Friday Snippets and Soundbites

• President George W. Bush delivered his last State of the Union address this week. The idea for the update to both houses of Congress was actually written into the Constitution in Article II, Section 3. George Washington began the tradition of detailing the state of the union through a speech, but that tradition didn't last long. Thomas Jefferson fulfilled the Constitutional directive with a letter. The address wasn't spoken for the next 112, until Woodrow Wilson revived the tradition in 1913. Read more about the State of the Union here.

• The sky is falling! Government officials are reporting that a large U.S. spy satellite that recently lost power and propulsion will probably hit the earth sometime in February or March. There's no way to predict where it will hit. This is not the first satellite to unexpectedly drop in. Read more about that here.

• This week, Netherlands native Wim Hof attempted tested out the limits of the human body by becoming a human popsicle. Hof stood in a clear container filled with ice for 72 minutes. He broke his own world record for full body ice contact endurance. If you want to know more about world records, weird or otherwise, go here.

• Think technology and art can't mix? Check out an artist at work in this video. The illustrator is Justin Gerard (who illustrated Andrew Peterson's 2005 album The Far Country) and a part of Portland Studios, an illustration studio in Greenville, S.C.

One Sheet of Paper

Hi, I'm Jen. I'm the designer for ec—which basically means I do my best to make it look good. Part of my job is starting with a blank piece of paper and trying to decide what ec should look like.

Last week, though, somebody sent me some amazing photos of paper sculptures (hang with me, before you yawn!) that made me think twice about that blank sheet of paper. They were described as entries for a contest given by the Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, D.C. (the 'modern art' gallery of the Smithsonian) but they were actually made by a Danish artist called Peter Callesen.

His goal is to create something meaningful with only one sheet of paper—but not in the way you might think. Usually we put things on paper. Paper is just a place to put your math assignment, your research paper or a pop quiz. You might make the occasional paper airplane. Even artists tend to use paper and canvases as a way to display their talent with paint or ink. But this artist made something out of paper itself, without drawing on it or painting it or adding anything to it. He used a knife, spatial knowledge (or how things work in three dimensions) and one sheet of paper to make beautiful, intricate sculptures.

Without adding anything to the paper at all, just by cutting and folding it, Callesen has made something interesting and compelling to look at.

In one respect, these sculptures are very simple. Most of them are all white. They are all limited by their small size. But at the same time, they are extraordinarily complex, detailed and whimsical. And they are about possibility. "What can I make from one sheet of paper?"

Interesting. I especially like the Tower of Babel (because it is so spindly and rickety-looking).

A closer look

In this month's issue of ec, writer Brandy Campbell wrote about her trip to Ethiopia and how the extreme poverty there changed her outlook forever. If you'd like read more of Brandy's thoughts about her trip, check out these entries in her blog.

The Justice Issue of ec is all about reaching out to a world full of injustice in God's name. How have you made a difference in your world? It doesn't have to involve going to another country or giving away everything you own. This world isn't fair, but you can make a difference. Buy a few groceries for a family you know doesn't have much extra money. Do some light repairs, yard work, or chores for an elderly person down the road who doesn't have the ability or money to make sure they get done. Volunteer at a soup kitchen. Save your money and buy a coat for someone who doesn't have one. God has poured out His blessings on us, and the world will only know about His love if we tell them. Sometimes, the way we tell them has less to do with what we say and more to do with what we actually do.

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

• The nominations for the Academy Awards, otherwise known as the Oscars were released this week. The Coen brothers' movie “No Country for Old Men” and “There Will Be Blood,” both rated R for violence, lead the nominations with eight, including nods for directing, adapted screenplay, and the coveted best picture category.The winners will be announced during the Academy Awards live telecast on February 24.

•Anna Grant, the high school freshman who was booed at Indianapolis a few weeks ago when she appeared on the field with other winners of the Punt, Pass & Kick competition, is getting a little attention from the New England Patriots. Indianapolis fans booed Grant because she was wearing a Patriots jersey. And in Indianopolis, they really hate the Patriots. The Colts are one of New England's fiercest rivals. But the Patriots felt bad for their young fan, so owner Robert Kraft invited Grant to take part in the AFC championship. She'll be on the field for the coin toss. Her parents and two brothers also got tickets to the game.

