Culturemaker(s)

The Rise of Ryan (Gosling)

2012-02-06T14:29:00.001-05:00

From Editor-In-Chief Ryan Huber

There are few legitimate movie stars in Hollywood these days. Don't get me wrong, there are great actors, famous people, heart-throbs, and plenty of mid-level stars to go around. But movie stars, serious, box-office busting, can't-miss, guaranteed profit movie stars are few and far between. Even such stalwarts as Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts have had less-than-stellar returns in recent years.

Don't worry Steve; you're a super-duper star to me.

The only real super-duper star these days is Will Smith, who seems to hit pretty much every demographic almost every time he puts out a new film. He's the guy who carries the gun, the guy who gets the Oscar buzz, the guy parents don't mind their kids seeing. He can do action, sci-fi, drama, comedy, and romance. Right now, he doesn't even have competition for biggest movie star in the world. Tom Cruise is past his prime, Leo DiCaprio basically just does quality rated-R drama work, and there aren't any dominant comedy box-office draws the likes of Eddie Murphy in the 80's. No, he doesn't have any competition right now, but soon, he might (Brad Pitt and George Cloony have been close).

Why yes, my movies have made
$5.7 billion in global box offices

Meet Ryan Gosling. Ryan Gosling, the guy from The Notebook? Yes, the guy from The Notebook. Also the guy from Crazy, Stupid, Love, Blue Valentine, Drive, and The Ides of March. That's a great romantic comedy, a critically acclaimed indie flick, a dramatic action film, and a political thriller that put Gosling into award-season discussions with co-star George Cloony. He has 4 Golden Globe nominations and an Oscar nomination since 2007. If Gosling puts out a blockbuster family film or straight-up comedy in the next few years and keeps doing what he's doing, he might vault into the Will Smith Level Movie Super Duper Star conversation.

Gosling already has the movie-star good looks, the female fan base, the good-guy reputation, and the pure charisma necessary to pull it off. He even breaks up fights on the streets of New York City. He's 32 years old,so he could conceivably have a decade or two of leading man prime in front of him. Heck, he could be the next Harrison Ford, for all we know (look at 1977 to 1997; he's dominant).

Will Ryan Gosling become the world's next Super Duper star? What do you think? Who do you think is next? What do we want from our movie stars, and why? You tell me.

You can follow him on twitter, here.

Music Review: Kids

2012-02-04T16:25:00.000-05:00

From Contributing Editor Jon Ballard

All children are artists.

The problem is how to remain

an artist once he grows up.

-Pablo Picasso

You ever wish you were a child? I do. Almost daily in fact. It’s almost too clever that my friend Josh and his band renamed themselves Kids. It’s almost too perfect.
When I first heard the name, it didn't make a lot of sense. But then the music started and it was like remembering where I grew up and the first time I tasted ice cream, or saw a beautiful girl that made my heart skip. If you have ever seen the movie Sandlot, or had the privilege of growing up, then you can indulge with me in the idea of how great it was to be a child. It wasn't just the simplicity, or the lack of care, as much as the fact that we thought we could do anything. We day dreamed, we played, we fought, we cried, and we all believed we could fly. Whatever “Kids” intended to happen when you listen to their new “EP” the mission of making me never want to grow up was a success. I’m proud to introduce you all to an incredible band, and their new EP:

KIDS - "Sink Or Swim"
5 out of 5 Glockenspiels

“Alive” starts off with electric guitars blaring, and the voice of Josh Diaz (lead vocals, bass) blaring in your ear and causing an instant visual lyric by lyric. If a goal of any musician is to get you to experience what ever they experienced when writing and playing, this band accomplishes that in every way. They do an incredible job of making you not just a spectator, but a part of the song.

The guitars and drums on “Columbus” are incredible. This music is constantly moving, upbeat and painting a picture with every word. This song is heavier then the last. “It’s not that I wanted to hurt you, it’s that I was looking for an easy way out.”

The band does an incredible job at mixing instruments and synth, which is a reason I have always loved these guys. They don’t make simple songs.

Josh sings over and over, “It’s just a matter of, time” This song is about a relationship that didn’t go right, and as Josh sings about sinking faster in this love disaster, it’s hard to miss the lyrics, because the song is so well crafted. But that’s a lot like love isn't it? Sometimes you miss the fact that you’ve been sinking for some time.

“Run Home Jack” starts of slow, but catchy. Josh’s voice resonates with you on the entire EP. You feel whatever he is singing. The melody to this song is delightful.

“Sink or Swim” the title track, starts off with wonderful harmonies, and kicks into an incredible verse. This song is poetry in motion.

“Chasing these horizons, never quite arriving, could be just a matter of timing, for all that I know,”

the background vocals repeating “Sink or keep swimming.” And while we may just be chasing horizons, by the end of this track, you are left wanting to keep swimming.

Like a good movie, this EP ends leaving you wanting more. The four guys from Kids want us to know that they are here to stay. Each of these tracks, are hand crafted and the attention to detail is noteworthy. This album reminded me of a bunch of things, Why being a kid is great is definitely one of them, and the other? The joy of listening to great music. This is a band worth listening to tonight, wherever you are off too. Their music is fun, but it’s packed with words that leave you thinking long after the music stops. Check out their music, below.

Check out Kids here:

www.longlivedthekids.com

www.kidsband.bigcartel.com

Don Draper and Jack Donaghy: Rich White Guys We Love to...Love?

2012-01-30T15:32:00.000-05:00

From Editor-In-Chief Ryan Huber

In many ways, it's always a good time to be rich, white, and male. But in the United States of America, these days, it's not a great time to be rich, white, and male if you also want to be popular. Occupy Wall-Street, the Tea Party, the media, and anyone hurt by the recession of 2008 and its aftermath don't seem to be flying the Rich White Guy flag right now. These guys used to be the ones people looked up to, aspired to become, but nowadays, they seem to be about as in demand as Mel Gibson at a Hollywood house party. In other words, it seems like many in the U.S. love to hate the well-dressed, slick-haired male of European descent whom most people simply address as "Yes, sir."

There is one thing that does fly in the face of this theory, though. Actually, more like two things. I submit to you Misters Draper and Donaghy: two successful, handsome, charming, arrogant, rich, white, businessmen. Sure, one made a killing in the 60's and the other in the new Millennium, one on Madison Avenue and one at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, and their exploits among the ladies aren't necessarily identical (Jack dallies among the famous while Don seems to have at times very few standards at all), but there are enough

similarities to ask the question: Why are these guys so popular?


"Listen, I'm not here to tell you about Jesus."

The counter-argument will come swift and sure; the characters aren't popular, their shows are. Really? Who carries their respective shows? A second counter-punch flies: We love these guys because they are ridiculous (Donaghy) or simply outrageous (Draper) in their behavior. Maybe. Maybe we just like the spectacle. Maybe even liberal populists love to laugh at the witticisms of the Republican Donaghy and the excesses of the uber-capitalists at Sterling Copper Draper Pryce. But is there something more? Do the (comic and dramatic) portrayals of Jack and Don actual serve to humanize them, to put a face on the hated rich white guy?

Liz: "I always forget you used to be poor."
Jack: "Thank you."

Maybe it's that both Jack and Dick...um, I mean, Don, represent "rags to riches" or "up by the bootstraps" narratives that most Americans find appealing. Maybe it's that both are "really, really, ridiculously good looking" and we simply can't hate them, because we have been taught that attractive people are also necessarily good people. Maybe it's that we wish we could get away with the things they say and do. Or maybe it's that the stories in which they live allow us to relate to them as people; people with problems, flaws, and who have hard or shameful things in their past. Jack didn't grow up with his father, and eventually learned that he didn't even know who his father was. Don's family life wasn't exactly ideal growing up either. They both screwed up marriages and other relationships due to their own idiocy and the flaws of the women they loved. They show flashes of real humanity through their thick, businesslike sheen. There are people (women, actually) that they care about, mentor, look after, and (huh?) aren't trying to sleep with.

Don't drag me into this.

Maybe part of many of us also identifies with the "no whining" policies of these men. We know how unjust the world can be, we know how the strong prey on the week, but sometimes we're also sick of hearing people's sob stories and excuses. We hate the arrogance, ignorance, and greed of these rich white guys, but there is something alluring and real about them with which many can't help but identify. At the end of the day, judging a book by its cover probably isn't the way to live a life; Bill gates is a rich white guy who most people seem to like a great deal, for example. Also, it's easy to hate someone when you don't really know who they are; it's harder to do so when you realize that they are human beings after all. Maybe there is some wisdom to be learned from corporate raiders, greedy capitalists, and Mad(ison) men. They may be the 1%, but that doesn't mean the rest of us, the 99%, can't watch and learn. And maybe other rich white guys can learn to laugh at themselves, reflect on the consequences of their actions, and learn along with us. Who knows, maybe even Mitt Romney can learn a thing or two from Jack and Don.

