blivet 2.0

May your new year not suck comes from Doc Searls. I can’t improve on that sentiment, but I would leave you an image from Thoreau’s Walden. May the streams of your life overflow, flooding the areas around them. May you find your life and the lives around you richer and more joyful than you dared imagine. May you find yourself with upraised clenched fists shouting Yes!

Audrey and I, along with the vast and talented staff here at blivet, wish everyone a healthy and Happy New Year!

Kilshore also pointed me to Doc’s log by bringing up several Quaker-related sites.

Doc mentions “In Quaker meetings, one is moved to speak only if one can improve on the silence.” This is something we teach overtly in Ch’an (Zen) as well, to raise awareness of the inner dialog so it can be stilled. Though if you come here very much you’d never know it. Many Monastic orders (the Benedictines spring to mind) overtly foster this through vows of silence. Its hard to kill the ego if you’re always letting it frolic about. Not improving on the silence is anathema to most ‘business’ meetings. Leadership qualities often seem to be recognized by upper management through excess comment polishing during staff meetings. Leaders listen, then improve upon the silence if necessary. At least, thats how I see it.

Al says: Thank you, each and every one of you, for sharing this place with me. Good Sir, it is we who thank you for having a place so companionable to share.

… Everything is possible. I always enjoy reading what Commander Dave has to say.

Likewise with Andrea. Happy New Year to you and André too!

I haven’t made an appointment to be evaluated for sleep apnea yet (it may be that my wife is too patient, it may be that I need to be urged a bit if I’m not going to take the initiative), but I decided to try those adhesive strips that you put on your nose while you sleep. The idea is that they help keep the airflow going through the nose, thus discouraging the mouth breathing that is snoring’s precursor. I was very impressed. Last night was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in months. Well, there was the small matter of Mr. ‘I’m so happy to be home with you’ cat walking on my head, but that was unrelated. Actually, at 14 pounds (5.23 kg) he is no small matter when he is on your head. The only downside to those strips I see (but a big one) is that even following the recommended procedure of ‘remove in the shower or while washing your face’ I managed to remove the upper couple of layers of epidermis off my nose. It was quite painless and I was blissfully unaware until I splashed my face with the soapy water. Then I became aware. I think that will be the extent of this patient’s trials with the adhesive strips. Later: Al is right, and thankfully, his urging is polite as well…

SirDeath, Audrey, and I just got back from seeing Chocolat. I think it was perfect little magical fable, just perfect. I recommend it highly. A lot of people on the IMDB discussion group seem to be down on the film because it was shallow or not done in French with subtitles because it is set in a rural French village. Another claims that the performances were ‘excruciating’ while Dame Judi Dench was ‘merely bad’. Whatever. Obviously your mileage may vary.

I’ve been enjoying the quotes garret currently has in the random rotation at dangerous meta. Chief Joseph, Chief Seattle, Wovoka, Thayendanegea, Black Hawk. Great stuff!

This will probably be it for the year 2000 edition of blivet. We’re going spend a quiet evening at home. If you’re going out to celebrate, please use a designated driver. Alcohol and motor vehicles are a very poor form of natural selection.

Oops, I lied. I was having a look at my Site Meter referrals (that rainbow thingie over on the right) for the last couple of weeks and noticed a google (thru yahoo) search for “suppressing libido”. The stream of searches for “Harry Potter” and “Penis Puppeteers” are one thing, that has been pretty constant. But as for suppressing libidos, well, I’ll leave that for others to advocate. I still have never figured out where the “nude Japanese” searches of a couple of months ago came from. (now I guess they will be back …) Just as a postscript, I think the libido suppression thing came from mentioning Kellog’s creation of Corn Flakes during the ‘obsession with colon cleanliness and bowel movements during the late 19th century’ from several months ago. Or something like that.

I’m going for real now. I hear The Iron Chef marathon going in the other room. Be careful out there, I want to see you in 2001. Thanks for a great year. –Hal

It is nice to go, but it is always nice to return. Audrey and I arrived back in Las Vegas about 10 am (-0800 GMT) little the worse for wear and tear. We rescued the dog and cat from pet jail and seem to be completely forgiven by them for comitting such typically human atrocities as taking them to the Vet’s to be boarded. Which is to say, they are now asleep in their places of choice after having been fed, petted, and adored. Same as it ever was.

Lots to attend to before rejoining the world of semi-updated weblogs. Way too many emails, personal accounting chores and some laundry beckon. Plus there is a mountain of holiday cards to go through with pictures to marvel at - She looks just like her Dad! He’s growing like a weed! - from people on roughly the same schedule as we are. Perhaps yours is in there too. See you in a bit.

(I stole back in here ’cause I heard Eudora bleat at me) John VanDyk’s excellent View From an Iowa Homestead is now hosted by weblogger.com. You’ll need to rejoin as the user passwords don’t migrate.

