Blogs of note. . .

Lately I have been checking out the "blogs of note". The folks at Blogspot pick out a blog they like each day and post the link in their dashboard list. I have been fascinated by there selection. I wonder what criteria they use to evaluate and decide between blogs? Do they decide together or do they rotate who picks? If they rotate. . . one of the staff has a food fetish, there are many blogs of note on food and recipes. Another has an animal thing. But there is a surprising variety blogs and from surprising places around the world. I am inspired by this vast sampling of things people blog about and why, from the serious to the silly.

In fact, I aspire to be a blog of note! (Ok, so I am not the romantic artist type who only does his craft for self expression and gratification.) Oh great Bloggods choose me! Acknowledge and affirm me. . . a solitary voice in a cybersea of blogspotty posts. I'm an anonymous social curiosity (cheesy grin).

Oh well, check it out if you get the chance, there are some intriguing gems in that list.

Made aware. . .

The Silken Tent

by Robert Frost

She is as in a field a silken tent

At midday when the sunny summer breeze

Has dried the dew and all its ropes relent,

So that in guys it gently sways at ease,

And its supporting central cedar pole,

That is its pinnacle to heavenward

And signifies the sureness of the soul,

Seems to owe naught to any single cord,

But strictly held by none, is loosely bound

By countless silken ties of love and thought

To every thing on earth the compass round,

And only by one's going slightly taut

In the capriciousness of summer air

Is of the slightest bondage made aware.

Nate Notes

This is one of Mr. Frost's lesser know pieces, yet in my opinion, one of his most profound. Like most of his other poems there is no condoning or condemnation, just observation. This poem is about interconnectedness. For a fascinating exercise, consider the relationships depicted in this piece from the vantage point of each element; the silken tent, the cedar pole, the summer air. Then compare this with human nature. . . how many of us at the pinnacle of our surety of soul are only aware of our interconnectedness when a capricious summer air pulls one of our chords taught?

Halo Forever. . .

I would be best classified as a social gamer. I don't own a game system (Sharon does own a PS2 we play once in a while) or have many opportunities to play. But how I do love to play Halo with my brothers, sister, friends and family. I prefer playing cooperatively to defeat alien forces in a wash of their florescent blue blood. I do play a variety of head to head games with my fellow SPARTANs.

There is a bunch of reasons why I passionately enjoy this game. I love the story, concepts and the characters. I love the simplicity but challenging nature of this first person shooter. I like that I can pick it up and put it down whenever I like, if I have an hour or if I have four hours I can play and have a great time. I like that I am eradicating fictional aliens instead of mowing down other human beings (maybe you think I am splitting hairs but it is a subtle perk I appreciate.) Mostly I just love the fun and interaction I have with the other players.

This great game has been converted into a great fictional series. . .

Halo: The Fall of Reach takes place in Master Chief's (main character, the guy in all the pictures) past. It starts off with the beginning of the entire SPARTAN project, talks about all the SPARTAN's and their missions, the MJOLNIR armor, and the fall of the Reach, the human's main defense planet before Earth. It leaves off right before the game Halo: Combat Evolved begins with the actual discovery of Halo.

Halo: The Flood takes place exactly where the The Fall of Reach ends, or, where the game begins. This book essentially fills in the details of the Halo story line you don't get to hear about in the game. The game tells you Master Chief's story, and the book tells you everything else. It ends at the end of the game with John (Master Chief's real name) and Cortana (super AI and companion) aboard the fighter.

Halo: First Strike is the next addition to the Halo book series. It picks up the story after the game and takes to many different places. I don't want to ruin any of the book, but basically Chief and a few close, personal friends of his find out that the Covenant (an alliance of aliens devoted, with religious fervor, to eliminating the human species) are planning a massive assault on Earth (a la Halo 2) after they learn of it's whereabouts. They are all gathering at one location before they move en masse. Chief decides to kick it to the Covenant and delay their assault on Earth by going on a deadly "First Strike".

