I have recently started a new site that also probably has something to do with my being behind on things, Hosehead Life is my new site on Life with Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Some might find it interesting, so feel free to stop by and let me know what you think. (Facebook followers have probably already seen the site as I have it update my main twitter feed, which then auto updates my Facebook status.)

Post from: Jake's Corner

New site

Epic Plains is going rather well actually. I have been posting a number of book reviews along with other content. The readership has built up enough that I am actually splitting it off from my regular account. (You will notice this if you follow my facebook statuses.) I was having the feeds post a link to my Olorinpc Twitter account, but I have ended up starting an EP Facebook page and an EP Twitter account.

I am also going to work on the site theme a bit more over there. I have found a template that I think I will like better, once I heavily customize it of course. So that will take some work in the next week or so. Between that and getting a jump on my “To-Read” pile, been rather busy. I also sometime plan on cataloging my book collection into a database. (My collection has grown to the point I think it’s needed. I believe on rough count I have now passed the 500 book mark.) Also, sometime in the next month or so, need to run down and pick up that bookshelf from MN.

February is shaping up to be a busy month as well. My weekends are pretty much booked from the 19th on. JRFD Fishing Derby, State Fireschool + Humane Society Fundraiser, followed by Team State Darts. So should be a marathon 3 weekends in a row, but good stuff all.  I think there might be something else in there that I am forgetting – but no matter, should be plenty to keep me busy!

Post from: Jake's Corner

Keeping Busy

Epic Plains – An epic place with epic stories – welcome to Epic Plains.

The site is going to serve a few purposes for me.  First, it is a portal to my other websites that I work on occasionally.  (This one, Model Train Rookie, etc.) This blog and Epic Plains are going to be my main online works in the next year.  Second, it is going to focus on just writing related posts.  Whether it is my own work or the works of others, it is a literary blog.

The first main post I have there is my 2010 writing goals.  Stop by and check it out.  If you find it of interest, please subscribe to the RSS feed.  I will sometimes cross-link with this site, but as it is an independent site with a specific focus, safest bet is to subscribe over there as well.

Thanks and have the best luck in accomplishing your own goals this next year.

Post from: Jake's Corner

Epic Plains – 2010 Writing Goals

Then of course the first thing I did when getting back to Jamestown was un-boxing what I had been able to fit into my car. (Left at my parents house are a couple of boxes of models and modeling supplies – along with the wood from the original benchwork.)

One discovery we had is that all of the electrical components are missing. (Wires and control boxes.) Now they will turn up someday I am sure, but in the meantime I had to do some ordering and creative thinking. After discussing the problem with the folks on the Märklin B&G Yahoo group – I learned that I can replace the old control boxes (which aren’t sold anywhere except ebay anymore) with simple easy to obtain toggle switches. So a quick trip to radio shack I was able to pick up a couple of different types and test them out. I also ordered a bunch of wire off of ebay – so I should be good to go soon. (Also at Radio Shack picked up power distribution strips so that when the wire does get here, I will be able to wire everything to the transformer.)

Last thing I accomplished this week – is my initial single level layout. Not quite perfect yet, though Dad is planning on coming up sometime to help revise, but it is a start.

So the break from work and the net was pretty good for me.  Gave me a chance to get a jump on the hobby I am getting back into, relax a little, and prepare for a great 2009.  I hope everyone else had a great holiday as well!

Technorati Tags: Märklin, Marklin, Model Trains, Comics, Model Railroader, layout

Post from: Jake's Corner

Holidays are over but it was fun.

It originally started with a lot of tech stuff, but I split that stuff off onto Supergeekblog.com – and kept this one more personal/random sort of stuff.  The site has gone through plenty of changes in the last few years, all of which has been a fun process.

I really like the direction I have this site going now though.  The face lift to the theme, and the bit more time in general I spend with the site has made a real impact.  This site is still about “Jake” and I do blog about personal happenings, but I also try to cover other topics (eh heh politics) and whatnot.  In doing so, the readership has increased along with general traffic.  That has reinforced to me that I am doing something right – and enjoying it as well.

So – thanks everyone for visiting and celebrating the 200th post.  Here is to 200 more!

