javenbear

Universal Basic Income: a conversation

The other day my good friend Andrew Martin told me to check out Andrew Yang, a 2020 presidential candidate. Martin is someone with whom I love talking politics and all things abstract. He’s great at helping me understand ideas, and he’s currently attending Clemson University to become an structural engineer. Tonight we sat down andContinue reading “Universal Basic Income: a conversation”

Songs for the Springtime -Side B-

Here is the second set of songs. Whereas most of the (side A) songs were written for friends, the songs on this side are pointed a bit more inward. Some came from watching a film (I wrote “Between my Hands” after watching Manchester by the Sea) or a documentary (“Numb” was written after watching Child of Rage – aContinue reading “Songs for the Springtime -Side B-“

a poem for the prophets

In two of the classes I’m enrolled in, I am subjected to weekly, online discussions in the class forums. It’s a sort of underground where faceless accounts trade ideas down the lines of comment threads. Last week, a discussion topic got rolling about whether or not our society is “too far gone”, corrupted beyond hopeContinue reading “a poem for the prophets”

Communion

“Communion” They’re all coming up the aisle eagerly, Red dress, navy shirt, Blue blouse, black skirt, Sisters – brothers – saints – neighbors, — And the music plays: “I dare not trust the sweetest frame, But wholly trust in Jesus’ name,” — An old man slowly staggers toward the bread and wine, Then the youngContinue reading “Communion”

Songs for the Springtime -side A-

I am pleased to present to you, good friends, the top side of this collection of demos. These first five songs (side A) were all written for people right around me. *use headphones. Rambling Anthems: Volume Two – Songs for the Springtime — if the Lord should tarry, let the springtime come, — – tracksContinue reading “Songs for the Springtime -side A-“

Another Year and Some New Songs

And about once a year I fill up a notebook. By the end, it’ll have pages and pages of random lyrics, choruses, and unfinished songs. But there are always a few actual, coherent pieces I deem worthy of making into a demo with a recording mic or my phone. After I filled up the secondContinue reading “Another Year and Some New Songs”

Wine and Ball and Rock n Roll

I’m about half-way through Hemingway’s “The Sun Also Rises,” a novel from which I’ve gathered, if nothing else, that the French sure like their wine. They’ll stop twice for drinks on the way to dinner where they’ll drink again before heading to a drinking party. They speak a language of wine and liturgically share theContinue reading “Wine and Ball and Rock n Roll”

descending from the city on a hill

This video depicts a Wednesday at Tri-County. As of Tuesday a week a ago, I have given my last presentation at Tri-County Technical. I have climbed and descended those great flights of steps for the last time. Tri-County is something of a city on a hill. I’ve told friends that if disaster strikes, that’s whereContinue reading “descending from the city on a hill”

the sun comes up

I try to stay writing. And it’s funny how what I write goes in cycles. For a long time, I’ve had a general goal of writing at least one song every month. Some months I’ve written many more…and some none at all. Recently, I’ve been missing the mark. I haven’t felt much like writing songs,Continue reading “the sun comes up”

Colin Kaepernick’s Protest (an essay)

The following paper represents many hours me being hunched over a table, squinting at a screen, books and papers splayed about – writing, reading, and re-writing. It was assigned as a paper about a current ‘social problem’ in society. In the process of writing, I read Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.Continue reading “Colin Kaepernick’s Protest (an essay)”