December 2004

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The Tsunami

The incredible tsunami last week is something I’ve not mentioned at all so far. It’s an astonishing event by any measure.

Oso wrote several posts about it for San Diego Blog. On the waxy.org videos thread I found a link to the excellent wikipedia article to catch me up to speed, as I’ve been busy with other things.

My heart goes out to those affected by the disaster. If you can, here’s a list of places you can help.

  • The Test Post
    12/21/2004 09:21:06 AM
    this is an audio post - click to play
  • Counting The Bugs with Tony
    12/21/2004 04:36:42 PM
    this is an audio post - click to play
  • Before Vegas
    12/21/2004 08:25:02 PM
    this is an audio post - click to play
  • We Have The License
    12/21/2004 10:17:50 PM
    this is an audio post - click to play
  • Giddy & Married
    12/21/2004 10:53:45 PM
    this is an audio post - click to play
  • Why Aren’t We Back (Vegas Edition)
    12/29/2004 02:24:10 PM
    this is an audio post - click to play

Before I left I made some changes over on San Diego Bloggers, leaving it broken visually.

Sad.

But fixed now! Check it!

Solstice-iversary

I got a nice note from our friend Susan about our wedding, and I thought I’d share it…


I almost forgot that today is The Big Day – congratulations How nice that you’re getting married on the solstice. A good omen, as
this marks a new phase in your lives with the promise of warm sunny days ahead. And—bonus—you’ll be able to remember your anniversary!

xoxoxoxoxo

Thanks Susan!

Kanab City Library

Right now I’m sitting in the Kanab City Library. Checking in on email and whatnot for the first time in a few days.

They don’t have free WiFi, but they do have a laptop hookup I can use for an hour. I want to swear about [expletive deleted] cool this is.

It’s been a wonderful few days of inaccessibility. Tomorrow Leah and I and the kids will head back for the thicker connectivity of California. Christmas was great, and I’ve been able to get to meet two of Leah’s sisters with much greater detail. And hey, I have new things like brother-in-laws! I have step-nephews and nieces! And not the least of which, I now have official stepsons and a stepdaughter.

All in all, it’s been a great week of marriage and holiday time.

Perhaps more in a bit, but that’s the quickie post I can muster before my hour expires. :-)

Today: The Day

Today I get married.

There’s a possibility that technical difficulties will get in the way, but I set up an audio blog over on the right there for developments.

Leah and I, and the kids, are all going to Las Vegas, and then on to Utah for the Holiday.

Things are good.

Blessings abound.

I can’t possibly mean it more today: Onward.

Party: A Success

Turnout was great. People were great. Tired this morning.

Wonderfulness.

Marriage ETA: 54 hours.

ONWARDS TOGETHER!

So…

If you have previously been to our home for a party, been invited but were unable to show, or think you should have been and did not receive an invitation for our holiday/wedding party Saturday night … like, tomorrow dude… please call or email Leah and/or I for more information.

Due to our extreme suckitude, we may have screwed up the very simple process of emailing out invitations to our friends and family.

Please accept our apologies, call us, and come.

Three bloggers I regularly read, Andy Baio, Matt Haughey, and Jason Kottke, all linked to this: Too much of a good thing?.

The central thesis of this blog entry is there is so much good stuff in the world and it’s depressing not to get to it, and maddening to not get to it.

I agree with this thesis, but the problem is the entry makes it seem as though this is a new and unique problem.

The idea seems to be that with digital acquisition the problem gets magnified and makes the problem unique. Wrong. Libraries present the exact same challenge.

I remember as a kid going into the library and being wowed by the number of books there. I further remember, as a teen, working in San Diego’s big Central Branch library and being even more wowed by my options. Big art books, biographies, more science fiction than I could ever imagine reading, rolls and rolls of old newspapers, magazines bound together forming (literally) tons of potential reading and viewing material. That’s one library. And I’m not even mentioning all the record albums, CDs, cassette tapes, books on tape.

Many libraries now lend out DVDs and VHS movies as well. More and more content, and also still free in the service of the public good.

So many books, so little time, right? Well, sure. But instead of looking at this as a problem, think of it as an opportunity to make choices. In making our choices we define our lives, we define the time we spend. We are making our own culture, for ourselves. If all we’re doing is rushing through what we read and look at, what kind of enjoyment do we get out of those things? How do we let that culture inform our lives?

I would argue that taking your time with the media you consume serves your self-interest more than trying to make sure you acquire each and every digital product out there and never getting to them.

Take the time to stop and the smell the roses, eh? A hoary cliché, to be sure, but good advice.

I get the neatest email. Here’s one about Christmas around the world:


May God bless you keeping an interesting page of Merry Christmas in all languages on your website. This efforts praise worthy and I appreciate it.

Please permit me to suggest one very small improvement on
your page: http://artlung.com/smorgasborg/international_xmas.shtml

It says in Hindi, Christmas Greetings would be: “Bada Din Mubarak Ho”. It should be corrected to “Shubh Bada Din”.

It says in Urdu, Christmas Greetings would be: “Naya Saal Mubarak Ho”. It should be corrected to “Bada Din Mubarak Ho”

Diwali is like Christmas for Hindu’s. We say “Shubh Diwali” or other greetings are “Shubh Labh”. Hindu’s being Shubh should always comes first and then comes the rest. Shubh means benefit and betterment of everyone used for in a very auscipicous and religious way. It is important for Hindus and in a Hindu way of life is to always put “Shubh” as word and in thoughts before everything else.

Nothing bad, just that to Hindu/Hindi speaking, it would look like a Superman, you know like a man wearing underwear
over his pant! :-)

Mubarak is a word for noble blessings more associated with Eid, which is like a Christmas for them. They say “Eid Mubarak”.

Thank you, kindly.

Thank you, Nitin. You are a fascinating character and I have made the changes you suggested!

Namaste,

Joe

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