What are the odds?

[gusl]

Last Sunday I was biking along Vondelpark when I heard a banjo. It was Dan-from-Connecticut from Boston (!), playing with an old-time band... What are the odds? He taught me the basic clawhammer stroke.

Later I went to see them playing at Pakhuis Afrika, where I met this American guy who works on AI. He had been in Holland for Robodock, a festival I wish I had known about. Huh, that's already a bit of a coincidence, don't you think? But it turns out he's not just any AI guy: he works for Ben Goertzel, and he personally knows mathemajician!

I am amazingly busy, not from work per se, but from constantly going out. Anyway, it's a nice change. Perhaps due to the practice, I'm feeling unusually charismatic. The improv classes probably help.

Sunday before the old-time concert, I went to dinner with Lisp Benelux, and met several interesting people.
Monday I had a contact dance lesson, and learned interesting things... became more aware and comfortable with the human body: supporting weight, etc. I also noticed that the girls didn't mind undressing in front of me (perhaps we are assumed gay?))
Tuesday I went to a Dutch-speaking theatersport troup, Placebo. Felt somewhat inappropriate, especially with the language, but managed to get by.
Wednesday I went to an amateur-ish, very cheap theatersport class (it seemed like volunteer work)
Thursday I went to a brain lecture and met some interesting CogSci people.
Friday I didn't mind staying at home, and began installing Gentoo Linux.
Saturday (yesterday) I had my improv lesson with ProblemSolved, and met Steve to watch "Eternal Sunshine": with his help I figured it out in the end. Google confirms my solution (warning: spoilers).

Comments

[mathemajician.livejournal.com]

You're a busy person!

So who was this guy who works for Ben?

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

The guy is Mike Ross.

You're a busy person!
Rephrase that in a Italian, using "stare" (a distinction I sometimes wish English had).

I am normally not that activity-busy. My mind always is, though.
I guess this beginning of semester, I'm partly doing this to prevent what happened this summer: I was going crazy because I never saw anybody. I think a couple of times over the summer I went a week without seeing anyone I knew. But of course this means I should make some real friends, not just acquaintances, as is my tendency. Meeting tons of new people helps, though.

The next thing I need to learn to do is how to organize / hang out with people more regularly, preferably in small groups. I have a nice house, and I could host small get-togethers with some of my favorite people.

However, I've learned that I would rather be alone most days. I just want friends for those moments when I feel lonely or lacking in stimulation. I guess that makes me a selfish bastard, doesn't it?

[mathemajician.livejournal.com]

I guessed it might be him. Wow, he's been working on Ben's stuff for a long time now as he was working for Ben before I started way back in 1999.

"Stai una persona occupata!"

If I understand the Italian correctly, in English we would say, "You are being a busy person" with "being" strongly emphasised with your voice. It sounds a bit weird and maybe it's not even technically correct grammar, but it is what people seem to say when they need to make this distinction.

And yes, I like to be alone often too. Some days I like company and others I like to be alone. Variety is what life is about isn't it? I need to be alone so that I can think about all the stuff in my head, but if I spend too much time alone my thinking gets stale. So I need input from others as well.

I'm not a bad cook, so I should cook for others more often. Also I'm thinking about getting a home projector system and inviting people around to watch movies.