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2010-11-27T07:50:00.000-05:00

Original Artwork For Sale | Art2bseen.com

Crossroads

2010-11-26T09:40:00.000-05:00

Crossroads
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

They were the happiest days of my childhood
The first ten years of my life.
I cling to those years so deep in my heart
for without them who would i be?

During those years I learned
To smile laugh and love
I was barefoot and carefree.

I leapt without fear
Into my world of imagination
And in my dreams
My world I conquered !

During these years the best of me was formed.

These were the worst years of my childhood
The next six years of my life
Malice animosity and fury
Broke down the doors of my perfect world

Resulting in disappointment and spitefulness
All that I had known suddenly disappeared !

I imagined dreamed and created a way to survive
Exhausted by the burdens of my peers
I began to drink and smoke.

During these years I formed a harden shell
Little did I know
It would mature into strength.

Alone and confused
I stood sadly in the center of my life
Rewinding and playing each aspect over and over again
I eagerly pondered my short life.

It was during this process that I became whole

All of my good had merged with my bad
The fog had lifted and the sun rose bold
My first theory was thought and understood !

You must know love
To enjoy happiness.

You must suffer disappointments
To gain strength.

You must embrace imagination
and the ability to dream

For without them ...

What is your motivation
To enjoy or survive
What life has to offer ?

AJLH 10-9-97

You Can Build It , But The Earth Will Claim It.

2010-11-26T09:39:00.001-05:00

You Can Build It , But The Earth Will Claim It.
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

Despite the intelligence of Homo sapiens
We will not last the test of time
The evolution of this planet will veto and override
Anything and everything we do

The temperatures will slowly rise
Glaciers will once again creep over the land
Its angry core will back build and explode with anger
Continents will shift
Land will be reclaimed by the oceans

This will occur over and over again
Each time all remaining forms of life
Start the journey of evolution over again

This cycle will continue,
Each one spanning millions of years

It will continue until its
Fiery core is slowly depleted.
Triggering a cycle of de-evolution
That will eventually lead to this planets death

AJLH 7-10-2010

Blurred Vission

2010-11-26T09:37:00.001-05:00

Blurred Vision
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

Step back And take a good look at your self
It will be more clear from a distance

Are your words & actions

Moving you closer towards love
Or farther from your true self?

AJLH 2-9-10

Selling Out

2010-11-26T09:35:00.001-05:00

Refers to the perception that someone is compromising their integrity, morality, or principles in exchange for money or "success"

It is commonly associated with attempts to tailor material to a mainstream audience.

Selling out is often seen as gaining success at the cost of credibility.

Artist Statement

2010-11-26T09:34:00.000-05:00

I 'm always nervous when it comes time to enter a show,my stomach knots up, and I question my talent left and right. Having no formal training as an artist, I often feel like an outsider or like a fish out of water.

But I love what I do, and the few awkward moments are worth it, when I'm lucky enough to win.

I try not to limit myself to only one art form, for my soul knows not the limits set by others. If my mind has the ability to imagine it, then my hands have the power to bring it to life.

Ones life should not be judged by levels of formal education, but measured by a persons true level of intellect, creativity, ability to set and achieve goals .

- Artist Anna Jean Lang Holmes

Artist Needs

2010-11-26T09:29:00.000-05:00

Artist Needs
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

Love can fade over time , trust can disapear in an instant ...

But the feeling you get when you look at a piece of artwork and know that it is done
can never be taken away.

The art may get sold , lost ,stolen or damaged ...
But that doesn't matter

After the point of creation the art has all ready given you the artist what you needed from it !

The Life Of A Painting

2010-11-26T09:25:00.001-05:00

The Life Of A Painting
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

Paintings have a beginning,but no real end. They come from within and go forth into the world.A never ending journey of creativity loved by some and hated by others.

A few we cling to forever they travel around with us from place to place like an old rag doll from our childhood.They are scratched ,dented, worn and tattered.Many are early paintings ,raw in form lacking composition , But we drag them around as a constant reminder of how far we have come.

Others we give away freely or barter with in times of need.Used as gifts or donations to support a cause.That's one of the best things about being an artist .You can always draw on your talent to brighten someone's day.

Some are pampered and shine in shows adorned with shiny ribbons & awards . Those that stand above receive privileged exhibits ,And the truly amazing ones hang in museums or a collectors home.

