:: Saturday, December 27, 2003 ::

Top 10 books of 2003
This is not my top 10 list; that will come later. (Actually, it'll be a top five list. I didn't read enough good books in 2003 to compile a top 10.) This comes from ChristianityToday.com's Books & Culture site.

I was glad to see the list included Gary Larson's The Complete Far Side, 1980-1994. That's the only book on the list I'm familiar with -- and only because I read Larson's cartoons religiously during those years. Of the other 10 on the list (due to a tie, John Wilson's "top 10" actually includes 11 books), I am planning to purchase this one. Has anyone read it? Advice, anyone?

:: Andrew 10:24 + ::
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:: Wednesday, December 24, 2003 ::

The Pagan Deviltry of the Christ's Mass Holiday and How We Must Resist Its Temptation
A look back at the good ol' Elizabethan days, from those funny folks at The Onion.

When I first became Rector of this Parish, I was most shock'd and vex'd to find that my Predecessor had institut'd a yearly Pageant to commemorate the Christ's Mass Holiday. In this Pageant, a Number of Children were adorn'd to resemble the Holy Family, the Magi, Shepherds, and Angels. After they perform'd the Story of the Nativity, the Congregation gather'd around a gaudily bedeck'd Yule Tree and ate Johnny Cakes bak'd to resemble Stars and Bells. Then, the Pastor, dress'd as the beard'd Father of Christ's Mass, pass'd out Gifts to the Young. I would have none of that. Instead of permitting the Children to masquerade immodestly as Angels and Saints, I lock'd them in my Rectory Study, and drill'd them endlessly in the rote Memorization of the Book of Numbers.


:: Andrew 07:50 + ::
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From the digital snowflake gallery

digital snowflake gallery

Link via The Eye Opener.

:: Andrew 07:46 + ::
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The 12 Days of Christmas Cost Index
It's getting more expensive to buy your true love everything on "The 12 Days of Christmas" list. While stiff import competition is driving deeper discounts on merchandise sold in the United States, skilled labor cost is on the rise, resulting in a 16 percent increase in this year’s PNC Advisors Christmas Price Index – the biggest jump the Index has seen in its 19-year history. . Link via Marylaine Block's Neat New Stuff on the Net.

:: Andrew 07:38 + ::
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The new Jordoncooper.com
New look, same great content, minus the blogroll. Coop's site remains one of my faves.

:: Andrew 07:35 + ::
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:: Tuesday, December 23, 2003 ::

Joe Strummer, Punk Prophet
A little ditty I wrote for Relevant to coincide with the one-year anniversary of Strummer's death (it was yesterday) is now up on Relevant's website.

:: Andrew 10:42 + ::
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2003 in review, part 3: music videos
(Updated on Christmas Eve, 2003)
MTV does it; so does VH1. How nice of both networks to crowd the occasional music video into their busy schedule of reality, pop culture and "I love the (insert favorite decade here" programming. So if they can do a music video countdown, by golly, so can bloggedy blog -- even in a year of sub-par music videos. Here we go, now (all song titles are links to video files or pages containing video files):

5. A two-way tie between "Stacy's Mom," by Fountains of Wayne and "Where Is the Love?" by Black Eyed Peas.

First, "Stacy's Mom": It's every junior high schoolboy's fantasy: dating a cute girl who's mom is a supermodel who pole-dances in the kitchen while you and her daughter watch music videos. (Actually, you're not watching no stinkin' music video; you're casting furtive, lustful glances at Stacy's Mom, you naughty boy.) The song is stupid, but what makes the video so brilliant is its homage to a classic scene from one of the great coming-of-age movies of all time: Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Only in the video, Rachel Hunter plays Phoebe Cates' role of swimming-pool seductress. I heard or read somewhere that Fountains of Wayne is actually a pretty decent band, but they'll be forever tarnished by one silly song -- much like the Buggles were for "Video Killed the Radio Star." Oh, well. The price of fame, I suppose.

