Those that read here frequently know that Saturday is the day I listen to NPR and Public Radio. I enjoy the programming, even if I do NOT agree with the worldview of those producing the programs. Yesterday, I was listening to Weekend America and heard about an organization that sounded cool. Visit the website for The Deaf Performing Artists Network, while there learn and enjoy.
As I have written in past posts, I enjoy bluegrass music. The stories in the lyrics, the sound of several acoustic string instruments playing together, the harmony of the voices.
I fell in love with Alison Krauss several years ago and continue to love the sound of her voice. Her duet album "Raising Sand" with Robert Plant is a thing of beauty and fun to hear and enjoy.
The Triangle area tends to have an over abundance of country stations, but few play much bluegrass or folk music. WQDR 94.7 fm does have a bluegrass show on Sunday nights, but the the song selection tends to bluegrass only, never varying the sound to acoustic folk or even international sounds; Pine Cone Bluegrass is o.k. in a pinch.
We are lucky to have a public radio network that originates out of Chapel Hill at the University of North Carolina. It is an NPRaffiliate that also produces local programing. I know, I feel some of you cringing at the thought of NPR. I will say this, all of the programs are well produced radio and much of the content is excellent. Remember, I do not have to agree with everything I hear to enjoy the conversation. Many times, it is hearing an opposing or even offensive viewpoint that actually causes me to reconsider my own views, faith and tastes. Don't knock NPR until you have listened a few weeks. The weekend programming they provide is thought provoking and enjoyable.
I did not mean to go on about NPR. The WUNC network has a great weekend music show called Back Porch music. It airs on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights between around 8pm and Midnight. They play an outstanding mix of bluegrass, folk and international acoustic music. On the weekends, if I am where I can listen, the show will be on the radio. They will also send you a play list each week, so you can find an artist you may have heard, it comes via email and very convenient.
A couple of the artists I found while listening to WUNC.
You can always count on the Grass Cats: They are from Snow Camp, NC
I love bluegrass music...if you don't like it. You can get your own iPod;) hint, hint, hint to all you family members who complain about the musical selection on My iPod.
This group is not actually bluegrass, but the music is cool non-the-less. Take a listen to She & Him:
Israel is one giant archaeological dig. Month by month small pieces of the past are found and studied. I do not believe that we will find an autograph of scripture, but we may find something as significant as The Dead Sea Scrolls in the future.
Date seeds from the time of Christ were found at Masada in the 1960's. They were planted. One has germinated and could grow to a fruit producing tree that has not been seen for over 1500 years. To date, those seeds are the oldest to germinate.
As a man of faith, I am not afraid of science, I embrace its discoveries and the endless curiosity that drives the investigative mind. I am not looking for science to prove my faith...I hope it never does. Some things should remain a mystery and require the application of simple faith.
Whether you believe in global warming or not, some of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world do. They are attempting to come up with green energy products and industries...they believe there is a problem. They are investing hundreds of millions of dollars of their own money to find solutions. If they find new solutions for energy, it will help the world, create new jobs and industry and benefit mankind, whether global warming is real or not. With or without man made climate change, new forms of energy and green products will enhance our lives and make the world a cleaner more humane place for humans and God's creation.
As Thanksgiving is on the way, it is time I begin to write my list of things I am thankful for this past year.
I thank God for curvy women. I was attracted to a beautiful curvy woman almost 25 years ago. Thank God, she is still curvy and more beautiful to me now than 25 years in the past. As this new report reveals, curvy women produce intelligent kids and curvy woman live longer. I can tell you that my wife has done a bang up job educating our girls over the 15 years we have been involved in NC home schooling. As any parent, I deem my kids smarter than yours and in many ways they have a huge leap forward on their dad in the noggin department. Should my wife outlive me, I pray she will find a young man with goobs of cash and spend every dime before she exits the planet;-0 Yep, thank God for curvy women!
Russ Creech is a brilliant young man. He and my daughter Katy are "courting". He also works with me in my construction business. He and Katy are, well...admittedly, well...,how can I say this gently...they are GEEKS. In the midst of their geekdom, Creech produced a video to enter a contest with a prize of $5k. It is true, frame by frame, stop motion animation with "special effects" added. Watch the video to lend a hand to a poor-computerhacking-geeky-college boy. Pass it on to others. I'll be pushing for a sequel!
I love radio. Any of you that would be with me during a week day would know I love radio. I listen to talk radio five or six hours a day when I am on a construction site. Sometimes I even call in to make a comment or ask a question. On the weekends, if I am travelling around the Triangle, I listen to NPR. NPR has pretty good programing with provocative themes, NPR's worldview is left of mine, but I enjoy listening to a different voice. If I am not busy on Sunday evenings, I will be listening to a local bluegrass show. I love acoustic music; the guitar, the fiddle, the dobro, the banjo and vocals all mixing to form a sound and feeling that is old, happy, and dark all at once. I like talk radio, for that reason, I know I would always tune in to hear Jesus.
