Saturday, January 30, 2010

Top 25 Pop Songs of 2009: Mash-Up

I'm pretty sure I've said it before--if it's well done, it will at least get a hat tip from me. Such is this video. I am not a big fan of a lot of the songs in this mash up, and as a concessions there's a few parts of the video itself I would prefer to go without seeing. But it is well done. And I think it's a good way to round out this music video week. Enjoy:

"In the Valley of the Dying Sun"--House of Heroes

House of Heroes is probably one of my favorite bands, ever. The reason I like this music video in particular, as opposed to Serial Sleepers, is because I didn't really understand the song until I saw it. But now I know, and knowing is half the battle.

Friday, January 29, 2010

"Doin'"--John Reuben

There is little to no way to introduce this video. It is pretty amazing. Even if you don't enjoy white Christian hip-hop. Which I'm betting you don't. Still, an underground professional duck-duck-goose competition? Comedic Gold.

Thursday, January 28, 2010

"Awakening"--Switchfoot

I like this song, for one--it's one of my favorites off of "Oh, Gravity." But I like the video for the creativity. Amidst all the love of Guitar Hero and Rock Band, here's a hand-made cardboard adaptation. And the cloth DDR mat? Classy.

I will admit, however, that I don't really understand too well how the song and video connect, as far as message goes. Whatever.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

"Let the Beat Build"--Nyle

What's this? Rap? Secular rap? On T.J.'s blog? Oh my, oh my. Shut up. It's good. And unlike most main-stream rap, there is little to no profanity and it demonstrates some uplifting-ness and good artistry.

Also, this was all done in one take. Audio and video. Beat that, suckahs!



[Tip o' the Hat to Ryan Hollingsworth]

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

"Serial Sleepers"--House of Heroes

I was going to try to keep it to one post per day, but I couldn't help myself once I saw this video again.

Enjoy.

"Work"--Jars of Clay

I have long been a fan of this song. I'm actually surprised that I haven't shared this music video before. Because I like it.

Also, it's a one-take video. And it's good. If you click through to YouTube then you can read the lyrics as well.

Monday, January 25, 2010

"This Too Shall Pass"--OK Go

I am a big fan of things well done. The following video is well done. You must remember way back when OK Go shot their famous meme-ish video in one take? You don't? Ah, well. Here is another amazing piece. And I am fairly sure it was shot in one take as well:

[Tip o' the Hat to Ryan Hollingsworth]

Music Week...of Videos

First. I don't post on Sundays...except sometimes. So that's why this is at 12:01. And so it's before all the videos.

This week will consist completely of musical related posts. Really, just music videos that I have enjoyed. Unless I change my mind. Whatevs. Enjoy.

Friday, January 22, 2010

How to Tell People They Are Wrong

Because I am very often right (chime in your dissent here) but go about telling people they are wrong in the (ironically) wrong way, I think that this is an appropriate comic:



Do respond.

[Tip o' the Hat to my housemate Joel and Basic Instructions]

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Something I Made


It is supposed to be a heart, a semi-nerdy way of illustrating affection.

My 21st Birthday

Was this past Monday, the 18th, and was so momentous they gave me the day off from school and work. At least that's what people told me.

So, two out of three is not bad in my book (anyone care to guess which two?) But the day was definitely made that much better by a good friend's presence and going to see The Princess and the Frog.

I had thought about just letting go that Martin Luther King Jr. Day was on my birthday, I mean, there are enough people celebrating it enough already, right? Well, I took the time to sit and watch/listen to the entire speech. And it's powerful stuff. To tell the truth, it was the first time I had listened to the whole thing. I recommend you do it, if you never have.

Switching gears. Yes, I had myself some alcohol. Yes it was my first time. No, I actually didn't really enjoy it. I plan on trying some again. Maybe a Lemon Drop and a Rum & Coke wasn't the best place to start? I am open to your suggestions. Seriously. I have no idea what I am doing around a drink menu.

And that, was that.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Something That Lasts Forever, Like A Greeting Card

The other night I caught the tail end of (500) Days of Summer, a film, you may recall, that I quite liked. It takes a special class of movie to blow your mind each time you see it. I spent the last half hour leaning murmuring "So good!" over and over again as each new scene came.

I think part of the reason I loved it so much was, as someone pointed out, it is one of a rare class of movies: a romantic comedy, surrounding a breakup, from the man's point of view, where he feels utterly screwed over. And it was well done along the way.

Plus the things it has to say about love and fate are pretty cussin' fantastic. I like it because of it's plentiful points yet lack of singular resolution. Good stuff, good stuff indeed.

I am not even joking when I say that it may be one of my favorite films ever. And it's a romantic comedy? Who'da thunk it? If you have not seen this film, then that is an error in your judgment that needs to be fixed.

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Covenant Theology. Ish.

I don't really find this irreverent. (Please tell me if you disagree). Maybe a little racist? But everyone's a little bit racist. Stereotypes are a real time saver.

Moving on--I do appreciate the irony of the covenant coming up for renewal:



Once, again, the Onion delivers comedic gold.

On a more serious note, though, I find it interesting that most people in modern culture find it difficult to grasp the concept of an everlasting covenant, or a bond of the sort. Just look out how the word covenantal has fallen out of use. My spellchecker is even telling me it isn't a word as I type this.

Why do you think people don't take the idea of a covenant seriously?

Friday, January 15, 2010

The Tonight Show Controversy


In case you were wondering, or you were preparing to amass the battle lines. As Paste Magazine pointed out, I don't think there really is an "I'm with NBC crowd."

I do understand how NBC probably invest a good bit of money in Leno, but that doesn't make canning Conan a smart move.

