Coldplay (on words)

Oh Death will never conquer, no it'll ju' get you lost!
No Death shall ne'er conquer, only lost?

Now don't panic, my friends, it'll pass as soon as the sparks are o'er,
The yellow bursts behind the parachutes and nothing more.
The spies shiver on Violet Hill as the warning signs and sirens blare.

Viva la vida! Vive le Roi!
Now all things are fine, right here in my place,
with you by my side and the smile God put upon your face.
So what if the king lives in the cemeteries of London?
Everything's already lost.

I am here, and I will fix you, or we'll be swallowed in the sea together.
Yes, we will pass on to Kingdom Come, hands held and trouble in the sky,
smiling as we join the ranks of Death and all His friends.

Heroes

Several people have recommended to me the ABC show Heroes. Finally, I decided to try it out. I rented the first 3 discs of Season One, spanning episodes 1-10, and I have thoroughly enjoyed the show thus far. I've always loved comics and such, and this show's character's are completely likable. Anyway, I just thought that I'd throw a quick "thanks" to everybody that recommended the show (Bill, Brian, etc.) and let you know that I am very glad to be watching it finally. Have a cold night, folks.

Post Script: By the way, if you look at the word for very long, it's one of those words that start to look funny and made-up. You know, like, roads. The more you look, the more you're convinced that it's misspelled.

Tea

Looking back through my past posts I see that I have a post on Tea & Probability. However, I cannot limit myself to just one post on a subject as grand as tea.

Tea is one of the most consumed beverages across the world. It's so important in England that people take a special time of the day to have a quaint glass. And in the South (that is, southern parts of the US) it is a staple during the summer time. I recently read something saying that the average American consumes 6 gallons of tea per year. That appalled me, to be quite honest. A year ago, my roommate and myself were drinking a gallon a day. Now, though, I've lessened a bit, and I'm down to about a gallon or two a week.

And this is sweet, iced tea, just in case you're wondering. I'll fill a pot o' water and put 4-5 tea bags in, wait til the pot boils, steep the tea for a while, then mix and make my gallon. Voila. And it's pretty tasty, too.

But I also enjoy a cup of hot tea quite often. I really enjoy Earl Grey, just because I think it smells and tastes great, but I like a few other types, too. Not much on the green teas, though. But on a cold night, or a late night, there's few things that compare to a cup of hot tea. And if you've never had a cup of hot tea, then you're missing out. Get yourself a kettle and some tea (I'd recommend the Earl Grey to start out) and make yourself a cup. Enjoy the complex taste. Let it tickle your tongue a bit. I know I do.

Patrick Rothfuss

I read all the time. And I mean all the time. Typically I'm reading two or three books at a time. What kind of books do I read, you wonder? Typically fantasy and science fiction, but also quite a bit of graphic novels, classics, mystery, westerns, suspense, horror, short stories, poetry, and a very little amount of non-fiction (unless you count wikipedia).

Nevertheless, most of my life has been fantasy novels. Sadly I did not realize how similar many of these books were until I read The Name of the Wind, by Pat Rothfuss. Pat revolutionized the fantasy genre for me with this book. There's few, if any, typical fantasy cliches in his book, and I cannot remember the last book I was this pleased with a read.

Pat stole my heart and and took it along for a ride with his protagonist, Kvothe. The man's tale is full of mystery, magic, joy and grief, and love (o'course). I forced my mom to read this book (she's a non-fiction, true story reader, or horror...) and she enjoyed it. I'm reading it aloud to my wife. I've recommended it to several folks and they've all loved it. And now I recommend it to you.

Go buy "The Name of the Wind" tomorrow. Or tonight. It doesn't matter when, just the longer you wait the more you'll wish you would've got it sooner. Savor every page. And when you're done, or before you start, visit Pat's blog and check out the awesomeness that he is.

You're welcome.

EDIT: I'm not really sure why there was such a gap from when I read this book until I mentioned it on my blog.  I read Name of the Wind during the summer of 2007.  I guess I wasn't blogging frequently between then.

Joe Purdy

As an avid listener of music (is that such a unique thing?), I think my taste is rather eclectic. I mostly listen to folky-bluegrassy-acoustic stuff, but sometimes I'll feel the need for techno, pop, blues, country, rock, classical, catchy hip hop, foreign music, and almost anything that's playing. However, I have to point out and give recognition to one of my favorite artists: Joe Purdy.

I became aware of Joe during the first season of Lost, from his song "Wash Away", which appeared on one of the episodes. Joe's also had several songs featured in Grey's Anatomy, and a movie or two, too, I believe. However, he's not in the mainstream music industry largely due to the fact that he's completely independent, that is to say that he produces and makes his own stuff without the hassles of a Big Name record company.

