So there's a couple things I've mentioned but haven't given up an update for. So here we go:
1. Photography Challenge
This challenge is proving to be really...challenging. Bad pun, I know. But seriously, it's really difficult to take a decent picture every day. I must admit that I haven't stayed on top of it, but I have made an effort. Time to step up my efforts! All my photography is viewable on my Facebook page under the photo album named "Amateur Shots."
2. Band Interview(s)
I mentioned that I would be getting an interview with Adam Pasion of the Adam Pasion Band/Briertone. I'm pleased to announce that I finally did get the interview and it's in the editing process, which will be finished by the end of next week. I'm also in the midst of setting up an interview with the Honey Trees and PK so stay tuned! There may also be a surprise announcement...
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Gleek conversion
Last weekend, I went to a friend's house for an all-girls party. All of them love Glee so we ended up watching it almost the whole time. I must confess that I've become a fan of Glee. I'm still rational enough to acknowledge that all of the characters are outrageously stereotypical and the plot can be somewhat ridiculous. But it's immensely entertaining and the music is really fun. So, here is a video of my favorite Glee song so far. It's a mash-up of "Umbrella" and "Singing in the Rain." Enjoy :)
Monday, February 14, 2011
Who was St. Valentine?
On this overly commercialized day of celebrating romantic love, the original meaning is almost completely lost. Just who was St. Valentine and why do we celebrate him? There have been multiple stories of saints named Valentine, but two possible stories have stood out. Both portray the man as a martyr in a story worth celebrating.
Story #1: Around 270 A.D., Emperor Claudius II was struggling to grow his army. He felt that married men made poorer soldiers because they didn't want to leave their wives and families behind. Therefore, he declared a law making marriage illegal so that men would stay single and be more willing to go to war, thereby making better soldiers. A priest named Valentine decided he wouldn't have it and married couples in secret. The emperor found out and had him arrested. Upon meeting him, the emperor actually liked Valentine and offered him his freedom if Valentine would only convert to paganism. Valentine, being a faithful priest, turned the tables and asked if the emperor would become a Christian. This didn't work out because it infuriated the emperor, who had him beheaded soon after on February 14.
Story #2: Around the same time, Christians were heavily persecuted, being sent to prisons where they were often beaten and killed. They were often stoned in the Coliseum, in fact. A priest named Valentine would help them escape their possibly grim fates. Unfortunately, he met an equally grim fate of beheading for his actions.
Side note: Some stories blend the two, saying that Valentine secretly married Christian couples that were escaping persecution. A romantic, although unlikely, twist to the story says that while Valentine was in jail awaiting execution he met and fell in love with a girl, possibly the jailer's daughter. Before his death, he supposedly wrote her a letter signed "from your Valentine," the first Valentine card.
Story #1: Around 270 A.D., Emperor Claudius II was struggling to grow his army. He felt that married men made poorer soldiers because they didn't want to leave their wives and families behind. Therefore, he declared a law making marriage illegal so that men would stay single and be more willing to go to war, thereby making better soldiers. A priest named Valentine decided he wouldn't have it and married couples in secret. The emperor found out and had him arrested. Upon meeting him, the emperor actually liked Valentine and offered him his freedom if Valentine would only convert to paganism. Valentine, being a faithful priest, turned the tables and asked if the emperor would become a Christian. This didn't work out because it infuriated the emperor, who had him beheaded soon after on February 14.
Story #2: Around the same time, Christians were heavily persecuted, being sent to prisons where they were often beaten and killed. They were often stoned in the Coliseum, in fact. A priest named Valentine would help them escape their possibly grim fates. Unfortunately, he met an equally grim fate of beheading for his actions.
Side note: Some stories blend the two, saying that Valentine secretly married Christian couples that were escaping persecution. A romantic, although unlikely, twist to the story says that while Valentine was in jail awaiting execution he met and fell in love with a girl, possibly the jailer's daughter. Before his death, he supposedly wrote her a letter signed "from your Valentine," the first Valentine card.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
food for...well, food thoughts
We have now reached the point where you are going to learn another one of the things I love, besides Jesus and media and history and mysteries. That is food, mostly desserts. I'm an avid baker and want to own a bakery and cafe one day. I'm also thinking of working in a food ministry. So I'm going to start posting food-related stuff, as well as posts about my baking adventures. So here's the first one.
There was this crazy dessert marathon on the Food Network today. In the course of watching it, and drooling, my mom and I made some discoveries.
1. Making those designs in the foam of coffee is a lot harder than it looks. Even a simple heart. I appreciate baristas a lot more.
2. Savory cupcakes. Say whaaat? Yes, a woman is making savory cupcakes. She makes one out of a little meatloaf cake topped with angel hair pasta and marinara sauce. Another is a salmon cake with wasabi mashed potatoes on top. They're brilliant.
3. Dessert spaghetti and meatballs. I know, everything is going in reverse! They're little balls made out of vanilla and chocolate cakes, put on top of buttercream noodles and topped with raspberry sauce. Again, a brilliant idea.
P.S. I just got a new cake pan yesterday for making checkerboard cakes and I can't wait to try it out! I'll make sure to take pictures. Stay tuned.
There was this crazy dessert marathon on the Food Network today. In the course of watching it, and drooling, my mom and I made some discoveries.
1. Making those designs in the foam of coffee is a lot harder than it looks. Even a simple heart. I appreciate baristas a lot more.
2. Savory cupcakes. Say whaaat? Yes, a woman is making savory cupcakes. She makes one out of a little meatloaf cake topped with angel hair pasta and marinara sauce. Another is a salmon cake with wasabi mashed potatoes on top. They're brilliant.
3. Dessert spaghetti and meatballs. I know, everything is going in reverse! They're little balls made out of vanilla and chocolate cakes, put on top of buttercream noodles and topped with raspberry sauce. Again, a brilliant idea.
P.S. I just got a new cake pan yesterday for making checkerboard cakes and I can't wait to try it out! I'll make sure to take pictures. Stay tuned.
food for career thoughts
I've been rethinking some careers ideas since my dad decided he wanted me to put my culinary business on the back burner. So, for my two current followers, I have a question for you. Is there a career in which you can combine history and investigation? Like investigating historical events, places, etc? Or investigating the authenticity of historic documents? If you've heard of the show "Decoded" that's kind of my dream job. If you haven't heard of it, check it out. It's bomb. But anywho, I want to know what's out there. Food for thought.
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