Merry Christmas 2009!

The Christmas season...is a joyous time. It's when the family gets together and decorates a tree, gathers near a fire to roast chestnuts, and simply enjoy each other's company. But most importantly, it's a time to give to one another and to honor God's Son.

We want to wish you a very merry Christmas here at Zoodle, and also remind everyone to keep Christ in Christmas. Maybe we should even remind everyone to keep Christmas in Christmas. All this Happy Holidays stuff is really driving me nuts; remember that Jesus was born, and we celebrate His birthday tomorrow!

Unfortunately, this year hasn't brought us too much snow in Tacoma. Oh well. That's not going to stop the spirit of the season!

Zoodle's 1 year Anniversary

Has it been one year already? Well, considering exactly 365 days have passed since the blog's debut post, I guess that would make today its first year anniversary. I think now would be a good time to reflect on Zoodle's progress thus far...

1. We've managed to keep writing faithfully and not abandoning Zoodle altogether in the first place. It's an all-too-common tragedy that many-a-blog faces wherein an author becomes either too busy or lazy to write (or in this case, "zoodle"): we've managed to stay out of this rut! Let's hope it stays that way.

2. We've found our blog's color and themes that work and have stuck with them. Experimenting is always a good idea, but the switch from rainbow-colored letters in our logo to straight orange was definitely an improvement! Also the light green, orange and blue colors do well to give Zoodle its authentic edge.

3. We've added additional authors to write posts. Having five authors has made Zoodle all the more interesting and unique. I believe it's probably the most significant step this blog has taken to date. What's better than a person pursuing something thoughtfully? Several persons pursuing something thoughtfully!

4. The zoodle characters (creatures?) have given our blog a personality. Not only have they inspired the Resighk Man and The Incredible KayNein stories, but the zoodles have served as a vehicle for some of our posts of satire, and our innovation proclamation. How do you think Zoodle Inc. got started, anyway?

5. Zoodle has been read by a vast variety of audiences, from the indicative inquisitive individual, to the searching sheet-music specimen. An article from this blog has even been read aloud in a high school classroom. Many of these recipients have even contacted us!

Hmm. So it seems this humble blog-the project that started a year ago-has turned out to be adequately decent. Of course it has many more roads to travel before it becomes amazing, but as long as we stay true to the generic theme of Zoodle, and follow the points of the innovation proclamation, perhaps one day this blog will be extraordinary!!

I guess you could say this is the first post of Zoodle's second generation. Wouldn't it be cool if I linked an annual post once every year to the year prior? Well, I guess we'll see what happens next year. For now, we wish you an upcoming Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

What defines a "Good Band?"

Now, I'm going to start this by stating that I understand Music is a very frequented topic on Zoodle. In fact, it's probably one of the most consistent themes used on this blog! But that's not a bad thing in the least, since music is a heavily inspiring element. Depending on the song, music helps inspire one to Zoodle! In fact, just now I'm listening to a great classic by Dream Theater...

I felt moved to write on this subject just now because earlier I was having an online conversation with a friend about a particular band (Which will not be named) that I don't particularly like, but has a large fan base. I remarked that I found it weird they could be so popular, because in my opinion, they weren't anything special! Just a bland type of band...and I thought to myself, "What does it take to be a good band?" In the conversation, I listed a few qualities that I didn't think the band had, and my friend said they didn't need that to be a good bad.

When I hadn't thought deeply about it, I sort of assumed the qualities for being a "good" band, were to be Beautiful, have Appealing Sound, Exciting, Poetic, Unique, and/or overall talent. Some of those are a given, (Have appealing sound, talent) but not everyone cares for Exciting, or Poetic. So it comes down to pure opinion at this point, but can anything truly be judged from pure opinion?

I don't really have a solid conclusion for this one, I'm hoping some people can help me out! Post your ideas below!

Merry Christmas!

Hot Chocolate!

What is better than a big, steaming mug of hot chocolate on a frigidly cold day? Um, not much. Today I was sitting in the big blue recliner chair in my living room, curled up with a blanket--and holding my hot chocolate. Outside the wind was biting, the trees were bare of all leaves, and it was so cold it can't even snow. Yeah, it's cold out there! But there I sat, all warmed up, observing the arctic world outside, and it was glorious.

Hot chocolate is perfect for warming up--both your insides and your hands, and it is so easy to prepare: "just add water!" So, right now as you are reading this, if you are cold, go fix yourself a cup of cocoa. It'll help, I promise!

The Decline of Music

What has happened to music? Back in Jane Austin’s day, all accomplished young ladies were required to know how to play at least the piano, and play well too. And even through half of the 20th century, high schoolers would often gather together around a piano, singing songs that were familiar to all of them. Making music was an enjoyable part of their lives, and they weren’t ashamed to sing out loud. Nowadays, do you ever see that?

No, now people think you’re horribly deprived if you don’t have an iPod, or don't know all the popular songs on the radio. And singing accompanied only by a piano? Ouch, maybe more of us should take voice lessons.

I think it would be so cool to be able to enjoy music the way our grandparents and great-grandparents did, but in our technology-dependant world, it’s looking pretty impossible. Now the times have changed, and the only way your average Joe is going to sing is with the radio blasting loud enough to drown out his own voice.

Hey, look at this awesome app I found on iTunes! Everybody should get this! Then no one would have the awful inconvenience of owning a piano!

Quick Musings on Happiness in general

Sorry about the long period gap between posts, we at Zoodle have been very busy with all our other important meetings, and work related issues...*cough cough* but anyhow, I thought I'd write a small post on being happy.

