Monthly Archives: August 2006
book report
A week has passed since my last book report, as it were. Writing is a little less easy now, in that I’m moving into areas that require more thought and more careful examination of Vista.
I’ve banged my head against a few things and crashed the system once. I’ve also upgraded the hardware again, which wasn’t absolutely essential but helpful.
This week, I finally received documentation on the formatting of the book. It took a while to digest and longer to implement. That kind of busy work is unavoidable but it feels less productive. However, with formatting, what I had written expanded to more pages, so maybe there was tangible reward.
I have my first deadline this coming Friday. I don’t think this one will be so bad. I’ll let you know next Sunday — my silence may be message enough.
Happy week. peace, mjh
a liberal with a liberal agenda
ABQjournal: Pelosi Leads Rowdy Rally for Madrid By Jeff Jones, Journal Politics Writer
“Nancy Pelosi is a liberal with a liberal agenda,” [Wilson spokesman Enrique Carlos] Knell said of the California Democrat and minority leader who could become speaker of the House if Democrats win a majority in November. “And she aggressively recruited fellow liberal Patricia Madrid to run for Congress so they can advance their liberal agenda together.”
[In another article,] Wilson, a spokesman said, is “focused on the serious work of the House … and not Pelosi’s and Conyers’ potential liberal agenda.”
I hope this is the year the use of the word liberal as a curse loses its magic. Liberalism has brought about many great changes in this nation and the world. Conservatism opposes change — and is, therefore, out of touch with reality. Extreme conservatism — the Radical Right — has driven the nation for 20 years. Had enough? Take back America. mjh
There are no hereditary kings in America
The Register-Guard, Eugene, Oregon, USA
“It was never the intent of the Framers to give the president such unfettered control, particularly where his actions blatantly disregarded the parameters clearly enumerated in the Bill of Rights,” Taylor wrote. She added: “There are no hereditary kings in America.”
“I would say that those who herald this decision simply do not understand the nature of the world in which we live. I strongly disagree with this decision,” he told reporters at the presidential retreat in Camp David.
[mjh: I find it ironic to be lectured by Duhbya about grasping reality.]
Blog, Blog, Blog
My thanks to Genevieve Smith for including two of my blogs in a column on local blogs. I saw a spike in visitors that day. I am delighted to be called an “edgy old-school liberal.” mjh
PS: Follow the link to some great blogs, including many of my favorites, like johnny_mango, jfleck, coco and newmexiken.
alibi . august 17 – 23, 2006
Blog, Blog, Blog
A guide to your local online community
By Genevieve Smith
MJH’s blog – edgewiseblog.com/mjh
“Ignorance isn’t just bliss, it’s good business.” This edgy old-school liberal has a lot to say about what’s going on in the world.
Ah, Wilderness! – mjhinton.com/wild
A detailed account of wilderness issues here in New Mexico and the world, along with a comprehensive guide to events and places to go to enjoy Mama Nature.
The Book
It is fitting that some are celebrating the 25th anniversary of the IBM PC this very weekend. I’ve been working with computers since 1980. My first PC was the “sewing machine” style Compaq with two 360KB 5 1/4-inch floppy drives and MS DOS 2.
Now, I’m up to my ears (or is it my ankles) in the beta version of Microsoft Windows Vista, the next generation of PC operating systems. I’ve been reading about Vista for a long time, long before MS called it Vista. I’ve had my hands on it for about 3 months. And, in two months, I am to deliver a book on Vista to Wiley Publishing.
The joyous shock of this opportunity has given way to the doubts that go with taking on a large project with a very close deadline. I’ve got some hard work ahead and yet the light at the end of the tunnel is blinding even as I just stepped into darkness. I’m as disciplined as any lazy guy with a short attention span. I can do this if I just don’t take my eyes off the monitor or hands off the keyboard. Wait, I need some coffee….
I can say right now that Vista is different enough from XP to be interesting and worth some study. I’ll report more about Vista later. (I’m posting links on my tech-blog as I go along.)
I don’t have much to say about “the writing process” so far, except that when I first started writing, text poured forth as I stood at my desk. I’d write and write and write and feel very accomplished until I saw it was all of 7 pages. Can we increase the font size?
While teaching for 20 years has contributed more to my readiness to write, I think that blogging has helped, too. I’ve been writing almost every day for several years. Not that every word I’ve written adds up to a book. I really should dust that bookcase. mjh
PS: I don’t expect to add anything to this blog before next Sunday, when I’ll be back. Hope to see you here.
PPS: My blog reading is also suffering. I’ll return to it with pleasure eventually.
How I Spent My Summer Vacation
Mer, Lucky and I drove a long loop up through eastern Utah, south-central Wyoming and central Colorado over 12 days.
I’ve posted my journal and some photos. mjh