June 08, 2004
MT Blog Quiz
I guess I’m doing okay with Movabletype
1. Dan Black Belt
You are a novice. An experienced one. The road that lies ahead is no less long and winding than what it was, but your sense of direction is better than it was when you started your career as a practitioner of MT-Do.
[link from B.D.]
Organization Tip
Write it down.
If you have an idea, an appointment or to do, anything that needs to be remembered, write it down. Don’t worry about setting priorities or adding anything more than the basic details. Get it out of your head and on to something that can be recalled, prioritized and categorized when you regularly review your next tasks.
June 07, 2004
Micah 6:8
VERSE:
He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. — Micah 6:8
THOUGHT:
Sometimes what we need to do is very simple and plain, isn’t it? I need to handle those around me justly —practicing patience and dealing with others in fairness, without partiality. I need to practice mercy —giving to others what they so greatly need, not what I think they deserve. I need to walk humbly with my Father —knowing that without his grace and help I will fail.
Time Tip
Use your waiting time
Inevitably, you will find there are times when you have to wait: holding on the telephone, getting in to see the doctor or waiting for meetings or interviews to start. Take advantage of these times. Make or review lists, review your schedule, open or sort mail, respond to an e-mail, catch up on some reference reading, etc. Making use of this otherwise down-time can free up blocks of time.
Quote of the Day
“The truth that makes men free is for the most part the truth which men prefer not to hear.”
June 06, 2004
I stand amazed in the presence
I stand amazed in the presence
Of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me,
A sinner, condemned, unclean.
Refrain
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
O how marvelous! O how wonderful!
Is my Savior’s love for me!
For me it was in the garden
He prayed: “Not My will, but Thine.”
He had no tears for His own griefs,
But sweat drops of blood for mine.
In pity angels beheld Him,
And came from the world of light
To comfort Him in the sorrows
He bore for my soul that night.
He took my sins and my sorrows,
He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calvary,
And suffered and died alone.
When with the ransomed in glory
His face I at last shall see,
’Twill be my joy through the ages
To sing of His love for me. [Chas. Gabriel]
Quote of the Day
“The Moral Law tells us the tune we have to play: our instincts are merely the keys…” — C.S. Lewis
June 05, 2004
What's Your Blogging Personality?
Ian’s patchwork desk?
The Patchworker
Blogging is a way for me to comment on and consolidate news, current events, useful resources, and other relevant matters. In my blog entries, I usually add links to other people’s blogs or websites with original content instead of writing my own.
[link from Rebecca]
Quote of the Day
“It is far more impressive when others discover your good qualities without your help.”
June 04, 2004
Gordon Strachan is Class
Some great quips from football (soccer) coach Gordon Strachan.
Reporter: Gordon, Do you think James Beattie deserves to be in the England squad?
Strachan: I don’t care, I’m Scottish.
Reporter: “Gordon, can we have a quick word please?”
Strachan: “Velocity” [walks off]
Reporter: Welcome to Southampton Football Club. Do you think you are the right man to turn things around?
Strachan: No. I was asked if I thought I was the right man for the job and I said, “No, I think they should have got George Graham because I’m useless.”
Reporter: Is that your best start to a season?
Strachan: Well I’ve still got a job so it’s far better than the Coventry one, that’s for sure.
Reporter: Are you getting where you want to be with this team?
Strachan: We’re not doing bad. What do you expect us to be like? We were eighth in the league last year, in the cup final and we got into Europe. I don’t know where you expect me to get to. Do you expect us to win the Champions League?
Reporter: Gordon, you must be delighted with that result?
Strachan: You’re spot on! You can read me like a book.
Reporter: Gordon, Agustin Delgado?
Strachan: I’ve got more important things to think about. I’ve got a yoghurt to finish by today, the expiry date is today. That can be my priority rather than Agustin Delgado.
Reporter: This might sound like a daft question, but you’ll be happy to get your first win under your belt, won’t you?
Strachan: You’re right. It is a daft question. I’m not even going to bother answering that one. It is a daft question, you’re spot on there.
Reporter: Bang, there goes your unbeaten run. Can you take it?
Strachan: No, I’m just going to crumble like a wreck. I’ll go home, become an alcoholic and maybe jump off a bridge. Umm, I think I can take it, yeah.
Reporter: There’s no negative vibes or negative feelings here?
Strachan: Apart from yourself, we’re all quite positive round here. I’m going to whack you over the head with a big stick, down negative man, down.
Reporter: Where will Marion Pahars fit into the team line-up?
Strachan: Not telling you! It’s a secret.
Reporter: You don’t take losing lightly, do you Gordon?
Strachan: I don’t take stupid comments lightly either.
Reporter: So, Gordon, in what areas do you think Middlesbrough were better than you today?
Strachan: What areas? Mainly that big green one out there…
MT Config Tweak
I’ve just implemented this tweak to add further control over comment “Hormel luncheon meat.” I test posted a comment and it seems to work. If anyone has problems posting comments, let me know via the e-mail link on this page.
I’m not sure what effect this tweak will have on MT-Blacklist, but it seems to be working thus far.
