Is this really necessary?

It is the end...

2006-08-16T23:50:00.000-07:00

...Perhaps! Google just anounnced the new "Beta Blogger" service, signifying a great upgrade for Blogger! While I am definately moving over to my new blog, I will probably tweak this one out a little just to see what all has changed, and so I'll still be able to provide help to my fellow bloggers still stuck with (admittedly) an easier blogging software. However, I still think Wordpress is the way to go if you don't mind getting under the hood a little.

My farewell!

2006-08-10T18:03:00.000-07:00

Alright, it isn't here quite yet, don't freak out so much. Besides, I'll still have a blog, just not this one. However, I took the plunge, got a hosting service, a domain, Wordpress, and a whole lot of confuse-ed-ness, resulting in the production of whyiseverythingalreadytaken.com. Check it out! While not entirely completed, it is getting closer all the time. Use the interface, get a feel for it, find your favorite background, whatever, just go see what I've been up to. Remember, any comments you post here will no longer show up on the other, so anything you have to add to older posts, please do it there.

In other news, I got my fourth flat tire this summer. What the heck?

Oh yeah, I'm still looking for another domain name (something shorter), so if you have any ideas, let me know.

The BEST part of my job

2006-08-07T23:35:00.000-07:00

Today was amazing. I experienced something that I never had before, something that six months ago would never have crossed my mind, something that very few people ever dream about. Today Joel took me up on the KGW Tower--a 6 foot equilateral prism close to 1,000 feet high. We worked--or rather he worked--at the 370 foot "platform," re-aiming an antenna that was pointing too far south. When we were getting back onto the elevator he showed me one of the things that he likes to do when he's up there. I decided to give it a try. Walking along one edge of the tower (really, as it is a triangle 6 feet per side, there isn't much but edge), I hooked onto a vertical bar with a static strap and put one of my scare straps around another support, just in case. Standing facing the inside of the tower, I leaned back, my body supported solely by the static strap, hanging out in mid-air, almost 400 feet to the ground. It was amazing, something I just can't describe. I cannot wait to get to the point that I'm completely comfortable up there, hanging in the balance of the forces binding the rope together and the unrelenting attraction of gravity upon my body, dependent purely upon God and the amazing rules that He's created to govern our universe, my life hanging with the faith that they will remain constant, unchanging in their properties, for the slightest deviation could result in devastating consequences. On a less consequential note, I am trying to come up with a domain name that is short and easy to tell to others. If any of you have any ideas, please let me know what you come up with. --Jerry

Update: Update in progress

2006-08-06T23:40:00.001-07:00

For those of you beginning to wonder if I was serious in the original post, I have the answer, but probably not the one you want: YES. However, I am saving it. The update that is. For one, I need to find the time to add pictures. Actually, I need to finish writing it, but who really cares about that anyway. And when I'm two months behind (not that anyone's counting, right?), what's a week or two more? But why am I saving it? I am getting a new blog. Yes, that's right, a new blog. I am going to get some space on the Freewire server, a couple domains, and Wordpress. Yes, that means no more blogger, but what can you do? It is actually a bit sad in a way [cry]. (Alright, I admit it, I cry a lot--for stupid reasons.) I will still have all my old posts and all their comments, [hopefully] everything that I have now (sadly, I will lose the over 1300 unique IP's to have accessed my blog, but will start all over again, increasing faster than ever!). But I will get a new look, a new url, and [hopefully] increased functionality. I will break new ground with Village blogging, taking everything to the next level. Look out everyone!

Look, LIVE...

2006-08-03T22:51:00.000-07:00

CHAT! What did you think I was going to say? If you just happen to be online at the same time as me, feel free to give me some crap over this oh-so-creative means of over-contactability. Don't forget to customise your user name so I know who you are, unless you're part of a covert ops group, that is. Enjoy!

Update in progress

2006-08-01T00:18:00.000-07:00

I really am updating my blog! I have a huge post in progress detailing everything that has happened to me in the past month.5 (a month and a half, of course). I've just been really tired as of late and not really in the mood to blog, along with much more important things occupying my thoughts. It is on its way, trust me...

#1

2006-07-19T19:04:00.000-07:00

I am now number one! While trying to figure out how anyone got to my blog seacrhing with the keywords "sealing urine with titebond" (yep, somehow it is possible to find my blog by searching for this), I decided to see how high up on the list I was by googling my name. "Jerry Keifer" returns my blog in the top spot, finally beating out the photographer dude. I am content for the evening.

I'm so tired...

2006-07-18T18:57:00.000-07:00

I really need some sleep, but not just any sleep, good sleep. Today I was driving out to Skyline Memorial Gardens (read "cemetery") to do some install work when I looked in my mirror, my gaze dwelling much too long. The driver in the van in front of me slammed on their brakes so they wouldn't miss the street they wanted. I'm glad for the warning God gave me though, guiding my eyes to a construction sign--even though there was no construction in the road that day--saying "Be Prepared to Stop," and my eyes immediately flipped forward with the realization that I had no idea if I did need to stop or not. Apparently I did. After that I ate my lunch on top of a bunch of dead people. No joke, really. I had the best view in the cemetery on top of the lower mausoleum, looking out onto all of the sprawl west of the West Hills. Why wouldn't I take advantage of it?

What should I do?

