Today is the Eve of Christmas. Tonight, we attend worship service and get reminded of the reason for the season. Linus gets to the heart of it:
The greatest gift of all did not come from a store.
Merry Christmas.
Newbius
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Life. Show all posts
Saturday, December 24, 2011
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
More Sound Blogging
Last night I ran the sound board for the praise band again. We are preparing for the Christmas Eve worship service and needed to chase a few gremlins away from the system.
Last Sunday, I was not happy with the mix. The lead singer was muddy and lacked definition, and the back-up singers did not harmonize well. I also heard second-hand that there were significant dead spots around the sanctuary where the vocals were even worse than what I was hearing (and I was chasing the settings all service to fix...). Unfortunately, we got a late jump on Sunday (due to the previous service running long), and could not do as thorough a sound-check as I would have liked.
Anyway...last night's practice went well. I had a chance to get the parametric equalizer adjusted properly, and the vocalists were much more clear as a result. I also had some time after getting the mix nailed down to adjust the side-fill monitors' levels and angles. As a result, I think the dead spots and muddy zones are all but eliminated. We'll see Saturday night.
Finally, I was able to get a board graphic from the lead tech, so that I could map the settings. We have different sound techs during each different service. Several of the channels get used for different things during the earlier service, and I need to be able to replicate my settings in the brief period available to me pre-service. Now that I have a base mapping to work from, it should be easier to spot the issues going forward.
The praise band likes working with me on the board, which is a nice compliment. So far, the congregation is pleased with the changes (even if I am unhappy with some aspects of them). I hope that our Worhip on Saturday goes well. Having the production be transparent lets the message come through much more clearly.
Pax,
Newbius
Last Sunday, I was not happy with the mix. The lead singer was muddy and lacked definition, and the back-up singers did not harmonize well. I also heard second-hand that there were significant dead spots around the sanctuary where the vocals were even worse than what I was hearing (and I was chasing the settings all service to fix...). Unfortunately, we got a late jump on Sunday (due to the previous service running long), and could not do as thorough a sound-check as I would have liked.
Anyway...last night's practice went well. I had a chance to get the parametric equalizer adjusted properly, and the vocalists were much more clear as a result. I also had some time after getting the mix nailed down to adjust the side-fill monitors' levels and angles. As a result, I think the dead spots and muddy zones are all but eliminated. We'll see Saturday night.
Finally, I was able to get a board graphic from the lead tech, so that I could map the settings. We have different sound techs during each different service. Several of the channels get used for different things during the earlier service, and I need to be able to replicate my settings in the brief period available to me pre-service. Now that I have a base mapping to work from, it should be easier to spot the issues going forward.
The praise band likes working with me on the board, which is a nice compliment. So far, the congregation is pleased with the changes (even if I am unhappy with some aspects of them). I hope that our Worhip on Saturday goes well. Having the production be transparent lets the message come through much more clearly.
Pax,
Newbius
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Computer crashed
My new (~6 months old) laptop is in the shop getting vital bits replaced. I have been down since last Friday at 5:00 PM. With the Holidays, and parts availability issues for my custom-built steed, it will be after Christmas before I have my own computer again.
I am still trying to get into the vacation groove. Work-related stress has carried over into my off time. I think I need to take more, short, vacations instead of saving it all until the end of the year. For sure, I need to do more recoil therapy.
Blogging will be light until the computer is back from the shop. In the meantime, go check out the people on the sidebar. I do.
Pax,
Newbius
I am still trying to get into the vacation groove. Work-related stress has carried over into my off time. I think I need to take more, short, vacations instead of saving it all until the end of the year. For sure, I need to do more recoil therapy.
Blogging will be light until the computer is back from the shop. In the meantime, go check out the people on the sidebar. I do.
Pax,
Newbius
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Working hard, blogging little
Still here. Getting ready to take the rest of the year off beginning Friday. Lots to do before then...
Read the sidebar, then go give a loved one a hug. Or the other way around. :)
Pax,
Newbius
Read the sidebar, then go give a loved one a hug. Or the other way around. :)
Pax,
Newbius
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Mixing it up
This past Sunday I got to do something a little different. I got to run the sound board for the contemporary service at church.
I was a little apprehensive about it.
