Friday, January 30, 2009
My Boy Carl
Most of you probably notice the adultswim cartoons I post on here sometimes. Right? Well some of you do, that is all that matters. Anyways, there is a point to those. I usually check once a week to see if there is a new Carl on football. And without disappointing me, Carl delivered.
Girlfriend of the Week
In honor of this weekend's huge game, this week's GOTW goes out to all the sexy girls out there who are football fans. Especially to all the hot chicks who will be out in Pittsburgh dressed in their black and gold. Since the Steelers do not have cheerleaders, I decided to use these ones.
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Lost: Episode 503
This episode picked up where last week left off,except that it narrowed it's focus just a bit. Instead of focusing on everyone, we have two stories (well maybe you could say three).
The Adventures of Desmond Hume
The episode begins with Desmond searching for a doctor at some crazy little Asian town. He finds one, and they return to the boat where Penny gives birth to a little boy, named Charlie. I wonder if Des will ever call him Brotha?
Back to the present, or whatever the present is on this show. Desmond tells Penny that he has to go to Oxford to find Daniel's mom. She says that it will be dangerous, especially if her father finds out that Desmond is alive and well.
At Oxford, there seems to be no record of Faraday. Desmond goes to his lab, and the janitor says that they covered up everything Daniel did after what he did to that girl. Later we see Desmond at the girl's place. Her sister tells Desmond that the girl sometimes thinks she is young, or that she is talking with their father. Obviously her mind is traveling through time, something Desmond is quite familiar with. The lady informs Desmond that Charles Widmore pays for everything, and he was the one funding Faraday's work.
Desmond storms into Widmore's office and demands to know where Faraday's mother is located. Charles tells Desmond to stay out of this because he does not want Penny to get hurt. He then gives Desmond an address in Los Angeles. Desmond returns to the boat, and lies to Penny. She pries the truth out of him, and she says they will go to L.A. together.
This does not bode well for Desmond, since he promised Penny he would not return to the island. I will bet money that he will find out that he needs to return with Jack and Ben...
The Time Traveling Islanders
Daniel and his little group get captured by Ellie. They are taken to Richard, and Daniel informs them that he can diffuse the bomb, which the American military brought to the island to test. Richard says he was forced to kill them.
Daniel checks the bomb, and tells Ellie to bury it and fill it with lead. He says that 50 years from now the island is still around, so the bomb must not have went off.
Sawyer, Juliet, and Locke interrogate their prisoners. It turns out the Others speak Latin. Juliet convinces the one to take them to their camp, but the other guy kills him. We find out that the other one is a very young Charles Widmore.
Locke walks right into the camp and demands to speak to Richard. He tells Richard that he is their leader and then says that Jacob sent him. He shows Richard the compass, then tells Richard to visit John after he is born in 1956 (it is currently 1954). Richard does not tell Locke how to make the jumping stop or how to get off the island.
Apparently the speculation is that Ellie recognized Daniel when she said "You just couldn't keep away." But I believe she meant the American military. However, I do believe that Juliet knows Ellie. Also, does anyone think that Ellie may be Charlotte's mom?
Here is another interesting tidbit. Before Charlie died, Desmond told him that he saw Claire getting onto the helicopter with Aaron, but only if Charlie died saving them. What happened to that?
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
3 Million?!?. . . .
There's a reason why this is what it's come to. We've been swimming in the marketing soup for so long that we don't want to climb out of the pool. In fact, for Baby Boomers and beyond, it's a part of the very fabric of our makeup. It shapes our worldviews - what we think about, how we think, and how we live - in ways that we don't even care to understand. We are malleable lumps of clay who have thrown ourselves on the potter's wheel. . . to be shaped and molded into whatever image the potter of marketing desires us to take. And lest you think that it's the Baby Boomers who have jumped most readily onto the wheel, think again. The most impressionable and targeted group is the babies of the Baby Boomers - our children and teens.
And that's why it's come to what it's come to. During Sunday's Super Bowl, the potters will be spending $3 million a half minute or $100,000 a second - $100,000 DOLLARS A SECOND! -to get their hands wrapped around us and our kids.
If marketing promises redemption by erasing our anxieties and fulfilling our aspirations. . . and we buy into it, then it is a spiritual issue. I'm not saying that marketing is wrong. We need it. How else can we learn about and compare goods and services? But it's much more than informative in today's world.
At CPYU, we continue to pound home the message that marketing is perhaps the greatest influence today on the values, attitudes, and resulting behaviors of children and teens. We pound home the message that marketers have mastered the art of tapping into the spiritual void caused by our fall into sin, convincing us that created things can fill the hole in the soul that's shaped like the creator. And we buy, and we buy, and we buy. And they have no problem investing $100,000 a minute because they know the return will be great.
Sunday's Super Bowl offers a great opportunity for us all to evaluate the role we've allowed marketing to assume in our lives, and to offer Godly guidance and direction to our kids who are growing up in this marketing-saturated world. Here's my challenge to you: seize the opportunity to make the biggest marketing day in America a teachable moment. Use it to teach the kids you know and love how to honor and glorify the Redeemer we're called to follow by thinking Christianly and Biblically about the Super Bowl commercials. If you're a parent, do it at home. If you're a youthworker, make it part of your Super Bowl party. Perhaps you'd want to record all the commercials and choose a few to discuss during the week with your kids or next time your youth group meets.
To make it easy, you can download our Simple Seven advertising evaluation sheet and use it as a filter for thinking Christianly and Biblically about this Sunday's $6 millon dollar minutes.
To get you warmed-up, check out the video of last year's Top Ten Super Bowl Ads.
And that's why it's come to what it's come to. During Sunday's Super Bowl, the potters will be spending $3 million a half minute or $100,000 a second - $100,000 DOLLARS A SECOND! -to get their hands wrapped around us and our kids.
If marketing promises redemption by erasing our anxieties and fulfilling our aspirations. . . and we buy into it, then it is a spiritual issue. I'm not saying that marketing is wrong. We need it. How else can we learn about and compare goods and services? But it's much more than informative in today's world.
At CPYU, we continue to pound home the message that marketing is perhaps the greatest influence today on the values, attitudes, and resulting behaviors of children and teens. We pound home the message that marketers have mastered the art of tapping into the spiritual void caused by our fall into sin, convincing us that created things can fill the hole in the soul that's shaped like the creator. And we buy, and we buy, and we buy. And they have no problem investing $100,000 a minute because they know the return will be great.
Sunday's Super Bowl offers a great opportunity for us all to evaluate the role we've allowed marketing to assume in our lives, and to offer Godly guidance and direction to our kids who are growing up in this marketing-saturated world. Here's my challenge to you: seize the opportunity to make the biggest marketing day in America a teachable moment. Use it to teach the kids you know and love how to honor and glorify the Redeemer we're called to follow by thinking Christianly and Biblically about the Super Bowl commercials. If you're a parent, do it at home. If you're a youthworker, make it part of your Super Bowl party. Perhaps you'd want to record all the commercials and choose a few to discuss during the week with your kids or next time your youth group meets.
To make it easy, you can download our Simple Seven advertising evaluation sheet and use it as a filter for thinking Christianly and Biblically about this Sunday's $6 millon dollar minutes.
To get you warmed-up, check out the video of last year's Top Ten Super Bowl Ads.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Underworld: Rise of the Lycans
Yesterday I decided to check out the new Underworld movie. I enjoyed the first one, and the second one was not terrible, so I figured this one might be okay. Well I was wrong.
I cannot really sum up how bad the movie was, I guess the big problem comes from the fact that we already know the story and how it will end. The dude that plays Lucien (Michael Sheen) reminded me of Simon Pegg a little bit. Which made it hard for me to really concentrate on the movie.
Rhona Mitra is hot, but not nearly as hot as Kate Beckinsale. There is an awkward sex scene with Lucien and Sonja, no nudity, but it reminded me of the sex scene in 300, almost soft-core porn.
Anyways, I recommend seeing something else.
24: 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m.
This episode was okay, not fantastic, but okay. Agent Walker does not die, apparently Tony and Jack sent Bill and Chloe to the location to rescue her. Does anyone know how they did that without Emerson noticing?
At the meeting place, Emerson figures something is up and takes Jack hostage, Tony shoots the other guy, then shoots Emerson in the shoulder and neck. Tony must have had feelings for Emerson because they had plenty of long adoring gazes into each others eyes...
Jack convinces the prime minister to be taken by Do-Bak-O (I am not even going to attempt to spell that one correctly). Chloe puts a tracer on his tooth and Nickles stops to make the exchange. Nickles has been ordered to kill Emerson and his team.
Tony explains that he killed everyone and wants the diamonds for himself. Nickles' men attempt to kill Tony, but a hidden Jack snipes one and Tony takes control of the situation. They make the exchange (Tony and Jack have the diamonds, I bet they give them back to the Sangalan prime minister...)
That is the basic gist of the episode. The other plot lines going, well they were pretty weak.
Carly Pope's character (Samantha?) is escorted by the Secret Service back to her place. Told to go up and get a few things so they can take her to a safe-house. She knows her life is in danger, yet leaves the key under the mat? Also, it does not seem weird to her that an agent would allow her to go up to her place unaccompanied? In fact, if her life was in danger, they would just take her to the safe-house, did she not want to ask a few questions? She is hot, but a knife in the back seems well deserved for stupidity.
Does our government really run this way? If a cabinet member disagrees they are forced to resign? That happens every season, and I always wonder what the point of having a cabinet if they are not allowed to voice dissent.
Also, when the President asks if her cabinet is assembled, did anyone notice the cute Asian girl? I bet she is the Secretary of Agriculture. It would be great if she would raise her hand and ask "I know this is a bit off topic, but what the hell is the point of me being here? I only know about crops and cattle." And then she gets angry and resigns...
So there we have it. Agent Walker did not die, we still do not have the CIP Device, Do-Bak-U crashes two planes over Washington DC, and a hot girl dies. Easy to sum up.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
The Best Adverts Ever?
Last year when I began my blog, I wrote the following post about great TV advertising.
Well, I've seen some excellent current examples in recent days, so much so that I've decided to extend this post and to re-print it...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
One of my little pet hates - something I would happily put into Room 101 given the chance, is bad TV adverts. There's nothing worse than a badly thought out advert that I have wasted precious seconds of my life watching. On the flip side, there is nothing better than a good, funny advert that not only makes you smile, but makes you remember what it is that was being promoted, days, weeks, months, even years later. After all, that's what advertising should be all about!
So I've trawled through my memory bank for some of those iconic, or at least to me personally, memorable adverts that have made me smile and which basically, did exactly what was said on the tin!
Iconic Advertising
Sometimes, it's the music that makes it memorable, sometimes, the iconic one liners.
Cadbury's Milk Tray is right up there with that famous line - 'And all because the lady loves Milk Tray'.
