3rd Bass

No, not that third base... see the previous post for more on that... hehehe... I've finally decided to do something about my playing.
I play bass guitar. A fretless 5 string of which I'm rather proud actually. (I had it built and had to go through the whole process of chosing designs, and woods and so on, but that's another post.) I've been playing now for probably close to 20 years, and whilst I've taken some lessons, I'm largely self taught.

But there's the problem. For the last few years I've had no one to challange me, or my playing. Not a bass level, anyway. (Muscially in general, yes - most certainly). And, with no-one really pushing, there's been a slow degredation in my playing. Its been frustrating having playing ideas, and not pulling them off, or continually making tiny little errors, that admitadly no-one else notices (or too few to make a real difference), but errors all the same.

So, I've decided to do something about it.

Click the post title to continue reading... The something is the AMEB CPM Bass Level 3.[1]

There are only 4 levels, and they're supposed to get you to a sufficient quality of playing that you could apply for university studies. Not that I want to go that far, but its something to aim for. I had a look at the different curricula[2], and thought I could probably do Level 1 now, Level 2 with a bit of work, Level 3 with much more, and Level 4 was probably too much of a stretch. Level 3 thus seemed just enough out of reach to be worth going for.

As with most AMEB exams, it involves an insance number of scales and arpeggios[3], some in 2 different fingerings, in all keys, over 2 octaves (which is pretty much all you get on a standard bass). Then there's 5 pieces to prepare - 2 from their list, plus 3 free choice - at least 3 of which need to be peformed with live musicians at the exam. Add on soloing and walking bass lines, aural skills, reading, and general knowledge, and I think I may have bitten off more than I can chew!

I've been at it now for about 3 weeks, and have the majors and harmonic minors down, and starting the melodic minors. I've also been looking at the walking, and some of the tunes. There's a lot to learn, but its fun!

And the best bit is that in these last few weeks, I've really seen a change in my playing; or at least my attitude to playing. Just doing those scales I now seem to have more options under my fingers than I did previously. The fret board is starting to open up its secrets, and the excitement is coming back.

---

[1] That's the Australian Board of Music Contemporary and Popular Music Bass Level 3 exam.

[2]Overview cirrcula available at CPMBass.01.pdf

[3] Major, harmonic minor, melodic minor, major and minor pentatonic, blues, chromatic scales. Major, minor, major 7th, dominant and minor 7th arpeggios. All at 208.

Here we go again!

Kan baby #3 is on the way...

Thousands of words...

Or lots of piccies...

A reminder to some, and news for others, we have a Flickr site with randomly updated pics of us and kids. Alice has been great at keeping this updated fairly often. Thanks bub!

Soaking in music - Donald Fagan's Trans-Island Skyway

One of my greatest pleasures in life is simply listening to music – particularly complex layered, music. It’s still got to be funky and have a great groove mind, but listening to how the different instruments and parts interact is truly a wonderful thing. Understanding the anatomy of a particular piece of music helps me understand it more, and, hopefully, recreate the simple complexity in my own playing or music.

One of my favorites is Donald Fagan’s 'solo' release, “Kamakiriad”. The opening track, Trans-Island Skyway, is not only bizarrely futuristic in its lyrics, but so thick in instrumental parts that picking them apart is audio dissection. The rest of this article gives you an example of what I mean. The track reaches a fiull 6 mintues, 29 seconds, so this is a long post!

Click the post title to continue reading...It might help you to have a listen to the track, which you can get to, at least in part, from Amazon. Follow the links.

