World , Lets Make It A Better Place

Which keeps reminding me how out of shape I am

2008-12-16T08:11:00.000-08:00

Hi All

It's been awhile since I've had access to the blog .. i guess it can get temperamental. I just wanted to use this venue to wish everyone a happy holiday.

I'm slow at work now so I'll be taking tomorrow off to go ski Vail -which is getting dumped on- and then Friday I have a good friend from home coming out so we're heading to the Cavs/Nuggets game, the mountains and then the Bills/Broncos game on Sunday. It should be a great weekend. For not going home, the holiday season could be worse!

I thought I'd throw a picture up of the hockey team that I'm playing on (which keeps reminding me how out of shape I am) ...

Dave

Size Matters?

2008-12-16T08:08:00.000-08:00

Thought this week I would share a few thoughts on numbers, on the things we measure, on attendance type stuff. So...

One time I was on a plane with a pastor of a church that had skyrocketed to about 3,000. Our church was pretty young and probably running around 400 or 500. So this pastor said to me, "Vince, when we first started I thought: If we ever get to 200, I'll be satisfied. When we got there I thought: Well, if we ever get to 500, then I'll be great. When we hit 500, I thought I would be content at 1,000. Then it was 2,000. Then 3,000. Vince, all I've experienced at every size is a strange sense of discontentment, even disappointment. Vince, you better find something other than the success and size of your church to give you joy."

So be honest: Are you looking to the size and success of your church to give you joy? And, if so, when do you think you'll figure out that that's a game you just can't win?

Heroes : Volume 3 END

2008-12-16T08:06:00.000-08:00

Mmg agak slow nk download heroes ep last volume 3 nie...adrive asyik dok limit (kes kes kes) then terpaksa dwnload from Mediafire

How come the writer make this volume like second volume, 13 episode je (lebih satu episod je dri volume 2) ku fikir ade writer strike ades...takpe sekbaik xtunggu lama..bulan febuarybaru kuar new episode (kater-nyer la)

huhu this end volume episode mmg besh...bapak peter mati no ketua villian but...so sad nathan lak ambik alih...mybe that y peter from the future shoot nathan...but what to say ko tgk je la

and this episode to byk lak org mati but yang mati pon yg "ebil" or watak tambahan je so tak kisah punya

metal-guy.. saw ? (killed by syler)

puppet-guy (killed by syler)

dia fikir nk puppetkan sylar..cari kes tol

take-fears-to-storng guy (killed by Stacy)

Meredith (So sad for claire...)

And benda paling aku suka is...peter get power dia balik just terbang je...but ok wat..ade gak power

And some people get abilty, Ando - super-charge people power

ku fikir kose elekrtik la memula

and with that power ando gi selamatkan Hiro yang bodo stuck kt tiang bendera lelame

And finally Dr.Suresh alredy heal from sisik monster dia badan-nyer..baru nk tgk mukamonster dia..cam peter jumpa dia kt future

INTRODUCE THE NEW VILLIAN

NATHAN

hey people

2008-10-12T05:01:00.000-07:00

Hi there people. This is my first blog and i dont actually know how to write one. So I am a 14 year old girl and i belong to Kerala,India. Right now I am at Singapore for the holidays and it is real boring here because i have been coming here every summer ever since i can remember. My dad works here and I am really glad that he does because i wouldn't want to have him with me back at my home. Well he is a nice dad and all..in fact i think i am real lucky to have him as a dad.He loves me a lot and he left home to come and work here at Singapore so that he could earn enough money to give us a luxurious life.But he is a real nag. He wants me to be perfect. The best at studies, the best at singing and everything.He wants me to be more sociable and wants me to talk to people more. Well that is kinda impossible. I am a coward when it comes to facing people. I get so nervous when I am around people. I really dont know why. I think a lot about what the people listening to me speak would think about me. I am so bad at talking to people that I can't even say "how do you do" to a guest. And I have a hell lot of stage fright. I am so bad at public speaking. I avoid all instances when i have to get onstage. I dont even have the wits to go get a prize onstage. Well I am really pathetic. My mom, dad and my brother seems to be combining their efforts to try and make my life miserable this summer. I think these 2 months are going to be the worst ones of my life. My dad wants me to be more religious and sociable.He is trying to make me learn the vishnu sahasranamam.I guess i will have to learn it all. And he thinks I am a great singer. He is playing stupid music all the time he is home and keeps on telling me that this song is very easy to learn and that song is a very melodious one. As if that bothers me. And my mother says that she has quit advising me because it is useless. Really there are worse daughters you know...well there must be. Well i gotta go now. Gotta go have lunch.Will tell you people more in my next posting.

first post

2008-10-12T04:54:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone. This is my very first blog and. Today is also the first time i have ever heard of blogging. I know this is kind of late but my new years resolutions were:
1. Stop biting my nails
2. Go fishing more often
My new resoulition Is to try and make an entry in my blog every day.

I am so excited. There is this organisation called the CME who run loads of cheap courses. One of them is a halfterm rock school. me and my best mate have each got a place there. I went last year and it was so cool. (by the way the CME's website is www.cme.org.uk) Any music fans should get themselves on their mailing list and get a course booklet.

Well I had better sign off now.

A 15 year old girl in a small world thankful for all shes' got

2008-10-12T04:53:00.000-07:00

My days now are even harder then they usally are. I've been going thrrough some hard times. But I know that they will pass. As long as I have my love of my life. I really love Louis with all that I got. And I know that he knows that. We have been together for 5 months going on 6. This year is his last year of school. Unlike me I still have 3 more years. I'm really ganna miss him. He plans to leave in August for army training. I'm really ganna miss him. Louis is the best thing that has ever come into my life. It's so funny that we 1st met each other 2 years ago, but never talked. And now we find each other in love. I love you babe! I never thought of ever finding the one who really loves me for me.
He makes me feel so good inside. He always makes me laugh when my days are going bad. And right now he's really there when I need him to put a smile on my face. Thank you!
Anyways hey Dorian wuts up. You like my spanish or what? you know your gurl is not really all there right? shes wack! she's so nerdy. Her and her red polish with white hearts on them. Na I'm just playin don't tell her cause she'll get all butt hurt.lol
Bianca is a really good friend. Well Dorian I g2g. bye.

Life is nothing

2008-10-12T04:52:00.000-07:00

I wonder why am i here in the world. I just feel im in a loop where the exit is only if "money". But i want to change the loop structure in to if "peace" or "love" then Happy exit . i think i got the purpose of why am i here. i will try run the loop and once its executed you all will be with love and peace until then u need to bug for money but dont beg for it.....

Border Busters

2008-10-12T04:44:00.000-07:00

It seems if you are an illegal immigrant you have more rights than an American Citizen. Free medical. Americans have to pay not only for themselves, bit also the illegals. If you are an illegal, you can work and not pay taxes. If you are an American YOU PAY taxes and cover the costs for the Illegals. Children of Americans or LEGAL immigrants suffer, because illegals put their children in our schools, and we have to pay for them to learn to speak English, because no one in their home speaks English.

We have two American border control agents rotting in jail, because they were doing their job. Why, because they were accused of shooting at an illegal who was trafficking drugs. What does our Government do.....they pay the illegal trafficker many thousands of dollars and grated immunity to testify against these two Americans who were doing their job keeping illegals out and trying to keep Americans safe.

Americans who work all their lives probably won't have Social security benefits. Part because congress used our social security money and never paid it back, and our government gives our social security benefits to illegals.
When are we going to wake up and force our Government to do something about this? One person can not do this alone, but many Americans can. Join the non-partisan grass roots movement and lets all do something once and for all.

Lets give America back to the Americans and the legal immigrants who help to make our country what it should be.

