While looking through the movies available on demand recently, I settled on watching an independant film with Morgan Freeman. Partially because I find Morgan Freeman a fascinating actor and the premise sounded appealing. I was greeted with a pleasant film that was highly dependant on its dialogue. Ultimately at one point in the film the two protaganists encourage the other to make an list.
10 Items or Less: 10 things in life that you would do without.
10 Items or Less: 10 things in life that you would keep.
The lists were whimsical and pertinent to the characters. Although it isn't an exact science, and would probably be heavily edited I think this is at least a fun excercise. So here are my 10 items.
10 Items I could live without:
1. People in a rush
2. Circling the runway in an airplane
3. Gossip
4. Texas heat
5. Predictable endings
6. Poor grammar
7. Partisan blindness
8. Tardiness
9. (open)
10. (open)
10 Items I would keep:
1. Great stories
2. Laughter and Romance
3. My mother and father
4. Free Will
5. A gentle spring/fall breeze
6. A warm bath
7. Good food
8. Great music
9. Comfortable place to sleep
10. Purposeful work
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Thoughts on simple investing
Some individuals I know asked me my opinion about investing recently. I make no qualms about my interest in finance and personal finance. That being said, I always get cautious when asked these questions. I guess, I'd hate for anyone to take my opinion, act on it, and be less than satisfied. I usually stick to some simple rules though:
1) Don't invest money you can't risk losing.
2) Make investing a habit.
3) Don't invest in something you don't understand.
4) Invest for the long term and don't watch it every day.
I usually tell people to invest in a blend of investments and review them every 3 months and ask the following 3 questions:
1) What happened with my investments the last few months?
2) I'm I happy with the results?
3) Do I forsee these investments being where I want my money in the immediate future?
Then think of those answers and extend your time horizon out over 4-5 years. It's a bit simplistic, but I guess I don't think personal finance is that complicated. People tend to make it too difficult or sway to much with emotion of what happened to this or what happened to that. Everyone knows the rule of "buy low, sell high", but the fact is most people "buy high, sell low" because they are motivated by emotion. How many people pulled out of the market at the beginning of this year due to the plunge of the market and locked in their losses. This years market returns are in the teens and twenties for growth stock investing.
It just amazes me sometimes, how investing from a personal standpoint works. So many out there selling products that are complicated that they can't even explain or would invest in themselves. They pawn themselves off as professionals. I guess that is what steered me away from personal finance. I dreaded selling a product to a consumer they didn't need simply because it was what the brokerage house wanted to push that year. I love working with people, teaching people, educating people, but I didn't want to sell trash.
Oh well... I guess the best we can do is talk over these things with people we respect and trust, and make the best decisions we can.
1) Don't invest money you can't risk losing.
2) Make investing a habit.
3) Don't invest in something you don't understand.
4) Invest for the long term and don't watch it every day.
I usually tell people to invest in a blend of investments and review them every 3 months and ask the following 3 questions:
1) What happened with my investments the last few months?
2) I'm I happy with the results?
3) Do I forsee these investments being where I want my money in the immediate future?
Then think of those answers and extend your time horizon out over 4-5 years. It's a bit simplistic, but I guess I don't think personal finance is that complicated. People tend to make it too difficult or sway to much with emotion of what happened to this or what happened to that. Everyone knows the rule of "buy low, sell high", but the fact is most people "buy high, sell low" because they are motivated by emotion. How many people pulled out of the market at the beginning of this year due to the plunge of the market and locked in their losses. This years market returns are in the teens and twenties for growth stock investing.
It just amazes me sometimes, how investing from a personal standpoint works. So many out there selling products that are complicated that they can't even explain or would invest in themselves. They pawn themselves off as professionals. I guess that is what steered me away from personal finance. I dreaded selling a product to a consumer they didn't need simply because it was what the brokerage house wanted to push that year. I love working with people, teaching people, educating people, but I didn't want to sell trash.
Oh well... I guess the best we can do is talk over these things with people we respect and trust, and make the best decisions we can.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
My impressions of jolly 'ol England
While it is fair to say my overall experience in England was limited to London and that my not be completely representative, I did come away from my trip with a positive inpression. I was overseas to visit my good friends Jon and Andy. Whether it had been England, France, Japan, or Turkey I'm sure that my time would have been delightful simply due their company. The unenviable chore of being my host primarily fell on the shoulders of Andy, and she did a delightful job of it. I think it must be hard to entertain someone like me, that sometimes lacks on the vibrant emotion side and doesn't keep a rigid schedule or plan. But she managed through.
When I had planned to visit, I sort of had an idea in my mind that London would be a rather fast paced city. I had the pleasure of visiting Jon a few times in New York, and always felt it a bit too rushed for my liking. You had to have a plan and stick to it around town, or otherwise you might be run over. Los Angeles felt like this to me as well during my last visit there. However, I found London much more balanced than that. I chalk it up to the fact that the city isn't built as high as our modern cities and the English are so used to queueing for things. This creates a society that isn't as jam packed and has patience to do things in time. It made the city much more enjoyable than I imagined.
I would say my favorite piece of the adventure was the sitting down to dinner with my friends at the Eagle and Child pub. The obvious draw to this location is the relative proximity to Oxford University, and the historical draw of Tolkein and C. S. Lewis. While I do find this fascinating, it did little to spark the imagination of the two great writers actually sitting there. However, despite that it was still a very lovely locale and served a pretty reasonable meal. I was just able to relax with good food and good company.
Ultimately, I could see myself returning one day despite if my friends were in town or not. But next time, a few more trips out of the city might be enjoyable. Someone I know needs to move to Japan though, so I have an excuse to go there next :)
When I had planned to visit, I sort of had an idea in my mind that London would be a rather fast paced city. I had the pleasure of visiting Jon a few times in New York, and always felt it a bit too rushed for my liking. You had to have a plan and stick to it around town, or otherwise you might be run over. Los Angeles felt like this to me as well during my last visit there. However, I found London much more balanced than that. I chalk it up to the fact that the city isn't built as high as our modern cities and the English are so used to queueing for things. This creates a society that isn't as jam packed and has patience to do things in time. It made the city much more enjoyable than I imagined.
I would say my favorite piece of the adventure was the sitting down to dinner with my friends at the Eagle and Child pub. The obvious draw to this location is the relative proximity to Oxford University, and the historical draw of Tolkein and C. S. Lewis. While I do find this fascinating, it did little to spark the imagination of the two great writers actually sitting there. However, despite that it was still a very lovely locale and served a pretty reasonable meal. I was just able to relax with good food and good company.
Ultimately, I could see myself returning one day despite if my friends were in town or not. But next time, a few more trips out of the city might be enjoyable. Someone I know needs to move to Japan though, so I have an excuse to go there next :)
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Glee.
Most individuals enjoy watching at least one series on television on a regular basis. Despite all the horrible pilots that come on every year, the writers and producers usually find a hit somewhere in the mess. We as fans pick and choose often before we even watch the show due to our impression of what the show will be instead of what it actually is.
I have to say that I fell into this trap when I first saw the commercials about Glee that were unclear about the premise of the show. As a result, I summarily dismissed it despite its intriguing marketing. However, after a recommendation to check out the show, I find that I really do enjoy it. It seems to be a perfect match of my enjoyment of music, comedy, and a bit of cynical wit.
It has quickly become a program I look forward to seeing because I enjoy its thoughtful yet light hearted humor. It's also a departure from some of the more high intensity shows I enjoy like Lost and Lie to Me. Anyway, I've recommended this show to some, and I hope they enjoy it as much as I do. And if not the plot at least the fun singing and dancing they do on the show.
And with that, enjoy a scene that made me smile. Who doesn't love a little Young MC.
I have to say that I fell into this trap when I first saw the commercials about Glee that were unclear about the premise of the show. As a result, I summarily dismissed it despite its intriguing marketing. However, after a recommendation to check out the show, I find that I really do enjoy it. It seems to be a perfect match of my enjoyment of music, comedy, and a bit of cynical wit.
It has quickly become a program I look forward to seeing because I enjoy its thoughtful yet light hearted humor. It's also a departure from some of the more high intensity shows I enjoy like Lost and Lie to Me. Anyway, I've recommended this show to some, and I hope they enjoy it as much as I do. And if not the plot at least the fun singing and dancing they do on the show.
And with that, enjoy a scene that made me smile. Who doesn't love a little Young MC.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
What are you passionate about?
What are you passionate about?
This is a question that has been posed to me. In truth, it is has given me a bit of trouble answering. Passion is a very strong word, it surpasses excitement or enjoyment. It strikes to the very essence of something that you feel an immensely strong attachment too. Passion is so often related to romance due to the intense nature of the emotion. As this very question was posed to me, I struggled to find an answer what was a driving passion of mine. This struggle in pinpointing an appropriate answer raised three questions in my mind.
1) Am I in fact a dispassionate person?
