Blog Awards

I've received a few awards in the past couple weeks, and although I appreciate them, I haven't gotten the chance to blog about them until now. If you gave me an award and I don't include it here, let me know and I'll tack it on.

I think The Writer's Award was the first one granted to me.

Thanks Hannah! This award has made the rounds, I think, so I don't believe there's anyone I could award that hasn't already received it. If not, consider yourself awarded.

And on to number two:

Thanks Joraiem! There are all kinds of people I know who deserve this award, but it has my name on it...

And finally, published author Katie Weiland awarded me as well.

"I get the pleasure of passing the award on to 15 of the loveliest blogs I follow. They are, in no particular order: ... #8 The Yodeling Dwarf—Home of up and coming fantasy author Jacob Parker’s thoughts and illustrations of the writing life."

I suppose it depends on the demographics of the readers of this blog, but I'm guessing that right now half of you approve and the other half are resolving never to let me live this down. 

In fact, Katie said to me in a later message that the above picture might not be something a guy would want on his blog, and suggested a photoshopped version with hunting rifles, skateboards, and footballs entitled "One Grungy Blog Award." And while I'm certainly glad that Katie thinks this is a lovely blog, I think perhaps I should take her joking advice literally, especially since I've already posted pictures of myself in a dress this week.

So, with many, many apologies to the talented creator of the beautiful graphic above, here it is:

Again, so very, very sorry.

Now that I've rendered this award gender neutral, I can award anyone I want! Recipients can simply choose one or the other (or both) to display. The problem is, I now stand here with an erected tent on one hand and the sack it belongs to in the other (don't believe the manufacturers! It does. not. fit!) See, there are more deserving blogs that I read than there is time in the day to nominate.) I'm going to put five down here that are not necessarily my favorites, but that I suspect haven't received this award before, and just happen to spring to mind (no particular order).

1) Take My Heart

2) Writer's Thoughts

3) The White Woods

4) The Pet Shop

5) Caliko Zak

And, Katie, since it was your idea, you're welcome to put the Grungy Award on your blog too ;)

Images:

mikebaird - football

joeshlabotnik - skateboard

salsaboy - rifle

I was on TV!

Yes, it's true. Since my graduation last night was actually kind of the first of its kind (see post below this one), a local news station covered it. I'm the guy speaking at the beginning, and the one they show when they're talking about avoiding social pressures (can't stop laughing about that).

Watch the video by clicking here: KREM2NEWSCLIP
Or by copying and pasting this: http://www.krem.com/video/featured-index.html?nvid=365662&shu=1

Now that you've seen my 15 min- er 10 seconds- of fame, I'm interested to hear from you. Let's hear your story about when you were publicly recognized by a television station, newspaper, etc, or even if you were just the person doing silly faces in the background as the reporter talked about the coming storm.

Yes, I'm Man Enough to Wear a Dress

Am I the only one that finds it ironic that, because I’ve worn a dress, society sees me as nearing manhood? I’d be the first one to argue that these are ROBES, but really? Silver and purple? Who would I be fooling? All kidding aside, Tuesday was the official graduation ceremony. I got to be the lucky person who presented the class before the audience, and I got my diploma. I still have a barbecue celebration later this week, but I won’t bore you with a post about it here because I think it’s safe to assume that you readers have heard enough about my completion of my schoolwork and everything that comes with that.

The manuscript is printed and after I write up the cover letter it will be sent to Scott Appleton, most likely today. So after that, armed only with a completed manuscript, my faith, and the prayers and support of you, Yodeling Dwarf readers, I step out into the vast and treacherous darkness that is the world of agents. Perhaps I shouldn't have written this so late at night... On second thought, maybe I’ll embark on that journey in the morning… and get a flashlight… or a sword.

Note to Internet Explorer Users

Up until this point, if you use an Internet Explorer browser, when you clicked on the "My Book" button it took you to an empty page. But not anymore! The problem is fixed and now everybody can read the prologue and first chapter.

Also, I've changed the comment format to a pop-up window to see if it's easier to use and therefore encourages more comments, particularly from non blogger account users. Let me know which format you prefer.

Brief-State-of-Affairs-Address

Right now I feel like I'm in the lull between two lives, that brief pause where the clutch is pressed and the stick is getting ready to shift gears. But I know it won't be quiet for long. It rarely is. So I've got to take advantage of this time that I have. Here are some brief items of note:

-JT Norlander at Proeliator of Lux Lucis has some polls he'd like answered and more importantly a serious prayer request. I'm praying, JT.