Bigfoot dead body found with photo evidence

2008-08-15T14:37:00.000-07:00

On August 1, 2008 two hunters have found a body lying in the woods, the place or exact location where it had been found is kept secret in order to protect creatures, And the picture you see above is claimed to be Bigfoot lying in a freezer. The body looks very similar to what we have seen in videos and in TV. The body is sent for DNA test and also identification, the further details about the DNA test is said to be released at Aug15th of this month, so wait for updates on this post. The body is claimed to a Bigfoot's dead body due to following reasons,

* Creature is 7 inches tall

* It weighs above 500 pounds

* It resembles both Human and a Ape

* Its a male with reddish hair covering the body and blackish Grey eyes

* It had 2 arms and fingers with 5 fingers in each

There are several resemblance with the one seen in famous Bigfoot video shot at Pennsylvania and the whole mystery will come to end so soon. I am a Bigfoot fan and i was a little bit devastated when i heard about the death. And the sad part is that what ever human have invented or found was always misused. So this discovery of Bigfoot would lead to many hunters invade into forest and spoil the living environment of the creature. However the creature managed to hide from human site for several years from the past now this discovery gonna change it. No more Bigfoot mystery is a mystery. And if we are gonna see several bigfoots in future, we must remember that Bigfoot can think like human and appears partly like human, so its like our ancestor and hence world is a place for them too, So do not trouble the animal , let the animal to have its privacy. The Bigfoot never bothers to peep into your bedroom so why do you want to ?

Wow, I Was Tired and I was Tagged Again

2008-08-10T09:08:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite indulgences has nothing to do with chocolate or bookstores.

It's what I like to call...sleeping until I wake up. I know what you're thinking...don't we always do that?

What I mean is, sleeping until I wake up without the aid of an alarm clock or the neighbor's dog or a bad dream or having to go to the bathroom.

Unfortunately, there's really only one day a week when it's possible and there's usually something else that I want to do on that day. (Saturday) (And moms...I know you're hating me right now, because it's not ever really possible for you. Sorry! We singles and childless have to find the benefits of our lives where we can. ;) I haven't been able to indulge for weeks, and this week, I decided to do it.

Of course yesterday, A Passion Redeemed showed up in my mailbox and I started to read it before going to sleep. But even with that, I don't think I was up that late.

I slept until 2:40 p.m.!!!! I'm so embarrassed! I can't remember the last time I slept that late! It's got to be at least 12 hours of sleep!! I missed all that precious reading time and Olympic watching time, etc. So I definitely had a lazy Saturday, but wow! I think it's the heat. It must be the heat.

Anyway, I've been tagged a few more times, so find my answers below. This tag was from Megan, whom I haven't heard from in ages!
What was I doing 10 years ago?
I was getting ready to go to college. I cannot believe that. How has it been ten years? So I was probably saying good-bye to people, packing up my life with panic, and just all around being dead nervous.

What are five things on my to-do list today?

1. Sleep, apparently.
2. Read A Passion Redeemed
3. Write 2 reviews for The Friendly Book Nook
4. Finish organizing Book Blogger Appreciation Week. (ha, not happening)
5. Respond to all my emails.

Snacks I enjoy:
Junior Mints
Popcorn
Those Reese's Fast Break things are a recent addiction
Grape Tomatoes

Places I've lived:
Georgia
Iowa
Missouri
Japan
California

Things I would do if I was a billionaire:
Pay off debt
Pay of families debt
Buy a house
Quit my job
Sponsor some more Compassion children and make some donations to Compassion, International Justice Mission, and Voice of the martyrs
Write a book
Travel the world

Alyssa over at Plans for Hope tagged me for this one:

Q1. If you were to be in ministry 10 years from now (whether you’re in ministry now or not) what would you like to be doing and where?

My dream would to be in France or Japan working with groups of believers in a "cell" church type of ministry. I would happily teach English or something full time.

Q2. If you could wake up tomorrow with a degree and all the learning that would have gone with it from any seminary which one would you pick and why?

This is something I have not considered for a long time, so I don't know.

Q3. What’s your poison: donuts, beer, wine, pizza, chocolate, Twinkies, key-lime pie?

I think this question is funny after the first two. Probably pizza. I do enjoy wine, but it's not, er, a weakness. I hate beer. Donuts are good, but I'm not sure I've ever had key-lime pie. My true weakness is Diet Mountain Dew.

I'm not going to tag anyone for these, but feel free to play along if you like!

Read any good books?

2008-08-10T09:05:00.000-07:00

I have stolen this blog from a bunch of people. And I don’t even care. I’m about to fall asleep at my desk, so this is my afternoon distraction.

I am not exactly sure what this list is, but it has something to do with the National Endowment for the Arts’ Big Read program, though I couldn’t find this list on their website to verify that claim. I stole it from CJ. Apparently the NEA estimates that the average adult has only read six of these books. At least, that is the statistic that is bandied about the internet. So, basically, this is a random unverified list with a random unverified statistic attached to it. But let’s see how I do anyway, shall we? (Hint: more than six.)

Here’s how it works:

1) Look at the list and bold those you have read.
2) Italicize those you intend to read.
3) Mark in red the books you LOVE. (I didn’t do this. Oops)
4) Reprint this list in your blog

Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
The Lord of the Rings - JRR Tolkien: I tried. It just didn’t happen
Jane Eyre - Charlotte Bronte.
Harry Potter series - JK Rowling
To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee
The Bible
Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
Nineteen Eighty Four - George Orwell
His Dark Materials - Philip Pullman
Great Expectations - Charles Dickens
Little Women - Louisa M Alcott
Tess of the D’Urbervilles - Thomas Hardy
Catch 22 - Joseph Heller
Complete Works of Shakespeare
Rebecca - Daphne Du Maurier: I checked it out of the library. Does that count?
The Hobbit - JRR Tolkien
Birdsong - Sebastian Faulks
Catcher in the Rye - JD Salinger
The Time Traveller’s Wife - Audrey Niffenegger
Middlemarch - George Eliot
Gone With The Wind - Margaret Mitchell
The Great Gatsby - F Scott Fitzgerald
Bleak House - Charles Dickens
War and Peace - Leo Tolstoy
The Hitch Hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy - Douglas Adams
Brideshead Revisited - Evelyn Waugh
Crime and Punishment - Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
Alice in Wonderland - Lewis Carroll
The Wind in the Willows - Kenneth Grahame
Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
David Copperfield - Charles Dickens
Chronicles of Narnia - CS Lewis
Emma - Jane Austen
Persuasion - Jane Austen
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe - CS Lewis
The Kite Runner - Khaled Hosseini
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin - Louis De Bernieres
Memoirs of a Geisha - Arthur Golden
Winnie the Pooh - AA Milne
Animal Farm - George Orwell
The Da Vinci Code - Dan Brown: Too trendy
One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
A Prayer for Owen Meany - John Irving
The Woman in White - Wilkie Collins
Anne of Green Gables - LM Montgomery
Far From The Madding Crowd - Thomas Hardy
The Handmaid’s Tale - Margaret Atwood
Lord of the Flies - William Golding
Atonement - Ian McEwan
Life of Pi - Yann Martel
Dune - Frank Herbert
Cold Comfort Farm - Stella Gibbons
Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen
A Suitable Boy - Vikram Seth
The Shadow of the Wind - Carlos Ruiz Zafon
A Tale Of Two Cities - Charles Dickens
Brave New World - Aldous Huxley
The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time - Mark Haddon
Love In The Time Of Cholera - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck
Lolita - Vladimir Nabokov
The Secret History - Donna Tartt
The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold
Count of Monte Cristo - Alexandre Dumas
On The Road - Jack Kerouac
Jude the Obscure - Thomas Hardy
Bridget Jones’s Diary - Helen Fielding: Seriously?
Midnight’s Children - Salman Rushdie
Moby Dick - Herman Melville: Wow, lots of classics I’ve never read
Oliver Twist - Charles Dickens
Dracula - Bram Stoker
The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
Notes From A Small Island - Bill Bryson
Ulysses - James Joyce
The Bell Jar - Sylvia Plath
Swallows and Amazons - Arthur Ransome
Germinal - Emile Zola
Vanity Fair - William Makepeace Thackeray
Possession - AS Byatt
A Christmas Carol - Charles Dickens
Cloud Atlas - David Mitchell
The Color Purple - Alice Walker
The Remains of the Day - Kazuo Ishiguro
Madame Bovary - Gustave Flaubert
A Fine Balance - Rohinton Mistry
Charlotte’s Web - EB White
The Five People You Meet In Heaven - Mitch Albom
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
The Faraway Tree Collection
Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad
The Little Prince - Antoine De Saint-Exupery
The Wasp Factory - Iain Banks
Watership Down - Richard Adams
A Confederacy of Dunces
A Town Like Alice - Nevil Shute
The Three Musketeers
Hamlet - William Shakespeare
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - Roald Dahl
Les Miserables - Victor Hugo - No WAY am I ever going to read this.

