How Not to Declare Your Candidacy 101

1) Declare candidacy for presidency
2) Have National Anthem sung
3) Forget to turn off microphone
4) Sing terribly
5) Sing the wrong words.



I really hope this is fake for her sake (not that I'm a huge fan), but from what I can tell, it isn't.

So in recap, here's the rundown of news updates for the Democratic candidates this week:
-Barack's middle name is Osama and went to a Muslim school as a child
-Hillary can't sing

All in all, pointless things that undoubtedly (and unfortunately) already have an effect on votes.

The Format

The Format's new CD, Dog Problems, is fantastic, and equally fantastic are their two new videos to support it. Incredibly artistic and creative. Check it out:

Del Toro on Fairy Tales

"I believe that fairy tales are ultimately about two things: facing the dragon or climbing back to our world inside."

Director Guillermo Del Toro

(ok, so I'll admit...the concept behind Pan's Labyrinth is growing on me...)

It's just so easy/fun...

Thanks to Ragamuffin Soul for this one.

Most "Impactful" Brands

Brandchannel.com has listed the results for the top 5 brands, based on both good and bad impact, in the world and in the US. Here they are:

Globally:
1) Google
2) Apple
3) YouTube
4) Wikipedia
5) Starbucks

United States:
1) Apple
2) YouTube
3) Google
4) Starbucks
5) Wikipedia

Interesting tidbits...

Republican Chuck Hagel

From Finding Rhythm:



Authentic or just playing to the voters?

Based on what he said, I hope he's for real!

I found my life calling...

So, pretty much, I'm a pro.





Jackson Pollock, the famous drip painter, has a pretty amazing flash website that you should probably check out. Warning, you probably will not be as good as me. Sometimes you just have what it takes. And other times you wonder why someone would pay hundreds and thousand of dollars for a drip painting when you can make one in 30 seconds on a website.

Appleishious

Reason number 4,582 why I love my mac:

Comedic Genius

Snoozing Senator

Some interesting news that's coming forward from the State of the Union address yesterday. Apparently, during the Iraq section of the speech, Senator John McCain was caught on camera for ten full seconds sleeping.



Now, I'm no political expert, but I know this can't be good PR.

From Think Progress

**Ok, so on further researching, he was probably just looking at his copy of the speech, but it still is an unfortunate shot**

The Web Just Got Better...

Willitblend.com.

Heck, why not even Will it Blog? while we're at it.

Check it.

Food for the Mind

Here are a few quotes that have been crawling throughout my brain in the last few weeks, courtesy of William via MERGE.

"If we are afraid to be different from the world, how can we make a difference in the world?" -- Father Jenkins (emphasis added)

Or more simply put:

"If you want to serve the age, betray it." -- Brendan Kennelly (emphasis added)

Worst Day of the Year

According to this article in UK's The Sun, as well as many other news sources, this day, Monday January 22, is Blue Monday, the worst day of the year.

Now why is the worst day of the year, you ask?

According to psychologists, the combination of long nights, bad weather, Christmas credit card bills, and broken New Years Resolutions all contribute to this conclusion, and they claim they have statistics to back them up.

But here are some things to cheer you up:

-Today is officially the International Day of Apple Eating
-You are one day closer to the Happiest Day of the Year, June 23rd!
-Today is the birthday of Ben Moody, guitarist of Evanescence (don't you just feel happier already?)
-23 Years ago on this date, Apple introduced the Macintosh (featuring the first mouse and graphic interface) to the world with its famed "1984" superbowl commercial

Here's to a happy worst day of the year!

Pan's Labyrinth (El Laberinto Del Fauno)

I was super excited to be able to go see Pan's Labyrinth at the Belcourt Theater yesterday due to all the great anticipation it got and because of the high probability that it will be stealing all of the academy awards this year. I was furthermore interested in the movie after seeing Children of Men last week, which was directed by one-third of the trio of Mexican directors that have been hailed as the new artistic masterminds of film. Pan's Labyrinth features one of the other two directers, Guillermo Del Toro, as well as Alfonso Cuaron (directer of Children of Men), who this time takes the role of producer.

To my utter dissapointment, Pan's just didn't do it for me. Nor for the guy sitting next to me, apparently, who left the movie half way in. Part of me wishes I would have followed him. Don't get me wrong, there were some who liked it, but I was really just uncomfortable during the entire stretch of the film. The fantasy element was indeed visionary in its elaborate artistic measures, but lacked a sufficient story to sustain the film and hold audience interest, especially given the fact that the story's "real" plot (during the fascist rule of Spain) only offered darkness, blood, torture, and despair. Even the fantasy was a far stretch from the happy dreamings of a young girl's mind and instead were full of dark, disturbing images.

