I love Lord of the Rings. However, I've just discovered that I only watch it when I've been sad or depressed. I think it's because it makes me feel better about my life since I know I'll never have to bear the ring of power, take it on an epic journey to Mordor, and destroy it in the fires of Mount Doom.
Hmm... go figure.
SDG
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Infinite Arms
I know I promised a review of Infinite Arms by Band of Horses weeks ago. I'm sorry I'm just now getting to it. I listened to the album a couple of times through and kept waiting for the critique to come, and I could never get any definite opinion formed, and that's what I'm left with. I really love Band of Horses, and I wanted to write a rave review for its new album, so I was torn.
The album is not bad, by any means, but I found it not up to the standards set in Cease to Begin and Everything All The Time. There's nothing that stands out to me in the latest album like "Ode to LRC" and "Detlef Shrempf" in Cease to Begin and Everything All The Time's "Our Swords," which has an excellent bass line intro that just makes you want to do the rock show head bob. Actually, after just replaying some of Cease to Begin, I can see why I was disappointed. There are some very excellent tracks on that album, and I guess I was expecting them to continue that direction, following their indie-unique sound instead of morphing and conforming into their major record company label.
I do like the pretty acoustic-ness in the title track, and it seems to be the only song that retains the band's haunting vocals found in the previous albums. It feels kind of like the band tried to clean up their sound when they should have left it raw and dirty.
The album is not bad, by any means, but I found it not up to the standards set in Cease to Begin and Everything All The Time. There's nothing that stands out to me in the latest album like "Ode to LRC" and "Detlef Shrempf" in Cease to Begin and Everything All The Time's "Our Swords," which has an excellent bass line intro that just makes you want to do the rock show head bob. Actually, after just replaying some of Cease to Begin, I can see why I was disappointed. There are some very excellent tracks on that album, and I guess I was expecting them to continue that direction, following their indie-unique sound instead of morphing and conforming into their major record company label.
I do like the pretty acoustic-ness in the title track, and it seems to be the only song that retains the band's haunting vocals found in the previous albums. It feels kind of like the band tried to clean up their sound when they should have left it raw and dirty.
Friday, June 18, 2010
MGMT - It's Working
The second video from MGMT's album Congratulations has been released. It's for the band's beach meets psychedelic rock, bongo laced track "It's Working," which Andrew affectionately introduced as being about doing drugs on their Live on Letterman performance.
This song has been a favorite since I first listened to the album, and after learning the song was about drugs, the lyrics "But it's working in you blood/But you know it's not the same as love/Love is only in your mind/Not your heart" became way more interesting.
I must say this video is completely different from the previous one for "Flash Delirium" which I discussed here. I would say "It's Working" is more reminiscent of the group's earlier "Time To Pretend" and "Electric Feel" videos. While "Flash Delirium" captured the band's way-out-there-super-trippy-too-cool-for-you side, this one reveals the side we fans are more familiar with, the were-grown-ups-but-that-doesn't-mean-we-have-to-give-up-our-childlike-imaginations side. I love the contrast of the kid with the ice cream cone and Andrew waking Ben up from a bed he's sharing with the stereotypical music video hot girl. It's like they are saying, "Some things are good about being an adult, but don't forget about the good things about being a kid!"
So, I've embedded the video for you to form your own opinions. Enjoy!
This song has been a favorite since I first listened to the album, and after learning the song was about drugs, the lyrics "But it's working in you blood/But you know it's not the same as love/Love is only in your mind/Not your heart" became way more interesting.
I must say this video is completely different from the previous one for "Flash Delirium" which I discussed here. I would say "It's Working" is more reminiscent of the group's earlier "Time To Pretend" and "Electric Feel" videos. While "Flash Delirium" captured the band's way-out-there-super-trippy-too-cool-for-you side, this one reveals the side we fans are more familiar with, the were-grown-ups-but-that-doesn't-mean-we-have-to-give-up-our-childlike-imaginations side. I love the contrast of the kid with the ice cream cone and Andrew waking Ben up from a bed he's sharing with the stereotypical music video hot girl. It's like they are saying, "Some things are good about being an adult, but don't forget about the good things about being a kid!"
So, I've embedded the video for you to form your own opinions. Enjoy!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Rewards = Customer Loyalty
This weekend, I received my Starbucks Gold Card in the mail, which made me extremely happy. Why, you may ask? Not only because this little card means that I get cool things like two free hours of Wi-Fi and free drink customization, but also that this was a company recognizing the fact that I consume insane amounts of its product. It was a sign of appreciation from a place where I spend hours of my time and a good chunk of my spending money. It was the equivalent of saying, "Hey, thanks for coming to see us so often! We think that's awesome, so we got you this present!"
Why is that significant? Well, I'm about to put on my Public Relations student hat and tell you. People like recognition. They like to feel their contributions are appreciated, even the apparently insignificant contributions such as everyday purchases of groceries or coffee. When customers feel appreciation, i.e. through rewards, they respond with brand/company loyalty. Now that I have my rewards card, I want to show Starbucks I'm grateful for their recognition by continuing to make my coffee/tea purchases there.
Another reason why rewarding customers is an excellent loyalty-building tool is that it makes customers feel special. When I go into Starbucks and pull out my personalized, shiny, gold card, I'm doing something that not everyone has the option of doing. Therefore, Starbucks is giving me the opportunity to participate in an exclusive activity. Say that something's exclusive and try to make it sound unappealing. Not possible.
