Marketing The Blog

I've been thinking about this. I spend all day marketing, so I'm sensitive and critical when people are trying to sell me a load of goods.

But this does look interesting. Seems harmless and might be fun.

Sign up for this great new Blogstakes contest and maybe we’ll both win a prize!

Behold, the power of the blog!

Or was that "Beware of the Blog!"

Distant Thunder

I'm usually the one in the theater, so I don't hear what it's like in the rest of the house. My daughter and her friend, Daisy, are down there now watching "Jumanji". As I sit here at the iMac, 2 full floors above, I hear an occasional rumble. It is supposed to rain later tonight, but this is coming, from the register.

I spent a lot of money to isolate sound, and the room does, for the most part. But when that big subwoofer kicks in, there's not much you can do to keep it from setting off the earthquake detectors long the Pacific rim. Especially when I play that scene from "Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring". You know the one. The Bridge of Kazadum.

OK, I exaggerate.

Wait, did you feel that?

Some links:

http://www.avsforum.com
http://www.svsubwoofers.com
http://www.designcinema.com

Mister Password Changing Man

One of the really unpleasant things about working in management is the occasional need to fire people. Not "Lay Off". Fire. Sometimes it has too happen.

Rarely have I needed to fire someone because they were bad at their job, lazy, incompetent. Those are easy. I don't mind that at all. Mostly I've been in the position of economic necessity or changing requirements staff reductions. That's what I've been doing today.

My day job is a small company and we had two offices - we kept the 2nd up till now because we really liked the people in the Minneapolis office and wanted to work with them. But as a small company it was very hard to manage and a big duplication of a lot of expenses. So we made the decision last week and today we made it happen. I'm back here in the home office. I held the meeting, alerted the staff, all of who were staying, and started the process of "changing the locks".

A lot of those people are my friends. It depresses me and honestly hurts. No easy way around it.

Simply a fact of life. So, all this afternoon I've been sitting with operations and changing accounts, passwords, logins, emails. Just like a funeral, but not as much fun.

So it begins

I've set out today to start the long process of losing weight. Of course, it's a bad time for such things (and perhaps I'll post more about this later this week). I feel like Lloyd Bridges in "Airplane!" - "Why did I pick today to stop sniffing glue?"

I haven't weighted in - not even sure I'm going to step up on the scale at all. Frankly, I don't care what I weigh. I only want to be trimmer and in better shape.

Today, I had two eggs with a dash of heavy cream and a slice of American cheese - a simple omelet. I also have a tall glass of water with breakfast, followed by a cup of coffee at work (more of a mug, really). We'll see how the day goes - I'm more interested in getting through the week than dropping pounds.

In other news, thinking about common ground. Diane and I spent the weekend (a very nice trip by the way) in Boston. We stayed in a downtown hotel and each morning had a muffin and coffee in Boston Common. We talked about the tour book history about the place and in English commons and their enclosures - what that meant for the "common" folk.

It leads me back to thoughts of "cheap labor" conservatives. And of the future.

Much thinking about that to do - to early to say anything here that doesn't make me sound like a crackpot.

I am, of course, a crackpot. I just don't like to sound like one.

Under Pressure

I may not get visibly emotional when under pressure, but as a friend of mine points out - I eat. And it's getting to the point where I have to do something about the extra weight. Even my watch band is getting tight.

So.

Starting Monday, I'm going to use this blog to keep a diet and weight record - that's right, in public and for the permanent record. I don't necessarily look forward to it, but I'll be damned if I go out and buy another pair of jeans because I can't fit into the ones I have.

What's the emoticon for a big sigh?

Naive

Our next rule comes from an observation I made at the Ohio State Fair this weekend. In a moment when I was by myself, waiting for my youngest daughter who was on a ride, I watched the people around me. As much as I am a great believer in the fundamental equality and worth of all people, I sometimes despair at what I see. I wonder, with the coming age of technical advancement far beyond all that we've achieved in the past, if the "digital divide" will be made real, a true gulf and separation into a new species, with the old following the road of our cousin, Australopithecus, Neanderthals, Cro-Magnons. Or worse, that Homo Sapiens survive, subservient and enslaved by our successor race.

