strive

jump

2009-08-06T12:11:00.001-07:00

I've made the switch over to word press for a more snazzy blog. Head over to http://epiploicae.wordpress.com/ for any new updates or ramblings. Ciao blogger.

a change?

2009-08-03T12:53:00.001-07:00

This just makes me laugh...all this pictures are criminal mug shots. Check out the candidate they all support.

This also made me chuckle today.

My cynic tank is full today. I'm ready for 2012 to come quickly.

extreme ice

2009-06-05T21:15:00.000-07:00

Now, I'm not going to become a raving Global Warming advocate OR rant about the impossibility of the phenomena. I am skeptical about the "environmental crisis" and not part of the Obama-mania craze which has swept the nation. I also, love the outdoors and would like to be able to climb Kilimanjaro with ICE on the mountain and hike in Austria ON the glaciers; so, the loss of our global glaciers is something I keep track of from time to time.

Irregardless, I do think this is an interesting website and a cool project. Check it out:

stockholm syndrome

2009-05-19T11:14:00.001-07:00

There are bountiful rumblings on the net about Derek Webb's new cd entitled "Stockholm Syndrome". Go here for the latest email's which were sent out on his mailing list over the past two days.

Here is a link to Wikipedia regarding the history/meaning behind the album's title, which I found interesting.

The second e/m from Derek is a jumbled mess with underscores throughout the message which I found odd and sort of Lost-equese. It seems that there is a new website called Paradise is a Parking Lot where "artifacts" can be found and may lead to the tracks of the new album? The progress can be followed as well at a new Twitter account (Derek shut down his last one).

I must say Derek has piqued my interest regarding the controversy of his new album and all the new clues on the web (which however I don't have the patience to play with). One blog states that Derek has a new song he played at a recent show which has the word "sh_t" in the lyrics, perhaps this is the source of the corporate disgruntlement his label is expressing. Go here and here for more in depth reading.

I hope you all stay tuned for more from Derek....I know I will.

Update: good overview of the controversy here as well.

clover

2009-04-21T21:54:00.001-07:00

So this past weekend I stumbled upon the absolute best cup of coffee I've ever had in my 33 years on this planet, twice. First, a cup of 100% Kona and then a strong bitter blend of Rwandan beans via a Clover. The Clover Coffee Maker will brew an individual cup of coffee in a sort of reverse french press (with a vacuum)with any beans available, exclusively at Starbucks. See below for a detailed video:

And here for all of Starbuck's bragging rights. Clover used to be a small Seattle based company until Starbucks bought the company to offer the machine ONLY at their stores. Right now only Seattle, Boston, and San Fran have been blessed with these beauties. One more reason to move to Seattle just got added to my list!!

Dred Scott and Roe v. Wade

2009-04-08T22:28:00.000-07:00

I read an interesting position paper against abortion tonight that prompted this post. The full article is here and from the magazine, "Salvo".

The article is a compare/contrast discussion between the Dred Scott case in the 1800's and Roe v. Wade in the 1900's. Dred Scott was a slave who left the pro-slavery South and while living in the North sued for his freedom. His case went to the Supreme Court where they found that he was property and not able to sue for his freedom...chattel have no rights. From a modern standpoint we find that offensive and archaic logic, absurd to the nth degree. Especially in the Obama saviouresque culture we currently reside in.

But stand the same Court's ruling on Roe v. Wade next to it now. A fetus is just property, not a life. Sad when comparing these cases that this is THE highest court in our land. I hope you read the full article, it's worth the time.

Here is an excerpt:

Injudicious Decisions?

The parallels between Dred Scott and Roe v. Wade go much deeper than the judgments themselves. From start to finish, the decisions share a similar logic, rationale, and verbiage, perhaps best observed through direct comparison. Following are some brief selections from both rulings. Decide for yourself whether these two Supreme Court cases are a package deal.

On Personhood:

Dred Scott
"A negro, whose ancestors were imported into this country, and sold as slaves . . . were not intended to be included under the word «citizens' in the Constitution, and can, therefore, claim none of the rights and privileges which that instrument provides for and secures to citizens of the United States.”

Roe v. Wade
" The word «person,' as used in the Fourteenth Amendment, does not include the unborn. . . .The unborn have never been recognized in the law as persons in the whole sense.”

On the Right to Privacy:

Dred Scott
A slave is the property of the master, and the Constitution has "provided for the protection of private property against the encroachments of the Government.”

Roe v. Wade
"This right or privacy . . . is broad enough to encompass a woman's decision whether or not to terminate her pregnancy.”

On Historical Precedent:

Dred Scott
" That unfortunate race . . . had for more than a century before been regarded as beings of an inferior order [and] they had no right which the white man was bound to respect.”

Roe v. Wade
" Abortion was practiced in Greek times as well as in the Roman Era. . . . Greek and Roman law afforded little protection to the unborn.”

On the Benefits to the Victim:

Dred Scott
"The negro might justly and lawfully be reduced to slavery for his benefit.”

Roe v. Wade
"There is also the distress for all concerned, associated with the unwanted child, and there is the problem of bringing a child into a family unable, psychologically, and otherwise to care for it.”

vid's for the kid's pt 2

2009-03-26T21:54:00.000-07:00

Some new ones:

Trace Bundy:

Joe Purdy:

Ray LaMontagne:

THE best cat video ever:

last clock on the wall

2009-02-21T11:34:00.000-08:00

Eagerly awaiting Joe Purdy's new album:

change of guard

2009-01-15T20:06:00.001-08:00

suffering

2009-01-08T18:15:00.000-08:00

Over the past few months I've gone through my own trial of suffering; one that I won't go into detail on now. Nevertheless, my trial had no clear reason to occur that I could see and sent my family through difficult waters which, hopefully, we are starting to sail out of. During this time a good Brother emailed me and advised me to read the November 5th entry of My Utmost for His Highest. I'd like to share the entry along with a video of a related sermon by Mark Driscoll from his "Rebel's Guide" sermons series on Suffering. Both are highly recommended.

-My Utmost for His Highest:

Rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings." 1 Peter 4:13

If you are going to be used by God, He will take you through a multitude of experiences that are not meant for you at all, they are meant to make you useful in His hands, and to enable you to understand what transpires in other souls so that you will never be surprised at what you come across. Oh, I can't deal with that person. Why not? God gave you ample opportunity to soak before Him on that line, and you barged off because it seemed stupid to spend time in that way.

The sufferings of Christ are not those of ordinary men. He suffered "according to the will of God," not from the point of view we suffer from as individuals. It is only when we are related to Jesus Christ that we can understand what God is after in His dealings with us. It is part of Christian culture to know what God's aim is. In the history of the Christian Church the tendency has been to evade being identified with the sufferings of Jesus Christ; men have sought to procure the carrying out of God's order by a short cut of their own. God's way is always the way of suffering, the way of the "long, long trail."

Are we partakers of Christ's sufferings? Are we prepared for God to stamp our personal ambitions right out? Are we prepared for God to destroy by transfiguration our individual determinations? It will not mean that we know exactly why God is taking us that way, that would make us spiritual prigs. We never realize at the time what God is putting us through; we go through it more or less misunderstandingly; then we come to a luminous place, and say - ' 'Why, God has girded me, though I did not know it!"

-The Rebels Guide To Joy in Suffering:

triple door

2009-01-01T20:59:00.000-08:00

I just ran across this video on Josh Garrel's blog. The video is of Josh and Trace Bundy playing "O Come O Come Emmanuel" at The Triple Door in Seattle, WA. Spend 5 minutes and watch them play this amazing song.

zoweh

2008-12-14T18:21:00.000-08:00

Some of you may have noticed a new list of links on the far right hand side of the blog and a new blog label both titled, "zoweh". This is a new term I have came across in reading which speaks about a new life in Christ. I've decided to label most of my Christian themed past/future post's this and please check out the links under "Zoweh" for some great Christ-centered Churches. I highly recommend the online sermons from all the churches in the list. I'll let C.S. Lewis go into more detail about Zoweh now:

"In reality, the difference between Biological life and Spiritual life is so important that I am going to give them two distinct names. The Biological sort which comes to us through nature, and which (like everything else in nature) is always tending to run down and decay so that it can only be dept up by incessant subsidies from nature in the form of air, water, food, etc., is Bios. The Spiritual life which is in God from all eternity, and which made the whole natural universe, is Zoweh. Bios has, to be sure, a certain shadowy or symbolic resemblance to Zoweh; but only the sort of resemblance there is between a photo and a place, or a statue and a man. A man who changed from having Bios to having Zoweh would have gone through as big a change as a statue which changed from being carved stone to being a real man. And that is precisely what Christianity is about. The world is a great sculptor's shop. We are the statues and there is a rumor going round the shop that some of us are some day going to come to LIFE (Zoweh)". -C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

advent conspiracy

2008-12-09T21:14:00.000-08:00

Watch:

I ask that we all learn more about how to put Christ back in CHRISTmas here or on our own (through study of the Bible, through our Church, through our walk with Christ).

i(n)sight

2008-11-12T07:18:00.000-08:00

Obviously, I have too much time on my hands at the moment. I think it's a cool pic nonetheless.

post-election views

2008-11-05T11:18:00.001-08:00

Here is a post from Pastor Mark Driscoll's blog, The Resurgence. Below is the entry entitled "In God When Do Not Trust". Convicting words.

