LOST

Photo originally uploaded by Jacob..

I know it's 24 hours too early for "LOST," but that's the point. Yesterday I found a pre-airdate "LOST" spoiler on youtube, so I already know the plot for this Wednesday's episode. When I get a free minute I'll leave the link as a comment in case you are interested. Don't you want to know if Ana-Lucia and Libby survive Michael's freak out in the hatch? This episode reveals some secrets and a new mystery! But if you are waiting for the writers to reveal who "the Others" are, well...don't hold your breath (unless you're David Blaine). Vote for Taylor.

Speaking of surviving tragedies and living in less than luxury: my trip to the Gulf Coast went swell. It was a good step in my quest to getting my heart and head back to normal. It was healthly to hang out with three sets of friends this weekend (Yes, I am tired) and go to a church service with some of them. The church got a lot of damage and the building's restoration isn't nearly complete. The atmosphere was pretty amazing - between the rustic surroundings and the fighting spirit of the believers gathered there. Interestingly, the congregation included a group of Amish people who are helping with the relief/rebuilding effort. Vote for Taylor.

The rebuilding of the community will take like 100 years, no kidding. I still feel like I'm in Hell when I drive the coastline. Imagine driving through your hometown on what should be the busiest thoroughfare. Imagine all the shops and homes and the pedestrians. Now picture the same road, but there's no traffic. And there are no people. And the homes and shops are just piles of broken concrete and twisted steel - or nothing at all. It's like something from another world or a nightmare. Vote for Taylor.

One funny subject came up in the conversation with my friends down there. They are out of the loop when it comes to entertainment, or at least movies. When we talked about newer DVDs, many of them had no idea what some of the current pictures were - even big newsmakers like Brokeback Mountain. They were all, "Hey, what's that one about?" Unreal!?! And I noticed that NOBODY down there wants to see United 93. The concensus is that they are in no mood to see any screen tragedies. So I wouldn't bet on United being a big ticket show down in that area, but Brokeback probably will do great there in DVD rentals, when it normally would have done badly with such a conservative audience, because Coastal movie-renters will choose it not knowing the controversy surrounding it. How's that for an odd hurricane side-effect? Vote for Taylor.

On the subject of surprise money makers, my eBay auctions are doing well. Who knew that Playmobil toys would be this popular? I wish all my stuff would sell like this. I read a guy's My Space profile who said that he had made thousands off of his comic book collection - like over $24,000. I'm wondering what things like my postcards, record albums, and Hotwheels will bring. Cash in the Attic, baby! How much would it take for you to part with your collectibles? Oh yeah, and ...

VOTE FOR TAYLOR!

Here's a fun game for you to try. Just follow this link to Liquid Generation:

ONOMATOPOEIA

I'LL MISS YOU, DUELING DRAGONS

I've had a busy morning. I'm getting ready to visit friends on the Coast this weekend, so I'm tying up loose ends here. Mailing packages, paying bills, etc. I phoned in my tuxedo and hotel reservations for Ryan & Amanda's wedding. I'm excited to stay at the Sheraton. I've been to International Drive before, but never to this hotel. Ryan picked a good one.

I have twenty eBay auctions ending midweek next week that I'll be mailing, and Pauline's visit will start that weekend. (Yay!) So, with the wedding the next week, I think today is the start of a very busy two week stretch. Ever notice how life kind of happens all at once?

Biggest bummer of the day: I'll be in a great hotel for four nights in May, a block or so from Universal Studios and won't go! Pauline will be in South America, so I've got no date to the wedding. I'm OK with going stag to the ceremony & stuff, but I can't see myself going to a theme park solo. Boo! I've been racking my brain trying to come up with a friend who could stay in the hotel with me and go to the park with me in the mornings- and to the park at night while I'm at the wedding events. All my buddies are married now. And my nephews are too young to be on their own - except Ben who just hurt his back and can't go on Coasters. Bummer, indeed. Blah. Maybe I'll go for a day anyway, at least to CityWalk.

ROCK THE VOTE, YA'LL

Time for our Weekly Votin' Party!, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

PLEASE follow this link and play Taylor Hick's Pac-Man. You will NOT be sorry!