Hmmm, 28 out of 100. I need to add some books to my list at the library!

Phil Wickham “Singalong” Download

2008-08-10T09:00:00.000-07:00

Thank God Phil Wickham and all the other young ‘ns with guitars and big voices these days weren’t around in 2001 when I started out in this business of Christian music. Not sure I would have even moved to Nashville and tried you know?

Well, Phil Wickham was around, but he was singing in the church his father pastors in those days, not yet sporting girl jeans and v-necks and not yet wowing music buyers with his sweeping melodies, poetic lyrics and intense vocals. Starting today you can be wowed too. Just click the image in this post below and you’ll be magically transported to a web page where you can download 15 brand spankin’ new live tracks from Phil Wickham. He calls the project “singalong” and you’re likely to do just that

------------------------------------------
Note: This download won’t cost you any money but it will require that you subscribe to Phil’s newsletter. A price, sure, but a small price for 15 tracks from Phil I think.

Maryland

2008-08-10T08:57:00.000-07:00

Maryland is the only state with an official sport: jousting. And Edgar Allan Poe lived (for a time) married his cousin and was buried in Maryland. I know, exciting stuff. Maryland, I’m stoked to be heading your way this morning. Guys on horses and guys kissin’ cousins. What more could one want for the weekend?

Seriously, I am excited about this trip, but not because of jousting or a museum for a dead writer guy. I’m headed to a church that is throwing a party for Compassion International. Essentially, that’s what it is. It’s an outdoor festival-style event, tickets are sold, bands play, and the money goes to support a Child Survival Project.

Good idea.

Ministry Without the People

2008-08-08T11:18:00.001-07:00

I used to work on a church staff. And we had this recurring joke, and it wasn't that funny, but it merited a snicker after an exhausting counseling session or grueling confrontation:

"You know, ministry would be GREAT if it weren't for the people."

Like I say, it was supposed to be funny. The idea of it, you know! There IS no "ministry" without people, no "ministry" without suddenly being called to dealing with people you don't really enjoy, no "ministry" without hanging out with energy-sappers, no "ministry" without the relational grime of it all.

It's a glorious mess. Fitting, since we're serving a God who chose to be born in a room with animal poop. "Ministry would be great, if it weren't for the people." Indeed.

I'm not sure it's a joke anymore.

----------------

I get to watch a lot of churches in action, and I get to talk to hundreds of people, on an ongoing basis, involved with hundreds of churches. And here's something I hear a lot: "I love our pastor. He's funny, and he's a great teacher! He's such a man of God," and then, eventually, "He says he's not really a people person, though, and he's not a good counselor, so don't bring him your problems, and don't get upset if he doesn't know who I am, and stuff, and..."

As an introvert who's a pretty darn good teacher and a clumsy hallway-talker: That sounds like a neat gig, man. I'll take it.

-----------------

A new friend of mine, "Rick", describes himself as "too alone", and I can understand why. He's a single dad. A smart, kind guy who's raising a sweet, happy, eight-year old daughter. Rick was raised Catholic, but "wanted something more", and found an evangelical church down the street. He tried, but never made close friends. But, wow, he was inspired by The Pastor, who's a famous Man of God.

Rick was a little naive about how church can operate, and asked if he could meet The Pastor to talk. The staff eventually sent him a letter, saying yes, at such-and-such date, Pastor would be available, in the hallway, but for no longer than five minutes. Rick was disappointed. He wanted 20, maybe 30.

Rick thought the staff may have acted on its own, and maybe his Pastor would talk with him if he could just reach him directly. Rick decided to sit in the front row, next to a table where the Pastor sits. Rick wrote him a brief letter, telling him how thankful he was for the Pastor's sermons, and how the Pastor reminded him of his own dad, who had passed away, and how comforting it was for Rick to read The Pastor's books and listen to him, and could they please talk for a bit, because it would mean so much.

The Pastor took the note wordlessly, read it, folded it up, stuck it in his pocket, didn't look at him, and Rick never heard a word back.

----------------

I get complaints nearly every day about me. And I get nervous emails, too -- the kind that start like, "I know you don't know me, and probably don't have time for this, but..." that continue with, "I don't know what else to do, my wife left me yesterday..." or, "I feel so alone..." or, "I want to love God, like you were talking about, but I just don't know how I can, because..." and so forth.

I try to write everyone back, or call them, and in some cases, get together with them. Everyone. I try.

This isn't impressive, really. I did start to think, once, "You know, I'm not a pastor, I'm just a radio guy, and these people need someone else, really, and why doesn't their church take care of this, and why are you writing a radio station, again?"

Then I read that C.S. Lewis responded to every letter he got. Half his day -- gone! -- because of all his correspondence. He could've been utilitarian about it. ("Well, shoot, my time would be best spent writing another trilogy.") But he didn't. Someone asked him why. "Because something I write in these letters might mean something to someone."

It's stupid to even write this, but for the record: I, small-time media feller and accordion hack,am no C.S. Lewis. A radio friend who does our evening show fields hundreds of emails, and spends much of his day engaged in long back-and-forths. He's on nationally. Does he have time for that?

"That's my job, man. That's where it happens."

I needed to hear that. I'd love to just go in my little room, my studio, and "minister" without the mess.

But the mess is the ministry.

----------------

"It's not realistic to be spiritual shepherd thousands of people," -- I know, I know. And I agree. But if you're not my spiritual shepherd, why am I calling you my pastor? If it's just teaching them, I could do that on the radio. But I wouldn't be their shepherd.

I think it's really easy for Pastors, for any of us, really, to love people. At least, I should say, love People, capital "P", as in The People in Theory, the People Out There, the Sheep, the Idea of People.

It's real easy to love The People. It's much more difficult, much more challenging, much more exhausting, much more a test of the heart to love actual people: The people who work for you. The people in your home. The people who slip you a heart-rending note when you're getting ready to impress The People.

Ministry is loving people you didn't handpick.

It's easy to love The People. There's a long history of impressive leaders who loved People while abusing those actual humans walking around them. Rousseau, Russell, Marx (Marx abused his only employee, a woman who bore his child and whom he threw out in the street, along with the kid) -- there's a loooong list of intellectual and leadership titans, and tyrants; it goes on forever.

We have a name for those who find it so easy to love the idea of the people, to serve The People, while thinking themselves too busy for people: Elitists.

So here's to those with pastoral hearts, who love each inconvenient human around them -- each person who offers nothing but a mess. Blessed are those pastors, for theirs is not an ego trip.

Because I'm on the radio, I get attention for doing very little. But pastors -- paid, unpaid, titled, untitled -- who love whomever God brings across their paths? I have to believe your reward is coming, and it'll be much better than your picture in a seminar brochure. Lots, lots better.

You're probably already getting a taste of it.

----------------

For the record, Rick found our motley little group. (We were helping a family move in his complex when we met him) and he told me last night he called his parents to let them know he'd finally found some friends. Called his parents!

Rick is fun to be around, and his daughter mixes right in with the other kids. She's a blessing, and Rick is, too.

I feel sorry for him. By "him", I mean The Pastor.

Baaaa. Sheeps

2008-08-08T11:17:00.000-07:00

Bill Kinnon thinks people who call themselves "pastors", or shepherds, should know what the term meant in the original usage.

Bill Kinnon is too negative. Bill Kinnon is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. Bill Kinnon is just way too critical. Bill Kinnon needs a haircut. Bill Kinnon's blog is too sarcastic. Bill Kinnon is Canadian.

So bear that all in mind. I'm offended by all of this, right there with you. But here's what he says "shepherds" need to remember about their calling:

Shepherds were decidedly lower class. Many writers call them a "despised class." Most were youngest sons or hirelings. (See Jesus' comments on sheep, shepherds and hirelings in John 10.) They lived with their sheep, smelled like their sheep, defended their sheep from prey (physically) and their world revolved around their sheep. They knew their sheep by name.

The rod and staff were tools of their trade. The hook on the staff would be used to pull sheep out of danger. The rod would be used for both protection and discipline. It is said that a sheep that constantly wandered away would have a leg broken by the shepherd's use of the rod. But then the Shepherd would carry that sheep while the leg healed - taking intimate care of it during the healing process - and the sheep would become so attached to the shepherd it would never run away again. (The leg-breaking part sounds a lot like church discipline - I haven't heard of many cases of care and love during the healing process, however.)

Shepherds only managed flocks to a size they could handle - probably in the 100 sheep range. Sometimes they would combine their flocks with those of other shepherds - and work together - while still remaining completely aware of which sheep they were responsible for. (Jesus' parable of the Lost Sheep would suggest the hearers of that parable understand the importance of each sheep.)

So. Present day Christian leaders (or wannabes) who want to be known as shepherds and want to call the rest of us sheep...if you want to be known as a shepherd - live the life. Recognize your humble station in life - decidedly lower class. Live amongst the sheep you've been called to. Smell like them. Know their names. Protect them. Carry them when necessary.

All the while realizing that you are but one of them.

Now, to Tick People Off on a Completely Different Subject...

2008-08-08T11:16:00.000-07:00

Mike Taylor (not pictured at left) is a Friend of Kamp Krusty. He's one of those "I'm a worship leader, but I'm also a paleontologist" types. You know the cliche'.

He's also from England. England is a small country north of Europe that we so TOTALLY pwned in two wars.

Mike is very thoughtful on faith/science issues, and I love an answer he gives here on this blog dedicated to...something...science-y...that I...can't...understand. It's for scientists.

Scroll down to the last question, where Taylor starts his well-thought-out answer with, "First of all, I make no secret of the fact that I am a Christian..."

For the record, much as I respect and admire Taylor and his answer here: I'm not sold on NOMA. And don't bother dismissing my opinion purely because it's from a non-scientist. NOMA is not science, it's philosophy. It's not test-able; it's not falsifiable. It's more a religious view than a scientific one (Oddly, this might mean that scientists who preach NOMA are not particularly qualified to speak about the limits of science or religion. They should leave those sorts of discussions to philosophers.)

It occurs, too, that the Christian must believe that God, Himself, has, at least at times, overlapped the magisteria. I'm no scientist, of course, but for what it's worth, I suspect He's doing it even now. I do know Mike would agree with this: One needn't a philosophical commitment to materialism in order to pursue truth about the observable universe.

Anyway, Taylor's answer is well-put, and should give you insight into the mind of someone who, himself, is overlapping some magisteria in a way I think is graceful and winning.

I Did Not Find Pants in Bangkok, by Brant Hansen

2008-08-08T11:15:00.000-07:00

I visited Bangkok recently. It is a neat city.

We had a "layover". We wanted to see the King's Palace! It was one (1) hour from the airport. We knew it would take one (1) hour to get back. That gave us a total of one (1) hour to spend touring the King's Palace in Bangkok. That's not much time!

We hurried! We took a REALLY fast taxi! We got there. It was hot. We were told we could not wear shorts into the palace. We were told we could rent pants at "that building over there."

We went to that building over there. They did not have pants for rent. They sent us to some another place for pant rental. That place was not a pant rental place, also. They sent us to another place for pant rental. That place was not a pant rental place, also. They sent us to another place for pant rental. That place was not a pant rental place, also.

We got frantic. We started asking people on the street where we could find pants. We had to say, "Pants? Rental Pants?" slowly. In Thailand, they speak Thai. So we talked louder.

We ran around. We wanted pants and yelled for them. People pointed in different directions.

I went to Bangkok. I ran around yelling about Rental Pants and did not find them and then went back to Florida.

Kenya 28 Where God Lives

2008-08-08T11:14:00.000-07:00

Today begins something called the 40 Day Fast, and you can click here to learn about it, and here to get the full roster. I tried to put a widget-linky-thing on my sidebar, but it doesn't work. This is onaccounta I'm a doofus.

Everyone involved wants to see God's Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven, and we're convinced that sponsoring a child through Compassion International is a great way to help make that happen.

Below is something I wrote while visiting our Compassion girl in the slums of Nairobi. (You should watch the last two minutes of that video, if you haven't already...)

I didn't get to take Jesus into the slums. He was waiting for us.

-----------------

(First, before today's entry, let me note that I'm typing to the strains of a tuxedo-clad young Kenyan on the piano in our hotel. I'm sitting in the lobby, and he's regally playing -- of course -- "You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille", by Kenny Rogers. Many things don't translate cross-culturally, but -- make no mistake -- Kenny translates. Kenny crosses all boundaries.)

Susan leaned over, from her seat in the van.

"Notice where the children are playing -- look out the left window," she said. Susan knows this area well; she's worked for Compassion for years.

They were playing next to a pile of trash that's well over their heads, and seems to stretch for miles. The stench hit us immediately.

"They put all these schools next to the dump. All of Nairobi dumps its trash here," she said. Children of Dandora -- another sprawling, Where-the-Streets-Have-No-Name-type slum -- scavenge through the refuse, looking for food, or something to sell. Anything.

We stopped, and walked in a Dandora Baptist Church, where children at a Compassion project were singing. Their voices bounced off the walls, singing praises to God. Then we met about dozen people in the church who are suffering from AIDS. The whole community is suffering -- every family, one way or the other -- from AIDS.

A young man -- they called him "Timothy" -- stood up to introduce himself to us.

We could look out the windows to the right and left as he spoke, and see children in the filth. We could see dozens of vultures flying directly overhead, over the trash, over the dirt, over the disease-riddled, dark cardboard homes. Welcome to Dandora.

"Welcome to Dandora, where God lives."

Where God lives?

Circling vultures. Men, women, and children crying out with disease, children searching through stinking trash for anything...where God lives.

Timothy has lived his whole life here. Someone sponsored him through Compassion International, when he was four. He's now in his twenties. He now has a degree in Computer Science. He now teaches kids in the program about computers.

He knows where God lives. He knows God does not run away from suffering. He moves closer. Dandora is suffering, and God gets His mail here.

He also teaches the children -- who are where he once was --about the love of God.

"I understand the love of God. I understand how a God, whom I have not seen, can love me. This is because someone, whom I have not seen, loved me enough to sponsor me. I understand the love of God."

Where God lives.

Krusty Spillage...30 Minutes of Free Association, with Links

2008-08-08T11:13:00.000-07:00

No time to write...must instead try Larry King style...

This truly captures the courageous Tiger Woods story...I'd equate socialism with compassion if it actually worked...My advice: Never join a church that, if they have a paid "the pastor" office, seriously wouldn't hire a homeless, penniless guy to do it...

If this is true, I can promise I will never die...

Paul said any command you come up with can be summed up with "love one another", but people don't buy it, because we prefer unending complexity...Your Bluetooth does not make you look cool...I'm in a neighborhood garage band called "The Re-Uptake Inhibitors"...

I don't understand small talk, and never have, and I can't do it very well at all, and it's embarrassing...We'll always have the poor, but the American church could single-handedly wipe out "poverty as we know it", but we have other priorities...We watched "Bella" last week, and it's really good, but they yap too much, and they should have thrown in some explosions, at least in the background or something...

I own a for-real, professional-grade slide whistle, and it's sitting on my desk right now...We need critics of the religious right who aren't sell-outs to the political left...This toaster RULES: The "Moaster"...I came up with a new exercise plan, where I work-out for much shorter periods of time, but in brief sprint-intervals...It saves time...It also doesn't work...

I'm creeped out by clowns, and so is everybody, but I'm also creeped out by those mustache-guys with big bow ties and hats that rode around on those bicycles with one giant wheel and one tiny one...I'm excited that Danica Patrick has, once again, proven that women, too, can drive fast, and who knew?...Affluence makes people less interesting, plain and simple...There were ELEVEN empty urinals in this airport bathroom the other day and some guy walked in and used the one right next to me...

Daniel Radosh, a secular Jew, writing for the NYTimes, has a list of "Ten Great Christian Songs", and includes Kamp Krusty faves the 77's, Over the Rhine, and Andy Hunter, so he's smack-on...I hate golf, but had to play in a tournament, so I borrowed my friend's precious clubs, then accidentally destroyed his $300 driver...