You see, for the last few months I have been doing the sound during the Wednesday night youth group meetings. Pretty simple, really. Two live wireless mics for the skit, one audio feed from the guitar and two mics for the worship, and a stereo mix from the laptop for ambient music during chatter time. Easy-peasy. Seven channels and I know the room's acoustics.
The Sanctuary is a completely different animal. Different board. Different room. 500 people paying attention instead of 50...oh, and one entire practice session to learn it almost a week before-hand (all 18 channels, 3 return feeds, 4 wireless packs, and awkward house acoustics). 8^0
Yikes.
Of course, it is never as simple as practice either. We had a ground uplift problem, feedback on the podium, and the lead guitar player forgot to turn on his wireless transmitter so channel 10 was dead. Ouch. (Slide up the keyboard and ride it, hoping that the congregation doesn't notice).
At least I hit the cues and the pastors' mics were live when they started speaking. That could have been embarrassing.
So, now I am in the hot seat doing audio production at our church, during the services instead of just the youth meetings. Bigger audience, more stress - but more satisfaction when it goes well. I want our service to be welcoming and the message to get out clearly, unsullied by technical mishaps.
I have a long way to go. At least the journey started off well.
I hope you take the time to assess your talents and abilities. Use them in the service of others. Do well. It's worth it.
Pax,
Newbius
I was a little apprehensive about it.
You see, for the last few months I have been doing the sound during the Wednesday night youth group meetings. Pretty simple, really. Two live wireless mics for the skit, one audio feed from the guitar and two mics for the worship, and a stereo mix from the laptop for ambient music during chatter time. Easy-peasy. Seven channels and I know the room's acoustics.
The Sanctuary is a completely different animal. Different board. Different room. 500 people paying attention instead of 50...oh, and one entire practice session to learn it almost a week before-hand (all 18 channels, 3 return feeds, 4 wireless packs, and awkward house acoustics). 8^0
Yikes.
Of course, it is never as simple as practice either. We had a ground uplift problem, feedback on the podium, and the lead guitar player forgot to turn on his wireless transmitter so channel 10 was dead. Ouch. (Slide up the keyboard and ride it, hoping that the congregation doesn't notice).
At least I hit the cues and the pastors' mics were live when they started speaking. That could have been embarrassing.
So, now I am in the hot seat doing audio production at our church, during the services instead of just the youth meetings. Bigger audience, more stress - but more satisfaction when it goes well. I want our service to be welcoming and the message to get out clearly, unsullied by technical mishaps.
I have a long way to go. At least the journey started off well.
I hope you take the time to assess your talents and abilities. Use them in the service of others. Do well. It's worth it.
Pax,
Newbius
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Vacating
Have been away from electronic civilization (and enjoying people in meat-space) for almost a week now. It is nice. I should try this more often. You should too. Stop reading this and go hug somebody important to you. Do it now.
:)
Newbius
:)
Newbius
Monday, November 14, 2011
Minor flood this weekend
The ice maker on the kitchen refrigerator gave up this weekend, locking up during the "fill" function. As a result, we had a minor flood in the kitchen to deal with. We got the water cleaned up, and shut the ice maker down, and all was good.
Except...we stopped into Blue Label Big Box Home Improvement Store. There, at almost 50% off, was my next refrigerator. A very nice Whirlpool box came home this morning, delivered by the nice young men who speak Spanish. MSRP: $2499, price paid: $1299 and I got them to deliver it for free ($75 savings). Of course, I now have to move my base cabinets in my kitchen 3/4" right, due to space requirements. This is a change that I can live with.
At least the Emergency Fund could manage the hit. (Thank you Dave Ramsey)
How was your weekend?
Except...we stopped into Blue Label Big Box Home Improvement Store. There, at almost 50% off, was my next refrigerator. A very nice Whirlpool box came home this morning, delivered by the nice young men who speak Spanish. MSRP: $2499, price paid: $1299 and I got them to deliver it for free ($75 savings). Of course, I now have to move my base cabinets in my kitchen 3/4" right, due to space requirements. This is a change that I can live with.
At least the Emergency Fund could manage the hit. (Thank you Dave Ramsey)
How was your weekend?
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
William the Coroner, RIP
I met William the Coroner in Pittsburgh at the NRA convention this year. We had good conversation at the Gunnie Prom. A genuinely nice man, thoughtful and kind-hearted, with an outsized intelligence and a warm smile. John Donne said it well:
Rest in peace.
