Jack McDevitt

Currently, I'd have to say that Jack McDevitt is my favorite science fiction author.

I picked up a novel of his about ten years ago and found it an average read. Since then I took a break from reading science fiction and when I delved back into that genre about five years ago one of the authors I started to read again was McDevitt.

He seems to be quite consistent with writing novels these days and it seems he publishes a new one about once a year. Some are not as good as others, some are more perfunctorily written, but then some really stand out for me.

He likes to take a lot of ordinary 20th and 21st society we find today and just place it a few hundred years or even ten thousand years in the future. The characters that inhabit his novels aren't grandiose or too fantastical. In some ways they live a practical, and non-assuming lives that are a little more than ordinary and where they're surrounded by more interesting technology and greater realms of exploration and adventure. This might be the reason that Jack's science fiction is more accessible to adult science fiction readers and that's why I like reading it.

His last few novels have focused on two timelines with two characters that inhabit those times. One, Priscilla Hutchins, who lives only a few hundred years in the future and two, Alex Benedict who lives around ten thousand years in the future when humanity has occupied a greater extent of our galaxy.

I just read one of his latest Priscilla Hutchins novels, "Cauldron" where she journeys to the center of the galaxy. The novel is broken into three parts and the actual final destination only takes a couple of chapters. It's more of a journey than destination novel. Hopefully, I presume that's what most authors try to achieve, although he might foreshorten the focus on the final destination. I found it a good fast read.

Ultimately though, my all-time favorite of his - and Hugo award winner - though is Seeker. That is a novel in the Alex Benedict series timeframe. I'll have to write about why I have read that book more than once a little bit later.

As Is the Universe, So Is the Atom

This is an adage from a Zen sayings mini book I've had in my collection for the last 15 years.

I'm reminded of this quote because I just a saw a great TV show on fractal geometry a few weeks back. It was part of the PBS NOVA series and went into how fractals pervade our lives from helping analyze forests to the use of fractal geometry in the creation of miniature antennas in wireless phones that we use today.

Maldelbrot sets explore fractal geometry and are quite beautiful. For me, one of the beauties of using maldelbrot programs is how you can take the whole mandelbrot design, zoom in and see that design repeated as you zoom in further and further into the set.

I feel this translates well into what we see with the universe that surrounds us. Maybe it's too simplistic but the structure of the infinitely small subatomic particles seems to be repeated in the layout of our own Milky Way to the countless galaxies in our universe.

Take for example the atom with the electrons flying around it nucleus. Can't exploded analogies be made of our solar system with the Sun and our 8 planets that revolve it or even to the stars that revolve around the center of our galaxy?

For me that's the amazing beauty of the space that surrounds us and lives inside of us. It may be a trite observation but for me that's what's so incredible.

A subset of the whole domain - however big it is - gives us clues to the whole domain's composition. There's something inspiring and incredible to this infinite fractal geometry.

Red Rocks 5K - October 12th

A few days ago I did the Red Rocks 5K with Kary.

Unlike a more likely 5K, this race starts with of a lot of downhill followed by an uphill trudge ending with a stair climb. The race course basically took a clockwise loop around Red Rocks starting in the upper north parking lot and then ending at the top of the amphitheater.

I did plenty of 5Ks in high school and then others throughout the years but this was the most unique grueling course. A lot of 5K courses usually have the same moderate amount of elevation loss and gain - or are basically flat - but this one had the most loss and gain I've ever done. Most courses I've done have had probably 300 feet total of elevation gain and loss but Red Rocks was more like 1000 feet. Most courses have you finish with a flat to moderate grade but Red Rocks was a stair climb to the finish.

With altitude, cold weather and so much climbing it was going to make for an interesting day. Additionally, since some "officials" on the course were not course guides, the group I was in took a wrong turn (while one of these guys was watching us take the wrong turn!) that resulted in us going about a mile extra. Luckily there was another official closer to Morrison Road that turned us around. Regardless, if wasn't pleasant to do an additional mile with so much uphill basically for the last mile and a half. My quads and calves were killing me the next 3 days.

I'd be pissed except that it was for a good cause.

