Notes on life

First multitrack finished!

2011-11-26T21:04:00.000-08:00

I finally decided that I needed to complete a whole song today, here it is.

Beauty: God's creation vs. man's

2011-11-17T19:52:00.000-08:00

The topic of beauty has been brought up once again, and once again I find my opinions to be in the minority. Instead of saying that art should not be allowed to surpass nature, they are saying that art is by it's nature unable to surpass nature in terms of beauty.

Their argument is quite simple. This is my understanding of them. "God is perfect(ly beautiful), and man is not, therefore what God creates must be more perfect and beautiful than what man creates." Also "man's art is an imitation of God's art, therefore the most perfect it can be is no more beautiful than what it is trying to imitate." Before countering these with my own theoretical arguments, I would like to bring it to the practical level.

Which is more beautiful, an ancient forest, or a cathedral that was made from it? The bird singing, or the cello? The raindrops or the fountain? Don't let mundaneness get in the way of beauty. It may be hard to pick one side over the other. You find a tree in it's natural state, you think it looks quite good but it could use a trim. You trim the tree, and you think it has become even more beautiful than it was. But how is this possible, did you just improve upon God's design? Or did you make it worse? Here is my answer.

God designed the tree so that it would look better after you pruned it.
And he designed you, so that you could prune it, and make it look better.

This shows how incredible God's design is, not only did he design the trimmed tree, the fountain, the cello and the cathedral. But he also designed the way they would be built and designed. So, can we create art more beautiful than God can? No, clearly not. But we can create things more beautiful than what God gave us here on earth. I'm sure that heaven is more beautiful than human artist's renderings, but that doesn't mean that nature must always be more beautiful than art.

Apparently, if I make this post too long, no-one's gonna wanna read it. I think I have sufficiently rebutted their arguments, but if I didn't, drop a comment and I'll try to clear things up.

P.S. If you haven't yet, read my last post "Art and the idealist."

Art and the idealist

2011-01-28T22:02:00.000-08:00

Before I say anything else, I should say that I can be a bit of an idealist at times, so I admit I might be a bit biased here. Also, I will attempt to explain the difference between an idealist and a perfectionist, then I will define art, and finally I will show why idealism and art fit each other so well.

To my mind, a perfectionist is someone who examines things, sees their flaws, and tries to fix them. And idealist is someone who examines things and looks around their imperfections and admires the ideal, or the icon, of the thing. Although the difference between the two are quiet small, the outworkings of that difference can be great, here is an example. An idealist and a perfectionist watch a SAICFF film, the perfectionist sees some poor acting skills and thinks about how they could be fixed. I, the idealist, don't even notice any lack in acting quality even after it is pointed out to me, instead, I see only what it was supposed to be, the icons, or the essence, not the actors, really, I can't see the actors unless I try hard.

Art is anything created by man which gives glory to God primarily through it's beauty. To further convince you, I shall give examples as to what is not art, according to this definition.

1st. Nature is not art, it is beautiful, but was not created by man.
2nd. Paintings drawn by humanists and atheists are much less likely to be art than paintings by a Christian, because those who purpose to give glory to God are more likely to do so than those who don't.
3rd. A plow is not art, it gives glory to God through industry. Similarly, a vaccine is not art, it gives glory to God primarily through healing.

Now, some would say that art should never surpass nature, and when an artist has done so, he has, in a sense, tried to be greater than God. I completely disagree, nature, as we see it now, is fallen, and the imagination of man can surpass it. We are clearly called to make nature more beautiful, that is one of the tasks Adam had in the Garden, and one of the tasks we still have today. But how can we reach a goal if we do not know what we are aiming for. If the artist only draws nature as it is now, imperfect, than we cannot see our goal. So, I submit, that the artist should strive to make his art as beautiful as possible.

Now, I admit that as fallen humans, we cannot comprehend perfection, so we should not fall into the temptation of calling the art of Thomas Kinkade "too perfect". To do so shows a misconception of perfection. However, we should be able to say that it is be better than are current reality, and that's okay.

Now, who should have the task of creating this art, which will be used as a blueprint for Christians taking dominion over nature? The perfectionist, who only sees the defects, or the idealist who only sees the positive attributes? My answer is the idealist, because he is more likely to be optimistic in his portrayal of perfection, while the perfectionist can't help being somewhat of a pessimist. Also, the idealist is more likely to be more imaginative.

