I read a lot of science fiction in high school and into my 20s, then I focused more on the real life stuff like you mentioned (btw -I'm 41.) I'm sure you can relate to how the early exposure to Science Fiction, and really, any sort of speculative fiction, whetted the appetite for more real-life stuff.
Now that I am, I dunno, somewhat mature (I guess), I have started to read speculative fiction as much as I did as a teen and university-age person. About five or six years ago I started by reading my favs from when I was a kid and young adult I've continued as often as I'm able.
Comparing my perspective and interpretations of things I read as a kid, then later as a 30 something to 40 something gives me insights, laughs and well, more insights.
What you said about sci fi ideas planting seeds, yes, I agree, Grace.
I used to make a distinction between sci fi/speculative fiction and my favourite classics, but after I started reading more of everything on the printed page again,(instead of work/school/web stuff), the distinction between all of these categories is more blurred for me.
Thanks for the complement Grace, but, alas, although I have a good imagination, my reference to 'Speaker to Animals' refers to a species of human-like (kinda sorta) and warlike feliform aliens, the 'Kzin' from Larry Niven's Ringworld Universe.
In Niven's Ringworld series, Earth Tribe is related to the Kzin on a genetic basis due to Earth, Kzin and other planets being nutritional yeast farms for an ancient and now more or less billion-year-extinct galactic empire... humankind,kzin et al are descended from the yeast...
My original, accidentally evaporated comment referenced David Brin's Uplift Series, in which galactic civilization has maintained order for aeons by uplifting pre-sentient beings to sentience.
The definition of a sentient species by Brin's galactic civilization is one that has uplifted another to sentience.
By dumb luck, 22nd century humans have uplifted several species at the point of First Contact and were reluctantly deemed sentient by Galactic Civilization.
The series notes that 21st century humans would be deemed non-sentient, punished for environmental damage to the planet, then adopted out to some worthy galactic species. Here is a WikiP link to Brin's Uplift series..well worth a look:
Actually this is not Nicolas Cage's mug grafted to a picture of a cat, although I guess there is a passing resemblance.
This name, or more accurately the _title_ of the being in this photo is 'Speaker to Animals'*, who is an expert translator of human dialects into his native tongue and an expert in human relations.
*'Speaker to Animals' is a job title - there is one on every mothership, and there are many, many, motherships.
Nah...it wasn't mistaking her reflection for another cow that caused this. She looked through the window, saw all the nice stuff the humans have, mentally compared it with her straw-lined stall in the barn and had a fit of envious rage.
Hell, some animal-rights arshole probably taught the old gal how to read and gave her a copy of Animal Farm.
The steer that chased you over the fence? Same deal.
He was probably saw a bull, horse or perhaps a dog or stable-hand getting it on with his lady, reflected on his own inadequacy and by the time you happened by he was pretty hot and bothered.
You - a human with intact balls - visible through those too-tight jeans you always wear - and who looks like the dude who castrated him - you were an irresistible target on which to stampede his rage.
It is unfortunate that the Mormons have co-opted, mostly taken over the Boy-Scout central leadership. This started a few decades ago -the Mormon leadership decided they wished to control the Scouts so they required every Mormon boy to join. With the organization flooded with Mormons, it was easy to seize most of the top, national leadership positions. I'm talking about the national leadership...the local and troop-level leadership pretty much reflects their community. This being said, I was a member of troop 316 in Eugene Oregon in the early 80s when I was in 6th grade and J.R. High. The Scout Master was a Baptist. He referred to the Girl Scouts as the 'dyke-scouts', bitched about 'ni..ers' and made snide, nasty remarks about Jews. Being Jewish, but not obviously so, I put up with it for a while then quit. My friend Danny was black and Jewish - he quit fast, his parents filed a grievance but were laughed at by the local leadership, the head of which happened to be a f***ing Baptist.
The real test of one's pain endurance is when strapped or held down in a really debasing humiliating position then having your ..it get pushed up. This is when you learn physical posturing does not hold a candle to mental-posturing. Pain is a mind-game, which from your post, I guess you already grasp ;)
It would be nice if we could do this with 12 year-olds. They are so demanding of time, especially mine, and I'm at a point in my career where putting the kid on ice for a while would be really helpful.
The so-called baby-box was simply a high-falutin' fancy crib.There was nothing cruel about it. It actually had some good points - it was kind of like a concept crib, kinda like a concept car. Unfortunately, his concept was seized on by sensationalist yellow journalists - including apparently, the author of this blog post!
