tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71103113579433319602012-01-26T10:42:47.024-06:00benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.comBlogger2791100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-42757929257438459412011-12-21T17:09:00.005-06:002011-12-21T17:33:21.280-06:00

I have always loved just about any music that can be considered Christmas music. Even this song gets me in the spirit. But I especially love some Christmas tunes that aren't the traditional ones. While this mix contains a few standards, it is (at least for me) a new way of experiencing the season. All that to say, I've been spinning this thing non-stop for a couple of weeks. It's kind of like an

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-55047281052026573032011-06-04T07:09:00.003-05:002011-12-06T23:51:24.708-06:00

Finding a lovely tune in a stack of all-too-easily forgotten old records is something fantastic. It is also overwhelming when you realize that you could probably spend the rest of your life completely ignoring new musical output, and use all of your free time mining the past for hidden gems. Even then, there will always be some out-of-print vinyl tucked away in a thrift store in Milwaukee that

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-35122128455915981932011-05-09T00:13:00.010-05:002011-12-06T23:51:52.130-06:00

This mix tells a story. Indulge me, if you will, by imagining that this story is true...________________________The sun rises out of the void once again. The morning rays slide down over the glass and concrete and land on tar and gasoline. All the people walk out of their homes and climb into cars. They converge on the highways and sit together in traffic. You wonder how it all happens - the

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-52633826223513936432011-03-05T15:21:00.001-06:002011-03-09T04:11:57.760-06:00

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-87311705570283778512010-12-25T00:07:00.005-06:002011-12-06T23:52:20.218-06:00

Winter is officially upon us - the snow is dusting my front lawn as I type, and my heart is constantly threatening to cease blood-flow to my toes. I figure there's nothing better than a bit of music to heat up the atmosphere and bring some life back into the frozen corners of our homes and automobiles.Here is a mix that might aid that effort. Merry Christmas!1. Ce Matin-La / Air2. D.A.N.C.E. /

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-52765606954758714182010-10-15T17:29:00.012-05:002011-12-06T23:52:51.360-06:00

There are plenty of reasons to hate Fall. All the swimming pools are closing, school is beginning, things are dying, and winter is coming. But the general mood and overall spirit of the season make it my favorite time of year. It is a season of remembrance.So here is a digi-mix for those who enjoy sustaining the color of autumn with some tunes. Enjoy!1. Been So Long / Vetiver2. Graceland (Paul

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-33384033947332109192010-09-22T01:46:00.004-05:002010-09-30T00:41:21.358-05:00

Crickets rubbed their legs together somewhere in the monkey grass. The chirp always came from further away than four or five feet, for the noise stopped as soon as a large presence was felt. It really didn't matter how quietly he walked. It didn't matter if he was skinny and light and had all the little muscles in his feet trained to bend and bow and breathe in just the right rhythm. They knew he

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-50350625530898035692010-09-22T01:37:00.003-05:002010-09-22T01:46:28.571-05:00

Well, I've been married for over 3 months now, so I guess I should start posting on here again. I've been told many times over the past few years that I have a way with written word, but after being told several times in the past month that I really need to be doing something with it, I have begun a strict regimen of daily writing. (Not really strict, but it may become that way. Who knows?) And

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-24950131450585349922010-06-24T11:28:00.004-05:002010-06-24T11:41:08.882-05:00

One of my favorite web sites is a new site called Sustainable Traditions. It gives a Christian perspective on the ideas behind the sustainable/green/environmental movement, which has seemed to really grab a hold of myself and my peers and our whole generation. This particular article sheds the first bit of light on the Gulf oil disaster that I've noticed. In the midst of argumentative talking

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-29688394178418509752010-06-22T17:20:00.003-05:002010-06-22T17:25:45.800-05:00

I had to share the trailer for this documentary. I almost hesitate to even see it because I know it will light that dangerous fire under me that always drives me to do crazy things. Things like questioning my modern way of living. You guys out there think you are men? Well, meet Peter....

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-51992477368246948952010-06-12T01:57:00.002-05:002010-06-12T01:58:29.927-05:00

When Audrey and I decided to marry, we also decided that we wanted to share our marriage. Obviously, there are certain aspects of marriage that can't and shouldn't be shared. What I mean is: We wanted our marriage to be an extension of the same love that God has already extended us. We want everyone to know that we are going be okay if we know that they are okay. If we have something that you

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-78897288583798559782010-05-27T01:52:00.002-05:002010-05-27T02:02:02.267-05:00

I figure this works well enough to be my first post in a long time, and my last as a single, unmarried, free, pale, skinny man. All of these things are about to change in two days. I am going to be so tan! Yes!Jill and Sam, formerly the everybodyfields, sang this cover of Lucinda Williams' "Something Happens When We Talk" recently, marking the first time I've heard them sing together since the

