Michelle was admitted to the hospital earlier today, due to acute pain in her abdomen. Originally, the doctor thought she was having contractions, but now has ruled that out. The doctor now thinks it may be appendicitis, and we are currently awaiting blood work results and a surgeon's consultation.
The good news is that whatever the problem is, it is NOT related to the baby. That is the best we could have hoped for.
So, please keep us in your prayers.
I will try to make occasional updates here; If that is not good enough, then call the cell @ 901-569-6868.
Peace,
Chris
Friday, February 09, 2007
Oh boy. The last couple of days have been event-filled, to say the least. First, the important stuff, then the funny stuff.
Wednesdy night, Michelle started having some pains that she thought felt like contractions. she was in a lot of pain, and did not rest well. When she got up Thursday morning, she was still in pain, and having the contractions. So, we went to the hospital. She got poked, prodded, and looked at in almost every conceivable way, and was miserable. We were quite worried for a while that we would lose the bay right there. I was not prepared for that possibility, and tried to keep my wits about me. The only thing I could do to keep my mind off it was to inspect the hospital room's houskeeping. It sort of comes naturally, since that is what I did when I worked in Houston. Anyway, I was driving Michelle nuts, so I decided to go across the street to the Apple retail store. More on that in a minute. The verdict with Michelle is that she is now on bed rest, until at least Monday when we go back to the doctor. I am serving her every need, as best I can. Although at this instant, I am at school, supposedly writing either of two papers that I need to do. One of them is almost finished, so that's cool. The other, I have not started.
So, anyway, the funny stuff. When I got my Apple iBook a couple of years ago, one of the first things I noticed was that documents are stored in quite a different way than with Windows machines. It was some time later that I realized I had been storing my documents in two places at the same time, wasting hard drive space. I straightened out the way the iBook saves documents, and decided to clean up the multiples at a future time. Which never came, until Tuesday. As time has gone by, hard drive space has become more and more limited. In fact, my hard drive was completely full, until I pared some music off of it. That freed up a few gigs, but I figured if I cleaned up those multiple documents, I would free up another gig or so. So, Tuesday, I finally decided to do that. Except that I made one mistake. When I did deleted all of the "Documents" folder, I did not realize that ALL of my music was in there. Pictures, too. Videos, as well. The pictures and videos, and some of the music, I had backed up onto Michelle's Gateway, so that was no big deal. But the vast majority (90% or so) was lost. Except, that it was still on the iPod. Cool.
So, now all I had to do was figure out how to get the music from the iPod to the iBook. This is where the trip to the Apple store comes in. Thursday morning, before Michelle got up, I had been trying to get the two computers to see each other on our network, so that I could move the stuff that was on hers, back to mine. But, I could not get them to work together. So, I scheduled an appointment at 10:00 at the Apple store's Genius Bar for some help. Then Michelle got up complaining of pain. A little before 10, we were still waiting for the doctor to come, so that is when I decided to go across the street to the store. The guy there helped me a little, but when I got back home I could not duplicate what he had done. I spoke with my brother Steve, who is more familiar with my router than I am, but we could not figure out what the problem was. At least, we think it was in the router, because I had been able to move documents around in the past, before he broke my old router and I got a new one (different brand). So, I still had no solution.
For those who do not know, let me explain how iPods work. Each iPod can be synched to one computer, and one computer only. When an iPod is synched to a computer, anytime the two are connected, any changes or updates made on the iPod, or the computer's iTunes, is reflected on the other unit. So, at this point I had an iPod with music, and my iTunes was empty. Since the iTunes had been completely erased, it no longer saw the iPod as its mate. The iPod thought it was synched to a different computer. If I had synched the two at this point, that would have erased all the music off the iPod. That is not what I wanted.
So, I poked around online and found a third party application for doing things such as this. So, after downloading and installing the application, I decided to give it a try. So, I moved all the stuff from the iPod onto the iBook. Then, I needed to synch the two, which required that delete the entire contents of the iPod, which was a scary situation. But, I forged ahead and did that. Then, I synched the two, which took several hours. So, while I was in class that night, I tried not to think about my sick Michelle, or my sick iTunes...LOL. When I got home, Michelle was a little (just a little) better, and my iPod and iTunes had all my music. Except for my Beatles stuff. I have no idea where that went. I will just have to re-burn those CDs. No biggie. That was crazy. Anyway, deleting all those documents freed up a ton of space, and I now have just over 8 gigs of empty space. It may be time to buy some more music...LOL.
So, Michelle and I have been trying not to stress too much. Although, we would sure appreciate your prayers. I think her mom might come down next weekend to help out around the house. That will be nice.
I start preaching at Lebanon Church in Potts Camp, Mississippi this Sunday. I hope that goes well. I have most of my sermon completed, so that is a good feeling.
I also posted some of my pictures from Israel on Facebook this morning, so if you would like to see them, they are available.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Wednesdy night, Michelle started having some pains that she thought felt like contractions. she was in a lot of pain, and did not rest well. When she got up Thursday morning, she was still in pain, and having the contractions. So, we went to the hospital. She got poked, prodded, and looked at in almost every conceivable way, and was miserable. We were quite worried for a while that we would lose the bay right there. I was not prepared for that possibility, and tried to keep my wits about me. The only thing I could do to keep my mind off it was to inspect the hospital room's houskeeping. It sort of comes naturally, since that is what I did when I worked in Houston. Anyway, I was driving Michelle nuts, so I decided to go across the street to the Apple retail store. More on that in a minute. The verdict with Michelle is that she is now on bed rest, until at least Monday when we go back to the doctor. I am serving her every need, as best I can. Although at this instant, I am at school, supposedly writing either of two papers that I need to do. One of them is almost finished, so that's cool. The other, I have not started.
So, anyway, the funny stuff. When I got my Apple iBook a couple of years ago, one of the first things I noticed was that documents are stored in quite a different way than with Windows machines. It was some time later that I realized I had been storing my documents in two places at the same time, wasting hard drive space. I straightened out the way the iBook saves documents, and decided to clean up the multiples at a future time. Which never came, until Tuesday. As time has gone by, hard drive space has become more and more limited. In fact, my hard drive was completely full, until I pared some music off of it. That freed up a few gigs, but I figured if I cleaned up those multiple documents, I would free up another gig or so. So, Tuesday, I finally decided to do that. Except that I made one mistake. When I did deleted all of the "Documents" folder, I did not realize that ALL of my music was in there. Pictures, too. Videos, as well. The pictures and videos, and some of the music, I had backed up onto Michelle's Gateway, so that was no big deal. But the vast majority (90% or so) was lost. Except, that it was still on the iPod. Cool.
So, now all I had to do was figure out how to get the music from the iPod to the iBook. This is where the trip to the Apple store comes in. Thursday morning, before Michelle got up, I had been trying to get the two computers to see each other on our network, so that I could move the stuff that was on hers, back to mine. But, I could not get them to work together. So, I scheduled an appointment at 10:00 at the Apple store's Genius Bar for some help. Then Michelle got up complaining of pain. A little before 10, we were still waiting for the doctor to come, so that is when I decided to go across the street to the store. The guy there helped me a little, but when I got back home I could not duplicate what he had done. I spoke with my brother Steve, who is more familiar with my router than I am, but we could not figure out what the problem was. At least, we think it was in the router, because I had been able to move documents around in the past, before he broke my old router and I got a new one (different brand). So, I still had no solution.
For those who do not know, let me explain how iPods work. Each iPod can be synched to one computer, and one computer only. When an iPod is synched to a computer, anytime the two are connected, any changes or updates made on the iPod, or the computer's iTunes, is reflected on the other unit. So, at this point I had an iPod with music, and my iTunes was empty. Since the iTunes had been completely erased, it no longer saw the iPod as its mate. The iPod thought it was synched to a different computer. If I had synched the two at this point, that would have erased all the music off the iPod. That is not what I wanted.
So, I poked around online and found a third party application for doing things such as this. So, after downloading and installing the application, I decided to give it a try. So, I moved all the stuff from the iPod onto the iBook. Then, I needed to synch the two, which required that delete the entire contents of the iPod, which was a scary situation. But, I forged ahead and did that. Then, I synched the two, which took several hours. So, while I was in class that night, I tried not to think about my sick Michelle, or my sick iTunes...LOL. When I got home, Michelle was a little (just a little) better, and my iPod and iTunes had all my music. Except for my Beatles stuff. I have no idea where that went. I will just have to re-burn those CDs. No biggie. That was crazy. Anyway, deleting all those documents freed up a ton of space, and I now have just over 8 gigs of empty space. It may be time to buy some more music...LOL.
