tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67416192024-03-23T14:14:42.187-04:00J-WildI have opinions of my own - strong opinions - but I don't always agree with them!J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.comBlogger446125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-72433523853504597392009-09-21T11:28:00.004-04:002009-09-21T11:52:09.254-04:00She's Not Here.Ok here's the situation. Over a year ago I thought it would be an interesting experiment to see how long it would take for people to find Allison on Facebook. She reluctantly agreed to let me set up an account for her. So I created a profile for her but I didn't friend her just to see how quickly someone who registered for Facebook but didn't use it would be found by their friends and family. She, being resistant to FB to begin with, never logged in to her account, and it was left at that.<br /><br />For months nobody requested her as a friend, until Facebook added the "You Might Know This Person" function. Then the requests started coming in, and I got into a little bit of trouble. From the beginning Allison didn't want to be on Facebook which I should have respected, but at the time I was drowning in the FB wave of awesomeness so I pushed it. <br /><br />Here's the thing, the account that I set up for her is impossible to delete. I have tried everything I can to kill it but it refuses to die. This has given me a slightly uneasy feeling about Facebook and has made me second guess the decision to sign up in the first place. You should be able to delete yourself from FB if you want to, but apparently you can't really.<br /><br />So, to all of you out there who are waiting for "friend approval" from Allison, I am sorry but it will never come. But it has nothing to do with you, and certainly nothing to do with Allison's feelings for you either. I apologize for the confusion.J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-1253723552085908882009-08-04T22:13:00.003-04:002009-08-04T22:19:49.678-04:00Health CareIf I believe in praying for the sick to become well, then I cannot withhold from the sick the resources to attain that wellness. This healthcare debate is dragging me too deep into the news again. I believe a Lenten news fast is in order, but hiding just doesn't seem ok.<br /><br />The fact that there is even a discussion about the inherent value of everyone (that includes children) having SOME healthcare exposes the depths of our moral and spiritual depravity.<br /><br />Is there anything more sinful than denying the sick the care they need? The parable of the good Samaritan reminds us that it COST the Samaritan something (meaning MONEY) to help the stranger, and that was the moral and holy thing to do in the eyes of Christ.<br /><br />How dare I look down from my employer supplied healthcare ivory tower and tell those below that they are not as valuable or as deserving of medical care as I am. ESPECIALLY since my employer is the Lord's church!J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-12670775362978093542009-04-22T01:30:00.003-04:002009-04-22T01:47:43.924-04:00Thanks...We appreciate your thoughts and prayers for us regarding the school lottery for Levi.<br /><br />Unfortunately we didn't get a placement in either the District 3 lottery, or at the Manhattan School for Children lottery.<br /><br />Here's a sign of the recession, public schools have now become very popular again all over the city. True, it's not all financial. There has been a huge baby boom in Manhattan, and the first wave of that boom are all coming into kindergarten at once. And I would also say that the public schools in NYC on the whole have gotten better thanks to Mayoral control.<br /><br />But money does play a huge role in what's going on right now. People who before might have been fine with paying $25,000 for kindergarten now all of a sudden think public school doesn't look so bad. A lot of other people agree.<br /><br />Two years ago there were 450 lottery spots available for kindergartners in District 3 and not every spot was taken. This year there were 251 spots available for 525 applicants. Levi was the 225th name drawn and all five of our school choices were full by then.<br /><br />The second lottery was specifically for the Manhattan School for Children. They had 37 spots available for 357 applicants.<br /><br />Again thanks for your thoughts a prayers. We are trying not to get discouraged and we still have a few options left. Right now it's mainly just a waiting game.J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-86011424148084156182009-04-20T08:00:00.002-04:002009-04-20T08:00:00.776-04:00Your Prayers RequestedAllison and I would greatly appreciate your prayers over the next two days as we find out about the public school lottery for Levi.<br /><br />For those who don't know getting into a really good or even just decent public school in NYC can be a very arduous thing. The school we are currently zoned for is not an option for us which means we must apply to other public schools out of our zone. Most of the ten or twelve schools we put down as considerations are already full in their kindergarten classes.<br /><br />What remains are four schools that we could be comfortable with if Levi is given a lottery spot. Tuesday at 6:00 pm I will be sitting in an auditorium with hundreds of other parents eagerly awaiting our lottery results.<br /><br />There are a lot of things that can play out with regard to Levi's school options between now and the first day of kindergarten. But this is a major point in our efforts to find for him a good place for him to go to school. Specifically, you can pray for us to get a lottery placement in one of the district 3 schools we listed.<br /><br />Thank you so much and we'll let you know how it goes.J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-90798942647670266332009-04-18T11:06:00.002-04:002009-04-18T11:23:37.802-04:0011 Years with my Amazing Husband!Allison here . . . as I do not maintain my own blog, and many friends read Jason's, I decided to sneak in and post a few comments . . . I'm sure Jason won't mind, right?<div><br /></div><div>A few details to set the stage. First, I am currently in the library finishing my thesis, which is due on Wednesday--yes, this coming Wednesday (nothing like a deadline). And Jason is currently riding bikes with our boys, and will be with them the rest of the day.</div><div><br /></div><div>Next detail--today is our 11 year anniversary--hurray! And now, sift these two chunks of information together and let it settle--Jason/boys; Allison/library. Not usually the typical anniversary celebration.</div><div><br /></div><div>And yet, this is the exquisite beauty of our relationship. Since the beginning, we have been a team. We do all of this--our life--together. We have worked, side by side (literally) for Shiloh. We both care for our boys on various days of the week. He does baths, I do pajamas. He does the dishes, and I do the straightening (ok, it's true, right now he is doing the straightening too, and NO ONE is cleaning the bathrooms). He does the wrestling, I do the cuddling. And when the kids are in bed, we do our thinking and talking and deciding together--and we love it. We still love it. Do we get frustrated, angry, annoyed--yep, we're great at sharing these things too. And we've gotten pretty good at overcoming them as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>Which brings me to now. As I sit, working through the biggest paper of my academic life, I am overwhelmed by the knowledge that I am not alone in this. Not once, in the last three years of grad school, have I ever been alone. Every step has been taken with Jas--with his enthusiastic encouragement, his gentle reassurance, and his abiding love. He is my biggest fan--I even think I have him convinced that I am the creator of Writing Process--and I could not be more grateful, thankful, or humbled.