I suppose I should try to sum this up in a Thankful Thursday list.

I'm thankful for:

1. geojlc herself, naturally.
2. geojlc the artist with pen, stamp, penny whistle, bones, herb, flower, fabric, food, time and space.
3. geojlc's compassion and friendship.
4. geojlc patience. I try it on a regular basis I'm not happy to say, but she still hasn't run away screaming yet.
5. geojlc's sense of humor and her playfulness.
6. My own pooka, geojlc.
7. geojlc when things are just falling apart around me, for supporting me.
8. Having geojlc to support when things are going badly for her.
9. geojlc's family. It's nice to have In-Law's that you like a lot.
10. My job at the UW Medical Center IT Helpdesk. I work with great people, doing a meaningful job that can make a difference for hundreds of people every day.

I snagged this off of the saganliveson community.

"The Howard Hughes Medical Institute offers free dvds which contain lectures on various topics, from AIDS, to evolution. Two of them are of interest to you guys:

* Evolution: Fossils, Genes, and Mousetraps
* Evolution: Constant Change and Common Threads

The first is a lecture by Kenneth Miller, and it is a basic introduction to evolution lecture. He also criticizes Michael Behe's irreducibly complex arguments, and even shows a few clips from the Colbert Report. He also argues for the compatability of religion and science. The second dvd has four lectures (each an hour long) going over the basics of evolution, and explaining the mechanisms of it. It also includes a 70 minute discussion on whether evolution and science is compatable with religion. The production quality is fantastic, and the sound and picture quality are perfect.

And they're completely free (no shipping charge as well). I suggest ordering x3 of these so that you can hand some out to relatives, random fundies, etc. They also have other amazing lectures on RNA, AIDS, and tons more issues.

Here's the link to the Free Howard Hughes Catalogue of dvds and videos.

Feel free to pass this around."

I've ordered a set
1 AIDS: Evolution of an Epidemic - DVD
1 Evolution: Constant Change and Common Threads - DVD
1 Evolution: Fossils, Genes, and Mousetraps - DVD
1 Potent Biology: Stem Cells, Cloning, and Regeneration - DVD
1 Scanning Life's Matrix: Genes, Proteins, and Small Molecules - DVD
1 Clockwork Genes: Discoveries in Biological Time - DVD
1 The Double Life of RNA - DVD

Free!

Tech job numero Uno: at the UW, setting up MS Outlook (of the Office variety) to connect to the Exchange server, confirming it works, and answering usage questions by the staff.
1-4 month contract, could extend for a longer period. Currently there are a few applicants, but the prime one declined.

Tech job numero Two-o: at a tech company in downtown Seattle, filling in for a staffer on Maternity leave. also a couple month contract.

Contact Nathan at Greythorn, 425-635-0300

Insert whatever appropriate Diety might be invoked here. Or be cursed. That would work too.

First off I want to thank The Norwescon Concom, the IT department, Norwescon Security and (sans un) every single volunteer we had in Registration. I also want to thank the hotel staff (Union and Management alike).

My Norwescon was a mixture of trying to keep Registration from falling over (not that it was in much risk of that, except when I got on a register. Thus I spake "They shunted me to management so I would do less damage!" after fouling up a registration transaction by clicking the OK twice. *sigh*

This year IT introduced some significant changes. Also there were outside organizations that made for some challenges too. If IT is not commanded to scrap the work that has been put into the system that has been developed, the problems will be dealt with and next year the Reg system will be more capable. If anyone should doubt that, please arrange to buy the Registrar and Reg managers from the last several years a drink and talk about what kind of stuff went wrong before. When we started, all of the systems, including the server, were running Win 98. Nuff said.

Also, at no time did we have any issues with reptiles in Registration. We have Dragons on staff and in general we like things with scales. If it were an aggressive or fearful scaly creature we would take appropriate action involving calmly trying to get the critter into a place where it would not be fearful or angry. This is to deflect an odd rumor. If you hear someone repeat this rumor, send them to me. I was there.

With the events on Sunday in Registration, I can only say that if Jeri Lynn and I had bagged out on the con because we were not feeling 100%, or if Jeri Lynn had gone home, I think things would have gone much much worse. Despite whatever differences we have in opinions, knowledge and experience about running Norwescon, and working with everyone else, Norwescon has an incredibly talented, sharp pool of individuals who can deal with emergencies. Although I was trying to control a great deal of panic, uncertainty and feeling of helplessness, my friends made sure that both I and Jeri Lynn were okay. I know that you guys are all just family to me, but I owe you a drink some time.

I can't write enough here, and if I do, my screen is going to get blurry, so I want to say Thank You.

Things to take note. The NWC daily Zine needs more contributors, and folks to help with proofreading (no, I'm not criticizing as Jeri Lynn and helped with proofreading the zine. Some extra sets of eyes would just generally help out, y'know)

I need to clone myself. I want to got to some of the space and science panels next year. I want to filk. I want to get at least 7 hours of sleep. I want to do it all, and I'm finding that my meatware isn't up to the entire task.

I also need to get better insoles. Heels. Sore. Knees. Sore. Ow.

Okay, I'll write more later. Despite the total fatigue I gained (at least a +3 DRM) and some of the rough spots, I had fun! I want to do this again!

Jeffrey

The data that the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is sending back gets better and better.

Here are two releases from today.

First, landslides caught in the act on Mars:





Second, MRO images the Earth and Moon:




This is a time of wonders!

Today marks the day that my 1998 Saturn SL2 is retired from it's 10 years and 225,000 miles of duty. Fallen from a broken engine that is just too expensive for us to repair.

I purchased it 10 years ago to the day yesterday, February 11th 1998, looking at the records I have. It was my first new car, and it served me, my family, my friends and total strangers well.

I'm hopeful that my donation of it to the company used by KUOW is two-fold. First that KUOW receives a well earned benefit. Second that if my car is repaired, that it serve another person well, and if it is recycled... well I don't know if the raw materials would make an appreciable difference in the items manufactured from it, but I can always think they would.

It took me and Jeri Lynn from BC to California, to Yellowstone, Grand Tetons, Glacier National Park. It worked well, and up to the end was getting an admirable 33 miles to the gallon.

I know it's silly to get attached to an inanimate object, but I'll miss it.

BTW, Sky, do you want your 'Sega' sticker back?

So on Sunday eve  (or early monday morning really) at the Smoked Salmon filk circle (kinda like a dead dog or Sasqwatch)  vixyish andtfabris performed Dawson's Christian, which is a venerable filk song written by Duane Elms. http://www.ovff.org/pegasus/songs/dawsons-christian.html

I have never heard it played or sung l like this.  It was fantastic.  Tony's guitar playing added whole realms to the  the song.  cflute  added a lovely haunting flute to it also.

 

The Day after Conflikt I, and I'm smiling!

Why, you ask, am I happy?   I've slept little, sat behind a reg table most of the time, sung my voice a bit hoarse and doomed a friend to filk!

But then again I've slept little, sat behind a reg table most of the time, sung my voice a bit hoarse and doomed a friend to filk!

To be honest whenrunnerwolf  asked me run Registration at Conflikt ... I was thinking that attendance wouldn't be more than 60. 

I mean, I was all for a filk con.  I've never attended one (some day... sigh), but it took years to get any con up to any sizable membership.

And mistakes would be made, concommittees just don't gel you know.  There's always interpersonal conflicts, and just plan screwups and misestimations, etc

I'm happy to say that I was completely wrong, and geojlc, julesong  and I were not bored for any extensive period of time.  Of course the great thing about reg is seeing everyone, greeting folks, talking for a bit with people.

We had 119 preregistration.  Our final badge number was 153.   On Sunday we had sold more than 50 Conflikt II memberships.

Can you believe it?

Other than my badge design needing a tweak or two, I think register went pretty fracking smooth.

Conflikt had two rooms for programs and concerts, as well as a dealers room with more potential personal debt generation than is comfortable.  Now I want CD's by the GoH.  sigh.  money.  soon.  really.

I sang some, I wished for more courage to sing, and more skill to sing along and stay on key when singing alone, and for a touch of a gaelic accent (or the ability to at least roll my Rs) and an instrument like a mountain dulcimer to go along with that.  The one I had borrowed frompondside  for several months left me wishing for one of my own.  One of these days...

And I was evil.  Evil I tell you!  I corrupt... er... introduced bluesmancd  to the wonders and horrors... er, creative harmonies of an open filk circle.  I will only say that CD gave as good as he was given musicwise.

Stevemac (http://www.stevenmacdonald.com)  was an incredibly talented, kind, driven, brilliant guest!

Also, have a listen to Tony and Vixy's mp3s at http://www.geekhackfilk.com  </plug>

Here's my list of thanks for Conflikt.

Thank you to runnerwolf  for roping me into this.  You have me at your disposal again next year.
Thank you to cflute , technoshaman , and... I can't type out all of the LJ handles.  Thank you for the adventure, for the community, for the love, for the music, for the soul that you shared.
Thank you to my wonderful, talented and beautiful  geojlc  for being by my side
Thank you to rest of the Conflikt concom.  I didn't give as much as I could have I know, but I had your back.

And don't forget <plug>

Conflikt 2

(Even more conflikted !)

January 30 - February 1, 2009

in Seattle, WA

Guest of Honour Seanan McGuire

Pretty Pink Chainsaw Princess & Winner of the 2007 Pegasus for "Best Performer"

Toastmaster Frank Hayes

Whose heart never fusses while setting the cat on fire

Interfilk Guest Lawrence Dean

Spacefolksinging sensation from the UK

Registration is just $35

until July 6, 2008

http://www.conflikt.org

I know what you need.

You need more rocketry awesomeness in your life:

http://spacex.com/updates.php

Specifically, you need a Falcon 9, with a 9,900kg payload capacity to Low Earth Orbit.

Taking a 170 second ride on 9 (+1 in the second stage) Merlin 2c engines, delivering 4.4 MegaNewtons of thrust.

No... not fig newtons (tm), Mega Newtons, you know, the force to move one kilogram one meter in one second?

Here's the test stand article with one Merlin 1c engine installed.  Hear it roar!
 
http://mfile.akamai.com/22165/wmv/spacex.download.akamai.com/22165/F9_1st_Stage_Single_Engine_Test_VTS3-002.asx

Worried about riding a cluster of engines?  Perhaps you remember the Soviet N-1, which had problems with some of the 30 engines in it's first stage failing, and destroying the surrounding engines.  Boom.

SpaceX is developing, testing and developing.  Each of the Merlin 1c engines will be jacketed in Kevlar, so if one fails, there is far less chance of loss of vehicle.

But what can you carry on that first stage?  A second stage using the same model engine, but a different engine bell, optimized for the near vaccum conditions.

Atop that SpaceX is selling space.  You can supply your own payload, or put your payload inside one a SpaceX Dragon capsule (seats 7, or 2500 kg of stuff in 14 cubic meters of usable volume).

Heck, SpaceX is even hiring  (http://spacex.com/careers.php)

And that is what has me jazzed this evening

Quite a bit so I'll be brief

As I wrote this about a week ago, here's an update.

So you all know that the End of January in Washington is a drag.  The holidays are over, the weather is dreary, and there seems to be no end to the dark and cold.

Fear not!  There is an event in Renton on the weekend of January 25th to the 27th:



What's at Conflikt?  Music music Music!

Lots of singing!  Flutes! Guitars! Banjos! Stranger things!

Folk music for generations yet to be born!

The Guest of Honor is Steve MacDonald, who's work I like a lot.
The Toastmistress is Arlene 'Callie' Hills, half of Echo's Children, who has the largest flute you have ever seen.
The Interfilk guest is Stephen Joel and France.

And the convention will feature---Me!  As your loyal, ever helpful and somewhat harried Registrar.

It's going to be fun with concerts every day, open filk circles and panels.  There will be some merchants to, plying rare and wonderful music recordings and songbooks, as well as other goodies.

julesong, if you aren't too busy, I think you'd have fun.  There are Browncoats in the organization, as you know.

Also, as the appointed head of Conflikt's Volunteer department, I would like to invite anyone interested in going to Conflikt to help out and give the convention a few of your valuable hours, either prior to the convention, or during it.

Thank you

The Latest XKCD comic is out.

And geojlc  laughed as hard as I did.

Here's hoping that you get competent coworkers, continue to have reliable transportation, that you achieve a dream or two, that you  and your family have continued good health, that the love that surrounds and binds you to your family and friends grows and grows.

Jeffrey

For dolphinchatter

A Seat worthy of... something

1.Your Middle Name:
2. Age:
3. Single or Taken:
4. Favorite Movie:
5. Favorite Song:
6. Favorite Band/Artist:
7. Dirty or Clean:
8. Tattoos and/or Piercings:

I'm the sort of guy who can manage to make a sandwich, rice, even waffles.

In the years prior to me getting back together with Jeri Lynn I survived on lots of packaged meals, microwaved frozen vegetables and cylindrical food.

So all I can say here is that to me Jeri Lynn is a magician.

Yummmm!

so, in the never ending quest to bring the amount of stuff we have into order (insert insane laugh here) Jeri Lynn had me go through my box of cards.

Now, I don't throw away cards. I keep them in a box (or two, or three... maybe four). Every card I've ever received from friends and family for any occasion.