I walked out of the apartment this morning to find Erica's jack-o-lantern smashed on our front porch. If you haven't yet heard, Erica carved my face into her pumpkin. To say the least, it was a bit disconcerting to see my face strewn across our concrete steps. I'm hoping it wasn't a deliberate message.
I could hear the voices of more than one of my former students ringing in my memory: "IMA GETCHOO!"
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
It's 2:50 AM, and the 3rd Annual Shorb Halloween Costume Extravaganza has finally come to a close. It feels good to have my face paint washed off, and I'm looking forward to a long night of sleep after a very long and tiring week.
It was a great night. We crammed nearly 50 people in our apartment, and the costumes were more impressive than ever.
Pictures will be up in the near future. Check back soon.
It was a great night. We crammed nearly 50 people in our apartment, and the costumes were more impressive than ever.
Pictures will be up in the near future. Check back soon.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
How do you teach someone to feel and appreciate beauty?
As a lover of beauty, a supporter of the arts, one who is curious in the conversation on aesthetics, and a teacher who comes in contact with 54 students each day, I found myself asking this question over and over on our field trip today.
We visited Longwood Gardens and Brandywine River Museum.
Longwood is the closest you'll get to Versaille's gardens in Pennsylvania. The gardens are awe-inspiring with so many varieties and an astounding attention to detail. We watched people planting tulip bulbs fastidiously, measuring each bulb a perfect 7-inches away from the next one. We were told about how certain plants were taught to grow downwards, trained by being woven through metal grids. Certain displays are planted, only to be torn out and composted a month later to make way for a new display. Why so much work? For no reason other than a profound appreciation for aesthetics; for the sheer beauty of it.
It was a quick tour at the Brandywine River Museum, but we got a good look at some gorgeous paintings from NC, Andrew, and Jamie Wyeth. We saw NC's 17 full-size original illustrations for Treasure Island, full of life and color and movement. We saw some of Andrew's stark monochromatic egg-tempera's. And of course, the kids' favorite, Jamie's famous pig. Why would these men spend months at a time studying their subject matter before painting? And why use a medium made out of eggs that would require layer upon layer upon layer before finishing? For no reason other than a profound appreciation for aesthetics; for the sheer beauty of it.
It was a day of beauty. The first half, God's natural beauty: the brilliant creativity of chrysanthemums, orchids, water lilies, cacti, and more and more and more. The second half, God's gift of creativity given to man: beautiful scenes, some from everyday life and others from fantastic imagination, each captured with painstaking methods.
Yet, fairly often many of the kids passed through most areas rather disinterested. Where I could stop and stare for hours, they ran through and waited at the end impatiently for everyone else to finish.
And so I kept asking myself, how do you teach someone--especially a 5th grader--to feel and appreciate beauty?
I did my best to encourage them to just take time to look. (This is probably the bigger issue: How do you teach a 10-year-old bursting with energy living in fast-paced instant society to s l o w d o w n ?) And whenever possible our tour guide shared some insight that hopefully increased their interest. The background was explained and the details were pointed out. And certain things did in fact catch their attention.
But that feeling--that sense of beauty that brings a smile to your face and makes everything feel right--is something that cannot be taught. You cannot make someone feel beauty. (Life would be a bit more satisfying for some of us if you could!)
So, where does it come from? And why is it different for different people?
As a lover of beauty, a supporter of the arts, one who is curious in the conversation on aesthetics, and a teacher who comes in contact with 54 students each day, I found myself asking this question over and over on our field trip today.
We visited Longwood Gardens and Brandywine River Museum.
Longwood is the closest you'll get to Versaille's gardens in Pennsylvania. The gardens are awe-inspiring with so many varieties and an astounding attention to detail. We watched people planting tulip bulbs fastidiously, measuring each bulb a perfect 7-inches away from the next one. We were told about how certain plants were taught to grow downwards, trained by being woven through metal grids. Certain displays are planted, only to be torn out and composted a month later to make way for a new display. Why so much work? For no reason other than a profound appreciation for aesthetics; for the sheer beauty of it.
It was a quick tour at the Brandywine River Museum, but we got a good look at some gorgeous paintings from NC, Andrew, and Jamie Wyeth. We saw NC's 17 full-size original illustrations for Treasure Island, full of life and color and movement. We saw some of Andrew's stark monochromatic egg-tempera's. And of course, the kids' favorite, Jamie's famous pig. Why would these men spend months at a time studying their subject matter before painting? And why use a medium made out of eggs that would require layer upon layer upon layer before finishing? For no reason other than a profound appreciation for aesthetics; for the sheer beauty of it.
