Sun at Six Windows

It's that time of the year...

2009-01-22T00:00:00.000-08:00

...time for the "best of 2008" lists.

In no particular order, these are the albums I liked best that came out in 2008:

M83, Saturdays = Youth. I really liked this one, partly because it's a bit of a throwback in my mind, and also because it's so atmospheric without merely floating away.

Fleet Foxes, s/t. What a sound. Like My Morning Jacket a bit, only really calmed down. This album conjures up all sorts of vivid images for me.

The Durutti Column, Sunlight to Blue, Blue to Blackness. Pure Vini. He can't make bad music. Really.

Byrne & Eno, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today. I love how the individual components of each song stand out. These guys made the CD by correspondence. Each has such trust in the other's ability. It's just a fantastic CD, and it sounds great, too.

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! Some of the songs are not vintage Cave, and that's not a bad thing. Others are pure Cave ballads. I love this one because he continues to tell a story. It's very imaginative. Each listen is different for me. It just moves along nicely and it's not a dark record.

Harold Budd, A Song for Lost Blossoms. What can I say? I'm a sucker for Harold Budd.

Firm change

2008-10-02T14:01:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile since I updated this blog last, but I have news. As of yesterday, October 1, I am now an associate attorney with the law firm of Fennemore Craig. It's definitely an upgrade, objectively speaking, and it should present several career advancement opportunities for me, so I am excited. I don't have to move far -- FC's Las Vegas office is right upstairs from where I am now (we are temporarily in our old offices until sometime in November).

Stay tuned.

Command decision

2008-07-16T16:15:00.000-07:00

I decided to not get an iPhone after all. This is not because I don't think it's pretty much the coolest thing ever, but rather because I just can't justify spending $80+ per month on mobile phone service, no matter how many trivia arguments I'd be able to settle on the fly. I think I'll just settle for a regular ole' run-o-the-mill mobile phone, with the standard $40/month service (which is still vastly overpriced, for what you get, IMO).

So there you go.

$15 of fun

2008-07-08T10:03:00.001-07:00

We visited Utah over this past weekend to celebrate Independence Day and my dad's birthday with the whole Stirling bunch. While there, Whitney suggested that we pick up some fireworks for some evening fun. I'm glad we did -- I didn't know that 15 bucks could buy some really cool stuff. The main package of fountain fireworks was only $10. We also had a $5 packet of those ubiquitous ground flowers.

All in all, it was a very fun time. Who needs Stadium of Fire when you can have "Cul-de-sac of Fire"!?!?

It is time...

2008-06-09T15:47:00.000-07:00

... for me to pick up this new toy -- ah, I mean, tool -- as soon as possible.

Just announced: the new iPhone 3G
I think I need it.

The Silmarillion in 1000 words

2008-04-16T23:15:00.000-07:00

Hey, I found this on the web a few years back and got a laugh out of it. So for all you who complain that the Silmarillion is much harder to read than the Hobbit or the Lord of the Rings (and therefore not as much fun), here's a simplified version for you. Enjoy!

THE ENTIRE SILMARILLION OF J. R. R. TOLKIEN IN ONE THOUSAND WORDS

AINULINDALE:

ILUVATAR: Ahem.
AINUR: Wow! Existence!
ILUVATAR: *blows pitch pipe* LA!
AINUR: LA LA LA!
ILUVATAR: LA LA!
AINUR: LA LA!
MELKOR: This sucks. BUM BUM BA DUM!
AINUR: Um. . . la?
ILUVATAR: Ahem. LA!
MELKOR: Boop bop-a-doo-bop!
ILUVATAR: LA, dammit.
MELKOR: Bwam bardle ningle boom.
AINUR: . . .
ILUVATAR: Right, you're out of the band.
MELKOR: Fine, I was leaving anyway.
AINUR: . . .
ILUVATAR: What are you waiting for?
AINUR: Oh. Right. Newly created world. Sorry. Great jam session, big guy!
ILUVATAR: Yeesh.

VALAQUENTA:

MANWE: I'm in charge!
VARDA: I'm Manwe's spouse. And queen of the stars!
NAMO: I do death and fate. They call me Mandos.
VAIRE: I'm Namo's spouse. I weave things.
IRMO: I have gardens. They call me Lorien.
ESTE: I'm Irmo's spouse. I take care of the gardens.
YAVANNA: I make things grow.
NIENNA: I'm sad.
ULMO: I live in the ocean.
AULE: I'm Yavanna's spouse. I've got a great big hammer! I made dwarves.
NESSA: I dance.
OROME: I hunt!
VANA: I'm Orome's spouse. I make living things happy.
TULKAS: I'm strong. I'm Nessa's spouse. I got here last.
MELKOR: I'm bad, momma, I'm ONE BAD MUTHA-
TULKAS: Grar.
MELKOR: Um. Yeah. Hiding now.

