Happy Birthday, Mr President!

Abraham Lincoln
(February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865)
16th President of the United States of America
(March 4, 1861 – April 15, 1865)

History in the Making

Barack H. Obama
44th President of the United States of America

An interesting historical note: Obama is the 3rd US President from Illinois. The first two: Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses Grant.

Good-Bye, David

David Wayne Stevens
(28 January 1968 - 30 June 2008)

וְעַתָּ֣ה׀ מֵ֗ת לָ֤מָּה זֶּה֙ אֲנִ֣י צָ֔ם הַאוּכַ֥ל לַהֲשִׁיב֖וֹ ע֑וֹד אֲנִי֙ הֹלֵ֣ךְ אֵלָ֔יו וְה֖וּא לֹֽא־יָשׁ֥וּב אֵלָֽי׃
"I shall go to him, but he will not return to me..."
2 Samuel 12.23

From Fisher Funeral Home:

David Stevens, 40, of Albany lost his long battle with diabetes and died Monday at his home. He was born in Albany and lived his whole life in Albany.

He leaves behind a family who loves him dearly and will miss him more than words can express. He loved everyone and always tried to make everyone happy. He was happiest when he was outdoors - dirt bike riding, skiing, or any outdoor sports. He had a great time singing Karaoke at JP's. He loved to draw, sing, and write poems and songs. He loved to sing because it made everyone so happy.

David is survived by his mother, Charlote Bridges and step-father, Dave Bridges, who David always said was the best dad he ever had; son Keegan, sisters Michaelle Williams and her daughter Miranda Williams, Tami Butler and her daughters, Tonya & Tiffany; step-brother, Kyle Bridges: grandmother, Virginia Stevens; uncles, John Wood & Tom Leys; aunts, Karen Leys, Ruth Wood, Elizabeth Smarr & Roselyn Stowell, and many cousins. David will join his grandparents in heaven: his Grammy, Dorothy Couch who was his best friend and roommate for many years, and his grandfathers: Willis Wood and Jim Stevens.

Memorial services will be held at the Albany Eagles Club, 127 Broadalbin St NW, at 2:00pm, Saturday, July 5, 2008.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given to any Central Willamette Community Credit Union or to Fisher Funeral Home, 306 SW Washington, Albany, Oregon 97321 to help with his final arrangements.

First Fish of the Season

To celebrate Tristyn's last day of Second Grade we took him out to Shevlin Pond to go fishing. We all had a great time and both Tristyn and his mom got two fish each, which we then grilled up for dinner!

The first fish of the season!

Tristyn learns to clean his first fish!

The Big Catch!

Three Generations on the Butte

A few weeks ago my folks came up to visit for the weekend. While they were here we got this great shot of me, Dad and Tristyn up on Pilot Butte:

Mystified

"When you feel in your gut what you are and then dynamically pursue it - don't back down and don't give up - then you're going to mystify a lot of folks."

- Bob Dylan

She Said Yes!

Last Saturday I asked my girlfriend, Justine, to marry me and--of course--she said Yes! We're planning a Summer 09 wedding in one of the local parks :)

Haircut Day!

A few days ago Tristyn had his first haircut in quite a long time:

Before

During

The Mohawk!

Still some left, Mom!

The HAIR!!

Finished! Isn't he cute?

My Boy, the Baseball Star!

Spring is here, which means baseball is back. But for once I'm excited about a player that isn't on the Yankees roster (yet!).

R.I.P. A.C.C.

It is a sad day for Science Fiction. Sir Arthur C. Clarke, author of 2001: A Space Odyssey among others, has passed away at the age of 90.

Sir Arthur Charles Clarke
(1917-2008)

"Life is just one big banana. Science fiction allows us all to peel open the reality and discover the yellow truth inside."

"Somewhere in me is a curiosity sensor. I want to know what's over the next hill. You know, people can live longer without food than without information. Without information, you'd go crazy."

Heaven on Earth

"What is love? As far as I can tell, is is passion, admiration, and respect. If you have two, you have enough. If you have all three, you dont have to die to go to heaven."

- William Wharton

Free Book From Neil Gaiman

Over at Neil's blog he has announced that he is giving away FREE downloadable copies of his book American Gods for the next month. You can get your copy here.