It was a day of beauty. The first half, God's natural beauty: the brilliant creativity of chrysanthemums, orchids, water lilies, cacti, and more and more and more. The second half, God's gift of creativity given to man: beautiful scenes, some from everyday life and others from fantastic imagination, each captured with painstaking methods.
Yet, fairly often many of the kids passed through most areas rather disinterested. Where I could stop and stare for hours, they ran through and waited at the end impatiently for everyone else to finish.
And so I kept asking myself, how do you teach someone--especially a 5th grader--to feel and appreciate beauty?
I did my best to encourage them to just take time to look. (This is probably the bigger issue: How do you teach a 10-year-old bursting with energy living in fast-paced instant society to s l o w d o w n ?) And whenever possible our tour guide shared some insight that hopefully increased their interest. The background was explained and the details were pointed out. And certain things did in fact catch their attention.
But that feeling--that sense of beauty that brings a smile to your face and makes everything feel right--is something that cannot be taught. You cannot make someone feel beauty. (Life would be a bit more satisfying for some of us if you could!)
So, where does it come from? And why is it different for different people?
Monday, October 15, 2007
Thursday, October 11, 2007
Without having cable at home, it's tough for Erica and I to get too involved with the television. When we position the rabbit ears just right, we can catch an occasional rerun of the Simpsons or a new episode of The Office, albeit fuzzy. It's gotta be a show that we absolutely love in order to make the cumbersome labor of getting adequate reception worth it. So, typically, we just keep an eye out for quality programming and enjoy it when it arrives on DVD.
Speaking of which, we finished the third season of The Office in no time flat and loved it. Erica's still working through Ugly Betty, on which I have mostly given up.
All this being said, I'll be completely honest in saying I've never heard of Veronica Mars. When you don't have cable, things like that happen. But a nice gentleman recently contacted me asking me to share with you what I thought about season 3 coming out on DVD shortly. So, once I receive said DVDs and watch them with my wife, I'm going to do exactly that. If any of you are fans and would like to fill me in on seasons 1 and 2, please feel free.
So, updates to come. In the meantime, here's what we're dealing with:
Veronica Mars is set in the wealthy seaside community of Neptune , CA , where the rich and powerful make the rules. Unfortunately for them, there's Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell), a smart, fearless young apprentice private investigator dedicated to solving the town's toughest mysteries. In season three, hoping to leave the ghosts of Neptune High behind her, Veronica is now a freshman at Hearst College , along with her boyfriend, Logan Echolls, and best friends, Wallace Fennel and Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie. But despite the students' efforts to soak up the college experience in their own way, it quickly becomes obvious that some ghosts are here to stay.
Add the increasingly dangerous private investigator business ran by Veronica's father, Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni), to her spreading reputation around campus as a girl who can fix the unfixable and it becomes clear that Hearst College has never encountered a student like Veronica Mars before. Building on its trademark twists and turns but featuring a new campus, new faces and new surprises, Veronica Mars promises to keep old and new fans alike guessing in its third season.
Speaking of which, we finished the third season of The Office in no time flat and loved it. Erica's still working through Ugly Betty, on which I have mostly given up.
All this being said, I'll be completely honest in saying I've never heard of Veronica Mars. When you don't have cable, things like that happen. But a nice gentleman recently contacted me asking me to share with you what I thought about season 3 coming out on DVD shortly. So, once I receive said DVDs and watch them with my wife, I'm going to do exactly that. If any of you are fans and would like to fill me in on seasons 1 and 2, please feel free.
So, updates to come. In the meantime, here's what we're dealing with:
Veronica Mars is set in the wealthy seaside community of Neptune , CA , where the rich and powerful make the rules. Unfortunately for them, there's Veronica Mars (Kristen Bell), a smart, fearless young apprentice private investigator dedicated to solving the town's toughest mysteries. In season three, hoping to leave the ghosts of Neptune High behind her, Veronica is now a freshman at Hearst College , along with her boyfriend, Logan Echolls, and best friends, Wallace Fennel and Cindy "Mac" Mackenzie. But despite the students' efforts to soak up the college experience in their own way, it quickly becomes obvious that some ghosts are here to stay.