The reason the media went overboard with Tim Russert coverage: It wasn't about him, it's about their own mortality...Indiana basketball is going to be hilariously bad this fall...I just finished Dostoeyevski's Crime and Punishment and you know what? It was downright okay...

I say "What in tarnation?" a lot, and I'm not sure what I'm saying, and I sometimes think 30% of my vocabulary is borrowed from Yosemite Sam...Pacifism can be profoundly unloving...I also say, "Egad!", which, I think, is from Unca Scrooge...I was on the treadmill the other day, looked up at the TV, and Oprah was talking to a guy who's like, six months pregnant...

My friend Paul is in a "Christian 'Call of Duty 4' League" online, where they snipe each other in the head and fire grenades at each other...At least he was in the league, until he got kicked out for saying, "That weapon is gay..." ...I can't believe how good God is to me. Honestly -- it's unbelievable...

Traffic is forgiveness practice...I'm embarrassed that I have hair on my fingers, and ironically, may be asked to do an endorsement for a laser-hair-removal place. But I'm going to leave the hair on my fingers, because I don't want my endorsements to say, "Wow, I feel GREAT after getting all that HAIR off my FINGERS..." ...I bowled a 206 the other day, and I can't see straight. It's all about foot placement...

I found a hat the other day in Key West that actually fit my dumb head. I should have bought it...The difference between capitalism and Marxism: "In capitalism, man exploits man, but in Marxism, it's the other way around."... If "What About Bob" isn't funny to you, we can love each other, but we probably aren't going to be friends...Evangelical guys in their mid-40s through 60s have ALL the answers, man...

I have a Chinese friend with a ping-pong table in his ample living room. Do not challenge a Chinese man to a match on his own ping-pong table...I'm -- frankly -- kinda scared about my radio show going national here in a week or so...Gas prices would not be "the issue" if we'd put more thought into zoning. I'm always bugged by the anti-human urban "planning" we've embraced...THE best way, as you know, to enjoy fortune cookies: Whatever it says, insert the words, "...in bed." at the end...

When "First Things" arrives in my mailbox, my heart skips a beat...I can't believe I wrote about finger-hair up there...If a blog-writer were a person who enjoyed a cold beer every so often, he might be tempted to write here that "Bud Light Lime" is surprisingly good, maybe as good as Landshark, hypothetically speaking...I wish I had more time to blog. I'd probably produce better stuff than this. You deserve a purple heart if you finished this...

Wall-E and Sex

2008-08-08T11:12:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm taking a sabbatical from my sabbatical, but I had to post this: Wall-E is not about pollution. It's about sexuality. And not just any kind.

Unmistakably. From start to finish. I'm not kidding.

Watch it, and you'll see it. Surely, people are already discussing this. I did read one review that broaches it: "This movie is really about finding a partner for life" -- but to pretend this sells the movie short on poetry. It is very specifically, and very obviously, about heterosexuality.

"Eve" (of course it's "Eve"), pregnant with life, reminding a now-asexual society of its "directive", ultimately bringing children back to earth, with their own joyful directive, to bring order to earth through their own fruitfulness and works of restoration.

Wall-E is a lonely, hard-working Adam. He models masculinity through-and-through, by sacrificing self in order for Eve to be what she was made to be, and do what she was made to do. Others want to take the life growing in her and toss it down the garbage chute, in the name of protecting their lives of convenience. (Does this ring a bell?) But Wall-E, a true man, will protect the threat -- the life inside Eve, for which she was designed -- at all costs to himself.

None of this can ba an accident. If you view this as the typical eco-sermon, you didn't really watch the movie. Wall-E is about male and female, re-creation, and the putting-back of Things-as-Intended.

It's so obvious that I'm sure others have written about it. I saw the movie yesterday, so I'm only beginning to pay attention.

The Long, Dark Knight of the Soul

2008-08-08T11:11:00.000-07:00

At one level, this movie is a bunch of violent, purposeless noise.

But there is a second deeper level. At that level, "The Dark Knight" is a discourse on the nature of evil.

And then... there is a third, still deeper, final level.

At that final level, this movie is a bunch of violent, purposeless noise.

---------------------

People are buying scalped tickets this weekend for $100 apiece. The critics say it's brilliant. You've likely heard them, speaking in uniform voice, extolling the profundity of this very, very important movie. The hype has been unmatched. It's the best of its genre -- ever. Thoroughly engrossing, thoroughly entertaining, thoroughly -- you know -- important.

So it's interesting to watch people emerge into the light of day in the hot Florida sun, looking for their cars in the crowded lots. They look kinda...bored. Like they did when they walked in. Almost like they didn't just see 2.5 hours of non-stop explosions, ear-crushing destruction, screams, bleeding, shotgun blasts, and brutal torture scenes.

Let the record show that in the waning days of western civilization, when we were artistically spent, the going rate for 2.5 hours of defibrillation was $9. Anything -- anything! -- to get our hearts pumping again, if for a short time, before exiting to find where we put the Accord.

This movie is well-made, of course. To paraphrase Abraham Lincoln, "People who enjoy that sort of thing will certainly enjoy that sort of thing."

"The Dark Knight" is that sort of thing. Death, mayhem, horrifying chaos -- wrapped in ooh-that's-deep philosophizing that will prompt many an essay from high school sophomores. Too bad it, ultimately, means nothing.

Granted, my experience was colored somewhat. Carolyn and I were sitting next to a three-year-old, who was treated to a happy-time-with-dad buffet of burnt flesh, maniacal laughing, and corpses. It's only PG-13, you know, which just means parents need show guidance, as they guide those they are to protect into their seats in dark, stranger-filled blood shows. Where would we be without parental guidance?

---------------------

Focus on the Family gives this movie 2-and-a-half stars for "family friendliness". For what family, the Mansons?

Will kids say they liked it, though? Will the junior high boys like it? Here's an experiement: Ask a group of junior high boys for movies they say that were NOT awesome. I've done it. There follows a long silence. This is because they are fools.

---------------------

"The Dark Knight" is cultural rigormortis. It's what happens when we are done, and we are done. Jacques Barzun had it right, when he wrote a history of western culture up through the 1990s, and said, certainly, that our age is defined by boredom. We are excited by nothing, really, but maybe for a moment here, or a moment there, we can try to be turned on. Sex can do it (or fake sex, much more likely) but brutal violence can work, too, if for a short time.

Our culture is lying on the table, and "The Dark Knight" is just another jolt before the flatline resumes.

At least give us this: Our mass-market (which included me, yesterday) is willing to pay for it, but also demands some sense that it was all, ultimately, high-minded, that it was making some statement, that it was horrific, yes, but redemptive, blah blah blah. Expect many hip Christian types to write as much, because 1) That's the essence of being hip, and 2) Who doesn't like Batman?

But it's not redemptive...unless...

Unless we can emerge in the sunlight, after ALL THAT HYPE for this masterwork, this penultimate expression, this marvel-ous creation, saying, "Really? That's as good as it gets?"

Then we walk out into the sun, and decide it's infinitely more interesting than what we just paid to see.

I Love Batman and All Related Batman Products and/or Services

2008-08-08T11:10:00.000-07:00

(UPDATE: I now stand accused, by a Batman fan, of "hate speech" for my essay on culture and the new movie. I'm not kidding.)

Me? I LOVE Batman. A LOT. And, along with Batman, every movie about Batman, too. This is because movies about Batman feature lots of Batman.

That stuff I wrote down there about how "The Dark Night" was not a lasting, profound artistic statement? I was just kidding about that. No -- "joking"! Like "The Joker"!

Yeah, "The Joker" -- one of THE best, most well-developed, fascinating characters in the history of literature, drama, or film. Better than Hamlet, and just below, you know, Batman. (Blessed be he.)

Yeah...I was joking. No way am I going to question, for a moment, a movie featuring the guy on your lunchbox. This is serious, artsy stuff we're talking about here, with bonus cape.

I did appreciate the two-pronged critique of my critique:

1) How could Brant have expected deep meaning from a comic book flick? What a doof.

and

2) How could Brant have missed all the deep meaning in this excellent, profound movie? What a doof.