</div><div><br /></div><div>Beyond my wildest dreams and expectations, God has given me, in the truest sense of the word, a mate, and I wanted you all to know it (as if you don't already).</div><div><br /></div><div>Today, after reading this, would you write a note of celebration to Jason? He truly deserves it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I love you, Jas, and always will.</div><div><br /></div><div>Allison</div>J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-79236005943166552292009-04-17T12:59:00.002-04:002009-04-17T13:00:10.589-04:00The real reason Texas would never secede.Texas couldn't take the humility.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">List of Countries GDP (from CIA fact book)<br /></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Amount in Millions of U.S. Dollars.</span><br /></div><br /><table id="sortable_table_id_2" class="wikitable sortable" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td>1</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_United_States.svg" class="image" title="Flag of the United States.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a4/Flag_of_the_United_States.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_States.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="12" width="22" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States" title="United States">United States</a></td> <td>14,330,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>2</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Japan.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Japan.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9e/Flag_of_Japan.svg/22px-Flag_of_Japan.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="15" width="22" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japan" title="Japan">Japan</a></td> <td>4,844,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>3</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg" class="image" title="Flag of the People's Republic of China.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_People%27s_Republic_of_China.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="15" width="22" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People%27s_Republic_of_China" title="People's Republic of China">China (PRC)</a></td> <td>4,222,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>4</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Germany.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Germany.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/ba/Flag_of_Germany.svg/22px-Flag_of_Germany.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="13" width="22" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Germany" title="Germany">Germany</a></td> <td>3,818,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>5</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_France.svg" class="image" title="Flag of France.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c3/Flag_of_France.svg/22px-Flag_of_France.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="15" width="22" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France" title="France">France</a></td> <td>2,978,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>6</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg" class="image" title="Flag of the United Kingdom.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ae/Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg/22px-Flag_of_the_United_Kingdom.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="11" width="22" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Kingdom" title="United Kingdom">United Kingdom</a></td> <td>2,787,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>7</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Italy.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Italy.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Flag_of_Italy.svg/22px-Flag_of_Italy.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="15" width="22" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italy" title="Italy">Italy</a></td> <td>2,399,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>8</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Russia.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Russia.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f3/Flag_of_Russia.svg/22px-Flag_of_Russia.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="15" width="22" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia" title="Russia">Russia</a></td> <td>1,757,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>9</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Spain.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Spain.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/Flag_of_Spain.svg/22px-Flag_of_Spain.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="15" width="22" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spain" title="Spain">Spain</a></td> <td>1,683,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>10</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Brazil.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Brazil.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/05/Flag_of_Brazil.svg/22px-Flag_of_Brazil.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="15" width="22" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazil" title="Brazil">Brazil</a></td> <td>1,665,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>11</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Canada.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Canada.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cf/Flag_of_Canada.svg/22px-Flag_of_Canada.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="11" width="22" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canada" title="Canada">Canada</a></td> <td>1,564,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>12</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_India.svg" class="image" title="Flag of India.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Flag_of_India.svg/22px-Flag_of_India.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="15" width="22" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India" title="India">India</a></td> <td>1,237,000</td> </tr> <tr> <td>13</td> <td><span class="flagicon"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_Mexico.svg" class="image" title="Flag of Mexico.svg"><img alt="" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fc/Flag_of_Mexico.svg/22px-Flag_of_Mexico.svg.png" class="thumbborder" border="0" height="13" width="22" /></a> </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mexico" title="Mexico">Mexico</a></td> <td>1,143,000</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Texas GDP (in 2007):</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">1,341,965 ($millions)</span><br /></div><br />In the United States, Texas has the second biggest GDP right behind California and ahead of New York. But on the world stage they would barely be above India. I think that would just be too hard a pill for Texans to swallow.<br /><br />Not that Texas could really <a href="http://www.countrystyletx.com/articles/062/062_01.aspx">secede anyway</a>?J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-35837355814407879272009-04-16T13:22:00.006-04:002009-04-16T13:34:57.087-04:00The Sign Read....<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXYxXRVOVBY8hH2c_HPt-pU3e1B6o8z8HoY1bGnmovu5Wwr28McyhKPYoQ2dwv2s_6Egzdv8qhtCiy0N8CDnSAKVXVpl0bQ0LST-djdPVLIRJADXjQZJJ9-1g0xIPQ9F_r8hI/s1600-h/photo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizXYxXRVOVBY8hH2c_HPt-pU3e1B6o8z8HoY1bGnmovu5Wwr28McyhKPYoQ2dwv2s_6Egzdv8qhtCiy0N8CDnSAKVXVpl0bQ0LST-djdPVLIRJADXjQZJJ9-1g0xIPQ9F_r8hI/s320/photo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325342806995639090" border="0" /></a>"WE CANNOT ENSURE YOU WILL GET TO RIDE IN THE<br />CAR OF YOUR CHOICE WHEN IT IS YOUR TURN."