november 2023
Hey! Is life just about planning things and then doing them?
mexico
In an annual effort to escape the god-awful dreariness of Victoria, I was in Mexico for most of November.
This trip convinced me that the best way to travel is to stay as close as possible to a park. We stayed next to Plaza Río de Janeiro in Colonia Roma. It was lovely. My favourite food was at Taqueria Orinoco and Taquería Álvaro Obregón. Here’s a little video of the trip!
The one downside was a lack of running water for about 24 hours (Mexico City is having water issues). Those were hard hours.
spanish
On a related note, I want to learn how to speak Spanish.
It’s become clear to me that to maximize my experience in Mexico, I need to speak and understand the language. So far my knowledge is quite limited.
I did start watching Spanish tv with the subtitles on. It’s quite helpful for getting used to the tone and cadence. I can recommend Elite, it feels like Riverdale but things are slightly less unhinged.
I kept a note of common phrases because I left my Spanish phrasebook on the plane:
Aside from the practical merits, I enjoy the tone and cadence of Spanish. It sounds smooth and soft and flowy. English is more jagged and sharp. I want to sink into that other tone more.
book
Lately, I’ve been staying up too late. I’m not sure why (probably the salsa classics ringing in my head from Mexico). Usually, reading a good book helps me fall asleep.
I don’t have a book I’m eager to read at the moment. There’s about eight non-fiction books I’m trying to read but they are all too boring.
This is a plea for help.
I am in need of a fiction book recommendation. Preferably something spacey involving aliens or politics. My favourites of this genre include:
The Three-Body Problem
A Memory Called Empire
Dune
Children of Time
Hyperion
Please provide any recommendations. PLEASE
other stuff
I’ve been working on advent of code 2023 very slowly. Mostly in Typescript, a bit in Rust. My repo is here!
I finished Dilla Time and was introduced to Slum Village which I highly recommend.
end
Almost a year of newsletters! See you next month 🤠
I don’t know much about science fiction, so here’s what chat gpt 3.5 said in reply to your question!
“Given your interest in "The Three-Body Problem," "A Memory Called Empire," "Dune," "Children of Time," and "Hyperion," you might enjoy the following recommendations:
Foundation by Isaac Asimov: If you enjoyed epic science fiction with intricate world-building, Foundation offers a vast, galaxy-spanning narrative.
Neuromancer by William Gibson: For a cyberpunk twist with complex plots and futuristic themes, Neuromancer is a classic choice.
Altered Carbon by Richard K. Morgan: This novel combines cyberpunk and space opera elements, exploring themes of identity and consciousness in a future where minds can be digitized.
The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin: Le Guin's Hainish Cycle, particularly this novel, offers thoughtful exploration of sociology and politics within a richly imagined science fiction setting.
Pandora's Star by Peter F. Hamilton: The Commonwealth Saga, starting with Pandora's Star, is a space opera series known for its expansive universe, diverse characters, and intricate plot.
These recommendations share some thematic elements with the books you mentioned and might offer you a captivating next read.
for something spacey - Ender's Game. if you ever wished "wow Ender's Game was great, I wish I could completely forget it so I could read it for the first time again!" then you'll want to read Ender's Shadow. (admittedly it's light on the politics but does vaguely touch on it)
for something not requested - The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August. I agree with the goodreads average of 4/5 stars. it's got a really interesting premise though so I'd recommend looking into it!
for something the exact opposite of what was requested - How to Invent Everything: A Survival Guide for the Stranded Time Traveler. another nonfiction book that might end up on your "not interested" list. I'm listening to this one as narrated by the author and it's a good "listen while doing something else" book. so if you're having trouble sleeping, this might be good to put on (then start a stopwatch so you don't lose track of time) and challenge yourself to make quick doodles of whatever he's talking about.
-virak