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-14886076114413853732010-03-04T12:12:00.003-06:002010-03-04T12:16:10.322-06:00

Quit your worship charades.I can't stand your trivial religious games:Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings—meetings, meetings, meetings—I can't stand one more!Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them!You've worn me out!I'm sick of your religion, religion, religion,while you go right on sinning.When you put on your next prayer-performance,I'll be looking the other way.No

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-41921780760836664752010-03-03T22:27:00.001-06:002010-03-03T22:28:11.887-06:00

This is one of the most heart-warming things I've ever seen:

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-70459837117782392502010-02-23T14:50:00.009-06:002010-02-23T15:31:26.180-06:00

Washed Out is Ernest Greene, a young man from Perry, Georgia. He recorded his EP, Life of Leisure, at the end of last summer, but it has been the source of my winter 2010 jams (not including "Party in the USA"). Pitchfork describes his music as "bedroom synthpop that sounds blurred and woozily evocative, like someone smeared Vaseline all over an early OMD demo tape, then stayed up all night

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-53481173658831240562010-02-19T00:45:00.005-06:002010-02-19T23:22:54.419-06:00

In one of the best acting performances in my memory, Austrian actor Christoph Waltz plays the "unplayable" part of Colonel Hans Landa in Quentin Taratino's Inglourious Basterds. Here is Waltz at the round table with Charlie Rose:

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-5041257995258892522010-02-17T17:55:00.007-06:002010-02-18T10:31:37.137-06:00

When I was younger, my mom had an electric plug-in air freshener (thing-a-ma-jig) in her bathroom. When it was plugged in, it created the most hideous sound that would quickly seep out of her bathroom and into the rest of the house. Really, I could only hear it well if I was downstairs, but it was bothersome nonetheless. One day I finally told her she had to get rid of it. That conversation went

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-34405461064439975362010-02-13T19:05:00.007-06:002010-02-14T01:52:42.933-06:00

Vice Magazine's video piece on the devastating aftermath of a series of civil wars in one of the poorest countries on earth, Liberia. Warning: graphic content (in every form of the phrase)

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-51677703589418052502010-02-01T13:30:00.004-06:002010-02-01T13:40:55.514-06:00

The cinematic scope of this series blows me away. Let's get excited for Groundhog Day:http://thedw.us/post/365197066/lost-promo-of-the-day-during-last-nights

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-24177098482848035592010-01-16T11:57:00.013-06:002010-01-17T23:08:02.303-06:00

Once again, inspired by the Onion...NASHVILLE, TN -- Local graduate student Joseph Steiner has recently noticed his roommate spending the majority of his waking hours playing N64 in a frozen-pizza-fueled haze of depression and detachment. "Some days I'll leave for class early in the morning, and I'll hear gun shots coming from his room," Steiner said. "Then when I get back later that afternoon

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-31825838812210708572010-01-10T00:51:00.001-06:002010-02-11T22:03:47.888-06:00

plain are the lips that catch the tearsthat run from her eyes for her tongue to savor.she tucks her boys in after all these years,southern oak leaves now their delicate covers.the evening before they read Berry aloudin a swing on the porch till the dusklight subdued,but tonight they lie shiv'ring in their cradle of ground,any feeling of hope she solemnly eschews.so much so that she joins them in

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-36107175913161162132010-01-08T02:32:00.004-06:002010-01-12T22:51:40.253-06:00

Actually taking the commands in this poem and giving them the power of a resolution is slightly terrifying. I imagine that is exactly as it should be. These words seem to be carved deep out of the same stuff that is at the core of my identity as an American, a man, and a child of God.May God give me the strength in 2010 to dig down deep into the stuff, scoop it out, mold it, throw it in the fire,

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-84069578142333629282010-01-05T23:48:00.000-06:002010-01-06T02:55:21.451-06:00

A trailer for LOST season 6 that aired in Spain, complete with subtitles:

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-31566367073131432672009-12-31T13:26:00.007-06:002010-01-05T23:47:24.794-06:00

So, 2009. You know, I didn't get "out there" as much this year as I have in the past. From June 25th on, I basically only listened to Michael Jackson. And before that, I was stuck on an island with only a few albums that Audrey had mailed me (one of which made this list). And on top of all that, I lost a bet, which prevented me from listening to any bands from Versailles whose name starts with "

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-8317302573696588132009-12-31T11:02:00.037-06:002010-01-02T11:53:38.895-06:00

What did I leave off? Tell me in the comments.20. Primer (2004)19. Adaptation. (2002)18. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)17. O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)16. The Wrestler (2008)15. Memento (2000)14. Ratatoille (2007)13. Eastern Promises (2007)12. Cast Away (2000)11. Children of Men (2006)10. No Country for Old Men (2007)I am currently in the middle of the novel right now, and reading it is only

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-50019652211397765982009-12-25T00:09:00.005-06:002009-12-25T00:28:03.751-06:00

Merry Christmas from the soon-to-be Ruckers! Much love to all. And a thousand thanks to Adam Brimer for the brilliant photos.

