I continued to be impressed at the outpouring of support for those serving in the US armed forces by the general public here in the USA.
I have wondered if those times during the Vietnam war, where soldiers were hauranged at the airport by anti-war protesters, have left their mark on this nation. Perhaps there is a feeling of guilt over the injustice of attacking those who were put in the line of fire?
More likley, I think, it is that the generation that did the fighting in Vietnam taught their children & grandchildren to show respect for those who protect our freedom.
Freedom is a fragile thing that comes at a price and as such should be cherished. Let us never take this for granted.
James
Atlanta, GA
November 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Darkness
When the house is too quiet and the night never ends, I seek your comfort and let it surround me.
A warm blanket from childhood.
A Fathers strong embrace.
A Mothers kiss.
And I can face the world once more.
September 19th, 2009
A warm blanket from childhood.
A Fathers strong embrace.
A Mothers kiss.
And I can face the world once more.
September 19th, 2009
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Helgi
My friend Robert Seaton died last week. After many years fighting depression he took his own life.
I first knew him as Helgi, his Viking name, when I hooked up with a group of friends that took part in living history. We shared the same silly sense of humor; he was into the Goons, Python, Spike Milligan, etc.
Helgi had an old soul and I often felt that he had been born out of his time, in that perhaps he would have been happier to have lived long ago.
Helgi was a great story teller. I have many happy memories of stories told around the campfire about past exploits during re-enacted battles, inebriated friends. He would often lead us all in song and kept a book of poems, songs & stories for such occasions.
I can still hear him laugh and giggle. I picture him acting the fool and making us all laugh.
I remember him dressed as a pirate, complete with inflatable parrot at my 21st birthday party.
I remember him leading us through making English civil war uniforms at my Mothers house.
I remember how Helgi & I dragged a drunk Jim Brosnan back from the pub to the camp site, cleaned him up and put him to bed. This was the first time he shared his private thoughts with me.
I remember him cutting an imposing figure, dressed in full chain mail and helm when we took part in re-enacting the battle of Hastings.
I remember Helgi & I driving all over the England to various events and shows, talking, laughing.
I remember that he was always very mobile while sleeping. It wasn't uncommon to be struck by his flailing arm when we shared a tent.
I remember how we drove through the night to meet my Father at a camp site, only to find that the camp site was next to a river and the ferry was closed. We had to drive 50 miles to cross the river and travel 50 yards.
I remember Helgi arriving at a family reunion dressed in the 1st World War Uniform of the black watch, kilt, sporran, the works.
He was a warrior in his heart. I shall remember him in his prime, tall with flame red beard and platted hair, twirling an axe in each hand while breaching the shield wall.
After so many years of staring into the abyss, I know that I cannot begin to comprehend the pain that he must have felt. I miss him.
I pray that Bob has found peace and that Helgi has found a place at the table in Valhalla.
James
Atlanta
May 12th, 2009
I first knew him as Helgi, his Viking name, when I hooked up with a group of friends that took part in living history. We shared the same silly sense of humor; he was into the Goons, Python, Spike Milligan, etc.
Helgi had an old soul and I often felt that he had been born out of his time, in that perhaps he would have been happier to have lived long ago.
Helgi was a great story teller. I have many happy memories of stories told around the campfire about past exploits during re-enacted battles, inebriated friends. He would often lead us all in song and kept a book of poems, songs & stories for such occasions.
I can still hear him laugh and giggle. I picture him acting the fool and making us all laugh.
I remember him dressed as a pirate, complete with inflatable parrot at my 21st birthday party.
I remember him leading us through making English civil war uniforms at my Mothers house.
I remember how Helgi & I dragged a drunk Jim Brosnan back from the pub to the camp site, cleaned him up and put him to bed. This was the first time he shared his private thoughts with me.
I remember him cutting an imposing figure, dressed in full chain mail and helm when we took part in re-enacting the battle of Hastings.
I remember Helgi & I driving all over the England to various events and shows, talking, laughing.
I remember that he was always very mobile while sleeping. It wasn't uncommon to be struck by his flailing arm when we shared a tent.
I remember how we drove through the night to meet my Father at a camp site, only to find that the camp site was next to a river and the ferry was closed. We had to drive 50 miles to cross the river and travel 50 yards.
I remember Helgi arriving at a family reunion dressed in the 1st World War Uniform of the black watch, kilt, sporran, the works.
He was a warrior in his heart. I shall remember him in his prime, tall with flame red beard and platted hair, twirling an axe in each hand while breaching the shield wall.
After so many years of staring into the abyss, I know that I cannot begin to comprehend the pain that he must have felt. I miss him.
I pray that Bob has found peace and that Helgi has found a place at the table in Valhalla.
James
Atlanta
May 12th, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Social Networking
Some of us seem to feel the need to be heard :-) I am currently using four different social networking applications. I use each application for a different purpose. I suppose this my attempt at separating the different areas of my life.