According to Ray Ray (Tay Tay's cousin), he will be giving us a "real Taylor Hicks" concert tonight - ignoring the pressure he's getting from AI's producers and judges. I can't wait! According to the Official Soul Patrol, the week's theme is Billboard chart toppers - one current hit and one from the performer's birthyear. Yes! 2 songs from Taylor!

SPOILER ALERT: The rumor mill over at Gray Charles is spinning this yarn: One of the songs is "Play that Funky Music, White Boy"... Wow! Here's hopin'!

UPDATE:

Taylor rocked out tonight. Just checked out my Last-FM charts. Looks like I favor one particular artist. Hmmm...What's up with that?

26:1

Lazy blog today. If you want deep thought, read yesterday's post. I stole this list from john mora, who stole it from someone else.

One Word
YOU CAN ONLY TYPE ONE WORD.
NO EXCUSES.

1. Yourself: who?
2. Your Lover: heavenly
3. Your Hair: scary
4. Your Mother: loving
5. Your Father: loving
6. Your Favorite Item: cookie
7. Your Dream Last Night: bad
8. Your Favorite Drink: water
9. Your Dream Home: unsure
10. The Room You Are In: mine
11. Your Pet(s): died
12. Who You Are Now: Linus
13. Who You Want to be in Ten Years: published
14. What You Want to be in Ten Years: alive
15. What You're Not: satisfied
16. Your Best Friend: invisible
17. One of Your Wishlist Items: hoodie
18. Your Gender: guy
19. The Last Thing You Did: sing
20. What You Are Wearing: umbros
21. Your Favorite Weather: cold
22. Your Favorite Book: educational
23. The Last Thing You Ate: mashed-potatoes
24. Your Life: new
25. Your Mood: procrastinating
26. Most Recent Blog: preachy

AS AMERICAN AS ALL-STARS AND APPLE PIE

CHUCKS MOSAIC, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

I made this mosaic from some of my favorite photos from the folks on flickr (say that 5 times fast). It's noteworthy how many individuals from all over the world thought to take a picture of their All Stars and post it on flickr. What does that say about us? There are at least 3 fan groups at flickr devoted solely to photos of this shoe! Score one for the marketing team at Converse.

Along that same line, have you seen this week's copy of U.S. News & World Report? The cover story by Bay Fang details the purchasing power of the rising Chinese Middle Class. The story highlights some of the marketing strategies US companies are using to hook the "Chuppies" (Chinese Yuppies) on their products. Take basketball shoes, for instance:

"When Nike entered the China market in 1994, it found a country where regular kids didn't play sports; that was the province of elite athletes....Nike changed all that. The company began sponsoring entire high school basketball leagues, with the hope that more widespread competition would eventually pay off in brand recognition....today the company will hit $450 million in annual [Chinese] sales [compared to $8 million in '94]. In poll after poll, Nike is cited as the 'coolest' brand [by Chinese consumers]."

Here's the ploy that I found the most humorous:

When De Beers started marketing diamonds in China in 1993, "there were absolutely no diamonds exchanged in China and nothing in Chinese culture linking diamonds and love." But the marketing firm that handles De Beers has fixed that! The head of the firm boasts, "It's more than selling a product. It's creating a culture."

"The company has been so successful in its creation that now, in Shanghai, 70 percent of all brides are given a diamond wedding ring....Every year De Beers cosponsors a 'Rose Wedding Ceremony' with the Shanghai municipal government, in which 100 couples exchange vows - and diamond rings" in a broadcast TV event. Last year the couples stood next to a 12-foot-high model of a diamond ring!

A 12 foot high diamond ring! Can you believe that? I love the name of a presentation that De Beer's marketing company gave: "Creating a Diamond Wedding Ring Cultural Imperative." I guess it could be worse. Just imagine it, "With this Nike I thee wed."

What do you think about that?

PHOTO SHOOT

The Plastics, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

ZZZZZZ...I'm spending my Friday night photographing little plastic people. What's wrong with this picture? Did I mention that I'm a 31 year old man? Oh, the things I do for eBay!

IT'S ALMOST MAY...

I , originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

We know what that means, don't we, Pauline?