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-69389233200207750372009-12-12T21:21:00.004-06:002009-12-12T22:02:36.565-06:00

Like everything else, music videos have gone through very drastic changes over the past several years. As the internet has reigned supreme, and MTV and VH1 have become reality show networks, videos have had to try harder and harder to attain our attention. In 2009, that meant everyone got naked in their video. But only one of those videos was worth watching, if you ask me. And with the

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-57312757462439118372009-12-10T16:59:00.002-06:002009-12-10T17:03:34.021-06:00

...Someday:

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-4693228828080824282009-12-10T10:45:00.007-06:002009-12-10T14:44:36.895-06:00

Very exciting news announced today - The Besnard Lakes will release The Besnard Lakes Are The Roaring Night on March 9 via Jagjaguwar.Tracklist:1. Like The Ocean, Like The Innocent Pt. 1: The Ocean2. Like The Ocean, Like The Innocent Pt. 2: The Innocent3. Chicago Train4. Albatross5. Glass Printer6. Land of Living Skies Pt. 1: The Land7. Land of Living Skies Pt. 2: The Living Skies8. And This is

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-49521013829982456452009-12-10T09:29:00.004-06:002009-12-11T09:40:21.533-06:00

This rant, via Tomato Nation (thanks to Mr. Cote for sharing), really struck a nerve with me. I will be turning 25 in 2010, and I have found that the past several months have brought about some major changes in my life. Perhaps it is due to the fact that I am getting married soon, but I think it is no coincidence that this is all happening in my 24th year. I am finally starting to learn that I

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-13505526907632500342009-12-05T19:34:00.014-06:002009-12-07T16:02:25.260-06:00

The northwest shore of St. Croix can be very treacherous. The rolling hills of that corner of the island spill violently into the ocean (and continue steeply downward into the Virgin Islands Trough at 13,000 feet below sea level). This rocky shore, just east of Annalay Bay, is home to the tide pools.Over time, the force of the ocean has built up walls of jagged rocks a good distance away from the

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-3998044289601702492009-12-03T11:22:00.009-06:002009-12-04T15:28:39.603-06:00

Shaun Usher is the blogger behind the relatively new site, Letters of Note. He provides a very interesting look at history through "correspondence deserving of a wider audience." Everyone from Jeff Buckley to Jack the Ripper have letters posted. Here are a few particularly neat-o ones:Ghandi to HitlerSeptember 1st, 1939: Poland is invaded by Germany, resulting in what many believe to be the

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-15815616818249989742009-12-01T11:19:00.009-06:002009-12-03T12:00:43.056-06:00

This is a great article from Esquire Magazine written by Shane Claiborne (Jesus for President, The Irresistible Revolution). Thanks to Lori for sharing the article.What If Jesus Meant All That Stuff?This radical Christian's ministry for the poor, The Simple Way, has gotten him in some trouble with his fellow Evangelicals. [Esquire Magazine] asked him to address those who don't believe:To all my

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-90898351621367764252009-11-30T14:52:00.007-06:002009-12-03T12:01:02.134-06:00

When I was a kid, Christmas was always my favorite time of year. Perhaps that (coupled with the anticipation of snowfall) is why I consistently claimed winter was my favorite season. Obviously, I loved getting presents, but what I loved most was that feeling of warmth and family (and hot chocolate) that always put me in a little emotional cocoon. Now that I am an adult (apparently I am), I have

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-30686192527819651302009-11-30T12:26:00.002-06:002009-11-30T12:29:43.016-06:00

I met a couple of these guys last night, in a seemingly random situation. Tell me this doesn't look like a good time....

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-60780445543552126022009-11-27T10:37:00.000-06:002009-11-27T10:38:33.047-06:00

the best part is at 1:36...

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-64442774360077968892009-11-25T19:24:00.005-06:002009-11-25T19:30:04.535-06:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYBODY!

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-20039063713916209422009-11-21T19:45:00.001-06:002009-11-21T19:47:15.063-06:00

How could I not share this? It is, in fact, what I aspire to. You're welcome, Audrey!

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-82995223139150130822009-11-20T19:38:00.007-06:002009-12-03T12:01:21.227-06:00

Here's a short passage from a book I'm particularly excited about (order it here for only $5).Farming As A Spiritual Discipline by Ragan Sutterfield:I have a friend who attended a university run by Cistercians. One of his professors, a monk, would often walk down the hall between classes mumbling to himself in Latin, “I am finite, I am finite, I am finite.” This is a necessary mantra, but one

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-90632240042286782812009-11-19T08:25:00.003-06:002009-11-19T08:33:59.280-06:00

A cool article about cool goings-on at VISFI. CHECK IT OUT. Oh, and those tidal pools are where I almost died last March. I'll post a video of them later on....

