A collision of lives

I have been off the grid lately. Super busy with all kinds of stuff.

Nonetheless, here is something you should watch. It may help you understand the reasons why some have a hard time believing in Christianity as well as showing how there are right answers to many of the skeptical questions.

All the while really well made.


Hitchens/Wilson sneak peak from LEVEL4 on Vimeo.

How to survive falling through ice

With winter coming to an end here, I thought I would post this helpful article on how to survive should you fall through ice into freezing water. I know a lot of you are fisherman (most of my readership ice-fishes) so I thought you would appreciate it.

For all the others, someday you might find yourself walking accross ice and hearing it crack...

Don't hyperventilate

As you hit the water, a physiological reaction known as torso reflex will cause you to gasp for air. Force yourself to take slow, deep breaths. You'll begin to shiver violently and feel intense pain; try to remember that these are natural responses and not life-threatening.

Orient yourself

As you bob in the opening you fell through, turn and face the direction you came from. The ice there was strong enough to hold you until this point, so it should be able to support you as you maneuver out. You don't have time to take a chance on other escape routes.

Lift and kick

Stretch your arms over the ice and shimmy your body up until most of your torso is resting on the ledge. (This way, if you lose consciousness before you're free, you won't slip back under and drown.) Now, as you pull with your arms, kick your legs dolphin-style to propel yourself out.

Recover

Once out, logroll to shore. Resist the urge to rub your arms and legs (which would send the cool blood from your extremities straight to your core) or gulp hot liquids (which would trigger a rush of blood to your skin). Strip, wrap your torso in blankets, and sip a tepid decaf beverage.

A note on Commenting on Blogs and a cool usb drive

This is for sure the coolest USB drive I have seen. Not too expensive either.



ht:swissmiss

New Russian Patriarch: Billionaire Bootlegger

Check out this article on the new Russian Orthodox Patriarch. His business ventures of the past may blow your mind, or not...

Many Westerners know little about the new Patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church Father Kirill. Many Russians know him as a great orator and a host of a weekly TV show “Pastor’s Word.” However, very few know that Kirill (Vladimir Gundyaev by passport), a billionaire and a former KGB operative, made his fortune in tobacco, alcohol, and oil sales. His activities were among the main reasons why not-for-profits in Russia lost tax-deductible status. The new Orthodox leader is fond of playing with stocks, car racing, downhill skiing, and breeding exclusive kinds of dogs. He owns villas in Switzerland and a penthouse with a view of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior in Moscow.

Later in the article:

In 2001, Kirill purchased the penthouse in Moscow, and people familiar with the matter claimed that Kirill shifted his interest into real estate, oil, and stocks. According to the research of the Russia’s shadow economy conducted by the Russian State Humanitarian University in 2004, Kirill’s fortune eclipsed at four billion US dollars.

I hope that Father Kirill’s managerial gifts and smooth communication abilities will help strengthen the Orthodox Church and streamline the issues inside of this gigantic and complicated structure. However, shouldn’t the Christian leadership start with the faith and not with the semi-criminal wily money-making techniques?

You know it has been a dreary winter when...

Your daughter walks by the kitchen window and starts jumping and screaming "SUN, SUN, SUN PAPA!"

My lost wedding song

The song i went down the eisle to is one of my favorite instrumental pieces ever written. Katie, Tracy and Vlada learned it on violin, piano and flute and played it at church when we got married..... And then I lost the disc with the original and never played it for myself since.

This last weekend Cara came to visit and gave me some of the cello music she had on her ipod.... Lo and behold, my wedding song was on it! Thanks Cara!

Here it is:

"First Impressions", Appalachia Waltz.

13 O'Connor from http://stephel.vox.com/