PS. I admit that I am a bit late on this post, the topic was suggested to me several years ago after having written an essay response which went somewhat against the current "public opinion". And I was only inspired to write tonight because one of my sisters told me I needed to post.

More music :)

2010-11-23T21:36:00.000-08:00

I was going through my music tonight, and decided I wanted to show what great variety I listen to. In the likely case of you all not appreciating the massive amounts of diversity in these songs, I suppose I will be forced to admit that I do not have a wide variety after all. But I'm fine with that. :D

So without further ado, I present my "far out" songs. (In the sidebar.)

PS. This "variety" only includes music with words, I have yet to organize lyricless music.

My ten favorite artists (7-10)

2010-09-09T21:25:00.000-07:00

7. Gas House Gang.

The winners of the 1993 Barbershop Harmony Society's international competition.

Pros: Really incredible harmonies and chords.

Cons: Too many love songs. :p But seriously, a lot of their songs aren't very deep.

8. Charlie Zahm.

Singer of Traditional songs.

Pros: Powerful voice.
Cons: I'm not a big fan of most of the songs he sings.

9. The Antrim Mennonite Choir.
Better than Mormons right? :p

Pros: Hymns!
Very relaxing.
Can hear every part distinctly, good recording.

Cons: None really, but be careful, they may put you to sleep.

10. Vocal Spectrum.
Another Barbershoop quartet. Won the same competition in 2006
BTW. Even though the Lead sounds like Weird Al in the first verse of the song I linked to, he doesn't usually sound like him.

Pros: Basically the same as the gas house gang.
But they sing the Barber of Seville Overture. :)
Cons: Don't sing the William Tell Overture. :(

Whew. I've finished!

I will NOT resort to using the power of the tag, But if you have read this I would like to see your top ten favorit artists also.

New look, and more importantly, new music!

2010-08-30T19:14:00.001-07:00

I cleaned up my blog a bit and got the grooveshark widget. I've only got 90 songs on right now, but it automatically updates with my grooveshark playlist, so It will change pretty often without warning. :D

My ten favorite artists (part 2 of more than 2)

2010-08-01T20:18:00.000-07:00

6. Acapella
Yet another men's quartet. 1982-current

Wait a second, that's not fair. Why do THEY get to name their group after a musical style? Well, actually acapella isn't really even a word, it is just a respelling of "a capella" which means in Italian "In The Manner of The Church". So they aren't cheating.

Although the members were swapped out a lot, they kept the same style for the most part. But they sounded best when they had two black guys and two white guys singing together. (This was the case in several of there lineups) These guys are number one on my list a lot of the time, but they somehow didn't come to my mind until I had decided on the first five.

Some of there other good songs are here and here.

Sorry, I have to leave now.

My ten favorite artists (part 1 of 2)

2010-07-21T22:13:00.000-07:00

I've said a lot about music recently, so I've decided that for my sake, as well as yours, I should post a list of my favorite artists. Keep in mind that the order changes with my mood, but this is the normal order. Click on the band's name to hear one of their songs.

1. Ernie Hasse and Signature Sound.
A Gospel quartet, and part of the Gaither group.

Pros: Very young for a gospel quartet, they put a lot of energy into their music. And their voices don't have the distinctive indistinctness of old singers.
Very happy/joyful sound.
Totally awesome bass singer, and the other three are excellent as well. All of them can and do take the melody.
Cons: Sometimes it seems like they are more into the show than the meaning of what they are singing. But maybe their showiness is just really noticeable because they have to exaggerate their motions for stage singing.

Summary: I like most of the songs they sing, but I don't really like their original compositions.

2. GLAD
A band of five guys who decided to try some acapella albums. Previously they had done 80's CCM.

Pros: Five people allows for some pretty incredible harmonies.
They can interperet music very well IMO. They have incredible voice control and they know how to use it
Cons: A few of their songs are too "jazzy" for me. Which means their harmonies get so close that it is annoying.

Summary: I like most of their acapella songs, but I don't like their "pre-acapella era" songs. And Some of their jazzy songs can give me a headache.

3. Gaither vocal band.
Another Gospel quartet. It changes members about every year, the only constant one being Bill Gaither himself.