Running: The Plan

2012-01-27T15:30:00.000-05:00

From Contributing Editor Katie Coughlin

The New Year comes with resolutions. Most people, in one form or another, have a resolution to become healthier, or more active. The question becomes, "how am I going to achieve the goal I have set for myself?"

This year I have set a goal to become a runner. Yes, a runner.

At this moment, no, I am not a runner. I am active but I would rather do dance, spin, yoga, Pilates, or walk. In fact, I HATE running!

However, as a young married woman that doesn’t have much time or money, running is my cheapest and most convenient option. I can run anywhere and pretty much at any time. I know, I hate running, but like the Bible says in 1 Corinthians 9:27, “I discipline my body and make it my slave, so after I have preached to others I myself will not be disqualified." It is time to tell my body what to do and not let my emotions or feeling dictate my behavior.

Back in December I decided I needed a running plan. I need a plan so that I can accomplish my long-term goal by reaching short term goals. A plan helps you do that by spelling out what you need to do every week.

Here are some running plans I found during my research:

Personal Running Trainer: This iphone application and website (personalrunningtrainer.com) brings a running plan right to your phone or computer. You are able to choose between a 1 mile, 5k, 10k, half-marathon, or marathon plan depending on your ability level. The app costs about $2.99 per plan. The plan is a pre-made plan that requires about 3 to 4 days per week of running. The lengths of the plans vary based on the intensity of the goal. For example, it is 4 weeks to a 1-mile or 8 weeks to a 5k plan. The personal instructor tells you over your itunes or Pandora when to walk, jog, run, or sprint. He gives you audio directions so you can focus on your running and not on reading or looking at the time on your watch.

Imap My Run: This application and website is for walkers, runners and bikers to monitor their length distance and speed. The application uses the GPS on your phone track your location. You are able to program the app to tell you when you have hit a certain mile, how long it took you to run that mile, and your current miles per hour. You can also share your run with friends. You can see where people in your city have run and if you beat their time doing the same route it lets that person know. This application is free! It is for the runner who can challenge him or herself by simply out doing their personal best every time.

Cool Running: No mon this isn’t the Disney movie from the 90’s mon. This website coolrunning.com provides you with a physical print out of a running plan. The plan requires 3 times a week and is free. It is a for beginner runners who are more into paper plans than electronic plans. It is very well put together and again is free.

Setting goals for yourself is wonderful. Remember that people perish without a vision. We will not be able to fulfill our dreams without realistic goals and a plan in place to succeed. I will end with some ways to help you keep to your running plan:

1. Tell a friend: Tell a friend your plan and when you are planning to do it. This will keep you accountable to keep it up.

2. Run with a friend: This may be humbling at first but you will both push each other and again hold once another accountable.

3. Make your goals realistic: Too lofty of a goal will only set you up for failure. Make your goals very attainable and then go for the next goal.

4. Reward yourself: After you have reach a short-term goal reward yourself with something small. The harder the goal is, create a bigger reward.

5. Do it for your spiritual life: Nothing is like doing it with God in mind. Reminding yourself it is for the benefit of your relationship with Him that your are beating your body into submission is a beautiful thing.

Book Review: Too Big to Fail

2012-01-25T14:31:00.004-05:00

From Guest Contributor Lauren Collman

Too Big To Fail should become prerequisite summer reading for students of business and anyone else who wants to understand what happened when our economy collapsed in 2008. Written by Andrew Ross Sorkin of the New York Times, the book seeks to capture a picture of humanity in peril.

What I loved about this book is the news-style, detailed-filled recounting of each ticking hour leading up to the most historic financial crisis since the Great Depression. Sorkin is not one to ellaborate past the facts, and I felt his willingness to portray the big shots on Wall Street as the multi-dimensional human beings they are...well it was quite refreshing.
I love documentaries for the non-fiction dose of history each explores, but my husband will tell you watching with me is never a relaxing experience (… I’m not short on commentary). So many accounts avoid the challenges of telling the “other side of the story,” and veer so far to one extreme point of view that I’m left finding the entire presentation difficult to believe. I’m constantly offended that movie makers assume western audiences will buy into their point of view without offering a little credence to the difficulties present in every situation.

Getting jobbed while watching "documentaries?"

Let me be a little more concrete and say that as a student of the business world I recently watched the film Inside Job. Unlike many other retellings of the financial crisis, the movie presented a very clear picture to those who are not savvy to financial instruments and jargon. Unfortunately, if you fit into that category you will also be led to believe Dick Fuld (former CEO of Lehman Brothers) is the Antichrist and anyone who teaches economics at the collegiate level is evil. The movie presents some truth, but never balances the scales, and I feel it takes advantage of the minds of those who don’t understand the complexities of the subject matter.

Fortunately, Too Big To Fail is also accessible to the average American. You may need a graph to keep all the characters straight, but this book is packed with scene-by-scene portrayals of the most important meetings and hallway conversations. Sorkin leveraged his relationships at the New York Times to interview hundreds of eyewitnesses on the promise that no personal sources would be revealed. The result is a step-by-step walk through each emotion and trial. Too Big To Fail is a book about humanity. Sorkin presents the good and the bad of each character by sticking to his reporting roots. I was blown away by the empathy I felt for some of the most cut-throat CEOs who contributed to the financial crisis. People are human; they are sinful and wicked, and sometimes they make horrible decisions in earnest. This was the story Sorkin reported. Men and women who had our nation’s economic wellfare in their hands, who never quite knew what the right moves were.

Lauren Collman holds a BA in finance from the University of Central Florida. She is a professional and an MBA student who lives near Orlando, Fl, with her husband Ryan. She loves to cook, knit, and read.

Another look at the Financial Crisis:

Movie Review: The Artist

2012-01-24T14:01:00.003-05:00

From Deputy Editor Jessica Rae Huber

I recently watched The Artist, and the longer I ruminate the more depth I find in it. The first thing to know about this film is that it is a (mostly) silent film. It is a striking decision for a filmmaker to make during our current era; as is the choice to shoot in the old 4:3 screen aspect ratio of that time.

The Plot:
The story centers around the famous silent film actor, George Valentin, and his rough transition into the "talkie" film era. His unwillingness or inability to talk on camera holds him back. He watches a young actress, Peppy Miller, rise to success, after he helped her in her first steps on the way to stardom. He struggles with his pride through all of her attempts to help him succeed again.

Pros:
My favorite part of this film experience was how it took me out of the conventions of movie watching that I have been taught by most other films. Most people do not pay attention to the sound detail in movies. There is a scene/dream sequence where George starts hearing the objects around him make noise. The audience is honed in on the sound of his glass hitting the table like a spot of light in a dark room. The absence of sound is stark as is the absence of dialogue screens. They did not spell out every sentence of every character as I am used to from older silent films. This leaves the audience filling in the holes of the story and conversation by keenly following their body language and gestures.

Cons:
I would not call this an 'easy view' film. There are several levels that this film speaks on. There is the basic, cute story level, the next level of realizing you're watching a silent film, and a deeper level where the film is essentially performing a tongue-in-cheek commentary on classic (and more contemporary) Hollywood cinema. When you watch this film, adopt the attitude you would when visiting a museum, or reading Charles Dickens. If you are not prepared to watch this film deeply, I suggest that you will not experience a high level of enjoyment.

Music:
Music played a large role in this film, and filled in the holes where dialogue and sound were absent. The composer, Ludovic Bource, did a masterful job using his music as, essentially, another character in the movie. I wanted to analyze the music and how well it works throughout the movie in detail, but thinking of it as a character is the most complete description I can come up with. Bource has already won himself a Golden Globe for this score which could be a foreshadowing of more accolades.

I asked my friend Sarah Schneider, who viewed this film with me, to share her expert opinion...
While The Artist may meet all the criteria for a pretentious Oscar-contending film--foreign director with tricky last name, leads unknown in the States, "arty" gimmick (black and white AND silent)--it's saved by its self-aware corniness and sincere love for films. Even if the overdramatic scenes aren't for everyone, it's hard to deny that this film has heart. It's also no surprise why Jean Dujardin picked up Best Actor at Cannes and the Golden Globes. While I can't say that his is by far the best performance of the season, he commands the screen, demonstrating why audiences in the film fell in love with George Valentine. His classic movie star good looks make him the actor we all recognize (Grant, Peck, Mitchum), but also the guy we've never seen before and want more of (though fans of OSS 117 may recognize him). Similarly, Bérénice Bejo lives up to Peppy Miller's name and plays the rising star with unapologetic pluck. (This film is also all the proof needed to get the powers that be to add a Best Supporting Dog category to every major awards show. Seriously. That dog will be your favorite part.)

