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Here is another way to find what's available on this site. Hint: in most browsers [CTRL+f] will activate the "Find in Page" tool to allow you to search the text on this page.
The [HTML version] of this page still provides links to some of the old HTML content on this site.
This section contains stuff that interests me that isn't primarily related to family or church.
Descartes' View of Sense Perception
A brief paper written for a class in Modern Philosophy. It amazes me that this page is requested more often than any of the others on my site. Perhaps philosophy students are still struggling to understand this stuff.
school class philosophy perception knowledge
The class was "Business and Technical Writing" and the assignment was to provide instructions on how to complete a task, with the choices given as "tying shoelaces" or "make a paper airplane". The airplane seemed like a much simpler task. For ten years or so this was near the top of search results for paper airplanes on the web, and the most popular page on my site.
school class writing paper airplane how-to
What I want my children and grandchildren to know and be thinking about. It is a compilation of various materials from my website along with some new writing.
essay philosophy social relationships education
The beginnings of an essay on freedom, work, and society.
essay philosophy social structures work freedom
How To Make A Mug Of Hot Cocoa
It's a simple process, why does it require two pages of instructions? Have fun!
recipes cocoa how-to food rituals
A little something to go with your hot cocoa — though I usually prefer a mug of hot tea with my oatcakes.
recipes oatcakes how-to food
The basic recipe for this plain daily staple, plus instructions for dozens of enhanced, even fancy versions.
recipes oatcakes daily bread how-to food
My standard breakfast porridge; in case I become too feeble to prepare my own meals someday, someone will be able to prepare some familiar comfort food for me.
recipes oats breakfast porridge how-to food rituals
My few feeble attempts at creating art.
drawings photos pictures paintings
My few very brief attempts to write poetry.
poetry
What are the minimum requirements to live a life with human dignity? An essay working toward examining the the rights and duties of individual persons, and of their various societal units.
rights duties humanity society essay
What will I say to my grandchildren and great-grandchildren when they ask about climate change?
climate change degrowth
A very short story. It is possibly autobiographical fiction.
fiction story Modesto
Not "where am I?" exactly, but "where is the only place that is not there?" Don't get lost.
locus of perception navel-gazing
A very short story. No children were actually lost; but the peace and composure of the adults was seriously depleted for a while. Not every child who does not answer when called is absent.
story searching lost found
A quick note-taking utility -- two different ways to accomplish a task that was simple on a PC back in 1984 but is less so now.
A description, perhaps even documentation, of the process and code I used to implement the blog I'm using on this server. It is all very simple, like Spartan itself.
documentation blog Spartan
When I was young I thought I knew everything; this page contains some comments I made at a birthday party a few years ago. Now that I'm not young I perhaps can tell what is important.
essays
An essay examining admissions policies and practices at acute care behavioral health facilities.
mental health involuntary commitment admissions essay
A one-time attempt at a blog that I only posted to a few times.
blog small town living perception prejudice
A reflection on the origins of life, and science, and truth. One of the first pages I posted on my web site (1996).
essay evolution creation truth speculation
A brief essay about the sources and nature of truth. That description sounds more philosophical than the page itself warrants.
scripture bible truth philosophy
On the Use and Misuse of English
"Life is filled with little annoyances... get used to it." My children and grandchildren have heard me repeat that phrase many times – here I complain about how others misuse certain words.
words mangled English
A brief guide to reading Gemtext files.
