Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Monday, June 28, 2004
'Finally, he spoke up. He seemed to be having his own internal conversation: "Besides, the whole notion of authority as so many people conceive it is thoroughly modern." Now, I must have looked even more confused, because Neo gently hit me on the shoulder, smiled, and winked. "Relax, Dan, I'm only saying what the Bible says. That oft-quoted passage in Second Timothy doesn't say, 'All Scripture is inspired by God and is authoritative.' It says that Scripture is inspired and useful--useful to teach, rebuke, correct, instruct us to live justly, and equip us for our mission as the people of God. That's a very different job description than we moderns want to give it. We want it to be God's encyclopedia, God's rule book, God's answer book, God's scientific text, God's easy-steps instruction book, God's little book of moral for all occasions. The only people in Jesus' day who would have had anything close to these expectations of the Bible would have been the scribes and Pharisees. Right?"
'All I could say was, "Wait a minute. Wait a minute." Then I said, "What--do you want me to throw out the Bible, then?" Neo said, "Daniel, Daniel, a little defensive, aren't you? I never said anythiung like that. I think that when you let go of the Bible as God's answer book, you get it back as something so much better."
Passage from A New Kind of Christian, by Brian D. McLaren. Brian is a 1982 graduate of Baylor University.
This passage has got me a little messed up, to be sure. Because the "Neo" character is so obviously right: by using the Bible as a hard and fast rulebook and smacking people in the face with it when we find them to be wrong, we are very clearly being modern-day Pharisees. Just like them, we've lost the point of why God even wastes any time on us to begin with and we're just out to make sure everybody is playing by the rules.
I need to ponder this further. While I'm sure that to anybody outside of Christianity this is something that's blatantly obvious, it hits me like a smack in the face.
Listening to: Nu Thang by dcTalk (always good for a laugh)
'All I could say was, "Wait a minute. Wait a minute." Then I said, "What--do you want me to throw out the Bible, then?" Neo said, "Daniel, Daniel, a little defensive, aren't you? I never said anythiung like that. I think that when you let go of the Bible as God's answer book, you get it back as something so much better."
Passage from A New Kind of Christian, by Brian D. McLaren. Brian is a 1982 graduate of Baylor University.
This passage has got me a little messed up, to be sure. Because the "Neo" character is so obviously right: by using the Bible as a hard and fast rulebook and smacking people in the face with it when we find them to be wrong, we are very clearly being modern-day Pharisees. Just like them, we've lost the point of why God even wastes any time on us to begin with and we're just out to make sure everybody is playing by the rules.
I need to ponder this further. While I'm sure that to anybody outside of Christianity this is something that's blatantly obvious, it hits me like a smack in the face.
Listening to: Nu Thang by dcTalk (always good for a laugh)
First off, two things:
1) Air conditioning never felt so good, and
2) I am horrendously out of shape.
I just ran the Bear Trail... or rather, I ran about four hundred yards of the Bear Trail and walked the other two miles or so. I stepped out of my apartment, started running towards the new science building, and I made it about to the bridge on University Parks (next to the marina) before I just petered out. I had nothing left, and I had only gone probably a quarter of a mile. And to think I used to be a distance runner. I walked the rest of the way, which I suppose is an okay workout, but I don't think my sides are going to get any less squishy until I'm able to run at least half of the trail. Ah, well, I guess I'll keep working on it.
On an entirely different note, I have enabled comments on my blog. I used to have these disabled because at the time I felt that it might be better if I didn't know who was reading these things. But now I'm kind of curious to see if anybody even reads them at all. So if you're reading this entry, feel free to leave me a comment and laugh at me for my out-of-shapeness. And if I'm just typing to myself, then I should pay very close attention to this next statement. Am I ready? I'd better be. Here it goes:
Get a grip. You're typing to yourself, man.
Listening to: Trust in Me by Katy Hudson (note: not Kate Hudson)
1) Air conditioning never felt so good, and
2) I am horrendously out of shape.
I just ran the Bear Trail... or rather, I ran about four hundred yards of the Bear Trail and walked the other two miles or so. I stepped out of my apartment, started running towards the new science building, and I made it about to the bridge on University Parks (next to the marina) before I just petered out. I had nothing left, and I had only gone probably a quarter of a mile. And to think I used to be a distance runner. I walked the rest of the way, which I suppose is an okay workout, but I don't think my sides are going to get any less squishy until I'm able to run at least half of the trail. Ah, well, I guess I'll keep working on it.
On an entirely different note, I have enabled comments on my blog. I used to have these disabled because at the time I felt that it might be better if I didn't know who was reading these things. But now I'm kind of curious to see if anybody even reads them at all. So if you're reading this entry, feel free to leave me a comment and laugh at me for my out-of-shapeness. And if I'm just typing to myself, then I should pay very close attention to this next statement. Am I ready? I'd better be. Here it goes:
Get a grip. You're typing to yourself, man.
Listening to: Trust in Me by Katy Hudson (note: not Kate Hudson)
Sunday, June 27, 2004
Okay, last post today, I was just pointed to this site and found it to be quite cool:
GIF2TXT
Using this site, I turned this image:
Into this:
I realize it's not exactly the most practical thing ever... but it's neat. So have at it.
