Tom Zimmer
Monday, October 31, 2005
Halloween at Our House
Here are a couple of pics we took before turning off the light. This first one is kind of neat, it has a flame kind of look.
The second shows my transparent arm.
Click on either picture for a larger view. ¶ 9:32 PM 0 comments
Here are a couple of pics we took before turning off the light. This first one is kind of neat, it has a flame kind of look.
The second shows my transparent arm.
Click on either picture for a larger view. ¶ 9:32 PM 0 comments
Thursday, October 27, 2005
Here is More of Debbie and Her Rebuild
This first picture is one of Debbie holding her Motor, or at least the bottom half of it. She had the engine balanced by Tom Elrod, a well known racer and engine tuner in the Austin Area.
She had just finished the painting the two halves of the cases black. Naturally this is a pretty old picture, she has finished rebuilding the motor now, and it is in the frame.
The second picture is her brand new chrome spoked rear wheel. It is a bit heavy, but she is a proud owner. ¶ 11:18 PM 0 comments
This first picture is one of Debbie holding her Motor, or at least the bottom half of it. She had the engine balanced by Tom Elrod, a well known racer and engine tuner in the Austin Area.
She had just finished the painting the two halves of the cases black. Naturally this is a pretty old picture, she has finished rebuilding the motor now, and it is in the frame.
The second picture is her brand new chrome spoked rear wheel. It is a bit heavy, but she is a proud owner. ¶ 11:18 PM 0 comments
More Newsletter Articles Published
I have added several more newsletter articles to the list in the blog. Some for December and January 2003, and even a few from Debbie when she was VP. Look for Veep's Peeps, which was debbie's article title. Also added June 2004, and June 2005. ¶ 11:03 PM 0 comments
I have added several more newsletter articles to the list in the blog. Some for December and January 2003, and even a few from Debbie when she was VP. Look for Veep's Peeps, which was debbie's article title. Also added June 2004, and June 2005. ¶ 11:03 PM 0 comments
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Started the Transcription of Brown Family History
While Debbie and I were cleaning the garage yesterday, we came across a box of old pictures and photo albums from our early years. I put it aside, and then yesterday evening I went through it. It was fun looking at old pictures, and reading letters that Debbie wrote me shortly before I came home from my term of service in the AirForce in Turkey. I also ran across a bag that had some of my uncle Bob's (Robert Cochran) photo albums and a book. On closer examination, the book turns out to be the family History of the Brown family as written by Oral Carl Brown a great-uncle (my grandmothers brother). I started to read it, and I found it very interesting. Oral was a preacher from about 1910 until his death around 1965. He was quite an evangelist, and clearly understood that God's work is done by God Himself doing it through us, not by us doing God's work for Him. Anyway, I have decided to transcribe it onto it's own blog at: Brown Family History
If you are a Brown, a Cochran, or a Zimmer, or related to any of the other last names mentioned in the book, you might find it worth a look. I have to warn you that this book is over a 100 pages in length, and it will take me several weeks if not months to transcribe it. Apparently 50 copies of the book were printed and distributed to relatives, so if you happen to have a copy of it, and want to participate in this project, you are welcome to contact me and volunteer to type in some of the chapters. You can then email them to me for posting. ¶ 9:28 PM 0 comments
While Debbie and I were cleaning the garage yesterday, we came across a box of old pictures and photo albums from our early years. I put it aside, and then yesterday evening I went through it. It was fun looking at old pictures, and reading letters that Debbie wrote me shortly before I came home from my term of service in the AirForce in Turkey. I also ran across a bag that had some of my uncle Bob's (Robert Cochran) photo albums and a book. On closer examination, the book turns out to be the family History of the Brown family as written by Oral Carl Brown a great-uncle (my grandmothers brother). I started to read it, and I found it very interesting. Oral was a preacher from about 1910 until his death around 1965. He was quite an evangelist, and clearly understood that God's work is done by God Himself doing it through us, not by us doing God's work for Him. Anyway, I have decided to transcribe it onto it's own blog at: Brown Family History
If you are a Brown, a Cochran, or a Zimmer, or related to any of the other last names mentioned in the book, you might find it worth a look. I have to warn you that this book is over a 100 pages in length, and it will take me several weeks if not months to transcribe it. Apparently 50 copies of the book were printed and distributed to relatives, so if you happen to have a copy of it, and want to participate in this project, you are welcome to contact me and volunteer to type in some of the chapters. You can then email them to me for posting. ¶ 9:28 PM 0 comments
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Cleaning Day in the Zimmer's Garage - Miracle is Coming
Well, we just completed almost a whole day of cleaning the garage, for the first time since we moved into the house about 10 years ago. We wouldn't have done it now, except we need to make room for Miracle, Debbie's '73 FLH Harley Davidson. I know it doesn't look like we cleaned, but we had to stack all the trash in the open space while we wait for trash pickup day, then there will be a noce open space for miracle.
