likemindead

Wikiquote Is My New Best Friend

2011-06-15T09:35:00.005-05:00

For realsies.

http://www.wikiquote.org/

So good.

"It is true that the materialistic society, the so-called culture that has evolved under the tender mercies of capitalism, has produced what seems to be the ultimate limit of this worldliness. Nowhere, except perhaps in the analogous society of pagan Rome, has there ever been such a flowering of cheap & petty & disgusting lusts & vanities as in the world of capitalism, where there is no evil that is not fostered & encouraged for the sake of making money. We live in a society whose whole policy is to excite every nerve in the human body & keep it at the highest pitch of artificial tension, to strain every human desire to the limit & to create as many new desires & synthetic passions as possible, in order to cater to them with the products of our factories & printing presses & movie studios & all the rest." ~ Thomas Merton

I hope the irony of the fact that you're reading this on the interwebs doesn't escape you.

Also, Twitter is seriously cramping my blogging & making me lazy.

K, love you, bye.

[mccracken]

McCrackens' Update -- March 2011

2011-03-01T10:14:00.004-06:00

Our friend Alysen Merrill was the 'guest speaker' at a partnership dinner we had recently. Since she is in England, she recorded a short video to address our guests. We'd love to share it with you now, if you didn't see it already.

We need your help! Can you partner with us by giving monthly? Would your church, small group, business, or organization be willing to join with us in seeing the Gospel of Jesus Christ advance in England?

(These are not rhetorical questions.)

We can't do this without you. Can you commit to partnering with us at $50 a month? Or more? Or less? Drop us a line &/or head over to http://www.nmsi.org/donate to partner with us. Please let us know how we can be praying for you too.

Grace, Peace, & Love.

~Ryan & Meghan McCracken

New Mission Systems International honors preference of gifts solicited & in accordance with IRS regulations retains discretion & control over their use.

McCrackens' Update -- February 2011

2011-02-17T15:05:00.008-06:00

Dearest Friends & Family,

Meg & I are committing to beginning every day in prayer, putting our partnership development in God's hands. To be transparent, this isn't something we've been doing nearly as often or as faithfully as we should. We've been trying to figure out clever plans before we gave it over to God. That stops now. We want to fully put our trust in Him. He will provide the partners we need. Thank you for walking through this with us. Your prayers are beyond value.

After the last few crazy weeks (Meg's sister had a baby boy, then my sister got married, & Meg's parents are in the middle of closing on a new house & moving), we are spending most of our time right now in Oklahoma City working with a new church plant, Frontline Church South OKC. We will still be traveling to Amarillo as needed as well as taking a trip up to Joplin, Missouri, next month. Where God leads, we will follow! We'd still love to sit down with anyone you know that might be passionate about seeing the Gospel advance in England.

We're proud to report that we've yet to touch any of the funds that have been sent to our NMSI ministry account. God has provided for us over & over again. We have more than double the amount that we allotted for one time expenses in our move to England ready to be used when the rest of our budget is met!

How are you doing? Have any questions or comments? How can we be praying for you? Hit us up via telephone, email, Skype, Twitter, Facebook, snail mail, or carrier pigeon. We love hearing from you!

Striving To Be Faithful,

[mccracken]

--
Ryan M. McCracken
rmccracken@nmsi.org
http://www.nmsi.org

Skype: ryanandmeghan

Mobile: 806 683 1752
http://twitter.com/likemindead

Our newest nephew, Moriyah Lund!

My new brother-in-law, C. T. Echols IV, & his wife, my sister, Kayla!

Meg & I at Jay & Kayla's wedding!

Adiós, 2010

2010-12-31T11:24:00.002-06:00

It's been a long year that went by all too quickly. Time is so strange. "Seems like forever ago... yet just like yesterday..."

I think my favorite new word from this year is "nontroversy." The drama, both in the media & in the lives of those around me, is too often sad & petty. Grow up, folks.

In 2011, let's work to swallow our pride, humble ourselves, & love. Not some nebulous, feel-good "love" that looks good on a résumé. Love Is A Verb.

Okay, that video is awful. Awesomely awful. Apologies. YouTube is a scary place sometimes.

Seriously, though, I do believe with all my being that God is love, Gospel love is serious business, & that Jesus Christ came to seek & save. If you've never given it a look, do so. Don't buy what others have told you, see for yourself. If it's been awhile & you're a bit rusty, look again. If you seek, you will find.

felix sit annus novus

K, love you, bye.

[mccracken]

Finished Music Project

2010-11-07T11:06:00.002-06:00

A couple of months ago I set out to meticulously organize my music collection. Today, I finished. It was a gruelling ordeal.

Fix grammar, spelling, and syntax in file names.
Convert files (.mp3, .m4a, .flaac, etc.) to .ogg (Ogg Vorbis).
Save a 500x500 cover art image in each album's folder.
Edit the ID3 tags in the files to have correct information.

I have it synced across my laptop, my wife's laptop, our Gigabeat, and an external hard drive. Feels good. Feels really good.

K, love you, bye.

[mccracken]

Nullifying Tradition

2010-10-24T11:13:00.003-05:00

I was privileged to hear the lead sherpa at Pinnacle share from his heart and from Matthew 15 and Isaiah 59 this morning. (You should serious click on those last two links. The NET Bible is amazing.) I came away wanting to tear down traditions.

I'm not talking about what generally comes to mind in this arena. This isn't simply about old versus new, change just for the sake of change, or even about trying to "stay relevant." Our traditions come in many forms and the traditions we need to rid ourselves of are any that we have constructed that push people away and separate us from fully experiencing God together.

I've grown up in Christian community, in one form or another, all of my life. And I'm still anxious and uncomfortable any time I visit a new church for the first time. I can't imagine what it's like for an "outsider." Someone who is hurting, lonely, marginalized, and searching.

Church should be a safe place! Dammit, it should be the safest place! My prayer is that we would do everything we can to tear down any socio-economic, ethnic, racial, cultural, spatial, or religious barriers that we've erected that are keeping us from inhabiting the safest place for people to come just as they are.

Vicit agnus noster, eum sequamur.

K, love you, bye.

[mccracken]

Say "No!" To Commitment!

2010-09-26T12:36:00.004-05:00

“You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’ But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne. And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one. -- Matt 5.33-37

I saw this emblazoned on a billboard advertisement today: "Say 'No!' To Commitment!" It was in reference to mobile phone contracts. As soon as I saw it, I laughed and shook my head. I don't really have any strong feelings about mobile phone contracts. I was shaking my head because it seemed to speak to much more.

