Pacific City visit

Kim and Greg relaxing at the Riverhouse

Kidnappers demonstrate no respect for the rule of law in latest communique

I am desperate! not even the sheriff can help! am i not worth a good bottle of red wine?

Falwell and me

I remember it was a hot Medford summer day. Probably in the 90s.
Sunny and bright.
I was a young, liberal reporter. Firebrand. Inexperienced – less than five years in the biz.
At the time, Southern Oregon was a hotbed of conservative, political evangelicals who were just tasting the success of early victories.
The movement drew the attention of Jerry Falwell who was establishing himself as the face of the political evangelics.
To me, it was a slippery slope. In fact, it was the dawning of the age of Reagan and the new right. A time when an evangelic jihad would eventually draw neo-cons like Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld to the Capitol as part of the Reagan revolution.
At the time, I had no idea how far these ideas would pull this country to the right. I merely had a youthful instinct and innocence that our country should not confuse faith with the operation of government and justice.
As his car pulled into the church parking lot on that hot day, I was ready. How dare he invite confusion between church and state.
The car doors opened. Local ministers got out and looked suspiciously at the gaggle of reporters waiting. Falwell emerged.
Without hesitation, he gracefully moved to us.
No fear in his face.
Almost a loving countenance.
He was peppered with questions.
After each question, he smiled a loving smile. It was as if the reporters’ hostile questions were of no concern. He was not troubled in any way.
As others asked him questions and he answered, I looked deep at this man.
I had never felt such magnetism, such charisma.
I could feel a part of me saying, "toss down your tape recorder and follow this man wherever he goes."
I could easily see how Falwell – or any others before him with this…gift, this power, could take command of a flock.
I did not abandon my tape recorder or my reporting career on that day. I went back to the newsroom and wrote up a story about Fallwell’s observations. I would go on to interview several presidents and movie stars. Years later, my memory of those folks have dimmed. But after these many, many years since that hot summer day, I can still see his smile and hear his words. I can still remember the unique magnetism that was Falwell.

Another magical trip to the cabin

From the Riverhouse: looking out at the Salmon River with the spit on the other side. We started a fire in the open fire pit. Greg played spy with Spencer and Ricky. Greg climbed up the side of the deck for a surprise attack. Kim fed a seagull by hand.

Still life: pretty toes and the fire pit at the riverhouse

Pacific City

After climbing the dunes, resting next to a beach fire.

Pelican Brew Pub Ponderings

a family tradition: lunch at the Pelican

Kidnappers insane demands continue to threaten Mr. Gnome

What's cookin, where's the wine?

Casper uses the table to plan his next attack on Simba's tale

Arum Gandhi visits Canby

Hands of students pledged not to be used for violence
Portrait made by students out of individual words of peace

The Student Peace Advocates of Ackerman Middle School were pleased to welcome Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi, who visited their Canby school on Friday, April 27. The photo above was taken upon Mr. Gandhi's arrival where Principal Joel Sebastian and students Amanda McLean and Nick Widmer welcomed him.

Arun Gandhi is the founder and Executive Director of the Gandhi Institute, an organization that carries on the message of non-violence of his grandfather. Ackerman Middle School students prepared for Arun Gandhi’s visit with a month long campaign supporting the Student Peace Advocacy goal of making our school safe, secure, and welcome for everyone. Gandhi spoke to the student body and guest about his grandfather, his teachings, and how Mahatma Gandhi influenced his life through thoughtul guidance and serving as an ideal role model for peace. AMS students were all ears as Gandhi shared thought-provoking, and sometimes humorous, stories about his grandfather. At the same time, he sought to inspire the students to seek and embrace peace in their daily lives, to be thoughtful about the use of earth's resources, and redirect anger into positive energy and actions.