Some brief background. Our narrator picks up his new car - a Kamakiri - with all the mod cons - hydroponic garden included! The song relates his trip to his home city along the Trans-Island Skyway.
The track starts with the first guitar part (of at least 3 or 4, I think), drums, and way in the distance some keyboards. The guitar plays a line that comes back throughout the whole track. It’s kind of like the heart beat of the tune, or perhaps, more appropriately, the Kamakiri’s idling engine. Add finger snaps, and move the keys more upfront. Then kick into the groove by adding bass and a second guitar part, a second synth part (with sparse, block chords), and then a third guitar, kind of soloing. Cue first verse, with lead vocals only:

I was born yesterday when they brought my Kamakiri
When they handed me the keys
It's a steam-power 10, the frame is out of Glasgow
The tech is Balinese
It's not a freeway bullet or a bug with monster wheels
It's a total biosphere
(well) The farm in the back is hydroponic
Good, fresh things every day of the year
Good, fresh things every day of the year

For the pre-chorus, add a harmony vocal part, a third synth, and half way through (“all set to samba”), some horns (brass – trumpets etc). The very end adds more harmonies (higher male). This section actually builds up the intensity, before a slight release for the actual chorus.

With all screens and functions
In sync lock with Tripstar
This cool rolling bubble
Is all set to samba
This route could be trouble
(This route could be trouble)

When the first chorus comes along, you’d think it was as dense as a hard wood, but everything is so neatly knit together, perfectly in order, it’s truly beautiful. For the chorus, the initial horn part drops out, and then we get a different part, that eventually overlays the original. The heartbeat is still there, only up an octave. We’re on our way.

(Chorus)
Steamin' up
That Trans-Island Skyway
Tryin' to make that final deadline
And if the lanes are clear
We're gonna drive a little harder
We'll be deep in the Zone by cryin' time

Then a full band STOP, which eases gracefully back into the groove. It’s magical – like a moment’s brief consideration, before just rolling along with the same. Drums, bass, second synth part, all three guitars, weaving in, out and around each other in a beautiful audio tapestry. Vox is back down to the lead. The verse just rolls along in the groove, not unlike the hours wiled away on road trips.

Say, there's a wreck on the side of the road
Lots of blood and broken glass
The kid who was driving I know from somewhere
Some kids just drive too fast
Wait just a minute there's a beautiful survivor
With dancer's legs and laughing eyes
C'mon snake-hips, it's all over now
Strap in tight cause it's a long sweet ride

Things start to heart up again for the second pre-chorus. From the outset the second male harmony part is added. At “Breath in…” we get the horns back, and new female backing vox. The narrator’s pickup is joining in – echoing his instructions to her.

Relax - put some sounds on
I'll brew up some decaf
C'mon kick off those heels ma'am
Now breathe in and sigh out
Let's get with the program
(Let's talk about the good times)

(Chorus)

Out of the second chorus we get an eight bar break in which nothing much seems to happen. But if you listen closely there’s lots of percussion in the background, in odd places: rhythm sticks, bells, wood blocks, temple blocks, and cymbals just before the lead vox comes in again.

The third verse is so full of texture, it can be hard to wade through. Firstly, listen out for the splash cymbal just after “sprangle”. (Incidentally, isn’t that a wonderfully descriptive word for a city’s suburbs!) Also listen for the solo sax line just before “Is that my father”. As far I can hear, its possibly the only solo horn in the whole 6 minutes!

We reach the sprangle just at dawn
These little streets I used to know
Is that my father mowin' the lawn
(C'mon daddy get in let's go)

At first thought, the second half of this verse is a bit of a cop out – just the same line repeated 7 times. (Note that – seven times. What the?) The drums kick it off with an oddly placed snare hit, which drives the groove forward, pumping it up. Immediately the horns come in with close harmonies, playing in and around a dense chordal mass of voices. There’s still a semi-soloing guitar or two, and funky odd keys. But the really hidden shine here is the added percussion. Listen out for bells, wood blocks, chimes, and other cymbals (which could just be the drummer joining in the fun).

From the story standpoint, maybe they’re having a hard time convincing daddy to join them.

C'mon daddy get in let's go
C'mon daddy get in let's go
C'mon daddy get in let's go
C'mon daddy get in let's go

For second “half” the convincing of daddy becomes more intense, with our female passenger adding her voice, and second guitar part. Listen for the odd bell here and there, cutting through the dense chords and voices, and soloing guitars.

