Secret Sambakza

Those of you who've read past posts may remember me talking out the online animations created by korean group Sambakza. The Sambakza story developed again last night.

So just before logging off last night I got a message from my good friend Phil Robinson saying that he'd found something else made by the group. Phil, knowing my interest in Sambakza had been looking to see if there were any more to the current story that is being told on the site. Well, what he actually found was, as we concluded, kind of like a "Step 0", a concept piece which seems to have been a test of the ideas though we then found the official name was "Hot Fish - The Same But Different".

I watched it through and yes, it does seem a bit cheesey and a dated when you think about it; it's also very Korean in it's style and ideas though, at the end of the day, it is still Sambakza. The artwork is different to that though you still get tastes of the current styling trying to break through. A good little animation to look back on...

You can watch "Step 0" / "Hot Fish - The Same But Different" here.

Josh. x

An Update...

Hi all,

So I haven’t updated in a while – not due to any thing such as not being bothered: oh no. I haven’t reverted to my old ways of thinking blogs are great for a few days and then abandoning them.

I just wanted to, as the title suggests, give an update on things in my life at the moment – quite a lot has been going on so you know, read if you want.

College
I broke up from college for the year last week which feels great – not having to go back for the next 2 months feels nice though, as a poor student who has things to pay for (most notably an annoyingly expensive insurance rate every month) I will be spending most, if not all of my holidays working. I don’t mind work too much to be honest: it’s just not ideal you know! I’ve got a few things to do for college over the holidays that no doubt I will at least attempt, panic about and then rush.

Work
As before, I don’t really mind work at the moment. I’m at Sainsburys all weekend which is becoming to be an annoyance mainly due to lack of hours available for socialising - I thought it wouldn’t be too harsh but it is really starting to take control. This week I have been working in the “historic market town” of Diss in Norfolk doing some editing stuff for Exposure4 – a video production company. It’s been quite cool, a friend of mine called Matt Hopkins got me the job there for two weeks: so for the last week I have been using equipment that I never have, and at the rate I am going, never will be able to afford. Lovely. It really has been good, I just got in after my 4 hour train journey only to realise I have the am shift tomorrow which is great example of over-working: I want to sleep all weekend but nope, people to serve and stock to control. I’ve got another week up in Diss then back to work for a friend doing some landscape gardening, which will be different to the usual work I do. (Counting peas, pasta and condoms… not together.).

Church
I’m afraid to say I have been lacking recently which is bad. I went last Sunday along to Parkside during which I realised that the tech work “I could and would definitely be around for no matter what.” was this week and in true sods-law style, I couldn’t and wouldn’t be available to due to Diss. Woops.
Recently I have started going along to a young adult cell group run by my home church Arun Community Church which has been great: seeing people I never se and learning things that I have never really thought about in faith. I’ve also found it easer to praise in the environment, which feels like a real release from the rest of life. I’d recommend anyone come, not just for the Christian aspects but also just for the social side of it all. No cliques, no grudges or conflict it’s great. If you do want to come along give me a shout and I’d be more than happy to take you along!

Music
On Saturday of last week I met up with a good friend of mine Callum Stannard, a guy I met at the beginning of the college year who really knows his music, no matter what genres. He gave me some music by artist whom I’d never really listened to before such as Tokyo Police Club, Metronamy and Does It Offend You, Yeah? All three of these artists I have really warmed to. “Heart Rate Rapid” by Metronamy is a brilliant track that really emphasises the use of numerous voices singing the same lyrics. As for Does It Offend You, Yeah?, their track “We Are Rockstars” literally made me jump from where I was standing though this may have been due to me being practically asleep on the circle line. But seriously, great tracks… I’ll get a review up come payday so be on the look out. Check out Cal’s (Callum) blog: it’s a really good read for music reviews. Either follow this link or find him in my “Blogs I Read” bit to the right.

So yeah; work, work, music, God, work, music.
And people miss being a student?!

Josh. X

P.S – Really liking Moby “Play” at the moment – good strong album though gets a bit samey towards the end. I’d still recommend it just for some of his well-known and loved tracks like “Porcelain” and “Why Does My Heart Feel This Way?”

P.P.S – Matt (Hopkins) got bitten out in Cuba on a shoot and the boss and I think that it is one of these.

Becoming Blameless...

I just spent this last weekend in Edinburgh, Scotland working for Furious Records and Fierce Distribution at the Christian festival Frenzy. I drove up on Friday with Thomas, a great guy who is very new to the company and in fact he hasn't even technically started. The drive to Scotland is, as you can imagine, a very long one - 9 hours and 40 minutes to be exact so we had quite a while to spend together. Over the course of the journey a range of subjects were discussed: Films (Dumb and Dumber), Hobbies (Triathlons - not mine) and Music (Thomas had never listened to Christian music even though his new career is all about marketing it.). The biggest subject we discussed however, was that of Christianity and faith. We took quite a theological approach to the conversation; exploring views on life after death, Catholicism and evolution. The subject I most took not on, which was new to me, was the aspect of Christianity of being blameless.

I've been a Christian for my whole life, gone to church as often as possible whether with or without family, however I've never really explored the Bible. This has been something I keep meaning to do though, like most things, it has been pushed to the back of my mind. Thomas suggested I look into the book and life of Job, a man who in the Bible is described as being

"Blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil." (Job 1:1).

