Veterans Day - Tomb of the Unknowns - Birmingham

“The Great War”, World War I, officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919. Fighting, however, actually ceased seven months prior to the Treaty when an armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day. The United States Congress officially recognized the end of World War I when it passed a concurrent resolution on June 4, 1926. An Act (52 Stat. 351; 5 U. S. Code, Sec. 87a) approved May 13, 1938, made the 11th of November in each year a legal holiday known as "Armistice Day." Public Law 380, on June 1, 1954, changed Armistice to Veterans and November 11th became Veterans Day.

The Veterans Day National Ceremony is held on November 11th at Arlington National Cemetery. At 11:00 a.m., a color guard renders honors to America's war dead during a ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknowns. The ceremony takes place inside the Memorial Amphitheater. For more information, go to The United States Department of Veterans Affairs site at http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/

The Nation’s oldest and largest Veteran’s Day celebration is in Birmingham, Alabama. As part of the celebration each year, a National Veterans Award is given to honor an outstanding veteran in the United States who has made the greatest contribution to further the patriotic interests of veterans and veteran organizations throughout the country. The recipient of the National Veterans Award for 2009 is Admiral Frank B. Kelso II, USN Retired. The dinner speaker at the award ceremony will be Mr. Thomas T. Tradewell, Sr., Commander-in-Chief, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. Judson E. Bennett, Jr., director of the National Museum of the United States Army, will be the guest speaker for The World Peace Luncheon. The celebration is capped off by a parade through downtown Birmingham from 1:30 pm to 3:30 pm. For more information, go to The National Veterans Day site at http://www.nationalveteransday.org/

Volleyball Great Holly McPeak Inducted into Hall of Fame

On October 30, 2009, the Volleyball Hall of Fame inducted college, FIVB, AVP, and USA Olympic volleyball star Holly McPeak. Holly has been a mainstay in volleyball since leading her 1990 UCLA team to a NCAA championship. She competed in the inaugural Olympic Beach Volleyball Games in 1996 and the 2000 Olympic Games, finishing fifth both times. She and Elaine Youngs (EY) won bronze medals at the 2004 Games in Atlanta. Winning in Marseille in 2002, Holly became the first woman in volleyball worldwide to surpass $1 million in career winnings. She has won titles with seven different partners and has been ranked in the top ten six times in the AVP Tour and seven times in the FIVB Tour. Overall she has won 72 titles and her career earnings now top more than $1.6 million.

While her awards are numerous (any list of her accomplishments would go on and on), she remains personable and self driven to stay in shape, promote the sport, and encourage players and fans alike. Despite announcing her retirement this year at age 40, Holly can still be seen at many of the AVP events. She is currently scheduled to appear as part of the Johnsonville Hot Winter Nights Tour on January 17, 2010 at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut.

It is fitting that Holly was part of what may be an induction group that hopefully leads to the Holyoke site becoming the international repository of volleyball greatness. In addition to McPeak, the Hall of Fame inducted Ivan Bugajenkov of Latvia, Ana B. Moser of Brazil, Siegfried Schneider of Germany, Nikolay Karpol of Russia and Paul Libaud of France. While the Volleyball Hall of Fame has recognized international volleyball individuals and entities for more than fifteen years, currently there is not a recognized true world hall of fame for volleyball. This year, there has been discussion that hopefully leads the Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB), at its November 25, 2009 meeting in Toyko, to agree to a combined volleyball hall of fame. Holyoke could not be a more perfect setting for the world hall of fame since it has been the home of volleyball since it was founded there in 1895 by William G. Morgan.

You can find out more about the above and volleyball in general at the following sites:

Volleyball Hall of Fame http://www.volleyhall.org/
Holly McPeak http://www.hollymcpeakusa.com/
AVP http://www.avp.com/
FIVB http://www.fivb.ch/
USA Volleyball http://www.usavolleyball.org/

More pictures of Holly in action can be seen at
Best Digital Shots http://www.bestdigitalshots.com/

We Live We Love

It has been too long since I have set down to write or look at my photos. On 9/11, however, my family was away and I took time to look over some of my photographs while listening to music via computer. Technology truly blesses lovers of music, art, and many other things. What a tool for learning, reminiscing, and sharing.

