The brothers, known as the Cowley brothers after the name of the village in England where the order was founded, are publishers: they run the Cowley Press. I am really interested in talking to people who run a publishing business that's been around for more than a century.

However, I note the terms of the retreat: "Retreatants.. attend a series of addresses or meditations... which alternate with times for prayer, reflection, and recreation. It is customary for those on retreat to observe silence."

So, I may not get much of a chance to talk to the brothers: and I may not be able to update the Weblog (though Greg Bryant over at Workspot has set me up with a browser-based Linux desktop that I may be able to access from my cell at the monastery). Heh, gulker.com goes boldly where many fear to tread...
Comments 8:29:37 PM    

"To contemplate war is to think about the most horrible of human experiences. On this February day, as this nation stands at the brink of battle, every American on some level must be contemplating the horrors of war.

"Yet, this Chamber is, for the most part, silent -- ominously, dreadfully silent. There is no debate, no discussion, no attempt to lay out for the nation the pros and cons of this particular war. There is nothing."

The Democrats are the dog that isn't barking.. what the hell is wrong with the leadership of the Democratic party? I understand the rogue nation issue is a difficult one, and represents a whole new way of thinking... but where is our leadership? We're going to let george W. Bush, surely not the sharpest knife in the political drawer, try to figure this out?
Comments 7:52:40 PM    

"The shadowy, closely-analyzed photo of space shuttle Columbia's underside was not snapped with cutting-edge military equipment, but by three researchers playing around with an old computer and an ordinary telescope in their free time, officials said Wednesday.

"But contrary to reports last week, the photo was not snapped by one of Starfire's extraordinarily powerful telescopes, which are designed to spy on enemy satellites and detect incoming missiles.

"Instead, it was taken by Starfire Optical Range engineers who, in their free time, had rigged up a device using a commercially available 3 1/2-inch telescope and an 11-year-old Macintosh computer, the researchers said. The telescope was surplus laboratory equipment, kept in a cabinet at the Starfire range." I guess the real trick was knowing where to point it, and keeping it aimed at the Shuttle. Thanks to MacSlash and Matt Croydon...
Comments 1:59:04 PM    

Chris Gulker's view from Silicon Valley - in words and pictures