Dictionary.com defines dispassionate as devoid of personal feeling or bias. It sounds so cold. However, if I can't find something I can't quickly name as irremovable from my life then is that not a lack of passion for something? Many people find passion in religion, work, a hobby, and many other things. And although I value all these things, I can't say I feel an intense emotional connection to these items.
2) If I am a generally dispassionate person, is that a bad thing?
This is where I struggle with an answer. Is it wrong to lack a passion for something? I could give a generic answer like: "I'm passionate about life." However, then you have to ask, what about life gives you passion? You can't tell me that you would be passionate about standing in a hospital room with your dying grandparent that has struggled with cancer for 2 years. (Theoretical) Yet that is life... So being passionate about "life" isn't enough for me.
Is lacking passion another way of saying you lack direction? Is it saying you've been too cautious to put a personal stake in something? Or worse does it mean you are uncaring? And if you are lacking something to be passionate about, can you find it?
3) How do you find your passion?
Let us suppose that I was looking to find something to be passionate about. Where would you look? Isn't your passion supposed to be natural? Or is it something you have to work at becoming? I enjoy writing, but it is taxing at times. I enjoy books, but I don't want to read every weekend. I enjoy teaching, but you can only teach if there are people that wish to learn from you.
Is the trick to finding a passion simply trying lots of things? Or should it be something you are already drawn too. And if it is something you should just find by trying things, where does one start?
Ultimately, I have simply answered a question with a question. That is far from ideal, but it is where my mind is at right now. I don't have the answer to the question what I am passionate about, and that bothers me. Hopefully that is a good thing.
Wednesday, October 07, 2009
Would you rather....
A game that has been played in movies and television shows alike. A game that you likely have played at home or with friends. Often times, it is more of a pick the less of two evil scenarios, but I had a question rolling around in my head the last few days that was its own conceptual would I rather...
If I were to write a novel or screenplay, would I rather write a popular smash hit of questionable quality, a deep hitting award winning story you will watch once and never want to struggle through again, or a novel concept that never took off but the work was still quality? What spurred this thought was watching a film that didn't receive any great reviews but I enjoyed none the less. I started to think about other films I've seen.
Three great examples of films like these are Armageddon, Million Dollar Baby, and Memento. All films I've watched and enjoyed for various reasons, but none for the same reason.
Now on one hand, Armageddon had mass appeal with a star studded lineup and sound track. It was a wonderful summer film and is still shown constantly on television. I can't imagine the amount of money and residuals that were spawned by this film. Furthermore it is completely rewatchable for its entertainment value, but no one is walking home with year end awards from this one.
On the other hand you have a film like Million Dollar Baby which was an emotionally gut wrenching film that I wouldn't wish on anyone to watch more than once. The sheer and raw pain and agony portrayed in the film is wonderfully done, but not something you go to bed happy about viewing.
Finally is Memento which I found a fascinating concept and well put together from a writing standpoint. It wasn't flashy and lacked the emotional depth of some stories, but it was very well conceived. The imaginative nature of the concept should receive praise, and although it will long be forgotten over time, I imagine the creator was happy with his end product.
So what would I want to put my name on? Usually once you get good at something that becomes your "thing." So if you had to be type cast in that which you produce, which would you choose? It a thought that has been rolling around in my head lately, and I don't have my answer yet. But it's fun to think about.
If I were to write a novel or screenplay, would I rather write a popular smash hit of questionable quality, a deep hitting award winning story you will watch once and never want to struggle through again, or a novel concept that never took off but the work was still quality? What spurred this thought was watching a film that didn't receive any great reviews but I enjoyed none the less. I started to think about other films I've seen.
Three great examples of films like these are Armageddon, Million Dollar Baby, and Memento. All films I've watched and enjoyed for various reasons, but none for the same reason.
Now on one hand, Armageddon had mass appeal with a star studded lineup and sound track. It was a wonderful summer film and is still shown constantly on television. I can't imagine the amount of money and residuals that were spawned by this film. Furthermore it is completely rewatchable for its entertainment value, but no one is walking home with year end awards from this one.
On the other hand you have a film like Million Dollar Baby which was an emotionally gut wrenching film that I wouldn't wish on anyone to watch more than once. The sheer and raw pain and agony portrayed in the film is wonderfully done, but not something you go to bed happy about viewing.
Finally is Memento which I found a fascinating concept and well put together from a writing standpoint. It wasn't flashy and lacked the emotional depth of some stories, but it was very well conceived. The imaginative nature of the concept should receive praise, and although it will long be forgotten over time, I imagine the creator was happy with his end product.
So what would I want to put my name on? Usually once you get good at something that becomes your "thing." So if you had to be type cast in that which you produce, which would you choose? It a thought that has been rolling around in my head lately, and I don't have my answer yet. But it's fun to think about.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Bluebonnets
There are few things in this world that defy logic as much as traditions. Whether it be familial, religious, or just plain usual, traditions are often things that make little sense outside those that are participating. I try not to be cynical, as I know I fall into the category of a traditionalist in some aspects of my life, but Texas can sometime really take the cake when it comes to being "Texan."
However, as I was driving down the road today, I could not begrudge those that were stopped on the side of the road to take pictures amongst the bluebonnets. Maybe it was because they weren't holding up traffic (then I might have felt different.) However it is nice to see loved ones out enjoying an evening together taking pictures of their children or significant others amongst the flowers. It's a bit of quaint country flair amongst the big city lights. Although sometimes I question the wisdom of getting the kids out of the car on 183 in the middle of the day.
I promise you, in the span of 2 miles of busy highway I saw at least 6 families stopped at various patches of flora. Anyway, I hope that it was a pleasant evening for all of them. It is furthermore my hope that maybe one day out with the right person, you might find me taking pictures as well amongst Texas' favorite flower.
However, as I was driving down the road today, I could not begrudge those that were stopped on the side of the road to take pictures amongst the bluebonnets. Maybe it was because they weren't holding up traffic (then I might have felt different.) However it is nice to see loved ones out enjoying an evening together taking pictures of their children or significant others amongst the flowers. It's a bit of quaint country flair amongst the big city lights. Although sometimes I question the wisdom of getting the kids out of the car on 183 in the middle of the day.
I promise you, in the span of 2 miles of busy highway I saw at least 6 families stopped at various patches of flora. Anyway, I hope that it was a pleasant evening for all of them. It is furthermore my hope that maybe one day out with the right person, you might find me taking pictures as well amongst Texas' favorite flower.
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Storytelling
Those that know me well understand that I have a particular intrigue in the past time of storytelling. Whether it be by the written word or the visual stimulus of play or film, I truly enjoy watching a drama unfold. It is likely the reason I can even watch a bad film or read a bad book at least once to the end, despite how I might feel at any point during the adventure. The development of a plot via the twists and turns can be as complex as a riddle or as simple as a coloring book.
I believe that ultimately attracts me to these things is that I consider it a true gift. I pride myself in being able to see things in various steps along a paths that have not been travelled yet. I like to think that I can often see the larger picture as a whole and work myself through the measures and verse. However, despite that ability or lack their of, even the most forward minded person may be poor at relaying the story. It takes a certain gift to both have the foresight to see a story in its entire nature and the bends it must take, but yet not approach it as a formula or problem that must be explained or solved. It is the very ability to walk someone through a tapestry of concepts while maintaining the very mystery of the whole. It takes an ability to suspend the satisfaction of the solution to wallow in the happiness, sadness or worry of the process.
I wish I had more of this talent, and I am thankful for those that do. However, at this time, I'll be content in the ability to simply appreciate the gift others give in their stories.
I believe that ultimately attracts me to these things is that I consider it a true gift. I pride myself in being able to see things in various steps along a paths that have not been travelled yet. I like to think that I can often see the larger picture as a whole and work myself through the measures and verse. However, despite that ability or lack their of, even the most forward minded person may be poor at relaying the story. It takes a certain gift to both have the foresight to see a story in its entire nature and the bends it must take, but yet not approach it as a formula or problem that must be explained or solved. It is the very ability to walk someone through a tapestry of concepts while maintaining the very mystery of the whole. It takes an ability to suspend the satisfaction of the solution to wallow in the happiness, sadness or worry of the process.
I wish I had more of this talent, and I am thankful for those that do. However, at this time, I'll be content in the ability to simply appreciate the gift others give in their stories.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Items in my life and some old writings
This is a long post, with a lot of stuff for personal use attached to the end:
Well I have officially relocated as of the past weekend. The effort has thrown me extremely behind at work and I still have a number of things around the house to be organized. I know it will all come together with time and patience, but it can still be frustrating. I'm going to try to include photos once all my furniture has arrived and I have everything placed accordingly.
Also this weekend will include the adventure of finding a church home. I obviously can't drive all the way to St Bart's anymore for Mass. That means it is time to look at some around the house. This is never something I enjoy but it is a necessary task. I'll probably start at Most Blessed Sacrament this weekend due to an old friend mentioning they enjoyed it last time I saw them. If not I'll have to look around. Catholic Churches are generally focused rather specifically on various aspects of ministry, and finding one that focuses strongly on young adults and scriptural study might be a bit difficult. Many focus on family life and social teaching, others on social justice and pastoral services. Some are very focused on youth teaching and catachesis. We'll see what happens.
