Sean Taylor will be Missed

As a lifelong Redskins fan my heart is very heavy today as I learn that Sean Taylor passed away early this morning from a gunshot wound he received during a robbery at his home near Miami.

Sean was just 24 years old and was just starting out on his journey as a dad with his 1 year old daughter Jackie. His coaches and teammates commented on how much his life had changed since becoming a father.

Here’s what Clinton Portis had to say:

Redskins teammate Clinton Portis also played with Taylor at the University of Miami. He had sensed a new maturity in his close friend.

“It’s hard to expect a man to grow up overnight,” Portis said. “But ever since he had his child, it was like a new Sean, and everybody around here knew it. He was always smiling, always happy, always talking about his child.”

We’ll miss you Sean Taylor!

Music that heals

Yesterday I received a Dads Directory submission for a musician whose music purportedly helps to heal people. Of course I had to check this out firsthand….

On the violinist’s website, Daniel Kobialka, I found a wealth of information about his music plus testimonials from people who have experienced some fascinating results from simply listening to his classic/New Age style. Even the letter from a caregiver describing the experience she and a dying woman had listening to the music together was encouraging. What better way to spend your last moments then listening to a world class violinist?

The only thing I had a hard time finding on the site were links to samples of Kobialka’s music. So to save you the trouble I’ve added links to some samples of his music below. Enjoy!

Just click on PLAY…

• Yoga Music
• Massage Music
• Meditation Music
• Music Therapy
• Reiki Music
• Relaxation Music

Relaxing music isn’t it?

David

Thank You World from the Virginia Tech Hokies

Like most people I was very shaken when the VA Tech shootings occurred not long ago. We Virginians listened to it unfold on our radio stations and local news stations as we heard the grim details roll on like a never ending nightmare. It was yet another senseless act committed by a soulless lunatic against our young.

Equally as moving was watching the news and learning about the love pouring out of every corner of the world to the students, lost and living, their families and the entire Hokie community.

VA Tech students wanted to say thanks to everyone around the world so they formed a giant human “VT THANKS YOU” and a satellite captured it on the photograph above. Very cool.

On a side note - When I added the post with photographs from the early 1900’s  to the site earlier today I had no idea the event at VA Tech was to occur. Strange coincidence…. That story is here: Mole and Thomas classic photographs now in our ‘Cool‘ category.

There’s a website you can visit for more information and photographs here: http://www.hokiesthanktheworld.org.

Go Hokies!

David

Human photographs from World War I

These Mole and Thomas classic photographs were taken during and after World War I as part of the U.S. support the war campaign. The photographs must have taken hours to setup and provide a nice contrast to the naked human photographs that our generation will be remembered for 90 years from now!

The photograph above was taken in 1918 with the help of 30,000 soldiers from Camp Custer in Battle Creek Michigan. I wonder if this could be pulled off in this day and age with the short attention spans and busy schedules.

This human Statue of Liberty was taken at Camp Dodge in Iowa and included 18,000 men.

The Liberty Bell below was the most difficult to shoot as they needed 11 times more men for the beam section that the bell hangs from to maintain proportionality.

On another note, as I checked out these photographs my mom emailed to me earlier today it struck me how fortunate we are to be able to even be able see these incredible photos from the early 1900’s. No trip to a museum, or art gallery, or a postcard or print… just a quick email address and a click. If the men and women in these photographs could only see them like we’re seeing them.

Money be good

If money is the root of all evil then I’m glad I’m not a branch.

The financial industry and our personal finance routines may have undergone more significant changes then any other industry or area of our personal lives. How the industry and we operate in the internet age bears little resemblance to the way things were 20 years ago.

We’ll make sure dads are aware of the best available tools and resources as they come available.

My children are the best

I love my kids! They love me! They always tell me I’m the best dad they’ve ever had! That’s good , right?

Come back soon… we’re busy getting the place ready.

Dad