tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57143562024-03-12T19:44:50.539-07:00Two Tin Cans (on a very long string)Kari from Kansas City and Rene from Los Angeles blog about whatever in their own uniquely clamorous style. We write from two separate (midwestern-coastal, female-male, etc.) perspectives but are connected by friendship and the internet. Were we too nerdy? Too grandiose? Too cutesy? Or right on? Really funny? Made you think? Chime in with your thoughts and let us know whether you agree or disagree by joining the discussion through the comment feature!Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.comBlogger563125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-46795839361887162682008-02-23T13:25:00.000-08:002008-11-18T23:50:58.990-08:00Life: Saturday with Lillian<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEkCwzLvTFi6eSxFK0mlCYHo5Ao5mrKtwQGaXg74rf_MyfwTcFuok5yCJGAxP4jf4plotyM_ODuoJ0jB-QZnE9LLn_pKcY6YXoJ8C7ZV8-8-L7PV710ys6uotE0Db-WPx8aU/s1600-h/DSCN0660.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrEkCwzLvTFi6eSxFK0mlCYHo5Ao5mrKtwQGaXg74rf_MyfwTcFuok5yCJGAxP4jf4plotyM_ODuoJ0jB-QZnE9LLn_pKcY6YXoJ8C7ZV8-8-L7PV710ys6uotE0Db-WPx8aU/s200/DSCN0660.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170297988988546418" /></a><br />Howdy from Kansas. Thought I'd drop in with a sample post from Hello, Lillian!<br /><br />Today we went to two great events in Kansas City. The first was a drop-in on the February session of the <a href="http://theeisenhowerseries.org/">Dwight D. Eisenhower Excellence in Public Service Series</a>, a women's political education group that Kari is involved in. Lillian got to meet many of the wonderful women who are on the board of the group and in this year's class.<br /><br />We didn't get to stay that long, because we also were attending our adoption agency (<a href="http://holtintl.org/">Holt International Children's Services</a>) family support group's annual February luncheon in honor of Chinese New Year. Lillian got to dress up in her traditional dress again, and again she got to say a big "no" to posing in a group photo with other kids, just like in Guangzhou on the famous red couch.<br /><br />It was a fun event and included a dragon dance by the Chinese School of Greater Kansas City, lunch catered by a Chinese restaurant (<a href="http://www.pitch.com/search/restaurants.php?oid=5001">Kin Lin</a>), and lots of fellowship with other Holt families (mostly with kids adopted from China, but some were families with kids from Korea, India, etc., as well as families still in the waiting process). We'd guess there probably 40 or 50 families in attendance. We think Lillian was the most recent arrival of all the kids there, and one of the youngest as well. The group has monthly gatherings, with the big events being this event and a summer picnic.Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437651894341649655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-74194337158623785512008-02-22T18:40:00.000-08:002008-02-23T09:50:49.352-08:00Life: One of the good parts of the internetsThere is definitely a lot of not so savory aspects to the internet.<br /><br />But one huge plus is the ability to share photos and life stories so people can stay connected.<br /><br />I'll be checking in on <a href="http://bruffettfamily.blogspot.com/">Hello, Lillian!</a> every now and then.<br /><br /><strong><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=23&chapter=127&version=72">Psalm 127</a><br /><em><br />Unless the LORD builds the house, <br /> the builders labor in vain. <br /> Unless the LORD watches over the city, <br /> the guards stand watch in vain.<br /><br /> In vain you rise early <br /> and stay up late, <br /> toiling for food to eat— <br /> for he grants sleep to those he loves.<br /><br />Children are a heritage from the LORD, <br /> offspring a reward from him.<br /><br />Like arrows in the hands of a warrior <br /> are children born in one's youth.<br /><br /> Blessed is the man <br /> whose quiver is full of them. <br /> They will not be put to shame <br /> when they contend with their opponents in court.<br /></em></strong>Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-72272728074644430112008-01-03T11:24:00.000-08:002008-11-18T23:50:59.892-08:00Art: All Nature Sings, Jan 5 - Feb 2, 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAh_rvjQSYizd43O3uHKXmdflw1AiDQIacdHrVvqAcEf4RK5u7XwYKdZD6-r-VCmgfVVreweU78BzmkXMYr1J1nhQTf6I_1gAGZOybZ-uvmkf8PGGbY4qfSY2kHXQiqUU5ti7/s1600-h/ShowLetter.jpeg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNAh_rvjQSYizd43O3uHKXmdflw1AiDQIacdHrVvqAcEf4RK5u7XwYKdZD6-r-VCmgfVVreweU78BzmkXMYr1J1nhQTf6I_1gAGZOybZ-uvmkf8PGGbY4qfSY2kHXQiqUU5ti7/s400/ShowLetter.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5151333510650137602" /></a><br /><br />As a culture blog, wanted to post this item for those folks who enjoy contemporary art that is NOT on the "ick" side nor the "I could have done that" realm. There might be some "I'm not sure what it is" feelings but they are thoughtful objects and are always well crafted that encourage contemplation and wonder.<br /><br />Lynn Aldrich is a friend of mine who works in that space.<br /><br />The exhibit starts Jan 5 and runs until Feb 2, 2008 at the <a href="http://www.carlberggallery.com">Carl Berg Gallery</a>.<br /><br />6018 Wilshire Boulevard<br />Los Angeles CA 90036<br />tel: 323-931-6060Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-870998668319608202007-12-23T08:29:00.001-08:002007-12-23T08:29:53.482-08:00Travel: Kauai vacation photos from September 2007This post took a bit longer to get around to. But, at last, below are photos and travelogue of my most recent travels.<br /><br />To see two YouTube videos about Kauai go <a href="http://a4theroad.blogspot.com/2007/10/travel-hawaii-kauai-september-2007.html">here</a>. One of the videos is mine. The other is put out by people on Kauai concerned about overdevelopment.<br /><br /><strong>Saturday, September 15, 2007</strong><br /><br />Arrived in Honolulu!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/1h.jpg"><br /><br />The last time I was in Honolulu was as a teenager many decades ago!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/2h.jpg"><br /><br /><strong>Sunday, September 16, 2007</strong><br /><br />My uncle took me to <a href="http://www.nps.gov/usar/">Pearl Harbor</a> to see the Arizona Memorial. The lines were long so we didn't make the trip to the site.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/3h.jpg"><br /><br />Nonetheless, reading the various interpretive displays was very moving even though the attack occurred 66 years ago. I'm sure it really impacts some of the older visitors who have memories of the actual event or knew people who were there. <br /><br />Our next stop was the <a href="http://www.cem.va.gov/CEMs/nchp/nmcp.asp">Punchbowl Memorial Cemetery</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/4h.jpg"><br /><br />There are murals that recap the Battle for the Pacific during World War II. The number of battles is unimaginable.<br /><br />The visiting side of the trip came to an end and I donned my "business" hat by attending the <A href="http://www.asbmr.org">American Society of Bone and Mineral Research</a> and participating in a poster session for the evening.<br /><br /><strong>Monday, September 17, 2007</strong><br /><br />The ASBMR conference was held at the Honolulu Convention Center.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/5h.jpg"><br /><br />It was a good workout to make the trek between the Convention Center and the <a href="http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=380">Princess Kaiulani hotel</a>.<br /><br /><strong>Tuesday, September 18, 2007</strong><br /><br />One of the mornings I decided to walk on the sands of Waikiki en route to the Convention Center.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/6h.jpg"><br /><br /><strong>Wednesday, September 19, 2007</strong><br /><br />Figuring I don't know when I'd be back to this part of the world again, I planned for a short island hop to Kauai!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/7h.jpg"><br /><br />The view from the airplane window!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/8h.jpg"><br /><br />On the ground!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/9h.jpg"><br /><br />My rental car was obtained through <a href="http://www.priceline.com">Priceline</a> which was somewhat below the published rates since it was "shoulder" season between the summer travelers and the late fall/early winter escapees from elsewhere's cold weather.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/10h.jpg"><br /><br />I stayed at the <a href="http://www.kauaisandshotel.com/">Kauai Sands</a> which was the lowest priced hotel on <a href="http://travel.yahoo.com/">Yahoo! Travel</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/11h.jpg"><br /><br />Beautiful beach at the Kauai Sands but a tad windy!<br /><br />The Kauai Sands is next to the Coconut Marketplace shopping center.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/12h.jpg"><br /><br />Kauai Tourism Tip: There is pretty heavy traffic between Kapaa and Lihue during morning and late afternoon rush hour. Also, if you are on the road after sunset, be aware it is very dark as there are very few street lights on the roads between towns! I discovered this because I figured, oh, take a little drive around the island before calling it a night. The sun went down and it was dark!<br /><br />I wound up driving all the way up to Hanalei but it was completely dark so I didn't get to see the beautiful views I would two days later. I ended up having dinner at <a href="http://www.bubbaburger.com/">Bubba's Burgers</a> in Hanalei.