St. Arbucks and the Brown Kid: Welcome to the Machine

Well, if you read this blog within the last couple of weeks, you know that I was applying to work at St. Arbucks up the road from me. I am happy to say that I am now a part time “partner” with St. Arbucks. If you sent good vibes my way, or in matt’s case spat Holy Water toward me, thank you. Now I must get a health card and conform to wearing Khaki’s and black and white polo shirts to match my green apron.

I had one friend ask me why I would work at Starbucks as opposed to other coffee places throughout Bellingham. Quite simply, they weren’t hiring. I am honestly excited to work somewhere in my neighborhood where I can walk to work and will see people from my neighborhood. I am excited to work for a company that cares for their employees (much like my current job as worship director at Roosevelt Community Church), works to care for the earth by taking steps to be environmentally concious, and finally cares for the community that they are located in. Maybe I’ll get to cash in on that court case in California somehow. Well, the brown kid is growing up finally. Now I am part of the corporate world. So long to the small businesses and hello working stiffs. 

The Best Thing You Will See Today

Seriously. You’re Welcome.

David Archuleta Must Lose!

It’s not jealousy. It’s not hating him. It’s more so an annoyance. Who is David Archuleta you may ask? He is this kid:

Edit: If you are a fan of David Archuleta reading this after finding it on Google search, here is a continuance on why David Must LOSE! that you may find interesting. Also, check out here to see what I said about david archuleta heading into the finals.

For those who don’t own TV, don’t follow pop television, or live under a rock, David Archuleta is the front runner for American Idol. His breaking moment was when he sang John Lennon’s “Imagine”. He blew everyone away. Middle aged women were crying, John Lennon’s single sales went up on Itunes, and teenage girls and boys were excited to see this seventeen year old with such amazing talent. So why must he lose?

I spoke about David Archuleta earlier in a post here. The reason David Archuleta must lose is because he is the worst pop star I’ve ever seen. His voice is really strong, but his “Gosh, thanks for even noticing me and reiterating what I’ve been told most of my life about my singing abilities” routine is getting really old. Some people call it humility, but seriously, take a compliment without the “I can’t believe you like me” response once in a while. Seriously, David Archuleta must lose. I hope that I am not the only person who sees this.

**Edit: If you are a fan of David Archuleta reading this after finding it on Google search or something like that, here is a recent post to continue my theory of why David Must LOSE! that you may find interesting.**

Don’t Judge Me…

The year is 1987. The brown kid is in the sixth grade and recently went to K-mart and bought the tape – yes, I said tape – Crushin’ by the Fat Boys. He goes home, listens to the tape, and memorizes every lyric, rhythm, and beat. He is further encouraged to becoming a musician while he listens to this song:

He also listens to:

The very next year he moves to Kent, Washington and begins watching YO! Mtv raps and Head Bangers Ball only to discover these artists and furthers his road toward musicianship:

PS: The Brown Kid stayed up until midnight to see this video premier on the Head Bangers Ball:

Yes, I spent some time on YouTube. I just want to know the answer to this question, “Who/What inspired you to do what you like to do?” Post it on your blog and let others remember what they wanted to do. Get back on that track!

**Let me know when you have done this, so I can see other people’s inspirations**

Friday Mix-Tape: The “Dude Sweat” Edition.

Today I decided to go with what I like to call the “Dude Sweat” Mix. This is straight rock. This is the music you listen to while you are in the gym. You would listen to this mix before you punch someone in the face. This is music that is filled with testosterone and never lets up. A warning though, there is a repeat band in the mix – but it’s AC/DC so you should understand. With that being said, here is the Dude Sweat Mix for this Friday’s Mix Tape:

Them Bones – Alice in Chains

Thunderstruck – AC/DC

Lit Up - Buck Cherry

State of Love and Trust – Pearl Jam

Love Buzz – Nirvana

Cold Hard Bitch – JET

Shoot to Thrill – AC/DC

Paradise City – Guns n Roses

Guerilla Radio – Rage Against the Machine

Judith – A Perfect Circle

Deny – Default

Machine Head – Bush

Prison Sex – Tool

So, did I miss any? What would you add or take away from the Mix Tape?

Awesome! Awesome! Awesome! Awesome!

Found this on Digg at first, and then had to embed it from YouTube. I think I love the thumbs up and then all the slow motion action.

A Moment of Silence Please…

Herb Peterson died today. Perhaps one of the greatest inventors ever. He invented the egg mcmuffin. This was the man who died a millionaire making his money off of an egg, a slice of ham, a slice of cheese, and an english muffin. Thank you sir. I’m Lovin’ it.

Pat Robertson: “I Am A Liberal, Emergent Christian!”

Here’s an amazing interview that you need to read! Click here to read.

St. Arbucks and the Brown Kid

As some of you may or may not know, I work at Roosevelt Community Church part time (25 hrs). I love my job. It is the first job that I’ve ever actually felt appreciated at. It is a job where I am taken care of emotionally and financially, and asked “How are you doing?” and they actually mean it. One of RCC’s main focus is being In, For, and With the Community. With this being said, I’ve found out that my only impact on the community is through church activity inside and outside of the walls of the church. This is where Starbucks comes in.

Starbucks has this idea of the “third place” that I love. This idea that people go to work, home, and then to a third place which could be a place like starbucks. Since I only work 25 hours at RCC, and I want to start a family before all of my friends kids are in high school, I have applied to Starbucks throughout Bellingham and hope to be hired at the one just up the road from me.

The reason I chose to work at Starbucks, is because of what I know about them. I know that Starbucks treat their employees well. They give benefits, financially help with some college schooling, and I’ve heard that you get free coffee grounds. I also know that they are trying to get involved with their communities. This is a big one for me. Starbucks goes out into various communities and helps financially and physically to help make ends meet. I like this.

I’ve had discussions with people wondering if you even need to work at a church to do what I do, and I say “no”. You don’t have to work at a church, but when you get to work at a place that you agree with spiritually, morally, ethically and they treat you right and appreciate you, why would you move on? This is why I am staying at RCC and trying to work another part time job.

I like the idea of being “bi-vocational”. As a self diagnosed “slightly ADD” person, I need different atmospheres to keep me stimulated. I don’t think that we as church ministers are meant to be stuck in four walls throughout the day anyways. If you look at the idea of showing the gospel as opposed to sharing it, which of the two seems more like a minister?

With that being said, please be praying for me, thinking of me, sending good vibes my way – whatever it is that you do – for an interview that I have to become a St. Arbucks employee up the road from me. My interview is on thursday.

Happy Easter!

He is risen indeed! When I was a kid, I didn’t grow up in a religious home so instead of Jesus and church, we used to get an easter basket filled with peeps, Robin Egg candy, Jelly Beans, and a big chocolate bunny which would all get lost, tangled, and stuck in the annoying fake “grass” that my mom would be continually curse because she would have to clean it out of the vaccum cleaner throughout the year. Sometimes there was another present of some kind for us like a kite or something, but soon the Easter Bunny got stingy and lazy. What a jerk.

As my Easter basket present to anyone who reads this blog, I want to share with you my new favorite site: Garfield minus Garfield. Here is the site description:

 ”Who would have guessed that when you remove Garfield from the Garfield comic strips, the result is an even better comic about schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and the empty desperation of modern life? Friends, meet Jon Arbuckle. Let’s laugh and learn with him on a journey deep into the tortured mind of an isolated young everyman as he fights a losing battle against loneliness in a quiet American suburb.”

Here is a comic from the site to give you an idea of what these comics look like: