July 30, 2007
Yeah, I know...
I know last time I said I would come back and we'd talk about why we're politically doomed in '08. But you know what? I just don't feel like talkin' politics right now. What I'd rather do is have a little fun. This is a photo I took at the IKEA last April when Aimee and I went down there to "lay in some supplies" and it smooth cracked me up. (Remember folks, since it's b&w that makes it fine art and not just a snapshot of a figure display at IKEA). What I would like to do is play "Caption This:" Use the comment field to post your submission. Here's the photo, and here's I'll start off with my submission: "Man Down at the Stick Figure Rave". Cheesy? You betcha. But pizza is cheesy and you LOVE pizza, dontcha? Have fun, peeps.
// posted by wayne @ 7/30/2007 04:25:00 AM 
July 15, 2007
Random Weekend Nonsense
AWWWW Yeah! Don't call it a come back, cause I never wa...wait a second. I think I've done that one before. Forget that. (Wouldn't it have been easier to delete that whole sentence, rather than asking you to forget?)
Anyway, we were about 9 minutes away from the "Day The Music Died". Well, at least it is NOW. By the time I get this all polished and published, it will most assuredly be much, much later. 8 minutes now.
Remember a while back I referenced the Internet Radio Equality Act which was supposed to put the copyright royalty board back in realityland with the rest of us? Someone finally figured out raising royalty rates 1200% wasn't going to be realistic, or even collectible, from smaller webcasters. Which is good news in that internet radio (which is the absolute bomb-diggity when it comes to 'radio' music) will not go silent tonight, but still bad news in that the greedy radio people are still going to figure a way to get their $$$hare from webcasters. And that's too bad, because these webcasters are the ones filling the gaping void left by commercial radio by bringing new, original tunes to the peeps--and that, as Martha is fond of saying, "is a good thing".
This is by far the corniest thing I'll say all day, but music truly is the soundtrack of our lives. I don't recall where I first heard that, but going on the cheese factor alone, it must've been on the front of a Hallmark sympathy card or something similar. Corny as it sounds, try this exercise: imagine a milestone in your life. Maybe your fist kiss, the first time you drove a car or even graduation day. Now, think for just a second. I bet you can recall the exact song on the radio or even the one playing in your head at that precise moment. For me, this association effect is so pervasive (and I bet it is for you, too) that I can hear a song today and be magically transported back through time itself to they day when I first heard that song. Obviously, music is a major part of lives. Which is why it becomes so important to me to find some good, positive music that won't put old Wayne to sleep. And if a single one of you suggests Stryper, Bloodgood or Whiteheart, you are officially off the Christmas card list! Well, not really, but I will have to subtract 2 "cool points" and put you on probation. And all of this brings us right back 'round to internet radio. There are exactly two Christian stations in/around OKC and I am grateful they are there, but keep in mind the goal of commercial radio: get as many listeners as possible. Which means play as wide a variety as possible. This becomes even more paramount if you're in radio ministry. I've heard some good stuff, but by the same token I've heard twice as much that does not suit my musical fancy. Which is not to say that they are not good musicians and performers doing a great job of ministry through music. It is only to say that I am not "feeling the vibe" if you will. Last week, I ran across (you guessed it) an internet station which was playing the "good stuff". I've already compiled a list of bands which I'll be checking out based on their singles.
So, if you haven't called your rep's take a few and make that call, won't you? (If you don't, I'm giving Sally Struthers your home phone number and you can explain your excuse to her!) Even if your rep is in DC, you can usually contact their local office and you won't be dinged for a long-distance call. Just tell them that you would like their serious consideration in co-sponsoring the IREA and make sure the staffer forwards the message to the DC office.
Well that's all I gots for now, peeps, so mark your calendar. No, not because I posted twice in less than a week. You may mark July 15th, 2007 as the day Wayne quoted Martha Stewart! Join us later this week as I try to find a polite and positive way to illustrate how DOOMED we are in November, 2008. My stomach turns just thinking about it.
Anyway, we were about 9 minutes away from the "Day The Music Died". Well, at least it is NOW. By the time I get this all polished and published, it will most assuredly be much, much later. 8 minutes now.
Remember a while back I referenced the Internet Radio Equality Act which was supposed to put the copyright royalty board back in realityland with the rest of us? Someone finally figured out raising royalty rates 1200% wasn't going to be realistic, or even collectible, from smaller webcasters. Which is good news in that internet radio (which is the absolute bomb-diggity when it comes to 'radio' music) will not go silent tonight, but still bad news in that the greedy radio people are still going to figure a way to get their $$$hare from webcasters. And that's too bad, because these webcasters are the ones filling the gaping void left by commercial radio by bringing new, original tunes to the peeps--and that, as Martha is fond of saying, "is a good thing".
