tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-56725722024-03-13T01:43:52.299-04:00From Birmingham to PittsburghA native of Birmingham, Alabama, I moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in 2000.Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.comBlogger130125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-25674813266911573842015-09-11T00:50:00.001-04:002015-09-11T00:50:04.034-04:00Contrails<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC14LdT8KEsrQPMRAXAaebK8UBSGwBj3JIvz4zNuQ4BMRUqH9wbWgRKih1-Li4EEgnN4weGxmG_yD-FEGXNrgCkV8j3VP6L6rLDea-CSG9ZHizKNbWmOyyrqas5FDQyAzVzCNe7Q/s1600/IMG_7383.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC14LdT8KEsrQPMRAXAaebK8UBSGwBj3JIvz4zNuQ4BMRUqH9wbWgRKih1-Li4EEgnN4weGxmG_yD-FEGXNrgCkV8j3VP6L6rLDea-CSG9ZHizKNbWmOyyrqas5FDQyAzVzCNe7Q/s320/IMG_7383.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
September 11, 2001. More than just "nine-eleven"
as it became known, it was a day that truly struck fear and confusion into the
hearts of Americans for the first time perhaps ever. It seemed like a day when everything changed,
and it did, both big and small. While I mourn with those who lost friends and
loved ones on that fateful day, I wanted to reflect on one small change that
affected me—a scene in a place that I loved and how it was forever changed. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At the time, I was in law school at the University of
Pittsburgh. I used to walk to classes every day by taking a short cut through
Schenley Park, a pleasant two mile walk that allowed me to relax and enjoy
nature. With the exception of a jogger or two, I was usually the only person on
the trails at that hour, and I treated it as my private sanctuary. Snow and
rain did not stop me; they simply provided me with a different lens through
which I could enjoy the beauty surrounding me. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On this sunny Tuesday, I had walked the trails like normal
and was in my 8 AM contracts class when the planes hit. We knew nothing at the
time. I had a break before my 10 AM class so I had gone to a local bagel shop
to get some breakfast. By the time we had returned, it seemed that all hell had
broken loose. Students were gathered around a radio in the student lounge as
the law school had yet to install a tv. Someone told us that the World Trade
Center towers had been knocked down and that there were reports of more planes
in the air, looking for targets. Then, we heard a plane was coming towards
Pittsburgh and were told to evacuate campus. The Cathedral of Learning, a 30
story building on campus seemed like it was an obvious target, and it was only
a block away from the law school. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So we left. Or we tried to. Every bus was full. Traffic was
gridlocked as everyone tried to make their way back home. Like countless times before, I set out on
foot, entering Schenley Park to the trails that had always given me comfort. But
I found that my small little world had changed.
These trails which were virtually empty when I had travelled them just a
few hours before, were full of professionals in suits, making their way back
home from downtown and Oakland. I must have seen thirty or forty of them on
that warm sunny September day. A few travelled in groups, but most travelled
alone, possibly travelling these trails for the first time, and most assuredly
never having walked them in dress shoes or high heels. And silently walking
home, I kept looking up at the contrails, wondering if we were next.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thereafter, every time I walked that trail, the imprint of
that scene comes rushing back to me. Suits. Trees. High heels. Rocks. Wingtips.
