30 September 2023

The Gate - Natsume Soseki

 A novel of reflection and manifestation (depending on your religious view). 

Sosuke and Oyone are a quiet couple who have denounced themselves from the world. At first, I believed it was Sosuke's stern nature and their state of penury that caused them to live withdrawn from society. However, as the story unfolds, there revealed a past history that was the result of this lifestyle. Oyone's recollection hints at some punishment for someone she harmed in the past. Sosuke also recounts his story of how he met Oyone and although it should seem romantic, actually takes on an ominous tone. 

SPOILER

14 September 2022

Small fry

Is anybody out there? Calling all aliens. 
If you haven't heard or seen, as I was late to the game, look up James Webb Telescope or check it out on NASA. It's been in a long line from my waiting list to finally educate myself on this topic and the recent discoveries. The photos are astounding- they're beautiful. Science is spectacular. I lost the spark a long time ago, but sometimes the dust blows around and tickles my brain again. It's truly awe-ful (as in, in awe). I stopped thinking so worldly because it always catapulted me into existential repulse but whoa man. To know that we, humans, created a giant telescope, ejected it into space, assembled it into a magnificent flower power lens, and are capturing data (as we speak) of entities lightyears away in damn good quality photos, spectroscopy charts, inferring history-- maybe getting closer to the history of the origin -- is just ..amazing (understatement). The fact that we can visualize stars that have burst, or galaxies on the brink of collision, nebulas, atmospheric data of other stars (? planets?) is incredible. For some reason, I never thought we would get so far in my lifetime. Space still feels unobtainable and like some far-off sci-fi fiction but no.. it's right here. And we're slowly and eventually gathering more information on it as years go by.. albeit a lot of years, but thank god there's still humans out here who care and are driven by curiosity and dedication. Gotta really respect that.. especially in a society that seems to be changing more than ever, but sometimes not in a good way.. in a quick one-time use, disposable, 'was a problem but forget about it in a week or month' type of way.