the power of art

I just heard an interesting program on Fox News. They were chatting with a guy who came back from Iraq, and were asking him questions about how the media portrays what's happening there. He said nothing that he experienced in Iraq caused him as much distress as seeing how the media is presenting the war.

The conversation moved on to two photos that ran in newspapers today (I think the NY Times was one), and they connected the fact that many of the photos being used by major news organizations are from the same guy. The photographer recently graduated from Boston College, and now works for a French news organization. The conversation then moved on to how these photos are helping us shape our perspective of the war, and how it is in conflict with what many soldiers are actually experiencing. Of course the assertion was made that France being anti war, and many of the photos coming from a photographer working in France seemed to be connected.

After hearing this, I was tempted to email the Army and have them send their own team of photographers to shoot things from their perspective so we could have another view of what is happening. It's amazing how powerfully images can be used as propaganda and effectively shape our opinions of the war.

So then, be careful little pens/brushes/cameras what you draw/paint/shoot.

Dangly Thing & Onyxia

Mike is coming up to join us tonight to defeat-vanquish Onyxia! I'm looking forward to it. Should be good times.

Chaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarlie! Candy Mountain, Charlie!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPONTneuaF4&eurl=

You guys should watch this.

Huh?

When can you guys come down and experience the wonder that is my place? Next tuesday? Some other day? My place itself is sort of awkward, but we can play the cards over at the graduate lounge, or smoke our pipes, or... you know... stuff.

This is less of a blog than it is a chatroom.

THIS CLASS SUCKS!

God vs. Drugs

I have a sinus infection. I have missed three days of work over the last week because of it (which isn't normal for me by any stretch). I returned today and found that there were some projects I needed to catch up on. I emailed someone back and apologized for my delay in getting stuff to print and all that, and explained that I had been feeling under the weather. She responded with "may God heal you soon".

My first response was "thanks", but it just didn't feel right. Thinking through it, I began to think through what it is I trust in to heal me. Quite frankly, I know and trust without a shadow of a doubt that God is a healer. Not a priest/shaman/druid in WoW, but a real life healer. I truly believe that he is more than able to heal anyone of anything - including death. Scripture backs that up, and it is a huge part of his ministry.

With my particular condition however, I don't feel that I am "relying" on God to supernaturally heal me. I am relying on the medicine that the doctor prescribed. Even in writing this my perspective has shifted a bit from its original intent. I hate when people make things overly spiritual, and beyond distaste for it, I think its problematic. If a parking spot opens up in front, it isn't a sign from God that you should be at the mall. It's a sign that someone is leaving the mall, thus creating an open parking spot.

I guess more than anything, it raised a question in my mind. If, for example, we are taking medicine, should we still pray for healing? Is it OK to "depend" on medicine? Don't get me wrong here, I'm not trying to get all Christian Scientist on ya, I'm just curious as to wear the healthy balance is. Thoughts?

Got a Wii

Amy and I camped out yesterday morning and finally brought our baby home. It's a beautiful new Wii.

Schooled

Frank and Amy and Justin schooled Matt, Ian and me last night at WoW: TCG. Amy was a priest, Frank was a Rogue, Justin was a Poet-Demi-God, Matt was a Priest, Ian was a Warrior, and I was a Warlock.

Amy and Frank first destroyed Matt, then killed me, then finished off Ian. They also went down with little or no damage to themselves. Amy had like 20 allies out, too.

It was fun. I really want revenge.

A new years toast

A toast to where we girls was born.

Justin

I am going through some of my old stuff and found this ever emotional photo of Justin. Let us all weep in unified emotionality.

So

I disappear for a few months, and everything goes all to wii. But don't fear - I've been smoking my pipe and thinking of you all, with warm and special thoughts. Hope that the Christmas Dragon is eating your internal organs slowly, with utmost yuletide joy.

Head crab HAT!

This is flippin' hilariously perfect:

Matt is going to the dark side

Not only is he considering reducing his WoW time, he's contemplating an Xbox 360. A Microsoft product. Over a Nintendo product!

I think this is pretty clear evidence that Matt has been replaced with a cyborg who didn't do his homework.

Since you've been gone

Helmet, since you've been gone, the following has happened to me:

-I tore the flexor tendon off my left ring finger
-I had surgery to repair it
-my grandfather died
-we had his memorial service
-I auditioned for a part in a play
-I got a part in a play
-I proposed to Amy
-She said yes
-I got my cast off

You need to come hang with us, or tell us if we need to pray for you, and I say this in all earnestness. We love you and want to know how you're doing.

Bah!

Oh you've got to be kidding me. I just wrote a long blog entry and it got pwned by pop-up blocker. :( here goes again.

http://www.beforethemusicdies.com/blog/about-the-film

I found this film to be very interesting on two levels, the first being it's content. It looks at the over production of music and how the fact that there are a few major record companies that control so much. The question they explore is simple: does this prevent musical creativity. Capitalism really exploits the concept that selling something doesn't require quality. I even run into that at church. The consumer (congregation in my case) really drives the message. If there is a significant need in the community, but there aren't many volunteers who are interested in it, the ministry won't start or be sustained. The issue with this is obvious I would hope. We should be establishing what things are right and good. Just because people don't "like" doing it doesn't mean it shouldn't be done. A lot of these concepts are similar to what we discuss when looking at Art vs. Graphic Design. Design is about selling things. Often in order to capitalize on a situation, we are forced to compromise what we think to be right or quality because it doesn't reach the target audience. Logically it makes sense, but it just doesn't feel wise.

The second thing I was interested by was the way they chose to promote the film. Its an exact copy of the strategy used for the "Invisible Children" film. All online promotion with "viewing parties". Makes the view feel like they are part of something underground an important. This film added advertising on XM radio though, which adds to that sense of being exclusive. Yet another touch of the previous paragraph... make the consumer feel something special and you will benefit. Interesting stuff.. to me.

Helmet:

You better come over when one of us finally gets a Wii, at least.

Helmet I am

Helmet, I am, and lost
amid ranks and ranks of such and such
frittering away my life
to dull and unimpassioned
wars.

Helmet, I am, thick skulled
and mute - discipling young brutes
to walk in the awkward ways
of me and mine.

Helmet, I am?
I do not know.
This helmet stretches farther
than a helmet ought to go.

Boh.
Bank.
Bouch.

O' Helmet, Where Art Thou?

Justin, we miss ye. How are ye? I hope ye're well.

Have a Merry Christmas...

in hell.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15717485/

ah... love

http://www.theonion.com/content/node/47492

This class really does suck

And by class, I mean myself.
Haven't seen you guys in awhile - how is everything?

I probably won't make it tomorrow, but maybe next Tuesday.
WoW - I'm a noob, huh...