Das Blog

1. Experience-      This will be their 8th appearance in the big game. From 2006-present, the Steelers have appeared and won 3 times, the last win in 2009 against the Arizona Cardinals. From that win, the Steelers’ roster hasn’t changed much in keeping key players such as  Superbowl XL MVP WR Hines Ward, SS Troy Polamalu, QB Ben Roethelisberger, LB LaMarr Woodley, TE Heath Miller, and OLB James Harrison. They share the top spot for # of appearances with Dallas and if they win XLV, will be the top for Superbowl wins. The Superbowl brings added pressure to the game that the Steelers can handle in spades. Green Bay hasn’t seen the light of the Superbowl since 1996. 
2. Defense-      The  Steelers are #1 this postseason for Yards Allowed in Total Defense and rushing with only 207.5 and 52.5 respectively. And are #2 to the eliminated Baltimore Ravens for Passing yards allowed with 155.0. SS Troy Polamalu is 2nd  in leading the NFL in interceptions. Until now, the Packers haven’t had to face a defense of this magnitude. In just the postseason, the Packer defense has managed to accrue 23 penalties. That’s almost double of any other team this postseason. I will give the Packers credit for the powerhouse that is Clay Matthews. I feel that if i speak ill of him, he’ll find out and kill me. He leads in sacks this postseason. However, The Steelers have 3 players with 7+ sacks each this season, which means 2 things: if the Steelers’ offensive line shuts down Clay Matthews, Big Ben is gonna have it pretty easy come February 6th and that Aaron Rodgers is in for a world of hurt.

For the most part however, these 2 teams are extremely well matched. Green Bay has a very talented roster and deserves to be in the game. This has promise to be one the best Superbowls in NFL history. These 2 factors though are what I think are gonna give Pittsburgh the advantage and bring the hardware home!

I had a great discussion with my good friend Austin tonight about what art can and should be. The subject stemmed from a more specific question of what does it take to not only be successful, but to make a name for yourself as an artist that stands the test of time.

Art should be a testament of emotion, whether it be your own or not, and not just an aesthetically pleasing combination of sounds or colors.

There is nothing more essentially human than an emotion.  

Austin said that today his fortune cookie told him in music “to feel with your mind, and think with your heart,” and I couldn’t agree more. Many people I know are often too afraid to look within their own heart out of fear of what they might discover. Those are the people that consume like ominous vacuums the popular music and visual art of today. They use it as a distraction, an excuse to avoid feeling something real. And there’s nothing wrong with it. The world is terrifying enough as it is between wars, famines, stress, diseases, and poverty. And to ask someone to recognize any conflicts within themselves at the same time is enough to drive a person insane.

Artists such as Monet, Beethoven, Cobain, and many others all faced their emotions head on, dove into them, analyzed them, denied them, fought them, loved them, and formed them into a creation to share with the rest of us so that we could know and feel with them and maybe even learn.

30 years from now, will a performance of Katy Perry’s “California Gurls” be remembered as one of the most powerful expressions of human nature of all time?Probably not. Sure it’ll make a good montage song of when we reminisce of the days of our youth.

But you will never forget the way you felt after your first heartbreak, and suddenly a song you had been listening to your whole life, gained complete new meaning for you. The singer’s pain is palpable in the melody. The words take you back to the moment when the first person you ever loved shattered your world. The drums make your heart feel heavier with every beat. The bass cradles you in it’s arms and the guitar cries for you.

“Life beats down and crushes the soul and art reminds you that you have one.”  ~Stella Adler

Today, find your favorite painting, book, song, performance piece, or what have you, and let it consume you. Let go and dive in. 

The movie “Let Me In” has instantly become one of my favorite movies. The best description I’ve heard is ‘terrifyingly beautiful.’

It’s focuses on 12 year old Owen who lives with his mother in a small suburban apartment and a girl of the same age who moves in next door. However, the girl has a dark secret. It’s an unconventional coming of age story to say the least. 

‘Let Me In’ is an American adaptation of the critically acclaimed Swedish film ‘Let the Right One In’ (2008) directed by Tom Alfredson. The movie conveys a rawness and grit which all indie movies could only hope to accomplish. Director Matt Reeves (Cloverfield) captures the innocence of youth while maintaining the gore and lure of REAL old world vampires. 

As we all know very well, the reputation of vampires has been tainted by one Stephanie Meyer, author of the tween smash hit novel series known as Twilight. Brace yourself, it’s gonna be a Twilight rant. A good friend of mine and drummer for Blessed Le Strange, Austin Farmer, and I both have come to the conclusion “Twilight vampires aren’t vampires at all. They’re leech people” Vampires CANNOT walk in the daylight let alone “shimmer” when they do. In 2004, author John Ajvide Lindqvist published a novel ‘Let the Right One In’ which was the influence for the swedish film. And while there are some similarities in plot between Twilight and Let Me In, the overwhelming difference is Lindqvist’s superior ability to meld the two worlds of innocent youthful love and ancient folklore. Meyer’s take on the subject is comparable to smut erotic novels which teach young girls that when you’re fucking a vampire, if you don’t break the bed, you’re doing it wrong. (this is an excerpt I was told about, not one I read, for obvious reasons)

The bottom line here is that ‘Let Me In’ is an absolute must-see film. This movie moved me in ways I would have NEVER thought a horror film could.

Just came home from a great night at Bel Air Pres where tonight was the first ever “Gathering” which is their communal worship service every first Tuesday of the month. All the fellowship groups (High School, College, Young Adults, Newly Weds etc) came together tonight for a HUGE worship service. And it was a success! After that a group of us flocked to In N Out for delicious treats. All in all, great night. If you’re interested click the link! http://www.belairpres.org

A girlfriend (friend who is a girl) asks me today “Hey Lucas, you’re witty. My boyfriend always asks me to make sandwiches for him and the next time he does it I want a comeback to say that’ll really get him. He’s being sexist and I wanna be witty.” Without skipping a beat I reply, “The only thing you need to come back with is a god damn sandwich”