John Lennon had a good message that is as relevant today as it was then (or anytime in the world’s history).

You’ve probably noticed that none of the videos on our Media page work. It’s because we’ve been transfering and uploading new ones on our YouTube Channel. Until we decide to embed on our site, you can catch all the wonderful action of our lives over on YouTube. Our current videos include a Willie Nelson concert we attended, Peace Corps experiences in Armenia, and lots of our little guy Ethan.Go view all of them and more at http://www.youtube.com/resqbrett

Most of you know that I work in the planning profession. Specifically, I’m involved in parks and natural resource planning. The funny thing is that I wasn’t aware of the value or the profession of planning until I was in my 20’s. I believe my Peace Corps experience made me realize the value of civic engagement and that citizens need be involved in the development of their neighborhoods, which is one aspect of planning.

Now I look back and realize that I should have thought about what shapes the development or lack of development in the communities that I live. I’m not sure what age I should have been more aware, but my 20’s seems a little late. Of course I don’t expect a 6-year old child to say, “Daddy (or mommy), when I grow up I want to be a planner”. Actually, that would be pretty nerdy if your 6 year old said that. But the point is that our lives are tremendously influenced by the profession of planners and it isn’t too early to learn how our communities are developed. After all, the youth are the future!

I want to introduce you to some great resources that the American Planning Association (national organization for planners) offers to teach youth about planning. The website is found here: http://www.planning.org/education/youth . As you’ll notice with the topics of the lesson plans, it seems that planners are involved in everything.

If you have questions, comments, or whatever, then feel free to let me know.

Thanks for reading and have a great day!

Brett

WARNING: Computer Nerd Alert!

As information inquirers, Laura and I read The Oregonian on a daily basis. While Ethan yacks away and plays with his oatmeal each morning, we share the front page and discuss the local news. It’s a great way to learn a little more about our community and the world we live in.

But for many of us out there, the morning newspaper just doesn’t cut it. We need MORE information. Not just any ‘ol information, but information that is up-to-date, relevant to our interests, and easy to access. This is why I love Really Simple Syndication or RSS feeds.

RSS feeds allow me to subscribe to a page and get the latest news. There are thousands of websites/blogs that provide these links. Even our website, actually this page that you are reading right now, allows this. But the beauty of an RSS feed isn’t that you can subscribe to it, but in the application that allows this to happen. In my case, I use Google Reader to subscribe to all my RSS feeds. Gathered on one page are up-to-date headlines from all the websites I subscribe to. Now I don’t have to click on a link to each website to see what’s new. It’s gathered all in one place

I’m not going to describe all the nuts and bolts of how to use Google Reader and RSS feeds, there is plenty of information on the web to do that. I just wanted to share the sites that I subscribe to and to make sure that you know you can always subscribe to our website. This page is the only dynamic page, hence, the only one that will be updated in your RSS feed. Hope you find a new feed to subscribe too. Remember to look for the orange image in your URL bar and click it to subscribe.

Brett’s RSS Subscriptions on his Google Reader

• First I have a whole list of friend’s websites that I subscribe to. Great way to stay in touch.
• BBC World News: Allows me to learn more about news from around the world (http://news.bbc.co.uk/)
• Foreign Policy Association: This organization offers a lot of blogs to subscribe to. Here are my favorites: Caucasus (http://caucasus.foreignpolicyblogs.com/); Central Asia (http://centralasia.foreignpolicyblogs.com/); Election 2008 (http://election.foreignpolicyblogs.com/); Russia (http://russia.foreignpolicyblogs.com/); U.S. Diplomacy (http://diplomacy.foreignpolicyblogs.com/); U.S. Role in the World (http://usrole.foreignpolicyblogs.com/)
• Fat Wreck Chords: One of my favorite punk rock record labels (http://www.fatwreck.com/)
• Lifehacker: All things computer and nerdy, but very useful (http://lifehacker.com/)
• MadConomist: Economics anyone? (http://madconomist.com/)
• The Positivity Blog: Fluffy but very optimistic (http://www.positivityblog.com/)
• Planetizen: All things planning and more (http://www.planetizen.com/)
• Politico: Politics, Political News, Campaign 2008 and on and on (http://www.politico.com/)
• PunkNews.org: My lifeline to the latest tours, breakups, record releases, tragedies and other shenanigans in the punk rock world (http://www.punknews.org/)
• Woodworking Magazine: I love to build things (http://blog.woodworking-magazine.com/blog/)

That’s my list. Feel free to share yours.

Here in Oregon, polling booths don’t exist. Everyone in the state will vote by a mail-in ballot. Here’s our experience. Simple, relaxing, and in the comfort of our own home.