Listening to: Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul, & Mary (seriously)
GIF2TXT
Using this site, I turned this image:
Into this: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GUZQ3FY12B22MPED6PL98F5ZPXRLR2TZVVKTR17WARJ3FU53W3AIHSH86PXA2GQOU2RYY7
5GWU8WA0BBIYEP3WE436BWE1MK4IPPJEXP50MNUPZQP7Q6Z1HLM3QE073PML7MYE0LS5AO
HQSEQO1CIYHQ6N82GWDRMEBQQ6G10ZMPYZLTT27MP7KNPTI5NZMQWKK999JKTAFUDJQXAU
I1GDXSMHZ38625PIYCMH5N5H69MJYUIXL4RXFLRFAVR7ZKU6OY5AFL5S6F3L2B8NTZOPXI
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HVRQF279NZ5H6EIY7WSRZHFECY3JHLWU2D58W2SSWCXF1ASEHS6K8X67IYC4JSBXK43NS3
7U2UTNH712V1WIKBDBA17OW07906WL4L2B4WWIBC92BKZUFVF4MJG0RSWOUES28PGZYGP2
HUIJ39IXOW8PXYJLCKV3W5F1L3T760QHADSXMJPW9EP464OH9ARLZ5FB37Y8PV6IFN2L8R
3OBOSFZ20FS9GNAFPVPKKP7KIJCNT91R4OGS7BR1465SFN8JS9NHSUHYI5N24DCZL39BE6
XI46H98RAPDLCT8F71W3P0SNDSSRZNC82CP2N32T5LAI66331OKK456MMIAERMISBTWV7W
FRVLZWMWPT3ZE3PCAZIKFPJTOHQSUUUL33HYMF3Z80FHMU36D5DARRU60ZLX5YXV3QFH8Z
RFPVBCU9ZHOQ2WOB9BWFWUA9WGWZITVRNH957WI91KV0V3B3LV0BXFSQGQOYOJNA9IR8LG
7U69NEUWTFTU9BN25WJAV0EUQ9PSKQQG40W2X5P4EMR2UCH0O8GNMMRVD6BONBYVLENR8H
XV5PK99LTP72H1PH4RTRRVV0YWT2I8NGF0H1OIC0T6GBRE8SK697K5RVVVG0OU28NCBZZE
DF2IJYK4WR4UMC9XAY3KJPDZTS301S988CK7UZXIXKCDEEWG4RWQ6MP0T66EYEL7CHBUB9
QOLDUWDT5WYZYZSPKMYEKEUJHO1IHF0XXXJNHLHRS0BSFRUOXEWJ18PER2G252XOH7IS0B
BGOJI77V6EVYKMM9M1Z7XRHKBD8K0YQIUBICU5J44164HX7X7C193CO35WKLB5GD2ZHD5Q
Y9VGGRZPK8P7VU326N730CCNIUH326MUF9P30RLIZKRVM0SZP5ZXQX2F13LTS9RATVM9AE
W0ZW49V74PLTKURIM9F0FGV2WATDO2X7Q9PJR94C6VW48D451NWWWI2WG5VTUEEUQGS5XE
PNS7ZJYTY1LA78CT568KQ7ET5QGC95R3JLI8IKO7CHTLUTJGTT452F1FSPR0HRQIMT6J6A
HI5D6RTQEC65TGJ1FL98H3Y9M2EU4VZLGSFCEN8UWXJHD6YLET6STRTLGAG7OJXYMU7GFC
O7F81K3033R7DSRVRKUEGVFSAJJWIHXQUNZB7NTMFXOAGN5YCGEGGBPLM3LFUVOEFN6WLA
G9FWIEHF0GPSE0830115KA2ABS3BEIK0IGZMEBTMEHQULBYODJ8YK2FIYLNCXOMEDBC6FI
1CHFK9F942YL2U2EBEBDIKOP77G5176SXX3HRE7LQGFYJ3LSX2MI12GN51SGGX5CPXS5NR
MYKVJUEEJ9SPWDI3LFDTR7GUE7A53551HE0XLEGXEN679NQK1PBTFQHIAALJ9M4JKEM501
I realize it's not exactly the most practical thing ever... but it's neat. So have at it.
Listening to: Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul, & Mary (seriously)
There we go.
If you miss the old design, you can always give it a visit at blog.johnmcarmack.com/tedeum, but since this is the new layout none of the new posts will be published to the old folder.
As to the new name... well, I don't know. I just started typing stuff, and at the time "Hamster Feet" sounded funny.
If you miss the old design, you can always give it a visit at blog.johnmcarmack.com/tedeum, but since this is the new layout none of the new posts will be published to the old folder.
As to the new name... well, I don't know. I just started typing stuff, and at the time "Hamster Feet" sounded funny.