Now I am currently reading Halo: Ghosts of Onyx. The Spartan-II program has gone public. Tales of super-soldiers fending off thousands of Covenant attacks have become the stuff of legend.

But just how many Spartans are left?

While the Master Chief defends a besieged Earth, and the myriad factions of the Covenant continue their crusade to eliminate humanity, an ultrasecret cell of the Office of Naval Intelligence known as “Section Three” devises a plan to buy the UNSC vital time. They're going to need hundreds of willing soldiers though . . . and one more Spartan to get the job done.

The planet Onyx is virtually abandoned and the perfect place to set this new plan in motion. But when the Master Chief destroys Halo, something is triggered deep within Onyx: Ancient Forerunner technology stirs, and fleets of UNSC and Covenant race to claim it to change the course of the Human-Covenant War.

But this reawakened and ancient force may have plans of its own . . . bump bump buuuuh. . .

I'll have to let you know how I like it when I am finished. If you like action packed sci-fi, great characters, and the intriguing Halo universe you ought to check these books out. I doubt you would disappointed.

Master Chief's Wanted Poster. . . the stuff of alien nightmares . . .

Ditto. . .

Into My Own
By Robert Frost

One of my wishes is that those dark trees,
So old and firm they scarcely show the breeze,
Were not, as 'twere, the merest mask of gloom,
But stretched away unto the edge of doom.
I should not be withheld but that some day
Into their vastness I should steal away,
Fearless of ever finding open land,

Or highway where the slow wheel pours the sand.
I do not see why I should e'er turn back,
Or those should not set forth upon my track
To overtake me, who should miss me here
And long to know if still I held them dear.
They would not find me changed from him they knew--
Only more sure of all I thought was true.

Turn the poet out of doors. . .

To the Thawing Wind
by Robert Frost

Come with rain. O loud Southwester!
Bring the singer, bring the nester;
Give the buried flower a dream;
make the settled snowbank steam;
Find the brown beneath the white;
But whate'er you do tonight,
bath my window, make it flow,
Melt it as the ice will go;
Melt the glass and leave the sticks
Like a hermit's crucifix;
Burst into my narrow stall;
Swing the picture on the wall;
Run the rattling pages o'er;
Scatter poems on the floor;
Turn the poet out of door.

Nate Notes

This poem is really about Spring but my thawing wind comes in Autumn. I pass on spring and all the allergies, I shun and shade myself from the suffocating heat of summer, but autumn calls me out to my loved and native element. This waning season has become my favorite for so many reasons. Like the harvest itself, all things become ripe and vibrant to the senses. I love the all the sights, not only in the forest and fauna but on the people as well, all the rich colors and earth tones loosely draped on branches and beings alike. I love the crisp clarity that comes with the cooling air and in each breath. I love the rich pungent scent of things returning to the earth. I love the crackle of leaves under foot and the cheers of children diving into collected heaps of Nature's cotton candy. I love the chill on my face, the wind playfully tossing my short hair and the cozy warmth that only comes from a well loved sweater or hoodie. I love lazy drives through the winding panorama of color covered canyons in a convertible with inspiring instrumentals providing the soundtrack.

I often stand at my office window watching for the first signs of turning. I am waiting, wishing for my thawing wind to turn me out. . .

Pookah LemonHead

Pookah has joined the very prestigous lemon head baby club. If you ever want to enjoy a laugh or two at a baby's expense. . .look up lemon babies on YouTube.

Here is Pookah's premier video. . . 

Gid-e-update

Here a post to catch you up on where Gid has been and where he is now.

Here the cute guy when he is just new...

Then Gid decided he liked the hospital so much he wanted to go back for a week long visit.

They decided to give him martian antenna.

After he was given the square jaw of a superhero it was time the antenna to go. . .

Unfortunately they hit a nerve and now he looks like Popeye.

It should get better with time and perhaps an additional procedure, nevertheless he keeps half smile.