A few asked why I was going to do it, perhaps thinking that there was something wrong. I’m not sure if there was something wrong, as there was my priorities needed to shift. The reality was that I loved surfing Facebook. Way too many hours were spent on it and it needed to stop. My first love on the interent, this website, was neglected and my web design skills were lacking as a result. I loved creating this website 5 years ago. I know technology has changed and I’m not keeping up with it. I want to use more time on this website to interact with the world. It’s here that I have more control. Plus, this is my family website. This is our piece of the internet.

Also, I didn’t need to keeping checking Facebook to learn who was posting their current status, photos, videos, etc, when I should have been away from the computer.Granted, my family and friends lead interesting lives. Perhaps that why it was so addictive.

For those with a blog outside of Facebook, I use my Google Reader to view your posts. I’ll keep checking. For those without a blog, I have their email address and/or phone numbers. If you’re in the Seattle area, I’ll be sure to visit.

Autumn did venture out to her first public venue today: the grocery store. Laura really wanted to get out so we packed up the family and headed to Albertson’s. Except for Ethan’s rather loud impromptu performance of “ABC’s” on aisle 14, it was an uneventful shopping trip.

ETHAN
Birth Date: July 30, 2007
Time: 7:45pm
Location: Eugene, Oregon
Weight: 7lbs. 5oz.
Length: 19″
Hair: Full head of black hair when born.
Eyes: Beautiful blue eyes when born.
Name: Ethan William Holt. The name Ethan was chosen because it just sounded like an excellent name for our son. We read all the name books but most weren’t helpful at all. Turns out to be the 4th most popular boys name in 2007. William is Brett’s middle name (family name) and is common on Laura’s side.

AUTUMN
Birth Date: March 18, 2010
Time: 7:13am
Location: Edmonds, WA
Weight: 6lbs 11oz.
Length: 19″
Hair: Full head of black hair when born.
Eyes: The color hasn’t set quite yet, though brown seems to be dominant.
Name: Autumn Jane Holt. During Laura’s first pregnancy we chose not to know the baby’s gender until delivery. In doing so, we had a name picked out for a boy and a name for a girl: Ethan and Autumn. Of course when we found out that our second child was going to be girl, we were ready to go. Like the name Ethan, we just enjoy the sound of the name Autumn. Also, what a beautiful time of year to enjoy the outdoors. Jane is from the author Jane Austin, one of Laura’s favorite writers.

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While Laura feeds, Ethan hangs out in his fort.

Autumn and Laura are doing very well. Laura is resting when she can and keeping Autumn fed. Autumn has spent most her time sleeping followed by feeding and diaper changes. Surprisingly, Laura and I are actually getting really good nights of rest while providing Autumn and Ethan the attention they so deserve.

I’m off of work for a few weeks and look forward to this time to support Laura, meet Autumn, and have some one on one time with Ethan as we do some father/son outings.

Enjoy our latest photos from the past couple days.

Autumn's first sunrise.

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The quick labor story:

After a week of on/off again contractions, intense contractions kicked in about 4am this morning. We labored at home until 6am and then headed to the hospital.  Laura did a few grunts and moans and popped her on out about an hour later.

We are attaching a few photos of Autumn and our family for you to enjoy.  In the upcoming days, we hope to put more on our website.  We head back home tomorrow in the afternoon.

Take care,

Brett, Laura, Ethan, and Autumn

Over the last couple years I’ve dabbled in creating a centralized media center for our family. By this I mean a place where I can view my videos/photos and listen to music in one place. Though it may seem easy for some, it doesn’t work that way for us. I keep our photos/movies on our mac tower and keep our music on our laptop (we like to ensure we have our music with us when we travel). There also many options to choose from when it comes to a media center. Some of the popular ones include Windows Media Center and Apple TV. Of course, there are a bit more obscure ones such as Boxee, XBMC, Plex, and Hulu.

So what did we decide? It just depends on what we want to do and, no, we don’t use just one program

Music: We play our music off the laptop via iTunes and connect to our audio receiver wirelessly through Apple Express.

Photos: We organize the with Picasa, but have them synced with Apple TV so we can have a running slideshow during special occasions, or just to play so Ethan can enjoy them on a large screen.

Movies: We organize them with iTunes and play them wirelessly through AppleTV, which is connected to our TV via an HDMI cable.

