Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Monster House Lives!!!

note: click the pictures to see more detail
Every year about this time Monster House rises from the depths.

(The most viewed entry of all time on my blog is last year's picture of Monster House.)


What good is Halloween without real spider webs adorning your house (inside and out.) I love to see the perfection (and the unique, custom imperfections) in a carefully spun web--the details are fascinating to me.


Nothing says, "Where's the fresh Hot Apple-Cinnamon Cider" better than the warm glow a Jack=o=lantern on a crisp, see-your-breath, fall night with leaves crunching under your feet.



Spring and Fall are my favorite times of the year: bright new colors spring-up all over the place!


You can't have fall without Candy Corn made with sweet honey!

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Preparedness: A S.T.E.P. In the Right Direction

Emergency Preparedness has been close to the forefront on my mind over the past few years--mainly a nagging reminder that I still have stuff to do for the eight of us to be self-reliant and prepared in an Emergency.

Sure, we hear about all the natural disasters that are happening everywhere but 'here:' Tsunamis, Earthquakes, extreme winters, hurricanes, wild fires, mudslides, etc. But my family, personally, has had enough experiences locally on the Oregon Coast (tsunami warnings, major wind storms that wiped out power and communications, unemployment) to keep us reminded that things could get worse at our house too.

Emergencies are not limited to major natural disasters either--it could be unemployment, economic struggle, or house fire, or other accident.

Many resources are available to help you move in the direction of self-reliance and preparedness: 72-hour kits, food/water storage, financial advice, etc. Community Organizations (such as the Red Cross) and local/national governmental agencies (FEMA and NOAA for example) are also a good resources for disaster preparedness information.

Some simple governmental resources I utilize frequently is the Tsunami Watcher email list from NOAA that sends me an email whenever there is an earthquake that could cause worry for an Tsunami; and the Earthquake Email Notification from http://www.usgs.gov/ that sends me an email about earthquakes that fit the parameters I selected. You would be amazed at how many emails I get from these two notification sources. Of course NOAA also gives reliable weather details and storm warnings on their site...for hurricanes as well.

One resource I'm looking forward to is an Emergency Preparedness Workshop sponsored by Warrenton S.T.E.P. (Storm, Tsunami, & Emergency Preparedness.) It looks like they are bringing in several local professionals to give presentations on different aspects of emergency preparedness. Plus it sounds like it will be interactive enough where the community will be able to share good ideas with each other. Since the best truth comes from the source, please check out the official information: http://wstep.blogspot.com/

Wednesday, October 22, 2008

My Son And The Jazz Ambassadors

My oldest son developed a love for good quality jazz and orchestra music from an early age...I don't know if that stems from listening to Manhattan Transfer frequently while he was still in the womb, if its hereditary to like good music, or what.

A few days ago he got excited about a FREE! concert his band teacher told him about. Not just any band, but a jazz band--he really likes jazz. Not just any jazz band, but the professional US Army Jazz Ambassadors.

I've always wanted to take my oldest to a live orchestra or other live musical performance, so I got excited to...and my wife, knowing how much I love live music, let me take him even though she wanted to go too!

So last night, with my son practically dragging me out the door with anticipation, we drove to Astoria's Liberty theater. We had to park a few blocks away to find a place to park, even in our small town, and followed several people into the theater.

Most of the audience was a few generations older than myself, which made the experience extra special. Perhaps its the love I have for my late grandparents who were of the same generation. Perhaps its a respect for the history, culture, ethics, and experiences their generation laid as a foundation for future generations . I think its both. Big Band Jazz is the iconic musical representation of their generation.

Not only was the room filled with a generation I respect tremendously, it was also filled with veterans from all branches of the military representing service during World War II to the present. I was surprised and extra touched by how many veterans there were from World War II. I have a lot of respect for soldiers' and veterans' willingness to sacrifice themselves to protect the rest of us and our freedoms. Those who join the military surely realize the risks--and knowing the risks have decided for themselves from the beginning that they would willingly sacrifice their own lives to protect us, our Country, and our freedoms. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. " John 15:13.

I don't know if my son realized the significance of being in the presence of such great people, but I'm sure it left an impression on him that he will never forget--and that will make more sense to him as he gets older. Especially with the respect the band gave the veterans. From everyone singing Happy Birthday to the WWII veteran turning 89 to the active duty Coast Guard presenting the colors to the band's Armed Forces Salute where they played the song for each branch of the military as audience members all around us stood up when their song played. As they stood, the Director respectfully saluted them. All of the veterans deserved the attention and respect they recieved at that concert.

Musically it was a great show. I've heard high school jazz bands and recordings of more professional Jazz Bands, but nothing beats the live experience. I love the professionalism, the stretching the limits of their talents in their solos, feeling the power of the dynamics characteristic of Big Band Jazz , being stimulated by the syncopation and creative rhythms, and soaking in the energy the music and musicians generated. I think it was inspiring for my son as well to feel the power that only live music can provide. I hope it motivates him to continue to enjoy developing his musical skills...to have a standard to work toward.

The other thing that made it special was having the one-on-one time with my son--enjoying an experience that was special and exciting to him. It's a memory we will share together for the rest of our eternal lives. We may not remember the details of what transpired, but we will remember how it made us feel and the things we learned from the whole engulfing experience.