The 'Hovis' advert with Dvorak's famous New World Symphony, directed by Sir Ridley Scott is another iconic advert.
A personal favourite of mine from growing up in the 80s was the Yellow Pages advert - with J.R. Hartley looking for his book on fly fishing. Again, the melancholy and suddenly uplifting finale to the music, added to the piece.
This 'French Polishers' Yellow Pages advert was also ace!
The Hamlet adverts were superb. Again, the classical score, and the line - 'Happiness, is a cigar called Hamlet'. I've never smoked, and I don't agree with smoking advertisements. But as an advert of its day, did it do what it set out to do? Absolutely! The best one? Definitely, stuck in the bunker!
1992 was a kind of iconic year in my life. I don't really know why, but it was just a year from which everything else kind of flowed - even though I was only 10. From that year, the amazing Tango adverts. 'You Know When You've Been Tango'd' - a classic line. This was the re-make after the original, controversial 'happy slapping' original was banned!
Peter Kay's John Smiths adverts are just superb. Every one a hit. I'm biased as I think he's the best comedian in the UK - but looking at these adverts you can see why. Again, just fantastic humour and classic lines that everyone remembers. 'Top Bombing', 'Now come on, avante'. 'ave it'. Top draw advertisments!
Whatever happened to the Fairy Liquid adverts? Again, a long-running, famous brand of advertising with that hook - 'Now Hands That Do Dishes Can Feel Soft As Your Face, With Mild Green, Fairy Liquid'.
The BT adverts were also up there. Two in particular - Bob Hoskins' 'It's Good To Talk'...
...and Maureen Lipman's 'An 'Ology?!' Classic!
Maynards Wine Gums 'Set The Juice Loose' advert is just awesome! Simple, ridiculous, but incredibly catchy!
Now, I love Weetabix (it's my second favourite cereal), and this modern 'I Will Survive' advert mightn't go down in folklore as a great, but I loved it all the same!
That Vitalite advert has also stayed with me from my childhood - simply because of the tune!
The Guinness adverts have always had a touch of class about them. 'Good Things Come To Those Who Wait'. This one always won me over, simply because of the musical score. I've always thought of Guaglione as being the 'Guinness advert song'. Good advertising works guys!
There's also the 'Mambo No.5' Guinness advert from 1990.
Even the modern one is a hit!
There's also a few dodgy ones which I must admit to liking as they take me back to my childhood. The 'Birds Eye Potato Waffles' advert really isn't great, but then, the tune has still stayed with me years later, so perhaps it is! They're 'Waffly Versatile'!
This Bran Flakes advert is also rather awful - but I liked it! They're Tasty, Tasty, Very Very Tasty, They're Very Tasty!
Another awful but memorable cereal advert was Ross Kemp's Kelloggs Fruit'n Fibre escape - comically shocking!
Even Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes got in on the act! I remmeber this one well!
But, going back to some classic stuff - 'Papa! Nicole!' The Renault Clio adverts were great. The Vic and Bob wedding finale was blindin'!
The Ferrero Rocher advert was another favourite. A great tune and a visual image - 'The Ambassador's Reception',
Like Renault Clio, the Stella Artois adverts showed that there are plenty of foreign adverts that have become iconic. Again, it's the music and also the tag-line 'Stella Artois -Reassuringly Expensive'.
Honda make fantastic adverts. Easily their best one for me is 'The Impossible Dream'. Simply because I love the song sang by Andy Williams.
As an 8 year old, the 1990 Toys R'Us advert was very exciting. Even though I always thought it said 'There's millions of debris all under one roof'! This is the full version.
To finish on a few modern adverts which I think are fantastic, 'Compare the Meerket.com' is top draw. Simples!
But without doubt, possibly one of the best adverts for me of all time is the Skoda Fabia 'Cake' advert. Julie Andrews singing that iconic song, the sheer madness of making a car out of cake. Singing along whilst licking your lips at the thought of eating that car, it just worked on so, so, so many levels! The icing on the cake of TV adverts I would cringingly dare to suggest! Here it is once more!
There's many I'll have missed but these are a sample of what for me, makes good advertising. Mostly from the 80s/90s admittedly, but then that's when I grew up watching TV! Clearly I'm not going to show which ones are bad examples of TV advertising because I don't want to waste my life watching them again - but suffice to say, most insurance 'no claims' type adverts are right up there!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Now, in modern 2011 time, I want to add a few more...
This 'Innocent Smoothies' advert is quite absurd and yet it plays on that very point, and that makes it fantastic advertising! Using a well done sound track with Brian Blessed is a master stroke!
Then there's the 'Go Compare' franchise. They've jumped onto the Meertkat advertising bandwagon and whether you like it or not, it's ain't half catchy! Here's Gio Compario!
This new moneysupermarket.com advert featuring 'Two Jags' John Prescott is the latest in a line of very good Omid Djalili adverts for the brand.
Finally, a call out which I first made when I originally wrote this blog post and which I ask again...
One advert I can't find anywhere but which I adored as a child was a Yellow Pages advert which had the Ramones hit 'Baby I Love You' as the theme tune. It showed a young kid with glasses grow up and get married and have children of his own. It's another iconic advert which introduced me to that fantastic song and if anyone can find a link to it (with the original music!), Yell!!
Well, I've seen some excellent current examples in recent days, so much so that I've decided to extend this post and to re-print it...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
One of my little pet hates - something I would happily put into Room 101 given the chance, is bad TV adverts. There's nothing worse than a badly thought out advert that I have wasted precious seconds of my life watching. On the flip side, there is nothing better than a good, funny advert that not only makes you smile, but makes you remember what it is that was being promoted, days, weeks, months, even years later. After all, that's what advertising should be all about!
So I've trawled through my memory bank for some of those iconic, or at least to me personally, memorable adverts that have made me smile and which basically, did exactly what was said on the tin!
Iconic Advertising
Sometimes, it's the music that makes it memorable, sometimes, the iconic one liners.
Cadbury's Milk Tray is right up there with that famous line - 'And all because the lady loves Milk Tray'.
The 'Hovis' advert with Dvorak's famous New World Symphony, directed by Sir Ridley Scott is another iconic advert.
A personal favourite of mine from growing up in the 80s was the Yellow Pages advert - with J.R. Hartley looking for his book on fly fishing. Again, the melancholy and suddenly uplifting finale to the music, added to the piece.
This 'French Polishers' Yellow Pages advert was also ace!
The Hamlet adverts were superb. Again, the classical score, and the line - 'Happiness, is a cigar called Hamlet'. I've never smoked, and I don't agree with smoking advertisements. But as an advert of its day, did it do what it set out to do? Absolutely! The best one? Definitely, stuck in the bunker!
1992 was a kind of iconic year in my life. I don't really know why, but it was just a year from which everything else kind of flowed - even though I was only 10. From that year, the amazing Tango adverts. 'You Know When You've Been Tango'd' - a classic line. This was the re-make after the original, controversial 'happy slapping' original was banned!
Peter Kay's John Smiths adverts are just superb. Every one a hit. I'm biased as I think he's the best comedian in the UK - but looking at these adverts you can see why. Again, just fantastic humour and classic lines that everyone remembers. 'Top Bombing', 'Now come on, avante'. 'ave it'. Top draw advertisments!
Whatever happened to the Fairy Liquid adverts? Again, a long-running, famous brand of advertising with that hook - 'Now Hands That Do Dishes Can Feel Soft As Your Face, With Mild Green, Fairy Liquid'.
The BT adverts were also up there. Two in particular - Bob Hoskins' 'It's Good To Talk'...
...and Maureen Lipman's 'An 'Ology?!' Classic!
Maynards Wine Gums 'Set The Juice Loose' advert is just awesome! Simple, ridiculous, but incredibly catchy!
Now, I love Weetabix (it's my second favourite cereal), and this modern 'I Will Survive' advert mightn't go down in folklore as a great, but I loved it all the same!
That Vitalite advert has also stayed with me from my childhood - simply because of the tune!
The Guinness adverts have always had a touch of class about them. 'Good Things Come To Those Who Wait'. This one always won me over, simply because of the musical score. I've always thought of Guaglione as being the 'Guinness advert song'. Good advertising works guys!
There's also the 'Mambo No.5' Guinness advert from 1990.
Even the modern one is a hit!
There's also a few dodgy ones which I must admit to liking as they take me back to my childhood. The 'Birds Eye Potato Waffles' advert really isn't great, but then, the tune has still stayed with me years later, so perhaps it is! They're 'Waffly Versatile'!
This Bran Flakes advert is also rather awful - but I liked it! They're Tasty, Tasty, Very Very Tasty, They're Very Tasty!
Another awful but memorable cereal advert was Ross Kemp's Kelloggs Fruit'n Fibre escape - comically shocking!
Even Crunchy Nut Corn Flakes got in on the act! I remmeber this one well!
But, going back to some classic stuff - 'Papa! Nicole!' The Renault Clio adverts were great. The Vic and Bob wedding finale was blindin'!
The Ferrero Rocher advert was another favourite. A great tune and a visual image - 'The Ambassador's Reception',
Like Renault Clio, the Stella Artois adverts showed that there are plenty of foreign adverts that have become iconic. Again, it's the music and also the tag-line 'Stella Artois -Reassuringly Expensive'.
Honda make fantastic adverts. Easily their best one for me is 'The Impossible Dream'. Simply because I love the song sang by Andy Williams.
As an 8 year old, the 1990 Toys R'Us advert was very exciting. Even though I always thought it said 'There's millions of debris all under one roof'! This is the full version.
To finish on a few modern adverts which I think are fantastic, 'Compare the Meerket.com' is top draw. Simples!
But without doubt, possibly one of the best adverts for me of all time is the Skoda Fabia 'Cake' advert. Julie Andrews singing that iconic song, the sheer madness of making a car out of cake. Singing along whilst licking your lips at the thought of eating that car, it just worked on so, so, so many levels! The icing on the cake of TV adverts I would cringingly dare to suggest! Here it is once more!
There's many I'll have missed but these are a sample of what for me, makes good advertising. Mostly from the 80s/90s admittedly, but then that's when I grew up watching TV! Clearly I'm not going to show which ones are bad examples of TV advertising because I don't want to waste my life watching them again - but suffice to say, most insurance 'no claims' type adverts are right up there!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Now, in modern 2011 time, I want to add a few more...
This 'Innocent Smoothies' advert is quite absurd and yet it plays on that very point, and that makes it fantastic advertising! Using a well done sound track with Brian Blessed is a master stroke!
Then there's the 'Go Compare' franchise. They've jumped onto the Meertkat advertising bandwagon and whether you like it or not, it's ain't half catchy! Here's Gio Compario!
This new moneysupermarket.com advert featuring 'Two Jags' John Prescott is the latest in a line of very good Omid Djalili adverts for the brand.
Finally, a call out which I first made when I originally wrote this blog post and which I ask again...
One advert I can't find anywhere but which I adored as a child was a Yellow Pages advert which had the Ramones hit 'Baby I Love You' as the theme tune. It showed a young kid with glasses grow up and get married and have children of his own. It's another iconic advert which introduced me to that fantastic song and if anyone can find a link to it (with the original music!), Yell!!
Wyboston
Wyboston is a small village in Bedfordshire in eastern England.
For most people, it's probably never even registered on the radar. But for a number of years now, for Lib Dems at least, it's become synonomous with training and socialising.
I've just returned from a packed weekend at Wyboston and looking at it, it's really a rather amusing get together.
The 'Wyboston' weekends are the large get togethers that the party has to bring together MPs, candidates and campaigners to train them and bring them up to speed on modern innovations in preparation for forthcoming elections. They used to be the 'Peterborough' weekends but the party grew and bigger training facilities were required.
My only previous visit to a 'Wyboston' weekend was back in the autumn of 2004. I think it may have been the first year the party had used the Robinsons Executive Conference facilities there, I'm not sure.
It's an incredibly long journey to get there and back from west Wales but at least when you do, everything is under one roof. The training and conference rooms, our accommodation, and the eating facilities are all enclosed in the one location. So, as it turned out, I found myself inside the building from about 3pm on Friday until 10am this morning and I didn't step outside of it in the meantime.
The training is intense but was very productive I felt this year. There was a good smattering of members from across the entire country present and I was particularly impressed to see such a good turnout from the west country and from Scotland (again, a fair distance away from Wyboston). I can count at least 17 of our MP's being there this weekend which is over a quarter of our whole Parliamentary party which was pretty impressive (most of the remainder would have been at one of the two other 'Wyboston' weekends during the previous 2 weeks). So there was a real sense that the MPs were present and it's a good opportunity for newer members and campaigners to meet our Parliamentarians in the flesh in a relaxed environment.
That, as with any real get together of the Lib Dems such as conference, is the beauty of these 'Wyboston' style weekends. When we get together, it's like a family reunion. You get to see friends you haven't seen for months and there's the opportunity to catch up on news and gossip. There's also the chance to meet new names and faces. The dinners we had this weekend, certainly gave a good opportunity for everyone to relax and unwind after a full-on training schedule.
I've been involved with the party since 2001. I began going to conferences proper and getting involved in the wider party from around mid-2002 onwards. When I first started working for the party in 2004 and attended that first 'Wybsoton' weekend, the characters were very different to those I saw this weekend. Some of course are still there. The irrepressible Lord Rennard, our Chief Executive, was present with the same level of bonhomie with which we have become accustomed. Many of the Campaigning Directors and Deputy Directors are still in post, whilst many others inevitably, have moved on.
So it was slightly odd in a way, seeing so many new faces. It reminded me that I've been involved in the party for some time now. There were certainly more 'new' faces there this weekend than 'old' ones. This gave me an opportunity to get to know new people who will probably become a part of that extended Lib Dem 'family' that has continued to grow over the years. This weekend was no exception, but as with many such events, it's odd how I often find myself getting to know someone new and spending much of the weekend in their company. This time round it was Alex who works with David Heath MP who was usually sitting next to me during the long training sessions. It's always nice to be able to get to know someone new during the course of these weekends and she proved good and amusing company.
Over the years, I've met or spoken at some level with most of our MPs, but certainly not all of them. These weekends often give an amusing opportunity to digress at the bar with one of these MPs I've never really spoken to before and this weekend was no different. Listening to Nick Harvey MP in good form at our dinner table on the Friday night was entertaining, as was, for the first time, having a good chat with Malcolm Bruce, an MP since 1983, at the bar last night. From thrashing out peace in Northern Ireland and in the Middle East, to drinking a whiskey in celebration of Burns night today, he was in particularly good form.
It's these little snippets which I enjoy most from these get togethers. Despite all the hype and all the stress that goes into political life, you are at the end of the day, just dealing with human beings and breaking down that barrier to talk to them about every day issues, is always great fun.
So, as well as learning much this weekend, my 'Lib Dem family' has grown that little bit more during the past few days. As it the way of things, I'll no doubt meet up with many of them again when our spring conference in Harrogate come around in early March.
For most people, it's probably never even registered on the radar. But for a number of years now, for Lib Dems at least, it's become synonomous with training and socialising.
I've just returned from a packed weekend at Wyboston and looking at it, it's really a rather amusing get together.
The 'Wyboston' weekends are the large get togethers that the party has to bring together MPs, candidates and campaigners to train them and bring them up to speed on modern innovations in preparation for forthcoming elections. They used to be the 'Peterborough' weekends but the party grew and bigger training facilities were required.
My only previous visit to a 'Wyboston' weekend was back in the autumn of 2004. I think it may have been the first year the party had used the Robinsons Executive Conference facilities there, I'm not sure.
It's an incredibly long journey to get there and back from west Wales but at least when you do, everything is under one roof. The training and conference rooms, our accommodation, and the eating facilities are all enclosed in the one location. So, as it turned out, I found myself inside the building from about 3pm on Friday until 10am this morning and I didn't step outside of it in the meantime.
The training is intense but was very productive I felt this year. There was a good smattering of members from across the entire country present and I was particularly impressed to see such a good turnout from the west country and from Scotland (again, a fair distance away from Wyboston). I can count at least 17 of our MP's being there this weekend which is over a quarter of our whole Parliamentary party which was pretty impressive (most of the remainder would have been at one of the two other 'Wyboston' weekends during the previous 2 weeks). So there was a real sense that the MPs were present and it's a good opportunity for newer members and campaigners to meet our Parliamentarians in the flesh in a relaxed environment.
That, as with any real get together of the Lib Dems such as conference, is the beauty of these 'Wyboston' style weekends. When we get together, it's like a family reunion. You get to see friends you haven't seen for months and there's the opportunity to catch up on news and gossip. There's also the chance to meet new names and faces. The dinners we had this weekend, certainly gave a good opportunity for everyone to relax and unwind after a full-on training schedule.
I've been involved with the party since 2001. I began going to conferences proper and getting involved in the wider party from around mid-2002 onwards. When I first started working for the party in 2004 and attended that first 'Wybsoton' weekend, the characters were very different to those I saw this weekend. Some of course are still there. The irrepressible Lord Rennard, our Chief Executive, was present with the same level of bonhomie with which we have become accustomed. Many of the Campaigning Directors and Deputy Directors are still in post, whilst many others inevitably, have moved on.
So it was slightly odd in a way, seeing so many new faces. It reminded me that I've been involved in the party for some time now. There were certainly more 'new' faces there this weekend than 'old' ones. This gave me an opportunity to get to know new people who will probably become a part of that extended Lib Dem 'family' that has continued to grow over the years. This weekend was no exception, but as with many such events, it's odd how I often find myself getting to know someone new and spending much of the weekend in their company. This time round it was Alex who works with David Heath MP who was usually sitting next to me during the long training sessions. It's always nice to be able to get to know someone new during the course of these weekends and she proved good and amusing company.
Over the years, I've met or spoken at some level with most of our MPs, but certainly not all of them. These weekends often give an amusing opportunity to digress at the bar with one of these MPs I've never really spoken to before and this weekend was no different. Listening to Nick Harvey MP in good form at our dinner table on the Friday night was entertaining, as was, for the first time, having a good chat with Malcolm Bruce, an MP since 1983, at the bar last night. From thrashing out peace in Northern Ireland and in the Middle East, to drinking a whiskey in celebration of Burns night today, he was in particularly good form.
It's these little snippets which I enjoy most from these get togethers. Despite all the hype and all the stress that goes into political life, you are at the end of the day, just dealing with human beings and breaking down that barrier to talk to them about every day issues, is always great fun.
So, as well as learning much this weekend, my 'Lib Dem family' has grown that little bit more during the past few days. As it the way of things, I'll no doubt meet up with many of them again when our spring conference in Harrogate come around in early March.
Friday, January 23, 2009
And the winner(s) is (are). . . .
Okay. This wasn't easy. Last week I posted a blog inviting you to give us your reasons why you should be the person who wins the free registration to next month's National Youth Ministry Conference in Columbus, Ohio. If you're not already familiar with the conference and you're looking for a training event that will inspire, educate, and encourage you, then you need to join us in Columbus.
So today is Friday and I promised that we'd be picking a winner. Again, not easy. Our staff gathered early this morning and after some discussion, we made our decision. For the most part, everyone gave us great reasons and we wish we could give away 45 free registrations. . . okay, 44 free registrations. Dave Decker. . . . your reason was a little bit lame! Still, you had the guts to verbalize what many youthworkers were already thinking. We had to throw your entry over the rail and onto a pile of sack chairs. Dave, you might just want to spend the weekend at home. Get up early Saturday morning, throw your mattress out the window, and then jump out after it.
So now we're left with 44 entries. The good news is that thanks to the folks at NYMC, each of you had your chances increase from 1 in 44 to 1 in 22. That's right. . . they threw in a second free registration for us to give away. After reading and evaluating all the entries, our criteria quickly crystallized: we chose two winners who are working in youth ministry alone, doing it as a volunteer, and balancing all that with the demands of raising a growing family. Before announcing the winners, you need to know that if you were not one of the two chosen, there's still a chance you might win. You see, this is going to work out a bit like the Miss America contest. If for some reason our winners are not able to fulfill their duties and responsibilities, we will pass the NYMC "crown" onto another deserving youth worker.
Okay. . . . drum roll please. . .
Our first winner is, at this point, nameless. We don't know her name as she didn't nominate herself. She was probably too busy doing youth ministry. However, She was nominated by her pastor, Paul Anglin. We'll pass her name on to you as soon as we know it. Paul, thanks for nominating this amazing lady. We pray that her attendance at the conference will bear great fruit in your inner-city church's ministry to urban youth.
Our second winner is Beth Czerniak from Walton, New York. Beth is also the lone youth worker at her church. Her ministry context is one that's rural. Beth, we look forward to seeing you in Columbus.
We'll be in touch with both these folks today to be sure that they'll be able to attend. Thanks to everyone for participating. There's still some openings at the conference so I would encourage you all to register as soon as possible.
I'll see you in Columbus! And to Dave Decker. . . if you happen to be at the conference, come and get me before you jump over the railing and into those sack chairs. I want to watch.
So today is Friday and I promised that we'd be picking a winner. Again, not easy. Our staff gathered early this morning and after some discussion, we made our decision. For the most part, everyone gave us great reasons and we wish we could give away 45 free registrations. . . okay, 44 free registrations. Dave Decker. . . . your reason was a little bit lame! Still, you had the guts to verbalize what many youthworkers were already thinking. We had to throw your entry over the rail and onto a pile of sack chairs. Dave, you might just want to spend the weekend at home. Get up early Saturday morning, throw your mattress out the window, and then jump out after it.
So now we're left with 44 entries. The good news is that thanks to the folks at NYMC, each of you had your chances increase from 1 in 44 to 1 in 22. That's right. . . they threw in a second free registration for us to give away. After reading and evaluating all the entries, our criteria quickly crystallized: we chose two winners who are working in youth ministry alone, doing it as a volunteer, and balancing all that with the demands of raising a growing family. Before announcing the winners, you need to know that if you were not one of the two chosen, there's still a chance you might win. You see, this is going to work out a bit like the Miss America contest. If for some reason our winners are not able to fulfill their duties and responsibilities, we will pass the NYMC "crown" onto another deserving youth worker.
Okay. . . . drum roll please. . .
Our first winner is, at this point, nameless. We don't know her name as she didn't nominate herself. She was probably too busy doing youth ministry. However, She was nominated by her pastor, Paul Anglin. We'll pass her name on to you as soon as we know it. Paul, thanks for nominating this amazing lady. We pray that her attendance at the conference will bear great fruit in your inner-city church's ministry to urban youth.
Our second winner is Beth Czerniak from Walton, New York. Beth is also the lone youth worker at her church. Her ministry context is one that's rural. Beth, we look forward to seeing you in Columbus.
We'll be in touch with both these folks today to be sure that they'll be able to attend. Thanks to everyone for participating. There's still some openings at the conference so I would encourage you all to register as soon as possible.
I'll see you in Columbus! And to Dave Decker. . . if you happen to be at the conference, come and get me before you jump over the railing and into those sack chairs. I want to watch.
Girlfriend of the Week
In honor of Lost kicking ass, I decided that Kate should be my GOTW. Evangeline Lilly is so freakin' hot. I hope she dumps the hobbit and moves in next door to me, well after I kick the weird death metal neighbors out...
UPDATE
This is a picture I have posted before, but it gets the point across about Kate...
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Lost: Episodes 501 & 502
The wait is finally over. The new season of Lost premiered last night, which I unfortunately missed because of work, but caught it online today. For those of you who have given up on this show, all I can say is: sucks to be you.
The season started off great. I guess this season they plan on doing something different instead of flashforwards or flashbacks. These first two episodes saw the island moving through time (or at least the people), that allows the writers to show us what is happening on the island, explain some of the unexplained, and also bounce around what happened during the three years since the Oceanic Six left the island.
Here is the gist of what is happening.
On The Island
Daniel tells everyone that the flashes are moving them through time, or the island is moving. They go to the hatch and kind of confirm that they are moving (because in the past the hatch is not blown up). Daniel then goes to Desmond (who is still in the hatch) and tells him to find his mother at Oxford when he gets rescued.
Later on the beach some hostiles attack and kill a good bit of the unimportant folks. Speaking of attacks, Sawyer and Juliet get captured by them and Locke comes and kills them.
Speaking of Locke, he gets a nice visit from Richard. He explains to Locke that he must return everyone to the island. And to do that, he must die? Who knows what that means. Also, Locke gets shot by Ethan. Weird...
Off The Island
Sayid rescues Hurley from the mental institution. They go to a safe-house and get attacked. Sayid kills the bad guys, but gets hit with a poison dart. Hurley takes him away, but not before everyone thinks Hurley killed the men. While on the run, Hurley gets pulled over by a cop and it turns out to be Ana Lucia, who is still very dead. She is a figment of his imagination. She gives him advice, then says "Libby says hi." She may be imaginary, or maybe the dead really visit Hurley...
Ben has Jack cleaned up and ready to head back to the island. Jack then saves Sayid from the poison dart, while Ben visits Hurley. Sayid gave Hurley the advice to never trust Ben. Hurley then turns himself into the police to escape Ben.
Later Ben visits the lady who talked with Desmond that time (I cannot remember her name), she says that Ben only has 70 hours to get the group together, and if not "well God help us all." She seems to be a scientist, and something tells me she is Daniel's mommy.
Desmond wakes up and tells Penny that he had a dream about the island, but that it was not really a dream, it was a memory, and they begin to sail back to port...I am guessing he will visit Daniel's mom.
Some lawyers pay a visit to Kate and tell her they want a blood sample of her and Aaron. She refuses, and after they leave she packs some bags and leaves with her kid. Well, Claire's kid, but whatever. She tries to call Jack, but then gets a call from Sun.
They have a wonderful lunch, and then Sun (who already told Charles Widmore that she wants to kill Ben), basically informs Kate that she should do whatever it takes to protect Aaron (kill the lawyers).
Something tells me that Ben (or Sun) hired the lawyers. Ben would do it to scare Kate into running so that he could approach her and convince her to return to the island. Sun might do it to try and frame it on Ben, getting Kate angry enough to attempt to kill Ben. Just a thought.
Obviously I am leaving lots of stuff out. The episodes were awesome. My favorite line came from Hurley to Sayid: "Maybe if you ate more comfort food, you wouldn't have to go around shooting people."
For those of you who watched it, please let me know what you thought. Any theories?
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Dr Strangelove has left the building...
It was a fantastic few hours watching Obama's inauguration last night.
Everything (apart from the Chief Justice's slip-up and the lateness of the oath of office itself) seemed to go perfectly.
I had been rather annoyed in seeing many of my friends Facebook status updates in recent days expressing hope that Obama would make it to the ceremony itself. I understand the concern, but did it really have to be expressed? I think it shows that many still had a feeling of disbelief that after 8 years of Bush & Cheney, something good could come out of it all. Did Obama really beat Hilary? Did he really win the general against bull-dog McCain? Are we that lucky?! I suppose, with the sheer enormity of what had happened and had gone before, it was reasonable to be weary and to hope that nothing bad would befall him during the transition. It must be said, I was rather relaxed about it all. America has turned the corner to such an extent that I felt it was going to go smoothly.
Dick Cheney in his wheelchair was a rather bizzare and in a way, a rather comical sight. Doesn't it signify better than anything, how moribund this out-going Presidency had become?! He also looked thoroughly unhappy and clearly didn't want to be there which added to the occasion! He did strike me as resembling Dr Strangelove. Seeing him being wheeled off, and Bush flying off into the distance, was as good as anything I witnessed yesterday.
Michelle Obama is going to be a fantasically fiery First Lady. As fiery as Abbey Bartlett off the West Wing? Possibly so - and there's nothing wrong with that! Having young children in the White House for the first time since the Presidency of JFK will also do wonders to the Presidency as an institution - not mentioning the fact that young Malia and Sasha seem like smashing kids who are lapping up the attention and the limelight.
I think, more than anything, the wonder of yesterday was seeing the whole spectrum of American society not only out there in Washington watching the inauguration, but doing so with beaming smiles that showed a hope and pride for what they were witnessing. The fact that Americans of all races and all creeds were coming together for what was in effect, a national celebration, was wonderful to see.
The speech itself was surprisingly businessmanlike. But maybe, we shouldn't have been so surprised. There's much to do and Obama seemed to want to give across the impression that it was time to lead, and that time was immediate. No sweeping gestures, just an understading that the work begins now. Quite right too. My favourite line in the speech? Easily the one where he said "we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist". Fantastic stuff.
What of the future? Well, his announcement to start with of his intention to close Guantanamo was expected. But nevertheless, within hours of assuming the Presidency, it's a clear signal of where he means to lead his country and how he plans to deal with the outside world.
A few constitutional throughts did strike me. Once Joe Biden had been sworn in as Vice-President, in the intervening minutes whilst the orchestra was playing, if anything had happened to Obama, then I presume it would've been Biden, not Cheney who would've been in charge. More interestingly, because the whole inauguration was running some 5 minutes late, Obama hadn't actually been sworn in at the stroke of noon. As far as I'm aware, Bush's Presidency came to an end at that point. But because of the delay, his successor hadn't been sworn in by that time. So, who technically, was in charge between 12pm and 12.05pm when Obama swore the oath of office? Surely it couldn't have been him as he hadn't taken the Oath. So for those 5 minutes, was VP Joe Biden actually, technically, the Commander-in-Chief of the United States of America?! Of course, it doesn't really matter, but these little thing intrigue me!
An apt tune for the occasion had the organisers asked me for my opition, would've been 'Goodbye, Hello' by the Beatles. Goodbye Mr Bush, hello President Obama.
Actually, taking in the significance of the entire event, the best part for me, even better than seeing Bush and Cheney fade away into hoped for obscurity, had to be when Obama made his oath of office and said "I, Barack Hussein Obama..." That was enough for me. For America to have elected an African American with the middle name Hussein, and to hear him proudly announce his full name in front of a global viewing audience of millions, is worth its weight in gold and demonstrates better than anything else, that the only way is up.
Everything (apart from the Chief Justice's slip-up and the lateness of the oath of office itself) seemed to go perfectly.
I had been rather annoyed in seeing many of my friends Facebook status updates in recent days expressing hope that Obama would make it to the ceremony itself. I understand the concern, but did it really have to be expressed? I think it shows that many still had a feeling of disbelief that after 8 years of Bush & Cheney, something good could come out of it all. Did Obama really beat Hilary? Did he really win the general against bull-dog McCain? Are we that lucky?! I suppose, with the sheer enormity of what had happened and had gone before, it was reasonable to be weary and to hope that nothing bad would befall him during the transition. It must be said, I was rather relaxed about it all. America has turned the corner to such an extent that I felt it was going to go smoothly.
Dick Cheney in his wheelchair was a rather bizzare and in a way, a rather comical sight. Doesn't it signify better than anything, how moribund this out-going Presidency had become?! He also looked thoroughly unhappy and clearly didn't want to be there which added to the occasion! He did strike me as resembling Dr Strangelove. Seeing him being wheeled off, and Bush flying off into the distance, was as good as anything I witnessed yesterday.
Michelle Obama is going to be a fantasically fiery First Lady. As fiery as Abbey Bartlett off the West Wing? Possibly so - and there's nothing wrong with that! Having young children in the White House for the first time since the Presidency of JFK will also do wonders to the Presidency as an institution - not mentioning the fact that young Malia and Sasha seem like smashing kids who are lapping up the attention and the limelight.
I think, more than anything, the wonder of yesterday was seeing the whole spectrum of American society not only out there in Washington watching the inauguration, but doing so with beaming smiles that showed a hope and pride for what they were witnessing. The fact that Americans of all races and all creeds were coming together for what was in effect, a national celebration, was wonderful to see.
The speech itself was surprisingly businessmanlike. But maybe, we shouldn't have been so surprised. There's much to do and Obama seemed to want to give across the impression that it was time to lead, and that time was immediate. No sweeping gestures, just an understading that the work begins now. Quite right too. My favourite line in the speech? Easily the one where he said "we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist". Fantastic stuff.
What of the future? Well, his announcement to start with of his intention to close Guantanamo was expected. But nevertheless, within hours of assuming the Presidency, it's a clear signal of where he means to lead his country and how he plans to deal with the outside world.
A few constitutional throughts did strike me. Once Joe Biden had been sworn in as Vice-President, in the intervening minutes whilst the orchestra was playing, if anything had happened to Obama, then I presume it would've been Biden, not Cheney who would've been in charge. More interestingly, because the whole inauguration was running some 5 minutes late, Obama hadn't actually been sworn in at the stroke of noon. As far as I'm aware, Bush's Presidency came to an end at that point. But because of the delay, his successor hadn't been sworn in by that time. So, who technically, was in charge between 12pm and 12.05pm when Obama swore the oath of office? Surely it couldn't have been him as he hadn't taken the Oath. So for those 5 minutes, was VP Joe Biden actually, technically, the Commander-in-Chief of the United States of America?! Of course, it doesn't really matter, but these little thing intrigue me!
An apt tune for the occasion had the organisers asked me for my opition, would've been 'Goodbye, Hello' by the Beatles. Goodbye Mr Bush, hello President Obama.
Actually, taking in the significance of the entire event, the best part for me, even better than seeing Bush and Cheney fade away into hoped for obscurity, had to be when Obama made his oath of office and said "I, Barack Hussein Obama..." That was enough for me. For America to have elected an African American with the middle name Hussein, and to hear him proudly announce his full name in front of a global viewing audience of millions, is worth its weight in gold and demonstrates better than anything else, that the only way is up.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
24: 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m.
I was very excited about this episode. Figured it would lead us to some cool stuff. Like maybe Jack killing or torturing someone. Boy, was I wrong.
Jack uses homemade gas to smoke the Prime Minister out of the panic room. Agent Walker tries to go in alone, but gets captured. Tony and Jack convince Emerson that they need to torture her to discover what else she learned from Tanner. Emerson agrees at first, but then his boss informs him that she nor the FBI know anything. Emerson orders Jack to kill her.
They go to an abandoned construction site where she berates Jack for being a traitor. Jack tells her to trust him and that she will live. He shoots her neck and puts her in a ditch. He and Tony then bury her alive in dirt. I am sure he dropped his cell phone in there or something. She will manage to get out and then call the FBI...or she will die and Jack will get a kill. Win-Win situation.
The Secret Service guy that protects the First Dude turns out to be the guy who killed Roger. He poisons the First Dude and plans to kill Roger's girl and make it look like a murder suicide. Does anyone really care about this story?
It turns out that the computer guy at the FBI with the bad attitude, does anyone remember his name? Well anyways, he just saved his wife's plane and then we learn that he is banging the cute blond in his office. And now that his wife is safe, he is back to checking the blond out. Good to see that everyone is focused during a crisis.
Should the President go through with the attack on Sangala? I say yes, never negotiate with terrorists.
There's Gotta Be Something More. . . .
I'm just finishing another one of those books that prophetically rocks my happy and satisfied little world. . . . making me restless and uneasy. It's Michael Horton's latest. . . Christless Christianity: The Alternative Gospel of the American Church. The book offers a compelling critique by a humble man and solid theologian who deeply loves Christ and His church. This isn't some knee-jerk rant by a disatisfied customer. Rather, it's a well-reasoned and well-researched critique of what is, what shouldn't be, and what should be.
This is one of those books that if you read it, it just might spark deep change in who you are, how you view Christ and Gospel. . . . along with how you parent and do ministry. Guys like Horton are like my doctor. They want me to come in from time to time when I don't think there's anything wrong. They poke and probe all over the place to get a good read on where I am. . . and then they issue some needed warnings, precriptions for change. etc. They tell me about things I haven't seen in the everyday rush of life with a body I'm all-too-familiar with because it's been with me 24/7 since the moment I was conceived! That's what I like so much about Christless Christianity. It's an eye-opening check-up.
Here are some interesting quotes that I've encountered during my read. . .
"Where everything is measured by our happiness rather than by God's holiness, the sense of our being sinners become secondary, if not offensive."
"While the blood of martyrs is the seed of the church, the assimilation of the church to the world silences the witness."
"There is a tendency to make God a supporting character in our own life movie rather than to be rewritten as new characters in God's drama of redemption."
"Far from clashing with the culture of consumerism, American religion appears to be not only at peace with our narcissism but gives it a spiritual legitimacy."
"Like any recreational drug, Christianity Lite can make people feel better for the moment, but it does not reconcile sinners to God."
"It is not secular humanists but we ourselves who are secularizing the faith by transforming its odd message into something less jarring to the American psyche. This may mean, however, that precisely the most numerically successful versions of religion will be the least tethered to the biblical drama of redemption centering on Christ."
"'Smooth talk and flattery' is part of the staple diet of successful American religion today. And it is almost always advertised simply as more effective mission and relevance."
"I have no reason to doubt the sincere motivation to reach non-Christians with a relevant message. My concern, however, is that the way this message comes out actually trivializes the faith at its best and contradicts it at its worst."
Some of you, I'm sure, have wondered why CPYU has chosen Christless Christianity as our resource of the month. If you know us, if you know our passion, and if you read the book, it will become obvious why it's on our list of must-reads.
Monday, January 19, 2009
More Button
Today is one of those days where I cannot motivate myself to get a shower and leave the house. Therefore I just spend the time watching stupid videos or reading different blogs, then forcing what I find on you.
Here is a video proving why The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was not mind blowing.
Here is a video proving why The Curious Case of Benjamin Button was not mind blowing.
The Curious Case of Forrest Gump - watch more funny videos
Blue Monday
Thank Jeebus for Warren Ellis. Today is apparently Blue Monday, the most depressing day of the year. Granted it sounds like a whole lot of made-up nonsense. However, that does not stop Ellis from having some fun with it. I would link to his individual posts, but he has at least two so far with a bunch of pictures of the people holding their signs to the world...just go check it out. I am going to lay on the couch and be happy, since I am off.
ShamWow
Being a person who stays up way too late at night and sees tons of infomercials, I must say that one of my favorite is the ShamWow. Today I discovered this site and they had a great post about how the guy from the commercial is going up against Scientology because they ruined his movie.
Does anyone remember this being advertised on Comedy Central all the time? I only remember it because of the two girls on the toilet...is that weird?
Does anyone remember this being advertised on Comedy Central all the time? I only remember it because of the two girls on the toilet...is that weird?
Growing up with Dubya
It's quite odd, looking back, to realise that today is in fact, January 19th 2009.
For too long, I've been waiting and waiting for this day - and the next. Long before Obama was even in our headlights, I've been waiting for the day when America's 43rd President would be leaving high office.
It's a sobering thought, but pretty much since I left the steady, calm confines ofYsgol Gyfun Dyffryn Taf back in August 2000 to enter the real world, this man they call 'Dubya' has been stalking my every move.
I came to University in Aberystwyth that September. I well remember listening to the 2000 US Presidential election results coming through in the computer room in Pantycelyn that November. I also remember far too well, bursting into said computer room, yelling out 'Al Gore's won Florida!' when it was announced on the US networks. Of course, the rest is history. I can vaguely recall avoiding Dubya's inauguration ceremony that January 20th. It wasn't his victory anyway, so I wasn't going to participate in his moment of crowning glory!
Through my years as a student in Aberystwyth, undergraduate and postgraduate, and into my years in politics in Cardigan, he has remained. The 2004 election night I recall was particularly galling. I'd been laid low by my only bout, to date, of tonsilitis. I was at home in the hills of north Pembrokeshire, recovering. I actually did think that Kerry had a good chance of winning it. I stayed up all night to watch the results (of course) and watched in growing horror as our Dubya held onto Ohio and Florida to secure another 4 years in the White House. How could they re-elect him after Iraq?! I was non-plussed to say the least.
From then on, January 20th 2009 has been a far flung speck of light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
In many ways, I have sympathy with Dubya. Like Blair, I credit him with doing what he belived was right. He was blatantly wrong time after time after time, but I sense his belief that he was right, like with Blair, was a guiding principle. Unfortunately, it's a guide that has left the world a much more troubled place than it was on January 20th 2000. It must also be noted however, that for the last 8 years, Sandie Shaw has played a surprisingly significant role in global politics. That is, of course, if you swop Dick Cheney with our Sandie. Dubya, has quite simply, been the puppet on Cheney's string. He's been in charge all along and will be shown by the history books to have been the most powerful VP in US history.
That in a way, is what made the past 8 years so unpalatable. As much as I detested Dubya, the thought of his choking on his pretzel and not seeing it through to the other side, only meant a President Dick Cheney and if there was only one thing worse than Dubya in office, then it was that.
So when Obama came along, not only was it a feeling of relief that January 20th 2009 was finally approaching and Dubya could finally go back to his ranch, but there's also been the feeling of excitement, that actually, we are on the brink of a potentially historic Presidency. Indeed, it will be historic as it is, but Obama seems to have the qualities that will raise him above many of his predecessors. We will see what happens. No doubt we'll feel let down by many of his initiatives (or lack of them) but then with so much hype around his coming, a touch of reality is needed here. Will we see the great change in emphasis in Middle Eastern policy that is needed now more than ever? Maybe, maybe not. With Hillary as Secretary of State I have my doubts, but here's hoping. What there will be though is a new sense of purpose and a feeling of American renewal which is desperately needed.
8 long years. It's a scary concept but just like Reagan in the 80s, Dubya has been there throughout the entirety of this decade. Indeed, with tomorrow, comes the end of back-to-back Presidencies. Not since Jefferson, Madison and Monroe between 1801 and 1825 have we had 2 successive Presidencies that lasted their full two terms. Obama will hopefully make it a 3rd.
Its been a dark decade with Dubya in power. America deserved and deserves better. It's a fantastic country which has been badly let down by its Government. Now, the waiting is finally over. That elusive date, January 20th 2009 is upon us. There's hope and there's relief shared in equal measure.
I grew up in the shadow of Dubya, and now it's time to move on and look forward to a different, more progressive American and global future. In years to come, will they mention the 44th President in the same breath as the 16th, 32nd and 35th? Here's hoping. But I think it's safe to say, that Dubya, the 43rd, will go down in history in the same breath as the 14th, 15th and 29th.
For too long, I've been waiting and waiting for this day - and the next. Long before Obama was even in our headlights, I've been waiting for the day when America's 43rd President would be leaving high office.
It's a sobering thought, but pretty much since I left the steady, calm confines ofYsgol Gyfun Dyffryn Taf back in August 2000 to enter the real world, this man they call 'Dubya' has been stalking my every move.
I came to University in Aberystwyth that September. I well remember listening to the 2000 US Presidential election results coming through in the computer room in Pantycelyn that November. I also remember far too well, bursting into said computer room, yelling out 'Al Gore's won Florida!' when it was announced on the US networks. Of course, the rest is history. I can vaguely recall avoiding Dubya's inauguration ceremony that January 20th. It wasn't his victory anyway, so I wasn't going to participate in his moment of crowning glory!
Through my years as a student in Aberystwyth, undergraduate and postgraduate, and into my years in politics in Cardigan, he has remained. The 2004 election night I recall was particularly galling. I'd been laid low by my only bout, to date, of tonsilitis. I was at home in the hills of north Pembrokeshire, recovering. I actually did think that Kerry had a good chance of winning it. I stayed up all night to watch the results (of course) and watched in growing horror as our Dubya held onto Ohio and Florida to secure another 4 years in the White House. How could they re-elect him after Iraq?! I was non-plussed to say the least.
From then on, January 20th 2009 has been a far flung speck of light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
In many ways, I have sympathy with Dubya. Like Blair, I credit him with doing what he belived was right. He was blatantly wrong time after time after time, but I sense his belief that he was right, like with Blair, was a guiding principle. Unfortunately, it's a guide that has left the world a much more troubled place than it was on January 20th 2000. It must also be noted however, that for the last 8 years, Sandie Shaw has played a surprisingly significant role in global politics. That is, of course, if you swop Dick Cheney with our Sandie. Dubya, has quite simply, been the puppet on Cheney's string. He's been in charge all along and will be shown by the history books to have been the most powerful VP in US history.
That in a way, is what made the past 8 years so unpalatable. As much as I detested Dubya, the thought of his choking on his pretzel and not seeing it through to the other side, only meant a President Dick Cheney and if there was only one thing worse than Dubya in office, then it was that.
So when Obama came along, not only was it a feeling of relief that January 20th 2009 was finally approaching and Dubya could finally go back to his ranch, but there's also been the feeling of excitement, that actually, we are on the brink of a potentially historic Presidency. Indeed, it will be historic as it is, but Obama seems to have the qualities that will raise him above many of his predecessors. We will see what happens. No doubt we'll feel let down by many of his initiatives (or lack of them) but then with so much hype around his coming, a touch of reality is needed here. Will we see the great change in emphasis in Middle Eastern policy that is needed now more than ever? Maybe, maybe not. With Hillary as Secretary of State I have my doubts, but here's hoping. What there will be though is a new sense of purpose and a feeling of American renewal which is desperately needed.
8 long years. It's a scary concept but just like Reagan in the 80s, Dubya has been there throughout the entirety of this decade. Indeed, with tomorrow, comes the end of back-to-back Presidencies. Not since Jefferson, Madison and Monroe between 1801 and 1825 have we had 2 successive Presidencies that lasted their full two terms. Obama will hopefully make it a 3rd.
Its been a dark decade with Dubya in power. America deserved and deserves better. It's a fantastic country which has been badly let down by its Government. Now, the waiting is finally over. That elusive date, January 20th 2009 is upon us. There's hope and there's relief shared in equal measure.
I grew up in the shadow of Dubya, and now it's time to move on and look forward to a different, more progressive American and global future. In years to come, will they mention the 44th President in the same breath as the 16th, 32nd and 35th? Here's hoping. But I think it's safe to say, that Dubya, the 43rd, will go down in history in the same breath as the 14th, 15th and 29th.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Some Movie Thoughts
Since I am bored today and do not feel like getting ready for work, I decided to share some of my thoughts on movie news.
-Apparently Cowboy Bebop is going to be made into a live-action film. Keanu Reeves will star as Spike.
Lots of people think this is a bad choice, since Reeves has no real emotional depth as an actor. It actually does not bother me all that much. Spike generally showed a disinterest in whatever they were doing. I think it could work. I am also pretty excited about the idea of them making this movie...
-Watchmen will be released March 6th. For those of you who do not know what the hell I am talking about, two studios had a battle over distribution rights. Anyways, the movie will be released and we shall all enjoy in the awesomeness.
-So late at night, I love to watch bad films. Recently I sat through Vampire's Kiss. This movie was terrible, but also extremely funny. I wish I could have had some robots here to make fun of it MST3K style. Also, it turns out that Cage ate two cockroaches for the movie. Just read the wikipedia plot description to envision how bad this movie was.
-This brings me to the movie I watched late last night: Cube. Gideon had me watch it a few years ago, and I must admit it was pretty good. As I read about it on wikipedia, I came across something that Vampire's Kiss had in common with it. Kafkaesque...
I have never read anything by Kafka, maybe I should. However, I feel like anytime someone wants to sound pseudo-intellectual, they start tossing the adjective around about any indie type film. In fact, IMDB has a list of the 41 best Kafkaesque films...After spending a few minutes reading about Kafka and what his work was about, I can say that I understand how Cube and Dark City fall into that category, but Vampire's Kiss? Absolutely not...
-Apparently Cowboy Bebop is going to be made into a live-action film. Keanu Reeves will star as Spike.
Lots of people think this is a bad choice, since Reeves has no real emotional depth as an actor. It actually does not bother me all that much. Spike generally showed a disinterest in whatever they were doing. I think it could work. I am also pretty excited about the idea of them making this movie...
-Watchmen will be released March 6th. For those of you who do not know what the hell I am talking about, two studios had a battle over distribution rights. Anyways, the movie will be released and we shall all enjoy in the awesomeness.
-So late at night, I love to watch bad films. Recently I sat through Vampire's Kiss. This movie was terrible, but also extremely funny. I wish I could have had some robots here to make fun of it MST3K style. Also, it turns out that Cage ate two cockroaches for the movie. Just read the wikipedia plot description to envision how bad this movie was.
-This brings me to the movie I watched late last night: Cube. Gideon had me watch it a few years ago, and I must admit it was pretty good. As I read about it on wikipedia, I came across something that Vampire's Kiss had in common with it. Kafkaesque...
I have never read anything by Kafka, maybe I should. However, I feel like anytime someone wants to sound pseudo-intellectual, they start tossing the adjective around about any indie type film. In fact, IMDB has a list of the 41 best Kafkaesque films...After spending a few minutes reading about Kafka and what his work was about, I can say that I understand how Cube and Dark City fall into that category, but Vampire's Kiss? Absolutely not...
Friday, January 16, 2009
This is It Exactly
Watch this girl recap the Star Wars trilogy, even though she has not really seen all of it. Very funny.
Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn't seen it) from Joe Nicolosi on Vimeo.
Star Wars: Retold (by someone who hasn't seen it) from Joe Nicolosi on Vimeo.
Girlfriend of the Week
This week's GOTW is the exquisite Camilla Belle. The star of the fantastic movie, 10,000 B.C....okay, that movie sucked, but at least Camilla was super hot in it.
Not only am I madly in love with her, but we have something in common. Well aside from sultry good looks. We share a birthday, October 2. Although she is six years younger than me.
So Camilla, if you ever want to spend 10/2 together and have a great time, just call me...
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Interact. . . Learn. . . . Maybe Free!
I've had an awesome week. I'm teaching a seminary class on youth culture. Seven awesome students who I trust are being challenged, stretched, and equipped for deeper youth ministry. I won't hesitate to say that I'm the real winner in this. The interaction has been phenomenal and I don't want it to end. I love stuff like this.
Over the years my love affair with intensive ministry learning has been fed with lots of opportunities to enter into interactive educational conversations as both a student and a teacher. One of those opportunities that I look forward to every year. . . . and it's coming soon (February 27 - March 2)! . . . . is the National Youth Ministry Conference. Organized by my good friend Doug Fields, Simply Youth Ministry, and Group, this annual gathering is one I believe in so much that CPYU is a ministry partner for the event. Less of a conference and more of a conversation, this weekend allows participants to enter into deep discussions with facilitators and ministry peers on the most important issues in youth ministry today. This year, I'll be leading one of several "Deeper Learning Tracks." Our group will spend 8 hours together exploring and discussing "Trends in Youth Culture You Need to Know." Attendees will also have ample time to plug in to some amazing general sessions, workshops, heart-to-heart seminars, and affinity groups. What makes this conference so special is that we'll all be rubbing elbows with each other for the duration. . . conversing, questioning, laughing, eating, worshipping, and learning in the context of deep give-and-take that none of us will want to see come to an end. It's been that way for me the last two years. I know it will be the same this year.
Are you interested in attending this year's National Youth Ministry Conference? Here's some great news! CPYU has partnered with NYMC to give away a free admission to this year's conference! For a chance to win, all you have to do is answer the following question, "Why do you want to come to NYMC?" Post your answer here on my blog and be sure to include some contact information so we can inform you if you've won. CPYU and the folks at NYMC will choose the winner! We'll be picking the winner on Friday, January 23. So be sure to submit your answer before then. Sorry, the free registration is not valid for those already registered for the conference.
I'd encourage you to check out the NYMC website. Spend some time looking around to get a sense of what's happening, how it all works, and the wide breadth of learning opportunities from which to choose. I hope to see you in Columbus! And don't forget to leave a post answering the question above for a chance to attend for free!
Over the years my love affair with intensive ministry learning has been fed with lots of opportunities to enter into interactive educational conversations as both a student and a teacher. One of those opportunities that I look forward to every year. . . . and it's coming soon (February 27 - March 2)! . . . . is the National Youth Ministry Conference. Organized by my good friend Doug Fields, Simply Youth Ministry, and Group, this annual gathering is one I believe in so much that CPYU is a ministry partner for the event. Less of a conference and more of a conversation, this weekend allows participants to enter into deep discussions with facilitators and ministry peers on the most important issues in youth ministry today. This year, I'll be leading one of several "Deeper Learning Tracks." Our group will spend 8 hours together exploring and discussing "Trends in Youth Culture You Need to Know." Attendees will also have ample time to plug in to some amazing general sessions, workshops, heart-to-heart seminars, and affinity groups. What makes this conference so special is that we'll all be rubbing elbows with each other for the duration. . . conversing, questioning, laughing, eating, worshipping, and learning in the context of deep give-and-take that none of us will want to see come to an end. It's been that way for me the last two years. I know it will be the same this year.
Are you interested in attending this year's National Youth Ministry Conference? Here's some great news! CPYU has partnered with NYMC to give away a free admission to this year's conference! For a chance to win, all you have to do is answer the following question, "Why do you want to come to NYMC?" Post your answer here on my blog and be sure to include some contact information so we can inform you if you've won. CPYU and the folks at NYMC will choose the winner! We'll be picking the winner on Friday, January 23. So be sure to submit your answer before then. Sorry, the free registration is not valid for those already registered for the conference.
I'd encourage you to check out the NYMC website. Spend some time looking around to get a sense of what's happening, how it all works, and the wide breadth of learning opportunities from which to choose. I hope to see you in Columbus! And don't forget to leave a post answering the question above for a chance to attend for free!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
24: 8:00 a.m-12 p.m.
It is so exciting to finally have a new season of 24. The four hour premiere was pretty awesome. Obviously way too much happened for me to just recap everything, so let me break it down into things I liked and disliked.
The Good
-The Senate hearing with Jack was cool. His attitude was awesome. "Yes, I broke the Geneva Convention, screw you. I saved lives." Obviously I paraphrased, or did I?