Add the increasingly dangerous private investigator business ran by Veronica's father, Keith Mars (Enrico Colantoni), to her spreading reputation around campus as a girl who can fix the unfixable and it becomes clear that Hearst College has never encountered a student like Veronica Mars before. Building on its trademark twists and turns but featuring a new campus, new faces and new surprises, Veronica Mars promises to keep old and new fans alike guessing in its third season.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
"Another way of saying it is..."
On Sunday I taught a class on Ephesians 2:11-22. This is the passage that has been just about the only thing occupying my thoughts for the past nine months or so. It was a challenge to communicate it all in one hour's time, but it went fairly well all in all.
But just when I thought my thoughts might be able to move elsewhere, I've spent all day yesterday and the 30 minutes I've been awake this morning thinking of more. I'm thinking of different and better ways of saying things I said. I'm thinking of other applications. I'm thinking of arguments and questions. It just keeps going!
I continue to pray that I would realize I'm not the only one who can arrive at these thoughts. The Holy Spirit can communicate these things to others just as well or even better than the way he communicates them to me. And so I'm praying that our hour discussion will have spurred one another on towards further thought.
Or maybe I should start a Sunday school blog. . . .
On Sunday I taught a class on Ephesians 2:11-22. This is the passage that has been just about the only thing occupying my thoughts for the past nine months or so. It was a challenge to communicate it all in one hour's time, but it went fairly well all in all.
But just when I thought my thoughts might be able to move elsewhere, I've spent all day yesterday and the 30 minutes I've been awake this morning thinking of more. I'm thinking of different and better ways of saying things I said. I'm thinking of other applications. I'm thinking of arguments and questions. It just keeps going!
I continue to pray that I would realize I'm not the only one who can arrive at these thoughts. The Holy Spirit can communicate these things to others just as well or even better than the way he communicates them to me. And so I'm praying that our hour discussion will have spurred one another on towards further thought.
Or maybe I should start a Sunday school blog. . . .
Friday, October 05, 2007
MMmmmm...I think this movie is going to be a lot of fun. The trailer alone brought a heartwarming smile to my face.
And I just listened to an interview with the director of this movie, for which I now have very high hopes. Best doc since Spellbound????
I'm a bit frustrated, though, that all the movies I'm excited for are finding themselves a (very) limited release, while the movies that have been in a wide release lately have been so dreadfully mediocre and unappealing. This is always the case for me, of course, but it seems worse than ever lately. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a movie in a local theater.
And I just listened to an interview with the director of this movie, for which I now have very high hopes. Best doc since Spellbound????
I'm a bit frustrated, though, that all the movies I'm excited for are finding themselves a (very) limited release, while the movies that have been in a wide release lately have been so dreadfully mediocre and unappealing. This is always the case for me, of course, but it seems worse than ever lately. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a movie in a local theater.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
We held a listening party tonight for Iron & Wine's new album, The Shepherd's Dog. Four out of the seven in attendance were new to the idea of a listening party, and we were glad to introduce them to the practice. They survived pretty well.
The thing I love most about listening parties is hearing people's "Hmmms" and seeing them smile or tap their feet at certain points. It's nice to look at each other and communicate excitement and pleasure, knowing what each other is thinking, without exchanging words.
And that being said, it's just nice to have people hear the intricacies of an album and derive pleasure from them, something that rarely happens when music is reduced to background noise. Because, after all, isn't that what the artist intended?
As for The Shepherd's Dog....
I never though Mr. Beam could transcend my love of the lo-fi The Creek Drank the Cradle, but I'm pretty sure it's safe to say he just may have done exactly that with this album. Creek Drank the Cradle was perfection. Our Endless Numbered Days tried too hard to replicate that perfection, but it was much too polished for its own good, making it an album for college girls. Everyone talked about the electric guitars on Woman King, and that's because they didn't fit. He was trying to grow up too fast, like the elementary schooler trying desperately to fit in with his older brothers and looking ridiculous in the process. Too much, too soon. In the Reins was a nice full-band attempt, but it didn't sound like Iron & Wine (and granted, I don't think that was the intent). But finally, The Shepherd's Dog gets all those things right.
I haven't been this excited about an album in a long time.
