tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50410102011-12-14T19:00:23.744-08:00Knowledge and Wisdom. The foulposts that I aim to hit home runs between.Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.comBlogger1371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1146329920537913482006-04-29T09:55:00.000-07:002006-04-29T09:58:40.536-07:00

I've been elsewhere. I've moved my blogging over to LiveJournal and I haven't been cross-posting back here. I loved Blogger when I first started this, but to organize my thoughts I have to keep four or five Blogger blogs going at once, and over at LJ I can tag my entries for better organization.Check out my Live Journal.

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1139346982889945712006-02-07T13:15:00.000-08:002006-02-07T13:16:22.900-08:00

President Washington and Lincoln approved and used "electronic surveillance" on the citizens of the United States? I hope every history teacher in America goes to work this week and tries to instill a better knowledge of American history than the Attorney General has.

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1137706903004972232006-01-19T13:27:00.000-08:002006-01-19T13:41:43.016-08:00

Once again, Janet Parshall demonstrates her lack of knowledge in history, sociology, crime, and religion. Calling gay-adoption "state sanctioned child abuse" has got to be making Satan throw a few fist pumps in pleasure. I know a few gay couples with adopted children, and those children are fine kids, active in church, polite to adults, you know, the things we want to see out of kids in general

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1137375440993859782006-01-15T17:36:00.000-08:002006-01-15T17:37:21.003-08:00

Why is it I go through my entire day and react to things and think "I need to blog about that" and once I get to a computer, I can't remember what it was or think of anything to say?

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1135446994916749912005-12-24T09:38:00.000-08:002005-12-24T09:56:34.926-08:00

It is Christmas Eve, and I hope you are all finding time to nice to one another. After all, the days are starting to get longer, almost everyone I meet is in a good mood because of the holiday, and my shopping is done. Wrapping is a different matter. I even have a package going out to my family, which I don't think I've done in years. But this year, I have managed to keep a good Christmas. I

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1134080292616357972005-12-08T14:09:00.000-08:002005-12-08T14:18:12.626-08:00

I have a problem with the policies in France that refuse to allow Muslem schoolgirls to wear the head coverings (whose name I forget) in school. In England, refusing to let a girl wear a crucifix is also absurd. Maybe that's the unapologetic American in me, that wearing signs of faith that don't include "kill " are acceptable in any society.

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1131648913638410832005-11-10T10:40:00.000-08:002005-11-10T10:55:13.650-08:00

Bill O'Reilly has done it again. He has proven that he has no loyalty to America or to the policies of this President. By inviting al Qaeda to attack San Francisco and stating that they shouldn't get any federal help, he has demonstrated that he wants to see another 9/11-type attack on United States soil. Isn't this an act of treason? If a foriegn leader had said this, you can be sure

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1131141059107010322005-11-04T13:29:00.000-08:002005-11-04T13:50:59.123-08:00

You know what really keeps my business at a certain store or institution? Customer Service. I'm a big fan of being treated like a human being. My bank no longer treats me like a human being. A few months abo we went to Seattle for the Writers of the Future awards ceremony. We deposited a bunch of cash inot my BofA account to keep track of travel expenses. We at first they refused to

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1130643792837725662005-10-29T20:32:00.000-07:002005-10-29T20:43:12.850-07:00

I've been meaning to pontificate quite this week, but witha new job, writing deadlines, and just plain dead tiredness, it hasn't happened. Harriet Meirs fell on her sword, but not really because she still has her job at the White House. It's disturbing that loyalty is first and foremost in this administration. Miers withdrew because she couldn't build support, but her first stated reason: To

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1129858638956919822005-10-20T18:30:00.000-07:002005-10-20T18:37:18.963-07:00

Neal Boorz was apparently shocked that some people were shocked that wealthy friends of people with connections got advanced warning about the terrorist threat in New York last week. Boorz thinks that this is the natural order of things:Well, hell, yes, we should save the rich people first. You know, they're the ones that are responsible for this prosperity.This is just plain silly. If a

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1128619922543386592005-10-06T10:25:00.000-07:002005-10-06T11:52:09.130-07:00

I guess President Bush said that multiple terrorist Al Qaeda attacks have been thwarted in the past few years. I was barely awake and I'm not sure I heard the report correctly. I don't understand how we've stopped terrorism, but there is no mention of the Jihadist terrorist suicide bomber in Oklahoma. I've only heard about this from one news sourse, the national terror alert web site, and I'm

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1128098453232526682005-09-30T09:40:00.000-07:002005-09-30T09:40:53.286-07:00

Yesterday a lot of people made a big hoo-haw over Bill Bennett's remarks about race and crime. Everyone seemed to get pissed. I got a little pissed about it as well. However, I think the real problem isn't in the "kill black babies to reduce crime bit." That was an extrapolation of another idea and he immediately dismissed the idea. My ire came from the introductory phrase "I do know that

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1128013501127576262005-09-29T10:05:00.000-07:002005-09-29T10:05:01.173-07:00

Another lesson in modern moral outrage: Bill Bennett, Reagan's Secretary of Education, has stated that if we aborted every black fetus, the crime rate would go down. Actually, the crime rate would go up, because genocide is a crime. Bennett did say that "That would be an impossible, ridiculous, and morally reprehensible thing to do, but your crime rate would go down." This is how the extremely

