George Michael - Faith

Released on October 30, 1987, Faith was George Michael's first solo album after leaving Wham!.  Faith, the title track, hit the top singles chart in the winter of 1987.

Where was I in 1987?  I was 11 years old and I remember watching George Michael in tight jeans, black "Revenge" leather jacket, and cowboy boots swaying his butt with his acoustic guitar on MTV.   He was the man!  Chicks dug him.  He was every girls fantasy.  I even recall guys around my age and older wanting to emulate George Michael.  Torn jeans, cowboy boots, and aviator sunglasses were the style.

Sources: Wikipedia; Cash Box Top Singles - 1987

To view the video, please visit my website at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/.

Patrick Boivin's WHITE

Canadian filmmaker Patrick Boivin tells a story in this very short film of a young lady and a dog in apocalyptic world.  Enjoy.



You can see more of his works here. 

Visit my blog at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/.

Atheistic view of science and religion

First of all, I should disclose that I am not atheist nor agnostic. I believe in God, but I also believe in our need to apply science to find answers.

The video below is by Philhellenes, an atheist who presents an argument for science titled "Science saved my soul...from religion." 

You can view more of his videos on his YOUTUBE webpage at http://www.youtube.com/user/philhellenes.



Visit my website at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/.

John Lennon and Yoko Ono - Happy Xmas (War is Over)

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

We hear this song practically every day on that holiday music radio station.  I remember listening to this song as a kid.  It wasn't until my late teens, however, when I finally understood the meaning of the song. 

The song was a protest song about the Vietnam War.  Happy Xmas was released in 1971 by John Lennon and Yoko Ono. 

HAPPY XMAS!!!

Visit my blog at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/.

Stevie Wonder - Master Blaster (Jammin')

Thirty years ago, Stevie Wonder hit the top single charts with Master Blaster (Jammin'), a reggie-sound song that will indeed make you sway and enjoy the rhythm. 

Respect!



via aimeedus
Sources: Wikipedia; Cash Box Top Singles - 1980

Virgin de Guadalupe

On December 12, 1531, The Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego, a Indigenous peasant who was praying to God for the health of his uncle.  The Virgin of Guadalupe appeared to Juan Diego at Mount Tepeyac--in present day Mexico City.

The Virgin of Guadalupe directed Juan Diego to deliver a message to the Bishop in Mexico City instructing him to build a temple for her.  When he presented this to the Bishop, Juan Diego was turned away. 

Juan Diego returned to Mount Tepeyac and was given red roses to take to the Bishop as proof that he was visited by the Virgin of Guadalupe.  Juan Diego did what he was told.  As he presented the roses to the Bishop, the image of the Virgin of Guadalupe appeared on Juan Diego's shirt.

Sources: http://laprensa-sandiego.org

Visit my blog at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/.

Finding 26 Doors

Several days ago, we visited the 26 Doors Shopping Center in North Central Austin.  Actually, we found this shopping center by accident.  We were looking for a place to eat lunch and I suggested Waterloo Ice House, which is located on 38th Street. 

As we were looking for a parking space, my wife noticed Santa Rita Cantina, a Tex-Mex restuarant, and suggested we go there instead.

Good things she suggested Tex-Mex too.  It was the first time I have every noticed the shopping center, and after lunch, we strolled around admiring the sculptures, fountain, and stores. 

With the crisp air, it seemed as if we were in a different state.  I even mentioned to my wife that the shopping center kind of reminded me of Estes Park in Colorado.

Below are pictures I took on our 26 Doors stroll.

Pink Floyd - Another Brick In The Wall

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

Released in the United States 31 years ago on December 8, 1979, Pink Floyd's Another Brick in the Wall received several recognition and named one of Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Times. However, the song and music video was and still is controversial.

The song and music video is a protest to the authoritative management of Pink's (the boy in the video) private school. Of course, after watching this video, many kids saw this as a protest to education in general.

I heard this song when I was about four or five years old. I recall my dad obtaining the album somehow and playing it during a party hosted at our home. My guess is that one of his students or friends brought the album to the house or something.

I remember waking up scared and crying to my dad begging to turn it off. He did and I returned to sleep. I think the kid's chorus creeped me out. In fact, I had the same reaction when I first saw the music video. I think I watched it one late night on MTV and quickly turning it off. As a matter of fact, I had nightmares of being on a conveyor belt and falling before waking up in a cold sweat.

