Ohhh, wow!!! I am sooooo excited about this. I don’t know much about the Jonah Hex comic series but from what I’ve read it’s basically a western storyline in the vein of the Clint Eastwood, man with no name, movies. Jonah is a former Confederate soldier who roams the west exacting revenge upon those who would wrong the downtrodden. He was raised as a slave by Apache indians. His face is horribly scarred on one side. Essentially, he’s a classic anti-hero – my favorite kind of hero.

And the cast!!! Josh Brolin as Jonah, Megan Fox as the love interest (think what you will of her but – I’m sorry – she’s beautiful and legitimately interesting) and John Malkovich (I’m not linking to him, you should know who he is. And if you don’t… shame on you) as the villain. Also, Michael Fassbender as Burke, the villain’s henchman. And did I mention the best part? MASTODON ON THE SOUNDTRACK!!! (There should be something bigger than capital letters to express how excited I am about this.)

I don’t know what to expect here (the director, Jimmy Hayward, has a great resume – if you’re thinking of animating a children’s movie.) but this film is starting with all the right building blocks. Let’s hope Jimmy and the gang can bring it home. Fingers crossed!!!

This is COMBO. It is a collaborative animation by Blu and David Ellis. It is very great.

I got laid off on Monday. Saw it coming. Business at the shop was super-slow this month. Our paychecks were late for the third consecutive time. The boss is still ten days past due on the last payment. I don’t have any money. I had to exchange my change jar at the bank to cover some auto-debits that are going to go through on the first of the month. I’ve got some freelance work with a buddy, so it’s not too dire. And there is unemployment and food stamps to draw from again. But even so, I’m not that worried. I still know God is with me. This isn’t like the first, or even the second time around, where I was worried – scared. I’ve been through it before and God took care of me. I guess that’s called growth?

No these are not my parents. But they are awesome. As are all the parents on, My Parents Were Awesome. I’ll try to have mine on there soon. It’s really awesome.

Nice Work! HUMANS SINCE 1982

Illustration by Andrew Rae

This is an excellent article on modern prayer from this week’s New York Times Magazine: The Right Way to Pray? The author, Zev Chafets, a Jew, explores the different ways Jewish and Judeo-Christian sects pray and how their prayer has changed over the last several decades and why. It also discusses how, as religious borders are being eroded, religious persons are beginning to pick and choose the methods they will use to communicate with God. Among those he spoke to were rabbis, ministers, priests and “Spiritual Directors.” I was especially moved, however, by the last paragraph and the simple wisdom displayed by children regarding prayer.

Under the Same Sun is an organization established to help get governmental protection for persons with Albinism in Tanzania. Albinism is a condition found in humans and animals where a lack of pigmentation in the skin creates a very white complexion and an extreme vulnerability to the suns rays and subsequently, skin cancer. In Africa this condition is startlingly noticeable and can result in the discriminatory conditions experienced by people in any community who are different in appearance.

What’s worse, in some parts of Tanzania the body parts of Albino persons are considered to have magical powers by witchdoctors. The result is that Albino people in Tanzania have been hunted and killed for their hands, heads and other organs. The government there fails to see the protection of Albinos as a major issue and Under the Same Sun is working to change that. Help them by signing the petition here.

I recently came across this blog and found it to be very amusing. Although it can be a bit snarky at times the Stuff Christian Culture Likes blog is spot on with it’s lampooning of our contemporary church culture. Based on the same concept as Stuff White People Like, this blog presents a list of all those cliches and ill-conceived behaviors that we often take part in. In fact, this blog presents what could be #92 in it’s own list ” Co-opt and Christianize a popular element of contemporary culture.”

The effect of a blog like this is, to my mind, an important one. It is necessary sometimes to turn the mirror on our community and ask whether the things we do are beneficial and of importance. It is good to criticize ourselves and laugh at ourselves and to admit when we are just being foolish. Ultimately, it can help us to understand what is true.

My favorite in the list, #81 Bono

Check out this website from unouplus. It’s some Zen shit.