The shop where Debbie has been working on Miracle is now closed, and Miracle is sitting in a friends garage up in Liberty Hill, waiting for someone to give her some attention. So, we are clearing out a place for Miracle, so we can start to make some progress on the remaining things that need to be done.
What needs to be done, is as follows;
1. Wiring harness needs to be built or bought.
2. Buy and install the rear hydrolic lifter in the rear cylinder. We have one, but it doesn't fit,. It is a long story.
3. Fix the front left fork tube seal so it doesn't leak.
4. Get the sheet metal painted. Debbie will have to pick a color scheme as well.
5. Get Miracle registered. hopefully this won't be a problem, but since the frame ID tag is partially obliterated, it might be.
There really isn't much left, we just need to get to it. ¶ 10:31 PM 0 comments
Well, we just completed almost a whole day of cleaning the garage, for the first time since we moved into the house about 10 years ago. We wouldn't have done it now, except we need to make room for Miracle, Debbie's '73 FLH Harley Davidson. I know it doesn't look like we cleaned, but we had to stack all the trash in the open space while we wait for trash pickup day, then there will be a noce open space for miracle.
The shop where Debbie has been working on Miracle is now closed, and Miracle is sitting in a friends garage up in Liberty Hill, waiting for someone to give her some attention. So, we are clearing out a place for Miracle, so we can start to make some progress on the remaining things that need to be done.
What needs to be done, is as follows;
1. Wiring harness needs to be built or bought.
2. Buy and install the rear hydrolic lifter in the rear cylinder. We have one, but it doesn't fit,. It is a long story.
3. Fix the front left fork tube seal so it doesn't leak.
4. Get the sheet metal painted. Debbie will have to pick a color scheme as well.
5. Get Miracle registered. hopefully this won't be a problem, but since the frame ID tag is partially obliterated, it might be.
There really isn't much left, we just need to get to it. ¶ 10:31 PM 0 comments
Sunday, October 16, 2005
The President's Specifics, The Fanatic
Do you think of yourself as a fanatic? Most of us, when we think of a fanatic, think of someone that is way over obsessed with something to the point of going overboard. Many of you know me, and I wonder if you think of me as a fanatic? I guess I ask the question because I am coming to think of myself more as a fanatic that I used to. I am hoping that my saying this doesn't scare anybody. I guess if I say what I am a fanatic about, then it may make more sense. You see, the longer I live, the more I am becoming a "Fanatic for Christ". Now, I am not talking about fanatacism in the sense of being dangerous, and I am not talking about fanatacism in the sense of stalking abortion clinics or anything like that. I am talking about the kind of fanatacism that the Apostle Paul had in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23, here are those verses;
19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Paul was a true fanatic, he did not let anything stand in his way of persuing the mission Christ gave him. Am I saying I am there? No, but I am on the way. I think that God will use you, and me if we really want it. I mean REALLY want it, not like I might want an pizza, or a bowl of ice cream, I mean want it like I can't breath, or want it so much that my hands shake just thinking about it. I am talking true fanaticism, I want to know and to be used by God like there is no other thing in this world that is more important, because there isn't! ¶ 8:31 PM 0 comments
19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings. 19 Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.