Internet TV: We use Plex for our internet TV. What do I mean by Internet TV? Basically, viewing any video that may be available on regular TV, but shown on the internet. For example, we love to watch The Daily Show. Yes, we can click on the Daily Show website and watch the latest show. Then head over to the HGTV website and find a couple videos to watch. Then back to the NBC website for the latest episode of Saturday Night Live. But, why not have a centralized system for viewing The Daily Show, The Office, HGTV programming, South Park (all episodes), MTV, Biography, and more shows/channels. We chose Plex because of it’s iTouch application so we can have a remote. Also, it integrates with Hulu so we can improve our viewing options. Of course, Boxee is excellent too, but I couldn’t get the hack worked out so I can view it through Apple TV. Once I do, then Plex is gone and we’ll only need Boxee available through our Apple TV. Also, we have Plex connected from our Tower to our TV via an HDMI cord. The TV acts as our 2nd monitor so Plex is always on. On the TV, we just click to the correct input (in our case HDMI2 since HDMI1 is our Apple TV) and we’re now watching our shows, via the internet, while enjoying our comfy recliners.

Of course, how do we manage this with our remote controls? Easy. Logitech has an awesome selection of universal remotes that put all others to shame. We have one for all our devices except for using Plex. You view their remotes here: http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/remotes/universal_remotes/&cl=us,en

If you want some more information about these programs, here are some links:

Boxee: http://www.boxee.tv/
Hulu: www.hulu.com
XBMC: http://xbmc.org/
Plex: http://www.plexapp.com/

Other sites to check out:
* Lifehacker.com is the website I like to visit to see what is being said about computers/programs/life.
* HandBrake: handbrake.fr   This is a free and great tool for ripping DVDs to MP4s.

What do you use for your media center?

Happy Holidays!

We want to send all you a warm holiday greeting! We hope your year has been as fulfilling and exciting as it has been for our family.

Some of our highlights include Ethan turning two years old, spending the summer living with Laura’s parents, moving to Seattle, Brett working with the federal government again, multiple trips to California to visit Brett’s family, having Brett’s old punk band doing a reunion show, receiving the news that we are having a little girl due March 24, 2010, and watching Ethan getting excited about Christmas this year. Our year had a bit of sadness as our loyal lab, Duff, passed away. He’s missed by all.

However you celebrate this time of year, we hope you it do with kindness and an abundance of eggnog. : )

Take care,

Brett, Laura, and Ethan

It all started at a young age…

I’ll keep this short and point out one speech he wrote that I feel is so relevant today. It has to do with openness, compromise, and listening to others. You, me, and our politicians can learn from his words.

Here is the context of this speech. Monday, September 17, 1787, was the last day of the Constitutional Convention. Pennsylvania delegate Benjamin Franklin, one of the few Americans of the time with international repute, wanted to give a short speech to the Convention prior to the signing of the final draft of the Constitution. Too weak to actually give the speech himself, he had fellow Pennsylvanian James Wilson deliver the speech. It is considered a masterpiece.

Mr. President

I confess that there are several parts of this constitution which I do not at present approve, but I am not sure I shall never approve them: For having lived long, I have experienced many instances of being obliged by better information, or fuller consideration, to change opinions even on important subjects, which I once thought right, but found to be otherwise. It is therefore that the older I grow, the more apt I am to doubt my own judgment, and to pay more respect to the judgment of others. Most men indeed as well as most sects in Religion, think themselves in possession of all truth, and that wherever others differ from them it is so far error. Steele a Protestant in a Dedication tells the Pope, that the only difference between our Churches in their opinions of the certainty of their doctrines is, the Church of Rome is infallible and the Church of England is never in the wrong. But though many private persons think almost as highly of their own infallibility as of that of their sect, few express it so naturally as a certain french lady, who in a dispute with her sister, said “I don’t know how it happens, Sister but I meet with no body but myself, that’s always in the right — Il n’y a que moi qui a toujours raison.”