Anyway, while I was going through my things I ran into some old notebooks: They had some old writings of mine in them. I wanted to catalogue them somewhere for future reference. Do not feel obliged to rummage through my scattered thoughts that follow if you do not wish:
Three strangers on a hill, Standing together, yet still alone, brought together for reasons of their own...
Have you ever felt like a man stuck on an island? Have you ever wanted to be that man? No worries, no cares, time just slips away.
Down that road:
C: G,D,C / G,D,C / G,A,Em / G,D,C
V: G-A-Em
Chorus:
Why, oh, why
Why, oh, why
Did you die for me on that very tree,
Why, oh, why
Verse I:
Three men walking along a dusty road
Two not knowing the one
They were sharing all their stories past
Underneath the midday sun
It wasn't until later that night
when he broke the bread
That they realized exactly who he was
Their savivor risen from the dead
Verse II:
Questions remain from my life gone by
and I hold them deep inside
How could you love a man like me
My heart so filled with pride
I know some answers I'll never find
And there are many things left undone
But I will choose to wait on you
Because you where willing to send your son
Bridge:
A specter comes and fades away
yet the feeling remains the same
You did come to me that dreary night
And you forever lived in me
Untitled:
I found myself, drowned in pride
wading deep in sin
Only if I'd known before
The love coming down from him
For then I would have sang to You
Falling to my knees
Gracious God, where have you been
moving within me
For you know where I am going
You know where I have been
For you know I've been forgiven
You know of my sin
You know every inch I move
You know every mile
Yes you know what's deep insde me
You know of my denial
So I cannot say, nor can I move
or be in You without Your wisdom
I long for You, I cry for You
I need Your Love and your Mercy
Because my life is a gift to You.
Ribbons:
(Written on the balcony overlooking a small town in Northern Spain)
Can ribbon flow like a river?
Endless folds in a see of blue and gold
A rhythm ever changing, yet undefined
Clean chords in harmony with life
Breezes blow with an unending beat
Wonderful sounds flow like a mountain stream
Positions change, but the heart remains
Foriegn tongues, foriegn eyes meld as one
Life slips by to the sound of a rushing finger
Up and down a scale they go
All together they are all as one
They are in the primordial beat of a song lost long ago
Untitled:
I - C - II - C -III - C - C
I & III: E, B, E, B, E, B, E, B
II: Em, D, C, Em, Em, D, C, Em
C: A-E, A-E, A-E, G-D-E
Verse I:
I stood in a valley, and looked to the sea
Walls all around me, no place to be
I was alone, feeling my pain
All pressures building, driving me insane
Chorus:
For the Lord, You are a mountain
Yes God, Spanning the Sea
Oh Lord, You are a mountain
So High, where everyone can sea
Verse II:
I was forgiven, because of your mercy
Cured of my blindness, and now I can be
One of the members, spreading you word
Searching for your face, so your voice is heard
Verse III:
Standing Before you, I fall to my knees
Who will you send Lord, let it be me
Guided by wisdom, you will provide
All of the words, I'll say with pride
Precious One:
(written for a friend on her birthday)
I - C - II - C - III - C
Last two lines in final chorus repeat*
Alternating chord progression:
G-D-E7- C
G-C-G-D
Verse I:
How can a man not be thankful
to find a person like you
Someone who takes the time to
cheer him up when he is blue
You are prescious, one of His daughters
being salt and light to the earth
Could God have sent a more precious angel
to share her life as she is able
I can't wait for the chance to
celebrate with you at his table
Chorus:
Now hop, skip, turn around
The Lord has made you from the ground
Raise your hands up on high
we want to celebrate your life
Of what you've done in His name
Spreading the word of His fame
Oh let your joy shine through
of how the Spirits within you
Verse II:
Now another day in your presence
a testiment of His love
It's so easy for me to see
Jesus Christ within you
I thank the Lord every moment
for his gift to us
Dear live, all your waking days
sharing mercy and kindness
To think another year has passed
and reflect on all we've seen
Every single, little blessing
Every single, little dream
Verse III:
As I write this very song
gaze along, down your path
seeing all your adventures
Oh, I can't help but laugh
You smile as you prance along
the path prepared just for you
Bringing with you all your friends
so they'll enjoy it too
I could write so much more
but I risk going too long
So keep your heart open wide
and may your love remain strong
Well I have officially relocated as of the past weekend. The effort has thrown me extremely behind at work and I still have a number of things around the house to be organized. I know it will all come together with time and patience, but it can still be frustrating. I'm going to try to include photos once all my furniture has arrived and I have everything placed accordingly.
Also this weekend will include the adventure of finding a church home. I obviously can't drive all the way to St Bart's anymore for Mass. That means it is time to look at some around the house. This is never something I enjoy but it is a necessary task. I'll probably start at Most Blessed Sacrament this weekend due to an old friend mentioning they enjoyed it last time I saw them. If not I'll have to look around. Catholic Churches are generally focused rather specifically on various aspects of ministry, and finding one that focuses strongly on young adults and scriptural study might be a bit difficult. Many focus on family life and social teaching, others on social justice and pastoral services. Some are very focused on youth teaching and catachesis. We'll see what happens.
Anyway, while I was going through my things I ran into some old notebooks: They had some old writings of mine in them. I wanted to catalogue them somewhere for future reference. Do not feel obliged to rummage through my scattered thoughts that follow if you do not wish:
Three strangers on a hill, Standing together, yet still alone, brought together for reasons of their own...
Have you ever felt like a man stuck on an island? Have you ever wanted to be that man? No worries, no cares, time just slips away.
Down that road:
C: G,D,C / G,D,C / G,A,Em / G,D,C
V: G-A-Em
Chorus:
Why, oh, why
Why, oh, why
Did you die for me on that very tree,
Why, oh, why
Verse I:
Three men walking along a dusty road
Two not knowing the one
They were sharing all their stories past
Underneath the midday sun
It wasn't until later that night
when he broke the bread
That they realized exactly who he was
Their savivor risen from the dead
Verse II:
Questions remain from my life gone by
and I hold them deep inside
How could you love a man like me
My heart so filled with pride
I know some answers I'll never find
And there are many things left undone
But I will choose to wait on you
Because you where willing to send your son
Bridge:
A specter comes and fades away
yet the feeling remains the same
You did come to me that dreary night
And you forever lived in me
Untitled:
I found myself, drowned in pride
wading deep in sin
Only if I'd known before
The love coming down from him
For then I would have sang to You
Falling to my knees
Gracious God, where have you been
moving within me
For you know where I am going
You know where I have been
For you know I've been forgiven
You know of my sin
You know every inch I move
You know every mile
Yes you know what's deep insde me
You know of my denial
So I cannot say, nor can I move
or be in You without Your wisdom
I long for You, I cry for You
I need Your Love and your Mercy
Because my life is a gift to You.
Ribbons:
(Written on the balcony overlooking a small town in Northern Spain)
Can ribbon flow like a river?
Endless folds in a see of blue and gold
A rhythm ever changing, yet undefined
Clean chords in harmony with life
Breezes blow with an unending beat
Wonderful sounds flow like a mountain stream
Positions change, but the heart remains
Foriegn tongues, foriegn eyes meld as one
Life slips by to the sound of a rushing finger
Up and down a scale they go
All together they are all as one
They are in the primordial beat of a song lost long ago
Untitled:
I - C - II - C -III - C - C
I & III: E, B, E, B, E, B, E, B
II: Em, D, C, Em, Em, D, C, Em
C: A-E, A-E, A-E, G-D-E
Verse I:
I stood in a valley, and looked to the sea
Walls all around me, no place to be
I was alone, feeling my pain
All pressures building, driving me insane
Chorus:
For the Lord, You are a mountain
Yes God, Spanning the Sea
Oh Lord, You are a mountain
So High, where everyone can sea
Verse II:
I was forgiven, because of your mercy
Cured of my blindness, and now I can be
One of the members, spreading you word
Searching for your face, so your voice is heard
Verse III:
Standing Before you, I fall to my knees
Who will you send Lord, let it be me
Guided by wisdom, you will provide
All of the words, I'll say with pride
Precious One:
(written for a friend on her birthday)
I - C - II - C - III - C
Last two lines in final chorus repeat*
Alternating chord progression:
G-D-E7- C
G-C-G-D
Verse I:
How can a man not be thankful
to find a person like you
Someone who takes the time to
cheer him up when he is blue
You are prescious, one of His daughters
being salt and light to the earth
Could God have sent a more precious angel
to share her life as she is able
I can't wait for the chance to
celebrate with you at his table
Chorus:
Now hop, skip, turn around
The Lord has made you from the ground
Raise your hands up on high
we want to celebrate your life
Of what you've done in His name
Spreading the word of His fame
Oh let your joy shine through
of how the Spirits within you
Verse II:
Now another day in your presence
a testiment of His love
It's so easy for me to see
Jesus Christ within you
I thank the Lord every moment
for his gift to us
Dear live, all your waking days
sharing mercy and kindness
To think another year has passed
and reflect on all we've seen
Every single, little blessing
Every single, little dream
Verse III:
As I write this very song
gaze along, down your path
seeing all your adventures
Oh, I can't help but laugh
You smile as you prance along
the path prepared just for you
Bringing with you all your friends
so they'll enjoy it too
I could write so much more
but I risk going too long
So keep your heart open wide
and may your love remain strong
Sunday, March 01, 2009
Sorting through the mundane.