For some odd reason people seem to think this is wrong.

Let it Snow

Just thought I'd share a few pictures of the recent snow storm here in the Valley!

The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Updated by Mark Twain

I recently ran across these lyrics while looking for some songs to record. They're Mark Twain's "updated" version of the Battle Hymn of the Republic. Twain wrote it in 1908 as a satire on American Imperialism in the wake of the Philippine-American War. Sadly, it seems just as relevant today in many respects. I may have to record this one myself.

The Battle Hymn of the Republic, Updated
by Mark Twain

Mine eyes have seen the orgy of the launching of the Sword;
He is searching out the hoardings where the stranger's wealth is stored;
He hath loosed his fateful lightnings, and with woe and death has scored;
His lust is marching on.

I have seen him in the watch-fires of a hundred circling camps;
They have builded him an altar in the Eastern dews and damps;
I have read his doomful mission by the dim and flaring lamps—
His night is marching on.

I have read his bandit gospel writ in burnished rows of steel:
"As ye deal with my pretensions, so with you my wrath shall deal;
Let the faithless son of Freedom crush the patriot with his heel;
Lo, Greed is marching on!"

We have legalized the strumpet and are guarding her retreat;*
Greed is seeking out commercial souls before his judgement seat;
O, be swift, ye clods, to answer him! be jubilant my feet!
Our god is marching on!

In a sordid slime harmonious Greed was born in yonder ditch,
With a longing in his bosom—and for others' goods an itch.
As Christ died to make men holy, let men die to make us rich—
Our god is marching on.

* NOTE: In Manila the Government has placed a certain industry under the protection of our flag. (M.T.)

The 7th Day of Hanukkah

I'm Not There

I went and saw this film over the weekend and absolutely loved it. It is far from being a typical biopic, which should be blatantly apparent to anyone who is familiar the premise. At the beginning of the film there is a note that it is based on "The Songs and Lives of Bob Dylan," which is the first indication that it is not merely a dramatization of Dylan's life story, such as you would find in the very well made Johnny Cash biopic "Walk the Line." Dylan, whose name is never mentioned in the dialog of the film, is portrayed by six different actors (one of them a woman and one a 12 year old black kid) who represent different aspects of Dylan's character at different points in his life. Within each character's storyline things unfold relatively chronologically (though one does employ some flashbacks), though the film jumps between each Dylan, inter-cutting different periods of his life more thematically than chronologically. It is a hard film to describe in words, I think one must experience it to appreciate it at all. As much a meditation on Dylan as it is a biography, this film isn't spoon fed to the viewer, as there is much metaphorical imagery at work, and requires the viewer (I would say challenges the viewer) to think about and consider what is projected on the screen. Probably not a film for everyone, but one that I will definitely buy on DVD and watch and study repeatedly. Below I've posted some videos (Trailers, clips and interviews) concerning the film that I've run across on YouTube.

The Rain

Some people feel the rain. Others just get wet.

-- Bob Dylan

The Media

And here I thought the issues I have with reporters and the media in general were of recent origin. Depressingly, they're not and I see no end in sight. But I have to say, I totally understand where ol' Uncle Billy was coming from...

“I think I understand what military fame is; to be killed on the field of battle and have your name misspelled in the newspapers."

...

"I hate newspapermen. They come into camp and pick up their camp rumors and print them as facts. I regard them as spies, which, in truth, they are. If I killed them all there would be news from Hell before breakfast."

- Major General William Tecumseh Sherman

The Oregon Coast

This weekend we took a little after-Thanksgiving trip to the Oregon Coast. We had a great time & I thought I'd share some of the pictures we took.

Justine and I

Sunset over the water

Justine and Tristyn

Our first Family Portrait

Sunset

Tristyn and a Giant Crab at the Oregon Coast Aquarium

The Three of us outside the aquarium

Tristyn and an anchor in Depoe Bay

Tristyn and Santa (We ren into Santa when he came to light the Christmas tree in Depoe Bay)

Justine, Santa and I (See, Duck, Santa does like Jews!)

Taking an Ice-Cream break

Tristyn at the petting tank in the aquarium

Me at the Newport docks

Tristyn on the Newport docks

Justine