David > Recent Status Updates

This chapter wrapped with a touching story of singing Ave Maria (Schubert) to her mother as she lay dying in a coma.

Listening via overdrive audiobook.

lots of examples of singing about death. Explanations of singing Biblical text in spite of not believing, which I appreciate.

listening to the audio book on CD, from the library, while driving to PA.

continuing on with trying to bat down the excuses for not meditating like 'no time,' 'people will think I'm weird' or 'self indulgent. '

first chapter on Brahms Requiem and the solace of sharing song in times of grief.

ch. 1 just gave some background info about the author

Finished part 2 where we find out details about the killings. but it ends with a hint that part 3 is going to reveal an even more terrible conspiracy that was not discovered by the new bureau.

This story draws you in right away, with a couple gruesome execution-style murders. You see only the results of those executions, as the investigators would have - nothing about the acts when they happened, just the bodies found with holes in their heads. Now we start on the investigation, and the methods seem quite casual compared to today's CSI culture. Shaping up to be a compelling story.

Haven't been thinking about adding this to my list, but I definitely keep working on a puzzle at a time when I have a little time - like over breakfast when the paper has not arrived (again). I often spend a week on a puzzle, so with this being a collection of essentially 4 years of Sunday crosswords it might be another 2 years or more till I finish them, but I do expect to finish them.

So far it's a pretty basic review of refactoring concepts. I did take the step of taking one of the java code samples for an exercise and converting it to C++ so maybe we could use it with a group activity. Hoping this book can be part of an "independent study" for a training requirement at work this year.

Finished chapter 2 (the Legions). In part, showing the similarities the two nations had/have with staffing their military complexes. Rome's use of barbarians as soldiers, the US's use of contractors. All-volunteer army leading to a widening culture gap between military and non-mil families/geographic areas (Princeton in 1956: 450 out of 750 served in the service; in 2004, 8 out of 1100).

Finished chapter 1 (the Capitals). Describing and comparing the feeling that Rome/Washington was/is the center of all activity, where all roads (or internet connections) lead, where 'real' decisions are made. Discussed the insular nature of decision-making, retaining current view and rejecting new ideas that don't conform. Found a new favorite word: facodomy (a new building behind an old facade).

Finished chapter 1 (the Capitals). Describing and comparing the feeling that Rome/Washington was/is the center of all activity, where all roads (or internet connections) lead, where 'real' decisions are made. Discussed the insular nature of decision-making, retaining current view and rejecting new ideas that don't conform. Found a new favorite word: facodomy (a new building behind an old facade).