My One Thing

Autumn in Yosemite

2009-10-31T19:07:00.000-07:00

A week ago, me and a couple photographer friends headed to Yosemite for a photo exhibition, capturing Yosemite's fall goodness. It was gorgeous. Here's some of my shots. (Click the picture to enlarge).

Along the river just before Wowona...

Alder Creek...

Valley floor...

Stretch of the Merced River heading north on 140...

Back in the Valley for the sunset...

The Duduk

2009-05-30T22:24:00.000-07:00

There's an ancient Armenian instrument called the duduk. Which is a double reed instrument made out of Apricot wood. It has the most haunting, lonely sound ever.

The first video I would like to show you features the great Armenian musician, Djivan Gasparyan, playing a piece based off of Hans Zimmer's "Duduk of the North" (a piece Hans wrote for "Gladiator"). This is where it's at folks!

This video is Yanni with a composition featuring the duduk. Which leads into Yanni's lustrous "Nostalgia".

The Rescue

2009-05-23T22:27:00.000-07:00

Here's an issue that I was not aware of. How comfortable we are in our pretty country, these tragedies slip by are notice!

I would like to share this documentary with you if you care to have your eyes opened to a PRESENT issue. It is very well done.

Content Advisory: I would not show this to little girls (age 2-10+), because of subject matter and disturbing images.

The Rescue: Full from Invisible Children.

EE-Tauw and Happy Easter

2009-04-11T22:38:00.000-07:00

I saw this testimony a long time ago, and then more recently found it again. It's a true story about the conversion of an entire "primitive" tribe. It vividly shows the impact of the Gospel on lost people. Beautiful and inspiring!

Content Advisory: In the beginning there's a few strange clips of a ritual this tribe did when they lived 'in darkness'. And then 1.5 minutes in, there's a reenactment of a murder (it's not graphically portrayed, but just letting you know).

Lord of the Rings - Original Cast Recording

2009-04-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

Recently I downloaded a Lord of the Rings musical by the Oscar winning composer, A. R. Rahman. As I’ve been reading the books (I’m in “Treebeard” of “The Two Towers”), I’ve noticed the presents of songs and poetry. It is a significant part, and one of the best parts, of Tolkien’s writing. So when I saw a musical made for it, I thought it was a brilliant idea.

Rahman has done a great job, although I don’t think it is the end-all for Lord of the Rings musicals (like perhaps the films are for that medium). A. R. Rahman is from India, and a lot of his previous work has been scoring music for Indian films. What he brings to this production is and ethnic quality that I think is needed for middle-earth. It needs a sound that we haven’t really heard before, especially for the elves, who are the theme of a lot of the poetry and songs in the books.

One of the real strengths in this production is how it represents the important aspects of the story. It captures the simplicity of the hobbits, and also the grandness of the issues at hand. I think elvish music should be more ethereal than epic...but the songs here are still good. I especially like “Wonder”.

As far as the actual stage production, I’ve seen some videos and it looks like quite a thing. I understand that it takes place on a one million pound revolving stage and is the most expensive production in West End history. Too bad they don’t come to Oakhurst. :P

Sit by the firelight's glow
Tell us an old tale we know
Tell of adventures strange and rare
Never to change
Ever to share
Stories we tell will cast their spell
Now and for always

He's back

2009-04-06T18:37:00.000-07:00

...at least for a while. I thought I do a bit of blogging.

A few happenings lately:

I went to Aaron and Jessica's wedding on May 22nd. When I was there, I took a picture of their wedding cake.

I also blew bubbles at Aaron and Jessica as they left! Then I pelted Aaron with snowballs with some fellow pranksters! Good times.

I was a groomsman at Aaron and Jessica's wedding, which was cool. They gave us groomsmen presents. Which was also cool. I got a mug, a pen, a "Swiss Tech", and an iTunes gift card. I'm available if anyone would like me to be a groomsman for their wedding. Just let me know!

With my gift card, I got The Lord of the Rings - Original Cast Recording...a musical by A. R. Rahman (more on that later). And I spent the rest on Dreams of Departures by Joshua Messick. I've been enjoying both productions.

Two days after the wedding I turned 20, believe it or not. I went one last time at Badger Pass and had a Reuben for dinner. Among other gifts I received, Jesse got me the book you see below. It's one I've been wanting for a while...Morimoto: The New Art of Japanese Cooking. I've pretty much only flipped through it, but it looks very goood. Chloe got me Rocky Road and Caramel Cone Haagen Dazs. I finished the Rocky Road, and will soon dig into the next. Don't worry too much about me. When I eat ice-cream, a have it in small quantities.

I'm continuing work on my video project. It will be released sometime in June hopefully. I'm buttoning up the edit, making transitions between the parts, and getting ready for the music to be composed for it. There will likely be more on it later if some of you don't know what I'm talking about.

All for now...

Just to let you know

2008-07-25T14:40:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know, the White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle is long gone.

Yokohl

2008-04-18T21:14:00.000-07:00

The Yokohl Valley is legendary for its display of wildflowers in the spring. I needed to get over that way to shoot an interview for “my project”, so I made sure to leave time to do some photography. I was slightly late to see the wildflowers in their prime. Although at parts they were still in full color and brilliance. Something that is unique about this area is that along with the small and petite wildflowers are grand vistas. Once you climb higher, you can look out and see either the valley or the southwest Sierras, depending on which side of the ridge you’re on.

The road winds up and over the foothills and ends at Balch Park Road, which then continues on up into the Sequoia National Park. Driving Yokohl, it seems as if you’ve discovered this road that no one else knows about. You get the feeling that you’re driving through a very organic, undisturbed country; which is quite interesting being as it’s only twenty minutes out of Visalia and the bustling valley. My whole time on Yokohl, I probably saw less than ten other cars. There are critters running along/across the road, birds flying here and there, and the smell of blooms in the air. On my way back I saw two bobcats, and a hawk flew in front of my headlights. Okay…nuff words. Let’s see some pics!

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not,
they spin not; and yet I say unto you,
that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

These are just some fun experimental pictures...don't ask how I took them :).

Chased by the Light

2008-04-08T11:33:00.000-07:00

One book I have really appreciated is a photography book called Chased by the Light. This isn’t your ordinary collection of nature photos. Although books like that are good, this one is extra special.

Photographer Jim Brandenburg was finding his work with the National Geographic to be unfulfilling and possibly even squelching his passion for photography. I can imagine it could. For one thing you’re “on assignment” and are told what to photograph (which, in itself, diminishes artistic freedom). For another thing, the sheer quantity of photos taken is so immense; one could get snap-happy and lose sight of the heart and soul of the thing. So he set out on a photographic journey that he thought would either show him it was time to move on or renew him.

Brandenburg challenged himself on this “journey” to take one picture every day. His location was Minnesota’s boreal forest and his time frame was the Autumnal Equinox to the Winter Solstice, ninety days total. He was going to hunker down, defy the same old, and endeavor to heal his relationship with nature. Although Brandenburg may call this honor and appreciation for nature a Zen-like approach, I would call it walking in the light.

Turning over every rock in search for his picture, Brandenburg found a renewed sense of what makes photography the art that it is. What communicates in the best way the beauty and creepiness of marvelous things? What captures the thing that makes us go “wow”? Searching for your one and only picture has you looking at everything for what it’s worth. It’s like picking the right dish on the menu at your final meal or choosing how to spend the last $5 you will ever have. You have one chance to get it right. Jim Brandenburg hit a grand slam 90% of the times.

Aaron got me this DVD for my birthday. Jim Brandenburg and others talk about the project and Jim gives commentary on some of the photos. There is also a neat slideshow of the "Looking for Summer" project he did afterwards.

"with Mango Salsa"

2008-04-02T12:37:00.000-07:00

2 fresh ripe mangos (I used champagne mangos)
⅓ cup red onion, finely diced
6 scallions, sliced
¼ cilantro, chopped
2 pinches salt
½ tsp sugar

Cut the mangos on each side of the pit. Then scoop out the fruit like you would an avocado. Cut the mango into a large dice. Mix in the remaining ingredients. Now you’re done.

Blackened Mahimahi with Mango Salsa

2008-04-02T11:50:00.000-07:00

Yep, this was my “birthday dinner”. Here’s the recipe for those who dare! The mango salsa is a great condiment. There is something about the sweet mango with the hot chilies and the fish that make this combination very special. It is a great balance.

Blackening Spice Mix: (or just use Paul Prudhomme’s mix)
4 tbsp paprika
3 tsp sea salt
2 tsp garlic powder
4 tsp onion powder
2 tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp (or more) ground hot red pepper (I used Mojave’s Chili de Arbol)
2 tsp ground coriander (toast and grind whole seeds for the best result)
1 tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried oregano

In an appropriate sized bowl, add the paprika, salt, garlic and onion powders, and freshly ground black pepper. In a coffee grinder, grind about four chilies. These do not have to be completely powdered; somewhat flaky is fine. Add the ground chilies to the mix. Next, in a small skillet, toast enough coriander seeds to make two teaspoons when ground. Grind the toasted seeds and add to the mix. Finally, partially grind the thyme and oregano leaves and, you guessed it, add them to the mix. Now give your grinder a break. Stir the spices and set them aside. Or, skip all this trouble (if you see it as such) and let Prudhomme do the work for you.

6 Mahimahi fillets, cold
¼ cup butter
¼ cup olive oil
Blackened spices mix (above)
Mango Salsa

Melt the butter and add the oil to it. Pour half of the spice mixture onto a plate. Dip a cold fillet into the butter and oil, letting some of the excess drip off. Place the fish into the spices and flip it to coat all sides. You might even toss the spices onto it. Just don’t get too much on the counter or floor. Set the seasoned fillet aside and repeat the dipping and dredging process with the rest of the fish.

Meanwhile, a large cast iron pan should be heating up on the stove. They say it can’t be to hot when it comes to making blackened fish. Make sure your range fan is on high and a window is open before you begin the cooking. Once the pan is hot, lay a few of the seasoned fillets into the pan. Cook each side until they look like, well, like the picture. If you think they are getting too black and yet are still somewhat raw, turn the heat down a bit or place them in the oven to finish. Don’t leave the other fillets uncooked! Cook those too in the same pan after the other ones are done!

Okay. Serve em’ hot…with the mango salsa. You could wedge some limes too.

My splendid birthday

2008-03-31T20:07:00.000-07:00

Recently there was a big event in my life. My 19th birthday was a day of indulging, generosity, and beards.

As is the tradition, I picked what we had for dinner. I see this as a chance to have something I like but don’t normally get because most of the family can’t eat it or won’t; a selfish scheme indeed. I think fish is wonderful but only half of the family can eat it. And well, I like things a lot hotter (as in spicy) than most! So now was my chance! Here was the menu.

Blackened Mahi-Mahi with Mango Salsa
Mushroom Gruyère Salad
Rice Pilaf
Lemon Bars for dessert

Being the cook that I am, I couldn’t help but get my hands in the preparations. I basically took ownership of the main dish. None of us had ever made blackened fish at home so it was new. But man was it good. And paired with the fresh Mango Salsa? Marvelous.

After the dishes were cleared it came time for gifts.

I got an iPod Nano from my parents, Granny, and Leah (No, these things are not cheap). I had grown out of my old 2GB Sansa and was ready for an upgrade. Nanos are very well designed, not to mention they are extremely flashy.

Aaron got me a CD and a documentary about one of my favorite books.

David paid for my last ski trip, which was quite enhanced with the humongous pair of ski goggles that Jesse got me.

Susanna got me the Between the Dreaming and the Coming True songbook. Very neat. I wish I could play an instrument so I could use it :).

And Chloe and Julia got me two pints of Haagen Dazs ice cream…Pineapple Coconut and Chocolate Chocolate Chip. They’re two kinds I haven’t tried yet and great choices. I can pick between dark and rich or light and refreshing, depending on the mood I’m in.

At 7:30 a good friend invited me over to watch a movie and have rice krispy treaties (yep, this guy knows me :). I hadn’t seen Pollyanna for a long time :P. After the show, they pulled out fixings for banana splits, which would be my third dessert of the evening. What a day.

Oh, and the beard thing. I just think that by nineteen, a man should be able to grow a beard. I was determined and even went to my interview at the Elderberry House with it partly grown. Unfortunately by my birthday it was still partly grown. But I did what I could, and had hair on my face that could actually be noticed, sparse though it was.

Interesting composition

2008-03-13T09:39:00.000-07:00

Isn't this picture a crackup? The lady who's going to get me and the pointing finger, I have no clue who they are.

Watching the behind the scenes for LOTRs, I've learned some about forced perspective; I think we've accomplished that on accident here.

Pistachios

2008-03-08T09:00:00.000-08:00

These are some photos I took of a Pistachio tree at a friends house in Paso Robles.

Notice on this picture how the outer skin is beginning to break on a couple of the pistachios...that is a sign that they're ready because the shell underneath is also cracked open. Fresh pistachios are actually quite good. There's a hint of sweetness to them.

Baker Boy strikes again :P

2008-03-07T19:43:00.000-08:00

I made some bread tonight. And people actually liked it!

Update!!! Whoo-hoo

2008-02-24T10:33:00.000-08:00

I have probably already come not to expect much from me. But I thought I'd tell you a little of what I've been doing (besides jellyfishing around).

Erna's Elderberry House has an opening for a Sous chef, so I'm getting a resume ready to send to the chef, James Overbaugh.

I am still in the "data collection" stage of my gargantuan senior project.

I'm finally wrapping up Max and Jenny's complete wedding video. It's not going to fit on one DVD.

The skiing trip I organized was a success. Some pics.

I've been sleeping in way too late lately. I'm eating breakfast right now and it's 10:49.

I think that is partly because I've been staying up way late.

Which is partly because Aaron and I have been watching the extend ed version of The Lord of the Rings.

I'm chewing a waffle.

A couple days ago I finished my pint of Haagen Dazs' Limited Edition "Green Tea' flavor. Pretty bold green tea flavor for sure.

We're getting ready for a massive grading project on our property. I think we're leveling everything except for the house and the play house pretty much. So I was pitching in and digging a trench for a new gas line.

Dad is in South Africa right now with Jonathan Lindvall teaching on Church, Family, etc.

hi

2008-01-11T10:38:00.000-08:00

I'm still alive...just not blogging so much I guess. Happy new year.

Dec: Persimmon Cranberry Sauce

2007-12-12T13:00:00.000-08:00

This is a great holiday recipe. I originally created this to go along with pumpkin pie. To use a word people use to refer to something tasting special, this sauce is quite "yummy". :)

This sauce works best made with Fuyu persimmons. I've tried making it with the slightly larger, oblong-conical variety (Hachiya), but those persimmons are way to pithy.

3 Fuyu persimmons (peeled)
5-6oz cranberries
1½ apple cider
1/3 can cranberry sauce
1 small cinnamon stick
1 pinch salt
½+ tsp vanilla bean paste (or 1 tsp vanilla extract)

Peel the persimmons with a sharp knife and cut them into 8 wedges. Put them in a skillet with everything else except the vanilla. Cook until the persimmons are soften and easily pierced with a fork. Then add the vanilla and turn off heat. Remove the cinnamon stick and pour into a blender or the bowl of a hand blender (see the end of this post). If using the hand blender you will need to do two batches. Blend the sauce until it is smooth.

The sauce is ready to serve or it can be jarred and refrigerated for up to a couple weeks (maybe more).

Click here for a printer friendly version of this recipe

Seasons greetings from the Autumn fruits

2007-11-29T08:41:00.000-08:00

What the fruit display in our kitchen looks like.

