Friday Snippets and Soundbites

• Shakespeare's grave is getting a makeover, but the Bard's own words are making the process a little more difficult. Architects are contemplating fixing up the flaking stones that cover William Shakespeare's grave site in the Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon, the poet's hometown. Shakespeare himself is widely thought to have penned the threat on the stone marker above his final resting place: Blest be the man that spares these stones. And curst be he that moves my bones." While that's all well and good, the church has been in use for over four centuries and the foot traffic is starting to take its toll. The plan is to complete the repairs without disturbing the poet's resting place, but that could be tricky. The restoration is part of a bigger project to restore the church to its former glory. Go here for more info.

• In 2003, Gallup Polls released a report that while nearly 49 percent said they believe the Bible has authority in their lives, only 28 percent regularly read it to find direction for their lives. To help close that gap, George Gallup, Jr. has agreed to serve as the honorary chairman of the Children's International Arts Festival. The festival is a global affair that encourages children to answer Bible questions and illustrate them for online publication and prizes. Children ages 5-12 can submit artwork until March 31, 2009, and there is no entry fee. So talk to your little brothers and sisters about it! Find out more here.

• RollingStone.com released its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs this week. Topping the list is Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode.” Jimi Hendrix (predictably) makes an appearance on the list, and other noteworthy guitar riff picks include The Kinks "You Really Got Me," "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by the Beatles, and "Where the Streets Have No Name" by U2.

• Want a free download of downhere's latest CD, Wide Eyed and Mystified? Well, ec knows where you can get it. Centricity Music has teamed up with MusiChristian.com and are using the site to introduce as many people as possible to downhere by offering the free download starting June 1. The Canadian band just finished a spring tour and are already at work on their next album, Ending Is Beginning, slated to drop on September 23, 2008.

Music Minute

There's a lot of great new stuff out this week in Christian music, and I'm here to tell you all about it, but I don't know if I'll make it in 60 seconds! We've got tons of variety this time - don't be afraid to give a listen to stuff you don't think you'd like, and don't worry if you don't like it all!

What's brand new: May 27 releases include new CDs from TobyMac, Joy Electric, Article One, Since October, and Say No More.

What we like:
• Alive & Transported: TobyMac brings it home when he puts on a live show, and this album is no exception. Energetic and full of your favorites, this iTunes Music Store exclusive comes with 21 songs and 3 bonus videos. We like "Ignition (Live)" — a mixture of hip-hop, funky dance-hall beats, and a touch of grungy guitar doesn't sound like it would work, but it does!



• JoyElectric's new album My Grandfather, the Cubist is for you old-schoolers out there who looove '80s synth-pop. Synthesizers don't get used much any more, but back in the day, they defined '80s pop music. Joy Electric combines 'em with a poppy, snappy sound that's a little strange at first but quickly becomes irresistible. Check out "Draw for Me, MC Escher," and while you're at it, find out about MC Escher.





• Fans of P.O.D. will love Bradenton, FL rockers Since October. Listen to them while you're mowing the lawn and you'll be done before you know it. Check out "Guilty" — you won't be sorry!



• "This is Our Way" from L.A. rockers Say No More is the best song we've heard all week. Their sound reminds us of Forever the Sickest Kids ... power pop that is just a tiny bit nerdy (but in a good way) and sounds familiar and new all at the same time.



What we're looking forward to:
Above the Golden State. The album doesn't release until July, but we found their site today looking for new stuff and don't want to forget them! Three reasons we're looking forward to this album: 1. Portland-west-coast-alternative-rock sound—sounds good! 2. There's a bear on their MySpace picture posing with the band. 3. Band member names are listed on MySpace as "Michael, Tim, Brook and Sea Bass." (Who's who is a mystery. Did someone's mama name him Sea Bass? Is that the bear?) Seriously, what's not to like? You can check out their single "Sound of Your Name" right now at the iTunes Music Store.



What we don't like: Stale chips, clammy hands, and food that sticks in your teeth.

