Renae and I will be making the trek up to Rochester, MN in a few weeks for the annual L’Abri conference.  L’Abri, for those of you who don’t know, is a group of study centers and communities initiated by Francis Schaeffer where individuals have the opportunity to seek answers to honest questions about God and the significance of human life.  Every year, the Rochester conference pulls in speakers from L’Abri and associated groups to hold lectures on a wide variety of topics.

The theme for this year’s conference is “A Place to Stand: Biblical Authority in a World Adrift” and as usual, it looks packed with great stuff, with lectures by such folks as Jerram Barrs, Dennis Haack, and John Hodges (download the conference brochure).

In addition to the wonderful teaching, the annual conference has extra-special meaning for Renae and I.  We met at the L’Abri conference several years ago, and the rest, as they say, is history.

If you’re planning to attend the conference, please let me know.  It’d be great to meet up with folks, even if only for a meal.

I don’t know about you, but the arrival of latest issue of Wired is quite the cause of celebration ‘round these parts.  Few publications—be they on-line or off-line—strike the right balance between geekery, humor, analysis, and just plain coolness that Wired does with such ease and aplomb.

The latest issue is especially notable because the magazine is sporting a new look, a look that is making itself felt on the website as well (a complete on-line redesign is coming later this spring).  The new look is based around a series of typefaces, and the differences include a tweaked logo and thicker, less glossy paper (which helps highlight the photography)... to name a few.

But with Wired, it’s all about the content, and this issue doesn’t disappoint.  This issue’s main story focuses on all of those things we don’t know, the answers to the big questions that continue to elude us.  Questions such as:

• Is time an illusion?
• Where did life come from?
• How does the brain produce consciousness?
• Why can’t we predict the weather?
• Why do we still have big questions?
• How many licks does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Roll Pop?

Fascinating stuff to be sure, and our guide through this sea of uncertainty is none other than Daily Show resident expert John Hodgman (aka “PC” on those wonderful Apple commercials).  As he puts it:

For while there may be legitimate, eternal mysteries out there that are beyond our comprehension, history, in fact, shows us that if we do ask questions, we are likely to find the answers eventually - which is perhaps more frightening than ignorance.

As Lord Kelvin learned the hard way, it’s the answers to big questions that will redraw our vision of the world, elevate us in it, or even erase us. And that is why, despite what they tell you, being curious is the bravest human act, aside from skydiving.

Enjoy, and get ready to spend the next hour or so scratching your head as you ponder away.

• The new album by The Brothers Martin—a collaboration between Ronnie Martin (Joy Electric) and Jason Martin (Starflyer 59)—is out, along with a corresponding e-card full of music, info, and downloads. (Minor annoyance: it does resize your browser window.)
• In addition to The Otherly Opus, Joy Electric will also be releasing the Icicle Streusel EP this year.  Both releases come out March 20, 2007.
• Off The Sky has four new releases planned for 2007. This year just keeps looking better and better, musically speaking.
• Maybe someday I’ll be able to write like Andy Whitman: It’s ridiculous, this thing called faith, if I think about it logically. On one hand we have the vastness of space and the microscopic tinyness of my individual life, one of six billion people on one of the smaller, inconsequential stars off in an obscure corner of a galaxy, surrounded by billions of other galaxies. On the other hand we have the Creator of the universe, who is said to know and care about the most intimate details of my tiny life, including the number of hairs on my balding head. Impossibly, I get intimations that this is so. What are the chances?
• WordPress 2.1—aka “Ella”—is out in the open. New features include: autosaving of posts as you compose them; a tabbed editor to switch between WYSIWYG and code editing; integrated spell checker; optimized database code for faster performance; a revised admin area; and over 550 bug fixes. Via
• Smashing Magazine has compiled a list of 53 CSS Techniques You Couldn’t Live Without.  I’m familiar with many of these, and they’re definitely something that any web designer worth their salt should have in their toolbox. Via
• A List Apart #231 has been posted, with two new articles: “Paper Prototyping” and “Quick CSS Mockups with Photoshop”.  Personally, I found the second article especially interesting, as I’ve grown increasingly tired of sending off screenshots as proofs, since they don’t give a very accurate idea of just how, exactly, the design will behave in a browser.
• The second issue of Jambor-ee—an online resource for ExpressionEngine developers—has been posted, featuring new tutorials and an interview.
• Veerle has a quick little tutorial on how to create good titles using ExpressionEngine. Via

I’m a moderator over at Arts & Faith and so spend quite a bit of time there.  Despite being one of the folks who are “in charge”, I feel like I spend most of my time there as a lurker, soaking in the writings and observations of folks much wiser, more learned, and more articulate than I am on a variety of topics.

As such, I’m exposed to a lot of great writing that constantly proves to be both a challenge and affirmation. However, this post on a sacramental and incarnational worldview by Steven Greydanus remains one of my favorites.

Continue reading…

Earlier this month, Nebraska senator Lowen Kruse proposed a new bill that would contain stricter regulations aimed at controlling underage drinking by removing the possible excuses that inebriated minors might come up with when questioned.  Specifically, the bill would remove the following exemption from Nebraska state law:

Except that a minor may consume, possess, or have physical control of alcoholic liquor in his or her permanent place of residence or on the premises of a place of religious worship on which premises alcoholic liquor is consumed as part of a religious rite, ritual or ceremony.

In other words, minors would no longer be allowed to drink at home, even under adult supervision, nor would they be allowed to imbibe alcohol as part of a religious ceremony, such as communion.

