JOHNNY BROWER [dot] COM

So I got a call from a close friend of mine yesterday. She is an intern for TOM’s Shoes in San Diego, CA. She asked if I wouldn’t mind doing a favor for her and TOM’s.

TOM’s was looking for some local help to set up their new POP display. I like TOM’s, I like putting stuff together, of course I’ll do it — not to mention that they are hooking me up with a pair of shoes.

This is a great idea: growing the local involvement with your business/organization all over the country. It’s very grassroots. Now, people begin to feel like a part of something bigger, and you get cheap (inexpensive) labor.

I’m glad I got the opportunity to help out.
I’m glad I get a pair of shoes.
I’m glad for companies/organizations that do things right.
I’m glad for Krystal.

This is an awesome, and frustrating game.
Get ready to lose at least 20 minutes.
click here.

Recently, I told you of some absolutely exciting news that I had received. The wonderful news of one of my favorite bands ever, Jimmy Eat World, would be co-headlining a tour with Paramore this Spring.

Well, I take that back. There are only 3 shows in Texas, and they are all at least 4 hours away — and that’s being optimistic. How can a show like this go to Lubbock and San Antonio and not Dallas or even Austin? CRAP!

6.6 billion people might die.

[ht: zach]

I love sports. There’s nothing better than a lazy Sunday afternoon, grill a’ burning, beer flowing, friends in attendance and a football game on the TV — OR — a warm August day at the Ballpark with a hotdog or nachos, sunflower seeds and (of course) a beer — OR — a night out at a local sports bar (I like No Frills) with a hamburger, beer and a Mavs game. I start everyday with Sportscenter. I will call (or get called by) my friends the second the trade rumors begin. I play in softball leagues, flag football, or pick-up basketball. I L-O-V-E sports!

The past couple of years have seen some great accomplishments:  home-run records broken, perfect regular season records, consecutive grand-slam records (tennis, not baseball), TD passes and catches, and more.  But at what cost?

I’m scared. Professional sports has recently been surrounded by a cloud of controversy. What’s happening in our culture and our entertainment that everyone feels the need to cheat? Sports is supposed to be about team building, sportsmanship, comrodory [sp?], and fun. I feel that our beloved pasttimes are heading down a dark path and we will no longer be able to enjoy them as they once were.

Steroids/HGH
Most recently there’s the Roger Clemens scandal, but this is nothing new to Major League Baseball or sports in general for that fact. Players are taking many variations of performance enhancing drugs to try and gain an competitive edge in a constantly strengthening field. We’ve seen this in the Canseco book, in the olympics and in the NFL.

Spygate
Bill Belichick has brought a whole new scandal to the NFL. He has (allegedly) been illegally taping closed practices and games trying to steal call signals. It’s one thing to review tapes of a game to study formations and tendencies, but another to spy on other teams — especially when the practices are closed.

Game Fixing/Point Shaving
The ATP has now joined the NBA with the most recent indecencies. Players are throwing games to benefit heavy betters. And in the NBA, THE OFFICIALS, the very ones that are supposed to be calling a fair game are making bogus calls in order to keep teams within the spread.

The sporting world is hurting. I want it back. I don’t want to watch my favorite teams and players and wonder whether or not they are playing fairly. I want to enjoy it like I did when I was a child.

Please stop. Don’t take this away from me.

FFXporter is a pretty basic plugin for iPhoto that allows you to upload directly to Flickr.

Today marks the beginning of our Confirmation class. This is always an exciting time for us for many reasons…

#1
It’s always awesome to see 80 - 100 students packed into a room every Sunday afternoon learning about their faith. To see their faces change when they learn that being a Christian isn’t just showing up to church on Sundays (and Wednesdays) and putting money in the offering plate.

#2
It’s always fun for me to take another look at my Methodist heritage. I always seem to catch something that I didn’t before. I love to learn about John Wesley and the journey of modern Methodism. Being a history guy I love to see where we came from.

#3
You get to try out new things. Youth ministry is always looking for new and inventive ways to connect with students. This year we are going to be working with some new ideas involving mixtures of large and small groups, dynamic speakers using a type of “story-telling” sermon style, and we will even be doing a “youth table” for students that are older than 6th grade but would still like to participate in Confirmation.

But my personal favorite of our new adventures…LT!

[LT going shirtless]

LT is a cyber-puppet that I was introduced to at YS this year. He’s controlled by the computer and your voice. He can perform many different facial expressions, sport several trendy outfits, and even make his head explode. This will undoubtedly be very well received by the students AND adult sponsors. If this goes well, we will hopefully be incorporating LT into some of our future events as a reoccurring character/staff member.

Want more info on LT and how to get him for free? Click here.

I’m pretty sure most of you are aware of this, but I’ll post it anyways. I was reminded of a little website today called The Brick Testament (thanks jkyle). It is incredible. It is the Bible, illustrated with legos.

WARNING: for those of you that care, there is nudity, sexuality, violence, and all that other good stuff.

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I always wished life had a soundtrack.
So I tend to make mixes for every occasion.
There has been a little heartbreak recently so I made a mix tape (CD).
Now…the theme was not venomous, nor is it a big “f*** you” to the ex.
The theme is more remorseful. Almost as if there was a death of someone — only it’s the death of a relationship. I want to remember everything that was good, and I’m sad to see it go.

So here it is…

The Heart Breaking Makes a Sound…
01. “Testing The Strong Ones” Copeland
02. “Eat, Sleep, Repeat” Copeland
03. “Clean Breaks” Dashboard Confessional
04. “Please Turn Red” Andy Davis
05. “Your Heart Is An Empty Room” Death Cab For Cutie
06. “Hallelujah” Jeff Buckley
07. “Chin Up” Copeland
08. “Tearjerker” Fenix TX
09. “Speak To Me Gently” Future of Forestry
10. “Dusk and Summer” Dashboard Confessional
11. “Unglued” Fair
12. “You Are Mine” Mute Math

Keep in mind that most of these songs were hand picked for specific elements of my relationship with her. But I’m sure there are some songs that I missed.

What songs would be sure to have on your “Heartbreak Mix Tape”?