Recent Articles
Favorite Songs of All Time (so far) v1
Feb 24, 2009 General Leave a comment
A couple of months ago, my brother had asked me what I thought the top 10 or so songs of all time were. Being a very subjective question in my opinion, I figured I could answer, but only for “my favorite” songs of all time. Even then, not something that can be answered quickly IMHO.
Over the years I have cherry-picked and accumulated over 3000 songs on my iPOD (now Zune). These are all songs that I like, and I have tried to target all of my favorites. I can’t guarantee I got ‘em all, but I must be close!
Using that as a starting base, and the fact that I have every morning and afternoon driving to/from work, I started stepping through the songs 1-by-1, to highlight some of my favorites. Based on this, I cut the list down to just over 100 songs.
Here are the lists so far. My goal is to get a top 25. After that, I think it is really tough to pick and choose, as your mood really plays into this (i.e. am I ready to rock, or mellow, or whatever…) This does not include Holiday, Kids or Classical.
Complete Song List (including all types): CLICK HERE
Top 126 (so far): CLICK HERE
Based on the Complete Song List, if you think something that is great is missing, let me know! I may have missed it, and always like to expand the collection! Thanks ahead of time!
(Remember, these are MY favorites…some are cheesy! If you don’t like it, make your own list!) 
Daily To-Do
Jan 15, 2009 General Leave a comment
I needed an easy way to make sure I get some things done this year, each day. (part of my 2009 Soul & Spirit resolution!) I looked around, and there are some things, but being lazy, they were too much trouble. Ended up making a simple Excel spreadsheet that I can just double-click in a cell when/if I got it done each day. It highlights the current day, and on double-click changes the value of the cell from nothing to 1 or back again.
I put a shortcut in the Startup folder on my computer, so I update it each morning.
Feel free to take a look and use it if you like! It is an Office 2007 macro-enabled workbook for the double-click, so you’ll have to let it run macros.
Here’s a link: Daily To-Do Excel Spreadsheet
My list of great & useful Apps
This is a list of applications that I have loaded and use on my computer. There are more, but I would re-install these right away in case my system rashed, as they are highly useful!
- UltraEdit - Text Editor (…need free, try Notepad++)
- RocketDock - Launchbar
- Firefox - Better than IE browser
- KeePass - Password Manager
- CCleaner - Windows Cleanup Utility
- WSFTP - FTP Client
- Putty - Terminal Session utility
- MediaMonkey - Music Manager
- Rainlendar - Desktop Calendar
- Skype - Chat Program
- IrfanView - Image/Graphics Utility
- VLC - Media Manager
- PDF Creator – PDF Printer/Maker for any program
- E-Sword – Software-Based Bible
- WinSCP - SCP Communication utility
- WinZip/WinRAR – Compression utilities
- Everything - File Search Utility
Other than those, below are some other useful apps, but did not make “the list”
- GIMP - Graphics software
- Microsoft Virtual CD Control Tool – ISO Mounting
- Mailstore - e-Mail backup
- AutoIT - Scripting Software
- SyncToy - Syncing of Files and Folders
- CDex - CD Ripper
- ColorCop - Color Chooser
- VMWare - Virtual Machines
- TightVNC - VNC Client/Server
- CAMStudio - Screen Recorder
- DAZ Studio – 3D Graphics
- Harping - Harmonica Software
- MP3Gain - MP3 Volume Normalizer
- ZScreen - Screen Capture Utility
- Picasa - Graphics
- YAPP - Picture Browser
- Audacity - Audio Utility
- IconTweaker - Desktop Icon Manager
- DVDx - DVD Conversion
- BAT to EXE Converter – Utility (f2ko(dot)de)
Facebook Connect
Dec 17, 2008 General Leave a comment
OK, I integrated the new Facebook Connect to the webRetreat. If you are a “friend” on Facebook, you should be able to log into the webRetreat as well! If you are not a “Friend”…I am not sure if you can or can’t? It was unclear on that point.
In any case, this made it easier to manage visitors than doing it myself! (always looking for the easy way out)
Gotta love the Xbox!
Dec 16, 2008 General Leave a comment
In the past I have digitized most of our family photos and videos to DVD, but even in that format, you rarely go to the trouble of finding the DVD, and then loading searching for what you wanted to see.
Being curious about these new Media devices and applications (i.e. stream your photos/videos/etc straight to the TV), I started to look around for a good deal.
What I found was that my old Xbox (NOT the Xbox 360 or newer, I am talking the old Xbox) could be converted to a Media center! Not just a Media Center, but the highest rated Media Center out there right now! Woohoo!
Its called XBMC (http://xbmc.org/). It does take some time to “Hack” the Xbox, but once its done, you have a really cool Media Center on your network, for only $30-$40!!!! Sweet deal, for a cheapskate like me.
If you have some electrical/computer technical ability, would recommend checking it out. If you don’t…don’t bother. Find someone who has already done it, and have them fix ya up!
( …also, if you have a son under 2 years old, keep him away from the Xbox or he will somehow find out how to undo all your changes and remove Linux from your Xbox system in about 1 minute, which took you about 3 hours to load >:-| )
An artistic aside…
Dec 1, 2008 General Leave a comment
I saw a neat little article on making retro-comic’s from your photos, and decided to give it a try, while creating a little tribute to my wonderful wife, Lynn! It came out pretty good, I think…
It is not us sheep
Nov 21, 2008 General Leave a comment
Last week, my pastor was talking from Psalms, and got on the point of how there are “none that seek God” (Romans 3). He used the example of Jesus being the Shepherd, and us as the sheep, as is used in the Bible (Mat 2:6). What struck me is the genius of the use of this example, when you take a look at what we are capable of from a spiritual perspective, versus a sheep
- A sheep is not a smart animal. I dont mean to insult anyones intelligence, but I think it points to us not having the understanding or knowledge of spritiual things without Christ.
- A sheep is a herd or pack creature most times. It will follow the herd, sometimes even to its death. I don’t think there is any explanation needed here to make the parallel.
- A sheep really has no defenses. It points to the fact that without Christ, we have no defenses from the attacks and sins of this world that are pervasive in our society without Jesus
- Sheep wander, and get into things they should not. Again, not much explanation needed here, but how often does this happen.
- Finally, when a sheep is lost, is it smart enough to find its way back? No. It can only make it back through the guidance of the Shepherd.
This last point is what struck me. Though it was not brought up during the service, it hit home with me while thinking about it. If we are all lost sheep, then it is not by our own will do we decide, “Hey I am going to go be a Christian!”, but its through God’s grace, love and desire to bring us to Him.
So the next time a freind asks you to visit their Church, or wants to talk about Jesus, just remember, its probably God working through them, with His grace, love and desire to bring you back into the “fold” (sheep reference again, sorry)
Skype status now on the front page
Nov 13, 2008 General Leave a comment
I use Skype at work for all IM. This is for both business and personal, so if you want to get in touch with me, use Skype and click on the Skype icon at the top of the webRetreat page (little green or grey icon) The icon shows my status. Green is good!
The webRetreat got a fresh new look this week!
Nov 6, 2008 General Leave a comment
Picked up a nice new theme called DAILYPRESS theme by Blog Oh! Blog
Worked out real nice for a new modern look and feel, as well as easier navigation!
Hope ya like it!
On the issues, morally…
Nov 6, 2008 General, Politics Leave a comment
In many cases, I can live with the stances in either party regarding budget, economy, energy, technology, social security and environment, though in many of these I lean toward the right.
What I CANNOT agree with is the moral issues. Here is a list of some of those issues, and why I cannot stand on the left, as they differ on all these points below:
- Abortion
I believe that a child is born at conception. I believe God gave us freedom of choice, and I highly value a woman’s right to choose whether to create a child or not to create a child. Once the choice is made to create a child, then I am all about protecting that child’s life. Anyone still has the right to choose, but at that point, the choice is to commit murder or not. God knows each one of us even before we were born (Jer 1:5), so how can we take that life once it is in existence?
Now what about Rape/Incest cases? I think the <1% of cases in this category would fall well into the available adoptions, and I cannot believe that the psychologically traumatization of killing your child is beneficial to the already traumatized victim.
What about the risks to the mother? I believe that everything should be done to protect the health of both the child and the mother that is medically possible, without targeting either for termination.
Though only accounting for <10% or less of the abortions in the US, these latter cases are where I think the focus of the Church and State should be! - Homosexuality
I believe homosexuality is a sin (wrong). This is addressed directly by the Bible in both the Old and the New Testament (Romans and 1 Corinthians). It’s very clear. That being said, I believe the Church can do more to reach out to homosexuals, as it is not up to us to judge others based on the sin, but to love the sinner and share the gospel. - Traditional Institution of Marriage
I believe that Marriage is the union of 1 man and 1 woman. Going back to the roots of Adam and Eve, the institution is about 1 man and woman being united as one flesh (Gen 2:24). In addition, based on my beliefs of homosexuality above, same-sex marriage or other re-definition of the institution of marriage, I believe is wrong. - Stem Cell
I believe that the destruction (or its funding with taxpayer dollars) of human embryos for stem cells is wrong. Stem cells are available in both umbilical cord blood, and in adults (in bone marrow). These 2 sources of stem cells are available to assist in the research to address serious illnesses. As I believe a child is born at conception, ending one life to gain a medical benefit for another is wrong. - Cloning
I believe cloning is a sin. I believe that God has a plan for the creation of life, and that plan is through the union of a man and a woman. This creates the genetic diversity that God planned. In addition, as we are made in His image, tampering with that is, in my opinion, an abomination. The left’s position on Therapeutic cloning (or cloning for embryo’s) falls into, “2 wrongs don’t make a right!” - Creation vs Evolution
I believe God created everything (Gen 1:1). I do not believe in evolution, though I do believe that creation does evolve in some ways. I do not believe in the teaching of evolution as fact, but only as a theory, and in doing so, creationism should also be taught.
Of course there are more, but these are some of the more popular ones, and are the more fundamental ones that will probably prevent me from ever going left.
That being said, all authority on earth is given by God (Rom 13:1), so I will continue to pray (as I encourage other to do so as well) for our leaders to make the right choices!
