Back to Basics

I blog a lot about movies, music, and television, but my first love is literature. Currently I am reading a book by Zora Neale Hurston titled Moses, Man of the Mountain. As I am reading along in a book, I like to write down quotes that catch my interest. Sometimes it's because I think they hold great truth, and other times it is just because I feel the passage is beautifully written. For this post I'm going to comment on a couple of quotes I have written down so far from Moses, Man of the Mountain.

"So! The will to humble a man more powerful than themselves was stronger than the emotion of gratitude. It was stronger than the wish for the common brotherhood of man."

This quote really makes me think of the human relationship with God. As humans we often let our pride encourage us to go against God in some false sense of power over Him. I think the idea is that if God wants us to do something and we refuse, then we think that means we have power over Him because we defied or denied Him. In reality we are only denying ourselves. God tries to bring us together in relationship with Him and our fellow human beings. We are lost without this relationship. Our pride only conceals us from truth and happiness.

"They wish to destroy me, and so they have quit using sense and taken to using phrases. Slogans can be worse than swords if they are only put in the right mouths."

This is a concept that goes back to the Bible. Shakespeare dealt with it famously in Julius Caesar.  Deception is a strong force. As this quote says, all it takes for a mass of people to be led into evil actions is a well formed slogan. It has become the basis of American politics. We no longer pay attention to what candidates stand for or believe in. All we hear now is rhetoric. The company line. Politicians are always working to say "the right thing" instead of what is honest. In the 2004 election Bush spread the famous "flip flop" in reference to his opponent. Similarly, in the 2008 election Obama used focus points like "Yes We Can" and "Change" to win votes. These slogan mean nothing. Flip flop? That tells me nothing about what you believe or stand for. Same goes for "change" and "yes we can." Obviously that election would bring change, cause Bush had served his two terms. That doesn't actually tell me what Obama's ambitions as president are. Slogans misguide the masses into compliance. They sound good to people, and lead people to just take candidates at surface level.

Another Olympic Post?

I've been watching a lot of the Olympics coverage this weekend, so most of my thoughts have to do with that right now. So here are a few thoughts that crossed my mind watching today.

First of all, I have to say I'm really impressed with what the Olympic athletes have been able to accomplish. Yes a lot of people are focusing on what isn't being done (such as the whole Phelps situation), but honestly, for all of the pressure these people are under, they are doing some pretty amazing stuff.

Second, the support that the athletes show for each other is amazing. These athletes have every reason to be completely focused on themselves, but it's encouraging to see things such as swimmers congratulating the person that just beat them in a race.

Finally, after watching the gymnastics qualifier, that system seems completely messed up. The rule that makes it so that only two athletes from one country can compete in the all around is ridiculous. I'm not one to normally complain about the way we have to make everyone feel good about themselves these days, but talk about unfair. The top people should compete, no matter what country they are from. Yes, this might keep some countries out of the competition, but the Olympics is a meeting of the best, and the best should be competing.  

Competing and Connecting

Today was the first full day of competition at the Olympics and overall it was a pretty good one to watch. I probably enjoyed watching the volleyball (both indoor and beach) the most. All of the US teams won their matches. The swimming and men's gymnastics were also fun to watch. What wasn't fun about watching the Olympics today was the social media aspect.

On Twitter and Facebook people were posting their reactions and opinions to the outcomes of Olympic events. Most of these people had watched the events live online. I think it's great that people can do that, but for those of us who have lives and obligations (which means we have to wait to watch events as they are broadcast on television or recorded on our DVR) it kind of sucks to have events you are looking forward to see ruined by those who have to share spoilers online.

I asked my Twitter followers today to please not send out spoilers (not that I really have any influence over them) and for the most part it wasn't much of an issue. I did however receive an update from USA Today on my phone breaking the Phelps/Lachte result well before it had aired and similar posts on Facebook breaking the results of events before I even had a chance to watch them. I get that social media is all about what the individual has to say, but sometimes we should think about the people who will be reached by our words. USA Today should have known better and honestly I think they were just being hostile journalists out to get their claim on a story. I'm hoping that I don't have to spend the next two weeks avoiding Twitter and other social media, but if it means preserving my enjoyment of the Olympics, I will.

London Calling...Just Let It Go To Voice Mail

Tonight millions of people will be watching the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics. I'll be watching them too. Every two years, I get into the Olympics like everyone else. First of all I think it's fun to root for team USA. Second, the Olympics are a chance to see those obscure sports that don't get a lot of media attention, and I like that. I'm not one of those people who sits around watching ESPN 24/7. That would drive me insane. I'm also not one of those people that doesn't watch any sports. In fact, I can watch pretty much any sport as long as I have someone to root for (golf is the exception, because it is boring and there is no entertainment value there at all). Overall, I'm pretty excited for the Olympics to start.