At Ackerman, each day begins with a student read public service announcement focused on a word for the day. Each word highlights a quality desired in ourselves and each other. Student leaders taught a lesson on “heroes” to all of the AMS advisory groups. Students identified the qualities of people they recognize as heroes. Advisory groups produced a collage displaying the recognized qualities. Each Ackerman student and staff member will be making a link to add to the school’s “Chain of Inspiration” naming our heroes and how they inspire us. Ackerman students participated in ‘Hands Are Not for Hurting” and “Mix It Up At Lunch Day” earlier in the week as part of their preparation for April 27.

Mr. Gandhi participated in a ground breaking ceremony to erect a peace pole in the Ackerman Peace Garden prior to a school assembly in the gym. A panel discussion was later held in the media center with a reception immediately following. Ackerman students and visitors will not soon forget the visit by Arun Gandhi.

World Watches as Gnome kidnapping enters 4th day

TatmanClan News Service


CANBY, OR - The plight of a kidnapped Canby native started as a local story, but has quickly ballooned into an international intrigue as possible links to terrorism have been explored and world leaders have condemned the abduction.

Global Reaction

Statements calling for Mr. Gnome’s release poured in from all corners of the world Wednesday, including a letter from Russian president Vladimir Putin, a statement from Queen Elizabeth II, two televised and barely understandable rants from Australian Prime Minister John Howard and a joint statement released on behalf of NATO member countries.

Even North Korean leader Kim Jong-Il expressed dismay at the kidnapping, citing what he called a “vast, global conspiracy to shut out and humiliate the short and odd looking.”

At a recent Democratic presidential debate, all the candidates on hand strongly condemned the kidnapping as well as the use of abduction as a terrorist tool, although Delaware Sen. Joe Biden’s comments riled both the audience and the gnome community.

“I’ve always liked those little people, Biden said, “I planted three in my yard in Washington and painted their hats purple.”

In a rebuttal statement, American Gnomes for Equality spokesgnome Lunerfchik (who, like many gnomes, uses only one name) said, “Despite our best efforts, it seems impossible to make Sen. Biden understand that gnomes are not ‘people,’ but a species in our own right. Also, if the Senator has indeed ‘planted’ three gnomes in his yard, he may have his own abduction charges to worry about.”

For his part, President Bush lauded the efforts of Canby Police Chief Greg Kroeplin, who has been under fire locally both for his original reluctance to devote police resources to the case, and then for the CPD’s accidental shooting of two other lawn gnomes Monday night.

Although original police reports stated that the two gnomes were “looking shifty,” independent analysis found that both gnomes were inanimate, and that, “barring seismic activity or strong winds, the pair were very unlikely to ‘shift’ in any manner whatsoever.”

In a hastily organized rose garden ceremony, Bush presented Kroeplin with the Medal of Freedom and extended the Chief’s contract 25 years. On being told he had the authority to do neither, the president said, “You’re doing a heckuva job there, Kroppy,” and walked briskly back to the oval office.


Terror Link Investigated

What was first thought to be a standard abduction case designed to collect a ransom has now raised the specter of international terrorism on American soil. Two terrorist organizations, the well-known Sauer Liberation Front and previously unknown Al-Qaeda in Canby have each claimed responsibility for the abduction, although experts suggest the two names may simply be aliases for the same organization.

For their part, international Al-Qaeda has denied any involvement in the abduction and one major Al-Qaeda figure, speaking only with a guarantee of anonymity, says any suggestion Al-Qaeda is involved represents an insult to his organization.

“It is a gnome. I mean, a gnome! Sheik bin Laden hasn’t been in hiding in caves for six years because of his actions against gnomes,” he said, adding, “Also, none of us have ever heard of this ‘Canby’ you speak of. Gnomes are creepy though. Oh, and death to America.”

Islamic scholars also discount any involvement by Islamist terror organizations as the requested ransom, a (good) bottle of wine, suggests wine consumption by the abductors. The drinking of wine is expressly forbidden in the Koran.

Heartless kidnappers ignore family plea

You're payment is late. things are heating up

A plea to the kidnappers from a family member

As the father of mr gnome I am pleading with you not to hurt my son - please no torture with blow torches!

Apparently the drunken kidnappers have some taste

What gives? is Gnome only worth Farron Ridge? where's the red?

