Two things:
1. If you are remotely close to me, you've heard me talk about Andrew Peterson. Most likely I raved about his songwriting or just his writing ability in general. If you are still delaying in tasting of his work, be ashamed. Be very ashamed. But don't let your shame weigh you down. Almost all of his work can be found online at the Rabbit Room. STOP PUTTING IT OFF. GO BUY SOMETHING OF HIS. ANYTHING. I don't work for Andrew. I get no commission. I just want everyone to know how much I have been blessed by his work and that I think you will be blessed too. And since Christmas is right around the corner, go ahead and get his CD titled Behold the Lamb of God: The True Tall Tale of the Coming of Christ. DO IT.
2. If you have yet to click on the link on the right side of this blog which leads to the Rabbit Room, it is a fine place to wander to. This podcast helps explain what the Rabbit Room is. I visit the site with a frequency of about 1.1574e-005 Hz, sometimes double that.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Danes and Saints
Last week I had the priveledge of attending Bruel & Kjaer University in Copenhagen, Denmark. It's really just a sort of training class for new employees of the company. The classes covered a broad range of topics, from technical explanations of how accelermeters work to company marketing strategies. We also got to tour some sweet areas of HQ like the clean room where the condenser mics are made. Although I already knew a lot about the technical presentations, I learned a bit about company business and more importantly, I became (even more) pumped up to be working for B&K.
The best part about Denmark is the people! It seems like everyone I met there is good looking, friendly, smart, and funny. And guys, if your preference is blondes, Denmark is your jackpot. Seriously though, I enjoyed time spent with the people there way more than the time I spent sightseeing.
Here is an album of some pictures I took in Copenhagen. You gotta be a facebooker to see em though.
The 10 hour plane ride to and fro provided me with ample opportunity to finish reading a book I have been enjoying immensely as of late. The book is Godric, by Frederick Buechner. I hesitate to tell that the story revolves around a 12th century saint because such a premise sounds dry and dull. Godric is no such book. Although it is based on this historical character, Buechner brings the story to life by filling in the gaps that history leaves out. And really my primary enjoyment with the book came from Buechner's writing style, not the plot (although the story is great too). He is just as much a poet as an author. This book is already in my top 5. Here is a good review of the book. Go buy it!
The best part about Denmark is the people! It seems like everyone I met there is good looking, friendly, smart, and funny. And guys, if your preference is blondes, Denmark is your jackpot. Seriously though, I enjoyed time spent with the people there way more than the time I spent sightseeing.
Here is an album of some pictures I took in Copenhagen. You gotta be a facebooker to see em though.
The 10 hour plane ride to and fro provided me with ample opportunity to finish reading a book I have been enjoying immensely as of late. The book is Godric, by Frederick Buechner. I hesitate to tell that the story revolves around a 12th century saint because such a premise sounds dry and dull. Godric is no such book. Although it is based on this historical character, Buechner brings the story to life by filling in the gaps that history leaves out. And really my primary enjoyment with the book came from Buechner's writing style, not the plot (although the story is great too). He is just as much a poet as an author. This book is already in my top 5. Here is a good review of the book. Go buy it!
Monday, August 25, 2008
Still Alive
Devoted Readers,
My apologies for not updating in a while. In short: life is good. I'm back in Atlanta, enjoying friends, family, and even work. Soon I will post pictures of my new living arrangements and give a more detailed update on my life.
Sincerely,
The Artentist
My apologies for not updating in a while. In short: life is good. I'm back in Atlanta, enjoying friends, family, and even work. Soon I will post pictures of my new living arrangements and give a more detailed update on my life.
Sincerely,
The Artentist
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
Never has a band so quickly become a favorite of mine than when I got Sigur Ros's album Takk... from a friend last year. The Icelandic quartet is a brilliant blend of atmosphere, pop, ambient, rock, and classical. Actually, scratch that. Placing a genre on Sigur Ros is like calling Babe Ruth a baseball player; you've covered a little bit but left so much unexplained.
Whenever I refer Sigur Ros to a friend, I always insist they listen to a song the whole way through. A 30 second clip from iTunes just won't cut it. Why? Because the magic of Sigur Ros is in the gradual dynamics of their songs. They have mastered the (extremely) long crescendo. You might be able to "get" some bands after hearing few 30 second clips, but if you take a musical phrase from a Sigur Ros song out of context, it just doesn't make full sense.
Sigur Ros's newest album, Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust, just released this past week. [The title roughly translates: with a buzz in our ears, we play endlessly....about on par with some of their other strange album titles which translate "a pretty good start", "thanks...", and "haven-home". And then there's the one simply titled ( ).] Med Sud is a bit of a departure from traditional Sigur Ros sound. A little less etherial and much more real. Sigur Ros announces this departure with the two opening tracks, "Gobbledigook" (don't laugh) and "Inni mer syngur vitleysingur". These are both much more upbeat and happy than anything they have ever recorded. This scared me at first, but now I embrace the Sigur Ros head-bob. With the exception of "Vid spilum endalaust", the album slows down a good bit....an a tempo if you will. The jewel of the record, IMHO, comes in track 7, "Ara batur". This slow ballad spends 7 minutes lulling you to sleep before rousing you to tears in the final 2 minutes with lush orchistration, crashing symbols, and the London Oratory Boys Choir. To say this song has a big finish is an understatement. Ara batur belongs in a dramatic movie ending and I don't doubt it will find its way into one someday. The album finishes with "All Alright", the band's first song sung in english....although the words are as hard to understand as ( )'s hopelandic.