Newbius
"No man is an island, entire of itself;
every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less,
as well as if a promontory were,
as well as if a manor of thy friend's or of thine own were:
any man's death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind,
and therefore never send to know for whom the bells tolls;
it tolls for thee."
John Donne
Devotions upon Emergent Occasions, no. 17 (Meditation)
1624 (published)
Rest in peace.
Newbius
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Sorry for the lack of posting
Life has been hectic this past week. This weekend, I need to make a run to North Carolina to comfort a friend who has cancer. Sometimes the 'suck' just comes in waves.
There are plenty of interesting people to read on the sidebar. There are lots of timely topics being covered better than I can do right now. I'll be back soon.
Parting shot regarding the current Elites: Given the choice between stupidity and malice, pick malice. The proper response is then accounted for, and if not, then Darwin gets a boost.
Pax,
Newbius
There are plenty of interesting people to read on the sidebar. There are lots of timely topics being covered better than I can do right now. I'll be back soon.
Parting shot regarding the current Elites: Given the choice between stupidity and malice, pick malice. The proper response is then accounted for, and if not, then Darwin gets a boost.
Pax,
Newbius
Friday, September 16, 2011
Words of Marital Bliss
Got a hit on my "1000 Words" post below, from someone searching for "words of marital bliss". However, I am pretty sure that my post was not what they were seeking.
Marital Bliss is a pretty tough subject. The fact is, marriage takes work. It takes sacrifice. It requires a willingness to subordinate your will when required in order to do what is right for the union. Selfishness will not fly for very long. Nor will pettiness and drama.
I am far from perfect. I have made just about every mistake a married man can make. I have mistreated my wife by being disrespectful, dismissive, selfish, arrogant, pigheaded, obtuse, and lazy as a husband. I have glaring faults, and I recognize them. Why does she still love me? Beats the hell out of me but she does.
I'll tell you this though, she is the center of my happiness here on Earth. She is my best friend, my strongest supporter, and a fierce advocate for what is good and right in the world. We have been together through good times and bad, through sickness and health, and will be until the day we die.
Words of Marital Bliss? I have a few. "I love you" and "I am sorry" cover a lot of things. You better mean them, too. Be willing to change. Not because she wants you to, but because you want to become a better, more complete person for her. Face it, you are going to fail (often) as a partner. Recognize it, be honest about it, and keep working at it. Do not quit.
Be willing to do the things that she wants to do. You might find that you enjoy opera, art galleries, museums, and Jane Austen novels. After all, you want her to enjoy things that go Vrooom, Bang, and Boom, right?
Listen to her. Listen to the words she says, and also the things she leaves unsaid. She will tell you what she needs. Be attentive, and show her that you care by your actions. She will appreciate it, and you will be happier in the long run.
Finally, just as you have chosen her, recognize that she was the one who chose you. She was willing to put up with some of the bad in order to enjoy what is good and fun and right about who you are. Accentuate those things, but be yourself.
I hope this helps.
Newbius
Marital Bliss is a pretty tough subject. The fact is, marriage takes work. It takes sacrifice. It requires a willingness to subordinate your will when required in order to do what is right for the union. Selfishness will not fly for very long. Nor will pettiness and drama.
I am far from perfect. I have made just about every mistake a married man can make. I have mistreated my wife by being disrespectful, dismissive, selfish, arrogant, pigheaded, obtuse, and lazy as a husband. I have glaring faults, and I recognize them. Why does she still love me? Beats the hell out of me but she does.
I'll tell you this though, she is the center of my happiness here on Earth. She is my best friend, my strongest supporter, and a fierce advocate for what is good and right in the world. We have been together through good times and bad, through sickness and health, and will be until the day we die.
Words of Marital Bliss? I have a few. "I love you" and "I am sorry" cover a lot of things. You better mean them, too. Be willing to change. Not because she wants you to, but because you want to become a better, more complete person for her. Face it, you are going to fail (often) as a partner. Recognize it, be honest about it, and keep working at it. Do not quit.
Be willing to do the things that she wants to do. You might find that you enjoy opera, art galleries, museums, and Jane Austen novels. After all, you want her to enjoy things that go Vrooom, Bang, and Boom, right?