C'mon daddy get in let's go
C'mon daddy get in let's go
C'mon daddy get in let's go

The last verse brings us back down to basics, for a while. Initially we’re down to lead vox (doubled with himself, which is interesting – perhaps daddy did get in and go), and rhythm section (bass, drums, one guitar and keys). There is more intensity here, though, mostly through increased volume, but also from the noodling keys. Again, half way through (Tidepools) the female vox, an extra guitar, and some horns just can’t help adding their voices.

We float into Five Zoos
Past the motels and drive-thrus
That noon sun is blinding
Cause the tidepools are boiling
And below the plates are grinding
(Let's talk about the good times, honey)

And then the most unexpected figure of the whole tune – a bar break of drums and keys (or possibly a processed guitar). It’s one of those moments where people look at each other with a confused face, saying “what the heck just happened?”

(Chorus, repeat)

Back into the chorus, and back down to the lead vox (single this time) and rhythm section. Log slow chords on the horns get added in. The chorus is then repeated, starting out by adding a more prominent soloing guitar, then more voices and brining the horns more prominent. The complexity layers start building up.

(outro)

The final 16 bars just ride the groove. Like the end of a long journey, where you know you’re close, and just need to keep going that little bit longer to get there. Listen for the nice drum off beats at the end of the first four bars. Curiously, there are not female vox here – it’s only our driver guy singing, ‘quiet time’.

The last figure to listen for is final stop – it’s kind of hard to miss, as it ends the song. It just, well, stops, like the engines been turned off. There’s no real ending, as such. Like the 1 bar break before the final two choruses, it’s another unexpected, ‘what just happened?’ moment.

Well, there you have it. I'm glad you got this far, if you did. I hope you got something out if, though. The rest of the tracks on Kamaririad look at different adventures our narrator takes, and the diffenent places and people he finds there. A lot the tracks are similarly dense in their construction, but all are beautifully put together. It's an album I doubt I'll ever tire of, and possibly will never stop finding new and interesting details in.

Blessings,
pk

The Leaving of a Worship Pastor

Worship is a large part of my life, and my meaning. However, as you may have discerened, I'm concerned not only about the "quality" of worship, but about how worship teams function. this was originally written in March, 2006.

After a wonderful year, the Worship Pastor at our church decided it was time to leave. Her decision was a difficult one to be sure: the team has been spriritually challanged and deepened; worship has been permeating our services like I've not seen before. Who would not want to stay and see this continue?

Click the post title to continue reading...But, the personal cost was too great. As far as I understand, she needed to take time to reconnect with her family. She and her husband worked different scheudules, and as I know from personal experience, trying to maintain a relationship in that environment is more hard work than it really needs to be.

When she came, I was cautious - sceptical might be too harsh a word, but not far from it. What she was proposing, pushing, us into was far from my concept of worship, or, at least, ordered worship. She was all for emotional outpouring, fully throwing yourself into worship of God with every fibre of your being, simply to be with Him, and experience Him again and again like you never have before.

My worship background has always been in mainstream churches, mostly of the Anglican variety, but also more recently in a contempory style. The change in me has become evident I think in how I've approached it. Worship becomes more involved, more approachable to a contemporary congregation in a contempory setting. Being not so much my old myself, there's no doubt I've become freer in worship, and to worship in ways that express my heart for God.

Obviously we clashed on a number of things - it always going to happen when people have a different view than your own. But, in the wisdom of hindsight, I think that her perspective enhanced my own a little. And for that I thank her.

What was the Garden like?

Some thoughts generated by a sermon I heard a while ago, "Where did I come from?"

I often get letters, quite frequently, from people who say how they like the programs a lot, but I never give credit to the almighty power that created nature, to which I reply and say, well, it's funny that the people, when they say that this is evidence of the almighty, always quote beautiful things, they always quote orchids and hummingbirds and butterflies and roses.y But I always have to think too of a little boy sitting on the banks of a river in west Africa who has a worm boring through his eyeball, turning him blind before he's five years old, and I reply and say, well presumably the god you speak about created the worm as well, and now, I find that baffling to credit a merciful god with that action, and therefore it seems to me safer to show things that I know to be truth, truthful and factual, and allow people to make up their own minds about the moralities of this thing, or indeed the theology of this thing.

