gelok's Xanga

bye.

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 05:11:53 GMT

Hi nobody,

I don't intend to post here anymore. If you want to reach me you can find me at stupidhead@gmail.com, except replace "stupidhead" with "dgelok". I also have a facebook that you can get me at. I might end up writing again, but right now i'm more focused on some short stories... and my family. If I do go back to blogging (in any means) i'll probably use my other site at gelok.blogspot.com. You're welcome to check that out now, but there's nothing there.

SO. Be well, and Godspeed.

Soli Deo Gloria.
-dg

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Sat, 17 Nov 2007 15:42:36 GMT

I think the American church would gain a lot of discernment if we would learn to find the line between emotion and worship. Not that the two aren't (or shouldn't be) coexistent, but that there is a very real distinction between the two. There's error on either side; some want no emotion in public worship, some don't think it's a "worship experience" if there's no 'feeling' created.

Some don't know the distinction between corporate worship and the worship which is all of life. Some refer to music alone as worship, when technically the whole service - the invocation, the sacraments, the Word, the psalms, hymns, songs - is all worship.

Some don't think that emotion in worship is dangerous. Some don't think that it's necessary. Both are wrong.

Some pick churches simply based on the effectiveness of the music to stir emotions. Some churches spend much time and money on creating that, so that those people will be drawn.

Just some thoughts. Now I need to go teach. Here, watch a robot play "giant steps".

(...as Neil Postman rolls over in his grave...)

ow.

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 23:19:06 GMT

It's amazing how you can be humbled quickly in the music world. I, for one, have always been very impressed by the playing of stacy wilson - a doctoral student at IU. I flipped over to her website today to listen and the first lick of the Denisov sonata totally slapped me in the head for letting my standards for tone and phrasing get low.

Students of mine, beware! We'll spend all lesson on one measure if we have to! Prepare to be phrased!

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 02:29:11 GMT

Hey! Can you find Mike Boatang in this commercial?

No, seriously. He's in there. The real Boatang - in the back, wearing a suit.

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

Tue, 30 Oct 2007 16:16:05 GMT

no matter which way you try to look, that guy on the corner with the "please help" sign is still there.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 21:26:29 GMT

Today I almost ran into a Bentley. Why are you driving a Bentley like a maniac? And why are you even in my apartment complex?

Also, we paid off the car the other day. Very nice. It was one of those un-ideal situations where Dave Ramsey couldn't really apply. I needed a car to work, and I needed money to get the car. But now it's all paid off anyway, so we're happy. And I bought some scotch. And now I am drinking it. And i am writing this. And you are reading this. And I will now continue to enjoy my afternoon.

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Sat, 20 Oct 2007 02:37:04 GMT

OK, i'm back. I bet you missed me. I bet you were checking the site every day for the past however-long, just pining for new material.

actually, according to my footprints, you weren't. That's ok. Apparently somebody in Japan was though. Hi.

The reason I asked about the Billy Collins poetry video (linked below) is because it's odd. Specifically, I think most people would watch it and go, "man, why did they pick THAT guy to do the voice?" He's not dramatic, and his voice is not particularly resonant. He sounds like an accountant! ...at least, that's what I thought upon hearing it.

The reader is Billy Collins himself. And unfortunately, my dad is mistaken: he's not six, he's been the poet laureate of the US... twice. : )

So we're sitting here going, "this isn't the best it could be." But the thing is, that dude with the 'sub-par' voice actually WROTE the poem, along with hundreds more worthy of consideration. The trouble is, it's not good entertainment.

I don't have time to re-write the entire book, but I strongly recommend that everyone out there read Neil Postman's book Amusing Ourselves to Death. Probably the most fascinating read I've come across as an adult... and I started reading it shortly after posting that video. I finished reading it about two days later, because I couldn't put it down. A summary might sound boring - it's all about how society has shifted from a written-word based culture to an image-based culture, and how shifts in media have trained our minds to understand the world, particularly by replacing content with entertainment.

One result? We look at poetry only when it's attached to a video, and then evaluate it based on the fact that the producer chose poorly when picking the actor to read. Now, I'm not knocking anybody; that's exactly what I did when watching the video. Of course, I watched the video because I already loved Billy Collins. But, still... get my point?

Anyway, Postman writes this extremely entertaining (heh) book without being preachy at all. It's one cohesive thought from beginning to end, and each chapter deals with a different aspect of culture or society or etc. to illustrate his point. I highly recommend it, and I won't do it the injustice of trying to rearticulate all his points.

And, hey, if you do read it, call me so we can talk about it.

what do you think?

Sun, 23 Sep 2007 22:05:47 GMT

You might know that I'm a fan of Billy Collins' poetry. I found this on youtube recently - what do you think?

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Sat, 15 Sep 2007 20:50:17 GMT

the hold steady is the bestest band ever. No, it's my newest bestest band ever.

I have no idea why I keep this xanga page. I never write anything.

Here, watch some hold steady. Letterman lies, though - they're very much from Minneanapolis. I don't know how you can screw that one up.

Monday, September 03, 2007

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 18:49:15 GMT

There are a few things that make life awesome. A day off, Thunderstorms, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Harmony Guitars. Since I am enjoying all four today, I figured I'd share the only one I can give via internet. Therefore, enjoy some The Darkness.