<br /><br /><strong>Thursday, September 20, 2007</strong><br /><br />Good morning Kapaa!<br /><br />I rolled out of bed to watch the sunrise over the ocean!<br /><br />There were other guests at the hotel with the same idea.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/13h.jpg"><br /><br />For the day, I headed toward the west side of the island to get to <a href="http://www.kauaidiscovery.com/virtual_kauai_tour/hanapepe+waimea+kekaha/page6/">Waimea Canyon</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/14h.jpg"><br /><br />Even with the late morning haze, it is still quite a view though I would imagine would have been very spectacular in the golden sunrise/sunset hours.<br /><br />The windy road eventually reaches <a href="http://www.hawaiianstyletravel.com/KauaiGuide/Guide159.htm">Kalalau Lookout</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/15h.jpg"><br /><br />What a view!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/16h.jpg"><br /><br />Weather changes quickly on the islands! The rain swept in yielding the gorgeous rainbow!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/17h.jpg"><br /><br />If you have time, be sure to check out <a href="http://www.kauaifestivals.com/artnite/12.22.2007/">Hanapepe</a>. There are some neat art galleries there which I got to check out a few that were open. The Cafe in the town is a top destination that is only open limited hours and requires reservations.<br /><br />I then headed off to the <a href="http://www.igougo.com/travelcontent/JournalEntryActivity.aspx?entryID=38411">Spouting Horn</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/18h.jpg"><br /><br />For dinner, I went to <a href="http://www.brenneckes.com/">Brennecke's Beach Broiler</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/19h.jpg"><br /><br />Did you like the view from my dining table?<br /><br />I had <a href="http://www.hawaii-seafood.org/opah.html">Opah</a> and <a href="http://www.hawaii-seafood.org/ono.html">Ono</a> for dinner. I liked the Ono better. <br /><br />To work off some calories, I walked around Poipu beach to wait for the sunset!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/20h.jpg"><br /><br /><strong>Friday, September 21, 2007</strong><br /><br />I had made a reservation while I was in Los Angeles for a Na Pali Coast Catamaran tour through <a href="http://www.captainsundown.com/">Captain Sundown</a>. However, they contacted me with news on Thursday that the swell conditions were too rough to sail so I had to change my plans. I booked a kayak trip for Friday with <a href="http://www.kayakwailua.com/">Kayak Wailua</a>.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/21h.jpg"><br /><br />We paddled up to Uluwehi Falls. It was quite a workout but lots of fun! <br /><br />The falls wasn't very spectacular because the amount of rainfall had been low lately. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/22h.jpg"><br /><br />Nonetheless, had to take a picture in the water. It is cold as the water runs down from the top of Kauai!<br /><br />I showered off back at the Kauai Sands and then hit the road to the Kapaa local products fair.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/23h.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/24h.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/25h.jpg"><br /><br />I had driven up to Hanalai on my first evening and had no idea how beautiful it was!<br /><br />Here is one of the lookout points on the side of the road.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/26h.jpg"><br /><br />As a photographer, the golden hours are right around sunrise and sunset. What a view in Hanalei bay!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/27h.jpg"><br /><br />Waikiki back in Honolulu is like Rodeo Drive but with lots of big hotels. It is a district that probably never sleeps. But I've never been much of a night life person and truth be told there probably isn't a lot of nightlife in Kauai. I heard there are a few bars with music and such. <br /><br />However, when I can, I like to get a feel for the local flavor. I saw in the local paper that Waimea was playing Kapaa in high school football at Kapaa which is the town right next to the Kauai Sands.<br /><br />I was pretty tired from the kayak tour and the drive up to Hanalai but I figured what the heck, I'll go see the football game after a hearty meal. I went the <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g60616-d519174-Reviews-Wailua_Family_Restaurant-Kapaa_Kauai_Hawaii.html">Wailua Family Restaurant</a> which was across the street from where I had met up for the kayak tour. I'd agree with the description of this place being like a Sizzler. Fancy dining it is not. But a decent amount of food at a reasonable price is good enough for me. I had a steak and Mahi Mahi platter. But most importantly, I got information about the football game! The man behind the counter said his daughter would be one of the cheerleaders at the game. The woman at the cash register drew a simple map to the stadium.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/28h.jpg"><br /><br />In the white jersey's were the visiting Waimea Menehune. In the green was the home team the Kapaa Warriors!<br /><br />In the first half, I was amidst some Kapaa fans. One lady with a video camera explained to me her son was one of the players and her daughter was one of the cheerleaders. She pointed out various other relatives in the stands. It truly is a family event. <br /><br />In the second half, I was amidst some Waimea fans. A couple noticed I didn't seem like a local and asked me what my story was. I explained I was a mainlander on vacation after business. They seemed happy to see a tourist at the game. They pointed out various family members in the stands and told me their son was a running back on the Menehune. They explained to me that there are three high schools on the island. They also told me that the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menehune">Menehune</a> were the legendary miniature men of Hawaii.<br /><br />In case you were curious: Menehune 21 Warriors 7.<br /><br /><strong>Saturday, September 22, 2007</strong><br /><br />My last day on Kauai ...<br /><br />One of the signature sights was <a href="http://www.waterfallswest.com/hi_wailua.html">Wailua Falls</a>. <br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/29h.jpg"><br /><br />Since I had a few more hours before the flight back to Honolulu, I drove down toward the south side.<br /><br />I stopped at Old Koloa Town. There are some cute little shops on the old historic street.<br /><br />I had to visit beautiful Poipu beach one last time.<br /><br />The sleeping Monk Seal got a lot of attention!<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/30h.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/31h.jpg"><br /><br />Flew back to Honolulu and had a get together with various relatives.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/32h.jpg"><br /><br /><strong>Sunday, September 23, 2007</strong><br /><br />I had a few hours before my flight back to LAX. My uncle drove me to a few more sights on Oahu.<br /><br />We went to Pali Lookout ...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/33h.jpg"><br /><br />Went to one of the surfing spots to see if anyone was out there ...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/34h.jpg"><br /><br />Saw a rower ... <br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/35h.jpg"><br /><br />Had lunch at the <a href="http://www.alamoanacenter.com/">Ala Moana Shopping Center</a> and saw some Hulu dancing ...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/kauai/36h.jpg"><br /><br />Aloha!Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-4722052311048897552007-12-20T06:46:00.000-08:002007-12-20T06:47:25.118-08:00Life: Maybe a new Christmas tradition for meThere was the periodic rattling of carts as two young employees of Ralphs after rounding them up pushed them back to the store.<br /><br />Airplanes came in for landings every minute or so.<br /><br />Cars trundled up and down the parking lot.<br /><br />There was the quiet tinkle of a bell.<br /><br />Yup, it is Christmas in the city and I manned the kettle and rang the bell in front of the Ralphs for two hours this evening.<br /><br />It was neat to see parents give their kids some change or a dollar bill to put into the kettle.<br /><br />"Thanks for your contribution!"<br /><br />I smiled inside myself contemplating the internal dialog of people who walked past the kettle, stopped, walked back and placed in a contribution. What might have prompted a change of heart? Perhaps a recognition that came from gratitude? Or maybe a memory of someone who got help from the Salvation Army or someone who didn't? <br /><br />Whether people gave or not, I did try to give them a smile and offer some holiday cheer with a hearty, "Have a good Christmas holiday!"<br /><br />A few chatted briefly with me about nothing in particular as they placed some coins or bills in the kettle.<br /><br />Some people had a grim look about them set upon their grocery shopping task, I wonder what was on their minds and how they felt to hear someone say, "Have a great evening."<br /><br />Some thanked me as I thanked them for making a donation.<br /><br />I could see some choose a path to enter the Ralphs that kept them from making eye contact with me.<br /><br />One mom told her kids a nursery rhyme:<br /><em><br />Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat<br />Please put a penny in the old man's hat ...<br /></em><br />She said the kettle is the old man's hat ... and her two kids each dropped in a few coins.