In God We Do Not Trust
by Mark Driscoll

In my years of pastoral ministry I have worked very hard to not be political. I believe that my job as a pastor is to preach and teach the Bible well so that my people make their decisions, including their voting decisions, out of their faith convictions.

This election season which has dominated the cultural conversation for many months has been particularly insightful regarding the incessant gospel thirst that abides deep in the heart of the men and women who bear God's image. Without endorsing or maligning either political party or their respective presidential candidates, I am hopeful that a few insights from the recent election season are of help, particularly to younger evangelicals.

First, people are longing for a savior who will atone for their sins. In this election, people thirst for a savior who will atone for their economic sins of buying things they did not need with money they did not have. The result is a mountain of credit debt they cannot pay and a desperate yearning that somehow a new president will save them from economic hell.

Second, people are longing for a king who will keep them safe from terror in his kingdom. In the Old Testament the concept of a peaceable kingdom is marked by the word shalom. In shalom there is not only the absence of sin, war, strife, and suffering but also the presence of love, peace, harmony, and health. And, this thirst for shalom is so parched that every election people cannot help but naively believe that if their candidate simply wins shalom is sure to come despite sin and the curse.

The bottom line is obvious to those with gospel eyes. People are longing for Jesus, and tragically left voting for mere presidential candidates. For those whose candidate wins today there will be some months of groundless euphoric faith in that candidate and the atoning salvation that their kingdom will bring. But, in time, their supporters will see that no matter who wins the presidency, they are mere mortals prone to sin, folly, and self-interest just like all the other sons of Adam and daughters of Eve. To help extend naïve false hope as long as possible, a great enemy will be named and demonized as the one who is hindering all of the progress to atone for our sins and usher in our kingdom. If the Democrats win it will be the rich, and if the Republicans win it will be the terrorists. This diversionary trick is as old as Eve who blamed her sin on Satan rather than repenting. The lie is that it's always someone else's fault and we're always the victim of sinners and never the sinner.

Speaking of repentance, sadly, no matter who wins there will be no call to personal repentance of our own personal sins which contributes to cultural suffering and decline such as our pride, gluttony, covetousness, greed, indebtedness, self-righteousness, perversion, and laziness. And, in four years we'll do it all again and pretend that this time things will be different. Four years after that, we'll do it yet again. And, we'll continue driving around this cul de sac until Jesus returns, sets up his throne, and puts an end to folly once and for all.

In the meantime, I would encourage all preachers to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and repentance of personal sin. He alone can truly atone for our sins. He alone can deliver us from a real hell. He alone is our sinless and great King. And, he alone has a Shalom kingdom to offer.

Lastly, for those preachers who have gotten sidetracked for the cause of a false king and a false kingdom by making too much of the election and too little of Jesus, today is a good day to practice repentance in preparation to preach it on Sunday. Just give it some time. The thirst will remain that only Jesus can quench. So, we've still got work to do….until we see King Jesus and voting is done once and for all.

vote (or don't)

2008-11-03T11:18:00.000-08:00

Derek Webb in commemoration of tomorrow's election has again made his album "Mockingbird" available for free online, for one week only. This album speaks volumes regarding our social, political, and global environments and gives us a lens, as Christians, through which we should look at the problems in each realm. I highly recommend this album, specifically the songs "Rich young ruler" and "My enemies are men like me".

Derek also recently wrote an article regarding voting and the upcoming election titled, "How Shall We Then Vote?", which you can find here. Enjoy the reading and album. Pay close attention to lyrics. And go out and vote, or don't.

amish neurosurgeon

2008-08-28T17:50:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago my attending let me do my first solo vetriculostomy. This is a common bedside procedure we do to relieve intracranial pressure from either trauma, a tumor causing mass effect, or if a pt has a intracranial bleed they may not be able to properly drain their cerebrospinal fluid/CSF (called hydrocephalus).

We were called in because this pt had driven drunk home from his bachelor party and crashed into a tree at a high speed. He was 27 years old and only 6 days out from his wedding with a worsening neurological exam by the minute.

The first thing you do in any cranial neurosurgical procedure is give the pt a very bad haircut. Essentially, you only shave the right frontal area of the skull to locate an anatomical spot called Kocher's point for a ventriculostomy. This is a spot found if you would draw two lines upward onto your head first from your right ear and secondly, from the mid-point of your right pupil; the intersecting point of the two lines is Kocher's. Once you have located the spot you numb the area with lidocaine, incise with a scalpel, and open the 1-2 cm incision with a small retractor.

Next comes the fun. You take out your trusty hand-powered drill (hence the title of this entry), set the drill bit; which I was reassured was designed to not allow the operator to plunge into the brain once you've drilled through the skull. This is the critical stage of the procedure. The angle of the drill needs to be perfect and unchanging while your right hand presses downward on the drill and your left hand cranks the drill to power the bit through the skull. The drilling is done until you feel a "pop" as you go through the inner table of the skull and hit dura. The dura (outer covering of the brain) needs to be incised to allow the passage of the catheter (hollow tube) through the burrhole (nice way to say hole you just drilled into someone's head) into the brain and hopefully directly into one of the two lateral ventricles to drain off the CSF and relieve the pressure. Once proper drainage is confirmed the catheter is secured and connected to a drainage system to monitor the fluid output.

The outcome's are mixed in the patients we perform this procedure, depending on the contributing factors which caused them to need a ventriculostomy. In the case of this young man sadly, he did not recover. He is clinically brain dead but, his family refuses to let go at this time. I haven't seen him in a few weeks. I don't think I'll likely ever forget his story or the feeling of that pop when I finally drilled through his skull.

-07.31.08 Update: Just saw the pt again today. He is totally unresponsive on neurological exam other than a cough (one of the last reflexes to go). He is dependent on a ventilator to breath and has a feeding tube placed. Realistically, he is no longer alive. His family and fiancee however feel he will awaken one day, they've moved the wedding date to November. Very Sad.

human study

2008-08-04T06:38:00.000-07:00

Just a few movies and one musical artist that have greatly amused me. All of them are definitely off the beaten path.

-King of Kong: A Fist Full of Quarters:

-Wordplay:

-Lastly is an artist we saw this past Friday at the Musikfest in Bethlehem. He goes buy the name Cast in Bronze, wears an all black jumpsuit, rocks out on a carillon, and wears quite an interesting mask. Check it out:

colorado

2008-07-25T19:59:00.000-07:00

Below are a few pictures which I enjoy from my recent trip out to Colorado. I miss the immensity of nature and the feeling of magnificence that I get hiking is such an amazing surrounding; I think this is why I love the West so much and am longing to return permanently to it in the next few years.

The mountains from our bedroom window the morning we were leaving to come back to the east coast (hard to leave).

Waterfall on the ascent to the Mohawk lakes outside of Breckenridge, CO.

Waterfall during a hike to an unnamed alpine lake, hike was the McCullough Gulch trail. Quite a nice hike and highly recommended; also outside Breckenridge.

Sunset on Vail Mt. the last night of our trip. The peak mid-left is Mt. of The Holy Cross.

tales from the nsicu

2008-04-20T07:27:00.000-07:00

Hey. Sorry for the lapse in my blogging, not that I was ever very routine, but it's been a while. Most to blame is my new job as a Neurosurgical Physician Assistant, which is what prompts today's post. Since, starting this job 3 months ago I've already experienced first hand the sadness of telling someone they have an incurable cancer or treating them emergently to save their life. There is a sadness in this job when you treat a large group of people with cancer, often which is fatal, regardless of if we treat them or not. So, when we find any humor in this job we tend to latch onto it, albeit some dark humor at time.