Sir David Attenborough, from the BBC documentary Life on Air

Interesting, eh? How much of nature is as God originally intended, and how much of it is a result of our corruption of nature, due to our part, walking away from God?

Click the post title to continue reading...It's hard one to get a hold on. Sometimes I feel that being human, and being Christian is more of a partnership with God, than in Him ruling and dictating my life.

Back to creation. In the quote above, Attenborough alludes that nature is inhernently violent. I wonder what he has seen, what ends up on the cutting room floor, that is just too much for our already violently soaked TV. I think we get glimpses of what it means to be wild from these programs, but only glimpses. Lions tear down wilderbeast, kill them, and rip them apart for food when barely dead. Fish hunt and eat other fish using all sorts of deception to ensure their own survival at the expense of another. Lizards eat birds eggs. Even mating dances may be seen as the careful coercion of the opposite sex, rather than the love based, beautiful ritual we make it into. This is not just niceness and all things soft and lovely. This is a world in which animals fight for survival. In which there is conflict, where rarely do creatures die becuase of old age.

And God created it like this. Sure, He added the butterflies and the roses (with lovely thorns too, don't forget), and they have a part to play in that wild realm, but essentially, nature is wild, and harsh, and violent. And God looked on it, and said it was good. What does that mean?

Well, that was where the original post ended. I still think the question is a good one, although I think was planning on answering it! I'll leave it open to comment.

Told you I wasn't dead...

Well, I'm back. Or at least, I intend to be.

A lot is going on right now, in all areanas of life. Family. Church. Work. Life. You name it, I feel like I'm swimming through dorm school custard in a darkened room.

And God is doing is something challanging and positive in my life. Changes are afoot. I'll tell you about them sometime.

But first, let me round off a few posts that have been hanging around. They won't be as polished or complete as I'd like them to be, but at least they'll be out there.

Sorry for the long wait.

Blessings,
pk

Not Dead Yet

Just very, very quiet....

Acutally there are lots of things I've been wanting to post about - its just getting the time that has been the problem. I will try to get these things in order, but for now you'll have to be content with the following headings, that should eventually be turned into posts...
Click the post title to continue reading...

10 Years On
Worship Leader Worship
1 Year old
What was the garden like?
Separation anxiety & our Homegroup
Worship Team Requirements
It's finally ours!
Songs for my kids
Out of the darkness
The state of the English Language
Who are we serving?

If there's a particular post you're interested in, let me know. I'll try to get to it before others.

Blessings,
pk

Some family photos

With Tante 'Nita

These were taken sometime last month, when Alice's sister, Anita was over from London.

Xander

My boy, aged three and half.

Zoe in a basket

My sweety! Even at 9 months she's turning heads!

Calvin or Hobbes?

A Bit Of Both You are 40% Calvin and 60% Hobbes

Calvin & Hobbes, like a scruffy yin and yang, are in perfect balance within you. Like Calvin, you're weird, a bit insecure, and can be a trouble-maker. But like Hobbes, you're down to earth and sensitive. It's a risk to say it here, after just a ten question test, but I'll bet you're smarter than most. Both Calvin and Hobbes are crafty, clever characters, and any one made from equal parts of each is a force to be reckoned with.

My test tracked 2 variables How you compared to other people your age and gender: You scored higher than 28% on calvin You scored higher than 54% on hobbes

Link: The Calvin Or Hobbes Test

Music

A few of my all time and current favourites. Unfortunately some of the Christian stuff I listen to regularly (like Chill Out eXeperience), they don't have listed.

Create your own at HotFreeLayouts.