What I'm not so excited about is the hosting city. London? I mean really, London? So far there has been some criticism of London in regards to safety and the overall aesthetic of the location, and I would say it's pretty warranted criticism. Whenever I think of London hosting the Olympics my mind flashes to this...

But hey, it can't all be bad. I mean I'm sure they'll have nice facilities, and some state of the art equipment for the athletes to work with. Oh and you can't forget the mascots right. I mean those things will probably be cute or look really cool...

Wait, what the crap are those? If your goal is to scare little children into not watching the Olympics this year, you have definitely succeeded London. Sometimes the mascots convey a message about the home city, and from the look of these mascots, that message is, "Big Brother is watching you!"

Here is a list of things that I expect (but don't want to) see during the opening ceremony:

• Shakespeare quotes
• Paul McCartney
• The phrase "London Calling"
• English Royalty
• Elton John
• A reference to Big Ben
• A crazy sense of what "art" is.

Despite the fact that I'm not so thrilled about the host city, I really do plan to have a good time rooting on team USA for the next couple of weeks.

What's New....And More To Come!

Okay, so I'm going to make a little apology in advance for this post. It's going to be music based, and I've done a lot of those lately. Yes I realize that this is not a music challenge, but what readers should probably know about me is that I really like movies, music, television, and reading. A fair amount of blog posts based on these topics should be expected. So what I want to do in this post is highlight some new and upcoming music that I think is worth taking a look at. Let's dive right in.

I'm a big fan of 90's music, as you could maybe tell during my 90's inspired post during the 30 day music challenge. One of my favorite 90's bands is Matchbox 20. When I heard they were getting back together to release a new album in September, I was thrilled. Here is the first single off of their upcoming album. I can't wait to give the whole thing a listen!

When it comes to Tenth Avenue North I'm on again off again. Sometimes I think their music is good and other times I think it is just okay. Well, if the single Losing off of their upcoming third album is any indicator, then this could really be an amazing album. I love everything about this song. It has a great message and I love the way it progresses from the simple beginning to the anthemic end. Now bear with me, I'm really not a fan of the way they did this video, but it has the best sound quality of any of the YouTube videos and I wanted you guys to really be able to hear this song.

Toby Mac makes some interesting music. I've been particularly impressed with his last two albums, and I am really looking forward to his album that comes out at the end of August. The first single off of the album is pretty catchy, and again has a great message. Hope you enjoy!

There has been a surge of folk/pop bands these last few years that I find interesting. While I'm really not a huge fan of most of these bands, one that I do find interesting is Milo Greene. They released their album earlier this month and I've yet to pick it up (trying to save some money). The first time I actually heard one of their songs it was in a blog post by Brooke White. She posted the song 1957 and I think it really shows what this band is capable of. Have a listen.

This final song is off of Britt Nicole's newest album, which again I don't own yet. When it comes to Britt Nicole, I like some of her songs, and then others just really aren't my style. This song is one that I wouldn't have thought I would like, but it's actually pretty catchy and I really like the collaboration with Christian rapper Lacrae.

Actually looking back at this post I'm not such a fan of any of these videos (with the exception of the Toby Mac video). The point is so that you guys can hear the songs though, so don't focus too much on the videos.

Merry Christmas?

If you haven't seen a calendar today, then you might not have realized that today is July 25th. That means it's Christmas in July! Now don't get me wrong, I don't actually celebrate Christmas in July, but I kind of get excited every July 25th. What you have to understand about me is that Christmas is my absolute favorite time of year. That's why I like to pay a little attention to the fake holiday Christmas in July. No, it doesn't have any significance, and I don't really celebrate in any way, but it gives me a good excuse to think about the fact that Christmas is only five months away. If the place you live in is even close to as hot as it is here in Kansas right now, then I'm sure you would find a good snowfall pretty nice right now too.Well in the spirit of this non-traditional "celebration" of an awesome holiday, here are a couple of non-traditional Christmas songs I have heard through TV shows or YouTube. Enjoy, and have a merry (fake) Christmas!

I heard this first one off of a TV show one time and just thought it had a really catchy chorus. I don't even remember the show, but I think it's a fun little Christmas song to listen to.