So, Michelle and I have been trying not to stress too much. Although, we would sure appreciate your prayers. I think her mom might come down next weekend to help out around the house. That will be nice.
I start preaching at Lebanon Church in Potts Camp, Mississippi this Sunday. I hope that goes well. I have most of my sermon completed, so that is a good feeling.
I also posted some of my pictures from Israel on Facebook this morning, so if you would like to see them, they are available.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Wednesday, February 07, 2007
Thoughts on Music
Steve Jobs
February 6, 2007
With the stunning global success of Apple’s iPod music player and iTunes online music store, some have called for Apple to “open” the digital rights management (DRM) system that Apple uses to protect its music against theft, so that music purchased from iTunes can be played on digital devices purchased from other companies, and protected music purchased from other online music stores can play on iPods. Let’s examine the current situation and how we got here, then look at three possible alternatives for the future.
To begin, it is useful to remember that all iPods play music that is free of any DRM and encoded in “open” licensable formats such as MP3 and AAC. iPod users can and do acquire their music from many sources, including CDs they own. Music on CDs can be easily imported into the freely-downloadable iTunes jukebox software which runs on both Macs and Windows PCs, and is automatically encoded into the open AAC or MP3 formats without any DRM. This music can be played on iPods or any other music players that play these open formats.
The rub comes from the music Apple sells on its online iTunes Store. Since Apple does not own or control any music itself, it must license the rights to distribute music from others, primarily the “big four” music companies: Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI. These four companies control the distribution of over 70% of the world’s music. When Apple approached these companies to license their music to distribute legally over the Internet, they were extremely cautious and required Apple to protect their music from being illegally copied. The solution was to create a DRM system, which envelopes each song purchased from the iTunes store in special and secret software so that it cannot be played on unauthorized devices.
Apple was able to negotiate landmark usage rights at the time, which include allowing users to play their DRM protected music on up to 5 computers and on an unlimited number of iPods. Obtaining such rights from the music companies was unprecedented at the time, and even today is unmatched by most other digital music services. However, a key provision of our agreements with the music companies is that if our DRM system is compromised and their music becomes playable on unauthorized devices, we have only a small number of weeks to fix the problem or they can withdraw their entire music catalog from our iTunes store.
To prevent illegal copies, DRM systems must allow only authorized devices to play the protected music. If a copy of a DRM protected song is posted on the Internet, it should not be able to play on a downloader’s computer or portable music device. To achieve this, a DRM system employs secrets. There is no theory of protecting content other than keeping secrets. In other words, even if one uses the most sophisticated cryptographic locks to protect the actual music, one must still “hide” the keys which unlock the music on the user’s computer or portable music player. No one has ever implemented a DRM system that does not depend on such secrets for its operation.
The problem, of course, is that there are many smart people in the world, some with a lot of time on their hands, who love to discover such secrets and publish a way for everyone to get free (and stolen) music. They are often successful in doing just that, so any company trying to protect content using a DRM must frequently update it with new and harder to discover secrets. It is a cat-and-mouse game. Apple’s DRM system is called FairPlay. While we have had a few breaches in FairPlay, we have been able to successfully repair them through updating the iTunes store software, the iTunes jukebox software and software in the iPods themselves. So far we have met our commitments to the music companies to protect their music, and we have given users the most liberal usage rights available in the industry for legally downloaded music.
With this background, let’s now explore three different alternatives for the future.
The first alternative is to continue on the current course, with each manufacturer competing freely with their own “top to bottom” proprietary systems for selling, playing and protecting music. It is a very competitive market, with major global companies making large investments to develop new music players and online music stores. Apple, Microsoft and Sony all compete with proprietary systems. Music purchased from Microsoft’s Zune store will only play on Zune players; music purchased from Sony’s Connect store will only play on Sony’s players; and music purchased from Apple’s iTunes store will only play on iPods. This is the current state of affairs in the industry, and customers are being well served with a continuing stream of innovative products and a wide variety of choices.
Some have argued that once a consumer purchases a body of music from one of the proprietary music stores, they are forever locked into only using music players from that one company. Or, if they buy a specific player, they are locked into buying music only from that company’s music store. Is this true? Let’s look at the data for iPods and the iTunes store – they are the industry’s most popular products and we have accurate data for them. Through the end of 2006, customers purchased a total of 90 million iPods and 2 billion songs from the iTunes store. On average, that’s 22 songs purchased from the iTunes store for each iPod ever sold.
Today’s most popular iPod holds 1000 songs, and research tells us that the average iPod is nearly full. This means that only 22 out of 1000 songs, or under 3% of the music on the average iPod, is purchased from the iTunes store and protected with a DRM. The remaining 97% of the music is unprotected and playable on any player that can play the open formats. Its hard to believe that just 3% of the music on the average iPod is enough to lock users into buying only iPods in the future. And since 97% of the music on the average iPod was not purchased from the iTunes store, iPod users are clearly not locked into the iTunes store to acquire their music.
The second alternative is for Apple to license its FairPlay DRM technology to current and future competitors with the goal of achieving interoperability between different company’s players and music stores. On the surface, this seems like a good idea since it might offer customers increased choice now and in the future. And Apple might benefit by charging a small licensing fee for its FairPlay DRM. However, when we look a bit deeper, problems begin to emerge. The most serious problem is that licensing a DRM involves disclosing some of its secrets to many people in many companies, and history tells us that inevitably these secrets will leak. The Internet has made such leaks far more damaging, since a single leak can be spread worldwide in less than a minute. Such leaks can rapidly result in software programs available as free downloads on the Internet which will disable the DRM protection so that formerly protected songs can be played on unauthorized players.
An equally serious problem is how to quickly repair the damage caused by such a leak. A successful repair will likely involve enhancing the music store software, the music jukebox software, and the software in the players with new secrets, then transferring this updated software into the tens (or hundreds) of millions of Macs, Windows PCs and players already in use. This must all be done quickly and in a very coordinated way. Such an undertaking is very difficult when just one company controls all of the pieces. It is near impossible if multiple companies control separate pieces of the puzzle, and all of them must quickly act in concert to repair the damage from a leak.
Apple has concluded that if it licenses FairPlay to others, it can no longer guarantee to protect the music it licenses from the big four music companies. Perhaps this same conclusion contributed to Microsoft’s recent decision to switch their emphasis from an “open” model of licensing their DRM to others to a “closed” model of offering a proprietary music store, proprietary jukebox software and proprietary players.
The third alternative is to abolish DRMs entirely. Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat. If the big four music companies would license Apple their music without the requirement that it be protected with a DRM, we would switch to selling only DRM-free music on our iTunes store. Every iPod ever made will play this DRM-free music.
Why would the big four music companies agree to let Apple and others distribute their music without using DRM systems to protect it? The simplest answer is because DRMs haven’t worked, and may never work, to halt music piracy. Though the big four music companies require that all their music sold online be protected with DRMs, these same music companies continue to sell billions of CDs a year which contain completely unprotected music. That’s right! No DRM system was ever developed for the CD, so all the music distributed on CDs can be easily uploaded to the Internet, then (illegally) downloaded and played on any computer or player.
In 2006, under 2 billion DRM-protected songs were sold worldwide by online stores, while over 20 billion songs were sold completely DRM-free and unprotected on CDs by the music companies themselves. The music companies sell the vast majority of their music DRM-free, and show no signs of changing this behavior, since the overwhelming majority of their revenues depend on selling CDs which must play in CD players that support no DRM system.
So if the music companies are selling over 90 percent of their music DRM-free, what benefits do they get from selling the remaining small percentage of their music encumbered with a DRM system? There appear to be none. If anything, the technical expertise and overhead required to create, operate and update a DRM system has limited the number of participants selling DRM protected music. If such requirements were removed, the music industry might experience an influx of new companies willing to invest in innovative new stores and players. This can only be seen as a positive by the music companies.
