As you know, finding an instance where thetenguy doesn't have anything to say about current events is rare indeed, but that's precisely what's happened. I have nothing to say about how the Democrats are wrecking the country, how Rush Limbaugh is getting too bitter for my taste and how Joe Biden's mouth is beginning to resemble a cave what with him constantly sticking his foot in it...

Oops, did I just contradict myself?

Moving on...

Lots of new adventures and lots of old ones wrapping up in the life of thetentguy. I'm starting to look forward to 2010 and the newness it promises. This year has been packed with activities enough to fill a book, indeed someday they might, but for now I'll be happy to look back and be satisfied I made it through alive and in one piece!

2010 will hold a lot of new adventures, but some of the irons I have in the fire are going to have to be pulled out and go cold to give me some breathing room. It's a simple fact of life, doing something with excellence requires commitment and I want to be the best at what I love to do- which is not always the same as what I'm good at doing!

Have you noticed that? There are certain things in life that we're just not good at, but deep inside we love doing them.

Like dance. I've always loved movement in conjunction with music, it just does something to me. But every time I try to dance I lose my balance and end up looking like a goofball, much to the amusement of my friends.

My little sister is an accomplished freestyle ballet dancer, she can hear the movement in music and then interpret it into a dance that will blow your mind. There are never dry eyes in the room when she finishes a dance.

There's an unnamed dancer at an unnamed church in an unnamed city that has the same gift, she can stand up on the stage and with a simple flourish of her arm make the song come alive. It's out of this world. I cry every time I see her dance.

I feel the moves ready to burst out of my own soul too, but I'm afraid to let them out. What if someone laughs? What if someone thinks I'm gay?

Well, there you have the excuses why we don't see any guys getting involved in the dance teams at churches; up till now all we've had is the ladies doing their thing while us guys sit in our chairs afraid of looking gay, all the while feeling the rhythms and moves ready to burst out at any moment!

I don't think we have to do the flowery stuff, we just need more male expressions of the arts. We need masculine dance moves to compliment the feminine dance that for so long has been the church's only expression.

Dare I try?

And the music. I love British music, don't get me wrong, it's just that it seems to be the only style of worship in church nowadays; the high male voices with somber sounding sustained guitar with just a hint of overdrive; I call it British Pretty Boy Pop. :) I really like it, but I think there's room for more. Where are the deep, gravelly and full sounding songs that reach into your spirit and make you want to shout? Where's the SOUL?

Dare I sing it out?

Well, you've been allowed a glimpse into my thinking lately. I admit I haven't shared it with too many people yet, so just between you, me and the rest of the entire world, let's keep it a secret between ourselves ok?

I rarely play video games. It's not that I think they're generally bad (obviously I think overly violent and demonic ones are), I just seem to always have something else to do. When I do play them I really get into it, forget this playing them for a diversion and stuff! Like Nacho Libre said at the bottom of his wrestling career, "I wanna hweeen!".

I like the Wii, it keeps you active and ties you into reality, which is good because I can get lost in alter reality pretty quick! Wii boxing rocks. When I play I really box, none of that soft tapping stuff here- I'm more likely to KO the screen or any fellow player who accidentally gets close than I am my virtual opponent!

You know you're having fun when you work up a sweat playing a video game...

But I can't get into Guitar Hero or anything that has to do with music. Maybe it's because I already play music, but I just see no point in it. SOME people, however (and I won't name any names) love Guitar Hero and Rock Band. And they're not teenagers. In fact, they aren't even in their 20's. Or 30's. Or 40's... But they love it and they are good at it too.

Hence, I dedicate this post to all my geeky Baby Boomer friends. May your riffs always be on the dot. :)

Found this interesting article in Pravda, the main Russian newspaper. Seeing America from a Russian perspective is enlightening:

True, the situation has been well prepared on and off for the past century, especially the past twenty years. The initial testing grounds was conducted upon our Holy Russia and a bloody test it was. But we Russians would not just roll over and give up our freedoms and our souls, no matter how much money Wall Street poured into the fists of the Marxists.

Those lessons were taken and used to properly prepare the American populace for the surrender of their freedoms and souls, to the whims of their elites and betters.

First, the population was dumbed down through a politicized and substandard education system based on pop culture, rather then the classics. Americans know more about their favorite TV dramas then the drama in DC that directly affects their lives. They care more for their "right" to choke down a McDonalds burger or a BurgerKing burger than for their constitutional rights. Then they turn around and lecture us about our rights and about our "democracy". Pride blinds the foolish."....

Read the full article here >>>>>