It may be that you don't yet have a browser or other software to display Gemtext files (the file format used for Spartan and Gemini protocol sites). This helps explain what a gemtext file looks like from a reader's point of view, and suggests strategies for using the files if they are presented in their raw plain-text form.
how-to gemtext
Home is somewhere around here. Every site needs a Home page! Actually, I like to tinker with maps so this made a fun place to do some of that.
map
"Sir Gibbie" by George MacDonald
A book by George MacDonald publiished in 1897 about a neglected impoverished young boy who becomes a super-hero - or perhaps the greatest lover in all the land. Written in English, but with many (sometimes long) passages in broad Scots dialect.
book Christian themes love adventure story
An old map of a town that existed briefly that is now part of Modesto.
map Modesto
Some contemporary photos and some historical background of the small community of Hills Ferry.
history photos pictures map
Nothing astrological here; a Gemini is a pocket-sized computer and this page is my review of its pros and cons.
review Android handheld computer keyboard
How do you know? A class assignment on one of the elements of the scientific method.
school class assignment
An old resume from when I was actually looking for work.
resume employment history
Pages dealing with Christian themes, mostly related to The Salvation Army.
A good place to start if you're trying to figure out what The Salvation Army is all about, this is the document signed by persons who wish to enroll as soldiers of The Salvation Army.
soldier SalvationArmy doctrine
A side-by-side comparison of three different versions (old, older, and current) of the covenant that Soldiers of The Salvation Army agree to.
soldier SalvationArmy
What's Right With The Salvation Army
A list of elements I believe The Salvation Army has right or does well. The original intent was to expand each item with a paragraph or two of explanations or examples — over 20 years later and it is still firmly ensconced in my *List of Unfinished Projects*.
SalvationArmy
What's Wrong With The Salvation Army
An insider's view of what ought to be improved in The Salvation Army.
SalvationArmy
Is the use of militant music within The Salvation Army declining?
SalvationArmy music songs
Two favorite songs that weren't included in the old "new songbook" (1986).
SalvationArmy songs
Grays Harbor Salvationists Fellowship
A small collection of material relating to a group of Salvationists that met for about a year after their local Salvation Army corps closed permanently. Meetings were suspended during the CoViD-19 pandemic and have not resumed since.
local SalvationArmy
How To Be A Soldier... When You Don't Have A Local Corps
Some thoughts I recorded early in the process of adjusting to the fact that our local Corps would soon be closing permanently. It helped sort out my options and my priorities. Includes a link to the accompanying set of presenter's slides.
SalvationArmy essays
A list of Christian churches in the Aberdeen area
church
Just what it says on the label. A collection of links to my favorite Bible study resources.
bible study
My Bible study discussion guides are all on this page, along with my most recent sermons. Most are PDF files because participants were given printed copies.
scripture bible study
The most recent and most complete of a series of essays on this topic. It is an examination of the meaning of "love" in Biblical texts.
love service
One of several working drafts, or earlier attempts, to answer the question "what is love?" from a Biblical perspective. The most recent, most complete version is this:
love essays scripture bible study
One of several working drafts, or earlier attempts, to answer the question "what is love?" from a Biblical perspective. The most recent, most complete version is this:
love essays scripture bible study
A very short story about what it means to love.
love story family essays
An unfinished essay exploring what it means to be "holy".
holy scripture bible study essays
A sermon exploring what it means to be "holy". Though I remember delivering this as a sermon, as I read it now it seems more like an essay.
holy sermon scripture bible study essays
This is a set of presenter's slides to be used with the Bible study
God's People In Exile: What Should We Do?
I was testing whether it might be possible to replace the printed study questions with just the onscreen version. This was also my first test of using the Reveal.js
library to replace my use of LibreOffice Impress or Microsoft PowerPoint.
test presentation bible study slideset
Sanctity of Marriage and Family
Not just unfinished, but just barely started, exploration of a phrase that appears in the new Soldiers Covenant but not the older
The lyrics to a song that I've listened to a lot.
music song lyrics
What's the right way to tell someone they're wrong? With courtesy and respect.
sermon scripture bible study tactfulness courtesy respect
Reflections on nourishing and caring for new Christians.
exhortation commentary spiritual growth
Our personal values are made evident in what we choose to do.
exhortation encouragement
An imagined very short story about what the world looks like through the Creator's eyes.
sin redemption love
A miniature sermon on purpose.
purposeful living sermon
A sermon of sorts, about compassion.
sermon compassion acceptance tolerance
Asked to write out my personal testimony, I sat down and recorded this summary of key points in my spiritual journey. It leaves out a lot since it focuses on about the first decade of my life as a Christian. Also here is my mother's:
testimony spiritual growth history SalvationArmy church
Primarily related to The Salvation Army, where I spent 52 years. This is where you'll find most of my church-related material. This is a menu page in this site's original organizational scheme, it just contains links to other stuff.
menu links
These pages are likely to be of interest primarily to my family and friends.
