Metaphorically Speaking

The other day my wife and I were driving back from shopping when I suddenly realized "The name 'Ender' from 'Ender's Game' is symbolic of the fact that he always wins; he always ends the game."

My wife responded "You just realized that? How long ago did you read that book?"

I'd read the book 3 times and love it each time. The first time was in 6th grade, the second in 10th grade, and the third time while working on my undergraduate degree. I am now a year past finishing my doctorate.

You'll have to excuse me...I'm a little slow.

Friendly Meetings

I'm preparing a presentation for a large conference in my field of study. This conference has ~2500 attendees who each attend various presentations across roughly 16 tracks which means about 150 people per presentation at the conference.

Nerve-racking to think about all the people who could see my presentation.

As I prepare occasionally my mind thinks back several years and I am racked with guilt, embarrassment, and horror each time this thought comes to mind.