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Monthly Log: 2024-07

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Original language: Chinese . AI translations: English , Japanese .

The second half of 2024 has begun.

Post Structure

  1. Input
    Learning: books/novels/good articles, videos/podcasts, any format, anything that feels rewarding after finishing
    Anime: new shows / old shows, TV season / movies, notes on what I watched
    Others: movies, TV series, etc., put here

  2. Random Thoughts
    Maybe I will write down whatever I’m thinking

  3. Output
    Maybe a blog, but I’m not good enough, so maybe I have no output for a whole month (lol)

  4. Travel
    If I went somewhere, I’ll jot it down. If not, then whatever

  5. Misc
    Small things that don’t fit in the categories above

Input

Learning

I forgot where I saw this line: even just repeating what you learned once can deepen the impression. Sounds quite reasonable.
Previously, for articles and books I read, I always forgot them right after finishing. It felt like I learned a lot, but if you ask what I learned specifically, I can’t really say.

From now on, I plan to整理 what I read that feels valuable: either restate it in my own words, or directly excerpt the original text.
Turn it into notes. It both deepens the impression and makes it easier to look up later.

《软件随想录》

Also known as More Joel on Software (Joel on Software). The Chinese edition was translated by Ruan Yifeng.
The book is a collection of Joel’s blog articles. A small short-essay collection. Humorously written and very interesting.
To deepen the impression, I wrote a note post: Reading: More Joel on Software

I created the file on July 11, wrote a bit, and then拖 until the end of July without finishing整理 (
Update on Aug 7: finally finished. As a result, I delayed the Monthly Log too

《Python 工匠》

An excellent book. It again and again and again and again once again reignited my enthusiasm to learn Python.
I wrote a blog post: Learning: Python Study Resources & Notes. In the future I plan to put Python-related content under that post.
In that post I described this book like this:

Python is very free, but the corresponding cost is that the gap between lower and upper bounds can be huge. This book discusses how to turn code that runs into excellent code, and how to use Python language features to write more Pythonic (Python-style) code.
It also introduces knowledge that isn’t limited to Python, but is common to any language: for example variable naming, and how to unify code style in large projects.
It’s easy to understand. The GitHub version is free to read. If you like it, you can buy the book edition, which is more detailed than the web version.

《Eloquent JavaScript》

Eloquent JavaScript 4th Edition by Marijn Haverbeke.
I haven’t finished it yet. I’m about one third in.
Quickly introducing the strengths of this book:

  • Completely free
    There’s a web version, PDF version, a small PDF for phones, EPUB, and MOBI. All available on the website for free.
    There’s also a physical edition, you can buy one for your bookshelf.
    The content is identical across versions. In fact the web version is even better than others, because it has code highlighting, and also the next feature.

  • Code blocks are runnable
    Among all these versions, the web version is the most recommended for first-time learning.
    Because every single code block in the web version is runnable. The author explains a point, gives a code example, and then you can click the code snippet and run it to see what happens.
    You can also freely modify the code to experiment with different results.
    Learn and practice together. No environment setup. You don’t even need to leave the browser. Learning cost minimized.

  • Progressive content, combining learning and practice
    It starts from basic syntax. Part 1 thoroughly introduces the JavaScript language itself. Part 2 is the browser. Part 3 is Node.js.
    Part 1 also covers common programming concepts like encapsulation, polymorphism, inheritance, object-oriented, functional, closure, recursion, side effect, etc.
    Each chapter has 3-4 small exercises, done directly in the browser.
    Every few chapters there’s a Project chapter where the author teaches you step by step to build a complete small project.

    To be honest, when I ran runRobotAnimation in the first Project: A Robot and saw the little robot running around on the screen, I was kind of moved.

  • Clean and beautiful website
    The content is just the book. No unrelated info. Clear structure and nice layout.

At times like this I really want to thank the internet and the author’s internet spirit: removing barriers to information dissemination so everyone can equally access great knowledge.

Anime

  • Watching

    • 败犬女主太多了
      Best impression so far. The production is thoughtful, and character designs are good-looking (Yanami has a huge stomach, no need to say more

    • 义妹生活
      Surprisingly okay, higher than expected. Going for an art-film route.

    • 學姊是男孩
      Bro, you’re so fragrant
      The energetic junior girl is really cute.

