Happy Thanksgiving!

For those who don't know--which should be almost all of you--I've been blogging from my vacation location. That means I'm working from an unfamiliar computer on a sketchy internet connection. My hope is to, on Monday, post some pictures and let you all guess where I've been <smile>

If you know somehow, please don't tell.

I've been kicking around ideas for today's post, but nothing is really sticking. So, I'm just going to call it a night (after a long day today) and wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving!

I'm sorry I haven't been able to keep up with your posts this week, and now I'm going to fall even further behind. Our busy schedule, which had a 3am morning, coupled with the spotty net connection has made my RSS reader less than perfect. Sorry. I'm still here. I still care. And I will return next week.

Until then, enjoy the tryptophan and a break... assuming your breaks are restful <smile>.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Moonwalks and Mechanics

There's a reason people go into such strict training for space: It's a different experience and it takes a while to get adjusted. I learned about this the first time I ever tried to use a snorkel.

I've been a competitive swimmer since I was nine. I loved baths as a kid. I know my way around water. But one day while at practice for college swimming, my coach handed me a snorkel. This plastic tube was supposed to allow me to focus on my stroke and shoulder rotation because I didn't have to think about turning my head to breathe. It was some newfangled way for coaches to look at your stroke.

Well, I knew how these things worked, so I plopped the mouthpiece between my teeth and stuck my face under the water and took a couple of strokes.

At that point it was time to breathe.

I couldn't.

My face was under water and my lungs refused to let me breathe in. It was a very odd sensation. My brain was telling me to breathe and I wasn't. I couldn't. The mechanics of breathing were off--my face was underwater, which, as any rational person knows, is a bad place to be breathing.

Now, I don't know what it's like to be in space, but if it's anything like snorkeling--or scuba diving, as my more recent experience demonstrated even more vividly--then I would guess that the first moonwalk was difficult. I wouldn't be surprised if the focus was entirely on the mechanics of walking on the moon, and not so much about how totally amazing it was to be, you know, walking on the moon.

When my scuba instructor told me that going underwater was a little "crazy" because of the bubbles everywhere, the sounds, the equipment and everything else, I smiled. 'Oh come now,' I thought. 'I've experienced the "crazy" of snorkeling. I'm ready for this.'

And then I went underwater and thought, 'Oh my! But this is crazy!'

I spent almost the entire hour feeling the craziness of the situation. I didn't focus on the fish, the sharks, the turtles, or even the octopus. I was too worried about breathing, keeping water out of my goggles, and finding a more "weightless" state.

I wonder if the first years of homeschooling are like that?

I wonder how many families are so caught up in the mechanics of homeschooling the first year or so that they can't enjoy the wonder, joy, and experience of the incredible adventure they are on.

If other families are like me, may I suggest you relax, even if you feel like you shouldn't be breathing underwater.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Poetry

While in the car at 4am yesterday morning--we were headed to watch the sunrise--my family got to chatting about Haiku. We even wrote one. Check out our early morning creation:

Good morning.
It is dark outside.
We're driving.

Bad Haiku
Holzmanns 11/23/08

Since one of my nephews was in the car, I thought it was a good "teaching moment"--or, at least, an opportunity to show off <smile>--and so I explained how in English our poetry revolves around rhyme/meter, how Haiku revolves around specific syllable use, and how Hebrew poetry involves repetition of letters at the beginning of each line. For instance, English poetry repeats sounds:

The sun is shining in the morn,	A
As if the world was new, just born.	A
We see the sky, all blue and clear.	B
The waves are close; they feel so near.	B

But in Hebrew, the "AA.. BB..." scheme is literal:

A	Again I see the silky sun
A	As it shines down on me.
B	Beneath the waves
B	Blue fish swim.

My dad, who had been listening, suddenly remarked, "After all these years of studying English, I just learned something: Poetry is writing using specific constraints to make it artistic."

That was a much better explanation than what I got in Junior Year's Honors English: Poetry is whatever is not prose.

My dad went on to comment that using such a definition would make even the chiastic structure a form of poetry. And that makes sense, even if no one has officially labeled it so. And so, I'll label it officially:

The chiastic structure is a form of poetry.