Much of the concern over DRM systems has arisen in European countries. Perhaps those unhappy with the current situation should redirect their energies towards persuading the music companies to sell their music DRM-free. For Europeans, two and a half of the big four music companies are located right in their backyard. The largest, Universal, is 100% owned by Vivendi, a French company. EMI is a British company, and Sony BMG is 50% owned by Bertelsmann, a German company. Convincing them to license their music to Apple and others DRM-free will create a truly interoperable music marketplace. Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly.
Steve Jobs
February 6, 2007
With the stunning global success of Apple’s iPod music player and iTunes online music store, some have called for Apple to “open” the digital rights management (DRM) system that Apple uses to protect its music against theft, so that music purchased from iTunes can be played on digital devices purchased from other companies, and protected music purchased from other online music stores can play on iPods. Let’s examine the current situation and how we got here, then look at three possible alternatives for the future.
To begin, it is useful to remember that all iPods play music that is free of any DRM and encoded in “open” licensable formats such as MP3 and AAC. iPod users can and do acquire their music from many sources, including CDs they own. Music on CDs can be easily imported into the freely-downloadable iTunes jukebox software which runs on both Macs and Windows PCs, and is automatically encoded into the open AAC or MP3 formats without any DRM. This music can be played on iPods or any other music players that play these open formats.
The rub comes from the music Apple sells on its online iTunes Store. Since Apple does not own or control any music itself, it must license the rights to distribute music from others, primarily the “big four” music companies: Universal, Sony BMG, Warner and EMI. These four companies control the distribution of over 70% of the world’s music. When Apple approached these companies to license their music to distribute legally over the Internet, they were extremely cautious and required Apple to protect their music from being illegally copied. The solution was to create a DRM system, which envelopes each song purchased from the iTunes store in special and secret software so that it cannot be played on unauthorized devices.
Apple was able to negotiate landmark usage rights at the time, which include allowing users to play their DRM protected music on up to 5 computers and on an unlimited number of iPods. Obtaining such rights from the music companies was unprecedented at the time, and even today is unmatched by most other digital music services. However, a key provision of our agreements with the music companies is that if our DRM system is compromised and their music becomes playable on unauthorized devices, we have only a small number of weeks to fix the problem or they can withdraw their entire music catalog from our iTunes store.
To prevent illegal copies, DRM systems must allow only authorized devices to play the protected music. If a copy of a DRM protected song is posted on the Internet, it should not be able to play on a downloader’s computer or portable music device. To achieve this, a DRM system employs secrets. There is no theory of protecting content other than keeping secrets. In other words, even if one uses the most sophisticated cryptographic locks to protect the actual music, one must still “hide” the keys which unlock the music on the user’s computer or portable music player. No one has ever implemented a DRM system that does not depend on such secrets for its operation.
The problem, of course, is that there are many smart people in the world, some with a lot of time on their hands, who love to discover such secrets and publish a way for everyone to get free (and stolen) music. They are often successful in doing just that, so any company trying to protect content using a DRM must frequently update it with new and harder to discover secrets. It is a cat-and-mouse game. Apple’s DRM system is called FairPlay. While we have had a few breaches in FairPlay, we have been able to successfully repair them through updating the iTunes store software, the iTunes jukebox software and software in the iPods themselves. So far we have met our commitments to the music companies to protect their music, and we have given users the most liberal usage rights available in the industry for legally downloaded music.
With this background, let’s now explore three different alternatives for the future.
The first alternative is to continue on the current course, with each manufacturer competing freely with their own “top to bottom” proprietary systems for selling, playing and protecting music. It is a very competitive market, with major global companies making large investments to develop new music players and online music stores. Apple, Microsoft and Sony all compete with proprietary systems. Music purchased from Microsoft’s Zune store will only play on Zune players; music purchased from Sony’s Connect store will only play on Sony’s players; and music purchased from Apple’s iTunes store will only play on iPods. This is the current state of affairs in the industry, and customers are being well served with a continuing stream of innovative products and a wide variety of choices.
Some have argued that once a consumer purchases a body of music from one of the proprietary music stores, they are forever locked into only using music players from that one company. Or, if they buy a specific player, they are locked into buying music only from that company’s music store. Is this true? Let’s look at the data for iPods and the iTunes store – they are the industry’s most popular products and we have accurate data for them. Through the end of 2006, customers purchased a total of 90 million iPods and 2 billion songs from the iTunes store. On average, that’s 22 songs purchased from the iTunes store for each iPod ever sold.
Today’s most popular iPod holds 1000 songs, and research tells us that the average iPod is nearly full. This means that only 22 out of 1000 songs, or under 3% of the music on the average iPod, is purchased from the iTunes store and protected with a DRM. The remaining 97% of the music is unprotected and playable on any player that can play the open formats. Its hard to believe that just 3% of the music on the average iPod is enough to lock users into buying only iPods in the future. And since 97% of the music on the average iPod was not purchased from the iTunes store, iPod users are clearly not locked into the iTunes store to acquire their music.
The second alternative is for Apple to license its FairPlay DRM technology to current and future competitors with the goal of achieving interoperability between different company’s players and music stores. On the surface, this seems like a good idea since it might offer customers increased choice now and in the future. And Apple might benefit by charging a small licensing fee for its FairPlay DRM. However, when we look a bit deeper, problems begin to emerge. The most serious problem is that licensing a DRM involves disclosing some of its secrets to many people in many companies, and history tells us that inevitably these secrets will leak. The Internet has made such leaks far more damaging, since a single leak can be spread worldwide in less than a minute. Such leaks can rapidly result in software programs available as free downloads on the Internet which will disable the DRM protection so that formerly protected songs can be played on unauthorized players.
An equally serious problem is how to quickly repair the damage caused by such a leak. A successful repair will likely involve enhancing the music store software, the music jukebox software, and the software in the players with new secrets, then transferring this updated software into the tens (or hundreds) of millions of Macs, Windows PCs and players already in use. This must all be done quickly and in a very coordinated way. Such an undertaking is very difficult when just one company controls all of the pieces. It is near impossible if multiple companies control separate pieces of the puzzle, and all of them must quickly act in concert to repair the damage from a leak.
Apple has concluded that if it licenses FairPlay to others, it can no longer guarantee to protect the music it licenses from the big four music companies. Perhaps this same conclusion contributed to Microsoft’s recent decision to switch their emphasis from an “open” model of licensing their DRM to others to a “closed” model of offering a proprietary music store, proprietary jukebox software and proprietary players.
The third alternative is to abolish DRMs entirely. Imagine a world where every online store sells DRM-free music encoded in open licensable formats. In such a world, any player can play music purchased from any store, and any store can sell music which is playable on all players. This is clearly the best alternative for consumers, and Apple would embrace it in a heartbeat. If the big four music companies would license Apple their music without the requirement that it be protected with a DRM, we would switch to selling only DRM-free music on our iTunes store. Every iPod ever made will play this DRM-free music.
Why would the big four music companies agree to let Apple and others distribute their music without using DRM systems to protect it? The simplest answer is because DRMs haven’t worked, and may never work, to halt music piracy. Though the big four music companies require that all their music sold online be protected with DRMs, these same music companies continue to sell billions of CDs a year which contain completely unprotected music. That’s right! No DRM system was ever developed for the CD, so all the music distributed on CDs can be easily uploaded to the Internet, then (illegally) downloaded and played on any computer or player.
In 2006, under 2 billion DRM-protected songs were sold worldwide by online stores, while over 20 billion songs were sold completely DRM-free and unprotected on CDs by the music companies themselves. The music companies sell the vast majority of their music DRM-free, and show no signs of changing this behavior, since the overwhelming majority of their revenues depend on selling CDs which must play in CD players that support no DRM system.
So if the music companies are selling over 90 percent of their music DRM-free, what benefits do they get from selling the remaining small percentage of their music encumbered with a DRM system? There appear to be none. If anything, the technical expertise and overhead required to create, operate and update a DRM system has limited the number of participants selling DRM protected music. If such requirements were removed, the music industry might experience an influx of new companies willing to invest in innovative new stores and players. This can only be seen as a positive by the music companies.