What makes me despair? Naivete. Sit and watch the crowd go by. Do they know how the universe functions, how it came to be? Do they know our 20,000 year history, why we distrust our neighbor, how the economy works, who makes the news? Do they know what lies ahead, what is possible?

I may not know all of these things, but I do know the limits of my knowledge and work at finding the answers - or at least where to go when I need an answer. But what of all those who don't know, don't want to know, or think that they do and refuse any question of their beliefs?

"The state or quality of being inexperienced or unsophisticated, especially in being artless, credulous, or uncritical."

Why are so many people so clueless? The bottom reason, because it is easier and less painful. Easier to follow than to lead. And if you wish to be followed, it is easier for the mass to be simple, unquestioning. Those that question things are dangerous.

It is so difficult for a child to say, "There is so much I don't know." The typical, or perhaps stereotypical teenage reaction is to assume that no one has every experienced what he or she is currently thinking or feeling. So few realize that every one that has gone before walks the same road, eyes open or closed.

So how to defeat naivete? Skepticism, not cynicism. Question everything, but do not assume that everyone or everything is aligned against you. True enemies are rare and valuable.

Use these rules of thumb:

• Find others that have gone before you and study them.
  
• Read outside your areas of interest (someone else may have solved your problem, but not in your terms)
  
• Librarians are more useful than philosophers.
  
• Anyone or anything that claims to have all the answers is probably wrong about almost everything.
  
• Your ideas and plans will be better by tempering. Some things don't sound as unique when you say them out loud.

A Grievous Insult

Perhaps I shouldn't let things like this get under my skin. But at the risk of turning this blog into a Miss Manners column I'd like to share a little something with you, gentle reader.

An accepted personal invitation my not be disregarded.

Last night, Diane had invited some of her staff over to the house for dinner and a movie. She asked me to cook and host, which I agreed to gladly. Since it was a weeknight I decided on simple, but quality fare - porterhouse steaks, grilled, a side of roasted spaghetti squash with a simple tomato sauce, among other items. Although she had invited more, three had accepted invitations (a single and a couple). The first guest arrived relatively on time, but Diane received a call, after the invited time, that "Bill" was running very late, occupied with something else, but not an emergency. We took our time, then ate, and finally, after an hour and a half, I asked Diane to call him. He was still "busy". I asked her to tell him and his wife not to come.

These are people that Diane works with, so part of my impotent fury is that I can't directly address them. But here's why I'm angry and insulted:

• An invitation to our home requires us a large amount of effort and expense.
• We have to clean, arrange for the kids to be transported or cared for, and in this case fed.
• We purchased food and drink, at no small expense.
• I left work early to prepare the meal and expend a considerable effort in making the evening enjoyable and entertaining.
• A dinner party planned for 5 is an very different dynamic when only one guest appears.
• Other people were not invited that could have attended.

This person will NOT be invited again. It is my understanding that he runs a side business and became busy at a customer site. I do not accept this as an excuse. Once he accepted the invitation he was obliged to present himself at the appointed time, save for grave personal emergency. If this person was under my influence, this would severely bar his advancement. I would not consider it shabby or petty to shun avoid their company.

Behave with consideration and you're welcome in my home and table. Piss me off and you'll end up in this blog.

Rule #3. You can believe whatever damn stupid thing you want*

*as long as you claim no authority to enforce it.

Yes, here the crux of the matter. Virtually all of humanity's problems boil down to matters of belief. Very few issues are purely greed or lust (and frankly, they're much more fun and less damaging than the whole belief thing).

And it's the followers that are the problem. Leaders are powerless, but followers, or "functionaries" as my good friend Penny calls them, are the ones that shed the blood and attempt to force all into behavioral boxes.