Listen to her. Listen to the words she says, and also the things she leaves unsaid. She will tell you what she needs. Be attentive, and show her that you care by your actions. She will appreciate it, and you will be happier in the long run.
Finally, just as you have chosen her, recognize that she was the one who chose you. She was willing to put up with some of the bad in order to enjoy what is good and fun and right about who you are. Accentuate those things, but be yourself.
I hope this helps.
Newbius
Saturday, September 10, 2011
All that, and armed too.
My beautiful bride, (longtime spouse, best friend, confidant, and all around wonderful lady) Mrs. Newbius, completed her very first 4473 today. All the best qualities you could want in a person and armed, too. :) Life is good.
Newbius
Newbius
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Hoplophobia
So, I am at a Trader Joe's in Northern Virginia. I am perusing the selection of Cabernet when I realize that I am blocking the aisle with my cart. I look up and apologize to the woman with the pained expression for blocking the way, when she begins to apologize profusely and say it is her fault for intruding.
What?!?
She says (in a panicky, rapidly-rising squeak) that she wouldn't dream of upsetting me, especially considering the shirt that I am wearing, all while skittering away to the other end of the store like a cottontail evading a coyote.
Wow. If the sight of an AK-47 silk-screened on a T-shirt causes such PSH, I wonder what would have happened if I had been open-carrying instead? I might have had to explain to the Po-Po what the difference between shopping and brandishing is. For sure, I would have had to clean up aisle three...
Newbius
What?!?
She says (in a panicky, rapidly-rising squeak) that she wouldn't dream of upsetting me, especially considering the shirt that I am wearing, all while skittering away to the other end of the store like a cottontail evading a coyote.
Wow. If the sight of an AK-47 silk-screened on a T-shirt causes such PSH, I wonder what would have happened if I had been open-carrying instead? I might have had to explain to the Po-Po what the difference between shopping and brandishing is. For sure, I would have had to clean up aisle three...
Newbius
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Weather II
Irene turned out to be a big yawner at Casa Newbius. We had one branch torn off of a tree, slamming onto my deck at the peak of the storm. No damage noted:
The local garden spider did her preparations, too. She went to the BACK SIDE of her web and bravely rode out the storm's fury:
We hope to have the local destruction attended to by mid-day.
Hope your hurricane went as well.
Newbius
The local garden spider did her preparations, too. She went to the BACK SIDE of her web and bravely rode out the storm's fury:
We hope to have the local destruction attended to by mid-day.
Hope your hurricane went as well.
Newbius
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Top 100 Fantasy and Sci-Fi (Or, things I still need to read)
The NPR's Top 100 Science Fiction and Fantasy novels with the ones I have read in bold:
1. The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
3. Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card Read on 8/25
4. The Dune Chronicles, by Frank Herbert - I have read the Trilogy
5. A Song Of Ice And Fire Series, by George R. R. Martin
6. 1984, by George Orwell
7. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
8. The Foundation Trilogy, by Isaac Asimov
9. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
10. American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
11. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
12. The Wheel Of Time Series, by Robert Jordan
13. Animal Farm, by George Orwell
14. Neuromancer, by William Gibson
15. Watchmen, by Alan Moore
16. I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov
17. Stranger In A Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein
18. The Kingkiller Chronicles, by Patrick Rothfuss
19. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
20. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
21. Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick
22. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
23. The Dark Tower Series, by Stephen King
24. 2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke
25. The Stand, by Stephen King
26. Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson
27. The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury
28. Cat’s Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut
29. The Sandman Series, by Neil Gaiman
30. A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess
31. Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein
32. Watership Down, by Richard Adams
33. Dragonflight, by Anne McCaffrey
34. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein
35. A Canticle For Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller
36. The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells
37. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, by Jules Verne
38. Flowers For Algernon, by Daniel Keys
39. The War Of The Worlds, by H.G. Wells
40. The Chronicles Of Amber, by Roger Zelazny
41. The Belgariad, by David Eddings
42. The Mists Of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley
43. The Mistborn Series, by Brandon Sanderson
44. Ringworld, by Larry Niven
45. The Left Hand Of Darkness, by Ursula K. LeGuin
46. The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien
47. The Once And Future King, by T.H. White
48. Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman
49. Childhood’s End, by Arthur C. Clarke
50. Contact, by Carl Sagan
51. The Hyperion Cantos, by Dan Simmons
52. Stardust, by Neil Gaiman
53. Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson
54. World War Z, by Max Brooks
55. The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle
56. The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman
57. Small Gods, by Terry Pratchett
58. The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever, by Stephen R. Donaldson
59. The Vorkosigan Saga, by Lois McMaster Bujold
60. Going Postal, by Terry Pratchett
61. The Mote In God’s Eye, by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
62. The Sword Of Truth, by Terry Goodkind
63. The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
64. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
65. I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson
66. The Riftwar Saga, by Raymond E. Feist
67. The Shannara Trilogy, by Terry Brooks
68. The Conan The Barbarian Series, by R.E. Howard
69. The Farseer Trilogy, by Robin Hobb
70. The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
71. The Way Of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson
72. A Journey To The Center Of The Earth, by Jules Verne
73. The Legend Of Drizzt Series, by R.A. Salvatore
74. Old Man’s War, by John Scalzi
75. The Diamond Age, by Neil Stephenson
76. Rendezvous With Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke
77. The Kushiel’s Legacy Series, by Jacqueline Carey
78. The Dispossessed, by Ursula K. LeGuin
79. Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury
80. Wicked, by Gregory Maguire
81. The Malazan Book Of The Fallen Series, by Steven Erikson
82. The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde
83. The Culture Series, by Iain M. Banks
84. The Crystal Cave, by Mary Stewart
85. Anathem, by Neal Stephenson
86. The Codex Alera Series, by Jim Butcher
87. The Book Of The New Sun, by Gene Wolfe
88. The Thrawn Trilogy, by Timothy Zahn
89. The Outlander Series, by Diana Gabaldan
90. The Elric Saga, by Michael Moorcock
91. The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury
92. Sunshine, by Robin McKinley
93. A Fire Upon The Deep, by Vernor Vinge
94. The Caves Of Steel, by Isaac Asimov
95. The Mars Trilogy, by Kim Stanley Robinson
96. Lucifer’s Hammer, by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
97. Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis
98. Perdido Street Station, by China Mieville
99. The Xanth Series, by Piers Anthony
100. The Space Trilogy, by C.S. Lewis
Only3233.
I make Kevin Baker look well-read. :)
Newbius
1. The Lord Of The Rings Trilogy, by J.R.R. Tolkien
2. The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy, by Douglas Adams
3. Ender’s Game, by Orson Scott Card Read on 8/25
4. The Dune Chronicles, by Frank Herbert - I have read the Trilogy
5. A Song Of Ice And Fire Series, by George R. R. Martin
6. 1984, by George Orwell
7. Fahrenheit 451, by Ray Bradbury
8. The Foundation Trilogy, by Isaac Asimov
9. Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley
10. American Gods, by Neil Gaiman
11. The Princess Bride, by William Goldman
12. The Wheel Of Time Series, by Robert Jordan
13. Animal Farm, by George Orwell
14. Neuromancer, by William Gibson
15. Watchmen, by Alan Moore
16. I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov
17. Stranger In A Strange Land, by Robert Heinlein
18. The Kingkiller Chronicles, by Patrick Rothfuss
19. Slaughterhouse-Five, by Kurt Vonnegut
20. Frankenstein, by Mary Shelley
21. Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?, by Philip K. Dick
22. The Handmaid’s Tale, by Margaret Atwood
23. The Dark Tower Series, by Stephen King
24. 2001: A Space Odyssey, by Arthur C. Clarke
25. The Stand, by Stephen King
26. Snow Crash, by Neal Stephenson
27. The Martian Chronicles, by Ray Bradbury
28. Cat’s Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut
29. The Sandman Series, by Neil Gaiman
30. A Clockwork Orange, by Anthony Burgess
31. Starship Troopers, by Robert Heinlein
32. Watership Down, by Richard Adams
33. Dragonflight, by Anne McCaffrey
34. The Moon Is A Harsh Mistress, by Robert Heinlein