Pros: Hand picked and trained by Bill Gaither.
Many Many Many songs over almost twenty years.
Cons: Some combinations of singers are worse than others, I don't really like their current lead Michael English, he sounds way to "country."

Summary: They have a few songs I don't care for, but they have so many good ones!

4. Steve Green
CCM singer who was a lot more popular twenty years ago

Pros: Incredible voice.
I got to see him in concert, the only concert I've ever been to, so doubtless that helped him get higher on my list.
Amazing voice.
Lot's of passion, you can tell he believes what he sings.
Cons: He definitely was creating his own style of music, and a some of it seems quite bland, but that is just my opinion.

Summary: He is probably my favorite soloist, but a lone voice can only sound so good, even if it is the best one in the world.

5. Michael Card
CCM artist and songwriter, with a high tenor voice.

Pros: Really deep, meaningful and thought provoking lyrics.
Cons: All though he has great vocal range I don't think he has the same vocal qualities as most of the other singers on this list.

Summary: I'm not sure why I'm doing summaries, since they are basically the same thing as the pros and cons... He writes new music which some how attains the qualities of old music.

I'm going to bed now, but I have four of the next five all ready picked out. I just have to decide on #10 and then write.

Chill

2010-05-10T21:31:00.000-07:00

I have often received comments regarding my ability to stay calm when other people would be panicking. There are several different ways in which calmness can come about. The most common way in our culture is to simply not care. This could be called the "so what?" phenomenon.

Bob: Dude, that kid's about to fall of the cliff...
Jim: So what?

Before you jump to any conclusions, let me say this. "So what" is not always bad. And it is one of the tools which I use frequently. For example...

Bob: The Seahawks just lost the superbowl!!!
Me: So what?

Mind you, "so what" as a phrase is often disrespectful, so you usually have to rephrase your statement. But the concept can be used correctly. But it is most often used improperly, resulting in a very bland society. For if one does not care about anything than he can not be cheerful.

But the above trick cannot give true peace. True peace can only be had when one trusts God completely. Without faith, "so what" can only give a sad and lonesome illusion of peace.

I don't remember the exact time, but I do remember that it was a point in time, a long time ago. When I decided that if I was going to trust God, I actually have to trust him with everything. This means that I cannot/shouldnot worry about anything. But rather, continue to labor in what is good, trusting that God will use my work for his glory.

@EthanS Chill, relax, and calm down. Believe it or not I was already most of the way done formulating this post in my mind when I saw your comment. (And yes, I was planning to post it tonight.) I've also got a few more ideas I want to post about.

Music

2010-01-06T13:21:00.000-08:00

As you can see, I put music in the sidebar, try it and let me know if it works or not. I don't think it has the ability to start playing automatically, so you have to click play. I chose this player because it has all the music I like, though it only let's you have twenty five.

Also comment on the songs themselves, which ones you like, and which ones you don't like.

Catholicism...

2010-01-04T13:07:00.000-08:00

1 Corinthians 1
12 What I mean is this: One of you says, "I follow Paul"; another, "I follow Apollos"; another, "I follow Cephas "; still another, "I follow Christ."
13Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul?

The Catholics seem to have read only the part that says "I follow Cephas," for they have set Peter as the head of the Church.

Progressive theology...

2010-01-03T22:06:00.000-08:00

`
...Even if it is true now, it isn't true anymore.

...Can be described as the French revolution of theology.

...Disregarding all traditions, and former interpretations of scripture, because all of history's greatest theologians must be stupider than you, the modern thinker.

If you couldn't tell, I'm not the biggest fan of "progressive theology."

Book review: Private Journal of Henry Francis Brooke

2010-01-02T14:20:00.000-08:00

This is one of the many books which I added to my books list to read early last year, but never got around to finishing. Anyways, I finished it over Christmas break, and overall I must say it was a very good book. The first part of the book is written by Brigadier General Brooke about his travels in India, the second part is letters to his wife from various peoples regarding his death. In his journal Brooke talks about the uselessness of sorties outside of the citadel where they are besieged. Also during the siege, he recommended two Lieutenants for the Victoria's cross for carrying a Sepoy* to safety under heavy fire.