Joe has an extensive catalog, all of which is free to listen on his website. Every album is a wonderful pleasure for your ears, and thought stimulating for your brain. I would classify Joe Purdy as an acoustic-folk artist, similar to Jack Johnson and John Mayer, but without the pop themes. Instruments include acoustic guitar, mandolin, piano, percussion, the occasional harmonica, and a wonderful voice.

I can easily recommend Joe to anyone with any taste in music, and I can almost guarantee that you'll love him. Enjoy.

New Layout

I'm not really sure why I have a blog, but there is the chance that someone (even one) might read it and actually get something from it, then that's fine by me. I'm not sure what anyone could glean from the harvest of my blog, but, who knows.

I've renovated the layout. I think it's time for something new. Something green.

To give an account of how things have been, simply: Grad student now, in Civil & Environmental Engineering. Mandolin skills increasing steadily. Writing still defunct and strange. Books upon books continue to pass my eyes and hands. Life is wonderful, and I'm greatly blessed.

It's nearing winter, and the first flurries of snow are to be expected tonight or tomorrow. It's gonna be a cold one, I'm thinking.

i (b)

mmmm. cake and icecream. it was worth it. the easiest way to make friends is if it is forced upon you. in that, I mean that if making friends was optional, then i'm sure i would have many less friends than i do. for instance, when school starts, we find ourselves among complete strangers. we are forced to be students together, and since we share that, and we realize that we'll be spending quite a bit of time together, then we can only become friends to make the day go by. not that we have to become friends, but it just happens. it's mutual. we're kids, thrust into a maelstrom of other kids. but what i'm saying is that if we weren't thrown into the school system, then we would be left to our own selves--an equally bleak alternative. but the point is not school. school passes, and we become adults. granted there is higher learning, where we often live away from home and with more complete strangers, and again, friendship happens, but only out of force. but e'en college passes, and then there is only adulthood. this is the place where force often is eradicated and from its destruction comes choice. (the college years are a blend of this phenomenon.) we get a job, we go to work, we're the young dude at the place. people aren't as "friendly" as they used to be. the choice comes with self-determination to make friends. and that choice is hard. it's not that i don't want friends, because i do want friends. it's that i don't want to make friends. i want to have friends without the work. but, i suppose, that is impossible. it's like the alchemist wanting gold from oxygen. cheat the system, paint a rock or get some pyrite, but skip the work and get to the gold.

i (a)

most of the time i like being out of the light. not, like, in shadow, but just out of the light. on the sidelines. for instance, when there's a crowd gathering for an open house... it's not that i don't want to be social, it's that i want to be myself. i'm not scared of the crowd. i'm open to the crowd's opinion. and e'en though i'm invited, it's almost as if i don't belong, yet i know that i do. it's the strange, awkwardness of being. it's the thought of meeting and feigning interest. it's the thought of actually staying focused. it's trying to get through the crap and the fake smiles that decorate everyone's faces and instead being you. but i think that i'll go anyway...

8/9/08

There is no sanctuary.

Resurrection Fern

In our days we will live like our ghost will live.
Pitching glass at the cornfield crows and folding clothes.

The summer semester draws almost to an end and my innards have gone liquid. I've also had ABBA in my head for about 2 weeks, rendering sleep nearly impossible. And all day today I listened to Classical music and typed on my Applied Hydrology report.

I did find this scrap o' note today. It is dated 6/9/2034.

"It's after us. We've been running for 3 days straight with very little food and practically no sleep. I'm pretty sure that tomorrow we're gonna have to do something or I think I might die. I still haven't even seen it, though, but it makes a horrible feeling in my head, like it can actually read my mind or something... Our short rest is over and we're heading out again."

Kinda depressing. I'll keep you posted when I do.

Part II--Signs

And the people of the time shall wail and moan.
They shall fear their lords; their gods have left them.
Dragons will fly again, devouring whatever they will.
Hideous peoples will run the grounds on all faces of the land.
The seas no longer run true.
This shall be a sign to you:
The sky will blacken for one month.
The Great Star will not rise.
This will be the purifying of Man, and it will bring carnage and fear.
Countries will fall easily and men will pray.
And after one month the stars will live again.
This will be the birth of a new Season.
This will be the death of Freedom.

Part I--Woe

Come.
Listen.
Do you hear?
Quiet and Listen!
Do you hear?
War is coming, and with it Destruction.
Fire and Power flatten and crush the cities.
Violence and Panic finish up the annihilation.
And where is your hope?
You have killed it.
Yes, you wiped Hope out with a mighty blow,
all in your quest for Purification.
Vain and selfish people, you have destroyed yourselves!