Accountability

her·e·tic
Pronunciation: 'her-&-"tik
Function: noun
1 : a dissenter from established church dogma;
2 : one who dissents from an accepted belief or doctrine

Two other guys gather into my living room whilst our wives meet elsewhere; each group forming a conclave of trust as our children sleep. Tension veneered with relaxed indifference is peppered with small talk; catching-up since we’ve last met. Each us know why we were here, but none of us want to openly admit the reason for needing this, or each other, as badly as we do. Drinks are offered, cushions rearranged on suddenly uncomfortable couches, conversation draws to silence, and someone suggests we get started. Somehow I’m nominated to open us in prayer.


Click the post title to continue reading...

Lord Jesus, thank-you for bringing us here tonight, safely. We pray that you’ll watch over our wives as they meet also. Father, we offer this time to you to be made more like you. As we share our lives together, speak into us and through us. Make us more into the men you’ve created us to be. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Nervous looks dart around the room like a frightened mouse. For a second the silence continues, but finally I offer it up, ‘Ok, I’ll go…’. And so begins the fortnightly accounting of my life. The good, the bad, the ugly, the spiritual, the not-so spiritual, the victories, the down-right sinful, and all the inner workings of my thoughts and actions.

In the days before we meet my stomach turns knots, trying somehow to hold within itself all that it is about shed. My soul writhes like a snake overgrown beneath the sin enveloping it, choking and restraining it. In order to grow further, the old skin needs to come off. But the process is painful, and it takes time, and it leaves you open and vulnerable. Like picking at dry flaky scales, prayer offers some relief. It at least calms me to the process, knowing that the get-together is in itself growth towards holiness. Every time we meet, a little bit more comes away.

We start by recalling our memory verses – something we’ve chosen to teach us, build us up, or correct our thinking. One by one we recite our latest scripture, with reference, each trying to out do the others with length, complexity and flawless repetition. Even here a guy’s competitive nature is not put aside! One falter, and there are sideways glances, half encouraging, half hoping to have at laugh at your less than perfect memory. The ice broken, we move on to more serious matters.

The usual stuff is talked about. How are we treating our wives? Our children? How is our time with God, one-on-one? Are we making the best of our resources? Is our thought life in line? What’s going on at work? Nothing is forced out – I’m free to choose what I share. My guys know they can ask anything, and equally I can say, ‘Don’t go there. I don’t want to talk about that.’ But we’re here to open ourselves, to get deeply into each other’s lives. What stays hidden stays unchallenged, and easily festers, infecting the good that remains in us.

We talk things through, mull things over, and generally challenge each other and ourselves on what we do and how we think. I often feel as though my metal is not iron, but yet we seem to sharpen each other.

Eat Less, Do More

There is no way you could call me a health nut. I love coffee and chocolate way too much be called health conscious! And I don't think I've ever lasted more than an hour on any diet known to man.

I was reading today that the latest craziness in diets might not actually be good for you. Low-carb diets can be unhealthy, and, The 'Glycemic index' is questionable as a diet tool. (Thereby making low-GI diets questionable). It seems that the only "breakthroughs" made in the world of dietary science requires complex counting, careful (some might say laborious) food selection, restriction of something that you probably enjoy, and may even be dangerous!

With all that said, I've managed to lose about 10 kgs (20-25 lbs) in the last 6 months. Along with eating healthily, there is only one rule I go by:

Eat Less.
Do More.

Hardly rocket science, is it? But for some reason, simple, straight forward, easy solutions aren't really in fashion. The more complicated you make things, the better the diet is...
Bolderdash, I say.

Eating healthily is key, of course. Fruit, vegetables, grains, fish, a little meat. A little bit of everything actually. But I still enjoy chocolate, and I still get the day started with fresh coffee (preferably straight into the blood stream, but drinking it is more pleasurable!). Keep it simple. Eat less. Do more. Just walking from the bus to the office a few times a week (its about 20-30 minutes one way) is all its taken. Allow yourself to indulge. Just keep it in check.

Does it mean I'm hungry sometimes - why yes, it does! Is this a bad thing? Why no, I don't think it is. You know, after a while, your body adjusts.

