tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-161045092011-11-27T19:24:31.767-05:00Faith, Music, Literature, and Whatever Else is On My Mindrocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.comBlogger2731100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-24223396294232365792009-11-23T17:41:00.006-05:002010-01-09T16:09:58.843-05:00

The time has come, the blogger said, to speak of things no more.When I started this blog, I was a senior in high school in Leavenworth, Kansas, applying to colleges. I find myself now a senior in college in Athens, GA, have been accepted to Emory's Candler School of Theology. And for four years, I have written for the world to see. More often than not, my posts were knee-jerk reactions to things

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-39745876851350053972009-10-12T21:32:00.004-04:002009-10-12T21:37:05.533-04:00

I'm happy for you and everything, and Imma let you finish, but Regina Spektor actually had one of the best videos of all time.*shrug*Yes, Kanye's a jerk, that's nothing new. And yes, this post is very late. But honestly, Regina Spektor has a history of interesting and creative videos, and those from her latest album are no exception.Below is "Man of a Thousand Faces" from the new album Far.Rock

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-16958845994744573672009-09-08T13:38:00.002-04:002009-10-22T23:37:05.959-04:00

...is "eschatology flatulence" not a Google Bomb?It's not even close. There are over 16,000 sites that include both these words.I don't get it.Edit: Somehow, though, my blog is now the number two search result. Yea?

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-8186084652181288472009-08-22T20:08:00.006-04:002009-08-22T20:21:45.953-04:00

I've always liked this painting. I'm much more a fan of Michelangelo than of Raphael, but the summit of the philosophers has always seemed like one of the most amazing learning environments to ever be conceived. Well, that and I live in a little college town by the name of Athens.The two philosophers at the center of the painting are generally thought to be Plato and Aristotle*. But it's

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-11837258402144935222009-08-13T23:30:00.001-04:002009-08-13T23:35:23.920-04:00

A golem* is a creature in Jewish folklore made by man out of inanimate material, generally soil. Much like Dr. Frankenstein's Monster, the best-known story of a golem ends with the creature betraying its maker.I have jokingly referred to the Pillsbury Doughboy as a golem, and along those lines, so are the fabled Gingerbread Man and his comical form, the Stinky Cheese Man.But what would an actual

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-41363692089040987242009-08-08T01:04:00.000-04:002009-08-08T01:04:29.654-04:00

From a recent NY Times article:The bitter divisions over an overhaul of the health care system have exploded at town-hall-style meetings over the last few days as members of Congress have been shouted down, hanged in effigy and taunted by crowds. In several cities, noisy demonstrations have led to fistfights, arrests and hospitalizations.Um...on the up-side, people are starting to take notice of

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-14637942581436711192009-08-08T00:35:00.014-04:002009-09-08T18:05:00.638-04:00

I started to write a brief end note to this post about political fist fights, town hall meetings, and the conservative double standard. The end note was going to be on an outrageous claim from Fox News that the Cash for Clunkers deal was running out of money. But the note quickly spiraled, and has taken the form you see now.Now, on to Cash for Clunkers.Yes, due to the program's popularity, it

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-41371619690534379742009-08-05T16:44:00.002-04:002009-08-05T16:51:05.672-04:00

...that Christopher Hitchens sends his daughter to a private Quaker school?That's what he said when he was interviewed by the Commonwealth Club of California.He was asked which religion he detests the least, and gave the response that even the Quakers make the mistake of viewing faith as a good thing.It is of the highest order of hypocrisy to claim that religion poisons everything and then send a

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-55184525639377662362009-07-31T12:27:00.003-04:002009-07-31T12:38:17.046-04:00

I realize that the title is very descriptive. The point in all of Don Miller's books is the role of Story. In fact, his latest book, coming out in August, was originally going to be called Let Story Guide You, though he rewrote it and changed the title to A Million Miles in a Thousand Years.Anyway, he gave a brief overview of the book on his blog, and laid out what he thinks is the true narrative

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-1198723257910943172009-07-18T16:08:00.000-04:002009-07-18T16:10:00.580-04:00

Yeah, I know, I've been gone for a while. It's due entirely to laziness on my part. But I'm back, and I'll have new posts going up soon (probably Monday, just to give myself a deadline).In other news, this is the first post from my new computer. It's very pretty.In other other news, I now loathe Windows Vista with all of my being.Shalom,Drew

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-40437827867494084212009-06-04T12:22:00.003-04:002009-06-04T12:23:36.909-04:00

Anybody ever notice that the Pillsbury Doughboy is really just a bread gollum?Congratulations, Pillsbury, you've created a medieval Jewish mythical monster that will eventually grow so large that it will collapse in on itself and kill whichever innocent family happened to be making cinnamon rolls that morningJerks.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-57752085594826234302009-05-16T14:17:00.002-04:002009-05-16T14:25:33.995-04:00

One of the gifts I received for my most recent birthday was a copy of William Blake's Songs of Innocence & of Experience.Of the songs, perhaps the most famous is "The Tyger", which is presented below. The poem was the inspiration for several episodes of Batman: The Animated Series and the phrase "Fearful Symmetry" became a chapter in the classic graphic novel, Watchmen. The chapter is nearly

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-61815752993513700502009-05-13T10:16:00.003-04:002009-05-13T10:19:21.404-04:00

A few months ago, I posted several videos from a photographer doing some cool (no pun intended) time lapse stuff in Antarctica.Today, he posted several new photos to his blog. Scroll down to the image of the Milky Way.It is one of the most awe-inspiring things I think I've ever seen.Rock on.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-88638746416268453032009-05-12T14:21:00.002-04:002009-05-12T14:28:28.639-04:00

I discovered Hulu around this time last year.Hulu is a web-based television and music hosting service, completely legal and free.For college students, this is a huge service, and while I don't know how much Hulu has made, it's probably a lot.I first heard of Hulu through YouTube.A couple of days ago, I discovered that YouTube itself is trying to get in on the massive market for free digital media

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-53824733203724267782009-05-10T15:25:00.001-04:002009-05-10T15:29:06.799-04:00

...John McCain?Did the Republicans tell him to go sit in the corner after the election?I haven't heard from him in a while.Just wondering.Edit: I'm bumping this because Sen. McCain was on ABC's Face the Nation today.He seemed more like his pre-election self. He was back to being a moderate, advocating the closing of Guantanamo, but leveling a fair and valid criticism of President Obama's current

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-81386877025499619002009-05-08T18:14:00.002-04:002009-05-08T18:17:08.114-04:00

I've been reading PHD Comics for nearly two years now, and have recently started re-reading them from the beginning.The comic is twelve years old, so it's a lengthy process.But that also means that when this strip was published, the world had no clue how truly horrendous Star Wars Episode I would be.The poor fools.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-26905395833864571152009-05-05T17:47:00.003-04:002009-05-05T18:04:51.060-04:00

"...sagecoach, get it? Sage? Never mind."Dom DeLuise died yesterday. He was seventy-five.Mr. DeLuise, a rather prolific actor, has over one hundred roles to his credit from a career that spanned fifty-five years. His most memorable roles were smaller parts, a quick bit of comic relief, especially in Mel Brooks movies.The title and video are taken from one of my favorite Dom DeLuise characters,

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-55069161030484394312009-05-01T11:02:00.002-04:002009-05-01T11:07:43.924-04:00

Oprah Winfrey will be featuring the Invisible Children documentary makers on her film today, officially rescuing the Chicago protesters.For more than five days, people from every other city have been going to Chicago to help out, combining their food, and refusing to leave until they were noticed.Congratulations, guys.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-46916017749324482742009-04-28T17:40:00.004-04:002009-04-29T12:12:37.524-04:00

Since Saturday, ninety-eight of one hundred cities have been Rescued.The two remaining cities areRichmond, VAChicago, ILHundreds of people from other rallies are heading to the two locations to provide support.To see how you can help or to stay tuned for updates, visit this site.Rock on.Edit: Musician Gavin DeGraw rescued Richmond, leaving Chicago.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-68656264122614564072009-04-27T15:40:00.003-04:002009-04-27T15:56:39.063-04:00

Saturday was the national Invisible Children event The Rescue (of Joseph Kony's Child Soldiers).The basic idea was that in one hundred cities across the world, people would gather and not leave until they were "rescued" by a celebrity and the media. For Atlanta, this meant a visit from comedian Jeff Foxworthy, who delivered a letter from Governor Sonny Perdue, an aide representing Senator Johnny

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-35167369795851333742009-04-21T21:40:00.003-04:002009-04-21T21:51:07.691-04:00

I just left the desert on Sunday. I'm a week behind, I know.This year, Lent seemed to be more about coming to a startling realization rather than intentional sacrifice.I felt more like the wandering Israelites in the wilderness for forty years than the fasting Christ in the wilderness for forty days.The things I usually give up for Lent seemed so much harder to leave behind. I felt more removed

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-75883453424517172102009-04-12T09:27:00.003-04:002009-04-12T09:33:55.382-04:00

Pictured: Auferstehung Christi by Meister von Messkirch; retrieved on Wikimedia Commons

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-41816833623413870872009-04-03T15:24:00.005-04:002009-04-03T15:37:30.742-04:00

I've said it before, I'll say it again. Living in a college town means good radio, which means underground music.As I was driving home from a midnight run to IHoP, UGA's own WUOG was doing their usual thing, and a truly amazing song came on.It's POS's "Never Better", off of the album by the same name. Listen to it at Pitchfork, and be sure to check out the eponymous track fourteen and track one,

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-90430860929932009912009-03-26T14:46:00.003-04:002009-03-26T14:51:33.767-04:00

This site is a lot of fun. Slightly addictive, though.I ran the text from a paper I wrote for Prophetic Literature through it, just for kicks and giggles, and because after staying up until three am to turn it in at an eight am class, I needed to see it in some other form.Incidentally, in removing the parenthetical citations before entering the text into the website, I realized that MLA format

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-21176936836791808262009-03-23T22:53:00.006-04:002009-03-25T21:29:41.126-04:00

I know I'm a couple of weeks late on this, but people are still talking about it (for some reason), so it's still bloggable.I know a lot of people are ticked off about Obama's gift to Gordon Brown, but it seems like a pretty good list of films. Ok, so they are only viewable on Region One DVD players, but I'm pretty sure Gordon Brown can get his hands on one. And perhaps President Obama was trying

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-12032696135212716612009-03-17T12:08:00.004-04:002009-03-17T12:26:41.199-04:00

...that David Bowie did play Nikola Tesla in The Prestige, so this actually makes perfect sense.Anyway, in my quest to become the indiest kid ever, I have discovered something truly amazing.Did you know that you can play music on Tesla coils? At first, I thought it was mere gimmickry -- the Imperial March, the Mario Brothers theme -- stuff like that.But people are actually making unique music

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-56880119501807114072009-03-12T13:57:00.001-04:002009-03-12T13:57:12.973-04:00

The AP reports that several workers attached to the Belgian branch of Doctors Without Borders (Medicins Sans Frontieres; MSF) were abducted in the Darfur region of Sudan.At present, no group has claimed responsibility for the abduction.The attack comes just days after the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir and the subsequent ejection of aid agencies from the Darfur

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-91954953867033366332009-03-10T16:18:00.004-04:002009-03-10T16:28:03.375-04:00

Spring break often yields interesting discoveries.This year, I decided to explore the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection (better known as CoR, not to be confused with UMCOR, which is different, but probably more worthy of attention -- thus, the link on the side under Charities and Causes. But I digress...) website.I often describe CoR to friends as the one megachurch I don't dislike. I'm

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-53018654654214765242009-03-08T13:08:00.003-04:002009-03-08T13:27:21.994-04:00

This recent report from the AP is very disturbing.In the past few weeks, the International Criminal Court formally charged Sudanese dictator Omar al-Bashir with war crimes and crimes against humanity and formerly issued a warrant for his arrest, a giant leap forward in the six-year old conflict in Sudan's Darfur region.In response, President al-Bashir has kicked out several aid groups, calling

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-1065432017366272632009-03-07T20:00:00.004-05:002009-03-08T13:13:02.004-04:00

I recently came across the most unwanted song ever.It's over twenty minutes.I'm at seven minutes, and will update when I finally give up.See if you can beat me here.Shalom,DrewEdit: I got through all twenty-one minutes and fifty-eight seconds of it. I'm going to go listen to nails on a chalkboard to force this abomination from my memory.Edit 2: The Sequel: The most wanted song ever is not much

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-72819711627943678592009-03-04T18:37:00.003-05:002009-03-04T18:43:12.471-05:00

Apparently, my humble blog is the number one result for the Google search "judean garb" (I blogged about it here).Oddly, the blog itself and not the specific post, is what Google turns up.Strange, but true.Anyway, just thought I'd brag a little.Shalom,Drew

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-37927555294467781012009-03-04T08:24:00.002-05:002009-03-04T18:44:06.912-05:00

...bishops encourage people to abstain from text messaging during Lent.Seriously.As weird as it sounds, though, the thought behind it does make sense. If people give up Facebook for Lent, why not texting? It encourages more actual conversations -- gasp...even, perhaps, face-to-face! -- instead of short blurbs back and forth.Rock on.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-725972587229382892009-02-23T23:20:00.003-05:002009-02-23T23:34:14.879-05:00

For those who are unfamiliar with Donald Miller, you could read what I have to say about him in this post. Or you could watch him pray at the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Or you could just click on the Donald Miller link on the side bar.Miller's blog, which for some reason I only started reading this week, has a very interesting post on the creative process, specifically for writers.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-33020993102528317732009-02-03T15:50:00.002-05:002009-02-03T15:58:45.695-05:00

The Democratic Republic of Congo has become the center of nearly every civil war in the Great Lakes region in central Africa.If you are unfamiliar with the history of the region, I prepared a short piece for the UGA Invisible Children blog.Rock on.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-77360103966905149422009-02-02T14:44:00.003-05:002009-02-02T15:43:28.080-05:00

I haven't posted any bands on here lately, and it makes me sad.Thrice is a post-alternative-hardcore band (formerly em/screamo) from California. I started listening to them when they were on tour with UnderOath promoting their album Vheissu and Invisible Children*. The first Thrice song I heard was "Image of the Invisible"**.During their earlier years, Thrice had a much more screamo feel, and, in

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-38609084361661689842009-01-22T16:06:00.002-05:002009-01-22T16:09:23.551-05:00

For those who didn't hear, Stephen T. Colbert, D.F.A., announced that Yo-Yo Ma is officially the president of the United States of America.His Stradivarius cello is now vice-president.Which means we can look forward to four years of Hail to the Chief being played on cello. By the chief.I'm OK with this.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-47282403705509144832009-01-20T13:27:00.003-05:002009-01-20T13:30:55.598-05:00

I was going to start this post off with, "I hate to break it to you, but President Obama really is in office."Then I questioned whether or not the full extent of my sarcasm would be perceived.Instead, I say this:One president will not destroy the country. One president will not save the country. We need a deep cultural change. And a shift of this caliber requires a good leader -- a leader who can

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-62665327409359413682009-01-19T12:47:00.002-05:002009-01-19T13:08:30.685-05:00

Today, we remember the life of Rev. King, one of the great leaders, orators, visionaries, and reformers of the 20th century.I cannot say anything about this great man that has not been said before; instead, below, are King's own words. The first, is a video of the famous "I Have a Dream" speech, given in 1963. Second is a link to several of King's sermons in Strength to Love, provided by Google

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-9303029153761166492009-01-01T21:06:00.003-05:002009-01-01T21:20:15.226-05:00

This story caught my eye.If you're too lazy to click on the link, as I often am, let me give you the run-down.A pastor, tired of the secularization of Christmas, urged his congregants to dress as Jesus as a way to "put the 'Christ' back in 'Christmas'". They didn't preach, just wore robes and crowns of thorns. If asked about the unusual attire, they would use it as an opportunity to share their

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-58876162204151489192009-01-01T01:00:00.002-05:002009-01-01T01:00:00.860-05:00

The New Year has arrived in South Korea -- fourteen hours earlier in South Korea than on the east coast of the US.It's a new year, a new semester, and we begin to close out the first decade of the new millennium. It's a weird feeling, knowing that nine years ago, I was a sixth grader who wanted nothing more than to study volcanoes when he grew up. I was living in South Carolina at the time --

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-83351786177762478652008-12-24T11:00:00.000-05:002008-12-24T02:13:41.440-05:00

It's the morning of Christmas Eve in South Korea, where I will once again be spending my Christmas holiday.From this war zone to the war zone in Uganda, let us pray for peace.Happy Christmas. Rock on.Post Script: I apologize for the size of the video and its interference with the lay-out of my blog. I tried to manipulate the size of the video, but to shrink the frame is to cut off

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-61517230721527656302008-11-25T21:36:00.006-05:002008-11-30T11:38:54.670-05:00

This semester has really flown by as I have spread myself thinner and thinner. As such, I have not been able to devote the attention deserved to any one thing in which I am involved - this blog, classes, extracurricular activities, or even friends I don't usually see. And things will only get busier before I leave for another Christmas in South Korea.In an effort to organize myself more readily

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-49342176815320441002008-11-03T15:34:00.004-05:002008-12-04T01:40:53.062-05:00

From Stuff Christians Like.I started reading Mere Christianity because it was what good Christians do. I didn't read The Chronicles of Narnia growing up. MC was my introduction to Lewis, and even then, he was over my head.Then I read The Screwtape Letters. Again, because it's what good Christians do. Come to think of it, I'm not even sure I had finished Mere Christianity. I probably got through

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-59036705589119928462008-10-31T13:09:00.003-04:002008-10-31T14:34:55.227-04:00

Tonight, I will be visited by one of two entities:The Great PumpkinThe ghost of Martin LutherEither way, I get presents.In honor of Halloween and Reformation Day, here are a few old posts from years past.First, for those curious about Halloween, here's my take on the controversial holiday.But, since today is not just Halloween, but also the anniversary of Martin Luther's 95 Theses.For those who

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-11114557856583723672008-10-26T16:25:00.003-04:002008-10-26T16:44:45.529-04:00

From Congressman Paul Broun:All of our rights come from God, not from government. Our Founding Fathers understood this. They understood that the role of government, is to recognize and preserve our God-given, inalienable rights. Therefore, they wrote the Second Amendment.Guns and religion. You, sir, are clinging to them.I don't care enough about guns to have much of an opinion on the Second

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-38104712602094178862008-10-20T09:37:00.005-04:002008-10-20T11:19:02.815-04:00

I first started listening to mewithoutYou my senior year of high school. It was a period during which I would buy and listen to pretty much any album released by Tooth and Nail records. As a result, I have a lot of really crappy CDs (Does anybody want my copy of Hawk Nelson's Letters to the President? I've been trying to ditch that thing for two years now...)mewithoutYou's three albums, though,

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-48641073604929922592008-10-19T17:20:00.001-04:002008-10-19T17:24:22.227-04:00

Bravo, Pixar. Bravo.I have long been a fan of Pixar movies. They know how to tell a good story, and with style.With that in mind, I must say that WALL E is Pixar's best movie yet.The creators have managed to look back on the history of cinema and look forward to the future of consumerism and affluence in popular culture - in a kid's movie.The movie starts with a bleak look at the future of earth.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-59228873649210311732008-10-19T15:28:00.002-04:002008-10-19T15:31:21.796-04:00

This is just to interesting to not pass on.I wish I could say I have eagerly awaited Powell's endorsement, but truth be told, I nearly forgot about him.I wonder what this will do to poll numbers.Prediction: Obama's lead will grow in Pennsylvania and he will gain a lead in both Ohio and Florida. Don't know about Nevada, Colorado, or North Carolina.Time will tell.Rock on.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-58259541750082282432008-10-18T10:29:00.005-04:002008-10-19T15:30:07.610-04:00

I love my dog. But she has incredible ups for an eleven year old Lab. With the ability to mount tall counters in a single bound, she ate my fresh loaf of sourdough (she's done the same with bagels on multiple occasions).But it's alright. I have fresh bagels, a new loaf of sourdough, and half a Reuben to make up for the loss.And you may or may not have noticed, but I haven't exactly posted

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-7308317803926060402008-10-11T13:26:00.002-04:002008-10-11T13:28:11.486-04:00

This just in: I have a fresh loaf of San Francisco sour dough. Thanks, Kroger!I also have three new posts in the wings. I just need to get around to typing them. And my editor's in the middle of midterms. Expect something next week, though.Shalom.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-83556330774174031232008-09-27T11:51:00.002-04:002008-09-27T12:11:18.455-04:00

College towns - not only do they offer interesting programming on NPR, but they also usually have a student-run station. In Athens, we have WUOG, which features music of every genre, most of it "underground" or "indie".On Tuesday, they played White's song "Roses Are Not Red", a moody little piece that would seem at home in a smokey blues lounge. Unfortunately, there is no official video for this

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-49826531167677049322008-09-24T01:20:00.002-04:002008-09-24T18:20:34.086-04:00

I regret to inform you of an unfortunate truth: Many Christians attempt to use guilt as an evangelical tool. Notably, UGA's "Tate preachers" stand in the courtyard of the student center and announce to the campus God's hatred of drunkenness, sexual promiscuity, homosexuality, and, in some of the more entertaining cases, "weak-kneed pencil-necked men" and educated women.Many lower-key evangelism

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-32070588110382846042008-09-15T16:26:00.003-04:002008-09-15T16:55:06.074-04:00

Danny Elfman is incredibly well-known, even if you don't know him by name. He's most famous for his work with Tim Burton. Elfman has, to the best of my knowledge, scored every Burton movie with the exceptions of Ed Wood and Sweeney Todd.Elfman is also responsible for the now-famous opening piece on The Simpsons.His filmography is extensive and includes work with Sam Raimi and, alledgedly, the

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-85861082781507024342008-09-15T10:58:00.012-04:002008-10-20T09:37:17.125-04:00

When I lived in Germany, my parents took me to some of the most famous cathedrals of western Europe - Notre-Dame de Paris, Koelner Dom, and St. Peter's Basilica to name a few. Many of the late gothic cathedrals featured scenes of the final judgment above the doors, and skulls and skeletons were common inside the sanctuary. It was this dark imagery that kept my elementary-schooler self entertained

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-43038910733575002822008-09-15T00:09:00.012-04:002008-09-15T14:04:28.993-04:00

In light of recent events in Sudan, I thought it might be fitting to take a look back at all of the times the US and other western nations vowed "Never Again" only to turn our backs as soon as the promise required any real action.It was my freshman year of college and I had just finished reading An Ordinary Man, Paul Rusesabagina's autobiography. Sitting in my dorm lobby, I flipped through his

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-39048358298738996812008-09-12T01:07:00.004-04:002008-09-15T16:42:13.162-04:00

I recently found out about a photographer in Antartica who has been doing time-lapse work. And setting most of it to Danny Elfman.Embed-y-ness:He also keeps a blog and has managed to, in only six videos, ignite my oft-hidden desire to visit Antarctica. He also-also posts his pictures to another website (and it has some great shots of the Southern Lights).So my real question is: How do I get to

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-65140580484341529712008-09-11T01:29:00.001-04:002008-09-11T01:29:46.615-04:00

I, as of thirty seconds ago, have a new fear.This.Because 18-wheelers weren't scary enough already.Of course, I also have a fear that I won't finish my pape - I mean "In-Class Assessment" - on time. Which raises questions about why I'm checking the news and posting to my blog instead of writing about Alice Walker.And perhaps further questions can be raised about why my first post in a week is so

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-19933959133931526452008-09-01T11:56:00.003-04:002008-09-01T12:03:48.332-04:00

An anonymous tipster has pointed out that Alu (mentioned in my last post) is now on YouTube.Cool.The best way I can think of to describe Alu is some combination of gypsy alt rock. Or, as mentioned in my previous post, "Alice in Wonderland in hell".This is "Circus Cosmos" off her album Lobotomy Sessions.Rock on.Post Script: NPR's Echoes is one of the best programs on radio today. I've been turned

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-29356122280911736632008-08-27T08:59:00.003-04:002008-08-27T09:10:47.072-04:00

Over the summer, I lived with my friend Evander. Evander has weird taste in music.By weird, I mean he listens to a lot of jazz. And video game music. And N*Sync. And Christmas music. Oh, and choral pieces. As I said, weird - or, at least, unexpected.Anyway, he and I usually end up either reminiscing about 90s one-hit-wonder alt-rock bands or giving each other new CDs to listen to.I introduced him

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-63177712865239958632008-08-26T00:14:00.005-04:002008-08-28T00:33:12.571-04:00

As I've mentioned before, I like Donald Miller. Perhaps it's because I agree with him more than I do with Rob Bell (no offense to Mr. Bell). Maybe it's his writing style. Maybe it's because he lives in Portland. Or some combination of the three.Regardless, I was pleased to see* that Miller had been invited to say the benediction at the Democratic National Convention's opening night. For those who

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-80453787677051529142008-08-20T19:04:00.002-04:002008-08-20T19:05:25.100-04:00

For those not fluent in Newspeak, the People's Republic of China's police force has arrested two elderly women and sentenced them to "reeducation by labor". The two women, both approaching eighty, applied for a permit to protest during the Olympics - in zones set up for just such events.The Chinese government has received more than seventy applications and approved exactly none.Read more about

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-83504202270912750412008-08-18T10:11:00.003-04:002008-08-18T10:54:51.007-04:00

Last semester, I discovered French composer Saint-Saëns' piece "Danse Macabre" - a wonderfully dark tune that reminds me of the large carvings in medieval cathedrals. This piece was the first I had ever heard of Saint-Saëns, and my immediate reaction was one of wonder - mostly wondering about why nobody had introduced me to the "French Beethoven" before college.Luckily for me, NPR was on the ball

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-51743641042878057652008-08-17T15:06:00.004-04:002008-08-17T15:29:47.342-04:00

I think I may have made some promises to myself back in January. Though, as I cannot clearly recall these promises, it should be understood that, if I had made a resolution or two, I didn't keep up with it very well.But tomorrow marks the start of a new semester and my third year in college (Ich bin sehr alt!). I'll be taking some interesting classes (two of which will focus on feminism and music

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-47775675600953686562008-08-08T11:45:00.002-04:002008-08-08T11:58:39.364-04:00

2. The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.5. Any form of discrimination with regard to a country or a person on grounds of race, religion, politics, gender or otherwise is incompatible with belonging to the Olympic Movement.As found in the IOC Charter;

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-7578760533324777792008-07-22T11:49:00.002-04:002008-07-22T12:29:49.099-04:00

It's been a while since I've written about Second Life. Like, over a year and a half. I think.It's not that I've forgotten. It's a hot topic on many of the Methodists blogs I read. And I like what they have to say. As long as there is a community, online or in the physical world, there is a need for a Christian presence.But I heard something that took me back to some of my earlier discussions (

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-17839010920470218712008-07-21T15:23:00.005-04:002008-07-21T15:34:13.439-04:00

Yeah, I know, I can hardly believe it.On to the graphs.If you don't know what a furry is, don't find out.My friend has an idea for units in which scientists can objectively rate human lives. Introducing - the Hilton (Hi). The Hilton is represented on this graph at the x value where the blue line reaches its lowest possible point, while the red line reaches its highest possible point.Shalom.Legal

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-64235889973831616772008-07-21T14:24:00.003-04:002008-07-21T15:17:47.878-04:00

I like Batman. As evidenced by the fact that I saw The Dark Knight at the midnight release in Athens, and then again Saturday when I went to visit my sister in Atlanta.I grew up watching Batman: The Animated Series.I used to have the Wayne Manor play-set.I wish I still did.So when I found out Heath Ledger was going to be playing the Joker, I was nervous, but gave him the benefit of the doubt -

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-51587883249110307992008-07-15T15:16:00.004-04:002008-07-15T15:20:25.294-04:00

I suck at getting posts up on time.Make with the graphs....and we are all together.Disclaimer: I don't own Graph Jam. I own neither Simon nor Garfunkel. And I especially don't own the Beatles, lest I earn the wrath of Yoko.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-55884647548132217862008-07-14T17:36:00.002-04:002008-07-14T17:39:11.116-04:00

More on this later.Edit: Oh. And this. Not as good.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-53888403573860412242008-07-12T01:41:00.002-04:002008-09-21T12:52:44.970-04:00

One reason I support a full boycott of the Beijing Olympics is Chinese involvement with, shall we say "shady" African regimes, such as Sudan.And Zimbabwe. And just as most European nations are calling for sanctions against Mugabe's regime, Russia and China have decided to veto the measure.Chinese Foreign Policy - Because Oppressing Our Own People Just Isn't EnoughNow, I know, Russia is at fault

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-17029093889131281992008-07-10T00:03:00.001-04:002008-07-10T00:03:52.783-04:00

For those who are unfamiliar with Rev. Adam Hamilton, he's the head pastor at Church of the Resurrection UMC in Kansas City (technically, it's not quite in Kansas City, but instead, in Leawood, KS, but oh well).When I attended the Maundy Thursday/Tenebrae service at CoR, I was at a point in my life where I was deciding between contemporary and traditional worship styles and starting to question

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-47195948010454980452008-07-08T14:16:00.006-04:002008-07-08T14:27:13.300-04:00

Today's post doesn't have anything to do with the Rolling Stones. Or the restaurant. I was trying to make a pun about being a day late. Kind of like a bad action movie title. I know, I'm a dork.Anyway, on to the graphs.And for fans of Stuff Christians Like, don't be this guy.Rock on.*Disclaimer: Once again, I don't own Grap Jam. I didn't make the graphs. Or the movies mentioned in the graphs.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-61103887283338398292008-07-05T13:24:00.005-04:002008-07-05T15:07:11.854-04:00

Although I probably should.Following the posting of my grade for RELI2004, I am officially half way through my junior year.Holy crap.And what makes it weirder is that I've only been in college for two years.Gah.Anyway, at this point, it's time to start looking at what I'm going to do after graduation (my word, I shouldn't be talking like that - I'm too young!). Since ninth grade, I've been saying

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-71713117274417153532008-07-03T16:20:00.002-04:002008-07-03T16:22:43.188-04:00

The Sudanese government started the trials last month for members of a rebel army fighting in Darfur.They have not, however, attempted to so much as restrain members of the Janjaweed militia.Can't say I'm surprised. Just disappointed.Rock on.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-56527754059580847332008-06-30T18:49:00.003-04:002008-06-30T19:15:20.810-04:00

One of the things that people don't consider when they argue about science and religion is the history of science. Science and religion, were from the start, the same thing. If you were to ask an ancient Greek to explain lightening, you would learn about Zeus. By the time Christianity had been fully accepted, science was starting to come into its own, but was still not separated from the Church.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-57627885211718397832008-06-30T11:45:00.005-04:002008-06-30T11:58:37.365-04:00

I started this summer with a goal. Even though my class doesn't start until 2:15 in the afternoons, I wanted to wake up around eight to start the day off well - coffee, bagels, Bible - the usual Christian college kid gig.This plan was derailed by day one by the internet and a roommate who has a near-obsession with internet memes. Seriously, for a while he carried around pictures of his favorite

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-10761414550099922302008-06-29T10:49:00.001-04:002008-06-29T10:49:52.214-04:00

Just as President Bush is moving to have North Korea removed from the list of nations that support terrorism, Congress is working to remove Nelson Mandela and the African National Congress from the terror watch list.Mandela's ANC party has been on the list for longer than I've been alive, being put on it during the Reagan administration, a decade before apartheid officially ended.I can think of

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-74674247920785716892008-06-28T14:30:00.001-04:002008-06-28T14:30:55.472-04:00

Coming soon...Cracked.com Presents a Burton/Schumacher/Nolan FilmMy money's on BatBale.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-89897445955543964162008-06-26T10:57:00.001-04:002008-06-26T10:57:23.115-04:00

...why we're leveling sanctions against Iran as we lift sanctions against North Korea.Yes, Iran has nuclear ambitions. Yes, Iran sponsors terrorist groups. No, Iran is not our ally.But North Korea claims to have detonated nuclear weapons. The Kim regime has been engaged in a reign of terror since it took power. And North Korea is still at war with one of our allies.I know, I know - North Korea is

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-14687332294163361022008-06-23T11:09:00.010-04:002008-07-12T23:05:57.638-04:00

Today, I listened to Richard Dawkins on NPR during an episode of To the Best of our Knowledge entitled "Atheism & Its Critics".Linkage!The program opened with a discussion on faith. See my thoughts here.One of the fundamental allegations Richard Dawkins levels against Christianity is that we (we being believers) pick and choose what we will accept as true from the Bible - Cafeteria Chrisitans, to

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-87840605974501774232008-06-22T13:59:00.002-04:002008-06-28T10:36:12.060-04:00

"Metal bottom makes taking of offering NOISY! Listen to the change rattle in the pot and watch the giving momentum grow!"I found this in a Christian resource magazine. A modern Christian resource magazine. And I very nearly died laughing.Of course, this is not a new phenomenon. It's been happening for quite some time. A few examples:The first is the reason we are all Roman Catholic. During the

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-17323701867354764452008-06-11T12:01:00.005-04:002008-06-22T13:21:55.695-04:00

...you no longer belong to evil, but to good. It is your soul that I buy from you; I withdraw it from black thoughts and the spirit of perdition, and I give it to God."So spoke Bishoph Myriel to Jean Valijean, and this after Jean had robbed the bishop.Likewise, Kinetic Church in North Carolina was robbed. And by robbed, I don't mean a thief made off with the church silverware. They lost almost

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-1378540575849173412008-05-27T00:16:00.015-04:002008-06-22T13:30:10.964-04:00

About a week ago, I was driving from Athens to Atlanta down 316. I don't like driving. I don't like 316. I don't like Atlanta. I always feel guilty about the drive - it's well over 100 miles round-trip. And though my little Toyota Echo is very fuel efficient, rising gas prices make the trip pricey. Not to mention that the horizon around Atlanta has a very sickly brown color. It's just not a good

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-6451436627322202362008-05-20T13:30:00.000-04:002008-05-20T12:34:27.769-04:00

I have previously written on proponents of fundamental atheism who argue that religion is inherently a bad thing. Part of their argument depends on faith: If we can will ourselves to have faith in a god that cannot be proven, this faith can be used and/or manipulated to drive us to commit horrible atrocities.To this, I say that their basic premise is correct: Faith in the divine can be

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-9029792362161955782008-05-18T17:53:00.008-04:002008-05-18T18:12:36.911-04:00

I just read an article on Christian Hedonism by John Piper. And I must admit, I think he's lost it.He argues against Christian morality as a deontological theory. And to that degree, he's right. We shouldn't follow Christ because it is the right thing to do.But should we really be following Christ because we want to get into Heaven?By no means!Hedonism, whether addressed from a secular or

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-42550634067929837542008-05-12T16:41:00.005-04:002008-11-24T18:36:51.609-05:00

It's summer. It's time to sit around and watch movies.Today's showing was Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.For those who haven't seen this movie, it is, in no uncertain terms, amazing. Good music, good acting, and 19th century naval warfare. What's not to like?In the movie, the ship's doctor, Stephen Maturin (played by Paul Bettany), is also a naturalist. At one point in the movie,

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-30655176260066014732008-05-10T17:04:00.003-04:002008-05-10T17:09:44.418-04:00

...the Wikipedia article on Christian terrorism is longer than the Wikipedia article on Islamic terrorism?It's true. And while many of the groups listed are American white supremacy groups or radical anti-abortion advocates, it devotes several paragraphs to the LRA (those responsible for the atrocities in Uganda), both sides of the Northern Ireland conflict, Serb and Russian nationalists, and

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-31518636433644533282008-05-02T16:15:00.004-04:002008-05-05T17:28:11.085-04:00

I'm about three pages into my term paper on the Nephilim (Gen. 6:4) and I think when I'm done, I'm going to take a month off of any explicit study/reading/thinking/GAAH! of mythology. It seems every time I chase down a connection in Greek or Mesopotamian mythology, it circles back around and I have a new connection to figure out.The good news is that means there's plenty to write about. But keep

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-64424541453991057312008-05-02T12:21:00.004-04:002008-05-02T12:28:38.450-04:00

The main argument I hear against boycotting the Olympics is, "The Olympics should not be political."Well, in 1962, South Africa was barred from participating in the Olympics. The ban last until 1992. The reason for the barring was apartheid.Just something to think about.Rock on.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-14065241987243637672008-04-21T16:33:00.004-04:002008-04-21T16:57:06.860-04:00

A Facebook group, Chinese United Against Western Media Bias!!!, has made the following demands of the Western media:Our Demands:1) We demand fair representation!2) We demand a stop to slander, insults, and racism!3) We demand a peaceful, non-politicized Olympics!4) We demand that our respective nations embrace China as a friend and NOT as an enemy!In response, I issue the following demands of the

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-49738199897104257982008-04-18T01:09:00.004-04:002008-04-18T01:14:40.522-04:00

I've started working on the blog for UGA's Invisible Children chapter, so expect a few posts from there. Here's one on Jan Willis' visit to UGA.On Wednesday, Dr. Jan Willis, professor of Relgion at Wesleyan University in Connecticut, was the guest lecturer for my Religion in Literature class, and later that evening, gave a presentation titled “Buddhism, Nonviolence, and Dr. King”. Dr. Willis is

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-26555079707291308272008-04-09T09:59:00.004-04:002008-05-03T17:30:12.056-04:00

I give you a break from my thoughts on China, Tibet, Iraq, the Olympics, the C PT, and all of those things that are somehow connected in my jumbled head. Instead, I leave you with how I spent my morning off from German class.TOTO!!!!And Men at Work:Both of these bands found me because of the show Scrubs.Enjoy. Now I'm off to the library to spend a few hours researching the Nephilim. Whee!Shalom,

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-16322691511011784562008-04-08T19:54:00.003-04:002008-04-08T20:53:38.749-04:00

So asks Canadian gymnast Kyle Shewfelt.The real question is how much would you give to take a stand for human rights? Is personal glory really worth the cost of human rights and dignity?I've heard three main arguments against boycotting the Olympics.1. We should not forfeit our athletes' opportunity to shine. Sports and politics don't mix.As asked above, should we pay for our gold medals in human

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-12809210232532208122008-04-06T15:22:00.004-04:002008-04-06T16:09:26.060-04:00

We have passed the five-year mark in Iraq and we still debate over whether or not the war was justified. And sorry to disappoint any readers who were looking for a debate, but I'm not going to get into discussions on justification. Nor will I allow any comments that start such discussions. That's not the point right now.Instead, I want to look at the actions of Christian Peacemaker Teams and

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-88683985913685002008-04-02T18:59:00.005-04:002008-04-06T19:46:57.990-04:00

I tried to resist. I hadn't even heard of that silly website until this week, when all of sudden, it was mentioned on pretty much every blog I read. Being the Indie kid that I am (you happy, Jeremy, I finally admitted it?), I tried to keep from reading the list. And then, I decided I could read it, I just wouldn't reference it. But then it brought back memories of youth groups and life as a

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-86113264091749952292008-03-31T17:11:00.009-04:002008-03-31T17:39:58.805-04:00

One of the most powerful scenes in the movie Luther is a dialogue between Martin Luther and his superior. Luther is shown awake late at night, talking to himself and arguing with the Devil. Luther tells Father von Staupitz that he is too full of sin to be a priest and that he fears damnation. Staupitz consoles Luther, telling him to put his faith in Christ, not in his works, saying, "Look to the

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-9284554386203651032008-03-31T15:58:00.003-04:002008-03-31T16:03:46.241-04:00

I've updated the links on the side bar. Woohoo! I've only been meaning to do that for about a year now...Also, I'm in the final month of school, so term papers are coming due and finals are looming. Which, for a normal student - wait, that's a lie - for a good student, means that the apartment and blog would both fall into a state of neglect. For me, though, this means that I'll have plenty of

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-80644857748361268752008-03-22T02:11:00.004-04:002008-03-22T02:32:45.320-04:00

Batman: The Animated Series was so great. Not the best video ever, but considering it's a cartoon from nearly a decade ago, it's flat impressive.Without any further ado, BlockoVision's The Dark Knight trailer presented in a TAS format.Edit: You can tell that there was a rather drastic change in animation - the Joker's face is a little more round and even gentler, and the ears on Batman's cowl are

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-78319599938132434002008-03-22T01:01:00.004-04:002008-03-22T01:56:48.070-04:00

I've thought for some time that even if "global warming" (though I believe a better title to be "Accelerated Climate Change Due to Human Interactions") isn't true, we should still act on it - even if pollution isn't going to change global weather patterns, it still poses massive health risks and destroys the beauty of Nature (I miss being able to see stars!). Not to mention the ever-present need

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16104509.post-718005470947863442008-03-19T00:29:00.003-04:002008-03-19T00:36:21.050-04:00

Steve Spielberg and I are still pretty much alone in boycotting the Beijing Olympics, but recent events in Tibet are pushing more people in that direction.Granted, discussing boycotting the opening ceremony is a far cry from an out-right boycott of the games, but I think it's a good step, and would be very pleased to see the representatives from the US skip the ceremony.Rock on.

rocksalive777http://www.blogger.com/profile/16717588816513443978noreply@blogger.com0