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1127931251505207212005-09-28T10:52:00.000-07:002005-09-28T11:14:11.510-07:00

For some reason I've been thinking about so-called "intelligent design" theories that are supposed to replace evolution in the school curriculums, and I have a problem. I have a problem with the fact that I can't imagine how a teacher could have more than 15 minutes of teachable material with intelligent design. Actually, all I really have are about 15 seconds: "And on the first Day God

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1127489728161678502005-09-23T08:35:00.000-07:002005-09-23T08:35:28.206-07:00

"We look at the destruction caused by Katrina, and our hearts break," he [Bush] said. Turning the subject to terrorists, he said: "They're the kind of people who look at Katrina and wish they had caused it. We're in a war against these people." The above is quoted from the NY Times. I question the wisdom of this, because it another example of Bush dehumanizing the enemy. "We're pro-life" the

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1127195552101997932005-09-19T22:50:00.000-07:002005-09-19T22:52:32.103-07:00

Brittnee* Spears has given birth via cesearian section. Not that I care, but the up-side to this is that with a birth scar, she might start wearing clothes that cover her belly.*Deliberate mis-spelling, in case the use of her name requires royalty payments.

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1127195358679513942005-09-19T22:33:00.000-07:002005-09-19T22:50:33.933-07:00

President Bush did something that he has never done since stealing the White House in 2000: he accepted responsibility for something that could lead thinking Americans to the conclusion that the Bush Administration has made a mistake. This is shoking enough, but what gets me going tonight is a report from the American Process Action Fund Progress Report from the 16th of September. I have really

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1126621804790222262005-09-13T07:27:00.000-07:002005-09-13T07:30:04.790-07:00

I hate to think like this, but sometimes I just can't help myself. After all of the people who live in New Orleans have been forcibly removed and taken out of state, all entry to the city will be closed off except for the rebuilding effort. All transportation out of the shelters will be shut down, and homeowners will be told that they have 24 hours to claim, in person, their property. Anyone

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1126621638146944652005-09-13T07:13:00.000-07:002005-09-13T07:27:18.153-07:00

I'm listening to the confirmation hearings, and Sen. Leahy (I believe) asked a very good question: If the Senate has the constitutional authority to declare war, do they have the constitutional authority to end war? Damned good question. Roberts refused to answer because he believes the abstract question reflects a real question he will face as judge, and he has refused to answer questions

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1126555099977322792005-09-12T12:58:00.000-07:002005-09-12T12:58:20.023-07:00

I don't have a problem with Michael Brown quitting a job he was unqualified to have. I have a problem with how he stepped down. You see, Bush didn't do the best thing for the American people. He should have fired Brown. Actually, he should never have appointed Brown because of Brown's lack of qualifications and falsified résumé. What really bothers me is the quote from Brown about resigning "

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1126109655814608482005-09-07T09:06:00.000-07:002005-09-07T09:14:15.820-07:00

I have to wonder what Chief Justice William Rehnquist had left on his plate. He clearly had plans for the future. After 33 years on the court, 19 as Chief Justice, he stated a few years ago that he wouldn't retire unless a Republican was president. He was old, he was living with cancer, he had a Republican in the White House. Yet, he didn't retire. From this, I conclude that he had something

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1125511568113723122005-08-31T11:04:00.000-07:002005-08-31T11:06:08.120-07:00

I don't know if it's the caffiene high I've been on for a few days, or just the aftermath of a really good review, but I can't stop lately. Thoughts are exploding into one another and I don't know why. Driving home from my workshop (120 miles away from home) I had a spooky revelation.People are sheep. Sorry, but it's true. I don't mean it in the way Christians are supposed to be the flock of

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1122310892998346112005-07-25T09:54:00.000-07:002005-07-25T10:01:33.006-07:00

I've been additced to NumberPlace and Sudoku puzzles for years, and they are now gaining some popularity. Being a shade-tree programmer, I think about solving these things algorithmically, which means that I can write programs as well. I did write a program in Python that lets me solve any puzzle. So far the program has not given up. A site like Sudoku Place would have to classify a Sudoku as

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1120501329024648772005-07-04T11:22:00.000-07:002005-07-04T11:22:09.793-07:00

Bill Bavasi, in another show of contempt for Mariners fans, has. Boone is the best second basemen the M's have ever had. All-Star, Gold Glover, fan favorite, and shortly to be honored at SafeCo with the release of 'Kaboonie', a childrens book about Bret Boone. If I remember, last year Bavasi fired John Olerud on the day Olerud was honored at the game, or the day before. There is a place in

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1119744187873383422005-06-25T16:55:00.000-07:002005-06-25T17:03:07.876-07:00

So this week we saw Condi Rice order most of the countries in the middle east to become democracies. The Bush administration needs to realize that political structures, like religions, are cultural phenomena. We can't create democracy in a culture that doesn't act like a democracy any more than we can convert every Iraqi citizen to Christianity. I don't think she ordered Saudi Arabia to covert

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1119071910505232222005-06-17T22:18:00.000-07:002005-06-17T22:18:30.546-07:00

I think what struck me was a Robert Novak column entitled George W.'s problem (on cnn.com). I was trying to research otherissues when I read this, and decided to read it. I know full well that Robert Novak should be on trial for treason over endangering the life of a CIA oeprative, and thus everything he says can be suspect. This article, however, surprises me. Novak lists some of the things

