Stuff that Darren likes.... or return to Rev-Darren's spot!
A lot of this I'm going to be making links to later -- I usually don't have time to put up a website about what I really like, and there's lots of good sites on the web already for most of it.
Chess Stuff:
The Internet Chess Club: www.chessclub.com
It's a pay site that welcomes guests to try it free and/or just log in as a guest. (I really like chess, but usually only play correspondence games these days.) As on my home page, I'm on ICC as Rev-Darren. If you've come this far, don't know how to play but want to learn, and want to download the BlitzIn software, email me. I'll help you learn the basics of chess if I can schedule time at ICC with you - it takes about 1-2 hours to learn at the very outside. Email me
The last serious revision of my ICC "finger" notes, for those who already know ICC
Tim Mann's Chess Pages --- Tim Mann (author of Winboard,) Robert Hyatt (author of Crafty,) and the GNU project (writing GNUChess) have the best computer chess engine and interface freeware I know of. (There's lots of great other commercial ones, though.)
The United States Chess Federation: http://www.uschess.org/
I'm a USCF member, but have not played tournament. The membership cost is worth it to me just for Chess Life or School Mates, the official USCF publications. You can also get competitively priced chess merchandise if you're a member. The USCF also sets the official rulebook for United States tournament play.
Religious stuff:
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: www.elca.org
The United Church of Christ: www.ucc.org
I've served congregations of both denominations. The ELCA is the denomination I'm officially rostered under. On my home page you'll find the web link to the site I'm officially the "WebPastor" of, even on leave.
More yet to come here.....
Music stuff:
Styx: http://styxnet.com
Styx is one of the best bands there has ever been. There are also official websites for the band itself, Dennis deYoung (currently not on tour with Styx.) Some of their music, though, I hope is eternal.
Queen... yet to come.
But I also like opera, orchestral, classical and contemporary hymnody, Glen Miller and Les Brown, John Lee Hooker and folk blues, and any other music that touches my soul.
Books / authors / movies, etc. I've read or seen and liked:
A Bible Online -- You won't find the NRSV (the version I use,) but you'll find good translations.
Diane Duane and Peter Morwood Pocket Books' Star Trek series
Where to purchase a Bible Non-Zero: The Logic of Human Destiny
(The Bible that I personally and professionally use. More expensive, but well worth it.)
Robert A. Heinlein Niven and Pournelle
Star Trek: Paramout's Official Site A Star Trek webring
My life is a little more than religion, music, sci-fi, and chess, but that's enough of a list for now.