<br /><br />Definitely made it a point to give a smile for the kids and a big "Thanks!" for each one who dropped in coins!<br /><br />One lady walked past me going in and going out and came back and placed a dime in the kettle saying, that was all I could find in my car.<br /><br />"Thank you every little bit helps!"<br /><br />Another lady, looking a bit worn down from life dropped in a few coins and said, I'm sorry I can't give more, I'm just a poor old lady.<br /><br />I had to say, "God bless you for her effort!"<br /><br />Please consider making a contribution when you see a red kettle.<br /><br />Or go ahead and contact your nearest <a href="http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn.nsf">Salvation Army</a> and volunteer to be a bell ringer.<br /><br />If I haven't convinced you, check out the web page for <a href="http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn.nsf">Salvation Army</a> and see if Kelly Clarkson can encourage you to help out in some way.<br /><br /><img src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/SP_A0292.jpg" width="320" height="240">Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-55705465172145991512007-12-01T12:39:00.001-08:002007-12-01T18:57:50.747-08:00Sports: game day USC vs. UCLACan UCLA win?<br /><br />If the special teams steals a TD and gives UCLA good field position and puts USC in bad field position.<br /><br />If the defense comes up with an unbelievable game like last year.<br /><br />If the offense can keep the QB from getting hit. Why did UCLA have their 2 QBs injured this season? The OL didn't protect them.<br /><br />If all three happen then maybe UCLA is still in the game late in the fourth quarter with a miracle shot at pulling off the upset.<br /><br />Otherwise, the game could be over like other years by half-time or sooner.<br /><br />Go Bruins!<br /><br />UPDATE: USC 24 UCLA 7. What can you say? No surprises today. Congratulations to USC for their 6th Pac10 title.Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-71889798306072844682007-11-30T07:45:00.000-08:002007-11-30T08:00:38.820-08:00Sports: USC vs. UCLA, the day before game dayLast year, I was there.<br /><br />I had a 3-game mini-plan. There were probably 30% USC fans in our section as many UCLA fans sold their tickets rather than go watch the Bruins lose. I almost did the same.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/ucla/la-sp-plaschke30nov30,1,4879914,full.column?coll=la-headlines-sports-coll-ucla">Plaschke</a> in today's LAT has the where is he now story of Eric McNeal who got the interception that preserved the Bruin victory by keeping USC out of the end-zone and thus out of the National Championship game.<br /><br />Excerpt:<br /><br />A week before the big game and the kitchen floor is sparkling.<br /><br />"I do the mopping around here," Eric McNeal says.<br /><br />A week before the big game and the bathrooms are shining.<br /><br />"That's also my job," he says.<br /><br />A week before the big game, and Eric McNeal is sitting at the dining-room table of the modest Carson home he shares with his parents, figuring out his work schedule.<br /><br />Today, clean the house.<br /><br />Tuesday through Friday, report to a nearby warehouse to drive a forklift.<br /><br />"Maybe I'll add Saturday to my schedule," he says idly.<br /><br />Saturday?<br /><br />"Oh, wait," he says, smiling. "That's right."<br /><br />Oh, wait. That's right. <br /><br />Four words, two sentences, forever describing the author of one of the biggest moments in USC-UCLA football lore.<br /><br />Only once in this rivalry's 76-game series has one man made one play to keep the other team out of the national championship game.<br /><br />Only once has the winning play been made by a man who started one game in his college career.<br /><br />Only once have circumstances so forgettable flared into something so memorable.<br /><br />The man was McNeal. That play came last season when, with 1 minute 10 seconds remaining, the UCLA linebacker tipped and intercepted a John David Booty pass to seal a stunning 13-9 victory.<br />.........<br />A couple of months later, he was being ignored by the NFL, Arena League, every league.<br /><br />"When you didn't play that much in college, it's hard," he says.<br /><br />Today, out of uniform and out of scholarship, he is working as a forklift driver to help pay tuition for his final quarter of college.<br /><br />To save money, he lives in his childhood home, his game ball wrapped in a plastic bag and buried under some clutter.<br />..........<br />Both of McNeal's parents are UCLA graduates.<br /><br />He loved UCLA so much, he committed there during his junior year at Gardena Serra High.<br /><br />He loved it so much, he didn't transfer when every coach who recruited him departed with Bob Toledo.<br /><br />He loved it so much, even when he was forced to move from big safety to undersized linebacker, even when it became obvious that he would never start under Karl Dorrell, he refused to leave.<br /><br />After not playing one down against Oklahoma two seasons ago, he wept.<br /><br />Then he decided he would never say another word.<br /><br />"I love the school and I wasn't going to do anything to hurt it," McNeal says. "I was going to keep my mouth shut and stick it out."<br /><br />Even that didn't work. By the time he took the field for the final home game of his career against USC last fall, he was playing only in passing situations.<br /><br />"You tell children to work hard and things will turn out all right . . . well, that's not always the case," says his mother.<br /><br />And then, this being the USC-UCLA game, they did.<br /><br />"He never complained, he never asked for more time," says linebackers coach Chuck Bullough. "Then he finally had his moment."<br />---<br />Go Bruins!Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-90899669644498634042007-11-29T07:32:00.000-08:002007-11-29T13:17:36.467-08:00Sports: UCLA vs. USC in two daysThe game is at USC's home field and I'll not be trying to fetch the tickets.<br /><br />The listed price at <a href="http://www.stubhub.com">Stubhub</a> ranges from $109 to $1200.<br /><br />No one expected UCLA to win last year and last year's team was healthy!<br /><br />This years team has been a MASH unit. <br /><br />The latest news is that Olson who came in for the 2nd half of last weeks game has had knee trouble again. As such Cowan who has had knee trouble and is recovering from a collapsed lung has been taking the bulk of the snaps at practice. Rassan who started last weeks game but was pulled after going 0-7 passing with 1 int is the backup.<br /><br />The LAT is running daily articles about the past rivalry games. Saw <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/ucla/la-sp-memories28nov28,1,3753166.story?page=1&coll=la-headlines-sports-coll-ucla">this one</a> today. <br /><br />Excerpt:<br /><br />The year was 1992 and the Bruins had run through pretty much all of their quarterbacks, losing Wayne Cook, Rob Walker and Ryan Fien to injury. They were down to a fourth-string senior.<br /><br />"He wasn't even on the team the previous year," Dellins said. "Coach [Terry] Donahue let him walk on."<br /><br />Barnes responded with a magical night against the Trojans, throwing for 385 yards and three touchdowns. When 15th-ranked USC failed on a two-point conversion with less than a minute remaining, UCLA had a 38-37 upset victory.<br /><br />Dellins loved that a no-name could, in the course of a few hours, become a star. He also liked the way Barnes responded afterward. The quarterback, known to live in a realm of his own, did not consider his Cinderella performance a big deal.<br /><br />Interviewed on television after the game, he was asked what might have happened if USC had taken the lead on that conversion.<br /><br />"Well," he responded plainly, "we'd have gone down the field and scored again."<br /><br />---<br /><br />On the current UCLA team, the 4th string QB would be McLeod Bethel-Thompson. The walk-on QB played in the dismal loss to Notre Dame after Olson got hurt. The Fighting Irish decided to stack the line to stop the running game and blitz like crazy. The result, the shell-shocked Bethel-Thompson got sacked 4 times and threw 4 interceptions.<br /><br />Can history repeat itself with a surprise victory on the arm of a 4th string QB?<br /><br />Go Bruins!Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-41841425490671640422007-11-25T17:07:00.000-08:002007-11-25T17:19:36.909-08:00Sports: BCS forecastsHey, that is the fun part about being a blogger! I can use this platform to express my opinion and you can take it for every cent you are paying for it!<br /><br />My biases: am a UCLA alum so am a fan of the Pac10. Alas, this year, it doesn't look like the Pac10 is going to get 2 teams into the BCS. Just don't see ASU getting in.<br /><br />Rose:<br />USC (pac10) - As a UCLA fan, I would love it if UCLA could knock USC out of the Rose Bowl game but I'd guess USC will be favored by 21 in the annual cross-town game next week. Of course, last year the Bruins weren't expected to win and they knocked USC out of the BCS championship game!<br />Hawaii (at large, wac) - A huge if is whether the Rainbow Warriors can beat the Washington Huskies. If they do, the Rose Bowl selection committee will see $$$ signs as the Hawaii fans will happily get on a plane to California to root for the Warriors. If Hawaii stumbles, my guess is that the Rose Bowlers will nab Missouri pitting USC's defense against the Tiger's spread offense.<br /><br />Fiesta:<br />Oklahoma (big12) - Can the Sooners beat the Tigers twice? I think so!<br />Boston College (at large, ACC) - no way the Fiesta sets up Oklahoma versus Mizzou, round III.