True Confessions of an Originaljoesnake

Some random bits of information:

• GIRL TALK: The whole name-your-own-price for an album thing has caught on, no one is complaining, and let’s hope its here to stay. Radiohead and Nine Inch Nails did it recently, however, according to Gregg “Girl Talk” Gillis, he thought of releasing 2006’s “Night Ripper” for free but decided against it fearing the perception that would surround a complimentary album by a little-know artist would likely be negative.

Instead, the mash-up style featured on “Night Ripper” was a success and Gillis was able to release “Feed the Animals” for the low, low price of whatever you want to pay for it. Although I’ve been verbally recommending Girl Talk’s “Feed the Animals” to everyone lately, it is my favorite album of 2008 thus far.

Whereas “Night Ripper” was great, “Feed the Animals” is a tremendous, non-stop adrenaline rush that makes me feel like I’m in a club every time I listen to it (not that I really have much of a clue to what being in a club is like). Gillis successfully mixes old eighties favorites, pop hits and explicit rap with wonderful results. “Shut the Club Down” is the stand out, if picking one is really necessary when we’re talking about an album filled with hits.

Said Philo T. Farnsworth, founder of Girl Talk’s record label, Illegal Art: “Even if everyone who downloads it doesn’t pay, even if they get it all for free, it creates fan loyalty and exposes the artist to a lot of people who may not have been exposed to him otherwise. Priority No. 1 is getting the music out there.”

• FANNY-PACKS: This may sound strange, but I’m in the market for a fanny-pack. For years I’ve mocked them on vacations and trips to amusement parks, once in high-school even making a game out of counting as many as I could (then taking pictures with the 100th, 200th, and 300th fanny-pack I spotted).

I’m here to express remorse and a change of heart, however, because I realize a fanny-pack really seems like the most convenient way to carry your valuables at a place like Cedar Point. Sure, I will get teased, but it will be by the very same people who will later ask me to carry their cell phones, keys, and wallets.

If you know where I can find a good fanny-pack, drop me a line.

• CEDAR POINT: Speaking of Cedar Point, I’ll be there on Sunday, along with the entire Word high-school ministry. I’m really looking forward to the annual trip, although successfully organizing a bunch of kids can be a challenge.

This trip will be the last hurrah before moving onto college for some, while for others it’ll be one of the first introductions to the high-school ministry.

Either way, it’s going to be an exciting summer, as many changes are happening in Word. I’m praying that myself and the other leaders involved can rely on God to make this upcoming school year the most successful and fruitful year of Word ever.

In the meantime, I’m anticipating catching a mean case of “zoo-legs” this Sunday in Sandusky, Ohio.

• FEEDBACK: Recently, I received some great feedback regarding my blogging. It was mostly positive and encouraging, so it definitely helps to know people actually read and enjoy what I write. But, most are glad that I’ve moved on from talking about sports and could also do without all the updates on my diet and exercise.

I’ll agree for the most part, which is why you don’t see me talking too much about sports here anymore. Occasionally, I still have to fight the itch to rant and rave about LeBron and the Browns, but I’ll give the people what they want.

• STRATCH THAT ITCH: Speaking of feeling itchy, this article, “The Itch” from the New Yorker by Atul Gawande, which I found via kottke, is the most interesting thing I’ve read in awhile. It talks of itching and phantom limbs, but be forewarned – it’ll have you itching for days.

• GITTIN’ FIT UPDATE: All that being said, I just think everyone’s jealous about my whole diet and exercise thing. I had my 3rd health assessment today and received positive results. I was a little nervous going into it because I had a more than a few hot dogs, hamburgers, and beers over the holiday weekend, but still I lost 3 more pounds of body fat. So, I successfully reached my goal of going under 15% body fat.

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