tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872Wed, 19 Mar 2014 09:57:05 +0000NAVYfaithgraceGodYou can't go home againguest post thursdayJesusartwork wednesdayfridaygrady nutthomejon acuffobservationsrealizationsreflectionGod's TimingMCbiblehome is where you make ithopeloveMC ratealistair beggbe your own avocadoboot campcouragedonald millereagerfaithfulnessfilmlifemoviesopen your eyesrememberingsojourntruth for life50 Shades of GreyA SchoolAmerican GodsAnnapolisArmyCYTConnective TissueContraCosbyEd StetzerEphesians 6Fifty Shades of GreyFireflyFringeHOOYAHHawaiiJD GreearMagic MikeMarinesMathNCNESNavy running cadenceNeil GaimanNewsPTPearl HarborQuitterRTCReturn of the JediSCLShe WorshipsThe Navy HymnUS Armed ForcesUSNa little thinkin can go a long way towards saving your lifeadventureamendment 1armadillo hidearmor of Godatreyubatmanben marshbible verseblue like jazzbrennan manningcautionary taleclutchcoca colacolorful metaphorscommercial kingscraigcreativitycustomer servicedarth vader feels bluedave ramseyderek siversdo not mess with mother naturedon millerdoubtdrawingdrumlineduck huntearthquakeFor the ideas that are really out there and for those who think and dream them up.http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Cliff)Blogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-5086672945595876518Mon, 23 Jul 2012 07:19:00 +00002012-07-23T03:19:18.366-04:00batmanfilminceptionmoviesnolanspoilersummer moviesthe dark knight rises **SPOILER ALERT** Following are spoilers for two movies, Inception and The Dark Knight Rises, but mostly for Inception.  If you haven't seen either movie, get thee to a Redbox and/or theater to watch. I watched The Dark Knight Rises this weekend.  It was fantastic and I look forward to seeing it again. Anyway, I was checking out some theories and ideas about the film on a http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2012/07/the-dark-inception-rises.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-5017426760111396083Sat, 07 Jul 2012 17:58:00 +00002012-07-07T14:09:01.402-04:0050 Shades of GreyFifty Shades of GreygraceloveMagic Mikepornpornographyrelationshipssex I see them on Facebook quite a bit, they’re lighting up the Twittersphere and quite visible in pop culture: Magic Mike and Fifty Shades of Grey. Before diving in, a couple points of clarification: I’ve got no problem with the man Mike – never met him, from what I’ve read he seems to be a decent guy; probably someone you’d want to get a beer with.  Of course, Mike is a fictitious http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2012/07/my-beef-with-beefcake.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-5399750524689451563Wed, 20 Jun 2012 03:29:00 +00002012-06-19T23:29:18.761-04:00adventureHawaiiMCNAVYPearl Harbor Six months have come and gone in the very slow and rather protracted blink of an eye. The two months prior to these last six went by even quicker. The few months leading up to those two months seemed to take forever... Funny how time flows, no?  Or, I suppose, funny how it's perceived. A year ago I was in the early stages of trying to enlist in the Navy. I was living in Columbus, Ohio, http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2012/06/next-three-years.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-7361622623756655954Fri, 04 May 2012 03:09:00 +00002012-05-03T23:14:39.536-04:00amendment 1homeJD GreearNCnorth carolinasummit churchI was born and raised in North Carolina.  I love the state, I love the Triangle area, I love the Central Area of Relocated Yankees. Right now there's an issue facing the region that's quite divisive. On May 8, the citizens of my home state will be voting on an amendment to the State Constitution which will reinforce what apparently is already state law, that marriage would only be recognized http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2012/05/measured-response-to-amendment-one-nc.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-6072564774656709936Sat, 28 Apr 2012 13:30:00 +00002012-04-28T09:32:08.555-04:00Contragracelife lessons from video gamesNES Last night I watched this video of a guy reflecting on his experience with the NES game Contra (video here). It got me to thinking of my own experience with the game and have thus gleaned some life lessons. Like all platforming games, you improve your performance by repetition.  You play up to a certain point and then die because of some obstacle.  So,  you keep playing up to that http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/life-lessons-from-contra-nes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-2153865296592763477Sun, 22 Apr 2012 04:49:00 +00002012-04-22T00:49:46.883-04:00blue like jazzdonald millerdoubtfaithfilmGodgraceJesusmoviemoviesI put the "pro" in "procrastination."  One of these days I'll get back on a regular posting schedule, but there's a lot going on right now and I'm trying to maintain my center.  Anywho, one thing I really want to talk about is the film Blue Like Jazz. I've seen it twice now; once opening weekend and again a couple of days later.  It's that good. Apparently, the project to produce this film http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/blue-like-jazz.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-1363500537866048860Wed, 04 Apr 2012 03:47:00 +00002012-04-03T23:47:30.580-04:00armadillo hidearmor of GodEphesians 6NAVYNavy running cadencePTMondays, Wednesdays and Fridays we wake up in time to form up in the day room by 04:45.  When it's warm enough - as it has been the last few occasions - we go running as a detachment. After taking an accountability muster in the day room, we go out and form up in the street for stretches and then get into three ranks and get to it. Along the way we have someone calling out the cadence.  One of http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/i-love-armadillo-hide.