Politicians, corporations, the media, churches, family members, friends, and me. We all make promises. And we all fall short of them. (Some more often than others.) And it can be really frustrating. It's easy to become bitter and cynical, to not trust anyone or expect anything from them. But I don't want to be that way. Do you? Let's do what we can to instill trust in those we know. Let's be known for honesty and integrity.

I've made more than a few selfish, foolish choices. I've hurt people, both knowingly and through ignorance. And I hate that. It makes me sick to my stomach. I'm sorry.

K, love you, bye.

[mccracken]

Burn Brauts, Not Books

2010-09-11T16:57:00.004-05:00

I woke up this morning, made a cup of coffee, and perused the interwebs only to find a disturbing headline which read Amarillo Man Plans To Burn Quran. In the story, the man named a time and a place. Shortly thereafter, a Facebook trend started amongst some friends of mine. The plan was to show up at Sam Houston Park before the folks who were intent on burning books and make sure all of the grills were occupied. No free grills meant no way to burn a book legally at a public park, it was hoped.

Unfortunately, the plan didn't come together quite as hoped. I guess punks, hippies, and liberals, God bless 'em, aren't the most prompt. Fortunately, though, it still ended well. From what I could tell, the book burning proponents numbered three. On the other hand, there were more than two hundred folks in opposition to this foolish act. Law enforcement and media personnel were in place.

A Quran was placed on a grill. Immediately, several people walked up to it and, without a word, placed their hands over the grill and the Quran. The flustered antagonist turned to speak to the media. That's when a kid grabbed the Quran, hopped on his skateboard, and rode away.

I'm not making this up.

The small gang of book burning enthusiasts appeared confused and then annoyed. They looked around at the cheering crowd for a few seconds, got into their vehicles, and drove away. I was mostly just relieved that everything had progressed peacefully. The kid on the skateboard showed back up and gave the Quran to some folks from the Islamic center. It was something to behold.

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you. If someone slaps you on one cheek, offer the other cheek also. If someone demands your coat, offer your shirt also. Give to anyone who asks; and when things are taken away from you, don’t try to get them back. Do to others as you would like them to do to you.
“If you love only those who love you, why should you get credit for that? Even sinners love those who love them! And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return.
“Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.

Luke 6.27-36

K, love you, bye.

[mccracken]

Learning From Fractures & Ruptures

2010-08-23T11:00:00.003-05:00

The "true" description of God seems to lie always just beyond the reach of our grasp. The final "word" is always frustratingly elusive, dwelling just beyond the horizon of our thought, and the conflicting images that we encounter within the Bible continually remind us that the source of this living work is not captured in our pretty observations. In acknowledging this, the believer testifies to the Scriptures as infused with a presence that dwells both in the midst and in excess of the text, a some(no)thing that cannot be contained within the narrative but that makes its presence felt in the fractures and ruptures within it. The words of the text, like Christ, are wounded. -- Peter Rollins, The Fidelity Of Betrayal, p. 50

I've often heard people say things like, "God is so much bigger than we can comprehend." I've said it myself plenty of times. But I think I always had an unspoken addendum of "but I have God pretty much figured out." Mr. Rollins, via the book mentioned above, is helping me to understand more and more just how little I understand and I highly recommend following up on some of his wise words.

K, love you, bye.

[mccracken]

Peregrinations

2010-08-08T19:51:00.003-05:00

One does not begin a 16 hour road trip without the proper snackage.

:D

[mccracken]

Glorious Multifariousness!

2010-07-12T22:35:00.003-05:00

We live in such an amazing, diverse world. Watching Anthony Bourdain on the Travel Channel, I really have to suppress my envy. What a job! "Hey, Tony. We need you to trek across the globe while observing and experiencing the seemingly infinite variety of cultures, cuisines, and creativity you find. Think you can handle that?" :::jealous:::

I really do believe that the diversity and creativity we see in the world around us is a glimpse of the nature of our Creator. I don't think God is terribly interested in monotony. If He were, I imagine we'd all live on a planet that looked like Mars, eat nothing but Spam straight out of the tin, have only Enya to listen to, and all wear GAP clothing.

"This most beautiful system [the universe] could only proceed from the dominion of an intelligent and powerful Being." ~ Sir Isaac Newton

[mccracken]

No Place For It

2010-06-24T13:13:00.002-05:00

Cynicism.

One of my strongest weaknesses. (Huh?)

A good friend told me a couple of years ago that there was no place for cynicism in the Kingdom.

"Oh? My snarky, sardonic banter won't draw people to Christ. Hmm..."

Lord have mercy on me, your foolish δοῦλος...

[mccracken]

Daddys Through Space & Time

2010-06-17T09:05:00.006-05:00

I was just browsing the BBC News section for the United Kingdom, as I often do, when I came across this article. It's about "The Myth Of They Tyrannical Father." I knew exactly what they were getting at just from the title. Thanks largely to fiction via books, TV, movies, video games, and such, fathers of yore are overwhelmingly portrayed as cold and emotionally detached (while modern day fathers are largely shown to be bumbling morons).

Lame.

I'm usually annoyed by overarching, broad generalizations. "I hate cats. They're evil." No, just like dogs, some are really cool and some you want to see how far you can punt. "Christians are all hypocrites." Yeah? Well... yeah. And if you want to follow Christ, you can add one more hypocrite to our numbers. (Please do!) We've all heard stereotypes turn racist and prejudicial. It's not a pretty sight. Don't buy into that junk.

Fathers' Day is coming up and I want to say "Thank You" to honorable fathers everywhere.

My dad. I call him "Pops" because he's old school. The life lessons I've learned from him are priceless treasures. I wouldn't trade them for anything.

I suspect that most fathers through all of human history have been loving. I greive for those who were not. And ultimately, I'm drawn to our Heavenly Father.

[mccracken]

Productivity

2010-06-15T15:10:00.003-05:00

Between the FIFA World Cup 2010 and crap like Senor Gif, it's a wonder I ever get any work accomplished....

[mccracken]

Thank You Interwebs Overlord!

2010-05-22T10:19:00.003-05:00

(Click on the thumbnail for a larger version.)

My, oh, my. However did we get along before Facebook. Laugh now people, but I'm beginning to think that a Skynet type singularity is going to get us before the zombie apocalypse.

