tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29044733979416045562024-03-14T03:39:30.210-04:00 The Embedded Theologian Politics, Embedded Linux, Theology, and Other EclecticaSamrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.comBlogger1393125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-79284693779363503772023-06-13T15:54:00.001-04:002023-06-13T15:54:04.008-04:00301 Moved Permanently<h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large;">You can find me elsewhere these days.</span></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">On Amazon, I'm <a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sam-Robb/author/B07QJCG3BD" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sam Robb</a>.</span></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;">On Twitter, I'm <a href="https://twitter.com/Samrobb_" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">@Samrobb_</a>.</span></h1><h1 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">On Substack, I post under <a href="https://samrobb4liberty.substack.com/" rel="nofollow" style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-large;" target="_blank">Perceptions</a><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-large;">.</span></span></h1><div><span style="font-family: times; font-size: xx-large;">See you there!</span></div>Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-63752583924276544982020-08-12T12:25:00.001-04:002020-08-12T12:25:29.580-04:00"Supernatural Streets" is live!<span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #14171a; display: inline; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3125; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's been a long time coming, but I'm really excited it's finally here! A baker's dozen (plus one!) of some really great stories, including mine. If you've ever wondered how a psychopomp makes vacation plans, check out "Fed Ex"... then keep reading!</span><blockquote><a href="http://amazon.com/dp/B08FR583Z9/ " style="font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">Supernatural Streets</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"> brings together 14 Urban Fantasy authors to explore mysteries with a touch of Magic. The collection includes stories of psychic FBI agents, werewolf detectives, monster hunters, and an ordinary cop just trying to survive when the ritual daggers come out.</span><br /><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Helvetica Neue, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;">The anthology includes work by Dragon Award Finalist Declan Finn, Hugo Award nominated author Cedar Sanderson, best-selling authors Ryk E. Spoor and Julie Frost, and other fan-favorites and rising stars.</span><br /><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Helvetica Neue, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #14171a; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Contributors:</span><br /><span style="color: #14171a; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Helvetica Neue, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 23px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #14171a; display: inline; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3125; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Brena Bock • Paul Piatt • Bokerah Brumley • J. F. Posthumus • Mickey Dubrow (Allan Kemp) • Rob Reed • Declan Finn • Sam Robb • Julie Frost • Ryk E. Spoor • Amie Gibbons • Cedar Sanderson • A. C. Haskins • Dawn Witzke</span></div><div></div></blockquote><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #14171a; display: inline; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3125; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #14171a; display: inline; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3125; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://amazon.com/dp/B08FR583Z9/ " imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="876" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GPkUdVh616E/XzQXcPrJI9I/AAAAAAAAFIs/mi98m-wDrTwYswktt4Nr5HCJIeLTLtzoACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/Supernatural%2BStreets%2BCover%2BPromo.jpg" /></a></div>
</span><p><a class="r-1n1174f r-1loqt21 r-1qd0xha r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0 css-4rbku5 css-18t94o4 css-901oao css-16my406" data-focusable="true" dir="ltr" href="https://t.co/oErykBpHaZ?amp=1" rel=" noopener noreferrer" role="link" style="background-color: white; border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: #1b95e0; cursor: pointer; display: inline; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, system-ui, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 23px; font-stretch: inherit; font-variant-east-asian: inherit; font-variant-numeric: inherit; line-height: 1.3125; list-style: none; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; text-decoration-line: none; white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank" title="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08FR583Z9/"><span aria-hidden="true" class="css-901oao css-16my406 r-1qd0xha r-hiw28u r-ad9z0x r-bcqeeo r-qvutc0" style="border: 0px solid black; box-sizing: border-box; color: inherit; display: inline; font-family: system-ui, -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, "Helvetica Neue", sans-serif; font-size: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant: inherit; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 1.3125; margin: 0px; min-width: 0px; overflow-wrap: break-word; padding: 0px; white-space: inherit;">https://</span></a></p></div>Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-72169000044915510522020-02-12T10:56:00.005-05:002020-02-12T10:56:52.690-05:00Happy Anniversary Baby!Couple of things going on...<br />
<br />
First - you might have heard that I am indeed <a href="https://samrobb2020.com/">running for president</a>.<br />
<br />
Yes, I am serious.<br />
<br />
Yes, I have participated in a number of <a href="https://www.samrobb2020.com/2019/11/11/olean-debate-report/">Libertarian</a> <a href="https://www.samrobb2020.com/2020/01/13/lpnh-debate-report/">presidential</a> <a href="https://www.samrobb2020.com/2020/02/03/lp-georgia-debate-video/">debates</a>.<br />
<br />
Check it out.<br />
<br />
Second - you might have heard that there is a book in the works.<br />
<br />
Well, not an <i>entire</i> book, but a short story in a collection called "Supernatural Streets".<br />
<br />
Lots of good folks in this one, so keep on the lookout for the release announcement.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CrwfrvvKpuY/XkQfIaicsAI/AAAAAAAAE68/srhMPojl2ocHCHjw98yp94GRc16aZUTGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Supernatural%2BStreets%2BCover%2BPromo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="876" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CrwfrvvKpuY/XkQfIaicsAI/AAAAAAAAE68/srhMPojl2ocHCHjw98yp94GRc16aZUTGQCLcBGAsYHQ/s320/Supernatural%2BStreets%2BCover%2BPromo.jpg" width="219" /></a></div>
<br />