The "Where Is the Love?" video was the best social commentary to hit the airwaves in 2003. This video depicts the Peas as urban guerrillas for social justice, asking the question that ought to be asked in our churches: "Where is the love?"

4. "Going Under," by Evanescence. The lead singer chick, Amy Lee, goes goth in this ethereal video featuring some great montage and camera work, and one of the best treatments of concert footage I've seen all year. The song and video begin out of nowhere -- quick, choppy rhythm guitar underscoring the singer's otherworldly voice. This is what a goth video should look like. Forget about all that Marilyn Manson crap (well, except for the cover to Eurythmics' "Sweet Dreams," which I really like). This song's lyrics are filled with spiritual undercurrents, though not as much as Evanescence's more popular "Bring Me to Life." Earlier this year, Evanescence ignited a controversy among the contemporary Christian music scene with some disparaging comments about CCM. You probably won't find their CD Fallen in Christian music stores.

3. "I'm Glad," by Jennifer Lopez. Maybe I'm just getting nostalgic for the early '80s (see No. 5 in our countdown, above), but I really like this homage to the 1983 movie Flashdance. J. Lo does a nice job channeling Jennifer Beals in this video, which ended up being the subject of a lawsuit because it was a bit too much like the original. Anyway, it's a great video for the choreography alone. But as with all J. Lo videos, it's much better with the volume turned down. Way down.

2. "Hey Ya," by OutKast. More nostalgia -- this time, way back to the '60s and the Beatles' debut on the Ed Sullivan Show. Great video: OutKast's Andre performs with straight hair, in jockey suits, bare-chested behind the drums, and in lots and lots of green. This video makes me smile.

1. "Hurt," by Johnny Cash. Cash's final video may have been his greatest ever. A look back at his tumultuous life through the lens of Mark Romanek, Cash gives voice to a Nine-Inch Nails tune that seems written just for him. If you haven't seen this video, you must click on the link above and let this visual montage overwhelm you.

:: Andrew 10:33 + ::
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On this day in history...
Clement C. Moore's "Visit from St. Nicholas" was published on Dec. 23, 1823, in the Troy (New York) Sentinel. (You know the poem: "'Twas the night before Christmas...") He wrote the poem to entertain his own children on Christmas Eve the prior year. It continues to entertain children every Christmas season.

:: Andrew 07:57 + ::
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:: Monday, December 22, 2003 ::

Moving beyond the worship service
Nice article in TheOoze about the role of worship services in the Christian life, by Justin Baeder (who also has a nice "spoof this chair ad" contest going on at his blog). An excerpt from the article:

Perhaps we cling so strongly to the worship service because we think it's biblical. All of Paul's instructions to the Corinthians, all of the examples of church gatherings in Acts, and all the references to church gatherings throughout the New Testament are filtered through the worship-service lens. We assume that the early church did church the way we do now, with singing, a sermon, communion, and some housekeeping announcements. We assume that the "service" is a thing in itself, a special zone in space and time where the rules are different (e.g. head coverings, women speaking, etc.) than in the rest of life. This is the kind of old-testament ritual observance that Christ fulfilled and did away with in his death and resurrection. We think we have to find a pastor and a worship leader to be a church -- a throwback to the priestly system of tribal Judaism, not the universal priesthood God intended the Body of Christ to be.


:: Andrew 08:47 + ::
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Look Your Best Pink Tuscadero: Look Your Best

Blue On Blue Leigh Nash: Blue on Blue

I Am  Not Afraid Of  You And I Will Beat Your Ass Yo La Tengo: I Am Not Afraid of You and I Will Beat Your Ass

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The Lemonheads The Lemonheads: The Lemonheads

Ben Kweller Ben Kweller: Ben Kweller

We Are The Pipettes The Pipettes: We Are the Pipettes

Surprise Paul Simon: Surprise

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For the Best of Us The John Doe Thing: For the Best of Us

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Citrus Asobi Seksu: Citrus

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News and Tributes The Futureheads: News and Tributes

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A Blessing and a Curse Drive By Truckers: A Blessing and a Curse

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