Paul was a true fanatic, he did not let anything stand in his way of persuing the mission Christ gave him. Am I saying I am there? No, but I am on the way. I think that God will use you, and me if we really want it. I mean REALLY want it, not like I might want an pizza, or a bowl of ice cream, I mean want it like I can't breath, or want it so much that my hands shake just thinking about it. I am talking true fanaticism, I want to know and to be used by God like there is no other thing in this world that is more important, because there isn't! ¶ 8:31 PM 0 comments
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Stand For Something
Debbie says she is quoting someone but she doesn't know who;
Those who refuse to stand for something will fall for anything!
Or something like that. I think that is very profound, even if I don't know who first said it. ¶ 8:40 PM 0 comments
Debbie says she is quoting someone but she doesn't know who;
Those who refuse to stand for something will fall for anything!
Or something like that. I think that is very profound, even if I don't know who first said it. ¶ 8:40 PM 0 comments
Friday, October 14, 2005
God Loves Freaks Like Me
Eric has another post today, which you can read by clicking on the title above.
Here is my commentary on his post. You can read it here, or over on Eric's blog.
There are a lot of interesting things to think about in this post. Perhaps the most obvious is that you feel insecure. Now I am not saying you are unusual in that, we all feel inscure, some of us allt he time, some of us part of the time, and some of us occasionally. It is also clear that you have a good intelectual understanding of the grace of God. That is good. God's grace does cover all sin, and it also covers every other aspect of who we are. I think the challenge for you, me and every other Christian out there is that we have trouble believing that we have a good heart and that we are fully justified in Christ, when we see ourselves both sinning, and being tempted to sin. There are a couple of points here. First, it is very important to understand that temptation is not sin. When you have feelings that desire to lead you into sin, that is not sin, that is satan trying to get you to sin. So right up front, deny the temptation. Now I am not saying that this is easy, I have my own issues to deal with, with respect to temptation, but the truth is we must deny the lie that we want the temptation, and then immediately look to Christ for the power to resist. As you no doubt know, you can't resist temptation on your own, that can only be done through Jesus' power. Second, we need to come to a full understanding both in our mind and in our heart that we are good. Having accepted Jesus as my saviour, my heart is good. REALLY! I know that temptation and sin make me want to think I am not good, but the war I fight, or more accurrately that Jesus fights for me is spiritual, and being fought by the only One who can and will win. Finally, I believe you need to stop thinking of yourself as a gay man. Now I am not syaing you are not gay, what I am saying is that you need to think of yourself as who you really are, a Christian who has a personal relationship with the one and only God of the universe. A God who made you the way you are, but who loves you too much to leave you or me the way we are. I praise God for a Saviour that not only cares for us but has the power to heal all our hurts, and who WILL! ¶ 10:06 AM 1 comments
Here is my commentary on his post. You can read it here, or over on Eric's blog.
There are a lot of interesting things to think about in this post. Perhaps the most obvious is that you feel insecure. Now I am not saying you are unusual in that, we all feel inscure, some of us allt he time, some of us part of the time, and some of us occasionally. It is also clear that you have a good intelectual understanding of the grace of God. That is good. God's grace does cover all sin, and it also covers every other aspect of who we are. I think the challenge for you, me and every other Christian out there is that we have trouble believing that we have a good heart and that we are fully justified in Christ, when we see ourselves both sinning, and being tempted to sin. There are a couple of points here. First, it is very important to understand that temptation is not sin. When you have feelings that desire to lead you into sin, that is not sin, that is satan trying to get you to sin. So right up front, deny the temptation. Now I am not saying that this is easy, I have my own issues to deal with, with respect to temptation, but the truth is we must deny the lie that we want the temptation, and then immediately look to Christ for the power to resist. As you no doubt know, you can't resist temptation on your own, that can only be done through Jesus' power. Second, we need to come to a full understanding both in our mind and in our heart that we are good. Having accepted Jesus as my saviour, my heart is good. REALLY! I know that temptation and sin make me want to think I am not good, but the war I fight, or more accurrately that Jesus fights for me is spiritual, and being fought by the only One who can and will win. Finally, I believe you need to stop thinking of yourself as a gay man. Now I am not syaing you are not gay, what I am saying is that you need to think of yourself as who you really are, a Christian who has a personal relationship with the one and only God of the universe. A God who made you the way you are, but who loves you too much to leave you or me the way we are. I praise God for a Saviour that not only cares for us but has the power to heal all our hurts, and who WILL! ¶ 10:06 AM 1 comments
