And I owe it all to you...

Enjoy the popular "best first dance at a wedding video".



Cheers and Happy Christmas - cause I'm so British,
tango

Awesome Links are Indeed Awesome

2 weeks is too long to go without a new post. Cre and I are wed 6 months yesterday.

In celebration, a great, geeky link from my dear friend Ben Martin.

http://twist.snowburst.org:4747/404

Waaaaa???

So wait, Mike Huckabee believes the Bible is the Word of the infinite God of the universe and believes - to quote a dear friend - "All that other stuff doesn't matter, cause I'm still trying to figure out how to love my neighbor." Hooray for a good word from a presidential candidate.

Today's Word for Life from the Brick Testament

I was reading an article in Catholic Biblical Quarterly on the issue of the historical Jesus and the Law. The article was addressing the complexity of tracing the influences on Christ's teachings from a historical perspective. Traditionally, Jesus' prohibition (or at least commentary) on the issue of divorce in Matthew has traditionally thought to be a commentary on the debate between the rabbinic schools of Hillel and Shammai as well as some consideration to teachings of Essenes on the subject (if indeed they had any). The point of the article was that its tough to track Jesus' comments back to even those "sources". Interesting read to say the least, particularly given some of my own research on the subject.

Anyway, to all you Christian divorcees out there, here's a playful fundy cartoon from the Brick Testament. Let's hope they're wrong



Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

ps - I will still comment back on the church conversation. I've had too much going on at work to give it the time it deserves

Schrute Farms Bed and Breakfast

Here's a great little bit from Trip Advisor on the Schrute Beet Farm, "the number one beet-related agrotourism destination in Northeastern Pennsylvania". This is a great example of the recent trend to blur the line between reality and fantasy... of which I am a big fan. Plus, the office rocks.



Thanks to John Kleinschmidt for this link.

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

I am now voting for Mike Huckabee!

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

First, to my dear friends who have commented on the post from last week, I will be commenting back and continuing the conversation in the coming week. With guests in town this weekend (George F/S, my mother and brother tonight and tomorrow) I haven't had time to write. I will over the upcoming holiday weekend.

Sidenote: My Dad (cc'd on the email) commented back what wonderful friends I have. I couldn't agree more. Thank you for being a part of my/our life. Truly

In the meantime, cheers to parades and taking kids to parades. In celebration of George's visit and Kyle and Dawn's buying a house in Dillsburg, we all hung out this weekend. It was a weekend of too much food (Joel needs to get to his post-Thanksgiving diet soon) and good times with friends.

Here's Kyle, George, and I with the kids at the Harrisburg Holiday Parade on Saturday.



Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

In other news you can use...

Now this is a great piece of technology and the perfect gift for me in case you're wondering.

It's a new WiFi-enabled SD card for digital cameras. If you're in a public WiFi spot, it will automagically upload photos to your Flickr, Picasa, or other some such account while storing the pictures on the 2Gb SD card.



I repeat: we are approaching the age of flying cars!

"Going to church"

Preface

This post addresses spiritual issues. If you don't care to address issues of spirituality, please don't keep reading

To be clear and level, I am a Christian, meaning I do believe God is real and that Jesus is who He said He is. I believe freely accepting God's gift of salvation is what Jesus taught as the way to make things right between us and God; salvation is something God did and freely offers us. I believe the Bible was written by people but inspired by God. There are many ways to know God, but I believe the Bible is one of the best and most clear expressions of His thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and ways. As such, I'm a big fan of it as a primary tool for living life - though my reading of it is often too infrequent.

I am not and do not claim to be in a good place spiritually. In some ways, I'm better than I ever have been - in that I'm trying to be honest with myself and God. In other ways, I'm much worse - distracted and lazy at times. Overall, I'd describe myself as seeking.
I've been accurately described as any and all of the following: liar, loyal, unloyal, dear friend and brother, unloving bastard, generous, selfish, lost, leader, pastoral, sinner, fallen. Paradoxes are a bite, huh? All that to say I'm not sharing from a position of authority. I'm a shmuck who happens to be loved by God, his family, and his wife - all undeservedly.