I could make a lot of this, and use the analogy for all sorts of things. Prayer comes to mind. Act less. Pray more. Then surely all my works will be more in line with acts of God. But I'll resist the temptation to make this yet another religious, philosophical diatribe.

Eat Less. Do More. Its the only sure fire way I know to become healthier.

Missing home?

My old pastor (and a friend) Brian has posted more about his adjustment from expat life. He writes far more succicently than I!

Dear Brian,

I wanted to respond on your post, Missing home, but I fear my thoughts are too long, and perhaps a little too self indulgent for a blog comment.

I appreciate you sharing your journey like this – in many ways it’s validated all that Alice and I have been through. We’ve few people around us who have lived the expat life and returned to the country of origin with a certain uncertainty. Certain of what we were doing. Not quite certain why, or to what to end.

Click the post title to continue reading...Home is a funny word for me. Sometimes I laugh at the concept, sometimes I can’t stand to think about it. Sometimes I catch myself mid sentence, “When we returned home in 2003…“, and it doesn’t feel quite right. For a long time, even now, the house, suburb and city, even Australia itself, has simply been where we live. We are here, but are we really “home”?

The feeling is unique. Things are familiar and in many aspects bland, for they lack the simple adventure of living outside of what was the “home”. It’s like going one too many times to the same holiday camp. Everything is as expected, and the familiarity breeds boredom and a restlessness that robs you of the relaxation and change of scenery you so desperately need.

I envy your opportunity to return to Amsterdam. I know that even if I returned now it would not be as I remember. Our friends have moved from the places we knew them in. The rolling sea of Crossroads I’m sure I could navigate, but only by the few landmarks that remain from our time. Mostly though, there is something in my soul that needs to put Crossroads, Amsterdam, and Europe to rest. I need to see it moving on, changing and growing without me. I need resolve the loss. Sombrely, it is like visiting the grave of an important high school teacher – to finally put that part of your life behind you, say thank you one more time, and move on.

There is a certain deep theology in the expat life: to be not where you really belong – out of your depth, with only memories and faith and wit to live by. And there is still yet deeper meaning in the adjustment of returning: the profound understanding that places are places, and not really home but a sort of makeshift analogy, with emotion ascribed in an attempt to feel “at home”. I wish I could live by these words, but I’m frail, and weak minded, and have the need of some tangible sensorium to reinforce my being.

I’m glad you’ve found your home.

Blessings,

Phil

Lyrics: The Mountain

From Steven Curtics Chapman's Heaven in the Real World

This would have to be one my most loved songs. Its not just the lyrics, although they are oustanding, nor it is the music, which is fantastic. There is great interplay between the instruments and voice. They both support and complement one another. It even it has a great bass part, one I've been meaning to transcribe for many years.

No, its the heart of the song that brings me close to breaking point every time I hear it.
Click the post title to continue reading...

I guess the reason is that the heart of the song is about God's love for his people. He wants to have close, personal times with each of us, one on one. As the song says, I cherish the times up on the mountain. Those times with God where all earthly concerns diminish to vanishing point. The times where you come back having had a glimpse of Heaven, to have really experienced God closely.

And yet, those are times are not for themselves. The real purpose of going up the mountain is to go down the other side. We're headed for the valley, to the low times, to the people that don't know the what's up on the mountain.

Close times with God are great. As always though, God gives you something to do something with it. The time up the mountain is for the time down in the valley. You can't have one without the other.


I want to build a house up on this mountain
Way up high where the peaceful waters flow
To quench my thirsty soul
Up on the mountain

I can see for miles up on this mountain
Troubles seem so small they almost disappear
Lord I love it here
Up on the mountain

My faith is strengthened by all that I see
You make it easy for me to believe
Up on the mountain
Oh, up on the mountain

I would love to live up on this mountain
And keep the pain of living life so far away
But I know I can't stay,
Ohh.. up on the mountain

I said I'd go Lord wherever you lead
For where you are is where I most want to be
And I can tell we're headed for the valley (yes we are)

My faith is strengthened by all that I've seen
So Lord help me remember what you've shown me
Up on the mountain

Yeah...