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Our New Deck
Well, I guess it had to happen eventually. Our old deck (20 years old) wore out, and a good friend volunteered to build me a new deck. It turns out he was too busy for several months, but this past weekend, he ran out of jobs, and came over to work on my deck. It is framed out of pressure treated pine I think, and the deck itself is "Ipe", (pronounced epay) a really hard wood imported from Brazil that is so hard that you have to drill all the hole before trying to screw it down. Anyway it is mostely finished, all except for deciding how to finish out the right edge as shown in the picture. We had him (and his wife worked on it too) put steps on two side, and I think we may get a bench along the final edge to finish it out, but we haven't decided yet. By the way, the picture has been touched up a bit, not the deck part, but the house and yard to make it look more appealing. ¶ 10:31 PM 0 comments
Well, I guess it had to happen eventually. Our old deck (20 years old) wore out, and a good friend volunteered to build me a new deck. It turns out he was too busy for several months, but this past weekend, he ran out of jobs, and came over to work on my deck. It is framed out of pressure treated pine I think, and the deck itself is "Ipe", (pronounced epay) a really hard wood imported from Brazil that is so hard that you have to drill all the hole before trying to screw it down. Anyway it is mostely finished, all except for deciding how to finish out the right edge as shown in the picture. We had him (and his wife worked on it too) put steps on two side, and I think we may get a bench along the final edge to finish it out, but we haven't decided yet. By the way, the picture has been touched up a bit, not the deck part, but the house and yard to make it look more appealing. ¶ 10:31 PM 0 comments
Monday, October 10, 2005
I Read a Blog by a Gay Man Today
Blogger has an interesting feature. If you go to Blogger.com, you get to see a list three item list of recently posted blog entry names scroll by. I happened to be about to log in, and I saw something interesting go by in the list. I wasn't fast enough to click on it, but on doing a blog search, I happened to run across the above blog called "Two World Collision". It is very interesting, in that it is written by a gay man that professes to be a Christian. Now I am not saying I doubt him, in fact on reading some of his entries, it seems clear he is a Christian. His blog is an attempt to document his journey of discovery as he tries to resolve the apparent conflict between being Christian and gay at the same time. Surely a laudable goal, and interesting reading besides.
I don't happen to believe in coincidences, so I believe God led me to his blog for a reason. As some of you know, our church (Faith Church in Austin Texas) has been learning about how we can live as a branch in the vine of Christ for the past several years. It is a wonderful teaching about how we can't live the abundant live and we are not expected to, but we can allow Christ to live out His abundant life through us. The entire audio program is now available on the web at: http://www.fefc.us , look at the Radio page.
I sent "Two Worlds Collision" a message to encourage him and to suggest he investigate the Instant Access program, and I truely hope he does. You see, as the Apostle Paul said we live in a "body of death". Literally he meant that even though we as Christian have already accepted Jesus as our Saviour, and therefore we have been forgiven and fully justified by faith, we still have to deal with this body of death that we live in that has been so well trained to sin. Whether you are like me, and sometimes lust after a woman, or like "Two Worlds Collision" and sometimes lust after a man, the problem is lust, not the gender of the person you are lusting after. Jesus teaches that he has removed our heart of stone and given us a heart of flesh. Our big problem is remembering (and trusting) that, and not falling back on our old ways when depression or boredom tells me I am not happy. The good news is that we don't have to live in Romans 7, because Paul goes on in Romans 8 to show that there is victory over sin. Victory comes not by my effort, but by my allowing Jesus to win the war for me by living His life out through me moment by moment. ¶ 11:45 AM 0 comments
I don't happen to believe in coincidences, so I believe God led me to his blog for a reason. As some of you know, our church (Faith Church in Austin Texas) has been learning about how we can live as a branch in the vine of Christ for the past several years. It is a wonderful teaching about how we can't live the abundant live and we are not expected to, but we can allow Christ to live out His abundant life through us. The entire audio program is now available on the web at: http://www.fefc.us , look at the Radio page.