Shortly afterward, the journal ends, and the letters tell that he died while trying to carry one of his wounded men back into the citadel.

Earlier in the journal, he writes of his travels through India, Pakistan and Afghanistan, and of the beauties and horrors of that land.

*A Sepoy was a native Indian who fought for a European power.

The book can be read here

The next book on my list is "Three months in the southern States by Arthur James Lyon Fremantle, a character whom many of you will read about in "The killer angels."

I started this book in the summer, and the main thing I remember is that while coming through Mexico and Texas all he ate was Bacon and bread. Unfortunately Texas was as far as I got while trying to read it in the summer, because I got sidetracked by Chesterton.

Psalm 32

2009-12-15T15:47:00.000-08:00

1How blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven,
Whose sin is covered!
2How blessed is the man to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity,
And in whose spirit there is no deceit!
3When I kept silent about my sin, my body wasted away
Through my groaning all day long.
4For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me;
My vitality was drained away as with the fever heat of summer. Selah.
5I acknowledged my sin to You,
And my iniquity I did not hide;
I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD";
And You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
6Therefore, let everyone who is godly pray to You in a time when You may be found;
Surely in a flood of great waters they will not reach him.
7You are my hiding place; You preserve me from trouble;
You surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah.
8I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go;
I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
9Do not be as the horse or as the mule which have no understanding,
Whose trappings include bit and bridle to hold them in check,
Otherwise they will not come near to you.
10Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
But he who trusts in the LORD, lovingkindness shall surround him.
11Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones;
And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.

On atheistic "morality"...

2009-11-24T17:25:00.000-08:00

If morality is democratic, as many evolutionists argue, the time will come when it either is "immoral" to kill animals, or it it is "moral" to kill humans. Because evolution refuses to admit that humans were created in God's image, while animals were not.

Ernie Hasse & Signature Sound

2009-11-24T08:51:00.000-08:00

Have any of you heard these guys before?

MuseScore

2009-11-08T20:02:00.000-08:00

I found this nice music writing software online called musescore. It's kind of slow to use at first, but is a lot of fun.

www.musescore.org

This is my first composition, enjoy. :D

Highlights of townhall meeting

2009-09-05T09:38:00.000-07:00

BTW The Marine, David Hendrick is strongly considering running against Baird in 2010, his website is http://www.davidwhedrick.com/

Chestertonian movies

2009-07-29T08:59:00.000-07:00

Manalive (a book by Chesterton) is being made into a movie, here is the trailer.

Of course, at this stage I can't say whether or not the movie will be any good, but the trailer is quite funny.

Also there are rumors that "The man who was thursday" will be released sometime in 2010.

Chesterton Reformed: A Protestant Interpretation, James Sauer

2009-07-27T21:30:00.000-07:00

I found this essay about GK Chesterton as a Roman Catholic, it is very good.

I've also been interested in Chesterton as a revolutionary, and will hopefully write about that when I come to a conclusion.

In other news, while playing volleyball with our new ball I invented a new sport. Because this particular ball was made for beginners it is more bouncy than the common volleyball. This led me to invent volleypong, which is a cross between volleyball and ping pong. Official rules are being created because people got irritated at me writing rules on the fly.

Earlier that day, we had received intelligence that our "enemies" were going to set up an advanced outpost quite close to our territories. Unfortunately they set up their camp in the midst of civilians, so we could not use live rounds, so we armed up with water balloons and made the assault with non-lethal weapons.

Nazi's before hitler?

2009-06-22T21:19:00.000-07:00

After reading "The Barbarism of Berlin, I decided that I should write a summary on it, to straighten out my thoughts on it. After Dr. Grant said that many American citizens wanted to join the war on Germany's side I started to wonder which side was the better of the two. This book was very enlightening, and I advise it to anyone who is interested in military history.

Chesterton first states why it is Britain's business to interfere with Prussia in the first place. He sets up a ficticious calender of events that would have happened if England had been silenced every time by Prussian diplomacy...

July 24: Germany invades Belgium.

July 25: England declares war.

July 26: Germany promises not to annex Belgium.

July 27: England withdraws from the war.

July 28: Germany annexes Belgium, England declares war.

July 29: Germany promises not to annex France, England withdraws from the
war.

July 30: Germany annexes France, England declares war.

July 31: Germany promises not to annex England.