2006-07-17T23:30:00.000-07:00

I thought that I knew where I was heading with my life (at least for the mean time), but I don't think I've really moved. Not only that, I have also been feeling quite a lot of opposition lately, leading me to determine one of two things:

I am not moving anywhere close to the direction that God wants me to head and He is trying to get my attention to tell me that I need to listen more intently for His direction.

I am right on track with God's intention and am at the center of attacks from the enemy, who's purpose is to dissuade me from following my current path.

I really feel like giving up right now, no matter if it's 1 or 2. I could always give all my money to Kurt Morgan to invest (I'll still want to retire) and go live on the street downtown proclaiming the Gospel, living day to day, depending solely on God to provide. Wait a minute, shouldn't I already be depending solely on God to provide? Shouldn't I already be out on the street proclaiming the Gospel? If I wanted to (yes, I say I want to , but come on, do we ever really mean it?), would it even be possible for me to give up everything I have but the clothes on my back to follow God, to live like Christ? Where am I going with this? I really can't say, can you? Perhaps I just determined that neither of these situations really has to be the case, or did I just prove that I am following 1. Life is just too complicated; let's just blow everything up and go back to living as hunter-gatherers, wearing loin cloths, and painting horses on the cave roof in a futile attempt at sympathetic magic to help bring in lots of delicious mare meat. How the heck did I get to blowing up the world by discussing my future. Oops, I think I might want to apologize in advance for anything that it seems I'm destined to do. Wow, that post was a little freaky, even for me. And I truly started off serious too (no, I won't blow up the world--this week, at least).

I really don't know anymore...

2006-07-17T22:39:00.000-07:00

So today has to be the weirdest I've experienced in a long while. Quite a few ups and downs, along with a lot of joy and sorrow, or something like that. Here's somewhat how it went:

I poisoned my dog. I forgot to move my bag of chocolate-covered peanuts, which she managed to get into, eating close to a full pound of stuff that really isn't good for her. She is spending the night in emergency care at the vet, I feel like crap, and were out about $500 in vet bills for $2 worth of stupid candy. I have decided that I will never again buy candy as long as there is a dog in the house. Or, again, something like that. Shoot me now, please.
Live 6 was announced, and I am now just realizing that I've used Live 5 for like 20 hours, not to mention the $400 that I paid for it and the $250 I'm getting ready to pay for the upgrade to 6. I am a complete idiot. Why must I be so stupid in my pursuits?
Work was just weird. I don't know what more to say than that, but I just felt out of place. Rich and Joel had this guy come in for an interview for the job that I was originally intended to get. However, I think they're still wanting to make me a manager over an installation crew, or at least some sort of crew. And I'll be younger than everyone that I'm telling what to do. Seemingly Twilight Zone-ish. Oh, I also delivered 130 $5 Starbucks cards to get our logo printed upon. That's $650 in fraps, mochas, lattes, chai, etc. What the hell?
I climbed onto the top of a hanger at PDX. Not one of the commercial hangers, but a pretty big hanger nonetheless. I guess there were also some Airforce Reserve offices in the building too (I think all their stuff was in the other hanger in the complex; yes, there were two, sort of conjoined like Siamese twin hangers). We have very great line of sight to the tower, so I'll probably be doing an installation up there sometime soon. I'll try to remember my camera.
I am rather depressed, so no matter if something good happened, I feel like everything sucks. That sucks, huh?
Today was crappy. No matter how cool climbing a hanger is, my day wasn't really that great. But please, don't feel bad--unless you just stubbed your toe or, again, something like that.

I told you that I'd get a post out of the way, though I'm sure that no one believed me. Perhaps another is in order...

Yep...

2006-07-16T23:25:00.000-07:00

If this makes any sense to you (all 5 or so of you), then please, keep this in the forefront of your cognitive processes, and perhaps we might figure out the reasons why these events were the way that they were. Everyone else, I ask you to be patient with me as I gather my thoughts for my upcoming posts (I know I'm a least a month behind). One will come tomorrow, I promise (dang, it's not midnight yet, so I can't squeeze out an extra 24 hours to complete this goal).

Summer Scream 2006

2006-07-08T03:52:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow--wait, no it's actually today--is the day when the ahead team drives up to Everett, WA to start to set up all the equipment and staging for Summer Scream, the middle school summer camp the my church, Village Baptist, produces. This is my first year on staff for Scream, as I will be in charge of Media Productions (alright, I'll be running sound). So don't be expecting any posts for a week or so, as I probably won't have internet. However, I just completed setting up the wireless network that we will be using to send audio from the Competition Stage up to the main system in the Fellowship Hall, so any announcements made down there will be broadcasted over the small radio station we set up. Freewire Broadband, the company I work for that provides fixed wireless internet access has graciously provided some equipment for me to use for this endeavors, which is greatly appreciated (Thanks Joel!). In fact I have set up a VNC server system that will allow remote operation of all important computers so playlists, settings, and everything else will be able to be remotely controlled. Not to mention the fact that after two hours of intense googling I finally found the product that will allow me to transmit the digital audio. Probably procrastinated a bit on that, but I didn't have all the gear 'till yesterday evening (and, so I've found, it is a bit hard to link two computers without, well, a link). Should be a pretty sweet setup, now all I need to do is pack (oh, and I need to get some sleep; did I mention that I have to get to church at 9:30 this morning and then I have to drive 4 hours up there?). Oh well, I guess that's life. Hey everybody, go check out VyPRESS. They are the makers of the real-time audio-over-IP software that I'm using, and not to mention the fact that they provide a 30-day free trial, they also have pretty good prices ($50 instead of $1000). Just thought that I'd give them props as it is really cool and perhaps might allow others to find it without 2 hours worth of searching. Enjoy! Hey, let's see if we can get up to 1000 unique visitors but the time I get back (see counter in upper right), and leave me lots of comments (cuz comments, as Shawn put it, are the "currency of the internet."). See you all when I get back!

