Jim's Fields of Observation

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Rocks, Just Not As Much

Maybe it’s because I’ve seen Trans-Siberian Orchestra at least 5 times in 7 years. Or maybe their new album, Night Castle, has been so hyped by them for the last 3 or 4 years, and I don’t like it as much as their other albums. But this time for me there wasn’t the same magic that used to be there.

One aspect that that I’ve noticed before that struck me more this year: the band’s seemingly-constant request for applause. Did they do it more this year, or has my tolerance come to an end? The story the music and lyrics tell is so powerful! Why ruin it with incessant hamming?

I would still recommend this concert to others. I would probably include these few disclaimers, too.

Thanks for coming to Cincinnati, TSO!

Non Sequitur

Non sequitur. n. An inference or conclusion that does not follow from the premises or evidence.* (Latin lit., “it does not follow”)

Does anyone else resent the AT&T’s rebuttal commercials to Verizon’s 3G claims? Luke Wilson agreed to insult our intelligence levels by filming a few commercials that are meant to combat the Verizon’s presentation of AT&T’s 3G coverage.

Have you paid attention to what each company says? Verizon shows maps of the reach of each company’s 3G coverage and claims their coverage is 3 (or is it 5?) times larger than AT&T’s, and they actually show in each of the commercials the respective maps.

If you pay attention to AT&T’s “rebuttals” (and I use that term very lightly) you will notice they never address the issue directly, a great frustration of mine. AT&T tries a little sleight of hand in an attempt distract us from the facts. “We have faster speeds,” they proudly announce. “You can talk and surf at the same time on our network.” Yeah, that does a lot of good when you are in an area where you can’t access the network!

If anyone in AT&T’s marketing department reads this, PLEASE, for the sake of rational people across America, stop insulting our intelligences! Speak the truth and do it directly. I’m sure your company has other great things to compete with Verizon. Right?

*non sequitur. Dictionary.com. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2004. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/non sequitur (accessed: November 29, 2009).

I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys.

— 

Charles Dickens

Is your heart still shut up?

Internet Vices - Patrick Moberg →

This is a hilarious depiction of common social media sites and what other vices they resemble. Enjoy! (Apologies for the swear word.)

Juxtaposition 11/20/09

Juxtaposition (noun) “an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, esp. for comparison or contrast.”¹

I love juxtaposition of the ironic sort. Especially in these times when we have input coming from so many streams, and so many things are automated and shuffled, one can easily catch ironic things that normally would not be placed side by side.

I would like to begin a new feature where I share with you some the better examples, and I would love to hear from you some of your examples, too. Please leave a comment here or email me at jim (at) fieldsofobservation (dot) com.

11/20/09

As seen on Facebook

Friend 1’s status update: “…has xenophobic societies and populist politics on the agenda for today.”

Friend 2’s status update 3 minutes earlier: “…I do not want your gross, chewed up cookie!”

¹ juxtaposition. Dictionary.com. Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/juxtaposition (accessed: November 20, 2009).

Bringing the Digital into the Physical
(aka Personalizing Paper Memos with Twitter Protocol)

Willing Spirit and Weak Flesh

In Deutschland ist heute Buss- und Bettag. That means, today is Day of Repentance and Prayer in Germany. I first learned of this day while I was interning with a small church in northern Germany. (Visit the Website of the German church I interned with at www.christusgemeinde-pe.de.)

Repentance is not a common word nowadays. The Greek verb used in the New Testament means “to change your mind” and carries the idea of reformation, of changing your behavior. Interestingly, a 2006 Christian Science Monitor article cites a few small examples of a burgeoning movement among Germans who are reconsidering religion and “repenting” (if you will) of the rampant secularism widespread in most of northern and western Europe. Interesting that the people to whom I went to minister still teach me a thing or two.

And what of changing? Improving. Making a decision to change the direction one’s life is going?

“God, all too often I go my own way, not even thinking about Your leading. Please forgive me. I want to turn from my own way and follow You. Please lead me. Amen.”

The Tragedy of Waiting

Image by mattwi1s0n via Flickr

I came across this quote today: “The tragedy of life is not that it ends so soon, but that we wait so long to begin it.” (W. M. Lewis) No, I am not dying. But I don’t think one has to be at death’s proverbial door to appreciate the tragedy of time and opportunity lost.

I recently read a great article on choice and happiness. To summarize, the more choices we have, often the unhappier we end up (contrary to the American ideal: freedom to choose). This often comes about because we spend time needlessly worrying about what might or might not have been.

I have seen this in my own life. I imagine you may have, too.

So, what are we to do about it? Here are a few ideas I plan on trying.

• Keep the right perspective at choice-making time. How many choices are truly life-altering? Very few.
• Use decisions and decision-making to blaze a trail to who I want to be. Take the bull by the horns, if you will.
• Learn from my past mistakes. I see this as the main - if not only - way to redeem my blunders is to learn from them.
• Don’t dwell the past. Depression is much more likely in artists not because of their creativity, but due to their tendency towards endless self-reflection. I’m going to move on already.

These are some of my ideas. What will you do?

My New Comments Feature

I’m excited to announce that you my reader can now easily comment on these and other blog posts thanks to the easy-to-use system from DISQUS (pronounced like “discuss”, not the track and field event) Comments.

You can add a simple comment to any of these posts, or you may create a free account (or use one you already have such as Twitter) and then you could access your comments from across blogs and other sites.

I truly look forward to hearing from you! Who will be the first?

I’m against picketing, but I don’t know how to show it.

— Mitch Hedberg

Did Christianity Cause the Crash? - The Atlantic (December 2009) →

This excellent article provides a detailed look at some of the people and supporting ideas behind the idea that “Jesus wants you to be happy, healthy, and wealthy,” and how this idea impacts America at large.

Valuable lesson learned: do not make it easy for your betta fish to flop out on your desk and dry out overnight.

I loved watching this special each year. Enjoy! (And try to ignore the Spanish subtitles.)

Review of The Kingdom of the Occult

The Kingdom of the Occult by Walter Martin, Jill Martin Rische, and Kurt van Gorden.
Thomas Nelson, 2008.

[Full Disclosure: I received a free copy of the book only to provide an honest and objective review. (See Cmp.ly link below)]

Seemingly out of the blue a co-worker struck up a conversation with me about ouija boards and provided links to several stories online. Frankly, those stories give me goose bumps. That’s one of the many reasons why I’m grateful for The Kingdom of the Occult.

This is the follow-up volume Martin intended to publish after his now-classic The Kingdom of the Cults, but wasn’t able to before his death. So, his daughter and his research assistant used his copious notes along with updated information to complete this excellent resource. They accomplished well Martin’s objective to provide quality information for the Christ-follower to use to combat the ideas of the various forms of occult belief. Yet, they are clear not to vilify those who hold these beliefs (the hate-the-sin-yet-love-the-sinner concept).

The vast amount of information in this book was presented cohesively and appealingly, informatively, yet without being dry. Each chapter offers Quick Facts page that help provide succinct overviews (and reminders, too) as well as case studies that add credibility and real-world understanding.

I strongly urge each follower of Christ to keep this worthy book on their shelf for reference. In today’s increasingly global society, and given the wide ranges of beliefs that fall under the umbrella of “occult”, this educational book will help in our struggle that is not against flesh and blood. (Ephesians 6:12)

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/2

10/31/2009