**Translated from the 20th century prophet San-Sha ta Nek

Update

I'm married now. I'm so happy. I'm more in love with God than I've been in a long time. I've got a fantastic wife. My life is so good right now. I've just started eating yogurt. It's ok. I'm co-oping and going back to school soon. I'm tired quite a bit. I read a lot. I play my guitar & mandolin frequently. I sure do love my wife. But not as much as I love my Jesus.

Oh, and I'm still a weirdo.

Strange Tidings

Alice who lives around the apothecary
has never been quite as scary
as Ben, the neighbor's boy.
Chuck, who carries cats into his cheap, hot oven,
has baked Dante a dirty dozen
of them, in purest joy.
Each of them eat either the tongue or the eyes,
topped with frosting from Frank's pies
from Eden, a house down town.
"Golly Gee!" said Geminee, "These cats sure taste juicy."
Chuck just smiles and says "You see,
their heads weigh half a pound."

And such are the kids of Strange Tidings B,
the medieval town across the sea,
Where the alphabet runs and the cat's aren't free,
and Strange Tidings A is home to you and me.

Wii

After a very long week of waiting semi-patiently, I finally got my Wii. I shoulda got it on 11.19, but the preorders did not get delivered to FYE like they should have. They still do not have them, actually. I got mine from inside info at Best Buy. I showed up early and was eighth in line, and Keisha was there with me. I shoulda bought her Cracker Barrel like I told her I would, but I was worried that there would be no spots left, so instead she went to McDonalds. But I got my Wii. Sports is great. Twilight Princess (Zelda) is absolutely gorgeous. Oh so much fun and interaction. I enjoy it very much. Hmmmmmm. I recommend that other people at least play one, because it does involve movement and it is very unique.
Anyway, I just wanted to put it out there.
I got my Wii. And it is fun.

Prologue--An Olde Prophecy

And it was shown to me in a vision
That a new Hero would arise,
And with his birth the clouds would darken
And the sun would eclipse,
And the child would cry not.

And he would be marked upon his left hand
With a dead finger, broken off in the womb.
Dragons and scorpions - all manner of beasts -
Will strike at his birth.
But he shall be delivered into the world.

And in those days the world will be dark,
But hidden by a brilliant array of lights,
With automation everywhere.
And the child will grow, taught by his father,
Loved by his mother.

And the world will reject its hero,
But he will fight for them.
And I saw a great battle too glorious to tell,
But it brought bloodshed and death to many;
Corpses covered every street.

And the Hero shall receive a talisman of great power,
And with it he will wage war against the Dark.
And with it, he will defeat the darkness,
And light will reign forever.

**Translated from the 20th century prophet San-Sha ta Nek

negative cam'pains'

"Bob James...He's got a kid screwed up on dope and got pulled over. But ole Bob James, he's a cop, and so he got those charges dropped. Why vote for Bob James? He's just gonna drop you, too....I'm Ed Jones, and I support this message."

Well, election is over. Finally. And I'm glad I don't have to see another one of those stupid, warring commercials until next election. I honestly don't care about their past. What's past is past. I want to know what they're gonna do if elected. That's it. Forget the past.

To be quite honest, though, I didn't really follow the election very closely. I voted absentee three weeks beforehand, and I knew about half of the people running (perks of a small township). Nationally, I don't care who has control of Capitol Hill. Democrat and Republican are just words, just like Religion is anymore. They are adjectives that don't quite necessarily describe a person very well. I prefer to say I am a Jesus follower, not a religious person, not a Christian. I want a house full of people that truly care about the nation and its people, not one who cares about its pockets.
I would like to see a campaign where people say what they're gonna do in office and why you should vote for them, not why you shouldn't vote for their opponents. It's true for advertisements as well. "This is Subway, where your food is healthy, not like McDonalds and BurgerKing." Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh! I am glad that I typically average ONE hour of television per week, and that is only devoted to Lost. Seriously. I do, however, spend about ten+ hours with my nose stuffed in a book or two or three... Books, better than tv anyday....
Foreverthemore, who cares about negative campaigns. I don't have much of an argument except that I just am one of these people that let the past be forgotten, regardless of how serious it may seem. That probably comes from my faith and my loving nature.

May your days be long and your nights pleasant...

simply put:

happy halloween.
i didn't have no candy to give nobody.
i didn't hear anyone say a "trick or treat"
i think ee cummings invented the microwave,
or maybe T. S. Eliot found gold in the wastelands.
this is the way the world ends, not with a bang but a whimper!
there were no ghosts or goblins prancing around in the gloom,
there was one kid that came to my door, but
i didn't have no candy to give to nobody, ('at's a trip negative)
so i stood in the shadows and looked through the peephole until he was gone.
i shoulda opened the door just to hear "trick or treat".
i woulda been tricked, kinda like Hemingway, poor fellow.
the only bridges worth crossing are the ones that lead to the future,
or the ones that mend the past,
or the spooky one that the Headless Horseman sometimes crosses in Sleepy Hollow.
are bones hollow?
it was definitely Eliot who wrote of the Hollow Men,
but it was Abrams & Lindelof who wrote of the Others.
night wanes. i tire. work comes early. sleep comes slowly. r..aammbl...ee cummings?

the second post

The first post concerned itself with Pain, namely that of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
The second post deals with my other love, that of my fiancee, Keisha L Miller.