• Radio host Rick Burgess of "Rick and Bubba" fame dealt with the death of his two-year-old son, Bronner, this week. The toddler died January 19 when he fell into a swimming pool. Burgess spoke at his son's funeral and used the opportunity to speak out about salvation. He said, "If you sit here today, the biggest injustice you can do our family, the biggest injustice you can do our Savior, the biggest injustice you can do for our baby, is to leave here unchanged, to continue to be apathetic, weak, ineffective believers of Christ." If you want to find out more about what it means to be a Christian, go here. Discuss your questions on ec's Facebook page. While you're there, become a fan and join our group.

• Maybe you're the creative type. Then you'll love this interview with artist Jennifer Maestre. She makes sculptures and jewelry from pencils. Yep, you read that right, pencils.

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

• The inspiration for the “Mona Lisa” was identified this week. German academics announced that Lisa Gherardini, the 16th century wife of a Florentine merchant long thought to be the model for Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting, was indeed da Vinci's muse.

• The U.S. House of Representatives is going green. Well, at least the cafeterias are. Fatty, pre-made foods have been replaced with healthier choices. Congressional employees are now drinking their coffee out of cups made from corn starch, sorting and recycling their garbage, and making salads at a salad bar constructed from "green materials." Nearly everything—from plates to utensils to straws—is biodegradable. Read more about the newer, greener Congress here. Discuss taking care of the environment more at ec's Facebook page.

• Does something sound familiar on some of those commercials for the new season of "American Idol"? If you're a fan of the Robbie Seay Band, you'll probably recognize their song "Rise" from "American Idol's" current ad campaign."I've always been passionate about 'Rise,'" says Robbie Seay. "It's a song written from my own frustration of living a life so centered on me that it becomes too busy and distracted. It's about slowing down enough to see the great need of people both near and far and acting on that need."

• A songwriters' retreat involving well-known Christian songwriters such as Steven Curtis Chapman, Michael W. Smith, Martin Smith (Delirious?), Darlene Zschech, and Mat Redman (of "Heart of Worship" fame) concluded this week in Scotland. The group came together for the Compassionart songwriters' retreat in an effort to complete 10-12 new songs. All of the proceeds from the songs will be used to create ongoing global relief for those living in poverty. The writers completed 22 songs and recorded them at the house in Scotland. Check out journalist Christa Banister's blogs about the event.

• Former chess world champion Bobby Fischer died yesterday. He was 64. Fischer received recognition for his chess skills as a teen in the 1950s. He was a U.S. chess champion at 14 and a grand master by age 15. He became the world chess champion in 1972. His later years are characterized by odd behavior, anti-American rhetoric, and sometimes, anti-Semitism. Read more about Bobby Fischer here.

Fiction contest winners announced!

In October 2007, ec announced plans to hold a fiction writing contest. The response was great. We received stories from all over the country, Alaska included, and enjoyed reading all your stories. It made for a fun afternoon at a local Nashville coffeehouse. With no further ado, I'd like to announce the winner and two finalists of ec's first-ever fiction writing contest.

The winner is . . . Alexis Deese of Lexington, S.C. Alexis' story, "A Bullet of Faith," centered on a Columbine-like attack at a school and a teen's decision to stand strong in her faith even in the face of great danger. She wrote, "I dedicate this story to the incredibly brave students at Columbine High [who] weren't afraid to stand up for God. Their faith was strong and true." You can read Alexis' winning submission in the August 2008 issue of ec.

The two finalists are:

• Whitney Stewart of Lehigh Acres, Fla. Her story was called "Underneath My Skin." It will be posted in its entirety on this blog in August 2008.

• Jessica Morgan of Los Alamos, N.M. Jessica's story, "The Last One," was very creative. It will also be posted on this site in August 2008.

All of the submissions were very creative and imaginative. Thank you all for sharing your talents with ec and our readers. Continue to strive to know God, own your faith, and make Him known in the world around you—and use your talents to do so!

We plan to offer a similar contest next year, so get to working on your submissions!

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

• Check out ec on Facebook. Become a fan and join our group!

• Caedmon's Call's song, "Ten Thousand Angels," was featured in the final scene of last night's episode of "Grey's Anatomy." The song played for about five minutes. Check out the lyrics, all about redemption, here.

• NYC comedian Mark Malkoff is spending the week in an IKEA store in New Jersey while his apartment is being fumigated. Malkoff works for The Colbert Report and is staying in one of the bedroom displays in the store. He plans to play laser tag with the security guards and host a housewarming party before the store closes (and he gets evicted) on Saturday night.

• St. Charles, a suburb of St. Louis, Mo., is considering a bill that would ban swearing in bars (and table-dancing, drinking contests, and profane music). A city councilman proposed the bill after receiving complaints from citizens about the city's downtown historic area's rowdy atmosphere on some nights.