You bring me up here on the mountain
For me to rest and learn and grow
I see the truth up on the mountain
And I carry it to the world far below

So as I go down to the valley
Knowing that you will go with me
This is my prayer Lord help me to remember what you shown me
Up on the mountain
Up on the mountain

I cherish these times up on the mountain
But I can leave this place because I know
Someday you'll take me home to live forever
Up on the mountain

Up on the mountain
Way up on the mountain
Yeah!

Up on the mountain
Way up high where the peaceful waters flow
Up on the mountain

Up on the mountain
On the mountain, the mountain
yoo hoo!

Oh the Heat...

Should've been posted yesterday.
Every morning I listen to the 6 am news, just before getting up, or (more likely) rolling over and getting a few more minutes shut eye... This was the beginning of the report from our local Christian station, SonshineFm

Its a few minutes past six. We're headed for a top today of 39 degrees, with the chance of a possible thunderstorm. Right now, its 27. Good morning, I'm ...

Urgh!

Seventy Times Seven...

Well, not quite. And no, its not a post about forgiveness! There is a little thing called The Sevens that has been doing the blogs 'round for a while now. Heather said she didn't know anybody who hadn't done it... Well, this'll teach her! Questions are here, find the answers by clicking the post title.

The Sevens

Seven things to do before I die
Make a CD of music for and about my family
Write and publish a novel
Build up artists within in the church
Adpot a child
Live in Eurpoe again
Make my own, quality software
Love my wife even more

Seven things I cannot do
Be consistently kind to myself
Listen to Country and Western music without laughing! (Thanks, Heather!)
Drink instant coffee
Look back without thinking "What if?"
Be totally convinced that I am absolutely right
Play a good improvised jazz bass solo
Paint or Draw

Seven things that attract me to my wife
Her smile
Her laugh
The way she cares for our children
Her incredible talent
Her humility
The way she supports and encourages me when I need it most
Her body (hey, I'm a guy!)

Seven things I most often say
(laugh!)
All-righty then!
OK.
I'm sorry.
um...
Coffee?
Have you thought about... ?

Seven books I love
The Bible (The Message Remix in particular)
The Bridge of Birds
Design Patterns: Elements of Reusable Object-Oriented Software
The Inner Game of Music
Hamlet
The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy
The Heart of the Artist

Seven movies I could watch over and over again
Star Wars (Episode IV - renamed, A New Hope)
The Princes Bride
The Wizard of Oz
Lord of the Rings 1, 2 & 3
Being There (although I haven't seen in many a year!)
The Matrix
The Red Violin (Thanks Zoe, for introducing us to this)

Seven People I want to join in too...
Ok, this one is hard...
Brian (if he hasn't already)
Chris & Coz, by proxy I guess
Wulf
Phil (although I'm not sure he really would)
well, I got to four!
Click the post title see all the answers!

Mould Pilots Robot

At university I did an honours project in robots controlling themselves (Autonomous Robotic Control in a Dynamic Environment was the title - how droll! So, anyway, I have a minor interest in these things...

Now this is just plain WOW! (research paper) Are we one step closer to Daleks, or The Borg?

Philippians 4:8

Memory Verse time...

Finally Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is noteworthy or praiseworthy, think about such things.

I guess like a lot of guys, I have some trouble keeping thoughts pure. That's a real admission, but before condemning me take a look at your own thought life. Is it really as true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable as you want it to be? As God wants it to be?

Anyway, that's a different topic all together! The focus of this post is trying to examine what this verse says. At first glance, it seems to be fairly restrictive - think only about those things that the have attributes mentioned above. Wow! Its hard to come up with something that has all those attributes.. I mean, almost anything could be excluded for some for lack of conformity.

But perhaps its not so hard. What happens if we think about it backwards?

