Welcome. I'm Nathan Pyle, and this is my site.
email me at nathanwpyle@yahoo.com

day 9544  July 30.2008
......and what do you think they have hidden away in the cabinet cold of their hearts?
The penguins, the moonglows, the Orioles, and the Five Satins.
For now and ever after as it was before.
- Paul Simon

GOOD NEWS; BAD NEWS.

The good news - I've been to 20 of the 1,001 "Buildings You Must See Before You Die" according to the 2007 book.
You can guess the bad news. I have a lot of work to do.
Jess, we need to get rolling...here are the top 25 I want to see next...better get cracking.

Rose Ce

Aachen Cathedral (Germany)

AutoTurme (Wolfsburg, Germany)

Beijing National Stadium (Beijing)

Bergisel Ski Jump (Innsbruck, Austria)

Burj al Arab (Dubai, UAE)

Centre Pompidou (Paris)

Chateau de Chambord (France)

Dhaka National Assembly (Bangladesh)

Fallingwater (Bear Run, PA)

Fuji TV HQ Building (Tokyo)

Grundtvig Church (Denmark)

Habitat ’67 (Montreal)

Hangar One (CA)

Helsinki Railway Station (Finland)

La Sagrada Familia (Barcelona)

Mark Twain House (Hartford)

Santa Justa Lift (Lisbon, Portugal)

Schloss Neuschwanstein (Hohenschwangau, Germany)

Seville Cathedral (Seville, Spain)

Spiral Apt. House (Ramat Gan, Israel)

Summer Palace (Beijing)

Sydney  Opera House (Austraila)

Temple Street Parking Garage (New Haven, CT)

Treasury at Petra (Jordan) 

Unity Temple (Oak Park, IL)

day 9527  July 13.2008
Everywhere I hear the sound of marching, charging feet, boy
'Cause summer's here and the time is right for fighting in the street, boy.
- The Rolling Stones

Easy, Mick. There's a better way to fight. It involves brawn AND brains.
It's the new wave called Chess - boxing.

Competitors sit in the ring and alternate rounds of boxing and speed chess. Get this - according to the article in Time, it's not over until checkmate, knockout or referee's decision.

Read all about it.

Time Magazine's online article.

day 9473  May 20.2008
He's tellin' me more and more
About some useless information
Supposed to fire my imagination
- The Rolling Stones

Cheer up, Mick. Advertising isn't always so bad.
In fact, the Clio awards recently celebrated the year's best in billboards, commercials, innovative media and more. All designed to catch the eye of the overstimulated consumer.

Ravensburger, a European puzzle company, was recognized for their Giant Puzzle Campaign. Look at that and tell me it isn't brilliant advertising. ... ... Oh, that's right. You can't.

To see more award winning campaigns, click on the photo below. Or click here ---> www.clioawards.com

Curtis Dickerson and his lil' brother Sammy star in the Class of 2008's grand chapel video finale.

Story by Greg Kurtz and Nathan Pyle. With apologies to Walt Disney's "The Kid" and elements stolen from all the best - "Wizard of Oz," "A Christmas Carol," "Citizen Kane," and "Shalom Sesame."

Shot and edited by Nathan Pyle. All in 3 1/2 days. By the grace of God and fuel of 24 hour Timbits.

Music:
John Williams -
"The Big Match," "The Land Race"- Far and Away
"The Land Race" - Far and Away
The Lovin' Spoonful -
"Daydream"
Steam
"Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye)"
0:44 Look for the mistaken cameo.




day 9448  April 25.2008
We would warm, below the storm
In our little hideaway beneath the waves
- The Beatles

Mr. Gabriel Pyle and Mr. Greg Kurtz are at it again investigating urban legends and myths for our Spiritual Emphasis Week series.

How deep can a pothole be?
What hidden things might we find if we jumped inside?
Where did Matt Hennen really go?

All these questions and more will be answered.






day 9447 April 24.2008
Cause when the music's connected
It's like everyone's protected...
- The Slip

Mrs. Esther Keith makes her starring debut as the subject of Greg and Gabriel's Mythbuster investigation.
What does it feel like to be labeled with positive stereotyped?
How long can she stay in the air?
Why does she always smile when she is punching?

All these answers and more are here in the latest chapel video.

My little brother Gabriel (the taller one) and I wrote this last fall and finally found a chance to make it. Thanks, buddy.



<<<<CLICK FOR LOWER QUALITY


<<<< CLICK HIGHER QUALITY

Thanks to my ninjas - Joey Baty, Jenni Schimmels, Alaska Richardson, Kevin Washington, Chris Townsend, Bryan Bridges and Delquan Bridges.




day 9440 April 17.2008
This could be the very minute
I'm aware I'm alive
- Snow Patrol

Resounding Joy led us in worship today in chapel. What an awesome time it was. Praise God.
I made this completely random chapel video for them. It was inspired by two things - one - their penchant for impromptu percussion and two - my own desire to see people with full cafeteria trays run into each other. It's really something we all want desperately to laugh at but whenever the situation presents itself, it's usually not appropriate. Not to mention I love watching the way fluid and bowls and forks fly - so this is like Jackson Pollock meets Lunch Lady land.

Resounding Joy Intro Video "Hybrid Spawn"
<<<< just the last minute of fun




day 9436 April 13.2008
Oh Lord, won't you buy me a Mercedes-Benz?
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends...
- Janis Joplin

If you haven't heard of Jott.com yet, where have you been? Seriously? Where were you? I don't know.

You can call them for free and their service will translate your spoken words into a text message or email.

So do it.





day 9433 April 10.2008
But he's striving and driving and hugging the curves
And thinking of someone for whom. he. still. burns.
- Cake

One youtube video has become a seasonal necessity for me. Much like "It's a Wonderful Life" in December, when track season rolls around, I absolutely MUST watch Derek Redmond's courageous performance in the 1992 Olympics.

When his Dad pushes through the security guards and Derek realizes who has come to his side, I just about lose it. Not quite like when Harry Bailey toasts his brother as the richest man in town. But close.



hear his thoughts on the race...






day 9430 April 7.2008
There in a golden ray of light
Is his open man
Just as he planned
The whole world is his tonight.
- Fountains of Wayne

When I peeked in a window in a Manhattan sports memorabilia store a couple of weeks ago, it hit me.
This moment. Will not merely be remembered for lifetimes in New York. It has made two men kings.



I just watched Mario Chalmers make his own one shining moment. It's too new to link to. I love sports.

And I'm not overreacting. I love them.




day 9429 April 6.2008
A dinosaur Victrola listenin' to Buck Owens
Doo doo doo lookin' out my back door.
- Creedence Clearwater Revival

I'm not like this. REALLY. I don't link to videos of animals doing cute things.
This bear video will be an anomaly, I promise.

But in my defense, this isn't cute. It's SCARY. If bears learn to use weapons like this, what will prevent them from taking over? ... Nothing. That's right.







day 9428 April 5.2008
But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things that you want to do...
- Jim Croce

Not only is this day a celebration of my 9,428th day - it marks my 13,577,760th minute. This may seem insignificant to you, but just humor me and look up your own statistics with this DURATION CALCULATOR.

You might be fascinated as I am.

It brings to mind so many amazing thoughts - how God knows the number of our days, how little we actually remember, what a huge number 13 million is. (Imagine! I've been alive for 13 million minutes and there are over 6 BILLION people on the earth.)





day 9427 April 4.2008
I'm brushing up on looking down.
I'm working on my roar.
- Simba

If I went one day without listening to PANDORA.COM... wait -no, too unrealistic, can't even hypothesize. I use Pandora Radio everyday. It is FREE and introduces you to artists you'd probably like based on the artists you know you like.