It was probably not until I was in my late teens when I was able to watch and understand Pink Floyd's The Wall.


via mongchilde

Source: Wikipedia.

To view the video, please visit my blog at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/.

Baluarte River Bridge

The Mexican federal government is spending approximately 18 million pesos (US$1.2 billion) to build a tollway from Durango to Mazatlan. 

Once completed, the new highway will be approximately 230 km (143 miles) in distance and will save travelers about 4 hours in travel time--currently, it takes travelers 6 to 8 hours through rugged terrain. 

The new tollway will consist of 55 miles of 63 tunnels, viaducts, and 115 impressive bridges, such as Puente Baluarte, which will be the highest in North America.  The bridge span 1,280 feet above the Baluarte River.

Below is a video of the project presented in Spanish.  Enjoy.

Sources: PM Network September 2010; Wikipedia

Visit my blog at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/ to view photos and videos.

Kitchen Philosophy

From the Last artist died today album, UK artist and musician Dean Omori's Kitchen Philosophytouches on politics, religion, and society with strong lyrics such as "Where's the love of a good man, What were the crimes you saw, Shoot em in the back if they don't follow orders, Shoot em in the front if they obey your law."

Enjoy the video.



You can see more of his work on his website, http://www.deanomori.com/.

To view the video, visit my website at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/.

Harry Belafonte - Day O

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

Day O, or The Banana Boat Song, is a traditional Jamaican folk song about dock workers working at night loading bananas onto ships before daylight. The song was made popular by Harry Belafonte in the 1950s.

The calypso song regained popularity in the 1980s with the movie Beetlejuice.

Where I was in 1988? I was about 12 or 13 when the movie came out. I recall going to the movie theater with friends to watch it.  Soon after the movie, I remember going to Wal-Mart and purchasing the soundtrack.

via berjudit

Source: Wikipedia

To view the video, visit my website at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/.

Thanksgiving Wreaths

I found myself starting my blog with "my wife" did such and such.  Perhaps I should change it a bit, huh? 

My wife After several weeks in Honolulu, Hawaii, the one I committed my life to came home and decided to make our home more festive--you know, more season-related.  Her first night back home she wanted to visit Michaels, the crafts store.  Don't get me wrong, I love that store.   In fact, if we were both retired and had a good amount of money, my wife and I could make a living making crafts.

This blog, however, isn't about the future and crafts.  It's about my wife's nature to make her nest look welcoming. 

When I met my wife, I fell in love with her personality.  She loved making things perfect.  And to me everything she made was that.  Since we were dating, she made life festive to the season even if we had no money.  She made the occasion, period. 

So it comes to no surprise that she wanted to make wreaths for Thanksgiving.

Below are what she created for our indoor closet door and outside front door.





To view the photos, visit my blog at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/.

Trio - Da, Da, Da

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

In 1997, I recall watching this Volkswagen commercial and tilting my head with confusion.  As a Communications major, I thought that the commercial was a bit too--how should I put it--odd.

I then found myself wanting to watch it again and again.  Before Youtube, the only way to catch a commercial was to wait.  At times, I would tell my friends or parents to quiet down, turn the volume up to listen to the commercial.  

I think the advertisement was effective since I wanted a VW Golf so bad.  I think I even begged my father to buy a VW Golf. 



The song originates from a band from Großenkneten, Germany called Trio.  Below is the music video for Da da da.  Notice the Casio miniature keyboard the lead singer is holding.  That is the keyboard he uses for the song's melody.


via RockAndDiscoMusic

Devo - Whip It

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

Whip It came out in 1980.  Like many other kids my age at the time, I liked the beat.  I didn't think much of their attire; although their Power Dome headgear was pretty cool.  Nor did I care what they were portraying in the video; although, I read that people had issues with its portrayal of women.

It wasn't until way after I was a teen when I became aware of the lyrics and its meaning.  Personally, I thought it was a song about sex.  Not so, according to Devo songwriter, Gerald Casale; his lyrics were inspired by Thomas Pynchon's writings.  The lyrics tell of a persons struggle to overcome hardtimes. 
The idea for the sadomasochistic-like music video came from a 1960s magazine Casale read where a guy would invite people to watch him whip his wife's cloths off. 