I will repeat after me: I hereby promise (I hereby promise) never to take Batman (never to take Batman) or any other caped superhero show that people pay to see for amusement, less than seriously, except when I should really take it seriously, which is when it so beautifully illustrates the human condition on an awesome fat-tire motorcycle-thing. (fat tire motorcycle-thing.)

One guy on some forum called me a "hyper-fundie" (not kidding!) for not enjoying this masterwork. Another hated my post, saying it seemed more about the culture than about Batman. Well...yeah. It's my blog. I can talk culture if I want. Just so happens nobody else wants. No problem. I remember this from seventh grade.

Anyway, I think we can all agree that THIS is an awesome video. Probably.

I Miss My Free Time

2008-08-08T11:02:00.000-07:00

School has occupied all of my free time. I hardly have any time to concentrate on old hobbies like taking photos and practicing with my dSLR or just drawing whatever the hell I want. Most of my inspiration comes during the periods where I’m usually extremely busy, school wise, and I’m guessing this is my mind trying to find ways to avoid doing work. But yes, I really want to get out and go muck about with my camera! I miss uploading 500 images and looking over each one to see which i love the most. The next thing I’ll do is open up Photoshop and edit them to my heart’s desire before uploading them for the world to see. I miss it. I miss photos. I’m capped at the moment but I get my downloads back in two days. Urgh, the clock seems to tick endlessly around this time.

Time is forever because at the end of the week:

I get my internet downloads back which means i can start watching Taiyou to umi no Kyoshitsu, Blade of the Immortal and so much more anime.
SMASH! (Sydney Manga Anime Show) on Saturday. Yes, a geeky anime convention but still all the more fun! I’m looking forward to the maid cafe :D.
Meet up dinner on Sunday with Leena, Thida and Teresa. We’ve decided to have a monthly get together starting from this month because I’ve nearly finished school. I get to pick the first restaurant so we’re going to a Japanese restaurant with live Jazz in Surry Hills (that Leena suggested from her Entertainment Book). Hopefully, I will get lovely pictures of us, the place and the food.
Breaking Dawn is out on Monday!

Yup, but before all that, I have a compulsory Mathematics competition tomorrow followed by my IPT assignment and in class test on Friday. Painful, but i will survive! Today I just did my Biology powerpoint presentation speech. My teacher found out i plagiarised haha. I’m not sure what’s going to happen but I’d like over 85% please!

*sigh* I need some eye candy. I just re-watched King Kong, man Adrien Brody is so cute. I need more pretty boys in my life

Jesus Christ Liberator

2008-08-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

This is my favorite icon. It used to be displayed in the vestibule at my church, St. Augustine Catholic Church (Oakland, CA). I have literally spent years (intermittently) searching the Internet for this image so I can post it. I love this icon because of its biblical source, and because it reminds all of us of the Universal nature of Christianity. This icon is beautiful as art, and compelling as catechetical object.

One of the things that a liberator does is speak truth to power. That I found this icon close to the anniversary of the assination of Chauncey Bailey makes it doubly meaningful to me. Chauncey Bailey (1949-2007), was a reporter and editor at the Oakland Post at the time of his murder. Read more about the journalist Chauncey Bailey and his murder here. Catholic reporter remembered on anniversary of murder. In the aftermath of his death, Mr. Bailey’s professional colleagues and local journalism students out of remorse, guilt, and the late-coming recognition of a great story took up his cause and have been investigating his murder and the unseemly business enterprise at the heart of his death in the form of the Chauncey Bailey Project. Tribute organization works story in memoriam.

Mr. Bailey was definitely speaking truth to corrupt power in the days before his death. The Oakland business/organized crime enterprise that was Your Black Muslim Bakery was a powerful force in black culture, politics and economics for years. One of the disturbing aspects of Mr. Bailey’s murder and aftermath is how deep the criminality of Your Black Muslim Bakery, how wide their influence in the African-American political class, and the neglect of their criminality by the more powerful news media outlets of the San Francisco/Oakland Bay Area.

In fact, it is this neglect of Your Black Muslim Bakery by the San Francisco Chronicle, Oakland Tribune, KQED TV and radio, KPFA radio, East Bay Express, or San Francisco Bay Guardian that probably lead indirectly to Mr. Bailey’s death. Let me explain. Mr. Bailey as editor of the decidedly downscale Oakland Post had decided that Your Black Muslim Bakery’s reign of criminality, corruption, and terror should be exposed. He began investigating and publishing charges of statutory rape, corruption, felonious rape, financial misconduct with government grant funds, that had been hinted at for nearly a decade. The Bey family (father and son) had been agate type in family court matters, police blotters, or tangential names in the rise of local politicians. The local news media should had taken their responsibilities of public service seriously and spent as much time and effort on this story as they did on Barry Bonds (yes I am talking about SF Chroniclereporters Fainaru-Wada & Williams) or personal rivalries and jealousies in the SF City Hall. Where were you Matier & Ross? If Chronicle Managing Executive Editor Phil Brownstein or the supposedly muckrakers of the SF Weekly, East Bay Express, San Francisco Bay Guardian cabal had a real journalist’s hearts or at the very least an eye on circulation then their self interested desire to chase the most compelling and “juicy” stories to ground would have compelled them to followed the money and records of Your Black Muslim Bakery business and real estate empires. The messy domestic lives of Yusef Bey father and son alone should have had somebody with a little more juice than the single editor of a free ethnic weekly newspaper following this story. And in doing so, the lone personage of Mr. Bailey would not have been such an isolated and easy (but ultimately foolhardy) murder target for the associates of Your Black Muslim Bakery. Even to this day, the Chronicle dishonors one of its own by folding their coverage of the murder of Mr. Bailey into their tardy, superficial, and slightly hysterical coverage of the epidemic of murders related to gangs and/or drug traffic in Oakland over the last few years. Click here for SF Chronicle/SFgate.com series “Oakland: A Plague of Killing.”

To reiterate what I said at the beginning of this blog post, a revolutionary and martyr speaks truth to power in the hopes that the truth will liberate his/her people. The truth will set you free, and it will sometimes get you crucified.

RIP Chauncey Bailey.

Pax Christi

Sneak Peek at Upcoming Content for PAIN (celebrity/cross-game characters)

2008-08-08T10:57:00.000-07:00

In addition to PAIN Labs, the PAIN Amusement Park, Trophies, Online Multiplayer, and other features all hitting the PLAYSTATION Store simultaneously this summer, the crew at Idol Minds is churning out even more content that should be coming your way soon!

Jeff Litchford of Idol Minds gave us a little more info on what we can expect. We’ve taken the liberty to highlight some info you may not have already known about. But we still can’t find out what exactly PAIN Movie Lot is!!

New features in development:

Amusement Park
Online (multiplayer) gameplay
PSN trophies
Advanced Replay Editor
PAIN Labs
Theme 3 (just about at Alpha)
Theme 4 (we’re in early prototype/conceptualization on this)
Celebrity playable characters
Video Game IP characters
Chinese/Korean localization

After seeing the Kratos sackboy, I’m pretty excited at the prospect of cross-game Sony characters. Looking forward to what the PAIN crew will dish out next!

How to Apply for the Home Expanded Closed Beta

2008-08-08T10:54:00.000-07:00

I love blueprints

Do you want to get into Home? Do you wish Sony would allow you to show how interested you are in being a part of the expanded Beta? All you have to do is download the new Home theme that will be available in the store today. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? I’m so excited!

Sony is using a variety of factors to determine who will be in the expanded Beta. PSN usage and other things will be a part of this evaluation. Of course the detailed process of evaluation was not explained. So Home enthusiasts, PSN lovers, and Playstation users should get that theme today.

Here is the official post from Jack Buser:

Later today, the PLAYSTATION Store will be updated with a PlayStation Home theme. By downloading the theme, users are submitting an application to join the PlayStation Home Beta test community. We will be using a variety of criteria including activity on the PLAYSTATION Network to determine eligibility for the Beta community. Existing beta testers have automatically qualified to be part of the expanded beta.

We’re really excited about this milestone and want our most loyal fans to be a part of the evolution of PlayStation Home.

