Disqus - Latest Comments for heyDarren

Re: Cross platform!

heyDarren — Thu, 25 Oct 2018 17:16:18 -0000

I want to be a beta tester for the iOS app!

Re: My Interview on The Liturgists

heyDarren — Fri, 04 May 2018 01:46:30 -0000

Wow @Amanda! Thanks so much for sharing that and embodying love.

My first mind is to see if Broadway Youth Center could let you know what ways they need support or that you could help. You can visit their site here: https://howardbrown.org/byc/

Additionally, you might be able to connect with PFLAG and see what they know. There website is here: https://www.pflagillinois.org/

Re: New: Improve Your Cash Flow by Allowing Partial Payments Online

heyDarren — Wed, 26 Aug 2015 15:39:22 -0000

This is GREAT! Thanks for finally implementing this feature.

Someone already mentioned setting a percentage... I want to add to that request and say I would love to be able to set multiple due dates (a payment schedule) that would work in chorus with the already essential late payment reminder e-mails.

Re: About Darren Calhoun

heyDarren — Sat, 15 Aug 2015 02:57:49 -0000

Hi Cory,

When I talk about "the cards I was dealt" I'm using it as a neutral term speaking to the ways that our lives, identities, and experiences are a combination (intersection) of things that we aim do our best with what we have. Some life situations would allow for a more privileged existence and others mean we have more struggle. In me writing about this, I'm in part addressing people who have no idea what kinds of things I face as a black, gay, Christian, man doing life in Chicago - my circumstances are unique to me, and as such my experiences and responses may not be the same as someone else.

As far as remedy and reconciliation, I really don't have big answers - just daily experiences of walking by faith and in community. I know I'm loved by God no matter what but I don't see any of my spiritual practices as a perfect answer for the complexities of life. I'm sorry if that's not more definitive. Via this post, I'm more so describing where I am and what I do so that people can hopefully get a more accurate picture of me.

I hope that helps!

Re: Reflections from my trip to The Reformation Project in Atlanta.

heyDarren — Wed, 01 Jul 2015 06:21:50 -0000

Thanks Will! Indeed it's important that people find a place to be safe and loved. :-)

Re: Black Women Rejoice! TSA Is In The Process Of Ending Black Hair Searches

heyDarren — Mon, 30 Mar 2015 16:21:16 -0000

I'm a black man who only travels once or twice a year. But what I've found for the past 5 years is that EVERY time I'm flying out of DC or NJ, I've had my hair searched. I live in Chicago and Chicago's TSA has never done the practice.

Now that I know about this, it may be worth while to file a complaint - at least to add to the record as a black male.

Re: Why Ferguson Matters

heyDarren — Thu, 27 Nov 2014 06:53:04 -0000

Indeed, the majority of crime faced by blacks is from other blacks... but the truism of black on black crime is the same for all races. The percentages are actually higher for white on white crime, but you generally won't hear that phrase cited nor will there be calls to action about white on white crime every time an issue affects a white person.

I'm also glad you have black friends. Have you talked with them about their encounters with police? Your reference suggests that you aren't black, so I wonder if you've asked them about their experiences with police. Other than being white and poor, they likely will have experiences that don't parallel the average experience of whites.

If you're really interested, I can share more links to articles from blacks who have experienced unjust treatment by police. That doesn't go away just because there are other crimes that we also have to worry about.

Re: iPhone 5S, iOS 7 causes nausea and headaches? Users complain of illness

heyDarren — Sat, 28 Sep 2013 04:34:15 -0000

If you're sensitive to motion, you can turn off many of the features using a "reduce motion" switch that's already available under Accessibility on the Settings screen.

Re: How Do You Map America’s Scary Shortage of Fresh Food?

heyDarren — Wed, 04 Sep 2013 21:22:27 -0000

THIS is useless! Looking at the Chicago map you would think the "food desert" crisis is greater in Barrington than it is in the inner city... it's quite the opposite. Barrington is an affluent and spacious community where the inner city has places that are heavily populated and in severe need of fresh food options (that are NOT fast-food establishments).