What the heck is going on?

2006-07-05T00:11:00.000-07:00

Get this:

2 June 2006: Ran over a big, fat phosphore-bronze deck screw.
3 June 2006: Got a flat tire because of big, fat phosphore-bronze deck screw--at midnight.

Sometime ago: Ran over a large finishing nail. Perhaps even the cause of a slow leak that's existed for 2-3 years.
14 June 2006: Got a flat tire because of said finishing nail--the same day as two finals.

3 July 2006: Ran over a rather obtrusive screw. Just waiting for it to go...

Someone is freaking out to get me or something. If there is anyone out there that knows how to patch a tire and could teach me, I think I might need your help. Les Schwab is going to start charging me if I keep this up. Heck, I won't have any original tire rubber left if this continues.

DDCKM #2

2006-07-03T23:41:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty excited because the 2nd issue of Drift Droid Christian Kulture [Electronic] Magazine has finally been released! While not quite as deep in content as #1, it still is an inspiring and epiphanizing collection of articles, paragraphs, and pictures. Check both of them out here. I guarantee that it will be worth your time. Perhaps you might even be inspired enough to write an article so #3 won't take as long to compile as this current issue did. ANY submissions are considered. And if you want to buy some Drift Droid t-shirts I can see if I can hook you up (I own like 5 or 6, and two hoodies, cuz they're so cool). Jared, you freaking rock! Keep it up.

Update: The best part of my job

2006-07-03T23:37:00.000-07:00

...is no more. I have actually known this since early last week, but I didn't want to post it because then it would actually seem true. However, as tomorrow is the 4th, I guess I must come to the realization that I won't actually be on the barge for the Ft. Vancouver fireworks display. I know, it sucks. I'd yell at KGW, but then we might lose our contracts...

Update: Stop yer complain'in

2006-06-27T17:50:00.001-07:00

It so turns out that the 18' pole for George Fox didn't get up today. In fact, I didn't even get into Beaverton until 5 o'clock. Interestingly enough, it is not a very good idea to haul an 18' pole in an 8' trailer. Especially one of those plywood-sided trailers. Especially if you have to go all the way from Salem to Beaverton on I-5. After more than a half hour's worth of work (again, out in the sun) I finally felt that the pole was secured sufficiently to begin my return trip to Beaverton. About two blocks later my mind changed. I got out to inspect everything and found that the rope had loosened quite substantially, as the pole had actually begun to break into the edge of the plywood tailgate and was bowing it outward to a considerable degree. I called Joel who, in his infinite wisdom, suggested that I drive up onto a curb and drop the trailer down as hard as possible, so anything that could go wrong would. Unfortunately, my precarious situation only was worsened, as the tailgate was jarred to the point that another major bump would make it pop right out of the grooves securing it. The next solution was to go buy some sandbags, as these could provide enough support under the pole to alleviate the stress on the tailgate. I managed to find a Lowe's just down the road, where I loaded up on the required sandbags. However, the sandbags really made the situation a bit worse, as the fulcrum point of the pole was moved even more off balance, placing a larger load on the tailgate, though they did provide an emergency means of support for the pole in the case that the gate did pop out (and all my rigging would hopefully keep the pole attached to the trailer). I began my trek up I-5 as the person that you love to hate, the one guy that just has to go 50-55 mph in the 65. Everyone was passing me, including all the semi trucks (not that I blame any of them for doing so). It is actually rather amazing how one crazy guy in a Suburban towing a trailer with an 18' pole can cause traffic to back up, even while driving in the slow lane. Even more amazing is the number of people that will tailgate that said person, and to the extent to which they'll do so, almost as if they don't have any idea that there is ten feet of pole hanging out behind the vehicle (or perhaps they thought that the cloth bag spray painted red hanging on the end was actually a bank bag full of money, creating a situation similar to that of the proverbial carrot over the proverbial donkey's head). I finally made it back to the office about 5:00, where Joel and I proceeded to figure out how to get the dang thing into the garage. I looked in the trailer to see how everything was holding up, and the sandbags where strewn all about, having zero effectiveness, leading me to determine the only reason that pole was still in the trailer was my incessant prayer on the drive up. After about 10 minutes of consternation, we finally managed to get the trailer in, but the pole mostly wasn't in the garage; more than half of it actually stuck through the door into the office. Not only that, but Joel kept trying to get the trailer to stay level, sitting fully on the arm part that connects to the car (what is that called?), but was unsuccessful even with him whole self fighting the weight of the pole and the trailer tipped all the way back. I'll see if I can get some pictures to put up; it's pretty hilarious. Long story short: if you saw some idiot driving well under the speed limit up I-5 in a tan metal-flake Suburban towing a trailer with an 18' pole, you saw me, so I must pose the question: why didn't you wave? (Or were you one of the people that were so polite as to wave at me with their middle finger? Just kidding.) Wow, I sure can write a lot about something stupid, no wonder I haven't posted anything serious in a while.