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-89224710853887072322009-11-16T15:01:00.004-06:002009-12-03T12:01:35.695-06:00

If you decide to live a life of God-worship, it follows that you don't fuss about what's on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the birds, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, careless in

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-56290332015415940812009-11-14T08:02:00.004-06:002009-11-14T08:11:37.798-06:00

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-43461868396428754672009-11-04T15:29:00.007-06:002009-11-14T07:57:22.839-06:00

This is the Russian-made Dartz Prombron Monaco Red Diamond Edition. All you really need to know about it is that is will cost $1.5 million and the interior is fashioned out of WHALE PENIS LEATHER.Other features include:- Ruby Red matte paint- Gold-plated bulletproof windows- 22" Kremlin Red Star bulletproof wheels- Whale Penis Leather interior- Tungsten exhaust- Tungsten and white gold gauges

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-77055654262915287272009-11-02T23:39:00.004-06:002009-11-02T23:53:32.914-06:00

A new trailer for the long-awaited (this is getting ridiculous) film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Personally, I say its a fine-lookin' little trailer, but I will admit - the music gets kinda strange there in the second half. This is a movie about post-apocalyptic death and cannibalism in a cold and hellish landscape, right? I know there is beautiful hope as only McCarthy can write,

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-75488089089368601682009-10-29T08:56:00.006-05:002009-10-31T00:00:14.696-05:00

During one of my final weeks at Creque Dam Farm in St. Croix, we had lots of visitors come through for the Bush Skills Rendezvous. One very nice man from Pennsylvania, Kenny Point, stayed the longest. He was very interested and inspired by the R2R program and all the wonderful people on those beautiful 200 acres, and he wrote about it here:Ridge to Reef for a Sustainable EducationHe took the

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-67046515107951930492009-10-27T23:48:00.012-05:002009-10-29T18:33:19.491-05:00

This past weekend, I did something that I don't do nearly as often as I should - I went to Grimey's. And even better, I went there with no specific purchase in mind. I left with this:Build Me This by Joshua JamesTake a listen...Joshua James - "Coal War"Joshua James - "Pitchfork"and a B-side from his debut, The Sun Is Always BrighterJoshua James - "Lovers Without Love"

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-68195486283393257642009-10-26T10:01:00.004-05:002009-10-30T15:13:15.517-05:00

How amazing is the guy who built this? (See lots of pics here)Horace Burgess, of Crossville, Tenn, built this 97-foot tall, 8,000-10,000 square foot treehouse/church. Inspired by a four-second vision from God, Burgess has dumped 14 years and about $12,000 into the project. And it looks like it was worth it to me. Who wants to go visit?Read the story here.

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-33072997373620538372009-10-22T13:47:00.005-05:002009-10-22T13:57:30.584-05:00

Like Calvin's mom viewing his violent, self-absorbed behavior while playing with Tinker Toys as a future architect's genius - this Far Side perfectly showcases a parent's selective cognition. It is also a fantasy I used to have while perfecting my Mario Kart and Zelda skills at a young age. I still, to this day, feel like I should be able to include the feats of my N64 prowess in my current

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-34838142095645999262009-10-22T08:37:00.002-05:002009-10-22T08:38:11.663-05:00

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-4494728724607054352009-10-13T13:15:00.007-05:002009-10-13T13:30:02.116-05:00

In an effort to actually make myself post something on here despite my busy schedule, AND to begin a new tradition here at EEE (that will last more than a month or two, I hope), I will be posting a Calvin and Hobbes strip from time to time. Other than my fascination with The Far Side, Calvin and Hobbes has been my favorite comic for as long as I can remember. When we look at the world through

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-26074978760267898632009-10-07T15:28:00.006-05:002009-10-08T11:59:39.236-05:00

I'm pretty quick with my number 2's. I get in, flip on the bathroom vent, do my business, wash my hands, and get out. I don't dilly-dally. But guys are supposed to do the exact opposite, says society. The bathroom is man's sacred kingdom, and the toilet is his throne. Lesser kingdoms have risen and fallen in the amount of time one man spends sitting on his throne reading box scores and

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-44915179363596785922009-09-25T23:21:00.004-05:002009-09-26T07:49:33.910-05:00

This is fast becoming one of my favorite records of the year. Good job, Avett Brothers. Lead and title track video:

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-58167025241403061352009-09-03T10:47:00.008-05:002009-09-03T15:41:50.380-05:00

