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Beach, part 2

Well, I am not really any more tan than I was before the beach, but I did have a very enjoyable time and made it back in one piece. And I didn't cause too much trouble with the jetski!

The Beach

I don't think I have ever been on a vacation to a beach before. We'll see how I do!

Movie Review: A Brief History of Time (Morris)

This was the first Errol Morris movie I had ever heard about, and the last that I have seen (until he makes more!). I wasn't quite sure what to expect, since he usually focuses more on the people he interviews than the supposed subject of the movie, and Stephen Hawking didn't seem like a particularly charismatic interview subject.

How foolish of me to doubt Mr. Morris!

The first section of the movie was simply a biography of Stephen Hawking's life, and his achievements seem even more profound to me when I can appreciate his human side. The stories of his friends realizing just how smart he really was were particularly entertaining. The onset of his disease brings a particularly tragic tone, although it was interesting to discover he decided to study theoretical physics because it could be studied without having to write as much. What could his brain have discovered if he had devoted himself to another field?

The movie then describes some of the more social aspects of his discoveries while giving a small amount of explanation of what they were. He would certainly come across as arrogant if it weren't for the fact that it seems like he is justified in believing that he really is smarter than other people.

I know the movie doesn't make any attempt to explore any negative aspects of his life beyond the disease, even though the movie was released the same year he got divorced. But I don't think that ultimately matters much, even though his first wife was probably what got him through much of the early years of coping with the disease. Exploring those topics would take away from the movie's desire to show the excitement and enthusiasm of his research, and the abilities he has that make him unique.

Don't expect a film version of the book; instead you should expect a exploration into Stephen Hawking's life story.

Uh oh

The neighborhood bookstore (well, one of them, anyways) just moved in across the street. While this seems like a good thing at first, the free time to take advantage of this event did not move in with it.

Travel Tips

• Airline ticket prices make no sense
• The amtrak website sucks (I won't even link to it)
• Don't take a bus
• Bring along comics to read and no one will bother you (thanks to Michael Chabon for this tip!)
• Roadtrips are only fun if you bring along someone you like
• Always bring something good to listen to
• Stay hydrated, but don't forget to go to the bathroom when you can
• Bring snacks!
• Going to visit someone really special is always worth it