-Agent Walker is hot. And she tortured a guy, that was great.
-Even though CTU is gone, Chloe and Tony are back. I was actually excited that Tony was the bad guy.
-The terrorist group that Jack is working with right now seems pretty badass, especially this Emerson guy, although for a guy who trained with British SAS, where is his accent? I look forward to the Jack vs. Emerson fight.
The Bad
-The plot so far seems like a mixture of Die Hard II and Live Free and Die Hard...please tell me that they retrieve this CFIP device (or whatever it is called) and we find out that there is an even larger threat. And please do not let it be the Chinese trying to steal that as well. Lets bring in a completely random group, like the French.
-The big thing was that they were getting rid of CTU and trying something different, but they did not do that. The FBI is basically CTU Lite. Plus, Chloe and the gang are still there. Do not get me wrong, I love Chloe, but I feel like we are not seeing anything new.
-Seriously, stop putting a mole in every agency or department. I mean, there was one in the Secret Service for Redemption. Now the FBI. I cannot get a job with the Postal Service because of a criminal record, yet people with terrorist ties can become Secret Service? Odd.
-Jack has yet to torture anyone. Really torture anyone. I miss that. I hated the stupid chemicals they started using at CTU, let Jack use the towel method again, or the wire from a lamp...does anyone else watch this show and just want to go out and catch a terrorist. Just to torture them? Only me? I am seriously messed up in the head.
Anyways, I will probably watch this over Heroes for awhile. I will TiVo Heroes in my room and watch it later or the next day. Let me hear what you thought of the premiere so far.
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Handy Randy. . . .
I remember hearing some confusing and troubling comments from grandparents when I was a kid. Someone would bring up the topic of declining health or advancing age and then say something like, "I'm ready to go." Ready to go? My young mind could never understand how someone could make a comment like that. I was still a kid. Life was fun. Time passed so slowly it was painful. I had the rest of my life ahead of me and there was lots and lots of stuff yet to do. I wasn't ready to die. Not only that, the thought of it was terrifying.
Fast forward to today. I'm looking forward to as many days as the Lord grants me. I'm not complaining. But my knowledge of the assuring truths of God's Word coupled with my growing experience of the brokenness of life in this world has led me to become - dare I say it - more and more like my grandparents. . . . and I'm not yet even a grandparent. I realize why Paul said, "for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Good and best.
Yesterday these realities took center stage once again as we attended the funeral of a friend. Randy was diagnosed with cancer in September. He died early Monday morning. The great irony of death for the believer is that there is very real hope and joy in the midst of very real grief and pain. Randy's funeral service was filled with testimony to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, to the reality of the resurrection, and to the comfort of the Holy Spirit for those who have had a loved one transition from this life into life eternal. I'm not sure how to explain it other than bittersweet.
In the midst of our celebration of Randy's resurrection, a story was told that I thought I'd pass on. Randy was a guy who could fix anything around the house. A few years ago he combined his handyman skills with his love for sacred music by finding, tuning, and building sets of pipes for the church pipe organ. His garage became an organ pipe storage area and his basement became his workshop. His wife and kids would constantly hear Randy downstairs tuning the pipes. He'd use a keyboard console that he hooked to the pipes in order to hear them play. The only thing that became an issue around the house was the fact that his years of tuning sessions featured only one song. . . . over and over again. On at least one occasion, his daughter begged him to to ask the church organist to teach him a new song. Never happened.
Yesterday at Randy's funeral, we ended our worship celebration of God and His provision of the resurrection by singing that song - that only song - that Randy would belt out in his basement. I'm sure the tune is familiar as the song has become known as "The Navy Hymn." The song's actual title is "Eternal Father, Strong to Save." We stood together and sang this great hymn of hope. . . with that pipe organ Randy worked on for so many years rising to a great crescendo as we belted out the words to the last stanza. It was a spine-tingling moment because of the truths that we affirmed together in song:
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
Sadly, I've been to far too many funerals where hope is absent. It's very dark and depressing. Not so yesterday. What a joy it is to know that for those who are in Christ, death has lost its sting. Because of that, we can be "ready to go."
Fast forward to today. I'm looking forward to as many days as the Lord grants me. I'm not complaining. But my knowledge of the assuring truths of God's Word coupled with my growing experience of the brokenness of life in this world has led me to become - dare I say it - more and more like my grandparents. . . . and I'm not yet even a grandparent. I realize why Paul said, "for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Good and best.
Yesterday these realities took center stage once again as we attended the funeral of a friend. Randy was diagnosed with cancer in September. He died early Monday morning. The great irony of death for the believer is that there is very real hope and joy in the midst of very real grief and pain. Randy's funeral service was filled with testimony to the saving grace of Jesus Christ, to the reality of the resurrection, and to the comfort of the Holy Spirit for those who have had a loved one transition from this life into life eternal. I'm not sure how to explain it other than bittersweet.
In the midst of our celebration of Randy's resurrection, a story was told that I thought I'd pass on. Randy was a guy who could fix anything around the house. A few years ago he combined his handyman skills with his love for sacred music by finding, tuning, and building sets of pipes for the church pipe organ. His garage became an organ pipe storage area and his basement became his workshop. His wife and kids would constantly hear Randy downstairs tuning the pipes. He'd use a keyboard console that he hooked to the pipes in order to hear them play. The only thing that became an issue around the house was the fact that his years of tuning sessions featured only one song. . . . over and over again. On at least one occasion, his daughter begged him to to ask the church organist to teach him a new song. Never happened.
Yesterday at Randy's funeral, we ended our worship celebration of God and His provision of the resurrection by singing that song - that only song - that Randy would belt out in his basement. I'm sure the tune is familiar as the song has become known as "The Navy Hymn." The song's actual title is "Eternal Father, Strong to Save." We stood together and sang this great hymn of hope. . . with that pipe organ Randy worked on for so many years rising to a great crescendo as we belted out the words to the last stanza. It was a spine-tingling moment because of the truths that we affirmed together in song:
Eternal Father, strong to save,
Whose arm hath bound the restless wave,
Who bidd'st the mighty ocean deep
Its own appointed limits keep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Christ! Whose voice the waters heard
And hushed their raging at Thy word,
Who walkedst on the foaming deep,
And calm amidst its rage didst sleep;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
Most Holy Spirit! Who didst brood
Upon the chaos dark and rude,
And bid its angry tumult cease,
And give, for wild confusion, peace;
Oh, hear us when we cry to Thee,
For those in peril on the sea!
O Trinity of love and power!
Our brethren shield in danger's hour;
From rock and tempest, fire and foe,
Protect them wheresoe'er they go;
Thus evermore shall rise to Thee
Glad hymns of praise from land and sea.
Sadly, I've been to far too many funerals where hope is absent. It's very dark and depressing. Not so yesterday. What a joy it is to know that for those who are in Christ, death has lost its sting. Because of that, we can be "ready to go."
Poll Results/New Poll Day
So the results are decided that King Edmund will become the most famous Narnian of all. It was pretty much a landslide...okay not really. Anyways, my new poll has to deal with this subject: Which college football conference is the strongest?
Most of you that follow this sort of thing have heard all year long everyone talk about how great the Big 12 and SEC were and that the Big Ten and Pac-10 were not as strong as they usually were except for their top two teams. Well let us look at the results. Yes I sat around and figured out every conferences bowl game record, I was bored.
ACC: 4-6. No noteworthy victories except VA Tech beating Cincinnati.
MWC: 3-2. Obviously Utah beating Alabama (ranked number one for a good chunk of the season, and a dominant team in the SEC), but also TCU ending Boise State's undefeated run.
WAC: 1-4. Not a good showing from the WAC...
C-USA: 4-2. Record looks good in the bowls, but mostly against the other small conferences, East Carolina got beat by Kentucky (SEC team who was 2-6 in their conference).
Big East: 4-2. One of those wins was UConn over Buffalo and Rutgers over North Carolina State (who finished with a 6-7 record...)
PAC-10: 5-0. Only undefeated conference. USC beats PSU, Oregon State crushes Pitt (3-0), Oregon over Oklahoma State, but there was no match up with the SEC...a shame.
Sun Belt: 1-1. Haha, seriously, why is this a conference?
MAC: 0-5. Oh, I guess it was so the Sun Belt conference could get that lonely win, but why did the MAC get five teams invited?
Big Ten: 1-5. Umm, wow, I knew we were a bad conference, but really that bad? Although, OSU almost beat Texas.
Big 12: 3-3. Lost in the championship game to the SEC, the big guns all got beat except for Texas. They were also 0-2 against the SEC.
SEC: 6-2. Obviously won the national title. Pretty much beat up on every conference. The big loss was Alabama. Their only other loss was against the Big 10, but come on, it was Iowa against South Carolina who was 4-4 in conference.
Obviously this kind of thing does not really mean too much since any team could win against any other team, well okay maybe not. But I would like to go on the record as apologizing to the SEC for saying how overrated those teams were. All except Alabama, I do think that PSU would beat them. Anyways, please vote on your right.
Please discuss your reasoning and thoughts in the comments, where I will let you know how I voted.
Most of you that follow this sort of thing have heard all year long everyone talk about how great the Big 12 and SEC were and that the Big Ten and Pac-10 were not as strong as they usually were except for their top two teams. Well let us look at the results. Yes I sat around and figured out every conferences bowl game record, I was bored.
ACC: 4-6. No noteworthy victories except VA Tech beating Cincinnati.
MWC: 3-2. Obviously Utah beating Alabama (ranked number one for a good chunk of the season, and a dominant team in the SEC), but also TCU ending Boise State's undefeated run.
WAC: 1-4. Not a good showing from the WAC...
C-USA: 4-2. Record looks good in the bowls, but mostly against the other small conferences, East Carolina got beat by Kentucky (SEC team who was 2-6 in their conference).
Big East: 4-2. One of those wins was UConn over Buffalo and Rutgers over North Carolina State (who finished with a 6-7 record...)
PAC-10: 5-0. Only undefeated conference. USC beats PSU, Oregon State crushes Pitt (3-0), Oregon over Oklahoma State, but there was no match up with the SEC...a shame.
Sun Belt: 1-1. Haha, seriously, why is this a conference?
MAC: 0-5. Oh, I guess it was so the Sun Belt conference could get that lonely win, but why did the MAC get five teams invited?
Big Ten: 1-5. Umm, wow, I knew we were a bad conference, but really that bad? Although, OSU almost beat Texas.
Big 12: 3-3. Lost in the championship game to the SEC, the big guns all got beat except for Texas. They were also 0-2 against the SEC.
SEC: 6-2. Obviously won the national title. Pretty much beat up on every conference. The big loss was Alabama. Their only other loss was against the Big 10, but come on, it was Iowa against South Carolina who was 4-4 in conference.
