I’m going to the Philippines this summer, from April to June: 60 days. Below is a map of where I plan on touring. I’m really excited!

View Philippines 2010 Motorcycle Trip in a larger map

I saw the announcement on the Transmission website of the release of transmission 1.80 and I got really excited about some of the features such as tracker-less torrents and magnet links.  I was running 1.51 which is what’s in the Ubuntu Jaunty repos.  Unfortunately I can’t upgrade my SheevaPlug to any Ubuntu distro beyond 9.04 because there is some funny business on how they’re compiling the arm packages for future releases. Eventually I’ll switch over to Debian but I really don’t feel like mucking around with the serial console on my plug.

Since selling my 37” Panny plasma last spring I’ve been in the market for a new TV. All summer and fall I searched for a great deal on a larger 1080p set.  My preference for a replacement flip-flopped between nearly all competing technologies. Countless times while perusing Slickdeals.net I *almost* bought a TV but backed out at the last minute, unsure of my decision. It was only last month that I found a deal that I liked enough to jump on – a Samsung PN50B550 for $820.  Little did I know what adventures awaited me!

If asked what was really important in my life, the ‘right’ answer would place God, education, and family high on the list. That’s the answer that I have been taught.  That’s the answer that something deep and sleeping and significant in me knows is true. But this isn’t the answer that I live by.

Earlier this year I was discovering a lot of great new music in my In-die Box posts. Although I discovered some great artists and songs, by far the best is Matthew Perryman Jones. His melodies are sweet and his lyrics are soulful. He’s an incredibly talented musician and I see him becoming big in the next couple of years. Sadly we missed him coming to town with Ingrid Michaelson earlier this year – it would have been an incredible concert! You’ll see below that he’s as good live as he is on his albums. Here are the two albums I’ve purchased and my favorite tracks.