Nightmare Clinic - Update

For those who were curious to know the outcome of Gosnell's trial, the horrific abortion doctor I wrote about in my previous post, he has been convicted of first-degree murder on three accounts, and has been sentenced to a lifetime in prison with no possibility of parole.

For more information, I recommend this article.

The Nightmare Clinic: The Horrifying True Story

AP Images

WARNING: This post contains graphic and disturbing content. Reader discretion is advised.

It's inner-city Philadelphia.  Towering over the narrow streets looms an old brick building with the faded, red letters: "Family Planning."

But what you find inside is far worse than the outside.

You step through the door, and your nose wrinkles from the pungent smell of urine.

Blood is on the floor.

A flea-infested cat brushes by you, defecating as it dashes up the stairs.

If you dare to venture deeper into the eerie clinic, the horrors only increase.

In the recovery room, you find semiconscious women moaning on dirty recliners, wrapped in blood-stained blankets.  Those blankets have only been washed once this week.

You pass the operating rooms housing old, deteriorating, faulty equipment.  The surgical instruments lying in the sink have never been sterilized.

But the worst of all horrors are hidden in the far back room and the dark basement below.  Heart pounding, you cautiously push the door open and, with a wince of dread, flick on the light.  You gasp at the horrid sight of shelves filled with jars of severed baby feet, boxes and bags of infant parts, and mangled aborted fetuses in bottles and in the open.  An unearthly shriek startles you; it's one of the babies, lying on a glass tray; it's eyes and mouth are still not completely formed but it still made a noise. A shiver like cold ice creeps down your spine and your breath becomes short.

You've had enough.

You bolt out of the room, trying to escape this nightmare.  But you are lost.  How do you get out of this place?  You find an emergency exit and slam your body weight against it, but it's padlocked.  Twenty minutes later you find your way to the front and burst out the door, panting.

Is this a scene from a horror movie?

No, this is real life.

This is Dr. Kermit Gosnell's abortion clinic.

Credit Jessica Kourkounis, The New York Times

Before reaching the spotlight today, Dr. Gosnell first received approval to open his clinic in 1979.  However, the Pennsylvania Department of Health was not much in the practice of inspecting facilities like Gosnell's.  It wasn't until ten years later that they reviewed his clinic again.  Already the site had numerous violations, but Gosnell was allowed to continue operating on the promise that he would fix them.  More reviews in 1992 and 1993 again yielded a discovery of violations, and again the department believed Gosnell's promises that would fix them.

After 1993, for political reasons, the department stopped inspecting clinics at all.  Even as disturbing complaints came in — patients leaving with the same venereal disease, illegal abortions on minors and late-term pregnancies, a 41-year old woman dying at Gosnell's hands — the department opted not to investigate the "house of horrors" operating under their noses.

Finally, in 2011, the FBI raided Gosnell's facility on reports of "illegal drug activity".  The uncertified "doctor" had been, in addition to running a grisly abortion mill at night, selling painkillers to drug dealers and addicts from his daytime office.  The FBI, of course, found far more than drugs.  Scattered throughout the nauseating conditions, they found stored body parts and fetuses; some which had been killed after they left the mother, and others far past the 24-week limit for legal abortions.

Dr. Kermit Gosnell (ABC News)

"My grasp of the English language doesn't really allow me to fully describe how horrific this clinic was," said Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams during the recent trial. "Rotting bodies, fetal remains, the smell of urine throughout, blood-stained." (7)

According to the Washington Examiner, Dr. Gosnell was often behind in paying bills, and the disposal provider might delay picking up the dead babies for months.  Sometimes the rotting corpses would be left out overnight.  "You knew about it the next day when you opened the door..." One employee said. "Because you could smell it as soon as you opened the door." (7)

Reports also revealed that Gosnell allowed some of the newborn corpses to fall into the toilets, until it would clog up the plumbing.  According to a handyman for the clinic, "I told the doc I would remove the toilet and lay it on its side, but somebody else would have to clean that out." (7)

But perhaps the most condemning and most news-stirring discovery of all was the shocking claim from a number of Gosnell's employees: His slaughtering of infants was not limited to within the womb.