Med Sud is Sigur Ros's first album recorded outside of Iceland. Perhaps this was done to symbolize their departure from the old sound. Bands can only get by with a certain sound for so long (save U2) before getting criticized. While the homeland is missed, this new ground is just as beautiful and breath taking.
Whenever I refer Sigur Ros to a friend, I always insist they listen to a song the whole way through. A 30 second clip from iTunes just won't cut it. Why? Because the magic of Sigur Ros is in the gradual dynamics of their songs. They have mastered the (extremely) long crescendo. You might be able to "get" some bands after hearing few 30 second clips, but if you take a musical phrase from a Sigur Ros song out of context, it just doesn't make full sense.
Sigur Ros's newest album, Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust, just released this past week. [The title roughly translates: with a buzz in our ears, we play endlessly....about on par with some of their other strange album titles which translate "a pretty good start", "thanks...", and "haven-home". And then there's the one simply titled ( ).] Med Sud is a bit of a departure from traditional Sigur Ros sound. A little less etherial and much more real. Sigur Ros announces this departure with the two opening tracks, "Gobbledigook" (don't laugh) and "Inni mer syngur vitleysingur". These are both much more upbeat and happy than anything they have ever recorded. This scared me at first, but now I embrace the Sigur Ros head-bob. With the exception of "Vid spilum endalaust", the album slows down a good bit....an a tempo if you will. The jewel of the record, IMHO, comes in track 7, "Ara batur". This slow ballad spends 7 minutes lulling you to sleep before rousing you to tears in the final 2 minutes with lush orchistration, crashing symbols, and the London Oratory Boys Choir. To say this song has a big finish is an understatement. Ara batur belongs in a dramatic movie ending and I don't doubt it will find its way into one someday. The album finishes with "All Alright", the band's first song sung in english....although the words are as hard to understand as ( )'s hopelandic.
Med Sud is Sigur Ros's first album recorded outside of Iceland. Perhaps this was done to symbolize their departure from the old sound. Bands can only get by with a certain sound for so long (save U2) before getting criticized. While the homeland is missed, this new ground is just as beautiful and breath taking.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
State College: Not Such A Bad Place
It's starting to sink in that I'm leaving here soon. I have spent a large part of the past two years making fun of State College, yankees, and the north in general. But, I have to admit there are some things I'll truly miss here. I'll miss the serene winter nights when the moonlight is both soaked up and amplified by the snow covered earth. I'll miss the ridge of mountains that explode into view driving only a mile east of downtown. I'll miss the flashing yellow streetlights at 2am.
I'll miss E-Free. Especially all the great people I made music with there. I have never felt so appreciated as I have at this church.
I'll miss my best friends here: Chris, Jeremy, Scott, Tim, and Pete (among others).
I'll miss the E-Free softball team. As terrible as we are, we had fun losing together.
Places around town I'll miss: Otto's Pub, The State Theater (though I didn't go there as much as I would have liked), Herwig's, Faccia Luna, Pete's house, Jeremy, Chris, JJ, and Alex's apartment (specifically the den with the XBOX 360 and Halo 3).
God has been good to me here. Big suprise.
I'll miss E-Free. Especially all the great people I made music with there. I have never felt so appreciated as I have at this church.
I'll miss my best friends here: Chris, Jeremy, Scott, Tim, and Pete (among others).
I'll miss the E-Free softball team. As terrible as we are, we had fun losing together.
Places around town I'll miss: Otto's Pub, The State Theater (though I didn't go there as much as I would have liked), Herwig's, Faccia Luna, Pete's house, Jeremy, Chris, JJ, and Alex's apartment (specifically the den with the XBOX 360 and Halo 3).
God has been good to me here. Big suprise.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
A Good Way to Live
Just wanted to share a great passage from Psalm 19 that I just read:
"The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the Lord are sure
and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
then much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward."
[Psalm 19:6-11]
I can't recall ever reading or hearing verses 7 and 8. They observe the goodness of the laws of God from a few different angles. "Reviving the soul" points out that following God's laws can bring you out of a numbed rut....something I have experienced a bit of lately. "Making wise the simple"--A simple man can obtain wisdom by simply following some outlines laid out by God. "Giving joy to the heart"--Here, the Psalmist moves from practicality to hedonism. God's laws are not just practical--they are life-giving and enjoyable. "Giving light to the eyes"--Following God's ways reveals things.
I'm having a tougher time interpreting "The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever." Anyone have any insights?
So much of Christianity today is based around feelings. So much of everything today is based around feelings. Feelings are great, and not to be ignored, but in the words of my wise friend Dave Bachman, "feelings make poor leaders". If we just "follow our heart", we have a deceitful leader.* If we decide to follow God's ways, we have the greatest leader imaginable.
*Jer 17:9
"The law of the Lord is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the Lord are sure
and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
then much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward."
[Psalm 19:6-11]
I can't recall ever reading or hearing verses 7 and 8. They observe the goodness of the laws of God from a few different angles. "Reviving the soul" points out that following God's laws can bring you out of a numbed rut....something I have experienced a bit of lately. "Making wise the simple"--A simple man can obtain wisdom by simply following some outlines laid out by God. "Giving joy to the heart"--Here, the Psalmist moves from practicality to hedonism. God's laws are not just practical--they are life-giving and enjoyable. "Giving light to the eyes"--Following God's ways reveals things.
I'm having a tougher time interpreting "The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever." Anyone have any insights?
So much of Christianity today is based around feelings. So much of everything today is based around feelings. Feelings are great, and not to be ignored, but in the words of my wise friend Dave Bachman, "feelings make poor leaders". If we just "follow our heart", we have a deceitful leader.* If we decide to follow God's ways, we have the greatest leader imaginable.
*Jer 17:9
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