Latest favorite music

"Bliss (I Don't Wanna Know)" by Hinder

"Numb" by Linkin Park

"Holiday" and "She's a Rebel" by Green Day

"Black Horse and the Cherry Tree" by K.T. Tunstall. One of the most fun new-folk songs I've heard.

"Metamorphosis" by Philip Glass. Hauntingly dark and beautiful piano music.

"The Great Escape" by Boys Like Girls

"Auld Lang Syne" by The Real McKenzies. Bagpipes, plus a fun version of a classic song...what's not to love?

"You've Got a Friend" by Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Yet another cover that I prefer to the original.

"Clumsy" by Fergie

"Long Way to Happy" by P!nk

"My Wish" by Rascal Flatts

"This One's for the Girls" by Martina McBride

"Try Not To Remember by Sheryl Crow

"You Found Me" by Kelly Clarkson

"Stay Strong" by Newsboys

AGW Hysteria?

After having a discussion last night with MerryK and PurringPiggy about AGW (anthropogenic, or man-caused, global warming) by lantern (our power went out for about 8 hours), I was read this article this morning, that was originally from the The Times (of London), about "Scientists Drill Into Greenland Ice for Climate-Change Clues". The last paragraph referenced made me wonder about their thought process:

The Eemian began 130,000 years ago, ending 15,000 years later, and is the most recent time in the Earth's past when temperatures resembled those that can be expected if greenhouse gas emissions are not brought under control. [emphasis mine]

What I would like to know is this - if men could not have "caused" the end of the last ice age due to their excessive CO2 emissions, how can these scientists be so certain that man is the cause now? Our climate has fluctuated wildly in the past (tropical plant fossils have been found in the Arctic!) and the warming in the last century is more likely to be a normal climate cycle than one caused by man through greenhouse gases that must "be brought under control"!

Ironically, the warming stopped in 2000 and the earth has been cooling slightly ever since. I guess the fact that the SUN is in a protracted low sun spot cycle is just a coincidence to these people? What has the potential to affect our climate more? Man or the Sun? Obviously, it is the Sun.

Therefore, since the earth has been proven to be much warmer, and much colder, in the past than it is now, how arrogant do you have to be to claim that it is now man's fault that the climate is changing?

You know what this means?...

...with this iPod Touch, I will be able to post updates on my Europe trip. And this is certainly faster than me trying to text. Yes, this was not written on my computer...I feel like I've crossed to the dark side of social networking.

Out of the mouths of babes

I read this article on Right Wing News about a discussion between a father and son. The conclusion that the son comes to is very prescient for a youngster:

"Maybe he was like Obama. He gave really good speeches, and the people who listened to him stopped thinking."

So true!

I almost wish I couldn't hear this...

Created by Train Horns

Homemade barley tea

I was first exposed to barley tea through a Korean friend at work. I liked what she let me try, but she said it was nearly impossible to find, even in Asian markets. So I pretty much gave up on it. However, while following recipe links I came across this.

This is definitely one of my keepers! I used about a cup of barley for half a gallon of water, honey to taste, and just a splash of lemon. I also dry roasted the barley until just aromatic, not too long. But I followed the steeping directions exactly. It's a very light tea flavor, and I might try steeping for 45 minutes next time, but it was very good nonetheless.

If you're skeptical about barley tea, it doesn't taste like how you'd think it would. Just like green tea has a slight grassy quality to it, barley tea has a similar quality, only browner, if that makes any sense. It's nicely herbal but has a slightly meatier flavor than most herbal teas, just not so far as to be like black tea or coffee.

Perception Personality Image Test

Your result for The Perception Personality Image Test...

NBPC - The Daydreamer

Nature, Background, Big Picture, and Color

You perceive the world with particular attention to nature. You focus on the hidden treasures of life (the background) and how that fits into the larger picture. You are also particularly drawn towards the colors around you. Because of the value you place on nature, you tend to find comfort in more subdued settings and find energy in solitude. You like to ponder ideas and imagine the many possibilities of your life without worrying about the details or specifics. You are in tune with all that is around you and understand your life as part of a larger whole. You are a down-to-earth person who enjoys going with the flow.