[mccracken]

Last Minute, Questionable Decisions That Remind One Of Being Back In College

2010-05-17T12:58:00.005-05:00

We spent this weekend back in the Great State Of Texas in and around the city of Forth Worth. The primary purpose was to attend the graduation of my good friend Sain Asraf from medical school. Dude's a doctor now. For reals.

Hanging out with Sain has been great. We're heading back to OKC today. Originally, we were going to head back yesterday. But as we were getting ready to load the car up and skeedaddle I checked my phone's calendar to get an idea of what this week would look like. As I did so, I noticed that I had something down for Sunday night, 16 May 2010. I was taken aback. No idea what it could be.

"Living Sacrifice, 20:00 @ Ridglea Theater in Fort Worth?! I'm in Fort Worth! What time is is? 19:00?!"

And off we were. Doctor Sain Asraf, a friend from Sain's undergraduate days, my wife, and I decided in a moment of debatable clear-headedness to rush to a heavy metal concert. The venue was filthy and smelly. The crowd made me feel old. But seeing a band that I've loved for over a decade for the first time in over five years was an experiene I'll treasure for years to come.

[mccracken]

When We Think We're Alone

2010-05-12T10:56:00.003-05:00

There was a knock on the door here at my in-laws house a few minutes ago. I assumed it was someone soliciting work. And I was correct.

Due to the hardcore storms we had two days ago, the neighborhoods are swarming with various folks pitching their services to repair your roof, replace glass, deal with your insurance company, etc. Having already dealt with a couple of these folks, I decided to check the peep hole on the front door and seeing a stranger with a clipboard, declined to answer the door. The gent seemed bored and fidgety. He knocked on the door, rang the doorbell, knocked again, and finally stuck a business card in the door frame. He turned to leave, but apparently forgot something on his card, turned back, wrote something on it and replaced it. Looking despondent, he moved on to the next house.

I'm sure we'd all be terribly embarrassed to see video of ourselves when we are alone. We do goofy things when we think no one is looking. Goofy, and often entertaining.

[mccracken]

Sushi & Summer Rolls

2010-04-28T15:57:00.002-05:00

Made these with the wife today.

Mmm Mmm Mmm.

^____^

[mccracken]

On Being Shown Up By Old Ladies

2010-04-24T18:39:00.003-05:00

I'm trying to be intentional about exercising and living a less sedentary lifestyle. I've been using a TotalGym as well as walking to the park, around it, and back to the house. It's the walk around the park that is most humbling. I make sure that I use the TotalGym when no one else is around.

I can't really run or jog due to a bum knee. So I try to walk as briskly as I can. And every morning at the park I get passed by these two, tiny, white haired ladies.

:::sigh:::

I think a Wii Fit is what the doctor has ordered. Right? Hmm...

[mccracken]

Praise For Creation And Providence

2010-04-20T12:35:00.003-05:00

I sing the mighty power of God,
that made the mountains rise,
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
and built the lofty skies.
I sing the wisdom that ordained
the sun to rule the day;
The moon shines full at God's command,
and all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord,
who filled the earth with food,
Who formed the creatures through the Word,
and then pronounced them good.
Lord, how Thy wonders are displayed,
wherever I turn my eye,
If I survey the ground I tread,
or gaze upon the sky.

There's not a plant or flower below,
but makes Thy glories known,
And clouds arise, and tempests blow,
by order from Thy throne;
While all that borrows life from Thee
is ever in Thy care;
And everywhere that we can be,
Thou, God art present there.

~Isaac Watts

2010-04-06T12:23:00.002-05:00

View Larger Map

Spent yesterday at Venice Beach. It was so good to be back in the ocean. I hadn't been in years. I didn't want to leave. The vastness, power, and beauty can be overwhelming. What a wonderful Maker...

[mccracken]

Using Ubuntu Lucid Lynx Beta 1

2010-04-02T23:30:00.003-05:00

(Click on image for larger version.)

As usual, I'm finding a Linux beta release to be brilliant and stable, much more so than a final release of a proprietary OS.

;-)

[mccracken]

A Bird? A Plane?

2010-03-25T10:38:00.002-05:00

I was just walking outside when I saw something strange in the sky. It was coming towards me but too distant to quite make out. I waited a few moments and it became clear that it was a single-engine plane with a banner behind it. "Cool!" I thought. Don't see that too often. "I wonder what it is? A marriage proposal? Something exciting, for sure!?"

It was a *%$@#+!? McDonald's advert.

Bah.

[mccracken]

What Goes Up...

2010-03-22T13:55:00.003-05:00

(Click on image to see full size version.)

Welp. I dropped my laptop. The batteries (A & B, above) shot out a foot or so from the rest of the wreckage. The little plastic buttons that hold the batteries are nowhere to be found (C & D, above). A bit of gaff tape fixed 'er right up (E, F, & G, above). Not bad for an eight-year-old Dell Latitude C610, eh? :-)

[mccracken]

Sharing Is Caring

2010-03-20T12:54:00.008-05:00

Spent last night hanging out at the beach.

View Larger Map

For a guy that grew up on the High Plains of the Texas Panhandle, "hanging out at the beach" is quite new; I reckon I could sit in the sand, listening to the waves lapping up, just about forever.

I was invited to come by a couple that lives at the beach. Every Friday night they lay down some blankets, put out all kinds of drums, make grilled cheese sandwiches, and just love on anyone that stops. We were visited by families, teenagers, homeless guys, and folks in various stages of intoxication. The drumming skills were... more than just a bit rough and the sandwiches were... probably not what you'd consider gourmet.

But no one seemed to notice or care.

[mccracken]

Yet Another Paradigm Shift

2010-03-14T11:50:00.005-05:00

I'm fairly dense. Those who know me will confirm this. There's much that God had taught me in the past that I'd forgotten. Or possibly chosen to ignore? I dunno. Either way, I was acting like a fool.

I was trying to make God fit into the philosophies that I'd grown fond of, those that appealed to me. And when I couldn't reconcile the God of Scripture with my all-too-reasonable and well-thought-out worldview, I despaired. Surely I couldn't be wrong in my logic and reasonings?!

What had really happened to me was bigger than just doubts. I'd grown to always start with the premise of suspicion in regards to my Creator. (We all do, on some level.) I held God as guilty until proven innocent. I didn't really trust Him at all.

If you have time, give these two videos a watch. They're about an hour long, all together. It's my friend Andrew Olsen introducing some healthy ways to re-examine how we relate to and understand God. It's a breath of fresh air.

