Headphonaught's Nanolog

Tomorrow's Lunch...

2008-10-12T20:26:00.002+01:00

OK so yeah... I am on a diet. Low fat to be precise. Not GI or Atkins or low carb... no. Low fat.

Olly has been a gem. After the initial shock and denial... she's been fantastic. Tonight, for example, we had tuna with a small portion of potatoes and a mixed salad with spinach, peppers, onion, lettuce, tomato and loads more. It was fab.

For tomorrow's lunch (I'm at work tomorrow... Olly and the we'ans aren't... we are all off from Tuesday onwards) I have salad (big box), turkey (small box), some fruit and some oatcakes. Excited already.

What's my inspiration? Why am I doing this?

Well I need to for my health. I want to see my kids grow up and have kids (if that's what they want). I want to take Olly to NYC for some significant birthday and/or anniversary at some point in the future.

I have been inspired by Lard and JDBlundell... as well as my folks... and Olly herself.

Thing is... I need to do this for and in love. If I don't do it for and in love then I will fail.

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

1 Corinthians 13 (The Message)

So when I get up early to exercise... or my feet hurt from walking round Strathclyde Park (4.7miles)... or I am jonesing for some chocolate or blue cheese or chocolate covered blue cheese... I just need to think about love.

btw... Love by the Beatles makes for a good walking-round-Strathclyde-Park soundtrack... and reminds me why I am doing this too.

Picture posted with LifeCast... text updated later.

Wish you were there...

2008-10-12T14:05:00.001+01:00

Posted with LifeCast

Jack Dorsey Presents Twitter...

2008-10-12T09:19:00.001+01:00

Jack Dorsey Presents Twitter from biz stone on Vimeo.

Based on the success of the previous Twitter video... I thought I'd post the CEO's presentation on Twitter, his inspiration etc. Hopefully you'll "get it" if you don't have a tweet habit already.

Tomorrow morning...

2008-10-11T22:52:00.004+01:00

Olly and I are leading the morning worship gathering at the Salvation Army's Glasgow City Centre Corps tomorrow. Not sure what to expect... to be honest.

Don't know anyone who gathers there... but... we'll be having lunch with whoever turns up which means we will know some peeps afterwards.

So yeah... if you are in the Anderston neighbourhood tomorrow at 1045hrs... it would be supersweet to see you.

This is cool :: Frugal New York

2008-10-11T21:44:00.002+01:00

...after a decade of living in New York City — nine years in Manhattan, 18 months in Brooklyn — I’ve learned that big-ticket amusements merely obscure the city’s more affordable (and more enjoyable) corners, something I was recently prepared to put to the test.

Frugal New York - NYTimes

Fab article on seeing NYC on a budget.

Walking round Strathclyde Loch...

2008-10-11T15:40:00.001+01:00

Posted with LifeCast

Loving... "I Might Be Wrong" by Radiohead...

2008-10-11T01:09:00.001+01:00

Posted with LifeCast

Bob on the button - Jesus was a Democrat...

2008-10-11T01:07:00.004+01:00

Thanks again to Bob Lefsetz for challenging me with his email/post.

We’ve got the businessmen raping and pillaging, the politicians lying, at best being expedient, and the only people we can count on to speak the truth have abdicated their power, their duty, their role. That’s what the job of the artist is. To question authority, challenge convention, speak the unpopular, if it’s the truth.

That's a telling observation. Who is telling the truth?

Add to businessmen and the politicians... the men and women who want to keep Church the way it is... keep their powerbase. People given the responsibility to tell the Good News to the Poor... just as everyone who claims to follow Jesus have been given... are the ones who have shaped their Lord and Saviour into someone they can use for their own benefit... to promote their own agenda... they are the ones who will be offended by the Everclear song that Bob quotes above:

Jesus Christ didn't have blue eyes or blond hair
He looked just like all those people that you want to kill
Spin your hell into a heaven you can sell
Make it look like California with a bible belt
Jesus didn't look like the boy next door
Unless you live in Palestine
I wonder what you mean by the golden rule
I think it is a scary play on words
I wonder what they taught you back in Sunday school