<br /><br />Sugar:<br />LSU (sec) - Nice little home game for them!<br />Mizzou (at large, Big12) - The Sugar organizers are rooting for Hawaii so the Rose Bowl takes them to set up this game. If Hawaii stumbles, the Sugar will call up Illinois.<br /><br />Orange:<br />Va Tech (acc) - They should beat BC!<br />Georgia (at large, SEC) - Right next door, no brainer!<br /><br />BCS Championship:<br />Ohio State (big10) - Because everyone else around them gets beat, they slip back into the BCS championship game! <a href="http://www.hughhewitt.com/">Hugh Hewitt</a> would love the wisdom of this forcast! 8-)<br />West Virginia (big east) - The Big East champs are in. Nobody below them in the BCS can jump over them. Of course, watch them lose to Pittsburgh! Hah!<br /><br />You heard it here first!!Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-48938585252471444922007-11-08T14:23:00.000-08:002008-11-18T23:51:00.036-08:00Life: Introducing Lillian<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqhmYbO-BYEJCot20dz1qgzcmNDAV2Q_GJEn20u_eUfOW6sSmBZBxorC4AqUynSjWdxAx7aGgsrDAIYaDr3KQoQWhHlU8bdy2pW-ojUzIgKmLU5SvDL4Htvg9_MsKCLshJXc/s1600-h/Chang_Wei_He.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqhmYbO-BYEJCot20dz1qgzcmNDAV2Q_GJEn20u_eUfOW6sSmBZBxorC4AqUynSjWdxAx7aGgsrDAIYaDr3KQoQWhHlU8bdy2pW-ojUzIgKmLU5SvDL4Htvg9_MsKCLshJXc/s200/Chang_Wei_He.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5130602596425323698" /></a><br />Rene:<br /><br />You have seen this before, but now that we have reached the next step in the adoption process, I thought it would be OK to post our announcement on Two Tin Cans.<br /><br />We are thrilled to announce that we have been matched with a little girl in Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China. She was given the name Chang Wei He, and when we adopt her she will be known as Lillian Weihe Bruffett (we'll call her Lily).<br /><br />We like the story behind the name Weihe. "Wei" means "mighty" -- an aspirational name for a small girl (she likely was born prematurely); the name symbolizes the hope of her caregivers at the Changzhou City Children's Welfare Institute that she would grow stronger. "He" is a common name for girls and means "lotus" -- a water lily.<br /> <br />She is nearly 2 (her birthday is November 18). The letter we received from her caregivers in China concluded with this, and we couldn't agree more: "She is as good as pie."<br /><br />We just found out this week that we may be allowed to travel as early as mid-December, or possibly as late as late January. We will be in China for approximately two weeks -- possibly over Christmas.<br /><br />I have created <a href="http://Bruffettfamily.blogspot.com">a blog for our trip</a>; we hope to be able to post often while we are overseas so that family and friends can share the experience with us.<br /><br />We are excited and bursting with anticipation.<br /><br />Take care!<br />KariKarihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437651894341649655noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-50964879247338243412007-10-10T22:07:00.001-07:002007-10-10T22:15:32.479-07:00Travel: Kauai and Oahu, September 2007My first You Tube video!<br /><br /><object width="300" height="225"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fIRKNDlcOts"> </param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fIRKNDlcOts" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="300" height="225"> </embed> </object><br /><br />Aloha!Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-70112129730504004702007-08-28T10:16:00.000-07:002007-08-28T10:17:37.672-07:00Life: A cause to consider supportingHeard about <a href="http://www.feedthechildren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=usw_backpack_radiothon_los_angeles">this</a> this morning on <a href="http://www.kabc.com">the radio</a> while driving to work.<br /><br />Here is the blurb on the fund-raising effort:<br /><em><br />Homeless children learn to go without lots of things that most of us take for granted... but expecting them to go without school supplies is simply too much to expect. That's why talkradio 790 KABC has teamed up with the <a href="http://www.feedthechildren.org">Feed the Children Foundation</a> to make sure that thousands of homeless kids in the LA and Orange County area will have a backpack filled with school supplies.<br /></eM><br />Obviously, the problem is one with many factors but the choice is between doing nothing or trying to do something. Maybe by trying to do something, the forces will be set in motion to do more!<br /><br />Please consider giving to this effort!Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-41489940196633854722007-08-26T06:59:00.001-07:002007-08-26T07:00:00.865-07:00Technology: 911 and Cell PhonesSaw <a href="http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-911cell26aug26,0,3741158.story?page=1&coll=la-home-center">this item</a> in the Los Angeles Times.<br /><br />The reporters studied the challenges of the 911 system having to field so many calls many of which come from cell phones.<br /><br />I wonder how other parts of the USA are doing on this problem?Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-88893154451547105012007-08-16T06:49:00.000-07:002007-08-16T06:50:41.469-07:00Sports: Bonds at bat on video phone<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/bbclip.mov"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.geocities.com/a4theroad/blog/bbclip.mov" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br />Watch for the flashes as Barry Bonds is at bat!<br /><br />I was at Dodger's Stadium to see the Giants play the Dodgers in the 2nd game of the series. LAPD was out in force and the Dodger blue security guys were quick to kick out unruly fans! Anyway, Bonds flied out, grounded out, flied out (a very dramatic catch by the CF Juan Pierre that had the crowd going crazy!) and his fourth a bat was an intentional walk. Dodgers were down 4-2 when I left and while walking to the car, the crowd went crazy as Gonzo drove in the tying 2 runs and then Garciaparra hit a two-run homer to get the lead. Saito closed it out for a 6-4 Dodger win!!!! <br /><br />Opportunities to cheer for the Dodgers have been few and far between since. 8-(Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-37510777869408858812007-08-08T21:42:00.000-07:002007-08-08T08:13:31.600-07:00Sports: 755, 756Well, the Giants go on the road to play the Dodgers and then the Padres.<br /><br />If you are the manager of the Dodgers, do you pitch to Bonds? <br /><br />If you are the manger of the Padres and the record has still not fallen, do you pitch to Bonds?<br /><br />The Dodgers have the longer history of battles with the Giants. <br /><br />As a Dodger fan who has been to a number of games in the last few year, there is no question the crowd is especially vocal when the Giants are in town. <br /><br />The Padre fans seem to be a mellower crowd but they too are divisional rivals and would loath the idea of having Bonds break the record in their park.<br /><br />Speaking of how riled up Dodger fans can get, the other week, I sat in the left field bleachers and heard some fans heckle Marlon Anderson. Marlon Anderson? Is he really deserving of heckling? So I would imagine the crowd will be in full voice heckling the far more famous or infamous left fielder Barry Bonds. <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/jon_weisman/07/28/bonds.boos/index.html">Weisman</a> wonders aloud what will happen at Dodger's stadium if the record falls there on Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.<br /><br />So if you are Grady Little, do you order your pitchers to issue the walks or do they go after Bonds and let the chip fall where they fall?<br /><br />We shall see!<br /><br /><br />TUESDAY 7/31 - Giants vs. Dodgers, game 1 of this home stand. Penny is penciled in to start but he will have to test his muscle strain and could be a late scratch. <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke31jul31,1,7596610,full.column?coll=la-headlines-sports">Plaschke</a> has an item about the disdain for Bonds among Dodger fans. Excerpt:<blockquote>It was Sept. 17. The Dodgers had arrived in San Francisco with a two-game lead over the Giants with 11 games remaining.<br /><br />It was a traditional Dodgers team, filled with five rookies of the year and immersed deeply in Dodgers culture.<br /><br />The general manager was Fred Claire. The manager was Bill Russell. The stars were the likes of Mike Piazza, Karros and Raul Mondesi.<br /><br />They had made the playoffs the previous two seasons, losing in the first round each time, but were ready to go further. The kids had grown up. The manager was finding his niche. A return to greatness beckoned.<br /><br />Four players finished the year with at least 30 homers. Five pitchers won at least 10 games.<br /><br />"This was a very good team on the verge of something very special," Claire remembered.<br /><br />All they needed to do was survive San Francisco.<br /><br />Then, Bonds stepped up in the bottom of the first inning of the first game against a withering Chan Ho Park and changed everything.<br /><br />With Darryl Hamilton on first base after a walk, Bonds crushed a Park fastball into the cheapest seats in right field for a two-run homer.<br /><br />Just as the ball disappeared, Bonds' legendary tackiness appeared.<br /><br />He dropped his bat and pirouetted in front of home plate.....