Needless to say, this raised quite a bit of a stink.  So much so, in fact, that Kruse has now amended his bill.  Minors can now still legally consume alcohol as part of a religious ceremony, such as communion.  However, Kruse’s bill would still make it illegal for minors to imbibe alcohol in their own home, even under parental supervision.

I’ll admit that my first response upon hearing this was to roll my eyes in disgust.  Surely, of all of the issues that threaten our society, there are more important things to worry about than whether or not minors can drink communion wine.

However, the more I read into this—including those two JournalStar articles, as well as Kruse’s own newsletters, I’m less dismayed at Kruse’s actions, which I still think are a bit misguided, and more dismayed at the fact that such legislation is even deemed necessary.

Continue reading…

• The website for Paprika—the latest from Satoshi Kon (Paranoia Agent, Tokyo Godfathers)—is now up and running.  The site’s a little sparse, but you can watch the opening credits, which had me grinning ear to ear.  The credits alone might be some of the finest animation I’ve seen in months.  Can’t wait to see the entire movie, which has received glowing praise from both Twitch and Kaiju Shakedown, when it comes out in the USA later this year. Via
• This does indeed make me feel all hot and fuzzy: CHUD’s Devin Faraci has seen Hot Fuzz, the latest from the Shaun Of The Dead folks, and while he can’t review it yet, he’s positively aglow.  Hot Fuzz is… a terrific comedy with lovable and real characters and a plot that tweaks cop film conventions while, at the same time, hitting the beats perfectly and seriously.
• Elizabeth Fraser, the former vocalist of the defunct-yet-still glorious Cocteau Twins, will be releasing a solo album some time this spring on Blanco y Negro Records.
• Last week, I posted Michael Henaghan’s review of Romance Of Young Tigers’ self-titled debut.  You can listen to much of it on their MySpace page, and it’s solid stuff.  “Long Withdrawing Roar” is nothing we haven’t heard before from the likes of Godspeed You Black Emperor!, but it’s still a mighty affecting track.
• One of my favorite programs on my Mac is Quicksilver, which unlocks worlds of functionality with just a keystroke or two.  However, it’s an incredibly labyrinthine program and there’s a dearth of official documentation.  Which makes Howard Melman’s user’s guide indispensible.
• Thom Jurek on the recent reissue of The Christ Tree by The Trees Community: Why would anyone be interested in a box set by a wandering musical group of Jesus People from the 1970s who traveled nomadically in a bus like a spiritual version of Ken Kesey’s Merry Pranksters? Simply because it is some of the greatest music you’ve never heard.
• Steven Greydanus looks at the films of 2006 and picks his favorites.

Yesterday, Grady Hendrix dropped a bombshell over on Kaiju Shakedown, one of the premier Asian film blogs on there on the tubes.  As of this weekend, Kaiju Shakedown is no more.

Hendrix explains his reasons for calling it quits in this post:

As much as I’ve been the frontman for this blog, it also owes its existence to my editor, Alex Romanelli, who has fought the good fight behind the scenes, done a lot of heavy lifting that would have gotten my shirt dirty and who’s built this blog with me from the ground up. Alex is moving on from Variety and I don’t think it will be what he and I have always wanted it to be without both of us working on it, so I’ve decided to end it now rather than continue on without him.

As much as this sucks, I admire Hendrix’ integrity and desire to keep the site from jumping the shark.  Best of luck to both Hendrix and Romanelli, and I hope this isn’t the last we hear from Hendrix.  His reviews and coverage of Asian film was always refreshing, striking the right balance between snarkiness and passion (just read his reviews if you want proof).

Hopefully, Hendrix’ writing and coverage will reappear elsewhere on the Web, and soon.

I always experience mixed feelings as I read through the various year-end lists that continually pop up.

On the one hand, I become discouraged and saddened because I’m constantly reminded of the number of films, CDs, and whatnot that I did not experience during the last 12 months.  On the other hand, I get excited because year-end lists contain some of the most passionate discussion of the passing year’s art.  I also rediscover art that I forgot about and I inevitably discover something new to add to the shopping list or Netflix queue.

The following are lists that you might have missed in the glut of year-end mania (which is obviously still going on).  They’re all from folks whose knowledge and passion vastly outweigh mine,  but whose passion for great music and movies is always encouraging and inspiring.

• Jeffrey Overstreet has posted his 25 favorite films of 2006, though he’s still working on comments for some of them.  What I love about his list is that he contacts other critics and writers to discuss the films that he has picked, granting even more insight into his choices and why he found them so affecting.
• Todd Brown’s 2006 summary contains 15 films he loved, 10 disappointments, 5 directors to keep your eye on, and 5 titles he’s looking forward to in 2007.
• J. Robert Parks lists his favorite “old” movies of 2006.
• Doug Cummings lists his favorite “new” releases of 2006: between large festivals and small ones, limited engagements, and wide releases, I spent innumerable hours immersed in fantastic cinema in 2006.
• The mighty CMS is in the midst of working through his 50 favorite songs from 2006.
• Darren Hughes has compiled the following lists into one mega-entry: “Best New Films”, “Best New Short Films”, and “Favorite Film Discoveries”.  As an added bonus, check out his favorite songs of 2006.
• The folks at Midnight Eye—the best Japanese cinema resource on the Web—have posted their picks for the best and worst of 2006.  Nice to see Paprika and HANA both get a few nods.