World on Fire

For some reason, Sarah McLachlan's “World on Fire” is stuck in my head at the moment — actually, it has been for the last day. What's stuck in yours?

The world's on fire and
It's more than I can handle
I'll tap into the water
(I try to pull my ship)
I try to bring more
More than I can handle
(Bring it to the table)
Bring what I am able

I watch the heavens and I find a calling
Something I can do to change this moment
Stay close to me while the sky is falling
Don't wanna be left alone, don't wanna be alone

Waiting for a Plot

In a piece I found via Drudge on Village Voice, David Mamet describes Samuel Beckett's Waiting for Godot as “Twentieth century's greatest play.” Huh? Say again?

Waiting for Godot is one of the low points of literature in the twentieth century in my estimation — and it had to compete fairly hard to get that title! The only thing it accomplished was it served to help inspire the master playwright Tom Stoppard in his penning of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. A Stoppard play certainly is far more worthy of the designation of the twentieth century's best (although I would probably pick Arcadia as the particular play of choice). I'd also submit Miller's Death of a Salesman and Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author as worthy candidates.

But Waiting for Godot? No, that's merely a play where you are waiting for a plot.

I Like Mike, But McCain Ain't Bad

Well, I still like Gov. Huckabee and I still firmly believe he was the best candidate in any party. But, he has wisely chosen to cede to Sen. John McCain, and I believe that will be for the best. I do not agree with McCain on a number of points (particularly points like immigration, campaign finance reform and stem cell research) where he agrees with the Dems, but in general I agree with him vastly more than the Democrats. He's a mostly strong social conservative, he has the right plan for Iraq, and he is a fiscal conservative.

McCain will help keep our country not only safe, but also running smoothly. He reiterated tonight — very well, I might add — how Obama and Clinton both have visions for our country that return us to the big government plans of the past. These will hurt our economy and only place more government burden upon us. They were not right several decades ago and remain wrong today. Admittedly, President Bush has failed here, but I believe McCain has given every reason to believe he will correct the not-so-conservative failings of Bush.

With that in mind, I now place my (ever weighty!) endorsement on Sen. John McCain. Go Johnny go!

Don't Vote Obama

Go vote Huckabee if you are Republican, just to let McCain know conservatism is alive and well. More importantly, vote Clinton if you are a Democrat to help show that empty promises of “change” do not mask a poor and strongly liberal record. Nor does it cover up interactions with extremists such as Obama mentor Jeremiah Wright, not to mention Louis Farrakan. Nor does it forgive wild promises concerning Iraq. Obama is wrong for American — I believe the worst of the major candidates to run in either party. Candidates who cause Messianic feelings amongst people should cause the wise person concern not joy. Given Huckabee's unfortunately low polling numbers, I am inclined to say even Republicans should go vote Clinton tomorrow, because it is critical that Obamamania is deflated, if such is even possible at this point.

(Humorous bits like the two mock debates from the past two weeks of SNL, available with a little searching online, may help as they show how biased the mass media is towards Obama, but even that may be too little, too late.)

Meanwhile, check out a very good article by my friend Dennis E. Powell. He has some amusing anecdotes about the primaries tomorrow.

It’s an interesting campaign in terms of the process, if not so much the outcome. In one party, there is someone who has campaigned based on the religious fervor of his followers and an old warhorse who feels through years of service entitled to the nomination. The Republicans have a couple of candidates, too.

Notes

Well, first, I should note that yesterday was the second time I had an opportunity to blog on my blog on a leap day! How exciting. I intended to say something particular about that, but did not! Oops.

Also, I realized my blog's birthday went by without observation. Yes, it was in the last week of February 2002 that the site eventually known as asisaid came alive. I need to bump up my “years blogging” meter on the side column to six!

Finally, it seems fitting, then, to wish a VERY HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY to Christopher, one of my oldest blogging buddies. Hope you had a good one, Mr. WIT!?!?!

Affinities with Barth

The topic of Deconstruction and Barth is one I've dabbled with before, and I'm wondering if somehow I can link it to Barth's doctrine of election in the independent study I am in. I've been meaning to read Of Grammatology for sometime. Perhaps now is the time to do some of it.

