Posted by Jim at November 29th, 2007
Here’s a web site that’s apparently trying to prevent more coal plants from being constructed in Michigan and is gathering signatures. They don’t appear to be attempting to stop them permanently. From what I understand, they only want to stop them until some coherent energy policy can be formed.
In short, an energy policy that includes renewable resources.
I’m inclined to agree.
Posted by Jim at November 25th, 2007
In an unusually responsible move, I’ve cleaned up my blogroll and made it reflect the blogs I actually read.
Imagine that.
Posted by Jim at November 25th, 2007
I was working and someone wanted me to get information out of a database and I ended up moving from one computer to another even though the database should be accessible to everyone.
Then I decided to go to lunch only somehow in the process of leaving I stripped down to my underwear.
Instead of going to lunch, I then went to the Dominican Center (as in Dominican Order as in full of priests and nuns) for some sort of book reading about J. K. Rowling. No one paid attention to the fact that I was attending in underwear, but I nonetheless picked up a sheet (with green fringe) to cover myself.
After that I left.
In walking, I found that I was no longer in Grand Rapids, but was actually in Denver.
So, I went to a mall in Denver (but not one I’m familiar with) that somehow included a swimming pool. It was there that I discovered that I was in a t-shirt and shorts.
After that I got on the bus. While I was on the bus, I realized that I had an airplane which I could use to fly home except that the engine wasn’t inside. I didn’t know how to fix the engine.
When we passed a park (which included some amusement park rides) it occurred to me that I could ask one of the ride operators how to put the engine back in.
But I didn’t.
While riding the bus, however, I did talk to one of the other people on the bus. He invited me to stay in the park. I declined. Thus, when he got off the bus, he and others in the park urinated on the bus, some of it coming through the windows.
Yuck.
In any case, soon after that, I realized that I was really at home sleeping in bed and that I really didn’t have to find my way home from Denver after all.
At some point after that, the dream ended. I don’t know whether I woke up or not.
Whatever happened, I think I can safely say that this dream made no sense at all and I can’t imagine why people have ever bothered to try to interpret them.
Posted by Jim at November 20th, 2007
There’s a blog out there called Real Live Preacher that you’ve probably heard of. I say probably because I know pretty much everyone who reads this blog and know that most of them know Ed. Ed linked to Real Live Preacher every so often a couple years ago. In fact, I’m pretty sure the blog’s writer commented on Ed’s blog once.
In case you didn’t know, Real Live Preacher is a blog by Gordon Atkinson, a pastor who writes about his church, his life, his family, depression, religion and a multitude of other things.
Eerdmans (right here in Grand Rapids) published a book of his blog entries a couple years ago and apparently it didn’t sell as well as they hoped.
As I understand it (and I could be wrong about the details), they sent him the remainders and now he’s selling them on his website.
Along with the books (which are signed), you also receive odd surprises within the covers.
Kristen ordered one and we received a key (he doesn’t know what it’s for) and some religiously themed candy. Pictures of both to be attached to this post someday.
Kristen reads the blog regularly and I read it occasionally. As someone who attended seminary for a couple years, I’ve been on his end of the pulpit/visitation/church politics.
It’s interesting to be reminded of what that was like and of other things I spent more time thinking about in seminary than I do right now.
Not to mention the fact that beyond anything else, he’s a good writer, making it an interesting blog whether or not you connect with his major topics.
Posted by Jim at November 19th, 2007
1. No matter how fast you move, you will never catch the mouse pointer.
2. Interposing your butt between my face and the screen? Not appreciated.
3. Even though the house is colder than you might like, curling up directly in front of the spot where the hot air exits my laptop is just plain not allowed.
Posted by Jim at November 17th, 2007
Just mentioning inmydaydreams.com again. The second chapter of the superhero serial I’m writing is up.
For what it’s worth, though I’m not using any sort of particularly experimental literary techniques, I am using a technique that is experimental to me… I pretty much never write in the first person when I’m doing fiction and so this serial is entirely written in the first person. I’m also trying to have the main tension of the story being character based rather than plot based.
We’ll see whether I’m successful at that. Again, I mostly do plot driven stories, so I might not be.
I’m thinking that the the next story might be a mystery set in an urban fantasy setting.
Actually, should you feel the urge to read the current story (or any story) and tell me what works (or doesn’t work) for you, I’ll be interested to hear about it.
Posted by Jim at November 15th, 2007
A few weeks ago my wife brought our daughters shopping at Meijers. She bought shoes for our youngest daughter, but decided to buy something for our oldest daughter so she didn’t feel left out.
Abby selected “Ladybug Land.”
Ladybug Land is a small plastic terrarium where you can raise ladybugs from larva to adulthood. You order the insects separately. They are mailed to your house along with the food.
Within a few weeks they grow to adulthood. Almost all of ours have emerged from their pupae, much to the amusement of everyone.
By everyone I mean everyone. Kristen has spent at least as much time watching them as Abby.
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Now playing: Interpol - All Fired Up
via FoxyTunes
Posted by Jim at November 10th, 2007
1. Ron Paul: There’s no chance in hell I’ll vote for the guy.
2. Atheism: Not an atheist. Just don’t care.
3. Why Bush is Stupid and Evil: I disagree with his administration on Iraq, torture/waterboarding, and various domestic issues. Do I have to hate him too?
4. Yet More Examples of Why Iraq is a Horrible Mistake: I agree. Why wallow in it?
5. Tasers/Cops are Fascists: There are good cops and bad cops. Good cops don’t make the news.
6. Reasons Why Religion is Stupid: I’m religious. I guess I’m too dumb to understand these articles.
7. Reasons Why the Economy will Tank Soon/Environmental Disasters/Other Scary but Unlikely Events: I’m interested in potential problems, but an awful lot of these articles make it sound as if everyone will die tomorrow. In short, too much hype repels me.
Posted by Jim at November 10th, 2007
Just letting people know that inmydaydreams.com is up and contains a piece of a story.
I’m not claiming it has literary merit. Essentially, the current series can be best viewed as a webcomic minus the drawing portion of the comic.
I’ll be updating it every Thursday.
Posted by Jim at November 8th, 2007
Losing opponent says he’ll file complaint over cookies
Apparently the losing candidate for the Wyoming City Council believes that Steenstra’s Windmill cookies at the polling place played a role in his opponent’s win.
All I can say is that if I were to sell my vote for a cookie, I’d hold out for chocolate chip.