Author: Chad
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iPad? I think not
Originally published in the North Central Chronicle on April 16, 2010. With all the near-orgasmic praise Apple’s iPad has received lately, I feel like I should want to get one. But I don’t. Let’s be honest: it’s a cool toy. It does most of the things and iPod Touch or iPhone can do but on…
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The Cove
Save the Whales is so last century. Dolphins, according to the new Academy Award-winning documentary The Cove, are what really need saving now. The film profiles Ric O’Barry, a former dolphin trainer who captured and trained the dolphins for the 1960s show Flipper. It was during that time when O’Barry realized the inherent cruelty of…
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Breaking News: Jesus Christ Registers As A Republican
GOP officially God’s Own Party In a move sure to spark endless debate, Jesus Christ, the Son of God and Savior of the world, has declared himself a Republican. “I’ve been a moderate for most of eternity,” said Christ, speaking at a press conference. “But lately, Barack Obama’s choices regarding the economy, the wars, and…
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Disney, Pixar, And The Golden Age of Animation
Published in the North Central Chronicle in September 2009. Everyone has a favorite animated movie. I’m a Toy Story man myself. But no matter which film you prefer, it’s clear that our generation—the Millennials, born between 1983 and 2000—has been the most spoiled in history in terms of the animated films we’ve grown up watching.…
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The Ten Commandments Of Watching ‘LOST’ In A Group
1. Thou shalt be caught up. 2. Thou shalt hold all questions until commercial breaks. 3. Thou shalt not bring a friend who hath not seen Lost or hath not been caught up. 4. Thou shalt offer theories upon the conclusion of the episode. 5. Thou shalt not use the bathroom during the show and…
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Rockin’ Guat 2009: Episode 12
PEELING, PAINTING, AND PACKING Hello again! Day 46 of the trip. We’ve been in Guatemala City for the last week hanging out with Jeanette and Juan Carlos and enjoying the much cooler temperatures. Some good news: the sunburn on my back has finally gone away! There was some major peeling going on, but thanks to…
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Rockin’ Guat 2009: Episode 11
SUNBURN, SWELTERING HEAT, AND SURF Hello hello! Sorry for the space between posts. We’ve been in Chiquimulilla for the last two weeks with no Internet connection, but now we’re back in Guatemala City with Jeanette and JuanCarlos and have lots to share! Denis and Alvira, our friends in Chiquimulilla, essentially became our Guatemalan aunt and…
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Rockin’ Guat 2009: Episode 10.5
So yesterday Elise and I got the chance to visit As Green As It Gets, an independent Guatemala cooperative that works with local farmers to produce all kinds of products, coffee being it’s primary bread and butter. We talked with Franklin, the founder (who is originally from Wisconsin), and he gave us a tour of…
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Rockin’ Guat 2009: Episode 10
SUBJUNCTIVE, SANTO DOMINGO, AND SPANGLISH So we’ve been in Antigua now for about two weeks. Today we walked over to Santo Domingo, a super super nice hotel and villa. We just walked right in and explored the ridiculously beautiful scenery. There were hanging gardens and fountains at every corner and tropical birds nesting. We wondered…
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Rockin’ Guat 2009: Episode 9
HIKING, HOT SPOTS, AND HARDCORE PATRIOTISM Hey all, we’ve been in Antigua for the week helping Hector and wandering the town. We connected with Gerber, mom’s friend down here whom I will hopefully be accompanying to the jungle in northern Guatemala sometime during this trip. Yesterday we visited a school where Gerber’s sister is the…
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Rockin’ Guat 2009: Episode 8.5
TIME, TUK TUKS, AND TACO BELL Since the last post was getting kind of long, I didn’t get a chance to add some other things we’ve discovered while living in Guatemala. First, the concept of time. Very different from that in the States. Americans are very gogogo–on the clock and always moving. But life in…
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Rockin’ Guat 2009: Episode 8
ROJO, RUINS, AND REHAB Hello, readers, thanks for stopping by. We’ve had quite the eventful weekend. But first, some belated pictures from last week’s excursion to Chiquimullia with Denis and Alvira. Elise and I helped them with their presentation while mom and Jeanette talked to the village midwives. In more recent news, we went to…
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Rockin’ Guat 2009: Episode 7
DRAMAS, DISEASE, AND (TERRENTIAL) DOWNPOUR Hey readers, sorry for the lack of updating. I have caught some form of sickness and was too weary. I’m still sick with some diarrhea and aching, but hopefully it will pass. We have had a pretty cool last few days. We’ve been working with a middle school/high school group…
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Rockin’ Guat 2009: Episode 6
CUTE KIDS, CLOTHES, AND CANCIONES Hola, readers! We’ve had a pretty cool last few days. Yesterday we had lunch with Juan Carlos’ family after church. His brother, Alejandro, is the lead singer of the Guatemalan Christian band Vertical. Apparently they’re the Guatemalan equivalent of the Newsboys or something like that. We ate Domino’s pizza and…
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Rockin’ Guat 2009: Episode 5
SUSHI, SHOPPING, AND SURPRISES Today we visited a local indoor market in the city. It was full of trinkets and clothes and fresh food and lots of people. Since it was indoors all the vendors are packed in like sardines, so claustrophobes may have a tough time. Still, it’s an adventure in itself to walk…
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Rockin’ Guat 2009: Episode 4
NICKNAMES, NOT UNDERSTANDING, AND REALLY NOT UNDERSTANDING Yesterday was day 2 in Guatemala City. We’ve mostly just stayed in our host family’s home preparing for last night’s event. Juan Carlos and Jeanette hosted an all-night praise and prayer session with about 10 of their neighbors and friends. Jeanette prepared a humble feast of authentic Guatemalan…