Ferns. Briefcases. Gravel roads. Silent Crowds. And every so often, I would look
up through the trees towards the sky—and see a contrail.<o:p></o:p></div>
Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-63520606121556892422012-06-02T16:49:00.000-04:002012-06-02T16:49:38.331-04:00Tracking flights<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://openflights.org/banner/clarkbhm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="56" src="http://openflights.org/banner/clarkbhm.png" width="320" /></a></div>
Pretty cool website... You can use it to track all of your flights. For me, it calculates 205 segments, 144,649 miles,and 16 days 6:06. You can see my info at <a href="http://openflights.org/user/clarkbhm">http://openflights.org/user/clarkbhm</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<table style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; border-collapse: separate; border-spacing: 0px; border: 0px; font-family: 'Lucida Grande', Verdana, Geneva, Lucida, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; letter-spacing: normal; margin: 0px; orphans: 2; padding: 0px; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; vertical-align: middle; widows: 2; width: 218px; word-spacing: 0px;"><tbody style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<tr style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><td style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left; vertical-align: top;"><span id="stats" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-27840378377678114402011-05-02T00:07:00.000-04:002011-05-02T00:07:34.592-04:00Osama bin Laden deadWow! Just wow!Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-49231777109037067072011-04-24T16:30:00.000-04:002011-04-24T16:30:00.360-04:00Has blogging peaked?<a href="http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/2010/0308/Has-blogging-peaked?cmpid=addthis_blogger&sms_ss=blogger&at_xt=4db48815505f7106%2C0">Has blogging peaked?</a> is an excellent article which describes why I don't post on here very often.Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-8186021187754988072011-01-23T23:27:00.000-05:002011-01-23T23:27:17.830-05:00Super Bowl 2011The Steelers are going to the Super Bowl!<br />
<br />
That's generally a good thing, but it's not all that it's cracked up to be. I'm certainly glad that the Steelers are going, but this will be my third Super Bowl in six years and I'm not looking forward to the two week run-up to the event. The entire city becomes overwhelmed with talk of the Super Bowl including all the news outlets, advertisements, daycare, co-workers, etc. A bit is enjoyable--two weeks worth is two much!<br />
<br />
Of course, given the alternative, I'd much rather that we'd be going to the Super Bowl than not!Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-83018624898444900012010-10-09T01:57:00.000-04:002010-10-09T01:57:39.656-04:00Rowing updateI know I had said at the beginning of the year that I was going to take up rowing. That went nowhere fast (pun intended!) I had stopped by the end of January.<br />
<br />
Fortunately for me, a new YMCA opened up in downtown Pittsburgh, across the street from where I work. This is perfect for me as it's a very short walk to get over and back during my lunch break.<br />
<br />
I've been going since May and have rotated through swimming, using the elliptical machine, and using the weight machines. Since May, I've lost over 20 lbs and only have 10 lbs to go to reach my target weight.Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-39498170909229135922010-03-15T21:42:00.000-04:002010-03-15T21:42:03.697-04:00Amtrak Adventure So, a poster on the Travel Plan Idea Blog asked about Amtrak. I was responding to their post and decided it would be fun to share my response on my own blog as well. Here you go!<br />
-------------<br />
<br />
A trip from DC to Chicago getting off in Toledo would have only touched one city in WV. Most of those mining towns would have been in Pennsylvania.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, I took Amtrak round trip from my home in Pittsburgh to Washington, DC in 2008. I took a coach seat down and a roomette back so I could get both experiences.<br />
<br />
In coach, the seats were wide and roomy and I always felt like I had a lot of room. I didn't have a seat mate, so I was able to stretch out a bit (like everyone else was doing). There was at least some freedom to walk around, but there wasn't too much to actually do. You could sit in the lounge car with the overhead windows, but I got bored there after a while. Downstairs from the lounge car was the snack car which was empty, save for the lone employee working the counter.<br />
<br />
Lunch was merely ok, but was a bit overpriced if you had to pay out of pocket (it's included if you get a room). Service was slow, which is fine if you have no where to go and have interesting table mates, but can be painful if you have no interest in the others at your table. <br />
<br />
The train from Pittsburgh to DC was about two hours late arriving into Pittsburgh and about four hours late arriving into Washington. I had checked luggage at the Pittsburgh station and it took them forever to get it to us at baggage claim in DC.<br />
<br />
For the trip back, I was able to wait in the first class lounge at Union Station in DC because I had booked a room. The lounge was fine, but very crowded. Boarding went off without a hitch and I was soon led to my roomette. <br />
<br />
