February 29, 2008 • 11:57 am 9
Not being too used to caring about this political process, I can’t for the life of me figure out why or how newspapers endorse Presidential candidates. Aren’t they supposed to be impartial reporters of the news?
2008 Presidential Newspaper Endorsements
Political junkies, please chime in. Edumacate me.
Filed under: Endorsements, Newspapers, Politics, Presidents
February 29, 2008 • 7:52 am 3
There’s nothing more exciting than receiving a book in the mail that you’ve been wanting to read for a few months now. Oh wait, there is. It’s freaking awesome when that book was sent to you by the author himself, with a personalized message on the inside flap. Yeah, that pretty much rocks!
And to top it all off, it’s a book by Eric Bryant, who serves as an elder, speaker, and navigator overseeing the leadership team at Mosaic in Los Angeles, alongside my man Erwin McManus.
The book is called Peppermint-Filled Piñatas: Breaking Through Tolerance and Embracing Love, and needless to say, you’re going to be hearing a lot about this book in the coming weeks. I’ve decided to forgo the typical full review after reading the book, and instead review each chapter as I go. Hopefully that will generate a little more discussion along the way.
Here are the chapters we have to look forward to:
Introduction: The Art of Woo
Overcoming the Christian Stereotype
1. Curry Favor
Winning People and Influencing Friends
2. Bounce Houses in the Neighborhood
Getting off the Couch to Make Friends
3. Peppermint-Filled Piñatas
Partying to Expand Our Influence
4. A Fellowship of Freaks
Finding a Common Cause to Create Community
5. Uncivil War
Proving That God Is Real
6. White Men Can Jump (Just Not as High)
Seeing Past Stereotypes
7. The Untouchables
Learning to See Those We Overlook
8. Compassionate Conservatives and Loving Liberals
Reaching across the Ideological Aisle
9. Lots of Sex in the City
Engaging Others in a Post-Sexual Revolution World
10. The Mosque Next Door
Building Relationships with the Religious
Conclusion: Apathetics Anonymous
Activating Personal Change
You ready to join me?
Filed under: Books, Eric Bryant, Erwin McManus, Faith, Hope, Love, Mosaic, Peppermint-Filled Piñatas
February 28, 2008 • 5:03 pm 4
It’s rare that I actually LOL, but Will Ferrell slays me.
Below is the trailer for the upcoming comedy, Step Brothers, starring Will Ferrell and John C. Reilly, to be released on July 25th, 2008.
(ht: To Be The Man + Neil Greathouse)
Filed under: Comedy, Humore, John C. Reilly, Movies, Relationships, Trailers, Will Ferrell
February 28, 2008 • 10:07 am 32
So someone comes to you and says they want to learn more about this Jesus you keep talking about. Other than the bible and personal stories, what other resources do you suggest to them?
» Books?
» Movies?
» CD’s?
» Websites?
» Podcasts?
» YouTube videos?
» Tracts?
» Pastor’s phone number?
I’m looking for specifics.
Filed under: Christianity, Outreach, Resources
February 27, 2008 • 9:47 am 7
JFK – Really late watching this release, but it was worth the 3-hour investment. Oliver Stone, I’m convinced. There was at least one more shooter.
Seabiscuit – No complaints here. Solid. Almost makes me want to watch some horse races. Almost.
Total Recall – Really, really late watching this release, but it wasn’t worth the 2-hour investment. This one was a downer.
16 Blocks – Although Mos Def’s voice got to me, this was a pretty decent flick. Exceeded all expectations.
Gone Baby Gone – Best movie I’ve seen this year, and on the short list for the last couple years. Casey Affleck is a stud, and Ben needs to stay in the directors chair.
The Last Mimzy – Thought Tanner would like it, and he did. But I thought it was a little slow, and the ending could have been much better. Felt like a contemporary E.T.
Juno – Holy cow this was a fun movie. Ellen Page was crazy good, and Jason Bateman was a bad, bad man. I’ll be owning this movie soon.