Twitter
I use twitter like a custom news feed. I follow a few people whose opinions I respect as well as some topics that interest me. When I post a tweet, it is usually related to work. Perhaps about some techie thing that I just figured out or about some tool that I think is rather cool. I also post the occasional random thought. Having an iPhone makes it very easy to use. I also use a google gadget for when I am at my desk.
There appears to be some twitter etiquette. There are a lot of celebrities using it. While it is interesting to stay up-to-date with your favorites, I think it bad form to badger them to add you to their following list. I see a lot of this when browsing. Sure, throw the odd comment their way if you have something intelligent to say. Garrison Keeler summed it up in one of his monologues; he said something to the effect of you can say "Hey, like you work." and move on.
Blogs
I currently maintain two blogs. The one you are reading now and another more related to work.
I use this blog for personal expression, stuff I don't mind the world reading and to expand on subjects that require more than a tweet.
The other blog I use to sound off about work stuff, usually on a topic where I perceive misconception and I feel the need to set the record straight.
LinkedIn
LinkedIn is my on-line resume and professional network. I only include people I know through work and only if I think their presence in my network will add value. Another point of etiquette here; what to do if someone you don't like/respect/want in your network sends you an invite? I think simply ignoring it is safest. If they corner you at the water cooler you can say "LinkedIn? Man, I haven't been on there in ages.". Maybe LinkedIn should present a third option beyond "Add to your network" and "I don't know this person". How about "Politely decline this invitation"? Another approach is to accept the invitation, wait for a month and then quitely remove them from your network.
Facebook
I stayed away from Facebook for a long time. But it became clear that it was the most efficient method of staying in touch with my family in the UK. My little sister and cousins appear to have stopped writing e-mails, but they will keep their walls up to date.
I have set myself a rule for using Facebook. I'll only connect with family and close friends. No work stuff. Any posts I make here are not for public consumption. I turned off all the "freinds of friends" options and locked the security down to imediate contacts only.
I went camping with the children over spring break. Having an iPhone allowed me to let my wife & family follow our adventures in near real time. The children enjoyed reading comments from the family each morning.
James
April 2009
I use twitter like a custom news feed. I follow a few people whose opinions I respect as well as some topics that interest me. When I post a tweet, it is usually related to work. Perhaps about some techie thing that I just figured out or about some tool that I think is rather cool. I also post the occasional random thought. Having an iPhone makes it very easy to use. I also use a google gadget for when I am at my desk.
There appears to be some twitter etiquette. There are a lot of celebrities using it. While it is interesting to stay up-to-date with your favorites, I think it bad form to badger them to add you to their following list. I see a lot of this when browsing. Sure, throw the odd comment their way if you have something intelligent to say. Garrison Keeler summed it up in one of his monologues; he said something to the effect of you can say "Hey, like you work." and move on.
Blogs
I currently maintain two blogs. The one you are reading now and another more related to work.
I use this blog for personal expression, stuff I don't mind the world reading and to expand on subjects that require more than a tweet.
The other blog I use to sound off about work stuff, usually on a topic where I perceive misconception and I feel the need to set the record straight.
LinkedIn is my on-line resume and professional network. I only include people I know through work and only if I think their presence in my network will add value. Another point of etiquette here; what to do if someone you don't like/respect/want in your network sends you an invite? I think simply ignoring it is safest. If they corner you at the water cooler you can say "LinkedIn? Man, I haven't been on there in ages.". Maybe LinkedIn should present a third option beyond "Add to your network" and "I don't know this person". How about "Politely decline this invitation"? Another approach is to accept the invitation, wait for a month and then quitely remove them from your network.
I stayed away from Facebook for a long time. But it became clear that it was the most efficient method of staying in touch with my family in the UK. My little sister and cousins appear to have stopped writing e-mails, but they will keep their walls up to date.
I have set myself a rule for using Facebook. I'll only connect with family and close friends. No work stuff. Any posts I make here are not for public consumption. I turned off all the "freinds of friends" options and locked the security down to imediate contacts only.
I went camping with the children over spring break. Having an iPhone allowed me to let my wife & family follow our adventures in near real time. The children enjoyed reading comments from the family each morning.
James
April 2009
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Bathroom etiquette
The bathroom is supposed to be a quiet place of reflection and contemplation. But recently I have been distracted from my meditation by work-aholics who click away on their blackberry/iPhone/personal communication device in the stall next to mine.
I am disturbed by this erosion of bathroom etiquette. (Although I could start marketing iPhone sanitizer.)
Where will this lead? Will "Hello, I am in the elevator I might lose you in a moment" be superseded by "Hello, I am sitting on the toilet. Hold on a tick I am about to flush".
And another thing. If I am at the urinal when you enter the bathroom, don't try and talk to me. It can wait five minutes. Seriously.
I am disturbed by this erosion of bathroom etiquette. (Although I could start marketing iPhone sanitizer.)
Where will this lead? Will "Hello, I am in the elevator I might lose you in a moment" be superseded by "Hello, I am sitting on the toilet. Hold on a tick I am about to flush".
And another thing. If I am at the urinal when you enter the bathroom, don't try and talk to me. It can wait five minutes. Seriously.