that I never seem to have enough time to do, and my free time will definitely increase. So I see a lot of cheese and bread and beer in my future. The horror!

Posted in Working
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