The roomette is comfortable, not too big, but not really cramped either (until the beds are down). It was very spacious for one, probably just right for two. The big drawback here is that you can feel really isolated from the rest of the train once you're in your cabin. Many people left their doors open to seem sociable, but I thought it was pretty rude to interrupt someone sitting in a private cabin. However, on a long haul journey of more than a day, I'd bet things are different. Coach passengers aren't allowed into the cars with cabins.<br />
<br />
Honestly, the trip wasn't long enough for me to get much out of the roomette, about eight hours or so. I would have been fine in coach. Compared to the four hour delay earlier, my train was only five minutes late arriving into Pittsburgh.<br />
<br />
I'd probably take Amtrak again, but it has to be at a good price. Once you factor the cost of the room into the overall price, it's frequently much cheaper to fly.Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-2515338552484948352010-02-06T16:43:00.000-05:002010-02-06T16:43:02.964-05:00Too much snow!21 inches of snow in about 18 hours. It took me more than two hours to clear trenches out in our sidewalks and I haven't even started on the driveway!Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-89739021543259632172010-01-08T00:46:00.000-05:002010-01-08T00:46:50.331-05:00Rowing in the New YearSo, with the start of the New Year, Heather and I have decided to get into better shape. Heather's weapon of choice is our treadmill coupled with a workout video she had. I've decided to break out my rowing machine.<br />
<br />
Why rowing? When I worked at Boy Scout camp as a teenager, I worked as a lifeguard at the waterfront. One of our requirements as a lifeguard was to row a quarter mile in under 5 minutes. When I first started, it took me 10 minutes or so to get it done but with practice and work, I was able to row a quarter mile in about 4 minutes or so.<br />
<br />
I haven't rowed a real boat since, but the feeling of rowing is so comfortable to me that it's an exercise that I can truly enjoy. That's important because I tend to get bored while exercising very easily. I don't know how I survived the hundreds of 90 minute swim practices while in high school. You can't even hear a radio under the water!<br />
<br />
Anyway, so my goal is to vigorously row about 15 minutes every weekday. Once my body gets into better shape, I'll look at either upping my rowing time or branching out into other exercises. Wish me luck!Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-41039705418825508392009-06-12T23:14:00.001-04:002009-06-12T23:15:19.397-04:00CongratulationsFirst the Steelers, now the Penguins! Congratulations Pittsburgh!Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-6147996967528535322008-08-24T11:20:00.001-04:002008-08-24T11:21:49.300-04:00Announcing HenryMy wife and I are pleased to announce the birth of our son, Henry Clark. Henry was born on June 27, 2008. Everyone is doing fine; big sister Abigail is quite concerned...Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-31429578671664664602007-10-16T23:10:00.001-04:002007-10-16T23:33:04.747-04:00The Light of Other DaysWell, my blog has turned into something of a book review. I was in the middle of reading <a name="evtst|a|0345484118" href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345484118?ie=UTF8&tag=mattheclarksh-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0345484118" id="static_preview">The Elves of Cintra</a> when I came across a reference to the Arthur C. Clarke book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0812576403?ie=UTF8&tag=mattheclarksh-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0812576403">The Light of Other Days</a>. I ordered it from a local library and quickly devoured the book.<br /><br />In summary, the book is focused on the events following the creation of a remote viewing technology which can be used anywhere at any time. As the technology becomes widespread, everyone can see what everyone else is doing whenever they want, even going back in time.<br /><br />The premise is great. The plot sucked. The characters were rather boring and unsympathetic. I never really connected with them and didn't care what happened to him. In a big "revelation" towards the denouement I found that I just didn't care.<br /><br />The interesting parts to me were the changes that the invention brings to humanity. Some chapters have nothing to do with the books characters, but merely serve as background to how the invention causes fundamental shifts in the way our society perceives itself. That's what was interesting to me; that's why I tore through the book so quickly.<br /><br />Interested in science fiction? Does the premise interest you? Go check it out at the library and give it a read. Don't concern yourself too much with the plot; it's just a bunch of people talking on the stage. It's the changes in the sets behind the actors which are most interesting...Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-27409395003589936502007-06-30T23:37:00.000-04:002007-06-30T23:49:21.896-04:00The Undercover EconomistFrom my reading list in January, I forgot to mention <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0195189779?ie=UTF8&tag=mattheclarksh-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0195189779">The Undercover Economist</a> by Tim Harford. Harford writes "The Undercover Economist" column for the Financial Times in London; this book is an extension of that column.<br /><br />I thought the book was quite good. It sounds like a boring topic, but its not... It's basically a look at how the world is set up in the mind of an economist. Harford covers topics ranging from poverty in Africa (why are poor countries still poor?) to the difficulty in buying a used car (the dealer knows whether its a lemon). Each topic is covered from the point of view of an economist.