In honor of today's ceremony, I would like to share a poem with you:

Poetry is words	A
Which follow rules	B
And sometimes patterns.	C
The ciastic pattern	C
Uses rules	B
To make a poem.	A

May you enjoy poetry, of all forms, today.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Musical Chairs

Background: I've been having a rather... "lively" discussion with my friend Cherish--and I hope I don't say anything stupid so she'll still be my friend after this (I love you, Cherish!).

You can read the posts and my comments here and here.

This is my second attempt at a response. My first post was crazy long and still hadn't addressed all the issues.

-------

A Story: So I'm in Kindergarten and we're playing musical chairs. Corrie, the cute little blond girl is the odd one out, and no matter how hard she tries, she just can't get a seat. Between one of the musical sets, Timothy comes over to me and says, "You should give up your chair so Corrie can have a chance sitting down."

I protest, "But I've been playing fairly and doing well. I'm not going to give up my chair for her."

But then Mrs. Donaldson comes over and says, "Now Luke, you've got a very nice sweater and Corrie does not. You need to give up your seat so she isn't disenfranchised. And you needn't worry: You've got a sweater."

I don't know what the word "disenfranchised" means, but I can't really argue with the teacher.

The game continues until Brandon wins. But in the next round Lisa rolls her ankle when Timothy bumps into her so she's going to be moving slowly. Mrs. Donaldson gives me a look.

What!? Corrie was bad enough, but Lisa is my arch nemesis. She picks on me on the playground and makes my young life miserable. But Mrs. Donaldson didn't see Timothy bump into Lisa, so he's not going to be held responsible.

It sit out another game. "But I've got a sweater." Whatever that has to do with this.

The next round starts and Mrs. Donaldson steps out of the classroom. When the music stops, Douglas actually shoves Corrie out of her chair to get a spot. Mrs. Donaldson returns to see Corrie sitting on the ground, sobbing.

"What happened?" the teacher asks.

"Douglas pushed Corrie out of her seat," I say.

"Did not," the guilty party replies.

Mrs. Donaldson looks at Corrie and the other children. "Did he?"

No one says anything.

"Well, Luke," Mrs. Donaldson finally says, "why don't you sit out this game too. You've got your sweater and it's the nice thing to do."

I started homeschooling the next year.

-------

Conclusion: That was a work of historical fiction, but in good old Sonlight fashion, I figured a story would be more powerful than a logical discourse.

Now, if you haven't already, please read the posts and my comments here and here. And then tell me what you think.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Get to it!

I have a confession to make:

I have yet to submit my contribution to the Sonlight Rice Bag Project.

And I need to get on that because, as of starting this post, there are less than 39 hours left for me to get my donation matched. [I was totally going to find a clock to count down, but that proved difficult. I'm dedicated, sure... but a man's got his limits.] This thing ends on Friday, November 21st, 2008.

If you're still meaning to make your donation--like me--you can Give on Mission India's site. Just be sure to include "Sonlight Rice Bag Project" in the comments section.

So, I'm going to borrow from Vault* and suggest you: Get to it!

That's the pressing news from Sonlight.


What? You want more content? Have you read the Other Posts of Note?


I didn't think so...

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

I would link to Vault's site, but... well... it may not be entirely within the bounds of propriety. I mean, that commercial was probably cutting it and that video didn't feature lithe young women in "beach" apparel.

I'm just sayin'.

Reading, Writing and Uh-rithmetic

Okay, I saw the same thing posted on three blogs today, so this is a hot item on the blogosphere. That being the case, I felt compelled to weigh in.

How many more metaphors can I mix there? Sales, planets and wrestling...


Weighing in on a Blogosphere Hot Item

[Aside: I crack myself up.]

I saw the article on Dawn's blog first.

'Interesting,' I thought.

Then is showed up again on JoAnn's blog and again on Judy's blog as well.

'Fine, I'll read the article.'

But all three links are now dead. It appears that the Examiner changed the url (sneaky, sneaky). Thankfully, yours truly is here to save the day. You can read the article here--unless they change the link again <smile>.

Please go give Dawn, JoAnn, and Judy a visit. My take on this will be, well, different from all of theirs (why would I say what's already been said?).


First, I'm actually surprised at the lack of really good examples. I mean, these are pretty funny, but not as good as these (my personal favorite is about Cyrus McCormick). Perhaps we study less mangle-able topics in college. But I'd be interested in a study that actually shows a decline in the quality of writing. It sounds to me that Mr. Watson has been collecting these "gems" for years, and my fear is that as his file filled he started to assume that the frequency was increasing.

Second, one of the comments I read pointed out that many of the errors are malapropisms. Which is true. There are also many atrociously misspelled words. And these problems could both be attributed to a heavy reliance on spellcheck. And while I wouldn't mind improving my spelling ability, I have become a very proficient user of spellcheck and a digital dictionary.

Third, reading could certainly help... assuming we are reading material of a slightly higher caliber than, say, "Time for Friends" (not that "Time for Friends" isn't an excellent bit of children's literature). We need books that challenge us and introduce us to vocabulary beyond our vernacular, not just the latest Twilight Potter's Shack.

Forth, for me, the most troubling part of the article is that you can ask the students what they mean, "and they can’t tell you verbally, either." And from the comments I've read, that is bothersome to others as well. Even so, I remember being completely confused as my dad "bled" over yet another of my tear-stained papers.

"It made sense when I wrote it," I would lament. And my statement had made sense. The problem was that once my dad explained how incoherent my sentence was, I was stuck. I could think of no better way of expressing myself. And, really, that's an area I'm still growing in as a writer; how do you communicate clearly this or that idea?

Yes, reading great literature will help build a vocabulary and give a foundation for excellent writing.

Yes, practice gives opportunity to improve one's writing.

Yes, it would not surprise me if the educational system's focus on the testable side of English has lead to a decline in the functional/intelligible aspect.

And, yes, apathy is not helping.

But we need so much more than "hard work" if we are to improve our writing. We need people who can help us think through our logic, our expression, as well as our typos and malapropisms.

And who has more opportunity to do that than homeschooling parents?

Here's a little anecdote as I bring this long essay to a close*:

In one of my college Mass Communication classes, I was told that the professor was really strict about papers. So I paid special attention at the beginning of the semester as he went over what he expected in our papers.

"You must," he informed us, "have proper punctuation and spelling."

...

That's it? When have we ever been allowed to use improper punctuation or spelling in papers?

I got an A on every paper in that class. And as much as it pains me to admit, I attribute my success to my dad's red pen and interrogations. So, if I'm ever reading the writing of one of my children and they explain some aspect of "uh-rithmetic" to me, I'll smile and bleed on their paper.

Like father, like son.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

*I tend to say "antidote" much to the frustration of my friends. I wonder how many times that malaprop has slipped through?

"Mild" Profanities?

Two and a half months ago I wrote a post where I mentioned a blog I thought was funny due to "mild profanity" and ever since then it's bugged me. In fact, even when I typed the words way back then I knew I would have to revisit the concept. And the day has come.

What makes today the day?

First, I haven't run into anything more pressing to blog about.

Second, Shannon* wrote a great post on the subject. (You can read it here if you missed it in my "Other Posts of Note" ...which you all read all the time, right? <wink>).

My first thought is: What makes a profanity "mild" and what difference does that make? I mean, this goes back to the whole "a sin is a sin" issue, right? But before I can answer my own question, I have to answer a more basic question: What is a profanity, and why is it wrong to use them?

Thankfully, Shannon's husband has already told us that the "thing about bad words isn’t so much the word itself, it’s the motive and heart behind it." With that being the case, even euphemisms can be a problem. And I completely agree: The intent, more than content, determines the morality of something.

But content does matter. That's why some words in our culture are plain old profanities while others are "mild." That is culturally defined, which is why in Europe people say "bum" for the derriere, because they find "butt" offensive; the same is true of households as well: what is okay to say depends on the home.

And, yes, a "sin is a sin," but different sins have different consequences. So while it is equally sinful to hate your brother as to kill him, the consequences of murder are far more tangible and irreversible. So, a mild profanity has less of a negative impact than something more venomous.

I believe that there are three factors to determining the morality of something, and I've given you two: Intent and Content.

You'll have to wait for the third: Response. It couldn't get it to fit well in this post.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

*After much sleuthing, I think her name is Shannon.

But I just gotta say this: Not giving me at least a pseudonym drives me crazy! It's a pet peeve of mine. I hate having to refer to people with: "Why, yes, I-Am-a-Mother-of-Two-and-Own-a-Dog, I agree."

For cryin' out loud! If'n you're paranoid, at least use Elle G or something.

And maybe it's just me, but LAH doesn't cut it either. I guess my brain can't make enough of a distinction between GW and CM to be an effective nomenclature.

Rant over.

Forgive me, Woman-Wanting-What-the-Word-Welcomes; I love you dearly, but please give me something more personable to use in reference to you.

Thank you.

Your Friend and Blogger,
~Luke

Preconceptions and Perceptions

I have an affinity for tech support humor; I love the tales of woe as two people attempt to solve a problem over the phone. One of my favorites involves a woman whose printer was not printing yellow.

Every color but yellow.

Tech support helped her clean the heads, print test pages, replace the ink cartridge, and finally suggested she get a replacement. That's when the woman asked, "Do you think it would help if didn't use yellow paper?"

...

Brittany may have had a moment like that.

Remember her blue hands? Well, her hands turned a little blue yesterday ...but then so did her fingernails and shirt.

"Luke, I think it may be my new jeans," she admitted sheepishly.

Ah, yes. That would explain it. Which is good. And that also makes sense why the doctor had no clue what was happening. But it still doesn't explain the heart issues.

And Brittany realized that if her heart hadn't been acting up recently, she probably would have figured out the dye thing a lot sooner. But because she had a preconceived notion of heart problems she perceived her problem as circulatory.

Thus, our perception of reality is closely linked to our presuppositions about what is happening.

That's why companies have to be so careful about what they say and do: People can easily misconstrue what you're doing based on their own ideas.

Today, at Sonlight, the topic revolved around "bargain" sites that sell Sonlight books for "less." These site owners use Sonlight's credibility to sell books for themselves.

But what to do?

Sonlight could easily be perceived as the bullies of the market who try to weasel every dollar out of people's pockets when compared to these "great deals." But Sonlight continues to put resources and thought into developing stellar curriculum, offering fantastic support, and building up a recognizable name. Sarita and her team carefully select each book, schedule it with helpful notes, and then package everything together with support and a guarantee like no other. And yet "bargain" sites use all of that to make a few bucks.

The other side of this, of course, is that Sonlight's name gets out there on the internet via these sites. But what happens when people start believing that "Sonlight" is just a bunch of books with a schedule? Then customers stop purchasing from Sonlight which develops, supports, and guarantees your homeschool experience.

And that's the real cost: Customers end up getting much less and the company that did the work to make it possible for you to enjoy this journey also suffers loss.

And then who will you call with your genuine support and curriculum questions?

Just a few musings from a guy who finds support incredibly useful, even if he should have realized the yellow paper issue himself.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

This I Know

...for the Bible tells me so. [link here]

I had a friend in high school who told me that she didn't read her Bible because it "whispers to me."

Upon further inquiry, she assured me that her Bible audibly gave her directions to do bad things.


Umm...

I didn't have a way to respond to that.

I still don't.

That little anecdotal bit was to demonstrate that I've heard a wide variety of Biblical claims, ranging from the thought-provoking to the implausible. And never were such issues more infuriating than while writing papers in Bible college. I had commentaries tell me that such and such a verse obviously said thus and such. Then the next commentary would assure me that the exact same verse said the opposite.

[Aside: Maybe that only happens when you try to write papers on "women in ministry" and "predestination vs. free will" because you're bored with all the easy topics. <smile>]

So now I'm rather wary when people claim the Bible says something. I do my best to consider the passage, the context, the rest of Scripture, as well as my own experience with the world and God when formulating an opinion.

I got on this train of thought today because of some responses I've been working on to various questions and posts. Questions surrounding easy topics like ecclesial form, origins of sin, and the definition of a "Christian filmmaker."

What resources do you use/trust to help you and your children wrestle through what we know the Bible tells us is so?

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Learning Opportunities

The Rice Bag Project is coming to a close. Please donate to Mission India by November 21, 2008. We are so grateful for your generous gifts! But as Mission India has stated:

Please do not send your loose change to us. The Rice Bags are yours to keep!

Let the following be a learning opportunity:


Expensive Rice Bag

This super sweet family mailed Sonlight their contribution. It cost over eight dollars to ship and ended up on my desk today.

I love you and your enthusiasm, but I guess I didn't communicate very clearly.

Sorry.

So now, for everyone else: PLEASE DON'T SEND THE BAG!

Instead of paying needless postage, use that $8 to help support an Indian woman's education. Click here to make a matched donation to Mission India. Be sure to mention this is for the "Sonlight Rice Bag Project" to make sure your donation is matched!

Thank you <smile>.


Update on Brittany

When I got home last night, my wife met me at the door. "The doctor wants me to get there early so I can get an EKG before she sees me."

Brittany also wanted me to be in the room while she got the EKG. "It's a learning opportunity," she said. The EKG came out normal, which was a little disappointing because that meant it didn't tell us anything.

The doctor was checking Brittany's pulse when her heart skipped a beat, so she no longer had to wonder if we were making it up <smile>. But, as I feared, she said she didn't know what was going on. "The heart just sometimes does that kind of thing," she told us.

But all is not lost. They'll be hooking Brittany up with a heart monitor for a while to see if they can figure out anything else. So, that will happen in a few days.

"Could I get a copy of that EKG?" I asked. The doctor gave me an odd look. "I'm a blogger," I added hastily, "and I like writing about what's been going on."

She smiled and handed me the paper.

Homeschool bloggers: We ask for odd stuff.


Brittany's EKG Readout

All in the name of learning opportunities <smile>.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Updates and Fixes

I've had a few people ask me how my wife is doing. I haven't been able to give any updates because we haven't had any. The problem wasn't consistent enough to take her to the doctor, and I really didn't want to shell out the money if the doctor was just going to look at her and say, "Without more information, I can't really help."

Well, I got a call a few hours ago. It was Brittany and she said that her hands were turning a little blue.

Again, I channeled my inner doctor and came to the conclusion: That doesn't sound good.

So, after work I'm taking her to see the doctor. I'll try to remember to give you an update tomorrow, but if it's nothing exciting I may forget.

I'm just sayin'.

Put all that on the back burner for a second, and take a look at this:


Recognize This Guy?

I know I often forget or don't bother to give updates or feedback because I don't realize I can, don't feel like I have time, or wonder if anyone cares.

Well, I just got out of a web meeting where I shared eight suggestions for making the purchasing system on Sonlight.com easier to navigate and understand.

Will my suggestions all get implemented? Well, certainly not right away because the web guys have more to do than just hop on whatever crazy idea I've come up with (shocking, I know). But they were very grateful for the feedback.

"That's very useful," Bo¹ said. "So often we fix something and say, 'There, we fixed it,' and don't even think about the usability."

So, please, please let the web guys know if you find something problematic or unclear on Sonlight.com. They really appreciate getting feedback from users.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

P.S. The graphic is the "something bugs you" bug from Sonlight.com. Keep an eye out for him next time you're on the site <smile>. I think he's fantastic!

¹Bo has played such parts as the circuit painter, Mugsy, and he'll be showing up again as Tex Return in MathTacular4!

Jobs, Vocations, and Work

I picked up a phrase from my mom that I enjoy oft repeating. Whenever lunch is over, or I need to get back to working on something, I say, "Well, it's back to the salt mines."

Hilarious. ...at least, I think it is <smile>.

And I was reminded of slaving away in salt mines today while listening to Amy Bayliss talk on the first ever Heartbeat Live. If you missed it, there will be another next week so check it out. But you did miss a good talk and the first ever show that was sponsored by Sonlight and hosted by yours truly.

You can stop crying now if you missed me. The loss is great, but not that great.

Where was I before I got off on the topic of me? Oh yes...

Amy made the point that while money is important, it's much better to pursue a job in something you love. Money should not be the driving force. You will be much happier, more relaxed, and feel more alive if you are doing what you should be doing, not just slaving away in the salt mines to make ends meet.

The quote that I have long loved that goes along with this is: "Find a job you love and never work a day in your life."

Granted, there are days when doing anything will feel like the salt mines, but you should love what you are doing. And that, I'm told, is the difference between a "job" and a "vocation." A job is something you do to pay the bills. A vocation is something you do because you love it, and it happens to pay the bills too.

You should love your homeschooling experience as well. Now, I'm not a proponent of switching homeschooling methods all the time, but if you're not loving your homeschooling experience overall, you may want to reconsider the tools you're using and the way you are using them.

This is why even though Sonlight strives to offer the absolute best of the best materials, there are still sometimes options. Take math as an example: Some kids thrive on the repetitive nature of problem worksheets, others can only focus if they have something to touch, while other kids are fine as long as there is some color and application.

Would you like some help in thinking these options through?

I haven't plugged these in a while, and I'm thrilled to remind you about the Forums and the SCAs. Both of these are fantastic resources from homeschooling moms who have found a vocation--or hobby--in helping others.

And I love that.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

My Strength is My Weakness

I absolutely love Mary Grace. She cracks me up and writes rave reviews for Sonlight (even when I don't send her a free MathTacular DVD). Her posts often find their way into my "Other Posts of Note" and she has made me tear up at least once. Not to mention her incredible skillz with the iMovie.

With that as an introduction, here's Mary Grace on Strengths and Weaknesses. Well worth the read (including the comments).


Back?

I decided my comments warranted a post of their own. A post on this blog, since they'd be my thoughts, not a post on hers because my thoughts aren't that insightful <smile>.

What if one of the greatest strengths of homeschooling is also its greatest weakness?

That wouldn't surprise me at all. In fact, I think the world operates in this: Whatever could be our greatest asset to others also has the potential to be the most destructive force in our lives. It's the whole deal of "the bigger it is, the harder it falls."

In other words, the creativity, inventiveness and customization of homeschooling has, in this instance, failed to produce a desirable employee.

This also does not surprise me. But I'm going to spin it a slightly different way:

The public school system tends to produce people who are good for the workforce (this goes back, I'm told, all the way to the institution of bells that mimic the factory). Public education is designed to make good employees, not to inspire entrepreneurs or business owners. So the fact that a system, such as homeschooling, caters to a child's bent makes them dissatisfied with another's system and more prone to doing what they feel is best. This is a very good thing when it comes to innovation, creativity and entrepreneurship.

In fact, I would say that Mary Grace's brother-in-law is right:

...you're setting your children up for a lifetime of frustration when they realize that college, workplaces, etc., don't follow those same, "have it your way" rules.

But, I would add, that can be a very, very good thing!

So even here, the potential of a "strict"/inflexible system is for both good and bad. It comes back to what you want for your children, and who they are. And that is what parenting is all about.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Taco Bell and FREE Stuff

Sadly, I can not offer you free Taco Bell. If I could, I would, because I do love me some Taco Bell. However, in my blog browsing today, I learned that if I went to Mexico again it is possible to get a #3 south of the border.

Moving on...

I love useful free stuff. I use many useful free programs. I have no problems with quality free stuff. I'm all for it. In fact, I've got several lists of such programs.

But it boggles my mind how people rave about the "free curriculum" that is out there on the web. And it bothers me when they claim that these resources are a free alternative to Sonlight.

I don't have a problem with the "alternative to Sonlight" part. There are many other companies out there that are reasonable alternatives to Sonlight (but, I maintain, Sonlight is the best <smile>).

I have a problem when people claim that something is a "free" alternative, when, in reality, it isn't free at all. I'm not going to point any browser fingers, but I've visited several "free curriculum" sites that are nothing more than a book list and perhaps a schedule.

What? That's not free. You still have to buy the books! In fact, it's likely more expensive than Sonlight and does not come with the support or guarantee that Sonlight offers. Yet people keep proclaiming it as a free alternative.

<shakes head>

I am the king of Open Source software. I love getting freebies. But because I'm so into really free options, it bugs me when people talk about "free" stuff that isn't free in the least.

It may be time for Sonlight to do another cost comparison, but Judy did one a few years ago with some pretty impressive results. Find out more on the Price and Shopping Comparision page.

And if you're looking for a free alternative to a program you're using, just ask. I may be able to shoot you a link to a completely legitimate, absolutely viable option <smile>.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Palpitations, Murmurs, and Goo

Palpitations
Brittany asked me to listen to her heart last night because it was skipping beats on a fairly consistent basis.