A over whelming urge to paint can lead an artist that's low on supplies to take drastic measures and on occasion they get painted over and become something new.

Often they are recycled dis guarded by those who hold no attachment to them.They are sold at yards sales , donated to thrift stores and sold in estate sales.

But Very rarely do they ever make it to the rubbish, someone always says :don't throw that away , are you crazy, I'll take that and off it goes to another world , another life , and a whole new chain of events.

-Anna Jean Lang Holmes
10-4-2009

A Human Conclusion

2010-03-15T08:58:00.002-04:00

A Human Conclusion
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

Do not judge others by what they think or feel inside , or by their good intentions contained with in them.

Judge them for their outward actions , that is a true reflection of ones charter.
for only cowards act in opposite of their true being.

- AJLH 10-20-09

LASTING MEMORIES

2010-03-15T08:58:00.001-04:00

Lasting Memories
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

In a time
When we can not run from death
Our hearts beat quickly
With the best intent

Our eyes flood with tears
Love with each one shed
Souls ache
When we can not run from death

Recalling every memory
Reserving spaces in our minds
Assuring every memory will live on through out our lives.

In a time
When we cannot run from death
Cherish every moment
With the best intent

Create another memory
With smiles and a laugh
It’s all that we can do
When we can not run from death.

DEARLY DEPARTED

2010-03-15T08:57:00.000-04:00

Dearly Departed
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

Trembling with fear
scared at heart
I feel to my knees
when I heard she passed on.

“She left us today “
were the words that I heard
It was unbelievable to me ,
that my mother was gone .

confused and discouraged
at life’s cruel path.
Yet relived and peaceful
that her suffering had past.

I fought with depression
until I set her free
With my very own hands
into the sea.

Hands covered with her dust
lay across my chest
Then wiped on my soul
her memory forever caressed.

TEMPORARY RESURRECTION

2010-03-15T08:56:00.001-04:00

Temporary Resurrection
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

Instantly she appeared before me
so tall and thin
her skin pale and soft
lightly dusted with freckles from the southern sun.

Her eyes sparkled as I eagerly ran towards her
She met me half way with poise and grace
A smile stretched across her face
She knelt to her knees
with a warm embrace.

Together we walked again
As the Atlantic surf tickled our toes
Echos of beach music
Floated in the wind
Hoots and hollars from the bingo parlor
Bounced across the waves.

Her arms held me tight
As we gently swayed back and forth on the Ferris wheel
On top of the world
Together we sat
Peering down on others
That looked like ants.

In shades of black and white
Her image flickers on the wall
silently I sit
Tears begin to flow.

Then click click click ...
Light on , That’s the end !

CROSSROADS

2010-03-15T08:53:00.000-04:00

Crossroads
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

They were the happiest years of my childhood
The first ten years of my life
I cling to those years so deep in my heart
For with out them who would I be?

During those years I learned to smile laugh and love
I was barefoot and carefree,
I leapt with out fear into my world of imagination
And in my dreams my world I concurred.
During these years the best of me was formed.

These are the worst years of my childhood
The next six years of my life
Malice animosity and fury broke down the doors
Of my perfect world

Resulting in disappointment and spitefulness
All I had known suddenly disappeared
I imagined, dreamed and created a way to survive
I began to write, paint, drink and smoke.

The carefree child had become a loner self -confined to her room
Where in here creations her world was once again the same.
During these years I formed a hardened shell
Little did I know it would mature into strength.

Alone and confused
I stood sadly in the center of my life
Rewinding and playing each aspect over and over again.
I eagerly pondered my short life.

It was during this process that I became whole.
All of my good had merged with my bad
The fog had lifted and the sun rose bold
My first theory was thought and understood.

You must know love to enjoy happiness,
You must suffer disappointments to gain strength,
You must embrace imagination and the ability to dream,

For without them…

What is your motivation to enjoy or survive,
What life has to offer?

