working on my portfolio

a.d.d.

little bit distracted...needed a break

buy nothing day?

rev. billy

this is absolutely ridiculous!
................................................................................................

Now the long-awaited Rapture of Consumption is underway. It’s THE SHOPTURE. The Shopocalypse lifts the fundamentalist bargain-hunters up into the air, up into the super mall of Eternal Convenience. There are thousands of chain stores in these clouds, and even breathing is on credit. The official plan of the Shopocalyptic executives is that the Katrinas and Ritas and weapons of mass destruction will hellishly attack those of us who remain on the ground. They are “shoptured up” and we have buildings and airliners and various tsunamis falling on us because we walked away from the WHITE SALE. They are arranging for the economy to gather in the Chosen People communities under their domes in Arizona, where even the electricity is “Saved.”

But in OUR theological year in the Church of Stop Bombing Weddings, our high holy celebration is Buy Nothing Day. And with it comes this responsibility: As we witness these hapless consumers vortexing straight up into their second America, we have a duty to grab their ankles. That’s what we must do. We shall pull these consumers down, screaming from their advertopia. They will think we’re devils, of course—they will think we are a lot of things. But be gracious. Simply say, “Hello, we are from the Church of Disturb the Customers. Your shopping is the End of the World.
.........................................................................................................

now don't get me wrong, i despise the "machine retail store" like wallmart, but this call to action is not solving the problem of greed, but rather masking it for a day. i guess i believe as christians we are called to wrestle with materialism and idolatry every day, every second of our lives...(most of us anyway) not just on "black friday". we are called to flex discipline and self-denial - not for the purpose of war against these monster size companies but to grow closer to god and bring him glory.
when a person of another faith or someone with no faith at all reads an artical like billy's, i wonder what they think? i wonder why the heck would they ever want to be a part of...

go to the link and read the article in its entirety...

mercy now

mercy now

lyrics by mary gauthier

:::::::::::::

My father could use a little mercy now

The fruits of his labor

Fall and rot slowly on the ground

His work is almost over

It won't be long and he won't be around

I love my father, and he could use some mercy now

.

My brother could use a little mercy now

He's a stranger to freedom

He's shackled to his fears and doubts

The pain that he lives in is

Almost more than living will allow

I love my bother, and he could use some mercy now

.

My church and my country could use a little mercy now

As they sink into a poisoned pit

That's going to take forever to climb out

They carry the weight of the faithful

Who follow them down

I love my church and country, and they could use some mercy now

.

Every living thing could use a little mercy now

Only the hand of grace can end the race

Towards another mushroom cloud

People in power, well

They'll do anything to keep their crown

I love life, and life itself could use some mercy now

.

Yeah, we all could use a little mercy now

I know we don't deserve it

But we need it anyhow

We hang in the balance

Dangle 'tween hell and hallowed ground

.

Every single one of us could use some mercy now

Every single one of us could use some mercy now

Every single one of us could use some mercy now

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

how cold?

this cold!!!

this is eliza (she is sitting behind me)...

and we are cold! the heat on our floor is 10-7 (out of service) at the moment.

Brrrrr!

ps-

eliza is a cool chick.

she made me an awsome mix yesterday and she is going to the iron and wine concert with me next week.

passionate and pissed

So, i was a little concerned about the concert when i arrived at Lowes Landmark Theater (Jersey City). I seemed to be one of the oldest and more conservative looking persons there (even with a bright orange peacoat and converse). But on the other hand, i was there to hear good music and if i picked up some hipster fashion trends in the process...who could complain about that? the theater it self was old and ornate, partially falling apart but more like the velvetine rabbit - well loved.