I bet you think of him
As a nice clean long haired Republican, nah
He would be all locked up in Guantanamo Bay
If he were alive today
He would have been a revolutionary
Wanted by the CIA

I picture him in all the wrong places
Finding diamonds in the dirt
A star of David tattoo
And a Che t-shirt
Jesus Christ was a left wing radical Jew
Murdered by people like you

If Jesus was a Democrat like the bible says he was
I don't think he's going to want to take the blame
For all the awful things you say and do in his name

If Jesus was alive he would be sad to see
That it is no different than it used to be
Someday he's going to call you out
I am pretty God-damned sure ......
He is going to be angry
He is going to be angry

You want to know what I think?.......

I think Jesus would have been a card carrying liberal
If he was a young man born in the USA

He would not be "fiscally conservative"
And he wouldn't vote for John McCain
All those so called Christians that you see on TV
Maybe they scare Jesus like they scare me
Kick you the hell out of my temple too
Too many elephants in the room

If Jesus was a Democrat like the bible says he was
I don't think he's going to want to take the blame
For all the awful things you people do and say in his name

If Jesus was alive today he would be sad to see
That it is no different than it used to be
Someday he's going to call you out
I am pretty God-damned sure......
He is going to be....mad
He is going to be angry
He is going to be....mad
He is going to be....mad

You say Jesus loves the little children
And I say I know that's true
I say he loves all the Muslims and the Jews
All the addicts and the porn stars too
You say Jesus died to save us all from a fiery hell
I say Jesus died to save us
Save us from ourselves
Will you save me from myself?

If Jesus was a liberal like the red letters say he was
I know he would have big love for all the killers and the racists
And the bullies in this world

If Jesus was alive today
And you had a chance to meet him face to face
I'm pretty God-damned sure that you and your friends
Would find some way to kill him all over again
You would kill him all over again
Again and again and again
Just like you always do
You do just what you always do

Everclear (download the MP3 here)

I believe Jesus is alive today... otherwise... I think this is a bang-on observation... a fantastic critique of the people who claim to love Jesus but, by their lives, deny Him.

Think about it... and spread the truth. Don't rely on those who have a vested interest in keeping the Church as it is to do it for you. Get out there... voice your dissent about the injustice in this world... ($700billion... anyone???) and let people know there is Good News.

Picture posted with LifeCast... thoughts added later.

How do you use Twitter..?

2008-10-10T22:38:00.002+01:00

How Do You Use Twitter? from biz stone on Vimeo.

Thanks to swissmiss for posting this video. Hope the folk out there who don't tweet will watch this vid and "get it"!?!

This is cool :: not another C student

2008-10-10T19:22:00.004+01:00

Loving not another C student... they want people to remember... and do wish people to do so in a very noughties kind of way... with t-shirts... stickers... and posters... which can be bought or downloaded.

I especially liked this one...

Good work... if you ask me.

Thanks to notcot no 14,797

My mate...

2008-10-10T18:22:00.001+01:00

Posted with LifeCast

Turbulent Times no3

2008-10-10T15:08:00.001+01:00

Posted with LifeCast

Loving... "Sunday at Devil Dirt" by Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan

2008-10-10T14:15:00.003+01:00

I picked up this album at my local library and I have to say I am loving it. Mark Lanegan has an awesome bass voice... dark and brooding... reminiscent of the Man in Black in his latter years. Isobel Campbell has a contrasting sweetness and light about her voice. Chalk and cheese that just works so well... with their tales of life and love. Theirs is a intriguing and beguiling form of Americana. One that works for me.

Well worth checking out.

Picture posted with LifeCast... thoughts added later.

Loving... "The EP" by DJsiah

2008-10-08T23:40:00.001+01:00

Posted with LifeCast

Meditating on...

2008-10-08T18:05:00.002+01:00

Been meditating on Jeremiah 33:3 after I picked up this album for £2.50 off a colleague at work...