In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution with all its faults, if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of Government but what may be a blessing to the people if well administered, and believe farther that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in Despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic Government, being incapable of any other. I doubt too whether any other Convention we can obtain, may be able to make a better Constitution. For when you assemble a number of men to have the advantage of their joint wisdom, you inevitably assemble with those men, all their prejudices, their passions, their errors of opinion, their local interests, and their selfish views. From such an assembly can a perfect production be expected? It therefore astonishes me, Sir, to find this system approaching so near to perfection as it does; and I think it will astonish our enemies, who are waiting with confidence to hear that our councils are confounded like those of the Builders of Babel; and that our States are on the point of separation, only to meet hereafter for the purpose of cutting one another’s throats. Thus I consent, Sir, to this Constitution because I expect no better, and because I am not sure, that it is not the best. The opinions I have had of its errors, I sacrifice to the public good. I have never whispered a syllable of them abroad. Within these walls they were born, and here they shall die. If every one of us in returning to our Constituents were to report the objections he has had to it, and endeavor to gain partizans in support of them, we might prevent its being generally received, and thereby lose all the salutary effects & great advantages resulting naturally in our favor among foreign Nations as well as among ourselves, from our real or apparent unanimity. Much of the strength & efficiency of any Government in procuring and securing happiness to the people, depends, on opinion, on the general opinion of the goodness of the Government, as well as of the wisdom and integrity of its Governors. I hope therefore that for our own sakes as a part of the people, and for the sake of posterity, we shall act heartily and unanimously in recommending this Constitution (if approved by Congress & confirmed by the Conventions) wherever our influence may extend, and turn our future thoughts & endeavors to the means of having it well administered.

On the whole, Sir, I can not help expressing a wish that every member of the Convention who may still have objections to it, would with me, on this occasion doubt a little of his own infallibility, and to make manifest our unanimity, put his name to this instrument.

With great sadness, Duff went to his final resting place last Monday, June 22. He developed a tumor on the outside of his intestines which caused tremendous pain and made it difficult to have a bowel movement. The vet didn’t recommend surgery because of his age, breed/size, and the size of the tumor. It was an extremely difficult decision for Laura and me to make, but we had always told ourselves that our dogs will not suffer in these type of situations.

Duff was a 9 year old black lab that I adopted in September 2001 while living in Burns, Oregon. He was a little over a year old and had already been with two other owners. His mild temperament and easy going manners made him a keeper, and over the years, made dog lovers out of people who didn’t like dogs. He was loyal, loved to wander, and gave great wet kisses!

The name Duff came with him. I’m told he was named after Duff beer on the Simpsons. Not being a fan of the Simpsons or cheap beer, I like to say he was named after the duff layer found in the forest. Either way, it was a unique name for a unique dog.

When I got him, I had just started a long distance relationship with Laura, who was living in Spokane, WA. Duff became my travel companion for those 9 hour drives to see her, which became the start of his traveling adventures with Laura and me. He traveled to mountains and the beaches; ran along our sides on trails and roads; visited Glacier, Yellowstone, Lassen, and Yosemite National Parks; visited or lived in Oregon, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Nevada, and California; and loved to play in rivers and sit in the rain. He probably experienced more than many Americans.

While we were in the Peace Corps (2004-2005), he and Skylee easily transitioned to living with my mom (Grandma) where they were spoiled. He loved sleeping on her bed, running around the large yard, eating “special” food, and receiving her undivided attention. He loved being with my mom!

Though Ethan may not remember him, he will always have pictures, videos, and wonderful stories for us to share with him. We will all miss him very much.

So when we moved in our home last August, we had a couple issues we needed to resolve. The first was organizing our kitchen, and the second was keeping Ethan out of our kitchen island cupboard. Here’s the story.

SMALL KITCHEN: Our last home in Eugene was filled with kitchen storage space. It was wonderful. You could pack in the bread machine, mixers, salad shooter, pots, pans, dogs, drums, whatever you needed. It was wonderful. This kitchen is the opposite. We were able to maneuver a pizza pan and two sets of kitchen towels before we filled up. It’s horrible. The worst was where to put our pots and pans. They are bulky, the lids are awkward and Ethan loves to play with them. I did some research on the internet, found some options that may help us, and then went to work.

For our pots and pans, we chose to hang them on the wall. We looked at hanging racks, but they’re expensive! Also, not readily available. Our friends Matt and Sophie had a great layout in their Eugene home. The first lesson in life is “Don’t reinvent the wheel” and I didn’t plan on it. I stole the idea. I bought some hooks, threw ‘em on the wall and, presto, worked like magic.

