Another Christmas

The excitement about Christmas I experienced as a child has been on the decline. I'm less ecstatic about the smorgasbord of delectable holiday treats than I once was. I don't much care anymore whether we string up Christmas lights or decorate the exterior of our house. I stayed up late on Christmas Eve, but it wasn't out of anticipation—rather, I watched Clint play Call of Duty 4 and then talked late into the night with Justin. My sister made me get out of bed to eat the wonderful breakfast my dad prepared.

Isn't it sad when you realize that the child in you has grown up and dissipated into adulthood? What used to be inconceivable to me when I was a child now makes perfect sense; I can understand the adult perspective because I am an adult. I'm not a child behind enemy lines scoping out the lay of the land; I am the "enemy". I know the mindset, the motive, the excuses firsthand. I'm here. I'm not sure if it's better or worse this way.

One thing I have grown out of is cheesy Christmas songs. The tried-and-true carols come on the radio and jingle around in my ears, but some of them now strike me as flat-out stupid. What's with that song talking about Santa Claus coming right down Santa Claus Lane? Maybe it's because I was never one of Santa's believers, but I think the song is dumb. Now that I mention it, I can't think of a single song that includes Santa that I really like. Allow me an apathetic shrug.

Becoming older hasn't unveiled any new insights into the song The 12 Days of Christmas, though. It has always puzzled me. Why would anyone want any of the gifts besides the five golden rings? Perhaps the song hearkens back to a simpler time, when people were satisfied with more basic gifts. You know, like when people gave each other eight maids a-milking. Wait, what? Hmm—I guess it doesn't quite make sense in any era. In any case, the song provides ample material for Christmas-themed jokes and videos.

After making this week's video, I've found myself asking frequently, "Are you insecure?" Ask yourself this question and ponder your motives for the way you act in various situations. You might surprise yourself, if you're painfully honest. I think insecurity accounts for much more of my behavior than I'd like to admit.

I hope your Christmases were happy and secure!

Love,

Jordan

Welcome to Earth, Jesus

Yo, bros! As you may have guessed, it is I: JoPo. I bring you good tidings of great joy that shall be for all viewers. Unto us is filmed this day, in the region in which I live, a video series which is rather humorous. And this shall be a sign unto you: you shall see the first one posted on Saturday.

Yeah ... all that was to say that I will be posting a very short Christmas-themed video every day leading up to Christmas starting this Saturday. They are each under 30-seconds. Consider them bite-sized morsels for the eyes.

Disclaimer: the videos are not making fun of any of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus!

As I was thinking about "the first Christmas" (i.e. when Jesus was born), I had an interesting thought. This time of year ushers in a surplus of whimsical, magical feelings and glowy images. We see the nativity scene in soft colors with serene looks on every face and tender messages typed underneath. Our music reinforces the feathery, nebulous aura surrounding the event: the song "Silent Night" paints the night as encapsulated in unearthly calmness, untouched by the various tremors and disruptions of normal nights.

It's truly wonderful that the Christ child was born—but was the night really so undisturbed? Didn't thefts and rapes still happen? Didn't the cattle low (as even the song Silent Night says, ironically)? Didn't frazzled innkeepers become gruff? Chickens still squawked, mosquitoes still bit, people still sweat, spouses still had tiffs. In other words, the moment wasn't suspended in time, free from all the bothers of life. Jesus didn't come to earth in a bubble of mystical, luminous tranquility. That, I think, is one of the beauties of it: for all of the world's grime, bickering, backbiting, stealing, and turmoil, Jesus still came. He was born into the midst of it. He entered real—albeit sometimes ugly—life because He really cares for us.

"For God so loved the (dirty, sinful, raucous) world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16; italicized words added)

I can't say exactly how that first Christmas looked; I wasn't there. But whether or not a halo of angelic light gilded Jesus's infant brow, He was born of a virgin and wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger inside a stable. That is the point of the short Christmas videos: I want to remember that Jesus's birth is a reality. He was born. He was born into this real world as a real man surrounded by real people doing people things, and real animals doing animal things. Remember Him this Christmas.

