Pandora's Star review

I finally finished Pandora’s star and It was really great. It is a total immersion ride, which takes us all across this new universe; rendered almost life like by Mr.Hamilton detailed descriptions of these numerous worlds, cultures and histories.

Even more, the characters are so well made, that I fell in love with everyone of the protagonist, the good guys and the bad guys alike -If you could qualify any of these characters as such- I could even understand the aliens’ point of view!

The story builds up slowly, but steadily- I could hardly put the book down in the last couple of hundreds pages- but all the strands of the tale are most interesting and entertaining, furthermore they give an abundance of background info on the societies, culture and humans of that universe.

Once more, Mr. Hamilton has constructed a magnificent space opera, with many believable scientific contraption, entrancing characters and thrilling plot lines. I can’t wait for the next installment.

Pandora's Star is a Science Fiction novel by PETER F. HAMILTON

My courses

I thought that I will give a brief overview of the courses I am tacking this semester At the American University of Beirut (AUB). I am tacking three undergraduate courses in Political Studies, in preparation to begin my masters studies next year (I will still have to take two more undergraduate courses next semester) the courses are:

PSPA 201 Introduction to Political Science: It is a general introduction course that covers concepts such as power, authority, state, and so on. This course is quite interesting, and if it wasn’t at 9:00 in the morning it would have been more enjoyable. However the professor (Karim Makdisi) is interesting and all in all I feel I am learning a lot from him.

PSPA 203 Research Methodology: This course focus on research methods and theories. It a bit boring and the professor does no effort to lighten it up. However it is not a total waste, the strict methodology of research we are learning cannot but be helpful in any future project.

PSPA 210 Survey of Political Philosophy: This course is my favorite. It covers the great political thinkers from Plato to Marx. We discuss each thinker political theories, and compare him to the other. The professor (Shafik Masri) is really good and interesting, without being boring .

All in all my course are quiet informative and enjoyable, and most importantly I am learning a lot.

Link to AUB web site: WWW.AUB.EDU.LB

Long time

Between my graduate studies, work, and what few minute left of spare time, I have not been able to blog...
However nothing new happened. I am searching for a new car to buy, so I would appreciate any advice on that. I am looking for a 15000$ new car.
I just enrolled in with Aramex for what they call a Shop & Ship program. In short I pay a one time fee for a Po Box in the States and the UK. And they handle the shipping from there to here. Compared to Amazon fees it is a lot cheaper, specially on paperback books.

A lebanese Highway Adventure

I live in a strange but charming country (Lebanon) My home is built in a quiet suburb of Sidon (a city 45 Km to the south of Beirut, the capital)I study and work in Beirut, so everyday I get into my car, a red Nissan Sunny, and I drive out of our apartment's parking down to the main highway that links the main southern cities (like Sarafand and Tyre) to Beirut.

It is quiet a nice drive; the highway runs parallel to the sea shore. It is a very nice highway, from one side you have the azure blue Mediterranean Sea and on the other side the once-green hills of Lebanon. Nowadays these verdant hills have become a concrete jungle.

Before getting on the highway, I have to stop at a Lebanese army road block. It is really just a hindrance , compared to 10 years ago when any traveler to Beirut had to stop at 10 or more roadblocks, manned by 3 or 4 foreign armies ( from Syrian, to Palestinian…)

The highway looks quite modern, but for the stalls of fruit and vegetable vendors that litter the emergency lane (on average there is around 10 or more throughout that stretch of the highway) They are quite harmless -usually illegal Syrian workers- unless you had an emergency and need to pull over, or when the vendors try to cross the highway to say hello to their friends and relatives on the other side.

Add to that, the different bumps and missing parts of the security rails that divide the two opposed lanes of the highway; even though the highway was built by international contractors with modern standards, no one cares to maintain it. So day after day, with each accident (we Lebanese are quiet famous for our crazy driving) the gap widen, till the point where the security rails is completely missing for over a mile…

Well believe it or not but this daily ordeal is far from over, I still have to tell you about the dogs, the cyclist, the hookers, and the infamous “Service” drivers… but all that will need to wait till my next post.

Back to university

I am still reading Peter Hamilton’s Pandora star, and it is still great. Other than that, it is getting quiet calm, nothing much to report. However, in a week or so I will begin my master studies in political studies at AUB (American University of Beirut).
I would appreciate it if anyone has any advice or insight on that major. I am fairly excited about going back to the university.