This afternoon I put some things in the wash, hung up clothes in the closet, ran the dishwasher, etc. Exciting right? Yet, so many moments of our days are filled with these simple and routine tasks and they are always less than exciting. I suspect its either the repetative nature of them or the fact that there is no surprise or alternate ending to them. The clothes always end up where they are supposed to be, the dishes always end up clean. However, these things are necessary so we persist in doing them.
Sometimes I feel this way about writing. Maybe that is why I am so inconsistent in responses to emails or writing on this very blog. It is hard to make such simple tasks exciting to a myself, let alone a reader. Yet sometimes when you stop and take the time to look and think about these little tasks, there is some interest that might be had.
I was sorting through my closet, and realized I had some pretty old sets of clothes in there. The first thing that struck me is that I should probably discard of some of them and give them to the Salvation Army. However the second thing that struck me is that some of them are from when I was back in High School. I still have a number of my button down dress shirts from them, and that is just crazy. I never wear the stuff anymore, but to think I have moved countless times taking those things with me, and its always like that when I move. I find some small piece of my past that I held on to. Often has little value than to contain the essence of a memory long forgotten. Still some of these tokens I still pack up gently as if they are prized possessions even if the person or place they represent are long gone figures of my past.
These simple and yet often unimportant trinkets hold the key to a thought, a feeling, a memory of someone or something I once cared for or still do. Anyway it was a nice moment of reflection, that I hope to run into again along my regular daily path. And who knows, I might just add a few things along the way.
I hope all my friends and family out there are safe and blessed. I care deeply for you all.
Sometimes I feel this way about writing. Maybe that is why I am so inconsistent in responses to emails or writing on this very blog. It is hard to make such simple tasks exciting to a myself, let alone a reader. Yet sometimes when you stop and take the time to look and think about these little tasks, there is some interest that might be had.
I was sorting through my closet, and realized I had some pretty old sets of clothes in there. The first thing that struck me is that I should probably discard of some of them and give them to the Salvation Army. However the second thing that struck me is that some of them are from when I was back in High School. I still have a number of my button down dress shirts from them, and that is just crazy. I never wear the stuff anymore, but to think I have moved countless times taking those things with me, and its always like that when I move. I find some small piece of my past that I held on to. Often has little value than to contain the essence of a memory long forgotten. Still some of these tokens I still pack up gently as if they are prized possessions even if the person or place they represent are long gone figures of my past.
These simple and yet often unimportant trinkets hold the key to a thought, a feeling, a memory of someone or something I once cared for or still do. Anyway it was a nice moment of reflection, that I hope to run into again along my regular daily path. And who knows, I might just add a few things along the way.
I hope all my friends and family out there are safe and blessed. I care deeply for you all.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
For the past few years, I've been preparing to purchase a new home. I've often questioned if purchasing a home as a single guy would be the wisest move. However, I just have a hard time visualizing myself paying rent my whole life. As the need arose to locate a new place to live, I figured now was as good a time as any. The last two months have been spent locating a place to live, and it looks like I've found it.
Now comes all the paperwork. :( It is amazing how many different documents they ask you to sign. I guess its not overly surprising due to the extent and size of the purchase, but it is still rather extraneous in my opinion. It's almost like they come up with new forms just so they can have a job.
I have admit my nervousness more so than my excitement. Is that a character flaw that I worry more about the obligation that enjoy the purchase? Who knows. All I know is that the idea of owing a mortgage is a bit disconcerting. However, I figure so many other people in the world can manage it, I figure I can get it worked out in the long run.
Anyway, by the end of February I should be the owner of a wonderful domicile. Now I just get to work on furnishing it. I joked with my boss that they could come visit, but they wouldn't know anyone is living there. :P But furniture and stuff is another thing that comes with time. I'm sure by the next time I have to consider moving I'll wonder where all the stuff came from, but until that time...
Now comes all the paperwork. :( It is amazing how many different documents they ask you to sign. I guess its not overly surprising due to the extent and size of the purchase, but it is still rather extraneous in my opinion. It's almost like they come up with new forms just so they can have a job.
I have admit my nervousness more so than my excitement. Is that a character flaw that I worry more about the obligation that enjoy the purchase? Who knows. All I know is that the idea of owing a mortgage is a bit disconcerting. However, I figure so many other people in the world can manage it, I figure I can get it worked out in the long run.
Anyway, by the end of February I should be the owner of a wonderful domicile. Now I just get to work on furnishing it. I joked with my boss that they could come visit, but they wouldn't know anyone is living there. :P But furniture and stuff is another thing that comes with time. I'm sure by the next time I have to consider moving I'll wonder where all the stuff came from, but until that time...
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Lost Season 4, Episodes 3 & 4
Hey Everyone:
Don't think I forgot one of my favorite shows on television! As far as personal life goes, things feel like they've been moving in molasses (sp) lately. But on with the show!
So I wasn't a big fan of Episode 3. I really felt like they were just repositioning characters, and using the episode as a filler. They wanted to reveal Sayid as one of the Oceanic 6 and show him working with Ben. They wanted to get Locke's group to the barraks and I guess make the switch of Charlotte and Miles for story reasons. However, nothing really happened to get me excited. Although I really like Sayid episodes, the main plot line was a bit dissappointing.
It is amazing how Sayid so often gets so much right when dealing with people on the Island, but then he always seems to fail at reading people when off the Island. He had to shoot his fellow interogator in Iraq, he couldn't tell the restaurant owner was up to know good when he got captured for torturing his wife, and now he can't tell his girl is playing him. It's quite the paradox, but Sayid almost always seems more Lost off the Island than when he is on it. Which is starting to appear as a common theme.
Because in Episode 4 we get to see Kate off the Island as well, and guess what things aren't going well for her. Maybe she should have stayed on the island, then she wouldn't have had to deal with the whole trial thing. On the Island she seemed to have things well worked out, except for the should I hook up with Jack or Sawyer thing. I enjoyed Episode 4 much more because some intriguing things happened in the main storyline, which is really what I want to know about. The scene with Ben and Locke in the beginning was a great throwback to the fun scenes between the two in Season 2.
Overall, there are some really good things happening on the show, and hopefully next week we will see the Helicopter reach the Freighter. We are probably in for a big surprise when we get to the freighter indeed. But here are some questions to linger on:
1) Seriously, what are the Others doing right now? Are they really afraid to come and get Ben? Does Ben want to be captured? Do they just not know what's going on? Are they really afraid of a physisist, ghostbuster, pilot, and excavationist?
2) I think the concept of Miles wanting money was interesting. But why is him "knowing where Ben is" so important. They have made it clear that names have a very powerful trait on the island, especially last names. Miles didn't want his revealed by Daniel. Now it appears being able to physically come in contact with others might carry weight as well. Does the person looking for Ben have some special ability, maybe like Walt? Also if knowing names is so important do you think Benjamin Linus is really Ben's name? Also why did he only want 3.2 million? That seems like a rather small sum to come all that way for.
3) I've heard some interesting things about Naomi not being dead. Apparently there is an issue with her eyes being closed in an earlier scene and open later with no explanation. Although I'm not so sure I buy into the not dead theory, I don't really see why they are keeping her body so apparent on the show. Usually they just bury people and move on. Is she going to be coming back in the show? Is that why they haven't buried her as a plot item? Eventually dead bodies aren't something you want just lying around.
4) I've also heard an interesting concept that heading in different directions (coordinates) may cause variations in the time discrepancies. That is why it is so important for Walt and Michael to head in one direction, and the copter to do the same. If you get off coordinates you start jumping further ahead or less far ahead. As a result you will miss the right point in time that you are aiming for. If so, it creates some unique opportunities relating to time distortion when leaving and entering the island, which would allow Ben to be very difficult to find if he came on and off the island for various reasons.
So these are just some of my thoughts. I look forward to another week, as I hope you do too! I really would like a Sun and Jin episode this week, but I'm not so sure they are not going the way of Rose and Bernard. That makes me sad :(
Have a great day.
Don't think I forgot one of my favorite shows on television! As far as personal life goes, things feel like they've been moving in molasses (sp) lately. But on with the show!
So I wasn't a big fan of Episode 3. I really felt like they were just repositioning characters, and using the episode as a filler. They wanted to reveal Sayid as one of the Oceanic 6 and show him working with Ben. They wanted to get Locke's group to the barraks and I guess make the switch of Charlotte and Miles for story reasons. However, nothing really happened to get me excited. Although I really like Sayid episodes, the main plot line was a bit dissappointing.