MAGIC iPOD

Are you ready for the next Magic 8 Ball? Wish you had a fortune cookie, but all you’ve got is an iPod? If you haven’t heard of it yet (Where have you been?), Shuffle Fortune-Telling is asking questions and letting iTunes' shuffle function give you the answers. (This is a joke, btw. It’s forced creativity and your brain making connections between random things - It reveals what's in your head, not what's in the cards for you. I don’t actually believe my new iPod is omniscient. Now my toaster on the other hand…)

Simple to follow instructions: Go to the music player of your choice and put it on shuffle. Say the following questions aloud and press play. Use the songs as your answers. NO CHEATING! (Unless you get instrumental music; but even then, at least try to make a connection. )

How does the world see me?
Song: Don’t You Forget About Me
Artist: Simple Minds
Comment: I guess I remind the world of Anthony Michael Hall

Will I have a happy life?
Song: Somehow
Artist: Taylor Hicks
Comment: Like the song says, "I’ll get by, somehow…look at the people around you, stabbing at your heart, but you still smile in kindness…"

What do my friends really think of me?
Song: Trust
Artist: Jason Upton
Comment: The song’s refrain is "I can trust in you."

Does anyone secretly have a crush on me?
Song: Fur Elise
Artist: Vince Guaraldi
Comments: Lucy and Schroeder! Oh, but Lucy’s crush was no secret!

How can I make myself happy?
Song: Too Young
Artist: Nat King Cole
Comments: Marry too young? Well, it’s too late for that! Maybe just marry, then?

What should I do with my life?
Song: Why Doesn’t Andy
Artist: The Whitlams
Comments: Oh, goody. I’m supposed to talk on stage, then? Must I act my age?

Why should life be full of so much pain?
Song: She’s Got a Way
Artist: Billy Joel
Comments: It doesn’t matter as long as you are loved.

Will I ever have children?
Song: Sh-Boom
Artist: The Crew-Cuts
Comments: If I do, it will be a dream come true.

Will I die happy?
Song: My Doorbell
Artist: The White Stripes
Comments: Death is just the doorway to a happier eternity.

What is some good advice for me?
Song: Love You Madly
Artist: Cake
Comments: Love courageously. Trust. Don’t hold back.

What is happiness?
Song: White Christmas
Artist: Bing Crosby
Comments: Yes, it is! Merry Birthday to Jesus and me!

How will I be remembered?
Song: Son of a Carpenter
Artist: Taylor Hicks
Comments: Cool.

What kind of person will I marry?
Song: Soulful Christmas
Artist: James Brown
Comments: A star: I’ll be her biggest fan! Jump back! Owww!

Where will I live when I'm married?
Song: Yellow Rose of Texas
Artist: The Hi-Lo’s with Billy May
Comments: Hmmmm…Big D. here I come? Doubtful, but who knows?

What will be the hardest thing I ever have to do?
Song: Enth E Nd
Artist: Linkin Park
Comments: Letting go.

What will my first child be like?
Song: Welcome Home
Artist: Shaun Groves
Comments: I’ll be happy to make room in my heart for him.

Will I have a happy marriage?
Song: Surely Goodness and Mercy
Artist: Vineyard (The Burn Service)
Comments: 8-)

What will become of my brother?
Song: Time in a Bottle
Artist: Jim Croce
Comments: He’ll always be with those he loves.

What will become of my mother?
Song: Tell Her About It
Artist: Billy Joel
Comments: She’ll find out how much she’s loved.

What will become of my father?
Song: Take Me Home, Country Roads
Artist: Taylor Hicks
Comments: He’ll stay a country boy.

What will my biggest regret be?
Song: One I Love
Artist: Coldplay
Comments: Running after Harpies when I should’ve tied myself to the mast – not embracing the cross.

What's something that will help me through tough times?
Song: Gonna Move
Artist: Taylor Hicks
Comments: Road trip! Or maybe the Witness Relocation Program?

What does love mean to me?
Song: Mockingbird
Artist: Derek Webb
Comments: I’m just giving what’s been given to me.

Does anyone love me right now?
Song: Rich Young Ruler
Artist: Derek Webb
Comments: Yes. The question is how do I love others? When it’s easy? When it costs nothing?

