Brian Was Wrong

Green Day are not the clever, political rebels some once thought they were. No, it appears that their overnight consciousness comes at a time when it's what they have to do to stay current, rather than what they should do out of generosity. I'm glad they're helping raise awareness about Darfur. Hell, I don't even mind them covering a John Lennon song. But at least, when you go on American Idol, sing the song with some damn conviction! It's not your song to butcher with your mindless drone! A working class hero you are not boys.

This brings me to my thoughts on Idol last night (Matt should love that). A two-hour finale is way better than 2005's three-hour final episode. The celebrities that appeared last night made more sense than the previous two finales (or maybe even all of them). The entertainment was nice, except for Tony Bennett. Seriously? That guy really doesn't shine well at his old age. Unlike Johnny Cash or even Frank Sinatra, Bennett just looks old. He should just quit trying to talk on pitch. The fat Elvis period in the late 70's was better than Bennett's performance last night.

The tribute to the 40th anniversary release of The Beatles' magnum opus, Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, was a nice change from the usual trite tributes American Idol is known for. I'm glad someone gave them permission to cover Beatles songs, although the botched words of the classic long player were noticed by me, as well as all the other fans of that great album. I actually think Carrie Underwood could cover "She's Leaving Home" and would it do it honor. I'm not so sure about the rest.

Finally, I must say that I'm glad someone who actually sings well won last night. Jordan Sparks sings so great and she's only seventeen! On the other hand, Blake Lewis just kind of talks in a key and adds a little vibrato. I was so disappointed last year with Taylor Hicks winning, I'm glad the show redeemed itself this year. I know America picks the winner, but the judges opinions do have a say on who the audience typically votes for.

So with that, I look forward to Hell's Kitchen which premiers in July. This is the third season, and Gordon Ramsey looks meaner than ever. The new film director's show On The Lot was pretty good Tuesday night, too. I will be sure to tape it tonight.

All I can say now is, "I get high with a little help from my friends."

"School's Out For Summer...

I am done. No classes this summer I don't think (they're really not offering anything I need). I'm debating about adding a second degree to my already too long 68 hour program. I have a new job, and hope to start it within the next few days, but I'll save that story for later. I slept in today, and it was glorious.

...School's out forever." - Alice Cooper

"Fewer Moving Parts Means Fewer Broken Pieces"

Eschatology is the branch of the theology that addresses last things. This includes many facets, but specifically, what happens when humans die and the issues dealing with the end times. If someone were to do an eschatology of me, right now, I wonder what it would show? I can tell you, at this point I'm slacking horribly. But, the good news is I only have two more finals (Old Testament tomorrow and Greek on Thursday). Usually, at this point in my graduate school career, I'm trying to finish up everything that's due. But that is not happening today. I'm done. No papers, projects, nothing. Now, this could simply be that my classes require more tests than papers this semester. Either way, I am done and I need to attempt to study for these tests. So, as it was once said, I bid you a fond farewell.

if only i knew what to do

my life moves on
and i want it to stop
i want to push the pause button
and make it hold still
but that's not going to happen
and really, what would it solve
expendability is a clue
things like this only matter to those who allow it to

how do i go about writing
with the purpose of the angels
revealing myself in hidden form
a view that's not really noticeable
or detectable
and how do i let you know everything i want to say
without having to say one thing
i need to get this off my chest, fast

do i lay my head down to sleep tonight
only to forget the troubling thoughts
that are causing my heart to hurt
or do i rest with my problems
and allow them to keep me awake
and follow the only course of action to take
which is swallowing enough pills to forget the problem ever existed
that will only give me more dilemmas

i want to be right
but not about the petty stuff
about how i'm living rightly
and doing all i need to
to help those who need my help
not because i'm some special solution or a hero
but because it's what i ought to do
and living like the former is just way more tiring

but when do i reach the point
when i get to confess all of my troubles
when others problems outweigh mine
and issues like my self-esteem don't mean much
compared to the real calamity that others live through
when does it happen
somebody tell me when i can move on

do i need advice
or counseling
or medicine
or just to get away from sin
do i care about these problems
or only the solutions
is asking too many questions
a form of hysteria

clue me in
so when i speak emphatically
i will know all the information prior
this is my goal
to shut my mouth more
and to think through the issues
will i suceed
or will i be defeated
will I ever learn how to be
more than just me

Barack Obama Is A Christian, But...

His views sometimes seem to conflict with what the Bible prescribes for Christ-like action and attitude. This could be, of course, due to his mentor as The New York Times Online reports:

Mr. Obama, a Democratic presidential candidate who says he was only shielding his pastor from the spotlight, said he respected Mr. Wright’s work for the poor and his fight against injustice. But "we don’t agree on everything," Mr. Obama said. "I’ve never had a thorough conversation with him about all aspects of politics."

I will vote for a leader who I think will do best at leading, Christian or not. But I don't know how to trust someone who seems to have one foot in the faith of Christ and another in syncreticism. I'm not saying that the previously typed statement applies to Obama, but it certainly does for a number of candidates of both major parties.

P.S. None of this conversation does, nor will it ever apply to Hillary. She's a wonky, half-socialist who flip flops worse than Kerry did three years ago. A woman will be president some day. But if you bet on her, I'm afraid you will lose.