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	<title>The World of Brett, Laura, Ethan, and Autumn  Holt</title>
	<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog</link>
	<description>This is a website (not just a blog) about Brett, Laura, and Ethan Holt!</description>
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		<title>I&#8217;m done with Facebook</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It sounds a little pathetic, but I&#8217;m done with Facebook. I deleted my account today. A few asked why I was going to do it, perhaps thinking that there was something wrong. I&#8217;m not sure if there was something wrong, as there was my priorities needed to shift. The reality was that I loved surfing [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2010/07/im-done-with-facebook/</link>
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		<title>Twinkle Twinkle Little Star</title>
		<description><![CDATA[{Original post &#38; video at www.brettandlaura.com} Ethan finally nails it. We&#8217;d been trying to get him to sing to an accompanying piano and the little guy got it. I&#8217;m proud of the little guy. Of course, we&#8217;ll keep on working with him.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2010/04/twinkle-twinkle-little-star/</link>
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		<title>8 Days of Autumn &amp; 966 Days of Ethan</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Our little girl is 8 days old. Ethan just passed his 966th day. Autumn is feeding extremely well and adjusting to life outside the womb. She is beginning to notice the blurry objects around her and cracks a smile or two every so often. Ethan is very curious about his sister and is constantly asking [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2010/03/8-days-of-autumn-966-days-of-ethan/</link>
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		<title>Autumn &#8211; Days 2 to 4</title>
		<description><![CDATA[{Posted at www.brettandlaura.com} Life has been a true joy with Autumn. We&#8217;ve had tremendous family support from near and far. As many of you know, when little ones arrive, support from family and friends make such a positive difference. Autumn and Laura are doing very well. Laura is resting when she can and keeping Autumn [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2010/03/autumn-days-2-to-4/</link>
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		<title>Autumn &#8211; Day 1</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Today has been a great day for our family. We&#8217;ve had the pleasure to meet Autumn and she&#8217;s wonderful. Ethan was very excited to finally have his sister arrive, and Laura was excited to finally have Autumn out of her belly! It was a very exciting day.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2010/03/autumn-day-1/</link>
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		<title>Welcome Autumn Jane Holt</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Autumn Jane Holt arrived at 7:13am on Thursday, March 18, 2010.  She weighs 6lbs 11 oz. and is 19 inches long. Her and mom are healthy and doing very well. Big brother Ethan is very excited to have a sister! The quick labor story: After a week of on/off again contractions, intense contractions kicked in [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2010/03/welcome-autumn-jane-holt/</link>
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		<title>Cut the Cable, hook up the computer w/ TV and let&#8217;s truly enjoy our MEDIA CENTER!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Over the last couple years I&#8217;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&#8217;t work that way for us. I keep our photos/movies on our [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2010/02/cut-the-cable-hook-up-the-computer-w-tv-and-lets-truly-enjoy-our-media-center/</link>
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		<title>Happy Holidays from The Holt Familyy</title>
		<description><![CDATA[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&#8217;s parents, moving to Seattle, Brett working with the federal government [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2009/12/happy-holidays-from-the-holt-familyy/</link>
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		<title>All-American</title>
		<description><![CDATA[{ Posted at www.brettandlaura.com/blog } Mom. Dad. Son. Daughter. Based on our ultrasound a few days ago, we&#8217;re going to welcome a daughter into our family this March. Ethan has predicted he was going to have a sister for quite a few weeks now. She looks great and is right target for her March 24 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2009/10/all-american/</link>
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		<title>Love</title>
		<description><![CDATA[{ Posted at www.brettandlaura.com/ } Love: When your two year old son is awaken from his afternoon nap by the sound of a vacuum, a vacuum that has been in the repair shop for the last week, tears out of his room, down the hall, pass his mommy and, with a wide grin and gushing [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2009/10/love/</link>
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		<title>She&#8217;s having (another) baby!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We&#8217;re proud to share with all of you that Ethan is going to be a big brother! Laura is finishing her first trimester and is on her way to delivering our second child. She is due March 24, 2010. I recommend that you direct all inquiries about how she is feeling to her. We&#8217;re very [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2009/10/shes-having-another-baby/</link>
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		<title>Benjamin Franklin and his relevancy today.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I just completed Issac Walter Isaacson&#8217;s book &#8220;Benjamin Franklin: An American Life&#8221; while commuting to and from work for the last few weeks. I&#8217;m very pleased that I took the time to learn more about Benjamin Franklin and his contributions to not only American society, but the world as a whole. He lived 84 years [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2009/08/benjamin-franklin-and-his-relevancy-today/</link>
