There is an ancient program on Unix-style operating systems called fortune, which selects a fortune or quote at random from the compendia of such at its disposal. It is much-beloved by most of us; I run it every time I log in, and tonight it gave me this:
If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the
shoulders of giants.
-- Isaac Newton
In the sciences, we are now uniquely privileged to sit side by side
with the giants on whose shoulders we stand.
-- Gerald Holton
If I have not seen as far as others, it is because giants were standing
on my shoulders.
-- Hal Abelson
In computer science, we stand on each other's feet.
-- Brian K. Reid
Which as with so many things is funny for just being true. Computer
science is such a bizarre little field, a branch of mathematics with
intense practical application, holding true to the adage that "no
discipline with 'science' in the name has anything to do with
science". And cogent and at least partially correct arguments can be made
that much of the discipline has been stagnant for decades.
I have now had roughly the same headache, varying in intensity, for a week. This corresponds with my chiropractor being out of town (the temporary replacement is good, but my chiropractor is exceptional), rumors of some sort of minor bug getting people sick, and...nothing much else. I feel a bit alone these days, but it was worse before the headache. Varying amounts of water, caffeine, meat, and starches seem to have had little effect. So I haven't done aikido in a week, and tomorrow I'm going to class unless I really feel I'd hurt myself. It's all very silly; I feel there's something to be done, or something to happen, or a gate for me to pass through, before I feel quite right again.
I gave money to KALW today, a little bit more money than I gave to KQED. I don't know about the ethics of it, but in terms of sheer economics, I listen to KALW constantly over the Internet at work, and I know that that costs money and will be one of the earlier things to disappear if they have to make budget cuts. During their pledge drive they've never mentioned KQED explicitly, but paint themselves as "the little station that does all this on a shoe string", saying that "other public radio stations" have pledge drive goals in the millions (KQED was aiming for $2 million), while KALW's is just $500,000, which astonishes me because they carry and produce locally many, many more programs. My housemate says KQED is the Cadillac of public radio stations.
I've start singing again, this time choral music with Peninsula Cantare. They're a nice and talented bunch, although I don't think I'll be with them for the 10-20 years that many of the members have. I need to motivate and go hang out with some peers.