(no subject)

Well I feel all joiny now.

Went to the volunteer info session for the Fringe and have signed up for 3 shifts next weekend... might do more if I feel like it but I thought on the whole, safest to start small.

(It is a peculiarity of this city that downtown, as you walk "south", the sunset appears almost directly behind you. As I was walking to the bus down St-Urbain the sun finally dipped below the flat grey roof of cloud spread over the entire city and struck the trees and buildings ahead of me a bright, unbelievable red-gold between the grey below and the grey above. When I looked behind me I could scarcely see for the golden haze and the golden reflections off the parked cars.)

And I finally heard back from Toronto Trek and am signed up for 5 panels, which I suppose I thought I had some clue about when I signed up for them:

• Save Farscape!


• World's Tallest Freestanding Panel


• Is that a Terminator in your pocket?


• Sex in Sci-Fi: A Lack of Imagination?


• Birds of Prey

Meep.

Made stir-fry using President's Choice marinated tofu. Not bad but a bit dry, when I use the rest of it I'll throw in a bit more liquid.

(no subject)

While cooking I listened to the second part of Renegade Architect on Ideas, about Christopher Alexander. Must find the books they were discussing. Some of the most thought-provoking stuff I've ever heard, I think: the need for beauty in the built environment, and the extreme artificiality (I believe he used the term "violence") of the modern way of building, and the objective nature of beauty and symmetry, and God being present in all things, and more. (I was in the kitchen so I kept missing bits... may have to get the transcript, or they may put it online.)

Anyway, they were talking about the fundamental principles of beauty and how they seem to be universal; touched briefly on molecular symmetry etc. I always enjoyed point groups and molecular geometry. Interesting how the universe seems to like both order and chaos; entropy is only one part of the equation. Is it foolishly mystical or only common sense to think that of course we humans and other living things like symmetry because it's what created us in the first place?

Hope I'm not getting too pompous here.

Disclaimer

It has come to my attention that one of my dearest friends believes I have my shit together. I would just like to take this opportunity to make it clear that this impression is in no way correct, and I apologize if my posts have given that impression. I am just as disorganized, stressed-out, prone to panic attacks, messy and confused as anyone else.

OK?