It is amazing how Sayid so often gets so much right when dealing with people on the Island, but then he always seems to fail at reading people when off the Island. He had to shoot his fellow interogator in Iraq, he couldn't tell the restaurant owner was up to know good when he got captured for torturing his wife, and now he can't tell his girl is playing him. It's quite the paradox, but Sayid almost always seems more Lost off the Island than when he is on it. Which is starting to appear as a common theme.
Because in Episode 4 we get to see Kate off the Island as well, and guess what things aren't going well for her. Maybe she should have stayed on the island, then she wouldn't have had to deal with the whole trial thing. On the Island she seemed to have things well worked out, except for the should I hook up with Jack or Sawyer thing. I enjoyed Episode 4 much more because some intriguing things happened in the main storyline, which is really what I want to know about. The scene with Ben and Locke in the beginning was a great throwback to the fun scenes between the two in Season 2.
Overall, there are some really good things happening on the show, and hopefully next week we will see the Helicopter reach the Freighter. We are probably in for a big surprise when we get to the freighter indeed. But here are some questions to linger on:
1) Seriously, what are the Others doing right now? Are they really afraid to come and get Ben? Does Ben want to be captured? Do they just not know what's going on? Are they really afraid of a physisist, ghostbuster, pilot, and excavationist?
2) I think the concept of Miles wanting money was interesting. But why is him "knowing where Ben is" so important. They have made it clear that names have a very powerful trait on the island, especially last names. Miles didn't want his revealed by Daniel. Now it appears being able to physically come in contact with others might carry weight as well. Does the person looking for Ben have some special ability, maybe like Walt? Also if knowing names is so important do you think Benjamin Linus is really Ben's name? Also why did he only want 3.2 million? That seems like a rather small sum to come all that way for.
3) I've heard some interesting things about Naomi not being dead. Apparently there is an issue with her eyes being closed in an earlier scene and open later with no explanation. Although I'm not so sure I buy into the not dead theory, I don't really see why they are keeping her body so apparent on the show. Usually they just bury people and move on. Is she going to be coming back in the show? Is that why they haven't buried her as a plot item? Eventually dead bodies aren't something you want just lying around.
4) I've also heard an interesting concept that heading in different directions (coordinates) may cause variations in the time discrepancies. That is why it is so important for Walt and Michael to head in one direction, and the copter to do the same. If you get off coordinates you start jumping further ahead or less far ahead. As a result you will miss the right point in time that you are aiming for. If so, it creates some unique opportunities relating to time distortion when leaving and entering the island, which would allow Ben to be very difficult to find if he came on and off the island for various reasons.
So these are just some of my thoughts. I look forward to another week, as I hope you do too! I really would like a Sun and Jin episode this week, but I'm not so sure they are not going the way of Rose and Bernard. That makes me sad :(
Have a great day.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Giving Back as an Alumnus
It is that time of year that I generally receive a call from my esteemed university about giving back as an alumnus. I generally expect this call every Spring, and generally try to budget toward attempting to donate in some fashion. I once again contributed this year with TCU called, and I was more than happy to do so. I have often discussed the idea of giving back to the university with friends, and I hope that it was to a positive effect. Yet there is always reservations some people have:
"Why should I give back to a university when I paid for the education there?"
"Tuition fees are high enough, why should I give them any more money?"
"I don't want my money going to the sports programs?"
Etc., Etc., Etc.
While I hear these concerns and appreciate them, I really think there are some quality reasons to give back to your university.
Giving the gift of TCU to others:
While I know that TCU is a school with rather expansive monetary means, that doesn't mean the school runs itself. It would be a dream if one day every student that attended TCU could do so at no cost, and that becomes even closer to a reality as TCU is able to increase their endowments and financial means to relieve students of the burden of tuition. This can be in scholarships, stemming tuition increases, and increase quality of faculty and facilities. I don't know about you, but I loved my TCU experience. I hope that many others for generations to come will have the opportunity to experience it as well. If my support can make that happen in the long run, then I am happy to do so.
Showing you value your degree:
I know it sounds a bit wierd, but giving back to TCU actually increases the value of your degree. Quality universities such as Harvard, Yale, Dartmoth, Stanford, and others all have very high alumni participation rates in giving after graduation. The reason why is because people valued their time at the University. The more people that give back to their university often is a solid indicator of the value of that degree to those who attended. So when you give back, you are in a way telling others that your time at TCU was worth it, and you valued your experience.
Giving to Quality Programs:
One thing that a lot of people don't know about the giving programs at TCU is that you can designate your gift to a specific program at the University. Many people as a result give to their respective colleges. However, I kind of think the Neeley School is probably doing well enough on its own, so I designate my gift to the Starpoint School. It is a wonderful program that assists children with learning disabilities to receive a quality elementary education as well as train studens in special education teaching practices. It is truly a wonderful program at TCU, and one that I think should be well funded.
And you know what? They actually send correspondance back every year! It is really rewarding to know that even a small gift from me is going to support a wonderful program at the University. With all the wonderful things on campus, you can find a program you are passionate about and give. If you want to learn more about the Starpoint School visit here: http://www.sofe.tcu.edu/Projects/ProjectLinks/StarPointSch.htm
In Conclusion:
There are a lot of other reasons I support the practice of giving back to our University, but these are a few. It doesn't even mean you have to give a lot, just that you give. Giving shows you care about TCU, and weren't just buying a product. (Your Degree) Even as little as $20 is a valueable contribution to the University. So why not brown bag it for a week to work, or skip a meal out one weekend, and give back to a valuable program at your respective University.
P.S. I didn't write on Lost last week, I hope to return with Episode 4 over the next few days. I apologize!
"Why should I give back to a university when I paid for the education there?"
"Tuition fees are high enough, why should I give them any more money?"
"I don't want my money going to the sports programs?"
Etc., Etc., Etc.
While I hear these concerns and appreciate them, I really think there are some quality reasons to give back to your university.
Giving the gift of TCU to others:
While I know that TCU is a school with rather expansive monetary means, that doesn't mean the school runs itself. It would be a dream if one day every student that attended TCU could do so at no cost, and that becomes even closer to a reality as TCU is able to increase their endowments and financial means to relieve students of the burden of tuition. This can be in scholarships, stemming tuition increases, and increase quality of faculty and facilities. I don't know about you, but I loved my TCU experience. I hope that many others for generations to come will have the opportunity to experience it as well. If my support can make that happen in the long run, then I am happy to do so.
Showing you value your degree:
I know it sounds a bit wierd, but giving back to TCU actually increases the value of your degree. Quality universities such as Harvard, Yale, Dartmoth, Stanford, and others all have very high alumni participation rates in giving after graduation. The reason why is because people valued their time at the University. The more people that give back to their university often is a solid indicator of the value of that degree to those who attended. So when you give back, you are in a way telling others that your time at TCU was worth it, and you valued your experience.
Giving to Quality Programs:
One thing that a lot of people don't know about the giving programs at TCU is that you can designate your gift to a specific program at the University. Many people as a result give to their respective colleges. However, I kind of think the Neeley School is probably doing well enough on its own, so I designate my gift to the Starpoint School. It is a wonderful program that assists children with learning disabilities to receive a quality elementary education as well as train studens in special education teaching practices. It is truly a wonderful program at TCU, and one that I think should be well funded.
And you know what? They actually send correspondance back every year! It is really rewarding to know that even a small gift from me is going to support a wonderful program at the University. With all the wonderful things on campus, you can find a program you are passionate about and give. If you want to learn more about the Starpoint School visit here: http://www.sofe.tcu.edu/Projects/ProjectLinks/StarPointSch.htm
In Conclusion:
There are a lot of other reasons I support the practice of giving back to our University, but these are a few. It doesn't even mean you have to give a lot, just that you give. Giving shows you care about TCU, and weren't just buying a product. (Your Degree) Even as little as $20 is a valueable contribution to the University. So why not brown bag it for a week to work, or skip a meal out one weekend, and give back to a valuable program at your respective University.
P.S. I didn't write on Lost last week, I hope to return with Episode 4 over the next few days. I apologize!
Friday, February 08, 2008
Lost, Season 4, Episode 2
So we are back again for another edition of Lost, the best running show on television. This episode was titled "Confirmed Dead." This is apparently a reference to the discovery of the supposed Flight 815 crash site in the modern day world. However, much more importantly this episode was the introduction of 4 new characters to the Lost story. These characters are currently being referred to as the Freighties.
Although I love the current ensamble cast of Lost, I have to say this enterance of new characters has been a nice pleasant start to the new season. The introduction is much more fluid than previous introductions such as Nikki and Paulo or the Tail section of the plane, and for that I'm thankful. We now have Miles, Daniel, Charlotte, and Frank. Of all the new characters I think I am going to probably enjoy Frank's character most from first impressions. Unfortunately he appears currently to be the least important of the three from a story line perspective.