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		<title>Duff (2000-2009)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Duff (2000-2009) 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&#8217;t recommend surgery because of his age, breed/size, and the size of the tumor. [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2009/06/duff-2000-2009/</link>
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		<title>Recent photos of Ethan</title>
		<description><![CDATA[February &#38; March 2009]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2009/04/recent-photos-of-ethan/</link>
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		<title>D.I.Y. (Kitchen Edition)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I love D.I.Y. (Do It Yourself). There is nothing more satisfying than being able to solve a problem, quickly, efficiently, and, best of all, cheaply. 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 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2009/02/diy-kitchen-edition/</link>
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		<title>Happy Christmas (War is Over)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[John Lennon had a good message that is as relevant today as it was then (or anytime in the world&#8217;s history).]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2009/01/happy-christmas-war-is-over/</link>
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		<title>Happy Holidays 2008!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/12/happy-holidays-2008/</link>
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		<title>Ethan at the Nature Park in Beaverton, Oregon</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Ethan at the Nature Park in Beaverton, Oregon Here&#8217;s our little guy doing some of his first steps while hiking near our home.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/11/202/</link>
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		<title>Best Cities To Live In When The Peak Oil Crisis Hits + Ethan Photos</title>
		<description><![CDATA[&#8220;Common Current recently released a report ranking U.S. cities on their ability to deal with a peak oil crisis. San Francisco comes out on top, with Oklahoma City ranks last.&#8221; Read the rest of the article at Planetizen. What I find intriguing is the location of the Top 10 and Bottom 10 cities. Look at [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/11/best-cities-to-live-in-when-the-peak-oil-crisis-hits-ethan-photos/</link>
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		<title>Brett and Laura YouTube Channel</title>
		<description><![CDATA[You&#8217;ve probably noticed that none of the videos on our Media page work. It&#8217;s because we&#8217;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 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/11/brett-and-laura-youtube-channel/</link>
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		<title>How do you teach your kids about planning? And I&#8217;m not talking about party planning.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[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 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/11/how-do-you-teach-your-kids-about-planning-and-im-not-talking-about-party-planning/</link>
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		<title>What&#8217;s on your RSS feed?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[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&#8217;s a great way to learn a little more about our community and the world we live [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/11/whats-on-your-rss-feed/</link>
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		<title>We voted in 2008!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Here in Oregon, polling booths don&#8217;t exist. Everyone in the state will vote by a mail-in ballot. Here&#8217;s our experience. Simple, relaxing, and in the comfort of our own home.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/10/we-voted-in-2008/</link>
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		<title>Ethan goes to the beach</title>
		<description><![CDATA[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&#8217;s first time to the beach, walking on the sand, and putting his feet in the ocean. Enjoy the video. Ethan also [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/08/ethan-goes-to-the-beach/</link>
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		<title>Need some night time reading?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve had a few requests from friends to make my master&#8217;s terminal project available for download. While I&#8217;m very proud of the work I did, I&#8217;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 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/08/need-some-night-time-reading/</link>
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		<title>Ethan on his first ride on his Radio Flyer wagon</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We haven&#8217;t posted a video in quite some time so we thought you&#8217;d enjoy this one. Ethan had his first birthday a couple weeks ago. Mom and Dad gave him a Radio Flyer wagon which we just received today. Dad put it together and away we went. Ethan had a great time being able to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/08/ethan-on-his-first-ride-on-his-radio-flyer-wagon/</link>
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		<title>We&#8217;re heading north!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[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 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/07/were-heading-north-2/</link>
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		<title>Ethan&#8217;s first camping experience</title>
		<description><![CDATA[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 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/07/ethans-first-camping-experience/</link>
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		<title>You Are Invited to Brett Holt&#8217;s Defense</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Hendricks Hall: Brett&#8217;s home away from home for the last two years. His department is located on the first floor and the Career Center where he did his Peace Corps job is on the second floor. We want everyone to feel included as we wind down this chapter of our lives. Here is the official [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/05/you-are-invited-to-brett-holts-defense/</link>