The similarities this film bears to Singin' in the Rain or Sunset Boulevard are clear but still don't detract from The Artist's own story. The Hollywood wink-winks are part of the whole silent-but-not-really package--much like Singin', this film hits the hokey notes at just the right time and to great effect.

Sarah is a Writing, Lit and Publishing major at Emerson College. She tweets at @srahschneider

Here at Culturemaker(s) we're giving it a 4 1/2 Gosling rating.

Overall, I highly recommend this film. It is a refreshing step outside the realm of normal Hollywood fare. Willingly enter the journey it wishes to take you on, and you will not be disappointed.

The Definition of an (Internet) Argument

2012-01-20T14:11:00.000-05:00

From Editor-In-Chief Ryan Huber

I have a love/hate relationship with internet-based arguments. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and thousands of other online forums are often sites of conflict ranging from comical to professional to absurd. Trolling and lolz aside, people (including myself) can get very passionate when expressing or responding to positions on religion, politics, economics, and various other important items such as Tim Tebow's virginity or Casey Anthony's hair color.

As an argument connoisseur, I have to spit most of these arguments into the bucket almost immediately upon consumption. For instance, anyone trying to make a complex political or philosophical point using Twitter is either a genius or a moron, spreading their wealth (or lack) of knowledge liberally about in 140-character increments. Some arguments do rise to the level of palatable, and on rare occasions people come to see more eye-to-eye and leave having actually nuanced their positions and participated in constructive dialogue. More often they devolve into "shouting" matches or sarcasm rodeos in which all parties are covered in face paint and animal dung.

Ambiguous terms make me sad.

I have seen a common thread in many of the arguments which have resulted in something positive, which echoes the principles I have learned in "real life" speech and debate training. The most absurd arguments lacked this component just as surely as the competent or useful dialogues and debates utilized it. What am I talking about, you ask?

Definitions.

Most arguing, whether high or low brow, is mostly a conversation about definitions. Most people don't discover this until the end of a successful argument, and many never do realize it and walk away in frustration over the idiocy of their opponent.

All of this could be avoided.

To help the general tone of the internet, to save you a load of frustration, and to shorten and sharpen your arguments, debates, and conversations, allow me to propose a few rules or tips for waging internet conflict (I have broken many of these in the past):

1) Know Your Space

Don't use Twitter to argue. 140 Characters is just enough to make yourself sound like a jackass to anyone who's read a book on what you're ranting about. Know that a good debate or discussion will become a monster thread on Facebook. If you don't want to be embarrassed, take the discussion private if it starts to get too heated. If you know the person, propose a physical meeting, like coffee or lunch, or a physical duel, to resolve your conflict.

Ecclesiastes 10:14 - Yet the fool multiplies words...

2) Don't Be a Jerk

Sarcasm comes off even worse online than it does in person. People can read tone into your words, so you may always come off like a petulant child, rather than a clever British comedian. Don't insult people personally, name-call, or try to make yourself out as some sort of expert in the field; experts don't argue on Facebook, they write professional journal articles and publish books.

What do you mean by "Virgin?"

Proverbs 29:11 - A fool always loses his temper, But a wise man holds it back.

3) Define Terms

If you are in the appropriate space and neither person is being a jerk, try defining terms early on in the conversation or argument. Ask questions like "What do you mean when you say..." or "Could you say that in a different way?" or "Could you give me an example?" This way, you don't waste hours fighting only to figure out that you were using a different definition of "religion" or "capitalism" (there are many). Do you mean "liberal" in the contemporary American sociopolitical sense, or the European political sense?When you say "religion," do you just mean all the bad things everyone has ever done while justifying them with some reference to "God's will" or the divine rights of kings? Do you mean the reading of chicken entrails in the Roman Empire or what Mother Theresa did in Calcutta? You get the point.

Proverbs 29:20 - Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

4) Know When to Quit

Sometimes it's just not worth it. Wish everyone a good day and take your leave. There's a point at which you and everyone else involved in an unproductive discussion are wasting a ton of time and energy accomplishing exactly nothing.Many times, this comes at the very beginning of the discussion, sometimes it's after you already wasted an hour worrying about something that doesn't matter. This is the rule I break most often, but I have been improving in recent years.

This isn't worth it.

Proverbs 20:3 - Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel.

Those four rules should suffice for raising the level of our internet discussions and conflicts, but also remember these: never compare anyone to Hitler, the Nazis, never cite the Holocaust as an analogy, and never call someone a racist. You cannot win an argument that way and you may lose your job if you do.

Proverbs 26:4 - Do not answer a fool according to his folly, Or you will also be like him.

So define your terms, know your space, and don't be a jerk. Discuss, argue, and debate all you want...until it's time to walk. Don't get pulled into the vortex that is internet arguments, because the definition of an internet argument can quickly become:

a waste of time.

Urban Farming

2012-01-18T12:04:00.000-05:00

From Contributing Editor Katie Coughlin

My Home Garden

Farming has been around as long as we can remember. The Bible says that Adam was the first farmer. In the book of Genesis, it was the only way to get food and take care of his family. So we know that is has been around for a very long time.

Growing up in South Florida didn’t provide me with very many opportunities to be exposed to farming or growing food. My idea of gardening has always been, "let’s go to Home Depot and get some flowers and replant them in front of our house." If I was going to get eggs, fruits, vegetables, or herbs I would always go to the grocery store and every once in a while go to a fresh market.

By 2015 about 26 cities in the world are expected to have a population of 10 million or more. To feed a city of this size at least 6,600 tons of food must be imported each day.

However, about a year ago my brother in law, who lives in Seattle, decided to build a chicken coop and began raising a couple of hens for their eggs. He really enjoyed it. There really is nothing like waking up to fresh eggs every morning. He also has a very nice garden where he doesn’t grow flowers but vegetables and fruits that are in season. He lives off his land. But he lives in a big city and in practically downtown. How is he doing this?

People call it Urban Agriculture. Urban agriculture can be defined shortly as the growing of plants and the raising of animals within and around cities. Major cities such as New York City, Seattle, Chicago and Miami are getting involved with urban agriculture in several ways:

1. Green Fresh Markets: This is when many locals bring their fresh typically homemade produce and products for sale. These markets help the urban poor and low-income residents produce an income. Many cities are finding that the community would rather support the locals than big businesses.

50% of the world's population lives in cities.

2. Community Gardens:

Chicago

This happens when a large city allows people with not much land to purchase a plot of land for planting. Many times this will be part of a beautification process. We in Fort Lauderdale have one at Marando Farms in downtown. It is very nice and many locals are growing amazing vegetables.

800 million people are involved in urban agriculture world-wide and contribute to feeding urban residents.

Amsterdam

3. Individual Gardens: Many people, including myself, are very blessed to have enough land to have our own garden (and a soon-to-be chicken coop). It is really rewarding when you are able to walk outside and know that you are planting and farming to provide food for your family. Knowing that I no longer have to give my money to the big grocery store where they are picking the produce very early and chemically bringing them to ripening. Fresh chicken eggs are very rich in taste and just so good. Chickens don’t require too much maintenance and don’t require much space so they are perfect for urban farming.

Growing up in Fort Lauderdale I certainly never predicted that I would be growing food and raising chickens. However, it is very rewarding, and I am excited to see a year from now what will come of both the garden and chickens.

250 million hungry people in the world live in cities

Jesus used many illustrations that involve farmers and growing plants. The Bible was full of agrarian or farm-related illustrations and concepts. Maybe by participating in some of these food-growing activities, we can better understand what scriptures written thousands of years ago are trying to say to us. It also seems like a way for us to be better stewards of the space, time, money, and energy we have been given, and better caretakers of our bodies as well. If you get the opportunity, take a chance and get your hands dirty, and you might get more than just fruits and veggies in return.

Golden Globes 2012: In Review

2012-01-16T21:50:00.002-05:00

From Deputy Editor Jessica Rae Huber

A few years ago I fell in love with awards season. I attribute this partially to my searching for something to fill the large Christmas void left in my existence every new year.

The Golden Globes starts the season off with Hollywood's self-proclaimed party night and last night did not disappoint. (It was also 7 degrees Fahrenheit here in the Northeast last night, so staying in was pretty much the only acceptable activity)

Here are a few favorite things from last night:

1. Ricky Gervais

I was astounded and delighted to hear that Ricky was hosting for the third year in a row. He insulted almost everyone in the room last year along with everyone outside the room who you're not supposed to upset. There is something refreshing about someone who just does not care. He does what he wants. Maybe this is why The Hollywood Foreign Press invited him back for more punishment (that and he rakes in the ratings).