Not that I just didn't like the movie because it wasn't all happy and fuzzy, I just did not think it was a very compelling story. The connections and "aha!" moments that were supposed to enrich the tale were predictable and overly obvious. I'm a firm believer in "less is more" as far as violence and blood go, but it's evident that Del Toro isn't. The amount of not only violence, but obscure, overly grotesque violence did nothing to add to the story for me. In fact, the only thing it did was have me looking for the exit signs. Though, I guess you can't expect anything else from a director who turned down "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe" because he reportedly had "no interest in bringing Aslan back to life."

In the end, it was a great artistic masterpeice filled with talented cinematography and CG effects, but it lacked a cohesive story that the audience could fully buy into and very little light at the end of a deep, dark, cinematic tunnel.

Thought of the Day

Hell Heaven is other people.

Colbert hosts O'Reilly

That's right, don't miss it tonight. Stephen Colbert finally has arranged for his alleged role model and "Papa Bear," Bill O'Reilly, to make an appearance on the show. It's gonna be a good one.

Tired of It All?

"I'm not trying to save the world....


I'm trying to save myself....


from APATHY"


--Rob Bell's wife

I've talked to several people lately and find that they share a truth that I have buried deep inside myself. Sometimes it's really hard to get passionate about something and sustain that passion, to want to love the poor, to want to serve the weak, to want to know those in need. The danger is not that they will not be taken care of...God's got that one. The danger is that we will not get the opportunity to be a part of it. Apathy is the enemy. Don't sleep through a revolution.

Sudanese Refugee Lecture at Belmont

Tomorrow, January 17th, a group that I am a part of on campus is hosting a lecture and information session by Gatluak Ter Thach, the executive director of the Nashville Sudanese Community and Women's Service Center. Nashville has one of the largest Sudanese refugee populations in the United States, and this community center is taking steps to bring peace to their situation. He will address his own personal history as a Sudanese refugee, the problems facing the refugees and immigrants in Nashville, and how the Sudanese Community Center working to alleviate these problems.

Location: Belmont University, Beaman Student Life Center, Rooms A+B
Time: 10-10:50 AM, January 17th

Additionally, we are providing a time period on this Saturday, January 20th, to go as a group to volunteer at the community center. We will be helping out with the following:

1) English and Computer Classes
2) Helping Refugees find jobs
3) Babysitting

For that volunteer opportunity, we will be meeting at the same place, Beaman Student Life Center, and then driving to the Sudanese Community Center. We will meet at Belmont at 12:45 and finish voluneering around 4:00PM. Please come out to experience the center and some of the needs in our community.

For more information about the center, please check out their website.

A Businessman on Failure

Austin Ligon, former 15-year CEO of Carmax, came to speak to my accounting class at Belmont University's College of Business today and had some very interesting things to say. Among the many opinions and insights he gave, one thing rose above the rest to me.

When one enters a company, organization, church, etc. and has new ideas, he or she is often greeted with a resounding "We've already tried that." Many times, the idea is not the problem. The company just hasn't found the right way to implement the idea yet. Allow room for failure. You don't abandon the idea if it is a good one, just learn one way how not to implement it.

I wish I could have asked him another question, but I was out of time. He has a close relationship with Circuit City, as Carmax was basically birthed out of Circuit City. The company was recently featured in Jim Collins book, Good to Great, but recently has lost its greatness status and is forced to play catch up with other innovated companies such as Best Buy. Too bad I couldn't get his take on the situation as he has a close relationship with CC's former CEO, Alan Wurtzel.

MLK Day

Ragamuffin Soul has a great post that everyone should watch/read for MLK day. Take some time out of your day. Think about why we celebrate. Think about what this day has to say to you. What injustice are you standing up for today? His story can become our story. His legacy can continue.

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” -- MLK

SHLOG also posted a bunch of MLK quotes here.

Good Day.

Children of Men

"This smoldering picture may be the bleakest movie you'll ever want to see twice." -- Stephanie Zacharek, Salon

I completely agree with the quote above. I saw Children of Men last night and couldn't be more impressed. Directed by Alfonso Cuaron (Y Tu Mama Tambien and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azcaban), this Mexican director has some skill!! It was dark, dire, intense, heavy, and soul-wrenching, but breathtakingly beautiful at the same time. Shot in a similar style to Saving Private Ryan, with long, uncut, hand motion camera work, you feel like you are really part of the action. The scenes are too engaging to focus exclusively on the camera work while it is happening, but looking back on it, the views and sequences that you remember seem impossible. In one particular car ambush scene, it seems like one continuous shot was used to make you feel as if you were in the backseat experiencing it all, while at the same time fully cognitiant of all that was happening outside.

The movie is set as a dystopia, somewhat similar to V for Vendetta, but with a much more dark and grave (and all too realistic) future that not only addresses the fictional problem of infertility but also the ever present reality of terrorism (except on a massive scale). The bleak futuristic setting is easily sold to the audience, and the characters created are just as believeable. Clive Owen is probably one of my new favorite actors.

