Comments for Rants, Raves, and Ramblings

Comment on Technology Organization Outline by Ronald

Ronald — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 19:04:00 +0000

I think your principles are sound. Of all of the technology organizations that really take off, almost all have many of the qualities you share in your outline.

Comment on A Bell Is A Cup Until It Is Struck by Nick

Nick — Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:28:41 +0000

Sounds like an interesting political thriller.

Comment on A Bell Is A Cup Until It Is Struck by Sean Nestor

Sean Nestor — Sat, 31 Jul 2010 20:05:27 +0000

Excellent…thank you. Definitely sound interesting.

If I read it soon, I’ll write my own review here.

Comment on A Bell Is A Cup Until It Is Struck by jmf

jmf — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 23:00:08 +0000

Hmm.. ok. It is a quick read and I find it amusing, particularly the stuff with Bill/Billy NRA. A lot of the corporate action here is so far overblown that sometimes I wonder how farfetched it could possibly be. ExxonMobil defends itself from Shell’s hostile takeover by sending a commando team in to install a virus and crash the stock market’s servers. McDonalds owns and operates schools for children. Emergency rescue needs to determine if you are able to pay before they will send anyone out for you.

I guess for me, a some of this seems marginally plausible, and the rest seems like a logical outgrowth of that plausibility. You aren’t required to read it like that, but it is possible. Also I think a few things are presented in the book that seem utterly implausible, so as you try to dismiss them you begin to wonder how that could come about. And then you figure out how it might come about, and you might become greatly disturbed. But there’s nothing really there to be disturbed by, just words.

I think two or three people have told me it reminded them of Orwell’s 1984. I’ve read 1984 twice, and I’ve seen the movie twice. I hate 1984. But we’re told to think of a boot stamping down a human face forever in 1984. This book invites you to think of nothing but words stamping down on a human face forever.

Comment on A Bell Is A Cup Until It Is Struck by Sean Nestor

Sean Nestor — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:15:01 +0000

It’s a good plot synopsis. I guess what I’m looking for is any insight about what you liked about the book; what content stuck out most to you? Was there something about the style that appealed to you specifically? Stuff like that.

Comment on A Bell Is A Cup Until It Is Struck by jmf

jmf — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 21:25:21 +0000

In USA countries, taxes have been abolished and the government has been privatized. Your surname is the name of whatever company you work for. A Nike executive contracts a lowly Nike employee to perform random killing of 10 Nike customers in order to build more street cred for their new shoes. That lowly employee then goes to the Police, who offer to complete the hit for him. The Police then subcontract the killings to the NRA, who perform the hit. Jennifer Government, a government agent, scrambles enough of a budget together to go after those responsible for the killings. Sort of. I’m not very good at short reviews.

Comment on A Bell Is A Cup Until It Is Struck by Sean Nestor

Sean Nestor — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 21:33:46 +0000

I will bump the book up further on the list.

Anybody want to provide a short review to get it going higher?

Comment on A Bell Is A Cup Until It Is Struck by jmf

jmf — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 03:24:51 +0000

I’ll second the praise of Jennifer Government. I’ve read it twice.

Comment on A Bell Is A Cup Until It Is Struck by Sean Nestor

Sean Nestor — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 12:45:07 +0000

I haven’t read Jennifer Government, though you’d think I would have given that NS was originally just sort of a way to market it. I wasn’t sure if it would be any good or not, but given your good review, I’ll add it to the “to check out” list.

Digital really is a fun and cute little game; I’m glad you seem to like it so far! I sort of figured you would for its fine blend of technogeekery and prose (hokey though parts of it may be).

Comment on A Bell Is A Cup Until It Is Struck by Matthew G

Matthew G — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 03:07:20 +0000

Have you ever read Jennifer Government? It’s the book NationStates is loosely based on. I read it earlier this summer and loved it.

As for Digital… now I’m engaged in a flame over Star Trek TNG, wondering if something happened to the poet who stopped posting things and won’t reply to my PMs, and learning about the history of BBSes and Viruses. And that’s just a few minutes in.