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Which of course I knew to mean that we would probably not end up in a car we wanted. Little did I know that we would end up in the LAST car two boys and their father should be in on a Dad's day out trip to Toys'R'Us in Times Square.<br /><br />We still had a great time, and left with our heads held high and our dignity still intact!<br /><br /><br /></div></div>J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-78997490895547073122009-04-06T10:54:00.002-04:002009-04-06T10:56:50.180-04:00I Want One of These...Holla back if you feel me, DAWG!!<br /><br /><center><object width="525" height="295"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3718294&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=ffffff&fullscreen=1" /><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3718294&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=0&show_portrait=0&color=ffffff&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="220"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/3718294">Auto Tuning</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/caseydonahue">Casey Donahue</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</center>J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-29808876467255371432009-03-25T06:45:00.005-04:002009-03-25T07:06:57.523-04:00New Zeke VideoI know, I know. It has been way too long since there has been a video just about Zeke. It's just plain true, the first kid gets more documentation than the second. But it doesn't mean he isn't loved any less. Also I would like to point out that there are probably more pictures taken of Zeke and Levi than there have been of me in my entire life. iPhoto tells me I have taken over 9,000 pictures, 3/4 of which center around Zeke, Levi, or both of them.<br /><br />I just got back from taking my family to the airport so they can go see the Fam in Arkansas. When we got the kids up at 4:30 a.m. Levi couldn't have been more excited. That kid loves to travel and the earlier the flight the better. Yes, I am left here in NYC all alone with a lock-in to do at the church on Friday. I will truly miss Allison and the boys, the house is all ready way too quite. But until they get back, I guess I'll just have to suffer through the next couple of days and sleep through the night, go out to movies, eat junk food, and taking Levi's instruction to "do whatever I want" to heart. I would hate to disappoint him.<br /><br />Here's Zeke's latest video.<br /><br /><center><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/SLE9P4pJQ34&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/SLE9P4pJQ34&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0xe1600f&color2=0xfebd01&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object></center>J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-5127847932587943742009-03-24T11:37:00.000-04:002009-03-24T12:34:16.040-04:00Nancy Eiesland and a Disabled GodThere is so much about God that I don't know or have ever thought about before. I have been a part of a church for my entire life and in full-time ministry for more than twelve years. I could recite the books of the Bible in the first grade and my family is stacked with ministers.<br /><br />That sort of spiritual familiarity can easily give way to an intellectual laziness. And that's when hubris and arrogance can gain a foothold because you can begin to think and feel like you know all the right answers (or have at-least heard all the right answers) since you have been around faith for so long.<br /><br />I am thinking about all of this because of an obituary I read in the NY-Times this weekend. <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/us/22eiesland.html?partner=rss&emc=rss">Nancy Eiesland</a> (pronounced EES-lund) died at the age of 44 on March 10th (most likely due to genetic lung cancer). Ms. Eiesland had 11 surgery's by the time she was 13 years old due to a congenital bone defect in her hips. At that young age she realized that pain was to be her lot in life.<br /><br />Ms. Eiesland would grow up to be a wife, mother, sociologist, and theologian with a Ph.D. from Emory's Candler School of Theology. At the time of her death Ms. Eiesland came to believe that God was in fact disabled. Her view was articulated in her influential 1994 book "The Disabled God: Toward Liberatory Theology of Disability." The core idea of her work centered around Luke 24:36-39 where Jesus, risen from the dead, invites the disciples to touch his wounds.<blockquote style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><i>"'In presenting his impaired body to his startled friends, the resurrected Jesus is revealed as the disabled God,' she wrote. God remains a God the disabled can identify with, she argued - he is not cured and made whole; his injury is part of him, neither a divine punishment nor an opportunity for healing."</i></blockquote>I didn't Google Ms. Eiesland's book or any controversy it may or may not have whipped up in theological circles. Instead I just allowed myself to be taken aback at an insight to a Biblical story I have known literally my entire life, but have never considered in the way Ms. Eiesland suggests. I am in awe of the scriptures and the minds that study them in the hopes that God may be made more known.<br /><br />The obituary describes a life of a woman who saw the disabled as being ignored by the church and society. From High School to her death she accepted the challenge of advocating for the disabled and creating a theological "place at the table" within the church. Ms. Eiesland is another reminder that God's truth and power can only be glimpsed when all are empowered to learn, listen, and speak of God's truth. This morning a woman in a wheel chair, whom I have never met and who I never heard speak, planted a seed of thought in my mind that will forever alter how I think about one of the most vital occurrences in the Bible. May God be praised, and may Ms. Eiesland family be comforted.J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-69711368382912490972009-03-23T13:00:00.007-04:002009-03-23T22:44:58.501-04:00Shopping and Growing Up<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9_r-3ir2sBBTiTO-9ziOCv3lZHd4g9WamNsouB7A2BJpL-TDiRS7Gqye0W2laTphBblnuiXSF9Pvupsf2KUYP_OQ2HUD1-HBJJaFQbdmPgXVkiNA1GSJOlkV9RvwQneTo3SM/s1600-h/levi_school2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ9_r-3ir2sBBTiTO-9ziOCv3lZHd4g9WamNsouB7A2BJpL-TDiRS7Gqye0W2laTphBblnuiXSF9Pvupsf2KUYP_OQ2HUD1-HBJJaFQbdmPgXVkiNA1GSJOlkV9RvwQneTo3SM/s320/levi_school2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5316416837074588194" border="0" /></a>Allison went shopping last week and was in Old Navy trying to get some pants for Levi. He desperately needed some new jeans since most of the ones he had either had holes in them or were too small. In Old Navy Allison was looking in the clothing section she had always shopped in for Levi's clothes, the baby and toddler section. This is the section with the 2T, 3T, and 4T sizes.<br /><br />She was looking for a pair of size 5 jeans. After a considerable amount of time looking around she began to become frustrated because there were not any pants that she could find in his size. Then she realized that there wasn't a size 5 in the section she was in because that clothing size was in another place altogether. Levi's size 5 jeans were in the "big-kids" department at the other side of the store. Allison walked across the store with a growing ache in her heart that is both familiar and shared with mothers all over the world. Once in the right section she found the size 5 jeans she was looking for.