Life Update

Wow- I haven't posted in this in such a long time! A lot has happened in the past few months...

Long story short, I've been on the Disney College Program working as a professional Disney's Photopass Photographer. I took a class taught by a creativity expert entitled "Creativity and Innovation" that I can apply to the rest of my life. I have lived with 5 other roommates and a three bedroom apartment. The first couple of months down here I was very homesick and missing my real friends. Honestly the toughest part about living down here was the whole apartment thing- never in my life have I encountered so much drama. It was like living in MTV's Real Life or something sometimes. The best part has been working for a company with such a rich and endearing heritage that had an impression on me even as a child. I've learned that dreams can come true- you just have to chase them sometimes.

Oh, the other night, I went to the Jars of Clay and Sea Bird concert at House of Blues. It was AWESOME! Jars of Clay brought down the house! It was great!!

Tonight I got off work and then went to Status which is a 20-somethings church thing that I got to go to a couple of times before. I'm glad that I got to go one last time. I have a lot of decisions to make when I get back home. Do I live at home or get an apartment in ATL for the fall semester? Do I get another job? Do I pay off my credit card first or save up for rent?

I leave Orlando in 5 days. Wow. What a journey this has been.

Well... that's enough rambling for now....

SNL Short: the Japanese Office

Monthly Music Madness: September 2008

The last couple of months, I've done reviews of music that I had recently bought. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to get September's up until now. Also unfortunately, September was a pretty slim month as far as buying music for me. All of the following are full albums (not single songs) that were purchased or given to me during September 08.

Tell Me What You Know by Sara Groves

I've technically owned this album since July, and this is by no means a "new" album (it was released in '97) but I've just now got around to adding it to my computer. Sara's heartfelt lyrics and voice appeal to the poet and the warrior. Her sound is sort of jazzy and she doesn't pull any predictable stunts just to have a hit record. I really like the album a lot, a I definitely recommend checked at least a couple of songs out. I actually snagged up "When the Saints" for free in November of 2007 through iTunes Discovery Download. If you get a chance to see Sara groves on her newest tour, Art*Music*Justice, do so because a lot of the proceeds of the tour go to organizations like the International Justice Mission, and Blood: Water Mission.

My most played track: "When the Saints, " Honorable mention: "Abstraction"

Continuum by John Mayer
It's taken me a while to buy into John Mayer, and I'm glad I finally have. I think I was rebelling liking his stuff because of the mainstream-ness of it... but I'm over that now! I absolutely love this albuma and I don;t know why I didn't get it before now! Highly recommend it.
My most played track: It's actually a SEVEN way tie on this one. No joke. But, if you have to buy just one track, buy the Jimi Hendrix cover, "Bold as Love"

We Sing. We Dance. We Seal Things by Jason Mraz
This is a pretty good album, but I feel like it has a darker tone to it, aside from a couple of tracks. For instance, I was stoke that James Morrison did a collaboration on a track, but it's a pretty sad song... good, but depressing. I do recommend the album, but it just needs a spoonful of sugar to help it go down better.
My most played track: "Love for a Child"

waging war against poverty

Compassion International is an organization that, for years, has connected people as sponsors for children that are living in poverty. These children are the futures of their countries and haven't done anything to deserve this injustice against their humanity.

As the global poverty, and food, crisis has increased over the last few months, Compassion has begun being more than just advocates for their sponsored children. They've begun a new addition called the Global Food Initiative. As families living in extreme poverty often spend more than 50 percent of their income on food, with the daily income is less than U.S.$2 a day, Compassion and countless others could not help but to act.

The UN estimates that up to $40 billion will be needed over the next 3 years to eliminate this crisis. Compassion has decided that instead of gawking at these staggering statistics, they would holistically approach this crisis with the firm stance of a soldier. Compassion states, "We are providing solutions through local churches with nutritional provision and long-term strategies, such as agricultural education, training and tools, so that those consumed by this crisis have the opportunity to grow and prepare their own food."

You can impact eternity by sponsoring a child through Compassion, and  you can change the world by supporting the Compassion Global Food initiative.

To find out more about Compassion International, to sponsor a child, or to support Compassion's Global Food initiative, go to www.compassion.com

I'm posting this today because it is blog action day. Check out other posts by bloggers today about poverty on http://blogactionday.org/.

Scribd Docs

I came across this cool website in which you can post documents and embed them on webpages. I found a poem on there by an author that I respect, G.K. Chesterton, that was used for a student's typography project, so I'd thought I'd share it along with the cool technology. The website is Scribd.

Lepanto - Upload a Document to Scribd

SNL - Palin and Clinton sketch

Gotta love tina and amy!

Monthly Music Madness: August 08

Last month I did a review of music that I had recently bought. I think that I will continue to do this because I know that I personally love to hear people's opinions about music. This is just an extra resource for you to a. see what kind of music I like, and b. find out what is and isn't worth buying without resulting in looking through Middle School-er's complaints, I mean reviews, on iTunes. So here is my review for August 2008. All of the following are full albums (not single songs - this blog would be too long!) that were purchased or given to me during August 2008.

Songs For Tibet by Various Artists

This album is a who's who of socially active artists. Let's take role: John Mayer? Check. Ben Harper? Check. Rush? Check. Vanessa Carleton? Check. Dave Matthews, Ben Harper, Sting, and Imogen Heap? Check, check, check, and check. And the list goes on. it's an overall good compilation and theme album. Buy it to own a part of history and to support peace Initiatives in Tibet.

My most played track: Hope by Rush

Great Good Fortune by Matt Hartke 

I downloaded this album for free as advertised on Matt's myspace. Each song has a five second sponsor commercial, but just altered the play time in iTunes and I don't have to hear it at all. He sounds A LOT like Jack Johnson, whom I love. This is a great beach-acoustic album. Worth every penny I didn't spend.

My most played track: Warm Milk

Singalong by Phil Wickham

Again, another freebie. I love Phil Wickham's music, so I dig the cd. It's a live and rough cut album- I can clearly hear people's voices in the audience who can't carry much of a tune. Basically, it's great for free, but I'm not sure I'd purchase it. Check out Phil's other albums, Cannons or Phil Wickham.

My most played track: Cannons

Flush by Bean and Baily

This cd was given to me by my friend Miranda. It's a fusion of live comedy and music by a couple of guys that remind me of college pals. It's a good listen but you have to have a certain kind of sense of humor to think it's entertaining. It's fun to listen to with friends.

My most played track: The Wal-Mart Greeter

This is Our God by Hillsong

Hillsong always puts out good live worship albums with several song gems. This album is no different with You're Power, Your Name High, and the incredible song Healer shining above the rest. Healer stands out to me because of some things my family has been going through.

My most played track: Healer

Dance or Die by Family Force Five

This album makes you want to get an old school boom box, some cardboard  (to dance on, of course), and some leg warmers and party like it's 1988. Family Force Five's pumping crunk rock and sense of humor make this a top album of the year for me.

My most played track: Dance or Die

The Bright Sadness by Charlie Hall

Charlie Hall's music is always tucked just out of the limelight on Six Steps records, but that doesn't make it any less beautiful. Beauty is a great word to describe this album.

My most played track: Bloom Again

Remedy: Club Tour (Live) by Davis Crowder Band

This album is just half of Remedy: Club Tour. The DVD is the highlight of this package and is definitely worth buying. Parts of it were filmed and recorded in New York City and in the Tabernacle in Atlanta, which is one of the coolest venues in the south. I'm partial to the DVD because I was there when it was filmed... Buy the DVD/CD package instead of settling for digital!

My most played track: You Are My Joy