what are you reading now?

[woops]

yes their was

 

[pattycakes_]

yes their was

I don't wanna be around when Tea catches that typo

 

[Clinamenic]

I don't wanna be around when Tea catches that typo

We just need to avoid saying his name three times and stomping on a mushroom.

 

[Clinamenic]

After which point the ground will quake and faint echos of linguistic humor will emanate from the horizon.

 

[Mr. Tea]

I've read about EM Forster's short story The Machine Stops numerous times as an incredibly prescient prediction of a futuristic society in which everyone effectively lived the life of a bedroom-dwelling internet addict.

I'd always meant to get round to reading it one day but never quite had done. Then recently I was picking a new book to read by rooting around in my shelves - and I was pleasantly surprised to discover a book of EM Forster's short stories which contained that very one. I wonder how long I've had it unawares... good job I didn't order a copy at least I guess.

Anyway this book is really knackered, the front cover is missing and as I read the first story each page fell out after I turned it, it's a kind of one-shot book, destroy after reading, or by reading even.

After I'd read the first story I couldn't handle it any more, we never really tdlj about how the condition of the book, and even the shape, size, font, text size etc affect one's reading, but this just sat by my bed for ages until I decided to skip the second story and use that as a kind of buffer between the bit I'm reading and annihilation.

Anyhow, I read the next few stories and then got to The Machine Stops the first page of which is startling. It reads like a cruel piss-take of am online music critic that could have been written... right now, probably tomorrow even. It begins with a grossly fat woman on her chair listening to music that surrounds her from no visible source, then becoming irritated as one of her thousands of contacts interrupts her - it actually says "in certain directions human intercourse had advanced enormously". It's not just very accurate, it blows my mind, the first page ends with "I can give you fully five minutes, Kuno. Then I must deliver my lecture on "The lasting effect of Burial on the dubstep scene in UK and beyond".

Gibson's Neuromancer which came some sixty years later was praised for anticipating the internet, but this is truly uncanny. Well, so far, my train journey ended at that point, the rest of it will have to wait until tomorrow.

Is there a bit that presages @Corpsey in his 4K VR quadropornophonic wank-palace?

 

[Clinamenic]

After which point the ground will quake and faint echos of linguistic humor will emanate from the horizon.

It is rumored that he has learned to transmit puns across mycelial networks.

 

[Clinamenic]

Wee lads would oft venture out into the wood, to catch perchance some punny musings betwixt trees and fungal logs. Little did they know it was merely Mr. Tea, rehearsing his bits before his dinner parties.

 

[Clinamenic]

If a pun is told in a forest with no one to hear it, is it funny?

 

[Mr. Tea]

I don't wanna be around when Tea catches that typo

Damn, missed it! Too busy doing actual work. I need to rethink my priorities, clearly.

 

[pattycakes_]

You're slippin

 

[woops]

If a pun is told in a forest with no one to hear it, is it funny?

it's not funny even when there is someone there, to hear it.

 

[Mr. Tea]

it's not funny even when there is someone there, to hear it.

I knew some cunt would say this. And I thought, it'll probably be that cunt @woops.

 

[mixed_biscuits]

I've read about EM Forster's short story The Machine Stops numerous times as an incredibly prescient prediction of a futuristic society in which everyone effectively lived the life of a bedroom-dwelling internet addict.

I'd always meant to get round to reading it one day but never quite had done. Then recently I was picking a new book to read by rooting around in my shelves - and I was pleasantly surprised to discover a book of EM Forster's short stories which contained that very one. I wonder how long I've had it unawares... good job I didn't order a copy at least I guess.

Anyway this book is really knackered, the front cover is missing and as I read the first story each page fell out after I turned it, it's a kind of one-shot book, destroy after reading, or by reading even.

After I'd read the first story I couldn't handle it any more, we never really tdlj about how the condition of the book, and even the shape, size, font, text size etc affect one's reading, but this just sat by my bed for ages until I decided to skip the second story and use that as a kind of buffer between the bit I'm reading and annihilation.