Wireless is nice.

2006-06-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

Yeah, so I'm sitting here in the Village parking lot running my computer off my car battery and connecting to the internet via an antenna set up on the roof of my car. No wires, nothing. Just $1300 worth of wireless gear. Life is grand, ain't it? Perhaps on of these days I'll actually put a real post up on here, now that would be nicer, wouldn't it? But random is better than nothing right? Gotta go, the next antenna needs tested...

Stop yer complain'in

2006-06-26T23:15:00.000-07:00

So I spent two hours on the Lloyd Tower's roof today. It was easily 120 degrees up there. Then I had to drive back to the office without air conditioning. I was completely drenched in sweat by the time I got there. Tomorrow I have to figure out how to get a twenty-foot steel pole up onto a thirty-foot high roof. Then I have to get it vertical and mounted to its base. Granted, I will have help, but my point is still valid:

All you people out there getting to sit in air conditioned offices all day long stop yer complain'in! What I would give to be working in air that's less than 80 degrees (perhaps all the money that has been donated to my CD fund--yeah right, you cheap skates)...

Sorry, the heat and dehydration are making me bitter. But seriously, how many people did I hear yelling to the maintenance guys about the heat? Too many.

My Summer Vacation...

2006-06-20T23:39:00.005-07:00

So I'm going to be gone for a few days. This is where I'm going. The lake is called Chalen and there is a small town at the top end there called Stehekin (probably a tad less snow this time of the year though). With about 70 year-round residents and only two ways to get there (ferry and seaplane), the place is really small. Apparently there is only one phone line. Should be pretty cool up there; I'll probably have a lot to post about when I get back. In the mean time, perouse the selection of blog links to the right in the sidebar. There is probably enough there to keep you occupied until I'm back (if not, well, I guess that's your problem). See you on the 26th. Give me lots of comments to look forward to (and some donations while you're at it)!

Math is fun! Part I Answer

2006-06-19T23:48:00.000-07:00

Apparently the Monty Hall problem is truely one of those that is completely, illogically inconcivable at first glance. However, the solution is really quite simple: just think about what happens as one plays the game (and no, there aren't any psycological considerations to, well, consider). If one chooses door 1, the probability that the door contains the car is one out of three; there is a two out of three chance that it is a donkey. Now let's say that the doors are donkey, car, donkey. Monty has no choice but to open door number three, as it is the only other donkey (he's obviously not going to open the car's door because one then would know what door to pick). Here's where this problem loses people. Yes, there are two choices left, the doors not open, but the decision is not just between two doors. There is more information available. While one just choosing between the two would indeed have a 50/50 chance, we know that there was a 2/3 chance that a donkey was originally picked. Therefore, we know that car has a 2/3 chance of being behind one of the other doors, and one is opened, so we actually know which door has a two third chance of being the car. Two out of three times when switching a car will be won, where as only one third of the time will a car be won by staying. If you don't believe me, just work out all the possible situations on a piece of paper. If you still don't believe me, take two numbered cards and a face card, and have someone mix them up. Choose one then have them turn over one that is a numbered card (not the one chosen!), then switch. Do this 15 times, keeping track of wins and losses. Theorectically one should win 10 times. Compare this with 15 times without switching, which should be 5 wins. There you have it, the answer to the Monty Hall Paradox. If you have any questions just let me know. Stay tuned for our next installment of "Math is Fun!" even featuring prizes!

Donations anyone?

2006-06-18T00:54:00.000-07:00

I asked for donations for CD's in an earlier post (see this), so I thought that maybe I might actually provide a way for people to do just that. Keep in mind that all monies given to this cause will go allow me to use my money for better things, such as funding my relief trip to New Orleans, instead of for CD acquisitons. Thanks for any and all support, Jerry P.S. I don't actually expect anyone to give, but I really don't want to discourage you if you want to.

Stuff that I've been putting off

2006-06-16T22:53:00.000-07:00

I am trying to make a list of all the stuff that I need to do that I haven't because of school, work, etc. I will update it periodically. Here it goes (in no real order):

Remove keyboards from organ
Clean garage
Clean car
DONE--Fix right rear tire valve (wasn't the valve...)
Tighten belts in car
Move amps in N. Village to under TV
Create cable pass-throughs
A Biggie: Rewire N. Village Console and make it purdy again
Clean my room
Fix my bass buffer/preamp
Complete 4-string prototype electric bass
Complete 5-string electric bass (yes, I'm building two bass guitars)
Repair the church's many broken XLR cables
Make 1/4" instrument cables
Perfect Litz cable design (and bring to market...)
Turn some wood
Make music using Ableton Live 5.0
Teach myself to play the piano to some degree
Build an analog synthesizer
EQ upstairs room in N. Village
Hang out with friends
Make more money working than I actually spend living
Earn the money to go to the O.C.
Earn the money to go to New Orelans
Go snowboarding
Get an actual webpage and upload all my animations and other files
Sleep
Make T-shirts (see post below--way below)
(Whatever I have not listed that I need to do; this list will be updated as I remember things and things get done (hopefully something will get done).

Key:

Urgent/High Priority
Somewhat Important
Moderate Importance
Undecided Importance
Whenever it Actually Happens

Ugh, I've got more things to do now than I did during school.

