The signs, of course, are everywhere. Jesus perched in a manger delightfully free of rats, ticks, and other vermin, while cattle stand ruminantly nearby and three wise men oversee a remarkably Caucasian Mary and Joseph fawning over a newborn babe, while shepherds with robes acquired from a store whose name is the nearest Aramaic equivalent of "the Gap" adore their new shepherd. It's a beautiful scene, and one as fictional as that of the ever controversial Mr. Claus (who, scholars now believe,...

(OK so it's not really the original...but it's almost two decades older than this one). The "Santa vs. Satan" discussion has been on one level amusing for me. Because it has brought back a memorable episode from high school, back when we were still working with the anagram. It was high school speech class and our project was to come up with a series of skits for Christmas. It was a class project only, not school wide, and our little group immersed ourselves in the possibilities. It was als...

(Note: what follows are essentially working notes of a work in progress. I've numbered this article as there should be hopefully more to follow). Something is drastically wrong with the church today. As attendance drops to a historic (for our nation) low, as pastors and church leaders are caught up in scandal after scandal, and as leaders pursue a secular agenda, it is important for us as Christians to ask WHAT precisely is the matter. I believe the answer is quite simple. Something is ...

Unlike a lot of computer geeks, I like Microsoft. Partly because I remember a world before Microsoft, a world in which the Internet would have been unlikely due to the need to create drivers for a number of diverse operating systems, not to mention the lack of desire of the average EU to hone up on computer skills. But I am not an automatic fan of all of Microsoft's innovations. I like Vista, LOVE Media Player 11, but will not at the moment download IE7. It shouldn't matter terribly, as IE...

I love steak. Steak is very, very tasty. But I also have to face the fact that it's very, very bad for me. While other folks may be able to process steak (lucky devils) without serious damage to their health, I cannot. So I am having to write off steak as yet another unhealthy relationship which I would be best of being rid of. And I must do so knowing that in not doing my part to eat steak, I am contributing to global warming. I am the enemy. Fortunately, I don't mind vegetables. I could ...

***DISCLAIMER: This is not a question of you, the reader, this is a question of myself. This is an instrospective piece written on my blog because, well, it was what came to mind and, well, it is what I felt like sharing. If I need advice I'll consult a competent professional and not some random unknown entity from an online source. I thank you in advance for your concern, and I welcome comments, but Dr. Phil wannabes will be shown the door in a not so polite manner. This disclaimer is also a sn...

Well, a semester's hard work paid off. I just finished the second of my A+ exams, the Operating Systems portion. I passed, by the skin of my teeth, but I still passed. The best part of it is, I completed my certification within my 90 days' probationary period with my employer, a fact that's virtually guaranteed to factor in come raise time. Now, if you'll excuse me, this new A+ certified tech needs to go take a NAP!

So, I'm sitting here as my shift is winding down. Most of my serious work is done, so I'm vegging (I could be studying, but I'm trying not to overdo it too much). Late night TV has precious few offerings, and most of those are blocked out (don't getr me wrong -- I understand this one -- I'm grateful to have a TV at all). So, after listening to a Bob & Tom CD half the night, I change the channels and find "In the Army Now" (the Pauly Shore classic). For the last hour and a half, it has fi...

I'm finding out something very, very interesting about medical assistance. As I was placing calls today, trying to schedule a medical appointment to respond to the recent allegations that were lodged against us, I found myself getting turned down by doctor after doctor. The reason? "We don't take Medicaid". Now, I realize it's a hassle. And I realize it's not the preferred form of payment for many of them. But somewhere in there, you'd think that whole Hippocratic Oath thing would come ...

I was wrong. Mark this one down, folks, because you're not going to hear me say it often. But this time, I have to honestly say that the truth of the matter is inescapable on this one. See, in our latest round of battles, I've been so embattled, I've been swinging at fenceposts. As some good friends correctly pointed out, I've been seeing everyone as the enemy, making everything into a crusade. The problem is, the legitimate battles, the serious concerns get lost in the shuffle because I'm...

IT IS possible to get too much of a good thing. While I love the Internet, I'm constantly on it lately. It seems like I'm never offline, because I rarely am. This isn't entirely by choice, mind you, it's integral to both work and school. So, with the weekend coming up, I have to say I'm quite happy with the fact that, once I leave work Sunday afternoon at 4:30 pm, I do not have to be anywhere until Tuesday afternoon at the same time. 48 hours without accountability to anyone outside of my ...

I was reading Brad's article about Barak Obama, and one of his comments got me to thinking: should imprisonment be about rehabilitation? My answer is simple: Yes...and no, See, it's not really as simple as a black and white issue. This is an area where there are quite definitely shades of grey. And it would be in our best interests to acknowledge them. Brad is absolutely, 100% right that the PRIMARY purpose of prisons is to get bad guys off the streets. And that primary purpose should t...

Well, folks, a couple of days ago, I posted about needing a retro case to mod with contemporary components. The "Holy Grail" of my search was the silver TRS-80 color computer, one of the most easily recognizable of the retro computers. I wanted something that was both distinctive and large enough to do what I needed. Well, folks, ain't she a beaut?   I'm going to find some old 51/4" floppy drives to mount the CD and hard drives externally to complete the "look". Once I get sta...

I was speaking with my instructor about one of the young men in our class the other day. The young man reminds me so much of my younger, less disciplined (HA! It'a hard to think of myself as being LESS disciplined, but I was, and also, I digress) self that I feel compelled to work with him in ways that may help him avoid some of the pitfalls I've had on my journey. One of the most compelling features of this young man is that he is always "bumming" money, material objects or other things. As ...

I did something yesterday that I didn't want on my to-do list. It wasn't my favorite choice, and I'd rather buck the system, but as the old saying goes, you have to pick your battles, and it would be absolutely insane to fight this one too far when we have a VERY winnable front at this point. I broke down and applied for medical assistance. The first thing I noticed, for those who care to note it, is that I am actually eligible for NOTHING, medical assistance wise. The state of Texas, quit...