According to his employees, if a baby was still moving when it left the mother, he would snip the spinal cord with scissors.  "Ensuring fetal demise", as he called it.  The media has been calling it "infant beheading."  He taught many of his uncertified, unqualified employees how to do this.  Several of his former employees have pleaded guilty to this kind of murder.

Dr. Gosnell himself was charged with seven original counts of first-degree murders of infants (although three of those have been thrown out).  In addition, he was charged with third-degree murder of the 41-year-old patient who died in his hands from an overdose of anesthesia and painkillers.

He faces the death penalty if proven guilty.

Dr. Gosnell's mug shot

Today, the deliberations begin for Dr. Gosnell's trial.  I am praying for justice.  I can't help but think that God gave Gosnell 30 years to change... 30 years since his clinic opened, three warnings from the health department, three chances to cease his sick and twisted practices.  Even for a man like Dr. Gosnell — a man who made jokes as he plunged scissors into moving babies, a man who favored his white patients over his patients of color, a man who treated patients better according to how well they could pay, a man who ate dinner with still-bloody latex gloves while interviewed by the FBI, a man who made millions off of his disrespect for human life, both that of the babies he killed and the mothers he claimed to help — even for a man like this, God would show mercy... God would show grace... God would give him second and third chances to change his ways.

But time's up.

I can't speak for Dr. Gosnell's soul.  But I pray that the courts will decide on the side of truth, and that, at least in this life, Gosnell will receive the punishment he deserves.  People that like him that practice such evil should not be allowed to live in our society, or in any other.

May the truth be revealed and justice be served.


For Comments

Let me hear your thoughts.  Do you think Gosnell deserves the death penalty?  Do you think this story is just a pro-life issue, or is it a human rights issue that all ends of the political spectrum should be concerned with?  How do you think the trial will conclude?

Research and Further Reading

(1) http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/04/12/10-of-the-most-shocking-allegations-in-the-gruesome-house-of-horrors-that-was-dr-kermit-gosnells-abortion-clinic-warning-graphic/

(2) http://www.policymic.com/articles/34339/dr-kermit-gosnell-s-abortion-trial-why-isn-t-the-media-covering-it

(3) http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/abortion-doc-snipped-moving-babies-spines-witness-article-1.1314193

(4) http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2013/04/26/truth-about-kermit-gosnell-trial/

(5) http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Gosnell-Defense-204050851.html

(6) http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/bestoftv/2013/04/12/exp-erin-abortion-doctor-panel.cnn (video)

(7) http://washingtonexaminer.com/58-horrific-details-from-the-gosnell-trial-that-you-do-not-want-to-read/article/2527524

(8) http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/23/us/23doctor.html (article from when story first broke out)

(9) http://www.phila.gov/districtattorney/PDFs/GrandJuryWomensMedical.pdf (full story: Grand Jury report)

(10) http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/30/us/trial-abortion-doctor-kermit-gosnell.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

The next Kendrick brothers movie: Involving you?

Image from kendrickbrothers.com

I am very excited to hear about a new direction that the Kendrick brothers are taking.  According to Baptist Press, they are now launching their own production company, no longer under the umbrella of Sherwood Baptist Church.

Most intriguingly, this means that, instead of depending heavily on church volunteers as they have in the past, they will now use aspiring Christian filmmakers and students to work in their crews.  They are shifting their vision more to the action of training up the next generation of filmmakers.  Apparently this may include working alongside several Christian colleges, such as Liberty University and Bob Jones University.

The Kendrick brothers will expand to film in locations beyond the Albany, Georgia area.  Instead of using largely volunteer actors, they will pull auditions from all over the country, allowing people to send clips of their work through Youtube or DVD, in the hopes of bringing out the "undiscovered" talent they believe are out there.

This new direction is outstanding news for young (and mature!) Christians yearning to get involved in filmmaking.  As hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of aspiring filmmakers have wished for years, there is finally an opportunity for outsiders to be personally involved in the renowned work of the Kendrick brothers.

The Kendricks are one example that things are beginning to change. God is stirring our nation... evermore he awakens His rising warriors, the Christian filmmakers that will band together to shake this culture.  The ground is trembling... the rumbling grows louder... and louder.

