What happens when ...?

Sun, 01 Nov 2009 00:10:19 GMT

Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
Douglas Adams
1400052920

Earth is demolished to make way for hyperspace bypass. Arthur Dent, earth’s lone survivor, is saved by his friend Ford Prefect, originally from planet in the vicinity of Betelgeuse. Their journey takes them through the oddities of space. Where the Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, for which Ford is a writer, and a towel become immensely useful companions. By far though the most useful advice you will receive from this book is “DON’T PANIC.” (In nice friendly letters.)

Mouse Guard: Fall 1152

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 20:01:15 GMT

Title: Mouse Guard: Fall 1152
Author: David Petersen
ISBN: 0345496868

Be transported by David Petersen's art into the world of mice. Only the strength and determination of the Mouse Guard can hold together the fragile realm of the Mouse Territories versus predators, but will it be enough? Threat to the Mice comes from within as well. Follow Lieam, Saxon, and Kenzie as they try to protect the realm from forces that conspire against the Mouse Guard.

David Petersen's Eisner Award winning graphic novel captures the natural setting and heroic quality of the story with stunning art. Mouseguard: Fall 1152 is a wonderful beginning to a series of which Petersen has promised more. Sure to grab fans of Brian Jaques' Redwall or Robert O'Brien's classic Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH.

A Couple More Shelf Talkers

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:38:18 GMT

Title: Grendel
Author: Gardner, John
ISBN: 0-679-72311-0

A grand retelling of the legendary Beowulf through Grendel's eyes. A character study which is on the level of The Stranger and The Catcher in the Rye. Gardner breathes humanity to one of the darkest of souls ever to be captured in fiction. I had never fully appreciated an authors prose until John Gardner.

Title: Pyrdain Chronicles
Author: Alexander, Lloyd
ISBN: 0-8050-8048-1, 0-8050-8049-x, 0-8050-8050-3, 0-8050-8051-1, 0-8050-8052-x

Swords, Sorcery, and Gurgi, what more could one want from an epic fantasy series. Lloyd Alexander's Pyrdain Chronicles have been a classic for years, and is one of my most beloved series. Follow Taran, Assistant Pig Keeper, on his quest to become more than he believes his low station has destined for him. Accompanied by a host of loyal companions their adventures weave a story through a mythical medieval Welsh landscape that is timeless. A wonderful introduction to classic fantasy.

Books to Remember for later

Thu, 28 May 2009 00:01:35 GMT

Miss Suzy ISBN 1930900287
The Blueberry Girl
Jewish War 0140444203
Letter of the Younger Pliny 0140441271
Lawrence and Aaronsohn 0143113828
The Hakawati Alameddiene, Rabih
1066: The year of conquest 0140058508

TODAY go GO

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 02:28:12 GMT

He's coming to Keplers TODAY for anyone that I can con into coming.

-Pete

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jonathan_Keats

Jonathon Keats

The Book of the Unknown: Tales of the Thirty-Six
Wednesday February 18, 2009 7:30 p.m.
Marvelous and mystical stories of the thirty-six anonymous saints whose decency sustains the world –- reimagined from Jewish folklore.

A liar, a cheat, a degenerate, and a whore. These are the last people one might expect to be virtuous. But a legendary Kabbalist has discovered the truth: they are just some of the thirty-six hidden ones, the righteous individuals who ultimately make the world a better place.

With boundless imagination and a delightful sense of humor, acclaimed writer and artist Jonathon Keats has turned the traditional folktale on its head, creating heroes from the unlikeliest of characters, and enchanting readers with these stunningly original fables.

Jonathon Keats is a novelist, essayist, and conceptual artist. He is the author of the novels "The Pathology of Lies" and "Lighter Than Vanity", and his many interdisciplinary art projects, commissioned by institutions including the Berkeley Art Museum, the Judah L. Magnes Museum and the San Francisco Arts Commission, have been featured on PBS, NPR, and the BBC World Service. He is the art critic for San Francisco magazine, a columnist for Wired Magazine and Artweek, and has chaired the National Book Critics Circle fiction award committee. He lives in San Francisco.

Photo Credit: Elena Dorfman

new backround

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:07:13 GMT

*shiny*

The Book of the Unknown: Tales of the Thirty-Six

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 03:53:59 GMT

Author: Keats, Jonathan
ISBN: 0812978978

For anyone that loved Aesop's Fables, Grim's Fairy Tales, or just excellent short stories. A book that captures the heart and you'll want to recommend to all your friends. Who knew a liar, thief, murderer and 9 other misfits could become some of societies most redeeming protagonists.

