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Rants and Raves

A casual blog reporting on the life and times of Caroline C. Blaker

Rick’s “Roll” in our wedding

In: Anecdotes

Rick’s “Roll” in our wedding

Since our wedding song was too sappy, we had to heel it with a lively juxtaposition. So we decided to Rickroll everyone.

For our wedding song, Travis picked out In this life by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (get) and one night played it for me before I even knew what it was. It was so romantic and sappy, yet totally accurate, that we both burst into tears. It took listening to it a couple of times before we would ultimately be able to make it through the song without waterworks, but there would be no way to give our guests this advantage. Even if we could, many of them hearing the song for the first time would actually listen to its words and knew what it meant to us. The only way to avoid a sappy, heavy feelingRead On..

The Planet Earth: Amazon’s Earth Day gift

In: Opinion, Totally Random

The Planet Earth: Amazon’s Earth Day gift

It appears that for Earth Day only, Amazon is offering Planet Earth: The Complete BBC Series [Blu-ray] for a mere $37.99 (down from $100) - here is why I love this series so much.

The Planet Earth BBC Series is on sale at Amazon today, Earth Day, only. Here is why I'm going to buy this:



  • The footage covers surface of the earth, pole to pole, covering both the obvious and secret species.

  • The narrator is a succinctly spoken British man, lending the series an aire of sophistication and drama. There's an American narrator version - this is not it.

  • The coverage of the animals is at some of their most emotionally dramatic moments - migration, mating, famine, and fear.

  • The program uses aerial shots and close-ups interchangeably to convey the space of movement and emotions
Read On..

A web-based developer makeover

In: Career management, My Career, Web Development

A web-based developer makeover

A major shift in career for any web developer means a major shift in that developer’s website. Here are five major things I have identified I need to do with my website before it becomes my greatest online asset.

It feels oddly empty and voided: my schedule that is. I have a couple of projects to look forward to, but like any other new job or career situation, this one is taking its sweet time loading up on things to do. I have officially taken the plunge into freelance and have a little too much time on my hands. Wait, no scratch that. I have all the time on my hands that I used to want before I quit my job. Aha! As I’m looking around at my online presence, I see no shortage of tidying, organizing, and clarifying that needs to happen before I start to see a lot of work. Not that I don’t deserveRead On..

A word on moving on

In: Career management, My Career, Self Reflection

A word on moving on

Moving on has unleashed a major flow of gratitude in my life that I would like to share with you.

I’m moved to post today not because I have any crazy news or life changing events to announce, but because for the first time ever, since moving to Albuquerque, the world is silent in all of its commotion and unyielding in its grounding, and my observation is how grateful I am to be a part of it, and for what help I’ve had to build the things that I have around me. I am grateful for so many things; from nature to my family, to the skills I have, to the skills others have, and for my incredible future that is now undeniably independent, lucrative, and everything else I could ask for itRead On..

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