The movement is coming.

To read more, visit: http://www.baptistpress.com/BPnews.asp?ID=40110

To get updates on the Kendrick brothers and to be contacted for getting involved, sign up at: http://kendrickbrothers.com

Maybe it's good we elected Obama...

A common myth says that when you put a frog in boiling water, he will jump out; but if you heat up the water slowly, the frog will not realize the gradual change before he cooks to death.

While the scientific validity of the story has been disputed, the old metaphor still rings true.  Particularly with today's political climate in America.

There's no doubt that our democratic republic has been slowly veering toward socialism for a long time.  Like a scientist gradually cranking up the heat on that stove, we've been inching closer to a new form of government... president by president, administration by administration, legislation by legislation.  This has been largely under the guise of a term many politicians use: "progressivism".

As quoted by Hillary Clinton, when asked to define the word "liberal":

"I prefer the word ‘progressive,’ which has a real American meaning, going back to the progressive era at the beginning of the 20th century. I consider myself a modern progressive, someone who believes strongly in individual rights and freedoms, who believes that we are better as a society when we're working together and when we find ways to help those who may not have all the advantages in life get the tools they need to lead a more productive life for themselves and their family." (1) (Emphases added)

In other words, "progressivism" is Franklin D. Roosevelt... it's redistribution of wealth, it's a nanny state, it's leveling the playing field, it's the big ole government taking care of us helpless toddling citizens... it's socialism.

Progressivism is rampant in both the Democratic and Republican parties.  While the Democratic party is probably more well-known for its strong progressive members, the threatening ideology crops up in Republican circles as well... just maybe with more subtlety.

For example?

Barack Obama's opponents.

Yes, both John McCain and Mitt Romney are progressives.  Despite firm attempts to align themselves with right-wing values during their campaigns, had either of them been elected, we would have ultimately continued on the same, slow path path to socialism that we've been on for decades.

Glenn Beck, a radio host and former Fox News personality, even thought "John McCain would have been worse for the country than Barack Obama." (3) (Emphasis added)

If they're all progressives, what's the difference between Obama and his past opponents?

I'd like to say that if most progressives are like horse-drawn carriages casually pattering off to socialism, Obama is like a super jet....

...Careening into destruction.

The documentary, 2016: Obama's America, and many sources like it, have delved into the mire of Obama's covert past and questionable connections.  If what the evidence implies is true, Obama is not just a progressive... he's a radical.  And he wants to push his extreme agenda down America's throat as fast as he can, squeezing in as much as he can manage into his eight years of office.

Kind of like dropping a frog in boiling water.

I'm not glad Obama is our president.  But maybe, in an unexpected way, Obama is exactly what our country needs.  Maybe the startling changes he brings will wake us up to our dire situation... and we will finally realize, as a nation, that this collision course has got to stop.

But will it be too late?

Modern scientists have pointed out several inaccuracies with the frog-in-water myth.  One of which is that, even if you dropped a frog in boiling liquid, the poor guy wouldn't be able to leap out because the heat would immediately damage his legs.  Even though he would be aware of the danger and would try to escape it, once the damage is done, he's a goner.

America's fate is uncertain now.  Only time will tell if Obama will be the catalyst for an awakening... or the final, deadly note in our republic's waning song.


Sources and Further Reading

(1) YouTube Debate: Hillary - Are You a Liberal? July 23, 2007. http://youtu.be/C2oOoCdFblc

(2) LeBoutillier, John. What Does John McCain Stand For? May 23, 2008. http://www.newsmax.com/JohnLeboutillier/john-mccain/2008/05/23/id/323771

(3) Glenn Beck: McCain Worse Than Obama. September 23, 2009. http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-504423_162-5328053.html

(4) Jessup, Meredith. Tea Party Vs. Progressive Republicans -- Battle For the Soul of the GOP. December 3, 2012. http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2012/12/03/tea-party-vs-progressive-republicans-battle-for-the-soul-of-the-gop/

(5) Kruszelnichi, Dr. Karl S.. Frog Fable Brought to Boil. http://www.conservationmagazine.org/2011/03/frog-fable-brought-to-boil/

Red Dawn a reality?

In the latest Red Dawn movie, North Korean forces invade and gain control over portions of the United States.

Is this scenario a true possibility?

Recent threats from North Korea's young leader, Kim Jong Un, to launch long-range missiles to the U.S. mainland and "settle accounts with the U.S. imperialists", have stirred some concern, and not to mention media buzz. There's no doubt that tension is growing on the Korean peninsula. In the current climate, it is possible that a small, even accidental provocation from either side could spark war. But the idea of North Korea launching anything, especially a Red-Dawn-style invasion, to United States soil is far-fetched.

North Korea still has a long way to go before they could back up their lofty threats of attack against the U.S. They also know that, if they attacked South Korea, the retaliation from their southern neighbors would wipe out North Korea, even without the help of America.

The real concern, according to Jim Walsh, an international security expert and research associate at MIT, is that an "accidental war" could spiral out of control. A small provocation could launch an all-out conflict with chaotic consequences, even if most of the death toll is on North Korea's end. (1)

Maybe Kim Jong Un doesn't have the military advancements yet to back up his claims, but he sure does mean business. Maybe North Korea should be overlooked, or maybe it's just a matter of time. Should we take their threats seriously? What do you think?

Further reading:
(1) Fox News: "What Kind of Attack Could North Korea Launch?"
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/03/29/what-kind-attack-could-north-korea-launch/
(2) The Telegraph: "North Korea: 'outbreak of war hours away' as Kim Jong-un plans US strike"
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/northkorea/9961610/North-Korea-outbreak-of-war-hours-away-as-Kim-Jong-un-plans-US-strike.html
(3) CNN: "No end in sight for North Korea tensions"
http://security.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/29/no-end-in-sight-for-north-korea-tensions/?hpt=hp_t1

Does all art need a purpose?

Thought of the day. Does all art need a purpose?

When God created the world, He said it was good. Not all that He made seems to have had a definitive purpose. With the exception of the heavenly bodies, which it says He created "for signs and for seasons, and for days and years... to give light upon the earth" (Gen 1:14-15, ESV), the only real commentary that is given on each facet of His creation is... "and it was good".

This brings up a question. Cannot art exist for the sole purpose of being good? A fruit nourishes us, the wind cools us, a river refreshes us... but do the vivid colors of fruits, flowers and sunsets serve any purpose other than to simply display beauty? Why did God create the flashy peacock, the odd giraffe, the grotesque anglerfish, and the magnificent blue whale? Does every creature serve a "purpose" like the stars do and vegetables do? Does it not seem that many aspects of creation exist simply to display His creativity, His majesty, and His personality... or to just be beautiful and be good? As Stasi Eldredge wrote,

"Nature is not primarily functional. It is primarily beautiful." - Captivating

When God made man, He made us "in His image." That means we reflect Him, and bring glory to Him by reflecting Him. We all reflect His image in different ways. Man and woman, young and old, artist and mathematician... each of us, in our own unique ways, reflect different aspects of His vast person. It is part of our purpose. By simply reflecting Him, we are fulfilling part of our purpose in existing.

This is where the artist comes in. Artists reflect the creative aspect of God's image. It is why the need to create and to make beautiful things is so deeply rooted in our hearts. 

Some people may wonder where the value is in a beautiful painting of flowers or a field or a completely imagined scene out of an artist's head. Does it serve any purpose? Is it worth spending the effort to create, the time to enjoy, or the funds to support? I would say yes, it is absolutely worth all those things and far more. Art is not something to belittle.

When artists create, we are directly reflecting God's image, and we are bringing Him glory.

It is part of our purpose as artists. It doesn't matter what we are creating, and whether or not that creation may seem "useless" in the eyes of others. By simply creating, we are reflecting the God who created the universe. Creativity is not to be ignored. There is no small value in the "mere" pursuit of beauty and goodness. God wanted us to pursue these things.

But let's take this a step further. And this is where I may start stepping on some toes.

You see, art is not just limited to paintings and drawings.