<br /><br />That may be the books shortcoming however. I have a bachelor's degree in economics. Therefore, when he was explaining topics like scarcity, marginal costs, and market efficiencies, I knew exactly what he was talking about. Unfortunately, I don't think the layman would be able to follow along with the ideas in his book. Don't get me wrong, Harford does a good job in explaining what he's talking about. But when half of the population doesn't understand the basic concept of supply and demand, it's unlikely that they are going to understand that a producer produces where the marginal costs equals the marginal benefit.<br /><br />So, having said that, if you're interested in economics, this is a great book. If you want a more street level book which is much easier to understand, I'd recommend "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0061234001?ie=UTF8&tag=mattheclarksh-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0061234001">Freakonomics</a>", the best-seller from 2006. It's focus seems to be much more on the consequences of peoples actions from the drug trade to the name that parent's choose for their children. It's quite an interesting read and I'd recommend it as well.Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-57041135060248924822007-04-26T05:01:00.000-04:002007-04-26T05:03:35.334-04:00Pittsburgh rated 'most livable' cityWhatever "<a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07116/781162-53.stm">most livable</a>" means.Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-31118117790497591612007-04-07T13:33:00.000-04:002007-04-07T13:34:57.137-04:00Stopping to smell the rosesSurely you've heard that you need to frequently take time to stop and smell the roses. Do you do this? Do you take the time out of your busy schedule to enjoy all that life has to offer?<br /><br />Have you ever considered that <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html?hpid=features1">roses aren't always flowers</a>?Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-25270082273973731662007-04-01T21:05:00.000-04:002007-04-01T21:45:10.341-04:00The Aquariums of Pyongyang - reviewedBack in January, I noted that I had received several books over Christmas and I was looking forward to reading them. The second book that I ended up reading was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0465011047?ie=UTF8&tag=mattheclarksh-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0465011047">The Aquariums of Pyongyang</a> by Kang Chol-Hwan.<br /><br />The author of the book was born in raised in Pyongyang, North Korea. At the age of nine, he and his family were placed in a "re-education" camp to atone for the "wrongs" committed by a relative. This is his story.<br /><br />I actually finished reading the book a few weeks ago, but it had such a profound impact on me that I wanted to wait a bit before writing about it. If you've ever read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0374500010?ie=UTF8&tag=mattheclarksh-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0374500010">Night</a> by Elie Wiesel (an excellent book, by the way) you know exactly what to expect. The re-education camp is a gulag; a modern day concentration camp. Life was brutal and short, and when death came it wasn't always unwelcome.<br /><br />The difference between Night and Aquariums is actually somewhat profound: the events of Night took place in the 1940s. The events of Aquariums took place in the 70s and 80s. Yet, although the German concentration camps were closed in 1945, the gulags in North Korea are open today. That's right, the disgusting human abuse depicted in this book is happening today. Right now, as we speak.There are thousands and thousands of innocent people enduring starvation, torture, extreme working conditions, and other brutalities as you sit here reading this. That, my friends, is what struck me about this book.<br /><br />And when I say other brutalities, I mean it. There are some wicked people in this world; this book exposes you to some of the worst. If you have a weak stomach and choose to read this book, I'd highly recommend that you skip the chapter on executions. Just trust me on this one. The other chapters are definitely adequate to describe the absolutely abominable conditions in these camps.<br /><br />However, I do highly recommend the book. The average American knows far too little about North Korea. There are those who question whether the Korean War was a wasted and senseless conflict. It was not. Reading this book, learning about the savage cruelties brought about by the North Korean government, one will finally understand and appreciate why we had to fight that war and why we stand ready to protect South Korea in the future.Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-50997671250010087972007-03-19T23:06:00.000-04:002007-03-19T23:12:02.794-04:00Siberia Mine Blast Kills 78; 50 TrappedIt's sad... This is obviously a terrible tragedy, but you won't hear anything about it in the news because it's in Siberia.<br /><br />I remember back in July 2002 at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quecreek_Mine_Rescue" title="Quecreek Mine Rescue">Quecreek Mine</a> when the nation was waiting with baited breath for days, waiting to get word on the recovery of nine miners buried underground. Then, the more recent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2006_Sago_Mine_disaster">Sago Mine disaster</a> that killed 12 miners with only one survivor. The stories were all over the news.