I sent "Two Worlds Collision" a message to encourage him and to suggest he investigate the Instant Access program, and I truely hope he does. You see, as the Apostle Paul said we live in a "body of death". Literally he meant that even though we as Christian have already accepted Jesus as our Saviour, and therefore we have been forgiven and fully justified by faith, we still have to deal with this body of death that we live in that has been so well trained to sin. Whether you are like me, and sometimes lust after a woman, or like "Two Worlds Collision" and sometimes lust after a man, the problem is lust, not the gender of the person you are lusting after. Jesus teaches that he has removed our heart of stone and given us a heart of flesh. Our big problem is remembering (and trusting) that, and not falling back on our old ways when depression or boredom tells me I am not happy. The good news is that we don't have to live in Romans 7, because Paul goes on in Romans 8 to show that there is victory over sin. Victory comes not by my effort, but by my allowing Jesus to win the war for me by living His life out through me moment by moment. ¶ 11:45 AM 0 comments
Friday, October 07, 2005
Updated my Metropolis Entry
I have updated my entry on the movie Metropolis (by Fritz Lang), to include an offer to setup private showings of the Moroder version of the film. If you don't know about Metropolis, here are some links to information on the web;
Metropolis on IMDb
A fairly complete site on all the versions of Metropolis
Same as above, but direct link to the Moroder information My favorite version of Metropolis
A comparison of the various versions of Metropolis
And finally a Google search for Metropolis
Metropolis is a silent film made in 1926. It is readily available at your local video store in various version with a sound track that doesn't really go with the film very well. many people find it boring to watch, and unwatchable. I don't blame them, if they haven't seen the Georgio Moroder version. It is very sad that this version of Metropolis is not in distribution. Moroder worked with several modern (80's eara) rock musicians to create and perform a score for Metropolis that would help to communicate the range of emotion that he felt Fritz Lang intended. Most of the people I have shown the Moroder's version to agree that this version of Metropolis is night and day different from the other silent versions.
To be fair, I should also mention the Kino version of Metropolis, which is a true restoration.
The KINO International Restoration
Kino in association with the F.W. Murnau Foundation, completed a restoration a couple of years ago that used the original score to create a sound track for Metropolis that is clearly very good. The music in this version also matches the file very well. I can only say that I prefer the Moroder versioin, even though it is considered an adaptation by many people.
Which ever version you prefer, your time is well spent in learning more about Metropolis.
Here is a link to my Original metropolis entry. ¶ 10:41 AM 0 comments
Metropolis on IMDb
A fairly complete site on all the versions of Metropolis
Same as above, but direct link to the Moroder information My favorite version of Metropolis
A comparison of the various versions of Metropolis
And finally a Google search for Metropolis
Metropolis is a silent film made in 1926. It is readily available at your local video store in various version with a sound track that doesn't really go with the film very well. many people find it boring to watch, and unwatchable. I don't blame them, if they haven't seen the Georgio Moroder version. It is very sad that this version of Metropolis is not in distribution. Moroder worked with several modern (80's eara) rock musicians to create and perform a score for Metropolis that would help to communicate the range of emotion that he felt Fritz Lang intended. Most of the people I have shown the Moroder's version to agree that this version of Metropolis is night and day different from the other silent versions.
To be fair, I should also mention the Kino version of Metropolis, which is a true restoration.
The KINO International Restoration
Kino in association with the F.W. Murnau Foundation, completed a restoration a couple of years ago that used the original score to create a sound track for Metropolis that is clearly very good. The music in this version also matches the file very well. I can only say that I prefer the Moroder versioin, even though it is considered an adaptation by many people.
Which ever version you prefer, your time is well spent in learning more about Metropolis.
Here is a link to my Original metropolis entry. ¶ 10:41 AM 0 comments
Saturday, October 01, 2005
A Message for Debbie After Soccer
While on a business trip to California, I had time to visit some of my relateives in the Bay area. My daughter Pam and husband Eric, and my son Chip and wife Shawna live there. Pam and Eric have two wonderful girls Chloe seven almost eight and Claire just turned six. I flew in friday evening so I could go to their Soccer games Saturday morning. After the games, we went to Flames for lunch. While we were there we recorded a short message for Debbie, back in Austin Texas, as an audio blog entry;
¶ 3:33 PM 0 comments