There of course was a lot of interesting things to look at, see the following:
1) Light Scattering: There are actually some excellent theory posts on this item. Daniel Faraday mentions that the light reflects differently on the island as if it scatters. Actually Faraday is a reference to a famous electromagnetic scientist who experimented on magnetic influences on light bands. Many people are starting to use this comment to further the theory of an electormagnetic snowglobe effect on the island that hides it from regular sight. Thus accounting for the refracting of the light.
When I actually first heard the comment though, I thought of a book reference. A friend of mine just had me read a trilogy by C. S. Lewis that was sci-fi. In the book there are essences called "Eldils" who are supernatural in a sense that appear as strange movements and shifts in light.
2) Darma Bears in Tunisia: All I can say is what in the world? And it was at an archeological sight none the less. Should we actually be asking what time we are in more so than where we are?
3) Jacob's cabin, the smoke monster, Lock, Ben, and Hurley: It appears we are going to building up to a third player in the Jacob saga as Hurley let slip to Ben and Locke that he had seen the cabin. This will definately unnerve Ben as much as the Locke incident, but the bigger question is will Locke start to see Hurley as a threat? I thought it was awful convinient that Ben chose to shoot Charlotte in the middle of Lockes interrogation of Hurley on the subject, quickly changing the subject away from the cabin and Jacob.
4) They are after Ben: But the larger question is why? Notice that the picture of Ben that was shown by Miles appears to show Ben actually in the "Real World." Does this mean that Ben is a frequent traveller off the island as well as on? Why of all the people in the world would they want to find him, and not all the other people that consist of the "The Other's." And of course, what type of organization is Ben running, if he has all these contacts in the regular world, even one on the freighter?
5) Does no one else find it odd that the Others staged a kidnapping mission that failed, Ben decides to go and meet everyone at the radio tower, and is once again captured. And yet, no one has come to rescue him from the Others camp.... So what are the Others up to right now, eating smores and singing Kumbaya?
There of course were tons of other fun little tidbits througout the show, such as Charlotte's initials being those of C. S. Lewis. However, once again it looks like a fun season, and I will definately enjoy it.
Next week we find out another member of the Oceanic Six. Who do you think it will be? And who is the Man on the Boat? I'm going with Michael as Ben's informer, and can only hope that my girl Sun makes it off the island!
See you next Thursday!
Although I love the current ensamble cast of Lost, I have to say this enterance of new characters has been a nice pleasant start to the new season. The introduction is much more fluid than previous introductions such as Nikki and Paulo or the Tail section of the plane, and for that I'm thankful. We now have Miles, Daniel, Charlotte, and Frank. Of all the new characters I think I am going to probably enjoy Frank's character most from first impressions. Unfortunately he appears currently to be the least important of the three from a story line perspective.
There of course was a lot of interesting things to look at, see the following:
1) Light Scattering: There are actually some excellent theory posts on this item. Daniel Faraday mentions that the light reflects differently on the island as if it scatters. Actually Faraday is a reference to a famous electromagnetic scientist who experimented on magnetic influences on light bands. Many people are starting to use this comment to further the theory of an electormagnetic snowglobe effect on the island that hides it from regular sight. Thus accounting for the refracting of the light.
When I actually first heard the comment though, I thought of a book reference. A friend of mine just had me read a trilogy by C. S. Lewis that was sci-fi. In the book there are essences called "Eldils" who are supernatural in a sense that appear as strange movements and shifts in light.
2) Darma Bears in Tunisia: All I can say is what in the world? And it was at an archeological sight none the less. Should we actually be asking what time we are in more so than where we are?
3) Jacob's cabin, the smoke monster, Lock, Ben, and Hurley: It appears we are going to building up to a third player in the Jacob saga as Hurley let slip to Ben and Locke that he had seen the cabin. This will definately unnerve Ben as much as the Locke incident, but the bigger question is will Locke start to see Hurley as a threat? I thought it was awful convinient that Ben chose to shoot Charlotte in the middle of Lockes interrogation of Hurley on the subject, quickly changing the subject away from the cabin and Jacob.
4) They are after Ben: But the larger question is why? Notice that the picture of Ben that was shown by Miles appears to show Ben actually in the "Real World." Does this mean that Ben is a frequent traveller off the island as well as on? Why of all the people in the world would they want to find him, and not all the other people that consist of the "The Other's." And of course, what type of organization is Ben running, if he has all these contacts in the regular world, even one on the freighter?
5) Does no one else find it odd that the Others staged a kidnapping mission that failed, Ben decides to go and meet everyone at the radio tower, and is once again captured. And yet, no one has come to rescue him from the Others camp.... So what are the Others up to right now, eating smores and singing Kumbaya?
There of course were tons of other fun little tidbits througout the show, such as Charlotte's initials being those of C. S. Lewis. However, once again it looks like a fun season, and I will definately enjoy it.
Next week we find out another member of the Oceanic Six. Who do you think it will be? And who is the Man on the Boat? I'm going with Michael as Ben's informer, and can only hope that my girl Sun makes it off the island!
See you next Thursday!
Thursday, February 07, 2008
Rock The House
On Wednesday this week, we were priviledged to have a couple aspiring musicians play a small house concert for us. Some of you guys may remember Matt Jones who went to TCU with us. Others of you might not be aware of our friend Matt. Well Matt has been pursuing his music career for the past few years and has release a number of CD's and is currently touring Texas. As a result he visited us while he was on the Dallas part of his tour which is how we got our house rocked!
As part of marketing his music, Matt has a program he dubbed "Rock the House." As he tours accross the country with fellow musicians he finds fans in the area and offers to play a small house concert for that fan and 15-20 of their close friends. It is actually a brilliant piece of social marketting, and appears to be very effective from the experiences he told us about. Well since it was time for another Dallas/Fort Worth visit, of course we wanted to be those fans!
So we had Matt Jones and Landon Smith over and they preformed a number of their pieces from their new CD releases as well as some classics. Landon Smith is a musician that hails from Lubbock. From what I gathered he has played in a number of bands in the past, and is currently on a solo tour. Both of them are talented guitarist with quality vocals. Landon played songs of his called "Shakin", "Baby", "Bad Luck", and "Rosanne." Matt played some of his tunes named "Parked Car", "Something New", "Your Problems for Mine", and "Austin." He also played us an old favorite of a lot of folks that I think is titled "Single." Anyway, if any of you attended Frogpalooza '02 you might remember Matt opened for the Benjamin Gate at that festival. I'm still very thankful to Matt and I think it was Tyler for opening for us at that event.
It was interesting seeing these two artists play together. They had strong qualities that were definately unique to each of them. I was impressed with Landon's guitar work. He worked the frets and scales with an ease that made his melodies very fluid. It also allowed for some really creative tunes from a musical sense. Also Landon appears to have carried a lot of personal experiences into his music that provide a diverse backdrop of ideas he draws upon in his music. It allows a person to find many different aspects of life in each of his various songs.
For those of you that have heard Matt preform before, you will of course recognize his strong vocal talent. He almost uses his vocal range as an instrument all its own. He can slide up and down vocal scales with ease. It is actually quite impressive. A lot of Matt's music has a good upbeat feel in my opinion which definately makes his songs quality music in good times as well as when you need a lift.
Overall, it was a priviledge to see them. They are touring Texas right now so they might be coming to an area near you if you live around here. Also I'm sure that Matt will at least be on a broader tour over the next few months. If you see he is coming to your town and you want to have your house rocked, get in contact with him!
So if you are interested in checking out their music you can follow the following links. I definately think they are worth listening too, you might miss out if you don't!
Landon Smith
http://www.myspace.com/landonsmithmusic
Matt Jones
http://therealmattjones.com/music.htm
Also if you want to support our friend Matt, he has a facebook group as well as his webpage. I'm sure he would love for you to join if you aren't already a member.
As part of marketing his music, Matt has a program he dubbed "Rock the House." As he tours accross the country with fellow musicians he finds fans in the area and offers to play a small house concert for that fan and 15-20 of their close friends. It is actually a brilliant piece of social marketting, and appears to be very effective from the experiences he told us about. Well since it was time for another Dallas/Fort Worth visit, of course we wanted to be those fans!
So we had Matt Jones and Landon Smith over and they preformed a number of their pieces from their new CD releases as well as some classics. Landon Smith is a musician that hails from Lubbock. From what I gathered he has played in a number of bands in the past, and is currently on a solo tour. Both of them are talented guitarist with quality vocals. Landon played songs of his called "Shakin", "Baby", "Bad Luck", and "Rosanne." Matt played some of his tunes named "Parked Car", "Something New", "Your Problems for Mine", and "Austin." He also played us an old favorite of a lot of folks that I think is titled "Single." Anyway, if any of you attended Frogpalooza '02 you might remember Matt opened for the Benjamin Gate at that festival. I'm still very thankful to Matt and I think it was Tyler for opening for us at that event.
