Happy Reformation Day Eeryone!

Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter.

In the Name our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

1. Our Lord and Master Jesus Christ, when He said Poenitentiam agite, willed that the whole life of believers should be repentance.

2. This word cannot be understood to mean sacramental penance, i.e., confession and satisfaction, which is administered by the priests.

3. Yet it means not inward repentance only; nay, there is no inward repentance which does not outwardly work divers mortifications of the flesh.

4. The penalty [of sin], therefore, continues so long as hatred of self continues; for this is the true inward repentance, and continues until our entrance into the kingdom of heaven.

5. The pope does not intend to remit, and cannot remit any penalties other than those which he has imposed either by his own authority or by that of the Canons.

6. The pope cannot remit any guilt, except by declaring that it has been remitted by God and by assenting to God's remission; though, to be sure, he may grant remission in cases reserved to his judgment. If his right to grant remission in such cases were despised, the guilt would remain entirely unforgiven.

7. God remits guilt to no one whom He does not, at the same time, humble in all things and bring into subjection to His vicar, the priest.

8. The penitential canons are imposed only on the living, and, according to them, nothing should be imposed on the dying.

9. Therefore the Holy Spirit in the pope is kind to us, because in his decrees he always makes exception of the article of death and of necessity.

10. Ignorant and wicked are the doings of those priests who, in the case of the dying, reserve canonical penances for purgatory...

To continue with Luther's theses go here. Or here.

Music News

If in need of good music look no further than Over the Rhine's Trumpet Child. It is wonderful (the title track is stirring) and can be found here.

An outpouring

6While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, 7a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
8When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. 9"This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
10Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 11The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. 12When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. 13I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her. Matt. 26:6-13

The notes on my Bible said that the Greek for "beautiful" in v. 10 has an aesthetic meaning to it not just ethical. That made me think about how some things don't have to be deep and profound but can just be beautiful. But perhaps it can't be beauty for it's own sake but rather must be an outpouring of love for God. Take for example the stars, they are beautiful and Psalms 19 even says that

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
2 Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
3 There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard. [a]
4 Their voice [b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
5 which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

So are they not beautiful for their own sake but rather are beautiful because they are pouring out the praises of God?

As a side note look how both passages say that the acts are lasting "There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard. [a]4 Their voice [b] goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world." or "Wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."

Thoughts? Gross theological errors?

I Can't Think of a Good Title For This Post so Here is the Post

Thanks to Opus for bringing this piece of art into the open, but Opus found it here first.

Brotherly Love in the Ancient Near East

As for the problems between us, I suggest that the fault may not lie with ourselves but with our messengers; let us bring them to trial, cut off their heads, mutilate their bodies, and live henceforth in perfect friendship.
Excerpt from a letter from king Hattusilis of the Hittites to the King of Ahhiyawa c. 1260 B.C.

Isn't it good to know that is all that it takes to get along?

New stuff from the DOA

Behold! A new video from the Dorks Of America so good it will knock your socks off.

And this is just one in a series of eight films. Now you have something to look forward to in this world.

School

I thought school was supposed to increase your knowledge of things, not make the brain incapable of forming cohesive thoughts and sentences.
I really hope it is just the first couple of weeks that make me feel like this.

Since I've Been Gone (You Can Breathe For The First Time)

Two very talented artists have passed away. (Here and here.)

The locals have been out getting a good rain tan. (Here and here.)

School is becoming more of a reality the closer it gets.

Jeffery Overstreet has released a new book to the world.

I became a paintball master. Or I went for half an hour, I forget.

And since I can't post without one enjoy this video.

Victory

Today, I got to join the problem instead of being part of the solution to the environmental woes of this world:
I now have my driver's license. Also: while pulling out of the DMV after the test I turned wide. Ironic isn't it?

With great power comes great responsibility.

September

I would just like to mention that today is the first day of the best month of the year.

Incoming Good Movie Alert

This next week Pixar's Ratatouille comes out. And if you were a little put off by the plot subject (a rat becoming a chef?) don't be. See, rave reviews here, and here. This naturally means we should all go see it. Of course we would anyway because it is directed by Brad "Incredibles" Bird. And it's a Pixar movie. So go see it.

Farewell Good Friends; For Now

I'm leaving for camp in the morning so unless I am feeling crazy enough to post on the weekends I will be signing out from Blogger until August 28. I'll see you then!

(Camp! Woo-Hoo!)

Questions You Can Only Think Up If You Are A TV Junkie

If you're in a bind who do you call: Jack,
Jack,

Or maybe Jack?
If you can't tell I've been watching more TV than I usually do.

Alphebet You.

