Leelanau Whippersnapper

This clip has been everywhere over the past couple of days.  It doesn’t require much effort to see that the younger generation just get’s it.

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As I recently stated on Facebook, I’m a sucker for the snappy “synthpop” music genre.  I get teased about it on a regular basis, mainly because ”it’s SO gay”.  The Pet Shop Boys, Michael and Janet Jackson, many bands from the 80’s and 90’s.  I’m also a fan of the alternative music scene (bands like Ben Folds Five, REM, U2 etc.).  The video below is from Owl City and I found this on another blog that I read.  His music is snappy, heavily processed, crisp, and very clean.  His melodies are common but very repeatable and memorable, and the texture he uses on the synthesizers is complex and enjoyable.  There are a couple songs off his newest album that I really like, the one below called “Fire Flies” is one of them.  Now, before you accuse me of going Beverly Hills 90210 on you, this is the kind of music you’d hear on those teen soap operas that were popular years ago, but how wrong is it to enjoy listening to someone that doesn’t swear in his lyrics and whose messages are not all downers?  Too much of the music out there today by pop artists are constantly bitching about the complexities and painfulness of life.  They are right, sometimes life is a bitch and shit happens but it isn’t like that every day you know.  Sometimes it’s just nice to listen to an upbeat song about nothing in particular.  This is one of those songs.

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I’m linking below to a 45 minute Bill Moyers Journal TV show on PBS that is a must see for those of you who may not know the background, details, and importance of the recent Poposition 8 trial that took place in California last month.  Closing arguments have not been scheduled however they will be very soon.  In the video, Olson and Boyes lay out the case, why it matters, what the legal issues actually are and they provide detailed information on why this case is so strong.  They are also presented with some tough questions that many supporters of discrimination ask, you can see them defend the position of equality and make the case that this issue has everything to do with the Constitution and has nothing to do with religious beliefs.  It’s a long discussion but it’s worth watching.

Click THIS link to go to the Bill Moyers Journal web site to view the video.

Below is a YouTube preview of the broadcast.

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The “Tilt Shift” technique has become quite the rage lately for photographers and videographers.  This technique involves blurring certain portions of the image or video to give us the illusion that things are smaller than they actually are.  It’s obviously a bit more complicated than that but it’s designed to trick our senses in order to give the effect.  Found this video below that is just amazing.  This is 5 minutes in the life of New York City.  Watch it knowing that these are real images (sped up a bit), not animated and that nothing more than an optical illusion is occurring in your head.

The Sandpit from Sam O’Hare on Vimeo.

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The reason that equality for the GLBT community is visible in my life time:

“I have described myself as being ‘gently eccentric’ and slightly different as a person just because I’ve had a very different set of influences growing up than anybody else in my peer group did. I think it’s important for somebody from a big, commercial movie series like Harry Potter and particularly because I am not gay or bisexual or transgendered. The fact that I am straight makes not a difference, but it shows that straight people are incredibly interested and care a lot about this as well.” - Daniel Radcliffe, speaking from the NYC headquarters of the LGBT teen suicide prevention hot-line The Trevor Project, for whom he has just made a promotional film.

15 years ago when I was in high school, there were no major Hollywood celebrities willing to step up to the plate and go to bat for me.  Those who did were on the fringes.  For me personally, I’m not sure it would had much of an influence in my life, I was never a big celebrity follower but here we have Harry Potter, entirely straight with a HUGE following, and willing to put his money where his mouth is.  The Trevor Project was founded not long after I got out of high school and there is a link to it on my sidebar here on this blog.  It’s one of the few charities that I’d consider making a donation to.  Perhaps you might as well.

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Another video from Ms. Betty Bowers….it’s satire folks.  Get over it.

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Road Runner Funny Clip – Funny videos are here

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If you’ve not seen the movie “UP”, you need to rent it and watch it.  I’m a huge fan of Pixar and Disney, they’ve teamed up with”YouTube whiz kid Fagottron” who has produced this great mash-up with scenes from the movie.  This is also the guy that did the Marry Poppins video which is sadly no longer available on YouTube. I’ve also posted another one based on scenes from Charley and The Chocolate Factory and one from Bambi.  Turn up the volume, have fun!

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Another find from one of the many blogs that I read.  I’m generally a pretty big fan of close harmony and tight, accurate, and precise pitch when it comes to vocalists.  While I’m not a huge fan of some of their songs (all of which are covers from other groups), these kids have it going on with their vocals.  You can check out their YouTube page for more songs.

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