This is by far the corniest thing I'll say all day, but music truly is the soundtrack of our lives. I don't recall where I first heard that, but going on the cheese factor alone, it must've been on the front of a Hallmark sympathy card or something similar. Corny as it sounds, try this exercise: imagine a milestone in your life. Maybe your fist kiss, the first time you drove a car or even graduation day. Now, think for just a second. I bet you can recall the exact song on the radio or even the one playing in your head at that precise moment. For me, this association effect is so pervasive (and I bet it is for you, too) that I can hear a song today and be magically transported back through time itself to they day when I first heard that song. Obviously, music is a major part of lives. Which is why it becomes so important to me to find some good, positive music that won't put old Wayne to sleep. And if a single one of you suggests Stryper, Bloodgood or Whiteheart, you are officially off the Christmas card list! Well, not really, but I will have to subtract 2 "cool points" and put you on probation. And all of this brings us right back 'round to internet radio. There are exactly two Christian stations in/around OKC and I am grateful they are there, but keep in mind the goal of commercial radio: get as many listeners as possible. Which means play as wide a variety as possible. This becomes even more paramount if you're in radio ministry. I've heard some good stuff, but by the same token I've heard twice as much that does not suit my musical fancy. Which is not to say that they are not good musicians and performers doing a great job of ministry through music. It is only to say that I am not "feeling the vibe" if you will. Last week, I ran across (you guessed it) an internet station which was playing the "good stuff". I've already compiled a list of bands which I'll be checking out based on their singles.
So, if you haven't called your rep's take a few and make that call, won't you? (If you don't, I'm giving Sally Struthers your home phone number and you can explain your excuse to her!) Even if your rep is in DC, you can usually contact their local office and you won't be dinged for a long-distance call. Just tell them that you would like their serious consideration in co-sponsoring the IREA and make sure the staffer forwards the message to the DC office.
Well that's all I gots for now, peeps, so mark your calendar. No, not because I posted twice in less than a week. You may mark July 15th, 2007 as the day Wayne quoted Martha Stewart! Join us later this week as I try to find a polite and positive way to illustrate how DOOMED we are in November, 2008. My stomach turns just thinking about it.
Labels: Random Weekend Nonsense
// posted by wayne @ 7/15/2007 11:49:00 PM
July 13, 2007
She's Dead, Jim.
I am, of course, referring to my muse. For the last 30-something days, I have had absolutely no motivation to post. Not like it was much of a mystery, but it is the honest truth. Nor have I even felt guilty about playing hookey. In fact, I've had so little interest in blogging lately that I haven't even been checking the comments, and I usually do that even if I don't post. I just haven't had it in me. But here we are and we've got a lot of catching up to do, so grab a cup of coffee, some dark chocolate and let's get stuck in.
It would not be much of a stretch to say I've been using my ham radio as an excuse, but I'd been trying to sort out some of the connections I thought I had fixed a while back. So for a good two weeks, that was the order of the day--looking at schematics for hours, then retiring to the garage to try to put it in practice. For the most part, I think I've got it. Mostly. But I still have, to use Aim's word, this "ugly" radio jammed in the the bottom pocket of my center console, powered by a lovely cig-adapter which is just looping around on the floorboard looking, well, ugly. So I spent about a week trying to locate the kit needed to remote-mount the radio under my seat but keep the control head and mic within easy reach. Turns out Yaesu didn't make many of these buggers and the ones which are left are now apparently worth about $35 an ounce if you can find one. In the end, I had to order the individual component-level parts which can't readily be fabricated or scrounged and they should be in this week so we'll see how that goes.
Another thing that's been keeping me thinking (as opposed to actually posting) is the amount of negative, angry things I've amassed here. Granted, mean posts often make the best reads, but do I really want to represent myself that way? Is that the image I want people who don't know me personally to take away from this little chunk o' the net? The more I think about that question, the more I have to say "no, it isn't". Even more so when I consider that the number 1 thing I listed on my "100 things" (which should probably be updated by now, but just won't be, ha!) is that I am a Christian. (I know what you're thinking: "Whoa great. Here it comes, Wayne's got religion"). Well kids, I have for some time. The problem, as I see it, is that I haven't always acted in a manner which would lead a stranger to believe that to be the case.