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1118727680484150872005-06-13T22:41:00.000-07:002005-06-13T22:41:20.523-07:00

This Molly Ivins' article (WorkingForChange-Duck and cover time) demonstrates just what's wrong with Texas, and this country. A friend of mine and his homosexual partner just adopted a child. If they travel through Texas will the state feel compelled or justified in taking their child away and putting him in an orphanage? That's kidnapping and breaking the right of other states to do what they

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1118251963337352082005-06-08T10:32:00.000-07:002005-06-08T10:32:43.376-07:00

I usually don't read World Net Daily, but after hearing something on the Randi Rhodes show, I had to hunt this (Doctored Dean photo pushed GOP candidate) down. The actual photos can be seen here. The scary part about this is that a Republican would be okay with this kind of outright lie. The game was up when a young woman recognized the people in the background and knew them to be die-hard

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1118157780325019712005-06-07T08:23:00.000-07:002005-06-07T08:23:00.376-07:00

Here's another article (Conservative publisher announces plans to "Swift Boat" Sen. Clinton [Media Matters for America]) that should prove that reality has taken a leave of absence. So far, Hillray Clinton has not made one mention of her intentions to run for President (at least, not that I know of) but they're already attacking her. Well, to be fair, the right wing has been attacking Hillary

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1116604237760395132005-05-20T08:20:00.000-07:002005-05-20T08:50:37.766-07:00

I expected a weak plot, bad acting, bad dialogue, and a kick ass smorgasborg of special effects. I got a plot that really satisfied, acting that moved me, and a kick ass smorgasborg of special effects.Before going to this movie, it was well known who would live, and who would die. It's a bit like going to see Hamlet for the seventeenth time, you know the body count. I was moved by the way it

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1116264199760582512005-05-16T10:23:00.000-07:002005-05-16T10:23:19.796-07:00

One thing I love about Bill O'Reilly is that he refuses to admit when he's wrong. It's the kind of 'truth be damned' certainty we don't need in journalism. This article is a followup to this one which describes how O'Reilly just made stuff up and complained about the stuff he made up. Now he admits to misquoting the Chronicle's editorial but was justified in his attack. I suppose there is a

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1114275253939470562005-04-23T09:54:00.000-07:002005-04-23T09:54:13.940-07:00

Go read this Media Matters article:Perkins accused opponents of Bush's judicial picks of anti-Christian bigotry. American politics has degraded to a severe "Us vs. Them" mentality, where the enemy is not only Osama and Saddam, but Americans who disagree with Bush's policy of creating concentration camps. Now they're preparing for the 2006 election by calling it a war of God vs. Satan. They're

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1113173162215650602005-04-10T15:38:00.000-07:002005-04-10T15:46:02.216-07:00

I lost access to my computer and e-mail for a week. I could have gone through a few hoops to get to my e-mail, but I let it go and gave myself a rest. I haven't been able to get a grip on the news lately, either. Of course, there has been little on other than the death/funeral/legacy of Pope John Paul II. Cynically (something in which I excell) I wonder what our governmenthas been doing behind

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1111858300652295122005-03-26T09:31:00.000-08:002005-03-26T09:31:40.653-08:00

Once again, conservatives get it wrong. I read an interesting letter in this morning's paper saying that if President Bush wants the Ten Commandments posted in government buildings, then his administration should follow those same ten commandments. In the case of these pundits, all of whom supported Roy Moore's position, should admit that they are breaking the commandments themselves by bearing

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1109786160455556862005-03-02T09:30:00.000-08:002005-03-02T09:56:00.456-08:00

When I first heard about Doug Wead and some of his tapes, I only heard stuff like "Bush is a really great guy" and "Bush is OK." I didn't hear that Bush admitted to trying marijuana on those tapes. That fact didn't register until later, when the Daily Show pointed this out. I figured that Wead was just trying to promote his book and help Bush out. Of course, now those tapes are in the hands of

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1109261774574244212005-02-24T08:15:00.000-08:002005-02-24T08:16:14.576-08:00

Supposedly one of the things President Bush wants to impress upon Putin is the importance of a free press. This coming from a man whose administration is paying journalists to shill for their programs and let a gay male prostitute into the press corps to ask slowball and partisan questions that labeled Democrats as 'divorced from reality.'Am I the only one who finds this to be hypocritical?

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1108754742207999542005-02-18T11:18:00.000-08:002005-02-18T11:25:42.206-08:00

We've been going to the gym several times a week on the Discovery Health Challenge. I haven't lost a single pound but I've lost inches! My chest measurement is now bigger than my waist by 3/4ths of an inch. This was actually one of my fitness goals.Sadly my conspiracy theory doesn't hold up. The special prosecutor still exists, so I'm sure Rove has something else up his sleeve.