The Perception Personality Types:

Take The Perception Personality Image Test at HelloQuizzy

Scifi sounds quiz

I received 77 credits on The Sci Fi Sounds Quiz How much of a Sci-Fi geek are you?

Marriage is Unjust Suffering

We came across a wonderful article about marriage. Here is a quote, but the whole thing is very challenging.

"Today, when injustice occurs, our first instinct is often to demand our rights. And when there is injustice in marriage, often the first instinct is to demand justice or seek divorce (something God hates! Mal. 2:16) if that justice doesn’t come. Scripture doesn’t tell us to ignore injustice — in marriage or anywhere else. But we are not to battle injustice with the weapons of the world. A gentle spirit, a godly example, patient reasoning from the word of God, a sincere effort to love and understand your spouse: these things do more to ensure justice than any demand, demonstration or divorce, even when God’s methods may mean we have to endure suffering longer than we might like. "

"When we follow the steps of Jesus in this way, a marriage can be something glorious. "

Slightly disturbing realization

It almost disturbed me the other day to realize that I am Harold Crick in real life. Perhaps you remember the character, from the movie Stranger Than Fiction? He saw things in the world arranged by time, percentage, number, instead of just experiencing life, and didn't even try at it; he just noticed those sorts of things.

I've noticed before that I unconsciously keep track of the count and placement of random things, but it was yesterday that what that meant hit me, as I realized that I knew exactly when to pull the cord on the bus so that I would be able to walk up to the door right as the bus slowed and stopped. That realization came simultaneously with the one that I also knew how many ads were being displayed above my head, whether there were more people on the right or left side of the bus, how many route maps were in the little drawer (and how apparently more people needed the 150 route than the 154), and how much time was left on the song on my iPod.

This strange acknowledgment of a strange neuroses followed me as I went to work, where I realized that I was always keeping track of exactly how many boxes of books were waiting at my station, the approximate amount of books in each one, how long that would take me to process, and therefore when I would need to get more (taking breaks into account). And this while listening to an audiobook, where I mentally calculate with the start of each track when I should probably stop the book to finish up the workday at the end of a track. When I open a bag of fruit snacks, the first thing I do is mentally if not physically sort them by color, and then eat the right ones so that each color has the same number, and then I eat them in order after that. I don't even think about this, not consciously. It just happens. And this doesn't even go into the way that I know every inch of space, wherever I'm at, and exactly how I need everything arranged at any given moment to take the most advantage of it—even if that means adjusting things in half-inches.

It's a really, really good thing, I realize now, that God gave me an easy-going temperament along with these neuroses. Through no real effort of my own, I'm able to brush off most irritations in life, partly because they're rarely strong to begin with. I like and love things far more often than I am annoyed, and thinking of something enjoyable will easily wipe away the memory of an annoyance. Which is good for my sanity, and for the sanity of others, when those little irritations can be as simple as noticing that the soap dispensers in the public restroom aren't equally full...

I am Harold Crick.

What poetry form am I?

I'm terza rima, and I talk and smile. Where others lock their rhymes and thoughts away I let mine out, and chatter all the while. I'm rarely on my own - a wasted day Is any day that's spent without a friend, With nothing much to do or hear or say. I like to be with people, and depend On company for being entertained; Which seems a good solution, in the end. What Poetry Form Are You?

"We are all Socialists now"

In case it wasn't clear enough for you...Newsweek had this on the cover of their magazine this week. They aren't hiding it, they aren't ashamed, they just boldly proclaim it from the hilltops. And the American public smiles and cheers as we enter this age of hope. It makes me weep.

Spring is coming!

Spring used to be my second-favorite season, after autumn because I loved the crispness and lingering warmth that mingled in the air, and the unique smell of dry leaves. But in the past couple years, I've found myself more and more affected by SAD (seasonal affective disorder), and this year has been the worst.