35. A Canticle For Leibowitz, by Walter M. Miller
36. The Time Machine, by H.G. Wells
37. 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea, by Jules Verne
38. Flowers For Algernon, by Daniel Keys
39. The War Of The Worlds, by H.G. Wells
40. The Chronicles Of Amber, by Roger Zelazny
41. The Belgariad, by David Eddings
42. The Mists Of Avalon, by Marion Zimmer Bradley
43. The Mistborn Series, by Brandon Sanderson
44. Ringworld, by Larry Niven
45. The Left Hand Of Darkness, by Ursula K. LeGuin
46. The Silmarillion, by J.R.R. Tolkien
47. The Once And Future King, by T.H. White
48. Neverwhere, by Neil Gaiman
49. Childhood’s End, by Arthur C. Clarke
50. Contact, by Carl Sagan
51. The Hyperion Cantos, by Dan Simmons
52. Stardust, by Neil Gaiman
53. Cryptonomicon, by Neal Stephenson
54. World War Z, by Max Brooks
55. The Last Unicorn, by Peter S. Beagle
56. The Forever War, by Joe Haldeman
57. Small Gods, by Terry Pratchett
58. The Chronicles Of Thomas Covenant, The Unbeliever, by Stephen R. Donaldson
59. The Vorkosigan Saga, by Lois McMaster Bujold
60. Going Postal, by Terry Pratchett
61. The Mote In God’s Eye, by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
62. The Sword Of Truth, by Terry Goodkind
63. The Road, by Cormac McCarthy
64. Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell, by Susanna Clarke
65. I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson
66. The Riftwar Saga, by Raymond E. Feist
67. The Shannara Trilogy, by Terry Brooks
68. The Conan The Barbarian Series, by R.E. Howard
69. The Farseer Trilogy, by Robin Hobb
70. The Time Traveler’s Wife, by Audrey Niffenegger
71. The Way Of Kings, by Brandon Sanderson
72. A Journey To The Center Of The Earth, by Jules Verne
73. The Legend Of Drizzt Series, by R.A. Salvatore
74. Old Man’s War, by John Scalzi
75. The Diamond Age, by Neil Stephenson
76. Rendezvous With Rama, by Arthur C. Clarke
77. The Kushiel’s Legacy Series, by Jacqueline Carey
78. The Dispossessed, by Ursula K. LeGuin
79. Something Wicked This Way Comes, by Ray Bradbury
80. Wicked, by Gregory Maguire
81. The Malazan Book Of The Fallen Series, by Steven Erikson
82. The Eyre Affair, by Jasper Fforde
83. The Culture Series, by Iain M. Banks
84. The Crystal Cave, by Mary Stewart
85. Anathem, by Neal Stephenson
86. The Codex Alera Series, by Jim Butcher
87. The Book Of The New Sun, by Gene Wolfe
88. The Thrawn Trilogy, by Timothy Zahn
89. The Outlander Series, by Diana Gabaldan
90. The Elric Saga, by Michael Moorcock
91. The Illustrated Man, by Ray Bradbury
92. Sunshine, by Robin McKinley
93. A Fire Upon The Deep, by Vernor Vinge
94. The Caves Of Steel, by Isaac Asimov
95. The Mars Trilogy, by Kim Stanley Robinson
96. Lucifer’s Hammer, by Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
97. Doomsday Book, by Connie Willis
98. Perdido Street Station, by China Mieville
99. The Xanth Series, by Piers Anthony
100. The Space Trilogy, by C.S. Lewis
Only
I make Kevin Baker look well-read. :)
Newbius
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Bringing the shame
The lovely and talented Tam can compose three posts a day, while getting her face drilled by Dentist Wannabee's. Me, I can't do three posts per week while healthy.
Shame on me.
Newbius
Shame on me.
Newbius
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Still here, just working hard
Sorry, real-life issues take precedence over blogging. Too much work, lots of stress, and not enough recoil therapy.
Two things: Tonight the youth group at church meets again, and I always look forward to that. These kids are our future and the prospect looks very bright. I am very proud of them. Also, Melissa at Psalm 19 is very close to her fundraising goal for her mission trip to Bolivia. Go over there and chip in a box of ammo's worth. Every little bit helps. (You can also follow her progress on Facebook)
Pax,
Newbius
Two things: Tonight the youth group at church meets again, and I always look forward to that. These kids are our future and the prospect looks very bright. I am very proud of them. Also, Melissa at Psalm 19 is very close to her fundraising goal for her mission trip to Bolivia. Go over there and chip in a box of ammo's worth. Every little bit helps. (You can also follow her progress on Facebook)
Pax,
Newbius
Saturday, July 23, 2011
In the heat of the Summer
So here we are, in the heat of the summer, in the heat of passionate argument about the future path of our nation. I am watching the proceedings in Washington with bemused detachment. The Evil party wants to spend us into oblivion, in order to retain power over whatever is left after they destroy our structure. The Stupid party just wants to do the same, but more slowly, as long as they get to keep their jobs too. This delicate balance is upset by the TEA party who just want...well nobody is really sure what they want, except it better have a lower price tag on it.