In desperation -- we give in to the (drunken) kidnappers' demand

Ok now weve met your demand

A kidnapping note on 9th Street

if you want to see mr.Gnome alive, please one bottle of wine on Sauer's front porch tonight. p.s. i also stole annie's cell phone ha ha ha

Multimedia message

Take your child to work day 07

Catie came to work with dad. For lunch, we went to Haggens for rice.

Tuilips were in bloom.

Still life: boy in tree

Kim planted these trees a couple years after we moved to Canby.

They are big enough now to hold a 100 pound boy.

Easter 07

Coloring eggs and a walk around Salem's eco-earth with Uncle Bud

The family that quads together, plays together

Rusty gets a camo quad. Greg and Tanner like it too.

FW:

RE:

First bbq of year on ninth street

FW:

FW:

One trillion dollars added to health care costs due to overweight Americans

Full disclosure: I've already sent a contribution to Obama's campaign.
Today NPR ran an audio clip of him talking to a crowd in Iowa. In speaking to health care costs, he mentioned that overwieght Americans add one trillion dollars to the cost of health care.
Afterwards, the interviewer talked with a person who said he liked Obama's talk -- until that point, he said " for obvious reasons" and he pointed to his fullsized belly.
It made me think -- first, about the politics for 'my' candidate. With 2/3s of Americans overweight, is saying that a political liability.
Which then takes me to the question of leadership -- do we need politicians who are willing to speak the unpopular.
Which then takes me to an insurance form that asked me about my lifestyle: whether I smoked, skydive, etc.
Reflecting on that, I am guessing my insurance costs are based, in part, on whether I smoke, for example.
I don't -- but if I did -- should I pay a higher rate for insurance given the likelihood of increased health care costs, say, for a lung transplant, heart medication, etc.
If I should, then should I also pay a higher rate for insurance for a nutritional lifestlyle that may incur more medical costs than someone else?

After a hard day (for the horse at least) pausing at the upper waterfall in Yelapa

A fun dinner at Pollo Bollo - one of Yelapa's finest

The five grandkids: facing the future together

The Family - PV - March 2007

puerto vallarta al la noche

We headed into town yesterday to explore. Saw some familar sights. loved watching the kids interact and explore. for the younger ones, it might as well have been san diego as mexico ...still memories for a lifetime.

one of the surprising things here is the dramatic visability of the emerging mexican middle class ...eveb leisure class. a few years ago, a resort like this would be all americans and canadians. yesterday our resort appeared to be at least half mexican nationals on vacation.

my spanish while continuing to suck grows every day. give me a few months here and see what happens.

Beer can art - on a beach in Nuevo Vallarta

Cell phone photo - Ricky & Catie in the surf

This was mild compared to some of the wave action that the kids were trying.

Catie and ricky in mexico surf

Meanwhile -- in Palm Springs

This is the life . An email from huggs in palm springs

--

This is a neat tech trick. I was in Mexico when I received this photo from our neighbors in Palm Springs. I forwarded and posted from my cell phone while in Mexico.

PV's signature

Again with the right light conditions -- even a cell phone photo can be nice.

On the malacon in PV -- looking out at the beach

Malecon puerto vallarta

Catie gets out of the pool at Mayan Palace

Another busy day at the beach

elizabeth edwards

it was already very warm in vallarta as i headed over to the market and found a day old usa today. down here, old news is good enough.
poll shows support of edwards to stay in race.
good\
we are born to die.
spend a lot of time in deniel of that.
how we live before we die is what matters.
we are close to another end of life situation.
we have put ourselves there.
would we fold up, get a last meal and head out of an ice cake like the eskimo urban legand.
or spend the last few month of our lives helping a loved one reach their goal.
i am reminded of the line from mlk speech in dc , i may not be there when you get there.

but it pleases me to see support for a decision to live life when it is here rather than to plan life around death.

time to find the kids and head into town and show them the zocalo.

para hoy, adios

Ricky goes hang gliding on day 2 in puerto vallarta