Third and finally - while there may not be a lot of content here any more (curse you, social media!) this old blog is still ticking over. Happy 11th anniversary to the Embedded Theologian. Please consume your favorite dessert today in honor of this momentous occasion, and if anyone gives you grief over it, let them know that some Random Internet Guy Running For President said it's OK ;)Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-11013820047470164092019-04-10T13:09:00.002-04:002019-04-10T13:09:38.639-04:00So, I Wrote SomethingWell, actually, I've written a lot of things. First short story was released into the wild earlier this week. We'll see if it survives. I've got more things partially written and waiting for completion than a hen has teeth.<br />
<br />
... wait. That's not right.<br />
<br />
ANYWAYS. In the meantime, in between family and work and the presidential campaign and everything else, I managed to finish editing... THIS.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="550" src="https://read.amazon.com/kp/card?asin=B07QK63B6M&preview=inline&linkCode=kpe&ref_=cm_sw_r_kb_dp_NjIRCbJYSSZ3B" style="max-width: 100%;" type="text/html" width="336"></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Kids-tested, Dad-approved!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Take a look, buy a copy, help put my kids through college. They've suffered for my art, after all!</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-56218171580945179582019-02-23T02:13:00.003-05:002019-02-23T02:20:58.896-05:00Samrobb 2020<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Well, since Bernie's announced, I might as well, too. Along with the <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/samrobb-for-president-2020?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=fb_co_shareflow_w">inevitable GoFundMe campaign</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Some of you may remember that this is <a href="https://etheo.blogspot.com/2015/03/in-which-i-announce-my-candidacy.html?m=0">not my first time at the rodeo</a>.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A lot has changed in the past couple of years. Not anything in my personal life, mind you. The presidential bar has been lowered like a limbo stick, though, and while I once thought I was - possibly! - Veep material, I now realize that the stars are the limit, and that the old adage is true: ANYBODY can grow up to be President one day.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Anyways. Go ahead and read my policy positions. They haven't changed much at all, except that at this point I think I would whole-heartedly endorse a Constitutional amendment that provides for each member of the House and Senate to receive one one legally-allowed kick inna fork every year from a randomly-selected constituent.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I'm open to discussion on that last point, though. I mean, it could be TWO randomly-selected constituents instead of just one. My mind's not made up yet.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
You may note that my previous announcement was tagged "snark".</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This one isn't.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>Samrobb 2020.</b><b>Because I'm Not a Complete Frickin' Moron.</b></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-srefc-aplYg/XHDzbe4LV0I/AAAAAAAAEX4/lBcjkyZd4e8Gfh9lgeE4Ftgb7PRvTWmQQCLcBGAs/s1600/2020-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="444" data-original-width="775" height="366" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-srefc-aplYg/XHDzbe4LV0I/AAAAAAAAEX4/lBcjkyZd4e8Gfh9lgeE4Ftgb7PRvTWmQQCLcBGAs/s640/2020-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-17562455594138132842019-02-15T11:25:00.003-05:002019-02-15T11:25:39.361-05:00Be MineI have a few friend who like to post... non-traditional Valentines.<br />
<br />
Here's a sample from this year's collection. :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-14xCJjkbxEs/XGbnv5J_SPI/AAAAAAAAEVs/WExSJKGj7I4dD7vt2pV_7RiLi2r_aFA7QCLcBGAs/s1600/3am.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="615" data-original-width="450" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-14xCJjkbxEs/XGbnv5J_SPI/AAAAAAAAEVs/WExSJKGj7I4dD7vt2pV_7RiLi2r_aFA7QCLcBGAs/s320/3am.jpg" width="234" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dladvaflayg/XGbnv9gvm5I/AAAAAAAAEVw/g4zy3k94Ul0rlPsZp552hHHRGbS0FbyGACLcBGAs/s1600/4d5c47cc16177805b035b7d4270c4e2e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="314" data-original-width="237" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dladvaflayg/XGbnv9gvm5I/AAAAAAAAEVw/g4zy3k94Ul0rlPsZp552hHHRGbS0FbyGACLcBGAs/s1600/4d5c47cc16177805b035b7d4270c4e2e.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cR5gLTpmRlc/XGbnv3FITBI/AAAAAAAAEV0/918whNbgoCs2alCqzxhZ2QfUIXfScUy8wCLcBGAs/s1600/42.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1125" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cR5gLTpmRlc/XGbnv3FITBI/AAAAAAAAEV0/918whNbgoCs2alCqzxhZ2QfUIXfScUy8wCLcBGAs/s320/42.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XYirDwzzi4k/XGbnwQ7AR-I/AAAAAAAAEV4/DYLTFkqsiqgcdoVyu6MzANWRIRFivfsngCLcBGAs/s1600/51812015_10156203891247066_8816455801460752384_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="680" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XYirDwzzi4k/XGbnwQ7AR-I/AAAAAAAAEV4/DYLTFkqsiqgcdoVyu6MzANWRIRFivfsngCLcBGAs/s320/51812015_10156203891247066_8816455801460752384_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hkdYqHLnSdk/XGbnxr4LWtI/AAAAAAAAEWE/ty2YuB5OfrAqlEj7AYLocXvXlJ0OxrkNwCLcBGAs/s1600/doctor_who_valentine__fish_fingers_and_custard_by_frozenclaws-d72y4mh.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="549" data-original-width="861" height="204" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hkdYqHLnSdk/XGbnxr4LWtI/AAAAAAAAEWE/ty2YuB5OfrAqlEj7AYLocXvXlJ0OxrkNwCLcBGAs/s320/doctor_who_valentine__fish_fingers_and_custard_by_frozenclaws-d72y4mh.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E7LJF-UWesM/XGbnyMVJwtI/AAAAAAAAEWI/R1Rfo8iEUPk_1_XCxLf5mg71jnRWwMwbQCLcBGAs/s1600/download.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E7LJF-UWesM/XGbnyMVJwtI/AAAAAAAAEWI/R1Rfo8iEUPk_1_XCxLf5mg71jnRWwMwbQCLcBGAs/s320/download.png" width="256" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q3c2d5pAmCY/XGbnynrVaVI/AAAAAAAAEWM/iSDJJuVNpzkK074Eygj9mAAHbip5rTrigCLcBGAs/s1600/gore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="463" data-original-width="800" height="185" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q3c2d5pAmCY/XGbnynrVaVI/AAAAAAAAEWM/iSDJJuVNpzkK074Eygj9mAAHbip5rTrigCLcBGAs/s320/gore.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0DlK8VFQTGo/XGbnzBGvUNI/AAAAAAAAEWQ/CeKM36ibNj0fqx5NIVg6ivVDYVcR8cniwCLcBGAs/s1600/hearts_and_kittens.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="900" height="256" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0DlK8VFQTGo/XGbnzBGvUNI/AAAAAAAAEWQ/CeKM36ibNj0fqx5NIVg6ivVDYVcR8cniwCLcBGAs/s320/hearts_and_kittens.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVP0oxbFGL4/XGbnzuWG2VI/AAAAAAAAEWU/h3bZtEtHai86SAd2F8BPUHo6IJnMy6ZHACLcBGAs/s1600/hillary.