It was a great experience spending time with my son, my most respected generation, the protectors of my liberty, and the US Army's Jazz Band that brought us all together.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Prayerful Study

A few recent Photography Experiments:

Prayerful Study

I like the details and personal symbolism in this still. A few candles, glow from the computer monitor and a 20-second shutter w/ no flash on a tripod.


First Frost Mountain Range
I didn't appreciate trying to scrape this off the windshield, but its delicate textures made taking a picture irresistable.

My Favorite Girl

Friday, October 3, 2008

Hiring A President

Through the hiring process, great care is made to select the best person possible for the job. The right person on the job makes operations run smoothly and efficiently with positive outcomes. The wrong person on the job disrupts progress, requires excess productivity maintenance; and often getting rid of the wrong person is very difficult.

Hiring the best person possible is important for any job and certainly true for the President of the United States of America. The person we hire to lead the Government's Executive Branch, represents the people of the United States for four years. Here are some steps to help choose the best person possible for the job:

1. Know The Job. How can we hire correctly for a position we know little about. Even if I am familiar with a position, I like to review the job requirements--especially from official sources:

The President is the Head of the Executive Branch and generally viewed as the head of the U.S. Government. While he does have significant power, his power is limited by the Constitution. Specifically, the Constitution assigns the following powers to the President:

  • Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces

  • Make treaties, with two-thirds consent of the Senate

  • Receive ambassadors and other public ministers from foreign countries

  • Appoint ambassadors, Supreme Court justices, federal judges, and any officials as provided for by the Congress, with the approval of the Senate

  • Give an annual State of the Union Address to Congress

  • Recommend legislation to Congress

  • Convene Congress on extraordinary occasions

  • Adjourn Congress, in cases of a disagreement about adjournment

  • "Take care that the laws be faithfully executed"

  • Fill in administrative vacancies during Congressional recesses

  • Grant reprieves and pardons for offences against the U.S.

Vice President: President of the Senate and becomes President if the President is unable to serve.

2. Identify Values. In addition to reviewing the skills and experience required for the job, it is important to identify the values and characteristics you want in the person you hire for the position. Sometimes a person may have a resume full of experience and skills, but has values inconsistent with your philosophies, or character conflicting with the image you strive to uphold, or characteristics that don't quite fit the position. Examples of Values: honesty, hard-working, cooperative, consistent, humble, bold, good listener, decisive, self-initiative, teachable, good judgement, self-discipline, creative, persistent, respectful, wise, non-confrontational, follows-through, aggressive, willing to uphold change, compassionate, etc.....

3. Review Resumes and References. Candidates interested in the job generally provide an application, resume, and cover letter in their best attempt to persuasively attract you to their experience, skills, and values. You then separate the individuals you would like to interview. Things are more complicated in the Presidential hiring process, members of political parties tend to do the sorting to determine who the general public will 'interview'. However, the general public still prompts the Electoral College, so it is important to review the candidates Resumes. You can look at the Candidates' experience in Congress: Congressional Record, Senate, House of Representatives. You can also look at the Candidate's Official State Websites. Of course there are always the candidates' official websites:

There are several third-party websites designed to help the public research and compare candidates and their views:

Other sites help clear-up false information:

4. The Interview. The interview gives you the opportunity to gather a lot of verbal and non-verbal information about the candidate to help with your decision. You can see how they react and respond to questions. You can see how they process information and draw conclusions. You can see how they interact with others and portray themselves. You can find out how they would handle specific scenarios. The challenge with the Presidential interviews is that it's usually other people interviewing and asking the questions, but we still have a chance to see how they react and answer the questions. The other challenge is when more than one candidate interviews at the same time--mentally navigating debates is a challenge because the candidates often try to answer on behalf of their opponent. However, the debates do give us an opportunity to see how the candidates handle pressure and challenges to their ideology.


5. Make Your Decision. After reviewing and analyzing the information you gathered throughout the hiring process, you are ready to make your decision. You then extend your offer to the candidate. Please research well and submit your ballot on time because, although the hiring panel consists of many individuals, your voice is an important part of the decision-making process.

6. Support the New Hire. When the new person is hired and starts the job, its important to respect the decision of the panel and to support the new employee in their role and give them the opportunity to magnify their position. Give them the opportunity to be successful. That doesn't mean they can get away with whatever they want...they are still accountable to their employer. Sometimes they need coaching and correction and sometimes disciplinary action may be necessary.

That's not so simple in the Presidential Elections. We may disagree with the President, we may disagree with the results of the 'hiring panel'. However, we respect the process and the structure of the government which was established by inspired men. We can support the President of the United States and encourage him/her to represent us well. If the President requires coaching or correction or discipline, the governmental structure provides for those checks and balances through Congress and the Judicial System. We, too, as a people, can offer guidance to the President by hiring good Senators and Representatives and communicating our concerns to them and encouraging them to support the good things and challenge the questionable things the President does. Through our voice to our governmental representatives in congress we can promote coaching and correction and sometimes discipline of our newly hired President.

Ultimately, we are blessed to live in this country with the government we have. Although it's easy to find faults with decisions people and groups make, we are blessed with the freedom to express differences with the government. And we do have a voice in how our government behaves. The challenge to us is to do our part, respectfully, to voice our desires in the appropriate manner--realizing that we as individuals and governmental officials are not perfect, but together as a body of citizens, we are strong and can watch out for each other and confront challenges together.