Jim Stitzel
Jack-of-All-Trades, Master of WordsExcerpts from Life
Apocalyptica
Recently, a friend of mine turned me on to a band called Apocalyptica (thanks, Oboe). Long-time readers of this blog know I'm a huge fan of classical music and not such a huge fan of most forms of popular music. Being a musician myself, I'm rather particular about the...
HowTo: Install Ghostscript on MediaTemple
I thought I'd go ahead and describe the process for installing Ghostscript on a MediaTemple (dv) server, especially since I've already got one reader who would like to see it. Use your favorite shell client to log on to your (mt) account as root. I use PuTTY Portable...
Fractional Canceling Error
I love "this post":http://scienceblogs.com/builtonfacts/2008/11/testing_123.php from Matt Spring on "Built on Facts":http://scienceblogs.com/builtonfacts/ the other day. In it he describes a mathematical manipulation on a test that "he think[s] should almost be worth...
Fiction
The Guardian and the Archive
The sun rises above the Enceladean horizon, and the small moon’s icy surface immediately begins to sublimate. Wisps of vapor rise and dance, looking for all the world like tendrils of delicate smoke. The vapor coils and writhes and is carried through the thin...
Chance Encounter
The ship is an ancient rustbucket, and it looks as though it has been here since time immemorial. It was probably a fighter once upon a time, but it is difficult to tell. Time has worn its identity away, and the foliage has overgrown it so that it is little more than...
Forward Unto Destiny
Traxis packs the last of her gear into her satchel and snaps the buckle closed. She hoists it over her head and settles the strap over her right shoulder, reaching behind her to adjust the satchel until it rests comfortably in the small of her back. Her Hunter's cloak...