LIDS: Once the pots were hanging, the lids were just piled into a cabinet…horizontal. Lids are useless, and terrible to organize when they are horizontal. The only time a lid is good horizontal is when it’s on top the pot or pan. That’s it! So what to do? I have to thank the great contributors at Lifehacker.com. Someone posted their idea about purchasing a desk organizer and using it for lids. “Bling!” What a great idea. I had Laura run down to Office Depot, find one and come back. Unfortunately, the width of space was too small…so I had her run back to Office Dept, return that organizer, head to Office Max, and buy a different one. Blam! This one works like a charm. Thanks Laura! We can put our lids and extra pans in the organizer and keep them organized. I love it when an organizer actually organizers. It’s awesome.

CHILD: Ethan, Ethan, Ethan..my son…I love you buddy, but daddy does not like it when you open up the kitchen island cabinets and pull out everything. Everything! Some of you may say, “Hey buddy, let the kid do whatever, he’s 18 months!” To that I say, “Hey buddy, come clean up my kitchen 10 times day.” Someone else may say, “Hey buddy, buy those latches so he can’t open up the door.” To that I say, “Hey buddy, I did for the others, because they had a piece of wood to latch them on. The island doesn’t.” What to do. Laura rummaged through some baby stuff donated to us and pulled out some device for us to use. As you can tell, that device took two hands, set of feet, and pliers to open. Postive side: Easy to close. Back to the drawing board. Days turned into weeks, weeks into months. No wait, actually it was 4 days later I was in the garage, rummaging through my rock climbing gear, thinking “I never use this stuff these days, what should I do with it”. Then it hit me. “Blam!” Carabiner! I grabbed the golden latch, raced into the house, threw off the middle evil latch device and threw on the carabiner. Ahhhh….it’s beautiful. And so easy to use.

Enjoy.

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

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

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.

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’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.

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!

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.

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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.

University of Oregon Highly Ranked On Peace Corps 2008 Volunteer List

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.

Video is not longer available.

I have created a MEDIA section which hosts our Photos and Videos.  We have added videos from our time in Armenia.  We will add more Videos over time.

Enjoy!

It is now widely acknowledged to have been the first true genocide, and Western sources sometimes point to the sheer scale of the death toll as evidence for a systematic, organized plan to eliminate the Armenians. The event is also said to be the second-most studied case of genocide. To date twenty-one countries have officially recognized it as genocide.

While Turkey acknowledges that during World War I many Armenians died, it also states that Muslims died as well and that massacres were committed on both sides as a result of inter-ethnic violence and the wider conflict of World War I. The Turkish government also does not accept the deaths were the results of an intention from Ottoman authorities to eliminate Armenian people indiscriminately.

Read more about the genocide

Our niece Caitlynn, 3 months, looking very adorable as she discovers the art of sticking her tongue out.

Ohio Democrat to seek presidency

Mr Kucinich was also a presidential candidate in 2004

Democrat congressman Dennis Kucinich has said he plans to run for the US presidency in 2008. Mr Kucinich, who also made a bid in 2004, said he decided to run because the Democrats were not pushing hard enough to end the Iraq war.

The liberal, anti-war congressman from Ohio said Democrats had not acted on the message of voters in the mid-terms.

He said he disagreed with Democrats’ approval of a proposal to extend $160bn (£121bn, 81bn euros) funds for the war.

“Democrats were swept into power on November 7 because of widespread voter discontent with the war in Iraq,” Mr Kucinich said in a statement.

“Instead of heeding those concerns and responding with a strong and immediate change in policies and direction, the Democratic congressional leadership seems inclined to continue funding the perpetuation of the war.”

Mr Kucinich’s anti-war message was at the centre of his earlier presidential bid in 2004, when he was backed by several Hollywood celebrities.
….I am pretty excited. Though he didn’t stand a chance in 2004, and I’m not sure about 2008, I am excited to hear honest talk from a politician. Dennis holds others to the fire. Let’s see who else roles down the runway for 2008.

I found a few interesting things on the internet.