    • 魔法少女与恶曾是敌人
      A magical girl forced into black labor. The background setting is too realistic and makes me uncomfortable.
      Excellent production. Bones is putting in effort.

    • 鹿乃子大摇大摆虎视眈眈
      PV hype was massive. The main episodes don’t deserve it.
      Comedy shows are honestly hard to do. Not sure I can keep watching.

    • 靠废柴技能【状态异常】成为最强的我将蹂躏一切
      An isekai with relatively sufficient budget. After episode 1 I went to read the novel a bit.
      Characters are very stereotyped, but the plot is okay-ish. At least there’s some thinking in fights.

    • 這是妳與我的最後戰場，或是開創世界的聖戰 第二季
      Pacing is too fast, production is collapsing.
      Even the same director as KamiKatsu can’t save it.

    • 杖与剑的魔剑谭
      Same author as Danmachi. Episode 1 has movie-level production with overflowing budget.
      Episode 2: power level collapses. Don’t expect plot, just watch the production.

    • 我要【招架】一切～反误解的世界最强想成为冒险家
      A bit forced misunderstanding route. Entirely carried by the heroine.

  • Added to catch-up list, maybe I’ll watch later (copium

    • 物语系列
      Too many previous works.

    • 小市民系列
      Same author as Hyouka. Heard it’s pretty quiet.

    • 擅長逃跑的殿下
      Heard Umehara team production is strong.

  • Dropped after 1 episode

    • 疑似后宫
      No plot. Boring.

    • 不时用俄语说真心话的邻桌艾莉同学
      Well-made industrial sugar. The OP visuals are carefully produced, the ED is half-assed, and the plot is too boring. Can’t keep watching.

      Turns out the ED isn’t half-assed: it changes each episode. Still boring though, not watching.

    • 异世界自杀小队​​
      Cheesy. Dropped after 1 episode.

Others

Recent TV/movies. I try not to spoil.

夏日大作战 (Summer Wars)

15th anniversary. Limited re-screening for two weeks.
I originally didn’t plan to go, since I’ve watched it before (though that was 5-6 years ago).

But after watching, I can only say: good thing I came to the cinema for this.
Even though I’d seen it once before, my evaluation back then was only hmm, kind of interesting.
This second watch made me notice more details. My understanding of character interactions, hidden threads, and visual expression is deeper. It’s like I watched it for nothing the first time.

Not just this one: sometimes when I rewatch other works, I also feel I understand them more deeply than a few years ago.
Maybe I had fewer experiences and was still dumb back then, so I couldn’t see hints and small details in the work (

Watching this movie now feels very interesting. Some quick notes:

  • AI
    In 2009 they imagined AI causing havoc in the online world. Now we have AI water armies / rumor mongers causing havoc (
    The AI trend indeed impacts ordinary people’s lives (Sell me this pen. It’s AI powered.
    Of course there are benefits too. This month I learned Python and JavaScript. When in doubt, ask AI. The experience is very pleasant.
    Now it seems AI indeed affects everyone’s life, both good and bad. Which side is bigger is hard to say.

  • The boundary between online and real life disappears
    In the film, anyone can connect to the virtual world from anywhere as long as they have a computer, a flip phone ( or even a TV (.
    The movie was released in 2009. In that era, my home had no broadband. To play games I had to sneak to an internet cafe. Nokia was still the absolute king of the phone industry. WAP QQ Farm was still popular.
    At school, the computer teacher brought a laptop plus a USB data card, achieving real mobile internet.
    The computer teacher also told us there was something called “Taobao” where you could shop online.
    Of course, everyone thought it was a scam. Buy things online? How could that be reliable?
    All of the above is only 15 years away from today.

    I can’t believe I’m old enough to say this, even though in student days 15 years was basically an entire life.

    This is a bit off topic (
    What I want to say is: smartphones really extended the boundary of the internet. Online life invaded real life (or conversely, real life merged into online life?).
    Mobile internet makes going online no longer something you pay extra for. Everyone is online 24/7.
    In this era, going offline becomes the abnormal state and requires extra effort.

    I saw a concept before: internet immigrants, referring to people born before the millennium who experienced the process of internet popularization.
    In contrast are internet natives, people born after the millennium. For them, the internet is like sunlight and air: something that naturally exists.
    Interesting concept.