9/11 closely touched me as it did many people, and it has caused me to suffer many emotions. Today, however, my focus was on love and mostly on love between fathers and sons. As I drove my youngest son to school this morning, we listened to John Vigiano, Sr. on NPR’s Morning Edition. Some of you may know of Mr. Vigiano and his sons through the Academy Award winning film, Twin Towers. On 9/11/2001, John, Jr. served as a New York firefighter and Joe Vigiano served as a New York policeman. Both were killed during the attack.

As my young son set beside me, Mr. Vigiano proudly told of his sons’ career paths (Mr. Vigiano also served the City as a firefighter) and his last conversations with his sons. During the afternoon of September 10, 2001, Mr. Vigiano talked with John, Jr. and they closed the call by telling each other “I love you.” After the attack on 9/11, Mr. Vigiano talked with his son Joe and their last words were also “I love you.” As we pulled up to the school, my son paused and listened as Mr. Viagiano’s reflected, “"I don't have any could've, should've or would'ves. I wouldn't have changed anything. It's not many people that the last words they said to their son or daughter was 'I love you.' "

It was not my intent to come home and write about 9/11, but as I looked through my pictures, I saw the one above taken of my son in front of the Trade Center shortly before 9/11. Fate also had me listening to Cats in the Cradle by Harry Chapin. The youtube video I fortuitously watched included Harry’s wife and son telling of his untimely death at an early age and Josh (his son) being the inspiration for the song. It was touching to hear Josh (who looks like his father) explain how people are always wanting to get close to him and tell of the huge impact his father’s singing made in their lives. You can see the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etundhQa724&feature=related

Finally, as I pushed in my WowHits 2007 CD in the car, I was greeted by Superchick’s We Live. The lyrics are as follows:

There's a cross on the side of the road
Where a mother lost a son
How could she know that the morning he left
Would be their last time she'd trade with him for a little more time
So she could say she loved him one more time
And hold him tight
But with life we never know

When we're coming up to the end of the road
So what do we do then
With tragedy around the bend?

Chorus:
We live we love
We forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
Today we remember to live and to love
We live we love
We forgive and never give up
Cuz the days we are given are gifts from above
Today we remember to live and to love

There is a man who waits for the tests
To see if the cancer has spread yet
And now he asks, "So why did I wait to live till it was time to die?"
If I could have the time back how I'd live
Life is such a gift
So how does the story end?
Well this is your story and it all depends
So don't let it become true
Get out and do what we are meant to do

Chorus

Waking up to another dark morning
People are mourning
The weather in life outside is storming
But what would it take for the clouds to break
For us to realize each day is a gift somehow, someway
So get our heads up out of the darkness
And spark this new mindset and start to live life cuz it ain't gone yet
And tragedy is a reminder to take off the blinders
And wake up and live the life we're supposed to take up
Moving forward with all our heads up cuz life is worth living

Chorus (to fade)

You can do the lyrics justice by listening to the song from the Beauty from Pain cd at http://www.superchickonline.com/music_bfp.php

Thank you Christ; Superchick; John, Sr.; Harry; Joshua Chapin; Dad and my sons. Thank you for your love, words, music and the gift of loving, living and forgiving.

Some Airlines to Charge For Checked Bags

(I took the above picture on a flight from Florida. A Southwest Airlines blended winglet helps save fuel and serves as a good surface to advertise on.)