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		<title>Computer Geek Alert!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I enjoy working with computers. More importantly, I enjoy using computer programs that improve productivity, improve efficiency, and expand creativity. I&#8217;d say over the last couple years, I&#8217;ve been able to add an arsenal of programs and internet browser add-ons that have improved my computing experience for social, school, and work uses. By no means [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/05/computer-geek-alert/</link>
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		<title>&#8220;The Last Season&#8221; and &#8220;Three Cups of Tea&#8221; need to be on your reading list!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I just finished reading the book The Last Season by Eric Blehm and what a great read it is.The story is about Randy Morgenson, a backcountry ranger for twenty-eight seasons at Kings Canyon National Park, who goes missing in July 1996. The book details the search and events surrounding his disappearance, the life Randy lived [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/05/the-last-season-and-three-cups-of-tea-need-to-be-on-your-reading-list/</link>
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		<title>Osprey Photographs</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Photographs by Miguel Lisa A friend tipped me off to these beautiful photos of Osprey in Oregon. I remember writing a research report on Osprey in 1999 for an animal biology course at San Jose State University. They are truly magnificent birds of prey. Visit one of my favorite websites to learn more about Osprey.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/05/osprey-photographs/</link>
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		<title>Energy independence must start at local level</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In today&#8217;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 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/04/energy-independence-must-start-at-local-level/</link>
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		<title>Brett makes the newspaper! (college newspaper that is)</title>
		<description><![CDATA[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]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/04/brett-makes-the-newspaper-college-newspaper-that-is/</link>
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		<title>Barack Obama in Eugene, Oregon!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[7:45pm: So Laura decides she wants to get out of the house this evening since my mom is in town and will be able to watch Ethan. I was in for the evening, having settled into a cozy pair of sweats and sitting on the couch reading the latest issue of Mother Earth News. I [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/03/barack-obama-in-eugene-oregon/</link>
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		<title>Laughing Ethan + photos</title>
		<description><![CDATA[In our effort to tire the little guy, we tried our infamous bouncing routine. Unfortunately, or fortunately for our video purposes, he found lots of amusement in being bounced on the exercise ball. He is now 7.5 months and about 21 pounds. He is sitting up and making “ma ma ma” and “da da da” [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/03/laughing-ethan/</link>
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		<title>A couple shots of the little guy!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We have been staying busy with Ethan time, school, work, and visiting family. Here are a couple recent photos of our little guy. Future Peace Corps Volunteer!]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/02/a-couple-shots-of-the-little-guy/</link>
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		<title>Again, Dick is right!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[My favorite line: &#8220;The bottom line question for me was: How many additional American lives is Saddam Hussein worth? The answer: not very damn many.&#8221;]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/02/again-dick-is-right/</link>
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		<title>Ethan, Into the Wild, Juno, Armenia, and PMF</title>
		<description><![CDATA[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&#8242;s. I highly recommend owning both soundtracks. The Juno soundtrack is very catchy [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/02/recommendations-and-other-news/</link>
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		<title>First snow in Eugene 2008!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[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.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/01/first-snow-in-eugene-2008/</link>
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		<title>Ethan rolls over</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Our little guy has hit another milestone in his life. He is now rolling over from his tummy to his back. Here is a video of him doing it for the second time. Despite all our efforts to capture on film his first rollover, we were not prepared. This video is no longer available. Sorry.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2008/01/ethan-rolls-over/</link>
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		<title>Increase Peace Corps and International Volunteers!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Lately, I&#8217;ve been reading articles and policy briefs arguing the need to increase the number of American volunteers abroad. The argument is basically that volunteers serve a more important role in establishing peace and stability, as well as promoting a positive image of Americans, than the military does with weapons. Additional benefits to volunteering include [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/12/increase-peace-corps-and-international-volunteers/</link>
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		<title>PULL THE PLUG ON GLOBAL WARMING!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I received on a listserve I am part of at the university. There are great tips listed here that I am glad to see Laura and I have been practicing for years. Not only do you help contribute to reducing the effects of global warming, but you save money. Taking care of the environment makes [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/12/pull-the-plug-on-global-warming/</link>
