I’ve just gotten back from my father- in-law’s funeral outside Richmond, VA. He was a warm and generous man, a retired Methodist minister of 60 years in the pulpit, and the blessing of his passing was that it was brief, he was not in pain very long, and he died peacefully at home with his daughters beside him. His family has a Scottish heritage, (Clan Chattin) so it was only fitting that he be piped out in style.
Earlier this year we went to the Herstory Conference near Harrisonburg, VA. This is a women’s conference connected to the Shenandoah Presbytery and has been held annually since 1994.
Emma had been asked to do a workshop and speak on diversity, but we took the weekend as a mini-vacation and really had a great time there. Its held at Massanetta Springs Conference Center an absolutely gorgeous retreat center
Unfortunately, my annual winter cold hit on Saturday (which turned into bronchitis as soon as I got home) so I missed what was one of the more interesting worship services and discussion sessions, but I plan to attend again next year!
Interestingly enough, I got an email 2 weeks ago asking if I’d help them move and update their website, in preparation for next year. Because I enjoyed it so, I really wanted to give something back, so … http://www.herstoryva.org/
What is there now is just their previous site updated to CSS standard (for accessibility) and copied to a new domain. But I do plan to do more in the way of upgrades when I have some time.
I had been shopping for a better quality active crossover for a while, and a week ago, I won an Ashly XR1001 on ebay – and yesterday it arrived. took a while to swap cables around but once I power it on – well, it really was like a veil had lifted off the music!
Well, I still haven’t built grills for them, but I’ve got a JBL active crossover and a pair of amps to feed them, so the woofers are very tightly controlled, standup bass sounds like it should, and the rest of the frequencies – quite nice! I need to toe them in a bit, and we really should have them further from the sidewalls, but – its what we have right now, so I guess I’ll suffer as best I can …
I’ve had an interest in Frank Lloyd Wright-design homes for years, but most are in Illinois or Wisconsin. Except one – the Wright home designed for Washington Star report Loren Pope. Originally built in Falls Church, VA, later scheduled for demolition to make way for Route 66 construction, it had been moved to the grounds of Woodlawn Plantation in the 60s. I’d been meaning to visit the home for years …
Well, today we did it!
I’ve been trying to find out what’s going on with some old friends I’d lost touch with over the years. Lots of different reasons, but – our paths diverged.
So – I’d google their name and see what came up. Usually nothing – most of them had no real web presence.
But today I got info I had been dreading … I’d lost an old friend …
Peter Lackler – Deceased.
Ever since I got those old JBL 4320 Studio Monitors in Philly for $300 for my birthday last year, I’d added parts and collected bits and done a series of upgrades from the original 2 way design with horns, to a pair of DIY JBL 3-way studio monitors, and finally into DIY 4-way monitors. I’d found a schematic for a model 4333 (passive) crossover network, built that, and had gotten a nice improvement from all that.
I even got an electronic crossover, dual amps and biAmped them.
But, it was still a kind of hack.
Last night we had an interesting evening. Emma heard that the Washington Hebrew Congregation was having a special presentation of the Whirling Dervishes of Rumi – a special Sufi sect from Turkey. Ticket sales were open to the entire community – what a diverse crowd – and what a presentation!
Wonderful quote from Bill and Kent’s weblog:
President Bush stated, “Yesterday in New Jersey, we had another activist court issue a ruling that raises doubts about the institution of marriage. I believe it’s a sacred institution that is critical to the health of our society and the well-being of families, and it must be defended.”President Bush, if you really believe marriage needs defending so damn much, then pass a constitutional amendment making divorce illegal, moron.
It’s really funny that when a court rules in favor of equality for gays, they are called an “activist court”, and when they deny us equality, they are merely “doing what they are supposed to do.”
With the GallifreyOne fan site virtually off the air these days, I didn’t realize that Torchwood had even aired yet! What is Torchwood …?? sigh … Well, once there was a British TV show called Doctor Who. After MANY years and too many stories, it went off the air in the late 80s …
Well, this Amazing British TV writer/director/producer named Russell T Davis
was quite a fan, and had a vision to return the good Doctor to the airwaves. His new telling of the tales (and Christopher Eclestone’s portrayal of the Doctor) were a big hit …
midway through the first season of new episodes, there was a tale with another time traveling character that stole the show … his name was Captain Jack … and after another 2 years, RT Davis and crew created a spin off series about Captain Jack and his Torchwood Institute – seems they salvage alien technology for the good of humanity …
I caught the first two episodes tonight – what a triumph. It IS an adult SciFi series, but quite a fun romp!