<br /><br />The jeans were folded and neatly stacked right along side numerous pairs of other jeans meant for kids twice his size and age. The tears started welling up in her eyes and the reality of how big Levi was getting came crashing home. The past four and three-quarter years flashed in her mind as a single moment and it took her breath away. She put the jeans back in the stack and as the tears began to fall she turned and walked out of the store without buying anything for Levi.<br /><br />Over the years I have learned that a mother's heart is a complex thing. Full of love, joy, and hope as well as guilt, worry, and longing. Standing in Old Navy I know that Allison's heart experienced that entire range of emotions while holding that pair of 5T jeans meant for her precious first born son.<br /><br />Another thing I know about Allison is that when it comes to shopping for her boys, she does not become easily deterred. With her depth of shopping experience and knowledge of Manhattan's children's clothing stores, she quickly came to a solution. Wiping away the tears, Allison walked down the street one block to H&M where she knew for sure that size 5 jeans are still kept with the 2T, 3T, and 4T sizes. The heartbreaking speed of Levi growing up was slowed down just a little bit. She got him some pants and picked some things up for Zeke since both sizes were in the same section.<br /><br />We both know that sooner than either of us can possibly believe, time will not spare us from the fact that both Levi and Zeke are growing up. For this we give praise and thanks to God and we really wouldn't want it any other way. But who can blame us for trying to find ways to slow down time just a little bit.J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-30580904244993514212009-03-17T12:49:00.006-04:002009-03-17T13:13:30.698-04:00St. Patrick's Day<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC849WtmZpRGfJJpirWl7x0-vFDaNhjTBWYqvAO45ID77nT1F64XYV-rPOk7tWuKl6QCBqglxcXyLqI02UvuWKGqms9F_WxLwsApco0w7N-nRHiGW_cGT6OOtQZfij29876kRh/s1600-h/random_family_SM09.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 266px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC849WtmZpRGfJJpirWl7x0-vFDaNhjTBWYqvAO45ID77nT1F64XYV-rPOk7tWuKl6QCBqglxcXyLqI02UvuWKGqms9F_WxLwsApco0w7N-nRHiGW_cGT6OOtQZfij29876kRh/s400/random_family_SM09.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314200558601770050" border="0" /></a>Zeke got new jeans, shoes, and a shirt for St. Patrick's Day.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hmYQx8FECPEeV84203X0Z-1jdvUQ6u7PwW5_NJeK8rXkKeppyf_QCvIH0u2R4T8Q9dGKjiKU_UZ_YptjXxbpFqMblcz7k2R9V4kQoCK13ugHssdUjdUXzKcPXge5YyATtwmZ/s1600-h/random_family_SM05.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8hmYQx8FECPEeV84203X0Z-1jdvUQ6u7PwW5_NJeK8rXkKeppyf_QCvIH0u2R4T8Q9dGKjiKU_UZ_YptjXxbpFqMblcz7k2R9V4kQoCK13ugHssdUjdUXzKcPXge5YyATtwmZ/s400/random_family_SM05.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314200566891143954" border="0" /></a>Zeke reading the latest issue of "<a href="http://www.mentalfloss.com/">Mental Floss</a>."<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6-STeEcjmQExG55KSt2ZHQ8HY4t0qR_kZJEKGqO195YKl9rCTg2pYDXvg5JOtWki82w5hVoTj1ZPFv7tw8olKzSGdkuZmDKP6T7gBLOxQKeMjfBX9kcvyY0F877eHr4UKktW/s1600-h/random_family_SM10.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj6-STeEcjmQExG55KSt2ZHQ8HY4t0qR_kZJEKGqO195YKl9rCTg2pYDXvg5JOtWki82w5hVoTj1ZPFv7tw8olKzSGdkuZmDKP6T7gBLOxQKeMjfBX9kcvyY0F877eHr4UKktW/s400/random_family_SM10.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314200569195629106" border="0" /></a>Levi on St. Patrick's day doing his best Bono impersination.<br /><br /></div>J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-34199386765323841102009-03-16T15:03:00.004-04:002009-03-16T15:10:33.336-04:00The Power of Simplicity...Love this video. I hope someday to have the same sort of creative inspiration that gave birth to this video in some of the videos I get to do. In the meantime I will marvel and the power and simplicity of this work.<br /><br /><br /><center><object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/42E2fAWM6rA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/42E2fAWM6rA&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object></center>J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-6396579462074170942009-03-13T11:53:00.008-04:002009-03-13T14:14:05.804-04:00<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLwFjLHRwt-olr6ycpAs4FEiiOwVyc3gulkojIXJFJC5ldrCuHFkSgKnMmorsD1ai6QIJLQm7zqmN174ZqrOruT2SvpMOJY2b6uq4XVGmZOy_u3V2g9at1a5uAw-EwBSAHHfPK/s800/Madison_Square_building.jpg" style="float:left;margin:0 8px 0 0;" />Even after living in New York for almost ten years, sometimes you walk by a building and just say WOW!<br /><br />This is a picture I took (it's actually three pics stitched together) about a week ago when I was walking by the new sixty story condo building called <a href="http://www.onemadisonpark.com/">One Madison Park</a>.<br /><br />First of all the picture doesn't due this building justice. This thing is skinny, tall as heck, and yes it is just sitting on some sort of shelf on-top over a half completed base. Now I have enough friends who are architects to know that the core of this building goes hundreds of feet down, which allows it to "hang" over the edge of that shelf, but the sight of this building still made me doubt the architectural and engineering planning for this building. My confidence was further eroded when <a href="http://curbed.com/archives/2008/09/16/everybody_back_in_the_kool_more_looks_at_23_east_22nd_st.php">it became clear that the building is actually not supposed to be hanging</a> over any sort of the edge like that. And it's sister building <a href="http://www.23e22.com/">23e22nd</a> has an even scarier design.<br /><br />It's hard to imagine that there are still people out there who can shell out $45 million for the 7,500 sq foot penthouse wih 580 sq foot wrap around terrace, 360 degree unobstructed views and private amenities that would make a preacher cuss.J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-22245371090427081822009-03-05T10:24:00.002-05:002009-03-05T10:31:47.019-05:00LentI was all set to give everyone an update on how my Lenten fast from the news was going. It's going great, by the way. I can definitely feel less ambient stress circling over my head. <br /><br />Every time I tell someone what I gave up for Lent, they look at me wide eyed and with disbelief. I have taken this to mean not that what I was doing was particularly difficult, but rather people couldn't wrap their mind around <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">ME</span> not watching the news. That's been humbling, bothersome, and something I am coming to terms with.<br /><br />To be honest I have been pretty proud of myself, and was going to write a post highlighting as much. Until I read this from <a href="http://amandalehman.blogspot.com/">Amanda Lehman</a> a former student teacher that my mom knew.<i style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><blockquote>Choosing what to “put off” for lent is a bit tricky when you’re living in a remote village in India... Fast food? Beef? Ice cream? Television? Hot showers? Starbucks? Oh wait, that’s right, I don’t have any of those things! Haha. That’s not to say there aren’t plenty of “treats” and comforts in my life. I am in no way suffering! But it was somewhat of a challenge for me to decide what to give up this year.<br /><br />After much thought, I finally settled on this: my mattress.<br /><br />Yes, I’m giving up my mattress and pillow for lent. The boys here at the orphanage sleep on hard-wooden beds with a thin mat and blanket. No mattress, no pillow. I am sometimes convicted as I tuck them in at night and then come back home to my warm, cozy bed. It just doesn’t seem fair.</blockquote></i>She goes onto say that she isn't trying to be Mother Teresa or trying to make herself sound pious. Rather she is trying the best way she can to firmly fix her eyes on Jesus.