Why? Because of one word: SHOULD. I've been inside the belief structure - I was raise that way. But from the very start, from my earliest memories, I was struck with the hypocrisies. Christianity has a big problem here and it isn't alone, but it's the one I know best. The complete practice of Christianity is incompatible with modern life. In it's current incarnation it is structured around allowing people the most minimal contact with religious life while exercising the maximum behavioral control. If one were to actually follow the precepts of Christianity as recognized by most of the major brands, you'd quickly be labeled either a fanatic or a nut. Do you really expect me to give up everything, accept everyone, turn the other cheek, and here's the big one, pretty much ignore all authority and hierarchy? And when you in turn look at those that do follow their religion religiously, you have the extremes that we find both humorous and dangerous.

Jesus, as presented in the New Testament, was a dangerous man. Why? Not because of the reported miracles or for anything he said. He's portrayed and the most unthreatening man you could imagine, even to his death. But his FOLLOWERS were becoming the threat. Frankly, they were right to be scared. I can't find any measure that will provide evidence of positive good done by these followers that can't be outweighed by a hundred times the evil they've perpetrated in his name.

Alas for you, lawyers and Pharisees, hypocrites! You pay tithes of mint and dill and cummin; but you have overlooked the weightier demands of the Law, justice, mercy, and good faith. It is these you should have practised, without neglecting the others. Blind guides! You strain off a midge, yet gulp down a camel!

Alas for you, lawyers and Pharisees, hypocrites! You clean the outside of cup and dish, which you have filled inside by robbery and self-indulgence! Blind Pharisee! Clean the inside of the cup first; then the outside will be clear also.

Alas for you, lawyers and Pharisees, hypocrites! You are like tombs covered with whitewash; they look well from outside, but inside they are full of dead men’s bones and all kinds of filth. So it is with you: outside you look like honest men, but inside you are brim-full of hypocrisy and crime. . .

Matthew, 23rd Chapter

I'll admit, it's damn difficult to face that there's no purpose to human existence. This life we have is it. There's no second change, next round, higher plane. And building a life that has its own meaning, that is satisfying and is creditable (I'm not sure I'm ready to tackle laying that one out yet) is a challenge that most simply can't or won't face.

And frankly, I don't care if they do or don't, as long as they leave everyone else alone!

See? There's a good reason they haven't made me supreme ruler of this little galaxy.

Rule #2 - Use The Scientific Method

Listen, that old adage of "there are many ways of discovering the truth" and laments of "Western ways of thinking", I'm sorry about it, but poppycock. The Scientific Method is the only way.

I'll repeat, I'm not looking for arguments, so argue amongst yourselves. Here's the test: Demonstrate an instance when a method or practice other than the Scientific Method has uncovered and explained any physical phenomenon.

This rule is like unto the first. It is based on skepticism and does not rely on authority. The results are available to all who follow the experimental steps.

And while we're at it I'll tip my hat to Rule #3. You can believe whatever damn stupid thing you want as long as you claim no authority to enforce it.

See how this is working out?

Free Sheet Music

Wow - now here's something worthwhile - Welcome to the Mutopia Project.

Over 320 pieces of musice available, to date - and best for me - 170 piano works!

Ah!

Rules To Live By

First, there are no rules.

That may be the most difficult step to take.

"What, then how do I know if I'm doing it right?"

Well, you'll have to determine that yourself. If you expect me to tell you if you're a good person, if you're successfully, if you're smart, beautiful, or worthy, then you're in a heap o' trouble.

And if I can't tell you these things, who can?

No one.

More specifically, here's my first rule, restated and clarified: Always, without exception, mistrust and challenge anyone or anything that claims authority or seeks positions of command or control. Distrust more those who seek to be governed and attempt to include you within the body.

Chaos? Anarchy? No, not at all. I do not say resist authority, only to question it.

