Just read this from Josh at morethandodgeball.com. I just thought it was really true, and happens to me all the time too. These are his top three most frustrating things about Twitter.

Twitter ruins good stories
Twitter steals my stories! I guess the same could be said for the blog - but I love sharing a good story about life with friends in real life but often times I get cut off because people say, "Oh yeah, I read about that on Twitter" or "I read it on your blog." Twitter is a 140-character story thief. I need to learn to save things so I still have offline stories. Wow, I can't believe I just typed that line.

Twitter ruins good sports
I rarely watch sports live anymore - since the advent of the greatest invention of mankind (the DVR, thank you TiVo) I'm not even familiar with commercials anymore. But the luxury of turning a 3 hour football game into a 1 hour and 15 minute exercise in fast-forwarding-adeptness can all be spoiled when someone says, "USC lost - oh my goodness" or "I still can't believe the Angels came back from down 7." I suppose this should be punishment for not watching it live, but it still hurts when I'm coming home from church and already know the final score. Curse you, Twitter!

Twitter ruins good TV
This one is all about people posting about Saturday Night Live and spoiling the bits or posting the best lines from The Office. And don't get me started on American Idol vote-offs or Survivor eliminations 3 hours before it even comes on the air here. Part of this is just living on the West Coast where everything "live" really isn't (despite most of it being filmed here at 4:30 in the afternoon), but Twitter really amplifys the problem - the news hits your cell phone before you even start thinking about Must See TV.

PEACE
Doug
PS: whoever put "Douglas Cloven!!!" as their favorite superhero...I love you too.

This is one of those fairly good addictive flash games that people will sarcastically thank me for showing them, and then play so much that they get a better score than me. I don't mind that because it shows me that you get as bored as me from time-to-time.
So here it is, colourPod 2 you are a little turret that kills the white (non-pigment) shapes, and collect the colors. Each color charges a different ability that you learn throughout the game. Pretty sweet little game, make sure to check the tutorial so that you understand how to play. But be warned, you will want to skip your lunch break for this little gem. Once again Kongregate.com has provided a great game (like Filler) that doesn't JUST waste time, but also kills braincells in the best possible way!
My highscore is 5001 pixels so there is your challenge. Leave your topscores as a comment...if you dare!
PEACE
Doug

Here is what you thought of the Fall lineup of shows:
Heroes 50%
The Office 37.5%
Lost 12.5%
I'm glad to see half of you are with me in being crazy excited about Heroes then excited about The Office. Priorities people, it's all about priorities!
PEACE
Doug

Gemsweater.com is Leslie Hall's website devoted to fantastic sweaters. She calls them "gems" because they are like a diamond in the rough. If you've never heard of Leslie Hall, she is an Iowa local that made it big on the internet by rapping. It's just good stuff, maybe I'll do a review this week. But until then, check out the gallery. The reason it is great instead of just good, is that in each photo she is in the same pose exactly...priceless.
PEACE
Doug

For those of you that haven't seen the original Jesus is my friend check it out. But this is David Crowder doing the horribly disgusting song. It makes me laugh, because this happened during a church service. I don't even know what I would do if that happened while I was sitting in church, I'd probably roll out of my pew laughing until I peed.
PEACE
Doug

Do you remember when your Nintendo NES didn't work, and you'd have to take the game out of the system and blow on it? Then after hitting the reset button the perfect amount of times it finally would allow you to play one of the many unbeatable games offered. Engedi is kind of doing that. We are about to take down our site, leaving only the No Stranger Land shirts and our blogs available until November 1st.
Then on November 1st we are going to have a massive blow out or BIG BANG if you will. Where we are going to have a killer band play, and drop our new line of shirts, hoodies, and even a few other new goodies. Then we will be announcing a new generation of Engedi, and sharing what that will look like and everything that we are going to be doing.
Keep watching my blog to find out more. Oh and if you want to see who is coming to play the show, just go here.
PEACE
Doug