The best part of my job

2006-06-15T23:15:00.000-07:00

Get this: KGW is going to be handling the media coverage for the 4th of July fireworks, and they need a wireless link to the barge with all the fireworks on it. Why they need it isn't clear to me at the moment, but I don't really care about that. Why? Beacuse of the motion of the boat, the antenna is going to need constant re-aming, meaning that someone is going to have to be on the barge to adjust the alignment. That person is going to be me! I'll get to sit there in a fire-proof suit wearing big ear protector thingies while all the stuff is ignited and launched. It is going to be awsome!

I really, really need a fix...Bad...

2006-06-15T00:08:00.000-07:00

"'stumbled upon a slipstream of stubble and rash urine stains, where the warming of marrow drew comfort from this blanketless train. an insulin coma, baring the mark of tremula metacarpi; an executrix at play in the cargo of thanos'--anonymous" --The Mars Volta I'm so addicted to CD's it's pitiful, yet it really is true. I need them to survive; unfortunately, my bank account doesn't. Far from it. Right now I just can't afford to buy them (I seem to have misplaced $1,000; have you seen it anywhere?), so I'm trying to stop. But it seems the less I buy, the more irresistable CD's I find. Consequently, I'm asking anyone out there with a caring heart and an excessive account balance to donate to my recovery fund. My plan is to get enough money to buy all the CD's currently available, so I'll have nothing to buy. And when a new release becomes my latest infatuation, I'll be able to trade in CD's that I have that I don't like to fund new purchases. It is a perfect plan, now all I need is some money... Current want list, in no particular order (everything I can think of at 12:17 AM):

Arctic Monkies
Older Snow Patrol Disks
Dntel
Fiona Apple
Panic! At the Disco
Red Hot Chili Peppers
More Passion CD's
Death Cab Stuff
Massive Attack
Fat Boy Slim Greatest Hits
Hmm...More Daft Punk
Thievery Corp.
Psapp
Pearl Jam? Sure!
Si*Se--Not sure what it is...Who Cares!
It's a female Mars Volta! It's Radio Vago!
Matt Redman? Why not?

Key:

Purchased
Not Purchased

And there is a lot more where that came from!

Math is fun! Really, it is... [Part I]

2006-06-14T23:30:00.000-07:00

So, I finally finished the term; now is my first extended break from school in two years. I'm still not quite sure how it feels, as the epinephrine is still coursing through my blood vessels in high concentrations. However, there is one thing that I am quite sure of at the moment: I miss math. Now this might seem strange, but I didn't take any math classes this term, which has never happened before. Sure, I did use calculus I and II in my physics class, but it was all applied and there was no theory (not from a math standpoint, that is). Not to mention this, but most of the stuff that we did was just plain old algebra and barely began to use the fundamentals of Newton or Leibnitz (not to dis on algebra, but seriously, I could teach a chimpanzee to do algebra, there's nothing that exciting about it--it's just too logical and intutive. Now abstract algebra, there's something I can dig on...). What I really need is something that confuses the heck out of me until BAM! it hits me and it clicks: topology, combinatorics, number theory, graph theory, analysis, set theory, Galois theory, game theory...Math is amazing. When you're just sitting there and all of a sudden it makes sense--the feeling, the rush; alright, I am that weird. One of my favorite problems has to be the Monty Hall Paradox, named for the host of the old game show Let's Make a Deal. In this problem one is given three doors to choose from: one has a car behind it and the other two have goats. If the contestant picks Door 1, Monty will say that he doesn't know what is behind it, but he does know what is behind one of the other doors. So he'll obviously open a door with a goat behind it, say number 3. The question now becomes whether one's chances of winning will increase if they switch their choice to the remaing door, Door 2. I want to know if anyone out there can figure it out (or already knows the answer). Let me know what you come up with. Don't worry, I'll really explain it later.

I Command You to Check This Out...

2006-06-08T14:54:00.001-07:00

For all my loyal visitors, I had sort of a problem because essentially Blogger went down, and it kept telling me that my posts didn't post when in fact they did, so that is the story behind the many multiple posts. Anyway, the real post is this, the coolest and most funny thing ever!* Click Here! Check out the rest of the blog too. I guarantee that it won't be a waste of your time. Oh, I had the coolest idea ever (again, see *). If you find this video linkable material, create a post on your blog or site or whatever pointing to this post, then leave a comment saying that you linked here, with a link to your post. Anyone else wanting to link to the video should link to you, then to them, and so on, until there is a tremendously long series of links to get to the actual video. Be sure to post these instructions in the post so it can be continued. Let's see how long we can make it, even if this is really stupid. Go ahead, indulge... If this works, I'll try to keep tabs on it and report back, Jerry *Ever is equivalent to the past 10 minutes or so.