Aug. 1: England withdraws from the war. Germany invades England.

Chesterton then states that there are two different types of barbarian, the negative barbarian, such as Russia, and the positive barbarian such as Prussia. The negative Barbarian is barbaric because of tradition, he simply goes on doing the same as his fathers before him. The positive barbarian on the other hand takes an old barbaric act, claims that it is a new scientific discovery, and then commits the act while proclaiming progress. In the end, Chesterton states that positive barbarism means purposeful militant hostility to certain necessary human ideas.

One Crucial "necessary (God given) human idea" is that of keeping one's word. Apparently the Prussians often broke the promises with one country while making a new agreement with another. While many of the most cruel traditional barbarians have a sense of honor about keeping one's word, the positive barbarian denies this crucial idea.

Another fundamental idea which the Prussian's denied was the "idea of reciprocity" or of "give and take." To the Prussian's nothing is mutual, they had no feeling of other's pain, this is obviously an outcrop of "survival of the fittest."

In the end, then, the Prussian mindset was based off of Nietzsche, who once said the following...

The "overman" is most likely referring to the Aryan race.

I teach you the overman. Man is something that shall be overcome. What have you done to overcome him? … All beings so far have created something beyond themselves; and do you want to be the ebb of this great flood, and even go back to the beasts rather than overcome man? What is ape to man? A laughing stock or painful embarrassment. And man shall be that to overman: a laughingstock or painful embarrassment. You have made your way from worm to man, and much in you is still worm. Once you were apes, and even now, too, man is more ape than any ape.… The overman is the meaning of the earth. Let your will say: the overman shall be the meaning of the earth.… Man is a rope, tied between beast and overman—a rope over an abyss … what is great in man is that he is a bridge and not an end."

Note that this book was first published in 1914, which is the year in which the war started.

I have also read, "The ball and the cross" by Chesterton, which was also a great book about a devout Catholic Irishman trying to fight a physical duel with an atheist.

I am currently reading "GK Chesterton, A Critisism" By his brother, Cecil Cheterton. So far, this also is a very good book. It is not on Gutenberg, but can be read here.

Eternal Father, strong to save!

2009-06-17T11:55:00.000-07:00

No other branch of the military has as good a hymn as the Navy, in my opinion at least.
This video is one of the better recordings I have heard.

For about twenty excellent extra verses go here

(Note, this does have a slightly different harmony than what is in the trinity red hymnal, but the same melody.)

Second poem

2009-06-17T11:34:00.000-07:00

British soldiers, side by side
In rows they march, in rows they die
They stand in lines for money,
and kill for country's pride.

German soldiers, in a trench
trained for years to do their best
Unaware of Nazi wrongs
They fight on with the rest.

To soldiers of the United States,
Are you as well to share their fate?
Do you blindly follow your flag?
And kill all those your country hate?

One day you may face the same
when your country chases fame
follow not their blackened name
When they the defenseless maim.

The story behind my poem

2009-05-25T21:31:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I have not been known as much of a poet,* and perhaps you have been wondering what inspired me to write a poem. It started while I was reading nineteenth century military documents when I was quite depressed by the utter uselessness of their style of combat. And then I had a dream...

The first dream wasn't bad, the whole airsoft group (including myself) was out on our lawn trading volleys of airsoft fire to see how warfare used to be waged. However, the night after than I dreamp't that the airsoft group was in a valley trading volleys with replica muskets while I was on top of a hill, to see what affect smoke had on the visibility of a general. Unfortunately, I had forgotten to tell them to not load with real bullets and they started shooting at each other. I didn't wake up until I dreampt that I was at Church and several airsofters were dead, and many more wounded.

Although this may sound silly, it was quite serious to me. It seemed that I had ordered my friends to shoot each other in my dream for just as poor a reason as they used to in real life.

That is why I wrote the poem about the utter uselessness and destruction of war, unless it is for reasons necessitated by God's word.

Self Control and hospitality

2009-05-25T21:15:00.000-07:00

He that has no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls. Proverbs 25:28

Wow, I'm already a week behind. Last week's evening sermon was on Self control. Dr. Bordwine pointed out that Self control is not only an issue of anger, it is an issue of the heart that can affect countless things in many ways. Simply put, a lack of self control can cause us to not resist temptation. We can not get over this issue by ourselves, only God can give us self control.