Much of the concern over DRM systems has arisen in European countries. Perhaps those unhappy with the current situation should redirect their energies towards persuading the music companies to sell their music DRM-free. For Europeans, two and a half of the big four music companies are located right in their backyard. The largest, Universal, is 100% owned by Vivendi, a French company. EMI is a British company, and Sony BMG is 50% owned by Bertelsmann, a German company. Convincing them to license their music to Apple and others DRM-free will create a truly interoperable music marketplace. Apple will embrace this wholeheartedly.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
"Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you, yet they belong not to you."--From Kahlil Gibran's "The Prophet"
I really should be writing my paper that is due tomorrow, but Newton's first law of graduation (A grad student in procastination tends to stay in procastination unless an external force is applied to it) is in effect.
Peace,
Chris
I really should be writing my paper that is due tomorrow, but Newton's first law of graduation (A grad student in procastination tends to stay in procastination unless an external force is applied to it) is in effect.
Peace,
Chris
The newspaper USA Today and the TV show Good Morning America teamed up to pick the seven New Wonders of the World. #6 on the list is the "Old City" of Jerusalem. The following is the text of the article:
By Jerry Shriver, USA TODAY
Mankind's capacity for wonder is profoundly expressed in Jerusalem's Old City, which has served as a spiritual nexus for the world's three major monotheistic faiths — Judaism, Christianity and Islam — for millennia.
Our six experts chose the ancient city as one of the seven New Wonders of the World for its central place in religious history and struggles for tolerance.
The idea of religious co-existence "captivates the world right now," said panelist and best-selling author Bruce Feiler (Walking the Bible).
The very notion — that definitive events in the history of three major faiths could occur within the same walled city of about 1 square kilometer — seems almost too incredible to comprehend. Yet for centuries, pilgrims from all over the world have traveled to Jerusalem to reaffirm their faith. Chris' note: As we traveled throughout the land, I never forgot that I was walking on ground that had been traversed by Jesus and the earliest disciples and apostles. It was a powerful feeling indeed. I promised Michelle that I would bring her and our children here one day, so that they too may experience the spiritual power of this holiest of holy cities.
That has made the Old City not only a holy place but a battleground as well. Empire after empire, including the Canaanites, Hebrews, Babylonians, Persians, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders and Ottoman Turks, has fought to control the area. Even today, there is no general agreement as to the city's political status. Chris' note: It seems ironic that the word "Jerusalem" means "city of peace" in Hebrew. While there is little political peace, spiritual peace is in abundance.
Remarkably, many of the significant historical structures inside the Old City's eight gates have withstood the ravages of time and warfare, including more than 200 synagogues, churches, mosques and other holy shrines. Among the key sites:
The Dome of the Rock. This spectacular example of seventh-century Islamic architecture is topped with a golden dome and adorned with ceramics and mosaics. It protects the Rock, which is recognized by all three religions as the place where God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Most Muslims also believe this is where Mohammad left on his journey to heaven.
The Western Wall. Though the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70, this remnant endures and has become the most symbolic spot for the Jewish people. It is a center of mourning over the Temple's destruction and Israel's exile. Chris' note: Frequently, the media refers to the Western Wall as the "holiest place in the world" for Jews. This is incorrect. The fact that Muslims control their holiest site (the Dome of the Rock) in no way lessens its importance to them.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Christians revere this as the place where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. A church was built there in the fourth century, but it was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The current structure dates to the 12th century and houses the site of Christ's tomb. Chris' note: Full of gold, pomp, and circumstance, I felt this was a gross display of excess. I felt no connection whatsoever to the Church I know. Quite honestly, I wanted to puke while I was inside. With all the ornate decorations, it seemed the antithesis of what Christ stands for. The lowlight of the trip for me.
These sites and dozens of others are why the Old City is considered to be among the world's holiest places by "half of the humans alive today," Feiler said. "It passes the 'wonder' test."
By Jerry Shriver, USA TODAY
Mankind's capacity for wonder is profoundly expressed in Jerusalem's Old City, which has served as a spiritual nexus for the world's three major monotheistic faiths — Judaism, Christianity and Islam — for millennia.
Our six experts chose the ancient city as one of the seven New Wonders of the World for its central place in religious history and struggles for tolerance.
The idea of religious co-existence "captivates the world right now," said panelist and best-selling author Bruce Feiler (Walking the Bible).
The very notion — that definitive events in the history of three major faiths could occur within the same walled city of about 1 square kilometer — seems almost too incredible to comprehend. Yet for centuries, pilgrims from all over the world have traveled to Jerusalem to reaffirm their faith. Chris' note: As we traveled throughout the land, I never forgot that I was walking on ground that had been traversed by Jesus and the earliest disciples and apostles. It was a powerful feeling indeed. I promised Michelle that I would bring her and our children here one day, so that they too may experience the spiritual power of this holiest of holy cities.
That has made the Old City not only a holy place but a battleground as well. Empire after empire, including the Canaanites, Hebrews, Babylonians, Persians, Romans, Arabs, Crusaders and Ottoman Turks, has fought to control the area. Even today, there is no general agreement as to the city's political status. Chris' note: It seems ironic that the word "Jerusalem" means "city of peace" in Hebrew. While there is little political peace, spiritual peace is in abundance.
Remarkably, many of the significant historical structures inside the Old City's eight gates have withstood the ravages of time and warfare, including more than 200 synagogues, churches, mosques and other holy shrines. Among the key sites:
The Dome of the Rock. This spectacular example of seventh-century Islamic architecture is topped with a golden dome and adorned with ceramics and mosaics. It protects the Rock, which is recognized by all three religions as the place where God asked Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac. Most Muslims also believe this is where Mohammad left on his journey to heaven.
The Western Wall. Though the Second Temple was destroyed by the Romans in A.D. 70, this remnant endures and has become the most symbolic spot for the Jewish people. It is a center of mourning over the Temple's destruction and Israel's exile. Chris' note: Frequently, the media refers to the Western Wall as the "holiest place in the world" for Jews. This is incorrect. The fact that Muslims control their holiest site (the Dome of the Rock) in no way lessens its importance to them.
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Christians revere this as the place where Jesus was crucified, buried and resurrected. A church was built there in the fourth century, but it was destroyed and rebuilt several times. The current structure dates to the 12th century and houses the site of Christ's tomb. Chris' note: Full of gold, pomp, and circumstance, I felt this was a gross display of excess. I felt no connection whatsoever to the Church I know. Quite honestly, I wanted to puke while I was inside. With all the ornate decorations, it seemed the antithesis of what Christ stands for. The lowlight of the trip for me.
These sites and dozens of others are why the Old City is considered to be among the world's holiest places by "half of the humans alive today," Feiler said. "It passes the 'wonder' test."
Perhaps the best "Get A Mac" ad yet. It points out how Vista's annoying security checks pop up whenever the user wants to do just about anything. LOL. (Apologies to my Windows-loving brother Steve).
Monday, February 05, 2007
"He said, I’ve been watching you, dad ain’t that kool?
I’m your buckaroo; I want to be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
We like fixin’ things and holding moma’s hand
Yeah, we’re just alike, hey, ain’t we dad.
I want to do everything you do; so I’ve been watching you."
--From "Watching You", by Rodney Atkins.
I suppose every little boy wants to be like his dad. I know I find myself becoming more like my own father every day. I cannot count the times that I ask myself, "What would Dad do here?" The night before my college graduation, my dad told me he was proud of me, and that was one of the best moments of my life.
Peace...
I’m your buckaroo; I want to be like you.
And eat all my food and grow as tall as you are.
We like fixin’ things and holding moma’s hand
Yeah, we’re just alike, hey, ain’t we dad.
I want to do everything you do; so I’ve been watching you."
--From "Watching You", by Rodney Atkins.
I suppose every little boy wants to be like his dad. I know I find myself becoming more like my own father every day. I cannot count the times that I ask myself, "What would Dad do here?" The night before my college graduation, my dad told me he was proud of me, and that was one of the best moments of my life.
Peace...
Sunday, February 04, 2007
Earlier today, I ironed out an agreement to preach regularly at a non-denominational church about an hour away from Memphis. It is for an indefinite period of time, while they do not have a full-time minister. I am really excited about this opportunity. It is a really small country church, and it will be some great experience. Wish me well.
Peace,
Chris
Peace,
Chris
IT'S A BOY!
I suppose almost everyone who reads this blog has already heard the news, but for the sake of posterity, I will retell the story.
