the living room

Awkward people vs. God has a plan

2011-08-15T13:32:00.000-07:00

The other night my wife and I were at the movies. The previews started but someone forgot (or intentionally hatched a dastardly plan to sell more popcorn) to turn the lights down. We both remarked that it felt very strange and unnatural to be sitting in a room full of strangers watching a large collection of projected images on the wall.

I sat there thinking, I wonder if that is the experience people have when visiting church? If instead of a we're-all-in-this-together experience, they get a random collection of stranger staring at a stage and two projection screens...

I soon forgot about my concerns because Captain America: The First Avenger came onscreen and somebody remembered to turn off the lights, thus preserving the illusion of intimacy for us on our date night.

I hope and pray that our church is not like going to the movies. I want to be part of something bigger than entertainment, something more personal than marketing and something more genuine than made-up superheroes.

Above is a talk I gave a couple of weeks ago about Paul and Silas in prison in the book of Acts. I don't think anyone who walked into the church in Phillipi could have been considered a stranger...

What do you think?

You Are A Tourist by Death Cab For Cutie

2011-04-05T08:23:00.000-07:00

Like most critical thinkers/unfair people, I feel a certain hesitation to praise a veteran band that is still motivated enough to chase big ideas. I remember back in high school when "I liked their first album, everything after that was lame," was a mantra for anybody cool. All that to say, I am really impressed and swooning over Death Cab For Cutie's latest single "You Are A Tourist" from their forthcoming lp, Codes and Keys. So much so, that I am embedding the live feed for today's video shoot below.

Can't see the stream on your mobile device? Click here.

Lists, Love Wins

2011-03-27T09:37:00.001-07:00

Normal things I saw this weekend and/or Signs that the End is Near

1. An overturned pickup truck smashed to pieces with both occupants apparently unharmed. This scene caused us and twenty other vehicles to leave snow-buried Shaver Lake at speeds under 25 mph.

2. My NCAA bracket in ruins.

3. My son terrified of getting out of the "snow boat" sled as we waded through 4 ft drifts in order to "play."

4. The playground at Northpark turned into a stew of wood chips and eventually a pond suitable for fish and ducks.

5. A blog post featuring me reading a controversial recent best seller that I haven't actually read.

Pretty sweet albums in my weekend, mental vacation playlist

Bright Eyes- The Peoples Key
The Strokes- Angles
The Tallest Man On Earth- Sometimes The Blues is a Passing Bird
Brandon Flowers- Flamingo

Lent and Friendship

2011-03-12T11:58:00.000-08:00

I have a lot of opinions.

Trust me, ask my friends. Speaking of friends, I am blessed to have a bunch of them who are constantly giving me grace as I blather on and on about God, music, politics, bicycles and fashion. Reverse the order of that list and that's probably more accurate.

These friends come from all over the place, geographically and ideologically. I have liberal friends, fundamentalist friends, post-conservative friends, hyper-critical friends and existentialist friends. My closest friends though are probably the ones with whom I have the most common ground, which I think is natural. Recently Bekah and I and the kids got to spend some quality time with our best friends which was likely the highlight of our year so far. Nothing is more healing to the soul than dinner and conversation with people you share your life with.

Jesus clearly articulated the need for close friends and yet, because spending time with people you have most in common with is Natural, he also modeled the SUPER Natural ability to find common ground with all types of people. He also expanded the circle of who we should be willing to lay down our lives for to go beyond family, friends, fellow citizens, to even include our enemies.

During this season of Lent, rather than blog on and on about my opinions. It is my hope that I can reflect on what I am thankful for....today, it's friendship. And in a posture of humility, to be open to the work of the Spirit, transforming me to become more like Jesus, to be a better friend to a wider group of people and to love my enemies as much as I do my friends.

(During the season of Lent leading up to Easter, when we Christians celebrate the Resurrection, I am following along with an ACTS World Vision study. You can to!)

Talking Voice vs. Singing Voice

2011-01-31T11:57:00.000-08:00

Since I turned thirty, I think I am starting the process of coming to peaceful terms with the somewhat diverse nature of my job. One week, I may be speaking to high school students, the next trying to hang in there with 19 year old musicians for We Are One, and the next preaching to people aged 13 to 93.

It's really pretty incredible and I consider it a blessing and a privilege. Here's some footage from some stuff I've been up to. (Clearly I haven't been blogging much)

Top Ten Albums 2010

2010-12-21T08:58:00.000-08:00

10.Sufjan Stevens - The Age of Adz
9. Gold Panda - Lucky Shiner
8. John Mark McMillan - The Medicine
7. Ra Ra Riot - The Orchard
6. Hammock - Chasing After Shadows ... Living With The Ghosts
5. The National - High Violet
4. The Choir - Burning Like The Midnight Sun
3. Tokyo Police Club - Champ
2. The Hold Steady - Heaven is Whenever
1. Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

I feel like I might be getting old and predictable. The only real surprise on my list, to me at least, is Gold Panda, a nod to the indie/dance/club music that kids like my hipper-than-gold-chains friend Stephen Di Trolio. And I mean that with all respect. This year with Micah on the road from 1 year old to 2, I didn't see too many shows but two of my favorites were mewithoutyou and sleepy sun with Stephen. The best two though were David Bazan with full band at The Cellar Door and Justin Jones at The 9:30 Club.

I guess it's appropriate that one of my favorite songs of 2010 and my favorite album are both called "The Suburbs" since I've been living in the suburbs for a while and am now becoming a home owner in the suburbs. Still, this has been a great year and I can't accuse myself of not trying new things. From riding fixed-gear (uncomfortable at times but fun) to wearing raw selvedge denim (uncomfortable), I enjoy things like Sufjan Steven's The Age of Adz that require some commitment. Ultimately though the best thing about that album is the live performance of "Too Much" on late night TV.

When you turn 30, sometimes the familiar voices of favorite bands start to sound like old friends. See the selections of The Hold Steady, The National, Hammock and The Choir. Maybe it's more important to be a friend than to be cool. And maybe moving to the suburbs requires more commitment to making and maintaining old friendships than living in some great American city.

I'm cool with that.

World Aids Day

2010-12-15T07:20:00.000-08:00

Two weeks ago was World AIDS Day. While I think it's important to fight HIV/AIDS year around, it is a great opportunity to highlight the struggle of 33.4 million people currently living with the disease and remember those who have lost their lives. I am blessed to part of a church who cares about the struggle. See the ONE blog post about our Northpark Church event on Dec. 1. I am also thankful that our local media covers the important issues surrounding the global pandemic. See the Letter to the editor that the Fresno Bee published.

This year I have spent a considerable time thinking about why the fight against extreme poverty and infectious disease is so important to me. Most of the time, people around me are supportive of the efforts in general terms. But there are people who are critical at times and it's even more discouraging when others seem to ignore or minimize the issues. I fight against HIV/AIDS not because it's popular or trendy or I have a hero complex or because I love causes. I fight it because my faith demands it.

Several years ago I attended a Citizen’s Advocacy Training in San Francisco that was hosted by the ONE Campaign. During a group brainstorming session on how to involve more people in the fight against HIV/AIDS and extreme poverty, someone suggested partnering with local churches. Without blinking an eye, someone immediately blurted out “Churches don’t care about people who are living with AIDS.” People chimed in agreement “Churches are judgemental!” “Churches don’t want to work with us, they only care about their own programs!”

At that point, I raised my hand and said somewhat apprehensively, “Well, I am a youth pastor and I believe that fighting against extreme poverty and AIDS is exactly what the church should be about.”

Many of the people responsible for leading the fight on AIDS are by their own description not people of faith. That doesn’t bother me, I believe in working with anyone who shares our goal: An AIDS free generation of people. What bothers me is that the church, God’s own instrument of compassion, justice, mercy, salvation has been so slow to respond.

At the end of the day, I still believe in the church as an instrument of hope for the world. And I believe that Jesus Christ is still the answer for the world. To turn a blind eye to the suffering of millions of people is antithetical to that faith. To refuse to fight for justice for the poor, the marginalized, the voiceless, is showing no faith at all. In choosing to do something as an act of faith, I choose action and reject apathy. I choose hope over despair. I choose love over cynicism.

Water

2010-10-15T21:26:00.000-07:00

When I was a kid, we lived in several cities in Indonesia where we had to either boil or filter our water in order to make it safe to drink.

Once, on an adventure with a friend, I tried to jump across an polluted stream/open sewer and failed, falling in face first. When I got back to the states, turns out I had some parasitic worms from the water I swallowed.

Crazier still, that polluted stream was a water source for many people, who would boil the same water that they bathed in, washed clothes in and used occasionally as a toilet.

As much as Indonesia lacked infrastructure in the late 1980s, as a country, the southeast Asian nation was far ahead of many others for running water and irrigation.

Today, one of the biggest crisis facing the world is the lack of access to water for many in the world and the lack of conservation of water for the rest of us. Let's do something about it!

Petitions by Change.org|Start a Petition »

From the BLOG ACTION DAY TEAM:

Water is everywhere, right? Actually, for such a plentiful resource, clean water is surprisingly scarce. Less than 1% of all fresh water is readily accessible for direct human use, representing only 0.007% of all water on earth. Bet you didn’t know that. Check out five more clean water facts and find out what else you didn’t know:

1. Unsafe drinking water and lack of sanitation kills more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. Unclean drinking water can incubate some pretty scary diseases, like E. coli, salmonella, cholera and hepatitis A. Given that bouquet of bacteria, it’s no surprise that water, or rather lack thereof, causes 42,000 deaths each week.

2. More people have access to a cell phone than to a toilet. Today, 2.5 billion people lack access to toilets. This means that sewage spills into rivers and streams, contaminating drinking water and causing disease.

3. Every day, women and children in Africa walk a combined total of 109 million hours to get water. They do this while carrying cisterns weighing around 40 pounds when filled in order to gather water that, in many cases, is still polluted. Aside from putting a great deal of strain on their bodies, walking such long distances keeps children out of school and women away from other endeavors that can help improve the quality of life in their communities.

4. It takes 6.3 gallons of water to produce just one hamburger. That 6.3 gallons covers everything from watering the wheat for the bun and providing water for the cow to cooking the patty and baking the bun. And that’s just one meal! It would take over 1.8 billion gallons of water to make just one hamburger for every person in the United States.

5. The average American uses 159 gallons of water every day – more than 15 times the average person in the developing world. From showering and washing our hands to watering our lawns and washing our cars, Americans use a lot of water. To put things into perspective, the average five-minute shower will use about 10 gallons of water. Now imagine using just 10 gallons to bathe, wash your clothes, cook your meals and quench your thirst.

Blog Action Day

2010-10-07T14:32:00.000-07:00

This year I'll be participating in Blog Action Day. The theme this year is WATER.

There is no way that extreme poverty and preventable diseases can be overcome
in places that don't have access to clean water,
please consider participating yourself...
also by signing the petition at http://blogactionday.change.org/

Blog Action Day 2010: Water from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

The Great Awakening?

2010-09-04T10:33:00.000-07:00

It seems that the last several years have seen an increasing number of Christian leaders calling for a new spiritual awakening to come to our nation. Leaders ranging from Jim Wallis (see the title of his latest book) to Lou Engle (The Call) have called people to come to a new realization, to see new fervor in following the principles of Jesus and most of all to repent and experience transformation through the Holy Spirit. This kind of thinking resonates with me in a powerful way. It is clear that things are not as they should be. As we live in the tension between what is and what could be, we have to faithfully believe that Jesus is the answer. Repentance and transformation can only come as we seek God and realign with his priorities.

A major obstacle is that we cannot seem to agree on what the priorities of God might include. Our messages may be broad but our disagreements run deep. With many disparate movements, the message that I infer is that being a Christian, following Jesus, means aligning with a specific ideology, Right or Left. For instance, the Millennium Development Goals are no substitute for the good news of the Gospel, but many people calling for "God in America Again" advocate leaving the rest of the world to die while focusing on our own economic and social problems. That is a stance that seems peculiarly out of sync with the teachings of Jesus himself.

Though I find a lot to admire in the growing post evangelical movement, I also find a real unwillingness to acknowledge that a truly humble posture of surrender would be less critical and reactionary and more about living the good news found in the bible. Being sure that you are right about different issues is still called fundamentalism last time I checked.

I'm reminded today that as we approach midterm elections, believers are more divided than ever. Perhaps this is a good enough reason for me to quit facebook. For many (perhaps even myself) the phrase Great Awakening seems connected to a legislative agenda and a worldly concept of win/lose. Jesus, himself though, confounded expectations about what it meant to be a servant, to lead, to win and to lose. It seems that a true Great Awakening will shatter ideology and partisan politics, will elevate the least of these to a position of leadership (when was the last time this happened in any church!?) and will result in millions of people experiencing personal salvation and realigned priorities. Any Gospel that is not Good News For The Poor cannot be called Revival. Likewise, any Awakening that can be accomplished without Jesus cannot possibly be genuine.

World Malaria Day and ONE Sunday at Northpark

2010-04-25T10:29:00.000-07:00

Today is World Malaria Day! Every day 2,000 people die unnecessarily from a disease we cured in 1951. Over 5 billion dollars has been pledged over the next five years to see Malaria eradicated by 2015 but so far funding levels are far below what's been pledged! Advocate today through a variety of organizations, including ONE partner World Vision at ENDMALARIA.org.

Tonight following our 5 PM Gathering at Northpark, we will be showing the film "When The Night Comes" by Invisible Children filmmaker Bobby Bailey and made in cooperation with the United Nations, World Vision, One Campaign and more! We will also have an opportunity to purchase a life saving bed net to be sent to children in need for only $6.

Hope to see you tonight 6:30 pm at Northpark Community Church, 2297 E. Shepherd Ave. Fresno, 93720

Let's make a difference for the world's poorest people!

Ryan

Hospital Music

2010-03-18T08:21:00.000-07:00

A little over a year ago, my daughter got very sick with the stomach flu and had to be hospitalized. She could not stop throwing up and developed a condition called Acidosis. On the verge of unconsciousness, she continued vomiting through a sick child visit to the doctor and then the waiting room outside the ER. Her symptoms were such that the ER doctor began talking about the possibility of "metabolic disorders." Of course we googled it immediately, which was appropriately shocking.

