"Float On"--Modest Mouse

While I don't really listen to them a whole lot, and this was an overplayed hit, I still like this song by Modest Mouse. Part of that is due to the music video. It isn't really "pretty" or necessarily analogous to the song, but I can appreciate it artistically and from an purely entertaining perspective.

Also, I think the message is a good one. Especially at this time, because by the time this is posted I will have be running on substantially less than the necessary amount of sleep recommended for 21-year-old males.

Seriously, though--why do we stress so much about school, relationships, work, etc. We are all going to float on. Things are temporary and life is too. James 4:14 says our list is "a mist," and we are supposed to live as sojourners in this world, we are not of this world.

While I don't think Modest Mouse is looking at it from that point of view, you can still revel in the truth of the matter.

What A Wonderful World

You've probably heard that idyllic song, the theme for so many closing and opening movie scenes, when all is warm and fuzzy. But I must put the question to you, have you ever thought the world was so wonderful that you wanted to scream the song with a nice dash of distorted guitar and blast beat in the background?

Yeah, me neither.

But apparently someone did, and they decided Louis Armstrong should still take the reins on his classic:



[Tip o' the hat to Abraham Piper]

I Had Hanson Hair

If you had trouble believing that I had hair comparable to Hanson like I claimed yesterday, then here is the proof.

I have no regrets. Except for maybe that first one. Ouch.

What was I thinking? A spear, really?
The tie-dye and blue camouflage I can understand,
but that spear is just ridiculous.

Science fair + Hawaiian shirt = FTW.

"The gang" in middle school and a nice side view of those glorious golden locks.

With Sheila back in the day.

Right before I cut it, it was long enough to put into a ponytail. I kinda miss it. Just a tad.

Remember Hanson?

I didn't, at least, I tried to forget about it. All those times getting called "Hanson" in middle school because I grew my long, golden locks out gave me a perhaps irrational hate of the band.

I guess I had always assumed that they sucked, but this is something I would actually buy:


Thinking 'Bout Somethin'

HANSON | MySpace Music Videos

Do you remember Hanson? What are your thoughts on this song, at face-value?

[Tip o' the Hat to Tyler Stanton]

Generic Broadcast

Despite it's obvious unamericanity, I kinda like the BBC:

[be ye here warned, there be profanity]

Defunct

That word has always intrigued me: defunct. Obviously coming from the same root as "function," but with the negative "de" attached, therefore making it essentially mean "not working." This is what goes on in my brain. I guess that's part of why I am an English major.

There was a point last week where I was seriously questioning my creativity. So I asked you to ask me questions. And because of one of those questions, and an excellent video posted on Stuff Christian Like, I have delved further into this idea.

I've come to realize that I am overly self-absorbed in, well, myself. I mean, T.J.'s a pretty cool guy and all, but he's nothing too special. I should know. I am he. (and yes, that is proper grammar). Basically, I am intensely concerned with how well I do things, and if I will fail.

Failure is one of my biggest fears. Not in all things, but in things I care about--and rarely will I verbally tell you what those things are. If you are carefully observant, however, you will be able to tell. If I get pissed when I don't do well in it, I probably care. If I get horribly despondent and morbidly introspective when it isn't going as planned, I probably care.

The problem is, all of this caring how things turn out comes from a place of pride, where I think one of two things: A) That I can do something, anything, whatever-the-task-at-hand-thing better than whoever I am competing against, or the personal standard I set for myself. B) That I can do anything good and pure and right without God. Both of these assumptions are wrong, and feed off the inherently competitive nature of pride (something that was brought to my attention by C.S. Lewis in Mere Christianity, which I will probably discuss further in the future).

So when I fail to live up to my standard or God's standard (which, I dunno, always), I feel the pressure of the entire universe falling on me as I attempt an Alas-esque feat, trying to maintain my whole world.

I have my thoughts on why this is wrong and how to fix it, but I'm interested to hear what you think?

Cliché-ly Titled Poem?

Another poem from my poetry writing class. The assignment was to do a metered poem. I chose iambic tetrameter--that is, four iambic feet, which consist of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable.

As usual, your criticism is welcome.


Some Lines On Romans 1-8

2009

The law, the law is everywhere.

In everyone you meet--it's there.

It's written on our hearts--and still,
We each will do what each one wills.

Oh what a wretched man we are,
We hit the ditch when aimed for stars.
But what's a wretch who doesn't know
What he will reap from what he sows?

In love, in love is everyone

With all the different things of fun.
And given over, righteousness
Is put on hold for things much less.

Now what's the wrong of all of this?
What's right with what you say we've missed?
And who's to say it's wrong at all?
We're past some dumb, archaic Fall.

Indeed we are, and so it seems,
We still cannot fulfill our dreams.
As slaves to passion, pleasure, hate,
That promise much but don't placate,
We map a self destructive course,
And of us all, I am the worst.
Yet all things work for me, for best.
That's not the verdict I'd have guessed.
It seems the last thing left to see
Is: Oh, who will deliver me?

Question Everything

But more importantly, right now, question me.

I think I am at least a couple weeks, if not more, behind the Formspring curve, but I'm jumping on it anyway. Hopefully this will serve to jumpstart my creative genius (<--creative arrogance) (<--creative internal dialogue), which has apparently left me.

I know people claim they will do something but then drop it after a while, but I solemnly promise that I will answer each and every [appropriate] question you ask. When I hop into things like this, I don't do 'em halfway.

So ask me something: formspring.me/tjschley

Stuff Christians Like (Sort of) Guest Post

I have been a big fan of Jon Acuff's blog Stuff Christians Like for quite some time. Therefore, I lept at the opportunity to for him to do a guest post on this blog. While it isn't a formal guest post, this is part of a full-length scorecard, the rest of which can be found here:

The “Is that contestant on American Idol a Christian? Scorecard”

48. They do one of those Ford commercials involving a car wash and they wear a tankini during the scene = + 3 points

Julian Smith

In the list of things that make me laugh, Julian Smith is definitely a prominent member. Here's a couple of samples:



and



He has also done a Jeep commercial that you may have seen, the popular "25 Things I Hate About Facebook" video, in addition to some work with Rhett & Link, another entry on my Laugh List.

PICTURES FTW (Part the Second)

Here are some more portraiture-type photos. This assignment was similar to the last one, but in this one I had to specifically position my subjects. Thanks to Bruce and Matt for helping me out as "models." I use that term loosely.

Also, I have about 3-4 more batches of photos from this class, so keep an eye out for them in future posts.

This one may be a little cliché. Maybe:

And this one is one of my favorites:

Also, I just realized that all of these are vertical shots. Interesting.

PICTURES FTW

Because I know some people liked it when I put up the pictures I took before, and because everyone prefers looking at pictures to reading what I have to say, here's some pictures from my Intro to Photography class.

This first batch was a no-specifications portraiture assignment:

More to come tomorrow.