I'm hoping to provoke some conversation by this post and find some answers for myself and others that might be seeking as well

Jesus said in Matthew 7:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened. Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

On that basis, I'm hoping that pursuing this line of questioning will lead to some much-needed answers.

More Background... feel free to skip this

Since the circumstances of my life took a major turn in late 2004, I've essentially been disconnected from the organized group of people we like to call "a church". Cre and I have attended a handful of places and are currently occasionally attending a church in Grantham where we very much like the pastor and his wife; they've been very kind and generous to us and I feel like - as people - we have a lot to learn from them.

As for the overall church in Grantham, I think the people are nice. Yet, I continue to be hesitant about getting more invested - in part my own doing and in part our lack of real personal connection to the people. It's just not happening for me, and I tend to think its more than just my own skittish nature (though I'm not sure and have considered getting more involved to spur me on to magically "connecting").

In general, I'm questioning the whole notion of a modern church and whether seeking to find a place to attend regularly is a worthwhile pursuit. I've never really felt comfortable with the church, though I've worked hard to be a part of it my entire life. Just prior to 2004, I thought I had found a church experience that worked - where I was deeply invested in real relationship and living life together. That fell apart, and I can't imagine how the organized, communal experience can work if that couldn't.

As any American Christian knows these days, finding a church is a tough thing. Compile on that my own church issues and a factor Trevor and I like to call the "Icon Hangover" (i.e. I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For meets brief dynamic church community anomaly) and you have the basis for a conundrum.

Anyway, after reading Divine Nobodies, I felt compelled to write Jim Palmer a thank you email (those of you who know me are not surprised). I thanked him for the book and decided to field this issue of feeling disconnected / not wanting to be connected / thinking I should want to be connected / not knowing what the heck I think / not caring sometimes. Jim was generous enough to send me a lengthy and personal response, but also directed me to examples of alternative expressions of fellowship including the following:

http://lifestream.org/LSBL.May01.html

Get to the point already!

My purpose in posting is simply to evoke conversation. Please read the article above and feedback, either in email or preferably through the comments section on this blog post. So what do you think about the article and what the author has to say? Is the argument legit? Maybe you think the issue (and article) is bunk. Maybe you have some insight I'm not privy to. Whatever your response, share. This is a conversation and I'd love to have the benefit of multiple people's thoughtful feedback and consideration. What do you think?

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

Divine Nobodies

I just got back from a customer-driven business trip for the soon to no longer be Knowledgeplanet. The trip's destination was Tulsa, OK to meet with PennWell. Not the point...

I'm not a big reader. I enjoy reading but I rarely have or make time for it, but a few months ago, my dear friend Gheorghe sent me a copy of Jim Palmer's book Divine Nobodies. On the plane ride there and back (via Chicago), I read the entire book. I couldn't put it down.



I identified with *some* of Jim's story, including his overactive and personally destructive drive to achieve and church getting in the way of knowing God. His book focuses on how God has used regular people to reach him. I wept at parts and was warmed by the truth of a God who loves us despite ourselves. Anyway, its a big recommendation on my list.

Thanks to Jim for writing it and to Gheorghe for being such a good friend - the kind that knows you well enough to help and talks to God enough to know what He thinks about it.

In case you're interested, you can buy the book here

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

Bono and DATA Receive Liberty Medal

As the profile says, I'm a big fan. Cre claims that I listen to more U2 than U2 could stand and in truth, I have an affinity for everything they've ever recorded. What the profile doesn't say is that I'm not just a fan of the music... I'm a big fan of what this flawed, finite, pop star is doing with his chief asset - his fame - to positively affect the least of these.



It's an f-ed up world we live in, but there's something that deeply resounds with the heart of God, with what true community and "Thy Kingdom Come" means by taking the assets we have and using them to truly do the work of God. Connecting us to our brothers and sisters in another part of the world challenges us all to use the gifts we have. (as God said to Moses in Exodus 4, "what is in your hand?")

Anyway, this year, Bono and DATA were honored with the Liberty Medal in an award ceremony held at Constitutional Center in Philly (Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell are there). I encourage you to read the transcript or watch the video. Its a good, short, valuable digestion of information.

Watch the video

If you'd like to find a practical way to help, see my good friends at Forgotten Voices International, a NGO that works to serve the millions of children orphaned by AIDS and HIV in southern Africa.

http://travelwithfvi.blogspot.com
http://forgottenvoices.org

Another cool video

Enjoy this top-notch lightsaber battle and then go check out Scott Vader Day Shift Manager.

You Tube rocks.

Wedding in the Vineyard... Dave and Tara Get Hitched

It's always such a wonderful affair when the family gets together, and fortunately Dave's family could handle the Family at their gala last weekend. We had a great time, and Cre and I got some good pictures in.

The bus ride (yes, I said bus ride) out to the vineyard



Tommy Handlin looking good after his recent Fantasy Football triumph



Michael Scarpelli, pouring on the charm while messing up Cre's Rubix cube



The king holding court. I love this guy! Uncle Sam is one of a kind!



Dad kicking back and enjoying the party like the patriarch of the family he is...



Justin capturing the memories



And of course... the reason we are gathered...



God bless and good luck to my cousin and her great new husband in their life together. As the Italiams say, Salute! And as my people say, Cheers!

cause I'm so British,
tango

Tango's Movie Pick of the Weekend

If you're up for a good SciFi adventure that doesn't involve aliens or outer space, I highly suggest The Lost Room. We rented it this weekend and were glad we did.



Enjoy the night on the couch!

Brick Testament, an Introduction to my New Favorite Website

One of my newest favorite website comes courtesy of my wife and friend, Cre Carbonaro. Welcome to the Brick Testament. The place where the stories of the Old and New Testament are explained through Lego mediums. This, my friends, is what makes the Internet great!



Does Jesus look like a Lego Jedi?

Hancher-Smith in the House

Pictures from our weekend with Lauren, Ian, and Aidean...

FF Update for Week 2

After my loss in week one, I wised up on a few things.

1) no more starting Braylon Edwards. He's talented, but Cleveland needs someone to throw to him
2) I dropped Phil Dawson... what was I thinking!?! Picked up Jason Hansen, one of those "best player available" moves
3) Don't ever fail to start Andre Johnson... especially for the aforementioned Edwards.

I have a roster spot open now and am not sure who to pick up.

Here's hoping at least one of my teams: the Llamas or Browns at least put up a fight this week. As Magic 8 Ball is want to say, "Signs Point to No".

My New Favorite Icon

Cheers to the person who created this image.

Cheers to Google image search, one of the truly great inventions on the 21st century thus far.
Cheers to football starting again.
Jeers to layoffs at work.

Tango Does FF

So I just hosted and participated in my firt fantasy football draft. Our commissioner and dear friend, Kyle Letner, provided a video projector and the appropriate fanfare. The league is called Onside Kick and I am, of course, the Tango Llamas. Here's the link to the league site: http://games.espn.go.com/ffl/leagueoffice?leagueId=396286

It was an overall VERY enjoyable experience. If you enjoy the game of football, I suggest giving it a try someday. Here's where I ended up for my 14 picks:

Player/Team/Position
Larry Johnson, RB, KC
Laurence Maroney, RB, NE
Chad Johnson, WR, Cin
Marc Bulger, QB, StL
Carnell Williams, RB, TB
Donald Driver, WR, GB
Kellen Winslow, TE, Cle
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Sea
Donte Stalworth, WR, NE
Philadelphia Eagles D/ST
Andre Johnson, WR, Hou
Ronnie Brown, RB, Mia
Braylon Edwards, WR, Cle
Phil Dawson, K, Cle

I'll probably make a move at Kicker. I let my Browns loyalties get in the way of a better pick.

Viva la FF. Enjoy the year!