In Europe, SCEE is also beginning their expanded closed beta, directly targeting consumers who have been most active on PLAYSTATION Network and PLAYSTATION Store. SCEE will be in email contact with their PSN audience very shortly.

Let us know what you think.

You can also go over to the Official Blog and comment.

Trophies for Your PAIN. And an Amusement Park

2008-08-08T10:52:00.000-07:00

Bring on the PAIN. And the Trophies. lol

Is it just me, or has the Official Blog been busy the past few days?

On September 4th, 2008, you will be able to purchase the Amusement Park add-on for PAIN. (That is the day I’ll purchase the game in its entirety.) Pain will also receive an update to include trophies. The trophy quests are becoming quite numerous these days.

Here is a list of the trophies in PAIN so far:

PAIN Trophies

Gold Trophies

Affliction Addiction: Get one billion points (Good Luck)

Silver Trophies

Dude Abides: Use “The Dude” to score 50 Strikes in Bowling

Bronze Trophies

10 Mill Club: Get “PAIN in the Park” and “D-Town Destruction”
Harder Dick’s Balls: Get all of Dick’s Balls in the Block Party Dumpster without resetting
(Heh heh heh) I really need adult supervision.
D-Town Destruction: Get 10,000,000 score in PAINdemonium and Aftermath
Combo Mambo: Get 20x Combo in PAINdemonium, Aftermath, Block Party and Demolition
Attention Spam: Get every type of PAIN (Groin, Head, Arm, Hand, Leg, Foot and Body) combo in PAINdemonium, Aftermath, Block Party and Demolition

PAIN Add-on Character Trophies

Trill: Get PAINful Tosser Trophy with Scurv Dogg or Hung Lo
Grenade-A-Maid: Get Exploded 500 times with any female launchable character.

More info at the Official Pain website.

Interview with doublesix games

2008-08-08T10:49:00.000-07:00

PlayStation LifeStyle recently had a chance to speak with Jim Mummery, creative director of doublesix games.

doublesix recently won the prestigious “Best New UK/European Studio” award at the Develop Industry Excellence Awards. So I am sure you all can see why we are so excited to present our readers with this interview.

First off I would like to thank you on behalf of the staff and readers of PlayStation LifeStyle for taking the time to answer our questions.

d6: It’s our pleasure. We’re a new studio and we appreciate the chance to talk about what we do. So, thank you.

Why doublesix games? Is there a meaning behind the name or does it just sound cool (sounds pretty catchy to us)?

d6: The easiest way to explain it is to use that old board game staple: when you throw a double six you’re allowed to have another go. We want to make games that are quick to pick up and hard to put down – games that inspire that ‘just one more go’ mentality where playing again is its own reward – that’s kind of the studio philosophy – hence the name.

How many PSN titles do you currently have in development?

d6: Although I’d would love to tell you, I’m afraid I’m not allowed to talk about it.

Can you tell us anything about “Burn Zombie Burn!” other than it supports the DUALSHOCK 3? http://playstationlifestyle.net/2008/07/14/just-what-is-psn-developer-doublesix-games-up-to/

d6: I’m afraid there’s only so much I am allowed to say until we are officially announced. But I can tell you that BZB is, at its heart, a third-person-shoot’em-up but with some very cool new gameplay mechanics. Using the power of the PS3, a very tongue-in-cheek sense of humor and a shed load of enemies– we’ve created something really very special. I’m sure you hear that all the time from proud game developers but the buzz we’ve been getting back from other developers and publishers has been fantastic.

Basically, BZB is an evolution of the shooter – its roots are founded in classic games but the power of the PS3 allows us to create something really cool.

From your website: “Burn Zombie Burn! for PSN and PC. (more platforms coming)”. How do you decide which platforms to release a title on?

d6: The decision is made from project to project (sorry that’s not a very interesting answer).

Burn Zombie Burn! That’s an interesting title, what were you hoping to achieve when choosing a name for the title?

d6: Funnily enough, Burn Zombie Burn did actually start with the title. Usually, the title comes later. However in BZB, the name always captured what the game was about which is a sense of fun.

Can you tell us anything about Underfire?

d6: Yes, a little – Underfire is an accessible turn-based tactics game that takes place in a modern setting. We have a lot of experience at the studio with turn-based tactics games and we feel it’s a versatile genre that can be made for a far wider audience.

Underfire is a project designed from the ground up with that simple premise. Everything is designed to be immediately recognizable, understandable, accessible. Sounds easy but it isn’t.

We know you will be supporting DUALSHOCK 3. Is there any plans to support SIXAXIS functionality?

d6: We do support Sixaxis – in a way that complements the game and its sense of humor. I can’t wait until I can tell you more…

It seems as though you like fire, are you guys pyromaniacs? Don’t mind our humor.

d6: LOL. We like games that do what they say on the tin. Burn Zombie Burn is a good example of that.

What do you feel the benefits are, if any, of development on a platform such as PlayStation Network?

d6: There are a lot of benefits: the power of next-gen (well, it’s all current gen now but you know what I mean) with the freedom to develop the games you want. When you look at what’s already been released on PSN – the imagination and ingenuity involved and it’s hard not to be inspired.

Do you plan on adding PSN trophy support, XMB in-game, or custom playlists?

d6: Yes to PSN trophy support and XMB in-game but sadly, no custom playlists.

How important do you feel features, such as those mentioned in the previous question, are for your games?

d6: We feel that they’re very important. When you are making a game for any platform – even on a multi-platform title – you have to make the most each platform and that means using the features each console has.

In June 2008 you announced that you’d also be developing titles on iPhone/iPod Touch, in addition to your other platforms (including PSP). How does the new iPhone/iPod Touch app development stack up with the PSP? That is, are titles able to be ported between the two or is it a completely different situation?

d6: Developing for the iPhone is very different from the PSP (for us anyway) and whilst at some point in the future, we may well do games that appear on both – when we do, we’d treat them as individual platforms. We wouldn’t want to put something on PSP for the sake of it – we’d rather develop a version of the game tailored to it – it’s an amazing platform.

Are there any titles on the PSN currently that reflect your addictive, “have another go” approach to games? That is, are there any titles currently on the PSN that you wish you had made?

d6: Lots – any of the Pixel Junk games, Super Stardust, Flow… That said, all our games have their own unique flavor and to be honest, we are very happy doing our thing.

Congrats on your nomination for the Best New UK/European Studio in the upcoming 2008 Develop Industry Excellence Awards. Who do you feel is your biggest competition as you grow?

d6: Thank you and we won! Digital download is a rapidly expanding market and there are some good studios out there but none that feel like direct competitors. Like I said, we’re doing our own thing.

Speaking of growth, would you ever consider developing a retail disc-based game for the PlayStation 3?

d6: That’s not our focus right now but never say never. One of the advantages of what we do is that we often get to retain the IP and it’s not impossible we might want to take one of our own games to boxed product… But right now we are busy enough and happy enough working on the digital download formats.

Any plans on bringing the addictive flash game from your website to the PSN [StalkingSilence loves it]?

d6: Thanks StalkingSilence!

We’ve had a good response on the game – although the original idea was simply to capture what we’re about – the ‘just one more go’ sensibility. We are a company that makes games and we thought our website should have a fun, simple game on it. We don’t understand why more developers don’t do that.

We are intending on adding more games to the website in the future.

As to doing more with the game that’s on there – we’d be happy to – if people are interested.

Lastly is our signature “LifeStyle” question, what is your favorite food?

d6: Here’s a random list from some of the guys at the studio… (answered communally by the doublesix team)

Sushi
Celery
Cake and a cup of tea
Katsuo no Tataki
Chicken Caeser Salad
Cheese
Pancakes
Banana and Peanut Butter Milkshakes
Dirty noodles from one of those nasty refreshment counters you find at music festivals
Anything so long as it’s diced

Thanks again for answering our questions, we wish you the best of luck in the future and look forward to getting a chance for some hands on time with your games…

Now I am off to get some Sushi and Dirty Noodles…

· S

Al Jazeera Blasted For Honoring Killer!

