Virtute.org

On my birthday I’ll take some time to be a little self-indulgent and describe myself and some of the ways I’ve changed. 

I’m a bit plumper than I once was.  I’m about 185 lbs these days, where just a few years ago I was 155.  My hair is receding just a bit, but it’s at an awkward in-between place and has been for a couple of years. 

I’m still a Mormon boy, true blue, dyed in the wool, through and through.  I’m not always very good at it, but that’s what I am, and that’s what I’ll stay.

I’m still a little bit cranky, especially when I feel like my living space is out of sorts.  More than ever, I like things a certain way.  This causes friction for visitors, and I try to be less particular (without much success).  Outside of my own “cave”, I’m more sociable.  I have a decent sense of humor when used appropriately and generally have no trouble making friends and getting along with people. 

I still play the piano and guitar.  I left my grandfather’s accordion with my parents in Utah and I sold my trumpet a long time ago.  I have experimented with composition on the computer, but it’s not serious and just for fun.  I don’t take time to write music seriously anymore. 

I like the Colts, Cougars, Vols, and Jazz.  I hate the Utes, Gators, and Lakers.

I was a lot more physically active last year.  I climbed Mt. Nebo, Provo Peak, and Deseret Peak for the first time.  Now that I’m in Tennessee, all the mountains seem too small and climbing them is less interesting.  They are pretty, though.

I still love gadgets, but not so obsessively.  We have three Roombas of various types; one sweeps, one vacuums, and one mops.  I got a Kindle for Christmas.  I carry a BlackBerry, but work pays for it.  My mp3 player is an old brown Zune; haven’t found a pressing reason to upgrade it.  I’ve had the same digital camera for about 4 years now.  We don’t have an HDTV, but we’ve had DVRs of some sort or another for at least 7 years.  I have 4 computers; my main computer, running Windows 7; my work computer, which runs Windows XP; my netbook, which runs whatever version of Windows or Linux I’m in the mood for, and my “other” computer, running Ubuntu.  My main computer’s processor is about 4 generations old, and the graphics card is about 3 generations old. I guess the point is I’m a bit more discriminating about my technology and waste less money on it.

I love all kinds of music.  I have a penchant to really love melancholy songs, such as “This is Just a Modern Rock Song” by Belle & Sebastian, “Over Yonder” by Steve Earle, “Word on a Wing” by David Bowie, “Miami” by Counting Crows, “I Wish it Would Rain” by the Temptations, “Take it Back” by Pink Floyd, “Hearts and Bones” by Paul Simon, “Sleeping In” by the Postal Service, “Fast Train” by Solomon Burke, “Going to California” by Led Zeppelin. 

I like upbeat songs too, especially rock and blues (and alt-country/bluegrass, surprisingly): “Sitting on Top of the World”, especially the Cream and Carl Perkins versions, “Sukie in the Graveyard” by Belle & Sebastian, “Sugar Magnolia” by the Grateful Dead, “Gone Gone Gone” by Carl Jackson and Emmylou Harris, “Dreamin’" by Weezer, “99 in the Shade” by Bon Jovi.

I love to read history, especially military history.  Sometimes details or individuals make a great impact on my mind and remain with me.  Most recent have been histories on the 6 Days War and the Yom Kippur War.  I like Paul Johnson’s work too.

I love fiction, when it “has a price”.  My favorite book this past year was Suttree by Cormac McCarthy, which is coincidental since it’s set in Knoxville.  I also still love epic fantasy when it’s well done.  Robert Jordan was the best world-builder with his Wheel of Time, and Brandon Sanderson is carrying that work on fairly well.  George R. R. Martin is the best for plot and very good with characters, too; try his Song of Ice and Fire.  I recently enjoyed Anathem by Neal Stephenson.  I’d also recommend the Hyperion tetralogy by Dan Simmons for my SciFi friends.  I enjoy Jack Vance for his precision of language and excellent stories.  I love John LeCarre, especially The Night Manager, Little Drummer Girl, and all the Smiley books.  I read All the King’s Men this last year, by Robert Penn Warren.  It was heartbreaking and amazing.  He paints a vivid picture, but he also exposes emotion brilliantly. 

I like to read about culture and its decline, too.  Most recently, Amusing Ourselves to Death by Neal Postman.  My favorite authors on culture are Victor Davis Hansen, Theodore Dalrymple, and James Bowman. 

My favorite TV shows: House, Top Gear, How It’s Made, South Park, Futurama, The Office, American Idol, Parks and Recreation.  Mostly Top Gear.  All other TV is terrible by comparison.  Even if you don’t care about cars, it’s great television.  And if you do like cars, it’s Nirvana.

I’m still indifferent to most movies, though I did finally watch “Once Upon a Time in the West” and “The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” this past year and was amazed at the perfection of acting, cinematography, and score for each.  I don’t mean to be a curmudgeon, but most movies today are crap.

Blogs I follow:  Engadget, Big Government, Big Hollywood, Michelle Malkin, Camille Paglia, Jay Nordlinger, Michael J. Totten, James Bowman, Gizmodo, WhichTestWon, Lifehacker, People of Walmart, Art of Manliness, ty.rannosaur.us, mental_floss, Bleat, Autoblog, FAILblog, Claremont, Michael Yon.  Honorable mention to James Taranto and Best of the Web Today, which no longer has an RSS feed but which is the most pithy thing I read in any day.

My blogs (all infrequently updated): Virtute.org, Modstomp.com, slingandstones.org.

Podcasts I listen to: Radio Derb, History of Rome, History Network: Military, BYU: New Speeches, BYU: Classic Speeches, Mark Levin.

I read stories to Isaac and Charlotte every night, and often I get to tuck Nicole in too.  I spend a lot of time with Ila when I can so Kathleen can have her hands free.  I feel just a little nuts: we have 4 children, all 5 years old and younger.  This is a hard thing now, but it will be a good thing soon.  With them close together we can do more as a family and hopefully they’ll bond together really well.  I’m pretty sure we’re not done at 4.  The world needs more Cochrans.

Well, I think that sums me up as much as a blog post can. Happy New Year, everybody.