Thank you Howards for the pomegranates from your pomegranate tree
Thank you Werzinskis for the persimmons from your persimmon tree
Thank you Aunt Dorie for the lemons from your lemon tree
Thank you Raleys for the apples from the um...um...the aisle

Nov: Pita Bread

2007-11-14T08:24:00.000-08:00

Here's the Pita recipe I promised you. It comes out of The Armenian Table. Pita is super with Hummus, either fresh or toasted. And I think the effort is worth it. Not every time you make Hummus, but sometimes.

Makes twelve 8 inch pita breads

2 cups warm water
1 tsp sugar
2 tsp kosher salt
1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tbsp active dry yeast
3 more cups all-purpose flour

If you have a Bosch or other kitchen mixer, add the water, oil, sugar, and salt and spin. Add the first three cups of flour and mix to combine. Add the yeast and mix. With the motor running, add the last three cups of flour until the dough pulls from the side of the bowl. Knead for five minutes.

Dump it out and form into a nice tidy ball. Put it into an oiled bowl and oil the top of the ball. Cover and set aside in a warm place for an hour or so until it is doubled in bulk.

Punch it down and let it rest for a few minutes. Preheat oven to 500°F. Divide the dough into 12 equal portions. On a floured surface roll out each portion to make an 8 inch circle about 1/8 inch thick (get your tape measures ready :). Let each pita rest for about 10 minutes before putting them in the oven. Bake for 5 minutes, until the pitas are beginning to turn golden but not at all crispy. Halfway through cooking check the pitas to make sure they’re cooking evenly…you might need to rotate baking sheets or something. Of course, you don’t have to bake them all at once. Bake them in batches Roll out the last ones while the first ones are baking.

The pitas may be served right away or toasted to get a nice crispy effect (which is quite good for Hummus). Or, cool completely and store in plastic bags at room temperature for up to 5 days.

Click here for a printer friendly version of this recipe.

Good Post on Fairy-Stories

2007-11-14T07:52:00.000-08:00

Here's a really good post by Aaron (and Tolkien) on fairy-stories.

Through all the crannies of the world we filled
with Elves and Goblins, though we dared to build
Gods and their houses out of dark and light,
and sowed the seed of dragons - 'twas our right
(used or misused). That right has not decayed:
we make still by the law in which we're made."

This is not a whole thing

2007-11-13T17:16:00.000-08:00

If you asked me if I had any favorite artists, one of the first I would mention is Bebo. I like Bebo Norman. I’ve collected all his CDs now...there’s not a bad one in the stack. Got to see him in concert the other day and stuff. Totally awesome.

I thought about writing this whole thing about how I like Bebo as an artist. But what can I say? If you like pop/rock type folk Christian contemporary music you’ll like the stuff. Great music and it even has a little depth.

Picture of me with bebo after the concert :)

A Useless Debate?

2007-11-07T20:03:00.000-08:00

Well here’s my first post about a book I read. I hope you find it interesting. If you are familiar with the subject you probably know it can be a hot topic.

The King James Only Controversy by James White was a book assigned to me to read, that I ended up finding quite interesting and informative. It is truly too bad that such a thing as bible translations can separate the church. Whether you use this version or that should be everyone’s personal choice and your faith and devotion to the Lord should not be questioned based on that issue. Whether or not it should be an issue, it’s still an issue; one we find ourselves in the middle of sometimes. And so, in such situations, it helps to be informed on the facts if we desire to be peacemakers (Mat 5:9). And that is one of the things this book is useful for.

There are those people, who are “missionaries” for the KJV only cause, trying to convince Christians that the new versions are heretical and satanic by presenting them with unproven “facts” and misrepresentation. They say that if you’re not reading the KJV, you’re not reading the word of God, and so we find this group of people appropriately called “King James Only Advocates”. White does an astounding job in dealing with the claims these people make that cause people to wonder as to whether or not what they hold in their hands is the Bible. So what causes KJV only advocates to be so strong and adamant in their position?