<br /><br />And it is one of the most beautiful and powerful display of humble sacrifice and discipleship that I have come across in a while.J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-40222128455596869362009-03-04T08:00:00.000-05:002009-03-04T08:00:00.343-05:00Zeke's First HaircutClose to ten years ago a Sallie meet a hairstylist named Orion. Through her just about every friend we know has had their hair cut, colored, highlighted, styled, etc by Orion. We have all (probably a group of ten or fifteen people) followed him around to the different salons he's worked at over the years.<br /><br />The thing about Orion is that he is very, very good at what he does. He does fashion week in NYC, has styled just about every model's hair, works for magazines, and has what's probably equivalent to a Master's degree in coloring. The best thing about Orion is that he is just a really cool guy. He's become a friend.<br /><br />Right now he works at a salon whose prices are way outside of our groups ability to pay. So about once a month Orion comes over and we turn our apartment into a hair salon. <br /><br />Last week Zeke watched in amazement as Levi got his haircut. Of course after Zeke saw Levi get his haircut he desperately wanted to do the same. Orion didn't even hesitate to have Zeke sit down to get his first trim. Cutting 18 month old kids hair is not a clientele that Orion usually handles, but Zeke was AMAZING. He held perfectly still and allowed Orion to cut his hair for about ten minutes. At the end of the cut Zeke said "thank you" and then "again."<br /><br />Thanks Orion you are the best!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/zmhRXz_seC4oyC2TU0wkpw?authkey=Gv1sRgCMDorMPpupCCJQ&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZkll99dCK0wLLHRdTIcvyzAJ4WMifWCBxis5U1yWrjk761p8UkgFk078_h6-qhtrMg91zBoaboKkl4zb9Bzh52Xlg3_b66wNxY78kwxgLyyfFrLHGs8fApetJeG_jcFLNvaoF/s400/zh4.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jdiwild/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCMDorMPpupCCJQ&feat=embedwebsite">Blogger Pictures</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/QO7VVE1h1J9-jSaHi8yGNw?authkey=Gv1sRgCMDorMPpupCCJQ&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3qOgKzxlYf6fz9kUTvFfCCvvU5yHHF6TIFEfpaut4tgb6WlMcSTetImkflIAex76DH2c8wp5d5o6TzDBgBX5QiKFPKouBbqlei9h6QCWHc3cSwURDakSj1xNLZoIVtAa03U_b/s400/zh2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jdiwild/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCMDorMPpupCCJQ&feat=embedwebsite">Blogger Pictures</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table style="width: auto;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/g71ym363GD-PP4bm5IE5VQ?authkey=Gv1sRgCMDorMPpupCCJQ&feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQtaAwZ3CWJhvYGiZXufSiIkkEh-1dhmwenUICiCoLy7C5huU6mUZK3oqinyHq9MFUM_1h6czA49BHG0ZvtV1S775R9sMzzrPqC5smzkQwTu9kMHIPtUmG9f52vFTIpqEYjFYM/s400/zh3.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td style="font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 11px; text-align: right;">From <a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/jdiwild/BloggerPictures?authkey=Gv1sRgCMDorMPpupCCJQ&feat=embedwebsite">Blogger Pictures</a></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div>J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-70758327732074998232009-02-24T15:35:00.003-05:002009-02-24T15:49:43.766-05:00HAPPY BIRTHDAY ALLISON<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiVvU2Wbp9rC1Ddsb5kzXAxPW-ARPn0uRpj4YYboIpQnQ1AEQE526b6GAGIZ7OjgG1446MeZVhBKeLs1hvyQPonYrzU1C1dw2n2vtqm-ZePjuT6yCvINLCyq5BAvvEUAMDO0c/s1600-h/profile_2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 176px; height: 215px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigiVvU2Wbp9rC1Ddsb5kzXAxPW-ARPn0uRpj4YYboIpQnQ1AEQE526b6GAGIZ7OjgG1446MeZVhBKeLs1hvyQPonYrzU1C1dw2n2vtqm-ZePjuT6yCvINLCyq5BAvvEUAMDO0c/s320/profile_2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5306465759067116370" border="0" /></a><br />My beautiful wife turns 34 years young today. She leaves me in awe almost everyday with all the things she has to juggle. Wife, mother, woman of God, educator, advocate, student, and smoking hot!<br /><br />Here's to you love, I am so glad that you were born. In just a short 34 years you have made a profound impact in our little corner of the world. I praise God for you and know that your three boys couldn't make it without you.<br /><br />I love you.J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-81277422981726539632009-02-20T23:40:00.011-05:002009-02-23T15:07:54.642-05:00Seperating the Worthy from the Un-WorthySettle in, this is a long one, and this is my last "pre-Lent" news post. I realize the political conversation is changing, and I am glad my self imposed news exile is going into effect soon (Wednesday). More on that then, but for now...<br /><br />The recent developments in our national conversation regarding the housing crisis and rescue plan have really troubled me. It seems as though there are pundits who wish to turn neighbor against neighbor and would prefer to see families thrown out on the streets instead of compromising a "self-righteous" capitalistic ideology. They seem to believe that employing grace, humility, and solidarity with our fellow citizens would create a "moral hazard" for the citizens of our country. RIDICULOUS! First of all, are we not our brothers keeper? As Christians AND patriots I would say YES! Surely as a "Christian nation" we would want to model ourselves after the law given to God's chosen people in the Bible.<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Leviticus 25:35-37</span><br />35 “If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty and cannot support himself, support him as you would a foreigner or a temporary resident and allow him to live with you. 36 Do not charge interest or make a profit at his expense. Instead, show your fear of God by letting him live with you as your relative. 37 Remember, do not charge interest on money you lend him or make a profit on food you sell him. 38 I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt to give you the land of Canaan and to be your God."</blockquote>By now I am sure you have seen the rant last week by Rick Santelli (if you haven't <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEZB4taSEoA">here's the link</a>). The basic question he asks is, why are we (the government) giving money (tax dollars) to people who did not make a good decision with their home purchase or mortgage financing in the first place?<br /><br />The practical answer is because the problem is so deep and widespread that to do nothing and allow potentially ten million homes (families) to go into foreclosure would wreak societal and financial havoc on an exponentially greater scale than we have seen so far.<br /><br />It's telling that Rick didn't say a word when one single insurance company, AIG, received $150 billion tax dollars so that they would not default on their obligations. People, that's ONE company being shored up by tax dollars. If people are going to be "outraged" that's where it should be directed, not at our neighbors or the family in the foreclosed house in another city! AIG was designated as a company "too big to fail." I thank God that Obama (and many other politicians) deem 9,000,000 problematic family homes too big to fail as well!<br /><br />There seems to be a false assumption that people are going to be getting checks in the mail so their houses can be paid off without some sort of accountability. A simple <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/09/02/18/9-million-plus/">cursory reading of the proposal</a> and a person will find that this is not the case. I think Rick's words are a disgrace because of the false notion that people are just defaulting on their homes so the government will rescue them. That notion completely discounts the psychological devastation people go through when they loose their home.