PSALM 93

The summer before my freshman year of college, I spent a week in a condo in Gulf Shores, AL. My first night there, I woke up in the middle of the night. I felt like God wanted me to go out on the balcony and that I should bring my Bible with me. When I opened the sliding door, I noticed that the waves seemed unusually loud. I stood admiring the waves, and again I felt prompted by the Holy Spirit. This time he told me to turn to Psalm 93. As I read the words, my faith in God grew stronger. I wasn't just reading poetry. The book was describing what I was experiencing at that moment. There was the power of the ocean right in front of me, and the whole experience illustrated God's power in my life.

Yesterday morning, I opened up the Bible and found myself reading the same Psalm. After living through the destruction of hurricane Katrina, the Psalmist's words once again took on a personal meaning for me. Yes, the ocean's waves are powerful. But God is even more powerful.

Psalm 93

The LORD is king! He is robed in majesty.
Indeed, the LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength.
The world is firmly established; it cannot be shaken.
Your throne, O LORD, has been established from time immemorial.
You yourself are from the everlasting past.
The mighty oceans have roared, O LORD.
The mighty oceans roar like thunder;
the mighty oceans roar as they pound the shore.
But mightier than the violent raging of the seas,
mightier than the breakers on the shore--
the LORD above is mightier than these!
Your royal decrees cannot be changed.
The nature of your reign, O LORD, is holiness forever.

iPOD

iPod family, originally uploaded by Zengame.

Pauline sent me an iPod. I was so surprised when I opened the box. Oh, happiness! Now I can drown out the senseless chatter at the gym while I'm running. Thank you, Pauline!

Speaking of noise. I found out I'm not a big fan of Ben Folds after all. He is both the most talented pianist and the most profane man I've ever seen onstage. My nephew Ben and I have started calling him "Ben's Folds." LOL

NOW ENTERING OLD-AGEVILLE

Dr Pepper, Texas, originally uploaded by glitz.

Theme of the week: I'm an old guy. Evidence is piling up. Here's a sampling:

Adult swim is featuring episodes of "Saved by the Bell" this week. My neice and nephew didn't believe me when I told them that I'm the same age as the actors. They thought I was much OLDER!

I saw posters advertising a Ben Folds concert at the university. I was so excited! I had no trouble picking up tickets at the last minute because NONE of the college-age kids want to attend - they'd prefer a younger, cooler singer!

I spend Tuesday nights glued to the television cheering my favorite American Idol...who is a prematurely gray 30-something!

I've always loved the theme song for Dr. Pepper, but recently I've acquired a taste for the soda. Today I think I found out the reason why: it gets its distinct flavor from PRUNE JUICE!

What's next for me...a passion for shuffleboard?!

POP CULTURE SWAP

MAD HATTER'S SWAP 8, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

I just put my package in the mail for the Pop Culture swap I signed up for on flickr. The theme of this month's swap is "Mad Hatter's Tea Party." The picture above is the front of the card I made for my swap partner. I hope she likes the package. I should know in a few days as I sent it Priority Mail (God bless the Post Office).

I'm doing one other swap this month with another flickr group - Color-ific Swap-O-Rama. Their theme of the month is yellow/orange.

It was fun to put together the little packages of gifts, and I'm sure it will be fun to receive my packages when they arrive in the mail. I think the whole swap-a-gift-box-with-a-random-person idea is a good one. If you are interested in learning more, just go to flickr and search the groups for the word "swap."

SOUL PATROL

SOUL PATROL, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Taylor makes me happy. Catherine and Paris were great, too. I would like a CD of tonight's performances. WOW!

CELEBRITY FACEOFF

61% Jason Biggs, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

If you haven't seen this fad, you have missed a good laugh. Just visit My Heritage and upload a photo of yourself. Within moments they'll scan their database of celebrities and retrieve those they feel most resemble your photo. After you have your chuckle, you can post a screen capture of your favorite matches at the new flickr group I formed for them: My Heritage Face Recognition

HE IS RISEN

Row of Crosses 2, originally uploaded by Gani.

Imagine dying and then being alive again. Think about that. You die only to find that the grave can't hold you. What would life be like after such a fantastic discovery? Imagine that. Or maybe you don't have to imagine.

Early Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. She ran and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved. She said, "They have taken the Lord's body out of the tomb, and I don't know where they have put him!"

Peter and the other disciple ran to the tomb to see. The other disciple outran Peter and got there first. He stooped and looked in and saw the linen cloth lying there, but he didn't go in. Then Simon Peter arrived and went inside. He also noticed the linen wrappings lying there, while the cloth that had covered Jesus' head was folded up and lying to the side. Then the other disciple also went in, and he saw and believed-- for until then they hadn't realized that the Scriptures said he would rise from the dead. Then they went home.

Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels sitting at the head and foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. "Why are you crying?" the angels asked her.
"Because they have taken away my Lord," she replied, "and I don't know where they have put him."
She glanced over her shoulder and saw someone standing behind her. It was Jesus, but she didn't recognize him. "Why are you crying?" Jesus asked her. "Who are you looking for?"
She thought he was the gardener. "Sir," she said, "if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him."
"Mary!" Jesus said.
She turned toward him and exclaimed, "Teacher!"
"Don't cling to me," Jesus said, "for I haven't yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them that I am ascending to my Father and your Father, my God and your God."
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, "I have seen the Lord!" Then she gave them his message.

That evening, on the first day of the week, the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! "Peace be with you," he said. As he spoke, he held out his hands for them to see, and he showed them his side. They were filled with joy when they saw their Lord! He spoke to them again and said, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." Then he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone's sins, they are forgiven. If you refuse to forgive them, they are unforgiven."

One of the disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the Twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, "We have seen the Lord!" But he replied, "I won't believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side."
Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. He said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don't be faithless any longer. Believe!"
"My Lord and my God!" Thomas exclaimed.
Then Jesus told him, "You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who haven't seen me and believe anyway."
Jesus' disciples saw him do many other miraculous signs besides the ones recorded in this book. But these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing in him you will have life.

John 20

123 MEMORY LANE

Many people drive home for the holidays. What does home look like for you? I'm staying with my parents, not just for Easter, but for the next few months. What I'm finding is that you can never really go home again. Not relationally, and not even physically, to a certain degree. The home of my childhood only exists in my dreams.

I'm selling a 1960's design book on eBay this week, so I've scanned in a few of the photos to give potential buyers an idea of what I'm selling. What do you think of these photos? Did you ever live in a home like any of these? Pretty fantastic stuff, eh?

My folks' last home was built in '59, so we had bathroom tile identical to the tile featured in the dining room shown here. And we also had Danish Modern chairs and an upright piano like the ones shown in the book-filled living room. Strange to see familiar things in unfamiliar places. Know what I mean?

MORK'S GREAT GRANDMOTHER?

Happy Easter 3, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

As you are dying eggs and biting the ears from chocolate rabbits, don't forget to pause for a moment to ponder the reason behind all the holiday traditions...ALIEN CHICKS HATCHING FROM GIANT EGGS!

DILBERT

update, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Not sure what I'd do without my daily dose of Dilbert.

Today's comic ties in with the eBay woes I've experienced this past week. (Like you want to hear about them, but I'll document it for posterity.)

It all started when I tried to log in to my account one night and couldn't. Was I worried? A little...I tried logging into Paypal, too; same problem. OK, so maybe I was a bit afraid at that point.

So I checked my email account, and sure enough, I'd received an email from eBay; my eBay identity had been compromised. The letter gave no explanation. It did instruct me to change all the passwords on any important accounts. I did. It took forever.

Any good news? Well, it looks like nobody actually did any buying, selling, or withdrawals. I don't want this mess to repeat itself, so I made my passwords really difficult this time. I dislike long passwords because they are a hassle to input, but I guess I have no choice since htey are ultimately safer.

How about you? Are you a simple password user who likes to live dangerously? Or do you spend an hour typing in a mega password that makes your account as secure than the safes at Fort Knox?

GO TAY TAY!

GO TAY TAY!, originally uploaded by Patrick Q.

Be a good couch tater: Vote for Taylor Hicks tonight on FOX's American Idol!