Turns out, a basic dehydration IV and bicarbonate infusion was all it took to bring our nearly two year old back from the brink. I'll never forget the feeling of watching her, tubes and wires and drip-line, slowly return to her normal, overly active and gloriously spontaneous self. I could have done without spending the night throwing up myself from the same flu but the point is what? Medical care, her pediatrician and Children's Hospital, probably saved her life.

Only a few months later, my son Micah was born at Clovis Community, healthy and thriving, thanks to the medicine that my wife received to help her kickstart her labor. Shortly after, I had another traumatic Dad moment when I had to drive behind an ambulance with my wife and daughter inside after Amelia tipped over backwards, strapped tightly to her high chair and smashed her head and back on the tile. A CAT scan confirmed that she was OK.

I don't know what side you come down on this contentious Health Care debate. In fact, I'm not sure what side I'm on to be honest. But I will say this. I am offended by what some people express when they say they will make it their personal mission to defeat health care reform. Citing statistics about 85 percent being happy with their health insurance, they are leaving out millions of uninsured people from their population sample. I also find it troubling that certain pundits make it sound like having health insurance is somehow a privilege that one earns for being hard working and industrious as opposed to lazy and dependent on the government. I'm sure you and I both know plenty of lazy people with great insurance and plenty of people working 90 hours a week with three jobs who can't go to the doctor.

We would have likely kept Amelia home longer if we didn't have a pediatrician. If we didn't have a good doctor that had recommended we go to the hospital and called ahead, we might have waited outside among the many sick until she passed out.

Sitting here in the Grind typing this, I am actually struck by how many other hospital stories I could tell. By the grace of God, they are all minor compared with what many have experienced. I am blessed and thankful for the country I live in and the health insurance we have. And although I've paid tens of thousands of dollars to the health care system in the form of deductibles, copays and diagnostic test fees, I don't think reform is about me at all. I think it's about other people. Other people who have real Hospital Music stories as well. Please don't say that you or I deserve health care, we don't. Children around the world die every day from diarrhea, the flu and common colds. We GET to have health care in this country and it should be with a spirit of humility that we try to sort out this mess and find some solutions that will save lives.

30 songs for 2009

2010-01-11T08:01:00.000-08:00

Jet Lag and Separation Anxiety (my nearly one-year-old son's, not mine) have been causing me to go to bed early during the last week and a half. Prime creative/blog hours have been lost. Top songs of the year have been delayed. But the silver lining is that I have been able to get up early and do some actual work. A lot of really exciting things are in store for 2010, new improved FIVE gathering, a big Community Food Bank benefit in Eaton Plaza for April, a Bekah Townsend album in the works, real life in the flesh overdubs shows, etc.

But what's the end of the year without looking back at some great, grand and computer speaker worthy songs to list? In no particular order this year ...

Superdrag "Aspartame" Industry Giants
Bruce Springsteen "The Wrestler" Working on A Dream
Yeah Yeah Yeahs "Hysteric" It's Blitz
Eels "Ordinary Man" Hombre Lobo
David Bazan "Hard to Be" Curse Your Branches
David Crowder Band "Oh, Happiness" Church Music
Grizzly Bear "Cheerleader" Veckatimest
We Were Promised Jetpacks "Quiet Little Voices" These Four Walls
Lily Allen feat. Mick Jones "Straight to Hell" War Child- Heroes Vol. 1
Matt and Kim "Daylight" Grand
Bon Iver and St. Vincent "Roslyn" The Twilight Saga: New Moon
Mos Def "Life in Marvelous Times" The Ecstatic
Julian Casablancas "11th Dimension" Phrazes for The Young
Pearl Jam "The Fixer" Backspacer
Imogen Heap "First Train Home" Ellipse
Third Eye Blind "Bonfire" Ursa Major
The Rural Alberta Advantage "The Ballad of The RAA" Hometowns
U2 "Moment of Surrender" No Line on The Horizon
Wilco "I'll Fight" Wilco (The Album)
Memory Cassette "Asleep At A Party" The Hiss We Missed Ep
Elbow "Running to Stand Still" War Child- Heroes Vol. 1
Karen O and The Kids "Hidaway" Where The Wild Things Are
Neko Case "This Tornado Loves You" Middle Cyclone
The Get Up Kids "Your Petty Pretty Things" Daytrotter Session
Phoenix "Liztomania" Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Taking Back Sunday "Capital M-E" New Again
Silversun Pickups "Growing Old is Getting Old" Swoon
Andrew Bird "Anonanimal" Noble Beast
Jars of Clay "Forgive Me" The Long Fall Back to Earth
Julien Plenti "Only If You Run" Julien Plenti Is ... Skyscraper

Top Ten Albums 2009; Ice Grilled Beef

2009-12-24T14:57:00.000-08:00

Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to grill steaks over charcoal in -5 degree weather. It was challenging and fun because it was so out of the ordinary for me, even though it was quite uncomfortable at times. We cooked steaks imported from two countries. The Argentine rib eyes were superior to the Irish rib eyes, most of us agreed. Except for Darlene, my mother-in-law, who only sampled the Irish beef and thought it delicious. And it was delicious, just not quite as good according to those of us who experienced a comparative choice.

Which brings me to the subject of year-end lists. If you are anything like me, you love to rank and debate and get rankled over the Hype Machine and Pitchfork and Last.fm and Emusic's critically weighted/subjective/user data-based lists. But the reality is: Good Music is Good Music. Since it's impossible to hear every single record released in 2009, even in this day and age, ranking the best albums is an abitrary excercise at best. In my experience, recently obtained records that you listen to on Christmas vacation (Matt and Kim's Grand) tend to be ranked artifically high while other albums that you have already played a million times (Wilco The Album) slide down the list.

All things considered, I've decided to list my top ten albums in alphabetical order this year. Great Albums have a general way of appearing on everyone's lists somewhere, whether they are tenth or first. And Good Music is good music, depending on what you've sampled, and the Irish steaks really were quite excellent, if you ask me.

David Bazan || Curse Your Branches
Eels || Hombre Lobo
Phoenix || Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Matt and Kim || Grand
Mos Def || The Ecstatic
Superdrag || Industry Giants
The Rural Alberta Advantage || Hometowns
U2 || No Line on The Horizon

Wilco || Wilco (The Album)
Yeah Yeah Yeahs || It's Blitz

honorable mentions:

David Crowder Band || Church Music
Silversun Pickups || Swoon

Grizzly Bear || Veckatimest

Jars of Clay || The Long Fall Back to Earth
Julian Casablancas || Phrazes For the Young
Switchfoot || Hello Hurricane

OK and just to nullify everything I just wrote, I must come out and say that my favorite album of 2009 is ... no surprises: PHOENIX.

Amsterdam

2009-12-23T01:46:00.000-08:00

Hello everyone, it's been all Storm of The Century around here during the last week and so I've been sleeping in my jeans and wearing long johns and things of that nature. Speaking of sleeping in my clothes, I have a theory that it might be the missing ingredient in rediscovering my creativity. I am hoping to return home with two new songs completed for our upcoming The Overdubs reunion concert.

Two days ago, it was really icy and one car crashed into the light pole in front of the canal outside of Jim and Dar's 106-year-old house, causing it to fall over. Less than two hours later, another car ran off the road and due to the absence of said light pole, crashed into the canal...made me glad I don't have to drive here. Biking in the slush and snow is dangerous enough.

A blurry picture shot through the second story window up here where we sleep.

The rescue taking place (disclaimer, it was warmer inside than out but some of us went outside to make sure no one needed help).

Top albums of the year post coming and Decade in Review also....

2009: A Beautiful Day and Night, U2 and ONE at the Rose Bowl

2009-12-13T09:45:00.000-08:00

It's been storming here in Fresno for five days; maybe not the longest storm on history but the longest in my memory...

As our family prepares to head off to Amsterdam for Christmas, I figure now is a good time to look back on some 2009 highlights. It's been an eventful and wonderful year, poor for volume on the blog but rich in meaningful experiences from the birth of my son Micah (more on that later) to our adventures in Missouri to our experiences with ONE.

One of the coolest and most rewarding highlights was the U2 show at the Rose Bowl. Possibly the largest worldwide streaming event in the history of mankind, Tim, Bekah and I had the privilege of roaming the tailgate areas and parking lots, signing up people for ONE's declaration to end extreme poverty.

That night, our team of volunteers signed up over 3,000 people, which is incredible. The show itself was quite good as well, though, we were a little too tired to really get crazy. Having been to each, I also would say that overall, I tend to go for stripped down Elevation-era U2 over massive spectacle Claw U2. But what's most impressive is the way the band managed to connect emotionally with nearly 100,000 people using (in spite of?) all of the excesses of the moment. Nothing I can write captures it quite like this clip I shot on the Nikon Cool Pix. You can see what an incredible vantage point we had from the inner circle.

The day was memorable for a couple other reasons. I had never heard the songs "Boom Boom Pow" and "Gotta Feeling" until the Black Eyed Peas played them live. I also saw a lot of celebrities milling around due to the fact that there isn't a proper backstage area at the 360 tour, just an area where the general admissioners mix it up with the ONE campaigners and the VIPS. (unless they just hang out in the friends and family tent or RED zone) Best Celebrity sighting? None other than Mr. David Ruis. His recent work in LA and lifetime commitment to the homeless and the oppressed are a true inspiration.

Also the picture of Tim is just before he almost got in a fight with a guy who was upset about our late arrival to the near-stage area...

ONE Day's Wages, ONE conference

2009-11-19T09:54:00.000-08:00

OK, sorry, I am not a disciplined blogger, I admit it. Despite my best intentions, when things get really wild, I retreat to personal communications, critical emails and time with Bekah and the kids. Wait, hold on, I take it back, that's not really something to apologize for, since my silly indie rock posts can probably wait. (Though I do need to explore why Jawbreaker's "Accident Prone" is playing in my mind even though I haven't listened to it since 08 {come to think of it, maybe it's related to my skateboarding crash a couple weeks ago} and the general brilliance of that band)

Anyhow, on the non-profit and awareness raising front, this great video explaining the launch of ONE DAYS WAGES. Although we already give quite a bit more than one days wages to a World Vision child sponsorship, I think this is a great entry point into caring about extreme poverty and taking the first step to make a difference. I'm ready to give but I better check with Bekah first ...

The Movement of One Day's Wages from One Day's Wages on Vimeo.

This Saturday I'm headed off to the ONE Member conference in San Francisco with Kevin and Scott. It was nearly three years ago that I went to an event at UC San Francisco that helped me to a beginning understanding of my role as an advocate and an organizer. As I am still barely scratching the surface of advocacy, it's my hope that we can all take a leap forward in our efforts to MAKE EXTREME POVERTY HISTORY.

Ryan Adams Inspirational, God is not a White Man, Church Music, Happiness

2009-09-24T11:37:00.000-07:00

As much as I am a sucker for everything Ryan Adams releases, this morning I bought his two recent PAX-AM digital singles. Maybe secretly, or not so secretly, I wish I could be as intentionally eccentric and hilarious myself as when he posts:

"Thanks for making Pax Am the number one Ryan Adams merch site online. We would hunt anyone else down though.

Did you have a rad summer? Good. If you said no, never worry, Pax Am is here. We are gonna fill your fall and winter up with vinyl, digital singles, and t shirts you don't need.

Stay tuned for videos, free tracks, and our digi-singles. Subscribers get first dibs on rare vinyl.

Remember, purchasing the buck 49 singles is a way to keep FOGGY TV on the air, but it is not necessary to view the weekly content.This is my label and my internet disco dream.

Make it real you jerks.

Worship me."

Clearly, I don't worship him. It's unlikely that's what the man really intends anyway. However, the word reminded me that most of the time, the music that is most influential to me is not overtly spiritual or released by the people who release for-profit Christian music. Two notable examples though have been stuck on repeat for me these last few months, Michael Gungor's joyous song "White Man" and David Crowder's just-released brilliant album Church Music. "Oh Happiness" from that album, is pure Japanese-fizzy-synth excellence and a really hard song not to hum . Expect it at The Five soon.

Irena Salina's FLOW, For Love of Water part 1

2009-09-24T10:41:00.000-07:00

This past summer Bekah and I spent time in Springfield, MO working with missionary kids (if you aren't sure what that is, go here)

As part of orientation for the new mks, we lived out in the wilderness (ok, semi-wilderness) for five days and four nights without access to running water down by the camp. With the nearest drinking water source about a mile up the road, I elected to cut down on our admittedly already large footprint and limit our bottled water and Gatorade in favor of drinking regular water from a hose.

This immediately alarmed some (Is it sanitary to store it in the reusable plastic bin? Is the hose itself clean?) and I had to back away from my original intent (having kids walk a mile plus and carry forty pounds of water back on foot turned out to be too extreme) of recreating the struggle for survival for many people around the world. However, we drank the water, it tasted fine, no one got sick and I guess full disclosure forces me to admit that I had a Brita filter in my King of Mu Kappa camp. It also turned out to be so hot (100 degrees plus 90 percent humidity) that our acclimatized systems couldn't stand it and we had to leave the camp twice for fear of rampant heat exhaustion.

All that to say, I watched Irena Salina's FLOW with my own set of experiences giving me just the slightest taste of what it must be like to live without easy, municipal access to clean water. The film is well-made and insightful, although it suffers from the same problem that nearly every documentary made post-Michael Moore's "Roger and Me", in that it is somewhat one-sided and the filmmaker clearly began with an established agenda rather than setting out intent on discovering a nuanced story.

This doesn't make it any less necessary or VITAL though. The most startling statistic about clean water is that everyone in the world could have access to it for around US $30 billion while $100 billion was spent last year on bottled water alone.

In a world where ONE Billion people live on less than $1 a day and millions live without access to clean water or basic medical services, it is crucial that the voices of those in the margins not be overshadowed by powerful corporations and banks. Films like this one are an important tool in the fight to end extreme poverty because they shine a light on hidden places and expose injustice. It's important though that we work towards solutions, and that we take action. In part two of this post, we'll focus on how each of us could actually be part of the solution to bring clean water to the world.

blip.fm, autumn and the feeling, 5:45 am

2009-09-15T15:05:00.000-07:00

yesterday felt like fall, today feels more like post-summer. don't ask me for a definitive definition, I just feel it in my bones (arthritic, 29 year old bones?)

Yesterday my whole family, parents, brother and sister, came over to the apartment and we ate tri-tip from the crockpot and watch the Bills and Raiders throw victories away and rejoiced as the Giants were victorious over the Rockies. It was a great time for sure. Bekah led the Eight Bible Study at Northpark which started at 8:00 pm but she was home in time for the 4th and 15 touchdown by the Raiders. Unfortunately she had Tomlinson in her fantasy line up.

Also, yesterday I got up at 5:30 and walked across the parking lot in the rain to attend a Men's group. Consequently, today I am tired. But it was worth it.

OK, so enough sports, how about amateur DJ playlists: here's what I came up with over the weekend. Also, I briefly linked my twitter account not realizing that it would send a message every single time, sorry if you get mobile updates....

Victory!

2009-09-10T13:03:00.000-07:00

A few months back ONE posted and circulated a petition asking our Senator’s to cosponsor the Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act of 2009 (S. 624), and help provide 100 million people with first-time, sustainable access to clean water and sanitation by 2015.

Because of the efforts of California ONE members, over 16,000 Californians signed the petition and shortly thereafter the petition was hand delivered to Senator Feinstein’s office in San Francisco. Since then, we’ve had members visit the senator’s staff, call her offices, and write letters around the state.

I am very excited to announce as of 9/8/09 Senator Feinstein has become the newest co-sponsor S.624 Water for the World Act!

David Bazan, When They Really Get to Know Me They Will Run From My Blog

2009-09-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

Sitting here on my day off, post-Bob The Builder exhibit at The Met downtown, with two startling realizations.

1. Yesterdays post is likely to make the top 59 Ryan Townsend blog posts ever. AND ...
2. I am only posting entries at a clip of two to three per month, at least one of which consists only of the words "Your Power Animal is The Siberian Chipmunk."

With this in mind, I am returning to what I love, semi-obscure indie rock artists and critically tolerated general market films masquerading as "indie." The Darjeeling Limited comes to mind.

David Bazan has always been one of my favorite artists. Painful, brutal honesty, and tunefulness rarely mix with fictional stories AND thinly veiled autobiography so well. His new record has mostly gotten attention for the fact that he's reportedly abandoned the Christian faith, but we won't count that against him because Curse Your Branches is full of the vitriol and self-deprecating humor we've grown to love as well as being quite easy to hum along to.

Todd Hunter, Spiritual Practices in Costa Mesa

2009-09-01T13:14:00.000-07:00

I came across a very interesting piece via the Christianity Today newsletter, a fine piece of email that typically sidetracks me from my oh-so-important-tasks a couple times a week. This interview with Todd Hunter tracks his journey from Calvary Chapel to head of Vineyard to emerging church guru to head of Alpha USA to Anglican priest and now (incredibly!) Bishop.

I've had a few opportunities to interact with Todd over the years as he was on the board of the church and ministries of Soul Survivor USA when Bekah and I served there 2001-2005. I have always been impressed with his rare combination of humility and intellect, and his comments in this article bear that out. I also appreciate his continuing and unwavering emphasis on evangelism (something that get lost in the search for a Bigger and More Holistic and Truthful Gospel). Here, Hunter argues for a return to spiritual practices as an engine for evangelism. He specifically mentions non-confrontive approach to sexual morality and saying the Apostles Creed in the same breath, which I find both startling and somewhat intiruguing.

Hunter also argues for a renewal of spiritual practices as a Christianity that's actually lived as oppossed to simply believed.

He states, "I have a vision of liturgy as a tool for evangelism and discipleship, a tool that is grounded in Scripture."

Much of what Hunter advocates resonates with me, a late 20's pastor with roots in Pentecostal holiness and a predilection for reading post-Evangelical literature and a promixity to emergent theology. I suppose you could call me, Emergent-adjacent. Also being an Anglican-ophile (four years in the tradition) I will certainly be cheering on Hunter's and (my close friend and former pastor Paul Martin's) Holy Trinity Costa Mesa church plant as it launches on Sept. 27th.

Two key thoughts I had to add after reading:

1. I'm not so sure that emerging church theology and leadership development are as mutually exclusive as Hunter (abeit hesitantly) inferred when he said,

"Second, after 10 or 12 years of the emerging church, you have to ask where anything has been built. Evangelism has been so muted and the normal building of structures and processes hasn't moved forward because there's no positive, godly imagination for doing either evangelism or leadership. Such things are by definition utilitarian, and so they were made especially difficult."

I do think that we need to find a new ways to enact church leadership that bypasses utilitarianism for a more communal, justice-centered approach but I think we have a model for that in Christ and the disciples. My interactions with other young pastors reveals a tendency to be wary of authoritarian structures but not necessarily a desire to deconstruct the notion of leadership altogether. I also believe that volunteer or bivocational leadership is the future of the church and in trying to spend my time and resources accordingly, am uncovering a deep resevoir of diverse leaders. Many of whom may/or may not subscribe to foundationalism or fundamentalism in any formal way but who are nonetheless committed to the forgiveness pf sins by grace, who are determined to make a difference in the world and who follow the teachings of Jesus in an orthodox and literal sense.

In some ways, I think Hunter's criticism of the emerging movement is in some ways deserved, but I believe that we will see a real renewal in the church that will come from the very same people who are still finding their way through the matrix and shaking off the shackles of modernism and American Evangelicalism. All that to say, we in the 16 to 29 demo, are still enroute. This same weakness, is also an opportunity for God to demonstrate his sovereignty and power.

2. I have been giving a lot of thought to the spritual disciplines, to the spiritual practices that accompany Anglicanism and have been so glaringly absent from many of our Protestant, Charismatic churches. In our own community of faith, we have recently been fasting, and personally, I have really been wrestling with how to integrate silence, solitude and liturgy into my own life.

Our admittedly limited experiences and experiments with liturgy in The Five at Northpark lead me to echo Hunter when he stresses that spiritual practices and participatory Christianity are not impediments to evangelism but rather an engine for it. Someone participating in the local church first and believing second can be a beautiful process and I am seeing it happen.

Another reason that I love the spiritual practices is because I believe that if we practice them biblically, they inevitably put us on a crash course with injustice. Separated from political fads and popular, trendy Christianity, spiritual disciplines can and should lead us in the direction of serving the poor. I am convinced and have written in this blog several times that we will never see transformation in our culture or in our nation, as long as we continue to oppress and marginalize entire populations, and turn a blind eye to issues of injustice.

Isaiah 58:6-9 (TNIV)

⁶ "Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?

⁷ Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

⁸ Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness ^a]">[a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

So, practicing spirituality that is traditional and orthodox can naturally lead to evangelism and transformation but even more, those practices should lead us to social/personal action that contextualizes the gospel and reveals this Gospel of Reconciliation to actually be the Good News that we know it to be. Then, when people are exposed to a salvation that resonates loudly (ALL CREATION RETURNING TO RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD), evangelism should occur almost automatically. There's no secret agenda in sharing that with people. Of course, as I'm reminded all the time, Evangelism does actually require that we actually TELL people the reasons behind our efforts to eliminate extreme poverty and to bring freedom to those in captivity. Otherwise we are just doing good work like everyone else.

surrender your stuff?

2009-08-29T17:08:00.000-07:00

I've been meaning to post on Annie Leonard's The Story of Stuff for some time...of course, I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Justin Landis introduced me to the site a while back. I completely and wholeheartedly recommend viewing the 20-minute video. Then you can recommend it to other people....

This has certainly caused me to re-evaluate my wants/needs yet again. Much of the information I was partially aware of but Leonard does a very fine job of distilling and organizing the film into a tight, coherent narrative that will make you think twice about buying that alarm clock for three bucks or new iPod every year.

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Mono No Aware/Zombies/Love

2009-08-05T01:11:00.000-07:00

There's something vaguely post-apocalyptic about the Fulton Mall after dark. Protest-rock from the 60s and 70s mingles with the smell of downtown Fresno while very few, if any, people wander the industrial-art adorned promenade. I almost expect zombies/vampires/mutants/aliens to pop around the corner at any second.

This week I'm in training to be a CASA (hence my time on the F. Mall) and Bekah has been in Southern California visiting her family but she'll be back today with the kids and my father in law. I have been meaning to update this blog for a while but priorities have pushed it down the list. With the extra quiet, I have been able to work on a song or two though. This fall, we are going to record a worship album and finally get to the second overdubs lp... of particular inspiration is this incredible Hammock song/video "Mono No Aware."

Hammock - Mono No Aware from David Altobelli on Vimeo.

pithy Bible verse for the day, currently listening

2009-07-13T10:57:00.000-07:00

(Ecc 10:11) If a snake bites before you charm it, what's the use of being a snake charmer?

albums currently in heavy rotation:

Eels - Hombre Lobo
Wilco - Wilco (The Album)
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Silversun Pickups - Swoon
Casiotone For The Painfully Alone - Vs. Children

Dear Congressman Radanovich

2009-07-09T14:23:00.000-07:00

Congressman, I urge you to vote no on cuts to $506m from our multilateral contributions in the State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill.

Overall, support for these multilateral institutions is a key part of our foreign policy and re-describing the US to the world. Working through multilaterals, we are able to leverage more from other countries to share the burden.

Along with 1,000 other ONE members in your constituency, I humbly ask that you consider the benefits that these funds have for the world's poorest people.

I appreciate your time.

thanks for your tireless service and representation!

Ryan Townsend

who are you?

2009-05-16T15:18:00.000-07:00

2009-04-19T20:34:00.001-07:00

Vacations make the average worker more efficient when she returns.

I am Clark Griswold.

He's got you and me sister in his hands.

Aside from children's songs, these one word title songs have been in heavy rotation with the Townsends during our pre-easter trek to Monterey and our post-Easter Vegas Vacation. Maybe i'll have a chance to post the playlist tomorrow but chances are it's gonna be crazy at the office.

Superdrag "Aspertame"
Leona Naess "Mexico"
White Lies "Death"
My Bloody Valentine "Sometimes"
U2 "Magnificent"
Owen "Gazebo"
Radiohead "Just"
Tokyo Police Club "Centennial"
S.F.C. "Respect"

That's it for now. Looking forward to getting off the freeway and watching some soccer highlights.

2009-04-17T15:04:00.001-07:00

So yesterday for the first time in forever, i spent an extended perioed of time in a record store, Zia's in Vegas. After much deliberation, i walked out of there with the self titled debut album from uk band white lies and owen (the ep) for 13 dollars american. Today, we are at red rock canyon and a petting zoo old west style farm caled bonnie springs. We ate a picnic that included carrots which then reminded me of my favorite music video, Last Stop: This Town by Eels.

las vegas, TWITTER, trial and error, love, red rock

2009-04-16T00:00:00.000-07:00

the process of experimentation via trial and error has led me to the conclusion that the best blog posts are birthed when I am away from my laptop. often, these moments come and go and are lost forever. imagine my joy then to discover that i can text blog entries, ala twitter (i know, yes, i"m late to the party but sue me and you can follow me later than never THE RYAN TOWNSEND), and therefore post more often with more inspiration. ok, maybe it's wishful thinking but that's what tools and toys are for.

day three of vacation was great fun, did the whole casino strip thing, went to Mandalay Bay and saw the sharks with amelia. played some games at a castle themed casino. rode the tram. went to some outlets. got some cheap sunglasses (along with buying inexpensive jeans, I am now officially moving beyond lushness). i signed up for pandora. I am reading Chasing The Dragon by Jackie Pullinger. I am trying to learn how to relax. I should be sleeping now in fact.

tomorrow is nature day at red rock. friday is beatle's love cirque de sol. saturday is an area 51s game. I've been informed that they are no longer the Dodgers triple a team which is too bad because i was looking forward to hating them. tonights game by the way...sickening.

so, in conclusion, thanks to sms functionality, expect a lot more posts. just don't expect them to make sense.

Budget: ONE call to action

2009-03-30T16:50:00.000-07:00

From ONE CA Organizer Roscoe Mapps:

Both HOUSE and SENATE budgets eliminated our international funding. Even Secratary Gates states International Funding is crucial to helping defend America. Secratary Clinton agreed with him.

There’s an amendment and we need ONE members to call Senators Boxer and Feinstein and leave a message urging them: to sign onto the "Kerry-Lugar Amendment" to fully fund the International Affairs Budget.

Tomorrow is the vote. So Today is the day!

Takes 2 minutes. Heres How:

1)Call the Senate Switchboard at, (202) 224-3121, and let them know what state you are calling from and they will connect you to your Senator's Offices.
2)Let the Senate office know your name and address, that you are a member of ONE, and leave a message urging the Senator to sign onto the "Kerry-Lugar Amendment" to fully fund the International Affairs Budget.
3)Please make sure to call both Boxer and Feinsten’s offices.
4) Post a reply on here saying you've called :)
5) Take picture a picture of yourself on the phone - with a ONE shirt or sign if you have one - We’re doing a massive CA blog and pics would be huge! - send it to me: roscoe.mapps@one.org
6) Tell your friends to do the same
7) Change your Facebook Status for 24 hours.

Good Luck!

Superdrag "Aspartame"

2009-03-26T14:44:00.000-07:00

It will probably come as no surprise to those of you who know me that Superdrag's Industry Giants, released a little over a week ago, has been in heavy rotation here in the office, in the car and on walks home from work.

What is something of a surprise is that the band has already filmed a very nice video for the brilliantly caustic catharsis that is "Aspartame," a fist-pumping, contrarian rant against the establishment, the military and wickedness in general. I won't try and insert any more overly descriptive words here: I just plain LOVE it. Plus, it has two of the best executed dub breakdowns I've ever heard. Both John Lennon and Bob Marley would be jealous.

