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Wasting time
Sep. 23rd, 2003 10:16 pmAd Mundo Exteriore,
I have nothing interesting to say. If I were about a chapter ahead in my biology reading, I would be spitting back curious quotes and facts about genetics and genomes. If I were doing my Rome of Augustus readings instead, I would be babbling on and on about Livy and Cicero and the idealization of the Republic. If I were constructively wasting time (ah, what a paradox) by reading Plato or that Jonathan Weiner book, both of which are now conveniently sitting on my bookshelf less than three feet away, I would be speculating about shadows on cave walls or Drosophila with no sense of time. If I were not so constructively wasting time by finishing Otherland, I'd be musing on how Tad Williams' portrayal of an net-addicted society is particularly original.
But no. I am stagnating in this chapter of my biology textbook. It's not even boring. The text is littered with these intriguing little examples, like the way temperature affects the number of facets in a Drosophila eye, or the way that albinism is caused by a mutation in tyrosinase. It is impeccably organized, systematically presenting knowledge in an efficient no-nonsense way that should make it a delight to read. So why can't I concentrate?
Probably because I'm reading fanfic and checking my email every ten minutes instead. Oh, and did I mention writing in my LJ?
I was standing in the line for dinner at Annenberg earlier today, and in front of me, these two boys were talking very loudly and enthusiastically about something. At first I thought they were talking about sex, but then it seemed the topic was really musical theater, or perhaps sex in musical theater, or films, or modern art, or sex, or sex in films. I have a bad habit of eavesdropping on conversations, you see. Of course, it's pointless to eavesdrop in the dining halls, because the background noise is too loud anyway. After a while, I just gave up, bewildered. They both sounded rather passionate about it, whatever it was. O_O My strange experience of the day.
So yes, biology reading. Right.
...Tari
I have nothing interesting to say. If I were about a chapter ahead in my biology reading, I would be spitting back curious quotes and facts about genetics and genomes. If I were doing my Rome of Augustus readings instead, I would be babbling on and on about Livy and Cicero and the idealization of the Republic. If I were constructively wasting time (ah, what a paradox) by reading Plato or that Jonathan Weiner book, both of which are now conveniently sitting on my bookshelf less than three feet away, I would be speculating about shadows on cave walls or Drosophila with no sense of time. If I were not so constructively wasting time by finishing Otherland, I'd be musing on how Tad Williams' portrayal of an net-addicted society is particularly original.
But no. I am stagnating in this chapter of my biology textbook. It's not even boring. The text is littered with these intriguing little examples, like the way temperature affects the number of facets in a Drosophila eye, or the way that albinism is caused by a mutation in tyrosinase. It is impeccably organized, systematically presenting knowledge in an efficient no-nonsense way that should make it a delight to read. So why can't I concentrate?
Probably because I'm reading fanfic and checking my email every ten minutes instead. Oh, and did I mention writing in my LJ?
I was standing in the line for dinner at Annenberg earlier today, and in front of me, these two boys were talking very loudly and enthusiastically about something. At first I thought they were talking about sex, but then it seemed the topic was really musical theater, or perhaps sex in musical theater, or films, or modern art, or sex, or sex in films. I have a bad habit of eavesdropping on conversations, you see. Of course, it's pointless to eavesdrop in the dining halls, because the background noise is too loud anyway. After a while, I just gave up, bewildered. They both sounded rather passionate about it, whatever it was. O_O My strange experience of the day.
So yes, biology reading. Right.
...Tari