Here is a clip from one of my favorite Ricky moments last night. He openly mocks Johnny Depp again over THFP's decision to nominate him last year for The Tourist.

2. Christopher Plummer
Christopher won the best supporting actor award for his role in Beginners. He is one of those actors that maintains a constant grace about him. It could be the fact that he's English, but I attribute his manner mainly to his expertise as an actor. He gave one of the most dignified speeches of the night, and finished it with the one of the best lines I've ever heard.

"...A fair lady called Elaine, my wife of 43 years, whose bravery and beauty haunts me still..."

3. Sidney Poitier & Morgan Freeman

Sidney Poitier took the stage to present the Cecile B. DeMille award to its latest recipient: Morgan Freeman. There was a silence that fell in the room, which had previously been busy mingling, that quickly erupted into a vigorous standing ovation. This was before Morgan Freeman even came on stage. It was incredible to see a man who has earned so much respect because of his level of excellence. There was another thunderous response when Morgan stepped up to accept the award. This was one moment where the Globes shined this year. Who better to present this award to him? The two of them shared a moment on stage where neither said anything, yet somehow said everything.

I sat back and thought about why these moments and people stuck out to me. Why does it matter that Ricky Gervais is blatantly honest? What is significant about two older men, experts at their craft, standing in front of their peers and honoring the life of one? How is it possible for a man to convey the depth of a 43 year relationship with his wife in 17 words?

Celebrating human achievement and ability is important. It gives us a barometer of ourselves, the people we admire, and the culture as a whole. It helps us to more fully understand who we are in relation to our culture. For good or for ill, we can use award shows to compare our own tastes with those of the "cultural elite."

For me, these moments resonated because they told me part of the deeper story of the people who create such art. When I watch films with these actors in the future I will have a deeper understanding of where they're coming from with their performance.

In the midst of a whirlwind of celebrity gossip, fashion fodder, and insanely stupid famous blather I will always try to peek through the cracks and see the real art, the real humans, and most importantly: the real Truth.

These three parts of the night felt real and honest. Plummer made me look at my marriage and wonder if I will say the same thing about my husband after 43 years. Freeman and Poitier's lives' works spur me on to be excellent at what I do. Ricky Gervais challenged my problem of caring too much what others think.

I look forward to more of these thought-provoking moments as awards season continues.

Cliche New Year's Resolutions Post or What Jesus and Oprah Have in Common

2012-01-03T11:18:00.001-05:00

From Contributing Editor Ryan Collman

What a nice looking man.

It's that time of year again when everyone figures out what they don't like about their lives and we make our lists to plan on improving them. At some point we all want to be healthier or exercise more. Maybe you want to get into new rhythms or habits. Some of us have decided to watch less TV and maybe read more often. Whatever it is, at some point we've all thought that the new year is a great time to make a change.

From the world of social statistics we know that most resolutions don't last more than a few weeks or months. So what can we do about that? What are things that we can set our eyes on?

This week, one of my pastors preached on this very topic, but it wasn't in a Joel Osteen "Your Best Life Now" or "10 Steps to a Better You" kind of way. What he did was focus on what Jesus has done and how we find identity in Him. You see, when we make these resolutions to do x-y-z we generally make it about us. How can I _____? More often than not we place the big issues of who we are on what we do and not on what Jesus has done. Now I don't want to knock living healthy lives, focusing more on family and all of the other perfectly good resolutions many people have made but we need to look at the heart of these resolutions and the purpose of them. Ultimately, for the Christian, our resolutions should ultimately all serve as a means to glorify God and find our identity in Him. When we are resolved to live more healthy lives it shouldn't necessarily be for our own gain but rather to be better stewards of what we have been given. If we are resolved to read the Bible more, pray more or live "better" lives it should not be out of vain conceit, but to grow in our understanding of the Gospel and who God is. More often than not we make it about us. In the past two days I've already heard a handful of people speak about how they want to be better people this year. My first inclination is to ask, "what does that even mean?" but also to understand what the motivation of the individual is.

Often our resolutions lead us into an identity crisis. We fail to meet our goals or keep up with our new plans. Plainly put, we let ourselves down. When we place our identity in our performance or what we do we will ultimately let ourselves down because we make it about ourselves. When we do this we wind up in despair. Resolution number one for the Christian should be to find identity in the work of Christ and not in our own works. It's the difference between religion and the Gospel. Are we accepted on the basis of our actions or do our actions reflect that we are accepted because of Christ's work? This is a constant every-day battle that we must continually remind ourselves of. We must remember the work of the cross and find our identity in that and not in our own doings.

I always resolve to grow more hair this year.

Tim Keller once wrote "The gospel is the good news of changed lives. Paul says to Christians, ‘your life is hid with Christ in God’ (Col 3:3), and in numerous places he says that we are now ‘in Him.’ This means, on the one hand, that the Father accepts us in Christ and treats us as if we had done all that Jesus has done (cf. Col 3:2a). But this is also means Christ’s life comes into us by the Spirit and shapes us into a new kind of person. The gospel is not just a truth about us that we affirm with our minds, it is also a reality we must experience in our hearts and souls… Christ wins our salvation through losing, achieves power through weakness and service, and comes to wealth via giving all away. Those who receive his salvation are not the strong and accomplished but those who admit that they are weak and lost. This pattern creates an ‘alternate kingdom’ or ‘city’ (Matt.5:14-16) in which there is a complete reversal of the values of the world with regard to power, recognition, status, and wealth. When we understand that we are saved by sheer grace through Christ, we stop seeking salvation in these things. The reversal of the cross, therefore, liberates us from bondage to the power of material things and worldly status in our lives."

Oprah be thy name.

This will probably never happen again, but today I happened to stumble onto the Doctor Oz show. His special New Year's guest was none other than the self-help guru herself, Oprah. I was immediately captivated by this because I am always intrigued to hear about her vague spirituality and musings with Deepak Chopra. As I weeded through the vapid "live your destiny and find purpose in your heart because the universe is warm and fuzzy" silliness, Oprah said one very important thing about change. (Be sure to remember this moment, the only time I will probably positively quote Ms. Winfrey) She noted that when we desire to change we need "intention that is bigger than the moment." And I completely agree. When we resolve to do anything, we need intention that will actually cause us to do that thing or else we will forget about it. Out of sight, out of mind. If we are going to live lives out of our identity in Christ we need to be intentional about it. It won't just simply happen.

May we find our identity in the finished work of Christ this year.

Colossians 2:6-10

"Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just las you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ. For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority."

On the Tenth Day of Blogmas...

2011-12-27T12:38:00.001-05:00

Welcome to our last day of Culturemaker(s) Blogmas, our celebration of the top 10 entries of the year. Last but certainly not least is the three-part series by Rick Deal on dating, the Friend Zone, and youth group culture. I think he speaks honestly and personally about a topic which many Christians have thought about and experienced, including myself. So sit down with your new I-Pad or eat some leftovers, and enjoy this illuminating and clever foray into the Friend Zone.

Ryan Huber

Editor-In-Chief

The Friend Zone 3-Part Series

From contributing editor Rick Deal

Do nice guys really finish last? Or is that what we tell ourselves to justify never running?

I debated on whether or not to write this, because I generally don’t open up about personal things to a great many people, and I especially don’t do it to the Internet at large. And for me to write anything of value on this topic, I have to get personal. But despite my apprehensions, the topic has come up a lot in recent conversation, and there’s a handful of things that I wish I would have known a decade or so ago. So even though this will be personal, and pretty much make me look like a dork (this is from the guy who wrote the Superman article by the way) I’m throwing in my two cents, if they’re even worth that. So here it goes, my name is Rick, and I’m a nice guy.

We've all heard the saying “nice guys finish last;” I've personally said it many times, but I've only in the last year or so begun to wonder if it’s actually true. Or is there something more happening here that we’re missing? Most girls will tell you that they don’t want to date a, um...what’s an accurate word that’s also socially acceptable? Hmm, lets compromise and call them D-Bags. And yet I've lost count of how many intelligent, Godly, and otherwise discerning young woman I've seen fall for total D-bags. They were waiting for their prince charming, and they settled for the first toad that wanted to the kiss them. What happened?

We must address this Situation

It leaves me to wonder; how many "nice guys” actually approached them and gave them another option? Is it possible that the reason why the jerks always seem to get the girl is because they're the ones who actually make their intentions known? Instead of just waiting around for things to just magically happen? Let’s be honest, "nice guys," this is sort of our M.O. And it’s certainly what I spent most of my life doing.

