tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-128062542024-03-13T10:06:37.121-06:00Silus GrokA Pseudonymous BlogueSilus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.comBlogger265125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-15061315764269262562009-08-23T12:08:00.004-06:002009-08-23T12:21:35.819-06:00Girl CootiesI've not been to a Mormon singles event in years. Until last night …<br /><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><br />I live in Salt Lake City and I'm of a certain age. Which means I have great LDS friends — wonderful, well-intentioned folk — who are actively seeking to get married. And because they're Mormon, they can't help but evangelize. So I've been asked on numerous occasions to attend this or that mixer. It's all innocent, of course. They know I'm gay, and just want to include me. They're having a blast, and they think I will, too.<br /><br />Heck, maybe they think that the right girl'll get me to switch teams.<br /><br />But I say "no" — consistently — and I always get the puppy dog look and the "but why".<br /><br />Here's why: no matter how often they insist that everyone's just getting together to meet new people and to make new friends, it's just not true. Friendships are the sloppy seconds. Facebook adds, phone numbers, and first dates — thems're the holy grail. So going to one of these events — where the girls are on the prowl for a husband and the men are on the hunt for a kiss (and maybe a wife) — well, it's just asking for trouble. So what do I do? Do I jump in the closet and risk getting propositioned up the wazzoo by the girl in the corner. Or do I stay out of the closet? The guys'll squirm and the girls will act betrayed.<br /><br />But my friends are persistent.<br /><p style="text-align: center;">…</p><br />It's called "7 Guys for 7 Others" (they mean girls — read into it what you will) or, at times, "7 Hunks for 7 Hotties". It's a Facebook-facilitated LDS dinner club run by some friends of mine. It's a great idea … and here's how it works: about 300 people (!) are divided among 20 restaurants in groups of 14 (seven guys, seven girls). We eat and chat, and get to know folks we've never met before. Maybe some phone numbers are exchanged. Then we meet back at a suburban stake center where all the rooms have activities going on. Didn't click with the folks at dinner? No problem! There'll be 150 new prospects at the after party. Of course, there's more interest than available seating, so the after party is where folks who didn't make the cut for dinner come.<br /><br />It's wildly successful.<br /><br />Last night's event elicited 500+ responses for ≈300 seats. We even had people flying in from out of state.<br /><br />My group landed at The Cheesecake Factory. I'd never eaten there, before. And while I avoid chain food, I was looking forward to the evening. We arrived piece-meal. Single 30-somethings scouting the (enormous) crowd outside of TCF for folks who might be 30, single, Mormon, and part of the dinner club. It took about 30 minutes, but by the time our table was ready, 11 of us had found each other. One showed up with some flourish a little late. Two were no-shows.<br /><br />The table was long and the restaurant was loud … so we naturally broke into two smaller groups. Eight folks at the other end fell under the spell of the late-comer, whom I dubbed "Clark Kent". Soon, our group broke into twosomes. I felt sorry for the girl who got me … she came to meet 7 great guys and got stuck with the affable one with no chemistry.<br /><br />"I bet he's gay", she was thinking. "Our server is cute", I was thinking.<br /><br />We chatted … a little bit about my job, a little bit about a gloriously failed blind date she recently went on. We listened in on the two next to us, adding the occasional <em>bon mot</em>. It was nice. And not nearly as bad as I'd imagined.<br /><br />We then decamped to the chapel in the suburbs for the after party. Dance music in a darkened Relief Society meeting room, light refreshments in the kitchen, one of those weird BYU touching games in another, a rousing game of volleyball in the gym … and 300–400 of the hippest 30-something Mormon singles I've ever met.<br /><br />I saw my friend who'd goaded me into coming (and helped organize the event) out in the foyer … we chatted for a second, but he was busy doing the meet-n-greet. I got guilted into the touching game, but escaped unscathed after a couple rounds. I skipped the refreshments (always a good idea) … and then stepped into the gym to watch the volleyball game. It was a lot of fun to watch — and everyone was really into it. Surprising, given that everyone was in their dinner clothes.<br /><br />And then Babs walking into the room.<br /><br />I'd known Babs back at BYU. We were in the same ward for a few years … bright, bubbly, and unlucky in love. Her eyes sparkled as she scanned the room. I stopped talking-up the cute guy and jumped over to see her and give her a big hug. It's been more than 10 years, and she was still the same amazing woman I remembered. And still single.<br /><br />She played a bit of volleyball, then we went out and set-up court in the foyer. We sat and caught-up … she's teaching down at BYU, her brother who was in the ward with us just married — at 39. And me? Well, this and that and I'm still gay. So she grilled me — so many questions, so much to say — all things gay and Mormon. It was absolutely delightful, stepping out of the closet. We talked for almost an hour.<br /><br />It was late, and the smarter folk were peeling away to head home. We hugged goodbye and promised to talk again soon …<br /><br />On my way out, I ran into Clark Kent. I chatted him up to the girl he was wooing and took their picture with her camera phone. He blushed at the attention and said his head was swelling at the compliments (gays make the best wing men).<br /><br />Before I left, I asked if he was on Facebook.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">NB: This post is cross-posted from <a href="http://www.nine-moons.com/2009/08/23/girl-cooties/">Girl Cooties</a>, at <a href="http://www.nine-moons.com/">Nine Moons</a>. Please join us over there to comment!</span>Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-13832165119880852009-08-10T11:22:00.002-06:002009-08-10T11:24:54.762-06:005 Other PlacesWhile I love Nine Moons (and even visit <a title="Like Nine Moons … but edgier." href="http://bycommonconsent.com/">By Common Consent</a> and <a title="Like Nine Moons … only smarter." href="http://timesandseasons.org/">Times & Seasons</a>, from time to time), I must admit that my life online doesn't revolve around the Bloggernacle™. In fact, of the eight or so hours a day I spend online (work, mostly), I'd say only a few precious moments each morning are spent among the saints. What, pray tell, could possibly tempt me away from the iron-alloy rod? Well … lemme tell you. I won't bore you with a list of all 600+ feeds in my newsreader. Instead, I'll just hand pick a few gems:<br /><br /><a title="A lot of wisdom, a little wit, and some nice music." href="http://rulesformyunbornson.tumblr.com/">1001 Rules for My Unborn Son</a> — part of a larger library of "daddy" and "dude" sites I follow (<a title="Vroom!" href="http://www.kk.org/cooltools/">Cool Tools</a>, <a href="http://artofmanliness.com/">The Art of Manliness</a>), 1001 Rules is a delightful compendium of <a href="http://rulesformyunbornson.tumblr.com/post/87316940/349-its-not-enough-to-be-proud-of-your-ancestry-live">wisdom</a>, <a href="http://rulesformyunbornson.tumblr.com/post/63740631/314-if-your-art-is-bad-make-it-bigger">wit</a> (<a href="http://rulesformyunbornson.tumblr.com/post/72123187/329-dont-underestimate-your-fertility">ahem</a>), and <a href="http://rulesformyunbornson.tumblr.com/post/48886333/required-listening-shangri-las-out-in-the">music</a>. Start at the beginning.<br /><br /><a title="Get ready to think outside the box." href="http://ted.org/">TED Talks</a> — I love having my world view challenged (occasionally). These folks who bill themselves as "ideas worth spreading", offer "riveting talks by remarkable people". And they do it with charm and panache. My favorite? A must-watch 15 minute talk on the <a title="Get ready to open your mind." href="http://ted.org/index.php/talks/jonathan_haidt_on_the_moral_mind.html">Liberal and Conservative mindsets</a>.