Anyhow, I read the next few stories and then got to The Machine Stops the first page of which is startling. It reads like a cruel piss-take of am online music critic that could have been written... right now, probably tomorrow even. It begins with a grossly fat woman on her chair listening to music that surrounds her from no visible source, then becoming irritated as one of her thousands of contacts interrupts her - it actually says "in certain directions human intercourse had advanced enormously". It's not just very accurate, it blows my mind, the first page ends with "I can give you fully five minutes, Kuno. Then I must deliver my lecture on "The lasting effect of Burial on the dubstep scene in UK and beyond".

Gibson's Neuromancer which came some sixty years later was praised for anticipating the internet, but this is truly uncanny. Well, so far, my train journey ended at that point, the rest of it will have to wait until tomorrow.

To us the Machine resembles the internet but in its all-encompassing ministrations to the terminally passive Forster was actually talking about the welfare state. In fact, Forster's only known poetic contribution was:

The only thing that I do hate
The notion of a welfare state
Darwin showed us: lift up the fit!
Not save the meek - please, f--- that s---

 

[Murphy]

Try the Wilderness First: Eric Gill and David Jones at Capel-y-Ffin - Seren

‘Miles’s appraisal of Jones’s paintings is not only eloquent, but refreshing… I would recommend this eminently readable book.’– Art Unit ‘Well researched and thoughtful. This book deserves to be read and considered by every admirer of David Jones, as well as by every admirer of Eric Gill.’– PN...

www.serenbooks.com

Eric Gill can do one but purchased for a deeper delve into David Jones. Tremendous. You have to skin read at times because Gill’s sexual abuse of his daughters and incestuous relationship with a sister (plus his dog) means it is tough trying to get past his presence and the first 1/4 of the contents. After said debacle it opens right up. Jones messy cluttered working environment, his observations of the valley itself with Hatterall Ridge‘s constant presence and notes on the colour ranges of changing seasons. Didn’t want it to finish and a mission with my eldest son is pending

Less info on In Parenthesis than hoped for but more on subsequent writing, letter correspondences and his engraving/carving catalogue and techniques, all intermingling with visitors, financial concerns and a deeper examination of the role of the border country

 

[Turns out HMG was right!]

Try the Wilderness First: Eric Gill and David Jones at Capel-y-Ffin - Seren

‘Miles’s appraisal of Jones’s paintings is not only eloquent, but refreshing… I would recommend this eminently readable book.’– Art Unit ‘Well researched and thoughtful. This book deserves to be read and considered by every admirer of David Jones, as well as by every admirer of Eric Gill.’– PN...

www.serenbooks.com

Eric Gill can do one but purchased for a deeper delve into David Jones. Tremendous. You have to skin read at times because Gill’s sexual abuse of his daughters and incestuous relationship with a sister (plus his dog) means it is tough trying to get past his presence and the first 1/4 of the contents. After said debacle it opens right up. Jones messy cluttered working environment, his observations of the valley itself with Hatterall Ridge‘s constant presence and notes on the colour ranges of changing seasons. Didn’t want it to finish and a mission with my eldest son is pending

Less info on In Parenthesis than hoped for but more on subsequent writing, letter correspondences and his engraving/carving catalogue and techniques, all intermingling with visitors, financial concerns and a deeper examination of the role of the border country

 

[Clinamenic]

Anyone try reading standing up? I've been find that when I sit down, depending on the posture/shape of the seat, I often get a bit fidgety in terms of shifted my weight, crossing my legs to have my book rested at a more readable angle, etc.

But the last couple days, I've tried reading standing up, and I seem to have an easier time focusing, but I'm not sure if that is incidental, IE not really attributable to this change in posture.

 

[Clinamenic]

I'm also trying, now, an alternation between reading and exercising, doing a few sets of reps and then reading 5-10 pages.

 

[versh]

I walk around reading sometimes, also squat down against a wall.

 

[Clinamenic]

I walk around reading sometimes, also squat down against a wall.

Walking seems effective - haven't tried that myself. I wouldn't have much space to, unless I went outside somewhere, so I'd just be pacing around inside, which may still be effective.

Suspect it has something to do with some sympathetic nervous system activation and maybe some neurochemistry, EG people listening to podcasts/audiobooks while going on walks seem to claim better/deeper comprehension, but that could also be because of the visual stimulation of navigating outside.

 

[IdleRich]

I often read while walking, always have done.