Happy Belated Birthday (it was yesterday, the 29th) to Kevin who does Ghost in the Machine.

One of the things we did while in Denver was to spend a day at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science (which I still knew as the Museum of Natural History). If you are going to be in Denver before January 15 and have the time, I highly recommend HuupuKwanum-Tupaat, The Treasures of the Nuu-chah-nulth Chiefs: The Arts and Culture of Canada’s First Peoples from the West Coast of Vancouver Island. I spoke briefly with the First Peoples represenative who was there as a liason with the traveling exhibit and was heartened to experience through him how alive their group identities remain. Another highlight of our museum visit was watching a showing of the special return engagement of the IMAX® film Everest, done by these good folks.

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No Radio Userland here, perhaps this will work (it does!). We’re having a great time in Denver, Colorado, at Audrey’s parents. I’m connecting via AOL as broadband (cable or DSL) in this part of Denver is coming RSN (real soon now - not!) so I’ll be brief. The computers (win2k and winME) are talking to each other via ethernet and sharing files, but the big world is still filtered through dialup AOL. Its life in the real world time compared to the former fantasy life in cable land. Sorry to appear to be so terse, but I need to signoff. I am reading your site! Have fun and I’ll see you on Saturday the 30th.
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Happy Winter Solstice/Yule

This may be it for blivet until the 30th, we’ll have to see if I can get connectivity at Audrey’s parents house in Denver, Colorado. If I could give you something, it would be your fondest wish, along with my gift of peace, purpose, and inner clarity. You deserve it.

blivet will cross the one year threshold on Saturday the 23rd. I’ve learned a lot - about myself and about you. Thanks for reading. Enjoy this season as you celebrate. Peace.

Jazz on PBS begins January 8. We’ve been looking forward to this film by Ken Burns for some time. thanks Ken.

a year of blog from garret. well worth a read. as well, today is the 16th or 17th anniversary of sandra and garret getting engaged. and they’re setting off to Austin, Tejas. have a safe journey and joyous time my friends.

The Victorian Sex Cry Generator. saw this at Backup Brain. Thanks Dori! Just the sort of sillieness I needed in the midst of packing.
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Those are some beautiful susnet pictures garret.

We’re flying out very early on Friday and there are lots to do after work tonight. Audrey’s parents live in Denver and we’ll be spending a week there for the holiday season. Lots of snow and cold. Lots of family and warmth. There is symmetry.

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Tomorrow would have been Frank Zappa’s 60th birthday. via Ken. Happy belated first anniversary to ~fletk!

Tonight’s The West Wing was very well done and well written imho. It struck a very personal chord.

There’s some things that aren’t so full of Yuletime cheer:

Al’s mother in law (Julie’s mom) has died unexpectedly. I’m so sorry! Our love goes out to both of you.

Martin’s wife is recovering from emergency surgery following an ectopic pregnancy. I’ve always heard that those are very serious. It’m really glad that her situtation is not more serious than it already is.

and John is snowed in at the Homestead with sick kids.

winter solstice:

Skywatchers Of The Salt River Valley Hohokam

Winter Solstice

Determine the length of the day

Archaeoastronomy

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Annual convention of women drivers. I’m sorry, sorry, sorry, but I just have to do this cause it just makes me laugh. You’re not sorry one darn bit! And your point is … ? thanks Al.

Is Audrey Too Cool for Christmas? I have to admit I’m a little biased … thanks garret

there was green chile stew over at garret and sandra’s tonight. mmmmmmm indeed!
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I need to get going on my day. Have a great one everybody.

Nothing really jumped out at me during quick look at news sites.

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I think we may get our first hard freeze tonight, there is a genuine bite to the air. Our sociable cat gets even more so with cold feet. This weather is nothing compared to what John and Seth have been dealing up with though.

My favorite pachyderm from the Preserve’s White Elephant gift exchange last Friday can be found here at the Acorn Group. Just search the contents for ’scat scarf’. Because you can never have too many unique bandanas. What did I bring you ask? ‘The Complete Guide to Beverly Hills 90210′ on CD. from the No, I mean it. You shouldn’t have department.

Life is good. My ghod life is good. If you pay someone, they will put the car parts in the car for you. No loss of emotional maturity. No more questions about how to surmount the sheer physical impossibility of accessing that bolt (at least when limited to four dimensions) that is behind some sort of large cast metal contraption and requires hobbit-sized hands to even get to. The updated score is: blivet proxy mechanics 1, blivet wallet 0, blivet peace of mind 5, blivet spouse happiness 20. We have a winnah!
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Good morning. We have car logistics to deal with first thing. The Rocky goes one way across town to the mechanic, and both of us go back the other way to work using the remaining vehicle. Have a great day.