Wired.com just did an article recognizing Weird Al Yankovic for his 25th anniversary of his first music video. Most of you know Weird Al from his huge hit "White and Nerdy" which was the first time he's ever made the billboard top ten. But some of us have been appreciating his musical ability and innovative comedy since it started, or shortly after.
I remember when my brother first let me listen to his first ever CD which was "Off the Deep End" sporting Weird Al naked in a pool spoofing the famous Nirvana cover. Immediately I was a fan, but it wasn't until I saw one of his shows that I was hooked. I can't think of anything that has left me so entertained in my whole movie/music/theatre filled life. Along with the multiple costume changes and videos between almost every song, there were skits scattered throughout the show. I remember being in fourth grade at my first ever concert and seeing him get into an argument with his keyboard player, pull out a gun and shoot him. For the next three songs the guy laid there not moving. I laughed until I peed myself and had to go home (not really).
But what people don't know is that Weird Al is probably one of the most talented musicians around. He is a phenomenal keyboard player and probably one of the top accordion players in the world.
All-in-all we should say "thank you" to Weird Al Yankovic not just for being great, but for inventing the genre that we look up on youtube every time we get bored in front of a computer. To the king of spoofs!
PEACE
Doug

I know I'm a bit behind on my posting, but I'll eventually catch up, I think tomorrow will be a good day for it with all that is going on. I've had the last few days off so you know how it is you wake up and say "I have the day off!" then about eight o'clock you say "where did my day off go!?" That's what happened to me, I had a bunch of non-work stuff to catch up on and my blog fell behind, no biggie.
Anyway here is a cool site I found that is all about cult movies (which I happen to love). This specific post is of cult movies being the subject for modern artists. There are at least three or four of these that I would buy quickly if I:
a. had money
b. had permission from my wife
c. had ever seen "a Clockwork Orange"
It is things like this that reassure me that I'm not unusually obsessed with cult movies, I at least haven't spent hours making fantastic art pieces of "Teenwolf" or "the 3 Ninjas". Man, why haven't I!?
PEACE
Doug

What feature should I add to my new blog layout?
( polls)

My poll for what to add to my blog is over and the winner is my itunes playlist. So keep your eyes peeled for that too be added probably sometime later today.
Thanks for voting, and be sure to vote on my next poll which is up right now!
PEACE
Doug

My friend Victor was telling me how he collects these things called Mighty Muggs, and I was interested. So I looked them up and a didn't see what was so cool about them, they are toys with few joints and puffy features. After seeing his collection however, I liked the little dudes, they even had really nicely designed boxes. He had two of them that he opened before he decided he wanted to keep them in the box unopened, so he gave them to me. I thought they'd be a fun addition to my geek cave which sports my other collections. Then this morning Jaxon wanted to play with them, and I realized, he could. It is a fun virtually unbreakable toy that is in the shape of some of my favorite super heroes/starwars characters. So he played with them and then when he was done I put them back on my shelf to show them off.
Another feature of Mighty Muggs is that they come out in waves of four figures at a time, which adds to the collection feel. You have to wait for the new characters to come out. And from time-to-time they have done cool promotions that make certain figures only available at special events, like comic conventions and things.
Overall I think this is a fun and inexpensive collection, that is high quality, and unique design. I like how they release them in waves, and I love that my son can play with them without breaking them or taking away their value.
PEACE
Doug

Since I was in Grinnel for the SGU (Summer Games University) meeting and other people were busy, we didn't have an Engedi meeting. But I'm pretty excited for SGU this coming year. It'll be good, and I think good new things are going to be happening, watch the SGU website in the next few weeks to see what's new.
Now I'm off to Marion to hang out with an old friend and just veg out in for a WHOLE 24 hours of actual vacation! I'll probably even get to see my family while I'm there, if they aren't too busy.
PEACE
Doug

very interesting and super fun to watch.
PEACE
Doug

This is an interview of our newest squadron member (I say squadron because team is boring by comparison) David. He isn't the only new addition, so maybe next week I'll do an interview of Nate our other new guy. But on with David's interview:

Who are you?

David Halvorson

What is your title and area of expertise?

Art Commander and design work maybe?

Where do you get most of your motivation for designs?

Surprisingly alot from art history. And comic books. AND more recently 1970's products and ad designs.

What are your top 5 favorite music albums?