I was thinking today that it would be really special if Audrey and I wrote our own vows for our wedding ceremony. This way we could say what we really mean by "For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health..." We could still run through the traditional vows, but we could also speak from the heart. We could be honest. I think people would appreciate a little bit of the hard truth right from

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-39585303866316061332009-08-20T16:27:00.006-05:002009-08-25T13:58:39.508-05:00

In today's modern world, with our suspension bridges and our amphibious tour buses, rivers still create a great barrier to automobile transportation. I remember how I used to think it was crazy that it took 15-20 minutes to drive to Cherokee Park in Knoxville when I lived practically within sight of it at the Monastery. During today's boredom, I starting playing with maps. I searched for

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-85798739798911163022009-08-16T23:34:00.011-05:002009-08-17T00:26:28.264-05:00

I'm engaged to be married to this girl:Audrey and I were engaged on August 9, 2009 on top of Mount Roberts in Juneau, Alaska. There was a perfect little spot next to Father Brown's Cross (Whitey's Cross), just a half-mile up the trail from the tram station.Crêpe, there it is.

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-44024675624833176702009-08-03T13:55:00.003-05:002009-08-03T14:04:17.181-05:00

According to the underside of my Snapple cap, there is an underground mushroom in Oregon that measures 3.5 miles across. That is "Real Fact" #340, and it is currently eating away my brain from the inside out.

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-19951698102092597882009-07-31T13:15:00.005-05:002009-07-31T13:39:05.230-05:00

Apparently this guy is internet-famous for trying to pay an outstanding bill with a computer sketch of a seven-legged spider via email. Read that correspondence here. And, apparently, Mr. Thorne has made the act of confusing people with circular logic into a hobby. The following is a correspondence between his landlord, Helen Bailey, and himself:_______________18th May, 2009Adelaide, South

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-16536431409478149582009-07-30T18:54:00.005-05:002009-07-31T13:39:27.307-05:00

"Hi, my name is Tilly, and I am the ugliest 'dog' ever. I'm actually a fluffy rat, but don't tell animal control, LOL! Also, my owner obviously lacks full mental capacity because they think that dogs need to wear blankets around! We get so cold in just our fur coat! Silly humans."America will buy these up like hot cakes, and it will further ingrain my belief that the Apocalypse is quickly

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-56941671123305534242009-07-23T22:13:00.009-05:002009-07-25T10:26:07.032-05:00

I have an intrinsic fear of heights, which I believe every human has because, you know, gravity. But I also understand that some people actually have a FEAR of heights, which I don't have. You guys know the difference between fear and FEAR, right? Okay.If you have a FEAR, then you might not want to watch this:Someday, when I get famous on Myspace (or whatever), and I have gobs of disposable

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-25313369567962730012009-07-22T15:35:00.005-05:002009-07-23T08:38:31.132-05:00

The times they are a-changin', you guys. This is a new phenomenon! Bob Dylan wrote that song this morning while drinking a cup of cultural relevance... What? It's not 1964?I knew that, but change is still weird -- even in 2009. Standard mail is snail mail, America's Funniest Home Videos is Youtube, the telephone is the iPhone. That's all fine and dandy, I guess. But what is crazy is how quickly

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-40145291110636496172009-07-19T13:08:00.003-05:002009-07-19T13:19:43.452-05:00

The summer of 2007 saw my already growing love for American folk music climbing exponentially. I spent the summer riding my bike through the Old City to WDVX studios on Gay Street, where I attended The Blue Plate Special every single day. I also helped produce Matt Morelock's "Happy Camper" radio show on Monday nights. We played two hours of old American recordings followed by two hours of music

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-51404305044870534702009-07-17T23:34:00.000-05:002009-07-18T17:37:27.711-05:00

ME: I'm 24!SOCIETY: Nobody cares! Shut up and pay your taxes.ME: But it's my birthday...SOCIETY: Uh-huh... Go to work.

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-85991752917133086372009-07-17T09:47:00.008-05:002009-07-17T11:34:30.722-05:00

I am moving into my friend, Jon Haire's house in two weeks. It is in the Sylvan Park area of Nashville. What else is in Sylvan Park? CLIMB NASHVILLE. Look how close I will be to simulated paradise (A= my house, B= Climb Nashville):View Larger MapThose WALKING directions are only 16 minutes. And I'm sure I could walk the 0.8 miles quicker -- not to mention I could drive it in about 2 minutes.

