A New Era

As it says...let a new era in Gardner-Webb basketball begin. Chris Holtmann takes over the helm as head coach for this next season. Here we go!

Digestive Concept

When I see something like this, the first reaction is always..."WHY?!" The second reaction normally ties between, "How?" and a restatement of the previous, "Why?!" This has to be one of the strangest designs for a bar I have ever seen...rather, one of the strangest designs I have ever seen for a building in general. The Rectum Bar in Vienna is somewhat of a monstrosity, if you ask me. However, it is apparently a completely anatomically correct representation of the digestive system from tongue to...well, you know.

Would you buy a drink there?

Back to it.

It has been far too long since I wrote something here, but let us not dwell on what has past.

Currently, I am pulling together a presentation on John Hewitt's poem "An Irishman In Coventry." As a result, I am also looking at some of his other works, biography, etc. A little bit of academic bunny-trailing, if you will. Amidst the side-stepping, I came across his Notes on the Art of Picture Buying, which I found wonderfully humorous...Enjoy!

Never buy a picture because it reminds you of a place where you once
spent an enjoyable holiday. A photograph is cheaper.

Buy pictures to feed your soul, as Hafiz nearly said.

Avoid the derivative repetitive artist. If he's not perpetually enriching
his own experience he can't possibly enrich yours.

If an artist solves your imaginative or aesthetic problems you ought
to solve his financial problems.

Reproductions are referential data for students.

Wouldn't you like to have been the first to buy a Monet or a Matisse?
Take a chance now!

What was good enough for your father is just too bad.

Buy a picture before its painter becomes famous.

Sculpture lasts.

Have something in your house made by a human being for a human
being.

Though It Be But Little...

It is definitely fierce, and has been ever since the first one rolled off the line August 26, 1959. The unique styling of the Mini Cooper has become one of the most iconic images of the 20th. century.

The Mini was primarily developed by the mastermind employee of the BMC (or British Motor Company), Sir Alexander Arnold Constantine Issigonis.  He was later promoted to Technical Director of BMC and served in the motor industry until his retirement in 1971.  

Understanding the power of pop culture, BMC made sure that Mini's found there way into the hands of the movers and shakers of the age, actors, musicians, models, etc.  These cars were particularly effective for maneuvering crowded city streets, and thus became wildly popular throughout London.  Figures such as members of the Beatles, Princess Margaret, Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and Twiggy all joined the Mini craze, solidifying its position as the "it" car.  Such was its influence that British fashion designer Mary Quant was inspired to create the "mini" skirt. 

In 41 years, over 5 million Minis were sold and their success has shown little signs of slowing down.  These bite-sized speed machines, with their iconic design have definitely made their mark on the automobile industry. 

Happy Birthday Mini!

Mercy.

"Ever let mercy outweigh all else in you. Let our compassion be a mirror where we may see in ourselves that likeness and that true image which belong to the Divine nature and Divine essence. A heart hard and unmerciful will never be pure."

—St. Isaac of Syria

Web Site Story?

Ok, generally speaking the majority of things that come out of College Humor.com are not the post edifying pieces of material, let's be honest.  However, I must say their recent parody of West Side Story is quite brilliant and sad all at the same time.  It is entitled Web Site Story and is a 21st. century parody of the classical musical.  I hope you enjoy a the silliness of it all.

Great Is Thy Faithfulness

One of my favorite songs.  Words so true.

Morning by morning I wake up to find 
The power and comfort of God's hand in mine 
Season by season I watch Him, amazed 
In awe of the mystery of His perfect ways 
All I have need of, His hand will provide 
He's always been faithful to me. 

I can't remember a trial or a pain 
He did not recycle to bring me gain 
I can't remember one single regret 
In serving God only, and trusting His hand 
All I have need of, His hand will provide 
He's always been faithful to me. 

This is my anthem, this is my song 
The theme of the stories I've heard for so long 
God has been faithful, He will be again 
His loving compassion, it knows no end 
All I have need of, His hand will provide 
He's always been faithful, He's always been faithful 
He's always been faithful to me.

-Sara Groves

Red, White, & Blue

For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail?

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

We must be free not because we claim freedom, but because we practice it.

-William Faulkner

The right to freedom being the gift of God, it is not in the power of man to alienate this gift and voluntarily become a slave.

