tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3394691449141879192024-03-13T19:50:32.230-05:00A Song. A Screen. A Sword.Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-32525894072058877452011-01-21T10:39:00.004-06:002011-01-21T11:24:23.970-06:00A Rather Large ProjectEarlier this week, I started putting together my Lego collection. It quickly grew into a far bigger project than I had anticipated, and pretty much took over my room:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrTeBIL0iZ9lzRYAS96vYwjRLa0wpRL8hL09tMyzw8HDNB-HjziGHGlFvdbwlD7whkASQf07kOjUwr1WCiBbAATGWJxRfTvrCWw6-lv9VgB-c_GyUhYABYoPNSllKWpqpchFjcF1Epsw/s1600/cakebiblelegos+036.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrTeBIL0iZ9lzRYAS96vYwjRLa0wpRL8hL09tMyzw8HDNB-HjziGHGlFvdbwlD7whkASQf07kOjUwr1WCiBbAATGWJxRfTvrCWw6-lv9VgB-c_GyUhYABYoPNSllKWpqpchFjcF1Epsw/s320/cakebiblelegos+036.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564685607104260610" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDTz4kuXKPtW6QLtaXwufruateWqk5_zqwzvB1RiP3xUsC_lIcsKz32IKmNaA8NyDsRDVwUXqb4f7TsWbQt5khUp9kp_fJeuPGuHHAKdi5qJiNQ60GcqVRHcYsZ5dt8Sfi_a-Gvv95UY/s1600/cakebiblelegos+033.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvDTz4kuXKPtW6QLtaXwufruateWqk5_zqwzvB1RiP3xUsC_lIcsKz32IKmNaA8NyDsRDVwUXqb4f7TsWbQt5khUp9kp_fJeuPGuHHAKdi5qJiNQ60GcqVRHcYsZ5dt8Sfi_a-Gvv95UY/s320/cakebiblelegos+033.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564685612386223314" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ATi0nXWyRFMo17mljBYQ5_7JdDxfWRkOiqtMZS0TYAzEdtq4qCwmCAOT0_N6s0OO3fLedUjHPX45d9HCmC6eKw4NmQ2uE5-5Cut5xmsyA0HKi13NuTX1G19QbSUnBd6efJzBUICwDnc/s1600/cakebiblelegos+035.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ATi0nXWyRFMo17mljBYQ5_7JdDxfWRkOiqtMZS0TYAzEdtq4qCwmCAOT0_N6s0OO3fLedUjHPX45d9HCmC6eKw4NmQ2uE5-5Cut5xmsyA0HKi13NuTX1G19QbSUnBd6efJzBUICwDnc/s320/cakebiblelegos+035.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564685622005551346" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WdjMld3vA9_EWKKOuJwY8xmFUBI-r_5ZzSSx0VANBbkWUy1jc9A8NpnZVgYAzlX9vCznB25BvkjZP6PeDDSUuQrI_RlTcRk5SQPv8uYNKPQ96Xzda3m5BfR87UbhbsMKL-2y24waHwI/s1600/cakebiblelegos+034.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4WdjMld3vA9_EWKKOuJwY8xmFUBI-r_5ZzSSx0VANBbkWUy1jc9A8NpnZVgYAzlX9vCznB25BvkjZP6PeDDSUuQrI_RlTcRk5SQPv8uYNKPQ96Xzda3m5BfR87UbhbsMKL-2y24waHwI/s320/cakebiblelegos+034.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564685614330226898" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhxiu-RdNSkosilbR-mTyJmqxhcG9reidH-m3sRa_n0gQTG8WVmV6atDCgGpylq_ROvLwiQ7rJSoFVzucg1iCtSYP6ykcat6GBLJvWC-S6z5-WzDis1z02vxwP5Cy-Ku0iMHT0XJkpMc/s1600/cakebiblelegos+039.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhxiu-RdNSkosilbR-mTyJmqxhcG9reidH-m3sRa_n0gQTG8WVmV6atDCgGpylq_ROvLwiQ7rJSoFVzucg1iCtSYP6ykcat6GBLJvWC-S6z5-WzDis1z02vxwP5Cy-Ku0iMHT0XJkpMc/s320/cakebiblelegos+039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564688239923521074" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6P-Z5v9XMzpue2bIvYZ5wuqyR8YD3SxX1Wq6FIuSLNSZnL_9bkhfy2eJ2g5K9Tpf26eOQpqyVPqLcPQyCBEyV-MusanvNTCygvkT-zK1rMAdYYnKynL4YT68WaoCV8rL2UoEAgy41wZ4/s1600/cakebiblelegos+037.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6P-Z5v9XMzpue2bIvYZ5wuqyR8YD3SxX1Wq6FIuSLNSZnL_9bkhfy2eJ2g5K9Tpf26eOQpqyVPqLcPQyCBEyV-MusanvNTCygvkT-zK1rMAdYYnKynL4YT68WaoCV8rL2UoEAgy41wZ4/s320/cakebiblelegos+037.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564688228898309202" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhxiu-RdNSkosilbR-mTyJmqxhcG9reidH-m3sRa_n0gQTG8WVmV6atDCgGpylq_ROvLwiQ7rJSoFVzucg1iCtSYP6ykcat6GBLJvWC-S6z5-WzDis1z02vxwP5Cy-Ku0iMHT0XJkpMc/s1600/cakebiblelegos+039.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwhxiu-RdNSkosilbR-mTyJmqxhcG9reidH-m3sRa_n0gQTG8WVmV6atDCgGpylq_ROvLwiQ7rJSoFVzucg1iCtSYP6ykcat6GBLJvWC-S6z5-WzDis1z02vxwP5Cy-Ku0iMHT0XJkpMc/s320/cakebiblelegos+039.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564688239923521074" border="0" /></a><br />You see my point. I promise, my room is normally far neater than that. Once I get everything reassembled, I'm planning on having a truly epic Lego adventure, then taking everything apart and putting it in bags, so I don't need to sort through everything again.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WRM7GzYslGfBbDOEaUpSkjW7ZGxOdehdGMcWw3ZPj7H5PtcVN4DswXBm3oAbe0oMEkfnwt9BtlghxFyOTF-YtCDs-zWXMY9f5mCErTb9MLG4MKaWM7PfsnCl3D3woLLoa6HzwgrheWA/s1600/cakebiblelegos+038.JPG"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_WRM7GzYslGfBbDOEaUpSkjW7ZGxOdehdGMcWw3ZPj7H5PtcVN4DswXBm3oAbe0oMEkfnwt9BtlghxFyOTF-YtCDs-zWXMY9f5mCErTb9MLG4MKaWM7PfsnCl3D3woLLoa6HzwgrheWA/s320/cakebiblelegos+038.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5564685631723722050" border="0" /></a><br />No big project would be as fun without good music, and I've been loving Falling Up's Exit Lights album, especially the "Fearless" and "Exhibition" remixes, which are both amazing.Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-33720872779298585942010-12-22T21:06:00.009-06:002011-01-04T15:32:30.577-06:00My Favorite Songs of 20102010 is almost over... crazy thought. It seems like just yesterday I was celebrating the end of 2009 with my cousins, and now it's almost time to do it again. It's been a interesting year for me, for sure, with lots of ups, and as many downs, but through it all I've grow closer to God, and stronger physically, mentally, and spiritually. Amazing memories were made, and of course, I listened to hours upon hours of music. Here's a not-so-quick list of my favorites from 2010:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Weezer</span> - "Represent"<br /><br />This was my pump-up song for most of last year. It's not exactly the deepest song ever, but that doesn't keep it from flat-out rocking. Favorite line: "I've got skills to pay the bills and punish each of your mistakes." ;)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Mat Kearney</span> - "Closer to Love", "The Middle", "Crashing Down", "Undeniable", "Nothing Left to Lose", "Fire & Rain", "Wait", "All I Have", "City of Black and White", "Lifeline", "Breathe In Breathe Out" ...and the list goes on and on.<br /><br />Actually, I've yet to hear a song by Mat that I didn't love. He's my favorite artist lyrically, and just as amazing musically. Mat's a real, down-to-earth human guy, and it shows. Whatever song I'm listening to of his is my new favorite. There's very, very few artists that I would collect every CD and song from, but Mat is definitely one of them. He just needs a few more CDs out for me to collect...