Friday, June 18, 2004
Apparently, over the past two weeks MCC has been doing what they call the "School of Rock," a summer camp kind of thing where they have kids aged 13-18 who play instruments and/or sing come together and form a bunch of bands. It's a really cool idea, actually. But anyway, their concert was tonight and my voice teacher's daughter was the singer for one of the bands, so I went to see what all the hullabaloo was about.
It was... interesting.
The first band had out was really good--especially considering that they had only been together for about two weeks. It was a shame they went first, because they got a little gypped (sp?) by the sound guy; they played their first song (You Really Got Me) just fine, but you couldn't hear the rhythm guitar or lead singer for crap. (side note: I like writing these because I can say things like "can't [blank] for crap" and nobody's going to "red-pen" me) Once they got past the obligatory song and got to play the original song they had put together in their two weeks, they really did manage to rock. It wasn't like a Five Iron show or anything, mind you, but for junior high/high schoolers, they were pretty tight. The drummer was CRAZY good... awesome fills, syncopation like mad, and he never, ever ever ever rushed the beat. Beautiful. They had a little black kid on saxophone, too, and I was seriously impressed by him as well.
The second band... well, they weren't quite as impressive. The instrumentalists were just fine, but the singer was a bit tone-deaf. Ozzie Ozbourne's Crazy Train will never be the same for me.
Third band: Not bad, but not memorable... this was just a few hours ago and already I can't remember what songs they did.
Fourth band (Cameron's band): Hilarious group of guys, plus Cameron the twelve year old girl. Cameron was a little nervous for their first song, The Darkness' I Believe in a Thing Called Love, and so she sang most of the song a third too high. Their second song was solid, though. Christian overtones to the lyrics, which I enjoy, really nifty acoustic guitar stuff. I'm going to have to see if I can get ahold of a recording just so I can remember how some of their stuff went.
Also, I taught my first guitar lesson today. I relied heavily on resources from CyberFret, so if you're looking to learn then I recommend you go there and click on the "First Fret" link in the nav menu. Thank you, Mandie and Kathryn for being my first students; my apologies to both of you for having to wait for me while I learn how to teach.
Goodnight.
It was... interesting.
The first band had out was really good--especially considering that they had only been together for about two weeks. It was a shame they went first, because they got a little gypped (sp?) by the sound guy; they played their first song (You Really Got Me) just fine, but you couldn't hear the rhythm guitar or lead singer for crap. (side note: I like writing these because I can say things like "can't [blank] for crap" and nobody's going to "red-pen" me) Once they got past the obligatory song and got to play the original song they had put together in their two weeks, they really did manage to rock. It wasn't like a Five Iron show or anything, mind you, but for junior high/high schoolers, they were pretty tight. The drummer was CRAZY good... awesome fills, syncopation like mad, and he never, ever ever ever rushed the beat. Beautiful. They had a little black kid on saxophone, too, and I was seriously impressed by him as well.
The second band... well, they weren't quite as impressive. The instrumentalists were just fine, but the singer was a bit tone-deaf. Ozzie Ozbourne's Crazy Train will never be the same for me.
Third band: Not bad, but not memorable... this was just a few hours ago and already I can't remember what songs they did.
Fourth band (Cameron's band): Hilarious group of guys, plus Cameron the twelve year old girl. Cameron was a little nervous for their first song, The Darkness' I Believe in a Thing Called Love, and so she sang most of the song a third too high. Their second song was solid, though. Christian overtones to the lyrics, which I enjoy, really nifty acoustic guitar stuff. I'm going to have to see if I can get ahold of a recording just so I can remember how some of their stuff went.
Also, I taught my first guitar lesson today. I relied heavily on resources from CyberFret, so if you're looking to learn then I recommend you go there and click on the "First Fret" link in the nav menu. Thank you, Mandie and Kathryn for being my first students; my apologies to both of you for having to wait for me while I learn how to teach.
Goodnight.
Wednesday, June 16, 2004
Summer school... is awesome.
I know people like to complain about school, and I've been that guy more than my fair share of times, but summer school is just so different you can't even compare it. The teachers are more laid back, the classes are smaller, and you can actually have a good time while you're in class. Bloody brilliant. Sure, there's more homework, but there's also plenty of time to do it. I mean, what else are you going to do? It's not like I'm taking a road trip in between classes, so I can sit down and work on my classes and nothing else.
Problem is, I'm going to get used to having three hours a day to do homework for one class. Come fall, when I'm doing marching band and carrying all of my music major hours, it's going to be some rough going.
Keep on keepin' on.
Listening to If I Had $1,000,000 by the Barenaked Ladies.
I know people like to complain about school, and I've been that guy more than my fair share of times, but summer school is just so different you can't even compare it. The teachers are more laid back, the classes are smaller, and you can actually have a good time while you're in class. Bloody brilliant. Sure, there's more homework, but there's also plenty of time to do it. I mean, what else are you going to do? It's not like I'm taking a road trip in between classes, so I can sit down and work on my classes and nothing else.
Problem is, I'm going to get used to having three hours a day to do homework for one class. Come fall, when I'm doing marching band and carrying all of my music major hours, it's going to be some rough going.
Keep on keepin' on.
Listening to If I Had $1,000,000 by the Barenaked Ladies.
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