Which brings me to the story for this post. We were consulted by the trauma team about 2 weeks ago regarding a 21 year old female who had been in a motor vehicle accident; which was very likely occurred due to her intake of heroin and cocaine. It had been a prolonged extraction on scene by EMS and Fire and by the time she had arrived at the hospital she had a Glasgow Coma Scale score of 2 (normal is 15) according to the ER resident freaking out on the phone with my attending. The pt had pretty normal appearing CT of her head and her low GCS could also be due to the large amount of illicit drugs she had taken. So, the recommendation was to let her go to the OR for her ruptured spleen to be taken out and then see if she wakes up after the surgery. If not, then she may need a vetriculostomy (read - tube in head to relieve pressure) placed to relieve any pressure on her brain.

Now, jump forward to this past week. Pt now is awake, spleen-less, and her mom is visiting her in the Neurosurgical ICU. The trauma team is rounding on their pt's and as they come by the mother recognizes the trauma attending physician as the same doctor who save her life when she crashed her car, all hopped up on drugs, and almost died about 3 years ago. So the mother is singing the doctor's praises and introduces her boyfriend; a very active Pagan (a motorcycle gang here). So the mom and scary motorcycle gang member boyfriend are talking to the doctor about how they almost lost their little girl (the 21 year old pt) last year when she took some bad heroin which was laced. The mom proudly boasts that that drug dealer is dead now, he "drowned" *wink, wink*.

The trauma team is is trying to continue on their rounds and the pt's mom thanks the trauma attending one last time saying that she is so great now that she is even back to work. That's great say's the trauma doctor......what doe she do for work you might ask? She's a stripper. Who happened to have one of her legs amputated 3 years ago in her drug-induced car wreck. A one-legged stripper whose stage name is, "Feather". Whose motorcycle gang boyfriend kills people if you give his girls laced heroin.

Sometimes I think advanced medicine gets in the way of natural selection.

notables

2008-01-27T14:58:00.001-08:00

This update is to let you all in on a few great blogs that I keep up with.

-The first one is called "Donde Esta Timoteo" (Where is Tim?), by a young man named Tim Dyk, a local Ellensburg boy. Tim is enrolled in a program called photogenx through an organization called YWAM. The cool part of photogenx is that you travel all around the world learning about photography and also, studying the bible, along with mission work. Tim has a lot of talent and great insight for being so young. Keep an eye on him.

-Next up is a newly hatched blog called "Bolivia Bound Backpackers", by Jen and Andrew Lyons, or "the hippies" as Rae and I affectionately call them. Jen and Andrew left this past Tuesday for Lima, Peru and they will travel from Lima over the Pan American Highway to Cochabamba, Bolivia. In Cochabamba, a fun town to say nonetheless, they'll volunteer in two orphanages for about 6 months before wandering back through Peru to fly home again in August of 2008. The Lyons have been talking about traveling/volunteering in South America longer than I've know them so it was a bittersweet goodbye this past Monday. The really cool thing is that Jen and Andrew have financed the entire trip themselves; they saved up and are going, on their own dime, to volunteer and talk about God to the people of Cochabamba. A pretty respectable endeavor, to say the least.

-Lastly, a blog called "Once Again", by David Lyons, Andrew's brother. David is a Army helicopter pilot about 50% of the way through a 16 month deployment in Iraq (at the time of this post). I've never met David, so all my David knowledge is via Andrew. It's interesting to read about the war through the eyes of a regular Christian guy, who is away from his wife, and just trying to get through this chapter in his life. This is David's second deployment, hence the tittle of his blog, and hopefully God will keep him safe and he'll be home soon.

I hope you enjoy these blogs as much as I do. All the blogs that I regularly keep up on have links over on the right hand of my blog under the title, "Notables". Have a good week.

change

2008-01-20T22:16:00.000-08:00

A quick note on the name change. Over the past 4-6 months I've realized how naive it was to title my blog, "with my own two hands"; a sweet Ben Harper song nonetheless, but not how I as a Christian should be focusing. My two hands, human hands, only really mess things up and have yet make any true change in this world that I'm aware of.
In fact, if I can be attributed for any worldly change I doubt I knowingly caused the change, or I stumbled through it and can only attribute the final outcome to God.
I will continue to strive to become a better Christian, Husband, Father, Man (in that order) and this will serve as a part of my record. I have a large change in my life on the horizon, which I hope to use as well, to continue that struggle in the opposition of the world.
I'll also be saying goodbye to many good friends and my first Church home which is a cause for reflection and sadness. I pray that God will quickly find my family a new Church home in Pennsylvania and connect us with new Christian brothers and sisters. More to come.

4 rae

2007-12-29T23:08:00.000-08:00

At Rae's request:

And since this post is for my wife I'll add two video's of Ryan Leech (her dream cyclist):

More meaningful posts to come....I'm on vacation this week. =)

shins

2007-11-11T00:13:00.000-08:00

The Shins are a great band and I've listened and enjoyed their poppy-wackiness over the years. They also have a knack of making great videos as well and I've featured 3 of them tonight.

1. "New Slang" is the best song The Shins have ever released:

2. "Phantom Limb" is a great song with a history lesson to boot:

3. "Australia" is one of the latest tracks off of their newest album, "Wincing The Night Away". This video cracks me up:

janjaweed

2007-11-04T00:16:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching a documentary on the Darfur Genocide in Sudan titled, "The Devil Came on Horseback". This film is the story of Brian Steidle, who spend 6 months as a military observer monitoring the peace process in Sudan during 2004. He collected many stories and photos of the mass killing and raping which is going on in Sudan by the Janjaweed, which interestingly, translates into "devil on a horse".
The film gives a snapshot of the genocide and sadly, a glimpse of yet, another missed opportunity for our country to have stopped genocide in Africa. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell had the courage to at least call the atrocities in Darfur the "G" word. Something the Clinton Administration and Madeline Albright were too cowardly to do during the Rwandan Genocide. Yet, the Bush Administration was to fixated on the mire of Iraq, to do anything significant in Sudan in 2004. And they have yet too...
Please watch:

Educate Yourself:
Sudan Dafur Overview
Darfur Conflict
Darfur Eyewitness: Brian Steidle
Then Act:
Save Darfur
Check your senator's & representative's voting activity regarding Darfur at Darfur Scorecard
Global Grassroots

vid's for the kid's

2007-10-17T22:29:00.000-07:00

Stupid title? Perhaps...but you can't deny the popularity of online video sites such as my good friend You Tube (the proud sponsor of all of tonights videos).

First one from R.E.M., who I've been intermittently delving into deeper over the past year or so. This is "Drive" from R.E.M. (gotta love a video entirely of crowd surfing):

Secondly, Jeff Tweedy singing "The Thanks I Get". Possibly the greatest song of the entire history of people singing stuff from their mouths with words:

This I just found and can't resist posting it as well. It's from the Jeff Tweedy "Live in the Pacific Northwest" DVD. Jeff has a moment where he rants on all the annoying people who are talking during the concert. I love this rant!! I have the same feelings which I why I almost got in a fight at the last Ben Harper concert I went to, ask Tim if you don't believe me. Here goes:

I'll leave you with the song, "Rich Young Ruler" from Derek Webb. Let this one sink in:

blugrass on crack

2007-10-05T23:47:00.000-07:00

Video this week brought to us by the Letter A... for The Avett Brothers. The song is "Talk On Indolence" from the cd "Four Thieves Gone". The Avett Brothers recently released a new album, "Emotionalism" which I highly, highly recommend. It has been in my rotation for the past 2 months or so and I'm still not tired of it. Here's a taste of T.A.B.:

lyrics to ponder

2007-09-24T21:18:00.000-07:00

From the song, "This Too Shall Be Made Right", off the album "The Ringing Bell" by Derek Webb.

people love you the most for the things you hate
and hate you for loving the things that you cannot keep straight
people judge you on a curve
and tell you you’re getting what you deserve
this too shall be made right

children cannot learn when children cannot eat
stack them like lumber when children cannot sleep
children dream of wishing wells
whose waters quench all the fires of Hell
this too shall be made right

the earth and the sky and the sea are all holding their breath
wars and abuses have nature groaning with death
we say we’re just trying to stay alive
but it looks so much more like a way to die
this too shall be made right

there’s a time for peace and there is a time for war
a time to forgive and a time to settle the score
a time for babies to lose their lives
a time for hunger and genocide
this too shall be made right

I don’t know the suffering of people outside my front door
I join the oppressors of those who i choose to ignore
I’m trading comfort for human life
and that’s not just murder it’s suicide
this too shall be made right

mixing bowl

2007-07-25T20:43:00.000-07:00

Just a few different things. First, I thought I'd share my first every successful panorama. It's of Manasatash Lake in the Wenatchee National Forest. We hiked out there this past Sunday. Very beautiful.
Also, I've been listening to a lot of WILCO & live solo Jeff Tweedy lately. If you haven't checked out WILCO's album "Summerteeth" you should go buy it. It's well work your time. "She's A Jar" & "Shot In The Arm" are two album highlights. I'll leave you with the lyrics from "She's A Jar":

She's a jar
With a heavy lid
My pop quiz kid
A sleepy kisser
A pretty war
With feelings hid
She begs me not to miss her

She says forever
To light a fuse
We could use
A handful of wheel
And a day off
And a bruised road
However, you might feel
Tonight is real

When I forget how to talk, I sing
Won't you please
Bring that flash to shine
And turn my eyes red
Unless they close
When you click
And my face gets sick
Stuck, like a question unposed

Just climb aboard
The tracks of a train's arm
In my fragile family tree
And watch me floating inches above
The people underneath

Please beware the quiet front yard
I warned you
Before there were water skies
I warned you not to drive
Dry your eyes, you poor devil

Are there really ones like these?
The ones I dream
Float like leaves
And freeze to spread skeleton wings
I passed through before I knew you

I believe it's just because
Daddy's payday is not enough
Oh I believe it's all because
Daddy's payday is not enough

Just climb aboard
The tracks of a train's arm
In my fragile family tree

And watch me floating inches above
The people underneath

She's a jar
With a heavy lid
My pop quiz kid
A sleepy kisser
A pretty war
With feelings hid

You know she begs me
Not to hit her

2007-07-08T11:56:00.000-07:00

Tonight, Over The Rhine will have a premiere web cast of their new album "Trumpet Child" at 8pm EST (5pm PST). OTR's last two albums have been great one's so I don't think this will be a waste of your time. Click on the Album for a link to the web cast page. Click here for an album review from another blogger with an overuse of superlatives & adjectives, in my opinion. But, hey, he got an advance of the album & me...I'm sitting here counting down the hours until 5.

birth

2007-06-19T18:28:00.000-07:00

06.20.1975 - Happy Birthday too me.

theme song of the week

2007-05-31T16:49:00.000-07:00

This is a great song with great lyrics which I think we should all spend some time contemplating....

I Repent

words and music by derek webb

i repent, i repent of my pursuit of america's dream
i repent, i repent of living like i deserve anything
of my house, my fence, my kids, my wife
in our suburb where we're safe and white
i am wrong and of these things i repent

i repent, i repent of parading my liberty
i repent. i repent of paying for what i get for free
and for the way i believe that i am living right
by trading sins for others that are easier to hide
i am wrong and of these things i repent

bridge
i repent judging by a law that even i can't keep
of wearing righteousness like a disguise
to see through the planks in my own eyes

i repent, i repent of trading truth for false unity
i repent, i repent of confusing peace and idolatry
by caring more of what they think than what i know of what we need
by domesticating you until you look just like me
i am wrong and of these things i repent

Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007

2007-05-24T22:34:00.000-07:00

Today I received an email from World Vision in regards to the new development in stopping children soldiers. Here's the low-down:
The Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007 (S.1175) would curtail U.S. military assistance to governments that fail to take steps to demobilize and stop forcing/recruiting children into the armed forces or government-supported militias. Countries that do take steps to disarm, demobilize and rehabilitate child soldiers would be eligible for certain forms of assistance to help professionalize their forces and ensure that U.S. taxpayer dollars are not used to finance the exploitation of children in armed conflict.
Ask your Members of Congress to support the Child Soldier Prevention Act of 2007. American tax dollars should not be used to support the exploitation of children as soldiers, and American weapons should not end up in the hands of children.

Please take 5 minutes to complete the forms and add your voice to stopping this sad army of children killing children.

key of R - top 5 best albums of recorded history (ever)

2007-05-17T22:31:00.000-07:00

That's right I'm once again imposing my musical elitist opinion on the void. Revel in your unknowingly lacking existence and rejoice that you have been freed. Go, buy these 5 (I mean 6......I couldn't bear to leave Linford out of the list) albums right away.

5. Linford Detweiler - Unspoken Requests
5. Nick Drake - Five Leaves Left
4. Damien Rice - O
3. Van Morrison - Astral Weeks
2. Johnny Cash - American 5: A Hundred Highways
1. Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot

[addendum]:
Since Wilco holds the #1 slot I thought I'd also drop a line about their great new album out entitled "Sky Blue Sky". I would also highly recommend the special CD/DVD version which shows the band in the studio recording the album. This cd is very layered & dense musically which isn't readily apparent on the first couple listens but, you visually can see this on the DVD. Tracks to pay attention to, in my opinion, are "Impossible Germany", "Walken", & "Shake It Off". Check it out.
Enjoy & I'd love to know what your top 5 (6) list would include.

skie

2007-05-13T17:56:00.000-07:00

As, I continue to dabble in photography I find that, other than taking picture's of my daughter, I greatly enjoy trying to frame trees & clouds in new & interesting compositions. So, tonight is a post solely dedicated to the sky & all it's wonders.
The first 3 pictures are taken here in the Kittitas Valley in Washington State. The 4th & 5th pictures are from Wyoming last year on our migration out West from the East Coast. The remaining pictures are from various points in the Shenandoah Valley back in Virginia. Hope you enjoy.

sierra leone's refugee all stars

2007-05-03T23:08:00.000-07:00

A quick post about a great band I've been listening to quite a bit for the past few months. The group is called Sierra Leone's Refugee All Stars, which was founded in a refugee camp in Guinea during the civil war in Sierra Leone. This band also has a documentary out about the forming of the band and footage from the early days of the band. Check them out. The album is entitled, "Living Like A Refugee". The trailer for the documentary is below.

josh garrels

2007-04-25T21:14:00.000-07:00

Two excellent videos of artist, Josh Garrels, whose albums don't spend much time out of my cd player. Great message, great sound, great voice. Enjoy.

it's friday.......

2007-04-20T23:20:00.000-07:00

Just a post regarding the past post entitled "good friday". Rachel has done the research regarding the sermon titled "It's Friday But, Sundays Comin'" and has discovered that the original pastor who wrote & delivered the sermon was Marshall L. Shepard, Sr., pastor of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in West Philadelphia. Sadly, everything on the internet credits Dr. Anthony Campolo who did write a book on the sermon, oddly enough, gaining public credit for the sermon with no known declaration that this is someone else's work.

Below is the email response from Tony Campolo's assistant:

Rachel,

When I "Googled" the topic, I found some of this, and then I made a call and
got the rest of it! "Tony Campolo preaches a sermon taken from an elderly black pastor, the
late Marshall L. Shepard, Sr., pastor of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church in West
Philadelphia. "It's Friday, but Sunday's Comin'" is the title of the sermon."

James Warren
Executive Assistant to Dr. Anthony Campolo, Bart Campolo and Shane

Looks like the cat is out of the bag. Have a good weekend everyone.

natura

2007-04-16T21:42:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was able to "check out" of civilization for a few hours and go on a 9 mile hike in the surrounding woods of the Kittitas valley. I love being out in nature, I feel the closest to God when I am totally alone surrounded by his creation. The raw nature that I find in the untamed hills surrounding our home also quenches my need for adventure. I'm never sure if I'll step on a rattlesnake, be stalked by a mountain lion, or maybe surprise a sleeping elk or deer.......perhaps a slumbering bear!?! As I meander back down the trail, in the gray twilight of the night, my spirit was calm and quiet, ready to start a new week.
The top two pic's are of Mt. Stuart in the Cascade mountain range. The next one is of Mt. Rainer as the sun was beginning to set to her right. The last one is a random picture of a lone tree on a hill. I'm growing a strong affinity to lone trees. Not sure where to go with that thought. Anyway, have a good week.

good friday

2007-04-06T22:56:00.000-07:00

It's Friday. Jesus is arrested in the garden where He was praying. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. The disciples are hiding and Peter's denying that he knows the Lord. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is standing before the high priest of Israel, silent as a lamb before the slaughter. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is beaten, mocked, and spit upon. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Those Roman soldiers are flogging our Lord with a leather scourge that has bits of bones and glass and metal, tearing at his flesh. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. The Son of man stands firm as they press the crown of thorns down into his brow. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. See Him walking to Calvary, the blood dripping from His body. See the cross crashing down on His back as He stumbles beneath the load. It's Friday; but Sunday's a coming.

