Live Swell Season - "In These Arms"

New Vampire Weekend - "Cousins"

Early Christmas Present

Wow oh wow.

Moderated Comments

I really don't know where to start.  But I agree with most commenters--if this is your attitude towards children, it's probably best not to have them.

I definitely understand what you mean by your first point, but frankly the child comes first.  Period.  I've seen too many families where the opposite has happened (mine to name one, so this may be purely anecdotal), and the results aren't pretty.  That being said I think there should be a balance between the two (and in most good marriages there is), but ultimately, the children should absolutely come first.

I think you do have a false dichotomy set up.  I celebrated Thanksgiving with friends, and there were three children with us under 10, and things were incredible.  We talked about anything and everything around them--health care, politics, bands that should play at the superbowl, the KGB, Russia/Estonia relations, etc.  Just because you had a particular experience doesn't necessarily mean that goes across the board (I'm saying that to myself as well).  But I really disagree that people have 10 or more years of mindless activity.  While raising children I still plan to pursue my own interests (from the arts to philosophy), but at the same time using those things to enrich my children.  Kids are a lot smarter than you give them credit.

Finally, I think the biggest reason you've set up a false dichotomy is just because you haven't looked at many of the examples that we see in professors and academics that we know of.  I have many friends I grew up with in middle and high school here in Stephens County who were children of professors at TFC, and not only were they incredibly intelligent and necessary to my theological upbringing, but had great parents too.  It can be done.

My wife and I just found out almost two months ago we were having a kid.  it's been the scariest thing in the world.  The most exciting too.  And I have to say some of the most exciting aspects is simply the idea of raising a kid--getting to teach him things, give him great books, introduce him to music, take him to science museums, and etc.  As terrified as I am, I also couldn't be more pumped.

Beirut - "Elephant Gun"

Avett Brothers live - "I and Love and You"

Early White Stripes

It's easy to see why this is one of my favorite bands.

"higher and higher and higher"

Passion Pit - "Little Secrets"





When I came down the dawn poured into me
I shook em up, the walls came crumbling
my fists kept trembling with these salty wounds
my stolen gold inside the emperors tomb

Now baby wait looks like a lovely face
I built this cardboard neighborhoods disgrace
who let it said that youre my favorite sphere
within the confines of such chemistry

It's the way I see
everything I need
it's no way to be

Let this be our little secret
no one needs to know were feeling
higher and higher and higher

But I feel alive and I feel it in me
up and up I keep on climbing
higher and higher and higher

My face blew up at such a casual sight
this miracle is of ecstatic fright
they'll rush above me to oblivion
outlining white sidewalks with halogen

Oh have you ever felt so gd strong
how come it takes some people so d long
he tried to squeeze the lemon juice to rain
the citrus drawing out the seasons stains

Watch the basin drain
as your life lines wane
and you cant explain
as your friends complain

You've caused all this pain
and you proudly shame
your whole families name

Let this be our little secret
no one needs to know were feeling
higher and higher and higher

But I feel alive and I feel it in me
up and up I keep on climbing
higher and higher and higher

Mother I can tell what you've been thinking
staring at the stars on your ceiling
thinking once there was a power that you were wielding
and now I've hit the mark
staring at the dark
and I cannot help but ignore the people staring at my scars

Let this be our little secret
no one needs to know were feeling
higher and higher and higher

But I feel alive and I feel it in me
up and up and keep on climbing
higher and higher and higher

Monsters of Folk video - "Say Please"

fun - "All the Pretty Girls"

So I call your name, cross my fingers
uncross the others, hesitate.
Oh,I don't think straight with nothing to prove.

I don't wanna say I'm leaving
I will stay until the weekend.
And you can take all your things;
the boxes and rings
and get going.

'Cause I've been waiting for...

All the pretty girls on a Saturday night.
Let it be, and come to me with the look in your eyes.
Well you break and take all the words from my mouth.
I wish all the pretty girls were shaking me down.

So I call(I call) you out(out baby)
Just to feel a little bit better about myself(he does)
And I do(you do), baby I do
'Til their lips start to move,
and their friends talk music
I say "I've never heard the tune!"
But I have, I just hate the band
'cause they remind me of you.

Every single night ends up the same,
I don't say much at all, but I bring up your name.
(Over and over and over)
I think it's striking me out.

All the pretty girls on a Saturday night
Let it be, and come to me with the look in your eyes.
Well you break and take all the words from my mouth.
I wish all the pretty girls were shaking me down.
But not you,
you still wear boots and your hair is too long
and then this one doesn't want to admit she's fallen in love
Oh c'mon, oh c'mon, what's a boy to do
When all the pretty girls can't measure to you?

I don't understand your reasons
Please just stay over the weekend
You can't take all those things
They define you and me
everything we've become,
You're all that I need
Please don't make me face my generation alone.

All the pretty girls on a Saturday night.
Let it be, oh come to me with the look in your eyes.
And you break and take all the words from my mouth?
I wish all the pretty girls were shaking me down.
But not you,
I feel your faith is destroying the world
and then this one never really understood
the 80s is over and done
Oh c'mon, what's a boy to do,
when all the pretty girls can't measure to you?

A Needed Reminder

Smoke [1918]

By Carl Sandburg


I sit in a chair and read the newspapers.

Millions of men go to war, acres of them are buried, guns
and ships broken, cities burned, villages sent up in
smoke, and children where cows are killed off amid
hoarse barbecues vanish like finer-rings of smoke
in a north wind.

I sit in a chair and read the newspapers.

"You can safely assume that you've created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do." -Anne Lamott

Switchfoot - "Yet"

Christopher Walken + Poker Face

= hilarity.

I REALLY Hope This Will Be Good

Here's a new trailer for The Road.  It's definitely better than the first, but I still have my hesitations.

Here's hoping!