We (i met my friend ryan) sat off to the left of the stage, and made it just in time to watch Feist walk out and start their set. Some bands are album good, and some are good live...and there are a select few that can pull it off on both accounts, sometimes sounding totally different but in a refreshing way...almost as if you are getting a 2fer1 deal.

and this is Feist. the girl can ROCK IT OUT! Leslie Feist, as i mentioned before, is one of the lead singers in the canadian band Broken Social Scene. she has this indie mod-chic look to her. the album (Let it Die - which i command you to buy ((esp. if you are a girl)) is very calculated mellow and moody,...retro yet really green. textured and melodic, it stands alone. . their live performance was much more blues/jazz improv with sum punk rock and folk mixed in...sounds weird, but trust me soooo good! the song Mushaboom (which was featured in Paste Magazine a few issues back) was one of the last songs in the set, and Conor Oberst came out and helped sing.

on to Bright Eyes.

i was given a little warning by a friend that Conor - lead singer- is this "hipster heart throb". so, when girls (and guys) stared screaming for him right off the bat (begging him to take off his shirt hmmmmm) i wasn't really surprised. he milks it and loves it.

but all that isn't important! the band, which was a good 8 heads strong, was amazing. the lyrics which i consider the best part of bright eyes, are sung with such passion and fire, that even if one doesn't agree with what is said, value and appreciation can still be found. (i must admit i find myself agreeing with more these days - without compromising my faith of course). The occational screaming (by the band) didn't bother me b/c there is purpose behind it...there are no words wailed for the sake of wailing- he is pissed for a reason and i can appreciate that...

it happened to be the final night of the tour, so the encore was a riot on sage - not a riot "ha ha" but a riot "out of control". people, musicians, crew members, managers were coming out of the wood work and playing instruments and dancing. the sound was still constant, and it made for one of the best finale's i have ever seen! there was no stink of production. it was all out of shear excitement and celebration!!

(big breath...shew!)

so there you have it! a proper review of a concert. hope it wasn't to boring. i included some great lyrics below to redeem myself.

.......................................................................................

"...And I'm not sure what the trouble was that started all of this

The reasons all have run away but the feeling never did

It's not something I would recommend, but it is one way to live

Cause what is simple in the moonlight, by the morning never is

What's so simple in the moonlight, now is so complicated

What's so simple in the moonlight, so simple in the moonlight."

...........................................................

"...We must hang up in the belfry

Where the bats and moonlight laugh

We must stare into a crystal ball and only see the past

And in the caverns of tomorrow

With just our flashlights and our love

We must plunge, we must plunge, we must plunge

And then we'll get down there, way down to the very bottom of everything

And then we'll see it, oh we'll see it, we'll see it, we'll see it

Oh my morning's coming back

The whole world's waking up

All the city buses swimming past

I'm happy just becauseI found out I am really no one"

....................................................................

next week's review: iron and wine with colexico!

concert review

feist

saw Feist (opened for bright eyes)...i had been listening to the album for a month and couldn't get enough...and neither could anyone else that borrowed it.

from canada Leslie Feist is proving that she can swing it without Broken Social Scene (though i dont think she has left the band completely)

i promise a good review...it's just to late on a sunday night right now...be back soon!

*linked to an interview and concert on npr

also listen to a song from the album
http://www.npr.org/programs/asc/archives/asc85/index.html#feist

concert review

bright eyes

I can safely say that the concert i attended this weekend was the best i have seen since my move...

for those of you who have asked for a good concert review (which i have yet to give)... it's coming...promise!

I did attatch a link to listen/watch a bright eyes video in the meantime :)

confessions of an elitist

music matters

walking home

tunnel

i road the train into the city with judy this morning. she's in my small group. she's one of the most interesting people i've met here. one of the first female cab drivers back in the 70's, she once jumped out and ran down a customer who didn't feel like paying. she hitchhiked across the country from california and adopted her daughter from asia after she was saved. every week at group i seem to get another piece of the "judy puzzle".

so this morning she was telling me about raising a pre-teen. robin is 12 and becoming more social...which of course is normal, but very different from a nyc perspective. earlier this week she asked to go to the movies with friends after school. later, regretting that she had not asked for more information, judy realized she had no idea what theater the girls were going to and what time robin was going to be home (or how she was getting home for that matter). that's when judy went into the thinky think mode (as kdny would say). she called another parent who's daughter was with robin. once they determined the theater, they both decided to meet the girls there as the movie let out (and escort them home).