Angels and Airwaves

2006-06-06T00:38:00.000-07:00

So, as part of my outrageous CD addiction, I bought the new Angels and Airwaves CD featuring Tom DeLonge, the formor voice and lead guitar of Blink 182. Upon listening to the album, I have been shocked by two of the songs. These two songs stand out because of their lyrics. Their lyrics are deeper and more meaningful from a Christian perspective than many songs written by Christian artists. I here submit to you the lyrics to both of these songs so you can see what I mean: The Adventure I want to have the same last dream again, The one where I wake upand I'm alive, Just as the four walls close me within, My eyes are opened up with pure sun light. I'm the first to know, My dearest friends, Even if your hope has burned with time, Anything that's dead shall be re-grown, And your vicious pain, your warning sign, you will be fine. Hey, ohhh, here I am And here we go live's waiting to begin Any type of love it will be shown, Like every single reached for the sky, If your gonna fall I'll let you know, that I will pick you up like you for I, I felt this thing I can't replace, Where everyone was working for this goal, where all the children left without a trace, only to come back as pure gold to recite this all. Hey, ohhh, here I am, And here we go life's waiting to begin, Tonight. I can't live, I can't breath, unless you do this with me. Hey, ohhh, here I am. Do this with me. Here we go, life's waiting to begin, Life's waiting to begin. A Little's Enough When all is said and done, Will we still feel pain inside? Will the scars go away with night? Try to smile for the morning light, it's like the best dream to have. Where everything's not so bad, every tear is so alone. Like God himself is coming home to say, I, I can do anything if you want me here, And I can fix anything if you let me near, where are those secrets now, that you're too scared to tell, I'll whisper them all aloud, So you can hear yourself. Green trees were the first sign, The deepest blue the clearest sky. The silence came with brightest eyes, Like turning water into wine, The children ran to see, Their parents stood in disbelief, And those who knew braced for the ride, The earth itself then came alive to say, I, I can do anything if you want me here, And I can fix anything if you let me near, where are those secrets now, that you're too scared to tell, I'll whisper them all aloud, So you can hear yourself. I'm sorry I have to say it but you look like you're sad, Your smile is gone, I noticed it bad. The cureis if you let in just a little more love, I promise you this, a little's enough. Just a little... So there you have it, two Angels and Airwaves songs. I don't know if it is just me, but if I read these lyrics or listen to the songs with the right mindset, they can be like a good worship song, connecting me with God. Or maybe I'm just crazy...

Spam

2006-05-21T12:57:00.000-07:00

Wow...I just got spammed like mad. There are around 5 bogus comments on all my posts. On to recovery (aka: Delete the suckas!)... I'm glad I don't know who did it, otherwise their site would have its own problems [cue maniacal laughing]. Unfortunately this means that I'm going to have to turn on the graphic text thingy, sorry to punish all my valued readers for some idiot's idea of fun. Update: While I was deleting the comments, I found a link on each one to an online pharmacy, so while some of the posts almost seemed like they could be real were in fact spam. Who ever it was is lucky that I deleted all the comments before I could stop being to lazy to retaliate. Oh wait, I have the site in my history; hmm...

My New Plan (we'll see if this actually lasts)

2006-05-15T13:49:00.000-07:00

What's going on everyone? Haven't seen much activity recently, wondering why not. Anyway, I have been struggling lately trying to find a direction to head. I don't think I'm going the right way, if I'm even moving at all. I may have just made a huge decision, essentially declaring my major and going where I believe God has been calling me all along. I don't think that I'm suppose to be a Freewire any longer, but I'm thinking that I was supposed to work there because I think I needed to get to know Joel so he can tell me that I need to pursue Sound Engineering, and I'm not cut out for the IT industry. My decision is to apply to SAE Byron Bay, Australia. Check it out @ http://www.saebyronbay.com/index.php. I'm going to try to get their "Diploma of Music Industry--Bachelor of Digital Media (Audio)" through their Sound Engineering Program, and perhaps apply to their Electronic Music Production Courses, both pending Joel's approval, of course (because he has to tell me if I even have a chance in the industry). As far as IT is concerned, I knew I have no business in it when the network went down this morning. We were sitting in the office and I was assembling a radio when Joel got up to reset the office router because our connection wasn't working. Just then he started getting text messages telling him that stuff on our network didn't have a connection to the internet. It turned out to be the router at our Beaverton CO (telecom speak for "central office"). We jumped into Joel's truck, were he proceeded to go 60 in the 30, driving like a bat out of Hell (understandably). We got there and he hooked up his laptop and started to bang away in Telnet and HyperTerminal, trying to figure out what was wrong. I had absolutely no idea what he was doing! I don't think that I can do this job with that much pressure on me. I have to work too hard at figuring out what I'm doing when nobody is looking over my shoulder to be able to do my job with hundreds of people counting on their nonexistent connections and the company losing money every minute. So anyway, I'm not sure if this is really what I'm going to do, just an idea I have, wanted to see if it looked good written down (Hey! The tuition is cheaper in Australia, and the largest rock on the planet is there, not to mention the dingos that ate my baby--wait, no...I got carried away again, oh well). Whatever, Enjoy, Comment, Be Happy, Jerry

You Don't Know Me...

2006-05-08T23:42:00.000-07:00

No matter who you are. Even if you think you do. I don't know you either. Read this: http://tallguy416.livejournal.com/28121.html?thread=52697#t52697 Hi, my name is Jerry, and I'm ready to let you know who I am, why I am, what I am. I'm ready to break down my walls, empty my closets of skeletons. I'm not sure what's happened, but it has. Call me, ask questions, whatever, I'm ready now.

Yeah, I'm Still Here...