  • Virtual identity becomes the main one
    In some sense, virtual identity becomes more important than real identity. This is also the result of online life invasion above.
    The protagonist whose account is stolen can’t prove he is himself. The only solution is to complain to the system. Very cyberpunk

  • Single point of failure
    In the film, the AI steals public-institution accounts and can destroy public facilities; steals military accounts and can operate missiles. It’s kind of ridiculous.
    But combined with the global CrowdStrike blue screen incident in these two weeks, it seems not that far-fetched (
    It’s the same fragility of centralized systems. While watching, I couldn’t help associating them.

  • Visualization
    The opening tour of the virtual world. Things that have physical form in real life, like books and cars, also exist in the virtual world.
    Abstract concepts: for example political institutions are represented as an island, the economy market is like a Ferris wheel. Various “objectification” is interesting (the protagonist is even working in the virtual world…

    Thinking of “working in the virtual world” reminds me of another work: Expelled from Paradise, written by Gen Urobuchi.

    When the big bad makes trouble, it scrambles road signs in the virtual world to disrupt real-world navigation systems, and manipulates water pressure, etc. The visualization effects are done well.

  • The virtual world removes language barriers via real-time translation. Rebuilding the Tower of Babel

  • The part reading the elderly person’s letter feels very broad-minded.

  • The factorization-by-brain part is too ridiculous, won’t talk about it.

After watching I wanted to buy the pamphlet, but as soon as I reached the entrance I heard staff shout that the Summer Wars pamphlet was already sold out.
Too slow. I should’ve bought it before the screening started.

Recently it’s been 37°C hell weather. Going to watch Summer Wars under the blazing sun: isn’t that itself a Summer War?

Random Thoughts

All of this month’s random thoughts are in the review above.
Originally I only wanted to write a few feelings, but the more I wrote, the more it grew. A good work worth revisiting.

Output

I squeezed out two note posts.
I also wrote a bit of JavaScript learning notes, but there’s not much yet. I’ll post it after I finish Eloquent JavaScript.

Travel

Too hot. Not going out unless necessary. This month I only want to sleepwalk.

Misc

Photo Fraud

Watching the rooftop scene at the end of episode 1 of 败犬女主太多了, it feels very summer.
So I asked AI: how to edit photos into a Japanese summer vibe?
AI replied:

  1. Basic adjustments
    • Increase exposure to brighten the overall image
    • Reduce shadows to lift dark details
    • Slightly increase contrast to add depth
  2. Color temperature
    • Slightly cooler to emphasize summer coolness
    • Shift temperature toward blue, but not too much, keep it natural
  3. Color processing
    • Increase blue and cyan saturation to strengthen the sky’s blue
    • Slightly reduce overall saturation for a soft Japanese style
    • Use HSL panel to fine-tune hue/saturation/luminance of each color
  4. Curves adjustments
  5. Curves adjustments
    • Create a slight S-curve in RGB to increase contrast
    • Slightly raise highlights in the blue channel to strengthen the sky blue
  6. Split toning
    • Add a light blue tone to highlights
    • Add a slight warm tone to shadows to balance the overall color
  7. Detail adjustments
    • Slightly increase clarity to highlight textures of buildings and clouds
    • Control noise reduction to keep the image clean
  8. Local adjustments
    • Use a radial filter to slightly brighten buildings and add depth
    • Use a graduated filter to slightly strengthen the sky blue and cloud white
  9. Add grain
    • Add a modest amount of grain to create a film feel and enhance the Japanese vibe
  10. Final adjustments
    • Fine-tune overall color balance to ensure harmony
    • Appropriately increase vibrance to add summer vitality

I found a photo I took on the way to an air show last month, and tried it:


before


after

Photo fraud, photo fraud.

That’s it. This month’s cover image is leftover stock from last month. But it fits the summer theme, doesn’t it?

Sleep quality is important

Before, I slept with the door open. Sometimes the cat’s night parkour and pooping would wake me up.
This month I finally hardened my heart and kept the cat outside the door during sleep time. As wished, I got refined sleep: slept until the alarm rang.
After sleep quality improved, it feels like my learning ability / concentration improved a lot too (hope it’s not an illusion

Closing

This month I finished two books: Python 工匠 and 软件随想录.
There’s also Eloquent JavaScript still in progress.
Finally it feels like I didn’t waste time. Hope I can keep it up.