I have to agree with Teresa of Avila when she said, "The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too." And what a journey!? We're only as alone as we choose to be.

[mccracken]

Elive 2.0

2010-03-10T21:51:00.004-06:00

(Click on image for full version.)

This is on my Dell Latitude C610 PIII laptop, circa 2002. And it's sooo slick! Go download the image, burn it, and try it as a Live CD without having to make any changes to your system.

^__^

[mccracken]

Dual Purpose Nostalgia

2010-03-07T08:30:00.003-06:00

I borrowed a bicycle yesterday and rode it around town for half an hour. It was excruciating. And a helluva lot of fun. I think it was the first time I'd been on a bike in close to a decade, I'm embarrassed to say.

When I was a kid, I went everywhere on my bike. I remember riding it to and from elementary school, riding all over the neighborhood, down to Medi-Park, all over "the fields" (we lived on the western edge of town back then), and basically as far as my parents would let me. Though we did have a few crises, which went very much like what Brian Regan hilariously describes here. ;-)

Riding bikes as a kid was never about exercise, though I'm sure that element was present. It just never crossed my mind at the time. Now, my primary reason to get on a bike was exercise, until I started riding around. Then I found it to be blissful nostalgia. Great memories of times when the world was a much smaller, simpler place.

[mccracken]

Contentment

2010-03-04T19:50:00.004-06:00

I often find great joy in simple things:

a good font
restringing a guitar
crisp, cool water
the smell of books
sharing a meal
wind chimes in the distance
driving with no destination
being still

....

[mccracken]

TrueFaced

2010-03-03T20:57:00.003-06:00

I've just started this book with the other folks in my COAT group. So far, it's nothing completely new to me, but it's been a great reminder that we are too often concerned with keeping up appearances (our pride) rather than just being who we were created to be. It's natural, nearly expected, that we put on nice masks in various contexts. We have to make sure people will accept us, like us, and maybe even be impressed by us. And God too.

Instinctively, our reactions are guilt and hurt when they should be forgiveness and compassion. We put our masks on, pretending to be something that our experience denies. No matter how well intentioned we are, we will always inevitably come off as proud, pitied, and even pathetically deluded to how easily others see through our façade.

Luckily, by God's grace, we need not worry about masks at all! But will we, as followers of Christ, choose the path of ruthless trust? Or the path of trying to please?

[mccracken]

For Now We See Through A Glass, Darkly

2010-02-24T10:52:00.006-06:00

I've been meaning to update this for a long time now.

If you're not aware, Meg and I are now homeless.

;-)

Well, itinerant is more like it, I suppose. The last three years, while we lived in Amarillo, job #1 was for us to get our student loans paid off. We finished that up in September and began the journey which we are now on.

We left our jobs at the end of January and flew to England for the first two weeks of February to spend time with the Duncans. Those two weeks flew by entirely too quickly. We visited a number of towns and villages, mainly in the East Midlands of England, searching for a place to live, love, and serve. We're still not certain exactly what our ministry will look like, but we're continuing to search and pray.

Back in the USA, Meg and I have been making our way to Fort Myers, Florida, where we will be undertaking the New Mission Systems International COAT program. We're very excited about becoming NMSI affiliates. There'll be much more on that front soon.

In the last two weeks we've spent time in Fort Worth, San Antonio, and New Orleans. Lots of time in the car. And still a good 12+ hours to go 'til Fort Myers. Whew.

Your thoughts and prayers are greatly appreciated and we'd love to hear from you. We'd be honored to have you partner with us in our ministry efforts. If you are interested in supporting us, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

Much Love.

[mccracken]

806.683.1752
ryan.m.mccracken AT gmail DOT com

Welcome To The World Of Tomorrow!

2010-01-03T13:45:00.003-06:00

Well. It's 2010. And still no flying cars.

Meh.

[mccracken]

P. S. -- I really am quite excited about what's in store for us. ;-)

Around The Fire

2009-12-29T11:52:00.002-06:00

I don't know how it is for you, but for me, many of my fondest memories can be traced to fire. No, I don't mean in the little-pyro-boy sense, though I did have that phase in my younger years. What I'm referring to is the time spent in front of the fireplace at home, around the campfire in the wilderness, or a chiminea in a friend's back yard. There's something about the warmth, the smells, and the dancing flames that bring people together. And I love it.

[mccracken]

Brilliantly Executed Adorableness

2009-12-15T08:27:00.004-06:00

Kids (or anyone, I suppose) can send a doodle to these folks and they'll hand-stitch a stuffed animal-toy-thing for you! Awesome. I want one.

:::begins working on a raptor/unicorn/cthulhu doodle:::

[mccracken]

A Unicorn Chaser

2009-12-03T14:22:00.002-06:00

Bwahahahahaha....

I'm really looking forward to having more time to write something worth reading here...

[mccracken]

Pop Quiz

2009-11-27T09:49:00.006-06:00

I took this series of pictures recently. I really like how they turned out. Can you guess what they are?

[mccracken]

Three Very Different Cafes

2009-11-09T14:29:00.003-06:00

Windows Cafe

The Windows Cafe is in a bland store front. The furniture consists of straight wooden chairs with tables with sharp angles. Unfortunately, every so often when you sit in a chair it crashes the to the floor, but you get used to this and figure it's just part of the experience of going to the Windows Cafe. (To be fair they have been testing chairs from a new manufacturer and they are reportedly less prone to breaking in this fashion.) Pictures of a smiling Bill Gates and Windows logos adorn the walls. The coffee tastes fine most of the time, but a surprising number of patrons get sick there, so that it's become standard practice to use hand sanitizer before you go in to protect yourself. The coffee is expensive, and refills are definitely not free, but it's a known quantity, and many people are comfortable going there.

Linux Cafe

The Linux Cafe is a funky place in an artsy neighborhood with eclectic furniture donated by the patrons. It doesn't match, but it's comfortable and the walls are covered with donated pictures and paintings by local artists. The coffee is free, served in black cups (or you can just bring your own), but you need to make it yourself. If you can't do it yourself, the cafe has consultants available to help you for a fee. It's great for people who know about coffee brewing, but many people are intimidated by the idea of making their own coffee and stay away, even though very few people ever get sick who go there.