This second song is from an artist that I actually found on YouTube before she got her record deal. Her name is Zee Avi and she actually has some really interesting music and a really beautiful tone to her voice. I don't normally go for these my loved one is out of town Christmas songs, but I like her tone so much on this song, that I've made an exception here.

The Emmy Awards: A Love/Hate Relationship (Mostly Hate)

If you haven't heard yet, the Emmy Awards are approaching. The nominees have been announce and I find my self feeling the same why I always do about them, mostly disappointed. Year after year the Emmy Awards have neglected to recognize some of the most talented television actors and the most creative television shows. Don't get me wrong, there are always some very talented people recognized, but there is an equal number of actors and shows that go unrecognized every year. This is my assessment of this years nominations. If you haven't seen a list of the nominees, here is a link: http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/emmys/la-et-st-emmy-nominations-2012-list-20120718,0,521498.htmlstory

Comedy Series:

 What they got right: 

The short answer? Not much. So many good shows have been left off of this list and in their place are a mass of HBO and CBS shows that are about as funny as getting a paper cut. The best show nominated in this category is hands down 30 Rock, but we all know it has no chance of taking home this award. I will give partial credit to Modern Family. It tries harder than HBO or CBS to actually be a smart show, and being produced by Steven Levitan (creator of the hilarious show Just Shoot Me) it has its bright spots. Not my personal favorite, but certainly a better nominee than the other four contenders.

What they got wrong:

A better question might be what didn't they get wrong? How about almost completely ignoring the funniest network, NBC? Community and Parks and Recreation both should have received nominations in this category. Along with 30 Rock they are arguably the funniest, most witty, shows on TV. Another show that was ignored is Fox's New Girl, a show much more original and clever than most of this years nominees. I would add that ABC's Cougar Town is also worthy of a nomination, but I've resigned to the fact that the Emmy's don't like good comedy.

Comedy Actor:

What they got right:

One name. Alec Baldwin. He's hilarious on 30 Rock. He should, and just might, win this award.

What they got wrong:

Just about everything else. Nick Offerman and Adam Scott from Parks and Recreation both deserve nominations in this category. So does Joel McHale from Community. Can I just point out how ridiculous it is that Jon Cryer is nominated in this category again. Nobody has ever watched Two and a Half Men because they thought he was funny. People watch that show despite the fact that he's on there. I mean I know Charlie Sheen said some mean things about him, but can we stop throwing him pity nominations? Also Jim Parsons is probably the most overrated actor on the most overrated show on television.

Comedy Actress:

What they got right:

Surprisingly more than they did with the other comedy categories. First of all, there is Tina Fey, who is clearly the funniest comedian of our time male or female. If you removed Fey's perfectly crafted Liz Lemon and her writing voice from 30 Rock, there would be no show. I was also glad to see that despite ignoring Parks and Recreation as a show, they did nominate Amy Poehler, who is the heart of the show. Finally, it was encouraging to see the Emmy's recognize Zooey Deschanel's work on New Girl. While not quite on Fey and Poehler's level, Deschanel has really crafted a funny and quirky character that deserves this nomination.

What they got wrong:

Can we please all jump off of the Julia Louis-Dryfus is funny bandwagon? We all know it's not true, and yet we keep supporting her horrible decisions with nominations. I would add that Courtney Cox perfectly portrays the highly functional drunk that is Jules Cobb on Cougar Town.

Supporting Comedy Actor:

What they got right:

I will throw a bone to Max Greenfield and Eric Stonestreet on this one. Both give solid enough performances on their shows to warrant this nomination, but not a win in my opinion.

What they got wrong:

Rob Lowe from Parks and Recreation definitely deserves a nomination in this category. Community's Donald Glover and Danny Pudi both deserve nominations as well. In fact I personally think that Danny Pudi should be winning this award and am baffled as to how the Emmy's can nominate Jim Parsons and not Danny Pudi. Pudi plays a very similar role as Parsons, but performs the role ten times better.

Supporting Comedy Actress:

What they got right:

Julie Bowen. That's about it. While I have stated that I'm not a huge fan of the show, 90% of the times it has made me laugh are because of Bowen's performance.

What they got wrong:

So much. Alison Brie, Gillian Jacobs, and Yvette Nicole Brown all give wonderfully hilarious performances on Community. Aubrey Plaza is perfect on Parks and Recreation. Perhaps the biggest snub of all? Busy Phillips on Cougar Town. She plays Laurie Keller perfectly and somehow makes TV's biggest "tease" one of the most lovable and charming characters out there.

Drama Series:

What they got right:

Downton Abbey. I'm not a big fan of period pieces, but I have to say that this show is on top of its game. The characters are intriguing and the plot lines keep you watching.

