Rock my socks off

There are a number of lame uses for the intarweb, and then there are things that make life just a little brighter from day to day. (You might disagree which side of the ledger some of these deserve to be on, I suppose...)

I stumbled across one of the all-time goodies: Pandora from the Music Genome Project.

This site, in my opinion, is wicked cool. Input a song or artist you like, and it constructs a playlist of other songs/artists that should appeal to you.

Now, those of you who know me understand that my musical tastes are pretty eclectic to begin with... If you doubt that, the smooth transition my iTunes just made from Wagner's Liebestod to P.O.D. should convince you. With that on the table, I think the Pandora site is great!! Granted, few of the matched songs are perfect - but there's enough breadth and similarity to ensure that you at least find something in the bunch that appeals to you. I was particularly amused when I, as a test, created a station for the Polyphonic Spree (a band 'discovered' by a friend with even more odd musical tastes) and found that it does indeed kick back a number of other similar sounding bands.

So, check it out... Never know what your ears will hear... For my part, I've stopped listening. The temptation to click the BUY button was too tempting.

Christmas 2005

As you probably know, my wife had set up a blog for our family's 2005 Christmas gift ideas. When I created my post, I was a little more verbose than perhaps was appropriate. My list takes ups two screenfuls of text right at the top of the blog since I was the last person to make an entry.

To correct that (and make use of this happy page), I've decided to move the whole list off of the family page and just link you over here. So, you can check out my complete, original, untruncated post if you care about what I want to see under the tree. If you want to check out the rest of the family (which I would encourage), you can visit them here.

So..

****snip****

I'm a simple person to shop for, in that I usually don't want more than one or two things *ever*... And I usually buy those for myself impatiently. In that theme, one item on my gift list is already in my grubby hands but I'd love if you'd be "willing to partner with me to cover the burden" of my cool gadgetry... Without further ado:

1) GADGET - Apple iPod (already purchased)
Yeah, I couldn't wait. The new iPods came out, I'd been drooling for a while, and the college had a promo price going. So, I jumped at it. This was my only intended 'gift idea' for Christmas... I wouldn't let the fact that I already own it stop you from contributing.

1a) GADGETY - iTunes Store Gift Certificates
With my iPod-dizzle, I've started buying songs (usually worship stuff) through Apple's iTunes store. Though I *hate* DRM crap more than any person on the earth, Apple does seem to have the best deal going... And I hate paying $18 for the Christian artist's album just to get one song that I like. So, help me fill my iPod with tunes... If you have an Apple-phobia, you can just gimme the cash and I'll find a way to launder it over into my tunes budget. You'll never know. Trust me.

2) BOOK - The Reformation Study Bible (leather cover)
I've finally come around to using the ESV Bible, after gnashing my teeth against it for so long. At any rate, this new study bible has some great notes inside *and* has the benefit of adding yet another kind of study bible to our shelves! Awesome, eh? It can be purchased from Amazon, Christian Books, or the distributor of your choice!

3) BOOKS - Assorted...
As some of you know (though you'll all know now, I suppose), I'm taking a theology 'class' with the uber-educated, neo-reformed, wicked-cool Associate Pastor at our church. As such, I'm being 'hipped' to all kinds of cool pastoral resource books... And "me wants [them], my precious". Most of these are available used through ABEBooks at a pretty marked savings. I'm just going to keep a running list here for anyone who wants to throw one my way!
1) Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Walter Elwell

4) CLOTHES - Er. Clothes.
Well, I still need to cover my skin in shame... So, I do need clothes. If you want to spend money in this way, feel free.

5) THE GREATEST GIFT - Cash
I would like to state on the record that I feel that "just giving money" is a perfectly valid and wonderful way to express your affection for me. I know some ppl think that (since it requires no thought or time) it's a cold, impersonal, and bland gift. Not so with me! So, if you're stuck just throw me $$ and I'll funnel it to one of the above items or one of my other interests (golf, heating oil, etc.).

Ok, heating oil isn't really an interest...

This is a test...

This is a test of the emergency broadcast system. In the event of an actual emergency, people would be running and screaming in all directions. Anarchy/panic would reign and we'd be trying to avoid getting trampled underfoot.