<br /><br />Why is it that the media only cares about such tragedies if it happens in the United States? These are human beings; trapped underground and/or dead. It shouldn't matter whether they're Americans or not...Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-75245286673464029132007-03-18T00:02:00.000-04:002007-03-18T02:19:43.737-04:00On CommutingI recently read this <a href="http://blog.washingtonpost.com/onbalance/2007/03/commuting_and_the_dead_zone.html">Washington Post blog entry</a> about the benefits of a longer commute. In this world where people moan and groan about having to deal with traffic, there are those who use the time to wind down from work and relax a bit before returning home. A bit of "me time" if you will.<br /><br /> I never thought I would feel that way, but I found that I do. Until very recently, my commute consisted of a 10 minute (half mile) walk from our house to the local light rail station (called the "T" in Pittsburgh). I would then board and ride for about 25-30 minutes into downtown. The Wood Street T Station is across the street from my building, so it was a quick walk on the other side and I was at work. In the morning, I would commute with my wife Heather. This gave us some quality time together where we could talk about various things going on in our lives. She gets off of the T one stop before I do. It's treasured time together that I enjoy very much.<br /><br />In the evening, it was a simple trip backwards. Heather works later then I do on most days, so I would be alone. However, I found that it was a great time to catch up on my reading or listen to my headphones. Sometimes, I could even take a 20 minute nap if I wanted. Again, it was treasured "me time" that I valued greatly. Plus, with two ten minute walks per day, I got at least one mile of walking in each day.<br /><br />I never really thought I would miss commuting until I was staying home with Abigail during FMLA leave. I missed the time with Heather, the exercise, and simply leaving the house. It was quite cold and snowy for many weeks this winter and I simply wasn't willing to take Abigail out in it just so I could get out of the house. Now that I've started back to work, I've found that I appreciate the time outside even more.<br /><br />Of course, the day that I start back to work, all hell breaks loose with the T service. A large bridge near the city, the "Palm Garden Bridge" is in pretty bad shape. So they've closed the bridge for a six month renovation. Instead of taking the T straight north into town, we have to take the T south, <span style="font-style: italic;">away</span> from town, transfer to the other T line, and then catch the ride back north. This adds probably 10-20 minutes of commuting time in each direction, which sucks. What's worse is that can't always sit next to Heather once we're on the second T line. I've experimented with some of the buses that service our area. They're as fast as the T is as long as the weather is somewhat perfect. (Pittsburgh drivers can't drive in rainy, snowy, foggy, windy, cloudy, cold, or hot weather). I have a 50% chance of cutting 10 minutes off the T trip, but a 50% chance of making the trip 30 minutes longer then it would have been. <br /><br />But things like this are only temporary; we'll be back to normal after a few short months. Then, I can go back to simply enjoying the ride, reading my book, listening to my music, preparing for my life at home.Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-42812795656378223362007-03-17T14:33:00.000-04:002007-03-17T15:18:48.158-04:00Some thoughts on writing book seriesActually, after reviewing Armageddon's Children, I remember a conversation I had with Heather. I am a fan of Terry Brooks and have read almost all of his books. The conversation was on the dilemma that authors face in writing a book series.<br /><br />Say an author writes a book, Book 1. That book is popular and the public clamors for more. The author writes Book 2 as a sequel. Then maybe the author writes Book 3 as another sequel. Book 2 and Book 3 will never make as much in sales as Book 1. Why? Most people will want to read Book 1 before reading Books 2 or 3. A few people won't like Book 1 and not bother to buy Books 2 and 3. Therefore, the returns on the books are smaller.<br /><br />An author like Terry Brooks knows this. In his Shannara series, he has tried to renew interest by having new sub-series. The first of these after the original Shannara series was quite successful. The trilogy after that (the Voyage of the Jerle Shannara) was somewhat less so. The most recent trilogy (the High Druid of Shannara) was rather boring. Again, he's writing towards a diminishing audience. There are definitely people who may want to read the later books, but I would think that it actually pushes up sales towards the first book, the Sword of Shannara as well.<br /><br />So Brooks, and other authors, try to expand their repertoire. Brooks wrote a prequel to the Sword of Shannara (Book 0 if you will). But then he wrote the Kingdom of Landover series, a separate grouping of 5 books completely unrelated to Shannara. As aside, previously we knew that they were completely related. However, the main character in the Landover books arrives through a portal from Earth and the characters have in the past traveled to and from Earth. Could it be that they are interconnected after all? Only time will tell.