QUENTA SILMARILLION:

VALAR: Hey! Ilmaren! Party on the island, everyone!
MELKOR: Bah. Too bright. *builds fortress, kicks over lamps*
VALAR: AUGH! *flee to west*
MELKOR: Hu hu hu.
VALAR: Oooooh SHINY TREES! Yavanna made shiny trees!
YAVANNA: Yep! Aren't they pretty?
MELKOR: Want shiny.
VALAR: Nope.
MELKOR: Why not?
VALAR: Because you're a jerk.
ELVES: Oh hey, stars. Shiny!
MELKOR: Oh hey, breeding stock.
ELVES: AUGH!
UNGOLIANT: Want shiny.
MELKOR: Let's go get shiny.
FEANOR: I've made more shiny!
VALAR: Good, 'cos Melkor took ours. Can we have yours?
FEANOR: No! MY SHINIES! MINE!
VALAR: Aw, !&*()!@&)!(&.
MELKOR: Got the shinies!
UNGOLIANT: Not enough shiny. Want more shiny!
MELKOR: You can't have 'em.
UNGOLIANT: Grar.
MELKOR: Eeek! *runs*
FEANOR AND SONS: We're gettin' our shinies back. And YOU CAN'T HAVE 'EM, Valar!
MELKOR/MORGOTH: No you're not. *stabbity fiery burny death*
BEREN: Ooo! Pretty elf lady!
THINGOL: You can have her if you ... BRING ME A SHINY!
BEREN: Worth a shot.
LUTHIEN: La la la
MORGOTH: Ooo baby... *zzz*
BEREN: Got your shiny!
MORGOTH: you BASTARD! I stole those fair and square!
CARCHAROTH: Grar.
BEREN: Ow!
THINGOL: Got the shiny?
BEREN: 's in my hand.
THINGOL: And?
BEREN: Hand's not here.
THINGOL: Crap, I really wanted that shiny.
CARCHAROTH: GRAR!!!!
BEREN: *dies*
LUTHIEN: *dies* La la la.
MANDOS: ... oh all right.
LUTHIEN: *returns to life*
BEREN: *returns to life*
LUTHIEN: Beren! Look! The shiny! In a necklace!
FEANOR'S SONS: *mutter*
LUTHIEN: *dies again*
BEREN: *dies again*
DIOR: Oo, Mom's shiny!
FEANOR'S SONS: WANT SHINY!
DIOR: *dies*
ELWING: Eek! *grabs shiny, runs*
FEANOR'S SONS: !*&(!)&)*!.
EARENDIL: Hey. Nice shiny. Yo! Valar!
VALAR: Well FINALLY. *stomp stomp stomp*
EARENDIL: Wow, planetary orbit!
MORGOTH: Eek!
VALAR: Got your shinies!
MAGLOR AND MAEDHROS: You mean OUR shinies!
VALAR: Oh *!&(!&).
MAGLOR AND MAEDHROS: Ow! Burny shinies!
MAEDHROS: Fine. This sucks. *jumps into chasm*
MAGLOR: Um... not really looking forward to meeting Dad again... *chucks shiny into sea* Bye. *wanders off*
VALAR: Well... um... okay.

AKALLABETH:

VALAR: Thanks for helping with Morgoth, Edain! Have an island! Elros is in charge!
EDAIN: Cool!
VALAR: Don't come looking for us.
EDAIN: Okay.
ELVES OF TOL ERESSEA: Have our stuff!
NUMENOREANS: Neat! Ooo, Middle-Earth!
GIL-GALAD: Dudes. Good to see you.
NUMENOREANS: Yeah, same here. What's going on?
GIL-GALAD: War with Sauron mostly.
MEN OF MIDDLE-EARTH: Shiny tall wonderful wise sea-king dudes! Yay!
NUMENOREANS: Here, have some stuff and wisdom.
MEN OF MIDDLE-EARTH: <3 <3 <3
NUMENOREANS: Life is cool. Why do we have to die?
ELVES: You're human?
NUMENOREANS: Can the Valar fix that?
VALAR: No.
NUMENOREANS: That sucks. Go away.
ELVES: Fine.
ELENDILI: Hey! Over here! We still like you!
MEN OF MIDDLE-EARTH: Gosh, we're lonely.
NUMENOREANS: Whatever, give us your wealth and your children.
MEN OF MIDDLE-EARTH: Um, okay.
ELENDILI: This isn't gonna end well, is it?
ELVES: No.
TAR-PALANTIR: We're sorry?
GIMILKHAD: *I'm* not.
AR-PHARAZON: Thanks for the throne, dude.
TAR-MIRIEL: Hey!
AR-PHARAZON: Shaddap, woman. Sauron, j00 suxx0r! I 0wnz0r j00!
SAURON: Okay.
AR-PHARAZON: Make me immortal.
SAURON: Human sacrifice is good. Also burn that pesky white tree.
AR-PHARAZON: Um. . .
ISILDUR: Hey! White tree! Got your fruit!
SAURON: *makes chicken noises*
AR-PHARAZON: Fine. Tree burn! Fire pretty!
ELENDIL: Isildur, Anarion, get the boats.
AR-PHARAZON: I've got a huge navy! Let's go conquer Valinor!
VALAR: Oh no you don't. *CRASHBANGBOOM*
AR-PHARAZON & CO.: Eeek!
ELENDIL, ISILDUR, ANARION: Wheee!
NUMENOREANS: Arrgh!
NUMENOR: SPLOOSH.
SAURON: Bwa ha ha! Um, where's my body?
ILUVATAR: Did I mention the world is round now?
NUMENOREANS IN EXILE: Well, crap.

