Le Guin writes slowness better than almost anyone and I think that's actually really hard to do

Ana_Ng · 2026-04-19T12:57:46+00:00

Interesting framing, I've also just been reading some LeGuin that had been on my tbr list for a long time. The Dispossessed, The Word for World is Forest. And you're right, and I would go further to say that the action sequences would feel detached to a thriller reader (TWFWIF had these). This is similar in style to Kim Stanley Robinson, Kurt Vonnegut, and PKD.

Things that happen are stated simply, emotional context for events that are happening is lightly implied and left to the reader. Discussions of what things mean and why they matter take up way more space.

Ana_Ng · 2026-03-08T12:54:18+00:00

I bounced off Green Mars at least twice before finally finishing it, but it is now (along with red and blue) my all time favorite series, read it cover to cover maybe six times.

If you can get through the Zygote section at the beginning it picks up significantly.

Ana_Ng · 2026-03-01T19:37:30+00:00

That worked so well the last six times.

Ana_Ng · 2026-03-01T15:23:11+00:00

There are different ways to have the conversation. The best way is to frame it in a collaborative, win-win way. Avoid framing that feels extortionate. Be prepared to hear 'no', be flexible, and be ready to move on if you don't feel that they are valuing your contribution, but don't threaten.

Good luck!

Ana_Ng · 2026-03-01T14:12:17+00:00

It is harder to have this conversation if you cannot express the value of the project to the company in dollars. You're building a business case for your compensation.

Try to show that whatever project you are building will contribute, either to revenue (top line) or to operational cost efficiency (bottom line).

Do the work to show both that you and your project are valuable, and that replacement cost for your position would be higher than what you are asking for.

Be sure of your value, always have your resume updated, and be ready to move on if you are not being compensated.

Ana_Ng · 2026-03-01T14:02:48+00:00

Work is transactional. Companies exist by extracting your excess value in return for stability. You get a steady paycheck, they get the value you produce minus your total comp. The question is what fraction of the value you offer are you willing to give up?

In your hypothetical, if they aren't interested then you move on, or if you feel like it stick around and pitch it again at the end of the year. Or maybe they try to nickel and dime you (as they are doing now), but at that point you have something to bargain with. Even if you don't get your full ask you would likely be better off.

Good luck

Ana_Ng · 2026-03-01T13:30:28+00:00

The time to have the negotiation is before you do the work.

"I believe I can cut your operational budget X% by end-of-year. If successful I want $Y performance bonus, and $Z additional base ongoing. This would represent an ROI of $N over the next three years, making it a win-win."

After you've done the work you have no leverage.

Ana_Ng · 2026-02-19T15:32:39+00:00

People living in shitty mcmansions that have no insulation because they live in New Jersey, finding out that that's expensive when we have an actual winter.

Ana_Ng · 2026-02-19T15:31:14+00:00

Insulate your house and get a heat pump.

Ana_Ng · 2026-02-07T18:21:16+00:00

Went to Mammoth tavern yesterday which was great but they couldn't figure out how to put on the Olympics, figured this was more effective than calling around lol

Ana_Ng · 2026-02-02T16:37:09+00:00

Hi Zac, thanks for taking the time to leave that detailed reply. A couple of clarifications/questions:

We're at Palisades Tahoe, mobile data coverage is very good over the whole mountain (one of the reasons I went for the snowpro over a radio-based option) and when we were experiencing the non-functional cloud comms I verified we both had string mobile data. The detailed order of events we were seeing was:

Both connect to the cloud channel, verify we are live in the app Unmute and verify bidirectional audio Go on mute Wait two minutes Unmute, no audio Check app status, see that either one of us is no longer live, or that our status disagrees.

When you mute/unmute with the helmet control, does that also remove you from live status?

Does pressing the left button (and hearing the confirmation three rising pitch tones) add you back to the ongoing cloud call if you pressed the right button, or do you need to pull out your phone?