<br /><br />Anyway, Brooks then wrote the Word and Void series, based here on earth in the 1990s. Again, this was (at the time) different from the Shannara series. Thus, it provided a new entry point for potential readers to pick up and read a Terry Brooks book. Armageddon's Children was supposed to be a similar entry point as well; if you read my previous review, you'll see that I disagree with that assessment.<br /><br />So Terry Brooks has published 25 books. Two of these, Hook and Star Wars, The Phantom Menace, were novelizations from movies, so I really don't think they count. Of the remaining 23 books, five are in the standalone Kingdom of Landover series, which has an entry book, "Magic Kingdom For Sale -- SOLD!". For the remaining 18 books, there are only three "entry points" to the series: The Sword of Shannara (Book 1 of my example), First King of Shannara (Book 0 of my example; as a prequel it could be used to introduce the entire series), and Running with the Demon, the first of the Word and Void series.<br /><br />I think you can easily see the difficulty here. Out of 23 books, there are only four entry points. Even worse would be Harry Potter; of seven books there is only one entry point. Compare this to an author who publishes more stand alone books, such as John Grisham, John Irving, or Steven King. Each book is self-contained. Any of them can be picked up by anyone at any time, with no reason to read them in the order published. Potentially, a lot more money can be made by writing like that. However, each story set would be much smaller. If you've gone through all of the trouble creating an imaginary world, you want to use it as much as possible.<br /><br />Having said all of this, I am pleased with the effort of Terry Brooks to introduce Armageddon's Children as a new starting off point (even if it isn't). More readers equal more profits meaning more books. I just wonder about the economics of writing series versus stand alone books.<br /><br />Quick thoughts to wrap this; compare this to movies or computer games. It seems that half of the new releases out there are sequels to previously released material. Maybe it's just harder to constantly invent new worlds? Maybe audiences are more comfortable with stuff that they know they will like? I guess I just have difficulty understand why there are so many sequels when you're constantly battling diminishing returns...Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-49679295643206691612007-03-17T12:22:00.000-04:002007-03-17T18:23:33.929-04:00Armegeddon's Children - reviewedBack in January, I noted that I had received several books over Christmas and I was looking forward to reading them. The first book on the list was <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345484088?ie=UTF8&tag=mattheclarksh-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0345484088">Armageddon's Children</a> by <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=Terry%20Brooks&tag=mattheclarksh-20&index=books&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">Terry Brooks.</a><br /><br />In truth, I didn't receive this book for Christmas, but I bought it last September. When I bought it, it was billed as a new series for those who had never read Terry Brooks. Ahh, just the thing, I thought. I've read Brooks' Shannara series and enjoyed them. I never got around to reading his "Word and Void" series though. But here was something new. I sat down to read.<br /><br />About a quarter of the way into the prologue, the text mentions a "Knight of the Word". My heart drops. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345424646?ie=UTF8&tag=mattheclarksh-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0345424646">A Knight of the Word</a> was the second book in the "Word and Void" series. I absolutely hate reading books out of order as it spoils so much of the previous story. Therefore I endeavored to read the other <span style="font-weight: bold;">three </span>books before continuing to this one.<br /><br />So, a week after Abigail was born last September, I read the first book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345422589?ie=UTF8&tag=mattheclarksh-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0345422589">Running with the Demon</a>. I read it mainly during my commute to and from work, as well as over lunch breaks. Because I also ready several magazines and papers, it took me the better part of the month to read it. I then continued on to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345424646?ie=UTF8&tag=mattheclarksh-20&link_code=as3&amp;camp=211189&creative=373489&creativeASIN=0345424646">A Knight of the Word</a> in October, finishing up in November. I didn't start on the final book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345379640?ie=UTF8&tag=mattheclarksh-20&link_code=as3&camp=211189&amp;creative=373489&creativeASIN=0345379640">Angel Fire East</a>, until December. By then, I was taking care of Abigail full time and my reading time evaporated. I was able to plow through the whole thing over our Christmas vacation and finished up in early January.<br /><br />Finally, I was able to start on Armegeddon's Children. Set approximately 100 years after the end of Angel Fire East, the plot is definitely different then the previous three and it is not as interconnected as the previous books were. That's where they get the "new series for new people" line from. However, if I had not read the previous series, I would not have had nearly the appreciation for the world of Armegeddon's Children. Thus, reading the Word and the Void series first is optional, but actually highly recommended.