As people try to figure out how to drive from their homes to the store, purchase a gallon of milk and loaf of bread, and get back without spending twice the hourly federal minimum wage ($5.85 per hour now and scheduled to increase to $6.25 per hour on July 24, 2008 pursuant to the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007), the airlines try to figure out how to transport Nashville’s approximately 10,000,000 passengers per year and the rest of the flying public from point A to point B with jet fuel prices that are 92.7% higher today than they were a year ago ($168.10 per barrel on June 6, 2008 as reported at IATA.org). As part of an answer to the latter question, American Airlines recently announced that starting June 15, 2008, certain passengers would have to pay $15.00 to check their first bag. United Airlines and US Airways announced Thursday that they would charge a similar fee. To date, Southwest Airlines, Nashville’s largest carrier, has stated that it will allow passengers to continue to check two bags free of charge.

The baggage charges have already started a heated debate among passengers and provided fuel for Southwest Airline’s new advertising campaign focused on the other airlines alleged nickel-and-diming of passengers. Another possible backlash to the charges (as passengers try to solve the former question above) may be increased weight in aircraft cabin overhead bins as passengers stuff more items into their carry-on bags to avoid checked bag fees. Of course, stuffing the overhead bins is the exact opposite of what safety consultants and the FAA recommend. As recently as October 1, 2007, the FAA provided the following tips, among others, for flyers to consider when carrying on bags: 1) Think Small (usually 45 linear inches maximum size and nothing oversized), 2) Think Smart (check more and carry on less), and 3) Think Safety (don’t stack items in the overhead bins and carry-on items may fall and injure someone in flight or during an emergency evacuation). Finally, passengers should know that the airlines may in certain situations require some or all of your bags be checked.

All of this dime squeezing is sure to cause tension at the airport. As a result, now more than ever, passengers should verify luggage size and weight restrictions with their airline before they fly. Hopefully, passengers and airline employees will be patient as the public struggles to meet its financial needs and the carriers juggle economics, aerodynamics, safety, technology and regulation to continue to provide safe and reasonably priced commercial aviation transportation.

Pedro Alvarez

The MLB draft starts in less than twelve hours. For Vandy fans, the televised draft has been wonderful. Last year we cheered for David Price, Casey Weathers and other great Vandy players as they were selected. This year we'll cheer equally hard for the pack of Vandy players that Pedro Alvarez will lead in the Draft.

As a Vandy fan and alumni, it has been difficult during the past many years as I have often taken heat from my Alabama, Auburn, Duke, Carolina and UConn friends. I would explain (consistent with Chancellor Gee's philosophy of course) that Vandy's focus is on academics, but in my heart I would say, "hmmm, what about Duke, Stanford, or ....." (what is Nick's (Chancellor Zeppos) philosophy? We are spending some much needed money for athletic improvements).

Over the past few years, football, basketball, baseball and numerous other Vandy teams have been competitive and exciting to watch. By chance last year, I even saw the first Vandy team to ever win a National Championship (Vanderbilt's Women's Bowling). I didn't even know we had a bowling team, but I was proud, especially after learning of the team's 3.49 grade point average to go along with their athletic skills.

Well, back to baseball. My family and I were fortunate to watch some of Vandy's games in person this year and last year. The level of play was excellent, the work ethic tremendous, the team camaraderie exceptional and fan relations warm and open. After talking to some parents and grandparents of the players, it is clear the Coach Corbin is the commodore and catalyst and that the Coach's love, skills, knowledge and professionalism go into everything from playing the game to properly standing when the Star Spangled Banner is played. Go Coach Corbin!

Finally, lets look at some of the team this year as the draft nears. Pedro Alvarez is a great hitter and is expected to go number one or number two in the first round. He is a National and SEC Player of the Year Candidate and First Team Preseason All-American. He has great stats and his leadership and character skills are tremendous. Look elsewhere for all of the possible twists and projections discussing everything from Scott Boras to amount per slot to economics to....

Next, Ryan Flaherty at shortstop. He is a First Team Preseason All-American, A Golden Spikes Semifianlist, Student Athelete of the month, and the list goes on. He has great stats and is consistent with good leadership ability. In his spare time this year (right) he even wrote a journal and spent many hours communicating with fans. (See it at Vandy's baseball website).