Now the answer of whether this is the issue, or if girls really do just opt for jerks, does in fact not have an answer. Because I have personally observed both to be true, it all just depends on the situation and the people involved. There are plenty of girls/women who are struck in self destructive cycles of only seeking men who treat them terribly, and shut out guys who actually care about them (we’ll be talking more about this in next week’s blog: The Friend Zone) but we can’t say this goes for the entire gender. Such a sweeping generalization would be both inaccurate and ridiculous. So why then this disconnect?

Frankly, I think it has less to do with girls/women not liking “nice guys” than it does with them not liking cowards.

Unfortunately, the term "nice guy" has become synonymous with such words as: spineless, cowardly, doormat, indecisive, etc. And not without good reason, we have allowed this to happen. This is particularly prevalent in Christian circles; girls (much of the time) want to be pursued, and (evangelical) Christian culture encourages this. However, Christian guys are usually not taught how to pursue girls with respect and purity; we’re not taught to pursue at all. We’re taught to be everyone’s big brother and protector, and essentially told that things will eventually fall into place on their own. So it’s no real wonder that guys are left scratching their heads after being there for a girl for so long, only to see them swept off their feet by a D-Bag because he actually pursued them.

I realize that it should be obvious to us that doing and saying nothing will in fact avail us nothing. And yes, I know this now, and I freely admit that I’m slower on the uptake here than a lot of people. But I also know I’m not the only one just now coming to grips with the fact that I was raised and taught to be a “nice guy,” for all its good and bad. But the past is the past, and all we can do is learn, take responsibility for our lives and our choices, and move forward.

Yes.

Sadly, I believe it may be too late to salvage the phrase “nice guy.” Like how after the whole Vista fiasco Microsoft just gave up on the name and released Windows 7. We need a fresh start, so here’s my suggestion; Good men. It's simple and rather self-explanatory, and tells us more than just the demeanor and gender of the subject. To call someone nice tells you little more than their temperament. But to call someone good speaks more of the total person. It speaks of their reputation and character, and applies a moral expectation. You wouldn't say: "He's a good man, but he beats his wife." Or "He's a good man, but you just can't trust him."

Next, it classifies you as man, not a boy, or a guy, but a man. And this carries deeper implications than you might think. Of course this brings us to the question of what defines "a man?"...Which is a whole article unto it self, but for the sake of time, here are a few points. A man takes responsibility for his words and actions; he protects the people he loves, and values others above himself. He’s not afraid to say what needs to be said, he speaks the truth, but does so with love. He’s holds the needs of his flesh secondary to the call of his spirit. He seeks to love truly and completely, and to be loved truly and completely. He has no interest in one night stands, but desires to become the husband that his (future) wife has dreamed and prayed for. Who knows, maybe one day I’ll live up to my own definition of a man.

"Until next time, take care of yourselves and each other"

Final thought:
Trust me guys, I can tell you first hand that rejection sucks, but not half as much as spending your life wondering what might have been. Let’s give these fools some competition. Let's fight fire with flowers, apathy with genuine interest and consideration. Let’s fight games with reality and honesty. And frivolity with patience and commitment. My friends, let us become that which we were created, and always meant, to be...

Good men.

Godspeed

Part 2

Culturemaker(s) Merry Blogmas: Day 9

2011-12-24T13:50:00.001-05:00

Coffee is an essential part of my life and I don't see that changing any time soon. Even if you don't drink coffee this article highlights ways we all can be more aware of the things we buy. Our global world is so interconnected that it is important to take a closer look at those connected pieces. Read on for Chloe Lyon's insightful look at the world's coffee trade.

Jessica Rae Huber

Deputy Editor

#2

Being A Conscious, Conscious Consumer

From guest writer Chloe Lyon.

Find more Culturemaker(s) thoughts about coffee and culture here.

Hey there, I'm Chloe Lyon, guest blogger stopping in to share a few thoughts about Fair Trade Coffee.

I'm a coffee shop rat. Yes, that is self-proclaimed and I'm not ashamed to say you are more likely to find me in coffee shop than a library, and my bank statement may or may not be full of numerous $3.50 charges on a weekly basis. I love coffee. I love the culture around coffee, the community and conversation, and even the way a hot mug warms me up on a cold afternoon.

Portland...Discovered by the Germans in 1904

READ THE REST HERE

Culturemaker(s) Merry Blogmas: Day 8

2011-12-23T18:27:00.000-05:00

Today we look at Rick Deal's article comparing the characters of superman and batman. I love his deeper look into these two cultural icons, and the idea of perfection in general. Take a read and let us know how you deal with the idea of perfection.

Jessica Rae Huber

Deputy Editor

#3

Our Inability To Relate To Perfection, Or Why I Must Reluctantly Admit Superman Is The Greatest Super Hero

From Culturemaker(s) contributor Rick Deal

In case you were wondering, yes, I am about to wax philosophical about our love for superheroes and how it correlates to deeper theological truths. And yes I am a nerd of staggering proportions, What of it?

A while back, a friend and I were having a debate over who is the greater superhero, Batman? Or Superman? (Very deep stuff I realize) I argued that Batman was greater because he had no powers and yet fought and strove to become a hero. Superman however had all of the power one could ever hope, want or imagine. So to become a hero was much less of a journey or struggle. For him the choice was: hero or villain? And hero it was. Just because he’s more powerful doesn't make him the greater hero. My friend argued, however, that it isn't Superman's power that makes him the greatest hero of all; it's his unflinching and unbreakable morality.

READ THE REST HERE

Culturemaker(s) Merry Blogmas: Day 7

2011-12-22T00:20:00.000-05:00

Deputy Editor Jessica Rae Huber looks into the personal side of one of the world's most famous villains. She makes a case for Draco Malfoy-I mean, Tom Felton, as a role model for other celebrities to follow. What makes someone who plays such a bad dude such a good guy? Take another look and find out.

Ryan Huber

Editor-In-Chief

Tom Felton: Celebrity Role Model?

From Deputy Editor Jessica Rae Huber

I have a question.

Why do people keep casting Tom Felton as the bad guy? Yes, I do realize this seems an exaggeration considering he's only ever played two characters that are 'bad,' but one was for eight movies in the highest grossing film series of all time. It pretty much cements him into the ~~blond little punk~~ ~~slimy git~~ bad guy category. His recent role in The Rise of the Planet of the Apes was essentially Draco with an above average American accent, less-blond hair, and an electric cattle prod exchanged for his wand.

READ THE REST HERE

Culturemaker(s) Merry Blogmas: Day 6

2011-12-20T18:48:00.000-05:00

We press on here at Culturemaker(s) with our year-end countdown of the greatest articles. In a season where we all are surrounded by family and friends it is easy to get lost in the shuffle of social activity. This particular article, by editor Ryan Collman, is a great one to reflect on. Are we getting enough authentic community? Read on and may the humor and truth be as refreshing to your soul as it is to mine.

Jessica Rae Huber

Deputy Editor

A Quest For Community In A Retreating Culture: Our Homes Are Our Prisons And We Have Nowhere To Go...

credit: The Oatmeal http://theoatmeal.com/

So that title might sounds a little harsh and right off the bat I’m going to let you know that I spend way too much time indoors away from others. I’m guilty of everything I am about to rant on (minus club-culture, which is just downright stupid). For the past 40 years the concept of community has been dying and being revived at the same time in American culture. People long for real relationships and people they can count on. Heck, we just want good friends that we can hang out with. But where do we have these relationships? How do we meet these people? How can we invite people into our lives?

READ THE REST HERE

Culturemaker(s) Merry Blogmas: Day 5

2011-12-19T15:00:00.000-05:00

The number 6 spot for the year goes to Rick Deal's article about the resurgence of Five Iron Frenzy. This is a band that brings back a lot of memories for people my age and Rick's words capture the feelings perfectly. This article was even featured on Five Iron's press page on their website!

Jessica Rae Huber

Deputy Editor

From Contributing Editor Rick Deal

Today is Thanksgiving, and this will not be your usual Thanksgiving blog, because today I find myself thankful for something that is indeed quite unusual. My favorite band of all time, Five Iron Frenzy, will be returning from their 8 year hiatus to produce a new album, and possibly begin touring again. I am ecstatic. You might think that's silly, or trivial, or immature, but I’ve been waiting for this day for eight long years, so you can stuff it.

Culturemaker(s) Merry Blogmas: Day 4

2011-12-18T12:34:00.002-05:00

Merry Blogmas! As we continue our countdown of the best posts of 2011, we arrive at the #7 spot. Deputy editor Jessica Huber explores the culture of fonts through a personal journey of font evolution. She shows us what different fonts say about us, and which ones to avoid. It's a funny, creative article that you can enjoy as you take a second look at your Christmas cards.

