The Narrows
Book Notes kitt decided around 21:34 on 21 February 2015 to publish this:
I listened to this book instead of reading it. Surprises no one. What surprised me about this audio book was the production of it. In particular, the MF annoying sound "enhancements" in it. The producers of this book should not be allowed to produce another book if their style includes adding annoying music to a book.
In reading this book, though it was book 10 of the Harry Bosch series, I feel like I've missed some book between 9 and 10. There were references to previous events that I know I hadn't read, and I've been reading the Bosch series straight through.
As mentioned in my In Progress notes, Connelly, the author, thought mixing the first person (Bosch's) view point with the third person omniscient (everyone else's) was a good thing. I think it was a cop out. Was a half-hearted literary attempt at cleverness that failed.
If you're a Bosch fan, keep reading. If you're not, start with the first book to see if you like them.
In Progress notes
Okay, book 10 in the Harry Bosch series. This one has some FBI agent in it, according to the first chapter. It's also written in 3rd person omniscient, where we hear the thoughts of all of the characters. Which is weird, because the Harry parts are in the first person. The dichotomy is annoying. As annoying as the literary cheating is, nothing compares to the tear-my-hair-out run-around-screaming annoying musical "enhancements" the audiobook producers have added to the beginning and ending of each chapter. HF, annoying.
This might become book one of the two bad books in a row that would cause me to stop reading a series. Gah.
Doesn't work at all
Blog Yeah, kitt finished writing this at 13:26 on 21 February 2015I was looking through the list of issues and bug reports for a module that I was considering installing, when I came across an issue with this title:
Doesn't work at all with VBO
My first thought was, "Wouldn't help you if that were a bug report submitted to me," followed by the thought, "Whiner."
Which isn't very empathetic of me. My immediate thoughts were reactionary and more negative than they needed to be. Thankfully, I recognized those annoyed emotions in myself. I'm working to be less frustrated and judgemental in passing things like that, but, dang, does that issue title annoy me.
Here's why:
1. "at all"
The module advertises it works with VBO. If it didn't work with VBO, the module author wouldn't have listed VBO in the feature list.
2. "Doesn't work"
This is so vague as to be useless in a bug report title. How do I search on "Doesn't work"? How do I know *what* didn't work. How do I know what you tried? "Doesn't work at all" is a whiney, entitled, clueless title for a report. Yes, it worked in some way. Yes, you don't understand it. Give me more information.
3. The title doesn't tell me what the problem is that I, as a passing observer, might need to know about the issues with this module.
Yes, this one is selfish of me, but I'd like to save time by knowing what the issues are specifically, instead of a waste-my-time vague title.
What the reporter should have done instead with that title:
1. Kept her frustration out of the title and description.
I don't care if you're tired or if you're new or if you're experienced or if you've just arrived back from a space walk, if you are whiny or entitled, I'm not inclined to help you. You're asking someone to help you out, ask nicely.
2. Helped me help you
If you are vague, I can't help you. Make it easy for me to help you. Don't make me pull teeth to get information out of you.
3. Remembered there is a person at the other end of that issue queue
Likely someone who is scratching an itch and wrote that module / code / theme / whatever WITHOUT COST TO YOU. Said person owes you NOTHING.
Don't look a gift horse in the mouth. Don't insult someone who provided you a helping hand. Don't bite the hand that feeds you. All those.
I read through the issue comments, and noticed the original complaint author didn't come back to the ticket to close the issue, and likely didn't see that yes, he messed up. He didn't know how to use the module, so he figured it didn't work. He likely had a permissions issue. Turn it off and on again. Clear the cache. Fix your authoring permissions. Or heaven forbid, write a good bug report to allow someone else to repeat the steps you did. For the love of god, don't just say "It doesn't work."
Works on my machine.
It should be full of joy
Blog Written with a loving hand by kitt some time around 10:04 on 20 February 2015I dislike Quora's decision to hide answers behind a login, which makes me go to the site infrequently. That said, Robert Frost, engineer/instructor at NASA, answered this question perfectly:
Why do some intelligent people care to remember and understand a massive amount of details (characters, relations, interactions, events) of completely imaginary and excessively detailed settings?
Joy.
Life is short. It should be full of joy. Imaginary worlds are fantastical and thus more interesting than the real world. That brings joy.
No one has ever filled up their brain. There is room for the real and the imaginary. Being able to name every episode of Star Trek did not at all prevent me from getting my university diplomas or certifying as a Guidance, Navigation, Control, and Propulsion expert. In fact it helped. It gave me a place of happiness to go to when the mundanity of engineering wore me down.
Humans are hardwired to appreciate stories and patterns.
A life devoted to only the practical sounds like a miserable life.
Lost Light
Book Notes Posted by kitt at 22:23 on 19 February 2015Okay, I liked this Bosch book. While there was ANOTHER BAD COP (because, really, what's a Bosch book without bad cops?), the plot mystery wasn't obvious. There were a couple plot twists, which were good. I think at some point I should be annoyed that Harry ALWAYS GETS THE KILLER, but suspension of disbelief is part of reading these books. That, and, well, maybe we're supposed to be following only Bosch's successes and not the likely hundreds of failures in the previous 28 years of being a cop.
The story is the first of Bosch not as a cop, but as a private investigator. He's still able to get information through his connections, and there's a 9/11 twist to the story. I also might find it annoying at some point that all of Bosch's theories are correct. Maybe we're supposed to believe he's that good? Is anyone really that good?
For this book, if you're already a Bosch fan, this one is worth reading. If you're not a Bosch fan, eh, yeah, you could read this one if you like the Los Angeles Detective Crime Drama Law & Order type of story.
In Progress summary:
Okay, Bosch, book nine. He's left the LAPD, Hollywood Homicide Division, that's fine. The book has shifted to first person, though. Not _really_ sure how I feel about that.
Reading, though. Maybe we'll see ANOTHER BAD COP. Or not.
The Dark Horse
Book Notes Yeah, kitt finished writing this at 09:48 on 19 February 2015
You must enjoy the book THIS MUCH to continue reading. Fortunately for this one, not a problem. The mystery is good. There was one part that took a little more suspension of disbelief than normal, but, hey, let's go for it. I have to say, I'm a bit delighted that the bad guy is not a bad cop.
Recommended.