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

• David Cook, 25, of Blue Springs, Mo., was declared the winner of this year's "American Idol" competition on Wednesday night. (He was the ec editor's personal fave!) Some 97.5 million votes were cast on Tuesday night, and Cook beat his fellow finalist, David Archuleta, by 12 million votes. The massive vote shattered AI's previous voting record by 23 million! Did you vote? Let us know in the comments!

• In other Idol news, former “American Idol” contestant Clay Aiken recently released a new album, On My Way Here, and included a song penned by Christian singer/songwriter Natalie Grant. The song, "The Real Me," was featured on Grant's 2005 release Awaken. She says the song is about her own journey of self-discovery and "what God has shown me about who He is and who I am. God has a divine purpose for our lives, and there's such comfort and peace in knowing that even when our lives are a mess, He sees the incredible beauty underneath."

• The United Nations wants you! Or at least your artwork. Youth from around the world are invited to submit their original artwork to the 11th Annual Peace Pals International Arts Exhibition and Awards. The event is part of the festivities planned on September 21 to celebrate the International Day of Peace established by the United Nations. This year's theme is friendship, and the deadline for submissions is June 30, 2008. A panel of international judges will select first, second, and third place winners in four age groups, and the winning artwork will become part of the worldwide tour. For more info, go here.

• In truly random news, a missing parrot in Japan finally found his way home this week . . . by reciting his name and address. The police had rescued the bird two weeks ago from a rooftop in Nagareyama, a city near Tokyo. The parrot spent the night at the station and was then transferred to a veterinary hospital. As hard as the police tried, the bird wouldn't talk. But he opened up with the staff at the vet, reciting his full home address, down to the street number. He also took some time to entertain the staff by singing songs.

Your face says it all

If you've looked through your May issue of ec, you probably noticed the article on non-verbal communication on page 48. Ec's editor, Mandy Crow, knows that her face says it all (and once really got off to a bad start with a friend's boyfriend because of it). So do you think the things you don't say really have an impact? Yeah, they do.
Just ask Emily, ec's talented production editor:

Emily here. I read the article on nonverbal communication in this month’s ec again and was thinking about how my facial expressions come across. Do you have a friend who’s face naturally reverts to a scowl when he or she isn't thinking about it?

I do. I have a friend who always looks like she’s mad. It’s kind of intimidating to approach her because she looks like she’d bite your head off if you asked the wrong question. In fact, I avoided introducing myself to her for a while, although we ran in the same circles in college, just because I thought she was mean. (Rule No. 1: Never assume anything.) So when I finally got to know her and realized she was a sweet, funny girl, I got up the nerve one day to ask her if she knew that she always looked mad. She wasn’t surprised by my question. People had been telling her that for years, she said. She said she wasn’t unhappy or angry; her face just naturally fell that way when she was thinking about something else. She did ask that I let her know though, whenever she was making “the face.”

Does your normal facial expression communicate anger, boredom, or unhappiness? How do you think you come across to non-Christians? I’m not saying you have to walk around with a smile plastered on your face all the time, but be aware of your countenance. You never know just how contagious a pleasant look, or better yet, a smile, can be. Try it out today: smile at people who look like they’re having a rough time and see what happens.

Let us know how it goes by posting comments!

Stress: Is it real?

Over and over, teens have told the ec staff that they're overwhelmed by life. We really do want to know what it is that's causing you all this anxiety. Is it relationships (friendships and/or dating)? Academic stuff? College prep? Fears? Your family? Church? We really do want to know and this is your last chance to tell us. Let us know in the comments on this blog. Or post it on the discussion board at the ec group page on Facebook or ec's fanpage. Or, if all else fails and you'd rather just share your stresses with me, e-mail me. This is a way for you to shape the magazine, since your input will help us write an article for the December 2008 issue of ec!

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

• Need a little random fun to take your mind of AP exams and finals? We know just the thing. Or not. Actually, this random contest just made us laugh and we had to share it with you! Cheap Chic Weddings, a popular Web site that helps people save money when planning a wedding, is sponsoring it's fourth annual "Toilet Paper Wedding Dress Contest." Yes, you read that correctly. All dresses have to be made of Charmin® toilet paper, tape, or glue. That's it. Contestants are invited to create a dress, photograph their model, and send the digital pics to the Web site. The contest runs from April 28-June 2, 2008. For more detailed information about prizes and rules, go here.