- AJLH 2002

GIVE ME BLANK PAPER

2010-03-15T08:52:00.000-04:00

Give Me Blank Paper
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

Give me blank paper and I will fly free
I will explain all my feelings
And things that I’ve seen

With a pencil in my hand
you can pierce into my soul
Enter a world until now
Was unknown

With a paragraph on paper
You can walk in my shoes
Journey down a path
You may or may not know

With each page that I clutter
my life will unfold

You can learn from my mistakes
Laugh from my joys
Shed tears from my sadness
With out hearing my voice

Just give me blank paper
So I can fly free
I will expose and release all that is me.

AJLH 7.30.97

HYP-HYP-O-CRITES

2010-03-15T08:51:00.002-04:00

Hyp-Hyp-0-Crites
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

Do as I say . Not as I do !
That’s what I did
So what’s wrong with you ?

Just cut out my tongue
You won’t let me speak
My point is one
I know you would agree

I paint what I like
I write what I feel
I say what I think
And I do it all with care.

But no matter the subject
Their response is the same…
Just hush little girl
Don’t cause a fuss
Come join the club
Be hypocrites like us !

AJLH 4.96

ASSUMPTIONS

2010-03-15T08:51:00.001-04:00

Assumptions
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

Artistic talent is not solely a god given gift
as those without often assume.

With a shallow smile on my face aggravation builds with in me
Each time I hear “ How lucky you must be to have such a gift “

Gifts come wrapped in pretty paper and bows
You simply open them and they are yours
Such a gift , I have not been given.

The only gift I see in myself are the images that appear when I close my eyes
And everyone is capable of imagination to some degree.

My ability to transfer these images
Into a medium you can see or read
Are in no way a gift.

It is a complex layering
Of learned techniques
By method of instruction
Mistakes of trial and error

And at times the urge to try something totally off the wall .

Keep in mind…
A project only ends in success
When I am able to duplicate these images
Exactly as they appear in my mind

And for every one success
Ten or more failures
May have proceeded it
But were never seen.

Perhaps this is why others assume
It is a god given gift
That easily rolls from my finger tips.

AJLH 10-96

REINCARNATION

2010-03-15T08:50:00.000-04:00

Reincarnation
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

I look into the mirror
I see you standing there
Although the image is not exact
I see your spirit there.

I gaze onto my artwork
I thank you for your help
My eyes can not belive
What my hands have brought about.

I raise my voice sharply
At commotion in the house
Before I even know it
Your morals come blurting out.

Are you here with me ?
I Really need to know ...
Or did I as a child,
Hear the messages that you told.

AJLH 10-96

BLURRED VISION

2010-03-15T08:49:00.000-04:00

Blurred Vision
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

Step back
And take a good look at your self

It will be more clear from a distance

Are your words & actions

Moving you closer towards love
Or farther from your true self

AJLH 2-9-10

BY MY HANDS

2010-03-15T08:47:00.001-04:00

By My Hands
By Anna Jean Lang Holmes
Copyright © 2010 Art2bseen. All rights reserved.

(please excuse the caps ,I have copied & pasted this from my book file and my hands are to sore to re type it )

BY MY HANDS

I’M SMOKING IN A CREATIVE FRENZY
I EASILY DUPLICATE AND IMAGE IN MY MIND
UPON COMPLETION ...I CRACK MY KNUCKLES
STRETCH MY ARMS HIGH AND THEN WIDE
I TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND RELAXINGLY SIGH!
DEFENSIVELY HELD BETWEEN MY LIPS
I EAGERLY LIGHT A CIGARETTE
WITH EACH HAUL THAT I TAKE
I CRITIQUE MY OWN WORK
AS I PONDER MY COLORS OR CHOICE OF WORDS
IN MY HAND ANOTHER CIGARETTE BURNS !
SMOKE SPIRALS UPWARDS AIMLESSLY AND FREE
SO SIMILAR TO THE IMAGES IN MY MIND I SEE !
AT THE END OF THE DAY ...
MY HANDS ARE SORE , MY VOICE IS MARRED
AND TWO PACKS OF CIGARETTES
EMPTY THEY LAY
BESIDE THE CREATION OF A PRODUCTIVE DAY
DON’T LOOK TO MY FACE TO SEE WHO I AM
JUST TAKE A LOOK AT MY HARD WORKING HANDS .
HANDS COVERED WITH PAINT
SMUGGLED WITH INK
NICOTINE STAINS AND JOINTS THAT ACHE
THEY ARE THE KEY TO MY MIND
SO FRAGILE AND STRONG
CREATIVE AND SELF DESTRUCTIVE
MY HANDS SHOW IT ALL!

