On Saturday, my copies of the third edition of On Conflict and Consensus arrived from C.T. Butler – and so I have posted the pdf. It’s compiled from the same source, and using the same software, as the pdf that was used to print the book. You can find it, as usual, at http://wandreilagh.org/consensus.pdf. Read the rest of this entry »
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTaN2X_25Mg
You remember how I posted a few weeks back about “how my heart moves“? Well… if that was the deep unseen motion of an aquifer, this past week I’ve felt the sudden rushing of spring mountain streams. It’s all very interesting, and delightful, to experience. So I wrote a few poems, and a few more, and a few more, and now have recorded an extended piece, “Springwater,” that’s composed of six haiku I wrote this afternoon. You can go watch it, of course, on YouTube. Enjoy! Read the rest of this entry »
of a modern mathematics geek. See my new poem, “Intermediate Value Theorem” (though perhaps it ought to be “Intermediate Value Proposition,” since the proof is left as an exercise).
http://sillypoorgospel.blogspot.com/2008/03/geek-squad-jesus.html
Peggy Parsons, who has a paid position with universal tech support, writes skillfully about the ultimate programmer, the big software re-write, and the human interface. As a tech support volunteer – and as one who likes to customize the system settings, download new software, get all the latest upgrades, and sometimes even do beta testing – I’m particularly grateful for the 24/7 help-desk.
While I’m often more excited about the new releases than I’ve ever been about the millenia-old re-write, I recognize that it’s all being done by the same dev-team. In fact, I think that a lot of the new releases I get so excited about may really just be custom design adjustments to get my interface working. One thing I love about the dev-team: there is no abandon-ware, and they’re always taking bug reports. It’s nice to know that the lead hacker takes a personal interest in making the software work for each and every one of us.
There’s something moving in my heart that feels familiar, moving in a way like it sometimes has in well-established long-term relationships. It’s not the sparkling brilliance of novelty, nor the inner fire of mutual admiration – though I’m getting those too, to some extent – but a deep, calm, heart-joy, the building of which has usually taken a year or more of living together. It is a feeling that I associate with connection and safety.
Valuing connection, I am in a state of wonder. I wonder how this can be, because I’m not in any relationship where I’m ready to start introducing someone around as anything other than a friend, let alone move in together – or even stop dating others. I’m not in a place where I’d bring this or that person over to meet my parents, even if we were all in the same town. Read the rest of this entry »
I’m originally from a small farm in the mountains of Vermont – in Addison County, between Bristol and Warren, to be precise – where we raised sheep and chickens, grew hay, and boiled the sap of maple trees into thick sweet syrup. By the time I was nine, my parents had tired of losing money on the farm, so we moved to the “big city” of Burlington, and my father went off to grad school in NYC for a degree in business administration.
My roots go deeper, though, and my branches are spreading farther. Some of the ashes of my mother’s father rest with her maternal grandparents in southern Vermont, where the latter had a farm that still remains in the family. I go back, each year, to visit the land, do my part to help maintain the place, and connect with other family members who also gather there. I still love the closeness of the mountains of my home, and sometimes miss the brilliant gorgeous snow or vibrant colors of fall. I’ve come to love the blues and greens of Portland, though, and am able to see more of those colors now than I used to. I’ve fallen in love with my new home, and consider myself not only a Vermonter, but an Oregonian as well.
I just spent a day adding books to my account over on goodreads.com. At over 450 books, it’s a fair stack. And yet, I probably have another thousand to add, at least, just from books that I own.
But at least I’ve finally got a good way to answer those “favorite books” questions on online dating sites.
One of the things that I noticed, looking through my list, Read the rest of this entry »
I dream of a theater company that changes the world. A movement, really. To draw out a new story from the next generation, to transform our ideas of what’s possible among people. A sustainable company at its heart? Not only do I dream it, I believe it’s possible. Will you explore this with me?
When I was sexually assaulted in 1998, it took me two and a half years to tell more than two people.
I just read the email below, and I’m uncomfortable because I want people to consider seriously any claim that a person has been subjected to sexual violence.
If you’re willing, the next time someone lets you know that he or she has been on the receiving end of sexual violence, please tell that person that he or she is not alone, say something like, “I trust you’ll tell me if I can do anything to help,” and then be quiet and listen.
Thanks.
– Read the rest of this entry »
Easier than pie – or pretty much anything else, for that matter. Chop onions (1 part), sauté, add split peas (1 part), water (3 parts), and salt, bring to a boil, add carrot chunks (1 part), simmer. Stir occasionally. Get other things done nearby while waiting for food to finish cooking. Save trimmings from onions and carrots for the next soup stock. Served to my friends this evening with a French Batard from New Seasons… and some Earth Balance.