Friday morning, we went to the OB to get an ultrasound. The tech first tried to see if the baby is a boy or a girl, but the cord was in the way, so she could not tell. So, she checked the heart, bladder, stomach, brain, and spine. Everything is healthy and looking good. She tried several times to check the gender, but the cord stayed in the way. Just as the tech was about to give up, the cord moved and the little one showed all HIS glory! So, we are having a BOY!! Right now, he weighs about 9 oz., and is just a few inches long.
We were relieved to finally know, because the wonder of it was starting to drive us crazy. As soon as we left the doctor's office, we made all the requisite phone calls, and I sent out two global text messages to spread the news. We'd both like to say thanks to all the well-wishers; we appreciate your support.
After lunch, we took off for Tullahoma so Michelle and her mother could descend upon the Murfreesboro malls on Saturday. Of course, the first song we qued up on the iPod was John Lennon's "Beautiful Boy". How appropriate.
While they were getting their mall fix, Michelle's dad and I put new shocks on the Explorer. While doing that, we discovered that the sway bar link on the right side was broken, so we repaired that as well. After an oil change, the Explorer was road-worthy once again. I'd have to say that the way it rides now is "shockingly" good...lol.
We are gonna watch the Super Bowl here, and then roll back to Memphis tomorrow. I guess everyone has his or her own theory of how the game will go, so here is mine. The first rule when trying to pick an NFL game is when everyone on earth is picking the game one way, you should go the other way. So, since everyone on earth except ESPN's Bill Simmons, is picking the Colts, I am going to pick the Bears. Simmons uses the same philosophy I do, inasmuch as we go against the grain when everyone else is going the same way. So, I say the Bears win, 27-24.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
OK, so this afternoon I will be turning in my first paper as a graduate student. I am kind of nervous. Oh well. Nothing I can do now. I think it's a good paper, maybe not a great paper, but definitely a good paper. One of the best I have written in a while, I think. I'll see how it goes. I have a paper in that class (church history) every week, so I am going to start on the next one this morning. That class, and my New Testament class, are my most difficult. Going into this deal, I knew the workload would increase from my undergrad days, but I had no idea the increase would b by this much. Almost every one of my classes has at least 100 pages of reading each week, plus papers and tests and stuff. But above all of that is that the intesnsity level is so high. Whew. I am trying to stay ahead of the game as much as I can. But, I will be OK.
One of the adjustments I have had to make is to learn the intricisies of the library schedule. At a state school such as the U of M, I never had to worry about the library much; it was just open whenever I needed to be there. On Tuesday, I got an introduction into the seminary way. At 10:50 AM, one of the library employees came up to me to tell me that the library would be closing at 11:00 for chapel services. I said, "Uh, say what? I have work to do." He said, "We will be closing in 10 minutes for chapel services." My thought process for the next 30 seconds or so was something like: "Oh. Uh, OK. Hmmm. What do I do now? Hmmm. OK. Uh, how about some lunch?" So, I ate some lunch, and when I came back the library was open again. I had been in a really good groove, and unfortunately it took me a while to get it back. Anyway, that's how it goes.
A local United Methodist Church is seeking a part-time Director of Youth Ministries, and I applied a few days ago. I decided back some time ago to start working again, knowing that Michelle would eventually have to stop, and I have applied at several places but have not heard anything. So, my fingers are crossed.
On Friday, we have a doctor's appointment at 10:00 for an ultrasound. We should find out if the baby is a boy or a girl. We are so excited. I have been telling Michelle for weeks to just chill, and that there is nothing we can do but wait. But now, the anticipation is getting to me. The next two days cannot pass quickly enough.
A couple of years ago, my brother in law gave me a book he had used in a class, the Mercer University Dictionary of the Bible. It just so happened that I needed a Bible Dictionary at that time, and it quickly became one of my favorite resources. A couple of days ago, I was looking through the list of contributors, and saw my advisor there. I stopped by his office yesterday to ask him which article he had written, and when I walked in his office I noticed that his PC's screen saver was a bunch of Martin guitars. So, we spent the next 15 minutes talking about guitars, and then about 5 minutes talking about his article...LOL. Turns out he owns a 1970 Martin D-18, and wrote the article on creation for the Mercer dictionary. Cool stuff. When I met my advisor for the first time, I had a feeling I would like him, since he has a ponytail down his back and wears hemp sandals. The first thing I thought when I saw him was "He looks like my dad did in 1974." Cool. Turns out he is a member of Nashville Presbytery, and knows my uncle Don.
It's funny that wherever I go, people ask me if I am related to Don Winn. I don't purposely drop names, but people often do it for me...LOL. There are actually very few Cumberland Presbyterian professors here. This semester, I have a professor that is Catholic, one that is Calvinist Presbyterian (different breed than CP's), one that was raised Muslim in Senegal, and one that apparently is non-denomiational. The seminary is ecumenical, which means that it strives to be all-inclusive and embraces people of all Christian traditions. In fact, of all the students that started this semester, I am the ONLY CP in the group. What's funny is that the administration knew there was only one, because ever day someone would come up to me and ask me if I was "the one". So the first week or so I felt like I was wearing a scarlet letter. That's funny.
Anyway, things are going well here. I hope everyone is doing well. I know my friend Mike Clark is still struggling with the loss of his father. I hope he knows that our prayers are with him and his family. It is great that he and Dana got to celebrate the birth of their newest child last Friday. I cannot imagine the emotional roller-coaster he must be on right now. Peace...
One of the adjustments I have had to make is to learn the intricisies of the library schedule. At a state school such as the U of M, I never had to worry about the library much; it was just open whenever I needed to be there. On Tuesday, I got an introduction into the seminary way. At 10:50 AM, one of the library employees came up to me to tell me that the library would be closing at 11:00 for chapel services. I said, "Uh, say what? I have work to do." He said, "We will be closing in 10 minutes for chapel services." My thought process for the next 30 seconds or so was something like: "Oh. Uh, OK. Hmmm. What do I do now? Hmmm. OK. Uh, how about some lunch?" So, I ate some lunch, and when I came back the library was open again. I had been in a really good groove, and unfortunately it took me a while to get it back. Anyway, that's how it goes.
A local United Methodist Church is seeking a part-time Director of Youth Ministries, and I applied a few days ago. I decided back some time ago to start working again, knowing that Michelle would eventually have to stop, and I have applied at several places but have not heard anything. So, my fingers are crossed.
On Friday, we have a doctor's appointment at 10:00 for an ultrasound. We should find out if the baby is a boy or a girl. We are so excited. I have been telling Michelle for weeks to just chill, and that there is nothing we can do but wait. But now, the anticipation is getting to me. The next two days cannot pass quickly enough.
A couple of years ago, my brother in law gave me a book he had used in a class, the Mercer University Dictionary of the Bible. It just so happened that I needed a Bible Dictionary at that time, and it quickly became one of my favorite resources. A couple of days ago, I was looking through the list of contributors, and saw my advisor there. I stopped by his office yesterday to ask him which article he had written, and when I walked in his office I noticed that his PC's screen saver was a bunch of Martin guitars. So, we spent the next 15 minutes talking about guitars, and then about 5 minutes talking about his article...LOL. Turns out he owns a 1970 Martin D-18, and wrote the article on creation for the Mercer dictionary. Cool stuff. When I met my advisor for the first time, I had a feeling I would like him, since he has a ponytail down his back and wears hemp sandals. The first thing I thought when I saw him was "He looks like my dad did in 1974." Cool. Turns out he is a member of Nashville Presbytery, and knows my uncle Don.
It's funny that wherever I go, people ask me if I am related to Don Winn. I don't purposely drop names, but people often do it for me...LOL. There are actually very few Cumberland Presbyterian professors here. This semester, I have a professor that is Catholic, one that is Calvinist Presbyterian (different breed than CP's), one that was raised Muslim in Senegal, and one that apparently is non-denomiational. The seminary is ecumenical, which means that it strives to be all-inclusive and embraces people of all Christian traditions. In fact, of all the students that started this semester, I am the ONLY CP in the group. What's funny is that the administration knew there was only one, because ever day someone would come up to me and ask me if I was "the one". So the first week or so I felt like I was wearing a scarlet letter. That's funny.
Anyway, things are going well here. I hope everyone is doing well. I know my friend Mike Clark is still struggling with the loss of his father. I hope he knows that our prayers are with him and his family. It is great that he and Dana got to celebrate the birth of their newest child last Friday. I cannot imagine the emotional roller-coaster he must be on right now. Peace...
