Sharing a Mike Oldfield video

This is an older video with the computer aided graphics. It's one of my favorite videos ever. Be sure and turn up the volume.

Video from Normanknight.com (Source)

My most recent piece of art

Whilst I was browsing, saw a picture of a stained glass lion that I liked. So I decided to make one for myself. I drew this freehand on my sliding glass door. I found glass paints at the craft store (Michaels). I drew this freehand and painted it with gold, yellow, tan, green, pearl and clear holographic. This paint is really fun to work with. If you mess up, just let it dry and peel it off. It dries like clear rubber. I painted a yellow rose in the upper left corner. I next intend to put a coat-of-arms on the door below the lion.



I think I'll save the rest for my webpage. I have other pictures of work I've done.
I'm not an artist, I'm just restless.

MsAmber
www.wildernessgirl.com 

Meddling in World Affairs

Artist Peter Adams eases out from underneath his artwork called 'A Star Bangled Spanner' after installing it on a cliff near Bondi Beach in Sydney November 1, 2005. Adams says his artwork, made of timber, fibreglass, resin, steel and wood, represents the United States' meddling in world affairs, causing unrest to continue, like a 'spanner in the works'. The work is one of over over 100 exhibits from Australian and international artists participating in the annual 'Sculpture by the Sea' event which is in its ninth year.


Wow. A Star Bangled Spanner. I want one. Actually, I find this piece of artwork rather amusing. It can't be helped that the artist is Australian. It would be funnier if it were sitting at say, ground zero.

Oh public opinion,
what a fickle friend.
It paints you into a corner,
and bites you in the (rear) end.

Does anyone remember anything heroic or noble about Australia's contribution to the world other than Crocodile Dundee?
...Just asking, jeez.

MsAmber 

"Zen And The Art Of Motorcycle Maintenance" by Robert M. Pirsig

I recently expressed my opinion to an author regarding his work and in the course of that, I compared his writing to Robert M. Pirsig - the author of "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance". I said that I didn't like it, and that it took three attempts to read and get to the end. I feel that I need to expand on my opinion, in case anyone cares to debate.
"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" is a dry telling of the life of a man who is recovering from a mental breakdown. Our hero is on a motorcycle trip across the U.S. with his son. This being a good opportunity to reconnect. He spends a lot of time in deep thought, trying to find the definition of 'quality'. Meanwhile, he seems annoyed by his young son. The man USED to be a professor, a scientist, and yada yada yada. Because of this book, I now know the definition of "Chautauqua".
The hardest obstacle to getting through this book is the detached way of the storyteller. Mr. Pirsig almost moves the focus to the front, but then backs away when it touches an emotion.
I also think the book would have been better if he had made his real-time storyline a little more vivid. If the memories are being remembered a little detachedly, then the current scene should be COLD!, or PRICKLY!, or ORANGE!.
Or possibly the other way around. Have our hero perceive his son from a distance, be numb to the motorcycle journey, and then describe the memories as a tangible reality.
These ideas may have made this book a little more real to me.
However...
I did enjoy Robert M. Pirsig's other book - "Lila, An Inquiry into Morals". This book is completely worth reading. The main character is scarily naiive, and Lila is a pure example of a broken person. It is one of those stories that you will never forget.
One more thing.
Everyone who recommended "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" must not have read the whole thing. The author is really proud of his obsolete, ten-letter words. If I can't force myself to get through a book, I know most of you can't. I had to read it with a dictionary, and I know a lot of words. (I may not USE them, but I know them.)
This is my opinion. Got one of your own?
MsAmber

Faith and Theology: Privileged westerners and the call of Jesus

While looking for theologians to inquire about the acceptability of Christmas, I found this article.
My initial response is that this is too rigid, too hardcore. I call this zealotry. Maybe people would call me a zealot for proposing a cancellation of gift-giving during Christmas.

I want to apply truths to my actions. I cannot participate in the wrongness of Christmas, but I'm not willing to give up everything for my faith, either.

Am I straddling the fence? I believe that Christianity is too "easy". It offers salvation to the lazy and the ignorant; comfortable in their complacency and having no desire to change or improve.

If, on a basic level, salvation is meant as a way of clearing your conscience of guilt for sin - I would rather be under the old law, that of punishment and responsibility, than to be granted *poof* redemption.

I don't believe that God would reject me as His daughter after all we've been through together, simply because I do not understand or accept the New Covenant. Maybe He hasn't explained it well enough. If a student gets an 'F' in a class, after giving it her all, and studying very hard. Isn't it ultimately the teacher's fault?

Introducing MsAmber

This is a picture of Me.
I am an action figure.
I can do anything I set my mind to.
I am a Scorpion and a Dog.
I am strong, comforting, faithful and loyal.
I am kind, generous, and of good character.
I am hardworking, fallible, and optimistic.
I am smart, creative, funny, and curious.

I am changing.
I am a free thinker.
I am MsAmber.


So this doesn't fit in a recognised standard for prose, but it's my poem.

I feel different. I mean, I FEEL like I'm detached from the rest of the world. I keep saying, as an overused expletive, that "I want off this planet". I have come to think of these issues as my reasons:
1. Wouldn't Jesus be angry if he saw the profiteering in the name of his birthday? If I recall: He overturned the money changer's tables in the temple.
2. What about a television show named "Sex and the City" being advertised between cartoons on Saturday morning? Not to mention feminine hygiene products. How inappropriate!
3. Isn't the feminine issue regarding the toilet seat being put down just reverse sexism? I think we should ALL watch out where we sit. I would rather it be left up all the time, so I can put down a clean seat when I wish to go. After all: we are responsible for our own wet a$$e$.
4. Teen rights. I think teenagers should have the right to be wherever they want to be. Skateboarding on the capital steps? Sure. Getting lawful employment at 15? Absolutely. Just like any other citizen. They should be able to speak to a judge regarding infringements on their personal rights- by their parents, teachers, or other authoritative persons.

Do you have an opinion on any of the above? Fire away.