It has been a while since I wrote anything; even my critiquing is drying up. I should start transforming my script into a short story.

iTRIP

My sister just came from her vacation in France and she got me an iTRIP and it rocks!
Very easy and simple to use, i do not know how anyone who has an iPOD can live without it. Because believe me entangling the earphones while driving is not a fun matter!
Its range is quiet good, but i fear it consumes a lot of power, however i am still not sure i will need to experiment more with it.
Now all what i need is to change my car's speakers. It is a good thing that i was planning to change my car soon.
On another subject i am still reading Hamilton Pandora's Star, and it is getting really good.
I am planning to start writing articles in my blog, we will see...

Waking Dreams

Sometimes I have waking dreams. The ones in which you know that you are dreaming.
It is pretty weird, specially when you are fully aware that this is a dream, and then you can - to a certain degree- control or affect what is happening.
However at times my control fails or something stops it , and I feel trapped in my dreams, not knowing if it is a dream or reality.
anybody else has those kind of dreams ?

More book rating

Here is some more book ratings

1984 (George Orwell): 9
Ender's Game (Orson Scott Card) : 9
The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (Stephen Donaldson): 8
The Seconde Chronicles of Thomas Covenant (Stephen Donaldson): 7
The wheel of time-the whole series-(Robert Jordan): 7
The song of ice and fire-the whole series-(George Martin): 9

Book rating

I am trying to rate the books i have read, mainly those I own.
The rating will be on a scale on ten with 1 being an unreadable book, and 10 being a perfect book, which is pretty rare if not impossible.
I will begin with rating several books.
Maybe later I will put all of the books in alphabetical order in a table…

Dune (Frank Herbert): 9
Lord of the rings ( Tolkien): 9
Legend (David Gemmell): 9
White Wolf (David Gemmell): 8
The Swords of night and day (David Gemmell): 7
Naked Empire (Terry Goodkind ): 3

U3T Versions 0.11

U3T chart
Originally uploaded by bobjouhari.

U3T version 0.11
(added chart and some corrections)

the Unified Theory of Time Travel

First level:

First time travel as is, can be divided into two main branches: possible or impossible.

Defining the two terms, Time travel is possible: means that by any means or methods a sentient entity can travel back in time (whether the entity travels corporally or incorporeally or if it can interact or just witness the past, will be left for discussion in the next levels of the theory) this branch of the theory will be referred to as ( I ) :(number one in roman symbols)

The second term, time travel is impossible: means that no sentient entity can travel back in time, no matter what means or methods it uses. This branch of the theory will be referred to as ( II ) :number two in roman symbols)

The second level:

Moreover traveling back in time refers to the act of traveling to a time that precedes the present, whether it is by a second or a million years. Next I will deal with the next level of the theory in the ( I ) branch.

The fact that it is possible to perform time travel via robots or cameras, as opposed to time travel in person causes the theory to diverge in two possible branches: The first referred to as ( I-A ): states that time travelers can go back in time in person or corporally. The second referred to as ( I-B): states that time travelers cannot go back in time in person or corporally. Rather they go incorporeally ( in spirit/mind or via robot or cameras, the different ways of incorporate time travel will be explored in the next level of the theory)

NB: Of course this theory is still under study so it can (and it will most probably) undertake many modifications and changes. Therefore each time a change or edit some already published parts. I will amend it with a version number.

Let's Partyyyyyyy

I am sick and tiered of these so called politicians. To hell with all of them! I am just going to watch and see who will vote for the changes in Lebanon’s constitution, and remember their name so from now till the end of my days I will never vote for them or support them.

Now let’s forget this sticking affaire and concentrate on tomorrow beach party! I am very excited and I am sure we will have a lot of fun. I just need a great idea about how to disguise myself like a star. Because it is theme party, where everyone should look and act like some obnoxious super star. So if anyone has any bright ideas, please don’t hesitate to share them.

Cheers

Pandora’s star

Nowadays I am reading Pandora's star by David F. Hamilton, the author of the very interesting Night Dawn Trilogy (which I have also read, and found very, very grandiose and absorbing)
Pandora's Star is the beginning of a trilogy, in a space opera setting. It comes with all the perks of a setting like that, wormholes, spaceships, loads of planets and of course some invisible meanacing aliens. All woven with Hamilton great style.