<br /><br /><a title="Get ready to say " href="http://cuteoverload.com/">Cute Overload</a> — sometimes <a title="Bath time for kitty!" href="http://cuteoverload.com/2009/07/21/drama-in-the-tub/">kittens</a> (or <a title="Look at that face!" href="http://cuteoverload.com/2009/06/23/muzzlepowsche-2/">puppies</a>, or <a title="Yawn!" href="http://cuteoverload.com/2009/06/27/this-just-in-a-baby-bat-yawning/">something else</a>, entirely) are just what the doctor ordered for a bad day. Be sure to check out the <a title="The Thou-shalts of Cutedom" href="http://cuteoverload.com/tag/the-rules-of-cuteness/">Rules of Cuteness</a>.<br /><br /><a title="Political thinking from/for the heartland." href="http://www.frontporchrepublic.com/">Front Porch Republic</a> (found via the inimitable <a title="A child hood hero, now a bright and longtoothed academic." href="http://inmedias.blogspot.com/">Russell Fox</a>) — I am, most of all, a political creature. As a child, I dreamt of being king of a small, sovereign state carved out of Montana (apparently I wasn't alone). But practical considerations suggested I work within the system. The folks at FPP write much that resonates with the best of me. I think they may resonate with you, too.<br /><br /><a title="Get ready to laugh. A lot. Daily." href="http://pvponline.com/">Player-vs-Player</a> (a close second would have been <a title="Get ready to laugh. A lot. Daily — at some fairly dark stuff." href="http://www.lfgcomic.com/page/1">Looking for Group</a>) — online comics are my guilty pleasure. And PvP is the best-written, best-drawn, geekiest, and funniest of them all. No need to start at the beginning, you can catch-up with the <a title="Meet the gang!" href="http://www.pvponline.com/new-readers/">character bios</a>. Or just <a title="Mmm … PvP goodness for my CLOSET!" href="http://www.pvpstuff.com/apparel.html">buy a t-shirt</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">NB: This post is cross-posted from <a href="http://www.nine-moons.com/">5 Other Places</a>, at Nine Moons.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"> Please join us over there to comment!</span>Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-80510456341008872492009-06-17T11:05:00.003-06:002009-06-17T11:09:22.124-06:00Dude.Father's Day — in the US, at least — is quickly approaching. So it's somehow appropriate that I've got a hankering to talk about men. Nothing salacious, mind you … just a post on the enigmatic state of being a guy today.<br /><br />I've said it before: men and women are different creatures. I know this, perhaps, better than I know most anything. As a gay man, I am inexplicably drawn to that elusive quality that makes men … men. It's certainly not anatomy; nor our job or the way we dress; nor our mannerisms or the roles we play in life. But there is something — something preternatural — that resonates within us, Male and Female.<br /><br />So if it's not any of that — if our eternal gender is something so obfuscated by culture and genome — why care? Why all the fuss? I can't speak definitively, of course … but I've got a hunch.<br /><br />Culture, in many ways, is part of a complex survival mechanism. It gives us the tools to both survive and thrive within a given context. Sure, it's imperfect, but it's powerful all the same. So being able to internalize and transmit ones culture is a sign of ones spiritual/psychological fitness in much the same way that symmetry in physique is a sign of ones genetic health — and it carries with it the same heady allure.<br /><br />But something happened over the last century. Culture became unhinged, in many respects, from reality. The feedback loop which kept most aspects of a given culture intimately connected to its milieu was co-opted by technology and our own counter-culture drive. For the time being — blessed, as we are, with practically free energy and blinded as we are by technology — culture isn't a matter of survival. It's an accessory like shoes or cufflinks. So now we pick and choose from myriad cultures the shiny bits that intrigue us, while ignoring the repercussions.<br /><br />Men no longer enjoy the confidence of living within a cohesive culture.<br /><br />Sitcoms tell us that men are buffoons. That we are hapless, witless, feckless creatures — outshone in every respect by women (which, I suspect, is equally annoying to women). We're told that we think about sex constantly and engage in sex at such an early age that by junior high, the virginal male is social equivalent of a third nipple: pathetic and ineffectual. Other players tell us that average men sport genitalia of equine proportions and are either bronzed and polished gods or hirsute demigods. Still others feed on our sartorial sensibilities and dress us up in costumes unbefitting men who actually work and live in anything but Second Life™. I could go on … but you get the idea.<br /><br />And that's just in secular life … General Authorities and their comments about the spiritual superiority of women and the odd and pervasive comments about wives always being right are as emasculating as the sitcoms. Moreover, the rhetoric of role-playing and stewardship — which I believe obliquely addresses eternal principles — is stuck in Mid-century America. With the Beavers.<br /><br />But there's hope.<br /><br />A nascent man movement in the US — which has roots both in religious circles and the secular world — seems to be scratching at the surface of the problem … and blogs such as <a href="http://artofmanliness.com/">The Art of Manliness</a> and <a href="http://rulesformyunbornson.tumblr.com/">Rules for My Unborn Son</a> are fine products of this renaissance. It's a hard thing, though, to refashion something so complex and nuanced as culture from scratch. It's a bit like the scientists of <em>Jurassic Park</em> fame attempting to recreate dinosaurs from incomplete DNA, spittle, and hubris. We're bound to create a few monsters along the way. It's not a natural process, after all — cut-off as we are from the bright and instructive light of life outside our technology-induced stupor. Which is why I think that the Church's role could prove pivotal. And the <a href="http://www.lds.org/library/display/0,4945,161-1-11-1,00.html">Proclamation on the Family</a> is a good start. But I fear that we won't really understand the value of that document for some time — burdened as we are by the muddy mandates of memory.<br /><br />So that's it. Like so many things in modern life, what it means to be a man is much less clear — but if we're careful and given to inspiration, we'll exit the other side of this fog better men, better sons, brothers, and fathers. Which is to say, in so many words, happy Father's Day (whatever that means).<br /><br /><font style="font-style: italic;">NB: This post is cross-posted from </font><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.nine-moons.com/2009/06/17/dude/">Dude</a><font style="font-style: italic;">, please join us over there to comment!</font>Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-41763719188978818232009-04-21T16:53:00.004-06:002009-04-21T16:59:56.315-06:00A Very Gay Transcript<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.youpublish.com/files/18692"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 224px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/Se5PaPHA7rI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/rB-WQhcmcjE/s320/a+very+gay+transcript_cover.jpg" alt="Cover art for 'A Very Gay Transcript'." id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5327282721377021618" border="0" /></a><br />A heads-up: a web/e-mail friendly transcript of the Very Gay Podcast is available at my YouPublish site: <a href="http://www.youpublish.com/files/18692">A Very Gay Transcript</a>. It’s available (like the <a href="http://www.youpublish.com/files/16501">podcast</a> itself) for anyone to use, under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/us/">a Creative Commons license</a>.<br /><br />That is all.Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-92189546205756668912009-04-05T17:24:00.003-06:002009-04-05T17:28:25.678-06:00I'm in Love …<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://blog.signalnoise.com/?p=848"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 272px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/Sdk95DB4bEI/AAAAAAAAAX4/V5jD4iepJOo/s320/i_jenstark_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5321352484989987906" border="0" /></a><br /><br />… with Color. Thanks, <a href="http://blog.signalnoise.com/?p=848">James</a>, for turning me on to <a href="http://www.jenstark.com/sculpture_01.html">Jen Stark</a>.Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-32692024171550479452009-03-30T10:26:00.005-06:002009-04-21T16:58:26.633-06:00A Totally Gay PodcastI was recently interviewed by Nine Moons founder Rusty Clifton about my being gay and active in the church — and about California's Proposition 8. If you've got 45 minutes, give it a listen…<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youpublish.com/files/16501">Listen to the podcast…</a><br /><br /><p><span style="font-style: italic;">NB: This post is cross-posted from </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.nine-moons.com/2009/03/30/a-totally-gay-podcast/">Nine Moons: A Totally Gay Podcast</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, please join us over there to comment!</span></p>Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-87678679009224552582009-02-04T10:52:00.020-07:002009-03-30T10:26:05.831-06:00Cleaning Out the Closet<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">So the remodel (phase one, at least), is coming to a close. Which means I have no more excuses to be living out of boxes. Time to go through those boxes and edit, edit, edit … and that's where you come in. I've got stuff going straight to charity … and then I've got stuff that I like too well to give to just anyone — and a few items, even, that I'm only going to let go to the right buyer.<br /><br />Here goes:<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnePcRq49I/AAAAAAAAAV4/zPsm7yXQWHc/s1600-h/IMG_7020.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnePcRq49I/AAAAAAAAAV4/zPsm7yXQWHc/s320/IMG_7020.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299010793447810002" border="0" /></a>Hollywood bed frame. Adjustable for twin and full box springs. Free for the taking. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">TAKEN</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYndabTzu6I/AAAAAAAAAVw/eTuWCtmwX-o/s1600-h/IMG_3052.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYndabTzu6I/AAAAAAAAAVw/eTuWCtmwX-o/s320/IMG_3052.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299009882655275938" border="0" /></a>Custom bed frame for full mattress. Steel, powder-coated construction. Finish color is "root beer". Not the best picture.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYndGhy62TI/AAAAAAAAAVo/-ttwqly2OAs/s1600-h/IMG_3050.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYndGhy62TI/AAAAAAAAAVo/-ttwqly2OAs/s320/IMG_3050.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299009540798994738" border="0" /></a>Mid-20th-century ceramic pillow form. Japanese. Purchased @$75. Make an offer.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnc4LYnPaI/AAAAAAAAAVg/349GAASQfBg/s1600-h/IMG_3049.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnc4LYnPaI/AAAAAAAAAVg/349GAASQfBg/s320/IMG_3049.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299009294264909218" border="0" /></a>16 FLOR brand cocoa-colored coir carpet tiles. Purchased @ $400. Make an offer. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">TAKEN</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnXlSiwlTI/AAAAAAAAAVA/8QEdEvqjzpg/s1600-h/IMG_3045.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnXlSiwlTI/AAAAAAAAAVA/8QEdEvqjzpg/s320/IMG_3045.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299003472210859314" border="0" /></a>Mid-20th-century shoji game board. Japanese. Solid wood — I believe it's alder. Purchased @ $60. Make an offer.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYncfs3q5bI/AAAAAAAAAVY/UyCgkkZxxDc/s1600-h/IMG_3048.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYncfs3q5bI/AAAAAAAAAVY/UyCgkkZxxDc/s320/IMG_3048.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299008873756812722" border="0" /></a>Pétanque set (like bocce or lawn bowling) — includes rules. Purchased @ $60. Make an offer.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnbwPDL0DI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/r4Xp6GHZxFc/s1600-h/IMG_3047.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnbwPDL0DI/AAAAAAAAAVQ/r4Xp6GHZxFc/s320/IMG_3047.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299008058298191922" border="0" /></a>Two wreathes with faux red berries. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">TAKEN</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnY2h_bzeI/AAAAAAAAAVI/b_wlslLEchQ/s1600-h/IMG_3046.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnY2h_bzeI/AAAAAAAAAVI/b_wlslLEchQ/s320/IMG_3046.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299004867927068130" border="0" /></a>Two kissing balls with faux red berries. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">TAKEN</span><br /><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnXlSiwlTI/AAAAAAAAAVA/8QEdEvqjzpg/s1600-h/IMG_3045.JPG"><br /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYniZpZGGWI/AAAAAAAAAWo/XbCCQ7h4eR0/s1600-h/IMG_7030.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYniZpZGGWI/AAAAAAAAAWo/XbCCQ7h4eR0/s320/IMG_7030.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299015366813817186" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);"> </span>Mirrored picture frame. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">TAKEN</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnhU9_JkxI/AAAAAAAAAWg/JOqvULsmues/s1600-h/IMG_7029.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnhU9_JkxI/AAAAAAAAAWg/JOqvULsmues/s320/IMG_7029.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299014186931163922" border="0" /></a>Wooden picture frame. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">TAKEN</span><br /><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYngXmlNKwI/AAAAAAAAAWY/A-n8X1jT3Xk/s1600-h/IMG_7028.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYngXmlNKwI/AAAAAAAAAWY/A-n8X1jT3Xk/s320/IMG_7028.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299013132676311810" border="0" /></a>Double picture frame in marquetry. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">TAKEN</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnfg_47eRI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/mvvCbAVAkRk/s1600-h/IMG_7027.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnfg_47eRI/AAAAAAAAAWQ/mvvCbAVAkRk/s320/IMG_7027.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299012194577119506" border="0" /></a>Leatherbound picture frame. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">TAKEN</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnfKuCft0I/AAAAAAAAAWI/mP1xnMsJ9FI/s1600-h/IMG_7026.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYnfKuCft0I/AAAAAAAAAWI/mP1xnMsJ9FI/s320/IMG_7026.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299011811828283202" border="0" /></a>Leatherbound picture frame. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">TAKEN</span></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYne0h_P9nI/AAAAAAAAAWA/MdICHJv9bt4/s1600-h/IMG_7025.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYne0h_P9nI/AAAAAAAAAWA/MdICHJv9bt4/s320/IMG_7025.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299011430636320370" border="0" /></a>Leatherbound picture frame. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">TAKEN<br /></span></div>Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-20375920582218229492009-01-31T10:18:00.007-07:002009-02-01T22:31:51.966-07:00Good Morning World!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/silusgrok/3238435058/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYSIO8mAVKI/AAAAAAAAAUw/QH0_FQn4ROA/s320/IMG_7012.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297508852059624610" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/silusgrok/3238436788/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYSJzy-asII/AAAAAAAAAU4/VQzc8c8Dmj8/s320/IMG_7014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297510584644448386" border="0" /></a><br />I love how light reflects off its myriad planes … and how the passing of the day brings such a panoply of variation.Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-9508878385901207982009-01-30T09:12:00.006-07:002009-01-30T09:21:10.669-07:00For all My Friends with Girlfriends/Wives<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.gamesforherbyyou.com/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYMnukgrgOI/AAAAAAAAAUo/qIbYT03z6w4/s320/Picture+1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5297121267746046178" border="0" /></a><br />One of my favorite pastimes is helping my friends dream-up gifts for their loved ones. So I'm tickled to death to find this interesting service that helps dudes create one-of-a-kind games they can play with their girlfriend or wife. It's called <a href="http://www.gamesforherbyyou.com/">games for her by you</a>. I have no reason to buy one, myself … but I'm betting — based on the well conceived website — that these are top-notch.Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-64414759070190708032009-01-29T16:47:00.003-07:002009-01-29T16:51:22.708-07:00For all My Friends with Offspring<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://jordanferney.blogspot.com/2009/01/tooth-fairy-kit.html"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 239px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SYJAlR4DauI/AAAAAAAAAUg/16pt6IqAr9o/s320/toothfairy3.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296867120938969826" border="0" /></a><br />Oh man … I wish I had had this when I was loosing my teeth — check out this fancy-schmancy <a href="http://jordanferney.blogspot.com/2009/01/tooth-fairy-kit.html">Tooth Fairy kit</a>.Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-32767266507003568322008-12-14T18:10:00.003-07:002008-12-14T18:15:20.249-07:00Que C'est Mignone!<object width="400" height="302"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2113477&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=2113477&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=ff9933&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="302"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/2113477">Once upon a time...</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user115775">Capucha</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-59556353464574657072008-11-25T20:13:00.003-07:002008-11-25T20:24:40.883-07:00Meme: Things I've DoneCaught this meme from Andi, over at <a href="http://albafamily.blogspot.com/">A Random Sampling</a>. It's pretty easy — just copy the list and embolden the items that you've done in your life…<br /><ol><li style="font-weight: bold;">Started your own blog</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Slept under the stars</li><li>Played in a band</li><li>Visited Hawaii</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Watched a meteor shower</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Given more than you can afford to charity</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Been to Disneyland</li><li>Climbed a mountain</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Held a praying mantis</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Sang a solo</li><li>Bungee jumped</li><li>Visited Paris</li><li>Watched a lightning storm at sea</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Taught yourself an art from scratch</li><li>Adopted a child</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Had food poisoning</li><li>Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Grown your own vegetables</li><li>Seen the Mona Lisa in France</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Slept on an overnight train (yes! … love trains!)<br /></li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Had a pillow fight</li><li>Hitch hiked (no … but I've picked-up several)<br /></li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Taken a sick day when you’re not ill (it’s called a “personal day”)<br /></li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Built a snow fort</li><li>Held a lamb (no… but I've held a cougar and petted a dolphin)<br /></li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Gone skinny dipping</li><li>Run a Marathon</li><li>Ridden in a gondola in Venice</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Seen a total eclipse</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Watched a sunrise or sunset</li><li>Hit a home run</li><li>Been on a cruise</li><li>Seen Niagara Falls in person</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Visited the birthplace of your ancestors</li><li>Seen an Amish community (oh, but I'd love to!)<br /></li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Taught yourself a new language</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Had enough money to be truly satisfied</li><li>Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Gone rock climbing</li><li>Seen Michelangelo’s David</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Sung karaoke</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt — and I've seen the original geyser (in Iceland) erupt, too!<br /></li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant</li><li>Visited Africa</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Walked on a beach by moonlight</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Been transported in an ambulance</li><li>Had your portrait painted</li><li>Gone deep sea fishing</li><li>Seen the Sistine Chapel in person</li><li>Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Gone scuba diving or snorkeling</li><li>Kissed in the rain (no… but in the snow, yes)<br /></li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Played in the mud</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Gone to a drive-in theater</li><li>Been in a movie</li><li>Visited the Great Wall of China</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Started a business</li><li>Taken a martial arts class</li><li>Visited Russia</li><li>Served at a soup kitchen</li><li>Sold Girl Scout Cookies</li><li>Gone whale watching</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Got flowers for no reason</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Donated blood, platelets or plasma (a long time ago … they don't let me any more)<br /></li><li>Gone sky diving</li><li>Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Bounced a check (oops!)</li><li>Flown in a helicopter</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Saved a favorite childhood toy</li><li>Visited the Lincoln Memorial (no… but I have been to the Jefferson)</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Eaten Caviar</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Pieced a quilt</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Stood in Times Square</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Toured the Everglades</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Been fired from a job</li><li>Seen the Changing of the Guards in London</li><li>Broken a bone</li><li>Been on a speeding motorcycle</li><li>Seen the Grand Canyon in person</li><li>Published a book</li><li>Visited the Vatican</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Bought a brand new car</li><li>Walked in Jerusalem</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Had your picture in the newspaper</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Read the entire Bible</li><li>Visited the White House</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Killed and prepared an animal for eating</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Had chickenpox</li><li>Saved someone’s life (not that I know of)<br /></li><li>Sat on a jury (no, dammit … and I wanna know why!)<br /></li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Met someone famous</li><li>Joined a book club</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Lost a loved one</li><li>Had a baby (there's only one dude who's had a baby, and I'm not him)<br /></li><li>Seen the Alamo in person</li><li>Swam in the Great Salt Lake (splashed in it!)<br /></li><li>Been involved in a law suit</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Owned a cell phone</li><li style="font-weight: bold;">Been stung by a bee</li></ol>Now, on all the visited this and thats … well, I've not done a lot of the things they've asked about, but I have visited: most of the 50 states, Tiajuana, four Canadian provinces, England, Iceland, Denmark, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Thailand. Not bad, if you ask me.<br /><br />:)Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-40334086430012180262008-11-17T11:11:00.004-07:002008-11-17T11:21:10.280-07:00What Goes "In" Must Come "Out"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SSG2DHGeqdI/AAAAAAAAARk/smxVkJBy1TU/s1600-h/iStock_000004466769Small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 214px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SSG2DHGeqdI/AAAAAAAAARk/smxVkJBy1TU/s320/iStock_000004466769Small.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5269693203562277330" border="0" /></a><br />For your reading pleasure: <a href="http://bewitchedtoo.blogspot.com/2008/11/experiments-that-are-just-bad-ideas.html">another wonderful snapshot</a> of family life at Samantha's home. Thank you Adam. Thank you Samantha.