</blockquote>Post Script: Bonds hit 756 in front of Giant fans on Tuesday night August 7, 2007. <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/2007-08-08-874656280_x.htm">Here</a> is the press statement by Hank Aaron and message in his recorded video remarks:<blockquote>I would like to offer my congratulations to Barry Bonds on becoming baseball's career home run leader. It is a great accomplishment which required skill, longevity and determination.<br /><br />Throughout the past century, the home run has held a special place in baseball, and I have been privileged to hold this record for 33 of those years. I move over now and offer my best wishes to Barry and his family on this historic achievement.<br /><br />My hope today, as it was on that April evening in 1974, is that the achievement of this record will inspire others to chase their own dreams.</blockquote>Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-3925318763967747982007-07-21T10:25:00.000-07:002008-11-18T23:51:00.284-08:00Travel: Dead Sea Scrolls Exhibit in San Diego<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihM7bbITUU9QvfGCjVxcSbOd5FeGJQXMAFrUJCz-fe65WLvLoEmEz_MDBKWU7GaUhk56QtSxQ9NEa6tTo5KwsgVIdjdIKbZm5SNjm8q6PH8rkLzL3odfHYDUHY9bIwFlK2rT4t/s1600-h/sp11.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihM7bbITUU9QvfGCjVxcSbOd5FeGJQXMAFrUJCz-fe65WLvLoEmEz_MDBKWU7GaUhk56QtSxQ9NEa6tTo5KwsgVIdjdIKbZm5SNjm8q6PH8rkLzL3odfHYDUHY9bIwFlK2rT4t/s320/sp11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089681505457227810" /></a><br /><br /><strong>What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?</strong><br /><em><br /><a href="http://www.sdnhm.org/scrolls/history.html">The Dead Sea Scrolls</a> were initially discovered by Bedouin herders and then by archaeologists between 1947 and 1956 in 11 caves near Khirbet Qumran, on the northwestern shores of the Dead Sea in Israel. Thousands of fragments were discovered and pieced together into over 900 separate documents including biblical books, hymns, prayers, and other important writings.<br /></em><br />quote source: http://www.sdnhm.org/scrolls/history.html<br /><br /><strong>How old are they?</strong><br /><em><br />Within a fairly short time after their discovery, historical, paleographic, and linguistic evidence, as well as carbon-14 dating, established that the scrolls and the Qumran ruin dated from the third century B.C.E. to 68 C.E. They were <a href="http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/scrolls/intr.html">indeed ancient!</a><br /></em><br />quote source: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/scrolls/intr.html<br /><br /><strong>Who wrote them?</strong><br /><em><br />The word “<a href="http://www.antiquities.org.il/article_Item_eng.asp?sec_id=44&subj_id=195&id=461&module_id=#as">Essene</a>” is never distinctly mentioned in the scrolls. How, then, can we attribute either the writings or the sites of the Judaean Desert to the Essenes? The argument in favour of this ascription is supported by the tripartite division of Judaism referred to in Qumran writings (for example, in the Nahum Commentary), into Ephraim, Menasseh and Judah, corresponding to the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Essenes. As the Essenes refer to themselves in the scrolls as Judah, it is clear who they regarded themselves to be. Moreover, their religious concepts and beliefs as attested in the scrolls conform to those recorded in contemporary writings and stand in sharp contrast to those of the other known Jewish groups.<br /></em><br />quote source: http://www.antiquities.org.il/article_Item_eng.asp?sec_id=44&subj_id=195&id=461&module_id=#as<br /><br />However, there is disagreement in the scholarly community over the extent the Essenes were responsible for the Dead Sea Scrolls. <br /><em><br />Although this evidence is accepted by the majority of scholars in identifying the Essenes with the Qumran settlement and the manuscripts found in the surrounding caves, some scholars remain unconvinced. Some propose that the site was a military garrison or even a winter villa. The scrolls are viewed as an eclectic collection, neither necessarily inscribed in the Dead Sea area nor sectarian in nature, perhaps even the remains of the library of the Temple in Jerusalem. Other scholars view the texts as the writings of forerunners or even followers of Jesus – Jewish Christians – who still observed Jewish law.<br /></em><br />quote source: http://www.antiquities.org.il/article_Item_eng.asp?sec_id=44&subj_id=195&id=461&module_id=#as<br /><br />The scholars at <a href="http://oi.uchicago.edu/research/projects/scr/">University of Chicago</a> appear to be one center of thought investigating alternative views. <br /><br />Their web page has several detailed articles of why they doubt the Qumran theory of authorship.<br /><br /><a href="http://oi.uchicago.edu/research/is/deadseascrolls.html">This item</a> was their response to the exhibit of the DSS at Seattle's Pacific Science Center.<br /><em><br />Yet in the past decade members of the reading public have become increasingly aware of a growing controversy over the nature and origin of the Scrolls. The new, opposing view, developed particularly in the wake of additional manuscript discoveries in that same Judaean Wilderness made in the 1950s and 1960s, is that the Scrolls reflect religious and social ideas of various groups within ancient Judaism, that Khirbet Qumran was not a religious site either of Essenes or others, and that the hiding of the Scrolls in the caves arose out of the need of the Jews of Jerusalem, circa 68/69 C.E., to sequester their manuscripts and other valued possessions when they became aware that the Romans intended to besiege and invade the city.<br /></em><br />quote source: http://oi.uchicago.edu/research/is/deadseascrolls.html<br /><br /><strong>Why are the Dead Sea Scrolls important?</strong><br /><em><br />The scrolls comprise, among other things, the oldest copies of the Bible in existence. The Qumran scrolls date from approximately 250 B.C. to about 65 A.D., and at some other locations to about 135 A.D. Before the discovery of the <a href="http://www.deadseascrollsfoundation.com/about_the_scrolls.htm">Dead Sea Scrolls</a>, the oldest existing manuscripts of parts of the Hebrew Bible came from about 800-1,000 A.D. The oldest complete copy of the Hebrew Bible, the Leningrad Codex, dates to 1008 A.D. This means that the Dead Sea Scrolls give us texts of the Bible which were copied more than 1000 years earlier than any others now in existence!<br /><br />The scrolls are also important because they have enabled scholars to gather an immense amount of information about how the Bible was written and how it was transmitted from generation to generation. In many cases the scrolls show a remarkable similarity to the text of the Hebrew Bible currently in use. In some cases differences between the scrolls and the traditional Hebrew text help explain difficulties in the present Hebrew Bible, and most modern translations of the Bible (such as the NIV) incorporate some of the new information from the scrolls.<br /><br />Another crucial feature of the scrolls is the picture they portray of the Judaism of Jesus’ day. The scrolls show that Judaism in that period was more diverse than was once thought, and the literary parallels between the Gospels and the literature of Qumran demonstrate several instructive points of contact between Jesus’ teaching and the Judaism of his day.<br /></em><br />quote source: http://www.deadseascrollsfoundation.com/about_the_scrolls.htm<br /><br /><strong>Personal reflections</strong><br /><br />I do hope someday to visit Israel and the various places in the Middle East described in the Scriptures of the monotheistic religions. Until then, I have to be content with a pilgrimage to an exhibit like this.<br /><br />My feelings about this exhibit grows from the fact that there is so much interest in them. The items themselves vary in their beauty. Some are in pretty decent shape and you can read the lovely script work of the scribe who wrote them. Others are quite hard to read as the wear and tear on the scrolls have made the lettering difficult to see. Some items are fairly intact while others are fragmentary. People are fascinated by them partly for what they are but mostly for what they represent. <br /><br />No matter which theory of authorship you subscribe to, somebody 2000 years ago decided these things were worth making copies of and since their discovery in 1947, many scholars have painstakingly preserved them and studied them. The ideas embedded in the Hebrew Bible have stood the test of time such that today, I can sit and read an English translation of the text that is essentially the same as what the scribe worked on 2000 or so years ago!<br /><br />At a personal level, I think the mystery of this connection through continuity hit home to me as I saw <a href="http://www.sdnhm.org/scrolls/description.html">11Q10 (the fifth scroll in the exhibit)</a> which is an Aramaic translation of the Book of Job. The item is six small fragments that to be honest look like small pieces of burnt toast! But I thought about what it once was like... a whole scroll ... the delicate labor of love of a scribe. What must have been on his mind as his pen scratched those letters onto the parchment? I have been writing about Job in my "devotional thoughts" feature in this blog. I wrestle with the ideas in the book and its relationship to my life of faith. 2000 years ago, a scribe was at a table writing and probably thinking the same things.Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-63853358659593903342007-07-21T10:24:00.000-07:002008-11-18T23:51:02.395-08:00Travel: Can you guess where I am?Recently took a road trip!<br /><br />Can you guess where I am?