That doesn't sound good.


Dr. Luke

Because it was late, Brittany had to self-diagnose with the internet as her only tool. She discovered that the cause could be anything from "low blood sugar" to "something serious."

Hmm... informative.

With that wide of a potential cause base I would appreciate your prayers for her. And if prayer isn't your thing, I am thankful for your thoughts as well. And if you're not into thinking, well, I'll take...

Murmurs
Isn't that cool word?

Mur-mur.

As I've thought about that word, I'm not sure I've heard too many people murmur in the recent past. And, I guess the word popped into my head because sometimes corporate prayer sounds like murmurs and sometimes hearts have murmurs, and I guess my brain put those two together.

Goo
Now to the slimy substance of this post: Goo.

I was up late last night playing a really fun physics game with Jason.

Physics? Fun?

I hear ya. I took a physics lab in high school too. I remember how my grade depended on how close the marble landed to the bulls eye after calculating the trajectory and assuming that air resistance was negligible.

I feel your pain.

But, seriously, you need to check out "World of Goo". You can download the free trial which includes several really fun levels of physics learnin' via goo balls. It's kinda like Lemmings, only far better and more dependent on physics.

Seriously: Download the Goo Demo Now!


And if you're looking for another, potentially educational game, check out one by the FTC. It looks like an interesting concept with potentially damaging purposes.


Jerri Ann

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Master of the Blogosphere

My good friend Mike came up to me this morning and asked, "What would a master of the blogosphere write about on a morning such as this?"

Not being a master of the blogosphere, I merely shrugged.

Truth be told, having gone to bed early I was unaware of which aspect of history was made last night. After getting the low down from Mike, a few clever--but ultimately unpostable--titles sprung to mind. I almost kept them to myself.

Almost.

Because I'm like that.


In other news, my latest Heart of the Matter article is up.

And speaking of Heart of the Matter, they are starting a cool, weekly live talk thingy called Heartbeat Live. It's free and you just have to register once to attend every week.

Sweet, huh?

Yeah. So, go Sign Up Now. It looks like they're going to pull from their virtual conference talent pool again and are on the lookout for new blood.

I'm currently trying to convince my mom to speak there in the near future.

...which, by the by, if you haven't read her most recent post, I strongly suggest you do--it's a good one.


So what would a master of the blogosphere write about today?

I still don't know, but I'm guessing such a man would include lots of links to stuff and ramble a bit. And then, to finish it off, he'd probably include his name and title...

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

104. Oh, wait...

I woke up sick today.

I felt terrible, so eventually I went home and slept.

A lot.

Eventually I got up and ate dinner to try to give my body something to use as ammo.


Chicken Soup

My wife took my temperature because I was pretty sure I had a slight fever.

"You're at 104°," she said.

"Whoa! That's hot. I don't feel that bad. ...are you sure it wasn't 100.4°?"

"...oh, yeah, that was it."

So, I've got a slight fever, which is part of why I feel so crummy.

Even so, I did my civic duty and took everyone out to get free ice cream at Ben & Jerry's (hat tip: The Happy Housewife).


Brittany, Jason, Luke

Early to bed tonight. I need to be healthy enough to go into work again tomorrow. Stuff needs doing. Of course, there are a lot of ill people at Sonlight, which is probably where I got this bug.

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

Lighter Week

Good grief, last week was heavy around these here blog parts, wasn't it?

Sorry about that. I guess I had a few weights on my mind.

I'll try to be lighter this week.

So I'll kick off the week with some (moderately educational*) fun: Should you be allowed to vote?


Gina

You Should Be Allowed to Vote

You got 11/15 questions correct. Generally speaking, you're very well informed. If you vote this election, you'll know exactly who (and what) you'll be voting for. You're likely to have strong opinions, and you have the facts to back them up.

Should You Be Allowed to Vote?

Good thing they gave me permission because I already voted (but I plan to post the picture tomorrow, so as not to confuse folks. Don't want anyone thinking that I'm a "vote early, vote often" kind a guy <smile>).

~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Expectant Father

*Or perhaps convicting that we should be more educated and need to do some more research <smile>.