Although not of Scottish-Celtic heritage (I'm Irish and a Jew), I love Haggis - it is wonderful. People say - sheep stomach, ewww. But look at sausage and hotdogs. These are intestinal casings - part of the poop shoot if you will. Anyway, if you like poop shoot products, Haggis is also made using casings ;)
If I can get my hands on them, I would really like to try these chips.
I read a lot of science fiction in high school and into my 20s, then I focused more on the real life stuff like you mentioned (btw -I'm 41.) I'm sure you can relate to how the early exposure to Science Fiction, and really, any sort of speculative fiction, whetted the appetite for more real-life stuff.
Now that I am, I dunno, somewhat mature (I guess), I have started to read speculative fiction as much as I did as a teen and university-age person. About five or six years ago I started by reading my favs from when I was a kid and young adult I've continued as often as I'm able.
Comparing my perspective and interpretations of things I read as a kid, then later as a 30 something to 40 something gives me insights, laughs and well, more insights.
What you said about sci fi ideas planting seeds, yes, I agree, Grace.
I used to make a distinction between sci fi/speculative fiction and my favourite classics, but after I started reading more of everything on the printed page again,(instead of work/school/web stuff), the distinction between all of these categories is more blurred for me.
Well, good night!
In Niven's Ringworld series, Earth Tribe is related to the Kzin on a genetic basis due to Earth, Kzin and other planets being nutritional yeast farms for an ancient and now more or less billion-year-extinct galactic empire... humankind,kzin et al are descended from the yeast...
It's a great series, here's the WikiP:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Known_space
My original, accidentally evaporated comment referenced David Brin's Uplift Series, in which galactic civilization has maintained order for aeons by uplifting pre-sentient beings to sentience.
The definition of a sentient species by Brin's galactic civilization is one that has uplifted another to sentience.
By dumb luck, 22nd century humans have uplifted several species at the point of First Contact and were reluctantly deemed sentient by Galactic Civilization.
The series notes that 21st century humans would be deemed non-sentient, punished for environmental damage to the planet, then adopted out to some worthy galactic species. Here is a WikiP link to Brin's Uplift series..well worth a look:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uplift_Universe
But my computer ate the comment and restarted, so I made the Kzin comment.
Cheers!
This name, or more accurately the _title_ of the being in this photo is 'Speaker to Animals'*, who is an expert translator of human dialects into his native tongue and an expert in human relations.
*'Speaker to Animals' is a job title - there is one on every mothership, and there are many, many, motherships.
Hell, some animal-rights arshole probably taught the old gal how to read and gave her a copy of Animal Farm.
The steer that chased you over the fence? Same deal.
He was probably saw a bull, horse or perhaps a dog or stable-hand getting it on with his lady, reflected on his own inadequacy and by the time you happened by he was pretty hot and bothered.
You - a human with intact balls - visible through those too-tight jeans you always wear - and who looks like the dude who castrated him - you were an irresistible target on which to stampede his rage.
I hear that kids do it all the time at Rainbow Parties.
Then I decided it must be....and what an interesting interpretation of what coffee does for our minds and bodies.
Cheers!
Nice post. Ignore the trolls.
The real test of one's pain endurance is when strapped or held down in a really debasing humiliating position then having your ..it get pushed up. This is when you learn physical posturing does not hold a candle to mental-posturing. Pain is a mind-game, which from your post, I guess you already grasp ;)
Take one down and pass it around, 98 bottles of beer on the wall.
98 bottles of beer on the wall, 98 bottles of beer.
Take one down and pass it around, 97 bottles of beer on the wall.
97 bottles of beer on the wall, 97 bottles of beer.
Take one down and pass it around, 96 bottles of beer on the wall.
96 bottles of beer on the wall, 96 bottles of beer.
Take one down and pass it around, 95 bottles of beer on the wall.
95 bottles of beer on the wall, 95 bottles of beer.
Take one down and pass it around, 94 bottles of beer on the wall.
94 bottles of beer on the wall, 94 bottles of beer.
Take one down and pass it around, 93 bottles of beer on the wall.
93 bottles of beer on the wall, 93 bottles of beer.
Take one down and pass it around, 92 bottles of beer on the wall.
Or down in London town to go, go
With the record selection
And the mirror's reflection
I'm dancing with myself
When there's no-one else in sight
In the crowded lonely night
Well I wait so long
For my love vibration
And I'm dancing with myself
Oh dancing with myself
Oh dancing with myself
Well there's nothing to lose
And there's nothing to prove
I'll be dancing with myself
If I looked all over the world
And there's every type of girl
But your empty eyes
Seem to pass me by
Leave me dancing with myself
So let's sink another drink
'Cause it'll give me time to think
If I had the chance
I'd ask the world to dance
And I'll be dancing with myself
If I can get my hands on them, I would really like to try these chips.