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1108162077009289622005-02-11T14:46:00.000-08:002005-02-11T14:53:23.756-08:00

Karl Rove ensured the election and re-election of Bill Clinton. Why? We're learning over and over again how the Bush administration has broken almost every law and ethical rule to achieve whatever Machiavelian goals they have. The only way Americans can learn the truth about this and bring Bush and his cronies--or rather, Rove and his cronies--to justice is to appoint a special prosecuting

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1108053154385242222005-02-10T08:14:00.000-08:002005-02-10T08:32:34.386-08:00

I woke up this morning to NPR, like I always do, and I just seemed to get angrier and angrier at what I heard. Prince Charles to marry Camilla. Okay, that didn't piss me off as much. Let the boy be happy, he's hasn't had the best of lives, and he's the Prince of Wales. As an American, I have to support his desire to pursue his own happiness as long as he pays the price. As an American who

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1107550993878579402005-02-04T13:50:00.000-08:002005-02-04T13:03:13.880-08:00

I love a good conspiracy theory. I can't help it, perhaps its the writer in me. I was listening to Ed Schultz, who had a Republican congressman on his show today, and someone invariably e-mails him to complain that he is just a right wing mole. One caller started to call him a Republican shill because he won't discuss something called "Lennon murder truth dot com." I had to look. Yep, there's

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1107468049899872442005-02-03T14:00:00.000-08:002005-02-03T14:00:49.900-08:00

Well, it had to happen. Star Trek: Enterprise has been cancelled. I wonder if there are some TOS geeks in upper echelons who are pissed that the story line for Enterprise was writting Kirk, Spock, and that horrid first attempt at a 'wagon train to the stars' out of the cannon. I actually liked the series. When they did a season long story line I was in heaven. Ah well. Enterprise served us

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1107190207996158212005-01-31T08:45:00.000-08:002005-01-31T08:50:07.996-08:00

Stephanie and I started the Discovery Health challenge, which gave us eight week passes to Bally's fitness. I've been going six days a week and I shower after I work out, so I haven't taken a shower at home in two weeks. My hair isn't surviving the process and my skin is beginning to feel like cardboard. Showering at home is a luxury I don't even consider, since I wake up feeling manky but

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1106617321132505932005-01-24T17:30:00.000-08:002005-01-24T17:42:01.166-08:00

CBS has a habit of not giving SF shows a fair chance. At no point did I see an advertised time for "Numb3rs," only the date. We were lucky to catch it on Sunday night and we'll continue to watch it, even though it will be on opposite Battlestar Galactica. That's why God gave us VCRs. One thing that's been bugging me lately is the lack of commercials. I never thought I hear myself say it, but

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1106323762346368612005-01-21T08:05:00.000-08:002005-01-21T08:09:22.346-08:00

If I heard this properly this morning, Israeli soldiers (and some government officials) refuse to evacuate Isreali settlres from Gaza. I swear I heard a comment along the lines of "It's difficult to move that many people from their homes." Helllllooooo!!!!!! What happened to the Palestinian Arabs who lived there? They were evicted from their homes. I hope this is just a bad excuse to refuse

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1106323364172603992005-01-21T07:54:00.000-08:002005-01-21T08:02:44.173-08:00

I'm getting tired of hearing conservative pundits in this country talk about how Bush unified the country, so all of us progressives should shut up and quit whining. In the linked article, Fred Barnes is quoted as saying "Nobody likes a sore loser." And they act like sore losers. You know, they did lose the election. They have to accept that and move on. David Reinhard of the Oregonian used this

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1105988131902215632005-01-17T10:47:00.000-08:002005-01-17T10:55:31.903-08:00

I've started a new blog :Arjan Tales. I won't be publishing stories there, but biographies of generic characters, comments on the writing life, and perhaps an excerpt of something or other. One of the first things I'm doing is cataloguing story and character ideas. Being in a workshop helps my growth. I'm finally able to look at some reviews that I recieved back in November that I wasn't able

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1105479002098991052005-01-11T13:17:00.000-08:002005-01-11T13:30:02.096-08:00

It's nice to see that when something truly scandalous happens, even the right wing pundits will attack, even if they're attacking one of their own. I'm referring, of course, to the Armstrong Williams scandal where he recieved close to a quarter of a million bucks to promote NCLB. Even Joe Scarborough, who I don't really like, said something on his "Real Deal" segment that should have been going

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1105028069683033252005-01-06T08:07:00.000-08:002005-01-06T08:14:29.683-08:00

I cranked out 2,500 words on a new story yesterday, and Tuesday I turned a story into my workshop. I think I have another one in me for today as well. Yipee!

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1104789884830708152005-01-03T13:54:00.000-08:002005-01-03T14:04:44.830-08:00

I was a bad writer over the holiday. I didn't write a word. Well, technically that's not true. I started three stories and wrote a lot of ideas down, but when it comes down to actually sitting down and typing I didn't get anything done. Even worse, I didn't read the stories for the workshop last night, and I have to work (new job! woo hoo!) this afternoon. I'll be writing and responding tonight

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1104525715635783882004-12-31T13:33:00.000-08:002004-12-31T12:41:55.636-08:00

We just got back from four days in San Diego with Stephs family. We had to fly and I hate flying. Our flight left Portland at 6:40, which means that it actually left on time, but we had to be there at 4:30 in the frikkin' morning, were told to wait in long lines that turned out to be the wrong ones, got hassled by TSA, and almost missed our flight. San Diego was fun. I got to make sketches of

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1102531391414091782004-12-08T10:32:00.000-08:002004-12-08T10:43:11.413-08:00

