Ender

I'm about half way through Orson Scott Card's Xenocide.

So far, Card's reach has exceeded his grasp. He clearly had a lot he wanted to accomplish with this novel, so much that he must have plotted it all out in detail. Then he worked his way through the plot, point by point.

While he may have plotted the other novels in the Ender series, until now, none particularly read that way. Speaker for the Dead was pure brilliance, and really deserves a place in the annals literary history. Yes it is set in the future and has aliens, but really it's a novel about family and the human condition.

Ender is a marvelous character who embodies the ubermensch described by Nietzsche. Well, to be honest, I don't know if Ender is what Nietzsche had in mind, but Ender is what I had in mind when I read Nietzsche. In this character we have the perfect balance of Mr. Fred Rogers's sensitivity and wisdom with children, Captain Kirk's audacity and courage, Jimmy Carter's ability to communicate with alien leadership and Alexander's ability to lead an army into combat. This is what I aspire to be.

Now, I know I ain't Ender, I ain't Jimmy Carter or Fred Rogers. I ain't Alexander (I don't even know much about Alexander), and I sure ain't Kirk. We all need heroes though, don't we? And Card has provided me with one who I enjoy immensely.

Even in the over plotted Xenocide, the light shines through. I do hope he settles down for the next installment.

Psychic Energy

I was elected President of the Condo Association last Saturday. I can't go into many details since much of the association communicates via email, and I wouldn't want to be indiscreet.

Thus far, the position has been very psychically draining. The new board (all of whom I like and respect) inherited some baggage that will take some time to work through. This has not left much brain energy for blogging.

I also had a houseguest for a week or so, and guests always change the dynamic of one's household. We had a great time, and I'm glad he was here, but it was another event that kept me from blogging.

I wonder if I'll ever get used to this level of stress. So far I'm doing okay, but I was exhausted after the election. I ran the meeting, it went for an hour and a half, and there were some powerful personalities and important issues. I was so focused on the process that I barely registered the content.

I wonder how professional politicians deal with the constant conflict and juggling of personalities. I imagine they tend to be more extroverted than I am. I'm really a split; I enjoy being the center of attention, but it drains me. I can't keep it up forever. Before too long I have to crawl in a quiet hole to recharge.

So... "Adams" Blanchard had two attorneys? And they both want me to have the estate?

HARRY STEPHEN & ASSOCIATES

Dear Blanchard,

The passing away of Late Mr. John Adams Blanchard has prompted me to write you this email because you bear the same surnames as the deceased.

I am the deceased Attorney. The deceased died in April of the year 2004, without any heir nor beneficiary neither did he marry nor have any child. He died the way he came into this world 82 years ago, alone.

The Law in the Country of his death simply states that, “should a deceased person estate or cash deposit remains unclaimed by anyone so designated to by the deceased before his demise or proclaimed to be the beneficiary by the deceased Attorney, such estate or and cash deposit so left behind by the deceased shall be forfeited to the State after two years of such remaining unclaimed.

The deceased was such a nice and wonderful person who spent a better part of his life fighting for women equality and donating a substantial part of his wealth towards that course.

You have been contacted to assist in collecting the total sum deposit of twenty million United States Dollars which stands to be inherited by the next of kin. The deceased had none (this is only known to me as the Attorney). I can make you the next of kin and the Probate will release the money to you but on one condition, and that is you take 40% while l take 60% (the reason for the 60% is because l need to donate 40% of my 60% to the fight against Women brutality).

I will need to know your thoughts about the above immediately. Please do note that it is very important that you keep this very confidential.

Regards

Attorney Harry Stephen

Steven Shaviro

I took a few classes from Steven during his University of Washington days. He wrote a better analysis of No Country for Old Men than I did.

Now a South African

FROM: ATTORNEY FRED THABO
TEL: +27-73-666-8850
SUITE 3 # 19 CARLTON TOWER
CARLTON CITY. JOHANNESBURG,
SOUTH AFRICA.


ATTN: Blanchard
                                            INHERITANCE.


It is my privilege to capture your names from theinternet. My name is 
ATTORNEY. FRED THABO  a legal practitioner and the personal Attorney to
late
Mr Adams Blanchard,a  national of your country who died along with his
wife
and his Two sons in a ghastly motor accident along Port  louis-Reduit
express in August 13, 2001.All the occupants in the vehicle lost their
lives.

I am convinced that it was the grace of God that made me to locate you.
My client was a successful and am accomplished family  man, who made
enough
fortune before his untimely death. Since then I had  made several
inquiries
through your Embassy to locate any of my clients  extended relative but
this
exercise has proved unsuccessful.

After several unsuccessful attempts, I decided totrace his relatives 
through the Internet, to locate any member of hisfamily not much
progress 
was recorded. My late client was an influentialwealthy businessman, an 
Gold
magnet here in South Africa and he left behind a  deposit of Twenty 
Five 
Million, Two Hundred Thousand United States Dollars($25,200,000.00usd)
in
his domiciliary bank account in a commercial bank here in  South
Africa.

After the death of my client his bankers contacted me,  as his Attorney
to
provide his next of kin who should inherit his  fortune. The board of
directors of his bank adopted a resolution and I was
mandated to provide his next of kin for the payment of this money
within 28 
working days or forfeit the money to the bank as an abandoned property.

The bankers had planned to invoke the abandoned property decree of 1996
to
confiscate the funds after the expiration of the period given to me.

Despairing at the point of exhaustiveness,fortunately, I came across
your
name  , to my utmost amazement , you are nationals of  the same
country.
Convinced that you may be linked with my late client or that you might 
provide clue to my search, I therefore,decided to contact you with
these facts before me because of the situation now . By  virtue of my
closeness to the deceased and his immediate family, I am very much 
aware of
my client financial standing and the bank account he operates.

I have reasoned very professionally and I feel it willbe legally 
proper to
present you as the next of kin of my deceased client,so that you can be
paid
the funds left in his bank account, hence I contacted  you. I seek your
consent to present you as the Next of Kin to the  Deceased since you
are at
an advantage as nationals from the same country, so  that the proceeds
of
this Bank Account valued at $25.2 Million Dollars can  be paid to you.

We shall both share the funds. 60% to me and 35% toyou, while 5% 
should be
for Expenses or Tax as your Government may require, I  shall assemble
all
the necessary Legal Documents that will be used to back up  our claim
.All I
require is your honest cooperation to enable us see  this deal through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under alegitimate arrangement 
that
will protect you from any breach of law.

Please get in touch with me by telephone or email to  enable us discuss
further.

Best Regards
Attorney. Fred Thabo
Hop

Ultimate Mega Robots

I'm pleased with my draft. Holmes, Westbrook and Portis were on the top 15 of my big board. As usual, my WR position is sketchy, so I went for depth and am hoping for sleepers. Michael Vick and Jake Plummer are always good fantasy choices. Shockey is one of the best TE's, and the Pittsburgh defense is legendary.

On paper, things are looking good. Injuries are my vulnerability. Vick, Holmes, Shockey and Rogers all have histories filled with injury.

QB M. Vick
WR N. Burleson
WR S. Smith
RB P. Holmes
RB B. Westbrook
TE J. Shockey
W/R C. Portis
K J. Carney
DEF Pittsburgh

Bench:
W. Dunn
(Atl - RB)
J. Plummer
(Den - QB)
C. Rogers
(Det - WR)
D. Givens
(NE - WR)

Another scam from a "Nigerian"

I know damn well it's a scam, but part of my wants to contact this guy and try to get those three million dollars. That's why it works, I'm sure. Somebody out there doesn't know better and that impulse will overwhelm any suspicions.

I put the message in italics to distinguish it from text I wrote.

Dear Blanchard,

I am Barrister micheal morgan, a solicitor at law. I am the personal attorney to late Mr. Pitt Blanchard, a national of your country, who used to work with one of the oil servicing Company in Nigeria. Here in after shall be referred to as my client.

On the 21st of April 2001, my client, his wife and their only daughter were involved in a car accident along sagbama express road. All occupants of the vehicle unfortunately lost there lives. Since then I have made several enquiries to your embassy here to locate any of my clients extended relatives, this has also proved unsuccessful. After these several unsuccessful attempts, I decided to track his last name over the Internet, to locate any member of his family hence I contacted you.

I have contacted you to assist in repartrating the fund valued at US$3.5million left behind by my client before it gets confisicated or declared unserviceable by the AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK OF NIGERIA (ADB), where this huge amount were deposited. The said BANK has issued me a notice to provide the next of kin or have the account confisicated within the next fourteen official working days.

For the fact that I have been unsuccesfull in locating the relatives for over 2 years now, I seek the consent to present you as the next of kin to the deceased,since you have the same last name with my client, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Therefore, on receipt of your positive response, we shall then discuss the sharing ratio and modalities for transfer.

I have all necessary information and legal documents needed to back you up for claim. All I require from you is your honest cooperation to enable us see this transaction through.