Ryan Huber

Editor-in-Chief

From Deputy Editor Jessica Rae Huber

I am not a graphic designer, or a visual artist. I am not an expert on typography, or designing logos to grab people’s attention.

I do, however, feel that a large portion of today’s population has never thought about the fonts they use to make posters, write with in their email templates, blog, send invitations, or use in other situations, which require a font decision.

I grew up with a computer in the house that my Mom used for her business. It wasn’t until the mid to late nineties that we had a machine with Microsoft Publisher on which I could type different fonts to my heart’s delight.

READ THE REST HERE

Culturemaker(s) Merry Blogmas: Day 3

2011-12-17T15:00:00.000-05:00

Our #8 post of 2011 is a music review by Jon Ballard. Jon will select an album to listen to on repeat for a week and then give it a rating out of 5 Glockenspiels. Why Glockenspiels, you ask? Why not glockenspiels? Moving on...this particular post is Jon's review of Economy by John Mark McMillan, an album that both captivated and disappointed Jon as a fan of JMM's music. What follows is a well-balanced appreciation and critique of a solid and serious, yet joyous and deeply moving album. We hope that you enjoy it again or for the first time, and maybe it will tempt you to give the music of JMM a listen. After all, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

Ryan Huber

Editor-In-Chief

From Contributing Editor Jon Ballard

There is something heavy about listening to music by John Mark McMillan. By heavy I don't necessarily mean sad, but I mean thick, like the difference in the air between Boston and South Florida. His music is different. It's serious and purpose filled. It’s layered like a cake.

READ THE REST HERE

Culturemaker(s) Merry Blogmas: Day 2

2011-12-16T15:00:00.000-05:00

The countdown continues with our #9 post of the year. Ryan Huber spoke about Tim Tebow and his influence in the NFL as a Christian and a player. I learned a lot reading this article, and I continue to be inspired by Tebow's life and actions as the NFL season wears on. As you read/re-read this article I hope you are inspired to be conscious of how you are affecting your own sphere of influence.

-Jessica Rae Huber

Deputy Editor

From Editor-In-Chief Ryan Huber

I don't write sports articles for this website, despite my intense interest in sports. There are several reasons for this.

First, I think that Grantland.com is so good, so well-stocked with brilliant writers, and so varied in its appeal, that I would rather direct people there for great sports writing than waste my time trying to replicate what they do. Don't Re-Invent the Wheel.

Second, sports in America is sort of a religion in itself, which is interesting and should be commented on, but I don't want it to dominate this site, which would be my own tendency.

READ THE REST HERE

Culturemaker(s) Merry Blogmas: Day 1

2011-12-15T14:18:00.000-05:00

Hi folks! As we look toward the end of 2011 we want to take these next 10 days and review the top ten articles of the year, and put our blog on pause as we gear up for 2012. We hope you join us in our countdown and catch up on some fantastic writing you may have missed.

#10

Today we start our list from the lovely and wonderful Katie Coughlin and her take on the labels our society places on us.

From Contributor Katie Coughlin

In the world of ESE (Exceptional Student Education) we give students many labels:

DD- Developmentally Delayed

ASD- Autism Spectrum Disorder

EBD- Emotionally Behaviorally Disturbed.

LD- Learning Disabled

ODD- Oppositional Defiance Disorder

SLD- Speech language Disorder

Along with many others.

We begin diagnosing kids as young as 2. At 2 years old we determine that a child has a "disability" and they will carry this label for the rest of their lives.....

READ THE REST HERE

Contradictions of the Soul

2011-12-11T18:31:00.001-05:00

By contributing editor Rick Deal

There are many ways in which the life we are called to live as Christians runs contrary to our nature as humans. But I’ve found that there are times when our natures run quite contrary to themselves. I’ve come to call this: “The ironic contradiction inherent to human nature.” Mostly because I like using big words to make myself feel important, I have an inferiority complex, so quit judging me dang it! The issue that I’m referring to here is that as humans we usually look for the easiest way to do something, the shortcut, the path of least resistance. And yet we often find the result of this to be so much less fulfilling than when we work and strive to do things right.

Hmm. I think I'll go Left.

It’s been said that nothing worth doing is ever easy, and for the most part this tends to be true. Certainly some people are naturally gifted in certain areas, whether it be athletics, art, academics etc.. But with very few exceptions, natural talent only goes so far before truly hard work, serious investments of time, energy, and personal discipline are what will allow you to excel in what you’re doing.

Totally Looks Like a Horse

We often look on at someone who is truly gifted and accomplished in his or her craft, and we envy their ability, but we think nothing of the countless hours, over the course of many years that they have spent honing that skill. We want the finished product, but we don’t want to earn for it our selves, like everything else, we want it now. My mentor once said; “People usually like the idea of something more than the reality of it. Everybody wants to be a musician, until they actually have to work and practice, then you find out how much they like thing itself, as opposed to the idea.” For example; I wish I could draw. I am an impressively bad artist. How bad? The one time I played pictionary my word was horse, and people were guessing dinosaurs (I found plesiosaurus particularly insulting) so I took that as a sign. One day I was telling a friend that I wish I could actually draw and she said, “Why don’t you take some art classes?” I said “……..I don’t want it that much.” Let's be honest, we all do this, a lot.

One of the most interesting, and truly paradoxical (there I go again) ways this presents itself, is our feeling of personal satisfaction in situations of selfishness vs. sacrifice. We as humans seek our own satisfaction above all else, and most often we seek it directly by placing our wants and needs above anyone else’s. The trouble is that when we do this, we never attain that fulfillment we’re seeking, it just never seems to be enough, so we need more, and more and more. Whether it’s money, power, sex, or just our own egos, when we focus completely on ourselves, we’re never content, it’s like filling a bucket with a hole in the bottom.

And yet, when take the focus off of ourselves and actually put the needs of others above our own, we often find infinitely more satisfaction than when we think only of ourselves. If I have $20 to spend on lunch one day, and I know my friend doesn’t have the money to eat, I can either have a really nice meal all to myself, or I can have a good meal and see to it that my friend does as well. Which of these do you think I’ll actually enjoy more? The honest answer to this is partially contingent upon where we’re eating, but I think the answer is pretty clear. The funny thing is you’d think at some point we’d figure this out and our logical thoughts and our hedonistic desires would get on board with each other a little more often, but they usually don’t. We continue to think of ourselves, and keep searching for satisfaction that will always remain out of reach. It all stems from our desire for instant gratification, we would rather have a fleeting happiness that’s gone as quick as it was acquired, but have it now. Instead of working and sacrificing to achieve a joy that will endure.

Looks like he could use some help

I think the reason we’ll never be truly satisfied by focusing on our selves, is because we were created to focus on another. We were made to follow, and serve, and delight in our Creator. When our focus is off of us, and we serving as God intended, we are in that moment fulfilling the purpose for which we were made. And there can be no greater joy or satisfaction than that.

Final thought:

So here at the end I offer a challenge, as much to myself as to anyone reading this.

At a time of year when materialism and self-centeredness run at an all time high, and are essentially the social norm, look for ways to help and serve others. You never have to look very far to find them, these opportunities are everywhere, you just have to look. I know it sounds like I’ve been watching the Hallmark station a little too much, but I stand by it.

Godspeed and Merry Christmas

The Muppets: Old Frog, New Tricks

2011-12-03T11:49:00.000-05:00

From Deputy Editor Jessica Rae Huber

I settled into a hot movie theater last Friday night, among seats packed to the brim with squealing children, parents, and my ironic twenty-something peers.
We all came to partake in the latest cinematic installment of the cultural phenomenon known as The Muppets. I dragged my husband to this movie on our Thanksgiving break not really knowing what to expect myself.

We found a movie filled with ironic humor aplenty for the adults, and slapstick silly humor for the kids (well, for me as well...I'm a sucker for extreme muppet/cartoon violence).
When I saw the Jason Segal writing credit to go along with the male lead it all made sense. It is a movie akin to the humor of Animaniacs (Only after becoming an adult did I realize why my Dad would laugh so hard watching that with us).

The story is an endearing tale of Walter (a muppet raised as a human?) trying to live a normal life with his brother (Jason Segal) and not really fitting in. He has always idolized The Muppets and is horrified when a visit to LA brings about the realization that their popularity has long since dissipated. Walter, along with brother Gary and Gary's uber-patient girlfriend Mary (Amy Adams),convince Kermit to round up the Muppets for one last show to raise money in order to save The Muppet Theater and ultimately the Muppet name itself. Hijinks ensue.