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-90875495840575371572009-07-16T11:26:00.003-05:002009-07-17T10:26:38.151-05:00

This is kinda weird:

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-53185836468470640382009-07-14T21:48:00.015-05:002009-07-15T06:38:39.285-05:00

I "grew up" loving the the way directors like Cameron Crowe and Wes Anderson used music in their movies (probably because they were both incendiary enough to use Sigur Ros in their soundtracks), but I have since changed a little bit. I still love a soundtrack full of obscure 60's British Invasion songs and German models turned singers, of course, but I'm not necessarily going to love your movie

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-92103889168401792462009-07-09T13:34:00.026-05:002009-07-12T21:06:03.855-05:00

I'd like to share a paper I wrote in the Spring of 2008. It was written for a class that focused on how technology is introduced into society (slowly, through trend-setters, to the huddled masses, and finally to the "unfortunate stragglers"). I was taught by a self-proclaimed techno-junkie who seemed to hail all things new and shiny as great. So that may explain the obvious slant on my thesis:

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-18600695561278220202009-07-07T00:05:00.000-05:002009-07-07T02:10:27.487-05:00

HIGHLY recommended, y'all:

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-84875837820159135822009-07-03T14:05:00.006-05:002009-07-03T16:12:53.216-05:00

My recent post on hyperconnectivity created a small discussion in the comment section that got my wheels turning. My friend Jason ended his comment with the line, "the older I get, the more it seems that many of the questions worth arguing about have answers that involve balance rather than extremes." He also stated his thought that technology is not at fault for our hyperconnectivity, but it is

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-14014724283224327872009-07-02T19:29:00.004-05:002009-07-02T20:48:50.147-05:00

Good job, Chattanooga, Tenn. policeman!Happy Fourth of July Weekend, everybody!

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-4898473557483519642009-06-30T01:44:00.011-05:002010-01-16T23:16:39.051-06:00

inspired by the hard-hitting news of The Onion...NASHVILLE, TN -- After waking his owner by pouncing playfully on his chest at 6:43 a.m., Huckleberry Hound, a 25 pound beagle/bluetick hound mix, meticulously licked his crotchal region; a procedure which spanned a period of 7 minutes and 38 seconds. His previous record of 6 minutes and 12 seconds was effectively shattered, and the new record will

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-48382578472444066272009-06-27T13:00:00.010-05:002009-07-03T14:57:27.917-05:00

Hyperconnectivity. It's a recent cultural touchstone (some call it a revolution) that I find myself loathing more and more everyday, yet I still partake here and there. I can't seem to decide if I'm being self-protecting or self-righteous when I decide not to partake. I do realize that I am being a bit self-righteous when I laugh after someone asks if I "tweet" - but I also believe I am simply

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-80734426493223497012009-06-25T19:32:00.005-05:002009-06-26T14:29:27.596-05:00

This may seem like an unlikely choice for a "memorial" but at the ripe old age of 8, this song rocked my face off. Free Willy came out the day before my eighth birthday, and I remember getting it on VHS that following Christmas. The feature presentation was preceded by this video, and I used to dance to it a lot with my brother. Now that I'm a mature adult with 5 kids, mortgage payments and a

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-31939487537852406032009-06-23T02:54:00.023-05:002009-06-27T13:58:25.577-05:00

"If we consider the unblushing promises of reward and the staggering nature of the rewards promised in the Gospels, it would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-599419734510889932009-06-17T16:36:00.011-05:002009-06-17T22:27:43.069-05:00

This is a question I get from time to time.Perhaps because I've been known to sacrifice my ears by scouring through a lot of music to try and find the good. Perhaps because I once gave him or her (the questioner) a mix CD, which I have also been known to do. Or perhaps because he or she thinks I am a pretentious douche and wants to stay away from whatever I recommend.I must admit, I love few

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-54437719104619604402009-06-03T12:05:00.014-05:002009-06-03T15:03:31.618-05:00

Here is a video, documentary style, about the sustainable energy project that Patrick and I completed during the Ridge to Reef program. Fellow reefer, Dez, took on the task of documenting everyone's work for her final project. With little time and resources, she did an amazing job producing videos that show what we accomplished, and interviews that divulge the real reasons why we had all come to

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-77330994722770525822009-06-02T20:33:00.010-05:002009-06-04T17:52:03.648-05:00

With a few more posts left before I can really close the book on St. Croix (for now), I should probably go ahead and get these up here - before we all forget that, yeah, that actually happened. I shall start with the conclusion of my final project at VISFI: to design, create and install a working solar system for our client, Kyle O'Keefe.I left off (almost FOUR months ago, geez) talking about how

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-70078875524779774862009-05-31T23:44:00.025-05:002009-07-31T13:40:30.473-05:00

Men and women communicate very differently. I learned that in Duh School. But somehow it still manages to astound me when communication becomes a game of charades and 20 questions. ________Last night, Audrey and I spent some time with James and Abby Beuerlein and their beautiful adopted newborn, Tiago - one week after hearing the news of Abby's pregnancy (their two children will likely be less

