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The post was corrupted and I haven’t been able to find a good archive of it. I pulled some text in from another page in May 2025 as a starting point, but this really needs a complete rewrite, updated references, and some corrections. I have run many tests, several of them better constructed since first…
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The following is my experience looking for a good language / environment for my daughter to lead how to create programs. TL;DR 2024 In 2024 I would recommend one of the following languages: TL;DR 2007 In 2007 my ten year old daughter asked me to help her learn to program. It’s not that she’s interested…
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Everyone would agree that carrying less weight is a good thing. So no matter whether you are a ultra-light or heavy weight packers, losing un-needed pounds is productive. There are a number of ways to reduce the weight of your pack. Here are a few ideas which have been very helpful to me: Ultralight Twist…
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The following recommendations I have given friends from outside northern California who were planning a vacation here. I also have a page about living in the Bay Area. When I first created this page I recommended the book, Northern California Best Places because I found it’s recommendations to be excellent, and it didn’t miss any “must…
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Libby and I were recently talking about a women she sees each week. Last week the women noted that Libby’s life seems different from hers, and that when Libby prays it seems like God is right there. This women has faced a lot of difficult issues in the last year and is looking for peace.…
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Minor Updates Aug 2022 The hike from Big Sur Station to Hot Springs is a 20 mile in and back trip. Sykes Hot Springs is one of my favorite places to take first time backpackers who are reasonably fit. The destination has a natural hot springs and a trout filled stream. The hike is pretty.…
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Review Item: BalloonBed Original Sleeping PadManufacturer URL: http://www.balloonbed.com/Manufacture Year: 2005Listed weight: 100g (3.5 oz)Weight as delivered: 85 g (3oz) + .7g (.2 oz) for a night of balloonsMSRP: £18.95 GBP (~US$38 depending on exchange rate) Description Brownish green fabric holster to hold balloons, small sack made from the same light material to hold all the items, balloons,…
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The following was Patagonia’s response to some questions about materials and testing which was posted in 2005 to a public forum. Most of this article matches my personal experience and still seems valid today. Mark Verber Innovation, that steamroller of change, has, over the past five years completely redefined the way people dress for the mountains – to…
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I enjoyed the article The Cellular Church which takes a look at Saddleback Church and the small groups that power it. Gladwell s known for the books “Tipping Point” and “Blink”.
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For the last twenty years I have spent a portion of my time each week working with college students at my church. I have generally found the college students’ faith vital with a great interest in making a difference in the world. I have watched these young men and women invest time into serving their…
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Today I read a blog posting of my friend Ed on Positive Psychology and Authentic Happiness. His posting got me thinking. In the last few years it seems like a lot of clueful folks have concluded that the best way to improve human-kind’s lot is to work on understanding and enhancing the mind. A common…
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At the end of July I quit working for Tellme fulltime and starting consulting with a number of companies. The plan was the consulting to be a short term thing until I was able to get a company started with a friend. Long story short, the company didn’t look like it was going to come…
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This past weekend I attended a Renovare conference hosted by MPPC. The primary presenters were Dallas Willard, John Ortberg, and Richard Foster. It was a lot of fun to watch these three men teaching and interacting together. You could tell they held each other in great respect and are great friends. Renovare is an organization…
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Many people are aware of the excellent work done by the Grameen bank. They have pioneered micro loans as a way to fuel economic development. A new twist to this is http://kiva.org which is attempting to link donors to the people who are taking the loans. They describe their system as P2P micro loans. Over…
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The The 7 Hidden Reasons Employees Leave, Leigh Branham suggests that while most managers think their employees switch jobs for better pay, that better pay is rarely the primary reason people switch jobs. Most people want to feel Trust, Hope, Worth, Competent. When they have trouble finding these things, they will often seek new opportunities.…
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Ah, the second annual coastal father / daughter backpacking trip. We once again returned to Coastal Camp at Pt Reyes National Seashore. The hike is an easy 1.8 miles in and 3.1 miles out. These trips started because we wanted our daughters to fall in love with backpacking. We picked Point Reyes as the initial…
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Helen and Libby were on a mother / daughter campout, so it was a perfect weekend to get away for a fast and light backpacking trip. I was hoping for getting into the high country, but this year the Sierras have received more than 170% of the normal snow fall. I left work Friday afternoon…
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I started my hike of the Lost Coast in Shelter Cove. The view from the parking lot gives you a sense of the scenery for the rest of the hike. The Lost Coast is a great place to find solitude. The King’s Range rises from sea level to four thousand feet within three miles of…
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Backpackers have to protect their food against animals while they sleep. In most parts of the country correctly hanging food in a bear bags can be effective. Unfortunately bags won’t protect your food in locations with habituated bears whose response to backpackers is “Great, I get another treat filled piñata tonight”. In Yosemite I have watched bear tracking backpackers…
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As I reflect on my father’s life, and can’t help but be struck by what a powerful influence he was on me. I fear that while my adolescent rebellion against him was mild, it was long lived. It took me a long time to see my father clearly. I regret not seeing my father for…