What about music? Writing? Storytelling? Filmmaking? We all know that media is the most powerful influencer on our culture right now. (I wrote a previous blog post on this.) This seems to place an obligation on Christians in the media world to create content that furthers God's kingdom and shines a light in the culture to combat all the darkness. While I fully acknowledge the immensely powerful position we have as media-makers, and whole-heartedly identify with all attempts to use that power for God's glory and for cultural reformation, I have to step back and say... is that all we are required to do?

I want to make movies that impacts culture. I want to tell stories that moves hearts and even, I pray, changes lives for Christ. But I've come to wonder, are we fully obligated to incorporate this kind of purpose into every single work of media art we create?

You see, media is art.

Is it a "waste" to write a song about our grandmother, or a poem about how much we love spring? Is it a "waste" to tell a story that never uses the name of Jesus, or a film that never shares the gospel or is, truly, hardly more than clean "entertainment"? Does the powerful potential of media obligate us to the restrictive purposes many Christians apply to it?

I'm not saying we should use this as an excuse... if God wants us to tell a story or write a song with a definitive purpose for His kingdom, we shouldn't use this reasoning as a cop-out from that calling.

But my question is, does God always require us to make art with such evident "purposes"?

Or are we not already reflecting His image, bringing Him glory, and fulfilling part of our purpose by simply making beauty... and making it good?

What do you think?

I've responded to your comments!

Yay!  I've had hardly any time for blogging, but tonight (at last!) I went through the remaining comments that were waiting for moderation.  If you've been waiting for me to respond to a comment, your wait has ended. :-)

I no longer feel so negligent!  My comments page is empty!  I feel free!

Perhaps this warrants an actual blog post from me again.  (Boy it's been a long time!)  But what should I write about?  *wonders*...

What if your art came alive?

Imagine a world where your art came alive, and your words changed the world around you.  Welcome to SKETCH, a YA fantasy novel by Sheila Nicole Renva.  If you're prepared to be blown away, watch the trailer below... by far the most incredible book trailer I've ever seen.



I know, you want to read this now, right?  But before SKETCH can go out onto the shelves and into your hands, Sheila needs your help to get it published!

Check out the IndieGoGo campaign for SKETCH below, and see how you can help get this book published... while receiving cool rewards along the way!

I contributed to SKETCH.  Will you?

Cinderella: The Modern Spy Version

Last month in my Digital Storytelling class, I had the assignment to re-tell a classic story, changing the situations, POV, characters, setting, etc..  I turned Cinderella into a modern spy story about conspiracy and undercover intelligence.

The concept of romance, you see, what a necessary pretense... Cinderella was a threat to the security of England all along.

I decided to share it with you for your own amusement. Hope you enjoy.

(Click on the pages to make them bigger; then you can scroll through them and read them that way.)

It's been a while...

It's been a while since I've posted last.  I'm sorry to have neglected this blog for so long.  The fact of the matter is, I simply haven't had time for blogging in months, but now that I may have more time again, I intend to actively turn my attention back to this blog.

Many of you have comments that have waiting my response.  I am sorry, I have not ignored you; I have simply been away from Blogger.  I will get back to each comment when I can.  I appreciate your patience!

Meanwhile, here are some updates on what's happened in the last few months as I've been "away"...

Filmmaking:

1. I have continued my internship with Advent Film Group, and within that time, Advent has released a new film training site that I highly recommend: Advent Filmmakers.  Advent Filmmakers is a website that provides excellent training in all aspects of filmmaking for Christians, from the technical side to the artistic side, from business management to worldview, and from the craft of superb storytelling to education on the history of film.  I even had the privilege to write one blog post for them.

www.adventfilmmakers.org

2. In August I had the exciting opportunity to work on another feature film!  I was a production assistant on The Senior Prank, a Christian anti-bullying film about a group of popular high school students who elect a girl with Down syndrome to be their homecoming queen -- as a senior prank.  See the film's Facebook page for more information, including behind-the-scenes photos and videos.

Digital art:

My interest in digital art has now blossomed into a serious passion, and in just ten days, I am moving to Winter Park, Florida, to study Digital Arts & Design at Full Sail University.  My program of study is intensively accelerated (four-year-equivalent degree completed in less than two years), allowing that I begin classes in my degree topic almost immediately.  I have started taking online classes ahead of time, and I already have virtually all my general education requirements out of the way.  I'm already learning digital art.  This allows me to already start populating my tutorial blog with posts on what I'm learning.