Pitcher Brett Jacobson should also go fairly high in the draft. Finally, outfielders David Macias, Dominic de la Osa, and Jonathan White are hopeful of going high in the draft. Last year Dominic was drafted in the 10th round, but came back to play for Vandy. Catcher Shea Robin has also been coming on strong this year. His bat has been hot and he was selected as one of 12 semifinalists for the Johnny Bench Award as the nation's top collegiate catcher. Alvarez and Macias won First Team All-SEC Honors this year and Flaherty, De la Osa and Alex Feinberg won second team honors.

Wow, have I missed anybody. If so, go to Vandy's baseball website, http://vucommodores.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/vand-m-basebl-body.html and find out more.

Good Luck to all Vandy's eligible players in the draft!

Magnitude 8.0 Quake Strikes Peru

We arrived on a mission trip to Peru approximately two months after a magnitude 8.0 earthquake struck the Ica and Lima Regions of Peru. The lady in the foreground looks towards a leveled building in Ica.

On August 17, 2007, the quake hit hard the cities of Ica and Pisco. Over 50,000 homes were destroyed and only 20% of the city of Pisco remained standing. Over 500 people died, with the majority of those in Pisco. Seventy people were killed when a church in Ica collapsed during a service and 148 people were killed when a cathedral collapsed in Pisco. Over 1000 people were injured and more than 100,000 people were left homeless. The quake took down houses made of reed and mud as well as destroying landmark buildings and a much visited rock formation on the coast known as the cathedral. After the initial quake, numerous aftershocks measuring greater than magnitude 5.0 were recorded.

During our visit, thousands of people continued to be homeless and debris lined the streets. We saw very little work with large machines and it appeared that most of the work was being done by hand. Today, recent reports show that many people in the Pisco and Ica areas are still in dire circumstances and need assistance.

The Salvation Army and The Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board members were at the disaster spot almost immediately. You can donate to the Salvation Army Latin American Disaster Fund by clicking on the link below.

https://secure.salvationarmy.org/donations.nsf/donate?openform&projectid=IHQ-LatinAmerica

or you can send donations to the IMB at the address listed below:

International Mission Board
World Hunger & Relief Ministries
PO Box 6767
Richmond, VA 23230.

For giving assistance or further information,call (800) 999-3113 or e-mail the IMB at WorldHunger@imb.org

Finally, if you need more information please email me and I will provide any assistance I can.

UK Wildcat Outfielders Sawyer Carroll and Colin Cowgill

I felt fortunate to see two great hits by Sawyer and Colin in the same inning during their game against the Ole Miss Rebels in this year's SEC Baseball Tournament in Hoover, Alabama. For this picture, I was even luckier to catch them both together meeting with Coach Bohannon during an Ole Miss pitching change. Because of the high noise in the picture I applied some art effects in Photoshop to get the above results.

Sawyer Carroll and Colin Cowgill are excellent baseball players. They were recently selected as First-Team All-SEC outfielders and named as Golden Spikes Player of the Year Semifinalists. They are also on the Dick Howser and Brooks Wallace Player of the Year watch lists. Sawyer leads the SEC in batting average (.416) and RBIs (77). While Colin leads the Wildcats in home runs (18) with a .364 batting average and 56 RBIs. Colin also leads the team in walks and he has stolen 20 bases.

Late Thursday night, my son and I left near the end of the game because he had one day of school left. The game was back and forth and at the time we left, it appeared UK had it locked up. We rushed home and turned the television on only to see Ole Miss outfielder Mike Guerrero slam a walk-off homer in the ninth to beat Kentucky 8-7.

Kentucky has a great team and I'll be looking to see where they go in the NCAA Tournament.

Relax and "Try Chai" or Make a Call?

I took this photograph during a summer rain shower while standing in front of Saint Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. My primary purpose in taking the shot was to capture the gentleman resting against the cannon using his cell phone. I felt that the man, cannon and contrast between black and white would create a dynamic image.