When we are happy, most of the time, there has been a specific cause for us to have this renewed burst of joy. Maybe you just had a great time with your friends, found out you were going to get a puppy, or maybe even you are going out to ice cream with your family, but nevertheless, it brings you temporary happiness.

You can't really describe happiness...it's just feeling great. I mean, when you feel great, you are happy, and most of the time when you are happy, you feel great. They go hand in hand with each other, but you can't really describe the taste, or sensation of it.

Now that I've just given you a bunch of thoughts that you have probably already determined for yourself, time for my opinion of it all. Some of you may scoff, but I think that the default should be happiness. With all that is out there, and the purpose in our life, why shouldn't we be happy? Even when situations are in the dumps, we always know that we will never have any challenge too difficult for us to face. But as the fallen human race we are, we tend to forget this, and disparage about minor things, that seem big at the time, but turn out to be tiny in the whole grand scheme of things.

When you take a step back, and look at this in perspective, it kind of makes you laugh at yourself. When something "Makes you happy," all it's really doing is simply reminding you that life really is good, and that we have a purpose. I'm not saying that it's wrong to get super excited or happy for something in particular, in fact, I think it's great! But we need to keep that attitude always, maintaining a cheerful attitude even in the worst.

Have a great Thanksgiving weekend, and grasp the joy and thanks you will share tomorrow and keep it for the rest of the years to come. Cheers!

(P.S. It's Post 64, which is my favorite number!! Awesome! Now I'm happy! ;D)

Sickness = Zoodless

As we can see from the picture up above, being sick is no fun. But is that all sickness does to you? Deprive you of fun? Nope. Sickness is actually one of a Zoodler's worst enemies, along with dull thoughts, unimaginative brains, and more. The reason sickness falls under this category, is that sickness can turn even the most creative chap into a Dunder-Headed person.



As you can see in the figure above, sickness (Represented by the Green) blocks all creative ports in your brain from connecting and forming an idea. On the left, you see the Healthy person, whose Knowledge Port, (Red) Experience Port, (Brown) Fun Port (Dark Blue) and Imagination Port (Purple) are all flowing their respective juices into the Idea Port (Light Blue) to make all sorts of wonderful Ideas, Zoodles, and other thoughtful pursuits. Now the unhealthy brain to the right, on the other hand, isn't getting any ideas, because the sickness is blocking off each port and coating the Idea port with extra sickness. This is how Sickness blocks off creative ideas.

So now you know about the dangers of sickness, wash your hands before you eat, stay away from peeling paint, and wipe your shoes at the door! Hmm? What's that? Oh am I sick? Yes, as a matter of fact I am. So...?

Hello World!

Greetings, everyone out there. Queso here. I am highly honored to be the newest addition to Zoodle, and will endeavor to post regularly (although most likely posts will be far and few between =}). Currently, I am feeling low on creative juices, so this post is going to be, well, boring. Thanks for inviting me on board!

In Defense of Nightwish...

Oh, the love! Oh, the hate! Oh, the confusion surrounding the symphonic power metal band, Nightwish! Due to the many arising controversies concerning this band, I have decided, in defense of Nightwish, to unearth the many qualities this group possesses in the following statements.

To this day, Nightwish remains my all-time favorite band. First and foremost, I believe Nightwish is immersed in numerous nuances of sound and lyric. Secondly, they are unmistakably unique and authentic, and definitely not dull or boring. Thirdly, their songs are written and composed by a brilliant keyboardist and poet, Tuomas Holopainen. Lastly, I will convey my feelings towards each of the female vocalists, both Tarja Turunen and Anette Olzon.

Some of you might be wondering; what is Nightwish? Nightwish is a female-fronted orchestral-rock band from Finland. They started in 1997 and are currently working on an album-in-progress. Since 1997, they have released 9 albums and numerous singles. From 1997-2005, Tarja Turunen was their lead vocalist. With an operatic style, she defined the essence of the band. In 2005 and the years afterward, Anette Olzon took over the role of lead vocalist. She had a different style, being influenced from Simone Simons from Epica and Sharon den Adel from Within Temptation. The band continues to create award-winning music and shaping the symphonic power metal genre.

One of the defining features of Nightwish are the orchestral accompaniments to metal. A symphony put to metal is one of the coolest ideas ever thought of in music! Syncing electric guitars, vocals and violins (most evident in songs such as Bless the Child) sounds rich and authentic. Some may argue that metal detracts from the orchestra or visa-versa, however I plead quite the opposite. The composer, Tuomas Holopainen can manipulate the metal to enhance the symphonic properties of the music. The dramatic, beautiful symphony can be aided by the course, backbone of metal. With the assistance of female vocals, Holopainen is able to create an extremely epic-like air to the music he creates.

Influenced by extremely gifted composers such as Hans Zimmer, poets such as Walt Whitman, and authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Holopainen embeds many metaphors and allegories in his songs. While most of his early Nightwish song lyrics consisted of mythological and fantasy elements, such as metaphysics and nature, but eventually he shifted to a more personal style. Tarja Turunen is quoted as saying (during their 2002 album, Century Child) that the lyrics no longer deal, "with the dreamland we were used to, but with the brutal reality of life."

Whether the transition from female singers Tarja Turunen to Anette Olzon was good or bad move on Nightwish's part, is constantly debated over. Some adored Nightwish for their front-singer and were extremely disappointed when she was fired (the result of a disision by Holopainen enlightened in an open letter he sent to her). Others say they prefer Olzon and that they are glad the lead singer changed. Personally, I prefer the original singer, Turunen, but openly embrace the style of the new singer, Olzon, as well. The most important part is, the Nightwish songs with Turunen continue to live on to be enjoyed...

All-in-all, Nightwish is a fantastic band that creates authentic, thrilling, and unique sound unparalleled by many others.