It was interesting seeing these two artists play together. They had strong qualities that were definately unique to each of them. I was impressed with Landon's guitar work. He worked the frets and scales with an ease that made his melodies very fluid. It also allowed for some really creative tunes from a musical sense. Also Landon appears to have carried a lot of personal experiences into his music that provide a diverse backdrop of ideas he draws upon in his music. It allows a person to find many different aspects of life in each of his various songs.
For those of you that have heard Matt preform before, you will of course recognize his strong vocal talent. He almost uses his vocal range as an instrument all its own. He can slide up and down vocal scales with ease. It is actually quite impressive. A lot of Matt's music has a good upbeat feel in my opinion which definately makes his songs quality music in good times as well as when you need a lift.
Overall, it was a priviledge to see them. They are touring Texas right now so they might be coming to an area near you if you live around here. Also I'm sure that Matt will at least be on a broader tour over the next few months. If you see he is coming to your town and you want to have your house rocked, get in contact with him!
So if you are interested in checking out their music you can follow the following links. I definately think they are worth listening too, you might miss out if you don't!
Landon Smith
http://www.myspace.com/landonsmithmusic
Matt Jones
http://therealmattjones.com/music.htm
Also if you want to support our friend Matt, he has a facebook group as well as his webpage. I'm sure he would love for you to join if you aren't already a member.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Super Tuesday Looms...
Over the past few years, I've become more aware of the general political landscape. As most know, I grew up in Kentucky which is primarily a Democratic area in the whole. Not East Coast Democrat, but the kind that inhabits a large section of the Midwest. A type of folk that believe in positive family values and the worth of the "blue collar" worker. Some might not call it the most sophisticated area of the country, but I always thought it was one of the most down to earth.
Anyway, as I moved down to Texas and studied business, I can not deny that my political leanings have shifted more toward a conservative approach than in the past. However, I would still vote Democrat if the right moderate came along and offered a positive and intelligent vision for the future. Add to all this my Catholic background and appeal to social justice, and I think I'm right in the foundation of the "independent" voter.
Yet as I listen to all the pundits, I only become more distressed at the failure our next President will likely become. Currently I can't see any large positives coming from either Obama or Clinton as they support a rediculously horrible plan of socialized medicine that will all but bankrupt the country. I really think all candidates for office should at least have to take one class in modern economic theory to see how horrible these types of ideas are for a capitalistic society. Add in their feelings toward the slaughter of thousands of innocent children every day with their pro-death policies on abortions, and all I can see is a moral vacuum. Two people playing off their racial or sexual identity promising change, but in reality not providing any. For all those out there keep in mind that "change" can be both positive and negative. And next time you hear the word change maybe you should ask what they are going to change. I don't want to live in the USSR, but that would be change.
And then I look at the Republican side, and alas there are few choices there as well. Although I think they probably have a little more economic sense than the other two contenders, that doesn't change the old saying. "Follow the money." I don't see either McCain or Romney being any more frugal than Bush or Clinton previously. Add in the fact that neither would provide any significant draw down to troop levels in the next few years and you are looking at a budget deficit through surely 2011. Furthermore, I'm not quite sure that either of these contenders have any better idea about how to solve immigration issues or inner city violence than the Democratic contenders.
So I guess I'm really just a moderate without a place to go overall. How can we continue to think there will be any semblance of change when all 4 major candidates are backed by the same major corporation, Goldman Sachs? That's right folks, a financial company owns all of these candidates even the golden boy Obama.
I sometimes wish there was a candidate that would follow some basic concepts:
1) Commit to forming a cabinet that included 30% Republican, 30% Democrat, 40% Independant.
2) Pass a truly balanced budget. Or better yet, a budget where we made money at the end of the year. I do it personally, so can they.
3) Promote the family. Make it easier on the working majority by providing access to education, and quality jobs. Stabilize the family unit, and put a focus on saving the family unit.
4) Bring back a national identity. Realize there is something positive about being uniquely American, and embrace that.
If someone did that. I imagine they would win in a landslide. But when all your candidates on both sides are owned by special interest groups, the good of America will always come second.
I'll probably end up deciding on the following issues:
1) Economic policy: Anyone who supports socialized medicine probably has a hard time adding.
2) The Sanctity of Life.
3) Someone that doesn't buy into the falsehood of "man-made" global warming.
But I think I'll wait for November and sit out this very sad "Dog and Pony" show they call a primary.
Anyway, as I moved down to Texas and studied business, I can not deny that my political leanings have shifted more toward a conservative approach than in the past. However, I would still vote Democrat if the right moderate came along and offered a positive and intelligent vision for the future. Add to all this my Catholic background and appeal to social justice, and I think I'm right in the foundation of the "independent" voter.
Yet as I listen to all the pundits, I only become more distressed at the failure our next President will likely become. Currently I can't see any large positives coming from either Obama or Clinton as they support a rediculously horrible plan of socialized medicine that will all but bankrupt the country. I really think all candidates for office should at least have to take one class in modern economic theory to see how horrible these types of ideas are for a capitalistic society. Add in their feelings toward the slaughter of thousands of innocent children every day with their pro-death policies on abortions, and all I can see is a moral vacuum. Two people playing off their racial or sexual identity promising change, but in reality not providing any. For all those out there keep in mind that "change" can be both positive and negative. And next time you hear the word change maybe you should ask what they are going to change. I don't want to live in the USSR, but that would be change.
And then I look at the Republican side, and alas there are few choices there as well. Although I think they probably have a little more economic sense than the other two contenders, that doesn't change the old saying. "Follow the money." I don't see either McCain or Romney being any more frugal than Bush or Clinton previously. Add in the fact that neither would provide any significant draw down to troop levels in the next few years and you are looking at a budget deficit through surely 2011. Furthermore, I'm not quite sure that either of these contenders have any better idea about how to solve immigration issues or inner city violence than the Democratic contenders.
So I guess I'm really just a moderate without a place to go overall. How can we continue to think there will be any semblance of change when all 4 major candidates are backed by the same major corporation, Goldman Sachs? That's right folks, a financial company owns all of these candidates even the golden boy Obama.
I sometimes wish there was a candidate that would follow some basic concepts:
1) Commit to forming a cabinet that included 30% Republican, 30% Democrat, 40% Independant.
2) Pass a truly balanced budget. Or better yet, a budget where we made money at the end of the year. I do it personally, so can they.
3) Promote the family. Make it easier on the working majority by providing access to education, and quality jobs. Stabilize the family unit, and put a focus on saving the family unit.
4) Bring back a national identity. Realize there is something positive about being uniquely American, and embrace that.
If someone did that. I imagine they would win in a landslide. But when all your candidates on both sides are owned by special interest groups, the good of America will always come second.
I'll probably end up deciding on the following issues:
1) Economic policy: Anyone who supports socialized medicine probably has a hard time adding.
2) The Sanctity of Life.
3) Someone that doesn't buy into the falsehood of "man-made" global warming.
But I think I'll wait for November and sit out this very sad "Dog and Pony" show they call a primary.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Lost Season Premier
For those who are unaware, I am an officially huge fan of the TV series "Lost." There are few programs I am extremely passionate about, but this is definately one of them. Well today was the season premier of the fourth season. Unfortunately the season will likely be thrust into reruns this year, but I am glad it is back for now.
The new season begins with us being thrust forward in time again as opposed the original flashbacks of the first 3 seasons. This is an interesting shift, and definately one I am currently enjoying, yet I hope it does not become too disjointed with two primary plots in two seperate time periods. This of course has allowed them to open up a whole new line of questioning, and also appears to allow one of my favorite characters "Charlie" to stay a regular on the show.
Well without ruining the show as you should definately watch it, I have to say I am pleased they decided on an end date last year. It appears to have encouraged the writers to move forward again in the plot, unlike the dismall Season 2 and first half of Season 3. But those who have endured are definately being rewarded. The refocussing on the Whisper's story arch is a welcome return, and will definately cause a stir on the Fuselage. I look forward to seeing the breakdowns and transcripts when they are completed.
Ultimately I think this will be an excellent season, and we already have a good item to speculate on. Who is the Oceanic six? So far its Jack, Kate, Hurley, one mystery dead guy, and two others. Who makes it off the Island? And why do they now want or rather NEED to go back? What are they keeping a secret and from whom, and why? Oh the questions are being asked again, and once again I am hooked. For those who have missed it, rent the DVD's and get caught up as this season is taking a positive step forward.
Now if Heroes can do the same thing and move back to an innovative type story, I would be very happy indeed.
I had the priviledge of watching the premier with Adam and Leslie, April and Adrian, and Romero. It was very nice, and I have to say Adam and Leslie can definately keep a person entertained. Well, I hope everyone is well, and I look forward to enjoying the rest of this season, and hope you enjoy watching it as well! I'll be trolling the Fuselage again. Hope to see you there.
The new season begins with us being thrust forward in time again as opposed the original flashbacks of the first 3 seasons. This is an interesting shift, and definately one I am currently enjoying, yet I hope it does not become too disjointed with two primary plots in two seperate time periods. This of course has allowed them to open up a whole new line of questioning, and also appears to allow one of my favorite characters "Charlie" to stay a regular on the show.
