Grown People Playing Around In Old Navy…that will be us

January 5th, 2010

Happy New Year and the First Line of Business is…

January 4th, 2010

me2.JPG

Happy New Year Everyone!! I hope your holidays was a blast and you are ready to start a new year and new decade with optimism and focus.  Well I am focused and my number one line of business for the new year is to make sure that I am spiritually focused. The creative and intellectual stuff comes after that.

For some of you (I wish all of you), I hope that is your priority too; to take your spirituality to the next level, to put God first, and to challenge yourself to make God proud each day of your life. I am unashamedly Christian, so today I give you some Christian resources to help you start your year off the right way.

They come by way of three guys I truly respect and whom I think is both profound and very very creative in their ministries. They hail from Texas, Chicago, and Florida. Take a listen and don’t forget to make your first line of business this decade: your spirit, your God!!!

ED YOUNG
Message: Ineed2change.com

CHARLES JENKINS
Video Blog: Ready To Be Recycled

TROY GRAMLING
Message: Priorities

4 Creative Books You Must Have In the New Year

December 31st, 2009

Here is my pick for books you must have in your library if you want to be creative and inspired in 2010. They range from design, poetry, fashion, & Music. The books are filled with visual pictures and ingenious content and some of the authors you maybe familiar with but a few are newbies.

The SELBY 2010: TODD SELBY
Some Video

Buy

The SATORIALIST: SCOTT SCHUMAN
Some Video

Buy

My NAME IS JASON, MINE TOO: JASON REYNOLDS and JASON GRIFFIN
Some Video

Buy

GLOW IN THE DARK TOUR BOOK: KANYE WEST
Some Video

Buy

God, Happiness, & Laughter: Some thoughts in preparation for the new year

December 30th, 2009

So the New Year is slowly approaching and so many people are starting to do what we call “get themselves together”. I am one of them. I desire to enter into another year of my life more examined, moral, in tune to God, nature, and others. I pray my acts line with the wish.

While surfing the internets today, I came across an awesome website called BigThink.com. There are a whole bunch of intellectual treasures on the site; scholars, comedians, philosophers sharing their responses about human topics. Since I am striving to be more spiritual, happier, and laugh more in the years to come, I quickly dove into 3 videos that give a wonderful perspective about all three. Hope you enjoy them as well.

They are short ones from religion historian Karen Armstong, Princeton Psychology lecturer Tal Ben Shahar, and The New Yorker Cartoonist Robert Mankoff.


KAREN ARMSTRONG: The human Quest For The Divine


TAL BEN SHAHAR:Five Ways to Become Happier Today


ROBERT MANKOFF: The Science of Laughing

2009 In Review… There’s never been a year like 09′ according to JibJab (lol)

December 30th, 2009

2009 was a heck of the year. So much has happened in just 300 and something days(i forget exactly the days with leap years count and what not). Anywhoo, JibJab decided to take us back, more like “through” these last 12 months that were full of surprises, epidemics, achievements, celebrity drama and plan out craziness with hilarious yet true animation. Its called “Never been a Year like 09′”.People thats not just a title, that is the truth!!! And JibJab always seem to make us laugh through it all with ingenious and hilarious creativity. Check out the behind the scenes pics below and also the full 2 minute video and go back.

10 Things I learned from AVATAR in 3D

December 29th, 2009

 photo-10.jpg

1. Get to a well talked about film more than 10 minutes before viewing or you WILL NOT have a seat!!!!!

2. 3D is sooo freaking awesome!

3. Zoe Saldana is an awesome actress and the 2 other african american actors (CC PounderLaz Alonso) are too.

4. I would like to vacation at an interesting place/planet like pandora. It better exist in real life.

5. It is sad that indigenous people are always portrayed as loving the oppressor more than themselves. I don’t think this is accurate at all.

6. It is sad that conquerors impede on the lives of “others” for gain and can live with it.

7. We should all try to get connected to the natural world around us because we are more naturally apart of it than we think.

8. Human’ minds are getting more creative everyday. The making of the movie is simply ingenious and proves this point. Here’s how.

9. As I learned from my mom, being handicap does not make you weak!!!

10. “Paganism” has as much merit as the three major monotheistic religion.

The Teaching Blog

December 27th, 2009

blog.jpg
I am starting a new blog right here. What is it exactly? Well I’m glad you asked. Its a chronicle of my day to day teaching experience as a college professor and educator to formerly incarcerated youth and adults. I felt that Ive let years go by without fully reflecting and living through the experience: the constant contact with students, the lessons learned, the struggles, etc. This blog is to help me do just that. Its coming soon in the new year so stay tuned!!

Bape & Kanye West

December 25th, 2009

I’ve never been a fan of Bape. For one its just too expensive and for two their line designs just seem to busy, trendy, and youthful for me. However their new spring 2010 lookbook has Kanye West profiling and it has me having second thoughts.  They would have to still lower the price for me to join the bandwagon, but I must say I like what I see.