Finally, since I now know I'm rewarded for each purchase, I have more of an incentive to go to Starbucks over another coffee shop that will not let me add a double shot of vanilla to my Misto for free. This leads me to mention another company that has a similar practice - Kroger. Through using my Kroger card, I get in-store discounts, points that add up to 10 cents off my next fuel purchase, and coupons sent to my house that are for things I actually buy! So when I go grocery shopping, I'm going to go to Kroger so that when my gas tank's getting close to "E" and I pull up to the pump, the display will read, "Would you like to use your 10 cents off?"
So, in conclusion, if a company wants to increase customer loyalty, they should tell their customers, "Hey, you know, you are a real special group of people, and we just want to say thanks for picking us," and customer rewards programs are an excellent way to say just that.
Why is that significant? Well, I'm about to put on my Public Relations student hat and tell you. People like recognition. They like to feel their contributions are appreciated, even the apparently insignificant contributions such as everyday purchases of groceries or coffee. When customers feel appreciation, i.e. through rewards, they respond with brand/company loyalty. Now that I have my rewards card, I want to show Starbucks I'm grateful for their recognition by continuing to make my coffee/tea purchases there.
Another reason why rewarding customers is an excellent loyalty-building tool is that it makes customers feel special. When I go into Starbucks and pull out my personalized, shiny, gold card, I'm doing something that not everyone has the option of doing. Therefore, Starbucks is giving me the opportunity to participate in an exclusive activity. Say that something's exclusive and try to make it sound unappealing. Not possible.
Finally, since I now know I'm rewarded for each purchase, I have more of an incentive to go to Starbucks over another coffee shop that will not let me add a double shot of vanilla to my Misto for free. This leads me to mention another company that has a similar practice - Kroger. Through using my Kroger card, I get in-store discounts, points that add up to 10 cents off my next fuel purchase, and coupons sent to my house that are for things I actually buy! So when I go grocery shopping, I'm going to go to Kroger so that when my gas tank's getting close to "E" and I pull up to the pump, the display will read, "Would you like to use your 10 cents off?"
So, in conclusion, if a company wants to increase customer loyalty, they should tell their customers, "Hey, you know, you are a real special group of people, and we just want to say thanks for picking us," and customer rewards programs are an excellent way to say just that.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Sermon Thoughts
At church this morning, our text was Romans 12:14-21, which describes how the Christian should respond to the world. While all in all, I found the teaching on the passage to be practical and helpful, there were a few things that stood out to me as needing addressing. These may have been just casual comments, but I can't let them go in my mind.
In introducing the passage, the pastor made a point to say that some of the things that Christians are called to do, their way of life, seem impossible, but in reality they are just difficult. While on the surface, this statement may appear to be harmless, it can lead to some very wrong thinking, which the pastor took no effort to steer.
It seemed he was trying to perpetuate the idea that we have the ability to achieve what God has called us to do by way of our own wills. That if we are not able to "rejoice with those who rejoice" or "weep with those who weep" we aren't trying hard enough.
I would like to present this idea: That because of our fallen nature, to achieve any righteousness on our own is indeed completely impossible. We are only able to fulfill God's calling when we are enabled through Christ. The other way of thinking implied by the previous statement leads to works-based salvation mentality and legalism - non of which are Biblical behaviors for Christians.
So, Christian, when we become disheartened at our failed attempts to live righteously and follow God's commands, we shouldn't take this to mean God loves us any less because we weren't trying hard enough. If we possessed anything within ourselves to be Godly by sheer will-power, what need would there be for God to humble Himself in human form to save us? Therefore, when we fail, we should realize our Savior is near and surrender to Him, and when we succeed, it's Christ's work through us, and we should be glad and give thanks.
Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria
In introducing the passage, the pastor made a point to say that some of the things that Christians are called to do, their way of life, seem impossible, but in reality they are just difficult. While on the surface, this statement may appear to be harmless, it can lead to some very wrong thinking, which the pastor took no effort to steer.
It seemed he was trying to perpetuate the idea that we have the ability to achieve what God has called us to do by way of our own wills. That if we are not able to "rejoice with those who rejoice" or "weep with those who weep" we aren't trying hard enough.
I would like to present this idea: That because of our fallen nature, to achieve any righteousness on our own is indeed completely impossible. We are only able to fulfill God's calling when we are enabled through Christ. The other way of thinking implied by the previous statement leads to works-based salvation mentality and legalism - non of which are Biblical behaviors for Christians.
So, Christian, when we become disheartened at our failed attempts to live righteously and follow God's commands, we shouldn't take this to mean God loves us any less because we weren't trying hard enough. If we possessed anything within ourselves to be Godly by sheer will-power, what need would there be for God to humble Himself in human form to save us? Therefore, when we fail, we should realize our Savior is near and surrender to Him, and when we succeed, it's Christ's work through us, and we should be glad and give thanks.
Sola Scriptura, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia, Solus Christus, Soli Deo Gloria
Friday, June 4, 2010
Review to Come
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
For Amusement Purposes Only
1. Is he tall (5' 10" at least, 6 feet or taller is better)?
2. Does he have a beard or beard potential?
3. Is he intelligent?
4. Does he have good taste in music?
5. Does he play an instrument?
6. Does he like discussing theology (all guys in question would, of course, be Christians)?
7. Is he a Calvinist?
8. Is he outdoorsy?
9. Can he make me laugh?
and finally...
10. How cute would our children be? ;)
My Life's Ambition
Proverbs 31:25-27
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
SDG
Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.
SDG
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