Talk Like A Pirate Day - September 19

Arrrr.. it be that time of the sun cycle to growl and roar and howl at the wenches, at least for a day...


Sail over to the site

Orisinal : Morning Sunshine

Feeling like wasting your life away? Here's a site that will take weeks to get old - one of the most creative flash creators around, and I've been visiting this place for years now, way before it was so famous - so why not post a blog about it, eh?

Room Noise: Did anyone get it? Guess not.

I've been listening to this song (see bottom of post) by a band that was popular when I was still pre solid-food, physically speaking. They sure knew how to write back then!

Ironically, I had this track as part of a playlist containing Contemporary Christian Music, including some of the new commerical worship music that's out there - and sure, I like a lot of it myself. Somehow though this song became more poignant in that context.

For example, a band who's music I love sang the following:

Take control of the atmosphere
Take me far away from here
There is no better loss than to lose myself in you
In a parachute to glide, I am captive in your sky
Surrender has somehow become so beautiful

I can contrive some meaning from that, but only relative to my interpretation of those words. Or another band sang this:

Praise Him under open skies
Everything breathing praising God
In the company of all who love the King
I will dance, I will sing
It could be heavenly
Turn the music loud, life my voice and shout
From where I am
From where I've been
He's been there with me
He's built a monument
His very people
So let his people
Sing, sing, sing

Again, nothing incorrect necessarily, but there's a certain lack of solidity that makes it appealing to my generation, I think. Actually, scratch that - maybe not it's the lack of solidity that makes it acceptable, but the lack of depth in my generation that makes fluffy lyrics such as these the norm. We're in the age of "Hallmark"esque Christian lyrics, and I believe people are too quick to say "that's deep".

Don't get me wrong, I'm not looking for Contemporary Christian Music to start singing "A Mighty Fortress" to a death metal tune. I don't think you have to be Shakespearan to have substance. Or even say the name Jesus every third line (though it would help to mention your Lord and master some of the time) - you can be solid, boldly Christian by being serious about the content of your words - guard your mouth and raise the standard of your lyrics before a Holy God. Look at Petra. Even someone like Keith Green, who I think gets a bad rap sometimes. They said something. It's sad that the so much good music we find these days is from people who regurgitate the old - I'm sure there are Christian Musicians today who seriously have something to say for the glory of God and the enrichment of the Church.

I could go on and rant and rave, but that's not my point really - I wanted to point out that this is not an old issue - people one generation before me struggled the same way, and here's a song to prove it:

Room Noise
2nd Chapter of Acts

No more Conversation
No more idle words
Pitter pitter patter
words fall from your platter

Pseudo Gospel music
Music everywhere
but not a single drop
to drink anywhere

I don't want to be room noise
generically speaking
I don't want to be room noise
no one will stop and hear me, hear me...

Down on bended knees
Doing what you please
As you say
"Gospel Gospel music's an alternative"
Then you never have to
change the way you live

Idle, Idle lyrics
floating through the air
Invisible acting
emotional snare

I don't want to be room noise
Generically speaking
I don't want to be room noise
No one will stop and hear me, hear me...

Down on bended knee
doing what you please
PHARISEE!

I don't want to be room noise...

Twenty something years later, is someone listening?

QDB: Top 100 Quotes

Bash never fails to amuse me. [some quotes can be crass]

Edit: Well, going back to some of the other posts maybe I should say Bash sometimes fails to amuse me, infact aggravates me.

From Albert Mohler's Weblog

Check out this review on Pornified: How Pornography Is Transforming Our Lives, Our Relationships, and Our Families.

Put simply, porn is now considered cool. As Paul argues, "Pornography is wildly popular with teenage boys in a way that makes yesteryear's sneaked glimpses at Penthouse seem monastic. For teenagers, pornography is just another online activity; there is little barrier to entry and almost no sense of taboo. Instead pornography has become a natural rite and acceptable pastime."

Wow. We in the Church need to guard ourselves and our brothers - I don't think any of us, single or married, old our young, are invulnerable. I know I'm definitely susceptible. It's a shame that still, topics like this are awkward and remain un-discussed in the Church.

Monday Night at Morton's - 12/20/03

Ben Stein's last article for e-online. I normally don't care much for celebrity talk, but this guy surprised me - I only knew him for his cynicism on TV. Here's a healthy dose of it myself: Hope he means it.

Edit: Reading some of his older articles, it's interesting to see that his ideas on God don't seem to take him very far practically... very postmodern.

The Blog Site - In The News - Blogging will be "trendy" in 2004

Seems like everyone is hopping on the blogging bandwagon and this article made my day. It's a nice feeling to look down my nose at those dilettante bloggers who've just woken up to the world. You all are so... 2004.