Top 5 lists are so difficult to choose! So if I were stuck on an island and only had 5 CDs to listen to, these are the CDs that I will never grow tired of:

Damien Rice - O. Go buy it and thank me later - simple as that.

Shane & Shane - Pages. When my wife was pregnant last year, we listened to this CD as much as we could so that after our daughter was born - we could revisit those memories by listening to the CD. It worked. Plus it's their best album.

The Killers - Hot Fuss. Seriously a better CD than people give it credit for.

Jimmy Eat World - Bleed American. This CD gets me pumped to do artwork or design every time I listen to it. Though on a desert island, that might not matter.

Further Seems Forever - How to Start A Fire. Listen to the slower songs and study the composition - it's an amazingly unique style in and of itself.

William Shatner - Has Been. This isn't a catchy music CD. It's more poetry over Ben Folds' music, but it goes in my top 5 because of how honest it is, which is refreshing and humbling.

What video games are you currently playing?

Halo 3 and Call of Duty 4 seem to be competing for my time recently. Force Unleashed comes out soon so that might dominate for awhile, but then it's back between the first two.

What is the all-time favorite T-shirt you own?

I'm a white t-shirt kind of guy. I'm a designer for a tee shirt company who favors blank white tee shirts - remember when you asked me what the definition of irony was?

What kind of hobbies do you have?

Art - c'mon.

Can TV be a hobby? What if it's LOST? Can I just use this moment to say that LOST is the GREATEST show ever? Ever! I have many LOST children (individual's that I introduced the show to). Doug is one of them. Matt will be too and if Nate hasn't seen it yet... he will.

Are you going to vote for Hillary in the upcoming elections?

Hillary in 08!

What are you most exicted about since joining the engedi team?

The 100% absolute freedom I've been given.

Was this the best interview you've ever done?

Do myspace surveys count?

Go on...

The ones that ask about 50 'who cares' questions?

And then...

you think again, who cares about what color shirt I wear when I go to bed? Wait, what??

Thanks!

I've noticed that Christians love to say "I'll pray for you" and then...never pray for that person. Like it is some line we say at the end of a bad date to end the date without too much awkwardness, like "I'll call you later" then we never call. In those situations I know how desperate they can be, the other person really had a good time, but you just did not connect and they are standing there and you have two options you can hit the panic button on your key-chain then say "Oh no someones breaking into my car" then run into your house and turn off all the lights. Or you can say "so...I'll call you".
It's possible that you intend to call at first, but you just get busy. Life is a crazy place and if things come up, what can you do? I think that is the real issue with saying "I'll pray for you" also. We really do intend to pray for them. I would like to believe that the only time we would say that is if we actually cared and wanted to show God that it was a priority to us and that we believe He can do something about it.
I would say I'm probably batting a .175 at following-through with praying for people I say I will. But keep in mind that is a ten year average of the last seven years and for the first five or six I was batting .000 so that's a huge improvement. You can't just pull a big goose egg up too quickly, numbers just don't work that way.
So here are five things you can do instead of saying "I'll pray for you" at the end of a conversation:

1. Reach under your shirt and grab the lint in your belly button and place it in their hand
Not a polite thing to do surely, but it's like a good SNL skit that was hilarious and then as you slowly stop laughing and realize it's super awkward, you just need a good out-of-nowhere thing to then walk away from.
2. "Cool beans"
A buddy of mine said that to me a while ago, and it just brought be back to a better time. It made me laugh to myself as I read the txt, and it ended our conversation without any awkwardness! Give it a shot.
3. "I'm sorry I can't multiply the funk"
If the person you're talking to is talking about something you disagree with, and the thing they want you to pray for is something you feel would increase the turmoil, stress or downward spiral their life is going into. Thus multiplying the funk they are currently in, say it. Like if they are in a horrible relationship and they are praying the dude pops the question. Or if they're in their sixty-second job this year and they want you to pray for a new one to present itself. It may seem harsh but do it lovingly and only if you honestly want the best for them.
4. "That's interesting"
This can mean anything from "that is an awesome idea, and I'm going to do everything in my power to help" to "that is the worst idea I've ever heard". Sometimes you need to disagree without the confrontation of #3. I think I like it because it masks your thoughts while you figure out what you actually think. Try it today with random things. If someone spill their pop on your keyboard "that's interesting, the vowels don't work anymore."
5. Pray for them right then
This for me is the real option. The best option. Rock the PRT (pray right there). Don't let the hustle and bustle of the day swallow your chance to love them.