• In other "contest-esque" news, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced this week that five historic New Orleans sites had been chosen to receive preservation grants for various restoration projects. The sites include: St. James AME Church (granted $100,000 for sanctuary repairs); St. Alphonsus Art and Culture Center (granted $80,000 for repairs to the roof, stucco, and columns); St. Augustine Parish Hall ($75,000 for repairs to the roof and make it usable again); Odyssey House (granted $75,000 for window and shutter replacement); and Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 (granted $70,000 for stabilization of the perimeter walls and wall vaults and installation of a drainage system). Sites were chosen because of their historical, architectural, and cultural significance, community support, role as community gathering spaces, damage from Hurricane Katrina, and the ability to complete the project in a year.

• The Library of Congress also added 25 recordings to its National Recording Registry this week. Among the additions: the first trans-Atlantic broadcast (March 14, 1925), Roy Orbison's 1964 recording of "Oh, Pretty Woman", Harry S. Truman's speech at the 1948 Democratic National Convention, and "Thriller" by Michael Jackson. Go here to see the entire list of additions. If you had the power to decide what recordings were archived for all posterity, what would you pick? Let us know in the comments or over on ec's fan page on Facebook or in the discussion board's on our group page.

Music Minute

Time for another Music Minute! Today I'm rockin' it old-school with some Johnny Cash, and here to tell you all about what's new in Christian music.

What's brand new: It's a little quieter on the release scene this time, with new stuff from The Murrills, Tye Tribbett, and Chris Sligh out on May 6.

What we like:
• The tasty horn section, catchy lyrics and gospel choir on Tye Tribbett's new release Stand Out will chase away your grumpy mood and make you want to dance. With a nod to 70s soul music (think The Staple Singers), we think the title track is a...well, standout. (Ahem.)



• Crazy curls, a power voice and some grungy guitar are hard at work on former AI contestant Chris Sligh's new album, Running Back to You. Fans of The Afters will love the rock anthem Waiting for You—just like we do. We hear Sligh will be making an appearance on next week's Idol finale...




Above: Showbread rocks the red pants.

What we're looking forward to: Anorexia and Nervosa, two new releases from Georgia raw rock band Showbread also release May 13. (Yes, this music is a lot harder than you're used to hearing on Christian radio, but you might just like it.) The band says the albums are two ten-chapter soundtracks to a story called Anorexia Nervosa, and they recommend "reading while listening to the musical accompaniment with headphones, alone in a dark, silent room with a single reading light." They'll let you know when to move to the next chapter. Sounds interesting!

And, Stephanie Smith's album Not Afraid releases May 13. Renew Me is a jamming, bubbly power pop tune that makes us happy down deep in our hearts. Here's hoping the album is full of even more good stuff. And you can check out an interview with Stephanie on page 15 of this month's issue of ec!

What we don't like: Poseurs, bullies, and smelly cat food.

A day late and a dollar short

So yesterday was Mother's Day (the 100th anniversary, btw!) and here at the ec offices, we're still thinking about our moms. While we may be late to the party in talking about how wonderful mothers are, it's never too late to let your mom know how much you appreciate her and the way she loves you. So take a glimpse at our thoughts on Mother's Day and go tell you mom exactly what you love about her! (GO!)

Emily says: “My mom is great. She’s super fun, organized, beautiful, kind, and loving (but maybe I’m biased). I think my favorite memories of her involve her dancing around the living room. On those rare nights that we were all at home and weren’t exhausted from the day’s activities, she’d put on some music. That woman can dance to anything: Billy Joel, Motown, disco; and she was just so full of life and energy that I’d sometimes have to stop and watch her. She was so into her dancing that she didn’t notice that I was studying her moves so I could bust them out myself one day. And once we were breathless from all the dancing and jumping and singing, she’d usually get a craving for chocolate and go whip us up a batch of her homemade brownies. Those were great nights!”