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

Let's Read That Again...

I personally believe that U.S. Americans are unable to do so because, um, some people out there in our nation don't have maps and, uh, I believe that our, uh, education like such as, uh, South Africa and, uh, the Iraq and everywhere like such as, and I believe that they should, uh, our education over here in the U.S. should help the U.S., uh, should help South Africa and should help Iraq and the Asian countries, so we will be able to build up our future.

- Miss Teen South Carolina, 2007

What Planet?

Many stressful days here at the Knowledge Planet have led to little time for blogifying reflections on the day. Instead, I am left with this hilarious and enjoyable little bit thanks to my dear friend, Jason Paul Yakelis. Enjoy!

Stuck in an Airport and You Can't Get Out of It

It's 8:42PM. I'm stuck in Logan Airport here in Boston, my flight to Philadelphia is 2hrs late and I'm going to miss my connecting flight to Harrisburg... the cost of living in a city near many places but precisely nowhere (in realitive terms for my friends in the non-East Coast U.S.)

Since I am in a holding pattern, I have decided to share good pictures that should be shared, brought to you with some (hopefully) clever captions


The way I will remember that day...


Now THAT is what I call atmosphere!


Your next desktop wallpaper complements of Cre & Joel


Spiritus Sanctus


One picture I will always remember... Man do I love those two or what! I'm gettin' choked up now... excuse me...


Watch for older businessmen running off with young girls

And despite airport delays...

The dude abides

I just got the word. The delay has been pushed further. I may get out of here sometime after 11PM. Here's hoping you're safely where you want to be.

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

Another edition of "Cool Things on the Web"

Today, I found some particularly cool stuff you gotta see...

Check out http://www.dontclick.it, a study in our propensity to click on things, even when told repeatedly not to

Also, http://www.stumbleupon.com - they make a plugin for Firefox that gives you essentially a smarter "I'm Feeling Lucky" button

Finally, check out my new super-cool Facebook profile. As my sister says, Facebook is the IT place

Life is too short not to travel

Married life is good and interesting things are on the horizon at work. My golf game is bad, but my home is comfortable and wonderful. I have much to be thankful for, though I wish I could get my spiritual life worked out. Work dominates my off cycles as its the primary thing going on right now. Thus, I post the following pictures to remind myself and my loyal readers that the world God has made is very beautiful and life more than the labor one finds to do.

Naples


Sorrento


Villefrance


Enjoy.

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

Music is good for your soul

My brother John turned me on to this guy... a great example of good acoustic guitar and the power of the Internet to empower both the I and the We.

Better Than Ezra

It finally happened... after much discussion and long conversations, Joel & Cre have a dog. Our new young friend is a 10 week old Japanese Chin / Llaso Apso mix. We considered many names: The Dude, Johnny Hicks, Petey, and even Clive, but we settled on a good prophetic name... and so Ezra is in our life. Cre's spending the remainder of the summer (assisted by me) making him a well behaved dog. Say hello to our pet dog, Ezra.

Di Di's 40th Birthday

This weekend was my cousin (by marriage) Diana Salamone's 40th birthday. I've only known Di Di for a few years now, but she already means a lot to me... which is saying something for me. She helped Chrissy and I out as our wedding coordinator and back when my life was crashing around me, she was one of the first people I met who... in her own accidental way... made me feel better by making me feel defended. Anyway, I love her like everyone else at the party... here's the pictures.

This is too good not to share...

See the full article and enjoy the laugh courtesy of my dear friend Ben Martin

Dispatch Zimbabwe

When's the last time you heard of anything attached to Zimbabwe that didn't end with someone shaking their head in disgust or quietly (or not so quietly) wishing for a plague of locusts to devour Robert Mugabe. Well, here you go. This weekend in MSG, NYC, the former band Dispatch in getting back together in a benefit concert for NGO's working to help the poor and oppressed in Zimbabwe!



As a side note, check out Forgotten Voices, a local Central PA organization working to help AIDS orphans and the like in Zimbabwe.

