So yes, I know its been a long time since I've update, and I know that I had intended to be more regular than this. Still, the best-laid plans of mice and men...
I thought I'd give a brief, random update. First, I have to say that winter is finally here. I realized it yesterday when, in the five minutes it took me to walk back from parking may car, I ended up shivering uncontrollably and wasn't able to feel my ears. Now I just wish there was some snow on the ground, to make the bitter cold worth it.
I've been reading a couple of books:
Christ, the Lord's Supper, and Baptism by Leonard J. Vander Zee - An interesting read; Vander Zee is basically making a case first for the importance of Protestants regaining a high view of sacramentalism, and then discusses how both sacraments could or should be implemented. I'm only 60-odd pages in, so I don't have a final analysis, but I like it this far.
Jude the Obscure by Thomas Hardy - A good novel, very grim and depressing, but enjoyably so.
As far as new musical discoveries:
Danielson - Ships - This album is brilliant. I'm completely in love with it right now. Daniel Smith, one of the progenitors of the most modern incarnation of the alt-folk movement, is actually best-known for producing Sufjan Stephens and for his bizarre blend off eccentricity, Christianity and art music. This CD is a little hard to get into, thanks to both the musical complexity and the quirkiness of most of the songs. However, giving it a couple dedicated listens is well worth it. High points include "Bloodbook on the Halfshell," "Did I Step On Your Trumpet," and "Two Sitting Ducks."
The Long Blondes - Someone to Drive You Home - Pop music at its greatest. Sure, this album feels like a bunch of singles strung together. Sure, the lyrics are often shallow and overused. But its just so fun! While the album slows down a little bit as it progresses, it's all pretty good, and I'd recommend at least buying the first three songs off iTunes.
Ray LaMontagne - Last week I went to hear this guy live at the Rococco with a couple friends. I had all of two songs by him on my computer which I downloaded just to listen to him. However, at the concert I fell in love, and so Ray has, for the time being at least, become my relax-after-a-hard-day favorite. His best album is probably Trouble, if anyone's interested.
And with that, I need to get ready to head to class. Bon voyage!
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Did you ever finish Atlas Shrugged? I love Ayn Rand, and that was easily my favorite book from her. I just find her eagerness to deal honestly with the implications of atheism refreshing. She refuses to say, "I want a Judeo-Christian system of morality, but not the Judeo-Christian God." Instead she says, "Each of us are god--we need to live like it." Even so, she still presents a system of philosophy that, to a certain degree, looks like it might plausibly work.
The one question I have for Rand, though, that I believe destroys her entire philosophy is "Why?" Why would anyone spend their entire lifetime working, producing, making real achievements if that same person is gone forever at death and doesn't particularly care about those who are to follow? That question came up more as I was reading The Fountainhead, but I think that it applies to all of her work.
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