Sweet Illustrations: Meet Sam Ilbey

December 23rd, 2009

Sam Ilbey is an illustrator based out of London. His work is quite vivid and I love the way he depicts pop culture icons and characters. His illustrations have appeared in numerous publications, both on and offline all over the globe, from magazines such as Computer Arts and Official Playstation Magazine, to several books, exhibitions, comics, and also on television and in a movie test shoot. Take a glance at a few.

People Loving: A look at The Selby

December 22nd, 2009

I love people: normal, extraordinary, plain, and eccentric people. I believe all of our lives are uniquely different and I am intrigued and inspired by people from all walks of life. (Remember this post). So when I came upon THESELBY.COM, I became hooked!!!! Simply the site features photographs, paintings and videos by Todd Selby of interesting people and their creative spaces. He goes into the work space and/or homes of people in London, NYC, LA, Paris, Mexico, Syndey, Philly, and Tokyo and takes pics of them. He then ends the post with a creative drawing of their interview together which is simply tooo cute!!!

My favorites interviews are of marvin jarrett (he has an awesome magazine) paola kudacki and james penfold (their apt is awesome), and William Eaton (I think he’s pretty awesome).

7 Instrumentals in 7 days: Day 5

December 21st, 2009

Heres another one from the 7 day challenge. I was playing around with some finger picking. Its raw, rough, and short but that’s ok too.

DaDa
12/20/09

In Winter

December 21st, 2009

Well this past weekend it snowed. While my previous home of DC/Baltimore got a blizzard and up to 13 inches of snow, new york tried to catch up. I heard that those areas are shut down today, schools are out and even the federal govt is relaxing.

Well in NYC, snow is like any other thing so new yorkers keep going. Its that part of their preservance that I wished NYC lacked. It would be nice to have off from work today! But I’m glad I have pictures to remind me of just how sweet it was to walk and play in snow without any obligation to be anywhere but in it. Thanks Kia Chenelle for the Pics!

IMG_0929

IMG_0935

IMG_0946

IMG_0930

One in 8 Million or why ordinary people are awesome

December 18th, 2009

New York City is filled with people: artists, famous cats, interesting souls, and my favorite: ordinary people. NY Times is doing a tribute to those ordinary people called One in 8 Million. Its a chronicle in audio and pictures of the ordinary people that make up New York City: from a sneaker collector to a 14 year old only child. The Flash chronicles, narrated by the people themselves, are intriguing and interesting. New people are added each week. Take a look for yourself.

The series is produced by Sarah Kramer and Alexis Mainland. Photographs are by Todd Heisler and Interactive development is by Tom Jackson. My favorite stories are about a uncertain gang member,  the sneaker connoisseur , and The Believer.

nytimes

7 Instrumentals in 7 days: Day 4

December 17th, 2009

Today is day 4. I call this guitar track, “practice”, simply because it sounds like a band practicing. Its drums and some electric guitars. Blah blah blah and listen….. please.
IMG_0720


Practice
12/17/2009

Stephen Colbert and Alicia Keys: Empire state of mind part 3=Hilarious

December 17th, 2009

I think I’ll rather not say anything, but let you enjoy this awesome video.

The Colbert Report Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind (Part II) Broken Down
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

7 Instrumentals in 7 days: Day 3

December 16th, 2009

Here is day 3 of the 7 day instrumental challenge. An acoustic guitar track I’ll like to simply call “D”. Go ahead and comment and let me know what you think or what they make you think of or how they make you feel. Keep me company for the next 4 days why don’t you.
IMG_0778

IMG_0775

IMG_0779


D
12/15/2009

Esperanza Spalding Is AWESOME!

December 16th, 2009

Photo 8

So I went to see jazz vocalist and bassist and prodigy and awesome lady, Esperanza Spalding, Perform in DC recently. She was awesome!! Just listening to her is not only musically pleasing, but she reminds me what passion and practice sounds like. If you are unfamiliar, Get familiar. Check out the Videos below to help you do just that.


Great Interview/EPK


Great Jazz Cover of Lauryn Hill

7 Instrumentals in 7 days: Day 1 & 2

December 15th, 2009

I issued a challenged to myself the other day. More like a artistic habit: record a guitar sample everyday for 7 days. Below is what took place for the last 2 days. I believe that its easy to get distracted and leave our creativity at the door. But Im also realizing, not matter whats going on in my world, art makes my life go around/and that includes me participating in it.

So this is for me with you as my viewing audience. Its a release. A tithe at the end of my day to creativity. Thanks for listening. See you on day 3.

IMG_0705

IMG_0715


Long Time
12/13/09


Smooth Folk
12/14/09

Blended In Art: Liu Bolin aka The Invisible Man…

December 14th, 2009

Artists comes in so many different shapes and sizes. Young Beijing based artist, Liu Bolin, is a unique one. Instead of painting the art, he paints himself as the art with an emphasis on blended in with his environment. This is artistic camouflage to the highest degree. This is not trick photography, Liu is just that awesome!

malcolm gladwell talk tonight in NYC

December 10th, 2009

Tonight, 12/10/09 at 7:00pm, my favorite writer Malcolm Gladwell will be doing a reading/discussion at the barnes and noble in Union Square. His new book “what the dog saw” is a collection of his new yorker articles now available in stores. It is bound to be awesome. Get there early because the seats fill quick.

« Prev - Next »