All other rules may be derived from this one alone. It is the central component of my philosophy.

The hard part is this: rejoice in this task. To not allow despondency and despair to rule. Peeling back the layers, discovering the real mechanism of the universe, of the affairs of men, or your very heart and soul is a joyous task. Revel in it. For every belief you leave behind, for every misconception and lie you shatter, for every step you take in sharpening the focus on your vision and understanding, declare victory and gain strength.

There are things I could tell you. But I won't rob you of the joy of discovery.

My Latest Gadget

The SST-768 Harmony Remote.

Yes, I have many, MANY remotes. I even have one very expensive and supposedly programmable one. But no luck. So we try this one. Now Mac OS X compatible!

As Seen on Fark

I'm a bald man and I have no problem with that. I'm fine with the way I look. Actually, I kinda like it this way. I started loosing hair in my early 20's and it went pretty quickly. I could pull off a "thinning" hair look, but instead I shave the top of my head and keep the rest buzz-cut short. Easy to deal with and no shame.

But some day, I expect to have a full head of hair. Just not this way: One Day We'll Grow Hair Like Wheat.

Some day, maybe inside the next 20 years, I expect medical science to perfect a lot of treatments that will extend life and youth. At least I'm holding out hope. I envision a simple treatment, maybe a pill or a nose spray, that will correct all of my bodily ills. My back won't hurt any more. I'll drop all the extra pounds. My hair will grow back, my scars disappear, I'll throw away my glasses, and I'll stop snoring.

Last Sunday, Bob Hope died at the age of 100, a very old man. I look forward to 100 when it's considered nothing but a milestone and we don't know how long people live.

Interesting, and probably right

The Dominion: The Conceited Empire

Although I think he gives Europe too much credit. When I put on my oraclular hat, I see China as a particularly interesting future economic power. I see Russia as the India (cheap, well educated labor). I see Europe much as it is today - still struggling through 2,000 years of backbiting and spending the month of August on holiday.

A Pocket Full Of Great Books

On occasion I run across a selection of these wonderful little blue books, published by Konemann. They are a marvel and a bargain, to book. They're perfectly sized for slipping in a coat pocket. Very well made. They are classic books and I've enjoyed picking them up as I find them. All are hardback, with slip cover. About five by four inches and rarely more than a half inch thick. I usually find them in discount book stores, although new. My greatest success has been Half Price Books, but I've also found them in book stores in NYC and San Francisco (the legendary City Lights, I believe). My latest find was in the independent and highly recommend Columbus (German Village, really) The Book Loft.

This Saturday, I came their version of "War and Peace" and what a wonderful way to read it. A little boxed set, broken into four volumes. I've also found copies of Poe, Dickens, Jane Austen (one can't just say "Austen", can one?) as well as titles like Frankenstein, Dracula, Dr. J & Mr. H, 20,000 Leagues, etc.

I recommend them to your attention: Konemann's War and Peace

A Word To The Wise

I'm a lazy and stubborn man, much given to my own comfort and entertainment. But if one tries often enough, I can be made to understand where I've gone off course.

Case in point, my particular friend, Penny, has been gently arguing that my choice of title for "The Wanted Way Of Things" is off course. She is my first reader (and sometimes only!) in much that I produce and I value her input, for good reason. But in this case I've resisted her with "That's what I want it to mean!".

Now that you show the contextual source of the title, I see that the quote you remember contains the phrase "the wonted way of things."

I urge you strongly to change the actual title of the story to The Wonted Way of Things.  Or, if what you want is to leave your title as is, because you are playing against the other (Jack London) meaning, then I urge you to include the quote as a headnote to your story.  [I should say that I don't get this sense of 'playing against' from your story, but that's your call.]  

The differences in denotation between wanted and wonted are very large, enough that it will make a huge difference -- it's not just a spelling variation.  (like flog and flag).