Friday, January 26, 2007
Lily Jene Clark
Mike just sent me a text, saying that he and Dana welcomed Lily Jene into this world at 7:56 this morning. She was 7 lbs., 2 oz., and was 19.5 inches long. That is great. Lily is their fourth child, and I told Mike that if Michelle and I have a few, we could get a basketball game going. And since at least one of ours will be from overseas, it would be like the Olympics...LOL. Anyway, my congrats to Mike and Dana, and I know there are proud grandparents in Clarksville and Hopkinsville. Michelle and I also count ourselves as fortunate to have supportive families.
Peace...
Peace...
I do not think I have ever felt so melancholy as I did Wednesday afternoon. I had spent the day at home, doing laundry and reading. And reading. And reading some more. By the time I needed to go to class (at 5:30 PM), I was fully aware that although I had spent the entire day reading, I was no where near finished with all the reading that I needed to do for the week. So, I was kinda sad, realizing the enormity of the work that lay ahead of me in seminary. However, my spirits were soon brightened. I got to class about 15 minutes early, so I found a seat and was just getting mentally prepared. When, in an instant, who walks in? The one and only Nathan Wheeler! Turns out he is in that class (Church History). So, he sat beside me and we reminisced about old times at Clarksville church. It was cool. So, we had a good lecture, although that class looks to be my most difficult one, by far. I spent all day yesterday reading for it, and still have some more to go before I start writing the paper that is due next week. In fact, we have a paper due EVERY week in that class. JOY!!
When Michelle got out of work yesterday, she needed to go to the Board of Education, which happens to be around the corner from my campus. So, we had arranged to meet for an early supper, which was nice. After we ate, we were driving down Union, and decided to stop at the Resource Center to see if Frank Ward was working. Indeed he was, so we stopped for a visit. It was great to see him again. Frank is the Director of Youth Ministry for the entire Denomination, and I have this crazy idea that some day I might work underneath him. The man is quality.
The seminary is offering a trip to Scotland right after the end of this semester. The purpose of the trip is to explore the Celtic history of Christianity. I immediately began to try to think of way that I could justify going, but I have yet to think of one. Michelle, of course, thinks I am insane for wanting to leave her for 12 days, 5 weeks before she is due to give birth. I suppose I agree that that is a little crazy. Or a lot crazy. Anyway, there will be other trips. Over the Christmas break, we had lunch with John Bogard, my childhood friend. John is an engineer for an energy company in Houston, but he has been transferred to England for two years. So, he invited us to visit him, and I think we have decided to go in early January next year. That will be a lot of fun.
At Jess' Wii party lat weekend, a funny thing happened. Someone noticed that my screen name is "Xanthos", which she recognized as being from Greek mythology. She then identified herself as a Latin teacher, which I thought was really cool. I told her that I know a little Greek, but almost no Latin, and that I have a lot of respect for Latin-speaking folk. At that point, a different woman asked me what my favorite story is. I was not quite sure what qualified as a "story", but I said that it would probably be Homer's Odyssey. She immediately stepped back and said, "Oh, I cannot know you. I cannot know you because you said that". I had no idea what to think at that point, so I just kind of chuckled and made my way to the other side of the room. Funny stuff.
The funniest story ever, though, is when Jess was in Atlanta in one of her costumes, and some random stranger asked her if she was part of the "ritual". When she said that she had no idea what that was, and that she was there for MoMoCon, HE got a weird look on his face, and ostensibly, figured out that whatever she was involved in must be weirder than his "ritual". LOL. That is the funniest story I have ever heard. Jess retold the story, and everyone got a big laugh.
I have no classes on Fridays, so I am at home doing more laundry. I also played guitar for about 30 minutes this morning, which was rewarding since I had not played at all the entire week. I am going to do some more reading, and I am hoping that I can write my entire paper this afternoon.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
When Michelle got out of work yesterday, she needed to go to the Board of Education, which happens to be around the corner from my campus. So, we had arranged to meet for an early supper, which was nice. After we ate, we were driving down Union, and decided to stop at the Resource Center to see if Frank Ward was working. Indeed he was, so we stopped for a visit. It was great to see him again. Frank is the Director of Youth Ministry for the entire Denomination, and I have this crazy idea that some day I might work underneath him. The man is quality.
The seminary is offering a trip to Scotland right after the end of this semester. The purpose of the trip is to explore the Celtic history of Christianity. I immediately began to try to think of way that I could justify going, but I have yet to think of one. Michelle, of course, thinks I am insane for wanting to leave her for 12 days, 5 weeks before she is due to give birth. I suppose I agree that that is a little crazy. Or a lot crazy. Anyway, there will be other trips. Over the Christmas break, we had lunch with John Bogard, my childhood friend. John is an engineer for an energy company in Houston, but he has been transferred to England for two years. So, he invited us to visit him, and I think we have decided to go in early January next year. That will be a lot of fun.
At Jess' Wii party lat weekend, a funny thing happened. Someone noticed that my screen name is "Xanthos", which she recognized as being from Greek mythology. She then identified herself as a Latin teacher, which I thought was really cool. I told her that I know a little Greek, but almost no Latin, and that I have a lot of respect for Latin-speaking folk. At that point, a different woman asked me what my favorite story is. I was not quite sure what qualified as a "story", but I said that it would probably be Homer's Odyssey. She immediately stepped back and said, "Oh, I cannot know you. I cannot know you because you said that". I had no idea what to think at that point, so I just kind of chuckled and made my way to the other side of the room. Funny stuff.
The funniest story ever, though, is when Jess was in Atlanta in one of her costumes, and some random stranger asked her if she was part of the "ritual". When she said that she had no idea what that was, and that she was there for MoMoCon, HE got a weird look on his face, and ostensibly, figured out that whatever she was involved in must be weirder than his "ritual". LOL. That is the funniest story I have ever heard. Jess retold the story, and everyone got a big laugh.
I have no classes on Fridays, so I am at home doing more laundry. I also played guitar for about 30 minutes this morning, which was rewarding since I had not played at all the entire week. I am going to do some more reading, and I am hoping that I can write my entire paper this afternoon.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Yesterday was the third anniversary of the day that Michelle and I spoke on the phone for the first time. I remember that it was a Friday night, and that we talked into the wee hours of the morning. The funny thing is that I started working at Mt. Denson the next day. I was scheduled to take some of the kids from the youth group to a meeting in Nashville, and we were supposed to meet at the church at 8 AM. On a Saturday. Needless to say, I was about 45 minutes late, and by the time we had stopped for coffee, we made it to the meeting in time for the last 15 minutes or so...LOL. So, we went to lunch and called it a day.
That was a monumental time in my life, meeting the woman that would become my wife (and the mother of my child), and making a huge step in my spiritual journey. These three years have been incredible, indeed.
This past Saturday, Michelle and I went to Nashville. My sister hosted a Wii party, which I attended, and Michelle stormed Green Hills Mall with her friend Amy. I have great fun playing the Wii. The golf game was probably my favorite; It was just easy enough to be fun, and just difficult enough to be challenging. We played four holes, and I was at level par at that point. I bogied the first hole, trying to get the feel for the game. I birdied the 5-par second hole, which was a little disappointing since I had reached the green in two. Anyway, it was great.
It was great to see Jessi's friends, and to meet some new people as well. At one point, someone asked me who my favorite musicians are. I replied Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, The Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac (classic division); and The Killers, KT Tunstall, and Coldplay (current division). However, once I got home, I decided to investigate what music I am actually listening to the most these days.
By reviewing my iTunes "Recently Played" playlist, I find that I am listening to Green Day, U2, Five For Fighting, Bruce Hornsby, The Gabe Dixon Band, The Gin Blossoms, The Goo Goo Dolls, John Mayer, Nickelback, R.E.M., Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and Warren Zevon, more than anything else. So, I guess it would be more accurate to say that this is where my musical tastes lie right now. In reality, it has been quite a while since I listened to much Pink Floyd (although I did watch my DVD of the making of Dark Side of the Moon again recently). On the way back from Nashville, I qued up Fleetwood Mac's "The Dance", but that was the first time I had listened to them in quite a while. Clapton and the Eagles are always in heavy rotation, and KT Tunstall and the Killers are there as well. During this investigation, I realized I have not listened to any Coldplay in quite a while. Although I did hear "Speed of Sound" on the radio one day that week, and enjoyed it. So, this is a more accurate representation of the music I am listening to these days.