"some of the clouds are not clouds
some of those jets pose death threats
it’s coming around
coming around
some of your rights don't win outright
some of your lights are not lights
the consuming fires of hell
burn this place to the ground
burn it right to the ground

I just write songs
I don't carry a gun
I want peace and safety for my innocent sons and wife
I just love God
I don't trust in man
On with the truth against the wickedness at hand

If you wanna usurp the power
I'll be ready in a half an hour
Give my life for that
are the devils ever nervous?
do they deserve the death they serve us?
I’m still not certain of that

sometimes brains are mundane
entertained and restrained
and sealed up tight
all the aspartame and the video games and the drugs in the food
keeping you subdued
so you’ll never recognize who put out the lights

I just play guitar
I can't stop the war
I want peace and safety for the kids in kandahar
if you love peace
if you love mercy
you're bound to cause a little controversy"

Actually John Davis has long been one of my favorite songwriters for knowing his way around a tune and for being willing to indulge in the most blatant of pop cliches while at the same time harboring an affection for the minor key and weird. Usually his lyrics are not the primary reason I love the songs (see "Sold You an Alibi" and almost every track from Head Trip in Every Key) but Industry Giants contains Davis' best and most insightful lyrics to date. Plus, the music, is muscular, thoughtful and full of existential angst. There's real conviction in Davis' voice. Superdrag's music is the perfect soundtrack for a world slightly past the sell-by date.

A world in need of God. A world that needs songs like "Aspartame" on the radio.

(M)orning by Mae

2009-03-25T08:51:00.001-07:00

Although I was deeply disappointed in the band's major label debut, Singularity, I still have a special place in my heart for the band Mae. In fact, I still listen to The Everglow whenever I feel the need for a little comfort in the midst of post-modern urban alienation.

The band has bounced back from being bounced (or did they ask out of contract? it's all the same these days any way) from Capitol, with a fantastic idea. Record 12 songs in 12 months and donate all of the proceeds to a charity created by the band partnered up with Habitat for Humanity. The resulting three songs have all been interesting, lush, slightly orchestral compositions. March's entry "A Melody, The Memory" is my favorite song so far. Both familiar and new, the song's subject matter deals with the way music provides a soundtrack for those moments, you know the one's I'm taking about. So, what are you waiting for? The band has already raised over $24,000 for the various projects. It's certainly a big idea, some would say naive ... to which I say "way to dream out loud!"

From the messaage board:

"(M)orning represents the beginning of the day, the beginning of the year, and the beginning of a life. It is our childhood. It is our fresh start. It is our new hope. It is the empty canvas of our minds and the beginning of our story.

[January - April] This is the season to focus on youth and help instill appreciation for music and the arts. Music is the world's language. It has the ability to bridge nations and to connect people. We have been changed by the power of music. That is a gift we want to share. Art goes hand in hand with music as a powerful voice of expression. Art shows us the world from the people's point of view. Art is the vessel of the human experience and it is a powerful weapon in the hands of truth. This is also the time to focus on education. Learning is what opens the doors to a better future. What aspects of the education system need our help? How do we educate ourselves to face the world's problems as they become ours to solve? These are the issues of Morning:

(M)usic
(A)rt
(E)ducation

We have asked you to write the story. Here is how you do that. We are giving ALL of the profits from the sale of our digital downloads to projects that we choose together with you. Think about the specific things you feel passionate about changing in the world. Since the first part of the year is dedicated to music, art and education, we are asking you to think about how we can work together to fix things that are broken. We do not just want to throw money at something. We want to create a door for involvement. Lets talk. What can we do together to make education better? What do you like and dislike about your education? What about school music and art programs? Do you know any amazing teachers that are trying things that live outside of the box? Tell this community about them and lets make sure that we shine a light on the people that are doing it right.
We are thinking about working with an organization called Destination Imagination. Have any of you ever worked with them before? What was that experience like? Check out the link and lets get our hands dirty.
http://www.idodi.org/"

first march post, modest mouse, satelite skin

2009-03-22T22:41:00.000-07:00

During intense times of really sorting it out, I am not a terribly effective blogger, either that, or a new baby boy keeps me from indie rock musings. Likely some of both.

Last month's Modest Mouse show in Visalia was enjoyable, managed to snap a picture or two and hear 12 of 18 songs before heading back to fresno before Micah turned into a pumpkin at midnight. Especially notable was my favorite mm tune, "trailer trash." everyone in the fox nodded along and isaac brock guitar heroed his way through some classics despite the occassional feedback and sound issues. slightly bummed to have to leave early but you know, parenthood is a sacrifice...

two drummers!

setlist:

Never Ending Math Equation
We've Got Everything
Trailer Trash
Bury Me With It
Wild Packs of Family Dogs
Doin' the Cockroach
Fire It Up
Float On
Ohio
The Good Times Are Killing Me
Satin in a Coffin
Satellite Skin
The View
Alone Down There
Spitting Venom

Encore:
Dramamine
3rd Planet
Custom Concern
All Nite Diner

All tour long, Modest Mouse was playing this new song, Satelite Skin:

modest mouse! fat tuesday fatigue

2009-02-24T23:47:00.000-08:00

it's no secret to anyone who knows me, I'm not as spry as I used to be. therefore, still tired from last night's odyssey to see modest mouse in visalia, I thought I should point out that I am excited about this friday's Rogue Fest show at the starline. Excited enough to drag the fam out to Tower and hand out a few fliers. There were a lot of pepole out there celebrating Fat Tuesday who may not be observing Ash Wednesday or the rest of Lent for that matter. Just an observation.

Keeping with the theme of excited, I actually posted a comment on the beehive about the modest mouse show. I'll do a more detailed review later but I'm off to listen to the War Child Heroes album and hopefully fall asleep.

Bleak Economic Outlook offered by the FED

2009-02-18T15:44:00.001-08:00

I admit it. I went ahead and listened to a very famous band's new album. This highly anticipated record doesn't come out for a few weeks but though I suspect the band leaked it on purpose, it still doesn't excuse my actions I suppose. And I already pre-ordered it anyway...let the rationalizations fall like rain on the bleak economic outlook stores pouring into my inbox today.

The album? Pretty promising so far. Favorite track "Unknown Caller."

love

2009-02-18T00:50:00.001-08:00

here's a compilation of photos from the last two years, feat. music by jets to brazil

Laser Cats, Alphabet Songs

2009-02-10T17:22:00.000-08:00

sometimes i'm a little late to the party (laser cats 4, where have i been?). for instance, i just first watched steve martin host SNL for the 15th time. also, some of my friends have been posting notes called alphabet soup, now i follow them into the abyss of facebook note-posting (on my blog as well).

every one of these songs comes from my laptop itunes library, so the selections generally skew new. though the hardest choice of the day was whether to include "blood bank" by bon iver or "between the bars" by elliott smith.

A - Abel - The National
B - Between The Bars - Elliott Smith
C - Can't Hardly Wait (Electric Out-take Version from Tim) - The Replacements
D - Deep in the Heart - U2
E - Ex's and Oh's - The New Amsterdams
F - Feeling Like I Do - Superdrag
G - Geraldine - Glasvegas
H - Heretics - Andrew Bird
I - I Want You To Be My Love (live from nowhere) - Over The Rhine
J - Joseph, Better You Than Me (feat. Elton John) - The Killers
K - Keep You Around - Matt Hopper
L - Lullaby - Shayna and The Bulldog
M -Mercury (Gene Mix) - The Prayer Chain
N - Night Windows - The Weakerthans
O - On and On and On - Wilco
P - Passionate - L.A. Symphony
Q- Quick and Painful - Free Blood
R - Reckoner - Radiohead
S - ?School - Crashdog
T - The Perfect Beat feat KRS-ONE - Talib Kwelli
U - Underwater (live) - The Violet Burning
V - Vid Spilum Endalaust - Sigur Ros
W - Way You Walk - Summer Hymns
X - X Off Days - The New Year
Y - Your Ex-Lover is Dead - Stars
Z - Zephyrus - Bloc Party

7/4 Shorline - Broken Social Scene

note: songs are for sampling purposes only, if you like what you hear, please support the artists through buying their albums and t-shirts and going to their shows.

post crisis world, 5 dollar water, happy birthday

2009-02-07T23:16:00.000-08:00

My daughter Amelia turned 2 on friday and my son, Micah, turned three weeks. These kids are a reminder why the World Economic Forum in Davos is important. Has anyone been watching the videos from last week's summit? I have and let me just say, while all the apologizing is commendable, I don't exactly feel like it's gonna be ok. But I do agree in the words of Hans-Rudolf Merz that we must "overhaul our institutions, systems and most of all our thinking and actions and adjust our attitudes to the needs of the World." Check out the Davos channel below.

The other day, I found 2 $5 bills in a pocket of a shirt laying around my office. I was pleasantly surprised of course and ended up using one for my DMV printout so I can volunteer for CASA and the other to pay foe 5/12 of a ticket to attend a high school play called Titanic! The Musical. But for the first time in a while (I've been quite caught up in baby/toddler land and guitar pedal junkie-ville) I remembered just how privileged we are to be middle class in one of the richest societies in the history of the world. And these times may not last forever, for me or for all of us. The day may come when I am acutely aware of all of my money: paper or otherwise. But it's essential that we remember that this economic turmoil hurts the poor more than anyone else...

something you could do with $5:

Got any gift ideas for Valentine's Day? We do. from Angel Mission on Vimeo.

innovation vs. learning vs. experience vs. knowledge

2009-02-02T11:08:00.000-08:00

"Innovation is amputation."

Just had an interesting discussion with Nate Mullen about progress and artificial intelligence. Interpret the above quote as you wish.

I've been getting pretty into the Visual Bookshelf facebook ap. Just finished The Gum Thief by Douglas Coupland and reviewed it. Also finished Everything Must Change by Brian McClaren.

"Coupland is rightly accused of retreading the same disaffected post-modern territory in some of his novels. In my opinion, his work is also wildly inconsistent from novel to novel. However, The Gum Thief is quite original in structure and tone, and ranks up there with his best books IMO (Microserfs, Life After God, Generation X). Sure, we feel like we already know some of these characters, but Coupland manages to three-dimensionalize them and the plot(not always his strong suit) is engaging enough to support the characters themselves."

"A great, easy to understand, summary of the major global crises facing humanity...McClaren is especially skilled at pointing out the hypocrisy behind our western perspectives and pointing to Jesus as the solution for a Revolution of Hope. Regardless of political idealogy or theology, we can all agree that the current suicidal system is in need of a complete and comprehensive change."

super bowl, boss, chili

2009-02-01T22:53:00.000-08:00

One of my new year's resolutions (in addition to using zero individual sized plastic water bottles in 2009) is to recap important events immediately rather than planning to blog later. Invariably, those entries rarely get written. For instance, I have yet to blog my new year's resolutions.

Today was a great day for community at Northpark. Our morning gatherings were lively and included a laugh-out-loud hilarious Hanz and Franz routine from Jason Tatham and Ron Nelson. Then at least 200 hundred people came out for the Super Bowl, Chili Cook Off and Classic Rock Halftime Show. Bekah's aunt, Cynthia Sondeno, won the Cook Off and the band (known to me as Raul Hernandez and the D-HOUSE BOYZ) tore through the classics "Come Together," "Rock and Roll," "Behind Blue Eyes," "La Grange," "Dead or Alive" and a song by some band called Velvet Revolver (hehe). I didn't even regret missing the Boss...

Anyhow, it would've been nice if the Cards had pulled it out but you can't complain (unless you are an actualy Arizona fan) when the Super Bowl is an actual contest.

Mostly, today was a reminder that I am blessed with a great family, great friends and a great faith community. Sure, some people raise their eyebrows when I squeeze MGMT and Tokyo Police Club into the Super Bowl mix, but I think they like us here.

One More Thing, I think Springsteen should have played "The Rising".

modest mouse!

2009-01-28T22:31:00.000-08:00

I just found out that Modest Mouse is playing the Fox Theater in Visalia on Feb. 23rd. Tickets go on sale tomorrow. I will be poised and ready to double click my way to tickets...

Turns out Isaac Brock actually made an appearance with the estimable ensemble Broken Social Scene back in November. Apparently they played several Modest Mouse classics, including "The Good Times Are Killing Me" (a song that forever remind me of pedaling Jarred's beach cruiser around Newport Beach) and "The World at Large" featured here.

About a Boy

2009-01-18T22:32:00.000-08:00

On Friday at 5:22 pm, Bekah and I welcomed Micah James Glenn Townsend into the world at Clovis Community Hopsital. He weighed 7 pounds 8 ounces and was 19 inches long as of Friday. I'm convinced he's already grown bigger.

If you could bottle Joy, this would be it. More info and photos can be found at Micah's very own blog.

It’s Go Time, Baby One More

2009-01-16T07:29:00.000-08:00

For the second time in our lives, we woke up early and arrived at the hospital for a scheduled induction…that’s pretty much how we roll. No shame in needing a little help to get the party started. We checked into Clovis Community this morning at 5:30 (well 5:38, had to stop at Starbucks on the way in). On the way in, guided by the twin lights of speedometer and GPS (totally unnecessary since getting here requires only a total of two turns), we were filled with excitement and mild apprehension since we remember the lengthy process that accompanied the wonderful journey of Amelia into the world.

Honestly, I can’t wait. Which reminds me of the song. “Can’t Hardly Wait” by The Replacements.

It’s only appropriate that we be armed with music for the occasion. In fact, Bekah is all about the maternity mixes.

the hype machine top ten

2009-01-13T17:21:00.000-08:00

So, the Hype Machine counted down all the way to 2009's album of the year. My votes, though submitted late, did make it into the results. It is, after all, an indie rock poll so deadlines come with some ambiguity.

I can see now why everyone is so into rocking the presidential vote, it creates a sense of ownership. Even though my album of the year only placed fourth (actually not the worst thing that could happen, I'm not the penultimate follower after all) three of my top ten made it in. Sigur Ros, Bon Iver and The Hold Steady.

Now, it's pretty clear to me that I need to look into Fleet Foxes and M83.

top 50 hype machine, 50-41

2009-01-10T16:02:00.000-08:00

I love the hype machine, I love end-of-year lists (of course I do) so imagine my delight at listening to end of the year hype machine radio!

from different angles :: orange county

2009-01-09T16:24:00.000-08:00

I think that songs are an enduring art form. This can at least be partly attributed to the flexibility of songs and the ability to see a song in different light from many different angles. If you were to deconstruct a painting and then reconstitute in a different form, it would no longer be the same essential composition but take a song and deconstruct it .... and the song survives and in the best of scenarios, even thrives.