I've known Keisha for much of my life, both being from a small town (a hamlet, if you will). And we've lived less than a mile apart for the past years. Somewhere along life's way she developed an attraction for me. I do not know why, but she did. And one year she asked me to go to a dance with her. Foolishly, as all young boys are, I said no.

It may have been there that I first started falling for the girl that I rejected. I thought it amazing that someone as cute as her would like me, but as a shy one, and a devoted one to studies, I said no. Infatuation somehow works itself into the mind, though, and my studies eventually became second. But I get ahead of myself.

My senior year of high school I decided that I finally was going to let her know how I felt. It had been a while since I said "no", and so I hoped that her feelings had not changed. So one morning I found her alone (a terribly hard way to get a high school girl) and pulled up a chair by her. My whiskers were rough; my hands shook; my voice wavered. "Do you wanna go to Winter Ball with me?" Or something of that nature. Luckily she said aye. Which, honestly, my memory doesn't let me remember much of that, unless, of course, you call Keisha my memory.

Since then we've dated. Practically. I never did technically ask her to be my girlfriend. I did, however, ask her to be my wife. She agreed. And so, Cinco de Mayo, 2007, we are to be wed. And she still loves me, and I still really have no reason why. She is beautiful and sweet and smart and funny and good and I really don't deserve her love, but I am so thankful to have it. God truly is a good God. He loves me. He showers me with blessings abundant. All of my praise goes to Him.

May your days be long and your nights pleasant, amigo...

Pain

I was at a concert the other night (Third Day, David Crowder Band, HyperStatic Union) and Mac Powell said a peculiar quote.

"Love is not the universal language. Pain is."

He said that this was told to him by his mentor when he was younger. I've thought about this a bit. Now I ask you to think for a second. Not everyone in the world is going to experience love. Some people probably won't even know what the word means. Many (delah) will not even know what an act of love is. There will only be those innate actions of goodwill, but are they altruistic? Can altruism exist? This is not the point I want to write about. The point I want to expand on is how blessed I am to know Love/love. (By the way, I say aye, altruism does exist.)

There are many loves in my life, but I want to focus on two. The first, and most important, is the Love of Jesus Christ. He came down to this earth, shedding His heavenly glory to take on the roll of a mortal man. He was tempted as we are, yet he succeeded. He lived a life that required work to survive. He had to eat. He had to rest. Through it all He never shirked His purpose: Proclaim God as God as God as Father. He was His Son, divine, immortally mortal, and the Godman. He faced hardships but never failed. He was beaten beyond recognition. His beard was plucked. He was spat upon. He was mocked. Flesh was torn from His body. His blood flowed freely from the countless wounds. His hands were nailed to some wood. His feet were nailed into more wood. Placed upon a cross He was raised toward the heavens. He looked out from His vantage point, vision undoubtedly hampered by blood, and He saw me. He knew me before I was. He knew everything that I would be. He knew all the things that I would do. He knew that my flesh and mind and body would want to be away from Him. Yet, even though I was rebellious, He died for me.

Jesus Christ, Son of God, Man, died in utter agony on a rough cross, bearing the terrible burden of sin. Of our sins.

And He did this because He loves us. He wants us to be with Him in Paradise. He wants to cleanse us from our sins. He will wash our black, rebellious souls with His red/white blood. He will be our Advocate before God and grant us permission to enter into heaven with Him. We can be with Jesus forever.

All that we need to do is to simply confess Jesus as our Lord. This does not necessarily mean that there has to be a big public ordeal. It can simply be done at the privacy of your computer. You can ask God to forgive you of all your wrongs and ask Him to live in your heart. He will. It's that simple. Seriously.

Once this is done, obviously your outward life is going to change, and that is where the world will know. There will be a joy in your heart. And they--the Black-- will hate the White. But God will be there, always. He will never leave. He's never left me. I need Him everyday.

And that is the First Love. Jesus Christ, Son of God, who died for me and you, for us all, who died so that we might live. He loves me forever. His mercy endures forever. He is always there. He will always be there. And He's always gonna want us to live with Him forever.

My second love will come on the words of my next post. Until then, may your days be long and your nights pleasant.