A couple of photos taken at the party we had to celebrate my mother's 80th birthday.
photos pictures family
It's the 21st century now and there's this crazy new thing: "social media" -- maybe I should check it out.
social media connections addresses
If you're able to read my "finger" data it looks something like this, which serves as an introductory answer to "what are you up to these days?"
now finger project plan
The Ugly Duckling Christmas Tree
Tells the story of the crafty way we improvised a christmas tree.
story pictures family christmas crafts
A very short story about a very little girl.
story fiction family
A collaborative memoir built from an extravagant gift.
memory family history HTML CSS markup test
If you're trying to figure out when to pull my plug, this page may help. Though I've since had an attorney create proper legal documents for me, they are intended to be consistent with this page. Besides, it may help you to think about what your desires are for your own life.
family terminal illness
A few brief anecdotes of our time spent living in Alaska.
Ketchikan Alaska story
A brief attempt we made at maintaining a blog, mostly travel-related stuff.
blog travel family Utah Colorado Nevada
Another attempt I made at maintaining a blog. Posts include:
Plus more..
blog travel childhood adventures party behavior memories problems resolution photos
Brief comments about contrasts we noticed when we moved back to California after living in Alaska for ten years.
anecdotes Alaska California
For years my mother baked lots of cookies and used them to make lots of friends. Of course some of them asked for recipes; here they are.
recipes cookies how-to
After my first couple of semesters in college I was diagnosed with a learning disability. This page is the brief explanation that I gave instructors when requesting accommodations in testing schedules.
learning disabilities dysgraphia
CSUS Commencement 2000 Information
Information I posted for the benefit of family and friends who wanted to attend my graduation ceremony.
school CSU Stanislaus commencement graduation
We were asked at church to write out our personal testimonies; my mother asked if I would include hers here.
Some poetry and other bits from my parents and grandmother.
poetry recipes
Not a biography, but more information about me than you're likely to be interested in.
biographic summary
HELP! My Friend Has Multiple Personalities
An introduction to MPD as we experienced it, written to help our friends understand.
MPD DID
Early in 2011, being essentially unemployed, I spent some to sorting through the thousands of pictures taken during the previous year with our camera. These are some of the best, or most interesting.
pictures photos 2010
"Consider it pure joy..." the scripture said. God, I'm not sure I can handle any more pure joy right now, have you got any other kind?
patience trust
A travelogue that was originally written before the World Wide Web was available, printed in booklet form, and distributed to the various friends and family members. When we started getting requests for reprints I converted it to the web (without the drawings that illustrated the original).
travelogue vacation driving
What is this site all about?
about colophon history
Gemtext Highlighting For The Tilde Editor
My favorite text editor didn't have syntax highlighting for Gemtext so this file documents what I did to fix that.
My recommendations for Spartan protocol client software.
Spartan software
Use these templates for laying out common table styles using box-drawing characters.
editing tables box-drawing
Another page containing various emoji and other characters I sometimes need. It's easier to find them here than looking them up elsewhere.
editing emoji special characters
Emoji Keyboard/Display Test Data 14.0 [gemtext; here]
Emoji Keyboard/Display Test Data 14.0 [HTTP .txt file; unicode.org]
This file provides data for testing which emoji forms should be in keyboards and which should also be displayed/processed.
editing emoji
Returns your IP address, for those times when you want to know what your external address is.
ip address utility
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