It's Friday. See those Roman soldiers driving the nails into the feet and hands of my Lord. Hear my Jesus cry, "Father, forgive them." It's Friday; but Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, bloody and dying. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. The sky grows dark, the earth begins to tremble, and He who knew no sin became sin for us. Holy God who will not abide with sin pours out His wrath on that perfect sacrificial lamb who cries out, "My God, My God. Why hast thou forsaken me?" What a horrible cry. But Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. And at the moment of Jesus' death, the veil of the Temple that separates sinful man from Holy God was torn from the top to the bottom because Sunday's coming.

It's Friday. Jesus is hanging on the cross, heaven is weeping and hell is partying. But that's because it's Friday, and they don't know it, but Sunday's a coming.

And on that horrible day 2000 years ago, Jesus the Christ, the Lord of glory, the only begotten Son of God, the only perfect man died on the cross of Calvary. Satan thought that he had won the victory. Surely he had destroyed the Son of God. Finally he had disproved the prophecy God had uttered in the Garden and the one who was to crush his head had been destroyed. But that was Friday.

Now it's Sunday. And just about dawn on that first day of the week, there was a great earthquake. But that wasn't the only thing that was shaking because now it's Sunday. And the angel of the Lord is coming down out of heaven and rolling the stone away from the door of the tomb. Yes, it's Sunday, and the angel of the Lord is sitting on that stone and the guards posted at the tomb to keep the body from disappearing were shaking in their boots because it's Sunday, and the lamb that was silent before the slaughter is now the resurrected lion from the tribe of Judah, for He is not here, the angel says. He is risen indeed.

It's Sunday, and the crucified/resurrected Christ has defeated death, hell, sin and the grave. It's Sunday. And now everything has changed. It's the age of grace, God's grace poured out on all who would look to that crucified lamb of Calvary. Grace freely given to all who would believe that Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary was buried and rose again. All because it's Sunday.

- Pastor Marshall L. Shepard, Sr.

unnamed

2007-03-09T22:40:00.000-08:00

This is just a post with no real theme, perhaps a photographic cyclothymic trip. So enjoy, or don't, I guess it depends on where you're at on the swing of things.

cash

2007-02-20T21:52:00.000-08:00

The MAN. 'Nuff said, watch for yourselves.
"Hurt":

"Ring of Fire":

"San Quentin":

"Jackson":

to wander

2007-01-27T23:16:00.000-08:00

A pretty meaningless post really. Just found this website where you can map out all the places that you have visited in the U.S. and globally.

This map shows my global travels, primarily thanks to my two deployments in the United States Navy. Right now, I'd settle to go anywhere with sunshine. The Kittitas valley has been covered in freezing fog for the last week. No sunshine and frost on every single exposed surface, which gives some very pretty pictures. I'll have to post some soon. Good night.

snobbery in the key of R

2007-01-20T16:12:00.000-08:00

Most of the time, I am able to restrain my urge to use this space as a soapbox to spout my highly opinionated views about music. But, as I read over my latest copy of PASTE magazine last night I was excited to see 3 separate albums soon to be released by artists I have greatly enjoyed over the years. So, this post only serves as a small interruption in your daily lives to go out and buy some good music to accompany you on your travels.
2007 is starting out musically on a very good foot!! Enjoy.

mlk

2007-01-14T21:01:00.001-08:00

On the eve of Martin Luther King, Jr. day, I thought I would post an excerpt from one of his many influential speeches. After skimming my copy of " A Call To Conscience", I settled on a highlighted section from his speech entitled "Beyond Vietnam" from April 4th 1967.

Like RFK, many of Dr. King's speeches are still very poignant and valid so many years after being given. Please give time to reflect on the words of the past and help them guide us into the future.

"A true revolution of values will soon look uneasily on the glaring contrast of poverty and wealth. With righteous indignation, it will look across the seas and see individual capitalists of the West investing huge sums of money in Asia, Africa, and South America, only to take the profits out with no concern for the social betterment of the countries, and say, "This is not just." It will look at our alliance with the landed gentry of South America and say, "This is not just." The Western arrogance of feeling that it has everything to teach others and nothing to learn from them is not just.

A true revolution of values will lay hand on the world order and say of war, "This way of settling differences is not just." This business of burning human beings with napalm, of filling our nation's homes with orphans and widows, of injecting poisonous drugs of hate into the veins of peoples normally humane, of sending men home from dark and bloody battlefields physically handicapped and psychologically deranged, cannot be reconciled with wisdom, justice, and love. A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual death.

America

, the richest and most powerful nation in the world, can well lead the way in this revolution of values. There is nothing except a tragic death wish to prevent us from reordering our priorities so that the pursuit of peace will take precedence over the pursuit of war. There is nothing to keep us from molding a recalcitrant status quo with bruised hands until we have fashioned it into a brotherhood. "

moving pictures - 03

2007-01-07T22:00:00.000-08:00

This will be quick. Just got back from the cinema. Saw the movie "Blood Diamond". Great story. Great topic. Mildly cheesy token love affair. Well worth everyone's time and $8. Go see it. I'm tired but will write more later...I haven't fully digested this movie yet.

Addendum:
First, let me say that this addition in no way holds any spoilers for those that haven't see the film. I have two reflections/questions after letting this picture sink in for a week.

1. During the scene of Freetown being overrun by the rebels did anyone else get a glimpse into what Kigali, Rwanda must of looked like during the chaos that ensued that first night of the Rwandan genocide? The madness, drunken soldiers, bonfires, and packs of roving men armed with AK-47's and machetes.

2. I found it hard to watch yet, felt I needed to be an observer during the indoctrination of the young boys into the rebel army. I wonder if this is how Joseph Kony warps the minds of the young children he kidnaps in the middle of the night in Northern Uganda. Does he crank up the rap music and the juvenile egos by passing around weed, beer, and handing out machine guns, then send them out to do his killing and raping?

Keep in mind that while the story in the movie is fictional. Blood diamonds, refugees, and child soldiers from Sierra Leone all happened. Rwanda happened. And child soldiers in Northern Uganda is still happening.

birdy nam nam

2007-01-03T21:06:00.000-08:00

4 French dj's, 4 turntables.......

AND A MICROPHONE.

photoxpressions 07 - blue period

2006-12-25T14:24:00.000-08:00

As winter crept into the valley of Whispering Pines, it has swept away the color and left us with shades of whites & blues. We've seen two snowstorms, one day without power, and numerous little dusting's of snow since Thanksgiving. I've also had the pleasure of experiencing freezing fog, something of an oddity, which lives here in the valley during winter mornings and livens up my morning commutes to the office.
Rae says that the valley reminds her of Narnia under the White Witch's rule. I am reminiscence of Picasso during his "Blue Period", which has inspired these pictures and this post. All pic's shot with "cyanotype color setting" on the trusty Nikon.

UN

2006-12-11T20:10:00.000-08:00

In yesterday's Washington Post, Secretary General, Kofi Annan detailed his 5 lessons learned through his experience with the United Nations. Below is an excerpt dealing with what I feel is the most important lesson:

"How can states hold each other to account? Only through multilateral institutions. So my final lesson is that those institutions must be organized in a fair and democratic way, giving the poor and the weak some influence over the actions of the rich and the strong.

Developing countries should have a stronger voice in international financial institutions, whose decisions can mean life or death for their people. New permanent or long-term members should be added to the U.N. Security Council, whose current membership reflects the reality of 1945, not of today.

No less important, all the Security Council's members must accept the responsibility that comes with their privilege. The council is not a stage for acting out national interests. It is the management committee of our fledgling global security system.

