Substitutiary Locomotion

I'm surviving my short course Arts and Culture: A Christian Aesthetic, despite the fact that my teacher is a little scatterbrained and half of the people in the class are not the brightest crayons in the box. I kept having the feeling today, as we talked about what good and evil are in life as well as in the arts, that Dr. Aquino would have started crying if he had heard some of these people's answers. I also seemed to be surrounded by people who are not huge First Amendment fans, or maybe don't appreciate it as I do, me being one of those crazy liberals in the media. Seeing a painting or exhibit that is different or controversial, they decide it offends them, is insulting and therefore should not have been made or maybe even considered art. It seemed like not many felt the artist behind the work "Piss Christ," where a crucifix is inside a vile of urine, was entitled to his own opinions. Some aren't sure if art is really useful. They're also the kind of people who would rather watch the movie than read the book. Sad times, my friend. Oh well, what can you do?

Even though he's scatterbrained, my teacher, Jeff Berryman, is interesting. He read an excerpt from The Divine Conspiracy (Adam, I though of you. "We always live in a larger context of activities we do not see." Impressed?) He also quoted Wordsworth and asked if any of us were familiar with the poem, to which I raised my hand. I think one other person might have raised their hand also, but Jeff wrote "Nerd" on his notebook paper and pointed at me. I was also the only one who knew who Mandy Patinkin is and might have been the only one who knew who G.K. Chesterton is. Alright, no more criticizing the people in my class for not being as awesome as I am.

I watched Bedknobs and Broomsticks last night with Courtney and Jeff, hence the title of this post, and let me tell you it was interesting. We were fascinated at how we didn't question any of it when we were 8-year-olds. Angela Lansbury and three children with cockney-mouthed children using a bed to fly through, psychedelically, the air to random destinations, such as underwater with cartoon fish? Sure. A spell that brought armor to life, going to battle and defeating the Nazis and sending them packing? Of course. Ah, to be young again.

Most recent purchase off iTunes: Kanye West's Jesus Walks. Give it a listen, kids, it's enjoyable.

Current reading: Girl With a Pearl Earring, by Tracy Chevalier

I'm also very upset that Cox Communications is fighting with KRBC and is therefore not showing NBC. I think I will be forced to buy an antennae so I might watch The West Wing tomorrow night. Priorities.

Other than that, it's nice to be back in A-Town. Merry 2005, everyone.