So next time we are in a good conversation and it is winding down, I hope you reach in your shirt and place some lint in my hand. Because it would be funny, and also infinitely better than a fake "I'll pray for you".
PEACE
Doug

This week I read a comic called The Umbrella Academy. The thing that immediately pulled me to it was the author, Gerard Way the lead singer for My Chemical Romance. I'm not a huge My Chemical Romance fan but I always liked the idea of Coheed and Cambria's comic and never read it, so when I heard of a similar idea I jumped on it, and I wasn't disappointed.
The first thing that grabbed me was the artwork. It has a hint of what I love about the Hellboy comics, a little chaotic with a great use of color to reveal things that don't need to be said.
It starts with a phenomenon of babies being born and adopted by a man who raises them to use their powers to save the world. He is incredibly harsh to them and, go figure, they grow up and all rebel against him because of his lack of affection and huge supply of callousness.
Fast-forward twenty years and you have a dysfunctional family of superheroes getting back together for the first time since they were kids, to save the world from certain destruction. I am a geek and I am liking comics more-and-more. But, I have always appreciated when comics or superhero movies, hit the reality of how difficult it would really be to struggle with all the power and responsibilities that come with being so important. And the balance between being a hero and being a threat to the rest of us. And this comic shows the hero world in the Jerry Springer light it deserves. I would recommend you all go get it.
PEACE
Doug

I hope you all enjoy my new blog page, I just decided a few short hours ago to try something new...and then I couldn't sleep until I had finished. Let me know if you think this is lame or if you think it's cool.
PEACE
Doug

These are the days that make you realize how good life can be. I got home from a great day at church, I got to play bass with the band which was fantastic. Then I got home and built a fort that took up most of our living room for Jaxon to play in. When he figured out what it was he would just go in it and giggle and bury his face in a pillow while rolling around with excitement. Then we watched a couple football games before he went down for a nap.
This has been the first time in about fifteen years that a fort has made my day. When I was little my Ma (grandma) would make them for my brother, cousins and me. I don't think we ever figured anything special to do when we were in them but I just distinctly remember having a blast when I knew that I could fit in this little cave that big people were too big to enjoy. I think one of my goals for forts was to bring all the things I enjoyed in life inside it's tiny walls, so the possibility was there for me to never have to leave again. That would last until I needed someone to make me something to eat or had to go to the bathroom. Or if someone breathed too heavy and caused the ceiling to fall in on me and ruined all the hard work I had put into creating a perfect home made of a bed sheet and a couple of chairs.
PEACE
Doug

Just got done with an engedi meeting a couple of hours ago, and it was exciting. We have some big things happening, including the addition of two new members of our team. I want to do a full bio of each of them in the coming weeks (maybe starting tomorrow). Along with those knuckleheads we are adding many more new additions that I can't tell you about just yet, but I will give you a hint at one of our big events coming up.
We are bringing in an evening that will dominate your calendar in about a month's time. I can't tell you who or what the event is or will be, but I can tell you that it will be a great place to bring a date or your friends that have a good taste in style, music, and coffee. I've said too much!
PEACE
Doug
PS: I found that funny flowchart (left) that somebody made to explain my life...thought you'd all enjoy it. You might have to click on it so that it is large enough for you to read and follow along with.