2008-08-08T09:35:00.000-07:00

The Al Jazeera television channel admitted yesterday it violated its own code of ethics by broadcasting a July 19 program which made released killer Samir Qantar as a hero to the masses. Qantar killed innocent Israelis and bashed in the head of a child, but he was welcomed as a hero by thousands of people in Lebanon and Al Jazeera played up the performance by the two bit thug and murderer. The network said its editorial board concluded the broadcast “violated Al Jazeera’s Code of Ethics” and it regards “these violations as as very serious and will assess what action is necessary.”

Israel had stated yesterday that it would no longer expedite Al Jazeera’s applications for entry visas and work permits in Israel. However, in light of the apology and promise to take corrective action the Israel government may once accord the television channel normal media rights.

The entire display by the Lebanese people to glorify a murderer who bashes in the head of children was disgraceful. Al Jazeera is to be commended for its honesty in being self critical.

Clinton Primary Anti-Obama Statements Aired

2008-08-08T09:32:00.000-07:00

The acrimonious primary campaign between Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton was bound to provide cannon fodder for Republican attacks on the Illinois senator, and yesterday, John McCain unleashed a Clinton comment that “I know Senator McCain has a lifetime of experience that he will bring to the White House and Senator Obama has a speech that he gave in 2002.” The ad is not a surprise and comes at a moment when Hillary Clinton is on a campaign swing in support of her former opponent. Senator Clinton waged a strong offense against Obama and the question is whether she went to far in the quest for the nomination.

Hillary Clinton does not want John McCain elected because she knows the damage he will do to the United States of America. The sad story of her campaign is reflected in some of her ignorant supporters who believe electing anti-woman John McCain is somehow a way of achieving the goals Clinton was fighting for in her campaign. Men and women who believed in the ideals of Hillary Clinton who decide to vote for John McCain are individuals who allow their emotions to take precedence over the needs of this nation. Believe it or not, there were some Germans who voted for Adolf Hitler in the hope he was so bad, the nation would turn against him and prepare the way for their own candidate to get elected. When I hear Clinton supporters say they will vote for McCain, I am reminded of those fools who voted for Hitler.

P.S. John McCain in no way is anything like Adolf Hitler, but he will damage this country due to his ignorance and lack of knowledge of foreign policy. As for ideas on domestic policies, he never met an intelligent one he could accept. My reference to those who voted for Hitler is in the context of how the minds of humans work when they commit blunders.

The Sickness That Is The Muslim Terrorist

2008-08-08T09:30:00.000-07:00

Robert Fisk, writing in The Independent, reported the story of Margaret Hassan and her death at the hands of sadistic Muslim fanatics whose only thought is to kill in the name of God as though any God in this world wants an heroic woman to be brutally murdered on television. Fisk was allowed to see the video of her death due to Al Jazeera TV reporters who themselves are frequently sickened by the manner in which terrorists kill their victims while recording the sordid and brutal episode on video. Margaret Hassan, a friend of Fisk, brought medicine to Iraqi children in the 1990s, opposed the US invasion of Iraq, and was a tireless worker for peace and the Iraqi people, but the cowards who killed her in the name of their so-called fight for freedom are among the most sickening creatures in the world.

Ayman Gaballah of Al Jazeera, who has seen numerous such tapes of murder and brutality told Fisk his organization did its best to withhold such gory episodes from their TV programming. One video shows Ms. Hassan being forced to admit she worked for the Americans even though she opposed them. In another, a man calmly shoots her and the video depicts her body falling onto a plastic sheet. No decent human can cheer at the death of a woman who fought for the rights of Arab people. Fisk was also shown a tape of 18 young Iraqis who were shot and killed and a man whose head was severed.

The Fisk report also describes the idiotic behavior of Dick Cheney and CIA director George Tenet who visited the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Khaifa, who supports Al Jazeera and being read the riot act by the arrogant American. The Emir also got all of a thirty second interview with Dick Cheney who was infuriated at the idea of an Arab TV station presenting a viewpoint other than the official American line of thinking. Al Jazeera is a force for reporting that which most Americans never see– another viewpoint about the Middle East.

These horrible scenes of death when sometimes shown on videos frequently receive cheers from angry Muslims who somehow believe killing innocent westerners is justified due to the death of thousands of innocent Muslims at the hands of American forces. The death of any innocent person is to be condemned by those who adhere to moral values. An Israeli death is no different than a Muslim death, both are horrible events. Margaret Hassan died because she believed in peace. Let us all celebrate her heroism and we condemn those who killed her.

German Right Wing Women Organize

2008-08-08T08:53:00.002-07:00

Two young German women who lost their jobs due to belonging to right wing groups have organized a new group whose aim is defending the rights of women who are involved in right wing politics. Iris Niemeyer believes she and other women are being persecuted due to holding political views rather than any work incompetence on their part. Ms. Niemyer said she was working at a youth center when the center received an email informing them she was a member of a far right wing group. The email even included photos of Niemeyer at a rally for the right wing extremist National Democratic Party of Germany(NPD). After she admitted the information was correct, Ms. Niemeyer was fired. After threatening a law suit the center settled by giving her two months pay.

A democracy must incorporate diverse voices, even those from people one may detest. Ms. Niemeyer and her friends believe they are “nationalists” and “patriots” even though authorities describe her membership as fostering anti-semitism and racism. Ms. Niemeyer and her colleague, actress Sigrid Schussler cast themselves in the role of victims who are being persecuted by left wing and liberal groups. They are using the new organization to bring together women who also have lost jobs due to having divergent political views.

Most probably women such as Niemeyer and Schussler harbor racist and anti-semitic views but until they engage in actions which are illegal, they have a right to be bigots. Years ago in the 1950s I was termed a “communist” for organizing teachers and denied numerous jobs. The strength of democracy is allowing diverse views and bringing together in the forum of debate ideas from all sources. Ignorance and prejudice are not crimes, they are diseases of thinking and the best solution is engaging people with these diseases in discussions.

Do White South African Women Need Job Protection?

2008-08-08T08:53:00.001-07:00

A debate among South African women has arisen over whether white women are entitled to protection under affirmative action programs. Black Management Forum president Jimmy Manyi said white women should not be covered under provisions of South African affirmative action laws. Carrie Shelver of People Opposing Women Abuse argues affirmative action is not achieving the desired effect because it is not addressing black women’s needs. She argues black women are m ore disadvantaged than whites and including white women allows companies to hire white females and thus get around being accused of not adhering to affirmative action guidelines. Theresa Oaklley, CEO of Absolute Ndaba, a human resource company, says “I have never understood why white women were placed in BEE in the first place because white women were not disenfranchised by apartheid. They may have had tough times bt they are not previously disadvantaged.”

Kelebohile Lekoape, consultant for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Resarch, argues to the contrary. “Surely, affirmative action was meant to provide additional opportunity for the previously disadvantaged. Even though white women were not totally disadvantaged, they had limited opportunities, thefore, more opportunities should be opened to them.”

To the extent each group of women, regardless of skin color or ethnicity, is allowed to achieve the full potential of her skills and knowledge, to that extent will all women attain such goals.

Immigrant Issues In Hungary Symbolize New World

2008-08-08T08:46:00.000-07:00

Among the most critical issues confronting industrial and post industrial societies is their need for immigrants to handle the dirty jobs of life, but the ongoing prejudice of populations against foreigners. Several days ago, refugees at the Bicske integration center in Hungary, held a demonstration before the UN’s refugee office in Budapest to protest against conditions in the camp. Most of the refugees are asylum seekers and those seeking a new life in Europe. Part of the problem of refugee centers is bringing together people from diverse backgrounds who share nothing in common other than desiring a job in a European country. Last week fighting broke out over, ironically, the issue of access to Internet. Over a dozen people were injured in the fighting.

As refugees enter European nations, the cost of their maintenance is not always welcomed. Social workers and psychologists have to be hired in addition to medical staff so when government feel the need to reduce costs, a refugee center invariably is among their initial targets. UN officials believe the Hungarian situation is all too common– asylum seekers lack access to quality medical care, they are unable to work to provide for some necessities of life or even have enough money to travel around seeking work. Food may be nutritional, but it usually is not the food they are accustomed to back in their homelands. The UN also believes language issues and communication invariably become problems between refugees and host nations.

Perhaps, it is time to examine the issue of the 200,000,000 refugees who currently are working in nations other than their own on a much broader scale and identify key issues that must be addressed by host nations.