George Kissell

SPRINGFIELD, MO 3-28-08 Yadier Molina (left) Rick Ankiel and Tony LaRussa laugh at long time trainer George Kissell's comment during batting practice at Hammons Field Friday night. The St. Louis Cardinals beat the Springfield Cardinals 3-2 in game one of a two-game exhibition series. © 2008 Dianna Russell

George Kissell, 88, passed away following a car accident near his Florida home. Kissell was involved with the St. Louis Cardinals for 68 years and was inducted into the Missouri Hall of fame in 2003.

Quote of the Month

Bailout? How about ending income taxes, allowing citizens the chance to put the money back into the economy?

Quote of the month

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. If the American people ever allow private banks to control the issue of their currency, first by inflation, then by deflation, the banks and corporations that will grow up around the banks will deprive the people of all property until their children wake-up homeless on the continent their fathers conquered."
Thomas Jefferson 1802

Career suicide or planned PR stunt?

I lost the last bit of respect today for photographer Jill Greenberg. Not that she would care.

Besides making babies cry for her art and twisting an assignment around to gather material for her own political statement, she attacks John McCain with her sick, manipulated photos on her website including the photoshopped version of McCain with bloody sharks teeth. http://www.manipulator.com/

She then suggests in an interview that The Atlantic was irresponsible for hiring her given the fact that some of her art has been pretty "anti-Bush."

PDN's writeup: http://tinyurl.com/43htdv
American Digest has the photos and several links as well: http://tinyurl.com/597kbd
If it was attention she was after, I think she can count on it. She can probably count on that audit as well.

We will never forget . . .

Every time I hear the Lee Greenwood song I cry. I cried a little harder today. . .

Iaido and Tameshigiri

Photographing new things always leads to enjoyable study and a chance to expand my general knowledge. But knowing nothing about the subject definitely means study time. Before attending the Japanese Fall Festival at the Mizumoto Japanese Stroll Garden, I knew nothing about traditional Japanese martial arts.

I found the demonstration of Iaido and tameshigiri, by 18th generation instructor Keisuke Nishimura, absolutely fascinating and I wanted to know more. The performance was like a beautifully choreographed dance.



Iaido is a traditional art of Japanese sword drawing and consists of precise and controlled motion. Training can be solo (kata) forms or partner (kumidachi) forms. Solo forms concentrate on precise drawing, cutting and returning the sword to the scabbard. Kumidachi forms do not use steel swords. Wooden swords called bokuto are used and students learn movements for attack, defense and counterattack.



Tameshigiri relates to the art of test cutting in which tightly rolled mats -- targets made from a material called tatami omote -- are soaked in water for 24-48 hours. Depending upon the skill of the practitioner, the target may contain a dowel or piece of bamboo in the center. The tightly rolled, soaked targets are said to have the density of flesh and the center texture resembles bone.



Following the demonstration, a respectful ceremony is performed to care for the sword before it is put away. Touching the blade leaves behind salts and oils from the skin and can bring about rust. The blade is wiped clean with rice paper and is followed by tapping a powder ball up and down the blade. A clean piece of rice paper is then rubbed over the blade until it is clean and polished.





Keisuke Nishimura, dressed in the traditional Japanese pleated trousers (hakama) with a belt/sash (obi) and a loose fitting shirt (keikogi), came to Springfield with the Nawa-no-Kai group from Iseaki, Japan to share their beautiful traditions with the residents of sister city Springfield.

I will look forward to the 13th annual fall festival next year to learn and photograph the beautiful tea ceremony and the kimono demonstration. But in the mean time, I will continue to visit the peaceful Mizumoto Japanese stroll garden. I have made many memorable images from past visits and know the best images are yet to come.

TaeKwonDo brick-breaking demonstration

The Mizumoto Stroll Garden is one of my favorite places to visit not only for creating photos but for general relaxation and meditation.

Unfortunately this last weekend was certainly not the time for relaxation and meditation due to the crowds and strange characters that paid the park a visit for the 12th annual Fall Festival. Maybe I should have taken photos of the strange costumes some of the visitors wore . . . from a little bo peep look to a wolf dressed in camo military gear, but I chose instead to photograph the demonstrations -- TaeKwonDo, and the Iaido - Tameshigiri demonstrations.

The main photo I wanted to make during the TaeKwonDo demonstration was the brick breaking finale. I had no idea that the Master Instructor would end up with second degree burns and need a trip to the hospital. The bricks would not light and the alternate method of adding combustible cotton/charcoal fluid proved to be a dangerous choice because it appeared to splash and catch his sleeve and arm on fire. The audience seemed to think this was part of the show and kept cheering. My angle with the camera and the closeness of the crowd kept me from being able to photograph the entire sequence.



After Master Perry broke through the bricks, the fire spread up his sleeve.



He tried to stop the flames. But was unsuccessful.



James Sullivan came to his rescue and helped him off the stage to put out the flames. Perry was then taken to the hospital for treatment.



Prayers go out to Dan in hope of a speedy recovery.