Upon graduating in 2014, I intend to launch a digital arts, photography, and videography business.  I will apply my newly-acquired digital art skills predominantly within the context of film (designing movie websites and DVD covers, working in special effects, doing on-set graphic design, etc.).  The company I launch on the basis of digital arts will become the foundation for my eventual film production company.  Lord willing, I would like to produce my first feature film by 2016.

Writing:

Progress with my sci-fi/dystopian novel is still coming along slowly.  I've passed the 50,000 mark for word-count, but I've still got a while to go; perhaps another 10-15,000 words.  I do still very much intend to publish this book when it is completed, so I will continue to keep you updated about that.

Blogging:

In my previous blog post, I mentioned potential changes coming for both of my blogs.  After thinking it over, I decided not to change anything for this blog -- it will still continue as-is!  The only difference is that, now that I am officially studying digital arts, I have more valuable content to share with my second blog, but this blog stays the same.

Well, that's all for now!  Hopefully, you can expect to hear more from me soon.

God bless!
Brianna

New horizons

Hello, everyone!  I must say, it's been a while since I've blogged.  I'm truly sorry about that.  Schedules have been hectic lately, and mournfully devoid of time for blogging.  I hope to change that soon.

I'm considering moving in some new directions.  There are exciting developments underway in my life right now that could soon propel me closer to my vocational pursuits, in terms of entering the realms of film, entertainment, and media arts.  As God seems to be drawing me to cross new horizons, I'm pondering a few changes that would accompany these developments. 

For example, there is the possibility that I may transfer this blog to a new website.  I may combine the two blogs I keep into a single site, which would also expand to serve other, newer purposes, besides blogging. 

As I contemplate these ideas, I covet your thoughts and opinions -- you, the faithful followers of this blog.  If this blog were to be transferred to a new site, which aspects of this blog would you like to see continued?  What have you found most beneficial, interesting, and useful?  Which aspects of this blog would you not like to see continued?  What are some things that you have enjoyed on this blog for a time, but perhaps would not serve a purpose on a newer, broader-purposed site?


I appreciate your comments very much.  Thank you for sharing your thoughts!

God bless!
Brianna

True beauty and the ethics of Photoshop

I just posted this on my other blog for computer artists, Completely Free Tutorials, and decided I might as well post it here as well...

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I find it fascinating how fake the models are that we see in magazines and ads.  Most models look like ordinary people before the makeup, lighting, and particularly the Photoshop adjustments, transform them into these artificial and flawless... what shall we call them?  Gods and goddesses?  Angels?  Aliens?  Whatever they are, they are not natural and they are not real.  Here are a few examples I pulled from www.hemmy.net:

(The original image is first; the Photoshop image is shown after.)

Is it just me, or do these pictures make you feel sick?  In each of these cases, I think the original model is physically attractive.  None of these photo edits make sense to me, with the exception of the blemish that was removed in the second picture (with a blemish that obvious, I think I'd remove it, too!).

And yet, it is these edited, counterfeit pictures of models that so many people -- girls and women in particular -- subconsciously look up to as standards for attractiveness and beauty.  According to a study in 2004, only 2% of women think they are beautiful (www.dove.co.uk).  This is a shockingly low number, but should it really be surprising, with the repulsive way beauty has been contorted by our media?

"I wish I looked like such-and-such an actress!" a woman may moan.  But I would plead in response:  "Please understand that you probably do!!"

If you haven't seen Dove's video "Evolution", you need to.  This is another excellent glimpse into the phony world of modeling:

Now, don't misunderstand me: I am not necessarily opposed to editing photos.  I've done it myself on a small scale.  I understand; sometimes the lighting of our photos isn't good.  Sometimes models wake up on photo day with big zits on their foreheads (GACK!!).  That isn't what I'm talking about.