Many stars, young and old, make appearances along the way, such as John Krazinski, Jack Black, Whoopi Goldberg, Selena Gomez, and Rico Rodriguez; all to usher in the resurgence of the Muppet brand. There is a 'meta' quality that struck me about this film. The plot points outlined what the Muppets seem to be trying to do in real life: make a comeback. The joining of the older generation of stars with the new is an obvious pull at everyone to just come back and love The Muppets again. So far, according to the numbers, it's working.

I'm not complaining because, frankly,
The Muppets occupy one of the more wholesome corners of the entertainment universe.

Among the billions of kids at this movie theater there was one particularly cute sounding one making comments behind my right ear. She said many things which made me chuckle to myself at the state of America's youth, but one thing in particular struck me. When Miss Piggy and Kermit are having the scene where their love and commitment to one another is being rekindled, Miss Piggy is wearing a gorgeous evening gown and dripping with jewels (as usual). This little girl inquired of her father, "She's wearing a pretty dress because she wants him to marry her, right?"

From the mouths of babes....

I couldn't have described one of the main messages our society teaches our children any better if I tried. I sat their half laughing at the movie, and half sitting in stunned silence at the 4-year-old girl who just summed up much of my own life's struggle with identity, appearance, worth, and acceptance.

Just to be clear, I'm not bringing this up to go on a rant about how everyone-should-tell-every-girl-in-their-life-they're-beautiful-all-the-time because that doesn't solve anything. The problem lies in where we put our worth in the first place. It starts young with children viewing shows and movies displaying the roles they are slated to fill as they grow older. Kids are taught (many times implicitly) that their worth is tied to some aspect of their performance of these roles.There must be something deeper than how beautiful, smart, talented, or popular a girl may be, right? Everyone needs a deeper identity. The question this inevitably forces on us is this: Where does my identity come from?

If there is no deeper source for our identities and those of our children, then we should be honest with them and tell them that it does all depend on how smart, pretty, wealthy, or popular you are. Kids won't take lame "Everyone is special" arguments based in nothing but nice sentimentality. Why are we acceptable, why are we special, why should anyone be secure in themselves, if the truth is that the instant we start to be less pretty, smart, wealthy, or popular, there goes our whole self identity with it?

Personally, I find my worth in my relationship to God, what I believe about human beings reflecting God's image, and how God became a person so I could be with and be more like him. I believe that everybody has to have that conversation with themselves, where they honestly dig deep to figure out just why they are valuable and where their identity really does lie. If not, we are all either going along with the "I'm pretty so I matter" line of thought, or the groundless "Everyone is special just because" way of approaching it. As it is, most little girls in our society today are taught some mixture of both, which can be pretty hard to swallow.

The Muppets aren't the problem. The whole character of Miss Piggy is tongue-in-cheek already. Like, for real, she's a pig. It is actually refreshing. I hope that little girl and others like her left the theater with a different sense of womanhood, relationship, commitment, and character. In the very least, movies such as these can be drops in the good bucket instead of the bad. They can make us think about where we place our value and why we do what we do.

If The Muppets really are back I'm all for it, but could someone tell Steven Spielberg to start making Animaniacs again?

Oh, and by the way, the Swedish Chef is my favorite character.

Who's yours?

GGDO Fridays: Love, Pt. 2 by Angels and Airwaves

2011-12-02T14:50:00.001-05:00

For other GGDOF Music Reviews, click here.
From Contributing Editor Jon Ballard

“I’ll cross the grave, invite the bends

Carry you out when the world ends”

Tom DeLonge began working on new material during Blink-182's final tour in 2004 and shortly after they began their hiatus in February 2005. For half a year he worked alone in his home studio before gathering musicians for his new project. Upon fiddling randomly for several weeks with the band's logo, Tom realized that if he were to invert the middle "A" of the band's acronym into what appeared to be a "V", he would have the name of his daughter, Ava. The band included former Hazen Street guitarist and high-school friend David Kennedy, former Rocket from the Crypt drummer Atom Willard and former The Distillers bassist Ryan Sinn. It’s hard to describe my deep affection for Angels and Airwaves (AVA). For the past 6 years I have been listening to their music quite consistently.

I remember where I was when I first heard AVA. In fact, I remember where I was when each of their 4 albums were released. I don’t expect a lot from bands, but from the moment I read their myspace page for AVA, I got goosebumps like my first dance at prom all over again. After Tom split from Blink I felt like he set out to prove something to himself and others; I don’t know if he knew it at the time, but he was going to make music much larger than himself. 4 albums later, with a movie under their belts, countless tours and a loyal fan base, AVA is still producing incredible music, and as always, lyrics that make you jump and think all at once.

My take on Angels and Airwaves Love, Pt.2:

5/5 Glockenspiels

This album starts off with "Saturday Love" and from the second the song starts, you feel like your in space headed for earth. Tom has some weird fascination with space, and time, and being in the middle of it all, and it shows in the amount of synth on each track, and the fact that he’s got a movie with an astronaut and a music video on a spaceship (FUN FACT). The song quickly becomes a reminder to any AVA fan of what makes their music great, and if you are new to AVA I couldn’t introduce you to a better first song. Doesn’t matter how many times I hear it, it still makes me wanna MOVE.

“I really wanna' tell you that love is like a furnace, It burns in and out of purpose, so hot that it makes me nervous.So large that it won't cool out. So big that it can't burn out.”

CONFESSION: I love this band because I do like the music, but I grew up in the post-punk-20-something-Blink-182-we-are-all-funked-out-era and I relate to the angst Tom sings about and against. This guy sings about love, breakups, God, wealth, loss, being a kid again, and it just resonates deep in my bones. I don’t know why. I feel like he sets the mood for a great story and then delivers every time. If you do anything, sit alone, or go for a drive, and give this album (LOVE, PT. 2) a listen, you will thank me after, guaranteed.

I love the chorus to this song:

“I wait sixteen, a Saturday, love.

My heart beats fast and faraway, love.

Your eyes so pure, they never grow up.

You stay with me, we'll never grow up, my love.”

You either have thought these lyrics, or you’ll be thinking them now. In track one, Tom let’s us know he’s singing “our song.” Track two is strong. "Surrender" is hard to figure out, but the chorus is loud and clear.

“I will not surrender

No, I will not surrender.”

The second verse is great;

“There is a place to hide, it’s in our minds, it’s in the dark

It’s well known that we have a fragile heart

It’s deep inside

It has a sound that you can follow

You feel like you hit a wall, but you survive

And it was hard for you to swallow

I’ve been to that place before, in spite of luck

When you awake, a new tomorrow..”

I love the last two lines. We have all hit walls, and despite all the odds being against us, when we awake the next day, it really is a new day. That’s something I take for granted, well, almost every single day. This song kicks, and the drummer does an incredible job at keeping our feet moving throughout the next track.

"Anxiety" is a great song. It sticks out because of the way Tom sings this track. The lyrics are directed at people living for nothing more than themselves.

“Waiting…

We’re silly, we’re so reckless

The city it’s so heartless.

A bottle full of crude that washed up in the tide"

The chorus is catchy and ironic. He’s talking about how young people today want a no-pressure-don’t-tell-us-what-to-do-or-commit-to lifestyle.

“Don’t pressure us, anxiety. I’m a passenger

So serious, anxiety. Just a passenger”

He’s got a point. We have become a generation of people that want to live through our iphones and facebook apps, as bystanders. Many of us are not actually engaged in anything that would require us to care or be involved.

“Handsome and callous, young believers

Hidin', plottin’ schemers

And rotting out like fruit,

that was left here to die”

As "Anxiety" slows to an end, with Tom singing "just a passenger," you’ll start to feel as if you're floating through space, as "Crawl" slowly starts. Whoever Tom is singing about, she has his undivided attention. He paints a vivid picture of a night with someone he never wants to forget.

“I made tonight a memory

Yeah you took me higher and higher

You make it hard for me to leave

But I’m coming back to you”

I like this song, a lot. It builds up and explodes towards the end and you want to believe every word Tom sings about the person you love must in your own life. Good music doesn’t just sound good, it causes you to think. If Tom and AVA set out to do just one thing, making people think about where and why they are, it's a “mission accomplished.”

Who wouldn't want to go to the moon with this guy?

"Moon as my Witness" is a great song; listen for the guitar riff 2 minutes in. This is another song where you will feel like your entering space (Tom should fly there with the virgin mobile guy).

"Dry your Eyes" is a song about a relationship ending. I don’t know if it’s with a girl, but the song is so detailed and nuanced that one has to believe that something happened between Tom and someone he once cared about. The lyrics cut deep, and if you have ever had to part ways with someone, you will appreciate this song, word by word.