<br /><br />:)<br /><br />And here are a couple of stories (<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4369605,00.html">I</a> & <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/article2503425.ece">II)</a> that sound like Adam in 30 years.Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-73729397691853903322008-11-11T18:00:00.005-07:002008-11-12T14:30:19.232-07:00On Veteran's Day … My family is light, when it comes to veterans… and perhaps this isn't all that unique — but I can't name a single ancestor who's been a veteran. My great-grandfathers on both sides weren't alive during a war … and both grandfathers were too young for WWI and too old for WWII. Dad was too young for Korea and too old for Vietnam. So it shouldn't be surprising that I never really thought to much about veterans, as a kid.<br /><br />That is, until junior high… the junior high I attended used the ASVAB test (a standardized military aptitude test) to gauge school successes on a number of fronts. For their generosity in providing the test, the military was given access to our scores. I scored in the 99th percentile. Unsurprisingly, I was soon barraged with all sorts of recruiting proposals. I wasn't hip to the idea, so I registered as a conscientious objector. The proposals stopped almost immediately.<br /><br />It was also around this time that I became politically aware… and fell in love with a number of more liberal causes (no nukes, the Dukakis campaign, and the like), and any appreciation for our veterans was sidetracked by a certain level of distrust.<br /><br />Fast forward a few years, and today I can't help but tear-up when I think of the sacrifices asked of our armed services — and the invaluable part they play in our enduring freedom. Don't misunderstand: I'm still very leery of the military-industrial complex, and an ardent opponent to our current military engagements. But I learned somewhere in the intervening years that I could hate a war without hating our soldiers.<br /><br />So today, on Veterans Day, I'm thinking of our men and women in uniform. And I'm grateful. Thank you.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">NB: Yes; I re-wrote the post completely. I can only think that maybe I was tired or hungry when I posted the original.</span>Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-46601312693537892682008-09-19T22:11:00.003-06:002008-09-19T22:18:02.386-06:00GrickleI know it feels like I'm turning this into a video blog. But really … I can't help it. I keep finding really great videos. I promise: I'm thinking deep thoughts about the Palin affair, about gay marriage, about realpolitik — but when I come across something visual, my gut just aches to share it.<br /><br />Behold, the genius of <a href="http://grickle.com/">Grickle</a>:<br /><br /><object width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YZ-bQ_9SyqI&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YZ-bQ_9SyqI&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="300"></embed></object><br /><br /><object width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-RDu6zvaxS0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-RDu6zvaxS0&color1=0xb1b1b1&color2=0xcfcfcf&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="300"></embed></object>Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-157654241462378622008-09-08T18:52:00.002-06:002008-09-08T18:58:47.652-06:00I Am Not Like Mr WurfelI'm not… I'm not… I'm not!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.crictor.ch/portfolio/mr-wuerfel.php"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SMXKEck8AhI/AAAAAAAAAQU/_syune9lTTY/s320/mr_wurfel.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243819518882218514" /></a><br /><br />But something about this <a href="http://www.crictor.ch/portfolio/mr-wuerfel.php">animated short</a> struck a chord in me.Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-11218677490652610182008-09-05T18:50:00.006-06:002008-09-05T19:33:20.693-06:00Warming Up on McCain / PalinI've got plenty of serious commentary on the progress of the campaign — which I'll get to soon enough. But why bemoan, when you can just laugh your arse off:<br /><br /><embed FlashVars='videoId=184086' src='http://www.comedycentral.com/sitewide/video_player/view/default/swf.jhtml' quality='high' bgcolor='#cccccc' width='332' height='316' name='comedy_central_player' align='middle' allowScriptAccess='always' allownetworking='external' type='application/x-shockwave-flash' pluginspage='http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer'></embed><br /><br />And then there's this one, from CNN… I'm not sure which is more amusing: Ben Stein (a major Republican strategist — and a man with a delightful cameo in Ferris Buehler's Day Off) gobsmacked by the choice of Palin — or the CNN talking head stunned at Stein's candor!<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OevzQ9XGd7Q&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OevzQ9XGd7Q&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-34389182658871806202008-08-30T12:43:00.005-06:002008-08-30T13:01:31.789-06:00Airport Not Always Connecting to Preferred Wireless Network<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SLmYtKUG5AI/AAAAAAAAAQM/Y_Lgk9p3ncY/s1600-h/IMG_2325_1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SLmYtKUG5AI/AAAAAAAAAQM/Y_Lgk9p3ncY/s320/IMG_2325_1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5240387543052510210" border="0" /></a><br />I love my mac… and I love my shiny new wireless home network. But each morning, when I turn on and log into my computer, I get a little pop-up: "None of your preferred [wireless] networks are available. Please choose another network". So I find my home network in the list of available networks. I choose it, type in my snazzy password, check the box that says "remember this as a preferred network". And dive into my morning.<br /><br />But then tomorrow comes, and I'm back at square one. It's nothing big — but I can't really start my day until I'm online, so it's a bit of a hassle. So yesterday I turn to my friend <a href="http://www.google.com/">Google</a>: "<a href="http://www.google.com/search?q=mac+not+connecting+automatically+to+a+preferred+network&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&aq=t&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a">mac not connecting automatically to a preferred network</a>", I type. And voila! There's a wonderful thread over at the <a href="http://forums.macrumors.com/">Mac Rumors Forums</a>: <a href="http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=468963">Airport Not Always Connecting to Preferred Wireless Network</a>. I don't know who <a href="http://forums.macrumors.com/member.php?u=181682">JSweeny</a> is… but their response was a day-maker:<br /><blockquote cite="http://forums.macrumors.com/showpost.php?p=5360613&postcount=6"><ol><li>Move “System Preferences.app” back to “Applications\”.</li><li>Delete all instances of “Preferred Networks” in “Network Preferences”.</li><li>Delete all “Airport network password” instances in “Keychain Access”.</li><li>Restart your Mac.</li><li>Add/Join applicable preferred network using the Airport pulldown menu or in Network Preferences (as if for the first time). Use “Advanced” in “Network Preferences” to confirm the existence of your preferred network and the correct settings. Use “Keychain Access” to confirm the existence of the applicable “Airport network password” instance and the correct settings.</li><li>Restart your Mac. The OS should now find your preferred network and join it on its own.</li></ol></blockquote><br />Problem solved.<br /><br />Man, I love the internet!Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-35245262659532003522008-08-26T09:41:00.007-06:002008-08-26T18:50:06.451-06:00Medals per Million … and Matthew Mitcham( I love alliteration )<br /><br />So a think tank, whose work I follow, has an interesting post on their blog about <a href="http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2008/08/25/medals-per-million">medals counts</a> at this year's Beijing games. It's a recurring theme. Every two years, folks from the left side of the political spectrum trot out the whole "medals per million" argument. I used to fall for it, but I don't any more. It's not that I'm any smarter now — or that my progressive political credentials are any less valid. It's two things, really: I'm tired of my political kin apologizing for the things America does well. We have plenty to apologize for anyway, no need to add legitimate strengths to the pile; also, the metric they're using is horribly flawed. <br /><br />As I noted in my comment on their post:<br /><br /><blockquote cite="http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2008/08/25/medals-per-million">While I wholeheartedly agree that raw medals count is a fairly useless metric — and one we choose because it suits our own aspirations and strengths — I'd have to submit that medals per capita is equally (though differently) useless.