Recent Listenings II

A couple more of my recent favs...





and one old skool vid

Recent Listenings...

Occasionally I will post links to youtube.com for some of my favorite new music or videos and such. This is one of those posts. Over the summer, UND's Wellness Center has been playing a XM radio alt rock station and I have discovered a few new artists. Below are a few of my favorites...

Here is a link to the Kooks song Naive (sorry cant embed the video).

Colbert Report and the Catholic Sex Abuse Scandal

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Word - Forgive and Forget
www.colbertnation.com
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Colbert seems to hit the nail on the head with this one by pinpointing the issues of authority. I've argued with others concerning the homosexuality issues in the Episcopal church that most Christians, and for that matter, most people, do no really understand the concepts of church authority. Two years ago I tried to argue my point that individualism alters the intent of sola scriptura and authority. I wondered then, " Who gets to interpret? Who has final authority in such matters? Who can we trust? If we are to each weigh the words of the pastor, evangelists, theologians, or whomever, are we not essentially taking the power into our own hands to determine orthodoxy? American culture is so bound into this individualizing tendency that all forms of authority are meant to be questioned as abusive and oppressive to true freedom."

Im not claiming that I fully understand the structure and authority of the Catholic church, but I do recognize, in my own self, the tendency to balk at submitting to authority. I do see a strong connection between the current Catholic church scandal and the fight in the Episcopal church and those who want to stay vs. those who leave. Its not about sex, its about authority. For a congregation to split or leave is a powerful breach of church structure and authority that is built into their patterns of worship and belief.

That said, this is no excuse to immoral and such horrific behavior as what is being accused within this most recent scandal. While I understand the need to preserve the church's authority, it is also a breach in authority, and sin itself, to have the power to act and fail to do so.

Have mercy upon us, most merciful Father;

in your compassion forgive us our sins,

known and unknown,

things done and left undone;

and so uphold us by your Spirit

that we may live and serve you in newness of life,

to the honor and glory of your Name;

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Between the Folds

I watched this last night on PBS...What an amazing film. Art, Math, Science. See it.

Manhatta by Charles Sheeler & Paul Strand

Manhatta is one of several films that Sheeler and Strand made, though only this one survives. Still images from this film show up in both artists work. This collaboration is one of Modernism's high points and predates, what in many ways has a similar feel, in Russia's avant-garde film maker Dziga Vertov's The Man With The Movie Camera (which by the way, is one of my all time favorite films. You can read a previous posting on Vertov's work here.). Sheeler and Strand's work pre-dates Vertov's film by 8 or 9 years. Enjoy this wonderful piece of Modernism with an updated Brian Eno soundscape.

Young Folks Video

This isnt a new song by any means, but I just ran across the video and thought I would post it as it reminds of those I posted a few months ago by NASA.

PKAP Videos & Podcasts

Saturday is the day for podcasts on trench updates. If you want to take a listen, look below Ian's video's on the PKAP Staff Blog.

Ian Ragsdale has been spending his trip behind a video camera and has been producing some great vignettes of the project. The third one is just for fun. Enjoy.

I Met the Walrus

Another hat-tip to Matt Anderson for this video. I had seen part of this somewhere a while back. I love the merging of a historical track with a contemporary design.

N.A.S.A. Videos "Waydown" & "Money"

After yesterday's video post, I had to make up for it with two great videos. Hat tip to Matt Anderson for the first video. Great art and design meets great music.

Jesus is a Friend of Mine...ZAP!

High Fructose Corn Syrup

Over the past few months, these corn syrup commercials have been popping up with an increasing regularity. I have been becoming more and more concerned about the nature of our food, its processing and its sources. I began to notice the ubiquity of corn syrup a few years ago...especially in sodas. In seminary I drank 2-3 cans of soda a day (now 1-2 a week). One of the humorous things about these commercials is the "inability" of the accuser to answer what is wrong with corn syrup. Quite simply...it is an artificial sweetener that our body does not comprehend how to break down. As you watch the commercials, which are funded by the corn refiners association which have considerable stakes in keeping American chugging sodas and eating all things corn syruppy, pay attention to their near suggestion that it IS natural and how in moderation it is ok. First, I've never seen liquid corn. Second, when it is in virtually everything in this country, can anyone honestly have it in moderation? The corn growers association is trying to push their products upon Mexico as well...they still, along with Canada, sweeten their Coke with real sugar!





If you have not seen the documentary King Corn...you must! It is a great project of two recent college grads set on raising one acre of corn in Iowa and trace its route into the food system. They come upon some remarkable findings. If you have Netflix it is available for online viewing. Check out the trailer below.



What is the Christian response to such things? How should we feed our bodies? To what lengths should we go to fight what seems like quite obviously unhealthy products and their wealthy lobbyists (Corn Producers and Corn Processors)?

Alexey Titarenko pt. II

Yesterday I posted on the work of Titarenko. Below are pieces of a documentary well worth watching on his work. If you have time, take a look.

Part I


Part II


Part III

Saul Leiter (again)

A few months ago I had several postings on the work of Saul Leiter. I found this little video of his work and thought I would share it again. Can you get too much of Saul Leiter? Watch again for his foregrounds and windows as impediments, repeated colors, and reflections. Enjoy.

Greg Laswell

A while back I posted another Greg Laswell video. I just love his work so I decided to post another. Enjoy. And yes, that is the Iowa native Elijah Woods or better known as Frodo.

I Remember by Griffin House

I found Griffin House last week and just love this song.

Stephen Shore Video

Better Way by Ben Harper

This song and video captured me a few years ago. To me, I hear it as a call to the missional church. As the video goes along, you see a revolution growing. Anyway...a fabulous song.

Life In A Northern Town by Dream Academy

Life In A Northern Town

Its funny how this song stands out from my childhood. That northern town always appeared in my imagination as a windswept North Dakota...where I now live. The song is still as beautiful and haunting today as it was to me as a child.

LL Cool J

My favorite commercial these days.

Everclear

Santa Monica


I Will Buy You A New Life


Volvo Driving Soccer Mom