Sources: Wikipedia

Visit my blog at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/.

A Cyclist's Paradise

Bjarke Ingels and his BIG Architect firm created an amazing spiral-shaped structure for cyclists to ride through and where visitors can have a picnic. The structure is also the new home to Denmark's iconic statue--The Little Mermaid.

The Danish Pavilion was build in preparation for the Shanghai 2010 World Expo.

You can find more information about this breathtaking structure here, here, and here.



Sources: PM Network, August 2010; DesignBoom.com; big.

Visit my blog at http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/.

Michael Jackson - Thriller

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

Before I began my Music Appreciation (A Retrospect) Sunday Series, I knew I would discuss how this music video played a role in my young life. 

Everyone in the Rio Grande Valley wanted to be Michael Jackson.  Kids would compete against each other in the school yard on who could do the best moonwalk.  I think I only succeeded once until the cool kid in school out-performed me.

I was either nine or ten years old when I first listened to Michael Jackson's Thriller.  I recall my dad buying the Thriller album, and listening to it from his stereo. I loved The Girl is Mine, Beat It, and Billie Jean, but I avoided Thriller because it sounded scary.  In my defense, I was raised in a fairly Christian home.  Music videos that showed demons and zombies were frowned upon. 

When we finally got MTV, I remember changing the channel when Thriller would show.  I think the first time I watched the 14-minute long Thriller was in my late teens, and after watching the music video, I remember enjoying it and wanting to see it again. 




What is amazing is how this music video continues in popularity becoming somewhat a Halloween tradition--much like It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown-- and other non-traditional settings, such as:




In a Prison


At a University



Performed By Tech Geeks


And Even in Austin.


HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

Sources: Wikipedia

Making Jack Skellington Costume

My son's YMCA held a Costume Contest on Friday.  The rules were basic--no store bought costumes.  Therefore, I decided I would use my "talent" and make something on my own.



When my son informed me of the Costume Contest, the idea flew out of my mouth, "How about Jack from the Nightmare Before Christmas." My son loved the idea.
I started to think of all the things I would need to make his costume. When I got a list of stuff I needed, I visited Hobby Lobby and Wal-Mart and bought all the material I needed.

On Monday, I found myself on the floor of our galley kitchen with glue-paste, a balloon, and strips of newspaper.  I began to work.



I started layering newspaper around the balloon.  The next morning, I started the second coat.  By the following day, I had three coats around the balloon. 

While I waited for the head to dry, I worked on the bat-bowtie.  The bat-bow tie, which can be seen on the left-hand side of the photo above, was the first to complete. 



I thought about how I would make his eyes to give it a three-dimensional appearance rather than a round face.  I scrunched up newspaper, taped it to the head where I wanted the eyes, and began covering the area with paper mache.  I did the same for his mouth.



While I waited for the head to dry, I worked on Jack Skellington's suit.  I bought a long-sleeved t-shirt from Wal-Mart, turned it inside-out and drew what I wanted the suit to look like with chalk. 



I then traced the chalked-markings with a white-paint marker and acrylic paint. 



After Jack's head dried, I cut out his eyes. 



I then paper mached around the cut out areas and painted it with acrylic white paint.



After the second coat of white paint, I painted in his mouth black.



I found black handkerchief at Hobby Lobby and decided to use that for its eyes.  The work was done by early Friday morning. 

My son was excited when he tried on his costume.  He said he felt his costume would definitely win a prize a the Costume Contest.



Sure enough.  When I picked him up from YMCA, he enthusiastically waved his "MOST CREATIVE PRIZE" envelope. 

He said that when he walked into the cafeteria, his friends were yelling his name.  He felt proud. 

Dia de los Muertos

The weekend before, I took my son to Oktoberfest.  This weekend, we went to Dia de los Muertos.  Dia de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican holiday that celebrates and remembers the dead.  Parades, processions, and festivals celebrating Dia de los Muertos are held on the first two days of November.   

The tradition originates from Latin American indigenous cultures; although, the holiday has evolved to include other cultures as well.  A large component of the festivals include folk and modern art.  It is common to see decorated skulls and skeletons in processions along with music and fireworks in processions during the festival.
Below are some photo images taken at the Austin's Mexic-arte Museum's Dia de los Muertos event.





