Merry Christmas, Everyone!

Welcome Christmas! Bring your cheer!
Cheer to all who's far and near!
Christmas Day is in our grasp!
So long as we have hands to clasp!
Christmas Day will always be!
Just as long as we have we!
Theodor Seuss Geisel

I hope you all have an excellent Christmas.

Bring on the LIGHT, bring on the NIGHT

This is it folks, the shortest day of the year. From here on in we get more light. This is also the day I go back to my afternoon and night shifts. Interesting coincidence, but I'm not reading too much into it.

I'm pretty sure magical dragons never had to worry about shift work. Not having a job in the first place might have something to do with it. Mundane dragons aren't so lucky, though we don't have to worry about idiots in armor trying to make a name for themselves. A fair trade? I'll get back to you.

Though it's a mundane world, there is some magic to be found being awake in the night. Night time details are different from day time details. A world of silhouettes. The darkness surrounds everything like a soft, protective covering. Windows call attention to themselves like little beacons and reveal curious details never seen in the day. For the few places that are open, everyone knows everyone. A place that's a thronging mass of people in the day is a small community in the night.

It's still a little weird working night shift, but a part of me is looking forward to going back. I am, with my whole heart, looking forward to more sunlight.

Books:
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - J. K. Rowling

Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Rocks.

Grinchy Grinch

Woo-who, How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is on! This is a tradition of Christmas, along with the Alistair Sims version of Scrooge. My Dad made me a tape of The Grinch. It's an excellent backup but it isn't the same as catching it on TV.

Who Pizza's delivered, who coffee is on, Cindy-Lou Who's cooing, so time to be gone!

Go, Coffee!

According to a bit I read in a health magazine:

Harvard researchers have replicated a Danish study that reached the conclusion heavy coffee drinkers seem to have a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes. Four or more cups a day is the magic number ... I need to drink more coffee!

No word on whether Juan Valdes or Starbucks funded the study.

Books:
War of Honor - David Weber

Cutting the Cord

I finally did it. I found a wireless port-of-call for my Power Book. Yeah! Blog authoring is so much more civilized sitting on the couch with no wires attached. And such a deal, never would have thought I could do it for 50 bucks.

These broadband routers have come a long way. The first router I bought took a bit of fiddling to get running. This one worked right out of the box. Plugged it in and c’est voila, thar be packets. Of course, default means wireless ass hanging in the wind. I understand why so many wireless networks are left open, setting up the encryption is a bit of a pain. Actually, more so on the Power Book side than the router side. One of the few things that wasn’t drop dead straight forward on OS-X. Still, no where near as frustrating as having one mouse button ……

Which brings to mind feedback I received on my last blog. My mother was not impressed with one of the “colorful metaphors” used to describe Apple’s decision to omit the right mouse button. I think the last time my mother commented on my language was twenty years ago. Some cords just can’t be cut.

Movies:
The Last Samurai
Timeline
Master and Commander

Books:
Ender’s Shadow – Orson Scott Card
Shadow of the Hegemon – Orson Scott Card