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The All-American Rejects</span> - "Move Along"<br /><br />I'm not really a big AAR fan, but I like the song, and the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XleOkGsYgO8">music video</a> is pretty cool too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anberlin</span> - The entire <span style="font-style: italic;">Cities</span> album.<br /><br />Have you heard <span style="font-style: italic;">Cities</span>? If so, you know what I'm talking about. If not, go listen to it. My favorite song is "Dismantle. Repair".<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Andrew Peterson</span> - "Dancing in the Minefields"<br /><br />I love the line "But He's promised to never leave us, and His promises are true, so in the face of all this chaos, maybe I can dance with you."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Coldplay</span> - Shesh, seriously? I love everything Coldplay ever done.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">B.o.B</span> - "Magic (feat. Rivers Cuomo)", "Airplanes (feat. Hayley Williams of Paramore)"<br /><br />I know, "Airplanes" is so overplayed, but it's still a great song. And "Magic" is just plain fun. :)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Search the City</span> - "Clocks and Time Pieces"<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>I first heard this song a couple of years ago, but I didn't buy until this year. There's no particular reason I like it, it's just a good piece of music I guess.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />Before Their Eyes</span> - "Sing to Me"<br /><br />Ironically, this is the only BTE's song I've really gotten into, but I played this a ton this last year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Black Eyed Peas</span> - "I Gotta Feeling"<br /><br />Um, do I really need to say any more about this one?<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brad Kane</span>, from the <leo_highlight style="border-bottom: 2px solid rgb(255, 255, 150); background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; cursor: pointer; display: inline; -moz-background-clip: -moz-initial; -moz-background-origin: -moz-initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: -moz-initial;" id="leoHighlights_Underline_0" onclick="leoHighlightsHandleClick('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOver('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleMouseOut('leoHighlights_Underline_0')" leohighlights_keywords="aladdin" leohighlights_url="http%3A//thebrowserhighlighter.com/leonardo/highlights/keywords?keywords%3Daladdin">Aladdin</leo_highlight> sountrack - "One Jump Ahead"<br /><br />This is another one of my pump-up songs, a bit unlikely I know, but it's fun and talks about jumping off buildings and staying one step ahead of the competition, kind of like parkour. And I love parkour.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chasen</span> - "Eyes of a Rescue"<br /><br />I don't really know what it is I like about this song, but I do, and I played it a ton in 2010.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chris Young</span> - "The Man I Want to Be"<br /><br />This song is about as legit as it gets.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Switchfoot</span> - "Lonely Nation", "We Are One Tonight", "Politicians"<br /><br />If you haven't caught on yet, I'm a big fan of epic, anthematic songs, and these three definitely qualify. Aside from "This Is Home", they're also my three favorite Switchfoot songs. "Singing with my tongues, screaming with our lungs: "I want more than my lonely nation, I want more than my lonely nation", desperate we are young, separate we are one, I want more than my desperation, I want more than my lonely nation!"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Corbin Bleu, Zac Efron, & the High School Musical 3 Cast</span> - "The Boys Are Back"<br /><br />Haha, this has been one of my guilty pleasure songs ever since I first heard it on Radio Disney... yeah. I'm sure I had a good reason to be listening to Radio Disney at the time. Anyways.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bon Jovi</span> - "Livin' On a Prayer", "It's My Life", "Superman Tonight", "We Weren't Born to Follow", "What Do You Got?", "This Is Love This Is Life"<br /><br />It's awfully hard to beat Bon Jovi when it comes to epic, memorable choruses. They're a classic, plain and simple, but unlike most classics, their new stuff is good too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Secret & Whisper </span>- "Warrior (Southern Arrowwood)"<br /><br />This is actually the only S&W song I ever listen too, it's pretty bombastic and epic. And yes, I just used the word bombastic.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">House of Heroes</span> - "Relentless", "Love is for the Middle Class", "God Save the Foolish Kings"<br /><br />Ah, <span style="font-style: italic;">Suburba</span>. One of the better albums I purchased this past year, and the three songs listed about are my favorites from it. I love the music, I love the lyrics, and I love how it's set in America, a few decades ago. It makes the songs seems like classics.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lifehouse</span> - "Halfway Gone", "All In", "Spin", "First Time", "Hanging By a Moment", plus several more.<br /><br />Lifehouse was probably my favorite band last year. I love their rock/pop style, and I love their lyrics, and I was able to get quite a few of their songs. "Halfway Gone" even has the distinct honor of being the most played song in my iTunes library, "All In" is 4th, and "Hanging By a Moment" and "First Time" are 8th and 9th, respectively. "Spin" is 13th.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Manafest</span> - "No Plan B", "Skills", "The Chase"<br /><br />Manafest is one legit guy, and it shows in his music. I particularly love his rap/rock songs, like the three I picked. It would be totally sweet to catch one of his shows sometime.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sons of Sylvia</span> - "Love Left to Lose"<br /><br />I'm not quite sure if these brothers are country (since they toured with Carrie Underwood) or pop (since that's where I discovered them, my local hits station), but they're seriously good. Of course, considering that they're related Ryan Tedder of OneRepublic, making good music is probably in their DNA.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Michael Buble</span> - "Haven't Met You Yet"<br /><br />Seriously? I can't hear this song without smiling.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nelly</span> - "Just a Dream"<br /><br />I've never been a big fan of break-up songs, but "Just a Dream" is a good song, plain and simple.