Lunar Boulevard

Yep, it's true! You can watch it live and learn all about it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WKJhNXGqJGA#!

Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse.... Okay, nothing interesting happened but I figured it couldn't hurt to try. This star (which, as far as I know, has nothing to do with the titular character of Beetlejuice) is quite impressive in its own right. If you replaced our sun with Betelgeuse it would extend out past the orbit of Jupiter. Next time you complain about the summer heat, just remember: it could be worse. Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse, Betelgeuse....still nothing.

No, I'm not talking about some kind of Ghostbusters ministry (though that would be pretty sweet) but rather a topic that's been kicking around inside my tiny brain for quite some time. This past Sunday I left church with somewhat conflicted feelings about the field of ministry and if what we do really matters as much as we're told it does.  Let's get the obvious out of the way: this has nothing to do with how God sees our service. There's plenty in the Bible to speak to that on its own and any believer should be looking there first and foremost. Instead, I want to look into how others within the church operate and the sad celebrity culture that some churches seem to be falling into. Again, this will have nothing to do with Ghostbusters, though I do wish I could find a way to squeeze that in. Maybe something about lighting or online video and not crossing the streams?  For the past two years I worked in church media as a designer, coordinator, and prod...

Making tools in space? Now that's a proposal that even Tim Taylor could get behind. A 3D printer is set to be launched into space next year to aid the International Space Station in making parts that were previously manufactured on Earth. The goal is to jump-start producing tools off our planet in an effort to aid in further exploration of our galaxy. This is definitely something that could revolutionize the way we travel and explore space. It's still in the early stages but this technology is rapidly growing and the potential for innovation is enormous. Let's hope this proves to be successful!

There's no doubt that Keane was under a lot of pressure after the success of Hopes and Fears and its follow-up Under the Iron Sea . By now the band had established itself as a venerable indie/pop act and had quite a dedicated following, making it even more risky when they significantly changed their sound on their third outing, Perfect Symmetry . The album was met with mixed reviews and a considerable amount of confusion and disappointment from the fan community. Yes, I'll admit that I enjoy their earlier work a bit more but the idea that this effort is some kind of misguided failure is a silly and hasty one at best. I'll readily admit that this was the first Keane album that didn't blow me away on my first listen. Upon spinning it for the first time I remember liking it but it didn't exactly suck me in the way their first two records had. After a few more listens it began to sink in and I warmed up to it as another wonderful addition to the band's c...

The National is one of those groups that you don't quite understand at first, yet with time their music becomes something personal and affecting. With every album they expand their sound, dig a little bit deeper, and unearth some treasures that leave you speechless. Trouble Will Find Me is exactly what you would expect from this group: tight musicianship, haunting atmosphere, and melodies that stick with you long after the record has finished playing. The good news for fans is that this isn't a radical departure from what's come before. If you've enjoyed anything from their previous albums then you'll feel right at home here among the band's trademarks. Matt Berninger's delicate baritone voice glides effortlessly over every cut, from the tender opening of "I Should Live in Salt" to the creepy introspection of "Demons". He remains the group's driving force and instantly pulls you into the dark and sordid affairs of these songs. ...

My beloved home state of Oklahoma is being racked with storms and tornados, as is much of that area of the country. Pray for the safety of those in the storm's path and that God's grace and power will be shown to all involved.

I don't watch much television. Aside from a few favorites there isn't much on the tube that ever seems to hold my attention or captivates me to keep up with it. Lately my wife has started watching watching Mad Men on Netflix and I've managed to catch a few episodes here and there. The hype surrounding this show has been prevalent over the last few years and I'm certainly aware of the praise pertaining to this particular franchise.  It may be a popular show but, to be perfectly honest, I find it unejoyable. It's a miserable show filled with despicable and immoral people who hurt each other and manipulate those around them in order to get what they want. I suppose there are people who enjoy this type of show and the production values, acting, and set pieces are certainly impressive. However, in the end it's as depressing and uncomfortable as they come. After seeing a couple episodes I ended up watching King of the Hill just to laugh and feel some joy. I find...

Have you ever wondered what outer space smells like? If so then you might be a weirdo but it's a valid question nonetheless. While we all know that there's no air in space, astronauts who have taken space walks and worked outside the shuttles have had some interesting experiences upon taking off their suits. Some say their equipment smells like burning metal, hot steak, or even raspberries. Rum, gunpowder, and welding fumes have also been reported in some cases. So what gives space such bizarre smells? According to one researcher, it's humans and our own atmosphere that give the galaxy such a peculiar odor. As astronauts move into the station from being outside the craft the resulting smell is due to "high-energy vibrations in particles brought back inside." So there you have it: the metallic smell of space is apparently fascinating and highly memorable to those who have experienced it firsthand. Happy smelling!

With each record is seems that Vampire Weekend expands their unique sound ever so slightly. The summertime pop and world beats of their debut and the electronic loops and mellow ballads of Contra are all here, albeit with a fresh coat of paint and some challenging instrumentation that demands repeated listens. With Modern Vampires of the City they've crafted some of their finest work yet and have dispelled any doubts about whether they could survive beyond the initial hype that first surrounded them. "Obvious Bicycle" is a slow and melodic opener, complete with heartbeat rhythms and Ezra Koenig's gentle crooning. "Step" combines the harmonies of Simon & Garfunkel with a near-identical chorus to Bread's "Aubrey", yet it all comes together to create a relaxing and atmospheric track. "Diana Young" and "Unbelievers" sound a bit more conventional in their approach, harking back to the band's previous work and putting ...

Remember Skylab? If you were alive during the early 70's then you'll likely remember its launch on May 14, 1973 and its eventual return to earth in 1979. This Monday, May 14, NASA will hold a televised roundtable discussion about Skylab and its findings. The panel includes: -- Owen Garriott, science pilot, Skylab 3 -- Gerald Carr, commander, Skylab 4 -- Kevin Ford, commander, International Space Station (ISS) Expedition 34 -- D. Marshall Porterfield, director, Space Life and Physical Sciences Research and Applications Division, NASA Headquarters -- Jason Crusan, director, Advanced Exploration Systems, NASA Headquarters  It should be an interesting discussion. I wonder if they'll discuss the various psychics who all tried to predict (wrongly) where Skylab would eventually crash back to earth. For those who are curious, it landed in Western Australia.  Skylab represented the U.S's first major scientific foray into the study of microgravi...

"Jesus didn't come to save us from bad behavior." The comment took me by surprise and at first I felt the need to immedaitely disagree; after all, our sinful actions and behaviors are prime examples of why we need God in the first place. We are, by our own nature, flawed and sinful. The serpent in the Garden ensured that fall and all it took was Adam and Eve to change the course of history in that fashion. Bad behavior has always been a by-product of that moment. However, the speaker then mentioned that Jesus does want us to behave in a God-honoring manner but merely looking at our actions isn't enough. It's the condition of our hearts and the attitudes we carry that shape the way we act. Suddenly I understood where he was coming from and it began to sink in. Actions are only half of the equation.  I learned a lot from the online sermon series but this point in particular had me mulling over it long after the session was over. Often in the c...