Exactly How They Work

Of all the "motivational" style posters I've seen, this is probably closer to the truth than any of them (can't imagine getting much closer, honestly). I've seen this link posted a handful of times over the last few weeks, and each time I've left the tab open, returning to look at it several times throughout the day. Figured it's about time I put it up here...

Can't imagine it's going to work well on this here template, so you'd be better off clicking the link above or the image below and seeing it in a better way.

Possibly the Most Disillusioning Blogpost Ever

I can't remember who on my Twitter feed posted this link, so I can't give credit where it's due, but this post is well worth the read and listen. What is it, you ask, rather than clicking the link blindly.

It's a list of 15 songs you probably didn't realize were covers--one of these I knew was a cover. One. And I really like/love most of these songs.

I know that Rob Fleming and the rest of the crew at Championship Vinyl would be ashamed of me. I am.

Regardless, this post is quite educational and entertaining (and a leeetle scary)

Couple of Things I'm Not Funny Enough to Write

...as much as I wish I was:

• Fantasy author Jim C. Hines list of 20 Neil Gaiman Facts--eat your heart out Chuck Norris
  

  1. Neil Gaiman once wrote a Nebula-winning story using only the middle row of his keyboard.
  2. Harper Collins has taken out a 2.5 million dollar insurance policy on Neil Gaiman’s accent.
  3. If you write 1000 words and Neil Gaiman writes 1000 words, Neil Gaiman has written more than you.
  read the rest



• Music Reviewer/Author Chuck Klosterman reviews the remastered works of The Beatles

  Like most people, I was initially confused by EMI's decision to release remastered versions of all 13 albums by the Liverpool pop group Beatles, a 1960s band so obscure that their music is not even available on iTunes. The entire proposition seems like a boondoggle. I mean, who is interested in old music? ...
  
  It is not easy to categorize the Beatles' music; more than any other group, their sound can be described as "Beatlesque." It's akin to a combination of Badfinger, Oasis, Corner Shop, and everyother rock band that's ever existed.
  read the rest

Worth a shot...

In honor of the first birthday of his blog, A Boomer in the Pew (along with Crossway), is giving away a Calfskin ESV. And all I have to do to enter is talk about how nice a calfskin covered Bible would be (if you've ever felt calfskin you know, if you haven't...well, go cop a feel somewhere) and throw up a link. Then I have to go tell the Boomer about it. So, I'm about 70% done now.

Might as well go enter yourself, assuming you like the ESV (or want to win it and give it to me).

Recommended Reads

I don't know if anyone actually reads any of these posts/articles when I do one of these posts, but I like to think some one does. And it makes me feel like I'm providing a small service to my readers--particularly on days like today when I can't really come up with much, my brain's too busy mulling over the implications to that huge info-dump that the writers of Battlestar subjected us to and thinking about Whedon's destined-to-be-short-lived Dollhouse.*

Anyway, some of the more thought-provoking reads of the three-day weekend:

• from CNN, Bob Greene asks--and answers--a good question:

  But all the games, in all the seasons, in all the big-time sports leagues -- what is the real reason we keep on watching?
  
  You might think that we'd finally grow weary of caring, with headlines about Alex Rodriguez and Barry Bonds, with the sports pages often reading like the business pages (contract disputes and stadium bond-issue negotiations and salary arbitration), with police-blotter details sometimes pushing aside the box scores.
  
  Why do we watch?

• from The Outfit, Country Music: Why the music we love to hate should get more respect from storytellers, columnist Graham Verdon posits:

  Country music is clearly the ugly stepchild in the family of popular music. But the truth is, for those working to achieve mastery in the craft of storytelling, country songwriters are close cousins.

• Lastly, the good people over at Respect Jeter's Gangster, give the definitive (and chuckle-worthy) response to the burning question:Where Will Joba Find His Place?

* Yeah, that was a dare. Prove me wrong, FOX. Prove me wrong, America. Please.

If Movie Posters were Honest

Since he has this tendency to only post things of merit and substance, am reasonably sure that Micah won't post this link. I, however, being dedicated to all things media, especially if it makes me laugh, will.

From The Holy Taco (strange name, I know), If Movie Posters Were Honest. Start the end of your work week with a laugh.

(unless you're kletois, and have already started your weekend)

Feelin' a little Icky

On this historic day (which would be historic no matter who won--a fact that eludes so many), Challies links to the lyrics of Steven Curtis Chapman's song, "Goodbye Mr. President."

Haven't heard the song, and honestly, will do what I can to avoid hearing it. Can't quite put my finger on it, but something about the song just made me feel kinda nauseous.