Mandy says: “This year, I actually wrote a little letter for my mom (which I'll give her when I see her on Memorial Day weekend, so keep it under wraps until then!) and I'd like to share it with you. Here goes: It’s a good thing to have someone who believes in you more than you believe in yourself, and you’ve always been that to me. You didn’t know you were having twins; you didn’t know that there wouldn’t be a day you wouldn’t worry about us. But you loved us, even when we were wrong, unrepentant, and just plain stupid. You’re the woman who taught me about laughing at yourself, striving to better the things you don’t like in yourself, and serving God by serving others. You loved me even when I didn’t deserve it, which in turn, helped me to understand a little more of the way God loves me. Sometimes I’m impatient, just like you. Sometimes, I worry too much, just like you. Sometimes I think that I’m too much like you, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Thank you for loving me with abandon and no matter what. Thank you for modeling love in those long days with Grandma at the nursing home and that seemingly endless vigil at her side last August after that final stroke. Thank you for being the one who held my hand at her funeral and empowered me with your own strength once again, just like when I was little. Thank you for being the mom you are. The one who loves me still when I’m wrong, unrepentant, or just plain stupid—and not being afraid to tell me when I am. I looked at a picture of us today on my refrigerator, smiles almost alike. And I laughed and heard an echo of you in it. Thank you for teaching me about laughter, life, and depending on God.”

Saying thank you is always a good thing. Think about some things you'd like to thank your mom for. Then go tell her. Make her Mother's Day last a little longer this year! :) She deserves it!

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

• What's your favorite book? Lord of the Rings? Gone with the Wind? Don't read much? Well, a 2008 Harris Interactive Poll regarding Americans' favorite book was recently released. And the result? Most of us (or at least the more than 2,500 people surveyed) say the Bible is our favorite book. The rest of the list is as follows: 2. Gone With the Wind; 3. Lord of the Rings (series); 4. Harry Potter (series); 5. The Stand; 6. The Da Vinci Code; 7. To Kill a Mockingbird; 8. Angels and Demons; 9. Atlas Shrugged; 10. The Catcher in the Rye.

• Jason Truby spent four years writing songs and recording with Christian band P.O.D., but has now decided to pursue his musical career on his own. He's currently based out of Little Rock, Ark., and says he had to be true to himself and his kind of music, which tends more toward classical and jazz/fusion styles. He's set to follow up his two previous solo instrumental albums with his first solo vocal project later this year.

• Jenny, the oldest gorilla in captivity, celebrated her 55th birthday this week. Although the Dallas Zoo officials don't know the exact date of her birth, they do know she was born in western Africa in 1953 and acquired by the zoo in 1957. Zoo officials say gorillas generally live to be 30-35 in the wild, but zoo health care (and protection from predators) have increased that lifespan. Jenny celebrated her big day with a frozen fruit cake. That she didn't share.

• Girls! Girls! Girls! We need your input. We're hard at work on a new girls resource at LifeWay and members of that team have asked if you'd send them some of your thoughts. Girls only, please! Send responses the the questions below to Pam Gibbs. Include your first name and age (no last names!) Thanks so much for the help. Now for the questions:
1. What do you like about the story of Esther?
2. What characteristics of Esther do you like? Why?
3. Tell about a time when you learned that pride can be dangerous.
4. Tell about a time when you stood up for something. What happened?
5. Tell about a time when you did something in a hurry and later regretted it.
6. What are some things you're grateful that God has done in your life?

• Need a good laugh on a Friday morning? Start off your day with this video we found on YouTube. "The One Semester of Spanish Spanish Love Song" makes us laugh, so watch, listen, laugh. (It supposed to be dumb!)

Talk back to us.

We're giving you permission. We're planning an article for an upcoming issue that involves all the things that overwhelm you. But we have to know what those are if we want this to work. So let us know! Leave comments on this post, e-mail, even stop by ec's fan page or group on Facebook and check out the discussion boards because we totally posted the question there, too.

