09.Mar.2010 Smoke that Cigarette

So glad we have now arrived at a cultural moment that will never look goofy in the future! — Ray Ortlund

24.Feb.2010 CASH

The Man in Black from beyond the grave. Yes, another Johnny Cash album. I’ve got mine already (it is recorded in the budget…under “awesomest musician ever”).

From a review in Relevant Magazine:

If you’ve heard any of the other American recordings, you know what to expect: a spare, frail Cash using his still-powerful baritone to sing songs (mostly about his always-favorite topics of love, God and death) over spare instrumentation assisted by thundering and perfectly meshed instrumentation. That style is displayed best on the title track, where Cash still manages a half-snarl challenge to death (and rejoicing at the resurrection of the dead) over brushed snare, banjo and foot stomps (the latter two provided by members of the similarly Rubin-assisted Avett Brothers).

Another highlight is the Cash-penned “1 Corinthians 15:55.” There’s something still powerful in hearing an elderly man sing about his own mortality—particularly when his work is being released posthumously. “

Amazon has an MP3 download for sale for $3.99.

18.Feb.2010 The Olympics

OK.

I haven’t put up an olympic blog yet, mostly cause I am too busy watching them. I love it. Can’t get enough of it. And yes Klint Bitter you are unamerican. Zero interest?

Anyways, I few thoughts/observations/musings…

• It is on every night. I know it is gonna be there, like an old friend.
• I let the kids watch as much as they want. I slip this past Heidi since it is educational…in fact just today, Isaac asked her out of the blue at dinner if she had every been to Belarus. Awesome.
• I am rooting for Johnny Weir. I mean any one who insists on real fur can’t be all that bad. I agree with him faux fur is just not gonna cut it on your skating outfit/costume/blouse?
• Ethan says he wants to be a figure skater. And not do it with a girl…just by himself. He put on roller skates and was twirling around the family room the other night. (He didn’t get injured).
• Ethan also strapped hot wheels orange track to his feet and pretended he was skiing.
• The kids even got some life lessons about death on the opening day.
• I love the overlays of luge or skiing where they show two competitors in slow mo and where they line up to each other (the kids do not get this part and wonder why two guys are lugeing at once…)
• Why does snowboarding have 1080s and skating has triple some thing or others. Can’t they pick one set of lingo?
• The opening was awesome (and long) but long is fine with me.
• I am very confused when the Short track speed skaters do the relay races.
• I am tired of two man luge and curling jokes… get some new material…
• Love that the summer and winter olympics are now staggered so I get a fix every two years…

What do you love about the Olympics?

15.Feb.2010 Some Recent Design Work

Finished a couple projects at work that I liked. Thought I would throw them up here. (Of course you can see more on Flickr…you know you want to).

10.Feb.2010 Winter Fun

As with seemingly the whole nation we have been enjoying global cooling for months here in the heartland. I have been wimpy it seems with my outdoor, in the snow, picture taking. (The kids always want to go outside and play, its just I don’t.) (Maybe I am not a good dad). But anyways, here are a few to enjoy.

08.Feb.2010 Superbowl

Here is a pict from our Superbowl party…just the Bohrer clan this year. As you can see it was a classy, high-end affair! But lots of fun. The kids all had jerseys on. So we had Chiefs, Packers and no-name Old Navy teams represented.

Yes, that couch is older than I am. But, Heidi loves it and won’t let us part with it.

What were your favorite commercials? Me…Google and the Letterman and Leno one.

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this was added to reference the comment below….

29.Jan.2010 Music Help…

If you don’t mind, I could use your alls help with my music selection. Here’s my Pandora heathens list I listen to (of late):

• Bob Dylan
• Bruce Springsteen
• Ben Harper
• Tim Reynolds
• Eddie Vedder
• Van Morrison
• Colbie Caillat
• KT Tunstall
• Alabama
• Randy Travis
• Waylan Jennings
• Johnny Cash
• Sara Bareilles
• Neil Young
  
• Jason Mraz
• Avett Brothers
• Creedence Clearwater Revival
• Fleetwood Mac
• Norah Jones
• AND anything from that Hope for Haiti concert*
  

What I am looking for are Christian artists with similar sounds. Now, we don’t need to have some debate on “What is Christian music?” I get it. I will still listen to the above. Most of their lyrics aren’t that bad. They just don’t “say” much of anything. (Now Johnny and Randy Travis could already be on both lists). But I am looking for some Christian music with a little melancholy and grit like the Boss. Something beyond the P & W sound of most things out there. Not just loud, just something unique. Or coffee house gals or . . .

Does it exist?

*on that concert…The songs seem to touch everyone, sweeping, lyrical, moving. Did you notice how many of them hint at faith and God and Christian themes. People are always drawn back to it. But, I notice “Hallelujah” and “Like a Prayer” and “Halo” and songs like that only have minor hints of truth. If you really listen to the lyrics they are so far from truth/God. The hope is in people or symbolism or themselves. Saying the word prayer isn’t enough. In some ways it is actually sad. The songs in the end say nothing…

28.Jan.2010 Have you read it?

OK, random ranting post today.

I look at a lot of reviews. Of books. Of Movies. Of the new Ipad. Whatever. I like reviews. I like to read them by people I trust all the way to others I don’t know. But the ones I trust, well, I value their opinion. And, yes, you know what…it influences my opinion.

But, you will then invariably get the counter of “Have you read/scene/held it?” No I haven’t. “Well then your opinion doesn’t matter and you are uninformed,” they will scoff. Really?

I was thinking about this this morning. (yes two this’s’s…) Anyways. If someone tells you that the milk is spoiled. Do you trust them? Or must you try it yourself first. You know. Just to make sure. I say that is foolish.

So if someone I trust says a book or movie or song is rubbish, I don’t feel the need to “try it for myself” just to prove they were right.

And you?

22.Jan.2010 Painting Furniture

OK,

Another thing I like is carpentry, building things and painted furniture. So without you thinking I am too “crafty” I am going to link to a crazy gal’s site, with a pretty cool paint job on a thrift store china cabinet.

Sometimes you just have to go for it and not worry about it being an “antique,” or what will the neighbors think, or whatever. If it is something you will like and enjoy in your house . . . go for it. See beyond what it looks like at the thrift store, garage sale or on your neighbors lawn on your city’s trash pickup day, (ie, our current set of dining room chairs…and yes I did reapolster them, that is how I roll…even if I can’t spell reaploster and I am not going to google it) see what it will look like in your living room.

So enjoy.

Oh, and I forgot. When you get over there you will see they had to rent a uhaul. Well, I have a truck. So there. Not too crafty.

19.Jan.2010 The Internets: Personal, Private or What?

“A nation of exhibitionists demanding privacy”

“Transparency has become disconnected from intimacy”

“I suspect, however, that some Internet exhibitionists are simply lonely.”

Read it all here.