Of course, she's right. I've added the quote to the story, but I'm holding out on the title. My point in the story, which perhaps I have not achieved, is to build a strange fear that things might actually want something. Or more to the point, that things have an accustomed way - that of entropy - and by giving them a voice it may turn to actual want. But in not providing the quote, I don't allow that dissonance to fully emerge.

In my defence, I don't think that most people are familiar with "wont". The story must work on its own, regardless of the title. But a good title is more than just a hand way to remember which story we're talking about. A title can provide a frame, a context all its own. I hope that with the added quote and context I'll get a little closer to a successful and satisfying tale.

I've learned to listen to the wise old owl. You'd be wise to listen as well.

A Quote, Out of Context

By the way, the title of the short story I published below, "The Wanted Way Of Things" is a phrase that struck my ear a couple of years back when listening to an audio book version of "The Call Of The Wild" by Jack London. Here's the complete quote, in context:

"They had made short work of the snow-shoe rabbit, these dogs that were ill-tamed wolves; and they were now drawn up in an expectant circle. They, too, were silent, their eyes only gleaming and their breaths drifting slowly upward. To Buck it was nothing new or strange, this scene of old time. It was as though it had always been the wonted way of things."

Another one caught me the other day and would make a great title in a number of ways. It was a phrase from the Richard Powers book, "Plowing The Dark". The phrase was "The black of elaborate plans". I like the simpler, "Elaborate Plans", but the whole phrase has a nice turn to it, don't you think?

I have an old novel-in-progress with the working title of "Harrowed In Deep" that might work better with the title "Elaborate Plans". I'd have to chuck most of it - dated and now the best part of 15 years old and therefore painful to revisit as a writer. But there's probably some salvageable stuff in there. It was initially meant as an tribute to John D. McDonnald.

Farewell, Mr Jefferies

I just saw this obit, on the BBC of all places. Matt Jefferies as passed away.

On the wall above my desk at home I have a simple and elegant drawing. It's a piece of set design from Mr. Jefferies' note books. I much admire his work. A man who few knew his name, but virtually everyone on the planet who's been anywhere near a TV in the last 35 years has seen and been influenced by it.

And so, a little story.

I'm a fan of Star Trek, but a bit different than most you've met or imagined. I was the right age for it, born in 1960, but my parents weren't interested. I remember seeing only part of one episode during its original three year run ("The Tholian Web"). From where we lived, on the prairies of Southern Illinois, we didn't get it in syndication, even later. Soon, at age eleven, I was starting to read science fiction and discovered at a local book store a thin volume labeled "Star Trek 9". The ninth in a series of novelizations of the series by James Blish. I was hooked, instantly, and began saving my dimes and buying books as I could find them. Before long I new all of the stories by heart, never having see a complete one. I had a poster, a montage on my bedroom wall. My imagination filled in all the details with the rough out line of the pictures and the well-told stories.

I quickly moved on to read widely in science fiction and well beyond as well. But those early days of stories and imagined flights to the stars made me a fan forever. It aggravates me to read the fanboy sites and arguments about dogma and orthodoxy. I've never been to a convention, I won't argue with you the fine points of plots, characters, and technology. But my youngest daughter and I make sure to see every new episode of Enterprise, together.

In my dreams I sit on the bridge of the starship Enterprise truly go where no one has gone before.

Thank you, Matt Jefferies.

Blogging In the Not So Daily Mode

Been travel'n. All work related. Makes Randy a dull boy.

And of course, now that I'm back, I get to dig out from the email which I couldn't retrieve and respond to, the work that's piled up, and the phone messages (which I mostly ignore, but still . . .).

Can't wait for wireless everywhere. Oh, and don't like hauling around a laptop, either.

For this trip I needed a Windows laptop to demonstrate software, so I got a temporary one - a new Sony VAIO. It was small, light, with integrated wireless. I hated it, even disregarding the typically aggravating Windows nonsense.

