Thursday’s World Bettering Cool Video
via my Grandfather (Poppop) in Fitchville, Ohio (yes, really).
From the award-winning documentary, “Playing For Change: Peace Through Music”, comes the first of many “songs around the world” being released independently. Featured is a cover of the Ben E. King classic by musicians around the world adding their part to the song as it travelled the globe.
Check Out Playing for Change
Destiny by Design – Engaging Kids
Morning All!
I received this in my work inbox, from the OG Photographer, a link to his latest project. I thought the idea was brilliant and really engaging.
Here’s what the “OG” had to say about it …
The project focuses on the Destiny by Design/Citizens Schools junior high after school program and merges photo and video captured throughout the recent semester. The Destiny by Design program focuses on culture and career development opportunities within hip-hop. Working with volunteers, the kids were able to produce, write, and record their own song.
Destiny by Design Documentary from LM on Vimeo.
Happy Groundhog’s Day
Following very closely on the heels of the best team in football winning yet another SuperBowl! Is my very favorite of the 2nd tier holidays, Groundhog’s Day!
I don’t know if it’s because I spent my formative years in Pennsylvania, or if it’s because we are really celebrating a fat rodent, or maybe it’s because it’s also the title of one of my all time favorite funny movies.
In celebration of Punxsutawney Phil (that’s the groundhog), here is the original trailer from the movie. Enjoy.
Last Minute Gift Idea
I usually like to toss out a last minute gift idea or two, so here is a little something that you can pick up that I would certainly love, and you might too.
Check out Icon’s homepage for more info.
My Stepfather’s in Prison – Ivies vs. Inmates
So my stepfather recently spent some time in prison …
… playing chess, or at least organizing chess. John (previously mentioned step-father) brings members of the Princeton University Chess Club, to play the maximum security inmates at the Trenton State Pen.
I personally think it’s awesome, but I am sure other will have other opinions. This year the event really made all sorts of news: everything from the Huston Chronicle, to the Trentonian, (a little snippet of the article)
Afterward, John Marshall of Ewing, who with his wife Osa kindly took on the $1,500 sponsorship of the tourney after Benecard dropped out in 2006, took all six students — the others included Cameron Myhrvold’s twin brother Conner, and Sudeep Dashi of London — back out of the prison to sweet freedom and off to Princeton for lunch.
Here he is on New Jersey Public Television.
And here is the AP’s coverage, no mention of John, but a little more video, because I know what junkies you all are.
Checkmate John, Great Job!
As heard on Morning Edition, NPR, Kindergardener’s Memo to President Elect Obama
Hello All,
I was listing to morning edition this morning and heard what I think has to be the best advice given to a president-elect ever. It stands to reason that this would be great advice to all adults everywhere.
So as heard here on NPR’s Morning Edition (click “listen now” and it’s about 2 minutes into the segment.)
This is a memo to President-Elect Obama from the Kindergarten Class of Phyllis Palmer, in Essex Junction VT.
Mr President-Elect,
Please remember to be a good listener, make safe choices, organize, use kind words, protect us, be helpful, be nice, be a peace keeper, be nice to other Presidents (people), take care of our world.
And thinking of the President-Elect’s two young daughters they asked him to not forget to: read to them, play with them, sing songs to them, hug and kiss them, and bring the to work with you sometimes.
Awesome advice to all parents and adults. Get to it!
The Story of Stuff
I am sure that this has been seen by many, many people. However, I thought that with all that there is to say on the subject of stuff this would be nice background. I’d also like ot toss out there to the world the idea of showing this to at least one person that you think would benefit. It’s 20 minutes long, so do make some tea, and prepare to watch the whole thing.
The Story Of Stuff from Dartanyon Race on Vimeo.
Have a look around the Story of Stuff website, and see if you can’t find a few ways to curb your own personal consumption.
“From its extraction through sale, use and disposal, all the stuff in our lives affects communities at home and abroad, yet most of this is hidden from view. The Story of Stuff is a 20-minute, fast-paced, fact-filled look at the underside of our production and consumption patterns. The Story of Stuff exposes the connections between a huge number of environmental and social issues, and calls us together to create a more sustainable and just world. It’ll teach you something, it’ll make you laugh, and it just may change the way you look at all the stuff in your life forever.”
I got to play with one before you, the Nikon D90
Yes! It’s true, and now months after it actually happened, I am permitted to talk about it. We (my co-workers and I) received a whole big bunch of Nikon D90s a couple of months ago. We basically each had a camera, and took a whole bunch of pictures testing the thing out. You can read the full on details over on Chase’s Blog, and watch the super sweet video that Cody put together.
We had a really great time playing with these things. They were amazing cameras! It even had a HD video mode! The quality when shooting at really high ISOs, was fabulous. You should definitely hop over to the gallery and check out the photos of the camera.
You can also see all of us starring in the Nikon Website (www.chasejarvisandfriends.com). That’s right folks we’re international super-stars 
Colin Finlay talks about why he takes photographs
I’ve often thought that if I was going to get into photography as a profession this is who I’d want to emulate. Enjoy! and have a poke around his site … he has some really powerful images there.
Fight Cancer With My Bike Idol, Fatty
So, in the beginning of this year, around when I decided I needed to do something more for my weight, and health, and happiness, I started reading all sorts of Biking blogs. As I usually like to do when I have an interest in something; I devour any and all pieces of information I can get my hands on. One of the blogs I came across then was called the FATCyclist.com. Elden, better know as “Fatty” became my instant bike idol. Here was this fat guy, back on his bike; wife, kids, wicked sense of humor. I just enjoyed every word.
Not long after I started reading his blog, his wife’s cancer returned, and it was bad. We all know people affected by cancer … My Grandfather died of cancer, my good friend Jake’s mom is fighting cancer even as I type this, and now Fatty’s wife, Susan, is fighting it too. Now, If Hong got cancer, I could only imagine, that I would probably stop writing this blog … and Fatty slowed down on his a bit, but then … then he came back, and although, he is still often witty, and funny, he is incredibly honest, RAW, genuine, and just plain GREAT.
Now to the cancer fighting part … I’ll let you read the details over on Fatty’s blog post, but essentially CLICK HERE to contribute to Mike’s LiveStrong Challenge effort, and get entered to win the REALLY NICE bike. (Knowing most of you don’t want a new bike, you can go ahead and give it to me, where I promise that if I win it, I’ll auction it off, and give all of the money to the LiveStrong Foundation)
Love All, -D
Really Cool Art
Alright, so if you follow this blog, or know me at all, I usually have a small amount of contempt for performance art. I don’t know why, or to what extent, I just do. That being said this is really cool. Scott (from CJ), showed this to me the other day, and I am quite sure it has made the rounds on the internets a bunch, but I am also sure some of you (mom) didn’t see it, and would really enjoy it. You can check out many other of their efforts at blublu.org.
MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.