I think what it comes down to is tradition. If someone grows up with the KJV, then something new comes out that is different, and may I say improved, they’ll raise a suspicious eyebrow and then compare these new translations with their KJV. And here, my friend, lies the problem. True, the NIV or NASB differs from the KJV in many areas, but the translations differ because the texts they are based on differ. One cannot simply take the KJV, the Bible they’re used to and the assumed standard, and compare it with another and say, “see this deletion?” or “see this change?”. If we look past the surface we’ll find how the various Hebrew and Greek texts vary.

There are no two texts that are word for word. Scribal error, harmonization, and/or expansion of piety (for example, extending Jesus to Jesus Christ or Lord Jesus Christ) make up a lot of the differences between the translations. And so, Textual Criticism is used to determine which of the variant readings the manuscripts give is the original one. When God preserved his word, he did so in such a way that it could not be altered in any fundamental way. But he did so in a way that allowed for Textual Variation. I might add that reading this book also convinced me that none of the differences in translations or texts are doctrinally significant.

To illustrate how people’s traditions influence their view of new translations, let’s look at some history. I quote James White from page 17 with reference to the opposition and resistance certain scholars received when translating their works.

"Jerome takes the heat for translating the Vulgate, which eventually becomes the standard. Erasmus then takes the heat for challenging Jerome and for publishing the Greek New Testament. Then, four hundred years later, it is Erasmus’ work itself, in the form of the Textus Receptus, which has become enshrined as “tradition” by advocates of the AV! He who once resisted tradition has become the tradition itself. The cycle continues. Will there someday be an “NIV Only” movement? We can only hope not."

It's amusing and sad at the same time. What I say is take whatever translation you happen to have on your shelf, pray for understanding, and God will reveal his heart to you through it. If what thou findest thyself reading is an old English KJV, then mayest thy God bless thee. If you find the Lord in the NIV, then cool! If you’re Hispanic and all you can read is the Santa Biblia, then muy bueno. If it’s Da Jesus Book, well, den all you guys betta watch out cuz dem fellas who thinks yous gotta have dat King what’s-his-name bible and none oda are gonna come afta ya and kick a you offa yo heals.

James White is an apologist and the president of Alpha Omega Ministries.

This book is separated into two parts. I didn’t read Part two (The Textual Data), which goes deeper into the subject and makes up the last 30 pages of the book.

P52
(the oldest known manuscript fragment of the new testament)

Deep Enough To Dream

2007-11-01T22:49:00.000-07:00

Lazy summer afternoon

Screened-in porch and nothin’ to do
I just kicked off my tennis shoes
Slouchin’ in a plastic chair
Rakin’ my fingers through my hair
I close my eyes and I leave ‘em there
And I yawn, and sigh, and slowly fade away

Deep enough to dream in brilliant colors I have never seen
Deep enough to join a billion people for a wedding feast
Deep enough to reach out and touch the face of the One who made me
And oh, the love I feel, and oh the peace
Do I ever have to wake up

Awakened by a familiar sound
A clumsy fly is buzzin’ around
He bumps the screen and he tumbles down
He gathers about his wits and pride
And tries again for the hundredth time
‘Cause freedom calls from the other side
And I smile and nod, and slowly drift away

Deep enough to dream in brilliant colors I have never seen
Deep enough to join a billion people for a wedding feast
Deep enough to reach out and touch the face of the One who made me
And oh, the love I feel, and oh the peace
Do I ever have to wake up

‘Cause peace is pouring over my soul
See the lambs and the lions playin’
I join in and I drink the music
Holiness is the air I’m breathin’
My faithful heroes break the bread and answer all of my questions
Not to mention what the streets are made of
My heart’s held hostage by this love

...Do I ever have to wake up
Do I ever have to wake up
Do I really have to wake up now

- Chris Rice

Happy First Day of November

2007-11-01T10:17:00.000-07:00

Thank you all for voting. We're going to keep the new look! I was going to anyway. :)