Deep Cuts

It's extremely affirming to me to see the US finally making some visible and vocal steps towards dealing with the situation in Sudan. In an ABC News Report President Bush was quoted as saying "I promise this to the people of Darfur, the United States will not avert our eyes from a crisis that challenges the conscience of the world."

There are many countries in many regions making deliberate steps towards peace a freedom. I rest hopeful that the efforts made by the US, The UN and NATO will not go in vain.

On a completely different note, I was able to catch a viewing of Hot Fuzz this weekend. One of the best spoofs I've seen in a long time. Everything about it was perfect and hilarious. I will be seeing this one again.

The Light Hits My Eyes

There no reason you should not be listening to Chromeo right this very second.

In world news, it's pretty tough looking at the situation in Lebanon, Iraq, North Korea and China. Israel and Palestine are dealing with some major deep rooted issues. We should all take the time each week to read up on some of the major international conflicts and issues. You think it has nothing to do with you in your safe home and the safe United States? Your Wrong! It has everything to do with you and where you are and what you do. It affects decisions our politicians are making on a community, regional, national and international level. It affects our taxes, our gas prices, our minimum wage and our employment rate. It affects or trial and appeal process. It affects our constitution.

So, go have a read. Try The BBC or World News

It gets to be kind of fun.

So...if learning about all that's going on in the world gets too heavy, head on over to listen to Chromeo. The link is above and is worth a listen.

Mysteries not read to reveal

The New Amsterdams have just released a great cover of the Smashing Pumpkins' song "Thirty Three." Follow the link to have a listen on their myspace page

And I cannot sing

According to THIS ARTICLE in the Boston Globe, Guitar Hero nights are wiping Karaoke Nights away and providing a way for people to truly shred

I seem to be in

This is from a great article I read last week. It's certainly not an original idea, but still relevant and highly motivational.

Our Lives Are a Ministry:

The way we smile, laugh or cry, that which is in our head, our heart, and our physical ability- all of it has the potential for ministry.

We must live to serve others with joy, experience, healing and hope. We must serve compassion with passion and love without expectation of a return. Ministry is about giving away the best of what we have and what we are so that everyone who finds us can find their way to an ultimate and intimate relationship with Father God.

Raising your voice

Are you into cool companies with amazing websites? Boy, I know I sure am! At any rate I've stumbled across Schooldesigners.com, a wonderful company who works to make schools and places of education creatively unique and inspiring. The design names are even uniquely created to match a certain school, style or location. And, personally, I believe that environment can be a major catalyst for growth in education. Who wouldn't want to study and learn in a place like this

We have the time

I love the creativity of this video. It's almost quirky and absurd if you really pay attention, but I genuinely appreciate when people make visually stunning art that, so appropriately, accompanies music.

More on world peace to come.

Step on through to the other side

Enough social/political commentary for a day. Let's have some fun shall we??

Now let me express my complete amazement at the fact that technology in the world today just keeps getting smaller. There's no deep underlying statement that goes along with this, just the fact that I am completely shocked that people are spending hundreds of dollars (Pounds, Euros, Yen, etc...) to make tv shows, movies and music videos available to them every second of the day. Take for instance this Verizon V-cast phone (Shown above). With this phone and similar models you can watch Fox's Prisonbreak on a screen less than 2" large.

Now, call me ignorant, old-fashioned, or just plain crazy, but can people not wait for things these days?? With things like TiVo and other popular DVRs available why is it so necessary to catch up on the latest episode of ABC's LOST on the 20 minute commute on the 3 train in Manhattan?

Personally speaking, I think having the constant availability of these videos et. al. is more of a novelty and is a true waste of time. I feel like much is being missed on a 2" screen rather than your nice 27" or larger (or smaller) screen at home. Now, again, maybe I'm just a little old-fashioned, but this "media snacking" as some are calling it, is just absurd. Sure....I'm for watching Coldplay's live at Madison Square Garden performance of "Miss You" but I've never been in a time or place where I had to have it right this second and pulled it up on my iPod nano.

Also, I feel like a lot of people are spending time away from news, periodicals, and other living humans while they are almost minutely submersed in the small-screen of today.

I must admit, however, that in the midst of all my ranting, that to have access to up-to-the-minute sports highlights is a little fancy and a lot of nice. But not worth a phone that you can buy used on eBay for $499.

She makes the driver blush

The following is from the very interesting site Exxpose Exxon

As the world's largest private oil company, ExxonMobil has the power to direct the energy industry and policy makers toward a smarter, cleaner, and more secure energy future. The solutions to reducing our dependence on oil while strengthening our economy, creating jobs, and protecting the earth are available today. Instead, ExxonMobil is using its profits and power to take America backwards and keep us addicted to oil.
ExxonMobil is the ONLY major oil company:

* Denying the urgency of global warming and funding front groups and think tanks that mislead the public about global warming and delay crucial action;
* Refusing to invest in clean, renewable energy that will reduce consumer energy costs, lessen America’s oil dependence, decrease air pollution and health care costs, and curb global warming;
* Still a member of Arctic Power, the single-issue lobby group trying to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

And if that weren’t enough:

* ExxonMobil has still not paid the punitive damages it owes for the 1989 Exxon Valdez Oil Spill! So far, 6,000 fisherman and others harmed by the devastating spill have died awaiting compensation.

