Video Game 30th Anniversary of the Month - Q*bert

Although I haven't actually seen the movie yet, the release of Disney's Wreck-It Ralph in theaters this month is one that has relevance for these video game posts. In case you haven't heard about it, the movie features a 1980's style video game villain (the eponymous Ralph) who tries to transcend his role and do something good for a change. Although Ralph and the game in which he is featured are newly-created for the movie, Wreck-It Ralph features a number of actual video game icons in a series of cameo appearances. Among these is the hero of this month's game, Q*bert.
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Blogging Holiday

Well... actually. Yes.

For the first few years of this blog, I took a holiday break from new posts every Christmas season. This past few years, I've gone straight through. Part of the reason for this is that I'd determined not only that it was good for me to keep up a discipline of posting three times a week as often as possible, but that it was that much harder to get back into such a rhythm after a long vacation.

This year, however, a confluence of personal and professional developments (many of which are positive, or at least potentially so) are dictating that I need to devote my energies elsewhere for the time being.

The blog isn't going anywhere. There is still more than seven and a half years' worth of posts to wade through if you're really interested. Not only that, but I do still have two more "30th Anniversary" video game posts that I committed to within these last two months of 2012, and those will still be posted in the appropriate months.

I fully expect to return to posting fresh entries after things settle down. Hopefully shortly after the New Year begins.

Save Coffee By the Books!

You may remember that, about a year and a half ago, I pleaded with my readers (many of whom have connections to Fuller Theological Seminary, where I work) to lend their support to save the Fuller Bookstore, which was threatened with closure as the seminary needed to find ways of saving money in tight economic times.

As my similar plea today (and a similar — but not identical! — image to go with it) will no doubt indicate, the bookstore was saved back then, but the struggle is by no means over, as a press release that came out Monday night has demonstrated.
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Let's Be Honest. Some Hymns Are Pretty Weird

For those of you who follow the church calendar, yesterday was All Saints' Sunday (and, of course, if you really care about such things, you know that the actual "All Saints' Day" is November 1st, and this was simply the first Sunday after that, but I digress). In recognition of this event, some churches focus on the legacy of Christians who have lived before us. This may be done in various ways. Some churches focus on the stories of the characters of the Bible. Others focus on Christian leaders throughout history. A church might read off a list of loved ones within that church's family that have passed away within the past year. Perhaps the most commonly shared ritual, however, is the singing of songs dedicated to remembering the saints of all types within the Christian faith.
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