A Random Pattern » Other http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog about computers, Operating Systems (OS), simple tutorials, philosophy, and my life. Thu, 26 Feb 2015 03:20:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.0 Like an old friend http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2015/02/25/like-an-old-friend http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2015/02/25/like-an-old-friend#comments Thu, 26 Feb 2015 03:20:15 +0000 http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/?p=424 I had a relaxing weekend. Part of which involved setting up blogs for children. There were … a lot of questions. As you might imagine. WordPress has a lot of moving pieces, but it was remarkably easy to get them up and productive. Watching what they create has been really fun.

Of course now I have to teach them to keep it up. Because, you know, I’ve been setting such a great example here … *ahem* …

Speaking of which, I was explaining the idea of draft posts. Using my blog as a handy illustration, I discovered I’ve got 41 old drafts hanging around! Some of them are even still interesting.

No promises though. I’m just being honest. :-)

]]> http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2015/02/25/like-an-old-friend/feed 0 Home Again, Home Again, Jiggity Jog http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2014/11/17/home-again-home-again-jiggity-jog http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2014/11/17/home-again-home-again-jiggity-jog#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2014 06:12:49 +0000 http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/?p=420 The site is up and working again. It has been … wow, a long time since I posted. Would love a style update, but this will have to do for now.

Lots of nerdy things brewing…

]]> http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2014/11/17/home-again-home-again-jiggity-jog/feed 0 Aria Raine, welcome to the family http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/10/16/aria-raine-welcome-to-the-family http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/10/16/aria-raine-welcome-to-the-family#comments Tue, 16 Oct 2007 16:58:06 +0000 http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/10/16/aria-raine-welcome-to-the-family/ Aria Raine made her big debut at 5:32 a.m. She weighed in at 7 lbs 10 oz (just over half a stone, or 3.5 kilograms), and was 19 3/4 inches long (that’s 50 centimeters for you metric types ;) ).

So far she likes to sleep, with a little singing and eating now and then. I should note that Mommy also is a fan of sleeping right now.

Thanks for all of you who are thinking about and praying for us.  Check my gallery for some quick pics.

If you’re a reader from the technical side – well, check back soon and I’ll have something interesting up. Maybe about a new site launch, even….

]]> http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/10/16/aria-raine-welcome-to-the-family/feed 7 There’s a (baby) comin’ http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/10/15/theres-a-baby-comin http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/10/15/theres-a-baby-comin#comments Tue, 16 Oct 2007 01:41:43 +0000 http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/10/15/theres-a-baby-comin/ No, no storms’ brewing, but there is a baby coming.

Unlike most blogs, this probably means my lucky readers will get more updates.  I’ve got lots of topics and posts lined up, so check back soon – that is, after we recover from the delivery.

Oh, and if you’re desparate to know the name – it’ll be posted up here tomorrow, presuming the little miss arrives by then.  We sure hope it doesn’t take longer than that!

live-blogging from the hospital.  How far this world has come….how far it still has to go.  :)

]]> http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/10/15/theres-a-baby-comin/feed 2 Breakfast with Selah, dinner with Tessa http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/09/25/breakfast-with-selah-dinner-with-tessa http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/09/25/breakfast-with-selah-dinner-with-tessa#comments Tue, 25 Sep 2007 22:00:59 +0000 http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/09/25/breakfast-with-selah-dinner-with-tessa/ This morning, the following exchange between my wife and 2 1/2 year-old, while one fills out paperwork and the other eats cereal…

Selah: What you doing, mommy?

Mom: I’m doing paperwork.

Selah: I’m doing cerealwork!

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We just celebrated Tessa’s 5th birthday.  During the celebrations, she informed us:

“I’m five today.  I’m a grown-up.  I can do lots of tings now![sic]“

“Oh?  What can you do?”, mom asks.

“I can drive!” she exclaims.  Uh, hate to break it to you kid… (especially after seeing her drive a race-car at Chuck-E-Cheese – it’s been a while since I’ve been lapped BY ALL 39 other cars before even finishing one lap. :D )

]]> http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/09/25/breakfast-with-selah-dinner-with-tessa/feed 0 Greenpeace: Those darn facts… http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/05/13/greenpeace-those-darn-facts http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/05/13/greenpeace-those-darn-facts#comments Sun, 13 May 2007 18:00:26 +0000 http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/05/13/greenpeace-those-darn-facts/ First, you should know that I am an environmental advocate, but not a “fringe nutcase”.  I actively look for ways to use less water and energy, recycle more, and otherwise run a responsible household.  At the same time, I don’t cover my cars or house with solar panels, pour vegetable oil into my vehicles, or expect others to go far beyond reasonable efforts in trying to avoid energy waste.

Now, despite my interest in many of the organization’s goals, I have never held a particularly high opinion of Greenpeace – but I will stress that this was an untested opinion, not a strenous evaluation of the organization and its principles.  That has changed recently, as I have stumbled upon factual and detailed articles that show Greenpeace as an incompetent organization out to increase donations and political influence, rather than attempting to effect real change in areas that really matter.