In the past couple of years, I have really become interested in music again, after several years of ambivalence. For quite a while, there just wasn't anything being released that I was interested in. However, these days there is a ton of music that is getting my attention. Plus, iTunes makes it really easy to buy music at reasonable prices. I was initially reluctant to buy music digitally, but once I got on board, I found that for me, its pros outweigh its cons by far.
Speaking of John Mayer, he is playing Memphis in early February, and the opening act is Josh Rouse--a guy that I went to high school with. That's pretty cool. Josh has been working hard on his career for a long time, and he is finally getting some recognition. Good for him!
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
That was a monumental time in my life, meeting the woman that would become my wife (and the mother of my child), and making a huge step in my spiritual journey. These three years have been incredible, indeed.
This past Saturday, Michelle and I went to Nashville. My sister hosted a Wii party, which I attended, and Michelle stormed Green Hills Mall with her friend Amy. I have great fun playing the Wii. The golf game was probably my favorite; It was just easy enough to be fun, and just difficult enough to be challenging. We played four holes, and I was at level par at that point. I bogied the first hole, trying to get the feel for the game. I birdied the 5-par second hole, which was a little disappointing since I had reached the green in two. Anyway, it was great.
It was great to see Jessi's friends, and to meet some new people as well. At one point, someone asked me who my favorite musicians are. I replied Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, The Eagles, and Fleetwood Mac (classic division); and The Killers, KT Tunstall, and Coldplay (current division). However, once I got home, I decided to investigate what music I am actually listening to the most these days.
By reviewing my iTunes "Recently Played" playlist, I find that I am listening to Green Day, U2, Five For Fighting, Bruce Hornsby, The Gabe Dixon Band, The Gin Blossoms, The Goo Goo Dolls, John Mayer, Nickelback, R.E.M., Tom Petty, Bob Dylan, and Warren Zevon, more than anything else. So, I guess it would be more accurate to say that this is where my musical tastes lie right now. In reality, it has been quite a while since I listened to much Pink Floyd (although I did watch my DVD of the making of Dark Side of the Moon again recently). On the way back from Nashville, I qued up Fleetwood Mac's "The Dance", but that was the first time I had listened to them in quite a while. Clapton and the Eagles are always in heavy rotation, and KT Tunstall and the Killers are there as well. During this investigation, I realized I have not listened to any Coldplay in quite a while. Although I did hear "Speed of Sound" on the radio one day that week, and enjoyed it. So, this is a more accurate representation of the music I am listening to these days.
In the past couple of years, I have really become interested in music again, after several years of ambivalence. For quite a while, there just wasn't anything being released that I was interested in. However, these days there is a ton of music that is getting my attention. Plus, iTunes makes it really easy to buy music at reasonable prices. I was initially reluctant to buy music digitally, but once I got on board, I found that for me, its pros outweigh its cons by far.
Speaking of John Mayer, he is playing Memphis in early February, and the opening act is Josh Rouse--a guy that I went to high school with. That's pretty cool. Josh has been working hard on his career for a long time, and he is finally getting some recognition. Good for him!
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Monday, January 22, 2007
Hello Again
Well, it certainly has been a long time since I have posted. My grandmother has been hounding me about it, and I have promised a resumption several times, so here I am.
So much has happened since last time, I am sure I will leave several things out, but I will try to recap the past couple of months or so.
Thanksgiving weekend was great. We went to Tullahoma to spend the holiday with Michelle's parents and grandparents (who were in from New York). Everyone had a great time. Michelle and I had just bought a 2000 Dodge Intrepid a few weeks earlier, so her dad and I spent some time in the garage, changing the transmission fluid and some other stuff. All was well. On the Sunday, we left early so that we could worship at Mt. Denson, in Springfield. We spent the morning telling everyone how great everything was going, and sharing excitement about the baby.
After worship, we left for home, with a plan to stop at the Bellevue exit on west Nashville to have lunch. Just before we got there, the car suddenly lost all power from the engine, so I yanked it over to the shoulder. I just knew that doom was imminent. Anyway, we called a tow truck and had it dragged to a nearby shop. We spent the next couple of hours watching the Titans getting their tails handed to them, until finally the shop said the problem was beyond their capabilities. So, we called my aunt and uncle who lived nearby to see if we could crash there. By that time, the Titans had made a miraculous comeback, and when my uncle got there to pick us up, they were only down a few points, and were driving with time running out. Needless to say, my uncle would much rather have been watching the game then picking us up, so things were a little tense in the car. We had the game on the radio, and we got to the house at the 2 minute warning. The Titans ended up winning the game, so all was good...LOL. Anyway, we enjoyed a great dinner and went to bed, trying not to worry about the car.
The next morning, we had the car towed to a nearby dealership, and rented a car to tool around in. We decided to head to Clarksville, and visited with my grandmother, then went to my parents' house. My dad was working that day, so we went by there, and ended up in Patty Averitt's office talking to her for about an hour. By the time we got upstairs to my dad's office, he was gone...LOL. So, we just head home to Memphis, awaiting word on the car. I think it was either Wednesday or Thursday before we got a final verdict, which was that the engine needed complete replacement. Jeez, that sucked. So, we spent the next day or two trying to figure out what we wanted to do. We eventually decided to sell the car to salvage, live with one car for a while, and then buy something else in the middle of January, before school started again.
So, we spent December trying to finish our last projects and papers, and trying to get me graduated. The end of the semester was just crazy. But, eventually, we both got all our work done, and I graduated. I cannot remember which tournament it was, but I remember after Tiger Woods had won one of his majors, he spoke about how the entire week he only focused on each upcoming shot, never thinking about a past or future shot. Then, after he putted out on the last hole, he had a really strange feeling because he suddenly realized he had no more shots to play. This is exactly the same feeling I had after I took my last final exam. It was my astronomy exam, at 8:00 AM. I got done in about an hour and a half, so as I walked out of the building, it suddenly occured to me that I had nothing more to do. For the past several years, I had been so focused on papers, projects, and exams, and now I had nothing more to do. It was such a strange feeling. My legs were literally shaking.
It was wonderful that most of my family, and Michelle's parents, were able to come down and celebrate with us. At dinner the night before, I quoted the French philosopher Gabriel Marcel by saying that only a fool would claim to be self-made, and thanked everyone for their support throughout the years. I would like to reiterate those sentiments.
The ceremony itself was great; I saw several friends from classes, and we all shared good laughs. Afterward, everyone in the group went back to our apartment and celebrated. We all had a good time (except for when Steve broke my wireless router...LOL), especially when the cake was revealed. My mom had given Michelle a picture of me when I graduated kindergarten, way back in the day. Michelle had gotten the picture put on a cake, and it was hilarious. They made me eat my face, which was kind of weird...LOL.
We went to Clarksville to celebrate Christmas, and had a good time. We went down to McGregor park to see the Christmas lights, which is where we got engaged. That was cool. A couple of days later, we went to Tullahoma to see Michelle's family. It was good to see them again. It is usually quiet around their house, so I was able to get a lot of reading done. That was nice.
New Year's eve was uneventful, as we stayed home. Michelle went to bed early, and I stayed up reading. I looked up at the clock to see that it was 12:30 AM, so it felt a little strange to have "missed" the new year's arrival. So, I just went to bed a while after that.
A few days later, I got word from my best friend Michael Clark that his dad was in his final days of battling the cancer that had ravaged his body for the past couple of years. I wished I could have done more for Mike, but I just called occasionally to offer my support. Michelle and I went to Clarksville for the funeral service, and although it's always good to be in town, I wished I could have been there under better circumstances. The night before the funeral, we went over to my parents' house, and my dad and I had a good time playing guitar. I brought my new guitar that I had just bought, and was glad that my dad liked it. One neat thing is that while we were playing, Michelle thought she felt the baby move. That was really neat.
