So as my father-in-law and I have been renovating our new house and changing the face of everything inside, I have found myself thinking how cool it would have been to have a video time-lapse or stop motion reel of all the work being done and the changes taking place over the span of maybe 3-4 minutes. I don’t know why but I love stop motion video. I think maybe because its my favorite style of filming that I will never have the patience to actually do myself. I would love to, but probably won’t. Anyways, in an effort to satisfy my desires I watch a lot stop motion on YouTube. Here are 2 of the coolest examples I have seen in quite some time.
The first comes compliments of a random blog I found. It’s a stop motion compilation of a tattoo being done of a camera on someones arm. The music is awesome (Helen of Troy- telefon tel aviv … if you like it), and the art is incredible! I would love to have this artist do a free style project for me sometime.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9osD__YB8QE]
The Second comes from everyone’s favorite British pop band Coldplay. There new video for the single “Strawberry Swing” is an iconic example of what can be done with stop motion animation. The added features of perspective and visual deception makes it even more fantastic. And also lets not forget, the music is pretty decent too which helps any video project!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYtk1Z0UUuE&feature=fvst]
Well it’s now fully official, Aimee and I have purchased our first home! We were so excited Monday when we received the keys from our fantastic Realtor, Michelle Jernigan. She did a great job in being patient with us, and helping us find a home that met our needs and even a bit more, instead of getting us into something that was beyond our means which happens sometimes unfortunately.
Now the heavy lifting begins so to speak though as we begin to make renovations, and improvements to prepare it for the transformation from a house into a home! It’s exciting to be in a home finally and have something to invest my man-skills in, and hopefully my work goes as smoothly as it does on This Old House, and not end up a DIY disaster! Anyways, that’s about it for now, there will be more to follow soon as we get work done and progress is made! For now enjoy the picture stream below of our new house as it stood at purchase!
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!
Stockholm syndrome is a psychological response sometimes seen in abducted hostages, in which the hostage shows signs of loyalty to the hostage-taker, regardless of the danger or risk in which they have been placed. Taken from Wikipedia.com
Derek Webb has been an artist on the run from the christian music norm for years now. With songs like wedding dress, mocking bird, and this too shall be made right, Webb has been pushing the boundaries of christian comfort further and further away for his listeners. Stockholm syndrome continues with Webb’s patented style of delivering lyrical messages that can cut to the flesh of your heart, and wrapping it all up in a musical shell that is distinctly original, and distinctly Derek.
One of the things that I have come to appreciate the most about Webb’s music in my life is the way his message reaches into me and pulls out the things that hold me back, that have held my heart captive. I’ve personally always found his music freeing to my spirit which I think is why this album was so brilliantly and aptly named. I think Derek saw the common thread amongst most believers that they often disagree with what their heart wants and what there words say. People are finding themselves held captive with their lives by the tragedies that have fallen upon their hearts for so long now, that they no longer see what’s right, and have began to identify with their captor (sin and tragedy) instead. This is epidemic is ravaging the church in America, and while I wish it could be taken on by the efforts of one man, it will eventually require the efforts of us all, if we ever desire to see our church’s heart set free on a world in need of grace and compassion.
Overall I love the album. It’s inventive, original sound will grow on you, and the lyrics are sure to cut straight to the chase with you. And in the end you’ll hopefully find yourself as I have, being hopelessly drawn to its message and more inspired to free the hearts of friends all around you.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi27OZ_8VFI&feature=player_embedded]
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! 
The Weekend Weather forecast for Gilbert, Arizona
I’m beginning to learn there are typically an upside and a downside to everything. It seems you can’t ever have everything go your way without losing a few things here and there. That being said I have also learned to way the cost analysis of life situations out better lately to determine whether the payoff is worth it or not. An obvious example I get asked about a lot is… “Is it worth the heat to live in AZ year around?” My answer is always, “9 months out of the year, yes it is.” 3 months of miserable heat for 9 of 70′s in the day and 50′s at night.
One example from my life recently would include home ownership (huge cost initially + lots more responsibilities and risks + pride of home ownership + satisfaction of knowing its a result of my hard work + being able to accommodate for a family someday= worth it). I am also learning there’s going to be decisions in life that have to be made regardless of the payoff (or lack there of) too. Work is currently such an example (2 jobs a day + 5am mornings and 630 nights + stress and lowering physical health + a serious pay cut compared to last year despite having 2 jobs= not worth it).
I have a wise friend (and even cooler supervisor) named Sandi who I’ve heard say several times that in a good marriage, the goal isn’t perfection, it’s that the good times will ultimately outweigh the bad. I like to believe that it’s the same really for life. Bad times will come and so will good ones, but ultimately if I can come to the end of my life and see that the payoff for the sum of my life experiences outweighs the costs, I’ll be satisfied.
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]