Doug's Blog

Take the City is overbooked!

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:29:00 +0000

We recently found out that Take the City has another show for November 1st and therefore can not play our show here. So we had a tough decision to make: either do the show without them, or find another date that will work. Well we decided that they were too cool to do without (even though they can't work a calendar)! We fully forgive them, and are going to have them for our New Reset date of either Nov 15th or 22nd. We'll reprint our posters, and if you're interested in a misprint let us know we'll sell you one cheap!
Other than that, I got a sneak peek of our December line, and it looks AWESOME! Like I've said before, we are moving in new and exciting directions and you are all going to get a kick out of it for sure. I am very eager to hear the first "Wow! did you see this!?" at our Reset Concert. Don't forget if you want to get your hands on the first Take the City Reset Shirt, enter quickly!
PEACE
Doug

Rainy Days

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:49:00 +0000

Tuesday was a rainy day. I tend to be a fan of rainy days, not just an avid admirer but a fan. When the staff was getting out of the van from our lunch trek and everyone had their jackets and hoodies on I was just wearing a tshirt. They all piled out and sprinted for the door, talking about how MythBusters proved you don't get more wet compared to walking. I just walked slowly appreciating the coolness and the feeling that goes along with Fall rainy days. That anticipation of maybe getting home and opening the windows, snuggling up with Liz and Jax in a blanket and watching Toy Story 2 for the thirty-seventh time this week, listening to the rain, just having a virtual "pajama jammy jam".
But we couldn't. There was too much to do. Not bad things, but things that prevented us from having time together to relax. Then by the time later that night we could have our "jam" Jaxon needed to go to sleep so he wouldn't be irritable at school the next day and bite his friends. But apparently he is the South side of his bed's North side magnet because each time we put him in it he magically flips around and eventually rolls off of it. Then hangs out at the door watching TV through the hallway until we notice him. So once I sang "You are My Sunshine" seventy-five times he fell asleep. But "You are My Sunshine" makes me tired too. I'm sure the rain and the early nightfall had something to do with it but I fell asleep at eight o'clock in the evening.
So much for that time together.
PEACE
Doug

Caption Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:34:00 +0000

OK, I am putting up one of my favorite pictures. What I want you all to do is leave a comment of what a funny caption could be for the picture. If you need inspiration just go here (might be best to start at page 1) and surf the site until you have all you need then come back and leave your awesome comment. The winner will get the very first Take the City/Engedi shirt that will get you free access to the November 1st Reset Concert.
So let the games begin, you have one week to come up with as many hilarious captions you can think of. You are welcome to post as many as you want, just don't go crazy and post 4,000. And please keep them clean, if they are inappropriate I'll delete them.
PEACE
Doug

Winner of last week's activity

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:16:00 +0000

The winner is...Mackenzie! The answers were:
1. D
2. F
3. B
4. E
5. A
6. H
7. C
8. G
Since Mackenzie was the only one to play, even though she missed two, she will get the complete set of our new unreleased buttons. I can't even show you pictures of them yet because they are being released at our November 1st Reset! So now that you know, I'm giving away free stuff, start playing my Wednesday activities to win more free cool stuff.
PEACE
Doug
PS: Mackenzie please email me via the contact page, with your new address to get your prize.

the "Double Greeting"

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 21:23:00 +0000

One of my jobs as the Youth Pastor here is to do the announcements for a few services each weekend. I usually like it, although there are times where I get very little energy returned my way. I'll walk up on stage with a huge smile and a fun personality basically saying "hey, I just had four Mountain Dews and six doughnuts. Let's praise the heck outta this service!" And when I say "good morning" all I get back is one person saying "Hi Doug!" (the person that does respond like that is usually my friend that knows how horrible it makes me feel when no one responds, so they're really only doing it for my sake, not even to participate, so even that is tainted). So the temptation for me is to give the Double Greeting which goes something like this.

Me:
"Good morning!"

Crowd:
"Good morning."

Me:
(Sensing that the crowd's volume or enthusiasm did not meet my expectation, I decide to shame everyone into a more adequate response.)
"I said 'Good Morning!'"

Crowd:
(A little embarrassed or annoyed that their good morning failed to meet some unspoken expectation, the crowd raises their voice and repeats.)
"Good Morning!"

Me:
(Assessing the new "good morning" and finding it satisfactory, I release the crowd from this circular greeting torture and grade the response.)
"That's more like it."

I don't know when exactly it clicked but I finally realized this is a ridiculous practice and have sense vowed to never (intentionally) do it again. But, like most things I decide is a pivotal issue, no one else will take it seriously (like carrying around an old milk-jug filled with water). Then once I'm sensitive to the issue, I'll notice EVERYONE else does it. So here are the questions that I have:

1. Is the desired response based on volume or percentage of participation? If that one seventh grader that loves any opportunity to yell during church, screams "GOOD MORNING!" does that work? Or do we need to have 51% of the congregation move their mouths at the appropriate time?

2. Is it OK when the person administering the Double Greeting blames it on Jesus? "Whoa, let's try that again...That's better, that's the greeting Jesus deserves." Is Jesus OK with that? Is he pro-Double Greeting or anti-Double Greeting? Does he high-five Enoch each time someone does it, or does he feel like he just got thrown under the bus? Is he saying "Whoa...What!? I never asked for that Double Greeting!"

3. What is the record for longest Double Greeting? If, theoretically, a pastor had ridiculous standards and the congregation had very little motivation to participate couldn't a Double Greeting turn into a Forever Greeting?