More than ever, Americans, like the rest of humanity, need a functioning global system. Experience has shown, time and again, that the system works poorly when the United States remains aloof but it functions much better when there is farsighted U.S. leadership.

That gives American leaders of today and tomorrow a great responsibility. The American people must see that they live up to it."

This is just another, of the numerous, global observations of the United States global "war/blunder on Terror". I'm trying very hard to not be anti-administration but, each day my frustration level rises with the mire our military is stuck in both Iraq & Afghanistan. Our global spread of "democrazy" gives me flashbacks of President Johnson in the late 1960's dealing with the Vietnam conflict.

Read the entire article here.

gangsta amish

2006-11-26T22:06:00.000-08:00

Just a quick post of a very funny video that my sister tipped me off to while she was out visiting Whispering Pines.

photoxpressions 06 - fatherhood

2006-11-25T19:08:00.000-08:00

Daily it sinks in, the magnitude of responsibility that has been endowed upon Rae & I with this new gift. As I hold my child in my two hands, totally dependent on her parents, I am able to gain a small glimpse through Christ's eyes, to mankind's true relationship with God. It also amazes me that, at two in the morning, I can feel such extreme emotions; fatigue, love, frustration, anxiety - all at the same time as I try to quiet and console my daughter.

photoxpressions 05 - WA living

2006-10-29T16:12:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Whispering Pines. Just a lazy Sunday afternoon here as I look out at the intermittent rain showers rolling in from the north. I was planning to go hiking this afternoon but 35-40 mph wind gusts and a temperature of 37 degrees kept me inside. Yeah, I'm a pansy like that. Instead, I decided to browse through some pictures from our first 3 months here in Washington, which is what prompted this post. The first 2 pictures are from Manastash Ridge a few weeks ago. The blue sky with the cool clouds is from our weekend trip to Spokane, WA earlier this month. The fence post pic is from an unnamed trail, on the opposing, north side of the Kittitas valley. Second to last is a shot of the original Starbuck's in Seattle at Pike Place Market. And lastly is the pooch, Lance, lazily sunning in our living room here at Whispering Pines.
Have a good week. If you have a second check this out, a great concert that Rae & I have been absorbing this past week.

justice

2006-10-16T21:56:00.000-07:00

From the book of Micah, Chapter 6, Verse 8: He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? [from the ESV version of The Bible].

This was a reminder that drop-kicked me in service yesterday. That regardless of how daunting and frustrating it can be to see so much pain & hurt in this world, we as Christian's must continue to seek out and do justice (even in areas that our government blatantly overlooks). We must do this in a kind & merciful way; and we must continue to walk humbly. Something we Americans are lacking in......after all the Manifest Destiny we've gorged ourselves on.

invisible children

2006-10-08T15:41:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the 2nd annual Ellensburg Film Festival. I only caught one film, "Invisible Children", which I've been wanting to see for quite a while.
The story is told from the view point of 3 high school guys who, after graduating, decide to leave the comforts of America and travel to Sudan, Africa. They go in search of adventure and the hopes of capturing it all on film.
On arriving in Sudan, they find a virtual wasteland devoid of excitement and humankind. The boy's continue to search for an exciting story and when they begin to think to only "cool" thing they have on tape is the killing of a "gigantic snake", they go on a trip to Gulu, Uganda.
In Gulu, they met the children of the Acholi tribe who have grown up in the 17 year war which, still has no visible endpoint. The rebels who are trying to overthrow the government, The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), drive into the refugee camps at night and abduct the children, ages 8-12, to bolster their troop ranks. You may ask why those ages of children. The answer is coldly logical and sadistic: #1, these children can be easily terrorized into fighting with an indoctrination of beatings and murder of their fellow kids. #2, children that age are big enough to carry automatic rifles and machetes to continue the murder and rape which plagues Uganda & Sudan.
Each night the children of Gulu make a "night commute" from their villages & refugee camps to the surrounding hospitals and town centers to sleep in relative safety. In these sites the children are not at as much of a risk of being abducted by the LRA. This war has been going on for 17+ years with minimal outcry and no media coverage in the United States. In the film one local priest states "If a bomb goes off in Israel the whole world knows about it. If children are killed & abducted in Africa it does not even make the news in America." The priest was referencing a killing of 40+ children who were studying to be priests at his school in Uganda.
The story this movie tells sickens and saddens me; it saddens me that here is another example of tragedy in Africa which it getting minimal outcry in the world and it sickens me that again our country wants little to do with aiding and stopping these crimes against humanity!! (read this) WHY? Because it's happening yet again in "black Africa"? (see posts: speak up and truth in humor)
At the end of the movie the filmmakers ask the viewers for 3 things: Talent, Time, Money, in that order. So, I ask you to take the time to sign the "Children Should Never Be Soldiers Declaration" and send a message to President Bush and your representing member of Congress. Please send a one time gift to the Children of War Center or sponsor the Gulu Community both of which are in Gulu, Uganda and in need of your money. Then, read more about the conflict and use your talent to spread awareness and help end this tragedy. Please help.

moving pictures - 02

2006-09-17T00:09:00.000-07:00

"Water" is a somber and interesting movie set in the late 1930's, in India, with Gandhi's rise to power set as the backdrop. Water tells the story of a 8 year old girl who is now a widow and must live a life of poverty apart from normal society according to Hindu law. Go here for the trailer.

"The Fog of War" gives an insider look at Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara during the Vietnam War. This is well worth 90 minutes of your time. McNamara's wit is still sharp at 83 years of age with a great amount of wisdom to pass on. President Bush and his hawks (Rumsfeld & Cheney especially) would do well to heed the "11 lessons" Mr. McNamara has for us in this film.

moving pictures - 01

2006-09-09T23:18:00.000-07:00

This is the beggining of a new line of posts regarding cinema.

Tonight, Rae and I saw "Little Miss Sunshine"; which I highly recommend.
A few of the previews looked quite intersting as well so I'll pass the links on to the void:

- "Catch A Fire"

- "The Last King Of Scotland"

crickey - r.i.p.

2006-09-04T21:46:00.000-07:00

Say it ain't so. I just learned tonight that the "croc hunter" died today from a stingray barb through the heart. Go here for more coverage.

This doesn't have a great impact on my world but I thought Steve-o would never die. This guy was a tough as leather, hard as alligator skin, and quick as a cobra (which, I saw him jump around with in the African safari).

More later.

dead cow = relaxation

2006-08-27T16:30:00.000-07:00

As I write this blatantly materialistic post I am sitting on, what I would consider, the most comfortable couch in existence. Yesterday, we purchased our first grown-up (non-Ikea) piece of furniture. A leather La-Z-boy couch/dual recliner which is feature in the pictures below:

When you slide into the reclining position, you're immediately surrounded by the musky leather scent which declares "this is a FREAKIN' MAN'S SOFA"!! The smooth chocolate leather cradles you in as you drift of on what will be many Sunday afternoon naps.

More meaningful posts coming soon. But for now too.....sleepy...to...type....on.

photoxpressions 04 - mt. rainier nat. park

2006-08-20T21:26:00.000-07:00

Just some pic's from our past two excursions to Mt. Rainier National Park. Rae & I were recently tipped off, that, during August the snow-line on the mountain recedes back enough for the alpine meadows to have a glorious burst of color as the wildflower's bloom in late Summer. The snow melt also creates the lightest blue ponds in the recesses of the valley's which reflect Mt. Rainier majestically.

The next item is an attempt at trick videography which I may have failed miserably at. This was a small trickle next to a waterfall that I thought would appear to flow across the screen if recorded sideways......not sure if I captured it but I figured I'd at least see what others thought of it:

rfk

2006-08-15T22:08:00.000-07:00

Just been ruminating more lately about RFK. He was as articulate as his brother in his speeches; yet, his experiences connected him to humanity in a way that I don't believe his brother was. Robert Kennedy was more of a man of the people than I think his brother was. Robert's experiences with tragedy broke through the affluent upper crust mold which shaped both brothers from a young age. He became the champion of the downtrodden, oppressed, persecuted, and unrepresented. And then was taken away from them on the summit of what would of likely been his winning campaign for presidency. "Tragic" seems like such a trite, little word to describe the changes that could of came to fruition with the vision and energy of Robert Kennedy in the position of The President of the United States.

For an example of his wordmanship, if that even is a word, read the famous quote from his 06.06.1966 speech in Capetown, S. Africa (which also adorns his memorial next to his brother in Arlington Cemetery):

"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance."