-Samuel Adams

How often we fail to realize our good fortune in living in a country where happiness is more than a lack of tragedy.

-Paul Sweeney

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.

-Thomas Paine

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

-The Declaration of Independence

e-mail in motion

Thankfully e-mail doesn't really work this way.  I think I would miss my Mac.

Mac Attack!

Do Re Mi

A little Julie Andrews to brighten your day.  This video was recorded in Antwerp at the Central Train Station on March 23, 2009.  At 8:00 am, without warning, "Do Re Mi" began to play on the public address system.  As bewildered passengers watched, about 200 dancers slowly begin to appear from the crowd and train stations.  Enjoy! 

Practical Architecture

Or something like that....

London-based Levitate Architects developed this ingenious plan to deal with some space issues in the shared top floor apartment of a Victorian mansion block.  They created a new loft bedroom, accessed by a "secret staircase" hidden from the main reception area.  In order to accommodate the client's desire for a library, the architects developed an idea where both English oak shelves and treads are lined with books.  Also, since 

there is a skylight directly above the staircase, there is ample light for this unique library. 

Some brilliant planning, in my opinion. 

Alas, Alack

I have been completely remiss in keeping up with the blogging world.  Partly because I have only had internet one other time than this, but excuses, I know.  What I have decided to do is as soon as I get home, I'm going to start posting my journal entries from Germany, so that I can catch up on what I have not filled in the internet world with.  

In the meantime, here is a little story that served to only confirm my love for Great Britain.  Upon leaving Frankfurt, I flew directly into London, whereupon I would take a train to Chester later on in the day.  As a result, I had an afternoon to spare in Londontown.  Dropping off my worldly goods at the bag check in Euston Station (for quite a hefty fee, might I add), I ventured out into the grey and fog.  After purchasing my underground pass, I headed straight for what any good English major would, the book alley just off Leicester Square.  Barely containing myself in the utopia of antiquity and dust, I dug through shelves, crates, and bins of gorgeous book after gorgeous book.  Amidst one shelf, I came across a book with a white slip sticking out of the top.  Generally speaking, any slip of paper sticking out of a book in a shop like this is a good sign, because it's making some sort of distinction concerning the work.  As I went to pull the book out of the back corner, my heart skipped a beat (that might be a little dramatic, but I must say books do have a powerful effect on me)...Needless to say, it was one of the most exciting finds I have ever made in a bookshop.  The book was a first edition, autographed copy of one of Dorothy L. Sayers plays, The Devil to Pay, and it was in mint condition might my add.  I would have loved nothing more than to pack it up and take it home with me, but considering it was a grand total of  ₤250 I thought I had better pass.  However, I feel better having experienced such a piece of art, even if I could not take it with me...

Thus, solidifies my love for British book shops, I think you can understand why.

Step by Step.

Pray for us.  

We are climbing the cathedral tower at Ulm today.

Graffiti is the word.

Well, our group escaped for the weekend and spent the past four days in Berlin.  There are so many things to say about that city, but I must refrain myself for now, because we are heading into a lecture.  However, one of the words for the weekend...graffiti.  

I'm not sure I have ever seen so much of it in one city in my entire life.  What is amazing is these artists are truly talented, what they can create with nothing but a can of spray paint is absolutely astounding.  Unfortunately, they do it on some of the worst places, which may just be the point of it all.  Sadly, basically every monument we saw had some form of marking on it, whether it was stupid tourists, feeling the need to scratch their names into various walls, or sub-cultured graffiti artists, almost nothing in that city has escaped unblemished.  One can maybe draw all sorts of cultural commentaries from that, but I will refrain for the moment of going too far with that.  However, Berlin is a city that has waded its way through some of the darkest hours in history, and although it has survived, one can definitely still see the scars.

I have not had a chance to download my 2400 pictures yet, so this is not a picture of mine, but they will be coming soon.  

Travel.

I am doing a little bit of reading before we head into lectures, so I thought I would just put up a few little thoughts until I can write a full post later. 

The use of traveling is to regulate imagination by reality, and instead of thinking how things may be, to see them as they are. 

Samuel Johnson

All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.

Martin Buber

Travel and change of place impart new vigor to the mind.

Seneca