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="540" height="167" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KVP0oxbFGL4/XGbnzuWG2VI/AAAAAAAAEWU/h3bZtEtHai86SAd2F8BPUHo6IJnMy6ZHACLcBGAs/s320/hillary.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M2XU_M9jAwE/XGbnwYvjv5I/AAAAAAAAEV8/lKZzWjF5KYMYXVN0zzkI2SkNUFKf13IMwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_4376.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="449" height="293" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M2XU_M9jAwE/XGbnwYvjv5I/AAAAAAAAEV8/lKZzWjF5KYMYXVN0zzkI2SkNUFKf13IMwCLcBGAs/s320/IMG_4376.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-swiH7r7-XQM/XGbn0PGEjLI/AAAAAAAAEWY/5pICC6UFYWEYUKsnhPYxA5VaQaYM6_V5wCLcBGAs/s1600/lovecraft.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1152" height="160" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-swiH7r7-XQM/XGbn0PGEjLI/AAAAAAAAEWY/5pICC6UFYWEYUKsnhPYxA5VaQaYM6_V5wCLcBGAs/s320/lovecraft.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l2OxQXct7Gk/XGbn0iPzHnI/AAAAAAAAEWc/Pkr35GF6kI4G_ia40vTUhMJXIP2iMxu8QCLcBGAs/s1600/nerdy-holiday-cards-6__700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="558" data-original-width="700" height="255" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-l2OxQXct7Gk/XGbn0iPzHnI/AAAAAAAAEWc/Pkr35GF6kI4G_ia40vTUhMJXIP2iMxu8QCLcBGAs/s320/nerdy-holiday-cards-6__700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gOnD18swUsA/XGbn1LXDC3I/AAAAAAAAEWg/attQ6koscxovzYZwnhKs6rQRMErNvh6MgCLcBGAs/s1600/obama.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gOnD18swUsA/XGbn1LXDC3I/AAAAAAAAEWg/attQ6koscxovzYZwnhKs6rQRMErNvh6MgCLcBGAs/s320/obama.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ORVBoRHm68o/XGbnxKUMQmI/AAAAAAAAEWA/i_8UTbDrXewJvM87RPL81kWagUhOQnDxgCLcBGAs/s1600/Oxford.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="570" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ORVBoRHm68o/XGbnxKUMQmI/AAAAAAAAEWA/i_8UTbDrXewJvM87RPL81kWagUhOQnDxgCLcBGAs/s320/Oxford.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7nT0wwO0lyU/XGbn1oJ63EI/AAAAAAAAEWk/aUIBK-Rl3UYcg71pivwS__9dxSS_6TSpACLcBGAs/s1600/saint_v.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1152" height="160" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7nT0wwO0lyU/XGbn1oJ63EI/AAAAAAAAEWk/aUIBK-Rl3UYcg71pivwS__9dxSS_6TSpACLcBGAs/s320/saint_v.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jfVE4xr7Ufc/XGbn2BPIGBI/AAAAAAAAEWo/gZs2wqf_x4E6Af-IL5otfgAO45ieSNGmwCLcBGAs/s1600/winter-weather-valentines-day-body-heat-funny-ecard-Ow2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="520" data-original-width="520" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jfVE4xr7Ufc/XGbn2BPIGBI/AAAAAAAAEWo/gZs2wqf_x4E6Af-IL5otfgAO45ieSNGmwCLcBGAs/s320/winter-weather-valentines-day-body-heat-funny-ecard-Ow2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-8451006361145966172019-02-07T11:02:00.002-05:002019-02-07T11:02:53.612-05:00Observations on Web Site DataHow compressible is web data? For a recent project of mine...<div>
<ul>
<li>135 GB of web pages downloaded.</li>
<li>15 GB of actual data extracted.</li>
<li>0.6 GB compressed data archives.</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
So, about a 25:1 compression ratio for text data.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Derived from the above:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>15/135 ~= 10%</li>
</ul>
So, approximately 90% of the web is crud.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sturgeon%27s_law">Sturgeon's Law</a> - ask for it by name!</div>
Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-14247932478680217422019-02-06T12:19:00.001-05:002019-02-06T12:19:07.760-05:00Well, now.<div style="text-align: justify;">
I recently found myself in the position of needing to convert a chunk of my photos (OVER! NINE! THOUSAND!) that were stored in the Mac Photos app from HEIC format into JPG. All so I could back them up to my Flickr account (which doesn't deal well with HEIC. Come on, guys. Seriously?)</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I was about to give up on the idea of it being simple - or automatable - and start looking at how to install ImageMagick on my Mac, when I came across this amazing and wonderful bit of advice that saved my bacon.</div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://robservatory.com/use-sips-to-quickly-easily-and-freely-convert-image-files/">Use sips to quickly, easily—and freely—convert image files</a></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
Quite often, I find myself with a number of images (screenshots, typically) that I’ll want to convert from one format to another. If you search the Mac App Store, there are probably 300 apps that will let you do this; many are probably free. You could also use Automator, which has some good image conversion abilities, but can’t (for example) specify the quality of a JPEG conversion.</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: justify;">
But the best way I’ve ever found is to use a tool that’s been included with every copy of macOS since the release of Mac OS X 10.3 (Panther) in October of 2003: A command line tool called sips. Yes, it requires using Terminal, but it’s quite easy to use. sips can modify one file, or any number of files, converting from one format to another. You can also use sips to resize images, rotate images, and more.</blockquote>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Here's what worked like a peach for me:</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> # mkdir -p ~/photo_tmp</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> # cd ~/Pictures/Photos\ Library.photoslibrary</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> # for f in $(find . -name '*.HEIC'); do \</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> fname="${file##*/}" ; \</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> sips -s format jpeg -s formatOptions best \</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> "${f}" --out "~/photo_tmp/${fname%HEIC}JPG" ; \</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> done</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Following that, open the Photos app and import the generated files. While they will all show as imported today (whenever you do the actual import), Photos is smart enough to pick up the EXIF data in the images and put them in their proper location, chronologically speaking.</div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I ended up with doubled files as a result - ex, IMG_0001.HEIC and IMG_0001.JPG - but that's fine for me. I can go back and clean up the HEIC files later if I wan to, and in the meantime, I have what I really wanted - JPG versions of those image files that can be uploaded to Flickr.</div>
<br />
<br />Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-43123839380565839382019-01-31T10:30:00.004-05:002019-01-31T10:31:08.834-05:00Love Thy Enemy<div style="text-align: justify;">
“Your enemy is never a villain in his own eyes. Keep this in mind; it may offer a way to make him your friend. If not, you can kill him without hate — and quickly.”</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
