Autism and Immunizations
Posted by Troy | Filed under Autism
I’ve long given up hope that a TV news magazine would air an honest feature about autism.
Somehow, I still manage to get my hopes up when I hear that a story like last night’s Dateline is coming up.
The feature was promoted as an “in-depth” look at the link between autism and vaccines and the doctor who first brought this debate to the forefront—Andrew Wakefield.
Of course this Dateline was exactly the same as every other TV news magazine feature I’ve seen…
Tags: illustration, original illustration
Eyes of Autism
Posted by Troy | Filed under Autism
So very deep
Like a black hole
At the very bottom is a person
But no fear.
The moment his eye looks straight into mine
Can he see that I’m terrified?
Tags: original photo
Planet Earth Shark Attack
Posted by Troy | Filed under Family, Film
Our family has been making its way through Planet Earth this week.
This shark attach scene is probably my favorite from the entire series…
Can’t even describe it without using obnixious adjectives like “amazing,” “breathtaking,” “marvelous…”
Come to find out, the crew shot off the cape of South Africa for 28 days before catching this shot…
and with a special ultra-slow-motion camera, that can only shoot for 3 seconds at a time…
and the images captured are so enormous that it takes another 20 minutes before they could see that brief shot on their computers.
Discovery Channel is running the series again this week…
I insist that you watch…
(if you miss it, just check it out from the library like we did)
Tags: planet earth, science
Death Almost Killed Me
Posted by Troy | Filed under Cancer, Faith
Since I was first diagnosed with cancer in 2000, I’ve had several occasions when I wondered if I might die…
If I’d be alive the next day, week, month, or year…
But only one time did I actually think, “this is it.”
It was around February, a very depressing time of year in northern Michigan… gray, cold, wet…
I was home with my family recovering from a round of chemotherapy and the long trip back from the Cleveland Clinic.
I came down with a cold.
When you’re on chemo, a cold can kill you… and the way I felt (physically), I thought this one just might.
I even snapped at my wife, who was dying a bit herself, trying to take care of me.
The next Sunday, we somehow dragged ourselved out of the house to get to church…
Tags: Cancer, Faith, illustration, original illustration
Kids Dance Mix
Posted by Troy | Filed under Family, Music, Parenting
My daughter got a CD player (I call it a boombox) for her seventh birthday.
She only has one CD and she really likes it.
I don’t like it so much.
Today I threw together (maybe 5 minutes spent) a new mix CD that the whole family can enjoy:
- Pork & Beans – Weezer
- No One – Alicia Keys
- Can You Feel It – Apples in Stereo
- I Need You Back – Ben Kweller
- No Rain – Blind Melon
- French Navy – Camera Obscura
- 1,2,3,4 – Feist
- Get Better – Mates of State
- Noticed – Mute Math
- Apple Trees – Ozma
- Flip Flops – Paul Wright
- Hey Sandy – Polaris (that’s the iconic band from the intro to Pete and Pete)
Tags: original photo
Milton Glaser on Fancy-Pants Designs
Posted by Troy | Filed under Art/Design, Humor
The next time you see a sixteen-color, blind-embossed, gold-stamped, die-cut, elaborately folded and bound job, printed on handmade paper, see if it isn’t a mediocre idea trying to pass for something else.
Easy Chicken Tacos
Posted by Troy | Filed under Food, Last Night's Dinner
Taco seasoning packet makes these chicken tacos super easy.
Using whatever veggies you have on hand make these unique every time we have them.
Today, it was some leftover sweet corn, an avacado, tomatoes from the garden, black olives and red onions.
We use Bearitos organic taco seasoning because it is gluten free, so the whole family can share.
Tags: gluten free, original photo, recipe, tacos
On a Spiritual Journey
Posted by Troy | Filed under Culture, Faith, Film
Francis: Well, I guess I’ve got some more healing to do.
Jack: Gettin’ there though.
Peter: Anyway… definitely gonna add a lot of character to you.
Tags: darjeeling limited, Faith, movies, wes anderson
Red Baraat at Barbès Brooklyn
Posted by Troy | Filed under Music, Travel
You can’t visit New York without catching some live music, and you can’t catch live music like this anywhere but New York.
Cram an Indian marching band, a jazz ensemble, a funk band and 100 audience members (of every race and creed) into a 200 sq. ft. room.
That is Red Baraat at Barbès in Brooklyn.
Thanks Paul for encouraging me to attend.
Tags: brooklyn, concerts, Music
To Own a Dragon
Posted by Troy | Filed under Books
Donald Miller and I are so alike… I just love reading him because the way he says things, his sense of humor, and so much of his personality and feelings I can identify with so closely it is almost like he is my own personal ghost writer.
In fact, the first time I read Blue Like Jazz, I was actually a little upset because it was pretty much the exact book that I had hoped to write (only better).
To Own a Dragon is Miller’s thoughts on growing up without a dad, how it has effected him spiritually (among other things), and how as an adult he can use those experiences for good, rather than allowing them to own him.
Even though the book is written for men who have grown up (or are growing up) without a father, it offers just as much joy and value to those of us who have.
I especially identified with the chapter where he discusses the concept of “manhood.” I quite often feel like a 15-yr-old trapped in a 30-something’s body (ok, maybe I have a 15-yr-old’s body… but you get the point), and just within the past year have been trying to figure out what it really means to be a man… and every time someone mentions Wild at Heart, I imagine that if I read it I (like Donald Miller) would most likely want to chuck it across the room.
(don’t fret, John Eldridge lovers… after a period of growth that very book was quite valuable to him and he recommends it)
As he describes sitting in the “men’s” Bible study group where the guys share hunting stories and make metaphorical life-lesson analogies about football and action movies, I was laughing out loud because I knew exactly what he was talking about.
If you prefer books that give you the “3 Steps to ….” or promise growth or success if you do this or pray that… or only use big sober words to discuss spirituality…
you’ll probably hate this book.
I liked it a lot.