so judy headed to cobble hill (brooklyn). she had just in time to read the serial rapist flyers the police had posted in the area before the girls came out of the theater. she and the other mother also had a chance to officially meet (they had only talked over the phone). Before everyone said their goodbyes and goodnites, robin realized she had left her bookbag at her girlfriend's home...which meant judy, robin, and the the other mother and daughter needed to head back their place before heading back to park slope (judy's neighborhood and my neighborhood). they walk a few blocks into the brooklyn projects. they picked up robin's bag and started for the door when the mother told judy she would walk them to the subway. judy (being the tough retired cabby she was) dismissed the offer. the woman looked at her and simply said "let me walk you". as they walked to the train, she added..."this neighborhood is mostly safe, but sometimes it isn't". she also nicely explained she wasn't entirely safe in their neighborhood being white - and this mother (who is an african-american as i'm sure you've guessed by now) just by being with robin and judy would be a safeguard for them.

she put them on the subway train and they made it home with nothing more to tell...

as judy finished her story, i couldn't help but think of the two parallels. the first being judy... so concerned for her 12 year old that she went to a few extremes and as few unsettling neighborhoods to bring her home safely...

the second being the mother from the projects. a cover of protection over judy and robin. as if any danger to their culture would not see 2 white people, but simply a black woman. judy and robin were physically capable of getting to the subway on their own, but their trek would have been risky and could have become very serious. so much like the paths that we choose alone. we get to where we are going, but - final destination, without the blood of christ washed over our sinful bodies, be might as well be dead!

to wrap things up (cause i really want to get up and watch the Macy's day parade)...i know life's journey, as a christian, isn't going to be all shits and giggles. even on my good days, my sundays, my self-righteous days...i am so broken and ugly - but there is hope, grace, mercy and love poured over me, and that is all the shelter and comfort i need to get me to the train!



ps- no i'm not actually going tooo the parade (are you kidding me). i'm watching it in my pajamas on the couch like the rest of you!... it's suppose to snow...wahhhhhh!

quotes of the week

waterston2

............................................................................................

"fighting for peace is like having sex for virginity"

"...just tuck your heart up your sleeve a little."

"here are a few things i'm in like with."

"thank God for vomiting shrimp."

..............................................................................................

anybody want to add to the list???

waterston

which one would you hang in your living room?

before

both of these photos (the original and the restored) were on display in a framing store front window - so i took a quick pic. I have my opinions, but which one would you hang up?

after

what i'm listening to...what i'm looking at

found

movie to see?

squid and the whale

not sure how i feel about this one...i saw it Thursday and I'm still thinking.

what i do know? i could look at the website all day long. the color and photography is beautiful. like a handful of color concept projects just waiting to be taken...

yellow

ryan


the color
now yellow

wash down love
i want mellow

my wake
faith

i own it now
hide me in this chase

somehow

i'll take dirt
no pain
some hurt

give me rhythm
take my blue

peace is granted
brite yellow hue...

Locals

scott

saw a good show tonight...Red Wanting Blue. Locals from OH that a friend of mine suggested. ya can't beat a show for $10 right? the best part about going to see a band here in nyc from good ol' OH? you meet a handful of other midwesterners who have moved to the city. I now have a OSU/Mich. game to go to...where hopefully i will be able to meet a few more Ohioan's.

good hair day - bad hair day!

good hair day

Going to the concert today!!!

bad hair day

please send me a recording!!!!

2 of a kind

i know you have it!

now give it up!!!


.

7 reasons i miss ohio

brooklyn represent!


hangin' at my pad...

(while i work ugh)...

more to come on the "missing" part...


.

all songs considered

free cutie!

NPR must be what crack is like b/c i can't get enough. it educates my mind and stimulated my creativity...giving both sides of my brain a workout.

i just discovered a new feature on the website, and i think i am in big trouble! free concerts! from M. Ward, The Shins and Son Volt to Lucinda Williams, Feist, and Hank Williams. All Songs Considered is something of a music "whore house"!

make sure to click on the link above and check out the "archive" button. 100's of shows!

p.s. - a friend of mine was telling me about a program she downloaded that allows you to save realplayer files (or files that you normally can only listen to but not save). i'll have to find out more about the program b/c these shows are like...well...crack!

poem

art

take broken hands
this spoken heart
part, fill, and
satisfy

with wage less free
still lucid be
bare threads he will
untie

patience it dips
nor loose it slips
sweep low a worn
relief

redress these eyes
his blood it buys
a faith
before
belief