― Robert A. Heinlein</div>
Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-16381540112696779822019-01-30T01:30:00.001-05:002019-01-30T01:30:23.431-05:00WhoaPutting together notes on projects for this year...<br />
<br />
... I don't even want to <i>think</i> about how many universes I have dancing in my head right now.Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-31443998825814998832019-01-04T22:19:00.001-05:002019-01-04T22:55:52.496-05:00Chromebook As I mentioned earlier, one of my goals is to walk a bit less, and write a bit more.<br />
<br />
(It may not have been stated that way, but that's the way I'm thinking about it :)<br />
<br />
With that in mind, I decided that I'd like to have a basic laptop that I can throw in a satchel and haul around with me on my walks. Part of the reason I've really started to enjoy walking is that it gives me time to think and gets my thoughts flowing. So in the past year, I've done more than a little bit of draft writing on my phone as I've been out and about... and, honestly, it's a pain in the patootie. Even with text-to-speech, it's annoying.<br />
<br />
Enter the <a href="https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/lenovo/lenovo-n-series/N42-Chromebook/p/88ELC1S0755">Lenovo N42 Chromebook</a>.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.lenovo.com/medias/lenovo-n42-chromebook-hero.png?context=bWFzdGVyfHJvb3R8NzU5OTh8aW1hZ2UvcG5nfGg1Yi9oYmIvOTU2NDExNDg0NTcyNi5wbmd8ZTBiN2U2MGI4NGQ3NzFhMmNhNmI4MDVlNzk2YzA2MjhlZWVkM2M0ZDVkZWFlOTZjMjI2YWZjMDdhYjg3ZmE0Yg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="725" height="227" src="https://www.lenovo.com/medias/lenovo-n42-chromebook-hero.png?context=bWFzdGVyfHJvb3R8NzU5OTh8aW1hZ2UvcG5nfGg1Yi9oYmIvOTU2NDExNDg0NTcyNi5wbmd8ZTBiN2U2MGI4NGQ3NzFhMmNhNmI4MDVlNzk2YzA2MjhlZWVkM2M0ZDVkZWFlOTZjMjI2YWZjMDdhYjg3ZmE0Yg" width="320" /></a></div>
It's light, seems pretty rugged, and weighs in at just a bit under three and a half pounds. Not a big deal, really. A few extra pounds will help me work just a wee bit harder as I go, and I'll have the ability to stop and write for a bit along the way.<br />
<br />
More importantly, it's cheap. I like to walk back alleys. That's where the interesting stuff is. I've never been hassled, but if I'm going to be carrying around something, I'd rather it be a cheap Chromebook than a Mac Air or something similar. Plus, being a Chromebook, it's got sync capabilities with Google Drive, so I can write sans network connection then let everything sync up later when I get back to work or home.<br />
<br />
The performance is decent. Some things seem to load slowly in Chrome, but for the most part, it's responsive enough. I'm writing this update on the Chromebook, in fact. The keyboard layout is slightly different from a Mac (and even a Wintel machine), but I'm not sure how much of that is the underlying OS, and how much is the fat that everything seems to be running under Chrome.<br />
<br />
The keyboard itself is absolutely <b>FABULOUS</b>. It might turn out to be a flimsy piece of junk that breaks after a few weeks of used, but let me tell you, right now it's absolutely wonderful. I was worried a <b>LOT</b> about the keyboard. That and the display are the real reason for buying this thing, and a crappy keyboard would make writing a horrible pain. As it is, I'm barely even noticing it. They keys are just right - not too clicky, not too soft, not too stiff. Since this is a 13" laptop, too, my hands actually fit comfortably on the keyboard.<br />
<br />
The display is nothing to write home about, but it is perfectly serviceable for doing text editing. Battery life looks like it's going to be pretty good, too. I started off plugged in until I got to a full charge, then unplugged to see how well the battery lasts. It's been about three hours of playing around so far, and the battery meter is telling me I'm at 88% with 11:25 left to go until I run out of power. That's pretty sweet.<br />
<br />
Speaking of playing... the thing that sold me on a Chromebook was the number of available minimalist writing editors available for it. Anything that will let me do text editing would be fine, to be honest. My plan is to bang out some drafts, save them to Google Drive, then yank them into Scrivener for organizing, cleanup and editing. Heck, I could do all that (and have done that in the past, in fact!) as Blogger drafts. Having something a little more sophisticated than a basic text editor would be nice, though, so I spent the evening installing and trying out a few.<br />
<br />
The built-in Text editor is just that. Looks a lot like Notebook with a little bit more oomph to it. If you're comfortable with that sort of thing, and are looking for absolutely minimal setup, that's probably all you'd need. I was interested in finding something just a wee bit more featureful, though.<br />
<br />
Caret looks like a great little programming editor. I've used Sublime Text and Visual Studio Code, and Caret is very similar. I honestly didn't want a programmer's editor, though. Don't ask me why. Maybe because it feels too much like the tools I used day to day for work. I'm sure I could write in it, of course, but when I pop open something with that look and feel, my mind immediately goes to code. That's not what I want in this case.<br />
<br />
Next in line I was going to try Writer. I saw a lot of recommendations for it, but it a quick look at some comments about it showed that they use their own servers for storage. To be very honest, I'm not comfortable with that. I've had some recent personal experiences where a change in ownership of a company has made getting backups of archival data difficult. You can export data if you buy the Pro version, but... you know what? No. I want something that will save to Google drive. I've already got my Drive synced to 3-4 different places, so even if Google decides I can't access it anymore, I at least have backups. I'll stick with that setup, thank you.<br />
<br />
I ended up trying another editor called <a href="https://www.calmlywriter.com/">Calmly Writer</a>. Very nice, minimalist, with just enough configuration options (including white-on-black text mode) that I felt like I could make it just what I wanted without feeling overwhelmed by options. It has the option to save in a bunch of different formats, including plain text, which is pretty much just what I want. So I took it for a spin, wrote a few hundred words, then said, "That'll do, pig. That'll do."<br />
<br />
The very last thing I did was install Linux.<br />
<br />
Yes, you can install Linux on a Chromebook now, alongside the Chrome OS... or on top of it, if you want to think of it that way. An install of Debian Linux runs in a container on top of Chrome OS, and you can start it just like any other app. It comes set up with a bunch of the usual suspects, including ssh and vim. That was completely unexpected, and very nice. I've got a couple of things I do outside of work to help administer existing web sites for a couple of non-profits, and having the ability to do it from this little Chromebook is really appealing.<br />