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		<title>Four years and loving life!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Our fourth anniversary just passed us. It has been a wonderful four years of marriage and a little over six years of friendship. We marked the occasion, as we always do, with a dinner at a local restaurant. This year, we were up in McMinnville visiting Laura&#8217;s family. Here is our list of locations where [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/11/four-years-and-loving-life/</link>
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		<title>Peek-A-Boo</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I believe the video speaks for itself. That is if the video still existed. Sorry.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/11/peek-a-boo/</link>
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		<title>Week 12 and 13 photos of Ethan</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Ethan is smiling a lot more, and we are trying to capture this moment on film, though it seems they are mostly blurry. He made a great horse for Halloween. After visiting the four houses on our street, he passed out from all the excitement. He enjoys being flown around the house, especially while strapped [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/11/week-12-and-13-photos-of-ethan/</link>
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		<title>New Ethan video posted</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We just posted a new video of Ethan hanging out just being Ethan. Enjoy!]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/10/new-ethan-video-posted/</link>
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		<title>Dick is right!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Dick said it himself. I wonder what changed between what he said in 1994 and the invasion in 2003? The outcome is still the same.  I guess this time around, Dick and the others feel that Saddam is worth a much higher number in American casualties.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/08/dick-is-right/</link>
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		<title>Website updates</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I have added a page about Ethan in the ABOUT section.  Not much at the moment, but I will eventually add more as he grows. 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!]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/08/website-updates-2/</link>
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		<title>Welcome Ethan William Holt!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s a boy! Ethan William Holt arrived at 7:47pm on Monday, July 30, 2007. He weighs 7.5lbs, is 19 inches long, and other than a little jaundice, he is doing great. After staying one night at the hospital, we were released the next afternoon. Mom and Ethan are doing great. The quick labor story: Laura [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/08/our-most-important-post-to-date/</link>
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		<title>FULL: The Movie</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Laura and I needed to take full advantage of her large belly, so we created this.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/07/full-the-movie/</link>
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		<title>Less than a month to go</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We have just a little less than a month to go until our child arrives into this world! We have one week left with our birthing class, did a hospital tour, have names picked out, and purchased all major baby equipment. We take a refresher CPR class next week. We are 98% finished with the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/07/less-than-a-month-to-go/</link>
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		<title>Did we forget how to question?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[A couple weeks ago, I received the following unsolicited email. Usually I delete this emails because, well, they are junk mail. The subject heading was &#8220;who is saying the holocast did not happen?&#8221; It was forwarded to me which means this must have been really important to the sender. I opened it and read the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/07/did-we-forget-how-to-question/</link>
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		<title>Teddy Roosevelt had it right&#8230;why can&#8217;t all Americans?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For many Americans, it unpatriotic to speak out against the actions of America. It does a disservice to Americans when you criticize the actions of the President. I don&#8217;t understand the reasoning behind this logic. America sets itself apart from many countries because we have an opportunity for free speech. All Americans should support free [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/06/teddy-roosevelt-had-it-rightwhy-cant-all-americans/</link>
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		<title>88 days and counting!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Here is the latest of Laura and our child. This was taken today after Laura spent a few hours out in the garden planting crops.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/05/88-days-and-counting/</link>
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		<title>April 24 &#8211; Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The Armenian Genocide refers to the slaughter and fatal deportation of hundreds of thousands to over a million Armenians as well as intentional and irreversible ruination of their economic and cultural life environments during the government of the Young Turks from 1915 to 1917 in the Ottoman Empire. It is now widely acknowledged to have [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/04/april-24-armenian-genocide-remembrance-day/</link>
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		<title>Baby Gift Ideas</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We know that gifts are not required, but if you are looking for any gift ideas for our child, we have set up a few registries for you. We pretty much stick to the basics. We anticipate shopping locally for a lot our clothes. View our Baby Gift Page for ideas. Craigslist.org offers some great [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/04/baby-gift-ideas/</link>