Back in Boulder we were able to pig out on sausage egg cheese muffins and then take a nap later.

Trip to Oracle HQ at Redwood Shores, California

I flew to California last week for team training at Oracle headquarters.

I lived in Palo Alto for a year when I was in middle school so I was familiar with the area but some things have changed in the Bay Area the past 25 years.

US-101 is much more hectic and backed up although I think it was still plenty busy back then. We drove to San Francisco two nights for dinner and traffic near Belmont was stop and go till we got closer to downtown S.F.

We did take advantage of some great restaurants when we drove up to S.F. both nights. Swiss Louise was on Pier 39 and had a great view of the bay. I had Linguini and Clams, which was quite good. Wednesday night we went to House of NanKing. The claim to fame for this restaurant - besides its good food - is that you can have the owner order for you. He takes your menus, asks a few questions and entrees for the whole table come out within a few minutes. Definitely a great experience.

There seem to be a greater percentage of other cultures living in the Bay Area. Oracle HQ has a big percentage of people of Chinese and Indian descent. Compared to Boulder - where our offices are predominantly white - it's definitely a different world. Even driving on 101 I could see a greater ethnic melting pot.

Campus was huge with 7 huge cylindrical buildings for workers in addition to smaller periphery buildings. Each tower had a cafeteria on the 1st floor so each day was an opportunity to try some new cuisine.

We may go out for Spring training next year.

Ogden Labor Day Trip: August 29th - September 1st

Labor Day Weekend 2008 I flew out to Ogden to spend time with Luke and Susan.
I was able to get an airline ticket on Frontier two days before the trip for a great price (~$170) and also rent a car through Budget to drive up to Ogden from SLC airport. 
I was a little surprised Frontier Airlines was so cheap since Southwest Airlines is usually more economical with such short notice. Before finally purchasing the airline ticket I was thinking I had to drive out from Boulder and was balking at the idea of being in the car 7 hours each way. I'm glad I checked online to see any last minute deals.
The flight out was uneventful and baggage claim was straightforward. I did have to wait a while in the Budget line before finally getting my vehicle. They gave me a Chrysler Pacifica since it seemed they were out of higher MPG vehicles.  In some ways I was glad to try out something that was more of a sports style low cut minivan. It even had Sirius Satellite radio which I had never tried before.
I finally arrived in Ogden 35 miles later around 1 AM.
Saturday
Since I had read the weather report before coming out the Ogden I knew the second 1/2 of the weekend was going to get stormy and cold.
On a prior trip to Utah I had purchased a mountain bike guide to Park City. It had been sitting on my bedroom nightstand for the last year and a half and I really wanted to try a ride out of the book, finally.
Since Susan needed to do a training run for an upcoming marathon we also had to accommodate her too. Luckily, she was fine with training at a little higher altitude.
I was able to borrow my brother's full suspension mountain bike and chose a ride on Park City Mountain.
The ride consisted of going up Sweeney's Switchbacks to John's Trail over to Mid Mountain Trail and finally down Spiro Trail.
I can't say enough about how nice the loop turned out. I made it up as I went along and it could have easily turned out to be an out and back. Also since it was later in the day it could have been a much shorter ride but I was glad I committed to trying out the Mid Mountain Trail.  When I make it out to Park City again I'll definitely be doing this loop or a close variation of it again.
The climb up Sweeney's Switchbacks and John's Trail was quite nice. There were a few sections I had to get off the bike on Sweeney's but by the time I was on John's Trail the trail had leveled out and I was riding in Aspen groves. 
By the time I made it up John's Trail the time was about 6:30 PM so I had to decide quickly if I could do anymore riding. Luckily I was carrying the MTB book and was able to commit to the Mid Mountain Trail and figure coming down Spiro back to the base area of Park City Resort.
Mid Mountain has great views of Park City and the valley below.  I did see some other riders on the trail giving me confidence that I was still able to make it back to Park City before nightfall. When I did make it to the intersection with Spiro I was also able to talk with another rider to make sure I took an appropriate trail back down to Spiro since there were a few forks from which to choose.
By the time I made it back to the car there was still plenty of light and I waited for Luke and Susan.
Luke was getting hungry so he ate some appetizers at a nearby Indian Restaurant.
Later in the evening we decided to walk up Main Street and chanced upon Wahso - an Asian style grill.  The food was terrific and I'd definitely go back there although for three people the total bill came to about $125.00 dollars.
Sunday
Sunday was supposed to be raining but it didn't get that way until late afternoon.
We were able to hike up to Dog Lake in Mill Creek Canyon. The total hike was about 6 miles and there were plenty of people hiking with their dogs up to the lake and back.
I recalled that Luke and I had done part of the trail two years as a section of the Wasatch Crest Trail. Since Labor Day was an odd day there were no mountain bikes to be seen since they're only allowed on even days.
We made it for dinner in lower downtown Salt Lake City at an Italian restaurant called Biaggis.
The food wasn't as good as in Park City the night before but my Chilean Sea Bass was quite good.
Monday
Monday we stayed in Ogden.
We did go down to Ogden's indoor activity park where I convinced Susan to try indoor skydiving with me.
Cost for each person was $49 dollars but the experience was well worth it.
Although you only get to "skydive" for two minutes total (two one minute sessions) the feeling of being weightless and being twirled around by the instructor is well worth the experience.
I finally left around 6 PM for my 8:05 PM flight back. Total mileage for the rental car was 350 miles and the drive back to SLC was uneventful.