Woah. Last night I went to the workshop and, because of a clerical error on my part, I had two stories up for critique. There were good things and bad things about my stories, and lots of ideas about fixes and improvements. I should have asked a few people how they come back from a workshop with twenty different copies of the same story with all of the comments, some of which contradict each

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1102362899547166202004-12-06T11:52:00.000-08:002004-12-06T11:54:59.546-08:00

In terms of students reacting to endless bullying by planning a Columbine-style massacre, Leonard Pitts, Jr. wrote on December 6, 2004: "Entitlement and self-absorption are the unavoidable byproduct of a culture that teaches shame is a four letter word, boudaries are obsolete and self-gratification is life's highest purpose." I, too, was a victim of bullying and I knew several students who

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1101761930903162422004-11-29T13:38:00.000-08:002004-11-29T12:58:50.903-08:00

Normally I detest the 'Season of Spending' that the U.S. business culture crams in between Thanksgiving and Christmas, but I am declaring a new holiday that does, unfortunately, require us to go shopping. I am declaring today NEW SOCK DAY. Once a year, on November 29, I vow to throw away every sock I own. I'll even go to the store in sandals in the snow to fulfill this duty. Toss 'em all. The

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1100731134924409032004-11-17T14:33:00.000-08:002004-11-17T14:38:54.923-08:00

I left my workshop last night feeling very nervous about my first story to them. It turns out that there are two therapists in the workshop, and my story No Place Like Home has a therapist as one of the main characters. After talking with them briefly about my story, which they looked at while other people were critiqueing other works. Now I have ideas of how I could retool the story. I wrote the

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1099950121212158962004-11-08T13:32:00.000-08:002004-11-08T13:42:01.213-08:00

Today is a sit-com day. Every weekday we get up, have breakfast, I make Stephanie lunch, kiss her goodbye, and she leaves for work. I log on to the internet to check my email and the news. I can spend several hours a day online. Today was no exception and I was online for two hours this morning. I usually check my email a second time before logging off for a mid morning writing session and then I

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1099698387241223642004-11-05T15:40:00.000-08:002004-11-05T15:46:27.240-08:00

I didn't write a word yesterday. That's not strictly true. I tried to remember how to write TeX and wrote several pages of material on limits and derivatives for a Calculus student. Today I wrote somewhere around 3000 words on Xenic Route. I'm at 8,200 some odd words, which means I'm still a little bit behind. I won't have a chance to write much over the weekend either. Tomorrow is supposed

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1099670985406066052004-11-05T08:00:00.000-08:002004-11-05T08:09:45.406-08:00

There is a lot of truth here. Adam Felber sums up a lot of how I feel and he does it using the language that Liberals share that throws most Conservatives for a loop: sarcasm and irony. Conservatives just don't get it. They think we're speaking from the heart, that we fully believe what we say (reserving the right not to believe what you say for themselves). We do believe it but we temper our

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1099511770680370852004-11-03T11:51:00.000-08:002004-11-03T11:56:10.680-08:00

Black Tuesday. That's what I'm calling it. David Wu's win doesn't console me over the passage of measure 36, which I think is un-Christian and unconsititutional, or the loss of John Kerry. I think we're going in the wrong direction, and most people seem to think that what we're doing is right. We have no right to be in Iraq. Bush has threatened Cuba. He has started a never ending military state

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1099433559569389942004-11-02T14:08:00.000-08:002004-11-02T14:12:39.570-08:00

I managed another 1,867 words on Xenic Route, but I couldn't do much with Burning Bridge. I thought I knew where I was going with it but words failed me. Tonight I go to a Wordos workshop. Things will probably be better in the morning.

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1099328273162843032004-11-01T08:50:00.000-08:002004-11-01T08:57:53.163-08:00

On Friday I started re-writing "Final Journey", which was around 2,700 words. I cut somewhere between 1,500-2,000 words and started again. It's up to somewhere around 3,500 words and I'm still not finished with it. Despite all my efforts to avoid work on Saturdays I sat down and wrote 2,900 words on a new story that I'm calling "Burning Bridge." The title may change when I come up with something

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1099002366977670412004-10-28T15:16:00.000-07:002004-10-28T15:26:06.976-07:00

I retouched "The Shuffle" and finished "Flash Mob." Both are in the 2,000 to 2,500 word range. I'm happy with both of them. I just read about the National Novel Writing Month, and I might participate. I just might throw everything I've written for Xenic Route and start over. Well, I was planning on doing that anyway. I am treating all of the writing that I've done for the past several years as

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1098739725973526432004-10-25T14:12:00.000-07:002004-10-25T14:28:45.973-07:00

Friday I started to update an old story called "The Shuffle." I did a major re-write and got it up to about 2,300 words. I have 12 versions of "the Shuffle" sitting on my computer. This is my new "authors edit" of the story. The biggest problem with my writing is that I'm dialogue-heavy. I tell the entire story in dialogue. I need to find a way to work around this, or convince people that my

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1098477605614796652004-10-22T13:25:00.000-07:002004-10-22T13:40:05.643-07:00

The time travel story I though of yesterday came out in a 1,500 word draft. Steph liked it, but wanted a little more detail in the story. Part of a flashback runs too fast. I've fleshed it out a bit and it's up to 1,800 words, maybe 1,900, depending on how the words are really counted. I may try to get it up to 2,000 words, but I don't want to add much more or the story feels like it's plodding

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1098399607536039242004-10-21T15:52:00.000-07:002004-10-21T16:00:07.546-07:00

Yesterday I started writing a new story just to get words out. It's about 1600 words and the idea is based on a story published on lit.org. I don't think I can really carry it forward without infringing on someone elses idea, so it's all practice. I updated Body Double on Lit.org. It may take a while to show up again on their server. The story is over 6,500 words and I'm afraid it's too wordy.