I may have to stretch the connection because, primarily, it seems like Deconstruction works in conjunction with Barth's rejection of natural theology, not his work on the topic of soteriology. Nevertheless, something flickers in my head just beyond my reach as of yet that suggests there is a connection here that I am missing. So perhaps I shall pursue it a bit.

What I would like to spend more time, in general, is connecting twentieth century literary and theology movements. The other key affinity in my mind is that of T.S. Eliot with Barth, particularly the Eliot of “the Wasteland” with the early, Crisis Barth. Both the Wasteland and Der Römerbrief come out of the first World War. What other similarities appear? To what extent does modernist literature interact with Barth's neo-orthodoxy?

Can You Write?

Have something you've been itching to say and been wanting someplace beyond your blog to say it? I'm itching to publish it. Open for Business is looking for article contributions on a wide variety of subjects — current events, politics, religion, philosophy, culture, book reviews, and even fiction — and your piece could be featured on its pages. I would love to publish pieces from some of my esteemed blog neighbors, either as a one-off type thing or, should anyone be interested, a continuing contributor basis.

Unfortunately, right now Open for Business is not able to provide payment for contributions, but we will link to your site in the bio at the bottom of your piece, so it provides you with some exposure (and bragging rights). OFB, in case any of my readers are not familiar with it, has been in online publication since 2001; featured on Slashdot numerous times and even once linked to from the Washington Post's web site, it has at times attracted over one million hits per month, and on a regular month attracts tens of thousands of visitors reading new articles and returning to the archive of content.

As it says on the site:

Open for Business accepts commentaries and other works on technology, current events, politics, philosophy, business and other relevant matters for publication. Commentaries should be 600-800 words in length, other works vary but should generally be kept to less than 1500 words. If you think you would like to contribute, contact OFB's editor, Timothy R. Butler.

C'mon, give it a try.

Discouragement

One of the weird paradoxes of Covenant has been that it has been one of the most encouraging and discouraging experiences I've ever had. Encouraging in seeing the professors and students live the Gospel, encouraging in the wonderful opportunities to learn and be stretched, encouraging in the wonderful people I have met, encouraging in the common sense of mission, encouraging even in how I've learned I like homiletics classes!

But it is discouraging too. A lot of that is in the overwhelming workload. This semester is the first semester ever that I have fallen behind in reading for classes at the beginning of the semester. A few classes have drawn so much time that the others have had to play second fiddle. I don't like that — it makes me uncomfortable and it makes me feel like I really cannot do my best work.

I'm hoping it will improve in the coming weeks. But tonight I feel discouraged.

Digital Note Taking

I've resisted taking notes on a computer for years. Through college, I stuck to my trusty five subject notebooks, which I would usually fill double sided in each section by the end of a semester. I like the feel of taking notes by hand. It keeps my penmanship up a bit, is an active way of embedding the content being talked about in my mind, and allowed me to stare at a computer a few less hours each day. Oh, and, if I really must admit it, I liked being able to doodle in the margins too.

But, all good things must come to pass. Last fall, I was in a small group at Covenant and learned that Microsoft Word:mac has an exclusive to Mac “notebook” mode which records audio as you type your notes. What is really amazing is that every time you press return to move to the next line, Word denotes the time on the audio recording and keys that line to the audio timeline. After you finish taking notes, you can click on any line in the document, hit play, and hear the audio from that point. This is so incredibly useful that I have become a convert to typing my notes.

I say all this because people are use to me complaining about Microsoft. When the folks in Redmond get something right to the extent that they did this feature, they deserve some major kudos! If you find yourself in a class or meeting that goes well with note taking, and you own a Mac, you really should check this out.

I Believe Change Can Happen in the Future...

Hat tip: Credit goes to none other than the man who ties half his brains behind his back just to make it fair, the lovable, harmless, fuzz-ball, the all seeing, all knowing, all feeling Maha Rushie. Yes, El Rushbo himself. That's a clip that has been playing on the Rush Limbaugh Show before EIB Obscene Profit Center breaks. And yes, using all that EIB jargon has just made me admit I listen to America's Anchorman a bit too much… but, don't fear, I am not a Rush 24/7 subscriber, and I do not listen to the Weapon of Mass Instruction every day. And, no, I do not go to Rush for my political opinions. If I did, I wouldn't support Huckabee and I would never vote for McCain.