Protected: The blogging process
Password Protected
To view this protected post, enter the password below:
Discovery
Albert Einstein. “The process of scientific discovery is, in effect, a continual flight from wonder. “
An interesting quote. Sure, discovery removes the shroud of the magical unknown and gives us the tools to understand and tame these processes. For me, though, reading about discoveries inspires me to wonder even more. Wondering is exciting. It’s what humans were made to do. The dance of discovery between the mind and nature casts light on things that had been dark. But with new illumination, comes new shadows.
Here are some recent discoveries that have given me a “wonder-rush.”
Scientists Scan Data From Saturn’s Moon (AP). AP – Saturn’s largest moon contains all the ingredients for life, but senior scientists studying data from a European probe ruled out the possibility Titan’s abundant methane stems from living organisms.
Those who follow this weblog know I’ve been eagerly anticipating this one. I can’t stop looking at the pictures and imagining what it’s like there. Yes, I’m quite clear on the fact that it’s deadly to life as we know it, but I’ve been imagining things like that ever since I read a book in grade school, Mission to Mercury (at least I think that was the title, I can’t find it on Amazon to make sure). With lakebed coastlines, flowing liquid methane rivers, soft “soil”, rains, winds, storms…yes, I know we have much less toxic versions of those things here. Why am I entranced by a sunset over the lake when I’ve seen hundreds of them before? (more…)
Ronald Reagan
I was a teenager during the Reagan Revolution. I knew then that there was something extraordinary about our 40th president.His policies were straightforward and completely consistent with his belief that people knew better how to run their lives than career politicians in Washington. His successes, the greatest economic expansion in our history and bringing an end to the Cold War, are nothing less than stellar. As a president, Ronald Reagan belongs alongside our greatest leaders.
As a man, Ronald Reagan was every bit as great. His relationship with Nancy exemplifies what it means to have a life-long love affair with your partner. And anyone who has met him seems to have a story about his graciousness, his simple kindnesses, and his disarming humor. But what always struck me most about Ronald Reagan was his infectious optimism.
It is time for us to realize that we’re too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams…. Let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our faith and our hope…. The crisis we are facing today… [requires] our best effort and our willingness to believe in ourselves and to believe in our capacity to perform great deeds; to believe that together with God’s help we can and will resolve the problems which now confront us. And after all, why shouldn’t we beleve that? We are Americans.” – Ronald Reagan, First inagural address.
Thank you Ronald Reagan, for your terrific service to our country and for being a model of great character with your kindness and optimism.
Whatever else history may say about me when I’m gone, I hope it will record that I appealed to your best hopes, not your worst fears, to your confidence rather than your doubts. My dream is that you will travel the road ahead with liberty’s lamp guiding your steps and opportunity’s arm steadying your way.” – Ronald Reagan
For openers….
How often is a novice chess player honored by having his analysis of an ongoing game published? As often as he likes … if he has a weblog….
The following are the opening moves of a game I’ve just started with an old college buddy who lives a long way away. We’re playing over email, allowing “infinite” time to play each move, and we’re allowed to consult computer chess programs to avoid blunders and generate some ideas. The game is not meant to be a masterpiece of strategy and tactics. The regular email moves are a conduit for us to pass along news and happenings to each other. It is a way for us to keep in touch.
Still, for anyone who might be interested, I submit the following analysis. By the way, should you come up with a great idea, that’s what the “comments” section is for. You should do the same for Bill. Oh yeah, that’s right. Bill doesn’t have a weblog. Too bad….
Bill
| Todd | Bill |
|---|---|
| 1. e4 | Nf6 |
Alekhine’s Defence. Not an opening I’m very comfortable with. Let’s see how it develops.
| 2. e5 | Nd5 |
| 3. d4 | d6 |
| 4. c4 | Nb6 |
| 5. Nf3 | … |
A hundred-dozen cookies
My computer is infested. No, not with viruses or worms. And I’m not talking about the adware that I have to regularly scrape off my hard drive like barnacles from a ship. The more I dig around my computer recording settings I want to keep beyond my planned system upgrades, the more I find “junk.” Like twelve hundred cookies. Twelve hundred.
I’m not a complete “anti-cookie” rebel, either. I enjoy not having to sign in to select sites every time I visit. But there has to be a better way to manage these little files. I can guarantee that of the twelve hundred, there are less than twenty I consider helpful to me. I changed my browser settings to prompt me before it accepts any cookies, but at the rate I’m going, I’ll get carpal tunnel syndrome from clicking my mouse all the time to block the cookies I don’t want. The modern realities of the worldwide web, I guess.
Salvador Dali. “There is only one difference between a madman and me. I am not mad.” [Quotes of the Day]
Hello world!
And welcome to my new webspace. In the late ’90’s, a personal webpage was a fun background, a few graphics, and your favorite links. You got to dress up a little corner of the web. For me, the hobby grew to include resumes, galleries of art, and categorized link pages. Then, for fun, I took on the challenge of creating something original, a page with wide appeal, something that would cause Geocities to shut you down for a period every month because your visitors have exceeded your free bandwidth allowance.
Fun, prestige, sharing favorite links, and the challenge of generating lots of traffic. I’ve played with all of those things. Now, with my friends and family spread across the country, I envision this webspace as a dynamic vehicle to keep in touch with your close friends. A way to interact. So don’t be shy about posting comments to entries that speak to you. Please feel free to drop me a “Shout Out.” Friends, keep in touch. Visitors, enjoy the “sites”!
Dr. Seuss. “Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.” [Quotes of the Day]