<br />
So, that's the state of the world. Happy cheap little rugged Chromebook makes me happy. Because writing, and Linux.<br />
<br />
... but mostly writing. Which is what I need to be doing now. Time to take this thing out for an extended trial... :)Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-25728576879927471982019-01-04T16:23:00.004-05:002019-01-04T16:24:32.103-05:00The Walking Man Walks On By...December 29th, 2018.<br />
<br />
That day's walk was five and a half miles.<br />
<br />
Which put me at 2020 miles for the year. My lovely wife was with me for 370 of them, including the last dozen miles. I could never have done it without her encouragement.<br />
<br />
A special thank you to Dawn, Bob, Marcia, David, Jon, Martin, Debbie, Aaron, Amy, Michelle, and so many others who were a constant source of encouragement.<br />
<br />
Plus a VERY special thank you to Lori, Sarah, Cheri and the rest fo the folks down at Prestogeorge Coffee & Tea for keeping me caffeinated throughout all my travels<br />
<br />
Some stats:<br />
<ul>
<li>Walked 338/363 days this year.</li>
<li>Average of 5.97 miles per day.</li>
<li>Twenty-nine days walking at the Pittsburgh Mills mall.</li>
<li>Sixteen days where I did 10+ miles.</li>
<li>Five pairs of shoes.</li>
<li>Two half-marathons.</li>
<li>Over 18,000 photos.</li>
<li>Over 1,000 photos of abandoned clothing.</li>
<li>Shed 15 pounds, and went through two new belts.</li>
</ul>
Goals for next year?<br />
<ol>
<li>Walk in 19 new locations for 2019.</li>
<li>Lose 19 pounds in 2019 - get down to 180.</li>
<li>Write 190k words in 2019 - 3700 words per week.</li>
</ol>
As an adjunct to #3, I intend to finish a novel this year, and publish it; either indie, or trad.<br />
<br />
One way or another.<br />
<br />
Here's to 2019!Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-55959181896557608042019-01-04T16:18:00.003-05:002019-01-04T16:28:42.585-05:00TestingFlickr album embedded:<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/145564378@N05/albums/72157675210777607" nbsp="" title="04 January 2019"><img alt="04 January 2019" height="180" src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4803/39639326703_4e2504b18b_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
Flickr photo embedded:<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/145564378@N05/31663472557/in/album-72157675210777607/" title="Lost Word"><img alt="Lost Word" height="180" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7820/31663472557_778d6b8259_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
Flickr photo embedded, slideshow:<br />
<br />
<a data-context="true" data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/145564378@N05/31663472557/in/album-72157675210777607/" title="Lost Word"><img alt="Lost Word" height="180" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7820/31663472557_778d6b8259_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<br />
Flickr photo embedded, slideshow, header, footer:<br />
<br />
<a data-context="true" data-flickr-embed="true" data-footer="true" data-header="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/145564378@N05/31663472557/in/album-72157675210777607/" title="Lost Word"><img alt="Lost Word" height="180" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7820/31663472557_778d6b8259_m.jpg" width="240" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
<br />
Flickr photo embedded, slideshow, header, footer, 640x480:<br />
<br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" data-header="true" data-footer="true" data-context="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/145564378@N05/31663472557/in/album-72157675210777607/" title="Lost Word"><img src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7820/31663472557_778d6b8259_z.jpg" width="640" height="480" alt="Lost Word"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-69946519631493186312018-12-11T23:45:00.002-05:002018-12-11T23:45:43.994-05:00Walking ManSo, I've been walking this year.<br />
<br />
A <i>lot</i>.<br />
<br />
Earlier this year, I decided that my goal for this year would be to try and walk 2018 miles in 2018.<br />
<br />
As of today, I'm on my fifth pair of shoes for the year, and I have just a little bit under 100 miles to go to reach that goal.<br />
<br />
As of tomorrow - if I can get out and do my daily walk as planned - I will have walked twice as much this year as I have last year. Including running two (official) half marathons, and walking several unofficial "What the heck, let's see fi we can do 13 miles today" hikes.<br />
<br />
I don't want to walk nearly as much next year. I'm happy that I set myself a hard goal, and very happy that I'm going to meet it... but walking 5+ miles every day gets old <i>fast</i>. I do like to take a longer walk every now and then, but I think I will enjoy my time much more if I don't have to focus on mileage.<br />
<br />
So I think my goal for 2019 will be to walk in 19 new cities. That should actually be pretty easy - I think I've managed a good two dozen different locations outside of Pittsburgh proper this year, just looking for new places to wander.<br />
<br />
When I first started walking last year, I was doing it for my health. Now, I'm doing it because it's a habit, and because I enjoy visiting new places and taking pictures of interesting things along the way. I've been posting my photographs on Facebook, but I've been experimenting with using Flickr instead these days. If you'd like to take a look, you can find me there as <a href="https://www.flickr.com/people/145564378@N05/">Walking Samrobb</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dKF8IzBmp74" width="560"></iframe>
</div>
<br />Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-69796808725955224992018-12-06T17:07:00.002-05:002018-12-06T17:08:15.385-05:00Also True<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UdHLmRSP0fo/XAmdqYNZ92I/AAAAAAAAEIQ/F_qsEZDmBUYwzg5nJz6vXr0BLma6gshswCLcBGAs/s1600/l-45433-her-i-bet-hes-thinking-about-other-women-him-how-can-i-run-guns-to-the-french.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="700" height="638" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UdHLmRSP0fo/XAmdqYNZ92I/AAAAAAAAEIQ/F_qsEZDmBUYwzg5nJz6vXr0BLma6gshswCLcBGAs/s640/l-45433-her-i-bet-hes-thinking-about-other-women-him-how-can-i-run-guns-to-the-french.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-33053580040556611132018-12-03T22:36:00.004-05:002018-12-03T22:36:40.392-05:00Truth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7oqIKiRMaT0/XAX2Ma1OzQI/AAAAAAAAEHY/YQmK6nfwxjMKHtSJo66PM_Gwy0MrNoXJgCLcBGAs/s1600/unique-useful.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="460" height="488" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7oqIKiRMaT0/XAX2Ma1OzQI/AAAAAAAAEHY/YQmK6nfwxjMKHtSJo66PM_Gwy0MrNoXJgCLcBGAs/s640/unique-useful.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-87715028446206587222018-12-01T01:50:00.001-05:002018-12-01T01:50:42.135-05:00Wow. Been a while.Sorry for that. I've had a bit of a lot going on lately, you see.<br />
<br />
Some things that are going on...<br />
<ul>