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-21135161518603256032009-05-29T01:45:00.006-05:002009-05-29T02:02:19.705-05:00

An attempt to duplicate Jeff Tweedy's beautiful live-acoustic rendition of "Spiders (Kidsmoke)":

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-25825464841987249192009-05-27T01:28:00.028-05:002009-06-03T12:48:47.189-05:00

First of all, I want to say that I would be remiss to think that many (out of the million that read my blog) take the time to really dig into posts like this. I know from experience that blog-reading is a daily activity that doesn't always merit the devotion of other activities like, say, tearing pictures out of Nashville Paw to tape to one's dashboard, or making a list of all the things one must

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-12528461728083772009-05-21T12:17:00.006-05:002009-05-21T15:46:32.619-05:00

This is such a great idea - get three elderly people, put them together with three pairs of headphones, play them the newest titles in rap and independent music and record their responses. Such is the internet video series Breakfast at Sulimay's. Their responses to this kind of music (often music that I enjoy very much) are always hilarious, sometimes close-minded, sometimes telling, and often

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-77637122830085962832009-05-15T12:39:00.006-05:002009-05-21T13:23:57.138-05:00

Right after reading the book last spring, I told myself I wasn't ever going to see a film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Actually seeing the devastated landscapes of barren wasteland, and actually assigning a visual to the man's face from that of Viggo Mortensen instead of gleaning it all from McCarthy's stunning poetry was something I was not willing to put myself through. But that

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-84936058361559453802009-05-09T23:04:00.006-05:002009-05-10T00:04:11.967-05:00

My friend David just shared a site with me called Playing For Change. The idea is to bring the world together through music. Founder Mark Johnson and his crew began filming different musicians all over the world several years ago - anyone from street performers to professionals. They basically organized an unfettered transnational jam session. It really shows why anyone ever really wanted to play

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-45105638319143372492009-05-04T00:08:00.001-05:002009-05-04T04:32:26.666-05:00

I am currently cleaning more of my computer's hard drive, and came across a couple of old recordings - and I decided that I might start periodically putting up some of my recordings on here. They are mostly covers, and my vocals are mostly terrible, so I might not, we'll see. Here are two instrumentals, though. The first is an original - a simple C chord progression that I used to try some

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-3344630417144700552009-04-28T19:31:00.002-05:002009-04-28T19:38:01.359-05:00

Lord,create your space...

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-63438285595090471602009-04-16T15:11:00.010-05:002009-04-17T11:06:59.256-05:00

it seemsall of the timewe get the right all wrong.yet we speak of the truth in our no spin zones.when will we understand- a broken bowl will never hold any holy water,and a shattered mirrorwill always distort a perfect image?still we take these distortions and package them up in groups of eight or tenand create memos, lists, and adorable acronyms.and to everyone who doesn't swallow, we say

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-60850074209782069642009-04-10T12:21:00.010-05:002009-04-10T13:50:13.529-05:00

One of my favorite songs off of the new Neko Case album, Middle Cyclone, is a cover of Harry Nilsson's "Don't Forget Me." Here is what Neko (aka Ms. Golden Pipes) says about the song: I had been toying with the idea of doing the Harry Nilsson song for this record, but I couldn't figure out how to do it. I'm not going to sing it as well as Harry Nilsson, and I'm not going to play piano as well as

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-85521144484789320142009-04-03T12:29:00.019-05:002009-04-03T13:31:20.545-05:00

Gosh, the economy... right guys? It's pretty bad and stuff. AMIRIGHT???? Man!So anyway, we kept hearing about a few billion dollars over here and a few hundred billion dollars over there back in the fall. Going to banks and insurance companies - no big deal. Just nationalizing THE FINANCIAL INDUSTRY, that's all. And at this point, we might as well attach a large General Motors sign to the front

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-34985066799249720822009-04-02T17:14:00.005-05:002009-04-02T17:39:25.830-05:00

The past two episodes of The Office have thrown in some much needed wrenches. Stringer Bell showed up and started calling the shots. Jim was finally at an awkward loss for words. Michael unexpectedly quit and aims to start his own paper company. My favorite part is at the end of the most recent episode when Pam and Michael throw reason and intuition to the wind and walk away from Dunder Mifflin

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-59388824229332759872009-03-31T22:52:00.011-05:002009-04-03T08:04:37.329-05:00

Wilco - "War on War"I think a lot about identity. I have written about it before on here a good bit. Issues with identity cause, I believe, more destruction than any other issue. I might go as far as to say that identity issues cause all the other issues. Problems with identity are catalysts for every other anthropogenic problem in existence.That is how seriously I think about identity.Let's

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-66084375879435377492009-03-21T23:49:00.026-05:002009-03-22T14:00:42.731-05:00