OR this quote from the speech given the night of MLK's assassination in Indianapolis, Indiana quoting the Greek poet Aeschylus:

"In our sleep, pain which cannot forget falls drop by drop upon the heart until, in our own despair, against our will, comes wisdom through the awful grace of God."

AND I'll leave you with this exerpt from the same speech in S. Africa, that seems so fitting for our current international state of affairs:

"In a few hours, the plane that brought me to this country crossed over oceans and countries which have been a crucible of human history. In minutes we traced migrations of men over thousands of years; seconds, the briefest glimpse, and we passed battlefields on which millions of men once struggled and died. We could see no national boundaries, no vast gulfs or high walls dividing people from people; only nature and the works of man -- homes and factories and farms -- everywhere reflecting man's common effort to enrich his life. Everywhere new technology and communications brings men and nations closer together, the concerns of one inevitably become the concerns of all. And our new closeness is stripping away the false masks, the illusion of differences which is at the root of injustice and hate and war. Only earthbound man still clings to the dark and poisoning superstition that his world is bounded by the nearest hill, his universe ends at river's shore, his common humanity is enclosed in the tight circle of those who share his town or his views and the color of his skin.

It is your job, the task of the young people in this world, to strip the last remnants of that ancient, cruel belief from the civilization of man."

apologies

2006-08-14T23:56:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post regarding apologetics, a topic which has been on my mind for a few months.

As I stare at the empty blog space I don't think I can frame my thoughts at this time. I will have to just transplant my random thoughts for now with a link to a great sermon entitled "Let's Go Fishing" from 08.06.2006. I would highly encourage you to listen to this.

I'll try to edit this post in the future. Work is going well but taking quite a bit of my time.

If you have Netflix or a Public library with a good DVD selection check out this film. Quite an eye-opener on what a tragic loss his assassination was!

reminder

2006-08-06T00:50:00.000-07:00

lyrics from the song "Fight For Your Mind" from the same titled album, words from the mind of Ben Harper.

" if you're gonna live
then live it up
and if you're gonna give
then give it up
if you're gonna walk the earth
then walk it proud
and if you're gonna say the word
you got to say it loud

you got to fight for your mind
you got to fight for your mind
while you got the time
you got to fight for your mind

if you're gonna build a house
make it a home
if you're gonna pull some weight
pull your own
if you're gonna help
reach out your hand
if you're getting up
then take a stand

you got to fight for your mind
you got to fight for your mind
while you got the time
you got to fight for your mind

if you're gonna step
step on in
if you're gonna finish
you got to begin
don't you fear
what you don't know
just let that be
your room to grow

you got to fight for your mind
you got to fight for your mind
while you got the time
you got to fight for your mind"

'nuff said.

hypnotic

2006-07-30T17:13:00.000-07:00

Just a quick post. There are two YouTube videos that I keep going back to watch in the past few weeks.

The first is a Honda commercial which my brother turned me onto, which I have never seen aired. According to Micah it was all done in one shot and took something like $200,000 to film and 14 days (I probably just really butchered his quote):

The Second is a short video done by someone/something called Animusic. I didn't really research it on the internet about who they are but this is quite a cool musical video, very Pixar-esque:

Also, is anyone having trouble viewing the video I embedded in the "whispering pines" post. I made it a private video on YouTube and that may have caused some problems. Please let me know if you can't see it. Thanks.

photoxpressions 03

2006-07-29T13:24:00.000-07:00

I figure if my back is still sore then I have just cause to make other's suffer through a few more pic's from the move. Now I promise to move on to other topics.

whispering pines

2006-07-28T17:05:00.000-07:00

Hey all; the migration is complete. We arrived in Ellensburg, Washington this past Sunday late in the evening, on what we would later find out was the hottest day in recorded history for the town. My air conditioning stopped working in Colorado since my truck didn’t want to pull a U-Haul trailer and power the A/C, so I drove the last three days of the trip in relative misery. To break up the monotony of the trek I tried to keep a log of pretty much anything I could think of. Below is my portion of the log.

Trip Totals:
Days: 6
Miles: 3300.4
Tolls: $53 (that's just PA, OH, & IN....rotten scoundrels)
Driving Hours: 60.5
Gallons of Gasoline: 258
Roads Traveled: 76→80→280→680→81→135→61→70→25→90
Coffees: 7
Dr. Peppers: 9
Bags of Sunflower Seeds: 3

Playlist:
Alexi Murdoch
Belle & Sebastian
Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals
Beta Band
Blind Melon
Bob Dylan
Cake
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
Counting Crows
Credence Clearwater Revival
Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young
David Gray
DJ Dangermouse
Faith No More
Fiona Apple
Gillian Welch
Jack Johnson
Johnny Cash
Josh Garrels
Josh Rouse
Kasey Chambers
Kathleen Edwards
Led Zeppelin
Lucinda Williams
Marvin Gaye
Modest Mouse
Neko Case
Nirvana
Over The Rhine
Queensryche
Radiohead
Redbird
Shelby Lynne
Soul Asylum
Soul Sides Compilation 1
Sufjan Stevens
Talking Heads
The Allman Brothers Band
The Band
The Beatles
The Boy Least Likely To
The Shins
Toots & the Maytals
Violent Femmes
WILCO
Willie Nelson
Zero 7

Scientific Discovery Moment: Rachel initiated research in Wyoming revealing that it takes approximately five minutes for a Lemonhead to dissolve in your mouth without any excessive sucking on the Lemonhead.

Further research to support the hypothesized “five minute law” will explore if multiple Lemonheads in your mouth will change the dissolve time and if every mouth is consistent with a universal five minute law will be completed on future road trips.

Trip Claps & Slaps: (my cheesy section to doll out rants and thanks)

Claps:

- Ultimate clap to The Lord for providing us with save travel, no speeding tickets, and some of the most amazing country to drive through.
- Supreme Clap to the unnamed tow-truck driver/mechanic in Belleville, Kansas who towed my truck (with the trailer attached) to the Chevy dealership and then started working away on trying to fix it….on a blissful 113 degree day in Kansas!!

Slaps:

- A Slap to the fuel pump which caused the above mentioned breakdown on that 113 degree day.
- Another general all encompassing Slap (with a flying elbow) to the heat wave which plagued us the entire week we were traveling.

Overall the trip was an exciting adventure which let us see some extremely beautiful country:

And also play with electronics while I should of been driving:
Back at Whispering Pines we have been very busy the past week with unpacking, assembling Ikea furniture, and settling to our new home in the Pacific Northwest. Our house is surrounded by tall pine trees which whisper as the wind sails in from the Cascade Mountains, hence the new name of our house. The breeze also fills the house with the scent of evergreen trees and makes me feel like I’m camping in the mountains. I found out last week that I passed the national certification for Physician Assistants which was a huge relief. I start work on 7.31 and a new chapter in my “adult” life. Tonight Rachel and I are going to enjoy the latest movie by M. Night Shyamalan, Lady In The Water. This weekend is also “Jazz in the Valley” so we may explore the town more and possibly catch a concert. Enjoy your own weekend. More to come soon.

goodbye PHL

2006-07-16T17:29:00.000-07:00

Tonight, I sit on the eve of a trans-continental trip from Philadelphia to Washington state. I've recently completed my training as a Physician Assistant and am moving to start my new job as a fledgling PA.
I write this with excitement, apprehension, and sadness all bundled tight in my gut. Tomorrow is the beginning which I have been working towards for the past four years. During that time I have grown fond of my in-law's and bonded with new, now seasoned, friends, both of which will be missed greatly.
I've also learned the pathways and uncovered the "diamonds" of Philadelphia during my downtown excursions. So, I dedicate this post to AKA Music, WXPN, WHYY, Big Jar Books, Chink's Steaks (great cheese steaks, however un-PC the name is), Rita's Water Ice, Philadelphia Pretzel Factory, Pod, El Vez, Fork, Reading Terminal, The Mutter Museum, Philadelphia Art Museum, Tin Angel, The Electric Factory, World Cafe Live, and The Kimmel Center. I leave with philos in my heart!

world cup woes

2006-07-13T11:14:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to document my world cup withdrawl and post the final minutes of Zidane's career. Quite a disappointing way to close this chapter of his legacy. If the story is true though, Materazzi most likely deserved this little "love tap".

happy 4th

2006-07-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

celebrate freedom & liberty.

old charter

2006-07-04T12:05:00.000-07:00

Celebrate with our friends the Brit's and some Old Charter. They're good blokes and not at all miffed that we won our independence from the crown they're still under. With Old Charter bygones are bygones......

i love ESPN

2006-07-01T12:57:00.000-07:00

Just a quick note on how much I love ESPN. For those of us left in the world without cable TV we can still catch live streaming coverage of the world cup games via ESPN360 online. Wish I had knew of this earlier in the tournament! At least I'll be able to see the two semi-final games without the crappy ABC commentary.

