Archive for July, 2007

I feel compelled to write today, but everything I’ve tried to say seems to feel like it’s another person’s words, or someone else’s thoughts. Perhaps I simply don’t know what to think or how to feel, or maybe it’s more a problem of knowing that whatever I say could not be enough. Or maybe it’s that my feelings on the war are wrong, because without a doubt, no matter what I could say about it, at least half of you would vehemently disagree.

American Fork Flag salute for Sgt. Nathan S Barnes

All I will say, is that today, for many people I know, the war in Iraq became infinitely more real. Today, my home town celebrated the life and mourned the loss of our own Sergeant Nathan S. Barnes. Hundreds of scouts and others lined the streets holding flags and saluting as the procession drove by. A bagpipe band played Amazing Grace, and I could hardly decide what was louder: the pounding of our hearts or the sound of them breaking. (more…)

This spring I did a little site and logo work for the owners of Zareason, a provider of some great open source / open hardware, primarily selling ubuntu desktops and laptops as well as linux servers. On our second project together, we decided to do a work trade — my work for a new Ubuntu laptop for my kids.

And oh, what a difference that system has made. My kids have always been smarties, but once Ethan started kindergarten he got a bit burned out on… well, everything. Whether its was boredom or the frustration of trying to fit the mold he’d been pushed into, he’d definitely lost his spark. Maybe a little background would help? Bear with my rant, or skip to the part on Ubuntu.
(more…)