mhssoftware's Xanga

Thistles

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 13:13:59 GMT

by Ted Hughes
(via The Writer's Almanac)

Against the rubber tongues of cows and the hoeing hands of men
Thistles spike the summer air
And crackle open under a blue-black pressure.

Every one a revengeful burst
Of resurrection, a grasped fistful
Of splintered weapons and Icelandic frost thrust up

From the underground stain of a decayed Viking.
They are like pale hair and the gutterals of dialects.
Every one manages a plume of blood.

Then they grow grey like men.
Mown down, it is a feud. Their sons appear
Stiff with weapons, fighting back over the same ground.

Champlain's Dream

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:19:00 GMT

I am really enjoying this bio of Champlain, amidst thoughts on the value of being a generalist (brought up once more in my mind by Dr. Crutchfield: link). Champlain was an ultimate example of this. I'm impressed. Despite the fact he was a Frenchman. ;) I can imagine little more soul-crushing than deep and lifelong specialization.

As they put it back then in langue xaintongeaise, "Qui va chap'tit, va loin..."

A week in Florida

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 03:50:59 GMT

So since I moved to Florida, things have been eventful:
Police helicopter hovering over our house.
Saw a planetarium show, went behind an IMAX dome and into the projector room.
Ate everything from farmer's market salads to Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream.
Attended service at a Protestant cathedral.
Played soccer with a random group of MKs I came across.
Replaced my own distributor cap & rotor.
Reconstituted my computer& iTunes from scratch.
Caught up on work.
Stayed up too late on a Friday night...

Movies I'm looking forward to this year

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 21:31:39 GMT

May 1   Wolverine    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QWssCUGP9lg
May 8   Star Trek           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=puXPozd-kuc
May 22 El Greco           http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5wyuDI5S0g
June 5    Away We Go              http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U21lpEqbRxk
July 24    500 Days of Summer    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsD0NpFSADM
9.9.9        9                                                http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JIpZxBczWUg
Oct. 16    Where The Wild Things Are    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--N9klJXbjQ

TED plagiarism? Or conspiracy?

Tue, 30 Dec 2008 22:21:26 GMT

Feb 2006: A moment in Ken Robinson's talk @18:15...

July 2008: Dan Barber references the same quote in the identical manner. Odd. Homage or copycat?

"And for the future, it won't service... ...and he's right." and also following "we need to adopt a new conception... one in which..."

What the heck?

Disenthrall

Wed, 10 Dec 2008 18:27:54 GMT

"The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficulty, and we must rise, with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew. We must disenthrall ourselves, and then we shall save our country. Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration, will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance or insignificance can spare one or another of us. The fiery trial through which we pass will light us down, in honor or dishonor, to the latest generation..."

-Abraham Lincoln, December 1862

Piano

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 22:16:03 GMT

So what with the grand piano finally set up in our house, too, have taken to spending too much time playing it. It's a new vice. Like my coffee.

To all a good night!

Saturday, November 29, 2008

Sat, 29 Nov 2008 19:46:35 GMT

So I'm thankful we have a kitchen once again, it's wonderful. Good timing for the holidays and all. :)

Wexford

Thu, 27 Nov 2008 14:49:41 GMT

This is just gorgeous, my new favorite carol for the year: The Wexford Carol. Here performed by Alison Krauss and Yo-Yo Ma (along with Natalie MacMaster):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMaubOI5flk

Good people all, this Christmas time,

Consider well and bear in mind

What our good God for us has done

In sending his beloved son

With Mary holy we should pray,

To God with love this Christmas Day

In Bethlehem upon that morn,

There was a blessed Messiah born

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep

Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep

To whom God's angels did appear

Which put the shepherds in great fear

Prepare and go, the angels said

To Bethlehem, be not afraid

For there you'll find, this happy morn

A princely babe, sweet Jesus, born

With thankful heart and joyful mind

The shepherds went this babe to find

And as God's angel had foretold

They did our Saviour Christ behold

Within a manger he was laid

And by his side a virgin maid

Attending on the Lord of Life

Who came on earth to end all strife

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Sat, 22 Nov 2008 16:17:02 GMT

Random thought for the day: I can only come up with two CCM albums that have really stood the test of time:

Jars of Clay's debut album
Third Day's Offerings

Perhaps there are more? But I can't think of any offhand.
Rule: came out in or before 2000.