Two lyrics for Tab Benoit songs

I own a lot of albums from Tab Benoit but can't seem to find lyrics for his music in almost all - if not all - of his albums.

I like his live or more live feel albums like: Swampland Jam and The Sea Saint Sessions. Both of these albums don't come with lyric sheets and there's nothing on his website or even on regular Google searches.

I finally decided to write down the lyrics and then post them here. Hopefully they are somewhat correct.

Louisiana Style (1997)

1st verse:

I wanna tell you, just how I feel
I had a dream baby, I thought it was real
I woke up in love, now you’re all I think of

2nd verse:

Every day I’m wasting time
Wondering how, to make you mine
I’m just wishing it could be, you feel the same for me

1st Solo…

3rd verse:

Since that day, I’ve been lost
I jumped on an alligator, I thought it was a horse
I took one hell of a ride, down the Bayou side

4th verse:

If I could take you to the Fado Do
We could dance honey, all across the floor
And we could do it for awhile, Louisiana Style

2nd Solo…

5th verse:

I wanna take you all, to the Fado Do
Where we could dance baby, till we can’t stand no more
I wanna do it for awhile, Lousiana Style

Hustlin’ Down In New Orleans (2003)

1st verse:

I said hustlin’ down in New Orleans
Hustlin Henry gotta tambourine
He shaking them up, shaking them down, shaking everybody all over town
Hustlin’ down in New Orleans

2nd verse:

Hustlin’ down in New Orleans
Hustlin’ Connie down on magazines
She hits you once, she hits you twice, she’s going to hit you for the rest of your life
Hustlin’ down in New Orleans

Chorus:

Well I never made it across the tracks, but I can hear the whistle blowing right out back
Close enough to be on the scene, far enough to keep myself clean

Solo…

3rd verse:

Said hustlin’ down in New Orleans
Hustlin’ down on, on the corner scene
Put up a dollar ‘cause your bound to lose, when they try to tell you where you got your shoes

Chorus repeat:

2nd Solo…

Said hustlin’ down in New Orleans (repeat 3 times)

Conundrum Hot Springs Weekend

We did a backpacking trip last weekend to Conundrum Hot Springs. It's a classic trip although quite arduous if you have quite a bit of weight on your back.

Five people were in our party: me, David, Emily, Amy, and Tanya.

Total days being away from Boulder was 4. We left Thursday afternoon and returned Sunday evening.

Thursday night we camped out near Gothic which left us 3 full days of backpacking.

Either way you do it the length of the hike is equivalent from either Aspen or Crested Butte: about a 17 mile round trip.  The kicker is that the hike from Gothic entails a trip over Triangle Pass which is close to 13 thousand feet.  Some people might have a little more trouble with that