It's complex and layered, fusing all sorts of genres together, molding them together in his unique style. Sounds and ideas come in from all over the place, and yet nothing seems off-kilter; everything fits beautifully.
It's polished, but not unnecessarily. It's got new instrumentation, but it works towards the goal. It's thick with layers, but it sounds like Iron & Wine.
Tempted to ignore the hype? With an album like Our Endless Numbered Days, that would have been acceptable. But The Shepherd's Dog is no album to ignore.
The thing I love most about listening parties is hearing people's "Hmmms" and seeing them smile or tap their feet at certain points. It's nice to look at each other and communicate excitement and pleasure, knowing what each other is thinking, without exchanging words.
And that being said, it's just nice to have people hear the intricacies of an album and derive pleasure from them, something that rarely happens when music is reduced to background noise. Because, after all, isn't that what the artist intended?
As for The Shepherd's Dog....
I never though Mr. Beam could transcend my love of the lo-fi The Creek Drank the Cradle, but I'm pretty sure it's safe to say he just may have done exactly that with this album. Creek Drank the Cradle was perfection. Our Endless Numbered Days tried too hard to replicate that perfection, but it was much too polished for its own good, making it an album for college girls. Everyone talked about the electric guitars on Woman King, and that's because they didn't fit. He was trying to grow up too fast, like the elementary schooler trying desperately to fit in with his older brothers and looking ridiculous in the process. Too much, too soon. In the Reins was a nice full-band attempt, but it didn't sound like Iron & Wine (and granted, I don't think that was the intent). But finally, The Shepherd's Dog gets all those things right.
I haven't been this excited about an album in a long time.
It's complex and layered, fusing all sorts of genres together, molding them together in his unique style. Sounds and ideas come in from all over the place, and yet nothing seems off-kilter; everything fits beautifully.
It's polished, but not unnecessarily. It's got new instrumentation, but it works towards the goal. It's thick with layers, but it sounds like Iron & Wine.
Tempted to ignore the hype? With an album like Our Endless Numbered Days, that would have been acceptable. But The Shepherd's Dog is no album to ignore.
Monday, October 01, 2007
The other week I was doing a good job of faking my jockness with a couple of boys. They were talking baseball and I said things like, "But they just don't have anything in the bullpen!...Their bullpen is so weak!" They agreed excitedly and did all of the elaborating for me. It was perfect. I had no idea what I was saying, but they totally bought it.
Too bad it took me all day today to find out that the Phillies made it into the playoffs for the first time since 1993. My response to someone's comment was, "What happened?" Whoops.
Yeah, it's kind of a big deal. I should have been on top of that one a little sooner.
...But that being said: "Go Phils!"
Too bad it took me all day today to find out that the Phillies made it into the playoffs for the first time since 1993. My response to someone's comment was, "What happened?" Whoops.
Yeah, it's kind of a big deal. I should have been on top of that one a little sooner.
...But that being said: "Go Phils!"
Everyone's freaking out today because Radiohead has decided to sell their album without the help of the music industry for the price of: YOUR CHOICE. Wonderful news, indeed, but come on. It's not THAT revolutionary. It's exactly what Iron Cobra did with their album a few years back. Did anyone write about us? Noooo, of course not!
But in all seriousness, this HAS always been my philosophy on music and downloading, so it's pretty cool to see someone so influential (as if Iron Cobra wasn't influential enough) implementing the idea. You don't want someone downloading your music for free? Then start making some music worth buying. Maybe that's a little idealistic, but I have a feeling Radiohead will make out just fine here and prove that it can work.
And sure, they got to this point with the help of major labels. But if a band would release another OK Computer in these days of webzines and bloggers, it could happen again with just a little bit of hard work.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is a good example. But let's be honest, their debut was no OK Computer. (They're fun and all, but I still wonder how they got to be so popular.)
But in all seriousness, this HAS always been my philosophy on music and downloading, so it's pretty cool to see someone so influential (as if Iron Cobra wasn't influential enough) implementing the idea. You don't want someone downloading your music for free? Then start making some music worth buying. Maybe that's a little idealistic, but I have a feeling Radiohead will make out just fine here and prove that it can work.
And sure, they got to this point with the help of major labels. But if a band would release another OK Computer in these days of webzines and bloggers, it could happen again with just a little bit of hard work.
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah is a good example. But let's be honest, their debut was no OK Computer. (They're fun and all, but I still wonder how they got to be so popular.)
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