• Video Downloader: This program allows you to download videos on YouTube, My Space and others. Check it out: http://javimoya.com/blog/youtube_en.php
• WalkJogRun: Great website for all you runners, joggers, and walkers. It will help calculate your distance, plus you can integrate it into Google Earth: http://www.walkjogrun.net/
• Burning Man! If you are not familiar with this annual event, check out the photo gallery. Very creative! http://www.burningman.com/
• Nobelity: I haven’t seen this movie, only the trailer. It looks good. Let me know if you own it and want to lend it to us. http://www.nobelitythemovie.com/index.html
• Google Sketch Up: This is a great resource for planners and architects. It is also fun for anyone who likes to draw. It’s easy to use and integrates into Google Earth. http://sketchup.google.com/index.html
• World 66: This is a great site with travelers writing about areas they have visited. It is updated frequently and allows you to get to know the off-the-beaten-path spots in the world. I contributed to some of the areas in Armenia. http://www.world66.com/
• Planetizen: I found this while doing research for a planning career. It is for anyone interested in the current state of development, which is everywhere in the world. http://www.planetizen.com/
• Al Jazeera: Just another take on news in the world. http://www.aljazeera.com and http://english.aljazeera.net/English

I am in the my last week of the term. I have a few papers to write and then I am off for a month. It has been a hectic term. Balancing work (Peace Corp job), graduate school (13 quarter units), and family has proven to be a little more difficult than I anticipated. I think that the next term will go better, not because it will be easier, but because I know what to expect. I have a lot more knowledge about planning and how it relates to the rest of the world, at least the Eugene area.

I am going to take 17 units next quarter. This is 4 classes and has met Laura’s approval. I am going to take Strategic Planning, GIS for Planners, Community Planning Workshop, and International Environmental Politics. I am excited about all the classes. The Community Planning Workshop is 100% group work based. We will divided into teams the first week of school and be assigned real life project. We will then spend the rest of the quarter in the field working with the stakeholders in developing a plan.
If you want to get me something for Christmas or anytime of year, visit my Amazon wish list. http://www.amazon.com/gp/registry/5615UZV5YXB6
That’s all for now.

Here is our other niece.

Caitlynn Olivia Holt
7 lbs, 14 ounces
21.5 inches long
Born 10-8-06, 9:25 a.m.

For now on, it’s Uncle Brett and Aunt Laura. Enjoy the pictures.

This is our niece.

Mom, Caitlynn, and Dad

Uncle Mark

Grandma Lynda

Here is a picture of Laura and Hranush at the beach last Saturday. This was Harnush’s first time to the ocean.

While serving in Armenia, we were part of the testing process that allowed students an opportunity to study in America. Though our students didn’t make the cut this year, we are excited that we were able to host an Armenian. The program is the Future Leaders Exchange (FLEX) Program. The program is funded through the Department of State and allows for students in the former Soviet bloc to study in America for 1 school year. The testing process is rigorous and involves a grammer test, two essay tests, and a former interview. Everything is in English. Of the hundreds or thousands who test in Armenia, only 50 make the cut.

Hranush will arrive next week and stay with us until June. We look forward to telling you more about her as time goes on. Take care everyone!

We went to Hawaii in mid-June with one of Laura’s sister and her husband. We were in Maui where the weather was perfect and food ok. It took us a while to find the great restaurants. I don’t think you go to Hawaii for the food. It’s the weather and wonderful beaches. We stayed busy snorkeling, seeing the island, lying on the beach, playing shuffle board, scuba diving, parasailing, visiting the national park, boating, and just hanging out. The downside to Maui is that everyone knows about Maui. Tons of tourist. While it was a great experience, we most likely won’t go back.

We returned for four days, packed our belongings, rented the Uhaul (which was a pain in the butt on 4th of July weekend) and headed north. My mom and brother Mark drove up with us and helped us move in to our new home. The help was needed.

Since we have arrived here on July 1, we have slowly unpacking the last boxed, shopping for household items, bike riding (Eugene has great bike trails in the city), visiting our neighbors, seeing movies, preparing for school, organizing our belongings after being packed in boxes for 2 years, selling stuff on Craig’s List, running, and taking our dogs to the nearby dog parks. We attended a local returned peace corps volunteer function. That was nice to meet other volunteers in the area. The weather has been great, though it was in the 100′s a couple weekends ago. That was horrible. After 3 weeks we got our internet service and I have spent lots of time returning emails, though I still have a lot to go. Sorry if I haven’t responded.

That’s our life in a nut shell. We have done so much more but I’m not going to bore you with the details. We’ll have Hawaii pics up soon. Thanks for reading!!!!

While in the area, Laura had an interview with the Superintendent of Eugene Schools, which is a great lead when it comes to obtaining a job in the area. We are keeping our fingers crossed about that contact. On Saturday she took her Orela test which is necessary for all teachers to take to obtain a teaching license. For those familiar with teaching license tests, the Orela is more intense than the CBEST test. The last few months of studying biology, math, art, p.e., physics, dance, and more came down to last Saturday. We will receive the results in July. Brett interviewed and accepted a Graduate Teaching Fellowship as the Peace Corps Recruiter for the University of Oregon. What a relief for the both of us to get this opportunity. This position will be for two years and allow for his tuition to be paid for.

We are moving sometime in the first few days of July. Our new contact information is down below. Our address is effective July 1. The cell numbers are effective now and will be our permanent numbers in Oregon. Our place is a bit bigger than the home in Mineral (we have 3 bedrooms) so please visit if you have a chance.

Related “moving on with life” news, the federal government has finally accepted that Brett’s shoulder blade/capsule injury was caused while serving in Armenia. Hip hip hooray!

Thanks for reading and take care! We’re off to Hawaii for a week. Aloha!

I highly recommend that everyone put the avocado on the table or cuttingboard while cutting it open and removing the pit. I know I have learned my lesson.

Playing tourist at Mono Lake on our way home from Death Valley

Recovery room after surgery 17 days ago

Today. Cast off, splint on.

Alaverdi School #8 

Laura is excited to be closer to her family in the Portland area and will now have the opportunity to visit or have them visit more often. My family is excited for our opportunity but will miss having us around.

Eugene offers a great location for education, nature, culture and community. Click here to learn more about Eugene, Oregon. We will make the move this summer to allow time to settle in and to find a teaching position for Laura.

Recently I have been enjoying listening to War News Radio. It is “a weekly half-hour program focused on the situation in Iraq. We feature the stories of ordinary Iraqi civilians, American service people, and others who have been affected by the war. The show is produced from the campus of Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, PA.”

If you know of some good podcasts out there, then please email them to me.

I added new links in the Activism section. This is a very important area of the website to us, as it reveals a lot about who we are and what we believe in. We encourage you to visit this area often, as we will keep adding new sites to visit.

We believe that inorder for our society to truly succeed we need to evolve from a society that is centered around greed and the corporate machine to one that centered around the collective as people work to help one another. How can a corporation that only serves to make money for it’s stockholders at the expense of human rights, health, and the environment do us any good in the long run? It can not. We need to take a stand against such machines and encourage one another to produce and purchase in sustainable ways. Support your community services and grassroots efforts that encourage a healthy sustainable society for everyone. It is time to act now and to vote with our money. The most influential action one can have on society is how you spend your money. If you choose to purchase name brands that don’t offer a living wage to it’s workers living in horrible conditions then this is what our society will evolve into, but if you want a society that is rich in natural resources and ecourages everyone to live healthy and happily then purchase products and support services. Don’t waste your time on mind-numbing pleasures, but prefer to not insult yourself and go out and stimulate your mind. Read, get outside, talk with one another, learn about each other.

If you are not sure where your money is going, then take the time to research the companies. The internet makes this possible. Be an investigative reporter trying to uncover the truth. I know that I don’t know everything about every company but I don’t sit on my ass and claim I didn’t try. Everyday brings new opportunities to change this world. WE MUST ACT TODAY!

You will also notice that on some of the pages I have added scrolling pictures. Thanks to Eric Harshbarger for this java program he wrote years ago and to Mark for getting it to me.

The About pages have been updated with photos and text in some.

If you truly want to have the full experience of this website, you should download the recommended font Gigi. If the font for the links don’t look the same as on the font on the first (those are graphics), then you don’t have the Gigi font. Also, if you are still in the dark ages and are not using the Mozilla Firefox web browser, then download it and start having a truly enjoyable browsing experience.

This weekend we are taking a much needed break from the San Jose area and heading to the north bay area. We are looking forward to the Sonoma/Napa/Mendocino areas for a few days. We’ll post photos at a later date of the visit.

We saw the movie Elizabethtown this evening. We don’t think it’s as bad as the critics have said. We enjoy Cameron Crowe movies and liked watching it.

Take your time and browse through the site. If you find any problems then please contact the webmaster so he/she/it can keep the site updated and working. This is a construction zone, but over the next few weeks we’ll get a good foundation for you to browse.

Thanks for visiting!