It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
^ Back to Top
The MI6 Community is unofficial and in no way associated or linked with EON Productions, MGM, Sony Pictures, Activision or Ian Fleming Publications. Any views expressed on this website are of the individual members and do not necessarily reflect those of the Community owners. Any video or images displayed in topics on MI6 Community are embedded by users from third party sites and as such MI6 Community and its owners take no responsibility for this material.
James Bond News • James Bond Articles • James Bond Magazine
Comments
I have read The Dead for an honors class, but that's it. The writing didn't strike me that much from what I remember, but Joyce is an interesting man to study.
I read Dubliners and The Portrait but I think I didn't deeply enjoy it that much because I didn't understand them that well (my English was poor than it is now back then).
I started Ulysses but I stoped when I realize that I wasn't making the most of it. I still want to read it sometimes when my skills allow me to fully appreciate it.
Even for me some of the writing is hard to get through, as it is for most classic work.
Where are you native to?
Costa Rica.
I just finished Hyperspace and I'm very grateful for your recomendation, @DarthDimi. Truly it was an amazing book. I learn a lot of new things and also understand better some old ideas. Regretfully my Math skills are too basic to get Physics the way it should be (my solace is that string theory also requires Mathematics beyond the average Physicist, according to the book). So I'll continue to learn a little by this books oriented to the general public.
That sounds interesting! Was he any similar to the characters he played, like Rick and Samuel Spade?
I will be finding out! I don't know if he had any cynical parts about him like most of his characters, but from all that I know of him already, Bogie was a classic gentleman. He was the original Rat Pack founder, and was friends with Frank Sinatra and the whole lot quite obviously. Frank talked about how much he respected Bogie because while he was promiscuous with all sorts of women in Hollywood, Humphrey never cheated and stayed loyal to Lauren Bacall. Frank saw him in all these films with the greatest leading women you could dream of, and was astounded that he wasn't sleeping with them. The simple fact that Bogie never crossed that line was why Frank respected and admired him so much. I think in some ways he wished he could resist his own temptations to cheat. Bogie seemed to be very much the elegant and upstanding man that never strayed from his marital vows, which is just one reason why I love him so. And who would cheat on Lauren, anyway? I'll tell you: A madman.
I'm glad you liked it, friend. :-) It certainly changed my life, giving me a specific direction in my career.
I know you teach, but what are you currently working on in research?
So what you teach is updated? Because when I studied in high school (8 years ago) we never even heard of string theory, Kaluza-Klein theory nor hyperspace...
Actually, apart from my 'ordinary' classes, I organize additional classes during 1 hour midday intervals, free afternoons and sometimes after school moments, aimed at those willing to voluntarily attend said classes, during which I try to present as clearly as possible some of the most intriguing concepts in quantum physics and beyond. Doing so I find myself highly inspired by the works of Brian Greene, Michio Kaku, James Kakalios and a few others. Much to my continuous surprise, these classes attract a rather substantial group of pupils. It helps that most of them have known me for at least two years when subscribing to these classes. Obviously I don't submit them to tests or finals for this course, but I do actively engage them in projects which are then displayed during special open days. This interaction with my pupils is extremely satisfying: they learn from me and, you better believe it, I learn a thing or two from them on the side. It's moments like those that remind me why I've chosen this particular profession and why the choice has been a good one.
Thanks for the compliment, 0Brady. ;-)
There's merely one problem though: the time I spend on this is a luxury I seem to be running out of. My girlfriend finds the lack of time I spend with her for the benefit of such extracurricular projects less than amusing and as we're seeing things grow more serious between us every day, I must realise that she has a point. I'm not giving in just yet though. ;-) It'll just be a matter of striking a balance between playing the good partner and the overzealous teacher. ;-)
I find digital books irritating - period. I've got a few that are out of print, so out of necessity, but I do print them out (usually scaled down to two book pages per printed page).
I desire a real book. I want to touch the paper, smell the paper, feel the weight of the book on my arms or lap, seeing the already finished part increase in size and the left-to-read part shrink. I want to treat it with dignity and care and see it standing proudly in my book collection. Personally, I find a book to be a beautiful thing and it never ceases to amaze me how appealing in fact it can be.
Of course for someone who's on the road a lot, unable to carry a lot of stuff with him, e-books are fine. Audio books can be nice as well. But even when I travel, I prefer to carry two or three pocket size books instead of one e-book reader. That's just me of course. ;-)
Same here, @Dimi. On Kindles or any kind of digital reading format you can't smell those wonderful pages. You can't get a paper cut and you can't toss them across the room when you hate the ending or if a character you love is killed off. You outlined the magic that tangible books possess and the brilliant evocation they bring out in you when you get into them eloquently. :-B