UnixSherpa

As parents we fill many roles: jester, counselor, disciplinarian, teacher, student. I know children mirror what they see and hear, however, this one has me boggled. I have decided that I am boring. My daughter finds me utterly useless at times and resorts to slapping, biting, and walking away as her attention atrophies. I sing and dance and make a fuss -- She could care less.In an effort to keep her entertained we resolved to purchase discrete pieces of high cinema: Shrek was our selection this month. »

We accumulate things -- it seems to be a secondary vocation for Americans. I am guilty of retaining things with little purpose, small sentimental items that I promise to someday give appropriate deference. My wife lost her uncle Mike shortly after her grandmother passed. These consecutive losses weigh on the family, each impressing their own terrible weight upon each who loved them. Mike lived in a cold-water, single room flat in Saint Paul and it was the responsibility of my wife's siblings and their spouses to help empty his apartment. »

Christians believe death is a celebration. As a catholic I know it as a sacrament, and having lost my brother five years ago, a reality. My wife lost her grandmother yesterday -- ninety-three full years ended on a cold sunny day. She died on the morning of Saint Patrick's Day. Her offspring mused that their father could not bear to spend another feast day alone and had called her home -- I knew in my heart she would go on this day. »

While waiting at the gate for my flight to Chicago, I happened to witness the most egregious display of hillbilly social ineptitude imaginable. The gate next to ours was outbound to Houston, and it showed. The usual throngs of neat and durable business people were mixed with toothless, mullet bedecked passengers doing what passengers do best: waiting. Most passed the time in ordinary ways: listening to music, reading, eating, sharing a spot of light conversation. »

Moshe Bar wrote in BYTE January 2001: We penguinistas sometimes believe we are having more fun than anybody. But then I lean over the fence and discover the FreeBSD folks are having a hell of a party, too. And their OS is as fast as I have seen. I have to ask myself why I don't just switch my server to FreeBSD. After five years I decided it was time to see if he was right. »