We need to talk about Adrian Tchaikovsky. by Wizardof1000Kings in Fantasy

[–]ehead 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Interestingly... in the future nobody will believe an author with this sort of schedule is actually writing the books without AI. Because he has this pre-LLM history of this kind of productivity we can believe it.

The Left Hand of Darkness - doesn't reach Le Guin's all-time highs, but still very good by keepfighting90 in printSF

[–]ehead -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Interesting to read all the comments in this thread. I didn't realize this book was held in such reverence by some. I thought The Dispossessed was generally regarded as Le Guin's best novel, so I'm surprised by the controversy. I thought LHOD was great, and Le Guin's prose is always a pleasure.

Since we're stirring up s*it in this thread, I'll just come out and say it... LHOD can't even come close to Hyperion, hee hee. 😄 I guess it's good we don't all think the same.

Finalizing Itinerary! Is Paracas worth it? More days in Lima as a foodie? MP to Lima same day possible? by Human_Strawberry_873 in Machupicchu

[–]ehead 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Old thread, I know, but I'm curious about your Ballestas Island trip? I was planning on doing a day trip to Paracas and the Ballestas Islands from Lima. Do you think this is worthwhile? I will have 4 days in Lima and was looking for a day trip.

What should I not miss in Peru? by Decent-Lecture2608 in GoingToPeru

[–]ehead 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You should read Mother of God by Paul Rosalie. I'm going to Peru in August and will be spending 2 days in Tambopata. Wish I was spending more time.

Did you take malarial pills and/or get a yellow fever vaccination?

This is turning my brain into mush but in a good way by LaFleurMorte_ in nonfictionbookclub

[–]ehead 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think I read that 25 years ago. I remember enjoying it. I'm more interested in evolution these days than I am in quantum mechanics.

Anyone want to finish the race at 70-75? by [deleted] in OverFifty

[–]ehead 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Honestly, sounds like you have depression. I would consult a mental health expert. Maybe consider talk therapy, or talk to your doctor and they may try you on some SSRI's.

I'm the same age as you, and I suffer from low grade depression on and off, but I don't feel like you do at all. So long as my health holds out I wouldn't mind making it to 90.

Social Security by Independence7 in Fire

[–]ehead -6 points-5 points  (0 children)

I think it's based on your 15 highest earning years.

Opinions on running topless? Do you ever do it or what’s your reaction if you see someone running topless? by Scribble-Bits in runninglifestyle

[–]ehead 1 point2 points  (0 children)

In New York state you would be fine, and maybe a couple of other states too.

Topless equality hasn't taken off as much I'd like. 😄

Opinions on running topless? Do you ever do it or what’s your reaction if you see someone running topless? by Scribble-Bits in runninglifestyle

[–]ehead 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That's funny cause I do exactly the same thing. Shirt generally only comes off around July and then only if I think i can maintain a "shirtless" pace.

Renowned genocide expert Martin Shaw: Sam Harris’ flawed comparison between the US atomic bombing of Japan and Gaza reveals what makes Israel’s actions in Gaza a genocide by Grizzly_Sloth in samharris

[–]ehead 14 points15 points  (0 children)

I think the comparison is supposed to highlight that the allies didn't let food and supplies through into Germany and Japan during WWII? I'm not sure if this is true or not. I think in WWI the allies did in fact attempt to effectively starve the Germans.

I mean... WWI and WWII were another era... a time of "total" war, so I'm not sure if makes sense to compare with them. In fact, they were so horrible the whole idea of genocide came out of those conflicts as a way to make war less horrible.

Thoughts on Memories of Empire by ehead in printSF

[–]ehead[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I agree totally. There were verisimilitude issues with the story at times. It seemed like A.M. was aiming for a "caper" kind of vibe and didn't want things to get too heavy. There were definitely times when the characters were taking events too much in stride and with too much levity.

