IPTV

I just watched much of the Rice win over Miami in the College World Series on ESPN2… even though we don’t have cable. Here’s how.

King’s X

Everyone probably has a favorite band that never hit it big, that obviously (to you) deserved commercial success but remained on the fringes. Mine is King’s X. They have produced some of the most interesting rock albums of the past two decades, while remaining rather obscure as far as I know (aside from a brief opportunity to open for AC/DC in the early nineties). A trio with incredibly harmonies (they more or less use the background vocals as another instrument to round out the sound), shifting lead singers (mostly the bassist, but also the guitarist), and competent, sometimes complex music, I find I continue to enjoy their albums 15 years after I first heard them (oddly enough, I didn’t like their sound all that much when I first heard them). But their lyrics set them apart as they spell out a journey from faith to frustration to bitterness.
Continue reading “King’s X”

Hoodwinked

Our family has been struggling through a multitude of illnesses these past two weeks, so we’ve been stuck inside for most of the time. Thankfully, I bought Hoodwinked a couple weekends ago and it has probably been watched every day since.

In brief, Hoodwinked takes up the story of Red Riding Hood at the moment that Red, the wolf, Granny, and the woodcutter are all in the home together and proceeds from the point of view of a police investigation. Beyond the weirdness in the home, everyone is trying to figure out the identity of the Goodie Bandit. This setup is used to make a fantastic point that my kids have gradually absorbed: the challenges caused by multiple perspectives on a single story if folks aren’t willing to listen to one another. As Flippers (the police investigator) summarizes at the end of the movie, if a tree falls in the forest you’ll get three stories: yours, mine, and the tree’s.

It’s a fun feature-length parable of such proverbs as Proverbs 18:13 and Proverbs 18:17, with a strong dose of the importance of telling the truth. The animation isn’t up to Pixar standards, but it does the job, and the script is solid in support of the overall theme. And the wolf… he’s there for the parents, with a deliciously understated sarcasm that I still find funny after numerous viewings.

Spring Has Sprung

“A man’s heart — aye, and a woman’s, too — should be light in the spring. The spirit of resurrection is abroad, calling the life of the world out of its wintry grave, knocking with radiant fingers at the gates of its tomb. It stirs in human hearts, and makes them glad with the old primal gladness they felt in childhood. It quickens human souls, and brings them, if so they will, so close to God that they may clasp hands with Him. It is a time of wonder and renewed life, and a great outward and inward rapture, as of a young angel softly clapping his hands for creation’s joy.”

—from Further Chronicles Of Avonlea by Lucy Maud Montgomery

Leslie has nurtured my appreciation for wonderful quotes, so when I read this for the first time just a few days ago I knew I wanted to post it on our blog for the first day of spring. And so, here we are!!

Recently I picked up Chronicles of Avonlea and Further Chronicles Of Avonlea at a secondhand book store. Those of you who have read and loved the Anne and Emily books by LMM will enjoy these two volumes of short stories that are set in the world of Anne of Green Gables, the beautiful Prince Edward Island. They are delightful, heart-warming little stories which I’ve been enjoying in small bits during Josiah’s feedings. I recommend them highly.

What’s playing in Jay’s iPod?

In an effort to fend off Google, I’ll not quote any of the lyrics this time around, but rather provide a few elusive clues. Here we go.

1) the album is named after a piece of music originally written for a play in the 1800’s

2) the band does a guitar-centric rendition of the the aforementioned piece of music as an introduction to a song the is loosely based on the play

3) On subsequent albums, the band added a lot of piano to their metal sound creating this bizarre, but strangely interesting, rock opera sound

4) Oddly enough, most people are familiar with the band, but don’t know it

Okay, any guesses?

Updated 12/4/2005
Better add some more clues.

5) The bands 10th album (which also happens to be in my iPod) is a story set during the Balkan wars of the early 1990’s

6) The band’s name appears to be an early 80’s attempt to mash together two “dangerous” sounding words

7) Okay, let’s expand Clue #4. The band has an alter-ego, another band that focuses on Christmas music.