OK, time to play catch-up on my posts...My second to last week on the farm had the most busy and compact schedule of any week yet. Thursday through Sunday (March 5th thru 8th) was the 3rd Annual Bush Skills Caribbean Rendezvous at Creque Dam Farm. Bush Skills is a four-day event where people gather to learn primitive skills - everything from basic survival (or as we call it, "thrival") to

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-4033943799070122822009-03-19T14:05:00.007-05:002009-03-19T14:54:32.394-05:00

"I am a model tenant and a model citizen and take pleasure in doing all that is expected of me. My wallet is full of identity cards, library cards, credit cards. Last year I purchased a flat olive-drab strongbox, very smooth and heavily built with double walls for fire protection, in which I placed my birth certificate, college diploma, honorable discharge, G.I. insurance, a few stock

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-52426871691300925282009-03-04T22:03:00.004-06:002009-07-03T15:00:11.980-05:00

When we arrived to the farm, one of the first things us R2R students did was to split into pairs and get to know each other. We discussed where we were from, what events brought us here, and what we expect to get out of the program. As my partner Dez and I were chatting, I started to realize, on a general level, why I came here. I became aware of my own desires. Specifically, a desire for

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-71720260271521702872009-03-04T19:24:00.018-06:002009-03-04T20:51:51.114-06:00

So, if you guys remember, each week of the Ridge to Reef program has been devoted to a different (yet connected) area of study. We've done Farm-based Education, Permaculture, Sustainable Building, Agroecology, Renewable Energy and, last week, Slow Food.Slow Food, as opposed to fast food, refers to a movement started in 1989 in Italy by a man named Carlo Petrini. McDonald's aimed to open a

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-3570637781613305362009-03-02T20:02:00.013-06:002009-03-02T20:33:46.091-06:00

Two weeks ago, we installed a photovoltaic system at Keith's yurt. We had to put the panel 12 feet up in the air to maximize his sun exposure.Dez and I were working pretty hard.That weekend was Mardi Croix. It is this island's (pretty lame) attempt to celebrate along with the city of New Orleans. It was fun, don't get me wrong, but the "parade" was basically a bunch of drunk people who felt like

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-3888138816924804032009-02-24T21:33:00.007-06:002009-02-24T21:59:34.666-06:00

My freshman year of college started on a Monday. By Wednesday of the next week, I was laying in a hospital bed with my roommate, Wes. He had been placed in the bed, and I in a chair facing him. Once the nurse left, I wobbled across the floor and climbed into the tiny bed, squeezing myself in between my friend and the safety bars that were in their upright and locked position.The sleeping pills

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-85257058127092823052009-02-23T22:30:00.009-06:002011-01-29T12:04:59.725-06:00

I just finished reading this book. It is the true story of Peter's journey from Alfred, New York to New Orleans, Louisiana. As a young man, Peter had become very disillusioned with his country and with himself. Before he gave up hope in himself and in this land of the free, he wanted to really give it a chance - to really get to know it.In the spring of 1973, with his loyal half-malamute dog,

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-2666400590433056772009-02-23T05:13:00.000-06:002009-02-23T11:19:25.004-06:00

This was wrong last time I posted it, so I changed it. This time it is right:I probably should have done this a while ago, especially after several people have asked me for it, but here it is - better late than never:Ben RuckerPO Box 1007Frederiksted, USVI 00841No mailing address, just a PO Box. Once a week or so, we'll go into town and someone will check the box to see if anything is there.

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-20382537651796602332009-02-20T14:52:00.006-06:002009-02-20T15:22:46.611-06:00

My favorite television show host isn't exactly leaving television, but he is leaving the setting we all know and love, Late Night. So, to pay homage to Conan on the day of his last show, here are three of my favorite moments (there would be several more posted if NBC would wise up and make their footage more available...):var sid=134;var vid=14688;

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-69835807093242524122009-02-18T05:28:00.001-06:002009-02-18T08:18:30.905-06:00

This past week, we received a new addition to the farm in one Don Young, an energy expert who will be here for the next few weeks. Don met Ben several years ago at a permaculture gathering in Asheville, NC, and they have kept in touch over the years. Don comes to visit the farm for a month or so every winter. Last year, he began setting up a biodeisel lab in the container pad. Ben hopes to

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7110311357943331960.post-89058729006645145922009-02-16T22:14:00.020-06:002009-02-16T23:21:21.507-06:00

St. Croix has three major holidays - St. Patrick's Day, Mardi Croix, and Ag Fair. I think the first two are pretty self explanatory, but Ag Fair is a little different.Basically, 30,000 people travel to the island for the weekend (some of whom stayed in cabanas on the farm and proceeded to use curling irons (???) that overloaded our solar system and left 20 people without power for 24 hours, but

benjaminhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16178217936894254981noreply@blogger.com2