Personally, from what I've seen, more entertainers and more people are leaning for the O'Brien side of things. He just seems more collected about the whole ordeal, more tactful, and, what really counts when it comes to entertainment, funnier.

Thursday, January 14, 2010

Avatar vs. Pocahontas

Now, I really enjoyed Avatar, but this is hilarious. Just the fact that they could only change proper nouns and cross out the word "nearly" to get the exact same storyline cracks me up, and reinforces my conclusion that the plot was a tad cliché.

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Mario Bros. Plumbing

What if the Mario Brothers really owned a plumbing business? I understand there is a documentary about such an occurrence, but this is pretty funny in and of itself:



And ending with the paper route? Good stuff.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Historic Chucktown


Above is Francis Marion, a.k.a the "Swamp Fox," a South Carolinian, American Revolutionary War general, upon whom Mel Gibson's "Patriot" character was loosely based.

A week ago I had a chance to go to downtown Charleston to the Old Exchange Building/Provost Dungeon. It was pretty interesting to stand in the same building:
  • Where 49 pirates were imprisoned in 1719 before being hanged by the City of Charleston that same year.
  • That was the last building built by the British in the Colonies before the American Revolution.
  • Where 3 of the 4 South Carolinian signers of the Declaration of Independence were imprisoned by the British.
  • Where South Carolina was the 8th state to ratify the U.S. Constitution.
  • Where George Washington stayed for about a week when he visited South Carolina in 1791.
While I'd never peg myself as a "history buff," I do enjoy the stuff. It's just pretty bangin' to stand in the same room where Gen. George-daggum-Washington stood. Sort of overpowering in a sense.

Monday, January 11, 2010

Brit Hume--The Next Christian Hero?

After witnessing the blind, idiotic support that many Christians lent Carrie Prejean after her same-sex marriage answer to a Miss USA pageant question, I wonder if what Brit Hume had to say about Tiger Woods need for redemption will cause him to be exalted to quasi-martyrdom status? He and Bill O'Reilly discuss:



He seems much more calculated and level headed about the whole comment and idea than Ms. Prejean was (and probably still is) about her statement. I do think he said the right thing, I just hope that Christians don't make him a modern day Stephen.

Another interesting thing to think about is why all the negative feedback? There is the reason he gives, which is Biblical, but does that really make sense in a society that expounds the rights of free speech? I think not. But do you think so? Or think not?

Friday, January 8, 2010

For My Birthday

For my birthday, I don't want a party, I don't have a specific gift that will make the day.

I think all I want is

To have a taste of some alcoholic beverage that I buy and am carded for.

To drink an entire bottle of Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice.

And to give someone a kiss.*














*as someone will most likely disrupt the honesty of this post by calling into question the gender neutral term "someone," I assure you my desire is for a female recipient.

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Up in the Air

I went and saw this flick with some friends in Chucktown Sunday night, and I really enjoyed it. I was telling a few different people that I wouldn't be surprised or upset if it swept the Oscars.

I think one of my favorite parts was something that many filmmakers have started successfully pulling off more and more--non-resolution.

That's right, a lack of resolution. Sure, they point you in the right direction with the meaning, but there is enough left unanswered that you really have to take in what you saw and marry it to you own experience to complete the purpose of the film.

In that particular film, the two main characters, Ryan and Natalie, have very different ideas of what it means to live, to enjoy life, and to love. Different people will assuredly agree with one of the other, and I think many want to side with Natalie's more hopeful, traditional sense. Ryan's life is, appropriately, not painted in the best light.

Even then, though, you can see in Natalie how Ryan's lifestyle, in the very least, can give you some pointers on how to maintain your own.

I won't ruin the movie, but I highly recommend it. Go see it and tell me what you think.

I, Love, and You

Each of these are passages from the new Avett Brothers Album, which I very much like.

The following are resonating because of recent events and sentiments. I'm pretty much hinging on the fact that most people will not read all of this:

Three words that became hard to say
I and Love and You
What you were then I am today
Look at the things I do
...
I miss that feeling of feeling,
The feeling of feeling...
The wind above my face
And caring what it bring my way,
The minutes pass away
And caring what I do with them, oh--
Maybe bring me love or something else
...
I wanna have friends that I can trust,
that love me for the man I've become not the man I was.
I wanna have friends that will let me be
all alone when being alone is all that I need.
I wanna have pride like my mother has,
And not like the kind in the bible that turns you bad.
...
Close the laundry door,
tiptoe across the floor
Keep your clothes on,
I've got all that I can take.
Teach me how to use,
the love that people say you made.
Break this tired old routine,
and this time dont make me leave
...
Violent is the motion in my heart and in my body and mind
And silent is the feeling that I lost but I'm determined to find
And love is but an ocean, unrealistic notion
But I cling to her devotion and I let it pull me down to the floor
...
Temporary is my time,
Ain't nothing in this world that's mine
Except the will I found to carry on
Free is not your right to chose
It's answering what's asked of you
To give the love you find until it's gone
...
I haven’t finished a thing since I started my life,
I don’t feel much like starting now.
Walking now lonely has worked like a charm
I’m the only one I have to let down.
But watching you makes me think that that is wrong.
I can go on with my insecure nature
I can keep living off sympathy.
I can tell all the people that all that sucks
Has a direct reflection on me.
It's up to you, my father, call on me.

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Advertising Fail


I did not make this advertisement. I actually saw this ad on an actual site. I think they company got their picture files switched up when they were writing the code for this particular ad.

All I gotta say is, while that is an impressive beard, I'm just glad that's not my mom, and I'm extra glad that whoever it is is not returning to school at Winthrop.

Friday, January 1, 2010

So This Is The New Year

And here's to new begginnings.

"So this is the new year
And I have no resolutions
For self-assigned penance
For problems with easy solutions
"
--Death Cab For Cutie