Apple Cafe

The Apple Cafe is a modern, state-of-the-art facility. The tables are stainless steel and the chairs are ultra-contemporary. Shrines to Apple CEO Steve Jobs are dotted around the wide space. The cups are cool and come in a variety of bright colors. The coffee is well made by a highly trained staff, and even though it costs a lot more, people line up around the block for a chance to drink it. Just don't ask the staff about their coffee-making techniques because they are extremely tight lipped about this. People occasionally get sick there, but it's rare enough for the cafe to brag about its safety record.

{Daniweb}

Love it.

And yes, I realize that these are very crude metaphors, at best.

[mccracken]

How I Was Nearly Scammed

2009-10-23T21:19:00.006-05:00

At about 17:30 today my phone rang. All it said was "Blocked." A man identifying himself as "Potter County Sheriff's Deputy Jim Porter" told me that one of my employees was being held on a DUI charge and had chosen to use her one phone call to ask me to post bond for her. (For reasons I can't detail, he said things that made this sound especially legitimate.) He knew my name and occupation, her name, her description, and that she'd been sick with the flu recently; he knew my whereabouts, even claiming to be "tracking my iPhone via GPS" and telling me which streets I was turning down/parking lots I was pulling into.

I don't know anything about being arrested or posting bond. It's been awhile since I watched Law And Order. "Deputy Porter" was a very authoritative and compassionate sounding man. He sounded like pretty much every cop I've ever known. He quoted laws, statutes, and regulations. He was never pushy in the slightest. It was intense but laissez-faire at the same time. He put me on hold several times to "push paperwork through" and "see if he could get her into the final court for the day."

As I was about to send the money to "the bail bondsman" my trusty paranoia finally kicked in to combat my adrenaline. I realized I had no way of really knowing who it was I'd been speaking with for more than thirty minutes. I hung up the phone and used Google Maps to get the Potter County Sheriff's phone number. I called and asked to speak to "Deputy Porter." Yeah. No such person.

I almost sent $700 via MoneyGram to a "bail bondsman." It was surreal. I'm still in utter disbelief, even hours later. I ended up giving a sworn affidavit to an Amarillo Police Department officer. It is being forwarded to their Fraud/Forgeries Division.

Always be certain of who you're talking to on the phone. Tell them you'll hang up and call them back. I know I'll never again smirk at the thought of someone falling for a scam. These guys really are pros.

[mccracken]

Witty Title Here

2009-10-04T20:09:00.004-05:00

Had quite an experience this evening. Attended an Evensong service in which three local church choirs performed John Rutter's Gloria together. My parents were singing in the choir so I went to support them and experience the performance. There was an organ, trumpets, trombones, and percussion instruments accompanying the choir--all of which were phenomenal.

For someone who was born into and has spent all of his life in the church, the whole experience was very alien. At least 95% of the audience had been AARP members for many years and were dressed in very formal attire. There were objects I hadn't seen in a church meeting place in a long time--pews, a pipe organ, offering plates (passed to help cover "the expenses of the evening"), hymnals, programs, fresh flowers, a large wooden pulpit, and the flag of the United States Of America. We stood and sat, stood and sat, and stood and sat. I felt very badly for many of the elderly folks who I saw struggling and cringing each time this took place.

The music was spectacular but the whole experience was a bit strange to me. It felt awkward and very sterile; too clean for my tastes. I need to be able to get down and dirty at church. Does that make any sense? I don't like things too polished.

I'm watching Bruce Springsteen We Shall Overcome: The Seeger Sessions right now and feeling closer to God than in that austere building with Latin beautifully sung over me. I'm not entirely sure what that says about me. And I'm okay with that.

K, love you, bye.

[mccracken]

Condescending Jerk Merit Badge

2009-09-29T12:37:00.008-05:00

I'm sure I've earned mine many times over. I can be a cynical, condescending, judgmental fool all too often. And I hate that.

“In judging others one labors in vain, often errs, and easily falls into sin, but in judging and examining self one always labors to good purpose.” -- Thomas a Kempis

It can be something as simple as one's taste in music or choice of attire. It can be their political or religious affiliation. It can things they don't even have control over. Why do we look down on others? It really all boils down to pride (as I believe most everything does).

The reasons we look down on others are inconsequential. We are called to love. No matter how big or how small the subject at hand is, the answer is unconditional love.

I'm making it a real priority in my life to daily give serious thought to how I treat the socially awkward, the marginalized, and those who disagree with me. I'm trying to expunge the "Us Versus The World" mindset that I have (the "Us" being the church). I want to look past points of contention.

I'm not arguing for a pluralistic or relativistic idealism. I believe there is Truth. I'm just saying that, first and foremost, loving people is what we are called to do.

"Don't pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults--unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It's easy to see a smudge on your neighbor's face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own. Do you have the nerve to say, 'Let me wash your face for you,' when your own face is distorted by contempt? It's this whole traveling road-show mentality all over again, playing a holier-than-thou part instead of just living your part. Wipe that ugly sneer off your own face, and you might be fit to offer a washcloth to your neighbor." -- Matthew 7.1-5 (The Message)

Amen, Maranatha, Amen.

[mccracken]

Which TV Shows Are Right For You?

2009-09-22T09:30:00.006-05:00

Seriously? This is what we've come to? Which show is right for me? This is a Newsweek headline that came in via my RSS feed to Google Reader.

"Matchmaker, matchmaker, what should I watch? We're so glad you asked, because we've figured out which fall TV show is your new soulmate."

That's a direct quote!? I find it almost unbearably sad. I love a good bit of entertainment as much as the next person, but my soulmate won't be found on TV or the radio, or Netflix, or Nintendo, etc. How much time does the average person spend watching TV each week? I won't bemoan the statistics.

"I must say I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns it on, I go to the library and read a good book." -- Groucho Marx

[mccracken]

This Is How You Fix A Dent

2009-09-14T08:46:00.002-05:00

xAWESOMEx

[mccracken]

Microsoft, Grow Up

2009-09-12T09:42:00.002-05:00

A quick search for "Microsoft FUD" brings up all kinds of nonsense. Most recently, M$ shipped materials to Best Buy extolling Windows 7 and trashing Linux (with largely incorrect assertions). Ridiculous. I do love that M$ is admitting that Linux is "competition." :-)

If you've never tried Linux, you can do so without making any changes to your computer. You can download an entire Linux operating system and run it via a Live CD. I highly recommend that you try Linux Mint, but there are many other options. There is no shortage of help out there and the Linux community is amazing. So, what are you waiting for? Give freedom a chance!