<br /><br />Reality check. Families are losing their homes because people are loosing their jobs (over 4 million jobs lost in the last six months) and can't make their payments. Before we judge our neighbor we must ask ourselves how long we could make our mortgage payments or rent if we lost our jobs tomorrow? People are being foreclosed on by banks because they can't meet monthly payments they never dreamed they would have trouble making. These are families who had jobs, retirement, savings, and home equity all of which has been completely wiped out. True, people have purchased more house than they could reasonably expect to afford if the economy went bad. But complicit in that are Banks who TOLD family after family that the mortgage loans they were getting were the perfect size for their income, and the guaranteed increase in their homes value.<br /><br />It is in our interest to help each other in this time of crisis. On a spiritual, personal, and governmental level. Unless we do that, unless we have a solidarity of suffering with each other, we will not emerge stronger as a nation, people, and especially as Christians.<br /><br />In case you are still having a hard time being convinced that we should come to the aid of our fellow citizens who have been caught up in a once in a hundred years financial crisis then perhaps you need to be reminded just how we got into this housing mess in the first place. I'll let 60 minutes lay it all out for you with <a href="http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4803928n">the story of just a single bank headquartered in California</a>.<br /><br /><center><embed src="http://www.cbs.com/thunder/swf/rcpHolderCbs-prod.swf" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="link=http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=4803928n&releaseURL=http://release.theplatform.com/content.select?pid=BwQetT7qKFVZp1zu98nLcR8yCb7AaREf&partner=newsembed&autoPlayVid=false&prevImg=http://thumbnails.cbsig.net/CBS_Production_News/987/981/60_Trouble_0215_480x360.jpg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" width="370" height="361"></embed></center><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">BONUS:</span><br /><br />A visual explanation on how the whole financial crisis happened to begin with. Done very well and after the 11:00 you'll be smarter than you are now about what's going on.<br /><br /><center><object width="400" height="225"><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="movie" value="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3261363&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1"><embed src="http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3261363&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=&fullscreen=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="225"></embed></object><br /><a href="http://vimeo.com/3261363">The Crisis of Credit Visualized</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/jonathanjarvis">Jonathan Jarvis</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</center>J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-80836745942145482872009-02-17T22:22:00.000-05:002009-02-17T22:23:16.224-05:00My Fifteen Albums<i><small>"Think of 15 albums that had such a profound effect on you they changed your life or the way you looked at it. They sucked you in and took you over for days, weeks, months, years. These are the albums that you can use to identify time, places, people, emotions. These are the albums that no matter what they were thought of musically shaped your world. When you finish, tag 15 others, including me. Make sure you copy and paste this part so they know the drill. Get the idea now? Good. Tag, you're it!"</small></i><br /><br /><big>The top fifteen most influential albums of my life in order!</big><br /><br /><b>1. Thriller - Michael Jackson:</b> I actually sat my whole family down in the living room to watch me while I lip-synced and danced to Billie Jean when I was in the 4th grade. When my sister started laughing I got upset, made her leave the room, and started over. The "Sgt. Pepper" of my generation.<br /><br /><b>2. Joshua Tree - U2:</b> The best album from start to finish I have ever heard and it continues to grow and mature right along with me. "Where the Streets Have No Name" is my most favorite song of all time.<br /><br /><b>3. Depeche Mode - 101:</b> I thought "Somebody" was the best slow song ever, and it was included on every mix-tape I have ever made.<br /><br /><b>4. Disintegration - The Cure:</b> From 8th grade until my Junior year in high school I listened to that CD on repeat every night when I went to bed.<br /><br /><b>5. TEN - Pearl Jam:</b> This album expressed every range of emotion I felt while I was in High School. When it's reissued on March 29th the set will come with the MTV Unplugged show they did in 1991. Vedder singing Porch while marking up his arm was as powerful to me as The Who smashing guitars was to a different generation.<br /><br /><b>6. Peter, Paul, and Mary's Greatest Hits - Peter, Paul, and Mary:</b> I can hear my childhood and my mother's alto voice on each and every song.<br /><br /><b>7. Louder than Bombs - The Smiths:</b> "Last Night I Dreamt Somebody Loved Me" enough said.<br /><br /><b>8. James Taylor's Greatest Hits - James Taylor:</b> This album is the reason I learned to play the guitar.<br /><br /><b>9. Fumbling Towards Ecstasy - Sara McLachlan:</b> I could not get enough of her voice or lyrics. One of the most sensual albums I've listened to.<br /><br /><b>10. Rattle and Hum - U2:</b> The lecture BONO gives the world about glorifying war during "Sunday Bloody Sunday" still gives me the chills, and it's the first U2 album I ever purchased.<br /><br /><b>11. The Boxed Set - Simon and Garfunkel:</b> Lyrical masters that moved me more like poets than musicians. Kathy's Song is my favorite song to play on the guitar.<br /><br /><b>12. Temple of the Dog - Temple of the Dog:</b> Chris Cornell's best album and a glimpse at the power of the two best bands in 1990's getting joining forces.<br /><br /><b>13. In Rainbows - Radiohead:</b> It's better than OK Computer. Yes it is. No, I am being serious.<br /><br /><b>14. Conversations - Sara Groves:</b> Stunningly beautiful, deeply sincere, and never trite in it's search for questions and answers about God, faith, and relationships.<br /><br /><b>15. EP - Borrowed Equipment:</b> $800, four songs, and ten hours in a recording studio with my closest friends and band mates senior year of college. One of the best experiences of my life.<br /><br /><big>Honorable Mentions (no order in particular):</big><br /><br /><b>Wincing the Night Away - The Shins:</b> I can listen to this album all day long. <br /><br /><b>Illinoise - Sufjan Stevens:</b> Perhaps the next incarnation of Paul Simon. "Casimir Pulaski Day" is devastatingly beautiful.<br /><br /><b>Try! (Live) - John Mayer Trio:</b> Dudes legit.<br /><br /><b>The Innocents - Erasure:</b> "Don't cha give me no, don't cha give me no, don't cha give me no, don't cha give me no soooooouuul"<br /><br /><b>All That Jazz - Breathe:</b> "Raise Your Hands to Heaven" come on people right!?<br /><br /><b>Invisible Touch - Genesis:</b> I will never forget the video for "Land of Confusion" Reagan and Nancy as a puppets<br /><br /><b>Passion - Passion Worship CD:</b> First time I had ever heard worship music sound familiar and relevant to me.<br /><br /><b>Shake Your Money Maker - The Black Crowes:</b> Chris Robinson has the most awesome voice in Rock and Roll.<br /><br /><b>Motownphilly - Boys 2 Men:</b> Forever singable.<br /> <br /><b>Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 1 - George Michael:</b> Audacious attempt by an artist to reinvent himself and I loved this album.