What I am talking about is morphing someone into an unnatural, impossible non-human that no person could ever physically rival in real life.  I'm talking about making aliens into our standard for beauty.  I mean, you might as well make this our standard for beauty (I am talking about the left half of the picture, of course):

By the way, I have no idea what this book is about, I'm not endorsing it, and I couldn't tell you if it was extremely inappropriate or terribly written. I'm just borrowing the cover to emphasize my point... 

As computer artists, we have these questions to ask ourselves:  What is most important or valuable, as we make our computer art, or edit our photos?  What is our highest priority in this matter?  What should be our highest priority?  What power do we wield, as computer artists and culture influencers, and what are we personally doing with that power?  Let me be more specific:  Are we doing more harm or more good with that power?  And if we are doing more harm... what should we do differently so we are doing more good?

What do you think?

Writers' Block now THE SCREENWRITERS!

I have exciting news!  The film I interned on last October, previously known by the working title, Writers' Block, has now been given an official title: The Screenwriters.


Consequently, there is a new official movie site up: www.screenwritersmovie.com.  Check out the site -- even though there's much more to come, the design looks really nice so far!  


The new site includes their latest 30-second teaser trailer; also, you can view the original teaser trailer (about a minute and a half long) below:

Is Romney's campaign copying Obama?

While visiting Mitt Romney's and Barack Obama's websites today, I couldn't help but realize how closely Romney's campaign design resembles Obama's.  Their sites are nearly the exact same layout, and even their campaign symbols have suspicious similarities.  I wonder if this is a purposeful campaign tactic on Romney's part.  What do you think?




The campaign symbols

Obama's symbol

Romney's symbol

Opening web page

Barackobama.com

Mittromney.com

Home page

Barackobama.com

Mittromney.com

Here you can see another small similarity in their website designs:

Who should I vote for?

Undecided who to vote for in the primaries?  Here are a few resources that will get you started in learning more about the candidates.  In this blog post, I'll list everything I personally considered when deciding which candidate to vote for; perhaps this will help you draw closer to deciding, as well. 


For a list of general information about the candidates and their political views, click here.  

If you're looking for the constitutional leanings of the Republican presidential candidates, a good resource I'd recommend is the Constitutional Report Card issued by Vision Forum.

In this report, Vision Forum rated the answers of all the Republican candidates during the 9/12/2011 CNN/Tea Party Republican Presidential Debate.  Their answers were rated according to strict constitutional criteria.  

The final grades for the candidates that are still on the ballot today were:

Ron Paul: A

Rick Santorum: D

Mitt Romney: D

Newt Gingrich: D

For the entire report card, click here. 

Of course, there are other things to consider in addition to constitutionality.  Some Christians consider the religious leanings of a candidate to be important for determining whether or not to vote for him.  

There are also side issues about certain candidates, other than constitutionality, that bother many voters.  For example, a large number of Americans are disturbed by Ron Paul's radical foreign policy views.  

Other voters are so sick and tired of Obama in the White House, that they will vote for nearly anyone that can beat him; these voters' main concern is a candidate's ultimate electability. 

What should we look for?

As for the religious beliefs of a candidate, I wonder if, as Christians, this should matter in our voting decisions?  We are supposed to be "salt and light" (Matthew 5:13-14), and we should certainly be involved in politics as Christians, but should Christianity and politics be interwoven to the extent that we shouldn't vote for a non-Christian candidate?  In other words, is it appropriate to vote for the most capable political leader, even if the most capable political leader is not a Christian?  I am not sure I completely know the answer yet myself; I'm just throwing the question out there for pondering. 

As for some of the side issues, (I call them side issues, but for some people they are rightly much more than "side" issues), I just want to briefly say that we should compare the  various negative issues of different candidates, and measure what the worst thing is at stake.  Which issues are most important, according to your personal values?  For example, is foreign policy or the constitution most important to you?  Or, consider what other issues you may find pressing: Marriage, pro-life, economy, spending, etc.  Once you can answer these questions, you can decide which candidate represents the most risk according to your values.  

Then, there is the issue of electability.  I can understand the desire for strategy, for choosing the most electable candidate that can beat Obama.  But should we ever compromise principle for so-called "strategy"?  As I see it, the act of choosing to vote for the candidate that is most popular or that is most likely to win, over choosing the candidate that is closer to your personal principles, sounds less like strategy, and more like caving into a kind of peer pressure.  Think about it: If we all voted purely for principle, would we ever have to worry about strategy or electability?  