<br /><br />In order for a small country to compete on the raw medals count, it would have to win everything it entered and it would have to field just as many athletes as larger nations. Which is unlikely. For a large country to compete on the per-capita scale, the Olympic games themselves would have to be vastly larger in order for countries to field a number of athletes commensurate to their size. In other words, for the US to best the Bahamas on a per capita basis (6.67/MM) they would have to enter and medal in 2,001 events… China would have to enter and medal in 10,005 events.<br /><br />Neither is achievable.<br /><br />A more reasonable measurement of success would be significantly more difficult, as it would likely pit nations of similar populations or GDPs against each other in a ranking that would also measure some other factors such as number of athletes fielded and the like.<br /><br />In the end, I think the best thing to do is to enjoy the Olympics in the spirit they're intended. Rooting for the glory of the sport first… our homeland or other demographic second (if at all). And letting all rivalries be friendly ones.<br /></blockquote><br />Of course, I used the term "demographic" purposefully. I not only came to the games as a red blooded American — but as a Mormon and a gay man, as well. So I rooted for Phelps and the BYU, er… American Volleyball team… and for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matthew_Mitcham">Matthew Mitcham.</a><br /><br />What? You don't Mitcham? Well, aside from being a gold medalist on the 10 meter platform — and an Australian — Matthew is, arguably, one of the only openly gay men to ever medal.<br /><br />Here's a montage of his 10 meter dives:<br /><br /><object width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/k6bAC51Lg7GuotJZTi" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always" /><embed src="http://www.dailymotion.com/swf/k6bAC51Lg7GuotJZTi" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" allowFullScreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always"></embed></object><br /><br />and another of his post-gold TV interview — the young man to his left is his partner of two years, Lachlan Fletcher:<br /><br /><object width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/M2PWW8uBhik&rel=0&color1=26265&color2=5549014&fs=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/M2PWW8uBhik&rel=0&color1=26265&color2=5549014&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" width="300"></embed></object>Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-11187857876574974302008-08-13T22:14:00.004-06:002008-08-14T15:52:19.461-06:00Oh l'Amour!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://area.autodesk.com/movies/the%20area/080811_1117/oktapodi.mov"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SKOxUOuMX8I/AAAAAAAAANw/ciTRgLXhvdU/s320/ohlamour.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234222153041993666" /></a><br /><br />I love animation… and I especially love the student work done at French powerhouse art school, <a href="http://www.gobelins.fr/">Gobelins</a> (the irony that a visual communications school has, perhaps, the ugliest site I've seen in some time is not lost on me). Check out this recent masterpiece… <a href="http://area.autodesk.com/movies/the%20area/080811_1117/oktapodi.mov">Oktapodi</a>.<br /><br />UPDATE: Here's a little "<a href="http://www.oktapodi.com/makingof.html">making of</a>" video!Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-13803119573844533992008-08-13T08:50:00.013-06:002008-08-30T23:32:16.989-06:00For Sale … For the TakingLast week I did a little editing, and have some items for sale and for the taking. And since I'd much rather my stuff go to good homes, I'm offering them to friends and family before I put them up on <a href="http://www.craigslist.org/about/sites.html">Craigslist</a> or on <a href="http://www.freecycle.org/">Freecycle</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dibbed (but not taken) — Mac Mini + External HDs with Wireless Keyboard and Mouse — $350</span><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://flickr.com/photos/silusgrok/2753209523/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SKL3ioZnCfI/AAAAAAAAAMw/TWbOMEcQfVQ/s320/2753209523_3f36808ee9.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234017891290384882" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://flickr.com/photos/silusgrok/2753210953/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SKL4DjfiHhI/AAAAAAAAANI/w7YI2R_iiN4/s320/2753210953_c253f82f89.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234018456908733970" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://flickr.com/photos/silusgrok/2753214623/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SKL30GpW2hI/AAAAAAAAANA/HPWsACATWKE/s320/2753214623_25f36a2315.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234018191467272722" border="0" /></a><br /><br />My Mac Mini served me well — with a total of 700 GBs of storage — and it'll serve you well, too.<br /><br />Hardware:<br /><br />Processor: 1.42 GHz Power PC G4<br />Memory: 1 GB DDR SDRAM<br />HD: 80 GB Original Internal, 500 GB + 120 GB LaCie Externals<br />Video: ATI Radeon 9200<br />Networking: Airport & Bluetooth<br /><br />Software:<br /><br />Up-to-date OS (Leopard + Software Updates)<br />Latest <a href="http://www.apple.com/iwork/">iWork</a> Suite<br />Latest <a href="http://www.apple.com/ilife/">iLife</a> Suite<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">For the Taking</span><br /><br />TAKEN — Brown Microfiber ("Suede") Throw Pillow<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://flickr.com/photos/silusgrok/2754039228/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SKL6bzf6D4I/AAAAAAAAANg/HTBozy2fL_M/s320/2754039228_b24d1d2fcb_m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234021072545386370" border="0" /></a><br /><br />TAKEN — Woven Grass Basket (I turned it upside down and used it as a <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/silusgrok/770677885/in/set-72157594289746586/">bedside table</a>)<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://flickr.com/photos/silusgrok/2753216269/"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SKL6Bzw9ZOI/AAAAAAAAANY/_t9NvAAAzKA/s320/2753216269_555de0526f_m.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234020625940309218" border="0" /></a><br /><br />TAKEN — Twin Bed — Mattress, Box Spring, Hollywood Roller Frame<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://flickr.com/photos/silusgrok/2141388239"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SKL52wtx2TI/AAAAAAAAANQ/xM2G2ZbRr4Q/s320/2141388239_0fb7fb4af4.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234020436143102258" border="0" /></a><br /><br />The stuff on top of the bed is staying with me (at least for now).<br /><br />Lemme know if you're interested!Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-65663537390226560702008-08-04T21:22:00.003-06:002008-08-04T21:28:09.959-06:00Obama, Obama, Obama… That's all McCain Ever Talks about!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SJfHvbInTuI/AAAAAAAAAMo/5nRHvaciaNI/s1600-h/boston_com-ideas-portrait_of_the_campaign.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SJfHvbInTuI/AAAAAAAAAMo/5nRHvaciaNI/s320/boston_com-ideas-portrait_of_the_campaign.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5230869109765787362" border="0" /></a>The <a href="http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/ideas/articles/2008/08/03/portrait_of_the_candidate_as_a_pile_of_words/">Boston Globe</a> recently indexed the official blogs for the presidential campaigns of both McCain and Obama. From the index, they created a word cloud for each. And wouldn't you know it… everyone's talking about just one man.<br /><br />Hat tip: <a href="http://marbury.typepad.com/marbury/2008/08/word-play.html">Marbury</a>.Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-43389191587207839192008-08-01T08:04:00.005-06:002008-08-01T08:21:59.231-06:00A Cycle of ViolenceOver the years, I've had the… um… opportunity to interact with police in a variety of situations. Traffic violations, calls for support when kids were trespassing in our condo's pool, city functions, and just out on the beat. And while a few have sported "tough guy" attitudes (lamentable for any civil servant), they've all been professional. A few, even, have even been spectacular. So when I hear stories of police brutality I am immediately of two minds: "the story's being blown out of proportion" and "authority breeds unrighteous dominion".<br /><br />But some times — on rare occasions — I'm of only one mind. Take a look at this footage:<br /><br /><object width="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/oUkiyBVytRQ&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/oUkiyBVytRQ&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" width="300"></embed></object><br /><br />Now read the follow-up <a href="http://www.nypost.com/seven/07292008/news/regionalnews/rookie_cop_slammed_for_cycle_of_violence_122079.htm">story in the New York Post</a> (not known for an even-handed approach). Here's more about the <a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0729081bike1.html">Pogan assault</a> at the Smoking Gun. If you're not familiar with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_Mass">Critical Mass</a>, they're an amazing grassroots cyclist empowerment organization. There's even a small <a href="http://www.slccriticalmass.org/">Salt Lake City chapter</a>.Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-41589218543780840722008-07-29T22:30:00.005-06:002008-07-29T22:56:12.127-06:00Of Good Report, 7 | The Good News<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SI_zyMbYimI/AAAAAAAAAMg/L8JXBcQd4H8/s1600-h/temple_christus2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SI_zyMbYimI/AAAAAAAAAMg/L8JXBcQd4H8/s320/temple_christus2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228665736055523938" border="0" /></a><br />I though that I might talk about my Mac… or my iPhone — great (amazing!) tools I use day in and out. I thought I might talk about the Farmers Market, which I attend faithfully every Saturday morning. And I thought about mentioning Enterprise car rentals, whose presence in my neighborhood allows me to forgo car ownership… I thought of all these things, but none of them seemed a proper ending to this series.<br /><br />No, in all honesty, only one thing really and truly warrants mentioning: the gospel of Jesus Christ. It fills me with hope, it gives me direction… and on the rare occasion when I think I can't take another day, the gospel reminds me that I can — that life <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> good and that I am loved.<br /><br />Life is amazing, and it's too easy to dwell on the potholes when what we really need to be focusing on is the view. Thank you for staying with me through the series!<br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><br />This post is part of a week-long series focusing on the good and praiseworthy in my life… please consider reading all seven: <a href="http://silusgrok.blogspot.com/2008/07/meme-of-good-report-day-one.html">1</a>, <a href="http://silusgrok.blogspot.com/2008/07/meme-of-good-report-day-two.html">2</a>, <a href="http://silusgrok.blogspot.com/2008/07/meme-of-good-report-day-three.html">3</a>, <a href="http://silusgrok.blogspot.com/2008/07/meme-of-good-report-day-four.html">4</a>, <a href="http://silusgrok.blogspot.com/2008/07/meme-of-good-report-day-five.html">5</a>, <a href="http://silusgrok.blogspot.com/2008/07/meme-of-good-report-day-six.html">6</a>, <a href="http://silusgrok.blogspot.com/2008/07/of-good-report-vii-good-news.html">7</a>.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"></span>Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12806254.post-68104170553655645272008-07-27T14:04:00.029-06:002008-07-29T22:52:13.279-06:00Of Good Report, 6 | MusicI've loved music from a very early age… mom even says that I danced before I walked. So it's no surprise that with school came jazz choir and stints in a couple musicals and that church brought Sunday morning choir practice… nor that I was the first in my school to listen to this or that group, or that much of my allowance went into vinyl. Music touches my mind and heart in a way that nothing else can.<br /><br />Today, my iTunes library comprises nearly 6000 songs (all legal), and it continues to grow as I come across new artists. Below, I've selected a few artists / albums that I think are particularly interesting / talented / obscure…<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><em>Wikipedia Article</em> | <em>Album on iTunes</em><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzU_puYyMI/AAAAAAAAAJA/kx9HIu-wBhA/s1600-h/andrew_bird.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzU_puYyMI/AAAAAAAAAJA/kx9HIu-wBhA/s320/andrew_bird.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227787457467566274" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_bird">Andrew Bird</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=162496775&s=143441">The Swimming Hour</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzWQVew5TI/AAAAAAAAAJI/G4ofH0SvehQ/s1600-h/beirut.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzWQVew5TI/AAAAAAAAAJI/G4ofH0SvehQ/s320/beirut.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227788843602732338" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beirut_%28band%29">Beirut</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=139266371&s=143441">Gulag Orkestar</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzWcDTLg8I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/2roYyIHr0jI/s1600-h/boy_most_likely_to-the.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzWcDTLg8I/AAAAAAAAAJQ/2roYyIHr0jI/s320/boy_most_likely_to-the.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227789044880737218" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Boy_Least_Likely_To">The Boy Least Likely To</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=129268872&s=143441">The Best Party Ever</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzWodtCOcI/AAAAAAAAAJY/OPTgS1BQ21I/s1600-h/dodos.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzWodtCOcI/AAAAAAAAAJY/OPTgS1BQ21I/s320/dodos.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227789258126932418" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodos">Dodos</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=275300567&s=143441">Visiter</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzWw7zj0kI/AAAAAAAAAJg/J95YT_etQIw/s1600-h/hairspray.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzWw7zj0kI/AAAAAAAAAJg/J95YT_etQIw/s320/hairspray.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227789403646317122" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hairspray_%282007_film%29">Hairspray</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=258905878&s=143441">Soundtrack</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzW3pEA6MI/AAAAAAAAAJo/cFZsiDjFqhA/s1600-h/innocence_mission-the.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzW3pEA6MI/AAAAAAAAAJo/cFZsiDjFqhA/s320/innocence_mission-the.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227789518874142914" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Innocence_Mission">The Innocence Mission</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=270092446&s=143441">We Walked in Song</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzW-lSS2EI/AAAAAAAAAJw/XCH_ZoPPNSk/s1600-h/jayhawks-the.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzW-lSS2EI/AAAAAAAAAJw/XCH_ZoPPNSk/s320/jayhawks-the.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227789638119381058" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jayhawks">The Jayhawks</a> | Rainy Day Music (Album Not on iTunes)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzXHzg1uKI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/m_CiaYKwkWs/s1600-h/kings_of_convenience.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzXHzg1uKI/AAAAAAAAAJ4/m_CiaYKwkWs/s320/kings_of_convenience.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227789796557306018" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kings_of_Convenience">Kings of Convenience</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=19032661&s=143441">Riot on an Empty Street</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzXPzHkavI/AAAAAAAAAKA/Kp7xE3rJ_9I/s1600-h/koop.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzXPzHkavI/AAAAAAAAAKA/Kp7xE3rJ_9I/s320/koop.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227789933890267890" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koop_%28band%29">Koop</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=255976360&s=143441">Koop Islands</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzXW_bsmNI/AAAAAAAAAKI/KxG4KWQG4x8/s1600-h/lhasa.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzXW_bsmNI/AAAAAAAAAKI/KxG4KWQG4x8/s320/lhasa.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227790057454999762" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lhasa_de_Sela">Lhasa</a> | La Llorona (Album Not on iTunes)<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzXdlhLIII/AAAAAAAAAKQ/QDuU-WNMfMk/s1600-h/m_ward.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzXdlhLIII/AAAAAAAAAKQ/QDuU-WNMfMk/s320/m_ward.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227790170757734530" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M.Ward">M. Ward</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=45298745&s=143441">Transistor Radio</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzXkSM-hxI/AAAAAAAAAKY/4V1ske-s6Tg/s1600-h/magnolia_electric_co-the.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzXkSM-hxI/AAAAAAAAAKY/4V1ske-s6Tg/s320/magnolia_electric_co-the.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227790285831833362" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jason_Molina">The Magnolia Electric Co</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=212033269&s=143441">Trials & Errors</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzXxiSPgZI/AAAAAAAAAKg/pmIoWqjaOp0/s1600-h/mollie-the.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzXxiSPgZI/AAAAAAAAAKg/pmIoWqjaOp0/s320/mollie-the.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227790513487184274" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.myspace.com/themolliesmusic">The Mollies</a> (MySpace) | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=275414739&s=143441">My Sentiments Have Just Begun</a><br />Local Salt Lake Band<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzYjrTb9yI/AAAAAAAAAKo/YzxKZM71xjA/s1600-h/ray_lamontagne.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzYjrTb9yI/AAAAAAAAAKo/YzxKZM71xjA/s320/ray_lamontagne.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227791374901573410" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ray_Lamontagne">Ray Lamontagne</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=184753376&s=143441">'Til the Sun Turns Black</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzYrpX_yjI/AAAAAAAAAKw/3GJjhkSKpvI/s1600-h/squirrel_nut_zippers.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzYrpX_yjI/AAAAAAAAAKw/3GJjhkSKpvI/s320/squirrel_nut_zippers.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227791511822780978" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Squirrel_Nut_Zippers">Squirrel Nut Zippers</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=30524183&s=143441">Hot!</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzYzMPlLKI/AAAAAAAAAK4/CgGWm0LmljA/s1600-h/they_might_be_giants.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzYzMPlLKI/AAAAAAAAAK4/CgGWm0LmljA/s320/they_might_be_giants.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227791641441807522" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/They_Might_Be_Giants">They Might Be Giants</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=19130203&s=143441">No!</a><br />One of my favorite albums for children, evah!<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzY8Pn7LrI/AAAAAAAAALA/86JTblubq68/s1600-h/vampire_weekend.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzY8Pn7LrI/AAAAAAAAALA/86JTblubq68/s320/vampire_weekend.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227791796968042162" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vampire_Weekend">Vampire Weekend</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=270425072&s=143441">Vampire Weekend</a> (Here's a <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewVideo?id=270581123&s=143441">fun video</a>.)<br />Heads-up: Light smattering of f-bombs.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzZS2tzSJI/AAAAAAAAALI/UNBsDLlQ1sg/s1600-h/ojos_de_brujo.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzZS2tzSJI/AAAAAAAAALI/UNBsDLlQ1sg/s320/ojos_de_brujo.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227792185418795154" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ojos_de_Brujo">Ojos de Brujo</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=215355494&s=143441">Techari</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzZqYSgdwI/AAAAAAAAALQ/Mny_AumLgEg/s1600-h/okkervil_river.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzZqYSgdwI/AAAAAAAAALQ/Mny_AumLgEg/s320/okkervil_river.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227792589568112386" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okkervil_River">Okkervil River</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=211946180&s=143441">Black Sheep Boy</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzZ3GLyuaI/AAAAAAAAALY/reqb5q44q-I/s1600-h/ollabelle.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzZ3GLyuaI/AAAAAAAAALY/reqb5q44q-I/s320/ollabelle.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227792808046410146" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ollabelle">Ollabelle</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=217292352&s=143441">Ollabelle</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzaA2Ot2dI/AAAAAAAAALg/-KrjnAZikPQ/s1600-h/once.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzaA2Ot2dI/AAAAAAAAALg/-KrjnAZikPQ/s320/once.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227792975562398162" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_%28film%29">Once</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=254347531&s=143441">Soundtrack</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzaNmETapI/AAAAAAAAALo/PVPmWVkDrcg/s1600-h/over_the_rhine.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzaNmETapI/AAAAAAAAALo/PVPmWVkDrcg/s320/over_the_rhine.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227793194562054802" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over_the_Rhine">Over the Rhine</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=264458540&s=143441">Snow Angels</a><br />Perhaps the best original Christmas music since the 50s.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzaWpRcTII/AAAAAAAAALw/SakubLHZYT0/s1600-h/pink_martini.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzaWpRcTII/AAAAAAAAALw/SakubLHZYT0/s320/pink_martini.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227793350041291906" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pink_Martini">Pink Martini</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=155930428&s=143441">Sympathique</a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzad1x8Z2I/AAAAAAAAAL4/CQ6SMbFmN0M/s1600-h/pizzicato_five.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_TGEJHc6iTm0/SIzad1x8Z2I/AAAAAAAAAL4/CQ6SMbFmN0M/s320/pizzicato_five.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227793473657923426" border="0" /></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pizzicato_Five">Pizzicato Five</a> | <a href="http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=3020849&s=143441">Music Is Organized by Sound</a><br />Japanese Hipster Music<br /></div><br /><br />I hope you find something wonderful among these two dozen artists — something that inspires or delights you. Please let me know if you do.<br /><br />And that's today's good report: music I love.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This post is part of a week-long series focusing on the good and praiseworthy in my life… please consider reading all seven: <a href="http://silusgrok.blogspot.com/2008/07/meme-of-good-report-day-one.html">1</a>, <a href="http://silusgrok.blogspot.com/2008/07/meme-of-good-report-day-two.html">2</a>, <a href="http://silusgrok.blogspot.com/2008/07/meme-of-good-report-day-three.html">3</a>, <a href="http://silusgrok.blogspot.com/2008/07/meme-of-good-report-day-four.html">4</a>, <a href="http://silusgrok.blogspot.com/2008/07/meme-of-good-report-day-five.html">5</a>, <a href="http://silusgrok.blogspot.com/2008/07/meme-of-good-report-day-six.html">6</a>, <a href="http://silusgrok.blogspot.com/2008/07/of-good-report-vii-good-news.html">7</a>.</span>Silus Grokhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10934750518150584644noreply@blogger.com0