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1098288111272712712004-10-20T08:52:00.000-07:002004-10-20T09:01:51.273-07:00

On my way to the Wordos workshop last night my car siezed up. I was in Woodburn, about 30 miles away from home when I lost my power steering. I pulled over and saw my serpentine belt was shredding and wrapping itself around various parts of my engine. I had AAA tow it to a shop, and apparently my water pump froze up. I should get my truck back tonight. All in all, I missed the workshop. I asked

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1098220868653733442004-10-19T14:15:00.000-07:002004-10-19T14:21:08.653-07:00

I haven't really managed to write anything in the past two days. I'm fiddling with Body Double. Steph gave me a line that makes a better ending that what I had, so I'm trying to fix it. I am going to my first serious workshop tonight and I leave in a few hours. I'm a bit nervous. Now that I've made this decision I've noticed that the ideas are still flowing, but the words aren't. It's almost

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1097888716954242872004-10-15T17:51:00.000-07:002004-10-15T18:05:16.953-07:00

I think I am upset. Today in the mail we got several bits of political propaganda. It's not surprising but I looked at it instead of throwing it away. The first thing that pissed me off is a mailing from the Yes on 35 campaign sent their propaganda to look like the official Voters Guide that we get here in Oregon. In the real voters guide there are explanations and arguments for and against each

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1097887338665530022004-10-15T17:36:00.000-07:002004-10-15T17:42:18.666-07:00

I finally did it. I have submitted my first story for publication. Well, this is not me first story. I think my first story involved reasons why I used the f-word on another student in the third grade, but this is the first time I've submitted a story for publication. Murder in Exile is about 5,300 words long, which is slightly over the 5,000 word limit of Strange Horizons but their guidelines

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1097712380888327832004-10-13T17:02:00.000-07:002004-10-13T17:06:20.886-07:00

I finished the first draft of Body Double. It's currently at 5,920 words (2,670 added today) and needs a lot more fleshing out. I suspect that I'll have to cut some bits out to keep it to short story length. It was hard to get going today. I recieved a series of 15 emails with geneological information that I was trying to sort out. I got through a fifth of it before I returned to my story. This

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1097631391189437512004-10-12T18:28:00.000-07:002004-10-12T18:36:31.190-07:00

I thought that I was going to focus on cleaning up the stuff I've already written, but today I wrote 3,250 words on a new story, "Body Double." I should have it finished by tomorrow. I am still hoping to hear from a prospective mentor that I've approached. I have set a goal for myself to send "Death of and Exile" to a publisher by Friday.

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1097516649782876892004-10-11T10:38:00.000-07:002004-10-11T10:44:09.783-07:00

Over the past twenty years (possibly even more) I have thought about writing for a living. I have tried in the past to take the steps to get started with getting my material published. I put stuff on the web, but now I need to take it down if I am going to get serious. I have a short story running about 5380 words that I'm calling Death of an Exile. I think it's ready to go, but I need

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1096989778683724922004-10-05T08:05:00.000-07:002004-10-05T08:22:58.683-07:00

Ann Coulter has another book coming out claiming that we should kill or convert the Arabs, that Timothy McVeigh should have crashed into the New York Times building, and other things that show just how dangerous she is. Here's a quote: "I'm not blaming the Democrats for 9-11 alone. I'm blaming them also for the Cole bombing, for the embassy bombings, for 20 years of attacks that have not been

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1095878421271459622004-09-22T11:39:00.000-07:002004-09-22T11:40:21.273-07:00

Well, it finally happened. The Right Wing Media has called for John Kerry's arrest. I thought that they would just call him a traitor for trying to "overthrow the government" as an act of treason. I'm surprised that they actually based this on a factual statement from John Kerry, at least factual in that Kerry actually said it. Usually they just make stuff up, like all that crap that "Al Qaeda

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1095435501661922362004-09-17T08:24:00.000-07:002004-09-17T08:38:21.660-07:00

Some web pages only seem to exists to get incredibly serious repsonses to a joke. Take a quick look at http://www.realultimatepower.net/. This silly page is amateurish to the nth degree. The author clearly knows nothing about Ninjas other than bad video games, bad movies, and porn. The best part of this page are the letters he has recieved. Assuming that these are real letters the purpose of this

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1095280461838451422004-09-15T13:55:00.000-07:002004-09-15T13:34:21.836-07:00

I've been wanting to pick up a new hobby: Robotics. The problem is that robots are not cheap. The startup costs are quite high. Stephanie has a soldering iron and I've got a box of computer parts that aren't being put to use, but that's about it. I purchased a book about building robots and it has a very good overview of robots but I've run into a snag. I want to learn more about integrated

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1095200118947043142004-09-14T15:05:00.000-07:002004-09-14T15:15:18.946-07:00

Back when I was in Grad School my in-laws bought me a Micro Advantage Quick Drive, one of those USB memory sticks. It was great being able to store my working files on it so I could take it to and from school. I haven't had much use for it lately. I copied the St. Michael and All Angels web site onto it so I could try it out on a few other machines, but it's been sitting in a drawer for months.

