Good science fiction makes me happy. Really good science fiction makes me excited to be alive. I picked up a collection of Paul di Filippo storries, Babylon Sisters, and Other Posthumans last week. The first story, 'Stone Lives' is really good science fiction. It's a story about an individual's harsh education and a vision of a cut-throat future which is "Beautiful, gaudy, exciting at times -- but basically unfair." A simple extrapolation from the present.

I had my first formal go lesson today. Joe and I played through an opening on a 13x13 board, and then reviewed 3 professional openings. Playing another opening, this time on a 19x19 board was followed by an examination of several Tesuji. Since Wednesday I've been paying closer attention to how I count shortages of liberties. I might have won the 5 stone game I played against Keith on Wednesday (and faired slightly better in the 9 stone I played earlier that evening) if I'd spent a little more time counting liberties.

The opening is something that I've paid little attention to, so this morning gave me much to think about. Occupy corners, approach corners, occupy the sides and then press toward the center. Seeing three distinct examples of how this is actually implemented opened my eyes. Now for application.

listening to nothing
reading the Dune Prequels, the Best of the Best of Science Fiction, and Paul di Filippo
Playing Go (and Wow)
Watching this evening: Travellers and Magicians