<br /><br /><b>Rescue - Acappella:</b> George Pendergrass singing the title track. Doesn't get better for a Church of Christ'er<br /><br /><b>We Sing Silly Songs - Various:</b> We were a big car trip family and listened to those tapes over, and over again for thousands of miles. It's why I play music for my kids.J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-32015146260459904292009-02-11T23:34:00.003-05:002009-02-11T23:38:44.140-05:00SNL - James Harrison<center><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">I think this is how I am going to feel once I get back on my bike.</span><br /><br /><object height="296" width="512"><param name="movie" value="http://www.hulu.com/embed/vZGomNBZQWZXA9b3tTgGAw"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://www.hulu.com/embed/vZGomNBZQWZXA9b3tTgGAw" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" height="296" width="512"></embed></object></center>J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-48070412844027807802009-02-09T10:11:00.008-05:002009-02-11T07:55:51.308-05:00The Obamamanic and Ditto-Head Stimulus BillI have been exchanging incredibly long emails with a very good friend of mine who loves current events and politics just as much as I do. We've been friends since Junior High and even roomed together for our first two years of college so we go way back. Yet it is fair to say that we view politics through very different lenses and filters.<br /><br />So when we starting ribbing each other about this stimulus bill, we decided (ok it was my idea, and yes I am a huge dork) to see if we could come up with a piece of compromise legislation. Feel free to comment, correct, laugh, applaud, or forward to President Barack Obama.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Isbell - Boisvert </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bi-Partisan Stimulus Package</span><br /></div><ol><li>Cut payroll taxes 50% and extend the payroll tax up to people who make $700k.</li><li>Cut the corporate tax rate (currently one of the highest in the world) to a Federal rate of 26%.</li><li>Provide $250 billion to invest in upgrading the electrical grid, modernization of medical records, broadband internet.</li><li>Provide $100 billion for education.</li><li>Extension of the Bush capital gains tax cut until 2012.</li><li>$5 billion worth of grants given for alternative energy development.</li><li>$75 billion towards the development of nuclear energy.</li><li>Extension of the unemployment benefits and COBRA.</li><li>A “Congressional Voter Accountability Pork Stimulus Amendment.” Each House Representative gets $5 million and Senators get $20 million to invest in their districts.</li><li>A bike lane from Abilene to Pepperdine to help facilitate various student groups raise money for charity using bike rides.</li></ol><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cost of Stimulus:</span><br /><ol><li>Short Term: Net zero based on expected reversal of recession and projected GDP growth (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIqyCpCPrvU">Laffer curve…</a>)</li><li>Short Term: Net zero based on expected reversal of recession and projected GDP growth (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIqyCpCPrvU">Laffer curve…</a>)</li><li>-$250 Billion</li><li>-$100 Billion</li><li>-$100 Billion based on expected reversal of stock market and projected growth.<br /></li><li>-$5 Billion</li><li>-75 Billion</li><li>-67 Billion</li><li>-$4.2 Billion</li><li>-$9.23 Billion (1299.56 miles from Abilene to Malibu. At a cost of $7.1 M per mile)</li></ol><br />Total Cost: <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">$610,430,000,000.00 </span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">(the </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.cbo.gov/">CBO </a><span style="font-style: italic;">would include a much higher costs for the tax cuts)</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bonus Housing Relief Legislation</span>:<br /><ol><li>People can reduce their mortgage interest rates (including ARM’s) to a 4% fixed 30 year loan. But if someone takes the deal that loan must be paid off, similar to the way student loans are done.</li></ol>So there you have it. We welcome your comments.J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-5559527776132135812009-02-06T12:00:00.004-05:002009-02-06T12:06:19.460-05:00Guest Blogger Comment - Kobe Vs. LebronOn February 2nd the Lakers came to New York and Kobe Bryant scored 61 points setting a new Madison Square Garden record. Two nights later Lebron James came to town and lit up the Knicks for 52 points and pulled in a triple double. My good friend Matt Henegar witnessed both of these games in person (shout out to Brandon Baker who saw the Kobe game too). Matt is a die hard Laker fan with deep loyalties for the Southern California sports teams (Dodgers, Lakers, USC, Pepperdine).<br /><br />Matt was able to score tickets for both these games within heckling distance of Spike Lee and Jay-Z. So I asked him if he were a general manager of an NBA franchise and was able to secure either Kobe or Lebron for his team, based on his recent scouting, whom would he choose. Here is his reply.<br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><div style="text-align: justify;">I can honestly say that trying to pick between Kobe and Lebron is like trying to pick between a Ferrari and a Lamborghini. Having seen both up close, I think Kobe is clearly the better "player" as he has superior all-around basketball skills. He's better at penetrating and ripping apart the defense. He's also a better pure shooter and is much better at creating shots in some of the most amazingly difficult situations. He's much smoother than Lebron and seems to have much better hang-time and body control. So he can create different shots and put moves on other players even after he's already in the air.<br /><br />Lebron, however, is a beast! The guy is huge and his pure basketball skills rival those of Kobe. The amazing thing about his game was that it didn't necessarily seem like he was going out of his way to score or rack up other stats. He just did. He's one of the biggest guys on the court and moves like he's one of the smallest. There's just no way to measure his value to his team. He plays at a completely different level than anyone else. It's like watching a typical NBA player take on a bunch of junior high schoolers. There were times when you got the sense that Lebron is almost embarrassed by his own abilities -- like he's sort of holding back to avoid having everyone else on the court completely lose interest. Kind of the way I reel it in a bit at times when I'm playing with Aidan and Owen in the basement [Matt's sons, 7 and 5 years old respectively].<br /><br />Both were full of CRAP when they said that they didn't really know what their stats were toward the end of the game. I believe Kobe said he didn't realize he was about to break one of Michael Jordan's records when shooting a free throw toward the end of the game. I can tell you that it was very clear to me that Kobe knew something significant had happened when he made that free throw because I noticed his demeanor at the game without having any idea about the record. When I watched on Sportscenter later that night, it was clear to me that he knew at the time. Similarly, Lebron tried to claim that he didn't know he was a rebound short of a triple double with less than five seconds left at the end of the game. We were watching the last shot by the Knicks (when the game was easily in hand, and Lebron was otherwise simply goofing around with JayZ and Spike Lee) when Lebron came flying through the air, knocked down his teammate and grabbed the final rebound with one second left, as he was falling out of bounds. Based on how he was playing just before that I can assure you that he knew. They both were telling straight-faced lies during the post-game news conference.