-Pete

Lord of Light

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 04:50:51 GMT

Author: Zelazny, Roger
ISBN: 0060567236

A phenomenal retelling of the legend of Siddhartha from one of the masters of early Science Fiction. Highly recommend as an introduction to Zelazny's works.

-Pete

Siege of Mecca

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 03:21:25 GMT

Author: Trofimov, Yaroslav
ISBN: 0307277739

Retells the tragic events leading up to and during the two weeks in which a radical group besieged the Holiest site of Islam. This group would later become and inspire Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. The United States small part in this crisis has had long lasting impact on our interactions with the countries of the Middle East. Trofimov uses his experience writing for the Washington Post to keep the history alive and relevant. Reads more like a political thriller than a dusty history.

-Pete

less wise, but more at peace

Sun, 18 Jan 2009 07:14:06 GMT

and they say ignorance isn't bliss. Surgery went fine, lost most of Friday to drugs and grogginess. Changed frozen vegetables every 2 hours on my mouth and so there hasn't been any really bad swelling . . . yet? I stopped taking happy drugs at noon but plan on taking them to sleep.

Mom and Dad finally e-mailed. And no we didn't have a way of contacting them. ><

-Pete

Tooth aches and wayward parents

Fri, 16 Jan 2009 19:31:59 GMT

Getting my wisdom teeth out today. Going under general. This is an appointment I've been putting of for 5 years now if not more. Needless to say i'm a bit anxious. On the note of wayward parents. They left the 3rd for Tanzania, but still have not contacted us to tell us they've arrived safely. Other than from one message from Dubai. Which pretty much means their fired.

Everything goes pretty well otherwise.

I'm sick

Mon, 27 Oct 2008 10:05:58 GMT

like really really sick. It seems like once a year i get sick and normally never this bad >< feel like i'm getting a bit better, but we'll see. Woke up this morning and ached everywhere.

I might just bring my plague to the masses tomorrow because I'm not sure I can miss any more work.

-Pete

To My Friend Roo

Sat, 25 Oct 2008 23:39:30 GMT

Sleep well princess may you find rest in the sunshine and lots of catnip on the other side.
We'll miss you. LOTS!

In Memoriam Kitty.

-Pete

at work . . . on break

Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:36:21 GMT

I wish i could make up my mind about things. I've decided it's time to dust of my old journals and start rereading and adding to them. I think I'm at the point that i've chased my own tail for so long that I finally need to see it written out.

Someone told me . . . that you can make extra money by blogging and writing articles for any a number of things.

Someone told me . . . that belmont is apparently in need of School Board Members and the job is fairly easy and interesting. However it's not in my area. But the idea intrigued me.

Someone told me . . . that the best way not to drown is to start swimming in a direction.

A life full of opportunity and I look around and their still all there. I'm still perplexed on why I'm still in the same place.

-Pete

Shelf Talkers

Tue, 23 Sep 2008 05:02:08 GMT

True Believer – Eric Hoffer 0060505915

Hoffer’s insights into human behavior are pertinent to some of our most current crises both at home and abroad. This book is an excellent place to start for those interested in understanding some of the most influential cultural movements of our time. As Americans we must learn that even our striving for independence and self reliance is a mass movement in and of itself.

Lions of Al Rassan – Guy Gavriel Kay

Another display of Kay’s ability to bring you into intimate and emotional connection to his characters as he sets them in conflict with each other. Kay weaves a great tale of opposing fanaticism which causes the downfall of great men’s ideals. Set in a loosely veiled Medieval Spain, a wonderful introduction to Kay’s works.

Odyssey

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 04:36:14 GMT

High praise for Fagel's Odyssey and Illiad, these classics told with such language that you feel the meter and are captured by the story. Most other translations of the Odyssey can become boorish. This in a way that most other translations will not transport you. The languge is not difficult or

Neal Stephenson is coming to Keplers

Sun, 24 Aug 2008 09:19:03 GMT

For those who read Snow Crash, or Cryptonomicon, and few other books. Just go to Keplers.com for info.

Neil Gaiman is being hosted by Kepler's as well at Gunn.

I'm sure this is all a big whatever to whoever might read this, but meh. I guess it's more an announcement of that i have a job temporarily while i figure shit out.