I guarantee that this will be executed under legitimate arrangement that will protect you from any breach of the law.Please get in touch with me through this email address:michealmorganchamber@excite.com

Best regards,

Barrister Micheal Morgan.

7 Habits

I'm working to incorporate the "7 habits of Highly Effective People" into my daily life. My main focus is on "Doing first things first" or however Covey phrases it, and on "Seeking first to understand, then to be understood." That one is particularly challenging and useful. No one listens as well as they should. Well, no one that I know anyway. I'm starting to notice who is a good listener and who isn't.

This has also got me thinking about real world habits of effective people. I had expected the book would be more practical and ground level. While I'm not criticizing the scope of Covey's work, I, at least, could benefit from actual physical postive habits.

For example, "Never lose your composure." That's a good one. I'm much better at that one at this point in my life than in the past.

Another is "walk with your head up, eyes raised, and be aware of your surroundings." This is especially important in the city, and when crossing the street. It also applies to the work environment. It's good to notice acquaintances and friends, and it's important to take responsibility for your own safety when dealing with traffic.

"Really try to remember people's names when you meet them. If possible, shake hands and say their name at the moment of introduction." That gives you a fighting chance of name recognition.

"At least glance at everything you sign or otherwise agree to."

"When searching for something, look where it's supposed to be. Even if someone else just looked there, look there again. Then look where other people might think it's supposed to be. Then where it was supposed to be at a different time. Really expect to find the thing you're looking for." This is wordy. I am a good finder, and this is the forumula for my success.

"Pick your battles." This is cliche by now, I'm sure. It's an important habit though.

"Take care of yourself." There that's seven. This is also essentially Covey's 7th habit. He calls it "sharpen the saw."

No Country for Old Men

I've been pretty busy over the last few weeks, and all of my best ideas come when I'm running or riding the bus.

I finished Cormac McCarthy's new novel, No Country for Old Men, while in California with my girlfriend for a memorial service. The craftsmanship of his language is as masterful as ever, and the story was a little simpler than his other works.

I miss the long philosophical speeches found in his other novels, specifically The Crossing, and All the Pretty Horses. Even Blood Meridian gave the bald preacher some fantastic lines that helped explain his diabolical nature. This time around, the evil seems willing to talk, but no one wants to listen. Maybe that's why the good guys either die or run away. They won't learn from the evolving evil. They resist using old patterns, old ways, old morality. In the new era, the old ways aren't good enough, and the old time good guys are dying off.

At least whent he Border Trilogy wrapped up, Billy made it to the end, and we had a sense that he could survive in the new world, because he understood it and because he wanted to live. He also had the power to avenge John Grady's murder. We find no such solace here.

This surprises me some because the protagonist has some moral ambiguity about him. His acquisition of a suitcase full of drug money sets the novel's plot in motion, and his refusal to align with the law keeps it going. Make no mistake, he is a good man, however. Of that there is no doubt. He is steadfastly loyal to his wife, he is generous when appropriate, he goes to much trouble to take a dying man water, and he refrains from shooting a deadly adversary in the back.

When the accounts are settled, Moss's shining (but imperfect) morality leads almost directly to his demise. A more moral man would have left the money. A less moral man would not have returned with water (which led to the discovery of his identity), and would have killed the terminator sociopath when he had the chance a few hundred pages later. Perhaps that is McCarthy's lesson.

S. Korean man dies after 50 hours of computer games

It should go without saying that 50 hours is way too long to spend in a row. Still, I didn't expect it to be possible to die from exhaustion from gaming.

Go figure.

Ravens running back's return to camp delayed

I have nothing against Jamal Lewis. He made a mistake, got into trouble, and is doing his time. However, I can't manage to have any sympathy either.

I understand Billick's frustration: it's hard to get your team ready when a key piece is missing. He's smart to bite his tongue. It's too late to criticize Lewis over this issue, and it's pointless and non-productive to blame the system since Lewis has had a relatively easy time of it.

Home Improvement

I'm gearing up for a significant home improvement project. Our upstairs bathroom will be the first target. I plan to repaint and put in a new tile floor.

I don't know how to lay tile. The quest begins. Lucky for me, Lowes is holding a ceramic tile clinic every Saturday in August. I've already signed up for the August session. I would have gone this week, but, alas, I have a massage scheduled.

The Tragedy of the Commons

This article is an in depth analysis of the human societal condition of sharing resources, and ruining said resources through mismanagement.

Tragedy of the Airport

Interesting essay about traffic at the airport and why some delays are caused.