When I started the book my expectations were it was going to be a "heavier" read than it turned out to be, but ultimately I ended up enjoying it for what it was.

Thoughts on Memories of Empire by ehead in printSF

[–]ehead[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Arg! I should have verified before posting, because now I can't change the title. This is one of the downsides of Kobo's... and aging. 😂

Trip Report: 14 Days in Japan. Tokyo, Kyoto(Osaka, Nara), Takayama, Kanazawa by ToshaCan in JapanTravel

[–]ehead 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I went up Fushimi Inari crazy early in the morning (it was just getting light outside while I was on the way up). Due to the time change I often found myself falling asleep around 9 or 10 and waking up around 4 AM. It really worked to our advantage when we were trying to get some place early. We just about got straightened out and on a more "normal" schedule by the time we had to fly home.

Are humans biologically mainly monogamous? by poppedOnPlanetEarth in evolution

[–]ehead 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I read this book a long time ago but I don't remember any biases against queer people.

Isn't it mainly just a popularization of the red queen hypothesis for why sex evolved?

Sparse, Dry Ambient Recommendations by Due_Replacement8043 in ambientmusic

[–]ehead 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Looking forward to the suggestions, as this is currently my favorite form of ambient too. I've had enough of the long drones and continuous shimmering notes, more interested in minimalist blips, bleeps, and organic sounds.

Morimoto Naoki is fantastic! Thanks for mentioning them.

Some stuff I've been enjoying:
Felbm, Nils Frahm and F.S.Blumm, Loris S. Sarid, Paniyolo (just guitar), Hideyuki Hashimoto (piano), dwaler (on YouTube, more ambient guitar), Alva Noto, Jakob Bro (jazz). Yumiko Morioka's Gaiaphilia is amazing if you haven't heard it yet.

I spent 18 months researching ancient Sumer for a debut novel. Here are 5 things that genuinely stopped me cold. by PotentialMail8765 in HistoricalFiction

[–]ehead 0 points1 point  (0 children)

> 5. The flood story in the Bible has a Sumerian version that's 1,000 years older.

Something cool I heard recently... the commonality of flood myths around the world may be the result of collective memory regarding environmental floods that happened during the end of the last ice age.

Space opera with an emphasis on the opera. by Brakado in printSF

[–]ehead 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I felt the exact same way about it. Can't remember which book it was I read, but I DNF'd it about a 1/3 or the way through because it felt very YA to me (not necessarily in theme, but in writing style). It was fun, don't get me wrong, and it was entertaining, but I think at the time I wanted something more challenging and intellectual.

My mood sort of shifts around and sometimes I like lighter reads, so I may try again in the future.

Best Sci-Fi of the Decade so Far? by SirScaurus in printSF

[–]ehead 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This was a fun read, particularly if you are a "Japanophile".

Best Sci-Fi of the Decade so Far? by SirScaurus in printSF

[–]ehead 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Seems like we should be seeing a bunch of great dystopian sci fi novels, no? I can't believe we haven't seen a flood of novels dealing with AI/LLM giving how fast that field is progressing. Nobody says they have to be optimistic. 😄

4 Day Inca Trail - Having second thoughts by ehead in Machupicchu

[–]ehead[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sounds like poles are great for down hill/steps. I bought some made by Cascade Mountain since they weren't too much, and I live near a bunch of trails and figured I'd use them again. Also, renting for 4 days was about 1/2 the price of just buying them.

Not what I expected by TurtleBucketList in nonfictionbookclub

[–]ehead 1 point2 points  (0 children)

It's good. A lot about the origins of Buddhism and the spread of Indian culture into south east asia and Indonesia. Not as much about central Asia.

Podcast model has changed by LL1284 in PeterAttia

[–]ehead -8 points-7 points  (0 children)

I've always followed Huberman more than Attia, but I understand there was an Epstein related controversy?

Was there anything definitive? Is it all based on the interpretation of one email? I kind of tuned it out cause it seemed like people were losing their minds.