08.27.08
Posted in History in Progress at 12:13 pm by admin
I have really been feeling the urge to open up about this because I feel that it is one of the three most defining moments of my life. As such, I have been holding off from bringing it to this blog because it is so personal and the internet is so open. But, I feel that you as the reader might be interested in getting to know me better and I can handle the scrutiny of the masses for you.
My life has been about Search. For as long as I can remember, I have been concerned with the questions philosophical minds have been debating for years, “What is the meaning of Life?”, “What seperates Man from the animals?”, “Is there a God, and how can we know?”, “Can there be rational belief in something that is beyond the senses?” and many more. My parents did a spectacular job in teaching my brother and I the value of searching for personal answers instead of relying upon “wiser minds” to tell us what to think.
When I was 15 I came to believe that there was a Power Greater than myself. I had tried to live without a God as an agnostic for two years but I found that I couldn’t help myself from acting as if people, ideas or institutions were that God and nothing lived up to my expectations. After much “searching”, I found a group of people that believed that a Power greater then themselves could help them lead a happy life. I wasn’t doing any better on my own so I tested the waters and it worked. For the next few years, I experimented with Religion. I learned about Christianity, Buddhism, Taoism, and Mormanism. I found great hope and joy in the Mercy Street community . I found people whom I could talk with about those questions I had held in my heart.
When I moved to Austin from Houston, I couldn’t find that same community life and I drifted. After two years a friend of mine from one of my classes invited me to her house for a “multi-faith devotional”, food being provided. I couldn’t resist. We went around in a circle readings writings from many different Religions including one I had never heard of, the Baha’i Faith. I don’t remember what the topic was, but everyone seemed interested in sharing their thoughts. I felt completely at home.
Over the following months I was invited to more Baha’i activities where I was introduced to the principles of the Faith and its central figures. I found a religion that gave me hope for the world; not only were the writings so beautiful, but the Baha’i Community was systematically growing into a reflection of those writings. After being around the Baha’is for a few months I was convinced that if I couldn’t come up with a more effective way to help the world become a better place and signed my enrollment card.
Since that day, I have enjoyed deepening myself in the writings, being part of a loving community and sharing that love with the greater Austin community. The four core activities that Baha’is participate in are devotionals, study circles, children’s classes and junior youth groups. All of the activities are open to Baha’is and non-Baha’is. For more information on these and other activities going on check out http://www.bahai.org/ for those inside the U.S. http://www.bahai.us/ and for those right here in Austin, TX http://www.austinbahai.org/.
If you have any questions or comments feel free to shoot me an email at John.Leavitt@gmail.com.
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07.31.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 12:13 pm by admin
I am so excited that I just got a beta key. You can expect this blog to host feedback about my impressions of the game and my plans leading up to it. But first some photos of my beta deathknight.
A new Death Knight is born…
into the service of the Lich King.
Perhaps, one day, he will break free of his bonds?
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07.28.08
Posted in News at 10:58 am by admin
We packed the cars and headed down to San Antonio Saturday for the all day concert event of the summer. The stages were packed with good bands, but we found a consensus and checked out the following great acts:
- Slipknot
- Disturbed
- Dragonforce
- Five Finger Death Punch
- Walls of Jericho
All in all it was a fun filled day of casual mosh pits, free all-you-can-drink Rockstar energy drinks and good weather.
I am feeling a bit sore though… I must be getting old ;^) .
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07.19.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 4:20 pm by admin
We just got back from the Texas Heat Wave car show. LowDownCustoms is a custom truck and car outfit run by LeeAnn’s brother Phil with help from his friend Shitty (the only name I have known him by). It was such a blast! Phil entered his truck in the BlowOut competition. In case you haven’t seen one of these before, it is where you put your car/truck (or something that passes for a vehicle) on blocks and spin your wheels out generating as much smoke as possible.
Yes, it destroys your tires and maybe even your wheels or car. But think of the bragging rights!
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07.16.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 8:17 am by admin
Last week we lost Zabuzza, one of our two cats (the other is Kakashi). They had been getting a little chubby and we thought that it would be a good idea for them to get some exercise. So, while LeeAnn and I were lifting weights outside we let them roam around the backyard. Kakashi stayed close to the house but little Zabuzza kept going.
After night fell, we found him inside a neighbors yard and we called to him but he had other things on his mind and didn’t respond. We figured we would let him be and that he would come back to the house when he was ready.
He did come back, but it wasn’t for almost a week and we were worried sick about him the whole time. Now he is happily enjoying the pleasures of being an indoor cat but when I open the door I can see that part of him wants to explore the great outdoors, but I know we will be worried again.
If I let him stay will it be trouble? I know if he goes it will be double.
I never thought owning pets would create these kinds of moral dilemma. Yikes!
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07.02.08
Posted in News at 3:27 pm by admin
It started with a Google Search.
I had a long list of names vaguely associated with enzyme design has been slimmed down to these final four.
Steve Mayo
Steven Brenner
Christopher Voigt
Jay Keasling
As I continue to search I will update the list.
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06.30.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 9:12 am by admin
We had a great BBQ yesterday. I spent most it outside cooking up a storm, but the moments I stole away to greet the guests assured me that everyone was having a good time. I would estimate that we had 20-30 people and I hope that the next couple are equally well attended.
I took many pictures of the guests and delicious eatin’s which I promise to post as soon as I can. I would have put them up yesterday but it was pretty much non-stop action from sunup to sundown.
Yummy!
More pictures here.
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06.28.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 1:21 pm by admin
I work in a lab. We store our cell stocks in a Liquid Nitrogen Cabinet a big drum with a hose connected to a tank that is around -180 degrees. Some of the tubes of cells fell out of their respective boxes and began to float around in the nitrogen. This wouldn’t be a big deal but we can’t see anything because of the fog (same sort of thing as when you put water over dry ice).
Yesterday, we rigged the following contraption to go “fishing” for our lost cells and it was a glorious success.
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06.24.08
Posted in Musings, News at 12:06 pm by admin
I had a plan for this blog to focus on the things that make up who I am. My faith, family and friends, career and hobbies but I have been experiencing terrible writers block. The block where I cannot find the time to write and when I do it becomes very fatiguing. Being still inexperienced with writing for the anonymous masses, I have struggled with this since getting this site up. After much meditation, it dawned on me…
its not that big of a deal.
The new game plan is to have regular updates with less focused, more personal entries. If I have something big to announce I will make it a separate page with a short synopsis in the main blog feed.
I already feel a great weight lifted off my shoulders.
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03.18.08
Posted in Uncategorized at 3:28 pm by admin
We visited Edinburg for a day and got to cross the border and enter Mexico! Even for a border town it was still the real deal. My very basic Spanish didn’t get me very far and if it weren’t for Bahji, I would have felt terribly awkward. Language is a powerful force to bring people together. As we begin to travel the world more, I would like to see language as being one of those basic things that I plan to bring when I cross the border.
Check out the pictures.
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