[mccracken]

Well Played

2009-09-03T15:19:00.003-05:00

0_o

[mccracken]

Loans That Change Lives

2009-09-01T12:26:00.003-05:00

Yeah. Like those student loans changed my life? Pssh....

No, this is actually really amazing. I don't know how I only heard about it recently. I'm talking about engaging in microfinance through Kiva.org (or one of the other organizations out there, though I don't know anything about any of them). Please read more about it here.

The interwebs being used for good!?

^__^

[mccracken]

Donald Miller Is Overrated

2009-08-25T12:07:00.004-05:00

Naw, I'm just kidding. Well, he probably is, actually, but I'm reading Through Painted Deserts and really digging it. So far it's a great travelogue with a lot of beautiful imagery and provocative thoughts. It's the first book I've picked up by Miller. I wanted to start with his first.

I'm pretty sure I'll be picking up his second book before too long. It may not be the heaviest or most solid theology, but TPD has made me laugh, cry, and take pause for serious reflection and I've only just finished the second chapter. Not bad, eh?

I'm too damn busy. Need more time to read. Grrr....

[mccracken]

Grocery Store Adventures

2009-08-19T16:04:00.003-05:00

Meg and I were strolling through our local United Supermarket a couple of days ago when we saw two men by a small table. The table had sausages and bottles of hot sauce on it. The men had on well worn cowboy hats, aprons, pearl snap shirts, blue jeans, and well worn cowboy boots. One immediately introduced himself as E. Z. Earl Greiner. He asked us if we'd like to sample his award winning Blazin'-Hot Sauce. We did. He signed a bottle for me and we bought it straight away. Damn fine stuff. E. Z. Earl drove all the way down from Washington to Texas just to sell his hot sauce. It felt really good to talk to someone about their product and then purchase it from them. I don't think many people believe in their products these days. E. Z. Earl, and men and women like him, will always have my business.

[mccracken]

N. T. Wright On Beauty

2009-08-18T08:14:00.003-05:00

Sorry for the big upcoming block quote, but I found this very inspiring and Bishop Wright says it better than I can.

[Another] feature of many communities both in the postindustrial West and in many of the poorer parts of the world is ugliness. True, some communities manage to sustain levels of art and music... which bring a richness even to the most poverty-stricken areas. But the shoulder-shrugging functionalism of postwar architecture, coupled with the passivity born of decades of television, has meant that for many people the world appears to offer little but bleak urban landscapes, on the one hand, and tawdry entertainment, on the other. And when people cease to be surrounded by beauty, they cease to hope. They internalize the message of their eyes and ears, the message which whispers that they are not worth very much, that they are in effect less than fully human.

Part of the role of the church in the past was--and could and should be again--to foster and sustain lives of beauty and aesthetic meaning at every level, from music making in the village pub to drama in the local primary school, from artists' and photographers' workshops to still-life painting classes, from symphony concerts... to driftwood sculptures. The church, because it is the family that believes in hope for new creation, should be the place in every town and village where new creativity bursts forth for the whole community, pointing to the hope that, like all beauty, always comes as a surprise.

I've taken these excerpts from Surprised By Hope which I'm still working through. I don't agree with Bishop Wright on every point, but he has opened my eyes to some new ways of viewing several areas of my faith. This chapter, which the above quoted material only begins to touch, on the mission of the church really resonated with me. I'd recommend this book to all.

[mccracken]

Quiet Time

2009-08-17T11:50:00.002-05:00

I woke up this morning adamant about starting a renewed, regular devotional time at the start of each day. Sleeping in is for chumps. I feel refreshed and re-energized having spent some time this morning with my Creator.

[mccracken]

Less Sex, More TV

2009-08-13T19:43:00.006-05:00

No, I'm not advocating what this post's title exclaims, but India's health and welfare minister is.

On World Population Day this year India's new health and welfare minister came out with an idea on how to tackle the population issue: Bring electricity to every Indian village so that people would watch television until late at night and therefore be too tired to make babies. {CNN}

...

I weep for the future.

[mccracken]

Lobbyists Cost Too Damn Much

2009-08-12T09:25:00.004-05:00

How much cheaper would my AT&T bill be if they cut out their lobbyists?

:::RAGE:::

[mccracken]

Biggest Meteor Shower Of The Year Peaks Tonight!

2009-08-11T19:15:00.003-05:00

http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2009/08/perseids/

Huzzah!

[mccracken]

Pathetic

2009-08-09T20:49:00.004-05:00

(Click the image to enlarge.)

Wow... This is the knowledge that people are seeking? Just... wow...

[mccracken]

Good Summation

2009-08-07T16:31:00.001-05:00

{someecards.com} <--Not for the easily offended.

[mccracken]

Bad Boys, Bad Boys, Whatcha Gonna Do?

2009-08-05T10:16:00.001-05:00

Lulz... COPS is filming in Amarillo.

[mccracken]

My Governor Is A Jewish Cowboy

2009-08-01T15:16:00.005-05:00

www.texansforkinky.com

[mccracken]

Pterodactyl Attack!

2009-07-30T23:16:00.003-05:00

Bah!? One of these things just tried to eat my face. I think it was only a baby, but still!

Hmm. Well, upon further research, it turns out it may not have been a pterodactyl. It might, just might have been a White-lined Sphinx Hummingbird Moth. But still...

[mccracken]

Google Chrome OS

2009-07-10T08:59:00.001-05:00

I'm... cautiously optimistic, I suppose.

Official Google Blog: Introducing The Google Chrome OS

[mccracken]

Soshul Netwurking

2009-07-04T10:28:00.002-05:00

Well, look what I went and did...

[mccracken]

A Terrifyingly Great Read

2009-07-03T22:31:00.004-05:00

This book is great. I don't think I'll be sleeping tonight. It makes Orwell's 1984 feel like a lullaby.

[mccracken]

Great, Another Addiction

2009-06-28T22:20:00.004-05:00

Went down to Lubbock on a (mostly) business trip one day this week. Ended the trip with a fine ale and a fine cigar. One of the few times I can remember advertising actually grabbing my attention. Here's the poster I saw.

How could I pass this up? I settled on the KinkyCristo. It was an excellent smoke. And it paired with the dunkelweizen very nicely.