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYlk5J3snUn5RXJJVoSHT8o5uUrN4rnCqZIVpxka0GYoUVSofA71Fsy7TZNmds_6O0som4_HiHFPbNMVXTK5KqOzRagzIn46BJIxrPMlydoNkqKKs9zHwG7V_WVzIIiSRgfLD/s1600-h/sp1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQYlk5J3snUn5RXJJVoSHT8o5uUrN4rnCqZIVpxka0GYoUVSofA71Fsy7TZNmds_6O0som4_HiHFPbNMVXTK5KqOzRagzIn46BJIxrPMlydoNkqKKs9zHwG7V_WVzIIiSRgfLD/s320/sp1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089667993490114450" /></a><br /><br />Lots of beautiful flowers there.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqhmvjUC1qFQFnQ7Qyi1R7Ak1a5i1gWNnlIsNZaUihthISL-38VzLo0-9QkBEBD0WdCOnT3Beff0kMXms24qwE3Jemo8FiadWcMQVbysm3_gNWfEfwZlS1iqoZ_HfX2tYOD_b/s1600-h/sp2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqqhmvjUC1qFQFnQ7Qyi1R7Ak1a5i1gWNnlIsNZaUihthISL-38VzLo0-9QkBEBD0WdCOnT3Beff0kMXms24qwE3Jemo8FiadWcMQVbysm3_gNWfEfwZlS1iqoZ_HfX2tYOD_b/s320/sp2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089668556130830242" /></a><br /><br />Its an old place. In fact, <a href="http://www.missionsjc.com/historic.html">founded in 1776</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTNo4l5pSeYcjKflBAO1rzVBvLQ9gFK8Hcjq51xhwj5Ner8hyE9WU-mTAplC1ZrJBBT-ZpVPNJ_xN6S01nHg7AxiZ2Xrvkc6mWSERdE2JWBrzGAx2i574qXcrFT8ASfx5z_7F/s1600-h/sp3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbTNo4l5pSeYcjKflBAO1rzVBvLQ9gFK8Hcjq51xhwj5Ner8hyE9WU-mTAplC1ZrJBBT-ZpVPNJ_xN6S01nHg7AxiZ2Xrvkc6mWSERdE2JWBrzGAx2i574qXcrFT8ASfx5z_7F/s320/sp3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089668788059064242" /></a><br /><br />When I saw these flowers there, I had to say, "Morning glory, evening grace, <a href="http://www.hughhewitt.com">Hugh Hewitt!</a>"<br /><br />My journey continued and I stopped at <a href="http://www.pierfishing.com/pier_of_the_month/07-98.html">the pier</a> shown below. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPJDHQeRZ-tYXS4Fb72YgYVpdbB82U7irYcxm02Z9q2B0cSw1-A1F8aQC4jnUAQXTuOemyJqMIvwn1_xANecQrewJcBe01-FhmFntPTV1rxM8fgFeGRUDyE6EWex7SMUNL3jR/s1600-h/sp4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqPJDHQeRZ-tYXS4Fb72YgYVpdbB82U7irYcxm02Z9q2B0cSw1-A1F8aQC4jnUAQXTuOemyJqMIvwn1_xANecQrewJcBe01-FhmFntPTV1rxM8fgFeGRUDyE6EWex7SMUNL3jR/s320/sp4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089672000694601666" /></a><br /><br />Check out <a href="http://flickrseekr.wordpress.com/2006/09/22/blue-is-pink-is-blue-is-pink/">this</a> more colorful picture. And <a href="http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/tt/71060/">check out this</a> more striking picture!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELvFS4Hz_nA_u8wdL7OBH80ChUdguaNqDnBEgUxcCTCaBmof92cTQgWJXc9usbuOvXQsTxrmw5cBflchmVou-TV9up3OAbe3-9hy6mi5ouQMPzkEWZBnvMn6I4gTUZAvIOw7z/s1600-h/sp5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELvFS4Hz_nA_u8wdL7OBH80ChUdguaNqDnBEgUxcCTCaBmof92cTQgWJXc9usbuOvXQsTxrmw5cBflchmVou-TV9up3OAbe3-9hy6mi5ouQMPzkEWZBnvMn6I4gTUZAvIOw7z/s320/sp5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089672168198326226" /></a><br /><br />I had lunch <a href="http://entertainment.signonsandiego.com/profiles/places/southorangecounty">here</a> at a restaurant reported to be a favorite of President Richard Nixon. Upon more web surfing, I am questioning the accuracy of the report as <a href="http://www.eladobedecapistrano.com/">this restaurant</a> makes the same claim on its web page.<br /><br />I parked my car <a href="http://sandiego.about.com/od/shopping/p/fashion_valley.htm">here</a> to catch <a href="http://www.sdcommute.com/Rider_Information/trolley/trolleymap.asp">this</a> below.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEV59t33HFd5NVLjEW_uyOFpKU7d7smEGQmHW8aU84j5Ai9CDmfufOl9NDV_UTFjpO-nPfmjdtAm7nXeE4ZuBGxl32o7hSAyhs2oh88ClwU08erfLVowr4ASEnTdR56RqCChrq/s1600-h/sp6.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEV59t33HFd5NVLjEW_uyOFpKU7d7smEGQmHW8aU84j5Ai9CDmfufOl9NDV_UTFjpO-nPfmjdtAm7nXeE4ZuBGxl32o7hSAyhs2oh88ClwU08erfLVowr4ASEnTdR56RqCChrq/s320/sp6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089679422398089234" /></a><br /><br />After a forty-five minute ride, I went to <a href="http://sandiego.padres.mlb.com/index.jsp?c_id=sd">buy tickets</a>!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXc0bOv9w8_JXW0PyVBskf7sJFKA9V222rD_3mD4msUuSBNvLc95MmwtEnyORIz6eEO8eplVTEjZAzT7odTm0JLHSx5WgrkZKLhsIMF0Rn-x3A7zJTnR9ybZB-qY4J3EaIOJm/s1600-h/sp7.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXc0bOv9w8_JXW0PyVBskf7sJFKA9V222rD_3mD4msUuSBNvLc95MmwtEnyORIz6eEO8eplVTEjZAzT7odTm0JLHSx5WgrkZKLhsIMF0Rn-x3A7zJTnR9ybZB-qY4J3EaIOJm/s320/sp7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089679284959135746" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBXcyQm9pAdxsFqaRQEcbxzXP61rAwL97gkahiZ1F1FaoLTAE0WrAgnWEH3fOybWeMgslMLRbJwMtpwLvI7hjRFcJhUCG9Ic1pe1JEkPmLgbaaadAGb6qRvVGR4bdkXUR5s7z/s1600-h/sp8.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzBXcyQm9pAdxsFqaRQEcbxzXP61rAwL97gkahiZ1F1FaoLTAE0WrAgnWEH3fOybWeMgslMLRbJwMtpwLvI7hjRFcJhUCG9Ic1pe1JEkPmLgbaaadAGb6qRvVGR4bdkXUR5s7z/s320/sp8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089679164700051442" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAF_nTpU1nT4Zp6hS6ro-E8-LMgkjQ2SoG5LqE3UMfw4WVxLnzk5tufoErVbY3h1QTK5a0Hf8OPR0Xu-FGPf0fyxC3La85GQtHlbGtLsp-htAa0EqYh37KpUGpnZ26hZFXgdO3/s1600-h/sp9.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAF_nTpU1nT4Zp6hS6ro-E8-LMgkjQ2SoG5LqE3UMfw4WVxLnzk5tufoErVbY3h1QTK5a0Hf8OPR0Xu-FGPf0fyxC3La85GQtHlbGtLsp-htAa0EqYh37KpUGpnZ26hZFXgdO3/s320/sp9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089678980016457698" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qtVl7AKrBA5BDwY08PZZW4lWtkExKdu8ZntHrySGgSJra5YcGtF3f3DSwcl4xrZdOwKAOOZMXWFTHTjhQ43z8FJDSkSTirocJbU-F_-pWkrExXkGJO3NygVCmmTw4FND9Rat/s1600-h/sp10a.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qtVl7AKrBA5BDwY08PZZW4lWtkExKdu8ZntHrySGgSJra5YcGtF3f3DSwcl4xrZdOwKAOOZMXWFTHTjhQ43z8FJDSkSTirocJbU-F_-pWkrExXkGJO3NygVCmmTw4FND9Rat/s320/sp10a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089683756020090930" /></a><br /><br />All of the above was the journey which I enjoyed to get to <a href="http://www.sdnhm.org/scrolls/">my destination</a>!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihM7bbITUU9QvfGCjVxcSbOd5FeGJQXMAFrUJCz-fe65WLvLoEmEz_MDBKWU7GaUhk56QtSxQ9NEa6tTo5KwsgVIdjdIKbZm5SNjm8q6PH8rkLzL3odfHYDUHY9bIwFlK2rT4t/s1600-h/sp11.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihM7bbITUU9QvfGCjVxcSbOd5FeGJQXMAFrUJCz-fe65WLvLoEmEz_MDBKWU7GaUhk56QtSxQ9NEa6tTo5KwsgVIdjdIKbZm5SNjm8q6PH8rkLzL3odfHYDUHY9bIwFlK2rT4t/s320/sp11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5089681505457227810" /></a><br /><br /><strong>What are the Dead Sea Scrolls?</strong><br /><em><br /><a href="http://www.sdnhm.org/scrolls/history.html">The Dead Sea Scrolls</a> were initially discovered by Bedouin herders and then by archaeologists between 1947 and 1956 in 11 caves near Khirbet Qumran, on the northwestern shores of the Dead Sea in Israel. Thousands of fragments were discovered and pieced together into over 900 separate documents including biblical books, hymns, prayers, and other important writings.<br /></em><br />quote source: http://www.sdnhm.org/scrolls/history.html<br /><br /><strong>How old are they?</strong><br /><em><br />Within a fairly short time after their discovery, historical, paleographic, and linguistic evidence, as well as carbon-14 dating, established that the scrolls and the Qumran ruin dated from the third century B.C.E. to 68 C.E. They were <a href="http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/scrolls/intr.html">indeed ancient!</a><br /></em><br />quote source: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/scrolls/intr.html<br /><br /><strong>Who wrote them?</strong><br /><em><br />The word “<a href="http://www.antiquities.org.il/article_Item_eng.asp?sec_id=44&subj_id=195&id=461&module_id=#as">Essene</a>” is never distinctly mentioned in the scrolls. How, then, can we attribute either the writings or the sites of the Judaean Desert to the Essenes? The argument in favour of this ascription is supported by the tripartite division of Judaism referred to in Qumran writings (for example, in the Nahum Commentary), into Ephraim, Menasseh and Judah, corresponding to the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Essenes. As the Essenes refer to themselves in the scrolls as Judah, it is clear who they regarded themselves to be. Moreover, their religious concepts and beliefs as attested in the scrolls conform to those recorded in contemporary writings and stand in sharp contrast to those of the other known Jewish groups.<br /></em><br />quote source: http://www.antiquities.org.il/article_Item_eng.asp?sec_id=44&subj_id=195&id=461&module_id=#as<br /><br />However, there is disagreement in the scholarly community over the extent the Essenes were responsible for the Dead Sea Scrolls. <br /><em><br />Although this evidence is accepted by the majority of scholars in identifying the Essenes with the Qumran settlement and the manuscripts found in the surrounding caves, some scholars remain unconvinced. Some propose that the site was a military garrison or even a winter villa. The scrolls are viewed as an eclectic collection, neither necessarily inscribed in the Dead Sea area nor sectarian in nature, perhaps even the remains of the library of the Temple in Jerusalem. Other scholars view the texts as the writings of forerunners or even followers of Jesus – Jewish Christians – who still observed Jewish law.<br /></em><br />quote source: http://www.antiquities.org.il/article_Item_eng.asp?sec_id=44&subj_id=195&id=461&module_id=#as<br /><br />The scholars at <a href="http://oi.uchicago.edu/research/projects/scr/">University of Chicago</a> appear to be one center of thought investigating alternative views. <br /><br />Their web page has several detailed articles of why they doubt the Qumran theory of authorship.