Last week was my birthday and to celebrate it, as well as get out of the 100 degree Portland weather, we headed west to Seaside for fun and much cooler weather. This was Ethan’s first time to the beach, walking on the sand, and putting his feet in the ocean. Enjoy the video.

Ethan also has his molars coming in. So far, two have popped out and two more are making their way. Of course this means he has been a little cranky, but always a charmer. After all four arrive, he will have 11 teeth.

I’ve had a few requests from friends to make my master’s terminal project available for download. While I’m very proud of the work I did, I’d say it definitely has a specific audience. If you feel the urge to want to read it, feel free to download it. If you use it for research, please provide the proper citations.

I’m also making a PowerPoint presentation available. The PowerPoint was presented for the Willamette Valley Biomass Working Group, the client for this project. You can read more about my defense and energy planning in previous posts.

Abstract:
PERCEPTION TO INCEPTION: ASSESSING CONTRACTOR CAPACITY TO UTILIZE WOODY BIOMASS FOR ENERGY PRODUCTION IN THE SOUTHERN WILLAMETTE VALLEY, OREGON

Global warming, peak oil, and severe wildfires are leading government officials, community members, conservation organizations, timber industry officials, and other stakeholders to explore sustainable long-term solutions to create healthy and vibrant communities. The use of woody biomass provides a solution because of its ability to not only reduce the effects of these events, but also meet economic development, renewable energy, and ecological objectives. Timber companies are important to making the woody biomass industry successful because they are a key link between accessing and delivering the supply and meeting consumer demand. Though they stand to benefit economically, there are challenges they face before fully committing to utilizing woody biomass.

This study had two objectives to better understand the opportunities and challenges the timber industry faces in the southern Willamette Valley. The first was to understand the capacity of firms either engaged in or with the potential to engage in woody biomass collecting, processing, and transportation. The second was to determine the willingness and interest of firms to participate in biomass utilization and what barriers prevent them from engaging in or supporting woody biomass utilization.

As part of the study, we interviewed key individuals involved in the collection, transportation, or utilization of timber in the southern Willamette Valley. The results of the study provide an understanding of the competition for the region’s existing supply of woody biomass and the perceived challenges and limitations of increasing woody biomass opportunities for energy production. Findings suggest that the timber industry is interested in pursuing woody biomass for energy production if they can make a profit and have access to a new source of woody biomass.

Download PDF here and/or PowerPoint here.

Two years and a couple weeks, I wrote a post with this exact title. We were moving north from San Jose, California to Eugene, Oregon. At the time we were living with my mom after having finished Peace Corps service. Laura was working for Franklin-McKinley School District as a 2nd grade teacher and I did work for SUN Microsystems. We were coming to Eugene so I could begin graduate school at the University of Oregon and Laura could work for the local school districts.

Now we are continuing our journey two hours north to the wonderful city of Portland, Oregon. After submitting a plethora of employment resumes/cover letters/applications, I accepted a job about a week ago with a planning firm in downtown Portland. We drove up to Portland a few days later to view homes for rent, found one and will move in tomorrow. The best part about our home is that it has two baths. OH yeah! Our first home with two baths. This is a sign that we are moving up in the world folks.

Tonight is our last night in this great house on this street with wonderful neighbors. It has been a great two years in Eugene, Oregon. We would stay here if we could, but we have to go where the jobs are at or until we can start our own business and have more say about where we live. We are excited and apprehensive about this next step. But, as with all of our adventures, we always meet terrific people from the places with live and travel. We also have many friends and family in the Portland area and look forward to reconnecting with them.

We’re off to bed so our “Ethan Alarm Clock” can get us up at the crack of dawn for another day of loading boxes.

Farewell Eugene!

Last week, we packed up the Subaru and made our way to eastern Oregon where we experienced three days/two nights of wonderful eastern Oregon beauty. Personally, I find eastern Oregon to be more enriching and exciting than western Oregon. Laura is more keen to the coast and Ethan just goes with the flow.

Prior to our departure, we purchased our first family tent; the Sierra Design Bedouin Annex 4+2. This tent proved to be a great tent that allowed Ethan to roll around without getting too dirty. In addition, we bought a Coleman queen size air mattress. Oh yeah! I love my backpacking air mattress pads, but we’re car camping. If we have the room then throw it on in.

We camped at Strawberry Campground on the Malheur National Forest. The trailhead to Strawberry Lake is located here. The lake lies in the Strawberry Wilderness and is a beautiful sight. We did a 5-mile hike to the lake and base of Strawberry Falls where Laura and I enjoyed them, but Ethan slept the entire time we were there.