And me? I am going to the range to meet up with my friends, trade some stories, and then have lunch. I might meet with a couple of 'subversives' while I am at it. Got to keep them guessing, you know.
Know who you are. Know what you stand for. Stay alert. Maintain your networks, because Tribes are important. Remember to have some fun. The bastards hate it when you are smiling...
Newbius
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And me? I am going to the range to meet up with my friends, trade some stories, and then have lunch. I might meet with a couple of 'subversives' while I am at it. Got to keep them guessing, you know.
Know who you are. Know what you stand for. Stay alert. Maintain your networks, because Tribes are important. Remember to have some fun. The bastards hate it when you are smiling...
Newbius
|||
Friday, June 17, 2011
Mission: Bolivia
Mission: Bolivia is a money bomb request Facebook support page whose goal is to send a teacher to Bolivia to instruct High School youth at a Christian mission center. I have met the teacher, and she is wonderful. Due to a time schedule that compressed unexpectedly (and not the way our economic outlook is 'unexpected'), she needs to raise more money, more quickly, than originally anticipated.
Please share the link, and support if you can. We would like to raise $25,000 in two weeks. $1 or all of it...whatever you are willing to do. Please share the link.
Pax,
Newbius
ETA: The monetary support is requested, the Facebook status updates are real, and the goal is worthy. And, yes, I have pledged my own money to the cause first before asking anybody else to join me.
Please share the link, and support if you can. We would like to raise $25,000 in two weeks. $1 or all of it...whatever you are willing to do. Please share the link.
Pax,
Newbius
ETA: The monetary support is requested, the Facebook status updates are real, and the goal is worthy. And, yes, I have pledged my own money to the cause first before asking anybody else to join me.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Opportunities in disappointment
Every now and then, you will get a wake-up call that forces you to re-evaluate your commitment to your dreams. I got one today. My prospective business partner, who was working a contract job to build up the seed money to start the pizza restaurant, has had a setback. It seems like the job he got hired for was a little bit of smoke-and-mirrors...
Ah, well.
For me, this is a gut-check. "Do I really want this?" The answer is still "yes". So, I will press on. I will continue to refine the processes, and the recipes, until the product is right. I will also continue to build up the name recognition locally by hosting more parties and maybe doing a little catering. In the mean-time, I wish my future partner all the best. When the time is right, then we will move forward. Not before, and not at-risk. And most assuredly without outside financing. I will not be beholden to any bank.
The timing has to be right. I am in no hurry. Instead of causing worry, this little disappointment has been a blessing in disguise. It has allowed me the time to be introspective about what I want and how I intend to bring it to fruition. For now, I will wait patiently and work at what I know.
I need to learn patience anyway.
Pax,
Newbius
Ah, well.
For me, this is a gut-check. "Do I really want this?" The answer is still "yes". So, I will press on. I will continue to refine the processes, and the recipes, until the product is right. I will also continue to build up the name recognition locally by hosting more parties and maybe doing a little catering. In the mean-time, I wish my future partner all the best. When the time is right, then we will move forward. Not before, and not at-risk. And most assuredly without outside financing. I will not be beholden to any bank.
The timing has to be right. I am in no hurry. Instead of causing worry, this little disappointment has been a blessing in disguise. It has allowed me the time to be introspective about what I want and how I intend to bring it to fruition. For now, I will wait patiently and work at what I know.
I need to learn patience anyway.
Pax,
Newbius
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Summertime
The kids are home from college. There is laughter in the house, in all corners and at odd times. Last Friday we started up the summer pizza party routine once again, and had 30+ high school and college kids hanging out. Nobody got drunk; there was no debauchery; and, everybody made it home safely.
Life is good.
Life is good.
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