Crichton

Disappointing news - Michael Crichton died.

One of the first proper adult novels I ever read was Andromeda Strain - from then, I was hooked. I think I was in grade 6 or something. I probably didn't understand half of it, but I felt like I did. My love for reading and writing was sparked by that first encounter.

I remember scouring the public library for his novels, putting myself on waiting lists. I guess everyone has their author, the one whose writing seems less ink on paper than a direct conduit to your imagination. Crichton was that guy for me. I grew up reading him. In a way then, thinking about him is a way that I remember my late childhood and adolescence. Sitting up reading late into the hours of the night, experiencing his engaging prose... even though much of that time was spent alone in my room with a book in bed, I remember it with the fondest of memories - retrospective bias be damned!

I hope some other kid picks up a ratty old copy of one of his novels.

Obama

It's been a good day - Obama took the white house, and I was actually tossing and turning all night waiting for my alarm to go off so I could see whether the countless polls had indeed correctly predicted the win. Great that he won - on so many levels. That being said, the pragmatist in me wants to know what he will now do. He's promised heaps, and delivering on everything seems unlikely. Then again, if they can pull a trillion dollar bailout out of seemingly thin air, who knows. I got swept up in Obama fever, but my temperature is returning to normal, and I really am curious to see whether Obama is more than just a phenomenaly good orator.

I'm glad he is young and inexperienced.... what does one do when one is inexperienced? Ask for help! And he's gonna need all the help he can get to navigate the dire straits that America seems to be in.