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		<title>Obama &#8217;08</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This is definitely enticing. We will need to read his books and do some additoinal research, but he sure is a great speaker (unlike our current president) and has made some great votes as a Senator. http://www.barackobama.com/]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/04/obama-08/</link>
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		<title>What is planning?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It doesn&#8217;t take much time for people to respond to me with, &#8220;What is a planner?&#8221; after telling them why I am in graduate school. Specifically, my graduate program is Community and Regional Planning, with a focus on the environment and international development. It&#8217;s not something we grow up wanting to do, except for one [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/03/what-is-planning/</link>
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		<title>18 down</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Laura&#8217;s belly button is becoming an outie. We have a doctor&#8217;s appointment on Tuesday. We&#8217;re still waiting until the due date to know the sex of our baby.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/03/18-down/</link>
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		<title>Look at those big blue eyes!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Recent photos of our adorable niece Kaitlyn in Beaverton. She is just about 5 months old.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/03/look-at-those-big-blue-eyes/</link>
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		<title>Heartbeat</title>
		<description><![CDATA[This is the first time we heard the heartbeat of our future child! Very exciting.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/02/heartbeat/</link>
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		<title>15 weeks is beginning</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Laura is doing well as the 2nd trimester has begun. She isn&#8217;t as sick as she use to be and has more energy. She does enjoy the occasional afternoon nap. The headaches have come and gone for now. We have our 2nd doctor&#8217;s appointment on Tuesday. We are going to bring the video camera to [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/02/15-weeks-is-beginning/</link>
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		<title>What is that bumb?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Laura has hit 12 weeks and has a little bump protruding out. She is going to be the cutest pregnant mom. She has switched to maternity pants and will slowly make the transition to a complete maternity wardrobe over the next few months. Our niece Caitlynn, 3 months, looking very adorable as she discovers the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/01/what-is-that-bumb/</link>
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		<title>It&#8217;s official&#8230;August 10, 2007</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Hello Family and Friends, We went to the doctor today and heard the baby&#8217;s heartbeat thumping away! We are in week 11 and have a healthy child growing inside Laura. The baby is due around August 10, 2007. We are very excited about this addition to our family. Laura is doing well and in great [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/01/its-officialaugust-10-2007/</link>
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		<title>YES! We made it to the 20th century.</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We broke down and purchased an antenna for our television. Now we can watch local channels. If only there was something interesting to watch.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2007/01/yes-we-made-it-to-the-20th-century/</link>
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		<title>What would Jesus do?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Images of the true cost of war! I&#8217;m pretty sure Jesus would be against such a war, especially a war spearheaded by an individual such as GW, a person who uses God&#8217;s name to fight wars. God doesn&#8217;t stand for hate and killing. God stands for love, acceptance, and understanding. What Would Jesus Do God [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/12/what-would-jesus-do/</link>
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		<title>Remember The Date!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[August 10, 2007!]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/12/remember-the-date/</link>
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		<title>Website Updates</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I added Maui photos from last summer to the Photos section. I added a new photo in the Contact section. That&#8217;s all.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/12/website-updates/</link>
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		<title>Wooden Storage Chest</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I spent most of the day upgrading our wood box to a wooden storage chest. We had firewood up until last week when we finished it off. We didn&#8217;t plan on having it the whole winter though. So I took the wood box I made a couple of months ago and added a top with [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/12/wooden-storage-chest/</link>
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		<title>Let The Games Begin!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[BBC reported today&#8230; 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 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/12/let-the-games-begin/</link>
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		<title>Military Free Zone</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Military Free Zone]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/12/military-free-zone/</link>
