Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Awesome and Troubling
The Places We Live by Jonas Bendiksen is a breath-taking and heart-wrenching interactive photo feature that takes you into slums in Caracas, Venezuela; Kibera, Nairobi, Kenya; Dharavi, Mumbai, India; and Jakarta, Indonesia. I can’t overstate how captivating it is. More than that, though, it offers some perspective on what an economic crisis can really mean.
Barack Obama, Beyonce and Alphacat....match made in heaven
This is just too funny. If you like Barack Obama and Beyonce you will laugh. Even if you don't like them you will probably think this is funny....especially if you are familiar with the Single Ladies video.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Great Reads....Great Sees....Does that make sense?
I have been reading some great books and seeing some excellent movies recently. I keep meaning to blog about it but I haven't gotten around to it. As I was watching the SAG awards tonight, I decided tonight was a good time.
First the books...
The Reader (also a movie). I read the book first and was sucked in. Others I have recommended it to only thought it was so so but I couldn't put it down. It is one of those books that you really don't know what to think when you are doing reading it. It definitely took me through a range of emotions. I strongly recommend it. Just a warning, it does have a lot of sexual content so be warned if that bothers you.
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. This is a book about a group of women who start a book club in the suburbs. It follows their lives from the late 60s until the late 90s as they get married, have children and everything else that comes with life and of course the books they are reading along the way. I couldn't put it down. It was one of those books I stayed up until 4am to finish.
The Watchmen. Yes a graphic novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is coming out as a movie soon which I am equally looking forward to.
Now to the films...
Gran Turino. You basically need to see this because it is based in Michigan and Clint Eastwood is awesome. It was very different than what I was expecting but definitely worth seeing.
Revolutionary Road. Again excellent. I am a huge fan of Kate Winslet and it appears she can do no wrong. Her performance is astounding along with Leonardo DiCaprio. This film will definitely keep you thinking long after its over.
The Reader. Another hit by Kate Winslet and of course the others in the film. This one is another hard movie but worth seeing. I don't know that I can say enough about it.
Enjoy these great books and films. Hopefully you will enjoy them as much as I did.
First the books...
The Reader (also a movie). I read the book first and was sucked in. Others I have recommended it to only thought it was so so but I couldn't put it down. It is one of those books that you really don't know what to think when you are doing reading it. It definitely took me through a range of emotions. I strongly recommend it. Just a warning, it does have a lot of sexual content so be warned if that bothers you.
Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. This is a book about a group of women who start a book club in the suburbs. It follows their lives from the late 60s until the late 90s as they get married, have children and everything else that comes with life and of course the books they are reading along the way. I couldn't put it down. It was one of those books I stayed up until 4am to finish.
The Watchmen. Yes a graphic novel and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It is coming out as a movie soon which I am equally looking forward to.
Now to the films...
Gran Turino. You basically need to see this because it is based in Michigan and Clint Eastwood is awesome. It was very different than what I was expecting but definitely worth seeing.
Revolutionary Road. Again excellent. I am a huge fan of Kate Winslet and it appears she can do no wrong. Her performance is astounding along with Leonardo DiCaprio. This film will definitely keep you thinking long after its over.
The Reader. Another hit by Kate Winslet and of course the others in the film. This one is another hard movie but worth seeing. I don't know that I can say enough about it.
Enjoy these great books and films. Hopefully you will enjoy them as much as I did.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Joseph Lowery's Benediction for the Inauguration
I thought this was beautiful:
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far along the way, thou who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee. Shadowed beneath thy hand may we forever stand — true to thee, O God, and true to our native land.
We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we’ve shared this day. We pray now, O Lord, for your blessing upon thy servant, Barack Obama, the 44th president of these United States, his family and his administration. He has come to this high office at a low moment in the national and, indeed, the global fiscal climate. But because we know you got the whole world in your hand, we pray for not only our nation, but for the community of nations. Our faith does not shrink, though pressed by the flood of mortal ills.
For we know that, Lord, you’re able and you’re willing to work through faithful leadership to restore stability, mend our brokenness, heal our wounds and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor or the least of these and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these.
We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union. And while we have sown the seeds of greed — the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity to commit our support to our president by our willingness to make sacrifices, to respect your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other.
And now, Lord, in the complex arena of human relations, help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance.
And as we leave this mountaintop, help us to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family. Let us take that power back to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek your will.
Bless President Barack, First Lady Michelle. Look over our little, angelic Sasha and Malia.
We go now to walk together, children, pledging that we won’t get weary in the difficult days ahead. We know you will not leave us alone, with your hands of power and your heart of love.
Help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree, and none shall be afraid; when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around — (laughter) — when yellow will be mellow — (laughter) — when the red man can get ahead, man — (laughter) — and when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen.
AUDIENCE: Amen!
REV. LOWERY: Say amen —
AUDIENCE: Amen!
REV. LOWERY: — and amen.
AUDIENCE: Amen! (Cheers, applause.)
God of our weary years, God of our silent tears, thou who has brought us thus far along the way, thou who has by thy might led us into the light, keep us forever in the path, we pray, lest our feet stray from the places, our God, where we met thee, lest our hearts, drunk with the wine of the world, we forget thee. Shadowed beneath thy hand may we forever stand — true to thee, O God, and true to our native land.
We truly give thanks for the glorious experience we’ve shared this day. We pray now, O Lord, for your blessing upon thy servant, Barack Obama, the 44th president of these United States, his family and his administration. He has come to this high office at a low moment in the national and, indeed, the global fiscal climate. But because we know you got the whole world in your hand, we pray for not only our nation, but for the community of nations. Our faith does not shrink, though pressed by the flood of mortal ills.
For we know that, Lord, you’re able and you’re willing to work through faithful leadership to restore stability, mend our brokenness, heal our wounds and deliver us from the exploitation of the poor or the least of these and from favoritism toward the rich, the elite of these.
We thank you for the empowering of thy servant, our 44th president, to inspire our nation to believe that, yes, we can work together to achieve a more perfect union. And while we have sown the seeds of greed — the wind of greed and corruption, and even as we reap the whirlwind of social and economic disruption, we seek forgiveness and we come in a spirit of unity and solidarity to commit our support to our president by our willingness to make sacrifices, to respect your creation, to turn to each other and not on each other.
And now, Lord, in the complex arena of human relations, help us to make choices on the side of love, not hate; on the side of inclusion, not exclusion; tolerance, not intolerance.
And as we leave this mountaintop, help us to hold on to the spirit of fellowship and the oneness of our family. Let us take that power back to our homes, our workplaces, our churches, our temples, our mosques, or wherever we seek your will.
Bless President Barack, First Lady Michelle. Look over our little, angelic Sasha and Malia.
We go now to walk together, children, pledging that we won’t get weary in the difficult days ahead. We know you will not leave us alone, with your hands of power and your heart of love.
Help us then, now, Lord, to work for that day when nation shall not lift up sword against nation, when tanks will be beaten into tractors, when every man and every woman shall sit under his or her own vine and fig tree, and none shall be afraid; when justice will roll down like waters and righteousness as a mighty stream.
Lord, in the memory of all the saints who from their labors rest, and in the joy of a new beginning, we ask you to help us work for that day when black will not be asked to get back, when brown can stick around — (laughter) — when yellow will be mellow — (laughter) — when the red man can get ahead, man — (laughter) — and when white will embrace what is right.
Let all those who do justice and love mercy say amen.
AUDIENCE: Amen!
REV. LOWERY: Say amen —
AUDIENCE: Amen!
REV. LOWERY: — and amen.
AUDIENCE: Amen! (Cheers, applause.)
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