• Elvis Presley's birthday was January 8. He would have been 73 years old. Fans participated in a ceremony on the front steps of Graceland, Elvis' former home in Memphis, Tenn., and enjoyed birthday cake and coffee at the restaurant across the street.

• Going on a long road trip? Check out these ideas of ways to make the trip more "interesting":

Ec needs you!

Yep, just like Uncle Sam and the army, we want you!

In recent months, ec has launched many new and different opportunities for your words to find a place on the pages of our print magazine. But the response. . . well, it's been a bit underwhelming. So read over this list of ways you can contribute to the magazine that's all about and for you:
• Letters and comments. We want to make a magazine for and about you and the stuff you're dealing with in real life. In order to know if we're on track or way off base, we need to hear from you. So write letters, send e-mails, and leave comments on our blog!

• dispatches: an ec blog. For the last several months, we've been printing short blog-like entries every 3 months or so on page 05 of the magazine. We know you have stuff to say about God, life, and fun. Why not share it with us?

• Where do you take your ec? "Snippets and Soundbites" became a regular feature of ec in October. Since then, we've been imploring you to send us a pic of you with your copy of ec at some location that's special, interesting, funny, or just cool. And we haven't heard from many of you! We'd love to print your pic in the magazine, so send it on! (You and your parents will have to return a release to us, so send your mailing address, too!)

• Student Blog. "Student Blog" is a recurring feature of ec that pops up in the print magazine every 3 months. It's a place for you to write about your faith, what God is teaching you, and new things you're learning about what it means to be a person of faith. You're already posting it on your blog, Facebook, and MySpace. Why not share with ec's readers?

• Everyday Faith. "Everyday Faith" also appears every 3 months in the magazine. It's a profile of an everyday teen who is living out his or her faith in the real world. We need all the help we can get finding these teens to watch, so send any ideas our way!

• Poems. Student-written poetry has always been a part of ec. We want it to remain so. Send your poems, short stories, and other examples of writing our way. We'll print a select few!

• Question of the Month. Yep, you've all seen the "Question of the Month." It resides on page 58 in the print magazine and in the sidebar on the left side of this page. It changes every month, and we print real reader's answers to a previously asked question each month. Sometimes, we get very little response, which makes me very sad! So e-mail us your answers by the dozens. We've made it easy with the link in the sidebar!

We at ec love our readers! We want this magazine to be the best it can be! And we want input from you! So send it on!

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

• Illinois senator Barak Obama garnered the most votes in the Democratic party caucuses in Iowa yesterday. Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas, won the Republican contest. A caucus is a meeting of members of a particular political party. Iowa uses such meetings to select presidential nominees. Read more about that here.

• Members of the Coney Island Polar Bear Club took an annual dip in the Atlantic Ocean on New Year's Day. The water temperature was about 42 degrees, and the club raised about $30,000 for Camp Sunshine, a camp for seriously ill children and their families.

• A six-year-old girl who won tickets to a Hannah Montana concert lost them because she lied in her winning essay. The girl claimed her father died in a roadside bomb attack on April 17 while serving in Iraq.

• A British woman lost her driver's license (for a week) because she was driving too slowly on the highway. Last August, Stephanie Cole ended up on a high-speed motorway on her way to Staples for an ink cartridge. Scared of the fast-moving traffic, she puttered along at 10 mph until a police officer stopped her. In addition to losing her license, Cole also has to retake her driver's exam.

People are talking. . .
“When I was young, the person I looked up to the most was my father, and once I experienced that hurt, the separation from the guy you thought was Superman, you never want to feel that hurt again. So no matter what relationships you have later on, I protected myself and my feelings.”

—Hip hop artist/record label president Shawn “Jay-Z” Carter speaking about his estranged father who died shortly after being reunited in 2003, Rolling Stone, November 29, 2007, p. 58.

Welcome to 2008!

“If I had to do my life over, I would change every single thing I have done.” —Ray Davies, solo artist and former lead singer of the British band the Kinks.

That quote from Ray Davies has been haunting me ever since I read it a few days before Christmas. As we begin a new year, the regret that is so evident in his words still calls out to me. If he had it all to do over, Davies says that he'd change everything. Is that the way you would describe your life in 2007?

I hope not. Put the past behind you. 2007 is over; 2008 is a clean slate. Ec's challenge to you this month is to live without regret, 100 percent for God. And this month's issue is all about our perfect God and this imperfect world. Focus on Him this year and learn the intricacies of His character.

Welcome to 2008. No regrets!