A]- ANY FAVORITE MOVIES?: Lord of The Rings, Serenity, Man Without A Past,...
B]- BIRTHDAY: Why yes I do have a birthday. I'm so glad you asked. You can get me presents if you like. I also agree with Foolish Knight's rant: "(By the way, I strongly dislike the dating system used in the United States. Few things about the country of my birth infuriate me more than our month/day/year dating system. Doesn't Europe's day/month/year make so much more sense? Seriously.)"
C] - CRUSHING?: Well I'm sitting on a chair at the moment. So you could say I am crushing the chair.
D] - DRINK YOU LAST HAD: Water.
E] - EASIEST PERSON TO TALK TO: Hm.
F] - FAVORITE MUSIC GROUP: U2; followed closely by The Arcade Fire
G] - GUMMY BEARS OR GUMMY WORMS: Bears all the way.
H]- HOMETOWN: Have you ever asked an MK this question before?
I]- INSTRUMENT(s): Kazoo. (I'm actually pretty good on the kazoo.)
J] - JUICE: Black Currant
K] - KILLED SOMEONE: No. Unless Halo alter egos count. If that is the case then yes.
L] - LONGEST CAR RIDE: Oregon to Georgia via Canada (Look at a map to see how absurd that statement is.)
M] - MIXED FEELINGS ON: Patriotism
N] - NUMBER OF SIBLINGS: Three
O] - ONE WISH: To find a living dinosaur in some jungle somewhere.
P] - PERSON WHO CALLED YOU LAST: My brother.
R] - REASONS TO SMILE: See here.
S] - SONG YOU LAST HEARD: "Discotheque" by U2. (Well, not really. Strains of Divine Discontent were coming from the bathroom after I listened to "Discotheque".)
T] - TIME YOU WOKE UP: 6:45 or so.
U] - UNDERWEAR: The definition is here if you want to know.
V]- VEGETABLE(S): Tomatoes are bad. Most of the time. Spinach is good.
W]- WORST HABIT: Back seat driving.
X] - X-RAYS YOU'VE HAD: My manly chest. (As I say it with a smirk on my face.) But since this question has been changed:
X] - XENOPHOBIC?: I should hope not considering where I live.
Y] - YOUR FAVORITE ANIMAL: The orca, cheetahs, tigers, dinosaurs and kangaroos.
Z] - ZAFFER OR ZAIBATSU?: Zaffer.

100 Movies, 100 Quotes, 100 Numbers

Thanks to Mr. Overstreet at Looking Closer for this amazing video.

On Fairy-Stories

Let us not divide the human race into Eloi and Morlocks: pretty children --"elves" as the eighteenth century often idiotically called them -- with their fairy-tales (carefully pruned), and dark Morlocks tending their machines. If fairy-story as a kind is worth reading at all it is worthy to be written for and read by adults. They will, of course, put more in and get more out than children can. Then, as a branch of genuine art, children may hope to get fairy-stories fit for them to read and yet within their measure; as they may hope to get suitable introductions to poetry, history, and the sciences. Though it may be better for them to read some things, especially fairy-stories, that are beyond their measure rather than short of it. Their books like their clothes should allow for growth, and their books at any rate should encourage it.

J.R.R. Tolkien from his essay "On Fairy-Stories".

Random Musings of The Blogger Why Vol. 2

Honey and grapefruit make a delicious snack.

The short stories Monday and A Brilliant Idea And His Own (by Mark Helprin) are both very satisfying stories.

The change of both weather and feel around here between early March and April is wonderful.

One week of chemistry left. Rejoice!

I just realized that I put up a post in this exact same style three hundred sixty-six days ago.

If you just can't wait for Spider-Man 3 to come out and need a comic book fix check this site out. (Caution: There is violence despite what it may look like on the surface)

That's all folks.

Happy Easter. (Edit)

Easter is here and apart from being a very exciting, important and fun day I don't have anything to say about it that hasn't been said before. But thankfully there are other people with fresh words on the subject. So if you would like to read them they are: here, here and here. O, and here too.
Happy Easter to all and to all a good night for Christ is risen indeed.

Also, see My Old Sketchbook for the Easter series by Eriol.

Chemistry

I'm taking chemistry this year and as such I am drawn to science in conjunction with the news. (Whether by just wanting to know what I am learning about or by genuine interest in the subject can vary from case to case). But nonetheless because of said interest this website grabbed my interest immediately. Seeing the effects that DHMO has on the environment and individuals is mind blowing.
Go check out the site. Be an informed citizen.

Another Cool Internet Video (I should start making these installments)

Neon Bible

The other day I purchased the new Arcade Fire album Neon Bible. Arcade Fire's previous album, Funeral, set a very high standard for their next album and I think they have met that standard. I wont write a review (that is not my strong point) but if you want to see what a professional thinks of Neon Bible you can look here. Also here are some of my favorite tracks from the album:
"Keep The Car Running"
"Intervention"
"The Well And The Lighthouse"
"Windowsill"
"No Cars Go"

Go listen and enjoy.

New blogs

There are a few new bloggers in the midst so why not go out and give them a warm welcome. They are:
Germo at Fickle Fidelity, Spork at Blazing Iron, and SpillandSpell at Children of The Burning Heart
Go forth and make welcome.

?

This link is to bizarre to explain so you should just go here and tell me what you think.

I didn't know you could do that with a treadmill.

Best music video I've seen since Did I Step On Your Trumpet?.
O.K. Go Here It Goes Again

The first of the series mentioned below

The first movie scene I would like to talk about is from the shortest of the movies I will be mentioning in this series. It is the chase scene from Pirates: Season 1, Episode Seven. This movie is the finale of the season fraught with trouble for our heroes Johnny and Roger. One of the most disheartening problems was when the Man in the Sombrero took their treasure map. After a series of adventures featuring seagulls and a knight they once again face their enemy the Man in the Sombrero. They fought with him and almost beat him but then he takes off running. And it is then that one of the best chases since What's Up Doc? begins.
When Johnny and Roger are chasing the Man in the Sombrero around the building trying to get the map back; it excites me every time I see them. Particularly when the Pirates go in and out of doors chasing their nemesis. The best of door switches is when the Man in the Sombrero runs into Roger, knocks him down, and as they chase him through one door he comes out another while their still going through the first. Such brilliant editing. Then when all seems lost Johnny flings the Magic Pig towards their adversary and brings him down.
I think the scene excites me so much because I was on the set when it was being filmed and I couldn't really see this working out to be as amazing as it is. It is a scene that is not only edited magnificently but also is so heroic that I can't help but like it.

Over and over.

I like movies. That is probably evident from the side bar and other posts in the past. And there are some movies that I love so much to watch them repeatedly would be a treat and not a curse. But within those movies are scenes that just suck me in, make me happy or give me the shivers. The kind of images that when you think back on the movie you think of this scene.
Over the next few days (weeks maybe) I would like to mention some film scenes that strike me in the ways mentioned above and why they do what they do.
It would be very professional of me to put up the first of said movies up tonight but I am tired and would like to go to bed so now the first installment is pending. Stay tuned for further updates.

My diploma

For not having my diploma yet I think that this is pretty positive

You paid attention during 91% of high school!

85-100% You must be an autodidact, because American high schools don't get scores that high! Good show, old chap!

Do you deserve your high school diploma?
Create a Quiz

Thanks to Katie for finding this.
Question: What does autodidact mean?

Edit: I took the Genius quiz. Much harder. So if your looking for a challenge you know where to find it.

Blog changes

I made the big jump from "Classic" to "Not Beta anymore" tonight so bear with me while I edit the page to taste. If you have any suggestions or recommendations do not hesitate to leave a comment about it.

Link City

It has been a while since I went on a link spree so here you go.

If you have been looking for the best videos on the web go here.
If you need to have some music to jig to go here.
If you are looking for insightful music reviews and thoughts from the heart go here.
And to add your vote the Knight's poll of 25 favorite movies go here.

That's all folks.

Arcade Fire

Listen to the new Arcade Fire single Intervention here.

25 things to do with my life.

Number One: Know what I am doing with my life.
2. Get to stay for at least a month in all seven continents. (That's right: Antarctica.)
3. Draw something really, really amazing. Like gallery good.
4. Have Spider-Man powers. The thing with this one is then I have to use them right. Oh well, at least then I would have an answer to number one.
5. Get married.
6. Have kids.
7. Be a fantastic father and husband.
8. Learn Korean. The Korean language has a really cool alphabet.
9. FIND A LIVING DINOSAUR AND NOT BE KILLED BY IT. Seriously. Think how cool it would be to find one.
10. Own the Millennium Falcon or Serenity or both. (The real ones)
11. To be really good on some instrument, I don't really care that much just one.
12. To be a part of a gold medal winning Slovak hockey team.
13. Ride in a bobsled.
14. Have a horse in my possession (that I didn't steal) with some wide open space to ride really fast.
15. Ride in an F-4 Phantom jet.
16. Spend extended periods of time with my friends from Slovakia; in Slovakia; in the Tatras. 17. Own a functioning light saber. (Once again, the real kind. That does all the cool things)
18. Have a thriving relationship with God.
19. Drive a really fast car on a straightaway.
20. Be a part of a Mere Image movie. Preferably the Sword movie. Just with a budget this time. Maybe even with actors. I didn't say the MI people had to act.
21. Resolve Middle-Eastern conflict with a non-violent solution.
22. Get enough hours for my license.
23. Have free, non-expiring, always working-wherever-I-go, insurance for that license.
24. Be in a boat and see a whole big pod of Killer-Whales go swimming by breaching like crazy. 25. Destroy banner/pop-up ads.

There you have it. Once again I will break the ruthless cycle of tagging and tag no one

Oi!

While roaming the artificial world known as the internet I came upon a very scary thing.
Something like 40% of the people I know have MyS-----. It is a very scary realization seeing how much I hate it. You know what was really weird? i was looking at one persons "friends" list I saw one person that I knew and while looking at their "friends" list I saw a camp person. It was very strange. Now if you'll excuse me I think I need to read some Dostoevsky or something.

Snow

It's on nights like this that I really hate concrete and cars. You know, when it's snowing and you think "what fun" and then it hits the concrete and melts completely. And cars only make it worse, just think of all the pollution they are putting into the air, heating the air temperature and slowing down snow fall. If there were no cars there would be no concrete then the first problem would be taken care of, unfortunately-and fortunately- there are automobile in existence so I guess I will just have to come to terms with my fate and deal with it.
Although this doesn't mean that I still won't hope that it snows so much that all the roads close and the only way to get around is to walk or sled. That would be fun times. Alas that I live in a temperate rain forest. In any case my sentiment remains the same: Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.

Driving

As you know I got my permit a few months back. And I would have to say that, aside from nearly wrecking the car two times tonight, things are going rather well.


Seriously now, everything is okay it's just part of the experience needed to drive well. I suppose it's like what somebody once said concerning horseback riding "If you haven't fallen off yet, you haven't been riding very long."
Time will tell how this whole driving thing works out in the meantime a word of advice: Don't shift into neutral when you're about to go at an intersection. It doesn't work out very well.

With that I bid you "Good night."

The need for proof-readers made known again.

While browsing this site I followed one of the links taking me to this Amazon movie page. I read who directed the movie and was amazed to see it wasn't who I thought it was.

P.S. It shouldn't be how it is.

Clothing

Last night I made a statement and was then told rather sarcastically to put it on my bloc. Being the obedient person I am I have decided to what that person told me to do.


Khaki shorts are the most wonderful clothing item in the world.
Think about it, you can do nearly everything in them and they don't look dirty. You can wear them to church, an Ultimate Frisbee game, or a small state function. Through rain, or snow, or sleet, or hail through the thunder; through the gale, they will get through.

Star Wars Lego Symphany

If you like (A)Star Wars, (B)Legos, or (C)all of the above; this is the video for you.

Music Rising

Watch the video (or more like stills from the video) of U2 and Green Day performing at the Superdome for Music Rising and the re-opening of the stadium here. (RealOne player required).
There's definitely a reason both these bands are so popular, so with them together the sound is spectacular.

An Announcement

I despise MyS---e with a fiery burning passion that the world has never dreamed of. Why? I'm not totally sure, but I do.

Apparently I got tagged so...

Four Jobs I've had in my life:
1. Crew
2. Janitor
3. Raking leaves by the thousand
4. Various jobs

Four movies I would watch over and over
1. Serenity (This movie is really that good)
2. Monty Python and The Holy Grail
3. The Lord of The Rings: The Return of The King
4. The Incredibles

Four places I have lived
1. Portland, Oregon
2. Budapest, Hungary
3. Palmer Lake, CO
4. Atlanta, GA

Four TV shows I love to watch
1. Get Smart
2. Monk
3. Firefly
4. Jeopardy


Four places I have been on vacation
1. Poland
2. Venice
3. The Czech Republic
4. Hannibal, Missouri


Four of my favorite foods
1. Chinese
2. Pizza (Of the good variety
3. My Mumsie's Chili
4. That Salad with the Top Raman that my Mother used to make in Hungary


Four places I would rather be right now
1. Slovakia
2. Antarctica (No particular reason, just because it would be cool to be there.)
3. Prague (Perhaps Krakow)
4. A really BIG section of Russia with a video camera in hand

Four things I always carry with me
1. My visual boosters
2. My Leatherman® Micra™
3. My watch (every summer I have a tan line where my watch lies)
4. My Spleen

Four friends that I think will respond (not really relevant; unless you decide to make it so, I guess)
1. Well guess what. I'm not going to make anyone feel responsible to respond to this and leave this spot blank


Four albums I could listen to until those darn cows come home
1. Funeral
2. Pop
3. New Way to be Human
4. How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb

Four writers that have changed my life (or at least caused me to jump up and say AMEN quite loudly)
1. Matthew
2. Fyodor Dostoevsky
3. Paul
4. J. R. R. Tolkien (Maybe not Tolkien but all the same I love The Lord of The Rings)


Four dead people who are also my heroes
1. I don't really have anyhero'ss, so I think this spot will remain blankuntill further notice.
2.
3.
4

Four things I'd grab from a fire
1. My glasses
2. My wallet
3. The blanket
4. My Bible.

Four books I've read twice, or more:
1. The Lord of The Rings
2. The Bellmaker
3. Clifford the Big Red Dog (No shame)
4. The Man Who Was Thursday

Four Musicians I'd like to see Live:
1. U2
2. The Arcade Fire
3. Switchfoot
4. Another U2 concert

Four Favorite Video/computer Games
1. Age Of Empires II: The Age of Kings, Expansion
2. Battlefront 2
3. Command HQ
4. Gizmos and Gadgets/Halo 2

And now since I am quite the nerd:
Four Favorite Super Hereos
1. Spider-Man
2. Jack-Jack (So he's not one yet but when he is one he will be really cool)
3. Nightcrawler (I know almost nothing about him but hey, he was really cool in the movie)
4. Batman (Same state as Nightcrawler)

That's all folks now you are all un-tagged.

U2 single

Keeping with the tradition of putting up lots of links I have found a new U2 single/music video. Watch it here.

Post

Yes I am alive and yes there is a post coming, just let me catch my thoughts.

Firefly

So I'm always talking about how great a movie Serenity is. Now, hear the theme song for the TV show that started all this.

Watch out.

Beware. I might not have a ticket to ride but I've got a permit to drive.

Best and worst tech inventions of all time.

The people at PC World apparently got together to give us a list of the best and worst tech inventions of all time. Being a Mac guy myself and living in the time of the iPod a lot of these were before my time but they are still a neat history of what has happened since that first 8-track player in the car. So first we have the 25 worst here, then the 50 best here. Read all it is quite interesting.
And here is an article I found while looking for the 50 best.

June is coming.

Yes June is coming and we all know what that means, that's right, it's a World Cup year! I know you thought I was going to talk about camp but there are more important things right, like football (and not the weak sauce American kind either) no this is the real thing here in all unrefined glory. There are a couple cool links I would like to show you but due to the computer I am using I can't. So I'll just give you the URL and you can work from there.
First: U2 does football here. http://www.u2.com/news/index.php?mode=full&news_id=1941

Next read the words of a writer at National Geographic here: http://www7.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0606/feature1/index.html

Finally, Nike and the Brazilian Football team get together for the sake of football and shoes here: http://nikefootball.nike.com/nikefootball/siteshell/global_assets/update/index.jsp?check=flash

Pop

I guess since I have been raving about Pop I should post something of a review though it is more like a story, sort of. For starters I will be basing this review on the alternate title of this work of art: The Prodigal Son Wakes Up in The Pig's Stall Wondering What in The World Happened. So without further introduction I present to you U2's Pop.

Pop opens in the thick of the Prodigal son's life of pleasure enjoying himself at the Discotheque but now something is different, he has now encountered something different, something he cannot buy and cannot direct. This begins the Prodigal's discomfort but is not enough to drive him home for we see in the next track that he is right back at it.
In Do You Feel Loved we find the Prodigal back to his old tricks this time in the arms of a lady friend but in the back of his mind the question keeps coming "Do you feel loved? Do you feel loved?” The Prodigal tries to drown it out but the question keeps coming.
Mofo opens with the Son looking around wondering if there is something more to the world he lives in than wine, women and fun. And with more inspection he sees the uglier sides of life and this realization sends him looking for security but in his poor world the only thing that he can even think is his mother but even the comforting love he seeks he has separated from himself.
In his mixed up state the Prodigal looks at the church for hope but only sees the ceremony and tradition and the things wrong with it. He asks If God Will Send His Angels would everything be alright and decides not, that it will be up to the blind to lead the blond and no hope can be found there.
Going out in search of a real experience the Prodigal tries nearly everything to find something real including Staring At The Sun just to feel something, anything. Like a hero from a dystopian novel he feels that what he has been doing is not real so he looks to everything just to find truth, not the only one staring at the sun happy to go blind.
In Last Night On Earth the Prodigal, perhaps disappointed at the failure of his quest (implied, not stated), goes back to his life of pleasure just to find that the whole thing is a sham. The girls are living lies and are racking up debt that they can never pay back. Even though he exposed himself for just a little while to the outside world he can't go back to the illusions of grander that the world offered him.
Immediately following this song is Gone the Prodigal's "See you later world" as he breaks out of the world and makes a run for it. And at the end of the song he makes one last plea for his friend to come with him and escape, but seeing that she is not coming he breaks lose not to be seen again.
Miami begins with the Son's entry of that little town on his way home and here he experiences his biggest temptation to just stop, give it all up and just hang out in Miami, and live a life of leisure and pleasure that is just waiting for him to snatch up.
But the call of Miami isn't enough when the Son thinks about what it all really is and what he would have to be. The two-faced life he would have to live is something he can't do. The entrance into The Playboy Mansion, which might have once been a sick dream come true mere weeks earlier, he can no longer aspire to. He now sees that he doesn't have (or want) what it takes to enter. Instead he hopes for the house where there will be time of sorrow, no time of shame.
In If You Wear That Velvet Dress the Prodigal is plugging his way along the hard trail home, late at night the he starts to remember his old love from back home. The true love that he could never feel with the way he was living while away from home. He considers the exclusive love he was a part of with that beau. Thinking to their close times together under the moon when all was quiet and peaceful.
Please has the son along the road running into somebody, perhaps an old mentor, and getting the kick in the pants that he has been begging for since the beginning. The mentor frying him for all his stupid mistakes and blunders he has been making since school with all his Sunday-school rebellion and elitist attitude.
The blow delivered in the last song drives the Son to the dirt not knowing which way is up but hoping that if he finds it God will be there reaching out a hand in love or at least acceptance. Like the Prodigal in the Bible asking his father for a position as a servant not even considering himself worthy of love from his father. Beaten and broken and questioning if home will be there for him, asking for the stories of what will come, pleading with desperation of a family member at the deathbed of a loved one "WAKE UP! Wake Up Dead Man.”

The album ends there on that sad note of pain but if you look further on into the archives of U2 the next album begins with the chorus " It's a beautiful day", it's almost as though you can see the Father of our poor Prodigal dancing around with joy at the return of his son-though the world falls apart outside-the Son has come home and now it is time to dance.

Well that is it for my take on this album. I will add that though I have put the songs into a story form each individual song can also stand on its own.

A new kind of Philosopher.

Via Andy Whitman from Razing the Bar I would like to present to you the newest kind of Philosopher. Behold them here.

Shame, Shame.

Well joyous Easter everybody (one week and a couple days later) I hope all your various shindigs were shiny (see that two Firefly refrences in one sentence). I would have to say that my Easter was a good time. Also isn't this weird: Queen Mum went to a Passover Seder the same week the youth group did one. Yeah, weird.
In other news: I finished The Lord of The Rings (finally) and ordered U2's Pop last night. I know what your thinking "Pop? Isn't that the weird U2 album?" and know what, it is. But that is one of the many cool things about this album; another cool thing is that the album could also be called The Prodigal Son Wakes Up in The Pig's Stall Wondering What in The World Happend. Enough about U2, I also just finished Emma for school and am not sure if I loved it or hated it.
Well that's it for now except one thing: Camp is in 44 days.

Random musings of the blogger "why".

The Arcade Fire is a really good band.

Serenity is a great movie.

Ever feel that you are in a Krzysztof Kieslowski movie?

I have been thinking lately that a life built around possessions is totally wasted; for in just a couple of seconds a tornado can take it all out or a hurricane can wipe everything away like it was a sand castle.

Random isn't it.

And the camp name will be...

Dobbins.
Definition: A work horse. A nickname for Robert (a popular family name). And, if you think about it, a workhorse is a good description of what I will be doing.
So that is all the exciting news here so good night!

Wow.

Boy time sure does fly. I never knew that when I said April Fools day for finding a name I never knew it would come so fast. And guess what? I still don't know what my camp nick-name will be. The field seems to have been narrowed down to "Dobbins"(my favorite) and "Sarge" or "Sgt. Pepper" (my brother, sister, and dads favorite).
All the same no idea. We'll see in the next few weeks how things pan out but it is no huge biggey, it would just be something I would like to know.
Time will tell though and so will I as soon as I find out. For now this is "Why" signing off!

Hallelujah (Update)

Praise the Lord, I have now been accepted into camp and will be doing my camp things all summer. Now the need for the camp name is much more serious. Anyway, now we just should dance around and cheer and all that fun stuff.

I must be crazy. Good crazy but crazy nonetheless. I just signed on to work all summer in a volunteer position. But this is meaningless speculation for I know the experience will be awesome (even if I do almost die a couple of times). So anyway aside from the camp saga other things going on have been: Moving into WV in January (never did get to post that experience) and taking part in a sound class at my church. You know, where you get to learn the finer points of turning knobs and moving sliders (actually there is much more than that I was just feeling a little cynical at that moment). And the thing is the class has already paid off when I got to run sound for a local ballet troupe last week. That was a lot of fun and I have decided that for my mid-life crisis instead of doing boring o'l ballroom dancing I'm going to do ballet. (What are those looks supposed to mean?). A-hem! Anyway me and the fam (ily) went up to Biblical Seminary falls today and had much fun. So that is all for now folks, I shall see you on the other side.

Happy Birthday to me.

Little did I know it but 3 days ago I joined this "blog thing" and since then you have been listening to my meaningless rambles. I have to go now because it's dinner time (I love WV). So since I have no time for a link and I can't see any pictures on any computer coming out of here I want you to imagine balloons and streamers and lots of party hats.... (dinner)

Choices, choices.

All right me comrades, if all goes well I will be working at camp this summer (I have an interview on the 14th) but I need a camp name. So I think we should all put our heads together and choose a camp name for Why! Why is out of the running for potential camp name so don't try that one. Already suggested suggestions: Dobbins (another name for a work horse) and Sgt. Pepper. Now it is time to let the creative juices flow and think of a name between now and let's say April Fools day. Ready, set, go!

Slovak hockey supremacy confirmed against the US

WOOT! WOOT! Slovakia knocks the US for a loop in a 2-1 victory this afternoon! From Sports Illustrated:
Slovakia (3-0) strengthened its first-place hold in the Olympics Group B, moving two points ahead of Russia and Sweden and three in front of the Americans (1-1-1). The top four in the six-team group move on to the quarterfinals...(Highlights from the first goal)...

Hossa got away from Craig Conroy along the right-wing boards and cut into the right circle. Once he had space and a good angle, he let a shot fly that got between DiPietro's pads.

That sent the chanting, horn-blowing and music-playing fans dressed in red, white and blue -- the Slovakian kind -- into a roaring frenzy.

I am excited about this. It really looks like this Slovak team could be a gold meadal contender this year. Also here is the link to the full story about the Slovakia-Russia game.

I'm feeling the Olympic spirit now.

In your face USA. Slovakia beat Latvia 6-3 in men's hockey a couple days ago. US tied Latvia. Slovakia is therefore better than the US of A. Also Slovakia beat Russia 5-3 in an up-set one Russian compared to the loss at the 1980 Miracle on ice. Read this:
Numerous coaches in the Olympic tournament talked about how dangerous Slovakia could be. Russia quickly found out why. (Read the whole story here.)
Saturday is USA vs. Slovakia.

Sorry for the unpatriotic spirit but I'm a sucker for small, eastern European countries that I used to live in. Also, in snowboard cross last night, the US won gold with a Slovak just half a board behind winning the silver medal (good news for JD).

On the move.

I don't usually post stuff here about my faith and such but lately-actually the past couple days- something has been happening in my church and in the people in my youth group and it has been amazing! It seems that a desire for Yahweh has over taken the church. (Which if you think about that statement that seems sad; God returning to church.) And it is really exciting thinking about what God could be doing in my life and in the lives of people around me. For an example of what I am talking about: Every Monday night the guys in the youth group get together and talk, do a Bible study and what not. Well tonight I was leading and I did fairly well considering I lost my notes. But anyway it was all leading up to a prayer time anyway so we all gathered together in a circle and prayed for about 15 minutes which was pretty cool but then one of the guys brought up an idea about a witnessing tool that he had been thinking and praying about. Well the idea went over really well and we all talked about it for about half an hour on what we should do and everything pertaining to the suggestion. Then we prayed some more and it felt that God was moving. So now I'm all excited and just wondering "what next?".
The thing is this isn't the only "God sighting" lately check out this post. To quote Kevin Max "God is on the move-forget Aslan".

Fun links

Zrharc! The Comment Word Verification Dictionary
Come here. Learn things you never knew. Live better than you have before.
Update:
Learn to drive; get an ulcer with this fun game.

Almost a month in the life.

There has been so much stuff in the past month or so that has just been wanting to come out and I just haven't had the time to post it all. So now I am just going to let it come out in force.
25-31 of December: Christmas time and resting up from that vacation. Also, I watched the movie Serenity and dude was that movie awesome! Played bunko at the church New Years Eve party; just the thing is that due to the age of most of the contestants the party would be held on Eastern Standard time (not my time zone currently). But before that (I had almost forgotten) I went up with my family to Seattle to see my cousins that live there. That was great fun, I got to go to a sort of science museum there and it was a lot of fun.

1-7 of January (pauses to play iTunes on the super cool Mac): Scrambled to get a movie done for a youth group event that was on the 11th (more about that later on). Watched Serenity again, loved it even more and also got hooked on the TV show Firefly which is sort of a prequel to Serenity. Had a sound class on Saturday and after that played a little laser-tag in the church as part of a college event.

8-14 of January: Scrambled/panicked trying to get that movie done for the event on time. The event was on Wednesday at 7 P.M. and the final edit of the movie was done at about 6. Talk about cutting it close but the event went fairly well I'd say, so that was good. Oh, did I mention that it was a surprise and we (the guys) did it all under the nose of my sister? So that added to the stress level a bit err… A LOT. Later that week I started re-reading one of the greatest books ever in my opinion. I am so excited about this book, I don't think I've had this much fun reading since maybe when I read The White Company early last year. What say you? You wish to know the title of the book? Very well, the book is drum-rolll pleaseease) THE LORD OF THE RINGS: THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING. (Some times I really hate Blogger) Friday Watched To End All Wars a really good movie I would say just my brain wasn't ready for the thinking required to optimize viewing pleasure.

15-21 of January: Haven't done much this week except read Lord of The Rings and do math. Also got to do some good listening to the band The Arcade Fire. Boy do they have good music. I can't same for their lyrics (no cussing mind you just sort of mixed up feelings) but all around a good album. If they seem a little gloomy it would be because 9 friends and family members died during the recording of the album. That could make anybody gloomy I think.

Now I feel there should be a picture montage of some of the stuff I have spoken of but before I do I feel I should link to a little known Xanga (horrors) blog that is really good, look in the archives and there is even more stuff. Now for those pictures:
Gimli son of Gloin. The Crew of Serenity.

















For more about what I have done lately visit this recent post.
PP: The thing about my excitment concerning Lord of The Rings is that I Love to read, just I haven't had a book I really enjoyed since maybe Crime and Punishment in September but this is all out great reading, I highly recommend it for all people. Enough said by me now so for all people here (and there) this is Why, signing out.

And to think I got to live there.

Budapest, Hungary.
Here's an exerpt:
The city is often referred to as the Paris of the east, and deserves this name. It bears some resemblance to Prague, but is larger and friendlier. The picturesque setting on two sides of the Danube, the nine connecting bridges and the villas and public buildings from the fin-de-siècle era really make Budapest one of the most enjoyable cities in Europe.

Provide air-fair and I could take you on a tour of the city.
Plus Steve Taylor likes the city too. (Post brought about by this, over at Paintball Warriors Xanga site.)

In your face PC users. (posted from a Dell laptop)

Mac supremacy is eminent, prepare yourselves. Behold the MacBook!
This is one sweet piece of machinery.

If I had been invited to the ball.

If I was at the ball over at My Old Sketchbook.

Confession and introduction.

Okay,I have a confession to make: I am a nerd. I know you are all very shocked but it is true. For example, I got the first twenty issues of The Amazing Spider-Man and have loved it. Also I got HitchhikerÂ’s Guide To The Galaxy and am enjoying that.
But enough about me there is a new blogger in our midst. Allow me to introduce to you

Sister Ames!

Also a happy new year to all people around the world.

Also, The Onion reports a frightful trend in the world of psychology and pop culture.

Merry Christmas...

Or Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanza, or Happy Gift Getting Day (for when that is what it is when you have the wrong focus for Christmas).

My top twenty. (Songs that is.)

Number 1. Please by U2 --Something about this song just hits me right in the gut.

2.Harder to Believe Than Not to by Flemming and John --If you haven't heard it I can't explain it.

3.Wake Up (live at Fashion Rocks) by Arcade Fire -- I think the reason I like this song is just because of the music.

4. The Blues by Switchfoot --This call of desperation by Jon Foreman is just heart wrenching but not without hope.

5. Where the Streets Have No Name (live from Rotterdam) by U2 --A good song made better by the 90's U2 twist

6. Joel by Daniel Amos --A sort of answer to The Blues with God answering the questions of Jon Foreman.

7. The Silent Side by Eucharisto --I love this song.

8. Don't Wait by Buddy Miller --Alter call gone Southern rock/Country. Need I say more.

9. Which To Bury, Us Or The Hatchet? by Relient K --Break-up song of the ages with a modern twist.

10. Kingdom Come by Coldplay --What to say about this one hmmm... I don't know but it is a good song.

11. Paralyzed by Sixpence None The Richer --Gut-wrenching, heart-breaking every time this retelling of 9/11 this song is great mix of powerful music plus tear-jerking vocals gets me every time.

12. Free at Last by DCtalk --Can I say I like this song because it makes me happy?

13. politicians by Switchfoot --Once again a song that I like more for the music than the words. (If you haven't noticed already music is a big part of what I listen for in music.)

14. Nothing but The Blood by Jars of Clay --Jars of Clay+Blind Boys of Alabama+Good ol' gospel song = Great listening.

15. Live in Stereo by The Newsboys --I don't listen to this song very often but when I do it always makes me feel up-lifted.

16. Hurt by Johnny Cash --Looking back on life Cash wonders what happened to him and those around him.

17. Rocky Boat by Steven Delopoulos --The song of a new Christian bursting with joy.

18. Presto by Ludwig van Beethoven --Somebody has to have some classical music on their list. Besides, this song is really good. Really good.

19. I Want to be a Clone by Steve Taylor --A quote from the song "I asked the Lord into my heart/they said that was the start/but now you've got to play the part/I want to be a Clone"

20. Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys --If you haven't seen The Chick Flick you wont get it.

And number 21. Wake Up Dead Man by U2 --I might rate this song higher but well... you know.

Sir Lucioius

Hey all take a look at the prequel to "The Sir Lucious Chronicles". It is on Lukolas's blog who is one of the most unappreciated bloggers in our little ring. Take a look at his archives there is some really good stuff out there.

Funny

One of the greatest commercials of this year (that you will never see).

Also, best Christmas card of 2005.