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1094856226042735062004-09-10T15:39:00.000-07:002004-09-10T15:43:46.043-07:00

I just finished what felt like a month of solid coding, debugging, and documenting. By next week I'll have three things to unroll on my web site: StackLanguage, a build it yourself reverse notation programming language; Combat, a build it yourself role playing game simulator; and SlugFest, based on Robowar and utilizing Combat and StackLang. The goal of SlugFest is simple: Choose a few attack

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1094676251544245002004-09-08T13:33:00.000-07:002004-09-08T13:44:11.543-07:00

I don't believe I heard what I heard. Vice-President Cheney actually threatened the American people with another terrorist attack if we vote for John Kerry and John Edwards. What could he be thinking? Does he know? Does he have proof that this will happen, and if so why aren't we going after the terrorists who have these plans? Unless the protection of the United States in not really a priority

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1094139851010870342004-09-02T08:40:00.000-07:002004-09-02T08:44:11.010-07:00

My inner cynic remembers my senior-year high school government teacher being one of those overbearing teachers who taught me that voting with the Republican party was the only true sign of patriotism, and that Americans cannot handle more than two choices: every election has to be black and white. (This was 1989, before Ross Perot tried to shove a third party candidate down our throats.) The

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1094058504817102132004-09-01T10:08:00.000-07:002004-09-01T10:08:24.816-07:00

Apple's new iMac computer is all display - Aug. 31, 2004 and The iMac design. This is simply beauty itself in a computer. This is wonderful. I want one. Unless I can get an iBook.

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1093908744260374942004-08-30T16:32:00.000-07:002004-08-30T16:32:24.260-07:00

Sometimes I enjoy tweaking my riteous indignation muscles. I started searching for a cure for hiccups, and I found a very good one, but it was hosted by some sort of über-Roman Catholic, so I investigated a few links and became thoroughly offended. That's when I decided to go whole hog, as it were, and check out the latest misguided claptrap from Jack T. Chick. This page discusses why the

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1092264895419525762004-08-11T15:54:00.000-07:002004-08-11T15:54:55.420-07:00

I just finished reading, on recommendation of my brother, The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. It's incredibly funny, but since I haven't read Dickens or Brontë some of the detailed jokes were lost on me. However, since I wasted quite a few years at midnight matinees, the Richard III scene was hilarious. I laughed out loud at 11:30 pm when I read it. Thankfully Stephanie was watching TV in the front

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1092078408100630662004-08-09T12:06:00.000-07:002004-08-09T12:06:48.100-07:00

I just bought my first suit from a well known chain. What do I think of it? Oook! (With apologies to Terry Prachett and the Librarian)

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1091640732960048782004-08-04T10:32:00.000-07:002004-08-04T10:32:12.960-07:00

I spent an hour yesterday working on a charcoal drawing of a bonsai tree. I was simply experimenting, basing the drawing on a tree on the cover of a book I have on the art of bonsai. After dinner I walked back into the office (where my art table is) and saw the drawing from about six feet away. I was amazed at how good it looked. I didn't want to believe that I had actually done it. After two

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1091639891101844302004-08-04T10:18:00.000-07:002004-08-04T10:18:11.100-07:00

How does this make us more moral? How does same sex marriage threaten my heterosexual marriage? The fact that the Missouri already has a law banning same-sex marriages on their lawbooks shows a lack of faith in the system. "...amendment supporters fear a court could toss aside the state law, and they believe the state would be on firmer legal ground if an outright ban is part of the Constitution.

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1091122051031603972004-07-29T10:19:00.000-07:002004-07-29T10:27:31.030-07:00

I think Lucas is trying to fool us again. I remember back when Return of the Jedi came out there was a release that the film would be called Revenge of the Jedi, which Lucas claimed was only a working title and the studio went to work promoting the movie early with the wrong name. Revenge of the Jedi. Revenge of the Sith. I think Lucas is hiding the real title of Episode 3 and he should have

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1090953704118549232004-07-27T11:41:00.000-07:002004-07-27T11:41:44.116-07:00

I'm still here. It seems that every time I try to add to any of my blogs my browser crashes. I'm stuck on an old version of Mozilla so as the Web advances, I don't. I jsut reinstalled Mozilla and it seems to be performing better. Stephanie has been encouraging me to watch the daily art lesson on OPB. There are only a couple of shows that focus on watercolor, but I at least can sit down and do

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1090201630372033642004-07-18T18:37:00.000-07:002004-07-18T18:47:10.373-07:00

I started a story the other day, which I think I might actually get to finish and send to a magazine or two. Unfortunately the muse of mathematics kicked in and I created a new image for my gallery. It's not bad, but it is a bit boring and doesn't cover any new ground. I thought I'd take the same concept and use a lattice based on other space-filling polyhedra. There are a few out there but I

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1089396013661521082004-07-09T10:50:00.000-07:002004-07-09T11:00:13.660-07:00