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-4299939481475555588Tue, 03 Apr 2012 03:20:00 +00002012-04-02T23:20:26.683-04:00AnnapolisMCMC rateNAVYphotographyIn case you didn't know, an MC (Mass Communication specialist) is the eyes and ears of the Navy. MCs are documentarians, historians. MCs are trained in photography, public affairs, journalism, videography, print and design, graphic design, and that's all just part of the basic training we receive to earn the title of MC.  So I'm not just busting out my best Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson impression http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2012/04/in-case-you-didnt-know-mc-mass.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-7849059143839642261Mon, 26 Mar 2012 16:46:00 +00002012-03-26T12:46:50.505-04:00Armyboot campMarinesMCMC rateNAVYUS Armed ForcesWell, it's nigh the end of March.  I've been at A-School since January 7th and it's scheduled to wrap up June 29th.  These first three months have had us sailors working in conjunction with members of the other armed forces and it's been pretty neat.  For one thing, I had no idea what to expect.  I've never lived on an Army base, I've never been in the military before, I've never interacted http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/halfway-there.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-5696323533065682824Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:20:00 +00002012-02-02T14:20:38.546-05:00...the initial plan has not succeeded.  Ah, well - spilled milk and all; ever onward and upward! Boot camp was quite an experience. There was a lot of yelling and hustling (in a couple senses of the word) and no small amount of sweat produced during the 10 weeks of training. All in all it was a good experience; it was quite humbling at times and at other times empowering.  I learned that my http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2012/02/clearly.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-1517451670963571795Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:23:00 +00002012-01-13T14:59:33.161-05:00A Schoolboot campHOOYAHNAVYRTCUSNSo, Boot Camp is over and I've been at "A" school for a week now where I'll be training for the next six months to become a Mass Communication Specialist (MC).  It's a program involving training in basic journalism, video production, public affairs and more.  So far it's been great, but I can't get too far into that until there's something to contrast it with, e.g.: Boot Camp. For the time beinghttp://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2012/01/so-boot-camp-is-over-and-ive-been-at.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-3148908738575742328Mon, 31 Oct 2011 14:59:00 +00002011-10-31T10:59:17.896-04:00NAVYWell, this is it! I ship out for Boot Camp tomorrow - Tuesday, Nov 1. I was originally planning on developing content to be auto-posted in my absence, but in the time I would've taken to do that, well, instead of writing about life and people I love I was spending time living life and being with the people I love. That being said, I have a hunch that I'll have plenty of material to work with http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/alrighty-then.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-8644144206278188601Fri, 28 Oct 2011 15:26:00 +00002011-10-28T11:26:06.787-04:00Godgood newsgraceJesusreflectionthey might be giantstime is marching onYou can't go home againDo you remember being a kid?  No worries, no responsibilities, no obligations; not like we have now as adults.  There was school, there was Little League, there were social issues (who would be “it” first in a game of tag), but it never occurred to me that one day I’d be responsible for keeping a roof over my head.  I never once imagined I’d have a car payment. When I think of the phrase, “You http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/you-cant-go-home-again-but-you-can-go.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-4557799354804839137Thu, 27 Oct 2011 10:00:00 +00002011-10-27T06:00:05.448-04:00Godhomehome is where you make itrealizationsYou can't go home againParts 1 through 3 I wrote at one of my favorite places in Raleigh, NC – it’s the Global Village Organic Coffeehouse.  It’s located at 2428 Hillsborough St, across from NC State’s campus.  For about two years and some change that was a home away from home for me.  I was also an employee there for an all too brief duration and it’s probably my favorite place of work.  Caribou Coffee would be http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/you-cant-go-home-again-part-4.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-650463751154348981Wed, 26 Oct 2011 15:10:00 +00002011-10-26T11:11:10.022-04:00if only such microwaves existedlooking backNAVYrecapSo it's just occurred to me via FB and Twitter comments that some folks are jumping in here mid-stream.  Then, looking back at the most recent posts I've realized I haven't even mentioned my involvement with the United States Navy - that's one of the biggest things to hit this blog! I reckon a recap is in order: - blog relaunched - tried some new things - announced enlistment with the Navy - http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/recap-of-sorts.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-6244146835669943359Wed, 26 Oct 2011 14:30:00 +00002011-10-26T10:30:53.175-04:00enoughGodjon acuffQuitterrealizationsreflectionYou can't go home againFor Part 1 then Part 2, click the respective links. So, going back to North Carolina was a lot different than leaving it. When I moved to Ohio it was with a great sense of anticipation that I was finally “arriving” somewhere and I don’t just mean in the sense of “getting to a physical destination.”  I thought to myself, “Finally, I’m in a relationship with the girl of my dreams – life can now http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/you-cant-go-home-again-part-3.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-174044967619560495Tue, 25 Oct 2011 14:01:00 +00002011-10-25T10:01:06.604-04:00GodrealizationsreflectionYou can't go home againFor Part 1, click here. So, though I now feel as though there's more than one place I belong, that is not to say, the two places are  identical – heheh, not by any means.  Though people are still people – If you prick me, do I not bleed Buckeye Scarlet/Wolfpack Red? – there is a slight, though fundamental, difference in the overall attitude. Columbus, to me, feels as an older, bigger city.  The http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/you-cant-go-home-again-part-2.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-5863805499721259674Mon, 24 Oct 2011 10:31:00 +00002011-10-25T10:00:22.801-04:00GodrealizationsreflectionYou can't go home again...and...we're back!  It's been a good few weeks. For the past 10 or so days I've been in North Carolina; tying up loose ends, reconnecting with old friends, re-establishing residency - and it's been quite interesting on a few levels. The series of posts beginning today are primarily reflective on the whole experience of moving from one place to another and drawing comparisons and contrasts http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/blog-post.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-4429101910333267736Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:29:00 +00002011-10-17T09:32:25.926-04:00duck huntpredatorRegularly scheduled blogging to resume soon. In the meantime, here's a trip down two memory lanes which converge in a most unlikely, yet plausible manner: http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/regularly-scheduled-blogging-to-resume.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-4535645255013309255Wed, 05 Oct 2011 13:48:00 +00002011-10-05T09:48:09.738-04:00customer servicegracehopeloveWhile the blog is "officially" on hiatus, I came across this yesterday that made feel all kinds of warm and fuzzy and glad about my current occupation.  It's originally from notalwaysright.com which is a website where people who work in the customer service industry post stories (anonymously) of odd and often funny experiences they've had interacting with customers.  I have a few myself I'll be http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2011/10/something-special.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-5039674189007779257Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:59:00 +00002011-09-30T09:05:13.504-04:00CosbyMathNAVYNewsReturn of the JediThe Picture Pages Edition...after el yump. 1) I've never been a math guy, but I think nowadays I'd get into it.  Nevertheless, I fully appreciate this graphic representation of a fundamental equation: 2) When George Lucas changed the ending of Return of the Jedi I was like, :-/ But then I see what he's planning for the 3D release and I'm like, 8-) 3) As of this http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/fridays-notes-3-is-magic-number.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-8974294482305350309Wed, 28 Sep 2011 15:59:00 +00002011-09-28T12:03:10.454-04:00artwork wednesdayexperiencelifemad scientistHave you ever tried something over and over again and just keep running headlong into the same place in the same brick wall and the only thing getting dents in it is your skull?  Yeah, that's a significant part of my life story... El Jumpo... Drawing realistic or recognizable portraits has been something I've dabbled in over the years but was never quite successful with until a couple of years http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/self-portrait.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-2035596354893385621Mon, 26 Sep 2011 14:17:00 +00002011-09-26T10:18:49.671-04:00colorful metaphorsfaithgratitudeNAVYThe Navy Hymn“He curses like a sailor.” It wasn’t until I started interacting with actual Sailors and future Sailors that I came to see the above is not just a clever saying remarking on a bygone era; it holds true today.  More after the jump... Now, I’m no stranger to cussing or foul language or anything of the sort.  However, when I first heard a group of Sailors talking turkey one afternoon at the http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/its-sailors-life-for-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-148637569239941948Fri, 23 Sep 2011 13:13:00 +00002011-09-23T09:13:32.118-04:00darth vader feels bluehipsterideasjon acufflook around yourebecca black1) It's true... 2) Look Around You - one video out of a brilliant "educational" series from England: 3) The alternate version of Darth Vader's death scene at the end of Return of the Jedi - I personally hope they include this in the 3D version: 4) The Super Simple Secret  to Great Ideas - by Jon Acuff.  It's one of those things where you smack your forehead and declare, "Of course!" but it'shttp://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/fridays-notes-blues.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-707172669022274872.post-1749957591866996247Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:40:00 +00002011-09-21T10:40:43.517-04:00artwork wednesdaybrennan manningfaithragamuffin gospelruthless truststrawberriesSometimes you're stuck between a rock and a hard place (or "the Rock and a hard case" if you're Sean Connery).  What do you do?  Fret and worry your way out of it?  Resign yourself to failure?  Or maybe just live in the moment, knowing you've done and/or are doing the best you can?  Today's drawing after the jump... I understand that there's this proverb or story about a man who is walking http://clifftheblog.blogspot.com/2011/09/eat-strawberries.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Cliff)0