Now this alone is quite an accolade - in the Bible there are only 3 people whom are described as being "Blameless" - the aspect of faith where belief is so strong that no matter what events occur in life, God is still praised.

The book begins with an event between God and Satan - Satan wishes to test man on the earth and is directed towards Job. God himself describes him, saying

"There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." (Job 1:8).

Satan continues to question the Lord asking:

"Does Job fear God for nothing? Satan replied. ¹⁰ Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. ¹¹ But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face." ¹² The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.

Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD."
(Job 1:9-11).

To cut a long story short for the sakes of the blog, Satan carries out his actions, taking everything Job has - his "seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys" as well as his 10 children. His servants told the news of his loss; of nearly everything he had. Job, a man who had been wealthy and prosperous had now been robbed and left with nothing. When informed of this, the Bible says that:

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship ²¹ and said:
"Naked I came from my mother's womb,
and naked I will depart.
The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away;
may the name of the LORD be praised."

²² In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.

(Job 1:20-22)

So, even after losing everything he owns and the children whom he loved did Job curse God, or even as verse 22 says, by blaming it on the Lord.

However, Job's problems were far from over - Satan, after killing and robbing him, still tries to break his faith. " ⁴ "Skin for skin!" Satan replied.

"A man will give all he has for his own life. ⁵ But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face."

⁶ The LORD said to Satan, "Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life."

(Job 2: 4-6)

⁷ So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. ⁸ Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes.""

(Job 2:7-8)

So now Job has unbearable physical pain as well as emotional - you'd think those left around him would show support towards him but no: his wife even says:

"Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!"
(Job 2:9)

This seems like a crazy thing to be said though when actually thought about; is it? How many times can you think of when, not necessarily in a spiritual situation, has somebody suggested that you give up? This is really what Job's wife, and then later his friends, are trying to say. Not many of us go through what Job had to by losing everything though if you did - can you convince yourself that like Job you would drop to your knees and praise the Lord?

Spiritually, i think that getting to a stage in my faith where I am blameless, where even in the worst of times I drop to my knees in praise, is an interesting point to get to - I don't think I am at that place yet - though by all means want to be.

In the next week I'd express you to think about the Lord in tough times - and to express faith. Not just that but also praise - know and love the Lord your God so that in those times where you're not at your top form you can find God.

Job is a book which I have yet to fully read so thats why I have only put a small excerpt in - I would suggest reading it as it really depicts a life really living for God.

Josh.

"There She Is!!" - Step 3

For the last 3 years I have been very patient. Not in all walks of life, hell no, but nonetheless patient. What have I been waiting for? Well: Just over 3 years ago a friend of mine Phil sent me a link to a nice little animation called "There She Is!!", along with it's sequel "There She Is!! - Step 2." These animations (created by Korean animator Amalloc) are quirky and light-hearted with great artwork in and a nice little storyline.

Amalloc blogged in late 2005 that there would be a step 3, 4 and a final step which would be produced in 2006 at some point though this was not the case. On a regular basis I would check Amalloc's website, checking whether there was a new step in the story or at least blog post though there was nothing. I would make the visit to the website once a week or so and did this pretty much for the last 3 years, only really stopping about 3 months ago when it seemed like there was no hope.

However, last night at some stupid hour I thought I would check the website: mainly out of habit and with no expectations of anything new. My browser opened, I clicked the link (which has been a prominant feature of my toolbar for too long.) and sat there. The page opened and... well... um... okay. There seems to be a new link - could this mean? Nahhhhhh...

It was.

"There She Is!! - Step 3" was released on the 29th of May, 2 days before I checked the website. I watched it and then watched it again. Though different from the others in style, seeing a fresh copy of the great animation I had grown to love was satisfying. I was also happy with myself: I had spent the last 3 years waiting for something which, towards the end, looked like I was never going to see.

Patience has become a very infuriating aspect of modern life. We all have to deal with it, no matter who we are. Sure there are those who, because of wealth and other such things rarely have to wait for things - we still all are challenged with it at some point within our lives. Whether it's waiting for something minor such as a bus to arrive or a parcel to be delivered; or something major like awaiting medical results or news on a life-changing event - we must all deal with patience. I'm sure I'm not the only person who after watching their favourite TV show (Mine at the moment being "Pushing Daisies" - Check it out.) thinks but I CAN'T wait until then. Though when that week has passed and that next episode is on how many of us have gone without food or sleep since the last episode? How many of us have not been able to function with that drug-like fix of Pushing Daisies? Very, very few and If that is you then I would suggest therapy...

Even in a spiritual sense we are challenged with times of waiting. When we look towards the holy spirit to move in certain ways it can become really infuriating when nothing seems to happen. Like that test result, parcel or online animation; the only thing we can do is be patient. In nearly all situations, kicking up a fuss won't get you what you need any quicker. If i were to call Amalloc and tell him to move his ass I can guarantee that I'd have to wait just as long if not longer. I believe that God challenges us with patience for a reason, not only to test us personally but in a spiritual sense to show faith. It's something that whether a believer in Christ or not, you shall encounter it.

I'm off to watch Step 3 again - catch you all later,
Josh.