<li>I've been walking. Like, a <i>lot</i>. Easier on these old knees than running. My goal is 2018 miles in 2018, and I'm currently at 1846 miles. On track to complete that. Yay!</li>
<li>Oh, well. Walking is easier than running, but I've done some of that, too. Two half marathons, in fact. The first was - kind of - an accident (at least the running part); the second was to prove to myself that the first wasn't a fluke. (Spoiler warning: it wasn't! :)</li>
<li>I've been working as a moderator/admin on another web site. Takes time. Totally worth it. We save lives, one person at a time.</li>
<li>MY company got bought out. By the Evil Empire, which these days, seems to be the Least Evil Empire. Maybe even the Somewhat Cool For A Company That Age Empire. Liking it a lot so far, at least.</li>
<li>I've been working on loosing weight. Approaching my goal of getting under 200 pounds for the first time in three decades or so.</li>
<li>I've been writing. Like, a <i>lot</i>. Successfully completed NaNo this year. In fact, I ended up writing the story before the story I wanted to write, so I've got 70k of Book 1 written and about 30k of Book 2 queued up and ready to go.</li>
</ul>
<div>
So, yeah. A lot going on. For various reasons, I'm starting to think that FaceBook ain't the place to be anymore, so I've been checking out MeWe and generally liking the more quiet nature of life over there.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Goals for next year are still pending. One of them will be to publish something. Actually, I've got three somethings in the works. Let's see how many of them make the grade.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, there you have it. Hopefully some more writing snippets will be going up sometime in the near future. My first novel is going to be a tender, sensitive book about a young man coming of age on the streets of Pittsburgh as he questions his childhood relationships, his family's strictures, and his place in society as a whole.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
... nah, just kidding. It's about graffiti writers who kick the living snot out of creatures from Faerie that try to screw around with their city. Because if there's one thing that Pittsburghers hate <i>more</i> than Browns fans, it's eldritch horrors from beyond that make it hard to go shopping in the Strip.</div>
Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-53418893605797260442018-12-01T01:35:00.004-05:002018-12-01T01:36:14.872-05:00No Shave November<span style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: "open sans" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">You know, I'm not really much of a "do this for the cause" sort of guy. Probably why I'm generally a libertarian. So I've never been one for "No Shave November", just because I'm usually growing a beard <i>anyways</i>, because winter.</span><br />
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
On the other hand, I've just found out that - according to some feminists - men growing a beard to raise awareness for prostate cancer is "problematic". Because patriarchy, or something.</div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #363636; font-family: "Open Sans", sans-serif; font-size: 14px; white-space: pre-wrap;">
Which pretty much means I'm going to grow a beard every November out of spite. Because while I might <i>not</i> do it for a cause, I will <b>DAMN</b> sure do it if someone looks down their nose at me, sniffs, and tells me that I shouldn't do it.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PnDecAFbbE0/XAIrt_IlBQI/AAAAAAAAEGE/fezvk_Y8n9MPnZaNnxSoh1s4Zc5VIy4NwCLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3117.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PnDecAFbbE0/XAIrt_IlBQI/AAAAAAAAEGE/fezvk_Y8n9MPnZaNnxSoh1s4Zc5VIy4NwCLcBGAs/s640/IMG_3117.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-10861893658693984532018-10-01T12:23:00.001-04:002018-10-01T12:23:38.205-04:00Correia's Law<b>Correia's Law</b>, first seen <a href="https://www.facebook.com/larry.correia/posts/2424321617578753">here</a>:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
"The amount to which someone tells others to moderate their tone is inversely proportional to their own ability to do so."</blockquote>
Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-83448791194076051982018-09-26T17:09:00.006-04:002018-09-26T17:10:36.589-04:00What Anybody Gets<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VeCaddawQt0/W6v1bZkjeDI/AAAAAAAAD5E/pnakbCTVa9w1FAKh5ryO0nfkH_h_gcT5wCLcBGAs/s1600/lifetime.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1318" data-original-width="882" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VeCaddawQt0/W6v1bZkjeDI/AAAAAAAAD5E/pnakbCTVa9w1FAKh5ryO0nfkH_h_gcT5wCLcBGAs/s640/lifetime.jpg" width="428" /></a></div>
<br />Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-5199746206187223022018-09-23T19:13:00.002-04:002018-09-23T19:14:28.199-04:00Libertatem, Literarum, et Veritas."Freedom of letters and truth."<br />
<br />
Oxford Comma, y'all.<br />
<br />
Just making note of the date.Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-66562956328992982392018-09-23T00:18:00.000-04:002018-09-23T00:22:30.801-04:00Redcap<div class="p1">
Viano placed the glasses on the table, undid the seal on the bottle.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Poured.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The liquid was cloudy white, and smelled of anise.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="p1">
Caprice waited until Viano was done.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“It it true what they say about you, O’Malley?”</div>
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 18.0px; font: 14.0px Cochin}
</style>
<style type="text/css">
p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 12.0px 0.0px; text-indent: 18.0px; font: 14.0px Cochin}
</style>
<br />
<div class="p1">
<br />
Patrick hesitated.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Some.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I come when I’m needed, yah?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I do what it needed, if it can be done.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So long as it’s to do with the <i>fata</i>, with the fair folk.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
Caprice nodded slowly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“I think it does.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Maybe.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>So I ask you to come.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Three days ago, my daughter’s youngest, she did not come home.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Her sisters say she was down by the river.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>When my Gianna went to look for her, she found this.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
He pulled out a small wooden box and opened the lid, then turned it so Patrick could see.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
Inside was a scrap of red cloth.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