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		<title>Where do we go from here?</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It has been a whirlwind of a week and I&#8217;m looking forward to a day or two to relax before writing up my last few papers due this week. 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 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/12/where-do-we-go-from-here/</link>
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		<title>Kaitlyn Grace Whiteaker</title>
		<description><![CDATA[5 days after becoming an aunt and uncle for the first time, we become an aunt and uncle a second time. Shari and Mat welcomed Kaitlyn Grace Whiteaker into the world on Friday October 12, 2006 at around 8am. This is the first grandchild for Laura&#8217;s parents. Here is our other niece.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/10/kaitlyn-grace-whiteaker/</link>
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		<title>Caitlynn Olivia Holt</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Mike and Olivia had a baby girl a few days ago. Laura and I are very excited for the two of them. This is the first baby from the Holt brothers. Here is the information: Caitlynn Olivia Holt 7 lbs, 14 ounces 21.5 inches long Born 10-8-06, 9:25 a.m. For now on, it&#8217;s Uncle Brett [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/10/caitlynn-olivia-holt/</link>
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		<title>32 and counting</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I am officially 32 years old, as of August 17. We spent the day driving from Eugene, Oregon to San Jose, California. We are in town visiting family and attending my brother&#8217;s annual Tiki Party. Here is a picture of Laura and Hranush at the beach last Saturday. This was Harnush&#8217;s first time to the [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/08/32-and-counting/</link>
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		<title>We&#8217;re getting an exchange student!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[For the last couple months we have been working with American Councils to have an exchange student come stay with us for a year. After many roadblocks with the local school district and private schools, we finally were able to receive a slot with Eugene 4J School District. Our exchange student is going to come [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/08/were-getting-an-exchange-student/</link>
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		<title>Adjustments</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We have been busy, busy, busy in Eugene. Since our last post we have been Hawaii and moved to another state. Let&#8217;s do a little recap. We went to Hawaii in mid-June with one of Laura&#8217;s sister and her husband. We were in Maui where the weather was perfect and food ok. It took us [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/08/adjustments/</link>
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		<title>&#8230;and back to Oregon!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We are heading north to Eugene, Oregon. We spent a few days in Oregon last week and we&#8217;re able to find a house to rent. This is not an easy task when you have two dogs, need a fenced yard, and want to spend under $1,000/month. Nonetheless, we found a great place that we are [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/06/and-back-to-oregon/</link>
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		<title>Environmental Issues in Armenia</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I found this series of articles that highlights current environmental problems in Armenia at &#8220;Armenia Now&#8220;.Â  The website reports on the current events of Armenia and offers insight into the political process that is shaping Armenia. The article in the top right on the Alaverdi Copper factory was especially intriguing to me because Laura and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/06/environmental-issues-in-armenia/</link>
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		<title>6 months until&#8230;</title>
		<description><![CDATA[the United States has been involved in the Iraq War for as long as we were involved in World War II. The difference? At this point in WWII, we knew we were on our way to winning. How much longer are we committed to this blunder? How many more soldiers and innocent citizens will die [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/06/6-months-until/</link>
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		<title>Evolution of Healing</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Today I got my cast off. It feels really good to have a full functioning wrist. Unfortunately, I have to wear a pinkie splint for a few weeks. The nerve hasn&#8217;t fully healed yet and the doctor doesn&#8217;t want to take any chances. I still have trouble typing and this split hasn&#8217;t made it any [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/05/evolution-of-healing/</link>
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		<title>Alaverdi School #8</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I am excited that I found this website.Â  This is the website of the school we worked at while serving in the Peace Corps.Â  I took a few of the photos posted, which I am excited to see were used.Â  When we left the Peace Corps the site was still under construction.Â  When you visit [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/05/alaverdi-school-8/</link>
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		<title>Made the SJ Mercury Newspaper&#8230;..again</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We had a photo from our time in Armenia printed up in the San Jose Mercury Newspaper yesterday. It is in the back of the Travel section. Check it out if you still have it. We used the one below from Kobayr Monestary.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/05/made-the-sj-mercury-newspaperagain/</link>
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		<title>It&#8217;s a Communist Party!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[My brother posted this on my My Space page and I thought it was a great photo.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/05/fun-photo/</link>