After the service, we went over to Mathews Nissan to see Jessie Johnson, and look at cars. We quickly discovered that Jessie and his business partner now work at James Corlew Chevrolet, so we went over there. Jessie was off that day, so we talked with his partner Kurt. We did not really plan on buying a car that day, so were just gonna look. However, We became smitten with a 2002 Chevrolet Blazer, and ended up buying it. So, we spent an extra night in Clarksville, then came back to Memphis the next day. We have enjoyed the Blazer, and we are enjoying the fact that we bought a 2 year warranty with it :) So, if it conks out, we should be OK.
During the winter break, it was nice to read some things that were of my own choosing, instead of being dictated by a syllabus. I revisited John Stuart Mill's "On Liberty", and I read the Iraq Study Group Report". I also read the Gospel of Judas, which is a new book that paints a revolutionary new picture of Judas Iscariot. I also read a couple of chapters of "The Guns of August", which is the preeminent account of the events that led up to the first month of World War I. And, I read a really funny book, "The Mr. and Mrs. Happy Handbook" by Steve Doocy.
Last Friday, I had orientation and registration at seminary. It was a really long day, but well worth it. My first class is today at 5:30. It is a strange feeling to call myself "college graduate" and "graduate student". I am sure that reality will set in tonight when I get my first syllabus...LOL.
My course schedule is as follows:
CH 05045 Issues in Church Relations Worldwide (Mondays at 5:30)
TH 01111 Reading, Writing, Research Thursdays (Tuesdays at 12:30
CG 00108 Covenant Group (Tuesdays at 4:30)
NT 10000 Intro to New Testament (Tuesdays at 5:30)
CH 10000 Intro to Church History (Wednesdays at 1:30)
TH 10000 Christan Beliefs (Thursdays at 5:30)
Covenant Group is a no-credit class that meets for 1 hour per week. It is a support-group type thing where a student who has been around for a couple of years stimulates discussion about our feelings and concerns.
TH 0111 is a one-credit hour class that I hope will help me with my research and paper-writing skills. One of the texts is a book called "How to Read a Book". I have been joking about the fact that I had to go to grad school to learn that...LOL.
The rest of my classes are all 3-credit hour classes. So, I have a total of 13 hours, which should be manageable.
Today is the 23rd anniversary of the introduction of the Macintosh computer, which was done via a Super Bowl commercial that, while it aired only once, is still considered one of the best commercials ever made. It was named "Commercial of the Decade" by at least one prominent trade publication.
I remember the computer lab at my high school having about 30 Apple IIe units, and about 8 Macs. In order to use the Macs, one had to be in the good graces of the teacher, Mr. Stinnett. Fortunately, I was one of the few that were elevated to that level. I went away from Macs for quite a while, but always knowing that I would go back. Now, I would never trade my iBook for anything, except a new Powerbook...LOL.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Sunday, November 12, 2006
This afternoon, we went to a ceremony in which Michelle was initiated into Kappa Delta Pi, an International Honor Society of Educators. It was a great ceremony, and I was glad that she decided to join. She is working hard to become a great teacher, and I am so proud of her.
With the news that she is pregnant, we have put away all our adoption books, and have taken out all our pregnancy books that we had put away when we decided to adopt. We are really still in "shock mode", because this was not supposed to happen. But, reality is quickly settling in, and we are getting ready.
We had lunch yesterday at a Cracker Barrel not far from here, and when I noticed the couple next to us had an infant in tow, I struck up a conversation. Turns out their pediatrician is one that we were considering, and they gave a great recommendation. Cool.
In our conversations with our families, it is apparent that everyone is really excited for us. We appreciate all the love and support that we are getting; it means a lot to us. Thanks to all of you.
We are looking forward to Tuesday, because we are seeing Journey and Def Leppard in concert together here in Memphis. Michelle has seen Journey before, and I have seen Def Leppard, but neither of us has seen both bands. So, to get to see them both in the same night will be ultra cool. Since this is part of my birthday gift to Michelle (her birthday is November 16), I splurged a little and got seats up close. We will have a ton of fun.
I have a test in Astronomy in Thursday, so I will be spending time this week getting ready for that.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Baby's First Picture
Michelle was supposed to go to the doctor on Friday, but she was not feeling well today, so she went today. While there, she was told that the due date is June 27, 2007. Also, she had an ultrasound, the results of which are above. How cool!
Michelle got to see the baby's heartbeat, which must have been so exciting! The doctor said the heartbeat was extemely strong. She was given a clean bill of health, and scheduled the next appointment on November 20th. The doctor said that if the heartbeat is still good then, everything should be fine the rest of the way.
I tried to increase the size of the picture, but I could not get it to work. I will keep trying.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Change of Plans
Michelle has been feeling sick to her stomach for the past several weeks, and we could not figure out why. Well, yesterday we found out that she is PREGNANT!! This is insane! We were told that she could never get pregnant, mostly because of me. All I can say to that is, "All it takes is one"...LOL. Apparently, one found its way to the right place!
Therefore, the first question everyone has had is obviously, "What does this do to the adoption?" Essentially, the adoption will go on pause. One of the largest parts of the process is the part we are about to finish, which is the home study. The home study remains valid for two years, so we can put it on pause until after the baby comes home, then pick it up again later.
Probably the funniest part of the whole thing so far is how I found out. I got a call yesterday morning asking me to referee some football games as an emergency substitute. The first game was supposed to start at noon, so at 1:00 I called Michelle to tell her that we had not started yet (due to the fact that neither team was there). I was bored, frustrated, and just ticked off. Anyway, she told me that while she was out earlier she decided to get a home pregnancy test to prove to the doctor that she was not pregnant. She had just done to test a couple of minutes before I called, so she was still in shock. And, I got to join in the celebration, at least on the phone. I announced to everyone around me that my wife was pregnant, and everyone got excited. I did not care about the games at that point, and did not care much all day. I had more important things on my mind.
We made the requisite phone calls to the future grandparents, great-grandparents, and friends. Everyone is really excited. So, we ask that everyone please keep us in your prayers. We will need everyone's support.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
Wednesday, November 01, 2006
Wired Magazine, one of my favorite reads, set up a Flikr account where geeks could submit pictures of themselves in their best Halloween costumes. I suggested to my sister Jessica that she submit something, since she always has great costumes. Hers was voted one of the best, and is posted here. That is so cool!
We got our tests back in Philosophy of Religion today, and I was relieved to have done pretty well (B+). I was the first person to finish the test, which has never happened before in my life. I am normally one of the very last people to finish a test, so I was kind of freaked out. Cool.
This Friday, Memphis Theological Seminary is having an Inquirer's day, which is a day for future and potential future students to explore the campus. Sounds like a great excuse to skip class. I am looking forward to it.
Michelle and I were disappoint that we had ZERO trick-or-treaters come to our door. Say what? Unbelievable. Anyway, we had rented a completely horrible horror movie from the '80s, and sort of enjoyed watching it. Horror movies were, in general, horrible in the '80s, and the one we chose did not disappoint.
I am still working on getting a picture taken of Michelle's car, but the weather here has been dreadful and I do not like taking my camera out in the rain. We decided to name the car Thebe, who was a nymph and the daughter of the river god Asopus. Thebe (THEE-bee) is also the fourth closest satellite (moon) of Jupiter.
We are looking forward to spending Thanksgiving in Tullahoma. We should have a great time. I am looking forward to doing some maintenance on the Thebe with her dad.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
We got our tests back in Philosophy of Religion today, and I was relieved to have done pretty well (B+). I was the first person to finish the test, which has never happened before in my life. I am normally one of the very last people to finish a test, so I was kind of freaked out. Cool.
This Friday, Memphis Theological Seminary is having an Inquirer's day, which is a day for future and potential future students to explore the campus. Sounds like a great excuse to skip class. I am looking forward to it.
Michelle and I were disappoint that we had ZERO trick-or-treaters come to our door. Say what? Unbelievable. Anyway, we had rented a completely horrible horror movie from the '80s, and sort of enjoyed watching it. Horror movies were, in general, horrible in the '80s, and the one we chose did not disappoint.
I am still working on getting a picture taken of Michelle's car, but the weather here has been dreadful and I do not like taking my camera out in the rain. We decided to name the car Thebe, who was a nymph and the daughter of the river god Asopus. Thebe (THEE-bee) is also the fourth closest satellite (moon) of Jupiter.
We are looking forward to spending Thanksgiving in Tullahoma. We should have a great time. I am looking forward to doing some maintenance on the Thebe with her dad.
I hope everyone is doing well. Peace...
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