I still think Greenpeace could have a good mission, and possibly good intentions.  But they have destroyed or damaged much of their credibility through their demonstration of their belief that “the ends justifies the means”.  Rather than being a trusted, relatively unbiased source, they are acting like an extremely biased organization in pursuit of their short-term goals at the expense of anything, facts and even their stated long-term purpose.

I particularly don’t understand why they aren’t being smarter in applauding companies that are taking steps to meet Greenpeace’s stated goals – this seems like an obviously good strategic weapon, yet Greenpeace doesn’t seem to use anything other than negative hype.

What I really wonder is whether Greenpeace is, in the end, helping or hurting the quest for a more eco-friendly world?  In fact, are they helping or hurting every one of their stated goals?  I’m not even going to get started on their position toward nuclear energy….

]]> http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/05/13/greenpeace-those-darn-facts/feed 0 How to make a mother’s day present http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/05/11/how-to-make-a-mothers-day-present http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/05/11/how-to-make-a-mothers-day-present#comments Fri, 11 May 2007 22:00:44 +0000 http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/05/11/how-to-make-a-mothers-day-present/ Hint: start now for next year, this could take a while.  I love you, Mom, but you know I don’t think that far ahead.  ;)
If you’re wondering: yes, the above is another link to one of my favorite webcomics.  My wife actually bought me one of the shirts for Christmas, which totally blew me away!  :D  I wore it the other night, and prompted some fun exchanges among my friends and even random restaurant staff.   (If you don’t get it, don’t worry.  Neither did anyone else – hence the fun!)

]]> http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/05/11/how-to-make-a-mothers-day-present/feed 0 5 year olds tell the funniest jokes http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/04/26/5-year-olds-tell-the-funniest-jokes http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/04/26/5-year-olds-tell-the-funniest-jokes#comments Fri, 27 Apr 2007 02:01:37 +0000 http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/04/26/5-year-olds-tell-the-funniest-jokes/ Tessa learns another joke today at school.  She decides to share it when she gets home.  We aren’t used to expecting jokes to come rolling out of our little girl yet though, so it takes Sara a few minutes to understand what Tessa is trying to say.

Tessa: How does a cat shop?

Mom: I don’t know, how?

Tessa: with a cat-alogue!

Mom laughs, and Tessa is pleased with her “success”.  So, a few minutes later . . .

Tessa: How does a cow shop?  A cow-talogue!

How does a duck shop?  A duck-talogue!

How does a pig shop?  A pig-talogue!

How does ….

Tessa proceeds to run through every animal she can think of.  Talk about “milking” a joke!  ;)

]]> http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/04/26/5-year-olds-tell-the-funniest-jokes/feed 0 Will I finally see (one of the members of) DC Talk? http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/04/06/will-i-finally-see-one-of-the-members-of-dc-talk http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/04/06/will-i-finally-see-one-of-the-members-of-dc-talk#comments Fri, 06 Apr 2007 22:00:14 +0000 http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/04/06/will-i-finally-see-one-of-the-members-of-dc-talk/ Sara and I are volunteering this afternoon / evening for World Vision. We’ll be supporting the Portable Sounds Tour at Six Flags. This means we get in free, and get to (hopefully!) see Toby Mac perform.

At least twice before we’ve had tickets to go see him or Tait, and they have not showed / concert has been cancelled. This has been at least a 6 year wait, and Toby Mac has only gotten better with time (though his latest release strikes me as ‘tamer’ than his last two solo outings). I can’t wait!

We are hopefully watching him as you read this. Go check out his MySpace page, and get a little listen to at least “No Ordinary Love”.

I should note that World Vision is a good organization, and we support several kids through them. This is a chance for you to get in touch with and develop a relationship with (very!) poor children in some very poor areas of our world.

Footnote: Sara has actually seen some of DC Talk in concert, and we both caught Michael Tait in Hero: The Rock Opera after missing him at a Third Day concert a few years earlier. I haven’t heard anything about K-Max coming over our way, though, and it’s doubtful we’ll be travelling to California anytime soon to see him. :(

]]> http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/04/06/will-i-finally-see-one-of-the-members-of-dc-talk/feed 0 What would you do for a Wii? http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/03/31/what-would-you-do-for-a-wii http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/03/31/what-would-you-do-for-a-wii#comments Sun, 01 Apr 2007 01:43:54 +0000 http://www.ransomedhome.com/blog/2007/03/31/what-would-you-do-for-a-wii/ Answer: Hype some other site by giving it some link love.

Smart move on their part, that’s for sure.  If you want a chance to win a Wii, go ahead and follow the link.  It’s pretty simple – link to their article somewhere, then comment on their site with your link.  Good luck – and invite me over if you win.  I’ll kick your butt at Wii Sports (apparently not included :( ).

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