You know, Facebook started to do this same kind of thing recently - suggesting friends. "Oh, you probably know and like this person" says Facebook. This is just the beginning of a slippery slope, says I. Eventually facebook will be totally automated, and it will not only add friends without your permission, it will also go ahead and say things to those friends that you would have likely said, on your behalf. Facebook knows you pretty well, after all. I don't know about you, but this possibility excites me. I can't wait for facebook to share more of the load. I'm tired.




Here is an example of my personal pandora stations. Ray LaMontagne Radio is playing tonight.


Pandora is not the only site that does this, but they are the best.


Check them out today.







day 9426 April 3.2008
It's that good advice that you just didn't take
Who would have thought, it figures...
- Alanis Morissette


Maybe it's not turned on.                             Sometimes always open.

I love irony. I saw these two examples in recent weeks and had to stop for a pic. Fortunately, everybody else does the same.
Check it out...
RoadTripAmerica.com's TOP 100 Signs.







day 9425 April 2.2008
And our friends are all aboard
Many more of them live next door...
- The Beatles

No need to dumpster dive in Burbank. Just go to Scriptcrawler.com to read absurd numbers of TV and movie scripts for free. Fascinating stuff.

I looked up the classic film, Cast Away to see what a movie script with little dialog looked like. No shockers. Copious descriptions of what Tom Hanks's character does. One of my favorite sequences:

CHUCK: Chips? Dip?

But Wilson declines.





day 9424 April 1.2008
Mars ain't no place to raise your kid...
- Sir Elton John*

Richard Branson and Google have teamed up to bring us Virgle, a bold new attempt to colonize Mars. Brave man that.



*But really Bernie Taupin wrote it...




day 9423 March 31.2008
Once again I find myself with my friends...
- Oakenfold

You could buy this island.
for 3.5 million dollars.

Privateislandsonline.com helps me keep track of the islands on my current wish list. I don't especially like this one and wouldn't even pay 2.5 million for it. I prefer those with the classic perfectly round island shape.

I've linked you to the "newest islands" page because private islands, like garage sales, are no good after they've sat around for a couple of days. It's no coincidence no one has bought this beauty in Nova Scotia. "Must be something wrong with that island," I say.

Maybe some freak polar bear infestation.






day 9422 March 30.2008
There's a song that will linger
Forever in our ears;
Oh hard times come again no more
- Stephen Foster*

I'm quite certain by now that you have seen her say it. But now you can see her say it and see his reaction.



* But you really should hear Eastmountainsouth sing it.




day 9421 March 29.2008
Run to your dreaming when you're alone
Unplug the TV and turn off your phone
- Dave Matthews Band

Sometimes I try to imagine a world without the internet. ... Nope, can't do it. Morphthing.com reminds me that I can't even fathom what life would be like if we didn't say, have the ability to see what different celebrities would look like if morphed with other...beings. Plus you can add and morph your own face. How cool. And how necessary to life.

Elijah Wood and Eminem Pres. Bush and Shrek Jessica Alba and a tiger


This website naturally brought up a lot of questions for me today:
1) Did Dreamworks use our President as an inspiration for Shrek? Their smiles and eyes are remarkably similar
2) Are Elijah Wood and Eminem brothers? I could see why they'd deny it if it were true. Less street cred for Frodo.
3) Which would make a better actress - Jessica Alba or a Jessica Alba/tiger hybrid?

God bless the internet.






day 9420 March 28.2008
The morning's hot and harsh
My notebook fills itself
- Kevin Devine

In January I started submitting articles to RelevantMagazine.com. And guess what, they liked some!

So far, they've published six:
1. God vs. MacGyver 2. Rediscovering Ol' Man Job
3. Dumb & Dumber Goes to Kenya
4. What Jesus Didn't Do 5. Review: God is Not Great
6. You Have No Idea*

Relevant in its print form and online form provides a wonderful resource of thoughts on the Christian life that are ....well, relevant. Seriously, check it out!

