I was a bit surprised to find that it is three years since I last read anything by Neal Stephenson. So far this is living up to expectations.
George McConnell
The Psychopath Test
This book is described as ‘comical’ and full of ‘belly laughs’ – hmmm… – I have to admit that although there were many quite funny descriptions, the overall feeling I got from the tales that was told was one of concern about the “state of mind” of many of those written about – on both sides of the “psychopath” wall. The very Catch-22 situation that “Tony” found himself in I think typified the whole book’s message.
Naturally Enhanced Performance
Just a few days after I was pontificating on the difficulties of defining what it meant to be a “drug free” athlete the headlines at the Olympics have once again swung towards someone who has an “unfair advantage” through no fault of her own.
Everything Changes
Although I have written many words in this blog (and elsewhere) that express my ideas on assorted subjects it would still be fair to say that my underlying mantra on what it all means is “I don’t know” – which perhaps is just as well as it reinforces the purposes of the blog. All of my ideas/thoughts/beliefs are – as far as I am concerned – interim ones which might be superceded tomorrow – or next week – or few years from now – or perhaps even before I finish writing this sentence.
More On Making Memories
My musings on making memories was triggered by a reminder of just how limited our life span is. The inevitability of death is something that everyone must acknowledge, our time is most definitely running out from the moment we are born. Its OK – this isn’t intended to be a morbid post to the blog – simply a working through of some thoughts related to a heightened awareness of our own mortality.
Where Does Performance Enhancement End?
One of the things that you can guarantee when it comes to “big” championships like the Olympics is that there will be a few headline hogging drug cheats exposed. At this particular edition of the Games the issue has been made even more high profile (if that is possible) by the recent revelations regarding the fidelity of the testing process in Russia.
You Don’t Know Me!
The subject of memories continues to throw up new nuances. The trigger for today’s musing is hearing (a number of times about a number of different people) “I didn’t know that X used to….” – its a phrase that is heard a lot these days.
What Do We Leave Behind?
None of us is immortal – as someone (probably lots of people) once said “everybody dies” – although few know beforehand exactly when that is going to happen. A seemingly growing trend is to generate a “bucket list” – things to do before I die – always assuming I get round to them in time that is…. The longer the list, the less chance that you will actually complete it!
Visit to Maine – July 2016 – Private
Visit to Maine – July 2016
The final part of our 2016 trip to north America – mid-coast Maine.