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Five for Fighting</span> - "100 Years" and "Slice"<br /><br />I like both of these songs for completely different reasons, but they're both awesome. "100 Years" is a beautiful song about life, love, and all that nonsense. It makes you think about things, like family, the future, time... it's really good. Then there's "Slice", which is a genuinely American song, and everytime I hear it, it takes me back to a period before I was born, back "when Chevy's and levies played on the radio". Maybe it's weird to be nostalgic about a time I never experienced, but I love the song and feeling anyway. In fact, I've played it three times just writing this. "Are we more than just a slice of American pie?"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Kevin Rudolf</span> - "Let It Rock", "I Made It (Cash Money Heroes)"<br /><br />There's really not a whole lot to say about these pop songs, except that I like them a lot. And I'm definitely going to try and get "I Made It" in my graduation video next spring.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lee Brice </span>- "Love Like Crazy"<br /><br />Please refer to what I said about Chris Young's "The Man I Want to Be".<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Angels & Airwaves</span> - "The Adventure", "Everything's Magic", "Hallucinations", "Young London", "Shove"<br /><br />I got into Angels & Airwaves last summer (or around then) when I heard their free album <span style="font-style: italic;">LOVE</span>. It took awhile for it to grow on me, but once it did there's been AvA on my iPod ever since. I think my favorite songs by them would have to be "Hallucinations" and "Young London" though, they're sweet songs to listen to while driving. Preferably fast.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Fray</span> - "Over My Head (Cable Car)"<br /><br />This has been one of my favorites songs for a couple of years now, and I still like it. Mainly because I still feel like I'm in over my head most of the time...<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Sidewalk Prophets</span> - "Just Might Change Your Life", "The Words I Would Say"<br /><br />"It's three in morning, and I'm still awake, so I picked up a pen and a page, and I started writing, just what I'd say if we were face to face. I'd tell you, just what you mean to me, and tell you these simple truths..."<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">John Waller</span> - "While I'm Waiting"<br /><br />In some ways, it feels like all I've done this last year is wait, and this song was really encouraging.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Daughtry</span> - <span style="font-style: italic;">Daughtry (Deluxe Version)</span>, plus "Supernatural", "Life After You", and "Open Up Your Eyes"<br /><br />So I really like Daughtry's music. Chris sings like a man, enough said.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eminem</span> - "Not Afraid (Clean Version)"<br /><br />Obviously, Eminem is one of those artists that good homeschoolers would never ever listen to. I don't care. There's something about "Not Afraid" that rings true, something deeper than just a white rapper trying to win the rap game. It's a good song, just make sure you listen to the clean version... oh, and "Love the Way You Lie" is good too.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Skillet</span> - "Monster"<br /><br />Remember this one Gunnar? ;)<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nickelback</span> - "Gotta Be Somebody", "If Today Was Your Last Day", "Never Gonna Be Alone"<br /><br />It's weird how Nickelback can be so lyrically trashy most of the time and yet still make songs this good. I know these three are all older ones, but I still listened to them a lot this past year.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Owl City</span> - I have nearly every song Owl City has ever released, and I like them all.<br /><br />...Adam Young is awesome.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ozzy Osbourne</span> - "Let Me Hear You Scream"<br /><br />Ozzy is creepy. This song is awesome. "Are you ready for the last fight? Get ready with the warcry! Let me hear you scream like you want it! Let me hear you yell like you mean it! If you're going to to go down: go loud! go strong! go proud! go on! go hard! or go home!" The guitar work is sick too. So very yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Rocket Summer</span> - "I Need a Break, But I'd Rather Have a Breakthrough"<br /><br />Story of my life? Yes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Toby Keith</span> - "God Love Her", "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue (The Angry Americans)"<br /><br />"God Love Her" is a fantastic summer roadtrip song, and I wish more Americans talked the way Toby does in "Courtesy...".<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Runner Runner</span> - "So Obvious"<br /><br />This song makes me want to get in a car and drive like I'm in an action movie.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">P!nk</span> - "Raise Your Glass"<br /><br />Don't judge. I like this song because it's 1) a pop song that's actually rocks 2) an anthem, which are my favorite kind of song, and 3) just plain fun to rock to. Why so serious? Seriously.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">OneRepublic</span> - "All the Right Moves", "Secrets", "Good Life", "Stop and Stare", "Marchin On", "Apologize"<br /><br />So stickin' talented. I got into OneRepublic for the first time this last year, starting with "All the Right Moves", then moving on to "Secrets", then "Stop and Stare", then "Good Life" and "Marchin On", and finally "Apologize". I love how they've got a sound of their own, and you can always recognize them, but every song is completely different from the next. Lyrically, they're top notch, and I've been able to relate to a lot of their songs too, at different times. "Marchin On" is one of my theme songs right now.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Flo Rida</span> - "Club Can't Handle Me (feat. David Guetta)"<br /><br />"You know I know how, to make 'em stop and stare as I zone out, the club can't even handle me right now... Haha, can't nothing holding me right now, I see you D. Guetta, let's get 'em!"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Foxy Shazam</span> - "Unstoppable"<br /><br />I first heard this song when it was used in a commercial for the show <span style="font-style: italic;">Tower Prep</span>, and I liked it enough that I bought it on iTunes. Imagine if Queen came back, and then imagine that this reincarnate Queen made a song called "Unstoppable". This is would it would sound like.