Jordan "Raw and Real" Powell

Howdy, I'm Flynn Buckly

Everybody likes videos that follow the "My Five Tips" structure. You know, like "Ten things to do before attending a Britney Spears concert" or "Five ways to rile diehard Twilight fanatics". These videos are usually funny. They don't press any one point for very long; they jump from tip to tip, so they appeal to the attention-deficient persons in our midst (that includes me sometimes).

They're fairly simple to make, too. Brainstorm funny ideas about your selected topic, and BAM—you practically have your script. Since each tip isn't itself very long, they don't require much writing or planning. Film tip #1 and then pause and think about tip #2; film tip #2 and pause as you think about tip #3; and so on. You can plan on the fly as you record.

My video is about Flynn Buckly and his list of Yuletide "If'n You Don'ts". I had a lot of fun portraying Flynn; the outfit really helped me think Flynnish thoughts and get into character. I wish I was a little more consistent with the accent, though.

Look out for an interview of Flynn coming soon. I want to start another channel where I can post videos of me interviewing my characters. I already have some in the works!

Until next time,
Jordan

It's Autumn

Happy Friday, folks! It's video time. This week I bring you a Jordan Powell original song called The Fall. I wrote it, played the piano, and sang the vocals (hence why it is *cough* not the greatest). You might well ask yourself: what does it mean? It's basically about autumn, and how it makes me nostalgic to no end. Other than that, it's open to interpretation.

The Fall lyrics:

It's autumn

So many thoughts come

They snow down around me

Like brittle, parched leaves

It's cold out

And so I hold out

My hands to the fire

Of all that my little heart believes

I'm falling

(You're following)

We're falling

Into the past

It's cold here

(But bright and clear)

And all the tears fall up

As I duck

Into the past

I called ya

Head full of nostalgia

And we lost ourselves in things

That we'd proven good

It was cold there

But all the old cares

Had toppled and now only

All the pleasant things stood

I'm falling

(You're following)

We're falling

Into the past

It's cold here

(But bright and clear)

And all the tears fall up

As I duck

Into the past

This autumn air takes me somewhere else

It smells like memories and years gone by

Hot chocolate and fire places add their spells

And the tears fall up into the sky

It's cold out

And so I hold out

My hands to the fire

Of all that my little heart believes

I Hope You Dance

Hello there, people of earth. I have descended once again from my lofty seat in the illustrious clouds to grace your thirsty brows with yet another ridiculous video. It's a tough job full of nit, grit, and maybe a little bit of spit—but someone's got to do it. Happily I comply.

This week is an old fashioned, honest-to-goodness dance party. My behavior may seem outlandish to you, but that shows how much you have to learn about who I am. I routinely dance like this at home, throwing caution to the wind, but only for select audiences. But no more! In this video, I let you in on the dancing side of me.

Dancing is one of my favorite forms of exercise. It's a blast and lets me channel my creativity into thinking up new moves, but it is a workout at the same time. I filmed the dancing yesterday, and I woke up very sore this morning. Oof—I need to dance more often. I'm not exactly a spring chicken anymore. I'm more like an early-summer chicken ... or duck. Or platypus.

I will include a song list sooner or later whenever I get around to it. I think I want to make this a regular feature; I will try to write a blog post to accompany each video I shoot.

I really like the large headphones I wear in the video. Awesome stuff. I haven't been able to find any others like them, although I did find these on Amazon.

Song list:

1. Eine Kleine Nachtmusik — Mozart

2. Everybody Dance — Chic

3. Jump Jump Jump — True Vibe

4. DotA — Basshunter

5. Out of Control — Capital Lights

6. Axel F — Harold Faltermeyer

7. Scatman — Scatman John

8. Blue — Eiffel 65

9. Strawberry Avalanche — Owl City

10. Every Time We Touch — Cascada

11. Light of Love — Music Go Music

12. Bündner Jodler — Berner Liedertafel

13. Castle in the Sky — DJ Satomi

14. Dragostea Din Tei — O-Zone

15. Butterfly — Smile.dk

16. Don't Stop Believin' (dance remix) — George Lamond

17. Dancing Queen — Abba

18. Better Off Alone — Alice Deejay

19. Every Time You Need Me — Kindervater feat. Nadja

20. Colors of the Rainbow — DJ Skeptik