After waiting a moment to see if the "Try Chai" man would move from the background, I took the picture. When looking at the picture to determine the best crop before printing, I noticed that everyone except the "Try Chai" man was busy on the cell phone.

Malcolm Woldenberg and Stephen Goldring

In Woldenberg Park, New Orleans, Uncle Mal explains to my son and another child about mankind’s great social responsibilities. Malcolm Woldenberg and Stephen Goldring were successful business men, prominent leaders and committed philanthropists who gave to numerous health, education, welfare and cultural organizations. Their work continues today through the Goldring Family Foundation, Woldenberg Foundation and other family foundations.

Mssrs. Goldring and Woldenberg founded Magnolia Marketing Company and built it into one of the largest liquor distributing companies in the United States and one of the largest privately held companies in New Orleans. Both men were civic minded and socially responsible. The men and their foundations supported and continue to support such institutions as Tulane University (Tulane’s Freeman School of Business undergraduate, graduate and executive programs are housed in Goldring/Woldenberg Hall and Goldring/Woldenberg Hall II), the University of New Orleans (Ogden Museum's Stephen Goldring Hall), the Jewish Federation of New Orleans, the Anti-Defamation League, Temple Sinai, the Henry S. Jacobs Camp, Touro Infirmary, the Audubon Institute, United Way, the Jewish Children's Regional Service, Lakeshore Hebrew Day School, Children's Hospital, the Dorothy and Malcolm Woldenberg Orthopedic Hospital and Rehabilitation Center and numerous other causes.

You can learn more about Malcolm Woldenberg and Stephen Goldring at numerous places, to include, The Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, The Freeman School of Business, and The Jewish Community of New Orleans by Irwin Lachoof and Catherine C. Kahn, published 2005 by Arcadia Publishing.

Fortunately, my son and I met Mr. Woldenberg via his statue and namesake park located between the French Quarter and Mississippi River. We would appreciate any comments or feedback from anyone who knew these gentlemen or anyone who has been touched by their generosity.

The Blessing

I took this picture on a July 4th after the start of the war in Iraq. At that time, the death toll was already in the thousands. The picture has significant meaning to me. It was between rain showers and my family and I were visiting the USS North Carolina in Wilmington, North Carolina.

My father served in the U.S. Army during Korea and Vietnam. He received numerous combat and peacetime medals and awards. For his heroic actions during a plane crash in the frozen Sea of Japan, he received the Soldier’s Medal. The Soldier’s Medal is awarded to a soldier who, while serving in any capacity with the Army of the United States, distinguished himself or herself by heroism not involving actual conflict with an enemy. The same degree of heroism is required as for the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross. The performance must have involved personal hazard or danger and the voluntary risk of life under conditions not involving conflict with an armed enemy.

After growing up as an Army brat, I too entered the Army (post Vietnam) as a helicopter pilot. I served on active duty as a pilot and instructor pilot and recently retired from the Army Reserves. In the big scheme of things, my sacrifices were not great, only minor.

As I framed the above photograph, I thought of the great sacrifices in the military that many have made and many continue to make (not just soldiers, sailors and airman, but their families and friends). Recently, I saw a show on PBS that was covering (at that time) the most recent deployment (I believe it was their third deployment) of soldiers from the Third Infantry Division at Fort Stewart, Georgia. The “Rock of the Marne” is one of the Army’s most decorated divisions. Since its activation in 1917 it has suffered over 50,000 wartime casualties. Its most famous member was Audie Murphy, America’s most decorated soldier. I only give you this information for background and for you to know of the 3rd Division’s character. While it has a strong lineage and famous background, it is made up of regular American men and women. It was the statement of the wife of one of these regular men that struck me and stayed with me. When she was asked about the war, her reply was that they (the soldiers and families) were at war while the rest of the Country was at the mall. I think the truth of that statement escapes most of us. I know it had escaped me. Sadly, because of politics, the media and us, the people not directly involved with the war, the continuous sacrifices of those at war and their families is not appreciated and rarely thought of.