Every time I read a book on the history of religious ideas, such as Karen Armstrong's The Battle for God or Elaine Pagel's The Gnostic Gospels I desperately want to stand up and fight close-mindedness in the name of God. I am constatnly amazed at how much hatred gets spread because of religion. For example, I have never seen a story about the Scopes 'Monkey' trial that portrayed Byron or his

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1088981360789887452004-07-04T15:37:00.000-07:002004-07-04T15:49:20.790-07:00

I like starting to read a book more than I like to finish them. It's frustrating to realize that I'm not balancing my reading at all. I am currently reading God's Secretaries, The Battle for God, and The Gnostic Gospels as part of my "new" books. In the last week I've also picked up some Science Fiction: Manifest Destiny by Barry Longyear, Their Master's War and The Long Orbit by Mick Farren, the

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1088111286803810062004-06-24T13:59:00.000-07:002004-06-24T14:09:48.950-07:00

Since I've been avoiding the job hunt lately I've been hunting Muses. On the theory that I'd like to find a way to make money without actually working, I've been writing and doing more artwork than I have in months. There's been this big brou-ha-ha over the new movie about King Arthur and I saw an image of a sword in a stone. Very typical reaction, I'll grant you, but I spent the better part of

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1086803361650318092004-06-09T10:43:00.000-07:002004-06-09T10:49:21.650-07:00

I started to watch the rebroadcast of Joseph Campbell's six hour interview with Bill Moyers from the late 80s last night. Campbell talked about the hero story being essentially a death and resurrection story, one that every human being goes through at birth and at adulthood. I think a problem that I have personally is that as shitty as my life has been (which is really nothing since I've been

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1086706448768320742004-06-08T07:42:00.000-07:002004-06-08T07:54:08.766-07:00

I run a web site called Peek Through The Window of the Episcopal Church (www.pttw.org). The site is hosted by the Episcopal Church Web Hosting service, a non-profit service. The person who owns the computers is leaving and ECWH was about to fold, making all of its customers find another host. One of the first that was suggested was Christian Web Hosting. Unfortunately we got a look at their

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1084419619215191832004-05-12T20:39:00.000-07:002004-05-12T20:40:19.216-07:00

I just witnessed my second real death on television. Last year I saw some scientific program that filmed the last moments of an elderly man who was dying, and chose to die peacefully at home. Tonight I saw the Nicholas Berg video on public cable access. The host gave ample warning that he was going to show the video. I am in shock. First, that the film didn't turn my stomach. I watch action

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1084292425414906282004-05-11T09:00:00.000-07:002004-05-11T09:20:25.413-07:00

I recieved $500 as a graduation gift and decided to update my old Palm m100, which has given me years of good use, but I was tired of the low memory (which wasn't a problem when I bought it originally) and the poor thing was just getting beat up. I went to Fry's and picked up a new Zire 31. I love having color, 16 MB of memory, and more power. Unfortunately, the Palm desktop software didn't

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1083944639272954302004-05-07T08:43:00.000-07:002004-05-07T08:48:19.840-07:00

In reaction to the Iraqi prisoners in Abu Ghraib who were stripped, posed, and humiliated, why did we wait until the pictures came out this past week to get upset. There was an article on March 20, 2004, about this ( http://www.cnn.com/2004/US/03/20/iraq.prison.abuse/index.html). I heard the commentators on Air America talk about this several weeks ago. Steph told me that CBS reported that the

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1083002736039345322004-04-26T11:05:00.000-07:002004-04-26T11:09:42.826-07:00

I write this blog not thinking that anyone actually reads it save my brother. I got an e-mail today: Read part of your blog and noticed how about 100% of it was how you hate Bush. Maybe if you and you cohorts in education spent a little more time teaching, and a little less making excuses and blaming GWB for why U.S. students graduate dumber than a rock, they wouldn't be graduating dumber than a

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1082571263770708312004-04-21T11:14:00.000-07:002004-04-21T11:18:23.733-07:00

Monday night I went to bed in the bottom of the 10th inning of a 1-1 tie between the Mariners and the Athletics. I was too tired to fight, and I resigned myself to hearing about the end of the game Tuesday morning. Of course, there was nothing Tuesday morning because the game ran late. I found out later than a balk in the bottom of the 14th inning ended the game, giving the M's a win. Fox Sports

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1082569378532859822004-04-21T10:42:00.000-07:002004-04-21T11:11:23.780-07:00

I suspect that I will be writing a lot about Al and Bill, since Al has apparently taken to goading Bill O'Reilly and exposing his lies. O'Reilly appeared on Fresh Air with Terry Gross (back in October of 2003) and when asked about his Febuary 4, 2003 interview with Jeremy Glick O'Reilly accused Glick of accusing the Bush regime (my moderate slant) of orchestrating the September 11th attacks.

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5041010.post-1082511176213079312004-04-20T18:32:00.000-07:002004-04-20T18:36:54.983-07:00

Geo. Bush, presumptive president, stated today that the terrorists attacked us because they hate freedom. Does he not subscribe to Dogbert's clue of the month club? Nobody hates a group of people because they're free. Doesn't Bush think that we, as the most powerful nation in the West, did something to upset people in other countries? He already admits to making no mistakes in his life, other

Josh Englishhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13691825921866017675noreply@blogger.com0