Monday, March 27, 2006

Derek Webb and Donald Miller: A Conversation.

Author Donald Miller (Blue Like Jazz, Through Painted Deserts, and To Slay a Dragon), and Singer-Songwriter Derek Webb (Mockingbird, I See Things Upside Down, and She Must and Shall Go Free) on-line discussion:

Check this out. This is a worthwile listen for anyone. Very interesting thoughts about the "Christian counter-culture", art, social work, peace, living out the gospel, ect.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Fantasy Baseball

Okay, over at Circle Six Magazine we are starting a Keeper League, meaning you keep a few of your players at the end of the year for the following year. We are talking serious fantasy baseball here. If anyone is interested please drop me a line, we are in need of a few more people.

Also, I started a regular Fantasy league here at NPH. If you don't want do a keeper league and maybe want to start with something a little less ong term, we have a bunch of open spots in this league too. It is mostly NPH employees, but it is open to anyone. Again, just leave a comment if you are interested.

Friday, March 03, 2006

Sigur Ros - Takk

Every year a few months into the year, I find an album that I regret not putting on my "Best of..." list. Today I found that album.

I just got Sigur Ros - Takk, all I have to say is WOW! I have heard much about this band, but remained really skeptical, they are from Iceland (weird), they sing in a language they invented (weirder), and their last album was called "( )" (really weird). But I finally caved in and bought "Takk".

This album could easily rival Sufjan for the top spot of my "Best of 2005" list, it is another one of those albums that can change the way you listen to music. I am usually a lyrics guy, I love folk music because of it's lyrical value, so these are big words coming from be talking about an album sung in "Hopelandic". Really this album transcends language, I have no idea what the words mean, but I fell like I have a complete understanding of what they are saying. Sigur Ros takes you on a strange, but lovely musical journey that in the end left me feeling suprisingly worshipful. I do not have any idea of Sigur Ros spiritual beliefs, but this level of beauty and creativity can not help but leave me felling moved. I think one Amazion.com reviewer summed it up best when he said "The truth is, if you could see their music... you would see heaven."