2006-05-08T19:02:00.000-07:00

So I didn't make it to 5 posts. What are you gonna do about it, huh? In my defense, I did figure out how to add a static post at the to of the page and allow it to have comments, that was a lot of work. I also made my comments expandable and I...Alright, so I didn't make it to 5, you don't have to yell at me! Anyway, I'm finally posting on my opinions of worship strategies and the roles of those involved, but I must post a disclaimer first: Disclaimer: The opinion expressed herein are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of whyiseverythingalreadytaken.blogspot.com. The writer is providing this article for entertainment and discussion value only, releasing him/her from all liability for incorrect observations, insults, spelling, the use of people, places, names, or incessent quotation marks, and any misinterpretations the reader might gain. Also, readers must understand that the word "worship" used herein is used in its connotative context as a form of musical praise for God and not as meaning any form of parise for God as in its dennotative definition. If you are reading this then I congratulate you for being the most legally-mind person I know by reading all of the fine print, even that which is unreadable (though it must not be if you can read it, hmm, now I might be confused, I think typing this small of text is hurting my brain, not that there is much there--hey, how dare you insult me, you agree to this release don't you?). By continuing to read you hereby agree to the preceding release and waive your rights as an internet consumer of useless knowledge. Alrighty then. My great consternation began about 6 weeks back with a conversation I had with a few fellow Flavor-ers. It began with one of them stating her need to "rebel" during worship by sitting when everyone stands, kneeling when everyone sits, or just plain trying to do what everyone else isn't. I could not understand this at all. What she was saying was that she didn't think that worship leaders should ever say what to "do." It was her interpretation that this "leading" got in the way of true worship by turning the crowd into robots of sorts, just following commands. I do understand what she means by this, don't get me wrong. I realize that just telling everyone to raise their hands or stand up when it seems like an appropriate occasion is not a good thing to do, because everyone is just following directions without having any understanding of their actions. However, it is vital that worship leaders "lead," they must explain what raising one's hand means. They must say why we stand during worship. Most of all, they must show those who don't know how, how to worship. It may seem strange, but think about it. Not all of us are able to just give everything up and focus completely on praising God, inviting Him to come down to us and be with Him praising His name. That is the job of the worship leader, to give up everything to bring God into their worship and show everyone Him, and to demonstrate this for everyone to see. When I am mixing I am almost trying not to get into what's going on so I can concentrate on what I'm doing, but when I get pulled in and start to forget about everything and just focus on God because of the atmosphere in the room, I know that there is something going on, that God is really there and it isn't because people are sitting or standing or raising their hands, or whatever else people do, it is because whomever was leading invited God down and helped everyone there to do the same, leading them into true worship. So maybe I just validated Heather's rebellion or maybe I just rambled on to create an incomprehensible series of letters and spaces, but I thought I had something to say. If I said it great, if not, then I guess I didn't really have anything. All I know is there is something missing at Village in the worship department, not just in Vertigo (the high school group), big church (main service), or any one place in particular, but throughout the whole church. I feel that we don't have a good enough grasp on worship and what that means or looks like (myself especially), and something needs to be done. Whatever this means, I feel God has called on me and challenged me to do something about it. I also know that there are other people within the body working ademently on this issue, and I don't want it to seem like I'm not valuing everyone's efforts. It's just that I know I have a role to play in this, whatever it is. Now I ask everyone for their help as I try to figure out what I need to do, or even figure out what is wrong. Please, any feedback you can give me would be greatly appreciated. As for the entertainment value of this post I ask you to ponder this question: If the leader tells the crowd to do anything they want, does that mean someone is following instructions no matter what they decide to do, or are they actually rebelling by doing what the leader wants and not what they want to do. Oh yeah, I knew I would break you again. You just keep coming back for more. When will you ever learn? --Jerry

T-Shirt Idea: Get in on it while you can!

2006-04-24T17:31:00.000-07:00

Last night at the Flavor I got this idea for a t-shirt. Nothing fancy or anything, just plain text saying "Ask me about Jesus," I guess sort of like the shirts that sales people wear to advertise new products in inventory. I also want to put some printing on the inside of the shirt saying "Be Bold," reminding the wearer to do exactly that, with them being the only one to know it's there. I guess I like it because, at least right now, I have a very hard time starting any type of conversation with someone I don't know, especially when I want to bring Jesus into the conversation. If you like the idea or if you want to get in on the deal let me know. I don't know how much they might cost or even when I'll get enough time to actually make them, but they shouldn't be too expensive. Again, let me know if you're interested or have any questions (and provide a way for me to contact you), and I'll gather up some more details. (If you really like the idea, you can also post a link on you're blog to mine so other people can get in on this). Oh, and if you think this is really stupid, let me know that too (why would also be nice). Thanks, Jerry

Just For You Ben C (Not Really, But Enough of It Is)