Patrick reached out, hesitated.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“May I?”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
Caprice didn’t answer, just raised his chin.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Patrick reached out and gently lifted the scrap of cloth from the box.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It was faintly damp, still.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He lifted it to his nose, sniffed.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
The smell of copper.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
He reached out to put the cloth back in the box.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He didn’t try to hide the trembling in his fingers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He closed the lid before silently taking the glass in front of him and tossing back the contents in a gulp.</div>
<div class="p1">
He coughed, held the glass out before him until his hand stopped shaking, then raised his eyes to meet Caprice’s.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“Aye.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This is that, it is.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Nasty, too.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He hesitated.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“Say it.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Caprice’s voice was flat.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“Redcap.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Patrick shook his head slowly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Your little one.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>She is not coming back, sir.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He swallowed, hard.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“I am sorry.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
Caprice lowered his head.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“I knew.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His voice was quiet, rough.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There would be tears later, Patrick thought.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Not now, though.<br />
<br />
“I knew,” Caprice repeated.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“There is nothing to be done for her, is there?”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
He chose his words carefully. “Nothing for her, no.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
Caprice raised his head slowly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“For her.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I see.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>For who, then?”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“For you, maybe,” said Patrick softly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“For your Gianna.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>For your family.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>More than that, though - for the other bairns, the little ones.“<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He reached out, tapped the box.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“This one, if he’s here, he comes to stay.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Until someone drives him away, he’ll take the children, one by one.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>All the children.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Italian, Irish, Polish, Hungarian…”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“Until someone drives him away.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Caprice closed his eyes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“What then, O’Malley?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I ask you to drive him away, what happens?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Will he come back some day?”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“Maybe.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Sooner or later, yes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Someone gets careless, someone gets stupid, someone with a knack opens the way, and the Redcap will return.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Worse.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Others will know he found his way here, and they’ll want to follow.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“Can you kill him?”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“It.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Don’t dignify it by giving it more than that.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>No, I can’t kill it.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Patrick took a deep breath before continuing. “But… I can do better than send it back, I think.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I will be needing some help, but I think I can make it so that it doesn’t come back, and nothing would dare follow it.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
Caprice wasn’t a dumb man.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Patrick watched his face as it mirrored his thoughts.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“You’ve thought about this already, haven’t you?”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
He didn’t deny it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Yes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I learned from my father, and he from his.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Every generation.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Something comes through.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The fair and shining folk trod heavy upon the grass of our world, and leave people broken and bleeding in their wake.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>We have always wanted to stop it, but never had a way.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“You think you have one now?”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“With your permission?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Yes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I need to talk to a few others, but yes.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I can seal this thing away for good.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“Permission.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Caprice’s eyes narrowed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Who am I to give you permission, O’Malley?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>This is your work.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“The forms must be followed.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>These ones… they are old.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They wrap the world around them like a cloak, for protection.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There are always openings, though.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Ways to hurt them.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He kept his face impassive.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“This one, it exists by rules that would let it be bound.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Under certain conditions.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If the moon is right, if the forms are followed.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
