Last week, I saw The Dark Knight. It was incredible, easily the best movie I’ve seen in the last year and probably in my Top 10 overall. It had a wonderful balance of action, good writing, amazing acting, thoughtful plot, and provocative questions. The questions it raises (and answers?) are, as you would expect from a good Batman movie, all about justice and violence and how much of the latter is permitted in search of the former. ...
When the original iPhone was released a year ago, I wanted one. The promise of being constantly connected to all the various sockets of the Internet into which I have plugged myself (news, e-mail, chat, social networks, information gathering, etc…) was seductive. Being able to work while not standing by a computer, or to keep tabs, in an up-to-the-second fashion, on my virtual communication stream - how exciting! I didn’t get an iPhone then because of my imminent move to Kenya (where it would have been a bad idea to flash one of those around, even if it functioned), but with the recent emergence of the iPhone 3G, I decided to take the plunge, and see if this device was as life-changing as it was cracked up to be. Turns out, it is! But I’m beginning to wonder at what cost. ...
A few days ago, my dad and I were able to put together the desk. Luckily, we have a small hardware store just 4 blocks away, so we were able to go get materials at the spur of the moment. Said materials turned out to be: (4) cuts of 3/4" plywood at 11 3/4" x 21" (perfectly cut by a store employee) (14) 1 3/4" wood screws (1) sheet of sandpaper ...
Like many computer programmers who spend upwards of 8 hours a day working with a keyboard and mouse, I’ve developed some physical problems as a result (classed as Repetitive Strain Injuries, or RSIs). In recent years these have gotten so serious I’ve been to one physician (mainstream and alternative) after another, looking for insight into the situation. Through that process I’ve gained an awareness of the supreme importance of things like correct posture and taking recovery breaks. I’ve also experimented with every kind of ergonomic device on the market, some of which do help. (Unfortunately, much of this is too little, too late–such is the price I pay for my unsustainable Internet lifestyle). ...
There’s a new photoset up at my Flickr page with some shots from my recent travels with Jessica and others. She came to San Francisco for a week, then I was able to visit her family in Macomb, IL. We rounded things out with a trip to Omaha, NE to watch our friend Peter swim in the Olympic trials. Anyway, check out the photos… SF, Macomb, Omaha 6-2008
I am very pleased to announce the arrival of the third installment of Summer of Rock, my annual summer music compilation. Summer of Rock ‘06 and ‘07 have been (I flatter myself to think) great successes, and I’m hoping this year will continue the trend. As we all know, summer is a time for making memories, and nothing goes with memories like good music. From the high-energy, sunny days to the lazy, reflective and romantic nights, this compilation will be the perfect soundtrack to your summer adventures. I’m showcasing primarily songs that have been released in the past year, though there are a handful of older favorites. ...
It’s been awhile since I’ve attempted blogging. From Blogger to Movable Type to Teleios and finally to WordPress, I’ve done my fair share of writing and pointing at things on the internet. I decided that I miss it, and so here we go again. I’m giving this blog the same name as my Teleios e4:online blog, because I really like it. For me, re-creation, or creating in response to the universal creative process God has instituted around us, is at the core of our purpose and therefore our identity as human beings. It’s amusing that the word “recreation” has come to mean something so seemingly superfluous as “arbitrary leisure activities”–but my goal is not to imbue that word with seriousness. Rather, a lighthearted, creative playfulness should characterize our attempts at integrating the various things we find about ourselves in this massive universe into our identities. ...
The time has come for me to leave Kenya. It’s ahead of my scheduled April departure, since I’m now needed back in the States for my sister’s upcoming wedding. Because of the suddenness, I haven’t had time yet to really appreciate what leaving means, and as I’ve begun saying goodbyes to those students who will be at school tomorrow when I leave, I’m awash with emotion. During the six months out of the last year (however non-consecutively) that I’ve spent living with the kids here, my average attitude towards them was probably some mixture of exasperation and bewilderment. The endless knocks on the door, the sly maneuvering to wheedle any variety of things from us, the interminable and insufferable church services… I suppose that complaining about such things internally has masked the more gradual and quieter growth of what, I notice with surprise, can only be called love! I never thought I’d struggle to fight back tears when saying goodnight to an 8-year-old, or that a poorly-spelled note slipped under the door, insisting that “sualy we will miss you very much,” could drop me into a similar tailspin. ...
It’s been a shameful while since we’ve written, but the kids have been keeping us busy. We’re now in the last few weeks of training before our marathon in Tanzania, and so running has taken its toll! For my part, I’ve also been working with several of the kids to produce and record some songs they have written, before I leave Kenya at the end of this month (making the trip home for my sister’s wedding)! ...
Apologies are no doubt owed for this relatively long radio silence. It has been due, thankfully, to our own busyness here and not because any of Kenya’s troubles have reached us at Nyeri. It is deeply saddening to read the news of what is going on in other parts of the country, and hear accounts of the pain firsthand (there are over 100 refugees living not 3 kilometers away in a local sports field). At the same time, we are grateful that we have been able to continue our work mostly unaffected, and that the kids haven’t been subject to anything outside of what’s on the TV. ...