headphonaught’s posterous

It's kind of sad that I waited up until after midnight so I could download the Skype app for my iPhone... but then it is me afterall.
 
I'm excited about a *native* Skype app rather than a 3rd party app. Fring was good and all... but I'm glad Skype have their own app out.
 
The fact I'm excited is because Skype has become an important part of my life... through it's criticality to the something beautiful podcast. Put simply: no Skype, no podcast.
 
I'm going to have a wee play about with the app over the next few days... so if you are on my contacts and happen to be online... you may get a wee call.
 
One thing I've noted is that it only works with wifi... this is only a downside because it may result in me changing my place-of-daily-cup... I get free wifi in Nero but not Starbucks.
 
[Sent from my iPhone]

I am the slowest reader ever... certainly compared to my friends. I doubt I'll ever go back to uni or engage in any serious study as a result. Take "the shaping of things to come" by Frost & Hirsch - it's taken me 9 months to read. Not because it's a dull book... far from it. It's because it is such a wonderfully eloquent & detailed read. I would read a couple of pages... armed with a highlighter pen... and then take my time to digest what I've read. Concepts like the difference between the Christendom model of "attractional" church vs the post-Christendom need for "missional" church. In essence, the "build it and they will come" model no longer applies. Or the fact that our leadership & fellowship should be based on Apostals, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, & Teachers... and yet the Pastors & Teachers have alienated the others to protect, maintain & "manage" their status quo. As a result, we have neutered the Gospel of its power & potential to change lives.
 
We have allowed the Gospel to be sanitized... and expect folks to come to us instead of us going to them... or in fact us being who we are in the cultures & communities we belong to. Powerful stuff. I have now moved onto "Jesus wants to save Christians" by Bell & Golden. From what I've read so far... I think I'll be through this book quicker... but then maybe I would be doing the authors a diservice by not giving them enough time. Who knows?

   

Click here to download:

I_am_the_slowest_reader_in_the.zip (211 KB)

"Illusion" by Soulstice (2001) & "Blood, looms & blooms" by Leila (2008) have recently joined my collection & have, in doing so, reaffirmed my love for electronic music. Why? Illusion is timeless and blood, looms & blooms is bleeding edge - two traits I look for in my music. Illusion is future-soul from Andy Caldwell & Gina Rene... that nicely captures a period of music discovery in the early noughties... when I was download a real hodgepodge of tunes from "epitonic" & making mix CDs. My mixes went from soulful & housey (Soulstice & labelmates on "om") to Americana to shoegaze to whatever took my fancy. I loved the hunt & then the mix. Good fun. The tunes from "om records" always stood out for their soulfulness & rhythm. They weren't 4x4 house... they were (are) more intricate... produced and yet human, if that makes sense?
 
Illusion really stands out from that period. I was glad to find it again after losing it for so long. "Blood, looms & blooms" was given to me by my brother-in-law who had picked it up in a charityshop for 50p. It wasn't his thing but it is definately mine. On the "Warp" label, this album is bleeding edge quirky with a dark sense of humour. It feels baroque in a way with some time signatures used. It is dense & atmospheric... with some fantastic vocals from Terry Hall, Seaming To & Luca Santucci. It reminds me that great electronica should push boundaries and be more "both/and" rather than "if/or"... with a real sense of being in the sound. A "boldly go" kind of thing. Both albums are strongly recommended. Check them out.

   

Click here to download:

Two_albums_that_reaffirm_my_lo.zip (95 KB)

Received a wee parcel from Amazon this morning... The Taking of Pelham 123.
 
It's one of my fave films - a dark tragicomic cop thriller starring Walter Matthau, Robert Shaw, Martin Balsam & Hector Elizondo.
 
Set in the mid 70s in a gritty, cynical New York City... it has an intelligent plot & one of the best soundtracks ever (imho) - in fact the first 40 secs is my current ringtone on my iPhone.
 
I think the film has been remade... which is a disaster. I haven't seen the remake & don't really want to... I'm content with original.
 
Why can't Hollywood just leave stuff alone & create new films instead of tarnishing the memory of classic films?
 
But the again... they only remake the classics... so maybe it's a compliment?! Who knows?
 
Check it out... add it to your netflix or whatever... and enjoy!
 
[Sent from my iPhone]

It was a real pleasure to meet up with Alistair & Laura (aka @takebrokenme) for a beverage at lunchtime today. It's good to know they are both doing well in their own unique ways.
 
Good times!
 
[Sent from my iPhone]

"13 songs" by Fugazi is one of my fave albums. One from my youth that still stands up as pure genius. Made up of their first two EPs :: Fugazi & Margin Walker :: it is truly awesome, imho.
 
Sonically wonderful with chunky guitars, great choppy beats & a unique 2 vocalist style... I love it.
 
I also love their Punk Rock DIY ethos & independent spirit... I found it inspiring back in the day & it still inspires me today.
 
I would well recommend this album from the bass intro of "waiting room" to the finally throws of "promises" it is one album that consistently delivers in it's unique & powerful style.
 
[Sent from my iPhone]

"Try not. Do or do not. There is no try."
Yoda
 
[Sent from my iPhone]

What can I say? A lack of excercise... as a result of a lack of discipline.
 
I can do better!
 
I will do better!
 
[Sent from my iPhone]

Laura L joined us & Laura B tried to take our picture...

       

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More_pictures_from_todays_gath.zip (306 KB)

Hanging with Dan, Alistair & Laura...

     

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From_todays_gathering..._1_160.zip (219 KB)