And This, This is Why I Love TED

Thanks Sahale, for pointing me at this.



Sorry for the size weirdness - trying to fix that...

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New Cinematography Reel

Leslie Foster Cinematography Reel from Leslie Foster on Vimeo.

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The Nomad Returns

These Bandages by Tom Haubrick

Well, it's been a long time since I've been here; I seem to remember vaguely promising to keep this blog going while I worked on The 365° Experiment. Ah well, my apologies lovely readers - The Experiment seems to have stolen my soul, but only temporarily. I'm back; and with the pressure to write a script every day gone *insert Damocles' Sword reference*. I think I'll be able to dust the cobwebs off this place in the coming weeks.

I'm still spending the rest of this month catching my creative breath, but I'm hoping to post at least once a week for the rest of the month. There are some exciting plans happening and as they become more detailed, I'll be sharing them with you.

Its funny how the hope of plans slowly becoming reality and dreams struggling to come true are tempered by the stress of the every day. The balance is tricky - indulging to much in either set of emotions can be dangerous. To each his own, but in my story, I keep finding that prayer helps me stay balanced. I'm still learning how this whole 'walking with God' thing works--this immersion in conversation.

And speaking of being immersed in conversation, music has always made me feel more connected with the spiritual, something about that fluid embrace of words. So, for all you stressed and tired people out there, how about a little music?

I got a chance to hear these artists live last night at Club Spaceland - a venue that gets quite a few points in my book for making Monday night concerts free. I got to see some great musicians, hang with my Purple Church peeps, and end the evening not a penny poorer - a great way to Monday night, I say.

Ida Maria - Queen of the World
Update: LA Times Reviews Ida Maria


Honey Honey - Little Toy Gun


Rocco DeLuca & The Burden - The Gift


More Rocco

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Yes, yes, and well, yes

This is why I support Obama...because he inspires his supporters to be knowledgeable.



Found via Jack and Jill Politics.

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Musical Joy and Politics? Sign Me Up

While I've been missing from this blog, my belief in Barack Obama has definitely solidified...I believe Obama holds the promise of possibility, of opening a door for change; but we have to take advantage of this. If he becomes president and we do not take the opportunity that his outlook and transparency offer, we will share the blame for not having used this chance to change this nation.

This video moved me in a way I haven't been moved in a long time; and I think it represents how Obama has moved many of us in ways no politician in my generation's lifetime has been able to. Enjoy.

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More Musical Joy (or why Imogen Heap is absolutely fantastic)

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A Little Bit of Musical Joy from Dawn Landes

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Preach!

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Exactly My Thoughts...

In The Know: Situation In Nigeria Seems Pretty Complex

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The Great Debaters - Trailers

Posted Nov 06, 2007

A drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson (Denzel Washington), a professor at Wiley College Texas. In 1935, he inspired students to form the school's first debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship.

Films like this get released every few years, and I doubt I'll ever get sick of them. It reminds me why I'm so proud of my people. Sometimes I wish I lived back 80 years ago to be a part of that history as terrifying and challenging as it would be. In someways it's less terrifying than living today when everything seems very gray, with defined lines growing more smudged with every passing year.

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An Army with Standards?

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Beautiful Sights and Sounds from Sigur Rós

Sigur Ros - Heima Trailer

Posted Oct 15, 2007

Sigur Ros stars in a beautiful documentary that follows the epic band around their homeland of Iceland.

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Welcome to the O.Z.?

I discovered this over at Jeffrey Overstreet's blog, and he gives a great commentary that I'd rather avoid stepping on or repeating; but I will say this:
The idea of a daring remake of any classic is exciting to me. Stage plays are re-imagined all the time. Why can't we do the same with films instead of poo-pooing and whining that a good movie should never be revisited?

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Today's Video Is Brought to You by the Letter Imogen

Imogen Heap-Goodnight And Go
Uploaded by FearlessMusic

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I Wish I Could Do That...

This was so cool I had to share.

Freddy: Human Machine

Posted Mar 19, 2007

Through a series of acrobatic moves a man sets off a reaction to power a machine.

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Praise God, for he has many names, but...

For those of you who have iTunes, might I recommend heading over to the iTunes store and downloading this week's featured free download*, Dave Matthews' music video "Eh Hee." I've watched it about five times now, and I just downloaded it last night. I've been trying to wrap my head around the whole thing. Matthews directed the video, and it's one of the more intriguing videos I've seen in a while. We talk so much about artists wrestling with their beliefs or agnosticism in art all the time. Well, here's a great example.
I'm not even sure how to describe it, but the words, dark, grotesque, thought-provoking, frightening, beautiful, and artsy come to mind. Enjoy.

*For those of without the privilege of iTunes' company...here ya go. (The iTunes version is much higher quality...hint hint)



(Really, you need to see the iTunes version full screen for the full effect...really)

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Cruel and Unusual

In a few hours, the state of Texas will execute a man for a crime he did not commit. Many claim to be innocent, but few on death row can claim that their innocence is a well-established fact. Kenneth Foster will be executed today because he couldn't predict that his friend, Julius Steen, would step out of the car they were riding in, walk 80 feet and kill Michael LaHood. Foster is being put to death because he should have known better.
Under the Texas law of parties:

If, in the attempt to carry out a conspiracy to commit one felony, another felony is committed by one of the conspirators, all conspirators are guilty of the felony actually committed, though having no intent to commit it, if the offense was committed in furtherance of the unlawful purpose and was one that should have been anticipated as a result of the carrying out of the conspiracy."

Steen and Foster had been on a spree of robberies that night, but Foster should not be held responsible for a crime that Steen committed and and for which he has been punished--he was executed last year.

No one contests Foster's innocence in the murder, it is merely argued that the law must be carried out. I can't get over the sick surreality of the case, but Foster's daughter says it so much better than I ever could:



A childhood friend of Lahood's, Sean Paul Kelley has joined the fight to save Foster. He writes movingly about his struggle with the subject.

There's not much time left, but if you feel the urge to help Kenneth Foster, please visit the Free Kenneth site and get more information about what you can do.

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And Now, for Something Completely Different

First I should apologize for the less than regular posting...it's been a crazy month. Hopefully I'll be able to post some of the projects we've been working on in the coming weeks.
But now, to politics. I haven't said much here about the current American presidential candidates. I've been following the proceedings closely and have watched Barak Obama's ascendancy with some interest and hope. The man's doing some amazing things, and I'd like to see him go all the way to the White House, so today I'm announcing The Nomad Chronicles endorsement of Barak Obama as the next president of the United States, and here to help me is Michelle Obama.

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Merchantphilia

I fell in love with Natalie Merchant the moment I heard her voice and when I discovered her political and social leanings several months into infatuation, there was no turning back, I became a complete and committed Natalie-phile. Here is a clip from an upcoming documentary she produced with the help of non-profit Give Us Your Poor. With the help of artists who are or had been homeless, she records the song There is No Reason by Nichole Cooper, who wrote the song when she was 15 and homeless. Keep rocking Natalie.

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TED: Majora Carter

I'll be featuring videos from TED (Technology Entertainment Design) every once in a while on this blog. The post immediately before this explains in detail.

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