Here's the one tell-tale. The power cord "wrap" was a foot long piece of velcro. Thank you very much. Most of the time, it's caught in its own snarl. I compare to the thoughtful Apple engineering. They'd never put up with that (Steve Jobs would put someone's head on a pike for even suggesting it). And this was Sony. I expected more from them. But the machine was in a plain box, no setup instructions, and in less than 1 week's gentle use the CD/DVD door fell off and the whole thing was already beginning to looked scuffed and shabby. I returned it gladly to Circuit City with their "No Questions Asked" policy. Of course, they asked me 2 questions, but I let them off without calling them on the issue. They wanted to know if anything was wrong with it and I was charitable in telling them "no, it worked, but didn't meet my needs".

Not Quite The Thing

Hmm, this old thing again: You are your music collection.

Hmm - I don't buy it.

However, I do form opinions about people by their books. It's more than judging a book owner by their covers. And I clearly know that their is a significant difference between what someone has read and the books they choose to keep. And beyond that, it's only a clue to their personality and intellect, not a precise map. But when I visit someone's house, one of the first things I look for is their reading material. Too often I find nothing. Zip, nada, zero. Maybe a magazine. An old copy of People. Yikes.

What can you tell about me by the books you see in my house? Well, it depends in what room you're in.

If you enter the house from the front door, you'll find the music room on your right. A baby grand piano and string base. No recorded music evident. You'll have to look through the music cabinet there, but you'll only find what we're playing recently. My drawer is filled with Scott Joplin, the Grieg lyric pieces, a few pop collections (James Taylor, Billy Joel, and one of my favorites, some nifty arrangements by Jimmy Web of his hits). Maybe some Broadway scores, like Guys and Dolls, some Irving Berlin and a collection of Oscar Hammerstein. Other drawers contain the girls current lesson. Jennifer's neatly organized in her music case, Kathleen's jumbled in the drawer, probably not closed, and strewn across the piano. The rest of the music is in the living room cabinets.

Oh, back to the books.

You'll enter the family room and find a wall of books. It's overflowing and I'm beginning to wonder where I'll put the next 40 years or so of them. Starting in the far corner you'll find shelves loaded with religion, philosophy, classics and mythology, science, and humor. The next section is largely history - a shelf or so of American and another or so of world. Lower down you'll find mystery with a large section filled with James Lee Burke and another with a significant collection of early 20th century American mystery. The lower shelf in the section is filled with Ghost stories and horror. Another full section is filled with plays and books on theater, with a few on movies. These shelves are all for the most part hardback with a few trade paperbacks (the plays are mostly actual play books and scripts).

By my leather reading chair is a book stand with a few in current reading.

But if you go upstairs to my office/den, you'll find a very different me. Another leather chair, but this one less formal than the overstuffed monster down stairs. This one is a Ekornes "Stressless" with footstool. You'll find another entire wall, also bursting with books. Here you'll find paperbacks as well as hard backs. Lots of science fiction, categorized loosely. One shelf is dedicated to naval fiction, mostly Patrick O'Brian. A middle section is reference and science texts, computer software.

I think that a knowledgeable reader spending a few minutes browsing my shelves might be able to judge the following: The collector is likely male, a voracious and wide reader. Given to self entertainment, probably highly imaginative. Fairly well educated, but mostly self-educated in literature. Curious, restless, politically hard to pin down, but with the lack of any identifiable political books, it's likely that the reader is not a conservative. In fact, taken in whole, it's likely that the reader does not identify with a party or political bent. The stack of Barbara Tuckman books suggests, combined with the books on science and skepticism bear this out.

The additional information of the titles and condition of the books would add to this profile, but I'll leave that to you if you visit me.

What do the books you keep say about you?

Oh, from their list in the article, I have only the Beethovan. I have a wide classical collection, lots of Jazz, a little pop, but very little recent. My iPod is loaded with a pretty interesting mix, but not if you only listen to top 40 radio.