AJLH 10 -20-97

Chain Reaction Via Montessori

2009-10-21T14:31:00.006-04:00

By : Anna Jean Lang Holmes

There are people in the world that take simple ideas that they believe in and turn them into world wide revolutions, Such as Dr. Maria Montessori.

I knew very little about Dr. Maria Montessori until my sister decided to switch her career from political science to becoming a Montessori teacher. She asked me to create an image for a letter head that reflected Montessori teachings. No problem I said, give me a week.

So I started to play around with a few ideas and quickly realized I need to now more Dr. Maria Montessori in order to create a reflective image of her ideas. After three days of researching it was apparent to me, that I, myself could have benefited from attending Montessori schools growing up.

You see I’m naturally creative and through out my childhood people picked up on it, encouraged it but not nearly enough. I was forced a long hard path of developing my best skills on my own, while all my teachers were forcing me to develop skills they thought would be best for me.

After learning more about Dr. Maria Montessori I found it easy to create images in keeping with her teachings. The First one was titled Children Around The World and remains to be my best selling product to date.Today I created a new image titled Montessori Peace which has a lot of symbolism reflecting the principles of Montessori.You can find more of my Montessori Designs at either of my online shops : Art2bseen Affordable Gifts & Art2bseen Designer Gifts.

Helping my sister out with a simple favor helped me expand my knowledge on many levels.Funny how one event can start a chain reaction.If you would like to learn more about Dr. Maria Montessori Click here to read an informative short biography on her. Below I have listed a few of my favorite “Maria Montessori Quotes”

“The human hand allows the mind to reveal itself.”

“A man is not what he is because of the teachers he has had, but because of what he has done.”

“Children become like the things they love.”

“The greatness of the human personality begins at the hour of birth.”

“The child is both a hope and a promise for mankind.”

“Let us start with one very simple reflection: the child, unlike the adult, is not on his way to death. He is on his way to life.”

“Respect all the reasonable forms of activity in which the child engages and try to understand them.”

“And herein lies the art of the educator; in knowing how to measure the action by which we help the young child's personality to develop.”

“It is true that we cannot make a genius. We can only give to each child the chance to fulfill his potential possibilities.”

Feel free to share your thoughts and ideas about Dr. Maria Montessori or Montessori Teaching in general .I’d like to here what you think.

A Human Conclusion

2009-10-20T08:47:00.004-04:00

By: Anna Jean Lang Holmes

click to view more of my artwork

Do not judge others by what they think or feel inside , or by their good intentions contained with in them.

Judge them for their outward actions for that is a true reflection of ones charter.

For only cowards act in opposite of their true being.

- AJLH 10-20-09

The Man Behind The Numbers.

2009-10-18T14:20:00.016-04:00

By: Anna Jean Lang Holmes

My stepfather Thomas A. Hanson ,Was recently awarded The Lord Kelvin Award in Tel Aviv by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) .For his contributions in the field of fiber optics.

Simply put he is a magic man with numbers.

When I learned about the award I thought about all the people in the world like him. That work so passionately to solve problems that we all benefit from.

It was a bit overwhelming at first. So many people & so much work has been tediously tweaked out in numbers scribbled on miles of paper until solutions are solved.

So "Thumbs Up Tom" and to all the people like you in this world.
To learn more about his work check out the articles below my story.

The Battle Of Left & Right
By: Anna Jean Lang Holmes

I sit back and think of people that have come into my life at different points and try to compartmentalize the who, what, when, where's and whys. It's a copping mechanism I use to understand that most things in life happen for a reason. What are the pros and cons, the benefits or consequences of knowing them in my life?

When we met, we were faced with the typical power struggles often found between stepparents and stepchildren. As you might expect my stepfather & I are as opposite as left & right, I was a right brain creative and he was dominated by a technical left brain. This complicated things just a bit, but we found our way thought it by finding common interest.

One day there was a discussion about where to hang a painting in the home, It was a framed print of Van Gogh's sunflowers, I'm sure it was his because I had not seen it before. I just sat back thinking to myself "who cares where it hangs" like a typical young teen. Anyway it seemed to be important that in hang in the same room as the television. That evening at the dinner table I asked "what's the big deal about the art print anyway?" He simply said "It's one of Van Gogh's sunflowers and I like it". I had no idea who this Van Gogh guy was so I checked into it at the school library. From that day on I was truly hooked on Van Gogh's art. Thinking back on things now, I can see the importance of where the art print should hang and the irony of it all.

Vincent had quite an attachment to the flowers personally. In the year before his death he wrote to his brother 'It is a kind of painting that rather changes in character, and takes on a richness the longer you look at it…

This print hung on the wall opposite of his chair where he spent hundreds of hours littering miles of fold out computer paper with number after number. I can't help but wander if he found calm when gazing into Van Gogh's work, which allowed his mind to identify problems and find solutions in his own work.

He also introduced me to the work of MC Escher another favorite artist of mine. And again I had to explore this Escher guy at the school library .It didn't take me long to learn that he loved the math behind the work and I loved the image of the work. I also found Escher to be humors and intriguing as well as talented, as the quotes below reflect.

"Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible. I think it's in my basement... let me go upstairs and check"

"To have peace with this peculiar life; to accept what we do not understand; to wait calmly for what awaits us, you have to be wiser than I am"

M.C. Escher was a man studied and greatly appreciated by respected mathematicians, scientists and crystallographers yet he had no formal training in math or science. He was a humble man who considered himself neither an artist nor mathematician.

We continued to struggle, a constant tug of war between left and right. Both being a bit stubborn we marched on. Back then we were not totally surrounded by the modern marvels of today; We of course had a computer in the house, it was a Texas instruments keyboard hooked up to a television and it had a few games on it. But I was mostly used for programming and such.

We played a lot of board games while listening to music on a record player; he has an amazing collection of albums. I was born in 1968 and so my knowledge of music at the time consisted of southern rock, disco and pop .I had from time to time heard some of the music he listened to, but it really wasn't main stream. The more I listened to it the more I liked it. To this day when ever I hear a song by the Beatles I think of him.

I was in seventh grade when he taught me how to play backgammon; I instantly fell in love with the game. And as for us it was a positive way to battle. Backgammon is the perfect mixture of luck and skill, a balance of strategic moves and risk taking. Yet another common ground for the left and the right. He also taught me how to play other games which have been constant in my life. Such as Risk & Othello (reversi)

We continued to find common ground in art, games and music, and eventually we reached a clam understanding for one another. In some odd way I think we learned from one another.

So as you can see behind the numbers is a man, who introduced me to art, games & music? He opened my mind through simple things allowing me to truly find the talents of my right. In a sneaky manner opened my left allowing me to benefit from all that life has to offer.

POSTED: October 15, 2009
By : The Emmetsburg Reporter/Emmetsburg Democrat

Thomas Hanson
To Receive Lord Kelvin Award In Tel Aviv

Thomas A. Hanson, who grew up in Emmetsburg, has been invited to Tel Aviv, Israel, to receive the prestigious Lord Kelvin Award.

It is being presented at the general meeting of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on Oct. 20. The other two recipients are from Germany and Japan.

The IEC prepares international standards for all electrical, electronic and related technologies. Tom received one of the first IEC awards given to an American in 2004. It is called the 1906 Award marking the one hundredth anniversary of the founding of IEC in London.

Tom is honored by the Lord Kelvin Award in recognition of his substantial contributions to the IEC body of work in the telecommunications sector for optical communications.

He has been active in the IEC and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) for 25 years, attending international meetings.

Tom has been a key contributor, author, project leader and Convenor for the body of work on optical fiber and cable, as well as optical systems.

He has also ably served as a key liaison between IEC on corresponding work in the ITU ensuring smooth alignment and complimentary efforts at the international level.

Hanson is recognized as one of the world’s experts in fiber optics for strength and fatigue (reliability) and polarization mode dispersion (PMD), which limits the amount of information an optical fiber can carry.

In his conduct as a Convenor, Tom was exemplary in ensuring that all voices were heard. As a leader and contributor to the North American Standards group,
Tom was also instrumental in the development of a large volume of industry test and measurement procedures. His contributions were key to the modern communication systems which are based on optical fiber.

In his travels to meetings of the IEC and the ITU, Tom has visited most of the countries in Europe. He has been on every continent except Antarctica.

He found that Istanbul and Hanoi were the most interesting places. His favorite was Cork, Ireland.

Now retired, Hanson, who resides in Corning, NY, was Standards Engineering Manager and Engineering Associate at Corning Incorporated.

Tom holds a BS degree in mathematics from the University of Iowa and a MS degree in statistics from Iowa State University.

He is the son of Verna Hanson and the late Joseph Hanson of Emmetsburg. He graduated from Emmetsburg High School in 1970. Tom’s wife, RoxAnn, will be accompanying him to Tel Aviv.

July 24, 2009
International Electrotechnical Commission
Copyright © IEC 2009. All Rights Reserved.

IEC Lord Kelvin Awards to be presented at the 2009 General Meeting

Mr Thomas A. HANSON
(United States of America)

Tom Hanson is nominated for the IEC Lord Kelvin award in recognition of his substantial
contributions to the IEC body of work in the telecommunications sector for optical communications.

His efforts, directly and indirectly, have contributed to a large body of IEC work in one of the IEC’s
most prolific committees.

Tom has been a key contributor, author, project leader and convenor for the body of work on optical fibre and cable as well as optical systems.

He has also ably served as
a key liaison between IEC and corresponding work in ITU-T ensuring smooth alignment and
complementary efforts at the international level.

IEC INVOLVEMENT
Tom Hanson has been active in IEC work for over 25 years, starting as a member of the TC mirror
committee, working as a project expert, project leader and convenor principally in the field of Fibre
Optics under TC86.

Tom’s contributions to the success of the IEC are found in four principal areas:

First, Tom has authored or been a key contributor on most of the optical communications related
Standards, test methods, specifications and technical reports in TC86 and SC86A including the
60793 series, on optical fibres, and many of the IEC 60794 series as well.

Today these documents
are the foundation of a dynamic technical market, where the IEC work is a cornerstone for trade
and commerce.

Tom also has been a prolific author in the development of system level test
methods in IEC SC86C, and specifications as well as a series of technical guidelines in the IEC
61280 series.

Tom is recognized as one of the world’s experts in fibre optics for strength and
fatigue (reliability) and polarization mode dispersion (PMD), which limits the amount of information
an optical fibre can carry.

His math and statistical skills led to the development of much needed models and algorithms incorporated into IEC standards which addressed one roadblock or another faced by the industry.

Tom is also recognized as a metrology expert serving as an expert for TC86/ WG4 on Calibration as well as a leading contributor to the TC86 Ad-Hoc on Multimode Bandwidth Launch Conditions.
Second, at the international level.

Tom served as Convenor of SC86C / WG1 on Fibre Optic Communication Systems and Sub-systems, helping to bridge the interface between the IEC
community of manufacturers and the external groups of users.

Documents written by Tom or under the guidance of his WG facilitated the use of other IEC test methods and specifications.

User guides and technical reports documented limitations and their mitigations for a new and rapidly
emerging technology. In his conduct as a Convenor,
Tom was exemplary in ensuring that all voices
were heard and consensus reached. In one case, a contentious issue arose with two differing
points of view.

It was an important technical issue, understood by only a handful of experts worldwide, and the inability to reach agreement would impact the markets.

Tom took the time to deconvolve the proposals made by each proponent, analyzed them in detail, pointed out errors and omissions to each and brought them back to the next WG meeting to achieve consensus on an important IEC standard.

Third, Tom served as the liaison between IEC and several external groups to explain promote and
harmonize the alignment of our body of work in the IEC with those groups and to ensure that, in
the preparation of the IEC work, their needs and concerns were clearly heard.

Tom was the liaison between IEC TC86, SC86A and SC86C to ITU-T SG15 on Optical Transport.

His efforts were key in ensuring that IEC TC86 Standards are widely referenced in the ITU-T SG15 Recommendations.

He also deserves much credit for ensuring that many of the discontinuities that emerged between
the systems Recommendations in ITU and the Product Standards in IEC were reconciled.

Fourth, at the national committee level, Tom has been a proponent for the IEC work in the mirror
committee of TC86 and its subcommittees for over 25 years, and chair of the SC86A mirror
committee for approximately 13 years.

In addition, Tom has been a member of the National
Committee mirror body for the SMB since its creation.

He has been instrumental in facilitating
effective NC involvement at the expert level and led the NC efforts to rewrite the mirror committee
policy and process rules.

Tom was one of the first recipients awarded the IEC 1906 award by TC86 at its inception in 2004.

OTHER STANDARDIZATION ACTIVITIES
As noted previously, Tom has been an effective liaison and ambassador for TC86 work to and from
other IEC committees, national standards groups and external groups including ITU-T.

Tom has served in an expert capacity for some work undertaken in IEEE 802 on modelling and
limitations of optical transmission.

Tom has served as Rapporteur of ITU-T SG15 (Optical Transport) Question 5 on Optical Fibres
and Cables for approximately seven years.

Tom has also served as chair and subsequently vice chair of the Telecommunications Industry
Association Subcommittee TC42.12 on Optical Fibers and Cables and in its predecessor body,
FO-4.2. As a leader and contributor of a key North American Standards group,

Tom was also instrumental in the development of a large volume of industry test and measurement procedures known as FOTPs. These documents preceded the IEC work and served the industry well before agreement was reached on IEC standards. Subsequent to the publication of IEC test procedures,

Tom was instrumental in replacing many of the FOTPs with identical national adoptions of the IEC
document.

PROFESSIONAL / STANDARDIZATION ASSOCIATIONS MEMBERSHIP

Tom has been recognized by his employer,
Corning Incorporated, by being named an Engineering Associate.

This distinction is awarded to a limited number of employees for the body and impact of their contributions and is selected by a peer review process.

GENERAL
Tom holds a bachelor's degree in mathematics from the University of Iowa and received a master's
degree in statistics from Iowa State University.

2009-10-16T17:46:00.003-04:00

CROSSROADS
By: Anna Jean Lang Holmes

They were the happiest years of my childhood
The first ten years of my life
I cling to those years so deep in my heart
For with out them who would I be?

During those years I learned to smile laugh and love
I was barefoot and carefree,
I leapt with out fear into my world of imagination
And in my dreams my world I concurred.
During these years the best of me was formed.

These are the worst years of my childhood
The next six years of my life
Malice animosity and fury broke down the doors
Of my perfect world

Resulting in disappointment and spitefulness
All I had known suddenly disappeared
I imagined, dreamed and created a way to survive
I began to write, paint, drink and smoke.

The carefree child had become a loner self -confined to her room
Where in here creations her world was once again the same.
During these years I formed a hardened shell
Little did I know it would mature into strength.

Alone and confused
I stood sadly in the center of my life
Rewinding and playing each aspect over and over again.
I eagerly pondered my short life.

It was during this process that I became whole.
All of my good had merged with my bad
The fog had lifted and the sun rose bold
My first theory was thought and understood.

You must know love to enjoy happiness,
You must suffer disappointments to gain strength,
You must embrace imagination and the ability to dream,

For without them…

What is your motivation to enjoy or survive,
What life has to offer?

AJLH 2002

The Life Of A Painting

2009-10-04T15:14:00.005-04:00

Paintings have a beginning,but no real end. They come from within and go forth into the world.A never ending journey of creativity loved by some and hated by others.

A few we cling to forever they travel around with us from place to place like an old rag doll from our childhood.They are scratched ,dented, worn and tattered.Many are early paintings ,raw in form lacking composition , But we drag them around as a constant reminder of how far we have come.

Others we give away freely or barter with in times of need.Used as gifts or donations to support a cause.That's one of the best things about being an artist .You can always draw on your talent to brighten someone's day.

Some are pampered and shine in shows adorned with shiny ribbons & awards . Those that stand above receive privileged exhibits ,And the truly amazing ones hang in museums or a collectors home.

A over whelming urge to paint can lead an artist that's low on supplies to take drastic measures and on occasion they get painted over and become something new.

Often they are recycled dis guarded by those who hold no attachment to them.They are sold at yards sales , donated to thrift stores and sold in estate sales.

But Very rarely do they ever make it to the rubbish, someone always says :don't throw that away , are you crazy, and off it goes to another world , another life , and a whole new chain of events.

-Anna Jean Lang Holmes
10-4-2009

The Truth The Whole Truth & Nothing But The Truth.