*as of today not yet published on the main site, but it will be...




day 9419 March 27.2008
Listen to the rhythm of the falling rain...
- The Cascades



Finally. A website for those obsessed with breakfast (raising hand). Recipes. Commercials. Restaurants. Everything.

Mr. Breakfast's greatest feature is Mr. Breakfast Restaurant Reviews, which breaks it down by town.
This cuts through all the unnecessary info of other travel/restaurant sites and tells us the one thing we really want to know: where is the best breakfast place in this town?

To get a sweet taste, check the best of. Oh, and disregard the mascot. Strange.


the goal is elevation.




day 9418 March 26.2008
She's changing her name from Kitty to Karen
She's trading her MG for a white Chrysler LeBaron
- Cake

Whether you're a snow-loving Yankee like myself or not, you can appreciate the beauty of a single snow flake.

Snowcrystals.com shows you stunning close-ups of individual snowflakes and exhibits a fascinating study of all things snowflake. (This includes an explanation of why it is thought each one is unique, and an attempt to create artificial 'designer snowflakes')

Imagine. Each one is a work of art in itself. It makes it all the more powerful to see these works of art. which are made of millions of little crystals. (2007)
In case you were wondering today, "is God awesome?" The answer is yes.





day 9417 March 25.2008
In my place in my place
Were lines that I couldn't change
- Coldplay
Alright, I know I'm behind the curve on this one. But I still have to point out the brilliance of
GARFIELD MINUS GARFIELD


The genius of taking Garfield out of the Garfield comic strips. I can't tell you how much I relate to Jon Arbuckle now.
Just check out the site. If you don't get it, you will.





day 9416 March 24.2008
If you wanna kiss the sky,
better learn how to kneel
- U2

If I had to pick, I'd take dramatic lemur over any other dramatic rodent.





day 9415 March 23.2008
My sin not in part but the whole
Was nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more...
- Horatio Spafford

Happy Resurrection Sunday to you.

Quick. What's your phone number? What's your parents' phone number? What's your best friend's? What's the local pizza place? If you reached for your cell phone to check, you're not alone. The advances in telecommunications have made it downright unnecessary to memorize any phone numbers.

Fortunately, there is...


Phonespell.org takes any sequence of numbers and tells you what it spells. Then you can remember a phrase rather than a number. For instance, you can reach the Regal Cinema near Dayton by dialing YES-GAY-FILM. For the record, I don't see any significance in this fact except that I never forget their number. I'm quite certain Regal did not plan it that way.

Granted,some numbers don't result in anything funny or even coherent. And it works best when there are no "1's" or "0's" in the number as there are no letters associated with those numbers. Still it's fun to see what you get.

But if you don't like your phone number;s phrase, try your social security number (at your own discretion) or any other hard to remember number! It works with any sequence between 3 and 16 numbers long.
Try it out today! Hooray, internet!








day 9414 March 22.2008
Sometimes I'm right and I can be wrong
My own beliefs are in my song
- Sly and the Family Stone


One of the nation's best gig poster artists lives here in Ohio. Some of his work for Over the Rhine recently garnered an award from CSCA's annual show. Who doesn't love Over the Rhine?
Order some of his prints now. at his site.. Hurry! He sells out quickly.
Check his old site for more of his posters.


Did I mention he's my cousin, Clint Reno? Yes, DCHS class of '91. Cool guy.
We watched Ducktales together every afternoon when I was a kid. And now he's famous.





day 9413 March 21.2008
Nowadays I'm lost between two shores.
L.A.'s fine but it aint home.
New York's home but it aint mine no more.
- Neil Diamond

Nosiness or healthy curiosity? I say the latter!
FUNDRACE tells you what political nominees your neighbors donated money to.
I found some of my republican and democrat neighbors. Check yours out.








day 9412 March 20.2008
I know somewhere there is a party going down.
Interesting people, conversation to be found.
- Josh Rouse

NYC is alive and well. I just returned. Check out my photos here.
In fact the city has produced yet another subway hero.
I wonder if he'll get all the swag the last hero got. Let's hope so, he deserves it.