Technorati Tags: Jake Barnard, Olorinpc, Blogging

Post from: Jake's Corner

200th Post on Olorinpc.com

Technorati Tags: Jamestown Rural Fire Dept, Jamestown, Fire Dept, Jake Barnard

Post from: Jake's Corner

Thanksgiving Firecall

If you enjoy writing I would encourage you to check out NaNoWriMo – I have talked to a few participants and fellow bloggers over the last couple of years who have had a blast doing it.  If one doesn’t make all 50,000 words, nothing happens.  However, if you do, I am told there is a vast sense of accomplishment.  Not to mention 50,000 words worth of material to work with.

What is NaNoWriMo?

National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.

Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It’s all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.

Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that’s a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down.

As you spend November writing, you can draw comfort from the fact that, all around the world, other National Novel Writing Month participants are going through the same joys and sorrows of producing the Great Frantic Novel. Wrimos meet throughout the month to offer encouragement, commiseration, and—when the thing is done—the kind of raucous celebrations that tend to frighten animals and small children.

In 2007, we had over 100,000 participants. More than 15,000 of them crossed the 50k finish line by the midnight deadline, entering into the annals of NaNoWriMo superstardom forever. They started the month as auto mechanics, out-of-work actors, and middle school English teachers. They walked away novelists.

So, to recap:

What: Writing one 50,000-word novel from scratch in a month’s time.

Who: You! We can’t do this unless we have some other people trying it as well. Let’s write laughably awful yet lengthy prose together.

Why: The reasons are endless! To actively participate in one of our era’s most enchanting art forms! To write without having to obsess over quality. To be able to make obscure references to passages from our novels at parties. To be able to mock real novelists who dawdle on and on, taking far longer than 30 days to produce their work.

When: You can sign up anytime to add your name to the roster and browse the forums. Writing begins November 1. To be added to the official list of winners, you must reach the 50,000-word mark by November 30 at midnight. Once your novel has been verified by our web-based team of robotic word counters, the partying begins.

Still confused? Just visit the How NaNoWriMo Works page!

Technorati Tags: olorinpc, NaNoWriMo, Writing, Contest, author

Post from: Jake's Corner

NaNoWriMo – Starts Nov. 1st

We have been quite busy on the fire department, and it is getting close to closing time on the house. So between the two – its going to be a busy busy next month.

Hopefully the fishing part of the weekend will go well. We had limited time to fish last year and they just weren’t biting… so hoping to make a better shot at it this year!

Technorati Tags: olorinpc, jake barnard, fishing, weekend, fire department, Jamestown

Post from: Jake's Corner

Ready for the weekend

It is going to run parallel to Axapta Source and eventually totally replace that.  I enjoyed running a blog that was related to my profession, however since I have limited involvement with the Axapta (Dynamics AX) scene anymore, I have been doing less and less with the site.  So I am developing SAP: BI Source – a resource for SAP Business Intelligence.

It is a work in progress, but is coming along slowly but surely.

Technorati Tags: SAP, Axapta, Jake’s corner, Olorinpc, Business Intelligence, Business Warehouse, website development

Post from: Jake's Corner

Limited accomplishment

Other than that – might go to the races again Saturday night.  Pretty cheap entertainment for $9.  I have lived in Jamestown since 2000 but only started last year.  I am a rather late convert to the whole racing thing.  Never got why people went to races and got all crazy about NASCAR on Sundays.  (It’s not football.)

However, after actually going to the local dirt track racing… I have started to get into it.  I first approched it in terms of thinking about what the drivers had to do to hold a corner like that, then friends filled me in on what the different kinds of cars did etc.  This year I am making a slight effort to pay attention to my buddies when they talk about their favorite NASCAR driver.  (One friend on the fire department is a Kahne fanatic.)  I wouldn’t say I yet have a favorite driver myself or anything like that… but learning more about something has certainly made it more interesting for me.  Don’t know if it will ever get to the point of being able to call myself a NASCAR fan, but I might actually try to watch this Sunday.

Technorati Tags: olorinpc, Jake Barnard, Jamestown, North Dakota, NASCAR, Dirt track

Post from: Jake's Corner

Weekend plans and racing