Here's a first for Skinniyah: being aware of something before it became cool. Wow. I must be a fully culture-relevant kinda dude. Who'd've thunk it.

Still living in the 20th Century? Let UrbanDictionary enlighten you.

In Defense of Pat Robertson

I care nothing for Pat Robertson or his comments myself, but this article sure if a breath of fresh air in the midst of the journalistic mob.

I especially like how the author, Richard Kim, manages to get his point across without really being nice to Robertson. And how in his conclusion, he compares Robertson with Jack Nicholson's Col. Nathan R. Jessep in A few Good Men. Love it.

Hugging Time!

Hey World! Hey Stranger! Here's some love, from me to you.

southpaw :: Baby Got Book

LOL. Unless I have totally read him wrong, the man is serious.

Thompson Chain with the big red letters, NIV with the ribbon bookmark... sort of sticks in your head, doesn't it?

And the girlfriend looks pregnant. Wow.

And there's more?! Check out this lyrics page. That's the site where you can find out all you want about the musical genius of Dan "Southpaw" Smith.

Engadget 1985 - Engadget - www.engadget.com

Flashback to the days of cutting edge technology.

Hilarious, yet eye-opening. We've come a long way, baby!

episode iii, the backstroke of the west [language]

Tell me this isn't true!

In actual fact, I thought the dialogue in the star wars series was bad enough as it is, this takes things to a whole other level.

Grown Up Thoughts

What is being an adult? What is being immature? Where is the line between youth and manhood drawn without arbitrary lines being made? It hit me yesterday.

That microscopic moment of attitude when one switches from an obsession with trying to be and settles into the acceptance of being, is when the crucial transformation into adulthood has begun.

Maybe that makes no sense... well, I'm still trying.

Life, Written

I write.

I write because it makes me talk the way I cannot in normal speech. Inflections, pronunciations, pauses for thought need not discount the intelligence of what I say. A judgment will never be made before a proper account has been given, or after, for that matter.

I write because it frees me up to be able to express myself in ways that I never could otherwise. I write because it is the easiest way to think, to ponder, to hold discourse, to discuss. A debate with ones own mind; yes, verdict can be reached in such a dialogue.

I write because I can say things to a sheet of paper or a blank screen which cannot be uttered to the world, even a heedless world simply because it is not proper to mutter; yet, in written form I make a declaration of my opinion without hindrance or embarrassment.

I write because before me I can idealize the perfect woman, dream an idyllic meadow, create an adventurous journey, and envision the state of the world as I want it to be. I write because of the places I can take myself simply by thought, because of the loves I can love simply with a wish, because things don't have to be as they are but as they need to be, when written. Maybe this reveals in me the image of my Creator, the desire to create.

I write because in writing if find an attentive listener, one who always hears, always knows, always identifies, always “gets it.” There is no better thrill for a writer than a perpetually excited fan.

Galatians 5:6

Touching Bible Study. What good is faith, what good is belief, if it does not lead to compassionate action? Here's a song/poem I wrote this morning. I think it was St. Francis that said "Preach the Gospel at all times, when necessary with words".

We have believed in your message, O Lord
We have been set free, we have been forgiven
We have been made whole
Grace you have given, more than we need
yet, one thing we lack, and this is our plea:
Lord we have forgotten the touch of your Son
Teach us to Love

To reach out a hand, to touch the broken,
To show your example lived, more than spoken
Lord open our eyes, break open our hearts
Teach us to Love

We have become rich with your Word, O Lord
We stand for Truth, We stand in judgement
We have grown cold
This world is dying, fading away
Our eyes do not weep, our knees do not pray
We love our lives, this is not your way
Lord, teach us to Love

To open our purses, to show not just tell
Teach us to deny not them but ourselves
Jesus you gave, Jesus you died
Teach us to Love

At the Coming of the First Rains

Water falls from the sky
and I pause to ponder
unrelenting blessing on you, O my soul
numbered among sinners
yet standing under the banner of righteousness

What Grace is this?
it pours freely, abundantly
more than I can bear to ask for
sufficient in its cleansing
overwhelming in its content and its rushing tide

I can only watch the rain in silence
as it cleans the earth from the stains of a season
and look up to the Source
unable to comprehend His ways and yet
grateful for Grace

Another India note

This one's a great article - another outsider's perspective on the fascinating land that is my home: India.

Girl Power in India

Tips on Driving Manual

Manual Primer

Wherever you drive, however you drive, there are always going to be people who complain about your driving. I experience this all the time, even from people who are quite horrific drivers themselves. I decided once that I'd try and find a "neutral" party to give me some tips to compare my driving to some kind of standard. Of course this would apply to those of us driving stick, or manual.