On the left of U2's fantastic album All That You Can't Leave Behind is a wee sign that says "J33-3"... According to Bono

The album cover contains a subtle religious message in the departure gate sign on the left edge of the photo. In early press ads for the album, the sign reads "F21-36". On the finished album artwork, however, it has been changed to "J33-3 →". Bono made the change at the last minute, stating that it refers to the Bible verse Jeremiah 33:3, "Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known." (ESV) In Bono's words, "It was done like a piece of graffiti. It's known as 'God's telephone number.'"

(taken from the wiki page)

I like the way Eugene Peterson translates it...

Call to me and I will answer you. I'll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.

I take great comfort from these words... especially when I consider that He will answer when I call to Him... and He will show things I could never get a handle on... on my own.

I like that... I like the fact that I don't know everything... that there is some mystery left in this world... that there is something/someone bigger than me.

Picture posted with LifeCast... thoughts added later.

Turbulent Times... No2

2008-10-07T19:12:00.001+01:00

Posted with LifeCast

This is cool :: Bob Staake's cover of the New Yorker

2008-10-07T18:17:00.001+01:00

According to notcot no.14,666... Bob Staake designed the most recent cover of The New Yorker, using Mac OS7 and Photoshop 3.0, both released in 1991. Cool!

Turbulent Times...

2008-10-07T12:00:00.001+01:00

Posted with LifeCast

Olly Loves GarageBand...

2008-10-06T23:42:00.001+01:00

Posted with LifeCast

Shirky on humanising brands

2008-10-06T22:58:00.004+01:00

Interesting response from Clay Shirky on the "perfectness" of brands. He observes how people won't go near a brand that they perceive to be too perfect. He uses an analogy of a kitchen... if it is perfect and shiny then guests wont go near it... if, on the other hand, it looks a bit messy (with just-washed dishes lying out etc) then people will happily engage.

Think about this in the context of church. I have been in the company of people whose goal, it seemed to me, was to portray how holy they were. They never realised how off-putting this was for me. There is one person in particular whose company I cannot keep because this person is too pious... to the point of self-righteousness. I feel bad and I feel guilt for this... but that's how I feel.

Holiness isn't a competition. I don't need to keep up with your Joneses here. Holiness is about a relationship with God. However, some people want to portray their lives as being perfect. No bad times. No downs... only ups... but no hang ups, thank you very much. No addictions or pesky sins that tarnish their crisp and well-turned-out outward appearance.

As churches... groups of followers on the Way together... we need to ensure we portray ourselves as raw and unfinished and, in doing so, as approachable. Broken but fixed. Scratched up... banged up (some literally)... beat up... and fallen BUT fixed up... given a new lick of paint and picked up! We need to "humanise" our churches... make ourselves accessible/approachable as groups of ordinary people to ordinary people.

Watch the video and think about it...

Thanks to psfk and fasterfuture. Oh and thanks to Clay too.. you rock!

If you thought "Jesus is my friend" was bad...

2008-10-06T00:13:00.006+01:00

this is 1000 times worse! Watch it before it is taken down...

Personally, I think the dancing is dope! I could see King David himself busting moves and throwing down shapes like the boy with the tie and headmic. Awesome!!! Oh and what about the keyboards... they are the truth!

Truly... this needs to be seen to be believed! Bad CCM doing '80s revivalism. Can't wait for the remixes.

U*P*D*A*T*E

I have replaced the video above... its been pulled down and put back up. This needs to be aired. I also thought this "remix" was funny...

Classic electro!!!

Chillin in the sunshine...

2008-10-05T15:00:00.001+01:00

Posted with LifeCast

Am I the only one that thinks...

2008-10-05T14:01:00.003+01:00

... that the LOVE SHACK would be a cool name for a third space?

Although I have moved away from thinking of church as a building... I think if a group of Jesus-followers were to meet in a third place... I can't imagine a cooler name than the Love Shack.

All that huggin' and a kissin'... dancin' and a lovin'... wearin' next to nothin' cause its hotter than an oven... sounds good to me.