I've rarely discussed my religious beliefs (in an outright fashion, anyway) on this blog because it is always something that's been deeply personal to me and, if I'm truly honest with myself about it, perhaps even a bit of a mystery. Mysterious the sense of where do I really stand on Christianity as a whole? Until recently, I've been able to rationalize skipping church by using the excuse that churches are full of hypocrites, when perhaps it would be more accurate to say I didn't want to be one of the hypocrites in church. I'm over that and we've been attending a good ol' Southern Baptist church for about two months now and I can genuinely say I enjoy it. We've met some very nice people and I feel a sincere sense of welcoming every time we're there.
So here's the bottom line: a very simple definition of Christian is "Christ-like". To put it another way, if I may borrow a little something from our pastor, Christians should be striving to lead a Christ-like life, otherwise we're wasting our time. I think he's got a good point. I think of it this way: if I call myself a Christian, then, by the definition already given, shouldn't I be following His example? Part of Christ living a human life was to prove to us that it can be done the way it should be--by his own example. Again borrowing from the pastor, if it wasn't possible, then what would be the point of trying? Our own God would be setting us up for failure, right? I understand the whole question of religion in general is not going to be every one's cup o' tea and some may even wonder why I've made (most of) an entire post of it, but it's been on my mind a lot lately and that's essentially what this blog is about--what's on my mind. Yeah, I know doing a post like this is going to put some people right off their breakfasts and essentially label me a nutter from this time on, but that's OK. I'm still the same guy you know and love (admit it: you love me or you wouldn't still be checking after a month-long hiatus, now would you?) I'm just thinking about things a bit differently these days.
It would not be much of a stretch to say I've been using my ham radio as an excuse, but I'd been trying to sort out some of the connections I thought I had fixed a while back. So for a good two weeks, that was the order of the day--looking at schematics for hours, then retiring to the garage to try to put it in practice. For the most part, I think I've got it. Mostly. But I still have, to use Aim's word, this "ugly" radio jammed in the the bottom pocket of my center console, powered by a lovely cig-adapter which is just looping around on the floorboard looking, well, ugly. So I spent about a week trying to locate the kit needed to remote-mount the radio under my seat but keep the control head and mic within easy reach. Turns out Yaesu didn't make many of these buggers and the ones which are left are now apparently worth about $35 an ounce if you can find one. In the end, I had to order the individual component-level parts which can't readily be fabricated or scrounged and they should be in this week so we'll see how that goes.
Another thing that's been keeping me thinking (as opposed to actually posting) is the amount of negative, angry things I've amassed here. Granted, mean posts often make the best reads, but do I really want to represent myself that way? Is that the image I want people who don't know me personally to take away from this little chunk o' the net? The more I think about that question, the more I have to say "no, it isn't". Even more so when I consider that the number 1 thing I listed on my "100 things" (which should probably be updated by now, but just won't be, ha!) is that I am a Christian. (I know what you're thinking: "Whoa great. Here it comes, Wayne's got religion"). Well kids, I have for some time. The problem, as I see it, is that I haven't always acted in a manner which would lead a stranger to believe that to be the case.
I've rarely discussed my religious beliefs (in an outright fashion, anyway) on this blog because it is always something that's been deeply personal to me and, if I'm truly honest with myself about it, perhaps even a bit of a mystery. Mysterious the sense of where do I really stand on Christianity as a whole? Until recently, I've been able to rationalize skipping church by using the excuse that churches are full of hypocrites, when perhaps it would be more accurate to say I didn't want to be one of the hypocrites in church. I'm over that and we've been attending a good ol' Southern Baptist church for about two months now and I can genuinely say I enjoy it. We've met some very nice people and I feel a sincere sense of welcoming every time we're there.
So here's the bottom line: a very simple definition of Christian is "Christ-like". To put it another way, if I may borrow a little something from our pastor, Christians should be striving to lead a Christ-like life, otherwise we're wasting our time. I think he's got a good point. I think of it this way: if I call myself a Christian, then, by the definition already given, shouldn't I be following His example? Part of Christ living a human life was to prove to us that it can be done the way it should be--by his own example. Again borrowing from the pastor, if it wasn't possible, then what would be the point of trying? Our own God would be setting us up for failure, right? I understand the whole question of religion in general is not going to be every one's cup o' tea and some may even wonder why I've made (most of) an entire post of it, but it's been on my mind a lot lately and that's essentially what this blog is about--what's on my mind. Yeah, I know doing a post like this is going to put some people right off their breakfasts and essentially label me a nutter from this time on, but that's OK. I'm still the same guy you know and love (admit it: you love me or you wouldn't still be checking after a month-long hiatus, now would you?) I'm just thinking about things a bit differently these days.
// posted by wayne @ 7/13/2007 02:25:00 AM