Life imatating the Simpson's or just scary?

Like many, I have looked into the grimm spector of my yellow-skinned-what-might-have-been. The results are less than horrifying and more than accurate. I particularly like my pinpals t-shirt. Please enjoy your day and think foldly of the ones you love.

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

You better get your hopes up!!

I have watched the Simpson's since season 5, on the sligh at first when my Baptist pastor father forbade it. I later forced him to watch it and turned my family into a loyal Simpson's fanbase. As a loyal fan for many a year, I have dreaded the coming of this day, as I and my friends have long supposed that this would be the day the music died and the Simpson's finally force the transition into a format they cannot possibly support. When I heard the news of the movie being produced, I knew I would see it, but thought of the event more as a wake then a wedding. But as the day approaches, I cannot help but be hopeful. Perhaps, just perhaps they - like Homer across the Springfield gorge - can make that giant leap from the lion's mouth and prove their worth.

Will it happen? We will know in a matter of weeks, but I cannot help but get my hopes up....

Gratzi Italia!

Cre (no longer pre-wife but full-fledged wife-wife) and I just back from the honeymoon. The cruise was a great choice for a honeymoon. Cruising is definitely relaxing. The food was awesome. Weather good, and the balcony overlooking the Med... forget about it!!! Crusing is definitely not a good way to experience a country... the vacation is definitely the ship. But the stops throughout Med. (Messina, Naples, Rome, Pisa, Nice) were all great!

I'll dispense with the typing of many words and get to the pictures that link to the albums. More pictures will come, but for now...





Isabella - off the coast of Taromena, near Messina, Silicia



Have a good day. I will....

Bags are still not unpacked, but life is underway. Now to just get rid of this "Tunisian Two-step".

I now pronounce you, Cre and Joel

Simply put, I am married. My life will never be the same, and I am thankful for it.

More later, but for now...

Ding Fries are Donnnnnnne

Because its been far too long... http://www.americanangst.com/dingfries.html

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

Videos to Brighten Your Day...

I've recently been fascinated by the entertainment that the Interweb is producing. We live in an age where people have grown up watching SNL and South Park and Homestar Runner has shown us that You Tube can actually be a business model. Independent funny people are seizing the opportunity, and we are all the better for it.

Case and point...

Will Ferrill and a 2 year old in "The Landlord" - http://funnyordie.com/v1/view_video.php?viewkey=3efbc24c7d2583be6925


Charlie the Unicorn - http://youtube.com/watch?v=Q5im0Ssyyus


Planet Unicorn Heyyyyy - http://youtube.com/watch?v=EQJD1ura7G4


Watch the world change for the funnier and eventually the better.

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

Memorial Bachelor Weekend

I am not a veteran, and barely what one might consider a bachelor, but this holiday weekend was spent, at least in part, in celebration of the fact that I'm getting married in three weeks.

It was a lovely affair, excellently prepared by the best man, Mr. Jason Paul Yakelis. Saturday was full with an afternoon at the driving range, dinner on the river at Duke's, and a Senator's game. Tom (father-in-law-to-be) bought me a hat. Then the kids went home with the over 40 crowd and a handful of us went to the city for a drink. I think I took Steve into his first crowded bar.



Sunday morning was golfing with Tom, Ralph Sam, and Johnny Nutley (Salamone). I shot terribly, but Tom and I won the match... someday I'll have something to contribute to that duo.

Only 18 days to go. Thank God. I can't wait.

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

MASH Prom

mid-May means one thing for Ms. Carb... MASH Prom. This year it was at the Radison. Diamonds are forever was the theme and for the second time in as many years, Joel and Cre were supervising the kiddos. The food was decent and I ran into a guy from Messiah I haven't seen since my Israel Cross-Cultural of 1999. Cre also got to take her "wedding hair" for a spin in public. It held up to dinner and dancing so I think its a go.

Anyway, here's the money shot from evening. Here's hoping we both look this good at the "weeding" in 4 weeks.



Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

Lost Update

Cre and I just got finished watching Lost and like every week this season, all I can say is WTF is happening on this island!!!

I was vexed for the first 30 minutes of the show, trying to figure out who Ben's father was. Then I realized... Ben's father is Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite.

In conclusion, all I have to say is that if Lost is really Hell or someone's dream or Bob Newhart wakes up in bed, I'm gonna be so pissed!

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

Welcome to the Interweb.... once again

So here I am, writing a Blog. I have nothing useful to say right now except that I'm becoming more convinced that this sort of this is not only pretty cool but also worthwhile and productive.

I'm getting married in 5 weeks and I'm pretty hella-excited about it. As such, I'll close this first post out with a picture of the pre-wife.

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango

...Cleveland selects, Brady Quinn, Quarterback from the University of Notre Dame

I'm a Brown's fan... which I gotta tell you is WAY tougher then it looks, and I'm sure it looks painful. Believe me - it is. I was the kid crying myself to sleep when "The Drive" happened and the adult cursing at my television when Cleveland lost to the Bears after being up by 14 points with 5 minutes left.

Anyway, part of being a Brown's fan is getting your hopes up every year. And this year's draft is no exception. To that end, I submit my personal draft log from the day of....

12:05: ESPN shows the first picture of Quinn at age 4 in a Bernie Kosar jersey - I am now sold on the fact that this guy MUST become a Brown - for God's sake he actually WANTS to play in Cleveland!

12:30: With the 3rd pick in the draft, Cleveland selects, Joe Thomas, Tackle from Wisconsin - hearts sinks... we knows it is a great pick, but still... its like I lost the chance to play for the Browns. I'm sick to my stomach at the thought of another year with Charlie Frye. I become incontinent. The announcers are stunned and literally cannot speak.

12:35: I utter the words of the obviously upcoming news report, "This just in. Joe Thomas' boat has capsized on Lake Michigan. He is believed to be temporarily paralyzed and may even have a case of the bends. This is a striking blow to the Browns hopes for 2007 and 2008." I begin to rationalize about the viability of the quarterbacks that will be available in the 2nd round. There is no comfort in these thoughts.

1 PM: The first anti-Brady comment is heard on ESPN... some trumped up accuracy issue.

2 PM: Miami passes over Quinn. I (along with the entire Browns nation) immediately start the mental permutations of what it will take to get back on the board. Our hopes... like all good Cleveland fans... are unnaturally high despite the odds.

2:15: Cleveland fans everywhere come to the same conclusion at once, we have zero assets to trade for a pick except Kellen Winslow... which defeats the purpose of acquiring a great QB... if we are going to get back into this round, its going to cost our #1 pick next year.

2:30: The full-on anti-Brady onslaught is underway. Apparently Quinn has dropped in value somewhere between Tony Eason and Akli Smith. ESPN shows one more sad Quinn face and the 4yr old picture. Our collective Browns hearts go out to him. Everyone hates you Brady, except Cleveland... we love you. We hear the first whispers that Cleveland is trying to get back into the first round and our hopes are raised yet again.

3 PM: I organize a prayer vigil in my neighborhood. Candles and incense are burned, vows are made, serious promises. God has got a lot on the table with this one.

3:40: The clouds part and Boomer announces that Dallas has cut a deal with the Browns. Brady Quinn is a Brown AND suddenly "Greenhorn Dopey McDopey Dope" (Phil Savage) looks like a frickin' genius. A LT and a QB in one draft. Browns fans have no choice but to be hopeful. Great celebration bursts forth at the Carbonaro house, as even the heartless Eagles fan have been swept up by the excitement of this moment.

3:45: I utter the ever-so-famous words, "you better get your hopes up" and consider giving my good friend Nick a call.

Yes sir, my hopes are indeed up. Its going to really hurt when they crumble around me.

"This just in. Joe Thomas and Brady Quinn have both torn their ACL's on a simple practice drill tripping over one another."

I love football!

Cheers - cause I'm so British,
tango