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Tenth Avenue North</span> - Pretty much everything the band's ever done.<br /><br />Tenth Avenue North is one of the most real, honest Christian bands out there. They've encouraged me so much, and a couple of time they've brought me to tears.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">30 Seconds to Mars</span> - "Kings & Queens", "Closer to the Edge", "This Is War", "Vox Populi"<br /><br />Have you ever discovered something you thought was so amazing, so special, that you wanted to keep it a secret, because you're afraid that if you tell someone they won't understand the magic of the moment? That's how I felt when I first heard 30 Seconds to Mars. It was their incredible <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTMrlHHVx8A">video</a> for "Kings & Queens", while I was at the library. I had my earbuds in, the volume up, and it was magic. I completely zoned out while watching the video. After that I watched it again, and then I watched "Closer to the Edge", and I was hooked. I love their sound - it's emotional, powerful, and if I can say this without sounding cliche, epic. 30 Seconds to Mars is also currently topping my list of "Bands to See Live Before I Die".<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Snow Patrol</span> - "Chasing Cars"<br /><br />I love how ethereal this song sounds, like you're just lying the grass and slipping off into a dream world. Good stuff.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Disturbed</span> - "Indestructible", "Warrior"<br /><br />Oh my. Haha. These two songs, well, they exactly like their titles sound. They're pretty cheesy (for example: "take a last look around while you're alive, I'm an indestructible master of war!"), but they're great to work out to.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ryan Star</span> - "Breathe"<br /><br />On occasion, iTunes gives away some very good music, and this is one of those songs. I love the emotion and sincerity in his voice, and the lyrics aren't bad either.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Taio Cruz</span> - "Dynamite", "Break Your Heart (feat. Ludacris)"<br /><br />Is there anyone in the world who <span style="font-style: italic;">hasn't</span> heard "Dynamite"? Good music to dance to.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Love and Theft</span> - "Runaway"<br /><br />Someday, I'd love to just get in my car and drive, and drive, and have adventures all across the country. And also maybe listen to this song.<br /><br />So that's my ridiculously long (and amazingly still mostly incompletely) list of my favorites songs from 2010.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2011 - bring it!</span><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="jsCall();" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div><span id="leoHighlights_iframe_modal_span_container"><div id="leoHighlights_iframe_modal_div_container" style="border: 1px solid black; position: absolute; visibility: hidden; display: none; width: 394px; height: 40px; z-index: 32768; background-color: white;" onmouseover="leoHighlightsHandleIFrameMouseOver();" onmouseout="leoHighlightsHandleIFrameMouseOut();"> <div id="leo_iFrame_closebar" style="position: absolute; top: 0px; left: 0px; width: 394px; height: 40px; z-index: 32768; background-image: url(chrome://shim/content/highlightsFilter-1/header.gif);"> <a href="javascript: leoHighlightsIFrameClose();"> <div id="leo_iFrame_close" 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</script></span>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-91507403967582411872009-12-15T20:22:00.002-06:002009-12-15T20:37:30.958-06:00Ha!I guess when I said I was going to start posting on here I thought I would. I guess I was wrong. Ever since I started vlogging on Facebook (which is way faster then typing out all the stuff I want to say), and on Facebook I can control exactly who can see my video posts and who can't (not many folks can, incidentally, maybe when I get better I'll open it up, but for now it's a pretty small group of folks.)<div><br /></div><div>Anyway. That (not to mention lots of other parts of this thing called life) is the reason I haven't been posting like I said I would. Send me an email if you'd like your money back. Ha! :)</div><div><br /></div><div>-Matt</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-6715641867487984702009-11-15T20:33:00.005-06:002009-11-15T21:09:02.137-06:00The Week In Review: Nov. 8 ~ Nov. 15<div style="text-align: center;"><blockquote></blockquote></div>Here's some of the exciting things that happened this week:<div><br /></div><div><ul><li>I saw The Fray's "Over My Head (Cable Car)" video AND Mat Kearney's "Nothing Left to Lose" on Gospel Music Channel's <i>Joyful Noise Cafe</i> show. I really, really like those videos.</li><li>To Write Love on Her Arms Day was on the 13th, and I wrote "LOVE" in big letters down both of my arms.</li><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMZejLxAurkBuCmlvSFRbB0GpJE79GS1T2Ct3uiKG2TfbwxVuK97iaqco-AUa9K8EzY45Vu24C4d8tGR4UWN-9Rtx1jN-B7vgyfMS42P06JIVpTHG43Yu85BuBzC_-Vm4Wr7mOsFTdYt8/s320/To+Write+Love+On+Her+Arms+Day+002.JPG" style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404526668192224210" /><br /><li>My top 3 <a href="http://www.last.fm/user/Matt_from_TFCMB">Last.fm</a> artists were <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/The+Fold">The Fold</a> at number 3, with one listen, <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/The%2520Almost?ac=The%20Almost">The Almost</a> at number 2, with one listen, and <a href="http://www.last.fm/music/Josh+Wilson">Josh Wilson</a> at #1 with two whole listens! Go me! (I didn't do much on Last.fm last week.)</li><li>I joined two cool websites, <a href="http://bit.ly/">bit.ly</a> and <a href="http://wave.google.com/">Google Wave</a>. They're both very, very cool. :)</li><li>I went for a walk in the starlight out on our trails, by myself. Not long after, a wolf was sighted just miles from our house.</li><li>My favorite tweet of the last week:</li></ul><div><blockquote></blockquote><blockquote></blockquote><span class="status-body"><span class="entry-content"></span><blockquote><span class="entry-content">"See? Radio Disney isn't all that bad. Really, what's not to like about a station that plays The Fray & The Wiggles? Don't answer that. ;)"</span> <span class="meta entry-meta"> <a class="entry-date" rel="bookmark" href="http://twitter.com/matt_from_tfcmb/status/5610301793"> <span class="published timestamp" data="{time:'Wed Nov 11 04:34:38 +0000 2009'}">10:34 PM Nov 10th</span> </a> <span>from web</span></span></blockquote><ul><li>I went to the dentist, and not only did I hear Mat Kearney's song "Closer to Love" while I was in the waiting room, I also got my teeth cleaned, and found out that I didn't have any cavities. I also made a dentist pun while they were working on me, and neither the dentist nor his assistant got it. :\</li><li>Later, after the dentist appointment, I was in a thrift story, and bought a killer leather jacket. It rocks.