<br /><br />Anyway, the book was a very pleasant read-the beginning of a series of books linking the Word and the Void series to the later Shannara series. Those who have read both series will appreciate the references to both worlds. Those who haven't may quite well get lost.<br /><br />There are four storylines in Armageddon's Children. The main story line seems to revolve around a group of children in Seattle. This storyline provides the most detailed view of the destruction which has spread throughout the landscape. Two other storylines deal with two Knights of the Word and their struggles to save humanity. A knowledge of the "Word and the Void" series is particularly helpful in figuring on the what and why things are happening in these storylines.<br /><br />The final story line is about the Elves. In the Shannara series, there were many hints that the Four Lands were actually Earth in the far distant future. The presence of Elves (in present day Oregon no less) confirms these hints and begins the bridge that will connect the "Word and Void" series with the Shannara series.<br /><br />Actually, the plot lines of Shannara had gotten old, quite frankly. In fact, I was rather disappointed with the "High Druid of Shannara" series. The "Word and Void" series was therefore a refreshing change from the stale Shannara plotlines. Armegeddon's Children continues more on the path of the "Word and Void" series, and as such, was interesting to read.<br />However, this is what troubles me about the introduction of the Elves. There have previously been two books centered around the Elves, magical elfstones, and their sacred tree, the Ellcrys. (The Elfstones of Shannara and the Elf Queen of Shannara). When the "quest" is finally introduced for the Elves, I saw that it was remarkable similar to the two Shannara books. I just hope that new ideas are introduced that don't rewrite the old material.<br /><br />Anyway, I felt that this was a much better book then his later Shannara works, and was quite an interesting read. If you're a Terry Brooks fan, I'd say go for it. If you're new to the Terry Brooks world, I'd suggest that you start with the "Word and Void" series before reading Armageddon's Children. All in all, I'm looking forward to the next installment!Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-75083026356637742242007-02-18T22:19:00.000-05:002007-02-18T22:22:17.021-05:00Mummified body at home; TV still playing<div id="contentArea"><blockquote> <h2></h2><h2>Mummified body at home; TV still playing</h2> <p style="text-indent: 0px;">Sunday, February 18, 2007<br />By The Associated Press<br /> </p><p> </p><p> HAMPTON BAYS, N.Y. -- The partially mummified body of a man dead for more than a year has been found in a chair in front of his television, which was still on, authorities said.</p><p> Vincenzo Ricardo, 70, apparently died of natural causes, said Dr. Stuart Dawson, Suffolk County's deputy chief medical examiner.</p><p> Police found Mr. Ricardo's body last week when they investigated a report of burst pipes.</p><p> The home's dry air had preserved his features, morgue assistant Jeff Bacchus said.</p><p> Mr. Ricardo's wife died years ago, and he lived alone, Dr. Dawson said.Neighbors said they had thought Mr. Ricardo was in a hospital or nursing home.</p></blockquote><p></p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Unanswered question</span>: Why did the electic company not cut off his service for non-payment of bills?<br /><p> </p> </div>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-76944082756293382302007-02-17T01:04:00.001-05:002007-02-17T01:04:31.490-05:00New Abigail PicturesNew Abigail pictures are online!Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-19029255731732055262007-02-03T14:03:00.000-05:002007-02-03T14:03:48.778-05:00The Uncivil Litigator: Bob Jones University<a href="http://uncivillitigator.blogspot.com/2007/02/bob-jones-university.html">The Uncivil Litigator: Bob Jones University</a><br /><br />Taking things to the extreme, I bet. ..Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-180186371690868562007-02-01T19:00:00.000-05:002007-02-01T19:03:01.010-05:00Traffic congestionHey, I was quoted in another blog. Well, not exactly quoted. I send an <a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/opinion/columnists/steigerwald/s_490486.html">interesting article</a> on traffic congestion to another blogger to post in his blog. Thanks!Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5672572.post-13134714319018949452007-01-28T05:08:00.000-05:002007-01-28T05:09:16.322-05:00More on the Port Authority cuts<p>In this week's "Getting Around" column, Joe Grata points out:<br /></p><p>In 1975, John T. Mauro, the executive director of the Port Authority wrote:<br /></p><blockquote>"By this stage of the 20th century, with a lengthy history of transit failures to look back on, it would seem that our community and political leaders would have come to understand this one universal fact: The long-term answer to financial problems of public transportation cannot and will not be found in cutbacks in service and in the work force, nor in fare increases.<p> "These stopgap measures have been tried repeatedly in the past, and they have proved to be regressive and self-defeating. Such steps, if tried again, will certainly lead to the complete downfall of this and other public transport systems."</p></blockquote><p></p>So why is the Port Authority working to eliminate 124 of 213 routes in the system? Make the routes smarter, yes. But don't eliminate them altogether!<br /><p><br /></p><p></p><a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/07028/757134-147.stm"></a>Matthewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16477311598407527292noreply@blogger.com0