El Calavera



El Musico



Mural Painting



La Muerte


Sources: MEXIC-ARTE Museum; Wikipedia

Visit my blog to view photos: http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/2010/10/dia-de-los-muertos.html

GQ's choice of 25 Sexiest Women in Rock

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

In the October issue of GQ, the magazine lists The 25 Sexiest Women in Rock.  In no particular order, below is the list and their known contribution to music.  You can read more of GQ's pick and vote on their poll here. 


1. Linda Ronstadt

2. Stevie Nicks

3. Kim Gordon

4. Tina Turner

5. M.I.A.





6. Carly Simon





7. Grace Jones





8. Neko Case

9. Alexis Krauss





10. Liz Phair

11. Françoise Hardy





12. Marianne Faithfull

13. Nico

14. Fiona Apple





15. Joan Jett





16. Lauryn Hill

17. Alison Mosshart





18. Cher

19. Susanna Hoffs





20. Michelle Phillips

21. Debbie Harry

22. Chrissie Hynde

23. Chan Marshall





24. Katy Perry

25. Jenny Lewis



Source: GQ, The 25 Sexiest Women in Rock, October 2010

Can't see the videos, visit my blog: http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/

Men Without Hats - Safety Dance

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

This is another music video I remember watching on TBS Night Tracks.  I was about seven years old.  While my parents would host parties at the house, I would stay up late watching music videos.

Safety Dance quickly became a favorite of mine.  Perhaps it was the repetitive melody and groovy electronic sound.

I do have to admit, however,  that I was a bit creeped out with the medieval little person.  At the same time, at an early age, I had this strange attraction for the dancing blonde. Was this the seed that led me to my wife?  Dress my wife bohemian and you get the Safety Dance girl.  Gez, I've got to watch it again.

The question I have after watching this music video is who's idea was it to make an "S" shape.  Perhaps it was cool to make letters using your body, but today I think it's cheesy.

 

Speaking of cheesy, the song has recently been peformed on Fox's hit TV series, GLEE, where the high school geek who is wheelchair-bound, Artie Abrams, starts a dance mob at a shopping mall.  Okay, I admit, I like it.

Live Austin Music

Music Appreciation (A Retrospect)

After a school trip to Dallas, three of us guys decided to stay in Austin for a couple of nights.  What I recall from that experience was hanging out with my good old friend, driving around town, listening to Stevie Ray Vaughan--God bless his soul--and visiting the numerous strip joints nightclubs.

I was in my early twenties and months from graduating from college.  I had visited many places that I fell in love with such as Singapore, Hong Kong, and D.C.  I was searching for a place I could find a future and develop as a person while enjoying the surrounding.  Austin became that place for me.

I can't say I came to Austin solely for the music.  The music came to me a few years later.  Actually, it came a bit too late, I think. 

Although, I did know who Stevie Ray Vaughan was before I got to Austin.  As many others, he became my favorite.  While driving around town with my maltese dog, we would listen to Pride and Joy and Crossfire.  Soon enough, we found a local alternative rock station, 101X, who introduced us to local bands such as Fastball, Vallejo, and David Garza.

A few years later, my wife (then girlfriend) introduced me to her favorite, Bob Schneider's Lonelyland album.  Bob Schneider which was synonymous to Austin Live Music, soon became my favorite.  Yes, I said it, I enjoy Bob Schneider.

But what I was missing was the roots of Austin music.  Bob Willis?  Okay, that's a bit too far down the root.  I was thinking more like Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel and Lyle Lovett. 

Within the following years living in Ausitn, I began listening to the Austin greats.  But besides these fantastic music artists, there is another genre that I have since witnessed over the past few years.  They are those music artists who play a major role in defining Austin Live Music and making it the Live Music Capital of the World. 

I met a guy at work who introduced me to his music selection--Tejano with a blend of Texas Country, instrumental rock, bluegrass, and true-Austin music.  Soon we became friends and I was fortunate to be invited to a reunion party he hosted at his backyard where bands that were once under his record label performed... free.

Below are some photos I took of the bands that performed at what I have called "BruceFest 2010." 



The Highwaymen (Loose Diamonds)



Ivan Brown and the Low Brow



http://photographywritingandmore.blogspot.com/