Don't faint...
Yes, it is true... I am updating my blog... Not exactly sure why... One could say thay I have had an extra reason to create lately... I'm just enjoying life more and that makes me want to do things...
For Christmas I made this LP cover collage for my dad...
and this one for my sister, Eva:
Song is back!!!
Yesterday evening, my Chinese friend Fan-Song returned from Holland... He was initially going there just for the "Thanksgiving Break" to renew his visa... however, the American Embassy chose to be difficult. They initially cancelled his visa, making him stuck in Holland, not being able to go to America and not even China... After him, other people here at school, and myslef prayed over the issue with "tenacious" prayer... The American Embassy had no choice but to renew his visa... God never leaves things half done, if He has called you to be somewhere, He will make it happen... As I mentioned earlier, he came back yesterday... God is good!
Making an igloo...
So now it finally started snowing... and my room-mate Nick and myself decided to build an igloo... Why? You might ask... I have no idea... But one thing's for sure... it's really fun to build stuff...
This is what it looked like in the end...
"The Prestige"
All I can say to anyone who has decided to see this film is: "Enjoy!" It has an amazing storyline that keeps you interested at all times. If you liked "Memento," you are going to love this film. The same director and writer (Christopher Nolan) from this film is the same and he has surely delivered greatly!
The plot of the movie surrounds two aspiring magicians in the London area. As they both grow in their work as illusionists, they become great rivals. People die and you are left guessing: “Whom do I really want to support?”
The movie does a great job in creating postmodern elements. It even recreates new postmodern elements which makes it even better. Yes, it skips around in time like a lot of movies do these days, but it also applies new techniques in order to confuse the audience in such a way that it creates curiosity and interest.
Out of 6, I give this movie a 5...
Conferanse in Tulsa, Oklahoma
A weekend in early November, I was asked to join a team from school that was going to Tulsa, Oklahoma on a conference on diversity in schools... Tulsa is not like most cities... Instead of many tall buildings, they have chosen to have one in the middle of nowhere...
Here is the view from it...
This picture is of one of my roommates (Nick). He was sure that there was some killer vermin in our addict. He decided to get his paintball gear and investigate...
Fall break in Connecticut (New York, Boston)
Fall break for me was four days spent in North Eastern America. Four other students and myself went up there to visit the parents to one of the four that used to live there (Parents still do). The other people that went were all Asians.
From left, we have Fansong (China/Korea), Hiroshi (Japan), and Sunni (India). We had an excellent time, seing both sights from New York and Boston...
This is a picture of New York. So many things I have never seen before...
Like... Madonna..?
But seriously, it was amazing...
Snakes on the plane???
Ok... Så jeg er ikke så veldig stolt av det, men Marianna og jeg måtte nesten se denne filmen.
Alt jeg kan si er... tittelen gir egentlig bort den sanne spenningen... Synes de forteller litt for mye...
"Worship was never like this..."
Ok... So this is my worship leader...
I'm not sure exactly what to say... We have good laughs maybe..
Loau!!!
A week ago or so, we had a Hawaiian style party for people at church. The lady in this picture is my "Other Mother." Her name is Kathie Whitney (and sorry all... she is married... and I hear her husband Vic has a mean "Judo-chop," so look out...), and makes the best pot-roast that have ever come across these lips. For my Norwegian friends... this is not some illegal substance... it's a meal for dinner. (I think it's beef, but don't quote me... I've been wrong before).
In other news: I am definitely getting my behind kicked with homework... but I know that God has only got good things in store for me... I fear no evil... Hallelujah!
Review on "The Illusionist"
I saw this movie with my younger sister, Marianna, Saturday night. I would like to give my friends in Norway a fair feedback on what I thought of it... Edward Norton (the main star and big name), has starred in many good films throughout his career. Three are: "American History X," "Fight Club," and "Primal Fear," to mention a few. However, he has also starred or co-starred in a couple of less earth-shaking flicks: "The score," "The 25th Hour," and "Kingdom Heaven" (You didn't ever really see him because he was the man with the mask on all the time). I went to see the movie on the assuption of that he might still be able to play a convincing character... I guess I was wrong... Our friend who once shined so bright is no longer reflecting as much as a single ray.