Explanation

I guess I should explain why I haven't done any posting for over two weeks so here it is:
As a secret government agent my boss sent me on a mission to destroy two suitcases full of top-secret government documents that would reveal the location of the MBA's latest and greatest weapon. The code name for the plans was Duck Soup. Well if everything had gone as planned I would have been back on the 9th but the Secret Police of Spotsilvainea found me during my layover in their great land and opened fire on me in the terminal. If it weren’t for my quick thinking and dashing good looks they would have turned me into Swiss cheese right there in the airport. As luck would have it one of their bullets hit the glass overlooking the runway and shattered it to pieces and also just at that moment a baggage cart was going under the recently blasted window, seeing my chance, I jumped into the cart. After startling the poor baggage handler I quickly thought up a story that I was a movie star getting away from a mob of fans worse than even The Beatles knew in their heyday. Since I am so incredibly handsome it worked and he let me into the airplane and I made it to my destination earlier than expected. And then (“Hey wait! What are you guys doing? What the? ” {BANG BANG BOOM} SorryaboutthatfolksbutIhavetoleavenownotimetoexplainguysshootingatmetellyoulaterbye.

Sine, Cosine, Tangent oh my!

I still dislike English you see
Just not as much as geometry
Always and forever
Always and forever.

Math blues (to be sung to the tune of Technology from Napoleon Dynamite)

Okay

Now you can sing Christmas music. So to start it off... Angles we have heard on high, sweetly singing over the plains....

Need I say it...

Happy Thanksgiving!

The Times They Are a Changin'

Post a comment. I'm running out of time.

I'm gonna' let it all out.

To all of you advertisers, radio stations and retail store owners:
Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Please, Stop with the Christmas songs, snow-flakey commercials and other things because, if you haven't noticed it isn't even Thanksgiving yet. After this week go ahead, play "Rudolf the Red Nosed reindeer" until we all drop dead but until that day I don't want to hear One Christmas song. Get it. Got it. Good.

P.S. I'm listening to the "Please EP" and Ohhh is it Sweet!

Little Joys in Life...

One of the greatest things in life has to be: playing laser-tag in a dark church, with whacked out, physidellic music playing at loud volumes. Did I mention the strobe light going full speed? How about the fact the church is almost totally dark? It's fun.

Huzzah!

I have triumphed! Thanks greatly again to the wise Foolish Knight himself I have now added pictures to my side-bar. This gift, like all others will needed to be refined but at least now I have the concept down. "Have hope comrades we are almost there; to the great court of Camelot we ride. Charge!"
[If you have no idea what I am talking about see previous posts.]

Part one done.

Part one of my valiant quest has been completed. The good Knight himself aided me {aided ha, he practically did it for me} and now I can have links in my side-bar. The next part of the quest is to get pictures in the side-bar. "Swords ready...Up the Ante! Charge!".

Changes

Well I changed my template to Mr.Motto or something like that. The reason being it will aid me in my quest to get things into my side-bar. You see with the old one, all the errors I had made wouldn't go away so I had to turn over a new leaf and try something different. The quest will go on!

Isn't that the truth.

Why bother spending months out of your home country or a good two years before you go out when you can just do this?

Bring Out Your Dead!

Right, See you next Thursday then.
Okay I stole it so shoot me.

Hello(just because I like doing pictures)

Mmhmm...

I now own Relient K's latest album Mmhmm. It is very good, although it is not quite on par with Nothing is Sound but then again the two bands have different things they're trying to communicate. For instance, K is singing about breaking up their girlfriend while Switchfoot is singing The Blues. But enough compare and contrast this is Relient K's spotlight. The lyrics of Mmhmm are witty and heartfelt ditties about, trite as this might sound, tripping, falling and getting back up again all the while losing their girlfriends in the process. That was an oversimplification but you get the idea, to put it into other words Relient K focuses on the physical side of life while Switchfoot takes care of the metaphysical. You dear reader will have to forgive me for my comparing the two bands but in my mind I cannot talk about one without the other. But back to the album; Mmhmm's music takes sort of a pop-punk standpoint on the world backing the lyrics with catchy riffs and hooks along with a few surprises on the way, like the banjo in Which to Bury, Us or The Hatchet. All in all the album is quite good just and my only complaint is that sometimes the music seems to have ADD and they just jump in to quickly but that is only a small quibble. Stand-out tracks: Be My Escape, I So Hate Consequences, More Than Useless, Which to Bury, Us or The Hatchet, Who I Am Hates Who I've Been.

Here it is.

A few weeks ago I was going to put up a link to a really interesting article but it wasn't online yet so I have waited and now here it is.

That's strange

Why does it seem that while it seems almost all the great poets are men (i.e. The Mentor Book of Major British poets has something like a 20/2 ratio), women seem to identify more with poetry?

High School

School has taken me by storm. Last year was a cake walk compared with the stuff I am going through. Well, it might not be that hard it is just that my books apparently conspired against me planning all the work for Friday. I mean my English book might at least have asked me to choose a poet at the start of the week so I could get acquainted with it but no drop the bomb on Thursday forcing me to do all the research that day and leaving the writing for Friday which I might add has a HUGE biology test. For an example of the scale of the test the first question asks me to define fifteen terms and then moves on to ask twenty-two more questions. And since I have been starting school so late I end school late in the afternoon leaving a small amount of time to read and be on the computer and stuff, you know. Well I shouldn't complain it is just a much larger work load then I am used to that's all. Anyway for you nuts out there U2 is performing at exactly 12:37 a.m. Friday morning (my time) on Conan O'Brien on NBC just so you know.