Unforgiven – It was OK. 1992 must have sucked for movies. IMHO Clint Eastwood is so much better as a director, but he does still get it done as an actor.
Darjeeling Limited – This one might have to marinate for a few more days, but I just liked it alot. I didn’t love it. Bottle Rocket and Rushmore are still my favorite Wes Anderson films.
Next in the Que: Talk To Me, No Country For Old Men, Dan In Real Life.
Filed under: Casey Affleck, Clint Eastwood, Culture, Ellen Page, Horse Racing, JFK, Movies, Oliver Stone, Reviews, Wes Anderson
February 26, 2008 • 9:38 am 2
1. Old-school design methods are failing. The pace of change among consumers and competitors has grown so fast that using a conventional process to hatch a marketing campaign, a Web site, or a new product virtually dooms it to being obsolete by the time it’s complete.
2. Innovation is the new currency. The days of a whopping marketing budget or a pretty design equaling success are over, as Blendtec has so well proved. If you’re not creating something that’s genuinely new—as well as useful and delightful—you are screwed.
3. Everyone is a creative. Your next-door neighbor can make a YouTube video or design a MySpace page that sits on an equal media playing field with anything we produce here at Avenue A Razorfish.
4. Narrative is the experience. As the Web becomes the preferred destination for brand exploration, digital experiences must become richer, deeper, and more able to tell compelling stories. If your brand experience depends entirely on pages and clicks, it’s time to wonder, “What is my story?
From a 2008 Digital Outlook Report by Avenue A | Razorfish.
(ht: Logic + Emotion)
Filed under: Advertising, Creativity, Design, Innovation, Marketing, Narrative
February 25, 2008 • 5:08 pm 8
(ht: The Man of Steel)
Filed under: Drums, Music, Piano, Stop-Motion, YouTube
February 25, 2008 • 12:35 pm 11
I never watch award shows for more than 5 minutes, but last night I ended up watching the Oscars from start to finish. It wasn’t half bad. The final award for Best Picture had me wondering how many winners I’ve actually seen. Turns out I’ve watched a little over half of the winners since I’ve been born.
*Movies I’ve haven’t seen in bold.
2007 – No Country for Old Men
2006 – The Departed
2005 – Crash
2004 – Million Dollar Baby
2003 - Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2002 - Chicago
2001 - A Beautiful Mind
2000 – Gladiator
1999 – American Beauty
1998 – Shakespeare in Love
1997 - Titanic
1996 – The English Patient
1995 – Braveheart
1994 – Forrest Gump
1993 – Schindler’s List
1992 – Unforgiven
1991 – The Silence of the Lambs
1990 – Dances with Wolves
1989 – Driving Miss Daisy
1988 – Rain Man
1987 – The Last Emperor
1986 – Platoon
1985 – Out of Africa
1984 – Amadeus
1983 – Terms of Endearment
1982 – Gandhi
1981 – Chariots of Fire
1980 – Ordinary People
1979 – Kramer vs. Kramer
1978 – The Deer Hunter
1977 – Annie Hall
1976 – Rocky
1975 – One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest
On a related note, I thought Juno and Gone Baby Gone deserved a lot more love. It’s interesting to see how the Academy gets fixated on certain films.
Filed under: Academy Awards, Culture, Hollywood, Movies, Oscars
February 25, 2008 • 12:13 am 8
Guess who’s thirty.
It’s weird to think that we’ve been together nearly half my life, but now that my sweety is switching decades it really hits home. I just can’t imagine my life without her in it. You hear the phrase thrown around all the time, but I definitely married “up”.
Happy Birthday Tonia!! Here’s to 100 more!!
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The Original Mud Puppy is a 36 year old Christ follower. Father of an amazing son. Husband of a woman that makes me a better person every single day. Book, music, and movie junkie. Avid runner. Part-time cook.
Two creeds that I try to live by are: Stop Existing and Start Living & Love Wins. (more...)
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