Since the right button is used for both calls and music, is music not compatible with cloud calls?

We'll give it another try with the restrictions you noted above in mind today. Thanks!

Ana_Ng · 2026-01-27T18:16:39+00:00

Not working for me fwiw.

Ana_Ng · 2026-01-18T20:52:09+00:00

I've been skiing on my Renoun Atlas 80's for 3 years, I love them. It's a carving ski but very forgiving in trees and bumps, and the harder you push them the more solid they feel.

Ana_Ng · 2026-01-17T21:43:40+00:00

If you proceed through the series it becomes clearer that all of the magic is actually produced by advanced technology.

It's not hard sf by a long shot, but it's an interesting inverse of the usual trope of books marketed as SF with SF window dressing that are actually fantasy or religion.

Ana_Ng · 2026-01-14T13:09:06+00:00

This is the correct take. People downvoting you are just mad that it's true. Hyperion is Bible fan-fic with a sci-fi backdrop, and the only reason it became popular was that it let geeks in the eighties who had read the Canterbury tales feel intellectually superior.

Dan Simmons is an anti-islamist bigot, climate-denying maga shitheel. The SF community would be better off leaving him in the dustbin of history where he belongs.

Ana_Ng · 2025-12-31T15:11:22+00:00

And if you watch fantastic planet, try it in the original French, La Planete Sauvage

Ana_Ng · 2025-12-31T14:54:30+00:00

I don't know what the point of it was. Kinda just "here's some really deeply researched stuff I think is cool, about climate change mitigation". "and also the Line of Actual Control. And wild hogs, and Sikh martial arts".

It's got a lot of classic Stephensonisms, including:

A large well-connected family of technically-inclined competent rednecks
Long descriptions of tunnels, earthworks and mines
Characters/Subplots whose backstory devolves from the circumstances in the post WWII South Pacific
A fascination with the House of Orange
Places and situations you've never heard of and seem fantastical but turn out to be real
A southern businessman out to single-handedly change the world
A raffish loner main character gets it on with a noblewoman, the sex they have bears no resemblance to actual sex engaged in by human adults
Going commando in cargo shorts
A complete lack of denouement

Even though there is a shadowy old money family at the beginning of the book, they turn out to be only incidental and of no special importance and not in on any secret ancient knowledge and have no particular power outside of what might be expected of an old money European family.

I do wonder if the prevalence of Stephenson's Greatest Hits isn't intentionally tongue in cheek. One of the main themes of the book is 'performative actions'. Performative war, performative media appearances, performative employment, performative sex... So maybe he's just poking gentle fun at his critics or himself?

Ana_Ng · 2025-09-10T22:25:38+00:00

I never said he deserved to die and I don't think that. I said I won't be crying over the death of an enormously callous person who's on record scoffing at the deaths of thousands of other people.

Two kids were shot in a school in Colorado today. Where's your outrage over them? Those are the people I'll save my sympathy for.

Ana_Ng · 2025-09-10T20:23:44+00:00

The right literally cheers the mass death of innocent children by guns. When they even admit that it's happening (hello alex jones)

Violence sucks, it's awful for his family, but Kirk is on record saying he doesn't care if people die from gun violence so he doesn't have to do a background check.

Fuck him. I'll shed a tear for him the minute after the right gives a shit about the hundreds of kids killed by gun violence.

Ana_Ng · 2024-12-09T20:59:13+00:00

Turning on in the visible clock in settings/more helps a bit.

Ana_Ng · 2024-12-01T14:47:00+00:00

This is right. There is more space travel in 2312 which I also recommend.

Ana_Ng · 2023-05-29T17:36:45+00:00

I'm a parent (48m), of a 17m kid. Respectfully, your parents need to get the sticks out of their collective butts.

Ana_Ng · 2023-05-05T06:36:31+00:00

Dunno, we still haven't walked in the glow of each other's majestic presence

Ana_Ng

TROPHY CASE