Well, I found one such site - http://www.interlog.com/~css/manualprimer.htm - and realised there might be others who felt the same way but were too ashamed to ask. I know, expeienced drivers hate asking such basic questions, but the itch is there... well, I hope this helps: some tips on driving manual shift.

If you know of better links, please comment!

India 2004

Rot never needs an excuse to spread. It is the nature of decay to corrupt, to infect and to destroy. Rot from the core spreads outward and onward (Frank Herbert, 'corrupted' a little). Purity and virtue is what takes work. While putrescence will circulate unchecked, righteousness and justice only prevail with blood, sweat and the tears of alienation from the mainstream. To paraphrase a saying, only effort will bring change - decay requires inaction to survive.

In that sense, this land of mine needs work. A family led by thieves will always see it's children struggle to feel pride, to stand tall.

Of Sweaty Cycle Rickshaw Drivers

Some things in life just bring out the emotion in you - hard as you may think you are. This was my experience these past few days.

We "westernised" souls are much drawn to the romance of exotic experiences. Eating ducks feet in interior china or bungee jumping in New Zealand - whatever. These things make for exciting coffee-table conversations and impress one and all. The ability to say "I did that" - that I am one of the few in this entire world that has had a certain experience. Boast on. But in the romance and thrill and cuteness of a life that one would normally only find in the movies, sometimes reality's harsh truth is far, far... well... harsher.

We've seen them once or another, these Indiana Jones-like characters having a thrill of a chase through some exotic street in China or Calcutta or wherever in Bicycle rickshaw, pedal bikes attached to a little cart that take you around town for a nominal fee. Colorfully decked up, umbrellas adorning a sparkling canopy of eastern excess. Among that a skinny but strong lad or maybe even an older man takes you for the ride of your life. Cute. Cultural. Fun. Exotic, of course it is, it's different from anything we've seen.

I thought so. In Guwahati, Assam where I am at the moment, these are one of the more common means of cheap transport. Me being the lover of most things new and exciting, I decided to have a go. I don't think I will be rid of the memory for a long time. Why such a big deal? Read on. (random note - ha ha - two elephants just passed by on the main highway out my window - end of random note)

This is the picture I have in my mind: Looking ahead into the streets of Guwahati while sitting in the back of a Rickshaw. Looking at the quite sweaty back of a man dressed in an...oily? vest and wraparound called a lungi, no slippers and who toils struggling to push his way to my desired location half an hour away. Sweaty for a reason - he is pedalling his heart out and this is no easy task - some times he just has to stop, get down and manually pull the vehicle along; this is his life. Refuse this, and he does not eat. Of all the transportation options available, this is the cheapest. Naturally, I paid him more than his asking rate.

Interestingly I have found a subculture - almost a sub species if I may say so: The Assam Rickshaw Driver. Quiet, docile, obedient (except when money is concerned, obviously), meek. A good word, meek. Everyone from police (one female cop hit my driver with a stick for wanting to drive down a busy street) down to cyclists (one made it a point to stop my driver to curse his brains out just for getting a little in his way, and my driver just sat there, silent, waiting till it was over so he could leave - reminded me of a dog) consider it their right to mistreat this subspecies. Another observation I made was that most rickshaw men automatically consider themselves your servant. I have no memory in my short life of such a thing. Just for me using his rickshaw, a driver has carried my boxes (two heavy ones), stopped and asked for directions and made sure I arrived where I would be able to make my way sufficiently - without me asking a word or him me for an extra rupee. I cannot understand how anyone can get used to this - no human being owes me that much to be my pet. I have seen servants who do such things but because it is their job, but not this, never before. We criticize the colonialists for their lack of basic humaneness, and then live the very legacy they left behind - without the clutter of needing to explain our actions: after all these people are "us" - no stark melanin distinctions here.

In these past few days I have ridden in many rickshaws and paid many more-than-asked-for rupees since my first ride - I think they make me feel alive. I feel a tug at my heart for this sweaty man in front of me, Lord knows his life story (I have thought up stories while at the back of a rickshaw, but that road is not very cheering). Years will pass, such things will become obsolete - but maybe there is both a lesson to learn even if there is at the surface mostly grief to be borne.

I grieve that the sin and pain and suffering of man can lead to such extremes of need that a man must become an animal in order to survive. I grieve that man can become used to such a sight - that it becomes normal (See previous post). I grieve that there is nothing I can do except give a few extra rupees - pointless in the long run. But through all of it one lesson I learn from a sentence that echoes in my mind - which when juxtaposed against these ruminations, is a hard thought: The Meek shall inherit the Earth.

Christian, find yourself.