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I hope you get completely recovered Jonas.

Happy Saturnalia. memory jog via MetaFilter.

How to Obscure Any URL: How Spammers And Scammers Hide and Confuse. via Ed at Calebos.Org.

A Memorial. Al wrote this a year ago and reminded us of it today as a marker, a rememberance. This story is one of the reasons I started this weblog thing. It made me cry then. It still does now. As Al says, Tanj.

[Las Vegas Review-Journal] Nevada Test Site 50th Anniversary. Local coverage of the creation of the Air Force’s Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range, later renamed The Nevada Test Site. Near, but not necessarily dear (unless you count wages, jobs, and services) to those of us in southern Nevada and elsewhere. We have the trump card NIMBY (Not In My Backyard). Nobody in their right mind would want this thing next door.

I’ve long thought Las Vegas should strike the Faustian bargain with the Department of Energy (neé Atomic Energy Commission) of ‘OK, we’ll take the Test Site and Yucca Mountain Waste Repository, but, the quid quo pro is to move the nexus of high energy particle physics research in the USA to UNLV. Along with a USGS Regional Hydrological Center, a new bridge across the Colorado River north of Needles connecting to a beltway around the Valley. Nuclear waste can be transported to Yucca Mountain on the western portion away from the city (as well as cutting several hours off the cargo route for other things into the Valley), and assistance to the public school district’. For starters. Because it has been clear for over a decade that the Waste Repository was going to be here, When you only have one candidate in the feasibility study, which one do you think will be the recommended option?

[Salon] Dan Quayle redux. “As we prepare for a second President Bush, the déjà vu isn’t caused by memories of the father.” I think I realized this at a deeper level, but had refused to acknowlege it. <sigh> via Scripting News Dave, garret, Commander Dave and several others.

I showed this page to some friends last night. I wasn’t really prepared for the positive reaction. I’m not sure if I expected anything in particular, still, I’m amazed at that part of myself that is unwilling to deal with praise. Time to go into the back of the bus and do a little talking to those mishapen beings back there. later: Thanks Al.

I’ve had a contemplative morning, looking over the year soon be over and reflecting on friends, loved ones, my family, and continue to realize how lucky I am, how perfect everything is. Such suchness! (Borrowing a phrase from Katagiri Roshi.) I hope you feel similarly. Now I’ll have a look at what is going on out there, where the rest of us are.

[SciFi Channel] I walked out into the main room and Audrey is watching Silent Running (1971). I first saw it when it was released, I was 16. I remember being truly inspired by Freeman Lowell’s (Bruce Dern) choices. I cried afterwards, perhaps you did too. It still chokes me up. Go Huey! Take care of the forest!

I Have Landed, Stephen J. Gould’s final essay for Natural History, is up. via garret.

I’m off to take Keats, the Welsh Corgi, to the vet. Back in a bit. Update: The old pup-dog is doing pretty good right now, considering everything thats wrong with him. He was the biggest dog in the waiting room, which always puts him at ease. Corgis have an almost ‘on stage’ personality and love to be the center of attention. Keats’ scale goes to 11. I’m here! Now the party can start! He prances. He mugs for people with this bright, sunny disposition, obviously a happy dog. The Vet Techs all know him by name and come out to have an audience with the celebrity when he makes a stop on his whirlwind tour. “Oh, I just loved you in Tug on the Sock!” “And your performance in Chase me, chase me, I’ve got your shoe was inspired!” He beams, he glows. They do all come out to see him, its really quite touching. We’ve never worried about boarding him there, we know he is well taken care of. Then we come home and he refuses to come out of the dressing room behind the chair. Where are my fans? I’ve been forgotten! Oh, fickle, fickle fame! Now I’m left with these two, … two idiots who won’t even feed me what I want. Now I’m depressed.

[BBC] Children as young as eight perceive that scientists are “boring.” They see them as “middle-aged white males who never have fun.” Doing science is the most fun you can have with your clothes on! (Though I wouldn’t put it that way to an eight year old.) via the Got Caliche? newsletter.

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We just got through watching the First Family’s Holiday Gift to America: A Personal Tour of the White House, on the FOX network. I was leery at first, it was on FOX after all, but I was genuinely touched. I’m going to miss those folks.

The Las Vegas Sun ran a story on the cactus salvage that we did on Wednesday.

Al has a shorter route to View From the Heart. http://vfth.com/ How ‘e do dat¿ Update: Ah ha! The old fashioned way! I was wondering if perhaps Frontier could do that too. Change your life, change your life! Change into a nine-year-old Hindu boy, get rid of your wife! (Apologies to Mr. Waits.)

OK, it looks like we’re back in business. I couldn’t connect to parts of the ETP domains (including blivet) for a while. Whats up?