Finally, as I looked at the American flags, yellow ribbons and the church in the background, I thought of the greatness of our Country, patriotism and that we are “One Nation under God” and it is in “God We Trust.” I was reminded that most of our original colonies were settled by people with strong religious convictions and that our ancestors who rose up against the British in 1776 were, as a group, religious people. I still believe that in America, God and Country are intertwined and that they continue to be the basis for our greatness. I am thankful for the freedoms we have to worship God as we choose and while intertwined, I know that it is the separation of church and state that allows us to keep these freedoms and remain strong.

Recently, the importance of God, sacrifice, our legacy, country, family and life (both earthly and eternal) was brought home to me in a song written by John Waller and Troy Denning and sung by John Waller and Mark Hall of Casting Crowns. The lyrics for “The Blessing” are shown below.

THE BLESSING (Deuteronomy 30:19) J.Waller & Troy
Denning

Let it be said of us / while we walked among the living / let it be said of us / by the ones we leave behind / let it be said of us / that we lived to be a blessing for life / let it be said of us / that we gave to reach the dying / let it be said of us / by the fruit we leave behind / let it be said of us that our legacy is blessing for life / this day / you set life, you set death right before us, this day / every blessing and curse is a choice now / and we will / choose to be a blessing for life / let it be said of us / that our hearts belonged
to Jesus / let it be said of us / that we spoke the words of life / let it be said of us / that our heritage is blessing for life /chorus/ for your Kingdom / for our Children / for the sake of every nation

You can here the song at John’s MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/johnwaller.

Please post your comments and enjoy the song “The Blessing” and God’s blessing. May you witness, sacrifice and be a blessing to life.

An Offering of Eternal Peace

Recently, members of my church in conjunction with a sister church went on a mission trip to Peru. It was an evangelical trip with the purpose of talking with Peruvians in a few small towns about Christ, salvation and having a personal relationship with Christ. I was able to take numerous pictures. The photograph above of a city commissioner from a small town holding out an olive to us had special significance to me.

Why go to Peru? Christ commands us in the great commission as follows: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I will be with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20). Further, Christ instructs us that we will be his “witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8). Therefore, we are to witness locally, in our state, country and throughout the world.

Ok, why the importance of the olive to me. After driving for hours through the desert on the Pan-American Highway, the last thing I expected to see at our destination was tons of olives. Olives and the olive tree have a special significance in the Bible. Most of you have probably heard the expression, “to offer someone an olive branch.” It means an offering of good will or peace. The history of its meaning can be traced back to Noah when he released the dove from the ark and it returned with an olive branch signifying that the flood was receding and that God had taken mercy on mankind. (Genesis 8:11). Olives were an important crop during Biblical times and a failed olive crop impacted the whole economy. However, even with a failed olive crop (or our present day equivalent), we can find peace by trusting in God.

Though the fig tree does not bud
And there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my savior.
The sovereign Lord is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.
(Habakkuk 3:17-19)

We can have this same peace and joy today. As Paul tells us,

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about
anything, but in everything, by prayer and
petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your
hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
(Philippians 4:8)

You can have the same peace as Habakkuk and as described by Paul regardless of your circumstances. Our olive branch is Christ.

We have salvation by grace through faith alone. Because of man’s sin, our sin, we are guilty before God and the price for our sin is death. By grace, God sent his only begotten Son to live in this world, be crucified on the cross and raised from the dead. By the precious blood of Jesus we are cleansed of our sins. "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16) There is only one path to salvation and eternal life and that path is through Christ.

To be saved and have eternal life and peace:

1) Admit that you are a sinner,
2) Be willing to turn from sin (repent)
3) Believe that Jesus died for you, was buried and rose from the dead, and
4) Through prayer, invite Jesus into your life to become your personal savior.