</li><li>My favorite artists of the week (since Last.fm didn't do a good job of showing off my taste) are Mat Kearney and The Fray. Ah-mazing, both. "Over My Head (Cable Car)" and "Closer to Love" are my top two songs.</li><li>I'm also thinking about getting Mat Kearney's <i>Nothing Left to Lose</i> with the Amazon gift certificates I've been getting from <a href="http://www.swagbucks.com/refer/mattfromtfcmb">Swagbucks</a>.</li><li>The best 5 words of advice I received all week was from the Bible: "Don't be afraid, just believe". It's so simple, and yet, it's really the best thing. Speaking of that, God's really been teaching me a lot lately, and growing me, and even though I still have a long, long way to go, somehow I know I'll get to the top of this mountain somehow. He'll see me through.</li></ul><div>Wow, my life is more exciting then I thought! :) I really don't know if I'll do a post like this next week or not, I'll have wait and see. Till then, I suppose...</div><span class="meta entry-meta"><span></span> </span></span></div></div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-3429402918939189622009-11-03T20:26:00.003-06:002009-11-03T20:32:58.790-06:00Switchfoot - "Mess Of Me"<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/et1vriu29Qk&hl=en&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/et1vriu29Qk&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />I like Switchfoot, and I like this video. A lot. It's one of the best live videos I think I've ever seen, and that's saying something.<br /><br />Also, I recommend watching this in HD in full screen. It's just better that way. :)Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-13907243991540099072009-10-22T19:59:00.002-05:002009-10-22T20:03:42.561-05:00New Template (And Hey! Matt's Alive!)Okay. If you're still checking this blog, well, wow, I'm honored to have such dedicated readers, seeing as how I haven't done anything with this in, well, forever. Since July, actually. That's a long time ago. Anyway, I'm posting this to tell you that I'm not dead, I've just been doing other things lately, though I think I might start using this again, just to post videos, and thoughts, and, well, whatever.<div><br /></div><div>Also, I'm posting this to tell you I decided to change my theme on here to something wider, so that I can get widescreen YouTube videos to fit without being cut off.</div><div><br /></div><div>Thank!</div><div><br /></div><div>-Matt</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-46488914585758922522009-10-22T19:50:00.001-05:002009-10-22T19:55:14.802-05:00I Am Empire - "You're A Fake!"<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4nQWjaiAmg4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4nQWjaiAmg4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />I like this video.Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-63481859259396684422009-07-14T16:43:00.001-05:002009-07-14T16:46:26.594-05:00The Great Office War<object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Clwhm1dRu6c&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Clwhm1dRu6c&hl=en&fs=1&rel=0&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object><br /><br />It's been a long time since I've seen something funny on YouTube, that's still nice and clean. This, however, is hilarious. I love it. :)Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-89036447633274946252009-07-13T20:29:00.005-05:002009-07-13T21:02:09.667-05:00Do Hard Things?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwG7g8UaUZQXkG4CE9Z5sKdUV7am1D81ZdRUDrDmQwZQZV7jbTNi3IW103ivQxTJrStO-dPM7RO3WZrAXbQZXhgv-92HQlegxqE23iSRrzE8oUoEy_qEucHxi2klJYpLnhe27lZKowcQ/s1600-h/41pMIxGM-WL._SL160_.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 99px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEwG7g8UaUZQXkG4CE9Z5sKdUV7am1D81ZdRUDrDmQwZQZV7jbTNi3IW103ivQxTJrStO-dPM7RO3WZrAXbQZXhgv-92HQlegxqE23iSRrzE8oUoEy_qEucHxi2klJYpLnhe27lZKowcQ/s400/41pMIxGM-WL._SL160_.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5358124104979447170" border="0" /></a><br />See that book up there? It's called Do Hard Things, and it's one of the most popular books for Christian teens right now. I've read it through once (maybe twice, I can't remember), and it's definitely a good book. The message of throwing off low expectations is something our generation really needs to here.<br /><br />Anyway, this post isn't met to be a review of Do Hard Things, nor is it meant to be an attack on the book. I just want to share something God's been teaching me lately in relation to the book. One of the things that I found myself doing after reading the book & blog is looking for big, hard things to do, like the kids in the book. Some of the examples they've given are huge - kids raising thousands of dollars, fighting social evils, and making a major difference. After the book, I wanted to change the world.<br /><br />Lately though, God's been showing me that it really doesn't matter how big or hard the things I do are. What matters that I'm doing what God wants me too. It's quality over quantity. I'm better off, and making more of a difference, by doing whatever God wants me too, whether big or small, because God doesn't see things the way we see them. He sees them the way they truly are. To me, some of the things God leads me to do seem to be pretty insignificant, you know, commenting on a photo on Facebook, Twittering about something, listening to or not listening to a song, that sort of thing. But the thing I'm finding is that no matter how insignificant the thing seems to be, it has affects that I can't see. And the only way to truly make a difference is by doing what God wants you to. There's no size requirements. I know some very ordinary people who have never done anything "big" or "hard", and yet, they've followed God step by step, and He's used them in ways neither they nor I will ever understand.<br /><br />I guess the point I'm trying to make is this: That I need to follow God, and not worry about how big the things I'm doing are. It's so simple, and no matter what happens, the results are in God's hands. It's seems to be pretty inglorious most of the time, and often, no one seems to notice, but even if I never save a life, I'll be content to know that God's used me to touch lives, and that He, at least, is proud of me. Of course, that'll only happen with His help, but He's promised that He'll never ask anything we can't handle, so I trust He'll be faithful. And, somehow, I know I'm in for the adventure of a lifetime...Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-89822362938186213882009-05-12T21:37:00.004-05:002009-05-12T21:52:33.001-05:00No. 76 Special Incendiary Grenade<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjuV7AW8Ki4-Y9aCyHCFYplCPZ4UVWDxO3zD46Q_dKwT0eA7WxEmGvqIswxRfBHvVJY6lJnw35dppjFubrjQdv7dfyYOGa88n4FAFQHfihMjpqatYtQpCFoLUUqJeOKmCWF00jNSDj5I/s1600-h/My+Band.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDjuV7AW8Ki4-Y9aCyHCFYplCPZ4UVWDxO3zD46Q_dKwT0eA7WxEmGvqIswxRfBHvVJY6lJnw35dppjFubrjQdv7dfyYOGa88n4FAFQHfihMjpqatYtQpCFoLUUqJeOKmCWF00jNSDj5I/s400/My+Band.png" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335133287240277474" /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>Picture from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/valgonzarp/3508271509/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/valgonzarp/3508271509/</a><br /></div>Band name from: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._76_Special_Incendiary_Grenade">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/No._76_Special_Incendiary_Grenade</a><br />Quote by: Some atheist. :(<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">To Do This:</span><div><br />1 - Go to Wikipedia. Hit “random” or click <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random">http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:Random</a><br />The first random Wikipedia article you get is the name of your band.<br /><br />2 - Go to Quotations Page and select "random quotations" or click <a href="http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3">http://www.quotationspage.com/random.php3</a> and click "new random quotation" below<br />The last four or five words of the very last quote on the page is the title of your first album.<br /><br />3 - Get a random picture from flick, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/">http://www.flickr.com</a>. This will be your album cover.<br /><br />4 - Use Photoshop (or Paint, or The Gimp, or anything similar) to put it all together.<br /><br />5 - Post it to your blog with this text (customized, of course) and tag the people you'd like to see do this.</div><div><br /></div><div>My Tags:</div><div>(Please note that this is not mandatory, nor do you need to be tagged before you can do it. It's just for fun, after all! ;) )</div><div><br /></div><div>1 - <a href="http://sleepingdragon80.blogspot.com/">Sleepingdragon80</a></div><div><br /></div><div>2 - <a href="http://catloversblog-catfreak70.blogspot.com/">Catfreak70</a></div><div><br /></div><div>3 - <a href="http://quirkykiwifruit.blogspot.com/">Kiwifruit</a></div><div><br /></div><div>4 - You! :)</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-91606912871500204762009-04-17T21:56:00.001-05:002009-04-17T21:58:58.857-05:00Tea Party Video<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XqEg7qbpyZ4&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XqEg7qbpyZ4&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />Wow! I second that!Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-34402425387913899452009-02-20T21:46:00.001-06:002009-02-20T21:50:09.498-06:00A Homeschool Family<div align="center"><embed src="http://www.tangle.com/flash/swf/flvplayer.swf" FlashVars="viewkey=6d6a37c89cba223c5f78" wmode="transparent" quality="high" width="330" height="270" name="tangle" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="always" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" /></embed></div><br /><br />This one goes out to all of you homeschoolers out there! :)Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-14045128394858478462009-02-08T19:44:00.005-06:002009-02-08T22:02:37.791-06:00Winter Jam '09 (Well, Not Exactly)<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zljezCZhCboKU3fVeDdSsE6ozmM7ik4Ttd-gTiu8RKOu5RRabSSuPGmZb6Evqqfy3WyqzecWulzv5h9tJTOzmRyQGqhVK6vKaLZ0vKgdaVtwzPmjjHz8MRfTSWtZ8vdxD0cmkiOTu10/s1600-h/winterjan+008.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zljezCZhCboKU3fVeDdSsE6ozmM7ik4Ttd-gTiu8RKOu5RRabSSuPGmZb6Evqqfy3WyqzecWulzv5h9tJTOzmRyQGqhVK6vKaLZ0vKgdaVtwzPmjjHz8MRfTSWtZ8vdxD0cmkiOTu10/s400/winterjan+008.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300641034765897730" border="0" /></a><br />One of the most exciting things that I've done of late is going to see Winter Jam '09, the biggest annual tour in Christian music history (or so claimed the radio ads. I'm pretty sure that the Creation Fest Tour was bigger). Anyway, it was definitely the biggest concert I've ever been to. It was great seeing new artists like Francesca Battestelli and Stephanie Smith live, at the beginning of their careers, and you can't go wrong with TobyMac, The Afters, BarlowGirl, and NewSong. The auditorium was full of about six thousand people, most of which seemed to be there for TobyMac. It was a jammin' time, to be sure.<br /><br />Maybe sometime soon I'll do a full concert write up, but right now, I'm going to write about something that happened after the concert. The funny thing about having six thousand people at a concert is that when the concert is over, they all try to get to the merch tables at the same time. It was a Winter Jam all right, a complete traffic jam of humanity. Forget getting to the booths, it was nearly impossible to get to the <span style="font-style: italic;">lines</span> to booths.<br /><br />While we were slowly wandering through the mass, the most bizarre, unusual, random, unexpected, inexplicable, and remarkable thing happened. I was walking past a man, and he said something to the effect of: "Nice hat."<br /><br />You're probably wondering why this was so unusual. Let me put it into perspective: we're talking six thousand, give or take a few, total strangers. It was as impersonal as it can get. Everyone had their own problems to worry about and their own lives to live. Then, out of the blue, one random person connected with me for a few seconds before being pushed away by the crowd. It was weird, but that one person totally made my evening. All he did was say a couple of simple words.<br /><br />That made me think, if one person could be randomly nice, why can't I? So, after that, I've been trying to do just that. Really, it's just another way to share God's love, albeit spontaneously, and you never know what God might use it for. I might even get a chance to share the gospel through it. It's awesome thinking about it.<br /><br />Anyway, that was my post-WinterJam lesson. Just in case, if you're the person that complimented me, and you're reading this, I'd like to say thank you, and that I think your hat was really cool too.