[mccracken]

A Damn Fine Sandwhich

2009-06-12T12:43:00.003-05:00

Look at this beast I made. I deserve some sort of award. Let me break it down for you, top to bottom. Whole grain wheat bread, Miracle Whip, sharp cheddar cheese, bacon, smoked turkey, wasabi horseradish, whole grain wheat bread, wasabi horseradish, smoked turkey, bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, Miracle Whip, and another slice of whole grain wheat bread. BAM! That's a sandwhich! I rule. And I am a benevolent sandwhich maker. I give my masterpiece away freely. Go. Enjoy. Be merry.

[mccracken]

Sushi & Sake Bombs

2009-06-02T09:07:00.003-05:00

We had a jolly good time Saturday night.

^__^

[mccracken]

Democracy: Suck It!

2009-05-11T10:27:00.003-05:00

Here in this great city of Amarillo in the magnificent state of Texas we had 5% voter turnout. I'm so very happy to see our apathy rising to such exceptional levels. Wow. Well done, my fellow Americans.

[mccracken]

Wha-Huh?

2009-05-01T22:51:00.004-05:00

The folks that own our duplex informed us that they want it back.

Minus us.

We have thirty days.

It's all for the best, really. We've decided to use this as a push forward. We're going to move in with my folks instead of finding another place. We'll take all our extra dough and throw it at student loans. Should have them paid off before the end of the year. We'll be having a massive garage sale next weekend if all goes according to plan.

After our student loans are paid off we hope to partner with New Missions Systems International and get back to England. There will be a lot of planning and preparation in the coming months. Your thoughts and prayers and :::cough::: money :::cough::: will be greatly appreciated.

Blessings to you and yours.

[mccracken]

Exopolitics

2009-04-21T10:24:00.003-05:00

What is it?

Exopolitics is the study of political relations between humans and extraterrestrial civilizations by those who believe that aliens exist and have already made contact. {Wikipedia}

Also: http://www.exopolitics.org/

Bwahahaha...

Awesome. If you ever get a chance to tune in to Coast To Coast AM, please do. It's a riot.

[mccracken]

I Tell You What

2009-04-17T22:12:00.003-05:00

Some people may think that King Of The Hill is a hilarious bit of hyperbole that lampoons life in Texas. Those people don't live here. This show is as real as it gets. I suspect it may be a documentary. Hell, I think I may be related to a few of the regulars on the show.

Enter a story from today's news here in my home town: "An apparent comment about a hat is to blame for a shooting Friday afternoon in the San Jacinto area of Amarillo." Yes. A comment about a hat. You can read the whole, brief account here.

[mccracken]

Picture Is Unrelated

2009-03-28T13:32:00.002-05:00

I've found another gloriously frivolous site to add to Google Reader. It's good for a laugh or a "What?" but it's also a bit NSFW at times, so beware. Below is a sample and you can visit http://pictureisunrelated.com for more weirdness.

[mccracken]

How I'm Rolling On My Day Off

2009-03-19T10:02:00.002-05:00

[mccracken]

Nostalgia: Dr. Demento

2009-03-01T11:59:00.003-06:00

I've been listening to Dr. Demento the last few weeks when I'm working on Saturdays. It's probably been 15 yeas since I last listened, when I was a kid and I spent time with my cousins and Uncle Rodney. We'd mow lawns and listen to Dr. Demento as we drove around in his ancient Ford pickup, Old Blue. Good times. I still love the gloriously absurd humor and songs. Bravo, Doc. Keep it up.

[/nostalgia]

[mccracken]

Home. Sick. Blech.

2009-02-24T08:10:00.002-06:00

[mccracken]

Decidedly WIN

2009-02-20T10:59:00.007-06:00

[mccracken]

I Beg To Differ

2009-02-18T14:34:00.002-06:00

80%

I got docked for being overweight/out of shape and living in a densely populated area...

[mccracken]

Diagnosis Needed?

2009-02-09T13:54:00.003-06:00

I see things all the time that don't quite seem to be there. I think my spectacles may be possessed or cursed. I'll be looking forward and see a dark blur dash in my peripheral. But there's never anything there. This happens at home, work, and in public. Give it to me straight, Doc--am I going crazy?

[mccracken]

Truly Epic

2009-02-04T23:34:00.002-06:00

I just watched American Graffiti for the first time. Inebriated. Holy crap, I sure am using spell check a lot already. Thank you Google--I don't know what I'd do without you. And you too, Bulleit bourbon--thank you for helping to make this film an incredible experience. I can't believe I'd never seen it before. AG is definitely in my top ten now. Brilliant.

[mccracken]

So Far, So Lame

2009-02-03T12:05:00.003-06:00

I'm not doing too well as far as blogging goes this year. For that, I apologize. My dedicated (albeit nonexistent) fanbase deserves better.

I'll get right on it. For realsies. Just as soon as I...

[mccracken]

P. S. -- How's your 2009 going so far?

Quite A Change

2009-01-20T11:16:00.003-06:00

[mccracken]

Interests > Time Available

2009-01-17T17:04:00.003-06:00

I simply don't have enough free time--that which is outside of responsibilities and obligations to work, family, or friends--for all my hobbies. I'm sure many people feel the same way. Precisely why anytime I hear someone proclaim that they're bored, I want to smack 'em upside the back of their head.

I'll never get anywhere near being satisfied with how many books I've read, how often I was able to play guitar, how many great films I was able to take in, how many old NES/SNES/Genesis/PSX games I played, or how much I was able to learn about FOSS/GNU/Linux/computers. And don't even get me started on travels and cultural experiences! Alas, there's just not enough time. How can people ever be bored? Astounding.

[mccracken]

Cry/Rage

2009-01-07T21:24:00.002-06:00

I didn't realize that the folks at the Westboro Baptist Church were franchising, but we have a group here in Amarillo that makes that prospect seem likely, however unfortunate it is.

I know when I think of Christ Jesus, I sure picture him picketing and protesting all the while yelling, "Repent or Burn!"

This breaks my heart.

Love (is a verb).

[mccracken]

P. S. -- Sorry I didn't start off the new year with a happier post. :-\

Merry Consumerism

2008-12-22T16:55:00.007-06:00

I both started and finished my Christmas shopping yesterday. I rule. Take that, economy!

(Click on the comic to see the whole thing. Stupid Blogger....)

[mccracken]

NOM NOM Gulp NOM

2008-12-19T22:30:00.002-06:00

I have come to the conclusion that a fine mint julep made with Bulleit bourbon is a heavenly thing. Definitely a new favorite concoction of mine. But hold the sugar.