Overall, it was a great trip for the family. We look forward to going out again, but perhaps when Ethan is walking around. Enjoy the photos.

[Show as slideshow]

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In today’s Register-Guard Newspaper, a member of the Willamette Valley Biomass Study Group wrote an op-ed piece about the need to research renewable energy at the local level. This group has three studies on renewable energy potential in the Southern Willamette Valley. If you read the article, I am part of the study, awarded by the U.S. Forest Service, examining the potential of building a cellulosic ethanol facility utilizing woody biomass.

As I am writing this post, I am in the middle of writing my findings from my the interview process. I talked with 17 timber firms about the challenges and opportunities to developing the woody biomass industry. In conjunction with this study, I am using the data to contribute to my exit project for graduate school. I also submitted an abstract for this study to the Annual 14th International Symposium on Society and Resource Management. My abstract was accepted a month ago and I will have an opportunity to sit on a panel with three other professionals conducting research on the utilization of woody biomass. I applied for and received a student scholarship from the conference committee so that I don’t have to pay conference fees, but I am still waiting to secure travel funds. The event is June 10-14 in Burlington, Vermont.

For more information about what woody biomass is and how it is used for renewable energy, visit these links:

• Renewable Energy in Lane County - this is the website for the Willamette Valley Biomass Study Group
• State of Oregon Biomass Energy
  
• Biomass One - this is a facility in Southern Oregon that converts woody into energy
• U.S. Forest Service - information about woody biomass and its purpose

You may also contact me to learn more about woody biomass.

The University of Oregon Daily Emerald just published this article on the Peace Corps. It is a descent article on activities at the University of Oregon and what makes the U of O a top producing university of Peace Corps volunteers.

University of Oregon Highly Ranked On Peace Corps 2008 Volunteer List

My favorite line: “The bottom line question for me was: How many additional American lives is Saddam Hussein worth? The answer: not very damn many.”

This past week has found my MP3 player continuously playing the soundtracks to the movies Juno and Into The Wild. I have seen the movie Juno, but only read the book Into the Wild when it first hit the bookshelves in the 90’s. I highly recommend owning both soundtracks. The Juno soundtrack is very catchy and upbeat with some unknown artists such as Kimya Dawson and Antsy Pants. “All I Want Is You” and “Loose Lips” are a couple of my favorites. I also recommend checking out more songs by Kimya Dawson. Into The Wild features music by Eddie Vedder, though the official music score for the movie has many more artists such as Kaki King. The music is relaxing and a bit eerie, though inspiring. If you know the book, then you’ll feel that the music represents it well. “Hard Sun” is a stand out on this album.

In other news, Ethan is now 6 months and weighing in at a rolling left to right, back to front 19 pounds. He is a little smile bug and learning to grab everything within reach. We can no longer hold him in one arm and carry food in the other without him reaching for a taste. He is eating one meal a day of solid foods. He has eaten rice cereal, oatmeal, and, as of tonight, sweet potatoes. He loves the sweet potatoes, but mommy’s milk is still his favorite. He is sleeping 9-11 hours continuously as of this week. Laura finally decided no more nighttime feedings and it’s worked well. He has two bottom teeth showing now. Of course, this causes some discomfort so we let him suck on a cold, wet towel to take some of the pain away. Tomorrow, he visits his doctor for 6 month shots. It could be a long day and night tomorrow after those shots.

We spoke to our friend Gohar last night. She lives in Armenia, but we have not phoned her in a loooong time. Since our last phone call with her in December 2005, we have only communicated through letters. Letters allow us time to express ourselves a lot better in the Armenian language. It was her birthday yesterday and Nellie, an Armenian friend living in the US, helped us call her via Skype. It was great to speak to her and Zhana, her daughter. Through the conversation, we realize that we really can’t speak Armenian, though we did try. As usual, Laura could understand better than I, though I was able to speak better. Typical marriage. Wife listens, husband talks.

The three of us, along with two graduate students in my planning program, head north to Seattle on Sunday to take an early Monday test for the Presidential Management Fellowship. Each of us, as well as three other graduate students in my department, were nominated for the Fellowship. We now take the test and, if we pass, make it to the applicant pool to compete for coveted jobs working with the Federal Government in mid-manager positions (GS-9 and above) for two years, with hopes of landing permanent positions. The test by no means is easy so we’ll see how this goes. The test will assess our critical thinking skills, life experience, and writing fundamentals.

Ethan enjoys his first good snow of his life. It snowed a few inches in a matter of hours. We had no snow in our area until 7am today. The dogs are having a great time eating and playing in it. Ethan just looked around.

Video is not longer available.