The Wonder Years Gems

So lately I've finally gotten around to seeing the Wonder Years on Netflix. I remember seeing only pieces here and there when it aired on TV but I never got around to watching it until now...and I love the show.

As I watch i can't but notice the credits and noticing familiar names and faces. Here are a few of them.

Steve Miner
Who he was on The Wonder Years: Director, Writer, Producer
Why it matters to me: He's also one of the writer, director, producers on one of my favorite TV shows of all time: Dawson's Creek. (Not to mention Director of the sequel Friday the 13th.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar Who he was on Wonder Years: school kid who was one of Winnie Cooper's first boyfriend/crush
Why it matters to me: Who forget the Zach-Attack on the best TV show of the early 90s??

and finally...

Robin Thicke
Who he was on Wonder Years: "Boy" on S2E04

Why it matters to me: It doesn't really I just thought it was cool to see him so young before he was mr. sensual songwriter.

UFO Sighting

I'm sure most people won't believe me but nonetheless I must blog about a moment I was able to share with some friends tonight after church. At approx 8:45pm a few of us were following each other to a near by Menchi's to get some yogurt after church service in Burbank. We were all waiting at a red light heading West on Magnolia and Hollywood Way. I look up out my front window and notice about 4-6 bright red lights that seemed to look like red stars.

My first thought was that it was probably some aftermath of the lunar eclipse that took place earlier today. That was until I noticed them begin to move. They didn't move in a linear way like an airplane or jet would, and they didn't flash or shimmer like a helicopter or any other aircraft would. I begin to see them gradually separate from each other, some in slower speeds than others. By this time I took my iPhone and took some shots. I was able to grab a video but that fact that the light had turned green and there were about 5 cars behind me didn't allow me to get a decent capture.

[here's a screenshot of the video I took. This was the clearest frame I was able to find]

I then stopped recording and made my left turn. I immediately called my friend Chuy to see if maybe he had seen what I saw. To my relief the first thing he said was, "dude did see that?!" I rushed to Menchi's, which was only about 5 blocks away, got off my car to see if I could catch any last glimpses of these UFO's. (and by UFO's I mean Unidentified Flying Objects—NOT aliens.) I was able to catch a glimpse of one of the red UFO's that was left. As the rest of my friends got there, there were 5 of us that all caught this sighting. The rest of my friends had said they had seen 6 red stars that formed the shape of a "V" gradually disperse over a period of about 10-15 seconds. The spookiest thing about was this video that was captured in 2003 on November 13 on Burbank and Hollywood Way. (Only ONE block away!!)

and another one on November 13, 2009 >>

ROAR!! (photo shoot f. Angelina)

I was on the way to pick up Angelina's cousin when suddenly she walked out on the lawn with her mom wearing the cutest outfit and boots that were made for walking red carpets...next thing i know she was swinging back and forth from her home-made swing, ROARING!! I couldn't pass up this moment so I grabbed my camera out and I tried my best to keep with her...she was FIERCE!

My First DSLR Photoshoot

Awesome Shorts

"I Love Sarah Jane" Directed by Spencer Susser / US / 2007
This first short comes from this dude named Spencer Susser whose feature debut Hesher is premiering next month.

"The Technician" Directed by Simon Olivier Fecteau / Canada / 2009
This next short: A cable guy is called in to repair an old mans TV set. Once inside the clients home, the repairman realizes there's nothing wrong with the TV. Rather its the images broadcasted on the screen: wars, famine, illness and kidnappings, that are broken. Moved by the clients naive request, and against his better judgment, the cable guy will attempt to fix the problem.






"3x3" Directed by Nuno Rocha / Portugal / 2009
A night watchman spends time on a basketball court throwing a ball into the basket. He has become an expert. He shows his abilities to a simple janitor, who also like him, is there all night.

Top Ten Movies of 2010

in no particular order, here are favorite films of 2010. (Most are not Oscar material but movies I enjoyed watching.)


Blue Valentine trailer


Cyrus trailer


Social Network trailer


True Grit trailer


Unstoppable trailer


Toy Story trailer


Shutter Island trailer


Let Me In trailer


King's Speech trailer


Diary of a Wimpy Kid trailer


Awards for
Best Picture: A King's Speech
Worst Picture: A Nightmare on Elm St.
Biggest Disappointment: Expendables
Most Overrated: Inception
Most Overlooked: Let Me In
Best Time I Had Watching A Movie in the Theater: Tron: Legacy
Movie I Wanted to See but Didn't: Biutiful & Get Low

Rob to the Bizzle

Is Rob Bell a universalist? Firstly, I can tell you from the dozens upon dozens of his podcasts I've heard, the three books that I've read of his, and the half dozens of videos I've seen from him, labeling him as a universalist has never crossed my mind.

However, after watching this video I am concerned, actually, more importantly curious about his thoughts on heaven and hell. But I'm a little confused as to what Universalism means. I thought Universalism implies that all religions are the same thus all leading to heaven? Because that doesn't seem to be what his new book is implying. But if by Bell saying that ALL humans may go to heaven through Jesus if they repent and believe then I have no argument against that. However, if he's saying ALL humans are going to heaven because of the work Jesus did whether or not they believe and repent, then yes, that couldn't be farther from the truth. (In my personal understanding and conviction, at least.)

If you saw the video, the moment he mentioned the story of the person who left the note about Gandhi, there was a shift in his countenance and tone. I think he's frustrated with the the gatekeepers of our culture. By that I mean people who think it's their place in saying who made it to heaven or not. As the joke goes: People were waiting in line to go through the gate to enter heaven when someone noticed a crowd heading towards the back. When Peter the gatekeeper asked, "where's everyone going?" They responded, "Quick, Jesus is letting people in through the back door!"

Needless to say, it's not our place to say who's going to heaven or not. We can only observe them, as Jesus says, by their fruit, which makes things a tad complicated when people call his teachings heresy because, I at least, have seen the fruit come out of Mars Hills church. They are a community who do the gospel and not just preach. I've heard testimony after testimony from the Mars Hills community of people's lives changing and drawing nearer to Jesus.

This is a little disheartening and a tad confusing, if we're understanding Bell correctly in this article and video, to hear him make this assertion. Especially after hearing him declaring not too long ago that click here>> Jesus and his resurrection is solely our only hope. However, note that I have not read the book and most people who are making this claim haven't either. It's gossip at this point. @JesusNeedsNewPR mentioned earlier responding to tweets like, "dot dot dot, this breaks my heart. Praying for Rob Bell, dot dot dot" when he said, "For a moment I was afraid Rob Bell had died. But then I realized that it was just a few Calvinists hating him into a trending topic."

This is what happens when you're popular. Everyone breaks down every detail of every word you say which reminds me of that verse we read in the Book of James that says, "Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness." I'd love to take all of Rob Bell's critics and sit them in a room and deconstruct their theology. But fortunately, I have better things to do.

Reality Bites

So these past few days during the fast have been encouraging. Being one who constantly listens to music, (maybe too much), I find that sometimes I often use music to sort of compliment the mood I'm in–like a soundtrack to a movie–but I find that that isn't always wise or healthy for me to do. ha! The weeks where I've had a bad case of the Mondays I would easily just listen to something aggressive or loud to kinda "forget my problems" But reality sooner or later comes around and reminds me that my situations are inescapable and that it'd be best if I confront them and not try to brush them away.

Anywho, today two very anticipated worship albums are released. One album by the Australian band, Hillsong United called Aftermath.

I've heard one song that was absolutely rad––as in 80's rad. This is their second studio album. They have about 5 other records but they've all been recorded at live concerts. So I'm excited to hear this one.

Another album is by a church in Redding, CA called Bethel Live. Their new album is called Be Lifted High.
If you've heard of the band Jesus Culture, then you'll want to check these guys out. Lead singer Brian Johnson and his wife Jenn Johnson have uh-maaaazing voices! Take a listen to the album We Believe and you'll hear what I'm talking about. It's definitely one of my top ten contemporary worship albums.

Shazam!!

so i spent a good deal of time at starbucks yesterday. my pastor and i met up with a my professor but i couldn't help but listen to the music in the background. i noticed he was getting his phone out every few minutes. he told us he was Shazamming. (ya, that's a word–i just made it up_) he wanted to know what songs were playing in the store. and since the iTunes store DEACTIVATED the "Now Playing" Starbucks feature (my guess is so that it wouldn't take business away from Ping.)

anyway, i had the app myself and i heard this song playing as we were talking and i NEEDED to know who was singing. the recording had this vintage sound to it and this french woman was singing to a nylon stringed guitar. So I SHAZAMMED that bad boy and saved it for later to listen to after my fast. (for those that are semi-curious here's the artist: Undersea Poem.

so far i've been listening a lot to Jesus Culture

The Student's Playlist

So Friday I spent most of my time with my Pastor. We spent a lot of time at Starbucks and Denny's doing some reading...We're starting a sermon series on the book of Mark at our Sunday services which is great because the reading assignment for my New Testament class this week is the Book of Mark. So I've been reading a lot history and context on Mark's Gospel. I didn't really listen to much music yesterday.

However, this morning as I've been reading for school I was listening to a playlist I made a few weeks ago for my time of studying called "The Student's Playlist," which consists mostly of scores from films. I'm not really sure to call this secular music though. (Hear my abbreviated argument before you conclude that I've broken my fast, lol). The purpose of film scores is to serve the story of the film. Stories are human's favorite ways of communicating which is why we find the Bible so full of stories. The Bible uses stories as ways of executing authority by communicating truths through the story. Jesus constantly told stories in the form of parables because he understood that stories were one of the most efficient ways of expressing the truths about God he was trying to convey... Thus my love for stories, thus my love for film scores, thus this godly playlist. hehe...

>>You can also follow me on Ping

Thomas Newman
Shawshank Redemption
Road to Perdition
Revolutionary Road

John Williams
Artificial Intelligence

Alexandre Desplat
Birth
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

Yann Tiersen
Amelie

Bill Conti
Rocky

Gustavo Santaolalla
Motorcycle Diaries
Brokeback Mountain
Amores Perros



p.s. not sure I have time to blog everyday during this fast, but I'll try! =)

Build A Fire Under You

I was recently at a youth group service in the SF Valley. There were a few friends I had came to visit that serve as youth leaders, and one of them being the youth pastor. At the end of the service he asked the students to pick out some tasks from an envelop that would challenge their commitment of their confession that they are Christ followers. They ranged everywhere from doing more chores around the house to fasting from "secular" music.

One of the students I was talking to was reluctant to accept the challenge. So I told 'em I'd take on a challenge–maybe that would encourage them to follow through with theirs. As I was picking one up from the envelop I said aloud, "please don't let it be the music one." Surely enough, of all the 50 pieces of paper with challenges I could've pick, I pick the one that challenged me to fast secular music so I can focus more on reading my Bible.

As much complaining I did, I knew in my heart this had been something I needed to do. In fact, I had just discussed with my step-dad, an audiophile himself, that lately I've been in this phase of listening to just "worship music."

Five years ago I could have easily defined secular music for you; I'd have a hard time now–I've had a paradigm shift about this topic since then. (I don't really want to get expand on this thought-at least not in this blog.) However I couldn't help it, I was already making a list in my head of what secular music I couldn't listen to during this fast. But my friend, the youth pastor, had encouraged me to not look at my loss but rather to shift my focus to what I would gain. He added that many times as Christians we focus too much on our losses that it overshadows the endless gains we obtain when we attempt to deepen our commitment to Jesus.

This gave me an excuse to listen to and explore new "non-secular music"...haha...I can't say that without laughing...anyway, so I'll be posting up artists/bands that I've been listening to for the next three and a half weeks.


Thursday, 02.03.11
John Mark McMillan: The Medicine
fav tracks: How He Loves, Dress Us Up, Skeleton Bones

Various Artist: Shine Like Stars
fav tracks: You Are Faithful, Come Away With Me, A Little Longer

George Frideric Handel
Good music to listen to when working on theology papers!

Give To Your Neighbor

Looking for a way to show some love to a neighbor?
Here are just a few places where you can give to some organizations doing some great things.

Give to:

Adopt a Family: Strippers in Need
XXXchurch and Strip Church want to show commitment, love & support to women in the sex industry.

Musicianaries Musicians that make their living through music and missions.

The Thirsty For those without access to clean water.

Modern Slaves
Help free someone in slavery or give CarePackages to those that have been rescued.
Stop the Traffik
International Justice Mission

Children
Born with severe multiple handicaps

Sal's Oscar Picks

From the Oscar's nominees, here's what should've won in my opinion...

Best Picture
Inglorious Basterds

Best Director
Avatar

Best Writing (Written For the Screen)
Inglorious Basterds

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published
Precious

Best Editing
Hurt Locker

Best Original Score
Up

Best Sound Mixing
Star Trek

Best Sound Editing
Avatar

Best VFX
District 9

Here's what I've realized about the Oscars... it's politics at it's best and most elegantly dressed.

Broken: Blessed & Broken

John Mayer Apologizes For Using the "N" Word



In a recent interview, he bluntly and boastfully confessed his addiction to pornography and sex. In that confession he used the "N" word as he talked about his sexual distaste in African-American women and also referred to his male genital as a white supremacist. I have a friend who's a big fan of him and has lately read a lot about him. A lot of which is too sad to mention, but he seems to be in a very broken state which I believe to be the very state Jesus declares us blessed in when He says, "blessed are the poor in spirit..." Matthew 5:3

Now I realize the human side of us would want to cast stones and chuck 'em at his at face, but those of you who have experienced God's grace, to some degree, would rather draw with your finger on the sand.

I personally see Mayer as King Solomon: rich, poetic, promiscuous... but we all remember what happens to him at the end, he discovers that there is nothing worth more living for than to know and be known by God. And I hope and pray that this man might come to confess that same fact.

Top 5 Happily Ever After Films

ya ya ya, i know Valentine's Day is over but i feel like the whole month of February has that V-Day feel in the air. least in my world. Here's a list of my Top Five romantic movies with happy endings. please feel free to comment.

Punch-Drunk Love

If Annie Hall's tag line for the movie was 'A Nervous Romance' I'd have to say this tag line should be a 'Quirky Romance.' Adam Sandler is, for lack of a better word, awesome in this movie. With the writing and direction of PT Anderson and the score of Jon Brion, you can't help but watch magical art unfold before your eyes.

The Notebook

i promise my man crush on ryan gosling had nothing to do with how much i liked this film. ya i admit it was tad melodramatic at times. But the story was, you have to admit, gripping. Especially when, knowing the American divorce rate is over 50%, you see elderly couples being married after 50+ years you can't help but feel some light of hope.

True Romance

Tarantino's first script was raw and original. This movie has some of my favorite scenes including the Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken scene. And the unrecognizable Gary Oldman and Christian Slater scene. Some might say that it's a guy flick but I think any girl would go crazy if a guy rescued her from her pimp, got rid of him for good, then ran away and married you. Sounds like something biblical!

High Fidelity

Nick Hornby knows his music...and he knows how to write a decent story with rich characters. I've seen this movie a gazillion times and I still laugh. This is the perfect film for any guy who's been through a few break-ups or two and also happens to have a substantial library of music on his iTunes or in his head at least.

Say Anything

I can say one word and you'll remember this movie: boom-box.
The Ultimate romantic movie of the 80's. Even though I haven't enjoyed anything Cameron Crowe's done since Almost Famous TEN years ago, I still think he's always been a great filmmaker. It has some of the best romantic scenes I've seen in movies in the past 20 years. Had lovable original characters and great dialogue with some of the best lines of the 80's romance movies. Not to mention-killer soundtrack!

So which one of these films are my favorites?? ...i dunno...But I know that I don't know.

Mr. Hudson

Although R&B/Pop is usually not on my top shelf of music I enjoy listening to, I love being able to play along to this genre of music. So when I discovered Mr. Hudson and the Library I was at the least to say excited to hear a fresh sound.

I discovered Mr. Hudson right before his sophomore album, Straight No Chaser, was released in the states, I immediately caught on on to his highly catchy and singable melodies and the pop/hip-hop beats I was hearing. At first I didn't know how to categorize his music when I would share it with my friends. But I'm comfortable calling as it is, R&B/Pop...from Britain. Which in my opinion is a big difference from American R&B/Pop.

Anywho, here are chords to the songs to which i figured out on the piano from his Straight No Chaser album.
I will add more when I have time. Enjoy!

Instant Messenger
intro: C G/B Am

Am7 G Fmaj7
say you found our love, in the warm Pacific spring
cause I left our love in the desert to fend for itself
(i thought it better that way)

C G/B Am
Did you get my text?
Did i get my thoughts through?
It's hard to see things clearly, through the gossip and the gloom

Am7 G Fmaj7
I'm gonna blind our love, with the paparazzi flash
I'm gonna squash our love, like an economic crash

C G/B Am
Did you get my text? Did make myself clear?
it's kinda hard to see this through, through the gossip and the beer

Am7 G Fmaj7
They say "Boy you've changed." 
well i say "You've changed too." 

Follow me up the alps, 
I've got things to do 
"Scatter the ashes here" 


C G/B Am
Didn't you get my text? 
Didn't that get thru?

It's hard to make myself clear thrut the gossip and the beer.

Am7 G Fmaj7


Will you follow me to LDN where I know the streets?

I don't need reinforcements cos you won't know where I live. 


C G/B Am
Didn't you get my message? did the text not get thru?

It's getting hard to see these days thru the gossip and the gloom, the beery gloom.


Lift Your Head
intro/verse: riff: (C A C D E D C A) Am
Answer every question with a "Yes"
Answer every problem with a smile

Fmaj7 Em7 Dmaj7 Em7 Fmaj7 G Fmaj7 G
Keep opening doors, keep pulling those strings
But the midnight hour is mine
The midnight hour is mine

C G/B Am F F#dim
Please lift your head from your hands
Tomorrow is another day
Well think about it then I say

And there's no weight too great
There's no distance too far
Keep flying the flag and keep banging the drum
Cos the midnight hour is mine
The midnight hour is mine

Please lift your head from your hands
Tomorrow is another day
Well think about it then I say

C G/B Am F F#dim
Oh, what can I do to save the day?
If only it were as easy as a dvd and a takeaway

Oh, what can I do, what can I do?
What can I do, what can I do?

C G/B Am F F#dim
I say, please lift your head from your hands
Oh, please lift your head from your hands
Tomorrow is another day
You can think about it then I say
Please lift your head from your hands
Tomorrow is another day
Let's think about it then I say

Modern Day Lepers

I rarely check my "Requests" section on Facebook. But the other day I noticed a request to join a cause entitled "KEEP SEX OFFENDERS OFF OF FACEBOOK"













My initial reaction honestly was a little bit unsettling. That was mainly due to the fact that literally almost everywhere I turn I'm seeing "keep sex offenders off this," and "keep sex offenders off that"... and I realized, if this keeps up I wonder what place they'll have left to go. I believe we'd secretly like to keep "these people" on an island somewhere... exiled.

Now of course I'm all about protecting children. I have very close friends that have been violated when they were children and I have a nephew that I absolutely adore and that I would be devastated if anything like that happened to him.

But...where do we draw the line as a society? I wrestle with this question every time I come across something like this.

One thing that comes to mind is a declaration that Jesus makes in the book of Matthew-usually called the Sermon on the Mount. The first thing he declares is "blessed are the 'poor in spirit' for theirs is the kingdom of God." I've read this so many times but I've always assumed it was for the humble...for the meak...for the...well, for "good" people...

but are those really the poor in spirit?? the poor in Greek is pto-khos meaning begger, someone who lacks severely-- not economically, but in quality of their character--in spirit.

And just who are those people? these people "poor in spirit." I know for a fact I was one of those. I definitely lacked quality in my character. Not only because of dumb decisions I made in life but because of the sinful nature that we're all born into. As David Crowder sings, "I am stained with dirt prone to depravity..."
BUT... I was considered "blessed" because that's who God relentlessly pursues with love and grace and mercy...the poor in spirit--the beggars--the idolaters, the thieves, the fornicators, the murderers, and liars.
Essentially, if you're the person that says "I am a good person," then basically this declaration stated by Jesus is not for you.

I don't think anyone would argue that sex offenders don't have a serious lack of quality of character. And I wouldn't argue that some people never change, but I would argue that some do. And for us to treat that unknown percentage of people who did their time and want a new life, (a new chance), to treat them like lepers--
like social scum--will never see a change in our society.

If the idea of God's grace being available to people like Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, Charles Manson, or even the ex-sex offender guy who lives next to you frustrates you or even disgusts you... here's something to chew on, "...but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong..." -1 Corinthians 1:27

Welcome to offensive grace.

for further reading and study read:
-Matthew 20:1-16
- or visit a blog entry entitled "Amazing Grace"

-read this story...hopefully it'll make yr stomach turn like it did mine.

Seat 29E Letter

I was listening to Rob Bell's podcast sermon called Stunned and Spent. He talked about the significance of lamenting (specifically in today's American culture)

So he read about an absurd but yet funny and honest example of an airline passenger who wrote a letter of complaint to the actual airline. It's called Seat 29E Letter and yes this is real.

Many of us, though, don't make formal complaints, because we don't want to seem like trouble-makers, because we recognize that some things are beyond the airlines' control (they can't stop bad weather, for example), or because we just want to get where we're going without enduring the additional fuss and delay that following company procedures to register an official complaint would

But hear an airline passenger's in-flight comments describe disadvantages of being seated directly across from the plane's lavatory (toilet):

Dear Continental Airline,

I am disgusted as I write this note to you about the miserable experience I am having sitting in seat on one of your aircrafts. As you may know, this seat is situated directly across from the lavatory, so close that I can reach out my left am and touch the door.

All my senses are being tortured simultaneously. It's difficult to say what the worst part about sitting in 29E really is? Is it the stench of the sanitation fluid that's blown all over my body every 60 seconds when the door opens? Is it the wooosh of the constant flushing? Or is it the passengers asses that seem to fit into my personal space like a pornographic jig-saw puzzel?

I constructed a stink-shield by shoving one end of a blanket into the overhead compartment while effective in blocking at least some of the smell, and offering a small bit of privacy, the ass-on-my-body factor has increased, as without my evil glare, passengers feel free to lean up against what they think is some kind of blanketed wall. The next ass that touches my shoulder will be the last!

I am picturing a board room full of executives giving props to the young promising engineer that figured out how to squeeze an additional row of seats onto this plane by putting them next to the LAV. I would like to flush his head in the toilet that I am close enough to touch, and taste, from my seat.

Putting a seat here was a very bad idea. I just heard a man groan in there! This sucks!

Worse yet, is I've paid over $400.00 for the honor of sitting in this seat!
Does your company give refunds? I'd like to go back where I came from and start over. Seat 29E could only be worse if it was located inside the bathroom.

I wonder if my clothing will retain the sanitizing odor . . . what about my hair! I feel like I'm bathing in a toilet bowl of blue liquid, and there is no man in a little boat to save me.

I am filled with a deep hatred for your plane designer and a general dis-ease that may last for hours.

We are finally decending, and soon I will be able to tear down the stink-shield, but the scars will remain.

I suggest that you initiate immediate removal of this seat from all of your crafts. Just remove it, and leave the smouldering brown hole empty, a good place for sturdy/non-absorbing luggage maybe, but not human cargo.

waaaa!!---new eyeware

i wish i made more time to blog. i've been trying to upload more commentaries but my connection is so slow.

just found out my friend got laser eye surgery which is cool i guess, i was digging the glasses but as for me...NEVER!! as a matter of fact these might be my next pair:


i realize of course they're absolutely RAD but you will have to rid yourself of the jealousy that will be raging inside of you because you don't own them.

ps yes that is Erlend in case you were wondering.

Welcome to my first attempt

this is my first attempt to blog.
although i've posted a blog or 2 on myspace and had a few good responses the few times i did them, i've never been consistant, consistent, with them.

i have a hard time focusing on completing a task but when i do i'm glad i did.

have fun as i hope to give links to director's commentaries (among some other fun stuff) that you can download for educational purposes.

here's the first commentary.

Life Aquatic_Director Commentary Wes Anderson

i first saw his films thru a friend in college who recommended Rushmore. Been following all and loved most of his films since.