The framing of this post seems to completely miss the discussion of what a food desert is and the actual impact on a community. PLEASE re-frame this or better yet DELETE IT until some useful research has been done.

Re: 10 Things a Photographer Should Never Do While Photographing a Wedding

heyDarren — Thu, 30 May 2013 13:15:26 -0000

1) I dance at weddings and even LEAD the line dances. It's become one of the things that CAUSE people to choose me. I've even been thanked for getting parents who NEVER dance to get out on the floor at receptions.

2) I do stand on furniture and feel much better about doing it with NO shoes. Sometimes it's the only way to get OVER all the dang smartphone-tographers.

3) I'm not a big drinker so I generally don't think about drinking during the chaos of a wedding day. But if the couple want me to have something, and it's late into the reception, I'm not going to turn them down. Culturally speaking, some participation is required!

4) I'll never be the life of the party, but I'm no fly on the wall either. My personality is going to be used to highlight the couple as well as help break down the walls and awkwardness that comes from having to share a super intimate day with someone that most of the room has never met before.

We all have perspectives and the author has theirs. But these comments suggest that as with many things in photography, there is no consensus. :)

Thanks for sharing!

Re: TRUST ME. If you have been in the church more than 10 years… WATCH THIS!!!

heyDarren — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:06:02 -0000

I enjoyed this! It doesn't take away from the heartfelt worship that was inspired by those songs... (some of them we still do from time to time!). I din't take from this that it was to belittle the old songs, but more to have a light-hearted laugh at our shared experience.

Re: Quick Update :: I’m Moving…Kind of…

heyDarren — Mon, 21 May 2012 03:27:12 -0000

Love you Tim!!! Rock on in the Whispers of God!

Re: What’s The Deal With Timeline On Facebook Profiles?

heyDarren — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 01:02:12 -0000

Call me a weirdo, but I get sad when I go to a friend's page and they have the old profile. I like the visual nature of timeline and love to see the expression that people put into the cover images.

To me the timeline is far more engaging than the old profiles. People (EVERY TIME) complain about how 'hard' anything new is on Facebook and after having to adjust you don't hear about it anymore. People are always predicting facebook loosing a lot of users because of changes yet that hasn't come true so far either.

I like the side-benefits of new products... they often implement tiny fixes to older problems. Pokes are better site-wide (not that our lives were exactly centered on pokes in the first place. lol).

Re: How do I find music that won’t get flagged for copyright violations?

heyDarren — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:34:15 -0000

Hey Will! Always glad to see comments from you!

You're correct in that an automated process searches and finds a digital 'fingerprint' in copyrighted recordings - which is how the flag is produced. I do think the process of un-flagging a video should be escalated and have more tools than it does currently.

Your comment also reminds me of how much isn't understood by the general public about copyright - which is why such automated restrictions are put in place. I've become increasingly aware of the difference it makes when someone pays me $1.99 for a download of a photo for Facebook vs. when someone skips that by doing a screen capture and posting that to their page.

One might argue - "it's still exposure" but for me as the artist - 1) I've made a reasonable way to get rights to my work, 2) posting a screen capture often means a blurry, watermarked image of low-quality is what's been seen as 'my work' - thus degrading my image in the process, and 3) I can't pay ANY of my bills with "exposure" but I can with an actual payment for the use of my work. (There have been artists who used my images to promote themselves - watermark and all... at the end of the day, they aren't the ones who turn around and want to share a cut of the money from a paid gig they got because they sent my photograph as their headshot).

So, if I give away my work - that's my right, but if I put measures in place to restrict its use, I'd like that to be honored. Does the copyright filter get in the way sometimes? YES. Does the media industry with it's HUGE profits and political influence abuse it's position in how all this works? ABSOLUTELY. But at the end of the day, I think we have to raise the value of doing things in a way that's fair and sustainable to the artists who create this stuff that we love so much. Licensed music is a big step in that direction.