<br /><br />All of that being said, I think I would take Lebron if I was forced to pick between the two, as he has more up-side at this point. Kobe is at the top of his game at the moment, and I get the sense that Lebron is just getting started. As a side note, Zydrunas Ilgauskas is a GIANT! The dude is 7' 3" tall and stood almost a head taller than anyone else on the court last night. I've never seen anyone that big in person. He made David Lee look like a little guy. And he has very good basketball skills too -- a complete freak of nature.<br /><br />It was such a privilege to have been at consecutive games where the two best players in the game absolutely went off in the NBA's most famous (although certainly not nicest) arena.<br /></div><div style="text-align: right;"> - Matt Henegar<br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Husband, Father, Attorney, Late 80's New Wave aficionado, and<br />the Zydrunas Ilgauskas of his basement basketball court.</span></div></blockquote>So there you have it sports fans and Basketball die-hards. Feel free to Amen or tell Matt why he is absolutely wrong.<br /><br />Have a great weekend!J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-14250706735086997912009-02-05T12:46:00.004-05:002009-02-05T13:06:05.836-05:00Thursday Throw Down<span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Economic Perspective:</span><br />2,000 (years) x 365 = 730,000 (days)<br />$900,000,000,000 / 730,000 = $1,232,876.71 per day since Jesus was born (not adjusted for inflation).<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Best web-phenomenon term:</span><br />FaceBook Fits - <span style="font-style: italic;">coined by Elizabeth in reference to certain types of status updates.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Compelling solution to fiscal crisis:</span><br /><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/video/index.jhtml?videoId=217029&title=lawrence-lindsey">Lawerence Lindsey on The Daily Show</a><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Best Political Cartoon of the Week:</span><br /><a href="http://politicalirony.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/02/cagle00.gif">Party of Fiscal Responsibility</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">L O S T Prediction:</span><br />Miles is the son of Dr. Edgar Hallowax the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bTvAUVPyLI">guy from the Dharma Initiative instructional</a> films.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Weekend Plans:</span><br />Allison has class on Saturday so I might take the boys to see the <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/05/sports/othersports/05snowboard.html?ref=othersports">Red Bull Snowscraper competition </a>on the Lower Eastside. Should be TOTALLY RADICAL DUDE!J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-6233746023214918822009-02-03T00:09:00.000-05:002009-02-03T00:09:01.118-05:00Lent is coming...Lent begins on February 25th and I am preparing to give something up for the duration of the 40 days of Lent. I don't observe Lent every year, but most years I find some spiritually compelling reason to let go of something in my life. I have given up various things over the years like certain foods, beverages, blogging, etc. But what I feel spiritually compelled to give up this year is going to present a really big challenge for me.<br /><br />For Lent this year I plan on giving up...the news.<br /><br />As any of you who read this blog know, I love news, politics, pop-culture, and current events. If I have to choose between watching 60 Minutes or SportsCenter, 60 Minutes wins hands down.<br /><br />Since the election and inauguration are over it's time to regain a sense of balance in my life. I have come to realize the the world doesn't hinge on me checking the <a href="http://drudgereport.com/">DrudgeReport</a>, <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/">The Huffington Post</a>, or <a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/">The Daily Beast</a> five times a day!<br /><br />I have become too distracted by these things, and my Spiritual growth has suffered because of it. I hate admitting that, but it's the truth. So, for Lent I am giving it up, and re purposing the energy of my thoughts to that of Christ instead of Politico.<br /><br />I am clearing out my internet bookmarks, un-DVR'ing the Nightly News, and suspending the news podcasts I listen to on my commute to work. This is going to be tough, because the news is everywhere you look in NYC. Just standing in line at Starbucks you get the major headlines of the day from the newspapers laying around.<br /><br />When a person observes Lent Sunday is typically a day of sabbath from your fasts. So I have limited my consumption of news on that day to reading the NY-Times weekend paper that I get (and hardly ever get through).<br /><br />So here's how you can help. What books, movies, music, or articles have you been reading lately that have helped you to reflect about your spiritual walk. It doesn't have to be explicitly labeled as "Christian" material, but I welcome that as well. And just so you know I have already read The Shack.J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6741619.post-62683293320568675822009-02-02T21:22:00.005-05:002009-02-02T21:36:05.538-05:00Chain of Command?Saw <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/02/generals-seek-to-reverse_n_163070.html">this in the news</a> today.<br /><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">WASHINGTON, Feb 2 (IPS) - CENTCOM commander Gen. David Petraeus, supported by Defence Secretary Robert Gates, tried to convince President Barack Obama that he had to back down from his campaign pledge to withdraw all U.S. combat troops from Iraq within 16 months at an Oval Office meeting Jan. 21.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">But Obama informed Gates, Petraeus and Joint Chiefs Chairman Adm. Mike Mullen that he wasn't convinced and that he wanted Gates and the military leaders to come back quickly with a detailed 16-month plan, according to two sources who have talked with participants in the meeting.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">Obama's decision to override Petraeus's recommendation has not ended the conflict between the president and senior military officers over troop withdrawal, however. There are indications that Petraeus and his allies in the military and the Pentagon, including Gen. Ray Odierno, now the top commander in Iraq, have already begun to try to pressure Obama to change his withdrawal policy.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">A network of senior military officers is also reported to be preparing to support Petraeus and Odierno by mobilising public opinion against Obama's decision.</span><br /></blockquote><br />I really hope that this article is blowing things out of proportion. If this is what's really going on, then General Petraeus needs someone to send him a copy of the Constitution, and he should lock-step behind his Commander in Chief. Personally, based on the election Iraq just had, and the fact that the US military wasn't the entity providing security, I say it's time to declare victory and get out. Enough American mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, sons and daughter soldiers have sacrificed an incredible amount to give this country a chance to rise from the ashes.<br /><br />BTW, just so you know. <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">IF </span>Iraq maintains and strengthens this fragile, secular democracy over the next couple of years, then Bush deserves all the credit for pushing the surge to help get the peace when no one else thought it was a good idea. And the Democrats and critics should loudly acknowledge that. I hope to be one of them.J-Wildhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17682981365579357845noreply@blogger.com0