Children of Men does, however, have its flaws. Some parts are excessively unbelievable, and undoubtedly the ending will upset certain people. Some pretty rough language and extremely violent images may not sit well with everyone.

While the film would not be considered a pick-me-up, it does offer the inspiration of choosing to live a life of meaning and purpose and promotes the great worth of human life. Please, go see this movie. It may not be a date movie, and you may wish for a pause button to be able to process what is happening, but you won't regret seeing it. At least I didnt.

Check here for a trailer, but be warned, it doesn't nearly do it justice.

Well, here's to an oscar nod, perhaps?

Blades of Glory??

Will Ferrell, Jon Heder, and Figure Skating?

That's right, it's Blades of Glory, DreamWork's new comedy. Click the link above to view the trailer. Unfortunately, I think Ferrell's streak might be running dry. He was hilarious in Anchorman, Talledega Nights, and especially superb in the recent Stranger Than Fiction, but from the looks of this, I sense a flop coming. I don't want to be the first to cast a stone, but really...

Oh well, it will still top the box office charts nonetheless...

Frederick Buechner Quote

I have recently finished Now and Then, a memoir by one of my new favorite authors, Frederick Buechner. He has a knack for writing all of the things that you've wanted to say but never been able to put into words. I highly suggest his writing. I want to highlight an extended quote from the book that I found quite interesting and ponderment-worthy.

"For that reason only the most radical dissenters attended, and it was one of those -- a lean, freckle-faced senior -- who turned to me once, thin-lipped with anger, and said, "So what's so good about religion anyway?" and I found myself speechless. I felt surely there must be something good about it. Why else was I there? But for the moment I couldn't for the life of me think what it was. Maybe the truth of it is that religion the way he meant it--a system of belief, a technique of worship, an institution--doesn't really have all that much about it that is good when you come right down to it, and perhaps my speechlessness in a way acknowledged as much.

"Unless you become like a child, Jesus said, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and maybe part of what that means is that in the long run what is good about religion is playing the way a child plays at being grown up until he finds that being grown up is just another way of playing and thereby starts to grow up himself. Maybe what is good about religion is playing that the Kingdom will come, until--in the joy of your playing, the hope and rhythm and comradeship and poignance and mystery of it--you start to see that the playing is itself the first-fruits of the Kingdom's coming and of God's presence within us and among us."

--pg. 73, HaperCollins Publishers

Stream "One Night In Knoxville"

Shaun Groves has been someone that I have always looked up to and appreciated since his time he helped volunteer at my youth group when I was just a youngin'. In fact, his blog, SHLOG was one of a few blogs that inspired me to begin the journey for myself :o). He has a newish record out, One Night In Knoxville, which is an acoustic live show of some of his favorites. You can stream most of the CD here and I strongly recommend it. I like supporting great artists and inspiring people, so you should too!

Nineteen Candles

So today was officially the first day of my last year as a teenager. I turned 19 today, and it feels pretty good. 18 was a huge year of change for me personally, and though it was a great year, I have my sights to make 19 even better. I can't wait to see what is in store, and I'm excited to see what becomes of my attept at a more disciplined life. Thanks so much for all of you who have been a part of it and have walked me through some of the both excellent and rough stages of my life!

So here's a brief nastalgic (though more of a feeling of excitement and contentment) look at my 18:

Decided on Belmont as my college
Landed my first waiting tables job
Was used to initiate the Invisible Children movement/revolution in Franklin
Graduated as Valedictorian of Franklin High
Became fully educated on the goodness known as LOST
Traveled to New Orleans for hurricane relief
Discovered the importance of family on a trip to our relatives
Ended my 6 year tenure with Fusion at my last youth camp
Started my life new at Belmont
Made new friends that became my family
Became apart of the exciting new MERGE at my church
Ran my first race
Made my first appearance in NYC with Justin Waugh (it won't be the last)
Started Blogging
Another full year with Sarah
Entered 2nd Semester with resolve to not waste my life.

I hope I didn't miss anything. Thanks for listening :o).

Semester 1 Playlist: EL FIN!

The last chapter of my beloved playlist. I hope you enjoy. Definately take a listen to no. 38 if you can...

31. Be Thou My Vision -- Pedro the Lion
32. Existentialism on Prom Night -- Straylight Run
33. The Praxter -- Lovedrug
34. Romulus -- Sufjan Stevens
35. Spin -- Taking Back Sunday
36. American Swimming Lesson -- Lovedrug
37. Symphony No. 13, Movement 1: Babi Yar -- Dmitri Shostakovich
38. Panera -- Mark Trussell
39. Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel -- Belle and Sebastian
40. City of Blinding Lights -- U2

CURTAINS CLOSE

Classes begin tomorrow. A new semester; a new beginning.