P.S. - I was reading an article that said Facebook and other large social media sites outsource reviewing flagged content (photos, posts, etc...) to 3rd parties in developing countries. So for some content it is viewed by humans but that process is GORY and quite disturbing. It's sad that someone has to review the crap that gets posted because someone didn't have the decency NOT to post it.

Re: Worship Backgrounds for V.H.F.

heyDarren — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:19:28 -0000

Glad to hear it Alvin! Keep on praising!

Re: We Have Been Changed to Bring Change!

heyDarren — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 10:19:00 -0000

hey Steve!

Glad to hear you enjoyed it! It resonates in my heart as well!

Re: How to change the default tab on your Facebook fan page.

heyDarren — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 18:16:02 -0000

HI Stephanie! Good catch!

I'm not sure what happened with that check box... somewhere in the back of my mind I think I unchecked it during a wave of spam attacks... but I've re-enabled the option now. :-)

Re: Worship Backgrounds for V.H.F.

heyDarren — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 07:56:21 -0000

Hey Progressive! No problem and I'm glad I could help! Let me know how things are going over there.

Re: Mark Weber says church music is racially segregated and I agree.

heyDarren — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 07:55:36 -0000

I think a multicultural Christian Radio station would be great! For now, I'll stick with my Pandora Radio! ;-)

Re: Worship Backgrounds for V.H.F.

heyDarren — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 07:54:43 -0000

I'm so glad to hear that! Thanks for responding!

Re: Tractors Fly Free, Too

heyDarren — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 18:31:10 -0000

Ahhh! That's such a great story! I didn't realize you have family in
Mishawaka, I do too! It was a pleasure meeting you in person as well. Enjoy the holidays!

Re: Back in Action on Animoto (Referral Promo Code too!)

heyDarren — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:52:19 -0000

Hi Ms. Kelly,

SHAME on me for not seeing your post. How did things go? Thanks for using the code, and yes I do get credit for it. You may also consider Animoto for Causes - the non-profit free version of Animoto for 501 (c) (3) corporations. (details here: http://animoto.com/cause)

Lastly, the song is "identity" by lecrae

Re: Back in Action on Animoto (Referral Promo Code too!)

heyDarren — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 20:49:02 -0000

Hey there Lux232, It looks like you want a free way to make video slideshows... check out these free alternatives: http://www.makeuseof.com/ta...

Re: Bizarre Nikon DSLR Seen on Torchwood

heyDarren — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 04:49:02 -0000

so... I wonder how many other people scrolled back up to see if there really was a Pentax strap. lol

Re: Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz Cancels Speaking At Global Christian Leadership Summit

heyDarren — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:05:07 -0000

I'm a member of Willow Creek Church and attended the Summit on campus. I heard about Howard Shultz pulling out of the conference on Wednesday night. I was pretty disturbed by this because the accusations in the Change.org petition more accurately applied to the practices of Focus on the Family and of Exodus. The petition acknowledges Willow's departure from Exodus in 2009, yet accuses the church of still having Anti-LGBT groups.

I was upset by this because I closely follow Willow's evolving stance on LGBT issues and NONE of the accusations were accurate. I could accept the group taking issue with Willow not affirming marriage equality or something like that, but it was SAD that this mis-informed group could pressure Starbucks with false information.

I knew Bill Hybels would respond to this in a healthy way, but I was certainly impressed by the love and good-nature of the response. In contrast, Exodus chose to post on their web site (the same day of Bill's announcement) their own version of how and why Willow Creek parted ways with the organization (that wasn't very gracious and completely accurate either).

I hope that more constructive conversations come out of this incident, seeing how so many churches and organizations are having to grapple with this topic in ways that honor people as human beings and allows for differences of opinion and or theological stance.