I started it a few days ago, and believe me it can be hard some night to out the book down. Even though I usual go to the gym after work, then I come back home exhausted, wanting nothing more than to go to sleep.

I am around page 100 or so and the pace it already picking up. I will try to regularly post my impressions on this book.

U3T

U3T
Originally uploaded by bobjouhari.

This is a shematics of the first two levels of my U3T. For more detailed descriptions see my old post about the same topic (on 8/17/04)

Lebanon’s dark fate

That last vestiges of democracy abandon my country, leaving it as barren as the rest of the Arab world.…

What saddens me, however, is not the fact that the Syrian are the only ones calling the shots in Lebanon, but the fact that not one politicians that wield powers effective botching their planes, dared stand against them. All cowered down and nodded their acceptance, relinquishing their ideals, the trust put in them, and their country.…

However I shouldn't feel betrayed, for it is the Syrian who appointed these so called Lebanese government officials (ministers, MP and the rest) and it is quit natural for them to follow their masters blindly. Yet for several of them I still harbored some sliver of hope, that they will revolt and shed their cloaks of servitude and grasped freedom, no matter what the cost will be to them or their personnel interests. But I was wrong, and no matter what they say or will say, I will never again vote for them or support them!…

No more cookies!

I finished David Gemmell’s the swords of night and day. And as usual I was great. And without spoiling it, the last two lines were chilling. However it is a bit repetitive compared to his earlier novels. Desperate times, the hero comes, and with the help of a few friends and allies they win the day against all odds.

But Gemmell writing is so entrancing and his imagination is so vivid that one forgets about these and enjoys the ride. Just like a roller coaster ride, which one have already rode several times. Yet each time the thrill is present. Or as I compared it earlier, it is just like a home made cookie. And no matter how many times you eat it, it is still yummy!

Now that I have finished all David Gemmell’s novel I had, there no more cookies.

Musing on life

I have read a very interesting article today here is the part I enjoyed most. It appeared in the Sunday Times Culture on august 22, 2004. It was by Bryan Appleyard, and it was a comment on a new book on the Simpsons called: Planet Simpson by Chris Turner.

“How on earth do we get by, living as we do, amid the exhausted projects of modernity?
However, you can’t really satirize life, because there is no norm by which it can be judged, no perspective from which it can be seen. It’s all we have, it’s where we live. You can’t make it better by laughing at it; you can only make it more bearable. These shows aren’t satire; they are, in the highest sense of the word, consolations. They trash life as it has become the one true corrupter.”

Wow ... this quote so capture how I feel...

The agonizing process of writing

Last night I had quiet an interesting conversation with a professor of mien. We talked about lots of stuff, but mainly about writing and how hard it is, and yet in paradoxical way, how enjoyable and fulfilling it is.

I don’t know how other person finds it, but for me it exasperating to sit down, and keystroke by bloody keystroke write a work of fiction.
For in my mind it is crystal clear, it is perfect. Yet once it comes out it slowly degrade, until it is unrecognizable from the ideal I had in mind. In a way it is a perfect example of Plato’s perfect ideas theory. Everything in our material world is but pale reflection of an invisible perfection.

However once I have written what I planned to. Once I applied all my effort and skill, the result is so fulfilling. Although it may be bad or inadequate compared to other literary work or standards, yet for me it is a culmination of an agonizing effort, and that in itself the achievement. The feeling that I finished something, that I built an edifice, no matter how it looks, the feeling of achievement is magnificent. It is in the end what drives me thru the hard process of writing.

A hefty week

Long time since I last wrote anything on my blog. Well it has been a hefty week, I had some work to do, a couple of trips to the bank, and I have finally enrolled in a fitness club, and it is great. Other than that it is still the same old thing…
My work on U3T has lagged behind, but I should at least write at least two more posts on it from now till next week. Maybe finishing my analysis of the corporal time travel branch of the theory.
Meanwhile don't hesitate to throw in your comment and ideas…

The unified theory of time travel ( U3T )

Today I will begin the elaboration of my unified theory of time travel ( U3T ). It encompass all the different theories of time travel I came across and some I thought of myself (I will try to source all the theories I came across)

First level:

First time travel as is, can be divvied into two main branches: possible or impossible.
Defining the two terms, Time travel is possible: means that by any means or methods a sentient entity can travel back in time (whether the entity travels corporally or incorporeally or if it can interact or just witness the past, will be left for discussion in the next levels of the theory) this branch of the theory will be referred to as ( I ) : ( number one in roman symbols)
The second term, time travel is impossible: means that no sentient entity can travel back in time, no matter what means or methods it uses. This branch of the theory will be referred to as ( II ) : ( number two in roman symbols)

The second level:

Moreover traveling back in time refers to the act of traveling to a time that precedes the present, whether it is by a second or a million years.
Next I will deal with the next level of the theory in the ( I ) branch.
The fact that it is possible to perform time travel via robots or cameras, as opposed to time travel in person causes the theory to diverge in two possible branches:
The first referred to as ( I-A ): states that time travelers can go back in time in person or corporally
The second referred to as ( I-B): states that time travelers cannot go back in time in person or corporally. Rather they go incorporeally ( in spirit/mind or via robot or cameras, the different ways of incorporate time travel will be explored in the next level of the theory)


NB: Of course this theory is still under study so it can (and it will most probably) undertake many modifications and changes. Therefore each time a change or edit some already published parts I will amend it with a version number.

U3T Version: 0.10


Next post about U3T I will try to include schematics to better illustrate the different levels of the theory.

Star Wars: Knights of the old republic

Today I have updated my profile (yet again!) and I have added a counter to my site. I still in the middle of the book I am reading (the swords of night and fire) it is still great, and I advice it to anyone wanting to spend some entertaining moments. This weekend I have written one critique.
I should start thinking about what is the manuscript I am going to send to the online writing workshop.
As usually I have done nothing I planed on the weekend, or almost. My library is still in dire need of organization. For I have spent all my spare time on a very interesting and enthralling PC game, called Star Wars: Knights of the old republic. Anyone out there who like or want to discover PC RPG this is the game! (I realize it is an old game but I only managed to get a few weeks ago)

My next posts subjects: Time travel & Democracy

The weekend is here. I intend to finish David Gemmell’s book by Monday, and to reorganize my library, hopefully, and maybe do a critique or tow for http://www.critters.org/
Monday Rim (my girlfriend, who also has a blog: http://roumi.blogspot.com/) and I should start going to the Gym. The gym, called Lifestyles is really great, it has almost everything.
I guess that is it for today but hopefully next week I will try to tackle two subjects in more details: the first is what I talked about in my previous post on Democracy and if there is any better form of government, the second is the beginning of a small project I had in mind for along time. It is a kind of a paper about the different theories on time travel (some I read about in SCI-FI books and others I thought about). Hopefully i would be able in the end to combine the different posts on Time travel to form a single article.

David Gemmell’s home made cookies

I opted for David Gemmell’s “ The swords of night and day”. His books are, well just like home made cookies, once you start you can’t stop, they taste great and they are eaten in a second. And this book is pure Gemmell, in addition I get to meet my favorite no nonsense hero of all time: “ Druss the axe man!”
Meanwhile I am searching for a good, because I am gaining kilos like crazy, especially sitting all day in the office…
Yesterday I was supposed to write a new post in the afternoon, however I got busy.
I was thinking of starting a discussion about democracy, its failings, and whether there is another form of government that is better. For in my opinion the perfect form of government is the one where each vote is crucial yet equal to all others. A little paradox all in itself.
More on this subject to come.

Hallelujah

Today I updated my profile, and hallelujah my books finally arrived. The books are : Hammerfall, Pandora’s star, Redemption Ark, A talent for war, Left hand of darkness, Devlin’s Luck, and the swords of night and day. So now I just need to decide which one to begin. I wrote a critique for a short story on www.critters.org and I should write another one today. I will be posting a longer post this afternoon.

Waiting for my books

Well this is my first post ever! So I really don’t know what to write. Other than saying I am at work and I should start writing. For these days the workload is rather on the thin side! However idleness is so tempting. I need to break out of this circle, and maybe this blog will help me accomplish that.
Meanwhile I am waiting for my book order from Amazon to arrive. I have ordered several books, including Peter Hamilton’s latest: Pandora’s Box and David Gemmell latest the swords of night and day. And if someone could help me decide which one to read first that would be great. I will tell you what the rest of my book order is when it get here (hopefully tomorrow)