Now... where did I put the glitter???

This looks cool :: Fring

2008-10-05T13:00:00.006+01:00

Fring is an app that brings VoIP to the iPhone... along with other devices - symbian, Windoze Mobile and certain Nokias.

It gives you access to MSN, Gtalk, AIM and Yahoo Messenger as well as the ubiquitous Twitter and Skype. It does give access to other less well known VoIP too, which is cool.

Whilst the messengers and Twitter only need a data connection... it does need wifi for Skype and the VoIPs to work... but still... it looks awesome... and brings to the iPhone some long requested functionality.

I believe it works with the iPod Touch too.

I have, so far, conducted an Gtalk conversation with Chris over at geek-speak and hope to try out the Skype calling capabilities tonight.

I am really excited about this as it opens up a bigger time window for JD and I talk for the something beautiful podcast.

Will keep you posted.

U*P*D*A*T*E

Caught up with Chris a wee while ago... via Skype. It works and works well... except for a wee satellite delay. Delighted.

Technorati Tags: one, skype

Too much information..?

2008-10-05T11:47:00.002+01:00

I feel like crap today. Had another broken sleep... broken by trapped wind. I can and do make light of it as I did last week... where I said something about being sick & in pain with trapped wind. how did it get trapped in me? I'm so free with my wind! but I still feel crap.

For some people this is too much information... and I've been wondering why?

Marriage is all about the good times AND the bad... in sickness and in health... for richer and for poorer etc etc. Even if you aren't married but are in a meaningful relationship... this level of intimacy happens. Its about sharing what means something to you... that affects your life in some way or other.

The co-presence that comes with social media means that you can take or leave the things that affect a friend's life in some way. If they are happy... you can share in their happiness. If they are sad... you can share in their sadness.

Personally, I tend to take the whole of someone... share their ups and try to support them with their downs. For me that is what true friendship is.

So then why isn't this kind of information... the downs... too much to share? I had trapped wind last night... my upper back and my chest hurt so much that it woke me from my sleep... and ensured I couldn't get back to sleep. The pain was so uncomfortable that I couldn't get a position in bed... or in the house, for that matter... that I could get some respite from it. I ended up going to ASDA at 5am to get some medication. Medication that helped, may I add. It took away the back pain almost immediately and has helped to relieve the chest pain. For me... this is something meaningful to share. I don't want to feel alone in this.

Don't get me wrong... I was not alone. Olly was a darling, as ever. She patiently suggested options to try and find some respite. She didn't moan about being interrupted or losing sleep... and she is concerned, as wives tend to be, that it is something more. She thinks I have gallstones (as an aside... years of reading Asterix meant that when I typed into google "gallstones" I typed in "Gaul stones"!!!)

Co-presence is all about feeling connected and "part of something". I remember my good friend JD over near Dallas saying that he and his fab wife Laurie knew more about Olly and I than they did their next door neighbours... and, in return, we know more about them than ours. Whilst some people might say thats a sad indictment of our individualistic times... I would agree and disagree. Yes in that I need to know more about my neighbours and no because we connect in new ways now. Face-to-face is no longer the only option.

There are a core group of "virtual" friends who I have a strong connection to. Sure we exchange pleasantries... jokes and links and a "good morning"... but we also share "too much information" and, in doing so, support each other... through physical help or spiritual. For me... throwing up a prayer in aid of a friend is obligatory for me to call them a friend. Prayer is direct action.

Co-presence is as much about being observant as it is about being there. Its also about reaching out... making the first move... without any intention of personal benefit... seeking a positive reciprocity that doesn't look for return but knows it will.

I think as well that "too much information" is where followers of God in the Way of Jesus can shine in the world. By being observant. By looking for more than the "I'm fine" response. By being open and honest about who we are at any given moment in time. By seeking to support... through physical or spiritual action... sometimes the very fact we've noticed is enough.

So yeah... the next time you think "too much information" ask yourself why you think this way... and what can you do to help??!!

Technorati Tags: co-presence, too much information