I figured that it wouldn't be terribly inappropriate to start a recurring feature off with a song I wrote, called "Orange County." Now, I am of course aware that the brilliant Pigeon John also has a song called Orange County, and there is also a movie starring the occasionally brilliant Jack Black. Both of those are great, but this songs has nothing to do with either. I did spend over four years living in O.C., so that was about the only title I could use for this song. I'm not in any way, implying that there is all that much to discover about this particular composition, only that it does serve as an example because I happen to have access to a bunch of versions, hehe.

So, that said, in the future I'll dig a little deeper but this is a relatively new song and I'll share three versions here, justin landis covers the song up a key.

I played the song live during a recording session (ostensibly to submit the song to the TV show Scrubs, as of now this recording has not been completed)

And finally, the overdubs play it live at club fred during our three guitar phase.

Of course, you can also check out the original version of the song, featuring banjo work by Paul Chesterton, from the album Here is Where We Are by downloading it from last.fm.

"Orange County" by The Overdubs

thanks for listening, see you next time.

Top 30 songs 2008

2008-12-31T19:18:00.000-08:00

Spending a quiet New Year's Eve sequestered at home, getting crazy with the digital storage opportunities, publishing podcasts and making lists. Jason and Kim came over and we played games and listened to the top 30. They approved. So did Bekah and our as-yet-unborn son. In some ways, when I look at this list, I realize that I mostly liked white indie rock and Americana music in 2008. But after all, I am getting older and less adventurous...

I have a really great post brewing but you can't rush the definitive New Year statement, so stay tuned for that. It's cold for Fresno out there tonight.

1. Sequestered in Memphis by The Hold Steady from Stay Positive
2. Skinny Love by Bon Iver from For Emma, Forever Ago
3. Video Tapez feat. Del The Funky Homosapien by AmpLive from RainyDayz Remixes
4. Gobbledigook by Sigur Ros from med sud
5. Un-Named by Leona Naess from Thirteens
6. American Dirt by Matthew Ryan from Matthew Ryan Vs. The Silver State
7. Weightless by Nada Surf from Lucky
8. Grapevine Fires by Death Cab for Cutie from Narrow Stairs
9. Got Friends by The Jealous Sound from Got Friends ep
10. Magick by Ryan Adams and the Cardinals from Cardinology
11. Gillian Was a Horse by Damien Jurado from Caught in the Trees
12. 14 Forever by Stars from Sad Robot
13. Centennial by Tokyo Police Club
14. Kids by MGMT from Oracular Spectacular
15. High Lonsome by The Gaslight Anthem from The '59 Sound
16. Antique Bull by Brendan Canning from Something for All of Us
17. Closer by Jars of Clay (single)
18. 42 by Coldplay from Viva La Vida
19. Open Bar Reception by Jimmy Eat World from limited edition Chase This Light
20. The World We Live In by The Killers from Day and Age
21. Red Star by Third Eye Blind (ep)
22. Confidence Man by Matt Pryor from Confidence Man
23. It's a New Day by will.i.am (single)
24. Cobwebs by Ryan Adams and the Cardinals from Cardinology
25. Temporary People by Joseph Arthur and The Lonely Astronauts from Temporary People
26. I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You by Black Kids from Partie Traumatic
27. The Captive Mind by The Helio Sequence from Keep Your Eyes Ahead
28. Motel in Memphis by Old Crow Medicine Show from Tennessee Pusher
29. The Tears and Music of Love by Deerhoof from Offend Maggie
30. Furr by Blitzen Trapper from Furr

My Top Albums 2008

2008-12-15T22:06:00.000-08:00

From the moment I heard Bon Iver's gorgeous, glimmering monument to winter and love lost, For Emma, Forever Ago, I knew Justin Vernon had me at hello. Picking my top albums this year wasn't as difficult as some years past, somewhat curiously. Maybe because I'm getting older and more nostalgic, it seems like some artists are nearly automatic when they release a record (or as Jarred put it Paul Westerberg could poop in a bag and you'd love it, however the joke's on you my friend because Paul did release a single-track 43 minute digital album called 49 which, while awesome of course, did not make the top 20) like The Hold Steady, Ryan Adams, Leona Naess, Damien Jurado and Matt Pryor. All those records are great but still not as great as Sigur Ros' sunny, glacial-defying breakthrough, Med sud I eyrum vid spilum endalaust. In fact, the hardest choice was whether or not to include Coldplay in the top ten or second-ten. I really did want to place Viva La Vida that high due to it bringing mildy risky and mostly totally brillaint to the mainstream, but I couldn't bring myself to place both The Killers and Coldplay in the top ten. So, even though I am currently wearing out Day and Age, Brandon Flowers had to end up below the fold. So, here it is, call me old and cranky but I very rarely buy singles.

1. Bon Iver :: For Emma, Forever Ago
2. Sigur Ros :: Med sud I eyrum vid spilum endalaust
3. The Hold Steady :: Stay Positive
4. Matthew Ryan :: Matthew Ryan Vs. The Silver State
5. The Gaslight Anthem :: The '59 Sound
6. Ryan Adams and The Cardinals :: Cardinology
7. Coldplay :: Viva La Vida or Death and all his friends
8. Leona Naess :: Thirteens
9. Matt Pryor :: Confidence Man
10. Death Cab for Cutie :: Narrow Stairs
10. Stars :: Sad Robot ep

Ten others worth mentioning.

Deerhoof :: Offend Maggie
Hammock :: Maybe They Will Sing For Us Tomorrow
The Killers :: Day and Age
Damien Jurado :: Caught In The Trees
Army Navy :: s/t
Brendan Canning :: Something For All of Us
Nada Surf :: Lucky
The Listening :: Transmission 1
Starflyer 59 :: Dial M
Joseph Arthur and the Lonely Astronauts :: Temporary People

A Message from Congressman Radanovich

2008-12-13T16:04:00.000-08:00

Dear Mr. Townsend:

Thank you for contacting me regarding United States foreign assistance. It is a pleasure to hear from you on this important issue.

On June 11, 2008, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) introduced H. Res. 1268, which expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that United States foreign assistance is a critical instrument for achieving our national security goals and that modernizing United States foreign assistance should become a national priority.

H.Res 1268 calls for the modernization of United States foreign aid practices to effectively meet 21st century global challenges, such as terrorism, poverty, pandemic disease, energy security, failed or failing states, food insecurity, a lack of or slow economic growth, and population and migration issues. Foreign aid is a primary means for America to bolster our own national security as we mitigate threats by strengthening democratic states around the world and protect the dignity and inalienable rights of the individual.

I share in your concerns that the United States must recognize its importance in the global community. Poverty and hunger are the terrible effects of both natural and man-made disasters, and we should act responsibly in response to them. However, providing foreign aid is not limited to simply funneling money into different projects and organizations. Many citizens in developing countries struggle with poverty and hunger due to the corruption of their governments or the lack of infrastructure to support aid programs to their nation.

We must be certain that all development assistance is protected by institutional safeguards to make sure that funds go to nations that are actively working to improve the social welfare of their citizens, are supporting open markets and economic growth, and are not controlled by corrupt government officials. We must be certain that the aid we provide is going to line the stomachs of the hungry and not the pocketbooks of the corrupt and powerful.

An important aspect of foreign aid concerns the protection of Children and vulnerable populations during international crises and conflicts. During times of natural disasters and military operations, civilians are regrettably but inescapably victims of the tumultuous times. Even the most careful military operation can result in the accidental harm to civilian livelihood. The United States, other nations, and many international organizations are vigilant in their protection of the vulnerable, and provide humanitarian aid and rehabilitation when possible.

H.Res. 1268 awaited action in the House Committee on Foreign Affairs until the end of the 110th Congress. Rest assured, if I have the opportunity to vote on related legislation in the 111th Congress, I will keep your concerns in mind.

Finally, I encourage you to visit my website at www.radanovich.house.gov to get the most current information on my work in Congress. Once again, thank you for contacting me. Please keep in touch.

It kind of seems like Radanovich is talking around the issues a wee bit here but at least he sent me a computer generated response.

tuesday's rubies in the rubble

2008-12-02T22:37:00.000-08:00

today was long. earlier on the way to buy 75 earplugs at guitar center, we got in an accident. not serious, but serious enough to leave a crack in the front of our plastic car. on the way home from back to back rehearsals, my toyota broke down a half mile from my house and I pushed it home. i think it's the alternator.

in other news, the film love song for bobby long is not very entertaining. here's a video from the overdubs show at full circle brew co.

World AIDS Day

2008-12-01T14:05:00.000-08:00

Tonight, a couple of us participated in a Broken Bread Poverty meal for World AIDS Day, we fasted during the day and ate the corn/soy porridge blend dropped by the
UN during emergency situations. I was struck once again, by the scope of the global pandemic and by the generally tepid response from those of us in America. Granted, we generally tend to rely on celebrities and corporations for our information and advocacy. Sometimes these campaigns turn into enduring and effective organizations, see ONE, the campaign to make poverty history. Sometimes these campaigns are less than effective, see the RED campaign which seems to exist to make multi-national corporations look responsible. (Although, to be fair RED Wire music looks pretty cool)

Regardless of what the rich and famous do, it is time for those of us average Americans to do more and that's what's so encouraging about Acting on AIDS, a grassroots organization that began with college students in Seattle and eventually became an off shoot of World Vision. I had the opportunity to meet James Pedrick, from the national team for Acting on AIDS. Pedrick has recently relocated to Washington DC. When I met him last year at the Global Summit on AIDS, shortly before Mrs. Clinton's speech, I was very impressed not only with his grasp of the issues (to be expected for an expert in the field) but also with his thoughtful, philosophically sound approach to AIDS advocacy in post-modern youth culture. Engaging young adults will take more than a facebook page or a targeted campaign (see the RED product line) Also, kudos to World Vision, for having the flexibility to take in AOA without taking it over and saddling them with a bunch of fund raising goals.

Below is some text from the Advocacy Petition, which you should consider signing if you are a human being.

Considered the greatest humanitarian disaster of our time, the AIDS crisis is leaving a generation of children in jeopardy. In 2006 alone, AIDS killed an estimated 380,000 children under the age of 15. By 2010, there will be 15.7 million children orphaned by AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa and 20.2 million children orphaned by the disease globally. AIDS destabilizes families and entire societies, leaving children without the care and support necessary to survive, grow and thrive.

In order to continue exercising leadership on this issue, the United States must:

>> Fully fund the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief over the next five years by providing at least $7 billion in fiscal year 2009;

>> Commit to setting aside 10 percent of AIDS funding for orphans and vulnerable children;

>> Given the deadly synergy between HIV and AIDS and malaria, fulfill the commitment to providing $48 billion over the next five years HIV and AIDS, malaria and other diseases.

America has become a strong leader in the fight against HIV and AIDS. I, along with World Vision, ask that Congress continue to increase the U.S. contribution to the global AIDS fight and ensure that AIDS-affected children are not forgotten.

mallonee videos

2008-11-24T14:46:00.000-08:00

Dug up two videos: The first, a video for the haunted, cracked beauty of "Resplendent", a song that seems more appropriate today than it did in 2000, now that we are at the tail end of the Bush-era.

How much of this was meant to be?
How much the work of the devil?
How far can one man's eyes really see
in these days of toil and trouble?

How much of this is failing flesh?
How much the course of retribution?
My my how loudly we plead our innocence
long after we've made our contribution.

The second is a Bob Dylan cover, by way of the Byrds more pop version. "My Back Pages."

vigilantes of love, bill mallonee

2008-11-24T10:05:00.000-08:00

I stayed up way too late last night pondering/researching/ruminating on the life and times of a certain songwriting hero of mine, Bill Mallonee formerly/currently of Vigilantes of Love. See Wikipedia article.

Bill has fallen on some hard times recently, so if you like what you hear, please consider purchasing some of his records. Also, there are some good deals available. I just got Audible Sigh from Amazon mp3 for $6.99 even though I own the disc somewhere. Part of me feels like editorializing on Bill's uniquely American story but I'll leave that up to this excellent piece in CT and instead recommend that you give his music a chance.

I recommend the songs, "Resplendant" and "Goes with Saying" from Audible Sigh but my favorite VOL record is "To the Roof of The Sky."

missed blog action day of course, boho alien article

2008-10-17T21:52:00.000-07:00

ah crap, for the second year in a row, I missed blog action day...

this year's theme was global poverty, a topic that I am incredibly passionate about so you can imagine my dismay when I logged on one day late and was too demoralized to even post earlier this week. however, I can take solace in the fact that I am involved in some concrete efforts to reduce poverty, both locally and globally and this is at least a small part of the reason that I have been such a poor blogger lately.

regardless, in honor of blog action day, which I missed, I thought that I would reprint the article I published a while back in the bohemian alien, which is currently offline for a while. here it is if you're interested.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about toothbrushes and bicycle crashes.

My boss, the honorable Rev. Bob Willis, has a saying related to biking for transportation safety-related issues. “Respect the Ride,” he says. About a year ago, iPod in hand and helmetless, I managed to hit a rock (or a bottle?) and wound up getting my face glued back together in the emergency room at Clovis Community Hospital. I did not respect the ride. Fortunately, my injuries were relatively minor but in response, I now wear a helmet (O.K., most of the time, I wear one) and I try to ride unencumbered by objects like fountain drinks or textbooks in my hands.

A couple of months ago, I was privileged to spend some time in the countryside outside Ensenada, Mexico with some very poor indigenous Indian children whose families could not even afford proper food, much less toothbrushes for their large families.

Many of the families we met there had come up from the Oaxaca province in southern Mexico to find a better quality of life and instead wound up as indentured servants, indebted to farm owners who leverage the families travel costs against any meager wages they earn. They live in refugee-style camps, bathing outdoors and sleeping in chicken coops or plastic tarps draped over trees.

These living conditions were shocking and brutal, rivaling anything I’ve seen on television or elsewhere. In my life, I’ve been fortunate to travel all over the world, from South America to Asia to Eastern Europe and more, and I have never witnessed up-close the poverty that I saw there, only 70 miles from the U.S. border.

Tragically, the children themselves are often victims of discrimination and have little-to-no educational opportunities. Many of the Indians from Oaxaca are non-Spanish monolingual and are unable to adjust to the culture of Baja California. The children live in the rural camps, far from the Mexican school system, and often work all day in the fields with their parents. These families who come from far away in search of opportunities are then stranded without opportunity.