2006-04-24T00:21:00.000-07:00

Been too long, hasn't it? Way too much stuff going on (read "way too much procrastination going on"). Oh well, I'm here, aren't I? I've got a lot to say and not much time, but I am hoping to get about five posts out of the way by the end of the week (hold me accountable, even if they are short and completely off the topics I'm trying to hit, I will actually do it. I promise. Okay, at least three. Oh what the heck, you know it is never going to happen.) Anyway, I wanted to clarify what I meant with my last post, seeing as my real meaning was rather misconstrued because of my nonsensical ramblings, though...Oh crap, I really have no idea what I was going to say next, I can't even finish a sentence without my mind going off into space (though I don't think it even makes it that far). Dude I figured it out, yeah, because I lost my comment due to some technical difficulties, I am turning it into a full blown post, trying to convey the real meaning behind my last bit of outrageous verbiage. Here it goes... Blogs are a form of communication, most definitely, don't get me wrong, I'm am not trying to say that. What I am afraid of is that blogging is removing a crucial element from our methods of interaction. It's not just blogs though, it is all writing. Since it began to become a widespread form of communication, writing seems, to me at least, to be removing true heart-felt communication from our society. Rather than actually speaking our minds to one another, we will write important thoughts down, giving ourselves the opportunity to proofread and remove anything that might not be a politically correct thing to say (isn't it weird that we allow writing to "say" something?). Instead of telling someone something they really need to know, we try to avoid important statements in favor of telling people what they want to hear. I see our culture missing genuine, meaningful communication because we're all too afraid that we might hurt others with what we say--but the fact is, we don't allow others the opportunity to know that they're wrong without pain: when has being wrong ever felt good? In the heat of conflict we often say things that we "don't mean." I was watching a movie the other day (I mentioned procrastination, didn't I?) and there was a scene when the two main characters were arguing. One made a very harsh statement to the other, hurting the other quite a bit, but it shocked enough to all the truth to be seen, that the other was making some very stupid decisions. Does this actually make any sense? Writing has allow us to postpone vital communication until we have had a chance to remove any meaningful, "controversial" statements that might actually make a difference. We are allowed to avoid confrontation so that the postmodernist idea that "everyone is right because there is no wrong" can be upheld. This is where my issue with blogging comes into play. Rather than sitting and discussing fresh, uncensored ideas with others before you have the opportunity to influence their impact, we are encroaching on--sometimes extremely--important topics in discussion only to decide to blog on them later. My mind just hit the wall of incomprehensibility (that's right, it is still going, but it doesn't make any sense, even to myself (so if I lost you awhile back, don't feel so bad, I can't even keep up after a point). Please, comment and ask questions so I can begin to have some things that make sense on this site. (By the way, I have never been (and probably never will be) able to write something twice. Consequently, my amazingly good response has turned into an incomprehensible mess of nouns, verbs, and adjetives that I don't really like, further enhancing my point that we must communicate with what comes to mind, when it comes to mind, whatever it is, no matter the complications, because it is the only way that our true meaning will ever be heard.) Enjoy Everybody, Jerry

My First (And Hopefully not Last) Post

2006-04-06T10:43:00.000-07:00

Alright, so everybody broke me down and I finally got a blog. In actuality, I've had a blog for years now (well, okay, it was probably deleted (years now)(365 days)/(1 year)-(30 days) ago (if you get that then I like you already)), I just never posted on it. So here I am, joining the masses in their eternal pursuit of complete social reclusiveness, valuing online interaction over truly meaningful physical interaction. The title of my blog seems to echo this concern that through technology we might begin to distance ourselves, relying more on the tools of the internet to communicate than actually calling people up and going to hang out, escaping the pain and hardship of actual relationships for completely meaningless bits displayed on a computer screen. Instead we must come together as communities of people, not screennames, breaking the boundaries that technology seems to be forcing onto us, reestablishing the connections with one another that have been broken by computers and everything with them. Join together with your physical brothers and sisters so that we can rise up and conquer the machines! We must stand tall and fight, letting nothing stand in our--Oops, I think I got carried away. Anyway, I didn't mean that with my title (though I wasn't completely kidding with the first few sentences of the last paragraph), in fact I love computers when I'm not hating them. Really the title was more of a joke because of all the stuff that you have to fill out to get an account and I couldn't think of anything even halfway meaningful by that point. Consequently, I began to think about the concept behind a title. Realistically, titles are only of real value for one thing: keeping track of something. Not that I think they are bad, far from it. My Mom is a librarian and does cataloging, so I am rather aware of the utility of a title of a book, CD, etc. However, why does my blog need a title? The title isn't the URL, nor is it going to define the content that I'm going to put in my blog (though I guess it is right now, huh). The only real good that it might do in this setting is allow someone to search for me on this site, but I don't think that the title is going to be the easiest method, considering that very few people are really going to give it that much attention to remember it. Were the heck am I going with this? Shoot, I was hoping that you might be able to tell me, 'cause I shure SM57 don't know (I think I'm going to start saying that instead of "sure," what do you think? Or is "shure beta58a" better?) Originally I was thinking that this would segway (unbelievable, the blogger dictionary doesn't have "segway" in it) right into my intended topic; ready for--oh no--a title: "Worship Leading and Questioning Authority: When Should One Sit, Stand, or Do Whatever and Why Does the Worship Leader Say What to Do?" Okay, so that was pretty cheesy, but I was going for length, not quality. And, I never really explained the title of this post, did I. Wow, I am really making sense; you know what, I think I've been rambling since "Alright."

January 1990

1990-01-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

Yeah, admit it, I totally got you to look. Uhuh, excuses, like I was really posting when I was 2.

Guestbook

1990-01-01T00:00:00.000-08:00

Yeah, so, um, I guess this is the place to tell me who you are, where you are from, how you got here, or whatever you want. Just let this be a place to put whatever you want: death threats, marriage proposals, conspiracy theories, the answers to my homework problems, formulas for eternal life (wait, let's see here...no...um...yep, I already got that one down, thanks though), random phrases of Latin-esque psudeo-languages using the Kanji charater set, anything. Heck, if you want to post pictures of naked snails (would that be a slug?) hammering rivets into broken alarm clocks then go right, it's all up to you.