I really liked typing out more than just two or three sentences yesterday, and I also quite enjoyed my time unpacking my comp-bag. So I am no longer settling for random links to silly flash games, or funny videos of people making fools of themselves. Those things may still have a home here, but they will be splitting rent with my actual thoughts and fun activities. I want to think of a schedule to follow, that way I have a deadline which helps me follow through, and you all can know what might be coming up next.
My buddy Reed used to do something like this on Wednesdays (I think) he would review a new CD. Then if he gave a good review I'd listen to it and then go buy it. That way I had something to look forward to on Wednesdays. On a side note, I miss Reed. I have even started playing bass in the Sunday morning 11:15 service and at Pine Street...come home Reed.
Here is what I have so far:

Monday - Weekly review of whatever book, game, movie, show, magazine, podcast, etc... I've experienced recently
Tuesday - Thoughts much like my post about blind spots
Wednesday - A fun activity like unpacking my comp-bag or something similar
Thursday - Viral video day
Friday - Engedi highlight day, where I talk about what's coming up for Engedi

I'd like to hear thoughts about my lineup or suggestions within each day like things to review or what not.
PEACE
Doug

After my last post I thought this would be a fun little thing to do. Empty out my big, nasty, and heavy computer bag and look at all the random stuff I put in it. I think today was actually pretty calm because I recently cleaned it out (recently meaning a few weeks ago). So here's what we have:
-Burt's Bee's Wax lime lip balm
-a rubix cube
-a phillips screwdriver
-a video camera w/flash for conference calls via skype
-a memory stick adapter
-a usb converter cord
-a weird black, little, box thing that came with my computer
-a pink ipod shuffle
-eclipse gum
-a spearmint lifesaver
-an ipod connector cable
-two mechanical pencils
-"The Bourne Legacy"
-a camera connector cable
-this week's "Sports Illustrated"
That's it I hope you enjoyed this week's fun new installment!
PEACE
Doug

I just read a cool blog by this dude Tony Steward and it really hit home. He was talking about how he goes to Starbucks to do a lot of his work, for the same reasons we all do: great environment, great coffee, and even though they know and like you they let you work.
But he was talking about how he has his bag with him holding his laptop accessories and a camera and whatever else we put in our computer bags (that's a great idea for a blog later today). From time-to-time he would catch himself quickly looking down to make sure it was still leaning against the leg of his chair, not because he had reason to suspect someone might steal it but because he was so focused on what he was doing he would have been oblivious if someone had taken it.
I am totally in that spot right now. I am right where I want to be in my life. I have my dream job that I believe God has prepared and set up for me. I have an awesome family that I fully realize I am undeserving of, and I have great relationships all around me. My parents, my siblings, my in-laws, friends, co-workers, baristtas. I have hobbies that I enjoy, I play fun video games when I get the chance, I have a business that has way too many people interested in it (just kidding). But what I find happening is that I get so focused on one thing that everything else disappears.
I was talking with my dad last weekend and I made a comment about how I tend to not think about people if they aren't in my line of sight. This is a new self-aware concept I have discovered about myself. I'm not proud of it, it doesn't mean I don't like people I just get so focused on what is in front of me that I lose sight of everything else. And I constantly find myself doing that exact quick head turn to make sure those other things that I deeply care about are there. My dad did not act surprised since this is something he has known about me for a long time. But it's a scary couple of seconds when the thought enters your mind that you completely missed something you care about. When you realize that you potentially and probably missed something that you wanted to be a part of, all because you were too focused on other important but different things.
I realize that this isn't something I can just fix but something I need to be more aware of so that I don't one day quickly turn my head toward a relationship and see it already gone. I think we can all have these blind spots (I'm probably still the king though) and should look around a little more, not to lose focus of important things but to keep stock on what is important to us more intentionally.
PEACE
Doug

I have been very busy and very stressed and at times very happy and at other times very hungry. These are just a few of the many emotions that have gone through me the last few weeks.
Work has been exciting but scary with the youth ministry kicking off with the start of a new school year.
Engedi has been overwhelming and exciting and scary all-in-one. With new possibilities and opportunities and new members of our team (who we will introduce you all to soon). We are planning a big event in October and as soon as I get permission I'll tell you all the amazing details. We are dropping a No Stranger Land shirt for all of you that followed them. We are dropping a retro shirt that people have been asking for, AND we are dropping a new line with our NEW Art Commander designing them.
So to all of you that have been saying "man I wish Engedi would put something new out" you better watch what you wish for. Because we are going to be coming at you like a storm of new stuff, like a tornado of teeth and...and fingernails. And I'm not just talking about clothing...I've said to much.
OK I am now back in the blogging world, I will not waver. I will keep you up-to-date and try to give away as much as I can.
PEACE
Doug