Happy Holidays!

The Pictures and what it took to take them:

Music

Music is an extremely important value in my life. I like a broad range of musical styles and periods. It's been thisway since I was 14 years old. My first cassettes were Brahsm, Mozart, and Motley Crue. I'm not sure why I'm so passionately interested in music as against the other fine arts, which I appreciate, but can live without. It's such an important value that I couldn't possibly consider a romance with someone that didn't love music as well.

As much as I love music, there is very little of it that I love--does that make sense? What I mean is that I am very judicious with my musical choices, but I spend a great deal of time listening to music I love, and seeking out new music to love. A rare gift is when someone introduces me to an artist that I have not previously heard and I end up liking. This morning a work buddy sent me a link to a performance of a concerto for guitar that is simply beautiful. The composer is Joaquin Rodrigo, and the guitar is played by Narciso Yepes.

In addition, I've recently become very interested in a speed-metal band called Dragon Force. They're probably the fastest, heaviest band I've ever heard--yet they still manage to remain melodic. They're songs have an epic quality reminiscent of Iron Maiden and Helloween--only more so. I've bought all three of their albums and have been listening to them pretty much non-stop for the last few weeks. Good stuff!

When Religion is Funny

Religion is so absurd. How people can believe in a magic man in the sky is beyond me. That's why I really enjoyed these two gems today. The first is a video of a man that gets so fed up with people knocking on his door proselytizing to him that he flys to Utah and starts knocking on doors proselytizing peope about atheism. Simply classic. The second is a list of Bible verses that you don't hear the fundamentalists trot out very often, as they don't exactly paint a benevolent (or even sensical) picture of their magic man in the sky.

Enjoy!

Environmentalist Intimidation

A buddy of mine sent me a link to this article detailing intimidation tactics by two US Senators on ExxonMobil to push an environmentalist agenda. Thought you'd be interested.

It never ends ...

... Yet another expose on the distortions of the eco-terrorists. This one takes on the Hockey Stick graph used by the U.N. to "prove" Global Warming.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/05/nosplit/nwarm05.xml

Hat Tip: Trey Givens

Principles and Assertions

Without the guide of principles, the only alternative is a grab-bag of arbitrary assertions delivered on a case by case basis. The FCC is a case in point. Observe the mental contortions that the FCC has to go through in order to justify its unjustifiable censorship policies. Since the FCC (and the Supreme Court) has abandoned the First Amendment in favor of "community standards," the FCC is left with no objective standard on which to base its decisions.

I'm sure that the neo-cons would be happy to offer a justification though...

Trans-Siberian Orchestra

I saw TSO last night in Greenville. They rocked! If you're not familiar, they are a rock-oriented band/orchestra that plays classical and Christmas music, but themed with electric guitars and whatnot. The musicians are master players--the music is hard, heavy, and happy--a combination not usually seen. The tone of the performance was one of joy. Qua Christmas-oriented, it contained a lot of religious/altruist imagery. However, I didn't think that those elements detracted from the overall joyous sense of life projected by the performance.

Learning

The Creating Passionate Users blog has an interesting post about how math, science, engineering are taught vs. what us techies really need.

To which I will add that the focus on "language" is indicative of a concrete-bound mentality.

Happy Halloween!

Here's a great costume for your enjoyment:
http://www.collegehumor.com/video:1719034/

Cheers!

Media Roundup

I have to second Diana Sieh's recommendation of Veronica Mars: My girfriend and I are 4 episodes into the first season and are already enthralled. The DVD box describes the show as "part Buffy, part Nancy Drew"-- an assessment with which I have to concur. If you have ever watched and enjoyed Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Firefly, I highly suggest this series to you.

In music I've been listening to Liz Phair's latest album, Somebody's Miracle. It lacks some of the in-your-face sexuality that garners her so much attention. I have difficulty with the explicit meaning of some of the songs, even as I like their "sense of life." "Everything to Me," "Closer to You," and "Everything (Between Us)" are all quite lovely, and the album holds together as a catalog of intimate, folksy songs. Also, it has that great pic in the liner notes.

I've been reading the Victor Hugo novel "Toilers of the Sea." I'm about 150 pages into it right now, and the story is just starting to move forward. What I've read has been interesting, and in some places quite beautiful. I'm starting to see where bits of the groundwork that Hugo has put into place are beginning to become relevant to the plot (even though I'm not totally sure what the plot is yet).

Looks like November is going to be a busy month for concerts. I've got the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Imogen Heap, and Raq lined up. Should be fun!

TTFN!