TV Throwdown
I've posted a new TV Throwdown with Ryan over at Truth on Cinema. It's my open letter to Al Gore for creating the internet. Check it out.
Object vs. Subject
"We must speak and yet we must maintain our silence, we must maintain distance amidst the proximity of God, and we must worship while being careful not to make God into the object of our worship: for God is the subject before whom we worship." - Peter Rollins (emphasis added)
Monday Morning List
I woke up feeling sick on Friday morning. Been feeling bad ever since. Got some medications and tried to take it easy over the weekend.
Media Friday: Favorite Albums – This Time Around
It was a weekday, I was in college. I had just come home from class and was just about to head out to some other activity. I turned on the TV for just a moment and it was still on MTV from the night before (when I had, no doubt, been watching a Real World marathon). I was immediately captivated by the song that was playing. Solid, piano-driven, power-pop. Great lyrics delivered by great vocals. Then I turned around and looked at the screen... is that... Hanson? no, couldn't be... wait 'til the song ends and they give the credits. Song: This Time Around / Artist: Hanson / Album: This Time Around. Who knew?
Fast forward two and a half years. I'm living in Portland, OR. Nothing to do one day, I found myself thumbing through a rack of CDs. Hanson: This Time Around. What the heck? I'll give it a try. From then on I was a true believer. These guys are greatness and this is probably their best album, by a very slim margin. In fact, if "MMMBop" had never happened and this had been their debut release, I think that they wouldn't carry the stigma that they do in some uneducated circles. Still have doubts? How 'bout guest appearances by Johnny Lang and John Popper?
Here's that video that I saw. You be the judge.
Previous Favorite Albums: Living with Ghosts
Throwin’ Down
Check out the inagural edition of TV Throwdown with Ryan over at Truth on Cinema.
Angels, Demons, DaVinci, and Brown
Several sources (including /film) reported yesterday the release of the next Dan Brown (The DaVinci Code) novel-turned-film. I was excited by this news, less because of the movie and more because of the book.
The Lost Symbol is set to release Sept. 15 in a first edition printing. All I know at this point is that it will be another Robert Langdon adventure rumored to center around Washington, D.C. Even with this small amount of information, I have to tell you, I haven't been this excited about a book release since Dude, Where's My Country by Michael Moore (no joke - it was a phase).
As I mentioned, last week, I'm re-reading Angels and Demons in anticipation of the film. I think that Dan Brown is probably the best author I've ever read. He hooks you in and doesn't let up. I'm sure read for a solid 2 hours non-stop to finish both A&D and DaVinci Code. His other books, Deception Point and Digital Fortress are also good, but not as engaging.
I love a great conspiracy theory. I'm enthralled with Illuminati and Freemason lore (so much so, that I'm sure they are reading this right now and making a note in their records to keep an eye on me - just kidding - maybe not). Couple that with rich history and engaging characters and you've got the makings.
Discussion: Are you a Dan Brown fan? Have you read the books or watched the movie? Do you think Dan Brown is a propagandist for atheism? Are you intrigued by conspiracy theories? Do you think I'm horrible for reading these "heretical" books (at least they aren't vampire romance novels - right)?
Monday Morning List
Friday:
- Helped move my mom's piano and organ - don't ask
- Ran some errands with Katie
- Watched Yes Man on demand
Saturday:
- Caught the season finale of Life (apparently it hasn't been canned yet)
- Met my friend Ryan at Starbucks
- My dad and step-mom stopped by
- Erica and Stephen brought us dinner (Thanks!!)
- Learned "Glass" by Gavin DeGraw on piano
Sunday:
- Stayed home with our boy - don't think he's ready to make it through church
- Shopped for groceries - save $35 (not bad, but not great)
- Watched Celebrity Apprentice
Media Friday: TV Update
Back in January I offered a report of what I'm watching this season. I figured that it's about time for an update. Here goes...
Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles - after a long holiday hiatus, SCC returned with a bang, only to end it's season two months later. Rumor is that the series is finished. If so, it will have done nothing for the Terminator universe, but I'm not sure it could do anything if it continued either.
24 - Jack's dying, but wait, he signed on for another season, thanks for that spoiler. Note to producers, we were done with Kim before she returned with C. Thomas Howell several years ago. Let's just drop her already. But I'll give them points for the Tony swerve. They got me on that.
American Idol - Pretty predictable... except for this week. I'm surprised that Adam Lambert has grown on me a bit. I like it when he keeps it simple, when "rocks out" it's a bit too much.
Lost - My doubts are gone. I'm a true believer. Week after week this show delivers. (Well, except next week when they're going to do a "recap". What's with that?) Swerve upon swerve, we haven't been this shocked since Hogan went heel and joined the NWO.
Life - I've all but quit caring. Looks like NBC feels the same way. It's just hard to weave a big plot in amongst weekly adventures/cases - Law & Order works because it doesn't worry much about individual character stories and focuses mainly on the cases. Ironcially, it was L&O that replace Life last night.
House - I've missed a lot from this season, but it remains a reliable series despite relatively little promotion or fanfare.
2 BIG SURPRISES
Lie to Me - I've enjoyed the couple of episodes that I've seen.
The Biggest Loser - It's not "Must See TV," but I can't help but watch.
P.S. - I updated the "What I'm Listening To" sidebar this week.
Reading Update
Every now and again I like to let you know what I'm reading. I haven't had the opportunity to read too much, but I'm trying.
Angels & Demons by Dan Brown - I picked this up a couple of days before the baby was born and I'm already about halfway through it. I've read it before, but after watching The DaVinci Code a couple of weeks back and in preparation for the movie version, I wanted to read it again. Reading Dan Brown is a lesson in what it means to be a great novelist.
How (Not) to Speak of God by Peter Rollins - I picked this book up back when I was in school. I started it then, but didn't finish it. I saw it on the shelf the other day and thought I would give it another try. It's a bit heady, but not as heady as the book I recently read that compared social media to the Russian Revolution.
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