~Jason

~Jason

Update: 474 this morning. Looks like this is the new baseline. Cool.
Update Again: hit 494 individual plays in one day last night! It’s so cool to be responding to people’s comments, and to hear that they’ve got my songs as their background music!! Ok, enough about this for a while—

This is one of the funniest things I’ve read about that in a long time. So if you want to laugh, hop on over.

Here’s an example:

Satchel

There are some really slick satchels out there, including some from the Swiss Army people. Hey, it has “army” in it! Death, killing, very masculine. Ignore the Swiss part. I spent a lot of time observing masculine people in their native environments, and I concluded that there are two major requirements for a manly satchel. First off, the strap must attach to the main body with a huge metal latch that looks like it could attach the cab of a semi to the trailer. Secondly, it needs to have a handle, so you can convey the impression that it’s really a briefcase, and you only have it over one shoulder because you’re late for a tractor pull.

Worst part: It could be made out of titanium steel with a pinup girl airbrushed onto the side and people would still call it a “purse.”

Fanny pack

This is great if you’re trying to create a singularity of pure geekness that will open up a portal to an alternate universe where they’re still making episodes of Reboot. But if there are even two working neurons in the style portion of your brain, the same neurons that explained that Mr. T’s haircut won’t look as good on you, then you’re going to want to pass on this one. On the other hand, if you’ve burned those neurons out through years of cosplay, more power to you. Just don’t stand near me.

Worst part: Do you really want to appear to have two rear ends?

There’s more!

~Jason

As most people will know, Screwtape is a demon, uncle to Wormwood. He and Wormwood are exchanging letters during World War II, and we get a peek at their conversation as the uncle coaches the nephew in how to best tempt a newly converted Christian.

What makes for such brilliant writing is the way he explains complex spiritual truths from a demon’s perspective— whereas I might normally begin yawning through a boring sermon, when told in the negative, by a demon, as a bad thing, I suddenly perk up and listen.

Here’s an example:

He’s (God) a hedonist at heart. All those fasts and vigils and stakes and crosses are only a façade. Or only like foam on the sea shore. Out at sea, out in His sea, there is pleasure, and more pleasure. He makes no secret of it; at His right hand are “pleasures for evermore”. Ugh! I don’t think He has the least inkling of that high and austere mystery to which we rise in the Miserific Vision. He’s vulgar, Wormwood. He has a bourgeois mind. He has filled His world full of pleasures. There are things for humans to do all day long without His minding in the least-sleeping, washing, eating, drinking, making love, playing, praying, working, Everything has to be twisted before it’s any use to us. We fight under cruel disadvantages. Nothing is naturally on our side.

I highly recommend this book. C.S. Lewis is known as a great author for good reason.

~Jason

I could go on and on about all of it’s inaccuracies, but I don’t want to get caught up in that too much— this is fiction, after all; and people keep reminding us all of that.

Yeah, but is anyone listening? I’ve got some friends who are conspiracy theorists. They’re suckers for this stuff. They love a juicy cover-up to bite into— and that’s fine, I guess. It’s their life. If they want to put their head in the sand, I guess that’s their choice.

Libelous? I guess freedom of speech allows each of us to say whatever we want about organizations like the church… and freedom of speech is great— don’t get me wrong. But I would hate to think people form serious opinions about Jesus and his church based on some trashy pulp fiction.

It wouldn’t have been so bad if he’d stuck to a story. But the characters kept soliloquizing into preachy sermons — it was like listening to my conspiracy friends rattle on for hours. BOOOORRRRIIINNNNNG.

I read it in Microsoft Reader, and kept Wikipedia open. Every time it made some historical claim, or mentioned some group I never heard of, I did a quick google. Dan Brown is almost never telling the truth in this book. Take nothing at face value.

Or just leave this book on the bookshelf.

~Jason

FYI:
Criticisms_of_The_Da_Vinci_Code 
Priory_of_Sion Knights_Templar 
Cryptex Mona_Lisa

~Jason

~Jason

This is a great lesson for life: peering inside pain, I’ve sometimes found hope.

And now a church dies, eyes upon Easter. There lies little irony in that fact.

The past saw young lovers embrace a foreign land, unhindered with the encumbrances and wisdoms of experience; also without the properties of comfort. No bed to lay the head. ‘Most only the clothes on their back.

God moves, but like the wind. We see only the rippling of leaves, the turning of hearts. Begin to build a home, start to settle; perceive a future. Therein cries the root of pain— a future thought and not realised.

And trust mislaid.

What of it? We were reliant, we were lost.

And being so directed by God we set sails to his breath, escaping treason, and perhaps leaving reason behind. Unorganic, and unnatural, even unnecessary.

So I mourn today, for a child never birthed. I decry them, those who would lead, and instead destroyed.

But all is not lost, for there remains an ember, a tender shoot.

And I was but a gardener. I did not plant, I did not sew. I will not reap.

~Jason

Update: 16 left - Comment here when you’ve added my link and include both your link and your mailing address so I can send your the CD.