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		<title>Death Valley National Park</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Last week, a few friends and I went camping in Death Valley. For those who have not been there, you are missing out on a wonderful experience. This time of year offers the perfect climate, wildflowers, and scenary. We camped in Saline Valley near some hot springs. Our first day was spent in the hot [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/05/death-valley-national-park/</link>
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		<title>This ain&#8217;t the Dixie Chicks as you knew them</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We&#8217;re fans of the Dixie Chicks older style of music, particularly their last album &#8220;Home&#8221;, but after hearing the new single, we are sure this may be their best yet. You may not like their style but be reassured this isn&#8217;t country. With the help of producer Rick Rubin (Red Hot Chili Peppers, Beastie Boys, [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/04/this-aint-the-dixie-chicks-as-you-knew-them/</link>
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		<title>The Power of Conversation</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Do many of you remember the last time you had a conversation that left you enlightened? exhausted? laughing? excited? upset? perhaps all of those emotions in one conversation? In the last few weeks, I have had these conversations that made me appreciate the art of conversing. I remember having many of these conversations with my [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/04/conversing/</link>
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		<title>Social Change Photography</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s wonderful to find media outlets that encourage us to think, discuss, and encourage change in society. I recently stumbled across a website that motivates us to do this. It is called FiftyCrows &#8211; Social Change Photography. Through the use of photos essays and short films, the photographers look to educate people about the hardships [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/03/social-change-photography/</link>
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		<title>We&#8217;re heading north!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Last Monday, we received news that I have been accepted into the Community and Regional Planning (CRP) Graduate Program at the University of Oregon in Eugene. After, what seems to be a few months of hardships, though please don&#8217;t think we were down and out, we needed a little pick me up. I will focus [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/03/were-heading-north/</link>
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		<title>War News Radio</title>
		<description><![CDATA[We enjoy listening to Podcasts. If you aren&#8217;t familiar with Podcasts then click here to read about them. If you have iTunes, though you don&#8217;t need to have iTunes to listen to them, you can easily download Podcasts to listen to them. While working, I usually end up listening to podcasts from NPR, No Ones [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/03/war-news-radio/</link>
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		<title>Yes&#8230;YOU!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/03/yesyou/</link>
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		<title>Vote with YOUR MONEY</title>
		<description><![CDATA[View the Armenia photos for new collections. 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 [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/03/activism-and-photo-sections-are-updated/</link>
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		<title>The Juggler</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Check out this video. I won&#8217;t say what it&#8217;s about but spend the next 4 minutes or so and watch this guy perform. It is definitely entertaining.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/03/the-juggler/</link>
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		<title>Jones Soda Labels</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Jones Soda offers fans a chance to get their photos on the labels of Jones Soda bottles.Â  I put up a few pictures and hope to get more up in the near future.Â  Click here to access and vote on our pictures.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/03/jones-soda-labels/</link>
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		<title>Just a friendly reminder!!</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Grab your own copy here.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/03/just-a-friendly-reminder/</link>
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		<title>Bon Jovi Concert</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Last night, Mark, Kim, Laura and I went to see Bon Jovi at the San Jose Arean. My first concert in 1986 was Bon Jovi and Cinderella at the Shoreline Amphitheater.Â  Mark took me.Â  We saw them again in 1989 on the New Jersey tour.Â  I hadn&#8217;t seen them since so I thought it would [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/02/bon-jovi-concert/</link>
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		<title>Photos updated</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I finally got a couple sets of images in the photo section.Â  I was dragging feet because I was dreading the time it would take to format the pictures.Â  Then I was going to purchase a program that would do it for me but that was a bit expensive.Â  So I looked around Photoshop and [...]]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/02/photos-updated/</link>
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		<title>Stockyard Oatmeal Stout</title>
		<description><![CDATA[I found a new beer that has a wonderful smooth taste and not to bitter.Â  It&#8217;s Stockyard Oatmeal Stout.Â  Pick up a six-pack at your store.]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/02/stockyard-oatmeal-stout/</link>
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		<title>Recommended Armenian Guitarist</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Check out Gor Mkhitarian. He is an Armenian folk guitarist. He sings in Armenian but it&#8217;s a bit less harsh sounding. Good melodies. We checked him out a couple weeks in SF at an art gallery. I double dog dare ya to try it out. Happy listening!]]></description>
		<link>http://www.brettandlaura.com/blog/2006/02/recommended-armenian-guitarist/</link>
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