Some Thanksgiving Reading

I referenced this book last year on our Thanksgiving Day post. This year I thought I’d mention it sooner in the season so you could look for it at your local library (I see our local system does in fact have a couple copies available!) or favorite local or web bookstore (click on image to purchase it at Amazon).

The Thanksgiving Story

I purchased and read this to the children last year to give them an introduction to the Thanksgiving holiday. I think it is a fine addition to our library, and recommend it highly. I was delighted to learn it had received the honor of being named a Caldecott Honor book.

It follows one Pilgrim family’s journey from England to America and documents the hardships the Pilgrims endured to make a home in this new land where they could worship God as they felt they ought. It is told simply enough for beginning readers to enjoy on their own, yet also does a great job of not oversimplifying the story. Our two eldest (aged 3 and 5 last year) old loved the book and its beautiful illustrations. Alice Dalgliesh has presented us with a wonderful account of the first Thanksgiving, helping children to gain an awareness of where this special holiday originated, and why we take time on this day each year to thank God for His blessings to us.

We’ll enjoy this book again this year, and for many years to come.

Blast From the Past

This morning when my carpooler picked Abigail up for school, I heard a sort of familiar tune coming from her car stereo. It took me a second or two to place it and then I exclaimed to her, “I had this record when I was a little girl! I loved it!” She said that she had it too as a child and enjoyed it, and had picked it up for her kids to listen to now.

I hadn’t thought of this album in years so I got out on the web and it turns out they don’t sell the record anymore – big surprise! But you can get it on cassette or cd: It’s called the Music Machine and here is the best price I could find for the cd online, new ($6.99).

The album is about a boy and girl who learn all about the Fruits of the Spirit through a series of songs that this Magical Music Machine creates. The song that had been playing in Elizabeth’s car was one of my favorites, about a little snail named Herbert who races around impatiently doing everything in “double time”, not at all appropriate for a proper snail. His father takes him aside and speaks to him about being patient. Hmmm…that’s one of the Fruits of the Spirit I struggle with probably more than any!

I found some music clips online:

This clip is from the song about Faith:

The second is from the Patience song– this portion of the song is the slow part, sung by Herbert’s father.

The rest of the music clips can be found here. It was really fun to listen to all these and realize I remember almost EVERY lyric to these songs I probably first heard about 26 years ago!

So, tell me: did any of you have this record as kids??

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Here is hoping all of you enjoyed a peaceful day of Thanksgiving with loved ones. We spent the day at Jay’s folks’ and had a wonderful time. Given the context of a holiday spent with young children, I felt it was quite relaxed. Kudos are in order for Grammy Ruth on a most delectably succulent turkey: indeed, one of the best we’ve ever eaten!

The Thanksgiving StoryA month ago I purchased this book which I read to the children to give them an introduction to the Thanksgiving holiday. I think it is a fine addition to our library, and recommend it highly. I was delighted to learn it had received the honor of being named a Caldecott Honor book.

It follows one Pilgrim family’s journey from England to America and documents the hardships the Pilgrims endured to make a home in this new land where they could worship God as they felt they ought. It is told simply enough for beginning readers to enjoy on their own, yet also does a great job of not oversimplifying the story. Our 3 and 5 year old loved the book and its beautiful illustrations. Alice Dalgliesh has presented us with a wonderful account of the first Thanksgiving, helping children to gain an awareness of where this special holiday originated, and why we take time on this day each year to thank God for His blessings to us. And truly, there is much for which we are thankful.

What’s playing in Jay’s car?

Okay, folks, the only rule is: no Google! Now, who can name the band I’m listening to these days in my car? Here’s a few lyrical snippets from one of their albums…

“It can’t be all coincidence
Too many things are evident
You tell me you’re an unbeliever
Spiritualist? Well me I’m neither
But wouldn’t you like to know
The truth?”

“There’s a time to live and a time to die
When it’s time to meet the maker
There’s a time to live but isn’t it strange
That as soon as you’re born you’re dying”

“Only the good die young
All the evil seem to live forever”

There you have it. The band is…?