APPLE DELIVERS THE GOODS!!!

Apple has announced the iPhone NOW! The Macworld Keynote is going on as we speak, and you can tune in to the live updates here . The recording of the keynote should be on Apple's site in a couple of hours after it is done. The iPhone includes iPod like connectivity to iTunes, runs OS X, a touch screen, only 1 button, and some unique time travel features (ok, so that last one may be a stretch). The other notable announcement thus far is the Apple TV. You can stream iTunes videos, music, and photos wirelessly to your TV from up to 5 different computers and store it on a 40GB hard drive.



I guess they weren't lying.

Semester 1 Playlist: Installment TRES!

So today I have settled in Nashville for my second semester at Belmont, and since classes commence on Wednesday, I feel it necessary to continue on this charade. Here is the third part of my playlist for my first semester. I hope you enjoy...please indulge yourselves (no pics this time...lo siento).

CURTAINS OPEN -- ACT 2 BEGINS

21) Older Chests -- Damien Rice
22) Tongue-Tied -- Aqualung
23) 9 Crimes -- Damien Rice
24) I Felt Really Good This Day, Yes -- Bradley Hathaway
25) To Be Alone with You -- Sufjan Stevens
26) Delicate -- Damien Rice
27) Come Thou Fount Of Every Blessing -- Sufjan Stevens
28) Put Ur Hands Up -- Family Force 5
29) Heart Shaped Box (Nirvana Cover) -- Lovedrug
30) Borderline -- Sufjan Stevens

R.I.P. The OC

Sadly, Relevant Magazine has reported that the popular Fox teen soap opera series, The OC, is checking out early and is preparing for what may lie ahead in the afterlife. I would say it will be deeply missed, but I think I would lying. But this does summon a very intriguing and pivitol question: will The OC, upon eternal judgement, bask in the glory of TV-land heaven, or instead be sentenced to the everlasting damnation that is future episodes of VH1's "I Love the 00's"? To answer this earth-shaking question, I turn to you, blogosphere. Hit me.

What will the TV Gods proclaim?
	Glorification in TV Heaven
	Eternal sentence to TV Hell
Free polls from Pollhost.com

Night at the Museum

I saw Night at the Museum tonight and would give it two thumbs up. Hilarious, action-packed, and even clean (PG rating). Ben Stiller and Owen Wilson make the perfect comedic duo. Needless to say, the film exceeded my expectations. Some exciting trailers as well...including Oceans 13 (curiously missing Julia Roberts) and Evan Almighty (a Bruce Almighty sequel, this time starring none other than Steve Carrell).

The Soft Lights

Here's to one of the most innovative and creative music videos I've seen in a long time. Not a bad tune, either. It's "Heart Made of Sound" by The Soft Lights. Please have a look:

The Prophetic Hour with Pat

Pat Robertson has predicted a major terrorist attack as well as mass killings in the late months of 2007. CNN has the scoop here or just watch the following youtube clip:



Based on his prediction record and his world record setting leg press proclamation, what do you think?

07 is the new 06

So here's to my New Year's Resolutions:

1) Make a "Not To Do" List. In reading Jim Collins' Good to Great, I was inspired to create a "Not To Do" list. That is, the opposite of a "To Do" list. Too many times, too many good things take up our time. I'd rather focus on a fewer number of things, and do them great. Namely, the things that will make my "Not To Do" list will be pointless things that do not add value, meaning, or even entertainment to my life (i.e. spending hours upon hours probing through the endless tunnel that are facebook profiles).

2) Continue Exercising and Running. I have done a good job at this this semester, but I would love to be able to run a 10k or even a half marathon this year. I hope to either maintain my weight or add muscle weight.

3) Be More Disciplined. I have abandoned a whole lot of the discipline I had been taught to strive towards as an early teen by my mentors in the last couple of years, and not for foul reasons. I have learned tons about grace and relaxing and being instead of doing. WIth that said, however, I now see the need for a new era in my life of growth through discipline. I have also learned recently that discipline does not mean the lack of fun. Quite the contrary, if done right, it should be liberating and provide more fun by freeing up time and providing a sense of accomplishment, motivation, and worth, etc. One of my first goals as a part of this is to read more. There is so much knowledge out there that is waiting to be grasped (and so many exciting stories to enjoy).


So, now that I've indulged my life, what are your New Year's resolutions? Please do tell...

Spam, Spam, Spam!!

InformationWeek has reported a 30% increase in spam email in 2006 compared to 2005. This translates the fact that a whopping 87% of all emails are junk emails. Apparently, there are 8 million computers around the world remotely controlled for the sole purpose of jamming our precious inboxes with unwanted advertisements and other obsenities. And as the anti-spam technology gets more sophisticated, so does the spam. So, all ye internet-ites beware! Your inboxes are not safe here...