Obviously this kind of thing does not really mean too much since any team could win against any other team, well okay maybe not. But I would like to go on the record as apologizing to the SEC for saying how overrated those teams were. All except Alabama, I do think that PSU would beat them. Anyways, please vote on your right.
Please discuss your reasoning and thoughts in the comments, where I will let you know how I voted.
Friday, January 9, 2009
Just A Little Cartoony Fun
I was sitting around watching Robot Chicken clips and decided to share not one, but two with you folks. Keep scrolling down for GOTW...
Girlfriend of the Week
This week's GOTW is Erin Esurance from all those awesome commercials. I will not lie to you, I probably get my car insurance through them because of her. Pink hair, great body, and a cartoon...what more can a pervert like me ask for?I found this great picture that someone else did here.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Follow me. . . .
"All eyes on me, please." I'm afraid we're only going there more and more. We should be sad, sorry, and ashamed of ourselves. Our marketing fed posture of consumption ("Give me what I want now or I'll change the channel"), our obsession with the holy trinity of me, myself, and I, and the narcissim we've embraced which demands that everyone else we know worship and follow me as well, is eating us alive. . . . and we're letting it happen. Not only that, we don't even see it as wrong.
I spent the day yesterday with a couple of energizing groups down in Cajun country. There was my annual visit to the Youth Ministry Institute at New Orleans Baptist Seminary. Lots of give and take. Then I spent some time with parents and youthworkers across the world's longest bridge in Convington at First Baptist Church. In both places, there was lively discussion prompted by what parents and youthworkers are seeing in their kids in terms of materialism, consumerism, narcissism, and entitlement. Not only that, we talked about how we see the same thing in ourselves (individually), and corporately in how we understand, worship, and follow Christ. The same thick thread woven through the fabric of youth culture that rightly grieves us, is knit in and through the fabric of ourselves.
I'm grateful for the growing number of highly intelligent and theologically sound voices that are asking the right questions, observing with a keen eye, and challenging us to rethink who we are, what we serve, and how we live our lives. Michael Horton has always impressed me as one of those voices. I just finished reading his book, A Better Way (all about worship). Now, I've begun reading his new Christless Christianity. I'd like to invite and encourage you to do the same.
For those uneasy with the consumer-driven and narcissistic seeker-sensitive brand of Christianity, this book will cause your eyes to be opened further. For those of us who find ourselves getting defensive about Horton's critique of the place we've landed and live, your desire to go deep in the things of Christ should lead you to prayerfully read what Horton has to say.
Consider these words Horton writes in the book's first chapter: "Wherever Christ is truly and clearly being proclaimed, Satan is most actively present in opposition. The wars between the nations and enmity within families and neighborhoods is but the wake of the serpent's tail as he seeks to devour the church. Yet even in this pursuit, he is more subtle than we imagine. He lulls us to sleep as we trim our message to the banality of popular culture and invoke Christ's name for anything and everything but salvation from the coming judgment. While undoubtedly stirring his earthly disciples to persecute and kill followers of Christ, Satan knows from experience that sowing heresy and schism is far more effective. While the blood of martyrs is the seed of the church, the assimilation of the church to the world silences the witness."
Horton goes on later in that chapter. . . "Far from clashing with the culture of consumerism, American religion appears to be not only at peace with our narcissism but gives it a spiritual legitamcy."
Is he on to something?
Monday, January 5, 2009
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
As I said in the previous post, I would be reviewing this film very shortly, and I was not lying.First off, I am a fan of David Fincher's work. This film has his unique touch, such as the flashbacks being made to look like different era films. For example, the old guy that says he was struck by lightning seven times, every time they flashback, the clip is in the silent film era.
I thought that Brad Pitt was pretty awesome, going from an old man, to a young boy. And this movie will probably win best make-up.
There were plenty of unbelievable moments throughout the movie, but you really should just ignore them. The movie is about love and loss.
Unfortunately, I cannot ignore those kind of things. I liked the film, but there were things that bothered me. Daisy was in her 40s when she had her kid, which can happen, but was very dangerous for women back in the 60s. Also, if you noticed, the timing of Benjamin Button seems to be weird. There seemed to be no pace of how quickly his age was happening. If he was born like he was 80, did that mean every year he went one year backward? I know these things are trivial, but it seemed like it took forever for him to stop looking really old, but then he went quickly from a 40 year old man back to a 20 year old...
Anyways, it was a good movie, well directed. Probably will win some awards, but it was nothing that blew my mind.
Fantastic Weekend
You ever have a really good weekend? This is the part where you say, "Sure Josh, did you have a good weekend?" And the answer my little friends is yes, I had a great weekend. Would you like me to tell you about it? No? Well screw you guys, I am telling you anyways.
Friday
Let me just say that I definitely bounced out of work as soon as possible. I hopped in my car and drove to State College as fast I could. At the Brookville exit, I called Kacie and lied to her. I told her that I had just left work and would not be home for awhile. She said she was thinking of stopping at Champs for a beer.
It did not take me much longer to reach State College, so I called Kacie again and this time told her I was bored and just felt like talking. She said she was just pulling into Champs and if I got there before 2, that I should stop for a beer. Needless to say, I was already pulling into the parking lot. So I go into the bar and she is not there. I send her a text and she says she changed her mind and went downtown.
I then inform her that I am at Champs. She comes back and is quite I annoyed that I tricked her. See what I get for trying to surprise someone? Anyways, now that she is there, we go downstairs and drink a few beers and a couple shots of Petron.
Saturday
I head out to the mall to buy work shoes. Mine fell apart and I ended up throwing them away on Friday. Kacie came out and forced me to watch her clothes shop for awhile, which made me want to gouge out my eyes.
That afternoon we met my brother at the movie theater and watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which will have a review up in a little bit. After the movie, the three of us went to Garfields for a little dinner. We ate, had some fun conversation, then parted company. I went back to Kacie's place and finished reading a comic that I bought at B.Dalton, which is going out of business and had a huge sale. Anyways, the comic was Spider-Man: One More Day which was pretty bad, but I got the hardcover for fairly cheap, and I had to see what all the fuss was about.
That night Kacie and I went back to champs and drank for a bit, then decided to get a cab and head downtown to Pickles. Once there she saw like 30234235323 people she knew and I found a few comic book people, and we discussed some of the movies that were out. Ah yes, I can find my people anywhere.
Later I went outside to have a smoke, and there was a kid doing a beatbox, and I made a joke that he sounded like he was having a seizure. Apparently he and his friend did not have a sense of humor. The one kid tried to make fun of me by asking me why I was wearing a pea-coat. I informed him that it was not a pea-coat and that he was idiot for mistaking it as one.
This did not make them happy and they continued to try and piss me off. I told them to piss off. They then noticed my Penguins shirt and asked if I was a Steelers fan, I said of course and they were then okay with me insulting them. I actually wanted to hit one of them, they seemed like such pussies. Oh well.
Once back in side, Kacie tells me that everyone is going to the Phyrst. We walk over there, and it is packed and annoyingly loud. For some reason I really hate going there. We have one drink and then they start getting people out of there, we call a cab and head back home.
We get my car from Champs and swing through McDonald's drive-through for some double cheeseburgers. I get a bunch of pickles on the side for Kacie because I despise the nasty things and will have no part of them near my sandwich.
At her place we munch them down and I pop in Dark Knight. Kacie falls asleep within 2 minutes and snores through most of the movie. I finally get her to go to bed and she goes in and passes out on the bed, right in the center, arms spread, legs spread. She looked like a very drunk, very female version of Jesus Christ.
I fall asleep around 6 a.m. and wake up around 2 p.m. I then pack up my stuff and head on back to Pittsburgh where I read for a bit, wrote the previous post, then went to bed. It does not seem like such a great weekend, but I was not at work, and I was out and about with Kacie. Therefore it was fantastic.
Friday
Let me just say that I definitely bounced out of work as soon as possible. I hopped in my car and drove to State College as fast I could. At the Brookville exit, I called Kacie and lied to her. I told her that I had just left work and would not be home for awhile. She said she was thinking of stopping at Champs for a beer.
It did not take me much longer to reach State College, so I called Kacie again and this time told her I was bored and just felt like talking. She said she was just pulling into Champs and if I got there before 2, that I should stop for a beer. Needless to say, I was already pulling into the parking lot. So I go into the bar and she is not there. I send her a text and she says she changed her mind and went downtown.
I then inform her that I am at Champs. She comes back and is quite I annoyed that I tricked her. See what I get for trying to surprise someone? Anyways, now that she is there, we go downstairs and drink a few beers and a couple shots of Petron.
Saturday
I head out to the mall to buy work shoes. Mine fell apart and I ended up throwing them away on Friday. Kacie came out and forced me to watch her clothes shop for awhile, which made me want to gouge out my eyes.
That afternoon we met my brother at the movie theater and watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, which will have a review up in a little bit. After the movie, the three of us went to Garfields for a little dinner. We ate, had some fun conversation, then parted company. I went back to Kacie's place and finished reading a comic that I bought at B.Dalton, which is going out of business and had a huge sale. Anyways, the comic was Spider-Man: One More Day which was pretty bad, but I got the hardcover for fairly cheap, and I had to see what all the fuss was about.
That night Kacie and I went back to champs and drank for a bit, then decided to get a cab and head downtown to Pickles. Once there she saw like 30234235323 people she knew and I found a few comic book people, and we discussed some of the movies that were out. Ah yes, I can find my people anywhere.
Later I went outside to have a smoke, and there was a kid doing a beatbox, and I made a joke that he sounded like he was having a seizure. Apparently he and his friend did not have a sense of humor. The one kid tried to make fun of me by asking me why I was wearing a pea-coat. I informed him that it was not a pea-coat and that he was idiot for mistaking it as one.
This did not make them happy and they continued to try and piss me off. I told them to piss off. They then noticed my Penguins shirt and asked if I was a Steelers fan, I said of course and they were then okay with me insulting them. I actually wanted to hit one of them, they seemed like such pussies. Oh well.
Once back in side, Kacie tells me that everyone is going to the Phyrst. We walk over there, and it is packed and annoyingly loud. For some reason I really hate going there. We have one drink and then they start getting people out of there, we call a cab and head back home.
We get my car from Champs and swing through McDonald's drive-through for some double cheeseburgers. I get a bunch of pickles on the side for Kacie because I despise the nasty things and will have no part of them near my sandwich.
At her place we munch them down and I pop in Dark Knight. Kacie falls asleep within 2 minutes and snores through most of the movie. I finally get her to go to bed and she goes in and passes out on the bed, right in the center, arms spread, legs spread. She looked like a very drunk, very female version of Jesus Christ.
I fall asleep around 6 a.m. and wake up around 2 p.m. I then pack up my stuff and head on back to Pittsburgh where I read for a bit, wrote the previous post, then went to bed. It does not seem like such a great weekend, but I was not at work, and I was out and about with Kacie. Therefore it was fantastic.
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