Your prayer can be as simple as follows:

Dear God, I am a sinner and need forgiveness. I believe that Jesus Christ shed His precious blood and died for my sin. I am willing to turn from sin. I now invite Christ to come into my heart and life as my personal Savior.

If you have prayed and asked Jesus to forgive you and save you, we would like to hear from you. Please let us know if you have any questions about salvation. You can post your questions or comments or email us. For more information on missions, visit http://www.namb.net/ or http://www.imb.org/

High Museum of Art Atlanta

I have had the pleasure of visiting the High Museum of Art in Atlanta numerous times. While the individual works of art and collections are magnificent, the architecture is equally breathtaking. On one particular day, I was fortunate to capture a lone person on the bottom floor as I shot from above. I believe that the lighting, shapes, color and absence of any other person make for an excellent black and white photograph. Although many of the museum's guests looked at me strangely as I photographed the High's ceiling, walls, stairs and floor (rather than the real art), I captured many exquisite black and white photos.

The original High Museum opened in 1905. In 1983, the museum opened its Richard Meier designed building. Meier's architecture received critical acclaim and was voted one of the ten best works of American architecture of the 1980s. Because of the museum's tremendous growth, the High expanded the museum and in 2005, it opened three new buildings designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano. Fortunately, the Piano additions seem to add rather than detract from Meier's original work.

The High has a wonderful permanent exhibit and since 2006 it has had the distinct honor of displaying pieces from the Louvre. The Louvre exhibits will run through 2009. In 2006 and 2007 Louvre Atlanta displayed The Royal Collections. Currently, you can view the The Louvre and the Ancient World exhibit which runs through September 2008. Finally, The Louvre of Today and Tomorrow starts October 2008 and runs through September 2009.

You can find out more about The High at http://www.high.org/ and more about Louvre Atlanta at http://www.lourveatlanta.org/ Please let me know about your visit to the High.

Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor

This photograph was taken of Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor (aka Turtle) during a press session at an AVP event. Both are exceptional athletes who remain at the top of their game on the court and off. During play they were driven and focused; however, between matches they spent time with fans and openly displayed their graciousness to the cheering crowds.

This week marks the opening weekend of AVP volleyball. Today, Kerri and Turtle won the women's AVP Cuervo Gold Crown Miami Open. The team of Phil Dalhausser and Todd Rogers successfully defended their men's title.

Founded in 1983, the AVP is made up of the best professional beach volleyball players in the world. It is the country's only pro beach volleyball tour and it has a cooperative relationship with USA Volleyball and the FIVB. AVP events are exciting and the players demonstrate amazing athletic prowess. You will be able to get up close to 2004 Athens Summer Olympics gold medalists Walsh and May-Treanor and bronze medalists Holly McPeak and Elaine Youngs as well as other champions and future Olympic medalists.

The Beijing Summer Olympic games are just around the corner and will be held at the Chaoyang Park Beach Volleyball Ground from August 9-22, 2008. Be sure to support your AVP favorites in the games.

You can learn more about the AVP, beach volleyball or your favorite player by visiting its website at http://www.avp.com/. The AVP Crocs Tour runs now through the end of September.

Cub Scouts Prepare for U.S. Flag Retirement

The boys' seriousness and respect moved me. After taking the picture, I realized it displays a small cross section of our American society as well. Because it was low light, I used a very high ISO. The result was a bit grainy, so I used a dry brush effect on the original photograph. Most people like the effect and some friends and family have the photo matted and displayed in their offices and homes.

Before the ceremony, I did not know of the proper way to dispose of a worn U.S. flag. The U.S. Code at 4 USC Section 8(k) states, "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." Section 8 of the U.S. Code also provides, "No disrespect should be shown to the flag." I found that many locations on the web discuss law and etiquette regarding the U.S. flag. If your flag is worn to the point of not being proper for display, I recommend that you deliver it to your local scout troop, local government or American Legion Post.