I have an early schedule pretty much all year round, and by the time November swung around it was dark in the morning, and it only got worse. I hate the dark. I hate the clouds. I hate the rain, and the drizzle, and the snow worst of all. I hate the cold. Winter makes me want to curl up in my bed, turn the heater up high, and write like there's nothing else to do in the world. I'm not a people person even in the warm season, but winter makes me about twice as uncomfortable around others.

I was almost getting used to this feeling of disinterest and detachment from the world, when two days ago as I waited for the bus to arrive...sun! Real sun, warm sun, gloriously golden sun. I closed my eyes and sat in its glow for about ten minutes until the bus pulled up. And suddenly, where my spirits had been about a 5 on a ten point scale, they were now easily an 8.

Life's not so bad. Spring is coming.

Once upon a time (music meme)

1. Put your music player of choice on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. Write the song name down.
4. Tag 5 friends. (everyone who wants to do it is tagged)
5. Voila! Enjoy.

Some of these are just "uh...okay?", but some turned out quite interesting.


IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Exclamations by The Brobdingnagian Bards. (LOL!)


WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Happy Working Song from Enchanted. (Funny, but not really?)


WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
Leave Out All the Rest by Linkin Park (No...)


WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
The Happy Happy Birthday Song by The Arrogant Worms (Intriguing, but no)


WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Backwards by Rascal Flatts (Does this mean something?)


WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
With Cat-Like Tread by Gilbert and Sullivan (LOL...no)


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIENDS
Happy Together by The Turtles (Eek...no)


WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Hand of Sorrow by Within Temptation (I really, really hope not)


WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Wake Up by The Living End (Not really)


WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
The River by Good Charlotte (I don't think that makes any sense)


WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Meant to Live by Switchfoot (Not much sense here either)


WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
In the Light by Story Side B (Ditto)


WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Wondrous Love by Jadon Lavik (LOL...oh, the irony...the opposite would be true in this case)


HOW WILL YOU DIE?
All the Words by Kutless (No sense here)


WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
All Along the Watchtower by Bob Dylan (This song doesn't even make sense on its own, let alone for this category)


WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
The Yodeling Veterinarian of the Alps by Veggie Tales (Well, yes)


WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
So Insane by Smash Mouth (Well, no)


WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
The Kingdom by Caedmon's Call (I don't think that tells me anything)


WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Wander My Friends by Bear McCreary (Oh no, not this, the opposite rather...this is a song of harmony and triumph)


DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Spanish Ladies by Dr Faustus (Um, doesn't really make sense)


IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Doctor Who Theme by Murray Gold (LOL! The chances that a theme song to a time travel show would come up for this...)


WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Once Upon a Time: The Battle of Life and Death by Good Charlotte (Not bad, really)

Your body's MPG

33.5 miles per gallon

Created by The Car Connection

Inspiration speeches from movies

This is an example of a great editing job...I was surprised to see how many I recognized, although I agree with the person who originally posted the link in that the one line missing was "Have fun storming the castle!"

Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar

...no really, that's the title. Or, Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar...: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes by Thomas Cathcart and Daniel Klein, to be exact. And the book's as delightfully off-kilter as it sounds.

If there's one thing this book told me, it's that life is too important to take too seriously. Life, death, worldviews...all so essential to who we are, and yet we weigh down these fundamental questions with so much drama that they seem like burdens. And to escape these burdens we turn to humor and to cheesy jokes, only adding the burden of life that we can only laugh about it if we call that "irreverent" and tsk-tsk it into a tidy corner after our little fun.

In this book, however, our escapist jokes are taken and fondly deconstructed, leaving a study of philosophy both serious and with a touch of self-deprecation. The authors plainly know that it's easy to get bogged down by such things and so they make it light, keeping the realization that these are the most important questions to ask in overtones masquerading as undertones. It's a delightful read; informative if you take it seriously, freeing if you take it as permission for a breath of fresh air.

Need a smile?

Gah! I am utterly slain by cuteness...