I have learned by now, not to judge a movie completely by the cast. So instead, I thought that maybe if I looked at the screenwriter's work instead, maybe I wouldn't be so critical. Again, I was wrong. I was neither impressed by the results that the directer menaged to produce.
So, am I asking for too much? Am I being too picky? That is something only you could truthfully decide (that is if you do choose to see this movie despite my warning. People have disagreed with my taste in movies before...). To be totally fair, one should look at the positive and strong features of a movie even though it really does not have any solid actors (a bunch of Americans trying to fake a British/Austrian accent does typically not improve one's impression), stong story, and good visual effects (Truthfully, I think my neighbor's dog might have better creativity than the people that worked on this movie). If I were to give this movie a rating on a scale from 1-6 (like on a dice), it would give it a three. Do not pay money to see this flick in the movies. You'd be better off waiting until it comes out on... Actually, you're probably better off not seing it at all...
Yes,,, I love my classes...
Though my schedule has been expanded from 4 classes to 5, I am still very optimistic and excited about what I am going to learn this semester. The classes I am taking are: Senior Research, Video Editing, Writing for the media, Faith and Life, and Digital Photography. (The picture I have posted I took today on-campus).
Chicago by night...
This evening I was at a viewpoint that is at Adler Planetarium that is right outside downtown Chicago. It gives a really nice view of the skyline of the city...
Last year at College!!!
It is kind of weird... I don't know if I am totally ready for this... but this is most likely the last year I will be going to school... It feels good but at the same time, I want to assure myself that I will always be a student that is ready to learn new things. One exciting thing about this last semester is that the school I am going to has put up the Norwegian flag to honor any Senior students. You can't see all the other flags, but they represent the other gratuating students... I give a shout out to Michael (Jackson) (if he is reading this). Love you man, and good luck with just that :)
God is good... so is life...
Today I saw my doctor... It is always a weird experience for me to meet him... but with God, I can relax and know that because of what God has done in my life and told me, I have a very exciting future... (By the way, my doctor said I was doing great...) When looking at nature I am reminded again and again how good He is and that He is an amazing creator. We need to
know this all the time, remind ourselves of His amazing kindness.
Lastly, I just want to remind about my other
blog that has comments on movies and music
Today I was pretty excited to get to work at where I am for my internship. There was not much to do and all my bosses had little or nothing for me to do. One told me that I should brush up on my Photoshop abilities. From that encourragement came this image... I think I'm sort of satisfied...
On fire?
What are you on fire for? Do you want a big house, a big TV, or maybe a really small TV that you can wear on your wrist? Is your goal to get married, raise children, have a dog, decorate your house, or fix up your car? Is the most important task for you to succeed in you workplace, win favour and fame in sports, or build your body until you are almost unrecognisable? Why do we try to get attention when we believe we have done something good but avoid it when we might feel embarrased? We spend too much time trying to appease other people so they might believe what we show them. We want friends to either feel impressed by our abilities or somehow make them feel sorry for you, maybe even depressed for you.
God stirrs our hearts if we'll only let him. This fire saves and changes lives. Why are we waiting? What are we waiting for? Let's get ignited...
Living...
Are we too busy? Is there a difference between taking a vacation and not doing anything at all, just to relax? Is a person doing a better job disconnecting in the Bahamas or in his room, on his knees, praying? Is it possible to be too nosy, even to the point to where you are an annoyance to God and other friends? This might disappoint you, but I do not have the answers... What I do know is that God brought me to this country. Ever since, my life has never been the same... God showed me areas that I didn't even know existed in my life. He strengthened them and is now in the process of continously challenging and streching me. We don't learn to fly by sitting infront of a television, We believe by choosing to say and think what God says...
Visit from Norway...
My younger brother was here for three weeks. Here is a picture of him, my younger sister, and myself on the fourth of July..
