Kevin D. Hendricks's Blog, page 45
August 6, 2013
Snapshot Serengeti
Snapshot Serengeti is a project started by University of Minnesota researchers to learn more about wild animals in Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. They’ve set up a grid of 225 cameras that take snapshots of animals, allowing the researchers to identify, track and study the animals.
The automatic cameras capture things that few scientists or tour guides ever see. It gives them insight into the animals, helping them figure out how animals are able to coexist. Plus, they capture some amazing...
July 30, 2013
Ben Kyle Living Room Show
I used to go to concerts all the time. It was mostly pre-marriage and definitely pre-kid. But these days it’s rare. I made it to the Five Iron Frenzy show a couple weeks ago and it was pretty odd to be in a club for a rock show.
Yeah, I’m old.
On Saturday night I went to another concert that was an entirely new experience. Ben Kyle, of Romantica fame, played a living room show in Arden Hills, Minn. I’ve heard about living room performances before—small, intimate shows in someone’s home. But I’v...
July 16, 2013
Thinking About Trayvon Martin: Let’s Listen
The verdict in the Trayvon Martin murder trial was released Saturday night: George Zimmerman was found not guilty.
And the conversations exploded.
There are people on all sides of this issue and it can be difficult to talk about. Which is exactly why we need to talk about it. A lot of smarter people have said smarter things about this, so go read them.
Then I’ll throw in my two cents:
1. Listen
But one thing has become clear to me: A lot of black people, among others, are very angry about this ver...
July 13, 2013
Five Iron Frenzy Returns to Minneapolis
My crappy Five Iron photo. See my Storify below for much better pics.
Last night I witnessed the return of Five Iron Frenzy to the stage. The late ’90s/early ’00s ska band played their first show in Minneapolis in nearly 10 years. The band called it quits in 2003 but came back in 2011 thanks to a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised more than $200,000 to record a new album. Since then they’ve been touring and recording said album, which is set to release in November.
Five Iron Frenzy was...
Five Iron Frenzy: Our Last Article Ever
In December 2003 I wrote the following article for ReALMagazine.com, which no longer exists. Since Five Iron Frenzy has since risen from retirement, it seems appropriate to re-post it. Plus, you know, I want to link to it.
A long time ago in a square state far, far away there was a band named Five Iron Frenzy. Sadly, that band is no more. This is their final story.
On a cold December evening in 1996 I visited my local Christian bookstore and began a new musical journey. A funky new album called...
July 11, 2013
How LeVar Burton Avoids Getting Shot
The host of Reading Rainbow and star of Star Trek: The Next Generation, LeVar Burton, has a specific ritual to keep from getting shot by police:
We like to congratulate ourselves on our black president and pretend racism doesn’t exist in America.
LeVar Burton’s story says otherwise.
It’s insane. But it’s common sense for Burton. The way everyone else in the video responds is a good indication that Burton’s little ‘don’t get shot’ ritual is the norm.
It’s one of many things I’ll have to teach my s...
July 9, 2013
Watch 137 Books in One Year at Ignite
A few months back I spoke at Ignite Minneapolis about reading a lot. I’m not big on public speaking, but I survived and had some fun doing it. Now you can watch my 5-minute talk on how to fall in love with reading:
Learn more about 137 Books in One Year: How to Fall in Love With Reading Again.
Check out some of the books I plugged:
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
The Fault in Our Stars by John Green
The Martian by Andy Weir (originally self-published, this title was picked up for major release an...
July 4, 2013
Happy 4th of July: 137 Books is Free
My book about reading a lot of books, 137 Books in One Year: How to Fall in Love With Reading, is free today.
Go to Amazon and grab your free copy.
Happy Fourth of July.
So far in 2013 I’ve read 76 books. That puts me nicely ahead of schedule to beat last year’s 137 books. Of course quality is much more important than quantity.
Hope you’re finding some quality books. Today’s a good day to read some.
July 1, 2013
Gay Marriage: It’s Time for Christians to Move On
As last week’s Supreme Court decision and the ensuing reaction highlight, the conservative church is losing the debate over gay marriage.
Frankly, I welcome it.
For much of my life I’ve noticed the conservative church taking an approach to social issues that basically tells other people how to live. It’s judgmental, it forces beliefs on others and it denies people basic rights. I’m sure they don’t see it that way, but I think that’s how it’s coming across in the wider culture. What’s worse is t...
June 27, 2013
World War Z: Book vs. Movie
Yesterday I went to see the new Brad Pitt movie World War Z, the adaptation of the novel by Max Brooks, where ‘adaptation’ means they share the same title. Seriously, the only similarities the book and movie share is that they’re both about zombies.
And I’m OK with that. Books are not movies. Movies are not books. Get over it, people.
The Book
I liked World War Z the book. It took an over-done concept (zombies) and looked at it from a world-wide, what happens after zombies take over your town? H...