As accurately as I understand it from my western perspective, these families are de facto slaves.

On the same trip to Ensenada, my wife Bekah and I were given the opportunity to speak for a group of about 20 local pastors and their wives. I talked about Amos Chapter 5, pointing out that the culture of the day was filled with wickedness and oppression because the people had lost their commitment to justice and the Kingdom of God. I shared that unless we who are the church repent and return to remembering the poor, we will never see transformation in culture or fulfill our missional calling to be the hope of the world.

As you might imagine, I felt some discomfort at telling a group of ministers in Mexico, many of who sacrifice every day for their calling and who are likely poorer than I am, to remember the poor and to pursue the call of justice.

Many of the pastors had teenage children and were anxious to hear about our own experiences growing up in the church. As a group, they were concerned about the destructive trajectory of youth culture in Mexico and its effect on their kids. We agreed that much of popular culture is rotten. However, it is not just popular culture that is damaged; our culture within the church has been equally shaped by the forces of materialism, greed and selfishness and is in need of transformation.

Which brings us back to bicycle crashes and toothbrushes.

There was real joy evident in the faces of the children when we distributed toothbrushes and hygiene items. I believe that our ministry there, both relational and relief oriented, was an act of compassionate and pleasing worship.

But the systematic cycle of poverty for migrant farm workers is a multi-faceted and complex problem, one that will take decades to solve. Advocating for the outcast, the marginalized, the oppressed and the poor will require a lifetime of patience, willful determination and the cultivation of Christ-like attributes. If I am going to commit my life to following the commands of Jesus and to his calling to be part of his mission to redeem the world, than I need to learn to “Respect the Ride.”

Meaning that it is a hard road I and my friends are called to. Meaning that a missional calling on behalf of the poor will be a hard sell in our often morally bankrupt “Christian” culture. Meaning that I have no choice but to get rid of some things that might encumber me.

Like bitterness, anger and despair.

The blatant injustice of things I have seen might make me angry. When I feel like a second-class Christian in my job as a pastor because I don’t have Red State political beliefs, I might get bitter. When I am confronted with the scale of global poverty, of 25,000 children starving to death today, I might be overwhelmed by despair.

Arturo Paoli says “We can move in the direction of justice, but if our personal relationships don’t become more human, we haven’t moved in the direction of the reign of God and, in the long run, we will discover that our point of arrival is just another form of tyranny.”

When I read that, I am convicted.

Because the cause of Christian Justice is a marathon, not a sprint, and putting aside my own minor frustrations and tribulations (honestly, they are nothing compared to the concerns facing malnourished children without clean drinking water) is not only recommended, it is a requirement.

tired and stuff

2008-09-12T09:34:00.000-07:00

it's been a long, long time since I posted a proper blog, Jul 23rd to be specific. this entry is not a return to form, rather it's just a chance to say that I am excited to play some overdubs shows with my new guitar and pedal board and that I felt compelled to share this unreleased video.

many good things are in the pipeline (not the oil pipeline though, that's just black death).

Big Oil in Ecuador

2008-08-08T09:51:00.000-07:00

I haven't had much time to blog lately, but I thought I'd share this illuminating quote from Big Oil. You too, can get this kind of stuff from Sojourners magazine.

"We can't let little countries screw around with big companies like this—companies that have made big investments around the world."

- a Chevron lobbyist, who asked not to be identified, speaking about a lawsuit brought on behalf of thousands of Indigenous Ecuadorian peasants over the dumping of billions of gallons of toxic oil wastes into their region's rivers and streams. Chevron is pressuring the Bush administration to eliminate special trade preferences for Ecuador if its government doesn't quash the case. (Source: Newsweek)

the starline, the sky at nighttime, circles and circles

2008-07-23T11:32:00.000-07:00

Last night I ventured out into the unseasonably temperate Fresno night to see Circles and Circles
at the band's one year birthday party show, put on by Love, the Captive.

I quite enjoyed myself, not only were Circles and Circles very good, think post-apocalyptic-era Death Cab for Cutie meets the BSS presents solo records from Brendan Canning and Kevin Drew, but I also thoroughly enjoyed Aspen Hollow and The Ready Aim Fire.

The RAF were plagued by lighting and sound issues, as were Circles and Circles, plus vocalist Dave Trautz vocals were shrouded in the most-intense reverb since My Morning Jacket recorded it's first record. In spite of all that, they were energetic, spunky, entertaining and the songs were of the variety of Vagrant-records-circa 1999 post-punk that you just don't hear these days. Also, they had some nice synthesizers and they cop to being influenced by Counting Crows on their website. In fact, I liked them so much that I bought the record, Strong Enough from iTunes.

Upon hearing it twice, I still really like them, however, I am wondering if there is some happy middle ground between the live insano-verb and the relatively dry vocals on the record?

here's a great video by circles and circles, a great fresno band already and only one year into existence.

i'm sick of the american league

2008-07-15T23:17:00.000-07:00

sorry everyone for the lack of meaningful blog entries lately...today, Bob returned to the office and I breathed a sigh of relief. I've really enjoyed the past three weeks but they have been crazy nonetheless. No sign of the craziness abating but I should get some more blogging in (as is the case with rocknroll, it seems kind of silly to think of blogging as a priority item, still I press on)

Two videos for you tonight: my Revenger vs. Reconciler talk (the audio is pretty horrible though due to the fact that the guitar amp microphones are the source so it may be futile) and the overdubs playing "drive all night" at yoshi now on saturday afternoon. the audio is surprisingly good on that one.

I had to make a hard choice and miss Jesus for President, did anyone else go? What happened? I caught Claiborne's blog in Sojo on Monday but no specific mention of Fresno.

Rock The Vote, Rowand for The All Star Game

2008-07-09T23:27:00.000-07:00

aquatic recreation, G8, George W. Bush

2008-07-08T18:14:00.000-07:00

Watching Amelia play in her kiddie pool this afternoon in the 106-degree heat, I was compelled to reflect on how much we are blessed just to live in a country with a clean water supply that is abundant enough for us to water our lawns with and even, gasp! to enjoy water recreation. That fact alone is pretty incredible.

So despite the 111 forecast for tomorrow and in spite of the less-than-desirable air quality and in spite of the failing economy and the war on Iraq and the high gas prices, I choose to be thankful that I live here, in Fresno, in California, in one of the most prosperous countries in the history of mankind. I'm looking forward to hearing from my friends and coworkers Nate and Dave(that looks like COW workers if you read fast) who have arrived safely in the Congo and begun the Jubilee project.

Meanwhile, as the G8 summit continues-- in spite of international pressure, it appears as though the power countries may not reaffirm their commitment to the continent of Africa.
If so, this could spell disaster for many of the relief efforts currently under way. One question I have for all of the band-wagon AIDS-crusading celebrities...where are you now? Is the election of a democratic president really more important than supporting the current administration on one of the few things Bush has really done well: advocate for Africa and AIDS relief? I am no Dubya fan but I will give hime credit for staying true to the cause.

wholesome character(s), red letters, talking

2008-07-08T13:47:00.000-07:00

I'm in the final leg of my three consecutive weeks of speaking on the Red Letters of Jesus as found in the Sermon on the Mount. Last week was the hardest because I spoke in all three gatherings but it has been both illuminating and painful in some ways to learn what all of you 50-weeks-a-year teaching pastors go through.

If any of you are interested, here's the second of three talks that I gave at 10:15 am on Sunday.

G8 Urgent Action Needed

2008-07-03T18:41:00.000-07:00

Monday, the Financial Times reported that the G8 leaders may be planning to backtrack on their promises to the world’s poor. Yesterday, Reuters reported tensions are building between African and G8 leaders as the G8 fail to deliver on their aid commitments.

This news is disappointing, and shows that our efforts are desperately needed.

I just signed a petition asking the G8 take urgent action against extreme poverty, and I'm hoping that you'll join me.

Sign the petition now at: http://www.one.org/2008g8

There has been a lot of progress against extreme poverty in recent years, but, as recent headlines about the global food crisis will tell you, there is still much to be done.

When we unite with one voice and call upon our leaders to take action, we can and will solve these problems.

[Though the canned text sounds a little, well, canned, I appreciate whoever writes it so I left it alone but if you haven't signed the original ONE declaration, you can do so on the right column of this blog, if you're already a ONE member please sign the petition.]

faux occult. narrative theology, sigur ros, broken social scene, club fred, fresno bulldogs, alkaline trio

2008-06-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

Another week in the whirlwind...trying to understand where the sermon on the mount fits into the narrative arc of the Bible, listening to the new Alkaline Trio record, cooking taco salad for 140 people, cursing my best friend for moving back to Idaho. Oh, we also played a show to a few brave souls at club fred, dropped by the big celebration yesterday at Beiden Field, and are going to the farmer's market and grizzlies tonight. Since I took one class at Fresno State in 1998, I can also say that I've been through two National Championship baseball season (Fullerton in '04).

In between those events a bunch of other things transpired, and I missed both Euro semifinal games. My cousins are staying with us this weekend and I just ate with my friend Jason at Thai Palms. If you can't tell, I struggle with both focus and chronology.

If you choose to ignore the faux occultism and satanic references as I do, and instead recognize the Alkaline Trio as gloomy punk pop heirs to the Cure than you might love them as much as I do. The last several albums have been questionable but their latest, Agony and Irony, sounds on first listen like a welcome return to form. Nobody writes better break up songs and as it turns out, they also churn out some dark-leaning true love songs while they're at it. Maybe I'll get out to their summer tour, but that would also require that I figure out when and where they're playing.

I've also been enjoying the new Sigur Ros album. Beginning this week, I'm speaking for three consecutive weeks in our Red Letters series. While I am pretty stoked for the opportunity, I am also not too skilled at organizing my week to leave space for the amount of contemplation, study and prayer I'd like to make time for.

Over time, I've grown to love this wonderful, smoggy, irritatingly provincial city we live in. It's very imperfections are the reasons that I believe we need to love it...AND work to correct some serious injustices. Problems like this one...have been haunting me since I took the drive WAY down Chestnut to Fresno Pacific and saw some houses/apartments that looked like they wouldn't have been occupied during the Dust Bowl. Someone needs to stand up for what's right and stop these greedy corporate bastards from taking advantage of the poor. {UPDATE: Having spent more time on Mr. Defrees' site, I must point out that I cannot agree with his position on illegal/undocumented workers but I do appreciate a site like his and the constant challenges he throws down for those with the power to change things}

I'm praying about what to do next.

God allows crazy people to get themselves on the air

2008-06-23T18:22:00.001-07:00

My friends just love to send me clips of Christians behaving in lunatic fashion...generally, I don't like to waste a ton of time pointing out what we all already know but sometimes, I (and you maybe) need some comic relief. I mean, we can't necessarily judge people by their looniest moments but you know...it can be funny. This one's for you Jason Nill.

amelia jane townsend, mexico, euro 2008, the jealous sound

2008-06-22T08:21:00.000-07:00

Amelia is going to be dedicated today at Northpark. Bekah's parents and my family have all converged in Fresno for the first time since she was born in Davis and so we'll be able to celebrate her symbolic dedication. Practically, we dedicated her to God the moment that she was born. In other news, we can now announce that in late January 2009, we will be welcoming another life into our family...or in less stately terms, Bekah done got herself knocked up.

I'm pretty excited about the jealous sound ep that is allegedly coming out on tuesday...however, I have my doubts about this release date seeing as how neither the band nor the label, have done any kind of promotion other than post a release date and allow the speculation to run rampant. I understand that the band is finished and all but you'd think a little communication would be the polite way to proceed.

Euro 2008 update: does any one else wish this thing would never end?

You may or may not have noticed that I haven't been posting much lately...between the launch of our new Sunday night gathering, our Mission trip to Mexico and Bekah's morning sickness, I have been unfaithful to my silly little blog....if that's all I've been unfaithful to then I suppose everything is pretty all right.

mixtapes: cliche and oh so grand

2008-06-13T00:35:00.000-07:00

so cassette tape images are rapidly becoming all the rage, guess we'd better redesign the overdubs site soon. I found out tonight that leona naess and ryan adams were once engaged. they both make an appearance on the following mix...

time for bed.

your war takes all your time; modest ambitions

2008-06-11T23:47:00.000-07:00

it's difficult to get perspective when you are in the middle of the situation...as someone who finds it awkward standing still, I find that I am just about always embroiled in some situation or another.

here I am, typing, worried about booking the right shows, worried about our new sunday gathering, worried about a funeral on friday, worried about our overnight drive to mexico sunday night, worried that i should be working on a book or something more productive than blogging and songwriting. worried that my daughter is going to grow up in some hellish america where the rich tyrannize the poor and decide who can get married and who can have kids and who can breathe the air. worried that rocknroll is childish in the face of AIDS and terrorism.

there is much to celebrate, there is much to consider, there is much conversation to share. i cannot shake the feeling that after 28 years, I still don't really know how to live or how to love. here is where we are but my mind is always over there.

new bio and side headache

2008-06-07T00:15:00.001-07:00

i've been listening to british sea power, though I should really be trying to sleep...

the overdubs practiced the other night and it sounded good, much noisier. I really like the alt-country vibe of some of our previous shows but they left me missing the rock, plus we just played too many ballads.

i have a headache on the side of my face.

if you want to see some cool videos check out the black cab sessions Brilliant Idea!!

Cush!

2008-05-30T12:54:00.000-07:00

I remember holding your hand
for the first time
I remember the moon in your eyes
for the first time
crush me

In an alternate reality, CUSH is the probably the biggest band in the world. In this one, they made one brilliant album and played a few brilliant concerts...one of which I was so fortunate to see at the Glass House in Pomona, California. My friends Matthew Powell and Justin Landis accompanied my now-wife and I to that Violet Burning/Cush double bill. From what I understand, there may be another CUSH full length at some point, but it seems that Michael Knott, will sadly, never play with the band again. Therefore, as good as the Prayer Chain instrumentalists are, they are only half as good without the juggernaut that is Mr. Mike Knott.

Below is a great version of "Crush Me" from their self-titled record and a messy, crazed version of Knott's own "Cool"/"Thru" medley. Prickett gets down on this one.

