Books and breakfast

My dad very kindly bought me breakfast today. (Mmm... crepes.)

Then he gave me books. Science fiction books. About 20 science fiction books. About 2/3 are re-reads for me, but books that I've been wanting to re-read for a while.

So now that pile of 20 books will go with the pile of 13-odd books I picked up at the Concordia book fair back in October. I haven't gotten to any of those because I've actually had ample opportunity to go to the library lately and kept finding stuff to interest me there.

Perhaps I'll have to start alternating: one library book, one "off the shelf" book.

Decisions, decisions.

Grab bag of links

1. Lifestyle design for the rest of us -- an interesting look at "lifestyle design," showing that it doesn't have to be an all-or-nothing experience, as the 4 Hour Workweek might have you believe. (@ Pick the Brain)

2. A bunch of rocks (xkcd comic) -- just a cute comic. Be sure to read all the way to the bottom.

3. You "auto" watch (1 minute video) -- the PhD in cake making goes to... these guys. Trust me. If you really like it, check out the 5-minute video. (@ Cake Wrecks)

4. The clock of the long now and where to put it (TED talk video) -- an inspiring and beautiful talk based around the idea of finding a home for the "clock of the long now," which is meant to last 10,000 years.

5. Christmas inspiration from a stick and a cardboard box -- did you know that the stick has just been inducted into the toy hall of fame? Yeah, me neither. (@ The Simple Dollar)

6. Expect change -- a fast but poignant read. Pop quiz: if you were to invest your monumental wealth (just go with me on this one) in a highly secure industry, one that would ensure your grandchildren would be as rich as you, what would it be? (@ Productivity 501)

7. Bookkeeping and you: personal finance propaganda from 1947 (10-minute video) -- here's a blast from the past: an instructional video from the '40s. Just good, clean fun. Oh, and misogyny. (@ Get Rich Slowly)