“So dry your eyes

Get on your feet, don’t pretend to cry

Or fix you and I

Yeah, we’re here again

So follow me in

Today is the day it ends.”

"The Revelator" is a very good song. Tom sings about the the fact that life doesn't end despite how hard things get. He seems to be alluding to there being much more to this world then the few years we live on this earth; he hints at his belief that after this earth is gone, people go on living.

“Cause the end it will never come

But we’re in for a few hard times

And we’ll get knocked up, down and done

But the truth is we’re still alive”

I remember hearing "One Last Thing" while I was on a run. I loved the simplicity of the chorus. It’s one line, but it’s catchy and you’ll want to sing it over and over again.

“But I found one last thing to believe in”

Tom sings about a lot. Diamond rings that are covered with blood, the fact that in America we have way too much and we often times forget about the rest of the world. It’s catchy, and clever, and sounds great. But the chorus is what I walk away with from this song. We all need something to believe in, a reason to say the things we say, and a reason to do the things we do.

"Inertia" is another reminder that the boys in AVA belong in space. It’s filled with clever lyrics and fast paced guitar parts. The idea behind this song is if you let hate rule you, your life, and those around, you will be devoured. As the song closes, there is an audio clip of a man speaking and he tells us to remember that the way we live our life may influence someone else's.

"Behold A Pale Horse" is about the end of the world. And as the drums pick up and Tom sings, you miss the subtlety in his lyrics. Through out this whole album, and everyone of AVA’s LP’s they have been singing about a lot more than youthful angst and raging against the machine. They have been singing about their eschatology. What they believe happens when they are dead and gone. It’s interesting to make a whole album that in some way ties in death and life, and the fact that you believe death is not the end. Tom sings in this song about how all the destruction is “such a strange celebration” and that “all our eyes are burned by heaven.” If we lived in light of where we are all going when we die, I wonder what kind of music our lives would make?

AVA ends this record with "All That We Are." The song starts off with a piano and Tom singing. It’s a simple song with few words. Tom sings over and over,

“And we are, all that we are

Holding on, till we fall apart”

The song builds to an incredible climax where you wish you were listening to it in a stadium filled with people.

I had high expectations diving into this record, and it did not disappoint. Over the years, AVA has made not only great music, but produced thought-provoking lyrics as well. If you like rock, or punk, you’ll appreciate the creativity and skill that went into this album. If you have never heard AVA, then I suggest you start with this album, and work your way back. You won’t be let down. If you're in the mood for a record that will keep your heart beat up and your mind moving, you're going to enjoy Love, Pt. 2. You may just learn something, which is all we can ask for here at Culturemaker(s).

Pick up the album at Amazon.com

Have a great weekend; we’d love to hear your thoughts and comments,

-Jonny

Sheldon: The Perfect Example

2011-11-29T11:09:00.001-05:00

From Contributing Editor Katie Coughlin

I went to a workshop a couple of weeks ago where we were learning how to teach social skills to our students with Asperger's syndrome (AS). The instructor was first defining what children with Asperger's are like. She gave the very technical definition. Asperger's is the mildest form of Autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These children tend to have difficulty socializing. The have a hard time understanding or catching onto the cultural norm. They tend focus on 1 particular specialty or interest. For example, video games, dinosaurs, World War II, farm animals. Etc. However despite this social difficulty children AS have normal to above normal linguistic ability.

One of my AS students uses very large words appropriately for a 4th grader, but has a hard time understanding when the conversation has ended. AS students also have typical cognitive ability. They can learn at the same rate as typical students. The hard part is their reading comprehension when it involves the characters' feelings or inferencing what someone will do next or why they are doing something. Social situations are the difficulty.

Then the instructor looked at us and said, "Plainly a child with Asperger's is like Sheldon from the Big Bang Theory." As a huge fan of the show, I immediately agreed with her statement. Sheldon is the perfect example of a person with AS.

"Don't understand social situations." - Sheldon doesn't get sarcasm and I'd continually trying to figure out when people are using it. He also doesn't buy into why anyone would want to engage is coitus (sex). It's gross.

Has an interest in something- Sheldon is a physicist and belittles all other forms of science calling them unimportant or insignificant. He loves superheroes, comic books, and trains. He spends all of his time focusing on these things.

If someone wants an illustration of someone with Asperger's syndrome, Sheldon is the perfect example. It's one of those rare instances of "reality" television.

Giving Thanks for a Memory Resurrected

2011-11-24T22:46:00.000-05:00

From Contributing Editor Rick Deal

This was more than just some band; this was the band that came to define my adolescence, quite a few of my fondest memories of that part of my life are inextricably linked to their music. And no show I’ve ever seen since could match the palpable emotion and electricity of FIF’s final show in Denver, at which my sister, a few friends, and I were blessed to be present.

So maybe you think that I’m just some crazy, fanatical, over-dramatic fan. Well, that’s an astute observation, but I’m not the only one; want proof? On 11/22/11 (the 8 year anniversary of their final show, and 2 days ago) FIF announced that they would be returning to self-produce a new full length album, and if possible, to tour. But without the backing of a label, they said they had to call upon their loyal fans to donate to their Kickstarter to raise the funds for production. They needed to raise $30,000 for the album alone, and anything beyond that would go toward a possible tour; they had 59 days to reach this goal and the Kickstarter went live 11/22/11 at 9PM EST. The goal was indeed met.............at 9:57. That’s right, $30,000 in 57 minutes. Within 90 minutes they were at $50,000, and as I write this the total has grown to $97,000 from 1,700 supporters. I think it’s safe to say that I’m not the only one who loved and missed them, nor am I the only one who wants to see them back on the road. It leads you to wonder what kind of an impact they’ve made in the lives of their fans. To bring about this kind of rabid loyalty and support after eight years of absence is rather impressive. I’m not writing this just to reminisce about fond memories, I’m writing this to try and explain to you why I love them so much. They were a band that stood apart in many ways. One way, was their humor, they once spent an entire tour dressing in original Star Trek uniforms, and I recall Reese Roper (lead singer) once performing half a concert in a Fat Elvis costume. Some of their album titles are: "All of the Hype That Money Can Buy," "Quantity Is Job 1," and "Five Iron Frenzy 2: Electric Boogaloo." Clearly, they never took themselves too seriously.

Something else that set them apart was the music itself; they began as just another Ska band from Denver, but as time passed their style grew and changed into something very unique. People still call it Ska because of the horns, but by the time their final studio album came out, I would venture to say that theirs was a sound unlike any other band I’ve ever heard.

Finally, what set them apart, and what I believe has endeared them to us fans forevermore, is their heart. There are few bands that can make you laugh hysterically on one track, and quite literally bring you to tears on another, and do it within the same album. But this was the gift that FIF had, it was as if they were saying: “Don’t take us seriously, but take God seriously.” This even marked them as special within Christian music circles, they used every opportunity they had to take the focus off of themselves and point people back to Christ. I managed to see them live twelve times between 1998, (when I first discovered them) and 2003 (when they broke up) and I can’t recall a show that didn’t end with a time of singing worship songs. They would begin singing a hymn like "Amazing Grace," let the crowd take over, and leave the stage while the people sang and raised their hands to sing to God. They made sure the last thing you experienced at the one of their concerts wasn’t another reminder about the merch table, or a call for more applause and praise for themselves, but the very presence of God in that place. This was never more evident than on their last tour entitled "Winners Never Quit, The Farewell Tour." As this would be their last chance (or so we thought) to put the spotlight on themselves, they decided to spend their final tour raising money to build a rescue center for homeless kids in Kenya. At each show on the tour, they asked if every person in the crowd could give just one dollar, and if that meant not buying merch, they would rather you gave your money to this effort. In the last few moments of their final show, Reese spoke of Elijah passing his cloak down to Elisha, and said that as their time had come to an end, they were passing their mantle down as well, and asking their fans to pick it up and move forward. It was an incredible moment.

Final thought:
Theirs was not an easy road, they never fit the mold of a “Christian Band,” and I imagine they felt the pressure of being too Christian for the "secular" world, and yet not fitting neatly into the Christan Music “box.” And yet they strove on, and I believe this is why we’ve seen a downright miraculous outpouring of support for Five Iron; they were always faithful to their fans, but more than that, they were faithful to the calling they believed God had given them. And now that He’s called them to take it up again, we will be there to love and support them. Financially, morally, and in prayer. Welcome back guys, it’s been too long.

Godspeed

“Healing hands of God have mercy on our unclean souls once again
Jesus Christ, light of the world burning bright within our hearts forever
Freedom means love without condition, Without a beginning or an end
Here's my heart, let it be forever Yours, Only You can make every new day seem so new.”

-"Every New Day"