Animator vs. Animation

Animator vs. Animation

Alan Becker
ht: Kem

How to Draw a Monkey

According to my google homepage it is important that you know how to draw THIS little guy.

World Changer

So, you may or may not know that I love Bono. I know it's kinda cliche to say that - who doesn't love him...but seriously, I love him. I love world changers. Bono is a world changer. He has a heart for the most destitute poorest of the poor but can lead the most powerful richest of the rich to do something about it. I think it's a gift. I think he's trying everything he can think of to change the world...and THAT is highly inspiring.

Check out this article from the Washington Post

"It's the closing lines that struck me as a student and fan of America," the Irishman says of the Declaration of Independence and the founders, "which is we 'pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.' These people could have actually paid with their lives. It was an act of treason to sign it. Am I ready, a man who has stepped off a private jet a couple of days ago, to pledge my fortune? It doesn't look like it. My life? I hope not. But my sacred honor? I like to think I am."

"Why are people listening?" Bono says. "Because I actually believe in America and they know it and I'm not sure if they do sometimes. It is a little odd and eerie to have an Irish rock star recite the Declaration of Independence like it's a great poem, but it is a great poem. And that poetry is what's missing from political dialogue right now. And this country is parched, parched from the lack of such political lyrics, and I'm going in saying, 'This is who you are.' "

Read the article HERE

HT: Thunderstruck

Awesomest Gift of the Day

I'm pretty certain this Bearded Cap will be the perfect gift for my brother for Christmas
Get yours HERE

Thanks Dustin

Thanksmas Hunt

This year's annual Beeson Family pheasant hunt was awesome! Have you ever seen so much camo and orange gear? We were prepared for frigid cold sideways sleet and nasty snow - but instead we had sunshine and some snow on the ground. After a couple of hours, everyone was taking off their coats and removing layers of clothing to cool off.



Its hilarious fun to walk through the fields with the fam, laughing and talking and watching buddy the dog look for pheasants.

Angela, mom and I were the photographers this year, so the guys could carry the guns. They have lots of fun together - as you can see. Ryan kicked up one bird that flew straight up over his head.
I am so thankful for my family. We love each other well and take full advantage of the time we get to spend together.

Too good to post just once.

Kyle & Sarah

It was such fun having Ryan's brother Kyle and his bride Sarah here for the weekend. We share something very special - we all went to HOPE COLLEGE and had a blast walking around campus Friday night. Personally, I think it's pretty cool that our college stories intersect, involve people we all know from a place we all hold dear to our hearts.

Yes, this is a blatant commercial for Hope College. Maybe the tagline should be "A Great Place to Find a Spouse"

On Voting

I love that I can vote - so when I ran into this article today, it really surprised me about my generation. Come on guys! I don't think we're representing well!

A new study found that many NYU students would give up their right to vote for the right price. More than 60 percent said they would forfeit their voting rights for a full scholarship, and 20 percent said they'd trade their vote for an iPod touch.

You can read the whole article HERE

Would you give up your vote for anything? If so, what would it take?

From the heart and desk of Mark Beeson

Dear Church:

Our parenting series got me thinking and a recent barrage of irresponsible statements from people with great influence got me writing. You are welcome to contemplate this problematic cultural conundrum. Read on.

“I’m just a musician. I never wanted to be a role model. That responsibility lies with parents.”

“I’m just an athlete. I never asked to be a role model. That responsibility lies with parents.”

“I’m just a teacher at the school. I never claimed to be a role model. That responsibility lies with parents.”

Is anyone else tired of hearing that lame excuse for negligent behavior? So am I. I’m fed up.

I’m sick of it.

We spout this garbage presuming to guard our value of individual freedom. But this isn’t freedom, its license – comprehensive authorization to do anything we want, anywhere we like, with anyone we choose. Such lunacy absolves people of influence from the responsibility essential to it.

This release, so easy to say, excuses leaders of culpability. This simple statement, offered and accepted as transcendent truth, exempts the shapers of our society from their indispensable contribution to it.

Allowing this tripe to continue unchallenged is akin to accommodating cultural suicide.

Gain without cost, benefits expanded without exertion, profit with no skin in the game, all these precipitate tragedy and loss. Our underlying desire for sex without marriage, money without work, loyal friends (when we have not cultivated closeness, nor have we demonstrated our own fidelity) manifests itself in bad behavior. We ache with selfish ambition while despising the levels of accountability inherent to success.

We want young people to buy our music and tickets to our performances. We want them to swallow our opinions, beliefs and political orientations. We demand they accept our values and morals. Our imagined contract reads, “You give me adulation. Celebrate me and I will enjoy the license of unrestrained self-indulgence as part of the deal.” Do we think we owe nothing after we have gained so much?

Well, here is the truth.
If people are looking at us with admiration,
if others follow our lives with interest,
if people emulate our words or admire our ways,
if we influence anyone - then, whether we like it or not, we are responsible. We are accountable and we are liable. No more excuses. We don’t have an out.

Parents are responsible too; our Creator makes that clear. But as children navigate the waters of adolescence, the people who shape their emerging values, beliefs and opinions better step up and serve them well by living well. The success of every next generation depends on the responsible influence of their leaders and opinion-shapers.

So let’s stop whining about all the pressure we feel. Step up, my friend. Accept responsibility. Lead courageously and expect God to reward you. The next generation is watching and learning and they deserve more from us than excuses.

Mark Beeson

FREE RICE

THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!

I kid you not, when I saw the site FREERICE.COM I absolutely could not contain the excitement in my heart for the difference this is making in the world.

You just play this vocabulary game and for each word you get right, they donate 10 grains of rice through the United Nations to feed hungry people. TRY IT FOR YOURSELF!

Free Rice began last month and 1,519,627,180 grains of rice have been donated already. Click here to see the TOTALS

FreeRice has two goals:

1. Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
2. Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.

This is made possible by the sponsors who advertise on this site.

"Improving your vocabulary can improve your life. It is a great investment in yourself. Perhaps even greater is the investment your donated rice makes in hungry human beings, enabling them to function and be productive. Somewhere in the world, a person is eating rice that you helped provide. Thank you."