<br /><br />All right, till next time...Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-36960684537639463072009-01-03T15:58:00.003-06:002009-01-03T17:03:14.600-06:00TaggedI was tagged by <a href="http://catloversblog-catfreak70.blogspot.com/">Catfreak70</a> (one of the very few but very cool people who actually read this) a while back, and since this one looked like fun, I thought I might as well try this out. You'll have cut me some slack, because most of the books I've been reading lately are for school, and therefore pretty boring. :)<br /><br />8 Books I've Read Recently-<br /><br /><ul><li>The Ecclesiastical History of the English People</li><li>Kingdom's Dawn</li><li>Bringsr</li><li>The Greater Chronicle<br /></li><li>Star Wars: Episode 1 - The Visual Dictionary<br /></li><li>Out With Garibaldi</li><li>In the Hands of they Malays</li><li>Beowulf</li></ul><p>8 Songs I Listen to Frequently--</p><ul><li>So Beautiful - Manafest</li><li>In Jesus' Name - Three Cord Wonder</li><li>Beautifully Broken - This Beautiful Republic</li><li>Dictatorship vs. Democracy - Staple</li><li>Never Let Me Go - Family Force 5</li><li>One In A Million - Run Kid Run</li><li>Fight - A Rotterdam November</li><li>Heaven Knocking, Hell Rising - I Am Terrified<br /></li></ul><p>8 Movies I Watched This Year--</p><ul><li>Prince Caspian</li><li>National Treasure 2</li><li>Hoodwinked<br /></li><li>Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back<br /></li><li>The Absent-minded Professor<br /></li><li>The Son of Flubber</li><li>Horton Hears A Who!<br /></li><li>The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything</li></ul><p>8 (Err, 4) TV Shows I Watch: (Kind of hard, because almost everything I ever watch is Christian music videos.)<br /></p><ul><li>Rock Block<br /></li><li>Wordgirl</li><li>The Zone</li><li>Steelroots Top 10 Countdown<br /></li></ul><p>8 Things I Find Myself Saying--</p><ul><li>What on earth?</li><li>Yeah.<br /></li><li>Oh snap.</li><li>"I think I'm out of control, I think I'm out of control.." (song, that I randomly start singing all the time)</li><li>That's... random.</li><li>Okay.<br /></li><li>Sounds good.</li><li>That should work.</li></ul><p>8 Things I Learned This Year--</p><ul><li>How to disassemble and reassemble every bed in our house.</li><li>How to Twitter. Also, how to have a good Facebook profile.</li><li>How to freak people out by simply saying "Nobody expects the Spanish inquisition!"<br /></li><li>How to LARP. ("Lighting bolt! Lightning bolt!")</li><li>How to do a few basic martial arts blocks.</li><li>More about a truly amazing God.</li><li>That most of the time, there just isn't enough time in the day for both work and Age of Empires 2. :(<br /></li><li>How to run our church's entire A/V system by myself.<br /></li></ul><p>7 people I tag to do this (if you want too, and have time, and a blog)--</p><ul><li>Craig S.</li><li>Dagmar</li><li>Seth R.<br /></li><li>Sleepingdragon80<br /></li><li>Joshua<br /></li><li>Trey</li><li>Prairie Schooner's</li></ul>Well, that's it.Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-76354113771066835242008-12-30T10:50:00.003-06:002008-12-30T11:17:50.177-06:00Luge RideLast week, while traveling for Christmas, I took a rather wild ride on The Luge. Now, The Luge is a homemade sled run designed and built by my uncle in their backyard. You start up on their deck, slide down a snow-packed ramp, race along the track, and wind up in the woods behind their house. It was way fun. :)<br /><br />I tried filming the trip once, and it turned out pretty well. I nearly fell out of the sled, but still...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxRG_cNZG3o33PzYee8haVh0AAScwknr7VaJil5LNw2KTiDZyjx5whtn-lZkN5st0wJm4eGeyYmMBMa_IijEA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-18583172800851786642008-12-25T10:38:00.008-06:002009-02-16T19:27:53.217-06:00Sometimes I Feel Like An Ent<blockquote>"I am on no one's side, because no one is on my side."<br /></blockquote><div style="text-align: center;">-Treebeard, Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">That's how I feel sometimes about the current state of things in this country. It seems like the government is awash in apathy, corruption, twisted ethics, and totally un-biblical governing. Then I get really scared when I think that the reason these politicians are elected is because the majority of voters supported them.<br /><br />Even as I think about that though, I'm realizing more and more that God has everything is under control. I don't know what He has in mind, but I know it's way, way better then anything I could come up with. That's awesome.</div></div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-15088514628053777092008-12-20T21:43:00.004-06:002008-12-20T22:25:34.822-06:00John Musil is my hero too!I saw this on Greg Stier's blog back before the election and I thought it was both awesome (go John!) and thought-provoking. I highly recommend it for all of you politically active folks reading this. I can't help but wonder whatever happened to the staffer though. Anyways: <a href="http://www.gregstier.org/rants/john-musil-is-my-hero">John Musil is my hero</a>!Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-32799383462738727882008-12-06T09:30:00.002-06:002008-12-06T09:58:17.237-06:00Urban D. - "Un.orthodox"<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/fL2go55aLP0&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/fL2go55aLP0&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />I saw this video for the first time on Thursday (on a Christian music video show called The Zone). I liked it enough that I decided to post it. Anyway, Urban D. is a rapper and a pastor, and he does both well. Sounds a bit like KJ-52. Good stuff.Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-62896034130576600542008-11-15T19:13:00.001-06:002008-11-15T19:13:00.504-06:00The Touchtone Genius<a style="left: 0px ! important; top: 15px ! important;" title="Click here to block this object with Adblock Plus" class="abp-objtab-06564998606005632 visible" href="http://www.youtube.com/v/jEYqU5x-JgE&hl=en&fs=1"></a><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jEYqU5x-JgE&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jEYqU5x-JgE&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Unlike the last video I posted, this one is just for fun. It's... well, random. Really random. And awesome. Song by <a href="http://www.songstowearpantsto.com/">http://www.songstowearpantsto.com/</a>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-45854303751078489092008-11-12T18:58:00.000-06:002008-11-12T18:58:00.241-06:00Inhale Exhale - It's Myself Vs. Being A Man<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jNwWCYERNis&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jNwWCYERNis&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><br />Okay, warning, this video is SCARY. Beds eating children, screaming men with long black hair - yeah. The good news is the song is great, and the title is awesome!Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-31800404475043756662008-11-03T17:11:00.006-06:002008-11-03T17:57:29.008-06:00Pictures! (Of Me, Nonetheless!)I just put a picture on my Twitter profile for the first time (before it was a screen shot of TFCMB). It's a shot of my eye, which I cropped from a shot of my full face. When I was playing around with The Gimp, trying to make myself look as awesome as possible, I made three different versions. The first is a barely edited picture, just cropped:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX17TQtqFCgKJmY8m5_shN4x_xoMKu321Kpagleq_OKxXzcz_l5WZure5L_7qSLEiJEwdwyurvYLe_CI89zHbDJBjt9a0shy80L73DcPbWonCYEsHx0p2LIkugdTwt0T5RmYp-9qjcWV0/s1600-h/eye1.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX17TQtqFCgKJmY8m5_shN4x_xoMKu321Kpagleq_OKxXzcz_l5WZure5L_7qSLEiJEwdwyurvYLe_CI89zHbDJBjt9a0shy80L73DcPbWonCYEsHx0p2LIkugdTwt0T5RmYp-9qjcWV0/s320/eye1.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264577201158197362" border="0" /></a>On the next one, I deepened my eye color and added stars to the background:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUWz30gFKTlAcuPG3aSj1xLs4zXFYy7njAPtfa2WaJnK4cCuCjgMTk55yv9pwjADPYN2fiX07dEtkVYshlF26_z6P0BLltJZKqiIudCnPP9HWgH8XMKLAQ_UJ5HArPMIiWQzYbd_FxzY/s1600-h/eyewithstars.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUWz30gFKTlAcuPG3aSj1xLs4zXFYy7njAPtfa2WaJnK4cCuCjgMTk55yv9pwjADPYN2fiX07dEtkVYshlF26_z6P0BLltJZKqiIudCnPP9HWgH8XMKLAQ_UJ5HArPMIiWQzYbd_FxzY/s320/eyewithstars.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264579827845492370" border="0" /></a>On the last one, I kept the face the same and switched the background to a picture I had taken (and already edited...) of some fish. I think the blue contrasts nicely.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFYJyCa9NCMzfKtu67KxDLgqk_J99KFAfXN9QZSfrqT_d9Fs2tc8KGirBKtzjHdmxLDSHC8Bhl0h5wbb1ZeAJV2wiMj1D-3RkvTgqli6UJjGeWXCyw0VcHJ4DKafI8tMic9DbLGpsLhk/s1600-h/eyewithfish.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 252px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqFYJyCa9NCMzfKtu67KxDLgqk_J99KFAfXN9QZSfrqT_d9Fs2tc8KGirBKtzjHdmxLDSHC8Bhl0h5wbb1ZeAJV2wiMj1D-3RkvTgqli6UJjGeWXCyw0VcHJ4DKafI8tMic9DbLGpsLhk/s320/eyewithfish.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5264578579053979186" border="0" /></a><br /><br />So, there you have it. :DMatthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-31394997265519101382008-09-30T17:17:00.005-05:002008-10-09T18:51:28.782-05:00I'm Unique!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVinnQnX6zsblBgE0WxcAo4m8kH3FXWXQxWMGXdoBbMDYVX7rBD2sODSb1s7FNeX7cwltfKvJvWVPg8ZudlRiuub3tSO77Y8X1cVBax7xXWp_x4ZfWnXJg2ZU3hkqZihTR1Yh3aCdDKuY/s1600-h/SSS+Poll.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVinnQnX6zsblBgE0WxcAo4m8kH3FXWXQxWMGXdoBbMDYVX7rBD2sODSb1s7FNeX7cwltfKvJvWVPg8ZudlRiuub3tSO77Y8X1cVBax7xXWp_x4ZfWnXJg2ZU3hkqZihTR1Yh3aCdDKuY/s400/SSS+Poll.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251946470411275874" border="0" /></a><br />The votes are counted (sheesh, even I can count to 5) and the result is that I'm unique! Closely followed by both weird and unique.Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-68083639216281857292008-09-20T20:43:00.004-05:002008-09-20T21:18:19.761-05:00Unique Geek or Strange Freak?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLzCghgO_pA90D6xerTE8nOpMXyCxEAdRgDuskullRg41_d9iux1GAbuzpWrqrUXdN8lRj3TgbJucPOalxpGW0lukPE5VBneWY9_86Uns_YrAnbRG9XC1UfF3rlFUXcFJLaHmPqENHUw/s1600-h/Inverted+Startbar.PNG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRLzCghgO_pA90D6xerTE8nOpMXyCxEAdRgDuskullRg41_d9iux1GAbuzpWrqrUXdN8lRj3TgbJucPOalxpGW0lukPE5VBneWY9_86Uns_YrAnbRG9XC1UfF3rlFUXcFJLaHmPqENHUw/s400/Inverted+Startbar.PNG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5248286158510099554" border="0" /></a><br />In my years of experience with Microsoft Windows, I have never seen anyone with the start bar on the top of the screen. No one, that is, except me. Yep. On my laptop, I have my start bar (or "Windows Bar" or whatever you want to call it), on the top of my screen, as demonstrated in the picture above.<br /><br />Why?<br /><br />I like it.<br /><br />It's unique, and plus, it makes it easier to quickly check what song is playing in Windows Media Player, or for Twitteroo updates. Plus, it's a sure way to impress (or weird out) friends. To discover which, I'm adding a new poll to SSS, asking what you think. Am I weird or smart? You decide. :)Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-87773079394966129742008-09-13T13:16:00.001-05:002008-09-13T13:17:53.959-05:00Clever Advertising, Lol<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://trueartist.org/banners/mwtour/"><img src="http://trueartist.org/banners/mwtour/mwtour_250x250.gif" /></a></p>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-339469144914187919.post-85647686509796037462008-09-04T19:18:00.006-05:002008-10-28T18:27:23.808-05:00Spamity Calamity!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihogBnMCRaPShmCh-zRMvLx1TR5lAGqGOoyjXFPr9AmnyZolrwF9w6OCEZsNtqFImOj3EPf6aIQ6rrvkLXInBRhHeRn3Qm2hmK5TCUxfnrwsHucK5Y5XFCHEwTtGE3AOO9pcY4Nif_4Rk/s1600-h/weird+picture.bmp"><blockquote><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihogBnMCRaPShmCh-zRMvLx1TR5lAGqGOoyjXFPr9AmnyZolrwF9w6OCEZsNtqFImOj3EPf6aIQ6rrvkLXInBRhHeRn3Qm2hmK5TCUxfnrwsHucK5Y5XFCHEwTtGE3AOO9pcY4Nif_4Rk/s400/weird+picture.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5242325872836569522" border="0" /></blockquote></a><br />I've been getting a landslide of spam on <a href="http://thefreechristianmusicblog.com/">TFCMB</a> lately, which, thankfully, has been caught by Akismet. I had 70 comments waiting in my Akismet folder today. As you can see, I seem to have a much bigger problem then spam, by the look of the spam counter...<div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Update</span>: I guess I wasn't really thinking when I posted this. First, I'm not trying to make fun of Revelation, or any of the events, people, therein. I really do believe that someday this world will end, and it won't be pretty for most people. The reason I posted this is because I'm pretty sure that the amount of comment spam I get isn't connected to the end of the world at all. Still, I probably should have thought through this before I posted it. Sorry!</div>Matthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05574673213285230136noreply@blogger.com6