<br /><br /><a href="http://oi.uchicago.edu/research/is/deadseascrolls.html">This item</a> was their response to the exhibit of the DSS at Seattle's Pacific Science Center.<br /><em><br />Yet in the past decade members of the reading public have become increasingly aware of a growing controversy over the nature and origin of the Scrolls. The new, opposing view, developed particularly in the wake of additional manuscript discoveries in that same Judaean Wilderness made in the 1950s and 1960s, is that the Scrolls reflect religious and social ideas of various groups within ancient Judaism, that Khirbet Qumran was not a religious site either of Essenes or others, and that the hiding of the Scrolls in the caves arose out of the need of the Jews of Jerusalem, circa 68/69 C.E., to sequester their manuscripts and other valued possessions when they became aware that the Romans intended to besiege and invade the city.<br /></em><br />quote source: http://oi.uchicago.edu/research/is/deadseascrolls.html<br /><br /><strong>Why are the Dead Sea Scrolls important?</strong><br /><em><br />The scrolls comprise, among other things, the oldest copies of the Bible in existence. The Qumran scrolls date from approximately 250 B.C. to about 65 A.D., and at some other locations to about 135 A.D. Before the discovery of the <a href="http://www.deadseascrollsfoundation.com/about_the_scrolls.htm">Dead Sea Scrolls</a>, the oldest existing manuscripts of parts of the Hebrew Bible came from about 800-1,000 A.D. The oldest complete copy of the Hebrew Bible, the Leningrad Codex, dates to 1008 A.D. This means that the Dead Sea Scrolls give us texts of the Bible which were copied more than 1000 years earlier than any others now in existence!<br /><br />The scrolls are also important because they have enabled scholars to gather an immense amount of information about how the Bible was written and how it was transmitted from generation to generation. In many cases the scrolls show a remarkable similarity to the text of the Hebrew Bible currently in use. In some cases differences between the scrolls and the traditional Hebrew text help explain difficulties in the present Hebrew Bible, and most modern translations of the Bible (such as the NIV) incorporate some of the new information from the scrolls.<br /><br />Another crucial feature of the scrolls is the picture they portray of the Judaism of Jesus’ day. The scrolls show that Judaism in that period was more diverse than was once thought, and the literary parallels between the Gospels and the literature of Qumran demonstrate several instructive points of contact between Jesus’ teaching and the Judaism of his day.<br /></em><br />quote source: http://www.deadseascrollsfoundation.com/about_the_scrolls.htm<br /><br /><strong>Personal reflections</strong><br /><br />I do hope someday to visit Israel and the various places in the Middle East described in the Scriptures of the monotheistic religions. Until then, I have to be content with a pilgrimage to an exhibit like this.<br /><br />My feelings about this exhibit grows from the fact that there is so much interest in them. The items themselves vary in their beauty. Some are in pretty decent shape and you can read the lovely script work of the scribe who wrote them. Others are quite hard to read as the wear and tear on the scrolls have made the lettering difficult to see. Some items are fairly intact while others are fragmentary. People are fascinated by them partly for what they are but mostly for what they represent. <br /><br />No matter which theory of authorship you subscribe to, somebody 2000 years ago decided these things were worth making copies of and since their discovery in 1947, many scholars have painstakingly preserved them and studied them. The ideas embedded in the Hebrew Bible have stood the test of time such that today, I can sit and read an English translation of the text that is essentially the same as what the scribe worked on 2000 or so years ago!<br /><br />At a personal level, I think the mystery of this connection through continuity hit home to me as I saw <a href="http://www.sdnhm.org/scrolls/description.html">11Q10 (the fifth scroll in the exhibit)</a> which is an Aramaic translation of the Book of Job. The item is six small fragments that to be honest look like small pieces of burnt toast! But I thought about what it once was like... a whole scroll ... the delicate labor of love of a scribe. What must have been on his mind as his pen scratched those letters onto the parchment? I have been writing about Job in my "devotional thoughts" feature in this blog. I wrestle with the ideas in the book and its relationship to my life of faith. 2000 years ago, a scribe was at a table writing and probably thinking the same things.Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-30452064895368662252007-07-14T23:02:00.001-07:002008-11-18T23:51:03.742-08:00Travel: Where am I?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OGEjPI2xLQx66YGSqZEQ8NYtmuvL0GUcesueANHKRmwJa0Kdw-zwNRMqLhEhtz0KKNwvNSwjOn-oPi572wLB7O4Qb9HVLyc8NP-uCE4A0nURd2RoublGKakdDv2htLEut5zU/s1600-h/sf07-4.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8OGEjPI2xLQx66YGSqZEQ8NYtmuvL0GUcesueANHKRmwJa0Kdw-zwNRMqLhEhtz0KKNwvNSwjOn-oPi572wLB7O4Qb9HVLyc8NP-uCE4A0nURd2RoublGKakdDv2htLEut5zU/s320/sf07-4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087293026237406434" /></a><br /><br />If the flowers don't give it away certainly the photos below will give it away as does <a href="http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/forrestgump/sanfranciscobesuretowearsomeflowersinyourhair.htm">this song</a>.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PFpokeAOVl3-yHJNHK55Xcv8ehACWxnbM5NZvMA1Ec2_tx7WOb4gYkam8lMFaFBxoJPjldU0zlHl6UNzVnW8jFpd_ghNzR_8_6aMsBoxT2mW_W4aUXMNAyOSyPkrndPKtMJw/s1600-h/attpark1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0PFpokeAOVl3-yHJNHK55Xcv8ehACWxnbM5NZvMA1Ec2_tx7WOb4gYkam8lMFaFBxoJPjldU0zlHl6UNzVnW8jFpd_ghNzR_8_6aMsBoxT2mW_W4aUXMNAyOSyPkrndPKtMJw/s320/attpark1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087291995445255362" /></a><br /><br />Click for a larger image.<br /><br />Added another ballpark to my list of <a href="http://a4theroad.blogspot.com/2007/05/sports-baseball-stadiums-ive-visited.html">visited ball parks</a>!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRpDkB9-fKpXAk6o0Qsizz1QLX6OiamNQpdPEnWAt6oUOwEFptciyug8HH9tyA3XwVYw6eoEGX-VrBs2aCZ2FEq6bbeXaSYxNN_dCtSOdx-SIeJJz_EzxEiXEjglnti9mFhMQ/s1600-h/sf07-3.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRpDkB9-fKpXAk6o0Qsizz1QLX6OiamNQpdPEnWAt6oUOwEFptciyug8HH9tyA3XwVYw6eoEGX-VrBs2aCZ2FEq6bbeXaSYxNN_dCtSOdx-SIeJJz_EzxEiXEjglnti9mFhMQ/s320/sf07-3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087291789286825138" /></a><br /><br />What do you think these people are doing? 8-)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdCA4F5FzTDP5O_Tob7SRXRtNvySVjtgeWEdTd8tDsWbbEu0J5j_rB45wsnAcSMje_G9j5HsJXsOHHlqhIj8iCz-yRmwAyFC8pHwcraai8ir9yaS036REClo1eCv8GgJ4eC09/s1600-h/sf07-2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHdCA4F5FzTDP5O_Tob7SRXRtNvySVjtgeWEdTd8tDsWbbEu0J5j_rB45wsnAcSMje_G9j5HsJXsOHHlqhIj8iCz-yRmwAyFC8pHwcraai8ir9yaS036REClo1eCv8GgJ4eC09/s320/sf07-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087291686207610018" /></a><br /><br />If you know this town, you will know where this is!?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRl2XlxQTpw07bOzto8cf5tevjp14HMAk2cLOpMwwMmWcN0TNIysZgD222gFySZZ12-bA0yWMzxeeB2T1OcdDzmWqFiJjXIe-qLVl2UtYCpXoVWZRt8Uf0Y-3HHmIVP9q9xJHQ/s1600-h/sf07-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRl2XlxQTpw07bOzto8cf5tevjp14HMAk2cLOpMwwMmWcN0TNIysZgD222gFySZZ12-bA0yWMzxeeB2T1OcdDzmWqFiJjXIe-qLVl2UtYCpXoVWZRt8Uf0Y-3HHmIVP9q9xJHQ/s320/sf07-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087290642530557074" /></a><br /><br />This one should be easy to identify!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GfbZKMmX1MRALjKiXY8eb6yk9KJE3cfl3AtZDMO_8-oA3b8jd9-4gYH8p3JR0Q0-9ZMw0fP2M93hXjkNlRy4daqXSND66fbYAD8ns8bRuQALhEnkoEvSYoKwqw983ljwN1I8/s1600-h/sfgg1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GfbZKMmX1MRALjKiXY8eb6yk9KJE3cfl3AtZDMO_8-oA3b8jd9-4gYH8p3JR0Q0-9ZMw0fP2M93hXjkNlRy4daqXSND66fbYAD8ns8bRuQALhEnkoEvSYoKwqw983ljwN1I8/s320/sfgg1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087290075594873986" /></a><br /><br />Click for a larger image.<br /><br />The bridge is familiar! But where did I take the photo from?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yk3u8PeKXxBZiuJ2_TNHJU7eb4se_TE3WXIFKdbzyWWuCqDYzKMzMaYiuUc_ZhHh5Gmf5hNK2fcIE2PtXpwzphx8oIdBfBMu0Ev3_JYqwmfFgB3RTrvpYaoEq3IL0r1k1RNy/s1600-h/sf07-5.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1yk3u8PeKXxBZiuJ2_TNHJU7eb4se_TE3WXIFKdbzyWWuCqDYzKMzMaYiuUc_ZhHh5Gmf5hNK2fcIE2PtXpwzphx8oIdBfBMu0Ev3_JYqwmfFgB3RTrvpYaoEq3IL0r1k1RNy/s320/sf07-5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5087292540906101970" /></a><br /><br />The flower shots were taken at the same location. Do you know where it is?<br /><br />To see the answers, <a href="http://a4theroad.blogspot.com/2007/05/travel-where-am-i-answers-to-post-on.html">go here</a>.Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-79389703395607888952007-07-11T06:59:00.000-07:002007-07-11T07:18:41.420-07:00Sports: AL 5 NL 4<a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/boxscore?gid=270710132">What can you say</a>?<br /><br />The AL usually wins the MLB Championship, more of the inter-league games and the recent All-Star Games.<br /><br />La Russa is <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=Agg2cxOimUDSYv9yccNTD9ERvLYF?slug=ap-all-stars-pujolsupset&prov=ap&type=lgns">taking heat</a> for not sending up Pujols to hit with the game on the line.<br /><br />As it was, Rowand flied out for the last out.<br /><br />La Russa said he needed to hold someone for extra innings. <br /><br />Let the debate begin! <br /><br />My opinion is you got to roll the dice and play for the win by sending in Pujols to hit. He either doubles in two runs to win the game or he strikes out. I can't imagine that if Pujols makes contact it is going to be a dying duck single that gets only one run. The only other scenario you get a tie game is that Rodriguez totally loses it and can't find the plate.Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-21495817833696206852007-07-06T13:41:00.000-07:002007-07-06T13:43:01.989-07:00Politics: And the 2008 Democratic Party Presidential Nominee is ...... Al Gore?<br /><br />I've now heard this scenario proposed by several people and am beginning to wonder if there is something to it?<br /><br />The premise of an Al Gore nomination is as follows:<br />(1) Hillary Clinton has none of the rogue charm of Bill and all the negatives<br />(2) Barak Obama in the end is just too inexperienced to be the nominee for POTUS<br />(3) Neither candidate garners enough support to win the nomination outright<br />(4) Al Gore rides into the picture on the sentiment that he had won 2000 and<br />deserves the nomination to save the party.<br /><br />What do you think?Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-92023354885877969892007-06-20T07:49:00.000-07:002007-06-20T20:54:37.717-07:00Sports: ESPN.com headline - All They Can 'Eat<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/news/story?id=2909453">Wooooooo Hooooooooo!!!!!</a><br /><br />The Anteaters are stayin' alive with a 8-7 win in 10-innings!<br /><br />Next up, Oregon State today.<br /><br />Let's go Eaters, stomp, stomp, stomp-stomp-stomp! (repeat multiple times until you go crazy!)<br /><br />UPDATE: <a href="http://ucirvinesports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/062007aad.html">Its a final</a> Beavers defeat Anteaters 7-1. Congrats to the Anteaters for a good run in the post-season!Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-58637142231519840882007-06-17T22:08:00.000-07:002007-06-17T22:09:04.051-07:00Youth: Parable of the Mustard SeedIn youth group this morning, we discussed Matthew 13:31-32:<br /><em><br />He put another parable before them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed that a man took and sowed in his field. It is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is larger than all the garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches. <br /></em><br />To help spur the discussion, we also saw this music video ...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/okLCurB1lJw"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/okLCurB1lJw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object><br /><br />Many of us were quite moved by the video.<br /><br />What do you think?Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-79991072632637821532007-06-09T14:09:00.001-07:002007-06-18T20:34:34.832-07:00Sports: UCLA and UCI in College Baseball Championships!<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/espnu/index">College Baseball</a> is in its Sweet 16. Both that Anteaters and the Bruins are still in contention.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.ncaasports.com/baseball/mens/brackets/viewable/special64/2007/DI">Here</a> is the current bracket.<br /><br />Go Bruins! Go Anteaters!<br /><br />UPDATE: Anteaters with their backs to the wall. 6/18/2007 they face elimination against Cal State Fullerton!<br /><br />UPDATE: The Anteaters live to play another day <a href="http://ucirvinesports.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/recaps/061807aaa.html">with a 5-4 win in 13-innings</a>.Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-56713664554437720592007-06-02T22:41:00.001-07:002007-06-05T09:57:58.797-07:00World: Dialog on Global WarmingA few months ago, I went through a three-day training workshop with <a href="http://www.publicconversations.org/pcp/index.php">the Public Conversations Project</a>.<br /><br />This Sunday, our church will host a discussion about Global Warming. As part of our applying what we learned from PCP, our team that went through the training has drafted some questions for the dialog and will help facilitate the dialog tomorrow.<br /><br />(1) The basis for your view on Global Warming ... <br />What in your personal experiences have shaped your views on Global Warming?<br /><br />(2) The reason for your concern about the issue ... <br />Whatever your views on Global Warming, what values do you hold dear do you feel are at stake in the controversy?<br /><br />(3) The permission to acknowledge uncertainty and doubt ... <br />What uncertainties do you hold regarding your personal views on the matter? What troubles you about the way the subject is discussed?<br /><br />If so inclined, please pray for a meaningful time of sharing and listening to divergent opinions about a controversial subject!<br /><br />To get a taste of the PCP approach, check out <a href="http://www.publicconversations.org/upload/Red-Blue%20bifold%203463087.2%208463087.5x11463087.pdf">this 4-page</a> printout on Reaching Out Across the Red-Blue Divide.<br /><br />UPDATE: In the effort to be "fair and balanced" and a useful resource. Here are some web links you may want to check out...<br /><a href="http://www.ipcc.ch/">IPCC - intergovernmental panel on climate change</a>. This is the international organization that puts out reports you hear on the news periodically.<br /><a href="http://www.climatecrisis.net/">An Inconvient Truth web page</a> - the movie page and advocacy page on Global Warming.<br /><a href="http://www.cei.org/pages/ait_response.cfm">Competitive Enterprise Institute's response to An Inconvient Truth</a>. CEI is a think tank skeptical of the claims of Global Warming activists.Renehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07829877394126714875noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5714356.post-6196973773452944052007-05-25T08:15:00.000-07:002007-05-25T08:33:28.097-07:00I'm a WesleyanThe quiz has me fairly accurately pegged -- although I'm not sure how it's possible to get about the same score on "fundamentalist" as "postmodern." (Probably quiz-taker error!) I'm a little surprised to score so high in "reformed evangelical," which I take to mean Calvinist.<br /><br /><table border='0' cellpadding='5' cellspacing='0' width='400'><tr><td><img src="http://quizfarm.com//images/1118094766wesley-john.jpg" ></td><td>You scored as <b>Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan</b>, You are an evangelical in the Wesleyan tradition. You believe that God's grace enables you to choose to believe in him, even though you yourself are totally depraved. The gift of the Holy Spirit gives you assurance of your salvation, and he also enables you to live the life of obedience to which God has called us. You are influenced heavly by John Wesley and the Methodists.<br><br><table border='0' width='300' cellspacing='0' cellpadding='0'><tr><td><p><font face='Arial' size='1'>Evangelical Holiness/Wesleyan</font></p></td><td><table border='1' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='82' bgcolor='#dddddd'><tr><td></td></tr></table></td><td><font face='Arial' size='1'>82%</font></td></tr> <tr><td><p><font face='Arial' size='1'>Reformed Evangelical</font></p></td><td><table border='1' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='71' bgcolor='#dddddd'><tr><td></td></tr></table></td><td><font face='Arial' size='1'>71%</font></td></tr> <tr><td><p><font face='Arial' size='1'>Neo orthodox</font></p></td><td><table border='1' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='64' bgcolor='#dddddd'><tr><td></td></tr></table></td><td><font face='Arial' size='1'>64%</font></td></tr> <tr><td><p><font face='Arial' size='1'>Fundamentalist</font></p></td><td><table border='1' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='61' bgcolor='#dddddd'><tr><td></td></tr></table></td><td><font face='Arial' size='1'>61%</font></td></tr> <tr><td><p><font face='Arial' size='1'>Emergent/Postmodern</font></p></td><td><table border='1' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='57' bgcolor='#dddddd'><tr><td></td></tr></table></td><td><font face='Arial' size='1'>57%</font></td></tr> <tr><td><p><font face='Arial' size='1'>Charismatic/Pentecostal</font></p></td><td><table border='1' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='43' bgcolor='#dddddd'><tr><td></td></tr></table></td><td><font face='Arial' size='1'>43%</font></td></tr> <tr><td><p><font face='Arial' size='1'>Classical Liberal</font></p></td><td><table border='1' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='36' bgcolor='#dddddd'><tr><td></td></tr></table></td><td><font face='Arial' size='1'>36%</font></td></tr> <tr><td><p><font face='Arial' size='1'>Modern Liberal</font></p></td><td><table border='1' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='25' bgcolor='#dddddd'><tr><td></td></tr></table></td><td><font face='Arial' size='1'>25%</font></td></tr> <tr><td><p><font face='Arial' size='1'>Roman Catholic</font></p></td><td><table border='1' cellpadding='0' cellspacing='0' width='14' bgcolor='#dddddd'><tr><td></td></tr></table></td><td><font face='Arial' size='1'>14%</font></td></tr> </td></tr></table><br><a href='http://quizfarm.com/run.php/Quiz?quiz_id=7095'>What's your theological worldview?</a><br><font face='Arial' size='1'>created with <a href='http://quizfarm.com'>QuizFarm.com</a></font></table>Karihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12437651894341649655noreply@blogger.com0