-I remember when I first started this blog the blogger tips thingamajig said that it's a good idea to point out the sidebar every once in awhile. On mine you'll find, from the top down, a link to an excerpt from my book (prologue and first chapter), a link to my profile (more accurately a giant puff of hot air ;), my e-mail address, followers, twitter updater, video bar, blogroll, and archive.

-My finals are over, meaning no more school. In just a few days I'll be wearing a dress for the very first time (honest!).

-Right now I'm working away at my manuscript, getting it ready for submission.

Psalm 118:1 "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever."

(Image by JohnMarchan)

Skeeter & Skunkbeard Comics

I talked in an earlier post about a comic strip my friend and I create for a small newspaper in Montana. It's called Skeeter & Skunkbeard and it's about two clueless teenage outdoorsmen and their escapades in the outdoors, cotillion class, and the daunting realm of girlfriends. I'll post a strip here from time to time (read: when I have no idea what else to post). Enjoy! (click for full size)


Copyright 2008 by T. Wilcox & J. Parker

Friday Discussion: The Reality of Morality

I found something interesting on the internet recently. It was a blog post on a blog entitled “Matt’s Notepad.” The title of the post was “Same Old, Same Old: Creationist Arguments.” As the title implies, the subject I’m about to talk about has probably been worn through countless times. But I want to discuss it anyway.

See, in the post Matt examined a creationist argument on another blog and argued against it on a point by point basis. Here’s the part that specifically got me thinking:

Another reason that we know that there is a God is the existence of morality.

This argument is so incredibly old and been shot down so many times, that it is simply tiresome to even deal with it. Morality is subjective, it changes over time and from culture to culture. There are certain fundamentals that run through nearly all cultures but those are perfectly explained by a little field of study called evolutionary ethics and morality. Basically it boils down to the fact that to survive certain species (including humans) needed each other to survive. To maintain group cohesion, they quickly had to invent/learn certain social norms (like not killing each other) since the alternative would be to have the group dissolve and get killed by nearby physically superior animals intent on eating their collective livers.

To me, this viewpoint, which is essentially that morality does not exist, represents a sad outlook on life. How depressing would it be to see love as nothing more than a means for reproduction, happiness, joy, and excitement as nothing more than an exploitation of some chemicals designed to keep us alive. Friendship would be seen as a bond created for a better chance at survival. Slavery, theft, torture, murder. That curling in our gut when we think about such things—that would just be our survival instincts kicking in. According to this perspective, there’s no difference between an innocent person and a guilty person who gets away with his or her crimes. If murder was made legal there would no longer be anything wrong with it. That misery that we feel when a cherished person dies, so intense that at first it feels like it can’t possibly be real, that would just be a reinforcement of our survival instincts, our body’s way of reminding us not to let our clan die off.

How can someone who has experienced these emotions, felt the struggle that it sometimes is to do the right thing, and witnessed the wondrousness and inexplicableness of life, strip it down to such a pointless existence? Because, really, what’s the motivation for living when the only goal is survival, an aspiration that, in the end, is both pointless and impossible. The argument could be made that all we can do is enjoy the time we have, but without the existence of love, joy, friendship etc. making the most of life is reduced to manipulating our bodies to release the most high-inducing chemicals that we can with the time we’re given. The way I see it, without the existence of God life is a barren wasteland. Wouldn’t that then mean that, since life is more than a barren wasteland, God does exist? I’m interested to hear your thoughts on the matter. How do you define those things that some atheists would call survival instincts? And I’d love to hear from some atheist readers. What’s your outlook on life? How do you explain morality?

(Images by: sbhland)

Video: My Graduation Speech

Friday was the homeschool graduation ceremony for my area. I still have finals left and another graduation in which I'll get my real diploma. But I had a blast! I got to see some people I hadn't seen in a while, watch slideshows of good memories, and when I got home I was reminded of just how much I'm loved by opening a mind-boggling amount of cards, letters, and money (see photo). And yes, I gave a speech, which I tried to make as humorous as possible. I'm not very good at estimating that kind of thing, but I'd say the audience was about 2,000 in size... okay, maybe closer to 100.

Here it is: