One of the consistent themes in my life is about being prepared. This should be obvious in some of my interests :).

This page is perpetually under construction, but at least the first major pass is done now.

• Fatherhood
• Gardening
• Martial Arts
• Electronic Projects
• Renewable Energy
• Building Stuff
• Politics (unfortunately)
• Reading
• Red Cross
• And a billion other things

The short version is that I spend a lot of time out in the garden getting all sweaty and annoyed and at least this year, the bugs got just about the entire garden.

I have big plans for next year's garden, well, when I get the beds made. I have to figure out how to get curved concrete forms :). My raised beds are going to ROCK!

(June 2003 update: My 2003 garden (the one talked about above) was hi-jacked by the kids being born :). I'll eventually get back to it :).

I recently found my way to where I need to be. I am in a school that is in theory Shaolin Kung Fu, but in reality it's a Tai-Chi school that is also teaching the martial side and applications of Tai-Chi. I am learning to feel my energy and manipulate it. I am learning how to defend myself if need be. I am figuring out how chi energy works. I am feeling into my body more. It also rocks :).

(Jan 2006 update: Kids killed that too).

Suffice to say I love working on these things.

As such, we make decisions based on what will keep our SUV's in cheap gas rather than what is RIGHT. This makes me sad and angry.

I for one believe in the renewable energy movement and wish it to grow. Energy surrounds us for free and yet we will not use it. We have to build nuclear reactors that have wastes that will still be around threatening people 100,000 years after we are gone. WHAT?. Wind is free. Solar is free. Well, the fuel is free and if there was a bigger demand, the prices would fall on the equipment. Can you imagine the research of Intel turned to Photovoltaics ? If there was a demand, it WOULD happen and you better bet photovoltaic cells would get dirt cheap.

What is stopping it is the energy industry. They have a stranglehold on us and on congress. Their PACs and lobbying is so powerful that we cannot do what is RIGHT.

Anyhow, I am doing what I can do get away from using so much electricity and intend to put renewable energy into my home power system ASAP.

To this day I love building things. Making things. Being a creative force in the world. Doesn't really matter in what.

For those who've read Orson Scott Card's Alvin Maker books, think of it as a natural tendancy to fight off the unmaker :)

I pride myself in being open to reason and logic. I try to have no fixed in stone opinions. So, I did some research and reading and found that he is perfectly correct. Which of course means I am now a raving loonie. Yay.

Short version: Our government is corrupt and we are dying. The sacrifices our forefathers made are being squandered. Our government was set up as a democracy that is governing BY the people FOR the people. Nowadays politicians are making rules in order to get re-elected. They are not ruling FOR the people. I am sorry but not everything good for the people will be popular. Yet, all that any politican cares for anymore is getting lots and lots of PAC / lobby money and getting re-elected.

This has let the big special interest parties change the laws to suit their needs and large corporations have basically purchased our government.

I could go on for years, but nobody really cares :)

I also subscribe to Scientific American, but I tend to let them pile up and then spend a weekend skimming the past 4 issues. No time.

Red Cross

I searched around and found the Red Cross. After a little talking with them, the time commitments matched my desired input level and my relationship with them was born.

After my first training session, I decided I wanted to get more involved. These people rock and they are doing a very good thing. They also seem to have their heads sewed on straight, which is rare nowadays.

Basically I will be "on call" for local disasters. This will typically be a house or apartment fire. The Red Cross will go make sure the persons affected have food, shelter, clothing, and provide the referrals to agencies that will help them get back on their feet.

I am also getting trained for the "big disasters". These would be the tornados, hurricanes, etc. This way I can help when something bad happens. I don't have 3 weeks to commit to a national disaster (e.g. when everyone flew in to help with Hurricane Andrew in FL), but I can help with things in driving distance of home each night. They will take any trained volunteers for local disasters but need 3 weeks if they are going to fly you somewhere.

I truly think this is a good organization and I look forward to being a part of it.

(Jan 2006 update: I ended up being a disaster volunteer for the local chapter for around 2 years. I really like RC and what they do, but the management of the local chapter did not take advantage of the repeated offers I made of my skills and talents and annoyed the hell out of me, so I had to quit. I do intend to find other volunteer opportunities, hopefully soon :).

And a billion other things
Raising kids, camping, cooking, petting my sweetie, making people laugh, making people smile, being polite, saying thanks, enjoying life, fighting the bad guys, being a good guy, and the list can go on and on.

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