2009-04-01T11:15:00.004-04:00

People often underestimate the power of truth.Twisting and turning it into a warped version of what they believe is reality.Truth and reality are not the same.Truth is an action of honest accounts of a thought, feeling or event.Reality is what the thought ,feeling or event, in fact are.(AJLH 2009)

When the mind's eye rests on objects illuminated by truth and reality, it understands and comprehends them, and functions intelligently. But when it turns to the twilight world of change and decay, it can only form opinions, its vision is confused and its beliefs shifting, and it seems to lack intelligence. (Plato)

Everything is easier in this world when one knows the truth.Life is complicated by untruths.Nothing is real when built on lies, therefore nothing good can come of it.

It is a lonely path for one to walk , a never ending journey of self destruction.,that kills ones soul .

It is possible to murder with the truth.

Denying realism amounts to megalomania ( Karl Popper, 1975)

meg·a·lo·ma·nia
Function:noun
Etymology:New Latin
Date: 1887

1 : a mania for great or grandiose performance
2 : a delusional mental disorder that is marked by feelings of personal omnipotence and grandeur.

True knowledge of physical reality provides us with an absolute foundation for working out the truth for ourselves

Pathological Liar
A pathological liar is usually defined as someone who lies incessantly to get their way and does so with little concern for others. Pathological lying is often viewed as coping mechanism developed in early childhood and it is often associated with some other type of mental health disorder. A pathological liar is often goal-oriented (i.e., lying is focused - it is done to get one's way). Pathological liars have little regard or respect for the rights and feelings of others. A pathological liar often comes across as being manipulative, cunning and self-centered.

Compulsive Liar
A compulsive liar is defined as someone who lies out of habit. Lying is their normal and reflexive way of responding to questions. Compulsive liars bend the truth about everything, large and small. For a compulsive liar, telling the truth is very awkward and uncomfortable while lying feels right. Compulsive lying is usually thought to develop in early childhood, due to being placed in an environment where lying was necessary. For the most part, compulsive liars are not overly manipulative and cunning (see, Pathological Liar), rather they simply lie out of habit - an automatic response which is hard to break and one that takes its toll on a relationship

Family Inspires My Creativity

2009-03-09T05:48:00.031-04:00

By Anna Jean Lang Holmes

Meet my Uncle "Rob”, He’s a vintage do it yourselfer, I feel in love with his woodworking back in the late 70's & early 80’s. While visiting with my Grandparents I often tagged along to craftsmen shows & festivals with my uncle Rob.

His inlay work was amazing , smooth rounded modern look with an earthy style to his designs. He is the author of several “Shop Drawings " books about furniture and interiors of the Arts & Crafts Movement of the early 1900s. My grandparents “Poppy Bill & Granny Jean " (his parents Bill & Jean Lang) weren’t the type to tell children "don't do that" you might get hurt , instead they encouraged everyone to try new things.

I learned a lot of my skills hanging out in the basement workshop watching and trying out what the adults were making. It was wonderful because everyone enjoyed different hobbies so you became a well rounded apprentice.

He now works as the Senior Editor for Popular Woodworking and enjoys what he does for a living.

"Uncle Rob" has inspired much of my woodworking,
I remember when he saw my first completed relief carving titled: Clown Fish Follies.

At first he was like " WOW that is really nice work Jeannine " , and of course the 2nd thing he said was" what tools did you use ? "

I went and grabbed a box that contained the tools I used which included the oddest things (a steak knife, razor blades, kitchen forks , dollar store chisels , a ancient rotary tool , sand paper tapped to various odds and ends for detailed sanding , and a cheap wood burning tool )

I made the comment to him “Woodworking is very hard on the hands "It seems I had caused some minor nerve damage to my hands overworking them with such horrible tools. That following Christmas he surprised me with a box a of more sophisticated woodworking tools which allowed me to refine my skills and save my hands from further pain.

I was the happiest girl in the world ! I quickly started my next project Titled : Song Of The Sparrows , An Asian themed table top , the design was inspired by my " Poppy Bill " (Bill Lang) and his world travels.

He would bring me back art related gifts from all around the world , as I grew older he began buying instructional books that reflected the culture of his travels. My favorites were the books from Asia on sumie ink painting.

I feel extremely lucky to have wonderful people who not only support but encourage me to create whatever my mind can think of . To view more about my art , click here .