Click the post title to continue reading...You'd probably get something like this...

Finally Brothers, whatever is a lie, whatever is unrespectable, whatever is just plain wrong, whatever is impure, whatever is ugly, whatever is rotten, if anything is trivial or plain, don't think about such things.

What is this telling us? I think, when we compare these two versions, they tell us something very important about our thought-lives. We need to think about positive things - things that help and encourage us. Things that build us up and support us. We don't need to think about things that tear us down, or that innately we know are "just plain wrong".

I've used the comparison of noteworthy / trivial, praiseworthy / plain here which I think is particularly helpful Of course there are other ways of negating Paul's words, and I'd appreciate a scholar's comments on what they should be!

Anyway, I think this comparison tell us that God wants us to THINK BIG! The plain, the ordinary, the insignificant - these should not be our dreams in God. But the exceptional, the extraordinary, the meaningful, the notable, these should be what we dream of. Paul encourages us to not only think of the good things that God has put before us, but the amazing things too, to allow God to inspire us to the biggest plans possible, and then some.

But I can understand why Paul puts it in the positive. It's like that old trick - Don't think of pink elephant! What do you do? Immediately you think of a pink elephant! Trying to think of wonderful things might be hard, but trying to think of loathsome things, only to reject them, isn't helpful at all!

So finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is noteworthy or praiseworthy, think about such things.

Happy Wintereenmas!

To gamers everywhere, Happy Wintereenmas!

Happy Wintereenmas!

I've never been really much of a gamer. For some reason the "Shoot! Maim! Kill! Kill! Kill!" thing I've never really seen as enjoyable. I guess its a reflection on my character and interests, but I've much more enjoyed playing adventure games - Zork or Kings Quest (back in the day) for example - to just mindlessly shooting anything that moves.

But even still, I have an appreciation of games, regardless of their genre. I've had my time of being immersed in a game to the virtual exclusion of all else. Time can certainly seem to stop whilst you're working on the latest puzzle, or wondering how to defeat the latest giant. Very easily can the world a game encompasses become your own.

Which is why I was so saddened to read this.

Click the post title to continue reading about games, and the value of life...It's a sad thing when anybody loses their life. Its very sad when they feel the need to take it.

I'm not suggesting that the games had any direct involvement in Mitch's death. However, as with anything we do, I'm sure they created a mindset that contributed to his outlook on life.

Anything you let into your mind has an effect on it. Its what you let in that helps define you who are. It determines your viewpoints, what you accept, what you don't, and what is borderline. The only problem is, and I know from personal experience, that after a while the boaderlines start moving. What was unacceptable once has now become vaguely acceptable. Not being cautious about what you let in leaves you on a very slippery slope.

If you don't already know, Jack Thompson is an outspoken conservative lawyer in America fighting the gaming industry seemingly single handedly. See the link above, about three-quarters down the page, for the comment he gave on Mitch's death. This I also find sad. Did Jack value Mitch's life? I don't think so. He used the occasion to push his own agenda.

Which, actually, is not a bad agenda to push, I think. Whilst I enjoy games there do need to be some limits. Not every game needs to graphically display all that it can. Controversy doesn't need to be the selling point - good game play and an enjoyable story were the original tickets, what's gone so wrong that we need to resort to violence and sex? I think that in many respects game companies have cheapened themselves by relying on the controversy and graphic depictions. They've taken the easy way out.

It's like the liquor industry relying on people getting drunk to sell their wares. Sure, some people do, and we all know the results. Alcohol can be enjoyed responsibly, but alcohol abused is an ugly thing. That's why there are strict controls on it, and social norms frown on giving it children. There's still that market for it - just ask any teenager - only they're not allowed to advertise with children in mind. How do we do that with games? How do we get the hardcore, graphic games into the hands that can handle them, and out of those that can't. Graphic games limited to those over 21? Bans and strict controls on advertising?

So, enjoy your games. They can be a wonderfully creative, fun experiences. Just don't let them control your life, or your thinking. You do so at your own peril.