At every turn, ExxonMobil has acted consistently to move our country backward on energy and global warming policy.
ExxonMobil is not changing on its own. It refuses to use its technological know-how and massive resources to positively impact the availability of alternative energies for the progress of this nation, and the world. It is now up to the American public to expose ExxonMobil and pressure it to join the rest of society in creating a vibrant renewable energy sector that supports a strong economy, new jobs, public health, national security, and a livable future for all.


If you want to see a cool website and discover a great band head over to find out more about Four Tet

Four Tet's flash-based website is one of the more visually stunning sites I've come across in recent weeks and as far as their music goes, they are one of more accessible instrumental/electronic bands around. They've been great to work to and just have on in the background while life is going on around you. Enjoy

The way you look tonight

The legendary Tony Blair will be stepping down as Prime Minister of England late June. Whether you agree with his stance on America, the war in Iraq, or immigration Blair has done amazing things in the UK and will leave a major mark on the continent of Europe and the world.

In movies...Thank You For Smoking is a great film that is funny and filled with tons of social and political satire. I highly recommend it.

In your shoes

So beings a new era in Northern Ireland. An historic accord between the Catholic (IRA) and Protestant leaders has ended decades of disagreement, waring and violence. And with this agreement both the Irish-favoring IRA and the British-favoring Protestants will be working together towards a united Northern Ireland.

I'm not certain how I feel about all this. Obviously it's great to have the hope that politically charged violence will come to an end and there will be a decisive united front in the head offices. However, knowing that the IRA favor Northern Ireland and the Protestants favor an English-ruled Norther Ireland I can't help but assume that there will still be a clash in political taste.

Enter in with greatness

France is entering into a new political era with the election of new president Nicolas Sarkozy. Sarkozy, a right-winger, has promised to strengthen France's stance on immigration and is even a little keen on the United States. Hey maybe France can be an asset to the world after all.

On a different note I watched a documentary a few weeks ago titled "Who Killed the Electric Car?" This was not the most exciting, but certainly one of the most eye-opening documentaries I've watched in a long time. You can view the preview HERE
I won't add any personal commentary, as I'm sure you all are capable of making up your own mind on this matter, but I will say that SUVs and, especially Hummers are the most ridiculous vehicles on the road today.

Now, on a similar note, I was lucky enough to have seen the hilarious documentary Air Guitar Nation this weekend. This is a movie worth watching. With character's named Bjorn Turoque (Byorn To Rock) you can't go wrong.

With walking and letters and groceries

Paris Hilton.....Jail......45 days.....multiple drunk driving charges.....That's Hot

But really who cares about Paris, Anna Nicole's baby or any of the other lame celebrity news anyway??? Apparently a lot more people than who care about the republican primary, or the war in Iraq, or the many different wars in Africa. American media needs to re-focus.

While I'm ranting, did anyone know that more than 60% of ALL Americans are overweight or obese? This stat is absolutely ridiculous.

Go read BBC news everyday.

All our secrets

Apple is going green!

There's also some Myspace drama with Obama taking a Myspace page from some guy. Basically he just took it. Who cares anyway??

I must admit that I have listened to Lady Sovereign a good bit this week. I never could turn down a catchy hip hop jam put out by adorable (and, yet, foul-mouthed) English girls.

You said you want to die

Apparently Al Sharpton has taken it upon himself to make a march and encourage clean lyrics in hip-hop songs. The march, dubbed "March for Decency," is a protest this Thursday (May 3) in New York City aimed at forcing music labels to censor the use of the words "bitch," "ho," and "n*gger" in rap music, according to Spin.com

Needless to say I am not the biggest fan of Sharpton. See a few posts back to cite one of the many reasons why.

In weird "music"(?) news Pete Wentz of Fall Out Boy and his management for the band have decided to open a swanky hipster bar in Manhattan's East Village. The new emo bar is called Angels and Kings and I'm assuming will certainly cater to the skinny jeaned, flat-ironed, eye-linered, emo crowd who will probably spend their evenings there sipping whiskey sours and listening to the House DJ spin the latest from VHS or Beta and Ratatat.

In other music, 50% of the Postal Service, Jimmy Tamborello, is releasing his newest release under his DNTEL project name. The Sup Pop release features Conor Oberst and members of Grizzly Bear. It makes for an ok listen.

Melt us

Here is a beautiful video from the mostly-tolerable Mars Volta. This is a great work of art in that is perfectly adds complimentary video to the song.




In the same vein I have also been spending time with songs from the new Circa Survive record "On Letting Go" which will be released in late May. I've never been able to take too much of their music before, but they've seemed to really find a great sound and consistency with the new record.