So, even though I've taken a vow of singularity, I may find myself delivering the announcements and accidentally let a Double slip out. If this happens I'm asking all of you reading to hold me accountable by coming on stage and grabbing one of the Chuck Taylors, I will undoubtedly be wearing, off my foot then return to your seat. It will be annoying to do the announcements with only one shoe on but it's the only way I'll learn.
PEACE
Doug

Review of Reed's blog

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:26:00 +0000

I just thought I would review my buddy Reed's blog today. I've been a reader of his blog for quite a while. Reed's blog dates back to the pre-archived Xanga days. He was there then he went to Vox then to blogspot, now he has settled with tumblr and I'd guess he'll stay there unless he finds a killer site that allows for even more customizability and features. So why have I kept reading even through the annoying little site changes? Good question!
Reed's blog has your typical random finds on the Internet, like this post with Stephen Colbert on the cover of a Spiderman comic. But it also offers more. My favorite is when he reviews music. I am not hard-lined in with the underground music scene like Reed usually is. He has a good ear that matches my likes and tendencies which saves me time when buying new music. If he's never heard of it, I'll usually pass it by, and if he has I take his advice. He is constantly going to concerts and hunting for new music to listen to which I just don't have the time or ear to do. So he saves me time, frustration, and lets me feel cool when one of my youth says "hey do you like the Ivoryline" and I say, yeah I just got "There Came a Lion" and I love it. Thank you Reed.
Also, he has good ideas. So good in fact, that I tend to steal them. Like this review day (his idea), which led to a schedule of events throughout the week, that I feel gives a lot to my page. So I just want to say thanks to Reed and remind you all to click on Reed's blog in the "Links" area to the left, constantly!
PEACE
Doug

super hero poll

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:08:00 +0000

Who is your favorite superhero? ( surveys)

Coolest slow-motion video

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 21:44:00 +0000

This video is fantastic. I'd like it even more if it wasn't for the annoying music. Someone snag it and put better music to it and I'll be very grateful.
Anyway, this is a video of people doing random things in slow-motion, and then being punched in the face (with a boxing glove). But still, if you think you've seen someone being hit in slow-motion before, this is better. Check it.
PEACE
Doug

Engedi is Down!

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 15:42:00 +0000

Our website is in dire need of a reset, and we are going to do it November 1st. We have been brewing some crazy fantastic stuff for the past few months, and we are finally ready to drop all our cool news. But we don't just want to blog about the cool stuff we are doing we want to tell you in person. So we are having a Reset Concert at the Center (click for directions). We are bringing down Take the City to show us all what we are missing from not living in Michigan. If you've never heard them, you can get their new album from iTunes or check out their mysapce. They are going to rock our socks off, then we are also going to drop our new line of shirts, hoodies, stickers, buttons, and some NEW stuff we've never done before! Some of the things we are ONLY offering at this concert. They will not be available on the website...EVER!
We are even doing a special deal to get you into the concert. It's $10 to get in to the show OR you can buy a Take the City / Engedi shirt for $15 ($5 cheaper than our shirts usually are) and get into the concert free if you wear the shirt to the show! The catch is we are only printing a limited number of the "slashie" shirts. So you have to get them quickly or you are out of luck. Don't worry I'll let you know when they are available. So start saving your pennies and memorizing the Take the City album so you can reach maximal enjoyment at the Reset Concert! You may be thinking this isn't that big of a deal, but trust me when I say, this is a huge deal, and if you think new shirts is all we are announcing you will be pleasantly surprised when we blow your mind with what we are transforming into.
PEACE
Doug

Random movie rumor

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 03:38:00 +0000

Just read that a UK tabloid started a rumor that Cruise is involved in a Top Gun sequel. Picture Maverick as a flight instructor dealing with a cocky young punk chick that thinks she knows everything. Sounds cornball, but hey my only question is this: How are you going to recreate this horrible 1980's volleyball sequence?

Because if you can't...then don't even bother making the movie.
PEACE
Doug

youtube never lies

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 21:24:00 +0000

Here is the opening credits for a superhero show we are all glad didn't make it. Although if they tried again now, it could actually work. Sometimes you just look at these old shows and think, "did they not put any effort into finding someone who could actually write?" Apparently if you walked by these producers on the street and could prove you knew how to read you were allowed to write for their shows...It just makes me so angry, looking at what we have now.
PEACE
Doug

Fun Matching Game

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 14:22:00 +0000

Match the staff person with their work-space. None of these people had time to clean their desks to make them look good, so don't judge them (especially me)! Listed below are each staff person's name and position at the church, and their corresponding workspace. Use your thinking caps, and leave a comment with your answers.
PEACE
Doug
PS: If you are super familiar with these people and their work-spaces, don't ruin it for the rest of the people, by broadcasting the answers right away. Give them a chance to play the game!

Twitter ruins things!

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:40:00 +0000

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.

colourPod 2 review

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 02:26:00 +0000

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

TV Polls Results

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 19:59:00 +0000

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

Gem Sweaters get some

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 21:45:00 +0000

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

Jesus is my friend

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 02:31:00 +0000

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

Engedi Reset

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 20:48:00 +0000

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

thank Weird Al for youtube hilarity

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:42:00 +0000

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'll catch up...just wait and see

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 02:23:00 +0000

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

Poll Results

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:58:00 +0000

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

Mighty Muggs Review

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 14:35:00 +0000

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

No engedi meeting today

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:40:00 +0000

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

just in case you've never seen this

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 02:40:00 +0000

very interesting and super fun to watch.
PEACE
Doug

interview with an art guy

noreply@blogger.com (Doug) — Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:33:00 +0000

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!