Reading List - Space holder

Tue, 19 Aug 2008 04:17:17 GMT

So some of these or well most .. . at least i suspect are so boring that i'm planning on partaking of them through audial media.
Mabigion - Reading
Lean Six Sigma - Reading
Odyssey and Iliad - Reading

Don Quixote Cervantes - Reading - Pleasently suprised not nearly as boring as I thought it would be. (haven't started again need to go back to tape)

Penelopiad
The Great Gatsby
Lavinia
Curious case of Benjarmin Button
Hunchback of Notre Dame
Crime and Punishment
Dracula
The Historian
Moby Dick
In Defense of Food
Omnivore's Dilemma
War and Peace
Lord of the Flies
The Grapes of Wrath
Flight Volume 2

Jhegaala Steven Brust - complete
Grendel - complete
The Human Being Museum - complete
Book of the Unknown - complete
An Iliad - complete
Old Man and the Sea - complete
Catch-22 - complete
Tempest - complete
East of Eden - Complete
Live Nude Girl - complete
Pyrdain Chronicles - Complete
Spiderwick Chronicles - Complete

An Iliad - Alessandro Baricco

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 10:33:14 GMT

Finished an addition to the interpretations of the Homeric Epic the Iliad. The addition having each chapter being described from a first person view, make some how the violence more real, and the sense of mixed feelings about all the characters. Agamemnon no longer the belligerent and short sighted. Priam no longer so foolish. Helen perhaps not quite as despicable. The side characters gain depth and brings their part in the drama perhaps into sharper focus.

so to reference my beowulf entry of 2 years ago I have found a new fun quote.

"Achilles looked at him with hatred. 'Hector, I curse you. I will not make pacts with you. Men and lions, wolves and lambs do not make pacts: their discord is forever. Think instead about fighting. The moment has arrived to prove that you are really the warrior you think you are.'"
Iliad - trans Alessedandro Baricco

interesting video

Fri, 18 Apr 2008 06:58:04 GMT

Makes me wish i had cable . . .

I woke up at 6:30

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 16:37:16 GMT

I'm not terribly excited by this fact, and I'm pretty sure if i whine about it I'll get absolutely no sympathy. Instead I think I'll just sit here and silently mourn my predicament. Going to run around today and follow up on job leads I've got this last week. We'll see how knocking on doors goes.

Officially a Ninja . . . err Samurai in training

Sun, 20 Jan 2008 20:50:44 GMT

Despite a emotional morning, I was able to find some clarity and pass the advanced test this morning. Special thanks Ian^^ Hats of to my most recent teacher and friend, Marcus, as always your awsome.

-Pete

In Memoriam Froedrick of Finbury

Tue, 27 Nov 2007 08:02:15 GMT

I will miss you dear friend.
May Squire Destiny guide you over the river.

To those who may have known him Fred Mathais was a kind and noble soul.

A better master than a quite lackluster squire than I deserved.

Salute

-Pete

Cover Letter for Perusal and Critique

Fri, 21 Sep 2007 20:28:25 GMT

Dear Hiring Personnel,
Thank you for taking the time to review my cover letter and resume. I was very excited to find your listing on _________ and I am very interested in this position. After researching _____________, I have decided your company is a place where I can continue to gain new knowledge and meet new challenges in a stimulating work environment, while entering into a position that offers growth and long term career potential.
I believe that my education and work experience have made me well suited for this position, and will make me an invaluable member of your company. Through my work experience I have proven myself to be self motivated, diligent, and assertive. These attributes combined with my open and honest personality allow me to be a contributing and driving member of an organization. I understand that when working with any team it is in important to follow as well as lead by example, while never forgetting the goal.
For more information, please refer to my attached resume. I look forward to having the opportunity to meet you and learn more about _________. Thank you again for your time. Please feel free to contact me regarding any questions you may have.

Resignation

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 08:37:09 GMT

Yesterday

I hit send. It was a big decision. but on a certain level pride wouldn't let me not. I said I would, and I said I must. It's for the best. Hope against hope I'll be saying the same in three months even if I"m unemployed. I need to get out I need to get up. when driving home the flutters hit and the bile in my throat. The ominous sense of guild and doubt definetly had their way with me. I slept horribly.

Today

I'm still nervous, anxious, excited. For the first time in a long time I've felt i can be introspective. I'm worried, but i feel free. I need to take all this energy and devote it to finding my new path. Life is a journey apparently where and whenever we feel the will, you can make your own crossroads. Least this is what I hope. That the decision hasn't already been parsed down to two. May hope guide me. May the fates not be so fickle as to curse my trust. Today as all other days we walk a different path than the one we might have set our feet on yesterday.