What they got wrong:

I was livid when I saw the nominations and The Good Wife wasn't on there. It is hands down more intriguing than any other drama on television. Not to mention it does so without the gimmicks that so many of the dramas these days have to rely on. No, Alicia Florrick isn't a drug maker or a philandering ad salesman, she's a hard working lawyer fighting to keep her family in tact.

Drama Actress:

What they got right/wrong:

 I'm putting these two together cause honestly there isn't much that they missed here. Juliana Margulies and Michelle Dockery are both excellent nominations deserving of a win. If I could add one nominee it would be Ellen Pompeo, who I feel has always been under appreciated on Grey's Anatomy.

Drama Actor:

What they got right: 

Hugh Bonneville is perfect on Downton Abbey. His performance always balances out the more extreme characters on the show and keeps it from going off of the deep end like so many other dramas.

What they got wrong:

Josh Charles took a more active role on The Good Wife this past seasons, ironically as his character took a less active role in his law firm. I feel that his performance has gotten better and he deserved a nomination in this category.

Supporting Drama Actress:

What they got right:

The nominations of Maggie Smith and Joanne Froggatt for Downton Abbey, and Archie Panjabi and Christine Branski for The Good Wife are more than enough to make me content with this category. If one of these four women doesn't win the award, it's a real crime.

Supporting Drama Actor:

What they got right:

Brendan Coyle and Jim Carter both deserve their nominations for Downton Abbey.

What they got wrong:

Allen Cummings and Matt Czuchry both deserve nominations for The Good Wife. Cummings is especially great as the cunning and manipulative political adviser Eli Gold.

Babble On!

Since I'm doing this 30 Day Challenge, I thought I should dedicate my first post to the blogger that inspired me to ever consider blogging, Brooke White. Well actually my friend Hannah was the one that finally convinced me to take the plunge, and you can see her awesome blog here( http://nevesaro.blogspot.com/ ). But it was Brooke's blog "Brookie Babble" that first got me started even considering blogging as a format of expression. To this day it is one of the few blogs that I consistently follow and read.

My first introduction with Brooke White was watching American Idol. Yes, I do watch American Idol. It's not cause I care desperately who wins, it's because every year I like to see the under appreciated talents, like Brooke, who go on to do some pretty creative and inspirational things. What has become apparent to me through Brooke's time on Idol, blogging, and the music she has created post Idol is that she is a creative person and a kind soul. That is why I have always found her blog interesting. So here is why I think Brooke is a hidden talent you should check out.

First of all, there is her blog. You can find it here: http://brookiebabble.blogspot.com/
I would advise going through and reading all of her backlogged posts from the creation of the blog. I think you will find her spirit to be encouraging to anyone pursuing a creative or artistic field. Not to mention she's just a kind and caring person.

Second is her music. Brooke is currently in a duo called Jack and White and I have to say, it is her best musical endeavor yet. They have released three EP's so far, and here are some highlights from each of them.

Gemini: This was the first EP from Jack and White. I really love every song on it. If I have to pick a personal highlight from it though, it would be Smoke and Mirrors. It has creative lyrics, an interesting sound, and Brooke really puts her vocals to work on this one.

Winter: Jack and White's second EP was a little shorter than their first, but honestly it's no less impressive. My favorite track off of this EP is Night After Night. Again I think it has an interesting lyrical quality and it does a good job of highlighting both Jack and Brooke on vocals. There is even a dance remix of the song that was posted online. Here are both so you can hear the difference.

And the remix, which is surprisingly creative and catchy...

Undercover: This is Jack and White's latest effort and it was a very cool one. It is a cover album, but they didn't just pick and choose songs randomly. They covered a song from each decade starting with the 60's and going through the current decade. There are some really great covers on this EP. Being a child of the 90's, my favorite of their covers is hands down How's It Going To Be by Third Eye Blind. They mellow out the song a little and give it an almost summery feeling. I like it a lot.

MP3 Downloads of these EP's are available on iTunes and Amazon. You can purchase hard copies (my personal preference) from Jack and White's website http://jackandwhite.spinshop.com/

It Has Been A While/Is That a Challenge?

As the title says, it has been a while. My last post was in March, so bad blog updating on my part. I kept having ideas and saying, I'm going to blog about that, but I never did. So now I'm forcing myself to (for 30 days anyway). Yep, I'm doing another challenge. This time there is only one rule, blog once a day for 30 days. That's it. No song categories, which often left me feeling a little restricted in my blogging. So starting with my next post, expect 30 blogs for 30 days!