Instead of the common practice of "tagging" I would like to ask my readers to pray for self control for both themselves and others, as it is a vital issue which needs much prayer.

Last night Dr. Bordwine spoke on hospitality, stating that sharing a meal is not the only way to be hospitable. Other ways include calling people, sharing work and other activities together, basically just sharing, whether it be encouragement, or physical goods.

G. K. Chesterton

2009-05-25T21:01:00.000-07:00

In the past few months I've started reading Chesterton. So far I've read "Magic
A Fantastic Comedy," "The Man Who Knew Too Much," "The Man Who was Thursday, A Nightmare," "What I Saw in America" and "The Club of Queer Trades" And am now working on "The Barbarism of Berlin."

All of them are excellent, and they all have a way of making the reader think, I still don't have my head wrapped around "the man who was thursday," but that was the first one I read, so I will go back to it. All of them, and more may be found for free here: http://www.gutenberg.org/browse/authors/c#a80

I also have got the volleyball net up, no pictures yet as it is to dark out for good ones.

Another youtube video

2009-05-20T21:01:00.000-07:00

My type of music

2009-05-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

This is the type of music I like to listen to most of the time.

javascript:void(0)

Last night's Church sevice

2009-05-11T18:48:00.000-07:00

Dr. Bordwine's sermon last night was on the topic of reputation. I have heard sermons on this topic many times before, but I always learn something new. The specific new thing I learned last night was that because a good reputation is to be desired above great wealth, we should defend it. If someone spreads lies about our reputation, we must not hesitate to let the truth be known. Dr. Bordwine made the point that when you try to defend the truth, you will often be accused of being "defensive," to which we must reply, "yes I am, because it is the right thing to do."

I didn't take very good notes last night, but I am hoping to start summarizing the evening sermons on this blog, so that those who can't be there might still know what is being said.

I'm excited about choir, even if it is not at the most convenient time.

Saw and Cello duet

2009-05-06T12:12:00.000-07:00

The best saw music I have heard so far! The impressive cello performance greatly enhances it.

Poem

2009-04-13T17:01:00.000-07:00

Defeat, how mournful, and victory how bright!

Marking the end of a battle, but we have neither this night.

This night for now is peace, for now a time to rest,

tomorrow is the day of war, of misery and of death.

Tomorrow this green valley will be filled with leaden shot,

indeed, this mortal valley will decay and start to rot.

Why do men fight with cannon? With musket and with sword?

Why indeed can we not fight with logic and God's word?

Defeat, how terrible, and victory how vain!

When we have no just cause, but fight for our own gain.

Although there is a time for war, the time for peace is bless't

Let us now fight by trading words, not by exchanging death.

When men attack your family, fight and drive them out

When men assault your country, join, and make them rout.

But when your nation goes to war, with glory the reward,

ride not with them, O Christian men, give glory to the LORD!

Sir Arthur Wellesly, not just a military man

2009-03-31T17:41:00.000-07:00

"For my own part, I have certainly never seen the Protestant Catechism, which the Honorable member has just alluded to. Neither am I acquainted with those other documents from which he has quoted, in order to refute the statements in the Catechism that have given him so much offence. But, Sir, I do think that, when that Honorable gentleman has stated what the opinions are which he says are inculcated in some schools, he should have told us what those are which are taught in others. Now I have been informed that in several Roman Catholic schools children have been taught to read, not out of the Bible, but out of Paine's Rights of Man, and in books professing to give an account of the sufferings and ill-treatment which the Roman Catholics of Ireland have experienced at the hands of the Protestants. Such an education as this, it is evident, must necessarily breed them up in a fixed and rooted hatred to Protestants." ~Sir Arthur Wellesly

While working on my paper I decided I need to study the lives of Wellington and Napoleon. Right now I am reading "The Speeches of the Duke of Wellington in Parliament" by Arthur Wellesley Wellington, John Gurwood and William Hazlitt. Published in 1854.

You can find the book here.

If you see this post...

2009-03-02T14:50:00.000-08:00

...reply, and say you were here, but don't tell anyone else. I am hoping to start actually blogging soon, but not yet.

Test

2009-02-04T22:20:00.001-08:00

Test