I was bummed to see England lose today to Portugal. I really wanted to witness Crouch doing his post-goal dance . The Portugal keeper, Ricardo, seemed to be clairvoyant during the penalty kicks blocking 3 of the 4 pk's.

Back to online coverage of Brazil v. France. I remember watching these two teams play in the 1998 World Cup final onboard the USS Wasp during my last Mediterranean Deployment in the U.S. Navy. The deployment was during the summer of '98 and all of Europe was intent on the World Cup in France during our tour. It was quite an experience to see just how much football/soccer is a global sport. Too bad the majority of U.S. seems to close-minded to embrace soccer and support the national team on a higher level. Well, back to the game....thanks to ESPN!!

Author's Note: France upsets Brazil 1-0!! Sorry, Timmy but your countrymen didn't look like they had the legs that the French did. Zidane put on quite a show with his amazing footwork. Also, is it me or does the French keeper, Fabien Barthez, look like Moby?

photoxpressions 02 (aka Timmy goes to Hershey)

2006-06-27T20:12:00.000-07:00

My friend Timmy makes his debut here tonight. Pic's taken at Hershey Park in PA.

photoxpressions 01

2006-06-23T23:14:00.000-07:00

upcoming films

2006-06-22T22:51:00.000-07:00

Just a quick break in the monotony of studying to provide you with a short list of notable films to check out at your local cinema arthouse. These films are most likely not showing at the regional 40-screen multiplex, except maybe the M. Night film, "Lady In The Water".

here's the list:
The Proposition [in theatres]
Road To Guantanamo [6.23.06]
Lady In The Water [7.21.06]
The War Tapes [Film Festival Circuit]
The Puffy Chair [Film Festival Circuit]

Author's Note: Whoops, not sure how I missed this one, "Talladega Nights" is out 08.04.06. Will Ferrell's latest movie poking fun at all the rednecks & Nascar fans (if those are actually two seperate being's). Will Ferrell is a funny funny funny funny mofo.

truth in humor

2006-06-22T00:59:00.000-07:00

Cynical. Disturbing. Darkly prophetic. Sadly accurate regarding our humanitarian and diplomatic insufficiency with regard to African conflicts.

It seems Gen. Romeo Dallaire (retired), the U.N. commander in Rwanda, was on point in his book with the analysis that the "superpowers" will turn a blind eye to genocide & humanitarian crises if they occur in the realm of "Black Africa". While a similar or smaller incident in "White Europe", such as the Bosnian conflict, will receive exaggerated support from the U.N. and the superpowers. It's disturbing to me that there is minimal outcry in our country for more action.

Click on strip for fullsize. 'Toon is from "Get Your War On".

Nurse....Scalpel

2006-06-20T21:56:00.000-07:00

I said SCALPEL!

Not much to really talk about or report....my brain is kind of fried from studying for the boards. I just wanted to share with all my loyal readers (if there really are such entities) this cool website, O.R. Live. A few weeks ago I watched a laparoscopic nissen fundiplication on a lazy Sunday afternoon from the luxury of my laptop....how freaking cool is that!! They also have podcasts for those of you with one of them video i-pod thingys.

On the World Cup scene just 2 days until the showdown with Ghana!

Still Kicking.....

2006-06-17T18:15:00.000-07:00

Well, U.S.A. is still in the World Cup for at least another 4 days. The lads were able to tie Italy, 1-1, regardless of losing two players to questionable red cards. Ghana will be our next match on Thursday morning at 9:50 AM E.S.T.
If we're able to beat Ghana & Italy wins over Czech Republic then we'll be ranked 2nd in Group E and advance to the next round of futbol.

In other World Cup news it seems that around 1,000 Dutch fans watched the Netherlands v. Ivory Coast match, with no pants! Crazy Europeans.

The respite is over and I'm once again going back to the books.

SPEAK UP!

2006-06-16T16:37:00.000-07:00

As Father's Day approaches, and since I will soon become a father, I have become more aware, through various recent experiences, of those without fathers. In Northern Uganda children are being kidnapped in the night to become unwilling soldiers in a fight they want nothing to do with. If they are able to escape "The Lords Resistance Army" and return to their village, most find that their families were slaughtered the same night they were taken.

So, I invite you to speak up for the fatherless. Sign the "Children Should Never Be Soldiers" declaration and support the fatherless, wherever you can. An inspiring story of these children is told in the film "War Dance". Check it out if it's in your area.

Have a great weekend.

All Songs Considered

2006-06-12T16:35:00.000-07:00

Hey, just listened to the "Summer 2006 Preview" show on NPR All Song's Considered (click on the link to listen to the show) this afternoon. I was impressed primarily with two upcoming albums and both are from deceased artists, seems the living can't impress me today.

1. Rick Rubin is releasing the last (supposedly) installment in the American Recordings done by Johnny Cash. American V: A Hundred Highways will be released on 07.04.06 and contains the last songs ever recorded by Cash. The song "309" is reportedly the last song he wrote/recorded 2 weeks prior to his death. Cash's voice is haunting and failing throughout the song but, surprisingly still able to project a strength and fire which I hope is evident throughout the album. The whole album contains songs about death, which must of been looming quite largely on Cash's horizon at this point in his life.

2. Ali Farka Toure is a Malian guitarist who died of bone cancer earlier this year. It had been rumored that In the Heart of The Moon was his last recording available to us. The album Savane being released 07.25.06 is from the same Hotel Mande' Sessions in Bamako, Mali from mid-2004. The songs are all acoustic solo Ali Farka Toure from what I've heard so far. His deep & dark voice interjects Mali throughout the title track "Savane".

- Both albums have sample tracks available at the above All Song's Considered link. Back to the books.

Live @ The Vic

2006-06-08T20:12:00.000-07:00

If you don't want to wallow in your uncool existence of mediocre mainstream bland pop music you'll go here and download the 03.05.05 Jeff Tweedy show at The Vic in Chicago. This show was a two night benefit solo concert to raise money for the Kawasaki Disease Foundation, which Jeff's son nearly died from (the disease; not some evil plot by the foundation).

Not much for insight this evening. I'm studying for my boards which has made me feel woefully inept which is why I'm bitterly lashing out at the void of unknowing generica music listeners who languish in a virtual pool of extremely badly written music. I'll try to be more sunny next post.

FYI: If a pt has had a heart attack and now is suffering from bradycardia (slow heart rate) which coronary blood vessel was blocked to cause the heart attack?
- The right coronary artery which supplies blood to the SA node which is the "pacemaker" for the heart. See all the useful information you learn here.

Pre-destination?

2006-06-05T13:24:00.000-07:00

I'm working this month with a pediatrician named Dr. Dada.....seriously, DADA. On some of my other rotations I've seen additional signs that your pre-programmed to your profession. To prove this, while on my psychiatry rotation I had a patient whose psychiatrist was Dr. Strange. Even better was the 21 year old schizoaffective patient, who was afraid of a coven of witches were coming to chop off his penis.....then psychiatrist's name, Dr. Wiener. Except, shouldn't he have been a urologist then. Hmm. Should I be a lifeguard or sno-cone maker then. Perhaps I'll someday practice on a beach.

For some additional fun go here: monk-E-mail
The entertainment lasts for hours or at least a good twenty minutes.

Just Drinkin'

2006-06-01T21:53:00.000-07:00

I stumbled across this blog: IAMFUEL which features many live shows. The post to definitely check out is 5.17.2006 featuring Bob Dylan's XM radio show with a theme of Alcohol. Each show has a theme interspersed with Dylan's commentary about the history behind the music. This show reveals the musical scholar behind DJ Dylan. I almost want to join the ranks of XM subscribers I see on I-81 solely for his show.

Enjoy.

re-launch

2006-06-01T14:02:00.000-07:00

I'm going to attempt this endeavour once again. No promises.