I will conclude with this quote from John Quincy Adams:

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”

FREE! DAZ Studio Pro, Bryce Pro, & Hexagon!

If you're interested in getting started with 3D art, there are some excellent softwares being offered for free!  I explain the whole situation in more detail in my blog post here. 

When God Writes Your Love Story

I've read two books recently that I want to recommend. These are probably the most powerful books on relationships I've ever read (granted, I haven't read many, but these books were still tremendously powerful). 

If you are looking for authentic, highly practical, and radical books on Christian relationships -- or really, if you're looking for books on Christian relationships at all -- these are for you: When Dreams Come True and When God Writes Your Love Story, both by Eric and Leslie Ludy. (Eric Ludy is the same author of another book I reviewed recently, The Bravehearted Gospel.) 

When Dreams Come True is the inspiring, entirely true love story of Eric and Leslie Ludy. This book is a gripping read; it is written like a novel, and I found it impossible to put down. It chronicles a beautiful, emotional love story that "only God could write"; one that flies in the face of modern Hollywood's twisted misconceptions on romance. This book is an amazing example of how God can write a love story infinitely better than any fictional book or movie we could ever slap together. If you want to witness a moving, eye-opening romance that defies our culture, then read When Dreams Come True.

When God Writes Your Love Story is a perfect companion to When Dreams Come True. In it, the authors dive much deeper into the themes touched in When Dreams Come True. It is filled to the brim with challenging, thought-provoking, and practical advise, applicable regardless of your age, or if you're years away from entering a serious relationship. All in all, I highly recommend it; read it, and then let your friends read it. 

Learn more about the Ludys' books by checking out these links:

http://www.setapartgirl.com/my-books.html

http://ericludy.com/Erics_Book_Bios.html

Nightmare Academy

A couple days ago, I finished Nightmare Academy by Frank Peretti.  I just want to briefly say that this was an excellent book.  It's been a long time since I read a novel and thought, "This is why I want to write!" It was also one of the best examples I've seen of how a story can be the best way to express a message. 

In Nightmare Academy, Peretti paints a disturbing picture of a society stripped of its standards for truth.  What would it be like to live without right and wrong?  Without good and evil?  With a morality that is relative?  Also, this book deals with a chilling take on communism and world domination.  And if you're wondering what the connection is between truth, morality, communism, and world domination... well, you're just going to have to read this book.

As with all Peretti's novels, Nightmare Academy is a thrilling and intriguing read, that will grip you and keep you turning the pages way past bedtime.  But, I wouldn't recommend reading it at night...

...Because this nightmare is real.

New blog!

For those of you that are interested in computer art, graphic design, animation, 3D modeling, filmmaking, or anything in between, come join me on my new blog -- "Completely Free Tutorials" -- as I embark on a journey to learn more about computer art! 


I'm more or less a "beginner" in this area of computer art, and I have much to learn. Nonetheless, as I traverse this adventurous road of learning, I'll share with you the skills I pick up along the way. And who knows; maybe you'll have nuggets of advice to share with me, as well! 


Visit my new blog my clicking the image below...

... or by going to: www.completelyfreetutorials.blogspot.com.




*Note:  I'm not discontinuing this blog! "Pursuing the Truth" will go on as before. "Completely Free Tutorials" is just for tutorials on computer art; "Pursuing the Truth" is for everything else!

Sherlock Holmes

A few days ago I saw Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows. I just want to briefly say that it was a good movie; I recommend it to anyone who enjoys action movies that are not polluted with unnecessary violence and language. I was able to thoroughly enjoy it, without flinching because of inappropriate content.

This movie was my introduction to Sherlock Holmes; I had not read any of the books or seen the other movie beforehand. It definitely was a good introduction; I really liked the character, the thrill of the plot, and the cool special effects (especially the slowing/speeding-up effect used whenever Sherlock solved a clue or remembered something crucial).

My favorite part was the ending, including the Chess scene and the very last scene. But, you'll have to watch it to find out what was so epic about it. :-)