Here's to hope in things that will never be.

keith giles quote

2008-05-26T22:01:00.000-07:00

My friend, Keith Giles, wrote this in the Subversive Underground, in an article about the recent Evangelical Manifesto. The best thing about Keith, is that he really walks out what he talks. The guy pastors a church called The Mission, doesn't take a salary and every cent they collect (from tithes and offerings) goes to the poor.They don't even use it to buy paper goods or snacks.

"The reason why Christianity in America is toxic to most people is that those who are called to be representatives of Jesus have done a terrible job. This is why I cannot bring myself to be indentified as a "Christian" to someone outside the Church. They hear that term and they equate me with the big-haired, money-hungry, gay-bashing, waiting-for-the-rapture brand of Believer. That is not who I am. That is not the Jesus I follow."

The Nightly News, The Myriad, Postal Service, serve me vs. serve us, links, bohemian alien, coffee, IVY

2008-05-22T10:04:00.000-07:00

At lunch yesterday with my friend Dave W. (see his brilliant, lightning-quick insights ) a conversation about his blog, holy heteroclite (not to be confused with a french clothing company), led me to the startling realization that I need to link to more stuff in my blog to raise my profile on google.

Granted, this blog already shows up as fourth or fifth on the list for "Ryan Townsend" sometimes higher but typically below my Canadian and British doppelgangers.

At Northpark, we're gearing up for the big change. At the Grind, they're playing the one and only Postal Service record. I just finished The Nightly News by Jonathan Hickman, a nasty little graphic novel about a cult who murder journalists because the media is an agent of government control. Definitely not a feel-good story but thought-provoking and entertaining. Check out Hickman's blog, Pronea.

My new column debuted in the Bohemian Alien this past week... I am grateful to be included among the manyv great artists over there, so check it out if you have a chance. More on the Alien to come...

And finally, I was sitting here and realized that I MUST immediately listen to the song, "Got a Feeling" by the fantastic and criminally underrated, Ivy. Is there a youtube video for it? Yes, yes there is.

sweetheart, you're so cruel

2008-05-21T14:41:00.000-07:00

Man United win 6-5 on penalties, in the pouring rain after midnight in Moscow. Poor John Terry missed for Chelsea with a chance to win it after Ronaldo missed. I just knew Anelka was going to go left and Van D knew it too. Very thrilling...Chelsea fans must be totally disappointed.

I am even a little bummed.

UEFA Champions League

2008-05-21T14:24:00.000-07:00

I just got back from lunch with my friend Dave, to discover that the CL Final between Manchester United and Chelsea had gone to extra time... I was recording it old school style on VHS but now I can watch the end live on espn 360.

Now it's going to penalties in my one-time hometown of Moscow.

Crazy exciting, maybe unjust but fun for this Tottenham supporter, I suppose I want Chelsea to win because they are the underdogs.

the overdubs in the bee

2008-05-11T21:45:00.001-07:00

Mike Oz of the Fresno Bee was so kind as to interview us (me) for last Friday's edition of the 7 Section. You can check it out online here...
the overdubs, artists you should know

in other news, I'm going on vacation tomorrow but I hope to use some of my time off to continue the cover songs podcast series. friday's show at the Joe was top notch. stay tuned for more shows. if you want us to play at something, drop us a line.

happy end of the weekending,

Ryan

bixby canyon bridge

2008-05-08T10:53:00.000-07:00

This morning, as I peddled my bike faster than usual on my way to a day at the office that promises to be busier/more hectic than usual, I felt that peculiar sense of place and time that can descend when one hears the perfect song at the perfect time. For me that song was "Bixby Canoyon Bridge" by Death Cab for Cutie from their new record Narrow Stairs (out next week 5/13). It's been a tense week for me, getting ready to go on vacation, doing an interview for the paper, practicing for Friday's show, writing a column for the bohemian-alien, designing banners and cards, putting together a Mission Team for June's launch, and hopefully finishing a term paper before class this afternoon. That tension is nicely reflected in the song, which opens as melodic, beautiful, and sad as any song the band has done before and then eventually lurches towards a noisy, chaotic climax that is still pretty darn hum-able. Kind of like life these days.
Tomorrow's the big return to Kuppajoe. We're supposed to go on at 9:45 or 10:00 but if you can come out early to check out the other bands, Amoeba Defense and Kinship. I'm stoked to see both of them so you better believe I'll be there early. Here's the flyer I did for the show. No time for links but you can find stuff if you look hard.

the future, the present, the bike trailer and the polyphonic spree, 100 posts later

2008-05-02T19:21:00.000-07:00

Today was a excellent day off, except that we went to Wal Mart to get the oil changed on the 'Nox. But even that wasn't so bad because Amelia fell asleep in my arms while we browsed the garden section. While we're on the subject of Wal Mart, has any one else been there lately? I only go maybe three times a year if I can help it but today it seemed as though no one was working...only a few people in uniform trying to run this big, gigantic store? I will say this, the guys in the auto section were extremely friendly and helpful and so the money we save didn't come at too high a price. They also were surprisingly not overworked, my dad mentioned that oil changes might be the first things put off during a recession.
We got the bike trailer hooked up that Justin and Jen gave us today and rode over to the church so Bekah could help set up for a MOPS yard sale and then we had date night so we rode home, ate some Burger King that Larry gave us and now Bekah's gardening and I'm hoping the Giants will hang on to thie 5-4 lead in the 10th.
Also, today I stumbled onto the latest Polyphonic Spree record, The Fragile Army, in my itunes library, I love it when that happens. You completely forget that you have an album that you maybe listened to three songs of and suddenly, it grips you and won't let go.

I saw Tim DeLaughter (when he and fellow Spree members Mark Pirro and Bryan Wakeland were in the band Tripping Daisy) play at the Juke Joint in Springfield, MO way back in 1998 and loved their then-evolving-past-grunge-into-something-much-more-pop show. The next year, guitarist Wes Bergen died, leading to the band's demise. It's taken me a while to warm up the Spree's sprawling 23-member lineup, it initially seemed too gimmicky. However, I love the latest record and the video above, tugs at the heart strings for those of us who consider ourselves people predominantly concerned with parenting, working, who also happen to still want to play some rock music with friends. "we're better together" **
In other news, this is my 100th post. Also, the Giants managed to lose in the bottom of the 10th on a two run homer by Burrell. Also, every Christian worship ad that comes out on Fox Soccer Channel is even more embarrassing than the last.

updates on activities, internet, writing, recording, raising a daughter

2008-04-28T15:36:00.000-07:00

it's been a busy week followed by a busy weekend and now it's another week. if you enjoy nonsense like that last sentence then maybe you'll like my future contributions to ezine bohemian alien.

I'm saving all of my coherence for the article-to-be-published-in-early-may. On the overdubs front, we've got two shows in May, which is about all we can handle. I'm also working on a Michael Knott tribute ep in my spare time and will likely release some tracks via the overdubs podcast.

Like many of you, I wish I'd spent this past weekend at Coachella, watching Prince and many other artists, but youtube will have to suffice yet again. Somehow, Warped Tour in Fresno doesn't quite have the same appeal. See Prince below...

you, me, everyone

2008-04-24T17:16:00.000-07:00

Thanks to Dave for introducing me to Mixwit, is it better than project playlist? Well, it's cooler for sure and you don't know what song is coming next, like a real mixtape. However, those of us who make these things know, that it's unlikely anyone in this day and age would have the patience to listen to fifteen songs, even great ones, consecutively, without skipping ahead. Enjoy, happy skipping ahead...future American taste-makers.

"the silent tsunami" world hunger crisis

2008-04-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

"It's being called the "Silent Tsunami." In three years, prices for the basic staples that feed the world—wheat, rice and corn—have risen by a staggering 83%. For people in the developing world, affording enough food to eat is becoming a daily struggle for survival.

The New York Times is reporting that in Haiti, people are eating cakes made of mud mixed with a little sugar and oil to try and beat the hunger pangs. Without action to stop the upward spiral of food prices, 100 million people around the world will face deeper poverty and hunger, and hundreds of thousands will confront famine and starvation.

In the face of this suffering, we cannot be silent."

Celebrity activism has given activism a bad name. Greedy corporations have co-opted legitimate justice causes, like the caring for the environment, like the HIV/AIDS crisis in order to make more money. And yet, no matter what their motives, true help still brings hope and redemption. Political pressure on the G8 countries may not convert reluctant action into righteous action but it is still action and still VITAL. Please consider taking action on this important issue. I have seen first hand the crushing effects of poverty on people who spend everything on one meal per day and it will take regular people like you and me to create the kind of public will to influence leaders of these countries to take the kind of global action that is needed. Please consider taking action here.

Corporate America, Earth Day, the public good and private interests

2008-04-22T20:44:00.000-07:00

So, it's Earth Day, happy Earth Day everyone, and hypocrisy is out in full force. I am hardly innocent in this matter, as Bob Willis, my boss, pointed out to me this morning. He said, "You are a hypocrite. You rode your bike on Earth Day but left the lights on in your office when you left for staff meeting."

Which brings me to, does anyone really believe that all these Multi National Corporations really care about being GREEN? This morning I got an email from Levis that said "Celebrate Earth Day with 10 percent off all ECO green line jeans." Bottom line, from Exxon-Mobil to Fox to NBC to GAP to Starbucks to Nike to your Aunt Susan's pretzel business, corporations do NOT have a social conscience. Sure, some are better than others but they are built for one thing: Profit. Therefore, when it comes to commitment to conservation, respect for nature and concern over climate change, businesses (esp MEGA businesses) are suddenly interested because BY APPEARING RESPONSIBLE AND CONSCIENTIOUS, THEY CAN MAKE MORE MONEY. Some MNCs are worse than others but mostly they range from uninformed and ignorant to blatantly evil when it comes to issues of justice. That's why the public must care about issues and not fall for some easy marketing opportunities once a year. The public good must be championed by...you guessed it, the public.

The best way to be green on Earth Day of course, would be to not watch tv, not eat at Chipotle and most of all, not waste precious energy resources on something as trivial as blogging.

no posts this week, whatever, Il Postino?

2008-04-18T16:19:00.000-07:00

Sorry everyone for my poor stewardship of the tiny blog audience that I don't ever influence.

This is plagiarized from the wikipedia:

l Postino is a 1994 Italian language film directed by Michael Radford. The film was originally released in the U.S. as The Postman, a straight translation of the Italian title.^[1] However, since the release of Kevin Costner's film of the same name, the film has been released on DVD as Il Postino: The Postman, and English-language film critics often refer to the film by its Italian title alone.

The film tells a fictional story in which the real life Chilean poet Pablo Neruda forms a relationship with a simple postman who learns to love poetry. It stars Philippe Noiret, Massimo Troisi and Maria Grazia Cucinotta. The screenplay was adapted by Anna Pavignano, Michael Radford, Furio Scarpelli, Giacomo Scarpelli and Massimo Troisi from the novel El cartero de Neruda by Antonio Skármeta. Skármeta himself had previously adapted his novel for the screen in 1983 as Ardiente paciencia.

Writer/star Massimo Troisi postponed heart surgery so that he could complete the film. The day after filming was completed, he suffered a fatal heart attack.

The Myriad, i don't want my mtv, however, this is a good band

2008-04-10T10:53:00.001-07:00

So, this morning was the first time in a long while that I watched a few videos on VH1, nothing too earth shaking but since I don't watch or listen to the radio, I did find that pop music is not as annoying when you've been removed for a while.

Unrelated to that, I did get ahold of a copy of The Myriad's new ep, which is a teaser for the forthcoming With Arrows, With Poise which is apparently coming out sometime soon, though the record has been delayed many times. Winner of some kind of mtv2's next big thing contest, this is definitely a band to be aware of. My friend Ginny from Davis turned me on to this band and the first record, You Can't Trust a Ladder was pretty decent. However, based on what I've heard of the Prelude to ARROWS ep, this new record has the potential to be phenomenal. Vaguely post-punk, vaguely british, vaguely new wave, all infectious and kind of what radiohead might sound like if they were younger and willing to make hit singles.

a swedish flyer; celebration c

2008-04-09T17:00:00.000-07:00

This flyer is my homage to the film Be Kind Rewind...I basically SWEDED a wallpaper they used to promote the film. But more importantly, I hope some of you are already making plans to be there already...

Happy Wednesday,

Ryan.

indie rock in the information age; the overdubs

2008-04-07T22:39:00.000-07:00

Post-modernism leaves many things up for interpretation...good band names are often in the eye of the domain owner. Two years ago when I embarked on the journey of choosing a band name for my solo project turned community musical chairs turned full-fledged band (hopefully), I largely evaluated names based on domain availability. Such is the reality of indie rock in the information age. theoverdubs.com was available and hence, the band ::: the overdubs ::: was born.

of course, the overdubs already existed, we were called girlfriend in a coma before that and we did own girlfriendinacoma.com, however people generally pre-judged us as a Smiths cover band and though I liked the Smiths a good deal (certainly enough to name the band after them) we weren't really about being a facsimile of someone else.

so, here is where we are. two years in, one album released. enough money made to cover the two year godaddy renewal and some dollars banked against the future. when you consider the travel, hosting costs and podcasting, we've probably only lost a few dollars. the future is now ... and it's happening slowly. the next two years should be fun, if nothing else. I still think we have a fine, fun album in us.

Here's a clip of the overdubs then: (gf in a coma style)

john thomas-guitar; travis goode-drums; brett rash-bass; bekah townsend-keys, vocals; ryan townsend

be kind rewind; sweded

2008-04-07T10:17:00.000-07:00

lest I be mistaken for a corporate shill, let me begin by saying that last blog entry I name dropped emusic and now I'm going to mention New Line Cinema's Be Kind Rewind but ONLY because, a) emusic is the underdog of corporate indie music sites and b) Be Kind Rewind, though it comes from a major studio is quite funny and not likely to make billions of dollars.

I saw the film with my cousin on Saturday and while it's hardly a classic in the vein of Michel Gondry's best film Eternal Sunshine of The Spotless Mind, it is as enjoyable as his last film The Science of Sleep. Critics are rightly pointing out that the funniest parts of the movie are the "Sweded" remakes of Hollywood films but the Ghostbusters remake is easily worth the price of admission alone. Look for this word, sweded, to be in our/my vocabulary for a long time... I'm posting the film official trailer and then Gondry's own Sweded version.

Also if you visit the Internet via the official website, be ware it (The Internet) itself, has also been sweded.

the Giants WIN......one game

2008-04-02T23:36:00.000-07:00

and I have Brian Wilson on my fantasy team ... even though I'll have to endure a bunch more Beach Boys jokes I would really appreciate it if he became the next Roberto Hernandez at least. Last night, btw, I finally slept thanks to combination of utter exhaustion, taking the pill early in the day, and cough syrup. now i need to sleep early and get up early tomorrow but 2-1 over the Dodgers is worth staying up too late for.

i'm listening to apostle of hustle's folkloric feel right now, courtesy of emusic, a fine service that gave me 75 downloads for rejoining and no, I don't work for them. anyhow, i owned this record once--courtesy of arts and crafts record company by way of the Daily Titan and promptly sold to Amoeba Records in Hollywood without giving it a chance. we all make mistakes mister. this is not just folky jam band music but rather indie rock folky jam music and I mean that in the best possible way.

good night.

listen here, read below

2008-04-01T21:28:00.000-07:00

INSOMNIAC's playlist, songs not to sleep to, levaquin

2008-04-01T19:41:00.000-07:00

For each of the last four nights, I've been suffering from insomnia. I have not slept more than two or three hours each night and the earliest I've managed to get to sleep has been 4:00 AM. The cause for this has been unknown to me until today and though I am no stranger to sleeplessness, I have typically eased into a cycle rather than been bludgeoned by a sudden inability to sleep.

Turns out I am suffering side effects from the very strong antibiotic Levaquin, which was prescribed to me after I developed a sinus infection immediately following a run of lesser antibiotics for my ear infection the week before. So I am both relieved and incredulous. Relieved to know that I am not going crazy laying there at night thinking about the San Francisco Giants, Fyodor Dostoevsky, and presidential politics. Incredulous that the happy people pictured on the www.levaquin.com website don't look like they are suffering at all, in fact, it looks like their lives have been enhanced by the "Powerful once a day bacterial killer." Thanks a lot, Ortho-McNeil-Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

here are ten songs that are good for listening when you can't sleep:

"3 Speed" by Eels
a moving song that questions both faith and gender yet one that's also strangely comforting; both audacious and humble in a way that only E can deliver.

"Lump Sum" by Bon Iver
currently one of my favorite songs, gorgeous harmonies, understated beat, crazy good

"Transatlanticism" by Death Cab for Cutie
"I need you so much closer"

"In the Sun" by Joseph Arthur
Always a good choice

"Happy Birthday" by The Innocence Mission
Amelia's favorite band

"Heretics" by Andrew Bird
"All I Need is You" by United Live
"Open Your Eyes" by Snow Patrol
"All I Need" by Radiohead
"Come thou Fount of Every Blessing" by Sufjan Stevens

superdrag! 28 weeks

2008-03-31T22:19:00.000-07:00

Today Amelia was putting her mischief into action and she not only touched the rotating cd tower but she actually pulled out Superdrag's Regretfully Yours, proving that good taste does indeed pass from parent to child. I suppose this would also explain my dad claiming that U2 has always been his favorite band...haha, love you dad. All of that to say, I am overtly and openly thrilled in a very geeky way about the NEW Superdrag album currently being recorded. See the videos posted below.

Despite Bekah's advisements to not bring that "demonic craziness into my house", I watched 28 Weeks Later tonight. I have been a fan of the zombie genre for quite some time and I enjoyed the sequel for the most part. Although I though Danny Boyle's gritty DV original was far superior to the glossy big budget part 2. As with most franchises, 28 Years Later looks like it's shaping up to be the worst of the trilogy. (that is if they make it, I can be relatively sure a third film is already in production without even checking IMDB)

tap water, UNICEF

2008-03-25T12:57:00.000-07:00

Resurrection Day, myspace, waking up

2008-03-24T11:02:00.001-07:00

Turns out that if you leave one leg up on the desk for an hour and a half while surfing the web and reading emails, your leg and foot will feel dead. "Dead", in this case, being defined as the state that exists immediately following "asleep."

I have to confess, I that I sometimes read the blogs of random myspacers that I stumble upon when viewing a band/artist page of someone of whom I would consider myself to be a fan of. (sidenote: I am very wordy on Mondays, I can't speak because I used all my words up at our 5 Easter gatherings but now, I most definitely can ramble on and on)

Sometimes, I visit people's pages and then am overcome with despair, both for the sad sorry state of popular culture and also for what I imagine the increasingly slim chances of said culture turning around. However, I must say, that more often than not, I am actually encouraged by the communities of faith, affirmation and spirituality that I encounter, unexpectedly, in the craziest places. Some of these characters are part of a local church, many appear to not be. If nothing else, it's good to know that on the web, a place that certainly provides ample space for the darkest of dark corners and spaces, that there is still a good deal of life to be found.

I don't point that out to marginalize or de-emphasize the importance of gathering together in traditional faith communities or to be a part of an outpost of the Church, capital C. I love the church and I agree with Rick Warren that the Church is the hope for the world. I also think that it's really The People who are part of The Church that are the hope for the world. It seems to be pretty popular these days (from within and from without) to talk about what's wrong with the church, just visit a bible bookstore's "emerging" section to see what I'm talking about. Many of these critiques are valid, many people who claim to "hate" church and christians also carry with them valid pain and confusion. But until we are able to move beyond critiques and trendy apologetics and get down to the business of actually "being" The Church, we will continue to miss an incredible opportunity for a rebirth, for a resurrection, for an awakening.

I pray for a resurrection in culture, for things like hope, purity, kindness, self-control to return. I pray for an awakening in myself, for me to learn to get off my high horse ass and start actually living like a follower of Jesus, a member of His Church, and a human being. I affirm the resurrection of Jesus that we celebrate to be the turning point of all history. Over time, though, we tend to lose the plot and God has repeatedly, relentlessly, intervened to bring us back. The problem here is not orthodox Christianity, the problem is US. My prayer this Easter is that we will see another move of God. Not another self-proclaimed "movement" but something that is true, pure and undeniable. I believe that this is already happening, that God is already calling us to repent, to change our course and to remember the outcast, the poor, the marginalized and the broken. I want to be a better listener.

Community, the poor, either or both and

2008-03-18T13:20:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, at the Non Con (or non-conference for the uninitiated), I was confronted with the reality that I don't have many meaningful relationships with poor people. I often advocate for the poor, I practice activism on behalf of the poor and support causes, but I don't take enough time to get to know individuals or to get involved in their lives. It didn't use to be this way when I used to be one of the poor, as opposed to one of the educated lower middle class struggling to hang on to what I've got.

I used to spend a lot of time working with teenagers who'd suffered abuse and neglect. I used to spend time talking with homeless people. Now, I spend more time talking to other people about working with poor people, foster children and the homeless. Clearly, it's not an either/or proposition but a both/and. And if our little community cares for the poor the way Jesus did, than we can't just serve the poor but we need to worship with them as well. They need to be at the center of our community instead of benefiting solely from times of intentional outreach. Ministry (what we do inside the church) need not be separated from Evangelism (what we do outside the church) because they are both part of Mission.

Community can be hard though. It requires a lot of each of us. Maybe the hardest part being that we have to accept others if they are to accept us because if we don't accept them first than we will never be open to allowing them to know us, which is the first step toward acceptance.

"God’s love sets me free to enter into community with other people—even when the community is a very limited one and is not the total communion that my heart desires. Only when I live in communion with God can I live in a community that is not perfect. Only then can I love the other person and create a space in which we might be quite distant or very close, but we can still allow something new to be born—a child, friendship, joy, community, a space where strangers and guests can be received."

- Henri Nouwen
Lecture at Scarritt-Bennett Center

Thanks to Sojourners Verse and Voice for pointing me to this quote.

downtime in downtown

2008-03-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

Except for the brief Chuck Norris post, the blog has been silent for awhile due to a few projects and duties that have required much of my time. However, now I finally have a chance to write you from my seat on the Pacific Surf Liner headed south from LA to Santa Ana. This weekend, I’m attending the Non-Con, a conference for people who hate conferences. I’ll definitely keep you all posted on the interesting conversations happening there as I’m able. I also have a few thoughts on LA from my time at Union Station today that I’ll write later.

I’ve been feeling a bit crispy around the edges lately and have needed some downtime, hence today’s 7-hour train and bus ride instead of a white-knuckle 5 hour Friday drive down from Fresno. We just stopped in Fullerton, a town near to my heart since it’s where I finally settled down and went to one college for an extended period of time. Right here off the tracks at the Santa Fe Cafe, my friend Brett (also known as Anthony Archer) played a show we went to last April or was it two years ago? My memory is definitely getting worse.

A girl up ahead of me is reading Soul Cravings, by Erwin McManus…too bad I won’t have time to ask her about it since I get off in roughly ten minutes.

I’m 86 songs into my 259 track “train ride to orange county for the non conference” playlist. I’ve also been playing Worldwide Soccer Manager 2007, reading the book unchristian, working on a birthday video for my father in law, planning the completion of a web site, reading the Fresno Bee, and realizing that a whole hell of a lot of people wear sandals in southern California. To me, train station bathrooms and open toes don’t mix.

chuck norris, google, humor?

2008-03-11T22:12:00.000-07:00

ok, so sometimes i'm late to the game and you may have already tried this but if you haven't, i'd recommend it.

go to www.google.com

type:
find chuck norris into the search field

click i'm feeling lucky

presto!

come all you weary, wednesday is remix day

2008-03-05T15:28:00.000-08:00

O.C. band Thrice released an ep called Come All You Weary + b-sides on iTunes yesterday. The title track is particularly good, it recalls the best of singer Dustin Kensrue's solo record from last year but seems to add the dynamics and creativity of the whole band. Of course, it sounds nothing like the band used to sound like.

I've long been an admirer of Thrice from afar, they are one of those bands that I have wanted to get more into but haven't, yet... however, "Come All You Weary" and "The Whaler" (included in the playlist) are reasons enough to take another look at the post-hardcore stalwarts.

today's playlist also includes a couple of remixes that I have playing over and over, AmpLive's Radiohead remix "Video Tapez feat. Del the Funky Homosapien"; "Hurricane (Camp America remix) by Athlete; and "This Time is the Last Time (Wave Remix)" by Mae. Anybody remember Mae before the overcooked, uselessly prog-y major label debut? The Radiohead remix is sublime and smooth and recalls Del's great work on the first Gorrilaz album. Athlete, well, I just love them, ok?

RIP Larry Norman, other thoughts, celebration, fresno

2008-03-04T14:56:00.000-08:00

I really enjoy The Grind, it’s a pleasant place to get some work done and decompress a little. Here, one can enjoy free Wi-Fi, drink decent coffee and even chat with friendly baristas. Only problem is, I took my headphones off momentarily and am now hearing Phil Collins dreadful “I Can’t Dance.” On another humorous note, when I misspelled ‘barisstas’, my spell checker suggested ‘barristers’ … maybe someone’s trying to tell me something about my habit of sharing RIAA-registered material with … my wife. Which is totally protected, so I’m good. I don’t really feel like using complete sentences today--anyhow.

This past Thursday, we had our second celebration at Northpark and it was a phenomenal success, no thanks to me. I have to give credit to God, all of our leaders and my wife, especially. Five minutes before it was to begin I was still trying to get the computer plugged in to the projector and the sound set up and was sweating profusely. Regardless, we had over 70 people turn up and it was mostly a big, noisy party but we also sang together and prayed and all around were able to celebrate the transformational changes that God is bringing to our groups and lives. I have some poor quality video footage that I’m currently trying to upload. I keep losing the connection…

Last week I had the privilege of meeting the Rev Dave Wainscott, who pastors a local church plant and who was has a phenomenal blog that you should check out … Dave also has more applications on his facebook account than anyone I know … I also don’t know of anyone else who can get theology, pop culture, politics and movies into the same sentence.

Here’s a funny blog that sort of relates to my soccer post from yesterday, but rest assured, I like stuff that white people like but I also really do like soccer. http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/80-the-idea-of-soccer/

My friend Joel Lang and I discovered Larry Norman’s Only Visiting This Planet on vinyl (I think, I suppose it could have been the 1990 CD reissue but I’m pretty sure it was the actual LP) and promptly dubbed it to tape in 1993. I must have listened to that record 500 times at least. Funny thing was, the other side of the 90 minute cassette (it was type II chrome=better quality) had Six Feet Deep, the hardcore geniuses who would later form Brandston. Norman would never make another album as good as that one but it was highly influential on both my budding 13-year old music taste and on the nagging feeling that the Christian faith should somehow not be confined to a Christian Bookstore Ghetto but actually be something that was lived out in the “normal” world. At the time, the “normal” world was something of a mystery to me as I had mostly known only the WWJD subculture. It was with great sadness that I read about Norman’s death last week, knowing that he was both a brilliant artist and an enigmatic, sometimes troubled man. Having seen David Di Sabatino’s documentary about Lonnie Frisbee, I look forward to his treatment of the Larry Norman story and hope for some more insight into this fascinating Christian/artist (which is different from Christian Artist, I think). I also am SO thrilled to learn that Norman was collaborating with Frank Black (The Pixies) and Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse) on a new album. Apparently, I’m not the only one who thought “Six O’Clock News” was ridiculously cool. Especially, the sample of the flight attendant.

celebration b rough footage

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the beautiful game; tottenham hotspur fc

2008-03-03T20:34:00.000-08:00

During the last five years or so, I've progressed from an appreciator of soccer (or football in the rest of the world) to a full flown fan. Like I've said before, I believe if something is worth doing, it's worth overdoing. For some reason, I embraced Tottenham Hotspur Football Club as my English team and have watched them place 5th in the EPL the last two seasons. This current season started poorly and then a coaching change led to fortunes eventually turning around for the team to beat Chelsea in the Carling Cup. Here's what it looked like, on TV at least. Take that John Thomas.

7/4 shoreline, I'm 8/5 present

2008-02-28T10:08:00.000-08:00

this one is especially for justin, and his infatuation with 7/4 time signatures. I am putting together a mix tape for tonight's celebration b here at northpark and had to include this song. this is a version performed on Conan O'Brien.