I don’t “geek” out too often, but seeing as how the Lord of the Rings trilogy is one of my all-time favorite stories, I couldn’t help but be a little overwhelmed with excitement when I stumbled across this video. What’s even more interesting though was Peter Jackson’s thorough explanation into how modern 3D techniques work and are applied live on set. If you’ve ever asked yourself, “how do they do that?” then you should definitely give this a look.
I have commented before on my great love for all things Halloween, in particular scary movies. However one thing that’s been growing in popularity is the trend of outdoor lights but for Halloween.
“If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes.”
I’ve found that even over my short time, when you get away from what you do best, what you did best begins to get worse.
Been feeling stressed lately about your job, your finances, or the world in general? Feeling like it’s all uniting under one banner and the banner reads “The World vs. (insert name here)”? Don’t panic my friends, Wiki-how to is here for you with sage advice.
How to Cope With Frustration
I’ve grown up hearing the phrase “all good things must come to an end” many times throughout my life and in many applications. While I will admit in most any case I have seen this to be true most times, there’s still the immature, argumentative, little boy in me that wants to disagree. I realize that accepting this statement as a truth has probably saved me much unnecessary heartache and pain, and likely contributed to my mostly even-keel, go-with-the-flow attitude as well. But still, I have my moments where I would rather just believe anything is possible.
I think that’s one of the things I enjoy the most about watching sports too. The good times don’t have to stop rolling, as long as your willing to work hard, work smart, and work together. The 1972 Miami Dolphins can attest to that. Right now my two favorite teams (Florida Gators, Indianapolis Colts) are still undefeated at 5-0, and while the “realistic” side of me still knows, there’s a lot of football left for the season. The hopeful, youthful side of me doesn’t care and wants to see them both go undefeated, all the way to their respective championships. “All good things must come to an end”, but it doesn’t mean it all has to end right away. Hopefully they won’t end any time soon!
Back in the days of early youth ministry the church didn’t have all the cool technology to create the kind of cutting edge media and entertainment it can now a days. So when many of us more experienced youth workers first started in the game, we had to be rather innovative in our use of media in pursuit of cultural relevance. Which brings me to example A, “The SNL Simon Spoof”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCoDvLpD9Kw]
You might be asking yourself, “whats wrong with this lad?” or “Did you eat paint chips as a kid?” Well in answer to your question, no. I simply am just a willing soul sold out for Jesus! I’m also quite certain many of you who know me now will not recognize me in this video for a couple reasons, one of which is my slightly slimmer physique, and the other being my absolutely gorgeous “Kennedy” like hair! Oh Kennedy hair… how I miss you. 
Thanks to Ben for posting this for the entire world to see. They may be a bit nauseous by the end of it with all the male nudity and politically incorrect humor and stereotypes, but at least they’ll know the story of when Jesus calmed the seas!
I hate speed bumps. I see the need and functionality, but I still can’t stand them nonetheless. Especially as a person owning a vehicle that doesn’t take bumps in the road very kindly. When I moved to Phoenix it seemed like I was seeing them EVERYWHERE! I know some of you fellow Arizonans are former mid-westerners, so is it really just me? Or are there really an unnecessary amount of speed bumps littered throughout the valley like trash on a roadside?
I ran across an article though yesterday in the USA Today and it got me excited! “Smart” bumps that recess into the road as long as your speed is appropriate. What a novel idea! Rewarding people for doing the right thing! Sounds to simple and good to be true, but it is! Anyways if you’re anything like me, you’ll find this article promising of better and smoother days to come on roads yet traveled!
****Update****
A friend from work read my post this morning and immediately thought of this video and how I would enjoy it. Thanks Sergio, or as we say in the motherland… Danke.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BVfd6DIPYj8]
I had a free evening while my wife was out with friends so I decided to head over to my local video store to see what I could find. It finally dawned on me as I looked around the store and noticed movies were arranged in unusual categories such as “humans as food”, “furry creatures”, and “Ghosts and ghouls”, that its officially October. One of my favorite loves about October, more than candy, costumes, or pumpkins and corn mazes, I love it most of all for the available plethora of scary movies.
I love a great scary movie because more than any other style of movie, I feel they give you what your paying for the most, an experience! Nothing makes your adrenaline pump more, your blood boil in fear, than a great scary movie. A comedy may give you a line to quote with buddies but a great scary movie gives you a reason never to go into a dark woods again. . .EVER!
As I perused the choices upon the shelves like fruits and vegetables in a market stand, I stumbled across the one movie that scared me more than any other when I was a youth. The Blair Witch Project. Looking back now, we all likely know the story of the hoax, the incredibly low budget upon which is was produced, and it’s enormous financial success in the box office. At the time though, it was intense, gritty, groundbreaking, and most of all it was the birthplace of fear for me. Any wilderness goer can tell you there’s likely no greater fear than being lost in a woods, but to add haunted tales, creepy sounds, and voodoo like stick-men that appear out of no where, and you have yourself a real, 2 change of shorts flick.
Needless to say I picked it up, and of course it’s different watching it now, for the second time, a good 10 years later. But I love the fact that despite my knowing what happens, and knowing how it ends, that it still managed to evoke the same emotions, raise the same hairs, and inflict a glimmer of the original fear. Fear is more than an emotion, it’s a memory, and you never forget it. So in spirit of fear, and the month in honor of it (October), I am interested to know, what was the birthplace of your fear? Was it a movie, possibly a haunted house, or even a scary moment of your own? Share your story, that is, if you’re not afraid! 
There are few things that I anticipate more than the coming release of new movie, or the continuation of one. Stories have been one of the most powerful forms of entertainment for thousands of years, and as a creative design aficionado, the evolution of story to film has been one of my favorite modern advances of all time. (Along with a few others of course..) All that being said, I am extremely excited about the upcoming release of the continuing story about two Irish immigrant brothers from Boston, lovingly known as “The Boondock Saints“. Boondock Saints: All Saints Day, will pick up a few years later, and appears to feature the same action, edgy drama and film style, and of course the same Irish charm as the first. One can only hope too for a possible appearance of the flamboyant Agent Smecker. It looks like the German side of me will have to put Oktoberfest on hold this year, cause Irish in me will be coming out in late October. Look out Boston, The Saints are coming!!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7g1I3JvN0UA]