Forgiveness: A personal tale

Forgiveness is one of the big themes in the May 2008 issue of ec. You'll find it in the interview with singer Stephanie Smith who has had to continually offer forgiveness to her dad. We deal with false ideas about forgiveness in Mike Wakefield's article, "Myths of Forgiveness," and there's even a whole week of devotions devoted to the topic. So I guess you could say forgiveness was on our minds this month. Check out how it played out in real life in this post by Emily, ec's production editor:

So I (this is Emily, btw) have a confession. A friend of mine from my hometown got married a few weeks ago. She asked me to be an attendant at the wedding, so I knew I’d be doing a lot of greeting and talking. I was trying to think of all the people I might see, and for some reason, my mind settled on one girl who went to high school with me. An odd feeling settled over me, and I couldn’t remember exactly why I didn’t like “Natalie.” But I knew I was still holding some sort of grudge against her.

I was trying to sort through my feelings about the situation when the memory finally hit me of why we didn’t get along: Natalie had gossiped at school one day about an unmarried mutual friend of ours who was pregnant. When I told her that I was aware of the situation, she told the couple that I was spreading gossip about their pregnancy. I received a very angry phone call that night from the pregnant girl, and I’m still not sure that she was convinced of my innocence by the truth in my side of the story. Couple that with the fact that I considered Natalie annoying, and she was really on my bad side. And then she received some special treatment in a competition we both were in! At that point, I decided she wasn’t even worth talking to and avoided her.

Looking back, I realize that all of those situations were rather petty and really don’t matter any more. So I forgave her for those offenses, even though she probably wasn’t even aware of them.

At the wedding, I was stationed at the entrance to the reception, so I was able to greet every guest. I wasn’t the least surprised when Natalie and her fiancé walked up. (I think God likes to see how I’ll respond when actually given the opportunity to deal with something that He and I have been working out in my time with Him.) We spoke briefly for a moment, and then I told her she’d been on my mind recently. She looked perplexed and I could tell she wanted to ask why, but a line was forming behind her of guests waiting to walk in, so I just smiled and said with all sincerity, “It’s great to see you. Enjoy the reception!”

What about you? Are you holding any grudges from years (or maybe just days) ago? If so, you should try forgiving the person and letting God handle the situation. It was so freeing that I’m trying to see if I can remember any other grudges I might be holding so I can get rid of them too!
—Emily

Friday Snippets and Soundbites

• Are you a fan of Sara Bareille's song "Love Song"? Yeah, we think it's a fun listen, too, and have been known to sing along in our cars when it comes on the radio. But a Massachusetts band Small Town Station, made up of brothers Eric, Matt, and Dave Bisceglia of Groton, Mass., have taken it to a new level. The guys decided to write a song in response to Sara's release. The result is "She's Just Another," which is currently playing on the band's MySpace page. The brothers say this song is from the guy's point of view, especially when faced with a girl who's very confident and the impact that has on him. The lyrics say it all: “. . . I needed a love song—I needed a reason to know she was willing to care.”

• David Blaine broke the Guinness World Record for breath-holding this week, after spending 17 minutes and 4 seconds submerged in a water-filled sphere live on "The Oprah Winfrey Show.” The previous record was 16 minutes and 32 seconds, set on February 10 by Peter Colat of Switzerland. Blaine was allowed to inhale pure oxygen for up to 30 minutes before the feat. (He only inhale for 23 minutes, though). In May 2006, Blaine failed in his attempt to set another type of breath-holding record in which he could not inhale pure oxygen beforehand. He now plans to break the world record for staying awake, allow Guinness said it no longer acknowledges these kinds of attempts because of health concerns. So definitely don't try this at home and get some sleep!

•Run Kid Run released their sophomore project, Love at the Core, this week. The idea is to weave together pop/rock songs with a core message that a relationship with God is central to life. The band is currently on tour with Hawk Nelson and plans to play a few summer festivals. We really like the title track. Check it out.


• Inventions are supposed to bring you fame, money, and notoriety, right? Well, not so for Franz Reichelt. Reichelt was an Austrian tailor who had a great fashion idea: an overcoat that doubled as a parachute. Useful, right? Well, maybe not. Reichelt made the mistake of testing his idea himself by donning the coat and jumping from the first deck of the Eiffel Tower. He fell to his death. We think there's a lesson there. . . .somewhere.