Well without ruining the show as you should definately watch it, I have to say I am pleased they decided on an end date last year. It appears to have encouraged the writers to move forward again in the plot, unlike the dismall Season 2 and first half of Season 3. But those who have endured are definately being rewarded. The refocussing on the Whisper's story arch is a welcome return, and will definately cause a stir on the Fuselage. I look forward to seeing the breakdowns and transcripts when they are completed.
Ultimately I think this will be an excellent season, and we already have a good item to speculate on. Who is the Oceanic six? So far its Jack, Kate, Hurley, one mystery dead guy, and two others. Who makes it off the Island? And why do they now want or rather NEED to go back? What are they keeping a secret and from whom, and why? Oh the questions are being asked again, and once again I am hooked. For those who have missed it, rent the DVD's and get caught up as this season is taking a positive step forward.
Now if Heroes can do the same thing and move back to an innovative type story, I would be very happy indeed.
I had the priviledge of watching the premier with Adam and Leslie, April and Adrian, and Romero. It was very nice, and I have to say Adam and Leslie can definately keep a person entertained. Well, I hope everyone is well, and I look forward to enjoying the rest of this season, and hope you enjoy watching it as well! I'll be trolling the Fuselage again. Hope to see you there.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Thoughts on Graduate School
Today I found myself with very little to do at work. It is actually an unusual position to be in for me since most my days are usually quite full. So after asking my boss if he had anything for me to do and getting no immediate response, I sat down to begin researching the concept of returning to school again. Now it is quite known that it has been a goal of mine to return for a graduate degree of some kind, but it has always been tough for me to decide how to attend and what to pursue.
So I struck out with the intention of keeping options open. I've sort of narrowed my focus down currently to Theology or Economics. Also I think that I would like to continue in my current position at work while achieving this goal. This comes with the realization that if I were to pursue my options beyond a Masters I would probably have to go full-time. However, as some would advise, let us take one step at a time.
I try to look down the road at what would be to gain by either route, and I see both providing me the opportunity to teach younger individuals in the future. That I believe is the ultimate goal. Yet do I reach for one passion that is theological thought, or should I endeavour to succeed in a realm that I am talented and enjoy as well, economics. A friend of mine once advised me to get my PhD in Economics and then I could teach econ and finance from an ethical standpoint, and as a result reach people possibly more in need of direction that in a traditional theology class. I felt this was an excellent point, and to be honest I am probably leaning that direction currently. Yet at times I still can't shake the desire of getting a MTS from somewhere like the University of Dallas.
It is quite the quandry. I already have the GRE scores from a year ago and with my previous scholastic history and my success in the workplace I don't find it unreasonable to accept positive admission from most universities. I guess this one is going to be a toss up and I'll go down multiple avenues of pursuit. That being said, I sure would hope for some real conviction on the matter. Sometimes I wish I could fast forward, have a PhD or MA in both Econ and Theology, teaching a class on the theological and ethical impacts of various economic and financial theories. That sounds pretty cool doesn't it!?!
Step one is to get my butt in school though, so lets start there.
So I struck out with the intention of keeping options open. I've sort of narrowed my focus down currently to Theology or Economics. Also I think that I would like to continue in my current position at work while achieving this goal. This comes with the realization that if I were to pursue my options beyond a Masters I would probably have to go full-time. However, as some would advise, let us take one step at a time.
I try to look down the road at what would be to gain by either route, and I see both providing me the opportunity to teach younger individuals in the future. That I believe is the ultimate goal. Yet do I reach for one passion that is theological thought, or should I endeavour to succeed in a realm that I am talented and enjoy as well, economics. A friend of mine once advised me to get my PhD in Economics and then I could teach econ and finance from an ethical standpoint, and as a result reach people possibly more in need of direction that in a traditional theology class. I felt this was an excellent point, and to be honest I am probably leaning that direction currently. Yet at times I still can't shake the desire of getting a MTS from somewhere like the University of Dallas.
It is quite the quandry. I already have the GRE scores from a year ago and with my previous scholastic history and my success in the workplace I don't find it unreasonable to accept positive admission from most universities. I guess this one is going to be a toss up and I'll go down multiple avenues of pursuit. That being said, I sure would hope for some real conviction on the matter. Sometimes I wish I could fast forward, have a PhD or MA in both Econ and Theology, teaching a class on the theological and ethical impacts of various economic and financial theories. That sounds pretty cool doesn't it!?!
Step one is to get my butt in school though, so lets start there.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Reorganizing a life...
Did you ever wake up one day and wonder how things got to where they are today? I recall as a child wanting something much different than what I am today. It does not deter me from my current goals, but it is hard to tell at what times my life diverged from its intended course at that time. Unfortunately all those divergences have not been positive steps for me. Occasionally I come to these realizations and attempt to reorganize things to be more balanced and directed.
How does one begin to reorganize that which at times appears hopelessly mired in mediocrity? Where does a person begin when the pieces seem so scattered, or maybe the pieces are the wrong ones to begin with? Often times when approaching a large task, I tell people to just start somewhere, because once you get going you will eventually end up with something manageable, but it are those first steps that often seem the largest leaps.
My hope is that over the next few months I may begin to migrate more toward goals I feel are more in tune with the direction my life should be heading. Whether that be physically, intellectually or emotionally, but gaining a positive foothold would be nice. My wish is that there are those around me that are praying and thinking of me, for a life surrounded in silence can sometimes be lonely.
How does one begin to reorganize that which at times appears hopelessly mired in mediocrity? Where does a person begin when the pieces seem so scattered, or maybe the pieces are the wrong ones to begin with? Often times when approaching a large task, I tell people to just start somewhere, because once you get going you will eventually end up with something manageable, but it are those first steps that often seem the largest leaps.
My hope is that over the next few months I may begin to migrate more toward goals I feel are more in tune with the direction my life should be heading. Whether that be physically, intellectually or emotionally, but gaining a positive foothold would be nice. My wish is that there are those around me that are praying and thinking of me, for a life surrounded in silence can sometimes be lonely.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Reconciling my roots...
At times in my career I have been asked to conduct interviews with possible new employees. I often choose to begin the interview with introducing myself and explaining my position with the company. I follow up that brief synopsis with the invitation to "Tell me a little bit about yourself." It is interesting how most people use their "home" as a anchoring point of the conversation. Many times this point of reference is in fact their place of origin, or place they grew up as a child. This fascinates me due to the fact I also use this line of progression when describing myself. Why do I continue to identify myself with a place and lifestyle that is going on 7 years removed now?
Since I moved from Kentucky I have graduated college, become a fixture at my current company, and have regrounded my faith. My horizons have broadened significantly and I am far from the young lad that ventured from a small town into the metroplex that is DFW. Yet I still believe that there is some of that small town kid inside me and interestingly enough, I take great comfort in that fact. I often long for a simple life, one not mired by the complexities of today, but instead joyous in the peace around me. It would be nice to just sit out on a porch for a while on a swinging bench and enjoy the afternoon. Yet I find myself constantly being pulled further away from this ideal.
Much of my life is dedicated to the company for whom I work, and much of my off hours I concern myself with thoughts pertaining to the future of the company. I don't stop to see the sun go down, I don't listen to the rolling thunder of rain showers, I don't visit the countryside. I live amongst concrete and iron, and I'm complacent in this fact. Yet sometimes I catch myself looking into a glorious morning sun. I am caught by the soft whisper of and evening breeze. I see the joy in a childs face looking upon his father. At those times I reconnect with my desires and wants for a simpler life. I hope that one day my current pursuits will afford me these luxuries and the time to indulge in them, but until then, I will continue to drift from my roots as I fall deeper and deeper into the malaise of city life.
Since I moved from Kentucky I have graduated college, become a fixture at my current company, and have regrounded my faith. My horizons have broadened significantly and I am far from the young lad that ventured from a small town into the metroplex that is DFW. Yet I still believe that there is some of that small town kid inside me and interestingly enough, I take great comfort in that fact. I often long for a simple life, one not mired by the complexities of today, but instead joyous in the peace around me. It would be nice to just sit out on a porch for a while on a swinging bench and enjoy the afternoon. Yet I find myself constantly being pulled further away from this ideal.
Much of my life is dedicated to the company for whom I work, and much of my off hours I concern myself with thoughts pertaining to the future of the company. I don't stop to see the sun go down, I don't listen to the rolling thunder of rain showers, I don't visit the countryside. I live amongst concrete and iron, and I'm complacent in this fact. Yet sometimes I catch myself looking into a glorious morning sun. I am caught by the soft whisper of and evening breeze. I see the joy in a childs face looking upon his father. At those times I reconnect with my desires and wants for a simpler life. I hope that one day my current pursuits will afford me these luxuries and the time to indulge in them, but until then, I will continue to drift from my roots as I fall deeper and deeper into the malaise of city life.
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