Post 150

Well I've hit another landmark on the way to...well what is the ultimate goal of this thing, anybody know?! I feel slightly abashed at reading Tim bemoaning the fact that he's slipped down to around 200 posts a year, but nonetheless I'm still proud of my dent into the bloggosphere, even if it's not the biggest or most entertaining.

I must however address that my posts have decreased of late, which is not brilliant as I hope to make many more entries on this space in times future. But there does seem to be a lot less coming up, and while weekly quotes are at least keeping content regularly updated they are appearing too often with little in between. This is I think for two reasons - firstly I've reached something of a plateau content wise. I initially produced a flurry of lengthy, clunky posts which eventually became unreadable and hard to follow, I've since learned to be punchier and more interesting and I did at one stage have quite a frequent presence on the blog. I think the problem is now that I've reached a standard where I no longer feel comfortable just posting anything, but want to at least make the effort to post something witty or thoughtful, even getting the grand delusion of calling my posts 'articles' and thinking that people might read them - though apparently some people do (see last post.) So I do perhaps need to reevaluate what I write as it may promote more content...and it's not like what I write's that clever anyway! It shows in that I write far more on Blogga the Hutt now, as I'm happy to write lengthy ari...posts on Sci-Fi stuff as it's something I'm knowledgeable on etc.

The second reason is that I'm starting a PGCE and free time is something of a rich commodity now. I'm having a good time doing it, but the workload means I don't always have the time or the energy to write on a blog, though I seem to fit in a few Xbox sessions no problem! But it does take some degree of thought to blog and so when my brain wants to give up it's easier to pick up a game pad than try to write. I will try to rectify this, but things are likely to get harder before they get easier so we'll have to see.

Well this is getting far too mopey for what is after all a celebratory post - I think I will celebrate by perhaps picking up on some landmark posts and sharing the memories with you dear reader.

My first post - my cautious, and very clumsy entry into blogging, note the blog had a different name and style back then

My first comment - Again early days, note that I originally copied posts from another source

My first (an possibly only) classic post - very proud of this one

First original post - yup, all blogger this one...'cept what I copied!

Post 50 - post 100 is another memorial thing so I'll leave it

First official word of the post - I'd done many, but this marke the official beginnig of a tradition I'm proud of

First weekly quote - Another tradition that helps blow the dust off this blog every week.

A rant...blogging essential! - this one's about tree rats

My Coke phase - don't think it's over!!

A look at the future - something I'd like to develop...possibly...maybe...if I've got time.

Wow - I managed to crank out 10 special post out of the - even I'm impressed!! Guess thereis some life in the old gal yet!Well I'm feeling a bit more buoyant about things now and I do have one or two ideas for posts to bring out soon - but for now I'll keep up some old traditions

Weekly Quote W/E 27/09/08

"At this angle the dragonfolk looked reasonably bearable, but the dragons themselves, hanging from their perches. loomed over the scene like immense gargoyles. Their eyes glowed with interest." - The Colour of Magic, Terry Pratchett

Word of the post: Vainglorious - adj.

Characterized by or exhibiting excessive vanity

Weekly Quote W/E 20/09/08

I've been busy, and I'm probably going to get busier

"To realise one's destiny is a person's only real obligation. All things are one. And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you achieve it.". - The Alchemist, Paul Coelho

Weekly Quote W/E 13/09/08

Carrying on...

"...so when you go to bed at night Mr Kane, be sure to think about me. When you wake up in the morning, think about me again, because I'll never cease thinking about my plans for you." - Kane and Abel, Jeffrey Archer

Oh yeah - the date

I just added the Blogger Play widget thing (I'll get into why maybe later) which adds pictures as they are uploaded onto people's blogs and was surprised at the number of pictures of the Twin Tower terrorist attacks, until I noticed the date.

I can't believe it's been, how many years is it now? I was still in high school so quite a few now I guess, even enough for the date to slip my mind. I don't know what to say if anything so I'll leave you with a thousand words instead...

In Memoriam 911

The nature of blogging

All that thoughtfulness in that last post has provoked even more thought - I know, two days in a row, scary stuff huh?!

With writing about more serious stuff on the blog (can't say it's gonna be more than a one-off, but it was an interesting exercise nonetheless) I've had cause to think about how I blog and why I blog. I guess for me one of the fundamental practices is attention seeking, posting stuff on the internet in the vain hope that someone, anyone will take notice. This strikes a curious imbalance with a slight embarrassment at my opinions and keenness to maintain some layer of anonymity. So anyway I ten to just chuck stuff out there in the vain hope that someone may even like it and deign to comment on it.

I guess this is OK for my usual stuff, and maybe more of the content on Blogga. But for debating proper matters I guess just wanting people to read and admire isn't quite the right motivation. It also affects the writing, if I'm assuming people will admire my work I'll step up the eloquence of the speech a notch so that surely people will have to be impressed by the formality of my tone and assume that what I'm saying is good...right?

The other element of blogging is something of a cathartic nature, or that of a release. Blogging, for me, is worlds apart from fiction or essay writing. I find blogging a relaxing way of writing as I don't ten to plan or think through my posts much beyond the original idea. My fingers hit the keys and thoughts are electronically conveyed instantly. It means I can just write without the usual planning and thinking and editing involved - which I find quite liberating.

Again, I don't think this is wrong, but just tapping away when bringing up a serious issue is not necessarily the best way, though then again (thinking out loud) maybe it's not so bad. I suppose what I am always doing when blogging is thinking out loud, that is my blogging style. Sometimes I think long thoughts, sometimes only little snippets. Sometimes I plumb the depths, other times I laugh at squirrels, but I am always thinking and usually thinking 'live' as I write. So as a style it ain't bad and I suppose sticking to it means I'm not pretending to be beyond my capabilities, but nonetheless I need to take serious issues seriously and therin lies the struggle to find a balance between giving appropriate weight and writing pomp for pomp's sake.

I doubt very much whether I will ever get this balance right. It does have the downside of meaning that my posts never quite match up to the grand expectations I lay upon them (this very post is a good example), but nonetheless I will still enjoy the freedom to just write for most of my content, I just might have to practice putting a bit more thought into some of my content.

Well that was quite the excersise in rambling, but I wanted to think through the nature of blogging for myself and what better place for thinking out loud than a blog eh? I also want to make sure that there's more than just weekly quotes being posted up here to keep both myself and potential readers interested. But now I'll have to think of something else to write about - hmm, is there a new Coke out yet?

Word of the post: Coagulate - verb

1.	to change from a fluid into a thickened mass

Tim-inspired thinking post

I've been discussing with Tim over at his blog about posting up some
religious based stuff and whether it felt right to do so. We both
discussed that we sometimes feel unequal to the task and I'm still
cautious about it to be completely honest with you. I mean I'm no
theologian and I use this blog for posting up rubbish that pops into
my head, not like you know, serious things. I think there's also an
element of pride, as Tim mentioned, but also cowardice to use this
blog to talk about my God or Christianity which is stupid for two
reasons - firstly I should blog about what interests me, and second,
basically no one reads this thing and all those that do are Christians
anyway so what does it matter?

It is perhaps a little risky then that I start out with an exercise in
criticism, or at least what might appear to be so. I guess I should
firstly state that I am not critical of the song or it's writer. I
believe it is a good tool and has much instruction on living out the
Christian life, but I think it is one we don't necessarily think
through as we should. The tune is also an important element in
what I'm thinking about, so maybe if you haven't heard it you
should look it up on YouTube or something - or apparently
there's a GodTube now but I can't guarantee any content found
there! Anyhow, here's the latter half of the song, full lyrics aren't
hard to find if you want 'em. 


Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name


My reasons for bringing this up are because of a bible study done with
Ian Fry on the excellent Contagious youth week. In our group we
studied Job and had a look at his suffering under the excellent heading
 "how does God treat his friends?" which was very powerful and thought
provoking. One thing drawn up to the end was our perhaps unrealistic
attitude to suffering in Christian culture. I'm going to be very cautious
now as I don't have much experience in the area and I don't want to
inadvertently discredit either Ian or Matt Redman by what I'm writing
here and so I will stick to my usual 'something to think about' stance
rather than pretend to teach you something. 

The problem with the song is that the tune is quite upbeat, whereas the
words are actually quite somber. Not to say the tune is wrong, a durgey
 tune simply wouldn't work and there is a very real element of rejoicing
in suffering so I by no means think it's wrong, the problem is we as singers
forget the meaning of the words and get caught up in the moment and have
a risk of thinking it's easy for our hearts to choose to bless God, which from
my experience isn't true. Not when you compare it with the source for
the song and read the words of Job himself. 

"13 One day when Job's sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 14 a messenger came to Job and said, "The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, 15
and the Sabeans attacked and carried them off. They put the servants to
the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!" 

16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The fire of God fell from the sky and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

17 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, "The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and carried them off. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

18 While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, "Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother's house, 19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!"

20 At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship 21 and said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart. ^[c]
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."

22 In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

Job is not exactly joyful here, nor is he stoically saying "naked I came..."
look at the verses immediately prior, watch him rip his clothes, shave off
his hair and collapse to the ground. The words that follow are not easy
words, it is not easy for him to claim that the LORD has taken away, it
is not easy for him to praise God, and yet he does. I haven't the faintest
idea what suffering, real suffering feels like and so I cannot hope to
offer worthy advice to a reader who for all I know may be
experiencing real physical or emotional pain so I will address
myself from now on as I know this is something I need to hear,
from myself if no one else.

I thank God for revealing some of his plan in suffering through the
book of Job. I thank Him for Job's example, his faith but also his
real confusion and even anger about what was happening, yet not
turning from God. I thank Him also for the song above that puts
some of these thoughts an principles to music that can be
addressed to Him.  And I pray that I might be able to grasp these
properly so that when suffering does come, though the pain and
anguish are no more diminished, I would still hold firm to him who
knows me, saved me and can keep me through all trials.

Please feel free to comment and to criticize, it's the only way I'll learn.

Word of the post: Acquaintance –noun  

1.	a person known to one, but usually not a close friend.

Weekly Quote W/E 06/09/08

More stuff, least I posted something...today!

"The captain looked at Fermina Daza and saw on her eyelashes the first glimmer of wintry frost. Then he looked at Florentino Ariza, his invincible power, his intrepid love, and he was overwhelmed by the belated suspicion that it is life, more than death, that has no limits." - Love in the time of Cholera, Gabriel Garcia Marquez

I just had to