Why Joe the Plumber Matters

I thoroughly enjoyed watching that initial clip of Joe asking Sen. Obama a question which gave him the opportunity to fly his socialism flag freely on camera. If only Joe knew what he was getting himself into!

All the attention, the repeated references to himself in the debate--the interviews, press conferences, and so on (and didn't he do a wonderful job dealing with Diane Sawyer?).

Oh, but then the magnifying lens got pulled out and every little secret of his was put on display for the world to see and dissect.

Just 'cuz he asked a question.

Tragic, really.

Thought the good people over at Oh, Prune Juice did a good job commenting on the whole story, pointing out why we should care about Joe the Plumber (no matter what we think of his politics)

Recommended Reading

As I seem incapable of finishing any of the post drafts I've been working on, let me direct you to a new blog recently launched by an old online friend. Steveisms starts off with a thoughtful post about disabilities and a sober reminder about the future.

Fall Previews

One of those posts where I let others do the work for me:

Alan Sepinwall, who frightens me by writing down what I'm thinking about 95% of what we both watch, previews the Fall TV season.

And be sure to check out Ken Levine's Fall Movie Preview in parts 1, 2, and 3 is here. Snarkily funny as usual.

There's a Motivational Poster to be Made from This

National Geographic's Photo of the Day today is quite the uplifting image, isn't it?

Seriously, that is a typically great picture (click the link above--or the pic) to see a larger version)--just not sure it's really one of the first things I wanted to see today. I loved the first line of the caption:

A remote-controlled "carcass cam" captures an inside view of a gray wolf fiercely guarding its meal at the International Wolf Center in Ely, Minnesota.

"Carcass cam"--hmmmm, just what every serious photographer needs--right Micah/Grace?

Incidentally, in case you're tempted to say the name of that Minnesota town, it's pronounced E-lee, not E-lie. I just learned that, and for some reason, am pretty sure that's a bit of trivia that's going to stick with me.

(I'll try to remember to update this with a permalink as soon as Nat'l Geo moves it off the main photo of the day page, but until I do, you want to hit the "Previous" link 'til you get to Aug. 20)

A Sober Warning

Wired.com's Lore Sjöberg provides a greatly needed warning (and then a few more that are helpful). If his words are heeded, we all owe him a great debt of gratitude.

Don't click this link too close to bedtime

Nightmares will ensue if you do.

Kim Riddlebarger, URC pastor, notorious amillennialist and Yankee fan (2 out of 3 ain't bad), linked today to Worst album cover ever? from South Florida Sun-Sentinal's site. Some of this stuff is truly horrific. Best case for using iTunes (or the like) exclusively is that cover art like this won't be laying around for impressionable young children to find and suffer the emotional damage.

Stop It!

Apparently, Dr. Suess is sending messages from The Great Beyond...

Stop Making Movies About My Books

On the fourteenth of March, in towns nationwide,
In every cinema, multiplex, on every barnside,
Gleamed another adapting of one of my books,
CGI-ed and digitized by another sly crook.

Horton, my favorite—look how he's been treated!
Stuffed with tinsels and tassels and promptly excreted!
The puns! And the filler! The script fees you must save!
While I tumble and grum-humble around in my grave.

Read the rest here at the Onion (language warning, which I really need to give after that last post)

Creative Recycling

I just know that Micah's going to start planning his version of this (if he hasn't already). I should probably apologize to his wife now.

Witty Repartee

I so have to remember this trick.

Am sorely tempted to give this a try...

from Wired.com:

Turn your waking day into a 22-hour party by getting your shut-eye polyphasically — in a few quick bursts. Studies by the Chronobiology Research Institute show that for those on round-the-clock schedules — sailors, astronauts, gamers — it's more effective to recharge in short stints. For survival, the brain will eventually adapt by entering the REM state much faster. The cumulative result: a higher percentage of the best kind of z's.

Can't help but think that they're absolutely right later on when they say that, "The first seven days of deprivation will be sheer misery."

H/T: Sheldon

The Absolute Worst Hair I've Ever Seen on a Televangelist

but the best one I've seen in content. ;)

Former mentor, and White Noise's first (and so far, only) guest blogger, Pastor Jason Wallace, has a new TV show. Here's episode 2.

Particularly appreciated the phone-in Q&A starting about halfway through...

The Whys and Wherefores

Why I blog.

Chuck Norris Humor

Like many of you (I assume), I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at this Mike Huckabee/Chuck Norris ad that swept the airwaves/InterWeb this week (this anti-federalist goofball is the evangelical answer to Romney?)--I was sure inspired to find more money to give to Dr. Paul.

Thankfully, the good people over at the webcomic Sheldon, posted an old Chuck Norris-related strip that it was easy to choose the proper reaction--laugh out loud, and then re-read and laugh some more.