*waves*

[rhyll]

I vaguely feel like I should update, but sitting down to do it I realise that I don't have much to report on. I've been trying to write 500 words a day, which doesn't sound like much (and doesn't feel like much) but is turning out to be a bit of a challenge. Partly because it seems like every second sentence requires a whole heap of research, and partly because I still have no idea where the hell my argument is going or what I'm trying to say. So as well as the writing I'm still doing a fair bit of planning, trying to write outlines and chapter outlines and doing brainstorms and generally generating huge amounts of scribbled Stuff. And it feels like there's a heap of stuff that it's absolutely essential to read, so I'm doing some of that every day too. And also there are a few weekly seminars/meetings/knowledge shares that the postgrads from our departments are having. And a lecture (or two, maybe) to prepare for, which I increasingly feel massively unqualified to do. And I have a new student. And I still really want to get around to writing an article I've been planning for a while. And I really want to submit an abstract for Agenda's upcoming issue on biotech.

Plus I've been writing a bit of fiction, and fiddling around with different flavours of ubuntu trying to find one that will work on a computer with a very small and slow brain (and I think I have, and I learnt to burn a boot cd on the uni computers, and I'm almost bursting with excitement to try it tonight). And feisty fawn came out today, and I don't know if I can bear waiting to install it. Plan A is to wait until I have an external harddrive to back stuff up on, just in case (and because it seems like a good idea general, and because I want to play around with my partitions a bit), but I'm really not sure that I have the patience for that.

Basically, I'm terribly excited about a heap of things that I suspect don't make particularly good conversation for most people. It's keeping me happy, although I still have moments of panicking about how terribly behind (I think) I am on my PhD.

Comments

[boxer-the-horse.livejournal.com]

*GASP* Does that mean you've almost cracked the case of the heretofore un-linux-able computer?? :D

[alexmoon.livejournal.com]

Yup. Turns out the problem up 'til now was, to summarise, that I'm a bit silly. I'm installing xubuntu RIGHT NOW, and there are wild claims that it should Just Work.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I've been trying to write 500 words a day, which doesn't sound like much (and doesn't feel like much) but is turning out to be a bit of a challenge. Partly because it seems like every second sentence requires a whole heap of research,

Goddamn I know what that's like...

Plus I've been writing a bit of fiction, and fiddling around with different flavours of ubuntu trying to find one that will work on a computer with a very small and slow brain

Have you tried Damn Small Linux?

[alexmoon.livejournal.com]

I haven't. I'm trying xubuntu now--I want something with good support and that's good for beginners since it's boxer's (http://boxer-the-horse.livejournal.com/) first time on a linux OS. Also went with xubuntu since I'll be his main face-to-face tech support (poor guy) and it seemed good to have something I'm at least marginally familiar with.

I'll check out Damn Small Linux though, and maybe install it on my spare Really Old Brain.

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Xubuntu and indeed, any incarnation of Xfce, rocks mightily.

[alexmoon.livejournal.com]

Also: are you working on anything particular at the moment?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Just a couple of PHP/MySQL websites. What are you thinking of?

[alexmoon.livejournal.com]

nothing in particular, I was just wondering if: "Goddamn I know what that's like..." was a flashback or a current issue.

But if you're looking for projects, I'm sure I could dust something off from my "to do" pile and see if you're interested :)

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

"Goddamn I know what that's like..." was a flashback or a current issue.


Flashback to writing my novel in NaNoWriMo... Damn historical fiction, you have to check the facts!

[the-widow-black.livejournal.com]

Don't have panicky moments! Fiona Crowe (head of St Cats) started her PhD in 2000 and still hasn't finished - she hopes this "may be the year".

I'm glad you're excited about other things.