A few oxymorons
via Frank Patrick
Accurate Estimate
Adult Child
Anti-Missile Missile
Awfully Nice
Better than New
Big Baby
Bride groom
Brief Speech
Buffalo Wings
Business Ethics
Butt head
Calm Storm
Casual Chic
Civil War
Climb Down
Constant Change
Current History
Day Dreams
Deliberate Mistake
Distant Relative
Drive-Thru Window
Dry Ice
Easy Labor (Childbirth)
Educational Television
Expect the Unexpected
Fat-Free Ice Cream
Fighting for Peace
Final Draft
First Conclusions
Flexible Budget
Fresh Dried Fruit
Going Nowhere
Graduate Student
Here and There
Historical Event
Holy War
Home Office
Homework
Jumbo Shrimp
Junk Food
Known Secret
Liquid Gas
Mud Bath
Natural Additives
Never Generalize
New Used Cars
Objective Opinion
Old News
Practical Joke
Preliminary Conclusion
Random Pattern
Relaxation Exercise
Sharp Curve
Steel Wool
Sugarless Candy
Suicide Victim
Timeless Moment
Top Floor
Vegetarian Hamburger
Virtual Reality
White Chocolate
White Gold
Wireless Cable
Working Mother
Blog Milestone?
According to Sitemeter, the Messy Desk received its 100,000th visitor this morning. The referrer was IdeaJoy and, judging from the Shaw Cable IP, it could have been Dave himself.
That stat. plus a dollar will get me a cup of coffee at Tim Horton’s. I have also discovered that no two web-counters track the same on hits, so that number is somewhat artificial. (Sort of like my birthday.)
Quote of the Day
“The trouble with jogging is that, by the time you realize you’re not in shape for it, it’s too far to walk back.”
June 03, 2004
Overview to RSS
Eric Mack has posted a short (4 minutes) video clip on RSS here.Over the next two years, probably sooner, many Web sites will see a decline in regular (repeat) visitors, and a dramatic increase in syndicated viewership. Here’s what you need to know …
This is the first of a series of short productivity clips that will be posted on the soon-to-come eProductivity.net blog. Eric is also looking for some feedback on the clip.
June 02, 2004
Tom Peters is blogging
Tom Peters has reworked the entry page of his web-site to run as a blog. No syndication feed, as yet.
[link from Worthwhile]
The two-inch principle
The Occupational Adverture hove into my view a few weeks ago and I am gaining benefit from reading Curt’s postings. Yesterday he posted some good thoughts about a lesson learned from rock climbing; that making a small move, when seemingly stuck, can put us in a better position to find a next action.Footwork is hugely important in climbing. You can feel like there’s no way you’re going to make it past where you are, and just a little bit of progress with your foot often opens up new possibilities you didn’t think were within reach. It can be surprising what a difference it makes.
Blog Software Breakdown
Asymptomatic has compiled a detailed comparison of blogging software. In it he compares 14 software packages on 60+ features. He also has the chart available as an Excel spreadsheet download.
June 01, 2004
Garbage
Today I got smacked by a load of comment
, all of it the same content and URL, but from a variety of IP’s. None of it was on my MT-Blacklist list, so I had a bit of work clearing it out.
One of the most enticing features of WordPress is the ability to control/moderate comments. That may well be the feature that pushes me to switch.
May 31, 2004
R.C. Concorde
For those of you who were interested in the radio-controlled B-52 picture posted last Friday,
here is a radio-controlled Concorde.
More pictures at this German-language site.
Proverbs 3:3-4
VERSE:
Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man. — Proverbs 3:3-4
THOUGHT:
Character is measured by the love and faithfulness we genuinely display in our daily lives. These are not simple virtues that we can fake. Merciful love is displayed when we have power over another but choose to treat them with kindness and genuine concern. Faithfulness is being a person of truth — genuine and trustworthy in word and deed. These virtues need to be a part of our everyday life and permeate our very identity. When they do, others will notice and God will be pleased.
Quote of the Day
“An adventure is only an inconvenience rightly considered. An inconvenience is an adventure wrongly considered.”
May 30, 2004
Empress of Ireland
Yesterday was the 90th anniversary of the sinking of the Empress of Ireland, a marine disaster that surpassed that of the Titanic.A mere 14 minutes after the collision, she sank. And by the time the last nearly frozen survivor had been fished from the water, the death toll was staggering. Of the 1,477 on board, 1,012 lost their lives, including 840 passengers, eight more than had died when the Titanic sank.This event has particular significance for The Salvation Army in Canada. The passenger list
included roughly 170 members of the Salvation Army heading to a big convention in London.Among those lost were a number of the national Headquarters staff from Toronto and most of the members of the Canadian Staff Band.
Immortal, invisible, God only wise
Immortal, invisible, God only wise,
In light inaccessible hid from our eyes,
Most blessèd, most glorious, the Ancient of Days,
Almighty, victorious, Thy great Name we praise.
Unresting, unhasting, and silent as light,
Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might;
Thy justice, like mountains, high soaring above
Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.
To all, life Thou givest, to both great and small;
In all life Thou livest, the true life of all;
We blossom and flourish as leaves on the tree,
And wither and perish—but naught changeth Thee.
Great Father of glory, pure Father of light,
Thine angels adore Thee, all veiling their sight;
But of all Thy rich graces this grace, Lord, impart
Take the veil from our faces, the vile from our heart.
All laud we would render; O help us to see
’Tis only the splendor of light hideth Thee,
And so let Thy glory, almighty, impart,
Through Christ in His story, Thy Christ to the heart.
Quote of the Day
“Anybody who watches three games of football in a row should be declared brain dead.”