OF THE RINGS OF POWER AND THE THIRD AGE:

ELVES: Wonder what's going on over the ocean. This crafting deal is pretty sweet, though!
DWARVES: Yeah, seriously.
ANNATAR: Hi, elves! Wanna learn some cool stuff?
ELVES: Okay!
SAURON: They fell for it.
SEVEN DWARVES: Thanks for the rings! . . oooh, GOLD! MUST HAVE GOLD!
NINE MEN: Neat rings. . . Hey, didn't Mom die like six hundred years ago?
CELEBRIMBOR: Okay, how about we do three more and call it a wrap?
SAURON: How about I do one more and claim them ALL?
ELVES: AUGH!
SAURON: Bwa ha ha!
LAST ALLIANCE OF ELVES AND MEN: Push off.
SAURON: Make me.
ISILDUR: Whack.
SAURON: Ow.
ELROND: Hey, you got his ring. Let's ditch it.
ISILDUR: No.
ELROND: This sucks.
ISILDUR: Tell me about it. *dies*
GONDORIANS: *change calendar*
CIRDAN: Hi, wizards! You in the grey, catch!
SAURON: Okay, that's long enough. Movin' into Dol Guldur.
SARUMAN: It's not him. Also the ring's lost at sea.
RING: No I'm not.
THE WISE: Augh.
THE WEAK: Bad ring! Volcano for you!
RING: *melts*
SAURON: AUGH!
MORDOR: BOOM.
GONDORIANS: *change calendar*
ELROND, GALADRIEL: Road trip!
GANDALF: Hi Cirdan! Still got your ring!
CIRDAN: Cool. Let's go to Valinor!

(Originally posted here.)

Not updating all that much, I suppose...

2008-03-28T08:51:00.000-07:00

...after all, that is. I am still trying to figure out my concept for this blog. I don't think it will be a journal of our family, or even a blog for my personal news. I suppose I initially considered that it would be a place where I'd post interesting things. Still trying to figure it out. Thanks for your patience. I know you're itching to hear my words of wisdom...

Lists, lists, lists...

2007-10-12T09:56:00.000-07:00

There is no such thing as a purely objective list when it comes to such things as "best rock band" or "best movie" and so forth. I suppose that's the way it should be, but there have been several decent attempts, using various criteria, at creating a "Top 100" list of one sort or another.

Here is one such attempt: AVRev.com's Top 100 Rock Albums of All Time. It's not a bad list, despite some oddities (Michael Jackson's Bad being on the list at all, U2's Zooropa instead of War, for instance). However, a few quibbles aside, it's a fair list, as these go.

Led Zeppelin gets the award for the most representation on the list, but Peter Gabriel also does well. I was happy to see a good showing by progressive rock bands (Pink Floyd, Yes, King Crimson and Rush) because that genre gets overlooked sometimes (I know Floyd doesn't, but they're exceptional).

Tell me what you think.

Always updating

2007-10-10T13:08:00.001-07:00

I am always updating this blog (sometimes more frequently than other times). It's all about learning how to do this and keep it fun. So I might be experimenting with different templates over the next several weeks. I hope this does not become too disconcerting for regular viewers (I know there are soo many of you out there...).

Kenzie is six months old...

2007-10-08T12:57:00.000-07:00

...and she still likes us! Actually, she turned 6 months at the end of September, but I'm lousy at updating this blog. Anyway, Kenzie has a sweet disposition and she's a lot of fun. She is learning to sit up, and really wants to crawl, but can't quite manage it, yet.

New job!

2007-08-14T23:51:00.000-07:00

As of June 28, 2007, I am now an associate attorney at the law firm of Newman, Morris & Dachelet, located in wonderful downtown Las Vegas. I'm still doing primarily commercial and business litigation, but the firm is quite a bit smaller than Albright, and it's an overall better situation for us.

Some cool tunes

2007-04-11T17:08:00.001-07:00

Some new discoveries and upcoming items to speak of:

Rain -- Cerulean Blue
Think: modern 70's era Genesis. Not bad, really.

Additionally, the great team of Robin Guthrie and Harold Budd have 2 new CDs coming out:
After the Night Falls...

... and Before the Dawn Breaks.

Very good stuff. More new discoveries and new tunes on the way.

Kenzie Elanor Stirling

2007-04-07T10:18:00.000-07:00

Our little star was born on Wednesday, March 28, 2007. She's a lot of fun.