Home of the Wanderer

http://sillypoorgospel.blogspot.com/2008/03/geek-squad-jesus.html

Peggy Parsons, who has a paid position with universal tech support, writes skillfully about the ultimate programmer, the big software re-write, and the human interface. As a tech support volunteer – and as one who likes to customize the system settings, download new software, get all the latest upgrades, and sometimes even do beta testing – I’m particularly grateful for the 24/7 help-desk.

While I’m often more excited about the new releases than I’ve ever been about the millenia-old re-write, I recognize that it’s all being done by the same dev-team. In fact, I think that a lot of the new releases I get so excited about may really just be custom design adjustments to get my interface working. One thing I love about the dev-team: there is no abandon-ware, and they’re always taking bug reports. It’s nice to know that the lead hacker takes a personal interest in making the software work for each and every one of us.

From a recent email to a dear friend: (more…)

Some things are just plain fun, and even easy, while providing a challenge.

For example, it’s challenging to sing really well, but when it works it just works. The voice flows out of the mouth effortlessly – at this point the voice is beyond belonging to a particular person, or at least it seems that way when I’m the one opening my mouth and letting song flow out. There’s no work involved, except in staying out of the way.

Similarly, I find a pleasant challenge when I can stare into my heart and discover the sun, everywhere I go. (more…)

http://www.yahoo.com/s/643847

These two guys jumped down in front of an arriving subway train in NYC, pushed a fallen woman to safety, and then hopped back to the platform themselves. They left before anyone knew who they were.

Now that’s intoku. I find myself wondering if I would do the same thing, in their shoes. I think I’d need to be with one or both of my brothers, and be in much better shape. Which brings to mind the Quaker practice of living simply and cultivating one’s own abilities, so that one is ready when a situation presents itself requiring action.

What are your favorite stories of good done in secret? What do you do to be ready to act when needed?

Identity isn’t just who a person is, it’s how that person becomes more like those things with which he or she identifies.  Thus, we become more (or less) like the people and/or concepts we admire.  Self-admiration, then, is a way to become more like oneself, while mutual admiration makes us more like each other, and self-denial makes one less like those aspects of self that are being denied.

What, or whom, do you admire?  With what or with whom do you identify?