[mccracken]

About Freaking Time

2008-12-13T10:36:00.004-06:00

Before

After

[mccracken]

Best 404 Page Ever

2008-12-05T14:30:00.001-06:00

;-)

[mccracken]

New (Old) Laptop & The Rhinovirus

2008-12-04T12:11:00.006-06:00

Yup. I have a cold (-100) but I also have a new (old) laptop (+999) so I don't care as much. Memory upgrade for the laptop, FTW. Hot tea, Ricola Honey Lemon/Echinacea, and Emergen-C for the bastardly rhinovirus. Life is grand.

[mccracken]

WTF Is A Cornicopia Anyway?

2008-11-27T10:31:00.004-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

[mccracken]

Reading: An Update

2008-11-24T16:28:00.002-06:00

Well, awhile back I mentioned that I needed to stop reading such frivolous sci-fi drivel and interject a "classic" novel every so often. I chose The Power & The Glory by Graham Greene. And I couldn't get through it. Oh, I tried. I really did. It was just too slow, too depressing, and made me want to listen to Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers and drink tequilla all day.

Anyhow, I'm now several chapters into--that's right, another sci-fi novel--Dune! Don't know how I let it escape me for this long. I'm completely enthralled at this point. Reading, FTW.

[mccracken]

New Gmail Themes

2008-11-20T12:05:00.004-06:00

Very cool. I've loved Gmail for a long time now, but I always wanted a darker interface. I'm not a big fan of bright white backgrounds. Too hard on the eyes. Peep this, yo:

The official Gmail blog is here.

[mccracken]

Autumn = Pipe Aficionado Resurgence

2008-11-15T11:38:00.003-06:00

Mmm Hmm....

Half way through November and we're finally getting some autumn weather. I love it. Without a doubt, my favorite time of year. Winter is a close second and I'm ready for snow.

[mccracken]

P. S. -- Did you see my wicked awesome ~~Photoshop~~ GIMP skills?!

Exactly The Problem....

2008-11-14T08:05:00.002-06:00

Pretty much sums it up.

[mccracken]

Noble Veterans--Thank You

2008-11-11T11:20:00.003-06:00

All politics aside, there is hardly a more honorable duty than that of serving and putting one's life on the line for their countrymen. My deepest thanks to all who have served and are currently serving in any of the armed forces. May God bless you and give you the wisdom to best carry out your service.

[mccracken]

The Passing of Cat

2008-11-10T07:07:00.002-06:00

Things took a sudden turn for the worse yesterday. The vet decided it wasn't poisoning (exactly what I thought all along). It was heart disease. Even though she was less than two it still happens. Most likely Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy--a severe condition with no real positive treatment. She was suffering and unable to get sufficient blood and oxygen to her organs. We had her put to sleep.

Fuck you, Death.

[mccracken]

Cat Is Sick

2008-11-08T20:38:00.005-06:00

We awoke at 04:30 this morning to the most god-awful racket I've ever heard an animal make. It was Cat. She was panting, convulsing, disoriented, and crying out. We took her to the small animal emergency clinic and she's still there. I figured she was gone. It was horrible. But I just called to check and they think she's going to be okay. They're keeping her overnight but said she's stable.

We're still not sure what the hell happened. The vet thinks it's some kind of toxin. Meg and I scoured the house and we still have no clue what it could be. Scarlette (our Basset Hound) is fine. And Cat is strictly an indoor feline. She's been outside twice since we've had her--once when we got her in April and today to go to the vet. Baffling. Well, here's a picture of her I took with my (cursed) iPhone a couple of days ago.

:'-(

[mccracken]

An Historic Election

2008-11-05T07:36:00.004-06:00

Well, I voted too.

(Thanks, Eric.)

w[][]T!

[mccracken]

Joe The Plumber, Meet Dave The Fisherman

2008-10-29T21:55:00.002-05:00

[mccracken]

Autumnal FAIL

2008-10-27T07:29:00.002-05:00

[mccracken]

Reading A "Real" Book

2008-10-22T22:26:00.005-05:00

I decided that I've been slacking in my reading lately. The last 25 or so books I've read over the last few months have been largely frivolous science fiction. Highly enjoyable, but frivolous nonetheless.

So right now I'm a few chapters into Graham Green's masterpiece, The Power And The Glory. The subject matter intrigued me and this book is on many "Best Books Of The 20th Century" lists so I thought I'd give it a go. So far, it's depressing as hell and it makes me want to listen to The Refreshments.

[mccracken]

English OCD

2008-10-13T09:24:00.002-05:00

Ye gods, I think it's reaching a pinnacle. I've started to correct the blatant grammatical errors in the text messages people send me (i.e. "your" vs. "you're"). This can't bode well....

[mccracken]

BBBRRRRRAAAAIIINNNSSSSSS!!!

2008-10-09T21:45:00.003-05:00

Ah, I sure love zombie flicks. It's certainly that time of year. Just watched the original (what else?!) Dawn of the Dead. And all I have to say is: prepare. It's not if, people; it's when. The sooner you accept it, the better. This will happen. So look for store specials and stockpile like there's no tomorrow. And for the love of Obama, don't skimp on the heavy artillery.

[mccracken]

Goodbye Compact Discs

2008-10-03T21:16:00.004-05:00

I've taken another step into the modern era. Last night I bought an iPod. My first ever portable digital music player.

I bought an old school iPod 4th generation 60GB model. Why not just get a new one? Here's my reasoning:

I'm cheap. I didn't want to spend more than $80 or so.
My music collection is currently ~50GB and I wanted to be able to load all of it with room to grow.
I'm a big proponent of FOSS and I want to hit it up with Rockbox.

My new toy should be here in a few days and I can't wait to try it out. The new Rockbox 3.0 has been getting rave reviews thus far and I'm pretty excited. I'll post back a report when I've finished it.

[mccracken]

Really? In, Like, Outer Space?

2008-09-29T08:14:00.004-05:00

I was hanging out with my old man this weekend and we were watching this incredible show on Discovery HD called When We Left Earth: The NASA Missions. It was awe inspiring. And it got me thinking about how much we take these amazing feats of technology for granted.

I mean, c'mon people, we've had people living in space for the last eight years! On the International Space Station, for those of you going, "Really?" Yeah. Really.

I'm embarrassed to be a part of a society that is generally more interested in which celebrity is in rehab this week, whether a politician is wearing a flag pin, or what the latest lame ass mallcore fashion is than our ability to explore the universe.

[mccracken]