God Bless Destiny Norton

I just can't swallow or begin to digest the horror that has accompanied the fate of this little girl. Unspeakable acts from a filthy young man who apparently has no regard for human life or dignity. I cannot express the fear that grips me when I think about who could live next to us. It may be a person with no morals. Maybe one who has departed from decency by engaging in pornography. One who may have very violent tendencies.

It is thoughts like this that further motivate me to keep my own life clean so that I can be worthy of God's help as I raise my children. Our little family needs the protection of the Divine in order to make it through a sick world unscathed. There is so much joy and wonder in our technological age...but the pervasive nature of filthiness can often overshadow any good we can see. There may as well be airplanes distributing noxious chemical agents overhead....that is what I think of when I think of the internet potentially feeding our homes with garbage. Polluting the minds of those who would do harm to others. Fueling their gross fire of wickedness. Its like a crop dusting of immorality.

Anyway....I hope the Nortons can, by God's graces, find a way to cope. I hope that this Gregerson gets EVERY LAST THING coming to him. I think about what Jesus says about those who harm "[His] little ones."

Is the Horse Dead Yet?

Here are a few friggin rad reviews for pretty much my favorite album ever.

Billboard.com
Absolute Punk
Absolute Punk 2
Amazon.com
Sound the Sirens
411mania.com

There's also a stellar review about them in Spin Magazine, but I can't find it online.

By the way, the Format have surpassed the Ataris as my favorite band.

MAN, I can't wait for AUGUST 23RD!!!

The Brick Testament

Here is some fun with legos. Someone has way too much time.

CLICK

Thanks are in order

I have felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude today. This was sent to dean of admissions today:

Dean of Admissions,

I have just been reflecting lately on how far I have come to get to where I am right now...on the doorstep of my medical education. I have been assisting another young man for some months now who is applying this year and I have been reminded of all the rejections and triumphs that accompany a medical school application. I had never exerted myself like I did during those years of preparation. I became comfortable leaving my comfort zone. I solidified my goals. I learned a lot about myself. I have never wanted anything (or worked for anything) like a profession in medicine.

By nature of your position in admissions, you probably have all types of interactions with students. I obviously have no agenda here. I just feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude for this opportunity to attend the this university. I have known for some months now about my acceptance but strangely it has only been lately that I have truly felt the magnitude of this achievement. I have met so many individuals in past months who have had to re-apply or who have not been admitted at all. I feel overwhelmingly fortunate.

I appreciate your investment in me. I felt so low last year when I flew all the way out to Georgetown to interview and had a rotten experience in the interview. I felt unimportant. I felt like a nameless face in the hoard of medical students. In the aftermath of that rejection (among some others) I wondered how I would ever break through the seemingly insurmountable tide of competition and politics. How would I ever break into the clear and secure one of the coveted spots at these universities? I just wanted someone to believe in me. I was very conscious that there were people whose applications were far superior to mine. Nevertheless, I felt that I had special talents too. I felt I had something to give. Those frantic, desperate feelings are now nothing more than memories after the incredible satisfaction came of being admitted to my first choice in universities.

Anyway, I just felt an interesting urge today to express these feelings to you. I apologize for the email instead of a formal letter. I just needed to express these things today. I hope these remarks don't portray hyper ramblings of another admitted medical student attending your school. I have had significant time to reflect on my acceptance. I am truly grateful to all those involved for your faith in me. I don't know how many times you hear thank you's after the admission process. I just wanted to make sure you heard mine.

Sincerely,

"Windypops"

P.S. Please forward this message on to anyone who has been involved in the admission process. I regret that I don't know each person I should be thanking.

Is the "Album" Dead?

I read an article today (how many posts do I begin like that?) that asked that question. (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14011748/?GT1=8307)

It suggests that due to iTunes and other similar programs, consumers are taking singles only and forgetting the rest of the album.

According to the article, for some bands, this may be a good thing, since their albums are merely a few catchy singles and the rest just mediocre filler material. But for me, the bands I listen to are still creating "albums," with much more power in the entire product than their few stand-out songs.

When Scott posted his blog about the most-listened-to songs on his iPod, I had a hard time singling them out because I still listen to albums in their entirety. I like the full effect. Albums like "Siren Song of the Counter Culture" by Rise Against, "The Process of Belief" by Bad Religion, "The War on Errorism" by NOFX, and "Indestructibe" by Rancid are, to me, some of the most powerful in recent years. Though not necessarily "concept albums," when listened to from top to bottom they cover a full spectrum of emotions, one song only validating the next, relaying the feelings the band experienced when writing the album. When put into the context of the bands' experiences, they become all the more complete. "Indestructible," for example, was written before, during, and after singer Tim Armstrong's divorce with his wife, Brody. This is definitely evident throughout the album and only adds impact.

But I ramble. What are some of your favorite albums that wouldn't be the same if a select few songs were taken out and the rest discarded?

Good quotes....so here's my question...

So will this war create a Hippie movement like Vietnam? Will people move away from religion because of the way George Bush represents it? Will there be a surge of liberalism due to the dominance of conservative politicians in power as of late?

Quote of the Day, Part Deux

"The poor man who is currently our president has reached such a point of befuddlement that he thinks stem cell research is the same as taking human lives, but that 40,000 dead Iraqi civilians are progress toward democracy."

-Molly Ivins

Quote of the Day

"Maybe the Axis of Evil rocks, and nobody wants you to know."

-TV on the Radio's Adebempe on what music kids around the world are making

Misquote

A few months ago I told Scott and Trish a figure that I wasn't sure was correct. Now I have the right one.

There have been more deaths in the first three years of the Iraq war than in the first three years of the Vietnam war.

Not shaping up to be a great future.