*On a side note, you should make plans to visit Coney Island this year if you've never been. Many believe this is the last season.





day 9411 March 19.2008
Since I came here, felt the joy and the fear. Finding myself making every possible mistake.
- Yael Naim

Since I was born in 1982, the name "Nathan" has rocketed in popularity. Coincidence? I think not.
iVillage's Baby Name Wizard shows the rise and fall of your first name's use in an ultra-cool Java-based interactive format.
To check how popular your last name is, it's not as cool, but you can go here Not sure you can take personal credit for that. Unless you personally are producing a lot of children.






day 9410 March 18.2008
I never learned to count my blessings.
I choose instead to dwell in my disaster.
- Ray LaMontagne

Calming yet addictive, the games at orisinal.com are artfully drawn and brilliantly simple.
I think these are the simple and aesthetically pleasing games the pioneer children would have played had there been computer games then (besides Oregon Trail.)
Winterbells is my favorite.





day 9409 March 17.2008
Missed the last train home.
Birds pass by to tell me that I'm not alone.
- Rogue Wave

Do you like physics? SURE YOU DO.
Sodaplay.com makes physics fun and makes you feel powerful.
Skip registering and just start throwing sodas against the wall. (well, that's what I do.)





day 9408 March 16.2008
I was hunted by the wolves and I was heckled by the crows...
- Brent Dennen

deVicq de Cumptich's creation, Bembo's Zoo is the bee's knees, man.
If you like graphic design, that is.





day 9407 March 15.2008
You see them drop like flies from the bright sunny skies...
- Ben Folds


NASA chooses one "Astronomy Picture of the Day" every day.
Check out this daily updated archive of jaw-dropping photos of God's creation. A. mazing.




day 9406 March 14.2008
Who are you? Who who who who
- The Who

Celebrate. 20 questions online has added Music, Sports, Disney, the Old Testament and more.
It guessed the tent spike wielder Jael in 17 questions, and my favorite, Paul Simon in 19.
I know it's simple process of elimination, but it still baffles me.






day 9405 March 13.2008
Sweet the rain's new fall
Sunlit from Heaven
- Cat Stevens (originally Elanor Farjeon)

Once in a while, the zebra beats the lion. This time by nearly drowning it. Good move, zebwa.







day 9404 March 12.2008
They've all come to look for America
- Simon and Garfunkel

Poorly translated signs and cultural misunderstandings are never not making me to laugh.
Check out Uncle Sam. or the problems when we don't pluralize
A million others there - warning, many are crass.





day 9403 March 11.2008
So you don't know where you're going and you wanna talk
- Coldplay

Alex Chadwick's "Interviews - 50 Cents" are fascinating studies of random passers by.
And fantastic lessons on how to listen well.






day 9403 March 11.2008
My mama loves me. She loves me.
Get down on hers knees and hug me
- Paul Simon

Dana Carvey had a short-lived show of his own in 1996. This is one of the best sketches from it, (obviously this was done 10 years before Gerald Ford passed away.)






day 9402 March 10.2008
And when the light is cloudy,
There is still a light that shines on me...
- The Beatles

The Virgin Mary toast I can see, but the face of Jesus in the fish stick, no. But that's just me.
BBC has collected a handful of the mysterious religious sightings in foods, windows, shadows, anything. Decide for yourself.






day 9401 March 9.2008
And remembers being small
Playing under the table and dreaming...
- Dave Matthews Band

Gabriel understands this kind of stuff, but I'm floored by the Fletcher Capstan Tables
I would undoubtedly pinch my fingers, but I want one.






day 9400 March 8.2008
I'm in the sky tonight
There I can keep by your side.
- Foo Fighters

Awe-inspiring time lapse photography in British Columbia, 2006. Imagine all the Northern Lights that no human saw. This, I think, is proof that God enjoys His creation.





To see further back in time, click on Today, Yesterday, or the Day before Yesterday...