He met Caprise’s gaze.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“If the ruler o’ the land allows it.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
He watched the gears turning.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“The governor, you mean?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Or the president?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>There is no way that that is happening, O’Malley.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“Ah!”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Patrick grinned.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Right thought.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Wrong direction.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>’Tis the undisputed ruler of the land that it is in, what matters.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He paused for a second, inclined his head slightly.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“Don.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
Caprise watched him carefully, stroked his chin.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“That’s not a title I’d be throwing about, O’Malley.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
Patrick shrugged.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“It is what it is.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Right here, right now?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Men don’t work unless you say.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Those who disobey are… well.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>They find themselves in a right jam, don’t they?”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He looked up at Caprise.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“You’re the law here, Caprise.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Judge.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Jury.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Executioner, if it comes to it.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He shrugged.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“By the rules it lives by, if you give your blessing, I can pass judgement on it.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“Can you…”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
Patrick held up his hand.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“Do not ask that.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He lowered his hand slowly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“With your permission, there’s naught that I cannot do to it.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>If I kill it, though… no.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He shook his head slowly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“The curse o’ the thing, at it’s death, would be too much.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It would kill e’ry man, woman and child in this city.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>I will no do that.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
Caprise slumped. “What good are you then?” His voice was bitter.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
Patrick smiled and leaned forward.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>His grin would have made Satan himself proud,</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“I will nae kill it,” he said softly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“There’s a <i>lifetime</i> o’ Hell that can be heaped upon a creature before it dies, though.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Mortal or fae.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He leaned back.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“That, now.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>That I can do.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>An’ you say the word.”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
Caprise<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>blinked.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“So you won’t kill it, but… you can torture it?<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Make it suffer?”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
Patrick didn’t answer.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Just smiled and nodded.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“Good.”<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Caprice’s voice was a snarl.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>He gestured to Viano.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>The young man topped off Patrick’s glass.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>Caprice picked his up, and Patrick did the same.</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“To Anna, may she rest in the arms of the saints,” said Caprice, solemnly.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>“And to the O’Malley, who I ask to rid us of this <i>fata</i>.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>You will do this?”</div>
<div class="p1">
<br />
“Of course.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It’s what the O’Malley does.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span>It comes with the title, sure an’ it does.”</div>
Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-65337659069855958172018-09-07T09:08:00.000-04:002018-09-07T09:08:30.441-04:00Xe, Xar, Xir, Xyx, @!^#%Seen today, commenting on alternate pronouns:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
I've simplified life by adopting a single universal alternate pronoun, "b*tch."</blockquote>
</blockquote>
Works for me.Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-48335629750556670512018-04-02T20:55:00.000-04:002018-04-02T20:55:09.500-04:00For a friend...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
No, really.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E3PDsnjWwHU/WsLQybP0YZI/AAAAAAAADg8/TVRXugJn0RUxKPrkUnHLhImUNueP5qe2ACLcBGAs/s1600/IMG_3294.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-E3PDsnjWwHU/WsLQybP0YZI/AAAAAAAADg8/TVRXugJn0RUxKPrkUnHLhImUNueP5qe2ACLcBGAs/s320/IMG_3294.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2904473397941604556.post-12065892236199430112018-02-12T10:33:00.000-05:002018-02-12T10:33:00.454-05:00TWO IN ONE DAY?!?Yes, I know! Insane, eh?<br />
<br />
Anyways - <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CmJFPSMxMI">"Thrash Grass"</a> from The Native Howl.<br />
<br />
Tagging it here because this may be <i>just</i> what I need for a scene in Night Poll.<br />
<br />Samrobbhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14048545798995544976noreply@blogger.com1