Monday 15 January 2007

Today we began our second attempt at a meditation course run by the Cambridge Buddhist Centre (having dropped out of the previous session). I was surprised by how much of a difference having a different teacher made. We've decided to commit to meditating once a day for the length of the course - we didn't manage to keep up a regular practice last time, which was part of why we gave up.

Thus far my New Year's resolutions are looking pretty good. I haven't smoked since 2006 and have done a fair amount of productive work, as well as learning how to use Flash. Yay. I think Flash may actually lower the effort required for game programming far enough that I could actually finish a game (instead of the more traditional idea -> design -> prototype code -> lose interest due to next idea cycle.)

I wiped out my bike on Saturday and have impressive road-rash on my right arm. At least the numb feeling in my little finger has finally gone away... I landed right on my funnybone and was vaguely wondering if I might have damaged the nerve, but it seems all's well. The bike's fine, of course. :

Student Loan comes in tomorrow (barring cockups on their part). Thank goodness. Our fridge packed up (also on Saturday) and isn't being replaced until next Monday, and we're now running very short of milk-money. (No milk -> no tea -> widespread chaos and homicides)

Tomorrow is also the first day of my Part II project - Bayesian methods for image-enhancement of MRI data - which I'm rather looking forward to. Computers + maths + biology = :)

Mmm, I still need to change the template for this page. It's growing on me, but rather like aspergillus.

Thursday 11 January 2007

Genesis

Well, I've finally decided to start a blog. I don't know whether I'll manage to update it again for a while, since I have a prepared essay to write and still haven't finished reading the Bayesian Methods book I was supposed to be studying throughout this holiday... but it will eventually come to life*.

For the sake of introductions (if you somehow arrived here without already knowing me) I'm Ben Zealley, and I'm currently a student at Cambridge University in the UK, where I'm studying biochemistry; aside from that I like run-on sentences, transhumanism, computer games (both playing and designing), philosophy and aesthetics.

The name of this blog is inspired by one of my favourite quotes:

"You must remember that an oak tree is not a crime against the acorn." - David Zindell

* At which point, I'll change from this gruesome template... :